Today is the Day...

...that I drag this blog up from the depths.

I may have unintentionally set the record for how long one goes without posting on a blog.

Over 2 years.

Anyone want to check the Guiness Book of World Records for me?

Ah, well. Water under the bridge.

As I've considered whether or not to begin blogging again, I've done a bit of introspection and found how much I've changed in the last 2 years. Or maybe not exactly changed, but refined. I think I still have the same interests, especially in the creative arts and natural health; but I feel my interests have/are becoming more specific.

For instance:
 I am passionate about herbal medicine. I seek out alternative methods for treating sickness for our family, choosing to try natural remedies.
I was introduce to Young Living essential oils in May of 2012 and began using them for our family in June of 2013. I love essential oils because they are the strongest concentration of the plant form and therefore, extremely effective and versatile in application.

Regarding the creative arts, I still have far more interests than I have time to engage; and as seems to be my way, I get super into something and can't get enough of it for a spell, then I move onto something else. Never dropping it completely, but my obsession waxes and wanes.

Currently I am trying my hand at refashioning/altering clothing.  Love, LOVE, LOVE doing this.

In other news, we've been trying to incorporate a cleaner eating lifestyle since August of 2013.

We've gone gluten free and have cut out processed foods and refined sugar. We've definitely had many health benefits as a result; the largest being, weight loss and reduction of inflammation in the body. Win. Win.

I decided to blog again, not because I want to be popular or even noticed particularly. This go 'round, I'm doing this for me. To chronicle my interests. To journal. To have a holding place for my projects and interests. 

This I do for me.

Come along, if you like.

An ALMOST Interesting Post...

I feel that we are on the verge of getting a new computer for my husband. This cheers me greatly because perhaps, then, I wouldn't have to worry about uploading my pics onto this computer because he's in the middle of some project that I might screw up because I was uploading pictures.

Case in point: This post is NOT going to regale you with my AWESOME Memorial Day weekend hijinks because I CAN'T UPLOAD MY PHOTOS RIGHT NOW.

Darn.

Suffice it to say, I had a MARVELOUS time at an idyllic location buried deep in the back woods of Alabama.

It was a weekend full of fishing, fireflies, tramping through the woods (machete in hand), horseback riding, playing in the creek, rowing across the pond and generally sitting around sighing with satisfaction.

And just as SOON as I can, I'll post some pics.

I Joined the Club

Don't you just love our matching Mother's Day tattoos?!! :P

I really enjoy visiting blogs. Due to the gifts of writing and creativity bloggers can have, I feel as if I've gotten to know these authors personally.

Last night, I actually did.

I found out one of my blogging friends, Michele, lives in a town about 45 minutes from me. Michele has two blogs. I really enjoy I'm not Cheap I'm Thrifty because who doesn't want to hear about someone's great bargain finds?! Trading Ashes for Beauty is her "life" blog.

When we realized our proximity, we began hatching a plan to meet live and in person.

Fast forward several months....

I got a Facebook message yesterday telling me she was on her way into town! I was so grateful that I had a rare day with nothing on the schedule! My daughter and I (poor daddy was working) met Michele and her family for dinner and just jumped into conversation like we'd done it many times before! It was SUCH a lovely evening! The most disappointing part of it was when it ended!!!

We both agreed that we HAD to get together again...I just hope it's sooner rather than later!

Whooo! Can't believe it's been a week since I blogged! Time can really get away from me...obviously.

I don't know why my life seems so busy right now. I haven't added anything extra to the mix--other than being really busy on the weekends these days. That's when I plan to relax and delve into my hobbies (and catch up on housework) but recently my weekends seem to schedule themselves. This past weekend I was thinking that I had a weekend with no plans (always the goal) and...whaddaya know?! My little girl had a birthday party to attend, my sister came for a visit and I took a trip to a neighboring town to take my girl for her portrait sitting. (An artist friend and I are bartering. She'll paint my daughter's portrait.)

See? All good things, but they just jump on my calendar!

O.K. We're going to try again this weekend. So far, there is only a massage scheduled for Friday. Oh. And a graduation Friday night in a town about 30 min. away. Ohhhh-kaaaay.

You can't have Saturday! No how! No way!

(Stay tuned...)

Signs of Growth

Didn't find these in a Robin's nest, but these Robin eggs are tasty. Surely this is a sign that spring is here.

The scene as I drive around town. Makes me a Sunday driver. And I thought people were honking to be friendly...

Wacky friends "sprout" up.

Everything is growing and I do mean everything. Funny how losing something means you're growing...

All this growing is exhausting. I think I'll park it here...

Doing a Good Job...What Does That Mean, Anyway?

O.K. What constitutes the definition of "doing a good job"?



Does it mean doing something to the highest level of perfection you can get or simply doing it well enough so it's better than it was?



Being a perfectionist, I always seem to see what was overlooked.



That can be a good thing if your job is quality control, but what if someone cleaned your car (for a reasonable price) but there are a couple of places he missed when cleaning the interior, or someone cleaned your ring for free but you can still see a little gunk in the crevices? How picky is a person "allowed" to be?



Why does it aggravate me so when something isn't done as well as I would do it?



My husband and I go around about this sometimes. He wants me to tell him what he did right before I tell him what's wrong about it. I get that backwards most of the time. But it's teaching me a great lesson. First to be grateful for a person's effort to do something for me so I don't have to do it myself. Second, not to speak impulsively. Third, let things go. Things don't have to be done perfectly to be acceptable.





That's something I need to internalize: things don't have to be done perfectly to be acceptable. Whether it's my employee, my husband, my child or even myself. I'm not talking about an excuse to do things half a**ed. I'm talking about my personal struggle in expecting others to match my perfectionistic expectations and failing because it's an unreasonable standard.



If I conquer that, will I be doing a good job?

My World

What a week!

I, for one, will be glad to see this weekend arrive if only to catch my breath.

It has been busy at work with clients waiting in the wings for cancellations (that aren't happening) and one of the girls has gone on maternity leave and I'm doing the ordering that she was doing on top of the other responsiblities I usually take care of . Let's just say it is taking me all week to place one of the orders because I've been getting it together between clients and chasin down other orders that haven't arrived.

I did something new that I've never done before... I gave a lady a microdermabrasion service yesterday. I practiced on one of my employees last week. I think it went well, because she rebooked with me. Our esthetician left, so it's up to all of us to perform these services now.
Oh joy.

I have worked out every day this week, so I am taking off today! Last night at Bootcamp, America (yes, that's really her name) pushed me to use more weight on bicep curls. The phrase "come on girl, you can do more than that!" just get's me. What can I say, I'm powerless to peer pressure. I told her I would be so sore today I wouldn't be able to lift the scissors and she just looked at me and said, "Pshht". She did spot me which helped immensely and I did it. I'm not feeling as sore as I thought I would! In fact, my biceps are not sore at all!

Gotta come home tonight and bake "pink" cupcakes for the big day tomorrow! I'm so excited about my girl's birthday! She is going to have so much fun and I'm going to help! I'll show you the pics as soon as I can....