"robin's egg blue?"

Since I started blogging back in 2006 (egad!), I have done my fair share of stalking envying reading a LOT of other great blogs out there.  I am often in awe of these women bloggers.  Many of them have husbands and kids and very full lives.  Yet they find time to write tutorials on how to make a fabulous reusable grocery bag or the best way to organize...anything!  But the blogs that really catch my eye are the ones where the blogger has taken some piece of furniture that was discarded at the curb or donated to a thrift store and turned it into something that any of us would be proud to have in our homes.  Most of the time, I am simply in awe.

......except.....

Now I will never say that my decorating tastes are on the cutting edge.  After all, I live in a house that is 60 years old and my decorating is basically "early American poverty" based on what I've acquired throughout the years as hand-me-downs from relatives or furniture stores going out of business.  I would LOVE for everything to match, but that is probably never going to happen short of winning the lottery.

HOWEVER....there is a fad among these spunky do-it-yourself-ers that I am simply not a big fan of.  Apparently the "it" color right now is kind of a robin's egg blue.  Now, I am most certainly NOT a woman who would turn down a gift in a blue Tiffany's box (swoon), but if I had to choose a color as my LEAST favorite, it would probably be robin's egg blue.  Call me boring, but I would prefer my home decor in black or white or au natural.  Those robins' eggs can stay outside in the trees where they look quite fetching.

So, what do you think?  Am I just being bland or boring or will we look back on this period in our decorating history the way we do when we see olive green and yellow refrigerators from the 1970s?

Looking up - Remembering Mom

It's Mother's Day 2010 and my mom is far away.  Luckily she's just a few hundred miles away in Minnesota on a business trip.  Unfortunately that is not the case for many.  Today a friend of mine from grammar school posted a status on her Facebook page saying that although her mom has been gone for a while, she still misses her.  You see, her mom died of cancer in May of 1992 shortly before we graduated from high school.

As we celebrate moms today, I can't imagine the pain that those who are without theirs feel.  Although my mom and I are completely different people and often disagree on any number of things, I can't imagine what life would be if she wasn't there to call when I need help on a recipe or when something exciting happens in my life.  I can't imagine what it would have been like if she hadn't been there to see me graduate from high school or college.  I would have missed the enthusiasm she showed when I brought her to the house I bought and how she reassured me in my decision by saying the house "felt like" me.  The thrill of passing my first actuarial exam would have been lessened without her support and the flowers she sent to me.  I know I'm a woman in my 30s but what mom thinks is still important and I dread with all my heart the day when I won't get to ask for her opinion.

So, on this day, when so many are looking up to heaven and remembering their moms, I share a song by Mindy Smith.  I'm a big fan of her music and this is a song she wrote for her mom who died when Mindy was still very young.  Take a listen.  Then if you are fortunate enough to have your mom still in your life, call her and tell her how much you love her.

Here are the lyrics.  Click here to see a video and hear the song.

"One Moment More"


Hold me
Even though I know you're leaving
And show me
All the reasons you would stay
It's just enough to feel your breath on mine
To warm my soul and ease my mind
You've got to hold me and show me now

Give me
Just one part of you to cling to
And keep me
Everywhere you are
It's just enough to steal my heart and run
And fade out with the falling sun

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You've got to hold me and keep me

Tell me that someday you'll be returning
And maybe
Maybe I'll believe
It's just enough to see a shooting star
To know you're never really far
It's just enough to see a shooting star
To know you're never really gone

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You've got to hold me and maybe I'll believe

So hold me
Even though I know you're leaving

Looking up - The International Space station.

When I asked Troy for ideas on things to blog about this month, he mentioned the International Space Station.  You can't really think of it without "looking up".  The Space Station has either been completed recently or is on the verge of being completed in very near future.  Work to build its various piece and assemble then in near-Earth orbit has been going on since 1998 and was originally started by the Russians.  Starting in 2000, crews have manned the space station on a continual basis for nearly 10 years.

While I think all of the research is fascinating and I'm awed by the possibilities that the research may bring for the rest of us here on Earth, I have to admit that the mere thought of going into space gives me the heebie jeebies!  I am most definitely and assuredly an earth sign.  I like my feet firmly planted on Mother Earth.  I am not a fan of regular old flying in a plane and I CERTAINLY wouldn't even entertain the thought of venture out of the safety of our lovely oxygen-filled atmosphere.  If the earth is going down, I'm going down with her.

For those of you who are perhaps not so "grounded", check out this quick animated timeline of the work completed on the International Space Station.

Looking up - A craft room gone crazy

I'm burned out.  I admit it.  I haven't had a real vacation (more than 3 days off in a row) since last June.  I know it may sound like I'm whining like a spoiled brat, but I need some time to just "be".  Of course, "being" for me is still fairly active.  BT (Before Troy), I had gotten into the habit of taking the week of Labor Day off of work.  It was great because I could get 9 days off in a row and it only cost me 4 days of vacation.  Besides, my birthday usually falls during that week.  Sweet!  I would use the week to finish/start projects around my house, sleep in, veg, work on any craft projects I had going, etc etc etc.  It was fabulous.

Since Troy came on the scene, my vacation days have been scheduled to make the most of motorcycle riding season and spending those vacation days on ACTUAL vacations.  Go figure!  While that has been wonderful, I've really been feeling like I'm neglecting my house.  A LOT!  For instance, I started laying tile in the basement right before I met him and that project STILL isn't finished.  We'll just say that was over 6 years ago.  YIKES!

So, I took the day off to make some headway at home.  My craft (aka JUNK room) is bulging at the seams and sending me to a not very nice place mentally, so it's time to get rid of some crap stuff.  I've been scouring the local thrift stores in search of containers to store my supplies and I've been pretty lucky in what I've found since most everything has to fit into a shelf I have from Ikea.

This morning I started the sorting and dejunking and so far I've rounded up 3 BIG boxes and 1 HUGE bag of stuff to donate and I feel MUCH better already, so things are definitely looking up!  The problems I'm having now are that I (1) have waaaaay to many interests and hobbies and (2) I am trying to fit too much furniture in what is essentially a fairly small bedroom.  So I need to find new homes for a bookshelf, a chair and my treadmill (maybe the treadmill should go somewhere I MIGHT actually use it, huh?).  I thought I was going to move the bookshelf to my back room, but I got rid of enough books that I don't need to use it back there.  Whew!

In the process of dejunking and reorganizing, I'm taking the time to label everything.  I just have to say how much I LOVE my labeler.  It's fantastic.  For those things where I want the labels to be a bit more decorative, I'm using my Cricut and my sewing machine.  Once I've finished them, I'll show you the old (1950s and older) suitcases I'm in the process of redoing to hold all of my extra photos.  I take a LOT of photos!

Stay tuned!

Looking up - A musical interlude with Ella Fitzgerald

While searching for "looking up" inspiration for this month's NaBloPoMo, I happened upon this lovely song by Ella Fitgerald.  It's so fun!  I want it to make it my "alarm" for waking me up in the morning!

If you click on the link, you can listen to a snippet of it.  Edit:  Troy directed me to this audio version of it on Youtube.  Click Here.

Here are all of the lyrics:

If I should suddenly start to sing

Or stand on my head or anything

Don't think that I've lost my senses

It's just that my happiness finally commences

The long long ages of dull despair

Are turning into thin air

And it seems that suddenly I've

Become the happiest girl alive

Things are looking up

I've been looking the landscape over

And it's covered with 4 leaf clover

Oh things are looking up

Since love looked up at me

Bitter was my cup

But no more will I be the mourner

For I've certainly turned the corner

Oh things are looking up

Since love looked up at me

See the sunbeams

Every one beams

Just because of you

Love's in session

And my depression

Is unmistakably through

Things are looking up

It's a great little world we live in

Oh I'm happy as a pup

Since love looked up at me

(bridge)

See the sunbeams

Every one beams

Just because of you

Love's in session

And my depression

Is unmistakably through

Things are looking up

It's a great little world we live in

Oh I'm happy as a pup

Since love looked up at me

Looking up - Smart Phones (again!)

If you'll recall, the other day I wrote a post about how the Smart Phone people have reeled me into their evil web of readily available information.

So, here's the downside of this glorious device:  This morning as I was at a stop light waiting to turn into my parking garage, I saw no fewer than 10 people staring intently at their cell phones while walking.  In downtown Indianapolis.  During morning rush hour.  STARING.  None of them were looking up to see where they were going!

I completely and totally get why Oprah is encouraging everyone to make their cars a No Phone Zone (catchy, no?).  We have become obsessed with these things!  No longer do they simply ring when we have an incoming phone call.  Now we can be alerted by them for any number of reasons - a text message, a post someone has left on your Facebook wall, a new email.  If my old phone rang (or buzzed since I keep it on vibrate while I'm at work) 10 times a day, my new phone rings 100 times a day.  That's a whole LOT of distraction!

I'm truly concerned about our growing addiction to them and the danger they pose as we go through our day.  I challenge you to go a day without using your cell phone.  This morning I accidentally left my phone on the charger at home.  I realized it when I was still close enough to go back and get it, but I decided not to.  I think it has a pretty tight grip on my life and I'm gonna do whatever I can to loosen that grip.

Looking up - Hero worship

Except for the 5 minutes I spend in the waiting room of my doctor's office, I don't really pay attention to much in the way of celebrity news show or magazines.  When horrible stories come out about them, I often feel a bit bad for the celebrities because they don't often have a chance for people to actually get to know who they really are and tabloid writers write whatever will sell the most magazines.

Recently, though, I've started looking up to three celebrities.  This may have even developed into a bit of a girl crush.

It all started when I started watching reruns of "The Ghost Whisperer" on Ion television.  Then my obsession with Jennifer Love Hewitt hit an all time high when I saw a video of her talking about being "vejazzled" on Lopez Tonight.  It was hilarious and she's just so darned cute when she talks about it.  If you haven't seen the video, you really MUST!  It may be the best 5 minutes of your week.  Also, thanks to my bloggy friend Joan for introducing the video to me.

Then I was flipping through the TV channels and saw a bit of an interview with Jewel on CMT (Country Music Television).  Now I know a lot of people kind of rag on her about her teeth because they are a bit jagged, but I've always been a big fan of her music.  Anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for folk music song by a chick with her guitar.

In the interview, she was talking up her new country album that's set to be released in June.  It's called "Sweet and Wild", which she said she thinks fits her perfectly.  She's known for her sweet songs and poetry that she loves writing, but she grew up on a ranch and loves riding horses and motorcycles.  The songs and poetry are her sweet side and the motorcycles are her wild side.  I totally related to this!  I definitely love most all things pink and girly, but if you tried to take away my motorcycle, I'd have to punch your lights out.  I'm just sayin'.

Finally, on Saturday, Troy and I went to see "The Bounty Hunter" starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler (um, ladies?  Can I get a "hell yeah!"?.....I digress.)  I must say, for having just turned 41 this year, Miss Aniston looks amazing!  Her skin and hair are gorgeous even when she takes an accidental dip in a pond.  Her figure is absolutely flawless and I think it may actually be a crime to have teeth that white.  The more I watched her, the more I remembered WHY it is that I don't frequently read all those newstand magazines.  How could I possibly not think of myself as a mutant blob of fat when faced with her physical perfection?  It's no wonder young (and old) girls get such complexes about their bodies.

So this looking up to these amazing stars has given me a goal.  If I could have the perky, cute, fun wit and attitude of Jennifer Love Hewitt and the adventurous/sentimental spirit of Jewel combined into the body of Jennifer Aniston, I could rule the world!  So if you come to my house or ride in my car with me and see pictures of these lovely ladies, it isn't because I've considered batting for the other team sexually.  The pictures are just there to remind me exactly who it is I want to become.