Happy Birthday Mummsie!

Not only is it Halloween, but it is also my mother's birthday....
For her birthday, I thought I would tell you a little about this amazing woman....
My mummsie is my bestest girlfriend.  She is beautiful!  She is strong despite having gone through hell.  She is wise beyond her years.  My mother hen is loving toward everyone.  She has the pure heart of a child.  No matter the negatives in life, mum always finds the rainbows after the rain.  She is a mother to five wonderful kids....well, even though some of us are kind of grownups now.  She is a grandmother to 2 adorable twin boys.  She reads and listen to pretty music and crafts like crazy.  You should see some of the wonderful things she makes.  She even loves scrap booking.  Mom is the first one into the water at the cottage on the lake, the first one to suggest s'mores, the first one to laugh!  She is smart and kind; hilarious, and full of energy; curious and loyal.  My mother is incredible.
Sometimes I look back in life and am sad.  Life worked out in a strange way for us.  We didn't really have much of a relationship until I was older.  I didn't really know her very well at all.  It was never her fault, or any ones fault for that matter.  However, finally, after I graduated high school, I finally really got to know my mom.  Ever since, we have been best friends.  I I wish maybe we could have had that sooner, but then I realize that wishing for things to have been different is silly....I must simply be grateful for the way that they are now.  The way that they are now is amazing.  We have the best relationship ever.  Although we still don't get to see each other very often, we make it a point to talk on the phone all the time.  Some days we talk 2 or 3 times!  And I love that.  I can tell my mother anything.  I can share things with her no matter what.  She supports my every choice and always tells me that she knows that I will make the best choices and become the best person that I can.  She believes in me more than anyone that I know.  She calls me just to sing songs to me about sunshine....she is my sunshine!  She is my mummsie, my mother hen, my ma, my mum, my mom, my mother, my best friend.  she is amazing.  I lover her so so so much!  Happy Birthday Mom! 
And Happy Halloween to everyone too!

We carved pumpkins last night.  I carved a cute little owl into my huge pumpkin simply because I cannot get enough of cute little owls lately.  Mr. Fantastic made a sly little face on his with crazy teeth.  On Kaye's pumpkin, I carved a pug face.  It is so cute and even has it's tongue sticking out like Kaye's.  We set them out and lit them up.
Tonight we turned on the porch light, but we weren't really sure if we would get and trick-or-treaters.  Surprise surprise!  We did!  We handed out twizlers....but ran out quick.  I had to turn out the porch light and shut the door.  I was sad.  What made me even more sad was when the doorbell rang, and I opened the door to find an adorable little 2, maybe 3 year old girl standing there in her best dress holding her treat bag.  She said, "tickin' teet" and I had to tell her that I ran out of treats.  I wanted to cry.  She walked away sad.  Note to self:  Next year - get lots of candy AND decorations for the porch. 
Well, I hope that your week is fantastic.  Can you believe that is is November already?  I sure can't it's been such a great year so far though!  Enjoy the new month, and for those of you that celebrate it, have a fantastic All Saints' Day tomorrow.
Night
Loves

Pumpkins!!!

Halloween is one of my "must celebrate" holidays.  I love it so much for all the kid-at-heart fun.  If nothing else, I at least have to carve a pumpkin, so I have been bugging Mr. Fantastic for weeks about getting our pumpkins.  Yesterday, he finally gave in during a break in playing the new Rock Band 3 that came out yesterday.  We drove about 13 minutes to a little church that sells the pumpkins for charity.  I searched the aisles of pumpkins, but I just didn't see one.  Mr. F was being impatient...he doesn't quite understand my excitement about pumpkins!  He asked what about this one, what about that one?  They had big ones, little ones, skinny ones, fat ones.... and then I spotted one.  I exclaimed there it is!  That is the one....only to find that it had no stem and it was not ok with me.  I searched back over them again walking from side to side, and scanning each one.  Then I saw one that I had somehow missed - the perfect pumpkin for me!  It is fat and lop-sided, and perfect!  I love it.  After a little nagging and sadness on my part, I finally convinced him to get into the spirit and pick one out for himself.  Meanwhile, I was on the hunt for one for puppy.  They had black pumpkins and green pumpkins; warty pumpkins and squashy ones too.  He found one....a small one.  I found a greenish black one and we called it a day.  We brought our little pumpkin family hoe and they are sitting on the front porch waiting to be carved on Saturday!  I can't wait.  Here are some pictures

seriously taking pictures of this?

Taking my pumpkin for a ride to pick up the other two

I love Halloween!

I just want a little one

Do I have to get one for real?

Our friend came to witness the shenanigans and laughed the whole time

The Living Room

We have lived in our new house for a week and a half now.  The whole time I have been working hard on making it beautiful.  I would really love to show you pictures, so I will start with the living room.  I really hope you think it is as amazing as we do

The white picture frames still need pictures of us, but for now we are enjoying photos of strangers!

Can you see the old senior picture of my mother on the mirror?  She is absolutely gorgeous! 

Looking in from the hallway....toward the front door.  I still need to finish the chandelier in the back corner between the windows.

looking toward the hallway.

Wow Wall #1.  Some pretty treasures including thrifty finds.

Another shot of that one.

Wow Wall #2.  Do you like the tree growing up our wall?  Can you see the little bird sitting on top of the doorway?  Love him!

I painted this with chalkboard paint.  We need to get some chalk for it still though!

Gotta have a place for my keys so that I won't loose them....I will still loose them anyways!

I made this one out of a string of lanterns.  Kind of fun I think!

Wow Wall #3.  I love picture frames that don't frame anything! 

The futon!  I made the quilt out of upholstry samples, then I turned the quilt into a duvet for the futon cusion.  Still need to paint the frame white though.  We are also in the process of looking for an old door to put over the existing coffee table!!!

Looking into the bedroom areas.

I just love this adorable animal bunting that I made with my cricuut cartride "give a hoot"

beautiful fireplace!!

The sock monkey is actually a dog toy that we found.  I love him though!

Ebay is the best.  I found that italian marble table forever ago and just gave it a facelift.

Ta-Da!!!  I love it!  Do you love it too?

Have a wonderful evening....more to come another day.  Next up, the hallways!
Loves

Tumblr

If you so choose, you may follow me on tumblr:

http://thenwestartedliving.tumblr.com/

I just opened the account up today, so there is not much to see yet, but it will come.  It will come!
Loves

Move-in Day

been so busy getting things together at the new house, but I wanted to share a few pictures from move-in day....

Trust me - the house looks so much better now that everything is almost unpacked.  Starting this week I will be doinng room-by-room tours.  The first room up is the living room.  Look for it Monday or Tuesday!  Until then, have a wonderful Monday!
Loves

The big move

Hello!  It's very early morning....or late night!  I am sitting here typing while Mr. Fantastic finishes up packing his bathroom stuff.  We have been packing for the last week.  Yuck!  Tomorrow is the big move!  Hooray...finally!  I'm so so so excited.  I just wanted to drop a quick line and let you know that I won't be on for a couple days or a week or so even maybe.  I'll be back as soon as I can be so that I can show you all pictures of our new HOUSE!  We are so excited.  Until then, have a lovely day every day!  Loves!

Dear you

Dear sister Tiffany,

I am so proud of you! You are such a smart and beautiful young lady. I miss you. Please tell mother hen and dibs that you must come to visit!
Love you.
xoxo

Dear brother Benjamin,

You are a stupid boy! I miss you though, and I am very proud of you. It is not an option - you must come to visit soon.
Love you
xoxo

Dear sister Mashell,

Come visit me soon. Bring my watermelon men nephews with you....or you can just ship them over night! Love you
xoxo

Dear Mother Hen,

We had a wonderful day with the family yesterday, but you were missing! I miss you so much. I really hope that you are going to make it down this way when Rodney comes home. Please try very hard!
I love you
XOXO

Dear Dibs,

Hurry up and come visit! We will have yummy food. Michigan lost! Love and miss you!
xoxo

Dear Nashville,
Although it has been fun, I am ready to leave now.  It's not me....it's you.  I must break up with you now.  We can still be friends though!
XOXO

Dear Knoxville,

Our applications are done. We have been packing. Everything is just about ready. I miss you, but we will see you very soon! Hooray!
Love you.
xoxo

Beautiful by MercyMe (Lyrics)

I found the following article at this address  You can find more of Tracy Phaup at her website.  Love it....more people ought to think like her, and maybe this world would be a better place. Maybe if more people followed her example, we would have a lot less negative and a lot more positive in this world!

For many of us getting out of our own way remains one of our biggest challenges. If this sounds like you at all you may benefit from this article about Top 10 Ways To Get Over Yourself.

1. It's not personal.
Taking things personally is one of the greatest barriers to being effective and is a fundamental roadblock to overcome for high powered living. When we take things personal we spend our time and energy on useless, unproductive thoughts, feelings and actions. Want to simply stop spinning your wheels? Stop taking it personal.

2. Devote yourself to serving others.
Buckminster Fuller had reached a point in his life where he wanted to commit suicide, but rather than waste the remainder of his life that way he chose to devote himself to serving others.
Serving others remains one of the most rewarding - and humbling - ways to rediscover who we really are beyond the image that others have of us and the one we have of ourselves. It's a unique way to fully express our truest passions and bulletproofs the value of our lives from the inevitable winds of fortune and change.

3. Recognize the arrogance of judging.
It's human nature to judge others and exercising good judgment is a necessary tool for survival and success. Recognizing the arrogance of judging our fellow human beings doesn't change us from being judging machines, but it goes a long way towards helping us keep our judgments in their proper perspective.

4. Play outside.
Whenever you're in danger of taking yourself too seriously don't forget the value of play, and by taking that play outside you're also reconnecting with being a part of something greater than yourself. Lay on your back in the grass and watch the clouds, invite the neighbors to join you for a walk, or play catch with the kids, but never forget to play, and don't forget to take it outside once in a while.

5. Appreciate the humor in being human.
The next time you do something stupid or make a terrible mistake, know that the universe is inviting you to be a part of it's own private joke. We humans can be at our silliest when we are taking ourselves the most seriously, so you might as well enjoy the moments you have on this earth with a well developed sense of humor.

6. Admit that you're crazy.
The defining test for qualifying as crazy on this planet isn't what you think it is. If you've got a pulse - you're crazy.
If you're like most people you look back on certain times in your life and see the insanity of it all.
The bad news? You're not cured and you never will be!
The good news? You're crazy!
The next you want to hold back because people will think you're crazy if you don't, being able to admit that you actually are will give you the freedom you need to decide to do it anyway, or not. The difference is the level of freedom of choice you give yourself.

7. Pray.
You don't have to have a higher power to use the power of prayer. Numerous studies have shown that prayer enhances our quality of life and reduces our stress whether you have faith or not. If you do have faith prayer serves to deepen it and will fine tune your intuition and sensitivity.

8. Rest easy in knowing that you're special - just like everyone else.
You are special. There will never be another you, no matter how far back into history you go or how far into the future you can look; one in infinity. And so is every other person on the planet. Even the ones that push your buttons the most, whether it's your boss, your mom or your kids. There will never be another like them in the whole history of humanity; surely there's something new there for you to notice and appreciate?

9. Trust that everyone has a good reason for doing what they do.
No matter how badly people behave and how badly their behavior hurts others, underneath it all they're trying to achieve a positive income. I don't happen to have enough patience to always appreciate that or the logic that makes some people think that they're behavior could ever produce the outcome they wanted, but I've never had any reason to doubt the truth of a desire for a positive outcome.

10. Make solitude and silence a regular practice.
It won't make you sane (smile), but it will help you get as close as any human can.
Our lives are increasingly hectic, chaotic and complicated, and the practices of solitude and silence can bring both peace and meaning to our lives, as well as function as the foundation for keeping our priorities straight as well as helping us to maintain or ability to continually simplify.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/top-10-ways-to-get-over-yourself-1175552.html#ixzz11oZFXwEs
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Loving this....

found on this site

I've come to realize.....

I’ve come to realize that my job. . .as a student is one of the most important and exciting jobs I will ever have in my life!
I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving. . . I get very bored quite quickly.
I’ve come to realize that I need. . .to stop compromising when it comes to friendships.  There is already a lack of time, why waste it with people that don't fulfill me!?
I’ve come to realize that I have lost. . .nothing that didn't need to be lost.
I’ve come to realize that I hate it when. . . I am being part of something that I don't feel 100% amazing about.
I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk. . . I am quite honest.
I’ve come to realize that money… is important, but not as important as happiness.
I’ve come to realize that certain people. . . will only make life harder than it already is.
I’ve come to realize that I’ll always. . . need my art.
I’ve come to realize that my sibling(s). . . are all amazing souls.
I’ve come to realize that my mom… my absolute best friend in the whole world and I would be completely lost without her.
I’ve come to realize that my cell phone. . . one of the most useful tools I have.
I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning. . . I could choose to have a good day or choose to have a bad day.  I choose the first!.
I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep. . . I was sleeping next to the man that completes my life!
I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking. . . that the adventure we are about to embark upon will be rewarding.
I’ve come to realize that my dad. . . probably loves me but might feel that I don't love him.
I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook. . . I cannot take anything for face value.
I’ve come to realize that today. . . is gone and tomorrow is yet to come.
I’ve come to realize that tonight. . . it is good to know that the bullshit is over....it is done.
I’ve come to realize that tomorrow. . . will be a very sad day when I officially resign from my position as president-elect.
I’ve come to realize that I really want to. . . appreciate the little details in life.
I’ve come to realize that life. . . amazing if we choose to believe in the magic of hopes and dreams.
I’ve come to realize that this weekend. . . will be the last weekend I will live in Nashville.
I’ve come to realize that my friends. . . the real, honest, loyal, and dedicated ones, are my most precious gift!
I’ve come to realize that this year. . . was simply a stepping stone to a brighter, more amazing future.
I’ve come to realize that my man. . . loves me very much and wouldn't change me for the world.  He has the purest of hearts, and he wants only for everyone to be able to smile each day.
I’ve come to realize that maybe I should. . . probably have more stuff packed by now!
I’ve come to realize that I love. . .innocence, trust, and compassion!.
I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand. . .why some people in life will use you as their ladder rung while trying to get to the top but fail to give you a hand while you are trying to climb.
I’ve come to realize my past. . .is beautiful for making me who I now am.
I’ve come to realize that parties. . . are awesome when everyone wants to be there...especially theme parties.
I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified. . . of another corporate job sitting at a desk and going nowhere in life.
I’ve come to realize that my life. . . is wonderful!  I wouldn't change it for anything!

Quilting a Duvet

I started with a book of upholstery fabric samples.  I cut out all of the samples and sewed them together in a random pattern, then I turned them into a quilt.  In the mean time, I decided that I needed to cover the black cushion on our futon so that we can use it in our living room.  I bought some corduroy material and sewed it onto the sides and back to create a pocket.  We put the cushion into the pocket, sewed on some pretty ribbons and tied it shut!  Wa-la!  A pretty new futon sofa for our new living room!

College Application Personal Statement

I am currently applying to the University of Tennessee Graphic Design program.  As part of the application process, I was asked to write a personal statement.  This is what I have written:

Life has a way of surprising us, throwing in a few obstacles, working out for the better, and coming full circle. My entire life I have seen and felt art in everything that surrounds me, but I never really knew how to make it a career. Instead, the science of flight called to me. I had every intention to obtain a degree in Professional Aviation until I spoke with an Army recruiter. The day that I spoke with that recruiter, my whole life and my entire future changed.


In 2005, I joined the United States Army as a way to receive hands-on flight instruction, but out of that experience, I gained so much more. During my time in the Army, I flew Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in Baquoba, Iraq. It was there that I was trained in more than just flight; I was trained in life. I learned that loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage – the seven basic values of the army – were the seven most important values that would make the difference between my success and my failure in every obstacle that I strive to overcome the rest of my life. The adversity that I faced while living amongst hate, chaos, and war, triggered a strong desire within me to return to my love of art to create pleasure, structure, and, beauty.

My tour in Iraq left some marks on my health, and shortly after returning to the states, I was discharged from the army for medical reasons. My discharge was sudden and slightly unexpected. It left me uncertain of where my life would lead me. No longer was I able to pursue my goals in flight so, out of panic, I settled for other options. Although, the other options left me unfulfilled and disappointed, I gained a new self-awareness and afterward, was able to recognize my fundamental obligation to myself as an artist. It has become quite clear that the creation of art must become a focal point in my life.

This time I do not want to make the mistake of taking a path I am not completely passionate about and devoted to. I have explored both my options and my inner self. Art is a feeling; an emotion; an awareness of all that surrounds us, and for me to study Graphic Design would be to study art in all of its totality. It takes more than just a working knowledge of a two dimensional plane to create the type of visual communication that influences the population. Art of this nature requires an understanding of the fundamentals of art, and a relationship with the complexities of the human psyche. It requires creative thinking, cultural awareness, and an appreciation of technology. To create this kind of art takes drive and commitment, understanding and logic, passion and creativity. It takes someone like me who can see art in everything; feel art in everything.

As a student of the University of Tennessee, I will continue my academic excellence. I will prove loyalty to my inherent artist as well as to the university. I will demonstrate high standards of integrity expected from a school with a rich history in education and tradition. I will continue the selfless-service of my military enlistment as a student of the Volunteer State’s institute of higher learning.

Loves!

Our cute new home!!!

Hooray! We found our new home! We looked at several and were beginning to get very worried if we would ever find the perfect one that was in our price range and not totally horrible. Then it happened....we walked in the front door and fell in love! Our new home is gorgeous! We absolutely love it.



Our beautiful new home!



  

And here is our silly puppy!

I've been working on a new project the last week as well.  I brought home an upholstery fabric sample book.  I loved all of the patterns so much so I decided to cut them out of the book and sew them together into a quilt!  I am loving it.  Today I decided that I am going to make the quilt into a duvet type thing and cover our old futon cushion.  We are going to paint our futon white and have it in our new living room.  Here are some peaks.  I'll show more pictures when it is complete!

Have a lovely night.  Loves