I just want to say before anybody gets their panties in a wad (Why yes, that is southern lady talk), that this is my opinions only, my thoughts, my feelings, and my emotions. Just because I feel this way doesn’t mean that I am right or wrong. It just means that I have strong feelings toward “M” Day.

Another Mother’s Day has come and gone.  THANK GOD!!!!

Mother’s Day, the day that so many plans for, celebrate and cherish.  The day that I dread with all my being. I know you must all be thinking I am a horrible person for hating Mother’s Day, but in reality, I have excellent reasons.

Let’s start off my defining Mother’s Day according to Google.

Mother’s Day was started by a woman by the name of Anna Jarvis. She wanted a way to unite mothers. Later, after Jarvis realized that Mother’s Day had been commercialized, she spent the remainder of her life trying to have it removed from the calendars.  Jarvis realized that what she had created for good, society was using to their advantage and that the reasoning behind the day no longer held any special meaning.

There are many reasons why women hate Mother’s Day.

Maybe you cannot conceive a child and Mother’s Day just rubs that in your face.  Perhaps you have lost a child, and Mother’s Day is like throwing salt in an open wound.  Or maybe you are like me, and your mom has passed on, so instead enjoying your “day” as a mother, your day is filled is an emotional rollercoaster.

But overall I just find it hard to celebrate mothers one day out of 365.

Every Mother’s Day I am astounded by how mothers want to celebrate  their day.

I hear replies such as……

“Alone time.”

“Nap”

“My children to listen.”

“No whining.”

“Quiet time.”

“No fighting.”

“My husband to do the laundry.”

“My husband to take the kids to the park.”

Ect, Ect, Etc.

You get the point right?

What I don’t understand is, why should mothers only be celebrated one day a year.  Why must we have to ask for alone time, a nap, help from our husbands, no fighting from the children?

I am a wife, a mother, but first a person.  I expect to be given alone time on any given day.  I expect my family to let me take a nap anytime I want with no judgments.  I expect my children not to fight, and if they choose to, they better understand there will be consequences.  And I expect my husband to help around the house and take just as much time with the kids as I do.

Yes, I expect these things every day.  Because I am a wife, a mother, but most importantly a person who expects to be treated with respect and gratitude the same as you expect from me.

I choose not be celebrated one day a year, but rather 365 days a year.

I choose to celebrate myself every day for my joys, sorrows, accomplishments and failures.

I choose to celebrate and cherish motherhood every day, and in return, I expect to be cherished and celebrated.

The post Why I Hate the “M” Word, and I Don’t Mean Monday appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

But one of my favorite activities is trimming the Christmas tree with my family.

Our Tree Trimming always starts with finding the perfect tree. And yes it has to be a real tree. I know there are many beautiful fake trees now, but for us, cutting down our Christmas tree is the first step in making our Christmas special.

Walking through the woods with my family searching high and low until we all agree that we have found the ONE!

When you look at my tree, you may say, “Well that’s a scrawny tree.”, or “All you use is an old metal bucket to sit the tree in.”, and in reality it’s true. But see, to my family, it isn’t how tall the tree is, it’s not how full the tree is, it isn’t even about how straight the tree is, all that matters when searching for the perfect tree is finding the one that best applies to our life.

My family loves 1900 farmhouse and primitive décor. We have a saying around our house, “The more its falling apart, the better we like it.” Our tree symbolizes our love for things of the past, a life of simplicity and slower pace. On our tree, you will not find shiny, sparkly or new, but instead you will find, simple, charming and rustic. From the 1900 replica candle lights, to the fresh strung cranberries, homemade ornaments of fabric and burlap, tin Christmas trees and grapevine reindeer’s hanging on the branches, you will feel the “days gone by” from just looking at the tree.

I for one enjoy remembering the reason of the season. Not the overcrowded shopping malls, or the huge lines waiting for the “big” sale, but the reason why we celebrate Christmas, The Birth of Christ. Instead of rushing and shopping and spending, I prefer to use this time to reflect on the many blessings in my life over the past year, taking my family to watch Tree Lighting Ceremonies and Christmas Parades, Ice Skating in Town Squares, spending the day making Homemade Christmas Gifts and Goodies and finishing up the wrapping in simple brown paper with bows made of yarn.

So as our tree represents a life of simplicity, love and peace for my family, I encourage you, as you celebrate the Christmas Season, to reflect on what your tree means to you and your loved ones.

The post A Visit from Christmas Past appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Back in May I made a whim decision to enroll in college to take a few classes. I told myself that I wanted to refresh my mind in math and science classes to be instruct Keegan and Lindy better when they have questions about their assignments.

But the truth is, I needed a new challenge. I needed to focus on something for myself. I really wanted to prove to myself that I could go back to college and finish my degree.

So the journey began.

I applied and registered. I researched scholarships and grants and it seemed time just flew by. By the time I knew it, June was here, I was registered in Intro to Computers and Comp II and classes had started.  I went to Kids Church Camp and organized a firework stand for a Guatemala Medical Mission Team Fundraiser for my church, all while studying power points and writing Lit Papers.

I would like to say it was a breeze, but I would be lying.  Trying to accomplish 6 hours in 4 1/2 weeks is brutal, esp when writing English papers.  But I did it!  I completed Comp II with a B.  Would have preferred an A, but I guess a high B is good considering I was writing essays and papers at church camp, at a firework stand and in a camper staying on the grounds watching the firework stand.

All of a sudden Summer I was over.  It was like I blinked and I have completed 6 hours toward my degree.  I literally had 3 days and then Summer II started.  Again, 6 hours, but this time instead of Word docs, and reading dramas, I am writing essays on communication for Speech and trying to complete 8 modules of Algebra in a 4 1/2 week summer course.

I would  like to say that is a breeze, but in reality I am literally doing 6-8 hours of Algebra a day!  YIKES!  Did I mention I hate Algebra?  But after 2 weeks, I am on track and I have an A in the class.

Going back to school after 12 years was a big step but I am so glad I took it.  I am majoring in Bio-Medical so I have a long 2 1/2 years of science ahead of me, but I am so ready for the challenge.

I give myself I day a week to not worry about doing homework, so I chose Friday’s.  So after I get out of class at 11 am on Friday’s, I AM FREE, well until Saturday!

Last Friday I used my free time to go to my grandbaby Laila’s 1st Birthday Party.  It was so much fun watching her with her smash cake.  She had cake everywhere lol.

I promise to not stay away so long.  And be on the lookout for an upcoming post “Free Summer Printable Play and Learn Set” and “Homemade Americana Apple Pie Filling”.

The post Am I too old for this? appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

I cannot believe a year has passed since I started GraceandGravy!

Life has a way of slipping by us before we even realize it’s gone.

I wanted to share my Happy 1 Year Blogiversary Celebration with each of you with a giveaway for the amazing support you have showed me through he past year!

If I could send you all cupcakes, I sure would, but since they may not make it to you I will have to settle for a giveaway of a few of my personal favorites.

First is a homemade set of my Modge Podge Coasters (design will be my choice).  I LOVE making coasters for friends and family and wanted to extend that to my blogger friends.

Next is a Mason Jar Pump Dispenser.  Great for hand soap, dishwashing liquid, or even fabric softner.

I wanted to add a jar of my Triple Berry Breakfast and Dessert Topping.

It consists of blueberries, strawberries and blackberries and is amazing if I say so myself!  Perfect on top of toast, scones, biscuits or bagels, as well as waffles, pancakes, french toast and more.

Not a breakfast person?  Well you are still in luck!  My topping is delish on top of a bowl of vanilla ice cream!

Perfect for front porch sitting on a warm summer night, enjoying a bowl of sweetness!

And I couldn’t have a giveaway without a chicken!

Yes, I would send you fresh eggs but you may end up with a pile of yolks, so instead I will giving away this adorable shelf chicken!

Before we get to the giveaway terms, let’s take a walk down memory lane with GraceandGravy!

Let’s begin with how it all started, “What is GraceandGravy?”.  This is my first post, as well as, the most special post I have.  It laid out the foundation for who I was and what my blog would be about.  I am very honored the way my blog has affected the lives of so many people!

I love “Sometimes we just need a do-over”.  This post is just me being real.

“I also had another thought. What if God needed my family to relive the memories that was brought up to help us heal and move forward. Is he trying to see if we are strong enough to deal with situations that are to come.”

That is my most favorite quote in this post!

And let’s not forget, “Summer Dates on a Budget, Farmer’s Market Morning Date!”.  Last summer, I had so much fun creating Date Nights and Mornings, for my hubby and me.  My favorite was our Farmer’s Market Date.

It was casual, practical and fun!

But I think my favorite post I have written has to be, “My Love for County Fairs!” , post I wrote at the end of last summer.

I LOVE County Fairs, so this post was a no brainer to write.  I LOVE fair foods, so I had a great time recreating the classics and you all know how much I love to read, and I got to read and review 5 books for this post!

It was so much fun!

I hope you have enjoyed this journey over the past year as much as I have.  I have learned so much from each and every one of you.

All I can say is THANK YOU!

I hope you will continue following me on this crazy journey of mine!

Now for the good part!  GIVEAWAY TIME!

Giveaway begins 04/30/15 @ 6 am and ends 05/07/15 @ 11:59pm. One entrant/email per household. One winner will be chosen randomly from Giveaway Tools . Void where prohibited. The winner has 72 hours to respond to the congratulatory email. If the winner does not respond, another winner will be chosen. If you have any questions, please email Miranda at graceandgravywithasideoflife (at) gmail (dot) com.

Good Luck!

The post Happy 1 Year Blogiversary GraceandGravy and Giveaway! appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

The post Savor the Season appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

This week I was honored to share my personal story, “Life with Lola”, as a guest contributor at SunflowersandCoffee.  Opening up and bearing our soul isn’t always the easiest to do, but I have found that telling my stories seems more feasible when I feel like I am sharing my life with a friend over a good cup of coffee.

“Life with Lola” is a story of overcoming life’s most terrible storms and darkest moments, with the love and healing from a little ball of fur.  Please stop by SunflowersandCoffee and read my story of inspiration and love from even the least expected places.

The post Life with Lola appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Photo Credit

Here it is again.

The end of one year, and the beginning of the next.

For some of us, we have been counting down the minutes til this year ended.  Maybe it wasn’t our best.  Maybe we had medical problems, financial problems or relationship problems.

For others, they don’t want to see it end.  They have had the best year in their career, success, marriage or just life in general.

I often think about these two groups of people.  I wonder if people from both groups had made New Year Resolutions or if one group of people did.  I don’t think that New Year Resolutions are bad, I just often wonder if we are setting ourself up for failure.

But really, what is a resolution?

A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something.

See I feel that as a new year rolls around, we start thinking about how we or things in our life aren’t good enough.  We start putting expections on ourselves for the New Year with the ways we could be slimmer, buffer, richer, prettier, and more successful.  In reality only 8% of the population who make a New Year Resolution actually achieve it.

That’s not a very good success rate.  I know that when we set our minds to something, we can fulfill it, but why does it have to be just because that’s what everyone else is doing.  Why can we not have that mindset all year long, not just at New Years.  Why can’t we just decide at at any given time to stop smoking,  go to church more, buy less?  Do we really have to be part of the status quo to want to better our life?

And no, I’m not talking about a life filled with more success, more money or more power.  I’m not talking about a life filled with wanting to look better, more fit, more beautiful than last year.

I’m talking about a life filled with more joy, more love and more blessings.  A life filled with less stress, less stuff and less wants.

So instead of a New Year’s Resolution, I have made a commitment to myself for the New Year.

YES, I said commitment, not resolution.  I believe that when we make a commitment to ourself, we feel more obligated to follow through.  We feel a sense of accomplishment in our life.

A commitment is the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.

A commitment isn’t just something we do because that’s what’s excepted or the norm.

A commitment is being dedicated to make a difference or to be different.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be in the group with the norm.  God didn’t create us to be ordinary; He created us to be extraordinary.  To stand out.  To be leaders, not followers.  To take risks.  To jump when he says jump.  Not sit in the boat and wait for the storm to pass.

My commitment for myself in 2015 is simply this: To be better than I was yesterday.

You might say, “That’s all?”.

Yes, that’s all.

I want to be be a better wife, a better mother, a better homeschool parent, a better friend, a better daughter, a better sister, a better aunt and a better child of Christ than I was yesterday.

I want to give more and receive less.

I want to smile more and cry less.

I want to laugh more and stress less.

In a nutshell, I am making a commitment to live the blessed life that God has created for me to have.  I want to follow him more and leave my wants behinds.  I want to live simplier and not drown in  the ways of the world.

So I ask you right now, Are you setting yourself up for failure?

Or are you willing to make a commitment to you and God to be better than you were yesterday?

The post New Year Resolutions, Are we setting ourself up for failure? appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

First of all, it feels good to be back even if its just half way.  There is something about feeling lost inside your own body that really stops you dead in your tracks.  If you missed my last post of being away from blogging, then make sure to catch up here When Reality Hits Part 1: Where did I go?

In part one, I discussed needing to go somewhere away from the chaos, away from the busyness, away from the noise of everyday life, to let my mind and body rest while my medications took effect.  Of course, I can’t be agreeable like most, or can I be normal like most and go to a hospital to get help.  Nope, I have to do things my way, but this time I am so glad I stood my ground and did just that.

So, where do you go when you need away from the world?

Are there such places that exist?

And if so do they really have healing powers?

Well, I plan to answer each one of those questions.

I remembered several years ago coming across a website online while researching places of rest.  At that time, I decided to take a trip out of town to visit family and so I put that website away from my thoughts.  It was only in early September that I thought of that website again.

I needed somewhere to go, to rest, to think, to be with God.

I needed silence.  I needed my mind to slow down and become unclouded with the world, so I started searching for that website again.  I couldn’t even remember what it was called.  All I could remember was that it was away from everything with no distractions. And that is what I needed.

What is this Slice of Heaven called?  So glad you asked.

It is The Hesychia House of Prayer.

The house is ran by two Sisters who live a life of simplicity, prayer and hospitality to people from any faith who are seeking quiet time alone with God. There are three short-term hermitages and one long-term hermitage available for use while staying.  The short term hermitages can be made available for as little as one day, and up to several days. The long term hermitage, named Sacro Speco in honor of St. Benedict’s time in a cave in Subiaco, Italy, is available for those who desire total solitude for a longer period of time, ranging from one week to several months.

Could I have found a more perfect place?  No I don’t think I could have.

Now when I arrived, I was highly medicated.  My anxiety was running so high that daily normal functioning was out of the question.  Because of that, my doctor had reservations but I insisted.  One thing that was in my favor, was that my hubby had complete peace about me going.

The sisters, were amazing.  They sat and listened as I and my friend Tessa (who is also my pastor’s wife) explained what was going on.  They took phone numbers of friends, family and my doctor in case they felt I needed someone to check on me.  And they prayed with us before they allowed Tessa to took me to my hermitage.

I can’t even try to explain the serene feeling that I felt from the moment I arrived on the property.  It was like a huge weight was lifted off my chest.  I felt God automatically.  I had not been seeking God during this trying time but he let me know right away he was there with me.

After Tessa left, I rested in my hermitage and then decided to take a walk.  Not sure if that was wise or not but I needed air and here I was in this wide open space with nothing but peace and quiet.  I put my ear buds in, turned on my worship music and started walking.  I’m not sure how far or how long I walked, but me and God had a nice, long talk along the way.  We both came to the agreement that I was not leaving The House of Prayer until my mind and body was rested and I felt peace and joy.

I realized that peace and joy is what I had been lacking for so long.  I came across an old amazing cemetery where past nuns were buried.  Some might say that is morbid, but I felt a sense of calmness.

To know that buried here was so many amazing sisters who had devoted their whole lives to serving God.  No amount of crazy life would lead them off their path.  I asked myself, Could I completely and utterly surrender every aspect of my life to God they way they had?

And to be honest, I’m not sure.  As a firm believer I would love to say yes, but we are flawed imperfect humans.  The what I want, gets in the way to many times.  But then again maybe I could have.  If I had, would I be fighting this darkness that overtakes my mind?  Would I be feeling lost within my own self?  Or would I know exactly who I am?

But in reality, the population of sisters is very rapidly decreasing.  It’s really a sad situation, but because times have changed so much, people are following their wants, instead of God’s wants for our lives.  And I’m no different.  I let myself get caught up in the sparkle and glitter of the world and lose focus on the real purpose for my life.

After I returned from my walk, I sat down to pray, asking God to lead my mind during this time of rest.  Let the silence of this stay help to regain focus and purpose for me.  I completely surrendered myself that day in my little hermitage.  It was the first time in a very long time that I had let God consume my whole body and mind.  In a little white house, where the only distractions where the rolling hills, the cows grazing in the pastures and the little yellow butterflies that God so gracefully anointed my presence with.

And thats when it finally hit me.  I finally felt a peace within my soul.  Oh how I had missed that feeling!  How the darkness had seeped into my soul so slowly that I didn’t realize until  it was almost to late.

For the rest of that week, it was just God and me.  We had lots of talks and goals.  Lots of rest and silence.  And lots of awaking moments.  I took lots of walks and really looked around at God’s amazing creations.  I went to mass during the day and chapel after dinner with the sisters.  Many wonderful talks happened around that dinner table as Sister Louise and Sister Andi, patiently listened, without judgement to the wrong turns my life had taken recently.  They understood the lose I was feeling, the overwhelming days and nights and prayed with me as I wept.

I spent a lot of time on that white porch swing.  Remembering simplier times.  Reflecting on where God was leading my life now.  The changes I had to make.  The changes God was making in me.  How I would deal when the hard days came, because I knew there would be many.

I watched a lot of sunrises, a lot of sunsets.  I listened to the crickets and the grasshoppers.  I stopped to take pictures of all the beautiful scenery around me.  I watched a storm blow in and felt the cool rain and wind and on my skin.  But most of all I just felt God in every moment.

We all need silence with God once in awhile.  A chance to remove our self from our daily surroundings and get back to our roots.  I realized though, that while I do need silence, I do not need to isolate myself.  I do need people in my life.  I need a support system and friends and family to be my encouragers. So while it was nice for awhile in the silence, we all have to break free of it to continue our plan that God has laid before us.  Jesus went to the mountain to pray and rest, but he always returned to his friends, his 12 disciples to do life with and complete his journey.

Do I know have all the answers? No!

Will I still experience lose, heartache and overwhelming feelings? Yes!

Will my daily life have to change in order to not let the darkness seep in again? Yes!

But I will be forever grateful for the lessons God taught me and The Slice of Heaven that I found.

The post When Reality Hits Part 2: A Slice of Heaven appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

First I want to apologize for being so MIA for the past 8 or so weeks. I would love to say that I have been so busy ending world hunger, rescuing every abandoned animal, and finding a cure for childhood cancer. Shoot, I would settle for I’ve been writing and scheduling blog posts for the New Year, but in reality none of those are remotely true.

You might remember back in August I was struggling emotionally. I was drowning in my everyday life. I had let my mental state become so exhausted that all it took was losing a beloved pet to throw me off the cliff. I knew for months I was spiraling. But just like every other flawed human, I decided to stay in a state of denial because, well quite frankly, its more comfortable there. And I will go one step farther, its easier pretending your not damaged goods, then watching people judge because they don’t understand your illness.

When I am not on everyday medication, I really like who I am. I know my moods and behaviors aren’t always perfect, but what is perfect anyway? I love the creative juices that flow thru me each day. I love the amount of energy I have for projects and things that I am passionate about. I just don’t like the overwhelming feelings of being underwater with no air, and the heavy burden of anxiety that feels like a ton of bricks sitting of my chest.

But somewhere on that road, the overwhelming feelings overtook me completely until I was in a world of darkness. At that point not only I, but my husby and my doctor, who is also a friend, knew that something drastic was going to have to happen. Of course like always, pumping me full of medications was the first step. But how are you suppose to let the medications take effect when living in a world of chaos. We knew I had to get out of my everyday element to rest my mind and body. My doctors, the automatic response was an impatient treatment faciality where I could rest but have my medications montiored.

But I knew that wasn’t what I needed.

What I needed most was silence and time with God. That is not going to come in a hospital. So I was determined to find a place. and a place I did find. (Be watching for part 2). But what happened when I returned home? Well, back to the normal everyday schedules, chaos and busyness.

But what I realized about myself after coming home after having a few weeks to let the medications work there way into my body, was that I don’t like me on medication.  Yes, I’m more calm (well sometimes), yes the anxiety is so high, it takes more to overwhelm me, but I’m not me.

I’m not the creative person who has so many ideas flowing out of me.  I’m not the person whi is excited to work on projects and deadlines.  I’m not the person who takes more risks.

I’m the person who has no energy.  I’m the person who has no drive.  I’m the person who has no motivation.  I’m the person who feels lifeless with no zeal or zest.

So why have I been MIA for the last 8 weeks?

Because I I’m not the same person I was before.  I can’t seem to write, I can’t seem to create, I can’t seem to bring myself to do anything new.  I feel like my mind has EXITED my body!

My kids want to know when I’m I actually going to start cooking again?  I think they have had their fair share of frozen foods and sandwiches.  I’m giving myself thru the holidays.  I will allow myself to not be motivated until the new year begins and then it has to stop.  I will get back in the saddle and do what I love to do.  Write, blog, cook, and create.

Please bear with me thru this transition and thank you to everyone who has stood by me.

~Miranda~

The post When Reality Hits Part 1: Where did I go? appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Hi ya’ll! I have been nominated by Sarah Hauer at On The Way Home to be part of the Tour Through BlogLand.  I am so excited that Sarah chose me to participate.  So a Big Southern Thank You Sarah.

Sarah’s blog is dedicated to the adventures of an American family redefining what home is. Sarah says, “Home is where we are all together… Home is where the Military sends us… Home is… where Jesus is alive in our hearts.”  Her blog covers one Catholic Mom’s inspirations, discoveries, perseverance and laughter.

Make sure you drop by and say Hello to Sarah and  read her BlogTour Post from last week!

If you know anything about me at all, you know that I have a love for anything old.  Old Farmhouses, old furniture, old dishes, old quilts.  I find something so nostalgic about having pieces of the past in my home.  Maybe it is because I was raised in an “older” generation family or maybe I just love the memories and stories associated with the pieces I find.  No matter what the reason, the older and more distressed, (or as my friends say, falling apart), they are, the more I am in Love with them.

My husby and I am both have a dream of someday, hopefully sooner than later, of owning an old farmhouse and homestead.  My dream goes a little further though in the fact that after my children are grown, I would love to turn it into a Country B & B.  A place where people could come to rest and relax, with pastures and bright blue skies. Where you travel down an old dirt road and the only sounds you hear are the katydid’s.  Where you leave the noise and the chaos of the world behind and you enjoy a few days of slower pace and southern hospitality.

I love to play hostess.  I enjoy having friends and family over for dinner or just nights of fun.  And I love to decorate.  I think every time someone comes over, something is different.  I change for seasons, and holidays and actually I change decor depending on my mood, which by the way sometimes drives my husby crazy :).

Questions 1: What are you working on now?

I am a lover of Autumn, or in my parts we call it Fall.  I love the warmth and the colors, and the smells.  But I also want the decor to fit my style. So right now I am working on finishing up my Autumn Decor and coming up with new DIY’s to incorporate into my love for “primitive” style.  I’m also working on new recipes to share my family for the upcoming holidays.  That is really important to me.  I don’t like to use the same thing every year and I enjoy using holiday spices to add a little something extra to a dish.   And I’m getting ready to can green beans, dilly beans and peas.

Question 2: How does my work differ from those of my genre?

I love simplicity.  I don’t like “flashy” and “over the top”. Some may see that as boring, but I see it as beautiful.   I also say that I believe I was born in the wrong era lol.  Of course I’m country, so my work also goes back to my roots whether its cooking, hosting or decorating.  When party planning, I love to incorporate old barns, pieces of wood, hay, natural surroundings, old quilts and burlap.  I find it warm and inviting.  When cooking, it’s all southern,  Your not going to find anything fancy, just old school with a new twist.

Question 3: Why do I write/create what I do?

I love being creative.  I am a very detailed oriented person.  Some may find that as a flaw, but to me its who I am.  I also enjoy working alone.  I see a vision, put a plan into action and go from there.  I enjoy spending time alone or just with my family.  I guess you could say I’m an introvert, but as us country folk call it, homebody.  I get overwhelmed with the fast pace of life.  I enjoy my life slower and taking time to stop and smell the roses.  I hope that within my writing and creating it will help people realize that life flashes by so fast.  They need to remember to enjoy life, not be in such a hurry to the next big thing.  Take the extra time to cook your dinner from scratch.  Don’t rush out and spend a fortune on a piece of furniture when a piece from days gone by will work just the same.

Questions 4: How does your writing/creative process work?

Writing and creating allows me to express myself within my limits. I feel accomplished when I have created something beautiful out of something others would see as junk. I love to write based on my emotions. It helps me stay balanced.  Normally an idea will pop into my head and it takes several days to weeks for it to play out.  But any writing at all helps me to release built up frustrations and stress.

I’ve nominated Leanne of NotFromTheStore  to be featured next on our Blog Land Tour.

You can find her post next Monday at http://ljenkinsnfts.wordpress.com/ and Leanne is pretty new to blogging so make sure you check out her Facebook Page.  It is amazing.

Thank you for letting me share a piece of my home and heart with you!

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