Marching Forward

How the heck did we end up in March already?  Heaven help, the time is zipping by and I feel like I'm getting left behind in a daze.

One thing that has me out of it - my health is having weird issues again.  Tummy and chest, scary stuff when you say chest issues.  I'm still trying to pay off the crazy bills from June so I really don't want to go somewhere and have more bills pile up.  I'm trying to stay calm and convince myself it's all tummy related like I was told it was so quit worrying that my chest hurts, too. *sigh* Do you pray? And if so, can you say a prayer for me? Thanks.

I also have an acquaintance - the wife of an old boyfriend (99% of the time I end on good terms, so no hard feelings) - she has some serious health issues with major surgery coming up at the end of the month.  March 23 to be exact.  I told her I believed in God and was sending up prayers for her, her family (they have three kids) and the doctors.  It's really serious stuff, so if you wouldn't mind saying a prayer for them, too, that would be great.  I appreciate it greatly.

I'm so excited - I introduced one of my online friends to one of my real life friend's online store and she loved it! I mean, I love her stuff, but it was so cool to connect someone else to it, too.  You are welcome to visit - she was interested in calligraphy and it just so happens my friend sells calligraphy teaching kits! I know, how perfect!  www.leenmachine.com Go ahead and click it - you know you want to. :)

Have you heard about these people who role play online by stealing other people's photos of their babies and children and such? They make entire role play lives around these photos of kids they don't know.  Seriously, go to twitter or instagram and look for #rpbaby.  Completely terrifies me of having pics of the sweet nieces online.  I'm sure someone thinks that's harmless, but I think it's horrible. Thoughts on this anyone? Because I'm half tempted to just take down the blog and keep my private instagram and private facebook.

On a much happier note, I'm heading to my brother and sister-in-laws for supper tonight and I'm taking Vulture Dip.  Sounds totally gross but it's yummy.  My brother is bonkers for it.  Just so happens I found the exact recipe I use online - here it is.  The blog is called "Food from the Forest" but she has the recipe there if you'd like to try it.  Think spinach, cheese, tomatoes, picante sauce... it's good, trust me.  I'll probably pass on it to play it safe, but I'm glad to bring him something he loves.

Ok, let me go get ready to head for their house.  I'll post cute pics again soon - once I figure out how to easily watermark them before posting. :) Happy Hump Day!

Every Day in May: My Life. 250 Words. {Playing Catch-up}

So I totally screwed up the first several day and now I'm going to catch up on those. :)
You can also play along with the linkup on the right hand side of my blog. There at the bottom right - yeah, that's the one. Go check it out. :)

My life. 250 words.

Fairytale childhood, not in material things, but in love. Two great parents. Two great siblings. Both married funny spouses and I have two nieces. It’s beginning to sound a bit like Noah’s Ark…

Graduated college. Worked interesting jobs. Stayed in touch with friends but enjoyed making new ones.

Had ups and downs in relationships but remain single.  It’s me and the cat. Suffer from one slightly broken heart but realize it would have been crushed if we had tried to make it work.

 Love my house (my great-grandmother’s home), love my family, enjoy my job, follow Christ. Work to improve every day, to become a better person.

Friendly, outgoing, but don’t  seem to fit in with any one group.  Have learned to be ok with that. Soft hearted. Hard-headed. Opinionated.  Cry at sappy songs, commercials, movies and news stories about deployed soldiers surprising their kids at school.

Really like funny cat videos. And grumpy cat. Enjoy the simple things in life, like the beauty in my drive to and from work, an amazing starry night, the leaves in autumn, my rose bushes in spring, the awesomeness of the mountains and the sounds of the ocean.

Jeans and t-shirt gal with no make-up and wet hair pulled into a ponytail.  Would rather spend time with someone special than make them wait while I get ready – let’s go! Flip flops ALL THE WAY.

Pretend to be grown up and mature but let’s get real, are any of us, really?!

So Honored. Thank you!

I know, I'm so incredibly behind in my blogging. I would stay late at work just to schedule ahead those days I always blog in order not to miss a day, but I haven't done much in the way of BLOGGING until this week. 

So, I'm late in doing this, but not because I wasn't completely honored and flattered.  

Folks, I have been nominated for an award!! I know, I never expected it and I'm totally touched!  Laura over at Mice in the Kitchen chose ME for this award! The Liebster Award!  Copied from Laura, "The Liebster award is given by fellow bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome."  Wow. This is so awesome. 

SO - I have to tell 11 things about myself. Answer the 11 items given by Laura for me to answer. Then nominate other blogs and give them a list of 11 things to answer.  And so it goes forward. 
Here are my 11 items that you may/may not know about me: 

• I'm a music junkie. I always have a song or a jingle of some sort playing in my head. Always. 
• As a child, I wanted to look Asian and asked my mom if I could have surgery on my eyes to make them more Asian-like and dye my hair black. Mom wasn't digging it. 
• I have white spots on my two front teeth, which show up in most pictures. People used to ask about them when I was younger but now people are too PC to ask. The only thing we can figure is the meds from my ear infections as a kid impacted my teeth. 
• Each day I get older, my patience gets shorter. I try to off-set it and stop before I make sarcastic comments, but I don't always succeed.
• I think pug noses are cute on people. 
• I'm searching for a rich man to marry me so I could work part-time and spend the rest of my time doing crafty creative things... 
• I doodle. A lot. 
• Thank you notes are a must.  Seriously. I believe in them firmly. 
• Going home to a quiet peaceful, semi-clean house is wonderful to me. I do regret that I never had children, but the serenity in my home makes me very happy. 
• Not that I don't want to get married one day. I would love to, but only to the right guy. I'm not into making mistakes because I don't want to be alone. I'd choose being on my own over being with the wrong guy. 
• I took a leap of faith this year and decided to start selling my scrapbooks on Etsy.  The name of the online storefront is "Pressed Clovers" and I love giving people a way to preserve memories.  You can visit it at http://www.etsy.com/shop/PressedClovers. 

The 11 questions from Laura: 
* If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be and why?   Probably potatoes.  I love them. I've been known to eat four types of potatoes in one meal. :) 
* What is your biggest pet peeve?   Oh my gosh, I have so many. People who interrupt me. How rude!
* If you could live anywhere in the whole world where would it be?   Right where I am, in the middle of family. I love my house and I love my neighbors (haha!)
* Describe yourself using 3 words.   Friendly     Talkative     Genuine
* Who was your childhood hero?   My grandmother - and she still is, even though she's passed. 
* What did you want to be when you were growing up?   A teacher, but that didn't work out for me. 
* What was your favorite toy as a child?   Barbie maybe?  
* Dogs or cats?  CATS. 
* If you could turn any of your hobby's into a career and money was not a factor what would it be?  Well, I'm kinda doing that!! Pressed Clovers! :) 
* If you only got one phone call who would you call?   My mom. 
* What is the present on the top of your list for Christmas this year?  A Kitchen Aide Mixer. Or the Sound of Music dvd. 

So - I need to nominate some folks and give them my questions: 

Captivated by Love
Paulene Cruse
The 3 B's
The Scrampin' Mama

-- What is your favorite holiday and why?
-- What would you consider to be your dream job?
-- Why did you start blogging?
-- What is one talent you possess that you didn't discover until you were older?
-- Favorite animal?
-- Are you a morning, afternoon, or night person?
-- What one trait do you wish had?
-- Name one thing that is awesome about your home state.
-- You found a $20 bill in your pocket - what do you spend it on?
-- Are you named after someone? What's the story?
-- What is the go-to movie that always cheers you up?

Ok fellow Liebster Award winners - have at it! :) Thanks again to Laura for honoring me in this way - so nice! Thank you!

Off the wagon.

I had every intention of being good today. Greek yogurt and wheat English muffin for breakfast. Water. More water. But then lunch came about and I couldn't face another salad. I just couldn't.

So I went to Burger King and splurged on a Whopper Jr. sans cheese combo with Diet Coke. I was pretty excited. Except that once I came back to the office, conversation after conversation after customer etc kept me from eating my splurge while it was warm and yummy. Ice cold splurge = not so tasty. So... that splurge sucked. Goes to show you should stay on the wagon, eh?

Must say hello to my friend, Sara, who had lunch with me on Friday. She should have made it into Friday's Letter, so shame on me for not including that. Bad Bethie! Sara is so totally awesome - an adventure seeker, camper, international traveler, good listener, somewhat shy until you get to know her, super nice, beautiful, kind, - she's got a lot of qualities I wish I had. I live through her travels and adventures across the globe. :) And I envy her tan because she never looks pasty sugar white like I do and that's just not fair. :(


Summer weather is so strange.  Here are three photos from the past week or so.

Foggy morning drive. I love foggy mornings on the road because I usually dip below the fog and then drive back up into it. Kinda neat. 

Do you see the crazy downpour on the right?! One area just got blasted!

My rainy drive into work this morning. Not a fan of rainy days, though we need the rain badly.

Well, tomorrow is a new day and I promise to stick to the plan better.  Tomorrow night is play date with Donna, Sister Beth and Ellie.  They are coming to visit Macy! :) Who can resist her? It's impossible. I'll see you on the couch, watching Olympics tonight! :) 

Finishing the Intros

So I realized I hadn't really introduced myself here. Mainly because I haven't passed the word around about this blog, and once I do, everyone will already know who I am that's reading it. Right? But in case someone happens upon me, I should probably let you know who I am.

Hi! I'm Beth, mid-thirties, living in South Carolina, towards the North Carolina border part of the state.  Single, never been married and no kids (which means I'll rarely get to post cool crafty ideas like so many of ya'll do!). I work for my local government, a new endeavor for me since I'd previously worked in the non-profit field for about 10 years.  I'm one of those people who must be doing good for the community or my life just doesn't seem fulfilled. Yup, a crazy do-gooder.

I'm the mama to one large tabby with severe grumpiness. We have a bit of an understanding - whatever she wants she gets and I'm to provide it for her. :)  Meet Muffin, my 16 lb. grouchy baby with claws!  I'm sure she'll star in several of my pics in the upcoming year.

I just moved into my first house (my sister and I were housemates for about 10 years, but for some reason she didn't want to be a newlywed with her sister in the house, too!). We took this house down to the studs and put it back together. Let me tell you, I love it. A small, two bedroom, one bath that fits me just perfect. Eventually I'll put pics up of the remodel work because it's amazing.

So that's me and my life in a nutshell. :)  Don't you feel better now after reading all that? Yeah, I thought you would.