By A Thread Series+

I know I have probably mentioned it before, but I just love the By a Thread series by author R.L. Griffin. She published another book recently based on the character Stella, which is outstanding.  That book is called Mending.  If you have not read any of her books, I suggest you do so.

She has another book coming out in May based on this series called Heart in Wire, which I am anxiously anticipating!!

The By a Thread series is based on the trials and tribulations of Stella.  Stella has graduated from college and is looking forward to living in Washington D.C. with her fiance when tragedy strikes, leading her to spiral out of control and spending a lot of time in a bottom of a glass (however, looking amazing in her killer shoes!)  Living in an unfamiliar town with no friends and family, Stella has to learn to live again and pick up the pieces to begin to move forward in life.  However, there are surprises in store for her and things are not always what they seem!

R.L. Griffin takes you up and down in this series, leaving you angry at times and shouting for joy at others. Stella and the other characters (Patrick, Millie, George and, of course, Cooper) will become a part of your life and you will begin thinking "What Would Stella Do".

Please check her out!  You will not be disappointed!

Check out these links:
http://www.rlgriffinauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rlgriffinauthor?fref=ts
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1254833.R_L_Griffin?from_search=true

NASCAR 2014!!!

It has started!  36 races!!! 

February Birthdays

February is a busy month birthday-wise in my family. Because of this, we choose one day in which to celebrate them all (usually going out to eat).  My cousin and pseudo-daughter's birthday is the 2nd; my cousin and best friend (mother of my cousin whose birthday is the 2nd) just got married on the 8th; the 9th is my mom's birthday; the 11th is my mother-in-law's birthday; the 16th is one of my sister-in-law's birthday; another cousin's birthday is on the 18th; my other sister-in-law's birthday is the 22nd; my cousin (brother to the cousin who just got married) and lastly my grandfather has their birthdays on the 26th and 27th. It's one crazy busy month!

With the snow this year, I had time to make my mother's birthday present.  I modified an idea I found on Pinterest (love that website). I'm hoping she likes it. I'm attaching pictures. Let me know what you think! 

Happy Friday!!!!

Olympic Anxiety

I entitled this Olympic Anxiety, but really the anxiety comes from worrying about whether some newscaster is going to give a spoiler in their report or when surfing through Facebook or Twitter someone might post results. I will say that I will be glad when it's over. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the Olympics, but by the final week, I'm exhausted. I've stayed up late every night watching. I have no idea why I don't just turn the tv off and go to bed. I have tried. However, as they say curiosity kills the cat OR in this instance, curiosity can make you one sleepy person!

That being said, I'm very proud of our Olympians. They make us proud as ambassadors of this country and their respective sports. GO USA!

Positive Self-Talk

I read an interesting article the other day on Mindbodygreen.com about shifting your focus from negative thoughts to positive thoughts.  I have a bad habit of talking myself down, which, in turn, affects my mood.  This article stated that you could change that and live a happier existence.  Basically, the exercise requires you to repeat several mantras to chance your self talk.  It is my intention the next couple of weeks to do repeat these mantras and see what affect it will have on my general mood and outlook on life.  I have listed them below in case you want to check them out and have provided the link to the article as well.

• I am capable.
• I know who I am and I am enough.
• I choose to be present in all that I do.
• I choose to think thoughts that serve me well.
• I choose to reach for a better feeling.
• I share my happiness with those around me.
• My body is my vehicle in life; I choose to fill it with goodness.
• I feel energetic and alive.
• My life is unfolding beautifully.
• I am confident.
• I always observe before reacting.
• I know with time and effort I can achieve.
• I love challenges and what I learn from overcoming them.
• Each step is taking me to where I want to be.

14 Mantras to Help Build Positive Self Talk

This is a wonderful website!  I encourage you to sign up to receive their emails.  You will not be disappointed!!

Fast Food

My husband and I have got into a bad habit of eating out -- basically fast food -- for the last couple of weeks and months.  When we were feeling bad last week, we finally realized that it was because of what we had been eating (and the fact that neither one of us had been exercising).  We have decided to do better and eat healthier.  Well, we ordered KFC this weekend (yes, I know, totally going against our "plan").  It is a lesson learned as it was horrible.  We ordered crispy chicken and they apparently did not have any made (though it was 5:30 p.m. -- supper/dinner time).  It looked as though they had taken original recipe chicken, dipped it in batter and fried it.  It was horrible!  The skin, instead of peeling off, crumbled!  It was hard as a rock!  We had got home before we realized the state of our dinner and it did not warrant using up gas to go back and have them give us more of the same.  We called the number on the receipt and filed a claim on the KFC website, but have not heard anything further.  This KFC has gone down hill quick.  This is not the first time I have had issues with them -- I ordered crispy chicken one other time and they gave me original.  In another instance we ordered corn and it had been sitting all day as it was shriveled and dry.  Just goes to show we should have stuck with our original plan of eating better and not relying on the quick fix.  See the pictures I have posted of the gross chicken! The second pic shows how thick this crumbly crust was.  This is not the normal KFC chicken!