hopes for 2013

No resolutions.

A few goals.

And lots of hopes.

Here is a few.

Goals:

Start and Finish the Book of Mormon on my own--with a study journal.

Go to the temple more.

Make healthier meals.

Exercise more.

Grow my hair business.

Do service.

Hopes:

Get pregnant.

Get a new car.

Get a raise.

Lose weight.

Be totally happy for others.

Here's to 2013!

Instadump

for real.

also...in no particular order because i'm too tired for that.

We were so blessed this Christmas. Neither one of us got sick (we both got sick right after New Year unfortunately), we spent alot of time with family, and fun gifts were exchanged!

Our apartment complex had a light competition and so I decided to beef up our lights. Our place looked amazing...but we didn't even place! It was rigged. Seriously.

McDonald's by my parents house got remodeled all "fancy" and had a creepy Ronald on top...

Emily and I threw my BFF Katie a bridal shower! April is FINALLY on its way!

Jace and I were down and out with the flu for about a week. We lived under blankets except for when we had to go to work.

We unexpectedly babysat Corbin and Alyssandra when Jamie had to go to the hospital. It resulted in a pedicure for Miss Aly and a haircut for Corbs. Thats what happens when your aunt is a cosmetologist i guess!

and Jamie posted the very top picture on her instagram last night. That woman has made it to 35+ weeks with twins!!! We'll get to meet the little men by the 22nd! (if not before!)

AND....fail.

I had a goal. To go as long into the new year as possible without getting too sad 

about not being a mom yet.

I have made it ONE WEEK into this new year without feeling sorry for myself about not being pregnant or having a baby.

ONE WEEK. thats all i was good for.

last night i failed. 

I had 2 of Jace's cousins announce they are pregnant with their second babies. And i found out a few weeks ago that another of his cousins is pregnant...top that off with 3 of my friends announcing their pregnancies, my cousin and her second pregnancy, and of course my SIL due any day with her twins. It was too much. And it resulted in me not being able to sleep, and when i finally did i was having horrible dreams about never being a mom.

I hate this! I think what I hate more than ANYTHING, more than not being able to get pregnant on my own, is that I roller coaster. I'm so happy for these women and that should be that! But instead I'm happy for them for awhile and then I get overwhelmed and I'm sad. 

And upset.

Ugh. Time to get myself wrapped up nice and tight so I can just be happy for everyone. 

It gets hard though, you know?

Blessings

So the last 4 days have been pretty stinky.

There are a couple of virus'/flu/whatever going around and EVERYONE seems to be getting sick.

7 days ago Jace got sick. His was super quick--thank heavens. He hates being sick.

(hes kinda whiny about it :) )

I thought i MIGHT just pull through without getting sick...no such luck. 

Thursday I started with a cough and congestion.

Friday was a little worse...my throat started killing me.

Saturday I was dead. I was so achy I literally couldnt get out of bed.

Jace called me when he was on his way home from work and asked if I wanted a Priesthood blessing. All I could think of was, "Why didnt I think of that?!"

He called my brother Jeff and had him come over. I received a blessing.

I could feel the love that my Heavenly Father has for me.

I slept well that night and work up Sunday--my throat still hurting and still congested, but not achy anymore. 

We prayed last night, that we'd both feel well enough to go to work.

And here I am today, at work, with a runny nose and a crazy voice, but feeling okay.

How often we take for granted the blessings our Heavenly Father gives us. 

I'm going to work really hard to not do that anymore. Being able to swallow without being in pain is BLISS. What a wonderful blessing.

Fresh

Everyone on the blog-o-sphere seems to do a "one word" for their year.

What they want it to encompass.

Well, I don't have my "one word" for my everyday life, i do have one for my hair business.

FRESH.

I want to look at doing hair this year as a "fresh start". 

Coming into the new year we all have hopes, goals, dreams, resolutions etc.

Many will be trying to become the best version of them---getting healthy mentally, spiritually, and physically.

Let me help you with part of the physical side!

We often get so consumed with everyday life that we (as women) don't take care of ourselves like we should.

 And it seems like HAIR is WAY WAY WAY down on the list of things that need to get taken care of, am I right?!

So for the month of January, I'm doing a special. Its a FRESH start into the New Year. 

How does a $10 haircut sound to you? Including a style. 

How do you do it?

How do you keep trucking along when you feel so miserable?

Seriously. I'm on day 2 of my cycle (which is by far my worst day for cramps), as well as i'm on day 3 of this illness which so far is the worst day yet! i feel like i'm dying. i'm achy, my throat hurts, i'm crampy, my head feels like its swimming, i'm congested, i have a cough, and i think i'm starting to chill. (i cant seem to get warm---very unusual for me!)

I think of all of those expectant moms out there. First time mommies who are dealing with morning sickness all the time.

Or about the mommies in their second or third or more pregnancy. How in the world do you keep going and keeping up with your other kids when you feel miserable?

I think about my mom. She had her first 2 kids within between 2 and 2.5 years of another. Then my oldest brother got sick and became physically and mentally disabled. She not only dealt with that AND a toddler---but then proceeded to get pregnant again (only to miscarry) and then 6 years after my next oldest brother-- have me! while still dealing with my oldest brother's medical issues and a rambunctious 6 year old. AND THEN 8 years after me she had my baby brother. While dealing with all of that, but also a couple of TEENAGER BOYS and their mischief and sport practices and all of my only girl whining and attention needing and music lessons and softball games.

Bless her heart.

You all are an inspiration to me.
Seriously.
Gold medals and stars for all of you!

Soup

Okay.

Confession.

I don't really like soup.

Shocked? Sorry.

I never have. I'll eat chicken noodle when i'm sick or its cold outside. I like stew--but only if the weather is dreary. I NEVER order soup at a restaurant...if i have a choice i'm getting me a salad.

So when I married Jace, and his family likes soup---adjustment time!

Jace's absolute favorite is his mom's Broccoli Cheese soup with homemade breadsticks.

It took me 2 years, but I can finally appreciate this soup (even if I only will eat it when its cold outside).

Jace got SICK yesterday. And he passed it onto me.

So, i thought, "i'll just whip up some of Kara's soup"....

HA. whip up. Those breadsticks take forever.

BUT i did it. All on my own. And it tasted good. My breadsticks didn't come out like my mother in laws...i'm going to need her to show me her jedi ways.

The soup was like 40 times more than we needed...

So we shared and took a huge bowl over to my parents where my brothers were...i knew it wouldn't go to waste THERE. :)

I still wont make this often.

I still don't love soup.

But its nice to know that I can make it every now and then for Jace and have it turn out.