Happy Birthday to ME!

I finally broke down and spent my birthday money. Half the fun is knowing I have money in my pocket to spend however I choose.......100% guilt free. So I like to take my time deciding on just the right guilty pleasure. After perusing my favorite letter press shops on Etsy, I have decided on these.......

Note: I still haven't figured out how to make blog posts wider so as not to cut off my photos......HELP! In the meantime, if you want to see my delicious treats in full view you have to click on the picture.

.....for my kitchen.

And though I really can't stand biscuits and gravy [so NOT a breakfast food], Steve would die for his grandma to whip him up a batch. Such a fond memory of good times at her place up North.

And finally, this one will be perfect for one of my new photo walls. A reminder not to take each other for granted:)

You can be sure I will be making the long hike down the driveway to the mailbox each and every day until I receive my gifts.

Happy birthday to ME!!!

keeping on the sunny side......or at least the partly sunny side

I've had a rough couple of days.....

nothing major, but there are times when I feel like a FULL+ time employee

with NO benefits.

I'm talking lots of overtime.

And I'm not referring to my paid job.

(I get reimbursed for that.)

I really struggle with finding balance.......

balance between work and homeschooling and housekeeping and cooking and dishes and laundry and bill paying and thank you writing and personal and professional development, etc.

About once a month (hmmm) I get into a funk and just feel like giving up.

Not giving up on this crazy wonderful life,

but maybe the dishes.

Yeah, I could give up the constant dish washing.

And the bills.

I just can't do it all.

I'm pretty sure I need an outlet.

And something other than decorating my big beautiful farmhouse

because I have a very opinionated husband

(whom I love dearly)

And I've decided that trying to decorate in a way that makes me happy

only brings about disappointment and frustration.

And so, in an attempt to pull myself out of my pathetic pity party,

I will post some pictures of things that bring me joy.

Because, really.......

Life is good!

My photo wall! After months of begging......

Thank you 3M photo strips!

Watching the girls expertly crack more than a dozen

of our own farm fresh eggs for a Saturday egg bake brunch.

My favorite jeans and a new pair of wool socks.

Brrrrr. Our house is freezing!

My birthday find from my favorite local consignment shop.

Ooooh, the possibilities!

What is left of my store bought birthday cake.

And the clementines aren't bad either:)

a month in review

It's been a LONG time since a real post. Just so I can feel better about my long absence, let me catch you up quickly with a few photos of these past few weeks. Because I have high speed internet and I can:)

It has been a cold month with lots of time spend indoors. We busied ourselves making lots of journals to give as gifts.

And I finally got around to making those pretty paper chicks.....appropriate homemade ornaments for our first Christmas spent at the Juicy Roost. Even though we didn't get a tree:(

Josie celebrated her 8th birthday with a gorgeous kitty cake and kitty gifts. That girl loves her cats.

We enjoyed many meals by the the beautiful light of the garland and have made a good dent in my stash of 75% off sparkling cider.

Naps were taken in the comfy big chair my parents gave us.

We spent several days visiting my brother down in Arkansas with his amazing family.

Unfortunately, I was too busy cuddling my adorable nephew to remember to take any pictures:(

Hunting hats became a favorite wardrobe choice for Addie.......less hair combing involved.

And we finally broke down and got the family a Wii. We are not disappointed.

Christmas Day, among other days, we got stranded in the driveway. This is me passing time in the car with crazy kids as Steve attempted to rescue us.

The kids found a nice alternative to sledding.

We made a nice warm batch of homemade play-do. I think there is a good chance I enjoy kneading and molding it more than the kiddos. So therapeutic.

New Year's Eve Day we took advantage of a "window of opportunity," speeding between the freezing rain and blizzard conditions to make it back up to the Northland to spend much needed time with good old friends.

There was Wii dancing.

And a reindeer hunt.

A few rounds of my new favorite game.......telephone pictionary.

A kid performance for our dear recovering ex-pastor.

I am so thankful for all the amazing people in our lives!

There.

Caught up.

Unedited style.