Book Reviews & Trial Outcome

Hello followers, how are you this lovely Friday evening?

I've finished two books since I last blogged.
1) Shoe Addicts Anonymous:
This was a great book! The characters were built beautifully and I really connected with them! I completely understood the characters thoughts and really enjoyed the wit and charm the Beth Harbinson captured in this novel! I enjoyed it twice as much as her other novel, Hope In a Jar.

2) Shopaholic Ties the Knot:
This was the 3rd in series, and although I do love Rebecca Bloomwood, she was a little too air headed in this one. She is a very charismatic character I consider a close friend, but along with her fictional friends, she was getting a little too self absorbed. Story was great though, and I do admire her for always trying to do the best for everyone. Oh well, can't wait to see what else she gets into in Shopaholic and Sister.

Best Friday Night EVER! Tonight we went to Peter Piper Pizza for a little family outing. It was yummy, and FREE since we used a gift card we recieved. I was surprised it was so empty though being a friday night. Oh well, worked out nicely for Harper; she was able to run free without fear of being knocked over by older kids. Now we're at home in our lounge wear; I am of course typing away at the keyboard while Sky is being manly and yelling at the state football team. :)

Trial #4: Cleaning Charts.
I can proudly say this is my first trial I have managed to stick to and succeed at!! Yay me! It's working out wonderfully, and I have learned a lesson: there's no use in a spotless house if you don't take the time to enjoy it with your family! You can't "run around like a headless chicken cleaning all day"(Skyler) and then not pay attention to your fam!!!

A Day for Firsts

Happy 1st Birthday baby Harper!
Today is my daughters 1st birthday!!! I really cannot believe it, I've looked and pictures, gone through baby clothes, and its just amazing it has been a year. A really fun, amazing year. She has definitely grown up since her trip home from the hospital!!! My mother threw her an amazing 1st b-day party yesterday! It was cute, fun, and polka-dot themed!

Trial #2- The Library Trip

Yes. The Library trip. It didn't go well, it was hot, I locked my purse, my keys, the stroller, and my keys in the car. The librarians weren't very understanding, and the length of time we had to wait for my mother to rescue us ended up cutting into her nap. I failed. I do think it would have went well if not for locking everything in the car though!

I will be making a documentation of my first official emotional breakdown. It happened today at about 1pm. I cried for and hour and a half like, no offense Harper, a baby. Fetal position, head buried into pillow, and wailing. During my pregnancy breakdown quantity, zero. The first year of marriage, breakdown quantity also zero. First year of being a mom, again zero. I knew it was coming, and it made an appearance today. I am officially done crying, and done feeling bad for myself. I feel normal again. I never believed that a good cry can make everything better, but it did for me today. Whew, glad that's over. I think the library scenario contributed.

Trial #3- Cleaning Charts
I am going to make a cleaning chart to follow. I usually do a small amount of cleaning every day which worked well, or so I thought. I woke up this morning and realized, I must be doing too small of an amount of work; my house is disgusting. I was shocked. How could I not have noticed this before? So, I'll make a chart with daily things to do. That way, everything gets done and the house can stay clean throughout the week. NO SURPRISE DISGUSTINGS!

Materials:
paper
markers
chores
refrigerator
magnets

Friday

Deep into Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. Just as clever and funny as Confessions of a Shopaholic! Rebecca Bloomwood is such an awesome character, and Sophie Kinsella does such an amazing job at introducing her!

My husband makes fun of me when I'm talking about certain books with him. Something about the way I refer to the characters, like they are real people that I talk and visit with every day. I didn't realize how silly that sounded until I saw written in front of me, but that's how I feel. There's a few other characters I feel a personal connection with , but I'll spare the details. This series is absolutely recommended to women who love to shop, or just need a good friend who makes you laugh.

As we all know, my loving attempt to bake cookies yesterday went terribly wrong. I followed the directions perfectly, and although they didn't turn out one bit, I am relieved I settled for a box mix and didn't try to tackle a recipe from scratch.

Housewife Trial #2: Taking Harper on an Outing!
We do get out of the house, but it's mostly for errands, like picking up dry cleaning, or running to get dinner. As awful as it sounds, I've never taken her anywhere just for her pleasure! So I want her to have fun, and be able to move around and do something instead of just being held in the store or in the stroller at the mall. Harper and I will be going to the library!

Travel time: 6 minutes
Materials: vehicle, car seat, library card
Objective: one-on-one learning & bonding time with mom

Cross your fingers!

Finding the Time

While dealing with my trials of motherhood, wife-hood, and cleaning-hood??, these are the books I'm going to try to jump into this next week or two. I'd love to discuss as I go if there is anyone...is there anyone out there?

The Cutting Room, Louise Welsh
A Push and A Shove, Christopher Kelly
Brother Odd, Dean Koontz
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (2nd in series), Sophie Kinsella

By the way, friend Christine got a boob job. Jealous.

I put the dough balls too close on the pan, now we have a oatmeal chocolate chip cookie .....cake-ish thing.

ugh.

Spaghetti and canned Ragu for dinner, followed by a trip to the gym, and the bakery.

The Introduction

My name is Lannan Gardner, my last name isn't really Gardner, technically I still have my maiden name. We'll use Gardner on here. I am 19 and I have a husband; Skyler. Together we have a daughter, Harper Finn, she will be one on Sunday. I am a stay-at-home mom, and Skyler wins bread.

I'm a young mom and wife, struggling to be the picture perfect housewife, pearls and all. Being a mom to my almost one year old is a lot of work, not to mention dressing up and vacuuming in heels. I'm working on it, and this is my documentation on my progress while also trying to have a life of my own!

Trial #1: baking cookies

I thought the perfect opening trial would be to bake cookies for my husbands co-workers. I am going to attempt to bake 2 dozen Betty Crocker box mix oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Required Ingredients: 1 stick butter; 1 egg
Directions: pre-heat, mix, ball dough, and bake for 10 minutes.