Thankful.

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never have enough." Oprah

When I saw this post on the lovely Nelle Monaco's blog Simply Love it filled me with so much happiness and joy, I knew I had to jump on board. I'd never seen or thought of doing a post like this but there is always something to be thankful for so my heart jumped for joy.

The prompt is to create an acrostic poem using the world Thankful.

T- Time with my family & friends.
I'm not going to lie, since my wedding and all the events surrounding it have been over i've been missing my tribe more than ever.
I got used to having them with me. Every weekend was full of nothing but celebrations and laughter and creating memories with the
people who mean more to me than the stars in the sky. It was amazing to be filled with that much love and happiness.
The nice thing about the holidays is that same sense of togetherness. I love filling our bellies with some of the best southern
cooking ever all the while laughing and creating memories.

H- Hard times.
I know this seems like a pretty odd thing to be happy for but without the hard times we wouldn't know just how good the good times are.
We wouldn't know that everything is only temporary, this goes for the good times as well as the hard times. I think we celebrate harder
because we appreciate the happy times more. We love harder because of that, too.

A- Avacados.
Okay, y'all A is a hard one. But I'm not just thankful for Avacados. I'm thankful for all the food that I put in my body, that nourishes me.
I'm thankful that I come from a family, I married into a family, I have wonderful neighbors and friends who all are excellent cooks and keep
us fed. The kitchen is my favorite place to be because food is the center of everything. All the best gatherings happen around food.

N- New beginnings.
As the new year is approaching we get that chance to start all over, fresh. And that's something that I love.
Even though I don't believe that January is the only time you can start fresh, it just seems like we all do and that's pretty
inspiring. It's not to oearly to think about what you want to start over with in 2016.

K- Kindness.
I love being the recipent of kindness but more so, I love spreading kindness. It's amazing what a kind smile can do for a stranger,
or holding the door open for a stranger going into the store. Back in the summer I gave a bucket with some change in it to some
little league baseball players who were collecting money for a trip. It filled those boys with so much joy, they were jumping up and down
like they had just won the lottery but it filled me with happiness that they were so grateful for that bucket with change. A little kindness
goes a long way.

F- Family and Friends.
This one is a no brainer. They are all part of my tribe for some reason and i'd be lost without any one of them.

U- Unconditional Love.
Friends come and go, sometimes even your own family does but those who are most important will be there for you always.
There are no conditions to their love for you. Those people are the ones you need to squeeze a little tighter when you hug them.
Those are the ones you need to go out of your way to do for and show you love. I promise, it'll be worth it. They won't be there forever.

L- Lifetime of memories.
There wasn't anywhere else to include memories so here seemed like a good place. I'm thankful for the lifetime of memories i'm creating
with my tribe. Both in real life and my blog friends. I have thirty three years worth and counting.




So what are you thankful for this holiday season?











"

Thanksgiving Preparation.

Hi Peachies! Happy Thanksgiving week. This is one of my favorite weeks of the year because my son is off school all week, my husband only has a three day work week and we get to spend a lot of time together in the kitchen. Growing up one of the things I loved about the holidays was spending so much time in the kitchen with my Mom. We still do that but last Thanksgiving my husband (my fiancee at the time) & I decided to make an entire meal for his family. His parents weren't able to spend all that time in the kitchen standing and cooking and they weren't going to have Thanksgiving. We were just going to bring them leftovers from my family get together but my heart couldn't stand the thought of that so I came up with the brilliant idea to cook an entire meal for them. It was a lot of hard work, three days worth, but I wouldn't have changed a thing. It was worth it so that they could have a Thanksgiving worth remembering and not just sitting at home, alone, waiting on us to bring them some leftovers. Apparently last year went so well that we're getting to cook the Thanksgiving meal for them again this year & I can't tell you how much I love this new tradition we've started. And it's a double win because we're sharing some of it with my family, too. It means so much to be able to take care of the people who have raised us and taken care of us, and our son, all these years. Holidays should be stress free and more about spending time together and that's exactly how we try to make them for our parents. For us, it's fun just to be spending the time together and creating memories and laughter of our own.

To make Thanksgiving less stressful for us I have a few tips on prepping ahead of time.

Make a meal plan list
Check for all ingredients
Make a grocery list
Take list to store

(nothing irritates me more than having my kitchen in disarray, food everywhere, and finding out you need more eggs).

Since we transport all the food from our house to my in-law's we had an incident with the sweet potato casserole.
The marshmallows stuck to foil covering them and when we got there the marshmallows pulled off with the foil meaning
I needed more marshmallows. I didn't have them with me though so my hubby had to run out to go get me more marshmallows.

Then the same thing on Christmas Day except my Dad and hubby were deep frying the turkey and realized, as the turkey went in, that they didn't have enough oil so away they went on Christmas Day in search of more peanut oil. It took hours and many stores later but they finally found some.

Moral of these stories, don't be like us. Be prepared.

If your turkey is frozen, start at least three days before defrosting it

Two days in advance

Prepare casseroles

Season bird and leave un covered in fridge

Cook your cornbread for dressing

The day before

Cook all casseroles

Pull turkey out 1 hr before roasting so it reaches room temp

Cut up veggies such as potatoes (for mashed potatoes)they can be placed in a bowl of water in the fridge over
night to prevent them from browning. Same for squash, carrots, etc

Start cooking your collards and dry beans. These tend to take the longest

Cook your turkey the night before because you'll be less stressed and rushed

The Morning Of
All that's left to do is warm up all your casseroles, beans, collards, and turkey

Make mashed potatoes, creamed corn, sauteed green beans, sauteed squash if you are because those things are not good warmed up

Biscuits, rolls, any bread is best if made on this day, too


Here are some more tips that might help you out if you're still stuck. I learned a few things from this, too.


These are Chef Michael Symon's tips straight off his Facebook page:
my turkey day 101 #symontday
1-season bird the night before and leave uncovered in fridge
2-get all veg chopped and diced night before & make turkey stock w/ wings and necks
3-set any casseroles & dressings the night before so they r ready for oven
4-pull out turkey 1 hr before roasting so it comes to room temp and chill is off(u should do this w/all meats before cooking) place in roasting pan and cover with butter soaked cheesecloth
5-start turkey so it is done atleast 1 hr before serving so it can rest cook at 425 for first 45-60 min 375 until thigh reaches 160 (about 10 min per pound)
6-while turkey is resting cook any sides in oven or stovetop & make gravy
7- when sides are done lay out on table or buffet
8- carve you perfect turkey and set on table or buffet
9- feast on turkey & goodies
10- move to couch and watch football...eat pie and drink espresso

**cpl of side notes...i never brine or stuff my turkey...there r tons of ways to do a turkey but this works best for me...also if u dont have a good meat thermometer u should get one as it will save you a ton of headaches & guessing..ignore that pop up thing in the bird it is not worth a sh**.....have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!




Get your Turkey on Ladies & Gentlemen.
Gobble till you wobble.




"

30 Days of Little Things Weeks 2&3

Hi again Peachies. Happy Saturday morning. I hope you're all staying cozy where ever you are. I've been seeing posts of snow already in Illinois and surrounding states & honestly, I wish you'd pass some of that down to Georgia. It's a chilly 55 here and overcast but no sights of snow anywhere in the near future. However, we are staying snuggly warm in our sweats and pajamas today and that makes the perfect time to catch up on my #30daysoflittlethings posts. Last week was such a crazy week that I forgot to do my post for week 2 so today I bring you weeks two and three of this link up.

Here's how it works (as written by Olivia, herself).

For the next 30 days, starting today, be intentional about noticing the small, mundane, everyday things in your life. Changing your mindset from overlooking these things to intentionally noticing them is a huge positive change!

Post about the little thing you're grateful for each day on some social platform using the hashtag #30daysoflittlethings. I'll be using Instagram and maybe Facebook occasionally.

If you have a blog, join in our weekly link-up! I will host the link up on my blog and Ludavia from Nifty Betty will co-host it on her blog each Sunday. The link-up will remain open all week, until the next Sunday, giving us a chance to see what everyone has been up to!

If you don't have a blog, stop by and read other people's posts on Sunday and engage!

Follow me on Instagram to see what i'll be posting about. Every Saturday, Sunday or Monday (because life is unpredictable like that) i'll do a round up post here.

Here's what i've been thankful for the last two weeks.

Day 8: Apparently got lost in the mix of the crazy week. So on to the next.

Day 9: I'm thankful for this silly Golden Girl. Our Bella Holly is the sweetest girl ever. She has the most soulful eyes & I think she feels everything we do. She's full of love and smiles.

Day 10: I'm thankful that the sun started shining today. It's been a month since we've last seen it. Welcome back sunshine.

Day 11: I'm thankful that 46 days ago I said "I Do" to this man. He's honestly my better half, the piece to my missing puzzle, My calm, my safe place. He can make me laugh when I want to cry. He's everything I ever wanted but never thought i'd find. Years ago he told me never to settle, i'm sure glad I listened to him. I look forward to making a lifetime of memories with him & so many more dances around our kitchen. He's proof that fairy tales do come true.

Day 12: I love my time in the car, waiting on my son to get out of school. It's 20-45 minutes of me time. Time to read, drink a monster (only on the rarest occasions), & listen to music or podcasts while catching up on instagram & snapchat.

Day 13: I'm thankful for my Mama & Daddy. These two are everything to me. They're not only my parents but my friends, too. They've given us an example of what a true marriage us. It has it's ups and downs, that's a given but they've shown us how to handle the downs only makes you stronger & because of that you are able to fully enjoy the ups. They've shown us that there's nothing too small to celebrate & life's too short to be serious all the time. I know that, no matter how old I get their home is always my home, too. They've shown me how to be the best parent, too, by being a shining example of that. We've always been able to count on our Mom & Dad. My mom will always be one of my best friends & i'll always be daddy's girl.

Day 14: I'm Thankful that it's Saturday. I slept in this morning & as soon as I got up my hubby had my coffee ready. I got to spend some quiet time with him before he left for work. When my son got up I told him to get ready on about an hour, he did so without being asked! The sun is shining, it's chilly which means i'm getting to wear one of my favorite scarves, & i'm about to spend time with some of my favorite people. It's definitely a Happy Saturday!

Day 15: Today was one of those that I had a heavy heart & was in a funk. I couldn't shake it. I knew I couldn't just sit around the house feeling blah so I got dressed and went to Target, The place of all things happy! I bought a few things & looked at all the Christmas things. It helped but I still felt blah because truth is, the things that are making me feel this way are things that I can't shop away. It's the world we live in, it's the terrorist attacks in Paris & all over the world. It's cancer & knowing my best friend is hurting because she just lost her Mom to cancer over the weekend. It's all these things that are out of my control that had me feeling that way but when I picked my son up from school & we spent time in the yard with the dogs, running, playing & soaking in the gorgeous weather everything felt right. I finally felt better. Of course I realize I can't control the things that have me sad & anxious but I did realize that I have so many wonderful things and people, in my life, to be thankful for. So i'm thankful for that & for the moments I share with them. I'm also thankful for a God who watches over me & keeps me safe my whole life through

Day 16: I'm thankful for the mess. The messy life means i'm alive and not perfect nor am I striving for perfection. I'm striving to be the best me possible & often that, in itself, is a mess. The messy bed means I get to snuggle up in a warm bed with my very best friend in the world, every night. Some people would love to be snuggled up next to their loved ones at night. Others would just be happy with a warm bed or even a blanket on a cold night. The messy house means I have a home, for starters. A home that is warm & safe. A home that I share with my loved ones. A home that is welcoming to our loved ones. The messy heart means I care. I care about my loved ones, I care about this world we live in. I have feelings & i'm not afraid to share them. So truth is, messy is okay. Messy means I have a life. It's not perfect but it's perfect for me & I love it. I'm blessed by the mess.

Day 17: I'm thankful for a cozy home to snuggle up in. This quote is always one of my favorites "love grows best in little houses, with fewer walls to separate. Where you eat & sleep together, you can't help but communicate. If we had more room between us, think of all we'd miss. Love grows best in houses just like this."

Day 18: 'm thankful for new friends & old friends and i'm thankful for thoughtful gifts appearing at the perfect time, when they're needed most. After a hard, emotional day of saying good bye to my best friend's mom, who lost her battle with cancer on Sunday, I came home to a package from a very sweet friend of a friend. Inside was all these goodies. It was a facebook gift swap but it came at the perfect time. Thank you, Margo for putting a smile in my face. Best of all is the cardinal candle holder b/c they say when a cardinal appears a loved one who has passed is near

Day 19: I'm thankful for each new day that I wake up. It means I have a purpose in this life & I choose it to try to spread some cheer & make others happy. Every morning I wake up is a blessing in itself. I'm also thankful that it's Friday before Thanksgiving, meaning no school next week! We get to sleep in for 9 whole days!!!! I'm also thsnkful for the gorgeous sky & weather we're being blessed with today.

So that brings us up to date on my #30daysoflittlethings. There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

What are you thankful for?





"

Oh, Hey Friday!

Hello Peachies! We've made it to Fri-YAY again! Whew! It's been a tough week for me because my best friend's mom passed away from cancer on Sunday. We went to her funeral service yesterday. Like most funerals, it was emotional. She was such a sweet lady & will be greatly missed. She & I would often sit and talk for a while when I had her grandson and she'd come pick him up from me. It feels surreal but my sweet friend has a wonderful outlook on it. She says she knows her mom is no longer suffering from this awful disease & she's at peace now but I know in the days and months ahead she and her son will need prayers so if you can, stop and say a prayer for her please.

After that I can tell you that i'm more ready than ever for this weekend. I'm hoping to do a lot of nothing but cuddling up in the house and staying cozy since it's supposed to be cold. To top it off, my son has next week off school for Thanksgiving break! Hallelujah! I think i'm looking most forward to the fact that I won't have to struggle to get him up in the mornings. That alone is something to be thankful for.


So today it's time for the Oh, Hey Friday! link up with the adorable Karlie from September Farm
September Farm

You can join or just check out her fabulous blog. If you do you should read it from start to finish, you're sure to laugh, smile, and nod in agreeance the whole way through. She's a bubbly, gem of a person & that's just what I know from her blog. She keeps life real.

How does this link up work?

1. Well first off you list 5 things. They can be as random as you want or all about one subject, there are no real rules here.
2. You link up your post at the bottom of hers, not mine. I'm not that fancy.
3. Then you grab the button, from below & add it to yours.
4. Then you spread the word about your blog, her blog, and everyone else's you want.
(I added that part-duh!)



Here are my Fabulous Five for Fri-YAY!


1. Arm Knitting.
Have you heard of this? My Aunt made me an arm knitted scarf last Christmas and I love it.
I've been wanting to try it, too so I bought the yarn earlier this week and am planing on making a scarf this weekend.
Arm Knit Infinity Scarf
Wish me luck!

2. Christmas Cheer everywhere but especially in the aisles of Target!
This is what's making my heart happy.
We're getting our Christmas tree on Black Friday and I can't hardly wait!

3. Spending time outside with this silly crew lately has been making my heart smile, too.

4. The weekly #30daysoflittlethings with Olivia from SimplyLivBlog has been incredible. I love participating. You can see my #30daysoflittlethings link ups on my Instagram.

5. These wonderful gifts that I received yesterday. I participated in the Facebook gift exchange because who doesn't love a gift exchange? Yes, this is the one that went viral for being a scam. Honestly, I sent out my gift and forgot about it so yesterday when we got home from my friend's mom's funeral my hubby said "Baby, you have a package up here on the porch." I told him I didn't know what it was because I hadn't ordered anything. When he told me where it was from I remembered the FB gift swap. Needless to say, it came at a time when I needed it most. I needed a little cheer after the day I had and this was it. What an un-expected blessing.

My swapper did a great job picking out items I love! She knew I love owls and candles but I didn't say anything about cardinals. The neat this is that they say when a cardinal appears a loved one who has passed is near. What a lovely thought after the day.


So there are my Friday Five.

Link up with us at Karli's blog and tell us about your Friday Five!

"

Girlie Stocking Stuffers

1. Cozy socks like these from Kate Spade
Fluffy Spots Anklets $12

2. A Rollerball of perfume great to keep in the purse
Walk On Air $25

3. A cute cozy for keeping your Coffee looking adorable like this one from The Knot Unraveled in a similar style but different colors.
Big Bow Coffee Cozy $13

4. Nail Polishes. These are some of my picks on my wish list.
OPI Gelato on My Mind
Essie Cashmere Brights Yespadrilles $4. 25(ULTA)
Butter London Doily $15 (ULTA)

5. Ulta Gift Cards or Gift Cards to anywhere they like.

6. If they're a tea lover like I am then this tea infuser bottle is perfect for a stocking stuffer.
I love that the infuser is on the inside of the bottle so you can brew on the go.
Arabesque Glass Tea Carafe $9.99 (World Market)

7. I'm addicted to EOS. I have two in my purse, one by my bed, one in my make up bag, and at least one in a basket in the living room so of course I was so excited when I saw this holiday set. Santa, please?!?
EOS Holiday Lip Balm Set $8.99 (Ulta)

8. These wine wipes to wipe the wine off your lips and teeth. These are pretty funny, actually, but kinda necessary if you love wine as much as I do. When I saw them they went on my wish list immediately!
Wine Wipes $9.00 (Francesca's)

9. Again, for the tea lover in your life. Flavored Teas like this Peppermint Chocolate Tea.
Republic of Tea Chocolate Peppermint $ 10.99(World Market)

10. I'm a huge lover of travel kits that pack everything you could possibly need in an emergency into a pretty little bag. I always want every single one I see but this one, especially.
Polka Dot Minimergency Kit $16.95 (Francesca's)



Ladies, I could have gone on and on. There are so many pretty things to put into a stocking, especially for girls. Men, pay attention to these things ;) Hint Hint (; What are some of your favorite stocking stuffers?


"

It's all messy.

Hi Peachies! I want to be real with you all for a minute. If you want to see rainbows and unicorns then go on and scroll past, that's okay. I'm not offended but when I started this blog I wanted to be real with myself, with my readers, with anyone who happens upon my little corner of the internet. Before my family and friends freak out and start blowing up my phone and Facebook account with messages of "are you okay?" "what's wrong?" I just want to say that everything is fine, everything is peachy, I just need to get some things off my chest and since my intention with my blog is to be real I want to share it with everyone who happens to be reading this. My blog is 99.9% all things happy and cheerful because my life really is that way. I know, it can't always be sunshine and peonies and whatever makes your heart happy so let's be honest.

I'm sitting on my couch in a cami and shorts, hair up in some weird messy bun, no make up on. I haven't even showered yet today. My living room looks like a, well, a mess. My kitchen, the same. In fact every room in my house looks like a tornado hit it. The saying is "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". I came to the conclusion today that i'm insane. I do the same thing over and over everyday. I clean, I cook, and when I happen to find a minute I blog or do something I actually enjoy and the only thing that changes is the amount of the mess that accumulates and grows. I try not to care but truth is, I do care. Taking care of the house and the family is my job. I get to stay home so I can do just that so I do take it seriously. Maybe too seriously but with all the bad going on in the world today our home is our safe haven. It's where we can be safe and protected.

Every single morning before I get out of bed, I pray that the Lord please watch over my loved ones through out the day. Keep them safe, keep them protected from evil, bring them home at the end of the day. My husband says to me "I can protect myself" and I know he can but the thing is that I prefer he not have to. This world we live in is full of evil. You can watch the news on any given day and see multiple reports of people killing and abusing other people and it breaks my heart. To be honest it scares me, too. I prefer not to even watch the news and lately, Facebook is just as bad. Most social media is. It's not that I don't want to be aware of what's going on in this world, I do for my son's sake. To know what to tell him and what to talk to him about but I do not want to obsess and dwell on it either.

I watched the coverage on the attacks in Paris on Friday night, as it was un-folding. I've seen it every morning on Good Morning America. My husband was glued to it all weekend. My Mom is glued to it, too but for me, it's too much. I can't handle all the obsessive negativity that comes along with it. It's real, it's getting closer to home and I believe we should remain vigilant but I will no longer be glued to the coverage. I will no longer listen to the news reports or briefings. Instead I will pray and turn my attention to Jesus because this issue is bigger than me, it's bigger than you, it's bigger than any single person on this planet.

Yesterday was one of those days when I couldn't sit still. I couldn't focus on anything at all. Not even my hobbies. Not even blogging. I've got two posts in my drafts folder that were scheduled for yesterday and today but they just didn't feel right. My heart wasn't in them so instead of posting something that I wasn't into I decided to give it a rest yesterday. This morning, I sat down and this is what came out of my heart so I typed. It's real, it's honest, it's not perfect, it's all messy. Right now the life, the hair, the house, it's all messy but this is what was speaking to me. This is what I needed to do. What I needed to say.

Since yesterday was one of those days when I couldn't sit still and focus on anything I got myself ready, left the house, and went to Target. Thinking a trip to my favorite store would shake me out of the funk I was in. It helped a little but not enough so I took my gift certificate
I had won and went to Starbucks to buy myself a treat. That didn't help, though the brownie peppermint cake pops were a nice little delicious treat of sugary goodness.

Here's my Instagram post for the day, it was my Day 16 of #30daysoflittlethings Instagram challenge.

{Day 16} Today was one of those that I had a heavy heart & was in a funk. I couldn't shake it. I knew I couldn't just sit around the house feeling blah so I got dressed and went to Target, The place of all things happy! I bought a few things & looked at all the Christmas decorations. It helped but I still felt blah because truth is, the things that are making me feel this way are things that I can't shop away. It's the world we live in, it's the terrorist attacks in Paris & all over the world. It's cancer & knowing my best friend is hurting because she just lost her Mom to cancer over the weekend. It's all these things that are out of my control that had me feeling that way but when I picked my son up from school & we spent time in the yard with the dogs, running, playing & soaking in the gorgeous weather everything felt right. I finally felt better. Of course I realize I can't control the things that have me sad & anxious but I did realize that I have so many wonderful things and people, in my life, to be thankful for. So i'm thankful for that & for the moments I share with them. I'm also thankful for a God who watches over me & keeps me safe my whole life through. #30daysoflittlethings

See, none of the things I did or bought worked. They weren't a magic cure all that I enjoyed and suddenly everything was all better. Life isn't always that easy. Sometimes those things work but when the matters at heart are heavy material things don't work. It wasn't until I spent time with my son and the dogs (living beings who matter) that my attitude changed. I believe God was showing me what really mattered and what really makes me happy through them. Sometimes we just need to "Be still and know that I am God" -Psalms 46:10 He will handle all of our heart matters, all of our doubts, and fears if we stop fighting Him and let it go with full confidence that it will be handled.

With all of these things in my life that were making me feel full of fear and anxiety it was hard to let it go. I think I'm Super Woman and should never ask for help. I want to do it all myself, like there's some kind of award at the end of the month for that. There's not and we're not meant to take on the world alone. That's why we have families, friends, children, husbands/wives, boyfriends/girlfriends. That's why we have each other and that's why we have God. You're never alone. If you ever think you are, send me an e-mail, I'll be there for you.

As for Paris, they'll be in my prayers in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. Always. But i've learned to not become so enthralled with the coverage 24/7 and make myself so anxious that I can't focus on anything else. It's a paralyzing thing if you let it take over so today i'm not. I'm done letting everything that worries me and controls me in this way have control. My God is bigger than my problems. My focus needs to be on what really matters most. The people I have in my life, because one day you'll turn around and they'll be gone. This I have learned the hardest way possible over the last few years, especially.

If you have someone in your life that you love and can't imagine life without, hug them a little tighter today. If you can't hug them then call them or send them a card in the mail. Just let them know that you are thinking of them because in a world like ours, nothing is guaranteed. So put aside all the things that don't matter and focus on what really does. You'll be happier that you did. Trust me.

And always #PrayforParis. Always #PrayforPeace. Always #PrayforaCure.


But most of all, no matter what you do, try to find the best in everything. It's okay to step outside and get some fresh air sometimes. It's okay to admit that you aren't Super Woman and ask for help. It's okay to take a time out for you. Just remember "Be still and know."






"

Oh, Hey Friday!

Hey Peachies! Oh Happy Day! It's the best day of the week, it's Fri-YAY! We've made it another whole week so now it's time to celebrate with a glass of wine. Wait, it's only 11:45 a.m. here, so maybe i'll hold off on the wine for now. While we wait for happy hour i'll entertain you with the Oh, Hey Friday! link up with the adorable Karlie from September Farm while I watch I Love Kellie Pickler.

September Farm

You can join or just check out her fabulous blog. If you do you should read it from start to finish, you're sure to laugh, smile, and nod in agreeance the whole way through. She's a bubbly, gem of a person & that's just what I know from her blog. She keeps life real.

How does this link up work?

1. Well first off you list 5 things. They can be as random as you want or all about one subject, there are no real rules here.
2. You link up your post at the bottom of hers, not mine. I'm not that fancy.
3. Then you grab the button, from below & add it to yours.
4. Then you spread the word about your blog, her blog, and everyone else's you want.
(I added that part-duh!)



Here are my Fabulous Five for Fri-YAY!

1. The Red Starbucks Cup Controversy

I don't remember Starbucks ever claiming they were one religion or another. I'm guessing that the elves and snowflakes they put on their cups in the past were all symbols of the true meaning of Christmas. Oh wait, no they weren't! There were no elves and reindeer in the Bible. The true reason for the season is the birth of Baby Jesus so don't let this red cup (which makes me want to sing Red Solo Cup every time I hear it) steal your Christmas joy. In one of the articles about the Starbucks Red Cup that i've read recently said that people of other religions and faiths aren't up in arms because there aren't menorahs and other symbols that represent the holidays to them on the cups.

I have an idea. If you don't like the red Starbucks cup then save your $10 that you'd spend on a venti peppermint mocha & send a solider who is deployed and not getting to spend the holidays with his or her loved ones and send them a new mug and a bag of coffee. Take the negative and turn it into something positive.


2. The Ugly Target Christmas Sweater

Ugly Christmas Sweater

In the comments section on Twitter someone said "it wouldn't be America if someone wasn't offended." That's sad but it's true. This sweater is meant to be ugly & funny. I get that OCD is a very real disease but we spend too much time being offended by the silliest things.

It's really simple here ladies and gentlemen. If you don't like it then don't buy it. If you feel the need to boycott then go right ahead but don't get all up in arms when the rest of the world doesn't follow suit because they're too busy enjoying the holiday season to be offended by these ridiculous things.


3. Speaking of the holidays, a friend of mine, who works retail, made this point on her Facebook yesterday and I agree with her wholeheartedly.


"You are complaining about a red cup!!!
But yet you don't complain when people are away from their families on Thanksgiving night working so you can go shopping, you don't complain when stores are open all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!! What about all those hard workers who have to work so you can save a couple bucks?"


It's all pretty one sided, really. We all want to see and do things that only agree with our beliefs. Pretty selfish, huh?

In the words of Clark Griswold "We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye."

I'm going to say Merry Christmas this holiday season but I won't be offended if you say Happy Holidays or Happy Kwanzaa or Happy "Whatever you believe in" because honestly, I want everyone to have a happy day everyday.

4. Now that i've gotten that off my chest...
I'm sitting here like Red Cup What? Ugly Christmas Sweater Who?

Because this is what I'm worried about...

Will Glenn make it back to his wife and un-born baby?


5. And I saved the best for last. I'm trying to pick out our Christmas cards for this year and have it narrowed down to two & I'm leaning more towards one than the other but for fun, I want to see what y'all pick. And remember, this is a preview, not the full card and the quality is horrible, for some reason, i'll work on that but it adds a little more suspense to the actual card.

OR

Which Christmas card do you like best?






"

My Favorite Podcasts.

Hi Peachies! I hope you're all having a sunny, fabulous day in your little corner of the world. Today I'm here to share with you my love of podcasts. In the last year, really, i've become obsessed with podcasts. It took me a while (and my IT hubby-back before we got married) for me to understand the world of podcasts. Now that I do, they're my favorite things ever. I never listen to the radio anymore. I'm always listening to my iPhone, either Spotify or podcasts. Podcasts are great because they're like talk radio only it's all about things that actually interest you! I listen to mine while i'm going to pick my son up from school and while I spend anywhere from 30 minute-an hour waiting on him to get out of school. It's my favorite time of day though and if you'll listen to these podcasts then you'll understand why.

1. The Lively Show.
Jess Lively interviews other bloggers and inspirational people on topics such as pet rescues, finding your bliss, & a lot of self
happiness/help topics. She's the one I listen to 95% of the time.

The Lively Show

2. She Percolates with Jenn Hatzung & Danielle Spurge. Their podcast is similar to Jess Lively's. They're always a pick me up with their topics
like the fear of missing out. My favorite podcast, so far, is the one where they talked to Maggie Whitley from Maggie Whitley Designs. Maggie is one of the first bloggers I started following a couple years ago &
she's so bubbly and inspirational.

She Percolates

3. Boss Girl Creative Podcast. This one, i'll admit, I don't listen to that often but I love it. One of my favorite episodes is "Finding Your
Tribe". I have recently just found this one though so there's lots more happy listening to come.

Boss Girl Creative


4. I've just found The Influence Podcast from the Influence Network and can't wait to dive into this one. It's about creative and spiritual
growth. Both things that I'm always working on in my life.

The Influence Network

5. And then there's Ross Mathews. He's rude and crude and hilarious. There are times when I need mind numbing non sense to listen to and he's
it. I remember him from Jay Leno then of, course, Chelsea Lately. I've read his book & i'm a huge fan! I love that he's not ashamed of who he is and isn't afraid to laugh at himself. I was all up to date on his podcast then he went to doing a show two times a week and i'm so behind.
My favorite episode is when he had RuPaul on. It was very heart felt. I leaned some inspiring things from RuPaul.

Straight Talk With Ross



Do yourself a favor and check these out. You'll love them all.
What are your favorite podcasts?












"

Inspired Mornings.

Hello Peachies! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet. I hope you're having an amazing day. I'm staying cozy over here in my sweats since we're on day 3,456 of rain. Maybe that's a little over dramatic but it depends on who you ask. By my own accounts, it's been 9 days now since we've seen the sunshine. All I want to do is sit on my couch in my favorite sweats, wrapped in my favorite blanket, drinking coffee, eating mom's pumpkin roll, binge watching t.v. and begging for the sun to come out.

Yesterday, I wasn't feeling "it" at all. I cleaned house some and then spent the rest of the day doing exactly what I said i've been wanting to do. I got on line but didn't post much of anything because I didn't feel like I had anything really to say but during my time out yesterday, I was thinking about my weekly Monday Coffee Talk blog post. I just couldn't bring myself to write that post and get it out there and here's why. I think that Monday Morning Coffee Talk needs a break. I was thinking about it yesterday and decided that this is something that isn't worthy of a blog post anymore. I should write this down on a note pad and go on about my day because, honestly, who really cares about my weekly goals?


*crickets*


I'm not offended because that's what I was thinking, too. Plus I get really tired of saying "Nope" I didn't do that. Life, it happens and things rarely go as planned but i'm sure no one really cares about my basket of unmated socks, just sitting, wishing, hoping, waiting to be mated. Heavens, I don't even really care about them. That's why they're on my to-do list weekly (though I actually tackled them yesterday!)

If you actually enjoyed that post, then i'm sorry but I'm sure no one is really heartbroken over that one.

So, like i've said, i've been feeling un-motivated and totally un-inspired lately. My whole schedule had gotten off track since the wedding and I'm struggling to get back on track, to be honest. Let's add to that this time change and the weather & I've been done for. Last week I was getting up earlier than ever (6 a.m.) with my hubby before he left for work and I was still accomplishing less in the day even though I was non stop going until I was falling asleep on the couch in the 8 o'clock hour. I have no idea what was going on but yesterday I finally had enough and started myself back on my morning yoga work out. Thank Heavens because that's made a difference but i'm still not 100% there yet. So let's talk about how to make your mornings more inspired.

1. Set an alarm for 15 minutes earlier than you need to get up.
This is when I lie there in bed and pray before I reach for my phone.
This time is crucial for me in the mornings.
I pray for the safety of my loved ones through out the day.
I pray that God shows me His way for the day.

2. If you've got extra time, then pick up your phone and check out social media.
And I always do. We're all guilty of this.

3. Get up & get ready for your day.
I wash my face, and throw on something cute and comfy because i'll be taking my son to school.
It's amazing how just fixing yourself up cute changes your attitude.

4. Make up your bed. I can't start my day with a messy bed.
I think it's just because I want to crawl back into it and go back to sleep.

5. Coffee. It's a morning must & for me, it's best enjoyed in the quiet darkness of the morning.
Before the world is awake and the hustle and bustle of the day begins.

6. A good breakfast.
I'm not always the best about eating a healthy breakfast but I try to eat a little something.

7. I'm usually driving my son to school around this time in my routine but I enjoy it.
On the way there we usually talk and on the way home, I roll down my windows and blast some music.
It really gets me awake and ready for the day.

8. Start your cleaning.
I come home and start the dishwasher or washing machine.
Then i've already got a start on things.

9. Make a "To Do" list for the day.
Then you can stay on track and cross tasks off as you get them done.
And who doesn't love that feeling of accomplishment?

10. Work Out.
This is when I'm doing my morning yoga.
It's amazing the rush I get from it.
And the burst of energy.

11. Shower and get prettied up.
I enjoy this part of my routine best of all.
I love taking the time to do my hair and make up and yes, I do it daily.
I'm a SAHM but I enjoy looking pretty and taking care of myself.

And that's how I like to start my mornings. I feel so much better and more energized when I start my day off this way.

Are you a morning person?
How do you start your day?





"

30 Days Of Little Things-Week 1

Hi Peachies! I sure hope you're having a very Happy Sunday. You know what they say. A Sunday well spent brings a week of content so I sure hope you're having an amazing Sunday, filled with all the things you love most. Currently, I'm snuggled up on the couch with my favorite blanket and a cup of coffee made by my hubby. He's on the other end of the couch playing Halo, & our kiddo is still asleep. It's a cozy morning, which is my favorite way to start the day.

We're a week into November now and with that comes the beginning of the holiday season. Since Thanksgiving is at the end of this month, we all seem to reflect on the things we're thankful for during this time of year. I try to keep a positive mind and thankful spirit all year through. Daily, I like to post on my personal Facebook page what i'm happy for but during November, especially, I like to post one thing I'm particularly thankful for so when I was asked by Olivia from Simply Liv Blog asked if anyone would be interested in participating in a 30 days of Little Things link up, I jumped on the opportunity. It was screaming my name.

Here's how it works (as written by Olivia, herself).

For the next 30 days, starting today, be intentional about noticing the small, mundane, everyday things in your life. Changing your mindset from overlooking these things to intentionally noticing them is a huge positive change!

Post about the little thing you're grateful for each day on some social platform using the hashtag #30daysoflittlethings. I'll be using Instagram and maybe Facebook occasionally.

If you have a blog, join in our weekly link-up! I will host the link up on my blog and Ludavia from Nifty Betty will co-host it on her blog each Sunday. The link-up will remain open all week, until the next Sunday, giving us a chance to see what everyone has been up to!

If you don't have a blog, stop by and read other people's posts on Sunday and engage!

Now, this week, I haven't been the best about posting what i'm thankful for on Instagram, which is where I'll be sharing for the rest of the month. Follow me on Instagram to see what i'll be posting about but I have been sharing on my personal Facebook page so here's what I've been Thankful for this week.


Day 1: I'm Thankful for cozy, rainy Sundays at home. It's the perfect way to end the weekend and get ready for the week to come. Snuggling with my honey while the vegetable soup he made is cooking in the crock pot and ending the night watching The Walking Dead with him & our sweet son.

Day 2: I'm Thankful for Jesus for watching over me this morning. I hydroplaned taking Dylan to school & swerved into the next lane of on coming traffic. Thankfully the people around me stopped & I was able to re-gain control of the car without hitting anything. It was scary & Dylan and I were a little shaken but we're fine otherwise.
I'm also thankful for my parents. I was able to stop by their house after I took Dylan to school and wait for the rain to die down while Mom, Drago, & I sat in bed and watched Kelly & Michael and talked.


Day 3: I'm thankful for good morning kisses from my husband. I love starting the morning talking to him as he gets ready for his day. It's the perfect start to mine.


Day 4: I'm thankful for a home. Not just a house but a home. It's filled with lots of love and laughter and memories. It's a place where we feel safe and happy and can welcome our loved ones to. It's usually a mess but i'm having to learn to let go and let it be. It's okay that way, it just means we're too busy having fun and creating memories to worry about it looking like a museum. It's where the three of us are starting our lives together and for that, this house will always be special to me.


Day 5: I'm thankful for early mornings. I never thought i'd say that because I love my sleep but i'm loving early mornings lately. I love talking to my hubby before he leaves for work. I love sipping my coffee in the dark, quiet morning before the world comes alive and starts the hustle and bustle of the day. I love the calmness and peace in the morning.

Day 6: Apparently I forgot this one, all together but i'll fill it in with, I'm Thankful that, even at 12 years old, my son still thinks about me and loves me enough to bring me flowers he finds. Just the other day we were at my parent's house and he was outside helping my Dad cut the leaves off the banana trees when he came inside and brought me a rose. When we got ready to leave he picked it up off the coffee table and said "Mom, don't forget your rose." Currently it's wilted on the tray on my coffee table but the thought and sentiment behind it is just too sweet.

Day 7: I'm thankful for Saturdays spent with my loves. Even if it is rainy. It still makes running errands with them more fun!

I was horrible about taking pictures to match up with my thankful posts last week but this week, my goal is to do better. Stay tuned for more Thankfulness.

What are you thankful for?

"

Oh, Hey Friday!

Hello Peachies! I hope you're all celebrating today. It's finally Fri-YAY! We've made it another week. I don't know about you but i've had a pretty good week, if you don't count Monday when I was taking my son to school in the rain (it's rained for days here and we were under a flood warning) when we hit a puddle and hydroplaned. Luckily there were not any cars close by because the oncoming traffic saw what was happening and stopped far back, I was able to regain control of the car without hitting anyone or anything though. As my friend, Luke said, #Jesusdonetookthatwheel. Once I recovered I said "Thank You Jesus" because we were alright and able to go on about our day. It definitely could have been much worse. So, aside from that, our week has been wonderful. I've gotten a lot of time at home this week since it has been raining and i've been able to start putting away our wedding gifts that were tucked away in every corner of our home. This weekend, when my honey is home, we're going to do more! Yay! I'm not so sure he shares the same sentiment but he's being a trooper and helping me ;) Love you, baby. And i've gotten the house pretty much clean. {Deep cleaning coming soon}.

Since today is Fri-YAY it's my favorite link up of the whole week! i'm linking up with the adorable Karli at
September Farms

You can join or just check out her fabulous blog. If you do you should read it from start to finish, you're sure to laugh, smile, and nod in agreeance the whole way through. She's a bubbly, gem of a person & that's just what I know from her blog. She keeps life real.

How does this link up work?

1. Well first off you list 5 things. They can be as random as you want or all about one subject, there are no real rules here.
2. You link up your post at the bottom of hers, not mine. I'm not that fancy.
3. Then you grab the button, from below & add it to yours.
4. Then you spread the word about your blog, her blog, and everyone else's you want.
(I added that part-duh!)




Here are my Fabulous Fri-YAY Five!

1. Can we talk about my kitchen for a second? It's not huge but not tiny either. It's decent sized but the struggle is real, y'all.
I've been working all week on finally getting our wedding presents put up. We had a shower in August, wedding in September, and
an additional reception in October so for three months, we've been accumulating gifts. Not that it's a bad thing, at all.
We appreciate every single thing we've been given but 99.9% of that has been kitchen items. All things I wanted and need, some
that my husband wanted and needed but we didn't take into consideration the amount of storage, lack of storage space
we had when we were registering. Gifts have literally been stuck in every corner of our spare room, living room, and kitchen for months
now. I had to organize and put them away, it was driving me nuts. So this week's task was to take on the kitchen. Now, i'm no where near
done. I just need my husband's help putting things away because either A) I'm too short to reach the top cabinets or B) it's his stuff
and we have a deal that I don't put his stuff away, he does so he knows where it is so you can guess what we'll be doing this weekend.

Here's what I was facing:

And here's what I came up with:

I'm happy with it now but like I said, there's still more to work on this weekend. Check out the Instagram account for more progress.

My kitchen is coming along. It's bright & vintagey, just like I like!

2. Essential Oils are still my life. I may or may not Periscope on them soon. I don't sell them and i'm still on a journey to learn more about them but lately, the aches and pains blend from Fabulous Frannie's has come to mine and my hubby's aid a lot.

My honey ordered me some more oils the other day because we were almost out of aches and pains. These are my current faves.

3. I Love Kellie Pickler on CMT.
Can we talk about this show? It's totally hilarious and she and her hubby are beyond adorable.
I've loved her since her days on American Idol & she won my heart over when she shaved her head bald
in support of her friend who had cancer and was going through chemo.

4. Side braids and wine colored lipstick.
This is something new for me because it's not my norm as far as style goes so i'm trying to step outside of my comfort zone and jazz it up a
little. I'm still not 100% sure if I like it but i'll keep trying.

5. I can't get over the performance by Chris Stapleton & Justin Timberlake from the CMA awards Wednesday night. It's one for the books, for sure!
And since i'm having trouble getting the link to work you'll have to google it.
I'm sorry. It's Friday. I need more coffee.

I'm sure i'll be watching/listening to this on repeat forever now!

So, there you have it. My Five on Friday.
Happy Fri-YAY loves!


"