TOOT YOUR OWN HORN

Have you ever said to yourself, “I’m not good at anything!” Or “I can’t do anything right!” How about “If only I was good at _____!” Yep, I’ve been there! There have been many days when I felt totally useless and had nothing to offer, nothing to give. And although I don’t like what aging is doing to my body, it has improved my mind and my mindset. I know deep down in my heart that there are things I am good at and while I’ve never been anyone to brag, I think all of us owe it to ourselves to toot our own horn every now and then! 

 

Let’s talk about the things we are good at, instead of dwelling on what we don’t think we are. I thought it would be fun to list 10 things that I know in my heart I’m good at. I have a feeling other people would tell me the same things and most of them are things people have told me I excel at. Those attributes are what make each of us unique and we should be proud of those things. 

 
Flowers
Taking care of and planting annual flowers to be exact. If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I inherited my green thumb from my mama! She always has the most beautiful flowers in the world and I’m happy to take care of the ones I plant every spring and watch how beautifully they grow. Since I wasn’t around the blog last summer, you didn’t get to see what I planted last year. Here’s a couple photos and I might do an entire post on it this Spring. In the past I’ve done post called picking posies where my mom and I go to greenhouses and plot our flower landscape each April. Would you like post on that?

..and this was before they were even at their fullest 

Lil Flower area by the Pool Shed

Decorating the Front Porch
Especially during the fall and Christmas season, people tell me that my front porch decorations should be in a magazine. Imagine my surprise when Pioneer Woman magazine reached out to me last year, and I was included in their Fall Edition in an article about pumpkins and porch decorations. They had seen a photo of one of my Fall porches on Pinterest and wanted more. I sent them pictures from each year and ironically enough they chose the year that was my least favorite, lol! I tried to do something different every year, but you can guarantee there are lots of pumpkins and mums.  

Honored! That years Fall Porch HERE

But this was my favorite year. See that Post HERE

In the Kitchen
Cooking and baking are my jam! I pretty much cook almost every single night. I have some of my favorites in my Recipes Tab so I won't go putting all my favs here. I love to cook for others, and I love to try new recipes. And it’s funny with the baking, years ago, you may remember I entered baked goods in the county fair and won many ribbons. One year, I even won the Bursting with Blueberries contest. I never have done that cookbook like I wanted to, but maybe one day. My husband always tells me my cookies are 100 times better than Crumbl cookies which always makes me feel good. There’s nothing like a homemade cookie, but homemade cookies must be done right. LOL! You'll see on the sidebars, my most pinned posts on Pinterest are my Food Posts.

Recipe using Strawberries HERE

Recipe for the PB Fudge HERE

Decorating/House Design
I love to decorate and it’s one of those things that again, I say I wish I was better at but everyone that comes to our home loves it. I especially loved designing our new home 8 yrs ago and when my husband and I watch HGTV shows, we say we could design them so much better, ha ha.

We have 5 bathrooms, but these two are my favs..the Powder Bath and the Glam Bath in my Upstairs Office/Craft area

 
Gift Giving
My love language is truly giving gifts to those I love! And not just any old gift, I am adamant about finding the perfect thing that fits that person and that I know they will love! And if it's one I'm mailing, I love to decorate the boxes. It’s one of my greatest joys to see people open gifts that I have picked out just for them! 

A Birthday Box sent to a Bestie in Louisiana 

 
Spreading Kindness
I try to make the day for someone every day! I’m all about giving genuine compliments, opening a door for someone and helping them in any way I can. This world needs more kindness, and it needs to be engraved in our souls to spread it to others.

Being Empathetic 
This somewhat goes along with being kind, but the addition to that is being empathetic! To know when others are hurting to know when others just need a listening ear, to know when to relate to what others are going through so that they know they’re not alone! If you ask me, I would say being empathetic is one of my greatest qualities.
 
Games
I love to play games, and we don’t as often as I wish. But I have to say I’m pretty darn good at them! I love me a mean game of Yahtzee, Uno and mine and Mr. Nine’s favorite, gin rummy! Mini golf, Badminton Especially love playing corn hole with the kids, and don’t mind boasting when we beat the younger set, lol!

So Proud Beating our kids, LOL

Dealing cards like a Boss since 1974, I'm on the left, Cuz-n on the right

Stylin’
OK, I will admit, I’m not as into fashion in my 50s as I was when I was younger. Part of that is because I no longer work in the professional world and part of that is because I just want to be comfortable and cozy these days! Give me a cute leisure outfit to play with the granddaughters and I’m in heaven! But I’d be lying if I said, I didn’t love getting dressed up every now and then and styling things from time to time for you all on the blog.

A Few outfits you missed last summer 

while I was on Sabbatical.

MOG Dress in June

I LOVE Jumpsuits as you know..

This one Available HERE It's a FAV!

Christmas
Ok, this last one kind of combines a lot of these, but you know I take pride in being a queen of Christmas! Everything for decorating my numerous trees to taking trays of baked goods to friends and family, to beautifully wrapping gifts, and picking out just the right thing for people and making all the favorite foods on Christmas Day and making it special for my sweet family! Spreading Christmas Cheer my dears! 

Gosh, I got on a roll, and I think it was good for my soul! I thought of many more and I picked up my own Debbie Downer attitude from the times I think there’s nothing I can do! When in reality, there is so much we all are good at! 

 

Now, there are some things that I definitely won’t be exceptional at that I wish I was. Probably the number one thing is singing, but you know what? When I’m singing songs or lullabies to the granddaughters I feel like a songbird, haha! 

I encourage you to make your own list of those things you are awesome at! If you’re a blogger, write a post about it! If you’re not, write it down in your journal or on a piece of paper and every now and then when you’re down on yourself, look at it to remind you of all the cool things you CAN do! And always remember, I love ya!

Linking up with Momfessionals and Between Naps on The Porch // Thursday Fashion Files // I Do deClaire // Hello Monday // Sunday's on Silverado // Life and Linda

xoxo 

FINDING JOY

What on Earth….literally, is going on in this world? The events in New Orleans last week on the very 1st day of the year just broke my heart. The sad truth is events like this are never going to stop. But one day we will, we’ll take our last breath. As I’m in the 2nd half of my life, I’m really asking myself, why aren’t I doing more of the things that bring me Joy? And I’m telling myself to treasure those joyful moments even more deeply. As cliche as it is, we only get one life and when that last breath comes, I hope my soul goes out on a joyful note and I hope yours does too. 

As I look back at this past year, I’m sad at how many people seem to have lost their Joy. I’m ashamed at sometimes being made to feel guilty when I get giddy excited about something. There are so many joy squashers out there! The world is full of negative Nellie’s, bullies of all ages and hurting souls. Let’s show them what Joy is by wearing it on our sleeve, by embracing the happiness that small and big things bring us. 

I had a very hard time finding joy in the first half of 2024. There were days I couldn’t find strength, or grace or even one foot in front of the other. I often wondered if I’d ever even smile or laugh again? But as with everyone, happiness ebbs and flows, more bad times are to come but so are the good ones. So what if even during the rough times, we stop and recognize Joy! A warm cup of tea on a cold afternoon, a fresh dye job on my very graying roots, a hug from a loved one, my doggie just sitting by my side in solitude. Joys don’t have to be ginormous, really it’s the culmination of small joys that lights the way even on the darkest days. 

And remember, joy may not be here today but there’s memories of joys, there’s a future with joys! I often think about my happiest, most joyful memories when I’m feeling low. 

How I wish I could send everyone, especially those hurting, a big ole helping of Joy! While that’s not possible, I hope I can at least spread it to those I encounter. It’s one of the reasons I came back to blogging, even spreading a speck of Joy is worth it. The flame on my candle is small but if I can light yours, I’ll do it! If we all try harder to see the Joy, maybe we’ll rub off on others. 

 

Never let anyone take JOY from you! Relish it, soak it up because those joys are meant for YOU! But what a gift to share some of it with others. 

 

Do you recognize Joy? Do you allow yourself to feel it? 

Can you let go of the painful, the bad, and be open to it!

And please tell me you try to spread it as best you can my sweet friends! 

 I WISH YOU AN ABUNDANCE OF JOY 

IN THE FRESH NEW YEAR AHEAD!!

PS: Something else that brings me joy besides the obvious, most precious....my family...…is there's only 298 days til I decorate for Christmas again. LOL!! Man, our home looks sparse; clean but sparse, LOL!

 

Linking up with Between Naps on the Porch // Thursday Fashion Files // I Do deClaire // Momfessionals // Hello Monday

xoxo