PoppyCox Ink Updates

MOVING TO MIDLAND With moving day just a week away I wanted to make sure everyone knew that PoppyCox Ink is relocating to Midland, Texas. I

Can't See This Message? View in a browser MOVING TO MIDLAND With moving day just a week away I wanted to make sure everyone knew that PoppyCox Ink is relocating to Midland, Texas. I have LOVED my time in Fort Worth and all of my wonderful customers!! I am sad to be saying goodbye but excited to start this new chapter out West. Of course you can still place orders online & once settled I will be returning to do classes in Fort Worth so stay tuned... SOUTHERN LIVING  Did you hear the exciting news?!? My work was featured in the September issue of Southern Living!! I created these fun fiesta menus for none other than Jenna Bush Hager! Go grab a copy to see it in print or click the picture below to see the online version.  MIDLAND CLASS I'm so excited to be offering my first calligraphy class in Midland on Thursday, October 5th. Click on the picture below for details. If you know someone who might want to join, please let them know about it! Visit My Site You've received this email because you are a subscriber of this site If you feel you received it by mistake or wish to unsubscribe, click here

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CHI's in HAITI

Think they even know what a CHI is in Haiti? I doubt it. Last night I was complaining about STILL not having a CHI (hair straightener - mine broke last week and I'm eagerly awaiting my new one to arrive in the mail) when I realized just how bratty it was for me to complain about something so insignificant when there are people ALL over the world with much MUCH bigger problems. When put in perspective, it was hard for me to feel even a tiny little bit sorry for myself. I have frizzy hair, big WHOOP. Many of the people in Haiti have nothing, literally. The more I hear on the news, the more I understand just how devastating the situation really is. I really worry that there is no way for the people of Haiti to recover from this. How will they rebuild?

The entire situation has been weighing heavily on my heart. I've felt a nagging to step up and contribute in some way. So instead of just feeling sorry for all the people in pain and suffering right now I decided I needed to take action. A famous person once said, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and I believe it! These wise words inspired me to host a garage sale this weekend to benefit World Vision's Haiti Relief Fund. That's right folks, we are going to give our garage sale earnings (however little or much that should be) to support the efforts of World Vision to help those in Haiti. Hopefully we will have a good turnout and make some money! Not only that, I hope that bringing it to people's attention will help encourage them to do something whether it's give time, money or resources to the cause. It's all about raising awareness!

So if you're reading this and will be in the area on Saturday, please stop by! You might leave with a new treasure and you will definitely leave knowing you've done your good deed for the day!

Christmas Gifts and Goodies -

I am far too spoiled. I got everything (and more) that I wanted for Christmas. I got things that I didn't even know I needed until I saw them. It was a great holiday and just another reminder of how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends and family. Lots of my gifts were cooking/baking related so I am going to have to do a much better job of making homemade goodies. Here are a few of my latest creations:

Some of our other favorite Christmas Gifts:

-Roomba: it really does work and we LOVE it...bye, bye dust bunnies
-Beatles Rock Band: who knew Brett and I were so musically gifted?
-Bobbin Winder: I was winding by hand. If you know anything about sewing you know how INSANE that is! It's     a lifesaver!
-Coats: I got two cute new coats...just what I needed!!

-stainless steel mandolin: it will slice anything with ease...including fingers. I must careful. But now I feel like a real pro chef with it.  

Resolutions:

So 2010 is off to a great start…however my New Year's Resolutions are not. So far, I'm doing a pretty lousy job keeping most of them:

My 2010 Goals:

- Blog More (welp…clearly that one isn't going so well….it only took me 17 days to post my first entry of 2010.)

- Work out 3 times a week ( I worked out Jan. 1st and 2nd…but then it got super cold and I went back into hibernation. Brett says next week is supposed to be pretty. I hope so. I just HATE running in the cold!!)

- Get up earlier each morning and take time for a morning devotional (I always ALWAYS have a better day when I start it off right...but so far it's just not happening...I think I've only gotten up early 2 times.)

- Always leave the house dressed to impress (this one's going so-so…I've at least been trying harder to look cute-r no matter where I go. You never know who you will run into, but inevitably, you will see someone you wish you hadn't if you are looking scrubby!)

- Get organized (still a work in progress….I have much organizing still left to do. Luckily Brett is really good at helping me with this one)

Brett's Goals:

-Brush teeth 2 times a day (I'm proud of his new interest in dental health!)

-Run 40 miles a week (this is nothing new for him, but I still think it's an admirable goal...phew that's alot of running)

-Go to church 3 times a month (this gets hard when we are out of town but when we are here, we have no good reason NOT to attend)

-Get up earlier (clearly, this is a struggle for both of us)

The good thing is that we have the rest of the year to continue to work towards these resolutions. I really do want to do better. I'll pretend that we just waited so long to get started because we didn't want to burn-out too early and then not follow-through all year, yeah, that's it.

Below is a best/worst list that Brett and I both filled out. I meant to post it before the end of 2009…opps, didn't happen. Oh well, here it is now:

Brett's 2009 Best/Worst List -
Favorite Band of the year: Dredg
Favorite Song of the year: Jamais Vu - Dredg
Favorite sports team of the year: Texas Rangers
Best memory of the year: Christmas Eve at our new house
Worst experience of the year: mile 15-26 of Rock and Roll Marathon
One thing you learned this year: owning a house is hard work
Favorite movie of the year: Step Brothers
Favorite TV show of the year: Modern Family
Favorite recipe of the year: Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
Biggest success: Cowtown Half Marathon
Biggest mistake: paying to go to the Texas A&M vs. Tech game
Coolest place you went this year: Town Lake in Austin

Molly's 2009 Best/Worst List -
Favorite Band of the year: Artist - Priscilla Ahn
Favorite Song of the year: can't pick one song but I've enjoyed listening to the Ingrid Michaelson station on Pandora
Favorite sports team of the year: Texas Tech football team
Best memory of the year: Our first night in our new home
Worst experience of the year: realizing that our Wii was missing and that we'd been robbed
One thing you learned this year: Despite hardships, we are so blessed!
Favorite movie of the year: The Proposal ( I didn't see many new ones this year)
Favorite TV show of the year: Modern Family
Favorite recipe of the year: Anything that Brett grilled...yum!
Biggest success: Saving enough to purchase our first home
Biggest mistake: ignoring the warning signs of a kidney infection
Coolest place you went this year: Opening Day for the Rangers….(not really but I can earn some points with this answer!) : )

UP - Not for the weak at heart:

Two weekends ago, while Brett was out of town I decided to pay our local Red Box a visit and rent some "chick flicks." Instead, I left with the cartoon, UP. I'd heard it was kinda sad but really good. I wanted to see for myself. Note to readers: Bring out the Kleenex before you even start the movie. It is a tear jerker…but worth the tears! For being a kid's movie it seemed to have a pretty grown-up story-line. I'm glad I watched it. I definitely came away with an important life lesson.

        -Life is an adventure: It's all in how you look at it: it may not be full of money, glamour or exotic vacations and "adventures" but that doesn't make it any less special. Sometimes the fun is in all of the little events and excitements that happen every day. If you are waiting for a MONUMENTAL adventure, you may miss all the mini adventures that come your way. I've been sad this past year that Brett and I haven't been able to go on a cool vacation. I wanted that to be our big adventure this year. However instead, we had so many other memorable moments and I wouldn't trade them for anything.
       

The Woes of Parenthood:

Maddie is in her "teenage years" and becoming a bit of a handful lately. Since it's been so cold, combined with the fact that she is our little Houdini, we've been letting her stay inside the house while we are at work. Well, she's been getting worse and worse about getting into things while we are away. It started off innocent enough but Sunday she took things way too far and made a HUGE mess on the couch. It was then that I decided we were going to have to do something to keep her out of our pantry and all our food. See her last (hopefully) mess!

New Furniture on the horizon?!?!

Brett and I have been patiently waiting till the day we could afford a new couch. Well, we are getting closer to that day and in preparation we have been testing "scenarios" on our drawn-to-scale floor plan Brett made for us. Now I'm not typically one that likes to plan big purchases…I'm more of an impulse buyer (ahem, my big plasma TV), but Brett likes to really think things over first. I guess it's really pretty smart of him…just kidding, it's extremely wise of him.

Here's what we did to plan out our future living room:

We did take the plunge and buy the furniture this weekend. Very exciting!! Sadly, it does not arrive until January 30th but it will be just in time for Super Bowl Sunday. I can't wait. We bought a couch and matching love seat as well as a rug. I think it will make our living room look even better than before. Here are a few pictures....but they of course don't do the furniture justice. So everyone will need to come see it in person once it arrives.

This is a swatch of the rug we bought:

Brett testing out our future couch..he looks comfy.



 

 

We're RICH!!

Brett and I were checking out at Walmart Sunday when we were reminded of the fact that we're RICH. Here's how the conversation went:

(Staring at a Snuggie made especially for dogs, we were contemplating getting one for Buster)

Me: I wish we'd thought of the Snuggie. If we had, we'd be rich right now.
Brett: Yeah, it's so ridiculous people just buy them as a joke. These people created Snuggies as a BIT and now they're making money off of it.

At this point the cashier interrupted and said that she realized long ago that she might never be rich in worldly things so she needed to be rich in the things that mattered. WOW! Pretty profound words to hear in the Wal-mart checkout line! Life lessons pop up in very unexpected places if you are paying attention. In this case, I'm sure glad I wasn't too pre-occupied with Snuggies to get the message.

I continued the conversation with the lady and told her that it sounded like her priorities were in check. She was definitely on to something.  As we walked out to the car, Brett and I discussed how RICH we really are. I began to think about this woman behind the cash register. If  she can be content with her life and circumstances and consider herself rich, why can't the rest of us? Most of us have higher paying jobs, and would consider it perhaps an embarrassment to work at America's favorite superstore. But the riches she spoke of had nothing to do with her employer but more importantly with her Savior, our Savior. We could all learn a thing or two from her.

What if instead of counting our money (or lack there of) we counted all of our blessings?  We would be millionaires many times over!! What if instead of tallying our hardships we tallied all of the important life lessons we've learned? We are blessed beyond imagination and we forget daily of everything that we have.

Society has taught us to focus on what we are lacking. The media wants us to feel like we un-whole if we don't:
-have the product they are promoting
-watch the shows they are advertising
-share the beliefs they are broadcasting

I am ashamed to admit that I often find myself throwing pity parties when things in life are less than perfect. It can be defeating to focus on all the negatives. Instead we should really think of all the ways we are RICH.

I am happy to say Brett and I are:
(just to name a few)
RICH IN LOVE - we are loved and in love
RICH IN MEMORIES - already we've shared new experiences that we will never forget
RICH IN LAUGHTER - we find ways to laugh in the midst of stressful, difficult times
RICH IN FRIENDSHIPS - we have lifelong friends that bless our lives each day
RICH IN FAITH - we recognize where our blessings come from and we are thankful

None of us know what the future holds. We can not count on being wealthy by earthly standards. Possessions do not hold their value. Look closely at your life and you will see so many new ways to count your life fortune.

Our Halls are Decked!
Christmas is only 17 days away and we have donned our gay apparel and really gotten into the Christmas Spirit!! Here are a few pictures...we only have 3 trees this year but I'm hopeful for more next year. Can one have too many trees?!?!

A Wii-ly Wii-ly Bad Emergenc-wii

I suppose in an attempt to make our lives into more interesting stories, God let hardship come our way last week. Last Thursday night while Brett and I were watching TV, we both realized, almost at the same moment, that our Wii console was not in its usual spot in the entertainment stand. Brett automatically thought I was up to something and had moved it. I quickly assured him that I had not. My heart stopped. Had someone really broken into our home and stolen things that belonged to us? Slowly we put the pieces of the puzzle together and realized that they had. Along with our missing Wii and Wii games, we discovered the following missing items:

-Brett’s Texas Tech Ring

-Some of Brett’s luggage/backpacks

-Brett’s watch

-Our piggy bank with our life savings in change ($35 dollars in change!!!)

-2 ipods

-My Dad’s High School ring (given to me as a wedding gift)

Now, everything above, except my dad’s ring, can be replaced. So you could definitely say that it “could be worse” but it’s still pretty crappy and disturbing when someone comes into your property and violates you by taking things that do not belong to them. I am really having trouble having any compassion for this low-life LOSER. I should be praying for them, or something but I don’t want to. I am so angry!!

So we filed a police report shortly after our discovery and were basically told that there was nothing they could do and that we most likely wouldn’t see our things again. Gee, thanks!

We have filed a claim with our insurance company and hopefully they will decide to reimburse us for some of what we’ve lost. It’s just a shame that people think it’s ok to take things that don’t belong to them. It is important to remember that stealing is stealing no matter how big or small the thing is that you are taking. If it’s not yours, DON’T TAKE IT!!

Brett's Big Race

Brett ran the Rock N' Roll marathon last weekend in San Antonio. I was proud of him before but seeing him turn the corner and run the last 100 yards to the finish line was one of my proudest moments as his wife. What an accomplishment! I think marathons are quite emotional. You literally see thousands of people pushing their bodies to the limit. It's incredibly inspiring! Brett has more determination, perseverance, and motivation than anyone else I know....including me. I have a lot to learn from him. Although I don't have any desire to run a marathon, it does help me realize the importance of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. If Brett can do it, so can I. GREAT JOB BRETT. I COULDN'T BE PROUDER!!!!!!!

While in San Antonio, we stayed with our good friends Kelly and Ryan Moody. They are expecting a little girl soon but were so accommodating to us! They showed us a great time and we are so grateful to have them! Ryan was our navigator on race day so he drove us all over San Antonio to watch Brett at different mile markers. I am NOT familiar with San Antonio and couldn't have gotten around without him. He was great!! And Kelly was such a trooper. She's 9 almost 10 months pregnant and walked all over the place with us and never once complained. She was a great cheerleader and I was glad to have her. Thank you thank you Moodys! I CAN'T wait to meet little Moody!!

Give Thanks!

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Brett and I are having our first Thanksgiving feast in our new home and we are so excited. My family is coming in town for the holiday and we hope to impress them with a great meal. Here's our menu:

-Butternut Squash Soup (served in little pumpkins)

-Turkey (this will be my first turkey to cook)

-Brisket (Brett makes a mean brisket)

                                   -Green Bean Casserole (it's a classic)

                                   -Broccoli Casserole

                                   -Mashed Potatoes

                                   -Brown Gravy

                                   -Pink salad (the kind with the marshmallows)

                                   -Dressing

                                   -Pumpkin Pie

                                   -Pecan Pie

                                   -Baklava (my dad is famous for his baklava)

I'm excited already. It should be a yummy meal! We will feast and be thankful for all of our many blessings. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!