Quotes

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
– John Wooden

a dream wall!

the completed brick living room wall ~ all natural lighting...

It is fake...but it looks real!  It is something I have ALWAYS wanted, but never thought I would practically get.  I love the old vintage look and this to me adds so much to my living room.  I hired a lovely lady named Adrianne to do this for me.  She had never done this type of thing before, but with her enormous creative abilities, I knew she would do me a lovely job...and she did!  I highly recommend her if you are interested in any type of work done like this. 

Here are the samples I gave her as "ideas" to work off of:


this one was my favorite with all the muted and layered tones...




this was the type of color I wanted to achieve to match the fireplace on the opposite wall...



we discussed adding a design, but opted against it...

loved the texture on this wall...

oohhhh, even looks good in the Kitchen!

neat individually varied tones...

Here is the final product:

Let's not forget what we started from:

in case you wondered what it looked like "BEFORE"...plain cream wall

What do you think?  You would have to see it in person...it absolutely looks and feels real!  I am tickled pink red with it!  Thanks Adrianne for a great job!!!


She started this back in the summer and finished it early fall.  I am just now getting around to posting the pictures!  Please forgive me for being behind in one of many things.

you know your sick when...

~ you don't care to check your email
~ when just to take a shower makes you so exhausted, you go back to bed and pull the covers up over your head
~ you are tired of fighting the sickness on your own
~ the cough gets worse and you don't care
~ nothing sounds good to eat
~ when you have done nothing (almost literally) all week other than eat and sleep and though this bothers you, you know you have no choice
~ you can't focus to read a book and any music is too loud no matter the volume; makes your mind go crazy
~ you can stare outside for an undetermined amount of time and it is okay, it makes peace in your soul
~ you miss people, but not enough to pick up the phone, takes to much energy
~ you hardly remember what day it is, then again, you don't want to remind yourself because then the facts are facing you as to how many days have been wasted doing NOTHING!!!


yah...I have been sick.  I went and had the antibiotic my client gave me Wednesday filled last night at the pharmacy.  I will be better, just give me a few days, in the meantime, I will sleep some more and maybe have dreams about resuming the blogging that has been suffering of late for various reasons...

Winter Snow 2011

Last night/today we got snow...the second time this week, but the biggest so far of the season...

Bartlett Pear Trees in my front yard

look at the pot...that gives you an idea of how much snow we got on top of the ice and snow from 3 days previously...

looking up the street...

the backyard and pool...

it was 14* at 11am, can you imagine what the water temperature was???

love the snow on the bowie (chlorine container)...makes it look like a hat!

the snow was so sparkly...and the sun wasn't even out yet!

bushes and snow...

the tree outside my bedroom window...

an icy cold day in Texas...

...and I mean COLD!  It is Day 2 of an Icy Snowy Cold day in Texas!  I slept in till 10am only to wake up to a freezing house and no power. It would have been one thing, but when your body hurts all over and you feel like crud and want a hot cup of tea and can't have one, life is not too peachy. I hate to complain because we have things so good but I really didn't want to deal with that! I posted on Facebook that I was without power and a x-co-worker posted that they were doing rolling blackouts for about 15minutes to conserve energy. She told me that she thought I would want to know since I don't have a TV. I thanked her and told her it had been out for 3 hours so far (I learned that from a neighbor I texted messaged after texting her, Auntie Con and Sylvia). I then got a text from the girls at Dr. C's office letting me know that they were in today (2 of them were) and could I bring their checks. I said sure but then got to thinking how was I going to get my car out of the garage with no power? I tried for 20minutes to get the stupid thing unlatched, in the dark with a flashlight. No success. In frustration, frozen cold, no ounce of energy left in my body, I came back in the house, crawled under the covers wanting to cry.  I layed there and then texted Sylvia back that it didn't work. She said she would come help me.  I waited like 10minutes and she didn't come, so I went back out and tried again for like 10minutes.  I gave up.  I just couldn't get it unlatched.  Sylvia arrived, she was really kind...totally made my day and brought me a cup of HOT TEA!!!  I was a bit bent out of shape as it had been 2 hours and I had gotten nothing done and I was completely drained and exhausted! Sylvia got it unlatched on the second or third try...still have no clue what I was doing wrong and how she so easily got it done.  I then left for my clients office.  In one way, the driving conditions were decent, in another way, I have never seen them like this in Texas. Even last winter's ice/snow over December Camp was nothing like this year! The roads were slick and frozen even in the middle of the day, course the temperatures never got very high so it wasn't possible for it to thaw. I did fine, but saw several spin outs and wrecks. I am amazed at how many don't know how to drive during these times. I find they are either dangerously cautious, or drive way too fast for the conditions, and fail to watch for the other driver's mistakes.  I delivered payroll to Dr. C's office. He was concerned about how sick I sounded, so he listened to my chest, said I am wheezing (which I knew) and wrote me a script for an antibiotic. He said to fill it if I am not better tomorrow or the next day or if I get worse. I ended up hanging out at the office just to get warm and check my email since I had no internet at the house with not having any power. Even though I have wireless internet, it doesn't work if the hub doesn't have power and I can't check certain emails or my work email yet on my cell phone, plus it eats up battery fast and it was draining really quickly with all I had going on via texts and phone calls and internet usage for the morning. I charged my phone to and from the office since I didn't know when my power would be back on. I then stopped at Panda Express on my way back to get some hot food! It wasn't exactly what I was in the mood for, but I needed something warm and couldn't think of anything good or fast or close to the freeway that inspired me. I also went to the post office and mailed what should have gone out on Monday. All in all, I ended up being without power for a bit over 6 hours. It did not quit for 2 hours when it came back on. I had a fire this afternoon and it felt good to get real warm. I am now out of firewood. I have been trying to save money and felt it wasn't "a need" to have a fire in the house, so I hadn't bought more. This will teach me to always have a good stash as you don't know what kind of weather you will have and in light of all my appliances and house being electric only, I need to have some way to stay slightly warm.  Being sick, cold and not able to have HOT food was a whole new experience today.

verse to reflect on...

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 

- I Timothy 6:6 NASB

Contentment isn’t guaranteed when we get what we want, but when we want what we have.

Quotes

1. Free your heart from hatred.


2. Free your mind from worries.


3. Live simply.


4. Give more.


5. Expect less.

Quotes

Courage faces fear and thereby masters it.  – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quotes

People tend to make rules for others and exceptions for themselves.

thought...

I had a conversation with a friend this week...she told me that life is more complicated than it needs to be...been thinking about this the last few days. It is so true!

What are you doing to make it Simple? Uncomplicated? Peaceful?

Quotes

You can't manage time....everyone gets the same amount and it never changes no matter what you do! Time is like a suitcase, some people just know what to pack and others don't ever have enough room. Some people try to pack other peoples suitcase for them.....not good.  Have the vision and knowledge to pack wisely!  - Jonathon Smith

thought...

I am so ready for new events...new changes...new things to look forward to...new drama...forgot, that only comes with the new heaven & new earth!

Quotes

We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.  - Jim Rohn, Motivational Coach

thought...

His plan is perfect, and mine is not. His plan has all the answers, mine does not. I must have faith...I must trust...I must rest so that I can have peace.

verse to reflect on...

You will never exhaust God with your worries. You will never reach the end of his ability to hear or handle your fears. You will never disappoint him with the amount of times you cast your anxiety on him.  Why?  Because he cares for you, he cares for me, he cares for us! 

I Peter 5:7  Putting all your troubles on Him, for he takes care of you.   [BBE]
I Peter 5:7  Casting all your anxiety upon Him, for he careth for you.  [ASV]

Quotes

If you work hard at your job, you can make a living; but if you work hard on yourself, you can make a fortune. 
–Anonymous

verse to reflect on...

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. - Psalm 3:3

Reminds me that I am a Princess of the King!

Quotes

We must look for the opportunity in every difficulty instead of being paralyzed at the thought of the difficulty in every opportunity.
- Walter E. Cole, Korean War Hero

FREE Credit Report

Do you check your credit report?  Do you know that you can get a report for free from all 3 credit reporting agencies?  Yah, I know there are sources out there that say they are free, but you have to pay this monthly surcharge, this is not one of those.  They are 100% FREE.  Promise!  I will mention, you do have to pay to learn your credit score, but that is optional.  I have done that once, but typically do not do that unless I am interested in learning the figure for some important reason (like to help me with a purchase), but currently, I am not looking to purchase anything on credit (such as a house or car) so its of no value to me! 

So...before you forget, go get your report at www.annualcreditreport.com.  Click one or all three reporting agencies and view your report.  Mark your calendar to do this again next year. 

TXTng & DRVng...IT CAN WAIT

If you are like me, you like to text.  You can send a quick message without interrupting someone on the phone.  They can respond when they have time.  Or do they?  Do they feel they need to send you a reply ASAP?  I do.  So if you are like me, you have developed a bad habit of texting and driving at the same time, you multitask and get as many things done at the same time.  Last year an awful video clip went around about a girl who text messaged while driving and was killed.  It was graphic as to her face, the bleeding, the screams of her friends in the car, etc.  I won't put that video clip in this post because it is a tough one. 

In March 2010, AT&T created a docmentary for the "Don't Text & Drive" Campaign.  Watch it here.  What are your thoughts now after watching that? 

I personally have done much better at texting & driving since I saw that graphic video last year, but it helps me to be reminded of my commitment and desire to support AT&T (yes, even though I am a Verizon customer) in their "Don't Text & Drive" Campaign.

If you are a texter, may I ask you to pledge never to text and drive?

YearInReview for 2010

I subscribe to Seth Godin's blog and he has a lot of great thoughts, many many times.  This post was one of those and has intrigued me to reflect on my year for 2010.  He states:  "This might be a useful exercise. Doesn't matter whether it was a hit or not, it just matters that you shipped it."  I plan to do this post both on my personal and business blogs.


Here's a basic list from the 2010 year with some of the highlights in my personal life:

• met my 6 months emergency fund goal this year for both general bills and medical bills
• hired someone to create a fake red brick wall in my living room, something I have always wanted in my house!
• lost my job in August 2010, which in turn taught me I can live on the basics and be very happy
• had my brother here in Texas for one full year and spent time reconnecting with him after 10 years & helping him try to work thru issues
• started the Allergy Shot program after testing last November 2009 to improve immune system
• took a random day off work and spent it being lazy with one of my girlfriends
• had two big garage sales that created enough income to make my house payment
• went and saw The Sound of Music singalong movie
• did the zip line at Beaumont Ranch with a girlfriend
• gave 10% of my gross income to Charity
• read/listened to 2 books a month
• learning there are a lot of things in life you can't fix or change, Let Go

Here's a basic list from the 2010 year with some of the highlights in my business life:

• logo was finalized and stationary produced
• website was launched March 2010
• created a business blog with weekly articles
• started attending Networking events in August, have met some really great business people to refer to and coordinate business with
• was offered and accepted a Board Member position with Cowtown Netweavers
• was offered and accepted Treasurer position with Network for Enterprising Woman
• obtained 3 additional Clients, all which utilize my business services PRN
• business revenue down 15%, with net profits just the same as last year even with increased marketing expenses
• gave a speech 10.22.2010 @Networking for Enterprising Woman on my life
• gave a speech 11.03.2010 @Cowtown Netweavers on What Is Success?
• gave Dave Ramsey's book Financial Peace Revisited to every attendee at the networking meeting on 12.01.2010 @Cowtown Netweavers with the goal to inspire each person to be Debt Free
• gave Dave Ramsey's book Financial Peace Revisited to every Client & Client's staff as a year end gift with the goal to inspire each person to be Debt Free

Seth's suggestion: 
"You'll probably be surprised at how much you accomplished last year. Go ahead and share with your friends, colleagues or the web... don't be shy."  So I challenge you to do the same!


If that is not for you...try this:
The Simple Dollar, another blog that I follow, suggests:  
Think of the five best things that happened in 2010. What were the best things that happened in your life this year? What new relationships did you build? What ones did you reaffirm? What goals did you achieve? What changes occurred in your life that put you in a better place?


I would love to hear your thoughts...please share with me as I have done with you!