Friends share the journeyjpg

My “word” for 2010 is: friendship. I wrote about it HERE, about why I wasn’t happy  with that particular “word”.

I’m not very good at friendships.

But the word wouldn’t leave me alone and I’m pretty sure that in 2010 I’m going to learn some things about friendship that I didn’t know before. My goal is to write at least once a month about the things I think I’m learning. I want to be able to look back and remember. To make sure I listened along the way…

These are my thoughts from January…

There are friends from as far back as High School that I have reconnected with in the past two years, thanks to facebook.  This has  been a wonder.  When you don’t see someone for over thirty years and then reconnect, even if just online, there’s an element of  coming face to face with your own journey. Here’s what I mean…

It’s not every day that I look in the mirror and think about how much hope and enthusiasm I had when I was 18.  How I was certain about what my future would hold. I don’t often see the past thirty-something years in a split screen: “The girl so sure of what she knew” on one side and “The woman not sure of anything” on the other.

But reconnecting with so many precious souls from thirty years ago gave me that experience over and over again. With myself and with each of them.

Life always seems to dish out things that wear away the self confidence and naive hope of youth.

I mean, who stands in front of a minister in a white dress and thinks that in 6 short years she’ll end up divorced?

Who spends time with their siblings and thinks…one of us will leave this world before our 31st birthday?

Who at 23 innocently takes her first sip of champagne and sets off a time bomb of addiction that will beat her to a bloody pulp on and off for over 20 years?

I could go on and on…these are things from my own journey. But everyone has been through heartaches and shattered dreams. And pain, in whatever form, tends to change us.

As months went by  I learned a little more about my old friends.  There were glimpses into where they are in life, what makes them laugh and in some cases, what makes them cry.

And as I got to know them again, I began to see the tender colors of their younger selves. And the colors were never more vibrant as in contrast with  the shadows of years come and gone.

Their beautiful journeys have helped me see my own journey very differently.

There’s a 30-plus reunion with several graduating classes from my high school coming up this summer. I’m so looking forward to it  for completely different reasons than I did our 10 year reunion. I think I went with “me” in mind that time. I wanted mostly to say: “I’m okay. I’m good. Life is working out for me.”

This time it’s different.  This time I’m looking forward to seeing my old friends.

Friends with whom, a very long time ago, I shared a bit of life’s journey.

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Okay, so it’s not like I turned over a new leaf in January and became “friend of the year”. For some of you who are good at friendships this is like Friendship Kindergarten! But that’s what I took away from the first tender month of 2010!

Any thoughts or advice from you who are experts ?

hugs,

{ 15 comments }

Buttons and Paint and Hearts … oh my!

by Robin on February 9, 2010

It’s Valentine’s week! I had to fit in one more tiny heart craft! I loved this one because I got to use up some of my button supply!

Sock-Monkey-with-Button-Hea

I got these little wooden hearts at Hobby Lobby and some craft paint with a pearl base. After painting the hearts I  used my trusty glue gun and added a layer of buttons…painted that layer…let dry…glued another layer of buttons and painted. I did about 2 and 1/2 layers of buttons…

making-the-button-heart

I did red and pink ones …

Button Heart Mosaic jpg

And a few teal hearts just ’cause … I love teal. Oh and I sprinkled some fine-glitter on the wet paint of the teal hearts…

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Little ones could make these as long as they’re old enough not to put the buttons in their mouths! They’d be cute party favors or made into napkin rings or even hanging on the tree at Christmas! Oh the possibilities!

heart-on-lamp

Happy heart week my Friends…I’m linking to a few fun parties this week…


Trash to Treasure ~ Reinvented

2nd Time Around Tuesday~A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

My Frugal Family~Talented Tuesdays

Wednesday

Blue Cricket Design~Show and Tell Wednesday

 http://www.thethriftyhome.com

{ 22 comments }

Kitchen Wall Makeover!

by Robin on February 7, 2010

I had a fun Saturday! The Husband went with me on a treasure hunt. I had a bee in my bonnet to change up this wall in my kitchen…

Valentine-Garland

Here’s my inspiration. This is a booth in one of my favorite antique stores. I love it! I didn’t want quite the same flowery feel in my kitchen though. So look what I ended up doing…

Inspiration

I found the mirror at JoAnne’s for 70% off! The shutters were hiding in an antique booth and The Husband dug around and found them. He and cut them to fit and even helped me distress them when we got home!

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These pastel saucers were just $3.00 each! They were a bit less dainty than the pretty china I have hanging in other rooms. And they reminded me of mints…or balloons!

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kitchen-wall-art

We did this for next to not much and I love the way it turned out!

Kitchen-Wall

Linking to some fun blog parties this week:

The Girl Creative

Making

Tuesday


Trash to Treasure ~ Reinvented

2nd Time Around Tuesday~A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

My Frugal Family~Talented Tuesdays

Wednesday

Blue Cricket Design~Show and Tell Wednesday

 http://www.thethriftyhome.com

{ 30 comments }

Super Bowl Food!

by Robin on February 5, 2010

Super Bowl Sunday is just a day away! I thought I’d post some ideas for fun Super Bowl food!

A couple of appetizer recipes that I love:

Last year for the Super Bowl I did these potato skins. They were Ah-Mazing!

Baked Potato Skins: Recipe HERE

Potato-Skins

This Spinach dip has Artichokes and Alfredo Dip mixed in…it’s seriously impressive! A great dip for taking to a party!

Spinach-Artichoke-Alfredo Dip Recipe:Here

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If you’re having to feed a bunch of people this Texas Caviar recipe makes a ton!

Serve with tortilla chips or giant corn chips!

Texas Caviar Recipe Here

Texas-Caviar

Now for some main dish ideas…

I love to do this White Chicken Chili in the crock pot. It’s the all time easiest thing I make that smells and tastes like it took lots of effort!

White Chicken Chili Recipe Here

Chicken-Chili

If you aren’t in the mood for chili, these burgers are fabulous! They are made from ground chicken breast and have a magic ingredient that adds moisture. And …they are totally figure friendly!

Chicken Burgers Recipe Here

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Okay…can we talk about somin sweet!?

If you need to take dessert to a Super Bowl Party…think about this one!

Big Bodacious Blondies Recipe Here

I can’t say enough about this recipe…it has roasted pecans, almonds and walnuts. And that’s just the beginning. These babies are taste explosive!

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And here’s an old Southern recipe that feeds quite a few people…

Coca-Cola Cake Recipe Here

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It’s easy to travel with if you’re headed to a party and it’s moist and fudgy delicious!

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Okay, I hope you got an idea or two! I’m excited about Sunday with all the great food and funny commercials!

Happy Snacking Peeps!

Visit Michael’s Foodie Friday today for more yummy inspiration!


{ 14 comments }

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

February 4, 2010 All Things Valentine's Day!

I know the Super Bowl is this weekend and tomorrow I’m posting some Super Bowl food ideas…but today I wanted to start you thinking about Valentine’s Day!  Ya gotta have chocolate on Valentine’s Day, last week I posted a Skinny Chocolate Pie recipe…this week it’s something else kinda figure friendly…
’cause it doesn’t have to be [...]

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The God-Shaped Hole~Things I thought I knew for sure

February 3, 2010 All Things Heartfelt

In the past couple of years several things I thought I knew for sure have been majorly challenged.   I understand if you disagree with me…this is just my perspective. Plain and simple, just something I thought I knew for sure.
I’ve told you guys how much I love Don Miller’s new book, A Million Miles in [...]

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1 Month Down~365 Project!

February 2, 2010 All Things 365

I finished the first month of the 365 Project!
I loved doing this for several reasons…
~I’m learning a bit more about my camera
~I’m operating in my “right brain” more…a brilliant reader told me this and she’s right!
~I’ve made some uber creative Flickr friends
~I’m looking at the world in a different way, finding bliss in the simplest [...]

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Burlap Button Paper Mache Hearts!

February 1, 2010 All Things Crafty!

The other day while I was hanging out in my “fun-room” I got this idea using a few of my favorite things…

*Paper Mache (Hearts)
*Burlap
*Buttons
*Mod Podge…have I told ya’ll how much…yea. I think I have.
*Craft Paint (I used metallic taupe)
*Glue Gun
*Ribbon and Jute Twine

Feel free to skip this step:
These paper mache hearts had a little gold [...]

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Skinny Chocolate Pie

January 29, 2010 All Things Valentine's Day!

Has anyone noticed that I haven’t baked 1 thing in 2010? Not even ONE!
I’m in time-out. Again. I’ll remain in time-out until  my jeans will button without me passing out cold due to lack of oxygen. It’s been 3 weeks. This may take awhile.
But Valentine’s Day is coming up and I’ve been looking for something [...]

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Sweetening the Atmosphere…

January 28, 2010 All Things Heartfelt

“Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere.” (Henry David Thoreau)

I love it when an unexpected word of encouragement or simple kindness changes my focus and therefore changes my day. That happened to me recently when I was feeling lower than a bugs belly. Just a sweet comment. [...]

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