this is our happily ever after

1,000th post + a giveaway

I sat down to blog about Project Life and looked at the post number and realized that this is my 1,000th blog post! 

1,000 times I've sat at my computer to share something with you whether it be about our everyday life, a recipe, a great find, travels, family, devotionals, etc.

1,000 times I've attempted to form cohesive thoughts to share with you

1,000 times I've hoped that what I've written would bless someone or at least brighten someones day

1,000 times I've shared photos and things that interest me

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

I began this blog in the Fall of 2006 as I was entering into a long journey of waiting for a heart transplant.  That's why I began this blog...to stay connected with people who cared about me.  It has turned into so much more than that.  I'm naturally a sharer, I like sharing ideas and thoughts with people, I'm a you get what you see kind of girl.  I'm not an extrovert and if you saw me in a crowded room I'd likely be talking to one or two people who I felt most connected with.  If I didn't feel connected to anyone I'd be content to stand to the side and just watch people.  I love watching people...maybe that's where Karsten gets it from! I can talk for hours with my dearest friends and family members, but I'm not the girl who walks up to a complete stranger and talks their ear off. 

However, I find therapy in writing and sharing my life in this way.  It's kind of funny when I'm out with someone I don't know well, but they read my blog...so they know me pretty well.  My writing has been a conversation starter and I believe that one a few occasions it's encouraged others...that's why I do it.  In many ways this blog is my platform to share what God is doing in my life.  Of course, it ebbs and flows and sometimes all you seem to get are Project Life posts, Karsten photos, and recipes....but all of that goes with my temperment.  Sometimes I'm talkative and sometimes I'm quiet--analyzing life, connecting dots, taking it all in, and figuring things out. 

I don't see this blog every becoming a blog that has hundreds of thousands of readers because I don't have a niche...it's not a food blog, or a fashion blog, or a photography blog, or an organizing blog, or a parenting blog.  It's just a compilation of all the little things that make up my life.   I named this blog "Seriously, this is my life" back when I watched Grey's Anatomy and they used the word Seriously all.the.time.  So, Kelly and I, being the silly girls that we are, began using the word Seriously all. the. time!  And this title still fits today.  Seriously, this blog is a glimpse of my life.  Sometimes life is exasperating!  Sometimes life is full of questions!  Sometimes life is, well, serious!  Sometimes life is just so funny you can't help but say, seriously?! And sometimes life is just so seriously ordinary.

So, whether you've read all 1,000 posts I've written or this is the first post you've ever read...I say thank you!  Thank you for finding my life interesting and maybe even inspiring at times. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

As a thank you for stopping by and visiting my little piece of the world wide web today, I wanted to host a giveaway.  This giveaway isn't something you can buy, well not yet.  (I'm strongly considering opening an etsy store) I want to create a canvas for one of my readers.  You can tell me if you want a Scripture or a quote and what colors you prefer and I'll make it for you.  Here are some samples of canvases I've made.

To enter: Leave a comment in the comments section on this blog post.  I'd love to know what your favorite thing about my blog is?  Recipes, devotions, photos, glimpses of everyday life, Karsten (let's be honest...he's stinkin cute!), etc?  What would you like to see more of? If you want to be entered twice, and you have a blog, put a link on your blog to my blog and let me know.  You can also click the facebook "like" button at the bottom for an extra entry.  The same goes for pinning it and twittering it. 

So there are 4 ways you can enter to win:

1. put a link on your blog

2. "like" it on facebook

3. "twitter" it

4. "pin" it

Just let me know which ways you've entered :)

Entries will be accepted until next Tuesday night 7/17 @ midnight

 

Grace for the Good Girl...letting go of the try hard life

I began reading this book a few weeks ago and immediately knew it was written for me.  You might think this book is written for girls who want to be good, or more godly, but truly it's written for Christian girls who expect their lives to appear perfect, to always have a smile on on their face, and to answer the age old question of "How are you?" with the classic answer, "fine", even if life anything but fine.  I love the author's writing style so much that I quickly checked out her blog, Chatting at the Sky (and promptly put a link to the right).  Her writing is the perfect balance of eloquent and to the point.  I am convinced that if we lived close we would be friends...I don't know her, but I love her already.  She's a real girl who struggles with being a mom, wife, friend, blogger, and photographer, but makes a point to find joy in all of it. 

This summer she, Emily Freeman, the author, is hosting a book club for Grace for the Good Girl.  I'm only a few chapters into the book so I'm jumping on board.  I love the idea of reading this book and discussing it with other "good girls" around the country.  Here's the link to the introduction of the book study.  If you're still wondering if this book is for you go read her run down of the book and why she wrote it.  I find her to be witty and authentic.  Then if you sign up for the book club let me know by leaving me a comment.  I'd love to know if you too will be trying to let go of your try hard life!!  The reading schedule and all the details on on the link above! 

 

Pioneer Woman

Today is the day I've been waiting for ALL summer (besides moving into our new house, getting my car back, and enjoying time outside where the temperature is below 98 degrees)....Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman has a new cooking show which premeires on Food Network  I've been faithfully reading her blog for over a year and continue to be awed by her honesty, humor, sarcasm, and delicous recipes. She also has a best selling cookbook (is working on another one), a heart warming and hilarious love story of how she and Marlboro Man (her husband) met, and an adorable children's book, Charlie the Ranch Dog.

I keep hoping that maybe one day my Mom (who works in the culinary field in St. Louis) will be asked to work with PW and I can fly up and work with her too. 

So for today I thought I'd post my favorite Pioneer Woman recipes that I've made. (all photos are from her website...my goal is to get my food photography to this level)

Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce

 Knock You Naked Brownies

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Marlboro Man Sandwich PW style

Sour Cream Enchiladas

Chicken and Dumplings

Monster Cookies

Roasted Vegetable Minestrone

Raspberry Cream Pie

There are more that I've made and at least 50 recipes I want to try once we move into the house and life normalizes.  If you haven't tried any of her recipes take a moment and find one that you would like to try and make it this week.  All of the ingredients she uses are easy to find and reasonably priced.  She lives something like 30 miles from the nearest, and very small, grocery store...so if she can find the ingredients you should also be able to.  I also read on her twitter feed that she was on Paula's Best Dishes with Paula Deen today...I've got to find that and record it too. 

making my blog "legal"

In an effort to create an authentic blog that is totally me I have deleted a good number of posts that included images from google as well as blog posts that included images from other sources that I didn't identify and credit.  I have kept "food" posts with images from other sources as long as I linked to that source. 

Thanks for stopping by...check back again soon :)  Here's a photo of something blooming in our backyard

super cute valentine ideas--a must read for mommas

I found some cutie valentine ideas for kids...and if I had kids I'd use these...and I actually might use them anyway ;)  I love the idea of using a photo of your child for personalized valentines. 

eighteen25 has a some adorable downloads

Also adorable from In Place of Her Crown

from Ashley Ann at Under the Sycamore (one of my favorite creative inspiration blogs)

a valentine for your home (which I'm totally going to print out at Walgreens at 40% off this week use the coupon code bemine40)

I take no credit for any of these ideas or photos...I just think they're fun and thought you might too!

 

what stays?? what goes?? that is the question!

The fact is this:  I don't want to move everything to a new house.  If you're reading this and wondering why we're moving read  this post first...I'm on a blogging roll, so apoligize if this caught you off guard :)  Of course, big items, loved items, purposeful items, and items that just make me smile, or make my life easier will get packed up and moved one day.  But what about the stuff that gets shoved to the back of the closet or cabinet, the random stuff that gets thrown into one of the junk drawers...or in my case...junk room.  That stuff must go...or I must find a purpose for it before the next trash day. 

Yesterday I started with cleaning out the pantry because it had become a cluttered mess and I couldn't find things when I needed them...and that drives me crazy!  I filled not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 trash bags with stale food, storage containers that were missing their lids, an over abundance of plastic grocery sacks (ok...I recycled those), almost empty boxes, and foodie items I bought eons ago and never used...sad, but true.  I even made a little creative project out of it and grabbed some tags and ribbon and labeled my baskets...I know, I have a problem...but it makes me happy to see cute little labels on my favorite Sterlite Baskets

I have these baskets all over my house...I seriously l.o.v.e them...and with a tag and ribbon, well it keeps me organized in a cute way...and I love to be organized.  Thanks Dad for the organization gene! 

When cleaning out the pantry it was pretty clear what needed to stay and what needed to go...expiration dates are there for a reason, right?  But what about the Scrapbook Room, specifically the closet.  Back in August I cleaned out a lot in the SBR, but I didn't touch the closet...because the closet was kind of scary.  So today, I put my grubby clothes on and got to work. 

My method for making decisions on what stays and what goes was this:  Does this item make me happy?  Can I quickly think of a purpose for this item?  Do I have a similar item that I would probably use over this one?  "Is this so important that I want to move it?"  For example--many years ago when I began scrapbooking and I went really crazy buying supplies I bought minibooks all.the.time....with great dreams of what I could do with them some day...well, friends some day is here and you want to know how many minibooks I've created?  Probably about 5 and most were for gifts...so I kept some favorites, ones that I can slide photos into and be done and I am giving the rest away.  I feel so good about that...I really appreciate the ones I kept and believe I'll use them one day and I know the others will be used by kids who have next to nothing.  It's a win win! Yes, I could dwell on all the money I spent on the supplies I'm getting rid of, but is that really a reason to hold onto things...because you spent money on them?  If something is not adding to your life, it's taking away from your life...so get rid of it!

The two bags will be donated and I'm keeping what's in the basket. 

I'm sure each of you have some sort of clean out, reorganize, declutter goal for the new year...I hope you can find it within you to get rid of the excess in your life.  Here are some great links on decluttering and organizing your home.  Peter Walsh (who inspired this blog entry many years ago),  Fly Lady who has easy, realistic goals for cleaning out, and Aby Garvey founder of Simplify 101.  Now, go...pick one drawer and clean it out...I did that yesterday morning with my nightstand drawer and it took me 5 minutes to restore order to that one little place in my home and now when I open it I feel calm, not cluttered.

my blog

I realize that I have many readers who are not aware why I began my blog in October of 2006, so I thought I'd take a moment to give you the story behind the blog.  In October of 2006, I was diagnosed with acute heart failure and told I needed a heart transplant.  This news devastated my family and myself and it seemed that my perfect life had been shattered once again.  What began as a way to communicate with friends and family about my health quickly became a creative outlet for me.  It has been the best way to document my exciting and frequently boring life, a way to embrace the everyday, a means to share what's on my heart, and explore and share things that interest me.  I feel more computer savvy than ever and my photography has certainly improved.  The blog also makes scrapbooking easier because I can go back into the archives and see what I was doing 2,3,4 years ago. 

So that's the story...and I'm sticking to it! 

tuesday randomness

 **I have meatloaf muffins baking in the oven with some potatoes and will steam some broccoli soon. (meatloaf muffins are a basic meatloaf which I bake in a metal muffin tin.  my favorite part of the meatloaf is the burnt, crispy end.  when you cook the meatloaf in the muffin tin, every piece is kinda crispy.  i know, i'm weird...but if you know me i prefer my meat, especially meatloaf, bratwursts,  BBQ chicken, and brisket on the burnt side)

**There are 33 work days left until my early retirement :)  Next year I will tutor and sub until baby Moore arrives...wow, that's really weird to say! Kinda brings tears to my eyes. 

**Just discovered this brilliant photographers blog today via this brilliant photographers blog.  The thing I love (and despise) about her is that she shoots with the same camera and some of the same lenses I have, I think...I love it because that means I could become this good with the camera and lenses I currently have, I hate it because well, I'm no where near this good...not.even.close :( 

**my cleaning lady came today, and even though I left a note on the door reminding Brian NOT to set the alarm, he did...and poor Ellie set if off and called me...I told her the code, called ADT to inform them what happened, they called the police dept to tell them it was a false alarm. But at least my house is clean now!

**I'm really behind on my project life album, so I will be working on it tonight.  I'm SO glad I keep everything documented here, otherwise I'm sure I would have given up by now!

** and lastly, I'm LOVING my new fridge

a new blog link

Last weekend, or the weekend before, I was facebook chatting with my cousins Kate and Kristina (whom I miss very much).  They both told me about their new favorite foodie blog, Smitten Kitchen.  They know me well.  The minute I typed in the blog address and the page loaded,  I knew I was in for a treat.  Up popped a recipe for spaghetti and cheese, the simplest comfort food that I have made on those nights when I'm by myself or when Brian has eaten a late lunch and doesn't want dinner, but I do.  

The food photography captured me instantly...you know I"m a sucker for great photography of simple things.  I will say that I'm a bit cautious to share these photos from Smitten Kitchen because my food photos just don't measure up, but here are a few images that will whet your appetite. 

Mixed Citrus Salad with Feta and Mint

Chocolate Souffle' Cupcakes with Mint Cream

Thick, Chewy Granola Bars

I think one thing I really like about the photography here is that I feel like I could, with lots of practice, get to this point in my photography.  Of course I was very interested to find out what she shoots with and I was super happy to find out that she shoots with the same camera I do and she uses my favorite lens, except my is f1.4.  She also shoots with a macro lens, something I've been considering buying. She also mentions that she hates shooting with flash, but sometimes you just have to do it...so she has this flash...holy cow batman that's expensive!  BUT...can you tell which photos she shoots with a flash and which photos were shot with natural light....I can't....so, do I need to add a flash to my ever growing wish list?   Any thoughts, kelly ?  Ok...my hubby is waiting to go out to dinner....more tomorrow...or maybe later tonight...

Feb 3

a beautiful, sunny Saturday here...Brian went to a men's superbowl breakfast at  our church this morning.  They had several NFL players as speakers, fed the men breakfast, etc.  I ran some errands and got these adorable pink and brown tennis shoes at DSW.  I've been looking for cute pink/brown tennis shoes for 2 years and finally found a pair I liked.  So stinkin cute!

After my errands were done I came home, ate some soup, and took a siesta.  I'm now regreting it, as it will be difficult to fall asleep....thank God for tylenol PM, hopefully that should help me get some zzzzzzz's.  Tonight I made the inside cover of my "28 Days" album.  Tomorrow I'll begin working on the pages inside.  It will be fun to document my life for a month.  Of course we'll be going to a superbowl party at a friends house who has his very own sports bar in the garage.  It's really cool.  I'll try to take some pics.  I'll watch the commercials and graze on all of the food.  Grazing on appetizers is so much fun.  Anyways....we're ushering at church tomorrow, so I have to get up earlier than usual.  Buenos Noches....