Hello Sunshine!

It is a gorgeous day here in the south - slightly cooler temperatures, partly sunny, and on the verge of a long weekend.  What's not to love?  

Every now and again, I run into someone who is having a bad day or sad time.  I pondered across this idea on Pinterest a while back & it's amazing how such a small token of kindness can touch someone. 

-grab a box or bag

-fill with all things yellow

-add a note to cheer them

Viola!  You have your very own sunshine box!

Here is a picture of a few items I picked up this week for one.

How cheery - you have to smile!

House Party!

I'm not a party animal, but I do love to have people in my home!   Over the holidays, we were invited to a House Party -- sounds like college event huh?   I promise you this is like nothing you experienced in college.  House Party is a company that puts products into the hands of consumers for feedback.  I suppose you could say it is a modern day focus group.  The party we were invited to over the holidays was a family-focused New Year's Eve event.  The host had been given Hasbro games for guests to play.  Guests got to try the games and the host was able to keep all the goodies & provide feedback on the games to the company.

What a cool concept right?  Have people over and get some cool products - win, win!  I joined House Party and applied for a couple of different products of interest.  I'd never been chosen until last week.  We will be hosting a Keurig "Brew What You Love" party later this month & I couldn't be more excited!   The prize pack is pretty amazing!!  As a host - we will receive a Keurig maker and K-cups for guests to try.  Additionally, we will get another Keurig maker to give away to one of the guests as well as coupons for everyone! 

Cruise on over to House Party and sign up -- what do you have to lose?

Laundry Room - Design on a Dime

While searching Pinterest,  I've stumbled across so many amazing laundry rooms.   It makes me laugh to search for "small laundry room" and have pictures show up with laundry rooms ten times the size of my really, truly, small laundry room.   Anyway,  I created a board of inspiration for our laundry room and you can see it here. This is the mess I was working with (don't judge!) - this is real life  :)

Goodness, what a mess!  Our washer/dryer is located behind two bifold doors.  It's more like a laundry closet.  As you can see there is some attempt at storage, but it fails miserably.  My goals were to complete the project on a dime - spend as little money as possible;  group like items together in a more organized fashion; and give a little sense of style to the room.   My initial thoughts to 2 paint thick bold stripes in the area with leftover kitchen paint & find stylish storage  :)

I started by enlisting the help of my best friends, Sally and Angie.  Our idea of a great girls night out is helping each other with a project.  Angie's basement remodel is on our list, but she wasn't quite ready to tackle it.  We dove in head first - uh in some cases literally - for this project. 

We started by completely emptying the room and cleaning from floor to ceiling.  It's nearly impossible to see everything you are working with unless you do this step!  Purge items you don't need - it's much easier when you have help to discard items - you don't have time to think about "when" or "if" you will need an item in the future.   NEXT,  group like items together - I grouped in the following categories - cleaning, DIY, outdoors, lighting.

And after... you can see each crate has a chalkboard with the items within that crate.  I kept the blue cleaning caddy by itself  because it is used on a regular basis.  The black cube storage piece - we already had &  it contains all of our auto cleaning supplies.   The basket on top of the dryer contains items we use on a regular basis to complete laundry:  detergent, dryer sheets, stain remover, iron, etc.   Overall,  it looks so much better!!   As you can see, I did NOT paint the stripes I initially thought about. The crates came unfinished and Sally had some leftover stain from a project - we used it to give a splash of color to the area.  

The crates were on sale this week at our local AC Moore for under $8.00.  I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by their size and durability.  I bought two and Sally gifted me two for my birthday.  The total cost for this project was under $20.00  I'm really pleased with how it turned out! 

We reorganized my pantry/small storage room too & I'll post it later!

Weekend Wrap-Up...

Well, it's that time again.  Another great weekend is coming to a close!

Friday nights have quite frankly just become my lazy, lounge on the couch and watch TV nights.  :)   And, I'm not going to lie I'm enjoying them. Although, I can't for the life of me remember what I watched - I did spend some time on Pinterest - "pinning" motivational quotes to my Exercise board. 

Saturday - I was super excited (and nervous) to try hot yoga.  I'm glad my friend, Brandy, stepped out with me.  I think we both enjoyed it.  You can read more about that experience here.   Saturday evening, I fixed a taco bar -- salad shells, nachos, ground beef, mexican cheese, light sour cream, shredded lettuce, 100 calorie guacamole, black olives, and taco sauce. Our friend Susan and her son, Landon came over to join us.  The boys played video games while we watched ridiculous "reality TV" -- if you want a good laugh, watch Bayou Billionaires & My Redneck Vacation. 

Sunday - We slept late and missed church/small group.  Lounged around for most of the day and tonight, super-husband and I are going out for "date night" at the Depot at Cody Creek.  Super-son is out of school tomorrow, so he'll be spending sometime with the grandparents.

How was your weekend?

25 Random Things About Me...

Ann (over at Twelve in Twelve) posted a getting to know you type post.  Since I had no idea what to write about today - I'm going to post 25 random things about me.  

1. Never say "never"... I said I would never go out with super-husband and look who I married. :o)

2. I've wanted a Honda Accord since my 16th birthday and finally got one (not new, but new to me) in 2011.
3. I thought children with ADHD lacked parenting - until I had a child diagnosed with ADHD. Now, I understand.
4. I've won 3rd place twice at the Dixie Classic Fair for a recipe with Krispy Kreme doughnuts as an ingredient.
5. I thought I would have 2 or 3 kids by now, but God had other plans.
6. I'm a good listener, but I don't always know what to say.
7. I'm a creature of habit - when we go out to eat, my order is always predictable.
8. The best lessons in life - I learned from my parents.
9. Being a mom has been much more of an emotional experience than I ever imagined.
10. I can read a good book in one day -- I can read two good books in a day at the beach.
11. I'm becoming an ATHLETE!  :)
12. I'm much happier working "behind the scenes" than being "in the spotlight".
13. I love my job.
14. I never imagined heart disease would arrive on our doorstep at our age, but I'm thankful super-husband is alive and we can help raise awareness.
15. I loved to play summer softball growing up, but probably couldn't catch a fly ball now!
16. I love a clean house, but have trouble keeping in that way sometimes.
17. I love that super-son declares every Friday night - Family Night.
18. I've always wanted to be a teacher, but let my 10th grade English teacher discourage me.
19. I'm tone deaf and can't carry a tune or play a musical instrument.
20. I wish I had patience for do-it-yourself home improvement projects because I have a wishlist a mile long.
21. I love taking pictures but find scrapbooking overwhelming.
22. I am in the last semester of my return to school (YEAH ME!).
23. I am grateful for my friends and family.
24. I am NOT a girly-girl.
25. Exercise is allowing me to become stronger physically & mentally.

Weekend Wrap-Up...

Wow!  The weekend just flies by - AGAIN!

Friday evening, I was really lazy - there was so much I should have been doing, but I did absolutely NONE of it.  I watched HGTV, HGTV and more HGTV!

I knew Saturday was going to be busy, and it did not disappoint.  LOL  Since it is the only day of the week I am able to "sleep-in",  I did just that.  I got the day started around 9am.  :)   We started by working on chores - cleaning and laundry and I tackled errands afterwards.   I was hoping to squeeze a 30 minute run in when I got back home, but that didn't happen.  As a thank-you to some friends who helped out baby-sitting super-son,  we hosted dinner for them.   I kept the menu relatively simple -- salad & potato bar.  We ended the evening with a birthday cake for my friend, Angie and playing the game, Logo.

Sunday morning, we headed out for church/small group.  I had agreed to host a Just Jewelry party for my friend, Angie, in the afternoon.  So after church, I was making sure the house was in order and preparing a few snacks for the party -- apples with low-fat caramel dip & hawaiian dip;  chicken clubhouse squares (I tried to modify the recipe); and chips/salsa. 

Now, it's Sunday evening (did I mention I took a 2 hour nap at 5p - UGH!!!).  I am really behind on some assignments for a directed study for school.  I NEED to get it finished within the next week and a half, but I find myself procrastinating on it.   I'm off tomorrow for MLK day, but I'll be up early for boot camp. 

How was your weekend?

Hello July!

I'm not sure what it is about July, but it screams SUMMER to me! Maybe it's the July 4th celebrations, vacation, hot temperatures, cook-outs, a full month with no school for super-son, grilling out, and accessorizing as much as possible with flip-flops. July is summer period. :)

Yesterday, I took a short road trip with a friend to the Christmas in July festival. It was north of where we live, but do not be fooled - the mountains are not cooler in July. I love festivals - drooling over the arts & crafts - wishing I had an ounce of their wonderful talent. Fall festivals are my favorite, but I'd been disappointed with "made in China items" showing up at some of the local festivals. I want TRUE hand-made and heart-felt pieces. The festival yesterday did not disappoint, and an added bonus Santa himself was strolling around. We had a great time!

What screams summer to you?

Crayons...

I loved Crayons as a kid. I still love coloring in a coloring book. Childish? yes. Calming? yes. I dream of visiting the Crayola factory one day. :) Silly but true -- perhaps I am a real kid at heart.

Perhaps you are wondering why I am talking about Crayons. Yesterday, I received a very heartfelt email in response to my friend post. It was such a great email... very real and very genuine that it brought tears to my eyes. One of my favorite quotes is --

"We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names. All are different colors, but they all have to learn to live in the same box." -- Author Unknown

However, I like the way crayons were referred to in the email I received even better...

"The way I look at the people around me is the equivilent to a box of crayons... oooooooo...different colors, some I like, some not so much. Separate they may not make much impact, but together, they can create something beautiful, colorful, intricate, detailed, so much to look at, so much to enjoy. I may like one crayon more than another, it may be my favorite forever or just for a while, but the idea is to enjoy it while you have it!!" -- thank you SW ((Hugs))

What is your favorite color???

Friends...what does that mean?

Merriam Webster defines friend as --
1
a : one attached to another by affection or esteem b : acquaintance
2
a : one that is not hostile b : one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3
: one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4
: a favored companion

I'm facebooker... For someone whose fairly introverted it's a nice social outlet for me. I've contemplated deactivating my account several times, but for whatever reason I can't bring myself to do it. The one problem I have over and over again is the "friend" on Facebook. By Facebook numbers, I have 394 friends. Really? I don't think that could be further from the truth. Out of the 394 (excluding the ones that are family - and those are few) -- I don't think I could count 10 friends on one hand. Is that sad? Or is that just because I have a high definition and strong sense of what I consider a "friend"? I certainly hope it is that latter of the two.

Friendship is something I take seriously... I tend to give alot, but I expect the same investment in return. I don't like one-sided relationships. I like partnerships. Friendships of give and take -- where relationships complement each other's strengths & weaknesses. Friends that help, cry, laugh, and vent with you. Friends who could care less if your house is clean when they drop in.

I have some former co-workers in another department but in the same facility of which I now work. We were quite close friends before I left the department --- let's "keep in touch" they said... we'll "get-together for lunch" they mentioned. Can I tell you how many times they've dropped by my office? ZERO Can I tell you how many times they've called or met for lunch? ZERO I try to drop by their office once every 3-4 months or so. And, I hear the same thing everytime -- "we need to get-together". Perhaps, I'm sounding juvenile -- but it's gets OLD people. Maybe I'm not a good friend? Maybe I expect too much?

What does friend mean to you?

Summer Bucket List

1. Complete at least one 5K in June, July or August.


2. Read at least 5 books for pleasure.


3. Succesfully complete summer school!!


4. Take and pass 3 CLEP exams.


5. Have a game night or get-together with friends once a month.


6. Complete one task on my house wish list -- organize spare bedroom; repaint kitchen; declutter pantry... etc, etc! Trust me the list is long!


7. Enjoy short get-aways with my family.


8. Take more pictures of life happenings.


9. Stay active -- continue to walk 3 miles on Mon, Wed, Fri. Aim to go to Zumba on Monday nights at least once a month.


10. RELAX

Run for it!

WARNING: long post :)


In January 2009, I participated in a 5K training program with Fleet Feet sports. It was one of the best experiences of my life. My personal goal was to run the 5K at the end, but I ended up doing intervals (walk/run) which was fine – but I still want to completely run a 5K. Shortly after the program ended, I allowed stress in my life to consume me and completely lost focus. I wasn’t happy with myself – I wanted to eat healthier and exercise, but I was having difficulty pulling myself out of the funk.


During the spring and summer of 2010, I kept riding by a community gym advertising Zumba. I rode past day after day thinking there was no way I could get my groove on! In late summer, my neighbor & friend – Deb – asked me to try it out with her. Umm..ok.. I think – y’all I have NO RHYTHM, but I had so much fun! Within 10 minutes of starting the class, I was sweating and an hour flew by before I even realized time was up. It felt good and rewarding to be doing something for ME. I convinced another friend, Angie, to try it as well. It was like a girl’s night out each time I went. In the fall, the gym started basketball – so we wouldn’t be able to use the facility any more. I was disappointed because I had found something that met several criteria:


• It was fun.
• No one else had rhythm either.
• It did not require a monthly gym membership

I was determined not to allow excuses become “reasons” I didn’t exercise. To be successful, I knew I needed accountability, something I enjoyed, and something that did not require a big investment. In late October, I convinced Angie to meet me at 5:30am on Mondays & Wednesdays for a 2 mile walk. It felt good in so many ways!


In December, I asked her if she would be willing to do Monday-Wednesday-Friday. She was agreeable and we increased to three miles as well. We could have made tons of excuses during the winter – it’s too cold, it’s raining, there’s snow on the ground, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, it’s the day after Christmas - BUT WE DIDN’T. We kept at it regardless of the time, the weather, or the holidays.


Currently, we are on our first week of interval training (walk 2 min/run 1 min) and we will slowly increase the time & duration that we do. Exercise has become a big stress relief for me – it is the best form of therapy I can think of. I am extremely grateful that Angie has stuck with me through the cold, rain, and snow (& deer, barking dogs, skunks). If it wasn’t for her, I’m sure I would not have been successful because “snooze” would have been more appealing!

The whole point of this extremely long post is – do what you love and love what you do! JUST DO IT!

Unexpected Rain & Deer

My normal routine on Monday, Wednesday, Friday is wake up at 5:15am and meet a dear friend for 3 miles. We started the routine in mid October. Intially, we did 2 miles on Wednesday & Friday. Around the holidays, we added the extra day and mileage. We are kinda like the post office - rain, sleet, hail, snow, and freezing temps have not stopped us until TODAY! We started out this AM and about 3 houses down from mine we heard some rumblings in the woods -- next thing we know 5 deer dart across the road in front of us! Needless to say, we were now AWAKE! About a block or so later, it's starts drizzling and then raining - BUMMER! Neither of us were prepared with an umbrella or head cover, so we decided to turn around. I'm guessing we got about a mile in which is better than nothing. I need to try really hard to make it to Zumba tonight!

Knock, Knock

It's me! I'm obviously not to good at this bloggin' thing. My friend, Gina, at http://painterplace.blogspot.com/ left me a note on September 1st and guess what? I saw it today!

Much has happened since my last blog post, but since I only have one faithful reader *hugs to Gina*. I will not bore the rest of the world with all the details!

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love the scents of the season, the crispness in the air, and the colors of all creation. The Dixie Classic Fair arrives in town this Friday. I'm not a huge fair person, but over the past 3-4 years I have entered the Special Food contests. I haven't decided if I have time to cook this year, but I have my entry tags just in case! Saturday is the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival in North Wilkesboro - another one of my favorites. Honestly, right now, I'm just looking forward to fall break at school though!

Hope everyone has a great week! Maybe I can get this blog going again - if it is only for Gina! :)