the unperfected perfectionist

Good Morning ! Good Afternoon!  Here in my town, it is cold and gray again today!  I don't know why it surprises me since that is pretty typical for fall in Michigan.  Well, this morning, my furnace sounds like it is coming down with a bug.  It is acting out of sorts and I truly hope that it is not going to pass away in the very near future.  I am begging it to, PLEASE just hang in there!  Leave it to Emma, who always looks on the bright side,(I must be doing something right:), she told me this morning that I should, "just be happy that I don't live in a covered wagon...and its winter!"  Oh, how she makes me smile every single day!  She is absolutely right.  I am very happy that I don't live in a covered wagon.   Being Thankful Thursday , I asked, her as she was getting ready for school, what she was thankful for today.  She answered, "I am thankful that I have such a wonderful mom who takes such good care of me when I am si...

Good afternoon to you!  I hope that you all had a great weekend and a positive start to your week.  This morning as I was brainstorming my post, I just couldn't seem to pinpoint exactly what it was that I wanted to focus on.  I feel as if I am stuck in somewhat of a rut lately.  Not with my blog posts but, just in general.  Like I told you last week, this blog is real.  I won't sugarcoat things, only write the honest truth. If you are human, the chances are pretty darn good that you may have even felt this way yourself, in some way or form.   The last month or so, I have felt as if I have been either running on a treadmill to nowhere or treading water.  It has just been one of those seasons in my life that, no matter how positive my outlook seems to be, things just haven't been going how I envision them.  My daughter has been sick for what seems like weeks and as a result, has missed many days of school already, and it is only Oc...

Friday has arrived my friends!  Sometimes, I honestly have mixed feelings about the weekends.  I love that it gives me time to spend with my family that doesn't involve my husband going to work or my daughter going to school.  What makes me uneasy about the weekends sometimes, is the lack of structure, or specific plan.  Sounds pretty sad and weird, huh?  This is something that I continue to work on regularly.  I need to be more relaxed and be able to "go with the flow" and just be content and happy with it. Unfortunately, so often the lack of a plan for the weekend leaves me feeling anxious.  I hate that I experience anxiety. It is  really a most uncomfortable feeling that makes me feel the lack of control of my own body and its reactions.  For me, running has been a wonderful answer to helping to ease any anxiety that I may be experiencing.  It is not a wonder why so many people take up running at any age, young or old.  I hav...

Good Morning! Here in Michigan, I woke up to a morning that was dark as night, cold and very rainy.  You know, the type of morning that you would rather pull the covers over your head?  I still was trying to be positive, despite the fact that my sweet dog got wrapped around a tree in the backyard.  Him doing so, required me to go out in the rain and darkness, hoping that I didn't step in a pile of fresh dog poop.  I was so happy, and I am pretty sure that it was lucky for my dog as well, that I did NOT step in a landmine of his. Lord forgive me for the unkind words that I muffled under my breath about my dog. I was simply irritated and in an instant, it got the best of me. He is such a good dog and I love him, he just makes me crazy in times such as these. Yes, this is going to be a great day!   It is Thankful Thursday  today! Today, I am writing the post that I had planned on last Thursday. Last Thursday was the first birthday of my blog. Today,...

Hello my fine friends!  I had no intention of going a week and a half without posting.  It is amazing how much I took Internet service for granted!  We were having some unknown problem with our phone and Internet last week that was not finally repaired until Monday night. Let me just say that a week without Internet service is rather irritating.  No less than five repairmen came out to attempt to solve the issue.  It was obviously no easy feat for these people.  I was slightly frustrated with this problem...to put it nicely.  It was one of those situations in which you could not possibly get a human on the phone to discuss the problem.  The closest I was able to get someone,was instant messaging with a customer service agent.  All said, I am pretty sure that not one of them knew any more than the next.  I am absolutely convinced that they had a company wide "first day at work" week.  Okay, enough with the steam blowing.  We ...

I am not sure about you but, my weekend seemed to come and go in a wink!  As a whole, it was a pretty good weekend too.  I was able to spend some time with my brother and catch up a bit.  We have been having some issues communicating with each other recently and neither one of us could seem to get through to the other.  I decided that I didn't want to continue on with us each being too stubborn to reach out and put whatever stupid things we weren't quite seeing eye to eye on, behind us.  As I have said a hundred times before... Life is too short. I made the right choice.  Everything is good now and back on the positive again.  He is the only brother that I have, I want to nurture the relationship, not let it crumble beneath me.  I love you, Michael. A few low points of the weekend were hearing the news of a runner in the Chicago Marathon  that died 500 yards before the finish line. I don't know this man at all but, in my eyes, I bel...

It's the weekend!  And an absolutely gorgeous one too!  I feel so very lucky to be able to take in all the beauty of the changes of fall and have the temperatures of summer.  I could not ask for much more.  I plan to take in every single second of this incredible weather this weekend.  I hope that many of you are able to do much the same. Enjoy the outdoors, enjoy time with family or doing something you love.  The possibilities are endless. Today, I just have  a quick and simple video to share.  This video is just to remind us that we are capable of so very much.  Anything is possible.  We CAN do anything.  It may not always be easy and it may take much work and dedication but, we can do it! You know how it is so often said... Anything worthwhile takes hard work and effort. Yes, I have to agree.  Things would never be as rewarding if we didn't have to give it our all. So, here you are.... Have a wonderful and...

Hello friends! I was welcomed by the sun again this morning!  So thankful!  I know that I keep repeating myself about my gratefulness for something as simple as the sunshine, but, I can't help it.   Onward.  I am going to try my best to stay focused and to the point in my post today so that I can soak up my Vitamin D, as I go for a run and maybe trim back some of my landscaping while it is so nice outside.   Today, on this Thankful Thursday , I am tremendously thankful that I am able to be a SAHM.  For those of you who have not a clue what that stands for, it is not Sexy And Hot Mama!  It is a Stay At Home Mom.  I have been fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to make this my so-called, job description.   The SAHM title is something that some would argue that it is a job at all.  Some say that it is so easy.  Some even have this preconceived notion that holding this title means that you sit at home al...

Oh my goodness, we have been having absolutely picture perfect weather this week and I can't stop smiling.  After last weeks gray and dreary weather, this is fantastic!  The sun is bright, the skies are clear blue, and the temperature has been in the seventies!  Not too hot, not too cold.  Absolutely perfect, if you ask me.   Please forgive me for bragging about my weather, especially if you are not having these great sunshiny days.  The reality is, that soon enough, here in Michigan, I will be most likely in tears because we have had to endure months and months of cold and dreary.  Not my cup of tea.  I don't fair too well without the cheery brightness of the sun.   Although, when I woke up today, it seemed darker than it has been, and the chill was in the air, I knew it was going to be a good day.  My husband has been so busy this week, that I have barely talked to him for more than five minutes at a time.  So sweet this ...

Happy Monday!  I am sorry for not leaving you with any inspiration on Friday, as you entered your weekend.  I was lucky enough to join my daughter on a field trip downtown to see some more ArtPrize.  The weather was less than favorable but, we had a wonderful time. There were so many really neat entries.  It made me want to get back into art and use my own creativity again.  It made the wheels in my head begin to spin.  In this art event, anyone has the ability to create an entry. Hmmm....something to think about throughout the many cold, and gray Michigan winter days.   Well, it is now officially October!  Last week, I hauled out all of my fall decorations and decked my house all out. I love the coziness it adds inside as the days grow cooler outside.  No sooner did I get the fall decorations finished, Emma insisted on adding the Halloween decorations as well.  So, we are about as decked out as we can be! Yesterday, I just had to...