Book It!

Oh the library. My sister and I would LOVE to go to the library when we were little. We were allowed to check out 26 books. And my Mom said if we could carry them, we could check that many out. We would look like Gus Gus carrying our books out to the car!  We would read into the night, my Mom would practically have to take our light bulbs away to make us go to sleep!

I want Eli to have the same love for the library, mainly books, and reading. He already loves book and we are slowly making his way through his collection. I check out a cute book for him when I pick up an audio book (Stanford Library has a great audio collection) or some book that has caught my interest. I get the bug to read a book by others, whether it’s someone I know or a person I think I know because I follow them in blogland. Currently I have a load of books from the Great Falls and Stanford Library and a few from my personal collection.

In true fashion of marking off #6 READ. I am read The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp as suggested from The Paper Clipping Round Table.  She is a dance choreographer in NYC, but relates to any one interested in creativity.

See, even Eli enjoyed it!  He already loves books.  I am still pecking away on James and the Giant Peach with him.  There are so many other books to read I forget about nibbling away at this favorite.  But then Eli literally nibbles on it and that reminds me!

A Designer’s Eye for Scrapbooking by Ali Edwards. What can I say I LOVE this gal and anything she has to say I will read or listen to. It’s become such an obsession I had a dream that she invited me to her house for an event and her bathroom was under construction. Of course since it was a dream and things are always weird she told me to pee in her dresser drawer. And since it is a dream and things always get weirder I did! Eeeew. So it’s safe to say that I will never be invited to one of Ali’s events because of my bad manners. Geez, what does that mean!? Dream dictionary anyone?
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hahn.  Being in the present moment is not one of my strong suits. I can look into the future like a pro and over analyze the past like a crazy person. This book is good for me. This book is what I need right now…in the present moment.

On deck are these bad boys pictured above.  And  if that wasn't already enough I picked up Anne Frank, The Art of a Thank You and A New Earth at the Stanford Library.  Any good books on your nightstand?

Feelin' Oh So Good

#4 Be active.  Made it a whole lot easier when we had the little work out session here in town.  We did kick boxing, step aerobics, zumba, boot camp and pilates.  I can honestly say I felt a ton better when that was a daily part of my life.  Now it’s on me.  I took advantage of my Eli Free time after Guard Drill and tried out a pilates class in Great Falls.  LOVED it.  I will be back.  The breathing made me more aware of my body and how outta shape I truly am!  Scary.  But I may have found a new obsession.  Plus my instructor Michelle is a Grey’s Anatomy fan and also had one of her children due to preeclampsia.  Crazy how connected everyone is. 

Checkin' the 28 List

3. drink water, ooh I have gone down the soda road yet again (sorry I just had to pause to take a drink of my root beer)
5. find peace, check, after reading this book I might know where to find peace.
 

6. complete a daunting task, check, I guess there is something good that comes out of living at the ranch during calving season and not being able to go outside due to the cold/windy weather. I organized my computer files. Man it feels good.

11. eli's book, makin' progress. I have taken every post from his website to include in the album, now I need to start the printing (as if I am afraid I might complete this daunting task- ooh then I could cross off #6 again!)

12. creative business, check, ready and open with many more ideas to come. This is something I could get used to. Thanks Leah for being my first customer!

15. complete incompletes for school, CHECK, school's out for Lindsey! Woohoo, just awaiting 3 grades to be updated.

18. be thankful, check, sent out some valentine love
23. take Eli on adventures, check, had some nice weather and took Eman on a walk in his baby bjorn pouch.

26. read, check just finished the secret (which helped cross off good ole' #5) and another one of Ali's books

28 Things The Update

#2 make my home a home, check.  I lived in my house for 2 years and the walls looked like a hospital.  Oh-ho, no more.  That's why I created #2 and why I crossed it off.  Feels good.  Even Josh said 'hey it looks like someone lives here now'.  While trickling my stuff into my new home (Josh's), I thought, frames are supposed to be hung instead of leaning up against the wall.  And so, the mirror Josh bought for my birthday last year from World Market, sconces from Party Lite and a Cherry Blossom number from Hobby Lobby.  All on sale of course. 

#4, be active.  Completed my 21 challenge to exercise for 10 minutes a day.  Can't wait for the ice to melt so Eli and I can beat our feet in the street.  And of course the temperatures would have to raise above 10, which I would not complain about either.

#7, COOK.  Gotta eat to live.  Might as well do it at home and save money.  Plus Stanford Montana has not caught onto the whole food delivered to your door concept I am used to.  So far I have whipped up Elise's pesto pizza, Woman's Day Pot Roast, chocolate pudding from scratch, banana bread, mushroom pot roast, meatloaf, chicken salad- I know not tough but while I'm listing things why not, Sheppard's pie, meat balls, raviolis with alfredo, lasagna and bacon baked in the oven = LOVE.  The list is a bit beefy, but when a girls got a freezer overflowing with the stuff 'BEEF, it's what's for dinner'.    

#15, complete my incompletes. english and math left and I'm a free bird!

#24, pass my fit test. Done.  Hallelujah!

More on my 28 things list, here.