The Happiness Dare: Dare #4

Dare of the Day: Take 5 minutes and give yourself the satisfaction of doing a good deed.

Science reveals that when we do good deeds, we reward our brains. Giving actually creates a hormonal reaction that elevates our moods and causes us to feel happy. Plus, doing a good deed is a double dose of happiness - one for you and one for whomever you are helping. 

Today, give yourself satisfaction of doing a 5-minute good deed.....drop in on a shut-in, take a meal or treat, let someone take your turn in line, or run an errand. 

It doesn't have to be big to make you happy, it just has to be from the heart. 

Do a good deed for a double-dose of happiness!

*winter chalkboard*

##chalk #chalkboard #januarychalkboard #winter

#pompomgarland #pompoms #DIY #bakerstwine

#babyitscoldoutside #snow #snowflake
#january2017 #newyearseve

photo dump friday: 12/11 - 12/25

We are very thankful that we get to see our granddaughter quite often, but feel so fortunate that when we can't see her, we get daily pics and videos to enjoy!! <3 <3 

If that face doesn't brighten your day......

12-11-16

I could bite her!!!!!! She's like....please don't! :O)

12-13-16

.....saying goodbye to pop-pop on crew change day.

Nana got to babysit while mommy & daddy talked to Santa!

12-14-16

those pants<3<3<3

Uncle Nate visits!

12-15-16

oh blessed!!!

12-16-16

her sitting skills are almost perfected! 

BIG GIRL!!!

who knew peas could be this good???? :O)

12-17-16

An early Christmas celebration since Daddy has to work this year!

Santa came!!!!

12-19-16

festival of lights

12-21-16

playing with one of the toys Nana & Pop-Pop gave her :O)

12-23-16

-Christmas Eve- 

spending the day with her cousins :O)

Baby's 1st Christmas!

look at that sweet girl <3 <3 <3

that tree.....

that rug.....I just love her pink room!! :O) :O)

{wrapping up Christmas 2016}

I spent Tuesday with Lindsey and Kamry and, once again, had the best visit! Peter showed up bright and early the next morning (yaaaa!! for early crew changes!!!) and then Julie and Derek stopped by on their way home. Denny, Glenna, Shelli, and Addison dropped in for a little visit too. Kamry LOVES people, so she was happy to entertain guests that morning! :O)

Peter and I came back on the boat later that day, and ended up taking a nap as soon as we got home. :O) This is one of the perks of being empty-nesters---naps...whenever!! 

We opened all the gifts left under the tree and had dinner. Before Peter had gone back to work, we had big plans for celebrating just like it was Christmas when he got back, but I think by now, we were both over Christmas, and decided to just open gifts and skip the big Christmas dinner. Instead, we made bacon wrapped scallops and sauteed crabmeat. YUM!!!! 

We had the best Christmas, literally celebrating it all month long. We are super excited that the 2017 schedule is out and Peter and the boys get most ALL of the holidays and special events off next year, including CHRISTMAS!!!! :O)

We received some awesome gifts this year, and my Nana tee and bracelet were two of my faves!!

Here's what else we got......

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday and wishing you a healthy and happy New Year!!

timer cleaning + organization challenge

I am easily sidetracked. I start the washer in the laundry room, and go to our bedroom to grab a load of laundry and before I know, I'm cleaning out my purse and sorting through receipts. I don't mind cleaning, in fact, I love a clean house and I love having things organized, my problem is staying on task, and actually getting more than one room neat and tidy before the day gets away from me. Years ago, I started this trick to getting the whole house clean in a matter of minutes, well 10 minutes per room that is.

I normally deep clean the house once a week, but a couple of times a week, I do a 10-minute tidy.  I set the timer for 10 minutes and go crazy in that room, stopping once the timer goes off and moving on to the next. It's amazing what you can accomplish in 10 minutes!

Here's what I do......normally starting in the laundry room: Set the timer for 10 minutes, turn up the music and GO....I start a load up of laundry, fold and put away anything left in the dryer. I tidy up the shelves above washer/dryer, shake the rug, and swiffer vacuum the floor. I mop on my more thorough cleaning day, unless it really needs it. If I have a spare minute, I'll glass plus the back doors.

10 minutes later....one room clean. ✔️

I move to the next room and so on through the house, tidying up each room and getting as much done as I can in 10 minutes. Instead of spending the whole day fluttering around, getting sidetracked, and not really accomplishing anything, I take just over an hour of my morning getting the house clean and tidy, giving me the rest of the day to enjoy other things. It works!! :O) :O)

It's also that time of the year when I feel the need to organize EVERYTHING!!! Every January I do an organizing challenge, as well as a few more times throughout the year. The New Year...my favorite time to declutter! Here are a few challenges that you can print out, and there are tons more on Pinterest. I'll post weekly on my New Year Declutter Challenge - I can't wait to get started on Monday!

* all images used in this post are from Pinterest

The Happiness Dare: Dare #3

This is something I already do and indeed, it definitely does brighten my mood!

Here is a copy of Jennifer's Happy Playlist

It's Christmas!!!

This home alone stuff is becoming a pattern. 

Advantage of Peter and Nathan changing tours mid-year = finally being on schedule with Logan. 

Disadvantage of changing tours mid-year = they both missed Christmas AGAIN!!! :O(

So.......my Christmas has been way off again this year. No baking or cooking this weekend, no presents had been opened yet, an empty house and nothing stirring on Christmas morning. 

I slept in until 10:30!!, made myself breakfast, and got caught up on instaStories videos on IG (which I'm a little too obsessed with!!).

Spinach & Mushroom Omelette, Slushy Punch, & Coffee

Julie and Derek came in on a late boat!! 

Derek opened a few gifts, then we headed over to Canton for a visit and a snack. 

We went back to Mom & Dad's afterwards to exchange our gifts.

I couldn't wait to finally open a few presents! :O)

I gave Mom a Letter Board (I am sooooo jealous!!)

I got some Meyers Hand Soap from Julie! I'm the biggest nerd, 

but I was so excited about finally getting some of this! 

(and I even got the seasonal Orange Clove scent!!

I mean, it's just the little things!!)

She also gave me some super soft socks and monogrammed soap. LOVE!! 

Mom and Dad gave me black boots, a monogrammed/birthstone necklace, an Ipad case, Philosophy Snow Angel, bath bombs, lotion, and the cardigan from Stitch Fix. LOVE!!

I was literally like a kid at Christmas...literally!! <3 <3 <3

On Monday, Mom cooked Christmas dinner! Holiday Ham....yummmm!! :O) There was lots of game playing and lounging afterwards.

Today, I will visit Lindsey and Kamry for the night, <3 <3 <3 then yaaaaaa!!!! Peter will be home on Wednesday!!!! So, at least two more Christmas gatherings before Christmas 2016 is in the books (or I guess in my case, on the blog!). :O) :O) :O)