Thursday Thoughts.....Are you addicted to your technology?

As I have mentioned before, I am reviewing a book that is centered on Teens and technology.  As I read, I realize how much my own world has changed and come to depend on technology as well.  I was late to the game on email, social media, surfing the web, online shopping, etc but since going back to work 7 years ago, all that has changed.  I never texted and to be quite honest, I didn't even know how to cut and paste when I first went back to work.  I was so embarrassed to ask anyone, that I went home and asked my then 6th grader to show me the basics.  

As my children grew, I realized that I had to get on board or get left behind.  I got a cell phone with a keyboard because that whole scrolling through the number keys was too much for me (patience is not my gift).  I had to rely more on email for work correspondence, and then Facebook came into my world.  I was not even going to check it out but a friend of mine begged me to get online so we could stay in touch.  I LOVED connecting with long lost friends, etc.  and because I could do this even after my children went to bed, I was hooked.

Now a days I read books on a Kindle more often than not.  However, I do still like a good page turner in real print with a spine. I use Facebook to keep in touch with people, share my day, learn about theirs, be in the know, find out what is going on in town, etc.  I love Instagram because in all honesty, pictures are my favorite, even on Facebook. I am not really into Twitter except for work and news, but I am sure I will get on board if it continues to grow as it has.  

And Blogging..... I would have never thought that would end up being something I did or something I loved.  I do though!! Blogging has given me a creative outlet, some new friends, and great ideas in fashion, food, and spirituality.  I love connecting with like minded people.  

But, I do have a confession.  I am addicted to my Smartphone :(  I don't want to go anywhere without it.  I don't not want to have Internet access.  It is bad people.  I store my lists, my thoughts, etc on it.  It has become an appendage.  I don't like having an addiction.  I am praying about this right now.  How connected do I need to really be?  I will definitely not give it up, but I am going to get better at leaving it in my purse more.  I need to realize that I do not have to be accessible to the world 24/7.  I am not THAT important.  

Do you have a technology addiction?

This book has not been released yet, but boy do you need to read it when it is!! 

What is going on this week....

Outside my window... Just cloudy and cold.  We missed the bad weather that they forcasted yesterday...yes!

I am thankful...That I had a great weekend with my family this week and we went and saw American Sniper which reminded me yet again how thankful I am to be an American and for the men and women who make that freedom possible through their sacrifices of time, family, and safety.

I am wearing...My favorite sparkly sweater to brighten up this dreary day.

I am creating... I am finishing up one scarf and getting ready to start my pink one.

I am going... To Texas in a few days with my man to buy a pool table.  I am super excited since I have never been to Texas.

I am wondering... How many times he will let me stop and go to the bathroom before becoming frustrated and us getting into an argument!  Car trips can go either way.....

I am reading... Screens and Teens by Dr. Kathy Koch.  It has not been released yet but is a must read when it comes out.  I am thankful to have been chosen to review it and so far it has exceeded my expectations.

I am praying... For an opportunity that would make a Huge Difference for our family.  I will share more later, but please be in prayer for us.

I am learning... To let it go as Elsa says.  Wow, Disney must have made a fortune off of this saying.

Around the house... We won't even go there.  Let it go, let it go!  haha

In the kitchen... I am getting hungry for food that doesn't take 3 minutes to prepare.  Basketball is slowing down, so real food is on the horizon!

I am pondering... How long before a real snow fall?  I am kind of wanting at least one.  I know, be careful what you ask for.

A few pictures from our weekend...

Doug and I were hanging with just Madi on Saturday, Love this fine dime :)

Sometimes Doug and I judge a good game by it's concessions.  Nerd Ropes for a score!!

Madi's first time at Chick Fil A....whoops, how did that happen?

We found Big Foot's print in a town near by...uh oh!!

Friday Favorites

Yes It's Friday!!!! I haven't linked up and done any Friday favorites posts in a while so I decided it was time.  

These are a few of my favorites...

Bold and the Beautiful...I know, I know but I can't help myself.  I have watched this soap for over 20 years.  My whole family is addicted.  Thank goodness it is only about 15 minutes long after the commercials are skipped or it would be a real time drainer.  If you watch it as well you know it is Really Good right now...

McDonald's sweet tea/half cut please (because that makes it healthier)....

Gardening and flowers in general.... I am not much of a vegetable gardener but I do enjoy planting and watching my flowers grow.  I just can't wait.  The seed packets are already out, the rest of the gardening aisles will be coming along soon.  I love to peruse these aisles!!

Fixer Upper...need I say more?  This show rocks!

Valentines Day... I love the red, pink, purple, sparkly, love, candy...... all of it!

Have a wonderful Friday and a wonderful weekend! 

Today I am linking with Momfessionals to share my Friday Favorites :)

A Little Inspiration In The Day to Day

"Laughter is by definition healthy" ~ Doris Lessing, British Writer

Cassie's "Elf" feet...

Just thinkin.....

Do you ever hear a word for the first time and then it seems like you hear it over and over and over?  The word I keep hearing lately is Wonky.  In context it seems to mean a little off kilter or a miss.  Well anyway, I love it.  I am looking for ways to use it.  Hence this post apparently because I haven't found a way as of yet.  How long has this word been around?  Who made it up?  How have I missed out on such a cool word for so long?  Well, those are my "wonky" thoughts for today.  I don't even know if I used it correctly there.  Hmmm.....the things I ponder on :)

Unleash Your Power To Start Fresh.....

January....Resolutions.....Starting Over....Goals....Plans...My Word For The Year

Do these phrases sound familiar?  Have you said or done any of them?  

I have. Many times. What would happen if we didn't?  Could we just be?  Would we wander aimlessly through our year?  Would we be free from self condemnation? 

Let's keep this in perspective.  I like to have my "word" for the year.  I don't see this as either a good or bad thing.  I like linking that word to who I am.  I like striving to get myself to a place where I feel more like "Penny".  Goals and Resolutions however bite me in the backside all the time.  I use them to beat myself up for what I don't or didn't get accomplished.  Let's face it, I pick the hardest thing for myself, my biggest obstacle, and focus on it all year long.  What if I quit giving it that power?  

They say your biggest fears lose their power over you when you stop focusing on them.  What if we took that approach?  My "word" this year was for acceptance.  I want to just be me.  I want to value my own beliefs and choices and be ok with that.  I am striving to be a free spirit and get out of the bondage of my own mind.  I am striving to leave my people pleasing behind and be the woman my Awesome Creator made me to be.  I am God's handiwork and he wants me to let that be a Light for others.  

What are some of my biggest struggles?  Weight is one.  Or at least the fear that others see me as obese, not what I once was, a glutton, etc.  This struggle began for me when I was 14 years old.  I remember the exact day I let Satan have control over my thinking in this area.  I struggled with Anorexia for several years, almost hospitalized once.  After children, my struggle was weighing more than the BMI said I should or what I want that stupid scale to say.  What if I just quit fixating on it?  What if I turned my thinking back to God's word and not Satan's attacks?  Sounds like a better plan to me than the one I have been working on myself for the past 30 years.  

Another struggle?  Parenting.  What do other's think of my parenting?  Am I making the grade?  Am I meeting "their"  expectations.  A big one for me in this area is the ever present argument of Do You Let Your Child Have A Cell Phone? Why yes I do... and this is why: I want to know I can get a hold of my child.  I want to be able to say "Get Home" as well as "How was your day"?  I can say, "Don't forget to pick up your sister" and I can say "I am praying for your science test today".  With that said, if you don't wish to let your child have a cell phone, then by all means don't.  God gave us each our children because he equipped us to raise that specific child.  Period.  Quit the Mommy Wars people.

However, technology as a whole can be both good and bad.  As parents we do need to be cautious of what, how much, and what age we utilize different forms of technology.  Dr. Kathy Koch has written a new book titled Screens and Teens: Connecting With Our Kids In A Wireless World.  If you are feeling you don't know how the Lord is leading you on the issue of keeping technology in check in this technology era, this book is a great place to start.  It will be released soon and I am so excited that I have been chosen to read it early and help promote it!  Remember technology never falls backward, facing it head on and dealing with our new age is a must.  

Share your thoughts or read other's thoughts on having a Fresh Start in the new year and your feelings on Screens and Teens on Jill Savages Third Thursday Blog Hop link up....

Happy New Year! 

What Makes A House A Home?

What makes a house a home?  Is it the decor? Is it the location? Is it the curb appeal? While all  of these things are nice,  I feel what makes the house a home is the people within it.  Are we there for our people?  Do we offer love and support to our people as well as help meet each other's basic needs?  Are we their safe place to fall?  Hopefully our answers are yes and the answers from our people would also be a yes.

I sometimes struggle with being bogged down by feeling that my "home" is not aesthetically what I want it to be.  I struggle with house envy for sure.  However, when I look within the walls to the people filling my couch and sharing my time, I realize how blessed I am.  We are there for each other. We know each other.  We feel each other's pain and joy.  These things are worth more than what our real estate is worth or our curb appeal.  Most importantly, we enjoy each other. 

An example of this was our Christmas break.  Honestly we spent the majority of our time on the living room couch watching movies or reading.  We were snuggled under our throw blankets for hours at a time enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation.  We were not at games, school events, work events, etc. Our biggest concerns were what and when to eat.  Everyone took turns cooking and cleaning it up.  My youngest turned the corner into a doll room and we just allowed it for the week.  We were all together and it was amazing.  My children didn't pull the "I'm bored" or "Can I go to so and so's house?".  If we did have to go some where, we all rushed back into the house and back into pajamas or lounge wear (for me that is sweats).  We loved each other's company and the time just together.

So if you are like me and sometimes play the comparison game.  Stop. Look Around.  Is everyone happy and healthy?  If yes, count your blessings.  These are things that Will last for eternity.

Today I am linking up with A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Hop on over and read some great ideas for building your home as well :)

Daybook for January 12, 2015

Outside my window it is an icy, snowy, slush.  We did not get the ice storm that was expected but it is still dreary and nasty out there. Not enough to not go to work...darn.

I am thinking that a warm cup of soup sounds good for lunch and we have a grocery store in the town  I work that makes amazing soup.

I am thankful for a wonderful weekend with some Christian friends that just make my heart sing with delight when I see them.  

I am wearing dress pants, a nice blouse, and the most amazing sweater I bought off the clearance rack at Maurices for 5 dollars!  It is warm and fashionable and I could just wear it every day I think :)

I am creating a scarf that I am almost done with.  It is for myself but my girl's keep asking if it is for them, so keeping it to myself may become a problem....

I am reading Own Your Own Life by Sally Clarkson.  I just started it but I think it is going to be a good one.  She is favorite Christian author of mine and one day I would really like to hear her speak.  She is a seasoned wife and mother who has been through the trenches and is seeing the fruits of her labor from the other side.  A true Proverbs 31 woman.

I am praying that my motivation surfaces.  I have been a slug as of late.  I have just ran too hard for too long and my body is saying rest.  But I have STUFF to do !! ughh

I am learning that when God says stop, he will make you stop.  And when you stop, he can be heard and his plans are not always the path we are creating on our own.

Around the house.... lots and lots of dishes, laundry, and stuff.  Stuff that has to go.

A few plans for the week include Lucy's make up piano lesson due to her teacher being under the weather, a make up Girl Scout meeting due to the literal weather, a couple basketball games for the junior higher, a couple games for the high schooler, and of course a busy work week for me and the hubby.  My oldest starts back at college this week and is starting a new job.  Busy, busy. 

What is your week looking like?

It's Ok....

 

I haven't done one of these posts in a while and thought it would be fun.  So here goes...it may get a little snarky around here:

 

 

It's OK that...

 

I love Pintrest but often wonder...Why would I want to make that item  homemade when I can buy it at the store?...ex. Graham crackers, toothpaste, shampoo, fabric softener sheets, etc.  Now, I totally get the safety issues with some of these.  But others, the time factor really makes me stop and think, am I saving THAT much money? and how important is my time versus the savings? Really...

 

I hand deliver almost all of my holiday cards and quite a few after the holiday.  I love to make my Christmas photo cards but hate the addressing, stamps, mailing, etc.  So, I just make them, write Merry Christmas on the envelopes and stick them in my bag.  When I see someone I would like to give one to, I do.  That is just how I roll and everyone who gets one is fine with it. I think....

 

I have a Fitbit, track my steps every day but have no "goal" to achieve on the daily.  I just like knowing.

 

I love hot dogs like a four year old.  I think they are amazing.  I prefer Oscar Meyer.  I like them rolled up in crescent rolls (pigs in a blanket), on the grill, boiled, fried, or microwaved.  Now, I know they are not healthy, contain all the left overs of the pig, are loaded with nitrates, etc.  But....such is life.  Side them with some mac and cheese and call it a meal!

 

Do you have any things to add for your That's OK?

 

 

 

 

 



What do Princess Diana and I have in common?

Well not our taste in men or our homes (her palace doesn't even compare to mine, lol) ...but I have recently learned we do/did  think alike. I have also  been known to copy her hair styles and clothing styles back in the day.  I really miss the class and spunk she brought to the royal family.  She had such a wonderful heart.

Now that I have your undivided attention.... this is what the post is really about...

 I took the 16 Personalities test.  The free one.  OH MY WOW!  Stop what you are doing and go take it.  It was amazing.  It identified me to a T.  I was VERY impressed, as you may already be able to tell.

 

 

I am an INFP personality.  Yeah, we're kind of rare. Only 4-5% of the population are classified as this.  I am in the company of Princess Diana, Audrey Hepburn (I may finally impress Cassidy with my awesomeness) , and Julia Roberts to name a few (yes, I am name dropping)....

 

 

Be honest when you answer the questions and read all the information about your personality when you get your results.  Prepare to be shocked my friends, prepared to be shocked...

This year I am all about acceptance for who I am.  Although we are each unique even for a personality test, some time the validation of "see, that IS who I am" helps.  I am finding acceptance brings freedom and peace in my soul.  Have a wonderful Wednesday just being yourself!

 

 

"I don't want to be alone, I want to be left alone".

~Audrey Hepburn

On the Books for January 5, 2015

Today I am joining up with The Simple Woman to give you a peek into my daybook for this week...
 

Outside my window.... There is a light dusting of snow.  Nothing too intimidating...yet.

 

I am thinking... That a salad for lunch sounds good today.  I do not usually like salad so this is a little
 weird.

I am thankful... That I was able to spend quality time with my people the past week and a half.


 I am wearing.... Work attire :( no more sweats until whenever I have to leave the house.

 

I am creating... I just purchased some new yarn over the weekend.  So I am getting ready to start a
new scarf and some boot cuffs.
 

I am going... To Walmart on lunch.  Yep, back to normal this week.


 I am wondering.... How many days until the next holiday :)

 I am reading.... Just my devotional this week.  I am doing Jesus Calling again this year and maybe the Women of the Bible devotional as well.

 

I am hoping... That Walmart has some bright pink soft yarn for another scarf for Breast Cancer Awareness. 
 

I am learning.. That being at home is sooo good for my soul.  How do I get back to a better balance between work/home/busy life?


 Around the house... Hopefully just stay caught up on dishes and laundry this week.

 In the kitchen.... Only two evenings home this week.  I am planning on store Rotissarie chicken tonight since I am sure I will be tired.  Maybe tacos later this week since we didn't have them over break and I have been really hungry for a Tuna Noodle Casserole.

 

A few plans for this week... Cheer games for Junior High and High School, Girl Scouts, and Lucy starts back at piano....
.

Have a wonderful week.  Pray for stamina for me this week as I get back to normal life :)

A word for 2015

 

Last year I picked Focus....

 

I think I learned to remind myself to focus. To start exploring who I am, what I want, and where I want to be in order to focus.  I stopped with some of the fluff, added some other fluff, but thought things through more. 

 

It wasn't easy.  Digging deeper into yourself can open doors but open old wounds as well.  It was a year of ripping off the band aid in many ways.  One way I got through it was journaling.  I tried counseling, but journaling for me was a safer way of dealing with my stuff without having to share my stuff with others.  That will be a lesson to be learned at another time.

 

When thinking about this year's word, I contemplated:

Boundaries

Contentment

Overcome

 

But my word for this year will be Acceptance. 

 

Accepting who I am and what I am.  Knowing my place, loving my place, reflecting myself in my place. Regardless of where that place is.  Circumstances change, but who we are does not.  Accepting leads to contentment, knowing and enforcing boundaries, and being an overcomer.   Acceptance is the next step in my journey.

Happy New Year !!