This, That and the Other Thing....

Today is my day off. It is amazing and a little sad how much I look forward to this day each week. I am still acclimating to a full time work schedule,and any of you who have done this for years have my total admiration.  Between the lack of inspiration I feel every year around this time and the fact that I need to work on prioritizing and getting more done during the work week so that I can do whatever I want to on my day off instead of piddling it away with a zillion little errands that must be done,(and please forgive this run on sentence), I feel like I have been chasing my own tail as far as keeping up with blogging.  I haven't created a darn thing for weeks. The house could use some dusting..... you get the drift. So today is my day to catch up a bit. This post will be totally random but sometimes a little random is OK right?

First of all, let me just share  my latest minor humiliation, because sharing humiliation sometimes just makes it easier to take. I went into Salvation Army last night to look around. I hadn't been there in a few weeks and had some time to kill, (instead of blogging or dusting or sewing right?) I found a few goodies and took them up to the register to pay.  I don't usually go there on a Wednesday  so I had no idea it was senior day.  So guess what the checkout woman asks me as she takes my items to ring them up?  Just guess! Yeah, "Are you a senior?" .........Should she not assume that I would volunteer information like that for the fabulous discount it would get me? Really? In hindsight I wish I had thought to smile and say, "Oh goodness no. I've been out of  High School for several years, but thank you for asking." Instead I gave her a curt "No" and maybe a little bit of the stink eye and stewed all the way home.  Sheesh, I had make-up on and everything. I'm not going back on Wednesdays again.

Moving on to sweeter topics, I had to share Mr Cheesecake's latest triumph. What do you do when blackberries are dirt cheap in the stores?Have you noticed the great prices on these?

This blackberry swirl cheesecake is what you do with them.  Chocolate graham cracker crust,
white chocolate cheesecake, and thickened blackberries swirled throughout, with a little more blackberry sauce to pour on top when you serve it. 

Lord have mercy, it's good.

Find the recipe here

Finally, I have decided to take the rest of this month off, maybe even a little of March, we will see. I need to get my mojo back, get some projects going, find a way to mix work and designing, and sewing, and photography,and all the things I love to do. A little time away will help.

I'll miss you, but I'll be a better friend and a better blogger for it.

If you work full time and blog, please, feel free to give me any tips that make it work for you. I'll take advice from any of you on how you manage your time so that the different areas of your life don't suffer. Do tell.

And when I come back, lets talk about Spring:>)

And the Winner is...

The winner of the book giveaway is Manuela at A Cultivated Nest!

Congratulations Manuela!

Thank you to everyone who stops by and visits. I know I've been pretty slack about posting. I won't apologise, sometimes life  gets in the way of what we really want to do. I just want you to know that I appreciate each and every one of you!

Now it's off to work. Have a great weekend!

Happy Valentines Day

Laughter is holier than piety, freedom is sweeter than fame, and in the end its love and love alone that really matters.

~Tom Robbins

One Thousand Gifts

One thing I love about blogging. You meet some pretty incredible women.  Women with a lot to say and the talent to say it in a way that makes you think.

I had been intrigued by the book "One Thousand Gifts", from the first time I heard about it. This Christmas I saw it at a really great price and decided to treat myself.  I am glad I did. Ann Voskamp has an unusual writing style. Her words flow like living water and her thoughts pour out and you realize that you are blessed.

I highly recommend this book. It has some quirky moments, and her voice takes some getting used to, but once you do get used to it, you start to see how living a life of gratitude in every day circumstances changes everything.  I will be the first to admit that there have been days that even though I know how small my problems are, I have taken up the mantel of self pity and wrapped myself tightly. I think we are all capable of that aren't we? This book is the cure for self pity. It is,in fact, a call to actively look for the gifts every day. Focusing on the good and being grateful for what we have. Best of all, you can enjoy the gift of Ann's insight daily here.

I recommend this book so highly I'm giving one away. Just leave a comment telling me what you are thankful for today. It doesn't have to be anything big, in fact, it's the little things that make us happiest isn't it?

I'll choose a winner on Feb. 18th.

So tell me, what are you thankful for?



The Sun only shines when I'm at Work...



Or so it seems.  I came out of work Tuesday to bright sun and warm temps and by the time I got home the sky was a uniform grey. Pretty much the same shade it has been all day today.

My day off.

Aside from the fact that it put a crimp in my photography attempts today, I don't even care.  I had coffee with my sweetie this morning, made a considerable dent in my to do list, and even had time to add a few banners to the shop. 



 This is my current fave.

I'm headed for the kitchen to make some Minestrone soup. Just the thing for this grey day.

Later tonight we plan to catch a movie and just spend some quality time together.

Do you have any fun plans for today?