Living on Love

I had a really fun interview today. I'm working on a story about couples at different stages of marriage for a Valentine's story. It's so fun to hear the story of how people met and fell in love. Today I went to an elderly couple's home to do an interview. They are a widow and widower that met and fell in love in their eighties. After only a month of "courting," they made the leap into marriage. She made me some banana bread and tea for me and I settled in to listen to them gush about each other. The.sweetest.thing.ever. Ever. I can't imagine losing my Nathan, as both of them lost their spouses after 50 and 60 years of marriage. But, to see them so happy together is just heartwarming.

Sometimes I think the story of how I met my husband and how he proposed, etc. is so boring when you hear these really amazing stories. But, I must say, we have such a wonderful marriage. Maybe the start was ho-hum, but it just keeps getting better. I love to see others in love because I just know how they feel. It's pretty stinking great.

I promise the mushiness will stop after Valentine's Day (well, maybe.).

Productivity...

It feels so good.

I've had a busy day (in addition to the busy week and a half preceding). Days like today make me so thankful for being able to do what I love. I spent the morning bustling around the metro area talking to interesting people for various stories. We have a wealth of intriguing people oozing with Southern hospitality here. Like this lady:

You'll have to pick up the February issue of Madison County Magazine to see who this creative, eclectic lady is.

Anyway, in addition to a busy, busy, week, our weekend was busy too (self-inflicted of course). Besides, the Saints game, (yeah, yeah, who dat?, yaddayadda, I could care less about football, but I am glad to see a Southern team in the Super Bowl and my husband happy), we embarked on another project - the girls' room. It's not complete, so I'll only show you bits and pieces before the big reveal.

Project Wonderland Entry #1:

We painted...
Here's the room color before:

(this is my RyBug and two of her friends)

Blah. Fine for my living room, but not nearly special enough for my babies. So here's what we covered it up with.

It's "Window Pane" by Behr. I'm not much for pink, but my oldest daughter is, so this is a compromise. The blue tones down the pink that's everywhere else.

Also, I found this adorable ribbon (Hobby Lobby, what would I do without you?) and grabbed two of the letters that used to be in baby girl's name on her nursery wall (and happen to be the first letter of the girls' names) and made up these contraptions...

Not sure yet if this is where they'll stay, but we'll see. I still have lots to do. I have to find something for the walls and learn how to sew so that I can make bedskirts and curtains. Also, my oldest is dying for a chandelier, so a search has ensued. As soon as I have the time (and the budget allows), I'll get right on that. It's so fun though, I can't wait for the big reveal!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

The Pacifier Diaries

Well, we decided to take baby girl's paci away, or her "dohdoh" as she calls it. We have no idea where "dohdoh" came from, that's just how she has always referred to her pacifier. Before I had kids I always said I would never have a child that had to take their pacifier out to talk. Well, never say never is all I have to say about that. My oldest sucked her thumb when we took her pacifier away around her first birthday and that was a terrible habit to break, so I let baby girl keep her paci a little longer, ok, a lot longer.

The first day without it was pretty rough, but now she does great during the day and hasn't even asked for it. It's bed time that's the kicker. She simply won't go to sleep, but I know it will get better.

Say a prayer for us as we cope!

Be back soon with a longer post - I promise!

Why I Love the South - Reason #5

So it's been a while since I wrote about why I love the South... and oh, how I love it!

Reason #5: The cold never lasts long!

Here in the deep South, it has been ffffrrrrreeezzzingggg!!! We're just not used to the weather we have been having down here!

Lucky for us Southerners, me, because I can't deal with the cold, it doesn't last very long. This weather has been very out of character for Mississippi. I can feel it to my bones, which makes me stay snuggled up in the house, which I don't mind for oh, about 24 hours. Then, the cabin fever sets in big time.

After Christmas is over, I'm chomping at the bit for Spring to roll around. Here, Summer rolls around about two weeks after Spring makes its appearance, but I'm ok with that. Here's what I have to look forward to:

                               

Ahhh, warm. Maybe I'm a big ol' baby, but I sure am glad I live here.

Now, on a serious note, I realize that with all the tragedy in the world right now, I'm ridiculous to be complaining about the weather. Please join me in praying for Haiti!

I hope you all have a great week. I've been busy, busy, writing, writing, writing, but I promise to be back soon.

Project Playroom

Disclaimer: I really am a tidy and organized person most of the time. My children, however are not (as you'll see in these photos.) This is often a source of conflict in our house.

This weekend I was determined to get something accomplished around the house... I want to get one room completely finished at a time, so this weekend I attacked the playroom. Here's what I had to work with:

This used to be baby girl's room until she moved into a big girl bed and into her sister's room nearly a year ago. So the nursery became the playroom and I basically shoved all the toys in there. My goal was to make it look somewhat presentable. I started with a coat of paint (in the same shade) thanks to baby girl's decision to share her masterpieces:

I tried everything to get the marks off. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser usually works, but in this case it just smeared the crayon. So a coat of paint to the whole room (and the hallway outside the room) did the trick.

Then the organizing began. Starting with the closet.
Before:

And after:

In order to have art on the walls without actually having art on the walls, I came up with this contraption, which I like to call my picture hanger thing.

Just get two decorative knobs, some string, scrapbook paper, and mini clothespins, and voila!

I thought these knobs were just adorable. They came from Hobby Lobby and my dear husband was sweet enought to screw them into our wall.

I've been collecting Ws for one wall in he playroom. Some of them I bought readymade and some I embellished. 

It was fun, I must say! I did get this idea from a blog I read a while back. For the life of me I cannot remember which blog it was. I wish I could give credit where credit is due!

Here's the final product:

The last thing I plan on doing in the playroom is making curtains. Looks like I'll have to learn to use my Christmas gift.  Then on to the next... either the girls' room or the office. Stay tuned!

Iced in...

So here in the deep South, we are under a very, very rare, "winter weather alert." I'm sure those of you in other parts of the country are laughing, but it gives me an excuse to hunker down with my girls, so today I think I started something.

We had an at home "spa day," complete with manis/pedis, makeup, and back massages. My oldest was in hog heaven. Here are a few pics:

So fun! I hope you're all keeping warm - stay safe on the roads!

Resolutions...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I have to say that 2009 is a year I'm not too terribly sad to see go. I'm excited to see what 2010 brings to the table! I usually don't make resolutions, besides the ever popular lose those last ten pounds of baby weight (my baby's two and a half!), but this year, I feel like there is a lot I can (and need to) improve on.

This year, I resolve to...

1. Spend more time getting to know God - in prayer and His word.

2. Cherish time with my kids... After all, 2010 is the year my oldest enters kindergarten - and begins a life of her own. Where have the last five years gone?

3. Seize the day. I'm one of those people that is constantly wanting to know what is happening next, when life is happening now!

4. And yes, lose those last ten pounds of baby weight! It wouldn't be a new year without me at least saying I'm going to do that!

Best of luck on all your resolutions!

Also, side note - head to your newstands quick and pick up the January/February issue of Mississippi Magazine, the oh-so-popular bridal registry issue. I wrote a feature on the Winchester rehearsal dinner. When I started freelancing, one of my first goals was to write for Mississippi Magazine, a quality publication that of course is all about the best place on earth. Every time I get an assignment I'm so excited!

Happy New Year! I'll be back soon!