Tuesday, December 28, 2010

December Craziness

This December has been one of the most crazy ever in my married years. We have had all the regular family parties, birthdays, Christmas events and Jess had finals, Easton had his tonsils taken out and we moved. Now I am relaxing and working on my New Years resolutions. I will get pictures posted of my recent crafting. I will get organized so that I can do more crafting (it's a stress releaser for me) and I will post pictures of the new stuff I do. Right now I am working on a super fun craft/gift that makes my house smell super yummy! I also found a new hobby (well sort of new for me) that I am loving and goes right along with my scrapbooking. I love to take pictures. But Jess found this free program on line called picasa and it works a little bit like photoshop- just not as cool. But it's right on my level so I am having too much fun tweeking my pictures. Also since we've moved I am having to find a new gym/rec center :(- I need to find a Zumba Instructor that I like since I left the best ones up in Bountiful. This was one of the saddest parts of the move. I will miss Irma, Leslie and J! IF anyone knows of any super great Zumba classes in Utah County (specifically the Alpine/Highland/ American Fork area) I'd love your input :) Thanks Oh and HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Christmas

My most favorite scrap and craft store is going out of business. I know you don't thing it's a big deal but trust me it is. See I know I haven't been ontop of things with my photos of my crafts but trust me this is super sad. So anyway... I will post new pictures as soon as I can. Things are a little bit crazy right now but that is only because Jess has finals and I have a son and my sweet hubby who have birthdays this coming week. But the show must go on. I will find another craft store!

Just to let you know what is coming... I have vinyle projects that I have been working on. I have wood blocks I have been working on (stuff that have been waiting for a while now), bows for girls that are too cute, necklaces which are so dare cute you wouldn't know what to do and tons of things on my siloutte.

But my most favorite thing is this Christmas time of year. Take time to enjoy this Christmas time of year and remember what is really important, our Savior.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Haag Family Biggest Loser 2

Jess and I have decided we are in on the Haag Family Biggest Loser round 2. Jess is going to the gym and riding his bike. I am still going to Zumba, doing yoga, biking and a few other things here and there. I had surgery in September so I feel like everything I did in the first round was undone. I have gotten out of a few habits (like taking my dinner to work with me and drinking enough fluid) so I just have to get back into the swing of those things and keep exercising. Hopefully I will make my new weight goal by the end of the year (my new year's resolution goal) and I'm not too far off, so I am hoping to be able to get it done.

And I have been working on more projects and finishing up some others. I also went to my friend's Relief Society Enrichment (or what ever it is called now) and the Halloween Queen came. She was amazing and showed us how to throw all kinds of Halloween parties and gave us recipes... so yummy. I will have to post pictures of some of the recipes. I did make a "Monster Mash" themed dinner the other night and the kids (and Jess) loved it. Sorry no pictures though, we were having so much fun I forgot about it all :)!!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Halloween Crafts






I am a copy cat. I can see something and then duplicate it. My favorite scrapbook store had these cute "Eek!" blocks last year. Well I didn't take the class but I kept the sample picture. I decided that I wanted to use different paper and embellishments so I spiced up their idea just a little. I loved them so much I made a set for my mom and I taught my mother-in-law how to do it all. I think she had fun. Then I went to my favorite craft store and found these super cute kits to make Halloween wood monsters. I think they turned out pretty cute too. Now I'm totally in the mood for fall and Halloween. This is my end of summer door hanger I made as well. Love watermelons in August. I have finished up a Halloween and Fall door hanger and will get pictures of those soon. Oh and lets not forget the eclipse blocks. I bought this kit from my favorite scrapbook store. I will have to post the pictures of the twilight and new moon blocks too. They are fun.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Summer Dresses


Here are the summer dresses I made for my girls. I guess they are kind of jumpers. I made one for my brand new niece Lucy too :)!! I think they are sooo cute but really it's the fabric that is just darling!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Sew Crazy

Lately I have been in a sewing mood. I have made Emma a fancy, twirly girly skirt and then the cutest little jumper (one for each of my girls and a niece so far). I am loving sewing but I only know how to do the simple things. So I found this blog called newdressaday (dot) wordpress (dot) com. She takes a new dress from the thrift store everyday and transforms it into something amazing all for under a dollar a day. Go check out her amazing transformations. She makes it look easy (especially since I don't have to make any button holes or sew in a zipper). In this crazy world of recession and pinching pennies this actually sounds like a plan. I am going to eventually try my hand at it but first I have to find the time to go shop at a thrift store. If any of you take on the make-over-an-outfit challenge I'd love to hear from you and see your creations. You can e-mail them to me at thebabe_jph (@) yahoo (dot) com. In the subject heading write "blog sewing make-over" so I don't randomly delete you thinking you are spam. Also if you have made some awesome outfit for you or your kids- send me a picture to my e-mail and I'll feature you here. Pictures are to come of my sewing projects.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Bloggity Blog, blog, BLOG

Sarah and I haven't been singing as much as we have in the past. But to keep this blog alive we have decided to make it a schmorgusborg of stuff. I'll be posting FHE ideas among other things here. For family updates you'll want to visit my family page. I'll also post my crafting fun here too. So be watching :)!! And I've had several requests for my date night ideas & the little things ideas so be watching for those as well. And I will always TRY my very hardest to give credit where credit is due.

First off I will tell you about the "Wild About You" box. This is not MY idea. I found it on another blog (Thanks Dating Divas) there are several ways to go about this. I went to the craft store (Roberts) and found a little tin lunch box. Then I went to Heartland Paper and found "anmial"print paper (ie. zebra stripes, aligator skin, cheetah print, ect..) then I mod podged the paper to the outsid and inside of the tin. (I'll post pictures soon) Now here is where you put your own spin on it. The Diva's over at Dating Diva's put "Risque Frisky" ideas on slips of paper in the box to keep things alive between you and your hubby and then you draw one out as needed. Or you can do your own thing by putting on slips of paper reasons why you love your spouse, or all the little things you are grateful for that they do for you ect... But what ever you do is up to you. I made this box for Jess and he got a kick out of it.

Second- my Father's Day gift for Jess was the "Can-o-Dates" (thanks again to the Divas) I have seen this on several other sites as well. Get an empty paint can and use your mad crafting skills to mod podge paper to it and then decorate it up. (Pictures are to come I promise) then inside the can fill it up with date ideas. I gathered ideas from many dating sites, but my favorites come from the Dating Diva's! Then Jess draws a date night out of the can and waah laa!! Magic!! You have a date. As we go out on our dates I will post them so you know how they go. The Diva's really step up to the challenge of keeping your marriage alive by making little invites for their date nights (which is totally optional gals, but I've done a few for Jess and he likes them) and keeping their hubbies guessing all week long or sticking to the theme of the date.

I have to say I am happily married and I love my husband and I love going out with him. I love going on dates with other couples as well as dates with just the two of us. I love spending time with him without the kids but sometimes our dates include our kids because honestly we can't always get rid of them ;)!!! And I love new date night ideas because I do get tired of dinner and movie all the time. Don't be shy or afraid to leave your comments and feed back! Or you can give me the feedback when you come to the salon to get your hair done. I have lots of clients who read my blogs, then either e-mail me or come to the salon and fill me in. I love it any which way :)!!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Blessed!

Some days feel like more than a trial while others are a blessing. Some days feel never ending while others whiz past. Some days we lose our will to press on while others give us strength, courage and hope. Some days what starts out as one of these things, by night fall turns into all of the above.

I have had my fair share of good days and bad. But recently I experienced the most bittersweet day. My youngest, who is 11 months old, was scheduled to have an MRI at Primary Children's Medical Center. The MRI was to be done on her brain. We had just come home from Washington a day or so before so Jess was not able to take work off to come with me. So my Mom came with me and my little sister watched my other sweet children while we were gone. They expected us to be there for 4 hours. As I said my prayers the night before I asked Heavenly Father to give me the strength and courage I needed to face this day. The MRI was schedule for 6:30 a.m. and I had to be to work later than day as well. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through the MRI and then have to go to work two hours later. Miracles Happen! There are Angels in all of our lives watching over us, I truely believe this with all my heart and soul.

We arrived at the hospital right on time. My sweet Mother and I started out talking about a book she is reading that I have read in the past several times called "The Secret" on our way to the hospital. After the nurses gave my baby the IV and then the sedation medication, they took her to the MRI room we were not allowed to watch the MRI but we were told where her recovery bed would be and about how long it would take to run the test. My mom and I grabbed a drink and went out to the tables and chairs and chatted in the morning sunshine. We talked about "The Secret" and how it intertwined with our religious beliefs and how it works and what we are doing in our personal lives to make it work for us. It was the best conversation for me and we did talk a little bit about my family's vacation to Washington. Then we went back to the recovery room to wait for my baby to wake up. She did great and was a little trooper the whole time. There was another baby having an MRI done as well. The mother and grandmother were still gone when several doctors and nurses started showing up, pulled the curtain between us and working with this baby. My heart sank, I knew this was not a good sign. My mom and I continued to talk about being positive and little miracles and little "secrets" that happen in life. I was facing the door way when this mother rounded the corner, the look on both her face and the grandmother's said enough. My baby was waking up and almost to the point where I could take her home. At first I just wanted to get out of Dodge because I felt like I was an intruder there and that I was making it worse with my baby who was waking up and who didn't have tons of people working on her. The mother and granmother embraced and tears streamed down their cheeks and my heart hit the floor. It was then that the Spirit confirmed to me that my baby would be okay. You may say that should make me happy, and it does, but I knew the heartache this mother was facing and I felt guilty that my baby was more okay than her baby was. It was a very humbling experience for me; bittersweet. Even though my youngest is not out of the woods just yet and is still in physical therapy, she is progressing and doing well. I feel blessed! But before I went to work that night I prayed and gave my thanks to Heavenly Father but I also prayed for this other baby and the parents/grandparents for miracles to happen with them as well.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Washington Vacation







We took a family vacation to the Olympic Pennisula the last week in June. It was beautiful, fabulous and just what I needed and I think Jess did too. We left early Friday morning and drove all day to the Seattle area. We stayed in Bellevue. The next morning/afternoon we had to get our car fixed but were back on our way around 2pm. We rode the ferry over to Bainbridge Island and drove up to Port Townsend, then to Sequim, Port Angelas and finally over to Forks (where our condo/hotel was). We saw amazing sites, played in the tide pools, rain forests, on the rocky beaches and the sandy beaches. Did some hiking and missed out on a few hikes that we wanted to go on, saw some snow and freezing temps up at Hurricane Ridge along with wild wind. We had some rain, lots of sunshine and mild beautiful temperatures. We visited a few Native American Indian reservations. The Makah Rez has Cape Flattery which I think was one of the highlights of our trip along with the sandy beach just down the road from Cape Flattery. The other highlight was we stopped at every LDS temple along the way. I will post pictures later of the books that I am making for the kids. The books will have pictures of them in front of every Temple we visit from every family vacation from here on out. In the fall we are planning a Utah temple tour. I think the kids have had fun this summer :)!!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Giveaways!

OK! I am super EXCITED! Yes I am on vacation but I need to post about something super amazing. First.... there are several bloggers giving away a Silloutte. You will want to check out their blogs. Here is a list of them and you'll want to visit each one because they all have amazing projects. My list of projects just tripled.
They are all blogspot dot com's:
Tater tots and Jell-o
Oh, hell-o, Friend
southern hospitality
Thrifty decor chic
giver's log

So go have some fun this weekend and know that I will be busting out the projects after I win one of these babies!!! Think happy thoughts, right :) plus it will totally make my day when I win one :)!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Biggest Loser





My in-laws designed their own Biggest Loser game for the family to play. It has been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. Jess and I have lost a lot of weight as well. No I have not met my New Year's Resolution weight loss goal but that goal is for the entire year. But I will tell you this I am well over half way there in-fact I may be closing in on three quarters of the way there. I have dropped another pant size :) and I am getting very close to dropping another hopefully this weekend. My pants are falling down and I am having to pull them up constantly :) this is a good sign!

These pictures were taken on Mother's Day at Temple Square. We had so much fun with my kiddo's, you'll have to check out the family blog for those pictures.

One thing the Biggest Loser has taught me is that I LOVE ZUMBA. It's tons of fun and you don't even feel like you are working out. So I am going to become a Zumba Instructor :) and start teaching too. It's a lot of hard work, but fun and rewarding too. It's much easier to take the class and just follow along than to actually teach the class.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Exercising!

I'm terrible at updating this blog, but I'm getting better at it. Jess and I are still going with the biggest loser game his family has set up. We started on Jan 4th and got off to a slow start because we weren't sure we would have time for it. You see Jess is still in school full time and he works full time. I am a full time wife and mother plus I work part time. So I thought I would just break down our life for you real quick to show you how hard it has been to make time for this and how we seem to not have time for anything else.
Jess works full time usually 4 tens; Tues- Fri then he has school. He has a few on-line classes (which takes discipline to do) and he's in the middle of his "physcially have to be there for" class. Then on top of his full time schooling he has flight labs. These are not included in his full time school schedule. He tries to fly on Monday's and Saturdays at least 2 hours flying and 2 hours ground. Then he has to take care of 4 children (ages 8,5,3 & 9 months) while I am at work. Which is 4 days a week. Jess also gets flight time in on Tuesday and Friday's now because the sun is up longer. And because his "physically have to be there for" class is only a few weeks long (like 5) then he had to go to working 5 eights and he has school 4 days a week on top of everything else. He is packed solid-- try to find time for this man to excercise ontop of sleeping-- he needs his sleep so he can fly safely and oh yeah his job he is on the road 90% of the time driving through mountain passes and on dangerous roads. So his sleep is extremely important. Just so you all know though... he has been off of Dr.Pepper and all soda since January.

Then there is my day. I have two kids to get to school Mon-Fri by 8:45am. And I have to get them up, fed and moving in the morning. One is in Kindergarten so I pick that child up half way through the day. I work Mon, Wed, Thurs in the afternoon and evening then Saturday is a 6 hour shift that switches from early, mid and late shift depending on the week. I am a hair stylist so I have to "get ready" for work. I have to be showered, hair dry and presentable and makeup on and finished. I can't go to work with a wet ponytail and no make-up on looking like I just rolled out of bed, I'd get fired. It's not easy getting ready for work with three kids all needing lunch and the baby wanting attention and all the million "little" things that go along with kids and babies. I have to carefully plan this out so that I can have everyone ready to leave to get to the baby sitters and me to work on time. Then there is laundry for 6 people, one being an acid reflux baby who spits up a ton and on everything. Dinner, which I try to have made before I go to work to make it easier on Jess. Dishes need to be done, floors swept and vaccumed and bathrooms cleaned; beds made and rooms cleaned. Visiting Teaching and home teaching and church callings. Cubscouts and soccer (two games a week and one practice a week) then there is dance starting up in the summer, once a week and play dates for the kids and their friends. Grocery shopping since we do need to eat. Mowing the lawns and weeding the flowers and veggie gardens. Well baby checkups and not so well kid check-ups. Broken bones, head injuries and elbows too.

It all adds up and this is just an overview. Somehow we have found time to exercise and have made a real lifestyle change. I have found a new "aerobic" class I love called Zumba. It kicks your trash literally. I have been doing other things as well and now that the weather is getting better outside it is easier to rack up the points I think. I have found ways to incorperate my children into it so I am spending time with them as well as exercising. They are more aware of being physically fit as well. But I am a little worried that it is becoming an obsession and I am hearing my 8 and 5 yr olds saying some things that concern me. So we are having to combat that as well. But all in all I am feeling better and Jess says I am looking a lot skinnier since having baby #5! Horray!!! I am almost ready to down size another pant size and Jess's shirts are all way too big on him now. So exercise and a healthy diet really do work wonders.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Snowing

In the last week it has snowed three maybe four of the 7 days. All I can say is "Are you Serious???" For real, where where you snow three months ago when it was freezing and we wanted you around? I am so ready for Spring and Summer to be here. So Bah Hummbug to you Mr. Snow's a lot in Spring! BOOOOO!!!!

Okay I am over my ranting about the snow... maybe :)!! Just a quick update I took a Zumba class and loved it. I've convinced Sarah to come along with me as well. I am slowly catching up on all of my projects that I have going on and I found some unfinished ones too so just when I thought my list was getting smaller it's really growing more than I want it too.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

9 Years





As of March 13th Jess and I have been married for 9 years. We celebrated by taking the kids to Grammie and Bubba Gramps for a mini vacation for their own and we took off for an overnight stay at a Bed and Breakfast in Midway called the Johnsons Mill B&B! It was fabulous. Here are a few pictures from the weekend. Happy Anniversary Sweetheart and here's to many more :)!!!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Thinking

My sweet, handsome hubby and I are still thinking about whether or not to remove the privacy block on the family blog (almost typed piracy...funny huh???) Any input??? This last week has been a crazy one for us. I have had a migrane that I can't seem to get rid of. Never had that happen before so I'm feeling a little out of my element. We'll hopefully see the doc on Monday. Then Sarah was in a car accident this week too. I also had a sister-in-law in the hospital (emergency status...not planned) and my MIL had surgery too. I think March is coming in like a lion so it better go out like a lamb :)

As for other news. I'm feeling like I need Paula Dean to come and cook me some Southern Comfort Food Y'Aalll!! Because it's "UMMMM, Ummmm!!!" She is my fav. Thank Food Network! Do I hear VACATION bells tolling too ?????

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Family Blog

Most of you know that the family blog is private. I have had a lot of inquiries about why and if/when I will take the block off. I knew that I had "invisible" readers-- readers who stop by and read but don't comment or send me an e-mail to comment rather than leave it on the blog-- which is perfectly fine with me. We had a scary situation where we felt like it was best to put the privacy block on. I won't go into details but we just felt it was best. So I guess now that we feel the threat is mostly over (could always return with a vengence) we are considering taking the block off. For now it is still in place, but in the future it may not be.

As for Sarah and me, we've been so busy with wrapping up her senior year and getting her college applications in that we've put singing on the back burner. We still sing just haven't been practicing together. Sarah is in the works of writing several songs and I can't wait for them to be finished so we can work on them and sing them together :) You are super AWESOME Sarah!!!