whatever

just moved in.

we are still loving the neighbor's chickens.

the kids keep asking when we are getting OUR chickens??
i think....why should we get chickens when the neighbors already have some!
if some one would build me a coop and tell me how....i might consider it.
but then what do you do about the dogs?
and what about when we go on trips?
see....complicated.
it's just easier to enjoy the neighbor's for now.


but look who just moved in across the street from my front door!!!


this is LITERALLY the view from my front door.  (say that like rob lowe...)


i went out to the fence to see what happens when cows live across the street.
they saw me.
and just kept eating and slowly walking side-by-side-touching-non-stop in a line got closer and closer.




i knelt down and covered my face with the camera but still right out in the open on the other side of the fence.
the fence is barbed wire so i wasn't hiding.
they seemed very curious about the camera.
when my face wasn't covered they would get startled and back down a little.

especially 109.

we were about two feet apart.


eating but keeping an eye on the crazy camera lady.....




they were all so close together it made ME feel claustrophobic!  

i love the grass stained knees!

what a show off you are number 132.


my driveway....with cows.


the spirea bushes bloomed last week.

and another sunset picture.
the cows would be on the left side of the road....our house on the right.

this is my outside area that needs work.

my mom said "i thought you were taking a break?"  
i guess maybe i could take a break from gardening....but i doubt it.
i was planning on doing some kind of gardening out here.
this little space is SCREAMING to be worked on!
i don't think i can leave it alone.
after SNAP i may have some time to work on it....if i decide to.

this past weekend we had such a beautiful night that we decided to have a campfire.
with s'mores.
behind the barn.

it was pretty much a perfect night.
you can see the whole sky filled with stars when you are out here.

pretty amazing.

i may even agree to do some tent camping in the yard this summer.

maybe.....

 

*****************************************

btw....i just made it to Utah.
:)
it's going to be very fun!!! 
bring on the bloggers.
or maybe i will just go hide in my room instead....i get so weird about big groups of women!

i can do this.

deep breaths.

smiley face.

i need to go find more deoderant.
i am sweating.

 

my version of WIWW

Lindsey at the The Pleated Poppy has done What I Wore Wednesday for....ever.
i don't know how long.
and i have NEVER participated.
because i just don't dress that cute on a daily basis.  
maybe twice a week i dress nicer than my workout clothes/sweats.

and of those two days...i never take pictures.

so i thought....since i am all packed and ready for SNAP....nerves are much less anxious....thanks for praying.
i thought i would show my version of WIWW.
:)

suitcase style.


OUTFIT #1

 cardigan - Forever 21
tank -  Matilda Jane

jewelry  - Crystal B


OUTFIT #2

 dress - Old Navy
cardigan - JCPenney

flower - Made4Adoption

 

OUTFIT #3

striped top - Forever 21
denim jacket - Old Navy
white pants - Old Navy
Jewelry CATO

 

OUTFIT #4

coral top - Maurices
denim jacket - Old Navy
pants - Dress Barn (moo) 
jewelry - Francescas
flower - Julie at Joys Hope 

here is all of it with shoes.  :)
leopard flats - target, red wedges - Payless, sandals - Maurices, sparkle sequin converse - Target

it's kind of like fashion plates.  
did you love fashion plates like i did?
i used to make outfit after outfit....and color them in with colored pencil.
 i think i still have some.
i have never had my girls play with them???
what have i done to them?!
deprived.
i hope i can find them.
they need fashion plates in their life.


 

this is why i don't do WIWW.
it would be 5 photos of this....with different colored tanks.
i have a weeks worth of those capris.
i wear the jacket over and over.

 nice hair.

i will be leaving this "outfit" at home. 

and guess who i am rooming with at SNAP?
lindsey.
maybe she will school me on how to pull off WIWW.
i clearly need a lesson.

also rooming with Jeannett and Maggie.
 i think it's going to be loads of fun.
they can teach me about instagram and business-y things.
talk about a powerhouse room at the Spring Hill Suites!
boom.
how did i get in there???
i can't wait.
i am getting very excited today. 

although i am feeling SO guilty about leaving.
i am going to be gone for mr. duerksen's birthday.
the first time in....over 20 years!!!
that is huge.
i am a jerk.
ugh.
it's really bothered me.
he says it means nothing and he doesn't care.
"it's just like any other saturday"
but to me it is a BIG deal...like i am tearing up just thinking about it!
i want to celebrate him on his big day.
i want to be there.
my kids are going to have to step up. 
they better be good and make it nice!

the guilt.

alright....i am off to run (treadmill...wind is too much today)
and then finish up all the last minute things like...new spanx...and travel size hairspray.
and People Magazine.

 

a little lisa....

ahhhh...... Lisa Leonard ....i just LOVE her shop!!

she has a beautiful selection of jewelry & gifts making it easy to pick something perfect for the special person in your life....even if that special person is you!!


 
you could shop today for Mother's Day!
the mothers in your life would be so in love anything from Lisa!

today Lisa is letting me giveaway TWO gift certificates!
to be entered you need to sign up for her newletter .....that's it!

it's on the bottom right corner of her shops front page.
it will take you about 8 seconds...maybe 9.

then shop around.
find your favorite items.....then shop for your mom....your sister....your friends.....
:)

then make sure you leave a comment here that you signed up to receive lisa's newsletter.

and i will pick TWO winners later this week!

thanks LISA!!

(and surely you read her blog don't you?  well if you don't yet...YOU SHOULD!!  it's lovely.) 

 

 

tornado alley

we are ok.
there were tornados in kansas this weekend....LOTS of tornados....but not at my house.
this was one about 8 or 10 miles away.
craig and scott saw this one on the video driving home from scotts game. (which i was not at because i was in the basement!)

they did not make this video...it was just someone driving in a severe weather watch...that seemed surprised that there was a tornado!  whatevs. 

crazy.

that's kansas though.
every year.

i was in the basement with my other kids...telling them it was fine....relax....it's going to be fine.
my little girls worry.
A LOT.
i try to just be very calm and hope for the best.
we were watching HOP and i didn't mention the sirens.
then Scott came running in and yelled "I SAW THE TORNADO!"  and they were done for....
they ended up sleeping in my bed.

thanks for ALL the emails asking if we were okay....so sweet.

i am so thankful that EVERYONE is ok.  

 

now...the winner for LuciusART's wood block City Print.

NYC is my favorite city in the US, so I would want that- but I live in Joplin, MO and I would love that too! Maybe I need two...

Posted by: Carrie | April 12, 2012 at 03:41 PM

**********************************

email me Carrie and i will hook you up with Kevin!!

thanks for entering everyone!!!

 

 

i am trying SO hard not to be nervous about the SNAP conference this week.
lots of prayer here.

i am going to be spending extra amounts of time with God the next few days getting a clear vision of what HE wants me to share in my session.  
i am on a panel with Jeannett and Ethan about "Using Your Blog for Good."

i know, i know, I KNOW that God is able to take away these fears and nervousness.
He can and He will.
because HE brought me to this....God gets all the glory....i have to share that.

so....here's the deal.
if YOU are going to SNAP and YOU see me...PLEASE say  hello.
i think i will know 3 people that i have met in real life.
out of 300+ people that makes me feel extra nervous.
it's hard to leave your kids, husband and home and go some place NEW with lots of people.
at least it is for me.

so i promise to wear a big friendly smile and fill your ear with lots of chit chat if you promise to say Hello.
ok?

:)

AND WHAT WILL I WEAR?!!!
so many decisions. 

i did get some new shoes....maybe too many shoes.

 
i WISH Payless Shoes would be sponsoring me...but they are not.....BUT THEY SHOULD!

i just always seem to find great shoes there all the time.
i did a little online BOGO shopping.
just for me.


i think the glitter flats are my favorite.
but it's a hard choice.
the red wedges are REALLY cute and comfy and come in several colors.
even yellow.
and i LOVE the little yellow flower sandals too.
shoes sure do make me happy.
i am a dork. 

 

ok....have a great monday!

i just got back from a run and i feel like today is going to be a good one.
THE SUN IS SHINING!
woo-hoo!

thank you God for that.

 

 

thrifty.

i scored today.
:)

i stopped in at one of our local antique stores just after my run...sweaty and stinky...ipod on.
and over an hour later.... i left with fabulous goodies.

 

 

 


perfect shade of yellow chenille...


 
pink baby quilt...for pillows


 
white dot chenille...for a bed or pillows.


 
daisy juice glasses.


 
doilies and embroidery pretties.


 

 
this hunting dog was just too funny NOT to get.
what an interesting thing to embroider....


 

 
a quilt....on final sale for $10!!!

vintage table cloth...it looks green here but it's gray, turquoise and yellow.
YES.



i have a craft planned for hankies....i am stock piling them.
 


this was my favorite find today.
a big galvanized ALL bucket.
i have never seen one of these before.  
it was so ME.
no clue what i will do with it yet....but it was one of things you just HAVE to bring home.

also got a table for $7 that will soon be turquoise.
and a big gold mirror for $15 that will soon be yellow.

somedays you find nothing.
somedays you have to stop yourself because there is SO much great stuff there.
this was one of those days.

i love those days.

 

i like.

i like my new art from LuciusArt.
his whole shop is so fun.
he has lots of positive thinking quotes, funny animal prints and i love the City prints!



his work has been featured on HGTV's Design on a Dime!
that is pretty cool!

 his shop has bunches of great prints which i love....

the wood block state cut out is simple but awesome.
it stands on it's own or hang on the wall.


 
i think i know someone who might need this for her house....or maybe this one??


 
or even this one?

Go through Kevin's shop...LuciusArt....  and see what is your favorite!

because today we are doing a giveaway of the woodblock city print.
actually for TWO of the wood block city print!!!

YOU CAN GET YOUR CITY made onto any city print...because i promise...Newton was not on his top cities.
:)

what city would you pick if you won?
tell me in the comments!!

winner chosen this weekend!