MLIL / The Wallace House

MLIL

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My Life in Lists

Monday, June 9, 2014

Another week, another list!

Link up with us, make new blog friends, and have fun!

Hosted by myself and my little sister, Kelli, over at K.Gilby, My Life in Lists is a weekly blog link-up where we give you a new prompt each Monday (always a list of some kind!) and you can write your own blog post based on that prompt any day that week! Then link up here or at K.Gilby to join the party! Participating in a blog linky party is a great way to connect with other bloggers and build new friendships, which is what we are exactly hoping to do ourselves by hosting this weekly link-up!

This week we want you to share your current to-do list!

Every single day I hand write a to-do list. Every. Single. Day.

Actually, I just realized that's a lie. I usually don't have one on Saturday or Sunday. Let's rephrase.

Every. Single. Weekday.

And it has to be hand-written! I don't do the whole iPhone notepad to-do list biz. There's something about physically crossing things off your to-do list. If you just erase your finished items it feels like you did nothing all day when you're left with a blank screen staring back at you. haha!

Also. Can I tell you that if I do something that is not on my to-do list I totally add it just so I can cross it off? I'm so serious right now. *insert laughing so hard you cry emoticon*

sidenote: where are emoticons for the blog world?

if I created that right now, I'd be a millionaire.

ANYway. My to-do list. Exactly as it's written in my [real-life, not iPhone] notepad.

- Clean bedroom

- Set up visiting teaching appointments

- write questions for Thurs mtg

- write out trek document (needs, etc)

- clear counter

- wipe counter

- wipe table

- laundry

*colors

*whites

*towels

*sheets

(yes, I seriously write out each load so I feel more productive when I cross it off. Just wait...it gets worse.)

-Dry

*Colors

*Whites

*Towels

*Sheets

-Fold

*colors

*whites

-Put away

*Colors

*Whites

*Towels

*Sheets on bed/make bed

- Start crockpot

- Workout/run

- Tom's lunch

- organize closet

- update journal

- Tidy Phillip's bedroom

- Tidy playroom

- Bathrooms

*Guest

*Master

- Vacuum

(I used to seriously write out every room that needed to be vacuumed - so every room in the house - but then I stopped because it took up too much room in the notebook haha!)

- Mop

- Scripture Study

- Jack dressed

- Jack bath

- Jack teeth

- Jack breakfast

- Phillip bath

- Phillip dressed

- Shower

- Dressed

- Hair

- Makeup

^sometimes I'm afraid my shower/hair/makeup wouldn't get done if I didn't have it on the to-do list haha!

-Fold rags/put away

- Receipts to Mint

^If you don't use mint.com as your budgeting system you are MISSING OUT. do it now!

- look up trek games

- clean up office

- Huggies codes to huggies.com

- use shutterfly coupon

- facetime kelli & jai

- check what ryan paid

- print crockpot dinner list

- lunch notes

- cradle to storage

^insert many tears^

OHMYGOSH. That is seriously my to-do list. Please tell me someone else's looks like that!? You are probably so confused what some of the stuff on there means ha. But seriously I have to write down EVERYTHING so that at the end of the day I can see what I accomplished.

Let's be honest - there is no way everything on this list will actually be finished by the time I go to bed tomorrow. Because I am not a super-human. Or a person without kids.

The things that don't get done are transferred to tomorrow's list.

Some things float from list to list for weeks. Like updating my journal. I'm like a month behind right now. Yikes.

To-do lists save my sanity (I'm pretty much the queen of to-do lists in case you were wondering). And make me feel way more accomplished when all I've done for the day is shower/get ready/feed children/respond to one million child demands...and get no chores done. Because the showering and feeding and getting ready are on the to-do list. So I can look back at the end of the day and say "hey! I did something on here!" It is so dumb but it works.

OKAY.

So now it's your turn!! What does your to-do list look like? For the good of all mankind (or just for your own good) I really hope it's a lot shorter than mine.

LINK UP and tell me about it!

xoxo

An InLinkz Link-up

Monday, June 2, 2014

Hello, friends and welcome to My Life in Lists!

I'm so excited about this week's prompt!

List things most people don't know about you.

My goal here is going to be to list at least one thing the people who know me best don't even know. My husband doesn't count since he probably knows me better than I know myself ;)

1. Even if I'm not using the water, I have to have it running while I brush my teeth.

It's just this weird thing and it drives me crazy to have the faucet off.

2. I'm a licensed soccer coach.

3. If I wear socks to bed it's a guarantee that they'll not be on when I wake up in the morning. We usually find them buried down in the covers at the bottom of the bed. I do not consciously remove them.

4. I'm a huge believer in sleeping with the windows open in the winter when it's freezing cold outside. Because there's just something so magical about that.

5. I'm certified to take foot and ankle x-rays...in Utah.

6. I still do math on my fingers.

Like simple math.

8 + 7? Finger math.

7. + 8 = 15. I just added that on my fingers.

8. + 7 = 15. That one I did in my head.

9. I love going to the doctor. I just think it's cool.

I also love taking my kids to the doctor...although I do not wish sicknesses upon them haha

10. I love filling out forms.

Another good reason to go to the doctor.

11. I remember my dreams almost every morning.
T says they're all crazy.

12. In my high school glory days, I could run a mile in under 6:00. If you're thinking of asking my exact best time, I'll save you some time and tell you I don't remember.

13. In elementary school, I lost the spelling bee (class level...our schools never did the whole real spelling bee thing?) exactly one time. In 5th grade. I spelled "rodeo" "rodio." I will never ever forget it.
PS I really did know how to spell rodeo, I swear.

Okay, friends. It's your turn!

Link up and tell me what things most people don't know about you!

And let me know in the comments which of these surprised you!

xoxo

An InLinkz Link-up

My Life in Lists

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Hey guys! Sorry I'm so late in posting this week's My Life in Lists link-up! It's a good one, too!

I've just been so busy with, ya know, life.

Plus my computer that was half broken is now all broken so I have zero access to a computer most of the time until T gets home from work. By the time we're done with dinner, bath time, and bedtime routine I'm too exhausted to worry about blogging. So...MLIL brought to you 2.5 days late!

This week's prompt?

List your guilty pleasures!

1. The Bachelorette.

Don't even lie - SO many of you are right there with me!

I honestly don't even LIKE it that much but I'm hooked! - I may or may not be watching Monday's episode in a separate window as I write this.

2. Eating In N Out at midnight.

We used to go at midnight all the time before kids. Now it's pretty much out of the picture but sometimes (like during our Utah vacation) we still enjoy the midnight burger ha!

3. Cereal for dinner.

Tom is a meat & potatoes kinda guy through and through so if I want anything breakfast for dinner I gotta do it when he's not home. But man, do I love a big bowl of Mini Wheats for dinner. It's easy and it's yum!

4. Watching Grey's Anatomy during nap time.

Read: relax for two minutes and watch Grey's Anatomy after all the chores are done and the babies are still asleep.

No, seriously, why does it always happen like that? The minute I'm done with the to-do list and I settle in for half an episode of Grey's Anatomy before my own nap...one of them wakes up. GAH. The life of a mom.

5. Shopping.

Duh.

What are your guilty pleasures?!

Link up below and tell us about it!

An InLinkz Link-up

My Life in Lists

Monday, May 19, 2014

Welcome to our weekly link up!

This week's prompt:

List things you should stop spending money on.

Ha...this list is both really easy and really hard for me. Easy because I can think of about a million things. Hard because I can think of about a million things and I doubt you want to read a list that long. So I'll do my best to keep it a lot shorter.

1. Shoes

Easily. My husband would definitely agree with this one. But as I write it I'm thinking that I really need some more sandals for the summer...

2. Baby clothes

It is nearly impossible for me to pass up adorable baby clothes ... especially when it's a steal of a deal. Like the mint green gingham button up I bought for Jack the other day at Target for $5 that he definitely didn't need. But dang, it's cute on him and I totally don't regret the purchase at all.

Here's a secret: I even buy baby girl clothes and I don't even have a girl! When you see baby (swiss dot!) jeggings at Target for $3 you'll totally understand.

3. Nail polish

For real though. The good news is I don't buy the expensive kind (my max is about $3). The bad news is that it means I think I can afford 100 bottles every shopping trip. And the other bad news is all of my nail polishes suck ... because I have a $3 maximum price point. Lose-lose. At least I have a color to match every outfit?

4. Beauty Products

A beauty blogger swears by a product (ahem - or products) on her blog and I'm out the door in .02 seconds on my way to Target to drop heaps of cash I don't have on said product(s). And then I end up not using half of them and they take up precious space in my makeup bag.

5. The Dollar Spot at Target

Like anything in the dollar spot. I really should stop "just checking" the dollar spot every time I enter Target.

Truth: I went to Target with Tom & babies the other day and did not go to the dollar spot because T does not support dollar spot browsing. Jack cried when we passed it without walking through. And pointed at the section saying "no, no, no" meaning "no, stop and go back!" I swear to you that happened. We clearly spend too much time there.

6. Thank you notes - or any note card

Why am I such a sucker for note cards? It's cute. It's adorable. It's $1 (at Target's dollar spot). It's an extra 10% off with Cartwheel. It's only 90 cents. It's already in my cart. That's kind of how it goes. And then suddenly I have 50 packs of note cards sitting in my office. Good thing they're cute and I use them a lot.

Okay. I could go on and on and on and on and...I'm stopping.

What things should you stop spending money on?

Link up and tell us about it!

Note: Do you notice a trend here? If all the Targets in the world burned down my bank account would be bursting. And you would find me in the corner in fetal position bawling my eyes out.

Note #2 (mainly directed at husband, in case he reads this post): Please do not fail to recognize that the prompt says "things I should stop spending money on "and not "things I will stop spending money on." Because, let's be honest. I'd just never create a prompt like that.

xoxo

Monday, May 12, 2014

Hey, friends!

Welcome to My Life in Lists, hosted by myself & my little sister Kelli over at K.Gilby.

My Life in Lists is a weekly blog link-up where we give you a new prompt each Monday (always a list of some kind!) and you can write your own blog post based on that prompt any day that week! Just choose a day that you don't have a planned post or have blogger's block! Then link up here or at K.Gilby to join the party! Participating in a blog linky party is a great way to connect with other bloggers and build new friendships, which is what we are exactly hoping to do ourselves by hosting this weekly link-up!

This week's prompt:

Things I didn't expect to happen in my life.

Ready, go!

Hmm. This one for me took some thought. I can't say there are many things in my life that I didn't expect. Either a) I've been lucky and things have gone as "planned" or "expected" or b) I didn't really have set expectations. That doesn't really sound like me, though. I'm not really a go-with-the-flow type of girl. Ask my sibs. So I guess I've just been lucky so far?

Anyway. Here are the ones I came up with!

1. I did not expect to marry Tommy Wallace.

Probably nobody necessarily expects to marry the person they marry but I say this because T was my older sister's friend through middle/high school. I knew his family but I really can't say I ever even talked to him until my sister set us up a few days before I graduated high school. In my head, Tommy Wallace, my sister's friend and Tom Wallace, my husband are two different people hah! Ten years ago I just never would have imagined I would marry Tommy Wallace.

2. I did not expect to own the house we do.

We bought our house from a family friend. He was my bishop at church and a good friend of my dad's. I never expected they'd move away and even after they did, I never expected I would one day be buying their house from them!
Let me tell you though - we put in 30+ offers on houses before buying this house and this one is, by far, my favorite of them all. It is absolutely perfect for our little family. The layout is perfect, the location is perfect, the size is perfect. I almost never want to move! Unfortunately, we will probably outgrow it one day.

3. I did not expect to have two boys before having any girls.

For some reason I had it in my head that I would definitely have a girl first and maybe even all girls and no boys. Boy, am I glad that was wrong. *pun intended.

4. I did not expect to ever travel to Indonesia.

I should probably be embarrassed by this but I honestly don't think I had even heard of Indonesia before dating my husband who served a two-year LDS mission there. A few summers ago we took a dreamy second honeymoon there and wow - I'm so glad I got to have that experience! I would go again in a heartbeat.

PS I also never expected to hold a leopard on my lap.

I also never expected said leopard to BITE me in the back.

[note: it was a soft bite but a bite nonetheless. this picture was taken after the bite. so if my smile looks a little stiff and pasted on...well, it was.]

Can I just say I'm so glad that life isn't always what we expect?

How boring would it be?

The things I would have missed out on if life turned out just the way I expected!

And also.

God is good.

What are some things that have happened in your life that you did not expect?

Link up below and tell us about it!

I love reading your linked posts!

xoxo

An InLinkz Link-up

Monday, May 5, 2014

Okay, friends.

I know last week's list only applied to some of you since somehow, some way [it's craziness, if you ask me] some people still do not use Pinterest.

Say whaaaa.

It's true though, guys. My sister who co-hosts this link-up couldn't even link up because she doesn't use Pinterest. I'm working on it. I'll convert her one day.

This week's prompt though?

If you have nothing to contribute I don't think we can be friends anymore.

I'm kidding - we can still be friends. I just won't like you as much as I used it.

Kidding again.

You're like - okay, really, can you just get to the prompt already?

Yes.

List books you think your followers definitely should read.

You guys, I'm so excited about this one! Mainly for selfish reasons. I want more book suggestions! Even though I have like 50 sitting in my notepad on my iPhone that I haven't had time to read.

You can never have too long of a book list.

Am I right or am I right?

Let's get to it.

*side note: it was so hard for me to not list a million books! I kept it to my very top favorites!

You definitely should read the Children of the Promise series By Dean Hughes.
It's written by an LDS author and the family it follows is LDS but even if you aren't Mormon it's a fabulous read! Historical fiction. My favorite! Be warned - it's a 5 book series and once you start you won't want to stop!

Next up, Among the Hidden series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Super easy read (as in written for youth - those are the best though, right?! I love fun, easy reads) and so entertaining!

The City of Ember and it's sequel by Jeanne DuPrau. Another really easy read and so excellent.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. One of those required school reads that you actually don't mind reading. Like you have a hard time staying within the "assigned" pages to read instead of finishing it before the rest of the class. Books like that are few and far between.

PS Am I the only one that didn't know for years that there was a sequel?

Fire of the Covenant by Gerald Lund. Another historical fiction by an LDS author. So, so amazing. You will not believe the things these pioneers endured.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Duh.

Marley & Me by John Grogan.
The movie is excellent too. But don't skip the book and only watch the movie!
This one brings me to tears every time.

Pirates! by Celia Rees
My older sister recommended this one to me and I thought I probably wouldn't like it since our taste in books can be quite different. Mostly because she loves fantasy and I do not. But this book surprised me and I loved it!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares.

I like the movies too but it is just not the same. I actually read the books after I had seen the movies and I love the books so much more! Generally if I see the movie first I like it better than the book and vice-versa. So not true for this series.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.

So funny!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

The movie is ah-may-zing. The book is even more amazing, if you can believe it.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer.
If you are a Twilight-hater, this isn't anything like it!
I actually did love Twilight when I read it several years ago (can't say I'm a fan of the movies or all the hype, though!) but I think The Host is even better and it's way different.
I haven't seen the movie but I've heard the book is much different and way better.
Note: Get through the first few chapters where you are SO confused. Everything will eventually make sense and it is SO good!

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.
Marvelous. One of my very favorites.

Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld.

Another easy read and so, so fantastic!

You won't be able to put it down.

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.
Okay, what girl doesn't love Nicholas Sparks, right?
The perfect amount of romance.
But this one, my friends, is the best of the best.
THE BEST.
If you haven't read it, hunt it down and read it ASAP.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.

I love anything by Mitch Albom.

I also recommend For One More Day and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Unwind series by Neal Shusterman.

Easy read, really fun.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. An obvious classic and one of my favorites.

I could list so many more but I'll stop.
What are your top books?
I'm so, so excited to see all of your picks!
xoxo

Monday, April 28, 2014

Last week's MLIL link-up was so fun! I loved seeing all the things you guys would hire someone to do for you! This week I'm featuring Catherine's post over at Peanut Butter Tales. Go check out her post here to see what things she'd hire out!

This week's list is for all you Pinterest lovers out there - I'm pretty sure that's every girl in the history of ever:

Make a list of things from Pinterest that have changed your life.

Make sure to include links to the pins or the site they originated from so others can take a peek and have their lives changed too!

I don't know where I'd be without Pinterest.

There are so many tips & tricks out there that are so easy to find with the help of Pinterest!

Here are the top things from my Pinterest boards that have totally changed my life:

1// Using a magnetic strip to store your bobby pins.

There are far less bobby pins hanging around my house after I saw this on Pinterest and put it into effect.

[my strip is actually on the inside of my medicine cabinet door!]

2// Freezer Meals

Dinner is 100x easier. It's best to find the sites where they've done all the work for you - recipes all collected, shopping list made.

3// This picture tutorial on how to hang a picture.

Life-changing, friends.

4// This amazing idea on how to store your necklaces.

My necklaces are way easier to access than when I kept them in a jewelry box.

5// This combination for cleaning the stains out of anything.

Even stuff you've already dried!

1 part dawn dish soap to 2 parts hydrogen peroxide.

Pour it on the stain and scrub with a toothbrush [preferably not the one you're currently using to clean your teeth.] If the stain doesn't come out right away, let the solution soak into the stain for awhile then scrub some more.

It's a miracle cleaner, I kid you not.

6// This article: Ten Secrets I learned at Makeup Artist School.

7// My "Dressing for Two" Pinterest board.

via

And let's be honest...my regular fashion board too.

My sense of style has increased by leaps & bounds since Pinterest made its debut.

8// Somee cards.

I'm sure they existed before Pinterest but that's how I first discovered them and, honestly, is there anything more funny than truer-than-true somee cards?

9// This tutorial.

10// This top knot picture tutorial.

I almost always do my top knots this way now.

To see more of my pins go visit my Pinterest page.

What pins on Pinterest have changed your life?

Link up and tells us about it!

xoxo

PS Just to make sure there is no confusion - my sister, Kelli & I host this link-up together. Her blog has recently been re-branded from "Team Gilbert" to "K.Gilby." Don't be confused - it's the same girl!

Monday, April 21, 2014

Hello lovelies!

I loved all the link-ups from last week but this week I'm choosing to feature Jennifer's post over at Everyday Glam. I love the five things she chose to do with her million dollars! Go check it out and leave her some comments!

I'm SO excited about this week's prompt.

It's going to be hard to keep my list short.

Ready for it?

APRIL 21-28

List things you wish you could hire someone to do for you.

Like almost everything, amiright?!

But I'm going to limit it just to the ones that I really, desperately wish I could hire someone to do for me!

1// LAUNDRY.

Who is with me on this?!

As I speak I have a basket of laundry that I washed on Friday just sitting waiting to be folded.

Somehow I can't seem to finish three loads of laundry in one day.

It takes me like two days to wash, two days to fold and then two days to put it away.

And then before I even put it away it's time to wash again! GAH.

I really wish I could be like my mom and stay on top of it and get it all done and put away in the same day.

Or I just wish I could hire someone to do it for me. That's what this list is about anyway, right?! ha!

side note: if I really had someone to do my laundry I would lose my excuse to have a 20 minute breather while I fold the laundry and catch up on Parenthood.

2// COOK DINNER.

Hahaha! It is SO TRUE.

I have good intentions and I pin recipes like crazy and hunt down good-sounding recipes in my cookbooks and the Better Homes & Gardens mag but I have a really hard time on the follow-through part of it.

I just really do not love to cook!

But high five for making my first ever meat loaf last week from a recipe I found in the Better Homes & Gardens mag and actually made.

3// EXERCISE.

This is obviously not something you really even could hire someone to do for you but who said this list had to be realistic?!

Some people love exercising and can go on & on about the "exercise high."

Yeah, I'm not one of them.

I claim that I don't have time to exercise [which is halfway true] but in all honesty I just don't make time to exercise. I would rather sleep as long as possible!

4// GO TO THE POST OFFICE.

Somehow I'm really good at remembering birthdays/getting birthday cards/making birthday packages, putting together random care packages, and writing notes

BUT

I'm really bad and getting them to the post office!

It's the dumbest thing ever.

Our post office has a self-post area that is open until 7:30 every night. So you don't have to wait in line, don't have to be there by 5, and yet my packages and letters and cards sit on the dresser by the door waiting to go out for like a week before they finally make it to the post office.

It's kind of ridiculous.

5// VACUUM THE PLAYROOM.

I can vacuum every other room in the house.

I just need to hire someone to vacuum the playroom.

Maybe it's because it's the only room with carpet or maybe it's because the cord doesn't reach from the main living areas or maybe it's because I'd have to clean it first but for whatever reason I really hate vacuuming the playroom!

Please someone come do it for me once a week?

6// PUT MY STUFF AWAY.

Is this true for anyone else?

My house is pretty neat-freakish clean when it comes to dirt.

I clean my bathrooms twice a week, wipe down the counters and table with Lysol three times a day or more, vacuum and mop several times a week.

BUT I have a really hard time putting my stuff away.

My nail polish stays out for like a week after I've painted my nails.

The vacuum sometimes stays out (still plugged in) for days.

My shoes always end up on the floor next to the box they belong in

[side note: yes, my shoes are kept in a box...supposedly temporarily but it has been a year].

When I get out of the shower I remember my towel is still on the floor in my closet where I ditched it before getting dressed yesterday.

This girl needs some help in the "put your stuff where it belongs" department.

7// FIND MY LOST THINGS.

I'm expert at losing things.

Probably due to the fact that I don't put stuff away ha!

Apparently my sister is an expert finder

[read this post to read about it]

so probably I would just hire her.

Maybe from now on I'll leave my lost things lost until she comes home for vacation then have her find them all at once.

It sure would save me a lot of time.

What things would you hire someone to do for you?

Link up below with me & Kelli and tell us about it!

Excited to see your lists!

xoxo

The Wallace House

SLIDER

My Life in Lists

Monday, June 9, 2014

My Life in Lists

Monday, June 2, 2014

My Life in Lists

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

My Life in Lists

Monday, May 19, 2014

My Life in Lists: Things I didn't expect

Monday, May 12, 2014

My Life in Lists

Monday, May 5, 2014

My Life in Lists: Linky Party

Monday, April 28, 2014

My Life in Lists

Monday, April 21, 2014

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