Project Life {College Visits}

Hi Friends, 

I know what you're probably thinking:  Good Lord!  Is she just now doing the layout from the Spring Break college visits?!?  And the answer would be, yes.  Yes.  I am that far behind.  I'm not sure what happened, but I kind of lost my creative mojo in April.  It was weird, and I'm hoping it's over.  One of the best parts of Project Life is that even when my pages aren't fabulous, they still do a great job telling our story.

 I feel like I documented Emily's college visits pretty well on the blog, so I just used pictures and a few pieces of  the brochures each school gave us.

The only things I added were a couple of wood veneers from Freckled Fawn. 

And now I'm off to get Easter in my book.  I'm hoping to have another update later today.

Thanks for looking!

XO,

Vicki

PS  Northwestern is still Emily's #1 choice, in case you're interested.

PPS I'm linking up with Jessica over at The Mom Creative:

A First for Emily

 Dear Emily,

Remember freshman year, when you thought you were going to get your *very first "B" ever* ...in band?  Remember how frustrated and upset you got over each and every play test?  Remember how hard you worked?  Remember how much you practiced?  Remember how you decided you were not going to let band ruin your GPA?

Remember how you started taking lessons and your teacher was incredibly...odd (but very talented?).  Remember how much you practiced and practiced and practiced?  Remember what a pain it was to schedule your horn lessons around swim practice and play practice and marching band?  Remember how hard it was to get to your lessons because the bridge to the academy was out and you had to take a weird detour each week?

Remember when you started loving playing your French horn?  Remember playing in that gorgeous brass choir freshman year?  Remember when you made Wind Symphony?  Remember when you started getting solos?  Remember when you got a 1* on the same solo you-know-who played the year before?

Saturday you played Nocturno at State.  And Emily, I tell you what;  you soared.  You played with emotion and skill.  We were all in awe of your talent.

Your solo was gorgeous.

You were gorgeous.

And we were all in awe.

Congratulations on your first at State.

We are all so proud of you.

XO,

Mom

PS  John tried to video Emily's performance, but it didn't work.  If you'd like to hear the piece she played, click here.

Five for Friday

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1.  This article about a woman trying to figure out how to get her baby to sleep all night made me laugh out loud, even 16+ years later.  

2.  This bouquet took my breath away.  Gorgeous.  Simply gorgeous.

3.  Love these ideas for re-purposing party supplies.

4. I love this simple, pretty wreath.  I might have to drag out the glue gun this weekend.

5.  Is peppermint only for Christmas time?  Because this Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake looks divine.

Have a great weekend, friends!

XO,

Vicki

Words to Live By

XO,

Vicki

25 Truths About Tomorrow's Colonoscopy

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1.  I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow.
2.  I can't eat any solid food today.
3.  I am already starving and it's only 9:22;  my stomach is making obscene growling noises.
4.  This is my third colonoscopy.
5.  Every time I type "colonoscopy", I spell it wrong.
6.  Maybe not.  I just checked, and I spelled it correctly.  For some reason my spell checker doesn't like that word.  I'm not too crazy about it, either.
7.  My dad had colon cancer, but he's just fine now.
8.  John is taking the day off tomorrow so he can get me to and from my appointment.
9.  The info sheet the hospital sent me made it VERY CLEAR that I needed a ride home.  It said cabs are not permissible.
10.  I find it weird that the hospital told me I can't ride home in a cab.
11.  I wonder what would happen if someone didn't have a car, and they only traveled by taxi.
12.  When I used to drop Jack off at Clayton last year, I would see a little boy get out of a cab each morning.
13.  I often wondered if his dad was a cab driver or if that was just how that little boy traveled.
14.  That little boy would have a hard time getting home after his colonoscopy, either way.
15.  It's starting to really annoy me that my spell checker doesn't like the word "colonoscopy."
16.  For breakfast I had beef bouillon.  It was delicious, but it didn't fool my stomach at all.  I am still hungry.
17.  I think I should have skipped my spin class this morning.
18. The last thing my spin instructor says at the end of each and every class is, "Have a great day, spread a smile, and eat some protein."
19.  There is no protein in beef bouillon, but there is a whole lot of sodium, which is why it tastes so great.
20.  Due to my colonoscopy, I had to skip my chai tea latte this morning, too, which made me sad.
21.  I made myself a cup of tea to sip on after I dropped Jack off at school.  It didn't fool my stomach, either.
22.  It's 9:35 and all I can think about is how much I want a 3-egg spinach-feta-mushroom omelette.
23.  Of course, eating a 3-egg spinach-feta-mushroom omelette would make my doctors extremely angry. But not my spin teacher.  She'd be thrilled that I was eating all that protein.
24.  I think I'm going to have John bring me a 3-egg spinach-feta-mushroom omelette when he picks me up tomorrow in his truck.
25.  I'm not going to lie, I kinda wish we owned a cab just to see what would happen.

What's On My...

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Here's what's on my...

Vanity:   Um...Vanity?  Oh!  You mean my bathroom counter?  My favorite perfumes:  Becker Eshaya's "Be", Clinque's "Happy Heart", Fresh's "Hesperides", Philosophy's "Grace".  All the jewelry I've worn since the last time I put it away, hair clips and ponytail holders, and my big old cup so that I start each day with water.

Perennial To Do List: Laundry

Refrigerator Shelves:  leftovers from last night's pesto pork roast, a round steak for beef stroganoff, cottage cheese, pickles, milk, juice, 852 condiments, eggs, yogurt

Itinerary:  Bible study at 11.  Dinner with Carrie at 6 (HuHot!).

Fantasy Itinerary:  Trip to Aruba with Christy 

Playlist:  Dave Matthews Band on Pandora

Nightstand:  Burt's Bees foot cream, a big stack of "to read" books, alarm clock, an old picture of Maddie in a frame I got at her baby shower.

Workout Plan:  MWF--spin at 6 am, TuTh--swim at 6am.  MTThF--lift

iPhone: Instagram, Starbucks, Shopping IQ, Twitter, Facebook...

Bucket List:  Aruba with Christy, learn to golf, take a pottery class, swim with dolphins, earn a PhD

Mind:  a situation with one of my swimmers, how much I want spring to arrive, the fact that I haven't heard back from the city about the pool I use during the summer.

Blogroll: enJoy it, Design Editor, Stephanie Makes, Under the Sycamore, Hither and Thither, (plus a gazillion more that I'm too lazy to link).

Walls of the Favorite Room in Your House:  My favorite wall in my house is this one.  For sure. 

Liquor Shelf:  Bombay Sapphire (for gin and tonics with Christy), Pama (for these pomegranate martinis), Tanqueray Gin (for when Tom visits), Absolut, Johnnie Walker Red, vermouth, rum.

Screensaver:  This print, which is my all-time favorite Curly Girl design.

TV every night:  I don't watch a whole lot of TV, but when it's on, it's usually a cooking show:  Top Chef, Dinners and Drive-Ins, Chopped.

XO,

Vicki

PS This post was completely inspired by this one over on Ali Edward's site.

Five for Friday

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Hi Friends!

Isn't that photo lovely?  I am so longing for spring to arrive here in Wisconsin.  I am ready for flowers and sunshine and green grass and sandals and linen.  Soon, I hope.  In the meantime, here are five fabulous links for you to enjoy. 

1.  I absolutely want to make a set of these scripted pillowcases for our bed.  I think the girls would get into it, too (and maybe Jack!).  I need to look to see who is having a white sale.  

2.  Strawberry Milkshake cupcakes?!?  That has John's name written all over it.   (And I loooove those simple flags they made to decorate them!)

3. This is an interesting article on the pressures that social media puts on people to create a life that seems more glamorous/exciting than it might be "in real life."  Please let me know if I'm ever throwing of the vibe that my life is perfect and filled with evening gowns, dinners at 5 star restaurants and absolutely no clutter.  Ha!

4.  Am I too old to rock these sneakers?  Because I'm in love with the blue pair. 

5.  I liked this article on slowing down.  I need to stop saying "I'm too busy," and instead say, "That's just not a high priority for me right now."  All part of my quest for less.

XO,

Vicki

Words to Live By

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XO,

Vicki

Project Life Update {March 18-24}

Hi Friends,

It's been a few weeks since I posted a Project Life update, mostly because I am a few weeks behind. No worries, though.  I feel like I've got my crafty mojo back, and I should be all caught up in the next few days.  This layout is from the week of March 18-24.  It was the week that ended with the start of Spring Break.

 On Tuesday, Jack performed his first bass solo in front of a judge, and he did fantastic.  I was so proud of him.  That was also the week of Dar's memorial service, which was lovely and sad.  Mother Nature dumped some more snow on us that week, too.

On Friday, Emily, Maddie, and I headed down to Chicago to start spring break with some prom dress shopping.  The weekend was full of dress and shoes and sparkly accessories.  I loved every minute of it.  We decided to do our shopping at Oak Brook Mall, instead of a traditional prom dress store.  Emily knew exactly what she had in mind, and we are all thrilled with her choice.  (Tons of pictures to come!).

Okay!  On to Spring Break and Easter!  Thanks for looking!

XO,

Vicki

At the Finish Line {Thoughts on the Boston Marathon}

 Hi Friends,

Like all of you, I am shocked and saddened by what happened at yesterday's Boston Marathon.  I can not even begin to imagine what it was like to be there during the attacks.  But I do know what it feels like to see the finish line on the horizon.  I know what it feels like to take those last few steps.  I know what it feels like to cross the finish line and have my name announced, to be cheered on by complete strangers.  I know what it feels like to know my family and friends are there to watch me accomplish my goal.  I know what it feels like to grab my child the minute I cross the line.

Each person who ran in yesterday's Boston Marathon deserved to experience the joy and triumph and pure bliss of the finish line moment. They should have been able to throw their arms up over their head and shout, "I did it!" as they crossed the finish line.   Sadly, for so many of those who were part of yesterday's Boston Marathon,  the finish line and all it represents will never be the same.  And that makes me want to weep.  I can't imagine what it would be like to have my family and friends get hurt because they were there to cheer me on.  It is simply unimaginable.  And so incredibly sad.

Today I said a prayer of thanks for each of my finish line moments.  Then I prayed for peace for all of those who didn't get their moment yesterday and for all of those who were senselessly injured because they wanted to make someone's finish line moment memorable.

XO,

Vicki

Habits for Happiness

Hi Friends,

I ran across this article from Mind Openerz through a Facebook link.  As someone who chooses to be happy (and I do believe it's a choice, every single day), I thought there was a lot of wisdom in this article.   I've copied the article below and added my own thoughts at the end of each suggestion.  I'd love to know what you think.  

 *****************************************************************************************

1. Appreciate Life:  Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.  I especially like the last three sentences.  I'm not sure I possess a "childlike sense of wonder towards life..."

2. Choose Friends Wisely:  Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.  I absolutely believe in the importance of this.  I like who I am when I with my friends.  I tend to weed out the ones who make me feel yucky.  I just don't have time for that anymore.

3. Be Considerate:  Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.  Yes!!  Be nice to the checker at WalMart.  Talk to the old man at the Y.

4. Learn Continuously:  Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.  Hmm...I think my sky-diving days are behind me.  But I did take a photography class this year...

5. Creative Problem Solving:  Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.  

6. Do What They Love:  Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.  I love my job.  Love it.

7. Enjoy Life:  Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.  My pastor is doing a series on this very topic {past (regret) and future (worry)} this month.  I'm working on it.

8. Laugh:  Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)  Oh, gosh.  I laugh at myself all the time.  I am completely ridiculous.

9. Forgive:  Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.  Working on this...

10. Gratitude:  Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.  I think I'm pretty good at this...

11. Invest in Relationships:  Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive.  I think I'm pretty good at this, too...

12. Keep Their Word:  Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.  I try very hard to do this...

13. Meditate:  Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.  I don't do this, but I do pray, which helps me in the same ways and tends to work better (for me at least).

14. Mind Their Own Business:  Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you.  I try to do this.  I just can't handle other people's useless drama anymore.  

15. Optimism:  See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought.  I try to do this.

16. Love Unconditionally:  Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them.  I try to do this.

17. Persistence:  Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.  I could probably use some work in this area.

18. Be Proactive:  Accept what cannot be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.  Still working on this.

19. Self Care:  Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical checkups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.  Working on this every day.

20. Self Confidence:  Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself.  Working on this.

21. Take Responsibility:  Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.  I try to do this.

So what do you think?  Are there areas you're especially good at?

XO,

Vicki

PS  I read almost all of the 99 comments written on the original post.  Quite a few of them were written by readers who were angry because they thought the author was somehow implying that people who are clinically depressed are just not trying hard enough to be happy.  I didn't read the article that way at all.  Clinical depression is a serious illness and needs to be treated medically;  it has nothing to do with just willing yourself to be happy.  I think the author of this article was addressing these 21 suggestions to those who simply choose to be unhappy.  If you're healthy and you're still choosing to be unhappy, these suggestions might help.  If you are clinically depressed, I urge you to seek medical attention.

Five for Friday

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WooHoo!!  It's Friday and Raffi's birthday, and my parents are coming up for the weekend!  It doesn't get much better than that!  Here's five links that caught my attention this week.  

*My brother was elected alderman of Blue Island, Illinois (so proud!!).  I didn't get to put a yard sign up for him like Christy did, but if I did, I would have ordered one of these, and then had it personalized with his name.  

*Emily is in New York with the band.  I am so jealous.  New York is the coolest.  Seriously.  You know what else is cool?  These photos (including the one above) by Vivian Maier, a nanny, "who has now wowed the world with her photography, and who incidentally recorded some of the most interesting marvels and peculiarities of Urban America in the second half of the twentieth century."  Her photos make me want to go out and take pictures of knees and hemlines and other awesome every day stuff.  

*I won a giveaway from one of my favorite blogs.  I loved that she put my name on the picture.  I totally had to print it out so I could put it in my Project Life.  (Geek alert!)

*I really want to make a set of these.  But not with quotes from Downton Abbey;  I'm still mad about the Matthew thing.

*I want to make one of these, too.  So cute.

Have a great weekend friends!

XO,

Vicki

Words to Live By

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XO,

Vicki

What I Made Wednesday {Joy Journal}

 

Hi Friends!

Some of my original readers might remember this little joy journal I made a few years ago.  Isn't it happy? I just fell in love with that piece of vintage material on the cover, so I decided to plan a whole book around it.  And how about that vintage green trim?  Love it!! 

I decided this book was the perfect base for the "This is Me" class I am taking.  I love that it will have the new stuff from the class and all the stuff I wrote a few years ago.  

I will go back and update some of the pages, like the "Three Words" page.

I will also add some updated pictures.

I used a lot of vintage and found papers in this book. The words on the left page are from an old children’s book. I will write all my secret wishes about John and I and our kids on those two pages.

A few years ago, Christy and I spent a whole morning sipping lattes and making lists (I love lists!).  This list is of our Top 10 memories.  We’ve  had a whole lot of fun together over the years.  I think it's time to update that list!  (Isn’t her handwriting fun?)

Do you have a happy place?

Another list. This one of 99 Happy Things.  I think we need to do this again!!

A favorite picture from Paris.

My own list of happy, which will definitely be updated during the class.  You can tell it's an old list--I haven't had a Diet Coke in 3 years!!  

A Vicki/Christy Bucket List.  Looks like Christy and I still have a lot to accomplish on this bucket list.  We did go to New York in the Spring of 2011, though!

And now, I'm off to complete  some of the assignments from the class!  Some day my kids will look through this and see “mom.”

Have you made anything fun lately?

XO,

Vicki

Prom Dresses and Kindness

 Hi Friends!

Oh my gosh!  I had the most magical day on Saturday--the kind of day that makes my heart so happy.  A friend of Amy's, Marie, set up a special prom dress event for a bunch of local exchange students, and she invited Raffi to come over.  Prior to the event, Marie contacted a young woman she knows who competes in pageants.  This young woman, Carrie, a junior from Appleton North High School, brought over more than a dozen of her pageant dresses for the girls to try on.    She laid them all out on two beds and let the girls pick and choose what they wanted to try on.  There were dresses with jewels and dresses with flowers, ballroom dresses that required crinoline underneath, and satin sheaths.  There were purple, sapphire, black & white, bubble gum pink, orchid, navy & lavender dresses.  Some had sequins, most did not.  Some were modest, and some were a bit more daring.   She girls squealed with joy when they saw the dresses--each one more lovely than the next.  They each gravitated to a different dress to try on first.  They shed their sweatpants and jeans and returned in one of the frothy dresses.  Some girls loved the first dress they tried on, others, like Raffi, tried on almost every single dress.  The girls were all from different countries, and each of them had their own unique personality and body shape;  one was on the taller side, one was petite, and the others fell somewhere in between.  As crazy as it is to believe, each girl ended up finding a dress they loved, a dress they felt completely lovely in. It was magical.  Carrie's generosity led to pure bliss for each of those five girls. By lending her beautiful dresses, Carrie was able to make their prom dreams come true.  I loved watching all that happiness.  And I loved watching one teenager show kindness to complete strangers.

Thank you, Carrie, for helping Raffi feel beautiful at her American prom.  

XO,

Vicki

Five for Friday

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How have I never thought of this before?  Balloons with painted polkadots?  Yes please!

I really, really want these sandals for summer.  (Don't worry, John.  I am sticking to the plan).

I plan on making this coffeecake this weekend.  Jack loooves raspberries!

I want to make some of these with Jack this weekend!

I was strangely overly-sad at the passing of Roger Ebert.  I think because I grew up watching his reviews.  And because he had the same haircut as my mom*.  I love this wrap-up of his twenty best reviews.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

XO,

Vicki



* I am probably the only one in my family who is going to remember laughing about this.  I remember the weirdest stuff.  Seriously.

Words to Live By

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XO,

Vicki

What I Read {March 2013}

Hi Friends!

I hope you're looking for some good book recommendations, because I've got some!  March was a good month for reading, for sure!

The Round House, Louise Erdrich (4 stars).  A 13-year-old boy tries to solve the mystery of who raped his mother, so he can put his family back together.  I know that sentence sounds completely awful, but trust me, this is a beautifully written book.  It's rich with memorable characters, and it gives the reader lots of insight into life on an Indian reservation.  Every single sentence of this novel rings true.

Left Neglected, Lisa Genova (3 1/2 stars).  This book was written by the author of Still Alice, which I completely loved.  Both books deal with a brain problem--Still Alice is about Alzheimer's  and this one is about a woman recovering from a traumatic brain injury.  As a result of her injury, the main character can't see anything on her left side.  It is like everything on her left side does not exist.  Like with Still Alice, Genova does a great job of helping the reader "see" and "feel" what Left Neglect is like.  Unlike with Still Alice, I didn't end up loving the main character as much as I loved Alice.  Still, this is a good read.

The Lake of Dreams, Kim Edwards (4 stars). I loved this book.  It's the story of Lucy, who uses clues she finds in her parents' old lake house to discover the identity of an amazing, long-lost relative.  I loved the old letters Lucy discovers--Annabeth's voice is pitch-perfect.  Lucy's search into the past helps her come to terms with her dad's death and her current relationship.

Wild, Cheryl Strayed (4 stars). I didn't particularly want to read this book, but it came highly recommended, so I gave it a whirl.  Oh, boy!  I loved Cheryl's story and her writing style.  I just couldn't put this book down.  Cheryl's honesty and frankness made me cheer her on throughout the book.

An Abundance of Katherines, John Green (3 stars).  This is a completely cute "Teen Fiction" book.  The main character, Colin, is quirky, and his best friend, Hassen, is just the right kind of funny.  Colin and Hassen embark on a road trip after Colin's 19th girlfriend named Katherine dumps him.  Their fun road trip adventures combined with a feel-good ending make this a good read.

Have you read anything good lately?  I'd love to see your recommendations!

XO,

Vicki

I Choose {April 2013}

Oh my goodness!  You kind of snuck up on me, April.  I'm pretty sure I would have known you were coming if my entire yard wasn't still buried under a foot of snow.  : (   March was quite the month!  Any time I get to spend almost 2 weeks in Chicago, it's a good month!  : )  

In March I chose to:

Cut down the grocery store trips by planning out (and sticking to) my weekly menu.  I did okay with this.  My grocery store trips seemed to come in spurts in March.  I was either going all the time, or not at all.  There is definitely room for improvement here.

Plan 5 $10 outings.  One-on-one time is so important.  I managed to get 3/5 of these in.  Maddie and I went to Chicago together, Jack & I went to a movie and out for yogurt, and I'm going to count prom dress shopping as time focused on Emily.  I didn't do any specific one-on-one time with Raffi--unless you count our time at the nutritionist together (ha!), but we did get to spend lots of time together over spring break. Clearly, I need to focus on John this month (although we did have a date night with Amy and Bob, and we watched one of his favorite movies--does that count?).

Plan one meal out of the freezer each week.  It's time to use all those leftovers!  This actually happened!   I used up plenty of stuff from the downstairs freezer during March.

Stay on budget during my two Chicago trips this month.  (This will be hard, but I know I can do it!!)  Hmm...I think I did a pretty good job during my first trip, but the spring break trip was definitely not on budget.  I will need to make up some ground on this during April.


In April, I choose to:

Plan 3 date nights with John.  I will make this happen!

Implement my own version "Operation Slash the Food Budget".  I am determined to conquer the grocery store trips and spend less at the grocery store this month.

Inventory all of my family's spring & summer clothes and make a list of needs.

Not buy any new spring or summer clothes in April.  


Okay, April!  Let's do this!!

XO,

Vicki