BUCKET LIST for 2011

Now that school is back in session for at least two of my kids, I am working on my Bucket List for the rest of 2011. This year has not been the best year of my life by any stretch, but I am seeing God's plan unfolding everyday.Through difficulty truly does lie opportunity, and I have been blessed and lucky to have a marriage that is stronger now than ever thanks to God, faith, friendship and family, and love. Our kids are thriving, happy and healthy. We are building our dream home. Our business is good even in the midst of a recession. We don't have much if anything to complain about! I am learning that I am not in control and I never will be. But, I also CAN control some things that can help our life run more smoothly. I am working on a few of them...

1. Getting organized. I need to get a system. I used to be very organized and then I became a mom to four munchkins and it all went out the window

From pantry to closets to drawers, I want to have everything in it's place at the new house. That also means getting rid of alot of stuff before moving. Which brings me to...

2. Get rid of stuff. I simply do not want to bring anything

we don't use or want to the new house.

Even the garage...ORGANIZED. I think life is less stressful when things are in ORDER.

3. Get on an exercise schedule. I workout alot, but I want to have a PLAN. My goal is to be in the best shape of my life by Jan. 2012. Which brings me to #4...

#4. Get even more strict with what I put into my body and into the mouths of my children.

5. Look like her :) All kidding aside...number five would be to push myself in the gym and to find a workout in any form whenever I can. Todd and I work fitness into trips to the playground with the kids. It is easy to work Crossfit into a playground trip. There is plenty of equipment, room and variety. Chin-ups. Sprints. Army crawls. Push-ups. Dips on the park bench. Burpees. Jump rope. Jumping jacks. You see where I am headed. No excuses.

But it isn't about looking like the girl to the left or the girl above. It is about being the best YOU. Pushing yourself. Fueling your body. Getting organized and scheduled. I am not naturally this way. I fly by the seat of my pants and things generally pan out. But I am ready to be better in alot of aspects of my life. There are alot of Bucket List items not listed here. But today these are the spotlight. What's on your list?

(Photos courtesy of Pinterest)

C-A-T-S

I wish this post was about my UK Wildcats and their upcoming football season, but unfortunately it is about the 9 stray cats that now surround my house. Yes. I have become the unofficial CAT WOMAN. I cannot look at a homeless animal and not feed it, so therefore, the word is out and they come to our porch for food. The black dad cat, the gray mom cat (whom I am fairly certain is pregnant yet again), the 6 kittens and the random other cat that now comes by on occasion. Let's not also forget the raccoon that comes late to clean up the leftovers! H-E-L-P. I am not even in the country yet!!! I have called Alley Cat and am working on trying to trap at least the mom so that she doesn't birth the new litter into the wild, but she is still nursing her last litter. This is out of control. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

House Update: August 2011

Here is the latest picture of the house...

Roof is half on....

(Notice no cat on the hot tin roof...)



Stone work on drive-thru is complete...

Soffit and trim work is finished.

Here is a sample of the Hardie Board we chose. It is Cobblestone. I love it and gave Stacye the go-ahead to order it all!

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE it. I am glad I went with her choice and not mine.

I think the dark windows are going to pop!

The guys did a phenomenal job on the stone. That is not an easy job.

Here you can see the color of the roof.

This will be the screen porch.

Screen porch view again. This completes this post that is no doubt boring to anyone but Todd and me.

I BELIEVE

I BELIEVE...



That happy is a choice.

That God is bigger than any obstacle.

That a mother's love is irreplaceable.

That tattoos are a choice best made sober.

That there's no place like home.

That pets make life a little more cozy.

That snail mail is best.

That exercise is essential.

That you should believe in yourself and that you can do anything you put your mind to...but first you must start.

That music can change your mood.

That you should only say sorry when you truly mean it.

That you are what you eat.

That it is okay to cry.

But it is even better to laugh so hard you cry.

That actions speak louder than words.

That forgiveness is the letting go of the idea that you could have had a different past.

That everyone falls sometimes and we must help each other up.

That the beach is a form of therapy.

That we should not judge.

That the past can only hurt us if we live in it.

That it is a great feeling to surprise someone by doing something that they doubted you could accomplish.

That a marriage with a strong foundation can withstand any damage.

That worry is a sin.

That we should pray for the people that hurt us the worst.

That sometimes a cold beer just tastes good.

That kissing can be magical.

That some people make your life better just by being in it.

That happy is beautiful.

That girlfriends make a good day great.

That it is important to let your kids be unique, and to let them know they are loved for their uniqueness.

That God has a plan and we must trust in it.

Last Day of Summer

Is it really the last day of summer? I feel like it just started! But...in all honesty, I am ready for structure and a little more organization around this joint! The kids are stir-crazy and it has been too hot (except today...thank God!) to do hardly anything outside without sweating to death! This picture (taken from Houzz) reminded me of what we all picture our summers to be like. Serene. Relaxing. Cool. Calm. But if your lives are anything like ours at the Hostutler House of Choas, even vacation wasn't necessarily relaxing! Fun...yes. Relaxing...no. But I still rejoice in the craziness of my life...filled with love and joy and stress and faith and hope and, well, chaos. Spring, summer, fall or winter....I will take what comes at this stage of our life. I would much rather have alot of laughter in the walls than quiet anyday! Happy Summer!