Making Your Home Sing Monday

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

Well, guess what? Last week never happened.

Well, last week happened, but I never changed out my home decor accessories like I said I was going to. In fact, I really didn't even think about it.

We have a lot of stuff going on around here and I had a lot on my mind and my home decor was the least of it, haha!

When stressful stuff is going on, it is so easy to let go of some of the important things around the home.

It's easy to let things pile up while you just hunker down with a good book, a cool fan, and maybe three dozen donuts or so.

Last night I was going to pick up a little, but then my oldest son asked me to go to the mall with him. I've said before that I jump at the chance when my kids ask me to go somewhere, because with their busy lives it doesn't happen very often.

Friday the kids were gone and hubby and I enjoyed a lazy day at home. I didn't clean then either.

Surprisingly, the house looks pretty well, considering the neglect of the last couple of days. I guess I haven't neglected it totally because the kitchen sink is empty and the counters are uncluttered. But I haven't been picking up the house before bedtime (or seeing that anyone else does) and it shows.

So, this week I'll make my home sing by taking a few extra minutes to put things back where they belong, instead of chillin' out and ignoring it all. First I'll clean, then I'll chill........

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own "Making Your Home Sing Monday" Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

If you want to use your blog header or profile picture, use the "from the web" button on your right (after you click to link up). If you want to use a picture from your computer use the button on your left (unless the picture is on your blog). Please let me know if you have any problems with linking up.

God Bless Hairspray

The last several months I've been rockin' a new 'do.

The old hairdo can be seen in my profile picture. The new hairdo can be seen here in my WIWW posts (providing you find the ones where I didn't stick a camera in my face, etc.).

At some point, I have realized that you can take away my car, my home, and my 1977 copy of Better Homes and Gardens, but you can't take away my hairspray. Please.

I have stubborn hair. Like an energetic puppy it will not stay put. Believe me, I have tried.

So the only choice I have is to take about a bucket full of gel and work it into my hair and bangs. Or what used to be my bangs. When do bangs cease to be bangs? How long do they have to be before they are considered hair......or not bangs? Is it possible to have uni-bangs?

It's questions like these that keep me awake at night.

After applying copious amounts of gel, I then take out stock in whichever hairpspray and I are on speaking terms at the moment. I figure I might as well help boost the national economy.

Then, I start to spray my bangs (un-bangs? uni-bangs? ex-bangs? I tell ya, it keeps me awake at night...) and glue/cement them in place.

Somebody somewhere then starts to complain about the ozone layer and I begin to hug my can of hairspray closer to my body in self-defense.

Then, the hairspray induced fog around my head begins to clear and I do the mirror-check-test.

If my hair doesn't pass the test, I unleash more hairspray on it until it behaves.

If my hair passes the check-test I can then go on about my business, knowing that I'm having a good hair day and life is good.

God bless hairspray.

What I Wore Wednesday

Today I am linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for her fabulous "What I Wore Wednesday" meme. This meme is designed to give women accountability and encourage them to get out of their daily sweats or pajamas or rut that they're in and document what they wore each day and post it to their blogs.

Wednesday
Black & white checked shirt: Local shop
White tank under: Target
Black shorts: Dockers
Belt: Thrifted

There's something "off" about this outfit. I don't really like it very much but I wore it anyway. It probably would look better unbelted but then it seemed kind of "boring." I can't decide why it's not working for me.

I felt kind of "old" in it and yes, I am old but who wants to look like it? I love checks on other people but not sure about on me. The shorts are too big, I know that. Or maybe it's the belt. So, what do you think? What is wrong with this outfit?

I do like my flips, however. There are grey, black and white and from Target. I have a brown leopard print too.

Thursday
Orange layering tank: Costco
Green layering tank: Costco
Plaid shirt: ???
White shorts: Be Bop, hand-me-down
Green flips: thrifted

These shorts are two sizes too big for me. I can literally pull them on and off without unbuttoning them first. The only thing holding them up is a belt tied real tight and a prayer. I really need to stop wearing shorts that are too big for me.

But I just love 'em because they're white and I don't have any other white shorts, also they were free (my friend was getting rid of them). I love me some free and I love white in summer. However, white in summer would be nicer if I wasn't worrying about them falling off while I'm wearing them. I guess I'd better go shopping.

Friday
Green tank: Costco
Navy tank: Target
Green/Navy plaid shorts: LFL, thrifted
Green flips: thrifted

I think summer has finally arrived. Well, maybe, but don't hold your breath. That means lots of shorts and tanks. Tanks as in shirts you wear, not as in a 30 ton machine. Just thought I'd clarify that.

There was a time when I wouldn't be caught dead wearing long plaid shorts. I guess I have crossed over to the "other side" now. Sigh. I kind of feel like my grandfather when I wear these shorts. When I start wearing socks with sandals just shoot me now.

Saturday
Mint tank: Costco?
Plaid shorts: Walmart
Blue flips: ???

Another boring shot of me in a tank and shorts. I just discovered I wore plaid three days in a row too. The one day I wasn't wearing plaid I wore checks. I guess I'm just a little square.

Sunday
Blue floral dress: Costco or Sam's, I forget
Blue sparkly flips: ???

This dress has tons of buttons and it's always a scary thing when you put it on. What if you miss a button? What if you button it incorrectly and it doesn't match up and it's lopsided? What if "America's Got Talent" really doesn't?

I didn't take a picture for Monday, but it was pretty boring. Jeans, a shirt and a hoodie because it was raining pretty hard. That's how fast our weather changes around here. You can get weather whiplash.

Tuesday
Shirt: Old Navy, thrifted
Jeans: Bullhead, thrifted

My hubby calls this my "Where's Waldo" shirt. I kept ducking behind things and hiding while wearing it but all I got was a bunch of strange looks and nobody seemed interested in finding me. Rude.

Making Your Home Sing: Lighten Up!

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

When is the last time you rearranged the furniture in your living room or family room? Are you one of those people who likes to rearrange things for a different look, or do you set something down and it stays there until you move?

Do you rotate your home decor ever so often? Do you have pictures on your walls and knickknacks on your tables that have been there for five years and haven't moved? Ten years?

I like to rotate my knickknacks from time to time. I have a couple of boxes where I store the ones I'm not currently using, and just rotate things in and out. I used to have a "decorating cupboard" but I had to give that up when the extra space was needed for something else.

I also like to move the furniture around in my living room for a Fall/Winter look and a Spring/Summer.

The Fall/Winter look emphasizes the fireplace as a focal point and things are a bit more cozy with blankets, pillows, plants, candles and "warmer" accessories.

The Spring/Summer look moves things back a bit and "opens" things up so that there isn't so much visual clutter. I also lighten the look with the knickknacks, pillows, tableround covers, etc.

Clearly we are all different in our likes and dislikes. I have a friend who never changes her knickknacks. She likes what she likes and when she buys something and puts it out, she doesn't like to change it, except for when she decorates for Christmas.

I like to change out my knickknacks like I said, but I tend to fail in my wall-space. Things on my walls have a tendency to remain forever, or at least for now. But that's another blog post in the making, lol!

Spring came and went and I did not move my furniture around, nor did I change out my knickknacks. Summer is here and I STILL have not moved things around nor changed my decor.

Gasp!!!!!!!!

At this point, I could hunker down and wait for Fall to come, as it's right around the corner (sigh!). However, I want a little Spring/Summer fun in my home. I am ready for some fun, open and airy decor instead of the "cozy" colors and stuff I have out now.

So this week, I plan on making my home sing by changing out some of my accessories. I want to lighten and brighten and bring Spring/Summer into my home before summer is gone completely.

I keep saying "I'm going to do this" but never get around to it. Now I'm saying "I'm going to make my home sing this week by giving it a whole new melody to sing!" by changing things up a bit.

Take a look around your home. What season does it remind you of? Have some fun and change things up a bit and make your home sing!

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own "Making Your Home Sing Monday" Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

If you want to use your blog header or profile picture, use the "from the web" button on your right (after you click to link up). If you want to use a picture from your computer use the button on your left (unless the picture is on your blog). Please let me know if you have any problems with linking up.

What I Wore Wednesday

Today I am linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for her fabulous "What I Wore Wednesday" meme. This meme is designed to give women accountability and encourage them to get out of their daily sweats or pajamas or rut that they're in and document what they wore each day and post it to their blogs.

Wednesday
Navy tank under: Target
Floral shirt: American Eagle, thrifted
Navy cardy: VanHeusen, thrifted
Jeans: Bullhead, thrifted
Leopard Flips: Target
Belt: Old

What are my legs doing?????? I mean, seriously. What are they doing? I look as if I am about to squat and crank out some serious muscle work. Or a baby. Or bust a move. Yo.



Here it is all blown up so you can see the trouble I'm having with bigger pictures. They get all blurry and grainy. Ugh!

Thursday
Green shirt: eShakti, thrifted
Jeans: Levis, 515 bootcut
Lime green socks: ;0)

This is pretty much how I looked all day. It was cold and raining (in July, of course, grrrr!) and I had a cold and was cold! So I got dressed, threw on my "frog" earrings, and no contacts and no makeup, which is fine because the picture is all grainy anyway.

Friday
Blue top: Carolyn Taylor
Jeans: Levi 1966 skinny jeans, thrifted
Blue sparkly flips: ???

I chose this top so I could wear my blue necklace with it and then I forgot to put on the necklace! This was a head-to-toe blue day (including my blue eyes). I even tossed on the Monday blue and white sweater from this post. You can never have too much blue, people.

If you don't believe me ask the Smurfs! And their dad makes great pizza too. Still don't believe me? Check out your local Papa Smurfy's.

I find myself wanting a nicer camera, because I can't get those nice big pictures that other gals get. When I try to make my pictures bigger they get grainy and a bit blurry. Somehow I can't see myself saying to my hubby "Can we buy a nicer camera so that I can take better pictures of myself?"

Saturday
Grey shirt: Sam's Club
Jeans: Hydraulic, thrifted
Fake Chucks: Airwalk, thrifted

This is the day I buried myself in the pantry and tried to reorganize and clean things out. You'll read about my adventures in a post later this week. Let's just say that some things shouldn't be tackled without a whip, a chair and lots of prayer.

Also, you probably shouldn't wear long sleeves when cleaning, even if it's raining outside, because it's not raining in your pantry and you will get too warm.

However, it IS raining in my kitchen because we just discovered we have a leak in the roof. Isn't that special?

Sunday
Dress: Kohl's
Leggings: Target
Boots: Thrifted

Still raining in my part of the country. Apparently our weather hasn't heard that it's July yet. I paired this with a black sweater for some of the day. I am hoping that summer comes before winter gets here.

After I took pictures I dropped the camera and broke it, or so I thought. I thought it was especially ridiculous since I had just previously blogged about asking hubby for a better camera, lol! However, my mad skillz came out and I was able to fix it just enough so that I could continue taking pictures. Sigh.

BTW, I did ask my hubby why my pictures weren't clear when enlarged and he says it's not the camera, it's me. So I guess I get blurry when I gain weight. O.k., maybe that's not exactly what he said but it's exactly what I heard.

Monday
Black top: Sam's?
Green & Black vest: Target, thrifted ($3)
Jeans: Levis, 515 bootcut
Belt: Walmart

I've wanted to jump on that whole asymmetrical fashion bandwagon thing. But I can't even spell it and I am a firm believer in not wearing fashion that you can't spell. But since it was around $3 I felt safe in jumping in and getting my feet wet. It's been raining much of this week anyway.

Tuesday

White tunic: Target
White tank under: Target
Jeans: Bullhead, thrifted
Brown plaid shoes: Airwalk

Do you ever stand in front on your closet and think "What am I going to wear today?" There are just some clothes I would reach for every day if it weren't for this meme. Matter of fact I'd probably be wearing the same three things. Every. Single. Day.

Not only would I be wearing them every day but I would be naming my firstborn child after them. And since I already have a first born and he already has a name I would then be in a pickle.

I wonder if my friend named her son, Levi, after her favorite pair of jeans?

My boys should be named Jammies and T-shirt (T for short). If I had any daughters I would probably name them M&M and D.P. (for diet pepsi) because everyone whose anyone knows that comfy clothes and snacking goes together.

Who's all for naming their next child Chip?

Making Your Home Sing Monday: When Good Habits Go Bad

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

Have you ever heard the saying that it takes 21 days to make a new habit?

Recently we watched our friend's two dogs for a little over three weeks. One of her dogs has a bad habit of going the bathroom (TMI, sorry!) on our sunroom carpet, so we blocked off the area so that she couldn't get in there.

For three weeks we stepped over boxes to get in and out of that room. After my friend picked up her dogs we removed the boxes. Later I walked into the room and noticed how weird it felt to be able to walk in and out freely, without stepping over boxes.

I had got into the habit of climbing over them, and now it felt odd not to.

It got me to thinking about habits. Our whole household routine is really based on habits, if you think about it. Some of the habits may be good and some may be bad, but we are following our familiar patterns, good and bad.

If you make your bed day after day after day you have acquired that habit. If you deal with the mail when it comes in instead of letting it pile up, that's a good habit too.

If you go to bed, day after day, with dirty dishes in the sink and a messy kitchen you are following a pattern of behavior. If you let your laundry pile up day after day (been there, done that) it has become a habit with you.

If you leave dishes and clutter lying around the house instead of putting them back each day where they belong, that is another habit that you have acquired.

Some habits are good and working for you, some habits are not so good and can be the cause of great chaos and distress in the household.

Think about it, how many arguments, stress, or fights does mess and clutter cause in your home? How much frustration, depression, or feelings of hopeless does it cause?

If you look all around you and see a mess, it can be very overwhelming because it's bedtime and you are tired and exhausted, and where are you supposed to muster the energy to clean it all up? But if you don't clean it up, you know it will all be waiting for you tomorrow morning and who wants to see that?

Sometimes, something starts as a good habit, but then you let your guard down a little, and get a little more lax and/or careless or even downright sloppy, and pretty soon that good habit has become a bad one.

Habits can work for you or against you. This week, I encourage you to make your home sing by looking at your habits. Are you establishing good ones that will benefit you and get you to where you want to be?

Or are you establishing bad ones that will tear down everything you are trying to build, and discourage or try and defeat you in the long run?

Who do you want to partner through life with? The good habit or the bad habit?

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own "Making Your Home Sing Monday" Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

If you want to use your blog header or profile picture, use the "from the web" button on your right (after you click to link up). If you want to use a picture from your computer use the button on your left (unless the picture is on your blog). Please let me know if you have any problems with linking up.

I Miss My Mind The Most

Recently I had a life altering experience at McDonald's. You've all had that same experience there, I know. It's where you go for Big Macs, french fries, cheap therapy, and to learn the latest techniques in child-rearing.

I was on my home from goodness knows where and decided to stop there on my way. I love McDonald's!

Every day I am so thankful to them for installing a drive-thru. It's bad enough I have to haul my lazy self into the car, but to drag it out again for nothing less than a steak dinner, baked potato and something chocolaty for dessert is more than I can do. So I drive through.

I went through the drive-thru because you know how hard it is to get out of the car and walk ten feet into the store. Not to mention having to stand in line and change your mind about what you want to eat every time someone before you places an order.

If only people would keep their orders to themselves instead of broadcasting it for everyone else to hear and drool over. Rude.

Anyway, I went through the drive-thru and placed my order. Didn't seem too hard. Just follow the little bumper-car guards into the lane to the radio. Listen to a pre-recorded message asking you if you want to order something that you don't want to order and wait for a real person to take your order.

I can do this.

I placed my order.

I drove to the first window and paid for my order.

You know it's called " drive-thru " for a reason, right?

I drove through.

All. The. Way. Through.

Without my order.

I was halfway home before I realized it.

On the way back I tried to figure out how I managed to do that and had no answer.

As they say, of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most.

What I Wore Wednesday

Today I am linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for her fabulous "What I Wore Wednesday" meme. This meme is designed to give women accountability and encourage them to get out of their daily sweats or pajamas or rut that they're in and document what they wore each day and post it to their blogs.

I have discovered that I have very simple clothes. Nothing fancy or earth shattering.

I also discovered that I have gone a whole week without wearing my favorite denim jacket. I think I may hyperventilate.

Wednesday
Blue tank: Sam's
Shorts: DKNY, thrifted

If I post a lousy picture, then all the rest of the pictures will look great compared to that one, right? I think I was having a bad hair day too. I never thought I would love shorts that went down to my knees, they cover a multitude of sins.

Thursday
Lt. Blue top: Costco
Jeans: Levis 515 bootcut

Would somebody please get this girl a pedicure?????

Friday
Red/pink striped shirt: H&M, thrifted
Jeans: B by Bullhead, thrifted

This is the third pic in a row with no shoes. I do have shoes in my house, just so you know. Do you notice the casual expression on my face? As if I am just dreamily thinking of something and someone walked by and stuck a camera in my hand? Yeah. Right.

It's hard to look casual and as if you don't know you're getting your picture taken when you totally are the one taking the picture.

Saturday
Pink "Thumper" tank: Disney World
Brown shorts: Target
Leopard flips: Walmart

A nice warm day that called for shorts and a tank. Either that or it was menopause because I was hot!!!!

Sunday
White tissue tee under: Target
Beige and white vest: Old Navy, thrifted
Capri pants: ???
Leopard print flips: Walmart

I was in the church nursery this day and I wanted to find a color that would go with baby spit-up. I think that this was a good choice.

I love how I am trying to shake up my poses a bit by giving you some variety here. Oh brother, somebody help me.........

Finally got that much needed pedicure. You're welcome! I am convinced that when I eat m&m's all the calories fall down to my feet and land in my big toes. That is the reason they are plump. I am sure of it.

If you look in this picture and some of the pictures above you will note how my tan line stops at my ankles. That's because the sun ran out of tan by the time it got to my ankles.

Monday
Blue & white striped cardigan: Liz Claiborne, thrifted
White tank under: Target
Jeans: Hydraulic, thrifted
Red belt: Old
Red & black plaid flats: American Eagle, thrifted

I don't really like the sweater belted. I like it when other people do it, so maybe I'm just not used to it, I don't know. But I didn't think it looked very good on me. But I wore it anyway, I am just a glutton for punishment, I guess.

Tuesday
Purple top: Target
Jeans: Hydraulic, thrifted
Necklace: Kohl's

We had a family BBQ this day and I managed to get through it without getting any food on this shirt. Major accomplishment. Of course, I had my apron on so technically I was cheating. Anybody ever cook a meal and then forget to take their apron off? Moral of the story: I need cuter aprons.

Making Your Home Sing

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

I want to thank all of you who linked up last week. I want you to know that I DO plan on visiting your blogs. I just had a very busy week and haven't had a chance to do it yet.

I have been an aunt since I was a little girl. As a result, I have nieces and nephews that are only a few years younger than I. Some of them were my playmates when I was younger. I also have something like over 40 nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews as well. I am going to be a great-great-aunt very soon too.

This amazes me because I just feel I am too young to be a great-great-aunt. Shouldn't I be in my 90's or 100's or something?

Anyway, this week my precious nephew and his sweet wife are coming to town to visit. I haven't seen my nephew in many years and I have never met his wife (except chatting on facebook).

Due to my perfectionism instead of cleaning the house I am filing. Makes perfect sense doesn't it? You ignore the things that you can see in order to micro-manage the stuff that no one will ever see. Of course, you never know when all your relatives will have a huge desire to take a peek in your filing cabinet.

When they do, I want it to be neat and organized!

Certainly they will bypass the clutter on the coffee table and make a bee-line for the files. Happens every time.

I have been wanting, needing, to do some filing for awhile and I started on it before I knew my nephew was coming to town. And now, I just gotta finish it!

It's all in the details.

So my nephew and his wife are coming to town and I also have several family members coming into town as well to see them. So we will be throwing a big par-tay at my house for some of my siblings and siblings-in-law and a niece or nephew or two (and maybe even some greats).

So I will be making my home sing by rapidly finishing up my filing, asking myself WHY I deemed it so important as to need to be done now, and then straightening up and decluttering any other areas in the house that need doing.

Believe me, something somewhere is going to need doing.

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own "Making Your Home Sing Monday" Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

If you want to use your blog header or profile picture, use the "from the web" button on your right (after you click to link up). If you want to use a picture from your computer use the button on your left (unless the picture is on your blog). Please let me know if you have any problems with linking up.

What I Wore Wednesday

Today I am linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for her fabulous "What I Wore Wednesday" meme. This meme is designed to give women accountability and encourage them to get out of their daily sweats or pajamas or rut that they're in and document what they wore each day and post it to their blogs.

Somebody asked me if I felt narcissistic doing this. I really don't, although it feels weird smiling for the camera and it feels equally weird not smiling. I think you have to try it before you judge. I think it's made me more aware of how lazy I was in my appearance. For that reason, I'll say it's been good for me. Hopefully you all haven't been too bored.

Wednesday
Turquoise top: Sam's Club?
Jeans: B by Bullhead, thrifted
Shoes: Airwalk, thrifted

I had to literally force myself to get dressed this day. Yoga pants and a Grumpy t-shirt were calling my name. Loudly. Frankly, I am surprised that you all didn't hear it, because there were news reports about it on t.v. and it was all the talk in France. Oh, and that is Grumpy tee as in Disney Grumpy, my t-shirt wasn't grumpy. Well, maybe it was after I chose the turquoise shirt instead, I don't know.

Pretty sure this top is a zillion years old and not in style, but fortunately (unfortunately?) I don't care. I just love the color.

No exciting clothes, no makeup, just me and my glasses being comfy that day. Love mixing turquoise with brown. I want to marry it.

Thursday
Green and white striped shirt: Target, thrifted
White tank under: Target
Jeans: Hydraulic, thrifted
Tie-dye shoes: Keds, thrifted

When I first tried on this top at the thrift store I almost didn't buy it. In fact, I put it back on the rack. But it called to me (just like the grumpy shirt). I was hesitant to buy it because I thought it was too "young" for me.

But the shirt said "Age shouldn't matter and we'd make a cute couple!" and I replied "But, I'm just not sure" to which the shirt replied "Just give me a chance, I promise I'll make you happy." I said "I just don't know," and the shirt was all "You are so unfair. You never even gave me a chance!" and I was all "Dude, lighten up" and the shirt was crying "Are you breaking up with me?"

But then I realized that clothes don't check your ID so I snapped it up and it is so soft and comfy I love it! So now we're dating and the age difference hardly matters at all!

I threw this denim jacket (Gap, thrifted) over it as the weather was on the cool side this day. I love my denim jacket. I hope my other clothes don't get jealous. I went to lunch with a friend and accidentally left the jacket on the chair, then I had to drive about 45 minutes RT to get that dang jacket back. I'm thinking of surgically attaching it to my body so this doesn't happen again.

Friday

Red blouse: Walmart
Jeans: Gloria Vanderbilt
Red and Black Plaid shoes: American Eagle, thrifted

Can you believe this was actually the BEST picture of this outfit that I took that day? Seriously, this was the best I could do. Isn't that sad? Doesn't that make you just want to sit down and cry? I went to a wedding that night and wore a much cuter outfit. Should have taken that picture instead!

Saturday
Black/Blue ruffled tank: Costco
Black tank under: Target
Black shorts: Dockers
Black sandals: thrifted

The temp hit 80 degrees and I was ready for some shorts weather. Also, I went to the store and the checker said "Oh, I didn't recognize you. You look so pretty!" Hmmmmm........I guess if I looked ugly she'd recognize me, lol!

Sunday

Dress: Kohl's
Black pumps: Old, have no idea

I don't wear dresses very much. The last couple of times I have worn dresses without leggings I have discovered that I forgot how to get in and out of a car like a lady. Not only that, I dropped something under the seat of the car and was trying to retrieve it while holding onto my dignity. It's just much easier to wear pants!

Monday
Black and white striped shirt: Walmart
White pants: Sam's Club?
Denim jacket: The Gap, thrifted
Red/Black plaid shoes: American Eagle, thrifted

This was my version of red, white and blue (and a little black). I repeated a couple of items from last week and, of course, added my go-to denim jacket. Do you have a denim jacket? You can wear that sucker with just about anything. You could probably even wear it over your pajamas. Not that I've tried that, of course, but it's a thought......

Tuesday

Black tank: Target
Running Shorts: Adidas
Bare feet: priceless

I had to print this really bad picture because this is what I wore all day (when I wasn't wearing my swimsuit top instead of the tank). Sorry about the flash!

Another no makeup day (and no shoes). Just me playing in the sun and trying to ignore the tan line at my ankles. Summer is here and hopefully it's here to stay.

Making Your Home Sing Monday

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

I totally forgot to get this post up on Sunday. I just got busy with "stuff" and it just slipped my mind. As a result, I don't have much to say (aren't you thrilled????). I hope you all are enjoying your long weekend.

I will say that I am forever grateful for the freedom we have, and give many thanks to those of you in the military past and present (and your families) who even now stand in the gap for the rest of us.

Freedom in Christ and freedom in this great country, we have a lot to be thankful for!

Go ahead and link up if y'all are still around this weekend!

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own "Making Your Home Sing Monday" Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

If you want to use your blog header or profile picture, use the "from the web" button on your right (after you click to link up). If you want to use a picture from your computer use the button on your left (unless the picture is on your blog). Please let me know if you have any problems with linking up

The Ugly Wedding Gift

I recently went to a wedding and I realized something.

I need new towels.

When you get married you get all sorts of wonderful, practical stuff like toasters, towels, linens, toasters, mixing bowls, toasters, pots and pans, toasters, and last, but not least, toasters.

Then the fun starts because you get duplicates of stuff! We got three Seal-a-meals when we got married and since I rarely cooked back then that tells you how much we needed them. All they did was sit around and stare at me in the face and make me feel guilty.

We got a few things we didn't recognize which made the "thank you" notes more fun than going to the dentist (with apologies to any dentists out there):

"Thank you for the......ummmmm......yeah.......the thing. Thank you for the thing. It's a very lovely thing and it's the nicest thing we've ever seen. We've always wanted a thing but didn't hope to have one in our lifetime. We can't wait to use it.......or wear it.......or cook with it......or store food in it.......or clean the floor with it.......or feed it.........or whatever it is you do with it."

We got some ugly things as well. I mean, so ugly that you feel bad for the person because you know that they really thought it was beautiful. Nobody deliberately tries to give an ugly gift, right?

First you get paranoid, because if that's their taste and you think it's ugly, then you know that the gift you gave them for their wedding was ugly to them. So now you feel like you have no taste.

Then you feel guilty because, after all, they were very gracious and kind to give you that ugly gift. It's not their fault that you have no taste and can't appreciate beauty when you see it.

Then you leave the item precariously perched on a shelf, hoping someone will come by and "accidentally" knock it off.

Then you move it closer to the edge and wait for the inevitable. Which. Never. Happens.

Then you move and carefully pack up a package of notebook paper with bubble-wrap but just toss the gift in a box somewhere, "hoping" it will survive the move.

It does.

Then you give up.

Then you wait for your children to grow up so you can pass it on to them when they get married.