Thoughts on Kim Kardashian and a give-away!

Good morning sweet peeps.  Hope you all had an amazing Easter.  We did!  It's Monday morning and as you read this my girlies and I are on our way to meet a very special someone!  Eeeeeek:))  We are road trippin' people!!  Spring Break has sprung and we are pouncing on it.  Can't wait to tell you all the details...if you want follow along on IG...my name is farmgirlpaints.

So in honor of my sweet friend I thought I'd try my hat at random again. She's sorta the queen of that:)

 

It dawned on me the other day that one of my biggest fears about moving here was losing my sunset views. If you follow along with me on IG you know that was a really silly fear of mine. 

I may not see the ground in my views, but they are still spectacular.  When we lived in MN our house was positioned perfectly to take in the most amazing sunsets night after night.  We overlooked an old farmhouse with cows and barns and all the things I hold dear, and it was just a very special place.  I really mourned that view initially.  I know that sounds crazy, but the sun and I have a thing.  We just do;)  I thought the trees were going to ruin my view, but I was wrong.  They are different, but wonderful all the same.

 

 

It became clear to me that we may have a certain idea in our heads of the way things have to be and God may have something entirely different in mind.  He knows what we love.  He knows what we need and even if it's not exactly the way we want it, He's gonna take care of us.  Love Him! 

I've really been having fun painting lately.  I can't tell you how good it feels to swirl paint again.  I've had a few people ask me if I would do custom pet paintings and I can tell you with 100% certainty that no I will not do custom pet, house or really any other paintings.  At least right now.

I felt such relief when I finally decided to stop the home paintings.  It was fun initially and then I made it WORK!  And any time painting becomes work I hate it!  That sounds nuts, but it's true.  When I paint what I want, when I want it's pure joy.  Pure BLISS!  I will figure out how to get prints made though.  So keep a look out for that:)

This week I finally took time and pampered myself BIG.  Honey gave me a gift certificate for Christmas to spend at a day spa and it was way past due that I checked myself in! 

Let's just say I'm not good at taking care of certain things.  Like my feet;)  They were so bad the poor girl had to get three different kinds of "cheese" grater things out.  My friend Tamara made fun of me soooo bad.  She's good at that;)  It's just my genetics I guess to have really callused, really thick heels.  Not any more though...my feet are soft and smooth like a baby's butt now.  It's moving up on my priority list to do this more often.  We need to take the time.  It's pretty important.

Okay so my honey travels alot and when he's gone I have nothing to watch on tv.  Nothing!  Because all our shows are on DVR I have to wait for him!  I'm explaining this because I feel like I need to clarify that Kim Kardashian is not the first thing I would pick to watch, but when you are doing the elliptical machine you need something to entertain.  And entertain she does. 


Is it weird that she breaks my heart??  Literally my heart hurts for this girl.  She is so wrapped up in the superficial...the clothes, her outward appearance...the glam that I fear she is going to go mental someday.  What in the world is she going to do when she looks in the mirror in the future and she's old?  Outward beauty fades.  I can attest to that.  I'm starting to see it myself.  OR that day when her fame will disappear...remember Paris Hilton?  I can, but just barely.  Anyway I just want to open her vacant eyes and fill it with something...Someone that can change her focus.  Let's pray for Kim.

The Journey of Letting Go Trailer from Revilo Designs on Vimeo.

Okay if you're still with me you deserve a cookie or something.  So here it is;)  My multi-talented friend Jeanne is offering 5 spots to her new "Letting Go" class.  I have no doubt it's going to be AMAZING!  I know alot of you have that inner desire to create and you don't know where to start.  Jeanne is really good at taking you by the hand and teaching you some amazing techniques.  So even if you don't win check into it.  Sign up.  It will be so fun to spread those art wings:)  To enter leave me a comment and be random.  What's rolling around in your mind??  I'd love to know.  I'll pick the winners after I get back from my ROAD TRIP!!!!! 

Linking today...

Be a blessing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

freshly painted fingers and toes

scalp massages

friends that make you giggle

a soon to be "neighbor"

time with my girlies

meeting a special blogger face to face

 

bigchick7

Hello friends...long time no see.  I hope you've missed me;)  For those of you without Instagram you've missed a lot!!  I literally feel like I've been around the world.  I'm not the best at readjusting after long trips.  The time difference screws with me greatly and I'm just...well...possibly getting too old for travel.  Naaaahhhh!  Totally just messing with you there;) 


I should be posting vacation pictures (I've got a ton), but I've had a post on my heart for awhile and I just can't ignore it anymore.  A lot of you know my girlie big chick is on Instagram.  Her name is bigchick7. 

When we first decided to let her get a phone it was an adjustment.  I mean what 12 year old really needs a phone right?  It's not like she's calling anyone, but the opportunity presented itself and we thought it might help her make friends and keep connected to the old ones. 




It wasn't long after that I found Instagram.  LOVED IT!  It has completely changed my life.  I know that sounds melodramatic, but it has.  The ability to just snap a moment and "postcard" my life...well it's almost better than blogging.  I said almost;)  Not to mention the wonderful new friends I've met and the old ones that I can stay in better contact with.  It's really aMAZing!  

 


With a little fear and trepidation I decided to let my big chick open an Instagram account.  I was a little scared because well you know what young people can do with pictures...not that I didn't trust her I just had no frame of reference.  And then when my people started to find her and follow and comment...a whole new level of oh no is she being exposed to too much...is she vulnerable??  It can be a sick sad world and the ability to read and leave comments was scary at first.

It didn't take long before it started to appear...and by it I mean my girl's gift shining bright.  I would look at her pictures and be transported.  Instead of a normal snapshot of an average thing, she showed the extraordinary in a new, and gloriously wonderful perspective.

She was a light seeker.  

A beauty explorer. 

A sweet spirit with her innocent captions. 

A photo ARTIST!!! 

 And best of all, to my utmost surprise...a BOLD witness for Christ!!

 

I've had several of you mention her gift and talent to me and I have to say as a momma...this new feeling of pride is almost overwhelming at times.  I look at her and want to burst I'm so in awe of her.  I've always been proud, don't get me wrong, but when you see your children unfold their wings and innately use the gifts God has buried in them...it's surreal! 

 

 

All of these pictures are hers.  Taken by her cheap little phone.  I wonder what she would do with a real camera and actual knowledge under her belt??

 

My little chick is her muse.  If you follow her feed at all you'll see countless pics of her doing everyday mundane tasks and somehow big chick makes it magical and interesting. 

And a few of her folks...which crack me up. 

The other night I sat on her bed and took her face in my hands and started weeping.  I had a complete mental flashback to when my mom used to do that to me as a child.  I had just looked through her feed...through her gift and it came.  The big tears of gratitude.  The big tears of thank you Lord for giving me this daughter.  Words of praise and affirmation covering her.  We need to do that as parents.  We need to take the time to see them...to praise them and to be thankful for what incredible gifts they are.

Anyhoo I just HAD to share.  I'm officially a fan. My girl has me swooning and it's all kinds of wonderful!  Sorry for the sap.  I'm a momma what can I say:)

***Oh and the winners of the Katie Evans photography book are:

 

Kaitlin @ Homemaker Design

Deborah @ Pure Hunny Bee

Being Happy

 

Have a blessed day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

777.  the gift of capturing life through a lens

778.  a momma's pride

779.  HOME

780.  little blue sleeping pills

781.  lots of orders this week...the Lord knows just when I need it;)

 

 

operation zip those pants

Okay here I go...once again on another weight loss movement.  If you've been following along with me for any length of time you know there have been many, many, many, many of these posts!  Geesh that's embarrassing.  The fact is I will always try to be my best.  That's just the way I'm wired.  It was about day 5 of my latest vacation, and I could feel the switch starting to flip once again.  And that's what you need "the big serious, I mean business, I'm not messing around switch" to click into place in your brain.  I just knew that when I got home I was going to have to get on it.  HARD!

So I went through all my clothes.  Painfully trying on pants, shorts and sweats...all one after the other not fitting.  CRAP!  Four entire drawers worth!!!!  It all stems back to the move and the approximately 10 pounds I gained from that stressful year, and then in June I went home.  What is it about home that does me in??  Oh I remember...mom made lemon squares, and there were family gatherings with CAKE, and then there were friend days where we did nothing but pig out, and by the end of the week I had gained 8 pounds.  8 POUNDS!  Is that even possible in 7 days??  Holy cow.  Anyway I didn't worry too much because I thought the second I went back to the gym and ran a little it would all magically melt away.  Well guess what?  It's now the end of summer and they're still there and they've even added a few friends!!  They are having a little party...laughing at me.  And I don't like it one bit!


What I've come to realize after living away for approximately 10 years is that there will always be a weekend trip, a vacation or family coming in.  It happens almost every month.  There will always be a reason to celebrate and I cannot continue to eat whatever I want on those occasions.  I'm almost forty people!  And "they" say, whoever they are, is that 40 is when it all hits the fan and you can't get it off like you used to.  Guess what??  YOU CAN'T.  They were RIGHT!  So I came up with #operationzipthosepants and if you follow me on Instagram (farmgirlpaints) you've seen my hashtags.  You've seen my ridiculous pictures of me all sweaty...throwing out healthy ideas and trying to be good. 



 I've got a goal friends, and it's not to be skinny.  It's not unreasonable.  It's to fit into the clothes I already own!  Inevitably when I write a post like this I will get some sweet/snarky comments and emails telling me how good I already look.  They tell me to love myself and to just go buy bigger pants.  They will tell me not to be so self centered, and that I should devote my time and energy to something more important.  They will tell me to love myself and to not be so hard etc...And this is what I say to all those sweet kind saboteurs...I JUST WANT TO FIT INTO MY PANTS!  I know I'm not fat.  I know I'm beautiful inside and out...blah, blah, blah;)  BUT I refuse to turn 40 and become frumpy, and how do you think that happens?  By ignoring one 8 pound gain after another. 


So there you have it.  If you want to join in I'd love it if you use the #operationzipthosepants hashtag too, and document your journey with me.  I might even make a button and you can link up with me when I post.  Just share what you are doing.  Encourage each other.  We can do it together, and before you know it those post it notes will be coming off and we'll be able to wear our clothes again;)  More posts (workouts and nutrition) to come...

Have a blessed day.

 

757.  my honey who is encouraging me
758.  that flip switching!
759.  greek yogurt
760.  pistachios
761.  ezekial bread
762.  an able body that allows me to push myself

me artsy

I am all hyped up on caffeine right now girlies, so bear with me:)  It's been a weird week.  Revisiting the past with my last post put me in kind of a tailspin.  You all know I'm a nut like that.  So along with going down memory lane it made me re-evaluate my present and future, and to be honest I think I'm having a mini midlife crisis.  I won't be looking for a new man or buying a fancy sportscar anytime soon, but I do feel the need for CHANGE.

I'm SO not where I want to be in a few areas of my life. I'm feeling a little bored. HATE that word, but it's true. There is a giant hole of usefullness that needs filled up in me and it's probably due to a whole slew of things...big move, kids are getting more independant and don't need me as much, there's a master list staring at me and I never seem to get anything done etc... Regardless I'm keenly aware that I'm pregnant with SOMETHING and dangit I want that BABY. I need something to nuture, to take care of...to pour myself into...to make me feel ALIVE! Does any of this make sense, or have I really gone off the deep end??

And no I'm not actually pregnant.  I just had the lovely annual visit today.  So fun meeting a new doctor for the first time...NOT:/

I've mentioned this before, but it's worth restating...I LOVE INSTAGRAM.  It has become a big deal to me.  It's so fun connecting with people so quickly and easily.  I love looking at pictures.  It's revolutionary!!!!  If you don't have it...GET IT.  It's super cool. 


This month I've been doing the photo a day thing.  It just a fun way to keep you snapping pics.  Today's word was addiction.  So that got me thinking about stuff I enjoy and I've noticed a little theme.  Outside of my obvious biggest loves of my family and the Lord, I love stuff that I can control...that is all me.  For instance Pinterest.  Uh ME!!!!!  Blogging...ME!  Instagram...ME!!!!!!!!  Not sure if that's a bad thing, but I see a common link.

And here they all are in one pic;)  My phone, computer...oh and my new fav drink...thank you sweet friend for telling me about it.

Mix 1/3C coconut milk, 1/2C chocolate almond milk, 1 1/2 scoops chocolate protein powder, 1/2-1T instant coffee and some ice cubes and maybe a little water.  SHAKE AND FEEL THE RUSH!!!!  Never been an iced coffee drinker, but I crave this.  I NEED this to get me through the afternoon.  It's good.



*****BTW this recipe will be my last for awhile.  I'm officially done with "FEED MY FAMILY FRIDAY"!  I've got something else in mind.  It's fun and it's ME;)

One area that I would like to be doing more with is my creative side.  My paintbrushes miss me.  They do...I know it.  I believe with all my heart that if you just start making stuff the inspiration comes.  And Lord knows I need some of that, so I'm starting a new thing called Me ARTSY!  Every now and then I'm going to post a craft link up.  It won't be every week, because I HATE deadlines and nothing squashes my creativity more than knowing on Friday I have to write a post about ____________!  So keep your eyes peeled. 



I saw this little dog notebook at Target the other day.  SO cute!  Anyway it inspired me to do a paper craft of my sweet dog Fergie.  I haven't started yet.  Hope it turns out cute.  Join me if you like.   I'll post on it soon and you can link up with me. 

Have a blessed day.

668.  my first "fruit" of the year;)  i ate it in three bites.

669.  going to the beach again this weekend.  cannot wait!

670.  my breakfast date this morning

671.  BIG BROTHER

672.  our first moonwalk with the creepy "sheep herd frog" sound.  scared the crap out of us, but made a memory