Friday Night Lateness Stuff

Hello all,
Today has been a busy day for some reason. In fact, a busy week. I am not sure why. I suppose I am playing catch up. I still seem to have a lingering cough and tired but at least I am on the mend and do not feel like death!

I thought I would just post my selfie post from this week. I have a total bohemian look going on.
This was before I got my hair chopped yesterday. I am not sure if I like my new do but I will have to live with it for now. Tamirisc says it is ok but then, I wonder how I would feel if he really hates it but is smart not to say anything. HA!

52 Update...off to a great start!

Since I made such bold statements about what I was going to be "determined" to do this year by doing 52 things, I thought I should at least update you once in awhile.  I promise not to have an update every week but maybe once a month. Sound good?

I certainly have been off with a flying start.
I already have read three books. One I highly recommend is Yellow Star.  Just click on the title there and go read my review. It will take your breath away and you certainly will look at life a little differently.

I began my A-Z video series with a quick and easy tutorial you can do with your kids. Check that out here. *Shameless plug alert* Will you subscribe while you are there?

I have also begun my money challenge! Yes, money in the bank!
I am also off and running with my weekly selfies. Here is week two.

Lastly, for this update anyway, I have already finished two of the items. The first was to organize my bedroom closet. I made a mistake and did not take a beginning but this is what it looks like now!

The closet was originally a catch all, jumbled mess. Now, everything has its place and we have space to spare.

The final thing I did was make a piece of art using recycled materials. I had joined a journaling group just today and decided for the first prompt they had to do just this. The prompt was, "Up, up and away" which actually reminded me of the song by The 5th Dimension.
That began my muse but it turned into something totally different.

Fabric samples for curtains acquired when a store went out of business

Old thread that I sewed to the paper, fringe cut from fabric samples, old mailing stickers

Leftover mason jar lid from another project and paint chip samples

 Even though the paint is new, I use a piece of cardboard for my brush. The brighter blue tint is a paint called "Star Dust." Perfect!

My finished journal page

In the end, I felt like this was a beautiful balloon carriage that is lead by the angels for those who are headed to the afterlife. They get to ride up, up, and away in the beautiful balloon to the heavens. Cool,huh?

~Naila Moon

Determination...my one word & 52 weeks

As I have done in the past, I do not make New Year resolutions. They are seriously worthless as by February or even the next day, they are forgotten.

What I do is a 52 week challenge and use one word that seems to be an overall thought for the year ahead.
Last year, I decided not to do the 52 and instead focus on the word but this year in 2014 I am focusing on both.  Bare with me and you will see how the intertwine.

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First my one word: DETERMINATION

How often I have thought I would do this or that. Or I would like to do this project but never started it. Or worse yet, started something and didn't finish it. I literally have gone several years with things I wanted to do but did not do them for one reason or the other.

This year I am not letting me get in the way of things. I am determined to be bold. I am determined to be brave. I am determined to finish. I am determined...period!

This is my mind set for this year.
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Having said that, I move in to my 52 things I am determined to get through this year. I know the list seems encumbersome but that is where the determination comes through.  Here they are in no particular order:

1. No Pepsi at all for entire year. (Note: I have no issue with Pepsi per se, I just do not need to drink it or any other beverage like it.)
2. Meatless Mondays
3. Do a series of A-Z videos (Subject unknown at this writing_
4. 30 straight days of blogging (this may coincide with the next one)
5. A-Z April blog challenge
6. 52 week of selfie photos (1 each week)
7. Collect 50 postcards-1 from each state (mailed to me-where are you from?)
8. 30 days of art in November
9. Try 52 Recipes (1 a week) and blog
10. 52 week money challenge
11. Open a saving account for grandchild
12. Try yoga for 30 days
13. Exercise 2-3 days a week in some way
14. Watch 12 new movies (new to me)
15. Write 12 pen pal letters (Want to be my penpal? Email me)
16. 30 days of straight photography
17. Do a marathon (run or walk)
18. Help 12 people someway
19. Travel back to Sedona, AZ
20. Get my cochlear implant fixed
21. Apply for a hearing dog
22. Send birthday cards to at least immediate family on time
23. Heart card project in February
24. Go on 5 picnics with the hubby
25. Visit a new place
26. Go to 6 Flags Elitch Gardens
27. Lose 10 pounds in a month
28. Swing on a swing
29. Use coupons once a month or more
30. Hit first weight loss goal
31. Make 10 kid's games
32. Make art from recycled stuff
33. Go to a local Pow Wow
34. Fill in my genealogy boards
35. Scrapbook my Grandson's 1st year
36. Take in a play
37. Get a mammogram!
38. Buy a filing cabinet
39. Buy a new pair of jeans
40. Frame & Hang my photos
41. Go to the movie theatre 4 times
42. Re-learn sign language
43. Read 52 books (The next few will coincide-Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge)
44. Read 12 Latino/Latina authors (Latin@s Kid Lit Challenge)
45. Read 6 African American authors-kid's lit.
46. Read 6 Native American authors-kid's lit
47. Read 6 books from authors who write about special needs-kid's lit
48. Write my own children's book
49. Update my address box
50. Go on a horse drawn carriage ride
51. Re-organize my closet
52. Finish everything on the list
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There you have it...DETERMINATION!

I look forward to seeing your one word or if you wish your 52 week challenge.
Happy New Year!

~Naila Moon

Project 52...the 2013 Edition...Here I go again!

The last two years I have participated in the Project 52...ummm project? Anyway, this is my alternative to New Year's resolutions! I do not do that because frankly I think everyone breaks them about 20 seconds after midnight, feels bad and then gives up the rest of the year.

Project 52 is the brainchild of Karen and Jennee, or Karen and Jennee are its brainchild, I am not sure which but we will go with the first one. OK? Yeah.  Project 52 allows you to list some goals you want to do for the year and try to achieve them. If you don't well, then you don't and do not feel bad. Instead you feel good for what you did do! I accomplished many of my goals for 2012. Check that out HERE FOR 2012

Anywho, here we are on the cusp of the year 2013, after surviving the Apocalypse and all, and I present to you my 52 list for 2013. Want to join me with your own list? Cool. Link up below and I will come by on occasion to encourage you.

1. Take 52 weeks of photos of me. You know, one each week.
2. Take 52 weeks of photos of Mark aka Tamirisc. 
3. Do another round of 30 photos in 30 days.
4. Do another round of the April 30 day blog challenge.
5. Read 12 new books.
6. See 12 new movies. (Caveat, they can be old movies just I have never seen them.)
7. Help Mark get a job.
8. Go to a Rockie's Baseball game.
9. Go to a Bronco's football game.
10. Visit my children in MO and kiss the cheeks of my Grand-babies.
11. Work out 3 times a week in some way.
12. Meditate at least 5 times a week.
13. Open a savings account for us.
14. Open a savings account for the Grand-babies.
15. Send birthday cards.
16. New scrapbooks for each Grand-baby.
17. Adopt a child from Compassion International or similar organization.
18. Visit a Buddhist Temple
19. Get new pen pals and write once a month
20. Help 6 people in some way
21. Make my own Mason Jar Candles
22. Print and frame 3 of my photos
23. Print and frame 3 of Mark's photos
24. Lose 10 pounds in one week.
25. Lose 50 pounds.
26. Get a manicure/pedicure.
27. Learn sign language (again/better)
28. Plant a tree
29. Cook something out of each of the cookbooks we own.
30. Watch the sun rise and set in the same day.
31. Go on a daily walk
32. Do a 365 day photo project.
33. Visit a new place
34. Buy something new for the apartment
35. Visit Walt Disney World with Mark
36. Hand write a letter to Mark once a week.
37. Get a massage.
38. Train for Race for the Cure and do it!
39. Read Harry Potter
40. Visit the Denver Mint
41. Make a Dream Catcher for over our bed
42. Paint 12 paintings
43. Pick up any pennies/change and put them in a jar
44. Go to Wyoming and go fishing with Mark
45. Make something from Pinterest and blog about it
46. Plan 6 special date nights for Mark
47. Run a half marathon
48. Pick 6 recipes from Biggest Loser Cookbook/make them and blog about them
49. Do the 52 week money challenge
50. Leave $1 in random places for other people to find
51. Volunteer at the Children's hospital at least once a week
52. Start a Teddy Bear project to send to children in foster care/orphange

~Naila Moon

 Link up ok?:

Project 52-2012 Version

It is two days into the new year and I am late on posting this. I have already let things get in my way and that is just not going to happen again past today.  So, let me get to this ok?  I already put my tab in place for my 52 goals of the year. 
If you don't mind, I am going to list them here too. It is a good reminder none-the-less. Right? RIGHT!

1. Read 12 new books
2.  See 12 new movies
3.  Take 52 photos of myself (one each week) and post
4.  Take 30 days straight of photography and post
5.  Finish my A-Z photo challenge
6.  Open a savings account
7.  Send everyone in the family a birthday card
8.  Rejoin a gym
9.  Try Zumba
10. Ditch soda and go to water only!
11. Help the hubby and daughter-in-law get their license
12. See a play at the Muny
13. Throw a party
14. Meditate consistently
15. Get a massage
16. Form a team and do Relay For Life
17. Go swimming once a week
18. Train for and do Race for the Cure
19. Create bracelets to help fund Leukemia foundation
20. Go to Las Vegas and visit my brother and family
21. Have lunch/dinner with my cousins at least 3 times
22. Have lunch/dinner with my best friends at least 3 times
23. Learn to make a quilt
24. Go to at least one concert
25. Go to one new place
26. Visit my hubby’s family in California

27. Help hubby get a new job
28. Return to getting up by 8:30AM
29. Scrapbook a year 2 for the grand-daughter
30. Keep my other blogs up to date
31. Adopt a child from Child International or similar organization
32.  Make my own candles
33.  Help 12 people (not necessarily known to me) in a special way
34.  Do the Balloon Illumination walk for Leukemia
35.  Write pen pals once a month
36   Help my grand-daughter with her speech
37.  Attend First Night (done 1-1-12)
38. Buy new sheets for my bed
39. See a Cardinals game
40. Take my niece, Nina somewhere special
41. Take my daughter-in-law, Mary out somewhere special
42. Take my son, Josh out somewhere special
43. Take my daughter, Natasha out somewhere special
44. Take Tamirisc to the Star Trek exhibit
45. Buy or have made new curtains for our room
46. Print and frame 3 of my photos
47. Take a photography class
48. Lose 10 pounds within a 2 week period
49. Begin Medi-cal or similar and stick with it
50. Get a manicure/pedicure
51. Cook something new out of the Biggest Loser Cookbook
52. Plant a tree


...and off I go.

Project 52-year end review

As the year winds down, I am looking back at the things I attempted to accomplish. I took on the Project 52 challenge as a way to maybe do some things I wanted to do as well as things I needed to do.


I generally try to stay clear of resolutions because those ALWAYS end up as broken promises. When you make them you feel guilty about breaking them and revert to old ways. By taking on the 52 challenge, I did not feel guilty if I did not complete one of my ideas.


I am happy to say that this past year I completed 20 of the 52. If you want to check them out go HERE.  This may not seem like a lot to some but considering the year I have had, it is amazing!  At least I feel like I accomplished something!


I will be working on this year's list all this week and maybe in to next. Make sure you come back and check it out! Oh and if you make one, come back and drop me a link, I would love to see it and encourage you.


Peace...Naila Moon

Is it a Harry Potter weekend for you?

Well, here we are. It has now been a full day since the last of the Harry Potter films has opened.

I am giddy with excitement. Whoo hoo!!!!!!

Ok, so I lied.  Seriously, I just saw the first of the two part movies just last night on (gasp) DVD.  My husband and I did not want to watch it when it first came out a year ago because we did not want to wait so long to see the next part. The first part was long in parts but cool. It ended at a section that seemed right too.

We will probably go see the second part sometime here shortly but I am not all crazy like some people I know. (For the record, I babysat so that my son and daughter-in-law could go to a midnight first showing of the movie.) Oh, don't get me wrong, I have liked everyone of the previous movies (and we own them). I will even go so far as to say that I have seen them more than once.

The brutally honest truth is that I have never read even one of the books. Now, I know some people would say that is total sacrilege and they cannot believe that to be so. However, it is true!  I have started the first book and have read about three chapters. It is on my list of things to do this year. So, I will get to it...really, I will. Right after I read the 3-4 other books I have to read, wash the laundry, pick up the mail, do the dishes, take a shower, feed the cat...um.....

Have a great Harry Potter weekend.
~Naila Moon

Project 52-Dancing in the Rain

We have had soooooooo much rain here that we are flooding in parts. I had been attempting to get back to my 52 projects/goals that I set for myself this year. As dancing in the rain was one of them...well, just take a look. I only wished that Tamirisc had danced with me.  Have you danced lately?

Peace...Naila Moon

U-haul , We-haul...You-all haul come back now...ya hear?

Well, I am up at the un-godly hour of 5AM and anxious.
Today is moving day. There is not turning back. We have to move forward!

Change is always scary but it is also sometimes a good thing.  This move I feel is a good thing. Just for me, it is full circle.

Almost three years ago, I came to Colorado with nothing but two suitcases full of clothes. My life had taken a dramatic turn and I literally had nothing to lose. At that time, I was about to change my life forever. I was about to come live with a man I had only met (on line)  three weeks before.  I suppose you could say, it turned out pretty good since I married him 4 months later! ta-hee

Anyway, here we are (2 1/2 years later) and both of us are returning to my home town. I am quite wiser, in love and have much more stuff! Best yet, I am returning to a family I love and have missed greatly. Yes, time ticks on and the dynamics of our family is changing but I need to be there and WE want to be there!

So, here we are and here we go on yet, another adventure.  See you soon. I have got to go pack some boxes on the truck!

Peace...Naila Moon

Inspirational

Not long ago, I blogged about the Butterfly Project.
I also mentioned that I was going to be doing that project as part of my 52 Project.  
Well, today I worked on just that, finished it and wanted to share the finished products.

I decopaged both projects.  For the first one I added wire and believe it or not an old register tape spool.

For the second one, I made the butterfly itself out of paper dollies and ribbon.  I really like the hands on that one.

Hope you enjoyed looking at this project as much as I liked making it. If you wish to also do the Butterfly Project, there is still time. Go to my link above and you can get details.

Peace...Naila Moon

Am I crazy or what???

A couple of days ago I came across a blog called Cheap Therapy.
I then thought, ok, I could use a little and checked it out.  What I found was a funny lady. Ok, cheap, funny and good therapy. I can do that.

What I also found was a project that she and another  blogger, Karen's World are doing.  The project is called appropriately Project 52. 

What the project does is to list 52 things you would like to accomplish throughout the year. I know, sounds like resolutions..right?  Well, not exactly. It is goals you really want to do, the majority of them being things you have never done before. Then the real kicker is you have to check in once a week with your buddies and see how you are doing. Accountability is key!

So, I thought...why not?  So, I started writing the list 2 days ago! It turns out that this was not as easy of a task as I first thought. I mean sure, win a million dollars or own my own plane. Sounds good but I do not think at this time in my life that I can quite be accountable for it.  I am not saying that it is impossible just not right now, for I work on everything is possible.


Side note: If you want to read a great blog on the word "impossible" go here---> Single Dad Laughing


So, anyway, I have finally finished the list and on my way. Want to join? Grab the icon on my page and link up. I got your back!
Here is my complete list:

1. Lose 100 pounds of fluffiness
2. Get at least one of my Dad's stories published
3. Learn to quilt and make one
4. Complete the 365 Day Photo Project  (To see my photos, go here--->My Photos )
5. Do the Butterfly Project  (I blogged about it HERE  )
6. Open a savings account for my Grand-daughter
7. Go to one new place
8. Teach the hubby to drive or at least help pay for lessons
9. Buy a car
10. Buy new furniture (specifically a new dining table)
11. Go to Hawaii
12. Reorganize my desk
13. Buy a new wardrobe
14. Obtain the job that I spoke about with my friend, Kelly
15. Drink ONLY water! (In other words, Pepsi Free Zone)
16. Open a savings account for us
17. Complete all the classes I registered for/ no dropping
18. Journal my weight loss and journey @ least 2 times a week (Go HERE  if you want to read about that)
19. Rejoin a gym
20. Exercise without excuses at least every week
21. Enter the photo art project and submit
22. Send birthday cards to all my family
23. Update my address book
24. Move back to Missouri
25. Read a Harry Potter Book
26. Once a month date night with Tamirisc
27. Reorganize the dining area
28. Get in that dang math class and pass it!
29. Watch 12 new movies
30. Make and send homemade Christmas cards
31. Get all my stuff in one place (This may sound weird but I have stuff in two states)
32. Begin a Gratitude page
33. Write letters to my hubby at least once a week
34. Make a scrapbook of my Grand-daughters 1st year of life
35. Throw a party
36. Make a new recipe
37. Make candles for friends and/or family
38. Buy a printer
39. Buy the Biggest Loser book and follow recipes in it
40. Dance In the Rain
41. Walk/Run in the Race for the Cure
42. Take in another play
43. Get a massage
44. Have a photo taken with Santa
45. Get a complete physical
46. Make night lamps out of Mason jars
47. Pay off bills
48. Serious meditation at least 2 times a month
49. Get my nails done and keep them done
50. Make up my bed 75% of the time
51. Learn Spanish
52. Complete everything on this list!                                                                                 Peace...Naila Moon