{simply sadie jane}

HOLY ORGANIZATION BATMAN!

2012-02-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

So this last week has kinda been a whirl wind!

Ya know how I told you I got in a wreck with Jeff work pick up WELL...SURPRISE...I also got a flippin' 85 dollar ticket!

I just wanted to take my sick little girl into the doctor and of course I wasn't even thinking about my speed...it's sort of a problem!

SO within a week I have officially racked up over 600 DOLLARS of car fees FOR THE LOVE!

I cried...and Jeff got me flowers...just because I was having a bad day...WHO IS HE!?!

BUT on a random note...

the same day I got the ticket I found out I got a JOB!

Yep...I'm going back to work...(just one night a week) but post about that coming soon!

ANYWAYS things have been going for the better and for the worse in the Sabin home...so what better way to release some stress then doing some ORGANIZATIONAL therapy!

I consider myself a clean and organized person...but EVERYONE has a junk drawer right!?...

I, OF COURSE, used that excuse for FOREVER until...ONE DAY...I broke down and bought little basket organizers...BEST. DECISION. EVER.

Honestly ALL OF THIS was in...

this drawer!

LIKE...HONESTLY...who does that!?

OH...I am disgusted by my hoarding drawer!

Good thing for me...I didn't need a therapist to throw away and organize this drawer!

OH...how embarrassing!

One nap time + 6 dollars in bins at Walmart...that's ALL it took!!!

PERFECTION!

We also FINALLY installed these little gadgets on all our drawers!!!

Now I won't have to pick up my tupperware and lotion bottles and pans 12 times a day!

OH it's a good feeling!

I'm telling you...all you moms out there...if you need to relieve some stress...pick a drawer...clean it out and feel the stress float away!

Then go and take pictures and videos of all your little children...

Miss R is kinda obsessed with shoes (just like her momma!)

Just hanging around the house she almost ALWAYS has to have a pair of shoes on...which is TOTALLY against the rules...but I guess I will let it fly for this little ray of sunshine!

Reagan has been talking...or trying to talk so much lately!

She sure has quite the personality!

With my one hoarded junk drawer clean and my days spent inside cuddling my sick little one...overall I have nothing to complain about!

It's all about looking at the positives!

Now I must run and make a delicious spinach salad for a much anticipated Valentines Day party tonight!

XOXO

HAPPY early VALENTINES DAY!

2012-02-07T14:55:00.000-08:00

My good friend Rachel posted this SWEET DEAL for a quick little Valentines Day session for only 25 BUCKS with TARA PHOTOGRAPHICS!

I couldn't resist!

AND since Valentines Day colors are timeless for little girls...it was perfect for a few new pictures of Reagan...since it feels like forever since I got them done!

The session came with 5 finished photos...and although the session was kinda crazy trying to wrangle an 18 month old...it was totally worth it!

Tara was GREAT to work with.

Check out her photography blog {HERE}

XOXO

Inspiration...

2012-02-07T06:59:00.000-08:00

When we moved into our house (a little over a year ago) the first room I remolded was the bedroom!!

I painted, spray painted, glued, sewed and sewed some more!

I still LOVE my Anthropologie Inspired Knotted Bedding (to see tutorial go HERE)

BUT because I sleep with a GORILLA...for reals...the bedding is getting a little worn and torn.

AND although I have LOVE the WHITE I did...we are soon to have a new born baby in our midst and I don't think the while will last much longer...

SO...I picked up a few more sheets the other day at the store to start making a BRAND NEW bed spread!

I am still NOT SURE if I will be doing the same design or trying something different BUT I do know that I have A LOT of inspiration to draw from!

(pictures courtesy of google)

I should probably start on it soon...maybe tonight!

I won't tell you the color or the design but be prepared for a tutorial and LOTS and LOTS of pictures!!

So excited to get another project going...it feels like its been forever!

XOXO

Caught in the act!!

2012-02-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

Yeah...she's a climber and before I decided it was time to put the chairs up on the table and completely 'un-feng shui' my house...I thought I would let Reagan have a total toddler goodness moment!

ONLY so I could capture what she would do if I let her at all that candy that has been tempting her taste buds for the last year!

AND...LUCKY YOU...I did capture every moment!!

Get excited!

Sometimes you just need to let them eat candy...

then you give them carrots and celery for the rest of their lives cause you feel guilty after looking at the pictures again!

Or I can just brush her teeth and embrace the goodness of this motherhood moment!!

XOXO

PALEO INSPIRED: Thai Salmon Fillet!

2012-01-31T14:24:00.000-08:00

Since Jeff has started Crossfit he has seriously wanted to change the way he's eating.

He's been wanting to cut out the late night milk shakes and a lot of the carbs!

Specifically he's been researching the PALEO diet which is also known as the cavemen diet!

I did a modified version of this diet during the summer before I got pregnant and now we strive to eat 'paleo inspired'.

Jeff is trying the PALEO challenge which consists of only eating meats, fruits, vegetables and nuts...pretty much anything that can be killed or harvested/planted.

My philosophy is not necessarily paleo but more just 'healthy eating' since I need the dairy and grains during pregnancy.

Since Jeff has been working on his diet...he has also been wanting to help in the kitchen!!

AMAZING!

He called me yesterday and told me to take some salmon out of the freezer and that he was going to make some Paleo inspired salmon!

Once we got to cooking he showed me the recipe he wanted to use...

I noticed that we didn't have half of the ingredients needed...

he decided to wing it and make his own creation!!

JEFF'S SALMON THAI CREATION!

2 Salmon fillets

1/2 can coconut milk

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp onion salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1tsp pepper

1/2 cup slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place the de-boned, thawed fillets on 2 separate pieces of tin foil that have been sprayed with cooking spray.

Next mix your coconut milk, cumin and coriander together and place the sauce on top of the salmon...dividing it evenly between the 2 fillets.

Sprinkle remaining ingredients over sauce.

Wrap the tin foil like you would for a tin foil dinner and place on a cookie sheet.

Let bake for about 20 minutes for your salmon to be completely done.

(I like my salmon almost dry)

Jeff started cooking noodles before I could remind him that noodles weren't paleo...BUT the meal would have been perfect if not better with a side of broccoli instead of noodles!!

I sprinkled some lemon juice on my salmon to finish it off and it was PERFECT!!

A light but filling dinner that was full of flavor yet super healthy!

I think Jeff needs to wing it in the kitchen more often!!

XOXO

Sunday outfits and love notes!!

2012-01-30T11:22:00.000-08:00

This weekend was seriously the best...

complete with a great dinner with friends that started out by me BACKING Jeff's work pick-up into the babysitters car!

Her PARENTS CAR!

Which was quickly followed by a complete breakdown on my part!

Good thing Jeff was a phone call away and he's the complete sane one in this marriage!

SO of course he told me it was OK and that cars can be fixed with a BUNCH of money that was suppose to be put towards our new bun in the oven...BUT crap happens right!?!

Cars will be fixed...money can be re-saved...and life will go on!

Really...I am glad nothing happened that was major

After like 30 minutes I was fine and had a great night!

mine: dress: DownEast, undershirt: DownEast, tights: Target, shoes: Thrifted

hers: dress: Old Navy, tights: Target, shoes: Vintage

I was a little worried about how my luck was panning out for the week coming up!

and then I opened the cupboard and found this pretty note this morning...

...and I thought...it's going to be a great week!

Here's to a great week for all of us!

XOXO

FRIDAY NIGHT!

2012-01-27T18:26:00.000-08:00

uhhh...I look like a creeper...but wanted to get a belly shot!

Hope you're enjoying it as much as we are!

XOXO

Look what mommy did!

2012-01-25T20:13:00.000-08:00

FINALLY figured out what to do with the ginormous wall behind my little TV!

It's never too late to print off family pictures from last summer...especially when I'm pregnant!!

BUT I digress...ALTHOUGH these pictures may need to be updated in a few months...I can't help but LOVE THEM!

With some birthday money in hand and a few old emails with discounted goodness from CANVASPEOPLE.COM these beauties cost practically nothing to hang on my wall!

The middle one is my FAVORITE!

I think I have changed what is on that stupid wall like a million times!

But every time I see it...I like it...

so that's a good sign!

Until I decide to change it...again!

XOXO

A craving...

2012-01-24T21:18:00.000-08:00

UGH...

let's not kid ourselves...I get a lot of them but I usually push them out of my head and pretend like I was craving carrots instead...

WELL not with CINNAMON ROLLS!

If those words come into my head I am pretty much a goner!

Anything made with bread dough is intimidating to me...but I decided to put my big girl panties on and make them!

I even brushed the dust off my brand new bread maker that I've used ONCE!

Jeff got it for me forever ago and I never use it cause I have a kitchen aid...

and frankly the only time I used it...I got a big nasty brick of crumbled bread...

When I put the ingredients in for the dough I was stressin'...it mixed the dough for literally 30 minutes.

I figured it would be a bust and I would have to quench my craving some other day...UNTIL I opened up the bread making and felt the most heavenly dough between my fingers!!

There were a few things I probably didn't do quite right...but man they were delicious!

CINNAMON ROLLS

{recipe from allrecipes.com}

1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup warm milk
1 egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons milk

Directions

In the pan of your bread machine, combine water, melted butter, vanilla pudding, warm milk, egg, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, bread flour and yeast. Set machine to Dough cycle; press Start.
When Dough cycle has finished, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 17x10 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over dough.
Roll up dough, beginning with long side. Slice into 16 one inch slices and place in 9x13 buttered pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. While rolls bake, stir together cream cheese, softened butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk. Remove rolls from oven and top with frosting.

I rolled the dough out too thin but I actually liked all the layers!!

I used the frosting recipe and...didn't like it...so I scraped it off and made my own.

I just threw some powdered sugar, vanilla, butter and milk together.

After eating my...ummm 2nd or 3rd I started feeling REALLY guilty...

so I gave the rest away today!

Everyone wins when there's cinnamon rolls involved...

AS long as the gym is involved afterwards!

XOXO

My PREGNANCY fitness journey!!

2012-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Well...I'm 21 weeks people...

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?!

This pregnancy has been SO different...not only cause it's a BOY this time, and I'm eating healthier and I'm chasing a toddler around...but because I have been doing some serious CROSSFITTING.

My first trimester I was still really sick...but even if my morning started with a dash to the bathroom...I literally FORCED myself to go to the gym that night.

It was quite the journey for a while but has so far PAID OFF!

Even now that I feel GREAT I have to force myself to go to the gym...

it's amazing what excuses your mind comes up with!

I have some serious self-conscious issues while I'm pregnant...and going to the gym bouncing up and down while I try to jump rope and lift my ever growing belly up for a pull-up doesn't make things much better!

but then I noticed something...the minute I stepped into that gym I felt empowered as a pregnant women!

OK that sounds really cheesy but it's amazing how great I feel after such an intense workout!
What I'm trying to say is I KNOW how hard it is to get out there and workout when you feel like a whale!!!...but I promise it's worth it!
AND plus if people are looking at you and your big belly...their just thinking how AWESOME you are for working out with 20 extra pounds on board!

If your pregnant out there in blog land and find yourself having a rough pregnancy...with emotional ups and downs...it's AMAZING what getting your heart racing will do for you!

I'm NOT saying you should jump in your car and start Crossfit today...but even just a walk outside, or a simple water aerobics class would do WONDERS for you, your family and the people around you.

Remember that exercise releases endorphins...happy feeling endorphins!

AND us pregnant ladies need as many happy feeling endorphins as we can get!

If you live in the frozen tundra and you don't want to spend money for a gym membership...

try simple workouts in your home like...

doing a lifting circuit with cans of food...

OR (one of my favorite home workouts) steal your husbands phone and have a fun chasing party with him! (actually this JUST happened last night with us...except it involved cookie dough and one selfish momma!)

Not only are you totally worn out after but you just laughed your heart out...which last time I checked was really good for you too!

Some other things...

Get all bundled up and walk to your mailbox!

Have a dance party!

Vacuum!

Clean your baseboards!

Push ups and leg raises while watching Ellen!

AND some other things that involve your husband...

WHATEVER you do...do it with a smile on your face and a positive attitude in your heart!

I promise your days will get better!

Since I have been doing Crossfit throughout this pregnancy...I am 10 pounds less than when I was 21 weeks along with Reagan!

I feel great and often forget that I'm pregnant!

Thank you crossfit for doing that!

XOXO

MUD ROOM LOCKERS!

2012-01-19T15:39:00.000-08:00

Jeff and I have been wanting to add a few extra touches to our home since we bought it last December!

After we painted every flippin' square inch of that place (with some MAJOR help from our family) we took a little break.

Or at least Jeff did...I continued to dress the house with little pieces of discounted goodness and still continue to change and decorate!

(I blame that on my amazing mother...she is always changing the decorations in her house around!)

ANYWAYS...we decided that since we have a new baby on the way we better got on the DIY furniture bandwagon!

SO...we started with the LOCKERS for our mudroom!!!

We have quite a few things on our to-do list...but my husband put this baby together over the weekend!!

We LOVE the ANA-WHITE.COM website and I made sure to show Jeff!

Before we started this furniture making journey I will admit...I was skeptical...I knew Jeff had talent but I really wanted the stuff to look LEGIT!...because I am a little controlling and high maintenance!

I just wanted to make sure he used the plans for the projects so everything would come out the way it was suppose to...WELL he BLEW me out of the water!!

OF COURSE...like always.

While he was making it I sat with him in the garage and specifically asked...

"Are you using plans for that website?"

"No!" He said with a smile on his face...I am making a 'custom' design for our mudroom.

Yeah...I got nervous again...

especially when I found THIS piece of paper on the work table...

THIS is what he was going off of...

I was totally confused but decided to let him do his thing!

So he continued to cut the wood and work hard in our freezing garage with his intense hat!

Starting to look pretty good!

COMING TOGETHER!

Everything in placed and nailed and glued...

now for my job!

The PAINTING...

and after 2 thick coats...

and after Jeff HEAVED it over to the corner...

...with the help of Reagan...

oh and me cleaning and organizing and putting everything together...

IT WAS DONE!

BEFORE

AFTER!!

I absolutely LOVE it!
It makes our mudroom feel SO MUCH more organized and clean!

It's still not 'officially' done.

Jeff is making a big drawer for the bottom...right where Reagan is standing.

BUT to say the least I am VERY impressed with my husband and his 'custom made' design!

I asked if he could write up officially plans for my blog so I could post them for you all to copy and use in your homes but he said he didn't have a program for it on the computer...so maybe you can interpret his chicken scratch...maybe!

Thanks again baby for making this for our humble home!

MORE projects coming soon...

stay tuned!!

XOXO

MIDNIGHT MADNESS!!

2012-01-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

ATTENTION ALL YOU LADIES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO AREA

(MAINLY REXBURG AREA)

You all need to get your hot little buns to the liquidation sale event set up at a temporary location (separate from the permanent DownEast store location in the area) at 162 West Main Street in Rexburg, Idaho (next to JBs, and next to Broulim’s Shopping Center).

Midnight madness in Rexburg TOMORROW night!

Super style liquidation sale event -

DownEast Basics, Modbe apparel, and off-price national retail brands - everything $15. See you at 8PM (goes until midnight) tomorrow night! Sales runs through late February. Click below for details:

http://www.facebook.com/events/175503102550155/

XOXO

HOLY SKOOKIES!

2012-01-17T21:31:00.000-08:00

My husband is one of those that LOVES his treats...

including milk shakes, hamburgers and COOKIES!!

...and whose kidding...I love them too...just the other kind...like sugar and stuff...

When we got married we got this sweet gift called a Skookie maker!

It's pretty much an intense huge cookie with ice cream on top!

Jeff had all the priests (16 to 18 year old boys) over to our house tonight to talk about his 2 year mission for our church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)...mainly about nutrition on the mission.

AND because I thought it would be sweet to make something sweet I made like fifty GINORMOUS skookies for the boys after their talk.

YES I used my cake pan and my pie pan!

IT WORKED GREAT!

OUTRAGEOUS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

(found on allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla and egg until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter just until moistened. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Drop by tablespoonfuls on to lightly greased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges start to brown. Cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

AND was devoured in SECONDS!!

SO fast even I didn't have one single bite...

you go prego

YOU GO!

XOXO

My dirty mouth!

2012-01-16T07:28:00.000-08:00

Growing up I never heard my parents swear!

AND they always taught us NOT to swear...even the words SHUT UP weren't allowed in our house!

If it's not nice...don't say it...

...and although I STRIVE to keep my mouth free of swear words...

I'm not always guilt free (just being honest!)

BUT through my struggle to release my tension through the words I say...

I have learned a few sayings that seem to suffice...

and they keep me out of trouble!

...MOST of the time!
*THIS VIDEO PRETTY MUCH COVERS ALL OF THEM*

Others that are in my daily vocabulary include...

HOLY MOTHER, OH MY HELENA MONTANA

Some might think it's just like swearing...

but at least it makes me not feel as guilty!

XOXO

My pregnancy eating habits and tips!

2012-01-13T07:54:00.000-08:00

When I was pregnant with Reagan I was a little bit more than extreme with my change in diet.

(Besides the random vacations)...I have always tried to have healthy eating habits...well

NOT when I was pregnant!

As many of you know I worked full-time nights during my pregnancy...which probably shouldn't have resulted in bad eating choices...but I chose to make it that way!

With the grill at my fingertips I definitely took advantage of the situation!

If I wasn't eating a cheeseburger...it was a tuna melt or corn dog...ALWAYS complete with cheesy tots!

YEP...I indulged in that goodness 3 TIMES A WEEK!

And if I wasn't working...I kept Taco Ball and Little Caesars in business!

It's embarrassing and sad to me that I completely let myself go.

In fact I was almost 200 pounds at the end.

Of course while eating horribly I always justified it by working out here or running around at work there...

but it wasn't enough to keep up with my ridiculous eating!

It took me almost 9 months to get back to my pre-baby weight and it was anything but easy.

Walking into the crossfit gym for the first time being 35 pounds heavier than I normally was...was not easy.

I NEVER want to experience that again!

So when I found out I was pregnant with my 2nd I made some SERIOUS changes!

Besides continuing my crossfit workouts (blog about that coming soon)...

I have continued to eat my well-balanced healthy diet!

Now that I'm almost 20 weeks and the nausea is over I can eat more of a complete diet as well!

Let me give an insight of a normal day of eating for me...

Instead of CHANGING my habits I just ADJUST them a little bit to increase the calorie intake.

For breakfast

I literally force myself to eat eggs!

I have never been a big breakfast person but

I desperately need the protein so...

while I make eggs for Jeff and Reagan I throw some on for me as well.

Instead of increasing my portion size...I increase the calories a bit by adding about 2/3 cup of cheese on top and adding a piece of toast on the bottom!

Complete with calcium enriched orange juice.

If I weren't pregnant I would keep the cheese and toast off...

For lunch

Turkey sandwich complete with avocado, lettuce, cheese, whole wheat bread, mayo and mustard.

If I was dieting I would have kept some of the cheese off and do without the mayo...and maybe take the top piece of bread off.

I also treated myself with a little ranch dressing with my carrots.

For a POST WORKOUT snack...I choose banana with peanut butter with a glass of chocolate milk.

Perfect for recovery...the protein filled snack!

For dinner

Grilled chicken with wild rice and edamame.

Instead of wasting calories on glasses of milk...I choose to drink over 6 glasses of water a day!

I get my calcium from all the cheese I eat and from my vitamins!

As for my late night snack...

cottage cheese and avocado!

On top of eating healthy I take many vitamins a day!
Complete with fish oil, prenatal and calcium supplements!
Striving to eat healthy has really helped me stay fit and only gain the necessary weight throughout this pregnancy!
Instead of thinking..."Oh I know I'm gonna get fat...might as well eat what I want..."

I think..."I'm pregnant and need to stay healthy so its easier to bounce back from it!"

With cravings on board I am definitely NOT PERFECT!

I will usually throw a piece of candy, a cookie or a few bites of something sweet in the mix during the day...and if I'm craving some fast food goodness...I get a small portion of it and limit myself to one greasy thing a week.

I NEVER get full off of fast food or sweets...

Even during pregnancy it's all about MODERATION!!

If I want to indulge I choose to indulge in something healthy...like nuts or grapes!

Something that I can munch on like I would if it was a treat!

I am so glad I made a decision at the beginning and dedicated myself to change my pregnancy habits for the better!

With the weight gaining part of my pregnancy coming up it is vital that I keep up my healthy habits!

I'll continue to add some healthy recipes on the blog throughout this pregnancy so I can continue to strive for a healthy lifestyle!

XOXO

Writing on the wall...

2012-01-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

and floor!

If you can look past my husbands dirty socks...you'll notice that this little toddler is slowly getting in tune with her artistic roots!

These pictures were actually taken before Christmas but JUST the other day I found pencil on my wall!

I'm not sure exactly where she is finding these pencils, pens and markers but she LOVES to draw!

I have to keep my eyes on her or she will make the house her doodle pad!

And THAT never makes this OCD mom happy!

She knows she's in trouble!

I have a feeling this is JUST the beginning!!

XOXO

When a pregnant women asks for garbage bags...

2012-01-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

from her sweet brother that is coming to see her...

he'll (OF COURSE) ask if she needs anything else!

At first she'll think...no...I don't need anything...

and then she'll think harder!

She'll remember that she REALLY wanted so fresh orange juice...

and that avocados have been on her mind for a few days now...

AND that she wanted something sweet...

so she'll jokingly write a text to her brother that says she wanted orange juice, pull and peel and avocados...

but because he's sweet and knows that even though I don't NEED them...

this pregnant momma could use them to make her day that much sweeter!

SO thanks little bro for making my day!

XOXO

WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!

2012-01-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

Let us look at Image A!

My little Reagan enjoying her Christmas morning presents...

but wait...what is that I see on the back of her neck?

It's her snarly hair slowly becoming a mullet right before our eyes!!

I always told myself I would never cut my little girls hair...but for reals she needed a trim!

At least maybe then the other hair would grow along with it and it wouldn't look like a mullet!

SO...the days after getting back from Washington were busy and we were hardly ever home...

I don't even think about her mullet until I was running out the door to meet my family for my birthday lunch!

I plopped Reagan on the counter, wet down her hair and quickly started snipping away!

It wasn't until I was running to the car that I realized what a horrible HACK job I had done!
I'll be the first to admit I'm no beautician but I have cut my bangs more than once and I know my way around a box of color!

YEAH...I guess that doesn't qualify me to spend 0.5 seconds on my daughters FIRST hair-cut!

At this angle it doesn't look to bad...

WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!

NOW she's got this nasty uneven...way too short haircut that I don't know how to fix!

I think I'll pretend her "big sister" got to her with the scissors!

People that don't know me will totally buy it...right?

At least she doesn't mind!

How long do you think it will take for it to grow out?...

OH HELP ME RHONDA!

XOXO

NOT so organized and a little bit more...

2012-01-05T11:58:00.000-08:00

A new year brings all sorts of new things...including new projects and ever growing children!

For the last 3 months...AT LEAST...Reagan has been our little tornado.

Making her way through the house leaving her mark wherever she goes!

If I was smart...I would have gotten child locks for my drawers but since I haven't I couldn't handle picking up the remains of this drawer from the floor anymore!...so I taped it...

it didn't work (just in case you were wondering!)

She came right over and pulled each little piece of tape off...so I've been re-taping all day while I worked on cleaning out my Primary binder.

Another thing on my list of things to get...

toy bins!

Since Christmas we have no room for any of her toys...

(if only I had a toy room)

So I am going to take a much needed trip to Target and get some matching wicker baskets to place in our cabinet.

At least our mud room is SLOWLY becoming more and more organized!!

I treated myself to a new rug for the mud room for my birthday!

Since I painted this room I haven't done much to it...but NOW I am getting ready to finish up all the projects in this room...

including...

LOCKERS!!

Jeff is starting on them tonight!

AND...a separate bench on the other side of the room

(we are planning on making one of these for the entryway too)

AND...a washer stand!!

(ALL pictures and plans from ANN-WHITE.COM)

This Spring will be busy for Jeff and I as we continue to add and remodel are first home!!

Just when I think I'm done...there is ALWAYS something else to do!

We haven't even made it to the basement yet!

OY!

XOXO

My barbecue cover!

2012-01-03T08:10:00.000-08:00

I took a few shots of my not so small belly these last few days and just had to share!

OH...and I had to show off my new hair.

My amazing sister in law did it while I was in WA!

It's slowly getting blonde and I'm loving the progress.

(cardigan: H&M, pencil skirt: Target, tights: Target, shoes: H&M)

For an early birthday surprise Jeff got me this adorable poncho!
I wore it last night when we went out to dinner with a few friends!

(I haven't laughed that hard in a LONG TIME)

While driving to dinner I turned to Jeff and thanked him for the adorable gift...

he turned to me and said...

"Oh you mean your barbecue cover?...no problem!"

Just when I think Jeff is getting a hang on this fashion thing...he goes right back to his hardcore manly man roots!

Guess I'll keep working on him!

(poncho: gifted, shirt: DownEast, jeans: Motherhood, boots: Gianni Bini at Dillards, purse: TJ MAXX)

While getting ready for the night...Jeff snuck this little delicious cake onto my amazing new cake stand from Crate & Barrel (an early birthday gift from Jeff's parents)!

I still can't believe I'm 24!

I have been blessed with so much in my life!

And today...I'm especially blessed with this yummy cake that I JUST might be nibbling on while I write.

Here's to year 24

XOXO

Bringing in the New Year!

2011-12-31T19:59:00.000-08:00

With food, games, sweats, baby in bed and my sweetheart!

After driving 10 hours today...it's JUST what we needed!

HAPPY 2012!!

XOXO

START the New Year right!!

2011-12-30T17:27:00.000-08:00

I was looking through Pinterest today while lounging in Washington and came upon this WONDERFUL article!

It covered all of my little New Years resolutions and gave me a boost of positivity...just in time for 2012!

So...I thought I'd share a little bit of it with all of you!

12 THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY

Express gratitude.
Cultivate optimism.
Avoid over-thinking and social comparison.
Practice acts of kindness.
Nurture social relationships.
Develop strategies for coping.
Learn to forgive.
Increase flow experiences.
Savor life’s joys. Commit to your goals.
Practice spirituality.
Take care of your body.

(sited from here)

Although I would LOVE to copy and paste the whole article to my blog...I don't feel right about it...so instead I am URGING all of you to take a second...click on over to Mark and Angel Hack Life (Practical Tips for Productive Living) Blog and read the whole article!

It gives very good detail into each topic!

Then come back and make a commitment with me that we will strive for happiness in 2012!

XOXO

THE TOP 10 AND 1/2 READS OF 2011

2011-12-28T22:36:00.000-08:00

Since the year is ending and I am feeling very nostalgic I thought we'd take a little trip down memory lane.

{and because I couldn't do JUST 10...and added one more}

10 1/2. OH NO I DIDN'T

10. INSTEAD OF...

9. HAPPY BIRTHDAY REAGAN JANE

8. PEACE OUT MMH

7. REAGAN JANE

6. I WILL BE EXCEPTIONAL

5. WHAT I WORE

4. JEFF TELLS ALL

3. BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

2. DECISIONS

1. ANTHROPOLOGIE INSPIRED BEDDING

This year has truly been an amazing whirlwind!

It was about May when I started doing this blog for ALL OF YOU and not just my family.

AND THAT was one of the BEST DECISIONS of the year!

I am so grateful and blessed to have all my readers in my life...and I'm grateful to ALL of those blogs out there that inspire me to open my mind and challenge my ways!

YEP...I have A LOT to be grateful for...

now HERE'S to 2012...

it's gonna be another GREAT YEAR!

XOXO

A GLIMPSE INTO CHRISTMAS!!

2011-12-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

This Christmas we've been enjoying ourselves in Washington with Jeff's family!

It's been a wonderful and we have been so spoiled by family, friends and everyone around us!

Here are a few pictures from our Holiday weekend.

My mother-in-law made BEAUTIFUL Christmas dresses for all the grand-kids.

This year I was called as the Primary President for our ward.

It has been quite the calling and I have learned so much from it.

I have been very humbled and my testimony is strengthened every week by the teachers and the child that I am around.

It was fun to put together everyones Christmas gifts and show them just a little appreciation for all they do!

For our primary teachers we put together a 'teachers survival kit' complete with all the music for next years Primary Program, treats for the kids, scissors, glue, pens, crayons and a little note from me to them!

For the kids my Primary Presidency put together a CD of all the songs plus a candy cane with The Story of the Candy Cane with it!

It has been fun having a child that I can enjoy Christmas with.

Our Christmas Eve dinner

We conquered this puzzle Christmas Eve

All ready Christmas morning!

SHE LOVED IT

Jeff did some serious spoiling!

SNOW BOOTS and CROSSFIT SHOES...what more do you need!?!

Christmas dinner

Merry Christmas

Love, The Sabin's

We're still here in Washington...watching basketball games, kickin' it with family and enjoying the weather!

Hope your Holidays have been merry and bright!

XOXO

COOKIE EXCHANGE WINNER!

2011-12-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

It's a little delayed but come on...do you blame me!...

It's Christmas time...which means parties, packing, wrapping and treat eating!

BUT I DO have a winner...

SO
according to RANDOM.ORG

the WINNER IS

BECKY

I'm a blog subscriber! :)

Email me within the next 24 hours to claim your prize!

I will be taking the 10 hour trek to Washington tomorrow morning...so I will check in on Friday to tell you all a little bit about my Holiday traditions!

XOXO

ANNIVERSARY TIME!

2011-12-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

3 years ago today Jeff said he would be my husband for forever!

On that FREEZING (10 degree) day...I said yes too!

And now it's been 3 wonderful years full of goodness...with some bickering along the way...

so...because I am feeling nostalgic today...let's look at some pictures of us from this last year!

You know when people say...I thought I loved him when we met...or when we said I DO or when we had our first child...

yes yes yes...I am no exception...I truly do LOVE this man more and more everyday!

If any of you know him...you'll know I TOTALLY lucked out to have him as my husband.

I don't know how he puts up with me...I have a lot of flaws and I have A LOT of growing up to do but through thick and thin he has always stayed by my side!

Tonight we will celebrate with a babysitter...

dinner...

cupcakes and delicious hot cocoa...

and maybe some kissing!

I love you baby!

ALWAYS AND FOREVER

XOXO

All you need to spread Christmas cheer is...

2011-12-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

SOME SERIOUS TREAT MAKING!

and a tutorial

When I say serious I mean 5 bags of marshmallows and 125 skewers later seriousness!

(uhh...did that even make sense?)

Since we had only lived in our home for like 10 days before Christmas last year...we only did a few treats but THIS YEAR...we had A LOT more people to think about!

Although it took me Friday night and most of the day Saturday...these little bits of goodness were worth it!

I ventured through WINCO to gather all my supplies!

Thank you bulk candy for coming to the rescue of yet another Holiday emergency!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

skewers

marshmallows

caramel

white and milk chocolate wafers

sprinkles

Christmas music

kids out of the house

and Christmas cheer!...it's impossible to do these if you have a negative attitude!:)

START by sticking 3 marshmallows per skewer...

(I was going to use sucker sticks and just do one marshmallow BUT...they were expensive for how many I was doing...skewers are much cheaper)

Once those are prepped and ready...it's time to melt your caramel...you can start this when your almost done with the mallows!

I LOVE to use the 'bowl over boiling water' method

BUT make sure you turn your heat down to LOW once it's reached a boil...or else you'll burn your caramel or chocolate (I learned the hard way)

NEXT comes the dipping!

Make sure to coat your mallow all over and let the access caramel drip off...so it doesn't pool to the sides as much when it cools.

You can also tap the skewer on the side of the bowl a few times.

Lay them on parchment paper and make sure none of them are touching each other!

Then let them chill for about 15 minutes.

Once they've chilled and set they are ready to be dipped in chocolate!

Heat the chocolate the same way you heated the caramel...

...and dip the mallows the same way too...

just make sure you do a few more taps on the side of the bowl!

Once they've all been dipped...its time to decorate!

I used colored sugar crystals and took the left over chocolate and drizzled it over the mallows!

AND PRESTO!!

You have gourmet treats for your friends and family that didn't cost you TONS of money at a boutique somewhere!

The white choc ones are dipped in caramel...and since I ran out of caramel the milk choc ones are just milk choc...Jeff thinks they taste like a Charleston Chew!

Divided and ready to deliver!

Simple cellophane bag and ribbon!

I JUST might come knock on YOUR door next!!

Now that these are done I better start wrapping my presents and finishing up my shopping!

SO much to do before we leave for Washington Thursday morning!

OH AND my 3 YEAR anniversary is TOMORROW!

Tis' the SEASON!

XOXO

WHAT TO DO?...

2011-12-14T19:45:00.000-08:00

OK GUYS...

I am having a HAIR CRISIS!

When Jeff met me back in 2008...I had BLONDE hair!!

Then I went brown...then blonde again when I was pregnant with Reagan...

(are you seeing a pattern yet?!?)

Well...for the past...oh...2ish years I have been BROWN!!

It's classy, easy to keep up and I love how it looks!

BUT the hubby has mentioned more than ONCE...that he is missing my blonde hair!

I don't blame him...he kinda fell in love with the BLONDE SADIE...BUT I don't know what to do!

SO...I'm asking YA'LL!!

WHAT SHOULD I DO!?!

XOXO

Ribbon Garland and No-Sew Ruffle Tree-Skirt Tutorial!

2011-12-13T15:08:00.000-08:00

Looking for CHEAP ways to SPICE up your tree this year?

Well I have 2 very easy...very cheap tutorials for you that will bring your SHABBY CHIC Christmas Tree to a whole 'nother level!

I was at the Vintage Christmas Show in Rexburg a few weeks ago and saw a tree with this amazing ribbon garland on it...I just HAD to recreate it!

Here's how I made my RIBBON GARLAND!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

String: depending on how long you want your garland (mine was about 16 feet long)

Your desired ribbon colored: As far as the kind: GROSGRAIN works the best

I only needed 4 spools of 6 yd long ribbon

Hot glue

With each spool of ribbon cut 6-8 inch pieces of ribbon...until the spool is gone!

Then choose your pattern...

and glue each ribbon onto the string individually by folding the ribbon over the string.

Do that until all the ribbon is gone...and there you have it!

A simple way to add some goodness to your tree!

As for the Ruffled Tree Skirt...I saw this on Pinterest and saw on the comments that it was no-sew!

BRILLIANT idea!

BUT I never clicked on the link to see how that talented women (well I think it was a women) did it...because I wanted to challenge myself to make my own!

SO...this is how I DID IT!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

1 yard of simple cream muslin fabric (I got mine from Walmart for like 2 dollars a yard)

5 more yards of muslin fabric (cut separately...it's just easier)

Scissors

Hot glue

Take your 1 yard of fabric and cut of the edges in a curved motion

Then make a slit up the middle and cut a hole in the middle

Then lay out your five yards of fabric and cut 1 1/2 inch slits at the end

Then just like you do when you make rosettes...ripe your fabric into strips!

Start at the corner of your tree skirt base and place a string of hot glue close to the end.

Then take a strip of fabric and fold it in an accordion fashion while placing it over the hot glue.

Continue with each strip

Once your ready for the next layer...place the hot glue over the first layer of ruffles and fold the strips of fabric like you did with the previous ones.

Continue to do that until you each the center!

Almost done

After all the ruffles have been placed cut a piece of ribbon and glue it on each side of the slit...

Perfectly little ties

AND...YOU'RE DONE!

I should have made it a little bigger but it was cheap and it looks great!

And since we're looking at Christmas Tree pictures...let's look at a few from the weekend!

Almost 15 weeks!!

Shoes: TJ Maxx, Jeans: GAP, Floral Tank: Forever 21, Jean Shirt: Target, Knitted Vest: Buckle

Here's to Christmas decor, Holiday parties with the hubby and friends...OH and let's not forget the ever growing belly!

XOXO

DOWNEAST Cookies Exchange Kit review and GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-12T09:42:00.000-08:00

Me and DownEast are kinda tight...or at least I like to pretend we are!

They contacted me a while back and asked me to REVIEW this AMAZING Cookie Exchange Kit just in time for the Holidays!

2 words popped into my head when I read the email...

COOKIES and PARTY

I was MORE than ready to throw this thing!

DownEast sells these kits for $4.99 EACH OR 3 for $9.99!

(You can find a kit like this ANYWHERE else for cheaper)

It's a cheap way to have a GREAT Christmas Party AND it's a GREAT Christmas gift for a friend!

It includes 12 invites with envelopes

12 recipe cards

a sticker sheet

12 cookie ID cards

12 cellophane bags with 12 tags and ribbon!

Since I wanted to have the party like...NOW...I decided to invited some of my neighbors!

...and that way I didn't have to mail any of the invites...yet another way to save some money during the Holidays!

(I wish I could have invited all of them...I have SO many fun neighbors)

I dropped the invite in their mailbox and prepared for Friday!

I was AMAZED to see ALL the different kinds of cookies everyone brought!

I made SANTA HAT BROWNIES!!

The white chocolate was still a little warm...if you couldn't tell!

BUT notice my adorable recipe cards!

OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP

CHOCOLATE TOPPED LINZER COOKIES

PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIE COOKIES

CAKE BATTER RICE KRISPIES

CHOCOLATE CHIP KISSES

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW COOKIES

PEANUT BLOSSOMS

RASPBERRY STICKS

COCONUT MACAROONS

I told everyone they had to take at least one of everyones and try it...

there would be a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winner!!

I tried to convince myself to ONLY have ONE bite of each...

FAT CHANCE!

Some I just had to eat the whole thing!

At the beginning I announced that all we had planned tonight was to eat cookies and talk...

so that's what we did!

Some of the gals stayed till 11...I almost convinced them to stay the night...maybe next time!

We couldn't decide whose was better...so we ripped the stickers and gave everyone a little bit!

Now I have a copy of all the recipes!

The night was a HUGE success

It might just become an annual thing for me

Many of the ladies mentioned how nice it was to just relax, eat and talk

I felt the same way...why not have more nights when we just get together and talk!?

I think I started a revolution!!

NOW DOWN TO BUSINESS...

WHO WANTS TO HAVE A COOKIE EXCHANGE PARTY!?!?!?!

Here's how you ENTER: for your chance to win a Cookie Exchange Party Kit!

{leave a separate comment for each item you complete}

1. Grab my button and slab it up on the right side of your blog for the world to see! Then come back and tell me ya' did!

Grab the code on the left side of my blog!

2. Check out DOWNEAST BASICS-HOME (the website) and come back to tell me what your favorite Christmas item it!

3. Then go and "LIKE" DownEast Home on FACEBOOK!

4. Follow MY blog {simply sadie jane} and leave a comment saying so.

{make sure you check and see if you are!}

5. Follow {simply sadie jane} on twitter, facebook or RSS feed! {up to 3 entries}

{you can follow all 3 of these on the top right of my blog}

6. Blog, Facebook and/or Tweet about this giveaway and then leave a link for it here. {up to 3 entries}

GIVEAWAY closes on December 19th at midnight!

WINNER will be announced December 20th, 2011!

(for US residents only)

XOXO

Why I didn't blog yesterday...

2011-12-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

I know I'm FULL of excuses but instead of TELLING you why I didn't get a chance to blog last night...

let me just SHOW YOU!

{photos courtesy of Pinterest}

OK...let me explain myself!

Last night I headed to the gym at 6...although I am growing a little baby I made a vow that I would continue Crossfit throughout my WHOLE pregnancy!

The WOD last night was particularly tough!

5 ROUNDS

12 Deadlifts

9 Hang Power Cleans

6 Push Press

I only did 65#...WEAK...but my time was great!

12:27!

I was feeling great after my WOD and getting ready to head home...when my phone started blowing up!

My sister Sara (ya know the one I always talk about that is my inspiration for...EVERYTHING)

well she was trying to get a hold of me to KIDNAP me for a little date!

IT WAS PERFECT...I was already in town (even if I was a hot, sweaty mess)!

She invited me to go watch her daughters dance company perform...and I COULDN'T SAY NO...

see I have this obsession with dance!

I secretly wish I still danced...I mean other than in my house and car!

To make the NIGHT EVEN BETTER...Chik-Fil-A had JUST opened that day in Idaho Falls!

So I ran and grabbed some chicken and headed to the performance where we ate secretly ate chicken while shaking our shoulders to the music!

There may have been more than one occasion where I had to force myself to stay sitting down...I swear I don't think I'm normal sometimes...

After the performance we made our way to COCOA BEAN CAFE for some hot drink goodness and delicious gourmet cupcakes...

where we sat for forever simply talking about science and anthropology and all things legit-like.

Or maybe we just sat and laughed and talked about stuff I don't even remember!

After our drinks were cold and our cupcake crumbs got hard...we decided to say farewell...

but OF COURSE she had to end the night by giving me one of her...

AMAZING TECHNO SPASTASTIC CD'S!!

Here's a little taste of what's on this CD of GOODNESS...

She is BEYOND amazing!

I just hope I can be as cool as her someday!!!

Thanks SARA for making my night of blogging WAY BETTER than it would have been!

HERE'S TO SPONTANEOUS GOODNESS!

XOXO

My LESS THAN 50 dollar CHRISTMAS TREE!

2011-12-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

When it came time to get out my Christmas Tree decorations I was feeling less than ecstatic to use them!

I had gotten them at the dollar store 2 years ago and I wanted a change...BUT of course that meant I needed to BUY new decorations!

I guess stealing may be a possibility...but orange isn't necessarily the best color on me!

SO...that only left me with ONE option!!

FIND THE BEST DEALS

I started doing my research (asking people on Facebook) about cheap tree options!

In previous years we have gotten real trees...yet...they can be pricey AND we are headed to WA for Christmas so I figured it was time to get a fake one!

ONCE I knew...

where the sales were...

what I was looking for...

the theme of my tree...

I was READY to SHOP!

****

FIRST STOP: DESERET INDUSTRIES!

I was determined to find a tree!!

SO I went straight to the back of the store and saw the fake trees...

and at the end of them the heavens opened and angels placed a perfectly good Christmas Tree JUST FOR ME!!

I swear the angels sang HALLELUJAH while I jumped up and down for joy!

I was FLIPPIN'...and so was my sister!

THE BEST PART...it was 20 BUCKS!!!

I throw Reagan in the car, grabbed that tree and drug it out of the store with pride!

After STUFFING it on my trunk I headed towards...

this store!

Where ALL their Holiday ribbon was 50% percent OFF!!

After some SERIOUS contemplating, pondering and imagining I picked the PERFECT ribbon for my tree!

20 yards for 10 DOLLARS!

NEXT I headed to the Dollar Store to get ALL my ornaments...big and small!

That was just a few dollars.

After I made one last trip to Walmart to get the rest of the ribbon and fabric for my tree skirt!

Just 12 dollars more!

Then I headed home and began my ribbon garland and ruffled tree skirt!

TUTORIALS for those coming THUR and FRI but for now...

here it is...

my VINTAGE RUSTIC CABIN CHRISTMAS TREE!

Who says you can't have a beautiful tree for cheap!!

My initial idea was to hang ALL the ornaments from the ceiling because I knew this little monkey would try to take them off but after doing the big ones I was OK with putting the small ones on the tree...as long as I didn't have to tie anymore fishing line!

She saw them the SECOND she woke up!

OF COURSE!

At least it looked good for a while last night...

now I only have the ornaments on the top of the tree...

TYPICAL for a toddler in the house!

Do you like themed trees or custom trees with all your families favorite ornaments?

One day I'll have more than one tree in my house...so I can have ALL my tree decorating dreams come true!

XOXO

CHRISTMAS WISH LIST!

2011-12-06T21:06:00.000-08:00

YES...my tree is decorated and looking AMAZING if I say so myself...

yet it's 10 PM and this little prego lady is TIRED and starting to feel like her dinner might reappear soon...SO...I'm not going to post about it until tomorrow.

UNTIL THEN...let me indulge you in a few of my little Christmas WANTS!

(notice...NONE of them are needs...well except for the Crossfit shoes...and even those are debatable!)

Source: freepeople.com via Sadie on Pinterest

Source: zales.com via Sadie on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Sadie on Pinterest

Source: fit2fightomaha.com via Sadie on Pinterest

Source: amazon.com via Sadie on Pinterest

Source: iamagreedygirl.com via Sadie on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Sadie on Pinterest

nothin' like a pair of Lucchese!

Source: zappos.com via Sadie on Pinterest

Here's to a BEAUTIFUL WEDNESDAY!!!

XOXO

Rustic ruffles and plaid!

2011-12-05T19:55:00.000-08:00

I had ALL intentions of showing off my FINALLY finished Christmastreeonabudget!

BUT of course I had laundry to fold and floors to mop and vacuum and all the other mom-ish things to do today...SO...instead I am showing a sneak peak of my delicious VINTAGE CABIN inspired tree!!

My sister and I went ribbon shopping the other day and MAN it was like Christmas had come early!

I was immediately drawn to all the colorful glittery goodness when my sister noticed this amazing plaid ribbon!

I started envisioning it on my tree with all my other simple creations...

I'm pretty obsessed with it!

FULL tutorials for ribbon garland and ruffled tree skirt COMING SOON!

In more Christmas news...

I'm having a COOKIE EXCHANGE PARTY on Friday!
I invited a few neighbor friends to come join me for a FUN event...COURTESY OF...

DOWNEAST HOME!

I hear a GIVEAWAY COMING!!!

NOW...what's your FAVORITE kind of cookie?...I need a good recipe for Friday!

XOXO

Let me tell you a story...

2011-12-02T12:35:00.000-08:00

A few months ago...I got a new neighbor...like RIGHT next to me!

AND since I was LAME...it took me a while to go over and introduce myself!

BUT once I did...I regretting waiting so long.

She was like my soul sister.

I was obsessed with her decor and everything about her...ONE thing that really stood out to me...

Her house SMELLED AMAZING!

It didn't take me long to eye all the Scensty warmers she had in her home...

one in the family room...

one in the kitchen...

one in her bedroom!

I'm no stranger to Scentsy (I have one in my kitchen) but my little bricks that I was getting from Walmart and such smelled NOTHING like hers!!

I was seriously having a party in my nose...I had to know what kind of bricks she was using!

Of course she said Scensty.

While I've been thinking I've been saving money...really all I've been doing is wasting money by using up the bricks that I bought from Walmart faster...the Scentsy ones last WAY longer!

And smell better.

(although if I do smell one I like at Walmart...I'll probably still get it...I don't discriminate)

OK...LONG STORY short...my friend ROSE...became a Scentsy consultant...and because she's amazing she let me choose the Scentsy warmer of my choice and then gave it to me as a gift!

HAPPY DANCE!

It was a hard decision...with so many adorable options...

like this one...

Or this one...

They even have ones you can plug-in for your bathroom and such!

I ended up going with this one and I couldn't be more happy!!

(Don't mind the sparse TV console...I'm in the process of decorating for Christmas)

But doesn't that warmer look great!

Now there's just one thing left to do...

...figure out what fragrances I want.

SO many choices!

If you've never heard of Scentsy before...you may live under a rock...just kidding...but for reals call Rose for ANY questions you have about Scentsy OR if you want to order a warmer or any bricks!

Because she's a Scentsy Consultant, she can throw parties at your house (major perks for you) or just help you out with an order!

I got 2 Scentsy warmers for my wedding and it was ONE of the best gifts!

AND they have GREAT DEALS for Christmas gifts for all those neighbors and friends!

CALL ROSE WETZEL: 208-821-5126

or if you don't live in the Southeastern Idaho area...NO PROBLEM!

You can always go to her website

shop there

and it will ship straight to your door

(for U.S. residents only)

WWW.ROSEWETZEL.SCENTSY.US

NOW...all you Scentsy lovers...what's YOUR favorite scent!?!

XOXO

The little things...

2011-12-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

...have seriously saved me the last few days!

Thank goodness Reagan has been entertained by boxes and pieces of string lately cause her mommy has been everything but present...

sleeping the nausea off seems to be a bit more difficult with a toddler around...

good thing she hasn't seemed to notice!

You better believe it...mismatched PJ's are legal in my home!

Yet another little thing that has helped...it's amazing how much work it takes to dig through the PJ drawer when you've been grazing on nothing but Sonic Ice for three days!

This little bug will be happy for the rest of the day if I just take a few seconds to wrestle with her!

*that face*

I'm taking this and putting it in my pocket for...forever!

At this moment...TOTAL DESPERATION overtook my soul...

Thank you PreSpot for saving this shirt for me!!

Thank you Reagan for being so wonderful!

I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel thanks to...

Sonic Ice, Zofran, WAYtobigforme sweats, hair ties, no makeup, my amazing hubby that rubs my back in really embarrassing situations, bedtime, nap-time, big boxes, cozy blankets, TIVO, Disney movies, patient toddlers, concerned family, peppermint suckers and snow days!

Believe it or not I am going to post about my Christmas decorations soon!...they are longing for my attention!
Have you started your decorating?

XOXO

It's happening...

2011-11-29T20:32:00.000-08:00

No...not the nausea...that's been going on for umm...let's see...10 weeks now...

but the BUMP is starting to reveal itself!

Oh...I'm almost 13 weeks.

Earlier this time then with little Reagan...and although I am still going to Crossfit at least 3 times a week...yep you heard me right.

I roll myself off the couch...throw on my sweats and pretend like I don't feel like I'm riding on a roller coster with a full stomach...alas Crossfit has kept me in my same jeans (for now).

This pregnancy has already been so different in so many ways...and I have learned a lot!

Take the next three pictures for examples...suddenly having a little toddler running around makes documenting my ever growing bump so much harder!

Don't notice the fingerprints...

notice the goodness of all her many faces!!

Just like her momma!

My goodness...you get the idea right!?

Did you notice the shirt?

From DOWNEAST of course!

It's from their Breast Cancer Awareness Collection!

They raised $25,000 towards to cause...read more about it below!!

DownEast Home & Clothing Kicks Off “Live for Pink” Campaign

Retailer Renews Pledge to Needs Beyond Medicine, Which Supports

Cancer Education and Provides Financial Assistance for Patients, Families

SALT LAKE CITY (September 20, 2011) – High-style, low-price retailer DownEast Home & Clothing has announced the successful kick-off of its fourth annual “LIVE for Pink” sales event. Through October 16, 2011, customers can purchase special limited edition “LIVE for Pink” tees and DownEast will donate 50 percent of the sales – up to $25,000 – to Needs Beyond Medicine, a Utah-based organization that provides cancer education, access to screening and financial support for cancer patients.

Through its previous “LIVE for Pink” events in 2008, 2009 and 2010, DownEast has raised over $63,000 in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The “LIVE for Pink” 2011 event officially began on September 12 and the company has already seen a significant response from customers – both in stores and online.

“In the first week alone, we’ve seen a very promising uptick in sales of the limited edition tees, which is exciting since we still have another several weeks in the campaign to go,” said Klane Murphy, CEO of DownEast. “Each year, we’ve been touched by the enthusiastic support of our customers.”

DownEast and its staff proactively support a variety of philanthropic causes year-round. Supporting breast cancer awareness is an especially important cause given its direct impact on the people behind DownEast and their families. Breast cancer survivors within the DownEast family include Llilli Murphy, wife of CEO Klane Murphy, and Claire Freedman, mother of company founders Jonathan, Bill and Charlie Freedman.

This past August, DownEast held a special “LIVE for Pink” photo shoot featuring 12 women whose lives were in some way touched by breast cancer. The women selected for the photo shoot responded to DownEast’s first-ever open casting call for the campaign by writing a brief essay on how they were impacted by the disease. According to Candy Friedli, director of Apparel for DownEast, “We received an amazing response from women of all backgrounds. One of the hardest – and most gratifying – things I’ve ever had to do in my job was to choose the finalists for the photo shoot. There were so many inspiring entries.”

A peek behind the photo shoot and a snapshot into the featured women’s stories are available on the DownEast By Design blog. Throughout the month of September, the blog will continue to showcase their essays to help put a face with the disease.

Several DownEast staff members will also participate in other activities during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, including the second annual Pink Half Marathon, which will take place in Park City, Utah, on Oct. 8.

For more information about Needs Beyond Medicine, please visit www.needsbeyondmedicine.org. Or, follow the organization on Twitter and Facebook.

(all these beautiful women below have been directly impacted from breast cancer or know someone that has been.)

Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month is over...I am so glad I am able to have a piece of clothing that can remind me to pray for all the people that fall victim to breast cancer!

****

Wanna hear another amazing thing DOWNEAST has going on right now!?!...

They are throwing a HUGE 500 dollar sweepstakes for the HOLIDAY SEASON!

You could win a $500 gift card for home decor items to spruce up your house this Christmas!!

The winner of the prize can select a gift card that is redeemable for home accessories sold online at http://www.downeastbasics.com/home.aspx from anywhere in the U.S. Or, if the winner lives nearby a DownEast Home & Clothing store (in Utah or Idaho – all locations listed here: http://www.downeastoutfitters.com/locations.html), an in-store gift card can also be provided.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is "LIKE" the DownEast Home Sweepstakes page to enter!

GET ON IT!

****

Back to the baby goodness...I wanted to be sure to add a little something in this post before I signed off tonight!

You see...pregnancy hasn't always been the easiest road for me...

but not the hardest either...

working in L&D really gave me a new perspective to pregnancy and all things surrounding it!

I never realized how difficult it is for some women to get pregnant...and how many women face that challenge!

I look up to those women everyday...because I would not be strong enough to struggle with that trial in my life.

So...although I am sick...I am very grateful, humbled and blessed for the opportunity I have to carry a baby again!

I will take 100's of sick days for these precious gifts!
I have the sudden urge for Sour Patch Kids and Pickles...oh dear...such a cliche!

XOXO

What I'm grateful for!

2011-11-28T08:01:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving couldn't come fast enough for my family and I this year.

We literally counted down the days until we could see each other and be together again!

Good thing we all got together at the ranch...with no phone service and just family time...we were able to really bond this Thanksgiving!

So yes...I am very grateful for the Sheridan Ranch (just a little FYI...Jeff and I stayed here for our honeymoon almost three years ago!)

What else am I grateful for?...

strapping man that build forts in the snow for fun!

snow...and ALL the little kids that ate it last weekend!

Pig tails and ponchos!

This was my first attempt at pig tails for Reagan...it was adorable and this little poncho is from Baby Gap but thanks to second-hand stores I got it for 2 bucks!

Cooking...it brings family...or future family members together!

(my little brother and his girlfriend Brooke...wink wink)

Snowy...sunny days!

There is nothing better than being able to enjoy the snow outside with your little ones!

Things with motors...cause my hubby is obsessed...so I kinda have to be obsessed too!

That face!

More cooking!...appetizer style!

Why YES...I would LOVE some stuffed pastry dishes filled with apricot spread and brie!

More appetizers!

and more...

and more.

Dogs...they entertain her so well!

That guy!

This picture!

Our turkey cookers!

For turkey!...hello!

For every single person in this picture!

For messy turkey faces.

and kids that just can't get enough.

For this moment...

and this one...

oh especially this one...thank you men for cleaning up our 50+ people Thanksgiving dinner.

and this one...thank goodness he can still pick me up!...hopefully we've got a few more months of that!

For sisters...every single one of them!

For holiday movies that distract even the adults!

Oh and this face again!

This post would be WAY too long if I added EVERYTHING I am grateful for...and I think we can all agree it was long enough!

The Lord has blessed me so much with love, life, health and family.

I couldn't be more grateful or blessed.

Although Thanksgiving is over and the turkey leftovers are gone...I hope we can all have a heart full of gratitude all year long!

XOXO

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

Just checking in with you all wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving...now is about the time when you get the leftover turkey and stuffing and throw it in a dinner roll for a late night snack...don't forget the cranberry sauce and mayo...promise...it's amazing!

Hope your Thanksgiving was as good as mine was!

It was delicious, full of family and the boys even cleaned up...BLISS.

Make sure to do your stretching and breathing exercises before venturing out for those great Black Friday deals!!

XOXO

ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS DECOR!!

2011-11-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

I know...I know...Thanksgiving is in 2 days BUT I can't stop thinking about Christmas decor!!

Although I still need to get ALL my stuffing ingredients and I need to pack my bags for our family escapade to the mountains...I can't get fresh pine, glittered ornaments and vintage wreaths out of my head!!

So...here's a little taste of what's been in my head lately!

In other CRAZY Christmas news...I have recently become an AVID black Friday shopper!

Yes I wake up at 2 AM...yes I run to get what I want...YES I get AMAZING discounts...and that is why this commercial TOUCHES my soul!!

Not only will I have her craft room someday BUT I think he craziness is seriously AWESOME!

Hope Thanksgiving preparations are going swell!

XOXO

Eyelash extensions by SWEET LENGTHS!

2011-11-19T18:57:00.000-08:00

so here's the thing...

I have these eyelashes that are what I like to call nonexistent!

Even when I put mascara on or heat up my eyelash curler I still have practically NO lashes to show for it!

I've always been SO envious of my friends that have eyelashes that go on for days...never did I think I would be able to have such great lashes!

UNTIL NOW!

ATTENTION ALL YOU WASHINGTON, IDAHO, UTAH peeps!

My dear friend Brittney started her own EYELASH EXTENSION business and I have been HOOKED ever since.

In a short amount of time you go from nothing to something!

I didn't feel a thing when she did it and after I hardly noticed they were there!

It took SO much time off of my morning...some days I didn't even need makeup with how amazing my eyes already looked.

BEST PART: NO MASCARA APPLYING!

See for yourself...

(please skip over my porous skin and caveman-like eyebrows)

AMAZING!

Here's another example of Brittney's work...

HELLO...who wouldn't want those lashes!

They look SO natural!

I got compliments about how long my lashes were ALL the time at Crossfit (where I don't wear any makeup)

Everyone thought they were my own!

Britney isn't just another girl doing extensions...she REALLY values you as a customer!

She has a private parlor in her home where you sit back and relax in a comfy recliner the whole time!

Whether you talk the time away or listen to relaxing music...it really is a relaxing oasis where you come out looking BEAUTIFUL!

FULL SET: $85

FILL:$45

(usually a fill is needed every 3-4 weeks)

"LIKE" SWEET LENGTHS on FACEBOOK

to stay up-to-date on all promotions and specials.

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!

CALL BRITTNEY at (208) 709-4676

and get your appointment TODAY so you can look YOUR BEST for the holidays!

XOXO

Getting geared up for this...

2011-11-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

COME ONE...COME ALL!!!

Even if you wanna just come say hi...and eat a caramel with me!

XOXO

RAGNAR LAS VEGAS 2011!

2011-11-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

VAN 1!

It's a MUST to decorate your van for the race!

My brother-in-laws dad is a physical therapist so our name was IT'S THERAPY!

Helping out my sister along the way!

One of the hills I ran up!

The NEVERENDINGUPHILL6.9MILEDIRTROADFROMHELL!

(notice all the dust we were eating from all the vans)

Last pass-off!

Don't mind the ghetto-booty...

ugh...I could never slap that stupid bracelet on right!

Got it!

Notice all the dust...

My eyelash extensions were DONE FOR!

I swear to you the feeling of finishing that race was like delivery my baby!

Felt AMAZING to be done!

My total miles: 17 (I think...it may have been 18...I've forgotten now!)

Last time I did this race I trained for 6 weeks and Reagan was 3 months old...I thought that was hard...

now that I have ran a Ragnar pregnant I know what hard is!!

Between the heat and shortness of breathe and cramping it wasn't necessarily the BEST time of my life.

BUT the people made up for it!

I tagged along with my sister's husbands family!

We all became great friends along the way.

Although it was really tough I would do it again in a heartbeat!

We finished 188 miles in 29 hours...50 minutes and 01 seconds.

We ranked team 114 out of 475!

Finishing in the top 20%

To watch a play by play video of the race and our team...CLICK HERE!

Love you all!!

XOXO

Getting back to the swing of things...

2011-11-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Healing happens one day at a time...

and since healing is happening I thought I would post about California.

I mean I was there for two weeks!

Packed cars. Crossfit workouts. Ragnar races. Late nights. Long nights. Packed house. Santa Ana winds. In-N-out. Chick-fil-a. Pink Berry. H&M. Forever 21. Anthro. Victoria Gardens. Nausea. Busting belly. Skinny jeans. Colds. Sharing toys. Beach drives. Homeless looking beach goers. Pizza parlors. Drunk thumbs-up. You break it or buy it. Halloween candy. Using my child to get me some Halloween candy. Toy sharing. Toy stealing. 75 degree weather. Waterfall hikes. Beverly Hill drive. My mom's old house in LA. Precious time with my sisters and their kids. Time with my husband. A great vacation.

It's weird to think that this all happened before our families world turned upside down but it feels good to look back on some recent good times.

Today is a good day.

Hope you all have a great day as well.

XOXO

LIFE

2011-11-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

I apologize for being MIA these last few weeks...not blogging and writing out my feelings has really put a huge hole in my life!

But I needed that time to be with family and to really reflect on my life.

Now I feel I'm ready to write to you all.

You've been there for me this last year every step of the life!

And I want to share something dear to my heart...not for sympathy but because I have learned so much over the last couple weeks that I feel is very important to share.

Sometimes in our lives things happen that we cannot understand.

No matter how many times we replay it in our minds...no matter how much we talk about...it just doesn't make sense.

Our world stops but everything around us continues to move.

Let me start from the beginning.

I started this blog when Jeff and I got married.

I had no intentions of making it public or popular...it was simply a way for me to be able to document or 'journal' my family.

On my 'about me' page I explain my family a little bit but it's no secret that I don't talk about my family very often.

Not because of personal relationships or struggles but because my family is something I have wanted to keep private.

My father of 15 years and counting is a very well known man in Idaho and surrounding areas and out of respect for him I didn't feel it appropriate to post stories and events seeing how this blog is public for the world to see.

He already shares so much of his life...I wanted to stay true to him.

As I have mentioned before I have somewhat of a large family.

My mother had 8 children and my father had 6 and when they married 15 years ago we combined our families and made a family of 14.

{these are all the siblings}

One of the most common questions I get is...how do you all get along?...Is there every any arguing?

My answer was and is always, "We get along great...we don't really argue."

I was in a unique situation because I was the 3rd youngest so I didn't have much of a connection with my older brothers and sisters.

It was just normal for me to call my sisters that were closest in age (my 'blood' siblings) if I had a problem or struggle.

And because of that...most arguments or disagreements were with them.

As much as we love each other it came down to the fact that there were 2 families that had gone through horrible struggles while growing up.

And frankly we never talked about them...it was sort of a voodoo...almost like if we didn't talk about what had happened to us...it would simply go away and we could pretend like our lives hadn't been struck by heartbreak and betrayal.

But because we had gone through those we had that experience to link us closer to each other if we ever did talk about them.

Needless to say the relationships in our family have been slow growing but definitely growing none the less.

Speaking for myself...and I want to make that clear...speaking ONLY for myself...I have had a lot of times in my life where I have felt bitterness, jealousy and even anger towards my family or even specific family members.

Never because of anything they did to me...but because I took situations and turned them negative.

I let the adversary in my mind...I let myself become jealous.

As you can imagine it was a difficult task being parents over 14 children.

Not only parents but busy parents who traveled and spent hours working...not only on business but on our family.

My father literally has no time to himself...he doesn't sleep...he worries and he spends every waking moment of his life thinking about how he can spend more time with each individual child.

But for the longest time I didn't understand that.

I saw him spend time with a different sibling and it would make me upset, sad and bitter.

For such a long time I blamed those feelings on my past...

"I feel this way because I am broken!"

"I feel this way because I didn't have a father and now I still don't."

How wrong I was.

I slowly allowed negativity into my life and it slowly took over my life.

I found myself taking every situation with my family and turning it into a bad one.

I would go home in tears feeling offended and upset for things people said and relationships that I saw.

I felt alone and disconnected.

It wasn't always like that...in fact there was always cheerful, happy, wonderful moments along with the negative...but I pushed those away and let myself sink into this pessimistic person.

I started focusing on my family instead of taking time to build my relationships stronger with my siblings.

I think most of my siblings that read this will be surprised to hear it...I'm what they call a 'people pleaser' so I didn't express my negativity around them.

Instead I held it in and talked about it when I shouldn't have.

Most people that know me well wouldn't even know that I had these feelings...I rarely expressed them.

About a year ago I started seeing myself slowly slide into this negative person and I wanted to change.

I got better and I really tried to be understanding and more loving.

I wanted to understand my siblings and my parents.

I didn't want to feel like I had negative things to say.

Becoming a parent myself made my eyes open and strengthen my love and understanding.

I wanted to come home and feel at peace...to feel like I had nothing but good things to say about my family!

So that's what I've been trying to do...and I have really grown as a person and as a sibling.

A part of me feels like it was my immaturity and lack of experience that made me feel like I had to go through that but this last week something tragic happened to my family that made me realize so much about my life.

My dear brother Brian passed away unexpectedly on November 3.

But his legacy will live on forever.

He was one of the best examples I have had in my life.

He really understood what it was like to be selfless.

He never spoke an ill word about a single person!

How I wish I could say that.

Above everything else he simply wanted the most for his children,

He didn't care for negativity and comparison in his life.

He was such a private person that a lot of the time I didn't understand him.

Every time I saw him he said..."hey sis...I love ya sis."

Those were the moments that I will forever hold in my heart.

Those are the moments that I will remember him for.

I judged Brian once or twice during his life like I did with other siblings.

I judged because I didn't understand him.

I'm not sure why it had to take his death for me to truly see...for my eyes to be completely open...but I've learned more in these last few days than I have in a long time.

A part of me felt justified in judging someone because if they were doing something unrighteous or something I didn't understand it was OK for me to judge.

While I was sitting in the funeral home I couldn't help but feel guilty and upset at myself for not trying harder.

For not trying to be more understanding and loving.

I prayed for Brian and the Lord to forgive me for what I had been struggling with.

Then I felt the Lord's love surround me and I knew what I needed to do...

I needed to love more.

That's ALL we need to do in our lives!

We tend to make it so difficult and add so many emotions and we let our mind run wild with so many ideas...when all we need to do is LOVE.

Seems like such a simple thing yet so many of us forget it so often.

Life is too short to do anything else.

My father taught me an important lesson when I was young and I've forgotten it over the years.

I was reminded of it this week and I have promised myself to never forget it.

Like I said before...I had so many negative feelings enter into my life throughout the years...and I never understood what was causing it...until I realized it was me!

And ONLY ME.

If I feel offended, upset or sad...it is because I am LETTING myself feel that way.

If I feel justified in judging someone...no one is justifying that act but myself.

I feel so much peace now that I've been able to take the time and understand that simple fact.

We can do hard things...and if we allow the Lord to strengthen us through those difficult experiences we will learn more than we ever thought possible.

None of us could have prepared ourselves for the death of our brother but instead of separating ourselves and feeling bitter we decided to take this experience and lean on each other.

D&C 122:7-8

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the ^apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the ^bdeep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to ^chedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of ^dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee^eexperience, and shall be for thy good.

8 The ^aSon of Man hath ^bdescended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Good things will come from this experience. I know they will.I know that Brian is walking with the Lord now and that he is happy.

I know that my family has never felt stronger...we are strengthened by Brian and the man he was. Thank you Brian for helping us all understand...that all we ever need is to LOVE.

I love you Brian. I'll never forget what you have taught me. Thank you for being my brother.

XOXO

no words...

2011-11-09T15:13:00.000-08:00

I don't have words...

I don't have explanations...

I'm not ready to explain...

I'm taking the days one at a time...

Although they don't seem to get any easier...

I am staying close to the Lord...

I will soon write my feelings...

For now I am clinging to this song today...

Thank you Sara.

Please remember to LOVE each other

XOXO

HALLOWEEN 2011!

2011-11-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

This year was UNLIKE any other year!

Jeff and I decided to take an adventure to California to spend some time with my sisters and their kids!
Since they both have little girls it was a perfect plan...especially for Reagan.

*LOTS of fun pictures from our trip coming soon...BUT let's start with Halloween*

I would LIKE to introduce you to the 3 LITTLE PIGS!

From right to left...Reagan...Finley...Hazel

OH and Finley's bigger brother was a KNIGHT!

the whole gang

We visited my sister Liza at her work on Halloween...she was an ANT!

It was SO fun trick-or-treating house to house!!
Growing up I had to ride in a car to all the houses I went to...and I had to wear layers and layers of clothes!...thank you Idaho.

I just might come to California every year.

Feeding from the trough!

It was a GREAT Halloween!

Hope you had a great one too.

XOXO

A HELLO and a winner!

2011-10-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Ragnar has come and gone BUT I'm still in California soaking up the...wind...it isn't very sunny here but it's better than Idaho by a LONG SHOT so I'll take it!

When I have all the pictures figured out and I have my laptop {hubby is bringing it today!} I will blog more about my adventures.

BUT until then I will leave you will a WINNER from the CAIT CREATE GIVEAWAY!!

and the WINNER is...

according to RANDOM.ORG

TIFFANY!!!

{email me for details}

I am SO excited for HALLOWEEN...only a few days away!

Hope you have FUN plans.

XOXO

PEACE OUT BLOGGING WORLD!!!

2011-10-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

I'm OFF to CALIFORNIA for 2 weeks to stay with my sisters

AND

run the RAGNAR RELAY in VEGAS!

{I will blog next week...just not anymore this week cause I'll be sleepin' and runnin'!!}

BUT before I leave...let me share with you all a little video!

Jeff and I are wanting to become professional rappers...did ya' know!?!

Ok that is a lie BUT this video JUST might make us famous someday...

OK that's a lie too.

TRY to listen to the words and look past our serious lack of ghettoness...

oh and don't mind that Jeff can't stay on beat...

or that I'm acting like Nicki Minaj...
uhh...just watch it for the love!

SURPRISE!!

XOXO