christmas | gifts that were a hit

Wednesday, January 06, 2016
let's talk christmas one final time.

i say this because i think this post can actually be super helpful!

since my farmer and i didn't get the gals anything for their birthdays at the end of october we pretty much made it rain for christmas.
pig // sawyer nikes // zany zoo
tunnel // laptrec // puzzle

kaye nikes // phone // tunnel
now that we're two weeks post christmas i thought it would be a great opportunity to recap the gifts that were hits and the ones that didn't go over quite like we thought.

K A Y E hits

B. Toys B. Toulouse Laptrec 
this was a huge hit with both girls even though we intended it for kaye. it's also been a hit with any other kid that visits our house! we've taken it in the car with us and it provided a solid hour of entertainment for our older gal. kaye even uses it next to me when i practice my calligraphy. how cute is that? for under $20...that's a win.

Crocodile Creek Puzzle
kaye has very recently took a turn for the artistic. she started coloring in the lines, she enjoys drawing shapes, and don't get me started on the playdoh...granted, it keeps her engaged for long lengths of time. i just hate finding it everywhere...especially when its ground into my rug. oh well.

so santa brought kaye a puzzle and it's a hit! (santa actually brought two puzzles, but i'm saving one for a rainy day.) the crocodile creek puzzles are wonderful! the pictures are vibrant and the pieces are large and easy to use.

they make cute boy puzzles too! dinosaur + farm + tiger

i do most of my shopping online (amazon), but amazon was all but sold out! plus their price was a little higher. i ended up finding both of the girl puzzles in store at barnes + noble, but i know you can get them at target, too!

Nike Shoes
we got kaye a new pair of running shoes since she seems to have slowed her growth spurt. they were a definite hit and she's worn them every day since. the nike free shoes are awesome because they are so comfortable and they are suuuuuper easy to get on your kid's foot. actually...the best part about these shoes is kaye puts them on and takes them off by herself. that's a win.

K A Y E misses

Dollhouse
i knew for months we were going to get kaye a kidkraft dollhouse. i had no doubt in my mind what a hit it was going to be. she always plays with a small dollhouse over at her nana's house and the one we got is three times that size. WIN! high fives all around. not so fast. i don't know if it's intimidating or she's not into dollhouses anymore??? but it wasn't as big of a hit as i had thought it would be. she plays with it here and there for bits of time and sawyer does too, but the lesson learned was - smaller can be better.

S A W Y E R hits

B. Zany Zoo - hittish
this wasn't as big of a hit with sawyer as i thought it was going to be. i really pictured her sitting and interacting with the zany zoo for long periods of time. so much so, in fact, i bought one for my niece (7 months old) as well. apparently she loves it. big hit.

it's also a quasi-hit with kaye. she'll bop over to it several times a day and that's usually when sawyer becomes interested in it as well.

B. Hiphone
HIT. this was a hit. it's just a little, play smartphone. sawyer is obsessed with pushing the circle button at the bottom of my iPhone, so i knew she would love this. it says stuff like, "hi cutie!" and you can record a message, too. super cute.

Nike Shoes
sawyer's very most favorite gift, though, were the little nike runners we got her. as soon as she tore the paper off and made her way into the box she demanded we put them on her. every single morning, i kid you not, she points at the shoes from her crib and has us put them on her. she wears them around the house most of the day. if she's not wearing them, she's hugging them. ?????? best last minute purchase of my life, apparently. again, these shoes are so comfortable and easy to get on...love that.

Rocking Pig
this little rocking pig from land of nod is sooooooo cute! and it's even cuter when i have my sawyer gal rocking and rolling atop it. now, granted, sawyer is too little to climb onto it, so we always have to pick her up to mount her pig, but she can easily slide off when she's done. girlfriend loves her rocking pig and i'm so glad we got it for her.

M O M hit

B. Tunnel-o-Fun
one day, as the farmer and i were browsing the target aisles looking for gifts i saw this tunnel and knew it had great potential. it's just a tunnel...so simple. i snagged it at $19. the reason i like it so much is you can collapse it down. i just shove it right under out couch. then, when we bring it out both girls get excited. kaye usually just puts it over her head and walks around (weirdo), but sawyer enjoys crawling through it and poking her little head out. also...it has a little house you can attach to the end of it...like a little fort. i can definitely see myself ordering that in the next hour. but i'll keep it for a rainy day!

f i t a s s | 5 tips to stay motivated

Monday, January 04, 2016
thank god it's monday. i really never never thought i'd say that, but i really mean it...for several reasons -

+ the bachelor starts tonight, and
+ i told myself i could be on vacation until monday, but on monday sh*t was going to get real and i was going to turn into a lean, green, clean machine...and workout. (i typically speak in rhyme when i'm trying to pump myself up.)

the tone it up challenge is starting today!

so, as i was pounding my final slice of raspberry-lemon cheesecake last night, i was so so excited to wake up the next morning (monday) and start my road to recovery...holiday food recovery. i don't think i've ever indulged so severely.

our scale hasn't had a battery for about six months now, but i'm almost positive i've gained at least five pounds.

at some point i realized, "hey...i'm not the only one who indulges at the holidays, right?"

right.

that's why i thought it would be a good idea to share how i plan on keeping myself motivated over the next eight weeks - while i shut down the engines, and get myself back to neutral.

1 | always and forever will i use clothing as a motivator. i'm in desperate need of a new running shirt and black, cropped yoga pants. i already have my goodies picked out, and as soon as the end of week three hits i'll be gifting these and this to myself. (pending i stick with my program.)
not to worry - i won't be getting these particular colors!
2 | measurements + pictures - you guys...the last time i did the tone it up challenge was the first time i had ever taken my measurements // weighed myself consistently and charted everything. you can see that post here. if you're goal is to get fit this 2016 i highly recommend doing the above to stay motivated! i measure and weigh every two weeks and i'm always SHOCKED by what can happen in just 14 little days.
3 | the third trick up my sleeve is my fitbit. this monday i'm a part of three different workweek hustle challenges and i couldn't be happier about it. this holiday i've never been more stagnant, so being a part of the challenges and checking in on my competition will definitely encourage me to move my booty.

4 | look forward to something - you guys...i know we just finished the new year, but valentine's day is just six little weeks away! ummm...hello?!

so, if you're like me and this is the one time of year when you have to worry about being naked in front of your significant other...I'M KIDDING!

but seriously - whether you're planning a night out with your best gals or a night in with your best man wouldn't it be suuuuper fun to look and feel great?

answer - yes.

my plan is to have a super romantic night with my farmer and i'll probably need to wear a short skirt and heels (because that's what my farmer likes!)...and dammit...i want to look good in that short skirt. that's motivation.

5 | and lastly - go shopping. food shopping. there is nothing worse than finishing a workout and realizing an hour later you're starving. you head to the fridge and realize you have exactly two lemon slices of healthy food. it's either a lemon slice or some baby food. gross.

what i'm saying is - try to make sure you are consistently visiting the store so that you always have several options of healthy food if you find your self hangry (when hunger turns to anger).

ideas - apple with almond butter // 1/4 of an avocado on toasted, sprouted bread // hard boiled egg // 1 cup blueberries + 1/4 cup walnuts // hummus + baby carrots

and that's it! five ideas to stay motivated that i plan on tapping into nearly every single day.

my first order of business - go take before pictures. i always employ my farmer to do this which he begrudgingly participates in...and don't worry...i plan on posting those pictures here too...because everyone loves a good before and after story, right?!

here's to a healthy start to our 2016! muah!

my 2015 year in review - according to blogger

Friday, January 01, 2016
i'm not quiiiiite ready to let go of 2015. it was a good year.

a really good year.

we took lots of trips. my sawyer-muff transitioned from an infant to a toddler. kaye became the wildest little girl with the very best manners. not only does she have good manners, but she also got potty trained AND decided to start talking...which seems insane to me seeing as how i can have full conversations with her now.

not only those goodies, but in 2015 i also started party & paper and then quickly changed it's name to karli bell branding & design - because that's what i do. i can never make up my mind.

oh! and how could i forget my 2015 obsession with the tone it up gals. remember?

2 0 1 5  |  Y E A R  I N  R E V I E W

1 | we took a couple of ski vacations...and got kaye on the ski hill! watching the video of her bombing down the mountain and my farmer catching her in addition to carrying baby sawyer kills me every time.

no no hunny! you've got this! i'll just hold the camera!

2 | in february we took sawyer-muff to scottsdale. miss kaye stayed with her nana and grandpa (farmer's parents). it was so nice to get off the farm in february. we got to replace 10º temperatures and wind with sun and 80º. that's a win. not to mention we celebrated my cousin's wedding with his lovely bride. it was wonderful to see family that i don't normally get to.

3 | i failed HUGE at potty training kaye. as it turns out...it's way easier if you just wait until they want to do it. luckily for us - kaye wanted to do it sooner rather than later. regardless...my first attempt was a big fat fail.
4 | my sister visited in all her pregnant glory and we had a very pampered weekend! i'm talking facials, massages, brunches, dinners, movies...and no kids. i also threw her the simplest baby shower at our favorite local restaurant. no baby decor. no games. just brunch and my sister's favorite friends.

5 | we had amy take the very very best sister pictures of my two best gals. oh my gosh - i'm just dying looking at the pictures, again.

6 | then there were all the posts about when i decided to get in shape. (and this post too...plus many others!) oh lord. looking at those pictures makes me realize how far i've fallen! this is good - the new tone it up challenge starts this monday...and i'm starting all over again. eight weeks of workouts, good nutrition...and lots of before and after pictures. are we all excited yet?



7 | i finally kind of finished kaye's big girl room.

8 | i threw a big mother's day brunch for our friends. much to my farmer's distaste...i'll be doing it again this year. maybe on a slightly smaller scale.

9 | my farmer and i took a vacation (for a family wedding) to santa barbara! i didn't recap it very well...but hey...we went!

10 | i ran a half marathon within a 70.3 triathlon ironman with one of my best friends and my farmer. she did the swimming portion...my farmer biked...i ran. it was painful.

11 | i started my little designs for party & paper (turned karli bell branding & design)! and friends...don't forget to keep on keepin' on! if you need any paper goods, send me an e-mail! i'd absolutely love to help. currently i'm working on a set of business cards for a fellow blogger, a party invitation for another blogger friend, a design board for yet another blogger starting a small business...guys! i'd just love to help you! (and i can totally send you examples of my work!)

12 | we hit up yellowstone with my farmer's cousin and his sweet family.

13 | i went on my first blate with jessica from the newly! and friends...if you ever get a chance to meet a fellow blogger - do it. it's absolutely wonderful.

14 | we got to celebrate kaye turning 3 and sawyer hitting the 1 mark! it was such a fun party...but i think this next year i'm just going to take them to disneyland. who wants to join me?

15 | i obsessed over our family pictures -

+ my farmer and gals
+ the gals and me
+ family pictures

16 | and finally - we celebrated the holidays! thanksgiving, our christmas card, and christmas.


i'm totally exhausted...bring on 2016!

@karlibellmeier