Try New Things...it's Fun!

Husband and I, well, we're a little on the crazy side.  We proudly refer to ourselves as hippies... we love the green, and we're kind of on the free-thinking side of life.  Not when it comes to morality and our faith, but when it comes to going against the flow.... trying not to do things just because 'everyone else is doing it.'  


Our hippie-ness has led to a very bright home.  Color-wise.  Our kitchen is purple with old 70's orange counter top, a golden dining room and a green, light seafoam-ish living room....  I know is sounds absurd, but really, it's fun and elegant in its own way.  The bright is accented with black and white randomly placed here and there.  I'm not one for the neutral colors....  I like them, they look beautiful in other people's homes, but I think it would stifle the creative genius in my brain that is fighting to release itself....


I've been on a kick to get new things put up and finished, the little things like pictures on the blank walls, knick-knacks on the shelves, etc.  So, we decided to paint our hallway because it was so boring and bland still.  Our house is in the shape of a square so the hallway opens up to both the dining room and living rooms, which are connected to each other.  So, I decided to paint the hallway blue...  and I don't mean a light, calming blue, it is BLUE!  BLUE!!!!  A very bright, not matching, carnival fun house kind of blue...actually Husband says it looks like a 'Saved by the Bell' blue, it belongs in a high school girl's room.  So, I tried painting some designs in black to see if we could save it...


Needless to say, we repainted it last night to orange.  And yes, I know orange doesn't sound any tamer than the crazy bright blue, but in our house it actually goes with the color scheme instead of totally working against it.  And now, we love it instead of going, 'I kind of like it, do you, I don't know, maybe not...'  

All this to say, TRY NEW THINGS!!  It's fun.  I would have always wondered what a blue hallway would have looked like had I not tried it.  A boss that my husband once had told him, 


"You always have the rest of your life to never try it again."  


So, give it a try!  If it doesn't work, there's always orange paint.

Signs of a Blessed Pregnant Woman

Many days I sit back and thank God for the many blessings in life.  This past week has been one filled with God's blessings through many different people.  I must admit that lately I have been tired and overwhelmed from different things in life, and of course God provides us with more grace and understanding than we can handle.  It's a good thing.

Let me start with a co-worker of Wade's.  She called and said, 'I know what it's like this stage in the pregnancy, I want to come clean your house.'  Um, I would have been an idiot not to take her up on this offer.  It made me cry a little, seeing as I hadn't had the energy or willpower to even do the dishes in like 2 weeks.  So, we got kicked out of our house and went on a date and got home and the house was spit-shined and amazing!  I've never been able to get my floors this clean.  Seriously.  Blessing #1.

Number Dos:  Friends.  They are like gold.  I have had some great times with some around here lately.  From our super short Super Bowl party (a sign that we are getting all growned up.)  To the days I get to spend with my new, dear friend Megan.  I'm telling you, it takes a true friend to go with you to a breastfeeding workshop when she's not even preggers.  Of course, we went to the bead store, Chick-fil-A and looked for Valentine's stuff for the hubbies.  It was a relaxing night out.  (Although the workshop was simply a joke of a DVD.)  Definitely a needed evening of pure joy and fun.

And probably my favorite pregnant blessing of the week (besides the fact that I have life growing within me, that's a constant one, though) is this:  the other night I had been so tired, I think I slept on average about 13 hours this past weekend, anyway, I mentioned how great a bubble bath would be.  The next thing I knew, my wonderful husband had scrubbed the tub down (although I think it had been scrubbed previously by afore mentioned house cleaning) and then he drew me a nice warm bubble bath, complete with my current read, a hot cup of peppermint tea, and candlelight.  It was so relaxing, I think I spent at least an hour and a half in the tub while Husband and Dog were playing on the ukulele.  In fact, I think I may repeat that about right now....

May every pregnant woman have as many great people in her life as I do!

Family

It's Wishcasting Wednesday!  Today's question:  What do you wish for your family?

First, I have to say that my definition of family has changed drastically in the last 7 months.  In a good way.  In fact, Husband and I were just talking about this the other day.  We both grew up with really amazing families, supportive, faith-driven, and consumed with love.  But the other day I looked at my new husband, and I couldn't believe that we are now family.  He and I and this little ninja kid inside of me.  Not that we aren't part of our 'families of origin' as I've heard it referred to, but we are building our own web of love and protection and support.  And this will be the only family that our children know of.  It's such a crazy, amazing blessing to be given this responsibility.

So my wish for my new little family is that we continue to grow in love for each other, in love for our God, and that we are able to overcome the obstacles that society throws at us.  Such a simple wish, but in reality, growing in love is a hard thing to remain focused on.

My Fairy-Tale Princess Life

This past week has been a crazy wave of ups and downs.  The overwhelming task of starting a new semester, as well as being almost 7 months pregnant has given me the utmost roller coaster of hormonal mood swings.  Most of it coming down to the fact that physically I am not what I used to be energy-wise, in-shape-wise, motivated-wise.  But, all that aside, the one thing that has come to my mind most of the time all this is going on in my hormone driven head, all I can think is that I truly live in a Fairy Tale Princess World.  Let me explain where this came from.

When my amazing husband proposed, it was the most amazing and elaborate proposal I have ever heard or seen of.  And I'm not just saying that because I'm biased, at the time I was a "Proposal Specialist" for an engagement ring company and I got to help guys who just bought rings come up with their "Perfect Proposal".  Seriously.  It was a sweet gig.  Anyway, my wonderful husband came up with the absolute most amazing proposal.  I deemed it my fairy tale princess world (I'm a complete princess on the inside, it makes me happy.)


Here are some pics to show you what I mean:

The gazebo in my mom's backyard transformed!

He tricked me into putting on my bridesmaid dress.  =)

So, thus my Fairy-Tale Princess Life began, and it has not, nor do I think will it ever end.  Just when I don't think marriage could get any sweeter, the man I married does something that makes me fall even more in love with him.  Whether it be finding a way to make music out of a rubber band and a paper clip, or when he just holds me to hold me.  I love being a princess!!!

Our latest family pic, you can't really see the belly in this shirt, but it's there!

Soul Expression 2

I just finished the movie Julie & Julia, and oh my goodness, it was amazing.  I felt like it spoke to the souls of every woman ever born.  Life is all about finding what we love, and letting our souls shine through that passion.  Allowing other people in, even if it's scary, or we don't think they will want to.  Because, once we open up in unimaginable ways, people are drawn in to the authenticity.  They are drawn in to the  raw and vulnerable.  Why is it that people want to be around real people, but it's so hard to drop the facade?  Julie & Julia, both women, in very different time periods were able to open up, and through that they helped other women do the same thing.  I love true stories about authentic people.

And, of course, I have to mention that these two women in the movie would not have been able to accomplish what they did without the loving support of their husbands.  It's often said that behind every good man is a good woman, but really, that goes both ways.  I know for a fact that I would not be able to do anything well without my husband encouraging me the whole way.  From growing a fetus to making stockings (a good post for a later day, once they get finished.)  But, really, I guess that's what a marriage is supposed to be.  Both people finding or growing in their passion with the other one cheering them on the whole way.

I love when Julie's husband gives her the set of pearls.  He feeds her dream.  And that is what life should be about.

 Feeding our dreams.