I am playing around with a new blog look. I do like a clean & simple look, and I found this layout that is easily customizable. Someday, I am going to learn to create my own style sheets and layouts. But until then, please excuse my dust as I change and customize certain features. I do plan to leave the blog online, but I can’t say for sure how long it will take.
I was presented with The “Uplifting Blogger” Award yesterday by Anne at Our Homeschool. Thank you Anne! What a sweet honor coming from you, who I find to be inspiring on your walk with God, as a mother, and a homeschooler.
I had a hard time choosing someone to pass this on to, but I went through my google reader several times and it finally became clear that there is one blogger who I definitely look up to as a mentor and inspiration.
Mrs. Darling over at Dishpan Dribble, I present The “Uplifting Blogger” Award to you. I have learned so much reading your blog, and have been inspired to be a better homemaker, wife, and homeschool mother.
Here is your award:
Blogging is just so fabulous, isn’t it??
I have a few things that I want to get accomplished over “spring break.” I decided this morning it will have to be two weeks because there is only one of me, and many, many things that need done.
1. Clean all the windows, inside and out
2. Clean my MIL’s stuff in the kitchen cupboards, organize it, and make more room for things like my crock pot
3. Remove all the old harvest gold blinds, and either buy new blinds, or some curtains
4. Get my room back into tip-top shape (it needs serious help!)
5. Clean out, organize and paint the laundry room
6. Get the wallpaper border off the girls’ walls
7. Get the wall paper backing off the hallway/stairs and prime the walls there and in the entry
8. Paint the girls room
9. Make a plan for painting the entry/hallway/stairs (MIL needs to choose a color already!)
10. Clean the bathroom ceiling, repair the hole, possibly replace the fan
11. Clean or replace all the filters/vents
12. Get all the leaves bagged and off with the trash man
13. Weed the flower beds
14. Clean the siding, repair & clean the gutters
15. Trim shrubbery and remove some old stumps
The kids will be helping as much as they can, and a few of the jobs are for Lonnie as well. Plus, my friend Charlene has offered to come over and help out with painting or whatever else I need help with. I am not sure if I can get it all done, but I know I can’t do it while sitting here blogging – so let me snap on my yellow rubber gloves, and off I go!
I think I can say with some certainty, that the flu has made it’s way out of this house! I ended up being really, really sick last weekend as well, and I am so over it! Monday was the first day everyone in the house was without a fever in two weeks!
My husband and I celebrated our 9th anniversary on Tuesday the 19th. We went out to an amazing little restaurant called Coastal Flats in Tyson’s Corner and it was so delish! I could rave about the food all day and night, but the best part was the uninterrupted hours with my husband, enjoying a meal and celebrating our love. :-)
Other than that, we have been busy trying to catch up with life again. Being sick for that long set us back on housekeeping, homeschooling and everything else you can think of. I am STILL trying to tame the laundry monster.
We did squeeze in a little playtime too. The kids painted up a “puppet theater” yesterday and have spent all morning in it today. Now, if I can just get them to stop fighting about what stuffed animal is a princess, and what one is the queen!
My MIL got a new range and freezer as a gift from my SIL who works for GE. They were both needed, and I love them so much.
I realize they are not mine, but I am the only person who cooks in this house, so really, it’s like a gift for me! However, the old range (harvest gold, from the 60’s!) was hardwired into the house. So, the new one is here and sitting in it’s spot, but until we get an electrician here, we can’t use it. Fun! No oven, and no stove to cook on. I got a yummy recipe from a friend for the crock pot to save us last night, and I got online and found a recipe for dinner today. But, if that range doesn’t have power soon, we are going to be out of luck. Lonnie doesn’t get paid until Wednesday, and I don’t have ingredients for any more crock pot meals. Yikes! I am sure it will work out somehow. At least tonight we can enjoy yummy meatloaf with baked potatoes and green beans steamed in the microwave!
Normally, I would have a better stocked pantry, but when Lonnie lost his job in December, things got really, really tight. This week will be his first real paycheck in almost 2.5 months! We made it through, and I am proud of what we managed.
I have read three posts just this week about privacy and blogging and I am taking them as a sign. I have removed my flickr account from my blog sidebar, made almost all of my flickr photos private, and I will no longer be using the kids’s names in blog posts.
It’s quite a tedious chore changing it all over to a safer format, but worth it. I have been blogging for years now, and I never worried much about it before, but these other concerned bloggers, along with the fact that one of my most viewed blog postings was of my girls in swimsuits, has me making the switch.
I would appreciate if anyone who comments would refrain from using my kids’ names as well. What a sad world we live in.
Way back on September 3rd, I was given the “Nice Matters” award by Hadias at ‘A Day in the Life of…’. It has taken me forever to get this up and nominate some folks myself! So, here goes.
Winners of the “Nice Matters Award” are:
Ei over at Ei’s Eyes
Beth C. at Mostly an Optimist
Beth J. at Mom, Wife, Student and a Job (but I think her blog might be private….Hmm)
Anne at Our Homeschool
AND
Sparkles McPretty at Make Cupcakes, Not War
Woo hoo! Enjoy ladies and spread the love!
I came across this blog today, and in just a few minutes, it has changed my life. This is the blog of your average, everyday mom. She writes with joy and enthusiasm about her two girls; Hannah and Lily. On July 19th, there was a terrible accident at the beach and Hannah drowned. But this woman’s courage, strength and beauty through this tragedy has touched my heart in a way you cannot believe. If you choose to read her blog, have a box of tissues handy. And then go hug your children. Every moment with them is a gift.
Or so I hope!
I finally broke down and bought a Swiffer Sweep ‘n’ Vac. I got my $5 off coupon in the mail some time ago, and it was about to expire. So I sent the hubby off to Target to pick this baby up.
I haven’t had a chance to use it yet since it needs to charge for 24 hours before first use. I guess I will be christening the kitchen floor tomorrow. I sweep the kitchen a minimum of twice a day. I am hoping this will make it easier. Do you have one? Do you like it? Has it made your life easier? I would love to hear your opinions on the Swiffer. :-)
Someone found my blog today by doing a Google search of “I am easily terrified.”
Hmm….what does that say about me and my blogging? ;-)
