Finest Moments to Come?

I eluded to feeling this way not too long ago, but darn it if someone else didn't already say it, only way more eloquently than I ever could:

I've been feeling like I'm slipping into a rut of sorts, but maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Have a good weekend... I'll be busy searching for different ways and truer answers. You?

Daily Motivation

I've deducted that I'm logically creative... Creativity doesn't come naturally to me. I definitely have an appreciation for it and am continually in awe of the things that are being created around me. When I come up with (what I consider to be) a neat idea, it's usually some sort of solution for me. It's connected to me thinking I need something.

For example, the framed meal planner. I had set the goal to plan our meals and I was searching for a fun, easy way to keep track of them. I found a few options to work with and then came up with my version and the printable little guys. The family rules came about much in the same way. Little gal was going through a r-o-u-g-h patch and was testing us at every step. I had seen a posted set of rules at a friend's house and decided to make my own. So, you see, my creativity is somewhat left-brained. It doesn't quite flow. I've deemed it's more solution oriented.

My latest problem to be solved: Daily motivation. I had this cool old frame (another from my decorating savvy sis-in-law) that I've been leaning up on the mantle. I hadn't taken the time to remove the old wires and decided I'd use it to hang some vintage Valentines from it back in February. When I had to take them down (a good 2 weeks late), I missed them.

I decided this was the perfect spot for some daily motivation. I thought of three things I'd like to focus on everyday. This is the result:

And I thought others might like it too, so it's up in my etsy shop. These are downlaodable for you to print yourself, as many times as you'd like. I printed mine out on cardstock so they'd be stiff enough to hang, but they could be printed on paper and framed. Or used on a card. Or pinned up on the frig...

Have a wonderful day:

Living what you believe.

Praying before acting.

Enjoying this moment.

Because We Have To Eat...

{from here}

I'll admit after not really planning last week's meals and resorting to easy-fast options, I really didn't feel like making a plan for this week. I guess I was just out of practice, but I sat down at 9:30pm and made myself because... Well... We have to eat. And if I didn't do it, I know I'd be stressed come five o'clock each afternoon. Soooo, here's our plan:

Monday:

weekend leftovers

Tuesday:

chicken tenders

carrots

Wednesday/Thursday:

manicotti

greek salad

Friday/Sunday:

Mexican lasagna

salad

Saturday:

out

Even if it was done half-heartedly, it's set and it'll be good... Or at least better than if I hadn't. Right?

Meal Plan & an Explanation

I know I said I was going to edit, but I haven't done the most bang up job following through. I done over-committed myself. I know some go-getter types might have to laugh at my schedule, but I just don't handle a full dance card all that efficiently. Why this mumbo-jumbo? I suppose it's my attempt at explaining away my sporadic posting as of late. Hang with me: I'll get it all figured out soon. (Hopefully). This week's menu plan will be much like this recent one as the hubby is going to be unaccounted for more than a couple nights this week. I'm hanging in there. You too?

The Enemy of the Best

I had a rare moment of being alone in my car. Most times I choose to either listen to my music, or have complete silence or flip it to talk radio. On this particular instance I decided to get a little Dave Ramsey inspiration. Just moments after tuning in he threw out this little nugget:

Why is this so true? Why does it take a close-call or hitting r-0-u-g-h times or heaven-forbid a tragedy to prompt us to make a change for the better?

Doing fine... Being okay... Skating along at status-quo... Whether it be financially like Dave was talking about, or in relationships, business, spiritually... This good comfort level could be what's holding us back from being spectacular/appreciating thoroughly/living the best life. By being okay with the good, are we just missing our best? Is this okay? If tragedy was staring at us, what would we be prompted to change?

Just something to think about. It made me think. Am I living my best life right now? Are you?

This Man

See this handsome fella? It's his birthday! (How is it that men just keep getting better with age?) I met him when we were sixteen years old and the way he's shaped me as a person with his presence is amazing. I'm so glad he was born and made his way to me. I think I'm going to go call his momma and thank her for having him. She definitely raised a good one! Happy birthday to my man! I can't believe a whole year has passed. Time flies when you're with the one you love!

Weekly Meal Plan

Here's our plan for the week...

Monday:

fajitas

(rollover from last week... ended up being a weird week)

sopapilla cake

(part of bday week for the hubby)

Tuesday:

out for hubby's bday

Wednesday/Thursday:

salad trio: pasta/fruit/green

Friday/Saturday:

grilling out something

(I'll decide based on prices at the g-store)

asparagus or zucchini

Sunday:

paninis

What will you be eating this week?

My Progress and a DIY Magna-board

The progress is a little slow in the kids' rooms. My husband's work has kept him busy, so I've been going at it alone thus far. So far these are the things I've accomplished:

-moved the twin bed into my son's room and have had 3 out of 3 successful nights and 1 out of two successful naps. This was the part I was dreading, so I'm totally thrilled with how this is going.

-Purchased "reflecting pool" by Sherwin Williams for my daughter's room and have painted all of a swatch on the wall. The baseboards were not looking so great, so I decided to caulk and still need to repaint those. This put us a bit behind, but I'm thinking the painting maybehopefullymight get done this weekend.

-fabrics for little accents are picked out and purchased. The first project with this is done! Check out the fabric covered magnetic bulletin board for little gal's room:

I was inspired by my friend Tonya's magnetic art board diy and decided to go for it with a pretty, vintage frame my sis-in-law gave me. While it wasn't the smoothest of projects for me, it was fairly swift and I love how it turned out.

First I got all my supplies ready: metal sheet, tin snips, spray paint, hot glue, scissors, craft paper, fabric. Then I spray painted the frame (forgot to get a true before picture):

The oval shape of the frame was stumping me as to how I was going to get the metal to fit, so I made a pattern from craft paper. I then traced that onto the metal with a marker:

I was careful to cut on the inside of my line (per Tonya's instructions):

I was not, however, so careful with the sharp edges!

After I bandaged my hand, I ironed and cut the fabric (handpicked out by the 7-year-old... It has some sparkle to it that doesn't quite show through.) and hot-glued it to the back of the metal oval (I'm no fabric connoisseur, so I'm hoping this is sufficient):

Last I secured it in the frame with its existing hardware. I think I'm going to put a few nails in the back to be sure it holds for the long haul. Voila!

Now on the the rest of the room!

Re-Think

I saved this little jewel over a year ago and just found it again. It made me a little uncomfortable to think about...

but isn't it when we're uncomfortable that we're prompted to make the most change?

They're All Growns Up

We've got big plans this week! On the todo list... Change this room into a big-boy room:

And this room into a big-ger girl room:

This house is growing up! I'm sad and nostalgic and excited all at once. Craig's List is flooded with my items up for grabs from cribs to dollhouses to gliders. The little guy's room with be updated with just a shift in beds and changing the loose theme from dogs to travel. Paint and colors are staying the same. My daughter's redo will be more drastic as she's requested turquoise(!) walls. She's getting her wish, but I'd be lying if I said I'm feeling 100% sure about this decision. The paint is done and bought though. Stay tuned for the after pics!

Weekly Meal Plan

It's a brand new week, and I'm totally looking forward to it... My husband made it home from his seven day business trip. I made it through last week with my sanity still in tact. And He is risen! I hope everyone had a glorious weekend and that your week is off to a wonderful start! We're all planned and, barring any unexpected events, this is what it's looking like:

Monday:

pizza

salad

Tuesday:

fajitas

Wednesday:

fajita salad

Thursday:

take out

Friday:

date night!!

Saturday/Sunday:

grilled chicken

sweet potatoes

steamed broccoli

What's your week looking like?