Teeth and Work

I finally got my permanent crowns on today.  Good grief I am in so much pain.  There was an exposed nerve for 2 weeks, so needless to say - them pushes and grinding and putting in the cement and new tooth, I am DONE!

I will be glad when I am not in this kind of pain anymore - it is all encompassing.

Anyway - more work pictures - I am having fun with this, so bare with me.

OK, gotta run.  Let me know what you think.

Business talk

At the beginning of the week, I got sick again. I think it is allergies more than anything and this time was not as bad as the others.  I lost my voice for an evening, but by morning, it was back.  I started with the neti pot and my nasal allergy meds.  It takes a few days for them to kick, but that with some elderberry, vitamin D and a good daytime cold med, I am doing fine.

Yes, I am staying home.  I am not hugging anyone either. I miss my loves. 

Anyway.  One of my vendors came up with the cutest design for valentines. I absolutely fell in love with them.  The design cost me $8, I used scrap materials and embroidery threads - already sold 2, so I have more than covered expenses.  Since this is a new kind of product I am offering, sales will be slow, but I am getting a good response.  It just takes finding the people who are looking for this.

Valentine's is not a holiday that I usually market around, neither is Easter, but if I want to have good sales around Christmas, I have to start now to build up a customer base that likes this product and I know they are out there.

Since I moved up here out in the country, my "bread and butter" part of the business is gone.  That was patches.  No one will drive up this far to get a $1 patch sewn on, so I need to find another part of the business that is more constant and brings in smaller amounts of money at a faster rate. 

The quilts are great, but the turn around is very slow.  That is where I get the large amounts of money, so for my business to be strong, I have to have the smaller items and the larger items.

So, to kick off this new business venture, I am offering a giveaway of one of these little cuties on my Facebook page.  So far, the furry white are the most popular, then the furry red ones.  The purple color comes in third, but they want it furry!  LOL.  Personally, I love the gray one.  I like unusual holiday colors.

Which is your favorite?!?!

2018 Goals

Since it has been almost a month since I made these goals, I wanted to take a moment to see how I am doing with these.

1.  Exercise for all. 

We have a chart with the exercises for the teens and I have done yoga a couple of times.  Not great, but I was sick, then with the teeth issue and not being able to talk, the pain was so bad that exercise was out of the question.  I have been stretching my back however, and that has helped tremendously.  I will jump on the recumbant today.

2.  Better Eating Habits. 

We are doing OK.  It is a work in progress.  I have started preparing morning and lunch meals and like I thought, the kids have followed suit.  Moods have changed drastically!

3.  Priority for Homeschool and Threaded Lines DAILY!

Yes pretty much - since I have not been able to talk about 18 of these 22 days of January, it was not great, BUT I did make it a priority and we stayed on track.

4.  Grading Homeschool every day. 

So far, so good - grading is up to date.  I found that grading in the morning before they get up is the best time.  I am too tired in the evening and into my work, but morning is quiet and I am more refreshed.





5. New Chore Chart that includes adults. 

OK, we tried one with adults and it was WAY too overwhelming for me.  We let it go, but it did give the kids insight to what Dad and I do everyday.  They were grateful for the little they were responsible for.

6. 15 minute clean ups. 

Somewhat - I do what I call the Morning Trio - wipe toilet, sinks and mirror, make bed and pick up or wash laundry.  I think I am getting the habit down, then I will extend it to the kids.

7.   Threaded Lines - 2 posts per week. 

Nope, I have not started this.  I am making my grandmother's quilt and it taking me some time.  I am just not motivated with the business right now.

8. This blog - add pictures to 2 blog posts per week. 

I love taking pictures, but it just has not happened yet.  I am not even blogging as much as I used to.

9. Send one "I'm thinking of you" note per month. 

Yes, I have done this so far - one month! 


10. Send Birthday greetings to all parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and close friends. 

Yes, January cards were sent out and February's will be done when do bills next.  Easy, easy

11.  Facebook - Birthday greetings. 

I think I have missed a couple, but I have done 95% more than what I did.  It is helping me feel more connected and people are reaching out to me more.  It is lovely.

12.  Ah, the infamous lose weight. 

Nothing yet.

13. Use planner daily.

 I only did not use it for a couple of days when I just checked out because of the pain.  It helps that I put the meals in it because I am forced to look at it every day.

 14. Bring more "fun" to our family.  Oh boy, this year was so serious.  We all forgot to be fun.


 Well, we have started talking more and we are going to a Compassion Experience this weekend.  No board games, we have just been running and I have been sick!

 15.  Join a book club. 

I have not started looking yet.

16. Stick to a monthly budget. 

Yes and no.  We stuck to our budget until my computer borked.  That is the only thing we are off on so far this month.

17. Respond M-F to at least 2 blogs and 2 Facebook posts of friends.  

I think I have with the blog, but not on Facebook.  I am trying, but I cannot think of good things to say.

18.  Call my Dad monthly. 

We have texted.  It is not much, but it is something.  I also tagged him in a Facebook post.  He shared it, so there is that.  Serious baby steps.


There you go.  Not bad.  I know these could be a monthly goal list, but I want these to be habits.  This year, even with my sickness starting it off, is looking to be a very good getting back to normal year.

Happenings over here...

Really, it has been slow - we have been iced in for a couple of days, so we just did little things around the house.

DH got lots of paperworky things done that had to be called - I cannot hear well on the phone, so those things fall to him.  Like, cancelling the RV insurance and getting a lower rate, changing the email with the HOA, paying HOA, filing homestead exemption, making sure our properties taxes were paid by the craptastic mortgage company we currently have, etc, etc.

We did lose water to a semi-frozen pipe at the well.  It only 1/2 froze, but the pump has a shut off valve so it stopped pumping.  We had to call our builder to get the name of the people who installed the well, but he talked DH through getting it started again. 

(I just took a break to eat breakfast with the kids and the water went out again, but DH is not here! AGH!)

This no water thing is a BIG time bummer because we are having our dishwasher worked on today and I am not sure they can do it without water - I hope so.  But dirty dishes - no hand washing, 3 people all day with going to the bathroom - this should be fun.

Anyway,  I am about 1/2 way done with the quilt for my cousin.  It is turning out pretty good - not my best work, but the best I can do.  I should have gone with another design, I was over ambitious with the sashing.

My daughter has shown interest in journaling which gives us a little something to bond over.  I am showing her how to use photoshop and work with paper to show personality and how to layout.  She took a yearbook class, so she has some idea about it.  I am amazed though - I never connected with my parents as a teen, so I am thrilled my daughter and I have that kind of relationship (at least today).

Our propane tank is low - it has been a cold-to-us winter and we have actually had to run the heater!  Plus I think everyone is lingering in the shower a bit to get warm. Even with the heater, which I keep on minimally to avoid static electricity, those fingers can get cold really quickly!

On the homeschool front, we are on track for our first real week back!  Going good.  It helps when we get to stay home!

OK, all I can think about is the water.  Sigh.  When the electricity or water goes out - I just cannot concentrate on anything else!

Snow Day!

Yes it is snowing here - lots of ice accumulation and some snow accumulation.

We had to cancel the ortho and chiropractor appointments and reschedule because of the ice.  We live 45 minutes away and have to cross several bridges to get there, so we stayed home.  I still required home school, but it was tough because Dad is here (not MY problem!) LOL.

We took a break to watch the snow though - it is a rare thing here in Houston, though I think we will probably get a little more where we are now.  It seems we are 5 - 10 degrees cooler than Houston on a typical basis.

Monday, Monday

Well, I got a new computer over the weekend - mine went up to the tech heaven.  I did not do a lap top again though - we opted for a desktop.  I needed more graphic power and storage for all my embroidery designs and the photo project I am about to embark upon.

The main issue is the internet in the country!  It is super slow.  It has taken me 2 1/2 days to update Windows (the new computer update), download Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Premier, Microsoft Office, Embird, itunes, and firefox.  Really that all should have taken about 8 hours max.  I am currently downloading the printer driver and I hope that finishes before dinner.

I still need to transfer some files from the backup - yes, I backed up!  Thank goodness!

Also, this morning, I went to get a tooth worked on.  I knew I was getting a crown and I was geared up for it.  Well, the doctor saw a small crack and some dark spots in the tooth behind it - the dark spots were on top of the filling, so he was just going to clean it up and put in a new filling.  As he was drilling on the back tooth, one of the cusps completely fell off.  The crack was way worse than he imagined, so I had to get prepped for another crown.  The only good new here is there was NO decay at all.  Amazingly. 

The problem - I am grinding at night.  So, I have to get a nightguard.  Oh joy.  I already wear 2 wrist guards at night and now with a mouthpiece, I will really look like a boxer - that is what DH calls me.

My jaw is still hurting from the procedure, so I am just doing soup for dinner tonight.  Hopefully it will feel better tomorrow.

Yeah, the driver finished downloading - back to work!

Fun Friday!

Is it really fun - well, that is debatable.  We decided not to go my sister's this weekend - people are getting sick.  DH has a bad headache, me and the kids have sneezing attacks, and my sister is not feeling so hot.  Even if ours is allergies, I would just rather stay home! Plus, driving through wind with the RV is no picnic.

DH is already off work and on the way home, we are going to do nothing!  YEAH!!!  I did what I call the morning trio - bathroom, bed, laundry, so we are good to go.

My office is a mess.













I am working on too many projects, but having a blast with it.

I had to take a selfie for a workshop I am in (taking a week ago, but edited yesterday I think)

So, there you go - my kind of Friday Fun.

Any big weekend plans for you all?

So sweetly distracted!

I am changing habits and focusing on becoming the person I was and who I want to be.  I know I say it a lot, but 2017 was a doozy.

Seeing so many people embarking on the focus of one word for the year got me thinking and curious on what that was about.  So, in researching, I found out about Ali Edward.  Sigh - it is all over isn't it!

I signed up for her One Little Word workshop and chose my word - RENEW.   So far, I am completely loving it.  I have a quote taped to my bathroom mirror - even my husband loves it. 

Everyday you wake up with the opportunity to

Renew

Refresh

Reset

Today looks like a perfect day for a do-over!

Also, I am taking a short, create small habits workshop and just in the first week, some of my older good habits that I had before we moved, are coming back - like wiping the toilet, sinks and mirror, making the bed and starting a load of laundry before I even get a cup of coffee.  It just starts the day off in the most amazing way.  I LOVE it!

So, Ali Edwards also does scrapbooking and mostly that is what it is all about.  I love paper, but I am not all that into scrapbooking - too busy and too much time.  I thought about Project Life and using a physical book, but that is not really for me. 

A long time ago, I loaded a bunch of pictures into Shutterfly to begin making photo books that way.  I have done 2 and I love how they turn out.  However, I never did get going with it.  I have a TON of pictures to scan in and I think that is what immobilized me.  I was going to make up these books and wait for a 50% off sale, then buy them one at a time as the budget permitted.  Truly, this has been on the back of mind for a LONG, LONG time.  I was thinking instead of vegging out in front of the TV in the evenings, I would get on the computer and start putting together these photo books.

I like the idea of the physical journaling book that includes pictures and my thoughts, but not the family photo albums. 

Now, how to scan in all the photos!

I need a Sabbatical

Health wise - I just do not seem to be able to get on top of it.  I know - self-love and time.  My energy is very low, but it has been a very gray winter for us and I am a sun needer!  Living in an area that most days are sunny - having 3 weeks of gray is getting to me.  There was a little sun yesterday, but I slept most of it after the weekend I had.

I have ended up NOT keeping my nephew.  He had epic meltdowns and I just don't have the energy to deal with them.  They are BAD!  He hits my sister, kicks her - calls her names, is belligerent...It is really bad and he is only 4.  I think there may be something wrong with him, but she is in denial.  She is not parenting correctly either, but I don't know if there is a right way - I really think something is wrong.  When I say she is parenting wrong - she offers treats (like a new toy) if he behaves, he doesn't, she gives him 20+ chances, then he still gets the treat.  So, I don't know if this is a learned pattern, or he has issues (I say issues because they run on my sister's side and her husband's side - bi-polar, personality disorder, etc)  My sister and I have different fathers.

Anyway, it was just best if he went back with them this time.  We will do it another time.

So, yesterday, I was so exhausted about dealing with them the whole weekend and those fits - plus getting up at 5:30 daily and not getting to sleep until after midnight, that I was literally walking through my room to get something, fell in the bed and fell asleep on top of the sheets and blankets.  I sort of woke up at some point, and slid inside, then proceeded to sleep for 4 hours.  I went to bed on time and slept all night.  I was truly exhausted.

I am slow this morning, but mainly because I have nothing slated to do, so I am going easy.  I do need to run to the bank and library, but other than that, I am not sure what the day will bring.  If it is not raining this afternoon, I think I will go for a walk.

Have a great day!

Embroidery

I have begun making the quilt of my grandmother's clothing for my cousin who took care of her.  I think because I make these type of quilts all the time, I am not getting too emotional while I work, but as I type I am getting a little teary.

My Nana (which is what I called her) loved birds and flowers.  Once when I was a pre-teen, I stayed up all night with them to watch a flower bloom that only opened one night a year. 

So, with this quilt, I used all the solid color shirts and pants and embroidered birds on them.  This is only 7 of them, but I have 10 total to do. 

The rest of the quilt is made from her very patterned shirts and pants. I may end up making myself a pillow with one of these embroidered birds.  This is going to the be most intricate quilt I have ever made!

My nephew is here and the weekend has been so hectic!  This little person completely takes over!  They are at the wedding right now, so I have a small breather.  This week, we are shopping for books, going to the library, and possibly an outdoor nature session.  One day we have to clean and pack the RV, so it should be a full week.

Loving these slow days!

I was able to sleep in again and there is no where to go and noone pressing me - luxury I tell you - absolute luxury!

This morning I listened to the first workshop session on habits - it is Christian based, so the first lesson was about beginning with a small 10-30 second prayer in the morning while brushing teeth, getting dressed, making the bed, etc.  This person suggested reciting a memorized verse that is uplifting. 

Just being a part of this workshop has got me moving back to some of the habits I had before we started the process of this house - like wiping down and making the bed before leaving my room.  I love doing it because even if all else goes wrong, my bathroom is clean and my bedroom is neat.  That is a wonderful feeling at the end of the day and really every time I walk in it.

I also am starting a load of laundry daily - well, as needed.  I don't need to do laundry every day.  But I do consider it daily.

I am still moving quite slow, so anything else that gets done is just golden.

We think our barn cat has died.  Either that or he has run far, far away.  We finally let him out of our shed and he stuck around for a few days, but we have not seen him in 5 days and we rattle the food bag, set out wet food, called and called - no meow - nothing.  Bummer.  We were hoping to keep cats, but we probably need to wait until our land is a little more developed and we have cat loving plants.  

I am keeping my nephew all next week, so life will pretty much stop.  I highly doubt I will be able to blog or work.  My office is not a place for a 4 year old and he is busy, busy!  We will go the library once, and I was hoping my homeschool group would do a playdate, but it has been so cold and rainy here.  He likes to go, go, go, but we are not go, go, go people.  I will think of something else - even getting out for an hour or so seems to break up the day nicely. 

No voice having somebody

ARG!  Its a doozy this time.  Barely a whisper.  I stopped talking Tuesday, but I try every day because you cannot really tell if you have a voice or not otherwise.  I try once in the morning, then again in the evening.  Nope, nada, not happening.  Sigh.

Well, life must go on.

Today, I was determined to not feel sorry for myself and get things moving.  Do you know how much your jaw starts to hurt when you don't talk? Wow!

So, I got up, and started my old plan of wiping the toilet, sink and bathroom mirror, and making the bed before I leave the room.  I also gathered all the clothes and started a load of laundry.  Then I sat down with my coffee.  AHH!

After a while, I decided to start writing thank you notes for the Christmas gifts and those that brought us something at our Open House.  14 thank yous and 1 birthday card.  That takes a while because I do hand write a note on each of them.

When I got through with that, I decided to take down all the Christmas decor.  The kids helped me.  Now I just remembered, I have not eaten today. 

DH is working late, so I am all in for dinner - we are having pork chops with mushrooms, rice and a salad. 

I may just take some more time and read this late afternoon. I love these slow days where I can get something done AND relax.

Downtime

I am still getting over something.  I am very chill - not worried about anything, not anxious, not restless - usually signs I am fighting something.  I have no voice.  I actually lost it Sunday afternoon, rallied for the party, but my throat was very sore and had a lump in it from overuse.  That feeling went away with no use Tuesday.  Today, no use either.  I will probably go one more day not talking then try to talk on Friday.

It is frustrating to say the least, but at least my kids are old enough to read what I write and do not need me to fix their breakfast or lunch or anything really.  The house is just really quiet.

Book anyone?

We found out what our new check will be now without the 401(k) and with social security back in.  A much better place than we would have been without the inheritance - that's for sure.

Our 401(k) is now at $136,000!  WOOHOO!!!  So nice to see it over $100,000.  I hear $225,000 is about the amount where things really compound.  Cannot wait to get there.

Today, I am still contemplating habits and organization of my brain really.  My motivation is low, but that is because I am not feeling great, so I am trying to wrap my head around developing good habits, using a planner effectively and gathering motivation to do what has to be done.

The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as

interruptions of one’s “own” or “real” life. The truth is of course that what one

calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life—the life God is sending one

day by day; what one calls ones’ ’‘real life” is a phantom of one’s own

imagination. –C.S. Lewis 

This quote spoke to me.  It is true - all the mundane and everyday happenings that fill the day are life.  Not what you sit around and conjure up in your brain that never comes to be.  I guess it is what my mother-in-law considers "getting over yourself".   This past year of living in flux really got me off track of managing our daily lives - I developed a ton of bad habits and am easily distracted from what needs to be done.  

2018 is about me getting back to myself and reaching out to others (as well as getting healthier), but I think they all go hand in hand.  When one is managed, the other come more easily and feeds into another which help stays focused on the former.  

Alright, enough of all of that, I am going to go finish my very overdo library book.

 

Open House on New Year's Day

Well, we did not have as many come as we thought, but that is because of the flu epidemic that is going on.  About 10 families called us yesterday morning about the flu!  UGH!  Glad they did not come.

Other than that though, the little get together was great!  DH's boss and co workers came as well as some of my friends.  About 20 altogether.  As opposed to the 60 that RSVP'd in the positive.

 Before anyone got there, I tried to get some pictures of the food we had out, but I only grabbed 4 before people started coming - it was a hectic morning!  We had the normal - veggie and olive area.
 

 Instead of making a new dessert, we just set out the leftover cookies from Christmas - these are the haystacks - chinese crispy noodles with butterscotch and peanut butter - some had peanuts in them and some not.  We also had some cookie and cream sticks (gift we received) and light lemon crackers with a dusting of sugar that are melt in your mouth good (also received as a gift).

We found this gorgeous wooden cheese tray on clearance and we snagged it for only $5!  I love that the edge matches our countertop edge!  Cheeses served (all gifts received) Colby, Swiss and Smoked Cheddar.

Something NOT pictured is the little silver dollar sandwiches we picked up from a local grocer here - they are so good and great for a light gathering - they come with ham, turkey and roast beef.  My kids love them and so did the guests.  We have some left over, but college boy is taking them with him when he goes back to school today - he will eat them on the way there.

I used some Kohl's cash to purchase the triple crock when it was on sale right before Christmas.  I LOVE it, but I am a HUGE crock pot fan.  I made a corn and jalapeno dip, spinach artichoke dip and a simple queso using Tostito brand queso adding some milk to thin it out and added nacho jalapenos.

In the big crock pot, I made BBQ Sausages.   Only I added some local link sausages as well as little smokies.  For the recipe, I put only about a tbsp of brown sugar in it and added about 1/4 cup of spicy brown mustard.  The guest went freaking gaga over them - they were excellent!

In addition, we had my famous Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade Punch, Sweet Tea, Coffee and Green Tea via Keurig, as well as one side of our sink filled with iced water bottles, wine and beer.

We felt that everything went very well, everyone was complimentary about the house and with most of the guest being Chinese, we talked about traveling quite a bit - it got the travel bug in me going, but we have to get out of debt first!

Overall we got a lot done with the house while DH was home.  I am not looking around going - we need to do this, we need to do that.  Homeschool was organized and I am ready to start this year fresh and clean.