Multitude Mondays #13-#23

Finding eucharisteo in the right now…

I’m participating (on Monday!!) along with many others at A Holy Experience giving thanks and daring to live fully right where we are!

#13 watching middle eat peanut butter toast

#14 the noise level in this house (a whole ‘nother blog post all together")

#15 first foods for little

#16 evidence that little boys live here

#17 the pink stuff that makes ear infections better

#18 exercising

#19 rules of the game tag to a three year old boy

#20 the calm after the fever has broken

#21 energy spurts right before bedtime

#22 the boys being cooperative at bedtime

#23 big brother saying amen at bedtime prayers

To see what others are finding as eucharisteo, check out A Holy Experience.

What’s your eucharisteo today?

3 in 30 February month end…looking to March

 

I feel like this month has absolutely flown by and can’t believe I’m already thinking about March’s goals!!!  I’m really pleased with the projects I’ve tackled this month and the progress I’ve done!! 

 

So here’s an update: 

 

I’m on day 53 of my Bible in 90 Days!!!  I’ve been consistently reading it and the book “one thousand gifts” by Ann Voskamp and working them both into my morning routine.  I have been waking up at 4:45am and get started.  It’s been such an encouragement to me to.

 

The  hello mornings challenge has probably  made the biggest impact on my routine.

The gals involved with that have become an answered prayer!!  I feel like this is a habit now and I’m excited to continue my morning routine into March

 

I’ve been doing a little better with my tracking but then I don’t do so great…it’s a daily struggle to choose to eat the right things.  I got burnt out early on salads and yogurt so I’m having to try some new things to get fired up about.

 

And the decluttering…oh the decluttering!!!  Doing well….oh so much more to do!!  How do we accumulate so much stuff?  The pantry and area above my computer have been cleaned…So much more to do….this goal may be carrying over into March.

I got to know Pixosphere this month as a sponsor of #3in30 and I’ve enjoyed the website and hope to be able to use it more to help with the photography/pictorial parts of the blog!!!

 

And now on to March’s goals:

1.  TV free afternoons – this is an old old habit of mine.  Growing up the TV was always on…didn’t pay attention to it.  I have a habit of needing the sound…and now my boys are always watching the tube.  They’re really good at playing and don’t always pay attention to it…but I do catch them wanting it always on (and on Disney a lot of the time).  We can usually change it to news in the afternoon, but I find myself using the TV on days when kids (or mommy) aren’t feeling well and if mommy needs some peace.

So instead, during the week I’m gonna try to turn the TV off and turn on some tunes.

I ordered 2 cds from Seeds Family Worship from the recommendation of some of my new twitter friends and I hope they get here really soon!!  My goal is to have music playing in the afternoons so the boys don’t get so stuck on the TV (and mommy doesn’t go crazy without the TV noise!)!!  I can’t imagine completely shutting off the television and that’s not where my convictions lie…I just want a imaginative play to be important, and if we can add in some scripture in the process…win win!!!

Anyone have any suggestions on how to make this go smoothly?

2.  Exercise – I got a jump start on this goal this week and I’m so excited!!  I spent 30 minutes on the treadmill 3 times this week!!!  I’m sore but it felt good and it was nice to have that time for myself.  I’m hoping by exercising I will enhance my weight loss and encourage me with my weight loss endeavors!!

My specific goal is exercise at least 30 minutes 3 times a week. 

I hope to continue to use the treadmill and do some of my videos. I know it’s not huge, but it’s a start!!!

What are your favorite workout videos?  Do you have any podcasts you could recommend I listen to while on the treadmill?

3.  My third goal involves my blog and online time.  I’ve gotten my new computer and getting it set just the way I want it!!  I love it!!

I’ve got some new programs that are helping make my online life a little easier!!!  I’m starting to get some regularity in my computer time and I really enjoy that.  I’m finding it easier to create and post on the blog and this has become my own special little place.

Photo by sisterlisa at Pixosphere

With the help of my friends Hope and Shawntele, I’ve been working on a new look for the blog!!  (thanks sister friends!!)!!!  I’m so excited about the overhaul and am hopeful for the future of MommaKristi!!  It really is my heart and I want to share with other women who are in some of the same places as me!

So my third goal is to finish the blog overhaul & get my hosting together.

I’m hoping our TV free afternoons, my quiet morning time, and the new computer tools will help with this goal (as well as my friends!!).  I’m also hoping to be more intentional about what I’m doing with my time…when I’m blogging or tweeting, I’m not saying to the boys, “just a minute…mommy’s busy”.  I hope once the blog is set up, I can lessen my time actually working on the computer!!!

Wow…long post!!  Thanks for stopping by!!  Do you have any goals for March?

Multitude Monday/Top 10 Tuesday

 

I got a new computer and I typed up a pretty multitude Monday post to link up to Ann Voskamp and none of my pictures showed up.  I think I got a fix, so I decided to link this to Multitude Monday and Top 10 Tuesday (even though it’s 12…that’s ok, right?).

So here it goes…Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts has been life changing and I decided to start my list- right here right now!!  (well, the list is written in a simple spiral notebook, I like to have it with me everywhere, and I’ll post weekly (on monday’s hopefully) to keep track of them here.

 

1.  Learning new things (like my new computer, twitter, blogging, etc)

2.  New online friends (that help me with my new endeavors)

3.  Iced Coffee (having some right now)

4.  My husband being home during the day right now (we’re in a transition time and he’s cut back on hours so we’re all home on tues, wed, thurs)

5.  Lunch together as a family of 5 at the kitchen table.

6. Afternoon tea

7.  First morning cries for love & comfort by my baby boy

8.  Three little boys singing and chattering together

9.  Yellow hats with green frogs, inside, in February

10.  Sharing m&m’s with that little boy in the yellow and green hat.

11.  My quiet morning routine

12. Big brother making little brother smile.

For more eucharisteo check out Ann Voskamp and

more Top Ten lists check out Oh Amanda.

3 in 30 update, Encouraging words

Wow, another week of 3 in 30...I love love love this challenge!!!
First here's an update on how my goals are going:
1. Morning routine....oh how I'm loving my am time. I still have to find the balance of what time to go to bed and what time to get up...but it's going well.
I'm up to date on B90days and still loving it (I'm hoping to get ahead here after I write this...)

2. Declutter...well, I'm working on it...
Last week I told ya about my pantry...well, I finally uploaded some pictures to Pixosphere so I thought I'd try it out this week.

Pantry after:

(should've taken a before...I know!!!)

I also decluttered a cabinet above my computer workspace. I'm slowly trying to organize it but here it is now:

I'm planning on adding some organizational "stuff" to it...but now you can see my library books in there...I'm trying to learn more about blogging:).

3. Track points & good health guidelines for weight watchers and overall health.
Well, I lost another 2 pounds, but I'm not doing great getting my good health guidelines in.

But the good thing about 3 in 30 is that it's a new week and I can always re-focus. No giving up!!

The point of todays link up is supposed to be encouraging words....I started reading (like lots of my online sister friends) this book and it has changed my life...and I'm only on chapter 4.
My encouraging quotes come from there this week:
"Eucharisteo always precedes the miracle"
"I would never experience the fullness of my salvation until I expressed the fullness of my thanks every day''
"I just want time to do my one life well"
"Where ever you are, be all there -Elisabeth Elliot"

I know they don't seem to directly correlate with my goals, but these quotes have changed my focus and reminded me what truly matters!!!

For more encouragement, check out the 3 in 30 link up!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

New Features: What I Wore Wednesday & WW update

Because you know I've been on quite a journey...an adventure as I'd like to put it. I've had 3 baby boys in 3 years. But I honestly can't put all the blame on that....because in college I packed on some weight. I've done weight watchers a few times, both in person and online and had some success with it. But after Cole was born I found myself at my heaviest point. And knowing that I have issues with depression, I knew something had to be done about it. So I joined ww again when Cole was 2 months old and so far I've lost 13 lbs!! Woo hoo!! However my clothes don't fit. I wear sweats. Every day. And I wear scrubs to work.

Knowing that how I look is directly related to how I feel, I've been looking for some smart wardrobe investments for when I lose my 50-60 lb goal....and I decided to just wear sweats until then. Haha. Then I found Pleated Poppy and this delightful link up and I wanted to be a part of it. It's scary to think about putting pictures of me up here for the world to see, but I am embracing my Word of 2011 and being brave and hoping for some accountability and inspiration!!!


And while it seems vain to some to show pictures of our clothes (even if the pictures aren't that great) I trust and appreciate what Lindsay says on her blog about the process.

Where we encourage and challenge each other to get out of our sweats by putting pics of ourselves up to keep accountable!

So I'm getting started with some pictures, they may not be the most flattering, but I'm jumping in with both feet...living in the right now!!! Hoping that this process will inspire me for continued weight loss, help my fashion sense, and help me in the every day.

The first day. I decided to go get a haircut. And wear real pants:).
Jeans: Lands end "skinny" jeans (and they fit...woot woot- first time since post partum #3)
Shirt: So cool mom T-shirt
Fleece: Lands end
Boots: Generic uggs from target


The next day: Jas asked me why I was so dressed up!!! (I told you...nothing but sweats here postpartum)

Pants: Old navy drawstring khaki's (that may be getting a bit big)
Shirt & Sweatshirt: Target
Shoes: Tennis shoes...because my feet will never be the same after these 3 pregnancies. (must find cute sturdy shoes, stat)
And I dried my hair that day instead of leaving it wet. Baby steps my dear friends.


And what I wear every weekend:
(scrubs are lovely but just contribute to the fat lazy factor)

Standard hospital issue scrubs, fleece with hosp. logo, and tennis shoes.


As I type this now I'm still in my pjs but I'm going to shower and get dressed "all cute". I can tell a difference in my attitude and energy when I do that and I think my husband truly appreciates it too!!!

For more fashion ideas check out the Pleated Poppy!!

I'm excited to use this journey in What I Wore Wednesday to log my weight loss too!! To see that it's really working...and to experiment in fun "mommy fashion!!".

As of today: 13 pounds down.
Total Goal: 60 lbs lost.
Shopping spree: 50 lbs lost

Top 10 tips for getting your swag on!!!

This tuesday I'd thought I'd post some of my favorite tips for using swagbucks!! I have earned about $50 in Amazon gift cards since I've started using swagbucks...for real anyway. I got a new referral (hi Michelle!) and I thought I'd use this as a chance to help her and anyone else out!!


Here we go:
1. Download the toolbar for firefox (it makes searching way simple).

2. Make swagbucks open up as your home page for easy use.

3. Log in daily (you get 1 swagbuck just for logging in!!).

4. Do the daily poll every day (for another 1 swagbuck each day).

5. Register for surveys.

6. Check the survey page...every day (1 swagbuck daily).

7. Do surveys honestly and whenever you can (an easy way to get 50 - 150 swagbucks).

8. Print coupons through swagbucks

9. Check daily offers (I only do ones that do not request credit card info or personal info).

10. Search on swagbucks whenever you need to find something online!!!

I go through spurts when I use it lots and when I don't. I definitely appreciate the Amazon gift cards so I'm trying to use it more!!!

Also- get referrals, and encourage them!! If you want to sign up with me check out
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/momkristi


And for more top 10 tuesdays lists- check out Oh Amanda!!

My 3 in 30 update

My 3 in 30 goals are coming along!!!

I'm impressed with how the simplicity of 3 goals to focus on keeps me going!!

1. I'm loving my morning routine...in fact, I want to get up earlier because I can get so much stuff done before boys get up (inspired by this post at oh amanda, I realize that I need to be in the moment more with everything I'm doing). I don't like that I'm on the computer during the day with a few littles tugging at my legs. I want to be awesome and I think an awesome morning routine will help with that.

2. I lost 1.4 lbs in the last 2 weeks and I've been more intentional with my tracking (woot woot).

3. With the help of my lovely husband I got the pantry cleaned out. It was so bad it took 2 of us!! Hopefully more purging will come next week!!

For other inspiration check out

Top Ten Tuesday...bloggy questions from a newbie

Today I decided to participate in Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday!!



I've been thinking about blogging more (as you can tell from my posts). I love what I'm learning from the social media I've participated in and it's gotten my appetite craving more and more!! So I decided to use this chance to word some of my questions and see if I get any answers!!!

1. I keep reading about blogger vs. word press....for a small mommy blogger like myself- do I need to change to wp?

2. How important is it to keep things consistent- i.e. email, url, twitter handle?

3. Do I need to buy a domain?

4. If I do, how do I do it?

5. I want to go to Relevant!!! Do I need a sponsor?

6. If I do, how do I put together a media kit?

7. Any tips on what kind of laptop I should get? (I'm in the market for a new one)

8. What are your most used apps on your iPhone? (if you use it for enhanced productivity...just got my new one...yay verizon!!).

9. What do you use for compiling blog ideas? regular old paper and pen, an app, MSWord?

10. Any other nuggets of advice for this blogging newbie?


I have tweeted & googled some of the questions and will continue to do so- but I thought some tried and true responses from some veterans would help me out!!! I've made some new friends that are already helping me out and I'm gonna work on the look of my blog over the next few weeks, I'm so excited. It's fun to have a place to call my own:).

Make sure you check out Oh Amanda & the other's lists @

3 in 30 update!!!

Here's my 3 in 3o update!!

1. I'm getting into the habit of a morning routine...I enjoy the quiet of the mornings. I'm not saying it's perfect...and I do struggle staying focused on my B90 at times, but it's becoming more of a habit!!!

2. I've been tracking much better for ww. I'm still have trouble with some of the good health guidelines (namely healthy oils) but I'm getting there. There was no weigh in this week so I can't really tell how I'm doing.

3. Nothing has been decluttered or purged yet.

2 out of 3 isn't bad;)

Totally Random Thursday

Here we go!!

1. Went to bed AND woke up with a stiff neck. My shoulder has a knot and is spasming. Ugh. Have an appt for a massage at 11.

2. Didn't weigh in a weight watchers this week....snow/ice. Now I need a BIG loss next week so I'm trying to track diligently.

3. I'm thinking of changing my last 3 in 30 goal from decluttering house to decluttering email/google reader and blackberry. We may be getting iphones!!!

4. Said iphone is still a maybe....we ordered online at 3am but there may be issues with my upgrade (sad face)

5. Even if we don't get the iphones, my blackberry would appreciate the declutter.

6. I do need to declutter my house still though...i hate housework. Must. Change. Attitude.

7. I'm hoping to get a new laptop with our tax return. I'd like to get more involved with blogging/social media/Christian community I'm finding online. So if that happens, my blog may be getting a facelift.

To see more Total Randomness, visit
http://www.thetuckerstaketennessee.com/2011/01/totally-random-thursdays.html