Doodles, Balloons and Great Photos!

Just wanted to send a shout out to fellow blogger, Thimbleanna. She took some wonderful photos of dogs and balloons in a recent post. Just excellent photos! Since the dogs are doodles like my goldendoodle, I got an extra big smile out of them. :) Enjoy!

Blogging

         I have been doing some reading about blogging. I found several articles linked in Pinterest and have been going back through reading them. I found a great graphic here, at Fabulous Blogging that has tips to increase blog traffic. I loved the simplicity of the graphic, which separates bits of information like food groups. :) It references marketing more than a simple personal blog, such as this, but I liked the information.

         I have been learning more about social media, as well, but researching to learn more of the business/marketing aspect. It has been a fun journey I look forward to continuing. Any new journeys or detours for you, Reader?

Blogs I Follow-Scrapbooking Inspiration

Today's blog links of "Blogs I Follow" are all related to scrapbooking. I haven't been doing much lately, except for Project Life 2013 (finishing), but I still follow the blogs for ideas and information, for when I get back to it. I would really like to take a trip up the local Scrapbook Store for inspiration and a jump start next week-I have been dreaming while perusing Pinterest, too.

Scrapbooking Blogs I Follow:

1. Ali Edwards Blog- I have followed her for years, love her creativity and her style! She shows her Project Life and December Daily Projects throughout, as well.
2. Becky Higgin's Blog-Creator of Project Life, which I love-when I remember to keep up with it...
3. Cathy Zielske's Blog-Cathy has an awesome, simple style that I really like. She's also doing her own Project Life. She has such a great sense of humor, too!
4. Elise Blaha Cripe's Blog-Just started following her not that long ago. She has great sense of style and an added bonus is to see pics of her new baby girl!
5. Just Me, My Soldier and Our 4 Little Chicks-Stephanie Howell's blog-love her style, as well, and her realism on the blog. They are in Italy right now and it brings back happy memories!
6. Just Us/Dear Lizzy-This family/scrapbooker are adorable! Such fun color combos inspire me, here!
7. StacyJulian.comhttp://stacyjulian.com/-This lady loves color and spending time with her family-both of which I love!
8. Just Be Blogged by Tara Whitney-Tara is an involved mom and a wonderful photographer. Not scrapbooking per say but photo ideas for layouts of my own family.
9. Jessica Sprague.com-Jessica showcases digital scrapbooking, as well as photoshop. I love her perspectives!
10. Scrapscription is a kit company that I have used in the past. I first learned of them from another blog where I won a kit in their contest. I tried it, loved it, and when I was lacking in inspiration I would get one of their kits and create something lovely! I still check monthly for kits that may speak to me. They had one that was "my dog" and I purchased pics of my recently deceased dog, thinking it would be a perfect way to honor our family's love for him.

There other pages I peruse like Making Memories, Studio Calico (LOVE their supplies, Pinterest boards, etc),  Basic Grey, Dear Lizzy, and Amy Tangerine to name a few.  Any scrapbooking sites you love? Hope you are well and warm, Reader!

Friday

It's funny how you can be so excited about a new adventure, feeling your heart fill, and smiling a lot, and then suddenly, things change. I was enjoying posting more regularly again, and I still have a schedule of posts I'd like to write and publish. But about two weeks ago I had quite a week that threw me off a bit. On Monday of the week I speak, we found out that a family friend of my husband's had lost his 19 year old stepdaughter in a car accident. Tuesday my niece was badly burned by boiling water, with first and second degree burns on her hands, face, neck, chest and legs. She stayed in the children's hospital Tuesday through Thursday, finally getting her bandages removed a week and a day later. Wednesday we talked with someone dear to me (she hasn't mentioned all the information to all her family, thus the anonymity) let me know that some cells that had been tested were indeed breast cancer. Originally they didn't think they were anything to worry about. Then, that it was localized in the milk ducts, and then this week we have heard that it has spread and they are testing lymph nodes-proceeding quickly from a short surgery to remove ducts to at least a mastectomy... Scary stuff. Then Thursday of the week where I didn't like phone calls my daughter called from my in-laws' house to tell us they had a leaking pipe and standing water in their basement. My husband rushed over and they began to sop up the water. Over the next three days the daughters and I went over with our dehumidifier and we all took turns soaking up water from the carpet, bringing the towels home and drying them, only to return and do it again. They leak was small, and my husband was able to get it stopped by simply turning off the valve. But was something else added to that plate.

This was a week I spent deep in prayer. And I continue to be... I will be blogging more often, again. My oldest daughter has been here since Christmas and returns this weekend to her college life. It's good that she misses her friends there and her routine, but I will be sad when she isn't here anymore, sad that they days are lonely and quiet. And I will be back in prayer for her safety, as well. I have a list of things to do, though. I tried to convince my husband we needed a puppy for a while. But with the person tackling cancer, now, she would like visits and help from me. A blessing I don't have a full time job right now and I am so glad to be able to help.

I will keep you posted, dear readers.

Blogs I Follow

Since I have covered all the Apps I use from my phone, but I want to try to keep up my regular posting, I am changing Thursday's Helpful Apps to Blogs I Follow. This week I will link to Organizational Blogs I Follow. I used to follow blogs via Google Reader, but since that site is no longer available, I use Feedly. It works great and since more people are using it, they continue to make nice updates.

Organizational Blogs I Follow:

1. Day One Blog-Day One is a great journaling app I use on my phone. I really like the way it looks and how easy it is to use. So, when I saw they had a blog, I began to follow it, too. 
2. Creative Organizing blog has become Simplify 101. I love this blog and their newsletters. I appreciate their tips and suggestions! For a while I was subscribed to both via feedly and got their posts twice! :)
3. I Heart Organizing Blog-I love this blog because they often show before and after projects, from the writer and from readers. It can spawn new project ideas or design ideas, and it also inspires me to just get going on a project!
4. The Art Of Simple/Simple Mom-I just recently found this blog through another site. I really like the articles and will continue to follow it! It's not just about organizing, but that was how I originally found it. Some nice words of wisdom in her last few posts.
5. Organized Home-Love the checklists posted! And the encouragement to break cleaning/organizing into small chunks, even with a busy life!
6. A Bowl Full of Lemons-I found this blog through Pinterest as I was looking up planner ideas. I really loved the approach I saw here and the many things she was organizing-files/papers, purse, planners, home!
7. Small Notebook-Ways to Simplify Your Home, some How-Tos and ideas for organization. This is another good blog with thoughts, feelings and words of wisdom thrown in, as well.

Do you have any organizational blogs you follow, Reader? And Happy Thanksgiving! I'm grateful you are here!

Thankful

As I continue to write blog posts about our family, and our daughters getting older, I am thankful for my blog friends. I have been reading some of your blogs for 8 years, since I started blogging, and you have been regular readers for a while. As my girls grow and my life as a mom changes, it's nice to see you women, moms, still close to your children, but in a different way now that they don't live with you. I am also grateful for the advice you drop in on my blog like appreciate the girls, and my time with them, as it will soon be the exception. I appreciate the experience and advice. I am grateful to have "met" you wonderful ladies who share your wisdom with me. Thank you.

8 Years

I went back to the oldest blog post for this blog. It was so interesting to me. I started this blog in January of 2006-almost 8 years ago. It was strange to see the few sentences, and no attempt at really connecting to the reader. It was just a few months after my first marathon and I referred to the symptoms I exhibited. Fitness goals were similar to the ones I have now. I was knee deep in being a busy stay at home mom and member of a women's prayer circle. It was nice to have those memories come back. Was also cute to read about our youngest daughter who had gotten the flu but was adamant that she was fine and could go to school because she had loved it so much then. She was in first grade and loved every minute. Here she is turning 15 today. My how time flies and things change...

Thursday, September 12, 2013

I do have more time on my hands these days, which I have been trying to use wisely, since I quit my part time job in hopes of that elusive full time teaching position. Hopefully it is still out there for me. In the meantime, I have headed back into the world of substitute teaching again. This leaves me time, as I wait for my fingerprint information and paperwork to be finalized, I am keeping up on housecleaning, laundry, organizing, thinking of blog topics, and helping out the teacher who took my place with things she is unsure of. I am planning on pre-posting/scheduling posts so I don't fall off the face of the earth again. ;) I think I'm going to designate a few weekly blog topics: 1. Social Media Monday, where I post some interesting quotes, pics or items from my posting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, Pinterest-well, interesting to me. ;) I often tweet quotes that I appreciate, post fun pictures and pin teaching information/resources, so I'd love to share some. I think it will encourage a bridge for me, which I haven't chosen to access, yet. 2. Talk of Family Tuesday, where I blog about family memories, members or moments that are in the forefront of my mind. My husband's grandfather's passing really has me thinking. Also, knowing that my grandmother is failing in health and is more confused each day... As well as 9/11 passing and that residual feeling of “you never know” when you will be leaving this world, so you must tell people how much you care for them, tell them of the memories you have. 3. What I'm Reading Wednesday, in which I post about the books I'm reading, books I've added to my “to-read” list or my reading progress. I set a goal at the beginning of the year to read 20 books. I didn't know I wouldn't be in a consistent classroom this fall, and knowing how much of my time I put into my teaching, I didn't want to commit to two books per month, but I still wanted a good goal. I wanted to stretch my summer to reading/brain growth (back to my “one little word” for this year: Grow). So far I have read 17. One of my reads was a re-read from high school: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Most have been mysteries. I enjoy other types of books like fiction, but I started a new mystery series and continued with them all summer. I also challenged myself to read a mystery from “greatest books of all time” lists: Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Now I'm wondering what to pick up next... But I can talk about that on Wednesdays. :) 4. Thursday's Helpful Apps is a series that may have a finite life, unlike the others, the resource I take my information from will be my own phone, computer, etc. I have several that I use regularly and a few I check daily or multiple times per day. I'd love to share their usefulness or lack of, if I try something that seems like a waste for me. Not that I'm a super-techie, but I thought it might be fun. 5. Friday-Sunday... Not sure what I will do here, probably just general posts. Unless you have suggestions? Or would you, as a Reader, just like me to actually post and not fall behind? :) Maybe one day a week I can post some teaching site/information I appreciate. Well, that is it for now from this post. It's funny that I don't post for so long and then my posts are long! I hope you have been able to hang in there through my rambling. I also hope your day is delightful, Reader.

On My Heart

Saw this post on Stephanie Howell's blog and this post on Ali Edward's blog. Both REAL, about real things in life. I appreciate that.

Today, on my heart:
1. Every time I hear sirens while my girls are away from me, I pray that it isn't for them. I know it's silly, but I worry when I think of them. I can get so caught up in the worry. I am a make-yourself-sick-worrier. I know God calls me not to, He calls me to give it to Him... and sometimes I do... and sometimes I take it back and worry some more.

2. I am feeling behind and almost overwhelmed with this job. I tell people I'm treading water, not drowning but not yet swimming. Many teacher friends say that is the whole first year... scary. I want to be a smooth, confident teacher, and I'm still learning all the ropes. What if I'm failing these kids? I hope not and I'm working hard at teaching them the material and letting them know I care... but... is it enough?

3. I took three days off of running. Too close to the half marathon to do that. I had been so sore, so worn out, worn down, that I needed the break. I still have a month to go. Did ten miles last week and felt like... well, poo. My legs were heavy, my breathing was labored... I worried that I couldn't get over 10. We'll try 11 this week. Cool mornings like we have today will help.

4. I feel bad when I complain like number three. There are people with much worse situations...

5. I'm so proud of my girls right now. My oldest is taking all AP/Honors courses right now and working really hard. She's doing such a good job, even though it requires a lot of time and effort. My youngest is a hard working, smart girl, too, with good grades. We saw another family at her back to school night a couple weeks ago and they said "Your daughter has such a heart for the Lord! We are so glad she's friends with our daughter!" YAY! :) What a nice feeling. Any kind of faith you believe, it's nice to know, that when she's not with us, she displays good character, morals and positive behavior!! :)) Always good for the heart to hear. :)

6. I'm tired. I'm worn out, and my house is a mess. And I'm only at school half day. No, most days I'm not blogging in the morning hours. :) I take my youngest to school, grab a coffee and go home to grade, plan and organize. I should be ahead, and cleaning house, cooking, etc. Hoping to get to that point.


I hope your heart is full of happiness, today, and the cleaning fairy has visited your house. :) Show your heart today, either on your blog or to a friend. Don't forget to let those people who are important to you know in an outward, positive way, today! :)

List of Awesome

Last week Cathy Zielske's blog talked about a list of Awesome. I thought it was an interesting list, like our thankful feathers around Thanksgiving. I've been working on keeping a "gratitude list" here on my desk, so I can write things down when I think of them, also seeing those positives. I have been putting some thought into my list. I have 36 items, since my 36th birthday is this month.

My April List of Awesome

1.My family(I am so lucky God put these three amazing people in my life/home!)
2.Sunshine (I say as a little peeks through the clouds, in July I will move rain to my gratitude list! :))
3.Photos, camera
4.My job (I love teaching children, and it's not a conventional classroom, but I get to interact with children everyday and see many of them learn as we work together)
5.My faith and my church
6.This blog (I have met many interesting people through posts and comments, made friends from far away.)
7.Morning Bible reading time (My husband and I have gotten up each morning since March 6 and quietly read our Bibles. The house is quiet, the coffee is hot and I like interacting with God before life speeds up.)
8.My extended family and in-laws (So lucky to have a good relationship with them all.)
9.My turquoise office room (I can scrapbook, read, write, type, and create here. Thankful my husband relocated his computer to another room, so I could make this room my own.)
10.A good night's rest
11.Music (I like all kinds, but the other day I heard some Bach and played some Yo-Yo-Ma, as well as my contemporary Christian and felt happy. :))
12.Hugging my kids-and getting hugs back! :)
13.A husband who is an involved dad that goes to far away track meets in the cold, rainy weather
14.Being able to run, the feeling running gives me, especially when the goal I've set has been accomplished
15.Nicely worded rejection letters (they seem less like a “no” and more like a “maybe later”)
16.Good books (well written and books that are just fun, fast reads)
17.The Bible
18.My new purse (I'm not usually a purse or shoe person, except running shoes, but I got a purse/bag last week that fits everything in a nice, organized manner, and it is wonderful!)
19.Birds, the birds chirping, welcoming spring
20.Coffee (homemade, Starbucks, warm, cold, any kind. :))
21.Drawing a bath for my daughter after a long, cold track meet(ten hours in the cold and rain, running and cheering on her teammates, and I got to make her a warm bubble bath to soak and recharge in.)
22.Painting my younger daughter's nails (she liked the way I did mine, so I got to paint hers, too)
23.Getting my younger daughter a hot chocolate at Starbucks after her cold, wet, muddy soccer practice (It's fun just to do nice, surprising things for them. :))
24.Trying new recipes (my favorite way to cook)
25.Freezing meals ahead, and pulling them out for dinner after a busy day
26.Warm showers on weekends that aren't rushed like weekdays
27.Afternoon naps on the weekends, especially during rain
28.Inspirational bulletin boards
29.Organized closets!
30.The positive feeling of hope
31.Prayer
32.Friends who wonder how we are, or send cards when they read of sad times on the blog/Facebook
33.Sending mail
34.Receiving mail
35.Birthdays and annivesaries
36.Completed to-do lists

What's on your list of awesome? :)

Breakfast

I saw two posts in the last few days that looked like good breakfast ideas, so I thought I'd share (haven't gotten to the organization chore for today).

Real Simple had breakfast smoothie ideas:
I thought the pumpkin sounded good for fall, the carrot pineapple sounded refreshing, the kale apple was beautiful-although I'm not sure what kale tastes like... and strawberry flax would be the first one I'd like to try. Not sure about the spinach grape and coconut...

Since I was on my freeze ahead kick this week, this food your way blog post piqued my interest with freeze ahead breakfasts. I am thinking I'd like to make the pumpkin pancakes, scones, oven french toast, and I have made strawberry bread and frozen it before. Are you hungry yet? I am! :)) Have a great day!

February 8 2011

Another evening, another blog post. Didn't go out and run on the ice today, nor the treadmill. I drove a lot... do those miles count? :) Just picking up the girls, dropping off the girls, etc. "Mom's taxi" as they say. I enjoy time with each of them to hear about their day before they dig into their homework. It was one of the few nights during that we aren't all eating dinner together. We try, but some nights, with all their activities, we just can't make it work unless we want to eat at 8pm, and the girls don't appreciate that. :) Do you/did you try to eat dinner together as a family each night with your children?

The weather has gone from snowy to bitter cold, but there is light at the end of the week, I heard in the forties-which is a heat wave compared to the current temps. I look forward to the snow and ice melting and some good running weather. I haven't smelled any skunks lately, though, so spring isn't that close. I have heard birds singing a lot lately. I don't remember if I've mentioned before that my grandfather says skunks are the true sign of spring? :)

One of the other things I've been trying to do each day of February, like blogging and exercising, is writing in a gratitude journal-I have a regular journal, but this is a list of things I'm thankful for. It's basically a numbered spreadsheet and I try to write/fill in 1-4 things I'm grateful for each day and a small note next to it to job my memory when I look back. It's a nice positive way to remind myself how lucky/blessed I am. :)

I have all but three photos for this photo challenge I mentioned the other day-the February one-and I hope to post them in February although I am greatly enjoying Molly and Anna's pictures from previous photo challenges! Thanks, Molly! :) Hope your midweek has settled in positively!

February 5 2011

Recently I read a few articles that were inspiring to me so I thought I'd share.

The first is from the book/blog Run Like a Mother-but it doesn't only pertain to running. I think this quote can apply to every aspect of our lives: "The next time you’re on a run and every fiber of your body is flipping you off, stand in the rain a little longer than you think you can.

Because even though I can’t predict when lightning will strike, I do know this: it won’t hit anybody who doesn’t regularly get wet."

The second and third are from Kristin Armstrong's Mile Markers posts. The first is about "Leaving UR" where we need to push ourselves out of our comfort zones sometimes, our Usual Routines and I found it encouraging. I also enjoyed her latest post "Undercurrent of Adventure"-it made me smile. I find Kristin's blog very positive and I look forward to new posts.

I hope you are having a great weekend, Dear Reader.

February 4 2011

Friday! :) I say this as if it has been a long week, although we had two snow/ice days in the midst of it. I had a great week. I just like weekends. For some reason I feel as if I get more accomplished... although I don't always. :)

What's on your list for the pending weekend? We have a track meet, a basketball game and church/church life group to attend this weekend, and are planning on working on our bedroom. We want to paint it and move furniture around.
I need to do the regulars, also, like: document for school/work, laundry, house clean, etc. But it always feels so good to get those things done. I still need to update my resume, also.

I'm hoping to get a run in tomorrow before the snow moves back in, too. There was actually sunshine today. Blessed sunshine. I got three miles in, and even with the wind stinging my face, the sun felt so good it made me smile! :) So much better than the treadmill. My husband noted this week that I'm a different person-or same person, different outlook-when I run. I feel it, too. Here's to more pleasant runs and feeling like myself! :)

I've been taking pictures for this photo scavenger hunt, and I have almost all the photos done so far... Just a few more to go! I will post when I get them finished.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

February 3 2011

It was good to get back to school today. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being home with my daughters!! I was just ready to get back into our routine. During the two days off I had just about caught up on laundry and emptied and reassembled my office/den/scrapbook supplies (Phew! I'd been wanting to do that for a while!). It feels nice and clean in my office, like I can breathe and get things done! :) That is a wonderful feeling. I also got phone calls made, got the girls to the dentist, made Cathy Zelske's chicken soup... well, sort of. I didn't have the whole chicken and didn't feel like going back out to get it so I made the second step with premade chicken broth and a little bit of white wine. It turned out great! I had leftovers today for lunch and it was good reheated, also!

Speaking of food and food recipes, I think I have developed an aversion to eggs. I'm not 100% sure, so I'm going to start keeping a food journal tomorrow. The last few times I had fried eggs I got sick within an hour or two, and I mean SICK. Then I had quiche, and same response (although quiche didn't used to do that to me). I also had some yummy food at a restaurant with my husband-I didn't go crazy on the food or anything, but I got sick in about the same time frame. I was confused since I hadn't eaten any eggs so I mentioned it to my husband. He noted that I had dipped some cabbage rolls in aioli sauce... I ate all the aioli sauce... in the ingredients? Yep, raw egg. So, I'm going to do this food journal thing and see.

That's all for today. Three posts in a row. :) Hope you are well and happy, Dear Reader. :)

February 2 2011

I subscribe to google reader. It updates me every time a blog I like (or love) puts up a new post. They're all in the same place so I don't need to click through tons of blogs each day to check and see if there is something new. I like that. I can categorize the blogs I read, also, such as scrapbooking or food/recipe. I can "star" posts I want to read again, I can mark them as unread if I want to take more time with it later or I can leave it alone and read it later.

Today Reader notified me that one of my favorite blogs by Stephanie Howell : "Just me, my soldier and our 4 little chicks" had been updated. Stephanie has the best writing style, especially when she's writing to her family members. I love that. I love her honesty, I love her letters to her family members. That's one of the best ways to scrapbook. I am committed to doing this for my girls-this week, maybe even today. Well, I'm going to try. :)

We're home again today due to ice, power outages and strong winds. Love being home and catching up on laundry, cleaning, documenting information for my school job, organizing, phone calls, letter writing... well, what I actually get done, that is. :) Thankfully we haven't lost power.

I completed all the things on my "February" checklist yesterday. And I have blogged two days in a row! :) I hope you are well, where ever you are... and hopefully you see pleasant signs of new seasons, like Molly's peach tree buds ready for spring-I am so envious. ;)

Beautiful Women

Hello! :)
Yesterday I tried on bathing suits. Nothing in the sizes I've worn before fit me. Nothing in the next size up. I felt chubby. I've never been in such dislike with clothing or so down on myself. I moaned and groaned, complaining about my size-which is still smaller than most women, but part of that is because I'm short. ;) My daughters and husband were with me-all shopping. I was so frustrated and continued that down-trodden feeling until I read this... http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/2010/05/dressing-room-glass.html
At first, I read Kristin Armstrong's most recent article. I always love the honest and genuine way she writes about life and running. So, I read a few posts back and saw this one. I realized that I was showing my girls how to think about their bodies. I'm still a pretty small lady-just a winter of eating poorly, not exercising and recovering from the stress fracture have made me more plump than before, not the stick-skinny runner I've always been. And running is taking a while to fix these things-longer than it used to, because I'm getting older. I guess that is what mid-thirties begins to do to you? But my husband said I just looked "womanly" with "beautiful curves"... Not fat. Last time we visited my family, my grandmother said I was getting the family butt... then the clothes not fitting, and I was fit to be tied with the whole situation. But, then I realized that even if there's chubby in my total poundage, that's nothing to complain about! It's life and, wow, I'm ok with ME. :)
Now I need to find a way to insert that into some conversations with my daughters who will always need to know how beautiful they are... Being a beautiful woman isn't determined by our weight or what bathing suits we fit into or how we change as we get older. It's what kind of person we are and how much light we shine to others. :)

Blogging

Blogging is an art form, a discipline, for some. For me it is a fun way to journal, and with a schedule that is busy, fun things get set aside. Sorry blog readers, I have set aside my blog (again!) for the last few weeks.

Some of the reason is teaching. Teaching has been wonderful: full of the ups and downs of starting a new job. I feel like things are going well, although I'm not adjusting as quickly as I'd like. I feel slower than I have in past long term jobs. The staff has been terrific, helpful and kind. The school has a wonderful sense of community and support. I just wish I was not feeling like I'm treading water. I feel the need to catch up and don't feel like I have, yet. But I will get there. This made me think of Kendra's quote at the end of her blog: by Charles Spurgeon: By perseverance the snail reached the ark.

I am home just a few minutes most days before I need to drive the girls to piano, or pick them up from play or indoor track practices. I did get in a run both days this weekend, and they felt good. Think I burned enough calories to eat badly the rest of the week? :) The flurries began again today and the grey clouds moved back in again. It is a comfortable neighborhood, after all. :) Other than that, things continue on normally. I am searching for new teaching ideas, teaching, grading, planning, driving, catching up with my girls (one of which is 15 now!!) or catching some zz's. Or trying to-the other night had nightmares, and on a few others, I woke up thinking about our students and how things can work better in the classroom. :)

I am truly happy and blessed, even with the busy-ness and grey skies, I feel God's giving and graceful hand in my life. I am so thankful for a husband who is helping, two daughters who are happy for me and my "newest adventure" and a school to go to every day. :)))

I hope you are well on this Tuesday, Reader.

Winner

I am not usually a contest/drawing winner. Until last month, I hadn't won a thing, although I had entered in many drawings on my favorite sites when they had "giveaways". Well, last month, I won here and then today I discovered I won a giveaway here, too! What a wonderful surprise! The first prize I won will be a gift to someone else this Christmas and today's will be a gift to me! :)

A few of you commented on my mood in the last post. Things were a bit down and overwhelmed! The down was due to sadness of loss of life in our community. The two who died were my daughters' ages, the oldest attending the school where my oldest goes to school. My girls didn't know them, but it was a tragedy felt by all in our community. It made me ache with sadness for their mother-and to think that the holidays approaching won't be any easier, worse in fact.

The overwhelmed feeling comes from the holidays coming faster! At the time of my last post I really hadn't gotten much done at all. Now, I feel better, but things still aren't complete. We went to see my family in my home state last weekend, as we did two weeks prior, too. This coming weekend we are getting together with my husband's family, more on that later.

I have not scrapbooked at all. I wish I had. I have that creative itch I get when I look over my magazines full of ideas! However, each time I think about it, in the office painted a beautiful turquoise... {insert happy sigh, here} I remember all I have to do for the holidays and weekend... etc!

Running has been sparse, but I have walked a bit, with my husband and youngest daughter. Yesterday's weather was a bit warmer, perfect for walking in fact.

Have subbed a lot less, due to blocking off a few days last week so I could catch up a bit, and this week is the last week for schools in the area to be in session, so most teachers aren't taking off/in need of a sub. Which is ok with me! :)

I have gotten some baking in, and am looking forward to doing more soon! Then delivering the goodies to neighbors.

That is all for now! Thanks for stopping by! :)

Winter

Hello! I'm sure it seems as though I've been hibernating since I haven't posted in ages again! I have actually had a lot on my mind/list to blog, but when I sit down to blog, I think that I don't have time to get it all down. I will start with a few little things today and try to spread posts out-post more often. :)

I met Molly for dinner a while back, and her lovely daughter, too, while she was in the area. I enjoyed the evening immensely. I could have conversed with them longer! :) Such wonderfully nice ladies! Sitting down with her felt like like I'd known her for ages.

Running has been virtually nonexistent this week, although I did run a few times last week-only twice this week and once was on the dreadful treadmill so I didn't get very far. Blah.

I have been in a bad state in the arena of eating. The cold weather is moving in and this time of year always moves me into hibernation zone where I want to eat every nonhealthy thing in site and have no ambition to exercise!

I have been subbing on a daily basis, as usual, which leaves nothing done at home... That has me feeling overwhelmed about the pending holidays! :) I have started a spreadsheet called "tasks" and I continue to add new tasks, but get to delete the old as I complete them. I don't have the usual suspects on it like "laundry" or "groceries". These are things I'd like to see done a few days after I place them on the list.

Traditionally speaking, we used to have an advent tree-a wooden tree that played music similar to a music box. We got it when my youngest was an infant. It had finally broken down last year. This year, I didn't think of it until December first, we had no advent counters! I saw this one, and am using paper strips instead of ribbon, and have printed out the ornaments. Better late than never?

That is all for today. I hope you are well, dear reader, and are enjoying this holiday season!