Are these cute or what?

For Christmas my mother-in-law, Marsha, made the girls and I the cutest matching aprons. She made some for all the moms and daughters in the family. Every detail on them is perfect. We love ours and Lizette is always asking on which occasions we will be able to wear them. She wanted to take hers to the library today for preschool Art, but I had to draw the line there. I don't want any paint or other little grubby hands getting on our nice aprons.

Thanks Marsha!

Fun Outings

A few weekends ago we took the girls to Ann Morrison park and had so much fun. Sometimes these simple little outings to the park are more fun than just about anything else. It was sooooo cold that day, but sunny so we figured we would brave the weather and go. Jeff caught some really cute pictures.







This weekend we took them to the Discovery Center and we had a great time there as well. Lizette loved all of the hands on stuff.






Going on these outings along with the unseasonably warm weather here in Boise lately has made me so excited for spring and summer! I can't wait for the zoo and swimming and the park and all of those fun things.

Cheeky Cheeky!

In my effort to share just about every last detail of my life on here, I figured I would post about a most unfortunate occurrence that has taken place on my face. A few weeks ago, I started breaking out with what I thought was eczema or something on my face. I figured maybe it was from the cold weather. It seemed to get better when I put Aquaphor on it, so I wasn't too concerned. But this past week I looked in the mirror and it looked like I had been smacked across the face with a 2x4 or something. It had spread so that I looked like I had the beginnings of a black eye too. Scary!

Jeff and I were both wondering what in the world was going on. He kept asking me if I was using a different soap or something. No. No. Nothing different. Hmmm. What could it be we wondered. Then a couple of nights ago as he was asking me the same series of questions about what I was doing differently, the light bulb came on. I started using new blush a few weeks ago! The redness on my face just happens to be right where I put blush on. It hadn't occurred to me because it was the same brand of blush I always use. This particular one must have been from a bad batch or something.

Hopefully a few days without make up will cure me.

My Favorite Things

I have recently acquired a few products that have truly made an impact on my life. So much so that I feel inclined to blog about them.

In fact, the more I thought about it, I determined that just like Oprah, I too have a 'Favorite Things' list. Do you have a list of favorite things?

So this list isn't going to include anything like raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens. These are strictly things that you can buy. So, without further adieu, here it is!

#1 Dearfoam Slippers

I bought these for myself for Christmas and I LOVE them. I have never been one to wear slippers and I have no idea why! My feet are almost always cold, but not anymore. I wear them from morning to night and they make me feel so comfortable. I think I'm overall a more relaxed person because of these slippers. I paid $6.99 for them at Ross Dress for Less. I'm going to buy another pair so that when these wear out, I will not be without my slippers.

#2 the IPod Touch

You would think that being married to my Mac Daddy, I would have had one of these long ago. No. I thought I really had no use for this thing. I had my five year old iPod that had my music on it and figured that was all I needed. Well, when Jeff got his iPad, he left the iPod to Lizette and I to share. Lizette used it more than I did...until now! I decided as part of my New Year's resolution to become more organized that maybe some of the iPod apps could help me out. So, I had Jeff help me load some things on and I am a changed woman! It is really making life easier for me! Is that crazy? My calendar is on there. I can check my e-mail and Facebook. I can even count my calorie intake (when I get motivated to do that again). One of my favorite apps is Pandora. We put that on in the kitchen and the girls and I can dance to fun kids tunes while we make dinner. They are entertained and dinner time goes much better.

#3 Tan Trench Coat

I've probably watched one too many episodes of What Not to Wear, but for a while now I've been thinking that a tan trench is a must have for my wardrobe. (Never mind the fact that my wardrobe consists of mostly jeans, t-shirts and sweats!) Anyway, I've been pricing them out online and at stores and waiting until I found just the right one to buy it. I am a cheapskate when it comes to buying clothes and pretty much didn't want to spend more than about $25.

Well, I believe that there are shopping guardian angels who help us find those killer deals when we really need to find them. My angel, which I like to think is my mom (yes, I know that I am crazy), helped me out big time last week. I was at Old Navy shopping their clearance sales for kids clothes. I figured I would glance at the women's stuff too. And there it was. My tan trench. On clearance. It almost makes me tear up just thinking about that moment. I turned around and someone had left it hanging so that it was facing out rather than hanging normally on the rack. It looked as if it was just waiting there for me. And it was EXACTLY what I wanted! On sale too! For $23.39! You might think I'm crazy for the whole shopping guardian angel theory, but after hearing this story it kind of makes you wonder, huh?

#4 Gray Handbag

I've been looking for a cute purse. I wanted something big that can act as a diaper bag when I need it to. But I wanted something cute. Something sensible, but with just a little bit of flair that says, "Yes, I do care about style." And Old Navy came through for me again! On clearance was this cute gray handbag with some adorable flower embellishments on it. All in neutral colors so that it will go with pretty much everything I wear.

#5 and #6 Hot Cocoa Maker and Coffee Mate Creamer
A perfect union

I bought Jeff a Hot Chocolate maker for Christmas and it rocks! We love our hot chocolate and this makes it perfectly smooth and frothy. Then to add to that, I have recently been turned on to using a bit of flavored coffee creamer in hot chocolate to add even more flavor. Not low in calories but very, very good! My favorite flavor is Hazelnut and I also love Creme Brulee. I bought about 6 flavors over the holidays because I was able to get them for like $.50 on coupon deals. It was like we had our own little Starbucks in operation!

#7 Stainless Steel Water Bottle

At least, I think it is stainless steel. Anyway, Abby gave me this for Christmas and it is great! It keeps your water cold for so long. It's perfect for working out and trying to drink more water during the day. I love that it has the Breast Cancer Awareness logo on it too. Thanks Abby!

#8 Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa
Have you been to Cafe Rio? I think it is soooo good. Their Pork Barbacoa is so good and sweet. Very delicious. You can get it in a burrito or salad or just about anything. We are going there tomorrow night for dinner and I can't wait!

#9 Heavenly Perfume
I have been wearing Victoria Secret's 'Heavenly' perfume for about 10 years or so now and I love it. I think it is the perfect, light but very nice scent. Jeff buys it for me about every other year for Christmas. It's about $60 or so for the gift set, but it lasts 2 years and I think it is so worth it.


#10 Goo Goo Clusters!
Pretty much every year for Christmas, my brother Paul and his family send us a box of Goo Goo Clusters. They are made in Tennessee which is where Paul lives. We look forward to it every year because these things are GREAT! So bad for you, but great. There's the marshmallow goo and then the caramel goo combined with nuts and coated with milk chocolate. So delicious. After we get our package, I eat one every day. Needless to say, any New Year's resolutions I have to eat healthier don't start until the Goo Goo Clusters are gone. So worth it though!

Well, that pretty much sums up my list. What's on your list?

Hello Again.

Hello readers of my blog! I hope you have all been well. I've been reading your blogs (those of you who have blogs) and it has been so fun to hear about your happenings. I love that my two nieces in Tennessee blog and I get to read what they are up to!

So, I feel sort of like I've been on summer vacation and I am going to just talk a mile a minute to get caught up on everything that has been going on. Hmmm...I do tend to babble on here. Maybe I will categorize some things in nice, tidy bullet points so that this will be easier to read.

• Lizette. She is doing great. Next Tuesday, she will begin her first gymnastics class and we are both so excited! She loves to try out new stunts and I am so glad to get her into a class where she can actually learn some things and gain some confidence. If she likes it, I definitely think we will keep her in it for a while. She is still in her little preschool co-op and loves it. She has so much fun with her friends there and comes home so excited each time. I have been teaching her how to read using a book called "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" which was recommended to me by my sister-in-laws. It is a great resource and she is actually learning to read! I had tried to start this earlier when she was 3-1/2...big mistake! She wasn't ready and we were both getting frustrated with the whole thing. This time around is much different. She is ready and we are both having a lot of fun with it. I have to say that this is one of those things I probably would not have thought to do prior to her turning 5 or going to kindergarten. It's nice to have a "circle of moms" to clue me in on some of these things!

• Lexi. She is such a cuddle bug these days and I love it. Yesterday, she had a yelling fit and sort of got in my face and started yelling at me. I just looked at her in the most disappointed look I could muster. She paused for a moment and then climbed up on me and hugged me for the longest time. I think it was her way of saying "I didn't mean it mom." She loves to play...especially with Lizette. She is still quite the little screamer and some days I wonder what we are in for with her strong personality! I've noticed that she is very tactile. From trying to put her socks and shoes on by herself to playing with the same toy over and over until she figures it out. She is very hands on. I have been a little worried about her development in some areas and was very nervous to take her to her recent doctor's appointment. I thought for sure I would get quite a lecture from her doctor because #1: she is not walking yet (at 15 months) and #2: she is barely saying any words. Pretty much just Dada and Zette (for Lizette). She doesn't say Hi or Bye Bye or Up or Down or Baby or any of those little first words. The walking hadn't concerned me as much because Lizette was a late walker too. However, Lexi tends to only walk on her tip toes and she turns her right leg in almost completely perpendicular to her other foot when she walks (with her walker toy or when holding our hands). The talking has had me worried because Lizette was saying a ton of stuff by this age. Well, the doctor wasn't overly concerned but she did recommend that I have her speech evaluated by the Idaho Infant Toddler Program. We'll see what they have to say. Deep down, I think she will be just fine all the way around, but I think it will be beneficial to have the evaluation done.

• Jeff. Jeff has recently read his favorite book again, "As a Man Thinketh". He is inspiring us both to think more positively about life. I've seen it happen so many times in our marriage when we are thinking positively about life, things just seem to go better. It's not that our circumstances are any different. We just look at things differently and tend to get more accomplished because we are more excited about life. Jeff has taught me many things, but this is a big one. I'm glad that he really tries to look on the bright side. I think that's why he is a pretty endearing person. People like to be around him because he is upbeat and fun to talk to.
  

• Organizing! This is what I have been spending much of my time doing lately. I guess it's sort of a first of the year, I need to start fresh thing. But, I am in total organizing bliss over here. Have I mentioned on here yet that someday I would love to become a professional organizer? I'm not sure if I know of many people who get the same satisfaction as I do out of organizing a drawer or a closet. Well, maybe Becky. :) It's sort of a combination of having a type A personality and spending a lot of time with my brother Andy when I was younger. He liked things NEAT and taught me much about this. When I complete this project, I may just post some before and after pics. ---- One thing that I have come to realize through this process is that I am a hoarder of toys. I'm not sure how this has happened. I don't feel like I go out and buy a ton of toys for our girls. But between the ones I buy for birthdays and Christmas and the gifts we have received, we have tons and tons of toys. I've told myself that I keep them because it's so nice to have them when friends or cousins come over, which is quite often. Well, now I find myself turning red as I enter Lizette's room because I think an episode of Hoarders could quite literally be taped in her room. (I'm exaggerating slightly) Anyway, I have seen the light and am getting rid of many toys.
  

• My favorite things. Next time I blog I am going to post a list of my favorite things. There are several products that have literally changed my life in the past few weeks. I want to share them with you. Not in the same way that Oprah shares her favorite things, but I will post pictures. :)
  

Pictures!

If you want to see some pictures from our Christmas, scroll down to my last post of 2010. I didn't have time to do the full post, but I purposefully began it on New Year's Eve so that it would still be dated in 2010. This is so when I get my blog printed to a book, all of 2010's pictures will be in my 2010 posts. Smart, huh? And maybe a little OCD. :)

You've missed me haven't you? Go ahead and admit it. I know the five of you who read my blog regularly can't wait to hear what is going on in the world of the Rigby's! (hee hee)

Actually, I've been thinking about blogging lately and realized that I do care a lot who reads my blog and if they like it. When I began blogging I told myself that this is mostly just for my family. A great way to keep a little family history going. A great way to keep in touch with loved ones far away. But deep down, I really want fans. It's sort of like when you buy that cute outfit that you just love and say to yourself "I'm doing this for me. Whether or not anyone else likes it, I do and that's all that matters." But it's still nice when you get compliments, right? So that is how blogging is for me. It's my little black dress that I want people to ooh and aah over once in a while. Did you realize I was so narcissistic? Don't answer that!

Well, it's been like a month since I've posted anything of substance. It's been nice to sort of "get off the grid" for a few weeks. I think I was getting a little too obsessed with keeping up with Facebook and blogging and e-mails and watching my couponing blogs and so on and so on. So, I needed a break to remind me that I need more balance in my life.

I have much to catch up on. Many, many pictures and stories. But for tonight I will simply change my background and call it good. Cute, huh? Well, it's okay. Picking my blog background can really stress me out! Silly, I know.