Life and Times Update

Here's kind of a random posting for you of all the exciting (and fairly boring) happenings in my life (and my family's life) the last few weeks. My apologies for being rather absent on the blog lately; I'm struggling to keep up with all the projects I'm juggling and just haven't made it a priority. I promise to do better, okay?


Kelsey went with some of her dancers to a competition in Owensboro and sent me these adorable pics. Have I trained her right or what?

My bestie, Vonda, and I finally made it to the painting class that I gave her as a gift for her birthday in December. We had a great time, but I have to say I've never been to a painting class that didn't already have a sketch on it for me to paint. I was very intimidated by that empty canvas. Here, you can see the class and the progress I made on my piece. My dragonflies are kind of deformed, but I couldn't help it. I'm pretty sure this art piece will live at school since I don't love it enough to display it in my home.

Kelsey regularly sends me random pics with her dogs; here she is cuddling with Frankie. The next pic shows him napping with his tennis ball in his mouth so no one else will get it.

Some of my Nashville girls came up at the beginning of spring break, and we enjoyed dinner and drinks and laughter at The White Squirrel Brewery here in BG. It's always a great time with Doris and Tonia!

I spent a quiet spring break at home working on household projects and crafty projects and loved pretty much every minute of it.

One day during my break, Kelsey and I did a bit of shopping in Nashville for our upcoming trip to Europe together. Kelsey is helping chaperone my student trip, so I'm excited that we'll have that time with each other.

I finished my first online class during my spring break and released it on Sunday, April 9, 2017. I'm proud of my work and have been so excited at the positive feedback I've received from those who have taken it. Thanks for supporting me in my creative endeavors,y'all!

 I finally tackled some weeding in my front flowerbeds. Much more remains to be done, but at least I made a start. And look how green things are looking here in KY!

I put off mowing for the first time as long as I possibly could but began to worry my neighbors would set off after me with pitchforks if I didn't act soon. I'm like the only person on the planet who needs a new lawnmower battery every year. But look - I replaced it all by myself! Woohoo - woman power!

The fella had a birthday last weekend, so part of his gift was for the three of us to share two hours of virtual reality gaming at a brand new local business, Holodeck VR. It was a lot of fun, and I think it was a hit with him and his son. When it was my turn, I mainly just floated around the earth and looked at places I haven't visited like Egypt and the Arctic Circle. The rest of the time I took pics of them, surfed the web, and took selfies. Hahahaha!

Don't I kind of look like an alien with all that green light?

Charlie-dog got his hair done this weekend and looks great. He hasn't been feeling very well, lately. Last week, he got lost in the backyard at like 2:00 a.m. because he's lost most of his hearing and most of his vision. I think he became disoriented in the dark and just started wandering aimlessly in circles. I had to go out there and find him in the dark and bring him back inside. It's tough seeing pups get old like that, but I still think he's enjoying his life overall.

There are my last couple of weeks in a nutshell in case you were interested in the happenings in Lowderland recently. Catch you again in a few days! Ciao!

Planning the week ahead

As usual, there were lots of things I didn't manage to accomplish last week. As such, you may see some repeats from the past. Just go with it...

To go/call
1. Skype podcast with Tracie
2. Staples for copy job samples
3. Lexington this weekend if basketball team makes it to semifinals
4. Scrapbook & needlework shops in/near Lexington (see above)  - anybody have recommendations?
5. Gym x 4
6. Teach 2nd Opp night class x 2
7. Catch up with friends by phone - v + t + t
8. Return item to Hobby Lobby
9. Drop off items to donate (didn't do this last week)
10. Plans with the fella x 2 or 3
11. Confirm that K & J gave transport home from flight
12. Cable company to discuss rate change/plan options

To do
1. Finish grading for 3rd quarter - I'm woefully behind and have only 48 hours to finish.
2. Post 3rd quarter grades
3. Run ESS quarterly report and send to faculty
4. Cheer for boys at bball state tournament - show on Wednesday & hopefully Friday
5. Follow-up re: injection
6. Continue de-clutter/bag project for Lent
7. Take out recycling in time for pickup - it's out of control!
8. Make food bank donation at school
9. Finish watching The Borgias
10. Finish re-reading 1984
11. Begin reading a novel + a travel book
12. Touch-up color my hair

To make/create
1. Finish Pretty Little Italy stitching
2. Start next embroidery project
3. Make a traditional layout
4. Finish retreat class prep
5. Continue work on online class prep
6. Update blog settings + pics + posts (create new calendar?)
7. Make Paris pocket page spread
8. Paint something... (ornament? TN? canvas?)

To eat - get back on th wagon; I've been too lax this weekend! 
Breakfasts - fruit, yogurt, granola bars
Lunches - leftovers, frozen veggies/dinners, mac & cheese
Dinners - shrimp fajitas, out with the fella, zuppa toscana, frozen pizza, takeout

Planning the week ahead

So, yeah, it's Tuesday, and I'm just now getting around to scheduling out/planning my upcoming week. That's okay, though, right? I mean, the week has only just started.   Haha, at least that's what I keep telling myself.  Maybe running this far behind is actually a metaphor for my life right now... Here's a look at what my week looks like thus far, and here's a look at some blooms in my yard too.

It looks like spring may have already arrived in Kentucky, but I have to draw the line at doing yard work this early. I'm waiting until at least St. Patrick's Day before I tackle anything in my yard!

To Go/Call
1. Overhead Door to continue researching problem with my garage door opener remote
2. ESS and 2nd Opp night class
3. Eye doctor appointment
4. Drop-off donation bags
5. Gym X 3 (5 days per week just isn't sustainable while I'm working, so I've compromised with longer sessions but fewer times per week)
6. Grocery (I've put it off as long as possible)

To Do
1. Finish grading rhetorical analysis essays (still working on them...)
2. Put away clean laundry (still the bane of my existence...)
3. Gather bags for donation as part of my Lenten promise (I'm already 7 bags behind - oh no!)
4. Clean out my refrigerator; there are things in there that could kill you
5. Enjoy a 'couple' weekend with the fella
6. Finish one of the books I've started reading
7. Determine hotel/apartment for Bruges and Brussels and make reservation
8. Message friends living abroad about recommendations for their cities

To Make
1. Record Pontiffications #3 and upload over the weekend
2. Continue prep work for retreat class
3. Begin prep for TN class
4. Try PL style layout using app on my phone; order page print(s)
5. Make 1 traditional layout
6. Continue working on stitching projects
7. Make some spring necklaces
8. Make 1 pocket page layout for my Paris album

To Eat
   Breakfasts:  yogurt, fruit, breakfast bar/granola bar, scrambled eggs, cinnamon rolls (this weekend)
   Lunches:     frozen veggies, mac & cheese, leftovers, salad, frozen lunches
   Dinners:      out with the fella X 2, low carb egg roll skillet, sheet pan shrimp fajitas, chicken
                       quesadillas, takeout, leftovers
   Snacks:       skinny girl popcorn, fiber one bars, fruit, cereal

I'm off work on Thursday and Friday for a mini-break, so my week is actually a little more relaxed than usual. I'm perfectly fine with a slower-paced week, especially since I don't think I'm getting quite enough rest.

How is your week going so far? Is it an easy or difficult one for you? What are you most looking forward to about your week?

Around here - a week in review in pictures

Today started out on a positive note; I've officially lost more than 20 pounds since December 16th. Woohoo! It sure hasn't been easy...

Tracie came to BG on Tuesday for the big sale at Potter Children's Home from the Studio Calico donation. I didn't ask her to get me anything, but the prices were so good she couldn't help herself. She bought me 14 'kit' packs for just $21! Since I had to work 12 hours on Tuesday, this was the only way I'd be able to get any of the goodies, so I'm incredibly grateful.

Here's a pic of some of the goodies...

And another picture of more goodies. Interestingly enough, I don't think I had most of the stuff that she bought in the kits. With the few repeats that I have, I'll probably do a giveaway or RAK at some point.

Also on Tuesday, I spent some time during planning taking a few selfies. This one was my fave! (Oh, and some of my students saw me doing this from the window, so I was totally embarrassed! Well, not so embarrassed that it'll stop me in the future though.)

On my day off on Monday, I hosted my friend, Lorie, for a crafty day. I cleaned up my studio and brought in an extra chair for her and pulled supplies for a couple of projects.

She didn't get there until around noon, so I worked on my DD 2016 that morning. I'm finished up through day 16 - woot! woot!

I'd been dying to paint on some wood chips ever since I pinned some Christmas ornaments using them last fall. Since I never got around to it over the holidays, I thought it might be fun to spend our crafty day doing this.

Here's the little guy that I painted on Monday. It was so much fun! I want to try to paint all the things now, even though it doesn't come easily to me. I'm going to keep at it until it is easy!

I spent the whole day on Sunday stitching and watching Netflix in my pajamas while cuddling Charlie-dog. He was feeling extra needy and cuddly that day, I guess. I'd like to try to finish up the Italy stitching this month; we'll see if that's even possible.

On Saturday, I hit the "fill a bag" sale at the Half Price Book Outlet and bought 39 books for just $31.80 ! Check out all of my goodies!

Here's a closer look at the nonfiction books I bought for myself.

And here's the fiction...

These are books that I picked up for Kelsey while I was there. I didn't choose anything for Jake since I didn't know what he liked, but he snagged a book of mine for himself.

And I even snagged a book for the fella and his kiddo. I felt a bit like Oprah; you get a book, you get a book, everybody gets a book!

After I went to the gym on Saturday, I met Kelsey for lunch at Qdoba. She posed for this pic in her new glasses (love them!) and ate while I chatted with her. Can you believe I stayed strong on my diet plan and didn't indulge? Go me!

I even received some happy mail this past week. My sweet friend, Christi, sent me a thank you card and gift card for attending a business function for her in the fall.

And another sweet friend sent me a traveler's notebook with transparencies inside! I need to do a quick video share of it to show you guys. Adding that to my mental list!

On Friday, I podcasted in Nashville and went out to dinner with Tracie and her daughter and sister.

After a 12 hour work day on Thursday, I headed to the gym and worked my guts out for two hours. I felt stressed and just wanted to get my workout in so I wouldn't have to think about it again until Saturday. I posted on IG about appearances being deceiving, and it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. :)

A sweet friend at work complimented and hugged me in the hallway on Thursday, then she left me with note on my desk. It was the first time anyone had noticed my efforts to get in shape, and it felt pretty awesome.

The week ahead

To Do

1. Create writing prompt and rubric for rhetorical strategies inaugural speeches unit

2. Skype podcast with Tracie 

3. Help CEPT student plan upcoming lesson

4. Plan upcoming calendar items + blog posts + meetings

5. Clean guest rooms

6. Put away new mountain of clean laundry (the struggle continues...)

7. Continue reading Before Versailles and 1984

8. Frame travel prints and set up new mantel decor (I've been putting this off)

9. Bathe Charlie-dog

10. Pick up limbs/sticks from storms and bundle at curb

To Go/Call

1. Register EF chaperones for student trip

2. Grocery

3. Faculty meeting 

4. Get tires checked

5. Dinner/cocktails with friends

6. Gym. Every. Single. Day.

To Make

1. Continue Italy stitching project

2. Record PonTIFFications video episode #2

3. Start work in Craft Your Life book by Amy Tan

4. Make 2 layouts (yeah, this is an old goal I've never followed through in doing)

5. Continue working on DD 2016 (I didn't reach the goal of finishing by 1/31 though)

6. Plan retreat class (ongoing project)

7. Set long-term plans/goals creatively also BG with an action plan

Meal Planning

Breakfasts - cereal, fruit, breakfast bars

Lunches - leftovers, frozen dinners, bagel with cream cheese, mac and cheese

Dinners - out with the fella x 2, out with Tonia, BBQ chicken sliders + frozen veggies, homemade vegetable soup, takeout, cowboy caviar + tortilla chips

New year rearranging

After my foray into the wonderful world of IKEA last week, I had many purchases that I wanted to use to update my home. In particular, I wanted to use the Kallax shelving to display my scrapbook albums.

Here are a few 'before' pictures:

And here's a video I made showing the revamped space.

And here's a still photo too.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and am looking forward to spending my evenings in this freshened up space that feels more like me.