Domestic Goddess, I am NOT!

How many of you ladies feel like you have it all together around the house? Cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.... I am a self proclaimed neat freak, well I used to be a lot more psychotic about it. After the second child came around, I loosened up that grip quite a bit. There is NO way my house will always be spotless, I've got way more important things to worry about! I used to always stay on top of the laundry as well, we won't even get into that topic, its been UGLY! Sometimes I feel like I need just one whole day to myself, to spend scrubbing the house from top to bottom, getting every piece of dirty laundry clean in this house. Did ya'll know that somehow 4 people make a TON of dirty laundry, especially when your husband, and 8 year old daughter think that anything that touches their body for more than 30 seconds is dirty?! Sheesh! Gross or not, if I wear something and it doesn't get dirty, I'm hanging it back up and giving it a second wearing before I wash it. I DESPISE laundry like you wouldn't believe. I would hire someone just to come do laundry, not even clean, if I could justify that one to Gerrad!

Growing up, my mom cooked EVERY SINGLE MEAL that we ate, we RARELY ate out. How did that skill seem to pass me by all together? I don't mind cooking, I'm just a perfectionist, and feel like cooking is not for me. I spend 3 out of the 5 week nights running kids to and fro, can I use that as an excuse? We eat out W.A.Y. too much, seriously! I have said multiple times that I would like to eat at home more, and be more diligent about cooking. Do any of you brilliant women have any tips or tricks to make that happen? What are some of your favorite recipes that your make? Do you have easy meal planning website that you use? I'm open to ALL suggestions. I'm desperate at this point! I want to start setting a better example for my children, and feeding them meals that I KNOW what the ingredients consist of!

I've found myself saying multiple times to Gerrad 'This is the week we're going to eat at home EVERY night.' And drum roll please... every time I've said that, I've failed! I'm not a quitter, so I'm determined to get better with this! I know all of you 86 fabulous blog readers have got to have some good tips for me! Tell me I'm not the only one struggling with this? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?


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Weekend recap- 3 days late! I've been so MIA because I've been trying to keep up with Christmas orders that I've been receiving. Need new Christmas duds for your little cutie? Check out some new products here!

Friday night I went to the Silpada jewelry party at my girl friend Melisa's house. I'm a pretty low maintenance jewelry person to be quite honest, but wanted to go to support Melisa and help her earn some free stuff. What I wanted to order was a tiffany and co. inspired bracelet, or this lovely ring...

What I actually ordered was this cute little pair of sterling silver stud earrings...

I was happy with my purchase, although I would have liked to purchase a lot MORE! Gerrad should be proud of me, that I kept in mind that Christmas is right around the corner, and if I bought too much jewelry, he and the girls would be present-less some Christmas morning! ha!

The rest of the weekend was good. Did a little Christmas shopping with my dad and Macie Saturday. Addaline needed some 'daddy' time since G's been working out of town, so she cried, whined, and wrapped him around her finger and got him to take her along for a morning of errands and yard work. It melts my heart how much that little girl loves her dad! (I won't tell him that I'm still her favorite, KIDDING :)) I am almost done shopping for Addaline, which is no small feat. She was actually pretty easy to shop for this year. She specifically asked for 2 things- a train set and a beauty salon, both things she saw in the Big Toy Book- thanks Toys'R'Us! Now I just need to start with Macie and Gerrad. I got some good ideas for Macie by having her tag along. My dad even shopped for Macie, right in front of her and she didn't even notice, that's skill folks! HA! We also drew names with Gerrad's family Sunday evening, so we've got to get everyone our list of the things we want, and get every one's lists of what they want. I'm hoping to have ALL my present shopping done on or by Black Friday! Wish me luck!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! I'm looking forward to another low key weekend this coming weekend, just hanging with the family, and hopefully getting things done around the house!