Project 365.

I have decided to participate in Project Life. Project Life is the brain child of Becky Higgins. It's a scrapbooking project where you take a photo a day for 365 days. Back when she designed the first kit, it was called Project 365 but now she has renamed it Project Life. You can do it however you want to. You can take a photo a day, a photo a week, or whatever you like.

I started Project 365 back in 2009. I completed it up until August but then we got busy moving to Cincinnati and I quit taking a photo a day. I decided that this year, I would do it again. I had to order a new book because I didn't have enough stuff to get me through the year with the old book. The book hasn't arrived yet but I have started taking my pictures. I thought that I would share a few.

January 1st: Doing nothing but watching football and reading magazines.

January 2nd: Nothing like Caden waiting until 2 days before school starting back that he tells me that he needs this book for English.

January 3rd: Our Pier One is going out of business so I went and bought these cute measuring cups that I had been eyeing for some time.

January 4th: Report card day that won't be posted due to private info on it.

January 5th: My first kit from Studio Calico came in the mail.

January 6th: My cute little Anthropology kitchen timer that Gary bought me. It matches my Kitchenaid mixer.

So there is my almost first week of photos. Just the mundane of every day life but I like the mundane. Hope everyone has had a great week. I have been doing the normal stuff and also counting my calories. Ugh, it has been hard but I have stuck with it. Wish me luck.

Happy Friday!

Mel

Late Christmas Post.

While Caden was on Christmas break, we went down to my parents for a couple of days. I got to visit with my aunt's the night that we got there. We had a lot of food, laughter, and fellowship.

I wanted to share some photos with you of all the fun that was had by all.

All the aunts and my mom. The only photo taken with me and my aunts didn't turn out:(

My cousin was taking pictures while I was:)

The grandparents.

Caden is now as tall as my dad.

She forgets that he is almost 17;-)

I enjoyed getting to visit with my aunt's. Each one is very different and has brought something different to my life. They are getting older and I don't get to see them very much. Their ages range from 69 yrs. old to 87 yrs. old. I can't even believe that as I type it.

My mother and I went shopping one day and then had a pedicure the next day. We then celebrated Christmas on Tuesday before we headed back.

It was a nice visit.

How did y'all celebrate your Christmas?

Melanie

(since none of the photos turned out, they all have PW's actions applied to them.)

Happy New Year on 1/1/11

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a good night last night.

We watched Florida State beat South Carolina. It sure will make living here a little easier until next year:) Today we will be watching football again. This is always a fun weekend for us because of the bowl games that are on TV all day long.

I will also be starting my new eating plan! Plenty of water, no snacking, smaller portions, and walking. I plan on losing the 8 pounds that found me over the last year.

I have some goals this year and that is not something that I normally do. I am going to do Project Life which is taking a photo a day and journaling about it. I haven't ordered the book yet but I will start taking my photos today and have them ready for when the book arrives.

I also want to read every single day. That means something other than the computer;-)

There are things that I want to do to the house too. I am doing some of that now during my self imposed break. While I've been away (some), I enjoyed a visit to Florida and spent some time with these ladies.

My sweet aunts and my mom.

I bought some rugs for the kitchen but am still undecided about them. Thoughts?

I started spray painting this ottoman that I bought at Pier One last year but I ran out of paint.

I started reading this.

I have also worked on this room. Yes, the black dining room:)

So as you see, I have been enjoying not blogging so much. The few times that I did, it was just a quick post and one that didn't require remembering to take photos etc. I am still not ready to come back. I don't know when I will be. I have to find a balance between blogging and living my life. I am thinking about only reading my blog list in the mornings while I am drinking my coffee and then blogging at night while I watch TV or maybe getting some post ready on the weekends.

I have to do other things. Walk on the treadmill, relearn my photography class, cook some delicious low cal meals......just step away from the computer some.

On a final note, my One Little Word this year is Present.

Present

1. being, existing, occurring at this time or now

2. at hand, immediate

3. being actually here

That is what I am going to be working on this year. We have been living far to long in the future. Always waiting for that phone call from the railroad to tell us to move. That has been our life for the last year and a half.

I want to live each day IN that day. I am profoundly aware that our day to day time with Caden is quickly coming to an end. I want to take that all in. Time goes by so quickly and I feel like we lost the last year and half with all of our moves. I think having this word as my One Little Word will remind me to live IN the moment.

So, I will be back. I have a lot to show you and I miss you all when I am away. But it will just be on a limited basis for a while. I will find that balance that I need.

Ha! Maybe that should have been my word!

Mel