Make Over Your Monday

*YAWN* Oh my am I T-I-R-E-D, tired! I know because I found a bag of goldfish crackers in the fridge this morning...

It seems that when we get the baby to sleep at night one of the girls doesn't. Noa had croup this weekend which leads to no sleep for everyone and then the steroids for the croup make her CRAZ-ZEE! Good times around here!!!

So how was your week? Did you smile a lot? My week started off rough, but it ended great and we had a fantastic family weekend. By the end of the week I didn't have to force the smiles, ahhhh....they just came because I was happy!

This week's challenge (inspired by my oldest daughter) is to ASK FOR HELP (I'm not sure where she gets her stubbornness and determination to do it all...*ahem*....) 

Sometimes we feel that asking for help makes us appear week, or needy or incompetent, but it's actually a strength to know when you need some assistance. Something that I'm still working on. I'll get there...eventually.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for checking in,

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday! Oh my was it a L-O-N-G week last week and unfortunately this week doesn't look any better. Sigh... It seems like for every item I cross off my to-do list I add two more! Sometimes it feels like I'll never catch up! I'm really trying to be positive this week and just do what I can and not stress over what I can't....we'll see how that works!

How did you do on our challenge two weeks ago (you had some extra time to get it done)? Did you do a few things you've been putting off? I have to give props to the hubby who spent a whole weekend peeling off decals from our office/playroom that we are planing on redecorating. I got a few odds n' ends done. There was quite a stack of things needing gluing or sewing on my crafty desk and I tacked a few.

This week's challenge is to smile.

Not only can smiling bring you out of a funk, but you can also brighten someone else's day!

Have a wonderful week and I hope it's full of smiles!!!

Make Over Your Monday

Ahhhh the last Monday of August...does that mean fall is just around the corner? I love fall. I love the scarves, soup and boots it brings with it! 

How did you do on last week's challenge? Did you find some time to do something for yourself? Lil G didn't think I needed to do as much sewing as I had hoped, but I did find some time this weekend to sneak away for a lovely pedicure! My poor feet desperately needed it. The cost of being a runner is not so pretty feet. My favorite part is when they rub the hot stones and my legs and put them between my toes. I could have stayed in the chair for forever!

The challenge this week is to do something you've been putting off.

It's a rainy Monday here in Indy and the perfect kind of day to get things done...and boy to I have a L-O-N-G list! 

Have a great last week of August and we'll check in next week,

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday! Did you have a great week? We have our first week of school under our belts and I am happy to report it was a huge success! I love that Lo has had a HUGE smile on her face as she's gotten of the bus each day. She's also so excited to tell us all about her day. She loves her teacher and now that she's in first grade she gets to go to music, PE and art which she thinks is just the coolest thing ever!

So how did last week's challenge go? Hopefully your gave and received quite a few compliments. I really focused on complimenting the girls last week. Giving them props for their good behavior rather than criticizing them for their less than desirable manners. I also received a few compliments myself. Nothing like hearing kind words to brighten your day.

This weeks challenge is to do something for yourself.

Noa has camp this week so G and I have 4 days of quality time together! We have a lunch date with friends, a field trip to Jo-anns and lots of sewing in our future! It's been awhile since I've been able to sit at my crafty desk and sew and I am SO looking forward to it!

I've said it before, but I truly believe for us to be able to take care of others we first have to take care of ourselves! So this week-take care of you!

Have a wonderful week and I hope you treat yourself well!

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday!!! How was your week? We had a fab-u-lous week and are gearing toward a busy one! As much as I have thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics I am glad they are over. I don't think I can handle any more late nights! The girls and I loved watching the equestrian events, rhythmic gymnastics and Noa's favorite, synchronized swimming. Noa was really into they Olympics this year. She knew a lot of the athletes' names and last night at dinner she correctly told us how many medals (and which ones) Missy Franklin won. She is sad that it won't be on again until she's 8.

How did you do on last week's challenge? Did you think about what Olympic event you'd like to compete in? As much as I love running, my dream event would be archery. I have loved it for a long time, even before The Hunger Games and Brave, and it was my absolute favorite thing at camp growing up. 

This week's challenge is to compliment someone. Nothing brightens someone's day like a kind word. 

Let's start this week out right and shower those around us with kind words! Don't forget to share your Olympic event below and we'll check in next Monday to see how all the complimenting went!

Thanks for checking in and have a wonderful week,

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday everyone! Since I have ended my Blog-ternity Leave it's time to get back on track! That means Make Over Your Monday is back! For those new to Hanging On By A Thread, Make Over Your Monday is where I pose a challenge or task for the week. It's just something to help us get over the Monday blahs and start our week on the right track. The following week we will discuss how we did and how our week went. It's just a great and fun way for us to get to know each other a little better.

In honor of the Olympics, this week's challenge is to come up with what your Olympic specialty would be. It can be an actual Olympic event or one that you design on your own. For example, Lo has been thinking that she may be an Olympic swimmer or diver, but I think her event might be eye rolling. She's gotten REALLY good at it lately and would definitely be a contender for the gold! 

I can't wait to hear all the fun and creative events you come up with! Have a wonderful week!

Make Over Your Monday (on a Tuesday)

So were a little late on our weekly challenge, but as I've mentioned, things are a bit crazy around her. No matter how much I want to be back to my normal routine, having a newborn who eats 'round the clock and two little ones wanting my attention too makes things a little more complicated. There has been very little time to blog or do much else. BUT we are getting there, however slow it may seem, we are getting there. I've told my girls that the theme for our summer is "flexibility" and I'm doing my best to be flexible!

How did you do on last week's challenge? I am happy to report we did GREAT! We collected quite a few items and donated them to the local families that lost their homes in an apartment fire a few weeks ago. It was a great learning lesson for the girls. Noa jumped right in and said she would donate 20 things because, "20 is as high as I can count. If I could count to 50 I'd donate 50 things!" I love her spirit! It was a little bit harder for Logan to let go of her things. She had some trouble coming up with appropriate donations but in the end she did great. Both girls went with me to the donation center so they got to see first hand how the community came together to help out.

This week's challenge is super fun and super easy. It's something we've been lacking around her and are in desperate need of. The challenge is to do something CRAFTY. 

We are seriously having some crafty withdrawals around here. It's been weeks since I've painted, sewn, hot-glued, decorated, or refurbished and I am dying to get my hands into some craftiness! 

So get your crafty on, host a crafty night, get the kids involved, whatever makes your heart go pitter-patter! Have a great crafty week and we'll share our craftiness next Monday. I'd love to see any pictures you take of all your craftiness. It's great when we can inspire each other!

Thanks for checking in (and being flexible!),

Back On Track and Make Over Your Monday

As you know, our newest addition arrived 5 weeks early. Like his sisters before him, he just couldn't wait to be part of the family. Despite being the earliest of the three, he was the biggest at 6lbs, 3oz. 

After 7 days, 2 hours and 25 minutes Lil' G was finally released from the hospital. It was the best gift ever! I went in that day thinking we had at least 5 more days before he'd be discharged and was beyond excited when the nurse practitioner asked me if I was ready to go home. I know we are so lucky, in regards to premies Lil' G was not really all that sick. We knew that what he needed most was time and we just had to be patient. Now we have the whole family under one roof and we couldn't be happier. He's a great baby and and luckily he doesn't mind be smothered because his sisters can't keep their hands off him! 

So now it's Monday and we are all getting back on track. Daddy's going back to work and Mommy is taking back the house! We are getting back to our regular schedules and gettin' things in order. This week I'll be sharing all the things I had planned for the last two weeks. We'll be visiting the last few days of school, the start of our summer break and a few furniture projects I finished before the baby's arrival. Thank you all for being patient and understanding as we took some time off. I have no idea how the next few months will go, but I'm hoping to share a few sewing project I've been planning and you know I've got a whole nursery to decorate! Now that we've got a little man in the house there is a whole new world of craftiness out there to explore!

Make Over Your Monday:

For anyone who is new to Hanging On By A Thread, Make Over Your Monday is a way to restart and refresh the Monday blahs. Each Monday I will pose a challenge for the week and we can post how we did on the previous week's challenge.

Our last challenge (a few week's ago) was to do some spring cleaning. Did you get organized and clean? I should have known that the baby was on it's way because I did some serious cleaning and organizing in our kitchen. I went through all our kitchen drawers and cupboards and got rid of all the random papers, take-out menus and packets of parmesan cheese and soy sauce. All the drawers were emptied and washed out. I looks so pur-dy now! We even FINALLY got our flowers planted (a previous Make Over Your Monday challenge that we kept putting off!!!). Our patio and front porch no longer look so boring!

This week's challenge is to clean out your closets and donate to a shelter or family in need.

The inspiration for today's challenge came from a local apartment complex that caught fire yesterday and now at least 6 families have lost their home and everything in it. Luckily everyone involved is safe. Later today the girls and I will be going through our closets finding things that we can donate. It will be a great project for the girls and I to do together. We often talk about helping others in need and it will be a great way for them to put all our discussions into practice.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for checking in,

**Anyone in my area who wants to donate to the fire victims please let me know. I can email you the list of ages and sizes needed for the families. If you're relatively close I'd be happy to pick up your donations. Please email me at: HangingOnByAThread@live.com for more information**

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday! How was your week? We've been having some ridiculous weather here in Indy. It was in the 80s all weekend. It was like a little taste of summer and the girls are getting antsy for the pool to open. 

The hubby was in Cleveland this weekend running a marathon. Originally the girls and I were supposed to go too, but 5+ hours in the car each way did not sound to comfortable for this pregnant mama. Not to mention the weather was hot and humid there. Despite less than perfect running conditions, the hubby rocked it! He came in at 4:25 (a new marathon PR!) and the girls and I are so proud of him!

The girls and I had our "girls only" weekend and spent some time outside. Lo is going to Girl Scout camp this summer and they had an open house. We got to see the camp, check out the cabins and get a sneak peek of crafts the girls might do. It was good for Lo to see everything. There is an overnight experience and she was really worried about where they would sleep. The younger girls get real cabins with windows, doors and running water, and the older girls sleep in tents. Of course now she is disappointed that she doesn't get to stay in a tent! NoJo had a great time too and can't wait until she is old enough for camp!

To cool off from the hot weather we set up the sprinkler in the backyard. It was the best $2.89 I've ever spent! 

...and while the girls enjoyed their fun in the sun this pregnant mama treated herself to a nice cold (non-alcoholic) beer...looks forward to the day when she can enjoy a real one!

So how did you do on last week's challenge? Were you able to surprise a few people? I was able to perform a few secret acts of kindness. It's always fun to surprise people with good deeds!

This week's challenge is to do a little spring cleaning. 

Organize a closet, clean out a drawer, or if your ambitious clean out the garage (or come and organize mine!!!), no job is too small. Now's the time to get it done, summer will be here before you know it and who wants to stay inside all summer cleaning?!?!? Not me!

Have a wonderful week!

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I had a great weekend. On Saturday night the hubby and I went to a formal fundraising gala for a cause that is near and dear to my heart. We had a great time catching up with friends and just enjoying an evening with grown-ups! For Mother's Day the girls surprised me with with an adorable video that I will treasure forever!

How did you do on last week's challenge? I had a great Nurse's Week and I'm so lucky to work with a wonderful group of nurses and doctors.

This week's challenge is to do something for someone else without them knowing.

Surprise you neighbor with a treat, clean up your daughter's room for her, leave a note of appreciation for someone who brightens your day. You can even get the little ones involved. They'll love being super secret detective spies! 

Have a wonderful week,

Make Over Your Monday

Oh my, oh my...is it Monday already!?!?! This week flew by! I know that I got so much done, but I feel like there is so much more left to do. Do you ever feel like that? Like no matter how much you accomplish, there is so much more staring at you unfinished? That's been me ALL week, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I'm hopeful the end is near.

How did you do on last week's challenge? Did you find some time for fun, silliness and laughing? We're having a much better week this week (boy was it rough there for awhile!) and we're continuing with finding ways to be silly and fun to keep everyone's attitude bright and sunny! 

Did you know this week is Nurses Week? This week's challenge is to celebrate the nurses in your life. Let them know you appreciate all they do for you! Twelve years ago the hubby and I made the big cross-country move from Cali to Boston so I could attend nursing school. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I love the career I have chosen and I think I have one of the best jobs ever! I also made some wonderful friends in school and the places I have worked. There are some A-MAZ-ING nurses out there and I have had the pleasure of working with and learning from them some wonderful people. 

If you are fortunate to have a special nurse in your life, let them know how much you care. I guarantee that they'll appreciate it!

Have a wonderful week!

Make Over Your Monday

I'll I have to say is, "THANK GOODNESS IT'S MONDAY!!!" I have never been so happy for the weekend to be over! I had a particularly rough time with the girls...apparently listening was no on their to-do list and I have never missed my beloved red wine so much! But it's a new week and I'm trying to be positive and hoping my better attitude will help turn things around here.  

So how did you do on last week's challenge? Hopefully you received as many compliments as you gave! I really tried hard making sure I gave out sincere compliments and (aside from this weekend) really tried to praise the girls for their positive behavior. 

Since I need a little sunshine in my life this week's challenge is to do something that makes you laugh. Watch a funny movie, read a good joke book, be silly with your kids...what ever helps you get your sillies on. You know what they say, laughter is the best medicine!

Have a wonderful week and I hope it's full of fun, laughter and children who listen!

Weekend Wrap-Up & Make Over Your Monday

Phew! What a BIZ-ZEE weekend! It flew by and boy am I exhausted! 

We had lots of excitement around here this weekend. The most exciting news is that we added a new member to our family! No, not our baby (I've got at least another 5 weeks!), but a new baby cousin! My brother and his fiance welcomed their first baby into the world VERY early Sunday morning. They didn't know what they were having so it was so fun guessing and waiting to hear the news! Noa and I thought they would have a girl and Nate and Lo thought it would be a boy. Logan had decided that if it was a girl they should name her Peyton "Manny" and if it was a boy Justin Bieber. 

We'd like to introduce you to Jaxon Owen! 

I can't wait to get my hands on those chubby little cheeks!

Lo and I also got to spend some special time together this weekend. It was the Annual Mother-Daughter Tea for Girl Scouts. We had a great time. She was so excited to drink "real" tea and there were tons of yummy treats for us to nibble on. We even got to do a few crafts and the girls wore boas and did a fashion show. We even color-cordinated our outfits.

Sunday was the day of painting. I have not 1, not 2, but 3 pieces of furniture that I'm in the process of refinishing. I think every time I pulled my van into the driveway the hubby held his breath waiting to see what I had inside for him to move. I can't wait to show you the finished products! Fingers crossed I get them done this week. I need my parking space in the garage and my dining room back-both have been taken over with furniture!

...and for Make Over Your Monday...

How did you do on last week's challenge? Did you try something new? I'm still in the process of my new crafty project. I'm making my own chalk paint and I can't wait to try it out! I bought all the supplies yesterday and as soon as I get the two huge pieces of furniture finished and out of my dining room I can start on the chalk paint piece.

This week's challenge is to give a compliment (or two).  Letting someone know that you appreciate, notice and acknowledge them can make their day (and your's) so much brighter!

Have a wonderful start to your week!

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday everyone! Did you have a good week? Our week was again full of organizing and rearranging. The hubby was VERY patient with his pregnant wife who on a whim pretty much took all the furniture from upstairs and wanted it downstairs and then wanted all the downstairs furniture upstairs! I didn't hear him complain once as he lugged heavy dressers up and down our stairs, though I'm sure he thought I lost my mind! Noa even helped me swap out closest and organize the baby's room. I'm really starting to feel the need to have everything organized before the baby arrives!

How did you do on last week's challenge? The Indy weather played a trick on us here-Noa and I were all set to weed and plant on Wednesday and then the weather turned cold and rainy. No planting for us this week, but the hubby and the girls did lots of weeding this weekend while I rested. I feel like the only thing that I grow well in my yard is weeds!!! I'm hoping for some better weather this week so that we can put some prettiness on our porch.

This week's challenge is to try something new. Maybe you want to try a new form of exercise or perhaps a new crafting technique. Have you always wanted to learn how to play an instrument? Now's the time. Or maybe this year you want to plant your own vegetable garden-Go for it! 

Word.

Have a great weekend! I can't wait to hear about all the new things you encounter!

Make Over Your Monday

Well HELLLOOOO there! I hope you enjoyed your week. We sure did. We had a WONDERFUL vacation visiting family and friends in California. I'm a Cali Girl. Born and raised. They hubby and moved away from the gorgeousness and sunshine 12 years ago (*gasp* that seems like forever ago!) and it's always great to go back home. The girls love it too. They got to see their family they miss so much, eat at all Mommy and Daddy's favorite restaurants (sometimes twice!),  and we even snuck away for a few days  of fun at Disneyland. It was a dream vacation and it totally and completely wiped this pregnant mama out, but it was completely worth it! I look forward to sharing some of our Cali time with you later this week.

So how did you do on our last challenge? Did you "let things go?" I have to say I was really good with this one. It was extremely hard for me to take a week off from blogging, but our family time was more important. They hubby stuck to his work too and did very little work while we were gone.

This week's challenge is to plant some flowers. I was amazed at how green and overgrown our yard looked when we returned. Our porch and flower pots are looking boring. It's time to brighten them up with beautiful flowers. Get the kids involved too! They'll love helping you pick out flowers and getting dirty planting them!

Have a wonderful week and thanks for being so patient during our break for spring!

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday! It's hard to believe that it's the last Monday of March...time is flying by around here!!! I got a lot of things done for the lil' one we're expecting this summer. I did 5 loads of laundry. I kind of forgot how much the tiny ones can accumulate. At least we have lots of onsies, burp cloths and swaddling blankets clean, folded and put away. My next step is to wash all our cloth diapers. That'll probably be another 5 loads! Again, I forgot how much we had!!! Lo and I also put together the crib. It was a great bonding experience for the two of us. She is going to be such a big help when the baby gets here. She is taking her new role as the "biggest sister" very seriously!

How did you do on last week's challenge? I certainly hope you received as many handwritten notes as you sent! 

This week's challenge is one we've used before. I think there are lots of things that we need to be reminded of throughout the year. This week the challenge is to "let it go."

"Letting it go" can mean so many different things...letting the cleaning go for a day and instead taking you kids to the park...letting go of the stress that is weighing on your shoulders...letting your children work out their "problems" on their own before trying to help them...letting go of the need to first, right or perfect.

Have a wonderful last week of March. I know so many of you are on Spring Break or getting ready for it. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday! I don't know about you but I am so sad to see the weekend go! We had such wonderful time.

How did you do on last week's challenge? Were you able to get a few things done that you had been putting off? I crossed off so many things. I'm so proud of myself. I was definitely in organization mode. My crafty desk is in order, I went through all the newborn clothes and our backyard patio is usable. It feels good to have them checked off my to-do list!

This week's challenge is to send a card (not an email, tweet or Facebook message) to a friend letting them know how much you value them. We all have that special person in our life that makes our day brighter. It's important to let them know how much they mean to you!


Have a great week! Don't forget to check back in tomorrow for part 4 of the breakdown of the Yellow Room.

Make Over Your Monday

Good morning! How are you feeling today? Honestly, today was a much harder wake-up day for me compared to yesterday. I have a feeling it's going take me a few days to get used to the new time change. 

We had a fab-u-lous weekend. I FINALLY finished the yellow room!!! Such a huge weight off my shoulders. Check in tomorrow for the big reveal. I have to say, I am super impressed with myself. It came out better than I imagined. I kinda want to move in there myself! The girls also enjoyed some wonderful weather. They spent 6 hours outside yesterday!!! It was heaven for the hubby and I. They played so well together and had a blast. We are now the parents of two adorable cherry tomatoes as it didn't occur to either of us to put sunscreen on their pale little winter faces! 

How did you do on last week's challenge? I think I've got my garden layout all set. I'm making a few changes from last years choices and I'm going to try a few new plants. I CANNOT wait to have fresh veggies from the garden!!

This week's challenge is to do something that you've been putting off. I'm sure most of us have at least one or two things that fall into this category. This is the week to get it done!

Have a wonderful week and don't forget to check back in tomorrow for the "Yellow Room Reveal"

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday! How was your week? We were super busy around here. I put on my battle gear and did some early Goodwill bargain hunting and got LOTS of painting done. The whole family enjoyed a fun family night of The Lorax and dinner at our regular Mexican restaurant. NoJo and I even found some time to make some yummy cupcakes. It all flew by so quickly. I can't believe that it's already March and spring will be here before we know it! I'm looking forward to flip-flops (not that I'll be able to see my feet), reading outside in the sun, fresh tomatoes from the garden and the girls being able to spend LOTS of time outside!

This week's challenge is to start planning your spring garden. Whether you look forward to an abundance of fresh veggies and herbs or a beautiful cascade of flowers, it's never to early to start planning. 

Spring will be here before you know it!

Have a wonderful week!!!

Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday!!! How was your weekend? I was BIZ-EE! I got a ton of things done for the "yellow room" and I'm really hoping to have it finished by next weekend!!!

So were you able to find some me-time last week? I was able to sneak away from the house a little this weekend and roam at a few of my favorite places...Goodwill, Lowes and other crafty girl favs!

This week's challenge is another fun one: bake cupcakes (or cake, cookies or candy). Nothing puts a smile on your face than a yummy dessert. As an added bonus your house will smell fab-u-lous too!

Have a wonderful week and I can't wait to hear about all the sugar rushes that I've encouraged this week!