Excited is an understatement!

In two days Spring Break will officially start.

Yes, I realize that I'm not a student, but I do work in a school.

No, I'm not pining for a chance to lay out on a Daytona or Siesta Key beach, but I am pining for some different things.

Like sleeping in.

Yes, totally like sleeping in.  Past 5am that is.

So, without further ado, here are some of my "to do's" for next week.

I've got a good 16 hours a day to get busy getting all those things done I've just been dreaming about finishing.

I've got seedlings to replant since they'll need to be in the ground sooner rather than later (with all this crazy weather we've been having.)

I've got some meals to make and freeze for easy pull-out on softball game nights.

I've got Etsy.com stock to start and maybe finish for my up and coming "store" opening this summer.

Things like fabric flower pins...

 vintage looking bulletin boards...

cabochon flower rings

and maybe some cute aprons if I so desire.

 After all that's done, I might rearrange the living room (since it's been a couple months...), sweep out the registers, and get rid of the clutter in the bedroom.

I need to take some more clothes to the resale shop and Goodwill. 

At the end of the list...more work in the flower beds.  More weeding, and the addition of some duck mulch. 
Ah, the joys of country life.

The end result...the feeling of something accomplished.  A great feeling!  What will you all be doing?

A Turn of Events

This week has been one of great highs and even lower lows. 

Today was a low.

I know it's Sunday, and aren't we all supposed to be happy on Sunday?  We're supposed to go to church and sing our songs and feel close to God.

Well, I had no problem being close with God, in fact I prayed quite fervently BEFORE church.  But I was praying for all the frustration inside to be taken away.

I was overloaded with frustration.  Frustration at someone who let me down AGAIN.  Frustration that my new job wasn't going quite how I planned.  (It is MUCH harder than I expected it would be...), and frustration that I am running out of time in the day, (and in the weekend), and my house cleaning, blog posting, and general happiness are falling behind.

So, needless to say, I felt as if I was overflowing and ready to explode.

Tears ran down my face during church.  I felt humbled before God, and knew he kept telling me to "let it go." 

It's hard, though, isn't it, to cut through the crap sometimes.

After church we went to a bridal shower for one of my cousins who I feel close to, and who is so great with my kids.  He actually calls them on the phone to come over and play video games with him.  In their eyes, he rocks.  We had a good time at the shower, and there was good food, of course, but I was still holding on to some of that stinkin' frustration.

Then we went home.  It was a gorgeous day today...sunny and warm.

I put on shorts and took a walk around the perimeter of my house, looking at the flower beds I STILL had not weeded, even though last week was in the 80's all week.

I knew in the back of my head it was Sunday, and you DON'T work on Sundays.  They are a day of rest.  But you see, even though weeding my flower beds IS work, it's also a great "cure" for what ails me sometimes.

I got to work.  I got my gardening gloves on, got my hand cultivator, and a small spade shovel.  I beat those weeds into submission, and all the while, my frustration at all those "tiny things" slowly dissipated.  I felt rejuvenated, and close to God with my hands in the dirt.

I got alot done, and I only have a little more left to do on Spring Break in a week.

It felt GOOD.

Cooking...with a side of manure

Yep, the title says it all, and so would Ree.  Ree Drummond that is.  AKA The Pioneer Woman.

That's right...we're like this (fingers crossed) but not really.  I've never met this woman in my life...but kinda want her life.

City girl, met a stud of a man when she was least expecting it, fell in love, got married, moved to a sprawling ranch his family owns, started a blog, gained notoriety, wrote 2 cookbooks, wrote a children's book, wrote her own love story, and then started a food network show...I mean, come on.  She's the girl next door!

I want to be her.

So, I bought her first cookbook a year ago.  Or maybe a year and a half ago.

LOVE IT!  Her meatballs are to die for, and many other things as well.  It's a MAN'S kinda food as Brent would say.  Meat and potatoes!

So, I bought the newest one tonight.  Like 5 minutes ago.

I'm pretty pumped.  I like new recipes.  I feel I'm in a rut too often.  I mean, how many times a week can we have tacos?  (no, you don't feel this way...)

So, while my husband is glued to the TV for March Madness, I'll be perusing my new cookbook...written by my idol.

YES YOU ARE PIONEER WOMAN...YES YOU ARE!