Wallowing....

Who wants to read a post about THAT?!?

I generally try to be an upbeat person - find that silver lining, what you put out to the world, you get back... you know?  I've been fighting this silly upper respiratory thing for a few weeks now, and I'm just getting WORN OUT -  some of that 'find that silver lining' stuff is getting lost...

So I needed a recharge.

Last night, my husband took my older daughter to basketball practice... this is new for us.  Are there any other basketball moms out there?  Tell me if there is certain basketball etiquette I need to know ;).

But anyway, they were out of the house, it was just me, my 8 year old and the puppy.  Decided to make myself a nice hot cup of tea with honey, in my favorite "Rise and Smile" mug from Just Dandy Studio, and get some snuggles in...

Lucky for me, Zana was an eager participant!  This sweet little pup has stolen my heart (AND my slippers...  like CRAZY for them...my husband wants to know what I put on my feet to make her want them so bad! HA!)  Guess I know something I need come Winter :).

Melissa has got some great new things coming to the store today -- these sweet blocks -- I LOVE them!!!  I've got a few ideas, let's see if I can employ them, once I get my hands on some :)

Lastly, the new Dandy Mail Kit is available in the store today -- November is allllll about being thankful.  Order yours today to share some love with someone YOU are thankful for!  Lots of great goodies included in this kit!!!

I am thankful for my doctor, who prescribed me some antibiotics, and will be REALLY thankful when I am back to my old self!  Maybe I'll have to send her this month's card :).  What/who are YOU thankful for??

Make it a great day!!

Tracey ♥

And Then This Happened... A Photo Journey...

So, it's been a crazy ride since 2015 began.  My mom passed away in January, somewhat unexpectly, and it seems everyone I know has had something major happen to them this year.  I often remind myself that while I don't understand it, there's a plan at work here that is bigger than me.  I've learned this year that some things just aren't worth getting worked up over.  I've learned that there are things I would like to change, and am working on it.  You grow from every experience, right?

Well, sometimes you just have a day where you have so many hopes and plans, and then.....

So I started out the day like this:

Who here doesn't love coffee???  Alright, I suppose there are some of you out there, but this is how I need to start my day.  Then I went out to my desk, and it looked like this:

Yeah.  Keepin' it real.  An absolute  disaster area!  So I began to clean it up and this happened:

My little one wound up with a fever, and needed some ever important cuddles... Then this happened:

This, is Zana - also known as Zany Zana.  She is our puppy!  We have had her a little over 3 weeks now.  But yes, if you've ever had a puppy, you know that they often require more attention than a newborn!  She's a great pup, but often takes me off task....a lot!  

It was.  I was unexpectedly home in the middle of the week with my baby and my puppy, a beautiful, sunshiney day (and now I have "Sunshine Day" by The Brady Bunch in my head.... You're welcome ;) ) and then this happened:

Technology is awesome, isn't it?  The ability to be practically anywhere with the WHOLE WORLD at your fingertips... But yeah, this also means, the ability to complete work from home...sometimes it's a blessing, sometimes, not so much.  So, I got some work done, and this happened: 

yes, again.  Not only do I love coffee, it helps me power through the day sometimes.  By now, my older daughter is off the bus, the dog needs to go for a walk and the off to the vet.  Dinner has to be cooked, older daughter to taekwondo, and then this happened: 

It was a beautiful evening in our little town.  My phone could not capture the beauty of the landscape and the moon that night, but I tried anyway :).  We headed home, my desk still looked like this:

So then, this happened:

Decaf this time though...I can't do all nighters anymore, after my kids, my husband and my coffee, I love my sleep ;).  Read to the girls, got them tucked in, looked around, THOUGHT about cleaning the desk, and instead, THIS happened:

Nothing like a big fat pile of Laundry to fold at 9:30!  But hey, I've got clean clothes to wear, right?  Yeah, it didn't work when I said it to myself either.  When I finished the laundry, I had decided that it was time for this to happen: 

OH. YES. IT. DID.  And it was glorious.  Truly truly glorious....And now it was late, and I was tired, and my desk was still a mess, but you know what?!?!  This happened:

It's a week later, my desk is STILL a mess, but my girls are healthy, the puppy is still crazy (and I love it).  The ice cream is gone (thanks to all of us) but I'm still smiling.  I hope you do, too!

All quote cards and the  coffee mug used in this post came from Just Dandy Studio - be sure to check out all of the fabulous goodies Melissa has to share with you!

Just Dandy!!!

later in the day than I had planned, but welcome to my blog, and the first to feature some new goodies from Just Dandy Studio, brought to you by no other than Melissa Bickford!  I've been a fan of Melissa's style for years, when she was designing stamps, and now that she's started this new venture, I'm excited to see what is coming next!  Bright, cheery, coffee and fun!  

I am a HUGE coffee fan, I definitely drink more than I should, but it's so warm, creamy, mmmmmmm, happiness in a cup!  Super fun that Melissa has this great mug up for sale, and I have a feeling there are more to come!

It's a GORGEOUS sunny day here in NY, and I happen to be home from work, because my 7 year old is sick with a virus.  (I certainly don't mind the snuggles from her AND our puppy who joined our family a little less than 3 weeks ago.  Her name is Zana, and we're totally in love!! (Check out my Instagram account for photos of her!). 

I also put together a little something using the Inspiring Quote Cards - Collection 1 :

Love the bold font with such great messages!  And they're perfect to add to a card front, or tuck it into your husband's pocket with a note, your kids' backpacks, really, there's no limit!  I'll have some more to share in days to come, but in the meantime, thanks for stopping by!!!

Make it a great day!

Tracey