My New Look

This is what tired looks like. This is what's left on the living room floor after spending an evening with my friend, Jane, who is graciously hosting my entire family for two weeks. Yes, two weeks. She's a generous soul, my friend.

I'm rethinking the whole proposition now, since Jane took me out walking last night. It's true that we only walked. And it's true that our pace was very moderate. But it's also true that the most exercise I've had for the past 6 months is looking at the elliptical machine my sister-in-law is storing at my house. So I am tired. And sore. Not only from the walk, but from carrying my baby up and down hundreds of flights of stairs at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House yesterday.

I soaked my legs in a hot bath for as long as I could last night, but didn't make it very long as I was in danger of falling asleep and drowning. Did I mention we walked for and hour and a half! I was shocked. And I am insisting that our route was three miles, but Jane says it's not. We will measure it today and I hope I'm right. We're planning to do this every night (mostly) in preparation for a 5K run/walk on my final day here in Utah. The Lavender Festival is supposed to be very pretty and fun for the whole family. I don't know how much fun that 5K will be for me, but at least I'll be able to cross #21 off my list. And let's hope that all this exercise contributes to a new look for my body.

If You Print Them, They Will Call

One of the goals from my list was to get business/blogging/mommy/calling cards for myself. I used Vista Print to order a box of blogging cards, which will probably sit for a long time unless I attend an event or conference. But this morning I found a free download from a wonderful, new-to-me blog, Cottage Industrialist. DIY, printable calling cards! I printed a page of eight cards and put them in my bag so the next time we're at the park and meet some nice people, we can invite them for a playdate.

(found via How About Orange, one of my favorite design bloggers)

Save a few pennies & trees

I subscribe to a lot of magazines, and my favorite is Martha Stewart Living. I've been saving my issues since 2003 because they are classic. Recipes and home management tips never go out of style, and even the decorating schemes favored by MSL seem to stay fresh and current. It suits my style. Unfortunately, a subscription to MSL runs a little more than other things and this year when it came time to renew, I kept the cash in my pocket. For January, instead of receiving a lovely new issue in the mail, I pulled out the January issues from 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008. I could skim through them much faster, since I've read them in the past, so it didn't take any more time than reading a new issue. And I remembered many of the great features, things I had wanted to revisit anyway. Check out some of these great articles.

I'm making these darling pillows for my couch. It just so happens that pillows are the first project for my sewing class (on my list of 32 things to do before 33), which starts this Saturday. I have already purchased some great fabric.

There are plenty of yummy recipes in my old issues, including 12 for a feature, A Year of Cakes! Cakes are my weakness. I've already made this cardamom cake, since I love cardamom. It was not as good as I had hoped. I will try the Meyer lemon cake next. Once all my sick babies get better I would like to make this lasagna bolognese, which I actually made when this issue came out, 5 years ago. It was delicious, but a lot of work - possibly an every 5 years occurrence. Maybe after that I'll try some of these curries.






Also - I believe this is a picture of what my mud room is supposed to look like. You know, if I had a mudroom. Someday I will.

But for now I'm happy to save some money this year by skipping my magazine subscription. I'll put it toward my mudroom. And I'm always happy to save a few trees.

For more tips and tricks, visit Works For Me Wednesday.

Welcome 2009

Come right in, 2009 - I've been expecting you. I have big plans for you and I and anticipate creating many wonderful memories: the first birthday of my last baby, my eighth wedding anniversary, kindergarten for my first baby, and my 33rd birthday. I can tell it's going to be a great year!



After a fun & eventful holiday season I have been looking forward to the start of the new year with hopes of organizing, decluttering, streamlining, and simplifying. Not to mention goal-setting and turning over a new leaf. But rather than set new goals, I am referring back to my existing goals. I made a list (and posted it) called 32 Things to Do Before 33. So let's have an update on my progress.



1. Read the Book of Mormon - I am slow, but still working on it.
2. Fast every month - check for Nov & Dec, although Dec fast was done on the 28th
3. Attend the temple 12 times - check for Nov & Dec (thanks to Candice for babysitting both times)
4. Print our family blog book for 2008 - finishing up a few posts and will download new blurb software next week
7. Install the sprinkler timer, level & reseed the backyard - The backyard is leveled, thanks to some paid outside help. I installed the timer, and it even works. It's all kind of jerry-rigged right now though & I need to spend some more time on it, including getting a box cover for the valves. We will reseed in the spring.
8. Install a digital thermostat - guess what my in-laws got us for Christmas... stayed tuned for a Do It Herself post on the installation
12. Take a sewing class for the home - I am registered for the class! Candice & I are taking it together and our sweet husbands have agreed to help out with the kiddos. It starts Jan. 31st
14. Complete our family stockings (missing two currently) - finished one of these on Christmas eve day, have the other one cut out. I need to finish it before I put away all the holiday stuff.
15. Make the satin wreath I bought materials for in 2004 - Oh, I am getting close. Need to finish this very soon too - will post about it.
22. Write thank you notes for gifts received - have been working on these for all the wonderful Christmas gifts. The cute cards I got in the stocking swap are being used already. And I made great thank you cards for my boys to give too.
29. Get to know my neighbors - I didn't find the time to do neighbor-type gifts or goodies this year for Christmas, but am thinking about January. People still like treats in January, right?
32. Find and blog about ten new artists - I have already found some good ones and am planning posts

Stay tuned to The Well-Rounded Woman where new content is forthcoming this month.

Finally Jumping In

I have been a bit neglectful of my scripture reading over the years and have really wanted to read the Book of Mormon again. But I procrastinate starting, just like many other things in my life, and it's taken my list to get me going. But I have finally started on #1. And I want some kind of accountability, while being low-key about it. So, I added a bit on the bottom of my sidebar, where I will list a scripture from my recent reading. If anyone is interested in my progress, just watch the scripture, which I hope to update every few days. I might be a bit slow, but I am going for steady, and plan to finish by my birthday next year. Wish me luck!

Starting out the month with gratitude

I recently posted my list of goals & today I spent a little time working on #22. I received many thoughtful & generous birthday gifts and really wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciated them. Not just here on my blog, but with hand-written notes. A quiet Sunday was the perfect time, and it got me thinking about gratitude - which is November's theme, of course.

One thing that I love, and am thankful for, is the abundance of beautiful, cute, or unique cards for me to write my notes on. My birthday-gifting friends can look forward to either a brown craft paper card with my monogram & cute dots & stripes (from the Gartner line at Target) - OR - this adorable, dowloadable, printable card from Creature Comforts. For free. For reals.

Of the many things I'm grateful for, my sweet husband, Aaron, is at the top of the list. His generosity of spirit, time, & resources never fails to suprise me. I love him so.

Only 352 Days To Get These Done

It's Works For Me Wednesday time again - somehow I've missed it the last couple weeks. I was both devastated and relieved, all at once. Blogging is full of conflicting emotions like that. This week what worked for me was making a list. Posting things on the internet keeps me motivated & gives me some sort of accountability. Keep reading...


I always love finding new blogs that interest me. Lately I came across Joslyn at Simple Lovely and as I was reading, I found her post titled 34 Before 35. She & her friend, Amy at doobleh-vay, decided to create of list of goals, great & small, to accomplish before their next birthday; they are both turning 35. And as their readers posted their own lists on their blogs, they left the link in the comments of Joslyn & Amy's original posts.


I thought it was a marvelous idea and started thinking about things I would like to accomplish. I mulled it over for a few days, discusses it with my husband, & started my list. Since I just had my 32nd birthday, I will have a whole year to finish my list. I added some hefty goals and some smaller things I have been wanting to do for a long time. Some are fun, some are serious. Some are personal, some are for my family. I wrote it out in my own hand, with my favorite pen, but will also list here for ease of reference.


Part of the idea is to stay accountable to others & basically to the internet as a whole. Isn't that what blogging is for? I can blog about my progress & refer back to particular numbers on my list. It should make for a fun year. I hope you stick with me on my journey - or join me with your own list. I'd love to hear about your list in a comment on this post, but make sure you check out Joslyn & Amy too.

32 Things To Do Before Age 33

1. Read the Book of Mormon
2. Fast every month (I have been pregnant or nursing most of the last 5 years, so am out of the habit)
3. Attend the temple 12 times (basically once a month)
4. Print our family blog book for 2008 (I did it for 2007 and LOVE it!)
5. Catch up on the boys' baby books
6. Catch up on photo albums through June '09. (I'm currently at Jan '08)
7. Install the sprinkler timer, level & reseed the backyard
8. Install a digital thermostat
9. Prepare 72 hour kits for my family & renew them every six months
10. Have a two months food supply for my family
11. Pay off all credit card debt
12. Take a sewing class for the home
13. Finish headboard slipcovers and curtains for the master bedroom
14. Complete our family stockings (missing two currently)
15. Make the satin wreath I bought materials for in 2004
16. Catalogue our home for insurance purposes
17. Potty train Emmett
18. Plan a great date for Aaron & I
19. Go to a drive in movie as a family
20. Take a free online class on an interesting & new (to me) topic
21. Run a 5K in less than 36 minutes
22. Write thank you notes for gifts received
23. Make doughnuts from scratch
24. Go on a family camping trip.
25. Watch a foreign film (with subtitles)
26. Throw a semi-formal dinner party
27. Get business/blogging/mommy/calling cards for myself
28. Learn a new piece on the piano (I played when I was young but don't even have a piano now)
29. Get to know my neighbors
30. Develop the perfect brownie recipe
31. Write letters to my sons - to be opened when they turn twelve
32. Find and blog about ten new artists (musicians, artists, writers, etc.)