Lesson learned...eventually.................. (part 2: Y.D.P.O.M.K.)

...so I got a note left on my car at the grocery store asking me to "try to stay in the lines. Thx!!" At first I was annoyed that someone would take the time to write it, after all, there were other stalls to park in. I figured it was an older person, because a younger person would surely have taken the opportunity to be much more snarky in his note. And I was guessing that it was probably a man, judging by the masculine handwriting...I mean, get a life people! Then as I drove out of the parking lot, still on my quest for the item for my object lesson, it occured to me that I was in the wrong here. I had taken up more than my share of a parking space with my big ol' tuna boat of a vehicle. And this person who left me the note really could have been "snarky" or rude, but instead left it as a little reminder and even wrote Thx (thanks) with the two exclamation points after the thx. No confrontation, just six little words ending in thanks. Wow, I got called out on my lousy parking job, and I deserved it. In retrospect, because I was there to pick up something for my primary girls for our activity on the scriptures, I was a little surprised at my not so righteous reaction to the note. Is this the attitude of a Latter Day Saint? It got me thinking...I wonder how many times Heavenly Father has sent us me little messages asking imploring us me to "stay in the lines". Then I wonder what my attitude has been. Annoyance,(un)righteous indignation, or humility? I'm keeping that little post-it note in my art room right above my computer...just as a reminder to "try to stay in the lines."

Your Karma parked on my dogma!

This morning started out so perfect. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and I get to have my Primary girls over this afternoon, what a great day! I'm driving the 'burb', singing a "happy little working song", thinking I sound just like Amy Adams, when in actuality I sound more like Yoko Ono. But I'm all alone so I sound like Amy Adams, and I pull into Fred Meyer's parking lot...Anyone ever try to thread a watermelon through the eye of a needle? THAT's what parking the 'burb' is like in F.M. parking lot. I find a spot, get out of the car and pass a lady who has finished loading her groceries into her car and I ask if she'd like me to take her cart back into the store for her...her response: "Oh thank you, yes. thank you very much!" I'm feelin' appreciated for my "good deed" and I think the Karma gods are going to smile on me and I will find the item I need for my object lesson inside this store. (I'd already been to two other stores with no luck finding it). But a few minutes later, I'm leaving Fred Meyer empty handed and a little frustrated that I can't find this item that I see everywhere except when I want it! Then I get to my car only to find a note that someone has scribbled on a post-it note and left on my drivers side window. Ugh! Did someone back into my car accidentally? Do I have a flat tire that they are warning me about? Umm no. This is what the note read:

Peter and Janae just moved into their new home in Oregon. The home has really good bones and a lot of fun features that Janae will be able to play with. It sits on a darling tree lined street - of course with a street called TREEHAVEN it had better have trees,right? Peter has yet to work his magic (and he will) on the yard, so I didn't post a complete color picture of the entire house and yard. But here is their cute little family on their first day in their first home.

While Ron and Jonathan were taking over one of the last big loads to the new house, I stayed at the apt. with Annabelle and baby Daniel. We played red light-green light, we played hide and seek (although Daniel kept giving our hiding spots away with his cooing and giggles), and we did the hokey pokey- and ya know what? That's NOT what it's all about! I had the most fun just playing grandma with those yummy babies!

My alphabet wall is done. I've collected letters over time and I finally got it up. One or two I might change sometime in the future if I find cuter letters. A couple of my favorites are the the "Z" with the ampersan attached to it, and the "R", which I found at Watson Kennedy (my favorite store in the whole wide world) in Seattle. ..... I am soooo tired. (this has nothing to do with the wall) Have I mentioned why I'm so tired? It's because of this medicine the Dr. gave me. I had a reaction to a tetanus shot I got on Friday. Only it wasn't the tetanus part of the shot, it was the pertussis part that they slipped in there that I reacted to. My arm swelled up HUGE! Seriously, I looked like Popeye after he eats his spinach on one arm and Olive Oyl on my other arm. So attractive. And it itched and was fevered, and it hurt like a sonuvagun to even touch it, or not touch it. It just hurt. But it's getting better. But I'm still tired. I'm going to stop talking now. The end.

...and it's a MISS!

I was going through my closet this morning and I found a fun, fresh, colorful tank that I got on clearance last fall. I hadn't had the chance (or weather) to wear it, so today being a beautiful spring day, I thought I'd give it a go! What I realized after putting it on was - IT had to GO! Some things just shouldn't be worn on a figure like mine. I know better. But occassionally I just have to learn the hard way. Here are a few examples:


See? Fun. Fresh. Happy colors. However the stripes that I loved so much accentuated places on my body that don't need the attention-if ya know what I mean ;(

next:

This little number cost me $6. SIX DOLLARS! How fun for spring...and SEIS DOLARES! I wore it to church, and yikes! Anything that comes just above my knee I feel like that dream we've all had where you go to school and forgot to put your pants on. Oh well, I'll keep the belt. It was worth six dollars. next:

Again, this basic black skirt isn't immodest, just short enough to be unflattering. *grrr!* I have since replaced it with a longer pencil skirt, so out it goes. next:

OK, really?? It's purple with big white polka dots. Need I say more? And lastly:

I really wanted to like this shirt. It's gauzy and has sweet little buttons and just a touch of a ruffle around the neckline. But I feel like a sack-o-spuds when I put it on. Oh trust me, I've put it on about a dozen times. I just can't bring myself to wear it. *sniff sniff* Goodbye gauzy. These are just a few of my misses. Now I'm off to deliver them to G.W. and hopefully someone will find them a hit!

While I was in Utah, Shannon and I went to a little shop in Fruit Heights looking for a dwarf Japanese Maple tree. Ok, I knew they didn't carry trees at this shop, but we were so close we had to stop in for a little creative inspiration. The girls at Secret Haven are always changing things up and that's what I like. In fact, the day we were there, they had boxes and boxes of fun new inventory they were unpacking and it felt like Christmas! Anyone who's been in the decorating/retail world knows what I'm talking about. We found some lazy susan's that weren't quite out of their packing yet, but I just had to look and see what they were.

This little girl came in two sizes and each had a different theme. This one was on table manners, and it was darling, but a little too busy for my kitchen table. Sorry for the poor quality of the photo, but I snapped it with my phone when no one was looking. I remembered buying a black wooden lazy susan for $2 at Good Will, on my first trip to WA. Hmm did I still have it, or did I give it back to Good Will because I hadn't done anything with it? I came home and checked my crap closet craft closet and there she was! Just waiting to be turned into something fabulous!I used the over-priced very cute Secret Haven "susan" as my inspiration for this little girl.

Not nearly as detailed, but I like her. Now I think I'll go put her on my breakfast table.

A couple quick DIY projects!

Shannon and I found time in between being a human jungle gym for a couple little projects while I was there this month. An old piano bench Ella use to have in her room...

Got a fresh coat of paint (it looks almost royal blue, but it's really more turquoisy), and some fresh new coppery-orange fabric on top...

It now adds a pop of color to Shannon's living room! ******************************************************************** Then, goodbye bee's, hello handsome! ...this little fella got a new makeover with a can of orb and some elbow grease.

Looks pretty good, eh? They have 3 of these babies on their property. One down, two to go!

Took the goofy little eagle off the top and cleaned the glass. The gas is disconnected from the lights, so adding an LED candle in the lantern is just what it needs for a pretty glow to the front entry. I love doing DIY projects, and these were quick and super easy!