some faves

These are a few of my Favorite things.. lately

This has been my lunch for like the past two weeks... love! the pitas are from "hungry girl "and only have like 45 calories. the balsamic is delicious (yet another thing i miss from Coronado). I feel like I'm in college again .. eating the same thing every day (then it was a bagel sandwich.. sometimes with italian dressing or for a change BBQ sauce. followed by frozen yogurt with cinnamon toast crunch.) Ive been trying to eat a little healthier and this has been easy at lunch. i love hummus! never thought i would say that!! it's a good spread to add just a little flavor and protein.
(it also reminds me of my favorite friends episode... Phebe gets hummus on her fancy dress and puts a big christmas ornament over it. when asked about it she says "hummus. i got the hummus." lol. it's also the one where Rachel "corresponds" to prove a point. and Joey does Lunges! in all of Chandlers clothes!!).... That was a blast from the past fave. and now that i like hummus, i can say i have done all three!

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Peanut Butter Cheerios!!! have you tried them?? oh my. yum. and with chocolate almond milk... it's like having a peanut butter cup for a snack! again.. love.

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should i list something besides food?? goodness!
got my hair trimmed the other day. not only did i get to go alone.. thanks to a new friend! but i also finally like it. i like the length. but my fave thing here is this new product i bought,..
it's a mattifying powder that adds lift. it's made by Osis. you just sprinkle a wee bit where you want lift, tossle your hair a bit with your fingers.. and boom! it even has some sort of "memory" so that you can fix it through out the day. it's awesome!
since we are talking hair... look at these sweet curls...

an in progress mail center

a few weeks ago when i told you about
Organize the Whole Shebang pocketguide i started a project i had been wanting to do for a while. ... a mail center. it is the first project Krista at the whole shebang encourages ... get that paper work under control! get rid of the piles! well, if you saw the rest of my kitchen counters right now.. you'd know i'm struggling! but my mail center is looking good :)


i want to find a few more organizational baskets for the top. i'm just having trouble finding the size. i think i need to order some on line. any ideas or suggestions??

here's what it started out as..


i found it on the side of the road a while ago. i picked it up... it's been a secret wish to find something like that and make it useful again since i got into the blog land this summer. i love reading about refinishing and re-purposing these "junk finds"!
someone else's junk turned into my mail center!

it's not a huge transformation... not like some out there. but still it was a first. it was fun!

i sanded it (though i don't even know if i had to since it's not real wood! lol. i took the back off. and then had to shave off about an inch off the bottom. my measuring skills leave a little to be desired.. i thought it was going to fit perfectly in the spot i chose. oops!


i gave it two coats of black spray paint. covered easily.. i used one that had a primer in it as well.










i am going to find more baskets.. and then i'll post it again. just wanted to show you...
i actually did it! acted on it.

even now it's helping reduce the clutter ..
so i can't wait to get baskets of some sort and
label them!

nap time wreath .. withOUT a glue gun!

withOUT a glue gun?!?! me? yep. i decided it was best. here's why.

i've been wanting to make one of these wrapped with yarn wreaths for a while... there are so many different kinds out there i've seen. love them. i found this yarn that has the colors of my living room (it's called "woodsy sylvestre".... found at walmart). well, as i started it, i thought "this would be good for a st. patrick's day wreath"... but.. i love the yarn and wanted it in the living room. Enter NO glue gun :) i decided i would make a st. patrick's day wreath that will trans form into my living room idea. oh yeah! i felt like a genius! i used only straight pins and the clovers are picks i found at JoAnne's.


I started wrapping the yarn around the wreath form. I used a straight pin to hold it.. and then just started wrapping!






i needed a little embellishment ;)

i took a thick ribbon and a fancy stencil to make the "G" for our last name. i used clear Tacky glue to make the G.. & sprinkled it with extra fine glitter.





The G










attached on the back











St. Patrick's day in the house!

i don't have any SP decorations...
but since we are Griffins...

i figured i should embrace the luck of the irish








i love how it turned out! the stripes make it look like it took a really long time :) nope, just one nap time.



Are you doing any St. Patrick's Day decorating??






this is linked to Sundae Scoop Link Party, Made by you Monday, Get your craft on

the hour i first believed.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.



T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

i know there are many more verses to that timeless hymn... but let's be honest.. it gets long. and it's the second verse that i can't make it past without feeling that lump in my throat and tears form in my eyes. it's a memory of my grandmother's funeral..

it's a common hymn played at funerals, i imagine. but for me it's more of a hope, rather than a memory. after the funeral was over, at the little reception, i was talking to my mom's cousin - a nephew of my grandma's- who gave a eulogy at the service. he told me of a time 13 months prior when my grandma was in the hospital awaiting a risky surgery for her 83 year old frame for pancreatic cancer. he told me how they spoke of Jesus and her belief in Him. as the conversation progressed she realized that she had never told Jesus 'thank you' for what He did on the cross for her, for all. and even though they share a birthday day celebration, she had never met with Him personally, only by tradition. so then before an uncertain day, she did.

I do believe that God gave her that year after her surgery, months of fair health, to lavish her with grace. in honor of "the hour she first believed". in that year she was able to meet my sister's future husband, mend a relationship with her sister, spend her last shared birthday with Jesus and with all of us. For me, most significant was that she was able to meet Garrett, her first great-grandson. While we were in ohio for that christmas... she got to see him roll over (i remember her calling me into the living room many false alarms, but he finally did it). i will remember her holding G and singing to him. and saying something in Italian that she said her mom would say. i also remember, laughing, as she passed G off to me saying "he's fat."

i think i knew that was her last chritmas. her health failed soon after that. clearly i remember leaving for the airport but going back in as she was sitting at the table in her pink "housecoat" forcing herself to eat - to give her a last hug and kiss. i admit, i knew. but i remember discussing how she seemed different that time. peaceful. not harboring anger. i talked with her in the living room more than on many other occasions.
.............................
flash forward to march 2, 2005. i understood why. i understood her peace. i felt grace and understood it was from "the hour she first believed".





A locket of my grandmother's.
she gave it to me, and i had a pic of matt & me in it.

under it was still a pic of her.

addie loves this necklace and has been wearing it
all the time... it's her "annie" locket.


Addie never met her, but she knows
this is her great grandma
who is in heaven
with Jesus.