A Little Rant

You know that moment when you feel like you've had an amazing idea, and you work really hard on that idea, and it turns out better than expected?

Then you decide to share it with others because you want everyone else in on the fun?

What you didn't realize was that eventually, no one would know that it was your idea in the first place, and your feelings are just a little bit hurt.

This is where I am right now...my feelings are just a smidge hurt.

 

Almost 2 years ago, I turned a little old $5 yard sale table into this LEGO Table.

And for those of you who may be concerned...the table had been sanded down by the previous owner, and it wasn't a priceless antique that I decided to butcher and then paint;-)

It was cheaply made, and thus, I felt completely justified in giving it new life.

 

Since then, I have seen this table EVERYWHERE!

At least weekly, I see it on a blog, Facebook or Pinterest.

When you search "Lego Table" on Pinterest or Google, it's one of the first images to appear.

 

I find this truly mind-boggling...especially since my blog only gets a little over a thousand page views a day.

 

What bothers me, is when my images are taken from my blog without permission...altered...and then sent across the internet with no recognition of who the owner is. This is a common thing, I know, and comes with the blogging territory, but it's still slightly irritating.

 

Case in point.

I have seen this picture over and over again on Facebook.

It's exciting to see at first because I see how many "likes" and "shares" it has under the picture(sometimes a few, sometimes hundreds of thousands).

But then, I notice that something is missing.

My water mark.

Big thumbs down.

Now obviously, if someone really wanted the complete tutorial, all they would have to do is type "Lego table" in any search engine, and they would come across it in no time.

But that's not the point.

It's my work, and I'd like for people to be directed to my blog...plain and simple.

Like I said before, I realize that's the nature of the beast...got it.

I will say this...for those of you who have found me, whether it be from Google, Facebook, Pinterest, or any other search engine, and have commented on the post, shared the post, sent emails asking for permission to use my photos, or sent words of encouragement, I thank you for that.

It means so much to me to know that I am inspiring others to turn "trash into treasure", to give new life to an old piece, to be creative when you start with something small.

That is what I love to do, and if I can help someone else develop that same love, then it's been a good day.

 

And for those of you who say that this table obviously belongs to someone who doesn't have "a real Lego collection," you'll be happy to know that all of our Legos do not fit in this table, but we don't have a huge collection either. We have enough, and the kiddos seem to be completely content with what they do have:-)

 

Rant over. :-)



 

 

 



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"Mommy, You're Getting Fat."-A Journey in Learning to Love My Body

Words you never want to hear your child say to you, "Mommy, you're getting fat". Especially when you have been working with a personal trainer for the past two months; literally killing yourself to look and feel better. Now granted, I did eat Zaxby's fries for dinner last night, and those suckers are loaded with salt, so there may have been massive amounts of bloating going on, but still...she cut me deep. She cut me real deep, Shrek.

Obviously, she had no idea how hurtful those words were. I ignored what she said, and told her to finish getting ready for school. I was at a complete loss for words.

I have never been a Skinny Minnie, by any stretch of the imagination. No one has ever used the words, "bean pole" to describe my physique. I have what you would call an athletic build. Which has always suited me just fine, since I have always been an athlete in some form or fashion.

 I played basketball from 3rd grade all the way through college. I also played softball, volleyball and ran a little bit of track...very slowly I might add.

As an adult, I run long distance. I have participated in several races, and have done alright in some. Winning gift cards and trophies here and there. So, even at the age of 32, I still consider myself to be an athlete.

I never had any issues with how my body was made until recently. 

I don't know what triggered it, but it has certainly been a difficult thing to endure.

I can't help but nit-pick all of the areas of my body that I could improve upon when looking in the mirror.

 My husband isn't the root of the problem. He is always so complimentary of my shape...especially now that I am  working out at the gym like a boss. But even when he compliments me, all that comes to mind is The Princess Bride movie when the wife of Miracle Max comes out screaming, "Liar, Liaaaar!"

This poses a problem. A BIG problem. If I cannot be comfortable in my own skin, how in the world do I teach my children to be, especially my daughter? How can my husband desire his wife when she isn't confident in how she was made. 

The answer is, it can't be done.

Our children and our spouses can see right through us. Even when we think we're hiding our feelings, they know.

Our society is so focused on appearance that you can't turn on the television, read a magazine or book, or look online without running across something that has to do with our bodies.
This time of year, when everyone is making their New Year's resolutions, weight loss is usually at the top of the list. It's so difficult to be surrounded by this day in and day out if you have body image issues.
As I have gotten older, I have tried to make an effort with my appearance. I dress nicer, I wear make-up(which my husband hates), and I fix my hair.
When you have spent most of your life in a gym, those things usually get put on the back burner. I mean, how awesome is it to wipe the sweat off your brow, and then look at your hands and think, ew gross, why is my hand an off shade of "fairly light neutral".
Now that I am not running up and down a court everyday, I try to look presentable.
While I am in the bathroom meticulously applying my eye liner, my daughter is at my hip watching my every move. When I am getting dressed, and checking, and then re-checking myself in the mirror, she is there, memorizing everything I do.

How do I know she is memorizing these moves? Because when I watch her dress herself, she does the exact same thing I do. My own little mini-me. Her outfits never match, but she has taken ever so much care to look exactly the way she intended to. Just like mommy does. And once she is done, she looks up at me with those big beautiful brown eyes, searching for my approval.

She almost always get the response she is hoping for...as long as it's weather appropriate and modest.
Should she be seeking so much approval on this particular subject though?
She's 5 for Pete's sake.
Everything that is important to me, she makes it important to her as well. So as her mother, if I don't want her to worry over such things, then I can't worry over them myself.
Easier said than done, right?
I am going to have to make a conscious effort to celebrate who I am, and be grateful for how God created me.
My thoughts shouldn't be self-centered, but outwardly centered...focusing on how blessed I am to have a wonderful, and caring husband who works so hard every day so that I can stay home to raise our two VERY healthy children. Believing him when he tells me that I look great, instead of doubting him.
I should be grateful for the loose skin that doesn't even resemble a tummy when I lay on my side or the wide hips that will never go back. The loose skin and wide hips are evidence of two of the greatest gifts that I will ever receive.
I shouldn't be put off because I have dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep. Those circles are there to remind me that I was the one they came to when they needed to be comforted after a scary dream.
So today, I start my journey of retraining my thoughts and actions. Thanking God everyday for the health He has blessed me with. Thanking Him for the ability to raise both of my children from home, and to teach them to be grateful and proud of the gifts that He has given them.
I will take care of my body with a healthy lifestyle, but not obsess over it like I have in the past. I will help my family to be healthy as well, so that hopefully some day when I am not preparing the meals, they will know how.
And as long as I am happy and healthy, the words "Mommy, You're getting fat" shouldn't cut me as deeply.
Isn't that what we want to be anyway? Happy and Healthy?

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Snow Envy in Alabama

Are you all frozen solid yet? We sure are. 

Here in Alabama, it doesn't usually get that cold. We may occasionally see temperatures in the 20's, but it's very rare to see temps in the single digits here.

For the past 2 days, we have gone to school 2 hours late. It's been a great way to get back into the swing of things. There hasn't been the morning rush, and everyone seems to be in a fairly good mood when exiting the vehicle in the drop off line.

We got to experience a few flurries on Monday, which resulted in minimal accumulation...can you spot it? 

Oh wait, there it is! You thought our yard had dandruff, didn't you?

 We NEVER see snow, so when there is even the smallest amount, we celebrate.

Yes, we have snow envy.

But being from the deep South, we want snow for a few days, and then we want it to go away. We like the idea of snow...like the "get out of school and roll around and make snow angels for a few days" kind of snow. Not the snow that "shuts everything down kind of snow".

That would be an inconvenience. No one has time for that, now do they? 

So, I sent the kids off to school on Monday, and decided to do some 90% off Target shopping. 

It was quite nice to spend 2 glorious, uninterrupted hours of deal hunting all to myself.

Everything you see below cost $28.50.

I have some great shirts for myself and S.R. for next Christmas, and some awesome crafts as well.

The blue totes were 59 cents each. I have no idea what I will do with them, but I couldn't pass them up. 

I am looking forward to the next few days. I hope to knock out some sewing projects. It's way too cold to do anything but sew.

Stay Warm!

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Busy Beaver

I have been working the day away trying to get several things done. Laundry, cleaning the house, hanging things on the wall, stripping paint off of furniture(as seen below), sanding, etc. This is the first time since my surgery that I have felt well enough to tackle multiple projects at once. I actually have 3 in the process of being completed. And I'm just a little jazzed at how they are turning out:o)

The weather couldn't be anymore perfect for this sort of thing either. So grateful for Fall-esque weather.

We have a big weekend ahead of us. We have 2 kids' birthday parties to attend, a soccer game, and the hubs is having a birthday on Sunday. 

Busy, busy, busy.

Today I just wanted to fill you in on what's going on behind the scenes with my blog. 

As you have probably noticed, the appearance has changed over the past few weeks. I have been working really hard trying to spruce things up and make it seem more appealing. I have scoured the internet for different tutorials on how to make these changes. 

If you check out my Blogger Tutorials Pinterest Page, you can see where I have gotten all of these great ideas.

I have been playing around with this blog for a little over 3 years now. I have had so much fun learning, creating and sharing with you guys.

Now that my kiddos are at the age where they are in school full time, I have a few extra hours in the day where I can get through more projects.

I also have more time to dedicate to this blog and trying to make it grow. 

Growing will hopefully mean turning a profit...yep, I said it. I want to earn an income from blogging. I absolutely love crafting, sewing, DIY'ing, and everything that goes along with blogging. Why not try to make money at something I love doing?

So, hopefully in the not-so-distant future, I will be looking for sponsors. People who I feel my readers, that's you, would want to purchase from.  That part is still in the works right now. Other ways I am earning, is through ads. Every ad-click counts towards me earning a little extra..so if you see something that interests you, click on it:o)

I appreciate each and every one of my readers. I am so thankful that you guys take time out of your day to see what I have been up to. You are what makes doing all of these projects more enjoyable. It's fun when you get to share something you're excited about with other people who will get excited right along with you. I hope that you will stick around and help this little blog continue to grow!

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Gearing Up for Back to School

We are getting ready for school around here. The kids are super pumped, and so are we since both of them got the teachers we wanted them to:o) I have been labeling the day away. We meet E's teacher this afternoon and drop his school supplies off. Just a few more days of last minute play dates and odds and ends that need to be done before they go back and leave me all alone:o)

I am also working on some chore charts and hope to share those with you guys here in the next day or two. Have a great rest of the day!

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Big Moments...

We have had a lot of "Big Moments" going on around here lately. Two weeks ago, I ran in my first 1/2 marathon...It was the most excruciating experience I have ever encountered. The hills and the heat were absolute torture, but I survived (barely) and have the medal to prove it:o)

These were the girls I ran with. Had it not been for my great friend Shannon(far left), I wouldn't have made it to the end. She is such a great source of encouragement and an awesome friend!!

Another big moment was my little sister graduated from college. She is the first in our family to graduate from a university. She graduated with a double major on Saturday & we couldn't be more proud of her. Especially since she was the first. My parents didn't go to college & I only went to junior college and then cosmetology school. My brother will be graduating in two years, so we are really looking forward to that!! 

The weather was wild that morning..it started out raining...and then the sun came out. Along with the sun came high humidity, high heat, and biting bugs:o) We're still scratching;o)

Here are a few candid shots of the big day...

I love this shot of my parents:o)

 The kids posing with their aunt...S.R. was freezing, so she wore my sweater.

 Here is my sister receiving her diploma.

 This is the cake I made for her. This poor thing traveled many miles to make it to it's final destination. It was two days old by the time we were able to eat it, but it was still delicious..if I do say so myself;o)

We have been so blessed with all of the big events happening here lately. 

Next week I will be completely redecorating a dear friend's house. I can't wait to share before and after pictures with you all! I am really looking forward to it!!

Have a great day!!

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What We Have Been Up To...

We have had a busy week this week..hence the lack of posting. Mr. E learned to ride his bike on Monday. He was so proud of himself:o) He came running in the house yelling, "Mommy! I did it. I can ride my bike without training wheels because I believed in myself!"

He's so sweet!

 This is what he learned on..it's called a Joey. It's small, wooden and doesn't have pedals. 

 It took 2 days on the Joey for him to get the whole balancing act down.

 We also had a field trip at the Botanical Gardens.

 They have a butterfly house at the gardens. E almost got one on his finger:o)

 Last night we went to the circus. This was the line into the door. There were people everywhere.

 Some strange and very dangerous looking sculpture outside of the arena.

 National Anthem Elephant

 This part scared me to death. Some of the females were a little temperamental. I said a little prayer for the lion tamer...I just knew he was going to be an evening snack.

We didn't stay for the whole circus. S.R. fell asleep, and the intermission was at 9 p.m. We heard it still had another hour after the intermission. 

Anywho, tomorrow I will be running in a half marathon with some friends. It's my first one, and I am really nervous...mostly of how much I will be hurting afterwards:o)

I am missing out on some super neighborhood yard sales tomorrow morning b/c of the race...BOO! I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! Say a little prayer for me;o)

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Taking a Minute to Breath...

This winter has been one of the strangest I can remember. It has felt like spring most of the winter months. It's been great for the kids because they have been able to spend a lot of time playing outside with our neighbors.

Yesterday, I decided I needed a break from all of the insanity that has been going on here lately...lack of sleep, and trying to catch up on that..homemakers club stuff...and then there is a certain someone's birthday coming up on Saturday as well:o)

Our neighborhood is nestled in beside a river, and there is a nice paved path and picnic tables there as well.

So we grabbed the wagon, some food & the dog and headed down to the river and had a wonderful little picnic.

I sat back, snapped pictures, and enjoyed just watching my children...just watching:o)

 E being silly, and S.R. mad because he "bonked her head."

 Flowers that S.R. picked for me

 Sweet smile

 Throwing rocks into the river

 Scosche waiting patiently as we eat in front of him:o)

 Sticks make great toys..E has a "gun"..go figure;o) And S.R. has a "smiley face."

 There is also a little playground beside the pool house, so they absolutely wanted to play on that.

 Our "Monkey" on the monkey bars...they both can cross them, and I love the look of accomplishment they have on their faces when they do!

We had a great time, and it was nice to take a moment and just breathe.

Now that our school week has officially started, it's time to hit the ground running, and there won't be any "breathing" until after the party Saturday:o)

I have a few sneak peaks that I will share with you guys as teasers throughout the week, so stay tuned!

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Playing Around...

I have been M.I.A. for a bit.

 I had to go to the doctor on Tuesday because I was uber sick. I found out I have an upper respiratory infection. I am on meds right now, one being a steroid...I am tweaking my blog right now because I can't sleep because of said steroid...grr!

 I have been up since 12:00 a.m....it's now 4:10 a.m. 

Some good news...I have been decorating for S.R.'s birthday party this week. It's gone a lot slower just because I have felt miserable, but it's coming together. 

I hope to share some pics very soon:o)

I think I am going to try to lay back down:o)

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Happy Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet & wonderful husband of 9 years!

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Our Thanksgiving

I hope you all are having a great Thanksgiving weekend. We just got back from our trip to Fall Creek Falls with my family. We had a fantastic time! Here are a few pictures from our adventures.

 This particular waterfall is called Piney Falls. This was the first time that we had ventured out to this waterfall...and we took the kids with us...crazy, I know:o)

 Beautiful, isn't it?

 Here is the view from across the gorge.

A certain little man was trying to talk his daddy into letting him go down the water fall in a boat...but a soft boat because that would make it more safe:o)

 Here, his daddy(the hubs) is trying to explain how gravity and force work together when water is involved.

 Daddy isn't impressed with this 5 year old's logic...don't you love how his hands are behind his back? Such a little man:o)

 In this particular picture the 5 year old...E...says"Well, what about the fish?" The hubs' response,"The fish are smart enough to stay away from the edge."

 Here E is pouting because he can't take a soft boat over the edge of a 100 FOOT WATERFALL!!

 Just so pitiful, isn't it? Mean ole daddy:o)

 S.R...a.k.a. Little Miss Stinker Pants, is trying to sneak up to daddy to take a peak over the edge. I thought my brother and the hubs were going to have a heart attack..do you see the the stink in those eyes?:o)

 I love this picture. Two peas in a pod!

 I have the most awesomest family!!!

 Here is the treacherous terrain we climbed through..at times the kids were riding our backs through this forest.

Oh and here is Flower the duck..E named it...not sure what the gender of the duck is:o) But that doesn't matter when a 5 and 3 year old are involved. 

We had a great time this weekend. It was so nice to slow down and just be surrounded by family. I truly enjoyed my family this weekend, and realized yet again, what a blessed girl I am!

I hope you all enjoyed your blessings this weekend as much as I did.

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