New Years 2012 Resolutions

Ok, Lets face it, ...who ACTUALLY follows resolutions? In fact, I had all but given up and decided NOT to even think up any (For the past 5 years it's been to lose weight... and those aspirations go out the window before February.) However; one of my favorite Mama Bloggers The Sparkle Mama Has truly inspired me with her words  this is what she has to say;

"...2 months of eating right then slipping back to old habits is better than eating crap for those 2 months! I say, trying to reconnect with yourself and do things that bring you happiness for a few months then forgetting to is better for you than doing nothing lift your spirits! So maybe give that resolution another chance and try to bring change...."

....So true! She has SO inspired me ... we put wayyy to much pressure on ourselves and when we come to expect what we see as failure, we give up completely... to be quite honest I am ashamed at myself. I have so many areas in which I want to better myself, so whether or not I stick it out till the end, what better time to TRY than a fresh, new year? And hey, this may be my year.
So here it is; my new years resolutions list

• Catch up on scrap-booking. ( I haven't done any scrap-booking for over a year ... the last couple pages I did was just after I got pregnant, and Baby K is almost 5 months already!!! 
• Be More Social!! .. I totally feel like a hermit,... my comfort zone is my home, and I feel very uneasy about having people in my home...not sure why. I have many friends I haven't seen in years - Facebook is a crutch. I feel connected to these people, but it's not enough. 
• Get a college education. I start school in less than 2 weeks ... I am going to get my certificate for Early Childhood Education (Wish Me Luck?) Ideally, I'd like to get my Diploma, but have to choose Either Infant/Toddler or Special Needs as my Specialty.(How to choose?!)
• Be more Healthy. I am not going to concentrate on the weight. I think watching the scale puts too much pressure on me, and really makes me lose focus of whats important. All I am going to focus on is  being more active and being more conscientious of what I am putting into my body as well as portion control. 
• Update my ID ...**LAZY BRIDE ALERT** I've been married almost 2.5 years and my ID all still has my Maiden name (not to mention all my photo ID is expired... ) I was pretty heartbroken when  my baby's hospital card had to read 'Baby Waechter' instead of 'Baby Olson' ... I know it didn't really change anything... but I am sentimental like that.
• Do more for the community. My plans; Donate Breast Milk and Foster Rescue Dogs
• Change the world. ..No pressure though right? I'm not talking solve world hunger or forge world peace, I am thinking more along the lines of using my blog and my actions in positive ways, spread some awareness about Cloth Diapering for example. I LOVE running of some statistics off about cloth Diapering (Specifically the money saving aspects) when people ask ... it is so satisfying seeing the light-bubs go on above their heads and you just KNOW they're going to go home and do some research. Another way I plan on changing the world... and this one is going to be more tricky... Is BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC. *Dundundun* I fully support Mama's Right to feed their babes in Public... in fact, I feel very passionately about it... does that make me a hypocrite? I try DESPERATELY not to feed in public... I jut don't have the self confidence... AND YET, I believe if more people did it, Society would normalize towards it.. and insecure mama's (Such as myself) Don't have to be terrified of rude comments and evil glares. of all of my resolutions, this one is going to be most difficult for me.

• Teach Myself to Crochet 
• Get My sewing machine Tuned up and take a course in sewing (eventually I'd like to start sewing Cloth Diapers, Wipes and Pads for Charity.)
• Start going to the Gym / Swimming 
• Get & Keep my HA1C under 6 (Diabetes thing ;) ) 
• TBE (( I'm sure I'll be adding more ))

There it is Folks, My 2012 Resolutions... I hope to do an update in the summer to let you all know how I am doing. Also a huge 'Thank you' Shout out to Sparkle Mama for inspiring me this year

Upcycled Christmas Bow {Craft}

Christmas can be an incredibly Stressful time, Laden with Commercialism, Waste and Unrivaled in Expense. A good way to Curb some of ALL of the above, is to Make gifts.  I often bake cookies which I put in decorative tins, a few people get knitted scarves and dishcloths each year. But some Cost are unavoidable... Wrapping paper, Ribbons, Bows, ..or are they?

Today I'm going to show you how to make your own Christmas bows ...for next to nothing!
You can use Either Magazine pages, to 'WOW' a green Friend, or to simply keep costs low you can also use Scrapbooking paper - to customize and streamline your gifts look.

You will need;
Scrapbook paper or magazine page
Glue or stapler
Ruler
Pen or pencil
Scissors

• Take your pencil, Ruler and paper, and Measure out (vertically) 9 strips  Each measuring 3/4". Cut these out and line up 

• Next Divide you're strips into some groups Two Groups of 3, One Group of 2 and one Group of 1
• Put one of the groups of 3 to the side (we leave these as-is) Cut 1" off the end of each of the second group of Three
• Cut 2" off each of the group of 2 
• Measure out the last Strip to 3.5" 
• The tricky part; you need to 'Twist' each of the large strips (8) into a figure-8 and glue ends in place - The easiest way to do this, is to do one side at at time, the colored side of the paper out - you won't see much of the white once we're done anyways. This is tricky but gets easier with a little pratice.

• When you have twisted  all 8 of the strips, roll the 3.5" strip into a circle. 
• Next Glue and place each of the size groups together.(Two Groups of 3 and one of 2) Let dry.
• When your groups have dried. Glue together. then glue the circle into the middle. 

VOILA 

 

NOTES;
When using scrapbook Paper, you may find using a stapler to work better, as the card-stock is heavier than Magazine pages.
I used Glue, but it was much more difficult.

Peace, Love & Happy Holidays