Rosebuds & Raincoats

Two buds on our Gemini bush have bloomed forth! They are truly gorgeous! I gaze in wonder and admiration...just so happy to see them, and to know that I (and hubby #thanks) actually put in the effort to see this dream to reality! All the other bushes except Malibu are doing well also! I may need to order a replacement for her as she is not doing marvelously at all. Quite dormant, in fact. 

Today, I had some rare hours home alone before going into the office. But I did not sit reading on the couch as pictured above! Rather, I raincoated! I packaged the stinky, cheaply made donut trash bag I had ordered for Danielle and my too large but ever so whimsical Joules slicker to go back to Zulily, the pleasing olive “waterproof” coat that absorbs liquid to go back to Amazon, and ordered what I hope is the third and final one for me from Amazon! Third time’s the charm, right?! We leave for London in 
24 days! Pinch, pinch. 

Back to Zulily... I really want this in the correct size! Just not sure I have time to wait for my store credit and then reorder!

Cute, but pweeee-yuuuu! And way too big. 

Back to Amazon! #inaccuratedescription 

Danielle’s 2nd coat was a win! Well-made and totally waterproof! So I went with the same brand for the classic white one I ordered below! 

Good Friday

Good Friday.... it is finished... but the Son will shine again. 

A Tale of Two Tennis Shoes

Well, I bagged these babies at Walmart today, so we shall see how they endure! Danl did a major eye roll accompanied by the "Why would you do that?! sigh when I bragged about my purchase to him! He would definitely go with the feeling that you get what you pay for! But I was standing at the end-cap inspecting them again, when a lady nearby told me that she absolutely loves these sneaks and has 3 pairs! "It's like walking on air! And they last so long! They're super comfy and I'm a diabetic and have problems with my feet!" So into my cart they went! A positive personal review gets me every time! She didn't say she ran in them or anything, but I'm not down much for only $9.98 if they don't hold up for driveway pounding! How can they even make a tennis shoe for only $9.98?! Speaking of minor miracles, I still can hardly believe that I ran for 20 minutes straight today without stopping! Or feeling like I was huffing, puffing, hyperventilating, or side-aching to death! ME! Who used to barely be able to pant through a 90 second jog when I first started C25K. I highly recommend this app/program in case you hadn't noticed by now. And I highly recommend having an accountability partner to goad and cheer you on! #thanksheidiharms

Spoil Alert! I kinda don't want my new shoes to last too long because I want these!



Or these!


Too many options... another time, another tale. For now, time will tell if my bargain blushers pass or fail!

Coffee & Confusion

Awwww....life-giving coffee. Coffee is so hyped up both figuratively and literally, but truly, it’s the best! I love that feeling of the first sip...almost scalding my throat and waking up my face.

Once my coffee is downed, and I’m ready to be a nice human, I’m gonna go out and conquer C25K Week 5 Day 2! Should’ve have done this run yesterday, but life got in the way...

Nevertheless, I shall run! But every run makes the hole in my New Balances grow ever larger... which brings me to the question of my current confusion! Are these Asics runners that received the top accolades of “Best of the Best” on bestreviews.com really far superior to these cheap cuties from Walmart?! They both have 4 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews... Please help me conquer this confusion! My YNAB (You Need A Budget) is telling me to either go with WallyWorld now, or keep being “holey” for awhile! So...???

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!

Monday Musing & Menus

Today was a really good day.

 

It didn't start out that way...

after Danl left early for work, and Danielle was wide awake, be-bopping around, I hunkered down on the couch under a blanket for an hour, gloomy and glowering. 

Finally I hoisted myself up, brewed some coffee, started smiling, ordered Bloom planners from Amazon for Rhonda and me, completed my morning routine, did yoga, (Danielle joined me! Seriously, seeing a toddler doing the downward dog is just plain adorable!) fixed Disney Princess Spaghettio's and leftover fajitas for lunch, conquered a kitchen mission #flylady, ran to the bank(s), found Jacob an unread book, supervised Neil and Danielle, Instant Potted some venison chili, worked at my desk, ate supper, blended fresh fruit smoothies, hung out with my family, bathed and bedded Danielle, went to bed with Danl, got back up, made a pineapple-raspberry cake and orange 7-up jello for Sewing tomorrow, got hungry, devoured some "tortiyahs" chips & Diet Coke, and now I'm blogging! 

My gorgeous, wood-grain planner gets here Wednesday, and I cannot wait!

Thanks to all of you who sent me suggestions via blog comment or whatsapp! I really appreciated y'all's input!

Here are my menus for this week... I planned them on my phone while in the deer stand. #hungrywhilehunting

SOUL FOOD SUNDAY

Fried Pork Chops

Tossed Salad

Cast Iron Skillet Fried Apples

MAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT MONDAY

Venison Chili

Cheese & Crackers

Pickles

Leftover Jiffy Corn Muffins

Fruit Smoothies

TACO TUESDAY

PW Fried Tacos (venison)

Chips & Salsa

Sliced Avocados

PIE WEDNESDAY

Stromboli

Applesauce

Del Monte Corn

THROW IT ON THE GRILL THURSDAY

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

Foil-packet Grilled Cheesy Fries

Grilled Green Beans

FISH FRIDAY

Creamy Crab-topped Tilapia

Garlic Bread

Popeye Spinach

SANDWICH SATURDAY

Chili Cheese Dog Bake

(with leftover chili from Monday)
Jello

Cucumber Slaw

Hungry yet?! 

Goodnight!