What a crack up.

Who even knew that toy kitchens have multiple uses such as trapping busy 2 year olds in their sinks.  The little stinker took the sink out of her new kitchen she got for her bday and climbed right in the hole. She loved it, and hey so did I! Not much she can get in to while in there. :)

A gift of a better marriage.. who doesn't want that??!?

I just wanted to remind you all, The Dating Divas awesome E-Books pre-sale (almost 50% off promo) ends today.

AND The Dating Divas Marriage E-Book arrived today soooo it will be sent out to everyone today! Woo Hoo!  If you haven't already snagged both books for the special promo price of $27 I strongly suggest you go snag them now. You will not be sorry!

GO NOW!!!

Here is a little bit about each book:  

THE A to Z GUIDE: 26 Ways in 26 Days to a Happier, Healthier Marriage

Since we can’t come to each of your homes & have a FUN Girl’s Night Out…..we decided to do the NEXT best thing!  We’ve gathered our BEST marriage tips – the secrets behind the success in our own marriages and compiled them into a book to share with all of you!  A collaboration effort by us, the Divas, we share touching, enlightening, and humorous stories to demonstrate each marriage tip.  You will get to see a glimpse inside the marriages of a few of the divas.  {Hang onto your hats!} By applying these simple, yet valuable tips, you will start to experience a different, happier marriage right away.  This ebook will give you practical tools to literally transform your marriage.  

THE ULTIMATE DATE NIGHT BOOK

You asked for it AND we delivered!!  We gathered all of our TOP dates (voted by readers and Divas) plus fresh, never before seen or published date ideas…..and compiled them into our first DATE ebook!  This is the perfect book to have on hand for planning date nights!  We pretty much have your Friday Night Date Nights planned out for you! We did all the work, you can enjoy the results.  Make a 2012 resolution to spice up the date nights for your marriage!  {We also thought this would be the perfect book to give away as a wedding present!}

PRICING:

How much do they cost?

• The A to Z Guide: 26 Ways in 26 Days to a Happier, Healthier Marriage {$9.97}
• The ULTIMATE Date Night Book {$37.00}
• Special Limited Time Offer – BOTH EBOOKS – $20.00 off!!  {$27.00}

We have also found that SO many wives out there truly want to improve their marriage!  These are books written BY women FOR women and they are making a difference!  The ladies we asked to “pre-read” these books before our release have found that by applying the tips in the Marriage Book {The A to Z Guide} – they saw a definite difference in their relationship.  The Ultimate Date Book is coming in handy for couples in keeping the spark alive in marriages throughout the weekend.  Date Night has NEVER been so easy!  


With the new year coming up... make 2012 the year you vow to do a regular date night. The Dating Divas make it so easy, even for the nights you need to stay in with kids in bed and not spend any money.  

Can you tell I LOVE these ladies, I LOVE these books, and I LOVE LOVE working with all of them for such a wonderful cause that is near to my heart.  I want all of you my dear friends and family, to have a wonderful time with your spouse and do it the easy and fun way.  Seriously... these are great.  

Happy Holidays!

 

It's Finally Complete

Wow!  Do I have a lot to catch up on from this whirlwind of a Summer, then Fall has already come and gone, and now Winter is quickly approaching.  We are still alive and kicking... just have had a gazillion projects going on, and lots of family fun. 




For now though, swing on over to my photography page, Nicole Martin Photography, and check out it's new look and a super fun GIVEAWAY going on starting today.  I mean, who doesn't like FREE stuff!?!  As soon as things slow down (hopefully soon) I will be able to catch up on life in general and share some fun stuff going on with us right now.

Getting Back to Me

Have you ever felt like somewhere along the way of kids, responsibilities, service, cleaning, housekeeping, wifely duties, jobs, callings, cooking, taxiing, more cleaning, hobbies, and laundry you just wake up one day and say Where did Nicole (you) go?  You have just let yourself slowly get pushed to the side and eventually the back burner just because LIFE takes over.  Well around this time of year, every year, I start to feel like this, and it causes some re-prioritization.  It's probably a symptom of Spring fever along with the other long list of Spring symptoms, but never-the-less its important to take yourself back.  My husband always says "A happy wife is a happy life".  He says it usually in sarcasm as I am asking him to do something he doesn't want to do, but still it may be the smartest thing he has ever said. It's true though.  As women, we do a better job as mothers and wives and the other million other roles we play if we take time to make ourselves happy.  Take time from pleasing others to do something for yourself. 



    In addition to this I also must add Spiritually how do we stay in tune and influence others spiritually if we aren't taking time to ourselves to study and ponder as well.  Sheri Dew said "Because women are innately nurturing, they will sometimes become so busy they don't make time for their own spirituality. In order to be effective ministers, Dew said women need to take time for themselves to be holy.

"If our lives are so busy that we don't have time for our personal worship, something needs to change," she said. "If we could unleash the full influence of covenant-keeping women, the kingdom of God and the world would change overnight."

My problem is I like to be organized and have things "just so". However lately I am spending more time trying to get organized than I am actually doing the things I am trying to organize. Then I get overwhelmed.  I found an outline I liked that I tweaked to fit me, and I know I am going to LOVE it.  I thought if there was anyone out there feeling at all like me then this might help you as well so here it is.  One of my sweet and AMAZING friends Holly does this and she shared it.

Monday :: Order

1. FHE

2. Clean House

Wash bedding/clean toilets etc.

3. Meal Plan for the Week

4. Make Weekly Goals

5. Grocery Shopping & Errands

Tuesday :: Happiness

1. Free Day

2. Laundry

3. Craft with Kids

4. Organize Something small

Wednesday :: Beauty

1. Paint toenails

2. Zone Cleaning

(I downloaded my zone cleaning lists HERE.)

3. Read from the Ensign or other inspiring books

4. Light candles and make dinner a little more special

5. Take a bubble bath

Thursday :: Peace & Serenity

1. Paper work/ bills etc.

2. Look ahead to next week, prepare birthday cards etc.

3. go through the house to see if you can make it more welcoming in any way

4. if you feel like it try a new recipe

5. think about serving those around you

Friday :: Abundance & Joy

1. Any errands that need taken care of

2. Look at your budget: What are you spending??

3. Plan Movie Night/ date night or family activity with the kids

4. Make sure you tell your family you love them! Leave a special note or do something nice for your husband or one of your kids.

Saturday :: Freedom

1. Yard work/ Large jobs

2. think about dinner for Sunday

Any last minute trips to the store?

3. Set aside time to play

4. layout church clothes, diaper bag etc.

Sunday :: Spiritual Focus & Love

1. Make it to church on time!
2. Relax

3. Think about issues that our family needs to discuss for FHE on Monday

4. Think about the blessings in your life

5. Visit family

Monthly

1st day of every month:

Menu plan & look ahead for birthdays of special events

Plan one big project to accomplish during the month

Get visiting teaching done

Loot at what you are spending!! 

 

My Goal this week.... is to stop looking & feeling like this. :)

So my goal to start this week is Organizing my organizing. :) Getting things straightened out so that I have a few spare minutes to start concentrating on myself.  Also, I am excited because our local rec has a night Zumba class at 7:30 pm which is perfect for me.  So even though I have to drive a little bit to do an hour of workout, this is going to be a great quiet time for me and a workout all in one.  If you have something that has worked for you that you care to share about how you got yourself back out of a slump, feel free!  

A few favorite things for this holiday!

The Girl Creative  has your recipe for Reindeer Food, along with a free printable for the top of the bag! This is one of those things that my kids love!

Mod Mum is having a BOGO sale (Buy 1 Get 1 FREE) it only lasts I think through tomorrow the 17th, but I could be wrong.  They are already marked down as well.  I LOVE LOVE my sling... in fact I have the exact one in this picture and I have used it tons.  Its nice when they are newborn but I use it now even on my hip for Oaklynn now at 10 months.  If you dont have one GET one, or this would make a great shower gift.  You just buy one and then in the comments section put the one you want for FREE. 




My next find is my FAVORITE thing right now!!!!


Sick of your babys socks falling off?


Stay Put Socks is a device that has been tested and proven to keep baby socks on. The device simply slips over your baby's socks and keeps them on all day. And the best thing about it is that you dont have to go out and buy any more baby socks. You can use the ones you already have to match your baby's outfits!




The device is a clear rubber ring that has a small blue dot for boys and a pink dot for girls. Now any socks can be non slip baby socks! Make sure to choose the appropriate color when you order Stay Put Socks!

 

They are only $3.99 a set and shipping is cheap.  They are well worth it.  Or you
can order a full set for $19.99 right now on SALE from $24.99. 
If you ever want to do an all size package of 6 and pick any 6 sizes you can.   So, if you wanted 2 size small, 2 size medium and 2 size large they will be happy to do that.   Just order the all size package online and send them an e mail immediately and Kate (the owner) will alter the order.

Kate has told me I could offer you FREE SHIPPING through Dec 31st.  Just enter the code
FREE SHIPPING when you checkout.
Exp. Dec 31st.

Click here to go to their site

These have saved me with Oaklynn... she hates socks and shoes on but its just to cold to have her bare footed anymore.  Thankfully I found these and they have kept her socks on and her feet warm.  They will be my new give to everyone baby shower present! 

First Halloween Fun

Isn't this the cutest little paint version of Bullseye you have ever seen in your life? 

Hi mom!

Ok now GET THIS THING OFF ME!

It was so funny to watch her sit and pull on herself.  I know it was kind of mean to laugh, but she is still a little wobbly sitting up, and she would jerk the hood so hard forward she would almost pull herself on her face.  She sure is a cutie pie!

Look Who's Sitting

My BIG girl.  She was happy as a clam just laying on her back playing all the time,

but now she knows there is more to life.  She loves her new found freedom.  I definitely am

not pushing her to crawl anytime soon, I am sure that will come soon enough on its own. 

Now you all know why she has no hair.  Kadence brushes it out daily. :)

My baby is finally sitting!  8 Months has just gone WAY too fast!

She loves loves to eat.  She is feeding herself, and ate her first banana yesterday whole from her hands taking bites.  She is a cracker freak.  Any kind she can eat it down.  She is getting less and less interested in baby foods and more demanding for table foods.  She likes anyone still and smiles at everyone.  She LOVES her brother and her sister and her entire face lights up when she sees her Daddy.  When he comes near us she pushes herself away from me to go to him.  I don't mind though.  She is still my angel baby, and I know I am sooo lucky to have her.  She sleeps through the entire night still from about 8:30 pm to 8 or 9 a.m. then is content playing and cooing in her crib until someone comes and joins her in her crib or I go and get her.  When we do go get her, she does a maniac "frog kick" we call it.  She goes nuts and squeals.  This is my water baby.  Holy cow.  Lay her town in about 5 inches of water and your entire bathroom is soaked in minutes.  I bet you have never seen my bathroom cleaner.  If you need to borrow her let me know.  She lifts her legs straight in the air and slams them down as hard as she can and as fast as she can.  It send water EVERYWHERE.  We have laughed and laughed for hours over this and her personality.  Our family is truly blessed to have this little sweetheart. 

We Love You Oaklynn!