Oh they joys of technology!

Wasn’t life so much simpler when we didn’t have computers or cell phones?

Ok, don’t answer that….but seriously, we might not have been able to shop for anything in the world 24/7 {if it wasn’t at the local mall it didn’t exist}; we couldn’t price compare between 519 stores on Google shopping {and may have, sit down for this, paid $3 more for a pair of shoes than we needed to}; we might not have been able to research every possible kitchen design in the history of the modern world {but relaxed on the sofa at night, looking at pictures from a handful of glossy magazines}; we couldn’t reach everyone every second of the day {but then again WE couldn’t be reached every second of the day}; we couldn’t fire off emails/texts at lightening speed anytime a thought crossed our mind {we might have had to just sit on a thought for more than a half second, giving it time to digest}; we didn’t know what our old college roommate’s kid said at school today {but then again, we weren’t having to carve out time each day to fit in Facebook/Twitter/email}; we didn’t have all these amazing blogs that stress us out wondering how every other mom/blgoger seems to be able to do it all give us such incredible inspiration on every subject {but then again we didn’t have to worry about our blog’s first giveaway getting derailed half-way through because the server was down- seriously?} 

Ahhhh, life was so much simpler.

DIY Made my day!

I woke up this morning to a spectacular surprise: I was featured on The DIY Showoff!

When you are a newish blogger, being featured on any blog is an honor…heck, just knowing that someone besides those you begged your family are actually reading your blog! But to find out that a very popular blogger has written a surprise feature about you, well that’s something to turn cartwheels over!

Definition of Insanity, and: Satisficer vs. Maximizer, which are you?

Ok, I know you are on the edge of your seat  wondering “what is the definition of insanity?” 
Well folks, here it is:


Yes, yes, I am officially crazy.
Do you know what you are looking at?
It’s me, contemplating CHANGING the color of the walls that I painted recently less than 3 weeks ago above the finished board & batten.
You know what is so insane? I debated about those colors for months. Months. M.O.N.T.H.S.

I’m looking at the same d*#n swatches again.
Please, PLEASE, someone out there tell me you are as crazy as I am.

I've been featured, again and again!

I just got home after spending a week out of town for my father-in-law's funeral...so my blogging has taken a backseat to my family. 

 But I came home to some exciting blogging news: I was featured!  And not just once, but twice!  I was featured last week just as all of this was happening, and again today, and never got a chance to thank those who featured me. 

Ok, let me back up a few words. 

 What does it mean to be featured? 

Well, to a new any blogger {insert: ME} it means a lot!  When you are featured, another blogger creates a post in which your blog is highlighted.  So now everyone who reads that blog will read about my blog!  It's a HUGE compliment as well as a wonderful opportunity to attract new readers. So anytime someone features me, it makes me feel special.  Someone out there is actually reading all of my ramblings, and {dare I say} enjoying it!  So thank you!  Thank you to all those who have featured me thus far.  You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

My Valentine's Tea Party Invitations at It's a Hodgepodge Life:

 Follow me Wednesday at 3 Four and Under:

My Pretty 'n Pink Valentine's Wreath is #22 over at Tip Junkie's Wreath post:

and all by ITSELF {eeeeeeee!}  at Truly Lovely

AND {boy did that wreath treat me well!} at Mo Momma: Saving Momma Money! {and DO I like to save money!}

So now I'll be settling back into our "normal" routine and getting back to my projects!

 

 

Today I sorted through my wood for my kitchen island {but was out of "blog" mode and forgot to take pictures!}  But stayed tuned for my Restoration Hardware inspired kitchen island to start progressing soon!

Here are the boards I worked on first:

And here's my inspiration:

But mine will have a marble top.  Eeeeeeee, I'm getting excited!

Enjoying this place we call home

California is finally drying out after almost floating away with all the rains we've gotten!
However, rains leave some of the most beautiful gifts...a few of which we got to enjoy the other day. 
After school I decided to mix it up a bit and be spontaneous!
{I think a bit of it was guilt for all the time I've been spending on the computer lately.}

So I bundled everyone up and we headed out for a late afternoon hike.

Brrrrr, not to be a wimp or anything, but it was 48 during the DAY,
we aren't used to that!

It was a gorgeous day!

We crossed a creek.

Made a new friend.

Crossed another creek.

Whoa!

Helped an "old" friend.

Talked a lot about moss and spores and fungus.

Needed a little fuel.

And were finally treated to lots of "ooohs" and "ahhhhs".

I'm still learning my new camera. Wish the pics had come out a bit better.

But I didn't get to keep playing around with the settings 'cause my battery died.

Oh well, it let me enjoy the moment a bit more.

And enjoy it I did.

I think we'll be spontaneous a little more often.

Maybe that's a good New Year's resolution? You know, I haven't made one yet. I know a lot of people are "simplifying" or "finding balance"...maybe I'll take a few more detours from the script.

In loving memory of my dear father-in-law. We'll miss you.

The universe is a stage....

I just found this new tea I love...Yogi Green Tea Super Antioxidant.  Picked it up at Cost Plus and it's yummy, {almost} decaf with less than 1/4 the caffeine in coffee, and full of good for ya stuff.

But the thing I like the most I think is the little daily thoughts, or fortunes as I call them.  I loved today's so much, I just had to share...perfect for the New Year and my lack of resolution(s):

"The universe is a stage.  Your mind dances with your body, guided by your heart."

 

So, what are you waiting for?

Get out there and dance!

Have a FABULOUS weekend everyone!

What is a Linky Party? and the Christmas Mantel Linky Party has begun!

Hi loyal readers!

Welp, the home holiday linky party has begun!
First up is Layla's Christmas Mantel Party.

What's that you say, you have no idea what I'm talking about?
What the heck is a "linky party"?

Blog speak, of course. It's 2010, folks, time to catch up on all the latest lingo. 

Remember the 80's:
BFF: Best Friends Forever

Face: kinda like when someone has been proven wrong

Foamer: a Liar

Grill: ask someone a ton of questions

JK: Just kidding

S'up: What's up?

Tight: Really cool

And then of course this centruy:

 :-)  :-X  ;-)

lol: Laugh out loud

 OMG: Oh my God

TTYL: Talk to you later

BTW: By the way

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

DIY: Do it yourself

TIA: Thanks in advance

TMI: Too much information

Y2K: You're too kind

the list goes ON and ON!

But this here is 2010 peeps, and the techy speak increases almost as fast as new blogs pop up.

Speaking of blogs, there's some blog speak that probably puzzles many at times.  Here's a few:

SAHM: Stay at home mom

DH: Dear husband

DS/DD: Dear Son/Daughter

IMO: In my opinion

HTH: Hope that helps

OT: Off topic

And now........... Linky Party: When one blogger, often a very popular blogger, decides on a theme for the party and then invites all bloggers to post their blog link on that theme.  So last week I participated in "My Favorite Things" Linky Party.  In case you missed my post read it HERE: My Top 10 Trader Joe's Items.  I worked SO hard to get that post turned in before the deadline....but as it was, I was a few minutes late.  Luckily she was sweet enough to include mine anyways, even if it was dead last on the list! If you didn't go to the party, great news, Linky Parties never end...see the post with hundreds of bloggers' (including yours truly) favorite things at  320 Sycamore.  (You know, I've gotten over 248 hits from posting on that party. That's 5 times more than any other single post I've written....my chalkboard paint post is 2nd with 49 hits.)Just FYI (oh, there's another one!) 320 Sycamore gets thousands and thousands of readers PER DAY.  She has over 6246 readers that subscribe to her blog -
OK friends, if you haven't signed up to follow my blog, sign up

PU-ULL-LEEE-SSS.
I'm so appreciative of my 5 followers, but I'd love a few more!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Now, I didn't get my act together in time to pull off my holiday mantel in time for the linky party....

well that and I don't have a mantel (just a slight disadvantage there)....

but I sure had fun looking at so many mantels from the people that did participate. 

Layla at The Lettered Cottage hosted this one. 
As of when I last visited, there were 248 blogs linked up with mantel posts. 
That's a LOT of inspiration folks!  We've all got to come up with SOMETHING for our mantels after reading through them all.

Ok, so I am going to try to participate in the Holiday Craft Party on Dec. 7.  My kids and I are going to do a Christmas Tree Ornament craft tomorrow. Wish me luck that their ornaments will come out looking linky party-worthy!  
I'll be posting it on my blog as well as Kate's over at Centsationalgirl. 

In the meantime, Happy Happy Holiday Decorating!