Queenies Little Kingdom

I’ve been missing for a few days because my life has been consumed with HAIR! Monday it was Miss Lizzy’s day and Tuesday, mine. The glamour we have to contend with is literally indescribable.

I’ve told you I’m in Texas, right?

Both days, it has stormed! I’m talking the hardest, pouring down, can’t see the road in front of you, raining! Which means, I had to drive in that weather to get to said hair do-er people! There’s some things about the south that everyone should know — the highways or roads? They are old and worn out. They’re heavily traveled which only makes them more worn and dangerous. Holes, patched-up road and tire worn rivets make for very scary driving. You’ve probably heard of “hydroplaning”? Well, my two days of traveling this side of Texas have been full of rooster spraying hydroplaning moments.

No, I wasn’t speeding either!

But hey, Miss Lizzy and I look amazing! Our hairs are beautiful and we both got in some serious toning exercises driving through the big storms. Use your imagination, people.

Today the sun is still hiding and I just heard on the weather channel that the rain, will, continue!!! Curses!

However, that can’t stop us from talking about sprucing up our front porches. It’s time, the weather is just doing its part to wash away winter and bring out all the green and luscious colors for us to enjoy. More proof that God knows what we need, huh?

The first thing we need to do is WASH DOWN the porch. Scrub the grime away and all the salt and yuck that has built up over the last 6 months. Cleaning up the dirt and throwing out any broken or unused pots, chairs or whatever you let pile up on your porch will make an inspiring canvas to start your great spruce up. So, GO….WASH!!

What I do — I take everything off my porch. Sweep down any spider webs or insect nests/bird nests (yes, the birds LOVE MY DANG PORCH!). Spray a household cleaner (you could use a pressure cleaner, if needed), brush away the grime with a broom or scrub brush and rinse heavily with the water-hose spray nozzle. Step back and notice the sparkle! 😉

The second thing? If anything needs painting, DO IT! I know, not everyone can pull the trigger on this….but if you’ve been wanting to paint that front door of yours, do it! Be brave. Maybe it’s not the door but the porch floor or the woodwork around it. Go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and buy a color that is going to make you smile every time you pull in the driveway. Then go home and paint. You will feel like a SUPERSTAR for doing this. It’s empowering!

The third and most important thing I do is pick out some pretty items that I know I will want around me on my porch for a few months. Plants, furniture….lighting. Even pillows for the chairs. On my current porch, I have a few walls that are perfect for decorations and I love changing out wall art depending on the season. No, there are no flamingos in my yard nor are there any concrete bunny rabbits. No trolls either! I keep it classy, y’all.

Fourth, I choose a rug. Rugs can make it cozy. Pick something that matches the look you’re going for and don’t forget it needs to be weather proof to stand up the changing climate.

Last, I haven’t done this but I’ve just recently passed a house that had and I FELL IN LOVE and almost wrecked my car oggling! Put up curtains! This is really for a specific type of porch and you just might have it. I don’t. Mine is a little too modern (for my taste). Plus, that HOA!!! Grrr. I don’t want to risk a chance of getting ANOTHER letter from them after they nailed me for having white lights on my sweet little innocent porch! However, if you have no HOA to fight….hang up some flowy curtains and make me jealous!

Aren’t these awesome? And look, there a million ways to hang them too.

I can’t even get them out of my mind. One of these days…..

If you are like me and spend a lot of your time outside on your porch, make it your favorite spot. Sprucing up doesn’t have to cost a fortune or cause you to need to hire a handy-man. It’s an easy DIY that just about anyone can do all alone.

And, don’t forget to live by the PORCH RULES –>

Ahhh, summer days are coming and since I’m in the heart of hot Texas today…guess who has no NO AIR-CONDITIONING? Yes, ME! What better way to get inspiration than to sweat my buns off cleaning up the bachelor pad so I can actually sit somewhere here at the ranch house. Our son lives here full-time and works a lot of hours (he ain’t cleaning much), our visits ensure a very germ-a-phobe mom will clean as if IT’S NEVER BEEN CLEANED before.

THIS PLACE IS SPARKLING even if it’s hot!

But, you don’t care about my cleaning habits or how hot it is… do you? You want to see what I’m posting for Fashion Friday, right? Me too. Let’s get to shopping.

I’m so excited because the season change is bringing with it some of the cutest summer styles. Shorts are getting fancy, tassels are hanging from ears, necks and clothing and I can’t get enough! Funny thing, I packed for Texas with a chill in the air in Indy. So, I have a pile of clothes that I WILL NOT BE WEARING here. It is so HOT! Lucky for me, my job while I’m here is shopping! 🙂

Look at this Seersucker Bow short by Lauren James $72

Aren’t these adorable? I love the bow, I adore the seersucker and for goodness sake….they are decent!

RXB Embroidered top at TJ Maxx $19.99

Remember back in the day when tassels and embroidered clothes were hippie clothes? Yea, back up girl. It is all coming back! You could pair this with jeans or shorts and be the cutest chick there, wherever your there is.

Need a new cover up? Well, look no further.

Chick Ivory Crochet for $37 at LuLu’s

Well, of course you’ll be needing some white denim shorts. Right?

Old Navy Sweetheart Shorts for $22.94

Nice length, perfect color and at your local Old Navy!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you, this tassel monogrammed necklace will get you a bazillion compliments. Not kidding!

Monogrammed Long Tassel for $29.99 at Marley Lilly

How about this fun little tee? Old Navy can be a cool place.

Women’s Plus Graphic Tee $19

I might be the biggest fan of the designer Adrianna Papell, ever. Her clothes are so perfect for MY taste. I love everything she makes and this dress is perfect for summer.

Adrianna Papell Scoop Neck for $149 at Zappos.com (free shipping both ways always)

Your feet need to look their best too. Don’t you think? I love a leather sandal especially if it has a little bit of a heel. Like these — >

Softspots Rhode Luggage shoe fo $79.99 at Zappos

Don’t complain that they are a sandal or that sandals shouldn’t be $79.99 either. The name alone tells you they are comfortable, Softspots?! These can be worn with shorts, jeans, capris and even dresses. ALL SUMMER LONG!

Here’s a fancy little dress to wear for just about anything. I love the denim color and the fact that it’s sleeveless. For those of you who don’t show the guns or the flab, whichever your vice is….throw on a little jean jacket or summer sweater. You’ll look fab!

Jag Jeans Abra Dress for $62.99 at 6pm.com

And, I’ll end with this swimsuit, because we might as well face it….it’s that time again! Like pulling a band-aid off super quick – here’s a look at something those of us with old lady bodies can actually wear!

Magic Suit Tankini top for $114 at Soma

Look, what more do you need? It says it right there in the name, MAGIC! So, I’m counting on this pretty tankini to do magic when you wear it. Just make sure to grab some bottoms, ok?

And, because I know how hard it is to find a nice decent swimsuit that matches most body types. I’ve found a site that offers some really adorable choices. SWIMSUITS FOR ALL – go check them out.

Happy Friday!

Ladies,

Can we talk? I have some very important news. You don’t have to hold onto toxic junk any longer!

There. I said it.

Signed,
Me, the most clingy crazy tox-a-holic person that I know.

What is it that stunts our growth as people or women? I’ll tell you what I think, it’s the toxic garbage that we believe about ourselves.

I’m not good enough.
I don’t look like her.
I missed the cool bus.
I’m fat/skinny/weird.
I have issues.
My body isn’t what it used to be.
I’m divorced.
I’ve failed as a mom.
My hair is too thin.
I missed my chance to do what I really wanted to do with my life.
I hate myself.
Someone told me _______!
I’ll never be _________!

Garbage. Throw it out! Don’t listen to the lies.

I’ve thought about this so many times, how I’ve been stuck in the molasses of my own doing because of the stuff swirling around in my hard head! I hate that! I hate that I’ve missed opportunities and I really hate that I’ve let lies stunt my growth and take hostage my JOY!

Here’s my 4 things to let go of right now and if you’ve been trapped in a bottle of your own. Take heart!

1 — THAT VOICE – YOU weren’t good enough.

Record over that voice. Replace it with a new message. One that comes straight from God’s own word. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You have always been good enough and shame on the one who told you otherwise!

2 — THAT FANTASY/DREAM – The one that REALLY IS impossible.

Make peace with that dream that didn’t come true. I’ve told you about my hubby going back to grad school?! He’s struggling already but HE IS DETERMINED! He wants it and he wants it bad. Not everyone gets the chance to go back to school and that’s OKAY!!! Don’t beat yourself up over whatever it is you “thought” you were supposed to do, anymore!

3 — GUILT

Forgive yourself. Don’t tell me you aren’t holding onto something that is crippling your life. I know you are, we all do it. Get over it. Love yourself enough to let your current life live in peace. God is the most gracious example of forgiveness. Copy-cat Him.

4 — COMPARING

Stop it, I tell you….stop. it. You aren’t supposed to be like her or whoever it is you’re sizing yourself up against. Be the best you, it’s all you can do – so you might as well, RIGHT?

I challenge you…

Step back and examine your life. Is it perfect? Probably not. Is it manageable? Probably so. Can you improve it? I know you can. Let your mind be free from whatever it is that falls into the toxic junk category.

It feels as if all we do anymore is hustle. We hurry to this and rush over to that. All in the name of busy. The sad part is that we oftentimes skip over a very important human need, free time.

I’m in a different season of my life these days and one of my greatest discoveries is all the free time I have on my hands. I love it. Well, most of the time I do. Some days I feel lonely or maybe even a little disengaged. That’s not to say that I want to go back to work full-time or fill my house up with little kids to haul around. I simply forget to plan or actively get up and do the stuff my new season allows me the pleasure of doing.

Time doesn’t stand still waiting for anyone, ever. I see that every time I look into a mirror. Maybe you do too. While I’m a firm believer in working your hardest at whatever it is that you do, I’m even more of a believer in stopping to smell the roses along the way as well.

The human body needs a break. It needs to recharge or refresh. If we don’t stop and take a moment here and there our bodies will rebel. Perhaps, you’ve experienced a set-back of some sort after chasing every little “do this do that” in your life. Or maybe you’ve got this all figured out and learned to make time to chill, whichever….I’ve come up with a profound list (no, not really) of ways to enjoy some free time.

1. Take a nap.
Stop what you’re doing (within reason) and lay down for 10-15 minutes. This means, leave your cellphone alone too. Taking a quick cat-nap can reinvigorate your brain, body and soul. You might be surprised at all the noise in your head that is buzzing that you just couldn’t hear because you were so busy. Rest.

2. Read a book.
Even if you only have 20-30 minutes (mama’s of little ones, I hear you laughing). Make time for you by escaping to a far-away land inside a book. You need this, I promise.

3. Go for a walk.
Get outside, walk in the sunshine and let your mind wander. Enjoy this beautiful world. Be sure to listen too. There are some incredible sounds outside that only God could create for us to enjoy. Watch the birds, see how they play and don’t forget to pray. Walking is a great way to up your prayer life.

4. Draw, sew or journal.
Whatever it is that suits you. Do something that is NOT WORK. If you enjoy writing out your thoughts, get on it. If making a cute little something with your hands is your thing, do that. Trust me, doing something for pleasure is relaxing.

5. Garden, redecorate a room or jazz up your outdoors.
In this Pinterest & DIY crazy world, you can find a long list of ideas for doing something fun and rewarding right at home. Last year, I loved stepping outside for a fresh tomato for our salad or burgers. It was a constant reminder of the fruits of our “labor”.

6. Keep home sweet home — A real HOME SWEET HOME.
Home is where the heart is, right? Why not make sure it’s the place everyone in your family finds refuge!? Do whatever it takes to make it relaxing and comfy.

Every person needs free time. Whether you spend it doing something fun or totally zoning out in a quiet spot by your lonesome. Take the time to refuel YOU!

Let me know how you spend your FREE TIME. Remember, I’m looking to fill in my schedule. 🙂

Don’t feel sorry for me, but….

I just celebrated my first Easter/Resurrection Sunday with only 1 of my 3 precious children. Two were missing. Like, far away missing.

Really, I’m okay.

I knew this day was coming. The day that everybody couldn’t be together. That doesn’t mean, I like it.

I get it, they grow up. They sell all their American Girl doll stuff. They get boyfriends, jobs and have a real big person life all on their own.

They do exactly what we raise them to do.

Live.

I’m happy for them, really. I can’t just hold them all hostage, can I? They have to move on. It’s only right they live their own lives.

God knew all about my first Easter with kids missing and He left just the right one to keep me in line. Ahem, sane! Okay, the one that would help me keep my head above water and stop me from falling on the floor rocking myself back & forth crying “Hold Me!”.

The baby.

I know she probably thinks she got “stuck” with us….but I’d like to believe that it was completely orchestrated by God. He’s the One who gave her to us in the first place. Why not enrich our lives with her funny shenanigans as long as possible, right?

We managed to sneak in a little crazy fun. It wasn’t all sulking and pining for those missing.

I mean, geez. We are our own people, ya know?

We still took our annual front door Easter pic and we even snapped a few at church and in the parking lot.

It’s what you do when you have to document to the missing people all your Easter happiness.

Somewhere in South Carolina, this beauty was frolicking along with her boyfriend and his family.

While this handsome furry-faced fella was deep down in the heart of Texas doing what all single dudes do…..go to church, cook your own Easter ham and click pics of your sweet purple fancy pants self.

Listen to me, I’m just going on and on as if this weekend was all out of sorts. It really wasn’t. It was just new and new doesn’t mean bad. However, I hope there aren’t too many more holidays like this one. I missed them. They still carry my heart around in their pockets (don’t tell them I said that) and I love being with them.

I also love that God gave us that surprise baby 20 years ago. She’s more special than she knows. We love having her tagging along, besides…she’s just 6 years old.

I hope your Resurrection Sunday was full of family, love and blessings.