Week 1 - #PersonalTrainerFood

#PersonalTrainerFood

My first week has started off great. I had my first breakfast on Sunday (1/24) morning. I withstood fixing waffles for my guys and then got my first taste of the food that Personal Trainer Food had sent. I had an egg and two sausages. And they tasted really good! I added a pinch of salt to the egg, but nothing else. After fasting, I thought I would be starving like mad, but surprisingly, I didn't shove it in whole and scarf it down like a wildabeast! 

30 Years Ago Today - Space Shuttle Challenger

Challenger Lifting Off

Thirty years ago today. A lifetime ago. I was in the 8th grade. I remember being so excited. My science teacher had applied and made it through a lot of the selection process before finally being eliminated and Christa McAuliffe was selected to be the first teacher in space. It was an ambitious goal to say the least. Sending a civilian to space.

Starting a Journey - Personal Trainer Food

#PersonalTrainerFood

I am starting a 28 day journey. It's one that admittedly makes me nervous. Weight loss. This wasn't part of any New Year's resolution I made to myself, but the opportunity presented itself to review the Personal Trainer Food program. I have been wanting to make a change but I was so overwhelmed. I didn't know where to start. I am nervous. I have never done any program like this. I'm nervous and very self-conscience about sharing it.

Glass Vase Angels

I saw a photo of an angel made with a glass vase floating around Facebook during the holidays and wanted to try to make one for my Mother-in-Law for Christmas. I found out that trying to find glass dishes at DollarTree during the holidays can be a challenge! 

Reflections - Looking Backward While Planning Ahead

The sun has risen on another new year. I have been thinking about what goals I want to set this year. I know there are things I want to do and am trying to formulate a plan to do them. In trying to look forward, I find myself looking back. Last year was a tough year. It seems like almost everything about it was tough. 

We had a rough one right from the start with my granmother passing away in January. Sometimes is seems the fallout from things like that keep coming, in slow motion. You never really know what issue will pop up and with greedy people trying to grab at everything they can, I'm not sure the fallout ever really stops. At least it continues for them. I won't be part of that. 

Most of the year slipped by much too quickly. We didn't really go anywhere or do anything special. I watched our son sprout up over the Summer until he was taller than me. I'm only 5 foot tall so it's not like it was a difficult task! :)

Then just as school was about to start, our step grandpa passed away. Like my grandma, it wasn't unexpected, but it was hard anyway. School started right after the funeral and we slipped into the day to day routine and before I knew it, the holidays were on top of us and the whole year was just *poof*! Gone. Christmas was fun. It's usually my favorite time of the year, but somewhere in the deeper recesses, I couldn't really shake the doldrums. 

That brings us back around to now. A whole new year. It's always heralded as a time for new beginnings, a time to start fresh. I never really feel that about a new year. This year I do want to make goals, set my sights on something. I usually put too many expectations on myself though and it bites me in the butt. I am trying not to do that this time. I want to do a better job of writing here in my little speck of the world. I want to get back to crafting and creating....lose weight, cure every disease, fix the world... you know, just little things like that. Shouldn't take long, right?  :) There is so much I want to do right in my own space. 

So let's get going! I'm glad to have you along for the journey! What are you're goals for the year? How do you organize in order to achieve them?  Let's get that coversation started. Maybe we can help each other to not only get started, but to stay motivated along the way. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As I sit here contemplating what gifts I still need to get for one last family Christmas get together (yes we are STILL celebrating Christmas on New Year's Day!), I am also thinking back to the last year. 

It doesn't seem like there was anything memorable to come out of it. No one thing that stands out or that "wow" moment that will never be forgotten. There was a lot about this year that was rather bleak. We started off the year with my Grandmother passing away in January and enduring the sort of ugly truths about family that can come out at times like those. We also lost our step Granfather this year. Thankfully the opposite has happened with his passing. Family drew together, and supported one another. Things tended to hum along, but nothing stands out as incredible or extraordinary. 

We had happy moments to be sure. We gathered for birthday and holidays and those are always special moment I love. This tail end of the year has been my favorite because of that. Being amongst people we love. We did make it another year. That is itself is wonderful. It's the breathe-a-sigh-of-relief kind of wonderful. Perhaps,that's because we have stood at the abyss and looked in, but did not fall and refused to jump. Though it all, there is always hope. The hope that the new year brings better. That we do better.

I have seen a meme floating around with a quote that is attributed to Brad Paisley: Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Make it a good one. That fits right in with hope. It's that chance to take a deep breath, grab the pen and fill those pages with the best thing of all - A LIFE WELL LIVED. 

My wish is that you experience a year filled with life. That you get connected to what means the most to you, that which brings you joy, the moments that put a smile on your face and a song in your heart! 

And from my heart, I want to thank you for being here. Let's make this New Year one to write about! Let's fill those pages and not leave any blank spaces!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Please celebrate safely!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. I hope you have had a good year and I hope the new year brings you all the happiness and joy your heart can hold. 

Christmas Traditions With #KeepsakeIt and Hallmark

Hallmark Keepsake ornaments have been a part of our lives for almost as long as I can remember. From our first Chistmas together after we got married, my husband started a tradition of buying me ornaments to commemorate the year we'd had and the changes we had gone though. The I started getting him ornaments reflecting his interests. We have ended up with an eclectic and fairly extensive collection of Star Trek and Disney ornaments!

Bake FUN Holiday Cookie Shapes And Snacks For Less!

Post contains affiliate links

It's that time of year. COOKIE TIME! Making cookies is a staple activity during the holidays. With these fun cookie cutters, you can rock the Christmas party with the coolest fun foods because cookies cutters don't have to be for just cookies! 

What Was Your Worst Christmas Gift Ever?

We've all had them. Bad, BAD gifts. The ones that leave you scratching your head, the ones that leave you wondering if the people around you even know you at all.

I've had a few of those, too. Usually from well meaning elderly relatives. But then there are others.... One of the absolute worst gifts I ever got was from my husband's paternal grandmother. Well in this case, it was the gift along with the circumstances surrounding it.