I'm totally beat

And I mean that with every sense of the word.  I haven't had any computer time since Thursday afternoon, so haven't gotten to post.  I have been working like a mad woman on a mission in this house.  Thursday night when I got home from work, I started gathering and boxing miscellaneous ideas in Tori's room and worked on this most of the evening.  On Friday, Wesley came over to help his momma out.  He and I gathered all the things for goodwill into the back of his truck and headed out.  Either they are loving me or hating at Goodwill.  I don't have any idea how much "junk" I have taken there.  After dropping all that off, we swung by our local senior center.  I have a piano that I have been trying to get rid of, no one plays it here, takes lots of room, and it just too heavy to move again.  So anyway, I stopped in to see if they might be interested.  Unfortunately they didn't need it but one of the seniors there was a piano teacher and she said maybe one of her students could use one.  Also the director of the center wanted my phone number and name and said she might know of some people, within a few hours, she called me and said she wanted it.  SCORE!  So she is suppose to call on Tuesday to set up a pick up time.  WOO HOO!

Once we got back home from that little errand, Wesley and I loaded up our vehicles with all the things from Tori's room and headed to her dads.  It felt good getting that stuff out of the house.  Let me tell you.  This took the better part of the day.  By the end of the day I was famish and sore.  So Michael and I headed out to dinner and done some grocery shopping.  I wanted to pick up some things, because the kids are coming over on Monday for a BBQ. 

Yesterday morning Michael and I got out EARLY in the yard and were there all day.  I really got nothing done in the house except for washing the linens off Tori's bed, and ours.  We spent the day working on planting flower beds.  After that, we had 3 yds. of mulch delivered and we got  that all out too.  Do you know how much 3 yds of mulch is?  Let me tell you it's ALOT!  2 yards wouldn't have been enough and 3 was too much, but we decided to put the extra in our veg. garden to keep the weeds down.  So needless to say my flower beds look great.  I mowed the back yard while Michael was working on other yard work.  Finally at 8 last night we called it a night.  We ordered dinner to be delivered and then we vegged in front of the TV for a couple hours, and it was all I could do to stay awake.  So hit the hay, just to get up and start all over today. 

We have LOTS of little piddly jobs that that have to be done upstairs and we have divided those up to conquer them.  So while Michael is taking a break from inside work, by going outside...I decided to post to my blog, and update ya.  He is power washing the front of the house,porch, driveway and the one sides of our house.  He has already done the back when he redid the deck.  Anyway, we want the front to look nice before the guys bring in my doors.  My new front door and slider is going to be installed on Thursday and I can hardly wait.  We also plan to call the carpet guys either tomorrow or Tuesday, and get that oredered and installed.  So as you can see there hasn't been alot of time for the weary here.  Just pushing forward.  I can see the light!!!

Gotta scoot...really do have things I should be doing...feeling guilty sitting here when I know he is hard at work. 

I'm totally beat

And I mean that with every sense of the word.  I haven't had any computer time since Thursday afternoon, so haven't gotten to post.  I have been working like a mad woman on a mission in this house.  Thursday night when I got home from work, I started gathering and boxing miscellaneous ideas in Tori's room and worked on this most of the evening.  On Friday, Wesley came over to help his momma out.  He and I gathered all the things for goodwill into the back of his truck and headed out.  Either they are loving me or hating at Goodwill.  I don't have any idea how much "junk" I have taken there.  After dropping all that off, we swung by our local senior center.  I have a piano that I have been trying to get rid of, no one plays it here, takes lots of room, and it just too heavy to move again.  So anyway, I stopped in to see if they might be interested.  Unfortunately they didn't need it but one of the seniors there was a piano teacher and she said maybe one of her students could use one.  Also the director of the center wanted my phone number and name and said she might know of some people, within a few hours, she called me and said she wanted it.  SCORE!  So she is suppose to call on Tuesday to set up a pick up time.  WOO HOO!

Once we got back home from that little errand, Wesley and I loaded up our vehicles with all the things from Tori's room and headed to her dads.  It felt good getting that stuff out of the house.  Let me tell you.  This took the better part of the day.  By the end of the day I was famish and sore.  So Michael and I headed out to dinner and done some grocery shopping.  I wanted to pick up some things, because the kids are coming over on Monday for a BBQ. 

Yesterday morning Michael and I got out EARLY in the yard and were there all day.  I really got nothing done in the house except for washing the linens off Tori's bed, and ours.  We spent the day working on planting flower beds.  After that, we had 3 yds. of mulch delivered and we got  that all out too.  Do you know how much 3 yds of mulch is?  Let me tell you it's ALOT!  2 yards wouldn't have been enough and 3 was too much, but we decided to put the extra in our veg. garden to keep the weeds down.  So needless to say my flower beds look great.  I mowed the back yard while Michael was working on other yard work.  Finally at 8 last night we called it a night.  We ordered dinner to be delivered and then we vegged in front of the TV for a couple hours, and it was all I could do to stay awake.  So hit the hay, just to get up and start all over today. 

We have LOTS of little piddly jobs that that have to be done upstairs and we have divided those up to conquer them.  So while Michael is taking a break from inside work, by going outside...I decided to post to my blog, and update ya.  He is power washing the front of the house,porch, driveway and the one sides of our house.  He has already done the back when he redid the deck.  Anyway, we want the front to look nice before the guys bring in my doors.  My new front door and slider is going to be installed on Thursday and I can hardly wait.  We also plan to call the carpet guys either tomorrow or Tuesday, and get that oredered and installed.  So as you can see there hasn't been alot of time for the weary here.  Just pushing forward.  I can see the light!!!

Gotta scoot...really do have things I should be doing...feeling guilty sitting here when I know he is hard at work. 

Busy as a bee

Hey blogging friends, today is going to be a busy day.  I have bunches of things that I want to get done today. Plus the weather is suppose to be in the 80's. Which makes me a very happy girl.  It just gives me that extra boost of energy that I need to accomplish some things.
I didn't get alot done last night after I got home because frankly, I was tired and took a nap instead, then had to head out to a meeting so by the time I got home, I just wanted to watch AI and go to bed.  Not without getting my votes in for Kris though.  Those phone lines were busy for the longest time.  I think both guys deserve to be in the finals, but I am just drawn to Kris.  His ability all around.  Is there a instrument he can't play?  To me, Adam is so predictable and guess I lost luster with him some time back.  But after tonight I guess we will now who the new idol is.  Is anyone watching the new Bachlorlette show?  I recorded it, but haven't watched it yet.  I really like Jillian and it will be interesting to see her pick in guys.  I already have a favorite guy for her from the little bit I did see, but not going to divulge that right now.  Let's face it, I got to watch the show to see if he even stuck around for the next show.
Anyhow, yesterday while I was out at lunch I picked up a few things to complete some projects that have been running through my head.  I picked up some of those liquid chalk markers that Auntie Ruth has been telling us about.  Can't wait to try my hand at putting some pretty messages on my chalkboard for the kitchen.  Plus I picked up a roll of black and white toile wrapping paper that I plan to line the back of my hutch with.  I am anxiously awaiting my new dinnerware from Longaberger and thought the toile paper would be a pretty and formal backdrop for me new dinnerware.  I also picked up some new valences for my son's room, so need to change those out too. 
Our door guy comes today and we have also contacted a plumber to install a new shower fixture in our shower.  Michael did all the other installations but this one is going to be a bit tricky and wants to get a professional to do it.  We also picked up some carpet swatches so we can make a decision about that.  Man is things rolling right along.
With the weather being so pretty today, I hope we can get the rest of our flowers out.
So tell me what is on your agenda for today?
Gotta scoot for now, check back for some pictures soon. 
Hugs!

Can you say random?

Hi friends, Just wanted to say hello and wish you all a great day.  It is a sunny pretty day here in Maryland.  Albeit a bit breezy for my taste, but sunny and pretty all the same.  Looking forward to June because maybe the temps will be more consistent.  Last night it got down to freezing here.  can you believe that?  Fortunately I don't think any of the flowers or veggies we put over the weekend suffered. 

We don't usually do a big garden but we do put a few things out each year.  Several different type of tomatoes.  We both love them.  I like the little cherry ones for my salads, and the beef steak ones, I use mainly for burgers and such, plus I like to use fresh ones for my pico de gallo.  Boy do we love that stuff.  We also put out several types of peppers.  We like sweet peppers, but Michael has to have his hot peppers, so I always do some jalapeno's for him.   I also like to put out cucumbers, because that is something I just like to snack on or use in salads too.  My mom use to make pickles, but I never have tried that...but one of these years I am going to try it.  I also put out two kinds of squash, I love fried squash and Michael makes them great.  Mine aren't usually all that good, I think I cook them to fast, but his are always perfect.  Usually I put out zucchini but couldn't find any...that is until today on my lunch hour.  I ran out and found a couple of slips so I am sure they will be in the ground later today.  :)  Squash is such a favorite for us.  We like to cook it in foil on the grill and add some peppers, onions and some seasonings...mmmmmmmmm yummy.  I am ready for garden produce to start coming in, and cooking out on the grill.  Nothing says summer to me like a big cookout.

So tell me, what are some things that you put in your garden?
Other than typical stuff there is really nothing going on with me.  Mainly house projects but hopefully that is going to be over soon.  Tomorrow afternoon, we have a guy coming over to show us samples of doors, and we are hoping we will be able to order them and get them installed next week.  That is one of our major jobs still left to do. Of course our other major job is replacing the carpet on the stairs and upstairs.  Hoping to do that in the next week or so.  I will be so happy when those things are done. It will feel like such a huge accomplishment. 

This weekend ( I have a three day weekend) I plan to go through my kitchen with a fine tooth comb, and clean out the cupboards.  That will be a chore.  But again, it will be a nice feeling knowing it is all behind us.  It isn't exactly how I wanted to spend my Memorial Day, but hopefully I can get out at some point and do something fun.
Yesterday I went to the salon and got my hair cut  and highlighted.  Let me tell you girls, it is BLONDE!  It is taking getting used too. But now I feel ready for summer.  Well almost, I could of/should of tried to lose a couple of pounds but that didn't happen.  Oh well, I'm hopeful I will drop of little weigh with the hot months upon us.

I will try to get Michael to get a picture of me in the next few days and post my hair.  Be prepared to be shocked.
Well ladies, I need to scoot...got things to do.
Have a blessed Tuesday.
Hugs,
Cindy

Can you say random?

Hi friends, Just wanted to say hello and wish you all a great day.  It is a sunny pretty day here in Maryland.  Albeit a bit breezy for my taste, but sunny and pretty all the same.  Looking forward to June because maybe the temps will be more consistent.  Last night it got down to freezing here.  can you believe that?  Fortunately I don't think any of the flowers or veggies we put over the weekend suffered. 

We don't usually do a big garden but we do put a few things out each year.  Several different type of tomatoes.  We both love them.  I like the little cherry ones for my salads, and the beef steak ones, I use mainly for burgers and such, plus I like to use fresh ones for my pico de gallo.  Boy do we love that stuff.  We also put out several types of peppers.  We like sweet peppers, but Michael has to have his hot peppers, so I always do some jalapeno's for him.   I also like to put out cucumbers, because that is something I just like to snack on or use in salads too.  My mom use to make pickles, but I never have tried that...but one of these years I am going to try it.  I also put out two kinds of squash, I love fried squash and Michael makes them great.  Mine aren't usually all that good, I think I cook them to fast, but his are always perfect.  Usually I put out zucchini but couldn't find any...that is until today on my lunch hour.  I ran out and found a couple of slips so I am sure they will be in the ground later today.  :)  Squash is such a favorite for us.  We like to cook it in foil on the grill and add some peppers, onions and some seasonings...mmmmmmmmm yummy.  I am ready for garden produce to start coming in, and cooking out on the grill.  Nothing says summer to me like a big cookout.

So tell me, what are some things that you put in your garden?
Other than typical stuff there is really nothing going on with me.  Mainly house projects but hopefully that is going to be over soon.  Tomorrow afternoon, we have a guy coming over to show us samples of doors, and we are hoping we will be able to order them and get them installed next week.  That is one of our major jobs still left to do. Of course our other major job is replacing the carpet on the stairs and upstairs.  Hoping to do that in the next week or so.  I will be so happy when those things are done. It will feel like such a huge accomplishment. 

This weekend ( I have a three day weekend) I plan to go through my kitchen with a fine tooth comb, and clean out the cupboards.  That will be a chore.  But again, it will be a nice feeling knowing it is all behind us.  It isn't exactly how I wanted to spend my Memorial Day, but hopefully I can get out at some point and do something fun.
Yesterday I went to the salon and got my hair cut  and highlighted.  Let me tell you girls, it is BLONDE!  It is taking getting used too. But now I feel ready for summer.  Well almost, I could of/should of tried to lose a couple of pounds but that didn't happen.  Oh well, I'm hopeful I will drop of little weigh with the hot months upon us.

I will try to get Michael to get a picture of me in the next few days and post my hair.  Be prepared to be shocked.
Well ladies, I need to scoot...got things to do.
Have a blessed Tuesday.
Hugs,
Cindy

More house ramblings

Hi blogging buddies, hope your having a great start to your week.  I am sitting here thinking about my day and all that I want to do, I have a list to make for this week...cause I know I need to get ALOT of things accomplished this week.  Probably more than is feasibly possible.
Michael and I gave ourselves a deadline of the first part of June, because we have family coming in for Tori's graduation and we want to have the house finished by then.  We are getting down to the home stretch and I am starting to get anxious.  Of course, I'm thinking everything will not be done.  I really don't want that to happen.  So I really need to work on a detailed list. Seems like that is the only way I get anything accomplished. 
Over the weekend, we planted some flowers in our front flower bed, but I still have about 2 flats to plant.  Before we could plant, Michael wanted to redo the flowerbed border, then we decided to transplant some perennials that I had because they are getting huge.  So after doing all that, we didn't get everything else done that we wanted too.  Of course, I thought we were just going to plant flowers, but Michael had other things on his agenda, like redoing the wall and moving things around, etc.....seems like all our projects start out as something small and end up being a major undertaking with the time we have allotted. Alot of times it can be frustrating for me...because we don't always see eye to eye on what needs to be done.   I tease him, that if anyone decides to buy this house, they want have anything to do, because everything will be done.  In all likelihood, they will probably come in and change everything he has done.  Anyhow, I am hoping we are nearing the end.  He also spent time putting a second coat of paint on the 20ft foyer.  That was a chore, but he ran out of paint before he finished it. 
Two major things left to do are the carpets and doors.  We are replacing the front doors and the slider in the FR.  What a difference both of those things will make.  WooHoo!  We've contacted the man about the doors to set up a appointment to choose style and get them ordered but he hasn't returned our call.  Poo!  I really want to get this done so I hope he  calls back today. We can't do the carpets unless we finish in Tori's room.  We have some odd pieces of furniture that we want to take to goodwill from her room.  Desk or dresser anyone? 
I plan to make some pictures of the progress so far, maybe I can do that later today and post a few pictures. 
Need to scoot so that I can get started on my DETAILED TO DO LIST!
Have a blessed Monday.
Hugs!

Semi busy weekend

Hi ya'll...wow here we are at the start of another week.  Where does the time go?  This weekend was a wet and cold one and so I didn't get nearly as much done as I had planned.  Although I did get my plants bought for the yard on Friday night which was a big project for us. Then we went and met friends for dinner.  It was a fun and relaxing time.  But Saturday morning hubby and I  were really lazy and didn't get a early start on the yard as we had planned.  But we did get a little bit of work done outside before we had to head off to take pictures for all the proms.  It was a busy day.  (I do have some pictures of Tori in her dress, but will have to get them off my camera)

We reworked the flowerbed border in our front yard and moved some plantings  around, actually thinned out some of our flowers and moved some to different areas in the yard. Plus added some new ones for that splash of color.  But we still have 2 flats of flowers to still get in pots and in the yard. Our plan was to do that on Sunday, but it was just cold and windy and looked like rain all day.  So we worked in the house.  Which needed it.  While Michael put another coat of paint on our foyer (until he ran out of paint that is) I piddled around the house, trying to make it more cozy and warm.  My house looks so sterile, and I am just not use to THAT look.  I like it, but I know it isn't there yet, because I don't have that sense of satisfaction yet.  But I am getting there.  I am finding that the older I am getting my style and taste are changing?  Does this happen to any of you?   I still need to pick up a few new things to complete the look that I am striving for.

I also got everything on my to do list done last week in my bedroom.  Now comes the fun part...NOT, of getting the boxes and extra furniture pieces out of there and into storage. If you look around my house, you will find boxes for goodwill, storage, and toss. We really  need to focus on getting Tori's room complete and then we will be able to call in the carpet folks.  I know once the carpet is laid, the house will look so different.  I know that will be a big change. And I can't wait.  We called the man about the new doors, and we are waiting to set up a time with him to make a decision and get them ordered so we can have them installed.  Woo Hoo!   So things are slowly moving along.  I noticed this weekend, that Michael and I are both so tired.  The gusto we started out with is waning and it's hard to get the momento back when you have to start and stop all the time.  I think if he had several days off, he could probably finish up most of the stuff.

Ok....so what do you all think of my new header for this site?  That is a actually picture of my front door during the summer months.  I wish I had gotten some more of it when all the flowers were in full bloom...but will have to remember that for another time.  I think I am going to be working on a new look and header for my home site as well.  Hopefully soon I will work on it.
Need to scoot, I have new list to make, hope you all have a blessed Monday.
Hugs!

10 tips for creating a cozy interior

 

Hi ya'll, as you know I have been trying to get my house organized and ready to sell.  So lately my post have been about how to do just that.  So after hours and hours of searching for practical solutions and then some of my own, I have been posting them here.  I don't believe you can have to many "easy" solutions to help us as well as free up some of our time for other things we enjoying doing.  Right? 

I find it really hard to make a house cozy and warm and inviting with over half your belonging packed away in a box.  So I ran across this article and will be implementing some of them on making a cozy interior.

Sharing some pictures from model homes...

We asked Anne Côté, style director for Chocolat magazine, to give us the inside scoop on how to make a home feel warmer. Here are 10 amazingly simple ways to create a snug and intimate space.

By Text: Mélanie Pratte

1. Accessorize your foyer.
A welcoming entranceway makes visitors feel at home as soon as they set foot inside the door. Space a bit cramped? Even a small shelf for keys and mail will add a touch of comfort. According to our expert "It's as though your home is holding out its hand to help you take off your shoes and hang up your coat."

2. Bring the outside in.
You know that empty corner you glance at every day? Côté suggests brightening it up with flowers, or maybe berries and greenery bought at the market; even the supermarket may have something fresh and green.

3. Install dimmer switches.
To create an intimate ambiance, the interior design guru recommends installing a dimmer function on your light switches. It's a simple way to vary the lighting in a room according to your mood.

4. Scatter a few rugs around.
You can have cozy toes, eat your breakfast picnic style, even read the newspapers on the living room floor if you throw down some soft rugs down.

5. Create an elegant table setting.
Goodbye stained tablecloths and scratched plates! Our home decor expert invites us to go all out, even if it's just you eating: Cover the table with a length of tasteful fabric and get out your best dishes.

6. Become a candle collector.
Nothing creates a warmer ambiance than soft candlelight - The more candles, the better," claims Côté. Create arrangements you can vary depending on your mood or the season.

7. Make your couch a soft and cozy sanctuary.
A nice wooly blanket or throw draped casually over your favorite couch will add a touch of softness to your decor - and you can wrap it around yourself when you're watching TV. Kick up the comfort factor with big, comfy cushions. You can find them anywhere and they come in an infinite number of colours and styles.

8. Brighten up your walls with travel photos.
Fight against the dying of the light by hanging framed prints of your best travel photos in rooms or along the hallway. Our expert says that not only will they bring back fond memories, they will also act as an original conversation piece.

9. Play music, sweet music, music everywhere . . .
Make your home more welcoming by replacing TV sound with soothing music. If you have a laptop and portable speakers, you can tap into the Web's infinite resources to create your own personal playlist.

10. Stimulate your scents of smell.
"Everyone knows aromas can take you far away," says our expert. Her first suggestion is to burn incense or put a log on the fireplace for a quick cocooning effect. If you don't have a fireplace, you can burn some Papier d'Arménie, an old-fashioned air purifier scented with vanilla and resin, originally from the Middle East. Slip in a DVD that shows a crackling fire and glance at it from time to time when you look up from your book. "It sounds kitschy, but it really works," Côté claims.

 

Have fun decorating!

TGIF

Hi ya friends, Hope this finds you all having a great Friday. Mine has been so far. I am so excited that the weekend is upon us though. I had great plans for my yard this weekend, but looks like our weather has changed and we are suppose to get lots of rain. So hoping between rain storms I can get a few flowers in the ground.
Last night I worked in my room and boxed up all the books I had on my shelf. I also packed up some knickknacks that I had out that could go into storage. I have quite a bit more in there to back. I ran out of boxes so didn't get everything boxed that I wanted/needed to. But will continue to work on that throughout the weekend.
Michael also got our foyer painted. He thinks it needs another coat so he might give it another once over sometime this weekend. We have several little piddly jobs that we are going to try to finish up. Seems like all of our chores have been big projects and I think he and I need some time to just take care of some of the little things and start sorting our boxes for storage/goodwill/toss.

I think tonight is going to be a busy night as we have several activities going on, several groups of friends want us to do things, we just have to chose what we are going to do.It'll be nice to get out for awhile. And tomorrow my daughter has her prom, so I have to make sure we get to her dad's to get pictures, so I can post some for you.

Not sure if I will be around this weekend...but hopefully I will have some pictures soon to show you of my daughter and all the hard work we have been doing around our house.

Hope you all have a blessed weekend.

Hugs!

Safegaurding your marriage

Howdy friends, it's finally here...the weekend that is. I am beside myself, because it has been a LONG week with work and more work at home. Originally our forecast called for a wonderful weekend, but that has all changed and now it is all about rain. I know I shouldn't complain because later this summer we will be needing it. So I am trying to be optimistic and just work between showers. That is if there is "between time". I still would like to get out in the yard and get some flowers in the ground. Will see if it happens or not.

Right now I am in the midst of reading about three books and last night I ran across a book that I had forgotten that I had until I went to packing away books last night. I ran across a book by Kay Arthur on a biblical marriage. So now it resides on my bedside table. I read about two chapters of it last night before calling it a night. I am excited to read this book. It really looks good. This is the book description:

"A Marriage Without Regrets": No matter where you are or where you've been, you can have

This book isn’t about how to have a perfect marriage, or to change our spouses,” says Kay. “It’s about having the kind of marriage where you can stand before God and say, ‘Lord, I was all that You intended me to be.’ Only when we make that kind of commitment can we truly have a marriage without regrets!”


Speaking candidly about her first marriage, her conversion to Christianity, and her longtime marriage to Jack, Kay offers practical advice on effective communication, security and significance, difficult relationships, parenting, and God’s guidelines for divorce and remarriage.

Readers will discover what the Bible says about.

resolving conflict

understanding each partner’s role

improving the sexual relationship
becoming financially wise

respecting and keeping marriage vows

This rerelease with a fresh new cover (more than 110,000 copies sold) contains the marriage–building and life–changing material Kay has presented to enthusiastic audiences worldwide—helping thousands of people in many countries experience supportive, Christ–centered marriages.

No matter how great we think our marriage is, it could always be better. I know after the dimise of my first marriage (which I thought was a great marriage) if you don't stay connected to God, the creator of marriage then when things start falling apart, your marriage will too.



I often look back at the mistakes that was made in that marriage and my part in them and remind myself, I don't want to make the same mistakes twice. I hope I have learned from that experience, no matter how good it is and how much you love someone else, you have to be practical. I loved my husband and was more than forgiving on many issues that others couldn't believe I could forgive. But my marriage was important to me, as I had made a covenant with God. I honestly believe I was married to this man for a lifetime. However, one thing I learned during the process, that one can't do it alone. I didn't want the divorce but he did and you can't make someone else stay if they don't want it. I believe I wanted the marriage for all the right reasons, and I asked/pleaded with God to save this marriage. However, my ex told me he didn't love me anymore. I felt so hurt and rejected, and I knew that I had never known anyone other than my family that loved me so unconditionally as he did. So what happened!!! I believe what happened is that God wasn't the center for both of us. I believe my ex couldn't or wouldn't deal with the past mistakes he had made, even though I was willing to forgive the past so we could move on to the kind of marriage that God ordains.



Marriages aren't safeproof unless you put GOD first. I have known for a while that was a major problem in the first marriage. So many hurt feelings, and no abilitly to forgive ourselves. You later, sit and ask yourself what happened? I know I did. I know that me and my ex both played a part in the demise of our once happy home.And I know we will answer to God for that one day. But by God's grace, we can move on and be happy once again. Believe me, I never thought that would happen for me.



I guess that is why this book has intrigued me. You see, know matter how strong you think your marriage is, Satan has a way of moving in. And he will, unless you both stand firm and arm yourself with the appropriate armour. Be ready to go to battle for your marriage. This book tells us the biblical truths about marriage and how God designed it for us so that we could have a marriage with no regrets. I had one with LOTS of regrets but I NEVER want to have another one that way. God is/will be the center of this marriage.


Didn't mean to get off on a tangent but I feel so convicted that I have to share with you, that you MUST have God in your marriage. It is the most vital part of your marriage. As the bible says, " What God has put together".....you know the rest. Please safeguard your marriage by knowing what the bible says about it. Don't be a victim of divorce as I have been.





It took me a long time and lots of prayer before I could move forth in another relationship. But I have been blessed to find a man who loves ALL of me. I have been blessed to have that twice in my lifetime. (yes, I say twice, because I know my first husband did too, but ....) I want to glorify God in this new marriage. I thank God everyday for my husband and continue to pray that he will be the head of the household as that is God wants. I have been learning to trust again, and that has been hard when you have felt so violated and rejected. But God has a way of healing those wounds. Praise God!


As I did deeper in this book and also in th WORD, I will be made aware of where/how/why my first marriage when wrong, so that I don't repeat the same mistakes.


I hope I have given you something to think about.


Feel free to drop me a note if you feel you have something to share. Would love to hear from you.

Blessed,

Cindy

More to do...

The first portion of this post was also posted at my "Life in the Details", but added some tips for you at the bottom of this post.
How ya'll doin? Can you believe that this month is half way over? I'm not sure where the time is going but it is moving, I think the older we get the faster time travels. Before long, instead of getting ahead, I am going to be falling way behind. So glad Michael got the yard work done last night, because the rain set in this morning. It rained all the way into work on me. Word has it, it isn't suppose to rain all day. We will see. Right now the clouds look grab and drab. Poo! But that makes it a good day to work in the house..huh? So back to my list.

Last night I finally got my main floor cleaned completely up with the exception of a few boxes that we need to move to the garage for storage. They are just to heavy for me to lift alone...but other than that..I finally feel like I can breathe again. I hate when my house is in a state of chaos'. My plans for today are to start on my room upstairs. I have a antique cabinet in there that has all my collection of books (that I want to keep), so I need to box all them up. So we can remove the cabinet from the room. I also have a chest at the foot of my bed that houses bunches of my handbags, so I need to box them up as well. Need to get that chest out of my room. I'm trying to create space as well as have things out of the way for the carpet layers. Basically my room is going to get a good clean.

I think Michael is going to start painting in the foyer. We have a tall foyer (20 ft.) so he is going to freshen that up with a coat a paint and bring it on up the stairs into the hall area. After that...ALL the painting will be done in the house. Woo Hoo! So guess that means we will both be busy tonight.
I am hoping that I can get that done tonight since tomorrow night there are some things I want to, and don't want to feel the pressure of not completing my goals for the week. I have my weekend list started too.

"The 7 Habits of Very Organized People" by Maria Gracia

"Have you ever wondered how some people could be so very organized, when you're struggling on a daily basis just to get your home looking halfway presentable and to get at least a few items checked off of your To Do list?
Most organized people follow a few simple rules. Here are the 7 habits of very organized people.

1. They have a place for everything. Every item they have has a consistent, assigned home. The home for books is on the book shelf. The home for toys is in the toy room on the toy shelves. The home for blank greeting cards is in the greeting card organizer in the office.
2. They put things back. Whenever an item has been removed from its assigned home, it is used for whatever reason and then immediately returned to its home when no longer in use. There are no temporary holding places. It's just put back where it belongs, right away.
3. They write things down. Organized people make lists and notes, and keep these in one consistent place such as a planner, notebook or calendar. They don't try to remember things in their heads. They let the pen and paper (or the computer) work for them. They reference their lists and notes on a daily basis. Many use the Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer as a tool:http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html
4. They don't allow papers to pile up. Papers to file are filed each day, not left to grow into mountains. Mail is opened over the recycle container so papers not needed don't even have a chance to multiply. Kids permission slips are signed right away and sent back to school with the kids. Bills are tucked into a bill paying system until bill paying day, and paid bill statements are filed away that day. Magazines are read within a week or two and then recycled or donated.
5. They don't procrastinate. When something has to be done, organized people schedule time to do it and then they keep that scheduled appointment. They know that the more they delay, the more likely deadlines will be missed or opportunities will pass.
6. They set goals and assign deadlines. They know if they want to get things done, they need to know exactly what they want the end result to be and by what date. They review these goals often and set aside time each day to work on achieving them. They review what they've accomplished and never forget to reap the rewards.
7. They only keep what they use and/or they enjoy. They can't stand anything taking up space that doesn't have a useful or pleasurable purpose in their lives. They're big believers in simplicity. They breathe easier knowing they've lightened their loads and can move easily without having to climb over boxes and piles of clutter.
Do you have any organizational tips that help you stay on track? Let me know.

Wrapping this up so I can get started....
Blessings to you all!

Movin right along!!!

How ya'll doin? Can you believe that this month is half way over? I'm not sure where the time is going but it is moving, I think the older we get the faster time travels. Before long, instead of getting ahead, I am going to be falling way behind.
So glad Michael got the yard work done last night, because the rain set in this morning. It rained all the way into work on me. Word has it, it isn't suppose to rain all day. We will see. Right now the clouds look grab and drab. Poo! But that makes it a good day to work in the house..huh? So back to my list.
Last night I finally got my main floor cleaned completely up with the exception of a few boxes that we need to move to the garage for storage. They are just to heavy for me to lift alone...but other than that..I finally feel like I can breathe again. I hate when my house is in a state of chaos'. My plans for today are to start on my room upstairs. I have a antique cabinet in there that has all my collection of books (that I want to keep), so I need to box all them up. So we can remove the cabinet from the room. I also have a chest at the foot of my bed that houses bunches of my handbags, so I need to box them up as well. Need to get that chest out of my room. I'm trying to create space as well as have things out of the way for the carpet layers. Basically my room is going to get a good clean.
I think Michael is going to start painting in the foyer. We have a tall foyer (20 ft.) so he is going to freshen that up with a coat a paint and bring it on up the stairs into the hall area. After that...ALL the painting will be done in the house. Woo Hoo! So guess that means we will both be busy tonight.
Any fans of AI? Did you see the show last night? I hated to see Danny go, but was thrilled Kris got to stay. I love him. I know alot of you are big fans of Adam, but I really am tired of him and his attitude. To me, he acts as if he has already won this competition. Did you see the look of the judges faces when Kris name was announced? Unbelievable outcome last night. Guess I will have to make sure that Kris gets my votes again next week.
Need to scoot...my bedroom is calling me. Hope you all have a wonderful evening.
Blessings,
Cindy

The yard is calling....

Hi ya'll! Today is yard day!  Yeppers!  The yard has to be mown again before the rains come again tomorrow.  One good thing about doing it today is maybe we will not have to do it again this weekend...but depending on the rain, we just might.  Seems like the lawn has been getting cut twice a week.  Michael and I are both particular about the lawn.  I just think it sets the tone of the home at first glance.  If you have a yard that is unkept and overgrown, then you can't help speculate at what the inside must look like.  Or is that just me?  If a yard is well manicured then usually the inside of the house has been taken care of too.   The weather is in the 70's here today so that makes it nice weather to do it. 

This weekend I hope to get to get out and get some annuals for a splash of color for the yard.  All my perennials are doing great and look wonderful.  But I haven't had the time or opportunity to get anything for my flower pots. 

Well, need to get outside and get at it....
Sending hugs!

A treat from a special friend

Hi ya'll! Today is yard day! Yeppers! The yard has to be mown again before the rains come again tomorrow. One good thing about doing it today is maybe we will not have to do it again this weekend...but depending on the rain, we just might. Seems like the lawn has been getting cut twice a week. Michael and I are both particular about the lawn. I just think it sets the tone of the home at first glance. If you have a yard that is unkept and overgrown, then you can't help speculate at what the inside must look like. Or is that just me? If a yard is well manicured then usually the inside of the house has been taken care of too. The weather is in the 70's here today so that makes it nice weather to do it. This weekend I hope to get to get out and get some annuals for a splash of color for the yard. All my perennials are doing great and look wonderful. But I haven't had the time or opportunity to get anything for my flower pots.

Last night when I opened my mail, I had a sweet little treat waiting for me from my friend Judy. I am so honored that she enjoys visiting with me. She presented me with this lovely little award.

The rules for this award are:

Put the logo on your blog or post.
Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
Let them know that they have received this award.
Remember to link the person from whom you received the award.

Ladies, since all my friends already seem to have this award, I am not passing along.

Again Judy thank you!

Well, need to get outside and get at it....

Sending hugs!

Are you a dreamer or doer

You Are a Dreamer

You are primarily concerned with possibilities. You tend to be a fanciful person. All of the world's opportunities sometimes overwhelm you. You are obsessed with ideas and tend to be a big thinker. Theories interest you greatly. You crave intellectual stimulation. You are drawn to a philosophical way of life.

Are You a Dreamer or a Doer?

Disorganized Life Syndrome?

I'm back! Bet you didn't even miss me huh? Last night, I worked on my living room. Woo Hoo! Glad I can see the floor in there now. Before, you couldn't move in there. Hubby did a awesome job on the new floors. Love them!!! The room is put back together, but I have little trinkets filling up my dining room table until I find a new home for them. We still need to hang some blinds in there, but that isn't a major deal. Other than that, I think it is done.

We also had a bunch of boxes that need to go to our storage unit sitting in the middle of the floor, and we moved those to the garage as a holding station until we have enough stuff to warrant another trip over there. We also had several bags and boxes for goodwill. I am thrilled that we moved them out of the living room, so now I have a little more space to move now. When my house is unorganized I feel terrible, and now I know why...I have DLS! Do you?

Awhile back I found this article at Refining Life!

Do You Have DLS: Disorganized Life Syndrome?

By Jan Hayner

Symptoms: messy tendencies, packrat feelings, mental confusion, lack of order, constantly losing things, loss of control, depression, high anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and a massive feeling of the world closing in on you. (Boy can I relate to these symptoms)

Sound like you? Almost all of us go through this several times a year - especially around spring and fall cleaning times.

What is the remedy?

1. Make a list of your problem areas
2. List why they bother you
3. Decide what you are going to do about it and at what level are you going to be happy with the outcome?

The first two items are easy to do, but what about the third item on your list?

That is the one that gives us the most problems in completing the task. We become so over-whelmed that we give up.

For some reason we always tend to think that if things aren't done like Martha Stewart, it isn't good enough. This can lead to projects being in a constant stage of organization – never quite done to what we think is expected. We need to lose those expectations we’ve buried ourselves under. Our goal at that point to should be to get it under control and keep it there. Take things down to the simplest form and decide how you will organize it so that you are happy with the outcome for this particular time in your life.

This same theory can be used in every project that you do whether it is at home, in the office or any recreational hobbies you may have.

Always remember that once you have something organized to the point of satisfaction for you, it will relieve the stress and anxiety and make life brighter and easier to cope with. Not to mention a lot easier to keep up and to re-organize later!

Do you have DSL? If so, I hope this remedy will help you too!

Hugs,

Cindy

Tuesday Thoughts

Hi ya'll!  Just popping on for a few minutes to check in.  I hope this finds you all having a good great week.  So far so good on this end.  It has been busy but guess that is what happens when you have a million things going on.  Our weather here has been wild.  Seems like we have had alot of rain, just like everyone else, so getting in the yard to do yard work hasn't been real easy. I did get my wildflower garden tilled and planted though. I really hope that they do well this year, because I love to be able to bring fresh flowers in the house, and wildflowers are probably my favorite.  I like there carefree look. They are  a bit whimsy and look like they don't have a care in the world.  Kinda the way I wish my life was.

This week is going to be a full week at work and then this weekend, my daughter is going to be going to her senior prom.  It's hard to believe that she will be graduating in a few short weeks. Where does the time go?  Seems like only yesterday she was starting school, and now she is finishing it.  Next week she will take "the board certification" for cosmetology and she is a bit nervous about it.  But I think she will do fine. This is something that she has ALWAYS wanted to do, and she is rather good at it...so I hope she passes so she will have that behind her.  She has been working in a salon for awhile,that she loves.  She worked there last summer and this school year she has been working on the weekends and in the evenings when she has been needed, but they have offered her a job once she is out of school and passes her board.  She is very excited.

Well last night when I got home, I cleaned out my living room...yeah!!!  Granted alot of things got moved to the dining room table until I can find a new home for it, or pack it away.  It's so difficult to decide what to do with "stuff" treasures  when your just not sure what your going to need to put finishing touches on things.  So guess you know what I am going to do tonight.One guess?  I will be trying to work my way through some of the clutter treasures on that table.  I am still  trying to work off my list that I have made out for this week.  Trying to do just a few things each day.  One thing is for sure, this new schedule I have now is more conducive of getting a few things done in the evening for me.  Before, by the time I got home I was just too tired to work on the house.  Now I do a little each day and I feel like I am being productive.  And I like that feeling. Just a few things on my list for this week are:

• Clean out the Living Room ( done)
• Pack up books in my bedroom
• Remove bookshelves from room. Take to storage
• Clean from under my bed (I use it for storage)
• Pack up my vanity items (Take vanity to storage)
• Clean "junk" off of dining room table
• Take items to goodwill
• Call about the new doors
• Make call about the piano
• Hang blinds in Living Room
• Start painting the foyer and upstairs hallway

A while back I saw this "funny" about our work spaces....Do you spend alot of time at work?  If you do and are like me then you probably can relate to some of these pictures.(I can't remember where I found this, but if you know, tell me so that I can give credit, thanks!)
If you spend a large part of your week in an office or cubicle, interesting and pretty accessories can make that time more enjoyable. So below, I offer some suggestions for transforming your work space.
Don't forget a green plant or two. They help to purify that stuffy recycled air and bring a little of the outside in.

Try arranging your furniture & equipment in a new a different way. Moving things around a bit will keep it interesting!

New slipcovers will give your well-worn things a new, fresh look.

Create a new look with wallpaper. Who said foil went out with the 80's??

Here's an example of budget-friendly decor.

Finally, when you want the boss to know that you're not even thinking of working over the Holiday weekend...


Well guess I need to wrap this up so that I can get to work. You saw my list. ..Have a great rest of the day!

Kitchen Inspiration

Hi Ya'll! Happy Monday! I hope all you Mothers had a wonderful day with you kids yesterday. I had a chance to spend a little bit of time with mine and it was wonderful. I am so proud of young adults that they have grown into. They do a momma proud.

My weekend was spent working on the house, as I knew it would...but am really glad that we had such a productive weekend. Even though everything we wanted to do didn't get done, I think it is attainable this week. Michael completed some of the projects and I worked on getting the Kitchen, Family Room and Dining Room and Living Room back in order. I succeeded with the exception of the Living Room, which I will work on a little everyday this week after work. I can't wait to show you all some of the pictures once it is completed. (we are working against a deadline because my daughter graduates the first of June and we want to have EVERYTHING done by then because we have out of town guest coming in).

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
~Robert Collier

With these renovations comes a new sense of organization and design. I have ALOT of stuff, so I am packing lots of that stuff away. Mainly for myself, but also when the time comes to sell our home, I know prospective buyers don't want to see all my knicks knacks. So going for a more clean look. So that is where the inspiration comes in. Some kitchens that I love...

So what do you think of these kitchens? Have any great inspiration sites, if you do, please share?

Cindy

A Organized Mind

Hi Ya'll! Happy Monday and I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!! It was such a pretty day, it was a bit breezy here in Maryland, but the sun was out and it was so pretty. I had the opportunity to spend some time with my kids yesterday and that is always nice. My daughter stopped over in the morning for a visit before she had to start her day and we had a nice time chatting, and then my oldest son came over and spent the day with me and he made me dinner. It was such a wonderful treat to have him make me dinner. I loved it. My second son came over after he got off from work and spent the evening with me and had dinner with us. I loved having them both there for a little while. I feel truly blessed by the young men they have grown into.
Most of the weekend was spent working in the house, so didn't get much else accomplished. But we did get alot done over the course of two days. Although one of my big goals was to get the main floor completely finished and back in order...Well the work is completely finished but it all isn't back in order, still have the living room to declutter. Guess I will have to work on that over the course of the next several days after I get off work. Boy does my house look different. When my oldest son came over yesterday I ask him what he thought and if he liked it...his reply, " Mom, you have been robbed". I started laughing because to me that was such a funny statement. Especially if you knew me and how my house normally looks. When it is all done, I will share pictures at my home blog. You see, I have LOTS of stuff in my house....but I have boxed up the most of it...so right now, it is sparse...because I want the house to look as big as possible. But it sure did look different to him. It amazing how different a house feels without ALL the stuff...and how good it feels, there really is alot of truth to "it unclutters the mind".
For me, I find I am a better mother and wife if I have a organized Mind.I found this article (http://www.stacksandstacks.com/) awhile back and I think it relates well for me maybe it will for you too.

10 Tips to an Organized Mind

By Jan Hayner

By organizing your mind, you get rid of clutter that fills the brain, which causes stress and anxiety. We all have enough things in our lives that are uncontrollable that can create problems, so why not organize the things that we can control, giving us a true feeling of accomplishment and stress free living.
These 10 tips will help you to keep your mind on-track and help you organize your life:
1. Make a note.
Always carry a pocket size notebook in your purse or pocket and when you remember something that needs to be done, the very best thing to do is write it down. Check your notes daily to help make your next 'list of things to do.'
2. Keep it all in one place and create a workspace.
Always have a workspace or work center in your home. This is the heart of your work area, where you keep your notes, bills, calendar etc.
3. Keep your body healthy.
Eat healthy; get plenty of rest and lots of good exercise. This will see you through to having a good memory, staying focused and being alert. A body that is healthy, works well, is more active, concentrates better and functions on a higher level.
4. Record those 'instant' thoughts.
Mini pocket recorders are available that attach to your key chain for those fast little thoughts that run through your mind and need to be written down. Unfortunately when driving a car, working on an important document or running after kids it is not easy to stop and write a note. HOWEVER, it is easy to record your thoughts on a mini recorder and play them back later.
5. Leave a message for yourself.
Call your answering machine and leave a message for yourself. It could be things you need to take care of in your home; you may need to make an appointment, to schedule a play date for your child, clean out the gutters, or something you need to add to the grocery list. By leaving a message, it will eliminate it from your mind and you will have a note in place to remind you of it later.
6. Trust yourself.
Know that the note you have left is important and not to be ignored. Do not overlook a note or message that you have left for yourself thinking that it can be done later. It was important enough to jot it down, now do it!
7. Email reminders.
If your job is computer related or you have access to one, you can send yourself an Email or subscribe to an email, calendar or reminder service. Most of these are already 'free of charge' on your own computers.
8. Use Post-it sticky notes.
The bright, neon colors will be great to catch your eye. Need to make an urgent call first thing in the morning? Leave a Post-It Note on your telephone. Need to remind the kids to brush better, leave a note on the bathroom mirror, or keep all of your notes at your work center for fast reference.
9. Use timers for instant reminders.
Set your timer to beep a few minutes before you leave for work to start your air conditioner in the car. Set your timer for a break in your work schedule, to remind you that you need to make that important phone call or that you have 'x' number of minutes left for a particular goal to be accomplished.
10. A picture is worth a thousand words.
You may need to remind yourself what your goal is so you do not get off task. If it is organizing a closet, hang a picture of an organized closet on your closet door. If it is getting a document ready for a client, have a picture of someone smiling holding a paper. If it is making a shelf, have a picture of the finished product hanging up to remind you that all of the work is worth the effort.
For years I was pretty organized and then I went to work full time. My life changed drastically when I wasn't home all day. All the things that I had done so effortlessly, was now taking everything in me to do. I was letting things go that I had never done before. It was creating chaos' in my house, but mainly in my mind. When my house was in limbo, so was my mind. Over time, I have been trying to work myself back to a more organized state of home/and mind. Working on simplifying my life in all areas.

I worked on my "Simple Daybook" last night, so if you would like to read my entry you can hop over to visit.
"Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
~ Albert Einstein
Keep life simple.
Hope you have a blessed Monday!
Hugs,
Cindy

Weekend Plans

Howdy friends,I am so glad it is the weekend. I can't wait to sit in my jammies and sip my coffee out on my deck in the morning.

I'm hoping I can get a few things done without a bunch of interruptions too . Don't know about you, but when I get started, I hate to have to stop. Don't you?

My primary goal this weekend, is to get my main floor back in order and more things boxed up and put into storage. Once I can actually walk through the main floor again, it will be like I have a new house, I can't tell you how eager and excited I am to see how it all is going to look with all the hard work that Michael has put into it. Poor man, he works all day and comes home and works all night. He is such a trooper. I am one blessed woman.

I'm also working on a shopping list, you know for those things that you need so that your house looks new and clean when folks come in to view it. So far my little list consist of:

• pillows for the sofa (now that it is in the Living Room)
• Decorative towels for the downstairs bathroom
• possibly window coverings for LR/ FR

If you can think of any small little touches that I should add, leave me the idea in the comments...K?

Yesterday on my lunch hour, I took a little stroll over to "Home Goods" and "Pier 1". . Boy do they have some pretty stuff at "Home Goods" , my head starting reeling and going a mile a minute with all the things I would LOVE to have. So pretty.If you have one near you and haven't been yet, it is really worth the time. Basically trying to get some ideas and inspiration, and the creative juices flowing, if you know what I mean.

Over these last several months that I have been away from my computer I have been scouring websites for inspiration to use while staging my house, and for my new home, wherever it might be. Some sites that I just love are:

Bienvenue
Cynthia's Cottage Design
Nesting Place
The Lettered Cottage

Again, if you have any sites you just love for inspiration please do share....

Guess I should hop off here and start my weekend instead of writing about it. Got lots to do, and only two full days to do it in.
Hope you all have a wonderful "Mother's Day" if I don't get back before then.
Blessings!


Happy Mothers Day!!!

Just a few weekend plans

Just a little howdy before the weekend starts. I am sure my time this weekend will be busy, since Michael and I both will be at the house and we have LOTS to accomplish in those two days. Note to self * Get my list ready. Our biggest goal is getting the main floor of our house back together. If your wondering what all is going on then jump over to my home blog and take a look see!

Well here it is Mother's Day weekend. Do any of you have any special plans? As of now, I don't have any big plans. Sad I know....not really. All three of my kids are very busy right now and it is hard to get us all together for any amount of time. So if we can't get together then I am sure we will at a later time.

When God Created Mothers
by Erma Bombeck

When the good Lord was creating mothers He was into His sixth day of
"overtime" when the angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling
around this one."
And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order? She has to be
completely washable, but not plastic; Have 180 moveable parts... all
replaceable; Run on black coffee and leftovers; Have a lap that disappears
when she stands up; A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a
disappointed love affair; And six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord. "It's the
three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks,
"What are you kids doing in there?" when she already knows. Another here in
the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know,
and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs
up and say, "I understand and I Love You" without so much as uttering a
word."
"Lord", said the angel, toughing His sleeve gently, "Come to bed.
Tomorrow..."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I'm so close to creating something so close to
myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick... can feed a
family of six on one pound of hamburger... and can get a nine-year-old to
stand under a shower."
The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she
sighed.
"But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this mother
can do or endure."
"Can it think?"
"Not only think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a
leak," she pronounced. "I told You. You were trying to put too much into
this model."
"It's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear."
"What's it for?"
"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."
"You are a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there."

Happy Mother's Day

Playing catch up with ya'll

Happy Thursday all you happy homemakers!!!!

I know three post in row...wow, can you believe it? Today, I want to try to put myself back onto some kind a schedule with this blog. I love blogging, but for various reasons over the last several(more than that) months real life has been kicking me in the behind. I hate it when that happens. But I am hopeful and optimistic that that is changing. So I basically want to jump in and share all kinds of stuff with you.

As most of you know, I work full time with a hefty commute on top of everything...and back in the fall my work hours changed and drastically effected my home life as well as my physical being. I just never could seem to get caught up or energized and motivated. But in the last week, my work hours have changed again, and I am feeling more like my old self and life is starting to spring back into my step. Praise God!!!! Hence, that is why I am hoping that my "blogging life" will be a bit better. Still not perfect, but much better than it was.

Before I get started I want to share with you one of my favorite new hangouts. I am telling you that it is addicting, so if you don't want to "lose more time in your day" then my all means DO NOT check it out. But if you WANT to, let me take you there. Just click on the image and it will take you to Aunt Ruthie's place. The women are great and I just love reading all the topics.

Now on to "HOUSE STUFF"

If you read a few post ago about all the renovations that my hubby and I are doing then you know that we have been busy. We finally got the wood floors down in the living room and the walls repainted. It looks great. My hubby is such a wonderful handyman. Now he has moved into the family room/kitchen. We aren't doing alot of work other than painting in there , but he is repainting the walls (Boston Creme) so therefore we MOVED ALL the furniture out of the room so that he didn't have to paint around things. Boy what a big difference this color choice is. My walls were a green color, which I really liked, but this color is so light and it makes the room look much bigger. Now, let me state that I really didn't want to paint this room, because there wasn't anything wrong with the color that was in there. Even though it was a dark color it works with many different palettes. But hubby wanted too, and I am GLAD he stuck to his guns on this, because it does look better. Once it is done, I will have to do some before and after shots for you. Also we are touching up all the cabinets. Over time there are a few little chips of paint. Overall though it looks much better. Our goal is to be able to move furniture back into the room by the weekend and box up our goodies that we don't want to have out when we get ready to put the house on the market. I have spent alot of time reading up on "staging the house". Nester did a whole series on staging your home for sale and had some great ideas that I am taking to heart.

Also, I have been doing a little shopping. Last fall, Michael's mom (whom was terminally ill at the time) gave all her children and their spouses money for Christmas, as she knew she wouldn't be here by Christmas time (she passed away in early November) she wanted us to buy something with the money she gave us as her Christmas present to us. So needless to say, I have been holding onto my money because I wanted my present from Betty to be something that I would truly enjoy and wasn't "trendy" or "wasteful". I wanted a gift that I could pass down or get a long time of use from it. As my reminder of this special lady. Before I tell you what I spent my money on, I will tell you that Michael got himself a Barrister bookcase. He had wanted one for a long time and he found a great deal on one in a local antique shop so now it resides in his office. He loves it and so do I. Now, for me, I bought a 12 placesetting of Longaberger pottery dishes (Ivory) and accessory pieces. I can't wait for them to come in. Michael and I didn't buy china when we married, but I wanted something new and nice but it has to go with all my decorating styles and colors...so I chose something that would accomplish all that. :) I have a farmhouse style hutch, open shelves, etc....and I think I am going to put them in there. If anyone has any great idea for decorating my hutch or some great resources, please let me know. Just leave me a note in the comment section.

For now, I think I am going to wrap this up.

Have a blessed rest of the week.

Hugs!

Cindy

Thursday Thoughts

Hi buddies, Can you believe it, another post for me...what is she going to talk about today? Ah, who knows. I have had a slow morning here at work and so thought I would work on a post. I know I should be working on some more training, but don't feel inspired to that....YET! I will....

This morning my mind has been busy working overtime, with all kinds of thoughts about home, family, spiritual, you name it. I feel my existence tugging on me in a million little directions. Now for me that can be a bad thing, but actually now, it's not, It's a good thing. I feel like I have my motivation back, which has been lacking for a while now. Over the course of the last several days (maybe week) I have been working on getting my perspective back to where it is/was suppose to be. For a while, I was just one tired soul. Since my new schedule, I am feeling more "normal" and rested. It is simply amazing what a difference and outlook you have when your body gets proper rest. My optimistic attitude had become more negative. Which is a trait I simply hate. I know that is a strong word, but it is so true for me. Do you realize how many people have negative attitudes and they don't even realize it? For me, I do realize when mine is like that. And I don't like it. And seems no matter what I was doing it wasn't getting better. Praise God, I don't feel that way anymore. For the most part, I am back to my happy little self with way to much going on. :) Oh well, I know it is temporary. Once our house projects are complete, things should settle down.

So did you all see my video that I posted last night? Isn't Chondra a funny lady? Just love her humor and the way she can laugh at herself. I have found another woman that I also enjoy, her name is Jeanne Robertson, see what you think!

Well, I am going to work on a little post for my homemaking site, so if you want to check it out...jump on over there.

Hope your having a blessed week.

Cindy

Happy Wednesday Everybody

Two days in a row...that definitely has to be a record for me.  My track record hasn't been all that good lately.  Today was so much better than the other days of the week.  The sun actually came out to play for a bit....but tonight the rain started in again and it came a downpour.

I had a little bit of free time so decided to change my background to something a bit more cheery.  What ya think?  Well this week is zipping right along, and before we know it, it will be the weekend.  Our dear  friends ( the ones we go out with all the time) he is turning the big 50 on Friday.  So hoping that sometime we will be able to get with them to celebrate. I know they have lots of plans with family this weekend and with it being Mothers Day they have to incorporate those activities as well.  So not sure if we can get together Friday or if we will have to wait until next week.

 This week at work I have been working on some computer training and it has actually been fun for me.  It's been awhile since I have been given the opportunity to do anything like that at work, so I have been plowing through them.  Today I started working with Photoshop CS.  It looks like it will be a good class.  Although I have worked with web pages for years, I haven't actually done much in the graphic arena, and I have been itching to work with some of the software. 

Well, guess I should wrap this up, i haven't eaten tonight and it's already after 9.  So need to grab a snack and hit the hay.  But before I go, i want to leave you with something to make you laugh.

Happy Wednesday Everybody

Two days in a row...that definitely has to be a record for me.  My track record hasn't been all that good lately.  Today was so much better than the other days of the week.  The sun actually came out to play for a bit....but tonight the rain started in again and it came a downpour.

I had a little bit of free time so decided to change my background to something a bit more cheery.  What ya think?  Well this week is zipping right along, and before we know it, it will be the weekend.  Our dear  friends ( the ones we go out with all the time) he is turning the big 50 on Friday.  So hoping that sometime we will be able to get with them to celebrate. I know they have lots of plans with family this weekend and with it being Mothers Day they have to incorporate those activities as well.  So not sure if we can get together Friday or if we will have to wait until next week.

 This week at work I have been working on some computer training and it has actually been fun for me.  It's been awhile since I have been given the opportunity to do anything like that at work, so I have been plowing through them.  Today I started working with Photoshop CS.  It looks like it will be a good class.  Although I have worked with web pages for years, I haven't actually done much in the graphic arena, and I have been itching to work with some of the software. 

Well, guess I should wrap this up, i haven't eaten tonight and it's already after 9.  So need to grab a snack and hit the hay.  But before I go, i want to leave you with something to make you laugh.

Saying hi

Just stopping in to say a quick hello and hope you all are doing well.  Sorry I have been gone for so long, but so much is going on with me these last several months that I can't seem to stay on top of things.  And my blog has kinda gone to the way side.  I hope soon that I will be able to visit with some of you again.  I do keep up through my RSS feeds though. 

Working on ALL the additional renovations is taking all our free time, so bare with me.  Miss you all!

Saying hi

Just stopping in to say a quick hello and hope you all are doing well.  Sorry I have been gone for so long, but so much is going on with me these last several months that I can't seem to stay on top of things.  And my blog has kinda gone to the way side.  I hope soon that I will be able to visit with some of you again.  I do keep up through my RSS feeds though. 

Working on ALL the additional renovations is taking all our free time, so bare with me.  Miss you all!