To Do Thursday!

Well Friends...another week, another incomplete list...sigh.  I will say that we had something almost every night/day last week.  I'm looking forward in my calendar and I don't see anything that will get in the way of finally having a completed list.  No time to wallow...time to get busy.  Here's the run down:

1.  Clean around bed and nightstand...FAIL!  What is it with this item?  I did recently read this post and it got me more inspired.

2.  Clean under sink of 1/2 bath...FAIL!

3.  Make some cards for a few people I'm thinking about...DONE.  The whole reason I started making cards is to send them just because, to give someone a little joy.  I had gotten away from that a little bit so my plan is to start doing that more often.  There were two ladies that were on my heart this week so I decided to send them a little joy.

4.  Clean out fridge...DONE!  I love a clean refrigerator.  I washed out each bin and shelf and wiped down the inside of the fridge and freezer...much better.

5.  Celebrate Jamison...DONE!  She had a great time yesterday.  We started the day by letting her have Toaster Strudel for breakfast and we gave her a card and the new Alicia Keys CD (that we jammed to on the way to the sitter).  In the evening she and Rondell made cupcakes and then family came over for dinner and she opened gifts.  We also give her a new bike!  After dinner she had a few friends over for cupcakes.  It was a nice way to celebrate my special girl.  

She fell asleep last night in 2.5 seconds :)

This Week's To Do List

1.  Clean around bed and night stand.

2.  Clean under sink in 1/2 bath.

3.  Put out Fall decorations (I can't believe it's almost October and I haven't done this).

4.  Make this dessert recipe.

5.  Have a date with Rondell...it's been too long.

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Birthday Jamison

For more WW visit my homie Tanya!

Kelli's Krafts - With Sympathy

I recently made this card for someone whose mother passed away.  Because it was a sympathy card I decided to use softer colors...Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight.  I used Watercolor Trio for the images and Teeny Tiny Wishes for the Sentiment.  Teeny Tiny Wishes really is a great go-to set because it has practically any sentiment that you will need...something you need when making a quick card.

miscellany monday - Dear...

 

1.  Dear Jamison...thank you for being so brave and excited about horseback riding.  You did great!  I am thrilled that I finally listened to you and signed you up for Girl Scouts because I truly think that it's something you're really going to enjoy.

2.  Dear Starbucks...I will come and see you today and I will have a Pumpkin Spice latte.  I will be purposeful to get to you today because I will not let another Fall season go by without trying this popular drink.  So, me...you...tonight...around 6:20...be ready.


3.  Dear Bath & Body Works (BBW)...thank you for making 3 new lovely Fall soaps.  Your soap is already my #1 choice (when on sale), but now...now I've completely fallen.  I will see you very soon too to stock up on some pumpkin goodness.


4.  Dear new season of TV shows...I'm so glad you're back.  I will try really hard this year not to be so far behind (I'm not off to a good start since I haven't watched anything from the first week...sigh).  I can't wait to dive into...Grey's, Private Practice, Medium, Desperate Housewives (which Rondell is excited about because Vanessa Williams will be on there this year), Criminal Minds, Modern Family, & Fringe.  I am still mourning the loss of Lost and Flash Forward, but I think I'll get through it.


5.  Dear rain...I'm glad you're hear, thank you.  I do, however, need you to clear out by the weekend so that I can get some yard cleaning up done.

Thanking God on Friday!

~  I am thankful that Caleb has decided that he is ready for underwear.  It has been a long process, but yesterday he told Rondell that he is ready...whoo hoo!  So, today he is at the sitter in his big-boy underwear (and a few extra outfits in his back pack!).

~  I am thankful that Rondell does not have to work tonight.  I have my first workshop tonight (one outside of my home, where a friend of mine is the hostess) and my childcare fell through.  Luckily Rondell was able to get the night off so I am good to go...thanks again Ron!

~  I am thankful that I made it home safely the other day.  As I was driving home a huge storm came through, which included very heavy rain and a tornado warning.

~  I am thankful that Jamison is enjoying Girl Scouts so far.  I'm thrilled for her to be involved in something.  She's really excited because they are going horseback riding tomorrow...something she's wanted to try for a little while.

To Do Thursday

 

I can't believe another week has gone by and that it's almost October...where does the time go?  I was not nearly as productive as I'd hoped to be...we had a really busy weekend and now my Mondays are also gone because of Girl Scouts and BSF.  Here's what happened this week:

1.  Clean around the bed and the nightstand...Amended.  I made an executive decision to clean up another area first...my craft area in the dining room.  Why, because it looked like this:

 

I had stuff everywhere and since I keep a lot of my stuff in the dining area it was really getting in the way.  I decided that I needed to tackle this first before tackling the master.  There were things that needed to go to the basement, new paper I needed to put away (see the SU box in the first picture, that = new stuff!), and cards I needed to organize.  I also moved my stuff from one side of the room to the other.  Here's how it is now:

 

 

 Now it is back to being clean and organized.  I actually need more storage or a better system (and an actual craft room would be really nice), but for now this works for me.  In the plastic containers on the floor I have all of my card stock and Designer Series Paper (I'm addicted to DSP) as well as a container for my scrap paper (I try and use every bit of my paper).  In my plastic drawers I have my stamps, ink, punches, and tools to make my cards (bone folder, adhesive, stamp a ma jig).  The red bin on top holds completed cards, so if I need a card in a jiffy I can just grab one and go!  Much better :) 

2.  Complete some pages for my Destin scrapbook...DONE.  I did two pages and prepped another one.  I know that doesn't sound like a lot but for me, who has not done any scrapping in a long time, this was major.  This outing with my friend Kim and her neighbor really got my scrapbook juices flowing again and I can't wait to see how it all comes together.

3.  Clean out under sink of our 1/2 bath...Fail, and I don't know why because that would have taken two seconds.  It'll be on this week's list again.

4.  Make homemade pizza...Fail...kind of.  It ended up that Rondell had to work Saturday evening so we didn't have our family night and then we were gone all day Sunday.  My plan is to make it this Sunday.

This Week's To Do List

1.  Clean around bed and nightstand...SERIOUSLY, this will get done.

2.  Clean out cabinet of 1/2 bath.

3.  Make some cards for a few people that I am thinking about.

4.  Clean out fridge.  It's time to pull out the drawers and wash them out and wipe out the bottom of the freezer.

5.  Celebrate Jamison!

Wordless Wednesday - Day Out With Thomas

 For more WW visit Tanya at Miller Racing Family!

miscellany monday

1.  Fall is HERE!!!  The kids, my mom and I went apple picking yesterday and had such a great time.  It's funny how it really only takes a few minutes to fill up the bag with apples.  Both kids picked from the trees and loaded up the bag.  Now we have enough apples to make plenty of apple crisp.  Here are a few pictures from the outing:

2.  Did you know that air costs money...air!  I had to take these pictures as we (and by we I mean Rondell) were adding air to our tires.

3.  I think tonight might just be the night that I try the Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks.  I wanted to get one yesterday before church, but I didn't make it in time.

4.  My oldest will be 7 next week...SEVEN!  When did she grow up?  I'm trying to debate whether or not I want to be adventurous and make her cupcakes or just buy them from the store...I think she'll be happy either way.

Thanking God on Friday!

~  I am thankful that BSF has started.  I'm already excited about the things I'm learning in Isaiah, like the explanation of Zion...how it refers to the Israelites & how Christ came from the line of Judah (which is who Isaiah is mostly directed to).  I'm in a great group this year too (though I have yet to not be in a great group) and have a feeling that we're going to learn a lot from each other.  Now I just have to be purposeful about doing my questions daily and thoroughly.

~  I am thankful to have a Girl's Night Out with my friend Kim and her neighbor to scrapbook.  It has been a long time since I've done anything with scrapbooks so it will be really nice to get back into the swing of things.  My plan is to work on pages for my Destin scrapbook...starting with 2008!

~  I am thankful for my husband's thoughtfulness this week.

~  I am thankful that the car is now up and running and that Caleb is doing much better.  Last week was pretty stressful and so far it looks like we're in the clear.  I will say that I learned, while reading Fresh Power, that God gives us trials to grow perseverance...I hope I'm learning the lesson well.

To Do Thursday!

I almost had a completed week this week...almost.  The one item I didn't do I will put on next week.  It gotta get busy!!!  Here's the rundown:

1.  Continue cleaning out our room - night stand and floor around the bed...Fail.  No excuses, I just was not motivated to do it.  I gotta get on the ball though...feel free to send some motivation vibes my way!

2.  Complete congratulation card order...DONE!  I hope she likes them.

3.  Enjoy some time with Kristina...DONE!  I did mean to take a picture of the two of us but I forgot.  I hope we can visit again soon.

4.  Meal plan...DONE!  We made a new enchilada recipe last night that is getting me closer to finding that perfect recipe for me.  I got it here, but I did not include the olives and I used diced green chiles.  I'm also going to make stuffed shells tonight, something I haven't made in a long time.

This week's TO DO list

1.  Clean around the bed and the night stand!!!

2.  Complete some pages for my Destin scrapbook.  I'm so excited because I'm getting together with my friend Kim and her neighbor for a crop tomorrow evening.  I hope to get a lot done.

3.  Clean out under the sink of our 1/2 bath.  I need to put the Christmas towels in with my Christmas stuff instead of under the sink.  I also need to figure out if I'm going to give away the tart burners that I never use from Yankee Candle.  

4.  Make homemade pizza...I've done this once but I really want to try and do it more often.  Jamison wants to have Family Night on Saturday so I think we'll do it then.

Ask Me A Question, I'll Give You An Answer

My good buddy Becca tagged me with 8 questions to get the scoop on me.  I am more than happy to participate!  Here's the scoop:

 

1. Where were you born?  and your parents?  what is your ancestry?

 

I was born at The Ohio State University...I've been a Buckeye since birth.  My dad was born in Michigan and my mom was born in Ohio.  Ancestry...I'm Black.  I know that my great grandmother was bi-racial...her father married a slave and on my father's side there is some Native American ancestry.  I'd love to learn more.

    

2. What is your least favorite memory from those awkward high school days?

 

Least?  Maybe prom because I wasn't used to dressing up and so that was kind of strange.

3. Grab your favorite photo you have ever taken.  Tell us why it's your favorite.

 

I love this picture because it shows healing and the love I have for my children.  As some of you may know I had post partum depression after I had Jamison.  It was one of the hardest things that I've ever gone through.  It took me until I had Caleb to heal from that horrible time.  This picture reminds me of that...of a new beginning...the beginning of Caleb's life and as a mother to both of my children.  I just love those little people.

 

4. What song instantly picks you up and makes your day go even better?

 

 Pretty much anything by Maxwell...I love his music.  This puts me in the mood to pop in his CD right now...the first one is my favorite.

5. How did you & your husband meet?  Tell us the love story!

 

I told that story here and here.

6. What is your favorite snack?

 

Probably white cheddar cheese popcorn...but it has to be a certain brand, either SmartFood or Cape Cod.  Act II used to make a microwave white cheddar popcorn that was amazing, but they don't make it any more.

 

7. What was your first concert?  Tell us what you remember about it!

 

I went to see New Edition with my mom's friend's daughter.  I was so in love with that group growing up and it was a great concert.  It was at a place called the Front Row because all of the seating was good, like you were in the front row.

8. What makes you the happiest?

 

A sunny/blue sky/ 70 degree Sunday...going to church, being with my family (maybe evening taking a nap), and having a great meal together in a clean house.

 

Now I want to get the scoop on some of you:

 

Kelly

Rachael

Mimi

Liz

Tanya

Joanna

Carrie M.

Angie

Stacey

 

The 8 Questions:

 

1.  If you could live anywhere where would it be?

2.  What is your ideal vacation?

3.  What is your favorite color?

4.  What are your favorite shows?

5.  What is your favorite recipe (and share if you'd like)?

6.  What is on your To Do list this week?

7.  What are your kids going to be for Halloween?

8.  Who is your best friend and what is he/she like? 

Come on ladies...I'm on a need-to-know basis :)

Wordless Wednesday - Snowcones...Yum!

For more Wordless Wednesday head over to my buddy Tanya's!

Kelli's Krafts - Congrats Are In Order

I finished the cards for my second order over the weekend and I thought I'd share one of them with you today.  The order was for congratulation cards and I went with cheery colors and images.  Here is one of the cards that I made:

 

I used Daffodil Delight and Wild Wasabi for my colors and Silhouette Sentiments (a hostess set that you can earn by hosting a workshop!) for the images.  For the sentiment I used a retired set (I don't remember the name...it was a gift from my friend Jaydee) and I punched it out using my Modern Label Punch (I love this punch!).  I also popped up the sentiment using SU's stampin' dimensionals  

And there you have a very simple way to tell someone 'congrats.'

miscellany monday

*  There was no Thanking God on Friday last week...shame on me.  Yes, I was in a grumpy mood, yes I had a sick child that I was worried about, yes my oldest child had an emotional start to her day because she was tired, yes the car that we purchased (very used btw) broke down FIVE days after we bought it (as is btw) and was stranded in front of our sitter's house...BUT those are never reasons for not taking the time to stop and thank God for all He does.  Yes, I believe that there is a time for sadness, anger and frustration...but He has overcome all of those things and I need to be thankful for that.  Thankful while I'm grumpy, thankful while I'm listening to my daughter cry on the phone, thankful as Rondell and I try and figure out what to do about the "new" car.  Why?  Because of what He has blessed me with, because He is Faithful, because He is a Healer, because He is my Friend, even because He said so.

Thank you God...Everyday!

**  There is nothing like the sight of a full fridge after going to the store:

 

 

***  I'm using the new way to type up your posts (the word for it is escaping me) and it is a little hard to get used to.  I was changing some settings and saw that the old formatting was going away soon so I decided to finally switch over.  I've never been one for change, but I'm sure I'll get used to this soon.

 

****  I had such a great time with my friend Kristina and was so sad to see her go.  There's nothing like true friends, ones that have been there for you during good and bad times, who stood up with you when you got married, ones who still love you when you forget their birthday (May 2...MAY 2)...love you Kris!  Thanks for playing Wii with my babies, making me laugh, and having a shake with me at 10:30 at night (so I didn't feel so bad for having a shake at 10:30 at night, but man was it good!).

 

*****  BSF starts tonight and I am beyond excited...Isaiah here I come!  You should try it :)

To Do Thursday!

I'm pretty happy with the progress this week. I think the cooler temps and being able to breathe fresh air through my open windows has helped with productivity. Here's the run down:

1. Pick up everything off the floor in our room...Semi-done. This is going to be a major tackle as I did not realize just how much clutter we have accumulated. We did get a lot of things thrown away, but we still have a long way to go. This may be a project that will be on the list for a few weeks. I might have to break the room down into sections.

2. Make cards for submitted orders...Semi-done. I finished the birthday card order (and she loved them!), but I need to get a few things to finish the congratulations card order. I will get those done this weekend.

3. Make cover for Isaiah BSF binder...DONE! I decided to do a digital scrapbook page as the cover to see how I liked it. I love it and I think I'll redo the cover for Moses (I'm still not real happy with the way that cover turned out...that's the reason for no picture). Here's how the cover turned out:

4. Finish Fresh Power and look for Jesus Calling...DONE! I finished Fresh Power and I can't say enough good things about it. The book mainly uses Acts to discuss the power and gift of the Holy Spirit...it is a must read. I looked in my church's book store for Jesus Calling but did not find it so I will head out to Lifeway tonight.

This Week's To Do List

1. Continue working on cleaning out our room. This week I am going to focus on our night stands and around the bed.

2. Complete congratulations card order.

3. Enjoy some time with my friend Kristina who is coming to visit tomorrow...whoo hoo!!

4. Meal plan...which should include either something new or something I haven't made in a while.

Wordless Wednesday - The Aquarium & Proof That I Was There!

For more Wordless Wednesday click on over to Tanya's!