An "Add-in" Win

Well, here goes! 

I want to see how much I can write in 15 minutes and just post it! 

Daily blogging is my goal, but so often I don't even start typing the posts I write in my head, because I know I won't have or take the time to do them justice! #downwithperfectionism

Several days ago, I joined a group of friends who have decided to give up something they feel is detrimental and add in something positive until Easter. Sorta "Lentish" although I'm not totally sure what Lent really is or means. We just want to become more self-denied and try harder to be our best selves! I have decided to give up phone time from supper until bedtime endeavoring to be fully present with my family instead of distracted with messages, browsing, shopping etc. And for my "add-in" I chose blogging! Thus this post! 

We have been having the best time ever with Alisha, Isla, and Jemma being here for a week over Daniel's mom's 60th birthday! Which makes me feel writers' overload; so many things I could touch on that I don't know where to even start! And if I'm gonna cover much in the few minutes I have remaining, I think I should just jot some random bullet points as they come to me!

• Navarre Beach is truly Florida's Most Relaxing Place as advertised! Felt so blessed to be able to spend 4 nights together in THIS ocean-front townhouse, making amazing family memories, and basking in the blissful sunshine! The water was cold, but the weather was absolute perfection!

• Two toddlers make a terrible combination in a kate spade outlet store.
• Danielle is THREE as of March 20, 2019!
• Throwing a simple beach-themed birthday party takes a village. #thankseveryone
• It takes a little pink pair of scissors, a bottle of water, an iPad, a small Barbie doll with accessories, and a sucker for a successful "tee-tee" session. Who knew?!
• Don't ask me how my courage with this whole potty training thing is going. Reference pic below. 

• I love Taco Tuesday. So lovely to always know what's for supper! Tonight was simple stir-fried chicken tender chunks in olive oil with garlic salt and black pepper in a flash-fried white corn tortilla topped with cheese, sour cream, and blended mild Pace picante salsa. Mine had the additional essentials of green onion and a squeezed wedge of lime! Chips and salsa on the side and - voila! Faster than Blue Apron or Hamburger Helper! 

• Ginger Lime Diet Coke! Wow. They got it right with that combination! 

• Now I want to try all the flavors! Have any of y'all developed new faves? 

(Confession: It took me 40 minutes to write this instead of 15! But hey, at least it got me back in the groove again! An "add-in" WIN!)

Happy 2019!

Happy New Year!!

Don't you just love the freshness, the "clean slate," the "start-over" feel of a brand new year?! 

What? You say it's MARCH 1????! HOW did this happen?? Two whole months of 2019 have already slipped into oblivion?! Wow. Let me regroup. I guess I will post my New Year's Letter in its current state and MOVE ON!

Had family Christmas in Guntersville on January 1! Twas hard to believe that 2018 had already begun.

An anniversary in February called for some time away; so down by the beach in Navarre for a few days we did stay.

Party time for our princess in the third month of the year; we celebrated this donut-loving 2 year old who’s always in high-gear!

Practically zoomed to MS in April to witness Kyle say “I do”; certainly enjoyed seeing Grandma and Aunt Sue too!

Yehaw! Tried something new which was Blue Apron in May, a food service meal that only brought my hubby dismay!

Next in June was the nuptials of Cam & Mel; then of Isla’s 1^st birthday celebration in Calgary I could tell.

(And the rest of the year was amazing as well!) 

OK. March 1, 2019. 

Here in the Sun-doesntshineitjustrainsandrains State, Spring is just around the corner! Everything is GREEN! Did I mention we have not lacked in moisture lately? And that I have done something wildly different for me?! I have decided to GROW ROSES AGAIN! This goal was one of the "not done" things on my "18 for 2018" list. It got plopped again on my "19 for 2019"  list, and this time I'M DOING IT! I've ordered 5 hybrid tea roses from Jackson & Perkins, and I could not be more excited! I'm nightly soaking my black thumb in essential oils... LOL not really!
But I do hope I can keep these babies alive and be able to pick gorgeous bouquets to place artistically about our home! I dabbled in rose gardening at the old home place prior to marriage with some success! And lots of spraying! Black spot is rampant down here Zone 9. If y'all have any tips for getting the flower of love to flourish, please send them my way!


(Mister Lincoln)


(Malibu)


(Gemini)


(Clouds of Glory)

(John F. Kennedy)

P.S. Before I could get this posted, I got an email from UPS saying they had been delivered on my front porch! Yippity-yay!
And once I got home from work, there they were in all their ugly, bare-root beauty! Now, for the planting thereof.
Forward, MARCH!