BIG SIGH...

These are a few things I know...

1. When I keep my life SIMPLE, I'm a happy girl.
   
2. Saying "yes" to everything and everyone does not keep my life simple.
3. Saying "no" is a VERY GOOD THING!
   
4. I can stay in my pajamas all day if I need too. Blue Eyes doesn't mind.
   
5. I need to remember how much I love to dance. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE !!!
   
   
6. I love my blog ! It is an extension of me, and something I really enjoy.
7. The more I'm home, the more I love it.
8. Having all my peeps and their loves, in the kitchen, laughing, talking, (sometimes over each other), eating and just being home, blesses my mothers heart more then a million dollars ever could.
   
9. Going for a walk at night with Sophie, after the snow falls when the ground is fresh with white is so very peaceful.
10. I will continue to strive to "live in the moment" as much as possible. Because my peeps are growing up so fast, and time is precious.
    
    
    
    (none of these pictures are my own. Although a couple really do look like me!)
    

Hugs from Maine

I'M TRYING TO GET MOTIVATED !

Hugs from Maine

LETS MAKE A VISIT

One of my favorite blogs to visit is Just A Girl

...

She is sharing tips that have made her life easier and boy, you don't want to miss this...



This girls house is organized in a doable way. (hey, is that a real word?) Click on her link, and enjoy.

Just A Girl


Hugs from Maine

SWEET BABY GIRL AND HER BF

Yesterday was Justins birthday. Katie had the best time.
They have been dating for a few months now, and all is well. I'm a happy mom. She's a happy teenager. (Wait, what did I just say?!). Well, shes a happy teenager, when she's with him, and I think thats just fine. (Code for, I'll take what I can get)




He is a wonderful young man, and they are blessed to have each other. They do nothing but smile when their together. And I'm good with that!
(Justins mom took this picture yesterday. I played with it on a site Katie showed me. I'm officially addicted to it! )

HUGS FROM MAINE

WHEN YOUR PEEPS GET SICK, DO YOU JUST WANT TO CLEAN !

I don't know about you, but when my peeps get sick, I just want to clean EVERYTHING in sight. And I mean EVERYTHING !!! Windows are opened, out come the disinfecting wipes, bleach, paper towels, and away I go!

One peep was sick yesterday and is fine today so I didn't get all OCD at first. But once a second peep gets it, well, my OCD hits the fan and my house never smelled so clean. I don't really have, OCD. Although my friends are reading this with raised eyebrows right now.

Anyway, I hope all loved ones are well at your house this weekend. Nothing big here. And remember, I'm the mom. I don't get sick.

Hugs from Maine

ENOUGH SAID !

HUGS FROM MAINE

I'VE CHANGED MY NAME

When I was a child, I never liked my middle name.

Marie.

Boring. Common. Never liked it.  Now that I'm a mom, I understand so much more about my own mom who has been gone for 18 years this year. She had 7 children, and I was the youngest. Imagine how tired that poor woman was.

Anyway, I say all that to say that when I got married to the most wonderful man in the world, almost 26 years ago, I dropped my middle name, kept my maiden name, and added my married name. Following me?

Well as the first year of my blog came closer, I realized I wanted to change that name too. So I have gone from

Living My Life Outside The Box to, 9 Bartlett.

I still think and approach pretty much everything a little outside the box. I thank my mom for that. She really let me be as creative as my little self could be But now my new name just suits me better. Everyday, I am so glad and thankful to be living at 9 Bartlett. Its a wonderful, warm, house that has felt like home to me from the very first day we moved in.

So although my name has changed, my blog remains the same.
To quote a good friend of mine who has known me from 5th grade, "Your real. You connect to people. Thats what you use your blog for. "

Plus, its my blog, and I can pretty much do what I want with it. And I will.


Hugs to you from Maine

ARE YOU SURE?

Really?

Hugs from Maine

IT'S BLUE EYES BIRTHDAY TOMORROW !

Tomorrow is my husbands birthday... He will be 46!



Wait... Weren't we just 19 and 20 yesterday ?



I thought I would tell you the things I love about this guy on his 46th birthday.

1. He is the hardest working man I've ever known. Know matter what the job is, this man works like two men. Really.
   
2. He has the most incredible eyes. Bluer then blue.
   
3. He loves me as much as he did 26 years ago.
4. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and he often makes me laugh so hard.
5. He is a great dad to our 4 peeps.
6. I still feel so safe whenever he holds my hand.
7. His kiss still takes my breath away.
8. Being his wife is the second best decision I have ever made.
9. Every year we have together, I am more and more grateful to be married to him.
10. His kiss still takes my breath away. Oh yeah, I already said that. Worth repeating.

Happy Birthday Blue Eyes. Your still 20 in my heart !

HUGS FROM MAINE

AND GET A LOOK AT THESE !

WOW !!! NOW THESE SHOES WOULD MAKE ANYONE DO A DOUBLE TAKE.



HUGS FROM MAINE

JUST BECAUSE ITS LOVELY...

HUGS FROM MAINE

IT'S BEEN A YEAR ALREADY !?

On Saturday, the 16th, my blog will be a year old. Yup, I've been blogging for one year. When I look back to my very first post that started it all, well I smile...



This was my very first picture I posted, and how appropriate. Sweet Baby Girl is one of the joys of my life. Still is. Always will be really.

So much has changed in a year. So much is still the same. One thing I know is ...




This blog has been soooo good for me. And I love to do it. And there is nothing wrong with that. It will continue on until I feel it is time for it to come to an end, if at all. No sooner.

BIG Hugs from Maine

SOME THINGS ARE JUST PRETTY !

Sweet Baby Girl has been looking and looking at prom dresses for a couple of months now. Through the process, I found these. Your never to old to love a beautiful dress I say !







I know they are not prom but boy are they beautiful !

HUGS FROM MAINE

SOMETIMES ITS JUST THAT SIMPLE...

HUGS FROM MAINE

WHAT STYLE ARE YOU !

Just finished a style quiz from Sproost and to no surprise to me, I came back 100% Traditional Country.


Traditional Country
Even if your backyard isn't acres of farmland and you don't actually have a chicken coop, your house sure brings you back to a time when that was the case. You love spaces that feel casual and lived in. Furniture is practical and comfortable, and yet at the same time its very stylish. The best part of country style is how much it highlights collection and found objects. Antiques here, garage sale finds there and Aunt Milly's hand-me-downs throughout. Unique items that used to serve very practical purposes are now on display, and their history seems to permeate the home. Each space in the home seems to invite friends and family to come in and stay a while. There is a true sense of home felt throughout.

Try it yourself... It's Saturday.

Hugs from Maine

I ADORE THESE !

I saw this posted on Brown Button...



I have always loved these. Always.

Hugs from Maine

A LESSON I AM STILL LEARNING...

and to know it is all good...

Hugs from Maine

FRONT DOOR LOVE...

Hugs from Maine

AND JUST WHY DO I LOVE THESE SHOES?

THIS IS A REPOST I FOUND TONIGHT I FIRST POSTED BACK IN JANUARY... IT MADE LAUGH, AND SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT AGAIN... PLUS, THOSE SHOES!!!

I found this picture on the web someplace and boy do these shoes speak to me.


And this is what they say...

1. Black is simple, beautiful, and always elegant.
2. I remember my mom wearing high heels when I was a young child.
3. I saw my mom as a beautiful woman and not just a mom when she wore them.
4. I feel like I'm not just a mom but a beautiful woman when I wear sexy black heals.
   
5. I need some sexy black heals.
6. Hey, I could look real good kickin butt, (figuratively speaking, if need be, and sometimes the need is be ), in those.
7. Its amazing what a simple pair of black heals can do for a woman.
8. I need a pair of sexy black heals. Oh yeah, already said that. Some things need repeating.
   
9. If your a woman reading this, you need a pair of sexy black heals. If your her husband, buy her some.
10. I'll be right over girlfriend. We're going shopping for some sexy black heals!
    

Yes , in case your wondering, I can still love Jesus and wear these sexy black heals !


Hugs from Maine

I SIT IN GRATEFULNESS

Do you ever just live in a moment. I mean REALLY just soak it up, and not be done with it until it is actually, really, completely gone? Well I did that tonight. I think when we choose to do that, God really blesses our socks off if we let Him.



I picked up Sweet Baby Girl from Youth Group earlier tonight. She asked if we could bring home her BF, and a couple of other people. She jumped into the car and was SO happy. SO joyful.
For that brief moment, I wondered. I wondered if my mom felt this blessed when she could feel my overflowing joy at this age. If she just soaked in the moment with me. Even though being a teenager, I was oblivious to it. For those moments were rare.


Well we dropped off all our passengers and headed home. The moment had passed, but joy, contentment, and love still stayed with us in the car as I drove. Katie might have, (like her mom at that age), been oblivious to it, (she is 14 after all), but I am so grateful I was in a place to be able to recognize the moment, and choose to live in it with my daughter. I have a feeling my mom did too.
___________________________________________

Oh Yeah, on a side note, just so you know how "normal" we really are... I had to take her cell, and laptop from her (like right out of her hands as she was doing whatever teenagers do),so she would get to bed on time... The moment had definitely passed. Just thought I'd share.

Hugs from Maine

AND BOY DID IT SNOW !

Zack drinking his Dads Coffee. Either very brave or very stupid.

Hugs from snowy Maine

THIS IS AWESOME !

SOOOO LOVE THIS !!!!







HUGS FROM MAINE

IT'S COMPLICATED

Haven't seen the movie yet, but...




looking at the movie trailers,


pictures of the "house" used, and friends reviews...



I think I'll like it. Plus I just love Meryl Streep !



Hugs from Maine