Friday, January 27, 2012

Friday Five ~ Jan 27th











Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky post to appear Friday morning and LINK UP! (click photo to go to the FQF blog)

Oh, and remember (pay close attention...this is the important one)...HAVE FUN!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Kids, snow and fun


The other day we saw some of that fluffy white wet stuff. The kids had a ball running around and playing.
So did I - with my camera of course. Finding a good outdoor setting for snow & children is proving a little bit more of a challenge, but I will get the hang of it!

An Ending and a Begining - W.W.W4

So W.W.W4 = Weekly Workshop Week 4 - in case you were wondering.
Also this is the last of the Extreme Self care Workshop next up from Hope-filled living is making a prayer journal.

To value yourself ~ and to find your outlet & passion. Find your inner secret talent, skill, love, or "voice".
For me its writing. My first draft never conveys what I want it to say.
Before my mother passed I would scrap it, move on and try again with a new idea. Never finishing a story.
After she passed away I needed a place to hide - mentally - I started a story.
From the first several chapters came people, a story, a way to bring a vision about. However, if you read the "original" chapters I started with 5 years ago you would not find much similar to the opening chapters now.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Weekly Workshop Week 3

This week's work shop covers ~ Appearance, Daily Rituals & Quality of Life

To join please click on Weekly Workshop Week 3
What I have posted below are only part of the workshop if you really wish to understand, join in or be apart please click the link above.



Saturday, January 21, 2012

Birthday Parties & Good Friends


January is always a HUGE birthday month at my BFF's (TiredMom) first come's her son's and then a few day's later both her and her daughters birthday.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Gosh Darn it!

I have a confession to make.
I hate darning
Ironically though
I'm good at it.


See first it's there and then its gone!

A Fond Farewell to Etta James


Etta James

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

S.O.P.A & other various rants


Tomorrow we (the anti SOPA ~ non military government people) will be observing internet silence.
Jan 18th 2012 from 8am-8pm (est)

Sunday, January 15, 2012

LittleMan grows up


One moment he's hanging on mama
wanting juice, hugs and mama time
the next
he's laying down chillin' playing video games


Saturday, January 14, 2012

Crafty Feelings and Eye Masks

Now I know you are all wondering just what I was up to yesterday ~ I have changed all 3 of my blog looks (again) and have been somewhat hyper lately what with cleaning and all...add to that this post title and you may be wondering if I have knocked over a bank.

New Look - Round Two


So far it looks like everyone really likes the useability of the old rather than the flash and pretty of the newer.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Workshop Week Two


Again to start the series Please head over to Hope-Filled Living Magazine Workshop Week One
To read all of Today's advice - help - care and the full (beautifully written) Workshop please visit Hope-Filled Living Magazine Workshop Week Two.

The title for lesson two is: Extreme Self Care

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Getting Organized

I have a hard time keeping things tidy, clean, looking nice and neat.

With two very active children, who really can keep up without losing any personal time? If I cleaned every second of the day I might be able to keep up with my children's destructive wake!

Luckily they are starting to learn how to help. They both know how to keep their rooms nice (they don't unless forced but they do know HOW).
Prissy is learning how to clean the bathroom and fold her laundry. Littleman is also learning to put his laundry away and is helping clean up the living room.

The more they can help the more A. They will try to keep things cleaner and thus have less work to do & B. Help lighten my load of work around the house allowing us more joint family time.


 That said it is much easier to keep areas clean if you use the space wisely.
Like under our bathroom sink.
Before I had no shelves so all things had to be mushed into one low level area.
Now however, with the aid of the storage boxes from Target 
(all the white were sold out I am really not that much of a pink person)
Under my sink is much easier to KEEP clean and neat.


I also added a small things aid to the top most drawer of the bathroom vanity
again in the hopes of keeping things neater, easier to find and easier to use.
(also from target)


These dark brown baskets were very hard to find as my home is around 65 years old and does not follow modern box sizes.
I finally found these at Micheal's and yes they stick out about 1 inch.

After being here over a year I am finally beginning to feel at home!
We still have a lot of work to do on the house - walls to redo
cabinets, floors, appliances ect.
One step at a time though and thankfully these are easy!

Tomorrow I need to put all my Christmas items away in my Christmas storage!
I love my home! 
I love that I have special storage areas! 

Tomorrow hopefully I will have another Weekly Wednesday thing for you - running over there now to check!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Art & Free Advice!

My little girl (Prissy) is an artist - very much like her papa and auntie. So today we bought her a new art set.


My son (LittleMan) seems to have acquired my artistic talent - meaning I am GREAT painting ceramic Christmas houses - coloring in between the lines.... and writing, did I mention I am a really good writer?

So far he is taking after me - as in the can not draw my minds eye for ANYTHING! Praying that he will grow into more of his fathers talents as he ages!


So far the best part is that just like me - he doesn't care. Painting in and of itself is fun! Love the heart and the joy he brings to his art work!


This is the new art work gracing the walls of the kids down stairs living room. Why the previous owners used dark paneling in a dimly lit basement is beyond me, however, we are trying to lighten it up until the time we can afford to re-panel. (not very high on our to do fix it list)

Anything and everything we can do to bring some brightness and cheer to their area we will do - we want them to WANT to be down there!

Tomorrow I will post pictures of my newest obsession - organizing!!!

Did I mention that finally after several years I feel awake? Oh yeah - I am cleaning (amazing I know) don't get you hopes up though my bedroom is still a disaster!! (working on it tomorrow - or just crying thinking about working on it) I am organizing, cooking, helping with homework and keeping pace with life in general!

So glad that I took time - real time - for me and my problems this summer. Its funny but I kept putting it off because my family needed other things - "they" were more important ect ect ect....
Now, however, that I am ME again and my mind and body are fully awake, I can tell you that putting off taking care of me hurt them far more then it helped them.
They needed me - not the zombie drone barely awake, barley functioning me - the real me.
After I took a small amount of time I knew I should have taken care of my issues so many years ago. I can never make up to my family the years my putting "me" off cost them.
If you have depression, exhaustion, no motivation, lack of caring - please seek help!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Blessings


Good days, Great moments!

My dastardly duo made a small camp under the kitchen table.
They set up Prissy's laptop (my hubby's very old one) and are watching movies while snacking.

It is always the little things in life that bring the happiest moments.
I thank God everyday for my blessings!


My girl goes in the end of next month to start her first round of allergy testing.
Now I know for fact several of her allergies - others are more broad.
Now, however, it will be official.
Due to the extremeness of some of her allergies she will need to wear an allergy bracelet for the rest of her life.
Right now I like the above the best as it will wear well without itching, chaffing and fits her personality.

I also need to go back to wearing one - I stopped for a long time - but I really do need one.


Right now I am thinking of getting a small one like this and adding to a bracelet I already wear.
I have a few allergies that need to be I.D'd, but nowhere near how many my girl has!
Prissy and I will also need to carry Emergency Cards on us.

When we finally get them I will take photos and post them!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Winters Breath


Today winter finally arrived in Utah. This has been a very strange year - bitter cold with no snow.

In fact today in less then a 12 hour period we have received more snow then the whole of the winter so far! To celebrate I, of course, went running around the yard with my camera!


My little gnome under the snow, part of my flower bed and then part of my tree. ;)
I love my new camera - all the features, settings and how crisp and clear everything comes out!

I have been working on my new resolutions - while I am busy caring for my sick little girl - I am no longer neglecting my own needs. A good life has balance.

Click photo to travel to my food blog! ;)

Just remember life is what YOU make it.
It can be fun, active, busy, full or it could be bitter, unhappy, boring and lonely.
You make your own choices as to how you handle what comes into your life.
I have learned how to trust God - for our everything - food, house, car, money & health.
I have learned how to laugh in the hard times.
To enjoy those around me, to feel their love, even when I don't understand why they love me.

Love, hope, joy & peace are treasures - but you have to find them - they don't just appear!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

New Year - New You!

My friend Falling Off a High-Heeled Life recommended this weekly Wednesday Workshop (please click link to join)

This is for all the women who have put off taking care of themselves - allowing themselves to be worn down, worn out and frazzled (sounds familiar? Yeah me too).
Most likely I will read it on Wednesday - think about it - and post it on Thursday. Allowing myself time to REALLY think about it, not just off the top of my head, quick fix, quick answer, fast track mode that I normally do in life.


Week One: List 3 changes in each of the following categories that you would like to work toward in 2012

Physical
1. Lose weight (I have been working on this for quite some time)
2. Fix hair more often
3. Care for my nails and skin more

Emotional
1. Calm down - Stop stressing!
2. Find a happy zone
3. Let go of anger and hurt

Spiritual
1. Read my bible more
2. Pray more
3. Listen more

Just recognizing the things you want to change is a huge step.

For those that have been following my blog for some time - you are familiar with "My Path to Me". Where this summer I finally started taking care of me.
After years of caring for my husband (and his many illnesses), my daughter with her Asthma and many allergies and my son with his mama issues.
This summer I started taking care of me. No longer putting off my issues "waiting until I had more time, money" or the ever popular, "when things calm down".

If you don't take time now you, your family and your friends are ALL losing out! I put off taking care of my needs FAR too long!
I have dim memories of dirty rooms, dirty children, piled up dishes and extreme tiredness.
This Christmas was the Best EVER!!!
Or at least ever since my Mama died.

My children didn't get a ton of toys, lots of candy or huge parties. However, this year they got mama, awake, happy and energetic!
I had the energy to put up Christmas decorations and make cookies with my kids.
We had cuddle times, laughter and hugs.
My memories are no longer dim and foggy. I took the time this summer - only a few months - and I am already so much better then I have been for almost 7 years!

Each woman deserves to find her own Path to Me. You can join this one and be apart of a group - or go it alone - just don't stop walking!

Monday, January 2, 2012

2012 Eclectic Fun News

This will not be one of my "normal" blogs. I have found many little wisps of fun things I want to keep, share and drool over.

One of the coolest photos I have found in a very long time is of the Crab Nebula

  
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111225.html 

Next up is really the engine of the future! I can't even imagine the possibilities if they can get the "test" - large car sized model - working the way they think it will, cars will weigh 1,000 pds less and need less gas to move the lower weight!
A 20 gallon gas tank really could take you a month of driving before running out - or even more! This engine really can redefine the world!


 GE 30 in. 5 gas range burner I can't even begin to tell you how badly I want this stove!
We are still remodeling the kitchen and I am not sure how long it will be until we get this stove (or one like it) but this is the model I am looking at - at the moment!

Now on to Salt Lake City, Utah - What is happening in 2012? I'll tell you - copy & posted from the previous new link - the whole article is worth reading though!


In March, the LDS Church opens City Creek Center, a $2 billion retail, restaurant and residential mega-development, destined to recharge Utah’s metropolitan heart.
Construction also will be visible next year on a Sugar House streetcar, a North Temple makeover — bisected by a TRAX train to the international airport — two new libraries, a federal courthouse, a $125 million public-safety headquarters, downtown housing projects and a $110 million touring Broadway theater.
Urban planners say the level of private and public investment is remarkable, especially given the limping economy.
Extra drama over the 2012 doomsday stems from the stars. On 12/21/12 — the winter solstice — the sun aligns with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in about 26,000 years. Scientists say that will disrupt the energy streaming to Earth.

Downtown window shopping is about to get a lot richer — from Brooks Brothers suits to Tiffany diamonds to Cheesecake Factory desserts.
Boasting 80 specialty stores and restaurants, hundreds of housing units in four towers and a Harmons grocery, City Creek Center spans 700,000 square feet on the two city blocks that once housed Crossroads Mall and ZCMI Center. Connected by a sky bridge over Main Street, it has 18-foot waterfalls, retractable glass roofs and a stream — re-creating City Creek — running through it.
Anchored by Nordstrom and Macy’s, City Creek should reshape and reboot Salt Lake City’s sometimes-sleepy downtown.

"It will place Salt Lake City in the cross hairs as one of the finest developing cities in the country." - end of copying.
Salt Lake City - is still very 1940's - 1950's when big buildings came into fashion and construction was made easier. (several different inventions helped)
This make's driving through downtown feel like a blast from the past, but really it's an OLD town. For being the 32nd most populated city in the entire USA - its really old and dying.
Thankfully having the Olympics here in 2002 we have lots of new hotels, pavilions, skate parks and event centers. Now onward to reviving our downtown!
Now when the rest of the country is saving money, watching their spending and economizing - Salt Lake is going to become THE newest - modern city. I can't wait for it all to be done!

Up that's it for today! Yesterday we deep cleaned the living room - today my hubby cleaned the kitchen with the kids and I organized the bathroom. (I also went shopping with my BFF and out to lunch! What a great day!)

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