Send a Little Bit of Love this Valentine's Day

Time for my annual post in which I encourage you to drop a line to your Valentine.  I am a big fan of the homemade Valentine card. I grew up in the Sweetheart City of Loveland, Colorado so Valentine's is in my blood.  Annually, thousands of cards are remailed from Loveland, Colorado. Each envelope is hand stamped with a special stamp and postmarked with Loveland CO.

Details here on the remailing. You also can purchase the commemorative Valentine as well.

Feb 7th is the deadline to get your Valentine Stamped

Linky Love

Mom so Hard cracks me up. They may be an acquired taste but I love them. I am including the clip just for the Carol reference!  My Mom's name is Carol and I know so many amazing Carol's - friend from Vancouver and my Best Friend's Mom

Becky Higgins Simple Notebook Design Contest - I am a HUGE Becky Higgins fan.  How cool would be to design a cover for a notebook.

Cool Mom's Picks for Mood Boosting Jewelry

How talented kids from low income families become America's lost Einstein's

How to Handle Negative Emotions at Work - Life as Mom pointed out this could apply to Mom's too

Furlough Linky Edition

GOVERNMENT

CLOSED FOR BUSINESS

"Working for Free" is the name of my husband's band.  The government furlough effects my family.

What the Last Government Shutdown Looked Like - The 16 day shutdown I remember.  That shutdown really changed how my family budgeted.  We aren't quite living paycheck to paycheck but my husband is the only one bringing in a check.  I realized how important our emergency fund was to us.  After that shutdown, I became more diligent in funding for a emergency.

A Survival Guide For Furloughed Government Workers- From 2013 but still solid advice

Wordy Wednesday

I love my letter board. The quote above is from Grey's Anatomy - Christina Yang.

Booking It 2018 - January

I am linking up with the Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading. Well all my selections below I read in December but I am going to be discussing them anyway.

My December reading was on the lighter chick lit side.  I finished my year by reading these titles

June by M Beverly - Whittemore
The Duchess by Danielle Steele
The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne
The Whistler by J Grisham

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett  was part of Reese Witherspoon's book club.  It took me a bit to get into.  I really enjoyed the story about her trying out for the police academy.  I also loved the message from the short story for which the book is named.  I think the advice to " marry someone who makes you a better person" is great advice.  I would say applies to picking friends as well.

Another list worth checking out  - LibraryReads favorite books of 2017

New Year Linky

Thought I would give a little update on our mystery house/clock tower building in my little corner of the world.

Update
previous update - 2015

This is Exactly How Much You Have to Walk to Lose Weight

Betty White Says Vodka and Hot Dogs Are Secrets to Long Life

Wordy Wednesday

Not sure if my children actually appreciated this sign.  I know for sure that one is actively trying to think of some way to sabotage my sign.

creative endeavors or creative minute

I like to do children art tutorials. These art projects seem achievable to me.  I literally completed them in less than a half hour. These projects are my little creative outlet. These are very stress reliving to me. Here are the few I have done in the last couple of months.

Fawn in the Style of Charley Harper via Cassie Stephens ( my favorite art teacher)

before adding water

After adding water

Trees - Painting with Markers

3D Snowflakes

Washington State Bucket List

I found this blog draft and I decided to post.

I have lived in Washington State for 14 years and there is quite a few things I would like to see/do that I haven't. I thought I would make a bucket list and work on seeing or doing those things. I managed to complete quite a few of these bucket list items in 2017.

Bellingham

Crab Cruise

     Crab Cruise (completed 2017)
     Sucia Cruise
     Oyster Dome Hike
     Rock Trail Hike

Deception Pass
      Jet Boat Tour
      Camping

Ebey's Landing

Diablo Lake Tour

Port Townsend Glass Beach

Olympic National Park (all of it)

Mt Rainier - We have driven Pappy through Rainier a couple times.  These are the hikes or things I would like to see - Grove of the Patriarchs and Trail of Shadows

Mt Saint Helens - Ape Caves and Lava Canyon

Seattle

Chihuly Glass Museum

    Chihuly Glass Museum at the Seattle Center - (completed Dec 2017}
    Gum Wall
    Smith Tower
    Kerry Park
    Gas Works Park

San Juan Islands
    Orcas Island - Moran State Park

Mina Mounds - (I know I am weird)

Tulip Festival Mt Vernon- attempted to do this many years ago but the traffic was backed up to I-5

Palouse Falls

Seahawks Game

Seahawks Game  (completed 2017)

Camping ( see Mrs Epi, I added this) in the great PNW

What to READ in 2018

Oh the lists are out.  I thought I would post a few book list links for all you who have book goals in the new year. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE BOOK GOALS - HA HA

10 Diverse New Books from Women Authors 2017

Goodreaders favorite under the radar books of 2017

Confessions of a CookbookQueen - Favorite Books of 2017

Modern Mrs Darcy's 2018 Reading Challenge