Queenies Little Kingdom

My hubby and I are all talk.  We talk about stuff that some might refer to as dreaming.  We dream and we talk about it.  That's just us.  It's our thing!

One of our go-to subjects is our house.  We're grateful for it, we enjoy it (for the most part) and we love having a home to share with the ones we love….. but, we want a little more room.  Storage has been a major issue since moving here and our tiny yard is a little sad in the NOWHERE TO ROAM department.  Our dog (Gracie) hates our little yard.  If she gets an edge of freedom….she flees!  She has to if she ever wants to get in a good run.  There's just no running room in our micro yard.

Last week, we were cutting through (that's how we say taking a short cut in the south) an area beyond our neighborhood that's all wooded and private.  Think: country roads.  Nestled back in the woods down this lonely dirt road was a house that looked exactly like the one I have stamped on my brain and it had a realty sign staked at the end of the driveway.  I squealed at my hubby, "See, that's what I want!".  From the road, we could see it was a wooded, large property and a big house.  The best part?  No neighborhood.  No house on top of house.  Our dogs could run like the wind. 

Once we made it home, we looked it up online just to check it out.  As soon as it popped up and we perused through each room (DYING at all the perfect) my giddy excitement could be heard down the street.  This house went on and on….it even had two of our biggest wishes — a pool & a barn!  Imagine how crazy we both started acting when we read the price….. $299,000!

WHAT?

We couldn't even grasp what was wrong with this house.  It was too great of a house and way too amazing of a property to only be $299,000.  After coming down off of the ceiling with all the ways I was going to contact someone asap to sell my house and try to make an offer….we figured out, the realty company made a huge error….

Like, they forgot to add a 1 to the front of that $299,000!

True story.  Sad one too.  I had already moved my junk in and decorated the kitchen and dining room!  Oh and planned a kickin' pool party too!  What?  You were invited!

Oh well, bubble…..burst!  Still looking, so if you know of a little bit of land with an affordable house, ring me.  Okay?  Back to dreaming!

Speaking of dreaming, have you entered this year's HGTV DREAMHOME GIVEAWAY?  GO HERE NOW!  Who knows, we may get our dream house another way.

If I were to be very honest and since that's what I preach over here at Queenies Little Kingdom….that's what I'll do, be honest.

2014 was a mixed up bag of nuts of a year for me.

It just wasn't awesome everyday.  Don't get me wrong, it was good.  But I feel like I missed out on a lot of joy for a variety of reasons.  Most of those reasons?  Brace yourselves, were of my own doing.  I know, hard to believe…huh?

I've thought of some stuff I need to leave behind in 2014 in order to have an improved 2015!  I don't want to stay stuck in the mud of my own doing all year long because I'm too scared to just STOP IT!

So, I plan to …..

STOP PROCRASTINATING

I don't know why I do it, but I do it and I do it BIG!  I've been sitting on so many dreams that I've almost lost the will to ever chase them down.  My heart can't take much more of the complacency!

STOP FRETTING

If it's there to stress over, I stress over it!  My mind gets all caught up in the "what if's" and when that happens, I just can't stop.  I own a whole bucket of worry!

STOP MAKING EXCUSES

I have a million.  Just put me in a position of doing something important {to me} and I will pour out miles of excuses. 

STOP DOUBTING

I tell myself that I'm not good enough or as good as_______ and satan uses all that warped thinking against me.  I doubt my courage, strength, knowledge, abilities….. and a whole lot more.

STOP BEING NEGATIVE

You'd think I would've learned this one (I have) but my negative attitude, words, behavior affect everyone around me.  Especially, me!

I'm mulling over a good word shared on Kara's blog yesterday.  Her circumstance are so far from my own and yet she is full of thankfulness and joy and love….and life as she dies.  Perhaps that's what drew me to it.  My own need to stop dwelling in stuff that's happened and thanking God for bringing me through it. Thank you, Kara!  My life is a gigantic bucket of grace and I see it, every single day.

"When we live in thanks we receive the love given knowing we are undeserving vessels, but thanks shouts- I SEE THE GRACE BEING POURED OUT!"  — Mundane Faithfulness by Kara Tippetts

It's good to clean out or so I hear (those of you cleaning out closets this week) and if you have some hang-ups holding you hostage, why not make your own list of STOP IT'S in 2015!!?!

Lord,

I cannot do anything without you.  I need your help in erasing the bad habits that hold me down and keep me from experiencing the life you've got for me.  Help me to STOP doing what sabotages my joy and Yours.

Amen

Don't ask me how it happened…..I'm still trying to figure it out myself.  Somehow, I have "overdone" it in the gluteus maximus area.  I woke up yesterday and hopped down out of my bed in the sky and felt serious pain immediately, in both sides of my boo-tay! 

Yeowch!

What happened, I asked my sleepy self!?  And the two of us raked our brain trying to remember a killer workout or the 37 miles of stairclimbers we'd done the night before.

Nada.  Nothing.

Here I sit (painfully) today still feeling the burn.

Yea, no…..wasn't doing any of that!

None of these either!

What don't you understand?  I DID NOT BURN MY BUNS EXERCISING!

Here's what I do know, I took care of a sweet sick kid all weekend.  I made her many homecooked meals, rubbed lotion on her feet, painted her toes and fingers and even scratched her back and massaged her head.  Does any of that take booty muscles?  I don't think so!

The only possible answer I can come up with is the bed delivery and the shenanigans that went along with it.  A) We took both dogs.  B) The girls' apartment is on the top floor of an old Victorian house.  LOTS OF STAIRS!  C) The weather turned to freezing and we had to run wearing boots to walk the dogs.  D) The NEW BED is as tall as a skyscraper [similar to mine] and I had to CLIMB UP to get on it.

That's it.  That is all that happened to me before I fell into bed Sunday night and woke up with the burn on Monday morning.

So, I'm going to use this to my advantage on this snow day with temps in the teens and get busy stretching these poor fried muscles back out because if anything says motivation….it's burnt buns!

SEASON 5 of Downton Abbey, that's what!

If you are some sort of alien and have not watched the kick-off of the new Downton Abbey season…..buzz off!  Don't read here because I may say something that refers to the actual show and people are so danged uppity about spoilers.  To which I say, if you don't want to find out something about a show you've skipped, DON'T READ SOCIAL MEDIA!!!  Unless you could care less about the show and are not a fan.  Which if that's the case, WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS!

Oh I kid.  We can be friends, but I confess…..I'm going to wonder what in the world is wrong with you!!!  Downton Abbey is my favorite show, ever!  Ever, ever….ever!  I pray it's available in heaven.  Just kidding.  I believe heaven will be even better.

What's not to love about these people?  The era, the snobbery, the distant rudeness, the mannerisms, the wealth, the upstairs vs. the down, the relationship dynamics, the whole Edwardian lifestyle!!!  All of it!  I love every detail!  The only complaint I can voice is the fact that the series will zip by so fast.  Every episode will fly by and before you know it, I'll be crying over the season ending and stuck clicking through the tv channels looking for SOMETHING to take its place.

Impossible!  No other shows compare!

I feel like I really hit the Downton jackpot last night.  Not only did I get to see the newest show but I was able to watch it with my two favorite chicks!  Hubby and I were over at our girls' house (he was finally finished with Gates new bed) and it was delivery day.  While he worked his magic putting together his newest masterpiece, we girls piled on the couch watching MASTERPIECE THEATRE!!!

Best Sunday night ever, y'all!

Colts won their game.  Snow started falling here in Indy.  Our sweet punk can now sleep in her comfy new bed and Downton Abbey is back.

Ain't life grand?

This post comes as a courtesy to you from the world's biggest fashion hypocrite!  In other words, WHO DO I THINK I AM giving out fashion advice when I haven't worn REAL CLOTHES in daaaaaaaaays!?

You're welcome!

I suppose I should just go ahead and humble myself and tell you…..that if I WERE TO GET DRESSED (and trust me, I will eventually) that these awesome fashion choices are high at the top of my list to want to wear, ok?  Just keepin' it real.

What?

Jones New York Essentials Wrap and Pajama pants

In honor of my own laziness, pj's are my first item.  To me, what I wear around the house MUST be appropriate to answer the door.  I mean, I'm not a total animal!  These are sassy with a butt-load of comfy all rolled into one.  $34.99 at Macy's!

DKNY Cozy Animal Print Fleece

Just one more, in case you are a little fancier than the first choice.  A bit pricier at $49.99 but for AN OUTFIT to lounge in….worth it, guys!

Shirred Woven Top

If you find yourself bound by the rules of society (unless you are headed to the ongoing slumber party held daily at Walmart) and are forced into real clothes….this is a cute casual look.  The flowy red shirt can be dressed up or down.  Your choice.  And face it, life is all about choices people!  I just wish the people choosing to wear their pajamas to Walmart chose differently.  TMI!  Shirt on sale at Nordy's $40.80  NOTE: runs small

Lauren Jeans Co.

Because I wear boots almost everyday in the winter, skinny jeans are a must.  These hold stuff in, slenderize what's not skinny and accentuate your shape.  While they're not on the high end of cost they have the power to provide just what you're looking for to pull together an outfit.  On sale at 1/2 off over on Macy's for $44.99

Note:  I feel it's important we have the expensive jeans talk.  Jeans are timeless.  However, some jeans DO GO OUT OF STYLE!  There, I said it.  Spending a little more money on a good stylish pair of jeans is worth it.  I've "heard" there are some really awesome brands that flatter you and change your life.  I'm still searching for them.  Hint:  Miss Me, True Religion, Hudson, 7 For All Mankind…etc.  Go, try several on and then buy them!  Well, buy one pair!

Donna Morgan Jersey Dress

Why oh why?  Why don't more women tap into the comfort that is the blessing of wearing dresses?  This little jersey dress is at TJ Maxx (my fave store) and can be worn with a cute heel or winter'd up with a sassy pair of boots!  I layer dresses with jackets or sweaters too, this gives me a longer wearing wardrobe!  AND THEY ARE CUTE AND COMFORTABLE!  $39.99

Hind Running Gloves

Let me blow your mind!!  Yes, these are running gloves!  No, I haven't been running but I sure want to and if I buy these sweet little guys….I'm going to have to get out there and start trucking!  $9.99

The Girls TUMMY CONROL joggers

Uhm, hello….these had me at tummy control!  If I'm going out in the cold, I'm going to need something to hold in all my jiggle!  These are flattering for workout pants.  $16.99  Woot!

Let me throw in here about how TJ Maxx has it going on right now with workout clothes.  They are selling the cutest stuff.  Maybe this is why so many mom's are wearing workout clothes as real clothes, huh?

Mondetta Seamless Jacquard Top

See?  I'm so inspired to "get busy" working out….I'm picking up some new stuff asap!  $19.99

Nick & Mo Printed Duster

I feel it's only right that I let you know….I'm the QUEENIE of the clearance rack!  You won't find me snubbing a bargain!  Ever.  This is the cutest long sweater on clearance right now at TJ Maxx for $29.99  Only one problem – size Small is all that's left!

JACHS GIRLFRIEND Plaid Top

Just in case you haven't heard….plaid is THE BIG thing this year.  Any color of plaid will do, just make sure you have some in your arsenal!  I have a few that I wear all the danged time (when I'm not lounging in pj's) and they look so trendy!  On the clearance rack at $20.00

Have you had enough yet?  Well, my starving dream bed making hubby has!  I've got to get dressed (ridiculous) and make him something to eat.  Oh and clean my house.  Which will involve some UNDECORATING for Christmas 2014! 

I might be having LET IT GO issues!

Happy Friday!

Oh, in case you were wondering.  No, my hubby doesn't make our bed.  Yes, he builds dream beds for the girls he loves.  Our youngest got a new bed for Christmas and wanted him to custom build her something LIKE this –>

*Pic taken from Pinterest….which apparently someone had snagged over at one of my fave blogs, Shanty 2 Chic!!

This is the idea he started with and it has evolved into something super gorgeous.  Taller custom legs, much darker stain, tons of distressing and bigger for her new queen mattress!  She is going to die!

I tried extra hard to avoid this word.  Matter of fact, I ignored it every single time it popped up in my face.  Somewhere in the back of my mind….I knew it was supposed to be mine.

Trust is a fancy way of saying; I give up!  I hand it all over!  It's yours, I'm just here to do and be whatever you've got for me, Lord!  Which is pretty fitting for me…because that's right where my heart is as I hand over my control freak reigns on this first day of 2015!

When I asked for prayer in helping me choose my word for the year ( I meant it dudes)….I admitted my fear of choosing something safe.  Big words scare me, I confess!  I don't want to be tested.  Which is why I tried my hardest to skip on over the word TRUST!  Yet, here I am.  Surrendered.  Willing.  Buckling up.  Praying along.

So, as I do my best to write 2015 on all my checks and papers (how I wish this was all I had to fear for 2015)  I'm preparing my heart for all the ways GOD will challenge me to TRUST HIM more in the new year.

Why should I trust Him?

Because when I don't trust God, it grieves His heart.  It also blocks me from moving forward.  Which ultimately robs me of joy, peace and blessings.

I don't want to wander around with a tiny faith, stuck and miserable in my own might.  I NEED GOD!  I NEED HIS POWER!  I NEED HIS DIRECTION!

I WILL TRUST HIM