Playing a Board Game

Dearest Reader,

Despite having two arguments during our mini-vacation it was a lot of fun and I got a lot of exercise going up and down the stairs at Great Wolf Lodge.  We got wet.  We played games.  We relaxed.  We made memories and had an enjoyable time.

Now back home and also the rain came back too.  I took this opportunity to play a board game (#24) with the little girls.  Ariana read my mind!  We ended up playing Shopkins Kitchen Mix Up.  We lost the instructions so Lucy and I watched a couple of videos to refresh us on how to play.

Both the people played it differently then we ended up playing but Lucy won the first time and Ariana won the second time.  Of course we couldn't play without someone bursting into tears (Lucy surprisingly).

Basically you get a Shopkin- little plastic toys that look like objects with faces- I was Spilled Milk, Ariana was Sugar Lump, and Lucy was Cheeky Chocolate- You go around the board collecting items to put your recipe together.  The first one back to the kitchen with all their ingredients is the winner.  Ariana was pretty harsh to me the second time around.

Here are the pictures from a simple fun rainy day.

Cutie Shopkins read to Cook

My Shopkins- Spilt Milk

So this week I looked over my Happiness List and tried to figure out what I could get done this week.  I had originally thought we would be able to go on a picnic (#21) but as I said the rain ruined that plan.  The rain is also making it difficult to spot any discernible sunset (#25) so moving on for now.  I might be able to find a post card at my local shops but I am not certain (#26)- I will certainly keep my eye out for one this week.  But the one that seemed most do able and practical and fun would be to take a day off work just because (#27).  As I technically don't have a paying job I kinda have a day off every day, but I do mom things like cleaning and cooking and make chore charts and yelling and nagging etc.... it would be nice to take a day off from that at least give myself a day off because school will finally be out for summer on June  14th and I can get some much needed sleep- at least until our trip to John Day which will come faster then I wish.  Here is to hoping for a day off before the missions trip- I truly hope it works out.  

What board games do you like to play?  I hope you have a wonderful week.  I will write to you next Friday with worry and anxiety about our trip- prayers certainly needed and appreciated.  

Yours truly,

L.L.

Surprise Gift and Nail Wraps

My Dearest Reader,

This week included Memorial Day, but we didn't plan anything special.  I was able to get a big book read though and spend the rest of the week trying to get my mind ready for this month.  I won't be able to write much- most likely.  I won't get many challenges done.  We are going to Great Wolf Lodge next week and then spending the week after that getting ready for the mission trip to John Day during June 18-24 and then spending an extra 3 or 4 days with my parents.  June is pretty booked.  Selfish me doesn't REALLY want to go (except to visit my parents) so I need to be praying for my attitude and heart and mind change.  Family me wants to be a good sport. 

On the other hand one of the randomest (my own word) reasons I don't know about these trips is always financial.  I have stretched out bras, lots of holes in all my pants, and have gained so much weight from not running that I am just a complete mess.  I bounce back and forth every day between being confident with who I am and quit wearing a bra altogether and then withering into self loathing for letting myself get so fat and feeling like no one loves me- all day, every day, every minute- I change how I feel about myself.  I don't know how we are going to afford new clothes especially decent bras are $50 a pop.  I tried finding cheaper ones they all felt like I was being strangled.  What is wrong with my boobs?  Is that TMI?  I don't want to go bra shopping!  It is just too depressing to think about.

But in better news I did get two challenges done this week- "Surprise someone you love with a gift".  Look!!!  Aren't these great!!!

I decided on a gift for both of us.  I just wanted to something in our room that would make me smile and something we both enjoy- Star Wars!  Maybe it will inspire my husband to FINALLY make the bed?  One can wish for the impossible. 

Friday is usually the day I write to you but tomorrow we are going to see the new Wonder Woman movie which also collided with the "nail art" challenge.  I changed it a little so I could use Jamberry wraps and help out my wonderful consultant. 

Cute- huh?  I can now match my shoes!  I even bought some new pajama pants and tank top for tomorrow too!  I am excited.  It should be good fun.  Even the kids are coming! 

So things are slowly looking up though I am not looking forward to writing the annual report for church tomorrow but thankfully we are doing that at a coffee shop so I will happy with a latte or a fresh kombucha for this unpleasant work. 

Do you like to do your nails?  Normal mine would be a little longer at least but they kept breaking off and well one thing led to another and it feels so good to cut them really short after they get so much gunk in them after working in the garden or doing dishes- I should use more gloves but I like a more hands on approach and I hated the clicking sound it was making when I was typing. 

Wish me luck- pray for my attitude- and the miracle of either weight loss, confidence, or a magical breast reduction. 

Yours Truly,

L.L.

Wishes....

Dearest Reader,

I wish there was more physical evidence of how hard I feel I worked to keep everyone from killing each other, but other than that I am fine and nothing much happened this week that I wish to share in great detail.

Saturday was just me bearing my frustrations to a friend while making 50+ mini churros for the Mexican feed for Sunday.  I took a break from Facebook and actually feel more stable about myself in general which was the least of what I was hoping for- better than nothing.

The rest of the week I focused on my reading and kitchen cleaning and cooking- normal, average every day life.  I do have two highlights- I listened to a Fountains of Carrots podcast while cross stitching which always lifts my spirits and I received a box from my mom filled with a few souvenirs and programs from my Grandmere's memorial service.  When I read what my mom wrote for the service I very much balled my eyes out.  It also gave me a lot to think about.  

Honestly don't know what next week holds all I know is that I do not wish to commit to anything at this time. 

Yours truly,

L.L.

Confession

My Dearest Reader,

I am sorry for my tardiness with this post.  I have had a week of absolute wretched annoyance.  My wish is to be discreet yet honest which will be very difficult to do.  It is a shame that all of this culminated after a truly pleasant Mother's Day.

There have been severe misunderstandings and miscommunications between my husband and I.  It has made me feel frustrated beyond belief.  I am, by no means, a controlling and nagging wife so this makes it all the more difficult to comprehend why he has become unbearable to approach with subjects that are not even very important let alone the ones that are.  It has nearly warranted me to seek a mediator or counselor. 

Without going into excessive detail let me just say, yesterday, he did offer to take the children shopping (for which I was grateful) so I could accomplish the task we have been arguing over.  I wish they had been gone for longer then an hour and a half for I did something quite shameful.  I washed myself in my grief and despair and became completely ill over it by the time they returned.  My stomach turned.  My head ached.  I was a complete mess and failure.  Any way I hope you can forgive me and we might move on.  This feels like a classic example of someone crying out for help.  I wouldn't beat around the bush- it is.  I will soon be seeking some form of counsel in the near future.  But until then prayers will be my rock. 

Ironically the challenge I had been working on this week was "surprise someone you love with a gift".  Since I was working on the challenge earlier in the week I wasn't quite as upset as I am now.  But I was still torn as to what kind of gift and to whom should I give it.  It nearly made me wish I had a close friend.  I have wished that all my life but it appears that God is no genie and I fail in the art of social interaction.  To be perfectly honest I wanted to buy myself a gift, but I ended up buying something for the both of us.  I am too irritated at the moment to discuss said purchase plus it will be more fun to share when it actually arrives and I can take pictures. 

I love my husband.  He is smart, handsome, and great at his job.  So I don't know why I keep messing it up.

Yours Truly,

L.L. 

Sister Visit but No Challenges Completed

Dear Reader,

I don't have much to tell you this week.  My sister came to visit with her son Donovan.  We don't see each other very often.  She lives in Idaho.  She came to see Tim Hawkins comedy show in Salem.  I don't know why she would drive so far for that but it was certainly fun to visit and a change of pace.  It was nice and convenient that I could send a Mother's Day present home with her.  My mom and dad have been out of the country for a long time now and I am excited to tell them that I will be able to visit them soon.

Also I am behind a couple books in my Popsugar Reading Challenge so I thought I would try to catch up with that before trying #19 Surprise someone you love with a gift and #20 Try Nail Art (I have my wraps ready though!!).

It is always hard to predict what I will get around to but this week doesn't look too busy or surprising.  I am getting bored of grocery shopping and cooking, I am not sure what to do about that just thought I would mention it since this plus cleaning the house is all I feel I am good for most of the time. 

Don't forget to tell your mother you love her!

Yours Truly,
L.L.

Farmer's Market and Cross Stitching Holmes

Dear Reader,

Thank God for beautiful spring days.  It usually rains quite about around here so any sun in spring is appreciated.  As I had so excitedly proclaimed last week we, our whole family, mind you, went to our local(ish) Saturday Market.  We also walked the new park bridge, rode the carousel, and went to the BIG library.  I am sure a couple of these are challenges for the future, but I will just focus on the market part which was challenge #16.  Next time I will take an appropriate recipe for seasonal fruits and veggies but I think I was just so excited to get out of the house with my family that I didn't think too much about it.  We did sit in the food court area and get some fresh squeezed lemonade.  Ariana tried this potato on a stick with a hot dog thing that tasted great, but was probably not good for you.  The other two had corn dogs.  The adults were a bit more adventures and tried some Peruvian tamales- yum!  I found a both called Vanilla Bean which sold the most scrumptious creme brulee chocolate muffins.  Neil gave the girls a couple dollars to buy some fancy rocks- they love collecting rocks. 

So many choices!

"I am a little shy.  But I like my rice krispy treat."

Right around the time we were ready to leave the market we ran into my husband's ex-girlfriend.....so that wasn't awkward (insert a little sarcasm).  But seriously she is a nice girl and it would 10x more awkward and awful if one of MY exes were to show up some where (thank goodness the chances of that are fairly low).  I also ran into my friend Julie!  I saw her daughter first and thought to myself- she looks like a little girl I have seen many pictures of on Facebook- and sure enough it WAS her.  Any way, it was great day and it will be so fun to go again some time this summer. 

I also wanted to share my little cross stitching project.  I have been refraining from sharing it because it was suppose to be a Christmas present last year for Ali and Marcel but I never ended up finishing it in time.  I was also afraid one of them would see my posts (but I am fairly confident I have few to no readers- that is okay, this blog is mostly for future me any way *GRINS A MISCHIEVOUS GRIN JUST THINKING ABOUT IT*)-

Since Ali is a big Sherlock fan and she and her husband JUST bought a new house this will be even more appropriate this Christmas!  I am REALLY close to finishing.  I am only really worried about the framing part. 

Do you have a Farmer's Market in your area?  Are you working on any fun crafts?  Next time I write I will hopefully be telling you about a gift for the someone I love or doing nail art/wraps challenge.  Have a wonderful week!

Yours Truly,
L.L.

Back to HAPPINESS

Dear Reader,

Not that Lent can't be full of happiness but I am done with those posts.  I still have some pictures from my project but this time I will let it rest.  I hope this isn't terribly detrimental to you and I hope it wasn't something you were waiting for with bated breathe.  I am tired.  I have moved on.  I need to stay relevent or as relevent as someone like me can be.  It is time to return to the HAPPINESS Challenge. 

I last left off on Challenge #14 which was fun but poorly planned.  Number fifteen is "Host a Dinner Party" but with my financial uncertainity problem I skipped this one for now.  Number sixteen "Go to your local farmer's market" is actually planned for this weekend- SQUEE!!! If you can't tell- I am EXCITED.  Number seventeen "Have a yard sale and earn some money" was also skipped this time around because there is no way I am having a yard sale with the current weather- it has barely stopped raining or snowing since Thanksgiving.

Challenge #18 "Take a bath" was very appealling.  Technically I have completed this challenge at least 10 times over this year but I took it a step further.  It was relaxing and I was so grateful for this time I was able to have.   

Here was my bath ready supplies.  Bubble bath- check, a book to read in the bath aka The Princess Bride- check, something to drink- check (I was debating between wine and kumbucha, you can see which was the clear winner that night), a treat- check (I ended up with two treats- chocolate mint cookies and my daughter's partially eaten muffin- hey- I'll take it), lotion for after- check and lighted scented candle- check.  I also splurged on new razors and underwear (not pictured). 

Taking time for yourself is important.  It helps you become a better version of you.  I was only interrupted once during this time and was particularly grateful that I could use this as a mini-celebration for finishing some applications that I was not particularly excited about but was glad to be done. 

When I write next I will have Farmer's Market pictures and maybe even "Surprise someone I love with a gift". 

Tell me what your favorite things to have when you indulge in a bath. 

Yours truly,

L.L.