Ten On Tuesday

1) OK maybe we will have 10 on Tuesday.... Blogger keeps freezing up on me and asking if I'd like to recover the web page.  Why yes actually, I'd like to not only recover it, but use it if it would stay up for longer than a minute and a half... but maybe that is just me?  Anyway... working for the moment so lets see how far we can get.  Are ya with me?

2) Yes the IRCA reading and judging is complete so I may now share with you all the reading fabulousness.... My four books were Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith, Sweet Dreams by Carla Stewart, Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman and Catherine's Pursuit by Lena Nelson Dooley.  Rebekah and Catherine's Pursuit were totally books I would not have picked up on my own but I really liked both of them!  Especially Rebekah.  It's a fictionalized account of Rebekah and Jacob from the Bible.  Loved it and am now eager to read the other books in the Wives of the Patriarchs Series.  Catherine's Pursuit is also book 3 in a series, and I'd also like to go back and grab the first 2 on that one.  Chasing Hope was really good and is a story about an almost Olympian runner, and an illness that sets her back but how God uses her to help others.  First book I'd read by Kathryn Cushman, and now the book I am currently reading is also a Kathryn Cushman since I liked the first one so well.  Always love discovering new authors.  So yes, now you must run and add these to your TBR pile immediately.  You are welcome.

3) A friend who still lives in the Chicago area was just posting about this popcorn called G H Cretors Chicago mix.  I have not heard of this brand before but a) it has caramel corn and butter popcorn in the same bag and um b) it's Chicago mix and I'm a former Chicago girl so what could be bad about that and then um c) It of course is only available in towns approx. 2 hours from me down here in little ol' Southern IN.  Of course it is.  I should look up these facts before I start drooling over stuff ya think?

4) Currently Darrel and I are playing a game involving a very loud drill driver thingy and the TV.  He needs to drill.... drive... whatever which means I can't hear the TV.  I turn the TV down.... he stops drilling.  I wait... he seems to be done... I turn the show back up.... He turns the drill on.  He is clearly winning this battle and is probably secretly chuckling since he knows how patient Monogirl is and all...

5) It has been a difficult couple of Monogirl days.....Which you would see evidence of if you were watching me type this entry where I continually am typing in wrong words or what the heck, just leaving them out all together.  At work today I typed a list of boards and committees for the Pastor and gave one committee the other committee's name and then just clean left out the other committee all together.  My reason for doing this?  Um the brain is just not functioning at full capacity and I had to consider the fact that perhaps I needed to be sent home to protect the public from any further interaction with me....

6) Recently joined a facebook group called "Avid Readers of Christian Fiction."  Do you think I might fit in there?  Um seems like yep... just a bit.  I believe the group was started by Tricia Goyer, who is an author... and writes Amish Books... another good fit.  It's been very fun to read the posts and book thoughts from other obsessed readers like myself... who knew there were so many of us?

7) Date night this week was at home.  In what would be called excellent timing Monogirl received an e-mail Olive Garden 1/2 off 1 dinner coupon on Friday afternoon.  You know.....just in time for date night!  So we had us some yummy OG carryout.  We watched movies.  We had dessert.  YUM.  We snuggled.  A good time was had by all. 

8) Recently I ordered this cute little black dress from Zulilly.  Which means yes, it was way marked down.  It came.  It fits great.  It's comfy... and there is so many different things I can do with it shoes/cardi/jewelry wise.  So how could I help myself for going in search to see if it was available in any other cute colors... which low and behold it is so Viola!  Monogirl now also owns this dress in gray too... and no she does not think that is a bad thing.  It will even be cute in the winter with leggings and warmer sweaters and stuff....see... Monogirl is always thinking.

9) Darrel and I are singing together in church this week.  We've decided on this song, Lead Me To The Cross.  I think it is going to work out well... and I can't wait.  Love singing with my husband and am so thankful we can do that. 

10)And look at that... here we are at 10 and blogger did not self destruct.  Hopefully all of the above is somewhat coherent and in complete sentences.... Monogirl tried her best. 

Until Thursday.... Blessings. 

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for the little chicken feet stamp you can see here on my hand.... why?  My little kids hope friend put it there and every time I saw it yesterday I thought of her.  So cute.

I am thankful for the smell of cow manure..... you are saying um really?  Yep.  Why?  It means I now get to live near farms and fields and yes... Homer the cow. 

I am thankful for the walk I took today.  It was beautiful weather and I had like 19 problems trying to go.... but I had myself a 40 minute walk and it was wonderful.  The problems?  Well lets see.... couldn't find my sports bra... which yes... lets face it is a problem.  Had issues with my new iPhone armband holder thingy.  Had issues with my nike+ app playing the same song like 4 times trying to drive me insane.... Twisted my ankle.  Almost fell in a ditch.... yet I walked 40 minutes and I loved it. 

 

I am thankful for the hills I climbed today and how funny it is to me that I now actually like the feel of my legs working to crest those hills.  When did that happen to me and who knew it was possible? 

I am thankful for the nice lady who posted a link to this website that when you type in an author's name a complete bibliography comes up and lists all their series and the order and everything.  So cool.  I think I just added umpteen books to my TBR list.... It's unending.

I am thankful for this clip from Family Ties I saw last night.  Alex's Tax Monster still has me chuckling today. 

I am thankful for Miss Sophie cuddling up in my lap.

 

I am thankful the a/c man has been here and the a/c is now all charged up and checked out and good to go for the upcoming summer. 

I am so thankful for my husband.  He is my bestest friend.  He is my love.  He is a totally amazing man and wow... you should have heard him sing in church on Sunday.  It was fabulous.

I am thankful for reading.  So so so enjoying Seasons of Tomorrow right now.   Be very impressed I am blogging because according to my Kindle I have 53 minutes left in the book so what am I doing here? 

I am thankful for date night.  It's coming up again tomorrow.  Love how that happens.

I am thankful for this cute pair of shoes..... no... I did not order them.  I have been trying to restrain myself..... but I really really really like them... so my mind has been busy trying to find a loop hole in the budget.  Bwa ha ha ha.  Did I mention I REALLY like them? 

I am thankful for a wonderful Resurrection Sunday. 

I am thankful for all the fun I've been having working on my planner and for that fact that I am only a wee bit behind.  Honest. 

I am thankful for this cute purse charm that came today. 

I am thankful I found these cool bird figures for Darrel's mom for Mom's day.  She is a red bird lover and I thought these would be very fun indoors and/or outdoors or both.

I am thankful that NSD is coming up next weekend! 

I am thankful there will be beach time soon! 

I am thankful for work on our house!  Slow but sure we are getting her done!

I am thankful that I made it to Kids Hope on time yesterday although God must have definitely been having a lets teach Deanna patience day... first there was a train.... there is rarely a train.  Yesterday?  A train.  Train finally goes by..... there is a farm tractor.  Sounds like a small problem unless you are on the road between Petersburg and Monroe which is pretty much curves... hills... and one very long no passing zone.  Finally get around the tractor.... there is a truck with a bed full of those gas bottle thingys going like 20 mph.... really?  I was just trying to get to Kids Hope people.  Who knew it would be such an adventure. 

And I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday!  That means date night, and the weekend with my husband.  What's not to love about that? 

How about you.... what have you been thankful for today?

Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) So I ordered one of these cool purse charms a few days ago.  Today I received an email from the nice lady that makes them telling me that she is no longer able to get the little green flip flop charm, so would I mind very much if she gave me a pink flip flop charm instead....... what are you thinking Monogirl's answer was to that query?  ha!

2) A week prior to this past Friday we headed to the Drive In for date night.  First drive in night of the 2014 summer season.  LOVED it.  Weather was wonderful and spring like... which I guess makes sense since it is in fact um spring.  We saw 2 great movies, Divergent and Catching Fire.  It was our 2nd time for Catching Fire which turned out to be a good thing because this time it turned out to be Catching Fire the scrambled version.... Apparently when they were putting the reels together.... they got them in the wrong order.  I am still wondering if those who had not seen the movie figured out something was WRONG.... it was kind of funny for us.  Maybe it kept it interesting for viewing #2. 

3) Several nights ago I am searching the house for the Advil PM because it was not in one of the 2 places it normally is.  Problem #1... .perhaps it should just have one place it belongs.  When I can't find it... all I can remember is that when I put it... wherever it is that I put it... I remember thinking "now you aren't going to remember that you put it there...."  Which was apparently good advice I should have taken because when you can only remember that you put it somewhere where you knew you wouldn't remember you put it.... um so not helpful.  Of course as soon as I gave up and laid down in bed.... well then it popped in my head where I put it.... My brain apparently has too many tabs open. 

4) What you have here is a Mother's Day present for a non Mother on not yet Mother's Day.  This occasion um... occurs.... when one spots a cool pair of very sequined, very sparkly orthaheel flip flops and asks her husband if she can have them for Mother's Day since he usually does get her a gift for Mother's Day even though she is a non Mother.... it just makes life more fun that way.  And I'm right.... right?  Are they not the cutest?  Who can have enough gold sequins? 

5) Who is gearing up for NSD (National Scrapbook Day) on May 3rd?!  Yes.. you saw my hand in the air. I even signed up for this free class at Big Picture! Anyone care to join me?  I might actually complete a layout.... wouldn't that be newsworthy? 

6) Currently I am reading Seasons of Tomorrow which is book 4 in the Amish Vines and Orchards series.  Was eagerly awaiting the release of this book and even took a break in the middle of my IRCA judging to slip it in.  LOVE this series.  If you don't have it in your TBR....to be read pile... you might want to... no you NEED to add it right quick. 

7) How was your Resurrection Sunday?  It was a beautiful day here in southern Indiana.  Wonderful weather.  Great church service with over 400 people.  Wonderful music.  Time with family.  Wonderful lunch!  Look what was on our table?! Who told the Inn how much I love love little details like that?  Darrel and I had dinner at Springmill Park Inn and we were so pleasantly surprised to find a pretty spring table cloth, and a place card with little eggs and our name on it!  So fun.  The dining room was pretty and peaceful and the food was so good.  After lunch we changed out of our church clothes and spent a little time in the park.  The waitress told me I could keep the little card... my reply?  And I will!  Fits great in my planner!

8) The park itself has an old pioneer type village and this beautiful stream as well as picnic areas, trails etc.  We did a small amount of exploring and then spent a little time by the water here which is evidenced by the cute guy sitting next to me.  I need to go back to this spot cause I could have sat there in the sunshine and read for days.. .ha!  Here is the official Resurrection Sunday selfie....

How cute is my husband in his fuchsia tie?  Hubba Hubba. 

9) If you are a Christian Fiction lover like me.... have you heard the finalists for the 2014 Christy Awards were announced?  Check them out here.  I always always have to go thru that list with a fine tooth comb and make sure those books are definitely in my TBR pile.  Can't be missing a great book.  No one wants that. 

10) And lastly... you have to see what I gave Darrel for an Easter gift.... Yes.  Darth Bunny and Bunny Trooper... or at least that is what I named them.  I figured he needed them.  You know.. so the force will be with him. 

And until Thursday... I bid you goodnight. 

Blessings!

Thankful Throwback Thursday

The doors are open.  The windows are open.  The flowers are blooming.  What's not to be thankful for today?  Thankful for.....

 

• beautiful blooming hyacinths that my Mamaw planted
• thankful that a few are currently blooming in the middle of my yard even though last year we tore out the old flower beds and totally disturbed the place where she had planted them.
• thankful for the smell of the grill wafting in thru the open back door
• thankful that my husband is grilling us some yummy chicken for dinner
• thankful that He loves me.  Me.  30 years after we got together he still loves me and treats me like the girl he swept off her feet back in 1984.

• thankful he likes me even though I do not look like this anymore.  He has never seemed to notice a difference.  Weight up.  Weight down.  Depression.  Infertility.  He never once made me feel less beautiful, desirable or loved.  God did good when he put my husband together.  Head to toe.  Inside and out.
• thankful it has been a non office day which makes me enjoy this beautiful day even more
• thankful for good memories like this pic.  I was 18 years old.  1984.  All dressed up for Easter in pink (and I didn't even have a thing for pink back then).  Hat, gloves, matching hose.... I am thinking perhaps I was the epitome of the "In Your Easter Bonnet" song.... ha!! 
• thankful that 2 mos. after this picture I started dating my husband.
• are you getting the feeling my husband is on my mind today?  Thankful for that too.

• thankful for devotions out on the back porch today.
• that during devotions I enjoyed the sun, the birds singing, sitting in Mamaw's glider, and yes... even Homer the cow.
• thankful for some scrapping time last night working on my April planner
• Pillsbury cinnamon rolls.  Enough said.
• date night's that start with pink roses
• falling asleep hugging my husband
• my husband being happy that I fell asleep hugging him.  Yes.  He is a cuddler.  Did you know that was possible for men?
• holding hands
• new coach purse and sunglasses that are in transit.  Just in time for Easter! 
• the smell of moonlight path
• clean water.  Sometimes our water has issues after a lot of rain which we've had recently.
• Did I mention the sunshine? Love it.
• my iPhone.  Still totally in love with my iPhone.  Everyone should have one. 
• ankle bracelets and flip flops which yes... I have been wearing all ready
• the new season for the drive in!  Date night here we come!
• Sarah Young's devotional books (like the one in the picture, there are 4)
• my scrap room
• Miss Sophie and her continued efforts to play with the dog.... He is not a fan.
• the sound of the fan in the window.  Reminds me of Mamaw's house in the summer... and guess what?  I'm in Mamaw's house.
• new scrap stuff.  Yes.  I did a little damage on HSN's recent craft day
• Singing!
• Kids Hope
• my Bff's safety.  She had a car accident last week.
• making Resurrection eggs
• reading the IRCA books
• my husband getting home from work safely
• tervis princess glasses
• vacation... by the ocean... in approximately 4-1/2 months.  Beach chair here I come.
• my church
• good friends
• kindness
• scriptures that speak to me
• stops at DQ on Sunday afternoons... they do have the best soft serve am I right?

And... that it's time for that grilled chicken dinner.  Have a wonderful Friday! 
Blessings!

Ten on Tuesday

1) Date Night was supposed to be at the Drive In for opening night for the 2014 season.  However.... work... which took longer... and Monogirl issues... had other plans.  So we settled for an evening at home that included carry out from the Italian Beef place in the Big City AND it meant that my date returned home with this pretty pink rose just for me.  Is he awesome or what?  He also brought us Baskin Robbins.. YUM and we watched a couple of movies... and of course as usual, I can no longer remember what they were..... ha!  Apparently memory is no longer one of Monogirl's best things....

2) NSD.... which for your Non Scrapbookers out there is National Scrapbook Day... the most all important holiday of the year... well... right after Birthday Week....ha....... is coming up May 3rd!  Have you heard about the Big Picture NSD 10K?  No.... we are not running a 10K with our tape runners in hand.... The plan is that all of us scrappin' people participate in their online crop, we enjoy their free "class" for that day which I believe will have new stuff up every hour for like 9 hours... and we try to Inundate Instagram with 10,000 new layouts in one day.  I'm planning to do my part to add at least one or two.... A fast scrapper Monogirl is NOT.

3) My Resurrection Eggs project is complete!  Happy about that.  Our Kids Hope Director asked for my help to make these for our Kids Hope upcoming Easter party.  Each child will get to have a set of their own to take home.  Have you heard of Resurrection Eggs before?  So cool.  Each egg is numbered 1-12... inside it has a symbol that goes with a scripture that helps to tell the Easter story.  For instance egg 1 has a palm branch for palm Sunday.  There is an egg with a little crown of thorns.  One has gauze to represent how they wrapped Jesus' body.  One has a rock for the stone that was rolled away from the tomb.  Very fun and a very cool way to tell the story.  I think my favorite part was the little crowns of thorns.  Found them on Etsy and they are perfect!  If you'd like to see a list of what the eggs contain and the scriptures there is a copy here. 

4) Speaking of birthday week.... well I sort of mentioned it above..... I just saw a girl on The Price is Right wearing a Tiara.... and it made me think that a PINK Tiara definitely should somehow be incorporated into Birthday week.  Seems fitting don't ya think? 

5) I saw 3 wild turkey's on the way home from work.... and that would be the actual birds... not bottles of alcohol.... bwa ha ha ha... I wasn't sure what they were till I came home and googled a picture.  I just knew they were big.... dark.... and they kept bobbing their heads like a chicken.  I almost stopped and shot them..... with my camera that is.  Darrel said he didn't think it was turkey season anyway. 

6) Did ya'll know that We R Memory Keepers makes cute little 4x4 albums with pocket pages and insert cards for Instagram?  How cool is that?  I saw it today on scrapbooksteals.com.... of course by the time I was paying attention it was mostly sold out.  Look at this cool little travel album where the album, etc. was used.  I have to try that.  I'll add it to the lists of projects I am going to get done um... someday. 

 

7)  So we're sitting at La Carreta Sunday enjoying our lunch... of course... and I notice that even in our tortilla chip dipping style... you can see the difference in my personality vs. my husbands.  He is the patient one.... who dips his chip in the queso and then calmly and patiently waits for the excess cheese to drip off before eating his chip.  I am the "what is patience??" one who dips her chip in the queso and then proceeds to wipe off the excess on the little queso bowl so the chip is now immediately ready for eating.  Who wants to wait for dripping cheese?  Um sooo not Monogirl.

 

8) On a particularly difficult day last week, God sent me this verse twice!  Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. - Psalm 37:5.... I love it when he does stuff like that.  It is humbling. 

9) I bought my little kids hope friend one of these pens as part of her Easter gift.I have decided it is very fun.... I need one to play with in my office... and OK everyone should have one in their Easter basket. 

10) It has turned out to be a good thing we couldn't make the drive in last week because this week they are playing Divergent!  We sooo want to see Divergent since we both read and enjoyed the book and the series for that matter.  I am hoping they did as good a job with it as they did with the Hunger Games movies!  Can't wait.

And yes... we are done for today.  You'll visit with me again on Thursday won't you?  I knew I liked you.  :)  Blessings!

The Question is.....

What does Miss Sophie think she is going to reach when she puts her paw under the bedroom door and does she know how it cracks me up?

Why are you now looking at the dust in my house that you can see in this pic. Don't look at my dust but um someone......Please send a maid. Thank you.

Why did they replace Brooke Burke on Dancing with the Stars with this blond girl? Not liking blond girl.  She is annoying me causing my finger to search for the dvr fast forward button.

Why is Monogirl sooo achy this evening feeling like she's run a marathon or something?  Such is the nature of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Why is it that no matter how much you brush the cat....no matter how much you vacuum.....there is still more cat hair to find?

Why does my car like to mess with me like it has forgotten who I am and doesn't want to let me in? At Cvs Friday I'm like "let me in! It's me! Don't make me get the fob out of my purse and prove it!"

Why does coach outlet keep sending me emails with great sales? I am thinking because they are smart and know they will likely make a sale.....like they did today. I am also thinking a new purse and sunglasses is a wonderful way to improve a Monday because for monogirl......Monday's always need improving. It's the morning of the week remember?

Why did I not get a stylus sooner?  Cause I am a total stylus convert .....it's even good for my ocd Ness .....no finger printy screen.

Why am I still here when there is still time to read this evening?

I'm not..... until tomorrow....Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

I am SO thankful to finally have a new living room light up on the ceiling and functioning!  I mean I need to show you what was there.... um 1970's white and gold... yes... ceiling fan with light kit with ugly fluorescent bulbs showing.... SO over that light and SO loving this one.  OK so maybe some of you are like really?  This light?  What is it... part birdcage?  Ha!  Nope.  It's like part industrial/craftsman/vintage looking metal with Edison Bulbs.  Have you seen Edison Bulbs?  LOVE!  There is a dining room light too that goes with this one, but it's a pendant.  So cool.  Cannot wait to see it up!!  We may be slow.... but we are definitely getting there.  Projects left on our list are.....

1. finish ceiling
2. install dining room light
3. paint and install trim
4. finish electric (outlets and switches)
5. install new TV wall mount..... Darrel says it is not called a TV holder.....
6. curtains up
7. shelves up and other wall art, etc. 
8. bring back in anything coming back from old room including dishes for hutch, curio, etc.

We are shooting for the end of April?  But realistically I am thinking end of May, prior to Memorial day.  We can do it right? 

 

Other thankfulness thoughts today?  Well that would have to include...

• shelter from all this rain and thunderstorms today.  Goodness
• completing my March planner pages (need to take better pics to share)
• a fresh manicure
• my IRCA books arriving today even if not one book is Amish..... yes.  I was disappointed. 
• my husband and I both reading the same book and talking about it.  Currently it is Allegiant. 
• fresh oreos
• the waiters at La Carreta knowing us and bringing our drinks and cheese sauce and jalapenos before we can even ask
• days at home
• drive in season starting
• not just completing my March planner but enjoying working on it and that my BFF and I are both doing one at the same time which is FUN
• peeks of spring
• sandal weather
• capri pants weather too
• getting some things caught up at work
• good friends in Christ who build me up and support me with scriptures
• my husband and our Saturday pancakes
• cooking on the grill
• mashed potatoes.... they should have their own food group. 
• the Internet not going down just now.... even though it appeared to be threatening to.
• the weekend
• the dining room light... did I mention the dining room light? 
• a good report at the DR for my husband. 
• singing with choir last night
• my Kids Hope little friend and feeling like we are becoming closer and more comfortable with each other
• date night.... LOVE date night
• pink gifts from friends just because
• cuties or halos or whichever ones it was I ate today.  I wish they had them year round!
• china wok buffet for dinner last night with my sweet husband
• hugs and my husbands shoulder

And OK... the Internet is trying to go down again so I am going to hit a quick save and post for now!  Hope you have a great Friday!  Blessings. 

Ten On Tuesday

1) Yes. Apparently spring may actually appear cause I am thinking there will be more than just this one purple flower.

2) Yes. I almost missed blogging again. What is up with that?  But here I am to see if I can get a start back at blogging by putting up my quickest 10 on Tuesday ever.

3) The drive in opens this Friday and Prides Creek opened today (it's the park where I walk and go to the beach) More evidence that spring is here.

4) It is not easy blogging from my kindle fire.  I have this need to type with both hands which is definitely giving monogirl a serious hand cramp as she tries to hold the kindle at the same time. Is there some kind of hand workout for that cause now I'm getting a shoulder cramp too.

5) I am actually currently reading a non Amish book. Who knew that was possible. Yep. I am currently knee deep in Allegiant which is book 3 in the divergent series.

6) We had a wonderful pizza picnic date night week before last. I have pictures to share. Promise to do that soon.

7) We have been deep in vacation conversation tonight at Monogirls house. We are headed back to Hilton Head again. I prayed and prayed about it and God provided a way. God is so cool. Deep conversation is fun when your biggest problem is which condos balcony has the best view of the ocean.....

8) My March planner is pretty much complete. Love that. I just need to print two more small pics. Will have pics to share hoping Thurs.

9) We got one of the new lights put up in the living room. It has Edison bulbs and is the coolest.....I know you are thinking why is she telling us this if she isn't going to show a picture??

10) Have you heard of Resurrection Eggs?  I am making 18 sets of them for our kids hope kids.....Very fun but also having a few of those what was I thinking moments.

And yay a complete ten on Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by. Blessings!