23 - Return Amazon Returns

One of my goals for this year was to return several things I bought on amazon that were duplicates of gifts and exchange a gift i got.  I put this on my list purposely because I have been bad about returns lately and I didn’t want to lose the credits.

I actually did it two weeks ago but I just got the amazon credits and ordered myself some more reusable baggies to reduce our single use plastics around the house.  I also ordered another set of reusable paper towels which honestly have been my favorite.  I will share more on these purchases when they come.  

Best Of 2018

The clown by mom and Jones

And now their are 4.  

Oh I love this so much.

My best quilt finish.  Both Jones and I love this quilt so much.

Several times this summer several neighborhood kids did the slip and slide with us.  Such fun.

He has asked me 100x when skating starts again. And Thea would very much like to also partake as she wants a sparkly purple dress just like charolettes.

This parade was dreadful hot but the kids cracked me up.

My kids still tell people of this.

They were straighter before photo 

Of course this was one of only two we did but it wins.

I had planned to have about 10 more of these but never got around to it.  Next time.

Girl Power Quilt

I literally have 9-12 unfinished quilts I could work on but alas I started another quilt.  I am making a Girl Power Quilt for Thea.  It will be made of all different paper pieces girls.  It’s been fun making them however I have a serious lack of skin tone options.  I purchased a few but still have maybe 5? I need to raid someone’s scrap bin that likes earthy tones I think.  I have even altered the pattern a bit for different hair and clothes (there’s an attempt at my Thea below with her blonde messy pig tails).  The pattern is called Paper Pieced Children by Saphre1964 and it comes from Craftsy/blueprint (it’s currently still available although they are changing their policy for free patterns I think) https://shop.mybluprint.com/quilting/patterns/paper-pieced-children/609166

2018 List Recap

I think this year might have been the year I completed the most goals.  And a few of these that I didn’t complete I couldn’t like Blink Cincy and Church campout since they didn’t even happen in 2018 - so I already was out those.  Anyhow seems very accomplished.

36 Completed items:  

1. One Second Everyday video

3. Finish Block of Month 

4. Make spike/Skippy Jon a quilt 

5. Instastories once a week - maybe not weekly but I did at least 50. 

7. Organize the kids toys 

8. Buy a new coat

9. Finish another unfinished quilt 

10. Buy all new underwear 

13. New car or van 

15. Buy a new swimsuit

16. Plant a garden

21. Get Pool passes

22. Jones Ice skating lessons

23. Thea/Jones swim lessons

24. Thea dance lessons

25. Fancy Taco Tuesday

26. JJs 40th trip

27. More intentional prayer

28. women’s March

31. Service project with the kids

33. Repurpose something

34. Art Journal

35. Watch a movie.

36. Cereal party

37. Birthday party for Thea 

38. Birthday party for Jones

39. Play date with Brooks 

42. Organize the coat closet

43. Meet my new nephew

44. Get my Ohio license 

45. Organize my dresser

46. Write down more kid stories 

47.  Take kids to a beach

48. Event with Kathleen and Lynley 

49. Stay caught up in Project Runway

52. New List

6 Started:

2. Temperature Quilt - I don’t think i will finish it I hate it

6. Read 12 Books - I read 10

17. Monthly dates with jones - I think we did 8

18. Monthly dates with Thea - I maybe did 5

20. Sand and seal deck - I have a small patch maybe 6x6 done

41. Finish project Life 2016 - I have one more month

10 Not started:

11. Go to Blink Cincy

12. Make Chia Seed Jam

14. Attempt the Whole 30

19. Tile floor in main bath

29. Make new curtains for moms kitchen

30. Professional family photos

32. Church campout

40. Make naan 

50. New hairstyle/color

51. Makes challah

2019 List - 52 Things

Finally finished my list moved over a few things from last year. 

1. One Second Everyday 2019

2. Get Bunk Beds

3. new hair style new color

4. Send Real Cards

5. Bake Royal Icing Cookies

6. Great Jones Bake Off

7. Read 10Books

8. Potty Train Thea

9. Index Card a Day Challenge

10. Splash park visit

11. Blink Cincinnati 

12. Determine where we will live next

13. Family vacation Hilton Head

14. Michigan Trip

15. Shop at Indigo Hippo

16. Finish the cat quilt

17. Finish the city sampler quilt

18. Finish some other quilt tbd

19. Celebrate Theas 3rd birthday 

20. Celebrate Jones 5th birthday

21. Find a preschool for Thea

22. Document Kindergarten for Jones

23. Return the amazon returns

24. Buy new Fitbit.

25. Buy new bras.

26. Watch the sunset.

27. Watch the sunrise.

28. 100 day project

29. Summer bucket list

30. Celebrate Ollie’s first birthday

31. Stomp in the creek and fossil hunt.

32. Watch Theas dance recital

33. Reduce plastic use

34. Clean out my garage

35. Re-tile bathroom floor

36. Make a garment for myself

37. Finish dress for Thea

38. Continue art journaling

39. Play date with Brooks

40. Visit the zoo

41. Find a new playground

42. Build sandcastles

43. Use my SLR at least seasonally

44. Finish 52 pages of project life

45. Cleanup the art shelf

46. Take meals to 5 or more families

47. Ice cream with JJ 

48. Find ginger with Kathleen 

49. Walk around the neighborhood and pick up trash

50. See Christmas lights

51. Visit mountains with Jono and Lo

52. Make new list

1 - one second everyday video

This is my video from one second everyday 2018.  Song is coldplay adventure of a lifetime.  I missed several days but I still love this project and it’s so cool to compare it to last year or 2016 and see how much things have changed.  Here’s the link in case above preview doesn’t work.

https://youtu.be/H6QD_gjw3zc

35 - went to the Movies

I took Thea to see her first movie.  In all fairness it was only Jones’s second movie.  But I did discover Saturday morning movies are only $4. We saw it Ralph Breaks the Internet it was fine but not exactly my favorite movie.

I think over the year I watched about 4 other movies so I am cross good old 35 off my list. 

Favorite Podcasts

My “top nine” favorite podcasts I didn’t put them into any order it’s just too hard for that.

keep It - I love Louis Virtel.  His movie knowledge is amazing.  I also enjoy Kara and Ira together in this trio.

Pop culture Happy Hour- I try to keep up on pop culture even though i literally never get to movies.

The Daily - my news fix I literally listen to these first.

Pod save the people - Brittney some serious strong women I love her.  And Deray too even though it’s a podcast I appreciate that he wears his puffy vest every single day and his questioning style is on point.

Terrible Thanks for Asking - Sad stories but so true life

The Dream - about MLMs I love these in-depth news stories.   

getting Curious with JVN - The topics are always so random but literally I learn something every episode.

In the Dark - Season 2 crazy pants and I am not really a true crime person

Lovett of Leave It - political + comedy show two things I never thought I would listen too but I enjoy John Lovett 

Also shout outs two Uncover and Serial as well.  

December boom

December just exploded upon us.  We have seen three Santa’s!  And been wearing holiday attire.  Dug out most of the decorations.  It’s seriously looking a lot like Christmas.  

I love this time of year and I love it more with kids.  They are so into everything.  Our little town did a winterfest and my kids were totally into it.  Ice skating, cocoa, trees, lights, reindeer, Santa, carols and sleigh rides.  Everything is free and such a fun time.  I love Thea’s little vintage holiday dress.  

We also went and saw scuba Santa at the aquarium.  Thea was totally into talking to him on the microphone. She desperately needed to correct herself as the day before she asked Santa for a My Little pony but she really wants a Dollhouse which she calls a Barbie Camphouse.  

We look forward towards more holiday festivities!

Road trip to DC

Over thanksgiving we went to DC.  It was a short trip but my kids were excited for JJs house and the metro and Legostore.  All good things.  The trip was mostly good.  There was a big fit under the table at the mall but luckily it was so noisy nobody noticed really aside from us.  

We had a lovely time with our cousins for thanksgiving and caught a little sightseeing too.  Here’s just a few photos as for some reason I can’t download from my cloud.