I had a weekend off, and I didn't go anywhere. It was wonderful. I realize that most people want to spend their weekend's getting things done, but I have been longing for relaxing and being at my house for a day off. I finally got that wish this past weekend. I was off for 3 days and 2 of them I didn't even leave the house, and the 3rd, I left only for church.
I was lazy for a day and a half, but then yesterday after a couple days of wonderful rest, I got a ton accomplished!!! I was so excited to get things accomplished. I have a Journal article that has been on my list of to-do's for ages, and it's made it to the top, and I'm rip-raring to go at it. I have a good start on it, and I hope to get it back to my advisor in the upcoming week or two. I think that is very possible.
I also got some sewing done, and lots of cleaning and even some baking for fun! That was the accomplishments of work. My accomplishments of relaxing include cleaning off 10-15 hours of DVR'd shows. Wonderful!!!!
I still have much to do, but at least I'm getting things done at a good rate! Not much will be accomplished Wed and Thurs, but I will try! Friday I look forward to you!!!
I hope you are all able to relax and enjoy and accomplish things as I have!
Love!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
What a Valentine's Day
Well it has been a very productive Valentine's day! I love 3 days off in a row!!! Time for relaxing and time for accomplishing things. I decided I couldn't go the holiday without some cookies...so I baked up a recipe of sugar cookies and some frosting. I don't have my mom's talent to decorate and make conversation hearts, but I can slop some pretty colored frosting on the cookies. I'm Corny...yes, but here's a sample of my cookies.
 |
| Love! |
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day
It's recently ticked over past midnight meaning it is Valentine's day. Despite not having a significant other to spend the day with...I have always enjoyed this holiday. I view it as a day to share love with everyone, not just your significant other.
One great memory I have regarding Valentine's day is from elementary school. My mom and I would bake dozens of heart shaped sugar cookies. My mom, and her amazing talent in decorating, would frost and then write on the hearts as if they were conversation hearts. Each student in my class got one with their name on it, and I got fun ones at home. We also use to make different colored dough and put different colored hearts inside of each other. It was a lot of fun and always wonderful to eat!!! Something I always think about making around Valentine's Day, but just doesn't seem the same with out mom here to decorate them. Maybe some year.
Love to all on this day of Love!
One great memory I have regarding Valentine's day is from elementary school. My mom and I would bake dozens of heart shaped sugar cookies. My mom, and her amazing talent in decorating, would frost and then write on the hearts as if they were conversation hearts. Each student in my class got one with their name on it, and I got fun ones at home. We also use to make different colored dough and put different colored hearts inside of each other. It was a lot of fun and always wonderful to eat!!! Something I always think about making around Valentine's Day, but just doesn't seem the same with out mom here to decorate them. Maybe some year.
 |
| A little love from Amy and Matt's wedding this last summer. |
Love to all on this day of Love!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Somethings do take a year to accomplish
So a year ago I began putting up pictures around my house to attempt to decorate. I don't always succeed in decorating attempts, but I try. One of my projects was to put some wonderful storm pictures up over my stairs. My brother got me these pictures for Christmas one year, and I added to it a couple years ago.
Putting up pictures over the stairs was no easy project. I got one up, and decided that since I was balancing on a board, about 4 feet in the air with one had, I should give up on this project. I didn't know how I was going to get a ladder on my steps to fulfill this project and I didn't want to die trying.
Well I've been eyeing a multi-position ladder for quite some time now, and it was on sale a few weeks ago. I snatched it up!
With the help of a friend, and my new AWEsome ladder, I would attempt this project again. I pulled out the ladder and figured out how I wanted the pictures on the wall and climbed on up. Thankful for the ladder and scared to death I was gonna fall down. However, the ladder was very stable and I had a safety mechanism in place, my friend.
About 20 minutes later, we had accomplished this year long project. I'm glad to have it completed as I think it adds to the room. I decided that as long as the project is completed, it doesn't matter how long it took. Check it out.
Putting up pictures over the stairs was no easy project. I got one up, and decided that since I was balancing on a board, about 4 feet in the air with one had, I should give up on this project. I didn't know how I was going to get a ladder on my steps to fulfill this project and I didn't want to die trying.
Well I've been eyeing a multi-position ladder for quite some time now, and it was on sale a few weeks ago. I snatched it up!
With the help of a friend, and my new AWEsome ladder, I would attempt this project again. I pulled out the ladder and figured out how I wanted the pictures on the wall and climbed on up. Thankful for the ladder and scared to death I was gonna fall down. However, the ladder was very stable and I had a safety mechanism in place, my friend.
About 20 minutes later, we had accomplished this year long project. I'm glad to have it completed as I think it adds to the room. I decided that as long as the project is completed, it doesn't matter how long it took. Check it out.
Love
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
When in doubt, it's ok to relax...
The fall was insanely busy for me, with my work schedule and everything else I was involved in. Then came the holiday's and those always add more to the busy pile. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy everything, but sometimes I just need time to relax and do absolutely nothing.
Over the past 2 weeks, life has been slow enough that I've been able to enjoy myself at home, and just catch up on some tv...including the entire first half of the season of both Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice! Which is exciting if you are a crazy TV person like myself.
I learned as an RA in college, during a weekly meeting that I was an introvert...and what that really meant. I truly re-energize by spending time alone. I enjoy being with people an groups and need that in my life too, but when I'm crazy insanely busy...I need that time to myself to regroup and keep going.
The guilty part of my brain has to keep telling me that it IS ok to relax and accomplish nothing for a few hours. I try to remember that sometimes, and know that life's busy factor will be increasing in the next few weeks, so I best enjoy this for now.
Over the past 2 weeks, life has been slow enough that I've been able to enjoy myself at home, and just catch up on some tv...including the entire first half of the season of both Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice! Which is exciting if you are a crazy TV person like myself.
I learned as an RA in college, during a weekly meeting that I was an introvert...and what that really meant. I truly re-energize by spending time alone. I enjoy being with people an groups and need that in my life too, but when I'm crazy insanely busy...I need that time to myself to regroup and keep going.
The guilty part of my brain has to keep telling me that it IS ok to relax and accomplish nothing for a few hours. I try to remember that sometimes, and know that life's busy factor will be increasing in the next few weeks, so I best enjoy this for now.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
A New Year a new Vision
I trust you all had a glorious Christmas and New Years. I worked over Christmas, so my parents came down and celebrated with me. We had a good time. I always wish it was longer, but then it's always nice to get back to "your" routine. After my stretch of midnight shifts I headed home to Kearney. I had a good New Years in Kearney and got to see my family. I also got to witness the first snow of the season, not necessarily my favorite thing, but oh well.
While my parents were in town, I had my mom go and help me pick out some new glasses. I hadn't gotten new glasses since high school, and I know they are just a bit dated. I don't wear them very much as I am a contact person. But maybe if I like them I'll wear them more, or at the least won't dislike wearing them so much. I was able to get my new glasses yesterday and I've worn them at night the last two nights. They are kinda fun, so different than what I'm use to, but I like it. So with the new year came a new vision for me.
Love!
While my parents were in town, I had my mom go and help me pick out some new glasses. I hadn't gotten new glasses since high school, and I know they are just a bit dated. I don't wear them very much as I am a contact person. But maybe if I like them I'll wear them more, or at the least won't dislike wearing them so much. I was able to get my new glasses yesterday and I've worn them at night the last two nights. They are kinda fun, so different than what I'm use to, but I like it. So with the new year came a new vision for me.
 |
| New Glasses |
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The need is great
This past Wednesday I did something I've never done before, and that is volunteer for the salvation army.
When I was younger, my mother and I would get an Angel off of the Angel Tree and pick out some gifts give them to these angels. I've known about the program for a few years, but didn't realize exactly how big it was until recently or that it was headed by the salvation army. Last year, a co-worker and I were chatting and thought it would be a good idea to have a Christmas "giving back" drive that the office took part in. We discussed toys-for-tots, and angel tree. I personally like angel tree better because you are actually buying gifts for one person. Well it was actually Christmas time last year when we thought about this, and it was to late. So the plan had been in place to act this holiday season.
We collected donations from the office and went out on a great hunting mission for toys for our two angels. It was quite the experience navigating through the toy aisles, when you haven't looked through them in years and all of these toys are foreign. We ended up finding a bunch of toys and hope that the two angels we chose have a wonderful Christmas.
When I was younger, my mother and I would get an Angel off of the Angel Tree and pick out some gifts give them to these angels. I've known about the program for a few years, but didn't realize exactly how big it was until recently or that it was headed by the salvation army. Last year, a co-worker and I were chatting and thought it would be a good idea to have a Christmas "giving back" drive that the office took part in. We discussed toys-for-tots, and angel tree. I personally like angel tree better because you are actually buying gifts for one person. Well it was actually Christmas time last year when we thought about this, and it was to late. So the plan had been in place to act this holiday season.
We collected donations from the office and went out on a great hunting mission for toys for our two angels. It was quite the experience navigating through the toy aisles, when you haven't looked through them in years and all of these toys are foreign. We ended up finding a bunch of toys and hope that the two angels we chose have a wonderful Christmas.
A higher power:
While getting ready for work last Sunday I was listening to the radio, I heard the salvation army talking about the angel tree program and the volunteers that they needed. Now this was interesting, because 1. I don't usually even like the news radio shows on Sunday morning's, so usually don't listen to the radio. and 2. I'm only up and listening to the radio between 7 and 8 AM when I'm on a short term forecast shift. While listening, I learned a little more about the program and what was needed. With me going into evenings, I decided I could and wanted to help volunteer. I did just that.
The never ending rows:
I didn't have any idea what I was getting myself into, and that usually brings about a certain amount of fear/uncertainty/uncomfortableness. I knew that if I just did it I would enjoy it, so I pushed through. I arrived and had no idea which door to go in, let alone what I would find inside. I found this HUGE warehouse filled with rows and rows of trash bags, numbered and filled with toys for families. There were over 4000 families. The need was great! I couldn't even see the end, because it went into another room. I was paired up with another gentleman that arrived when I did. Our job was to make sure everyone 14 and under had gifts in the family. So we got numbers and started walking around to those families number and checking. If a child had not been fulfilled, we would go "shopping" in the donated toy area for a few toys to give to them. Then we would mark them as complete and move on to the next.
4000 families...wow. I am glad that I was able to help out for the little bit of time I did. I enjoyed fulfilling the gift of Christmas for these families. I can only hope that it brings a smile to these kid's faces.
I cannot wait to take part again next year, except this time I'll know exactly what I'm getting myself into, and be ready and maybe able to volunteer more.
If you have the opportunity to take an Angel off of an Angel Tree, please consider it. It is a wonderful way to give back to those in the community.
Love