Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween Everyone!

It’s the best day of the year boys and ghouls! LOL! My favorite holiday has finally come and it’s officially the best day of the year! I woke up in such a good mood today. Despite any bit of headache that wants to try and lurk around me, I am so excited this evening. I think perhaps getting to see three of my nephews have got me in such a good mood. I love being an aunt and love that I got to watch the three of them get ready. As you can see (with permission from their mom of course) I am sharing a photo of my trick or treating ready nephews, the creepy pirate, vampire and ninja! Technically right now the boys are out and about roaming the neighborhood collecting their candy as I can hear them in the distance still yelling “TRICK OR TREAT” at the top of their lungs. Oh it makes my heart smile this holiday.

Presently I am awaiting my first batch of trick or treaters to reach my door. The porch light is on and the bowl of candy is ready to go. I will be passing out candy to all the little ones who come yelling at my door. Although it’s not quite like it was when I was a kid, where the streets were filled with dozens upon dozens of children in costume running about with glee going from house to house, it’s still an amazing thing to me. I love seeing whatever costumes we do get and I love wishing them all a Happy Halloween!

What are (or have) you done this year for Halloween? Did you dress up? Do you have a favorite memory regarding this glorious holiday?

--XOXO, Jane

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Gotta Brace Myself

Precisely six weeks ago I went to the ankle specialist and well, ‘I Got The Boot’. Today, I go to the ankle specialist nervous as ever worried that despite the pain and swelling lessening I may still have to face surgery someday. Well, that never once came up. Instead I actually felt no pain while the good doctor was messing with my ankle and foot. I also was happily able to delight in the fact that indeed the pain and swelling have gotten better. Granted, it’s still a little sore occasionally and a tad swollen, but it’s definitely improving. So my good news of the day is that I was able to take off the boot once and for all! Six weeks of an immobilized ankle is not fun, let me assure you!

As you can see in the photo though, I am not completely out of the woods from ankle care. I do now have a brace to wear for the next month or two. The good news to that is I am able to wear both shoes again! The concept of putting on my shoes has never excited me this much before! Six weeks is definitely enough to make a person appreciate their left shoe. LOL! At least it has for me. So now the game plan is that it’s recommended I do a little physical therapy for my ankle (which has yet to be scheduled) and wear this brace. Naturally take it easy and just ease back into the walking. Oh how I look forward to the day of mile walks once and no contraptions around my ankle.

I’m feeling quite thankful though, because I was more than prepared to throw a fit – I mean a two year old styed tantrum of throwing myself on the ground, if surgery was still on the table of possibilities to happen here. So hurray to the notion that surgery wasn’t even discussed and my ankle is making good progress here!

--XOXO, Jane

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Bring On The Coffee!

It's one of those days I feel like I could receive an unfathomable amount of coffee. In fact...as much as I am a bit needle-phobic, I'm about ready to just set myself up for a Coffee IV. Let's just pump me full of something highly caffeinated that will help boost those inner gears at a little quicker pace. My coffee cup of choice lately (as you see pictured) says it all! Now don't get me wrong, it hasn't been a bad day. In fact it's been a fairly productive one thus far. It's just one of those days where I woke up a hour before I really needed to. Of course I couldn't go back to sleep, so I started my pot of coffee. Ate a small breakfast, got ready and headed off to nutrition class.

While at class I was fairly awake, paying attention and taking note of things I didn't already know. Some things were noted that I did technically know, but it's good to give ourselves certain reminders. Anyways, afterwards it was off to lunch with some peeps and now here I am at home. Feeling suddenly sluggish and sleepy, but knowing it's much too soon to fall asleep. Plus I'm not really a good napper, when I go to “nap” it usually ends up with me just being crashed out for a lot longer then an hour or two!

So no naps for me today! Besides there are some things I really want to get handled and done. Some writing I wish to do and some reading I need to do! Got a personal (and only semi-embarrassing) milestone of life I hope to be sharing with all of you in the near future. No more talk of that for now though. LOL! For now, let's just keep it to the notion that it's just one of them days where I just can't seem to get enough coffee in me!

Hope you all are having a much more alert Tuesday than I am! LOL!

--XOXO, Jane

Monday, October 8, 2012

Monday, Monday...

So what happens when a Monday is indeed true to its reputation? Well I don't know about the rest of you, but today I am looking back through photos of the Mackinaw City trip I took back in August with friends. Part of the trip, was an actual visit over to Mackinac Island. That's where this particular photo I'm sharing on this post comes from. It was during the carriage tour did we pause by this natural limestone occurrence. It's called Arch Rock and formed during the Nipissing post-glacial period. It's recorded at standing 146 feet above the water levels over Lake Huron! As someone who saw this first hand (and snapped that photo you see), I can't say I argue. The thing was pretty high up. Seemed like quite the drop down to the lower part of the island.

When we got back on the carriage though for the rest of the tour, our tour guide shared that the Arch Rock is sadly deteriorating. Now it's been a couple of months since the trip, but if memory serves right he said there is a prediction that in a matter of fifty or so years it won't exist anymore. At the very least it won't look like it does now. My mouth sort of fell open at that shared prediction. As, looking at that breathtakingly beautiful sight, it's hard to imagine it won't always be there. It's also kind of sad and exciting to know that as well. Sad, because generations to come may miss out on such a sight. Exciting though, because I did get to see it. I got to capture it with my camera and stand there in awe of the beautiful view it provided.

Now see... this is exactly how I have turned my “Monday blues” around. Thinking about Arch Rock has seriously just put a smile upon my face again. It really was beautiful and I strongly recommend that anyone who goes to the Island, makes sure they stop by and see it for themselves. It's just simply amazing and more beautiful in person.

--XOXO, Jane

Friday, October 5, 2012

Good Friday Everyone!

Coffee is officially poured and now my mind can wake up! Okay, it's in the early afternoon so it seems a bit late to be waking up... but I have been in a fog since I crawled out of bed around ten this morning. No particular reason, I just think my bed had the right amount of comfort and my body was not wanting to part from those warm comforting blankets that had me so snug and tucked in. Oh yes, it was a morning when I peeked one eye over at the clock and mumbled against my pillow because indeed I could have slept all day long.

Now that I am up though...and the coffee has hit my system, I am happily plotting away today for the blog. I don't want to give anything away just yet, but I will say you all can expect a couple of weekly themed posts in the near future! Aside from that though, I must say it's a beautiful Friday. The world may not be perfect and life may have it's present challenges. However, there is so much to still be thankful for. Like for big brothers and today happens to be my big brother Tim's birthday! So if he catches this post - HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO! I love you and I thank God he gave me you as a brother!

It's also a day where I am feeling that motivation to get things done. Like, finally folding and putting away my clean laundry from yesterday's washing. I suppose I could blame the influence of growing up with older brothers and live out of my laundry basket until I run out of clean clothes again. However... I just can't honestly recall any of them actually having done that. Least not to my knowledge, LOL! So instead, I think I'll suck it up and stay on top of things this time around and get that laundry put away. With my ankle/boot scenario still going on I can't exactly do a whole lot of other physical activity unfortunately. Therefore my day will probably result in getting some writing done, getting some reading done and perhaps just relaxing in front of the television with a good movie on for viewing.

What are your plans for the day?

--XOXO, Jane

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Sisterhood Bloggers Award!

Another blog award has been passed my way from a fellow blogger! It may seem silly to some, but quite honestly I am finding myself completely touched and inspired with each of these I've received. I'm so touched to know that my fellow bloggers do support me in such a way. I'm inspired to keep going with the blog. It's been such a positive experience for me and I really appreciate all the support this blog has received!

Getting onto the award though, a big thank you goes out to Vickilicous, The Greek Housewife for this latest one I'm receiving; Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!

THE RULES OF AWARD:
  • Thank the blogger who gave you the award.
  • Post 7 things about yourself.
  • Pass the award onto 7 other deserving bloggers. (Let them know about it!)
  • Include a logo of the award in your post.

Well there are the guidelines as mostly copied from TheGreek Housewife blog. Now onto seven things about me!

Facts of Jane
  • Robert Englund is my absolute favorite actor! I completely adore him!
  • I could watch cheesy Halloween specials and movies year round.
  • When I was 3 years old I carried around a rubber skeleton and called it my “baby”.
  • Year round I keep at least a small touch of Halloween fun on display.
  • One of my favorite Halloween movies is Hocus Pocus. Watch it every year!
  • A favorite Halloween tradition for me is passing out candy to the trick-or-treaters.
  • Captain Barbossa is my favorite pirate – no offense Captain Jack!

Now onto the nominees!

Well there we have it! Thank you so much to Vickilicious again for the award! Hope everyone has a beautiful day today!

--XOXO, Jane

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Hurray for Halloween!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! No I have not confused October for December. I am simply a rather big fan of Halloween! It's the time of year I truly feel peace, happiness and extra good will towards others! Okay I'm sure this makes me a little strange to some out there, but I can't help it. I adore Halloween! I love the costumes, the horror movies, the décor and more! Quite frankly I've always been a fan of Halloween, even when I was a little kid. Granted, it was probably more for the candy in those days than the fun of the rest of the holiday, but still. It's always been a favorite! Although I haven't been able to dress up every year, I still at 27 years old have no problem what-so-ever dressing up for Halloween! Be it spooky, silly or somewhere in between.

One of my favorite memories of Halloween involve the photo I'm sharing with this post. It was taken back on Halloween of 2005. Now I will say this is an edited version of the photo – hence the eyes, LOL! But even with my plain brown eyes carrying me in reality through the night, I received plenty of compliments on how my teeth looked so real. People were giving me double-takes all night long as I was out. I was a confident vampire that year, but I was indeed one with a lisp! It was one of those nights, that even throughout the night I was giggling and laughing with friends. With those realistic fangs in mouth, I could not talk normal for the life of me. It was a challenge, but I managed to get through the glorious holiday with a smile and a good hard laugh at myself.

As a vamp with a lisp though, I did actually and accidentally manage to intimidate a trick-or-treater. It was while I was getting ready to head out for the evening that I was passing out candy. Oh I love passing out candy to all the little ones who dress up! One of my favorite parts of Halloween is to see all the creative costumes kids come up with. Getting back to that one particular trick-or-treater though, who ironically if memory serves right was dressed as a vampire himself, seemed rather unsure of my costume. I opened the door with the bowl full of candy after hearing those wonderful words “TRICK OR TREAT!” being shouted from the other side of the door. I let him pick out a couple pieces, but he stood there in what seemed to be unsure shock. His little face looked up to me and he began, “Nice... nice...” then he glanced down briefly, before making eye contact with me again, “...costume?” It was a clear question with uncertainty heard in his voice. I simply said “Thank you sweet heart” and gave him more candy. LOL!

Now I confess I still feel a little bad for that trick-or-treater, but it was over all one of my favorite Halloweens! What are one of your favorite Halloween memories?

--XOXO, Jane