May I Suggest...

It's been a while since I've made any suggestions so I thought I'd spread the love...

 1. Miniature peppermint patties.  I know the Valentine ones are gone (which happen to be my favorite with their pretty pink hearts), but the mini's in a bag are still available in regular shape.  They are a good way for me to get my sugar fix without a ton of fat/calories.  Since they are so sweet, I only need one.  Or two.

2. I feel like I am eating at a girlie restaurant when I put this on my salad.  Add a little goat cheese, cranberries and walnuts and I am in my happy place.

3. Speaking of salad.  Have you tried the new Thai Chicken Chopped salad at Panera?  I need a napkin to wipe the drool from my keyboard just thinking about it.

4. Since my pumpkin spice and christmas tree flavors don't cut it for the month of March, I decided to pull out the candle my mom gave me at Christmas.  Yes, I realize it's not March yet, but work with me.  This Dune Grass is so fresh, but not overpowering.  Love it, mom!

5. There was a great debate at the NEM household during the holiday season regarding scented soaps.  I loved the Twisted Peppermint from Bath and Body Works, but some members of my family hated it.  While I was smitten through January, by mid February I was ready for a change.  We all agree on Fresh Lime Basil for the kitchen.

6. Did you know that Bath and Body Works has their new spring/summer scents out? Happy colors, happy scents, new designs on the bottles.  This Citrus Crush Hand Sanitizer makes me happy!  You know I'm all about a good sanitizer.

Have you found something new lately?  Please share!

Just Keep Smiling

I'm in a list mood today, mkay?  No reason for this post to be in a list form, but sometimes a girl just needs a list.

1.In my effort to stay above the drowning force of laundry, I sometimes forget to check pockets.  It's pretty normal for me to find {very clean} loose change, Lego men, and the occasional lip balm.  This week I found a new item as I was pulling wet laundry from the washer.

 Clean string cheese.  

Just keep smiling.

2. I have a deadline fast approaching that I am getting very nervous about.  It has to do with running shoes and a little road trip.  Being off the treadmill for a week really put me behind schedule, and a little jiggle to my wiggle.

3.My daughter turned 10 over the weekend.  On the eve of her birthday she came to me sobbing.  I don't want to turn ten tomorrow.  Hiccup.  I want to stay a little girrrrrrlllll.

Just keep smiling.  Me too, baby.  Me too.

4. Ever have a moment that you could kick yourself for not having your camera ready?  That happened this week as I was driving.  I had to pull off onto the shoulder so that a log truck could pass me.... with a full sized trampoline (with net attached) resting atop the logs.  One man was holding onto the trampoline so it wouldn't "fall off."  Ya might be a redneck....

Just keep smiling.

5. We lose stuff round here sometimes.  Overall, we are a pretty organized family thanks to my man, but sometimes we just can't find stuff.  Yesterday I discovered why I can't find the obvious sometimes:

Seriously.  A boot in the freezer.
Just keep smiling!

Fresh and New

We have had 3 gorgeous days of weather here in NC!  Even for this winter-lovin' girl, it sure it refreshing!  It's the perfect weather for the kids to be on the swing set and running in the backyard.  I even jumped on the trampoline yesterday.  Today my legs are like jelly; another kind reminder that I'm getting older need to stretch more.  After a very rough couple of weeks, we are healthy and happy.  I even had a little surprise waiting in my inbox.
The fine people at Wayfair would like for me to do a product review.  I can't decide between a new cutting board and some baking sheets.  Which would you choose?  After 15+ years of marriage, those kind of things are starting to wear out.  I took a look at some of my dishcloths the other night and thought, "These look like rags.  I can't believe I'm using them."

If you could replace something for your house, what would it be?

Beautiful Today

  

One day at a time

This is enough.

Do not look back 

and grieve over the past

for it is gone.

And do not be troubled 

about the future 

for it has yet to come.

Live for the present,

and make it so beautiful

that it will be worth remembering.

~Ida Scott Taylor

A Care Package of Delight

 This was how our crib looked last week.  For the entire week.
I had sick babies.  Even when they are too big to sit in my lap, they are still my babies.


A WONDERFUL package arrived on our doorstep.
A care package from my sweet brother and sister-in-law.  I almost cried.
He's halfway around the world on deployment and she is 1,000 miles away visiting friends and family and yet they took the time to send us a "hug."

 I had never heard of this company, but as I opened the box I decided they should get an A+ for pretty packaging.  Full of happiness.

Look at the yumminess that arrived!

 The food was de.lic.ious.  The chicken soup even had homemade noodles.

As we feasted with delight I thought, "why didn't I think of starting a company like this?"  What a fantastic idea for families to send their hugs to each other from across the country!

I feel very safe...

but a little weird when I'm taking a bath.  

 I have to remind myself that one day, I will look back and yearn for the days that superheroes lined my bathtub.

I'll wish there were more dishes to wash, sweet little mismatched socks to launder, and elastic hair bands in every nook and cranny of the house.  On days when the housework and the little annoyances get the best of me, I try to remember they are not annoyances.  They are signs of a life well lived, children well loved, and home filled to overflowing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little fashion tip: Boots are all the rage right now.  And look great with capes:

Is it me or does this guy weird you out, too?

Maybe it's the feet.  Or the body paint.  Or the loin cloth.

Have a great day!

Happy Heart Day!

Hope your day is:

cheerful, sunny, bright, hopeful, satisfying, blissful, beaming

May you be: 

delighted, happy, content, exhilarated, refreshed, joyous, blessed

Take time to:

enjoy, relish, savor, laugh, appreciate, love, delight