My once a year post!

I admire all of those that post on their blogs often. I am thankful that they do because with out them, I would never be inspired or waste half of my day either! I love looking at blogs and seeing how creative everyone is.

I bet I would blog more, if I had pictures to add to my posts. I never think to have a camera around hence no pictures to write a blog post about.

But I am going to post today...about what I have been up to recently.

I am training to race my first triathlon. Actually my first race EVER! Since February, when my good friend talked me into it, I have been swimming, biking, and running 5-6 days a week. I try to get at least 2 of each exercise done a week. My biking is a bit lacking though. I don't LOVE it yet, but I am sure it will become easy one of these days.

The reason why I am doing this race, is NOT for my well-being. I am racing and raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I have joined their Team in Training program and they are coaching me through this whole wonderful ordeal.

I encourage everyone to learn more about Team in Training and join. I also encourage you all to help me meet my goal of $3200.00!

Visit my fundraising page for more information and how my training is going.

Pre-New Year's Resolution

I couldn't sleep the other night and when that happens I end up solving the world's problems or create CRAZY ideas that my husband rolls his eyes at! Well this night I decided that I would talk my husband into a contest. Last year I was in a weight loss contest with some girlfriends and I lost a lot of weight but did not win the contest. Since then I haven't lost anything but inches, don't get me wrong I am extremely happy with the inches but I want both weight and inches lost because I am greeeedddy.

My husband is going to compete with me and I am so excited. Our contest is to lose 15lbs by the time we leave for London in February. It starts December 1, which is tomorrow, and I am getting all of my candy eating in today;) He asked what the winner receives and I said a new outfit...he was not pleased. So needless to say I get a new outfit if I win and he gets...well he is very motivated to win and I will just leave it at that!

Searching for new outfits is hard. I want something unique, different than what I usually wear and I can't decide if I want a dress, or shirt, or socks.


I love this shirt from Anthropologie but my husband would wonder if the 15lbs lost is worth 128.00.
I love these dresses from Ruche. They also have some great tops as well. I think their prices are great.

Oh I have stumbled upon a wonderful site called Shabby Apple for dresses that fit my personality. I searched by body type and I was so happy with the results.

Another start...

So way back in February I said that I would post when I felt like it. Today I feel like posting. I feel like putting some order to my chaotic mind. I feel like having a place to put all the ideas that I want to try someday. For instance, today I had a few hours without the kids and so I decided to check out some of my favorite stores. I felt that today I needed to remember what pretty was, what inspiration was, and I wanted to see it in real life not just blogs.

First stop, my FAVORITE store in the whole area, Good Goods. Cherie is the most fabulous person on the planet. She is funny, sweet, and super uber creative and talented. She makes a lot of her stuff and she has such an eye for collecting and buying. Her store is wonderful.

This picture is from her blog.

The next stop was The Shabby House. I had to see the room of Miss Gracie's, my old friend. I was actually hoping she would be there so that I could catch a glimpse of her too! I was not lucky today, I am being told that her daughter got married so wedding plans had kept her away. She is probably resting, I can only imagine what that wedding looked like, nothing less than spectacular I am sure!

My last two stops were in Hyde park, not the real one the knock off one! I will be heading to the real one in February!! Twigs and Twist with the talented Gretel is an awesome creative shop. She is all about handmade. She teaches classes, hosts open craft days, sales wonderful fabrics and notions, and puts all of this together into one great shop. I will I had some pictures of her store.

The other store in Hyde park is called Forget-Me-Not Antiques. It is HUGE and inspiring! Every wonderful thing you see in a magazine, they have a vignette of it. They remind me of Curious Sofa mixed with rustic equestrian mixed with...It was great fun.

I am starting to feel inspired. I wonder how long it will last and if I will do anything about it. I must because my husband just got back from Christmas tree hunting with a shabby looking tree and I am being frugal this year. I will not buy any ornaments. They will all be handmade my me and the kids. It is going to be a shabby holiday for our family!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Cha Cha Cha Changes...

I am making some changes to the blog. Since life has changed so dramatically and my priorities are a lot different, I have decided to do the same to the blog.

Now I know I am not the best blog poster or photographer in the world and according to blog etiquette, I quite stink at it! But, I am forging ahead and will continue to post my once a month, sometimes more blog posts and continue to have crappy photos. So that part is not changing. (I will however practice taking better photos)

What is changing is the content. Before I became a SAHM, I HATED to cook. Now, I LOOOVE it! I love to find recipes and then tweak them to make them a bit more healthy without compromising the good taste. So I will blog about it.

I am also trying to schedule in at least one day a week to craft. It is my release, it is how I stay sane. I know it, so why don't I do it more often. Rather than getting frustrated at the kids and life and poor me, blah blah blah, I should have a sanity day and craft my little heart out.

I do have crafter's ADD and that means that I want to try something new ALL the time. So my blog will be about me trying new things. Compared to a lot of you out there, I am an amateur crafter. I WANT to do a lot of things but my skill level will not allow it. SO I am trying it anyway! And that is what I will blog about.

I will also blog about things I find out there in blogland, like this really funny post. I found this post today from Catherine at OliveBites and laughed because I totally agree with her. You MUST read the whole thing because she gets funnier as you read!!

Friends are WONDERFUL

Better late than never on this post! This was to be a Christmas/New Year's post but the days just kept flying by.

This post is about me showing off and telling all of you that I truly have the bestest friends ever!



I came home one day (a couple days after Christmas) and this was waiting for me on my front porch. WOW! I was so giddy and excited that I immediately ran into the house to grab my camera. Kids? What kids? They are buckled into their carseats and are just fine right there, besides they will stay out of the way of my pictures! I spent a good five minutes out in the cold taking pictures, looking through the basket, reading the notes, all the while the kids are yelling at me to let them out.




I must say that I have the best friends in the world. This package came to me anonymously (but I was able to figure out who participated), yet I am so amazed that I have made friend(s) that know me this well. EVERYTHING about this gift SCREAMED me! I am learning to sew, I love fabrics, I love anything that will add to the decor in my home, and I love food, so this gift was perfect and made my heart so big.

I love you dear friends!

Amazing Giveaway!!

I found an amazing giveaway. Even though I am going to win, I thought it would only be fair that I should let all of you see what will be in my home;) This is being given away by Sassafras Stuff. Check it out. By the way, wouldn't it be fun if I really did end up winning this? You all would think I had it rigged!

I found a super fun new shop...

A friend of mine who has been painting furniture for eons finally opened a store of her own. Her wonderful hubby helps her run it so that she can keep it stocked with furniture. These are pictures of her store before opening day and now most of this stuff is gone because she had a wonderful opening day!

Brooke mad painting skills and loves to do BIG furniture pieces. Her and I are kindred spirits with the love of old frames, photos, and linens. She has a frame in there that I am going to have to get on my hands and knees and say pretty please just to get it and even then she said that wouldn't work, we'll see!

For all you local folks that read this blog, go visit her store.

Eva B's
112 Victory Rd. (corner of Victory and Meridian Rd)
Located at Victory Greens Nursery in the Barn

Christmas Spirit

I am beginning to get into the Christmas Spirit.

Usually I don't, the last few years I have been telling my hubby that if he wants to have a tree then he has to get it and decorate it cause I am not doing it.

Here is why, the first couple of years, we get the tree, string the lights, get it decorated and there it stays until February.

Three years ago, we got a tree, strung the lights half way, stopped, there it sat till February.

Last year, I got a very small white Christmas tree setup in our entry, hardly any decorations and it sat until June.

So long story short, I lack energy to put stuff away!

This year seems to be different, I feel like a different person, more put together, less CRAZY, more grown-up. I think I can do it this year! So I am currently making my ornaments and slowly decorating the house (front room mainly, don't want to overwhelm on the first year!).

Here is one reason I got in the spirit of things. I read this cute story the other day and was dying to see this house. So this last Sunday we piled the kids into the car and headed to the foothills. We were WOWED!!! The driveway was brimming with people just milling about, taking family photos, laughing, and having a good time. The owners of this amazing light show house were snuggled in the warmth of their home watching TV or maybe peeking out the window at all the weird people walking around their property!

Whoever this family is, I thank them for giving me that burst of energy to finally get in the spirit of things!






If I lived next door to this guy, I would do the same thing. I thought this was hilarious and what a great sense of humor!


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Trying new things

I have been working on some new ventures and they have been giving me a once over for sure! My first venture, which I am proud to say I love and will continue learning and doing is Photoshop and Illustrator. Not so much Photoshop but tons of Illustrator. Super super hard for this girl who can't comprehend ANYTHING she reads unless I have read it a gazillion times, but I think I am catching on. Here is my first project and a big thank you to Graphics Fairy for the use of their images!


I had a few issues with my man in the moon, I actually wanted to create a forlorn face in the moon but I am not even close to that ability yet;)


My other venture and another one that I am going to continue doing, is sewing. Yep I have been talking about it for a while and I have finally started. My first project was pajama bottoms, then a skirt for my crafting table, and a then a cover for my crafting stool. Now none of these turned out the way I wanted them to and I am happy that I used fabric that I am not in love with, because I have a long way to go. My next crafting table skirt is going to be made a lot differently. It will be better! I want to use a light colored, non patterned, and hopefully lineny type fabric.

Some real cute stuff

I have to show you pictures of some items I received at the beginning of August from Tammy at Other side of me. Such cute stuff and what awesome talent she has.


This sweet box is full of wonderful creations and finds. I love it!


There is even more stuff under this stuff!


Look at all these paper creations. Isn't it wonderful? Don't you wish you were me right now!!