Change the Menu
I am very thankful... and I love Thanksgiving. My husband loves to cook, and he is amazing at doing so! Thanksgiving is our holiday of comfort food, spending family time together and - of course - the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Thanksgiving used to be hectic. We would rush from my family's dinner to Chad's family's dinner. We had no time to relax and catch up, and frankly, it was pretty exhausting. I'm not judging anyone who currently goes through this schedule on Thanksgiving... unfortunately, it's become quite "normal" for the holiday. And some of my friends even enjoy the hustle, bustle and rush. Growing up, Thanksgiving dinners in

What's Next?
Some changes are rapid. Some seem to take ages for adjustment. And several feel like they will never be finished! Now that the major updates to our mudroom (or "anti-mud room" as I am now calling it) are done, some friends have started asking, "What's next?" The thing is - our previous projects are not even fully complete yet. Little tasks remain for the master bedroom, the "anti-mud room," the living room, the eat-in kitchen area... We now have new carpet in the other two bedrooms, but the guest room still needs that all-important fixture: a bed! The pantry is completed, however, and I am loving it! But we do have several things to wrap up. In addit

Change of Scenery
What is it about travel? A change of scenery can change your perspective. Getting out of your typical routines and problems can change your focus. And sometimes, you just need a break! Chad and I tend to travel to larger cities that have more to see and to do than Peoria... yet we relax in these environments. I think we are better able to let go of the problems and challenges we face everyday because they fade in comparison to how large the world is. When we travel, I witness people who have far more than we have, but also people who have much less. Traveling opens my eyes to so many possibilities. It reminds me that choices result in the changes you

Change Your Locks
Last week, I was sternly informed by my seven year old daughter not to call myself "stupid." "Idiot" is not allowed, either... nor the many more profane descriptions that were swirling around in my head that (thankfully!) did not escape my mouth in front of her. My husband was in California on business, and on the day of his return, I locked us out of our house. Ironic since I had left to pick up my daughter from school, get her changed for her ballet class and pack the prepared snacks for the car trip from dance to her Brownie meeting. I was feeling pretty good about handling such a day "all on my own." His flight wasn't due to arrive until 11 P.M. that night.

Change of Address
We moved six months ago. A new address, a new house, huge change.