Seven Day Self Challenge!!

DAY TWO!!

I for sure thought today would be challenging, and I was sort of right. My predictions: I thought I would have a HORRIBLE time getting myself out of bed in the morning to go workout and be sore. WRONG and WRONG! I only rolled over once and thought about going back to sleep before I reminded myself that I needed to get my bottom out of bed, and I got right up! I was not sore up until the moment I got onto the Elliptical, then it KILLED my poor knees. I didn't want a treadmill because I really wanted to work my arms as well, but this thing is hurting my, already bad, knees. I'm hoping it'll get better though, and that I didn't make the wrong machine choice. I had to take three quick breaks to stretch out my legs during my workout today.  :(  But I pretty much kept my same stat's as yesterday, so I am happy. On a side note, I drank a little more soda than I would have liked myself to yesterday, BUT today...I haven't had a soda yet!  (I think this cutback on the soda will be harder than starting a workout routine.)

Today's Stats:

   Time: 15 minutes and 54 seconds
   Calories Burned: 160
   Distance: 1/2 mile
   RPM: 57-64

two DOWN....five TO GO!!!  :)

Seven Day Self Challenge!!

WHEW!! I finally got the motivation to get my butt out to the garage and on my Elliptical! I am sharing this information in hopes that if by adding this self challenge in my blog (making it public), I'll be more motivated to do it! I believe if I voice my ideas they are more real than if I keep them to myself! So....Starting today, and the next six days, I WILL get on my Elliptical and only allow myself ONE soda each day. 

Today's Stats:
   Time: 15 minutes and 35 seconds
   Calories Burned: 160
   Distance: 1/2 mile
   RPM: 56-63

one DOWN....six TO GO!!!  :)

Clay Handprint Project

I started a box last summer of Payten's projects and colorings because I love seeing how much she progresses (even from one week to the next), and I think she will really enjoy being able to go back and look at all her fun she had as a toddler when she is older. I am a huge pack rat when it comes to anything of Payten's. I've started multiple scrapbooks for her, have all her pictures placed by year on my computer (someday, I'll get these put on individual memory cards to give her as well), and anything I don't know what to do with...I throw into her keepsake box! Anyways, back to the point of this blog post! A clay handprint keepsake: I've seen this project before, and LOVED the idea of it. I think it's adorable, especially, since I am a huge fan of keeping track of Payten's hand growth. Although, I wasn't sure how to do it, so this week I finally found a recipe and directions on how to do it!

Clay Handprint Project:

What you'll need- Flour, Salt, Water, Vegetable Oil, and Paint

Step One: Preheat oven to 200 degrees

Step Two: Combine four cups flour, one cup salt, and one and a half cups HOT tap water. Add two teaspoons of vegetable oil

Step Three: Kneed dough (If dough is too dry- add water/if dough is too wet- add flour)
Step Four: Have your child place his/her hand in the dough (Try not to make the dough more than a half inch thick in places, otherwise, it will take a couple days to harden good)...With the leftover dough, I let Payten use her cookie cutters to make shapes as well
Step Five: Bake the dough for two hours and let it set overnight to completely harden/dry

Step Six: Gather paint materials and let your child get creative!

I was very excited as to how well this project turned out, and I love the handprint! It is definitely getting placed in Payten's keepsake box! Also, we made a couple extra that she is going to give to both her Grandma's! Good luck and have fun!

Getting to know Payten

I read this on a friend's blog and thought it would be a fun way for all of you to see more into Payten's world. I asked Payten these following 20 questions, and these are the kind of answers I got :)

1. What is your name?   Payten Burd

2. How old are you?   Three (She also showed me three on her fingers)

3. Where do you live?   Uh...At Ellis

4. What is your favorite color?   Uh...Pink

5. What is your favorite animal?   A duck

6.What is your favorite food?   Noodles, like chicken noodle

7.What food do you not like?   Like some cheese, the yellow one

8. What is your favorite thing to play?   Play-Doh, like with Melman (her tiger), coloring

9. Where is your favorite place to go?   To Ellis at the park/Grandpa's farm

10. What do you like to do there?   Play with my best friends/Play with his puppy, feed cows, ride on his tractor

11.What is your favorite song?   Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

12. What is your favorite thing about bath time?   Play with my baby dolls and toys

13. What is your favorite thing about bedtime?   Sleep with Melman and Princess

14. What is your favorite book?   Like the library ones

15. Who do you love?   Uh...Like Dora, Mommy, Daddy, Cletus, and Chevy

16. What are you good at?   Run FAST

17. Is there anything you don't like to do?   Run through the sprinkler, like I get all wet

18. Where is your favorite place to go shopping?   Walmart

19. Tell me some ways you are helpful.   Do some laundry

20. What makes you laugh?   Uh...Like (giggles) him (pointing), Melman

While asking her the above questions, I wrote down each answer.....So, after we were done, she got out HER crayon and paper and interviewed Momma (for some reason, she has switched from calling me, Mommy, to Momma lately, pretty cute)!!  :)

BIRTHDAY BLAST!

Well, after much time dedicated to making party invitations, a friend list, grocery list for lunch, and much, much more for my precious daughter's third birthday party....It has come and gone! Here are some favorite moments from her party I'd like to share.....................

Of course, everything revolved around the Princess theme, so she had a Belle cake

Payten and Avery enjoying some park fun while lunch was cooking

All the girls had to sit together for lunchtime

The cupcakes were very delicious

One, of the many, gifts she received

Bubbles are the best entertainment EVER

Payten sitting with some of her balloon decorations and showing Mommy how old she is!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND HELPED US CELEBRATE!!!

More Princess Invitations

The rest of Payten's party invitations!! She ended up loving them (as well as the scraps I messed up, they have ALL been colored beautifully). Also, when getting ready to send them out, I let her choose who got which princess invitation. She was pretty excited about this as well!! She has become quite the pro at making decision for herself! Such a little sweetheart!! Her birthday party is Sunday, I'm hoping this GREAT weather stays around, so the kids can really enjoy the park. Yippee  :o)

Princess Birthday Invitations

Today was Payten's birthday (I know, obvious from the previous post)! This was the first birthday that the weather hasn't been beautiful, but one good thing came from it...Mommy AND Daddy got a snow day! So, we got to spend Payten's birthday all together. YaY!

Besides celebrating Payten's birthday, Mommy did some craft work today. I worked on making Payten's Princess invitations for her birthday party coming up in the next week. Here is what I've accomplished so far (and yes, I'm proud of my work, so I had to share....Hehe)!!!

Each invitation will have a Princess dress on the front. I've only finished the Cinderella and Snow White invitations, so far. I will share pictures of all the invitations when they are done because, so far, they have turned out better than expected! Also, I want to share because I searched the Internet before beginning my invitation making process, and found some great ideas. Unfortunately, I'm not as crafty as I like to think I am, so I kind of used all the ideas I found and molded them into something I could do! So, for all of you out there looking for cute Princess invitations, here is another design idea! (These invitations were all made by using my Cricut and Cricut Design Studio.)

Here is a picture of the inside of each invitation.

As of right now, I'm still swamped with homework, and this extra craft time, ha. So, I won't waste time adding details about how I made these invitations, as of now. If any of you out there are interested in knowing what my process was for making this invitations was, just comment below, and I will add a posting later with the steps  :)

Three years, what!?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY my PRINCESS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YYYYOOOOUUUUU!!!!!   -We love you, beautiful

Payten made herself a crafty, birthday necklace. She was awfully proud, she wore it the rest of the day (you can see it in the picture above).

Here's a close up of her awesome craft skills!!!