Baby it's cold outside

It has been a lovely mild winter. I am not a fan of snow and cold. I would even go so far as to say I prefer warm and wet to cold and sunny. A would not agree. He can't get enough sun. He was in heaven in the South with the heat and humidity for months on end while I was on Benadryl for constant heat rash!

ignore the dead hedge in the background we're going to rip it out this summer

Anyway, we both love being outside and the deck on this house was a big selling point. We hosted about 15 people on it for R's birthday last June with plenty of room to spare. This year A used some of his Christmas money (thanks Mom!) to buy a patio heater. We tried to take advantage of the mild February weather by cleaning up the deck for K's birthday, but it turned out not to be too sunny that day and the only traffic on the deck was to go check out the patio heater. Here it is!

doesn't this look like a great place for morning coffee?

I my dreams the forest green railing is white, the deck is wood, and there is a new fence (higher) and a playhouse where the dead hedge is now. Oh, OK and a circular bench around the tree in the middle of the yard. Maybe one day!

Pretties

"Pretties" is what my daughter calls her pigtails or bows on an outfit or any other pleasing girlie detail. So here are my pretties. I love white tulips. Hey sis, do you think tulips would work in my garden?

I bought these from the produce store on Tuesday. It was a good thing too because the week has been terrible, one of the worst in a long time. It was nice to have some pretties around to make me smile.
I know they don't last long, but hopefully they last longer than this bad stretch!

BTW the runner is from Walmart and the jug is from Superstore. Rule to remember- cheap pretties are even better than expensive pretties!

Another goal update

Last week I did pretty well, cooking about half the time, making homemade apple pie (from the Clean Eating with Kids cookbook) and getting quiet times in most days.

Healthy Apple Pie, pretty good actually but the crust wasn't right.

I'll have to play with that next time.

Still haven't made it for that prayer walk but the weather is great right now, so maybe later this week.

But the kettlebells - oh baby am I ever getting obsessed with kettlebells! I made my goal of doing 2 x 45 min workouts and they were tough. I used Lauren Brooks Ultimate Body Sculpt and Conditioning with Kettlebells.

I also did look into the snatch a bit (with the very scientific info I gleaned for youtube I decided I should master the stuff I am doing right now and work up to using my 12kg bell ( I am currently using an 8kg) before I venture into that teritory.

I used the big papa bell for part of both long workouts and it is heavy. I decided to go back to 3 small workouts for this week and try to use the heavier bell more so I can get stronger (there is no way I could use the heavy bell for the whole 45 mins, I would die, I actualy almost died using it for 4 intervals of my long workout ;^)). So that's the plan, ease into the heavier weight with 3 small workouts. I was so excited about this goal that I have already finished one workout for this current week (I am reporting a bit late). I think I am going to try one of Lauren Brooks workouts from her blog, maybe this one or the quick fat burning one.
That's it!

Working on my goals

I have exercised 3 times a week for the last 2 weeks! Yeah! OK, so they are mini workouts, so what? I hit 80% of my MHR and sweat. That means I am really working and establishing a good pattern. This week is different with A on afternoon/evening shift he won't get home til 11 or 11:30 pm all week. So I plan to do 2 big workouts this week (45mins) on top of walking etc. I might do a bit more on the kettlebells because I am trying to master the snatch but cannot seem to get it. If I finish my work tonight I may watch a few youtube tutorials and try some more.

Meal planning, not so much. I cooked healthy things about 4 nights this week, then made a few pasta meals because they were quick and easy, and better than pizza. But no one really likes it and there is not much veggies in a meal like that. I am losing enthusiasm for food again, it is so not my forte.

Prayer and quiet times. Hmm. When I have been on it was really good, but more often than not I was distracted this week. It has a lot to do with my overall health and schedule last week. This week I will try afresh. I am thinking of trying to go on a prayer walk, doesn't that sound fun?

The Bamboo Lounge

In it's current state.
You will recall I named it this because of the funky wallpaper and carpet. Recently A replaced the baseboard heater and the temperature in there often borders on tropical. I was planning to do an accent colour of apple green in this room when it finally gets redone so when I saw these cute green pillow very much on sale at Pier One I had to grab them. Hey if you can't beat em, incorporate them into your design plan!And yes, this is what it looks like when it is clean!

See there on top of the TV...the black thingy next to a smaller green thingy? That is my kettlebell (15lbs- black) next to R's little kettlebell (5lbs- green). Wow, do we have a lot of toys or what!

Master Needs work

Plain Jane and pretty much undecorated.
Sadly this Master bedroom that is slept in almost round the clock sometimes (due to shift work) is neglected.
This new duvet cover is light blue and the white bedskirt is new too, but still it is pretty lacking. I have to say I don't really even have any ideas because I am focusing my design energy on the basement. I did decide on pale blue and grey for a colour scheme. I have loved blue forever and it seems calming and quiet to me. Otherwise, I am stumped. This is another situation where the wawawa of the Backyardigains secret agents getting caught in a booby trap come to mind.

Kids Rooms Update

I know I am so uncreative with the titles. Sigh. Sorry can't help it I am a little tired and I feel a cold coming on. Creativity is gone. Here are some pictures of the kids rooms in their brief clean state!!
These are little shelves in the shape of red airplanes that I got at the LTO dutch auction last year. They have been sitting in the closet since then waiting to be hung up. When they announced that the dutch auction is coming up again I was shamed into forcing A to hang them once I realized it had been a whole year! Now the boys each have a little place to put their treasures at night.

This is their room, besides the shelves and the new car shaped night light on the dresser it is pretty much the same as always.
L got a lower case l on her wall thanks to a vinyl decal that was on sale at HomeSense. Every time she looks at it she points and says Mama because she saw me putting it up. Everyone says it looks like a #1, but it is an L I tell you!
I still have fabric stars that I would like to stick to the wall around that decal, but I don't know if that will actually ever happen. I also have white fabric for roman shades and cute trim fabric for each bedroom, but I would need a good day to make those so maybe in April I will get to it! Thanks for looking.