The Good Stuff ~ 9/02/2021

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I've got some catching up to do!

~The Wedding!  Kaylee and Shawn's wedding was beautiful!  I didn't cry until the Father/Daughter Dance and then the tears streamed down my face.  

I was OK after that until I came home for the night.  All the preparations and changes hit me and I SOBBED!  Then I was OK...again :)  

The food was amazing and the photographer did an amazing job.  We have a full gallery of pictures.  I wish I could share them all with you but that would be impossible.  These are a few of my favorites:

~A Freshman!  Not only do I have a married daughter, I now have a Freshman in High School too!  The first picture below shows Kaylee and Laken on Laken's first day of Kindergarten.  The second picture is Laken last year (8th grade) and the next picture was Laken on her first day as a Freshman in High School.  Look how much she has changed in just a year!  I can just see the attitude oozing from her in the picture from this year ;)

~Homecoming!  Laken and her friends have decided to do the whole Homecoming "Thing" this year now that they are old enough to attend.  (There will be no boys in the group.  Thankfully, boys are still icky!)  They are going to do a fancy dinner, get photos and go to the dance.  This is the dress that was supposed to be delivered yesterday but wasn't due to the localized flooding.  Hopefully it comes today!  We're going to be adding straps and I'm hoping this model is REALLY tall and that the dress is a bit longer on Laken :)

~A New Job!  Kaylee started a new job the week after returning from her Honeymoon.  She is now working at Subway.  She's making more money for less hours so that is a plus :)

~No Complaining!  My dear sister-in-law, Kelly, has asked me to do a challenge with her for the whole month of September.  30 Days of No Complaining!  It has been 1 day and I've been catching myself more than I thought I would.  The idea is to DECREASE complaining and INCREASE gratitude :)

What has you thankful/smiling/exited this week?  Tell me all the good stuff! 

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/23/2021

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello, and Happy Monday!

After giving myself a week of recuperation post-Wedding, it is time to get back into my schedule and get back some sense of normalcy.

The weather outside is:

This week looks to be a bit warmer than last week.  I'm ready for some fall weather but AM NOT liking the dark of night coming so early!  It was 8pm and dark this weekend :(

On today's to-do list: 

BIG day, today!

Today is Laken's first day of High School!  Only 4 short years and she'll be off on her adventures.  I plan on soaking it in as much as I can :)  After school is volleyball practice...

Kaylee and Shawn are back from their Honeymoon and Kaylee starts a new job today.  I pray she enjoys it :)

I also have a dentist appointment in the morning and need to get groceries.

Happening this week:

Trying to get back into my schedule of getting things done is utmost on my list this week!  I feel like this Summer has flown by and I've just been floundering to "get through".  Some has been good (wedding stuff) other not so great (surgery, doctor's appointments etc.)  Wish me luck!

Currently reading:

I am determined to get into this book during the coming week!  

On the TV:

Nothing for me!  I have been "trying" to catch up on some of my favorite youtubers though.

Listening to:

This week for "Songs on Sunday" I featured "My Jesus" by Anne Wilson.  I hope you'll check it out :)

On the menu week:

Not done yet :(  I'm getting really bad at waiting until the last minute to make my menu and grocery list.

Monday ~  

Tuesday ~ 

Wednesday ~ 

Thursday ~  

Friday ~ 

Saturday ~ 

Sunday ~ Potluck at Church

In the Craft Basket:

Still working away on the Wedding afghan for Shawn and Kaylee!  I'm hoping to get it finished and gifted this week!

Picture from the Camera

We got the pictures back from the photographer already!  She did such an amazing job!  I absolutely love them.  Look for more pictures on Thursday on my "Good Stuff" post :)

Memory Verse

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"  Romans 8:32

Have a great Monday!

Colletta

Tuesday 4 ~ Marriage ~ 8/17/2021

Head over to Tuesday's Place for the questions and to visit everyone's answers!

This week let's talk about engagements and marriage okay?

1. If you are married would you share how your husband proposed to you? How long were you engaged before you got married? If you aren't married, what would be ideal for you?

The hubby proposed in a traditional way, down on one knee and everything  :)  We were engaged for 2 months before the wedding!

2. Did you receive an engagement ring? Would you show us or describe it for us?

Yes, I did receive an engagement ring that we went to the jewelry store and picked out together.  It has a large diamond in the middle and 3 small diamonds on each side.

3. What kind of wedding did you have? Was it big or small, formal, informal, religious or justice of the peace. Inquiring minds want to know!

We had a very traditional wedding at our Church.  There were about 125 people in attendance.  I wouldn't say it was formal but not really informal either... :)

4.Was there a honeymoon? Where did you go, how long did you stay? 

We did have a honeymoon!  We went to DISNEY WORLD!!  lol  We stayed for a week :)

Colletta

Shawn and Kaylee ~ 8/14/2021 ~ Wedding Sneak Peek

 I just wanted to share with you a few pictures that I snapped with my phone.  I didn't take a lot.  That is why we hired a photographer :)

We had such a lovely day and the happy couple is off on their honeymoon.  I need a nap but I'm sure I'll write more about the day sometime soon...

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 7/26/2021

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello, and Happy Monday!

The weather outside is:

Another nice week ahead :)

On today's to-do list: 

Monday morning is filled with appointments for Laken.  First she has a sports physical for volleyball and track.  Then physical therapy for her knee pain.  The orthopedic surgery gave the "good-to-go" for sports and said that her knee pain is from her muscles developing at different rates and that PT should be able to alleviate the pain.

Annalea will be hanging out with me too :) 

Happening this week:

We need to finalize the menu for the wedding with the caterer who is making the food and the cake.  We also need to work on decorations.  Other finishing touches for the wedding are all listed in a tablet to check off one-by-one :)  Less than 3 weeks to go!

Laken will be headed back to Volleyball open-gym on Tuesday and Thursdays until regular season practice starts toward the middle of the month.  Her school starts back on August 23rd and she is NOT happy about it!  She's nervous about heading into High School.

The hubby is on second shift this week so I'll be feeling lonely in the evening but have time to work on the Wedding Afghan for Kaylee and Shawn.  I have about 8 more rounds on the border to go...

I won't have Annalea on Tuesday as Steph is off work that day.  I'm thinking of treating myself to a mani-pedi.  I'm looking forward to it :)

Currently reading:

I just finished up "The 10 Commandments of Marriage" by Ed Young.  It was the first book I've finished since March.  You can read my review HERE.  I'm not sure what I'm going to read next.  I have a ton of fiction on my Kindle but I'm kinda in the mood for another non-fiction.  Any recommendations?

On the TV:

Hot Mess House

Black Widow on Disney+ ~ It was a good movie and well worth the money to purchase it as a "Premiere" movie.  It was much cheaper than if we'd have all gone to the theater to watch it.  There was some mild language so be cautious with the littles.

Listening to:

This week I featured "You Had Me From Hello" by Kenny Chesney on Songs on Sunday.  I'll be featuring all things "Wedding" for the next month.  I hope you'll check it out :)

On the menu week:

Not done yet :(

Monday ~  

Tuesday ~ 

Wednesday ~ 

Thursday ~  

Friday ~ 

Saturday ~ 

Sunday ~ Potluck at Church

In the Craft Basket:

As mentioned above, I have about 8 rounds on the border of the Wedding Afghan for Kaylee and Shawn.  I worked on it Saturday evening while watching Black Widow and made "some" progress but not as much I'd like.  20 days to go!

Picture from the Camera

Our Church Youth Group made a trip to Hovatter's Wildlife Zoo in Kingwood, WV.  Isn't this giraffe gorgeous?

Memory Verse

"I hurried and did not delay To keep Your commandments."  Psalm 119:60

Have a great Monday!

Colletta

Songs on Sunday ~ You Had Me From Hello by Kenny Chesney

3 weeks.  Only 3 weeks to get everything ready for our daughter's wedding.

As the countdown get shorter and shorter, I'm going to break away from my usual Christian music features for a few weeks to feature some songs that have special meaning during this time.

The first song I'm going to share is "You Had Me From Hello" by Kenny Chesney.

This is the song that the hubby and I danced to for our "First Dance" as a married couple.  Every time I hear it, I am transported to September 17, 2000 :)

Enjoy!

Colletta

The Good Stuff ~ 7/22/2021

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Time for another "Focus on the Good Stuff" post!

~Laken Is Good to Go!  Laken had to have an MRI of her knee last Friday because the xray showed something abnormal.  Then Monday we went to the Orthopedic Surgeon to find out what it is.  I am so very relieved to tell you that the surgeon told us it is a non-ossifying fibroma and nothing at all to worry about!  Her knee pain is totally unrelated.  She'll be going to physical therapy for her knee pain to strengthen muscles that are being underused.  So it was a very good appointment!  I was quite stressed so the news came as a great relief :)  She is all good for sports, gym etc.

~Meeting With the DJ!  We met with DJ Tuesday evening to go over the plan for the Wedding Reception.  He seems very professional and committed to making it a wonderful experience for Shawn and Kaylee.

~My New Watch Came!  My old, cheap, "fitbit-ish" watch broke after wearing it constantly for a year and a half.  I ordered a new, cheap, "fitbit-ish" watch on Saturday and it came yesterday (Wednesday)!  It is my favorite aqua/turquoise color and does so many things!  Most of which I won't even use!  I mainly use it for time and step count.  I hope this one lasts as long as the last :)

~I'm Reading a Book!  I haven't read in months so reading a book is good stuff!  I'm reading "The 10 Commandments of Marriage" by Ed Young as all thing marriage and wedding have been on my mind lately.  I started reading it with giving it to Kaylee and Shawn in mind and I probably still will.  However, I am learning so much and getting such good information from it and I'm only half way through.  If only the hubby were the reading type...  I think this would be a good book to read together :)

~Damon is OK!  My cousin's little boy, Damon, fell down the outdoor cellar steps Monday.  We were very worried when we heard the news that they were taking him to the ER as we didn't know the extent of his injuries.  He had a CT scan to check his head for injuries and it came back all good.  He ended up having to get stitches in his forehead and a staple in the back of his head.  So all things considered, we're very thankful that it wasn't worse!

What are you thankful for/smiling/exited about this week?  Tell me all the good stuff! 

Colletta

The Good Stuff ~ Engagement Photos ~ 5/27/2021

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The past few weeks have been super busy with wedding preparations and house hunting for the soon-to-be newlyweds.  Now that most things are in place or at least in motion, it is time to enjoy some of gorgeous weather we've been having.

A couple weeks ago, Kaylee and Shawn had an engagement photo shoot with the Wedding Photographer.  They had a fun time and got some amazing shots.

The following photo is by far my favorite!  We even used it on the wedding invitations.  Isn't it amazing?

I also love this black and white photo because it shows their true relationship.  Smiles and giggles all around :)

Here are a "few" more for your viewing pleasure :)

(BTW, the photographer is Angela Ramsdorfer Photography )

What are you thankful for/smiling/exited about this week?  Tell me all the good stuff! 

Colletta

The Good Stuff ~ Kaylee Said YES! ~ 3/26/2021

Here are some things that made me thankful/smile/excited this week:

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After 5 1/2 years of dating, these High School Sweethearts are engaged!!

Shawn took Kaylee on a hike where they used to go for walks and gave her a note asking her to marry him.  It was the very same way he asked her to go out with him.   Complete with "Circle Yes OR No"!  Isn't that so sweet?!?!

And look at this ring!  Gorgeous!!  (Good job, Shawn!)

They are both walking on clouds :)

What are you thankful for/smiling/exited about this week?  Tell me all the good stuff! 

Colletta

September 2019 ~ Goals Update

I know I just posted my September Goals last week (a bit late) but I wanted to let you know how I did.

~ Have a Daily Devotion Time

For the most part this has been a success.  I started using a daily devotional journal from Janice Thompson called "From God's Word to a Woman's Heart" and have been enjoying it.  It is just the right length each day to fit my schedule but still feel like I've done a devotional time.  I would like to add in more Scripture reading each day and will be working on that.

~ Lose 8.4 lbs for the 3% Challenge

I don't want to call this a fail because I did lose 6.4 lbs in September.  BUT... I didn't hit my goal of 8.4 lbs.  2 lbs short :(  Onto October's 3% Challenge!

~ Celebrate our 19th Anniversary

We celebrated our 19th Anniversary with a date!  Just the two of us!  We went to Applebee's and had a very nice time together :)

~ Finish Brian and Rachel's Wedding Afghan

I didn't get Brian and Rachel's Wedding Afghan done in time for the actual Wedding on September 7th, so I set my goal to get it finished by the time they got back from their Honeymoon.  Success!  I finished it up while they were still away and had it ready to give them when they got back.  I was so anxious to give it to them that I forgot to get a picture of the finished afghan!  I'll have to have Rachel take a picture for me so that I can document it.

~ Finish Layna Bee's Baby Blanket

I finally finished Layna Bee's Blanket!  She's already 3 months old so I'm just a bit behind.  I used the Beautiful Shells pattern and think it turned out lovely!

 

~ Make an appt for an Eye Exam and get new contacts

Done.  Pretty straightforward :)  In fact, my eyes didn't change very much at all this year and I've stayed with the same prescription in both contacts and glasses.

~ Start growing hair out

I have a pretty short pixie-ish cut but want to grow my hair out to at least the length of this picture.  I met with our new stylist, Corinne, and told her what I wanted to do.  I got the tiniest bit of trim on the back of my hair with a plan to grow it out.  I'm exited to get some length to the sides so I can start wearing it curly again.

~ Get a new Planner

I wanted to get a new planner because (as much as I can't believe it)  I've started making appointments for the year 2020 and wanted to be able to keep track of everything.  I found this planner at Wal-Mart and absolutely love it!  It has a prayer and Bible verse each week that I really enjoy and it was only around $8.00!

Overall, I'm pleased with my progress this month.  I'll be posting my October goals tomorrow, so stay tuned :)


Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 7/25/19

 

~Dan made it home safely!  My brother's trip to Italy went well and he is now safely home :)

~Brunch with the Bride!  My cousin is getting married on September 7th.  Saturday morning we celebrated his bride, Rachel, with a "Brunch with the Bride".  I thought it was a super-cute idea.  The Maid of Honor did a wonderful job putting it together and we had a great time showering Rachel with love and gifts :)

~Kaylee Passed Her Driver's Test!  Kaylee is now a licensed driver.  I was so nervous while we were waiting her turn and she was worse than me!  When her turn came, she didn't even know which door to open she was so flustered.  hehe  She did a wonderful job and she passed on the very first try.  So proud of her!  Now she'll be able to drive to college come August 19th :)

~8/10!  I've read 8/10 of my goal for my "10 Books of Summer" challenge.  Only 2 more to go and I'll have completed the challenge!  This is big for me as I have a hard time actually completing challenges that I sign up for.

~  WW - Third times a Charm!  I decided to give WW (weight watchers) one more try and signed up for a promotion that gives me 2 free months if I commit to 6 months on the program.  I need the commitment to stay the course.  Stay tuned for updates :)

What are you thankful for today?
Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 2/14/19

~Happy Valentine's Day!  I mentioned in yesterday's Wednesday Medley that the hubby and I already had our Valentine's date this past Saturday.  Nobody was going to be home with Laken so we let her tag along.  The question I posed yesterday:  "Does the hubby still owe me a one-on-one Valentine Date?"  :)


~Save the Date!  We received a "Save the Date" card from my cousin and his fiancé.  Brian and Rachel will be getting married on September 7th at our Church.  Brian was born when I was 15 years old and was my little baby.  I toted him around everywhere.  He holds a special place in my heart and Rachel is such a sweet girl.  I can't wait to attend the wedding :)


~Softball sign-ups!  Laken decided that she wants to play softball.  She had played t-ball when she was just a little bitty but didn't really enjoy playing with the boys!  lol  Now she is older and has made lots of new friends in her new school who are playing (girls only) softball this year.  We signed her up and now her daddy is excitedly looking at spikes and bats and gloves.  It gives us all something to look forward to after this nasty winter :)


~College acceptance letter!  Kaylee received her college acceptance letter in the mail a few days ago with tons of information about what she needs to do before actually starting classes.  I think she is getting excited about getting back into school mode :)


~The Book Fair!  Laken's school had a Book Fair and as you know I'm a book lover.  Family night was Tuesdsay.  The hubby and I have made it a tradition to go with the girls to their Book Fairs and monitor what they buy and therefore read.  This time Laken got the book "A Dog's Way Home" and a book about the actual dog that plays in the movie.  I love Book Fairs :)







What are you thankful for today?

Colletta



Work in Progress ~ 5/9/18

 

 

I mentioned the other week that I'm working on an afghan for my cousin's bride-to-be, Ashley.  I've only met her once, but she is very friendly and plays a mean game of Corn Hole.

 

The Bridal Shower is July 2nd and I have a lot of work to get done by then.

Here's my progress so far:

 

 

Each row has 9 squares, therefore, I have 31 squares completed out of 90!  I better get moving!

 

 

I'm crocheting simple granny squares and joining them with a single crochet stitch.

Here's my "helper", Star.  I haven't decided if she more of a hindrance than a help, but she keeps me company while crocheting on the deck.

Speaking of crocheting on the deck, here is my little "Nook".  I absolutely love my little deck with my swing and patio table and chairs!

 Here's my little workplace.

The deck gets full sun in the afternoon, so the umbrella is a definite need.

 So, back to the Ashley's Afghan.  There will be 10 rows of 9 squares and then borders depending on what yarn I have left.  There are a variety of colors and I love it!  I hope I can give it up come July! 

I'm really enjoying working on this afghan.  Some people think Granny Squares are old-fashioned, but I love making them and think it is so relaxing.  The only bad thing about Granny Squares are tying in the ends, but I'm trying to be good and am tying in ends after each row and then connecting them.

I'll be keeping you updated on my progress.

What are you working on?

Colletta