SPT - "I Resolve" - Week 4

tuesday, january 27 i resolve to take more self-portraits doing things i enjoy


Relaxing in the motorhome on the beautiful Rogue River in Oregon is something I especially enjoy...and we're parked on the Rogue right now. Perfect timing for this week's SPT wouldn't you say!

SPT - "I Resolve" - Week 2

"tuesday, january 13 i resolve to take more self-portraits with people i love"

This week's SPT assignment will be easy peasy for some, for me, not so easy...

* Hubby doesn't like to be photographed, especially for blogging purposes;
* Handsome son lives 3 hours away;
* Beautiful daughter attends college in another state!

That only leaves one other family member who can help me out. He may not fit in the "people" category but I love him just the same...


Thanks Jake! You're always such a good sport!

SPT - "I Resolve" - Week 1

Lelly's challenge this month: i love a new year. i love the chance to start over. and i know you do, too!! so, if you've been absent from spt, or if you haven't gotten up the nerve to link up, or if you are lurking and haven't yet picked up that camera, now is the time to come along! how about you make a resolution to join in the fun?

tuesday, january 6 i resolve to take more self-portraits
tuesday, january 13 i resolve to take more self-portraits with people i love
tuesday, january 20 i resolve to take more self-portraits while trying new things
tuesday, january 27 i resolve to take more self-portraits doing things i enjoy

Yes, this is a new year and I resolve to take more self-portraits in 2009! As a matter of fact, I snapped this picture while waiting in the car on New Year's Day. My first self-portrait of the new year...


Wishing you all the best in 2009!

SPT - 100 Things About Me

Lelly's challenge this month: we will consult our 100 lists. it's quite simple, really. on the 7th of the month post an spt about item #7 on your list. on the 14th of the month, post an spt about item #14. and so on. and so on.

#7 on my 100 Things About Me list says:

"I've been married over half my life...to the same man"

Yep, it's true...and you know, I'm really proud of my #7! It's so easy to go in and out of marriage these days that people don't take it seriously. But we did...and we still do.

My husband and I have tried our best to be good examples for our two children, in all areas of our lives, but especially when it comes to marriage vows. I know it makes my kids proud to have both of their parents active in their daily lives (even at 20 and 23 years of age) and proud that we all have a history together. Marriage hasn't always been easy or fun, but one thing is true, we've always stuck together...for better or for worse.

If you'd like to see more of my 100 Things About Me list, I have a link on my sidebar.

(I'll try and get hubby to take a self-portrait with me today and add it in...but we'll see how that goes. He's not a camera loving guy.)

SPT - Arts and Crafts

Lelly's challenge this week..."your challenge is to highlight one thing per week that you have been inspired to do "because of a blogger."

I did a post just yesterday on this very subject whereas I highlighted a craft that I was inspired to do because of a blogging buddy. Scroll down if you'd like to read the entire post. It even has a GIVEAWAY at the end!

Because of a blogger, I was inspired to make this fall swag/garland out of ribbon.



I wanted to make a fall ribbon swag like this one here, but mine turned out more Halloweenish. It's ok though, I still love it. Thank you Lori for the great inspiration and thank you fellow bloggers for sharing your creativity. I'm amazed everyday by the amount of talent that blogger's have. I've found nothing but creative minds and giving hearts. Thank you all for your inspiration.

SPT - Home Decor

Lelly's challenge this week..."your challenge is to highlight one thing per week that you have been inspired to do "because of a blogger."

Lelly has broken the month into 5 "categories."

tuesday, september 2 home decor
tuesday, september 9 entertaining/parties/tabletop
tuesday, september 16 arts and crafts
tuesday, september 23 in the kitchen
tuesday, september 30 personal growth

I've been away from SPT's for awhile but when I saw this month's challenges, I knew it was time to jump back on the SPT band wagon.

I love decorating my home and enjoy surfing blogs that cater to home decor and decorating ideas. When I saw this on a blog awhile back, I immediately knew that I wanted to use this as a centerpiece idea in my dining room. So, this weekend I polished up my silver tray, took out a cloche that I have never used, and went looking through my fall decorating goodies.


This is what I came up with and I love how it looks...but I'm not quite finished with it yet. I'm thinking I'll add some fall leaves and pumpkins onto the tray too. I'm just waiting for the mini pumpkins to come out at the grocery store and I'll pick up a bunch. I'm also on the lookout for a nice fall colored shimmery table runner to finish off the look.

I wanted to tell you a little something about my silver tray. This tray, along with it's matching silver tea set, was given to my in-laws as an engagement gift...61 years ago! After my MIL passed away 10 years ago, my FIL gave it to me and I've kept it in my dining room ever since. I love it and I know my MIL would be proud and thrilled that I've displayed it all these years and that I haven't stuck it away in a box somewhere. Let me just say, that will never happen.

If you would like to see where I first saw this idea, visit here.

SPT - Something Blue

Lelly's challenge this week: Something Blue

I always thought pink was my favorite color but I sure have alot of this in my home...

SPT - Earth Day

Lelly's challenge: Do you consider yourself part of The Green Generation?

In honor of Earth Day, we were to ask ourselves what we are doing to help out the environment and to reflect on what we have done in the past, hoping we have made advancements in our efforts.

So, do I consider myself to be part of the green generation...no, not really. Part of the baby boom generation, yes, but truthfully not so much a part of the green generation. My family could be doing so much more. There are 1 or 2 things that we are doing right though...
















We use this "green" trash can to keep all of our cans in until we collect enough for recycling.

We use this on a regular basis. Does shredding all of your paper count as being green?








Target sent me this bag in the mail but I need about 10 more for my Target trips. I will try and remember to bring it with me next time!









As you can see, we have a long way to go. So, if Lelly chooses to ask us again next year about this Earth Day SPT, hopefully we'll have made some improvements to report and share with you from this house!

SPT - What Was I Thinking

Lelly's challenge this week: "what was I thinking!?!

I love to work in my yard, I find it very relaxing. One of the things I most enjoy is planting flowers. They add such beauty to a yard.


But every year when I take on this project I say to myself, "what was I thinking!?! I painstakingly follow the brick curbing all around the flower beds throughout the entire front yard...it's really a job!


And...


Just think, only this much more to go and about 3 more of those flats of flowers and I'll be done!

SPT - I Will Remember You

Lelly's challenge: So, for next week, a simple challenge. Take a few moments to take a great self-portrait. Fix your hair, freshen your lipstick, wear your favorite shirt. Get outside, or stay inside, but take the time to find a shot that you love. I want to see beautiful photos of my beautiful friends, something to remember you all by as I wade through the next few months.

Boy oh boy did she get me...a self imposed blogging and SPT hiatus my eye...it was all a joke...and a pretty darned good April Fool's joke I might add. But yes, thankfully only a joke. So, on with the SPT.

This post is a little late but as the saying goes...better late than never. I took this photo yesterday while traveling back home from Oregon to CA. I don't love the photo but I think the scenery is great. The fast moving Rogue River is behind me.


Oregon was beautiful...more pictures to follow.

SPT Challenge

This week's challenge: Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.

This post is going to be short and sweet because there is only one true answer for this question.

As much as I love to go and do and experience, these feet...


always bring me back to where my heart is...and my heart is home and family.


No other place on earth feels as comfy, pleasing, or secure than my home and family does to me.

SPT Challenge - Welcome Home

Lelly's challenge: If I came to visit you next week, how would I know which doorbell to ring? Do you have a formal entrance? Should I come to the front door? Or do you prefer your guests to come around back? (Would you be surprised if I came through your garage?)

If you drove up to my house, you would be greeted by a long side walk leading you up to the front door. This is the door that most (but not all) of our guests use and the only doorbell we have is found by this door...


For the last 10 years or so, these 2 planters have held the prettiest little trees, the kind that have 2 round shaped balls on them...well, lets just say we had a really cold winter. Wouldn't you know it, now I can't find any trees that I like to replace them with.

Our front doors are fairly new. We painted them black and I just love the look. Our old doors were almost all glass...I can't tell you how many times I ran past the doors, pretty much naked, going to the laundry room to look for clean underwear, hoping that no one would be standing outside at my front door. Needless to say, when we got new doors, we went with SOLID doors this time.

If you were to make your way around back, you would have to go through these...


And it would lead you to this back door. Let me just tell you...if I saw you standing at this door, it might just give me a heart attack right then and there. Here in California, we have gates on all sides...so if you showed up at this door, your pretty much trespassing.


Ah, yes the garage door. We use the door from the garage to go in and out of the house (about a hundred times a day). I can't tell you how many times I've yelled out "don't slam the door" because...it's a revolving door at this house!

SPT Challenge

In honor of February, the month of L.O.V.E., all of the items begin with the letter "L"

Lips, Light, Little, Laughter, Lavender, Lunch

This light and little guy draws my lips close to him daily...with me today wearing a sweater with lavender in it...

This is what the light and little guy does when I'm eating my lunch (or dinner or anything else for that matter)...

And there is always laughter when I'm talking to my sister!

Why does my face always look so washed out on these SPT's and my eyes so blah? I fear that this is truly how I look in person!

SPT Challenge - Pick me up

What do you turn to when you need a quick "pick me up?"



For anyone who knows me, they know there is only ONE answer to this week's SPT challenge...PEPSI! Yes, whenever I need a quick pick me up, pepsi always does the trick. There are some preferences however:

* Even though I'll drink it, I prefer regular pepsi, not the diet stuff

* Fountain drinks...there's nothing better than a fountain drink pepsi

* I really like cubed ice the best but crushed ice will do just fine

I figure since I don't drink alcohol or coffee, don't smoke, don't do drugs...a girl's gotta have at least one vice, mine's pepsi!

SPT Challenge - Love, Me

What will you do for yourself this Valentine's day?

First of all, let me start by saying this was way hard for me because I HATE HATE HATE being in front of the camera. I always appoint myself the designated "picture taker" so that I don't have to be in them! But Lelly's SPT challenges look fun, thought provoking, and well, I just think I need to s-t-r-e-t-c-h myself and step out of the box more often. So...with that being said...here goes, yikes,



I was at the mall Friday night picking up some See's candy to give away for Valentine's Day. See's candy is heaven to me. If you've never had See's candy before, let me know and I'll send you some because it's just that good. I love it all but I especially love the dark chocolates...dark chocolate truffles, cremes, nuts and chews, everything! I was in line with my hands full when it hit me...I deserve some too! Surprisingly enough, without any hesitation at all, I picked out a cute little traditional heart box full of dark chocolate nuts and chews and I was on my way. I'm gonna be one little happy camper on Thursday!