~Out of Commission~

Dear Poison Ivy/Sumac,
You pretty much have sucked the life out of me. There are no words to describe the amount of torture you have caused me.  An innocent trip to the woods to go pee has been followed by such discomfort that the thought of heavy sedation was the only joyous thoughts in my head. Not sure I will ever be the same mentally as I was prior to experiencing your wrath. Oh and to the Urgent Care Doc who's idea of helping me was a steroid shot and nothing else...shame on you, you obviously have never had these poisons internally because with my experience now and if I were a Doctor my suggestion would be...vodka & vicoden and call me if then morning if you need more vicoden.

These poisons have halted my walking and well literally everything in my life was put on hold. Not sure the lesson behind it all yet maybe one day when my mind isn't so fogged by this experience this lesson will become a little more clear. And no I don't believe my lesson is to simply not go to the bathroom in the woods again although you can be sure you will never, like ever see this chicka doing that again.

Special thanks to all those who helped me out along this miserable journey from the cookies to the advice, I thank you <3

~ Healthy & Oh So Yum~

I know most of you think I spend every lunch at Chipotle and yes I do have a tendency to frequent that place in an extreme manner, however my other lunch time splurge is the Natural Foods Plus health food store near Good Samaritan Hospital. It's off Shiloh Springs Road near the old Elder Berman. It is my health nut happy place. If you take the chance to go in and have a smoothie made for you please take a moment to say hello to the cook Martha! She is my go to gal for all things yummy. Today she had made up some vegan chili and vegan banana nut bread. (all of course I had to sample and of course all so delicious) I stuck with her salmon salad which is merely decedent. If I ever win the lottery Martha would for sure make my payroll list. She can take your most favorite meal and turn it into a healthy, low fat and most the time vegan meal. I simply adore her. Also, if you have never tried Kombucha make sure you ask for a sample of that too, amazing stuff and your body will thank you. Martha talked me into a shot today and of course didn't tell me exactly what was in it just said, "Come on Jen, I know you will try anything that is good for your body", so down it went. I have to say blah...double blah...dear gracious it was bad and not to mention it had habanero pepper juiced in it. Wow it burnt in a good/bad way. The poor Fed Ex guy that took a shot with us instantly had beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Needless to say the burning did subside after a few seconds.  After giving Martha some crap for what I just drank I read all about this "Super Tonic" and I am glad that I chocked it down. The following talks about the ingredients and their importance.

~The fresh juices of organic horseradish root drive this formula to your head, sinus and throat and lungs where you need it. The organic garlic juice and onion juice are the two best herbs to flush micro-organisms from your body. The organic yellow ginger root juice and habanero pepper juice stimulate your blood and lymphatic flow like no other herbs to get your immune cells to the bad guys as fast as possible. The organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar preserves all of these plant juices and cleanses your body~

I always love to talk up local eateries and support our local community as much as possible but this place needs no help as they are usually always slammed with people stopping in to grab an Emerald Treasure (their version of a super healthy green smoothie). They also have a juice bar so if you are feeling a little under the weather or just feel the need for some cleansing stop in for some beets, apples, celery and ginger!

~My Girl~

Sometimes....just sometimes life gives you something so beautiful there are no words to describe the fullness in your heart.

 

She is my mini.....she is my sunshine.....she is my reason for the smile on my face many days.....

She is my girl...the one who I thought I would never have, the one who shares my love of old trucks, she is my stubborn-side made over, she is her brother's protector, she is my July firecracker, she is my reminder of all things good, she is my daily blessing, she is my shopping partner in crime, she is her daddy's girl, she is my country music go to gal, she is my meat-eating carnivore, she is my girl and I simply adore her!

 

 

Prayers being sent to Boston to all those families and friends affected by such a horrific tragedy!

~Craigslist Junkie~

Are you a Craigslist Junkie?

I would say this household is. I buy on it, sell on it, find jobs on it. It's kind of like a virtual flea market for me. It has come in handy for so many good things. I wish I would have documented everything we have bought and sold on this site. People say it's not always the safest but I only meet people in public places and from now on I will take my Miss Nella Blue with me, she looks evil - ha ha!

I  have only had one encounter at a gas station once that was a little odd. I was meeting a lady to buy a vintage high chair kind of out in the middle of nowhere. We were going to meet at a gas station though and it didn't take me as long to get there as I thought so I sat for a while.  A lady finally pulled in and sat for a bit so I assumed it was her. I went up to her window and asked if she was Mary? She looked at me very odd and then said, "Excuse me, yes I am married"....ughhh no I didn't ask if you were married I said are you Mary? Oh my....needless to say she did laugh after I told her I was meeting a Mary for something I bought off craigslist. Hope I don't have any more of those moments.  I'm very thankful it wasn't an under cover cop who didn't believe my story.

 

Love to hear your Craigslist Moments.....

 

 

 

~Happy Early Easter~

My kids Easter pictures this year were a bit last minute. I had big plans in my head, I had prop ideas in my head, I had a little white country church in my head, I had colored eggs...then life happens and I ran out of time. Instead I put the kids in dress clothes and we decided to do them while at horse lessons. I have to say I love how they turned out and as for Gus (the horse) he was a true gem and cooperated just perfect with us!

 

 

 

 

And my choice for the Easter card is....

 

 

Hope everyone has a blessed and safe Easter!

~Lessons Learned in March~

1. I learned that I miss Atlanta's weather more than ever.

2. I learned that my little Ford Edge stinks in the snow.

3. I learned that my friends totally have my back.

4. I learned that my country drives listening to my music is the best therapy money can by.

5. I learned that giving up dark chocolate forever, well it just will never happen.

6. I learned that paying cash at Chipotle so a certain someone doesn't really know the extent of my habit is a little crazy.

7. I learned that by not asking my daughter to take her pictures, she now comes and asks me :-)

8. I learned that some teachers, should really not be teaching! Hope you read this

9. I learned that having a German Shepard puppy means nothing, I mean nothing can be on the floor.

10. I learned that I really am going to miss those Dayton Demonz.

 

 

Happy Hump Day My Friends!

~love to see what March has taught you all~

~Snow Day~

I'm hoping it's the last one of the year, my kids on the other hand, they didn't mind a bit they were outside more than they were in. And with a two hour delay today, these kids of mine are really getting spoiled!

 

 

 

 

 

~Origami Owl Obsession~

Have you heard??? There is this funky/fun little website you can go to and order all your Origami Owl charms. If you haven't taken a moment to stop by my friend Chris Mullennix's shop please take a minute to do so. All kinds of cute little gift ideas especially with Easter & Mother's Day coming up.

check out her site:

owlatthemoon.origamiowl.com

 

Love this one

 

This is mine <3

 

Can't wait to make some more, they are kinda, sorta addicting!

 

~Cultivating Character~

Those words "cultivating character", are from a Sandy Hook father who lost his 6 year old son and it got me thinking....are we cultivating character in our children? Are we watching what goes into their brains not just letting them have free reign over the TV and Internet. I know I have become way more slack on this since my kids have gotten a little older. I catch myself watching stuff (Full Throttle Saloon) that really isn't appropriate at all for kids to see, or I see them on the computer on YouTube looking up funny pets tricks and dirt bike crashes but really once on there they do have free access to whatever they want to see. Things are so much different then they use to be, it is quite scary really. Children are raising themselves while there parents are working or just not present in the home and they have no self worth and some odd sense of entitlement. Times are tough and families are having to work longer hours for less pay, but the fact is that we are a "want more" society who thinks we need to have lots of material things to be satisfied. We need to retreat, we need to go back to when things were a little bit more simple, a little less chaotic. We need to teach our children that working hard and saving their money for something makes them really appreciate and value things. And we also need to show them material things are just that, they come and go and they are not what is important in this world.

 

Happy Friday All ~ Go Enjoy What's Important This Weekend!

~Dreaming in Red~

 

I don't know what it is about that flaming red color that sucks me right in...maybe I secretly want to be a red head hmmm.... I do have the stubbornness of one and I defiantly have the spunk to be red. I dyed some streaks in my hair red a few months ago and I fell in love with it. Problem with red dye is you can spend the money to color it but it just doesn't stick so I'm onto my next venture. I heard of coloring with chalk on Pinterest and I tried that it didn't work so well and it makes your hair feel like straw, then I heard of a sharpie marker sounds a little odd I know however, if you want some quick funky color it really works. We tried turquoise in my daughters hair and yep I tracked down a red sharpie for me. It does wash out but how fun to be able to throw some quick color in your hair. Let me know if any of you try this I would love to see some pictures. I think I'll try Pink next time. Enjoy hope you can add some color to your drab Tuesday!

 

{Wild Child}

This is my girl, she is my Mini, she is my wild child and I love her to the moon & back! She asked me to do some pictures of her today and it's not so often that she asks me, so of course I grabbed my camera and we hit the pavement.

~Meet Nella Blue~

Can a furry little baby melt your heart in a instant?....absolutely. This is our little Nella Blue...she is sweet, she is wild and she will suck you right in.

{Saddle Up}

You up for lessons?

I so am despite how cold that darn barn is.

My daughter recently started horse back lessons and oh my gracious how I dreamed of this when I was young. I had a pony named Goldie for a couple of years and I dreamed of glameing her up and taking her to a show but instead I used flowers from the yard and pretended we were really fancied up. So fast forward a couple of years (kidding a lot of years) later here sits my daughter on this pretty little horse named Gus and I am so happy she gets to do this. His hair braided so pretty and the hair fluff around his ankles...good gracious this boy is a looker.

 As a mom it's a beautiful thing to see your daughter fall so hard for something, she adores this barn and is in love with these horses. The first night after we left the barn she said, "look mom my boots are dirty." Gotta love it, she got new Justin boots for her birthday and has been dying for them to look like they came straight from the barn, she can now wear them a little prouder...melts my heart!

 

 

~I am a small drop of rain~

I know...I know....I am only one gal, in one small town, but I know there is a lot I need to accomplish in this life. I have gotten away from volunteering because of my crazy schedule, however it is always on my mind. I want to do more!!! I want to help others more!!! I have it in me, I can push harder I can give up some other things in order to make this time in my schedule happen. So for today this is where I will start...with the story tugging on my heart. {Puppies} Of course we all all our suckers for puppies and I don't want this to be a one time thing just because of the royal cuteness of the puppies but for today, after work this is where the kids and I will give a little of our hearts.

 

Posted on Facebook Monday January 21,013

Humane Society of Preble County

Please help us if you can! We need help in feeding the many hungry puppy residents of the Pet Center. We took in 16 puppies today-- all of which are 10 weeks old or younger. This has brought our total to 22 puppies under 12 weeks old. We are asking for donations of Purina Puppy Chow and Pedigree canned puppy food to help feed all of these sweet and hungry babies. Thank you!

 

No worries to my fellow readers not in this area, there is always [always] a need at your local Humane Society for help. It can be in the form of just volunteering your time our it could be donating items either way if it's tugging at your heart to do more with your time, then make it happen!

 

Oh and if your in the place where you can adopt and share your home meet Katie she is 3 and is up for adoption in Eaton right now :-)

 

 

~Baby, It's Cold Outside~

Happy Freaking Cold Tuesday,

It's was 15 below here last night with a high of 10 today and I'm dreaming of Rosemary Beach, Florida. It's "our place". It's the place where our family makes memories. It's as close to Mexico as you can get without going. It's turquoise water and sugar white sand. It's a place to go see dolphins playing in the Gulf, it's fabulous snorkeling. It's where I like to go in my head on days like this. We always talk about going somewhere else each year, but then we always agree we want clear water and white sand and there is nowhere else I would rather be vacationing in Florida then here. Rosemary Beach is just off of 30-A near Destin, if you haven't made the drive down 30-A it's a must. You can take this into Panama City if your up for about a thirty minute drive. It's a drive like no other, following the coast all the way to your destination.

 

Check out this link to all the great places to eat and stay along 30-a!

http://30-a.com/

 

 

~B4 & After~

 I feel a little refreshed today, I got to get out and take a long drive. It helps me, it strengthens me, it revives me...Can't explain what getting in my car and just driving listening to my favorite tunes does to my mushy brain but it feels as though the sponge has been squeezed dry and I'm ready for more. Sorry it's been a bit since I wrote however, 2013  has been not so nice to me. It's okay though I've made the most of it and I've come to realize it just is what it is. My black cloud is gone as of today, says me!

Thought I would show off some before and after pics as I get requests for this often and for what kind of camera I use.  I shoot with a Nikon camera and I do shoot raw.  It was good timing to have to do some before and after pictures as my picture frames in the house were a bit outdated anyway. So here ya go enjoy. And as always please feel free to ask my questions.

Before

After

Before

After

Oh Happy Day....I figured out my uploading mess

~Tech Trouble~

Sorry everyone, I have been having some technical difficulties and I want to cry! My picture up loader changed from being able to upload from my computer to Picasa and I am not a fan of it right now. Please have patience as I am working hard to figure out a different route.

<3

Jen

~The Grind Begins Again~

It's back to the grind...You know the routine, packing lunches, laying out clothes, remembering if you signed all the parent notes that needed your attention.

Oh the joys of coming off a Holiday. It tends to take me a week or so to re coupe and get back into the full grind of the everyday meals, homework and after school activities. I must confess though there is nothing else I would rather be doing other than this parent/child chaos. I have tried repeatedly to be a scheduled weekly dinner menu mom that goes by what is written on the little chalkboards and dry erase calenders and well that just isn't me nor will it ever be no matter how pretty and organized pinterest shows I can become. I am always gonna be just a last minute, pinterest dreaming, snooze pushing, fly by the seat of my pants kinda gal.....take me or leave me it's who I am!

 

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday, and more importantly I hope you got to be an example today!

 (a good example of course)