Currently, vol. 10

Man, I feel like currently we are up to so much! With the nicer weather I've really been trying to get out and do a lot of stuff, plus keep up with everything I want to be doing in the house hobby-wise is keeping me very busy.

So, I will be honest, a good majority of the reason I am keeping so busy is because my husband is so busy...so without him coming home to hang out with us in the evenings we are sometimes biking up to visit him since it is light so late or we are going to museums, biking the countryside or exploring the park and forest that are near us! 

So...I'm joining Becky over at Choose Happy for a little currently...

Watching....

We went to see Project T this weekend...I really liked it. I felt like it had a nice message of education + imagination=a world of possibilities! I just felt like it was really upbeat, positive movie. 

Cooking...

Anything with lentils! I know this didn't photograph to look incredibly appetizing but it was a creation by my teenager-red lentils topped with rotisserie chicken fried up with egg, topped with tomatoes and sweet chili sauce. We had lentils with just about every dinner this week! haha

Exploring...
The Dutch countryside...my good friend came out to my area of town and I took her on a solid 15 mile bike ride! We had so much fun!

Riding through the countryside with a windmill behind me!

We discovered a milktap...on a farm! Which is appropriate because my friend's family owns a dairy, so it was fun for her to see!

Visiting....

Different museum's around town...this one was the Amsterdam Museum...let's take a bike ride through early 1900s Amsterdam!

Drinking...

The most delicious high fat coffee ever for breakfast every morning!
100ml raw milk steamed and aerated
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
1tablespoon of butter
1 lungo nespresso capsule
1 espresso nespresso capsule
1.5 tablespoons of local honey with pollen
Mix together, or can mix with an immersion blender.

It is very tasty  and  will keep you full for a long time, I pair it with a banana and  peanut butter and don't usually need anything again until 10 or 11! It makes it really hard to drink any other type of coffee!

So, that is it for us currently...what is going on in your life? What is your favorite beverage?

Currently, Vol. 7

This last week has been full of some interesting and fun days. We are going through a rather complicated issue with the kiddo and school, I was sick for four weeks, and spring is definitely on the way. So, here is a little recap of what is going on Currently.

First off I want to give a great big thank you to Motherhood Through My Eyes for featuring one of my instagram photos in her Moms Who Motivate post yesterday, really made my day as Instagram is my favorite social media and I am glad I made her feel like gettin' up and movin'! Now groove on over there and check it out, and follow me on Insta if you don't already, would love to "see" you over there! 

Making...a lot of smoothies lately. Trying to use up the frozen fruit so I can defrost the freezer, it has a lot of ice build up.

This gem is from Angela over at Oh She Glows, it is her Flu-Buster Clementine Smoothie. Full of Vitamin C and just really makes your throat feel awesome when it is raw and dry and just feeling awful.

Watching...sunsets, around 18.30...so lovely to have no clouds and sun until 18.30!

Enjoying...my workouts. Took me a long time to fall back in love with exercising again. I had continued on my workout path but wasn't truly enjoying them, I am happy to report I am truly loving my workouts again.

Loving...the date nights my hubby and I have had and the yummy restaurants we've been finding.

Thankful...for all the time I get to spend with this young lady and that she is so adventurous in exploring our city and Europe in general.

Quote of the day...Things haven't been easy the last few weeks for the kiddo at school, but as soon as she gets home and can be herself and we can goof off laughter seems to cure all. So, chin up, everyone...if you are having a bad day, try and laugh it off....will at least bring down the stress levels ;)

So, what have you been making, watching, and enjoying?

What are you thankful for lately?

Countdown 2 Xmas, Day 13 Recap

Confessions of an Evil Stepmother

How adorable are these?! I love unique Christmas Cookies. 

Life According to Lina shares her favorite Christmas tradition and her favorite Christmas ornaments with us!

The Kitchen Revival shares this amazing gluten free cranberry quick bread with us! I cannot wait to give this a try!

Tell me, what is your favorite recipe to make at the holidays? Do you have something special you always cook or bake?

Make sure you check out days 1-12 as well!

Days 1-4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Days 9 and 10

Days 11 and 12

Countdown to Xmas, Days 11 & 12 Recap!

This week sure has been an exciting one! Here is the recap of some fantastic Christmas ideas from some great bloggers!

Forever Ashley

Don't forget one of the most important relationships in your life this time of year! Check out Ashley's ideas for some great dates for you and your spouse/significant other! :)

Sincerely Jenn

This is some wonderful inspiration for Christmas day! Comfortable, yet fashionable options!

My Life Well Loved

These sound amazing! I cannot wait to try them!

Welcome to the Zoo

Welcome to the Zoo teaches us how to make our own scented wax melts!

Under the Brella

Go check out the how to on this adorable Merry Sign!

Craft Junkies

Such an adorable and quick canvas to make for the holidays! 

Have you tried any of the projects in the Countdown2Xmas yet? If so, which one(s)?

Don't forget to check out days 1-10!

Days 1-4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Days 9 and 10

So, this one time I started a blog...

Writing honestly has never really been a passion of mine. I remember in first grade doing a creative writing unit and that was my worst nightmare! I remember sitting in class not having a clue as to what to write. I know I came up with things...mostly ridiculous spellings, but they were words on a paper nonetheless.

As I got older and had to write for assignments I usually enjoyed research, especially in college. I then became an English/Humanities teacher and loved helping teach my students how to research. But, still didn't consider myself a creative writer.

When we moved to Austin, TX I started the blog Travels in Austin and recorded a few of our travels around Austin.

Of course, we then moved...to Los Angeles. I didn't have anything more to add to our Austin Travels but have let it stay up because it still gets a few visitors each week lol

Then, upon moving to Los Angeles in 2010 hubby and I decided it was best I stay home with the kiddo as we were now living in a much more fast paced city with people that didn't often share our same moral beliefs and we wanted a constant contact for the kiddo who was racing into teenagehood. Since I wasn't working outside the home any more I knew I wanted to do something to fill my time. But, we then moved to Vancouver.

Upon this move is when I decided to finally create this blog. The original name was Adjusting and Readjusting...I started off with my first post, but after a while I just felt the name didn't fit what I was putting on the blog. So, I renamed it Diary of an Urban Housewife.

I named it this because I don't really have a niche and I wanted to be able to share all aspects of my daily life.

I love sharing everything from my weekly menu, crazy things I am encountering in my travels, the different craft projects I am doing, and the stuff I'm reading.

Blogging is something I have truly become passionate about. I am looking at finding my first blog conference to go to {if you know of any in Europe coming up please let me know} and would like to collaborate with some other European bloggers to do some sort of European City Tour or something neat like that.

So, that is why I blog, to just talk to people and share the things I am doing so people have a point of reference if they are interested in similar things! :)

Do you blog? If so, why?

New Year, New You: Goal Setting

Hello, friends! Welcome to 2014!!! What a year I hope this will be for the blog! I started the year off with my S'mores Pops being featured over at The Wednesday Round Up. Pretty darn exciting, that is my first feature ever! Yay!

Img Credit

So, since we are talking about the new year, what is it that everyone does in the new year? Make resolutions, right??? Well, don't do that. Resolutions suck. They are usually broken by January 2nd, if not then then by January 14th. Resolutions are those dreaded things that everyone thinks they have to make because everyone talks about them and you would feel totally lame if you didn't make any resolutions. Well, I'm here to give you permission to be lame and not make a resolution. Congrats. Awesome. If you really want to make a change in your life though, an honest to goodness change, then continue reading.

Goals. Goal setting is what we all need to do. I don't care if you are reading this post on the day it is published or if you are reading it in April or August. It is time to set some goals-right now. Seriously, you'll thank me. There is never a "perfect" time to accomplish a goal-the only time is now!

Here is how I goal set.

Step one.

Write it all down. Just get a sheet of paper and write down every single solitary thing you want to accomplish this year. I don't care how big or how small it is. If you want to work toward it, write it down. 

Step two.

Get another sheet of paper. Looking at the first sheet make categories and classify each item in a category. This is purely for organization sake, but trust me you will thank me later for this. As you can see in my above picture I knew already my goal categories as I'd been thinking about this for months so I was able to do this right off the bat. During this step get a little more specific with your goals, if possible. Some will be so basic there isn't getting more specific, it just is what it is.

Step three.

Get yet another sheet of paper. Looking at your first category, the first item. Write it down. List what you are going to do to accomplish that item. 
For me fitness was my first category. So I titled my page Fitness: Steps to Goal. 
Complete P90X3 was my first item in that category. I wrote January 6th-April 13th: Follow classic schedule. -Record each workout. I wrote this because it is the dates the program lasts through. I will start it January 6th. Each day I workout I will record my workout on this paper. I chose this fitness tracker because it has squares big enough for me to write in, plus it has a space each week for me to weigh in and record measurements (which I feel are more important than weight). I went ahead and printed off enough for my 13 weeks of P90X3.
I then wrote out a 10 week schedule for my half marathon training. This makes it not optional. I also wrote down a date of 1/15/14 to register for the half marathon. This way come hell or high water I have a date I have to register for this by.
Next is Complete P90X2. Order on: June 16, 2014: Follow classic schedule. Start June 23rd-Sept 28th. This gives me a set date so if I need to budget for purchasing the program I can do that. It also gives me a set start date so after my half marathon training is over I can jump write in, not him and haw about what I should do next.
P90X. Start: Sept 29th-Dec 29th: Follow classic schedule. Again, gives me a solid start date and finish date. Can you tell this is my year of P90X? If anyone wants to join me please don't hesitate to contact me at katen21@gmail.com, I am happy to help you get the programs and join me on this fitness adventure!
Flexibility. Schedule in 15 min each day to increase flexibility. -Splits/standing splits, -Hip flexibility, -Backbend

You'll also notice I have "Why?" written all over my page. This is because one of my goals is to target my Why. As in why do I work out? Why do I eat well? What is my motivation? It is the reason that will keep me going and keep me motivated. 

Here are my other goals for 2014:
Fitness
Run the Rock n Roll half in Seattle
Complete: P90X, P90X2, P90X3
Get off sugar
Pinpoint my why
Increase flexibility

Blog
Get on a schedule
Promote affiliates to make $
Gather list of weekly/monthly link ups and link up!
Increase page views every month
FB Goals: July 500 followers; December 1000 followers (come follow me!)
Instagram: July 500; December 1000 followers (come follow me!)
Twitter: July 300; December 600 (come follow me!)
Use google plus more
Find a blogger network
Go to the local blog conference

Business
Get Etsy Business off the ground
Each month help 2-3 people begin reaching their fitness goals
By Dec 2014 make a specific amount of money from my Beachbody Business.

Personal
Call my brother every two weeks
Organize and complete Happiness Project
Tune into Mark's love language(s)
Floss
Plan a nice vacation with Mark while kiddo is at camp
Go to HI with Cammi & see BFF & family
Finish TEFL

So I am using this method to work for all of my goals. I feel it really takes the guess work out of know what my next step will be. Now,  for the more "simple" goals where you are just trying to make a new habit such as "Floss" or "Call my brother {on an actual phone lol} every two weeks" I am going to be using a great printable I found over at My Love for Words.

Monthly Goal Tracker at My Love for Words

This sheet is perfect because you can write the habit you are trying to form and then check off each day you complete the item! I am excited about this because I am totally a "gold star" kind of person. Meaning: I need to see I did good and give myself a pat on the back. This is the perfect way to do that! At the end I have physical proof I did something successfully, not just hung out and convinced myself I did it, without actually doing it. 

What goals do you have for this upcoming year? If you'd like an accountability buddy (even if it's not fitness related) come on over to Facebook  and send me a message. I would love to help! :D

Family Favorites Friday!!! #2

I was a bit disorganized last week and didn't get a Family Favorites Friday post up! Oh well, those things happen.

This past weekend though, during my baking I found a new family favorite: FUDGE!!!   It is so gooey and delicious, it really cannot be beat. Plus, it is super, duper easy!

Easy Fudge

Ingredients

• -1.5 cups sugar (regular, old fashioned white sugar)
• -5 ounces evaporated milk (full fat)
• -1/2 cup of butter
• -2 cups of small marshmallows
• -1 heaping cup semisweet chocolate chips
• -1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Process
• 1. Line and 8x8 square pan with parchment. Make sure it comes up and crosses over the the edges, you may have to criss-cross the parchment.
• 2. Butter a non-stick sauce pan (2 qt). Combine The sugar, evaporated milk, and butter. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until boiling (around 10 minutes). Reduce heat to medium. Stir constantly for the next 6 minutes (set your timer). Really, continue stirring or it will get stuck to the sides and burn...ick.
• 3. Remove from heat. Add marshmallows, chocolate chips, and vanilla. Stir until the marshmallows and chocolate chips are all melted.
• 4. Spread mixture into the parchment lined pan. To get the look I have cover with sprinkles and tiny marshmallows on top. Put in the fridge and let cool. At least 2-3 hours.
• 5. After that time, when it feels firm enough, take it out of the pan and cut into small squares and store in an air tight container.
• 
  

This is a super yummy recipe and I 100% recommend making this ASAP....especially if your Santa is a fudge fan, s/he'd be ever so grateful! ;)

Make sure to check out the other recipes I've posted this week:

S'mores Pops

Birthday Cake Pancakes

Guest Post Swap

I am once again signed up for another swap...the best part about this one: it's FREE!!! Yup, you heard me 100% free to participate in, so it's a win-win for everyone. No buying, no packing, no shipping....just writing!



I am really looking forward to this one, as someone who is really just now getting into blogging I can't wait to share my writing on someone else's blog and also be able to share someone else's knowledge with my readers.

Basically this swap is going to be to create an article for your partner's blog that is your own unique writing but will also be valuable to their readers. I love things that help me to think outside the box so I can't wait to see who I get to swap articles with and come up with something amazing for their blog!

Swapoween Reveal!

 

Hello, everyone! I am back to post my swapoween reveal!!! My partner was Mandy from over at Funky Frugal Mommy!!!  I had so much fun putting her package together and was so excited when her's arrived to me on Thursday! I unfortunately didn't get around to opening it until yesterday, but was so excited when I did!

Such fun accessories for dressing up!!!

Close up of my goodies. That skeleton glows in the dark, so awesome! We also now tell everyone to have a spooky day when they leave thanks to the door plaque we have hanging! 

Also I am so excited about the silly string. I always "surprise" my daughter (who's 13) with silly string...I'll randomly wake her up by spraying her with it! She saw it and was like oh my I must hide it! LOL

A close up of some of the goodies!

This is probably my single most favourite piece...a glitter skull with pink rhinestone eyes! Already planning a costume to use this next year! hahaha

Some super cool masks, some fun stickers that I'm using in my planner this upcoming week, a tattoo sleeve, and my daughter's favourite which you can't really see here are some Chupa Chyps and some orange stick on nails! Stayed tuned on instagram  where some of these goodies will be making their debut this weekend! 

Mandy really managed to put together a super fun box for my family! We love it! Make sure to go check her out and the ladies over at Chaotic Goddess Swaps, they are fantastic for putting this together!

Blog Updates....Come and follow me!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

As you can see I am doing a bit of house cleaning here! With the new name I decided I had too much going on so I am consolidating and fixing broken links from when the blog was Adjusting and Readjusting prior. I am so excited with my new look, I hope it brings new success and opportunity! So, that being said, if you want to enter your email off to the side to get my updates whenever I post something new...or click below and follow me:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Google +

I'm gradually updating all of my pages, so make sure you follow me to keep up with what I'm up to! Also, if you leave a link to yours in the comments I will come over and give you a like, follower, or whatever is appropriate!!!

Swapoween is here!

Before I get on with all my homemaking blabbing later this week I want to tell y'all about something I am so excited to be participating in for the first time every....

I've been following Chaotic Goddess Swaps for quite a while now, but due to summer and back to school was never really ready to "jump in"...well, I LOVE Halloween so I figure why the heck not join The Swapoween?!

I love, love, love sending and receiving goodies in the mail so I cannot wait to get my partner and get shopping!!! Also, it's not too late to join in, so if you head on over you can read all the details and get signed up if you want!

Happy Swapoween...I mean Halloween!!!

September Blogging Challenge: Memory

This is the final post to finish up the September Blogging Challenge! I can't believe I covered every single one (almost) lol. 

Today's prompt asks us for a special memory. There are so many to choose from; there are smaller "insignificant" memories that really have a big impact to more significant ones such as the day I got engaged to my wedding to the day my daughter was born. The one I am going to share though I think is more of a "neutral" memory and really incorporates how much people cared about me and really signifies my growing up. It also made me realize just how small the world is! 

I don't have any digital pictures to go with this memory, although it takes up a good majority of one of my scrapbooks. I was 19, my daughter was 3 or 4 months old, hubby had just graduated from boot camp and was in California. We had not even been married a year yet so I didn't want to have to live apart from him any longer than necessary. Plus, I'd always wanted to live in California, so we decided to use what little money we had for me to get on a train with our 4 month old and come on our to Cali. Now mind you I'd never left my home state without a parent, so this was a HUGE deal! My mom and I had quite a fun time organizing everything I would need for four days of non-stop travel with an infant. My mom was a basket case (obviously, what mother wouldn't be lol) so my dad took me to the train station. I remember feeling like something out of a 1950's movie getting on the train. I also remember having to kick my father off as I was pretty sure the train was going to take off with him on it and not that I would have minded, but I was scared he'd be arrested for not having a ticket! LOL Oh the joy of being naive lol!

The train takes off and I spent a few hours just enjoying watching the scenery go by and exploring the train. I had never been on a train so that was super fun. There were a lot of interesting people to meet and talk to. At dinner I sat with an older couple in there 70's who had been married like 40 years or something insane and had quite a bit in common with them so that was really nice. After that evening I was walking through the train and saw a girl I had gone to high school with! She was going to Texas to meet up with her husband at the time. I was flabbergasted! I could not believe that was happening. I was grateful though because after 24 hours on a train with an infant I needed a small break so she kindly watched my daughter for me while I took a washroom break and cleaned up and reorganized my bag. We then met back up within the hour for breakfast together. It was so nice to see her and visit and catch-up. We were just acquaintances in school, but it still meant a lot. 

After a few days of travel and spending hours in the scenery car I arrived in Los Angeles, 8 hours behind schedule! I was so stressed out, but quickly learned that the train that went from Los Angeles to Lompoc was a commuter train so I got on one no problem. The older gentleman from the couple I had met lived in Los Angeles so they helped me gather my belongings and helped me to my next train. That was such a relief to have some help like that! I arrived in Lompoc and found my way to the AF Base. It was quite an experience and one that really helped me grow up. It also helped me realize the importance of community and how many different types of communities there are, permanent and temporary!

This sure was a fun month sharing quite a few things with my readers that I normally would not think to share! What is one of your fondest memories??

September Blogging Challenge: Four Favourite Foods

Four Favourite Foods:

(no, I couldn't resist an alliteration)

Img Credit

Img Credit

Img Credit

Img Credit

I never said my choices would be healthy! Ha! But, those are my faves, what are yours????

September Blogging Challenge: Greatest Fear

I have to say, when I was in my '20's I probably feared everything lol As I have gotten older, however, I find I have much more peace about life and living in general. I try not to stress and worry over things, and things I thought I was "afraid" of....I'm really not, I was just being dramatic and immature! The only thing I can say I actually worry about is obviously losing my daughter. That and losing my husband are the two things that I would definitely need to be medicated for a period of time if they happened.

September Blogging Challenge: One Year Accomplishment

Today's prompt has us once again looking at the future! The first one was looking forward five years, now we are looking a bit more at the immediate future, which is something I can definitely do! In one year I would like to monetize my blogging. I am not quite sure how I am going to fully go about this, but I know it can be done and have been doing quite a bit of research on it, I think I can make it happen. If anyone out there has any suggestions I am 100% open to any and all suggestions! :)

How about you, if you have to pick only one thing to accomplish by September 2014, what would it be?

September Blogging Challenge: Most Influential Person in my Life

This topic is a seriously tough one. I have a lot of people who have influenced me. I have my mom, my dad, and my husband. These three people have really supported me and helped me in any and all my endevours. My mother and father since I was a small child, and my husband in my adulthood. But, I have to say the one person who has really driven me to set a good example, be the best I can be is this lil' lady: 

She is such a cutie, isn't she?! I wanted to set a good example for her as a child so I made sure to put myself through college, find a profession I would enjoy, and now to do the best I can to set a great example of taking care of our home so she knows what to do a long time from now when she is out on her own! 

Kind of surprising that I chose my child as the most influential person on my life, huh? What about you, who is the person who has most influenced your life?

September Blogging Challenge: Top 3 Worst Traits/Habits

Seriously, now this one I can do! We are all our worst critic right?! 

1. Procrastination: I am a horrible procrastinator. It's what prevents me from getting on any type of schedule! But, when I am sick of procrastinating hold on world....I'm doing ALL THE THINGS!!! 

Img Credit

2. When I get stressed out, I tend to shut down and lash out! It's really quite terrible, but when something stresses me out and someone tries to talk to me I can go from sweet to way too sassy so fast it'll make your head spin! 

....you probably don't! ;) This is one thing I am majorly working on to change about myself though. I don't like it. 

3. Lack of passion. I am passionate about somethings and those things I am super passionate about. But, there are other things that I want to care about, but just can't seem to muster up the energy some days to really care enough about them to take action! This is another thing I am trying to change about myself.

Here is a funny to leave you with...this is one of my favourite "rotten" ecards ;)