Guest Post: MCA

I am so excited to post this today!
This is our first guest post on our blog & I hope we have many more to come!

Melanie Bowen contacted me a couple weeks ago about doing a guest post on Sincerely Smeda after she read this post. She is an awareness advocate for natural health and holistic therapies for cancer patients. She was recently asked to contribute to The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog. Through her writing she highlights the benefits of  tracking your thoughts and goals, because thoughts are just thoughts unless they are written down.

Today she'll be guest posting about using a journal to help achieve your goals

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Journal writing, according to research, improves memory, reduces intrusive thoughts and reduces avoidant thoughts. Whatever your life challenges, whether you are living with a serious illness like mesothelioma cancer with an unfavorable prognosis or suffering from debilitating anxiety or depression, journal writing will help you regain control of your life.

Write in your journal to help you organize your thoughts and outline the steps you need to take to achieve your goals. First, write out your goals. This is your first concrete step towards achieving your goals. Your goals can be physical or emotional. Perhaps you want to begin taking yoga or increase your spiritual practice. Write in your journal daily on your progress towards achieving your goals.

As you progress through the steps you originally outlined, you may find that you have a new perspective and need to adjust your steps to achieve your goals efficiently. Writing in a journal every day, in addition to being therapeutic, helps you to clarify your thoughts and feelings. A journal will help you adjust your steps in a way that keeping your thoughts and plans in your head only cannot. Journaling everyday gives you the discipline to stay focused on your goals. If you write about your goals every day, you have to think about your goals every day.

Some of your goals may be connected to your recovery. These goals can include things like taking your medications on time every day, getting to your doctor’s appointments on time, engaging in a regular spiritual practice and changing your diet according to your doctor’s suggestion.

Use your journal to create a bucket list. The goals on your bucket list can be anything. Set a goal to spend more time with the people you love and care about. Write out activities you can do together and then do them. A possible goal may be taking your wife out to dinner once a week or watching a DVD at home with you husband every Friday. Another goal may be to take a trip to a country you have always wanted to visit. Using a journal to help achieve your goals is about bringing your desires to the level of consciousness and acting on them.

According to Dr. Pennebaker, a psychologist at the University of Austin who has researched the practice of journaling extensively, journaling can improve your physical health. Dr. Pennebaker says according to studies, regular journaling strengthens immune cells and reduces the impact of stressors on your physical health.

Dr. Pennebaker contends that after suffering a traumatic event, your ability to focus is compromised. Journaling can help you regain your focus or develop focus for the first time. Additional benefits of writing in a journal include clarity of thoughts, clarity of feelings, improved problem solving abilities, increased self-awareness, decreased stress and an increased ability to handle conflicts in a positive way.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you Melanie for guest posting! I too agree that journal writing is a great way to express feelings! To view the MCA blog and see more of Melanie's great posts, you can visit them here.

Lets get writing!!

TAMOEI

I know what you're thinking....TAMOEI??? What the heck is that?

No...I'm not speaking another language, promise.

TAMOEI =The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho!

:)

This past Saturday we planned on going to Idaho Falls for a day of errands. We had a couple things to take back to stores and things we needed. Idaho Falls is about 30 minutes away from where we live, so when we go do we like to make it a day trip and get as many things done there as we can. 

I just happened to look on the Chamber of Commerce events site and saw that TAMOEI was having a "family day" and admission was free. FREE. We like that word. So we checked it out. 

This dress was made from paper towels. THAT'S IT!

This one was made from rulers and wire. 

Yes, the kind of rules you make straight lines with!

This picture was called The Guardian. 

Chris liked it best.

I liked this one. "The Guardian Angel"

Chris thought this was cool. His exact words...

"My dad would love this!"

I knew my sisters would love this one.  

They love animal prints!

*Sorry the pictures aren't all that great...we took them with my phone.

The Final Stretch!

How far along? 28 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 20lbs...give or take a few.

Maternity clothes? I'm still wearing sweats & yoga pants most days. 

Stretch marks? None yet. 

Sleep: Definitely starting to get interrupted. 

Best moment this week: Reaching the final trimester!! I can't wait to meet little Hudson.

Movement: Oh yea, all the time. It's wonderful. 

Food cravings: I don't think I've had any in particular.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope.

Labor Signs: No.

Belly Button in or out? It really feels like I don't even have a belly button anymore. Its so flat. It's starting to poke out though. 

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Weekly Wisdom: He weighs anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 lbs and is 14.8 inches long!

Milestones: Hitting the 3rd trimester. Less than 3 months to go!

For a good laugh..

Came across this awhile ago.

It was too good to not share with you.

via

TGIF

Happy Friday!

We'll be spending our night with some friends.

Eating some burgers, fries, playing games & staying warm.

How are you spending your Friday night?!

If I had...

lots of money...

a house...

& lots more money...

I would want Hudson's nursery to look something along the lines of this.  

Pinterest makes me want to be more creative. 

Pinterest also makes me wish I could do more than I can. 

In other words...Pinterest gives me hope for the future.

Oh the joys of being young, poor, college students. 

Someday Alyssa...someday. 

7 Pretty Things...

1  2  3  4  5  6  7

Linking up with The Letter 4 today! 

I chose these 7 things because they're all things that inspire. 

I found them on Pinterest, of course :)

We are honored.....

Why you ask? We have received an award! YES! That's right!! 

This special award is called the Liebster Blog Award. 

& here it is....

This award was given to us by Meegan over at What Meegan Makes.

 Thank you so much! This was definitely unexpected!!

Meegan is such a fun person and she is so amazingly crafty. 

Her latest project was these super cute Valentine's Day decorations

 

Check out her blog, you will be inspired...I promise!!

This Award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers, 

all in the spirit of fostering new connections.

Leibster is German & means ‘dearest’ or ‘beloved’ but it can also mean ‘favorite’ & 

the idea of the Leibster award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers.

Wanna know the best part about this award? We get to pass it on to 5 of our favorite blogs!!

The Rules are:

1.     Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2.     Reveal your top 5 picks for the award and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog. 

3.     Post the award on your blog.

4.     Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogsphere – other bloggers.

5.     And, best of all – have fun and spread the love.

We are passing this award to:

1. Bye Bye Beehive

2. Distinctly M

3. Afton Photography

4. One Word Designs

5. Up Close & Personal

Please go check out these blogs! They are worth the visit!!

Date Night: The Bucket List

Have you ever seriously sat and thought about the things you want to do before you "kick the bucket?" I haven't. I used to make little lists here and there about things that I wanted to do in my life, but never really thought deeply about it. That all changed last night. During my preparation for this date night, I was inspired  by The Dating Divas (click on their name to find their version.)

I started off by writing Chris a little poem explaining what was going on for the night.... I didn't have time to make it cute, it came to me on the spot. While he was at work I sent him an e-mail invitation, here's what it said:

Dreams, wants and wishes only name a few…

Life is eternal; I know there are things you want to get to.

In order to prepare for our date tonight there’s something I need you to do,

It may take you all day and all night, that’s why I’m preparing you.

Please start thinking about things that you’ve always wanted,

Whether it’s to skydive, write a book or visit a house that is haunted.

First we will eat, and then we’ll relax,

& lastly we’ll each start compiling a list of facts.

This list will be full of all the things we’ve ever wanted to do,

After we’re done with that list we’ll make a list for me and you.

This will be called our “Bucket List” and it will be filled with all sorts of things,

We’ll have to make sure to display this list somewhere it’ll be sure to be seen.

For as we accomplish the things on our list,

We will cross them off one by one….

I know that by doing this we will feel pure bliss,

And we’ll be proud of all the things we have done.

(YES, I came up with that all by myself...it was definitely a proud moment.) 

We made dinner, cheeseburgers & fries, then we sat and watched the movie, The Bucket List. For those who haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. It's about two guys who escape from a cancer ward to do things they have always wanted to do before they die. (Make sure you have tissues before you watch it!)

After we watched the movie we each started making our very own bucket lists.

Some of the things on my list were: Fly first-class, vacation in Tahiti, learn to play the piano, find money on the ground (dollar bills), ride in a limo, and design my dream home.

Chris' list consisted of these sorts of things: Meet the Prophet, get a pilots license, climb Mount Kilomanjaro, save a life, attend the rugby world cup, and watch PGA live. 

We decided to make a list of things we both want to do together. Go sky diving, go on a cruise, see the Statue of Liberty, go to Hawaii, scuba dive, go to Disney World, go on a safari in South Africa, and swim with the dolphins...to name just a few. 

We had a lot of fun spending time together and talking about our lives and things we wanted to accomplish. If you haven't made your own bucket list...do it :)

"I'm Bored"

Since Chris started his internship this semester, he comes home between 2-2:30 everyday...

which is really nice because we get to spend more time together. There's a little problem though.....

we get bored, SO EASILY.

We'll literally sit for hours trying to find something to do that doesn't cost money or something that is super cheap. Also, with the cold winters we have here we are pretty limited to things we can do inside. 

Today I started googling (yes, I consider "googling" a verb now a days) "fun FREE things to do with your spouse" and I found a lot of really great ideas. Fun cheap/free things to do! I figured pinterest would have ideas too, so I looked there as well. (that's where I found all the pictures from above) I've complied a list from all the different websites I looked at and thought I would share...just in case you have an "I'm bored" day in the future. 

-Have a scavenger hunt. Make the hunt last all day by giving the first clue in the morning.

-Bake something together. Bake something you both love & have never tried before. 

-Make dinner together. Using only things you have in your kitchen. 

-Create a scrapbook together. Use old pictures, ticket stubs, receipts, etc.  

-Do a crossword puzzle. Sometimes they are hard to do, so use your computer and search for the clues!

-Paint something. Paint a picture of each other, somewhere you want to visit, or something you've both wanted to do. 

-Play The Price is Right. A small game you can play at a store like Wal-Mart. Go there, pick random items and try and guess their prices. See who is the closest and give away a prize.

-Create inspiration notebooks. Flip though old magazines and cut up things that inspire you. 

-Origami. Become an expert. Use you-tube or library books.

-Go take pictures. Do letter art. Find objects that look like letters A-Z. Take pictures, print them out and spell things like Family, Love, Home, etc. 

-Be crafty. Make decorations for an upcoming holiday. 

-Write a children's story together and illustrate it together. This will be a wonderful keepsake & fun for your future children to look at. 

-Order a meal from your favorite restaurant. Have it delivered to your home and have a candlelight dinner somewhere in your house that you wouldn't normally eat. 

-Teach each other. If you can play an instrument, surf, or do something the other wants to learn...teach them.

-Have a theme night. Pick a theme such as Mexican, eat Mexican food and watch a movie such as The Mexican.

-Geocatching. If you have a GPS, take it up. I've heard its a lot of fun. Its worldwide, you can do it anywhere.

-Q&A session. Create a fill-in-the-blank sheet for the other to answer. For example; "My favorite thing about you is _______." Or "I knew I loved you when _____________."

-At home karaoke. Use karaoke.oddcast.com or freekaraoke.com.

-Have a picnic. Make lunch and go outside to a nice quiet spot.

-Have an inside picnic. Too cold? Have a picnic inside! Lay a blanket down on the carpet.

I plan on typing these up, cutting them out, and putting them in a jar for our "I'm bored" days. I have a feeling I'll have to add to the list, but these are a start!! 

**You can also use these for a cheap/free date night :)**

I'm it!

Thank you Mikaila from Distinctly M for tagging me.

Now, its my turn. 

The Rules:

1. You must post the rules. (and link up who tagged you)

2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, 

and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

4. Tag eleven people and link them on your post

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Eleven Fun Facts About Me:

1. I seriously honestly believe everything happens for a reason. We face challenges and have struggles daily because they make us the person we are meant to be. Yea, it’s tough…but in the end, you always end up learning something. Whether it’s something about yourself, or something about another person.

 2. A year and a half ago I never thought I’d be where I am today. Married….and with a baby on the way. It would of seemed crazy then, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

3. I love having deep conversations and learning new things about people. I could sit for hours and just talk. In fact, that's what Chris and I did the first week we met. <3

4. I am in love with water. I really think I drink more than I eat....and that's saying something. 

5. I am addicted to too many TV shows. I currently watch: The Bachelor, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives, Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries, 90210, One Tree Hill, Switched at Birth, The Secret Circle....I'm sure the list goes on. 

6. I am the oldest of four girls. We are 21, 19, 15, and 9. We are all different and unique in our own ways. & honestly, I don't think any of us look alike. But Danielle (the 15yr old) and I always get asked if we're twins when we're together. 

7. Hubs got me a sewing machine for Christmas. I've already made little Hudson a car seat cover and I made a nursing cover for myself. I can't wait to try to make all the cute stuff I find on Pinterest. 

8. I love my husband. He is so supportive and such a fun guy to be around. 

9. I started driving when I was 16 and have 3 different vehicles since then. Ford F150, Chevy Blazer & now, my Ford Taurus. 

10. I love going out to eat. I secretly wish I had the money to go out every single night. I do like cooking, I just hate cleaning up. 

11. I hate folding laundry. I don't mind doing it, but the actual folding part really gets to me. 

Questions from Mikaila

1.  Do you consider yourself creative?

-Actually yea, I do. I love getting crafty and creating new things. I love coming up with fun date night ideas for me and the hubs too.

2.  What is your proudest accomplishment?

-I have a feeling it’s going to be my son. I am so excited to teach him and watch him grow up.

3.  Would you ever meet a blog friend in real life?

-For sure. A lot of the people in blog land seem like the kind of people I like to be around. As long as the blogger wasn't a creepy old man…yea, I’d go for it.

4.  Do you have a "Bucket List"? 

-Eh…you could call it that. When I was 8 I made a list of 50 things I wanted to accomplish in my life. I still have the list and have about half the things crossed off already. I guess it’s time for a new one.

5.  What actress do you secretly covet a body part from?

-I love love love Jennifer Aniston’s body. She’s in her 40’s and still rockin’ it.

6.  Truth Or Dare?

-Normally I’d say truth…cause I’m a scary cat, but sometimes…if I’m feeling risky I’ll go for the dare. 

7.  Botox or All-Natural?

-All-Natural baby. Laugh lines and wrinkles are what make you, YOU.

8.  What is your greatest characteristic?

-I’d have to say my ability to be nice. There’s a lot of people out there these days that won’t even smile back.

9.  How many different cities have you lived in?

-Hmmmm…only 3. Yea, I’m boring. 

10.  Peanut Butter and Chocolate, or Peanut Butter and Jelly?

-Definently peanut butter and jelly. I like the strawberry jam!

11.  World Peace or A Million Bucks?

-World peace will never happen (and I'm no beauty queen.) There are too many controversial issues…so for now, I’ll go with a million bucks.

My questions

1. Who do you admire? Why?

2. If you could have only one superpower, which one would you choose?

3. In your opinion, is it easier to forgive or forget?

4. What makes you laugh?

5. You have an hour of free time, what could we find you doing?

6. Mountain cabin, beach house or big city condo?

7. What is your favorite type of food? Least favorite?

8. Have you ever been outside of the US? If so, where? If not, where would you like to go?

9. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

10. What's your favorite holiday?

11. What do you want to be doing in five years?

Kim Millett

Lizzie Lin

Jessica Dewsnup

Maternity Photo Shoot

We had our first set of maternity pictures taken this past weekend. Our friend Cydney 

over at Afton Photography took them for us here locally. She is amazing and I am 

so happy with how they turned out. These will be a GREAT keepsake for us.

Especially to look back on when we're old and grey and our little guy 

is getting married and having kiddos of his own.

(ok, that's too weird to think about right now.)

Here are some of my favorites from the shoot, honestly it was so hard

to pick because they all turned out way good. 

To check out the rest of the pictures you can head on over to her blog.

Afton Photography

Thanks again for the amazing pics Cyd!

8 Super Cute DIY Valentines Ideas

I love Valentines Day! Its a great day to show those you love how much you love them!

Decorating for this holiday is another thing that I love to do. 

Here are 8 ideas to help you decorate your home and make your 

Valentines Day even more special then it already will be :)

Tissue Rosette Kissing Balls @ The Idea Room

I Dig You Valentine @ The Fry Family Blog 

Paper Heart Garland @ Happy Clippings 

Valentines Bingo @ Simply Fresh Designs 

Paper Punch Garland @ Oh Crafts

I love you Because Board @ A Content Housewife 

3D Love Art @ Brassy Apple

Keep Calm Printable @ Fancy Frills Style Studio

Newest Obsession

Sundays on ABC. Seriously, check it out.

You won't be able to stop watching. 

Promise.

25 weeks!

Baby size this week:

My size this week:

How far along? 25 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 16lbs

Maternity clothes? I got a couple new shirts & a dress for Christmas, but I only get in jeans when I have to.  

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: Still sleeping great. I do have to use an extra pillow between my legs though. 

Best moment this week: The constant movement I am feeling. I swear he's going to be a athlete.

Movement: All the time.

Food cravings: Lately, just sweets. Everything else isn't as good.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not anything in particular.

Have you started to show yet? Ha, yea. I couldn't hide this thing if I tried!

Labor Signs: No.

Belly Button in or out? Its still in...but I don't know how much longer it will be. Its definitely flattening out. 

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Weekly Wisdom: My uterus is the size of a soccer ball & the baby weighs 1.5lbs!!

Milestones: We're almost out of the triple digits. Only 105 days left!

New Year Resolution - Part 2

To end things about the New Years...

2006:I will get my weight down below 180 pounds.

2007:I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 200 pounds.

2008:I will develop a realistic attitude about my weight.

2009:I will work out 3 days a week.

2010:I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.

It's been a tough year, but I've made it so far!

But not everyone is as lucky as I am......

New Year Resolutions

For those who didn't get the memo, Yes, it is 2012.


So with that said...

'Tis the time that we rededicate ourselves and salute the goals we want to achieve this year. I say rededicate because for many of us, we forget our goals. So many of us are so much like that. As President Hinckley said it, 
"We pledge our loyalty; we affirm our determination to be of good courage; we declare, sometimes even publicly, that come what may we will do the right thing, that we will stand for the right cause, that we will be true to ourselves and to others.

Then the pressures begin to build. Sometimes these are social pressures. Sometimes they are personal appetites. Sometimes they are false ambitions. There is a weakening of the will. There is a softening of discipline. There is capitulation. And then there is remorse, self-accusation, and bitter tears of regret."

Today is the beginning of a new year. Ahh, doesn't that sound relieving? Isn't it nice to start over? To turn over a new leaf? If there was ever a time to change, quit a habit, or improve quality of life, now is the time, now is our time. This is our moment, we only have one life so I say let us square our shoulders and stiffen our resolve to make up for lost ground.

For whatever your personal New Year resolutions may be, I hope that they will be remembered everyday this year and dust your life with the greatest of joys.

Some may be struggling with self-improving goals for this year. Some may be struggling with change. I'm not sure what the answer is to all those questions but I would like to, for a moment, share some thoughts if I may.

To be completely honest with you, I have edited this blog now about four or five times. I have grown uneasy with the streams of thoughts I have about this traditional New Year resolution project we annually place upon ourselves. Not because they are heart wrenching thoughts, but because I have more than I should have. I have concluded my direction of thoughts to be on the of subject: Change.

Before I get started into the meat, let me share with you some interesting facts about New Year resolutions.

• While 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals.

• In 2007, the University of Bristol showed that 78% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, and those who succeed have five traits in common.

• Men achieve 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting (eg: a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.

I put up those statistics so you could say to yourself, "Yes, I can do better, and will do better!" And yes, the start of a new year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives and see where we are going, measured against the backdrop of where we have been. I do not want to write about the past and the future, not so much in terms of New Year's commitments per se, but more with an eye toward any time of transition and change in our lives. (Holland)

When we make goals for ourselves, we are essentially making changes for ourselves. Change, as we may have experienced before, is not easy. Especially if we are diving into something totally foreign. I would like to share some thoughts about looking back and looking ahead.

Oft times we, like Lot's Wife in the Bible, found ourselves not looking back, but in our heart we want to go back. It would appear that even before the first week of the year is finished we are already missing those bad habits of last year. Setting goals and experiencing change is not a multiple choice test. We cannot expect to change if we don't form a habit of pure desire to change. In a note, let not our attachment of the past outweigh our confidence in the future. Addiction has never been easy to overcome, but it has always been worth it. Eating unhealthy can be bring immediate gratification but soon it catches up to us and a lasting sense of dissatisfaction lingers within ourselves and the way we look.

So, as a new year starts and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead.

May I conclude my thoughts with the concept of "Labeling." I have been concerned with this idea of resolutions and striving to improve always but failing for whatever the reason. Many of us traditionally jot down the life-changing list almost identical as the one from last year but I know there are a few of you out there that really do want to change and I congratulate you and admire you. 

For the rest of you who surround those who want to change, let them. Let people transform. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. Don't dig up past habits and shove them in their face. Jokingly you may receive a similar curve ball. In the end everyone is drenched in their past mistakes and unhappy feelings. Such dwelling on past lives, including past mistakes, is just not right. 

I know for myself that I could not grow if I consistently had been beaten down with my past mistakes making me feel worthless. My self-esteem would crash, my self-worth would be running on empty, and how I viewed my purpose in this life would get a little more dim.

Change is possible, I know it is. I have done it. I am so grateful beyond words for my wife who encourages and supports my wanting to change and improve my life. She cheers me on when I am doing well, she helps me when I'm in a rut, and celebrates with me when I accomplish my goal. 

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle