Let's Eat!!!

Today I'm participating on the tail end of Kelly's post, "Show Us Your Life - Show Us Your Dining Rooms" over at Kelly's Korner. I say tail end, because she actually posted this meme last Friday. So I'm slipping in real quick since I missed out on the one with master bedrooms. I'll post our bedroom later anyway, even though it's not linked up. Gotta straighten it first! Lol

A couple of years ago, hubby decided he wanted an office, so I gave up my dining room for his office needs. So, until the next house comes along, we utilize our eat-in kitchen. Back in February, we were blessed to get a new dining set. I wanted one with a easy to clean finish (last one was far from it), and this one is amazing with the marble top! We love it and we all fit, since it seats 8! God is good!

Be Blessed!!!

Life in the Fast Lane

I know it's been awhile, but life has been pretty disrupted in my household. My dear sweet hubby has been hospitalized for the last three weeks in Dallas, which is an hour away from our home. I've been driving back and forth everyday to spend time with him. Long story short (if that's ever possible), he had surgery two weeks ago to have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted to help his heart pump faster. For several months he has struggled with shortness of breath due to congestive heart failure, and had a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line inserted in his arm so that medication could flow intravenously to help strengthen his weakened heart muscles. He needs a heart transplant, but he needs to lose some weight first before being put on the list. Until that can happen, the LVAD was the only option available for survival, since he can wait up to two years for a new heart. It's bascially a bridge to a transplant, although some patients can live the rest of their lives with one. Since he is considered a young man, age 47, the doctor feels it's best to eventually get a transplant. Praise God, his recovery has gotten off to a good start. He moved from CVICU last Friday to Telemetry and has been there for a week now. The doctors are anticipating his discharge to be early next week, possibly Tuesday or Wednesday. We are soooo ready! I miss him so much and so do the kids. He misses us even more. He said his days are so lonely and he looks forward to my visits. I feel so bad when I can't stay as long as I would like, but usually have to get home to the kids eventually. Both Deondra and Cedraya, have been tremendous helps around the house and with the boys. A couple of my neighbors have also been a great help, especially with drop offs and pick ups to football camp and summer school. Unfortunately, life goes on and the ride doesn't stop! My pastor and wife have been awesome as well, and my church family has been very supportive. I wish I could have a big party to thank everybody when he gets home, but that's all I'm focusing on right now, is his return! Gotta get the house put back together again! LOL Keep us all in your prayers! BE BLESSED!!!

Her First Job!

So proud to say that our youngest daughter, Cedraya, is now among the working class! Desperately wanting to make her own money, she has wanted a job since age 15. Being number two of six children, she hasn't always received everything she's asked for, which is hard for her to understand. Especially living and going to school in an area where the well to do families are scattered amongst us "regular" folk, making it hard to explain not being able to afford everything her friends have. I think this will be a good opportunity for her to realize what it's like to spend her own money (not ours) to get the things that she wants. I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out! Lol

Anyway, we are extremely proud of her! She's so excited about working at the new movie theater in our area. I'm excited it's less than 10 minutes away!!! Here's some pics of our working girl that I took on her first day of training:

Blessing My Home

I have a Facebook friend who posts daily about "blessing her home" which is a phrase I first heard on the Flylady website. For so long, I've tried unsuccessfully to follow the Flylady tips, but hearing someone else actually doing it (that I know), makes a world of difference!

Now that I'm a SAHM by default (hubby's illness requires me to be), I have more of a determination to make my home a comfortable, safe haven for my family. I've begun by scheduling my day, something I had let slide for years. Now, with meds having to be administered at specific times along with meals, I've had to adjust considerably. Since I put my scheduling off for so long, I think God found a temporary solution to guide me in the right direction. I say temporary, because I'm believing God for my husband's total healing!

Of course, my new found determination to clean, organize and schedule gets thwarted when watching HGTV with its gorgeous houses and fabulously decorated rooms. I get overwhelmed by looking at all I have to do and how far from reality those tv homes & rooms really are. I have to realize that those shows really just allow me to see my house for the loving home it is for my family, and the sense of security it gives us. Now it's time for me to stop comparing it to the large and stately mansions I sometimes think I need, and realize it has character and love that we are putting into it daily. There's no better way to bless your home, than to see it as a blessing!

Be Blessed!!!

Organized My Purse!

I recently read an article in Allure magazine about how to organize your handbag. Being the purse fanactic that I am, this article immediately caught my eye. The writer stated that she owned several high-priced handbags that she likes to keep neat and damage free. Her secret is to group everything in it's own case or pouch. This is something that I had already begun to do in the past, due to visual motivation. I say visual motivation, because I have a friend at church, who used to pull ziploc baggies out of her purse (in church) with candy, pens, makeup, etc. She had the right concept, but her style was a little off kilter! LOL I quickly intervened. During the intervention, I figured I might as well practice what I preached, so I purchased some makeup bags for both of us. This was around Christmas time, so I just gave them to her as a gift. I found a set of sparkly pink ones for myself at Walmart and I gave her black ones. You can never go wrong with black. I don't know if she uses them or not, but I've instructed her son to withhold the ziplocs from her, so I've done my job! LOL

I've always used a cosmetics bag in my purse, because makeup can easily spill and damage the interior of a bag. Throughout the years, I've owned several of them. The current one came with a VS fragrance set (Sexy Little Things Noir), I purchased for myself after Christmas 2010. It's nice and roomy, and sparkly, of course!

Since I wear glasses, I have to wear prescription sunglasses as well. I try to remember to keep them in my bag, so I don't forget them. When I used to sell Mary Kay, I won a pretty pink cheetah case along with a pair of sunglasses. Since I couldn't wear them, I gave them away, but kept the case. It comes in handy for my lens cleaning cloth, that I tuck in with the shades.

Of course I carry a coin purse, in addition to my wallet. I like to buy the ones that have the I.D. window for my driver's license, so I can switch it to my smaller purses I carry on Sundays. This one is a Vera Bradley that my daughter bought me from the gift shop she works at in the Great Wolf Lodge. Love the purple (my fav color)in the print. See my "Aldi" quarter in the pocket? Hee Hee! Love that store!

Lastly, I recently purchased a bag for my pens. The writer of the article said that she had a pen to leak in her Hermes bag (oh, the horror), which prompted me to start my search. I found this nifty (yes, I said nifty) little bag in the makeup bags at Wal-Mart. Extremely cheap well priced at $1.97!

Here's the finished organized product (inside my favorite purple Dooney)!

Yes, since I'm a bonafide pursaholic, I do tend to baby my handbags. Some have been lovingly purchased by my wonderful hubby, so the least I can do is take exceptional care of them. Hopefully, I've shared a few tips that may inspire others to organize their bags as well! Happy organizing! Be Blessed!!!

Feminine Friday

Today I'm posting an outfit I wore to church recently. I found the jacket on clearance at Cato's and had oodles of fun accessorizing it!

This is my first time using the blogger app on my iPhone, so forgive me if it posts strangely! Lol! I have an icky feeling the pics are going to seriously be out of order!

Be Blessed

11 Years Old Already???

Where has the time gone? Eleven years ago a sweet little boy made his way into the world a little earlier than expected. Although three weeks would go by before we would be blessed to make his acquaintance, God already had a plan for our family. We got a call from Child Protective Services about a three week old baby boy named Tyree. After scrambling around trying to find clothes and diapers to fit a preemie, we picked him up from the hospital. Now, eleven years later, we have a very energetic, inquisitive and verbal fifth grader. I say verbal, because the boy talks non stop!!! LOL Happy Birthday Darian Emmanuel Taylor!

Birthday dinner at Ihop!

Hanging out with his sisters

Christmas 2001

Mommy and my little guy

All 3 lbs and 5oz of him!