Why I Used to Think They Fly the Flag for Me~

Today is Flag Day.  A day where we, in the USA honor our flag.  Drive down any street in the country and you'll likely see a number of residents celebrating the flag today.  But when I was younger, I used to think that they were flying the flag for me.  Because Flag Day also happens to be my birthday.  Yep, today I celebrate another year under my belt.  Today I turn 39.  My last year as a 30-something.

I'd like to think that in those 39 years, I've gained a bit of wisdom here and there. 

So here are 39 bits of wisdom.  My gift to you on my 39th birthday...

1. Breathe.
2. Smile.
3. Believe that you have something great to offer.
4. Chase your dreams.
5. Tell your family you love them.
6. Treat your family like you love them.
7. Exercise makes you feel good.
8. Making your bed helps your whole house seem cleaner.
9. Don't dwell on the negative.
10. This too shall pass.
11. Be kind. 
12. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
13. Give compliments freely.
14. You only get to live each day once, do it right the first time.
15. Dressing up is good for you.
16. So is icecream.
17. Stop and smell the roses.
18. Listen to your children...even when you're busy.
19. Give credit where credit is due.
20. Stop at a lemonade stand.
21. Give anonymous service.
22. Always say thank you.
23. Work hard.
24. Play hard.
25. Dream big.
26. Never stifle a good instinct.
27. When you go out of the house without makeup, you will always run into someone.
28. Go barefoot whenever you can.
29. Hot baths are good for what ails you.
30. So is hot chocolate.
31. Dance to the music.
32. Sing.
33. Don't be afraid to try something new.
34. Failure often leads to later success.
35. You really are only as old as you feel.
36. You can do just about anything you set your mind to.
37. Be your best you, because someone is always looking to you as an example.
38. Nurture your creativity.
39. Celebrate the little things.

Thanks for visiting me here at The Shabby Nest!  You make my life a lot of fun!  Here's looking forward to another great year!

Keeping Up With the In-Laws~

Thank you to Yahoo! Mail for sponsoring this post about staying connected. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

When the Hubby and I were first married, we moved across the country from Utah to Massachusetts so that he could attend college.  When we arrived, we moved in with his parents.  What was a supposed to be a temporary arrangement ending up lasting almost 2 years.  For some, I realize, an arrangement like this would be a nightmare.  But I consider it a fabulous blessing.  Because, you see, in that two years I  became closer to my in-laws than I ever would have dreamed possible.

Of course, it wasn't always a bed of roses, but for the most part, it was fabulous!  The Hubby's parents were our best friends.  We did everything together!  Went out to dinner, to movies, on trips to Cape Cod, Washington DC, Maine, New York, Newport, RI....the list could go on and on. 

I loved to learn things about cooking and housekeeping from my amazingly talented mother-in-law, and to debate with and learn about art from my professor father-in-law.  So despite the fact that I was wary of moving to Massachusetts in the first place, I was heartbroken to leave. 

We have lived in Massachusetts since then, but are now "permanently" back in my home state.  (Yeah, I used quotes because life has a way of making you eat your words.  But this move is supposed to be permanent.)  And I miss those two like crazy.

Email has been a great way for me to keep in contact with my father-in-law.  We've had many a lengthy debate via email.  And his patient responses to my sometimes-naive arguments have kept me typing and sending back and forth sometimes for days.  I love this form of communication because of the fact that I can think and edit before hitting send...and that with 4 kiddos running around, I can actually have a conversation without interruption.

But my mother-in-law doesn't email.  Or she didn't, until recently.  I was so excited the first day we received an email from my mother-in-law's newly set-up account!  Hurray!! Now we can swap recipes, and photos with the click of a button!!  It's like a whole new chapter in our relationship (hee hee!)

I can't tell you how important it is for me to keep in touch with these two wonderful people that I love beyond words!  Thanks heavens for technology!  Thanks heavens for email!

Thought I'd share this cute little video with you because it shows how email can keep a family close...

Around The Web~

Here are a few places you can find me around the web right now...

Over at Jennifer's fabulous blog, Style Your Life, I shared some Tween Room Inspiration.



Okay so this little guy isn't a Tween, but this room would work well for one...
and it's one of my favorite boy's rooms ever!  Photo via Houzz.com

 At Fifth Room Living, I shared 5 tips for Making Your Guests Feel at Home.

Finally, over at Little Black Dress/ Little Red Wagon, I shared my Subway Art Tutorial.

Have a great day~

Longing for a Normal Day~

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."  

                                                                                                     -Mary Jean Iron

I ran across this quote the other day, and rarely has a quote struck me with such intensity.  I feel like I  haven't seen a "normal" day in ages.  A day that is just a day.  A day without worry, or fear, or crisis, or craziness.  I wonder if they even exist.  Of course, wonderful things happen too...and those sorts of "not normal" days I can handle.  But right now, the stress is a little much.

And I apologize to you,  my dear readers, for the lack of fun projects and DIYs on the old blog of late,  but since we are getting ready to move, home projects are obviously on haitus. 

Also, and more importantly, Mr. Two, my 5-year-old has surgery scheduled for tomorrow.  It's outpatient surgery, and fairly typical procedures, but still, when it's your baby that's having surgery, it's nerve-wracking.  I haven't had a good night's sleep in days.  Since we have such a wonderful corner of the blogosphere,  may I ask you to please remember my little guy in your prayers.  I would really appreciate it! 

Thanks and much love!

Wendy

The Blog Notebook: Organizing my Bloggy Stuff~

Do you blog?  If so, is blogging a casual past time?  a serious hobby?  your job?  

For me, blogging is serious business.  It started out as a casual hobby...but then the obsession set in.  You know about that, don't you?   Oh, I think you do.  When you are sitting at the park watching your kiddos play and blog posts are floating on the periphery of your thoughts.  When you are walking through a store, and project ideas keep popping into your head...and you are composing blog posts in your mind to go with each.  Oh yes.  It's true.  It wasn't long before I was head over heels in love with blogging.

And before I go on, I have to say, that although I love my computer...and use it for soooo many things, I also love paper.  Yep, good old fashioned paper.  I'm a list maker.  An idea jotter-downer (yes, that is a technical term.)  I have notebooks...lots of them...where I keep track of just about everything.  And the notebook thing worked well for blogging -  for a while.  Until I started to not be able to find the idea or list or what-have-you that I needed, when I needed it.  So I knew I had to come up with a better plan.   And it still  had to be on paper.  (Couldn't give that part up.)

So I came up with the Blog Binder.  Okay, so some of you are probably way ahead of me on this one.  "Welcome to the club, Wendy!"  you're thinking.  "Slow, much, Wendy?" you're saying to yourself.  Well, maybe.  But now I have this great binder to keep my blog in order, so I wanted to share it with you...

First up,  I wanted to make it fun and happy so I chose a pink one. Why not use a happy color?  Then I had to think up the categories that would work best for me...

Here's what I came up with...

1. A Blog Calendar.  Once I started blogging in a serious way, I found it essential to plan out my  posts in advance.  So, I needed to use a calendar.  I used to  list them in my planner (yes, I use a planner...paper-using list-maker, remember?) but I wanted a place just dedicated to blogging, so a calendar in my binder worked well.  In the calendar I list not only posts, but linky-parties I'm going to participate in, when I need to remove ads from my blog, when I need to send invoices, etc.  In short, anything and everything solely devoted to the blog.

Here are some links to some great FREE blog calendar printables.  This one from Living Locurto (which I used in my binder) and this one from Evelyn Kate Designs are weekly.  A weekly calendar works well for me because I have lots of stuff I need to keep track of.  This one from Blogging BookShelf is monthly.  If you just want to track posts, something like this would work well.

2. Brainstorming.  Let's face it. Coming up with fresh subject matter isn't always easy.  Brainstorming for your blog is important.  So I have a section just dedicated to that.  When a random idea comes to me, I start a page for it.  Then when I have some time (ha ha), I brainstorm the topic to come up with ideas.  I also keep lists of projects I'd like to do that could be blogworthy, or single post ideas that don't need to be fleshed out, so that I can refer to them when I'm not feeling very creative.

3. To Do's.  I have a section in my binder for to-do's.  This is where I can keep notes on any projects that I am working on that I will want to blog, so that I can have all of my "stuff" in one place.  I like to list sources, ideas, fabric swatches, paint colors, you name it. 

4. Business.  Now, I must preface this by saying that my blog is my job.  So I have a lot of stuff on the business end of blogging that I need to track, including the dates for ads to go up and come down (that I can then transfer to my calendar), information for product reviews or posts of that nature, and other miscellaneous stuff.  Having all of the nitty-gritty in one place sure is helpful.

5. Inspiration.  This is one of my favorite parts of my binder.  In this section, I put magazine tear-sheets or photos or other things that inspire me that I might want to incorporate into the blog.  Some I choose just for the color, or a word, or the feeling.  Inspiration can come from just about anything.  But organizing inspiration (at least for me) is important. 

6. Finally, I have a folder (pink again!) where I can keep loose odds and ends that I need on hand...like these paint chip cards. 

So there you have it...my blog brain in hard copy.  A portable version that doesn't require wi-fi.  The Blog Notebook.  Hope it gave you a little inspiration... 

Have a great day~

Mothering~

Having children was a hard won victory for me.  The hubby and I tried for 4 years to have our first baby.  But finally, after what seemed like a million trips to the fertility specialist and at least that many different procedures, crying every month when I discovered I wasn't pregnant, finally conceiving and miscarrying, the first of our four perfect babies was placed in my arms at the hospital. 

My  OB had a tradition of singing a Swedish birthday song to every baby he delivered.  He had a beautiful voice.  But my eyes were only for my baby.  How I had longed for him.

And yet, even though I had dreamt of that moment everyday for all those years, I had no idea how quickly and how intensely I would fall in love with that beautiful little creature.  How my entire identity would change the instant he was born.  How I would forever be his mother.

And now, almost 11 years later, I have four beautiful children.  And I am insanely in love with all of them.  And I thank my Heavenly Father daily for the gift he has given me in them.  And I pray that I will be worthy of that gift.

And how grateful I am for my mother who gave me the gift of life, and who is, unquestioningly, one of the strongest women I have ever known.  And to my sweet mother-in-law who is as  much my mother as she is the hubby's.  I am so blessed to have these two wonderful women in my life to mother me, to give me advice, and to listen when all I want to do is complain. 

Happy Mother's Day.

Ch..Ch..Ch..Changes~

I don't know about you, but it feels like every time my world starts to fall into any sort of comfortable pattern, life kicks me in the stomach. 

For example...

The Hubby and I bought our first home in Massachusetts at the height of the market.  We were so excited!  We bought in a great neighborhood.  The kids went to a great school.  The hubby's contracting business was doing well.  And then...we all know what happened...the housing market crashed.  Hard!  And that wasn't a good thing for contractors either.  The work slowed down.  Our house decreased in value.  We got to a point where we had to sell it.  Thankfully, we sold it quickly, and we only lost our down payment. 

So we moved to Utah -  in January of last year.  We planned on renting a house for a couple of years while we saved up a new down payment for another house.  Things went well for while.  Then, as many of  you know, in August of last year, the Hubby was in a near fatal car accident.  Thankfully, he survived...but he basically crushed his right leg, broke 8 ribs and punctured a lung.  Needless to say, his recovery has been slow.  Now, unless you're really paying attention, it's hard to see him limping, but he does.  And if he's on his leg for any length of time it swells terribly.  So working is still difficult for him.  He hasn't really been able to work since the accident, and that has been hard on both of us.  But, with retirement money, and the money I make from the blog, we've gotten by.  Our neighborhood is FANTASTIC, the kids school is amazing, they have a great group of friends.  In short,  we're really happy here.

You can see it coming, can't you?

About three weeks ago, we found out that our landlords are selling the house.  Yep.  Selling it.  They offered us first dibs if we'd like to buy it.  But, of course, we can't.  So now we have to move.  Yuck.  I really hoped to stay in the house we're in  until we could buy another one.  No such luck.

We have an opportunity to rent a place that is really a blessing considering the situation we find ourself in.  Thing is, it's about 40 minutes south of where we are now.  A great town, and family close by.  We feel blessed that it has come up.  It will mean downsizing (not that we live in such a palatial house now).  But that's good.  There are boxes down in our basement that we've carried with us from move to move for probably 10 years...it's time they went.  It will also mean a new school for the kiddos, new friends, new experiences.  (Not to mention a new place to decorate!) 

And so, despite the fact that I cried when I first found out we have to move again, I've come to embrace it as a new opportunity.  A reinvention if you will.  I hope you'll join me on this little journey.  It should be an adventure!

And another fun change is on the way (well, fun for me at least).  The blog is in the middle of a redesign!  I'm loving what's going to be the new look and can't wait to share it with you all in the very near future.  So if you pop over one day, and everything looks different...don't worry...it's just a change for the better! 

And on an entirely unrelated note,  it's about time I announce the winner of the Lisa Leonard Gift Certificate....KIM WEBB!! Congratulations Kim.  Please email me, ane we'll get you set up with your prize!!

Have a great day!  Frugal Friday goes live tonight at10:00 pm EST.

House of Fifty (and a little Easter What-We-Wore)~

Today is the day! The official launch of House of Fifty e-zine! Created by the very talented Janell of Isabella and Max rooms!

I am so honored to have been one of the contributors to the premier issue of this beautiful

e-zine. As a contributor, I was lucky enough to see a sneak peak of the magazine last week...and I must tell you...it is simply stunning. A must read, if I do say so myself.

Click here (or on the photo above) to read House of Fifty!

Now for a little Easter What-We-Wore.

I just love Easter! It is seriously one of my favorite holidays. And one of the things that I love the most is dressing my children up for church in their new Easter finery! Our family tradition of getting new Easter clothes is one that dates back to my childhood...and one that I've loved continuing with my own kids.

Here are the kiddos hunting for Easter eggs on Easter morning. They found them all in no time flat. I wish I had timed them... but seriously, it could not have taken them more than about 5 or 6 minutes. You should have seem them go!

And here they are with the goods! Too cute for words, those kiddos.


On the Princess: Lady Jane Dress and Mini Frosted Flowers cardigan from DownEast Basics.
On the little boys: Shirts and sweater vests from Target, khakis from Children's Place
On Mr. One: Shirt from Target, tie - Chaps by Ralph Lauren from Kohl's, khakis from Children's Place


The hubby snapped this photo of my Easter look...

Le Petit Linen Dress and Frosted Flowers Cardigan from DownEast Basics

Tulle Underskirt from Vintage Hem

Necklace from Target

Fashionable footwear courtesy of our local Urgent Care

Bet you're jealous of my awesome footwear, huh? Last Wednesday I was just minding my own business walking down our stairs when "POP!" something popped in my ankle...and boy did it hurt. But the pain went away and I soon forgot about it. Until I was trying to reach something on a shelf and stood on my tip toes. Then "POP!" it happened again. And then again later...and then again...and then on Thursday the frequency increased until I told the hubby I thought maybe I should go get it checked.

Turns out I have a small fracture on my right ankle bone most likely a stress fracture that finally "popped" on my way down the stairs last Wednesday. Seeing as it was Thursday night at Urgent Care, however, they just immobilized it for me. I'm going to have to see a specialist this week to find out the details. Let's keep our fingers crossed no surgery is involved. Shall we?

But aside from my little escapade with my ankle, it was a perfectly lovely weekend.

How about you?

Checking In~

Got in late last night from our spring break road trip to Southern California. Had a great time simply lounging around, spending time with my beautiful sister and her family. Note to self: Never take photos facing in the sun...note the squinty eyes and irritated facial expression.

Sometimes a little time with family is all you need to recharge your batteries.

I'll tell you what, though. These were the prices at one of the gas stations we had to stop at on the way home.

Yikes. Highway robbery, I tell ya!

Okay, crazy gas prices aside, I have a lot of projects coming up to share with you all now that those batteries of mine are back up to full!

Off to start on them...have a great day~

Southern Cali and 2 Giveaway Winners~

This gal comin' to you from Sunny Southern California this beautiful morning (well, it's still morning here, anyway!) Yesterday was spent on the road with the hubby and the 4 fabulous offspring on the way to visit my sister in Southern Cali for spring break.

Now we're just chillin' and enjoying having absolutely nothing to do for a few days except enjoy the warm temperatures while it snows back home in Utah (ha!)

So I just popped in to let you all the winners of this week's two giveaways.

The winner of the darling Polka Dot Bungalow camera strap is Jen from Andy & Jen. Congrats Jen!!

And the winner of the design consultation is Jociegal from Wingin' It. Congrats!!

Please email me ladies and we'll get you all set up with your prizes.

And never fear. I may be on vacay, but Frugal Friday is still heading your way. Live tonight at 10:00 EST as usual! And next week...real projects and fun stuff to post. Pinky Promise.

Have a great day~

Behind the Scenes with Matthew Mead and Nie Nie~

Last week I had the amazing opportunity of working with Matthew Mead, the incomparable creative powerhouse behind Holiday with Matthew Mead magazine.

Along with his wife Jenny and Linda of Restyled Home, we created a beautiful photo shoot for Matthew's new Summer magazine featuring Stephanie Nielson of the Nie Nie Dialogues.

Alice Lane, one of my favorite home decor stores, was the setting for the photo shoot...and it could not have been more perfect. Stephanie, along with her lovely sisters, sisters-in-law, and close friends were the stylish models...and of course Matthew's incredible food stylings were featured as well.

I can't begin to tell you how much fun it was to meet and work alongside these fabulous people! So I'll show you instead...

Look at all those beautiful roses...and that's not even half of them. They were gorgeous!!

I spent quite a while prepping those babies...luckily I got to bring home some of the extras. (Ah, the perks of magazine life...)

Like I said...a lot of flower prepping. And even more food prepping...but I don't have a photo of that.

Matthew and Jenny snapping away.

Some of the lovely ladies...in their fabulous spring finery. (Those gals were dressed to the nines...let me tell you!)

A little glimpse of the pretty, pretty table setting.

Matthew snaps some photos of Stephanie.

Me and Nie Nie. Such a charming and gracious lady. So glad I was able to meet her. (I felt a bit like a groupie, I've been a fan of hers for.ev.ah.)

Here I am with Courtney (AKA C.Jane) Stephanie's sister and an amazing author and blogger! Don't ask me what that crazy grin on my face was for...apparently something was quite funny when this photo was snapped...yikes!

Not only did I get to see this beautiful photo shoot, but I got a sneaky peak of the photos for some of the other articles that will be appearing in Matthew Mead's Summer Magazine and I can tell you that you are definitely going to want to get a copy. But they are only available online. You can order yours here. And believe me, I would!

Thanks again to Matthew Mead and the gang for the chance to work alongside their awesome talent...and to have so much fun in the process!

The One Where I Talk About Having a Bloggy Identity Crisis~

I may have mentioned it before, but I'll say it again. I am a worrier. At any given time, I have a fairly long list of things that I am worrying about. My children, their health, finances, the hubby's slow recovery from his accident, etc. And also on that list...and perhaps this will surprise you...or you'll think it's funny...or you'll identify...is my blog. Why do I worry about my blog?

Well, let's start at the beginning. I started this blog as a creative outlet. It combined two of the things that I love to do the very most. Decorating and writing. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started blogging. But one thing I really didn't expect, is how much I would love it. Once I started getting comments and my blog started to grow, however, I really began to fall in love. And as I continued to write, and my blog continued to grow, it really became an extension of who I am.

So here I am today, over 2 1/2 years later. My blog is amazingly important to me. I have gained wonderful friends through blogging. I have learned things. I have been inspired. I have had opportunities that never would have come to me otherwise. And every day, I continue to gain friends, learn things, get inspired and gain opportunities. And now, my blog is also my source of income.

So you would think that by now, I would know exactly what to expect of my blog. You would think that I would have it down to a science. But I don't. Even after blogging for 2 1/2 years, sometimes I wonder what my blog is. How do others see it? Do I have a unique voice? Am I authentic? Do I get lost in the shuffle of all the amazingly talented decor/ diy bloggers out there?

Perhaps you would think that having blogged as long as I have, that I would be secure in my bloggy identity. But, like so many of you whose posts I have read, I find myself comparing my blog to others. I look at their fantabulous projects, their humor, their very unique perspectives and approaches to blogging, and I worry that I am mediocre at best and mundane at the worst. I worry that my blog is just one of the crowd. And I find myself spending time worrying about trying to come up with the one thing that will differentiate my blog from all of the others. That will make it stand up and be noticed!

But here's what I've decided, and what I want to share with you all today. It's not profound. It just is. When we talk about having blog identities, when we talk about being authentic, it all boils down to this. Be who you are. I need to be who I am.

I need to look at other blogs for their inspiration. But I need NOT compare myself to them. There will always be a blogger that is funnier. There will always be a blogger with better projects. There will always be a blogger with more followers, one who is featured more, one who has a lovelier home. But there will never be another blogger who is me. or you.

Sometimes I read back through my old posts and like what I see. Sometimes I read back through my olds posts and I cringe. I can't believe that I bothered to post certain projects etc. But you know what? That's okay. It's all me. And the fact that I don't always know what to expect of my blog, and that I don't have it down to a science, that's me too. I am always evolving...and my blog? It is always evolving because it is an extension of me.

So, my dear readers, I hope you will be patient with the fact that because I'm an ever-changing individual, my blog naturally follows suit. I may not be the funniest, the most eloquent, the most talented, or have the best projects to post. But I am me. And because I am the only me there is...I do have something to offer this big old blogging world. And you know what? So do you. Here's to being who we are.

Have a great day~

The One Where I Explain My Obsessive Need to Redecorate~

Before I begin the post, I want to preface it by saying that my hope with it is that it might open a little bit of a door to understanding people like me who obsess over decorating - and redecorating - their homes...





A couple of weeks ago, the Nester did a series of posts on thrifting and buying things just because they are "a good deal". In the final post she brought up an interesting point. She asked if it's wrong to enjoy a pretty house. And her answer was "not at all". An answer, that I wholeheartedly agree with. She went on to point out that house tweaking - as I like to call it - is not a sign of discontentment for her. And then she said something very eloquent (so I'm going to quote her directly.)

Nobody accuses the writer who is restless with the pen and a blank page of trying find her contentment in the wrong place. Is the singer who changes the arrangement, the pianist who craves the keys, the painter who tweaks the canvas, the collector searching for that one last treasure, the songwriter who paces the floor waiting for the perfect words, are they looking for meaning and contentment in all the wrong places simply based on what they are passionate about? Is it about time they smartened up and stopped wasting their time? No one would dare accuse them of such. I think they are created to pursue their art.

That was my "Aha!" moment. It made me think about myself and my own desire for a beautiful home. And how that may be interpreted as materialism or discontent. But it isn't. It's my form of art. Like Nester, I have been interested in decorating spaces since I was a little girl. I talked my father into building a window seat for my bedroom. As a teen, I read decorating articles with interest, and incorporated ideas into my own room. When I moved into my college dorm, unable to choose furniture for the room, I went on the quest for the perfect bedspread and wall art. I put up a wallpaper border in my college apartment (no judging, it was the 90's!). It's just a part of who I am.

And now to quote myself from the comment I left on that particular post...

I am in complete agreement with you about purchasing intentionally and about being intentional in the way we decorate our homes. I too have purchased things just because they were “cute” and "a good deal” and I figured I could use them at some point, or even because they were all the rage in blogland at that point in time. However, everything was put into sharp perspective for me when my husband was in a near fatal car accident this last summer. My job (which was a 6 year contract) also came to end at the same time. Here we were, in a precarious situation…with no income…living off what little retirement we had. There was absolutely no way in the world that I could go out and spend money on my home…whether the purchase was a good deal or not was irrelevant.

And yet, I am a designer in my heart. It is my passion. It is my art. I felt an intense need, perhaps even moreso because of the tenuous nature of our situation, to create a home that was beautiful, comforting and nourishing to my soul. A place where my children were at home. The fact that I didn’t have any money to do that with was not a deterrent, it was a challenge. And so I set about arranging, and rearranging what we had. I learned that I didn’t have to purchase anything…good deal or not… to decorate a home. And I made a lovely home. And some people [may have thought that I was] spending money I didn’t have on decorating my home... And although I shouldn’t have needed to justify things, or explain that I hadn’t spent money on what I had done…I did justify it, I felt the need to vindicate myself... just as you said, sometimes those of us with decorating in our blood are deemed to be materialistic and superficial. I don’t believe that is the case. It certainly wasn’t my intention during that time. It isn’t my intention now.

And there's the truth of it in a nutshell. I redecorate to nourish my soul. It is a passion. It is an art. I expect those around me to pursue their passions. I encourage them to hone their art.

I hope that as we view all of the wonderful decorating projects that abound here in blogland, that we don't find ourselves thinking "Jeesh, she just redid that room!" or "Wasn't it good enough the way it was?" or worse yet "How much money is she spending on that?" Because, the truth is, behind the scenes in blogland, we never know what is going on.


In my case, most of you knew about my husband's accident. But I certainly didn't make it common knowledge that I was out of work as well, and that we were living off of our retirement money. Part of my desire in decorating my home, and in sharing ideas with my readers, is to show that we don't have to spend money to make beautiful spaces. I try to do that with my home, because decorating is part of who I am. And redecorating is just a natural extension of that. It comforts me, it nourishes my soul.


And so, my dear readers, I guess my point with all this is that I hope that we can appreciate the efforts of those whose decorating projects we see. That we can build them up. That we can believe that redoing that room for the millionth time might just be what that person needs to cope with the other things going on in their life.

Thanks for coming here to visit my blog! I appreciate you all so much and am so grateful for my fabulous readers. You are more important to me than you realize!!

Have a great day~

Making Time for Me

Thanks to Crystal Light for sponsoring this post. To learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight.

My happy kiddos

This morning I was awakened by a flying three-year-old who landed squarely on my stomach. He and his five-year-old brother were playing tag and had decided that my bed was the free zone. This, my dear readers, is my life as a mother of four. I have always wanted to be a mother. I love my children with a fierce devotion. And it took me a long time to figure out that I can love my children, do everything that I can for them, and still take time for me. In fact, taking a little time for me has become an important part of my mothering. Remember the old saying, "if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"? That saying is full of wisdom.

I am a better mother if I don't neglect myself. But, here's where the hard part comes in. How, as a busy work-at-home mom do I find the time to take care of myself while still accomplishing everything else on my agenda? Well, I think I figured that part out. And it's pretty simple. I can't FIND the time. I have to MAKE the time.

There are two things that I need to do for myself on a daily basis that make me a happy Mommy. First, I need to take time to blog. It's a bit of an obsession for me, you see. (You all wouldn't know anything about that, would you?) And second, I need to exercise. My latest fitness infatuation is with a certain dance-inspired exercise class. I have a terrific hubby that doesn't mind if I go 4, count 'em 4, nights a week to the gym for that class. Never mind the fact that it doesn't start until 9 pm and all my kiddos are in bed. He still gives up seeing my charming face for an hour while I go work out. But he benefits, the kids benefit and I benefit from the fact that I get my endorphins going, I get in better shape, and I get happy!

So if there's nothing else you take away from this post, I hope you take away the fact that no matter how busy you are (and we're all busy) making time to take care of yourself will not only benefit you, but those you love as well.
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Remember, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight to learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors. I was selected and paid for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Where are the Cameras? I must be on an episode of Punk'd.

I keep waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come out from behind a tree and tell me I've been Punk'd. I've been looking for the hidden cameras, but I can't seem to find them. Surely, no one really has this much bad luck.



I know you all are probably really sick of hearing about the roller coaster/soap opera that is my life of late. And I promise not to make a habit of these posts...but this one is a doozy. So if you think I'm just a cry baby (and admittedly, I am) click away now.



If you're still here...you won't believe it. You really won't.



I spent the evening last night in the ER with John...AGAIN. That man slipped on a patch of ice in our driveway coming home from (get this) a doctor's appointment. Luckily, no damage to the leg this time...but he threw his back out.



Seriously, they know him by name at the ER. And as we left this evening, the receptionist's parting words were "see you next week." Gah!



And just to add a little spice to my life...the new job I just took laid me off today. Um yep. 5 weeks. Must be a new record. So I'm looking for work again. Anybody got a job for a design blogger? Sheesh.



But on a bright note...I finally figured out how to get the "beachy waves" look for my hair. (Yeah, I'm deep like that.) Sure could use a root touch up though. Ha!

Sweater and necklace: Target, Belt: Vintage

Thanks for indulging my rantings. Back tonight with Frugal Friday...lots of inspiration to enjoy.

My Life in Numbers~

For your Wednesday reading enjoyment.

My life in numbers...

6 - the number of people watching a movie on our king size bed last night.
4 - the number of those people that should have been in bed instead of watching said movie.




5 - the number of projects waiting for me to finish them, so I can blog about them.
3 - the number of people in this house who have conflicting activities coming up on Saturday.
1 - the number of cars we have available (since John's accident totalled our other one) to get said people to their activities. Saturday is going to be interesting.
28 - the number of times I've stayed up past midnight in the past month.
28 - the number of times I've had a hard time prying my eyes open the next morning.
0 - the number of times I've been to Target this week. This may be a first in the history of mankind. (Ah, but never fear, the week is still young.)
5 - the number of months ago that the Hubby took family portraits for his sister's Christmas cards in (not near) the Olympic fountain at the Gateway in Salt Lake. (This photo is my favorite - my nephews and brother-in-law at the fountain's highest point!)



1 - the number of books I've managed to start reading this month.
1 - the number of books I'm still trying to finish this month.
1 - the number of toddlers giving this mom a run for her money in the potty training department.
0 - the number of pull-ups this mom plans to buy next week. (Here's hoping anyway.)
3 - the number of times I've lost and then gained back the same 10 pounds since August. It's back to Weight Watchers for me this week!
20 - the number of pounds I have to lose before Summer.
20 - the number of pounds I've been trying to lose since last Summer.
239482380 - the approximate number of photos I need to print out for scrapbooks.
4 - the number of years it's been since I've put a single photo in a scrapbook.
3824 - as of right now, the number of fabulous followers of this blog on my Google Friend box on my sidebar. I JUST LOVE YOU GUYS! Thanks for reading!
1 - the girl who loves to write this blog for you.

Have a great day~

Fly~

For the past few years I have chosen one word to serve as my "word of the year". My sort of mantra or inspiration for that year. This year I was inspired by the quote I shared you with you in this post.

And that quote is...

"She went out a on a limb, had it break off behind her, and realized she could fly."

Kobi Yamada

2010 was a very trying year. It just kind of seemed to be a fight right from the start. And then after John's accident, it became that much more difficult.



But 2011 holds promise for me. I think it might be the year when things come together. When my dreams start coming to fruition! But that's not going to happen unless I work hard and put myself out on a limb.


It's not an easy thing to do...to chase your dreams....to climb out on that limb. And sometimes, just as it says in the quote, once you get the nerve to climb on the limb, you hear a snap, and the limb breaks. But this year, instead of falling with that broken limb, I'm going to strap on my wings and....

FLY!

Have a great day~


Frugal Friday goes live tonight at 10:00 EST

Love Notes~

Today the Hubby and I are celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary.

We went in together on an anniversary gift a couple of weeks back, but I wanted to do something to surprise him anyway.

Can I just tell you how hard it is to surprise your husband when he is still home recuperating from his accident?

So a couple of days ago, I called and ordered 15 helium balloons. (1 for each year we've been married.) Luckily, he had a physical therapy appointment this morning. So I dropped him off and while he was there, the little boys and I went and picked up the balloons.

A little side note here: when you are carrying around 15 helium balloons everyone you see smiles. I mean really, everyone. Balloons are just magic like that.

Last night I stayed up late after the hubby went to bed and printed out 15 photos from our wedding and engagement. Then I wrote one reason why I love him on the back of each photo. When I got the balloons home today, I tied one note on each balloon and left them in our bedroom for him to find when he got back from his appointment.

I pulled it off...he was really surprised. And he loved it, that old softy.

Then the hubby and I headed off for a lunch date to the Cheesecake Factory (mmmmm good! I highly recommend the avocado egg rolls...oh yeah!) where we ran into one of my fabulous readers who stopped to introduce herself - hi Emily! That was fun. And a lunch date was quite the luxury. We enjoyed some kiddo-free conversation and alone time which made the whole day special, mainly because it doesn't happen very often.

Happy Anniversary Babe! Here's to many more!!

Starting the new year off with a bang~

I needed a change. And what does a girl do when she needs a change? (Besides rearranging her entire living room.) She cuts her hair. Come on. Admit it. You do it too.

And so enters the new haircut. Bangs. Lots of them.

Shirt and Jacket: Target Necklace: Children's Place (no, seriously)

I cut them myself. (Hope my hairdresser isn't reading this.) Just went in the bathroom a couple of days ago and decided to give them a little trim. A little trim led to a little more...and a little more...and well, you get the picture. I like them, but I was nervous what the hubby would say. Men can be a little funny about their wives' hair, you know. But the first thing out of his mouth was "I like your hair."

That was good. But then it got better.

"It makes you look young, though." Like he thought that might not be a good thing.

Scarf and jeans: DownEast Basics

Oh that silly man.



Anything that makes me look young is a good thing.



And so I start of 2011 with a haircut that makes me look young. This year is gonna be good.

Have a great day~

Grrrrrrrrrr...

The hubby has been able to work a little bit here and there since his accident. He was working today. Yeehaw!!

But then as he was going to the car after work, he slipped on a patch of ice and landed on his leg. Yep, the already-injured-basically-shattered-held-together-with-metal-plates-and-screws leg. He called to tell me that our sister-in-law was driving him to the hospital and that I should meet him there.

You have got to be kidding me. Fate is simply not that cruel, is it?

Nope. It's not.

Turns out, he didn't re-break the leg. Just a bad sprain. They told him he was extremely lucky. They had been worried that he would knock loose some of his hardware which would have meant surgery...again. So I'm grateful for small miracles.

Unfortunately, though, it has set his recuperation back. He can barely walk...again. So no work for a while. Sigh.

I'm praying for a quick recovery from this set back. I mean seriously, how much can one girl take?

Okay, over and out for now. I'm going to go have a pity party.