Life ¤ Love ¤ Laughter ¤ Linds

This week, I've had some crappy days.  Not over-the-top horrible, nothing life threatening or catastrophic.  Just a run of little things to drive me batty or leave me frustrated.  And even though it's been a productive week because of the amount of work I've accomplished, it's been a non-productive week because I've been setting things aside to finish when I'm not ready to just tear it all apart!  So half-accomplished projects, but many on the go... Earlier in the week, I entered a contest on Facebook.  I have NEVER, EVER won on FB, but figure if I want people to support my small business page, I should do the same.  And in the world of social media, activity is activity is activity, no? Well.... I WON!!!!  Sarita Baby picked me (randomly) as the winner of their Sock Monkey clutch .  Which is absolutely perfect because I have two little monkeys who will think it's adorable (although they're not so little any more!) I don't think I'...

This verse caught my eye, or perhaps my heart.  It was my verse of the day today from the handy Bible Android app I use (www.YouVersion.com).  (Side note:  my not-so-handy Android Blogger app keeps crashing so I've rewritten this 5 times!) Proverbs 28:6 NKJV Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. In a society awash in mediocrity, ready to sugar-coat scandal, slingers of spin, where a little white lie doesn't matter unless your caught, in a society devoted to success at any cost, where status is based on wealth and appearance rather than accomplishments or character, this statement kinda makes you go, "Huh..." Some days it's hard to remember that your actions speak louder than words.  Integrity & character go hand-in-hand along with honesty, truthfulness, principles, and being incorruptible (this sounds like a great group of superheroes... can you tell I have b...

I love Etsy.  I could  waste soooo much time just browsing and dreaming and bookmarking.  Never mind the time I could invest in curating treasuries, looking for specific products, or making my own Etsy store.   It's fabulousness at it's best!  You can't imagine the shriek - yes, I shrieked - when Kevin said, "You know they have an Android app for that site you're always on?"  Eeeeek! I know friends, acquaintances, friends of acquaintances, and random strangers I've bumped into at craft fairs who operate as Etsy vendors.  (...aaand when I can find the time to finish the craft-room overhaul, Wisdom & Whimsy will be venturing onto Etsy as well!)  Here is my round-up of ecstatically exciting local favourites - Etsy style - from those friends, and friends of friends, etc.   Sarita Baby .   I was first introduced to Sarita Baby at one of the local consignment shops when Kaleb (or maybe Justin) was first born.  ...

The holidays are all wrapped up... and I'm on a mission!  I have to admit I was horrible at sticking to my budget for Christmas 2012... I didn't use lists, I didn't track my receipts, and I'm paying for it (well Kevin is, much to his chagrin) now.   I resolve (yes, that's right - a resolution from one who procrastinates and never, ever keeps a resolution.  Maybe I'm just not so resolute in my resolving as I should be.)  But, yes, I resolve to stick to a plan... think beyond commercial... and stay in a budget for 2013 gift-giving. So where does a girl begin?  I begin with plenty of time!  No last minute hmm-hawing a week before family gatherings.  Thus a brainstorm one night in January. We buy gifts for the nephews and nieces.  On my side of the fam, I like to include a book in every gift because everyone should love books as much as Auntie Lindsey.  Everyone.  Unfortunately, I'm realising as the kid's are getting older, they don't wa...

The craziness of the holidays are over.  Our family vacation is complete.  We've battled the flu (and various other ailments).  Last week my kids even made it through a whole week of school (a miracle, it seems this winter.)  With the craziness of life, we've been reaching for convenience - shopping without a list and thinking what's easy?  Our budget (and mealplan) have gone way off track. Now that things seem to be settling into routine again, I took the time to write a grocery list and plan our meals for the next 10 or so days.  I always feel so much better when I have a full fridge, full cupboard and know we won't be eating pizza!  My latest grocery shop won't get me through completely - I'll have to run out for a top-up at some point - but the bulk of it is done and there is no pesky wondering about "what's for dinner?" Here is our menu (in no particular order) to bring us through until next pay period: Spicy Cashew Chicken  with Cucu...

We all know how crazy, hectic, impossibly busy this time of year seems to be.  For some reason, I'm finding myself stressed and worried more than usual this year.  I feel disappointed that I don't seem to have it all together and I was convinced life was supposed to be simpler with the move - almost a year ago!  It hasn't been.   I've gotten busier (yay!) with my Wisdom & Whimsy projects, I've started doing data entry from home part time, and on top of that I'm still trying to earn the mom of the year award while wearing my Martha Stewart hat - and I'm failing miserably on both those fronts!  And just because life in and of itself isn't enough of a whirlwind, illness decides to pop by for a surprise visit like an unwanted house guest, seemingly sucking the life and energy out of us all ever so slowly.   Oh, and we're going on vacation over the Christmas holidays and I'm a detail person - I need lists, checkmarks, plans in place well in advanc...

There are some fabulous home & decor stores out there with even more fabulous websites with extra, extra fabulous catalogue rooms and crazy ridiculous price tags!  Pier 1, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn... and one of my favourites, Ballard Designs.  Besides the inspiration I find in magazines, Pinterest, and through some talented bloggers I follow,  I could spend hours drooling over browsing the websites of these non-budget-friendly outlets while looking for ideas for our home... all the while hoping I can pull off a similar look without breaking the bank.   That little voice inside my head is always niggling away with thoughts like "I wonder if I could do that for cheaper..." or "That would be easy to do myself..." This is our current dining nook.  For our living space, we have one big open concept room off the deck (which we use as our main entrance).  The room includes our living/tv room and eat-in kitchen, both of which need some serious upda...