Girly Girl's Birthday Party...Post 1

GG’s birthday party was this past Saturday, it turned out great.  She had a great time, had a smile plastered on her face, and enjoyed the company of her friends.  All the hours of crafting and piecing together the little details, it was all worth it.  Here are a couple of pictures from the fun that was had.  It’s still hard to believe that my Girly Girl is now 11 years old.  I’ll add another post with more details a little later, it’s a hectic week.

Happy Balance...

Yesterday I heard a quote that really hit home and has given me a lot to think about...

The more happier I am the more helpful I am

...NOT...the more helpful I am the more happier I am.

You know, they say things happen for a reason and they have their own time.  When I heard that quote it was my time to hear it and understand it.  I have a huge issue with being a yes person, or someone that always try's to help or take care of other people.  In doing that I leave myself in the dust, crumpled, looking a hot mess and just unhappy.  There is a balance in saying yes and being able to take time for myself. I am on the hunt of finding that happy balance.

My favorite time of year

It's Fall and it's my favorite time of year!  Lots going on and lots to be thankful for.

Surrounded by the 80s

I have been really busy prepping for my Girly Girls party. Its been fun along with a lot of work, but in the end it will all pay off. As of right now it's almost 11pm and I am finally calling it a night.  In the morning (after sleeping late) I'll have a clear mind and will be able to tackle more details and finish more projects.

Party Overload…

One week from tomorrow is my Girly Girls big day, it’s her 80s Neon Costume Party.  She will be turning 11 on Tuesday and her party is the Saturday following.  Let’s just say that I’ve had lots of fun coming up with cool ideas and crafts, but I am one tired Mom.  It’s been a lot of work and more of which I placed among myself, but I want her to have an awesome party.  A party that her friends think is cool, the parents enjoy themselves, and everyone has smiles on their faces.  Now I have a gazillion projects to finish and get my costume pulled together, wish me luck!

The last couple of days

 Have been all over the place and at this very minute, I have a few minutes to update. 

• Party Supplies Arrived (291 Balloons) 
• Helium Shortage (291 Balloons)  
• Feelings Overloaded 
• UTI 
• Work Work Work 
• Trip to Hobby Lobby 
• Busy Busy Busy

More details and explanations soon

“Taste Everything, Eat Nothing”

It’s amazing how a moment in time takes you back in time, no matter good or bad.  Being a woman that loves herself 90 percent of the time, I’ve found that sometimes the 10 percent can really weigh me down.  Emotions are a huge part of a woman’s life and I know I am not the exception. Some days are better than others but all in all I do truly love myself and I’m happy where my life is.  With that said, I have times where emotions get the best of me and I may not like myself for a little while.  Being honest with myself, I know there are some things I need to change.  My husband and daughter love me and I’m extremely thankful for that, but in the end I have to be the one that loves me and feels good about myself.  Let me get down and dirty or should I just say honest for a few minutes about how I’m feeling.

I have gained weight, Feel as though I don’t have any close friends, Need to find a job, Exercise more, Stop overeating, and Write more.

Now that all of that has been put out there, I can take the small steps needed to rejoin my amazing life with a smile on my face.  Life gets tough/hard but we are the ones that have to look past what might be driving us crazy and know that just around the corner is a whole new block of adventure.  I am in charge of making myself happy and I know that I can do it. 

I’ve started watching The Bethenny Show and I must say that I like the layout and overall feel of her show.  I know she has been on reality television and wrote books but after seeing her on something one day, I haven’t been a fan of hers.  Maybe it was on one of her off days but I didn’t like her attitude and didn’t care to have her take up any space in my life.  Well after stumbling across her talk show, I’ve come to like her and the way she expresses herself.  She seems to be someone that I would enjoy going out to dinner with or walking around town just talking with.  Today on her show she talked about “Taste Everything, Eat Nothing” and it was the moment that I was slapped upside my head.   Let’s go back to 2007 and I thought I had my eating in check, meaning I wasn’t over eating and I felt good about myself.  I had lost about 60 pounds and was feeling amazing.  At first I had been on a very strict and sad diet that I was hardly eating any food that I enjoyed.  After losing the first 10 pounds I came to the conclusion that if I was going to really lose weight and keep it off, I had to make big changes in the way I ate. Therefore I started eating a lot of different foods but only a small portion of each.  If I wanted pizza then I would have a small slice or even a half of slice, if I wanted ice cream I would have a few spoons, if I wanted cheese then I had a couple of bites.  During that time, I felt so good about myself and I was super confident.  Fast forward to October 1, 2013 and I feel as though I am back in the rut of feeling bad about my weight and it’s making me sad.  With that said, a change has already started and I’m going back with the motto of “Taste Everything, Eat Nothing”.  That way I will not be on a strict diet and I will still be able to eat what I like, just in a whole different aspect.  My next adventure has started and I’m looking forward to what is coming my way.

Raised Bed Ready & Waiting…Fall Garden

Just about the time that I published my last post, lazy Sunday, my Mother-in-law came down to our house and wanted to know if we were interested in working in the garden.  I might have said something like “to be honest no Ma’am I am not interested” but that was followed by me changing clothes and heading up to the garden.  There is something about eating food that you have personally had a hand in growing and since our summer garden did great, we are now ready to plant our fall garden. 

The Hubs pulling up old tomato plants

 

 Out with the old

 Ground broken up

 Chicken "Magic"

Evening sky

 

 

After working in the garden, we noticed how amazing it felt outside and took several deep breaths and enjoyed it while we were out there.  Then we came in and resumed our lazy Sunday.  :-)

Lazy Sunday

Today has been a day of rest, or should I just say laziness. With this lazy day I have been able to catch up on recorded TV shows which include the following:

• The Pioneer Woman
• Law and Order
• Trisha's Southern Kitchen

I did venture outside to do some watering and to let Pepper Ann run around. I pulled together lunch which ended up being barbecue shredded chicken and cheese subs. There is a sink full of dishes that have not found their way to being washed and my hair is nappy but all of that will have to wait. Since today in our lazy day.

Pushing through writers block an opening up.

Growing up I was a little girl that loved

• attention
• making people happy
• singing and dancing
• getting lost in a good book
• expressing myself through the written word
• being surrounded by friends and family
• daydreaming about my future life
• playing with my imaginary friends
• arts and crafts
• planning my next big adventure

Now as an adult I find myself reverting back to a lot of those items. I have always been very interested in the blogging world and have been following several people and their blogs for years now. It has always been a dream of mine to have a blog that people look forward to reading every day. Inside of me I know I have the words to put together that would bring people back to my blog day by day. Though, I have been dealing with a major case of writers block. I know that a blog has to be updated several times a week for people to actually look forward to visiting it. I'm working on overcoming the block and being able to express myself more freely. With that said, I plan to update my blog at least 3 times a week. This has potential of being great or it could be a major let down. I am optimistic and love a great story or adventure so therefore I am holding myself to this challenge no matter how long or short the post may be.

Just Add Water…

I have found liquid gold, better known as veggie and fruit smoothies.  Last November for my birthday I asked for a NutriBullet, to some that may be a weird request.  Don’t get me wrong, I love purses and cute girly things, but I had other things in mind.  As a woman I feel as though I get bogged down and get into ruts sometimes, and therefore it starts making me feel bad about myself.  I need to drop a good amount of weight but with that I also am looking to feel better along the way.  Netflix was what put it in my mind to start with; I watched a movie called “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.” 

 

It was life changing, though I knew for long term effects I could not go full blast like he did.  For it to be something that I looked forward to more less something that I say I enjoy, I had to do it my way.  With that said, after watching the movie twice, and making my kitchen blender smoke, along with watching an info commercial late one night, I wanted to get started on a healthier me.  The info commercial was where I found out about NutriBullet and it has been a staple in my life for the last several months. 

 

Granted I have used it more sometimes than others, but on a regular basis I have three smoothies a week.  Though the other night it hit me, why not prep and freeze so they are ready to go.  That way I wouldn’t have a reason not to drink one and I wouldn’t have a bag of kale going bad before I got around to using all of it.  After getting my supplies and spending about 45 minutes this morning, I now have a bowl of happiness waiting on me in my freezer.  The bowl holds 11 bags of veggie and fruit smoothies and the only thing I need to do is…grab a bag, add water, and enjoy!!

 

Veggie and Fruit Smoothie

1 cup of kale

1 green apple

1 whole carrot

1 stalk of celery

Dash of lemon juice

Whole flax seed (a generous amount)

Water

There are several different recipes out there; this is just the one I went with this time.  I can’t wait till in the morning when I can just open up my freezer and enjoy.

 

Hello August...

It’s August and I have lots to be excited about and I can’t help but have a grin on my face.  I would love to be working but for some reason I’ve not been able to find a job.  With that said, I’m going to make the most out of this time and enjoy every little bit that comes my way.  My Girly Girl just returned to school and she is a fifth grader.  This month my sister turns 29 which makes me happy that we have gotten to this point in life.  Things are good and life is treating us great. Next month marks two years of marriage for The Hubs and I. October is first my Girly Girls followed closely by The Hubs birthday and Halloween. November is the month of Thanksgiving, and my brother and I will be turning a year older.  Then we have December, the month that I can’t stop smiling, the month that I enjoy surrounded by Christmas lights and laughter.  What I guess that I’m trying to say is that it’s about to be my favorite time of year.

Missing Kidd….

Growing up in what I felt like was the “middle of nowhere” and having very little connection to the outside world, there was a voice that I could listen to that would make me feel a little hope for escaping the middle of nowhere. When I first stumbled upon this voice some might say I was a little young, or that the voice covered too mature content for my sensitive ears.  Maybe they were right but the voice brought hope and happiness to me.  Like clockwork I could tune in and listen to laughter and jokes but there were almost always a heartfelt story or life lesson covered.  This voice become a central part of my life, one that I looked up to, one that made me want to spread my wings and fly, one that made me long for the closeness that I felt when I listened.  For as long as I can remember I could turn this voice on and be taken away from the everyday worries or struggles.  Growing up I felt as though this voice was one that I needed to do my best and pray that I would live up to his expectations.  The funny thing is…I never once met this voice.  Even though almost every day the voice was part of my life, I never had the pleasure of meeting the person behind this voice.  The voice that I’m talking about belonged to Kidd Kraddick. He was a morning DJ that found his way into my world along with some of his partners in crime.  I felt like he was an Uncle that lived far way, one that I could share my thoughts and dreams with, one that lived in the world to make people feel better, one who shared his trials and happy stories about life, one that would give you the shirt off his back, and one who would tell you to get a grip and just do it.  On Saturday, July 27, 2013, he died…doing what he loved, raising money for his Kidds Kids Foundation.  I hope he is up in heaven dancing and laughing with all the kids that passed away that were part of his foundation.  It is still hard to believe that he is gone, that I’ll never get to hear him tell another story or him make me laugh so hard that I cry.  I’m glad the internet is amazing and I can pull up clips and videos of him, even though it will not be the same.  I could go on for days about how much this man has been a part of my life, as strange as it may be since I never met him.  Though I am going to end it by saying what Kidd said…”Keep Looking Up”

 

Saturday…

The day after we returned home from vacation…more details to follow…though today will be filled with work and time with family…and if I'm lucky...some time re-reading a fabulous book...a new post will soon follow.

 

It's In My Blood...

 

Photography is something that is in my blood, I bleed trying to find the most interesting angle there is. It’s something that I have done for over 13 years now, but can’t seem to make it my full time work.  Photography is a funny thing, no picture is wrong it’s someone’s view.  With that said, everyone has different views.  I would love to take a few up to date photography classes, since things change so much.  As much as I’d like to make a living doing my photography, my heart is in it to the point that as long as I have something or someone to shoot, I’ve got a smile on my face. 

The Hubs granted me a short period of time late last night to snap a couple of photos of him and play around with editing, enjoy.

Independence Day 2013

Today being Independence Day…I would like to share some quotes…but first off I want to say thank you to any and everyone that has ever fought or will fight for my freedom…I know the value of a life and freedom doesn’t come free…I am thankful and blessed to live the life that I do.

 

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.  ~Thomas Paine

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.  ~Elmer Davis

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.  ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.  ~Robert J. McCracken

My God!  How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!  ~Thomas Jefferson

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

 

6 Months or 182 Days…

Which means…Christmas music, family time, and decorations…woohoo!!!

 

 

Five Years Ago…

On this day five years ago, June 25^th 2008, a man that I blew off sent me another message.  It all started with an online dating profile, plentyoffish.com. Basically as a joke, I created an online profile because a friend couldn’t get a date and wanted to try online dating.  She would only sign up if I also made a profile to join her on this new adventure.  Being a supportive friend and laughing under my breath, I strung together some magic words that seemed to be fitting but interesting also.  I do not recall if I contacted him or if he started the messages back and forth.  Long story short, after talking with him for a while, I blew him off.  Maybe I should say that I told him that he was to boring for me and that I hope he found the perfect woman and lived out his life with a smile on his face.  Then out of the blue three months later he sends me a message and that’s what sparked our first date, me asking him after the second date if he was ever going to kiss me, a “Good Lord Girl” in the back of his truck, then fast-forward  to today and being married to him for 1 year and 9 months.  Life is good!

 

One Month Into Forever…

It’s been a little over a month that we have moved into our forever home.  With that said I should not have to explain any further about why I have not been keeping this blog up to date.  On the other hand, I will not let that be the reason any longer. With some projects completed and a lot more to start, we are at least living comfortably in our new to us home.  I’ve got a lot to share and will start doing just that in the near future.  I can’t wait to let the entire adventure spill upon the page and share pictures.  Life is great!

 

Our Front Door and A Window

Here are a couple of projects that we have worked on this week.  I must say that we are putting a dent in the work that we want to happen.  The electrical work was completed on Friday and now we can actually live like a normal family.  Who knew that plug-ins and lights would make me happy?  Now our camper has a plug and our electrical panel has been joined us in 2013. Priming all the walls and trim work took up most of my time this past week, and I have more trimming to look forward to.  The Hubs and I moved a few things in, like the fridge and stove and our grill along with little things that go outside.  We have been doing some joint projects and I must say we work well together.

Before

 

After

 

Before

 

After

 

The Adventure Has Started!!!!

I’ve been up to my eyeballs in house projects, and I must say that I’m enjoying every bit of it.  I knew that there were going to be lots of work and elbow grease taking place once we got the all clear for the house.  This week I’ve cleaned up all the debris from the Hubs and I taking down the kitchen ceiling, bleached and scrubbed walls, planted 6 foot trees (4 of them), and lots of other little things.  It’s been a great week even though I must say that I’ve worked harder this week than I have in a good long while.  I’ve taken lots of pictures and will continue to do so, just so that we can keep track of all the work we are doing.  This house has a lot of projects that we will be doing along and along and I can’t wait to start each and every one of them.  Here are a couple of projects that we’ll be working on. Life is good!

Our Office Ceiling

The One and Only Bathroom

Our Kitchen

Heart to Heart

Having a heart to heart with The Hubs on Easter was something that was much needed and I must say it made me feel better.  I know that you are supposed to open up and express how you are feeling to your better half, but sometimes it’s hard to do.  In my life for the most part, I’ve bottled up my feelings instead of expressing them.  Granted that is not the best measure to take, though sometimes it feels as though that is what’s best.  It’s been a challenge but I feel that I’m doing better about opening up and saying how I feel.  He is a great man and is there for me unconditionally, which I am blessed and happy to have him in my life. 

My Life to Do List

During the last little while, life has been hectic.  We have a lot of things going on in our lives that have kept us busy and prayed up to say the least.  With everything taking place and big changes happening, it’s made me take a step back and really think about how life can end at a drop of the hat.  Life if is only what we make of it, we are only given one chance to make the most of it.  With a lot of soul searching and not to mention tears, I’ve started my bucket list.  Maybe I’ll just call it “My Life to Do List”.  Here are a couple of things that I’ve come up with to go on that list.

• Compose a Cookbook

• Go on a hot air balloon ride

• Visit Napa Valley

• Write a Novel

• Stay in a hut over water in Fuji

• Loose 120 pounds

• Go skydiving when weight loss goal is met

• Visit every state in the United States of America

• Drive cross country on a road trip

• Walk on the shores in The Hamptons

• Photograph Yellow Stone National Park

• Enter a 5k and run the whole length

• Feel good in a bathing suit

Big Changes Are About To Start

We will be moving into the Hubs childhood home within the next couple of months.  With that said, we have a lot of “projects” to do and I must say I’m super excited.  To make the house our own is going to make us enjoy and treasure it even more.

The Girly Girl got to pick out her room paint color and needless to say it will be pink.  Not just any pink, it’s called “First Kiss” and I happen to think it’s pretty cool.  Granted it’s going to be bright but I feel as though we can live with it, plus she is 10 and is in love with all things pink.

There was an old dresser that was in our rental house when we moved in, which I revamped into what is going to be the Girly Girl’s dresser to match her room.  I’ll be posting before and after pictures in the next couple of days.

I’ve started going through and throwing away unneeded things that we don’t want to move to our new place.  We also took a pretty good sized load to GoodWill, which always makes you feel good just knowing that someone will be able to enjoy what we no longer need. 

As of right now, I’ve got 15 boxes packed and they are sitting in our living room.  I’m not sure how I feel about them sitting in our living room, but at least that shows me that I’ve started packing and getting ready for our big change.

We will be going from a rental house, to a home on five acres that will be ours forever.  I’m thankful that we are inheriting the property and get to move there.  It belongs to my father-in-law but they have redone his childhood home and moving next door into it.  Which opens up the Hubs childhood home and we are moving there.  It is an older home with lots of repairs to be done, but I have faith that we can do it and turn it into a home that is filled with our personal touches and love.

Lots of projects and pictures will be shared once things rolling…wish us luck!

Happy Heart Day 2013