Blog Update: Life is amazing

I don't know why Tuesday was such a good day. Nothing major happened just a lot of nice little things that combined to reminded me how amazingly lucky I am.

First I remembered that sometimes the best choices you make are to cut ties with poison people. Eliminate all the negative people in your life. The people who made a habit of trying to lift themselves up by bringing you down. Those are what I like to think of as the hollow people. Usually somewhat attractive on the outside but empty people inside. The reason I bring this up is that sometimes even when those people are totally removed from your life they try spread their lies and bitterness. Silly people, don't they know that nobody cares about them? Nobody even misses them when they leave. People may even be glad. There's your reality check!

At lunch I went to pick up some supplements. I have been kind of stuck at my current weight give or take a few pounds for a few months and I was just looking for something to jump start my...everything during the holiday season when all you see is food. When I was at the store I was talking to someone and they asked how much I have lost. I said offhandedly "oh, total about 120 pounds." Truthfully, I don't think about it that way. The lady I was talking to was shocked and amazed and so happy for me that it reminded me to be proud of myself. I forget that sometimes.

I am totally loving my life. My friends are awesome. My bike rocks. My family is amazing. My dogs are sweet. My neighbors are the best. Things are good. Soon things are going to be great because 2013 will be the year that wishes and dreams come true. How do I know? The Mayans told me.

Happy Hump Day!
Simply,
Laura
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Tueaday Blog: Being Crafty

My grandmother tried to teach me to crotchet. I can do a chain with the best of them. When pressed I maybe able to do a single or double and possibly make a popcorn stitch but truth is, it never brought me the peace it brought her. She would sit there and just go to town with yarn and her hook while watching TV.

My mom tried to teach me to sew. In an emergency, I can make a pillow. This is a great skill to have if ever there is a throw pillow shortage. Never underestimate how difficult it is to finish that pillow. After all, you have to hide that closing stitch! I don't have the love for it that my mom has. Nothing about a needle and thread excites me.

I have a less refined passion. No, I am not talking about baseball or mountain biking for once. I like to craft. This is a non-specific skill because I can do anything from paint to make things with beads and wires to go crazy with hot glue. Lucky for me when I was a teen I worked at MJ Designs. I learned how to make bows and since I could already draw they stuck me in the Art Department where I learned about a bunch of different products. This has served me well over the years. I know what glue to use and what paint. I taught myself how to make rosaries. A good skill for a Catholic.

My current craft is making wreaths. Not just any wreaths, sports wreaths. Well, I am still Laura, after all!

So, I made a Longhorn wreath for me and a Notre Dame wreath for my mom for Christmas. This is a super simple project that anyone can do. All you need is a wreath.

I used a straw wreath:



Various ribbon of your choosing, a glue gun, acrylic paint, sealer, and whatever you choose to use to decorate your wreath.





I used footballs, wood letters, and key chains.




I used orange, white, and football ribbon for the Longhorn wreath.



I used blue, gold, and a blue/green plaid ribbon for the Irish wreath.


I love them both but the plaid ribbon on the Notre Dame wreath is so awesome that it is truly my favorite.

I may have a foam wreath and some baseball ribbon waiting for Christmas to pass so I can get started on my Rangers wreath.


What kind of crafts do you make? Do you give them as gifts?


Simply,

Laura


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Monday Mobile: Oh Christmas Tree!

Saturday was a great day! I shopped. I had to. Most of my cloths that fit are summer cloths and although it was 82 this weekend, rumor has it, it is December. I had to buy some winter clothing which, I may never need, I guess.

Afterward I finally was able to ride!


This was seriously as happy as I have been in two weeks. I missed it so much! (I plan on riding Monday night).


Went to a fairly flat trail that's about 7 miles. I was so silly-happy to ride I didn't care!

Sunday it was time to finally put up the Christmas tree.


This is what it looked like when I started. This is an all day project for me. I have a lot of stuff. Surprised?




I may have decorated in my Longhorn Santa hat with my Notre Dame shirt and my Texas Rangers ear rings. Isn't this how everyone does it?






Here is the finished tree. It is hard to get a really good tree shot, isn't it? So, I decided to share some of my favorite ornaments. (Those are fake presents. Yes, I have fake presents for my tree.)


Do you remember the "Does this tree make me look fat?"penguin? That is it. I had to wait a year for Pier One to get that baby back in. It started a love affair with penguins, as you are about to see.











I also have a special soft spot for cardinals. No, not the St. Louis kind. (I hate those). The Indiana state bird kind.


Baseball, of course!



These little angels are so sweet!











And Jesus, who is after all, the reason.


I adore this set. (The Angel sconces are not part of it).


Finally, here is a look at my stockings. I have a normal set but I decided not to put them up this year. The Rangers one is obviously the oldest. I plan on replacing it and I need to order a Notre Dame stocking eventually or my mother will stop speaking to me.


There is much more but this gives you an idea of how Christmas goes at my little house. I don't do much on the outside. Climbing ladders really is not my thing.
(I may or may not be a little bit afraid of heights.)

So, I hope everyone has a great Christmas decorating experience & may you avoid the spiders in the garage!

Simply,
Laura

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Dear Men: I'm mad

Before you read this know I had a bad week. I had to deal with a bunch of fatalities at work that always make me sad. These fatalities left 12 kids without parents. We also have a fatality that involves a young child. This comes a few weeks after losing a co-worker to cancer. I had some emotional stuff I was helping a friend with on Thursday and that lovely you are fat and ugly message from that chicken cyber bully. So, right now is just not the time to hit me up for a hook up...especially if we don't know each other.


What is it with men? What happened to respecting women? I don't care if you hold my door open but I do care if you treat me like a $10 hooker. I am not a Stop and Go. Don't try and play psychological games with me. Don't try to make me think you are doing me a favor. I don't need a hook up. I can manage to live just fine without a man. I know this comes as a major shock to some men but women don't actually need you. If we choose to invite you into our lives it is because we want you in them. YOU should feel honored. You should treat us well. You should appreciate us. You should make an effort once in a while to show you give a damn. You should try. We do. That doesn't mean sex. I know that is shocking. Yes, we like it but no, it isn't the answer. We may be able to live happily without it...for years and years so don't think you are doing us any favors and stop playing games. I hate games. I would rather be single for the rest of my life than have to play another stupid game with a man. Honestly, I just don't care that much anymore.

You want honesty from a woman? Here it is what I want: I want a man who wants to spend time with me because he likes talking with me. I want a man that likes to laugh. I want a man that likes to cuddle once in a while. I want a man that wants to stay over. I want a man that wants to spend the weekend. I want a man that wants to go to baseball games and ride bikes and see movies and maybe eat pizza or Mexican food and have a Rita once in a blue moon. I want a man that can sit on the couch and watch Notre Dame kick Bama's butt with me and be happy for me. I want a man that understands I am right even when I am wrong. I want a man who loves my big heart and doesn't want to beat it up or break it. I want a man who loves me even though I am a little crazy.
I want a man who doesn't mind that I will probably spoil him. I want man that deserves it. I want man who sees me like this:




My friend told me I am looking for a lie. Love doesn't exist anywhere except in movies. I hope he is wrong. I am starting to believe real men are extinct.

Simply,
Laura

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