LiFe {unscripted}

Message for Monday

Had a busy and fun weekend celebrating birthdays with friends who feel like family. Sunday evening I had a bit of time in my scrap room.  I organized, cleaned out, and pushed products around on my desk and finally decided to take a break and just play.  This is what I came up with.

And I thought that it was the perfect message to start a new week.  Gotta love when that happens. 

Supplies: Stamp from the Wanderlust, American Crafts Dear Lizzy pattern paper, Sassafras felt sticker, American Crafts cardstock, chevron cut with Silhouette Cameo. 

Make it a great week.

Thanks for dropping by :)

Friday Favorites: Color

This green + navy blue and white chevron dress from Spool No. 72.  I am loving the idea of mixing colors together.  Especially bright colors.  This dress is adorable and affordable.  My kind of dress!

Image via

This scene from my classroom today.  Paint, paint, acrylic paint everywhere.  I have a stressful love for painting in my classroom.  Stressful because of the potential mess, but love because the kids look forward to this all year and get super excited when we start.  I save this project for the end of the year in hopes that my students will know how to mix colors, and also feel somewhat comfortable drawing.  But the kitty cat painting on the right took my breath away today.  A freshman girl who has never painted started that painting today.  At one point I glanced over at her working and was just stunned.  She was diligently painting her heart out - unafraid.  Seeing colors. Looking.  SEEING.  She has not been a student that has felt super confident in her art projects this year.  But today, without worrying about doing something wrong she put paint on a brush and a brush to a canvas.  And it looked amazing.  I love moments like that in my class.  Love.

Sorry for the tangent, it just really inspired me today.  As a teacher and as a creator of art. 

These nail polishes and color names.  I'm not sure if it's legit or not, I tried researching them but sadly could not find a whole lot of info.  The image was credited to cloudtaster over and over...not sure if they are for real, but I absolutely LOVE the idea of them!  The Office never ceases to crack me up!

image via

This set of Koi water colors + a water brush.  I bought them a while back from Amazon after Lori recommended them.  I have used them SO MUCH over the past two weeks and cannot say how much I enjoy the ease of usability and clean up.

New Nike Free+ 2 running shoes for Adam and I.  I love the bright colors of these and seriously, these just make me happy to go to the gym.  New shoes or new work out clothes always does.

And finally, kisses from Henry (sighhh...!)  I know, I know ;)  He's just too cute.

When I lay flat on the floor, he loves getting up on my tummy and going in for kisses.  Sweet everyday moments that brighten my days. 

Thanks for dropping by :)

Not sure how it happened...

but I forgot my sweet baby's birthday. 

Life's not perfect.  I feel like I give each day a good old college try, but sometimes I just fail. 

Last night before bed I realized that I missed Henry's birthday on Thursday last week.  My post Friday was about him with photos from his actual birthday.  We did have a great dinner with Rachel and Lee here at our house, but there was no party hats or cute photos of my sweet boy...ugh. sigh...

I am going to forget things.  Sometimes big things.  Most of the time small things.  But Henry's birthday???  What if someday I forget a human child's birthday?  With all the technology reminders and iCalendars, and beep alert reminders...how could that happen?  I went to sleep feeling like a failure.  ugh.

And today I reminded myself on multiple occasions that "real life isn't perfect."  I never want to depict that here on my blog.  So that's why I am being honest today. 

Life's not perfect, but this little guy is. 

When I walked into the kitchen this morning he greeted me with a sleepy yawn and a wagging tail.  Happy to see me.  Ready to share our morning routine of me "accidentally" (cough, cough, wink, wink) letting a bit of the shredded cheese from my boiled egg fall to the floor for him to lap up.   A routine that we've had since we first got him.  I look forward to it each morning.  And so does he. 

He doesn't care if I missed his birthday.  He's just happy to get a good back scratch while I lay on the floor with him.  He forgives me when I get home late.  Just as long as I play tug o war with him and his Lionel the Leopard, or Freddie the Froggy.  He doesn't need a scrap-booked party hat (though, I truly intended to make him one). He was happy as a peach with this $3.99 doe-a-deer squeaker that I brought home tonight from a close out store. 

And I think he enjoys these squeaker toys so much because they are something we do together.  And I think that's the bottom line.  He just likes spending time with us. 

And I am humbled.  Humbled by how much true joy he has brought to not just our lives, but the lives of our family.  He changed Adam and I as people, as a couple, and as friends.  For only the better, I believe. 

And so I trust that he knows we love him.  He knows we did not mean to forget his birthday...and that we will continue to celebrate him each day in every way we always have. 

And I am reminded of this poster that is based on a quote by Richard Biby, Tulsa, Oklahoma Contributing Editor VHD From “The Versatile Hunting Dog” NAVHDA’s Magazine February 2006

I'm not sure how it happened that I forgot his birthday, but I will never forget him...now or in the future.  He is not just a dog.  He is my whole heart. 

Thanks for dropping by :)

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Happy Belated Birthday Blog post to our sweet Henry!!!

Thanks for dropping by :)

 

 

Tell me something good, Tuesday.

By Tuesday's I am usually looking for good things to look forward to.  I love that the Morning Mashup gang usually does a segment like this on Tuesdays.  It's a great way to start a day with a good outlook.  So today, Tuesday, I thought I'd list a few good things that I am looking forward to again.

I'm looking forward to using this stamp on my scrapbook layouts + cards + gift tags.  I LOVE it.  It's from Danielle's awesome store - and really one of those stamps, like this one, that I can see using over and over. Plus, I just love getting awesome things in the mail that are wonderfully packaged.

Looking forward to spending more time enjoying the warm weather.  Soaking up some sun and relaxing.  Sunday, Adam took over the chore of Wal-Mart shopping which gave me some time to do just that.  My girlfriend and I soaked up some sun, read magazines, listened to music, and just relaxed.  It was a great afternoon.  I am definitely looking forward to more of that.

One of the magazines that I thumbed through was Southern Living.  It was really fun to thumb through and see this article about the Red Velvet Girls.  I've followed Elsie's blog for a quite sometime and it's just super cool to see kind, talented people in a magazine.  Definitely something good, I think!

And finally, this salad.  I am totally looking forward to having this again.  Adam and I indulged quite about this past weekend, so Monday night while we were trying to think of something light and mostly healthy to eat for dinner, we came up with this.  Grilled chicken over a bed of spinach with Kraft light Creamy Caesar Italian dressing.  We added pecans, craisins (crazy raisins, as I like to call them!), feta cheese and croutons, too!  It was exactly what we were wanting, and I can't wait to make another. 

So there you have it, four "goods" on Tuesday.  Kind of random, but random goodness they are! 

Now it's your turn.  Tell me something good about your day or weekend.  A recipe, a good book your reading, something fun you got in the mail...anything!  I'd love to hear!!!

Thanks for dropping by :) 

 

 

 

Prayer works

Remember, Sarah?

She and her husband came to visit this past weekend.  And she is doing SO great.  God is so good.

We had a wonderful visit.  With Sarah and I, it's like no time has ever past in between visits.  We easily just pick right up where we left off.  That is such an unusual thing for me.  But I realize that our friendship is one of those rare finds.  A true blessing.  We stayed up talking until it was just a few hours shy of sunrise.  We talked about family, and friends, work, and home life, being sick, cancer, God, church, fashion, vacation, and just about everything in between. 

On Sunday she came to church with Adam and I. The church service was extraordinary.  The choir sang a Spring musical called, "Somebody's Praying Me Through."  As we sat there listening to the songs, it dawned on me how fitting and awesome it was that Sarah was sitting next to me.  A true example of God working miracles.  His healing power.  An example of the power of prayer. 

Several times during the musical, Sarah and I would glance at each others teary eyes and just smile.

I believe that prayer works.

Someone wanted attention tonight

...a series of photos from tonight I'd like to call, "Someone Wanting Attention."

Henry knows just how to pull at my heart strings.  Pouting by laying down with a heavy sulk & sigh. Those big brown eyes starring up at me. 

And attention he got.

(don't mind my mis-matched pajamas - wink, wink!).

Thanks for dropping by :)

Wordy Wednesday...on Thursday.

I've always loved my blogging friends posts who blog "Wordless Wednesdays," but I've never quite been able to do wordless. I am long-winded.  Long-winded when I talk.  Long-winded when I'm telling a story.  And most definitely long-winded when I am writing. 

So today (Thursday), I'm gonna say this is: Wordy Wednesday .  A few photos from Wednesday's words to describe them.

First up:
A couple drawings I did today for a work project for my school district.

I never thought I'd draw anything military (and am completely aware that I did not do them justice), but these were surprisingly fun. 

Second:
I had an ex-student/amazing artistic photographer/friend drop by for a visit today.

It was a fun visit, but still leaves me thinking about how long I've actually been teaching...and that's weird to me.

Third:
Henry has really enjoyed the longer evenings lately.  He loves being outside with his Papa.

I think he is such a handsome Westie, boy.  I know, I know.  I am completely bias. 

And finally fourth:
tonight when we got home late from dinner with the family, the light was left on in my scrapbook room so as I walked in there to turn off the light I said out loud to myself, "I never get any time in here anymore."  Completely whining. 

And then I looked down and this was right in my face.

Fresh from the last cut I made. 

A not-so-subtle reminder, huh?!

Yeah...I think so. 

It's Thursday...word.

Thanks for dropping by :)

 

Currents

Recently, I started following Laura's Right Brain Dominant's blog.  I really enjoyed reading her post last week about the currents in her life.  I commented on her blog to let her know I enjoyed reading them, and she pointed me in the direction of Tina, who actually started the "Currents" format of posting.

Long story short, I thought I'd borrow Tina's "Currents" format for today's post. 

currents:
time: 11:43 p.m.
location: sitting up in bed.
watching: Troy (the Brad Pitt version)...well, Adam actually was watching it before he fell asleep.  It's still on.
eating: nothing now, but had my mom's homemade lasagna for dinner. 
drinking: water.
wanting: the day to have more hours and the night time to stand still for a couple extra hours of sleep.
needing: get to sleep, and also get some things crossed off my to-do list.  See my constant battle?
loving: the sweet boys laying next to me. 
creating: an iMovie for my aunt who is also a school teacher. 
thinking: about several items that I need to make sure get crossed off my to-do list tomorrow.  And about one of a series of four drawings I need to get started on tomorrow. 
wondering: what I am going to wear tomorrow, and if the weather will be cool enough to wear my riding boots (again) tomorrow.  Seriously, they have been my wardrobe staple since I got them in December.
excited: to share that I was featured on Pocket Change last Friday, as part of their Best of the Web series.  Excited and completely honored to be featured among ten other amazing bloggers. 

Tonight was a late night getting home.  But, I was able to manage to get my toes pedicured. Sally Hansen Nail'd It.

And talk to him.  We enjoy our evening chats while we complete our daily chores like preparing lunches for tomorrow, and washing dishes.  I snapped this photo right after I got home.  He was intensely studying his saws-all - trying to put it back together. 

And of course, spent some (but doesn't feel like enough) time playing with Henry. I snapped this Instagram while he was running in and out of the back door because he couldn't decide who he wanted to spend time with.  Me, inside.  Or Adam, outside.  Guess which he picked ;)

Currently this is life.  Things are interestingly imperfect, superbly busy, but boring at the same time.  Life is good.  We are blessed.

Thanks for dropping by :)

Must Love Dogs

Over the weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to meet two gentle giants, plus their amazing and sweet owner Mom. 

Meet, Ruth.  These are her sweet boys, Shadow (left), and Shiloh (right). 

Going into this photo shoot, I was not quite sure what to expect.  But these boys were so adorable and complete sweethearts.  Gentle giants.  It was an absolute joy+honor to capture this relationship.  The kind that I know so well, and hold very dear to my heart. 

A mom with her fur babies. 

I grew up with kitty cats and loved them.  I still hold cats close to my heart.  But having a dog has forever changed my life.  And I find it so very special and touching when I meet other people who love their loyal companions as much as I do. 

The kind of people who understand the meaning of, Must Love Dogs. 

Thanks for dropping by :)