Before Baby List

I LOVE lists - they motivate me, inspire me, and make me feel awesome - when they are all checked off that it! So, with lots going on, and lots to get ready before November I have mental lists, lists on my iPhone, post-it notes galore, and verbal vomit I dumb on Josh in hopes he will remind me about it later.

Now I'll add a blog list to the run-down!

Crafts to complete before baby arrives:
- adding foam to couch
- t-shirt quilt
- couch pillow covers
- duvet cover & bedroom pillow covers
- baby quilt
- crib mobile
- baby room curtains
- curtains for our bedroom
- nephews' Christmas gifts
- month by month onesies for first year pictures
- finish crochet shoes
- make thanksgiving onesie

Here's to getting it all done! :)

New Year - New Me

I love new things. I love fresh starts. and I love check boxes.

Sometimes I feel silly adding something to my to-do list that I'm already 1/2 way done...but I do it anyways. It feeds my need to "check."

This year I set some new goals - the most significant changes are: (1) stretching everyday and (2) working out 3 times a week. So far, I've only missed 1 day of working out - and I truly struggled with my need to check for the day.

I do feel healthier, now if I get to the afternoon and haven't stretched for the day, I feel cramped, anxious, and a need to move. Before January 2012 I went months without stretching, now I can't even make it to lunch! Working out for me also means eating better. I simply don't enjoy working out enough - it robs me of any interest in alcohol, dessert, or carbs! I figure every brownie I don't have - it's (almost) like doing a big set of crunches!

Like most new things, our wii fit quickly faded from our minds after we received it 2 Christmases ago. When I booted it up on January 1 it told me it had been 391 days since my last visit...but who's counting! I'm trying to spend less time on the couch and more time doing stuff - making the most of my nights.

So far so good, here's to hoping the empty boxes on my to-do list keep me motivated!

Friends Make a Town a Home

Establishing roots in a new place inevitably takes longer than you even think possible.

And unfortunately for me, vulnerability is a look I don't wear well. I always find some reason to hold back, close up, and ultimately sell myself short. I am constantly telling myself that I'll open up more, next time.

I had wonderful friends in DC, which made moving all the harder. Their friendship is the only thing I miss about that city. Even with my shyness, hesitancy to let go, and brand new bout of social awkwardness I've made some fabulous friends. And you know what, they love me for me.

That is one thing I've learned since leaving college - true friends (the ones that will laugh with you, celebrate with you, cry with you, and most importantly tell you truth) are hard to come by. I'm planning to hold onto these two for a long time. We were joking last night as I downed my third (whole wheat) peanut butter cookie that they weren't going to judge me "because they are my thighs I can treat them anyway I want" and I think that is the center of true friendship. I've learned to let go and let be.

Open up your heart and calendar to true friendship, and make your town your home.

An Apple a Day...

...keeps the doctor away, or so the saying goes. But what does a bushel of apples do? Apparently keeps you baking for days!

Josh planned a date to go apple picking at a local orchard, Half Crown. Having eyes bigger than our bellies, we naturally selected the largest bag for apple picking. This one glutenous decision lead to hours in the kitchen!

The first thing I wanted to bake, was obviously an apple pie...correction, make that "apple pies". After 3 apple pies, then came 3 loaves of apple bread, then the apple muffins, applesauce, and finally apple stuffed pork.

I'll give you a few tips: extra thinly sliced apples for the pie; nutmeg in the applesauce; and goat cheese applesauce in the pork.

Cleaning Around Yourself

Since each and everyone of us are "Everyday Super Women" we have to find ways to get about 50 things done a day, and that's a low estimate! Whether that means working, making dinner, planning birthday parties, or cleaning the bathrooms - they are all important, and weigh equally as heavy on our minds. So - how do we go about life? How do we get absolutely everything done without going crazy or making our husbands crazy?

Ultimately, every "Everyday Super Woman" is going to have a different tactic that works for her - mine - check lists. I LOVE the satisfaction of checking something off my to-do list. (At times I'm guilty of adding something to my list I'm already working on just so I can check it off!). Besides the productivity-high I get from finishing everything on my list, I truly that after finding my organizational chi, I get more done, I redeem my hours better.

The one lesson I've learned this year about running around attemping to clean up everything before it even needs it or trying to fix problems before they even arise, is to settle. Now I know your mom told you never to settle - and you shouldn't, on certain things. However, how clean your bathrooms are, how frequently you vacuum your living room, and shopping for Christmas in October are definitely all things you should welcome second best at. Take the time that you would spend polishing your toilet and enjoy a glass a wine or catch up with an old friend.

Redeem your hours better today.

Hi, I'm Rachel and I'm an addict.

I have an addiction.

There it is - I said it out loud. I have an addiction.

Therefore, I'm am addict.

Wow - they're right - admitting you have a problem is the first step to a better life.

Oh yeah, I'm addicted to snacks and sweets - exhibit A is our "snack platter" for our game of Settlers of Catan tonight.

There really is no such thing as a free lunch

I have loved living closer to my nephews and getting to enjoy the little adventures of life with them - and we had one such adventure on Friday.

We turned in all of our pride (ok, just some of it) to earn ourselves a "free" lunch at Chick-Fil-A.

There were surprising less people dressing up than I would have expected and James and Micheal weren't nearly as traumatized by the GIANT cows inside the restaurant as I thought they would be (and walking on 2 hind legs none the less!)

I love the little joys that these 2 munchkins bring me, and yes, I know - my cow ears look more like bunny ears....