The Kitchen Lamp

Earlier this weekend I was having fun browsing around "The Inspired Room" blog, just soaking in all the inspiration that can be found there. I happened upon a post called "Q&A About Open Shelves", and saw a cool new idea for accessorizing a kitchen counter. At least, it was new to me.

The photo showed a lamp on the kitchen counter near the sink and kitchen window. I noted that the layout of this kitchen is similar to mine, and I thought that the lamp idea might just work for us, too. I shopped the house to find a lamp that might work, plugged it in, and TA DA! A whole new look to our kitchen. Many thanks to "The Inspired Room" for inspiring my room.

Just Checking In...

Wow, time flies when you're completely swamped!

Having very much enjoyed the new hobby of blogging during November and December last year, I did intend to keep it up and use this vehicle as a way to share, learn and have fun. But as soon as January began in full-force, my work life became totally overwhelming. I was surprised to be asked to step into a new position with brand-new responsibilities and an incredible amount of learning to be done. I feel like I've not had any time to think, much less be creative on this blog, because of my brain cycles being all used up by my new job.

Happy Tuesday Week #2 - Feeling Good About Myself

For this week's Happy Tuesday post, I want to share a triumph that I had this week.  For basically all my adult life (or, at least my motherhood life) I have been overweight and out of shape. And like so many of us, my self-image is really poor when it comes to my physical self.  This issue has negative ramifications on nearly every aspect of my life, and again, like so many of us, I have really struggled with this.

My triumph this week was that I completed three straight weeks of working out with my husband five mornings a week.  We're using the Biggest Loser game for the Wii.  I love it - if you can love sweating and hurting and being out of breath and heart racing.   ;-)

Celebrating Freedom for All

In honor of today's national celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King and his contributions to American freedom, I took a few moments today to listen to his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.  As a white woman born in 1968, I have a difficult time putting myself into the shoes of all those gathered in Washington DC that day in August 1963.  My life experience does not include blatant or subtle discrimination, hatred or violence against me.  I have not suffered injustice.  I have been blessed with opportunity and equality.  I can't imagine an America as described in the history books.  All I can do is remain grateful for my blessings, and treat all others with kindness and respect, and teach my children to do the same.

New Kitchen Accessories

As I mentioned in my post the other day about accessorizing the blank spots that remain after un-decorating for Christmas, I went shopping at Home Goods and Hobby Lobby to find some new and interesting stuff for the house. As things usually go, I didn't find much stuff for the places I was thinking of, but I did find some stuff for an area that I wasn't really shopping for.  Isn't that usually the way?

In this empty spot in the kitchen where our peppermint kitchen Christmas tree used to be...

Post-Holidays Blank Slate

Like many other folks out in blog land, we're doing a lot of cleaning and freshening up around our house since we took down the Christmas decorations.  I kind of like the sparse look, especially when it's all nice and clean like we made it today.  It gives a fresh perspective, a chance to breathe.

Oops! That didn't take long!

Well, last week I wrote about joining in on MCP Project 52, where you contribute one photo per week for a year to a weekly themed collection. I jumped in once, and then promptly forgot to do it this week!  Oops!

I'm not giving up - I'll still try to keep up with those weeks that I remember, have time, etc.  Just like anything else - don't let one little bump in the road stop me from the journey, right?

The theme for next week is "Shades of Gray".  Here's to second chances!

Want to join in the fun?  Visit MCP Project 52 here.