DAYS 6-8: ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK

OK, so Day 1, I lit some candles. My son dips his fingers in the wax...repeatedly.  Day 2, I organized my working spaces.  Feels like a full-time job keeping my desk space cleared...but I'm working at it.  Day 3 is couples subway art.  Printer is still having issues....maybe it will be printed today so I can frame it.  Day 4 - SICK KIDS.  Enough said.  Day 5 was fun setting my table and shopping at a new store.  It just seems like it's much harder than I anticipated to Reclaim my Suburban Utopia.  That was really frustrating to me - at first.  But I've taken the weekend to reevaluate.  This is my life.  I have 3 boys, 2 dogs and a whole lot of chaos.  That's my norm.  In my quest for my utopia, things are going to get messy, sometimes they may not work out, and somethings might be out of my reach right now. I can give up trying or pick my battles.  I choose to pick my battles.  I'm continuing on this path and I'm going to enlist some help from my boys, starting today!  I'm going to see this series to the 31st day too.  Even though I'm lumping 3 days in this post.  So here's the scoop from my weekend.

We had our General Conference for our church and it included 4 2-hour sessions on Saturday and Sunday.  I enjoyed watching all the sessions and having my family around me.  I really do love conference and look forward to the next one in April.  One hour after the last conference session on Sunday, my extended family (on my mom's side) comes over for a potluck, everyone brings a salad to share.  This year I brought back the tradition from my childhood of homemade doughnuts.

I found my Mita's recipe and even her doughnut cutter.  My cousins rolled and cut the dough, I fried them and another cousin covered them in either cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar or pumpkin pie spice sugar.  The kids inhaled them and are so happy to have this tradition start for them.  JOY!  I love family.  I love being surrounded by them.  I love sharing traditions.  Sunday night was perfect.  I had aunts & uncles, friends that we consider family, cousins, all of our children (from 4 weeks to 16) visiting, running around, eating.  Best of all, it was my utopia! (I enjoyed making the doughnuts so much, I've decided we need to have friends over to make them again)

Finally, the adventures of this morning.  We're still on fall break and I scheduled all the kids for their dentist visit.  Kyler said our morning prayer and blessed that they wouldn't have any cavities.  I tried to explain that you need to brush and floss to avoid cavities.  He seemed unfazed by this information.  We arrived at the dentist's office, then kids went back and I waited.  When they came back out, I was informed that they did very well and no cavities.  As happy as this makes me, it only furthers Kyler's opinion that a quick prayer before the dentist keeps the cavities away.  Then I was informed that Kyler needs sealants put on two molars.  I went to another desk to set this up when I was told that he would need nitrous for the visit.  WHAT?!?  They need nitrous to brush a little sealant on two teeth.  The woman was confused since she hasn't seen the need for nitrous with sealants before.  She checked with the dentist to see if it was a mistake.  It wasn't a mistake, Kyler doesn't sit still and they would need him to be for the procedure.  I made the appointment and couldn't wait to talk with Kyler in the van.  I asked him if he sat still for the dentist.  That's when Asher piped in with the recounting of the visit.  "Mom, he sits straight up in the middle of the cleaning and starts spitting!"  A mixture of shock, mortification and humor race through my mind.  Humor wins out and I'm struggling to not laugh in front of my kids....especially the spitting one.  I mean, really am I raising a kid or a llama.  Kyler tries to deny and now Colton starts "It's true.  Kyler don't be mad just because we practice responsible dentistry!"  Now I really can't contain my laughter.  Responsible dentistry!  Only Colton!!!  It reminds me of an experience years ago.  Asher had just been potty trained and Colton went in to use the bathroom.  All of a sudden I hear Colton "What is this wetness?!?  What is this wetness on the floor?????"  Then Asher pipes in with "it's pee."  A mortified Colton removes himself and uses my bathroom. 

(the llama)

Here's to another day with my responsible dentistry boys and my llama.  Now I want to watch Emperor's New Groove....silly llama! 

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

I'm enjoying General Conference this weekend, but will have Day 6 - Day 8 posted on Monday!

  

I'm a Mormon.  I know it. I live it. I love it!

To watch General Conference, click here.

DAY 5 - A BREAKFAST TABLE AND A LITTLE HAPPINESS

Good Morning!
Now to begin to share my love affair with dishes and tablescapes.  I'm getting so excited to look at my inventory of plates, glasses, flatware, place card holders, salt & pepper shakers, and other accessories I have stashed in my china cabinet....and the garage - shelves and shelves in the garage!

What a wonderful way to start the day, fun dishes!  I love the mini gravy boat.  I filled this one with warm syrup.  I love the pumpkin place card holder, even though it's camouflaged on my tablecloth.

 I can't wait to do more fall tables.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes - YUM!

 Now, the little prince sits down to eat.  OK....I may or may not have made him pose with the syrup, ready to pour.  Just for the record, he doesn't like syrup on his chocolate chip pancakes.

 This is not posed, he does love chocolate milk. 

 Now that his tummy is full, he's off to a friends for the day.  Thankfully, my boys had a 24 hour sickness and we were all up and about yesterday.  I even had time to try out a grand opening grocery store in our area, Winco.  I've been excited to try them out, especially their bulk bins.  I took my store flyer and went to grab the grand opening specials and then found the bins.  I'm aware this sounds crazy to most, but this was beautiful!  So many items and many with great prices.

 There were pastas, grains, beans, legumes, rice, trail mix, nuts, candy, spices, etc., etc., etc!

 Here are the spices...I picked up some dried parsley for $0.22 (need it to make homemade ranch dressing mix) and around 20 bay leaves for $0.04!  LOVE!

 Dried Mango Slices for $2.97/lb....Yes, Please!

 This aisle made me happy that the boys weren't there.

 I can't wait to decorate for Halloween!!!  I mean, our temps have finally dipped below 100 degrees.  We might not need our a/c running full blast anymore. Now that would really make me happy!

As if my shopping trip and breakfast table wasn't enough, I'm going to lunch today with a cousin.  I can't wait!!!  Till tomorrow.

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 4 - REALITY IN UTOPIA

Some days my Suburban Utopia looks like this.

Today I had two sick kids and two little dogs on my bed.  But I have furniture to paint, food to make, parties to create, tables to decorate, gifts to make & give, decorating to explore, lunch dates to make, holidays to enjoy.  "Unproductive days don't help me Reclaim my Suburban Utopia!", I want to say....then the calmer voice, the voice of truth says 

"They ARE your Utopia."  

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 3 - COUPLES LOVE SUBWAY ART

OK...so a big part of Reclaiming my Suburban Utopia is making sure that I'm surrounded by what I truly love.  Nearly 13 years ago, we moved our little family (our first two sons were just 3 & 1) into our second home.

(in our first house with our first two sons)

The whole house was white.  When I say white, I mean white walls, white carpet, white tile, white faucets, and white washed cabinets!  I was very optimistic and saw it all as a blank canvas.  I couldn't wait to make our new home my own.  Lots of work went into painting and decorating.  Little by little rooms were completed and it made me happy.  Then life gets more complicated.  Kids get older and busier.

(my three monkeys saying goodbye to my grandma's yellow couch)

Suddenly, decorating is the last thing on my mind.  Even when I get excited about a project, I generally run out of time or energy to get it done.  Don't get me wrong, I really like my home, but I feel like it's time to change things up a bit.  And really it's the little changes that make a huge difference.  A recent example of this was my hallway of family photos.  I was getting very tired of it and it didn't make me happy.  That's because, despite having two teenagers, in my hallway - no one had reached puberty yet!  I quickly shot some photos of the boys and updated their frames.  That little change was all it needed.  Which brings me to this print.

I really liked this back in 1993.  The next year we found out we were expecting and three months later, I had a miscarriage.  My husband came home one night and surprised me with the print.  It meant a lot to me, that he was thinking of me and trying to help me through that difficult time.  I really couldn't imagine ever getting rid of it, but lately it doesn't make me happy.  Solution:  Fill it with something I love.....how about LOVE. 

You may recognize couples from scriptures, movies and TV.  What makes it more special to me, I added my grandparents to the list! Stanley & Juliette (my maternal grandparents) and Grant & Ruth (my paternal grandparents) have all passed away and I love that they're included here.  I can't wait to get it printed and in the frame.  It's only Day 3, but I'm quickly realizing that my Suburban Utopia is in the little details.
You can start on Day 1 here or check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 2 - TAKING CARE OF ME FIRST

I can logically understand that if I don't take care of myself, then I won't be able to take care of others.  Acting on that knowledge is another thing.  Normally, if I feel that I'm going to run out of time, energy, focus, I'd rather fulfill what I can for others than to take care of me.  Recently I've made more of an effort to focus on myself and hope that this 31-day process of Reclaiming my Suburban Utopia strengthens this resolve.  Today I'm focusing on organizing my personal space.  I have mad organizing skills and loved using them as an office manager.  Then I became a stay-at-home mom.  Managing kids is a tougher job and much longer hours than managing employees!  Here are two spaces I use frequently: my desk space in my room and my space at the dinner table.    Here's my messy desk!

 Yes, those are video tapes.  We're old school over here, taping our shows and keeping it real.

 Here's my little corner at the dinner table.  I often sit here while the boys are doing homework.  It's important to stay close, keeping them (or trying to keep them) focused. I generally go through the mail, plan menus/shopping lists, listen to music and work on dinner prep.

 After a little attention, my new and improved desk!  I love how it looks and feels already.  Now the key, maintain this.  (I love this photo of my and my dad.  It was in May when my youngest was baptized and my oldest received his Eagle Scout award)

 Now for my little corner - much improved!!! 

 A closer view of the CD player and CD case in the bench.  The pencil sharpener in the window sill is used frequently.  I don't think we could go back to a manual pencil sharpener! 

 Containers and window sill cleaned and ready for the day.  You might think it's pathetic that our 2011 Advent Candle is sitting there.  I just think we're ready to jump into Day 8 of the 2012 Advent. (embarrassing)

 

A quick update on yesterday's candles.  

What's this you say?

 My son dipping his fingers in the wax.  This same son tried to set some trash on fire after lunch too.  Awesome.  Did I mention my kids are home for fall break?

Now it's your turn to take care of you first.  

What gets your attention first?

Click here to go to the beginning of my 

31 Days of Reclaiming my Suburban Utopia.  

Click here to see what the other 31 dayers are doing.

DAY 1 - SMELLS LIKE UTOPIA ALREADY

I love candles.  I used to burn them frequently for the ambience.  It was so calming to get home from work and kick back in a candle lit room.  Or bubble baths!  I almost forgot about bubble baths (for me, not the boys!) I loved relaxing in the tub by candle light. Then scented candles became incredibly popular.  My love affair with candles increased.  Then children (three boys, specifically) derailed my love.  The potential hassle and danger greatly overpowered the enjoyment.  I stopped buying candles and burned them less frequently.   Today I decided that I would see what I had and light one as my first step to Reclaiming my Suburban Utopia!

 The five remaining candles in my collection.  Clockwise from Bottom Left: cucumber melon, mystery pecan pie, vanilla, hazelnut cream and pumpkin in the center.

 It's no surprise that my collection is mainly fall scents!

 I forgot about this one, I won it at a baby shower.  Paula Deen's Mystery Pecan Pie.  It smells wonderful, just ask my baby.

 Two of my boys helped light them. (thankfully, they didn't try to light anything else)

 My youngest has seen very few lit candles in our home!

It's already making me feel happy!

 Day 1 is a success!!!  (as long as my boys don't burn the house down)

As I mentioned in my introductory post, we have been a Kleenex free zone for years.  Here's the sad reality - toilet paper!

Yep, two rolls in the family room to help out our allergy suffering family.  The search for the perfect Kleenex box starts this afternoon!

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.