November 30, 2010

30 day photo challenge: Day 11

My celebrity crush...

... And you thought I'd put Mark Wahlberg!  
I just love the way Soleil Moon Frye lives her life. She has a great spirit. 
And while I may not be in love with her I sure do admire her.

November 29, 2010

30 day photo challenge: Day 10

A picture of someone I see myself growing old with...


Nobody makes me happier!!

November 28, 2010

30 day photo challenge: Day 9

A picture of my favorite hobby...


... making our home homier. 
I am forever rearranging and adding to the collection.
I just love to decorate.

November 26, 2010

30 day photo challenge: Day 7

A picture of my shoes...


A few favorites from the Fall and Winter collection.
I am always on the lookout for a comfortable shoe though.

November 25, 2010

30 day photo challenge: Day 6

A picture that shows my true self...


Just a big kid on Christmas morning - taken a few years ago.
No makeup, hair clipped back, comfy at home in my pajamas with a giant cup of coffee. Surrounded by the most thoughtful gifts from my sweet, sweet husband. One of the best moments of the year, sitting with Gregg and enjoying our life together.

November 24, 2010

30 day photo challenge: Day 5

Somewhere I've been to...


This is the beautiful view from our hotel room in Barbados
where we spent our honeymoon almost six years ago.
Ahhhhhhh...

November 23, 2010

get it together, world.

While perusing the greeting card aisle at lovely Walmart the other day I was absolutely disgusted by the 'Card Ladies'. You know the ones. They wear shorts, t-shirts and sneakers no matter what month, complaining that the store is unbearably hot when really they are usually overweight and menopausal. (I am not judging weight and age, I'm no skinny spring chicken myself). Anyway, I was deep in thought, choosing a card carefully when I overheard a conversation between Card Lady A and an Elderly Sweetheart. It went like this:

Elderly Sweetheart: "Excuse me, do you know where I can find All detergent?" 

Card Lady A: "It would be somewhere over there if they have it, I don't work here." (pointing to the row of cleaning supplies/paper goods aisles with a grimace on her face)

Elderly Sweetheart: "Okay, thank you." (walking away with no more of a clue than she had several seconds ago but grateful for the reply)

Card Lady A to Card Lady B: "I swear I'm going to make a shirt that says 'I DON'T EFFING WORK HERE'!" 

She was clearly disgusted. Card Lady B agreed and grunted along with her. Now if Elderly Sweetheart had been anyone else she would have clearly heard the Card Troll. But she was roughly 85 years old and I am certain that she was out of listening range. The Card Jerks went on their UN-merry way, groaning as they bent down to retrieve stacks of cards out of their messy and aisle-blocking boxes. 

I couldn't help but give them a dirty look. Not very mature I realize but Elderly Sweetheart was simply asking an innocent question. She was all by herself, wearing an oxygen mask and barely able to push her cart. I saw no need to speak behind her back in a negative fashion. For any reason. I don't understand people. Is life really that hard? Are you SO bothered by such a simple and honest mistake? I am sure that they are mistaken for Walmart employees on the regular and yeah, maybe it gets a little sickening. But let's face it, they are shuffling boxes around and putting items on shelves in the store. Not everyone in the world knows the Walmart dress code. How 'bout making your life a little easier and try being FRIENDLY for a change? 

I would love to see a little less disrespect in this world. I am really just losing more hope as the days go on. Something as simple as a smile is too much for the majority of the population to muster. It is much easier to walk past me with a stone face while my smile fades causing my mood to sour. I just don't understand it. What the hell happened to this world?? 

30 day photo challenge: Day 4

A habit that I wish I didn't have...


... purchasing ridiculous amounts of adorable PJ pants. 
I just love them so much!

November 22, 2010

30 day photo challenge: Day 3

A picture of me and my craziest friend...


... Best friends since we were six years old, there is simply no limit to our crazy stories. 
Love ya Kim!! 

November 20, 2010

the annual tree-tag...

Yep. November 20. Opening day of Big John Leyden's Tree Farm. We seem to go on opening day each year, it just works out that way. Our tradition is to tag our tree on the third weekend in November and head back to chop it down and bring home on December 4 - our anniversary. We then set it on our deck, do a thorough inspection for bugs (as you may recall, last years inspection was not quite thorough enough), place it in the pain-in-the-ass stand and drag it inside. We ALWAYS choose the tree that hurts the most. The stabby kind. We try to wear appropriate gloves and sleeve armor but it's no use, we're bound to bleed. Our anniversary is spent decorating the tree leisurely, sometimes with hot chocolate and always with Christmas music playing. It is quite possibly my favorite day of the year. Today's find? Eh, not the greatest tree in the world but it's gonna work out just fine.


On our trek


We wanted it to feel special so we crowned it with ribbon trash

You know that hurt

Just a lil babyyyy

Exhibit A

"It's not going in our yard, Russ, it's going in our living room"






And so concludes our 2010 tree-tagging extravaganza! It's always a good time, I am always wearing the wrong shoes and I am always ill-prepared for the bitter wind. Look out, December 4th... I'll be ready for ya!

30 day photo challenge: Day 1

A recent photo of me...








30 day photo challenge...

Well, a friend of mine (Living With Contradictions) has posted the 30 day photo challenge as a blog challenge and I have decided to take her up on it. Here is the list of photos that must be posted:

Day 01 - A recent photo of you
Day 02 - A really good memory
Day 03 - A picture of you and your craziest friend
Day 04 - A habit that you wish you didn't have
Day 05 - A picture of somewhere you've been to
Day 06 - A picture that shows your true self
Day 07 - A picture of your shoes
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of your favorite hobby
Day 10 - A picture of someone you see yourself growing old with
Day 11 - Your celebrity crush
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of something you hate
Day 14 - A picture of something you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day
Day 17 - Your favorite song
Day 18 - A picture of the cast of your favorite TV show
Day 19 - A picture of someone you miss
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22 - A picture that confuses you
Day 23 - A picture of something that comforts you
Day 24 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 25 - A picture of your favorite room
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 28 - A picture of you last year and one of you now
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - Who are you?


Anyone wanna play?

November 17, 2010

i love what you're sick of...

Don't you just LOVE when someone says, "I'm getting rid of a bunch of stuff, it's yours if you want it." Yesssssssssssss. Granted, more than half of the time the stuff consists of yard sale junk at best but there is always that one rare gem. You just have to give a thorough glance. 

Recently, Gregg sent me a picture of some little coffee cups that a friend's mom was getting rid of. She's had them for too many years and never puts them to use anymore. Much to Gregg's amazement I fell in LOVE with them. I thought they were the cutest things I'd ever seen. (Yes we are talking about coffee cups). I found out that there were several dessert plates to go along with them. I was totally on board. He brought them home for me the other night and let me tell ya they are adorable! Sixteen dessert plates and six cups. Sure, an uneven number but I have never served coffee to anyone in this house since we moved in so I'm not worried. Here are some pictures - please look at how cute the pattern is. And the cups are SO small compare to the monster mugs of today! I am taking them for a test drive in a little while - it's going to take me eight of these little darlings to finish my usual pot. 




Great find. 

A few days later my mom & I were in The Hope Chest when I came across something that I knew belonged in my home. I stared at it, picked it up, realized it was musical and then felt like an eight year old girl again. I think most people will find it ugly and ridiculous looking but I admired it instantly. After listening to me debate whether to buy it for twenty minutes my mother, the doll that she is, decided to buy it for me - basically to shut me up. Nah, she saw how much I loved it. I know it will have a place in our baby's room - when the day comes. 

 
I just think it's too cute. The little toys scattered around, the wallpaper and curtains, the framed flower paintings on the wall ... and there is even a little jack-in-the-box on the bureau. I can't even stand it. It's adorable. It plays an unfamiliar yet sweet song as the diapered child rocks back and force on his horsey. Tee hee. Oh and that thing on the bed is a teddy bear... he rotates to the music. Yep. The best thing? Gregg likes it too. I wasn't too sure what his thoughts would be but we love that old school feel. Giddyup.

November 12, 2010

prints for sale ...

I have decided to sell my "Home Sweet Home" prints since I have received such positive feedback on them. The set is of three 4x6 prints (frame not included) for $10. I have an unlimited amount to sell. This would make a great gift. If interested, please send me a message here - http://www.facebook.com/sheribobbins


November 11, 2010

frozen vibes ...

Ahhhhh... now THIS is a beautiful day. 51 degrees gorgeous, blue sky, chilly, crisp, fresh and awesome.

So I was sitting there watching a beloved Roseanne episode in the ole DVR when it hit me - I should make some effing coffee. Now sipping that coffee I look back at what a fantastic idea that was. I normally don't make coffee anymore, not even in the morning - it's more of a treat nowadays. And what a treat! I added some peppermint mocha coffeemate ... heaven. It was quite a luxurious thirty minutes I must say. I just get lamer and lamer, huh?

I then updated my journal - YES I still keep a journal, maybe not daily but definitely current. I skipped a few years but I started back up over the summer. It's hardly the same material as when I was 14. I no longer write about how I can't wait to get my license and I don't have a list of eight cute boys- seven of them crossed out. But writing has always been a very important part of my life. I feel like I always have something to say (to myself) ... even when I have nothing to say at all. If that makes any sense. I may not be able to sit across from you at a table and be this great articulate and eloquent conversationalist but on paper I'm very well-spoken. Well, sometimes. Either way I enjoy it and as long as I'm breathing I'll lay some words down. You can quote me on that.

I was lucky enough to see a great friend today. We met up in a horrible store, maybe you've heard of it - Big Lots. Yeah, I apologize if I am offending any frequent patrons of the shop but man alive, what a weird vibe in that joint. My purpose was finding a tree skirt (as some of you may remember I had to throw mine away last year due to VERY unpleasant circumstances, click here to review) and as luck would have it I found one for six bucks. Swell. Anyway my friend and I then went for a spontaneous lunch at The Greenwood. (By the way, last years renovations are stunning, I can actually feel comfortable recommending the place now). We caught up on each other and had a lovely lunch. My friend is 25 days sober today. Hats off to her - I couldn't be more proud. What an amazing accomplishment. She is such a wonderful and caring person, her heart is just pure gold and I wish nothing but the best for her and her family. 

Another treat today is that Gregg actually pulled in the driveway at 2 o'clock. He finished his work day insanely early and we now have a full night to enjoy together. I am very thankful for the past two weeks where he has come home at a decent time each night. Gotta really savor those days because they are few and far between. As I wrote that he just yelled and scared the hell out of me. He's watching The Ultimate Fighter and apparently the guy he loathes just got blasted. Crazy boys and their blood lust. I can't watch that show for eight seconds. Gives me anxiety. I usually read a magazine while he watches it... and interrupt him every few minutes with tips and ideas that I just read about. I'm sure he loves that about me. 

That about wraps it up. I feel good today. I'm in a great mood, everything is working well and cooperating today and I just figured I would post something to freeze that positive vibe right in its place. I hope we all continue to have more things to smile about than to complain of. Love to you.

November 9, 2010

visions of Brody ...



baby steps to Christmas...

Well it has been a long few weeks in the Leach household. I am finally feeling better and more like myself - back to normal in a sense and ready to get on with life. Whew. What a process. (To catch up, click here). We are still coping and coming to terms with our loss. It is hard some days when we see a certain commercial or get another piece of mail or phone call from our Health Care provider congratulating us ... but life goes on. And we are starting to look forward to the holidays once again. 

Of course, along with the holiday spirit comes the anxiety and stress - mainly due to our financial situation. After three weeks of agonizing over it, thinning out the gift list and ultimately insisting that we just cannot buy gifts for anyone this year I have finally decided to let it go. We will make do. It's not that serious. We both love Christmas time and everything that comes along with it. After everything we have been through I think we deserve to have that happiness. And if it means shoveling a few more dollar signs onto the credit card heap then so be it. We will be cutting back naturally but at least we won't miss out entirely. 

We will soon be tagging our Christmas tree, watching the annual specials and decorating our home with red and green. It gives me something to look forward to. This morning I bought some wrapping paper, tags and Christmas cards. Just easing into it all. I put them up in the closet with the rest of the holiday decor. I even lit my North Pole candle. Baby steps. 




November 7, 2010

rakey rakey ...

Even fall has its downside... yard work. Kudos to Gregg for being able to rake, blast and bag up leaves for almost five hours. I did my little, tiny share and managed to steer clear of blisters for a change.


It was such a beautiful day though. Crisp and cloudy with the lovely scent of our fire lingering in the air. I probably wasn't even out there for an hour yet still I feel like I have the shoulders of an 87 year old woman. Raking is no joke, man. My heart rate broke a record today. 

I was all cleaned up and prepping salad fix'ns when I noticed the sky just before sunset ... 


I figured I should capture the moment since it might just be my last glance of autumn.
Lovely.

We are ending this day sitting in our recliners by a roaring fire - hot chocolate possibly on tap. Not much can top that.