Bonus Day

Tomorrow is February 29th......a sweet little bonus day for Leap Year.

What will you do with this extra day? Might I suggest you make it extra special by doing something very intentional.

Here are a few ideas of some fun things you might do:
- Write a letter to yourself to read on the next leap year.
- Put together a time capsule
- Watch the movie Leap Year
- Try something brand new like painting or some other craft
- Experience a new restaurant
- Have a self-care day and do all those things that you always wish you had time for
- Try a brand new recipe
- Wear your hair in a new style

If you are on Instagram or Facebook make sure you are following me there and I invite you to post a picture of you "leaping".

Leap with care, ladies, keep it safe and make sure you have a safe, sound landing.....no one wants their new experience being a trip to Urgent Care.

Have a great weekend!

Smiling :)

Do you know people who just naturally smile ALL THE TIME?

I can remember in 6th grade P.E. we were doing the Presidential Physical Fitness Test and so that meant several of us sat on the sideline while the teacher timed other students doing their various parts of the test.  There was a girl named Kim who smiled the enter time she was doing the Shuttle Run.....she was smiling while running.  Obviously that was such a bizarre thing to me that I still remember it to this day.

I don't think it is super natural to me.  My resting face is not a smiling one.  I can remember sitting in church one Sunday and the camera landing on me and showing me on the monitor.  I was shocked at how serious.....no smile at all..... I looked.  It was a pivotal moment for me.  I thought..... I hope that's not how people see me when they look at me.  I hope when someone mentions my name people picture me with a smile.

We went out to eat recently and there was a young man, who did not look happy. He was setting up tables for a large party.  He was methodically working through the process and doing a very nice job, but he just did not look happy.  So when he passed by our table I made a concerted effort to make eye contact and just smile at him.  Honestly, I could tell it caught him off guard and then he half smiled back.

You know what Wednesday is......a really good day to smile more.

Who knows maybe it will make a difference to someone.....sure can't hurt.

Have a great cheerful Wednesday!

Preparing for Lent

If you have passed thru any grocery store or even the Target Dollar spot you know the world is preparing for Mardi Gras.  There are king cakes and purple, green and gold beads everywhere.

It is time for us to prepare for Lent and this Resurrection Season. Lent will begin on this Wednesday so let's take these next couple of days to get ourselves ready.  I, of course, always enjoy using candles as part of the season. If you need a refresher on how you can use candles, check out Becky Kiser's video

It is a video from last year so pay no attention to the dates she mentions.  Just know that we will begin on Wednesday.

The Dollar Tree has some great tall slender candles that I have used for several years.  But you can, of course, use any candles of your choice.

This year I grabbed these from Home Goods and placed them on the cake pedestals I got from Hobby Lobby.

Remember you will need seven candles.

Then next we need to prepare what we might focus on in our lives.  Several people use Lent as a time of fasting.  Giving up all kinds of things like breads, or sweets or even tv or social media.  In past years I have given up some things that really pulled on some tough things for me.  One year I gave up shopping and literally did not buy anything but groceries and necessities.  Other years I have given up my snooze button.  That was a tough one.  I may be addicted to just "nine more minutes" and hit the snooze multiple times each morning.

Of course, some people use the time to focus on developing a positive habit so they add something positive like exercise, or drinking more water or paying a compliment each day.

Whatever it is you decide to add or subtract from your life remember it is all shored up through prayer and really can be a meaningful time to surrender our habits and worship through sacrifice.

Let's take these next two days to prepare and be ready to begin on Wednesday.

I hope you have a great week!

My first order from Portland Leather Goods

My friend Jennifer showed me a new purse she ordered and the leather and the look were wonderful.  I immediately went to the website and scoped out some goodies.

They have great handbags and totes and small accessories and so many good things.  I was taking a full tour of the website and ran into a mystery box option.  I am a sucker for a mystery box or a mystery bag.  It gets me every time.  So they had a couple of options.  One was just a mystery tote....so essentially you would get one of their totes.....could be various sizes, with or without a zipper, one of their several color options.  That sounded tempting.

But then there was a Tote plus Eight option.  In this one you got a mystery tote plus 8 of their other accessories.....this was the option for me.

I think I ordered it on a Wednesday and received my package on Saturday.  Here's what I received in my mystery box

I was super pleased

First up, this key fob.  I don't carry a key fob but here is what I will use this for - I will secure my handbag to the shopping cart with it.  

This journal.....I love it.  It has the prettiest details

Just plain paper inside, but lovely.

Then these two.  The one on the left is a passport holder the other has a small notepad inside

Then there is this little guy

It has two pockets inside, I think you could use as a small wallet or credit card holder but I plan on using to hold business cards.

This next one goes around a mason jar and makes a cute little leather coozie.  I think this would be a really fun gift for groomsmen or any guys on your list.  When ordering from the site you can get initials or names on them.

and then this beautiful toiletry bag

I quite honestly have no idea what this last one is......I am guessing maybe a cord holder or something to keep headphones in.......but I am not sure

And lastly this is the tote I received.  It is a beautiful leather with the dark leather handles......and it has a zipper.  I have a small chromebook and it even fits nicely inside.

It has one large leather pocket and key keeper inside.

The leather is just beautiful on all of these.  It feels great.  It smells wonderful and I can already tell it is just going to get better and better as I carry it.

So I tried out several of the pieces and I must say this will now be a website that I bookmark and go back to time after time for me and for gifts. Of course, it is a mystery box so what you receive might be completely different.  I really want one of the totes in the deep water color so I may just have to go back and order it now.

Have a wonderful weekend.