Right now...

I wanted to write a blog post tonight. I'm sitting here in bed, on Hubby's laptop, in the dark, in the QUIET, and I'm stumped. I've been writing blog posts in my head all day (which might sound strange but I've narrated my days in my head for as long as I can remember) but here I am and...nothing.

So
Right now...

...some jack *ss is booming his car past my house.
...I'm realizing I didn't wash my face before getting into bed.
...I'm dreading the morning routine.
...I'm wondering if I had gotten all of the grass out of the girls' hair
...the 4yr old is tossing and turning
...I'm praying for a peaceful night sleep
...I'm trying to remember the last time the 4yr old didn't wake me up
...the dog is giving herself her 28th bath of the day (25 of which she reserves for the middle of the night)
...the football game is still on tv...and Hubby has been asleep for 45mins.
...I'm thinking about tonight's dinner. (my MIL is the best : )
...I'm thinking about my future Etsy shop.
...the girls' Halloween costumes are unfinished.
...I miss my Sis.
...the 4yr old is REALLY tossing and turning.
...I'm thinking I'm in for a long night.
...the laundry is laughing at me.
...I'm wondering if I'll get to the thrift store this week ( I need to)
...the laptop light is illuminating Hubby's sweet face : )
...I could drink a gallon of sweet tea.
...I'm thinking about our broken dishwasher, swing set, etc
...Colorado sounds fantastically wonderful.
...the # of unfinished projects in my house makes me want to cry.
...my family is healthy and happy.
...I am blessed beyond belief.
...I am dang tired.

good night

The flowers

Well, I woke up a happy camper!

I realized that I hadn't used any left over fabric from the corner unit re-do, so I made a few more flowers and took some photos along the way.

I ironed and starched the back of the fabric and got out the Big Kick and started cranking.

 

After cutting out the flower shapes,

I brushed on a generous bit of my handy dandy Mod Podge.

I made little *nests* out of wax paper this time instead of just crumpling up the wax paper and laying the flowers all around. I tried putting the wax paper into muffin tins to help the flowers keep their shape, but that ended up just being more work.

The *nests* worked great and within an hour (placed beneath the ceiling fan)...

I gently pulled them out and they looked great!

I used a lot of different types of fabric and was surprised that the heavier fabrics (flannel and tapestry) held their shapes beautifully.

It was fun finding vintage buttons, old clip on earrings and game pieces in my stash for the flower centers. I didn't want to use any buttons with the standard, visible 2 or 4 holes in them so I ended up using some brads too. (I would have LOVED to use ALL vintage bits and pieces but I was determined to use only things I had on hand.)

And just one more photo of them all...because they make me happy : )

So fun!

An M for my Mallory : )

I've really been enjoying making things again. It makes me happy. It makes me feel like me.

Hubby has been so sweet by giving me little pockets of time away from the girls to tackle projects, paint, etc. He doesn't even flinch anymore when I ask him for his help to cut up wood or fiberboard. Do you know that he hasn't said a word about the spray paint on the back patio? (Um, you DID see that already didn't you babe? ) I don't know that he *gets it* or ME for that matter, but he knows that whatever *it* is, it's making me a happy girl.

HE makes me a happy girl : )

I tried taking photos of the finished project today but didn't have enough natural light to do it : (

Mal's room gets beautiful morning sunlight so I'll try again tomorrow.

I'm thinking about...

...the great time Hubby and I had in NYC.

Thinking it was too short but SO fun. Thinking that it was too darn cold and what a blast we'll have one day when we go back and we don't have to wear 14 layers of clothes.

Thinking I'm pretty stinking lucky.

...taking photos in Colorado. Thinking I should have taken more. Thinking I NEED to go back. Thinking we ALL need to go back.

...one of the most wonderful days ever.

Thinking about how beautiful my girls looked and how insanely handsome my Nephew was. Thinking about how sad I was that my Sister couldn't come.

...my family in Colorado and how much I love and miss all of them.

Thinking my cousin had the best wedding ever.

...those beautiful Aspen trees.

Thinking I would spend my life taking photos of them if I lived there.

...my best friend and her family.

Thinking about our perfect summer. Thinking we need to do it again very soon. Thinking it's going to be even BETTER next time because Hubby will be able to stay.

Thinking about how much I dearly love her whole family.

...this little guy.

Thinking about visiting them all. Thinking that I miss his Mama so very badly.

...my family.

Thinking about BOTH sides of my family. Thinking I am pretty blessed.

...summer!

...and watermelon.

Lots and lots of watermelon.

Hope everyone has a beautiful Easter!

Soooo, I went to NYC!

And it was sooooo cold!

I learned in my 48 hour trip that even TRYING to fix your hair when it's freezing and windy in New York is just plain dumb.

 ( a few examples of this below )

We saw Wicked the first night. I freaking LOVE that show. The end of the first act left me breathless. I called my Mother In Law at intermission (my awesome In-Laws had gotten us the tickets for Christmas) and she must have thought I was crazy. I could barely talk and felt as if I were going to burst into tears. My heart was pounding so hard...no joke, it was amazing.

If you'll be in NYC or if it is coming anywhere near you on tour GO SEE IT!

When we got back to Hubby's hotel room, I pulled back the curtain to find this.

I swear I was dreaming the whole trip.

I was amazed when we woke up the next morning. I am in awe of this city. I was thinking about all of the people that lived/worked in those buildings and how their lives are probably SO different from mine. I have a house, yard, grass, etc. I just can't imagine.

On my way to NYC from the airport in NJ, my phone rings. It's my FAVORITE Aunt...she is in NYC too!!! I was SO stinking excited! Hubby and I couldn't wait to see her!

She's the best.

We went with her to the MoMA the next day and I was fortunate enough to see some really fantastic (and I'm not going to lie, some really RIDICULOUS) art. It's so amazing to see these gems in real life.

(Starry Night -Van Gogh)

I almost couldn't breathe...just wow.

(I and the Village-Marc Chagall)

I've been intrigued by this one since high school...It was stunning to actually see it!

The little guy on the floor was adorable. He carried around his sketchbook and would plop himself on the floor and start drawing...I'm sure he had the book filled by the time they left. I peeked at it a few times when he was in the same area we were and he is pretty good! I LOVE seeing a kid being creative...his eyes were lit up every time I saw him. : )

 

(Water Lilies-Monet)

Two of Monet's Water Lilies were displayed there and I was amazed at how large they were! I was surprised too at the texture of them...very grungy and distressed up close. It was almost too much for your eye to take in. Just breathtaking. When you walked in the room, it was almost as if you were in church. It felt sacred. There is no photo that could do it justice.

Next time I'm at the museum I'd like to rent one of the headsets and really take my time. I love learning about what the pieces mean and the stories behind them. It was a nice (and very warm ; ) way to spend time with my Aunt and Hubby.

After dinner and cheesecake (YUM!), we stepped outside to take some photos with my Aunt before saying goodbye. The red light-up stairs made it hard to get a photo with good color...we all looked QUITE sunburned in all of them (which is INSANE because it was SO freaking cold! Hubby and I are both wearing sweaters and 2 coats each in this shot.)

We said goodbye to my Aunt : ( and headed down the street to our next show, Jersey Boys.

(The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons)

SO great. We were the youngest ones in the balcony and we were surrounded by locals (NJ isn't far away) ...and they were LOVING IT! One of the first few lines of the show is something like, "I'm from effing Jersey!"...the place exploded! You could tell they were so proud that their state produced those guys. Everyone was bogeying in their seats, including me. Hubby and I both knew all but one of the songs. I have the soundtrack now and I just LOVE that music...SO fun!

 

Jersey Boys is touring too...GO if you can!

Maybe next time we'll try to get tickets to see SNL. Crazy looking up at that building knowing they were about to start the show.

I can HONESTLY say that we did see SNL while we were in New York though ; )

These were above the doors as we were leaving Wicked.

Yep, reality was straight ahead...but it sure was nice to escape for a while : )

What a great time...

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to go here:

Hubby was there on business for two weeks. He bought me a ticket for Christmas to fly up and meet him for the weekend...it was wonderful!

For our C-mas and birthday gifts, his family bought us tickets to these shows:

I've been singing all week!

I would go to Broadway shows every night if I could.

I thought I would be able to keep my eyes open to write this whole post but I've dozed off once already. What a week this has been!  Seriously can't wait for Hubby to be home...his girls have been missing him.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I have a new respect for single mothers and military wives after last summer and this 2 week run without Hubby. What I've dealt with is PEANUTS compared to what they have to do EVERY DAY. My hat is off to you strong gals and I pray for you often...

More pics later. G'nite!

I'm alive.

Thank you to all of your well-wishes and kind and funny words. You know I love to laugh...it's not AS fun with stitches in your gut, but laughing is laughing and I thank you for it : ) A HUGE thank you to Kelly, Sara, Amy, and Molly....love you gals to bits!

I hate being behind so I'm going to be lazy and post a recap...because I know you've been on pins and needles wanting to know what the h*ll I've been up to......right?

The obvious is I changed my blog header (still not sure about it) and the name of my blog. *A Place For Me* just sounded...I don't know, like I didn't want company or something.

This is for the most part backwards, with a bit of random thrown in.

Having fun at the company picnic.

Why do I love this?

(I have 2...yippee!)

Because now my crafty stuff looks like this*!*

ahhhhhh.........

Trying to figure out this whole color correction thing on the computer so this<<<<<<<< (the large orange one on the left) doesn't happen again.

Hey, I know it's strange, but I paid for those enlargements d*mn it, they ARE going up on the wall....even if I AM painting over them (the 2 on the right).

Mama dove on Easter morning sitting on her babies. She's doing a darn good job wouldn't you say? She wasn't moving and I promise you, I was as close as it looks.

(random...?)

We tried Martha's idea for our Easter eggs...they turned out pretty good!

Every year around Easter I remember this commercial

and think it would be SO smart to bring it back. (yep, random...)

Got to meet the artist who lives here.









Mal spent the last night in her toddler bed.

Hubby and I visited some friends in Jacksonville and we all spent a day in St. Augustine where I had my first mojito...and a bloody mary...and my

second mojito.

I was determined one night to get rid of this pile and spent most of that night clipping and tearing out articles and pics....

Well, I didn't finish, but it was relaxing and I watched a pretty cool Duran Duran concert on tv...
I'm determined to get this done and organize it all...anyone have any pointers?









I've been missing these people.

(and THANKING GOD that my friend is well!)

Been missing this boy.

And this sweet baby girl.

(And their Mama too!)








Missing this family terribly also...

Made these favors for a couples baby shower BBQ. Hubby thinks they are morbid...









My girls loved Opa's ribs.

REALLY loved Opa's ribs.











Delaney's self-portrait got picked for the county's Spring Art Fair.













Mallory caught her first fish.

(that darn thing just laid in her hand!)

My awesome Hubby took me to

<-----------

The show was perfection...ALL of the guys kicked arse!









David Cook signed Valentines and put them in every cup holder....not kidding.










Before the encore the lights went out. I reached over the guy next to me, grabbed his wife's hand and said "Now's our chance, let's go!"

(<-----------That guy right there is partly to blame.) We dodged and weaved down to the floor and claimed two seats before the lights went up.

(I call that the NKOTB sneak...I'm still pretty good at it I must say...)

And well, then <---this became my view.

(I told you I was good.)

I managed to get this video and this video of my favorite song.

(watch them both in HD...button is on the bottom right of the frame)

That last one, you'd have to know the story...it's pretty awesome.

This is the lamp that was in our room at the

Beau Rivage.

I liked it.

To honor Earth Day tomorrow, I turned the hose on the girls today in the back yard and we played in it for a REALLY long time...just letting the water run and run.

And run.

I feel kind of bad but the water did reach the grass sometimes and the dog took a little drink here and there too, so I guess it isn't REALLY wasteful...

Just to be sure I'm not bathing or brushing my teeth for the next two days...so don't come over. Anyway, I'll be busy watching TV (or not, but it will be on), standing in front of the open refrigerator, and dumping batteries and paint into my regular garbage can as my car runs in the driveway.

Love and miss you all~I've got a LOT of blog hopping to do*!*

Happy Earth Day (seriously)!