I’m Crazy | Minivans Are Hot

April 2, 2012 by Kelli

Photo taken my my amazingly talented friend, Sarah, when she was here on Spring Break.

I have a confession to make. It’s not nearly as scandalous as my last confession, so please don’t be worried, but this confession is going to force me to make some changes, some of which might affect this little space I’ve created on the web.

The confession is two-pronged, because I don’t believe in doing anything small. Go big or don’t go at all, that’s how I roll.

First, I have a very nasty habit of biting off more than I can chew. I assume I can handle way more than I actually can and I convince myself that it’s fine, I don’t actually need sleep and Nutella for breakfast, lunch and dinner because I don’t have time to prepare a proper meal is perfectly acceptable.

Which, who am I kidding right? OF COURSE NUTELLA IS ACCEPTABLE AT EVERY MEAL!

Okay – so that’s the first part of the confession. I take on too much and assume I can handle it just fine.

The second part of my confession is I am terribly prone to laziness. It’s true. I am the dog from the movie UP. I can be perfectly engaged in an activity then SQUIRREL!

That’s me. It’s not ADD, though I would LOVE to blame it on that. I’m just easily distracted and I have a hard time pulling myself back.

I’ve struggled with finishing the school year strong with the kids. I imagine every teacher the world over feels this spring time tug when the rigors of a daily schedule must wage battle against the pull of a warm breeze and the call of the outdoors. The fact is, I’m tired. I want to be done and so do the kids. But we can’t, because learning should never end.

I read this post by Ann Voskamp the other day and it reignited my desire to do this home schooling thing well. Whether this ends up being the only year we teach our children at home or we decide to do it again next year, I want it to count. This requires that I fight the laziness that threatens to invade and dig my heels in.

I’ve lost momentum on my book. It’s a lot, this business of home schooling, maintaining a blog, writing a book, trying to keep a household running smoothly, editing a new manuscript and getting into shape.

SQUIRELL!

I need to finish the book and finish it well. Do you see a theme here?

So first order of business – GET MORE SLEEP!

Do you know how fascinating squirells are when you’re tired? Stunning little creatures…

My goal is to be in bed no later than 10:00 ~~every week night~~ most week nights because the whole stay-up-till-midnight-pretending-to-be-working-but-really-reading-blogs-and-surfing-facebook thing isn’t working for me. I’m tired. I need to sleep. I’m not a night owl and never have been. I’m accepting that and moving forward.

This means I need to be diligent with my time and get my butt out of bed early. In fact, I set up my alarm on my phone so that when it goes off, my screen lights up with the phrase “Get your butt out of bed you lazy A…!”

I firmly believe in tough love.

I am going to be kickin’ it on my book this month and I actually do have a book manuscript to finish editing. I will be here, too, but maybe not every day. And I’m going to add a third confession – that’s scary.

Shaun wrote about it last week. It’s sometimes difficult as a blogger to not blog because we fear the audience we’ve worked to build will go away. And honestly, I can’t afford to lose my audience right now. I’m counting on you guys to help me get the word out about Compassion International’s awesome work when I go to Tanzania next month. I want you right there with me!

So I won’t be far away this month, but I may not be here every day. Because I’ll be a little busier than normal trying to keep my head above —

SQUIRELL!

Hi, My Name is Kelli…

January 4, 2011 by Kelli

And I’m addicted to skin care products.

Hmmm…addicted makes it sound serious. Perhaps I should just say I’m in love with skin care products. But that makes my relationship with all things skin related sounds healthy. You know what? Let’s just not qualify it.

Hi, my name is Kelli and I have a lot of skin care products. So much so that my husband recently commented how ten years ago when we got married, had he known how much “stuff” girls put on their face, he would have required me to open and stock a seperate bank account just for all my “stuff.”

And incidentally, can we not call it “stuff?” It’s heaven’s nectar. It’s youth in a jar. It’s what’s making sure that when I’m 50, I’m still going to look 30, baby!

To which Lee would reply, “Well that’s gonna stink for you because when I’m 50 I’m gonna look 50 so you’re gonna be stuck with an older man.”

Hmph. I’m holding out hope for Zac Efron. Or Ryan Reynolds…

I’m kidding!

*a little*

So. What was I talking about? Facial products! I love them. I would wash my face five times a day and put on a different moisturizer if I knew it was good for me. But it’s not, so I settle for the more common twice a day washing. Then I pull out my awaiting stash and breath in its lovely scent. I have morning mositurizers with antioxidants. I have a nighttime moisturizer with some kind of ingredient that’s supposed to keep me looking young. Plus, I think it wards off vampires.

I have masks, my newest being a Vitamin C peel and it’s A-to the-MAZING. It might be my new favorite. I love how my skin feels when it’s been scrubbed and slathered. I feel refreshed and awake and ready to conquer the day.

Okay, I think it’s safe to say I’m an addict.

Here are a few of my favorite products. You know, just for fun…

Arbonne NutrimenC – I order a full set almost once a year (at a discounted price) and it usually lasts me a whole year, which is why I feel no guilt. NONE. Why would one feel guilty about wonderful, glorious face products?

Neutrogena – This lotion smells amazing, has antioxidants in it – which, I don’t really know what that means but it sounds like it’s really good for you – and has spf 15 to keep the sun’s rays at bay, but not out completely because who doesn’t look better with a tan, right?

Philosophy: When Hope is not enough – This is my new vitamin C peel. Actually it’s called a Microdelivery Peel. Doesn’t that just sound amazing?! Seriously, this stuff is spectacular. I love it. Love it, love it, love it. This may be an unhealthy love…

Hugo Naturals – I was recently introduced to this product line for the kids. Particularly Landon who has got some pretty nasty exzema issues. As in the pediatrician told me, “His skin is going to be your job.” Lucky for Landon, I LOVE SKIN. Their products are 100% natural and organic. They’re gentle on his skin and the lotions are amazing. I also got a couple of the sugar scrubs and body butters for me and Sweet mercy! I’ve found a new love. You can find these at Whole Foods and I highly recommend them, especially if you have kiddos with problem skin…Or if you are addicted to skin care products.

Wexler MMPi: I don’t know what is in this stuff but it makes my skin feel as soft as the day I was born. Or as soft as I imagine my skin was the day I was born. It’s a jar full of magic made by fairies at the base of rainbows. Hint: You can get it at Bath and Body Works on special several times/year.

This is not, of course, an extensive list of my facial loves. You don’t even want to get me started on eye cream, or on the When Hope is not Enough oil I got for Christmas that makes me feel like I’ve been swimming with the gods. If I believed in ‘the gods’ of course…

Is there a 12 Step program for this sort of thing?

Never mind. Don’t answer that. I don’t want to give it up…

So with that, I’m going to hop out of bed and scrub my face. The excitement I got from writing that last sentence is almost embarrassing. Except, I LOVE TO WASH MY FACE!

If any of you have skin care tips or products you love, do share. Because clearly I’m a junkie who needs more.

*Incidentally, I was not paid or asked to write about any of these products. I share my skin care secrets out of the goodness of my heart. You are SO welcome.