Category: Clever Girls Collective

My husband and I both grew up in families where giving back within our communities was something we were raised with.  That was instilled in…

I had put off having a mammogram for a couple of years after my initial screening at age 38 even though our insurance covers it….

Oh my goodness, there are only 22 days left until Christmas!

I’ve bought most of my ‘fun’ gifts already, but I still do put a few practical ones under the tree for the folks that live here 🙂  You know the ones like socks, flash drives …and toothbrushes.

Lest you think I’m a Scrooge, there’s a reason why those things will be added to the gifts on our daughter’s wish list.

Wouldn’t you like to be able to take a peek in your home to see what’s going on even when you’re not around – or in this case a PEQ?!  Well you can with the PEQ wireless smart home system.  With an internet connection, a master hub and some wireless modules you can keep tabs on your home; while you’re in it, and when you’re not!

This is a photo of the the grandchildren on my husband’s side of the family many years ago.  That’s Amber sitting on my mother-in-law’s lap, and she’s 18 now!  So why am I showing you this photo?  It’s because families aren’t always made up by genetics and just by looking at this photo one would not be aware that more than half of these grandchildren weren’t born into our family, rather they were chosen to become a part of our family by adoption.

Our life has changed a lot in the past year and a half.  We sold a home.  Bought a home.  Moved cross country.  My husband turned 50.  I turned 40.  Our daughter graduated from high school.  We took her to college.  Phew!

A couple of weeks ago I was sent the book Dark Hope, the first book of the Archangel Prophecies series, by Monica McGurk to read.

Here’s the synopsis of the book from the back cover:

For years, Hope Carmichael, survivor of a shocking child abduction, has lived a sheltered existence under the protection of here fanatically religious father.

So there are two things I thoroughly enjoy when it’s time to kick my feet up on the couch and relax.  Drinking coffee and watching HGTV.  I can totally get absorbed in both.  My coffee addiction is legendary, as is the barista bar in my home.  Brewing up a cup of coffee and tuning in to Flip or Flop, Love It or List It or my new favorite Flipping the Block, has me completely engrossed on a Sunday evening.

Did you see last week’s episode?  Whitney (who also happens to have a blog!) & John won a consult with David Bromstad the previous week for their bathroom reno project.  He gave them some great advice and painted them some original art work.

I’m so excited that we’ve had the opportunity to use our gorgeous back deck for some parties already this year.  And we have more to come!  We’re actually hosting a party for my husband’s co-workers in mid-July and I’m not ashamed to say I want to make an impression 😉  Finding new recipes that are easy but different is a must.  I recently found a new resource for recipes, and quite honestly it was surprising to me, at P&Geveryday.  Besides recipes of all kinds, they have ideas for family activities, health & wellbeing, your home & garden and beauty tips.  It’s kind of like a one-stop site for life in general!

“Drive Safely.”  Two words we tend to say to people as they walk out the door. 

25 years ago when I got first got my driver’s license, “Drive Safely” to me meant:

* Don’t put on lipstick at the stop light.
* Keep the music at a decent volume.
* This was not the time to be gabbing with my friends, and
* Watch out for the other driver’s on the road who are doing the above.