From the Mind of AlphaBetsy

It's March! And I was sick for the first 3 days. Hopefully that means that I got it out of my system before my birthday next week. I always seem to get sick around my birthday. March is always a crazy month for us, and this year is certainly no exception. Tomorrow night I am having dinner with my mom and sister, and the three of us are making a whole foods trip. On Saturday we are headed to the Columbus Convention Center to hit the Arnold Fitness Expo. It is amazing for people watching. I hope to get better photos this year than I did last. March 14 is my birthday and Mega Pi Day, so Mom, Traci, Seth and I are walking the Pi-Day 5k. Then later in the night we will be going to my new favorite Italian restaurant, The Florentine. They have amazing food. Our amazing Egg Decorating Party for 2015 is scheduled for the 21st. I am hoping that it will be fun and that we will have a good turn out. I have been looking for new ideas for eggs for this year, and I have some ideas....

And it is 2015. I will be 34 in a couple months. We will celebrate our third anniversary. I will have a year without school so we can get ready for the chaos of finishing my bachelor's degree.    I am looking at this as a rebuilding year, getting ready for the things ahead.   My word of the year is: Evolve.   This year I am going to work on making my life work more efficiently. I will be adjusting and adapting in preparation for what is ahead.   My 2015 goals are: to complete 6+ 5ks, 10ks or whatever, to do a mud run, to take a pole dance class, do more with the lost vikings, attend Earth Warrior's again, do a ropes course or zip line, attend another pagan event, get bowling ball drilled, bowl a 200 game, go hiking 6+ times, go camping, take a class from Heather at Violet Flame Gifts, Find a new gym that offers group fitness, keep my house picked up at all times, do paintball, get necessary house repairs done, work on meditation.   ...

Today has been a good day. My new function at work is fun and challenging. After work I picked up my new KitchenAid mixer. When I got home tonight I had a letter waiting from my lovely penpal in the UK Hannah. And accompanying the letter were some sweets, and an adorable tiny elephant candle. I made grilled cheese to go with my soup for dinner tonight and it was delicious. I did a mini spell that my brother and sister-in-law and their family get approved for the wonderful new house they applied for, so they can get settled before Christmas. Especially since it is the first one for our tiny nephew Gideon. I am snuggling with my cat and my dog, while watching the Columbus Blue Jackets play the Philadelphia Flyers.   Gideon with his Grandma (Seth's mom)   My new toy. He's so little, heehee. Sweets.   I am feeling more like myself again. It was a little rough there in September and October. But things have been really good...

This has been an odd year for me. While normally my house would be ridiculously awash with Halloween bits and bobs, this year I have not put up a single decoration, not one. I bought a couple of new things, and they are sitting in bags unused. I guess every once in a while it is okay to have an off year.   So for my celebration this year I am going to show pictures from a Halloween Party I attended this past weekend, and what I received and sent from the Craftster WWP Samhain swap.      Our hosts the moon and sun Jen the Moon A close-up of the moon paint Chris the Sun   The moon and the pussycat Me as a flapper   A close-up of 1920's me My hubby ala duck dynasty More of my hubby A couple of force users The captain...trekking Kim as Ula   And as for the two swap packages I sent my partner The whole kit and kaboodle...   Sea salt, a crystal, and candleholders ...

I got the package in the mail for one of the giveaways I was lucky enough to win. I am going to actually make the wreath tomorrow I think, but I wanted to post pics of the fabulous package. How beautiful is the box!!         More pictures to come once I have actually assembled the wreath. Hopefully before the end of the week. :)

I woke up this morning to learn that I had one not one, but two giveaways. I won a copy of Coventry Magic by Jacki Smith from Rue and Hyssop . And I won a Samhain wreath kit from Samhain's Sirens. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. :) So excited.

Blessed Mabon to all! This weekend we went apple picking to celebrate, and to reap the rewards. Then we went to Thornville Ohio to the Backwoods Festival. I bought soaps from my favorite soap company Elder Forest Soaps, a wooden crow for the yard, a catnip toy for Sam, a sage lavender and flower smudge stick and some home made "pepper butter".     Today I received my Mabon swap package from the lovely Holistic Knitter. I sent her a set of prayer flags. She sent me a Mabon Dreamcatcher, an apple cozy and some autumn note cards.       Welcome Fall!!