Out of the zone...

The comfort zone that is. I get nervous about contacting people and asking them questions and things. Which is weird, because I can appear really loud and outgoing. But really just with my friends. They help me conquer those "awkward and shy" feelings. I always get those butterflies when it comes to me having to approach someone new or do something new. 

But it's time for me to step out. I'm going to conquer these fears and I'm going to do it without my friends standing beside me.

Kaitlyn from itsavirtue, Gentri Lee from gentrilee, and Kristy from gastronomicalsovereignty have joined forces and started round 2 of Send Something Good [formerly known as Package Pals]. What this involves is a round robin of gift giving sorts. I'll let Gentri Lee explain what's going on:

"I couldn't be more excited about this project. It's going to be a blast! But before I get into that, I want to explain where it came from... Some of you may have heard of a little project called "Package Pals". Last fall a blogger from Germany and myself exchanged packages. They were filled with our favorite treats - treats the other blogger had always wanted to try from our own country, plus some other goodies that were specific to our country. When I posted about it on my blog, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 

The reaction was AMAZING! Everyone wanted their own package pal. So the very next day, Package Pals was born. Over 50 bloggers signed up, I gave them partners, asked them to get to know each other, and then send a box filled with goodies. I was blown away by the creativity. People sent items like: Fry Sauce- a Utah favorite, Sea Shells from the California Coast, Seeds from the state flower of Michigan, home made Maple Syrup from Canada, and so much more! We all had such a great time and everyone couldn't wait for the next round... 

But I was exhausted. It was no easy task, there were bumps along the way, and now that I am in school, I do not have the time it takes to organize another round. A month or so ago I received an email from Kaitlyn. She and Kristy had both participated in the first round, knew my dilemma of not having time (or the technical skills) to pull it off myself again, and had a lot of great and new ideas of how to run it this next time around. 

I was THRILLED, and "Package Pals" become the "Send Something Good" project! (Lets face it, Package Pals wasn't the best name to begin with. haha! Remember, I brought this project to life in less than 24 hrs) They both have the exact qualities and abilities to make this project be what I know it can be. So with new ideas, direction, and a fresh new name, "Send Something Good" is ready to launch! A big thank you to Kaitlyn and Kristy, this wouldn't be happening without them. 

It's going to be a little different this time around. Instead of having a "partner" it's going to be round robin. Everyone will have a different blogger that they're assigned to "get to know" kind of like a secret sister. Read their blog, find out their interests, email back and forth, but don't tell them WHY. When shopping for your blogger, take into account not only their interests, but things that are specific to your area of the world. 

This project is ALL about bringing us together, making friends all over the world, and learning something new about somewhere you've never been. This doesn't require you to spend a lot of money. Get personal in what you include in your package. Maybe a favorite book that you don't mind passing on, a necklace you made, a package of seeds from your favorite flower, or a friendship bracelet! You also don't have to have a blogger from a different country. I know that can get expensive. So just specify your preference when you sign up. 

To sign up, read the fine print below, and then email sendsomethinggood2012(at)gmail(dot)com. you are also welcome to purchase send something good products from Kaitlyn's shoppe at 20% off with the discount code SENDSOMETHINGGOOD. They're the perfect addition to your "Send Something Good" package. :) The first week will be the best time to purchase, it might not reach you in time if you wait. This is going to be an AMAZING project, I can FEEL it! Don't forget to spread the word!"

So what this means is that I have to get to know someone I don't know. Befriend them. Learn their likes. Their dislikes. Buy them gifts and send them to them. All while someone else is doing the same thing with me. We don't know who each other are or who each other could be. It's fun and exciting and I'm scared to death. I have no idea why I am though, but that doesn't change the fact that there are nervous butterflies inhabiting my stomach as I type this. But I'm going to stick with it. I'm excited about it. I really am. And I'm going to conquer these irrational fears that I'm having. This is going to be fun and exciting and I can't wait to see what happens!

Life on Tuesday

I've had the hardest time convincing myself it's only Tuesday today. For some reason I wanted to say Wednesday all.day.long. It proved for a very long and confusing day. I didn't enjoy it at all. I've got an event Thursday, and I kept telling those who are helping with it that it was tomorrow. No. It's not tomorrow. It's Thursday. Tomorrow is Wednesday. I have repeated that fact to myself time after time today. Oh well. Eventually I'll get it right.

And boy do I need to get my days straight. I've got a busy week this week and I can't go confusing my days. 

Tonight for instance, the hubs has small group. Tomorrow, I've got a meeting for church. Thursday I have two meetings about Rodan + Fields. Friday I have another meeting about taking pictures for a friend. Busy, busy week.

The good news is, I love busy weeks. Busy weeks make the time go by so much faster for summer. 32 days and counting. I love summer and spending time in the sun. But spending time in the sun means I need a good sunscreen. Luckily  Rodan + Fields has a fantastic sunscreen, along with other wonderful products [but that's for another post]. Right now though I am offering a special for a free sunscreen. If you're interested in the sunscreen special leave me a comment with your email and I'll send you some info!

life from under a rock

One thing I love about social network online is the ability to learn about new music. Now, I'm a country girl at heart. I love country music. Anytime. Any day. Give me some George Strait any day and I'm a happy girl. But as I wander around the blog-o-sphere world, I start "hearing" about other bands that are foreign to me. So my curiosity takes over and immediately I jump over to Pandora and plug in a new band or singer. One that I probably wouldn't have heard of in my little country, no television, only internet world. Of course people would think that "if you have the internet you why haven't you already heard of these bands?" But one can't look for what one doesn't know.

For the past couple of days, while living in my closet at work, I have been entertained by the Fleet Foxes. I learned about them over here on tales of me and the husband. They have provided me with the wonderful music I needed to get me through the day and the loneliness that is my closet. But, as many Pandora listeners know, Pandora doesn't just play music specific to the Fleet Foxes, they play music that "sounds like the Fleet Foxes." This then means I get to hear and learn about Mumford and Sons, James Yuill, and Bon Iver. Yes. For all those wondering, I've been living with my head under a rock.

I don't know how it happens, but I always seem to be the last to know about new and good music. It's been like that my entire life. I'm just now discovering many different and (who I assume to be) new artists. Artists that I really enjoy. Listening to their music is soothing to me. From what I've listened to so far, which is not a lot, I find everything to just be wonderful. I'm enjoying tapping my toe along with the rhythm while I wile away time on whatever I'm supposed to be doing at that point in time.

For now I'll leave you with the Fleet Foxes but if anyone has any musical suggestions, please feel free to share with me!

I haven't seen you in ages...

Thank you Lady A for putting that song on repeat inside my head.

Last week was spring break. As you know from my post here. This morning it was back to work I go. I woke up at my normal time, went through the typical morning routine (shower, brush teeth, dress, make coffee, make lunch, drink coffee, kiss the hubs goodbye, try not to fall asleep while driving to work...you know, the typical morning routine), made it to work, survived the morning without phones or bells, went through the day, found out we're losing 5 teachers due to allotments, took care of my mom's dog, went grocery shopping, rested/updated the blog design (I get bored easily, can you tell?), and now I'm updating while waiting on water to boil. Oh the joys of life. We're back to normal. 

But that was today.

Yesterday of course was Easter Sunday. It was a whirlwind of a day. We spent the night in Rome with the in-laws so that we wouldn't have to leave the house at 5 in the morning to make it for their annual sunrise service. It was a beautiful sunrise. Of course, I didn't have my camera. But it was beautiful, you can just take my word for it. 

Then it was off to our church. I had to serve in the nursery during the 9am service. It was such a blessing to spend the morning with precious little ones. I just love them. The hubs arrived for the 11am service and relieved me of my duties (also known as dragged me away). It was a wonderful service. It began with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace played on the saxophone. I'm still in awe of it. Then our pastor preached it. He is risen!

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures 

(1 Corinthians 15:3, 4 NIVUK)

Next it was off to my parents for lunch. Ribs. Delish. I love ribs. Especially my dad's ribs. I drool over them and request them any chance I can get. 

We finished off the day at the hubs's grandmother's house (I guess she'd be the grandmother-in-law). We spent some more time with his parents, cousins, aunt, sister-in-law, and nieces. It was lovely. We had an egg hunt for the little ones, and all in all just enjoyed each other's company. 

I was exhausted by the time we got home, I wanted to immediately fall asleep. But I was a good girl and waited until "normal time" before I fell into my whims. 

Alas, I hear the water boiling. Time to finish cooking. I'll end this post with some of the pictures I did get over the weekend. We went strawberry picking. Yummy!

If you're interested in strawberry picking in north Georgia check out this link.

A busy life is a good life.

Well. I guess that could be true. 

At least right now I'm busy right now and life is good. 

That's proof enough for me.

I'm on spring break at the moment, but the week leading up to spring break is what I like to have called my "hell week." It was a crazy week at school. I had a major event to prepare for and set up. It was crazy. But in the end it was a success. Parents and students alike had a wonderful time and that's all that matters in the end.

On the up side it's spring break. Thank goodness for spring break. I've spent the past two days organizing and cleaning our master bedroom. It's been left as is since we moved in over a year ago and it's been driving me absolutely bonkers. This spring break I've dedicated my time to fixing the mess that was created. So far I've cleaned out all my drawers, set aside a bag of clothes and things to go to Goodwill, put all my winter stuff away, reorganized my closet, and cleaned off all the unnecessary junk off the dressers and nightstands. And it's only Tuesday! I'm pumped with the progress. I'm just waiting on the hubs to clean out his drawers as well and we'll call it a day.

In other news, I have embarked on a new business venture! Ever heard of Proactiv Acne Solutions? Well, the doctors who created Proactiv have opened up a new anti-aging skin care line and I've partnered with them in selling their skin care line! So you're looking at the new independent consultant for Rodan + Fields! Let me tell you how excited I am about this new venture! It's going to be an awesome ride and I'm so happy to have jumped on the ride! Skin is always in style and these products are amazing! I say check these products out if you want to keep those pesky wrinkles at bay, if you are tired of those acne breakouts, or if you have sensitive skin! These products are amazing! I recommend checking it out yourself ;) Click on the picture to find out more!

This week.

After this week, I can honestly say that I have earned my spring break. It has been a whirlwind of a week, and it's only Tuesday! I feel like I've been working at least ten days in a row now. Spring break is just around the corner. This is the thought that is getting me through the rest of the week. Only 3 more mornings until freedom.

The plan for this spring break is cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning. How much will I really get done? That's a good question and I'm probably extremely unrealistic, but I plan on cleaning out our closet and chest of drawers and reorganizing everything. {Don't tell the hubs any of these plans in case they don't happen. ;) What he doesn't know won't hurt him and if they do end up happening he'll be pleased.}

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We have a very small closet so organization is a must. Currently, we have none.

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Simple Organized Living has a great tutorial posted  about how to make do with an "average size master closet." I guarantee you ours is definitely "average size." Or maybe even smaller. 

I'll be doing this on a budget so I'm looking for cheap and easy ways to improve our storage. Any tips or ideas? Our biggest ordeal is our shoes. We have no idea what to do with any of them! And there are lots (I'm planning on getting rid of a ton).

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I like the idea of storing things under the bed on rolling drawers. The hubs's boots would work nicely under there.

I don't know. I'm at a loss. We also don't have doors on our closet, so everything is out in the open for all eyes to see (not that anyone actually goes into our bedroom but us, but that's not the point). So I might look to adding doors cheaply. Remember I'm on a budget!

Movie Review

The Hunger Games were ever in my favor last night. I thought the film was brilliantly done. This is coming from someone who has a very difficult time separating the books from the movies (I'm still struggling with actually liking the Harry Potter films when I loved the Harry Potter books). I can't recount too much, other than the fact that I'm astounded by how amazing it is, so I won't make any further implications until after I've seen it again. Which, lucky for you, will be this afternoon. Yes. I am going again within 24 hours of seeing it the first time and going on an hour and a half of sleep (I'm trying to listen to Disney music in hopes that it will keep me awake). I will say this though: the casting was perfect. They could not have done a better job and I am extremely pleased with how each actor portrayed their character. A.MA.ZING. 

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