My own happiness project.

Hey everyone! Since my last post, I've really been trying to narrow down my list of daily chores and feel happier.

I started reading The Happiness Project a week ago and although I haven't started my one year challenge yet, I have noticed a big difference in my attitude toward life, chores, and being happy!
One of my favorite parts of the book so far (I've only gotten about half way through), is where Gretchen Rubin talks about making a list of what she really likes vs. things she wants to like. This hit me really hard! My husband and I are so different. Like we barely have anything in common. So when I made this list, I realized that most of the 'want to like' side were things that he likes. Of course it's not a bad thing to try to do some of the things that he enjoys if it makes him happy and brings us closer together, but the problem was that I was so stressed trying to do all of the things that he likes on top of the what makes me happy. And I believe that it's been pushing us apart.

Here's part of my list.

What I want to like:
-wearing make up
-cooking
-world news
-going to/hosting big parties
-speaking spanish
-drinking alcohol
-growing a garden
-raising chickens
-having a horse
-exercising

What I actually like:
-coffee
-organizing
-crocheting & knitting
-going to church
-stretching
-creating
-minimalist design
-eating organic (myself and my kids)
-reading
-making lists

I am still working on a few things from the top list because I know (from reading The Happiness Project) that you won't always feel happy doing something that will bring you long term happiness. Some of these include cooking, growing a garden and exercising. I know that if I took the time to cook more often, I would be happy later because Jorge will be happy and my kids will be eating a healthier meal. Growing a garden would bring long term happiness because I will be proud of my hard work and we will be able to save money on veggies. And obviously exercising will make me happier in the long term in many ways. So why don't I take more time for them? That's a good question! I'm still working on putting together my personal happiness project that will last one year. Cooking and exercising will definitely be included somewhere while a few others will be cut out. I can't wait! I'll do my best to keep up with my progress on here.

<3 Erin

I did some organizing immediately after reading the part of The Happiness Project where she decluttered her home and organized some of her kids' toys. I knew my bathroom needed some help so I went straight there and I'm happy with the results!

Drinking coffee while keeping up with a bible plan is my idea of a perfect morning. Right now I'm juggling a few different plans: The One Year Bible, Soul Detox, and Habit of Happiness.

Currently reading! & I highly recommend this book. :)

Some crafting I did recently.

Trying to turn my love of crochet into a source of income. So far I haven't had a sale. But I'm keeping my chin up! I have over 500 favorites on my Etsy shop, so I'm sure a sale will come soon. 

One of my favorite recent purchases. Organic lip balm from this Etsy shop

Surrounding myself with bible verses have been a helpful reminder of how to live my life and grow closer to God. I don't always remember them during the day, but seeing them over and over helps big time. 

Hello again, it's been too long!

31458 pageviews.

All I can say is WOW, THANK YOU!

I always wanted to have a blog, but have such a horrible time trying to manage my time and getting on here. Well it looks like I have a blog!! I think all of these page views have come from only three posts haha, but I'm so glad you guys like them and I hope I can write something else you enjoy reading!

For my first post in a while, I'll just summarize my life right now! We have been through a ton in the past year... Getting married, renting a home, going to church as a family, Jorge getting a new job, and myself becoming an It Works! distributer! 

Jorge and I got married on May 2, 2014! 

Betsey and Beverly are getting so big. They're definitely not babies anymore!

W're taking full advantage of our rental property! In addition to our crazy girls, we now have Heidi the horse and at least 25 chickens!

 I became an It Works! distributer on April 22! 

For more info, please 'like' my Facebook page!

The girls drinking their Greens!! They really do love it.

 Other hobbies include crocheting and gardening. 

So far we have lavender, cilantro, rosemary, oregano, and onions!

update on us :)

I've been writing a lot lately on what I've been reading and learning about & forgetting to update on my family! So here are some recent pictures of me & my babies. :)

1- I just realized I never put an announcement up when we found out it was a girl!! :O I'm already 17 weeks along, & we found out way early, at 13 weeks at my high risk OB. They were awesome, she was very positive about it being a girl. I was so excited! Jorge was upset for a few hours ha.. but oh well! We needed a girl, we can't afford to buy all new boy stuff right now. This was definitely a blessing :)

2- She made this absolutely HILARIOUS face a ton of times when her dad would feed her! I think it was because he was making a choo choo noise when he would put the spoon to her mouth then laugh everytime, so she would laugh.. I don't know, but it was soooo damn funny!!

3- Betsey's [adorable] evil face... she was ever so slowly inching her hand toward her bow to pull it out while watching me fake cry and smiling the whole time.... brat. Haha.

4- Finally sleeping at my friend's baby shower! She was sooo exhausted afte watching everyone and everything for the first couple hours but refused to miss a second. Finally I got her to sleep and thought I would get a break, but once I laid her down in her car seat I felt so empty without a baby in my arms, I had to go steal someone else's baby! It's so funny how much I've changed in the last few years..

1-Yvonne and Jorge on her 19th birthday. :) Yvonne is Jorge's only sister; Betsey's only aunt on that side of the family! They have a tradition of grabbing a ridiculous amount of cake as soon as they blow out the candles and smearing it all over the face of the birthday person! I think it's crazy, but they have fun! This time Jorge did it to Yvonne and she wasn't having it, she did it right back haha..
2- Jorge being silly! :)
3- This is pretty much our daily routine now when I try to put Betsey down for a nap if she's not already exhausted.... FUN. Mommy-jungle-gym.
4- God she's beautiful. <3 & those are still the only teeth she has ha.. She'll be one in exactly two weeks, but I'm not complaining. Not only do I love seeing her cute gummy smile, but I don't really want her biting my nipples!

1- Betsey being naughty. She likes to shovel all her food onto her lap now........ I go "noooooo" and she starts shaking her head and smiling really big like this. :/ Also, she hates peas. I tried to give them another try that night and she practically started gagging! So dramatic for a 11 month old.

2- The view from my mom's kitchen window of her new apartment......... & YES, that's the back of my car. Parked in MY spot. Of MY apartment. That I've lived in for like SIX months. UGH.

3- Finally started reading George Orwell's 1984. I've had it for a few years, I think I picked it up before I got on a plane but didn't end up reading it. Then I heard them talking about it on Natural News Radio the other day & I was like hey! I have that book! So while I was at work the other day I started reading it. Very interesting so far.....

4- Betsey being such a good big sister & looking through the baby name book. I think she wanted to help me pick out her little sister's name. ;)

1- This was taken a few days ago, but today I'm 17 weeks and 1 day pregnant!! It's going by soooo fast. I feel a little bad that I'm not paying so much attention to this pregnancy than I was when I was pregnant with Betsey, but I think I have an excuse-- I didn't have an almost one year old keeping me so busy back then! I am eating healthy and doing the best I can. :)
2- Betsey being a big freakin kid and standing all by herself!! She is starting to walk already too, but I haven't gotten any decent pictures of her taking steps.. It's hard with my phone because she's so damn fast haha.
3- She gets so comfy back there. :) I can't wear her on the front anymore because my belly's getting too big.. I just realized I'll probably never wear her on the front again! :''''( But at least she's good back there, she falls asleep when we take nice long walks. I looove babywearing. <3
4- My strawberries! I suck big time at gardening so these are a big accomplishment! Now if only I hadn't taken the big one off too early. :/ It was still sour and I had to throw it away. It sure was pretty though!!