What Are You Doing This Week?

Here's what I'm doing.  (or at least hoping to!)

To Do List for July 30 - August 3

1. Can some homemade salsa
2. Go to library
3. Finish at least one more of the library books I already have
4. Start next crochet project for Etsy shop

This Week - What's Going On: UPDATE

It was a long, stressful, unusual week here at the homestead.  So I'm not going to beat myself up about anything that did or did not get done.  As a matter of fact - I'm not even going to make comment on whether I achieved my goals or not for the past week.  (the answer is "not")

• Keep up with laundry

Weekly Goals July 22- July 27Write Everyday

3:30 am

3:30 am.  Wide awake.  Sort of.  Ok, not really.  Sort of half awake.  Not sleepy enough to go back to dreamland.  Not awake enough to get up and do anything productive. 

This seems to be becoming a regular thing for me.  It's not always 3:30.  Sometimes it's 2:30.  Or 4:30.  The exact time isn't really that important.  What ever the time, there I am in the wee hours of the morning.  Awake enough that it does not qualify as rest.  Sleepy enough not to qualify as awake.

The brain churns at 3:30 am.  I feel pretty sure I am at my most creative in those pre-dawn hours.  There in the dark waits ideas for blog posts, writing journal entries, short stories, and perhaps even a first novel.  I'm a literary genius!  It's not just writing either.  The projects for my Etsy shop, home improvement and decorating, even gift ideas.  It all flows like the wine at a bacchanalia. 

Sadly, they never last.  For, at 3:30 in the morning, my mind is still asleep enough that it can't hold onto the brilliance it creates during that time.  Sleep comes, and washes it all away.  The sun rises and my mind strains trying to recapture even one of the ideas it had in the dark.  But they remain elusive, like forgotten dreams.

Follow Friday is Back

 Following a brief leave of absence to grieve the loss of her beloved Alex - Feeling Beachie is back with the Follow Friday Four Fill In Blog Hop. 

Each week she give us four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs.
Want to be featured as a Co-Host to the hop? Come up with four fill in’s of your own and email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them, you get a nice little mention in that weeks hop! Please help her out and email some statements! This week’s co-host is Pam from Trooppetrie (she came up with the last two statements)

And, since Feeling Beachie is sharing her blog hop with us - it's only far that we share and share alike! So, be sure to tweet, facebook, etc about the Follow Friday blog hop. And add the little linky tool there at the bottom to your own blog if you participate!


This week’s statements:

1.I learned how to make _____ in ____
2.I have always wanted to ____
3.My purse always has a __________and _______________.
4.One day when I am ____________I am going to _______________________.

My Fill-Ins:
1.I learned how to make crocheted items in the school of me, with a book, a skein of yarn and a hook.
2.I have always wanted to be someone else - someone prettier, more creative, or smarter.
3.My purse always has a pen or two, or twenty and several lip glosses.
4.One day when I am a lottery winner  I am going to own a house at the beach.

Thankful Thursday: July 26

It's been a tough week around here.  And at times it seemed difficult to find things to be thankful for.  But the blessings are always there if you look close enough.

Tomatoes Fresh From the Garden: Nothing compares to the taste of a tomato grown right in your own back yard.  Nothing.  Juicy.  Sweet, but not too sweet.  Just... delicious.

The Man of the House's Grandmother:  Grandma passed away Monday.   It was a long journey with years of hospital stays, nursing homes, and declining health.  I am glad she is now at rest.  And so grateful to have had 20 years to know her.  She was a feisty, interesting lady.

Slobbery Baby Kisses:  oh sure... it's more like the grand baby is trying to eat your face than kiss you.  And you end up wearing more spit than any person ever should.  But I love every second of them!

Today was Today

Some days just feel like they need a long string of curse words.  The Big Ones.  Even the queen mother of all curse words.  (you know the one I mean, I'm not gonna spell it out for you).  It may not even be that anything terrible has happened.  Or even that you're in a particularly bad mood or anything.  Some days just have that sort of a feeling to them.

Today was absolutely one of those days.  After not sleeping most of the night, I had to force myself to get out of be and go in search of a caffeine IV this morning.  Failing to find that particular delivery method, I settled for a cup of coffee.  The coffee didn't seem to help much. I still felt out of sorts and  discombobulated.  That sort of unsettled feeling lasted most of the day.

It was the sort of day to find a nice comfy hidey-hole and spend the day with a good book and a pitcher of iced tea.  (or margaritas, if you prefer)

A day to put on some music and soak in a bubble bath until the water turns cold and your toes are all pruney.

The sort of day to lose yourself in a box of chocolates.  Or a bag of cookies.

Some days just feel like "forget everything else and be nice to yourself" kind of days.  Or something like that. 

Today should have been one of those days.  Unfortunately, today was today.  And the To-Do list was a mile long. 

Maybe tomorrow I'll be nice to myself. 

What are ways you find to be nice to yourself?

This Week - What's Going On...

There are so many things up in the air this week that I am going to keep the To Do list short.

Weekly Goals July 22- July 27

• Write Everyday
• Keep Up With Laundry

A New Week, A New List: Update

I think things may be looking up when it comes to weekly goals.  I know this was the closest I have come to completing the list since I started blogging them. 


Weekly Goals for July 15 - 20:

• Write Everyday At first I was thinking no, but as a matter of fact between blogging and my writing journal - I think I did accomplish this!  Yah!!
• Catch Up On Laundry Mostly.  At some point you have to accept that laundry is a process and will probably never be really "done".
• Finish Reading 2 Books Before Wednesday Done!
• Go To Library Done!
• Bake Cake for Princess's Birthday And DONE!

Moments in Time: July 15 - 21

Sunday July 15: Strawberry - Walnut Summer Salad! YUM!!

Monday July 16: Toasted tomato and goat cheese sandwich.

Tuesday July 17:  The grandbaby takes a "big boy" bath!

Wednesday July 18:  The Princess wanted a chocolate cake with pink frosting and a batman symbol. 
That's what she got!

Thursday July 19:  Bounty from my garden and the girls!

Friday July 20:  The pears are just about ready

So Far Behind

There's so much to do!  Sooooo much!  I always feel like I am getting further behind instead of making any progress on things. 

I can't stand feeling behind!  Seriously.  Can. NOT. Stand. It. 

All I ask is for a brief time to have everything caught up.  To be able to just sit for a few moments and enjoy the feeling of having absolutely nothing to do.  Not one single thing on my To Do List.  No where to be.  Just a sense of "done-ness".

Do you think that moment exists anywhere in the universe? 

Probably not this side of heaven.

Thankful Thursday: July 19

It's difficult for me to believe that another week has already flown by and over half of July has come and gone!  They say time flies when you're having fun, and with all the things I have to be grateful for this week - it's no wonder the weeks are flying by!


Baby Laughter:  Seriously, is there anything in the world better than the sound of a baby laughing?  I challenge anyone to listen to the full belly laugh of a little one and not end up laughing along!

The Princess:  20 years of love, laughter, and beauty!  I thank God every day for giving me the gift of this amazing daughter!

Root Beer:  Frosty deliciousness in a cup!  Perfect icy cold and standing alone.  Even better with a scoop of ice cream on top!

20 Beautiful Years!

The Princess is 20 years old today!  It's true what they say about time flying.  One day she was a tiny little baby, and I was a scared new mom without a clue.  Today she is an amazing young woman with a baby of her very own!

Oh, My Aching Head

I have a headache coming on. 

I can feel it right there, pressing behind my temples.  The tightness at the base of my skull, running down the back of my neck.

As the throbbing in my brain starts, so does the internal debate.  Do I take a prophylactic dose of Excedrin now?  Or do I wait to see how bad it's going to get before taking something?  Maybe drink some water and see if that helps ease it before things get too bad? 

The Missing Piece

Very few things have literally brought me to my knees.  This was one of them. 

The  realization of all the things I have used in my life to fill the gap where God belonged.  All the "false idols" I have put my hope and my trust in.

How many things did I think I needed to make me happy?  How many people have I turned to for approval, attention, and love?  When those things didn't make me feel the way I expected - I would wallow in disappointment, loneliness, and anger.  And went looking for the next great thing. 

The makeup or clothes that would make me feel pretty.  The item I needed to finally have "enough".  The thing I tried to do or say that would make all the people like me.  Of course none of this could fulfill me!  It wasn't their fault I was disappointed!  I was the one expecting things or humans to complete a task only able to be done by God. 

Seeing that clearly for the first time left me feeling raw.  And left me no where to go except to my knees in prayer.  To ask for forgiveness and guidance. 

A New Week, A New List

Weekly Goals for July 15 - 20:

• Write Everyday
• Catch Up On Laundry
• Finish Reading 2 Books Before Wednesday
• Go To Library
• Bake Cake for Princess's Birthday

Update: Maybe This Week

So, let's review.  The goals for the first week in July didn't go so very well.  Did the second week end on a more positive note? 


Weekly Goals for July 8 - July 13, 2012

• Write everyday.  Well, I blogged everyday.  But not much creative writing happened.
• Complete Etsy orders and get into mail by Thursday  YES!  Filled and shipped!
• Get that mani/pedi that never happened last week  As a matter of fact - I didn't get out to get a professional mani/pedi.  But I did take some time out to give myself one this week.  So, I'm counting it as done.
• Clean up kitchen (including cleaning out fridge) I worked on it.  But didn't get as much done as I had planned. So we'll call it half. 

All in all, not too bad.  More done than not, I think.  Things seem to be improving in the goals area.  Yah me!

Moments In Time: July 8 - 14

The Little Man cutting shoe pieces for SoleHope

Filling orders for Queen B's Busy Work



Where I like to spend my mornings



The grandbaby likes to watch ESPN SportsCenter...



And taking naps with the Oscar dog!

OOPS!  I missed taking a picture on the 13th!!

Girly Bow Flip Flops for Queen B's Busy Work!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/QueenBsBusyWork

Sleeping In Vs. Staying Up Late

 It's that time of week again when Feeling Beachie gives us four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs.

Want to be featured as a Co-Host to the hop? Come up with four fill in’s of your own and email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them, you get a nice little mention in that weeks hop! Please help her out and email some statements! This week’s co-host is Annie from the Lemon Drop (She came up with the last two statements)
You've known since kindergarten (if not before) that you should always share. So be sure to tweet, facebook, etc about the Follow Friday blog hop. And add the little linky tool there at the bottom to your own blog if you participate!

This Week's Statements:
1.My day always starts by ____
2.I prefer ___ to ____
3.I never thought I’d __________ until I __________
4. I wish I could ________ for ________________

My Answers:

1.My day always starts by getting a cup of coffee and reading my bible.

2.I prefer sleeping in  to staying up late.

3.I never thought I’d want to have kids until I was pregnant with the Princess

4. I wish I could put one of the many stories in my brain onto paper for a book

Thankful Thursday: July 12

If I had to write this yesterday, it would have been a challenge.  Yesterday was one of those stressful, overwhelmed, feeling in-over-my-head kind of days.  Fortunately, today seems to have dawned clearer and calmer.  And I can see the blessings before me:

A Patient and Supportive Husband! While I was at my wit's end yesterday, he was my rock!  He was my calm in the storm.  And he even made a run to the store at 9pm to pick up more printer ink for me.

A Break in the Heat Wave After way too many days of near 100 degree temperatures, we are finally enjoying a break to the heat and a little rain for the veggie plants!

Two Orders for Queen B's Busy Work This past week brought two custom orders for Queen B's Busy Work!

I'm A Bad Mother

I don't like the Little Man very much today. 

There I said it. 

He's surly and irritable.

He talks back.  When he talks.  Often I'm lucky to get a groan or a growl out of him.  Sometimes it's just a scowl.

He leaves a mess behind him where ever he goes.  I suppose it's because the mess has gotten too big for his room to contain it any longer.

I'm trying very hard to stay calm and composed.  It's getting more and more difficult. 

That's right - I'm a Bad Mother.

Call the social workers. Order up some future therapy sessions for him. He drew a bad lot and is stuck with the mom who openly admits that he's not her favorite person today.


I can already imagine all the parenting tips and advice that a post like this could produce as feedback.  Save it.  I've read the parenting books too.  That's not really what I need to hear right now.

Look down your nose at me and shake your head. Judge me. Whatever. 

Right now I feel like a miserable failure as a parent on my own.  You can either feed that feeling of doubt and frustration, or  you can be kind and gentle with me.  If you've been a parent for any significant length of time and you are completely honest with yourself - I'm willing to bet that you've had days when you feel like a bad parent too.  When you were at your wit's end and didn't know what to do.  When you (gasp!) didn't like that offspring of yours very much at the moment.  Would you want to be judged at that time?   I didn't think so.

Don't get me wrong. I love the kid. I DO!   That's not going to change.  I just really don't like the way he is acting or his attitude right now.


Tomorrow (or maybe even later today), he'll be back to his smiling, funny self.  He may want to sit next to me on the couch and ask me to scratch his back.  Everything will be back to normal.

But right now, I'm sending him to his room to do some cleaning.  He'll probably pout and mutter something under his breath.  He'll stomp off with grumbles of how "it's not fair". 

Me?  I'm going to put on my Bad Mommy Crown.  I've earned it.

SoleHope Shoe Cutting Party

We gathered together with scraps of denim, cotton, scissors, and potluck dishes.  It led to an afternoon of fun, food, and fellowship.

Yesterday the Connect group we belong to at our church came together to have a Shoe Cutting Party to support SoleHope.   What is a shoe cutting party?  And what is SoleHope?  I am so glad you asked!

According to their website, SoleHope is "a group of passionate, committed people who are putting closed toed shoes on African children, one pair at a time." 




When you host a Shoe Cutting Party to support SoleHope you you whave the chance to cut out shoe uppers that will be taken to Africa, sewn by Sole Hope shoemakers for a fair wage and then put on a child's foot who cannot afford a pair of shoes. 

Our group was blessed to complete sets for 34 pairs of shoes!

If you would like more information about SoleHope, please visit their website:  http://www.solehope.com/get-involved/

Maybe This Week

Ok, I admit that most of last weeks goals did not come to completion.  I've moved on, and so should you.  That was last week.  Maybe this week will be different.

Weekly Goals for July 8 - July 13, 2012

• Write everyday.
• Complete Etsy orders and get into mail by Thursday
• Get that mani/pedi that never happened last week
• Clean up kitchen (including cleaning out fridge)

So Much To Do, Not Enough Time!

Well, looking back on my goals for this past week  - things aren't looking so great.  I felt very upbeat and optimistic about it, until I reviewed.  Blah... better luck next week.  Here's a quick update:

Weekly Goals for July 2 - July 6, 2012

• Write everyday.   Yah!  I did manage to meet at least ONE of the goals for this week! :)
• Get dining room and back porch cleaned up.  Well, sorta.  Kinda.  OK, not so much.  It's cleaner than it was. 
• Complete 3 pairs of flip flops   Good progress, but not quite complete.
• Start new crochet project for Queen B's Busy Work   I started a new crochet project, but I think it will end up being for me rather than going up for sale. 
• Find time to go get mani/pedi   It's the thought that counts?  Right?

Moments In Time: July 1 - 6

The past week in pictures



Sunday July 1:  You can't really see it, but that says 99 degrees.




Monday July 2:  Fresh raspberries, just picked!





Tuesday July 3:   I baked a Lemon-Blueberry cake




Wednesday July 4:  The grand baby's first swim




Thursday July 5:  I had a visitor while sitting on the back porch in the morning




Friday July 6:  My pretty new writing journal



Strep Throat, Shorts, & Public Speaking

Every week Feeling Beachie gives us four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs.

Want to be featured as a Co-Host to the hop?  Come up with four fill in’s of your own and email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them, you get a nice little mention in that weeks hop! Please help her out and email some statements!  This week’s co-host is Janice from Janice’s Footsteps (she came up with the last two statements)


And remember: as mom always said "it's nice to share". So be sure to tweet, facebook, etc about the Follow Friday blog hop. And add the little linky tool there at the bottom to your own blog if you participate!


This week’s statements:
1. I ___ wear___
2. I have had a lot of ___
3. Public speaking makes me__________.
4. My car always has_______because_______.

My responses:
1. I  hate to  wear shorts

2. I have had a lot of strep throat

3. Public speaking makes me nervous until I start talking

4. My car always has a mess in the back seat because of a certain 14 year old boy. 






 

Thankful Thursday: July 5

I have had such a good week so far.  It's been easy to find blessings to write about for the first week of the Thankful Thursday post.  May it continue to be so simple to see the blessing in my life!

Walks At The Park: The Man of the House and I have been taking the dog for walks at the park in the evening.  It's a nice chance to spend a little time together and get some exercise at the same time.               
                      
         
Possibly The First Order for Queen B's Busy Work: I don't want to jinx it - but it looks like I am about to have my first official web order for Queen B's Busy Work!  I was starting to feel a little frustrated and discouraged; and I was praying for a sign that I was on the right track.  God has delivered in the form of a potential custom order! 


Time With My Father:  We spent the 4th of July at my father's house for a cookout.  I never felt all that close to my father when I was growing up.  Now that I am an adult, I find that he's a funny, interesting man.  I am so grateful to have opportunities to spend time with him and hear all his stories about growing up and his time in the Navy!

You Liebe Me, You Really Liebe Me!

So, I got this here award from Janice's Footsteps....

Which is a pretty cool thing.   It's always nice to get a nod from a fellow blogger!

The Liebster Blog award is for the blogs that have less than 200 followers.  It recognizes the smaller writers, the lovers of reading,   the bloggers sharing little pieces of our lives.

As always happens with these awards, there are questions to be answered and you are required to share facts about yourself.  And you must pass it on to others.  So... 

Janice's Questions for Me:

1. What is the 1st book you fell in love reading? How old were you?  Hmm... Island of the Blue Dolphins.  Read it over and over.  I was... I don't know.. 11 maybe?

2. Describe yourself in 3 words?  Christian, wife, mother


3. Last good deed you did? For whom?  Bought coffee for a friend who was standing in line behind me at the counter.


4. Favorite male character (movies)? Female?  Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara - without a doubt!


5. Worst book ever read? Did you buy it or was it a gift?  I can't think of a really bad one, so I must have blocked it out.  I do remember that the ending of My Sister's Keeper made me so angry that it ruined the entire book for me.


6. When do you usually read? Morning,afternoon, evening, middle of the night?  At night before I fall asleep


7.Book store, delivered to your mailbox, or library?  All of the above!  Plus online for the nook!


8. Paperback or kindle?  Neither!  Nook!


9. Meaning behind your blog name?  I hate all the "Real Housewives of..." shows. THAT is not reality and those are NOT real housewives. 


10. Do you trade books for others or do you hoard them on shelves?  Depends on the book.  Usually I hoard them until I get too many and then I pass some one and donate some to the Library or Goodwill.


11. What is the 1st thing that comes to mind when I say the word "POPSICLE"?  Cherry Popsicle melting onto your hands. 

Eleven Things About Me:

1. I am spending too much time right now wondering "why eleven?  why not ten?  or a dozen?  who came up with eleven?"
2. I love coffee.  And Dr Pepper.  Not together!
3. I do not like onions.  Not even cooked.
4. I hate my thighs.  Ugh...
5. I wish I had pretty long fingernails.
6. I do not like having to make lists of things about myself
7. I should be getting ready to go to a cookout instead of blogging right now
8. I like the smell of Murphy's Oil Soap.
9. When I was a kid I wanted dark hair and green eyes instead of my blond hair and blue eyes
10. Everyone says my daughter looks like me.  I think she looks more like her dad.
11. I am very happy to be done with this list!

The passing on of the award is going to have to wait.  I have to consider who I am giving it to.  And think up my questions for those lucky folks.

Just Write

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”  ~ Stephen King

I've got the reading part down.  I read.  A lot.  With no end in sight.  It's the "write a lot" thing that has been lacking. 

I used to write when I was younger.  Mostly poetry.  Bad poetry.  But there were a few flowers among the weeds.  Every now and then I even ventured into a bit of fiction, or a memoir of sorts. 

I constantly made up stories in my head as I went through my day.  Narrating what I was doing to make it seem more interesting, or creating fictional or fantasy stories to entertain myself while I did more mundane things such as homework, walking to the bus stop, or chores.

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." ~ E. L. Doctorow

As always happens, life moved along.  I found myself with two children to raise and little time for writing.  It was a busy, happy time.  I didn't miss the writing.  I didn't even think about it during those years. 

Now the kids are grown, or mostly grown.  Either way, they are developing lives of their own.  They are no longer dependant on me for every tiny thing, and for every second of the day.  Now, there are spaces.  Spaces that are easy to fill with cleaning, reading, crochet, or a multitude of other activities. 

Such as writing.

I find myself thinking about writing.  Thinking about putting pen to paper.  Looking for writing prompts and exercises.  Making up bits and pieces of stories as I do dishes, laundry, or driving in the car. 

Writing is now something I want to do.  A drive to bring words to life.  Perhaps it was always there, and the blogging has just helped to breathe new life into it. 

“If you want to be a writer, you have to write every day... You don't go to a well once but daily. You don't skip a child's breakfast or forget to wake up in the morning...” ~ Walter Mosley

I've made myself a promise to write everyday.  For this purpose, blogging doesn't count.  Real, honest to goodness, pen to paper writing.  It doesn't matter if it's good, bad, boring drivel, or something with potential.  I will write. 

Now I find myself craving a notebook and a stash of pens specifically for writing.  A lovely, journal type notebook. Something of decent size with plenty of blank, lined pages for writing.  And good pens.  Pens that don't leave globs of ink or drag on the paper.   That along with a few words of inspiration, and some time to sit quietly and let my thoughts flow.

"We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to." ~ Somerset Maugham

The Care and Feeding of Orchids

The care and feeding of orchids. It is a subject I know nothing about. Seriously. Nothing. So, despite the fact that I love orchids, I have never owned one. To be completely honest - they scared me a little. More than a little. I was flat out intimidated by them.

A couple of months ago, I was given an orchid as a farewell gift when I left my paying job. It was beautiful. Two stems full of gorgeous white blooms and healthy green leaves.  I owned an orchid!

I started thinking... maybe I could care for an orchid! How hard could it be really? I brought it home and upon the suggestion of someone who seemed to know what she was talking about I placed it in the bathroom.

Things seem to be going well. Another bloom opened. It seemed healthy. Time went by and the blooms lasted weeks and weeks. I was encouraged. Oh sure.. after about six weeks a few of the blooms started dying and falling off, but really - this orchid thing wasn't so hard. And I was pleased to have such a lovely plant in my home.

Then I was reminded why I have never had an orchid before...

So Much To Do, So Little Time

Appearing for the first time ever,  all the things I hope to accomplish this week.  (I know.. the excitement is almost overwhelming, isn't it?)

Weekly Goals for July 2 - July 6, 2012

1. Write everyday.
2. Get dining room and back porch cleaned up.
3. Complete 3 pairs of flipflops
4. Start new crochet project for Queen B's Busy Work
5. Find time to go get mani/pedi

Jumping Into July

July is here.  And baby, it's HOT outside!  Which leaves plenty of time for inside activities and making lists of things I want to get accomplished.  Along that line of thought, let me share with you my

Goals for July:

1. Get out on to the back deck in the mornings to enjoy some coffee, reading, and fresh air - before the day gets too hot.
2. Take at least one hour of time for myself each week.  Give myself a pedi, take a bubble bath, etc.
3. Continue feeding the family healthier, less processed foods.
4. Start creating a list of back to school/autumn type items for Queen B's Busy Work
5. Complete "About" page for Queen B's Busy Work
6. Do some writing. Not blog stuff - fiction or poetry.
7. Make time for a Date Night with the man of the house.  (or even better - an entire date day!)
8. Start some canning and/or freezing!
9. Take at least one photograph per day.
10. Get back on track with household chores.

And Now For Something Completely Different

It's July!  JULY! 

How in the world is it July already? And where exactly did June disappear to?  How is one entire half of this year past and gone already?  Hmm.  Well, I must be having fun; because time certainly is flying!

Trying a few new things for July...

Goals:  Listed here on the blog.  Maybe weekly, definitely for the month  With a followup post at the end of the month (week) telling how I did meeting those goals. 

The Week In Pictures:  I'm going to try to snap a picture or two every day and on Fridays share them in a "The Week in Pictures" post.

Counting My Blessings:  A weekly post listing at least 3 blessing I'm thankful for that week.  And it can't always just be the same old "I'm thankful for my husband and my kids".  Everyone knows I am thankful for the man of the house and our offspring.  It has to be more specific than that!

I still can't believe it's already July... man.. It's going to be Christmas before we know it!