TGIF

This little cartoon just neatly sums up how I feel today. Note the “deer in the headlights” look? Yeah, that’s me.

Work is crazy right now. I have several big projects and they are all at critical points and must be complete before the year’s end. Usually this time of year is slow and easy but this year is definitely not. Certainly adds some additional logistical challenges as I try to get it all done and tackle the holiday activities as well.

It’s been a hectic, busy, crazy, exhausting week. I am glad it is at the end and I have Saturday to look forward to. Hoping to catch up on laundry and maybe have a little time to scrap or knit (or both!) this weekend.

I’m almost finished with my Christmas shopping. Thank goodness for online shopping!! The UPS man came to visit yesterday evening and it was almost like Christmas morning. He kept bringing box after box after box. When a second truck pulled up, the girls got really excited, thinking Mom had just gone nuts buying gifts. (hah!) But he was just there to swap out packages and relieve the other driver so he could go home.

I am looking forward to starting to get the presents wrapped and under the tree early this year (well earlier than it has been in past years).

How are you doing with your holiday preparations?

Creativity

I just stumbled across this via a link on someone's twitter.

This is awesome and so worth a few minutes of your time to listen to:

I hope you enjoy.

The blog where I found it: The Drama Queen's Guide to Changing the World

Hideaways

I have fond memories of various different hideaways I had as a child.

There was the banana tree in the back yard of my great-grandma’s house where my brother and I had our own “personal” branch each, along with other branches which had specific functions and uses.

We’d sit in that tree and make noises at the business people in the adjacent office parking lot. We thought it was such fun to make monkey noises and watch them try to figure out where they were coming from. (Of course now I wonder how I would’ve reacted as the adult and not the silly child in the tree.)

There was the attic space (in the same grandma’s house) where we created our own “apartment” complete with bedrooms and a living room (all of which had their own repurposed furniture that had been stored up there)

We spent many happy hours playing in the attic. I remember being devastated when we finally moved out of that house, knowing that my attic hideaway was going to be gone forever.

My mom and step-dad have temporarily moved home (while they are renovating theirs) and the girls have found some new hideaways here in the new house.

There’s the attic space above the front porch that they have turned into their “apartments” (hmmm… sounds familiar)

Their daddy set them up with little carpet remnants and lamps to light their spaces.

They each had their “apartment” with separate entrances in each upstairs bedroom, but they could visit each other by crawling across the attic space to each other.

And so it goes – the circle continues. Two more little girls finding imaginary worlds and secret hideaways in the most unlikely of places – and yet finding entertainment and joy in the simplest of things.

So Thankful

We all get caught up in the day-to-day hassles of life.

Of just surviving the day unscathed.

But, sometimes, it’s good to slow down a bit and look around at all we have to be thankful for.

I’m thankful this morning:

for the sun that comes up without fail each day.
for the birdies who eat the seed I leave outside for them and entertain me with their antics.
for my girls’ smiles and hugs before they leave for school.
for my warm bed and cozy home.
for SuperMan, who takes care of me and makes me feel safe and secure.
for my friends who love me and cheer me on.
for my job.
for hot water and electricity.
for the luxury of being able to choose what to eat for dinner – and not wonder if I’m going to have dinner at all.
for the many blessings I’ve been given… too many to number.

What are you thankful for today?

Not-so-Wordless Wednesday

So, today is supposed to be a Wordless Wednesday post, but I have some thoughts to share with you that (sort of) go along with the photos I want to share.

We went to the fair yesterday, the girls and I. This was the first time in a few years that I’d been to the fair, but SuperMan was working late and the only good night to go this week was last night. I wasn’t looking forward to it, dreading it actually, but I “sucked it up” and took them. My neighbor (and good friend) went with me so that our kids could ride the rides together and we’d have moral support as well. I was thinking I was going to need it.

You see, in years past, I have hated the fair. Yes, hated it.

I hated the noise. I hated the crowds.

I hated the carnies. I hated the smells.

I hated the walking. I hated the sensory overload.

It was misery in action for me.

I would go, only to please my family, but couldn’t wait to leave and cringing inside the whole time.

Only yesterday was different.

And I think it is because I am different these days.

Yesterday was fun.

Yes, there were crowds of scary people (where do all those weirdos come from anyway?)

Yes, there was a lot of noise and smelly smells and weird, creepy carnival people.

There was all of that.

But, somehow, yesterday, it was fun.

I loved watching my kids on the rides.

I loved watching them get their faces painted.

I loved hanging out with my friends and running into other friends (hi, Leigh Ann!)

I loved the crazy robot who wanted to “double-dog dare” us

I loved watching the rescue dogs do their frisbee tricks.

Imagine that.

I loved the fair.

Oh, and the best part? I wasn’t exhausted when we got home. My feet weren’t aching and I didn’t feel like I’d just climbed Mt. Everest.

Yes, things are definitely different these days.

And I like it this way.

Creation is Messy

I have shared with you before that I love to cook.

Love it.

I think I am happiest when I’m cooking. Chopping vegetables, mixing a cake, creating goodness and love for my family and friends.

I love the process and I love watching the raw materials turn into mini masterpieces of goodness.

I love watching my family and friends as they dive in and savor every bite.

It’s one of the ways I express my love.

BUT

Creating these mini masterpieces, for me, is a very messy process.

Just ask SuperMan.

He is often called in to help me rescue the kitchen from imminent disaster after one of my cooking sessions.

I have been accused (often) of using every pot, pan, and bowl in my kitchen when I cook. I think that would be impossible – unless I were cooking a wedding banquet or something – as I have a ton of kitchen implements. (thanks to a generous mom and a generous inheritance of cooking apparatus from my grandma)

I will admit that I am not one of those cooks who cleans up as I go. When I cook, I am in the throes of a creative process. Cleaning is NOT part of being creative. Cleaning is the antithesis of creativity for me. Cleaning is not fun – cooking is fun.

And so, when I cook, my kitchen usually looks like this:

And that is just half the kitchen. What this doesn’t show is the counter on the other side that was filled with flour and the remnants of the just-rolled-out dumplings for the chicken & dumplings we had for dinner last night. (yummy, by the way. recipe to come soon)

I have also realized that I rarely cook one thing at a time. What fun is there in mono-tasking? My little ADD-brain can’t take that single-mindedness. I must multi-task or I will, well, I don’t know. (never been able to do that)

Anyway.

Last night’s cooking bonanza included: chicken & dumplings (with homemade dumplings) and chicken salad (with the extra chicken).

Lately, I have been cleaning up before SuperMan gets home from work. Last night that didn’t happen. It was kind of cute to see his face when he saw the kitchen. We tackled it together and it was sparkly and clean before we went upstairs to put the monkeys to bed.

Today, I’m making my baked oatmeal bars and probably getting some parmesan chicken going in the crock pot. (finishing up the last of the leftovers from this past weekend’s cooking frenzy) Whatever else comes will depend on the muse.

But, I can assure you – it’s gonna get messy.

10 Things

Ten things I love … about Fall

The bluest of blue skies and whitest of clouds, contrasted with the golds and reds of the leaves.
Crisp, cool evenings.
Waking up to foggy mornings.
Pumpkins, Indian corn, hay rides and apple picking.
Trick-or-Treating and cute kids in costume.
Windows-open days. (no air conditioning)
Changing my menus and cooking old favorites again.
The first fire in the fireplace.
Wearing new Fall/Winter clothes for the first time.
Snuggling with SuperMan to stay warm at night.

What a weekend

We had a whirlwind weekend. SuperMan’s 25th high school reunion was this past weekend. We zipped down to Savannah for the reunion and picked up a bunch of furniture from my mom’s house while we were there. They are downsizing and shared some furniture with us. Now, I have to figure out where to put it! The good thing is that the girls now both have “new” bedroom sets. They are very excited about it and I’m excited that we’ll have enough space to store their clothes properly. Maybe now Big Girl will actually put her clothes away? (one can hope)

We also saw SuperMan’s sisters & their kids on Saturday at the reunion picnic. It was great to see them and I can’t believe how big the kids are – they are practically adults. Which is very strange to me because I remember the oldest being just a few months old at our wedding. They are all growing up into such lovely people, though.

While we were at the picnic, the big kids took my “little” kids to the playground. It was so strange to see Big Girl walking with her oldest cousin. From the distance (and without my glasses) it looked like me walking with SuperMan’s oldest sister – as if I was looking at a flashback in time. Wow. Really?

And then, my heart just about burst watching Little Bit walking hand-in-hand with her big strapping cousin, looking up at him as if she was absolutely certain that nothing bad could happen to her as long as he was with her. Which, in itself is a miracle, because Little Bit is a little bit intimidated by big, tall, strong, male cousins. She is afraid and attracted all at the same time.

I’m in recovery mode today.

My body is calling me all sorts of dirty words for making it haul furniture around yesterday.

My mind is swarming and swimming with all the things I need to accomplish before the monkeys get out of school.

And the rain is falling down outside, singing softly to me about naps, blankets, tea, and snuggling on the sofa with a book.

But, it is not to be for me. I have way too many things to accomplish before that school bell rings today.

Kissable Lips

I am a lipstick junkie. At any given time, I might have 3-4 lipsticks in my purse. I have pinks, reds, browns, neutrals… I mean, a girl’s gotta match her outfit, right?

I found some really nice lipsticks (and lip glosses) that I love and I thought I’d share.

First up is the only lip gloss I will wear. Normally, I hate lip gloss. It’s sticky and goopy and generally makes me feel messy, not put-together. But this one I love. I found it thanks to someone at church. She recommended it last winter.

Buxom Buxom Lips Full Color

Buxom Lips Full Color – Sophie

A little pricey, but oh, so worth it.

The shade I wear is “Sophie.” They have about a bajillion colors, though, so I’m sure you could find one you like.

What I like about it is this:

It’s not too goopy.
It has a minty taste/smell – and SuperMan says I taste minty when he kisses me.
It has a nice shine but it’s not too glossy.
Doesn’t dry my lips out – actually makes them feel moisturized.
It lasts a long, long time (and that is my favorite part)

I also found these at the drug store the other day:

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks

At $5 each, I decided to splurge a little and bought two colors.

The Broadway Bronze is a great neutral (for me) and I have worn it almost every day since I bought it. I like the Tinted Taupe as well.

What I like about these:

$5 price
lots of colors to choose from
feels great on my lips and doesn’t dry them out
pretty cases 🙂

So, there you have it. My current favorite lipsticks.

What are your favorite brands/colors? Any suggestions for me to try out? I gotta feed my habit, you know.

I love Fridays

I love Fridays.

I think a lot of people love Fridays – it’s the end of the work week (for most of us) and we can start to unwind and relax a little.

Fridays are special to me for many reasons:

It means the girls are going to be home with me for two whole days.
(I miss them while they’re at school!)
It usually means I get a little break at work – Fridays never seem to be too busy.
It sometimes means I can sneak in a little scrapbooking or crafting
(after daydreaming about it all week)
It usually means a break from housework (I try to do it during the week)
It usually means there’s some type of project to work on with SuperMan

But the number one reason I love Fridays?

SuperMan is off of work.

Which means:

The girls wake up happy because Daddy is home.
I get to stay in my PJs and he takes the kids to school.
He brings me breakfast from my favorite biscuit joint.
I get to spend time with him during the day – without little people distractions.
He picks the girls up from school.
Sometimes he takes us out to dinner. (Yay! No cooking for me!)
He helps me with projects around the house.

It all adds up to feeling like I have a 3-day weekend. Every single week. How cool is that?

Fridays are awesome.

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Ten things I love … about Fall

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