Valentine countdown

I am a huge fan of countdowns I love looking forward to the future. It holds such hope and promise. so here we are counting down to the day of love. My 5 year old and I made this easy countdown using the window hanger featured here. 

You can find the easy bow tutorial here. 

The rest was so easy. 

Step 1

Punch shapes.

Step 2

Glue together 

Step 3

Paint number

Step 4

Add glitter to wet paint

Step 5 

Pin them up!

DIY bow

I really mean easy it take one item and like 3 minutes. 

A few years ago I bought a bunch of those little plastic baggies that you stick goodies in usually for kids parties. I have spent the last few years trying to do something with them. 

Not only is this bow super easy its really cute too. You can make it in any design all you need is 2 plastic baggies. 

Step 1

Cut the baggies short ways into strips mine were about 1/4-1/2 inch.

Step 2

Open strips (should make a circle) and gather on arm (leave one out to use to tie together)

Step 3

Double over find middle and tie one around holding the remaining together. 

Step 4 

Fluff and place on any package or decoration!!!

Get to know me week 1

- - QUESTIONS - -

{no. 1} What is your biggest guilty pleasure? 

{no. 2} Do you actually keep your resolutions for the New Year? 

{no. 3} If you had to do one random act of kindness today, what would it be?

{no. 4} Do you have a bucket list, 101 in 1001 list, or any other list? If you do, what are some of your goals?

{no. 5} Why do you love blogging?

Sweets!!! I am a sweet addict. This is my biggest pleasure. 

I don't usually keep my resolutions... I usually forget about them. This year I have them plastered in multiple places around the house. I am determined not to forget. 

Something simple that would help a total stranger maybe leave money with the cashier to pay for the persons bill behind you inline. 

I have a 30b430 list these goals include: reaching my goal weight, flying in a helicopter, riding a subway and zip lining somewhere AMAZING!

Blogging... I am fairly new to this whole thing and well it scares me in a lot of ways. What I really love about blogging is it allows me to get out there. I can show the world the real me and they get to decide if they stay or not. 

Wyatt's day

Sometimes imaginable things happen in this world. They happen everyday. Yet they seldom hit home. This week has hit. My heart is saddened and I know I will spend most of today reflecting on the life and joy I have with my own children.

On Tuesday afternoon, an armed man boarded a school bus killed the driver and took a small child hostage. It is now Thursday morning and the child is still being held in an underground bunker type shelter. This is all happening just a few short miles away from where I live in Alabama. In times like this we tend to ask God why then we pray.

3 years ago today something completely imaginable happened and to someone I once knew. Someone, I once knew is kind a strange way to describe a person but thats it, Katie and I grew up together, went to school together, played together, we also didn’t talk much after entering high school. She was someone I once knew.

The point of this post isn’t to dredge up the past but to remember Wyatt, pray for Katie and to remind myself to hold my little ones a little bit longer today.

Today we celebrate Wyatt’s day! Katie and hundreds of supporters like me will release blue and brown balloons for a little boy who should be here today.

You can read Katie and Wyatt's story here.

Please if you do take the time to read the story take the time to reflect on your own life and if you can make it happen over the weekend release balloons for your own children or for Wyatt or the small child in the bunker whichever you choose. Please if you do release balloons take a picture and email me. Katie keeps track of all the balloons released in Wyatt's name.

I have a favorite kid.

Yep, you read that right! I have a favorite kid.

Most parents aren't willing to admit it. They say things like I love them all the same yatta yatta. Yea I love my kids and I even love them all the same but still I have a favorite kid. And thats okay.

I have a favorite kid to have a conversation with. My oldest has always been “old” for her age. Able to carry and understand conversations beyond her years. I love talking with her. She shows and teaches me so much every day.

I have a favorite kid to snuggle with. My middle man has always been my snuggler. He has always been the first to crawl up in my lap and get comfy. The other two will occasionally try to lay with me but they are all feet and elbows. Preston just has a way of melting his body into mine.

I have a favorite kid to make me smile. The “baby” as I call him is so funny. Man that boy can make a british guard laugh. I think the best part is he doesn't even realize that he's so dang funny, he's just busy being him.

So yep there you have it. I put it out there for all the world to see I HAVE A FAVORITE kid.

So, now lets be honest do you have a favorite? Do you think your parents had a favorite?

Now thats what I call food

I love to cook. I am by no means a chef and I really wouldn't even call myself a great cook more like a magician. I manage to take really awesome healthy ingredients and turn them into things my kids will eat. Hello success. And sometimes you have to share pictures of those amazing dishes.

This salad has all the usual salad items baby butter lettuce, spinach, sunflower seeds, chi chi beans, tomato, mushrooms, carrots, but I also added some of my favorite salad kicker uppers strawberries and blue berries. It was delicious this I know because everyone including my 2 year old asked for more. Although not pictured I paired the salad with a poppy seed vinaigrette.

Weekend wrap up

We always have good weekends. But this weekend was GREAT. This weekend I am able to measure that based on our little ones ability to stay awake past 7.

January and the lake not really two things that go together very often but hello Alabama wonderful weather. We had a beautiful 70 degree weekend.

On Saturday we all including the water loving pup took a trip to the lake. The kids played in the water, we ate, we played and Astro swam. After we got back home we ate some more then set up the camp fire. No no marshmallows we all just sat around and enjoyed each others company. It was the perfect end to an amazing day.

On Sunday Daddy, the older two and Astro took another trip. First stop the archery range where daddy and Preston got some practice in. Preston's practice however had little to do with a bow and arrow but rather his ability to go potty on a tree. After finishing up there they took another trip to the Lake where they played and Astro swam. She’s one tired pup.

As I sit here writing this I feel so thankful to the Lord for all the wonderful things he has provided me. So truly blessed.

Redo chalkboard.

I love chalkboards. I love chalkboard paint (it amazes me). I love chalk pens. I Hate the way basic wood framed boards look. I've seen some super cool boards on Pinterest. I really like the ones that use ornate picture frames, mirrors or serving trays.

source

I mean that looks awesome right.

Yes, I want to and fully intend on doing something like this in the future. For now I just wanted to remake the chalk board I already had.

I gathered some Items I already had to complete this project.

Materials:

Jute

Leftover fabric

Burlap

So here's what I did. I started by ripping the fabric into 2 inch strips and tied them end to end until I had about 9 feet. (I did this 3 times) I then braided the 3 strands together.

Cut my jute and burlap to match the length of the braided fabric. And finished up by braiding all 3 materials together.

Once that was done I set the braid aside and covered the brown frame with fabric using hot glue. You could also paint the frame (this would be easier).

After the ugly brown frame was covered I hot glued the braid to it starting at one corner. Once finished I placed some fabric flowers over my start/stop point and hung it up. Easy peasy!

It's okay...

because today is my birthday!
Birthday post here.

Happy birthday to me.

Source 1 2 3 4 5

** The majority of this post is a recount of a conversation with my best friend who will also be turning 27 soon.

27 now that's a no shit you are a grown up age. Back in high school when I saw someone who was 27 I thought they were old, mature, accomplished and you guessed it grown up. I think a lot of people have put too much emphasis on the big 3 0. (I might feel differently in a few years) Right now 27 seems rather legit.

A wonderful 26 years behind me (not that 26 isn't old enough but I remember when I was a kid my grams once told me that odd numbers seem bigger).

27 going to be great just like 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20.... you get the point. So anyways happy birthday to me.

It's almost here

So as you know and as I have documented here and here things on my end have been busy and my computer all but blew up. But I have great news... It's (as in my new and so super wonderful iMac) will be delivered on Friday. What a wonderful belated birthday present. I plan to post and write and edit all weekend!!!!
Here is a pic of what the new beauty is going to look like.

source

Things have been crazy

I should just stop with the title post and move on with my day. Things around the Miller home have been crazy nuts. We've been beyond busy. And we are loving it. Here's whats been going on:

Payton's been selling Girl Scout cookies and gymnastics practice. Preston's busy doing karate. I've been baking and cooking and taxiing. Yesterday I made Oatmeal bread and English muffins. Man they were good. The husband is as busy as ever.
We're busy we're crazy and we're loving it.

I will be back in full force soon. Prior to my computer and act of God malfunction I would get up every morning before 5 go to the living room hop on the computer and get all my blogging taken care of... Well like I said in a previous post God through his force of lightning has given me a break. My computer is on order but Apple too is very busy trying to make all the new ones. I am so overly excited about my new guy and am currently trying to come up with a name for the machine that is. Check out my new baby here.
So anyways yes, my husband does have a computer (thats what I am on now) His computer is in the office/craft room down by the kids. I just dont feel the need to wake everyone at 5 in the morning so I'm still not completely up and running. And to be honest I HATE his computer. First of all it's not mine, it doesn't have all my stuff on it and well it's not MINE.

It's Thursday... It's okay

For some reason this is one of my favorite guided posts to write. There is something really fun and eyeopening about saying it's okay this is how it is and this is how I feel. So without further ado:
It's okay...
to take a break, step back and reexamine everything.
to maybe consider Alaska as a choice of places to live even if I've been against the very idea for years.
to be stressing about our next PCS which wont be till the summer.
to just want a break from it all.
to say you're sorry say your peace and let it go.
to be so super excited for a lunch date with a special little one this weekend.
to completely change your homes color scheme.
to be so excited about reading a book you find it hard to put down.

2013

revolution in motion #2

Last Revolution in motion I wasn't as successful as I hoped I would be.
This time is going to be different. I've set a new goal and I am going to hit it. My goal for the next six weeks is to Read more. I plan to read 3 books over the next 6 weeks. I know not a huge task. I love reading. I just seem to always get distracted on other things or run out of time. Reading more is one of my goals for this year so I figured why not jump start it with a 6 week commitment.

I have not abandoned... reflection and moving foward

I must start by saying I have not abandoned my blog and you my followers. I am on my way back.

As you know I have been away for awhile. Yes, partly due to the holidays but not really. In all honestly my absence wasn’t my idea, rather Gods. I will catch everyone up on our holiday season with a holiday post complete with tons of pictures.

Heres a small recap:
We went back home to Tennessee for Christmas, I had planned on posting from there but tensions were high and we were extremely busy. We came home the day after Christmas. This is where God gave me time to reflect and regroup. After getting home I unpacked our luggage and started a load of wash. The kids took off to their rooms to play with all their new toys. I decided to fire up my computer. I pushed the button and nothing… no juice. After talking to our neighbors we learned there was a pretty crazy electrical storm while we were gone. We decided to order a new power supply hoping that would fix the problem.
Then the same night while cooking diner my youngest pulled my phone off the counter dropping it and smash. Broken phone. So if you’re tracking that’s no phone and no computer. At this point I was a bit apprehensive to even touch my tablet or drive my car.
For a while now I’ve know that I’ve needed a technological break. I guess I just didn’t have the will power to do it myself.
Later that night I decided to deactivate my facebook account. No, it wasn’t a forever step. Yes, were back up and running. I just needed a break. And after two weeks away I am happy to be back. Not complete, my computer wasn’t fixed. I had to take it into a repair shop and well it can’t be fixed. We had to file a claim and we are hoping our insurance will cover my baby. When I first got my iMac last year I thought I was going to throw it out the window on a daily basis. Now that she’s gone I miss her so much. We are still waiting to hear from our insurance and still trying to find a replacement.
Back to my technology break. These past few weeks have been really good I’ve had time to reflect on the past, enjoy the present and plan for the future.

2012 is gone.
2012 wasn’t a great year for me. Last year was tough. I went through some rough stuff with my family, personally and here at home. I wasn’t a good sister (in law), daughter and I could have been a better mother and wife. I am tremendously sorry for this.
We moved twice last year. Thank you Army.
We had some big things and some great things last year too. One of the biggest; my little girl started Kindergarten in August. Hard to believe she is old enough. My baby turned 1 in February (he’ll be two soon).

2013 is my year. I am owning this year. I enter this year with a lot of unknown but I am so ready to embrace it! This is my year and I am redesigning me. I plan to knock off several items from my 30 before 30 checklist. This year we will finally make our long awaited phone call to Dave Ramsey. We will be off of active duty. We will move again. We will restore our lives as civilians. We are hoping to purchase a home. We will achieve and we will succeed.