To Build A Home

Well I've been looking at a lot of pictures for house ideas- I save stuff even if it has the tiniest of ideas.

I've made little notes of the reason why I kept a picture.

I know Rob and I will be sharing an office- if there's room for me so I do check out some home office ideas.

Here I like the shelves

I like the desk

OK this can never happen- but isn't it so FRESH- too girly I know.

Kitchen Ideas

European cabinets

Hood/Our Island will have burners

I originally wanted a tiered island, but now I don't know if I like that idea.

I don't know how to explain it, but something about it doesn't jive for me.

Still thinking about that.

wallpaper wall 

Adding in wood and check out floor color - 

Cabinets handles & Sink

Hood....this maybe an example of too much white

Color combo and lights

White and dark- window treatment?

I just love this picture......The wall is so cool to me

and then there's things I don't want to see in my kitchen

1st off- which was a really hard decision:

A MICROWAVE

I will not have one in our new kitchen- I will have one, but it will not be in our kitchen.

Some may think I'm crazy and I may be, but I'm committed to not use one unless I'm really desperate.

Here's something else I don't want to see- appliances on the counter with cords.....I know I'm being a bit bratty - but I'm gonna try really hard to make this NOT happen.  :)

I need very creative beverage station ideas!

Beverage appliances we have our 

Coffee maker/Keurig

VitaMixer

and hopefully a

Juicer 

SO anyways- my brother and his wife are moving into their new home and I can't help but see things I think they could use.

My sister-in-law allowed my mom and myself to help with Nat's rooms so I'm working on a chalk board project right now so I'm been looking at a lot of chalk board ideas.

I'm really into plants lately as summer is on it's way!

I love the plants in this picture and their pots.

This plant/tree is amazing to me

I also like the table

I have an old chair I've been wanting to do- well the other morning I seen it out front for the garbage.  I have to say I a little upset.  I have seen this chair and had high hopes I could do something similar to mine.  Not so sure that can happen now.  We'll see.

Listening for an answer

 I was stressed about Lucas and his Confirmation retreat.  Lucky for me on the day of the retreat I met with my Doctor friend.  Lucas ended up calling me saying he wanted to leave retreat because all they did was sing and some other stuff he didn't feel comfortable with.  I wasn't sure what to do....so I decided to at least take a ride to the retreat location just to be closer to Lucas and thankfully the Doc decided she would go with me.  I just wanted to get there and see what I felt.  I know it sounds strange, but I honestly have been trying to trust more in my feelings and instincts and so far it has really helped me a lot.  I think part of being authentic is really listening to your heart and your God.  I prayed about this retreat and I waited and waited for a sign.  I was on the fence about sending Lucas, but I went along until something told me otherwise.  As we were waiting for the bus I seen a couple people who touched my heart; one was a local BU college student (female) and the other was Joe a man I've met before.  I spoke with the girl first and she was such a beautiful girl inside and out.  Joe spoke to me as always and I can tell by his kind eyes he is a good man.  As Joe was leaving he asked us to pray for him and I had a sense he meant it.  Rob did practically threaten everyone to watch over Lucas and if anything happens to him.........  So that too had me feeling a bit better.  If I didn't have Rob to lean on as well as quiet me down when needed things could have gone differently.

So anyway back to the story.  We drove to Sky Lake which is about a 30 minute drive and it was beautiful to spend time with my good friend.  As we got into the property there isn't much not to love with all the trees and fresh air.  This is a place I had checked out the day before as well- so I would know where it was when I had to pick-up Lucas.  As we wandered about and looked at the lake I decided he should stay and the she agreed.

In the end Lucas admitted that yes he was glad he stayed as he enjoyed mass and confession.  He really liked Sky Lake as well and wished they had gotten to do more outside.  It was too bad the organizer wasn't the best fit for Lucas and wasn't the most prepared, but at least Lucas enjoyed the important parts.

I'm so lucky to have so many wonderful around to support me with such stuff.  I feel so blessed.  It was such a blessing to have Doc with me as she was an angel of a friend.  I don't know many of my friends who would have the time to drive out to Sky Lake as I try and make up my mind, but she did.  As her and I decided to check out the Founder's Lodge we were sitting in the Lodge when it started to fill up.  A lady came to me and was handing me a book in which I said- Oh no that's OK.  Well she looked at me like I was strange so I said - Oh wait I mean yes- thank you.  Well it was book of hymns.  As we sat it was clear we were in a service.  The singing began and her and I just went along.  At one point I had to smile....here I had been waiting for a sign from God and now I'm standing in a Lodge singing hymns with the Doc-  I looked over at her singing right along with me and thought - GOD is so good....I asked for help and as hard as is it to just wait and be quiet to listen I did with the help of my family and friends and I got an answer.  Sometimes we get so caught up in a problem and it's super hard to keep our mouth shut or our mind from reeling, but we need to calm it down to hear.

This is the hymn I feel in love with~ It's so beautiful:
The service was I believe Methodist and was very nice-  I enjoyed it a lot.




Here are the words:

The Summons

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

To Build a Home

Well things are moving along nicely- not as fast as we would have liked, but moving none the less.  We were marking off where we would like the house to sit Monday night.  It can be stressful- especially when I have a bit of an attitude.  I think about all the stuff I don't get done normally and to add to my plate helping Rob as we are planning to be our own General Contractor- makes me nervous- sometimes.

It seems to be the best decision for us.  We have hooked up with a couple who recently did their home and they said they could help us.  Well I've spoken to the wife and she already gave me my first assignment  :)

We weren't really showing anyone our house plans because we wanted it to be a surprise.  Our plans are very simple and tailored to exactly what we want so to look at our plans you wouldn't really see much.  We did end up showing our parents as we had an issue come up that totally baffled us.  It is so nice to be able to build a house together and know we did on our own all our way- good or bad as it may be.

This night we also attempted to go in the neighboring house that is to be torn down.  I thought it would be so nice to have a piece of that house in our house being it was the family's house who sold us the property.  It just seems sad to see a family home torn down- so I just thought it would be nice.   Well it was so super scary and locked down that we decided that wasn't going to happen.  I don't know we'll see once they start tearing it down.  My luck it will get all torn down and I'll miss all opportunities to snatch a piece of something.

We have also gone kitchen shopping and well that was interesting as I don't know what I want until I see it.  I wanted a white kitchen, but when I was there I liked a chestnut color kitchen.  I know I would drive anyone crazy.  So when I got back home I started to look at some darker kitchens and although I loved those cabinets I just couldn't picture me in a kitchen with dark cabinets.  A lot of my kitchen will have to be light and bright colors as they make me most happy.  Here's the thing- my style- well it's all my mine which means I like everything and anything well just about...lol.

See I like the plainness of these cabinets  

 I even love seeing two different colored cabinets in a kitchen- this is most exciting to me!

 I just can't get away from liking white

Then you see something like this and realize the potential to make it exactly how you want

Not that I'd ever have a clue how to make colors flow and match, but it is very inspiring to see this modern country look- I do like it which is surprising to me.

Then the thought of a dark island to help with the flow of the color to the dinning room sounds like a nice plan to me....I wish I knew what color floor they had.

There is so much to consider when planning so that things flow.

I'm really trying to think about the "flow" of the 1st floor.

I know I'm stuck on the kitchen, but hey that's mine to worry about.  

The rest of the house is seeming good.

I have a concern with a window above the bathtub- it's just not what I had envisioned, but I don't think we have any other option so somehow I guess we have to make it work.

I'm very happy with Lucas room.

I love our master bedroom very much- but thinking about style in there is tough too.  I'm hoping something comes to us with that as well.  

How I know I'm getting back to ME

I find it pretty funny all the comments I get concerning my license.

The other day I was in TJ Maxx and I wrote a check and the guy asked for my license.  I watched as the guy goes over to another woman - I assumed to question how to accept a check.  Then I see they call over another woman and now the 3 of them are looking at me.  I couldn't imagine what the problem was.  So then the guy comes over with the 2 other woman following and says, "I'm sorry I'm not going to be able to accept this check".  I asked why.  That's when one of the woman asked if I have any other form of picture id, because my license doesn't really look like me.  OK.

When I had cancer and lost my hair I constantly got comments like - wow you really changed your hair, gee you really went short, I really like your hair cut (which was actually a wig).....and so on.  It's funny how many people young, old, male or female would make comments.  I was saddled with a license of me with long blondish hair while going bald, wearing wigs, and growing out my hair.

Since that time my license had to be renewed and well that took place a little bit after I had completed all my treatment and my hair was well back past my ears.

Now I'm with a license I thought looked pretty good, but as I look at myself today I do notice it might - not like me.  Now I have people say to me- I like your dark or I love your hair long and I someone even said something awkward like you look really different- It's so funny.

As I look at my license I can see that I did lose a good amount of weight- I was up to 143 after treatment- I've lost about 23 pounds.  It seemed like I would never get to this point and I still get disappointed when I don't lose fast enough- but I've come a long way and sometimes I just have to celebrate that and take a break from trying to lose weight.  I don't know what my goal weight will be- it's tough for me now.  I have 1 real breast and 1 fake (my foob) so the more I lose the real one will get smaller, but my foob will remain the same.  Also when I lose weight at some point it will show in my collar bone area above my chest and any weight loss shown there will also increase visibility of the sunken in area I have in my chest where they took my entire breast.  I don't know what's in store for me and my body shape and size at this point- I'm just so very happy to be able to be physical and feel somewhat strong and in control of my body.  I miss my breast for sure, but I love my body every single inch of it.  Creating a new life with a new body has been a journey that continues to inspire me so that I can continue on..

But it's not all about the weight loss is it?

In the last 3 years I've gone through some major life changes and one of them being my appearance.  It has been extremely hard at times because even I didn't recognize myself, but thankful I was just hoping to survive so that stuff seemed so small compared to just plain wanting survive.  There were definitely times I just wanted to me again, but again I choose to concentrate on surviving not my looks.  Eventually surviving meant being healthy and after taking a treatment that actually takes your health way down; I had to start trying to build my health back up.  This meant eating better and exercising!  Thanks to my dad who had me up and walking right after my surgeries, my mom getting me into Pilates and drinking smoothies right along with me and my husband going to gym with me- it started- getting healthy.  And what comes from leading a healthier life?.....a longer life as well as a person who looks healthy and happy....and that the me I want to be!

This is me healthy happy!

 I have no idea what's in store for me and cancer, but no matter what I know I have the best chances being healthy and keeping my body strong.

My recent achievements in getting back to me is also due to the support of my girlfriends who agreed to also participate in getting healthier.  The support I get from my friends is a big help to me.  Not all friends are right there with you, but the ones who are are true gems.  To get healthy with my girlfriends who haven't had the sickness I've had is a special gift, because it also makes me feel more normal like them.  Yeah I know I'm normal, but I'm also different or so I thought.  As we have tried to help each other and I hear them complain about body parts or weight I realize we are all just girls with all the same issues.

We are all beautiful and healthy yet we are unhappy with our self at times and that's all normal.  We just have to concentrate on our beautiful health.  And we all want to be around a long time for our kids and their kids!

Oh and back to the license story- I happened to still have my old license- I know that is illegal, but I had it.  Then they agreed that it could be me.....lol.

This is how I know I'm finally getting back to ME!  

Workout Fashion

Well I have to say one of the parts of working out that I like is the clothes.  It just makes me feel better about working out if I think I look half way decent.  I when I was 148 which for a 4'11 girl is hefty I mostly just went with black workout pants and a big t-shirt and that wasn't exactly my favorite outfit.  I lived in that outfit as I would wear it to work (very lucky for that) and then to the gym which I was doing at least 3x a week.

In the Weight Watchers magazine I seen this article

Now that I am down in weight it sure is nice to wear other things

 I love MizzFit and her blog- she had pinned this outfit and I LOVE IT!

 She is so cute - I'm really digging pink and black as well as the coral I've been seeing around!

 I'm NOT  a fan of Kim K.- but I do enjoy seeing what it is exactly she wears to the gym as she is a girl with some substance which most of us are- THANK GOD!

 Not all of us are like this young lady- although I like her little get-up.

 There's those coral sneaks  :)
   
   And here she is preggo and going to workout-

 I LOVE these sneaks!!  I love the black with a pop of color!

Now I AM a fan of the Princess!  I love her bright sneaks as well!

I

 So based on what I've been seeing around I decided on a couple new items for my workout collection- I did have to get rid of a few tops and bottoms as they weren't doing it for me not that I've lost a little more.
  I really thought this outfit was adorable:

OK- the sneaks I'm not digging, but everything else looked sharp to me.
 I'm on tight budget lately with the house building and all.....So what's really nice about this outfit (excluding the sneaks) is it cost me under $60.

I must say I love this jacket a lot- I hope it holds up- I do wash all my blacks in black detergent and I try not to over dry.

 Ok the tank (pink and black) comes with a bra inside- but there is no way for me to wear that alone as my insert wouldn't work and it's pretty thin for coverage.  So I did purchase the tank to wear over it and I like it.

 I do love the cut out on this workout tank- it's cute.  I purchased a size small, but I could probably wear an extra small - but I don't think they carry and that.

Here is the top alone- not a very good picture- sorry.  Gee you can only see my foob side- if you were to see the other side you would see a headlight...lol. One good thing about a foob- headlight is never on- I love that.

I do like these capris a lot as well.  I think I could also wear a size smaller in these.  I did wear them to a Pilates mat class and they were fine.  I don't know if I was doing the reformer if they would work as well as reformer calls for fit full coverage clothes.  I've been known to pull up my pants too much.  lol

These pants are really comfortable- they are not supportive as in tight.

 And here is the back of the top.  I like this top because most of mine are racer back and this one isn't.

This is also nice because if I don't want to wear the white tank over this I could wear a racer back sports bra instead and that will allow me to wear my insert.

 It looks cute for a different look

So all in all I really like this inexpensive outfit. It runs on the big side- but it's very comfortable and light weight.  Like I said I did wear it to class and I really didn't do any fidgets!
I actually ran out after my class and not only did I not feel like a slob I thought I looked pretty good.
I think the jacket really makes a difference- it's fitted with some stretch and it's ruched around the wrists.

And where did I get this?
Kmart :)
You know me and the big K.

Look what was on my desk at work. I got the best mom ever!

Sap

Well if you REALLY know me you know I'm a sap.  I remember crying when my parents got a new car because I missed the old car.  I love most living things no matter what.

Anyways today they cut down the tree in front of our house and I cried all the way to work over it.  I've always loved trees- I mean who doesn't?

When I was sick I took great comfort in all things nature and especially the tree out front.  I spent a lot of time in the house and I would sit on the couch and just looking at that tree was a comfort.  It's almost as if he was watching over us.  It felt safe to me.  I was hoping this Spring to get a cutting and make a baby tree- so the tree could live on.  The tree was old and dying sort of.  I mean every Spring a part of it would get leaves and it was such a relief to me that he was still holding on.

So because of how close he was to power lines they said he needed to be trimmed and he was actually dead so it could be cut down.  Well I was so happy when they just gave him a good trim.  I know he looked horrible all lopsided, but being lopsided myself I did could appreciate what he was going through.  Well because of a lack of communication they returned to cut him all the way down.  How hard it is going to be to look at a stump where he stood.

All this tree stuff reminds me of my favorite book as a child:  The Giving Tree
This book could possibly be the reason I have such a love of trees.

The book details the events occurring throughout the life of a small boy, and the friendship that he shares with a tree—with which he is apparently able to communicate. In his childhood, he enjoys climbing her branches and enjoying imaginative play with her; however, as he gradually passes into maturity his requests from the tree change. After entering adolescence, he requests to pick her apples with which to make profit, and after reaching adulthood he cuts down the tree's limbs to construct a house. Years later, he returns to the lonesome Giving Tree as an old man to cut her down and use her wood to craft a boat with which to sail away, after the maturity of his family, reducing her to nothing more than a stump. However, eventually he returns to his friend, asking for a resting place, and peacefully drifts off to sleep on the tree stump.
Plot from Wikipedia

I love you Mr. Tree and will miss you~ Danielle

Cheap Trick Tuesday

Recently when I went away with my girlfriends I had packed my iphone speakers, but then unpacked them because I was running out of space.  I really missed not having it.  SO the other day I was in Walgreens and seen this little thing.  No batteries, no cord just booming sound so I decided to get it and check it out.

It's EggBeats- $9.99






Here's a quick little look at it
Sorry my video quality isn't the best.

It does get the sound out and it's really nice that you don't have a cord or batteries to take.  It's small enough that you can just pack it right inside a pair of shoes.

The package claims that you can you this with iphone 4, 4s, and 5.  I'm not so sure about iphone 5- but I'm sure it can be returned if it doesn't work.

Motivate Me Monday

Tonight will be my first night back at the gym.  Tomorrow will be back to Pilates.   This week will be the start of some detox planning.  I got a lot to get going on- it almost seems too overwhelming, but I'll get it done~

So here we go.....a little home discussion

This poor guy

He's working with a real challenge

She LOVES everything

She's a scatter brain

She's so afraid he's going to mess up the kitchen

She gets snippy

Sometimes he just needs a break 

I'm draining - I know!!!

OK

So I love white and I love open cabinets

Rob says:  You don't want open cabinets

as he opens up one of our cabinets in our kitchen now

and says:

You want to look at this?

This is the 2009 House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year.  I adore it.

Notice the open cabinet and coffee station.

Danielle:  Well I won't be having that cabinet open to view

I'm loving that some items are easy in reach, but our kitchen will not be big enough for this.  I'm actually looking at a kitchen plan that has only so many cabinets up top the rest will be lower cabinets. 

Something I can't picture- as usual.

As I look through things I've become obsessed with a coffee/beverage station.

We could really use a beverage station as on the weekend and even mornings we are brewing something and I'm hoping to have my juicer near by.

Rob doesn't like this idea either.

Anyways anyone could make there own beverage station and if you have one of those cool soda makers like my bro you could have an awesome soda station.  I'm definitely not promoting a

station, but if you have it and like it that would be cool.

If you click on the picture you can read a post from DIYbyDesign- cool blog!

Come on I love this

Another trend I've been seeing around is this chandelier with a shade around it.  

 I'm sure you could create your own.

OK - are these the most awesome cups you've ever seen.....I'm drooling.  I love them.

So Rob is very scared because I'm a very visual person and the computer has so many images he's a afraid I guess I will be disappointed with our end kitchen.  I've never been a big brand name type of person because I honestly just can't afford name brands unless I catch them some where on sale or something.  BUT that doesn't mean I don't love the looks of them I actually love many brand names.  Ever since I was a little girl I've been looking at things.  When I was a girl I was obsessed with Vogue and all things fashion, but being a small girl it wasn't like I was able to go out and purchase a lot of the things I seen so I made do.  I would often cut out a picture and copy best I could what I liked.  This was not only more fun than just going out and buying something is was creative and fulfilling when I finally pulled something off. 

I'm assuming I can do the same now- just as Walmart copies JCPenny's copies Macy's copies Bergdorf's- it all trickles down from the Runway.  It's the same with housewares I'm sure of it.  So I will continue to look at ridiculous pictures and translate them into what we can afford. 

Be not afraid dear husband- I may be draining, but I know what looks good and how I want to work in my kitchen.  :)



I love Rob and I will certainly not be disappointed with anything in our home- I've never been that type of girl.  I am the type that wants to cook many yummy meals and fill many bellies!!!

So far we are surviving the "kitchen negotiations"........stay tuned.