Who am I?

Has someone ever said something to you that caught you off guard, maybe even made you a little mad but then made you think?  They said something that kept ringing in your ears during those times in the day when thoughts seem to be louder then the hum of the hair dryer or even the music playing in the car.  They said something that no matter how you tried, you couldn't shake it! 

I've been thinking a lot this week about what my Identity is.  ..."the idiosyncratic things that make a person unique."  Knowledge of who one is.   Humm.  I think I know what my Identity is, but is that who other people see me as?  I'm pretty sure that our Identity is something that changes and evolves over time.  Life situations are part of making us who we are.  Faith, Marriage, Childbirth, Jobs, Schooling, Hobbies, Friends, all of these are things that shape who we are and what we identity with. 

Until recently, Faith has been something that has been hard for me to talk about.  However, I am certain that my Faith is the strongest part of my Identity.  It's something new for me to be openly embracing, but it's my foundation for everything else in my life.  My Faith keeps me grounded.  It reminds me what should be important, and keeps me in check. 

I would like my identity to be being a Good Mother, Good Wife, Good Daughter , Good Sister and Good Friend.  When I have a choice to make, I pray that I make the choice that makes me all of these things.   I don't want my identity to be my Career, my Car,  my Stuff or my House.  If my house is a HOME then my family feels safe, loved and secure.  If my job is something that I do with integrity and hard work within the confines of a a work day, then my Family feels important, cared about and proud.  

I think that if I'm keeping my Faith in mind in all of my decision making, then all of these things should identify WHO I AM.    Did I make Travis his favorite dinner, just because?  Did I cuddle on the couch with Becca for an extra long time because touching me makes her feel safe?  Did I read a book to Jillian over and over and over because it's her favorite?  Did I swing by my Mom's house to take her with me to the store so we could grab a coffee and run errands together?  Did I call my Dad at 6:30 to say HI because I knew he was driving home and could talk?  Did I tell my sister today that I love her and she's my best friend, because it's something that you can never hear enough?  Did I call my friend or send a note just to say, hey, I'm thinking about you?

I'm going to try...  I'm going to make my life about letting people I love know they matter to me. 

Oh sure, I will find time to get my hair done, shop for shoes, do a project, take a walk, watch T.V., write my Blog, paint my toes red, or decorate my house, but all of those things don't really matter without my Family and Friends to share it with!  

I mean, aren't these faces worth it!

He Loves Me

 Just in case I was wondering, yes, He Loves Me!  By far, the most beautiful flowers were delivered to my office with a dose of humor to boot.  If you watch Modern Family, you'll get my Hubby's subtle attempt at humor, it totally MADE my day!  He is the best Husband EVER.  I just love him to pieces.

I also just so happened to be matching my flowers too!  Everyone thought I did it on purpose, which was kind of funny, but it really was just a coincidence.  

I can't wait to get home and give my little munchkins their Valentines, snuggles, and and eat some yummy dinner too.  What a great day!  I hope everyone your was just as sweet!

The Magical Kingdom

Oh what fun we had!  In lieu of a 4th Birthday Bash for miss Becca, Daddy and I took our little girls to Disneyland for the first time.  We had a blast no doubt.  The girls referred to it as Mickey's Park.  For some reason, Disneyland didn't quite have as much significance to them right now.  They kinda looked blankly at me when I told them where we were going, but once I said, "where Mickey lives, you know".  Ohh yes Mommy!  We want to go there.

We stayed at the Hilton and had a super duper view from our room.  We watched the Fireworks in our pajamas and headed to Mickey's park the next morning.

Highlights included the Carousel, Toon Town Roller Coaster, Woody and Jesse, Lunch, Pirate Ship, Tom Sawyer Island, Autopia and the Tea Cups.

Our Hotel Room, we are so excited!

With Daddy, getting ready to go in!

Mickey!  He was the first one we saw!

Minnie!!!

Getting dizzy in the Tea Cups.

Are we leaning?

Woody and Jesse, it doesn't get better than that!

The girls had a blast taking it all in!  I hope they have the best memories!  I sure do!

Feel the Love

Valentines is that fun little holiday that can sometime sneak up on you if your not paying attention, when it comes to decorating and crafting of course!  It never ever ever sneaks up on Husband's, Boyfriend's or any other significant other,....... right?

I found some fun new blog's and websites with some really cute decorating and gift giving idea's!  Easy stuff for Valentines Day!  This idea is so cute and simple, I can't believe I didn't think of putting these pretty little votive's across my mantle, or a little cluster next to a picture of my sweetie.  This would be a cute little valentine for a friend at work or school!  So easy to make!  This is also a dang cute way to wrap home-made truffles or cake balls for all the sweeties you love.  {I said balls}  That will always remind me of an SNL skit, classic!  Opps, off topic...back to cute things, I know you have scraps of paper laying around, you know, the ones for that photo album that you haven't gotten too!!!  You can make these little darlings!  Cheep, cheep, cheep!

Speaking of LOVE, here are some things I'm Loving lately!

This Tanya Whelan fabric makes my mouth water!  Her Blog is inspiring as well! 

  

This sign of Family Rules is precious.  I would like mine Red, but this Aqua is a fun color too!  

And vintage table cloths!  Pure Joy.  They make me happy.  Someday I will have a fresh, crisp cloth for table each day, taken from the whimsical clothesline that is in my Country Living back yard, washed in my wainscoted laundry room.  Someday! 

And last but not least, I LOVE my babies in my red check chair!!  {More pics of that to come soon}

Check it out!

I found this sweet little blog and first off, let me say that English Women are "funny"!  I mean, they have personality and just are who they are!  LOVE IT!  I want to use words like bugger, and bits and bobs in my everyday vocab, but honestly, I don't think it would sound as cute without the accent.  I also love that anyone I've ever known, who is English, because that's what we are talking about right now, pronounces my name Marissa-er, there is always an er at the end of an sound.  Then you tell them, and they deny it, it's funny!  Needless to say, my recent obsession with Cath Kidston is having me pop over to blogs from just mentioned women, because, well Cath is English!

Happy Loves Rosie is one of these blogs. She has these cute idea's, blogging friends with cute idea's, cute things for sale in her shop AND, cute freebies!  Yes, I did say free!  Free graphics that are just a hoot to add to you posts and blogs, I mean, how cute is this stuff?

So this is a blog worth checking out when your looking for some good blog reading and inspiration!

Any who, it's fun to be inspired.  I'm still bringing the house together.  There are a few pillows on the way, and some other finishing touches that I'd like to make to things, so I'll post some pics soon.  Kids getting sick and such have kept me from being able to take pics that I would even dream of putting on my blog right now, so it will just have to wait.  In the mean time, Missie Loves Happy, so go check it out!

Oh Gosh, She's Four

Becca's Third Birthday

I can remember sitting......  Just sitting and sitting and sitting and waiting.  Four years ago, my life came to a halt for 4 weeks while I waited, at home, not knowing what to do.  I was going to have my first baby.  It was a little girl, that much we knew, I had finished her nursery, washed her cloths, sanitized her bottles, packed her bag, installed her car seat, and I just didn't know what else I needed to do.  I was due January 4th, but she was going to come early!  I just knew it.  I was convinced.

Dancing is her favorite

January 7th came and went and so I waited.  Boy, this wasn't happening like I thought!  I watched the Baby Story, and cried at watching other women give birth for the first time.  I would jump at any little cramp, pain, or weirdness.  This could be the day!

I can hear that giggle.

January 14th came and went, no such luck.  Man, I was DONE WAITING!  So on January 17th I headed back to the doctor.  I was 2 weeks overdue and nothing much had changed.  That was long enough.  I went home that night, stood in the middle of her sweet little room for the last time with her in my tummy.  Tomorrow I was going to the hospital and she was coming home at last!  I had no idea how this was going to change my life, but I knew it would.  The anticipation of having your first baby is something that you can't put into words.

Going to the Rodeo

Four years ago today, my life changed forever!  January 19th, 12:03am, My little girl came into the world, FINALLY!  

We gave her the prettiest name we could, Rebecca Sue.  She is everything that I could have hoped for and more.  She makes me smile everyday.  She is sweet, funny, smart, tender, loving, bossy, emotional, a lot of me, and I get her.  My life is better because of her.  She is a gift that keeps giving.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

Just Needed a Reason!

I'm always sad to take down the Christmas decor.  I live for decorating for Christmas, I mean really live for it!  I start thinking about Christmas in August, seriously, about the time that I know I'm going to be pulling out my gourds and felt leaf garland.  Fall is just a precursor for me.  It's that much closer to gingerbread and holly berries.  So, yes, I'm sad to take it down.   What a girl needs is some inspiration.  I can't just put up the same old thing......boring ......

So this post is dedicated to my inspiration.  She is coming home to me in the form of club chair lovliness.  She has a little ottoman friend and a few crazy throw pillows just to liven up the party.  She is fashioned in only the best Red and White Buffalo Check money can buy!  Okay, it's what the upholsterer had to order from, buffalo check is hard to come by?  Who Knew!  Anyways, she was my christmas/birthday gift, and I can't wait to meet her!  This beautiful chair and I will become fast friends, I just know it!

I started looking for ways to accessorize around her!  What could I do to liven and change things up a bit?  Not to much though, got to keep it real!

That's when I ran across a designer that has caught my eye before.  She is quirky, cottage-y, colorful, whimiscal, fresh, British, and the list goes on.  Cath was just what my little corner of the world needed to pull things together!  These canisters are on the list, along with other fun peices, like this and this and these fabrics.  The trick.....VERY LITTLE YELLOW.  I have to stay away from that color to make my little transformation.  That's hard to do, I have alot of 'stuff' with yellow in it....  Oh, but the end result.....  it will be tremendous, so I'm up for the challenge!  The red, periwinkle, green combo is just sucking me in!  Have I mentioned that Jadite looks adorable with this combo?  Well, it does.

I've been stalking etsy for some little finds.  This adorable carved lettering looks so vintage and diner-y to me, and this refurbished hankie pillow will look splendid on above mentioned new best friend! Oooh, and this little green stool might look cute tucked up next too said best friend!  So Christmas is coming down pretty easy now, all this girl needed was a little kick in the pants to freshen things up!

I'll keep ya posted!  There are a few painting projects in store for this transformation.  Some recalimed, distressed wall art is going from Hunter Green to White, and American Flag is getting a face lift and some kitchen chairs are getting a little TLC with Red and White paint! 

So what's inspiring you right now?  Kinda fun once you get going with it!  Stay tuned.