So excited!

I LOVE the Oscars y'all!  LOVE them!  Love seeing the fashion and all of it!  For many years I hosted a party but I have not done that in a few years.  Tonight I am going to my friend's chic new pool house to sip champagne, eat chocolate and have some fun girl time. I simply cannot wait to see the red carpet fashions!

{an "Oscar" my friends gave me for the best Oscar party hostess}

I know I have been the lamest blogger lately. I have a BIG update post coming tomorrow.  I just need to upload some photos for it!  

But tonight I am popping in to tell you that I am really close to getting ready to launch the Nurtured Home.  It won't be long now.  I would love to hear from you though.  I have prepared several posts already but am curious to hear what you the readers want to see/learn more about.  The Nurtured Home will be about marriage, parenting, food, style and spirit. Obviously I am not an expert on all those topics but will have guest posters and lots of interviews. The Nurtured Home is about creating a home filled with beauty and grace. One of the regular features will be an advice column about relationships, family, parenting and marriage. So please leave me some questions in the comments to submit for the column.  You can also e-mail me them or leave them anonymously.  I usually do not allow anonymous comments but am lifting that just for this post.

More soon...

Epic Failure {maybe not}

Okay folks,  I lost steam this week.  I did a HORRIBLE job on one of my Lenten sacrifices (the 40 bags in 40 days).  I did not stick to my schedule and I did not get the computer nook OR the media room done.  I did get the easy closet done (but yielded NO bags from it) and I totally cleaned my bedside table. (got some trash, some recycling but mostly books that needed to be moved to another location!)

Okay friends, so this is me being COMPLETELY transparent.  I will write another time about what a complete neat freak I used to be/still am sometimes.  But my bedside table had gotten so out of control.  I read a ton.  I am in two book clubs.  I take some supplements right before bed or immediately when I wake up so my table was covered in books and vitamin bottles.  Books were all over the floor.  It was BAD!  I am so embarrassed of this photo but want you to know that I am so imperfect (and sometimes messy).

  So, here is the before...

And here are some afters although I am still in progress...

 

I have another larger table that I think I am going to paint a french gray (with Chalk paint) and get more substantial lamps in here.   Aside from silk drapes, we have done nothing to decorate our master bedroom since we moved into this house. It could use a big sprucing up. It is a beautiful blue/gray color though.

I  have read 98% of the Steve Jobs book and thought it was great.  

I would like to find a cute small basket for all my thyroid, adrenal. etc meds and supplements.

{Special little shells, crafts and rocks the kids have given me}

Since I did not get everything done on my list this week, I was feeling like I really failed but then I thought of what I DID do this week.  I DID avoid gluten pretty well.  I DID go to a new Bible study with a friend.  I DID work and get some new clients.  I DID exercise.  I DID finally get my Valentine decorations down. And I had lunch with friends twice and got a pedicure (all that was good for my soul too).  I prayed a lot for some friends who really needed it this week.

I also felt very dizzy  and exhausted all week.  I am not making excuses but something is definitely not right.  Every time I stood up (and I was on a ladder a few times) I felt like I was going to pass out.  So, I spent a little time chilling.  I am thinking I need my thyroid and adrenals checked again. It has been a while.

I know I will have my 40 bags at the end of Lent but this week was not my week.

I posted this quote this last year too when I was having trouble with keeping up with Lent.  Edie just says it so well....

" If I purpose to ‘give something up’ for Lent and then two weeks later find that I fail and can’t keep my lenten discipline, God is not disappointed in me. God is pleased with Christ and thus pleased with me when I have faith in Christ. I am a sinner who fails and sins constantly. And my failing is not a surprise to God. If I keep my lenten discipline to the ‘tee’, I must be careful not to try and convince myself that I’m ‘more spiritual’ or holy than before. I have been freely clothed with the righteousness of Christ and am only learning to ‘fit’ into clothes that were given me by God."

And one more thing I don't want to forget.   Usually, I watch the Oscars with friends.  For many years, I had a party.  But this year, we watched with another family and our kids.  I will admit that I was hesitant.  I  usually like to watch with just my girlfriends.  But we really enjoyed it.  The boys got into it and Kate LOVED the fashion.  In fact, she said, "Mama, is this a big fancy fashion show?"  Also, my girl has great taste.  Usually 5 year old girls just like big, frilly and sometimes gaudy dresses. But nope.  Not Kate.  She LOVED Gwyneth Paltrow.....

She literally gasped and oohed and ahhhed.  She said , "Mama!! She is gorgeous!!  She is so so beautiful.  That is the most beautiful pony tail I have ever seen! " Yup. Like Mama like daughter. I have always secretly wanted to look like Gwyneth Paltrow--you know in that "if you could look like any movie star kinda way."  We both loved her simple, classic and understated beauty.  We also really like Michelle Williams in her coral gown.  Stunning!

I realized that I am going to have SO MUCH fun watching these things with Kate over the years:)
I love having a daughter!  

Have a great weekend!