Pink Hello Kitty

Valley Of The Sun = Rejuvenation

I recently went on a week-long "Inspiration Trip" to Arizona and it was an AMAZING experience for many reasons!  I was able to visit friends, I shopped, I relaxed, I stayed at a 5 STAR Resort,  I ran up and down mountains...soooo rejuvenating!  I am so thankful to my family, Bryan, my mama, my Auntie Mallory, Bryan's parents, and my kiddos, who all worked together to make it happen for me.  I have only one regret...that I didn't blog in the evenings while I was there because I had the ability/technology to, and should have because then it would have been easier and fresher in my mind. 

Anyway, this is just a small picture of the Arizona Grand Resort where I stayed.  I was very fortunate to NOT have to pay for my stay, and if it weren't for that I would not have gotten to stay there at all!  So, THANK YOU JANNY, for letting me tag along on your work trip and borrow the extra bed...(That was so comfortable it was hard to get out of!!)  You are AWESOME!!! I am so eternally grateful! 

 
And THANK YOU MATT AND KATIE, for letting me stay with them the night before Janny arrived so I could save $100 on my plane ticket!! Thank you for taking me to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Cave Creek, dinner at the BEST Mexican place EVER, letting me have creative license with Syd's shirt, Syd giving up her bed, and Matt for enlightening me on the TASER Gun!! Your little family is AWESOME!! 

THANK YOU JoJo GIRL, who flew down from Boise to meet me, sent her husband golfing, and hung out with me for crazy adventures of getting lost, finding sheep, realizing "Lucy" was my doppleganger, forgetting to feed ourselves, (but after finally feeding herself promptly threw my portion of sandwich on the ground...LOL!)  backwards drive-thru's, and finding oooooodles of ribbon and flowers the size of my head!! 

THANK YOU ROY, JoJo's lovely husband, for using his golf clubs to get me oranges and grapefruit from the trees because I was so excited to not only see fresh citrus fruit ON a tree in real life, but eat it fresh too!!

THANK YOU CAROL WINGERT, who was gracious enough to pick me up from my hotel, take me to her FAVORITE places to shop, buy me an AMAZING brunch at her favorite breakfast place in Mesa, T.C. Eggington's, introduced me to SAS for more vintage trims/inspiration/and craziness than I could ever imagine, and inspiring me more than I ever thought possible!!  She put up with all my silly giddiness and I truly adore her and her amazing talent and big heart!!

What AMAZING friends and family I have!!  I am blessed beyond measure and the fact that all of the stars were aligned so that this trip was possible makes me soooo grateful!!

Attitude Of Gratitude = Happy Life

Everyday I am grateful.  I read the book Simple Abundance every year and honestly believe that the key to happiness is gratitude for every little thing.  Even though I am always grateful, Sunday just seems like the perfect day to highlight it in my world.  This morning I am so grateful for my warm cozy bed, being able to do some quick work on the computer while still staying warm in said bed, and my kitty lying lazily at my feet snuggling with me and Bryan.  I LOVE that!!  Soon we will have a house full of people over for brunch and will be busily moving about the house, so this is a nice little moment in my morning that I am ever so grateful for.  Happy Sunday!

Almost Over...

 

 
I am at work today.  Initially I was a little bummed that I had to work all day, but now, as I am waiting for some customers to brave the cold and come in to spend some of their Christmas cash, and I am listening to the beautiful, instrumental music playing, I am quite glad to be here.  It is clean and quiet, and peaceful.  I have had a lovely time with my "Little Darlings", but the holidays are over and so should their vacation be!  Yesterday was nice, and we had some great quality time in our jammies, but by bedtime, they were pretty done with being stuck inside.  I am not going to lie, so was I.  I think if they skiied or snowboarded or something, they would not be getting so stir-crazy.  Maybe when I get home I will make them bundle up and run around the trees or jump on the trampoline outside!  It is almost over and then I will be sad, but the house will be quieter...and cleaner...haha! 

Happy New Year!

"Ham & Beans in the crock pot, fire in the woodstove, fresh hot coffee, reading a new Somerset Magazine in my PJ's...beautiful way to start off the New Year...just missing Bryan to make it a PERFECT start..."

That was my Facebook Status Update for today.  I am staying in my jammies, listening to my George Winston, and have committed to enjoying the entire day at home not working, just playing.  The smells, the warmth, the inspiration from the magazines I am flipping through, and the blogs I am perusing.  I have a piece of notebook paper out and I am seriously just writing whatever comes to my brain.  I have written lists and lists of things that are catching my eye and inspiring me...things I want to try, things I want to finish...that is what I LOVE about the New Year!  The possibilities seem endless!  The sun is peeking through the clouds right now as I am sitting on the sofa with my laptop next to the fire.  How BEAUTIFUL!! How ENERGIZING!  How INSPIRING! 

A few weeks ago I started something new.  I started a new craft blog.  I didn't really ever think I did enough to warrant a separate blog for that, but as I was creating all of the handmade gifts for Christmas, cooking for the birthdays and holidays, and guest designing for Shimmerz Paints, I realized that even though creating is a part of me and my life, I didn't want to overload my blog with all these photos and instructions, because I honestly do write on this blog for my family and children.  But now I am really glad I did it!  Not only is it a good resource for my friends who are always asking about recipes and instructions, it is helping me do something I have wanted to do for a very long time, create everyday!  I am so excited to have a "reason" for creating, and documenting it is super fun too!  I hope it helps inspire people in new ways, as it has already started inspiring me to step outside of my comfort zone, (I created my very first piece of Soldered Jewelry for somebody very special) and do things I would not normally try.  Check it out and I hope you like it!

I miss Bryan but he will be home tomorrow and I know he would be smiling while reading this, imagining his cutie pie children all enjoying the quiet and doing their own thing as well.  I love you, Bryan!  Happy New Year!  Be safe and we will be together tomorrow!  Thank you for working so hard for our family!

Happy New Year to everyone!!  I hope you are enjoying your brand new beautiful day of the New Year as much as we are here at the Simpson household!