HERE THERE & EVERYWHERE [BUT I'M COMING BACK]

Pin It Now! Well-Hi!
Long time-no blog! This is true but I have a very good excuse reason. :) 
Ya'll have ALL probably used this reason before...

LIFE.

One thing after another and then before you know it, it's been a year and a half since my last entry!
When I started blogging, I did it all...I blogged consistently (as possible), constantly making mental notes on scenarios or crafts or recipes or ANYTHING that could be a blog post, taking the pictures...and more pictures...then MORE! Then filling up Pinterest boards with "to do" crafts, and researching "How to Grow Your Blog"....and trying to apply it...then researching MORE. I don't know...I got tired, I think!
But I really miss blogging.  Just a place to let it all out-an outlet, so to speak.
And I really miss you guys.
And mostly, I really miss reading YOUR blogs! I've popped in every so often to scope out what's new and happening, but not a whole lot....sad to say!
Don't get me wrong.  I REALLY REALLY imagined this being THE way to become a stay-at-home mom again and do what I love to do most

CREATE!
Create anything!

I saw your blogs and wanted THAT! I knew it was a lot of work and time and effort
(I am not oblivious to how much time it takes to have a successful blog)
But I am still working a desk job (that I AM grateful for, of course)...
My blog brings in ZERO income...
and the worst part...
I hardly ever spend time crafting anymore! Just dabbling in it here and there.
SO. NOT. ME.
My house is STILL in the process of being renovated....8 years later----still incomplete.
SO.NOT.COOL.

So, I've decided this:
1: I'm coming back to "Blogland"-but on my own terms.
Not gonna stress out about SEO, this and that, mumbo jumbo...Just gonna enjoy it here and there. 
2: I am gonna make time for my projects again! It's way past due.
3: I am gonna have some fun!
4: This will be a place that my children and family can visit from time to time to read about OUR life and moments created and shared together....that I shared with the world.

Some people will read.
Some won't.
That's OK.
I am OK.
I am just glad to be back and I'll be visiting everyone soon!

Have you ever taken a break from blogging?
What were your reasons?
I'd love to hear them---I am sure I am not alone (I hope)!

Watching the rain and dreaming of sunshine,

UPDATE:IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG [MISSED YOU]

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*Exhale* Ahhh! 

Yeah...it's been a while since I've checked in huh?..I know, I know! 

Big blogger "Faux Pas".

After the Holidays and all its craziness, it has taken me a while to bounce back! 

Like I mentioned HERE IN THIS POST, I am a random chic! I am working on this issue in my life....But if you want to know the REAL me and not the image that I am painting myself to be...

there you have it...

I. Am. Random.

But here I am now!

HI!

I have missed you Blog World. 

I am so thankful for every person who has (strangely) found me interesting enough to follow my blog...

THANK YOU! 

Really! You guys RAWK! 

Sooooo....Do you forgive me?! 

Gee! Thanks! I knew you would!

*tee hee*

Anyway, enough with the begging and pleading...

2012 ended with some cool self reflection that I talked about HERE.  I never was the big deep thinker, but I don't know, I am changing a little, I think.  And I like it!   

2013 has begun and... 

Number 1: 

WE WILL FIX MY HOUSE! It's top priority folks! I am SO done!!  

I need to share my "House Story" with y'all! Maybe I will on another post, but seriously y'all....

It's dying! Like....Hospice has been called....Like....There's barely a pulse!!!

We have SO many projects that are BEYOND the "I just wanna update this room and make it look pretty" reason! It's more like..."If I don't change the floor ASAP, we just might fall through it!"

I have the hubs on board so I foresee a year of weekends full of DIY mania...Well, as soon as the funds start flowing...which, it will...*fingers crossed*...I am very hopeful! So friends *you know who you are* get your tool belts ready and your paintbrush in hand! It's gonna be a wild year!
:)

Number 2:

I started a weight loss journey (among most of America) in January.  

The goal? 35 pounds. I am down 14 in 7 weeks! YAY!

 I am pumped and motivated!

I will stick this one out! I am determined!

Number 3:

I did something a few weeks ago that I have been wanting to do for a VERY long time! 

I went to a BIG singing audition. I have been singing nearly all my life and never did something like that! I will share the whole story in another post soon.  It was SUCH an awesome experience!

So check back for the scoop!

So, Yeah! This is my check-in update! I will not let so much time go by again before I check in...I promise! Blogging is something I really enjoy!!

Really!

Enjoying coffee on a quiet Sunday morning,

Click Here to find me on Instagram!
Smooches!

2012 CHRISTMAS CARD:MERRY CHRISTMAS BLOGLAND

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How are you enjoying your holidays so far?

Me? I am LOVIN' IT! 

This year has been such a strange one for me.  Nothing tragic happened (thankfully) and yet nothing AMAZING happened either (unfortunately). I was reflecting a few days ago on this past year and I couldn't help but feel so thankful and at peace.  In the same breath, I feel challenged to grow spiritually, and of course the normal..."go on a diet next year" thought is on the brain.  But honestly, changes were made in my heart and life this year that has been the beginning of a more balanced life.  Haven't gotten there just yet...nope...not even...but I feel like the journey there is stronger this year than last.

My challenge to you:
When you are looking back on this past year, don't merely look at whether monetary things have changed or even at the unfortunate tragedy that may have struck your family
...look deeper.
Closer.
I think you may be surprised at what you can find when you chip away at the rocky moments.  You just might see something sparkle below the rocks.  Something more valuable than meets the eye. A life lesson learned that seemed insignificant or unbearable at the time.
You may stumble upon a diamond in the rough!

Thank you to my amazing friend, Chris for the wonderful family pictures! Check out her blogs,

Reaching for Freedom and Defending the Dandelion. Her story is amazing and very inspiring!!

Thinking of where else I can use twine, burlap and pine clippings,

{OMG} WHAT HAVE I DONE:A NEW LOOK

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...LOOK AT WHAT I DID!!

THAT WAS THEN...

THIS IS NOW...

GONNA DO THE "BRUNETTE" THING FOR A WHILE!!

WHATCHA THINK?

LIFE UPDATE:I HAVE A PETSTORE

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Well, I don't own a literal pet store, but honestly, it feels like it sometimes. I posted this on facebook the other day...

"1 fat tailed gecko 2 little children 3 loving doggies 9 baby puppies
---all I I need is a partridge in a pear tree....well I do have a peach tree in the backyard.... Haha"

OK so the children aren't "pets" but the rest of them ARE! As of now, I have twelve dogs in my house!

YIKES!

My sweet little Havaneese got frisky with my shi-poo and made 10 pups!

One passed away

 :(

But 9 remain and they are the cutest little things!

...BUT

this little baby-making Shi-poo is up for SALE...Can't be having all that fornication in the house!

(That's not the ONLY reason we are selling him...having two long hair doggies is a bit of a chore and can take a toll on the budget)

Also...

My son wanted a gecko for his birthday so we found a great deal on a African Fat-Tailed Gecko
This is "Lizzy"! So Creative, huh?!

And well, it was all good until my 6 year old pretended that the gecko was a baby doll and carried it around in a baby carrier! Well, "Lizzy" the gecko didn't appreciate this AT ALL and nipped her finger. 

I think it was more scary than painful, but there WAS a little blood. Needless to say, the gecko is now "FOR SALE" too.

I love animals, but SHEESH! This is an animal MAD HOUSE! Doing any fall decorating or DIY-ing seems impossible with this reptile and canine takeover!

I haven't lost hope though! I am stoked to share with you one of the most amazing birthday presents that I could have ever gotten inspired by a table made by Domestic Imperfection

---YEP---I just a had a birthday: The big 33! 

A dear friend of mine and her hubby are having a 7 foot farm style table made just for MEEEEE! It'll be arriving soon and I will share all of the "deets", I PROMISE!

TTYL!! (by the way---I really really really miss all my bloggy buds)

THERE'S A STORM-A-BREWIN:HURRICANE ISAAC

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7 years ago (to the day) Hurricane Katrina slammed the coast of Louisiana devastating New Orleans and many South Eastern Louisiana Parishes. It is still so real to so many people not only from Louisiana but all over the nation.  So much tragedy and loss.

We opened a shelter at our church and I can still envision the people driving in by the hour...so lost, so confused. What a terrible life changing event for thousands!

I will never forget it.

And then there was Isaac. 

As of now, he is just a category 1 hurricane. 

Louisiana folks don't usually "flinch" by a category one hurricane...at least...that's how it used to be.

Seems like since Hurricane Katrina, storm threats are not taken so lightly (which they never should be).  Honestly, I think there is more to the story as to why New Orleans was so devastated and it is not just because of the hurricane strength. The levys should have been better prepared and maintained in the even of the threat of any major storm...

But that's just MY opinion. Hey, I could be wrong...but who knows...

On a lighter note, I know that some of my wonderful readers are not from the good ole south, so let me paint a picture of how Louisianians view a Hurricane. Don't get me wrong, we prepare and by no means, is a hurricane funny business...but leave to Cajun Country to make a party out of a storm.  There are so many funny rituals that families do during a hurricane. For my family, I remember camping out in the hallway as a child with mattresses and a can of Vienna Sausage. Sounds kinda terrible, but it really wasn't. It may seem strange, but I guess it is just a way to make the best out of what could be a tragic situation...kinda gets your mind off of the fact that you or something you own just might get blown away by 100 mph winds!!

chilling....

Anywho...

These are some pics I have seen floating around facebook. 

If you know the source of any of these photos let me know and I will certainly give credit!

(I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE CHARACTER OF ALL OF THESE PICTURES...Just keeping it real)

Do you have any hurricane stories?

Were you or someone you know affected by Hurricane Katrina?

Do share (If you'd like)

:)

Say a little prayer for the South...

XOXO,

I NEED A DOCTOR:MAJOR CASE OF THE "DON'T WANTS"

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source

AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH!!

Like the title of this post states....

I NEED A DOCTOR!

I have been on a "slow down before I completely explode into a million pieces" break. 

And BOY HAS IT BEEN GOOD...

Except...

I. DON'T. WANT. TO. DO. ANYTHING. NOW.

Let me re-phrase...I DO want to do EVERYTHING that I have pinned on my

gazillion Pinterest boards...

I DO want to

Paint,

ReDecorate,

Glue,

Cut,

Reframe,

Organize,

Declutter,

Cook, 

etc etc etc

and then

Blog about it ALL!

But I am Stuck...

I need a Doctor!

:)

Maybe feeling this way is the exact medicine that I needed in my life.

(I can imagine about a group of 10-20 close family and friends all nodding their heads while reading that sentence).

Yeah...

I get it!

But I'm done now...I am ALLLLL GOOD....Time to get er done!!

I have realized that I do not blog for others as much as I blog for myself.  It's the best "tricking myself to do something" accountability strategy.  Seriously! That is a FACT! Knowing that I said I was going to tell the world about that new organizational idea or what I did with that garage sale find kinda helps me actually do it.

Trust me...I WANT to tell the world...so this strategy is PERFECT!

Honestly, I really was hoping to EXPLODE this blog so that I could bring in a lil extra
C-A-S-H!

Ya Know?!?! Do a little sponsor stuff here... a few advertisements there...and poof! CASH!!

(HA! FUNNY, I know!)

Trust me...

I really would love that ALOT!

But I am okay either way...really...I am....I just want to get back to "tricking" myself again so I can get something accomplished for heaven's sake!

Maybe by brain and body have figured out this little sneaky plan of mine and I will have to come up with a NEW plan!?!?

Any ideas?

Now taking prescriptions,

THE LIST:CALGON----TAKE ME AWAY{IT DOESN'T REALLY WORK SO WHY DO WE SAY THAT?}

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This picture actually made me laugh!

I can relate to this person/cartoon guy!

I am so so SO busy this week! I needed to make a To-Do list and I must actually stick to that list.  So, I figured why not just make my list here!

Yeah, Maybe I want sympathy...

Or maybe some accountability to actually hold me to this list...

Or, hey---Just an old fashioned "You can do it, NELLY!"

I'll gladly take all or any of the above..

OH and did I mention this is only for THIS WEEK!

UM, YEP!

1--Shop for dance recital

2--Edit wedding photos for client

3--Edit Dance Pictures for clients

4--Start Finish Dance Recital Program

5--CLEAN my house

6--Finish painting interior doors

7--Paint ALL of the trim in the house---Weeeell...this may need to wait!

8--Breath---Yeah, I forget to do that sometimes

9--Empty out the spare bathroom (which has been a storage closet due to having NO storage)

10--Organize the above

11--Laundry

12--Exercise---(PAHAHA, YEAH RIGHT?!)

13--SLEEP---(SEE SARCASTIC RESPONSE ABOVE)

14--Do it again next week...

Phew!

Yeah, I know you might be saying...

"Nelly, didn't I just read a post in this blog about 'The Balanced Life'"...

Ummm...I plead the fifth!

I will say this...I did state in Paragraph 4-Line 2...

"by no means am I an expert, but I am living out this endeavor and it's been a trial and error journey every step of the way!"

FYI!

:))

I will need some help this week from the man upstairs for sure!!

THANKFUL THOUGHTS: I {HEART} MY FRIENDS

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Last Week I talked about how thankful I am to have a LIFE FILLED WITH HOPE!

This week, my heart is SWOLLEN with love and thankfulness for my amazingly wonderful FRIENDS!

NOW, it goes without saying, that I AM OVERFLOWING with oodles and oodles of love for family members, and honestly, some of my CLOSEST friends ARE family!! So, I am certainly giving a HUGE shout out to all of the FAM! Mucho Love!!

BUT...

TODAAAAY, I wanted to focus on those who do not share a "blood bond" or something like that connecting them to me in some way!

I want to talk about my FRIENDS!

There are so many types of people that I adore surrounding me! When I was a kid in school, I was never apart of "clicks" or anything like that! I always felt like I could fit in somehow with every click or type of group.  It's kinda the same way now, as an adult! 

Do you know what I mean? Is that how it is with you?

I just wanna be buds with the whole world!!

I have some friends that I see ALL the time! Some of them are even more than friends...those who have chosen "Lil ole me" to spiritually mentor them on a weekly basis.  SERIOUSLY, that's a HUMONGOUS HONOR and I don't take it lightly!

Some of the girls from my weekly small group:) I love these chics!

There are some friends of mine that I have known for so long that I can't even remember how I met some of them! These are the ones that probably have all the "dirt" on me! 

NOT THE BEST PICTURE BUT THESE ARE SOME OLD SCHOOL BUDS!

Then there are those that I call my "Kindred Spirits"!

My girl, Kim! She makes me wanna exercise...I said WANT TO...not actually... DO IT! Wish I could see her more...

KELLE BELLE!!!!!!! Time with her fills my love tank!

Keeley and I go WAAAAY back! I miss her!

Technically, these are my adopted parents and sister in
law but it's impossible to not
 include these three people as kindred spirits
(but I get to see them all the time, LUCKY ME)

And I can't forget about my sisters (and brothers too)! These friends are the ones that you may not even have a whole lot of interests in common or even hang out with all the time, but you are teammates, gathered together for the same cause! Just like a team! Siblings in a "real" family are, most often than not, completely different, but there's a bond that ties them together!

Some of the TEAM! There's like 30 more!! 

This is MY "Trace"! She let's me annoy her and she STILL loves me anyway!

I love, love, love my brand new friends! .....the one's that just popped into my life and I wonder "Where in the heck have YOU been all my life!"

( Bummer, no pics of my new buddies)

I cannot forget about my new bloggy friends! Of course, I don't have any pictures with these new buds, but I am looking forward to the day that I will!

And I can't forget the Hubs!

HE IS THE BEST!

And then...

...there's a friend who sticks closer than a brother!  Jesus Christ! 

He's been the ULTIMATE friend to me! I can't see Him or take pictures with Him, but I have stories about how He has impacted my life!

I'm thinking one day I am going to have to share my "God story" with you!

SIDE NOTE: THERE IS NO WAY THAT I CAN INCLUDE PICTURES OF ALL THE AMAZING FRIENDS IN MY LIFE! These are only just a few....

So, In conclusion, I am so grateful for ALL of the amazing people that God has placed in my life. Through hurts, struggles, good times, and not-so-good times...

TRUE friends will be there,

THROUGH IT ALL!

And for this, I am thankful,

MY FALL CONFESSION

Pin It Now! Greetings and Happy Fall!!

Yep, the moment the first brisk, cool breeze swept through my hair and at the sign of the very first goose-bumps running up my leg, I was in the Fantastic Fall Mood!!  Do you know what I am talking about??  Its like all of a sudden you are talking about Christmas and thinking about pulling out your cinnamon and sugar cookie candles.  You are deciding how you will decorate differently this year for Christmas and preparing your "Honey-Do" list to be SURE it all gets accomplished according to plan!! Well...just in case that is not you...I must confess...It is I!

Yes, just like every year, I completely by-pass every holiday and go directly to thinking about Christmas! I love Christmas time for every reason...the shopping, food, family, giving and receiving gifts (we all love to receive a good gift, you know its true!)and of course...BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!

Honestly, I am having a HEART CHECK this season and decided to dial back a little on the Christmas hoorah.  Why is it that, as much as I love Thanksgiving, it is like a drive through rush to get to the Christmas season??

You see, I feel like really, time just goes by too fast and as much as we TRY AND TRY to make time stop, there is nothing we can do about this. No matter how much of a control freak we are, we can't control time! Ugh, I know, totally stinks!! I mean, before you know it, the kids are grown up and one Christmas turns into 10 Christmases.  I am choosing to stop this fall and celebrate each holiday and really want to embrace every moment that it brings.  I am so thankful for so many things that God has granted me, all of which I am so undeserving of it all, and so often, I find myself complaining or wishing for more, neglecting to see what is right before my very own eyes as a huge blessing!  For example, my central a/c & heating has been broken for like six months now and through the summer, IT FELT LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN A CURSE..not at all a BLESSING! lol  But when I got my electricity bill, and it was cut in half, my husband and I were quite happy about that. (NOTE: I still want central air and heat and will fix it eventually...just trying to make a point):))

I can't say that I am spoiled or a "selfish" kinda girl...but most of us are not this way either. We are all just normal people living day to day, trying to pay the bills and make this life a "good" life, while in the process, we often fail to really invest and give ourselves the occasional HEART CHECK to determine if we have lost sight of all the great blessings that we have been given.

It is funny, but I really don't do much fall decorating, never really did much, but this fall, I am making every effort to add punches of orange and yellow and to include projects for the kids to embrace the season.  Its funny, but since I have decided to do this, I am on a fall craft rush!!  I keep researching fun (cheap) ideas to spruce up for fall and JUST CANT STOP! HAHA! I haven't thought about Christmas all that much and totally by-pass the Christmas section at the craft store and head over to the fall stuff!

I am making lists this Thanksgiving season of everything I am thankful for in different areas of my life! Sounds alot easier said than done! Try to find 50 things, YEP 50, that you are thankful for!  There are certainly 50 things that all of us can be thankful for, its just a matter of pushing aside the struggles that EVERY life encounters and dig in and scoop out each blessing one at a time and place it in the forefront of our heart and mind!

Off to my list-making,
Nelly

PS-Christmas is STILL my favorite season, just gonna slow down a little and let it come to me and not run to it!!

THIRTY SOMETHING AND PROUD!

Pin It Now! Yep, you heard that right, PROUD! Proud to be a mother of two loving and crazy-fun kiddos, proud to be married nearly 12 awesome years, proud to have embarked on the pursuit of my own business(es) to actually do what I love the most..."create"!

Seriously, I never really imagined what life would be like in my 30's. As a kid, that seemed so far away and uninteresting. But I can truly say, that after some time adjusting and some random momentary counsel from fellow "thirty-somethingers", I have crossed over from panick to proud!

Yeah, so my metabolism is not moving at warp speed anymore...and social security may not even exist when I retire so I may work til I'm 90, and I shop at Sam's wholesale and LIKE it. And falling asleep at 8:30 from sheer exhaustion is probable.... I feel blessed! Not about what I have or don't have but because I am able be thirty something and feel this good about it. There will never be enough money, time or energy.

But there is tons of love!

Side note: Should I be offended when someone tells me that I wasn't a very cute teenager and I look younger now than I did then?? I THINK NOT!
(yeah, that happened)

At 16...






Hahah at 31...






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ATLANTA OR BUST!!

Pin It Now! Well off we go to play in Atlanta for a national conference and it's pretty cool to be able to hang out with the band off stage. I am enjoying my Jalapeño Salsa sunflower seeds here in the backseat of Angie's car and I have been threatened by her! Yes. Threatened!
I will be left on the side of the road if she finds any seeds in her car. So like a good little passenger, I grabbed my coffee cup, compliments of the gas station cashier, along with a lid, and have very cautiously contained all stray seeds and shells!! Go Me!!

The girls decide to pile into Angie's car while the boys, or men should I say, cruise the highway chauffeured by Derik! Of course you would assume that the women would be crying for the first potty break, but no! Let it be knownm the men have made the first plea to pee!! Haha!

So yeah, I am thrilled to have this new "blogging fettish" because it really can help to ease a really bad case of car anxiety! I can admit that I suffer from this which explains my need for the sunflower seeds!!

So until my next vehicle anxiety attack... Peace out!



Nelly

Location:Eagle Eyrie Dr,Biloxi,United States

I WISH

Pin It Now! I found this old blog on myspace from years ago and a few thoughts ran through my mind...1-"Wow, that was some deep-thinking right there, at least for me!" I never have been a real deep thinker although, on the contrary, I actually do ALOT of thinking...and 2-I thought..."Hmmmm...a blog?!"...something different to do beside the occational facebook status update and newfound twitter "tweets"...

So, yeah, here ya go! I've been accused of living under a rock, because I don't catch on to things on the brink of their existence, but the honest truth is that I hate to be a trend follower so I usually hold back on getting into something in the beginning (for example, the adorable feathers that EVERYONE has in their hair..I really love the look but now its just too popular). The downfall is that I am always "behind the times" and therefore accused of hiding under a rock!

...as i  am sitting here,   thinking, I wish that I had the power to change the minds of those that I love.  I wish that I could stop the hands of time and shock the hearts of those that have flattlined.  I only wish that every moment spent in prayer and discipleship would not simply be heard and then forgotten, but actually absorbed and used to develop the life of an individual.  I wish that every person who turns away from a life of destruction and hurt, would never, ever return to such a life....I wish!  I also wish that I could playback my own life and display to those who simply think that I just don't understand, and show them how deeply I do understand.  I wish I could open up my chest and display the love, the devotion, and the hurt....showing to those who may doubt that it is REAL LOVE....REAL DEVOTION...AND REAL HURT.  I know that I am certainly not without fault or sin....and am only anything because of the grace of God  and the forgiveness of Him.   Lastly, I don't wish to change the past but simply wish to use it to help change the future.......I wish....