Suckerpunches

As I look back on 2014, I must admit I am happy to see it go. Every year has it's ups and downs, but this year had some real sucker punches. I can't be too upset about it however, because I find myself at a strange new place here on December 31st. It is one of hope and energy and optimism.

Tonight at midnight, I will look back on this year and...

I will kiss a wonderful boy who thinks I am wonderful too.
We will tuck three healthy, beautiful children into bed.
I will have read 106 books.
Several of them, really good ones.
I will have stolen a few naps,
drank plenty good wine,
laughed really hard, 
and sang a little too loud.
I will have a handful of memories I will never forget.
I will try to count my blessings
and my friends...
and I wont be able to count that high.

Life isn't perfect. There are still struggles and fears and unknowns. There is still pain and grief and anger. But life sure as heck isn't crap either. Those sucker punches that happened this past year...I am thankful for them. Because they have brought me to today. And I wouldn't want to be anyplace else. 

There is a pure and simple magic in beginnings, isn't there?
I am excited for tomorrow.

Something Wicked

Did you watch this movie as a kid? I love me some Ray Bradbury...but after seeing this movie, I NEVER wanted the circus to come to my town. And I know I've said before, that when in doubt, always go with a Great Gatsby quote...but you can't really go wrong with The Bard, either. 

The house has been spookified. Cobwebs and spiders and cauldrons and ravens and snakes and skulls and black cats and black roses.

I flove Halloween. 

Fall In Love

When in doubt, always go with a Great Gatsby quote! Commissioned chalkboard for my friend, Ashley. How much do you love her entryway?!

Now if only my chalkboard skills could work real magic and make it FEEL like fall around here. It's still in the high 80's low 90's this week. Ugh.

Chalkboard Inspiration

{february is so fun don'tcha think?}

Inspiration Saturday

Oh Beautiful, for spacious skies

In progess on this fine Monday...

Lots of kids running round here today. Summer is chaos, but I must admit, I love having the house full and loud! Also happening today - Fourth of July decorating, menu planning and sewing, Laundry (cause of course), pool play dates and a dentist appointment for me. Blah. 

Jump on over to my friend Alissa's blog. She's adapted one of my recipes to be a perfect Red, White & Blue appetizer for your 4th of July celebration! What are some of your favorite Fourth recipes? I kinda feel like I'm in a rut.

(Also, look who's blogged three times in four days! Don't faint. Apparently, pigs do fly.)

Chalkboard Inspiration ala Tom Petty

his acoustic guitar

his voice

his lyrics

give me chills no matter how many times I

(LISTEN) 

I had to chalk it.

Wordless Wednesday

Quick....what movie is this from?!

(chalkboard doodling today inspired by Christina Perri's instagram a few days ago)

Linking up with Julie's Wordless Wednesday. Cause I love her. And Flamingos. And Peacocks. And she takes great pictures. Sometimes she takes great pictures for me. When I can't be bothered. And because I might not make it thru some scenarios without my group texts with her and Kim. So that's why I'm linking up. To Wordless Wednesday. But not being very wordless. Because being wordless is not in my chemical design. It's literally a fundamental impossibility.

VDay Chalkboard Inspiration

another song i've been bathing in lately

Chalkboard Inspiration

Not as succinct as usual...but I am in word love with it!

Chalkboard Inspiration

live with love + grace + gratitude

i like that. 

very much.

quote by Denis Waitley

Chalkboard Inspiration

Linking up with Julie's Wordless Wednesday today

Chalkboard Inspiration

Linking up with Angry Julie's Wordless Wednesday

Chalkboard Inspiration

YEP. Live it.

Chalkboard Inspiration

{A What I Love, Wordless Wednesday}

Chalkboard Inspiration

Our Pantry - Practical & Whimsical ME

This is the outside of ONE of our pantry doors.

(I LOVE how much storage my kitchen has!)

When we first moved into this house, I knew I wanted to paint the inside of these doors with chalkboard paint. And so I did. Last year...

But it wasn't until this past week, that I really got around to making use of these chalkboard doors. Here's what I did. It's a little bit practicality and a little bit whimsical. Pretty much crazy me trying to make sense and have fun at the same time. Yep...here we go!

The top left door is where I write our weekly menu plan.

Practical!

On the bottom right door I've listed all our emergency contact numbers for babysitters. Practical!

The top right door is what I call "Mom Says"

A place for me to write special notes each week to each kid.

With some silhouettes...Whimsical!

And the bottom left door is the most Whimsical of all! A place where the girls and I take turns writing a story. I begin with an opening sentence. Each day, when they are packing their lunches, reaching for a snack, helping me make dinner....they check it and, when ready, write the next sentence in the story.  My goal is to get them to use their spelling words in the sentences. So far we've gone three days and this is what we have...(FYI- Duke is the name of our Black Lab.)

What I love about this pantry:

1. As I menu plan, what I already have on hand is at my fingertips.
2. In an emergency, anyone is prepared.
3. It helps me stay organized as well as inspire my children to create, write, and read.
4. The whole thing was created for under $10!!

Linking up over at Sugar & Dots

Chalkboard Inspiration

I saw this on Pinterest and immediately fell in love.

If I answer this question at the beginning of each day...

and proceed to act and decide with these answers in mind....

then at the end of my day, I have lived the life I aim to.

{FOR TODAY}

Here's today's answers

Mind = read my book

Body = run and tan, jillian, lots of water

Spirit = begin the day in prayer and journal

Relationships = one on one convos with the kids & Mateo. Call my sister.

Creativity = clean sewing corner so i CAN create!

Passion = garden

(sunflowers, morning glories, nastursiums, cucumbers and tomatoes going in the ground today!)

What are your answers??

Two Cents

Our chalkboard in the dining room has sat empty since I erased the last Christmas sentiment before the New Year. This morning, I filled it with the following quote.

It speaks volumes to me right now. And reminds me of another one of my favorite quotes by Mother Teresa, "Be happy in the moment. That is enough."

That's my Two Cents for today.
The house is clean and boys are napping.
So I have a date with my treadmill and Y&theR.
Two things that make me happy at any moment. ;-)

Sandwiched, Simply.

Today is a good day.
A sunny, do nothing, beautifully easy day.
But it's sandwiched between two yucky days.
Candace's 35th Birthday and my Granny's Memorial Service.
So today's sublime simpleness gets trumped.
LAME.

I started thinking about how that's totally unfair.
How today should be able to stand alone.
Not be swallowed up by the emotions of yesterday and tomorrow.

But then I started thinking about how being Sandwiched can be beneficial.
When being "smooshed between" makes a thing better than when it stands alone.
Like ice cream, or peanut butter & jelly, or our family.

After dinner when the kids are playing, Mateo and I like to sneak off to our room for a snuggle.
We have fun timing how long it takes before the kids find us.
(On Tuesday we got a whole whopping 1 minute and 57 seconds ALONE.)
They come running down the hall giggling and saying,
"I bet they're kissing! GROSS!"
Once on our bed with us, we take turns making Megan, Molly & Wyatt Sandwiches.
Mom & Dad are the bread.

Family Sandwiches are my favorite kind of sandwich of all.

Today my sister is in town.
And our baby niece was just born.

Two things that are awesome standing alone!
But because they are part of today,
Sandwiched between my yucky days...
They are made even more awesome and bring even more happiness.

They bring my focus back to the simple.
Back to what's really important.
Back to finding the good in everything.

This is what's on the chalkboard in our dining room right now.

And LOOK at those blooms fresh from the garden!

I wish you could smell them.

 Talk about simple happinesses!
Beautiful Sisters
Healthy Babies
Fresh Flowers

YEP.
As Martha would say,
Being Sandwiched is a "Good Thing."

So I'm focusing today on the simple and the sandwich.
Making THIS for Book Club tonight.
And realizing that two yucky days make today,
Worth Celebrating!

What are your simple happinesses worth celebrating?
Do share!