Our "Haunted" House

In honor of Halloween this week, I've decided to veer away from my newly minted Tuesday's Truth's in favor of something a little more festive - Trick or Treat Tuesday. ;)  

Eh hem...yeahhhh so...I totally wanted to post this YESTERDAY but my computer was NOT cooperating. What was supposed to be Trick or Treat Tuesday is now...Whacky Wednesday? I don't know...yeaaaaah...prolly not.

Anyway.......

I thought that since Halloween is tomorrow TODAY and I have yet to show you ANY of my fall decor, I'd give you a little sneak peek action of my actual Halloween decor.

I don't have much in the way of "Halloween specific" decor because I've always been a little hesitant about it but this year, I've been especially fond of decorating for the holiday and can see myself  shopping for more "frightful fun" in the future.

:)

 

Our Halloween tree is in the kiddos room this year - they have a perfect spot for it and it is also serving as a pretty night light for bedtime. :)

 

 

 

So that's it! We have every room in our house decorated for fall despite my initial non-desire to do so. I'm hoping to share the rest of our fall decor with you in the next couple of weeks so be on the lookout for that if you are interested.

Now, I'm off to put together a couple of last minute costumes for my kiddos. I was hoping that they would forget that today was Halloween but no such luck! ;)

Have a great night with your families whatever you do and stay safe!

XO

It's Comb to This.........

I'm just gonna get right down to it.

My hair is thinning on top of my head.

I.am.freaking.out.

The worst part is that I have no idea if it's like an illness thing...a vitamin deficiency thing...a stress thing scratch that, I KNOW it's a stress thing...or possibly because every.single.time I put my sunglasses on top of my head, the nose-rester-thingys (official term, yes?) get stuck in my hair and I wind up pulling GOBS of hair out. This, embarrassingly enough has happened way more than I should probably admit.

I'm super smart. 

Soooooooooo...dude. I'm freaking out!

Ask my sister. She has been there when I've been white knuckled, sweating bullets, wide-eyed and hysterical over it.

I've cried, people. 

And hello...I just read that stress can be a major factor in hair loss in women.

And I'm stressing over it.

Eh hem.

I need a deep breath.

Please pass the sedatives.

Xanax...anyone? 

Tranquilizer dart?

I may also have ADD so now my mind has gone to the scene in Old School when Will Ferrell's character sticks himself in the jugular with the horse tranquilizer.

Inappropriate language.

Sorry. 

But hilarious, okay?

Am I right?

Now, you are thinking about it too if you've seen the movie.

You are smiling.

"I like you...but you're crazy."

:)

Yup.

You're welcome.

So yeah...if I start to decline invites for events, I'm probably at home with my guitar singing this:





True Story.

Losing weight...losing hair.

Yup, I am officially a loser.

Awesome.

"Hair Club for Jen. I'm not only the president. I'm also a client."

Same Old...Same Old...?

Source: achristiansjourney.com via E on Pinterest

I find myself often thinking..."Lord, why the heck am I STILL going through this? When are you going to decide to help me? When is the situation going to change for the better?"

After reading this pin, I think, "What have I learned from this though?" 

Am I different?

If I were to get into this same situation again (because I've been here before now), would I be different?

Dear LORD, I want this situation to change...

But has my heart changed?

This refiner's fire...has it refined me?

I typically think, "If only this would change or that would change, my life would be SO.MUCH.EASIER."

But maybe it should be, "If only I would change..."

"Change my heart, Lord."

Because clearly what I've been doing, isn't working...

And I'm sure tired of the same old...same old...

Daily Chalkboard

 

I love this little picture and sentiment that Natalie wrote on the board yesterday.

So cute! 

I love how she spelled Halloween. She didn't know how to spell it but she tried! 

I personally think that it was a brilliant effort. 

Love my little candy girl. 

:) 

Tuesday's Truth's

I don't have too much to share with you today other than the fact that I am soooo stinkin t i r e d.

I went to bed early-ish for me (like around 11:30?) and I got up at a decent time but ever since I've been crashing.........

[Ugh...even now, it's all I can do not to go curl up in my bed...]

-----

I stayed in bed for 2 hours this morning while I finished my latest obsession, the book Divergent by Veronica Roth. I have to say, the book bored me a little at the beginning and I was sincerely starting to doubt the Good Reads recommendation but around 1/2 way through, it took a drastic turn and I finished it crying, totally into it and quickly grabbing the second (thank God that I decided to pick it up at Marshall's the other day or I'd be a seriously unhappy camper today!).

Side note: Sorry. Was that like the longest sentence you ever read or what?!

Seriously so in love with trilogies or longer series. I turn my nose up at single book reads anymore. I guess I'm kind of a non-commitment phobe.

After Insurgent (the second book in my current series obsession), I'll be picking up the 10th installment of the House of Night series. It came out last week and I'm totally psyched to read it. I've missed the HON clan!

-----

If anyone cares, I'm also reading a great non-fiction book called The Good Wife's Guide by Darlene Schacht.

-----

Went grocery shopping this afternoon and I love having healthy snacks back in the house. It is so. MUCH. easier. to stay on track with healthy snacks in the house.

-----

I've already made friends with the box of Reduced Fat Cheez-Its.

-----

Great...I just had the thought that Cheez-Its sounds just like Cheese Zits and now I am feeling slightly nauseous.

-----

Gaaaahross. 

-----

I went away with my girlfriends from high school this weekend and definitely ate like I was on vacation. Didn't go way overboard but it was enough that for the past two days, I have been starving! I'm back on track with my healthy eating etc but I would love to have even just one more bite of that cheese steak and fries I had at Happy Days on Saturday.

-----

That thought also makes me want to confront every single person who can eat whatever they want without gaining a pound and punch them in the head.

-----

I'm doing pretty well with my whole weekly anger management challenge so far! Though today, my oldest son, Nick, is really testing that. I haven't yelled but I have growled deeply under my breath. Does that still count?

-----

Did anyone else notice that I said "want...to punch them in the head" and "weekly anger management challenge" not even one full sentence later? lol

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This is the first time in a few years that I feel like I'm in a really good place. There isn't any real family drama to speak of and overall things are pretty peaceful. It feels awesome to not go to bed with a knot in my stomach every night. I'm praying that feeling sticks around for a while...

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You have no idea how good it feels to write the above statement and how I never thought that I'd get to this point in recent years. I sincerely thank God for helping me get through the nuttiness that has been our life's drama and I'm praying for continued peace. 

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Noah said, "Yes, Ma'am" to me today. I felt like a character on Little House on the Prairie. As much as I loved his politeness, I also didn't love his politeness. Ma'am makes me sound so old! I seriously debated on getting out the soap to wash his mouth out. Kidding. 

-----
 
Or am I?

------

Okay so that's it...the real truth of Tuesday is that life is a little boring round here at the moment. And also picture free today. Sorry. I'm starving and really must go make dinner now. 

We're having taco's!

But you already knew that.

;)

Meal Planning Monday

In order to keep myself accountable for actually planning our weekly dinners, I decided to nickname Monday's here at the blog - Meal Planning Monday - and post a picture of our menu board for the week.

So, without further adieu, here is our board this week:

Tonight we are having whole grain thin spaghetti with a roasted garlic and herb red sauce (already in the crock pot)

Tuesday, we are having tacos - my kids favorite meal

Wednesday, we will be eating apple/sage pork chops

Thursday, we are having asian grilled salmon

Friday, I wrote down that we are having chicken but I may change that to venison. I'm doing it up in a szechuan stir-fry and last time I made it with the venison, it was to die for.

Saturday night, I'll be making homemade pizza and Sunday, I guess I am hoping to go out? Ha. Not sure about Sunday yet. Maybe some type of soup and sandwiches or salad.

This post is mostly for my own benefit but if it helps you decide what you'll be having for dinner this week as well, that's awesome.

I know that for me, when my meals are planned out in advance, my life flows a whole lot more smoothly in the evenings...

Now to write out my grocery list for the week. Of course, I'm sure I don't have ALL of the ingredients I need for these meals....

Such is life.

;)

Have a wonderful week, Friends!

XO

Sunday's Scripture - Weekly Challenge

 

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via J on Pinterest

"In your anger, do not sin..."

I love that the Bible does not say "Do not be angry".

That would be an impossible feat, as in this world, there is so much that is anger provoking.

What the Bible does say is "In your anger, do not sin...".

Though admittedly, sometimes that also seems like an impossible feat, right?

Sometimes we can't hold back and we really just think that we need to give it right back to whoever or whatever is making us angry.

I personally am very guilty of this and honestly, lately it seems like I am always angry.

Also, it seems like I am not so keen on the "do not sin" part.

My husband says something dumb or hurtful...queue the backlash. My kids disobey or don't listen...queue the yelling. 

Sometimes my angry reactions turn out to be way worse than the original offense and it leaves me feeling even more angry...this time at myself.

It makes sense that God would say, "In your anger, do not sin...".

Because it makes things worse...duh!

You'd think after doing it time and time again, always with the same end result, I would have learned by now.

Eh hem.

Not.

-----

So...

I just decided right this minute to take today's Sunday Scripture as a challenge for this week.

You can join me if you feel so inclined.

This week, I will understand that I may get angry, which is okay, but I will not sin in my anger. I will not allow unwholesome words to come out of my mouth, which the verse goes on to say, but rather only speak what is helpful to BUILD up and not tear down. 

I will also write this verse on several 3 x 5 cards and post them in several rooms of my house to serve as a reminder to me to stick with my weekly challenge.

I'll try to remember to keep you guys abreast of my progress and I encourage you guys to do something similar. It doesn't have to be this verse b/c perhaps anger isn't your issue. Maybe it's something else altogether.

The Bible says in Psalm 119:11  "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You."

[So, Lord, this week, I am going to hide Ephesians 4:26-29 in my heart so that in my anger, I will sin not against You.]

This is a toughy and right now, being that I am home by myself with no husband and no kiddos to irritate me or make me upset for some reason, this is very easy to think of. It'll be a whole other story when they are back home and our new week is underway.

So, I thank God that the Bible ALSO says that with Christ ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

That means that I can be angry (it's just a fact sometimes in this crazy life) but with HIM, I can also SIN NOT.

Yay!

Happy new week, Friends!

I love you and pray that you will gain victory over something you've been struggling with this week.

We CAN do it!

XOXO

Wordy Wednesday (a day late)

Source: itworksforbobbi.com via Lori on Pinterest

Tuesday's Truth's

• My fingernails are scary. They are all different lengths and my polish is virtually non-existent except for a few fingers with small hints of the polish I used um...3 weeks ago or so? (I spared you a photo of this - although it IS the month of Halloween so something that scary might actually be appropriate?) 

• My sister walked in my house today and said, "nice outfit"...I asked her why she mentioned it and she said, "because the last 3 times I've seen you, you've been wearing that same outfit." Nice. Truth is, I am actually wearing a different black top this time but the point was duly noted. Quit it with the black, jeans and leopard print combo already.

•  My four-year-old is almost exclusively a dog now. As I am typing this, he is sitting at our school table coloring his picture with his paw (this is when his fingers are folded in towards his palm to form a "paw"). A few little yaps have escaped his weird little mouth. Weird but still fiercely adorable. 

 

•  We are having hotdogs and mac 'n cheese for dinner. Neither vegetables nor fruit are anywhere in sight. Oh and we're eating it on paper plates. Mother-of-the-year what WHAT?!

• Ya know that weird little dog I was telling you about earlier? Well, today I caught a bunch of girls fawning all over him.

He does have that effect on women.

•  I made cupcakes for a ladies meeting at our church last night. Got there only to find out that they decided to bag it since they didn't have a very good turnout. I was left with the cupcakes.

So...today I was forced to eat one. 

It was worth every.single.calorie.

• I have a serious spray paint addiction. My furniture should be scared. Very scared. 

• My seven-year-old typically dresses himself like the entire channel of ESPN. He is currently wearing a football jersey, baseball socks and basketball shoes. Oh and his brother 3-years-his-junior's shorts. (sighhhhh) Someday, I will be giving Stacey and Clinton a call. Mark my words. 

 

 

•  My foyer has looked like this for the past 3 weeks. Ya know the saying "turn the other cheek"? Yup...right away from the mess. Current State? Denial. 

• Yeah........menu planning is a great idea..........in theory.

 

•  My children are neither allowed to play in my room nor are they allowed to play with my Kindle Fire without asking. Eh hem....caught red handed. Camera doesn't lie folks. They do look comfortable in all their naughtiness though.

• I didn't dust this tray before I put this stuff on it. It needs it. Crud-dy.

•  I really thought I had the laundry under control. Stop laughing. Seriously stop. Okay, I never have the laundry under control.

• It's been well over a month since our floors have been finished. Which is exactly the same period of time I haven't swept under my bed. And I wonder why I've been sneezing at night. Darn dust bunnies. I should throw a party for them.

 

• Sometimes I'm too lazy to remove the price tags on things. This item cost 25 cents. Big Bucks Jenny likes to keep it classy. 

• I said that I wasn't going to buy mums or pumpkins this year. 

 I lied. 

 

•  I have come to realize that forgetting things has become quite the full-time job of mine so in order to stop looking like a complete flake, I've decided to start documenting our weekly important events. I really hope this helps. I'm kinda tired of hearing myself say "I'm so sorry" for the umpteenth time.

• Remember how I said (on Facebook) that I wasn't at all in the mood to decorate for fall this year? Yeah...well, that ship sorta sailed. I've been decorating for the last 2 weeks straight. If I was running for presidency my campaign slogan would read "Leave No Corner Left Undecorated".

•  Dead leaves are the new mulch. 

 

Mmmmmm...pretty. 

• Drawing on our chalkboard takes me back to 7th grade English with Mrs. Detweiler. I have a slight chalkboard obsession and it's all thanks to her. She wrote on the board like a dream.  She was also the most polished (though slightly nerdy) person I have ever met. I don't think I ever saw one single solitary hair out of place. She was sheer perfection. 

Happy Fall to you, Mrs. D (wherever you may be)!

• And finally, today I bought a chair. At Liberty Thrift Store. I was driving down Main Street in Spring City when I spotted it out of the corner of my eye.  It was love at first sight. She is in beautiful condition. Could hardly be more perfect. EXCEPT for the color. Now there's work involved. Boooo. I need fabric, paint and a few deep breaths. This part doesn't make me so happy. Hmph. 

 By the way, the chair is also exceptionally comfortable. 

 

And it was $15.
 

It's okay to be jealous. 

 

;)

So, that's it...Tuesday's Truth's.

It may be an ugly life but it's our life.

Errrrr...um...yeah. 

;) 

This Project Is Brought to You By The Letter N

1) Supplies:

Monogram 'N' that I had atop our chalkboard in our school room - fell down occasionally and really didn't have a great purpose in the room.

Leftover chevron shelving paper from kids room closet project

Old frame that I was planning on sending to Goodwill

Scissors

2) Decided to spray paint the 'N' yellow (leftover paint from our play room wall scone project)

3) Finished project - I think it's going to go in the kids room but not 100% sure

I kinda like it though!

All of the items I had on hand so this project's cost to me: FREE 

:)

Got the idea from Pinterest, of course!

What the...?

When did the little people move in?

(And this is a fair reason why I don't like to clean much...my tools suck.)

And yes, you do see 3 different color woods here. We're starting a new trend. 

;)

Pretty Pumpkin

I wasn't planning on buying any real pumpkins this year but after reading this post from Alyssa and seeing her beautifully decorated pumpkins, I decided to bite the bullet and make a trip to our local farmer's market.

I only bought 1 for me and 3 for the kids (1 for each).

I'm not going hog wild with decorating our exterior like I have in years past so no $50 in pumpkins for us this year.

(Yes, I really did spend that one year. On pumpkins.

And that was just for the ones gracing our front porch!)

Since this is our first year having finished bedrooms (well, almost finished anyway), I decided to decorate them for the season as well as the rest of the house.

Our bedroom is a little more chic, if you will, so I didn't want to cheapen it with anything over the top harvest-y kitsch. 

Therefore, the pumpkin I chose was white and I found an idea on Pinterest that I thought I'd try to do my own version of.

A pretty puff-painted pumpkin.

Alright, so puff-paint isn't exactly chic but the 3 dimensional effect it has on pumpkins is a look that I find super pretty and definitely a bit more upscale.

I chose colors that I thought would jive well with the color scheme in our room.

I would have loved the blue to be a bit deeper for a richer effect but this was all they had and so I went with that rather than searching further.

The gold adds a little glitz and the swirl design adds a little glamor.

The pedestal gives it a little something extra as well...

All in all, I love how it turned out. And this project was so super easy.

Now the kids are begging to use the puff paint on their already decorated pumpkins.

It seems we're a trendy bunch.

;)

To Do

Source: cafemom.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Hi

Oh my goodness, is it ever stagnant in here?

Sheesh.

The doors to this here blog of mine haven't been opened up and aired out in a while.

Sorry about that.

With homeschooling 2 of my kiddos, trying to get my house back in order after our summer long kids room project, decorating for fall, desperately trying to keep up with my daily chores and getting my health and fitness on, I've been kinda busy...

to say the least.

Most of my blogging lately has been done over at www.peachesandprayers.tumblr.com, otherwise known as my motivational habitat. That is where I have been documenting my daily journey about finally losing this blasted weight.

So far, I'm down 11 pounds since September 16th!

Yay!

I didn't feel like Tumblr was a particularly healthy place for a personal blog but for a weight loss blog, it's genius.

So much motivation and support and it's been really great being over there so far.

Feel free to follow along if you're interested!

As far as this blog goes, I do have things to share.

Every day, it seems I have something worth blogging about but time just hasn't allowed for it.

I used to blog in the evenings or whenever I had a break during the day but since beginning school this year, once the kiddos are in bed, I've taken to lying on the couch with my husband and watching TV or retiring to my bedroom for the evening with a good book.

[I just finished The Wolves of Mercy Falls series (Shiver, Linger and Forever) by Maggie Stiefvater if you're interested - check it out!]

Blogging often seems like too much work and at the end of the day, I'm just ready to blank out for a bit.

I do think it's important to document life. In a world where life is constantly go go go, it's nice to sit down and go over the many blessings of the day.  

Anais Nin once said, "We write to taste life twice".

I love that quote.

So, with that being said, I am really going to try to make more of an effort to take a few moments of my day and blog about what is going on here.

I, personally, love reading other blogs. They often help inspire, motivate, challenge or otherwise engage me and teach me something that I didn't already know.

I won't pretend to think that is what you'll find here because often we're just regular ol peeps having regular ol days but maybe at some point somewhere in my writings, you'll get a smidge of something you haven't gotten before.

Or maybe this will just be for me. I'm okay with that too.

This is all just to say...hi...I know it's been a while. I'm still here. We are still living life. This year is busier than we've ever been. Exciting things are happening...we just don't have much time to document it these days.

I do plan on finding more time to write though...starting with today...

Laundry is going...sink has been cleared...beds have been made...more laundry has been put away...kids have been dressed...fed...teeth and hair has been brushed etc etc etc.

School is about to start up again and on the day goes...

Hoping this rain lets up at some point this week b/c I'm looking forward to taking the kiddos out for school pictures.

Be on the lookout for those in the coming week or two.

I've got props and I know how to use 'em.

:)

Gotta get back to work here so...have a wonderful day, friends!