Old is New or New is Old?

In truth, I like old things. I think this lady is pretty grand... 

I also love this old trunk in my living room. 

 I think it is an old travel trunk, 

my mom thinks it is an old doll trunk.

The inside of the trunk says 

The A.E. Meek Trunk and Baggage Company 

Denver, Colorado

 Check out my vintage Nancy Drew books there on top.

In my Simplifying and decluttering, 

I couldn't part with it.  

Vintage suits me...

 

Elusive Sleep

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"Waiting, for the elusive sleep

 almost there, just out of reach 

don't let me drown

 everything is not the same

 I, the grouch, without you 

 miss the days where I am completely refreshed 

I am not myself 

someone help 

sleep, elusive sleep

yonder there across the way

over the sleepy breath

under, under I go..."

What do you do when you can't sleep?  

I suppose I should have had some 

hot chocolate or something

 instead of writing nonsensical poetry
 in my head.  

 

I Pressed Submit

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The last month has been a whirlwind of activity where Miguel is concerned.  He would like to serve a religious mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  In order to apply, there are interviews to be had, doctors appointments, dentists appointments, insurance companies to call and a plethora of paperwork to fill out online.

There are many that say LDS people lead a sheltered life or life in a "bubble".  I'm here to say that this is simply not true.  I myself, try to look at life with humor and a cheery attitude.  I've said many times when something has gone wrong, "It could have been worse".  Does that make us sheltered?  I say, no, it makes me more positive.  I tell you this because one of the hardest things an LDS Mama can do is send her child off on a mission.  It is up to the discretion of the church where he will serve.  Montana? Florida?  Africa? Brazil? Mexico? Japan?  The destinations are only bound, of course, by PLANET EARTH.  While a missionary is gone, he can e-mail home once a week and is allowed two phone calls home per year:  Mother's Day and Christmas.  This is not a punishment, but to help keep them on track and to help alleviate homesickness.  I remember being off at college, when I was homesick and called home, it actually only made it worse...

So the other day Miguel and I finished up his paperwork online, and he quickly ran upstairs to play Xbox or some other thing against his brother in Albuquerque.  As I sat there staring at the computer screen, I began to panic, to sweat, to shake.  It was up to me to click the button on the computer which would send his final application off for his religious mission.  In that moment, I remembered a little boy...and now a man...

I sent one son off last year, Military Man, that was hard enough letting one son go.  But, now it is time to  send number two son off, and I AM NOT READY!  I said a silent prayer, closed my eyes and clicked submit.

If you'd like to learn more about an LDS Mission, 

I wrote a post here some time ago or you can go here.    

Wise Words...

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These are such wise words.  You can buy the print at the above link.
(I figured I better give credit where credit was due on that one.)

The quote reminds me of this book I have been reading.  

It is truly amazing and insightful.
Beautifully written almost poetic in nature.

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There is no better way to simplify your life than
showing gratitude for what God has given you.  

Ann points out how to do that through her beautiful writing.
I am in love with this book 

and  a hearty thank you to my friend Tamara
at Rocky Mountain Writer for sending it to me.

Runner Up

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KT mentioned the other day that he wanted a "Trophy Wife".  Really, dear?  Well, I want an Adonis!  He likes to tease me, and he talks a lot of hot air, so I just ignored him.  But it stayed with me, and I mulled it over, and it mutated and festered...I stay fit, I wear clothes that aren't considered "frumpy", I take care of my hair and skin and for 42,  I don't think look TOO bad.  So later I told him he DID have a trophy wife, while I was changing and naked by the way....And he just looked at me raised his eyebrow and hesitated.

HE HESITATED!

H - E - S - I - T - A - T - E - D ! ! !  

His hesitation spoke volumes, dictionaries, encyclopedias I tell you! Then he looked at me and said, "Well you are the hottest 42 year old I know.............Wait!  Does that include Jennifer Aniston?"  So you see peeps, I am a runner up to Jennifer Aniston, and you know what?

That's okay cuz she is fetchin' hot.

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HGTV Magazine

Lookie what I've got. 

 Brand new magazine hot off the press. 

 Well, I AM a self proclaimed HGTV junkie...
I am off enjoying a 4 day weekend with Ladybug.
What little projects can I get myself into...

 

Bloggy Housecleaning

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I don't know if you've noticed, but I've been doing a little house cleaning around here. A bit of simplification on my blog. It took some time, but I am happy with the results. I don't know if it is as simple as I had planned, but it works for now...

I've changed up the music player. Instead of my beloved country, I've opted for something a little softer and more uplifting. That way, you might want to hang out and stay a while.

I've also been cleaning out and deleting buttons and things on my right side bar. Not a lot but enough...Like you don't need to know that my blog is my wild side, if you read it you might know.

I thought about going to one clean shade in the background but I missed the color. I like the soft muted tones in this design but it is still colorful.

Now the blog header was another story.  I was thinking of going with a fancy design, but instead opted for large and bold.  Simple...

Do you like what I've done?  

Any suggestions to make it more aesthetically pleasing? 

Truly, I appreciate your comments...

Anti - Valentine's Day

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This is the post where I go all Loco about Valentine's Day. It's a nice holiday and all, but its not for me. It's mostly commercial, and as my dear husband has pointed out before, "Every day is like Valentine's Day when you live with him." That used to bug the crap out of me, but you know I totally get it. If we can't be nice and do kind things for each other 364 days out of the year, then that one day, Valentine's Day, isn't really going to make any difference even if Hallmark tells us to... I'm not completely anti, I do buy my kids a treat and a card.

Once upon a time, I was fairly romantic. Yes, it's true. Crazy, right? I used to be creative about dates, and would write love notes and poems. After I got married, I wanted to carry on the same type of creative romantic traditions. After we were married a month, I cooked a romantic candlelit dinner. You know to celebrate one month. I was excited, this was special. But my dear husband didn't get it...He said, "Are you going to do this EVERY month we are married?" He was young (23) and immature, but it was then that I realized he didn't really care about all the extra fluff. All that effort I went through was not appreciated in the way I had hoped. After getting over the hurt, I realized it was not his love language, and over the years, it is no longer my love language either.

KT asked me the other day what I wanted for Valentine's Day, I guess he is trying to go all romantic on me after all these years, but I told him, if you have to ask, then don't bother. My love languages, are service, time and touch. I think he has a lot more work cut out for him than buying me a simple gift...

And if you want to read a Valentine's Facebook exchange between KT and I last year, you can read it here...Because what spells romance more than Facebook?

 

Brad, the Main Course

Remember how I told you I deleted my Brad Paisley tickets? 

Thankfully the Idaho Center was able to reissue them otherwise, 

these sweet ladies would have gone all loco on me... 

Just kidding they probably would have forgiven me. 

(Left to right:  Ladybug, ME, J-Thurbs, and Mama Thurbs)

Daddy and Daughter 

And Brad himself....Like less than 10 feet away. 

I think he was looking at me ;)

 There was this crazy 42 year old woman climbing over chairs to try to get closer. 

 Oh the Shame!!!

 (That may or may not have been me...)

 

Sunday Wisdom

 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, 
believing, ye shall receive."

Matthew 21:22

This Makes Sense

Take the Jane Austen Character Quiz here!

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

Who are you?

Musical Hors d'oevers

 Brad Paisley concert had an incredible opener,
the hors d'oeuvers, if you will...

I truly Heart The Band Perry Right now, 

like A LOT Here is a concert pic,

And here is a song I really dig...Be sure to turn down my music player

Simplifying

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A Practical Application of Simplicity

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The other day I was overwhelmed, when I tell you, you will totally understand. I had a migraine and I was doing taxes. Need I say more? But then I had two playful teenagers making cupcakes (and a mess) in my kitchen and dog who would bark everytime they tried to wrestle and a special last minute request. Last minute I received a call asking me to feed two young missionaries. In my quest for simplicity, my first response was to say 'no' because, well, all of the above. But then I thought of Miguel leaving for a mission soon and I would hope that when he is in need of a meal someone will drop everything for him, because I love him and he is mine. And, these young boys are someone else's precious sons, if not a loving Heavenly Father's.

So I dropped the taxes, and despite the migraine, made dinner for these boys. And you know what? While they were there and we were talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company, my migraine went away. The cupcakes came in handy, too...

What I thought I needed to sacrifice in order to gain some simplicity, was the missionaries, when in reality it was putting everything else aside to serve. The taxes will keep for another day...Heavenly Father was teaching me a lesson on Simplicity. Thank you

Writer's Block

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I am so worried about coming down with writer's block.  What would I do if I couldn't come up with some kind of post with which to regale my audience.  I feel I have such the reputation to come up with something interesting and witty!  (Not really, that just sounded nice, didn't it?)  Every time I get some sort of idea, even if it is just a glimmer, I jot it down.  I use a handy dandy notebook or, if I am at the computer, I go ahead and start a partial post in blogger to save it as a draft.  I currently have  16 posts saved in draft mode. Who would have known that such a quiet reserved woman could have so much to say?  I surprise even myself. But, in all actuality that number has dwindled down from 30.  What am I going to do?

What do you do about writer's block?

Simplicity

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There's that word of the year again.