New Blog Recommendations for You and a Fun Swap

So, lately I’ve been a search for some new blogs. I still love everyone that I read, but I felt like I needed some new energy. I am sure you understand what I mean – hopefully.

In the search for new blogs I came across The Larson Lingo. I was first engrossed in her parties (she has a tab that it full of just parties) and over the past week I have gone back to read through the entire blog. You see Mel has two daughters that I believe are about 20 months apart and me being in my current condition it was perfecting reading material.

You can find her blog here

From Mel’s blog I have found these that are great as well:

I also want to tell you about The Macs. I have been reading Jess’ blog for almost two years now and love every word of it. Jess has two darling boys – one is Bekah’s age, so I like to see if they are progressing the same way.

You can find The Macs here:

I strongly suggest you stop what you planned on doing this afternoon and go read these blogs – you’ll thank me for it later.

Ok, so on to the swap. I am getting in on this at the last minute, so I wanted to make sure I told you as well. Kim over at A Cuppa Kim is holding her second annual mug swap. I am so excited to get in on this and you will be too, but you need to click the link below and request to be a part before Midnight tomorrow (August 8^th).

I will leave you now since it looks like you have a ton to do! Hope you are having a blessed Tuesday…I still feel sick, but I will deal…only like 7 or so more months to go. 

Birthday Wishes for Someone Special

During my break I missed a very important post that I just had the opportunity to read today.

If you are on my Facebook, you may remember the excitement I felt when I found a fellow Lutheran blogger. I was so excited when I found Edie that afternoon since she has been on my daily reading and has provide me with so much. I don’t think I could put into words – even though I should  - what Edie’s blog has meant to me and the long, still growing list of things I have learned from her.

Two weeks ago, during my break from reading and writing, Edie lost her home and all of her possessions in a fire. She and her entire family and family pets made it out safely – she details the events here. Since I read that the first time I can’t stop thinking about what she is going through the pain of losing so many things that you hold dear and at the same time losing the security of your home. Many times we take things for granted thinking every day we will open our garage door and find the same house we left in the morning. Oh, I am letting my anxieties show, aren’t I?

The reason for this post is to let Edie know that her writing means so much to me and she has officially been placed on my prayer list. Oh and also to send her many many birthday wishes.

Picture of Edie I pulled from her facebook page - I hope she doesn't mind.

I know it hasn’t been the greatest couple of weeks, but I hope today a little light shines your way.

Please go visit Edie’s blog today as her readers wish her a happy birthday! You can find it here. And if you pray – which you should, am I just saying – then please lift Edie and her family up in your prayers today. Thank you!

And incase you need to ask - Yes this is one of those times where I am commanding you to go visit somone else's blog - now get going!

Ancient Things and America

It was the last chance to complete this project with Shelby before she was swept away to spend Thanksgiving with Gweedo and his family. The first time I saw this project on Shawni’s blog I knew I had to put it on my list of things to do with my family.  I had been putting it off and then have been sick for almost two weeks, but I grabbed a box of Kleenexes and sucked it up. I had to have this done last night – HAD TO and I am so glad I did.

I was lucky that it feel into the theme for Mama Cat’s Writing prompt for this week. It was perfect – ask your child what they think Thanksgiving is and what they are thankful for.

First off for the past three weeks the public school system has been pounding the meaning of Thanksgiving into Shelby’s head. She knows names I have never heard of and locations I didn’t even know exists. Of course, JAG knows all the details – all I know is the pilgrims and the Indians and the true story about Christopher Columbus – American Literature it was eye opening.

In true Shelby fashion when she was asked what Thanksgiving was about she cleared her throat, folded her hands and proceed to say that  “it is the day where we think about all the things we are thankful for”. Then she continued with the Pilgrim and Indian story and how they wanted to have their own religion. She knew all the details prompted by JAG to include all the correct names. Me? Well I was kind of stuck in the middle with my mouth open.

After I spent some time trying to determine if they just teach more these days or if I didn’t retain anything from elementary school we moved onto our thankful list. Each of us got one piece of paper to write our list, compare and create our tree. Shelby was oh so proud that she schooled us in the Thankful department. Here twenty one items more than doubled what I had – not that I am not thankful, but I was also working on the tree.  Shelby’s list was very original. She had the expected mom and dads – yeap dads. Shelby also had things that I thought were so adorable here are a few.

She had “ancient stuff.” She explains this as “all the stuff we got from Meme,” so she mean antiques.

She had Cypress which is where JAG’s parents live and where we will be spending Christmas.

It was a good night, good times with my family.

Go check out other Writers. They will be up on Thursday.

Little Nudge Again!

As you probably can assume…I am a busy busy girl today, so I am sending you somewhere else.

As I was driving into work this morning I was thinking about Steve Covey’s analogy in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People about the rock in the jar.

By my shear delight…Shawni was thinking the same thing.

Please go visit Shawni’s blog today!

71Toes

Again, as most of my nudges you will not regret this. I will be back to normally posting after I become Mrs. JAG!!!

WIWW & A Giveaway Link!

 I am linking with The Pleated Poppy again to show you my What I Wore Wednesday.

Thursday

Brown Cardigan: Old Navy

Cream Top: Old Navy

Skirt: George Thrift Find

Shoes: Walmart

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Earrings: Brighton

Thought: I love this skirt. I just found it for $6. I knew I need to wear more necklaces and I paid an arm & a leg for this one, so I thought I might night to wear it.

Friday

Mustard Sweater: Mossimo Thrift Find

Cream Tank: Mossimo @ Target

Jeans: Levis

Shoes:

Apartment 9

from Kohl’s

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Earrrings: Premier Design

Thought: I love mustard. The color, not the condiment-can’t stand the condiment. I found this for $4 at goodwill with the tags still on it. I didn’t care for the way it hung in the picture so I just buttoned the top button and left the others open.

Saturday

Got lazy…pretty much the same outfit in the morning as last Saturday for football which was rained out. Then Saturday night I wore my outfit below that I also wore on Tuesday.

Sunday

Lazy again…see Wednesday…that is what I wore to church.

 Monday

Jean Jacket: Coldwater Creek

Teal Shirt: Mossimo @Target

Lace Tank: Coldwater Creek

Capris: Macy’s over a year ago

Earrings: Funky Vintage Kitchen – see below for more info!

Flip Flops: Target

Thoughts: I felt like crap this morning and it was a Monday. I really need to give away those capris because they are at least 1 size too big for me and make my butt look huge.

Tuesday

Jean Jacket: Coldwater Creek

Cream Top: Old Navy

Skirt: Moreno Thrift Find

Shoes: American Eagle at Payless

Earrings: Funky Vintage Kitchen…see below

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Thoughts: That jean jacket has become a uniform since we have had a “cold snap – 70s” in North Texas. I love that skirt again Goodwill for $6. It was a good goodwill day last week.

Wednesday

Black Top: Moreno @ Target

Skirt: George Thrift Find

Shoes: Dr. Scholl’s

Earrings: Premier Designs

Thoughts: I meant to wear another black shirt with this, but I felt a little too chubby for it. I love the print on this skirt, but I really need a slip.

Overall it was a good clothing week. I REALLY need a different way to take pictures. I have been doing my best to not wear the same uniform to work, but you know what? They haven’t notice a thing. No “is that I new skirt?” I will survive. JAG is getting tried of me saying “Do you think this”? His response is always “yeap looks good.” Of course good is not enough so I say “is that it…just good?” He rolls his eyes and kisses me on the forehead.

I have two pair of earrings that are my favorite right now. I want to tell you about one pair – my cream rose earrings! Not only are they so cute and go with most of my outfits they are made by one of my most favorite bloggers – April!!! I am so glad I found her, she is wonderful!

Now you know if you read my blog I never force you to do anything – I just nudge you along. I am Nudging you to go visit April’s blog. She is having a giveaway. Hello? Don’t we all just love those? And trust me her things a so cute and not expensive at all. I bought these cream earring as a reward to myself of losing five pounds.

Click Here to Get to April’s Blog Funky Vintage Kitchen!

I now want…this Apron

These Mustard – Hello! Mustard Earrings!

And this Flower!

Be looking out Miss April I am placing an order this week!!!

Awesome People Write Awesome Blogs

Dear April, Courtney, Sarah, Shawni & Stephanie – You all are Awesome! I am so happy that you put your life out there for other people to read!

Who are these women?

They are Awesome People Who Write Awesome Blogs, you will remember them from this post about blogs I read, here.

Now, I have some new recommendations for you!

Life in Grace

Leigh Vs. Laundry

Matthew Mead

I know two posts in one day, but I did not want you to miss the newest Matthew Mead give away!

Click Here to Find Out How to Enter!

Not a command, but a small nudge.

Today I am wearing my Nie Nie necklace by CrystalB. I won it awhile back from Matthew Mead and wear it as much as possible because it is an awesome (can’t stop saying that word) saying. I also wear it because it reminds me of one of my favorite people, Stephanie Nielson.  If you haven’t heard the name then you don’t read my blog enough…tisk tisk.

Yesterday, Stephanie and her husband celebrate their “2-year-we-escaped-death-day.” I am not commanding you, but nudging you on over to her blog to read her entry from today.  Then I am commanding you to read through the rest of her entries! I was going to give you my favorites, but there are too many to count. So I suggest you start where I did with Nie Nie: On Being Proud - here and work your way to today.

Little back ground for you. I found Stephanie’s blog not too long ago. You can read my blog about it here. Since then, if you are a regular reader, you will know how much Stephanie has impacted my life.

Let me make one more comment before you go run off and read. Yes, Stephanie is a Mormon and if that is going to make you stop in your tracks and not read her blog and her story, then you have learned nothing from me and I am so saddened by that. As I said when I posted Stefanie’s video in May - I am not Mormon, but I have spent the last two months (now almost 6 months) learning more about the Mormon Church, not that I have plans on becoming Mormon. I am very much the type of person who believes that it is a good thing to know and embrace people who see things differently then you do. I have yet to find areas where Stephanie and I have a difference of opinion religiously, but I am sure there are some. I strongly believe that Stephanie and her story will touch you not matter what religious denomination you consider yourself to be. Sorry to get snippy, but I think that care for someone stretches further then what book we read.

Ok, I am done. Thank you for letting me boss you around, again. Just so you know if I say words like “here” or if a word shows up and in a different color that mean there is a link there. If you click on the word it will take you to another website – don’t worry I WANT you to go there. I put the links there for you.

I Command You, Again!

Yeap…Again!

Go hug your children…now! Then if you have healthy children send God a BIG HUGE thank you!

Now go read through this blog.  Reagan’s blog.

Between this blog and my Life Span Psychology course I have had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to God (even more then normal) that my Shelby Elizabeth is healthy. I pray that she will remain that way forever.

One of my favorite pics of Shelby…age 5

Thank you for following my commands…I only do it when I feel you need to read it too!

I Demand You Read This!

I am standing here arms crossed with a mean look on my face, do you see it?

Very seldomly do I feel so passionate to send you from my blog to another blog, so please do as I say.

I was reading one of my normal daily blogs by CJane and found out about this family.

Read here. This is the post I want you to read first.

Oh this post had me in tears mostly because it reminded me of someone very very close to me, JAG. Also I heard Sailing Home to You by Mercy River playing on Pandora.

I hope that his post teaches you as it did me.

Are you reading me?

Do you realize I hit my 50^th post this week? Not a major milestone, but I am pretty happy about it.

Not much to update you on today.

Thank you for reading my blog…here are the blogs I have been reading!

Funky Vintage Kitchen

Back Away From The Donut

CJane

Clover Lane

71 Toes

NieNie Dialogues

Sweatpant Couture