thirteen books: book one

If you read my goals back in December you may have laughed or wondered why I have a goal to read 13 books this year. If you're one of my family members you already know why this is actually something I'll have to work at achieving. For the rest of you, here the story. Plain and simple, I an not a reader, never have been. I can count how many books (just twelve) that I've read on my own purely for enjoyment. In high school I only read one entire book, Brave New World. In college I read just one book as well, Eat, Pray, Love. Spring break of 2009, my senior year of college, I started the Twilight series and surprised myself with how soon I finished it.

That spring break Sam was deployed, I was freaking out about passing all my classes so I could graduate and found that I could take a mini break from reality and escape into a made up world. Enter my newly acquired love for reading. Problem was, I didn't know what I liked. So after those four books I didn't pick up another until last year. I read more books in 2012 than I've read in my whole life. I'm beginning to learn where my interests lie and thanks to my e-reader and iPhone I'm actually able to get through book at a reasonable pace despite my job and wife/mom duties.

My sister sent me this book for Christmas. How she always knows the things I'll like I'm not sure, but this book was fabulous! Very Brave New World/1984/Hunger Games-ish. Plus it's a series, which I love. If you like futuristic, Utopian style books, or any of the three I mentioned above, you'll enjoy this read.

I'm currently reading a six volume mini series  for book number two that I'll blog about when I finish.

a mile a day challenge.

I started running in October of 2011. I wanted to pull a Charlotte from Sex and the City and run through my whole pregnancy but being that I'm not naturally a runner that did not happen. I fully intended on taking running back up after Soren was born, even bought a sweet double jogger to cruise around the neighborhood with. Who knew I'd birth a baby who strongly despises the car seat and stroller? I see a possible motion sickness issue in my future. Any who I came across this challenge back in November. I thought to myself, how realistic, how challenging, how fun! Too bad I can't take part. Well in Elise's reflections on the challenge she said, "If you would like to start now, I say GO FOR IT. Set a time period and just. start. moving." So I did! And that brings me to now, a mile a day until PCS day. For you non military folk that's just a fancy acronym for when we move. I'm attempting to run 15 miles spread out over 15 days. Not so much a physical challenge, which I was pleased to learn, but a mental one.

So I invite you to join in on the challenge! Set a small goal for yourself like did and make it happen.

side note: I ran two miles on day one to make up for starting a day late.

Goals

2013 is just three days away and I am so excited! It is going to be a big year for the Linares family. We are moving to our third duty station. Sam will be taking on a special duty assignment as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor, Soren will turn one and Enolah will start her first sport (either soccer, dance or gymnastics...leaving the choice up to her). I never make "resolutions" but I was feeling ambitious this year and instead decided to jot down some goals, with a fun kick.

My goals for 2013:

- read 13 books
- try 13 new recipes
- do 13 crafts for me
- run 13 miles (this will be a stretch)!
- watch 13 classic movies

...and on a more serious note I want to be a better more informed mom and continue to do good.

Happy New Year, may 2013 be everything want it to be.

Oh my quilt.

Here's the story about my new, most favorite, completed craft project. Several months back we upgraded to a king size bed. After browsing for quilt sets online I realized I was going to have to do some bargain shopping. King bedding is rather pricey! Why a quilt specifically you ask? Well, I've learned through trial and error that I'm rather particular about bedding. I don't like that after a couple washes the stuffing in a comforter disperses or that the inner on a duvet always falls to the bottom and quilts,well, are just awesome.

So I started googling DIY quilts and found this tutorial. Made it, lived with it for a few weeks, decided I didn't like it and started over. Then I found this. I was so excited, I bought more fabric that day, 6 weeks ago.

Here's how I saved money making a king size quilt which by the way needs 10-12 yards of fabric, not including the backing or binding. I bought a Waverly sheet set from Ross for $16. I was able to use the flat sheet for backing and the pillow cases and fitted sheet for the bulk of my fabric. Then I found a promo code for fabric.com on retail me not and stacked coupons at Joann's for the rest of the fabric.

I measured 10x10 squares to make it go faster, didn't fuss about lining up the seems or all the wrinkles while I was quilting used this tutorial for the binding and I'm so in love! Now I can pack up my sewing machine that has been living on my dining table for the last month and start going to bed at a reasonable hour, until my next project of course.

Obsession.

noun

1.

the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.

I have an obsession with obsessing. Sometimes the level at which I obsess over things overwhelms me, stresses me out, makes me excited or down right giddy. I've decided to compile a short list of my current obsessions. Some day when I'm old and live a simple, calm and peaceful life I'll look back at this and probably miss my younger, crazy, obsessed self.

1. Sam coming home.
2. Enolah (in general)
3. Soren (growing too fast)
4. My quilt
5. The design of our master bedroom
6. Moving to South Carolina
7. Where we will live in South Carolina
8. Making new friends in South Carolina
9. Being a full time stay at home mom again
10. My goals for 2013
11. Cloth diapers
13. Finishing all my half done projects
14. My orchid
15. Blogging (more)

It's a lot. Sure, I tell myself I need to sit back, take a breather, relax and let things be. I try, but secretly (well not anymore) I love to obsess over anything and everything. Call me crazy, most do.

Life, according to Enolah

Enolah Yolie is my two year and 6 month (yesterday) old toddler and this is life, according to her. Check out the first edition of this series here.

Here's the latest:

- Enolah answers to her name but refers to herself as Yolie. This has been the case for almost a month. 

- Baby pictures of her aren't her brother anymore they are baby Yolie.

- She starting to be more aware of herself, I guess you could put it. She tells me that "she's hungry" and after eating announces that she has "filled her belly" and "it's not ouchie anymore."

- Her memory is getting too good for me to bribe her to do things with phrases like, "when you wake up maybe we'll go bowling" because she wakes up (as she did yesterday) searching for her "bowling shoes." 

- She's totally into to taking awesome self portraits of herself and leaving them as presents on my cell phone, the iPod touch we've given her to use (yea, we're those parents) and our regular camera. 

- The five days we spent with Sam for Thanksgiving have renewed her obsession with him. Her answer to solve ANY issue is, "don't worry Daddy will help us"

 Me: Oh no, your brother is sad.

 E: Don't worry Daddy will help us.

 M: Ugh, It's raining outside!

 E: Don't worry Daddy will help us.

 M: Ouch, I hurt my foot.

 E: Don't worry Daddy will help us.

 M: Your shirt is stuck on your head

 E: Don't worry Daddy will help us.

 M: The kitchen is a mess!

 E: Don't worry Daddy will help us. 

And lastly, Christmas. She totally understood the whole Halloween bit, thank you nick and disney jr., but still hasn't grasped this holiday. We don't have any decorations up yet but several of the people in our neighborhood do and she's starting to see stuff about it on tv. I've caught her wandering the house on several occasions searching for "Christmas" she tells me she "can't find Christmas." Hopefully after some of the activities I have planned for her she'll understand a bit more! I'll have to deal with this though before we can decorate, thanks Sam! 

Those are our trees, high in the rafters!

Giving Thanks

So Thanksgiving 2011 Sam and I ran a 5k and had Cornish hens from the crock pot. I thought that was an awesome Thanksgiving, until this year. We drove down the Charlotte, NC and spent the holiday with his Aunt and Uncle. We were so lucky that Sam was given 4 days off from school and that we would get to spend those days with him after 8 weeks away. 

We had such an awesome time visiting with family, who I just met in March and Sam has only seen sparingly throughout his life. They are such wonderful people and we are very excited to be just 4 hours away from them for the next three years.

Enoah didn't have quite the response I was hoping for when she saw her Daddy for the first time but after a few hours she was back in full on Daddy's girl mode, attached to his hip and I was chop liver once again.

Here are a few pictures from our Thanksgiving vacation. 

Soren the ladies man.

Soren and his great grandpa.

Looking at this cool art feature in our uncle's work building. 

Finally being a sweet boy to Daddy.

Loves her brother. 

goofy girl.