Long time, no blog.... blessing or not?

Sorry folks.... it's been a while. Life has been crazy, but when is it not? We've been busy with work, weekends all over Richmond, and baseball has started up for Ryan (he's coaching). I've also been having great success with Uppercase Living and have been having quite a few parties. I'm really proud of the dedication I have put into building my company.... I know I can do more, but right now with working full time, I'm doing the best I can :) We've also been staying really focused on working out and *trying* to be healthy. I'm really excited to say that I've lost 9 pounds since making my resolutions to work out at the beginning of the year.... hopefully I can stay on course with that as we head into shorts-and-bathing suit-season. Ryan is sticking to working out as well, and is looking mighty fine. ;-)

In addition to the five million and one things going on, I've been observing and thinking. For Lent, I really tried hard to give up judging others or forming opinions of others based upon their outward behaviors. Sadly, I haven't been very successful. I think it might just be my personality... and sure, it warrants change, but at the same time in fighting my observant nature, I've come to see that some of the things I observe are just plain ridiculous.

For example.... everyone and their mother uses the phrase "I'm/We're so blessed to be (insert mundane situation here)". Sure, it is wonderful that people can identify even the smallest blessings in their lives, but tell me this..... what is so "blessed" about a child's poopy diaper? Or what is so "blessed" about a child who doesn't sleep at night? Perhaps people can see the blessing behind what I might find to be less than a blessing.

I also have noticed that the same people are constantly claiming their blessedness over the same things.... such as their husband, their child, their job, etc. To me, say it once to the world, and then privately acknowledge your blessing. Don't blather on to me (or Facebook, or your blog, or where ever else) about how blessed you are because your husband put the toilet seat down.

No, I'm not bitter. And no, I don't feel as if I'm less blessed than anyone else. I have a lot of wonderful in my life, and for those things I'm thankful. And in noticing others broadcasting their blesssings, I came to this question.... Are those individuals who feel so obliged to go on and on about their blessings really feeling blessed? Or are they trying to convince themselves that they ARE blessed by finding the slightest of a silver lining and then broadcasting it to everyone else 24 hours a day? To me, I think that if you are blessed, you don't have to yell it from the roof tops. Anyone who is around you would notice how blessed you are because you are happy, living your life to the fullest, and loving those around you.

Quite the performer

We were able to get some of Campbell's dance moves on video last week.... it's been quite a hit on Facebook!

Blizzard of January 2010

Richmond got blasted with anywhere between 10-14 inches of snow this weekend.  Here are a few shots of us enjoying the snowy weekend!

Campbell and I enjoying our feathery coozies while the snow falls outside.

Campbell all bundled up and ready to head outside!

Ryan working hard at shoveling our sidewalk.  Yes, it was still snowing at this point.

Campbell wasn't too sure if she wanted to play in the snow....

She eventually warmed up to the idea and went for a face plant in the snow!

Day 2 in the snow.... Campbell decided it was time to start making snowballs!

Campbell throwing a snowball at me!

Look at how much snow we got!

Caddy wanted to play in the snow, too!

Campbell throwing a snowball at Cadillac!

Little snow bunny.

Cutie pie!

UL blog up and running!

Campbell is sick with a nasty stomach bug, which means I'm home today.  There can be nothing worse than a toddler with a stomach bug, who is also running a fever and refuses to take meds ( sidebar: should I even try to give Motrin on an empty tummy?).  Lucky for me, we have about 20 Max and Ruby episodes DVR'd, so she is happy.... and I can work on some Uppercase Living stuff!

I set up my UL blog, so please head over there.... I don't have too much on there yet, but as the days go by and I get my hands on more supplies, I will!  You might also want to follow me... I'll be doing giveaways and contests in the coming months!  So clicky-click here !

I also decided to add the online shopping feature to my UL website !  Happy shopping! :)

Opportunity knocked... and I answered

As of today, I am officially an Uppercase Living Independent Demonstrator!  I am SO excited about this really great opportunity and think that wonderful things will come from this decision. 

So you might have a TON of questions... let's see if I can answer a few....

1) WHAT is Uppercase Living?

• Uppercase Living is a direct sales company that provides vinyl lettering and embellishments for your home, office, school, car... and just about anywhere else you want! 

2) How did you find out about Uppercase Living?

• Honestly, I stumbled across UL by doing a Google search a few months back for home decor.  I was tired of all the same ol' stuff in all the big-box retailers.  I couldn't commit to a random painting or piece of art that really had no bearing on my personal style... and at price tags of $50 and up, I just had a really hard time finding anything I liked.  Well, if you see the post below, I came into contact with vinyl wall lettering through a purchase at Target.  I liked it enough, but I could tell that the quality wasn't really what I wanted... and I wanted more selection than just the 3 or 4 phrases available at Target.  I found an item I liked through UL, ordered it, and was then invited to a catalog launch party for the new spring/summer catalog.  I fell in love with the items, and as I kept looking through the catalog, all I could think was of all the people in my lives who were looking for the SAME things.  Of course, I could just host parties every once in a while... but becoming a demonstrator would allow me to be in people's homes and help them realize their decor dreams.... so I made the decision to become an independent demonstrator!

3) Awesome- where can I see the products/learn more?

• So glad you asked! ;-)  I do have a website through the company, and you can view products on the website.  I will say, however, that the physical catalog is so much more expansive than the online catalog.  There were designs and ideas that I hadn't even thought of!  But the website gives you enough to wet your whistle until you want to host a party (which provides lots of great rewards and freebies!).  Check out my website here .  (I am considering upping the ante on my website and putting in an online shopping cart... it isn't there yet, but if you find that you see something you are absolutely dying to have, let me know and I will make your order happen!)

So that's that!  I will be starting another blog for just Uppercase Living stuff.  It will highlight new design ideas, promotions, hostess/party rewards, and just all things Uppercase! I'll keep this blog going, too, but just need a place to keep the Uppercase Living stuff separate.  Once that blog is up and running, I'll let everyone know through here so you can follow me there too!

The writing is on the walls....

We have an ENORMOUS wall in our kitchen that has been sitting all bare bones since we painted it back in May.  We really had not been able to decide on any one thing to go on the wall, and Ryan isn't a fan of visual clutter, so multiple things for the wall that we could both agree on just were not happening. 

I had seen these Wall Quotes in Target, and after much thought, finally decided to give it a try....

Ryan pretty much told me this was "my project", but I asked him for his help anyways.  The first step was to tape the scroll provided in the container to the wall (well, after finding just the right spot, of course).

We used painters tape because Ryan was worried anything stronger would pull the paint off the wall.  It worked nicely.

The next part was to rub the lettering with the little credit card applicator provided in the container, which doesn't sound too difficult, but it is was a bit boring.

After rubbing all over the lettering, you are supposed to peel off the white backing (or fronting?) very slowly and carefully.  As you can see in the picture below, we had some difficulty with that.

No biggie though!  After a  bunch of  "STOP! WAIT!!" were yelled, we started over and this time Mr. Muscles got in on the rubbing action.

Ryan put more elbow grease in the rubbing and together we carefully peeled back the backing again.  This was the most tedious part of the process because every few letters, there would be some "non-stickage" going on.  We would just go back, rub REALLY hard on the letter, and then peel back again slowly.  In the end, we had a beautiful, almost custom-looking addition to our kitchen!

We are thinking of getting some simple trim from Lowe's and framing around it, just to offset the words from the wall a litle more, and of course, to jazz it up! :)

As for why it was so difficult to get the letters off the first few times, despite us meticulously following the directions, you got me.  Here are a my theories:

1. We have latex paint (or something like that) in the kitchen.  Perhaps because it is a little more glossy, the letters needed more coaxing to stick?

2. This item was $16.99 at Target.  Not cheap, but not expensive either.  Perhaps the more costly models are more reliable when first installing them?

I'll find out soon enough as we were so inspired by this project and how it really jazzed up the kitchen that I ordered a piece for the living room from Uppercase Living.  I'm actually headed out to an Uppercase Living catalog party, so who knows- I might get REALLY inspired and have more stuff to jazz up around the house soon!

Kicked to the curb...

Oh dear trendy boyfriend jeans... how I wanted to love you and incorporate you in my wardrobe.... but sadly, No.  It was not meant to be.

Perhaps if I looked like this in them:

as opposed to looking like I was DROWNING in them, it would have worked.  I tried Ann Taylor Loft's Lean boyfriend version in an 8, and they were faaaar too big.  So I downsized to a 6, and they were practically painted on!  Ugh!  So much for trying to be trendy... I guess I'll stick with my tried and true bootcut and flare leg jeans, despite Cosmo stating in their January 2010 issue that bootcut jeans are totally out this year!  Whatev.... should I go around looking ridiculous just to be part of a trend?  I think not.  This has been a lesson in sticking with what works for you and your body, instead of the trends!

I am, however, lusting after these shoes at the present moment by Sofft....

Gorgeous, right?  I just wish my local Macy's had them.... OR if Macy's shipping wasn't a cool $15 bucks, so I could use their $25 off $100 promo going on right now.  I have some gift cards that I could make good use out of to make this purchase a little more friendly on my wallet. I have such a hard time justifying shipping costs.  Plus, I have never owned or tried on Sofft before.  Anyone?  I've seen great reviews, but I don't know.... at $15 to ship, it's risky.

PS- sorry to those readers not interested in my fashion ramblings ;-)  I promise to post some pics of a new project we tackled in the kitchen this weekend.  Nothing too ground breaking, but I'm excited about it... and it's got my mind running a million miles a minute about the possibilities!