Downtown Discoveries

This past spring, I decided I wanted to discover more of our downtown. 

Ive heard raves and such on it, but I really wasn't drawn towards it..mostly because I hate finding parking!  

So..as stated in my last post, I have a Summer to-do list, or if you will..Bucket list and this is on the list...

DISCOVER DOWNTOWN

This store isn't really a discovery, but it is one of my favorite finds in the past and is worth mentioning...

I started going here about 5 years ago and Miss Joan still remembers me,

since my visits span about 6 months apart!

But such a great place to find props and goodies for the house! 

Oh and her price is pretty reasonable!  

It funny when I get a digging and find a treasure, 

that she's just happy I found it and usually give it to me at a pretty sweet price!

I collect vintage household items and jewelry. 

My mom was a photographer and she had all kinds of vintage gear that she would use to decorate her house.  So taking her cue, I started the same...

cameras and other photography gear.

So the last time I walked in her store,

Miss Joan remembered what I collected and had a stash for me!  

Talk about Customer Service!

If I had the money, I would have bought all of them, but with everything else I was purchasing, I had to limit myself to 5 items...that was painful!

So here's a glimpse of my finds

 

My sweet scale...scored for only $5!

I also found a couple of daisy hat pins and radio flyer mini wagon and twiggy glasses, 
But i didn't take pictures of them....

 The suitcase was another find, but from a different antique store...Ill highlight that one later!

Just love this store!  

If your ever in Boilermaker Country, 

Drop me a message and I would be happy to take you there! 

Next time on Downtown Discoveries...

JAVA ROASTER!

 

Whats your hidden treasure in your town?

Write a post on it and let me know!

Ahhh...Its Summer...

No more Homework, 

No More Books..

NO MORE Teachers dirty looks(aka MOM)... 

 

June 15th marked my last day of school with the chitlins and I couldn't be happier and relieved.  Dropping that last homework in the mail to their teachers was a momentous event.  As we neared the mailbox, my daughters wanted the pleasure of dropping it in the box themselves, complete with drum roll

(little drummer mom I am!).

As soon as the last letter dropped in the box, A loud shout of excitement came roaring from our mouths...

scaring the lady next to us half out of her wits as she was getting out of her car!

Sorry Lady, but we were busting out of our school monotony.  

I'm looking forward to a serene summer and the victory of checking things off my summer bucketlist...

To accomplish this...
I have a plan.

Yes...a glorious plan.

I sat down with my calendar of the summer and I scheduled in my bucket list categories

MONDAY

Cleaning, organizing, purging.

TUESDAY

spend it with friends, at the pool, at the library, at the fountain.

WEDNESDAY

Pull out the sewing maching, do crafts with girls or friends, bake something with the girls.

 THURSDAY

Library and Java Roaster with the girls. You cant go wrong with BOGO lunch!  We pick up books from their reading list for next year and after lunch, they read while I work on the computer or visit with a friend I've invited to join us.

FRIDAY

Fun Day Freebie!

Oh Summer!
Why cant you be longer than 3 months!
Could you be friends with Fall and just keep it warm enough to keep the snow away until December
(the longer the better,  but I want snow for Christmas if I have to be in IN to celebrate it!)

What are YOU doing this SUMMER??
DO Tell!!!

Linked up with:

Sorry for the delay...

Blog Loser!

Ok, I get the worst blogger-ever award.  

Hands down.

I really did have a good excuse...

Its called...

LIFE.

Yea Yea.  Likely story. We all have one right!?

Ok.  I really wanted to come back, but after dealing with a days worth of kid drama...

by nightfall, I'm KA-PUT!

So with the whineyness aside, I can move on to the happenings that is my life.

First Im sorry I haven't been around to visit your blogs..

I will make a point to say hello!

Second, I have noticed that a couple of you have found my other blog that...

ahem,I have yet to update( no judging!!!).

I haven't made it clear on here, but I have a side job as a photographer 

and so alot of times, I have just enough braincells to work on my clients pictures.

Thank you to those who have visited...I appreciate the follow!

Life is good right now. No complaints...well maybe a couple, but Ill leave that to the next post..and there will be another post!!LOL

Be Blessed!

Coming and Going...

Hi ya peeps. 
So sorry I abandoned you for the past 2 weeks.
I have been insanely consumed.
Usually when I feel overwhelmed, I just have to take a step back from everything and recharge.
There has been a lot going on in our family life, that just makes us feel like were on the go...ALL.THE.TIME.
Really.
Its not that bad, but somewhere in my "mommy life", I actually turned into a home-body.
I used to whine and cry to my husband when we weren't with friends on a Friday night or having a get together like every other week.
Now, mind you the whining and crying was from me and only me, my husband loves to be home, but come on!
We're young!
Live it up you know!!!
Now, its like...
"Do we have anything going on this weekend?"
  "NO?"
"YES!"
Sweatshirt and Jammies kind of night!!
How stinking sad is that!!!???
  That's ok...
I'm ok with my boring life that is sometimes so busy that I catch myself coming and going!
This is what busy looks like to me: either they need me or people need me to help then with it
Husband
Girls
House choirs
laundry
dishes
grocery shopping
Homeschool
piano practice
second job
Church
Praise Team
Softball
Gymnastics
Life Group
on
and
on
and
on
it
continues
to
add
on.
But that's OK.
As I have heard people quoted before...
"I am to blessed to be stress"!
I know there are people who would love to be in my shoes.
So I really hope that I can just savor these moments
and
stop
complaining.
Life
is
too
short!

The posers...finishing up with school....kinda.

THREE ITEM THURSDAY #2: Toliet Paper, Burlap, and Clothespins

 

So first let me start off by saying that hot glue is my 

BEST FRIEND.

O my goodness.

Forget duct tape...i seriously think my life has been changed by Hot Glue...

Hallelujah! I've seen the light.

So if you haven't caught on, hot glue was a big part of my project for this week.

I constantly went back and forth what I wanted to do...I thought about a wreath, but for some reason I wasn't content with that for the challenge.

So i started looking at things in my house and found my inspiration.

A friend of mine gave me a journal where the cover was covered in burlap.  Its actually a pretty neat looking book with endless possibilities(according to my crazy craft friend!).

So I took the three items and created this...

 

So its not the most beautiful thing or most original, 

but its something I whipped up 

and im pretty proud of it.

So here are my pieces that I used.

1.Toliet paper:

2. Burlap-

 

This is the where I actually went Hot Glue Gun crazy, but I didn't get any pics of it ; (

Trust me...Glue sticks all the way!

3. Clothespins

There you have it!!!

My little burlap notebook.

My daughter was so impressed, she begged me for it.  

Overall, a little rough, but as far as the challenge goes...

I'm 2/2, and I'm pretty pleased!

Thanks for visiting!!

Blessings, 

Missy

Monday Miscellany: Just words, no pictures

Linking up once again at Carissa's Monday Miscellany...

 

1. Butler is playing.  Beat UCONN.

2.  2 things are certain...taxes and me waiting until the last minute to file.

3. Another craft challenge due on Thursday using burlap, toilet paper roll and clothes pin...getting crafty hurts my brain.

4.Death. Sucks. nuff said.

5. My husband, His buddy and his FIL is putting up my long awaited deck on the back of my house.  I am STOKED.

6.  I have really had to learn how to let go of my control problem...it just makes me grumpy.  Especially in the case of my PT biz.   In the last few days, I have had 6 inquiries for doing photos for people...something I am slowly learning...Let Go and Let God.

7.  I truly love getting together with our Life Group from our church.  We have the best one out of all the others, but don't tell anyone I said that.

8. I really want to see the movie, Arthur.   It looks Hilarious!!!

9.Just spoke to my sister tonight who lives north of me. Made me miss her and all of our fun times together.

10. Its a good thing that Blogger saves constantly while your writing posts. I don't know how many times my hand hits a button where it scrolls back a page.  Thank you Blogger, you have saved my laptop many times from being thrown or beaten.

Happy Monday!

Blessings

Missy

Three Item Thursday: Paint Chips, Twine and Cereal box

Ok Ya'll!

Check this out!

I am getting down with my crafty-self!

Paint Chip Mini Album

 

So I just had to share over at  The Tattered Tag and link up at their 

THREE ITEM THURSDAY!

Each week, there are  items you have to use to craft something...anything!

So, with paint chips, twine and cereal  box in hand, away I went!

OK...so backup 7 days ago and I get this text from my crafty friend, Jocelyn...

She tells me about this challenge and asks me to do this along with her.

Bless her heart!

Here is one of the most crafty and creative person I know, 

and she just keeps working on the very uncreative ME!
From cards to scrapping...
She has hope that my inner crafty child will show her face soon...

So with a mixture of various projects I have seen, I put this little ditty together...

1. I used  Plastic Name Tag holders for the album pages.

2. Paint Chips for the album cover and the flowers

3.Cut cereal box into squares to fit into plastic tags for shape and sturdiness for pictures.

4.Twine to hold the pages together inside the album and create a cute bow on the album.

Thats it.
  Easy Peasy
Nice and Squeezy

 

OTHER LINK-UPS....

Being Nice

Hey!  Gotta Minute??  Let me tell you about a project that I'm a part of!

After you read all this...You may wanna be a part of it too!

"Don't you love it when people go out of their way to be nice? Like when someone waits to hold the door for you. Or when a stranger waves you into a line a traffic. Or even when a coworker shoots you a friendly smile along with a "have a nice day." If everyone was a little bit nicer to the folks they encountered each day, perhaps the world would be a more pleasant place. Operation NICE was initiated to remind you that a little NICE goes a long way. nice? Like when someone waits to hold the door for you. Or when a stranger waves you into a line a traffic. Or even when a coworker shoots you a friendly smile along with a "have a nice day." If everyone was a little bit nicer to the folks they encountered each day, perhaps the world would be a more pleasant place. Operation NICE was initiated to remind you that a little NICE goes a long way."

(Above statement is taken from operationnice.com)

OPERATION NICE:

Encouraging individuals to be proactively nice.

What a great idea from Melissa Morris Ivone!

 Nice inspires Nice!

So inspire someone... inspire your friends and family!
and share it on your wall and attach a button...
What a great way to challenge your own kids at school to do the same!!


Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how!!
Let Melissa From Operation Nice know
and let her know that

IN HER SHOES 

Sent ya!!!

Monday Miscellany Randomosity

Monday Blog Hop With Carissa Graham

oh the randomness of this post...you've been warned!

Happy Monday! 

1.Bad Habits are hard to break...going to bed by a decent hour is near impossible. 

My hubs works third shift, which means, I can't sleep.

Really stinks come morning.

steamykitchen.com for picture..thanks!

2. I watched Julie& Julia for the umpteenth time. I love that movie. If you're a foodie, you will like it...probably relate to it. There are so many key points I would love to shout out, but dont want to spoil to those who haven't see it yet.  Meryl Streep is great as Julia Childs and I love Amy Adams!  I will say...I dont get the ending..if you do, please explain it to me!

3. Because of this movie...I want to travel across the big pond one of these days and see places like Greece, Italy, and France...all the romantic places...Eat cheese and bread and drink wine...what a life!

All part of my bucket list.        

4. Raising girls can be so much fun and on the flip side can be one drama after another.

 What was on my daughter's camera...such a character!

My oldest has so many great characteristics, but struggles with confidence.  You wouldn't know it, judging the above photos because her personality is very open and warm and well pretty silly...its a good way to shield what's really going on inside. Her love language is affirmation and even though, her dad and I are her biggest fans, I think as parents, we get into our own little world and forget that our girls need the "pat on the back" or the "I'm proud of you" talk. SOOO..Don't forget to tell your kids how proud you are of them and that you love em!  It builds up their confidence banks!

5.My youngest...well, she's a trip.

 She opens her mouth and there's no telling what will come.  The last comment she made was about my puff jacket(im sure there are more comments, but this is the most rememberable).  I don't like puff jackets, but for $6, it may not be a bad buy just to wear around outside or sledding.  So I got a white one since it was the only one left in my size.  One day, I went to get it out of the closet to go outside and my daughter gave me the "raised eyebrows".  That's never good.  So here's the conversation:

ME: what?

C: Um mom...No defense(she meant offense), but I dont like that jacket.

ME: OK why?

C: Well, you kinda look like that tire guy's girlfriend.  (aka...Michelin Man)

Thank you Michelin.com

 Yes, I still have the jacket and no, I will not wear it...it will find itself at the closest Goodwill.

5.I haven't done my taxes yet.  Nothing like waiting till the last minute!

6. Spring Break and Homeschooling...I'm not sure if that's possible.  

7.Karaoke is only fun when your drunk.

(I don't drink, and since this is a Church Ladies retreat where this will be happening, 

I doubt any of them will be drunk...though that would be hilarious)

8.Had the sweetest comment given to me:
In a recent conversation or venting,

I told my friend that I'm probably a bad influence on her...

and she said yes but she liked that!

Anyone else had that told to them by their BF and it was a positive thing? 

 I'm So touched!

9.I'm not sure what I did before computers.

  I must have had a lot more accomplished in my day than I do now.

10.  Really wishing that Organization was something I was good at.

Instead, I'm a pro at being scatter-brained. 

It really is a skill.

Have a blessed Monday!!!!

                                                                                                                         

Spring Break Fever

Not feeling it. AT ALL...

Motivation that is.

Im soo ready for a break, and so are the girls. We are desparately trying to get through all of our school stuff, but we would just rather do fun stuff like jumping on the trampoline and crafts and such.  We have a great week of just fun stuff we are going to do and well they deserve it.  They have worked so hard and it seems we never have time to do crafty stuff...

So tomorrow, I'm going out to buy materials and we are making purses, aprons, AG clothes..and thats just one day!  Weather pending, but I'm almost sure there will be a photo shoot  of the girls in their spring duds somewhere in the mix.

So whats your plans for Spring Break?

Staying?

Going?

Working?

oops..I did it again.

Open mouth.

Insert Foot.

Again. 

I do this more than I care to admit. 
My emotions get the best of me and I end up having word vomit.  You read that right...WORD VOMIT.

Ughh Train wreck.

ok...just wanted to vent.

Happy Wednesday ya'll

oh im not good with this...

Oh my heck.
I totally forgot to come here and share my 411!
Now im 2 days behind...so I guess lets get started!

What are your Job Titles?
Ok so I am a wife..held that job for almost 13 years...almost got a demotion a couple of time(HAHA), but I should get my gold watch anytime now.
A mom...For almost 10 years.  To girls. I have more gray hair then when I had them.  Enough said.
Educator....I homeschool. I am crazy.
Daughter and Sister...Besides your nuclear family...these guys just tell you how and like it is. I like that.
Friend...many call me this, but only a handful really gets my attention
Business owner...love what I do on the side..hate the biz side of it.  Good thing I love what do.


What is your favorite color(s)?
red black and brown

You are invited to a large cocktail party at a country club. When you arrive, the room where the party is being held is already over half full of people. How do they react to you when you enter the room?
They all laugh and say...oh Shocker..Missy's late...again(emphasis on the "again")


What is your favorite drink?
Im a coffee drinker and depending on what im eating..i love coke and ice tea..but those are treats.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Meat thawing, veggies in the crisper that should prob be thrown out and a huge thing of bottled water..because i drink water all the time!


What is the last book you read?
Dane Sanders..."Fast Track Photography"  Excellent for any biz owner.


What was the last movie you went to see?
hmmm...Red Box count?  SALT...Prince of Persia...Grownups...When In Rome


What is your favorite movie (song)?
SOUND OF MUSIC...I have always wanted to play Maria in the play...but Im not sure if the directors would go for a Ghetto Maria...


How would you explain a Facebook in four sentences to an eight-year-old ?
Biggest. Time. Waster. Ever.

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
The ability to clone myself so I can be at 100 places all at once ; )


If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Late. Again.


If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?
Spicy Mexican


If you won $20 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?
 Tithe...Get the debts paid off, take care of family, and then pray for how we should distribute the rest.

If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?
Honey mustard!


If you were a car, what kind would you be?
It would be a jeep wrangler.


If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say?
She made it...ON TIME!


What are your annoyances?
whiners. needers, haters, organizers, crafters, drivers, cupcakers(LOL, inside joke)


At a Subway Restaurant Interview:
What's the most important part of the sandwich?
The part that didnt fall on the floor.

Well, thats alittle about me...Ill bring on some more goodies about myself tomorrow!!
Blessings, Missy

Shoes?

Confession time.  This is not my first blog...its my third one.  I had one called Cornoodling(those who know me, get it).  In the meantime, I started a photography blog.  Decided to close the Cornoodling blog and focus more on the photog blog.  I took a break from that, because honestly, I really didn't know what the heck I was doing.  I know. Blogging.  Words. Pictures. Whats the biggie?   After some time away, I really started thinking about blogging again, and got inspired by some pretty awesome stuff...but they were just blogging where their life is at.  And realized, its not about the numbers and who loves ya.  You do it. Just because you can.

So, enter new blog. IN HER SHOES.  I also got more adventurous and restarted my photo blog Arthouse.

So hopefully IHS is pretty explainable, but its simply day to day, week to week adventurous of my life as a
wife, mom, daughter, sister, best friend, Christian, homeschool mom, and whatever else my "shoes" seem to take me.  Oh, and the occasional...Look at the shoes that I got on sale!  Yea, I love my shoes too.

my recent shoe purchase, except in silver and black

Next week, I will try to post a little more of who I am..I know. The suspense is killing you, isn't it?

Blessings
♥

Monday Miscellany...Madness

So MONDAY is a hard day for us..well because its MONDAY.  I know, preaching to the choir.  It just takes us a little while to get moving.  I need to be one of those moms who takes Sunday afternoon to get the house in order for the rest of the week...but so fair, the only order we have had is our Sunday afternoon naps or shopping dates with my daughter, which I just love!

(she's becoming a shopaholic..but she gets it honestly)

So I present my brought to you 

by the lovely Carissa Graham of Lowercase Letters Blog..Great idea Carissa!

MADNESS

1. Madness started when a cement pole stepped in front of me at Wal-mart as I was looking for a parking place.
Cement pole: 1
Jeep: 0


2. Madness started when I realized that between my husband and I, we have no idea where my keys are.  Not the first time this has happened, but I'm usually the one who misplaces them...now its my husband who has misplaced them.

3.Madness is trying to start good habits and then getting tired of it after a month.
Isn't more fun to just to let it go? ; )

4.Madness is staying focused while trying to Homeschool as its getting nicer. 
Not the kids...ME!
I'm ready for warm weather, swimming, flowers and late night bon-fires with good friends.

5.Madness is gas prices.  Nuff said.

6.Madness is balance...
balance = less stress
Funny how that works.

7.Madness is Julian Michaels.  I started 30 day shred. Love the work out.  Dislike her.
Guess you dont get guns like that being nice though.

8.Madness is knowing my baby girl just turned 8 last Friday. 

9. Madness is having that 8 year old asking what Sexy is. Gulp. Really, already?

10. Madness is all the cute shirts I got at Old Navy..I gotta thing for floral. Cant wait to get some cute dresses and skirts.

11. Madness is Japan and the devastation that is taking place.
Praying that God lifts their heads and that through this, 
that they will be filled with Hope that only God can provide.

12. Madness is the dates...
NY(Sept. 11) Haiti(Jan.11) Japan(March 11).
Coincidence?

Luke 21:10-11Then Jesus said to his disciples : "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes', famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 'Jesus says for behold I come quickly...

13.Madness is knowing that through all this...I'm blessed.

♥