New Year

Wow. I can't believe I made it a whole year without one blog post update. This year was a great one, and I'm looking forward to an even better 2013!!!

This year there were some amazing events in my life:
1) Hubby started a new job which meant paid vacation, sick days, healthcare, and many future opportunities
2) WE BOUGHT A HOUSE. Yep, in July of 2012, after barely two weeks of looking/talking/house hunting we made an offer and found the perfect house. It's not a starter home, it's a long-term...forever? home. We love it here. And I can't wait to (at some point) share our progress.
3) I, with my now very good friend Mandi, continued studying for and took our NCIDQ test for Interior Design Certification. We found out almost a month ago we both passed!!
4) Both my sister and one of my best friends are pregnant! We will be welcoming a new niece in February and nephew (my good friend is an only child so their little boy will have lots of "auntie-but-not-really-related" aunts!!
5) I am attempting to get back into the gym routine with said friend Mandi, and hoping to continue with a healthier lifestyle in the new year!!




I've still been cooking, baking, and decorating up a storm over here. But am I back for good? We will see, though I'm sure I am still not up to any regular postings. But maybe I'll have even more great things to come back and share this year!

Happy New Year, all!!

life update

Well, it's no surprise that I've been MIA on my blog (and probably yours, too) for a few weeks now. I suppose it really hasn't been that long of a span, but it feels like it.

I can't make any guarantees I am back for a normal batch of postings.

My goal is to keep up the Tuesday Readings posts and possibly projects that might come along.

It's been days since I've even been able to get myself to the "new post" page. I'm not sure why, but I'm just not feeling a draw to blogging right now. I can't seem to understand what's on my heart and in my head right now, let alone try to type cohesive sentences about it.

I wish I could keep up to date with you all. My Google reader is over 1000 posts at the moment and I'm a little overwhelmed with life in general. I'm sure I'll hit the "mark all as read" soon and maybe then I can catch back up.

I'm appreciative if you've stuck with me, for those new friends I've met this last year and I apologize for not getting around to reading all of your lovely posts.

I hope to be back...not sure how soon, but I'll be around.

Tuesday Readings - Oct-25 [Recap]

Whoops...missed two weeks. More on that later.


Reading for October 25 was Isaiah 50-52, 1 Thessalonians 5.

Isaiah 50-52:
Finally - some good news for Israel!

• The "Servant Songs" - songs about the listening servant who will comfort the listening people, songs leading to the Messiah and his being beaten for our transgressions. (52 and 53)
• The Lord comforts Zion - reminder of the passing of the Red Sea and the exodus, reminds them that He laid the foundation of the earth, that "You are my people," the time has come for the "cup of staggering" to be put into the hands of Israel's tormentors (chapter 51)
• The defeat of God's people "has brought shame upon his name," "therefore he will vindicate Himself with unmistakable clarity, for His own glory." (52:5-6 - notes)

 1 Thessalonians 5

•  Starts off speaking about Jesus' second coming - like a thief in the night. In the Bible's notes, it talks about how Paul is probably saying this to comfort the Thessalonians who may be concerned that they will not be ready for the second coming. Though the time may come unknowingly we are not "in darkness," so this should not be a surprise for those of us who know the truth, anticipate it and live in the light.
• Paul's final instructions - to respect, speak well of one another, do not let evil become you, help those who are weak, be patient, do not despise prophecy but do not blindly accept it, either. These are good instructions for all Christians, for all of the church.

 
Reading for November 15, 2011 
Jeremiah 43-45, Hebrews 5

current obsessions: October

Hey folks! I promise to [try to] be back later this evening with a Tuesday readings post. As I discussed yesterday, I've been so busy with so many things my reading got away from me this week. And yesterday we had some students visit the office and I didn't get home till after 8, then we didn't finish dinner till after 9 and I was asleep around 10 and it just slipped my mind.

Anyway...here's what I've been loving this October...

• Fall - cider & doughnuts with my hubby @ Fuhrman's
• Salted caramel mochas from Starbucks
• New nail polishes thanks to Joy the Baker!
• New projects! I'm currently working on some design projects for a friend - living room, dining room, family room, basement and laundry room makeovers! Can't wait to share the before and afters!
• These chocolate cupcakes. Ah-may-zing.
• Halloween times means MONSTER CEREALS ARE BACK. Count Chocula has been a favorite of mine (and Josh's) since I was little. I don't care how old I am, it always will be!
• Not having a cracked iPhone screen. YES!!!  
• Boots and scarves! Actually, I haven't broken out my boots yet - they are too "snowy" - I need some nice fall short boots...I think I hear Marshall's calling me...
• My adorable niece learning new words! She can say both "Josh" and "Amy" and she seems to LOVE saying Josh! We watched her at our townhouse the other day and she just kept pointing at him and saying his name! She also was loving watching stuff on the big TV and kept saying "Whoa!!!!" whenever anything crazy was on the screen.

 

What are you currently loving?

weekend update: Oct 21-23

I apologize for being a little MIA on the blog-reading-commenting front the past few weeks. Things have been fairly busy at work and the majority of my free time at home has been spent either on the computer working on an [exciting!] interiors project with a friend or staying off the computer doing other things.

Anyway, this weekend I [again] spent a lot of working on this interiors project! On Friday I stopped at Andrea's Kitchens in Erie and Pier 1 for some inspiration for the project. Here's it all summed up in a little mood board for you all:

On Saturday I went with said project friend to look and possibly purchase some of the above items. We went to Padden's paints to look for more options for one of the rooms and searched - and found [we  think]! - the drapery fabric for the dining room. I worked more on the project in the evening and hung out with the hubby, of course!

On Sunday after church Josh and I went to Best Buy where I picked up this sweet new case for my phone. I'm a klutz and fear for my poor phone screen's life now that I've cracked it once, so I knew I wanted something heavy duty. Loving it so far!!

In the evening we hung out and I made cupcakes for the Mercyhurst Interior Design student visitors we have coming tonight. Recipe later this week! Spice cupcakes [made with applesauce] and caramel butter cream frosting! They are pretty amazing.

Anyway, hope I'll be able to get back to reading your lovely blogs this week! Thanks for sticking with me and reading and commenting on mine!! Happy Monday! Have a great week, folks!