Simply Breathe

So I've tried many types of organizing for my day-to-day activities.  I've tried Day Planners from just any old box store.  I tried planning only on electronics such as Google Calendar.  I even went as far to purchase an Erin Condren.  I will admit I liked the EC but it was a little pricey.  I also struggled with the structured aspect of it.  I wanted to be able to add additional papers to it easily and have the chance to add more plans.   Recently a friend introduced me to Bullet Journaling.  There is a clear system of no system.  Make sense? Check out Bullet Journaling for a brief overview. Simply put, you get a plain notebook, create an index, and get planning.  You add what you want, when you need it.  Genius! I can add lists for future plans, lists of books I've read, and a daily plan spot for as much as I need.  Word to the wise, don't google Bullet Journaling layouts.  Unless you have a ton of extra time...

I have broken down and done it.  I have signed up for my very first Stitch Fix.  My normal shopping routine consists of me running to the store to look for some clothes for one or both of my girls, and by chance picking up something for myself.  Trying it on?? What is that? I usually try to at least determine if it will fit in a round about way. On a rare occasion, I will actually have a moment without the girls and I try to fit in all my needed shopping all in one store shopping. I am skeptical about the Stitch Fix program.  Just like I am about most things.  I finally decided to try it.  I left pretty detailed explanations to my stylist about me.  I set up a Pinterest board ( see it here ) for her to refer to.  I told her I wanted inexpensive pieces to add to my current wardrobe.  If when the clothes come I don't like any of them, I can return them easily in the prepaid shipping bag.  So my experience could be wonderful and I end...

How do you track your books? After beginning multiple books only to find out that I had already read them, I was on a mission.  I am one of those people who just can't seem to reread books.  I figure that there are TONS of books out there that I haven't read.  I like the newness and the surprise that a new book holds.  I found Goodreads.com.  There are a few options out there when it comes to tracking books.  I gravitated to Goodreads.  I like the simplicity of it.  You can track your books and even find recommendations.  There is so much more than I have even begun to use including challenges, groups, and discussions boards.  I also realized how little I read at times.  How can I encourage my students and own kids to read if I don't read much on my own?   Check out Goodreads and follow me! Www.goodreads.com/kristenyl

So tomorrow is Cady's birthday.  She will turn 4.  Where does time go? I feel like yesterday was the day we rushed to the hospital.  I always remember thinking it was odd when people spoke of time flying.  Now I know the enormous truth behind it! Cady is truly our spitfire child. She is outspoken and head strong.  She is always consistent too.  She stayed up for 3 hours yelling last night that she would not be sleeping until she watched her movie...it was way too late in the evening for that.  She would take breaks from screaming in order to calmly inform us that she would continue all night if she had too.  She woke up with an extremely hoarse voice this morning :) 

New Year means great possibilities! So it is a new year and there are plans being made! Plans of healthier lifestyles and more family time.   Plans of making memories and keeping them.  I am the worst at remembering things so I plan to write more down and take more pictures.  Here is the first! I asked Kels to make her bed.  Once the mounds of stuffed animals were placed on the bed, I kindly asked if we could giveaway a few to good homes in order to make room for her to sleep.  Her answer? Just to lay upon them! Of course! 

July/ August 2014 So going with the theme of our lives, this summer was a whirlwind.  I changed to a new school as did both of my girls.  It has been a wonderful change.  We truly miss where we left but feel like we are settled into a place that is right.  I am realizing daily how resilient and steadfast our girls are. Neither had a problem changing schools.  I had more anxiety about switching then both of them combined ever could dream of.  They walk into their schools like they own them. We headed on a trip a few weeks back up to the Texas Hill Country.  Both girls were able to climb to the top of Enchanted Rock like it was a mere hill! K even went through a cave with her dad.  Even in the midst of being stuck literally in a tight spot, they slid blindly down a muddy slope in hopes of emerging victors.  No fears...at least from the 6 year old :)

So, we have had a while since we talked.  We have been busy.  In fact, just now, I tried to start this post while watching a pre-recorded movie, listening to a oil class online, waiting for the kids to fall asleep, and having an adult beverage.  Just so you know, that does not work well.  I had to cut out a few things.  Kelsey and Cadie have changed so much since my last post.  Cadie is 3 and Kelsey is 6.  Kels just finished Kinder....wait did I just say that? I like to say that they are the best of friends at times and the worst of enemies at other times.  It is like each knows the buttons of the other.  Kels can not stand to be told multiple times the same thing and yet Cadence just seems to push that button hourly!  Cadie is my favorite morning girl! She has gotten into the routine of coming into our room at 5:30 (in the summer.....) and crawl into bed with us.  She insist on sharing my pillow because her dad's isn't good enough...

Saturday, January 3, 2015 New Year New Year means great possibilities! So it is a new year and there are plans being made! Plans of healthier lifestyles and more family time.   Plans of making memories and keeping them.  I am the worst at remembering things so I plan to write more down and take more pictures.  Here is the first! I asked Kels to make her bed.  Once the mounds of stuffed animals were placed on the bed, I kindly asked if we could giveaway a few to good homes in order to make room for her to sleep.  Her answer? Just to lay upon them! Of course!  Posted by  Robbie and Kristen Merritt   at  11:06 AM     Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Sunday, October 5, 2014 1000% approved dinner I decided that I was going to experiment in order to get my girls to eat more vegetables. I took s...

Fall Time is here! I love the fall! We visited Church this morning and the pumpkins had arrived.  That means picture taking time.  Too bad my girls are on opposite smiling schedules.  They just can't seem to smile at the same time.  You couldn't imagine how many pictures we took before we could get just these 3!  We took a moment out after church and before the dedication of our new building to try some photos.  We may stop by later during the week for pictures better than what my old iPhone can do. I love the smells of the fall too! I love diffusing Thieves at the house for it's cinnamon and nutmeg smell as well for it's germ-fighting uses! I love the holidays too (well maybe not Halloween as much since it stills can get creepy).  I've recently started using Young Living oils which is where the Thieves comes from.  If you are interested, I've started a blog ( Click here ) to keep an account of our experiences.  I think fall just seems ...

A few weeks ago we woke up and decided to take an adventure.We saw that Corpus Christi was have a Marina Days and decided to check it out.  The vendors were not over-the-top but they did have a replica of the Columbus ships available for tours.  After climbing aboard, Robbie was instantly sucked in to all the possible information.  The girls on the other hand.....not so much.  The youngest was however taken to searching the Gulf for "triangles" otherwise known as sailboats.  She had a ball of a time!  The eldest on the other hand was uninterested in anything but food.  Have I mentioned she is going through a growth spurt? Crazy!

I look at my daughter, and I believe Actually that should be "my daughters". While jogging this morning, I was listening to my "running" playlist and the song by Live came on titled "Heaven". It is a little older of song but the meaning in it is so deep. Here is a sample of the lyrics for those of you who don't listen to this type of music:  You don't need no friends get back your faith again you have the power to believe another dissident take back your evidence it has no power to deceive I'll believe it when I see it, for myself I don't need no one to tell me about heaven I look at my daughter, and I believe. I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth I can see the sunset and I perceive I sit with them all night everything they say is right but in the morning they were wrong I'll be right by your side come hell or water high down any road you choose to roam I'll believe it when I s...

Life with 2 and a husband Kelsey is just 2 weeks from turning 4 years old and I am in disbelief. The changes that kids go through when they are young is amazing. At what age does the changing slow down? With every passing year or even month, kids change and grow considerable. Before having my own kids I never would gave imagined it. This time last year Kelsey was having difficulty speaking and was having incredible fits. We would put her in time out and she would refuse to come out of time out for hours. Now she is speaking so well and even spelling colors and knows all of here letter sounds. Cadie is 7 months old and starting to say what I fully believe to be "mama". Robbie claims Kelsey said dada first so he is willing to let me believe Cadie says mama. She isn't crawling but is sitting up and feeding herself and the high chair cereal. Looking back over the past year makes me wonder at what point does the learning curve start to slow or even go backwards? I somet...

Did you know that Old McDonald had a Cadey on his farm?? And on that farm Cadey goes "WAH WAH". This is what Kelsey says. Caddy comes right after the cow on the farm a d before the pig. ...I am not sure what to think about how Kelsey feels about Cadence. Truth be told, Kelsey is handling it all well. She has started acting out some since Cadey was born. Every other statement from her is "watch me". She has suddenly decided that she wants to be the star!  As far as Cadence, she is growing quickly. We had a few issues in the beginning trying to gain weight but now we are doing awesome. We go back to the doc for our 2 month checkup in less than 2 weeks. Time is flying by! She is constantly trying to stand and move. This is one child that we can't leave alone for long. She LOVES to move and move. I hope that is not a sign of things to come... As far as Robbie and I (I fully understand if you choose to stop reading since I have already written about the girls), life ...

So instead of waiting until the planned day of April 5th to arrive, after my college class Saturday, April 2, Cadence decided to make a surprise arrival! To say the least it was a shock and evening of fast-pace decisions. Everything started at 5:30 and she was here by 8:50 and life has changed since then. Robbie can now say he has had the "rush to the hospital" moment with his pregnant wife. Cadence Jean got her name on a whim because we had each choosen different names but after seeing her went back to this name. Jean is from her great grandmother's name. Kelsey stayed the night with some great friends and had a great time watching her new movie Tangled. She has handled things great so far. Her G-ma and G-pa took her for a few days to spoil her rotten and now she is back and attempting to get into routine. Her first day back to school was today and she was not so happy to stay at school. We'll see if she ends the day on a "green monkey" color day!