Motivation Monday

http://singingmysong4u.tumblr.com/post/5824457471

I've come across this quote a few times now and it still makes me chuckle (and re-read it at least three times, every time)...but if you think about it, it speaks of determination, will, and drive to succeed and to be the best you can be (even if you have to rely on your inner mean girl to tough it out with a pretty little smile on your face). I think we all need that sometimes, no? 

I hope everyone's Monday finishes fabulously! I started mine out with water pouring out of an air vent in our downstairs ceiling onto the floor, directly underneath our dishwasher/sink upstairs, that was still dripping every couple of seconds when I made it home later in the day. Thrilling...

Still look like a flower hair do, Anonymous?

Just Because...

Monday's Mansion from a Mole Hill

This is my first post that actually goes along with the theme of my blog! Today's Mole Hill (a.k.a. problem) happens to be an extremely dead plant smack dab in the middle of our front landscape. Here lies a very dead bush:

R.I.P.

If you look very closely below, you can see that Mr. Frog is very lonely without his usual bush to keep him company:

Soooo......I created a Mansion (a.k.a. solution to our little Mole Hill) for him to be Head Butler at! He is taking to his new position very quickly given the poor economy:

I'm really excited about having a pot in the middle of the landscape instead of an evergreen perennial! Now I can change out flowers with the season with extra pops of color and holiday flair. We have a neighbor that has gorgeous landscaping, but...they cheat. They have several potted annual flowers that overflow with color all year round and scream, "Look at me!! I am part of a big beautiful landscape with lots of color and beautifulness!!" Well. Do they have a Head Butler Frog? I think not. 

I'll be sure to update you when the above mums look like the ones we already have below!

A Wedding (But Not Mine)

Before time gets away from me and I never get it done, I am posting these pictures of my cousin Tina's wedding from last month. Being the copy-cat I am (and knowing that my sister won't mind),  I have put them into photo collages. It's a world easier than posting them all separately. Enjoy!

The Ceremony

Cake Cutting

Special Dancing

Portraits of Very Important People

***For the record, I did not get married on September 30th.

To Share, or Not To Share?

In the interest of making waves, I have decided to share. Apologies in advance to the folks! I expect a phone call shortly. Anyhoo, I'm married!!!!!! NOT!!!!! But we sure had a good time pretending last Friday. Anyone need to go to the hospital for anxiety, heart attack, or anger? Mom? Dad? Anyone? No? Mom? Okay. Fabulous. I shall resume my story.

To add Ken to my insurance plan, my company said that we must be in compliance with a common law marriage in the state of Kansas. Since we are, adding him to my insurance made it feel like it was sort of official! To celebrate, we had a chalk drawing contest in the driveway!

Finally a smile for the camera!

Which color should I pick?

Here are a few "during" shots:

And here are the "after" shots (at this point in time I welcome you to post who's art you like better in the comment section):

Ken's art with a story and true to size trees that get smaller as the horizon gets farther away.

My art, with no story. Just a commemoration of our love. And fake wedding anniversary.

The happy bride and groom!

Thinking we should do fun chalk stuff more often...

Here I am getting tricked into thinking this would be a cute kissy picture.

FYI. Do not use the pads of your fingers to blend chalk into rough concrete. When it starts to hurt and feel raw, stop. Do. Not. Keep. Using. The. Same. Fingers.

P.S. I'm a runner!

Or at least I think I am. See my tough I'm-a-runner face?

I ran (ahem - jogged...very slowly) for 20 minutes without stopping yesterday! I'm so proud! See my proud face?

As for updating you with wedding pictures, that will have to wait until next time. Apologies! But, here's a teaser for what's to come:

My, How Time Flies...

Looks like we need to catch up on some quality time together, you and me! It's been a busy couple of months and a lot has been happening! I recently came across a quote that said something along the lines of, "Don't waste your life waking up every day just to be miserable." Obviously, those who know me know that I'm not always happy with my job. Do I think it's what I'm meant to be doing? Not really. But I do believe that I'm supposed to learn something from it and take away lessons and skills that I will need to know about later on in life. There's a reason for everything! Anyway, the quote made me realize that just because I'm stressed out with work and other life happenings, doesn't mean that I have to be. I am in control of how I view my stress load and I'm currently working towards lightening up about it. Ain't no thang but a chicken-wang on a strang!

Hope to be back later this weekend with a picture post of my cousin's wedding and we can curl up together and reminisce about old times!