Starting the new year with a bang!

So, if you are one of the loyal readers actually looking at this post, you will notice that I have not been doing much blogging for a while. I have been thinking about getting back to blogging, though.

Starting...NOW! I am not planning on blogging on That's {FAM}tastic anymore though. Sad day, I know. But not really, because I have started a new blog! And this one will be even better, because my sister Caroline is going to be in on it too! I'm super excited about that!

The new blog is called Highwire Living. (highwireliving.blogspot.com) Caroline came up with the idea behind the highwire. It's in reference to all the balancing we do as moms, crafters, house keepers, wives, decorators, party planners, etc. About how it can sometimes feel like you are walking a tightrope, trying to balance your responsibilities and the fun things that keep you sane.

We plan on posting a variety of things, very similar to what I was doing on this blog--craft and decorating projects, recipes, tips, etc.

Currently we only have one follower--our mom! So I would LOVE LOVE LOVE it if you would go visit and follow the new blog! There's not much on there now, but more will be coming soon! Thanks, you are wonderful!

And as if that wasn't exciting enough... I'm also going to announce the opening of my new Etsy shop! Going along with the new blog, I named my shop The Highwire Shop. This also is in the beginning stages, but there are a few items up, and I'm always open to custom orders! I'm selling handmade jewelry, including those cute personalized hand stamped necklaces that everyone loves!

Here are some of my favorite things in the shop right now:

I've had the shop open for a little over a week and have already made a few sales and have one custom order in the works! It's pretty exciting! I am currently offering 10% off all orders with the coupon code GRANDOPEN10.  I hope you'll check it out!

I feel really blessed to have such supportive friends and family as I take on these new endeavors.  Thank you so much! And thank you to any readers I've had on That's {FAM}tastic who I haven't met. I hope you'll continue to follow along and see what I'm up to over at Highwire Living!

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My friend is having a giveaway!

I had the pleasure of rooming with a girl named Ashley my last semester in college before I got married. She is one of those beautiful, totally classy, kind, funny, go-getter type of people who is just so likeable. She's been blogging for awhile, and her blog also exudes all of those characteristics. She just switched over to a new blog address, and is hosting a giveaway in celebration.

And she is giving away Mindy Gledhill's new Christmas album. I LOVE MINDY! We are on a first name basis with her around my house, because we love her so much. Um, no, we've never met... But she is great. I would love to win! So go check out Ash's new blog Between West and Main and maybe you could win!

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{DEAL}tastic: Lands' End Backpacks

Just a heads up that Lands' End has their backpacks on sale for around 50% or more in some cases. I bought this one for my 3-year-old for his birthday (minus the monogramming).


Sorry the picture is ridiculously tiny...I tried multiple times to save it bigger, but I guess I'm just not savvy enough for that!

Anyway, this is It's the ClassMate Small Haul. It's on sale for $12.99 and I found a coupon on Retailmenot.com (just search "Lands' End") for 25 or 30% off + free shipping. Booyah! I ended up paying about $10.50 I think.

I was looking for a preschool-sized backpack and this is what I picked. They do have another backpack that's even smaller that I considered. A lot of the reviews commented on it being too small, so I decided to go the next step up.

I figured this way we'll have room to actually fill it with stuff if, for example, we wanted to pack his clothes in it for a trip, or fill it full of toys and snacks for a long car trip. You know, in case want to actually use it.

It's a little big, but he's still able to carry it comfortably. Today we used it at the library, and I'll tell ya... it was pretty nice to have one less thing (the book bag) to hold onto while juggling the 3 year old, baby in the stroller and diaper bag!

Point being: Backpacks and lunchboxes are on sale at Lands' End. There are lots of really cute colors and patterns in several different sizes and styles. I would say if you have someone who will need a new backpack for next fall (or before then) it's worth taking a look and finding a deal!

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Yikes...

I'm not sure what's up with Photobucket these days, but my blog sure is struggling because of whatever technical difficulties they are having. Sorry for the ugliness. Hopefully the problem will be fixed soon!

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Tip of the day

Always look for coupon codes before ordering stuff online! I just got free shipping and 10% off of orders I made for supplies for Mother's Day presents this morning.

I usually just type the name of where I'm ordering from followed by "coupon" or "coupon code" in the little search box at the top of my internet window. More often than not the codes I've used have come from retailmenot.com.

I know this isn't a new concept by any means, more of a reminder in case you have forgotten. I like saving money!

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101 Things in 1001 Days

Well, it's only been 3 months since I wrote this list... I kept meaning to post it on here, to hopefully keep myself accountable, as well as giving myself something to blog about. We've finished 11 goals so far, which isn't bad, right? Thanks, Autumn, for teaching me how to do strike-throughs! That'll give you an idea of some of the things I'll be blogging about next, if I can ever get into the groove.

So, without further adieu, here are 101 things I want to do in the next 1001 (well, less than that now) days. Ready, set, cheer me on!

Start date: January 1, 2011
End date: September 28, 2013

Home
1.Book storage in W's room
2. Magnet boards in W room
3. Curtains in W room
4. Kitchen curtains
5. Paint chairs
6. Recover kitchen seats
7. Dining pendant makeover
8. Install kitchen knobs
9. Refinish kitchen table
10. Living room curtains
11. LR pillow covers
12. Make desk
13.Paint den
14. Decorate den
15. Paint hallway
16. Paint kids BR
17. Paint/decorate master BR
18. Paint/decorate master bedroom
19. Headboard
20. Paint front door
21. Plant bushes in front yard
22. Build shoe shelf for closet
23. Decorate baby room
24. Master nightstands
25. End table LR
26. Paint/decorate laundry room
27. Fill holes in walls
28. Get more seating
29. Clean all blinds
30. Fix side door
31. Recover high chair
32. Touch up scratched furniture
33. Bed throw pillows
34. Fix sliding door
35. Clean carpets 2x/year
36. Pull all weeds in planters
37. Unpack all boxes/organize
38. New change jar
39. Mini mudroom area
40. Outdoor furniture
41. Hallway Gallery wall

Crafty Endeavors
42. Quilt for W bed
43. Family rules/motto art
44. Silhouette art
45. Crochet something
46. Improve photography skills
47. Finish husband’s mission scrapbook
48. Start/catch up on family scraphook
49. Learn to make bread
50. Make J’s stocking
51. Make quiet book
52. Make file folder/laminated activities
53. Perfect a cheesecake
54. Learn to can--can fruit
55. Make and can applesauce
56. Make and can jam
57. Finish quilt camp quilt and have quilted
58. Make a family cookbook
59. Finish star quilt
60. Make stamped jewelry with sterling silver
61. Give homemade gifts when possible
62. Start an Etsy shop

Personal
63. Build up food storage
64. Exercise 3x/week for 2 months
65. Make cleaning schedule--do 2 months
66. Make budget plan and keep
67. Potty train at least 1 boy
68. Read the Book of Mormon 2x
69. Write in journals regularly
70. Learn to play a song on the piano
71. Read 20 books including:
72. 2 classics
73. 2 church books
74. 2 nonfiction/informational
75. In bed by 11pm for 1 month
76. Make bed everyday for 1 month
77. Ride bikes
78. Volunteer somewhere
79. Memorize a poem
80. Rememorize Articles of Faith
81. Memorize 3 scriptures
82. Run a 5k
83. Update 72-hour kits (add kids’ ones)
84. Invite someone over for dinner x15
85. Go to the temple 1x/month for 6 months

Family
86.Go camping
87. Go on a hike
88. See the Grand Canyon
89. Get a nice picture of Christ for our home
90. Make home video DVDs
91. Go to a waterpark
92. Go to Tucson
93. Go shopping in Scottsdale
94. Go to a Diamondbacks game
95. See the Mesa Temple Christmas lights
96. Go to the zoo
97. Go to a museum
98. Go to Disneyland
99. Go to a concert or play
100. Make homemade baby food
101. Make another 101 in 1001 list

I even printed out a copy to hang up so that when I'm bored I can remember the things I want to get done. Hmm...maybe I should hang it up next to the computer, since that's where I waste the most time...

What are your goals? Are any of them the same as mine? I'd love to hear about them! I'll cheer you on, if you cheer me on!

(And now I'm going to go lie down since both of my boys are sleeping! Yes!)

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What's been going on...

I've been on an extended hiatus from this blog, so kudos to you, if you are actually reading this! For a while I just decided it wasn't worth my time to post on here anymore (which is probably still true...) but lately I just keep thinking, "Oh, I could put that on the blog," so I'm just going to go with it!

I wrote a 101 Things in 1001 Days list this year instead of my regular New Year's resolutions, and have been meaning to post it for the last month and a half. Maybe if I keep track of it on this blog, I'll feel a little accountability and actually remember to look at the list once in a while, and get something done! I'll try to post it soon, and you can see what I'm working on for the next 2.5 years. :)

But here's what I've been working on lately:


This sweet little boy is a month old today (though he was only 8 days in this picture). We are loving him!

My 2 year old is loving him a little too much... He keeps trying to pick him up when I'm not looking. Today I ran (literally) out of the room to put something away, and ran back just in time to see Big Brother pick up then accidentally drop Baby Brother! I'm pretty sure I screamed. The baby seems to be fine though. Good thing 2 year olds aren't very tall, so he didn't have far to fall.

I love this little boy! Even if he is constantly getting into mischief.

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