#29

#29 make master packing list for trips


Whew, for someone who LOVES lists, I've never been one to write out legitimate packing lists (think scribbles on a notepad the day before we leave...). SO, I needed to do this one for my sanity.  
I took notes from a frequently- found- camping friend; okay, I took her list and modified the heck out of it to suit our needs. I printed this list twice, made multiple changes/additions and finally...the ultimate camping list for our family is born.

draft two

I posted this one all by itself because I totally forgot to include it in the last post  ,as the culmination of all my thirty years, I thought, let's try something totally new to ring in the new decade.

We're going camping.

In a tent.

With six kids (the oldest boy is at the beach for the week).

And my siblings.

I'm stoked.

and a little nervous.

But, mostly stoked.

Tidying up Loose Ends aka the (nearly) final pre-birthday round up

How's that for a title?

Alright, a few of my list items just lacked a certain lack luster blogging quality. I mean, do you really want to see screen shots of my search efforts for a replacement mixer part? That's what I thought.

#27 do something about my mixer


The something I did turned out to be multiple searches to find my two replacement parts only to realize I do just fine without them. I mean, why waste money on something I don't actually need and isn't any fun anyway right? Exactly.


#23 make final decision on amazing grace tattoo 


Decision made.


I've decided to just let it go. At thirty, do I really want to wear two wrist bands to work to cover up my body art? Nah. Sorry Mom; I'll just have to remember you without permanent ink.


#4 update email address


This one was a total drag. I always hated the nondescript this-is-my-name email addresses. Until I realized that silly, way-too-much-information-for-the-checkout clerk/teacher/child's best friend's mom style email addy didn't really work long term either. 


SO, when I became the proud owner of one oh so fabulous iPhone this spring, I jumped on the chance to create my own email via apple. And now, thanks to the advice of my sister, I just forwarded all my old email to the new address. Grown up-ish email address, done.


#11 find fun & funky pillows for downstairs couches


Pillow hunting should truly be a national past time. This took me forever and I'm still not certain I actually achieved it, but it is most certainly NOT from lack of trying on my part! My first purchases ended up on my front porch, my second purchase worked so-so, until we got new couches spur of the moment like...last weekend!

I tried people, I really tried.


#17 define my style
#18 learn how to create (and execute) a polished look


While I had hoped (perhaps dreamed) of achieving this powerful duo while wearing a drastically smaller size and minus one double chin (see #10), it didn't happen.


Correction, defining my style happened.


Learning how to create (and yes, even execute) a polished look, happened.


Getting withing 15 pounds of my ideal weight? Epic fail.


But back to the good stuff.


It all started with a little book, 


Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad: A Style Guide for Every Woman by Shari Braendel


that taught me everything I needed to know and more about my clothes and accessories. 


However, the make-up, hair and skin care thing really threw me. I had to call in reinforcements...and I may or may not have quizzed every woman I know about her hair care routine. Sorry about that.


Lucky girl that I am, my reinforcements happen to also be generous and as part of my 30th birthday, they arranged a little sit down with a make-up guru. 

I should add, it took significant product experimentation to learn how to create both "curly" and straight styles on my hair. Tip, crank up the heat on your flat iron if you want to really make it work.

While it's certain I won't be stopped for my fashion achievements, it's also pretty safe to say I can pull off a decent grown up look now days. TLC's What Not to Wear...I think I've eluded you, for now. Score.

Two for One

#26 take a hike (or two)


RESULTED IN


#30 sleep for 8 consecutive hours


Who would have guessed it?


For Mother's Day, we hit up the White Water Center, in the rain, to go hiking.

holy crap, is his body thinner than my arm???

p.s. I swear our little platform flip flop wearing princess snuck in under the radar.  

genuinely happy

The trail had to be beyond easy so that this out-of-shape mama all the little ones could handle it.


I think the incessant rain upped the ante a bit, don't you?


We had a ton of fun.


So much so that we upgraded our parking pass so we can come back many a weekend over the season.


Awesomeness.


Nice and tired from our adventure, the many little people slept. Which meant I slept.


11:07 pm- 7:10am.


8 hours and 3 minutes.


Score.



#26 take a hike (or two)
#30 sleep for 8 consecutive hours

#24: complete a DIY home project

Double Whammie.

First, Mr. 30x30 and I tag-teamed the giant 3 hour effort that is re-upholstering our kitchen chairs. I've had this table for six years, this is the second re-upholstery attempt. Normal? Or life with lots of children? I digress.

My chairs were practically begging for the attention (like everything else in this house!).

After nagging from my sister and BFF, I thought I'd at least look at fabric, seeing as how I was in a fabric store and all.

Behold the clearance corner/section/box.

$13.95 for 3 yards (enough to cover 10 chairs...we have 8).

Out with the old, in with the new.

HOWEVER,

That didn't seem like a true DIY project, I mean, afterall, Mr. 30x30 helped and all.

Then there was the little fact that in my head, since I started this here journey, I had in mind to tackle the ugly country-fied goodness that is our craft table.

This table has been hit HARD my friends. Five little girls that love all things messy and creative have beat worked this table to the bone and the table has the scars scribbles to prove it. 

Being slow to jump on the bandwagon, this is the very first chalkboard-inspired AND aqua-colored project I've to put my hands on.

But I did it.

pretend you don't notice I haven't painted the chairs yet...

Oh yes. DIY goodness at its join-the-crowd finest and I'm in love.

It looks so good rocking out the stacks of coloring books/old envelopes/junk mail/worksheets that my kids cover it in. And just think of the endless possibilities when you throw some 3D chalk into the mix. Score.

 #24 Complete a DIY project

Dear #10

get within 15 lbs of ideal weight

Dear #10,

You are officially not going to happen. In fact, I kind of hate your guts for even making it onto my decidedly joyful and fun list. You have no place here. All you do is incite anger and rebellion in my soul. Or maybe not you exactly, but what you represent.

One year ago I had a baby. My fifth baby.

After baby #1, skinny again.

After baby #2, skinny again.

After baby #3, a little thicker, but hey, I wasn't 19 anymore either.

After baby #4, target weight.

But what?

Baby #5. FATTY mcfatty pants.

Seriously. 10 lbs UP from post-partum weight.

20lbs up from pre-baby #5 weight. I gained 20 lbs in the year AFTER #4 was born. Opps.

124343 million pounds from post every other kid weight. 

No, seriously. 

55lbs people. 

That's a lot.

That's more than my seven-year old and a few pounds shy of my nine-year old.

That's my three year old and my one year old combined.

It's a lot of weight.

And it shows.

I'm officially that fat mom.

This is the part where I give my self a motivational speech and what not, but I'm just not feeling it. Instead, I'll just be pissed off and angry at you number 10. Because, clearly, it's your fault and not mine that I'm obese.

Clearly.

Okay. 40 lbs need to fall off of me in three months.

Uh, not likely.

So. 

I need to at least try (again).

My blood pressure has been in the "pre-hypertensive" range since having baby #5. I've had gestational diabetes 3 out of 5 pregnancies. My parents both died from massive heart attacks.

Diabetes and heart disease will find me.

But...I probably shouldn't be handing them a formal invitation to dinner either, huh?

Now what?

15o0 calorie days forever?

Forced exercise?

That's what it's going to take.

I don't want to be my mother. And, I'm kinda tired of my husband giving me dirty looks every time I complain about my mcfatty status as I shovel my self into big-fine-woman-size jeans.

sincerely,

mcfatty 

p.s. I refuse to become crazy. Daily effort Katie. Daily effort. No charts, online groupies, or progression pics. Just put down the food and walk away. and keep walking so it'll count as my exercise for the day.

weaned.

I have been pregnant and/or nursing since July of 2009.

For the last decade (give or take a few early post-partum months after each of my five babies), I've been pregnant, nursing or trying to get pregnant.

As of March 21st, I am none of the above.

And I'll stay that way.
Weird.

All it took was dropping one feeding. After his first birthday 2 weeks ago, I dropped his mid-morning feeding. One week later, J dropped the rest; for 36 hours. Then he reconsidered. So he nursed one last time. That lasted another 24 hours. So he nursed one last time (again).

That time he meant it.

And...weaned.

Baby J, consider yourself a big boy. *sigh* 

#19 wean baby J

#5 paint stripes somewhere in the house

Don't pretend like you don't love my non-staged, nor fixed and pretty post-painting photos ;)

Yeah, that's how real we keep it around here. It was now or never for taking a picture...I swear we have toilet paper in there now. And a place to sit and do your business. Why, yes, I did just go there.

I mean, it IS a bathroom after all. And now it's a noticeably more beautiful one.

Even if I chose the most insane weekend to complete the project (we might have been celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary, hosting a 5th birthday party AND battling strep throat and stomach viruses in our house at the same time).

I really wanted cream and white stripes, but the difference just wasn't enough to satisfy my rather overstated design tastes, so I borrowed from the beige landing paint supply and whipped up these chocolate and vanilla inspired stripes.

I love it.

Like for real.

I might be making excuses to go to the bathroom.

Wait, that would be weird...

#5 paint stripes somewhere in the house--all kinds of finished!