Making

See these pillows?

I made them. The others were so ratty and old.

I needed something fresh to cuddle up with.

Something that I could take the covers off of and wash. 

See these stockings?

A friend of mine asked me to make them for her.

They match her new basement that we just remodeled. 

The fancy, lacy tops are cut from an old table cloth.

Pretty neat-o, huh?

It feels nice to be making things again.  

For Your Viewing Pleasure

A dancing polar bear. 
Damn skippy. 

The last few weeks have been nothing but antibiotics and sleeping on the couch all day.  Not much else has been getting done around here.  Everyone has been sick.  And when I say "everyone", I mean (literally) everyone in the entire county.  Sick.

If I can talk myself into taking pics and actually uploading them, I will show you the new pillows I made for my couch and some pretty nifty Christmas stockings that I have been working on for a friend.  No promises, though.  You know how I am.

Until later.......
~Jo~

How My Mind Works - Spiders Ruin Everything

from here.

Drinks by the fire pit. 
Flowers and greenery everywhere.
Pristine white pillows to perch on.
Stunning pastoral views.

And, undoubtedly, spiders lurking in the bushes. 

(just saying)

Friday Fantasy

from here.

A little magic for your Friday musing. 
Aurora. 
It just sounds magical, doesn't it? 

Have an amazing weekend, friends. 

Election (Birth)Day

from here.

I have always felt special when there is an election on my birthday.  But this election and this birthday is different.  It's a very important election (birth)day.  One that could change the entire course of the future.  To be honest with you, it's making me very nervous.  Not the whole getting a year older thing.  As you should already know, that doesn't bother me at all. 

It's the presidential election that has me worried.  Such a pivotal moment for this country.  And at a time when so many of our citizens are sifting through the rubble of one of the worst storms in history.  At such a crucial time in America's history, I believe that the country is divided between voting for social issues and voting for economic and political issues.  Even worse than the scattered mind-set is the corrupt and deceiving media that is feeding the population confusing lies from every angle.  What is this country coming to? 

I'm voting for Mitt Romney.  I know that many of you aren't, but I respect everyone's right to decide. I didn't vote for Obama last time, and I'm not going to vote for him this time, either.  He hasn't stepped up to the plate for this country.  He hasn't brought hope or positive change.  It's time to try another route. 

Whatever happens on this election day, I pray that it is the best thing for this country.  America needs better leadership.  I think that is something that we can all agree on, regardless of who you vote for. 

Happy November 6th, everyone.  May God have mercy on America. 

Friday Fantasy

A random fantasy for Friday/Saturday.
I have adored this guy's look from the moment I ran across the top pic many moons ago.  I don't even remember where it came from.  But I still dig it.

I found the watch on Pinterest last week and I think it's one of the coolest things I have ever seen.  A wooden watch.  I am a watch person.  And this watch is begging to be on my wrist.

And how great is that last shot?  Hot apple cider and pumpkin spice doughnuts.  (at least, that's what I'm pretending it is.)  There are always masses of amazing things over on Modern Hepburn, where this pic came from. 

I hope you have a fabulous weekend.
Hugs and Warmth to You.
~Jo~

P.S. This post was scheduled to be posted on Friday....but blogger failed to follow through.  Happy Saturday all. 

Hello Again!

Work has been crazy busy this week.  "Crazy" being the operative word there.  The show I'm in is tonight and tomorrow.  My entire weekend is revolving around that.

I'm looking forward to having a minute to slow down.

I can't wait to catch up on your blogs and maybe make a real post on my own.  Until then, hugs and warm sunshine to all of you.

~Jo~

~Hello~

from here.

Ten days since I last blogged.  Gees.

I've been busy.  Thankfully.  I've also been trying some alternative routes to healing my body.  Don't even get me started on doctors and the connection between the government and the health care system as a whole.  I'm tired of doctors.  

The fall weather has been beautiful around here.  Warm days.  Chilly nights.  It makes me want to go hiking and spend some Q.T. with nature.  Instead, I have been spending more quality time on my couch with my big fuzzy blanket. 

Something really odd for me.....I have been fantasizing about a tiny cabin, way back in the woods, with a wood stove and a cozy bed and big windows to watch the snow falling outside.  What the hell is wrong with me?  Some bacon, eggs, hash-browns and a mug of hot chocolate for later.  I'm totally feeling it.  I'm not sure who I am anymore!  Haha. 

I hope you have had a beautiful weekend.  And here's to the coming week.  Let's get to it!

xoxo ~ Jo

Friday Fantasy

from here.

I need space to breath.
Open air to scream,
        at the top of my lungs.
You're smothering me. 

I need to be alone.
My own soul to roam,
        to figure it out.
To find my home. 

Don't bring your drama to my door.
I'm not playing anymore.
I guess karma must settle her score.
But this isn't worth the price.

I will try for the greater plan.
I will trust in no mortal man
        to lead my way.
Your intentions be damned.

I hear what you say,
But you've lost your way.
        My life for your life,
I'm not making the trade.

I can't be what you want me to be.
I can't make your dreams a reality.
I can't drag you out of your sea.
I will not drown with you. 

*****

Hot

from here.

I can't even put into words how flippin' hot this picture is.  I mean, ridiculous amounts of hot. 

Mmmmmm. Mmmmmm. Mmm.

Sick and Tired of

EVERYTHING.

from here.

I'm sick and tired of giving a shit.  Sick and tired of my heart being such a little bitch.  I'm sick and tired of losing my way and getting side tracked by stupid situations that I shouldn't even be dealing with.  I'm sick and tired of other people expecting me to save them.  I'm sick and tired of forgetting that all this shit makes me sick and tired.  

My life has been odd lately.  Things are shifting.  Feelings are all over the place; strewn about like straw in a tornado.  I signed my separation papers this week and turned them in.  I am officially single.  I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.  Being single is strange.  Not in a bad way, I don't suppose.  But just strange.  I am responsible for making decisions that I haven't had to make in over six years.  Decisions about other people and how to navigate my relationships with them.
 
This is all very cryptic, I know.  But I'm not sure that even I know what I am trying to convey.

I had to speak to my ex last week for forty five minutes, in person, while waiting for the lawyer to show up.  It was quite like speaking to a stranger.  Someone that I knew their history, but didn't know them personally.  I kept wanting to tilt my head and ask "Who are you?".  This doesn't hurt, surprisingly.  There is no tug in my heart for him.  Just open space where he once was. 

The rumor mill is churning out stories about me in this small town.  Fuck em', I say.  I'm tired of having to defend my own honor when I know good and damn well what I am and am not doing.  Nothing is being said of him, however.  And there is plenty that could be said. 

So, there is a pile of magazines a mile high in my bedroom.  A punch list of things to paint, make or sew.  Movies that I haven't watched.  Books I haven't read.  And none of it interests me now.  It all seems so secular and shallow.  Life is feeling a bit shallow.  People are seeming increasingly more shallow. 

I am sick and tired of shallow. 

I want to strip off my floatation devices and jump into the deep end.  I want to give the world the middle finger and dive deep into the waters of my soul.  I want to feel things.  I want to know things.  I want to quit letting others sway me.  I want to swim out far enough to be able to look back at the shore and, with my feet floating freely underneath me, be able to know what my next step is.  I want to have conversations with my Maker.  Because I want to live the marvelous, meaningful, passionate,  unimaginable, wondrous, creative, exciting, deep-end life that He made me to live. 

I want to live. 

~

Cuddles

from here.

I don't know about you, but if I walked into my room at the French Chalet Brickell and found two drunken teddy bears lounging about my floor, I would have to do a little happy dance before tucking the pair into bed to sleep off their buzz. 

How seriously cozy is this room?  Complete with boozy polar bears. 
Now that I'm thinking it about it.......it could have been the sight of all those furry blankets and headboard that made these bears heads spin.  (I'm sure it's probably faux.) 

I'm not looking forward to hibernation season, but this chalet definitely looks like an inviting place to cuddle up and stay warm.

Only Fools

from here.

Is it foolish to still hope for true love?  Is it crazy that I'm not yet jaded? 
There is still this tiny shining light in the pit of my soul that truly believes that there is someone out there who I am meant to live my life with. 
I don't want a husband.  I don't want a knight in shining armor.  I want a best friend.  A best friend that I can have long conversations and passionate sex with.
Is that possible?  Does that happen? 


I go meet the Ex tomorrow to sign separation papers.  The thought makes me feel heavy.  I don't want to see him.  I don't miss him.  I'm not even mad at him.  I think that's why I don't want to be face to face with him.  I'm not sure what sort of emotions are going to come floating up.  

I have seen countless marriages fall apart this year.  2012, it seems, has been a year of destruction.  And for all of us newly unwed hearts, I hope that this isn't the end of our love stories.  I hope that there are better stories in our future.  And I hope that we have the courage to try again.

Sometimes hope is all we got.

News Alert!

I think I should let you guys know the latest in a string of events that goes back to an incident that happened last year.  Remember that peeping perv that I had on my back porch?  Well, my dad and I caught him this past Thursday night.  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is in jail awaiting trial.  He admitted to last year's event, too.  And, obviously, he has been getting away with this for a long time. 

I don't really want to go into all the details of the hunt down and everything.  Let's just say, I got a good bit of satisfaction out of the situation.  Thank God for letting us catch him. 

Also, let me just say that I will always stand behind the right to bear arms in this country.   Always. 

How My Mind Works

What do you see when you look at this picture?

A beautiful bathroom?  An amazing tub?

All I see is a wall full of places for spiders to hide and come jumping out at you in the most inopportune moment. 
Rock wall full of spiders. 

This is how my mind works. 

Friday Fantasy

from here and here. 

Happy Weekend. 
xoxo  Jo

Missing....

from here.

You know, one of the hardest things about being separated, for me, is the lack of physical contact.  I am such a touchy-feely person.  I like to be alone a lot, but more often than not, I still crave that human contact.  It doesn't necessarily have to be sexual in nature.  It just needs to be honest and caring.  I'm lucky to have a few friends who will stop by my house just to give me a nice big hug every now and then.  But, still, that isn't always enough.  Sometimes I just want to be shoulder to shoulder with someone while watching a movie.  Sometimes I want someone to reach across the table to touch my hand while telling a story over dinner.  Sometimes I just need that hug to last longer. 

Sometimes we all just need the touch of another human. 

Friday Fantasy

from here.

Something a little different for Friday's Fantasy. 
Something breathtaking. 
These are the Multnomah Falls in Oregon. 
I imagine standing on that bridge would be quite awe inspiring. 

It's been another long week, folks.  Hopefully I'll see you more next week. 
Hope your weekend is full of Hugs and Sunshine. 

The View From My Ten Dollar Hammock

This has been a really great week. 

I had a night out with my best friend.  My brother got some really great news.  We had a dinner at my grandmother's house to celebrate said news.  I have been cleaning out and making changes around the house.  Things seem to be clicking along just fine. 

A few moments were spent basking in the late summer sun in my hammock.  I've been smiling a lot this week.  As a matter of fact, I was smiling when I took this picture of the clematis vine that drapes my porch railing. 

Everything is going to be just fine.  God's blessings are plentiful. 
I hope you are all having a great weekend. 

xoxo ~Jo~

Fall Forward

from here.

I have to tell you, I'm really looking forward to Fall this year. 

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you should know that I have a soft spot in my heart for fall.  With all the changes that have been going on in my life lately, I feel like the coming season is going to be my chance to really shine.  Something good is gonna happen, I just know it.  

I always feel more like my true self in autumn.  And now, being at this particular place in my life, without a husband or significant other, I believe God is giving me the chance to let all my personality and quirkiness come to light and illuminate the path to my future. 

No holding back.  I'm running out of time to live my life.  And standing on the sidelines and watching my life go by without me, my friends, is just not an option.  Here's to new beginnings and everlasting hope. 

Hugs and Sunshine, my dolls.  Massive hugs and sunshine. 
~Jo~

Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?

Sponge Bob Square Pants!!!!!


This past Friday was my niece's seventh birthday.  The little booger is totally enthralled by some Sponge Bob Square Pants.  So, my mom decided that we were going to make little mini Sponge Bob cakes for all the kids.  Thank you, mom, for being so brilliant. 
We spent most of a day working on these little sponge monsters.  And because we were short on icing, everything (even his stupid little eyelashes) had to be crafted out of fondant.  Sixteen scrawny arms.  Sixteen skinny legs.  Pants.  Shirts.  Ties.  Eyes.  Noses.  Mouths. 

I hated Sponge Bob before this project.  I really hated him by the time we finished.  But the kids thought they were pretty cool.  (thank goodness)  What I really want to know is this. Is Sponge Bob Square Pants not the stupidest cartoon ever put on television????!!!!????  I mean, seriously.  It is so damn obnoxious.  The characters are so stupid.  And then the kids who watch the show end up acting just like them!  Which is shameful, really.  We are dumbing down our future.  And would someone please tell me why there seems to be no floating going on in that show?  If they didn't point it out in the theme song, you would never guess that they were even under water.  

Ever watch iCarly?  That's another show that I just can't hardly stomach.  Same story.  Obnoxious and stupid.  I am really starting to wonder what this next generation is going to grow up to be like.  It's a scary thought, folks.  Really scary. 

But for now, I'll just hope that we can instill some good sense in our little Bob fan and hope that her future is brighter than Bikini Bottom.  Here's to being seven. 

Sing it Again

Have you ever wound up being a part of something that you really didn't know how the hell you wound up being a part of?  Well, I have managed to do just that. 

How many of you have heard of an old show called Hee Haw?  If you haven't.....well..... I guess you didn't grow up where I grew up.  Anyway.  Hee Haw was sort of a country variety show.  They had jokes and skits and lots of musical guests. 
Well.  My town is putting on their own Hee Haw show.  And guess who ended up in it?  Yours truly.  I will playing the part of June Carter Cash and singing Jackson with my pretend Johnny.   I'll be in some other skits, too, and helping out with costumes and such.  I bet you didn't know that I sing, did you?  Yeah, well, I can carry a tune every once in a while.  ;)

Some other things that you didn't know?  I'm deeply steeped in southern culture.  I can clog.  Used to be on a team when I was younger.  I also used to play in a bluegrass band when I was little.  I played the mandolin and sang.  I can't remember how to play a lick, but I'll still stand up in front of a crowd and make a fool of myself.  I know every word to Rocky Top and if I had a dollar for every time I've had to sing it, I would buy myself something nice. 

Let's just hope I can do June justice.  This is gonna be fun.  Or at least funny. 
Now, go Google Jackson, Rocky Top, mandolin, and clogging.  I know you want to. 

Friday Fantasy

from here.

Seems like a good day to be dreaming of clear blue skies, lots of sunshine, and the crystal blue waters of the Maldives. 
Here's to making it another week, my friends.  I hope you have a beautiful weekend. 

xoxo Jo  xoxo

Just That Simple......

from here.

.....no matter what. 

Rest

from here.

Sleep has been hard to come by lately. 
My legs ache.  My stomach growls.  My mind wanders to a million different places.
There is a churning in my being.
A desire for something more.
Not only from love, but from life.

My psyche is weaving intricate new ideas about who it is that I am meant to be.
And there is a push from deep within that tells me that it is something meaningful.

Patience, my child.
There is tempering in progress. 
Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

What keeps me awake at night?
Is it loneliness?
Is it fear?
Or is it the hope that stirs endlessly in my heart and soul, eager for a deeper experience?

Dear Lord, grant me the wisdom to recognize it, the discernment to not be fooled and led off course, the patience to wait for it........whatever it is. 

In the meantime, sleep would be nice.

The New Road

from here.

Here I am, thirty-one years old and alone.  If you would have told me ten years ago that I would be single in my thirties, I probably would have had a mild panic attack.  But now that I have lived through my twenties, being thirty-something isn't half bad.  Being alone after six years of marriage, however, hurts.  

Yes.  My husband left me.  He said that he just couldn't live with the fact that I didn't want to try to have a baby with him.  And I am crushed.  Deeply. 

My days are a roller coaster ride of self preservation highs and heart wrenching lows.  I can't believe that he actually left.  And with no warning.  Seemingly out of nowhere. 
I believed so fully in our marriage.  Believed that we could weather almost any storm.  And we had.  We had weathered some pretty gnarly ones.  All the time, I thought it had only made us stronger.  Obviously, I was wrong. 

Now I am praying for my contractors license to go through.  Praying for a string of good work.  Praying for strength and grace.  Praying to understand God's plan for me.  And praying that I finally become the person I am meant to be.

My heart may be tied in knots and my courage is very weak.  But I realize that now is the time to rinse the dust from my weary soul and rise to the occasion.  Who am I without my husband?  Who am I when standing alone?  What am I doing with my life that I can be proud of? 

I did not make this decision.  I did not want to end my marriage.  I love my husband so very much.  He will always hold a part of my heart. 
But he walked away. 
And now I must learn to walk without him. 

My Heart In Shreds

My husband left me.
Apparently, because I don't want children. 

Friday Fantasy

pinterest

turquoise-coconut

Water. 
I haven't seen an ocean, lake, or river up close and personal so far this summer. 
No swimming. 
No laying my head back into the water to hear the sounds under the surface.
No drying off in the warmth of the sun. 
No floating.

My soul dies just a bit. 

Seriously? It's Thursday?

I am living in a fog.  And I'm quite sure you are sick and tired of hearing about my personal shit on this blog.  I'm supposed to be all pretty pictures and crazy inspiration, right?  Oh, wait.  I was never that. 

How about a confession?  My husband has been gone all month.  Yep.  Doing some more training stuff.  I've been stuck at home with Gus (and all the other drama that has been happening).  I should have tons of time to blog, right?  Wrong.  What the hell have I been doing?

*Well, losing a whole lot of sleep, for one.  I can't sleep without the Hubs in the house.  And Gus has been so nervous that he barks at every - single - little - noise - he hears.  This is why my brain hasn't functioned properly in so long. 

*Watched more Saved By the Bell on Netflix than I care to admit.  On second thought, I don't care one bit to admit that.  It beats the hell out of most new shows. 

*Paid a lot of money for permits.....to dig wells.  to install septic systems.  to build houses.

*Some painting.  And some finishing of piles of projects that were started and lying dormant for months on end.  Now if I can only manage to get them to the Etsy shop.

*A lot of eating dinner with mom (because she knows that, otherwise, I would probably not cook for myself). 

*Took a little overnight trip with some girlies last Saturday.  We basically just had a blast and enjoyed being out of the house. 

There's plenty of other stuff, but most of it sucked.  So I'm just gonna leave it at that and shut up. 

Love and Hugs and Sunshine and all that happy stuff.
Let's see if I can get back here tomorrow with a Friday Fantasy.
~Jo~

Best $10 Ever Spent

I have always wanted a hammock.  But, gees Louise, those things cost a lot of money!  So when I ran across a cloth hammock at the local Roses store, I automatically wanted to buy it.  {for those who don't know what a Roses store is; let's just say that it's nicer than a dollar store, but not nearly as nice as a Wal-Mart.  Yeah, really.}  Anyway......of course I didn't buy it.  I figured it was too cheap to waste my money on, and where the heck would I hang it? 

A few weeks went by and I kept mentioning the $10 hammock that I didn't buy and my husband kept rolling his eyes at me.  Then we went back to Roses to buy the pupper a kiddie pool.  {yes, I'm serious.  It's hot and we have no AC.}  And I said "Hey!  Let's go see if there are any of those hammocks left!". 
Guess what?  I have a $10 hammock hanging on my back porch. 

Let me tell ya, this thing is awesome.  Nevermind the fact that it hangs only a foot off of the porch when occupied.  It still rocks gently and wraps me up like a cocoon.  It's perfect for taking a nap.  And there's something very calming about it; like being rocked in someones arms.  I can confidently say that it was $10 well spent. 

The kiddie pool, however?  Gus thinks it's just a huge water bowl.  He will get in and wade around a bit while catching the floating bugs, but he hasn't thought to flop down in the water to cool off like he does in the creek.  Oh, well.  I guess every $10 spent can't be as good as a hammock. 

Room to Breathe

from here.

Hey there, friends.

Have a seat and let's do a little catching up. 

I finally feel like I am getting a little bit of breathing room.  I've shared bits and pieces of what has been going on around here, but bits and pieces is all you have been getting until now.  So, without laying my heart on the table completely, here is a little more about why I have been so stressed. 

First off, my best friend lost her husband.  It was a terribly tragic and unexpected event that left everyone in a state of shock and confusion.  He died in a horrific car crash that left many question marks and no answers.  Of course, in such a small town as ours, rumors and accusations abound and make the horrid situation even worse.  My friend has had to be stoic and brave to weather the arrows that have been flying her way.  But she has been so strong and there is hope in the future for her and her daughter. 

My brother has been fighting a seemingly losing battle for months on end.  I can't give you a lot of details, but it involves a ruthless and cruel wife, more lies than can be counted, the involvement of many outside forces, court dates, more lies, and the future of my niece hanging in the balance.  Our family has been pushed to the limit.  This has been hell on earth and it has the potential to drag on for many months still. 

On top of everything, my grandmother died last Wednesday night.  It was totally unexpected, as she seemed to be as spry and healthy as ever.  A heart blockage put her in the hospital, where the doctors put in a stint.  Everything had looked just fine.  She was awake and talking, everything great, when out of nowhere her heart failed her.  It was a hard blow for my dad.  The stress of my brothers problems combined with losing his mother has been extremely hard on him.  But we are grateful for the fact that she didn't suffer.  As my dad said, "She never got old."  Right up until her death, she was a real live firecracker. 


I have other things to talk about.  Truly, I do.  And I really want to talk about them and get my spirits back up.  So, hopefully I will be able to get back into blogging and share some positive things with you.  Some soul sunshine would great, don't you think? 
Thanks for being here.  I appreciate the concern and love that I have received from some of you.  I really do count my blog friends as true blue friends.  And I hope I get to converse with you a whole lot more in the near future.

Hugs and Sunshine to you all.
~Jo~

Hello....

I was going to tell you a story and maybe find something inspiring to give to you....but, honestly, I just don't feel like faking it.  It's been a rough go of things around here lately.  I'm sorry.  Blogging is just not in me right now.  But I love you guys.  And I appreciate all the sweetness you share with me.  I'll be back.  Sometime. 

Friday

from here.

Another week of trials and tribulations.  My best friend's husband died in a horrible car crash this week.  The details of the situation are too many and too personal to relay to you.  The funeral is tonight.  Your thoughts are prayers would be much appreciated. 
My other best friend is at a difficult turning point in her life.  This week has been a flood of stress and anxiety for her over the decisions that will have to be made in the near future.  I hope and pray that she gains the clarity she needs to become the person that she is meant to be and find true happiness. 

And to all of you, I hope that this weekend will bring rest and relief from the toils of living. 
As always, Hugs and Sunshine.
~Jo~

Thinking About.....Beauty

from here.

As you already know, I am a bit of a magazine-aholic.  But recently I have been dropping subscriptions left and right.  Magazines, oddly enough, are starting to get on my nerves.  Not all magazines; namely those that focus on fashion and beauty. 

Just to be completely honest with you, I am getting really sick and tired of reading about what I should be doing to make myself look younger.  Do you feel the same way?  It seems that every magazine I open is obsessively devoting their pages to scientific studies and lists of chemicals and products that I should be searching out and saving my money for.  Big crazy words that I can't pronounce and am not sure that I would even want to slather on my body.  Expensive and scary sounding medical procedures for everything you can possibly imagine.  The latest "super foods" and vitamin cocktails.  It's enough to make you crazy!

And all in the name of what?  Not accepting our own age?  Avoiding the inevitable? 
What ever happened to "growing old gracefully"? 

I am not bothered by the fact that women want to look younger than they are.  That's just human nature.  But I am bothered that women think that twenty-somethings are the only beautiful people in the world.  I am 31 years old and I get more comfortable in my own skin with every year that passes.  Yes, I would love to fill the crevice that runs between my eyebrows.  I would like for my hands to look  more youthful.  And I dread the lines that are forming around my mouth.  But that's part of life!  It's part of growing older.  Would you believe me if I told you that  I snicker every time I spy a new gray hair shining in my dark brown mop?  I sort of get a kick out of it.  And I am tired of being told that I need to cover those silver strands up and rub three different creams around my eyes at night and inject a filler into my forehead. 

I am not going to promise that I won't end up coloring my hair.  And I definitely won't promise that I won't have the veins in my legs injected at some point.  But I just wish that the main focus of the fashion and beauty industry would shift away from anti-aging miracles.  I wish that there were more examples of beautiful women who choose to age naturally, and do it with grace and panache.  I wish that we were all more open to see the beauty in maturity. 

And, for Heaven's sake, magazines!!!  Can't you find anything better to talk about? 
What do you think?  Chime in.  Tell me how all the pressure to look young makes you feel.  

Friday Fantasy

from here.

Battling a MASSIVE headache this morning.

I little bit of peace and quiet would be paradise. 

The feel of warm sand and cool ocean water wouldn't hurt, either. 

Happy weekend, dolls.  Here's wishing you many hugs and much sunshine this weekend.

xoxo Jo xoxo

This Week

from here.

This week has been: babysitting because everyone else has had the stomach bug and couldn't, funeral trips, trying to figure out the licensing system, working out, eating too much, cleaning, painting, bill paying, and trying hard not to kill a certain dog named Gus.  We close on our construction loan tomorrow.  My mom's birthday is this Saturday.  May has, all of the sudden, become a very busy month.  We're on the last lap, guys.  Can you believe it is almost June?  It seems impossible.  And, as always, I feel like I'm not getting as much done as I should be.  Actually, I feel a bit like I'm drowning right now.  Time to take a deep breath and start swimming. 

Friday Fantasy

 

both images from here.

A little late in the evening for a Friday Fantasy post.....but better late than never, right?

I don't think this requires a whole lot of explaining.  Beautiful pool.  Sunshine.  Water.  Total relaxation.  This is the Capella Ixtapa Resort in Mexico.

Looks like the perfect place to spend a week.  Or a month.
I'll meet you on the deck for dinner!

Mid-Week Mumbling

from here.

This is where I am trying to get my hair right now.  A nice mid-length bob.  That I can curl.  Or leave wavy.  My hair is about the color and texture of hers, too.  So I'm hoping it looks as good as hers.

I do this all the time.  Go from one style to another.  Cut it off.  Grow it out.  Cut it off again.  And as much as I would like to shave one side of it and go all punk,  I really always gravitate back to classic styles. 

Thing is, my hair has the weirdest natural wave to it.  It's not a sexy bed-head wave.  It's crazy and unpredictable.  That is one of the reigning reasons that I always end up cutting it short again.  That, and the fact that short hair fits my personality.  I love the idea of longer hair, but I always get to this certain point and think "Oh yeah.  This is why I keep my hair short!".

Do any of you do the same thing?  Get some big idea that "this time" it will be different?  This time I know how to fix it or how to style it.  What products to use.  I just needed a few layers here or a few highlights there and it would have worked the last time.  But it's always the same.  ???

I'm still going to do it, though.  Because I can.  Because I am blessed with fast-growing hair.  And because I haven't learned my lesson.

Yet.

Crabtree Falls. my own pic.

I went two whole days last week without turning on my computer!  It was quite nice, to be honest with you.  So nice, that I limited my time online throughout the rest of the weekend.  Now I'm ready to get some stuff done this week. 

I am beyond thrilled to announce that I passed my contractor's exam!  Yay woo!  Studying for that beast was really taking a toll on my nerves.  I felt like I had so many people counting on me (namely, my brother's business!).  So now I am in the process of obtaining my transcripts and applying for my license with the state.  I really can't tell you how thankful I am that the exam is over with.  Thanks so much for your well wishes and thoughts. 

Last Thursday was my 6th wedding anniversary.  The Hub took off work so we could do something fun together.  We loaded Gus up and went hiking to Crabtree Falls.  Being in the woods was like balm for the brain after spending five and a half hours taking an exam the day before.  There's nothing like the smell of the woods. 

Now I am trying to get back on track with my art.  I have even checked out some crafts fair venues (which happen to be too expensive for me to participate in, unfortunately).  So, for now, I am just going to push myself to create more and more often.  To get better and more efficient.  It's hard to admit to myself, but sometimes the things I make are not acceptable quality for selling.  I don't want to be sub-par.  I want to be thrilled with every single piece that I present to the public.  And that takes a lot of work and plenty of trial and error.  My store is still open during the process.  Some items are reduced and others are on a "last chance sale".  I don't want to sell myself short, but I am going to have to start making some money back, and furthermore, start making money....period!  So, it's sort of now or never. 

May is underway and there is a lot to talk about.  I want to put my own two bits in on the whole "Things I am Afraid to Tell You" movement.  Hopefully we will be breaking ground soon on the house.  And I have a few ideas for interactive posts (as in, I want to start a conversation) that I want to explore. 

Here's to May! 

A Quick Hello

from here.

I thought I would take just a moment to say "hello" to my blog friends. 
Tomorrow is my big test.  I will lug my eighteen books to the test center and hope and pray that I pass so I can apply for my NC Contractors License.  Wish me luck.  I'm gonna need it. 

As for my Etsy store re-vamp.....well, that has been put on the back burner.  There has just been way too much stuff going on around here.  Hopefully soon I will be able to re-dedicate some time to making that happen.  But for now, I am choosing to not worry about it.  I feel a little guilty about not following through with that goal, but I am trying to realize that I am not really obligated to anyone as far as my Etsy shop goes.  Besides, I could not have foreseen all the other crap that was going to come up in the last few months.  Life happens. 

Today I will try to cram in all that last minute information that I'm going to need and, hopefully, take a few moments to gather my thoughts.  I hope to see you back here later this week. 

Much love and sunshine to all of you, my friends. 
xoxo ~Jo

Home Sweet Home

from here.

My head is in the house planning zone again.  We're still waiting for the loan to go through so we can start grading the house seat out.  But I am the type of person who likes to be prepared ahead of time.  We aren't even moving dirt yet and I am already picking out paint colors and trying to figure out furniture arrangements.   As a matter of fact, I have quite a bit of my decisions already made, it's just a matter of getting to that point. 

There is, however, one thing that keeps nagging at me.  It's the fact that I tend to save a lot of images of white walled interiors as inspiration, yet, I have no intention of leaving any of my walls white except in my work room.  As much as I like white walls in theory, I never can seem to live with them in real life.  I feel like the room isn't "finished" if there isn't color on the walls.  I know this is silly.  Some of my very favorite inspiration spaces have white walls.  Other people do white walls beautifully.  But me?  I just can't commit. 

from here.

What I can commit to?  A perfect, warm, inviting, unobtrusive, not-exactly-white.  I don't like the words beige or greige or khaki or tan.  But if you call it something pretty, like white sand or halo, I'm all for it.  As a matter of fact, Benjamin Moore's white sand is the color that will be adorning my main living area (kitchen, dining, living room), adding just enough warmth to contrast with the white trim. 

Now, as for the rest of the house......?  Well, you'll just have to wait and see.

Friday Fantasy

from here.

I never get tired of seeing such beautiful places, even if it is just in pictures.  I guess that's why I call these posts Friday Fantasy instead of Friday Reality.  But some of these places speak to me in a more personal way than others and this is one of those.  Sometimes it's more of a feeling than anything that draws us to something.  And the feeling I get when I look at this picture is indescribable.  It's akin to homesickness and a yearning for the unknown.  Odd combination, yes, but I never claimed to make any sense of it.  Just to share it with you. 

Click on the link above to see the rest of this paradise.  Which is beautiful, indeed.  But none of which speaks to me quite like this one shot.  Happy weekend, friends.