Courtesy of www.bhg.com 

Since I've been slowly changing the scope and feel of my blog, I thought this would be a perfect time to introduce one of my favorite past times: Gardening.  You may be thinking my timing is off with the cold November winds blowing on many of us, but my favorite magazine, Better Homes and Gardens says otherwise.


They say: There’s Still Time to Plant Bulbs for Spring!
Don’t hang up your trowel just yet! There’s still plenty of time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. In fact, it’s better to plant them late this year than to try to store them for planting next year."

I  am very glad to hear this because I have been itching to do just one more project before Old Man Winter Takes over completely.  Are you a gardener too? Here are some BHG links for you:


•Best Tulips for Your Garden

•Deer- and Rabbit-Resistant Bulbs

•Design Ideas from the Dutch

•Add Spring Color to Your Lawn

•Planting Tips


The first link, Best Tulips for your garden is where I discovered the amazing yellow Tarda Tulip above!



courtesy of www.flickr.com

 Saturday night we set our clocks back and were thankful for the extra sleep we'd get after the busy, fun week we'd all had.

Usually, setting the clock back not only signals shorter days and my hubby getting home from work in complete darkness, but also a frenzy of activity in my business.

For the better part of the last 5 years, I was in direct sales, doing my best to keep my business hours " part-time" and not let the business interfere with family. With the " Holiday Sales" mantra so prevalent in our society, I can tell you that is easier said than done.

Looking back on those years now, from my new non-selling perspective, I see just how wrong my thinking was. They say hindsight is 20/20 and I must agree.

I thought I was happy with all that busy-ness. Even after I quit direct sales, I jumped into trying to earn from online channels, until I exhausted myself. It took me a while to hit the wall, but hit it I did.

And at the end of it all, our accountant always put down Homemaker as my Title. I didn't earn enough to warrant changing our filing status.
Rather than look back on this as a failure, I choose instead to see it as a learning experience, not only for me, but for my daughters. Sometimes in our effort to have it all, we fall short.

This is the first November in a long time where I am free to just be happy and in the moment. I'm just Linda, happy wife, mom, friend and it feels so good and liberating!

My to-do lists are not sources of frustration any longer because I can and do complete my tasks which are mainly home-centric now. Being a part time admin for my husbands business and a full-time wife and mom suits me and my family. I know that sets me up for ridicule by some who feel all Moms should be earning, but I don't care.
I think my happiness and that of my family is far more important. It is my job to teach my daughters how to cook and clean and nurture and build a happy home. It is what's in my heart, it's what my family wants. Does this paint me as a June Cleaver wanna be? Probably, and that's ok too.

To those who do work outside the home: I applaud you and lift you up high. I know yours is not an easy path. I pray that you are at a job that blesses you so that when you are home, you are content.

So, if you are reading this and are feeling stressed, please stop, if only for a moment and double check your course. You may be surprised to find you are on the wrong path. It's okay to stop and change directions.

If you could eliminate just one source of stress right now, what would it be?

Happy Holidays.
　
　
　



The Liebster Award


I received my first blog award yesterday from Carrie at www.inthesweetsunshine.com! Thanks Carrie for sharing your sunshine with me. If you need of dose of happy: go visit Carrie.

The Award:I had no idea what Liebster meant, but thankfully Carrie had done the leg work for me. She says she Googled the word and  discovered that the word liebster is actually German for friend, love, or dearest.
Ah, isn't that sweet?

The purpose of this award is to spotlight up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers.

So let’s spread the love!

Here are the “official” rules for this award:

1.Copy and paste the award on your blog
2.Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you
3.Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog
4.Hope that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
Thank you again Carrie!

Here are five up-and-coming small blogs that I think you should all check out:

1. Natural Living- http://naturallivingsc.blogspot.com

2.Minoaka Bebe~Ho'o maikai- http://minoakabebe.blogspot.com/

3. Apron Strings and holy things- http://apronstringsandholythings.blogspot.com/

4.  Dandelions and daffodils - http://ofdandelionsanddaffodils.blogspot.com/

5. Raising the Barrs-  http://www.raisingthebarrs.com

I hope you'll go visit them!

It's November, one of my favorite months with all the cooking and baking and holiday prepping, but before we launch into full Holiday-ness, I wanted to let you know of a great contest .




 Enter those adorable Halloween Photos from now through Nov. 15, 2011.

 Send your friends & family the link you'll receive in an email once your photo is entered into the contest so they can vote for your cutie. The photo that receives the most votes wins a $500 Shopping Spree from Totsy, and 4 additional random photos will win great prizes. Go Enter today and good luck!

Please stop back by and share your link with us! Some readers may not have photos to enter, so they can vote for yours!






This post contains an affiliate link and I may receive compensation depending on readers participation.

Here's wishing you and yours a very healthy, safe and :

courtesy of: www.zoomwallpaers.com

Please be sure to watch out for all the littlest Ones who get excited and forget to watch out for us!

courtesy of : www.mi9.com

Remember to enjoy the magic of this day through your kids eyes, before you know it they will be too big to hang out with you!