Ten On Tuesday

1) OK..on Friday there was much excitement... First! My new Kindle arrived.  Look how pretty in its lovely pink case.  Call me obsessive... but it was very important that my new Kindle quickly have the content and categories that I had set up on my old Kindle.  I thought this would be quick and easy.  I was wrong.  I had to load a book at a time from the archives.  I read Kindle Help.  I read Kindle forums and the consensus seemed to be one. book. at. a. time.  What fun.  It was less painful than I thought though.  I kept it in my purse on date night and loaded 8-10 books at a time every time I had a chance.  By the time we got home?  Books loaded!  Categories loaded! Kindle set up matching old Kindle set up complete!  Happy Deanna.  And of course we all want that....

2) I am guessing you've noticed this post is not called Project Life Tuesday.  There are a few reasons for this.  Um one... HOW did it get to be Tuesday?  These holiday short weeks are awesome for short weeks... but not so much on figuring out what the heck day it is!  Other reasons?  Well there would be the fact that there was no time to complete another week.  OK.. there might have been time but when time presents itself... energy doesn't.  Have had several very fatigued days again.... but that's another story.

3) Had my DR check up.  Told him I was still quiet tired at times.  He says... don't want to discourage you but I have had mono patients that struggle with the fatigue for up to a year.  Gee... what would be discouraging about that?  Then we had to have a blood draw to check things out again.  Lab girl listened to me this time about where the vein was... however failed to find it.  This would be the reason I am now sporting a huge ugly bruise on my inner arm.  She used a "surface vein" which provided the needed blood but the vein blew at the end and also provided the lovely bruise.  The results of the test?  My vitamin D level is still quite low.  I've been taking a high dose Vit. D. med from the DR for 4 mos now.  My level should be between 30-100.  It's 13.  How is this possible?  So... vitamin D has been increased and hopefully this will lead to happy, healthy, non-tired Deanna very soon.  I am thinking by 2nd honeymoon time would be really a great idea. 

4) I was off on Friday for the Holiday weekend so we got an early start towards the Big City because lots of wedding details awaited us there.  First order of business?  Picking up the grooms ring.  He picked it out and it totally suits him.  It is a nice heavy ring, comfort fit (which we discovered we love) and its tungsten.  Very cool the different metals they use for wedding bands these days.  Loving the ring and can't wait to see it permanently on that finger!  My ring arrived on Saturday... and I am not giving peeks till after its on my finger for good.  Gotta keep you in a little suspense don't I? 

5) In other exciting wedding news... there would be the email I received saying my dress shipped!  It shipped it shipped!  SO happy about that.  I was having near panic attacks that they were going to call me and cancel at the last minute and then I was going to be stranded dressless... and no one wants that.. .well OK.. Darrel might... bwa ha ha ha... What were we talking about?  Oh yes.. the dress.  It is in Indianapolis as we speak.. type... speak?  and is supposed to be in my possession by the end of the day tomorrow!  yay!!!! 

6) Also on date night we got paper plates and cups and wedding favor supplies and nuts and sugar and coffee creamer and napkins and and and.... you get the idea.  I was quite exhausted after all that. So much so that my husband left me at one end of the mall while he went and got the car to pick me up.  My reward for surviving the wedding supply shopping?  A very nice baskin and robbins hot fudge sundae.... Isn't it pretty? 

7) Punch.  I think I have solved the punch dilemma.  It suddenly occurred to me that I used to make punch all the time when we lived in IL.  I used to love to have Tupperware parties, wicker parties, pampered chef parties, etc. and usually with whatever dessert goodies I'd planned, I'd also make the famous punch.  Problem.  I had no clue what the recipe was or where to locate said recipe.  Was it in a cookbook?  On a card?  Printed from the Internet.  Well determined that the recipe was pre Internet.... yes.  I am that old.  Don't judge.  Then this evening it suddenly occurs to me I think its on a card?? Might be in this basket where I used to keep often used recipes.  Guess what?  It was there!  It has 4 ingredients.  The fruit ingredients can be blended ahead and refrigerated/frozen and then just poured in with Ginger ale... and voila!  Punch.  Wouldn't you know... it also just happens to be a pink punch?  I am thinking its meant to be. 

8) This would be yet another fine pen creation from my husband.  He made it for our niece for a grad. gift.  She had a party on Saturday. She had mentioned on Mothers Day I think that he could make her a pen.  The cool thing about this pen?  My brother and his family used to live on the land where we live.  There is a willow tree that was in the front yard of their home.  The girls used to play under that tree and have picnic lunches there.  It had a broken branch recently which my husband cut off and kept... for the wood... so yes what you have here is a pen made out of the willow tree.  Now how cool is that?  I am thinking he definitely scored some Uncle points with this gift. 

9) The beach opened on Saturday!  I did not get to go on Saturday.  I still can't figure out how that happened.  We corrected that on Sunday though and headed to the beach on Sunday afternoon.  It was awesome.  We tried out our new beach chairs.  We put our feet in the water.  We got some sun.  I read on my new Kindle and my old Kindle?  Darrel used it.  After seeing The Hunger Games he wants to read book 2.  Since my copy is an ebook - now he has a way to read it!  Now how cute do you think my husband was sitting in his beach chair by his wife reading on her former pretty pink Kindle.  It was quite adorable and he loved the Kindle.  I think I have won him over to the Kindle side. 

10) We finally got the picture printed that we wanted to put up in the bathroom.  We also finally bought a frame.  It came with the mat which had that cool black edge on the opening.  Love that.  The picture is one that either Darrel or I took on a date night out by Iron Bridge.  It looks fabulous in black and white.  We printed it on our large format printer, Darrel framed it and hung it and we are both totally in love with how it turned out.  Very cool.

For a Ten on Tuesday bonus... I have to share that I got an email this morning from 2 Peas saying that my Project Life week 11 was the April challenge winner for the 2012 Captured class.  I win $10 in 2 peas product!  yay!  I am not sure of the criteria for winning.  I was thinking maybe a random drawing from project submitted?  Whatever the reason.. pretty tickled to win anyways! Cool right?

With that I bid you goodnight.  It's VBS week.  It was fun today.  Went well.  It was exhausting.  Tomorrow will run 1/2 hour longer.  I am also worship leading this week.  What was I thinking?  Lets not even discuss the rest of the to do list.  I will probably need to collapse at the beach all day Saturday just to recover.  It's probably just what the Dr would want me to do don't ya think?  ;) 

Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Yes... finding myself very thankful today for freshly applied highlights in the do.  Does applied describe it?  I guess in a sense they are painted on?  Lets hope they last a whole lot longer than paint in the hair would though.  Is it just me or do fresh highlights suddenly make you feel all like sun kissed?  Like I've been at the beach... which is a good thing cause I am headed to the beach soon so I guess I'll fit right in!

Got my highlights yesterday and immediately afterwards we headed to meet with the cake lady.  I am in love with the cake lady and very thankful for her this week!  She was so fun and easy to talk to.  She was organized and detailed.  Her prices are amazing and she is going to make us the most beautiful 2 tier cake, cupcakes, and cookies.  I cannot wait to see it all set up.  And yes.. .she even does that.  Love the cake lady!  Very thankful for my friend Lisa who sent her my way! 

Who wouldn't be thankful for a Kindle right?  Well ok... I know some diehard book lovers are not Kindle fans because of thinking they would miss the feel of a real book in their hands.  I so thought I would be one of those people.  Because I love books.  I've loved them since the 1st grade when I could not wait to hopefully be put in the special readers group for the advanced readers... and I was.  :)  Thought I had to have a real book in my hands until... my pretty pink Kindle arrived and I was sucked into the alternate Kindle reading universe and have made myself quite at home there! My current Kindle is an older 2nd generation Kindle Keyboard.  It's a little heavier, a little larger than the new improved versions such as the Kindle Touch 3G.  I have been tempted for awhile to take the plunge and upgrade my Kindle but have continually talked myself out of the neccessity of such a purchase.  I tell myself.. Deanna there is nothing wrong with your current Kindle... you do not need the new Kindle.  Until lately.  My 2-1/2 year old Kindle is now having battery issues.  More than any other time of year, my Kindle gets a work out in the summer.  Love to read at the beach.  I do not want to be stressing with my battery on our upcoming vacation either.  So... you guessed it.  New Kindle is winging its way to me as we speak.  I also got it a pretty pink outfit.. you know, so it will feel right at home here with me.

I know there are lots of nook color, Kindle Fire and ipad readers out there too.  So far I have not been won over to the color side.  I like the Kindle E-ink display which is more like looking at an actual book page.  It is much easier on my eyes than staring at a computer screen constantly... which lets face it.. I do enough of anyway... AND it can be read, without glare in direct sunlight and that sounds like the way to go for a beach reader like me.  Yes.. I do take my kindle to the beach!  I even bought it a splash guard kind of case last year just to help avoid any reading/water catastrophes!  Mine isn't pink.... I'm not going to buy that one just because its pink... honest. 

Lots of other things hit the thankful radar this week such as:

• my Dr.  I just love him.  He is always supportive and encouraging and listens to me.  I always leave all fired up to continue on my weight loss journey.  He is the best.
• date night at home last Friday.  We had pizza.  We had ice cream... remember the Heath Bar Klondike bars?  YUM.  We watched movies like The Vow, The Grey, and The Thing.  We decided date night was brought to us by the letter T and the word The...
• reaching 250 miles walked according to the nike+
• having a more than 3.5 mile walk this week.  Longest one day walk since getting sick!
• finishing another week of project life
• the lab girl only sticking me twice before getting the needed blood today... even though I now have a nasty bruise because the vein blew and it was a "surface" vein to start with?  Very attractive. 
• my husband who helped me tonight so we could create a wedding favor prototype... it required much measuring which is not my best thing.  I am more of an eye baller kind of girl and do not like to have to get into 1/8" or 1/16" or any of those other tiny little marks on the ruler... I tend to guesstimate and then adjust... which doesn't work so good when you need a pattern for a certain size. 
• my husband sending me an email to tell me how fun it was to hear the special ringtone he assigned to me on his cell phone.  It plays Brown Eyed Girl... for a guy who just happens to call his wife Brown Eyes.  Awwwww
• Getting an anniversary card in the mail today from a cousin.  Loved that.
• my DR telling me that it is quite normal that I am still experiencing Mono fatigue.  It is much better than it was but its not gone.  Still get tired rather easily.  He tells me that he has had some mono patients that struggle with the fatigue for up to a year.... I guess at least I have 5 months under my belt.
• summer shoes!
• new shorts!
• church friends agreeing to play for our wedding.  We get to have a band! yay!
• my sunday school Bible Study.  Good stuff!
• A 4 day weekend.  Worked today.  Off tomorrow = 4 days! yay.  It doesn't feel like our normal holiday weekends because we have so much do do and places to be... but I still hope to sneak in a little beach down time at least... they open Saturday you know.. I can't miss that right?
• my wedding ring shipped!
• air conditioning on these upcoming high 90 degree days!
• VBS coming up next week.  Pray I survive.  VBS is all consuming and exhausting on a good week... it is soooo worth it though.  Love VBS.

Tune in again on Sunday.  Planning to post then for 7 on Sunday... and of course you wouldn't want to miss out on all the first day at the beach details right?  Blessings!

Project Life Tuesday - Week 11

Yes.. posting for Project Life Tuesday with more completed work.  Amazing isn't it?  I got week eleven done last night.  I have no idea how that happened but glad it did.  Now if I can somehow manage to do 13-20 we will be in business right?  Especially since I've noticed the last 2 weeks I've been a little lax in the picture taking and note taking.  Need to correct that immediately.  Anyways.. here we have week 11 with yet another pink shoe shot.  Yes.  This is a different pair of pink shoes.  No.  I am not going to share with you the actual number of pink shoes that I own.  I mean a girl has flip flop needs... sandal needs... both wedge and flat of course... then you have your heels... platforms... danksos... ugg boots... and ok slippers.  There may or may not be more than one pair in each given category... I'll take the 5th on that one.  :) 

Used a pink paislee/heidi swapp (I think...) soiree card for my date slot there.  Didn't that just work out perfectly?  Not to mention quick and easy.  The little banner is a piece of  a sticker.  On this spread I also included a box from meds I was on... yes again.  I used a jello box to depict our satisfied craving for chocolate pie! I also kept a list that I had written for Darrel to aid in the all important lunch picking up.  I went a bit simpler this week I think in the interest of getting the stuff in the book and you know what?  I am happy with that! 

Used 2, 4x6 photos to show the reorganization of my scrap space.  This shows both sides of the room.  It lines up more nicely in the book when one is paying attention and notices that things slid a bit before taking pictures.  Um paying attention was not my best thing today. 

Here are some shots of the full spread and some close ups!

And there you have it.  Week 11.  Yay me.  I have my pics printed and in the pockets for 13 so I am 1/2 way there right?  Need to do lots of planning and printing for the other weeks.  Maybe the upcoming long weekend will hold some time for that?  Although I am also hoping it holds some time at the beach!  Beach opens Saturday! yay!!!!! And no.. it doesn't matter in the least our 2nd Honeymoon is also at the beach.  A girl can never have too much beach time in my opinion.

I must leave you now... wedding chores await!  25 days away!  How is that possible?  I hope to work on our programs and maybe get Darrel to help me with favors.   Tomorrow we meet with the cake lady and I get my hair highlighted.  I also have work and possibly a visitiation for a friend's brother that passed away last weekend. Not at all a busy day right?  I would be a really good multi tasker if I could manage to squeeze in at least a small work out too... don't you think? 

I am linking up with the project life girls over at The Mom Creative this week!  Be sure to stop over there and check out all the great work!

Hope you are having a good week.  Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

This would be a picture of something I am very thankful for this week.  Flowers. From my sweet friend and "honorary daughter" Ashly.  Not just flowers, but Mother's Day flowers.  Are you remembering I am not a fan of Mother's Day?  You know... the whole infertility thing makes it not the best day for us non Mom's.  Well last year and now this year I got to be included.  Ashly brought me flowers both years and this year I also got a pretty silver bracelet with a heart on it.  I love that because she touches my heart by letting me be a Mom on that day that its so hard not to be one.  I just love that.  I love her, so yes, very thankful this week for Ashly, and for Mother's Day flowers.

I am also completely thankful for these two.  This would be Miss Sophie and Miss Sydney.  I was sitting out in the yard this afternoon and happened to look over to see the two of them, asleep in the window, with Sophie with her paw on Sydney.  Every time I would move around, they would have to see what I was doing and then back asleep, in the window, Sophie's paw on Sydney.  Is that not the sweetest thing like EVER?  I love it. I love my two now year old kitties and I am very thankful we went and picked them up that day last summer.  Very good decision. 

I am thankful for an afternoon in the sun today!  First I took a 3.6 mile walk - most I've done since the mono side tracked me - and then when I got home, it was just too pretty outside to stay in.  So what does a girl do?  She grabs her sunscreen and her Sunday School lesson and her pretty new beach chair and she sit sin the sun and studies her lesson.  Good plan right? See both activities go right along with that whole less than 30 days to get browner and thinner plan.  I am quite the multi tasker....

I am thankful that I managed to make dinner today.  I have not done much cooking at all over the past 4-1/2 months.  That whole mono thing don't ya know.  Well that and a protective, you need to rest husband.  He takes very good care of me.  So today?  I was determined I was going to cook a chicken.  First.. I had to buy a chicken.  I discovered that its not the best plan to shop for a giant chicken and a giant can of chicken stock immediately following one's 3.6 mile walk.  The arms and legs were tired... and not so happy about lugging a 7.5 lb chicken and a giant can of chicken stock around the store.  Yes.  I know they have carts.  No.  I did not get one.  I was just buying a chicken... I managed to get the chicken home and get him in the pressure cooker... him?  her? I am thinking her is the correct term.  Mrs. chicken was placed in the pot.  Giant can of stock poured over the chicken and she cooked.  So far so good right?  Until it was time to let the chicken cool for breaking up purposes.. because the plan was for chicken and noodles.  Then the fun began.  The lack of navigating the kitchen lately became apparent when I spilled chicken broth all over the stove and down the front of the stove. Cleaned that up. Now I try to pour off my broth and this time? It overflows all over the counter, the floor, and INTO the silverware drawer. I didn't just have a puddle.  I had broth still flowing out of the dish... OK... I can handle this. Clean that up. Have to take out alllll the spoons and now? I drop a glass spoon which of course shatters all over the floor. OK. Stay calm... clean up the glass. Finally ready to finish and get the rest of the bones, broth, etc. out of the pan and .... you saw it coming didn't you? Poured broth all over the counter AGAIN. Perhaps mono brain has destroyed my cooking abilities and I should now just go sit quietly in my chair.... Forever.  Somehow we did manage to end up with not only edible, but quite yummy chicken and noodles for dinner and yes... for this... quite thankful!

I am thankful that the Klondike people make a Heath Klondike Bar cause while dragging my tired legs and my 7.5 lb chicken to the cash register... I suddenly decided I needed some weight watchers toffee ice cream bars.  Um English Toffee Crunch bars... I stand corrected.  The grocery store however  had no weight watcher ice cream and I felt secure in the fact that if I were forced to go ice creamless... well my day would just not be complete. This was when I spotted the Heath Klondike Bar... and yes... on a hot day it was quite yummy after my walk... and before you judge.. lets just remember I tried to be a good girl and buy the ww bars... apparently there is a grocery store conspiracy working against me. 

I am thankful for the Bible Study we are doing in our Sunday School class right now, Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl.  Really good stuff filled with truth and loved my reading today for class... here was one of my favorite passages: "The woman who is more than a good Bible study girl is so secure in her relationship with Jesus that the graceful way she interacts with others makes following Him look appealing.  People can trust her Jesus because she has proven herself to be trustworthy.  Her witness for Christ is powerful and effective because her words are saturated with His authentic love." Good stuff!!

Other random things to be thankful for this week are:

• planning our wedding ceremony with Pastor Mark.  That was SO cool and just made all this wedding stuff feel soooo real! 
• Drive In date night and pizza!
• especially good Saturday pancakes this week
• pure sleep!
• Watching DVRd shows together
• Mothers Day with my Mom
• Mothers day gifts from Ashly
• walking and other working out more like my normal schedule
• Watching Survivor finale together
• a surprise visit from my parents today.  love that!
• 2 friends telling me they needed to get a new dress for our wedding.  I love that they are that into it and loving and supporting us!
• getting my gift shopping/deciding done for Darrel's birthday and Father's day which are 2 days after our wedding!
• being told I am a "publishing genius" by my boss.  Thinking my ms publisher experience will come in handy when its time to do the wedding programs... oh wait.. I think it is time to do the wedding programs
• can I be thankful for the Klondike Heath bars again?  They were good... and I have enough ww points for one today. :)
• finally getting a whole load of goodwill stuff actually to goodwill and not sitting in my spare room anymore. 
• coming up with a wedding favor design with my husband
• Darrel's wedding ring coming in!
• finishing my IRCA reading & really enjoying the reads!
• Gods patience with me and love for me.  This year has been such a struggle with this mono stuff and he keeps putting the verse from Matt 11:28-30 in front of me... come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest..... God is so cool. 

It's been a pretty good week and that in itself makes me thankful! 

Tune in next time as we count down to the wedding... what is it now?  29 28 days?  wow!  Blessings!

Ten on Not Project Life Tuesday

1) Since its project life Tuesday and I have nothing to share... project life wise anyways... how about a bit of Tuesday randomness for old times sake?  Good plan?  Yes please. 

2) Date Night.  It was a beautiful weather kind of Friday that was just begging us to honor the Drive In with our presence.  Since we are not ones to disappoint... we of course headed straight for the Big City right after work.  Stopped in town for a little pizza.  Stopped and bought a cookie or two for our Drive In snacking pleasure and then we were Drive In bound.  We decided to see The Avengers & John Carter.  The Avengers wasn't bad although I have no clue who the guy with the arrows was supposed to be and Black Widow woman didn't seem to have super hero powers.  Was I missing something?  I was also quite unfamiliar with Thor.  Apparently a Super Hero authority I am not.  John Carter?  Weird.  Kind of a cross between Avatar, Star Wars and Somewhere in Time.  All movies I liked... John Carter.. not so much. 

3) Mothers Day with Mom and yes this year I actually managed to take a picture of my Mom.  Good job right?  Project Life on the brain will do wonders for your picture taking skills.  I may be behind but I am still picture taking and note making!  Got my Mom an assortment of Bath & Body wonderfulness... or as I once read it described in a book.. the sensory overload store.  Of course that was a man's description.  They just don't seem to understand the relaxation and girliness that comes with surrounding ones self with good smelling stuff!

4) Darrel's Mom lives about 4 hours away so he tried... underline the word tried... to skype with his parents.  I love this picture!  His Mom and Dad looked so cute on the little phone screen.  However my parents live in the middle of a hilly full of trees forest.. so not the best area for skyping.  They eventually gave up and just talked on the phone.  Darrel made a very pretty red wood pen for his mom and found her some little flowery note pads to go with it.  See how good he is?  He even figures out Mom's day gifts all on his own. 

5) Been pondering wedding favors since yesterday.  What we want to do, what can we afford.  What is fast and easy.  Realized if I had been on the ball I would have bought up bunches of pink M&Ms in October or at Easter.  Did I do that?  Um no.  Decided to look on the M&M web site and they must think their product is either quiet valuable or quite sought after... I mean $57.99 for 5 lbs of pink M&Ms would suggest so don't you think?  I am thinking you will not be finding pink m&ms at our wedding....

6) Remember the bathroom remodeling?  How could you forget right?  It was unending.  Well one thing we haven't finished quite yet is adding a linen cabinet.  We had planned for Darrel to build one.  We didn't plan for the time it would take for him to build one.  Our 2nd bathroom also needs a linen/storage cabinet so we came up with the idea to buy a cabinet and use it in bathroom number one, and then when Darrel has time to build a nicer one, move it to bathroom #2 and put his nicer cabinet in bathroom #1.  Problem?  We have a small space to fit.  Found one that would fit, and it has bead board doors so it matches the style of the room.  It was at Lowes. Nearly $400 did not make me so happy.  Enter my smart husband.  He made a few phone calls this morning to some of the Amish cabinet makers in the area.  They made our kitchen cabinets and they are beautiful!  They do a great job, they are custom, and they are cheaper than the home stores!  Amazing right?  So he calls 3 places and one of them is $150 less than Lowes, its built with actual real wood... and it can be ready next week!  SOLD!  I cannot wait to get it in place and be DONE! 

7) The wedding?  1 month from today.  I cannot believe it is that close.  I am so excited to have the ceremony and go on our 2nd honeymoon.... of course that feeling is alternating with near mini panic attacks if I think to hard about my to do list.  I have determined the thing to do is NOT think too hard about the to do list.  Ignorance is bliss right? 

8) I have decided I need to stop getting Sephora's free samples from my perks card when the samples are of mascara.  Why? Because I tend to end up really liking said mascara only to discover it is of course expensive mascara... my current love is this Tarina Tarantino stuff... It's nice and dark.  It's thick.  It goes on smooth.. no clumps.  Love it.  Its ok for brides to buy $19 mascara for like their wedding day right?

9) I need a good, simple, PINK punch recipe.  I looked some online last night, not much luck.  Don't want something with 19 ingredients.  Don't want to just pour Hawaiian punch and ginger ale together either... Somewhere in between.  Something that can be mixed easily, quickly, tastes yummy, and oh yeah.. pink. Any ideas?

10) Yesterday I did the Shred... and yes.. I feel shredded and not in a good way. Today I walked 3 miles. I've been shredding or walking or both most days. I did miss Friday and Sunday this week.  I am thinking that is a good thing though cause this evening?  I am TIRED and achy and think a bus might have hit me when I wasn't looking.  I blame Jillian Michaels. She keeps telling me I can't rest... therefore I am convinced she is trying to kill me.  Would I at least look skinny then?  Bwa ha ha ha....

Well... I am going to drag my tired aching legs and arms to bed.  Tune in for not project life Wednesday.. or Thursday... depending on how the week goes.  I promise to at least show up with something to share! Blessings.

Thankful Thursday

Yes... I was sad and upset and sure that no wedding shoes in the style I wanted were going to fit.  The first pair came and confirmed and heightened my fears... Could not even get my foot all the way in the toe area of the shoe.  Not a cute look.  I was worried if I got a size larger, then the back would be too big and didn't know what on earth that would mean for the ankle strap part.  But... since zappos has their wonderful free shipping both ways policy, I decided to give it one more try.  I even ordered 2 pair this time, one in a different style in case I was going to have to give up my ankle strap dreams.  So Wednesday these and these arrive.  I tried the ankle strap ones first.... and guess what!  They fit.  They are a little roomy in the back, but the ankle strap fits nicely and holds it in place and yes... the toes fit allll the way in the shoe.  They have a great platform which makes them easy to walk in and they definitely have the 40's kind of feel I was wanting.  LOVE them and soooooo happy to find the perfect shoe to match that perfect image I had in my head.   Did you check out that 2nd pair though?  Oh my..... black satin, platform, high heel with sparkles?!  Gorgeous... and if I could afford both pair.. I would have snatched those up too.  That pair even comes in raspberry... gold... gray... very cute. Might need to repurchase those in the future.. platform sparkly shoes.. what's not to love.

Fresh strawberries, sliced, sweetened a smidgen, on top of Schwan vanilla ice cream.  YUM.  Fresh strawberries are in season in our area but they seem to be pretty scarce.  I think the weather has not been a friend to the strawberry crop this year.  We decided to stop at the berry place after church this past Sunday and grab a flat.  She said they might be open another week but like by Wednesday I noticed their sign said "picked out!"  So I am thinking we had good strawberry timing.  :)

Been trying to get back on track eating and working out wise.  I have decided I have 40..39..38... um 36 days to be brown  tan ... and thinner.  My weight loss had plateaued... badly most of last year.  I just seemed to go up and down and all around the same area.  Then a girl gets frustrated... then its easy to get complacent and then?  Well then Mono came to visit and has still not decided to go the heck home!  Being completely tired and lethargic and sick for months has not helped the plateauing... or the working out.  Can one workout while asleep cause that sure would have helped.  BUT... I have not given up during this whole time.  I have not stopped trying.  The past 2 weeks or so I have walked  and worked out more than I have in literally month.  One day I walked 2 miles and then came home and let Jillian Michaels shred me... and trust me, she means it.  Starting to feel a wee tiny bit like new Deanna again..and am feeling encouraged about that.  My goal is to work out 6 days a week with Sunday's off up till the wedding and most of those days I am going to do the shred.  Jillian says great things can happen in 30 days.... she wouldn't want me to regret trusting her now would she?  And if you are wondering how the whole strawberries and ice cream fit into that plan... I did lose 2 lbs this week and a little vanilla ice cream and strawberries is not too bad on the ww points!  Fruit... who knew. 

Bet you cannot even come close to guessing the top item on my thankful list this week?  Strawberries?  Wedding shoes?  No.... I am thankful for...

• Pure Sleep.  Well.. so far.  We have been having snoring issues at our house.  My husband has constant sinus problems (he's had surgery for it in the past) and they can compound snoring problems.  Not so good for sleeping with one's husband.  Then a friend mentioned this pure sleep thing worked.  Darrel ordered one.  It came this week.  We are on night #3.  The first night?  I was worried about him.  I had to check on him like at least twice before I fell asleep to see if he was still breathing... he was that quiet.  Amazing.  Praying it is now a continued and permanent solution!
• OK.. now I am thankful for fresh strawberries!
• and wedding shoes!  I mean how cute is that ankle strap?
• reading!  IRCA book 3 done and on to 1/2 way thru book 4! If you like Amish Christian Fiction, loved this book.
• wedding invitations done!
• cake lady secured!
• pretty new ankle bracelets
• 3.25 mile walk today
• NSD fun
• new birks
• Shred... maybe if I try to be thankful and say I like it.. it won't actually like kill me.
• singing at church
• awesome baptism service at church last week
• Date night pie for 2
• finding a wedding ring for Darrel
• a thank you card/la carreta gift card I received!
• my Kindle
• our songs from 1984 & 85... been putting together some wedding music
• Sophie & Sydney
• Sunday La Carreta lunches
• Saturday breakfasts with Darrel
• switching into a new pretty pink purse today!  Remember the one I bought a few months ago... actually now that I think about it... it was the day the mono hit in January. 
• Kindle freebies
• walking
• finding Darrel's wedding shirt and the nice manager that gave us 50% off!
• my new wedding ring.. wait till you see!
• the fact that today I managed to walk for an hour, do invitations, start some laundry, do a little housework, and go for a hair appt and I am not zonked out asleep... I did need a small nap.. but much improved from a few months ago. 
• summer shoes.. I love summer shoes with cute pedis with cute toe rings with cute ankle bracelets... and yes I think clearly that is a girl thing. 
• family that helped me find some needed addresses today!

Now mono girl shall be heading to bed wondering if she will actually manage to drag herself out of bed in the morning with time enough to do the dreaded shred again... It has gotten better than day 1 so perhaps there is hope I can actually one day make it to level 3?  Are there people who have survived level 3?  Perhaps there should be some sort of t-shirt....

Blessings!

Project Life Tuesday - Week 12

Yes - Here I am actually posting completed project life pages on actual project life Tuesday.  Amazing isn't it?  I did this spread on NSD Saturday.  I skipped week 11 for some reason.  I think I started having fun with the film strip ribbon stuff on the top right corner there and just went with it.  I went back to 11 after this one and am about 1/2 done.  Well 1/2 done in really optimistic world... probably 1/4 done in honest world.  Ha!  Here are some other shots. 

Used my Washi tapes a good bit.  Included a hoops & yoyo post it note for my Monday journaling.  Can you even believe I used skyvi to text my boss I was running late to work and for some unknown reason.. skyvi felt it necessary to insert the words "I love you" at the beginning of the message... yes.  That was a nice way to start my Monday.  Good thing my boss has a sense of humor.  He of course then felt it necessary to share with everyone else in staff meeting.  Too funny!!  The kraft journaling cards were purchased from Evalicious.  The film strip ribbon is Tim Holtz.  Included a couple of emails and a piece of our newsletter from church (work) because that took up about 1/2 my life that week! ha.  Here are some closer views.

And there you have it.  Week 12!  As usual, click on the images to see a larger view.  Also as usual I am linking up to the Project Life fun on Mom Creative this week!  Be sure to check out all the great work over there! 

And now.. since I am currently deep breathing trying to convince myself NOT to have a panic attack over wedding details.. .like the invites still to be mailed or the dress that isn't here or the problem with my husband's ring or the cake that is still  not settled... Breathe... I shall be signing off for now.  Hopefully I will be back by Thursday.. breathing... and happy.. because all of those things I just mentioned got resolved.  Good plan right?  Blessings! 

Seven On Sunday

1) Is he not the cutest?  Know what he's doing?  Buying a wedding band.  This was the 2nd store we went to.  Why?  Well... 2 reasons.  Reason #1, at the first store, where the lady would have liked to sell us a ring?  Well she irritated us both in like the first 20 seconds we were in her store.  I am thinking if you want me to buy something in your store, well you probably shouldn't irritate me right off.  She asked what we were shopping for.  He told her a wedding ring for him, she said what about her... and when he said we had me taken care of she proceeded to practically scold us because we should have come to her first because they are in the middle of their biggest sale ever.  Well excuse us for being so stupid.. why were we even allowed to enter her store?  Perhaps we should have been required to pass an IQ test before gaining entry.  We didn't hang around there long.  We went to store #2 which was store #1 last week and talked to the very kind man who helped us last week and happily picked out a wedding ring for my husband.  That would be reason #2, the man was nice to us last week, very helpful, very honest, we liked their store and their selection and will shop there again.

2) Also on the agenda for date night was to find a white shirt, with black stripes with a sleeve length that will fit my husband.  Not an easy task.  We searched the mall last week.  We searched Kohls.  No luck.  I found one online at Men's Warehouse but they wanted $80 for 1 dress shirt.  I know some guys that wear suits probably pay that for a nice shirt.  Darrel will wear it to our wedding and to church on Sundays and we have a budget that doesn't like $80 for a seldom worn dress shirt.  OK.. so we decide this and then what do we do?   We realize there is a Men's Warehouse in the Big City so maybe we should go see what they have.  This makes  no sense... I know.  Well they have the same shirt!  It's still $80 and I was almost rude to sales girl because she did that thing where they walk up to you and are like your instant BFF and ask you 100 questions... I was not rude... but when she was trying to sell us a suit and shoes and everything else under the sun I told her we couldn't even afford one of their shirts!  She said if we were buying more she might be able to help us out.  Well we didn't buy more, but for some reason while Darrel was trying on a shirt to determine if the black/white one was the right size, she handed me a 50% off coupon!  Then we found another $90 shirt on the $20 rack (pink pin stripe!) and he ended up getting the shirt for the wedding and the other shirt for $60 which was 2 for less than the original price of one shirt!  I don't know why she decided to be nice to us... but I'm really happy she did because the shirt is perfect!  Love it! 

3) I searched some more for the perfect wedding shoes but no success.  So what did I do?  Came home and ordered the pair that has been in my head.  Do you do that?  You see a pair online or on TV or somewhere and then when you go shopping for that item, its the image in your head that you are comparing everything to.  I figured this should indicate that I should just buy the pair that was stuck in my head.  So that is what I did.  Came home and ordered them from Zappos.  They should be arriving tomorrow I believe.  My foot is wider just before the toe area so sometimes this style of shoe doesn't fit quite right.  I figured I should start the try and reject phase soon in case the hunt must continue. 

4) So did you enjoy NSD?  Did you do any NSD scrapping.  Yes.. that was my hand you saw go up cause I did!  I had my project life stuff spread all around me and I managed to complete week 12 and 1/2 of week 11.  I know.. that is in reverse order but I went with what was inspiring me at the moment.  I wish I could have gotten more done but I was tired all day and it put a little bit of a damper on my festivities.  But.. there was scrapping happening.  There was chocolate, a peanut butter cookie from Grand Traverse and pretzels.  There was pizza for dinner.  Because lets face it, the defining good moment of any NSD crop is good food.  Am I right?

5) Found these sandals at Shoe Carnival while searching for the elusive wedding shoes.  They were marked down to $50 rather than the $80 shown here.  Happy to get a better deal.  I love my platform heels...as you well know, but when I want my most comfy walk around at the fair all day kind of shoes... gotta be my birks. 

6) It is fresh strawberry season here in southern Indiana.... and oh my don't they look and smell yummy.  Nothing like fresh picked local grown strawberries.  Those red things they call strawberries in the grocery store? Not even in the same league.  I am thinking it is definitely going to be a fresh strawberry eating week at our house.


7) Finished reading Angel Sister.  GOOD book.  You should read it!  I really liked the story line and it had an excellent element of faith.  Several things spoke to me on a personal spiritual level.  Now onward to book 3 of the 4 I am reading for some judging I am doing.  Started Abigails's New Hope today and am already 1/2 way thru! 

And there you have it... Seven for Sunday.  I will be back on Tuesday for Project Life - posting week 12!  See you then.  Have a great Monday.  Blessings! 

Thankful Thursday

So is it a good mail day when both of your pearl enhancers arrive?  I think so.  I think this one is my fav... although I am pretty happy with both of them.  They are in excellent shape for shall we say "vintage" costume jewelery.  This of course made me quite happy.  Did I mention I bought 2?  See I couldn't make up my mind... they were only like $10 each... I knew I would use them both.. so what's a girl to do?  Well buy both of course.  This of course gives one the opportunity to try both of them on and determine which is the most sparkly.. which of course is the most important thing to all pink princess brides.  I'm the pink princess bride.. in case you missed that.  Here we have choice #2...

Also nice... right? I am still thinking I like #1 the best because you see less metal, the center pearl is a little smaller and it looks more sparkly and we already discussed why that was important.  

Should I mention the red background you see there?  Um that would be my skin.... went for an hour long walk today in the summery sunny weather and apparently got myself some sun.  I was unaware of this fact until I snapped the photo.  I look at the photo and say to myself... why does my skin look so red?  It then of course occurs to me to take a look in the mirror and um surprise... looking a bit sun burned.  Of course as soon as I discover this then I start feeling a bit sore.... so perhaps I should not have looked hmmm? 

In other excitement today I talked to the cake lady and the cupcake lady and just about have those details settled.  This is a good thing since it is one of the main details that are left.  I was able to get at least 1/2 of the invites ready to go.  I also managed not to do serious damage to the printer when it was annoying me.... I got in a good walk and somehow accomplished not collapsing even though I tend to forget from year to year how the heat affects me and that I usually need to get used to it again.  It felt like July out there today! 

Anyone scrapping for NSD Saturday?  I love Natl Scrapbook day.  I love that it comes a week before Mother's Day.  Why?  Because I am not a mom and usually feel left out on Mothers day so when I first became a scrapper and found out about NSD I adopted it as my special relax and have fun day - in place of mothers day. So... I plan to have good snacks.  I plan to wear jammies.  I plan to scrap and work on project life all day.  I plan to try to not obsess about wedding details and mono catching up on stuff I should be doing instead.....  I plan to thoroughly enjoy NSD.  There may be a pizza involved in there somewhere.  And Chocolate.  Must have chocolate on NSD.  Who is with me?  I noticed 2 blog posts this evening (here and here) about Washi tape love... and it just made me smile and want to run in to my washi stash and get to scrapping... well after I got past the urge to buy all of the cool washi designs those girls have that I don't... ha ha ha   All in all a  very good prelude for NSD.  New scrapping supplies should be involved in NSD.. don't you think?

So many things to be thankful for like....

• our 25th anniversary and vow renewal
• finishing book 2 in the 4 I am reading for the IRCA judging - and they've been good books!
• finding a pearl enhancer.. or 2. 
• getting more work outs in this week that I have since first getting mono
• the wedding ring we ordered
• pink mothers day anklet that is on its way
• date night last Friday at 5 guys.  So good!
• shopping for wedding rings together
• doing all of the wedding planning together
• salads from sweet stuff in town.  Love their Cobb salad and they have the best honey mustard dressing.  YUM
• project life
• singing in church Sunday
• the guestbook pen Darrel made
• a gift from my friend Kay for secretary day .. a pink gift :)
• new vapor earphones for my ipod
• late night desserts together on date night
• Saturday pancakes
• zumba
• my hard working husband
• a relaxing new pedicure
• instagram
• washi tape!
• an understanding stylist since I missed my hair appt. this morning... duh.
• crossing things off of my to do list
• summer shoes
• the sunshine and warm weather
• reading
• finding wedding shoes for Darrel that did not cost $200

Goodnight for now.  Happy NSD in advance!  Blessings!

Where Did The Week Go Wednesday

OK how did it get to be Wednesday and I totally missed Project Life Tuesday... yes... again... and somehow didn't even notice?  Can I blame it on Mono girl because that's been working for me for about 4 months now....

So what is new for Wednesday?  Well... I didn't think I had shared this picture of my adorable groom helping to round the corners on 65 vow renewal invitations.  Why is he rounding the corners on 65 vow renewal invitations?  Because the bride was too cheap to pay the invitation people 10 cents more per card.... Are they serious???.... to do it.  I mean I own a corner rounder or 3 so that would beg the question WHY pay 10 cents more per card for rounded corners when one can draft one's groom into helping to do it themselves?  Especially when one's groom understands the brides perfectionist issues...because he has some of his own... YES... and was patient with the bride as she examined all of the rounded corners to make sure they had non flat rounded sides.  She might have stacked them all up and eyeballed the stack to see if any edges were sticking out that should be round.....and the groom might have pulled out the offending card and fixed it.  The groom might also have enjoyed said corner rounding even more when he discovered that the pretty pink zutter heavy duty corner rounder he was using would round several invites at once... I think its a guy thing cause see then we really saved our 10 cents per card.  It's like that guy thing when you are on a trip and they have to get there the fastest of any guy they know with minimal or non-existent rest stops.  Gotta get the most done the quickest to be manly apparently.  ;)

In other wedding news... I thought it would be easy to go to the mall and find the wedding shoes for the bride that fit the image the bride has in her head. This of course was a fantasy.  The next nearest town with malls and shopping other than like a random JC Penny or Sav a Lot... is 2+ hours away.  This of course causes the bride to have to resort to the Internet shopping.  Good thing she is good at that huh?  Here are some of the considerations... These are currently the front runner.  I think.  I keep changing my mind. It would be much easier if I could see them in person so I'd know for sure how dressy they look.  My dress has a bit of a retro style to it and I am thinking I'd like a 40's type look to the shoe.  Something with an ankle strap.  These are cute too with the sparkly heel.  Kind of liking this Mary Jane style but thinking I'd like the open toe? These are cute but I think I like the slimmer heel on the first pair.... How is a bride to decide when she can't put her foot in all of them first?  Anyone have a vote? 

Just received an email from the condo place for our honeymoon.  They were giving us arrival info.  Thank you.  Very handy.  They also said there was a grocery delivery that many of their guests find handy because they know you of course want to head straight to the ocean and not "fight the crowds" at the grocery store.  There is just the matter of a small oh... $50 delivery fee.... And yes.  They are serious.  I am thinking we will manage to carve out some time to head for a few groceries on our own.  We will just call it a vacation outing.  Works for me. 

My latest love has been discovering new jewelery... like a very cool wedding ring... on Etsy. While being thrilled at the wedding ring find.. I also discovered some very pretty handmade ankle bracelets.  I *heart* ankle bracelets as we all know... and will soon be the proud owner of this pretty pink one that my husband ordered for me for Mothers Day. Is he not awesome?  This lady has lots of pretty styles and was wonderful to work with!  I might have also had a little spending money of my own and ordered this one... OK and this one.... because I am thinking a girl should always be adorned with a beautiful ankle bracelet while walking barefoot on the beach... See.  Now you are picturing it too aren't you.  Did you notice that last anklet said "bridal" ?  Yet another good reason right? 

I also found on Etsy (thanks to my friend Lori!!) a few pearl enhancers.  They are just antique/retro costume jewelry... but they might be just the perfect thing with the style of dress... and the shoes.  I am excited for them to arrive.  Yes.  Them.  This one... and this one.  OK how many times tonight have I said that?

So now there are 45... or I guess now 44... days till the big event. But I'm not going to panic.  We just need to order cake, mail invitations, write vows, PRAY my dress arrives on time.. and fits.. and can be altered... and that I LOVE it like I hope... We have to plan the ceremony, decide the music, get things like candles, plates,cups, etc.  Are we going to do favors?  What else do we need for the party tables?  Decide on a ring for Darrel (yes.. we have wedding bands from 25 years ago... we wanted to do something to wear in addition to those rings to commemorate our 25th), make programs... etc... etc... It will all get done right? 

Oh.. and if possible.. can I lose like another 50 lbs in 44 days?  No?  This mono stuff has really made the weight loss stuff HARD. Was already so stuck and plateaued.  Then add 4 months of being sick and not being able to work out like at all... Not helpful.  A few pounds my have creeped back on.  Let's not dwell on it.  :)  What we are dwelling on is that I have NOT given up.  I am and can still make progress and I have been back on track here lately.  I want to feel like new Deanna on our new wedding day.  I do not want to let old Deanna even in the building.  Have been reminding myself that God got me here in the first place and that ALL things are possible with Him.  With His power... I am NOT powerless against food. 

With that... I will bid you goodnight!  Tune in tomorrow for Thankful Thursday.  I promise to actually show up.  What?  It could happen.  :)  Blessings!