getting real

Let's get real for a minute, I HATE pictures of myself.

It's true. 

I never like the way I look.

In my mind and in the mirror I think I look one way, then I see myself in a picture and I look another.

I hate it. I am just one of those people that do not look good in pictures. 

It is not just weight either ,( I typically think that I look like I did before I had my first child.)

Haha

It is also my hair or makeup, or a combination of the two.

I style my hair in the mirror and I love it. Then I see a picture of it and it doesn't look like the same hair.

This is my current facebook picture:

( I do like my hair in this one)

I probably took at least five if not ten pictures just to get a picture I like.

Am I crazy? yes probably.

I didn't even want to post the pictures of me in my last post, but I did.

here are a couple more pictures, more facebook profile pictures so you know that I think these are the best ones.

I am always making funny expressions or have one eye squinted too.

here I am with bangs, glad I grew those out.

here I am with Petey.

Do you like pictures of yourself, or am I the only crazy one out there?

books

well. I picked up my books for this Quarter, looks like I am going to be doing a lot of reading .... and not of books of my choosing!

back to class

I am off to buy my books today, my first class is Saturday.

I am not sure if I am ready to start back to school, but 8am Saturday morning I will be.

Have you seen Colin Quinn: Long Story Short?

When I watch this, it makes me think of all the Classics classes that I have taken.

This is just the trailer, but if you haven't seen it, check it out.

excited for March

Reasons why I am excited for March...

1. My Birthday

2. My oldest son's birthday

that is him there in the orange transformers shirt ( he will be 11!)

3. St. Patrick's Day!

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4. I want to try to make these:

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5. Hunger Games is coming...

6. and so is Mad Men ...

7. and of course ... Spring is actually coming!

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What does your handbag say?

What does your hand bag say about you?

I just took this quiz here

here is what the quiz says about me:

You are concerned with how you appear. Projecting your high status is important to you.

You tend to be relaxed throughout the day. You are naturally at peace.

You are a high maintenance person. You feel lost outside of your normal environment.

You are open and comfortable with who you are. You don't hide anything.

You are a very creative person. Your life tends to be a whirlwind, but you always seem to pull it together.

You are an outgoing and expressive person. You always speak your mind, and you're very approachable.

You are a very unique and special person. There's no one else who is anything like you.

 

 

 

a new year

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Hello everyone. I hope the new year is finding you well. I feel like the new year is starting off right. I don't like to make resolutions because we often make them unattainable and too abstract. The goals that we list for ourselves are usually too long to commit to all at once.

However, I do love the new year. I love to start fresh, wipe the slate clean. It is never to late to be who you want to be. If you want to make a change, the best way to start off the new year is with a lifestyle change. 

Well, I haven't made a life style change yet, but I did take winter quarter off of school. I realized that I have been going strong for seven quarters now without a break. I have this drive to finish, finish, finish.

However, I felt that I needed to devote more to to my family right now, more time with my kids. They are only little once and this time seems to be flying by right now. I think I need to devote a little bit more time to myself as well. 

I maybe ready to go back before spring quarter starts, but I think that this is a much needed break. 

I also intend to start posting on here more, again. If you look back through the years, some years I post a lot and others I don't. Last year was not a big year of bloging for me. Every time I think its time to shut the blog down, I look back through the years and I just don't have the heart to do it. It is like a journal of all the things I love. So look forward to more posts this year as well. I also tend on updating Ollie's blog more.

heart of life

I heard this song in the car this morning while I was taking the boys to school. What a great song!

suprise ...

I am here. I didn't mean to take a little break, it just happened that way. I have taken a few of these this year. Don't worry, I have not abandoned my blog. There has been lots of things happening lately and I think my blog has become a little stale. I started out blogging about my kids and keeping family up to date with what was happening here. The blog has morphed a little from time to time since I started in 2007 ( fashion, home furnishings, crafts and organizing). Well, I don't think I am officially back yet, I probally will not be back till the first of 2012. The blog will have a fresh outlook for the new year! I really just wanted to tell everyone Happy Holidays! I hope that you get everything under the tree that you are wishing for.

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If you miss me, I will be on Tumblr, and Pinterest.

A little sad

I have been a little sad this week. It started last weekend when a high school classmate of mine passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. She was only thirty seven years old.

Even my television shows this week have made me melancholy. ( you are sad when Sons of Anarchy and American Horror Story make you feel sad, haha)

So, I decided to share something that makes me happy.

My family always makes me happy but I wanted to tell you about the squirrel that lives in the tree in our front yard.

He had two nests in our tree, but a storm earlier this summer blew one away.

We have two dogs and an indoor/outdoor cat and our squirrel is not afraid of any of them. In fact, he teases them all. I guess he knows that he is faster and they are never going to catch him.

The other night I was raking up the leaves in our front yard and he started barking at me. He even climbed down the tree just out of reach from me and barked. I do not know what he was trying to tell me, but he was clearly trying to tell me something.

It feels like he is apart of this crazy zoo of ours and just watching him scurry around the yard brings a smile to my face. All of this is just a really long way of saying that sometimes its the small things that matter the most and that is what gets us through our day.

I have my eye on this!

The Vera Bradley Laptop backpack in Floral Nightingale.

I need something new to carry my laptop and books to school and I think that I have found the perfect thing.

Stuck!

Yep! That's me, stuck in a rut! I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately ... I am not sure what to post about but, don't worry I will be posting back to normal soon.

Mostly, I have been taking care of a little boy with a broken leg, 3 weeks ago tomorrow, and reading lots and lots of Greek mythology....for my class I am taking this quarter; add this on to well ... LIFE and I have been rather busy.

inspiration from a flower

Yesterday, I was admiring this beautiful purple flower from a flower arrangement in my home. Then I found out what it was, a big purple dahlia.

I started to feel inspired.

I found some gorgeous pieces of purple dahlia inspired goodness from etsy:

I found this gorgeous felt flower brooch

and this gorgeous hat too.

This beautiful ring

These cute as can be earrings

this very pretty little ring

this very gorgeous necklace, I love the green too!

another cute felt flower brooch

 a very cute wallet/business card case

these cute little drop earrings

and these very gorgeous earrings

What has been inspiring you lately?

Thrifty goodness and dots!

I love this dotty cardigan!

here's the run down:

Cardigan: Target (clearance around $10)

purple top: Target ( around $10)

Jeans: Old Navy (clearance around $15)

socks: Wal Mart ($3.00)

shoes: Target (clearance $2)

necklace: Keep Home Simple

Birthday Dinner

Saturday, Josh took me out to eat for my birthday. We ate at Buffalo Jack's.

It was a fun place, I had never ate there before. They do serve wild game there, however I ate a club sandwich!

The atmosphere was fun and I got a little shock when I headed to the bathroom and there were three Native American statures sitting on a bench right outside the restroom door!

Its here, today is the day

It's my birthday. I am no longer half way between 30 and 40 .... I am closer to 40 at the age of 36!

Yep! 36 today.

Boden Love!

I LOVE Boden. I do!

I LOVE their bright, pretty colors and their fun patterns.

They also carry very classic items. 

Its like classic with a fun twist!

I am loving some of their new spring dresses too.

here are some of my favorites.

This one is my favorite! So pretty, pink and feminine with ruffles!

I really love this one too. I love the colors.

vintage and pretty.

pretty.

navy and white polka dots, classic.

The month has arrived!

March is here! March has always been on of my favorite months. The first day of spring is in March. St. Patrick's day is in March ( who doesn't love wearing green?)

My birthday is also in March.

March 14.

This year I will be 36.

Yep, 36. I can't believe it.

I have found that I am dreading that day.

I can feel my youth slipping away.

I feel like its time to make some changes in my daily routine.

I have been washing my face with Noxzema and using Clean and Clear astringent since, I don't know, PUBERTY.

I suddenly feel like this is not enough.

Remembering that my mom always used Oil of Olay when I was younger, I went to their site today.

I used their skin care consultant to figure what I would need to start using (I am pretty much starting from scratch here).

Here is my results:

1. Olay Blemish Control Foaming Cleanser

2.Regenerist UV Defense

3. Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir

4. Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum

Regenerating Lotion SPF 50

 

 

So, what do you think? Does anyone else use Oil of Olay?  Do you have any other suggestions for me?

getting your education

I just thought I would share with you a couple of places that I have been to in the last couple of weeks for my current class, The classics: Africa to Asia.

First we visited a Hindu Temple

and then this weekend we went to the Yellow Springs Dharma Center where we learned some very basic meditation.

It was very interesting.

In fact, this whole class has been interesting.

I think that I enjoyed learning about ancient Egypt the most.

Can't put it down!

Josh bought me Pioneer Woman's book Black Heels to Tractor Wheels for Valentines day!

I LOVE it. I have it all but read.

Every moment I get a break, I sneak in a couple of pages.

Through class and homework, running the kids to school, dinner and dishes and some laundry...I have been reading. A little obsessed.

Has anyone else read this book? Are you obsessed or is that just me?

I am soo disappointed that Ree was in Cincinnati on Friday and Columbus on Saturday and I couldn't make it either time for a book signing. Oh well, maybe there will be another one someday.
   

Ready for summer!

I just bought 2 swimsuits from Lime Ricki!

They are having great sales right now!!!

I got this great one piece for $ 15.00

soo cute!

and I got this tankini for $17.00
with the bottoms for $12.00

I love the little bee's!

Come on summer, hurry up and get here! I am ready for fun in the sun!