Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Killer Marriage Tips FOR SURE

: ) Great ideas. Try them this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ You Probably Want to Read This If You'd Like to Win.....

Yesterday I announced that I'm on the Cut the Crud six month fast.

Before going there and making that decision my partners in crime and I made the decision that necessities are allowed. Because of the big kitchen project we've got going on we've decided that lights are a necessity.

And a few weeks ago, during the planning of this big six month event I was given an opportunity to do a review of a website, a giveaway or a combo of both. It took me weeks to decide. Especially when I started poking around. I was given a link to the CSN group of on-line stores.

Though I wasn't exactly looking for a Bedroom Vanity I went there and started going real deep. I got excited about some of the light fixtures that are available through the multi-site CSN Stores. Finally, I made my decision. I want to share the fun. So. Over the next couple of weeks you'll find me pondering how I'll use my gift certificate, and then you'll find my review of the website and the process of being a customer.

One thing that really excites me is that many items have free shipping. And after checking out several items through a Google search I discovered that the prices are great, too. I will be spending $30.00 courtesy of Just Vanities...and one of you will be too. And that $30.00 will be product with plenty of stuff to choose from.

Start leaving comments now. Every comment will be a chance at winning the certificate and all posts with CSN in the body of the post will count starting today, and ending exactly 30 days after my review posts.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Cut/Slash/Pound/Pray

By now you all know that I'm slightly crazy. And that for some insane reason I love the challenge of new and the excitement of change.

Maybe its the ongoing remodeling projects. Decades of marriage and living in fixer-uppers will do that to a person....if said person survives. And they say what doesn't kill you can make you stronger.

So here's the latest kick I'm on: 23, who may or may not have received the recessive gene from my crazy side, birthed this idea. And our nutty super-trainer friend "Buffy" jumped on board with us. Yes, two twenty-somethings and me. Crazy does have a name. It is Kelly : ).

We are on a "Cut the Crapola" from our lives kick.

It began on Sunday. And it's going to last until February 1st. So here are the rules...

1) Spiritually: we want to get past the things that bog us down and keep us struggling with flesh and blood and keep us from being all that God created us to be. Our rule. Pray daily for 6 people. Three of them are people who God has laid on our hearts as needing prayer so this list of three may change daily. Three are people with whom we struggle a little bit or a lot. And what are we praying? God's absolute love, mercy and blessing, that these people would find hope and healing and abundant life in Jesus. And that we would love them through Him. We are also asking God to bring healing, hope and abundant life into our lives. We are not content to be the same people we are now in six months. We expect God to use His Word and our willingness to undergo the sword of the Spirit to change us into people more aware of Jesus and more aware of our constant need for Him in our lives.

2) Physically: Test our bodies. Work our bodies. Push our bodies into being healthy temples. Eating (mostly) the things that give life, energy and health and avoiding (mostly) the things that don't. Exercising every day, brutality as needed to meet our goals.

3) Financially: We are allowing ourselves to buy only the items that we NEED. We have discussed the parameters and decided that we will allow some leeway because life does revolve around social opportunities and requires an occasional cup of coffee in a coffee house. So all "fun" or "frivolity" needs to fall into "cheap" or "creative and cheap" because we have allowed ourselves only $50 each a month ($300 total)to cover lunches and dinners out, movies, clothes, and barista therapy. When we looked at our lives we decided that we could each easily drop $100 a weekend on non-essentials. A trip to the mall could find us holding an iced coffee, a meal or two and three bags with amazing bargains. That adds up. And we've decided to put what we don't spend toward savings or debt reduction.

4) Mentally/Emotionally: We have all set goals for something we've put on hold or something we've always wanted to do but don't for some mental, emotional, physical or spiritual reason. I will share some of these as they unfurl. But we are committed to challenging each other and to grabbing hold of some pretty intimidating things.

Stay tuned for the Cut the Crapola updates. I'm sure there will be some stories to report.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Productively Colorful Weekend

A few things have happened to the kitchen area!!!! Coats of color! And a pantry now stocked with almost every item I own. It's deep and narrow and FABULOUS. The red and orange are opposite walls and will be joined with a perfectly wonderful yellow. Stay tuned for more.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Riddling We Will Go

What feels like noodles? Burns like asphalt on a 95 degree July afternoon? And is tight enough to bounce quarters off of?

Just about every muscle in my body. Ugh.

I have no idea why this working out thing appeals to me. It wouldn't take much to encourage me to sit on the sofa and down chips and ice cream. Reruns seem so much more appealing when considering the alternative: the attempt to run just a little further or work a little harder or sweat a little more.

Tonight I ran three full laps around the track. And in between there were some wicked ugly things like sit-ups, frog squats and push-ups.

But in the midst of the grunts and groans is a growing sense of accomplishment and a confidence. And I'm not wanting to trade those for a couch.

And working out in a small group has begun to breed other areas where we can grow and change and strengthen and push each other. And why not? Life is a one shot deal. Stagnancy and complacency don't appeal to me. I want to live the life I have and it's going to include my faith being tested and stretched, and my body being pushed to do things it screams about, and my emotional issues getting dealt with and healed. I'd rather those things happen with my willing involvement rather than to me.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Don't Read this While Eating and Don't Eat Dental Floss

Appropriate picture for today.

This was poor Feral Will a couple of years ago after a very unfortunate treasure hunt that yielded dental floss. Don't worry. Everything did come out alright. But there was serious stress and strain involved.

This morning I saved Feral Will from a similar fate. I walked downstairs and found him in the middle of trying to swallow a piece of fishing line. Rob has been loading a fishing pole for an upcoming trip and dropped a 20 inch piece and couldn't find it. Feral did. So. I attempted to snatch the line from his little kitty lips and he fled, with the line clamped betwixt his jaws.

As I got down to his level and cooed, "Here, Kitty, Kitty." I spied the end of the string and managed to grab it pulling it out of his little gullet. Whew. I got it all.

And. Today I went to the dentist. Weird, huh? Coincidence? I certainly hope so!

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Monday Musings

Our youngest, formerly known as 18, has officially changed her name to 19 today. Happy Birthday, 19.

85 degrees and 90 % humidity is not an excuse to get out of exercise. Today we did the Angie workout. Apparently Cross Fit names their workouts and the more difficult ones are women names ala hurricane.

Helen was last night's and it included jumping pull ups, running and some tricky kettle bell workout that could've taken out an eye.

The slightly modified Angie workout is: jumping pull ups, push ups, sit ups and squats. Because of the temperature, the usual 100 of each was modified to 75 each.

My ..... everything hurts.

And this weekend brought the blessing of seeing God's hand move in lives. Wow. He brought about every detail of some specific prayers and I got to see a miracle of physical healing via surgery, medication and speedy recovery. The details were a series of miracles and the end result is a strengthened faith for more than one person.

And. I had a conversation with someone that completely left me shocked and awed. God has moved a heart, and opened ears, and helped someone see some things clearly. And that is a miracle as well. A huge miracle.