A Planner, Please!

I NEED a planner! 

Life without a planner feels pointless! 

I just kind of float around, somewhere in la la land. 

I didn't plan not to get a 2019 planner, but neither did I plan to get one before it was too late! 

I've been busy, and I've made lists, but I haven't planned my "19 for 2019!" 

(I definitely did not completely complete my "18 for 2018" but I do know I got way more of it done than had I not planned it! #anotherpost)

Rave reviews are being uttered about the Time Keeper Planner! By the people who planned ahead and ordered them before they were sold out! Argh.

Last year, I found an Eccolo planner at T.J. Maxx for only $9.99 that I loved! It had the best quotes, and instead of crossing things off, it had  these little bubbles to fill in "heavy and dark" just like achievements tests at school! lol

The year before, I splurged on a rad "Bando" planner. It was cool, but hardly worth the extra moolah at $32 plus shipping. 

This year, I'm looking so late that they are sadly picked over! Amidst the rumpled and crumpled ones left at the T.J. Maxx in Daphne, I found a smallish green Eccolo one that's a pleasing shade of green and says, "nevertheless, she persisted." Which I adore. So I purchased it. But, it isn't spiral-bound, and it's pretty small. So I haven't marred it yet. #floaton

Since a couple of my sisters have scored satisfactory planners at our local Walmart, I need to dash up there and check their stock!

Pursuing the perfect planner is proving to be quite a pain! I shall have to settle for something, and soon! Please tell me what planner you love, and why! Or if you even use one! 

Maybe a year of floating would be more fun...

Bring on the Book Club!

Back in July, I joined a BOOK CLUB! Which is something that had always been on my bucket list! Quilting clubs, exercise groups, etc. never held any appeal for me, but Book Club?! Count me in! What could be better than reading a fabulous book and then discussing it with your favorite people while eating food?? There are 10 of us, all local except 2. We plan to read/discuss one book a month, taking turns choosing the titles. 

August - When God Says Go by Elizabeth Laing Thompson. 

September - Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden.

October - MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertche.

 And November was my turn to choose! Always enamored by the French, I selected 

Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott. 

With the holidays, we got a bit off schedule and didn't have our discussion on it until last night! I had so wanted to meet in the Magical Alleyway in Atmore, but alas. It was far too moist and mouldy out. Instead, we dined and discussed every nuance and then some at the Alabama Wing House which ended up being the perfect location! They seated us in a secluded area, and we had the best time being very American eating finger lickin' good wings, fries, and pies whilst debating the ways of the French! Cups of coffee later, we decided that although none of us feel like we are chic, (btw, this word is always pronounced "sheek") we all share the love of reading and learning and expanding our horizons!

January's book is Chop, Chop by L.N. Cronk. 

Mine is on the way from Abebooks.com and I cannot wait! This first go around, I am getting hard-copies of each book and am making whoever chose it write in it why they chose it and sign it. #sentimental

Rest Up & Dress Up!

Happy 2019!
This is not my New Year's Letter in case you are wondering! I may not even write one actually...time will tell! 

I love to choose a theme word or phrase for the year as per Gretchen Rubin's suggestion. It's a challenge to see what word you can come up with that sums up the ambitions, plans, dreams and schemes that you want to embrace in the new year! 

Last year I chose HOME. 

I wanted to stay home more, to "joy-spark" our entire home, and to learn to love being a homemaker! Overall, I'm mostly happy with how the year went! I "think" I was home more, I consciously tried to have days where I never left the premises. I found a pillow cover for the the couch that says "Let's Stay Home." Danielle even told me one day, "Mommy, I love that you are home." And I loved it too. I didn't get the whole house "joy-sparked" but I think I only lack 4 cabinets, and the drawer under the oven! So that's pretty good! I wish I knew how many POUNDS of accumulated clutter went the way of the waste heap or to WeCare! By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Marie Kondo's method and books.

So...for this year I chose a phrase, "REST UP & DRESS UP!" 

Before you are imagining boa scarves and polka dot socks in high-heeled shoes, hear me out! Obviously, "rest up" is pretty self-explanatory! I simply do not sleep enough. I'm a night owl by nature, and I always want to "over-live" and squeeze every last minute out of each day...not wise. I do realize it's almost midnight now, BUT I actually did my extra resting this morning since Danielle went back to sleep in our bed! Score! Also, I want to lay my unnecessary ambitions to rest this year. I want to choose cuddling over computing, relaxing instead of resisting, being present over trying to be perfect. 

Okay, now for the dress up part! Reading Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott was revolutionary! Now I am inspired to incorporate the "10 item core wardrobe" idea into my life! (More on that in another post if y'all are interested) I think it will definitely simplify my life! So I will be focusing on clothes! And sewing! I have decided that I love to sew and that it's amazing that I have been taught how to create couture clothing. So there. 

Now off to rest up I go! 

(once I find my other polka dot sock..!!)

a GRATEFUL heart

I am thankful for life... and that it goes on.

For God's protection, our guardian angel, for my friend who breathed a prayer particularly for me earlier in the day...

For airbags, car seats, safety restraints, and crash-testing technology...

That no one was injured when I rear-ended a Dodge pickup yesterday evening in the gloaming...

that the couple I hit were not angry or upset...For family and friends who stopped so soon to make sure we were OK... and got my Jeep off the road before anyone hit it...and came and got my groceries and purchases from earlier in the day...that Danl was home and could come comfort us and sit with me for the hours we waited on FHP. That Danielle was not traumatized...and seemed to understand that the Jeep was seriously injured and needed to go the vehicle hospital...That the young officer who worked the scene was kind and considerate and gave me the least possible citation.

I am thankful for pecans... And that I had plenty to re-toast for tomorrow's candied sweet potatoes since I severely over-toasted the first batch! #burnt

I am thankful for family recipes with notes at the bottom. 

#auntrose #candiedsweetpotatoes #schneidercookbook

I am thankful for the MRGA Book Club. It has, and is, totally enriching my life in in so many ways!

I am thankful that Mel brought me coffee this morning and took Danielle home with her to "help" take care of Baby Ellie.

I am thankful for crispy, ice-cold Diet Coke.

I am thankful my parents lent us their extra van for me to drive until we get our insurance rental.

I am thankful for Katie's crumb-topped banana bread. #perfection

I am thankful for ibuprofen.

I am thankful for our cozy home, for the warm bed into which I am about to crawl!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL!

Be like me - and drink TEA!

A cup of this tea was the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day! It's the perfect blend of citrus and spice...suitably fallish without tasting like potpourri!

Lightbox LOVE

I love my lightbox.

I'm pleased as a pumpkin with what I just changed it to! It now says...



What a perfect pumpkin pun, thanks to Pinterest!

I was rather pleased with my previous lightbox message, because I "thunk" it up all by myself!

"DONT SWEAT THE FALL STUFF."

Babies Don't Keep

Tonight was Jessica (Wenger) Koehn's baby shower... or "hen party" as I overhead Danl telling one of his buddies that he would be taking care of the rugrat while Sharon went to a hen party! Guys! Gotta love 'em! 

Anyway, it was a lovely shower; all done up so darling in vintage/retro toys, with old quilts, string lights, a coffee bar complete with a barista, delicious ham chowder in bread bowls, veggies 'n dip served out of the cutest vegetable train and Tonka dump truck, apples 'n caramel, and mini pumpkin tortes! 

Prior to eating, we all sang some old lullabies one of which was the song about "Babies Don't Keep," looked at tiny, footed sleepers, sniffed lotions and potions, and petted soft blankets... My mind went back to when Danielle was a tiny baby....and I realized anew just like those lilting lyrics that my baby did not keep! She's going on 3!!! And she's daily doing such grownup stuff! 

This morning she stood on the porch in her French fries t-shirt and diaper, (still a baby in that department.. argh.) with her little arms crossed and head tilted to one side in deep thought as she watched Daddy, Mr. Bucky, and Mr. Curtis loading up and preparing for the work day. Then she seriously proclaimed, "They not have a clue what they do'ning." 

Later on our way home from Aunt Rhonda's she sneezed, then told herself, "Scat, cat! Get outa my gravy! That what Nana says." And it IS what her Nana always tells her! lol 

She thinks Bass Pro is a "casserole" aka "castle" since it has flags flying from the peaks. 

She loves to have me sing "Old McDonald Has a Farm" substituting all the members of the Paw Patrol for the usual animals. Her new favorite song is "Down by the Station" thanks to Aunt Katie!

When she knows I'm on the last, or almost the last song before bed, she instructs me, "Sing SLOW!!!" 

She loves to hold Baby Ellie, always uttering, "Baby Ellie SO cuuuuute."

We were "helping" Daddy in the man-cave the other day, and she told him all her plans for it. "I put my crib here, baby tub here, all my toys too, and paint green and brown." She's planning to take over! 

But then, she already has. Our hearts that is!