Mantels...

Christmas 2014 mantel

 I've been having so much fun with my mantel!

Yes...I wanted a fireplace for the warmth, ambiance, coziness, etc.

But decorating a mantel is so much fun!

Winter/Snowman 2015 mantel

 So far I've done Christmas, Winter/Snowman, and Valentine's Day themes.

I already have ideas for St. Patrick's Day!

I just think it brings so much festivity to the home.

Valentine's Day 2015 mantel

Do you decorate your mantel for each holiday/season?
If so, where do you get inspiration and ideas?
Pinterest has been my go-to thus far.
Share your blog link if you have photos!
I'd love to see!

I Feel Like A Slug...

me with my boys on vacation...approx. 9-10 years ago...

I'm not quite sure what happened.

Or how it happened.

Or when it happened.

But my metabolism just isn't what it used to be.

on a trip w/ hubby...probably 9 or 10 years ago...

 So many moms gain their weight during their pregnancy, and then have a hard time losing the baby weight.  That was never the case for me.  I only gained 19 pounds with my first son, and 22 with my second.  I walked out of the hospital after having my first son weighing one pound LESS than my pre-pregnancy weight.  Yes.  I said A FULL POUND LESS than my PRE-pregnancy weight!  (please don't hate me!)

 I always had a great metabolism.  I never had to diet.  I could eat whatever I wanted.

I never really exercised.  I mean, hubby and I took walks.  I chased the boys around.

But I didn't "really" exercise.  And I never gained weight.

me and the boys 9-10 years ago...

 Then I started gaining weight.  It was a slow thing at first.

Each fall/winter, I'd gain maybe 4-5 pounds.  You know, it starts at Halloween with all the candy.  Then the big Thanksgiving dinner and pies.  Then Christmas comes with all of it's dips, spreads, cookies, and treats.  But after the holidays in late winter/early spring, I'd go on a diet and start exercising and I'd lose 7 or 8 pounds.  I'd get rid of the gut, gain more energy, look and feel better about myself.

me and my sis probably 7 or 8 years ago I'm guessing...

But then this year...everything changed.  I really don't know what happened.  Age?  Hormones?  Who knows.  Instead of the 4-5 pounds I normally gain each winter...

Between August and December...I gained 15 pounds.  It might not sound like a lot to some people.  And people who see me now say, "Oh, you look fine!"  Well, let me tell you...it's all about the clothes honey!  I do a lot of camouflaging!  All of my jeans are too tight.  All of my shirts are too tight.  I go through my closet each day looking for the baggiest/flowing blouses to hide my (more than) muffin top.  And it's not just how I look...it's how I feel.  I feel like a slug.  I feel unhealthy.  I feel tired...lethargic...unenergetic.  I feel out of breath doing the smallest things. 
It's time to change.

me...7 or 8 years ago...

Something's got to give.

I cannot do this anymore.

It's time to get back to portion control and exercising.

Because I feel (and look) awful.

I refuse to buy larger clothes.

I hesitate to share when I'm dieting because if someone sees me at a restaurant or eating pizza, they're thinking, "Uh-huh...there she goes messing up her diet!"  I can't "diet" like some people.  I'm not going all lean protein and greens.  I'm not counting points.  I cannot live if I deprive myself.  What I will do is do portion control.  I will make sure I'm eating "serving sizes".  If I want a cookie, I'll have ONE.  If I want ice cream, I'll have ONE scoop.  If I want pizza, I'll limit myself.  I'm not a HUGE eater to begin with.  I think the biggest thing for me is exercise.  I've got to get moving.  I'm rejoining our gym.  Hubby and I are going to get on the ARC trainers every day and get some cardio in.  I'm getting back on my fitness ball and doing my crunches again.  Gonna start working with the weights in my basement.  The slug is saying goodbye...because when your sweaters fit like spandex, it's time to make a change! 
(Note...these are all OLD pictures of me.  What my goal is!  I'm too embarrassed to post pictures of my currenet chubs!  Ha!)

Growing Out The Pixie...Update...

So...it's been nearly 18 months of "growing out the pixie."

I can't believe I've lasted this long!

Nearly every time I get my hair cut short...I never last.

I end up chopping it off short again.

Don't get me wrong...

I've been tempted...many a times.

I've seen A LOT of cute short cuts out there!

And I've gone through some major awkward stages.

But...

I did it!

I'm actually happy with my hair!

People are starting to compliment me on it!

Yay!

I've never had "good hair".

So to get a compliment on my hair just MAKES MY DAY.

I usually get more compliments when my hair is in a shorter style.

People seemed to like the pixie.

But I got THE MOST compliments when I wore a short angled bob.

I used to wear it super short and layered in back...

And then angled on the sides.

People seemed to really like that style on me.

"I" really liked that style on me.

Only thing, it required SO MUCH upkeep...keeping it trimmed every 6 weeks...

Well, so did the pixie...

That's the great thing about growing my hair out now...

I haven't had it trimmed in...

I don't know how long!

I was going every 6 weeks during the first few months because I was in such awful "growing it out" stages.  I HAD to keep it trimmed to have any kind of style to it.

But now...it's so healthy, I haven't even had the ends trimmed in several months!

I use Healthy Sexy Hair on my hair (argan oil) when I blow dry.

And if I roll it in sponge rollers at night, I put some leave-in conditioning oil in it before I roll it.

I forget the name of it.

I've just been trimming my own bangs (I know...naughty).

But so far...it's working for me!

I've been taking Biotin for the entire 18 months I've been growing it out and I think it really helps.  My hair normally grows SOOOOOO SLOW.

Not sure how long I'm gonna let it get...but for now...we're just still growin'!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Christmas 2014

 Another Christmas has come and gone.

Wow.

Where does the time go.  This one kind of just sneaked up on me!  We celebrated with the extended family at mom and dad's house this year.  Everything was wonderful, the only bad thing was, Jam couldn't be there due to work.  Crazy schedule, crazy shifts...bummer.  We had a fun day.

 Lots of yummy foods, presents, and games.

 Everyone playing with their gadgets...cameras, iPads, phones, etc.

 Dad with one of his gift cards...

 Chillin' w/ my sis and niece...

 Mom with one of her gift cards...

 Playing games at the table...

 We're a crazy bunch!

 Christmas morning the boys opened their gifts...

 Stocking stuffers...

 Ooooh!  Could it be?  A new game system?

 More history books for our history buff!

 Gaming headphones for Nate...

 Stocking stuffers for Jam...his favorite candy and some Detroit Lions and Tigers decals for the car window.

 Kitty with some of her new toys...

I made a quiche for breakfast.

It was a great holiday.

We are enjoying our time off together as a family.

We hope your holiday was blessed!

Have a happy and healthy 2015!

Update on my schooling...(WGU)

Just thought I'd give a little update on my progress and where I'm at with school.

I've already completed one term and am working on my second term.

I am a little over 1/3  of the way done...falling somewhere in my sophomore year.

I am loving this school.  I don't think I would have ever went back if "traditional" school would have been my only option.  WGU is geared specifically for working adults.  You can accelerate if you want, but don't have to.  Each year is broken up into two 6 month terms.

You work at your own pace, but you still must finish the term by the end of the six months.

If you finish your course load early, you can accelerate and add another class in that term before it ends.  It is extremely challenging.  If you aren't the kind of person who is self-motivated, can work independently, or set and reach your own goals...it's definitely not the type of school for you.  It's A LOT of work.  You have to be a go-getter.

The support of the student mentors and course mentors is AMAZING.

They WANT you to succeed. They want you to graduate.  They will do anything they can to help you succeed.  That is something I never experienced in traditional college at the other two schools I attended.  It is difficult, challenging, trying, and overwhelming at times...not only the course load, but balancing it all with a full time job (2 businesses), family, and other day to day responsibilities.  This is why I stress over and over again to my sons..."Finish college while you're young.  Don't get married and start a family before you finish.  Don't quit.  Don't give up.  Do it while you're young."  I hope by my example that they will see that it's worth it to have a college degree.  It's been so nice being in college again while my oldest son is in college as well.  He has helped me a lot.  I'm hoping to continue to accelerate and graduate early...but if I don't and it takes the full amount of time...that's ok too.  The point is...I WILL GRADUATE!  I am NOT giving up or quitting this time!

It's gonna be so worth it in the end!

Merry (early) Christmas To Us! (And some Christmas decorations!)

 I started whining mentioning to my husband how I'd love to do a DIY faux fireplace.
In the 21 years we've been married, we've never had a fireplace in any of the homes we've lived in.  I was telling him about all of the cool faux fireplaces on Pinterest that I had seen and how we could create something really unique and fun.  I've always wanted a mantel to decorate for all of the seasons and holidays.  I knew a "real" fireplace was out of the question, as it would cost a lot to install a gas one, so I thought "faux" was the next best thing.  We could light lots of candles and make it lots of fun.  Well...dear hubby says, "Why don't we look for an electric one instead?"  Well I never even considered that!  We looked around...and although electric fireplaces HAVE come a long way...we were still really wanting that "real flame".  Soooo...
We got a "gel fuel" fireplace!  It uses small cans of gel fuel and you get that real flame!
Yay!

 It is so awesome.  I love the ambiance it gives the room.  So cozy!
We already decorated for Christmas and I'm loving the warmth the fireplace adds to the room!

 I FINALLY got my mantel to decorate!
I set out a crystal bowl and put some marbleized glass Christmas bulbs in it.  Then I set out my "HOPE" plaque that my momma made for me.  A little reindeer votive holder.  My "JOY" milk bottles.  A glass vase of candy canes.  And I also added my brand new cashmere winter mittens that I got last year for my birthday!

 We decorated for Christmas early this year.
Normally, I say, "The tree does NOT go up before Thanksgiving!  We have to give Thanksgiving its do time!"
Well, with Thanksgiving falling so late this year, and as much work as it is to put out all of the decor, I caved and we decorated early so we could enjoy it for longer.

I put up two trees again this year.  One in the living room and one in the family room.
The one above is the living room tree. 

Knick-knacks on our end tables...

 My momma made me the JOY bottles and the HOPE plaque.

 My snowmen...

 The tree in the family room...

 Momma made me the JOY plaque too...

 Mom and dad made the "For unto us a child is born" tree...they're such DIYers!

 More table decor...

 Coffee table...

 Living room...

 Kitchen...

 Patio...

 Entryway...

Half wall between upper and lower levels...

That's just "a little" taste of it all.  I have stuff everywhere...every room of the house.

Even the bathrooms get decorated.

Do you decorate every room of your house?
Do you set up more than one tree?
What are your favorite decorating traditions?
I hope you all have a wonderful time preparing for the upcoming holiday season!

Will try to post more during this joyous season!

Merry Christmas!