Nine…

Me-
– starting an 8 week fitness challenge with a few awesome friends. i am super excited!
– meeting with my new physical trainer, and establishing a fitness routine.
– finally nailing down as much editing as I can fit in this month.
– trying to be more disciplined with meditation time. 
Reading-
– still reading the same Emily Giffen book. (hard month of August. NOT SAD to see it be gone.)
– Starting the new Gretchen Rubin book Happy At Home. My BFF Deb and I loved the year we took to do The Happiness Project and are super excited to embark on this journey together.
– Get back to journaling. 
Us-
– starting a family gratitude challenge. I’m super excited…
– Getting back to school. New home program. I’m way excited about it. Optimistic.
– Celebrating our family anniversary (9th) and hoping we do it in an extra special way…
– picnic.
– apple picking.
– apple drying.

 Heart-
– quality time with one’s I love.
– striving for gratitude.
– writing more from the heart. 

Create-
– armoire renovation projects. (thanks, Pinterest!)
– working in a more dedicated way, on my Smash book.
– begin working on a few Christmas gifts. 
Home-
– Smoothies. Smoothies. LOADS of smoothies. Experimenting…
– a new cheesecake for my dear friend’s birthday.
– board games.
– new art projects.
– preserving.

Health-
– water. exercise.
– less sugar, more green.
– teas. natural beverages. 
Love-
– desperately hoping to squeeze a date night in… Maybe two. Don’t want to get too crazy…
– getting back into praying together and devotions. Summer wasn’t easy on us…
– tv snuggling.

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Foodie Penpal Reveal Day…

Since July’s Foodie Penpal swap with Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean was SO FUN, I decided to give it a second go for August and I am so glad I did! It was even more fun! 
I received this awesome package from Linda in very rural New Hampshire. Linda leads a pretty amazing life and I was so glad that she took the time to be my August pen pal! 

I mean, LOOK at all of these goodies!!!

It’s as if she knew me, I ADORE cookie cutters and these are genius…

Hello Autumn…

Organic Vanilla Beans! *swoon*

‘Nuff Said…

Pure perfect paper goodness…

yes, please!

Maple moose candy…

So much fun you guys… August is a perpetually bad month in my family, each year- and this month was NO exception… Getting this little package, amidst the chaos was an absolute God send… Thanks, Linda!!! 
If you are interested in seeing the package I mailed, Check out Catherine’s blog… 
Can not wait for next month! Join me? :) 

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It wasn’t me…

Go ahead and say it… 
I know. 
It’s been about a week. It seems as though, as of late, I sort of more than suck as a blogger. 
Blame lesson plans. 
Blame the smoke we had here, in the valley, from the fires. 
Blame the blue sky that emerged. (woo hoo!) 
Blame the party I threw this weekend, or the barbecue we had last night. 
Blame anyone but me, because I am going to be the one to play the “*Whine* It’s not my fault!*Whine*” card, this time… 
So there ya go… It’s not my fault. 
But today Season two of The Walking Dead released. And Episode one is calling my name, (again, not my fault) so I have to go… but i promise I will be better, grow up and start taking responsibility for my blog. (With pics!) 
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A Texas sized Thursday…

One week ago today, Genny and I put my husband on another plane. This time though, he was headed to Texas for the AIT graduation of our amazing daughter Amanda, from AIT in the US Army. 
He was a totally lucky duck for getting to go. I was more than a little jealous… 
He attended her graduation and enjoyed two days in San Antonio with her. They dined, they bowled, they site saw. 
I thought I’d share because I am super proud. (and still, pretty jealous.) 

As for why it took me a week to share the photos- she is home now and so I have just been busy spending time with her. 
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On being home…

I have been silent. 
I have been busy. 
I have been consumed and distracted, and here is a big chunk of the reason why: 
About eight weeks ago my husband got a phone call that rocked life as we knew it. It was all in reference to a job relocation that seemed beyond amazing. Significant pay increase, dream come true health benefits, theoretically ideal location- we were electric at the idea. 
Of course, the timing really stunk. Being in the midst of this crazy adoption, for one. Having just renewed our lease, for another year. A new school program that seemed awesome. My sister’s health; blah blah blah… All of the timing inconveniences aside- it seemed tempting. 
I mean, check out just a few of these things on the pro-list: 
– barely any drive from my BFF. 
– a few hours from Manhattan. 
– Coastal living. 
– Trader joe’s. (I know, I’m a broken record.)
But little red flags popped up early on, with the transfer. 
And then, a couple of weeks ago, my brave husband flew out to DC to check it out and “negotiate.” 
Suffice it to say, we aren’t moving east any time soon. Honestly, we are pretty ok with that. We have great friends, an amazing church, a home our family has grown up in, and a lot of other key things. We dreamed about the green, green grasses of the east coast for about 7 weeks of a split second before we realized this just wasn’t for us. The position won’t be ready for another 6 months, but even then it’s not for us. Truthfully, we kinda pitty the poor chap who gets suckered into it… 
Goodbye pay increase… 
Goodbye ocean sunrises… 
Goodbye Friday night football games and Saturday morning pedi’s with my BFF… 
Goodbye amazing insurance… 
Goodbye crazy, disrespectful boss… 
Hello again, HOME. Sorry we lost sight of how truly blessed we are, we’ll try to not let it happen again… 
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