Hug A Tree Today!

It's no secret that I'm a nature lover, and I especially love trees!  Today I was viewing my Instagram feed and two people whom I follow, posted photos of beautiful budding tree branches they had freshly cut to put in vases in their homes!.  My jaw dropped, and then I was shocked at my own reaction of being ticked off, and I thought to myself, "Holy crap I'm a tree hugger!"  I feel this is good news by the way, I love that moment when I learn something new about myself.  

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Join me and hug a tree the next time you see one!

xoxoxo

High/Low - A Sunday Ritual

I can't believe it's already Sunday!  I feel like I just typed one of these high/low blogs a couple of days ago.  Time sure does fly when you're having fun!  Our week has been wonderful, and the high is this wonderful Spring weather we're having! 

I guess the obvious low of Spring time would be allergies!

I hope you've all had a great week!

xoxo

Life in Numbers

Six - The number of children I currently have.  Three human, three furry. 

Three Hundred Forty Two - "Friends" I have on Facebook, and I do actually know the majority of them.

Twenty Two - The number of boards I have on Pinterest.

One Thousand Twenty Two - Pins I have on my Baking and Cooking board on Pinterest, so 1,022 recipes I doubt I'll get through in my life time, but you better believe I'll keep on pinning! 

 Thirty Two - The number of tools I have for my fiber art hobbies.  12 crochet hooks, 18 knitting needles, and 2 tatting shuttles. 

One - Crochet project I have on the hook right now.  

Three - Crochet projects I have left to make before moving on to tatting and embroidery for the warmer season.

Forty Two - The number of acrylic paint bottles I have; mostly used for marbling paper!

Thirteen - Pairs of Saucony shoes I own, all fun and different colors.

Twenty Seven - The number of text message I've sent today. 

Six - The number of times I've sneezed today.

Five - The number of times I've told Joseph that I love him today.

 

Thirty Six - The number of years I've been alive!  

What are some of your numbers?

xoxoxo

High/Low - A Sunday Ritual

This week has been full of highs and I can't really think of lows.  If you missed THIS post, then you don't know that I was offered the 911 dispatcher job last week!  I'm quite excited about the new job!
Joseph has been working on a lot of really cool projects in the bindery, and I've been working on a fun project too.
This afternoon, we went for a fun drive all over McKinney and some of the surrounding areas, thinking about where we might buy a house next year; it's never too early to start planning, in my book!

We've had a great week!

How was your week?

xoxox

"Can't see the forest for the trees"

 
I've made a huge mistake of noting all of our sacrifices by moving to Texas, but I haven't been noting all the amazing blessings that have come from all those sacrifices.  This is a huge "no-no" in my book, and I usually try to stay on top this kind of perspective.  Sometimes being too close to a situation can be dangerous; especially if you never take a moment to step back and look at the situation as a whole.

Huge oak tree in my "yard".

I've been consumed with all that I miss and gave up to move to Texas, and do this crazy thing, like start a business.  I was focusing on this small space (our tiny apartment), no real financial security, no yard, no friends, no family, no homestead, and no mountains!

A couple days ago I took a step back and took a good look at our situation:  We've been able to pay our bills every month since moving here, our business is paid for (no debt, thanks to Joseph's retirement), we work with amazing clients who sell and collect the most amazing books out there, we've cultivated business to business connections, we live in a very very nice part of the city, close to a big city (Dallas), only 20 minutes away from beautiful country, and I get to be with my husband every single day!  Everything else will come in time, and we still have our family and friends; they just need to be more involved with social media to stay connected, or text, or Skype, or FaceTime, or write a letter (hint hint).

Life is really good and to top it off, I was offered the dispatcher job yesterday!  I start my new job in about a month!  Through all we've given up, we've in turn gained so much, and I couldn't be more grateful!  We are one blessed little family! 

Texas Sunset.

 

High/Low - A Sunday Ritual

We've had a great week; plenty of highs to last well into next week!  My friend Stacey Tyler stayed with us until Wednesday, and during her visit we enjoyed a good shopping day in McKinney, great food, and relaxing time crocheting and talking.  Our week finished with great restoration work and fantastic weather!

My low of the week would have to be that our car is in the shop.  We don't know what's wrong with her yet, and I'm not looking forward finding out what the bill will be.  I absolutely hate car trouble!  The dealership sent us home with a loaner car that is completely awesome though!

Here are some photos of our nice week and the fabulous weather we've been having!

My three animal children enjoying the warm sunshine!

Beautiful historic down town McKinney and the sweet corner cafe Stacey and I enjoyed a fabulous lunch at!

Saturday was rainy but beautiful!  This picture doesn't do the rainbows justice, but if you look closely there are two!

The sky was full of color between rain storms Saturday, and the sunset was spectacular!

Joe and I enjoyed a great pizza date on "Pie Day"! 

I hope you all have a great week!

xoxoxo

I'm an Adult! What?

While my friend Stacey was visiting us last week we were all sitting around talking, and we brought up Jimmy Fallon being the new host of The Tonight Show.  Growing up my dad watched Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, and I'm curious to know what he thinks about Jimmy Fallon, because Jimmy is a completely new face to my Dad I think.

While we were talking we were wondering if Jimmy will appeal to fans our parents age.  Then I realized, I'm the same age now that my dad was when he watched Johnny Carson; I said to my husband and friend, wait guys, we're the target demographic for The Tonight Show now!      

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Moments like this remind me that I'm an adult.  I sometimes still think of myself as a young twenty something, but I'm all grown up now!  :)

Joe and I are huge fans of Jimmy Fallon; we watched him on Saturday Night Live, and on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and now we watch him on The Tonight Show!

Here are some of my favorite moments of Jimmy!

Jimmy playing/singing as Neil Young, also singing with Bruce Springsteen "Whip My Hair".  The original song is by Willow Smith (Will Smiths daughter).  See clip HERE!  When Bruce joins Jimmy singing, it's hilarious!  HERE is Willow Smith's original version so you can see the difference....

Jimmy and The Roots with Carly Rae Jepsen. See clip HERE!

Jimmy's Lip Sync battle with Joseph Gordon Levitt.  See clip HERE!

Jimmy and Brad Pitt Yodel.  See clip HERE!

Jimmy Fallon musical impressions.  See clip HERE!

Jimmy Fallon and Carrie Underwood singing country-rap.  See clip HERE!

Jimmy doing impressions of other comedians, the best is his Jerry Seinfeld impression.  See clip HERE!

Do you want me to keep going, 'cause I can!  But I won't!  I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

xoxox

High/Low - A Sunday Ritual

We've had a great week!  My high of the week is having my friend Stacey Tyler fly in from Utah Saturday night; she's staying with us for a few days, and it's been so nice having a friend here!  Today we left our church service early and drove into Oklahoma to meet Stacey's brother for a lunch and visit.  Her brother lives in Arkansas, so we picked a random town between their home and ours and enjoyed a great visit with his cute little family. 

The sunset on our way home was spectacular!

Oklahoma Sunset

I don't really have a low for this week!  Life is running smoothly and happily along!

I hope your week was a good one!

xoxoxo

Texans Y'all

Last week Joseph and I became official Texans!  We changed our drivers licenses!  It took three mornings of hitting the "DMV" at the crack of dawn (Texas doesn't have a DMV like Utah, it's the Division of Public Safety here.)  Monday morning we went to the public safety office right as it opened and the line was already out the door and down the side walk!  A woman came outside and told us the wait would be about three hours.  We had company coming so we left.  The next day, Tuesday we decided to drive to McKinney's public safety office, before it opened and be the first to go in.  There was a line already but not as large as Plano's so we stayed.  Only after two hours of waiting I found out I didn't have all the paper work needed to get a Texas drivers license!  Turns out looking up what I needed on their website was pointless, since their website didn't list that I would need my marriage license and my birth certificate.  We decided to come back the next morning even earlier, to get a jump on the line.  Wednesday we arrived 30 minutes before the office opened and there were only a few people in line!  We got in and got out fast, and I have to say all of the workers were very nice and helpful.  My experience last year in Utah, was not as pleasant. 

Update on my 911 dispatcher application:  I had an interview last week with a panel of three people.  I personally like interviewing with a panel, it's easier to engage a group of people than it is just one person.  However, one woman on the panel hated me!  She was not nice at all!  This woman would literally cut me off when I was giving an answer to their question; she would cut me off and ask a whole other question.  I thought to myself, she has horrible manners, or she's being a jerk on purpose to see how I would react.  I kept my cool, but inside I was really frustrated.  After I left the interview I knew I was going to get a letter thanking me for my interest in the position but. . .   A few hours a later Sargent Chris Havey called me and said I passed the interview!  I asked him if he was sure, and he was.  Now they start on my background check and such!  I myself don't have a tattered background, but my ex-husband sure does, and I had to list him and his info; I'm crossing my fingers that seven years of no contact and being divorced makes up for his tattered past and my stupid to decision to marry him in the first place.  Time will tell!

Since I'm an official Texan now here's a fun fact about Texas:  "Don't Mess with Texas" is a no litter campaign!  It's not how most people portray it, "Don't Mess with Texas 'cause we're tough and stuff", no that isn't what it's about at all.  Just thought someone might be interested in knowing this.

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I hope everyone is having a great week!

xoxoxo