Planning meals...

I am terrible at planning meals...I want to be a great meal planner - organized, ready to roll but it eludes me most of the time!!! But I have found a new site that I am trying out and so far I am loving it...Plan to Eat is a website that allows you to download recipes and it makes the grocery list for you!

There are so many cool things about this site...and I really haven't figured it all out yet but it even has a mobile app that allows you to download your list on your smart phone...genius!

So do you have a great solution to meal planning...and sticking with it? I want to know!

We have a new niece!

Happy Monday to all...this will be a quick post just to announce our new niece...born this morning - Molly Elizabeth Phillips! She weighed 7lbs 11oz and just over 19"long...we are excited to meet her and thankful for mom and baby's health this morning!

Welcome FALL!!!!

It is officially Fall!!! Well it doesn't exactly feel like Fall around here today, but I just know it's around the corner (fingers crossed)! Today is busy for me...at least I have a little helper at home today :) Here is my run down:

• drop off lamp shades for Melissa, my sisternlaw, to my mothernlaw who is leaving tomorrow for D.C. - we are all awaiting the arrival of her new baby girl!!!!
• bake items for the fall carnival at Braxton's school this evening - this is where my little helper comes in - she loves to bake!
• still need to send out some emails for work
• reschedule an eye doctor's appointment
• schedule to take a vehicle in for repair - issues with cars are the worst!!!

(photo credit: Pottery Barn)

Craziness vs clarity?

We just recently "reinstated" cable at my house...due largely(o.k. specifically) because it is football season and I love my husband! So with that comes the browsing of the channels late at night after the kiddos are in bed - it is really amazing what's on t.v. now...for example I came across this show called the Rachel Zoe show (I'm not sure I spelled that correctly?). Basically she is a stylist to the stars and that is all she does - dress this star and that star for this event, for that event, etc...it was very interesting to say the least, but it also got me really thinking about craziness versus clarity! If you have ever watched the show, perhaps you even love it, I was so shocked at the sheer amount of money being invested in clothing, jewelry, and such - huge amounts! Let me explain...Sometimes I post about lovely things here on the blog - whether it is fashion, home decorating, etc..things that I love! For instance, I posted these lovely boots just the other day, noting that they are indeed wonderful , but TOTALLY out of my budget! And not just "out of my budget" but never in a million years would I spend $400-$500 on a pair of boots - that's craziness for me!

Now that is not to say they are not worth that much money, they are an investment - Frye has been around a long, long time and that fact speaks for itself! But this is my clarity...$400 to $500 could go along way in providing for my family...could go along way in providing for another family that's struggling to make ends meet....could go along way in making a huge difference in the lives of many that desperately need food, shelter, medical attention! So craziness versus clarity, what are your thoughts - is that standard different for everyone or do you think it is the same?

Bring on Fall!

The weather has been so wonderful this week...at least in the early morning hours! I have been so ready for Fall - it is my favorite season! To celebrate...DHB Designs is offering the Paddy Wax "Wassail" 8oz. candle....best fall scent in my opinion!!! Just find the purchase button over there to your right! Happy Tuesday!!! (I have different sizes available...just email me for pricing!)

So pretend this is Thursday, September 9th...

It has been a busy week...lots going on - feeling more and more like myself again! Still not back to blogging daily but in the big picture...that's okay! But just for today, lets pretend it is last Thursday, September 9, 2010...a very good day - because my Olivia turned 5!!!! We had a great day at home...just the two of us (well, my dad stopped by for a couple of hours to eat lunch with us and bring a birthday present which made the day even more special) We are not officially having her party until next Saturday...but I did want to express how very much this little girl means to me! She was a blessing...a very happy, healing blessing after the miscarriage of our second child. She came into this world full force - didn't even want to wait for the doctor to say "PUSH"....independent and funny in so many ways! So happy birthday to you my Liv...this poem makes me think of you....

I carry your heart with me

by e.e. cummings

I carry your heart with me - I carry it in my heart

I am never without it - anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling... I fear

No fate - for you are my fate, my sweet

I want no world - for beautiful you are my world, my true...and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you.

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows - here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide...and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart - I carry it in my heart!

I love September...

I love September...it's raining outside, I have a crock pot full of vegetable beef stew on for dinner, a cup of hot chocolate in hand and I need to focus on getting some work done! my hot chocolate didn't look this good.... Soups, stews, chili.....love fall! Wall plaques I am working on for fall and holidays...will be for sale on website, more info coming soon!

Random photo of a pair of Frye boots that I LOVE, but they are totally out of my budget...a girl can dream!!! Happy Wednesday!

Fall is in the air...

It has been a great weekend! Spent the day with my parents down in Athens on Saturday, Church picnic yesterday, and now a crisp, cool morning of doing nothing(well maybe organizing my closet)! I feel like I am starting to get over the "hump" (no pun intended) with this pregnancy...I have felt better the last few days and it is a welcome change! Busy week ahead - here is the TO DO LIST:

• Have a little girl turning 5 this week (gulp, tears) so we are sitting down to plan a small party with her girly friends!
• New Bible study group starting Wednesday as well as Awana's at church.
• Need to get a few things finished up at the workroom for a design job.
• Liv and I will be heading down to Athens this next weekend to watch my nephew play football...while my boys are going CAMPING for the first time - yes, in a tent, up in the Smokey Mountains!!! I am a bit nervous about it but they are going with Mr. Alvin who is a pro at that sort of thing....50/50 chance my boys end up sleeping in the back of the Explorer :)
• Trying to get some planning done for the BACKYARD BAZAAR I am going to be having soon....got lots of stuff in my storage unit that I need to get rid of - lots of fabrics, accessories, mirrors, baskets, etc....blah, blah, blah...It accumulates quickly over 14 years of design work! If you are interested in attending, let me know and I will put you on the email list!

Hope you have a wonderful Labor Day! Gonna go enjoy this Fall weather while it last because I have a feeling the heat might be returning soon....