Checking Off Some Resolutions!

So I posted the truth about New Year's Resolutions in my mind in December (here). But sometimes people forget a week or two in or a month or two in. So I have an Update!

This may be a bad eye opening experience...

1. Finally get up in the morning and exercise. At least 3 days a week 

2. Write in my hand written journal once a week

3. Finally organize the office (3/4 the way there)

4. Go on at least 1 date a month with Steve and dress up for it

5. Not be intimidated by cooking fish

6. Take myself to a spa DAY, the whole freaking DAY

7. Finally paint the console table I meant to do a year and a half ago

8. Actually keep my car clean

9. Have dinner ready on time

10. Pay off that doctor bill we have had since 2008

11. Go on daily walks with the kids (Weather permitting) (Although ongoing)

12. Maybe, buy our own home again 

I think it is a pretty good start for 2 months down. 2012, we may end up being friends after all! How 'bout them apples?!

How are your Resolutions going? I would love to know!

Bethany

Bunnie Bow Oops!

So I just realized that the picture I uploaded so you would know what the bow would look like is not there!

Above is the bow you would be winning! I am so sorry! This is what happens sometimes with late night blogging!

Bethany

Bunnie Bow Giveaway!

Who hear has the cutest little bunnie in their lives? I do! But my friend Nellie would like everyone's bunnies to look cute and adorable, so she is doing an amazing little giveaway! Take a look!

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(Nellie and her bunnie!)

When my beautiful bunnie was born, she had no hair!  A quick look as her genetics told us that she would be lucky to have pigtails by her second birthday.  It didn't take long to discover that even when dressed entirely in pink, most people couldn't tell if my bunnie was a boy or a girl.  This was frustrating to no end because, of course, I had the most beautiful daughter in the whole world and nobody could even tell she was a girl!  It took less then 4 months to start putting headbands and bows on my bunnie to make her obviously look like a girl.  Not long after that I realized (to my great relief) that I was not the only one with a bunnie who seemed to baffle everyone with her beautiful, bald head.  And Bunnie Bows was born!  Because, honestly, every bunnie needs a bow!  

I also make the claim, and stick to it that I only work on bows at night after bed time.  It's the only time I can get out a bunch of ribbon and buttons and not have then strewn all around the house and be ready to munch some children.  I love my kids, but those glue guns burn!

I'll be offering free shipping on all orders until March 1.

Nellie

Bunnie Bows

 

Please check out Nellie's website for all your bunnie's needs at Bunnie Bows 

 

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This giveaway will run until 6:59am on Wednesday, February 29th. The winner will be announced that day. Here is how to enter!

 

Entries:

1. Like Bunnie Bows Facebook 

2. Leave a comment/follow the Bunnie Bows Blog

3. Check out the website, Bunnie Bows, and leave a comment on what bow you like the best

Good luck to you all!

Bethany

Handy Tax Tool

So here is a great piece of help I used to do my taxes this year. I found it at Organizing Your Way blog. They have some really great ideas for all kinds of organizing ideas. But what I like best about them is their printables! 

Yes, I started my own household binder here, and for some of the items in it I made custom myself because they just worked better for our house. But, Organizing Your Way has hundreds of them to just print for free! 

The one I am highlighting today is the Tax Checklist. It just has everything you can think of on it. All you do is download it, print and check things off as you put it together in a folder or such for you to take to your tax preparer. Or just to have ready and sitting when you have the countless time to put into it. 

Check out their other printables for your easy living. Or, if there is something you would like me to try and make for you, let me know. I love projects like that!

Happy Tax Season and

Happy Monday!

Bethany

Eye Rock Designer Liner

GET IN ON MY J. BELLA GIVEAWAY HAPPENING AT Hart to Heart BLOG UNTIL FRIDAY!

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So as you all saw from my February Birchbox post I got some pretty fun stuff. The Eye Rock Designer Liner-Instant Eyeliner Tapes was one of them. 

The package says, "Lasts up to 16 hours" (Which I don't go anywhere I would need it more than 3, but the idea is fun to think of) and "Peel and Apply in Seconds" (Which is rather true).

 

I made an attempt to put them on as best I could... my mother never showed me how to put on eyeliner, or much of any kind of makeup really, so to put on eyeliner stickers was a real interesting time.

But, Birchbox was so kind to provide an instructional video on how to put them on. Here 

So after watching this super simple and "easy" to follow video, I decided to give it a try. On a day me and the kids were running late for a family function 1 1/2 hours away. Pardon the really bad pictures.

 

 So when you are running this late, you don't notice how horribly out of focus the camera is... so sorry.

Here is an one eye done. You have to use tweezers to take them off of their packaging. (see below) And yes, that is my un-made bed in the back ground, probably with dirty laundry on it. I would like to imagine clean...

This is what the sticker sheet looks like. A bit intimitdating on their size, but they are thinner when you take them off. But, as seen in the video, they are very long and need to be trimmed. Or not if you want it more dramatic. Like Tracey on Jerseylicious.

This is a super bad picture, but the last chance I had before we left. There is both eyes. And yes, I realized after I was in the car that they were uneven/backwards.

My vote:

Only if a professional does them! I am personally not too happy with a lot of thick make up on my eye, they are sensitive. So about 45 minutes later, I could not rip them off fast enough! But for ladies that like it a little thicker I think you would love them. The idea is really cool. 

Happy Eye Liner Ladies!

Bethany

The Man Notes

Did you know that I possess in me the amazing Power to Never Tell My Wife No gift???? It comes in handy here and there...

My wonderful husband Steve is such a outdoorsy/hard working/tell it how it is/sport fanatic/future famous chef/mechanic/handy man kind of guy. And I love getting his real honest feedback. Sometimes followed by him sleeping on the couch, but that is besides the point. 

So, I would like to highlight this ability of his once or twice a month here on Goldylocks. What do you think? He is really funny and if nothing else, you will get nothing but amusement from his opinion.

As my followers/readers I feel that you know best what you want to know about. So here is my question for you that I would love a comment from all of you! And I really mean it. What do you want to know about men? (We can't solve the universal problem of needing/not wanting them yet) 

But honestly, do you want to know how to fix something or do something or just want a flat out honest answer??? Depending on the questions you ask will determine how often he posts. (Supervised of course)

I can not wait to hear what you want to know. I am sure I will have some of the same questions.

Cheers to our soon to be boy-smarter brains!

Bethany

My First Birchbox

So has anyone heard of Birchbox? They sell, highlight and review products in the beauty field ranging perfume, hair tools, makeup and so on. They offer a monthly subscription to their samples box. It is only $10 a month, or if you do a year long membership you get one month free. And you can even give it as a gift... I hear my best friend's next gift knocking at the door...

And if you refer someone after you already receive a box you get extra "points". You earn points for each purchase and box which can eventually get you free product!

So without further waiting...

Cute packaging!

Each box has a thank you and information card from the founders/team of Birchbox. And on the backside of it it gives a small description of each product and how much it is for a full size.

This is what I saw when I pulled back the tissue! (Silver tissue, once again cute packaging!)

A card with a website to download 6 free songs from Green River Ordinance. (Which it did not work, but I will keep trying. Listened to them on Youtube and there is a relationship forming!)

Yes, Spicy chocolate. Eaten as soon as I took the picture.

These are amazing from the package! I will be trying them out and taking pictures as I do. And then posting them in a couple of days.

And here is Viva La Juicy perfume, so good! A great French moisturizer which is so soft. And a blemish fighting creme.

Here is everything, minus the chocolate. I think I will be renewing each and every month. Remember, when/if you want to sign up, make sure you refer people so you can earn extra points!

What do you think? Any questions on the products???? I would love to answer some!

Bethany

High Five for Friday!

Today is my first day linking up with Lauren of From My Grey Desk, who I happen to sponsor! She is so sweet and I love talking with her through email.

So without further a due, here is my HIGH FIVE FOR FRIDAY TOP PICKS! (Of the week)

High five for my kids dumping out a storage tote I need to go through and finding something I have been looking for

It is almost time to start gardening! There is no snow! (For the record, I kill most of everything I touch)

It time to redecorate for St. Patrick's Day! My mother is half Irish (although I am adopted) but we do Corn Beef and Cabbage every year! So excited...

Thank you to Target for this GIANT bin for only $10.50 to contain the battle ground of the 10 million toys

And the best part of the week.... MY NEW DROID X PHONE, from my hubby for Valentine's Day. I really needed it! Love you!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Bethany

VIP Party to NOT Miss

Just for the sheer fun of it, Isaiah and Lilly had a party the other day... in Isaiah's crib. VIP invite and all. I had to stay behind the "gate". 

(Pardon the bit of blurry, there is no window in Isaiah's room)

Oh, she caught us, they are thinking... even though I had to put them both there!

Love her! I get to see this smile every morning when I get her up!

And he is such a stud!

Stay tuned tomorrow for my first HIGH FIVE FOR FRIDAY with Lauren at From My Grey Desk link up party! I can't wait!

Bethany

I Hate the Corner Cabinet!

When we moved into our rental about 3 months ago I couldn't help but think about all the possibilities I could do with this large corner cabinet in our kitchen... And now I know so much better!

My husband had to buy me a stepping stool to be able to reach the back of it and the top. No joke. So I started just throwing things in it. And it turned into the below disaster.

And at first glance the top is not too bad, but there are only three items on it. Try finding something important on the bottom before the dinner burnt.

After half an hour it now looks like this:

Not amazing, but I can see everything. I can't have more than 3 cans back or I need the step latter and that is just annoying sometimes. And it has a odd shape on the sides so it is actually kind of tight. But I know what is there for the first time in 3 months. 

Have a great weekend!

Bethany

Happy Love Day!

Just want to wish all of you a Happy Valentine's Day. 

I am highlighting the flowers my Steve-O got me for the special day. 

Bethany

Spice Up your Valentine's Day with this Dinner!

If I actually cook something that is worthwhile it is scarce and random. But I recently made this dinner and I feel from the color that it is great for Valentine's! 

**Italian Sausage Stuffed Red Peppers**

And it hardly took any effort! This is what you need:

-Package of Mild Italian Sausage

-3/4 of a medium Onion (Like my measurement?)

-Half a can of Small Black Olives sliced small (or you could buy the already sliced ones but I feel it's dumb when I can do it myself)

-Half a can of Italian Seasoned Stewed Tomatoes, chopped

-3/4 a can of Tomato Sauce 

-1 Clove of Garlic chopped

Mix altogether in a bowl. Cut the Red Peppers in half, core and lay in a pan. Fill with the sausage mixture into the pepper halves. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees for 1 hour. (If there is any sausage mixture leftover put it in a bread pan and have it as meatloaf!)

We had asparagus with it. I thought it would be fun for Valentines and all! (They almost look like hearts)

Enjoy! And Happy Valentine's Day! 

Bethany

Full Crock Pot Cilantro Citrus Chicken

So, I have very little time sometimes to cook a meal later in the day when my children are up. As I am sure many of you do too as well. Or if you are in college, work a lot or just have a lot to do in one day. 

My solution to this necessity in life is called: the Super Crock Pot! Yes, the Super Crock Pot does all the cooking/seasoning/making your home smell good for you in just a few wondrous minutes. Please use this secret weapon daily if you wish!

Below I have for you one of the easiest ways to cook a full chicken. (Insides excluded of course). 

 Spray the entire inside of your crock pot with cooking spray. Put in about 3 cups of chicken broth and 1 cup of water. You could do 4 cups of broth, but in my family just all broth is too salty.

 Then, season the bird with your favorite basic seasonings. Cover with Cilantro and put in extra in the broth. I also used a Smoked Wood Sea Salt that is to die for! I got it from this Etsy Shop-Salt Farm. We use it a lot!

Then layer with lemons and oranges. I cooked it for about 6 or so hours on high. It just fell off the bone! We enjoyed it with some cous cous and broccoli. 

(Sorry, no after pictures, could not help ourselves from just eating!)

Hope it is as amazing for you!

Bethany

Nothing like a Snow Day

Who doesn't love just a little snow in the winter? Normally Southeast Idaho is covered in the winter time with a perfect white blanket (where we live). But this year we hardly have any...

I personally would love it for just a handful of days in general, but children see it differently!

So the other day when it put down just a little I bundled the kids up like the little brother on "A Christmas Story". Here are just a couple of pictures of our day out. More like 20 minutes...

We only have a couple of trees in our yard, but I thought this was sort of pretty.

He really could not see that well, but his ears were warm.

Oh bright eyes Lilly!

Failed Snowman attempt because it was not thick enough to stick together.

The wagon is their favorite toy. Steve got it for them for Christmas and I really think it is the only thing they can agree on! We walked around the house probably 15 times. 

Hope your winters are going well!

Bethany

What is your Love Story?!

Today through Valentine's Day I am linking up with the totally cool blog, From Mrs. to Mama on Steve and I's love story! How fun is that!

 

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We will have been together for almost 7 1/2 years!

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We were going to the same church years ago that was for "single adults". I was trying to date his cousin since he had money and I was looking for something to do. Not marriage by any means. I was going to move back home to Oregon and get back with my first love, my high school boyfriend. Or so I thought. Steve actually really didn't like me for awhile. (He thought I was rude and to much to talk to)

 

He lived with this cousin and I saw him here and there. Another roommate who I was friends with suggested to him to ask me out. It took a bit but he agreed.Our first date was watching Love Actually while I was babysitting for a friend. (The baby was asleep). 

 

And from there we were off and on for 2 1/2 years. He broke up with me, I broke up with him. He asked me to marry him, I asked him to marry me. Finally in a brief moment of mental insanity or mental clearness, still not sure, I said "Let's do this in 3 months!" He had didn't complain. We got married Easter weekend 2007 in between my Winter and Spring semesters.  

3. If married, how long have you been married?

We have been married for 5 years in April.

 

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?

 We were married in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple. Which was a small ceremony of about 12. The reception was smaller as well and we maybe had around 75 people come.

 

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

 My nickname for Steve is Doughnut. Can't really remember why... and his nickname for me is "The General". (When it comes to housework)

 

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

 1. When he cooks for me it is because he is really trying to do something nice for me. That is a sign of love for him.

2. He works really hard for our family. In the winters he gets laid off so throughout the rest of the year he works like crazy to make our kids and I's lives easier. He works in the cold and can go over a day at a time, sometimes more, with no sleep. 

3. He is hilarious! Constantly making us jokes and teasing. Everything is funny to him. And when I need a pick me up he makes me laugh. And he makes everyone around him laugh too.

 

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

 At that point in our relationship we just agreed to get married. He told me like a week after we got married that if I did not say yes when I did he was going to dump me with the month. Nice honeymoon talk...

 

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

 He is a flowers and strawberries kind of guy. Half of each!

 

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Depends on how the kids were for the day.... ha. A movie on the couch in baggy pair of sweats. 

 

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I want to go on a month long cruise to Europe. I think after that I would need to get away from him. Just kidding honey!

 

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day. 

 If he is home we are just planning on a dinner out. We have been on 1 date since Lilly was born, 3 since Isaiah was born. Seeing a pattern yet?

 

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

 No. But some quality time away from the house without the kids. Not that I don't love them, but sometimes I forget I am an adult.

 

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love. 

 Telling him how grateful I am for what he does to help with the house and kids. There is a lot to do and sometimes Steve does more to help when he is exhausted from work.

 

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

 This is our family picture for our Christmas card for 2011. This is love in my eyes, the family we have built together. Our children. 

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

What is your Love Story?

Bethany

To my commenter, ANDREA BARRON

Andrea Barron...

I am so sorry I missed your comment a couple of weeks ago... I think that was when my kids were sick. 

I AM SO SORRY!

But I would LOVE to custom make some printables for you. I have found some I use here and there that are free at Organizing Your Way. Sometimes I do not have time to make a really personalized one and so I used some of theirs. There are a ton of great ones!

But, I would love to custom make you some! Email me at bmbarrow@hotmail.com and let me know. I have not had anyone asked yet so I am super excited you like them!

Bethany

1st Set of Professional Photos of Just Me... In a LONG Time

Some there are many perks to working with J. Bella. One of them was that as a company we all met together in Salt Lake City, Utah for a day to do a product photo shoot a little while ago!

We got our hair and make up done and had some really great girl time. This was the first photo shoot where there were actual "models" in the clothing. (I am by no means "model" material). It was a blast and really helped with my confidence level of not having gotten off as much baby weight as I would like by now. 

Now I feel that every woman needs to do something like this when she has hit a style/confidence/children taking over/career/ anything low.

It reminded me that I am not just a Mom, but a Woman. And it reminded my husband too...

What does everyone think? I have been nervous about putting my face out there but now I don't feel so weird about it.

You can see all the photos of the shoot here at the J. Bella Blog

Happy Monday!

Bethany

My first Sponsor!

There are a million and one lifestyle blogs a person can follow through the internet. But you have to have your favorites you go to daily and need before breakfast, brushing your teeth and probably showering. Well, almost... 

My new favorite is Hart to Heart Blog! She is just the cutest thing around! The design of her blog is cute and upbeat, she tells the truth and she is a Military wife. (I have had a lot of family members serve and I have a great respect for our Armed Forces) She has an Etsy shop and she wants to be a Personal Trainer. Leigh Anne, PLEASE TELL ME THAT WE CAN SKYPE A SESSION OR TWO!?!?!?!? 

Here is a little intro and we welcome you to our humble blog!

Hello readers! I’m Leigh Anne and I am a very new blogger! I like to consider myself a jack-of-all-trades. The past 16 years of my life were spent as a dancer practicing nearly 24 hours a week, but when I got married and moved to Alaska this summer my journey and direction in life took a change. While being a full time PR and Communications student is great I needed another outlet for my creativity, so I began exploring the idea of blogging and here I am now.  My blog will follow my journey of crafting, cooking and creating while balancing life of being the wife of a deployed soldier, full time student, and aspiring personal trainer. Phew! Yep, it’s a bit crazy and chaotic but I’d love to share my whirlwind of a life with you! Oh and did I mention I have an Etsy shop? Come check it out : Hart to Heart Designs; handmade hair accessories and photo props. Looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you!

xo

Leigh Anne