Wordless Wednesday - My Babies

They adore each other, and we adore them!!  Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Weekly Goals 1/29-2/4

Alright, let's try this again - here are last weeks goals and my progress!


* Complete at least 1 workout and 1 run I'm not sure why I can't get something simple like this done, and well excuses are just excuses...so we will try again.  I did run double what I was planning so that makes me feel a bit better.

* Clean out and organize craft room closet Sooo glad this is done...did you see my post?  A big thank you to Lovable Labels for supplying the labels to make this project happen.

* Dinner with a good friend (soo excited about this, I miss you LP) So this didn't happen either...it was planned, but I woke up Monday morning with a head cold and we didn't want to risk it in case it was more than just a cold.  Hoping to reschedule for this week or next week.

* Cut & organize coupons from this week, and one past week

* Review coupon deals - if good - make a trip and start couponing again  I made my list for Rite Aid, CVS, and Target and went to Rite Aid & Target.  CVS just wasn't worth the trip for me.  Target didn't have what I wanted and at Rite Aid I bought 5 things for $2.41 and they gave me $5.00 back to use next time so I would consider that a success!

* Blog - post review & giveaway, Wordless Wednesday, & 1 additional post I'm trying really hard to keep my regular posts up.  I really want my blog to grow for myself, my family and friends, and my readers.  I'm also trying to get some giveaway opportunities for everyone!

* Address & Mail Owen's birthday invites Almost done with these, just have to find a few more addresses (oh and order more invites...oops)

* Finish reading The Hunger Games (1st book) Woohooo, I finished this Friday night.  Awesome book, I suggest everyone read this.  It's a pretty quick read too (if you don't have a full time job and two young kids!!)

* Date night/day w/Troy So upset this didn't happen.  We had it planned for Saturday but O came down with a fever on Thursday.  He was better on Saturday, but we didn't want to push it.  We tried rescheduling for Sunday, but I woke up not feeling well and B has a head cold, so maybe next week.

Now, for my goals for this week:

* Address & Mail Owen's birthday invites

* Order O's party favors

* Complete at least 1 workout and 1 run

* Cut and organize coupons for this week and 1 past week

* Review coupon deals & hit the good deals

* Review, crop, and order Disney Photo Pass photos

* Dinner out (we have a dinner planned with some of Troy's friends - should be fun)

* Date time w/Troy

* Blog - post WW, & 2 other posts - work on obtaining another giveaway opportunity

* Reading goal - Read 1/4-1/2 of Twenty Boy Summer for Book Club

Feel free to add yours via the comments.  Or, if other's are blogging about weekly goals, let me know and I'll start a linky!

Giveaway...

Hey guys...just wanted to let you know that I've added a giveaway section on my blog....you should see it...over there on the right hand side!!  I will be listing my giveaways (hoping for some more soon) as well as my friend's giveaways.

If you have a giveaway that you would like for me to add, please comment below with the details (what you are giving away, when it ends, and the link) and I'll add it.  You can also email the information to me at thelacksboat@hotmail.com

I just added my friend's Amy's giveaway - it's for the workout video Get Extremely Ripped 1000 Hardcore.  Honestly, if this video gave me Jari Love's body...I'm game!!  Make sure you check it out HERE...she also has some other workout video giveaways coming up soon!

~Amy

Random and - Nook vs Kindle vs an old fashioned book

I'm so excited that today is Friday! Tomorrow was supposed to be my date day with Troy...and I was super excited. But, Owen started with a fever yesterday, so we are just going to have a lay low kinda weekend. This is the second weekend in a row that we haven't had anything to do, and I must say, it's kinda nice. I will miss my date time with Troy...but we'll have to make sure the kiddos nap so we can get in a movie or something, just the two of us.

My "To Do" list hasn't really gotten done all week, so maybe I can play catch up tomorrow. I HAVE to get Owen's birthday invitations out, and review our Disney pictures.

I also joined a Book Club on Facebook...and well, I have to finish the last 60 pages of The Hunger Games so I can get started on the book club book. I'm really excited about this (yes, I know I'm a dork) since I've always wanted to be part of a book club. I think it's because I don't really know what a book club is,but it sounds fun. I love to read, so I figured, why not. My only problem? Well that would be finding time to read of course...and finishing the book in the allotted time. At least this book club doesn't require me to meet away from my family, it's all done through facebook on my own time.

The next randomness to cross my mind....Do I want an E-Reader...you know, like a Nook or Kindle? Last year, I totally would have said "No Way". I love the feel of a book in my hand and love to just run my fingers through the pages (yes, once again this is the dork in me...but it's me nonetheless). I also like to see my progression in the book, am I halfway or almost done. Now today I'm thinking about the convenience of an E-Reader. Say I want to read a specific book that I don't have...well with this, with a touch of a button I have it...without having to leave my house. And if we go somewhere, I can just grab this, versus grabbing two books.

So, why don't I have one? Well, that would be the money part. Not that it's too much money or I don't want to spend the money....it's that I think eventually I will break down and get an I-pad which I can install the Nook or Kindle on for free. So why buy one now to just get the other later? Plus I have 13 books that I got for Christmas which I need to read before buying others, so I would feel like I'm buying a toy that I can't play with yet.

My question to my readers - do you have either? Which do you prefer? Pros/cons?

My question to the wonderful business world out there? Anyone want me to review/test an E-Reader to tablet computer? I'm game if you are! ; )

For my Husband, my most avid reader of my blog - for my birthday you can get me an I-pad, or a really cool new computer and I'll love you forever....or you can just tell me Happy Birthday and I'll still love you forever!! : )

Oh and since I'm getting my dorkyness out and in the open...Troy and I got tickets to see Elton John in March...and I'm soo excited. I know what cd we will be listening too while cleaning this weekend!

~Amy

FYI - don't forget to enter my giveaway...it ends tonight!

Wordless Wednesday - Lunch or Nap?

While eating lunch on Saturday I looked over and found Brynnleigh like this:


Right after I took the picture....she looked like this:



And yes, she is still in her pjs at lunch time, but it was a wet and cold Saturday and we had nothing to do (other than clean of course) so we had a lay low day.  B stayed in her pjs until after her nap, and O was in his pirate costume once again!

Don't forget to check out my Lovable Labels review - the link is posted on the right hand side of my blog. 



Lovable Labels Review and Giveaway

I am soo soo soo excited about this opportunity.  Lovable Labels sent me the Mom Craft Labels to review and well, my "craft" closet really needed these!  Basically all my stuff is just thrown in the closet and you cross your fingers every time you open the door.

And yes, those are Brynnleigh's clothes hanging...these are her next size up, or never really worn clothes.  She stayed so small that her summer wardrobe never really got touched in the 12 month range.  I've stopped buying ahead for her, I'm sure as soon as I buy some cute things, she'll hit a growth spurt.

So, back to my labels...these little guys are going to help me organize that massive craziness in the picture above..

Sorry it's blurry, it was taken w/my phone

I bought some 12x12 organizing cases so I can store a scrapbooking kit or two (three actually fit) w/the pictures so when I had an extra few minutes to scrapbook, I could just grab a case and get started.  With two young kids, I don't have the time to find a kit, find the pictures, and then start scrapbooking, by then the kids are up, or bored with what they are working on.  These labels were PERFECT for these cases!

During this organizing, I realized that I really need to start putting pictures on my pages...this isn't even all of my kits that are waiting for pictures to be added!

I put the ones that I don't expect to do in the near future in a Rubbermaid container and labeled it Scrapbooking.  I also labeled my stamps and ink pads.  I seriously can't explain how excited I am about this.  These bins are in the back corner, so I can never see what's inside and have to pull them both out to see which has which in it.  Now with the labels, I won't have to do that!

On the upper shelf of the closet I have my paper keeper, some photo albums, photo boxes, markers, Album in progress (it holds my completed scrapbook pages so I can wait and put them all in the reg. album in order), and two new albums (1 is Brynnleigh's and the other is just an extra for the family, Owen's is already started downstairs).

I do need to get some more photo boxes (or put those photos on all those pages) since I have three on the shelf, and two large boxes on the floor!  (And I don't even have all my photos printed!)

So, ready for the final product?  This, is amazing!

Idea books, and photos in two boxes below!

 I do still want to go through my big scrapbooking bag in the back left corner, but I was too tired to tackle that today.  I haven't opened that thing in at least a year.  The scrapbooking I do now is once a month  and the only supplies I need are a 12" paper cuter, and glue (oh and pictures...eventually).  I also have all my stamps and card making supplies, and I don't really do cards anymore since the kids have come around.  I'm hoping to be able to get back into it when they get a bit older, so I think I'll keep it until I need that closet for something else!

I was able to get 3 large bags of trash from the closet, and a nice pile for Goodwill.  I still had my first digital camera in there...you know, the one with 3 mega pixels?

So, what do I think of the Craft Mom Labels from Lovable Labels?  Well, I love them of course!  They adhere great and have a nice clean look to them.  I would suggest maybe a few more blank labels, but at the same time, there were a couple of times that I had a decision between which label I wanted to use because a few different ones applied.  I have some leftover too that I'm going to use on Owen's craft items.  I would definitely recommend these to others. 

Lovable Labels has a bunch of other products you should definitely check out.  I'm in love with the

Zip It Tags, I hate having to write Owen's name on his jackets to know that he will outgrow it and someone will be wearing a jacket with his name on it.  My other issue - hats and gloves/mittens.  How in the world do you label gloves/mittens who don't have a tag?

Okay okay...on to the good stuff!  Lovable Labels has generously supplied me with a pack of "Craft Mom Labels" for one lucky winner! Thanks, Lovable Labels! (Open to US & Canadian residents ages 18 and older only - sorry)

To Enter:

Mandatory : Go to Lovable Labels and leave me a comment with your email address telling me which one of their amazing product is your fav! Once you’ve entered by leaving a comment, you can gain additional entries:

Become a follower and leave a comment that you are a follower (or that you are already a follower) with your email address.

Follow @mylovablelabels and @thelacksboat on Twitter and tweet "Crafty Mom Label Pack " from @mylovablelabels @theLacksBOAT linking to http://lacksupdates.blogspot.com/2012/01/lovable-labels-review-and-giveaway.html and leave a comment with the link and your email address for extra daily entries. (1 entry per day)

‘Like’ Lovable Labels on Facebook for one extra entry and leave a comment with your email address that you are a new fan (or that you are already a fan).

‘Like’ TheLacksBOAT on Facebook for one extra entry and leave a comment with your email address that you are a new fan (or that you are already a fan).

Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with the link for one extra entry with your email address.

This giveaway ends . The winner will be selected by random draw (Random.org) and will be notified by Sunday January 29.  They will have 48 hrs to respond to the notification email before another winner is selected.

Good luck!!

~Amy

***DISCLOSURE*** The product reviewed above was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of this review.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Weekly Goals 1/22-1/28

Okay...lets see how I did last week...

Last Weeks Goals:
* Keep the kitchen island cleaned off (this has to be done nightly, it collects EVERYTHING) There may have been one (or two) nights this didn't happen, but overall it was clean!

* Complete at least 1 workout and 1 run - So...I totally kept this easy so I would get it done...and well, I didn't.  I did get my run in, I walked a mile, to run a mile, to walk a mile home, in the COLD & RAIN!  I did have every intention to do my workout on Monday, but Troy wanted to watch the Bachelor (just to see Shawntel) and well, I wanted to watch it with him.  Tuesday & Wednesday Troy was sick, Thursday we ate dinner at his parents, and Friday we watched a movie.  So Mr. Anonymous who asked when I would hang out with my husband, that's when! ; )  (FYI, Anonymous was Troy)

*Order Christmas Thank you notes - I didn't do this, but am marking it off my list.  Troy doesn't know why I do these, and it's already a month later, so to all who got us gifts - Thank you!

*Pick out Owen's birthday invitations - Woohoo, done, ordered, and I should have them by Wednesday!

*Post to blog - Disney Trip & Wordless Wednesday - Done, hope you enjoyed!

*Clean out & organize craft room closet (this could easily take all week) - Okay, this got pushed off, but I did it today, so I'm carrying it over to this weeks goals, and it feels good to already have one done!

*Clean out coupon organizer, cut & file last week and this weeks coupons - I did get my organizers cleaned out and this weeks coupons cut and organized, I did not get to last week's however.

*Review coupon deals - if good - make a trip and start couponing again - I looked, but I didn't make any trips, hoping to do so this week.

Overall, pretty good.  Now onto this week!
 
* Complete at least 1 workout and 1 run
* Clean out and organize craft room closet
* Dinner with a good friend (soo excited about this, I miss you LP)
* Cut & organize coupons from this week, and one past week
* Review coupon deals - if good - make a trip and start couponing again
* Blog - post review & giveaway, Wordless Wednesday, & 1 additional post
* Address & Mail Owen's birthday invites
* Finish reading The Hunger Games (1st book)
* Date night/day w/Troy
 
It's a lot, but I'm not going to lie, I've already done some today, this list is very possible this week!
 
Feel free to post your own list, or link up to yours in the comments!!  If I have a lot of feedback I can start this as a Linky next week!