Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Goodbye 2013

 
Today the last day of 2013 and I say good riddance. I'm ready for a New Year and hopefully a new beginnings. I am very hopeful that 2014 is going to bring us some about some good times and prosperity. I am DETERMINED this year to lose that stupid 30 lbs that will NOT let go of me and I AM going to get my finances under control and have some disposal income for a change. I am so ready for the W2 to come in the mail- I think I will print my last paycheck and do a mock return to see what I can pay off. I have got to get  busy and clear up some cash. Tonight me and Mr. Man are planning on taking in a movie and maybe a cheap bite to eat. What are your plans to ring in the new year?
 
 
 
 


Monday, December 30, 2013

Making Enjoyable Living

 
This weekend was not as hectic as the past ones. Saturday I got my gray covered <HUGE GRIN> and the weather was supposed to have been nice so I had planned to go the Greenway - well, I went but it was cooooooollllddd, ironically Sunday would have been the perfect day for said walk :). Saturday night I took down all the Christmas stuff. Sunday went to church and made two casseroles and pumpkin bread and bought some banana's for Room at the Inn. I really enjoyed doing this - I have come to realize that I enjoy hospitality. I enjoy having a house full of people for a short time and cooking simple meals. I think I would really enjoy having a Bed and Breakfast - I think for the year 2014 I will start a business plan and research and calculate costs to see how to achieve this. This might be my "retirement". Do you have something that you really enjoy and think you could make a living at?
 
 
 
 
 


Friday, December 27, 2013

Blessed Season

Wow, my life has been a whirlwind lately. I have been so busy that I haven't had time to do anything. My brother's wedding was over the weekend so he and his bride stayed at my house, then their son and daughter-in-law and granddaughter came to stay, then my youngest brother and his wife - busy, busy. Now that the holidays are over I am in lose the extra weight that I gained during the holiday - going to get serious since there was a joke made about me being the frumpy sister. I do not like that at all. I do love to eat - below is still some warm weather pictures and the last one was taken with my brother and half-sister on his wedding day. OH I almost forgot - how was your Christmas? Mine was absolutely wonderful - my grandmother made a fabulous meal Christmas Eve and we exchanged gifts - my grandmother got me these vintage cookbooks from the 60's and 70's <LOVE> and a vintage cake plate that spins around and some house shoes and Christmas dish towels and made me some homemade pimento cheese <LOVE>, my mother got me a cool Christmas tea set, and my son got me a red stand mixer. Christmas morning. I got up and Mr. Man totally surprised me with gifts under the tree. I told him Santa had come for me - he got me tripod for my camera - I'll be back in front of the bookshelf :) and he got me a new MP3 player with ear buds and an armband.  Mr. Man and I then cooked breakfast and my mother and step-father and grandmother and my son came over. I then took my son back home and we stopped at my daughter's and son-in-laws house and exchanged gifts with them. Jaxen really got a lot of neat things - such a sweet baby - my daughter got me a bracelet, Chicken Soup for Grandmother's and a tin of assorted teas. Then I get to work yesterday and my friend Kristine had been bad and got me some goodies (red towels, whisk, and the coolest looking vanilla bottle ever. I, well actually, my entire family was truly blessed this year.
 
 

This scarf matches this t-shirt perfectly - bonus


Taken at my brother's wedding with my sister Jennifer




 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Hope for the New Year

I don't know maybe I should wear this to my brother's wedding since Saturday is going to be a warm and rainy day. The closer Christmas get the closer to the year end and I cannot wait for 2013 to end. I am sooo hoping 2014 will be better and am planning one for new beginnings. What are your hopes for 2014?
 
 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

This Week's Smiles

 
Today is my son's 27th b-day below he is 5 months old and the one below that is his Kindergarten picture. I smile today because it has been over a year that he is drug free, working, and rebuilding his life. We went shopping over the weekend and he was so proud to buy for others this - he has just about depleted his savings - his sister is also trying to forgive and the family is slowly rebuilding which makes me the smile the most
 


Rebuilding relationships - my three greatest loves below













This is what I made over the weekend at my Project night - I so love attending these



My homemade lasagna with my sauce from the garden :)



Hope this week brings plenty for you to smile about

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Something Out of Nothing

 
I am still tired from the weekend but my lasagna with my homemade sauce was fabulous last night for dinner :) I have really come a long way in my cooking. The tools really do matter - plus I am sure being the comfort of my own kitchen helps. I just don't know women managed before the internet - now, I can google a term I don't understand and sometimes even see a video on the technique in question. I must say I gravitate to old fashioned recipes, I think it's neat to take simple ingredients and create something tasty. There are some recipes that I have found that I did not recognize some of the ingredients. My grandmother says she learns from trial and error and I must say she can make something out of nothing. She can go to her cupboard and make a fabulous meal where I could stand in front of the same cupboard and surmise there is nothing to eat. I wonder as time goes on if I will be as talented as my grandmother. I am not sure - I'm from a spoiled generation who would not have lasted in her time of no indoor plumbing, no telephone, limited television, limited transportation, and limited resources. I am from a time of excessiveness. I am going to strive to learn to live more simply and perhaps find a way to make something out of nothing.
 
 
 




Friday, December 13, 2013

Possible Wedding Outfit

Hope nothing bad happens to us this Friday the 13th....
 
Still posting older pictures and thought I should also start posting some new ones with it - like those in my Christmas outfits - the below was taken in October
 
 
 



and these in December - I am still struggling with the location of taking my pictures with the new furniture - I love this outfit that my grandmother just gave me so much (I received a lot of compliments)- I think I will wear this to my brother's wedding next weekend except with my carwash pants if it's not bitterly cold as it is currently. My mother gave me these cool heels - I really like them a lot as well.  What do you have planned this weekend?



 

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Memory Trigger

The below is one of my favorite scarves, I love the colors and it looks vintage. This outfit was worn the day I went to pick up my settlement check which resulted in my new car, that I absolutely love. Are there songs that take you back in time? This outfit takes me back in time..Mr. Man drove me to the attorney's office, he and I then went to the bank. I opened my very first savings account (only have $20 left it now, boo), then he and I went to Wendy's for lunch, and then he took me back to work. I was feeling so free that day - the money helped out a lot but I'm still living paycheck to paycheck but I am looking forward to income tax time. I think that will finally set me straight. I am hopeful and will continue to hold to my faith. Do you have clothes that take you back to certain days or trigger memories?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

This Week's Smiles





Mirror Mirror on the Wall.....

 
I was super pleased with the below ensemble. I felt sassy and I really like to feel sassy, so you can imagine I prissed around  all day at work :) I got the idea to put green and purple together from those green capris with the purple and yellow pinstripes. The colorful necklace and the brooch added just the right amount flair. I also love how those shoes match the skirt - exactly. The duster hid the fact the skirt is a little snug around my hips - still a little larger than desired. One thing I have learned since I started blogging is to accentuate what you have. The clothes you choose can give the illusion that the body is perfect. So I don't understand why a woman with nice legs but a pooch in her belly would wear an outfit that draws the eye to the pooch instead of trying the eye to her legs. Is it because the mirror gives a false imagine? I do believe the mirror will not always reveal what the world see but what your mind sees. For instance, a woman who has been overweight her entire life and then loses weight - still sees the overweight body that no one else can see. The mirror reveals the same old thin Stacey most of the time (clothed that is) :)
What does the mirror tell you?
 
 
 
 


Monday, December 9, 2013

Work For It?

 
Definitely not wearing attire like below lately. Winter is here upon us - with ice, rain, and the temps in the 30's. Not my favorite time of year except I love the Christmas tree and the lights. I have to be careful though with my depression of spending my weekends cooped up in the house. I get to the point where I don't want to leave the house when it's cold and yucky. I also tend to back off my working out and eating more - really need to keep this under control. I also tend to not like Mr. Man much either - he gets catty during the holidays and the older I get the less tolerable I am getting to the point that it actually disgusts me. Funny how time and age can change things  - in the beginning of our relationship I would question myself and try to modify my behavior to make him like him as it had to be something I was doing, right? Sixteen years later - I ignore him and try to stay away from him - I don't even bother to argue with him anymore - I just don't care. I get a little miffed and point out he is being catty but I really don't like that lengthy lecture that ensues after this statement so tend to just cuss him silently in my head. So you can gather the weekend I've had - spent mostly alone in my living room trying to get by on one line answers. Do you have relationship that requires some work? Do you get tired sometimes and just want to give up?
 
 


Friday, December 6, 2013

Little Red Shoes


I really need another pair of those red shoes. They are now a tad bit worn out with red peeling off which makes me sad because I really loved them. Soooo I will be on the hunt for a new pair - I am counting down the days until we can file our income tax. I am hoping that will be the final chapter to living paycheck to paycheck. Are you looking forward to next year? Are you thinking about your resolutions? Hope you have a great weekend. Stay warm!!