A Spirit of Gratitude: May 2017

May was pretty much jam packed!  It seemed as if there was barely time to pause for a breath before we were off to the next thing.  It was one of those months when it would be easy to feel overwhelmed.  But when I  took time to pause and reflect on all that was going on - to indulge in some gratitude, it was simple to see how much good there was in all the busyness.

I Am Thankful For:

Playing horseshoes with friends

Breakfast for lunch at Cracker Barrel
School plays
Musical performances from the Male Offspring
Sunday dinner with the family
BBQ Ribs

There is no longer a snake in my house

Mothers Day
College graduation

Going to the movies with my guys
Date night

Answered prayers
Rainbows

Making vacation plans
Sleepover with the grand kid
Cookouts
The Male Offspring's Birthday

What are you thankful for from May?

Sunday Inspiration: Not That Important

Sunday Inspiration: The Company You Keep

What A Weekend!

This past weekend was - for lack of a better word - Amazing! 

On Friday evening, the Man of the House, the Male Offspring and I went out for some Mexican food.  And it was oh-so-yummy!  Not much wrong with a delicious bean and cheese burrito and a frozen margarita.

Saturday was a BIG day for our family.  Our beautiful daughter officially graduated from college!!  She was technically done back in December, but this weekend was the graduation ceremony. 
We are so proud of her.  There were a few bumps in the road - like having a baby.  But she kept at it and is now our very own computer engineer.  Now she's considering going back to take the few classes she would need to also complete her electrical engineering degree. 

After the ceremony, we took her and her fellas out for dinner to celebrate. 

Sunday was - of course - Mother's Day.  And my family made me feel extra special. 

The Man of the House made me a lovely brunch of breakfast sandwiches, bacon, strawberries, orange juice, and coffee.  There were lovely cards, gift cards to some of my favorite stores, and some chocolate. 

The female offspring and the grand kid dropped by and brought me a beautiful peppermint and lavender scented soy candle which she made, a card drawn special for me by the grand kid, and a Starbuck's Frappuccino! 

The Male Offspring made my requested dinner of blue cheese burgers and steak fries.  Yummy!

After dinner I took a relaxing bath with the candle from the Female Offspring, and some bath products handcrafted by Southern Belle Soaps and Bath - located right here in North Carolina.  Her soaps are my new obsession! 

Yes, it was a grand weekend.  Although I did eat entirely too much food.  But... worth it! 

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend also.  Did you do anything fun?

Sunday Inspiration: Mother's Day

Friday Favorites: Keep Cool

Happy Friday, y'all! The weather this week has been quite warm here.  Much too warm for early May!  I'm looking for a nice cool down this weekend.  In the meantime, all this heat has had me thinking about summer.

I am all about a cute, breezy dress during the summer.  And this week I became a teeny bit obsessed with this Mossimo Multicolor Stripe Trapeze Halter Dress .  It looks a little shorter than I personally like, but as this model is probably several inches taller than myself - it might be just right.  I feel it might be worth a trip to Target for a try on.  Sadly, it looks like my local store is already sold out.  ☹

Since I'm already on the topic of dresses, this Red Heirloom Maxi Dress from World Market is another one that I found and became infatuated with.  I love the bold color.  And the longer length of a maxi dress.

During the warmer summer months I like lighter, quick meals.  Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms and Parmesan by Pickled Plum has quickly become a favorite.  It's gluten free.  Healthy.  And tasty.  In fact. it's so good -  I forgot to take picture before eating all of it! 

Except for waiting for the squash to cook. it's a fast meal.  (and I'm thinking about trying  some options I've seen for either microwaving the squash or cooking it in the crockpot).  Next time I make it, I'll use less thyme and more garlic.  And perhaps toss in some broccoli or green peas.

And then there's this...

The Starbuck's Midnight Mint Mocha Frappuccino.  Dark chocolate.  Mint.  Imagine someone took a Thin Mint cookie and magically turned it into a yummy cold coffee beverage. Yeh... that.  Yum!

Have a great weekend y'all!!

Finally... Happy Nails

I enjoy having pretty, painted nails just as much as the next gal.  Unfortunately, once manicured, mine seem to chip as soon as they're dry.  Whether it's from washing dishes, playing with the grand kid or working with my crochet hook - I can count on my nail polish chipping within a day... maybe two if I'm lucky.

I've tried many of the top brands, and until now Essie has been my go-to choice for the best results. 

Until last week on a whim I picked up this...  Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color,  Base Coat, and Top Coat.

 

First of all - you can't beat the price!  I paid less than $3 each for the base and topcoats, and less than $2 for the color!  This one is Sugar Coat.  It's a pretty pinkish- white shade.  My first coat on was a little streaky, but I took my time on the second coat to get it even and it looked much better after that.

My opinion only improved from there.  I was pleased to see the nail polish last.  Not just one day, or even two.

   

Day Two

I was thrilled to still be chip-free on day three!

Day Three

But when it still looked beautiful on day four, I was amazed!  This was pretty much a record for me.  It's not as if I were being super careful or anything.  It was the usual cleaning, crocheting, etc.

Day Four

On day five, the first chips started to show. And while I could probably manage to get by another day or two if I wanted to thanks to the light, nude color of the polish; I will probably re-do my manicure on day 6.  I have a slightly darker shade picked out for the next round.

Day Five

This set is a win for me!  And I have already recommended it to a couple of people.






*  I received no compensation or product from the company.  All items were purchased at full price by myself and all opinions expressed are my own

It's A Zoo Out There... And In Here

It has been a pretty creepy couple of days around here.  This place has always been a bit of a zoo; but this is getting ridiculous!

Yesterday, the Man of the House was outside where he has been pressure washing, sanding, and repainting the garage doors.  As he went to sand one side of the frame, he came face to face with this...

Yep.  That's a little ol' bat.  Who was hanging upside down getting his beauty rest right on the side of our house! YIKES!!

AS if that wasn't enough... today happened.

I was cleaning up in the kitchen.  As I finished up and walked out of the kitchen, this was slithering across the living room floor!

An approximately 5 foot long black snake was IN. MY. HOUSE.  I screamed.  I screamed a little more.  I yelled for the Male Offspring.  I texted the Man of the House.  The snake slithered along the wall and under the little wagon where I keep books for the grand kid. 

The Male Offspring trapped it under a plastic storage bin, where it stayed for a while.  We needed time to figure out our next move.  Finally, the male offspring decided to slide some cardboard under the bin - and the snake - and we carried the entire thing outside.

I'm glad all these critters are the sort which eat other, nastier creatures and nothing terribly dangerous.  But enough is enough!  The only animals I want living in my house are the cat and dog.

Sunday Inspiration: Remember

Friday Favorites: The Premiere

I thought it would be fun to start using Fridays to share a few of the fun, interesting, bizarre, and funny things I come across in my day to day life each week.  Enjoy!

BEE HAPPY:  I saw this Bee Happy Doormat from World Market in an email this week - and you can "bee-lieve" it will be living on my front porch soon!

worldmarket.com

Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer:  I started reading this book by Priscilla Shirer this week.  I'm very excited about using it to help give my prayer life a much needed jump start.

Fervent at BarnesandNoble.com

liveGfree Angel Food Cake mix:  After concluding last year that some problems he was having were likely related to a gluten sensitivity, the Man of the House has been gluten free.  I have been craving some strawberry shortcake.  But it didn't seem right to enjoy it when the Man of the House couldn't have the shortcake portion of the dessert.  This will make it possible for all of us to indulge in that sweet treat... without the gluten induced side effects.

Simple DIY Dryer Sheet Sponges

I love the smell of freshly cleaned laundry.  Whether dried on the line, or in my machine - there is the scent of one particular type of fabric softener which I can't get enough of.  (Oddly, it's the brand which actually advertises that people will become addicted to the scent.  Score one for truth in advertising.) 

I have to admit though - there is also a part of me that cringes at the cost of dryer sheets when it's a use it once and throw it away item.  (That would be the cheapskate side of me.

But no more!  I have finally figured out a way to DIY my own dryer sheets!  OK... they're not exactly sheets.  They're sponges.  But it works the same way as a sheet. 

It uses liquid fabric softener, and stretches it out with water.  Saving me money. And if (unlike myself) you are happy with an inexpensive brand of liquid fabric softener, rather than being picky about using one particular name brand - even better! 

You will need:

    

• Liquid fabric softener of your choice
• Water
• A plastic container with a lid (I used an old one which was headed for the donate pile as part of my recent decluttering)
• Ordinary cleaning sponges

To Prepare Fabric Softener Sheet Sponges:

1.  Mix equal parts liquid fabric softener and water.  The amount you use will depend on the size of your plastic container and the number of sponges you have.  I used 2 cups of each, which might have been a tad bit much.

2.  Place sponges into plastic container.

3.  Pour fabric softener/water mixture over sponges.

4.  Cover plastic container with lid.  Allow sponges to absorb as much liquid as they will hold.

Store until ready to use

To Use Dryer Sheet Sponges:  Remove one sponge.  Squeeze out excess liquid into plastic container.  Toss sponge into dryer with wet laundry.   When you remove the clothes from the dryer, the sponge will be dry also.  Just pop it back into the plastic container to absorb more liquid for the next use!

After trying these on every type of laundry, except delicates - I have been very happy so far. 

And my wastebasket is no longer overflowing with used dryer sheets!  Yah! 

Now, if I could just find a solution for all that lint...

Currently... May 2017

May is looking to be a busy month around here!  It kicks off this weekend with the Spring guitar concert for the Male Offspring and ends it with his birthday.  In between we may or may not have a graduation to attend, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and a whole load of projects to work on.  And here I thought I might have the chance to slow down, relax, and just enjoy time passing this month.  Not this time, busy lady... not this time.

But before things get too busy, let's remember to take a brief moment to see where things stand as this busy month of May begins...

Reading:  I am about half way through A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny. I am getting close to the top of the wait list on a couple of holds through the library.  If one comes up soon, that will be next.  If not, then I'll start the next in this series - The Cruelest Month

Eating:  I've gotten a little off track over the past week or two.  Especially this previous weekend, when I indulged a bit too much.  So it's back on track for May!  Breakfast will be either an egg with whole grain toast and fruit, or oatmeal with berries.  Lunch is planned as a veggie hummus sandwich or a salad.  And some healthy dinner options. 

Working On:  Getting back to some decluttering.  I didn't get much done during April between being out of town, having a couple of wholesale orders to complete, Easter, etc. 

I'm also working on a plan to be more consistent with my blog writing and publishing instead of posts coming in clusters.  It's like feast or famine around here. 

Enjoying:  Overindulging in some Angliophilia.  One of my favorite things to do when I'm staying up late nights working on orders is to watch shows, movies, and documentaries about all things English.  Thanks to Netflix and Amazon Prime - I have had more than enough material to fill my head with The Cousin's War, the Tudor and Victorian eras, the more recent Royals, and a plethora of English castles. 

Anticipating:  The summer growing season!  I am ready for some trips to the farmer's market for fresh fruits and veggies.

Feeling:  Inspired.  I'm not sure if it's the warmer weather or what - but my creative juices are flowing and I have all sorts of ideas and plans forming in my little ol' brain. Things I want to make.  Things I want to do.  Things I want to accomplish in my work.

What are you up to during May?