Ten On Tuesday.....maybe

 1) This may or may not be Ten on Tuesday because until about 10 minutes ago.... Monogirl was going to skip it.  It has been a very tired day so much so that even blogging just seemed like too much trouble for tired achy arms....Yet?  Here I am.... don't you feel special? 

2) You had to see my birthday treat cupcake from my little friend Delilah.  She brought us treats to work on Friday and I must say I can't remember the last time I got to be included in a little person's birthday treats so imagine my happiness upon receiving this lovely blue sparkly cupcake... and not only that... a ring.  I thought the little Frozen thing on top there was a decoration... turns out it was a ring.  Yummy treats and a prize... like Cracker Jacks for cupcakes... A novel idea. 

3) I just finished... like moments ago... this book.   LOVED LOVED LOVED it.  When I did the IRCA judging last year, one of the books I was given was the first book in this series, Uncommon Grace.  The one I just finished was the third.  Yes it was once again Amish Fiction BUT Serena Miller's Amish fiction are oh so much more than that. There was SUCH a good twist near the end with the main Male character.  I had been trying to figure out how it was going to work out thru the whole book and once it started to unravel?  And I realized where it was going?  Well Monogirl could not read fast enough. Very good stuff and I was sad to discover she does not plan a book four.  Color me blue....no pun intended to the cupcake.  :)

 

4) Speaking of books, and yes.. I am always speaking of books.... as soon as I finished my book I of course had to do my ritual running to Goodreads to check it off as read and then quickly go and check my reading challenge total to see where I am at for the year.  And yes... I know it's only February.  I was happy to discover I have already read 12 books this year... I was not happy that it shows me as 3 books BEHIND schedule for my 100 books this year reading goal.  Monogirl does not like being behind schedule.  The husband suggested I read a few short stories to up my total.... Did he just meet me?  That would feel like cheating to Monogirl..... you so are not shocked are you....

5) Here you have perhaps the most lovely iPhone case EVER.  When I knew I was getting an iPhone I searched the web over for every beautiful pink phone case there was to be found and decided that perhaps this as the most beautiful.  Why?  Um.. it has hot pink.... AND it supposedly has Mother Of Pearl.  It's like jewelry for your phone.  What's not to love?! I found it on ebay and waited oh so patiently.... yeah right... for it to arrive all the way from Korea... and now that it has?  Happy happy happy!

6) I recently ordered a stand that looks a lot like this from Zulilly.  The link there is the Pottery Barn version and trust me when I tell you Zulilly's version had a much nicer price tag.  It has now found a home in my scrap room and is full of washi tape and inks and stamps and adhesive... oh my!  Love it.... and am now realizing this of course means nothing without pictures so of course... we will need to correct that next post!

7) The hmmm hmmmm of the ceiling boards has FINALLY commenced.  You might remember that hmmm hmm is what we say now instead of *paint*.... since we are quite tired of that word.  Well OK, Monogirl is.  Actually I was informed this evening there are boards ready to put up, like on the ceiling... like in the house!  Hallelujah on that one and hope I will also have a pic of that to show you soon!

8) Here you have Miss Sophie "helping" me scrapbook.  Have you ever tried to scrapbook while a cat walks back and forth on what you are working on meowing to be petted.... or perhaps tries to grab your pen and play with it while you are writing?  Of course then I also made the big mistake of trying to add some ribbon and twine to my page.... Miss Sophie is like a magnet to ribbon and twine.  She is all cat.  Am I complaining?  No.  I love it.  I love stopping to hug her and pet her and TRY to get her to lay anywhere else on the table but on top of my work..... it could happen.  You think?

9) OK.... so I almost made 10... but I just noticed its 12:06 and Monogirl has Kids Hope in the morning which means early out of bed so I best bid you goodnight for now!  I now have 2 book reviews I need to post so hopefully watch for at least one of those here soon and of course I plan to be back for Thankful Thursday.  Perhaps I'll be thankful I got a book review done.  Bwa ha ha ha.  Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Feeling thankful yes... once again... for this little lady... Miss Sophie.  I was sitting on the couch today with my laptop table and my computer and my work, um working.... and here she is all in her happy place helping me.  Did it help me?  Well actually yes.  She makes me smile.  She even seems to somehow make me feel peaceful... is there some kind of special cat powers that do that?  Or is she just that cute and sweet?  Perhaps both. 

In other thankfulness thoughts?  Well there would have to be....

• That I am actually here blogging.  I am still fighting a bad cold.  Did NOT feel good today.  Had work to do from home... and somehow managed to feel a little better, get my work done, and have time to blog. 
• the warmer temps!  Felt like spring for about 5 minutes there.  One week I'm driving home in a snow storm trying not to slide off the road.  Next week... driving home with the sunroof open.  Is it only like this in Indiana?
• Valentine's Roses
• my iPhone
• pink phone cases
• getting home safe when the roads were slick
• little notebooks for my lists
• Mexican carry out
• new sweaters from QVC.... Liz Clairborne has these sweaters with a cotton/cashmere blend that I am in love with.  So soft and comfy without the huge cashmere price tag.
• scrapbooking and project life inspiration and still loving this hobby
• books!  Always.  Yes.
• Saturday pancakes
• long hair
• Sunday lunch at Gasthof
• a new dishwasher that has arrived and thanks to my brilliant husband is installed and working!
• 
  
  
• Isn't it pretty!  Love love love it. 
• date night
• mint meltaways
• Also thankful the dishwasher is SO quiet.  Can't even hear it in the living room... which is new.
• diet Pepsi
• Danskos... comfy and keeping my feet high and dry with all the mud that has appeared since the snow went away
• text messaging.... it is often a huge help in my job.
• that the strong storms passed by us without any damage and without us having to run for the basement
• and that it's time for bed..... Monogirl is tired.  Well... Monogirl is always tired... but Monogirl with a cold?  Zzzzzzz

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!  Blessings

Ten on Tuesday

1) Here you have proof that yes, I have actually been scrapping and working on my Heidi Swapp Hello Today planner.  Loving this thing! Am I all current with February?  Um no.... Is January all done?  Um... no again.  Am I having fun?  Yes.  And I am so going to finish and have a completed planner at the end of the year.  Honest.  You'll see....

2) And OK did  you of course notice the cool frame and graphic on that picture?  I did that with a very cool Rhonna Farrer app that my BFF Lisa told me about.  Trust me, Lisa is your girl if you want to know about the latest and greatest cool digi scrapping stuff.  She keeps me up to date!  So I headed on over to the app store and grabbed this app and promptly placed it on my newly aquirred iPhone and oh my goodness.... you could spend like DAYS playing with all the cool stuff you can add to your photos on this app.  Frames, masks, words, graphics, very very very fun.  Run... do not walk... to the app store and grab one for yourself now!

3) Oh! speaking of the cool Heidi Planner.... you should also run over to Kim Jeffress' blog and check out all the awesome ideas she has for how to use the planner.  This girl added pages and pocket pages and inserted cards and did amazing art work on the front.... I think Monogirl is a wee bit jealous. 


 4) Here we have evidence of a little more movement forward on the remodeling project.  When we tore all of the old plaster off of the chimney between the living room and dinning room, we were left with 2 holes in the chimney from where the old wood stove used to hook up.  They were NOT attractive.  The empty hole was an improvement because they were stuffed with plaster and pieces of bricks.  So one day while at Lowes we just happened to find ourselves by the wood stove parts and pieces.  Initially we had thought we'd try to disguise the hole, or cover it up with something.  We weren't sure... but then I wondered why not let it be what it is?  So when we saw these stove parts we began to come up with a plan on how we could use them to create a cover for our chimney holes.  Not too shabby huh?  I am blessed to have a husband who can figure out how to do these things we come up with too!  None of the parts you see on the right are being used in the way they were intended... except for maybe the collar part?  Anyway... love our idea and how it turned out.  Here is another look.

5) Moving forward on the remodeling has hit several road blocks since Christmas.  Things like broken dishwashers and leaks from broken dishwashers... etc... etc... The main problem has been the whole paint for the ceiling issue... which Monogirl is soooooo over.   So much so that she may have issued an edict that we are no longer allowed to say the word "P A I N T"  at our house.  Actually I told Darrel it is was like the All In The Family episode about Cling Peaches... in heavy syrup.... and no one needed to hear the paint word AGAIN.  We have now started calling it Cling Peaches... bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.... OR my husband has referred to paint as hmmm hmmm hmmm.... Yes.  He is nothing if not hilarious..  See first we were going to paint the ceiling boards with a roller.  That didn't work so we were going to go with the brush.  That didn't work so well and was taking too long so we bought a sprayer.  That held us up picking out and waiting for the sprayer to arrive.  Then we were held up because now the sprayer wouldn't spray the paint and primer mix we had... too thick.  Going to buy more paint didn't work because they said, no use what you have... just thin it.  That didn't work because it looked lumpy.  Went to buy different paint again... that didn't work because it had to be oil based or water based or french fry based for all Monogirl knows at this point..... Then we were going to water it down differently according to youtube.... That didn't work so we were back to buying paint... That didn't work because now there was no satin that was the right base... Are you getting the picture?  If Monogirl never hears the word paint again it will be too soon.... and please someone come with their white out or paint pens or white lipstick or white nail polish or modpodge for goodness sakes and coat the boards with something white and put. them. on. the. ceiling..... So Monogirl can keep her sanity.  Is it a bad thing that as Monogirl grows older she finds she has more and more in common with Archie Bunker? 

6) Monogirl has a cold.  It was a Valentine gift from her husband.  He had the cold first... and was nice enough to share.  Although as I confessed to Facebook today.... it is probably my fault as I was the one insisting he was not going to go a week without kissing me while he was getting over his cold.  What can I say.... he's irresistible.  Besides... I figure we live together, sleep together, touch all the same door knobs and counters and tables, and whatever else and it's likely if one of you has it... the other will get it... so I might as well just kiss him... and get it over with... and enjoy it of course. 

7) Here you have my Valentine's Roses and I am glad I snapped this picture right quick when they came because they never looked this good again not too long after.... Why?  Um there was quite the snow event on Valentines Day.  Monogirl went to work and then a few hours later drove home going NO faster than 25 mph in lots of snow and very slick roads.... especially since the road between her house and work is all hills and curves and country.  Did I make it home?  Yes.  Did I make it up the driveway?  Um not so much.  Actually the driveway is the first place that caused the car to turn on the traction control! So the lovely roses got snowed on while Monogirl carried them from the bottom of the driveway to the house... and they didn't fare so well after that. 

8) The snow changed our overall plans too.  We were going to head to the big city for dinner and a movie but instead ended up at home for Mexican carry out from town, which was quite good, and then we watched Enders Game and Gravity on Amazon.  Both were good movies!  He also had a 1lb box of pastel mint meltaways for me.  YUM.... and I had a box of Godiva key lime truffles (his fav) for him.  Our iPhone were our gifts to each other too. 

 9) Speaking of my iPhone.... I LOVE it.  Love it.  Why did I not get one sooner.  2 years ago when we got our Droid Razr Maxx I almost got the iPhone but Droid had the swift key thing and I knew android and there was a buy one get one free special.... so we went with droid.  Now I have completely gone over to the dark side... or perhaps its the white side... ha ha ha... and am in love with my iPhone.  Love it!  So glad we didn't change our minds again because Monogirl has quickly become an iPhone girl... especially since she now also owns a pink otterbox.  :) 

10) Since we had Mexican on Friday night for Valentines, we decided NOT to go to La Carreta on Sunday.  I know... can you believe it?  Was it on the news?  Did they stay in business?  Instead we opted for some Amish food.... even though yes, it was a Sunday.  I think technically the Amish don't work there on Sunday... or at least I didn't see anyone dressed Amish that day.  It's a place called the Gasthof.  We had a taste for Amish Comfort food like mashed potatoes and turkey.... yum.... so we headed there.  They'd been closed due to the cold temps and a broken pipe... so we thought we'd go check them out after their reopening.  It was a good idea too.... see?
Good stuff....

And till Thursday... I bid you goodnight! 

Blessings!

 

Thankful Thursday

Feeling thankful today for many things.... such as

• This guy.  Darrel's Uncle GG.  He passed away earlier this week so he has been on our minds a lot.  He was a Godly man.  A kind man.  A sweet and talented man.  He had a bond with my husband and we miss him.  We are happy because we believe he is now in the presence of Jesus.  We are sad because we still miss him.
• melting snow!  Finally a little warmer temps and maybe the icy driveway will disappear.  On the other hand?  Predicting 2-4" snow tomorrow night.... so maybe it will be right back. 
• one of my iphone cases has arrived..... or so the tracking tells me.  It must be in the mailbox.  The mailbox is at the end of the long, hilly, icy, driveway.  Monogirl either needs a sled... or she has to wait until her husband gets home and checks the mail.  You might remember waiting is not Monogirl's best thing.
• a new box of these pens.  Love these pens.  Used to use them all the time.... but had forgotten about them after the church fire for some reason.  Maybe because one melted and exploded all over the much beloved and missed eyeglasses case I mentioned last time.  Although that would be the fault of the fire... not the pen.
• my iphone!  Loving loving loving it.  Makes Monogirl happy happy happy.  She also wonders why did she not get one sooner?  Very cool.
• my husband received a package yesterday.... the return address?  Fannie May Candies.... Monogirl is thinking this could point to good things for Valentine's day.  Maybe some of these are in the box? LOVE those but they don't seem to exist in Southern IN.  You have to make your way at least up to Indy. 
• Kindle reading.  Been reading library books lately, but am currently back on the Kindle which I am loving.
• Olive Garden carryout for date night last week
• Watching movies together
• Did I forget to mention dessert from Olive Garden?  Cause this Chocolate Mousse Cake was YUM.
• Finding no less than 5 tubes of Michelle buxom lip polish from various places.  Yes... I am stocking up while there is some to be found.
• Miss Sophie and her wonderful personality.  Love her.
• Tanner.... even though he is a grumpy old man sometimes... I'll probably be grumpy too when I'm 84 so I guess he is allowed. 
• surviving Kids Hope... and OK enjoying Kids Hope yesterday.  We played basketball.  We played soccer.  We played on scooters and with jump ropes and yes... Monogirl survived all though perhaps barely.  We had a wonderful visit and I got a hug and was so happy to see her enjoy the valentines gifts I brought her.
• Surviving this past Sunday morning.  It was great, and I enjoyed church and got to sing, but was also definitely wearing my employee hat as I dealt with several other things as well.  Monogirl was very wore out by the end and was so happy to see La Carreta for lunch!
• getting chicken livers for lunch yesterday.  Yes.  That is a good thing. 
• Finishing another book and OK..starting another book
• a husband who helps with housework, cooking grocery shopping, or whatever is needing done.
• the thought of spring
• scarves. I never knew how much warmth a scarf could add.  I think my sister caught me on to that idea.  I especially of course like my pink scarves... or scarves I have made. 
• my favorite sweater lately  
• getting to church safely last Sunday.  There was a lot of black ice.
• working on my planner.  Enjoying doing a bit of scrapbooking again
• being invited to a scrap retreat this week.  Not sure I can go, but always nice to be invited!
• the new furniture.  Really been fun to have a new living room.... even if it isn't finished yet.  Just think how cool it will be when its finished!
• being married.  Love him.
• new survivor and amazing race starting next week
• my selphy and silhouette
• that the new dishwasher will hopefully be here in about a week...lets hope

And yes... I could keep going but am thinking we will call it a day and perhaps go start some sloppy joes for dinner?  Sounds good right... especially if we accompany it with homemade fries.  YUM.  Hope you have a happy Valentines day!  I may see you again this weekend to blog about our day! 
Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) So as I sit here preparing to blog.... computer table pulled up close... lap top sort of 1/2 leaning in my lap... recliner up.... I also have Miss Sophie who has decided to lay on the recliner with most of herself under the computer and then sticking her paws up from underneath grabbing my arm as I type... She is cracking me up.  It is impossible to be sad when Miss Sophie is around. 

2) And as a nice accompaniment to the Sophie story here we have a lovely new picture of her.  The first picture I took with my newly acquired phone and also the first picture I printed directly from the newly acquired phone.  It printed out great and now Monogirl has yet another reason to be in love with her new phone!

3) And what was the final result of the great phone debate of 2014 you ask?  You did ask right?  Well as you can see I am now the proud owner of my very first iPhone. With my love of classy, detailed, nice packaging... I may be in love with their box just as much as I am with the phone and the phone is none to shabby.  LOVING it.  Did I mention that?  Our upgrade date is tomorrow, however we discovered that there were a few places that would honor the upgrade pricing, etc. starting one week prior. Then we discovered Best Buy has this offer going on where you get a $50 gift card when you purchase a new phone, and that gift card could then be used on the purchase of said phone.  Sign us up for that!  So $100 off and 2 new upgraded phones later we are iPhone owners.  Darrel's is the gray/black combo.  I went with the gold.  It just seemed more girly to me.  We both wanted and needed new phones so we agreed that this would be our Valentine's gift to each other.  Nice that it falls right at the right time isn't it?  Since I got the gold iPhone I can just pretend it's jewelery anyway.  :)

4) The only problem with my phone?  It's not pink.  I have this NEED to turn it pink immediately. You can close your mouth.. I know you are shocked.  Right.  Well of course I was shopping for the perfect pink case even before we had decided on a phone.  Yes.  And now... is it a bad thing that I have ordered no less than um.. oh... 3?  Yep.  Three.  All different degrees of pink and different degrees of phone protection since I am not sure what I want.  I had like 5 cases for my last phone and switched between all of them when I got bored with one so trust me when I tell you they will not go to waste.  One is a pink/white Otterbox commuter.  I got a deal on ebay on that one.  The other is coming from Seoul Korea... and has hot pink flowers and mother of pearl.... seriously.  It looks very cool in the picture.  Hoping it will be as good in person.  The case behind door #3 is from Etsy and has what looks like a vintage painting of pink roses.  Also beautiful online... and hoping the real thing is just as good.  Wishing one of them would show up soon as I am a little worried about my unprotected phone.... However.... even though I've been extremely careful.... mine somehow fell off the table yesterday... and survived. Thanking God for that and hoping it also means it is not quite as fragile as I thought.

5) In November I placed an order for some needed make up from Sephora.com.  I like Bare Escentuals stuff and as I was filling my cart with foundation and less fun stuff like that... I spotted a set of Buxom lip glosses.  It was $29.  There were 6 of them.  Sounded like fun right? Well fast forward to this year and I realize that one of those 6 glosses in the set has become my favorite.  It's um ... sort of pink.  You would think that would be expected but actually usually in make up colors I tend to stick to browns.   So really liking this pink.  Naturally I think well now I should just be able to order a full size gloss from Sephora or beauty.com or some such place since it was the "travel" size or mini in the set.  Silly Monogirl... of course that is not the case... because when I go online to order well I discover that the gloss I like... called Michelle.... is "rare" and "hard to find" and no, they don't sell a full size one or even the whole set anymore.  Unless you want to pay like over $68.99 here... I think not.  Especially since my set cost $29!  WHY does this always happen to me?  Find a particular make up item I like and suddenly its the hardest thing to find on the planet....

6) Still moving along nicely on my Heidi Swapp planner.  Need to finish up January and then I will share some pics!  Been keeping up with February pretty well and am looking forward to documenting all the Valentines fun that we usually have.  I am thinking it will be fun anyway since my husband asked me for a date today.  :)  Love when he does that. 

7) Just finished this book.... and heading right into this book, which is book 3 in the series.  I made a special stop at the library to pick up that book yesterday.... only to discover just now that I bought it for $2.99 for my Kindle back in August.  Apparently I need an assistant to keep all my books straight.  These are my first books by this author, Jennifer Beckstrand, and I am really liking her writing style!  Seems to be so much more than the typical Amish story. 

8) Since I have my new glasses I figured it was the perfect time to splurge on a new case.  Well new as in I just bought one, but actually it is replacing one I lost in the church fire back in 2005.  It holds 2 pens and your glasses and has a front pocket.  When I read I love to write down quotes I like, or highlight or take notes, so I loved having all that handy with my reading glasses.  Levenger cases are pricey but the quality is amazing.  Well worth it. 

9) WHY is it that any store I go to they have a cart waiting especially for me that will be sure to squeak moan and only turn left the whole time I am driving it ? I had this problem at CVS yesterday while trying to get a Valentine's gift for Kids Hope tomorrow.  I was very tired... hot... hungry... trying to shop... my husband was texting me with the ongoing saga of the ceiling paint... which I am SO over... and then there was the cart.  Not one of Monogirl's best moods in those moments...

10) Ten.. .made it to ten... Almost stopped at 5 because I was drawing a blank... and am also having a wicked headache at the moment which is the perfect ending to a bad CFS day with lots of fatigue and aches and pains.... Which means if Monogirl would like a better day tomorrow... she is heading to bed.  Hope your Valentine's week is awesome.  Tune in again on Thursday.  Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Yes once again I am thankful for Miss Sophie. And ok not only her but the entertainment she provides. Such as today...climbing up in my recliner ....managing to cover herself up with the hem of my nightshirt...and then looking quite happy with her cat self.

What else am I thankful for ? Well...

• Apparently I can blog from my kindle fire tablet.....or I guess we will see how it looks when I post .
• That the phone decision has finally been made. Hallelujah and thank you Lord.
• That um I just caught the auto correct that changed my messed up version of the words finally been to the word concubine.....seriously
• The phone case ....pink of course ....that I have already ordered even though I haven't bought a phone yet 
• For a husband that takes care of all this phone upgrade stuff
• Working on my heidi swapp planner ...very fun
• The new eye glass case I ordered from levenger. I lost one like it in the church fire and have missed it ever since.
• That a new dishwasher is ordered
• Finding the water leak in the kitchen from the old dishwasher before it destroyed the cabinet and floor
• Books books books 
• Snow days and working from home
• Homemade sausage gravy
• Singing for church this week
• New glasses 
• Date night 
• Danskos
• Good memories 
• Being married
• The new furniture
• Tanner following Darrel around. Very cute 
• The dvr
• Naps
• A clean house ....not that I know what that's like
• Crocheting
• My selphy and silhouette
• Lacaretta
• That I am blogging when I thought time was going to get away from me again today
• My head on my husband's shoulder
• My blog readers
• Online pharmacy for refills 
• Little pink tablets

Hope to share some planner pages next post and I still have a review to post for The Outcast so stay tuned and happy date night tomorrow. Blessings.