sharing

1. I really enjoyed reading this article over at Super Organizer Mum all about what she learned after taking some time away from the computer to just be with her family. I actually followed some of her advice this week, and here are a few things I did in an effort to limit my time online, and to make the time that I do spend a bit more productive: (1) I deleted about 500 old emails.....items that I know I won't need to go back to and ones that should have been deleted ages ago; (2) I categorized the rest of my emails (items that I will need to reference later) into folders that made sense to me; (3) I took the time to unsubscribe myself from all of the emails that I find myself deleting over and over again.....newsletters, emails from businesses, etc...; (4) I tweaked my facebook preferences by choosing to only get status updates from people that I truly want to keep in touch with; (5) I made a promise to myself to STOP grabbing my phone at every red light and stop sign to check emails or facebook.......it's a ridiculous habit that needs to be nipped in the bud!!

2. I also really identified with this post over at Centsational Girl all about the dangers of risk taking (love her blog by the way!!). I love when she says that "Risk takers are not necessarily the most talented, but the ones who are willing to put themselves out there, and work the hardest." It's so easy to get caught up in the status quo, to start thinking and dressing and decorating and parenting and talking like everyone else, but really, what's the fun in that? We were created to be unique individuals, to chart our own course, to stay true to ourselves. This was definitely my favorite part of the entire post (couldn't have said it better myself):

"Today, I encourage you to go forth and live dangerously!  Do something that completely scares you.  Be courageous.  Go against the trend.  Bet on yourself.  It will guarantee one thing for sure, you’ll have less regrets when you look back on your life.  Paint your walls that bold color.  Sell your house.  Write that novel.  Change jobs.  Teach yourself something new.  Stretch out of your comfort zone, take a leap of faith, believe in yourself." 


3. Lately, I've been really into gallery walls (groupings of meaningful photos, signs, letters, notes, etc...), so I found this post over at Ali Edwards really inspiring.

I love the idea of getting our photos out of our computers, boxes, scrapbooks, etc... and getting them up on the walls to enjoy. I also love the idea of framing or hanging little tidbits of life that are meaningful: kid's artwork, love letters, certificates, items from great vacations, baby clothes, collections.....


I am drawn to homes with personality. Homes that tell a story. Homes that are neat and uncluttered, but that also show signs of life.....evidence of the people that live within its walls. Homes that smell good. Homes that are comfortable and inviting. I am constantly tweaking things around our home in an effort to create that type of environment. It's something I am passionate about......something I love doing, and something I hope my family appreciates :-)


There are a few things in our home right now that are pretty enough to look at, but that aren't really meaningful.....they don't really say anything about the people that live there. My goal over the next few weeks, is to go room by room and make an effort to toss anything that isn't either beautiful, meaningful or useful? I'll let ya know how it goes......

wordy wednesday (part 2)

It's been exactly one week since I had my little blog-meltdown, and seriously considered giving the whole thing up. One week to think about my priorities, and how I choose to spend my time. One week to read the comments left by sweet friends, and really consider their advice.

And today is a new day. I realized that I am not striving to be super-blogger, super-mommy, super-woman or super-anything. I am just a girl (er......woman) who is doing the best she can on any given day. Trying to create a life that is meaningful, memorable and God-centered.

I have thought a lot about what I want our life to look like. Some days I reach the mark, and other days not so much. But I keep going. I keep waking up, asking for guidance and strength, trying to be the best woman-wife-mother-daughter-friend that I can be. I keep making lists. I keep reading books. I keep dreaming dreams. I keep asking questions. I keep searching for inspiration. I keep writing. I keep making mistakes. I keep on keepin' on.......

I really like blogging. I know it's not for everyone. I know it can seem self-centered and self-important at times. But my goal has always been to bring light to the good stuff that happens every single day. I am still finding my voice, still finding my way on this journey, but I am grateful for every single word I have written here (and in my journals and scrapbooks and on pieces of scrap paper).

I've loved writing since I was a little girl. I've loved taking pictures for as long as I can remember. But somewhere along the way, I started listening to the voices that said writing was for "those other people", photography was too "mathematical," I am not an "artist" or one of those "creative types." But you know what......that's all just a bunch of hooey, and if I buy into those lies for one more minute, then I only have myself to blame. It takes courage sometimes to do the things that you love when those around you may not understand or approve. It takes courage to do the things that you love even when your inner voice tells you you aren't as talented as "X,Y, or Z" or "A, B, or C" for that matter. I want to be courageous. I want my daughter to be courageous. I want my son to be courageous. I want to teach them to follow their hearts and to spend their time doing the things that expand their JOY.

Blogging brings me joy when I allow myself to be authentic......when I write from the heart, share photos that make me smile, and refuse to focus on what someone else might think or how they might interpret something I have said. So that is my plan. To keep on keepin' on. To write when I feel like writing. To unplug when I feel like unplugging. To share what I feel comfortable sharing. To continue praying that this will be a space that not only feeds my own soul, but hopefully someone else's as well.

St. Paddy's Day & a look back

I love celebrating holidays........making them memorable in simple (usually last minute) but special ways. I don't break the bank or buy out the Target dollar section, but I do try to find little ways to make the day a bit more magical.

For St. Patty's Day this year, we dressed in green, made a trip to the donut shop, spent some quality time at Barnes and Noble, made cupcakes with green frosting and rainbow sprinkles, and ended the night at a friend's house for pizza, green beer (for the parents), green Sprite (for the kiddos) and glow sticks.

Last year, the kiddos and I had a picnic in the front yard

and a certain little girl refused to try the green milk I so lovingly prepared

But this year, I decided to give it another try.

While the kids were straightening up their rooms before snack time, I snuck into the kitchen, mixed up the milk, set out the green plates and topped them with green Sno-balls from Target. This time; however, I put the green milk in fancy, glass mugs........I think that's what did the trick :-)

She drank every last sip and then asked for more!!

And of course, I had a to take a few shots of these little cuties before we headed to the party.

wordy wednesday

I have a lot on my mind today. Lots of things swirling through this brain of mine: worries, anxieties, hopes, dreams, to-do lists, ideas, inspirations, regrets, questions. Questions like: Should I stop blogging? Should I give up photography as a hobby? Am I spending too much time online? How can I be more proactive in my parenting? Why do my children bicker so much?

I usually try to keep this little place of mine in cyber space fairly upbeat and positive. This is a place where I share the good stuff in life, the funny memories, the celebrations, the vacations, the ways I have found to live a more creative, joyful life. But lately, I have been feeling unmotivated, uninspired. I browsed back through my blog yesterday, and I was tempted to just delete the entire thing......drastic I know, and I'm glad I gave myself permission to sleep on that thought, but the nagging is still there today. There is still this feeling that my words aren't good enough, my photographs aren't good enough, it lacks a cohesive "theme"...........who's even reading this darn thing anyway :-)

So today, I am battling the negative self-talk. I am trying to keep it all in perspective, to remind myself that this little corner of the blog-o-sphere is a scrapbook of sorts: constantly changing, improving maybe, but most importantly, it is a place to document our memories, to express myself and maybe, just maybe to bring us all a little closer.

down on the farm

Yesterday, we decided to kick off Spring Break with a day trip to our friend's farm about an hour from our house. It was so nice to get out of our comfort zone and do things we normally don't get the chance to do: ride four wheelers, feed the donkeys, shoot clay pigeons (daddy), and get up close and personal with the cows. The kids had an absolute blast, and I was reminded once again how important it is for them to just get outside and PLAY! It is now officially on my Wish List to have a little piece of land somewhere not too far from home with a tiny cottage, a pond and plenty of room to roam and explore.

p.s. I know these photos are all over the board editing-wise......I had some time this morning, so I was playing around with a few things in photoshop, and I decided to try out a few "effects" on this batch of photos.....hope you don't mind :-)

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Layla

My defenses must have been unusually low yesterday, because somehow, I ended up allowing the cutest little fur ball to join our family. Her name is Layla Rose (or Layla Sparkles depending on the hour), and she has managed to up the chaos factor in our little house in a matter of hours......although, I must admit, she has upped the cuteness factor as well!

Of course the kiddos are over the moon excited, which makes the 12am, 2am, 3:45am and 5am wake up calls I received this morning (almost) worth it. I am nervous and exited about this little addition to our family, and I am trying my best to simply RELAX, to ENJOY this sweet puppy time while it lasts, and to capture the chaos as it unfolds.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Last weekend, the hubby and I were able to get away for a couple days to celebrate the wedding of close friends. We ate, lounged by the pool. laughed, relaxed, slept late, met a few new friends and enjoyed every single minute!!

beautiful blooms

our room

breakfast on the patio

our hotel

yummy frozen drinks

sweet friends

the beautiful bride

me & the hubby

sweet baby bump

 kristy, camelia, erin

sweet sisters

recently

recently I have been neglecting my blog........letting life get in the way, thinking too hard about what to post, then looking up a realizing how much time has passed since I last posted

recently I started reading "29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life" by Cami Walker (highly recommend it)

recently the hubby and I have been obsessed with The Bachelor (I know, I know)

recently I have been thinking about traveling, and how taking a break from your everyday routine is amazing and necessary

recently I paid all the bills on my desk, filed paperwork and felt really good about checking something off of my to-do list

recently I have been refocusing my attention on my One Little Word for the Year: ENJOY.......taking the time to check in with myself throughout the day to make sure I'm living in the moment and not just running from task to task

recently I got a spray tan and really liked how I looked with a little color :-)

recently Spring has been on my mind......new pillows for the couch, a few faux cherry blossom branches for the mantel, our annual photo shoot in the Texas bluebonnets, and maybe even a trip to the beach (fingers crossed)

recently Sienna started t-ball again and she is so very excited

recently Grant had Western Day at school and he looked so stinkin' cute in his jeans, plaid shirt, boots and Woody hat

recently I uploaded photos to Costco to put in my Project Life book....have I mentioned how much I LOVE this project!

recently I can't say enough about Pinterest

recently I came across these pictures from early February and they made me smile (nothing fancy, but this is real life around our home: bed head, still in pajamas, watching cartoons intensely, eating snacks)