Goals

I have felt a little depressed lately, I admit. Case of the 'baby blues'? Maybe. Cody asked me why I wasn't happy with myself... after explaining all of the things I wasn't happy about, he gave me one of his inspirational speeches which got me really motivated to do something about it.

So, to hype myself up for the CHANGE and I'm not talking about Obama-change either, as I am trying to make things better not worse haha I threw my creativity into it. I made a Goal Chart/Picture to tape by my bedside so that I see it every morning and night. Cody gave me this idea- he has one on his side of the bed. Also, blogging about it is going to force me to be honest with myself and the readers. I think this will help.

Without further ado-  "Ta Da"

Who says you have to wait 'til the new year to make a change? ...someone that is putting it off!

I made a list of all the things I wanted to change or do. Then I got creative with some scrapbook paper and put my Number 1 goal in the center as my focal point! The pieces in the corner are things I would like to do at some point before the end of the year. Every one of the circles have a "weekly' or 'monthly' written on them so I can remind myself how often to do these things.

Here is what I am going to do and how I plan to do it:

1. Lose Weight This is definitely my focal point and my number 1 goal. I got my Weight Watcher books back from my sister and I have chosen this method to lose weight. I think it is healthiest and it has a plan for breastfeeding Moms...that's me! I made my short term goal which is 20% of my weight...that's right you mathematicians, 200 lbs right here. My long term goal is the total weight I would like to be and I put a date on it to keep myself focused. I was realistic. But I am allowing myself to splurge on one meal, once per week. 
2. Whiter Teeth I found a link on Pinterest on how to get whiter teeth. Baking Soda. Oprah admitted she doesn't use toothpaste. She uses baking soda. Looking forward to the pearly whites.
3. Prayer The power of prayer is a beautiful thing. My husband is a very spiritual person and has started including me in his prayers at night. It always makes me feel great. The Lord is always listening.
4. Try a New Hairstyle I am in desperate need of a fashion makeover. Since Autumn-Skye was born, I have been in a style-rut. Nothing fits, I'm lucky if I see the inside of a shower daily ...yeah, don't judge... and my make-up will probably expire before I have the chance to wear it again. I need to improve this. Putting on make up and fixing up my hair transforms not only my appearance but my mood as well. I want to do something new with my hair every week. Even if it is simple!
5. Something Special for the Hubby He always goes out of his way to do something special for me and always has something up his sleeve to make me smile. It's time for him to get that same treatment. 
6. Try a New Recipe I have already been doing this and it's actually part of the reason the hubby is packing on the pounds..HA! I am pinning to my Food Boards on Pinterest daily and I'm not just pinning ladies, I am making it happen. I have found some good recipes and some not so good recipes. It keeps things fresh in the kitchen and it's exciting!
7. Baby Book Updates I have actually been really good about keeping up with A's baby book and calendar. All this work I'm putting into it, I hope she enjoys it one day. So, I am now reminded to do it weekly!
8. Blog I want to have one blog posting each week at minimum! 
9. Mani/pedi When Cody and I made the decision for me to be a SAHM, I had to give up something pricey- I chose my biweekly trips to the nail salon for mani/pedi. This saves a lot. In turn, he does my nails and toes whenever I ask him to. It makes me feel special and like a lady. Love the red toes!
10. Christmas Gifts I absolutely loathe waiting until the last minute to shop for Christmas. Although we don't buy for many...due to finances... there are some that I make a priority to buy for (Autumn-Skye and my nieces). If I can manage buying one gift a month, up until Christmas, I can avoid the last minute crowds and I won't have to come out of pocket all at once.
11. Date Night This is so important. Cody and I work very hard not to lose sight of US while we spend the majority of our time consumed by our baby girl. 
12. Create and Send a Card I want to make a card and send it out each month. Not for any reason but just because.
13. Scrapbook/Bow-make I honestly have to FORCE myself to do something that I want to do now-a-days. So, I think during one of A's naptimes, I can create a page...or a bow. Whatever I'm in the mood for.
14. Before the end of the year:

• Photo Challenge - I have been wanting to do one of these for a while. What fun!
• Savings - I need to set a goal and put some money away. Seriously.
• Love Journal - Another idea I jacked from Pinterest. Trying to keep the love fresh and exciting!
• Anniversary Journal - I have been meaning to do this for a while....

My Rock

Labor with my daughter was a blessing. Luckily, it went fast and smooth. The delivery, a different story. The delivery was not good. With a bad delivery comes the healing process and I tell you, my husband is my rock. He was there for me and endured it all. The gross, icky parts that no one likes to speak of, he was there for. No one likes being in a position that they have to be cared for when they can't do things themselves. You especially don't want your family to have to help you with these things. He was there and made me feel completely comfortable about the whole situation. I love him. In a sense, I hated that it was that way but on the flipside, I witnessed this loving man living up to his word "Through sickness and health." I am so thankful for him.

This is a picture I snapped of him the day my daughter was born. He was exhausted. He was in the nursery looking after Autumn-Skye as she was still on oxygen when the nurse told him he needed to get some rest. He had been up 36 hours looking after both our daughter and I.

Before the Baby

I had nearly two months off between turning in my Army greens and giving birth. I got so much accomplished. My advice- make a 'To Do' list, get things done before D-Day. Here are some things that I crossed off my list, and so glad that I got completed before Autumn-Skye decided to make her debut:

GET ORGANIZED I had this entire house organized. You will be thankful for the organization once baby arrives. I don't know about you but my mind is always at peace with a clean house and organization... it will be the only thing 'peaceful' once you bring him/her home.

CATCH UP with all of your current crafts and projects. ALL of my scrapbooking projects were up-to-date by the time my due date came around...that's right, I said "ALL". Be jealous. Also, I have been wanting to scan all of my childhood photos for years now. I did it. 1,500 pictures scanned. So, any big, time-consuming projects you have - do it before baby ...unless it can wait several years.

APPOINTMENTS Get all of your appointments out of the way. If you are overdue for your eye exam...call and get it done.

CLEAN Not that I need to tell you this because you will already have your 'nesting' instinct. But clean and then keep it clean. I created a daily chore list for myself part of my organization habit so that I could KEEP my house clean. This also included picking up after myself when I left the room and making sure everything was just right before I went to bed at night. You don't want to walk into a mess when you get home...like dishes in the sink from the night you went into labor. You will not feel like cleaning once you bring the little one home... just make it easier on yourself.  


There are several things that I wish I would have done before I gave birth to our daughter... but I can't turn back time now. However, blogging about it may speak to an expecting Mom. Who knows?

SLEEP! I can't tell you how many people gave me this advice- the list is endless. I just thought to myself "all babies do is sleep...I will have plenty of time to sleep!" right? ...wrong! Yes, our daughter sleeps A LOT but not when I want her to. She is on no one's schedule but her own. My advice before baby comes is to sleep as much as you can and be well rested before going into labor. Once the baby arrives, my advice is to sleep when the baby sleeps. While little one is taking a nap, do the same. You may want to clean, watch some TV, blog ...thinking that you will get rest while she sleeps tonight. hmm.. well, you just might be in for an awakening once night time comes and she is up every hour.

BATTERIES We were so busy stocking up on diapers and wipes. By the way- get size 1 and 2 before baby comes, no newborn. Born at 9lbs, 2 oz, our daughter was into size 1 on day one. I wish I would have thought about stocking up on batteries. Everything 'baby' is powered by batteries except the baby herself! Batteries in your remote seem to last FOREVER but not in the bouncy chair, the mobile, the swing...you get the picture.  And batteries are just as expensive as diapers...so start stocking up now...and in every size!

MEAL PREPARATION There are so many crock pot recipes that you can prep ahead of time and store in your freezer. Luckily, my mom was actually here for me and cooked and cleaned up for every meal the first couple of weeks after my daughter. If you don't have anyone to help out with meals, I suggest looking up some pre-made recipes. There are A LOT on Pinterest.

I hope you find this helpful. These are just a few things off the top of my head...if you have something to share, please comment below!

Mama's Pound Cake

My great grandmother, bless her soul, we call her Mama, some call her Mary Grace was the sweetest lady that ever lived. Doesn't everyone say that about their own grandmother? To be serious though, she was. I loved her dearly and loved visiting her... mostly to play in her jewelry box.

I don't ever remember her making this cake probably because she was too old to do much cooking during my days with her.  But my Mom has had the recipe for many, many years. While my mom was staying with me for the month before, during, and after the birth of my daughter, she made this cake twice and then once supervised me making it so I would know how Cody was not letting her leave until I knew how to make it. It is absolutely THE best pound cake I have ever tried. It is crispy on the outside and so delish on the inside!  I promise, once you make this cake, put it out on the counter and in five minutes it will look like this-

Disclaimer :p I am no chef. Matter-of-fact, I am new to the whole baking/cooking thing. I have only dabbled in the kitchen. Since I was married a year and a half ago, I have tried to be more 'Becky Homecky' for the husband. I have learned most everything I know from my Mom. So, Mom if you are reading this and I have left anything out, feel free to comment below for the rest of the readers.

What you'll need for the cake:
3 c AP flour (that's All Purpose for all of you Betty Crocker challenged)
3 c sugar
9 large eggs, add one at the time this is important!
1 1/2 c Crisco oil (vegetable oil)
1 1/2 t lemon or almond extract my mom and I actually put in 1 1/2 t vanilla extract AND 1 1/2 t lemon juice

Preheat oven to 300. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Reminder: one egg at a time. add an egg while blending, make sure it is mixed completely before adding the next.  Blend until smooth. Blend 10-15 minutes, or until fluffy. Pour into greased and floured pan I use an angel food cake pan. Bake for 1 hour and 25 minutes or until test (toothpick inserted) shows it is done. If I were you, check it after an hour. All ovens are different and you really don't want to mess this up. That would be a waste of 9 eggs and that chicken would be distraught after she worked so hard for those eggs! After an hour, if it still isn't done, check every 10 minutes. cool.

Now, you don't have to add glaze to this cake, as it is grand all by itself, but if you are like my husband, you will love the butter glaze, he even makes me double the recipe...

What you'll need for the glaze:
4-5 T butter or margarine, melted.
2 c sifted powder sugar (this means you want to sift the powdered sugar until you have 2 c ladies)
2 T milk
1 t vanilla extract

Combine the melted butter and sifted powdered sugar in a bowl. Mix. Add the milk and vanilla. If the consistency is too thick for your liking, add a little more milk to thin. Pour over cooled cake. (hopefully you have already took the cake out of the pan...did I really need to tell you that?) 

I hope you enjoy!

Pride & Joy

My husband Cody is my heart and soul. But this little stinker right here Autumn-Skye is my pride and joy. She melts my heart. She is nearly one month old and just started smiling on purpose, not just in her dreams. When she does smile, it's like she is saying to me "You are doing an awesome job Mommy!" Before now, My husband and I have not slowed down between feeding, changing diapers and SLEEP. But, now that we have established a routine, "Thanks" to On Becoming Baby Wise written by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam we have time to do other things like blog!

Blogging

While I was still Pregnant, gosh, that feels like a different lifetime I would browse the internet and somehow end up on blogs reading up on all sorts of things. Whether it is crafts, DIY projects, cooking, or a diary of a stay-at-home-mom. These blogs are so interesting and have so much insight and I always take something away from them. Postpartum, I haven't had time for much blog reading up until this week woohooo. So, I was thinking that I could document ALL of these things (crafts, DIY projects, cooking and my two favorite subjects - the hubby and our beautiful daughter).

Now that I have taken the plunge and created my own blog, I need to let the fam know so they can keep up with the daily life of The Snare Pair plus one. I hope you enjoy reading all of the posts, as this will not only keep my always growing family in the loop but will also be my online journal and help keep this homemaker's mind sane. Thanks for reading!