Halfway Through

Since May marks my halfway point between birthdays, I thought I would give y'all an update on the 15 Before 51 list that I shared back in November.

As you can see - it's been sort of a mixed bag so far.  It has been more of a challenge to do some of the things on the list than I anticipated.  Made even more difficult by the Corona Pandemic Era.  Hopefully, circumstances will allow me to check off more items before I reach my next birthday. 

1. Reach my goal weight I've been doing a whole lot of stress eating over the past two months and I'm afraid my weight has tipped in the wrong direction as a result  Boo!!
   
2. Get into an exercise routine.
3. Attend a crochet group
4. Learn how to make Key Lime pie (one of my favorite desserts) from scratch
5.  Read these 5 classic novels
•  The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
• Watership Down
• The Secret Garden 
• The Count of Monte Cristo
• The Picture of Dorian Gray
6. Attend a play
7. Take a class I've done a few online learning webinar's from the local community colleges Small Business Center.  And I was gifted a year to MasterClass, although I haven't actually taken any of those courses yet.
8. Road trip!   We managed a couple of road trips before Coronamaggedon shut everything down in March.  In November, The Man of the House and I drove to Cleveland for a football game.  And in February we made the trip to Memphis for a weekend.
9. Eat meatless meals one day per week It hasn't been every single week, but most weeks I try to plan at least one meatless meal
10. Start a sketchbook Just started last week! 
11. Go on a spontaneous weekend away with the Man of the House
12. Get a family photo with the kids and grand kid
13. Go to a movie by myself
14. Donate blood at least 3 times this year
15. Crochet something for charity

Wishing You a Shamrockin' Good Day!

Today is St Patrick's Day!  The one day each year we are all a little Irish.  So...   Wear your green.  Enjoy your corn beef and cabbage, Irish stew, or Dublin Coddle.  Heck, maybe even indulge in a green beer (or not).  

And from me to you: 

"May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your heart be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright happy hours,
That stay with you all year long."

-Irish Blessing

Sunday Inspiration: What It Brings

Friday Favorites: Max

Just over a year ago when we lost our sweet Oscar dog to canine lymphoma, my heart was so broken - I couldn't imagine ever having another dog.  Ever.  But as we know, time heals all things.  Which explains why I recently, I found myself missing - even craving - the sort of companionship he offered while I worked from home by myself.

Although I still wasn't convinced that I was ready for a new furry friend, I would frequently find myself drawn to the websites for the local shelters.  I sent a few pictures to the Man of the House.  I guess I was dropping hints, but I didn't want to admit it at the time.  And he was picking up those hints. He had actually stopped by the local shelter.

Fast forward to last Friday evening, when he started showing me some postings for puppies he had found on Craig's List.  Almost before I knew what was happening, a couple of quick emails were sent and we had arranged to go see some dachshund puppies the next morning.

Long story, short (well - still kind of long, but shorter than it could have been) - that's how this little guy came to be part of our family!

His name is Max.  He's a smooth-haired dachshund.  And I'm pretty much completely head over heels for him already.  How could I not be?  I mean - look at him!

Isn't he just the cutest?  He only weighs about 3 pounds and he's so teeny tiny!

Although I received several nice things for Christmas - he is by far my favorite gift!



via GIPHY

Joyful Gratitude: December 26

I Am Thankful For:

Cute little dogs with big ears
Helping a stranger
Baking supplies
Fruit salad
Playing with the cat
A warm house on a cold night morning
Last minute Etsy orders
Cinnamon spice pecans
School Christmas parties
Fresh haircut
A new puppy
Surf & Turf dinner
Puppy barks
Baking cookies

Sunday Inspiration: Rejoicing and Reflection

Joyful Gratitude: December 19

I Am Thankful For:

Monday mornings
Pants that are too big
Cute gift card holders
Candy canes
Packages on the front porch
Sunshine
Ice on the back porch
Yogurt with berries
Clear blue skies
Cute puppies on the internet
Waking up from a strange dream
Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Christmas shopping done
Watching The Grinch
Grand kid sleepover
Hearing "Good morning, Oma!"
Sparkly fingernails

Sunday Inspiration: Most Truly

Joyful Gratitude: December 12

I Am Thankful For:

A beautiful day despite the cold

Snow on the mountain tops

Lights on the Christmas tree

Wind rushing through the trees

Decorating for Christmas

That very first sip of morning coffee

Good reports from Dad's doctors

The TV accidently activating Alexa

Working on Orders

Staying on track

Sunrise

Lunch with Mom

Christmas shopping with The Man of the House

Talking to Grand Kid on the phone

Cheese

Homemade turkey noodle soup

God's grace

Nasal spray

Out of Sorts

Over the past few weeks I am feeling as if I have my act together in no way whatsoever.  It almost seems like the more I try to get it together - the more out of sorts I become.  I'm just wandering through.  

I'm still setting goals and making my To Do lists.  But they are vague and meandering.  Disorganized.  There isn't a good focus to them.  I keep getting distracted, which leads to not accomplishing tasks in the time I have allotted to them.  Then I try to catch up, putting me behind on the next thing.

I am hoping this week is the one that turns all that around!  This week I am focusing on sticking to my schedule and reducing distractions.

My goals this week are:

• Lose 1.5 pounds
• Wrap Christmas presents
• Ship 3 orders
• Create Sunday Inspiration blog posts for January

What are your goals for the week?

Sunday Inspiration: Christmas

Time to Smell The Roses

Certain scents seem to have a specific age to me.

Obviously there is the delicious smell of babies - baby wash, powder, and the undefinable sweetness that is infant.

Love's Baby Soft was the scent of my youth.  Does anyone else remember that?  Do they still make it?   Still a powdery scent, but with more floral notes.  I couldn't get enough of it during my middle school years. I pity anyone who had to spend time around me if they didn't care for that fragrance.  There was no escaping it!

My college days will always smell like Sand and Sable.  Which also smelled like the beach.

Like so many others, sometime in the late 90s discovered Bath and Body Works where I was a Moonlight Path wearer for several years.

The scent of roses always seemed suited to an older woman.  I don't know why.  Maybe when I was young I knew an older woman that worse rose perfume.  Or perhaps someone told me that, or I read it somewhere.  What ever caused it, I didn't wear scents that were especially floral - particularly rose - for years.

Until recently...

Now I can't seem to get enough of it!  I think it started with my rose water and witch hazel face toner.  Then I found the minted rose lip balm.  And now I am loving anything with a soft rose scent.

Of course, I refuse to acknowledge that now that just as I reach a stage of life where I enjoy wearing rose scents I might, in fact, be an "older woman".

Joyful Gratitude: December 5

I Am Thankful For:

Morning birds

Errands completed

Planning Thanksgiving dinner

A doctor appointment going well

Walking a dog

Waking early

Thanksgiving prep

Watching a movie with the grand kid

Turkey in the oven

Burnt sweet potatoes

Leftover turkey sandwiches

Black Friday shopping with the Female Offspring

Pumpkin pie for breakfast

Napping away a cold

The Male Offspring making me laugh

Christmas decorations

Finding the perfect gift

Currently... December 2019

November was not the month I expected it to be as it began.  Oh, sure - it started off normal enough.  My 50th birthday was lovely.  On the 13th, the Man of the House and I headed to Cleveland where we visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Christmas Story House and attended the Thursday night football game between the Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers.  (Yes, that game.  The one with the helmet incident.  It was crazy!)  After a fun trip and a very long drive home, we arrived safely at about 2am on Saturday.  

Later that morning was when everything went topsy-turvy.  I received a call that my father was being taken to the hospital with what appeared to be a heart attack.  He required a heart cath, followed by a triple bypass surgery.  It's all mostly a blur of long days and nights in hospital waiting areas and ICU rooms with my sisters and his girlfriend.  Fortunately, he came through the surgery well and is back home.  And while he has a long recovery period ahead of him - he's a stubborn guy with a determination to get back to his regular routines.  That makes two of us!

Reading:  I just finished The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  The first of the five classics I plan to read this year.  Now I am starting A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House.

Celebrating: Every step of my dad's recovery process!  Along with Christmas, my sister's birthday and the upcoming new year. 

Working On:  A collaboration between my Etsy shop and my middle sister's shop!  I'm not quite ready to share all the details yet, but it should be good for both businesses. 

Wanting:  To do some Christmas baking.  I haven't done in any several years, but for some reason I find myself wanting to whip up some Christmas cookies this year.  

Needing:  At least two entire days worth of sleep.  I didn't get a good night's sleep for about two weeks and I think I'm still paying for that.  It's probably why I caught a nasty cold right after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, having a head full of sinus pressure doesn't help one get a restful sleep either.  

Making:  Lists and lists and lists.  Christmas lists - lists of who I need to shop for, lists of what I have already bought.   Grocery lists.  Lists of what I want to bake.  To do lists.  Lists of my lists.

Wearing:  A lot of dresses or tunics with leggings and boots.  It's comfy, and, as I mentioned last month, a good option with where I am in my weight loss journey rather than having to buy new pants every couple of months.

Feeling:  Extremely grateful and oh-so-very aware of how every single day is a gift. 

Enjoying:  Coffeemate Sugar Free Peppermint Mocha creamer in my morning coffee.  All the peppermint mocha flavor I adore, especially at this time of year - with very few Weight Watchers points!  

Anticipating:  The holiday season.  Especially cuddling up on the couch with a cup of tea or cocoa to watch all my favorite Christmas movies.

What is December bringing your way?

Sunday Inspiration: December

Joyful Gratitude: Happy Thanksgiving

I Am Thankful For:

Having my sisters together for support
Surgery went well
The Man of the House bringing dinner to the hospital
Laughing in the waiting room
Singing of wind chimes
Chocolate brownies
A beautiful morning
27 years of marriage
Warm autumn days
A dog sticking his head out the sunroof
Dad going home sooner than expected
Tuna steaks
Being able to help out
Sugar free cocoa
A morning with my Dad
Close games
Facial masks

Sunday Inspiration: Be This, Not That

Joyful Gratitude: November 21

I Am Thankful For:
A beautiful warm day before the chill
Gingerbread popcorn
A day with the grandkid
Wintery morning
My family all arriving safely where they need to be
Going with the flow and making it work
A bright full moon
Listening to podcasts in the car
A visit to the Football Hall of Fame
Layers and layers
A warm blanket
A win for the home team
Football insanity
Coming home
God's protection

The Rest of Your Life

What's the old saying?  "Today is the first day of the rest of your life".  Or something pretty much like that.

Cliché, right?  Yep.  But... I'm feeling all those vibes today.  No matter how much of a cliché it may be - today IS the first day off the rest of your life.

What do I want the second half of my life to look like?  Healthier.  Happier (even happier than it already is).  Travel.  Success in my business.  Full of all the abundance that God promises.  In three little words -  The.  Good.  Life.  

That's what I want for myself.  All of that and more.  So much more.  Because today IS the first day of the rest of my life.

Now that I have those intentions set, the next step is to decide what steps I am going to take to get there.  Not an easy task.  But so very important.  Because there is another saying "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten."

What do you want the rest of your life to look like? And what do you need to do to get there?

Sunday Inspiration: Choose Joy