Why does everything happen at once?

When it rains it pours I suppose. 

Why did my blender die?

Why did my kitchen aid mixer die? {Okay I know the answer to that, its 15 years old.}

Why did my sewing machine die? {Okay someone may have left it in the garage after the move and it rusted thanks to our water softener breaking}

Why are the hospital and NICU bills coming in the mail all at once?!

Does this ever happen to you? I really hate spending money on necessities. 

The good news is, All of those things can be replaced, or paid for. Our sweet little family is healthy safe and happy. Life is good.

Now, for the fun!

I got a new sewing machine!!!!

The Singer Brilliance 6199. I am so excited. It's not a Bernina, But really, I don't know if I could handle that much machine... This one fit the budget and would fill the needs that I would require. And when I mentioned the price of the Bernina embroidery/sewing machine I wanted Mike laughed. Point taken. I'm happy with my little Singer and know that she will serve us well. I am excited to take just my little LaLa on a date to the fabric store and let her pick some fabric and a pattern. And buy a few new feet for my sewing machine! I have had my eye on a ruffling foot for ages. Oh how fun! I hate hand gathering. It takes forever.

So as for the mixer, I'm borrowing my moms Kitchen Aid {It's her backup. She also has a Bosch} for the time being.
The Blender... Well, I can promise Mike will NOT spend $400 on a Vitamix right now...So maybe another cheap little one from Costco. I have all the time in the world to buy the finer things in life. Right now, NICU bills need to be paid, babies need food in their bellies and clothes on their backs.

Not forgetting me.

People ask how I have time to blog... Well, nursing with a Boppy pillow, sitting at the computer is the only time I really have anymore, Look Ma, No hands. lol.

As you all know, I use retail therapy to deal with sadness or frustrations, or really anything else. I like to shop okay. That was the old me, the new "provident spend no money" Kyrsten has found other ways. Thanks to a conversation that went a little something like this...

Me: I may or may not be using retail therapy to cope with some post partum feelings right now...

Mike: NO! Find another way.

Me: Okay I will... after I buy this one jacket.

Mike: DO NOT buy that jacket.

 
This is the jacket... Isn't it gorgeous? Never mind that I have the same jacket in grey sitting in my closet. And about 5 other Lulu jackets. HELLO?!?! I live in Florida... I can't even wear jackets 9 months out of the year.   
I had every intention of buying that jacket, even after this conversation. Well, I'm still married, so obviously I came to my senses and I didn't buy that jacket.
The whole point of this story...
I have found other ways to "vent." I love creating. I love my blog and feel like it's a reflection of who I am and who I want to be. It is my "ME" time. That's how I have time to blog. It keeps me sane and makes me happy. I think that every mom has to remember who she is and the things she loved to do before kids. I adore my children, and doing things {or everything} for them, But If you don't take time to be who YOU are, Not just Mommy, I think you will go crazy and be depressed.
I love to create
I love to sew
  I love to craft with my kids,
I love to play my violin and the piano. {No, I am not good at the piano. So don't be telling the bishop I am, I don't need a calling of that sort, It would be BAD for everyone}
I love to run,
I love to exercise.I love to play dress up and put make up on and wear sexy shoes.And I also love being a mommy. It's all about balance. I don't think I have a perfect balance of things yet, But I am working on it. And I'm not sure if there is a perfect balance. It's a day by process. And I love every second of it.

A girls best friend

Shoes are a girls real best friend. They always fit you, no matter how much you weigh. Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Stewart Weitzman, Christian Louboutin Thank you.

Jimmy choo. I love you... Only $995 at Nordstroms

Oh my gosh, I would totally feel like a street walker in these Christian Louboutin shoes, But I would love every second of it. Where's an extra $995 when you need it?

Lunches

When you are trying to eat healthy, Mageno's are the wrong people to go grocery shopping with. While my parents were visiting from Utah, More junk food found its way into my house than I've seen in the last 5 years. So, Here's to us getting back on track, and making it fun for my sweet little babes! I can't wait to pack lunches for school next year!! More ideas here!

I LOVE fall!

I have a ton to post about... We've been super busy, more on that later. For now, I'm enjoying some almost alone time {I still have Brent} and filling my head with things I don't have time or money for!
Fall time is my favorite! I know, I say that about everything. but really, Halloween is my favorite holiday. Yep, better than Christmas.

I mean seriously Williams Sonoma? $99 for this. I bet I could make that for under $10 bucks.
But it sure is pretty!

AAAAHHHHH!!! Mini pancake molds... I may have to invest in these. They could also double as cookie cutters, So that justifies the cost a little bit right?

I am so not this talented...anyone want to give them a shot? And can you tell I have a thing for sugar cookies? I mean I post something about them at least once a week.

Halloween and Christmas are the ONLY holidays I decorate my house for.

And I figure if I start now, I can have some cute Halloween crafts done for the girls to wear.

A farm?

There's part of me that wishes I lived on a farm... Minus the nasty poopoo smell. And no cows or horses either... Those are just too big and stinky. But I really want a little piece of land that we could have chickens on, and let a puppy run, have some ATV's to ride around on, have some beautiful fruit trees, And a fantastic garden. Do I think it will ever happen? Mmmmmm, probably not, There's also a part of me that is a city girl snob. It would have to be a piece of land that was still within 15 minutes of a Target, and lots of fun activities for the kiddos. {Maybe we could just move right next to you Heidi, Kansas City sounds perfect!} Aside from the fact that I don't think I'll ever get Michael out of Jacksonville. But I can dream right?

 

Doesn't this make you want a chicken coop? To see more, go here!

And a garden to pick fresh fruits and veggies from and have an afternoon snack on the wrap around porch?

Have a pair of gardening boots by the door... sitting on beautiful rustic hardwood floors, That didn't matter if you scratched or dented them, because it would just add to the charm and beauty? 

With a perfect little country kitchen to make family breakfasts in, using freshly gathered eggs and fruit?

Hmmmmm.... maybe one day....

Pretties.

I'm kinda stuck in the house today, So this is what I'll be up to... Making invitations, Baking bread, and possibly making a cute new necklace... like this one...

I love the simplicity, and my sweet little LaLa will love making it with me.

And of course, filling my head with ideas...

 I love this headboard... Mike is so wonderful, I could paint our bedroom pink, throw a crystal chandelier or 2 up, and as long as it had a ceiling fan and down comforter, he wouldn't care.

 I also LOVE this shirt... And it would be SO super easy to make... I may just have to add it to the project list... Because there isn't enough on it already...

 These are just gift wrap, But Oh heavens, They make me happy. Could you imagine a perfectly simple Christmas tree with a bunch of beautiful and coordinated presents like this under it? {SIGH.... DROOL... } It would have to be up from the minute Thanksgiving dinner were over to New Years day of course, and nobody would be allowed in the Christmas Tree Room...

 I also long for a vintage frame with burlap in it, and cute hooks, so that I can hang my jewelry and it can be a piece of art!

 I have a strange Obsession with long comfy dresses... I have stalked this dress for weeks, and cannot find where to buy it... So if anyone has too much time on their hands and wants to look for me, I'd love you forever.

 I saved the best for last... I want this mirror SO bad. Like to the point of, anything goes... If I had to break into someones house and peel it off the wall in the middle of the night, I would... They better hope I can't track it down... And if it's for sale, Mike's wallet better pray that I don't find it, Because I would pay almost anything for it. Okay, on to being productive.... And making breakfast. { My kids slept until 9:30 this morning, It was a Festivus Miracle!}

Command central

As I'm sure you know, I'm totally a type A personality, and I like things in order and I like to visually see organization. In the next house {because I don't have a wall big enough in this house} I will set up command central. I want it to be a place where everyone can look and see what we have going on, So I don't have to spend hours explaining and answering questions. Chores that need done, how they should be done, the monthly calendar, upcoming events, a place to put the mail, etc.

I want it to start with something like this...

I want 1/2 of it turned into a calendar and the other half left for notes. Like Mikes to do list. He hates when I give him a job and before he's done I give him another one. He prefers I just write it down and let him do it at his own pace.

Plus a cute magnetic board to put papers from school that need signed or whatever else I need to look at and don't want getting lost when a kid lays it on a counter.

Plus a place to put the days menu... I don't want to have to answer 5 times when I'm asked repeatedly by 5 different people.

A designated place to put the mail. No matter who checks it they will put it here, So I know it gets to me.

I love these ideas for house hold rules!

A place to put the keys

Of course it won't be complete without a little Pottery Barn.

All arranged beautifully on the wall.

AFPIFPIHEFJWGJPGPRIQWEOUHISADYGEW!

That's about how I feel these last few days. I have zero motivation, I haven't fixed my hair or makeup in 2 or 3 days, I havent taken the kids to the pool, I'm tired, Kynzi is sick, We've eaten tacos 2 nights in a row, I havent cleaned the bathrooms yet this week, and there's a load of clothes in the washer I keep forgetting to put in the dryer. And well, to be perfectly honest, I just don't give a hoot about anything at the moment. Hopefully I'll snap out of it soon. I did go to BodyFlow this morning and that helped. Normally when I get in moods like this I use retail therapy... It works for me. So since that is out of the question heres a few of the things I would go buy right this second if I had my debit card.

The worlds greatest tan in a bottle. I'm almost out, and seriously, I've considered stockpiling it. Just like my toothpaste, shampoo and hairspray. 

I'd go get my nails did... I actually don't really like wearing acrylic nails, I like the way they look for the first 2 days and then once they grow out and need a fill, they look like doodoo. And I hate the whole process of the electric nail file, it creeps me out. So maybe I'd just get a mani pedi and have my nails painted.

I'd be ALL OVER these pink Jimmy Choos'

And a new silk scarf maxi dress. In a bright yellow or orange magenta color.

Um, pretty much everything in sight at lulu.

And this fantastic necklace, I may just buy it, and claim temporary insanity when Mike asks.