catching up on projects

Decorating is never done. Especially when... you're me.

I made my headboard a few months ago. Our bedroom is almost complete! I'll be posting final pics on that soon.

Light Makeover #1

Here was our living room.. it was coming together except for this dang light.. which you can't even see really well but I've always hated it. The style just wasn't right and Aaron wasn't stoked about me spending a lot of money for a new light.

So, I went to Habitat for Humanity Restore a few months ago, looking for potential gems.

I found this really ugly, broken chandelier for $15. Really I should have asked for it for free, and I think they would have given it to me.

This thing first got spray painted black... but it looked too spooky-Halloweenish. So then I sprayed it light blue. I didn't love it. So I went back to gold. I wanted no shades, and I wanted round bulbs to make it more modern.
I like it, I don't love it, but hey... $15? To be honest, I've been thinking about spraying it magenta (!!!) Or orange.

 Light Makeover #2

When we moved in, there was only builder-bland lighting, of course. These pendant lights were simple, not exciting, and they hung way too low! Like anyone taller than Aaron or myself would smack their face on them if they leaned into the island! They had to go...
But it wasn't a "need" and I couldn't find a good enough deal to justify brand new pendant lights.

Enter IKEA. Brand new line... and they were $25 a piece!!

And they had gold touches. My favorite

 But I wanted more gold (duh) so I spray painted the inside of them gold as well. Unfortunately you can't really see it from this picture. But they were a pretty sweet (and cheap!) upgrade ;)

 Bathroom Project

Everything in our master bath is BEIGE. Floor to ceiling, and it drives me nuts. One day Aaron pointed out to me that there's an outlet for a light fixture about the tub, and wanted to know if I planned on getting one. Uhhhhh..... is that an invitation?! So I ordered a little chandelier, and decided to paint the curve above the tub. I originally wanted horizontal stripes, I thought it would look really cool with the curve. So I painted it white (with the intention on white and mint stripes) and then went to measure things out. Using a level on a curve to measure straight lines is IMPOSSIBLE!! I gave up after 3.5 minutes.

I remembered a cool abstract paint job I saw in a bathroom once. It took literally 20 minutes and ended up being pretty cool. It looks better in person, because the lines photograph all wonky. I'm probably going to end up painting the rest of the bathroom the same color.. once I get to that ;)

 As if I didn't have enough to do, I've also been trying to get Mason's room decorated =) Here's the plan, and it's almost all done, and looks pretty close to this! It's almost all DIY and on a small budget.

This was my little sugar plum admiring the snow a few weeks ago. He was so confused but then kept trying to catch it. So cute

why i'm not competing

Everyone is asking, so I thought I'd sum it up in one setting!
I only competed once, in figure- in which I didn't even place well, so I'd hardly call myself a "competitor." But right after that show in March, 2012 I got prego with Mason. The whole pregnancy, I missed being in that shape and I decided that I would lose the baby weight as quick as possible, get super ripped, and compete within 10 months at the November show.
That show occurred during our Cambodia trip. No-go.
So I decided on this coming March.

And for right now, it's not happening. A big reason is that Aaron doesn't really want me to compete. He doesn't like the idea of me wearing close to nothing on a stage, and I definitely get that. It's also a sacrifice on both our parts, because I have to spend a lot of brain power, will power, time, money, and energy on competition prep, and I don't think he wants to deal with "hangry" Steph!
Aaron's all about me achieving my goals and doing something I love, etc. but his hold-ups are things that I respect right now.

The biggest thing though, is that I am not mentally ready for it. Competing becomes an obsession. Timing your meals just so, and every macronutrient accounted for. And it's all appearance-based. 

I am not committed. And you need to be if you're gonna embark on something like that and expect to do well.

I love food. But I have very healthy habits. I eat clean 85% of the time, and I work out 5-6 days a week. But I don't want to feel bad if I eat dressing on my salad, because it has 5 grams of sugar, and it's not "clean." I don't want to go out with my girl friends for lunch and bring a cooler of tilapia and asparagus. I'm just not ready for that, and kudos to those who do that ALL THE TIME! That's why they're on bodybuilding.com.
I do feel like I've been able to slowly get results, the way I want to do it, without being restricted and deprived.

I'm not trying to be Miss Figure Olympia, or a published fitness model, but I do feel a desire, and a need to be in really good shape. I'm a personal trainer! I need to look and be the part. And someday, who knows, maybe later this year, I'll be extra determined to buckle down, diet hard, and get ripped for a show.

So those of you who have thought about competing, or are currently prepping, you are amazing! I know what it takes and it is SO taxing. I'm more than a little jealous because, well, we all want to look amazing and shredded, but you are putting in the work and are committed to your goal. Aaaaand I'm not.. Boo.

BUT I will do it again, mark my words! Now's not the time.. unless someone is really really convincing!

Mason turns one next week! How did that happen?! I thought about posting my year in pictures.. from my fat prego self, to current. I will do that next week. For now, here's my little baby 6-pack comin through from a few weeks ago... when I flex just right, in just the right light ;) It's been my goal.. if now I can get leaner, lose the stretch marks, get my separated abs back together, and heal up my umbilical hernia! Say what?! Yeah, for reals. Kinda jacked up.

But hey, it's progress.

Christmas and family pics

Eek, it's been a while. It's been a busy couple of months.

We got our family pictures done! Which everyone knows since they were sent out in Christmas cards and posted all over facebook ;)

My husband is so attractive.

They turned out cute. Especially when the boys were happy =)

Again, look at that husband of mine. Mmmm hmmm

Then a few weeks later,  my family came to town and ALL of us had pictures done.

They are SO. CUTE.

 While my family was in town in mid-December, we went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights

We had a family gift exchange with homemade gifts. It was really fun (and hard!) to think of things to make. I had Mia's name and bejeweled her a chalkboard.

The kids had a BLAST playing at our house. I caught Joseph and Carter playing a duet on the piano =)

Other Christmas festivities: We did Sub for Santa at Vivint. Shopping for other people.. yes please!

And we love Mason's chubbiness

Carter had a little Christmas program at Preschool and it was so funny! Him and his bestie Capri were so silly, and kept putting their Santa hats over their face, and then Carter kept trying to eat the ball on the end. Their teacher was probably less than thrilled but we were entertained!

Vivint Christmas party.. Carter sitting on Santa's lap

Me and some of my besties took our kiddos to go see the reindeer at Thanksgiving Point. We kind of just look for any excuse to hang out =)

Why buy toys when these two can entertain themselves in a box?!

Mason is into everything these days and LOVES the dishwasher. He'll climb right inside it, and throw all the silverware onto the floor.

Lately he says uh-oh all the time (usually AS he throws his food onto the floor). and he says Mama, and has learned to clap. He's at such a fun age!

 Me and Alicia took our kids one day to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. This might have been Mason's first time in sand. He wouldn't stop eating it.

 He's so sweet!

 Christmas!! I love our tree. I love that it's wintry and fresh, and it makes me happy. Sad it's gone now =(

 Blurry but one of my favorite pictures ever of these two!! Santa brought this car for Carter, and I know it's gonna be so fun especially once it warms up.

 This cute baby... he kills me. He stands, assisted, and I'm sure will be walking any day.

 They are the cutest.. and they love each other

 More fun times in the car... in the basement. There's no seat belts, and Mason kinda goes flying haha

So this picture demands a story. Carter constantly mauls Mason. Like lays on Mason. All the time. And Mason gets so annoyed. Me and Aaron had to go to the jewelry store to get our watches sized, and Carter fell asleep on the way. Aaaaand we laid him on the ground of the jewelry store (we are awesome.. and you might notice Carter's awesome outfit that he picked out.. snow boots and shorts. Okay then).
So we set Mason down and he immediately takes advantage of the situation. He starts poking at Carter's face, and smiling, and then he lays on him, and Mason thought it was so funny. Karma, Carter... one day very soon Mason will be bigger. And you will be sorry ;)

We went to exchange gifts last week, and Mason was trying on hats. He's cute

 When you're outnumbered 3 to 1, get used to silly things going on around the house. Like Aaron pitching a tent in our bedroom. Carter and Mason thought it was a blast. Thank you Ryan for the tent, they are obviously stoked to try that out ;)

Aaaaaaand that's a wrap!

Moms and babies

In the spirit of November and Thanksgiving, I am grateful for awesome friends. I have long-distance friends that I've had for a decade (or more!), some I met within the last few years with Aaron's job, and some I'm just now getting to know and think are pretty awesome. 

One of the perks of living in Utah, is that there are lots of young moms with young kids, and often with similar interests as me. 

I always have something to do, and can find someone to hang out with =)

The other day, two of my good friends, Alicia & Malia decided we should take all our kids on a hike up Spanish Fork Canyon, and take our swimsuits to let the kids jump in the hot pots!

I live in such a cool place.

K I'm not gonna pretend that this hike was a blast, because it was actually pretty tricky, seeing as we took 3 babies, plus 6 kids up! And it was cold. BUT the kids did awesome, and we all had a really good time. 

I think I speak for the 3 of us moms that we feel a sense of pride of having done that by ourselves. Our husbands were out of town or at work, so we just don't wait around for something to do!

Carter struggled but did really well for him... he's not a big "exerciser" and the hike was 2 miles up then down! Mason had a blast being carried around in the backpack, and actually kept leaning to the side so he could see where we were going. And he eventually fell asleep that way. =)

Awesome day, awesome adventure.

Back to busy real life

This time of year for us is CRAZY. We're so busy but having fun so it's okay. After our Cambodia trip, we were so happy to see our babies again!!

 My parents are the best, for watching Carter and Mason for us. They were in great hands!

 Carter still asks to go back to Mimi's house

 He misses having 5 extra kids to play with!

We finally got around to carving pumpkins the night before Halloween. Whatever works. Luckily, my sister Val provided the homegrown pumpkins for us =)

 Carter had a cute Halloween presentation at his preschool. He dressed up as Ironman this year. His best friend Capri is sporting the Brave wig =)

 Mason is such a happy baby! He's mobile, doing the army crawl like Carter always did.

 To go along with Carter's superhero theme, we dressed Mason as Superman =)

 Carter and Capri, at her house. They love each other 

 My favorite heroes!

 My brother Kent came down for the weekend and we went to my Grandpa Packard's wedding in Salt Lake. Aaron was sick, so Kent was my date for the day

 Random pictures of Mr. Mase enjoying his bath 

 Carter turned 4! He's been really excited about his birthday

 Happy baby Mason!

 We took the kids to the mall to play at the play area. Mason and Matix are a month apart (Matix is Capri's brother) and they were really silly together.

 A few days later, we had a superhero birthday party for Carter and all his superhero friends!

And that concludes our family updates =) Aaron's setting off for a knocking trip this week, so I'll be tackling house projects. It's been a while and I miss them.