Collages and Colleges...and some other random stuff!

Got home last night from settling Kate back into college life at Vandy in Nashville. As she unpacked and organized (aided by a trip to the Container Store) she found all kinds of stuff that she wanted me to bring home...I think the car was as full coming home as going up...well not quite :) 

So it's Tuesday morning and I am waking up slowly, on purpose.  I've got lots of things on my to-do list, but before I start whittling away I wanted to share a couple of random things...

My animals were waiting for me when I got in last night (Rich and I met for dinner as I drove into town and then he went to a "guys" get together for the  National Championship game).  Jack, Nicole's cat, has found a new place to sleep...Gabby can get to him here so he is always at the ready to defend his space!

This sweet thank you gift from my cousin's daughter Sarah was waiting for me when I got in...love these potholders...this craft is a rite of passage for girls...

And this was waiting on the front porch...the new dining room rug from Pottery Barn.  I had actually forgotten about it as I had ordered it back in???... and it was on back order!! I really want to open it and put it out...but not until Gabby (and I) have been to obedience training which is scheduled for February!

   Last week Chelsea and I tackled a project that I have been wanting to do for awhile. After spending time on Thursday gathering stuff (mostly from other places in the house) we hung this wall collage.  It is a tiny bit stressful to go from planning to pounding nails into the wall...but finally we committed and I love it!! It is a reflection of things I love and inspiration that I can use on a daily basis!! Included in the collage is a Monet picture that reminds me of our girls' trip to Europe, a gift from Rich..."you are the cheese to my macaroni"...and of course a couple of fave pictures of family! 

This framed needlepoint was given to Rich by his mom for Easter in 1981...

Birds...I love them and they have become a symbol of my three girls taking flight into the world...something Rich and I have been preparing them for...

well, all their lives!

So, up next...the continuation of January necessaries in order to complete my resolutions for the month...blood work and mammogram on Wednesday, and upstairs closets which could easily take the rest of the month!!  Stay tuned, Claire turns 2 tomorrow and I will have to post about that!!

New Year Resolutions...Happy 2012!

(from www.pinterest.com )

2012...a new year...new possibilities! While I haven't asked anyone else what their new year resolutions might be, I have to admit that I set them.  It is part of the January ritual.  Pack away Christmas; use all those hours of putting away to think about life!!   While I simplify my home by decluttering...I also attempt to declutter my life by looking at it in depth. 

In 2011 I was facing the reality that my youngest was graduating and heading off to college.  I was joining the famed "Empty Nest" club!  How was I going to survive many asked?  I was busy, I prayed about it, and at times I let the emotions have their moment...but I refused to let them move in!!

So here it is 2012 and I am ready for some new challenges! I have checked out other bloggers and have tagged a few nifty ideas here from www.pinterest.com

   I am thinking about the number 12...yes, I know this is not a unique idea!!   I am going to go about this in a different way this year.  Instead of coming up with 12 resolutions and assigning them to each month...I am going to take it one month at a time.  Hopefully this will leave me open to ideas and challenges that cross my path in the new year.

JANUARY 2012...I am resolving to get my "house" in order this month.  First up the actual house!  Christmas has been sorted through and put away and I must say it is better organized than it has been in several years! It is amazing how dusty that fabulous stuff gets sitting around for a month... I love that the house looks and feels CLEAN and SIMPLE.  I have my eye on two upstairs closets, but that has to wait for the girls to go back to school which happens this coming weekend. Before you say, she's already done with January...not quite!
Also in January I am getting myself in order.  So, starting with my appointment today, I am getting all of the health check-ups done. It's a process...and not always fun...but I am praying for a clean bill of health come the end of the month (I will happily take...you're just aging)!! 

 January doesn't sound like too much fun as I reread the above...however, there are some good things coming up this month including our sweet Claire's 2nd birthday celebration in Birmingham in a couple weeks, going with Chelsea to UGA (University of Georgia) to lend moral support as she interviews for a position in the Pharmacy school, and Rich and Dennis (Delaney) are heading up to Vandy to catch a basketball game with Kate later in the month (wives not invited...)!!  So the plan...make the list of must-do, not-so-fun stuff and mix in some things I love...before I know it February will be here!!

Happy New Year!!