Sprow

That's Spring and snow put together. Because today is the first day of Spring and it's snowing! WHAT?!?!?! Oh the irony. This past week has been beautiful. I went for a walk with a friend outside, went for a run with the husband, took my baby girl dog to the beach and let her play, and wore flip flops! That last thing makes me smile all by itself. Now, mixing the flip flops, baby girl dog, friends, husband, and beach all together just gets me very excited. Mother Nature was teasing me. Almost 70 degree weather, letting me wear flip flops and play at the beach then BAM! Snow. All day long. I have to say I don't mind it as much as I thought I would. It's not a bitter cold out and it's kind of pretty because it's all white again. The dirty, black, icy snow has melted and this is a fresh start. However, I can't wait until it melts and I see that brownish green grass again.

I have big plans for this summer. I got a bike! I mentioned to a friend that I wanted to get a bike this summer since we only have one car. He graciously gave me an old bike that he had in his garage. To add to the great fact that it was free....it's purple. My favorite. We bought a tire pump, bike lock, and husband tightened all the screws (or whatever) so I don't fly off the thing. I'm going to look for a basket for the front and a helmet, then I'll be ready to let my hair fly in the wind.....or stay stuck under my helmet but the feeling is there. I'll be able to ride to the beach, pool, and gym. There's also a very cute little downtown area that I can't wait to ride down to and have lunch or wander the shops with friends. The only thing that would make my bike better would be if my dog could fit into the basket and go with me. I haven't ridden a bike in probably 10 years. I am very excited about this whole bike thing. Bikes mean warmth, and summer, and reminds me of my childhood. My brother, cousins, and I used to ride our bikes all over town when we were younger. We made some pretty kick ass trails through the woods across the street from my house. Oh, those were the days.

So, yes, it's the first day of Spring....and still snowing. But it's ok. It's still the first day of Spring. Which means Summer is almost here. I could love Spring here too....as long as it doesn't snow the whole way through it. Speaking of Spring.....my tulips that my mom and I planted last year are getting ready to bloom!!! I saw the first little greens poking through the mulch the other day. I was SO excited! Just a little longer and I'm gonna stick my lounge chair in my front lawn and read my book in the sun enjoying my awesome tulips and baby girl dog next to me watching daddy wash the car. I can't wait!!

Here's a little preview of my upcoming tulips!

Hostess with the Mostess

So, a few days ago a friend called me asking if I wanted to host a Tastefully Simple party. Of course I'd host!! It was scheduled for another friend's house but was going to be canceled, unfortunately due to her family getting very sick. I've been wanting to have people over to my house for a long time so I jumped at the chance. I love our new house, it's nice, and big, and great for entertaining. And I like being in my own house for once! I love going out and I'll hang out at anyone else's place but it's really nice to have people come over here for a change.

The girl who's house it was originally scheduled for has kids. She offered for others to bring their children if needed and they could all hang out and play in her playroom. I get nervous when things involve kids and my house. I don't have them. So therein lies the problem. I feel like people won't want to come to my house because I don't have kids. Might be a weird thing to let bother me but it does. My house is not "kid friendly" and I have nothing to entertain a child. Unless they are old enough to be toddling around chasing Zoey they might be pretty bored here. So when this party got moved to my house I was very nervous that no one would show up. I try not to take things like that personal but I do. I don't want people to feel like they can't come over just because they have kids and I don't.

Well....people came!!! 8 girls....and 2 babies. :) Granted they weren't old enough to really need a playroom or toys....but kids none the less! I even got to love on one for a few minutes. I feel great that other women came over. A couple even hung out for awhile after everyone else left and we just sat and hung out and chatted. I want people to like me, kids or no kids, and want to hang out with ME. So, it makes me feel good that tonight was a success. It wasn't so much the hostess benefits of having the party....it was having the people over that I enjoyed. So, maybe now I'll start thinking of another reason to have people over. Now I can go to bed happy....and full of delicious Tastefully Simple goodies. :) Thanks to everyone who made tonight a success in my mind.

Getting to Know Me

My husband was stationed overseas the year we got married.....two months after to be exact. He was gone for a year. That was one of the hardest years, yet the one that taught me so much. I learned some surprising things about myself. A couple months after he left I think it hit me....I was alone. My new husband was in another country. I was living by myself, something I had never done. But now I came home to an empty house every day. And I hated that. I lived with roommates before and I'd love when they weren't home. I didn't mind when my husband (then boyfriend) would be gone for a week at work. But all of a sudden he wasn't going to be back in a week or two.....or even a month of two. This was too much for me to grasp....the thought of living alone....for a year.

I started having anxiety attacks. Crying for no good reason at all. I'd be in the middle of talking to a dealer on the phone at work, discussing credit, points, payment, and interest rate....and I'd have to call them back later because I needed to walk out of the office due to the overwhelming urge to cry. I'd sleep on the couch with my dog at night because that's where I could get a few hours of sleep. I wasn't eating much and I was getting sick almost every morning before work. What was wrong with me??? This was not the woman I knew.

Just when I was feeling good again, the company that I worked for closed our branch. Here's where everything turned around for me. I started going to church again, something I hadn't done in years. I found a church I loved, where I fit in, and Sunday was one of my favorite days of the week. I joined a wives group. Joining the group was easy....going to an event where I knew no one was the hard part. I almost talked myself out of it about 3 times before parking the car and going into the restaurant to my first event. I forced myself to do something that I wasn't totally comfortable with. I feel that God was pushing me out of that car and dragging me into the restaurant.

I made some wonderful friends and had a great time getting to know other women. And myself. I started to love being alone. I enjoyed going home and hanging out on the couch with my dog, watching tv or reading a book at night and going to bed at whatever time I wanted. I bought a day planner because my schedule was so busy; brunch with the girls, movie nights, farmer's markets, taking my dog to the beach to play, lunch with my old work friends. I had a life!! I learned a lot that year...

I learned my family, husband, and true friends will be there for me even when I hit rock bottom and don't know why. I learned I can trust myself and God and know that everything will actually be ok, even if it's not right at this very moment. I can do things that I normally thought I couldn't, like walking into an event full of strangers and end up leaving with a handful of friends. I learned that being alone is nice sometimes. I can now walk into a movie theater and feel proud that I have enough guts to be there by myself. I learned that I'm stronger than I ever thought I was. I am so grateful that my husband is home safe and sound and we are now together. But that year apart let me get to know myself more and let me open up to letting OTHER people get to know me. Because let's admit it.....you're pretty lucky if you know me. :)

~Gretchen~