Make Over Your Monday

Happy Monday! Did you make your reading list for 2012? I came up with a few that I want to read this year.

• The White Queen by Philippa Gregory 
• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (The first book in the series)
• Bossypants by Tina Fey
• Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger
• Before I Go To Sleep  by S.J. Watson

I'd love to hear what you came up with. I'm always looking for a great book!

I'm really excited about the challenge this week. I came across {THIS} last week when I was lost in Bloggerland. It's a site by a woman who talks about coming up with your one word for the year. Each person's word is unique and meaningful to them. It's a word that you focus on, meditate on, and reflect on as you go through 2012. It's your one word resolution.  I L-O-V-E the idea! 

This is what she has to say about choosing your word:

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2012? It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought, or a feeling, or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word-this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's the one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our heart speaks to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet.

Again, be open to the possibilities.

As you might have guessed, this week's challenge is to come up with your word. I think I have mine for the year, but I want to give it another week to make sure it's "the one" that's right for me. You don't have to share your word, it can be your own personal mantra that you keep inside your heart, or you can shout it from the top of a mountain. Whatever works for you, it's your word.

Have a wonderful week and thank you so much for checking in!!!

A Sneak Peak On Sunday

So the month of birthdays, anniversaries and holidays officially ended yesterday with Lo's birthday party. It's been a little crazy around here, but we survived and had a lot of fun. In the middle of the chaos the hubby offered to paint the disaster room we are redoing. I'm sure looking back that is a decision that he regrets. It ended up being a much more involved task than either of us anticipated, but three, yes THREE, coats of paint later the room is painted and it looks fabulous!!!

**Here is a HUGE tip that would have been helpful to know a few days ago: When painting over any gray paint that has a shine to it (translation=not flat paint), you must sand it first before painting over it with a light color. In our experience not even really good quality paint (translation=expensive paint) with a built in primer will cover it well. It was a very frustrating way to learn that little nugget of information.

But the painting is done which means the real fun can begin! I have a dining room full of Goodwill purchases waiting to be transformed! Priming and painting starts TODAY!!! WOO-HOO!

Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget your 2012 reading list for tomorrow's Make Over Your Monday!

Ten Years Ago Today

...The hubby and I were married

...in Newport Beach, California

...on a yacht

...at sunset

...by the captain of the ship

...it was perfect

...I walked down the aisle to Forrest Gump Suite (I was ADAMANT about not using any of the traditional songs. Our DJ suggested this one and I L-O-V-E it! I'm secretly hoping someday that my girls will use the same song)


...our song is "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. Our friend Bingo sang it for us and was A-MAZ-ING (He sings in the band Crown Avenue and if you're ever in Vegas you should totally go check them out!)

...the girl who caught the bouquet was indeed the next to get married

...I bawled through the entire ceremony

...after the ceremony the entire wedding party danced back down the aisle to the Austin Powers theme song, "Soul Bossa Nova"

...we drank, danced and drank on the boat for 6 hours

...my "something blue" was my new butterfly tattoo

...we were surrounded by our closest friends and family

...it was perfect!

Lo Turns (sniff, sniff) 6!

It seems like it wasn't that long ago that I was weeping over my baby turning 5 and here it is a year later and she's 6. I know everyone says that kids grow up so fast, but it's completely and totally true. I keep making her pinkie swear that she won't get any older, but no matter what I do I can't stop it from happening! Last year I wrote about my top 5 things I love about Lo, this year I'm sharing the top 6 things Lo loves.

1. Dresses

I can honestly say that she has not willingly put on a pair of pants or shorts in three years.

2. Bugs

She LOVES going in our yard and collecting bugs. She makes them nice homes in jars and buckets, gives them names and talks to them in her "sweet mommy voice." Please don't squish a bug in front of her, you'll get in trouble for disturbing nature.

3. Candy, dessert and sweets

I know most kids like their sweets, but Lo takes it on like it's an Olympic sport. She's been known to park herself in front of a chocolate fountain for hours and eat her weight in cupcakes. Before EVERY birthday party we have a long conversation about proper etiquette and exactly how many cupcakes/cookies/slices of cake are appropriate. 

4. Art

She just loves to create. Every night I find a stack of projects on my bedside table and desk. She can spend all day coloring, cutting, glueing and designing. She draws the most A-MAZ-ING animal pictures. She makes this crafty mama so proud!

5. Animals

Big or small, scaly or furry, cuddly or jumpy, Lo likes them all. She wants to be a veterinarian and work at the zoo when she gets older. She loves her stuffed animals and always collects two of each so that she can have a mommy and a baby. 

6. Her sister

They play, they fight. They cuddle, they laugh. They love each other so much!


Happy 6th birthday to my Noodle! You make me laugh (at times you make me cry), you have a huge heart and are more like me than either one of us will ever want to admit. I'm so incredibly proud of you and love you with all my heart!

For Those Who ♥ Goodwill

It's no secret how much I ♥ Goodwill. I have FIVE within a 10 mile radius from my house (and they are building another down the street-YAY!!!) and I frequent ALL of them regularly! Remember my overcrowded room that I'm redoing??? I got the most amazing things at Goodwill this weekend. I L-O-V-E, love when I find exactly what I'm looking for. I can't wait to share the transformation with you!!!

Today I wanted to share a great deal for my Indy Goodwill shoppers. The Goodwill Rewards Program. It's FREE card that you show every time you purchase or donate items. 

So what are the perks?

• 10% off every purchase of $20 or more
• $5 coupon for your birthday
• Special holiday rewards
• Advanced notice of sales and special promotions
• Track your donations on-line

All you have to do is head into your local Goodwill and pick up the card. You can register on-line and start saving! My first "surprise" discount was a $2-off coupon-Sweet! For those who aren't in Indy I would check out your local Goodwill to see if they participate in a similar program, and if they don't tell 'em you want one!

Happy shopping!

Make Over Your Monday

It's our first Make Over Your Monday of 2012. For anyone new to us, Make Over Your Monday is a way to kick-start your week, to get you over the Monday blahs. On Mondays I will pose a "challenge" of sorts. Then on the following Monday we all share how the challenge went. It's just a nice way to start our week.

As most of you know I love crafting, cooking and running and blog about them a lot. I also have another passion that I don't share too much, but it's equally important to me. Reading. I love, love, LOVE books (awhile back I shared a few of my favs)! I always have. I always participated in the summer reading program growing up (even came in second place and won a trip for for to Marine Land one year),  and books were always at the top of my Christmas and birthday lists. As a busy, working mom I find I still read a lot, just not always the books I'd pick (Last night we read about the Lalaloopsy Girls), but I try to find time during my lunch breaks at work and nap time to squeeze in a few chapters of my current book.

This weeks challenge is to make a list of books you'd like to read in 2012. They can be books you want to read on your own or even your favorites from growing up that you want to share with your children. I think it'll be fun to compare lists next week and see what great finds you might have missed!





Have a wonderful week and thanks for checking in,

My Blogiversary and Goals for 2012

Today marks Hanging On By A Thread's one year Blogiversary!!! When I started last year I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I am surprised daily by how many of you check in to see what kind of craziness is going on. Everyone has been extremely supportive and I and so thankful for each and every one of you!!! 

I don't plan on making too many changes for 2012. There will be lots of crafting, cooking and general craziness. I'm going to bring back Make Over Your Monday. I think it's a great way to start the week and sometimes we all just need that extra bit of encouragement. As always, I encourage suggestions and comments. I LOVE hearing what you have to say! 2011 was a fab-u-lous year and I know 2012 is going to be even better! Cheers to you all!!!

As I mentioned on last New Years Day, I'm not big on resolutions, I'm more of a "goal girl." To me resolutions are open-ended, goals are more focused and measureable. I know, tomato, tomahto...but that's how I see it, so I have goals.

Here are mine for the year:

1. Learn shirring-I know it's not that hard, but for some reason I just keep avoiding it!
2. Get the Etsy shop up and running-Some of you may recognize that one from last year. It just never was a priority, but this year I really, REALLY want to get it going. 
3. Start lifting weights 3 days a week. For the first half of 2011 I was really good at this, but as the year wore on it became less and less. I want my pretty arms back!
4. Sew something for myself-I'm ALWAYS making things for the girls, it's my turn this year. 
5. Turn this room into something magnificent:

It's our office/spare room/storage closest and it's time to turn it into something useful! (We've actually already started on this one. I can't wait to reveal it to you! The transformation is going to be fab-u-lous!)


What are your goals/resolutions for the year? Shout them out we want to hear!!!