what helps me be more productive

I just need to come right out and admit it. I'm pretty lazy. I'd rather sit on the couch and read a book than be productive. So I've found a few things that help me get my day started and increase my productivity.

1. Get dressed as soon as I get out of bed. I don't usually take a shower until about 11 AM, and I used to just stay in my pajamas until then. But I've found that if I actually put some real clothes on, I don't feel so lazy, and I can actually get a few things done before baby naps and I shower.
2. Have a short goal list. I used to make huge, long lists of things I needed to get done. I would take one look at it and get so discouraged. So I made a sticky note goal list. It's just a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper with 9 sticky notes on it. I write one goal on each sticky note. Some goals are fun (plan a baby blanket for my daughter) and some are not as fun (deep clean my laundry nook). But it feels so good to get something done, take the sticky note off, and throw it in the garbage!
3. Be active. Whether it's walking with my mom in the morning, or doing Zumba or playing Just Dance on the Wii while baby naps in the morning, I find that when I do something active in the morning, I get more done the rest of the day.
4. Have a schedule. For me it's a cleaning schedule. I do laundry on Thursday and Friday. I clean the bathrooms on Thursday. I weed the garden on Saturday. You get the picture. I also gave myself a day off. On Wednesday, my only chore is to go grocery shopping. I don't know why, but grocery shopping makes me exhausted by the time I get home (which is usually 10 AM). So I give myself the rest of the day to do what I want. I still do the dishes and all that, but I work on projects or read books. It gives me a day to look forward to, and I like that it's the middle of the week so it gives me a nice break in the middle of my cleaning.
5. Do as much as I can while baby is awake. I know not everyone's baby is like mine, but my baby actually likes to watch me work. She especially loves laundry day. She hands me hangers while I hang up clothes. So I try to do as much cleaning as I can while she's awake, and that way I can have some downtime while she's napping.

What tips do you have that help you stay motivated and be productive? I'd love to hear them!

say bye-bye, binky!

This was supposed to be a lot of pictures. Some of cupcakes, some of my baby on Christmas...but I'm too lazy to load the cupcake pictures on my computer, and I have to ask Mr. Webb to send me the pictures of Christmas, because we took them on his phone.

So instead, I'm going to tell you some of my resolutions. We learned last week in Relief Society that you usually succeed more in your goals if you tell people about them. So instead of telling real people in real life(although I've told my husband, and I'm fairly certain he counts as real), I'm telling you all.

#1 - Baby only gets her binky when she sleeps. I started the last couple days of December, and you know what? She hasn't missed it at all. I want to have her completely off her binky by the time she's one, but we'll see about that...

#2 - I'm probably going to get a lot of people calling me crazy about this one, but I'm trying to potty train my baby. There was a girl in my ward a year or two ago who did this with her baby boy. He wasn't even a year old yet, and she hadn't changed his diaper in months. You have them go enough on the potty, and they start asking to go. So I'm going to do it! Hopefully...

#3 - Lose weight. I don't think I really have to explain this one. Except that I'm trying to lose it by my birthday. That's about 4 1/2 months. Good luck to me!

#4 - Be a better mom. This includes a lot of stuff. Keeping my house cleaner, making meals more often, spending more quality time with both the baby and the husband, etc.

So wish me luck; check up on me if you feel so inclined. And good luck to you and your goals for the new year!

cleaning updates and recipe updates

We'll discuss recipe updates first. Remember when I started that recipe blog? And how I actually did pretty good for awhile? Yeah. That fell apart. I do want to try it again soon, though. And I've still been trying new recipes, even though I've not been posting about them.

And remember when I said I was deep cleaning my home? If you don't, that's okay. I forgot, too!

Just kidding, I didn't really forget. I was hoping to get it done by the end of October, but I started with my kitchen. That was a bad idea. After cleaning out and reorganizing all of the cupboards, I was exhausted. But I am almost done with the kitchen. I just have the oven left to clean, and the blinds also. Then the easy stuff like sweeping/mopping and wiping down the counters.

I've also finished the hallway (even though it wasn't that hard, I feel good about it)! And I've cleaned the ceiling fan and blinds in my living room. And Baby has just sat by and been so good while I do it!

Today has been productive, too! I have taken a nap (thanks, husband, for letting that happen), I've cooked, mashed, and put in the freezer some sweet potatoes for baby. I also made a pumpkin roll for ME! Oh, I guess Mr. Webb can have some, too. :) If you've never had a pumpkin roll, you're missing out. If you've never had a frozen pumpkin roll, you're doubly missing out! They are delicious either way, but I love them frozen!

Tonight I'm hoping to clean the blinds in my kitchen and the ceiling fan in our bedroom. Who knows when I'll finally get the guts to tackle that darn oven...

need a new use for your muffin tin?

So, a few days ago I was just browsing around on the internet. I don't remember where I saw this idea, but hopefully I can find it again so I can give credit. But basically, it was called the muffin tin diet. Either at night before bed or right in the morning, fill each cup of a muffin tin with some healthy snacks (ex: carrot sticks in one cup, handful of nuts in another, a cup of yogurt in the next, etc). Then, every two hours you eat one of the snacks. Oh, and you probably only need to fill up 6 or 7. I guess you could fill all 12 and then you'd be all set for two days! Hey, look at that planning! :)

BUT...why put all your snacks in a muffin tin, you ask? That way, when you're ready for a snack, you have a healthy snack all ready to go, and you don't wander about your kitchen looking for something. Because I know that when I search my kitchen, I always end up with a cookie, some ice cream, or something else not good for me.

I've also seen a lot of websites, like this one, that use muffin tins to make meals more fun for their little ones.

Anyway, I'm going to try this out for a bit and see if it helps me eat a little better. Wish me luck!

garden plans

Mr. Webb and I have planted a garden for the past two years, and have loved it both years. We've had successes, and we've had disasters. But we are planning on a garden again this year, and I've been a little excited about planning what I want to try this year.

This year, we're going to grow a few things we grew last year. Like cherry tomatoes, large tomatoes, green peppers, anaheim chiles, jalapenos, and peas.

We're also going to try a few new things. Maybe some carrots (tried last year and failed), some green onions, a lemon cucumber (tried two years in a row and failed), basil, spaghetti squash, and garlic.

Mr. Webb also spent some time this past fall digging up our flower patch and burying more tulip bulbs than you'd imagine. So hopefully in a few months, we'll have tulips out our ears! I can wait to see the gorgeous flowers and eat my yummy produce!

my to do list

Every year in January, I get inspired to set goals and try being a better person all over again. Usually I don't last long on my keeping my goals, but I always try. I try at other times during the year, too, but obviously January inspires me more than most other months.

Although the new year has only been around for 10 days, I've already been doing pretty well with my goals this year! I made dinner every day last week, and Mr. Webb and I have only missed one night of scripture reading so far!

One of my bigger goals was to trying new things. Whether it be recipes, crafts, or games, I just want to be more open to trying things.

Mrs. Mordecai over at Be It Ever So Humble wrote a post yesterday about creating things, and made a list of things she has already created this year. So I thought that since I'd been looking around for new things to do, I'd make a list of things I want to create. Here are a few of the things I want to try out this year:

1. Sew a Purse - I bought the pattern and fabric last year when I purchased the fabric for this no-sew purse, but I haven't made it yet. My mom said she'd help me out, so hopefully in a week or two it will be done.
2. Cake Batter Bark - I love cake, but cake batter is super delicious, and something I've missed immensely since I've been pregnant. So this recipe is definitely something I'll be trying soon!
3. Cupcake Stands - I shouldn't have to tell you about my cupcake obsession. I love them. The end. But if I can make four or five of these cute stands, then the pictures of my cupcakes might look more professional. Maybe.
4. Greeting Cards - Making cards is something I've done for quite awhile. I've always loved to make them. Birthday cards, usually. But last year I don't think I sent out more than 2 cards. So this year I'm hoping to get back into the groove of making and mailing everyone birthday cards. Let me know if you want one. :)
5. My Own Recipe - I like to cook, but I am a strict recipe follower. Except with chicken. If it's chicken, I just through some seasonings in a bag, shake and coat the chicken, and plop it in the oven. But I want to make up at least 2 of my own recipes this year. We'll see how that goes.
6. Butterbeer Cupcakes - As an avid Harry Potter fan, I don't feel the need to explain why I want to make these.

I'm sure I'll add more to the list as the year progresses, but for now, I think that's a good start!

new project

I've seen a few other people do this, and I've always wanted to give it a try, so here it goes.

I've started a new blog, where I'm going to take a picture every day and post it.

threesixtyfivepictures.blogspot.com

Check it out or don't. I'm doing this mostly for myself, so I don't really care. My first two pictures are pretty cool, though. :)

resolutions

I have finally gotten around to making my new years resolutions. I don't do this every year, but I decided that this year it was needed. I made resolutions to do with family, health, finance, work, spiritual life, and more. I am not going to share them all (you'd get bored), but I do want to tell you some of them so that you can check up on me once in awhile and make sure I'm actually doing these things.

1. Make dinner every night (except in cases of extreme illness and/or invitations to eat at other places).

2. Keep my house clean and organized. [PLEASE KEEP ME IN CHECK HERE!]

3. Exercise every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. [Check me here, too.]

4. Actually use my "green" bags when I go grocery shopping.

5. Write in my journal once a week (I made this goal a few months ago, but I never kept it...).

6. Read the Old Testament all the way through (I'm not sure I've ever done this).

7. Be prepared for Primary by Friday every week.

So...if you guys just want to pop in and ask me how I'm doing once in awhile, that'd be awesome!

What resolutions have you made?