Good Advice for Life

I am generally not someone that copies things from other peoples blogs and posts them on my own. I like the idea that my blog is kind of a journal about my little family. I did find this on my cousin Courtney's blog and really liked it. Thanks Courtney! The things that I would like to work on I made bold.

100 Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life

1. Don't try to read other people's minds

2. Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don't rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you're late/get fired

3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night so that you think more clearly

4. Stick to your budget

5. Start saving & investing every week, no matter how little you can spare

6. Balance your checkbook

7. Don't try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people

8. Don't try to do business with everyone. Identify your target & take very good care of them

9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years

10. Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others

11. Stay home this Saturday, & finish off that nagging chore that you need to finish

12. Kiss & make up

13. Make a weekly menu, & shop for those items at the market

14. Ask your grandparents the best way to uncomplicate life, & try it for a month

15. Fill up your gas tank when it's half empty

16. Don't drink alcohol when you're tired, sad or mad

17. Pay your bills on time

18. Get an annual physical examination

19. Say 'I love you' to your significant other & your children. Studies show that more marriages last, & fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day

20. For just one day, imagine everyone's intentions are good because most people's are

21. Give away clothes that haven't been worn in two years

22. Throw out clothes that are in disrepair, & can't be mended

23. When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don't let it turn into more than it is.

24. Know what your priorities are in life, & act as if they are your priorities

25. Tell the truth

26. Don't cheat

27. Don't steal

28. If you're holding on to a ridiculous grudge, let it go

29. Clean your house weekly, so that it doesn't become too large a chore

30. Do your best at work, or at school

31. Don't eat when you aren't hungry

32. Eat when you're hungry

33. Be yourself

34. Say no unapologetically

35. Cook simple meals

36. Don't try to keep up with the Joneses

37. Pay off your car before buying a new one

38. Organize your desk at the office

39. Change your smoke alarm batteries when the clocks spring forward, & again when they fall back

40. Organize your important paperwork

41. Take only half the clothes that you planned to take with you on a vacation

42. Help your children with their homework every night, & have an open dialogue with their teachers

43. Have white sheets & towels in children's rooms/bathrooms, because they're easily bleached

44. Spend your time with nice people

45. Avoid drama

46. Don't text or talk on the phone while driving

47. Turn off the television/video games/computer, they're time consumers

48. Don't engage in office politics

49. Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people's backs

50. Do the dishes right after dinner

51. Never go to sleep angry

52. Ask nicely for what you need & want

53. Walk 10,000 steps per day to help your heart

54. Do 20 push-ups before speaking in anger

55. Leave work at work

56. Don't befriend anyone that isn't trustworthy

57. Don't envy others

58. Have your oil changed

59. Take vitamin C BEFORE you catch a cold

60. Don't work more than 8 hours per day

61. Weed your garden weekly

62. Wash your car weekly

63. Have a spring cleaning month every year, & do one room at a time

64. You don't need to be best friends with your work colleagues, but build respectful partnerships

65. Don't drink & drive

66. Don't look for a reason to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You'll always be able to find plenty of each

67. Be friendly with your neighbors

68. Return emails & phone messages promptly

69. Schedule in free time

70. Don't procrastinate

71. Do what you say you'll do, when you say you'll do it

72. Be more flexible when you're able to be

73. Forgive & forget

74. Break the consumerism habit... put a three month moratorium in place on buying anything not deemed a necessity

75. Start your diet on September 1, rather than January 1, so that you won't also have holiday pounds to lose

76. Take care of any health issues or concerns

77. Have your tires rotated

78. Have your brakes checked

79. Have your eyes checked

80. Don't let your imagination run away with you

81. Let go of perfection in others

82. Let go of perfection in yourself

83. Don't try to help those that refuse to help themselves

84. Find a way to reduce your commute to work

85. Have an alloted amount of worry time per day/week that you strictly abide by

86. Drink more water

87. Eat more salmon

88. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill

89. Wear your hair in a classic, easy to care for style

90. Finish what you started

91. Wear classic clothes & shoes that never go out of style

92. Create a daily routine

93. Have a 1, 5, 10 & 20 year plan for your financial & life goals

94. Slow down

95. Eat out less often

96. When you ask your husband which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer & wear the one he liked rather than focusing on why he didn't like the other one

97. Allow your children to grow up

98. Clean out your garage, & donate anything that hasn't been used in the past year

99. Stretch every day

100. If a relationship is over, let it go

4th Celebrations

What a fun, event filled weekend we had!
It started off on Saturday with us going over to my brother's house to have a swim party. We had so much fun! We decided that since we were in the backyard, we would let Eva and Emrie swim in just their tops and swim diapers. Eva got an adorable little snuggie in her bum from the swim diaper.
That night the kids played with glow sticks and sparklers. Fun, fun, fun!
Eva was loving Shawn that night. It was cute considering that she normally doesn't love many people.
The next day we had a BBQ at my parents house. It was so much fun. Thanks to Suzie for providing the adorable 4th of July hat craft.
Eva was enjoying her corn the white trash way, in only a diaper. Shawn lit the fireworks that evening and we all enjoyed watching them.
Ron and Kelly Campbell
The morning of the 4th of July we traveled down to Highland to see Ron's dad get married. They had a nice, intimate ceremony at the church. We then went over to their house for a yummy lunch that consisted of Red Curry, Homemade macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob and yummy grape drink.
After the wedding we went to go visit Ron's Grandma Hatch. She is our only living grandparent. I am so glad that my kids still have a great grandma to visit with. We surprised her while she was eating lunch. She was so happy to see us! We visited for quite a while. She gave all of the kids cute little stuffed animals and packages of crackers. She is such an adorable grandma!!
That evening we went to Ron's brother, Jared's house for a BBQ to meet their future son-in-law. Our niece, Brittany, is getting married in November. We were excited to meet her fiance. Lucas was quite tired out from the days events and was falling asleep during dinner.

What a packed weekend. We loved being with family for the holidays.

When You Care Enough to Send the Best

On Thursday my Mom and I took the girls to dinner at Fashion Place Mall. We met up with my old boss from Hallmark, Martha. I worked at Hallmark from 1992-2003. Most of it was part time, but I was an employee there the whole time. I enjoyed my time working there. I quit soon after Ron and I got married, so I could enjoy being married and having just one job.

Martha retired and sold her store a few years ago. Since then she has moved to Texas, which is where she is from. Her kids still live here, so she comes back quite often.
She called me a few days prior and asked if I wanted to meet her and some other old employees at the mall for pizza. Since my mom also worked there for a little while, it was fitting that she came too. Martha bought us all pizza and we sat and talked for a while. It was so nice to see her again. When someone is your boss, you don't always love them, but I really do have a special place in my heart for Martha.

We were able to get this picture. Emrie was loving Martha. It might have been her fun accent. What a fun evening. I can't wait until next time.