December Sickness...

Ughhhh, I hate being sick! Went to the doctor... and I have a sinus infection AND throat infection... again! My immune system is not giving me a break!

So here I am, craving mashed potatoes and chicken corn chowder, watching all of my "programs" on DVR... and I feel as if I'm going INSANE!

Sad days for Kelly!

Master Bedroom Delight

We've finally made progress in the master bedroom! Fantastic! We've painted the walls a light yellow ("Hello Yellow!" From Better Homes & Garden) with a bright white trim. It needed SEVERAL coats! Thanks to the wallpaper trim (2 layers of it!) we were set back in getting the room ready, but finally were able to make progress! We've also started putting the wood floor down, and are about 3/4 of the way done! Yayyy! 

 

 

  

 

 

 

New Beginnings...

The hubs and I are so excited to announce that we've bought our first home! 

 

3 bedrooms, 2 baths, large basement and 3 acres of goodness! 

There is MUCH to be done... carpet to be taken out, wood floors to be put in, and PAINT PAINT PAINT!

We are so excited to start this new journey together. I'll be posting pictures of progress we've made throughout the house. It's already proven to be time consuming, but we're so blessed for my parents, who are letting us stay in their guest house while we completely re-do the new house. 

Our dog, Austin, even loves it! Fell right asleep on the first day of new home work day!

fantastic fall!

Wow! I've been neglecting my blog for quite some time, but I didn't think it's been this long! I recently went back home for the weekend and it was wonderful to see my family as well as the beauty of fall. Next Monday (Halloween!) I'll be back in Troy full time! We are so excited about being back home for the holidays with our family! :) 

Enjoy the pictures! 

the silent disease...

Whether you have it, or someone you know has it, or whether you don't know anything about it at all... this is why I'm writing today.

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless. They may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable, experience loss of appetite or overeating, or problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions; and may contemplate or attempt suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment may be present.

Most of the time, I have good days. There are times where I want to be alone, or don't want to be touched, or sleep all day. And that's okay. But it's usually not an all day experience. Yesterday, was a bad day. I didn't feel guilty or irritable; I just wanted to be alone. I didn't want to be yelled at, or brushed off. I need comfort. I need someone to TRULY understand and WANT to understand. Instead of asking me why I'm being so rude, ask me if there is anything you can do for me. I appreciate comforting words. I may not like to be touched, but comforting words means everything to me.

Not everyone has experienced this massive disease. A few years ago, I remember crying my eyes out, driving down the road, pleading with myself to run it into a tree. I can't explain why I felt like that. I can't explain ANYTHING about depression - but I can say that it's something you have to deal with every single day of your life. And it's difficult - your whole day revolves around keeping yourself in your "bubble". My medicine helps - it does - but there are still times where it gets to me. Where I feel like I'm in a hole and I just can't get out, so I go deeper and deeper.

Getting out of that hole is the hard part. It may take days, weeks, months. I might cry, scream, laugh. Be awake at all hours of the night. Sleep all day. Sometimes I don't know what to do. Making my bows are an outlet - so is reading, looking up recipes. But do I want to cook every night? No. But I know I have to. There are certain things you learn to juggle - and certain things to just leave alone. It's a learning curve.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

I know, I know... It's been too long! There's been a lot happening around here, and somehow I haven't found time to update this thing. 

In the last few moths, my health has steadily declined. I'll be going back to the doctor in a few weeks and we'll determine if we have to go back in for surgery or not. It's just been a REAL test to myself and the people around me, because a lot of people just do not understand what I've had to go through. 

I'm so fatigued, that I can barely clean the bathroom without having to lie down and rest. It's the little things that get me absolutely exhausted, and unfortunately, it's hard to explain to my so-very-active hubs, who has never been through anything like this before. He's trying to understand, which I am just oh so grateful for!

Because of my health, I've had to leave work so I can concentrate firmly on my health and getting back to being a normal 26 year old. I don't like feeling like this, and WANT to get better. But the harder I try, the worse I feel. I just need a little patience and TLC, and hopefully I'll be able to get through this easily.

Since I decided to leave work, I decided to temporarily move down to Jacksonville, NC to be with my hubs. I'm loving it! I've had time to rest, make hair bows, do some cleaning and organizing. Go to the market, have dinner ready. It's been a blast! I finally got my military ID card so now I can go on base to the library and read all those books I've been meaning to get to! If you have any suggestions, let me know! :)

My etsy shop, Southern Delight, has been created! It's not fully stocked yet, but I'm hoping to change that tomorrow! 

Hopefully now I'll be able to post more often! Thanks for reading. :)

Creativity Never Sleeps...

This blog post might be a little personal, but isn't that what a blog is for? To help me get my thoughts out when no one would understand them anyways?

So, here I am, 7:15 on a Wednesday night. I'm missing my husband more than I ever have. The thought of not seeing him this weekend is killing my heart. I'm going through this awful time, and all I want is him, laying in bed next to me.

My doctor hinted at the possibility of surgery next month - which I am not prepared to go through. I'm already tired, hurting and emotionally distraught. I don't sleep. No, really, I don't sleep. I'm lucky to get 2-3 hours a night... many of them restless. I'm to the point of being SO tired and SO miserable that I just don't know what to do anymore.

I'm thankful that my doctors are natural and holistic, but aren't afraid to give me prescriptions if needed. They always have a plan, and manage it very well. I'm even MORE thankful that they are always 2 steps ahead of me. My emotions are getting the best of me, and sometimes its just nice to be alone. Alone, quiet and content.

Chocolate Muffins :)

Let me just say... I LOVE MUFFINS!

Fluffy. Warm. Delicious.

Jealous? You should be. Want the recipe? Okay, okay...

-Chocolate Chip Muffins-

Muffins

2C: Self Rising Flour

1/2C: White Sugar

3/4C: Milk

1/3C: Oil (I use olive oil)

1: Egg

3/4C: Chocolate Chips

Topping

3TBS: Brown sugar

2TBS: White sugar

 Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease bottoms only of 12 muffin cups or line with baking cups.

 In a medium bowl, combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar and chocolate chips; mix well. In a small bowl, combine milk, oil and egg; blend well. Add dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be lumpy.)

Fill cups 2/3 full. Sprinkle tops of muffins before baking with sugar topping.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 1 minute before removing from pan. Serve warm & enjoy!

Monday Musings...

Totally typing this from my Droid... I have to admit, I was intrigued by the app and wanted to see how it would work for quick, on the go posts. Guess we'll see how this goes!

Monday... who needs'em! My laptop charger bit the dust, my lower back is killing me (thanks endometriosis!), and its time to get some sleep... where did the time go?!

Should have my craft area set up and organized by Wednesday... get excited! Lots to come!

Step One... complete!

I cannot tell you how awesome it feels to cross something off of one of my many lists. I'll be the first to admit that I am in loveeeee with lists!

I'll tell you a little secret... my lists have lists. Not so much of a "blow your brain" type secret... but it's true. Is my house spotless all the time? No. But is there a list outlining each room of what needs to be cleaned & organized? Yes. It's an addiction, I tell you!

So I finally created a Facebook page for Southern Delight... which of course is always developing. My next step? Etsy. But first, I have to actually get some product in line... hmm.... I have a ton of ideas in my head, and typically I just start working and the creativity takes over. But I shouldn't I try to plan it out first? This is where I'm getting a little concerned.

I always try to have everything planned out - whether they are vacations, cleaning days, shopping days, whatever - so I'm going to try and get it organized "properly" and see if I should do it any differently. I'm guessing this is what they call "learning"... progress, progress, I tell you!

I've been working on a super sweet project for my littlest neice... she is the cutest thing in the world! She is such a diva and loves hair bows, so it's no wonder she is always my guinea pig. I had a burst of creativity last night (the positives of being an insomniac) with embroidery and bead work. Pics to come soon, I hope!

Be a delight,

Kelly

Summer Love

I sure do love me some summer. :) 

 

Beautiful flowers...

Fabulous herbs... 

And my recycled summer wreath! Used flowers, ribbons & feathers leftover from our wedding. :)

This way or that way?

Finally!

With the help of family & friends, I was able to move over the weekend... whew. I really didn't think I had that much stuff! I've been trying to take it slow and put everything away in that perfect place... decorate here and there... and of course, clean!

I've been feeling so run-down lately that all I want to do is just RELAX... and I wish I could! If the hubs wasn't coming home this weekend and bringing a friend, I have a feeling that NOTHING would get done... which of course is a major blessing. I'll be able to get some stuff cleaned up and put away, to make the new house seem "lived in"... I hope.

Satellite and phone/high speed internet are getting set up this week... finally! I've never realized how much I lean on my Droid and internet for support until I have NONE. It's so easy to just say "Oh, I'll look it up on my phone!" ... but alas, the service at the new house is terrible. All I have to do is step outside on my porch and look around at the woods - I might have loved living in town, but there is nothing like nature!

With a lot of thought and decision making, I've also decided to FINALLY open my etsy shop! But of course, not until everything is completely unpacked, clean and organized. I'm hoping that everything will be done by July, and I'll have everything done in time to open for summer! I'm super excited, as everyone has told me I need to be selling these cute little unique bows... I can't wait for this new adventure!

Mesmerizing Monday's...

I don't know a single human being who enjoys Monday's. 

Monday's signify the end of the weekend. The beginning of a  long work week. Yuck. 

Since the hubs and I are moving soon, I decided to research some DIY room organization/design... you can never start too early! 

  I love how in this entry way photo collage, they combine old and new pictures of family members.

  I LOVE THIS MASTER BEDROOM! The height and texture of the headboard really makes the room pop.

 I don't necessarily think that this is the best use of space for a kitchen - but I LOVE the open overhead shelving.  

My OCD self is thrilled - to be able to have all of my kitchen spices in the same jars is absolutely thrilling!

 A window over the kitchen sink - enough said.

Not a fan of the color, but I love the painted accents! The billowy curtains on the bay window makes the room softer. 

Be a delight! 

Kelly

July Madness!!!!

July is going to be quite an awesome month... want a sneak peek? :)

Total drool-worthy, I know. :)

Sweetness.

Happy Memorial Day!

  Even though I miss him like crazy, I am so thankful and blessed to have the most wonderful husband around. 

To everyone in the military (including my husband): thank you! You make the world go round. Let's honor those men and women by supporting their every move. 

See websites below on how anyone can support them, no matter how far away: 

Soldiers Angels

Wounded Warrior Project

Any Marine

They have stepped up to the challenge to keep this country - and everyone in it - safe from any harm or danger. Let's give back!