Dinner time (part 2)!

We ate at one of my favorites restaurants (Olive Garden and the Cheesecake Factory are my favorites).

I usually get Lasagna but for some reason this time I was really feeling the fettuccine.

Me with my posse! I love, love hanging with these ladies (and one young man..lol).

It doesn't take much for my family to have fun. Just being together seems to do the trick (especially when I have been feeling down or stressed out).

Even the baby sis traveled the two hours down to see me!

Don't we look good for 70, 50 and 40?

Me trying to hang with the young ones. If they had taken much longer with the pic somebody would have had to pick me up because leaning back I almost created a domino effect. LOL

My sister cousins!!! Thanks Pat for setting this all up. I said I didn't need some big and fancy party...I would be perfectly fine just hanging with my family! 

I can't believe next week I will be fifty years old! But I'm determined to embrace it and enjoy life (even when my body does not want to cooperate). I also plan to do a lot of first over the next couple of years. Nothing crazy like jumping out of a plane or anything but simple stuff (like watching the daffodil parade in your hometown for the first time). As I get older I really understand the importance of family, your roots and even appreciating where you grew up (as a teenage I couldn't wait to graduate high school to get out of dodge)! Home holds a whole new meaning for me now. It truly is wherever your heart/family is! 

Let the celebrations begin (part1)! The Daffodil Festival!

Friday I went home to hang out with my mom and my family. We had plans to eat together on Saturday to celebrate my 50th birthday which will be next week. Saturday morning I went to the Daffodil Festival with my cousins Babs and Trice!

The three of us watching the parade!

Some of the daffodils were already starting to feel the effects of this crazy weather we have been having but I managed to find a patch on Main Street that were fully bloomed and not on deaths door. LOL

This guy had loads of them for sale.

You did know Virginia is for Lovers right? 

In all of the years that I lived in G-Town I had never been to our Daffodil Festival.

Who knew our small town was soo popular Apparently last year they had 10,000 visitors for the event! The population is 30.000 tops! 

And who says you have to travel to New York to experience food trucks! 

My girls would not be joining us until much later that day so Trice had to hold down the dance floor all by herself! We were shocked when know one got out there to join her. Guess they were all to busy eating! LOL

I would love to be a part of setting something up like this. The event planner in me had all kind of ideas swirling around in my head.

They even had an Alpaca out there (I thought it was a miniature Llama...lol)! 

And I've been eating kettle korn for years and never knew they popped it in a big old kettle like this. I know....Kettle Korn. Something should have clicked. But it didn't! LOL The family has decided that next year we will make a full day of it (if the weather holds up like it did that day). Next post up will be about dinner with the family! I do believe I am right on track with my plans to spend time with family. I'm having a ball!

Monthly Wrap Up: March!

At the start of the month are Women's  Ministry held its first Girls Nite out of the season! I love that we have women from every age bracket at WABC. We had nearly 30 women at this event. A first for us. 

You know I had to include a decoration photo! I love that I get to combine my gifts and talents for the ministry! In May I will be helping a friend out with her granddaughters sweet sixteen party. I can't wait to share photos.

Speaking of talent! Nicki had an opportunity to fly out to Alabama this month to do the make up for a group of lovely young ladies including my Goddaughter and niece Miss.Jefferson County. She also got to meet the former Miss. Alabama (1993) Kalyn Chapman.

Quisha is in the process of raising funds for her second missions trip. This time to Jamaica. 

I have been trying really hard to eat better this month. I've even added a multi vitamin to my diet. I'm learning a lot about turning 50 and what it does to my body!

I've been in purge mode again and this time thankfully I'm able to pack everything up and donate it to a new ministry that Marc has started at WABC. Operation Andrew collects gently used clothing, household appliances, toiletries (including aspirins and vitamins). The items are collected and will be sent to a village in Libya where one of Marc's fellow classmates is from. 

I spent a lot of weekends on the road this month. If I'm not traveling to spend time with my family in the country or to Richmond with Marc to class.

I'm still amazed that I can actually sit in class with him. lol

This photo is of my nephew who was baptized this month. So proud of him.

This past weekend we had a Girls Day with my mom, my sister and the cousins. No boys allowed. The only exception is my little cousin Nicolas. 

I know everyone is tired of snow, but I am soo tired of rain. It seems like it has rained every weekend this month (not to mention during the week).

This past Sunday we got to see our great nephew be dedicated back to God.

Right after that we hightailed it over to WABC so that we could witness one of the young ones from our church give his life to Christ! Marc usually does the baptisms himself but he let the grandfather of the young man actually do the honors. I know this is something he will remember forever. I love the heart Marc has for the people of WABC (especially the babies...lol).

April is busy as usual. The biggest event happening is my 50th birthday!!!! 

My View From The Pew

I decided to revise my "View From The Pew" photos (basically a glimpse at my outfits of the day when I'm at church) on my Instagram. Thought I might as well post them all at the end of the month here on my blog! My Sunday Best post probably won't start back up until this crazy weather changes! I couldn't believe it when some if my friends posted they were getting snow in Northern VA and DC! All we've gotten is rain and more rain!! Next up will be my monthly Ministry wrap up!

Laundry Organization!!

Its taken forever to start on this project.

Why was I so excited to get this container yesterday at Target (for less then $4.00) to put my dryer sheets in. I had to run upstairs first thing this morning and fill it up! LOL

This basket holds rags.

I have two of these medium baskets. They hold hand towels and washcloths.

I brought two of these plastic containers to hold liquid items (that way if they spill or leak they can be washed out).

These two larger bins hold beach towels and extra sheets. I need two more large canvas baskets to hold bath towels and the shelves will be complete!

I'm really loving how everything is turning out. And I love the bright colors. It makes me smile each time I enter the room.

I'm enjoying my organized space so much that hanging out in the laudryroom isn't so bad anymore. And why did I never think to take my Ipad with me before and watch my favorite you tubers while working? The only thing left to do is get a new trashcan, a rug, a set of laundry bins to sort the clothing and some curtains. Oh and pull down the old wallpaper border! I wil do a full recap once I have it all together. The only downside to my space is my ancient washer and dryer  (my dream washer and dryer is a frontload set ) but until they stop working and or we win the lottery they will have to do! 

My Daily Skin Care Routine

Morning routine:

I've been a Mary Kay customer for over 20 plus years. I've tried several skin care products but in the end I have always come back to my tried and true. I rarely wear make-up during the week so most mornings I just cleanse with my Timewise (Normal/To Dry Cleanser ) and Timewise (moisturizer with Sp30). If I've worn make-up the night before I use my Skinvigorate from Mary Kay. 

Nightime routine:

In the evening I use my Timewise products along with the Mary Kay Freshener (which is no longer available). I'm in the market for a new toner and I have been considering trying the Simple Soothing Facial Toner . I will let you know how that goes. If I've worn make-up that day I first wash my face with Equate facial wipes from Walmart. I will be turning 50 in a few months so I'm looking at adding a night moisturizer and a eye cream to my regiment. Guess I will be making a call to my local Mary Kay Consultant soon!

When I want to deep cleanse my face I use Mary Kay's Revitalizing Mask. This version is no longer available but the good thing about Mary Kay products is that they last a very long time. I was able to pick this up before they phased it out. I usually do a deep facial once or twice a month as needed. 

My skin tends to become very dry in the winter so I have had to switch out my usually Bath and Bodyworks products. I don't know why but Caress products just seem to work better in the winter. Year round I use Lubriderm Advanced Therapy lotion. I suffer from dry patches on my hands that can peel and become very painful. Other then Eucerin Intensive Repair lotion the Lubriderm is the closest thing that works. 

Lastly I moisturize my lips with the Eos lip balm! I hear the Nivea lip balm may be better so I plan to try that this month and let you know. 

One last item I am on the look out for is a nail conditioner so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know. I hear Burts Bee's Cuticle cream is pretty fantastic!