Blog Bash Introduction

Head over to Not Your Average Teen and join this fun bash.  I've been meaning to do an About Me Page So this is my opportunity to sit down and nail it out.

Who am I?  Good question as I struggle to figure that out on a daily basis.  I keep changing my mind on what I come up with but a few things are constant. 

1.  I'm a daughter of God.  That's the most important thing about me.  I'm proud of that title and enjoy sharing why to people I come in contact with. 

2. I'm a wife to Poppa.  We met when we were 18 and been together ever since.  I'm 32... I think...        wow I just had to do the math in my head.  I stopped counting after I turned 30. :)

3.  I'm a mom to Monkey.  She's almost 2 and it's going by way to fast for my comfort.  She's my heart out walking around in this world. 

Things that tend to change about me or I haven't quite figured out yet:

1. I work full time as an Accounting Specialist.  What that means is I handle Accts Recievable/Payables and things in between.  I don't want to be working.  I enjoy my job but I already told you my heart is with my child and I want to be a SAHM.  It's my life's dream and goal.  Poppa goes to school full time and works full time and we need my income to help support that until he graduates and can get a better paying job. 
2. I am owner of Texas Monkey Boutique and hand make items and sell them to help out our household and so desiring to get to a point where it would allow me to quit my job and work from home. 



4. I'm a mom publisher for Macaroni Kid.  I started it as well in hopes of getting it off the ground and to a point where I could quit my job and work from home.  I love it and have so much fun with it and believe it will get there one day if I work hard.

6. I'm unhappy with the way I look right now.  I don't spend enough time eating well and working out and my 32 year old body is suffering big time.  I so want to change it but when I get home after work and cook supper and feed everyone and get Monkey down I'm beyond wiped and my plans for working out go out the window.  Which makes me even more sad and fat and thus the vicious cycle.

And now for some Q and A. 

1.) Why do you blog?  It started out as a blog where I could post pics of Monkey and stories about her but quickly evolved to me needing a creative outlet and place to store ideas and tips I come across to help me be a frugal homemaker but not letting my home scream FRUGAL.  I want my home to feel relaxed and comfy but glamarouized and beautiful at the same time. 


2.) What do you blog about?  Mainly crafting, DIY projects, ideas I find on the web that help me make our house into a home as well as about my family, humor, recipes, and giveaways.

3.) What do you find to be the biggest reward you get from blogging?  When someone takes an idea I had and does it and shares it with me like with my decorating cakes. 

4.) How long have you been blogging? I've been faithful to it for almost a year but have had a blog for almost 2 years.

5.) Let's hear the story behind your blog title! :) Texas Monkey is my blog title and we live in Texas, I was born and raised and have a lot of state pride and we call our toddler our Monkey thus Texas Monkey was born!

Me Monday - Favorite Alone Activity

I know I know, your thinking  "What the heck is ALONE time?" AND "How is it a favorite?" I mean anytime I do have alone time I'm cleaning house, running errands, making bows, filling orders, working on projects.....how is that a favorite? ok slow down, let's consider this topic, What is a favorite alone time activity, not a must do chore. When I have absolute uninterrupted time by myself it is pretty obvious what mine are.


There are 2 things I really enjoy doing and that's talking with God and SLEEPING.

If you ask anyone that knows me what my favorite hobby is they will all tell you sleeping. I think sleep is the most fun activity in the world. I get all giddy and excited when I know I'm going to get a nap. My bed time is no later thn 9:00pm and if I'm up later than that I immediately become unhappy. I like to get up early even on the weekends so that I can be tired enough to get an afternoon nap. I love road trips because I get to sleep in the car and I love renting movies because I get to sleep on the couch.  There are pics in my high school annual of me sleeping.  Sleep is one of my favorite alone time activities.  I think it's one of the best things to do in my spare alone time.

The other is talking with God. I love this alone time with just the Father and I, I can spill my heart and mind with no weird looks coming back at me, no interuptions, no opinions from others, and in those alone quite moments with Him, I can be still and know that He is God. I can get clear and concerned on what actions I need to take in my life, I can get peace and understanding on what's going on in my life, and I can get mercy and grace bestowed upon me. I know that I can and do get this even when I'm not alone, but when I can put all my focus into Him and me, it's easily understood why this is a favorite alone time activity.

So what is your favorite alone tme activity?

Baby Shower Fun

Showers are such a memorable and joyous time, whether it's for a mom to be for the first time or 10th time, or it's for that blushing bride.  It's a time to celebrate and congradulate, a time to make memories and share laughter. 
I've had the wonderful opportunity to host and throw many showers and parties over the years.  I love the details and planning and putting it all together.  I'm small town so the end result isn't what you'd call professional or Extravagant but it's sweet and special for that special lady.

As much as I love to do the planning and putting it all together, I must admit, having one done for me takes the cake.  I just got to show up and receive and enjoy, no work at all.  I am so blessed to have wonderful ladies in my life that planned a sweet and special shower of my very own.

This is me with my wonderful hostess ladies. BTW I'm 8 month's pregnant here.

This is the yummy foods they served

AWWWW the wonderful chocolate fountain, I spent most of my time here at this table.

This is the wondeful tables of gifts and blessings from all of the wonderful folks in my life.

This is me and my big self wearing a tent for a dress in front of my beautiful diaper cake my Aunt Sissy made me.

My cousin Crala measuring my big ole belly for a game.

Getting some practice time in with my cousin Landrie

Adorable clothes line filled with Casey Marilyn's clothes and bibs

One of my favorite gifts, my aunt Lynda made this bear for me for Casey Marilyn but what's so special is it's made out of my baby blanket. Now when I say baby blanket I mean the blanket that I finally stopped sleeping with when I went off to college so you can imagine the shape it was in. Now it sits in the monkey's crib and it's precious.


Next is my shower in Dallas which was at my house and more intimate with my church friends and co workers and some family.

This is the gift table and set up

This is my mom and my ever growing belly by none other than the food tabe.

Some of the precious outfits I received

Hope you enjoyed looking at pics of my shower and maybe you'll pull some sweet and easy ideas to do for someone you know.

Ribbon Topiary

In planning my monkey's birthday I knew I wanted to handmake everything I possibly could and when I found these adorable ribbon topiaries I knew I had to try my hand at it.



I saw this adorable deocorative center piece on line and just had to make one or 2 for my monkey's birthday party and could later use them in her room. You can go to
Polka Dot Birthday for instructions on how to make these who got it from Vacuuming in High Heels and Pearls.
Matierals Needed:
Styro Balls
Ribbon
Push Pins
Dowells
Pot
Shredded Paper
Paint
Floral Foam.

Basically you're just going to cut your ribbon ( a lot of it) in about 7 inch lengths.  Form a circle and push in the styro balls using the pins.  Repeat until your ball is full.  Add Your painted dowel to the ball and plant it in floral foam in a pot.  Cover with the shredded paper.  That's it!





So try your hand at these, the color combos are endless and link them back to me so I can see them. Have fun.

Me Monday - 1st Day of "school"

My baby is one and isn't in school yet but she did start a new daycare school on Monday and I don't want to forget this week or that 1st day

It's a great little day care program that has a school structure with set schedules, activities, meal times, nap times, all the things that are important in my opinion to help a child flourish under a schedule. I know what she's doing at each time of the day and that is comforting to my heart since I can not be with her at this time.

She is in the toddler group since she can walk and is already making friends and gotten familiar with her new teacher's faces. She does cry when I drop her off but by the time I'm leaving she has stopped and when I pick her up she's always playing and smiling and shows me what she's doing and that is just what I need at the end of a long day.

Don't you know I'd give my right arm to be at home with this child of mine but for now my heart is at peace knowing she is happy and healthy and learning new things daily. And I know that she and I will grow and learn together and prevail through this and God will give me the strength I need to be an excellent mother to Casey Marilyn teaching her the ways that are right in the eyes of our Lord and to be an excellent worker giving praise to God in all of my works.

Psalm 18 is one of my favorite chapters of the whole Bible and it is stocked full with promises and encouragement to face anyting Satan and this world may throw your way.

Psalm 18 :29 and 30

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

So clinging to this I know that each morning will get easier for both of us and each afternoon will be sweeter every day and my working does not make me a bad mother but my teaching my child to love and serve God all the days of her life makes me an excellent mother. (Thanks Janelle)

So my trip down memory lane is just more of a reminder to myself that with God all things are possible and I can be comforted daily even if I'm not at home with my monkey.