SRKindredSpirits

To be honest, I don't really know how I feel about body positive bloggers and instagramers.... I'm all for loving ourselves at any size/look, but at the same time, we could all use some work.... some maybe more than others... or is that just me?!?!? Is it okay to flaunt the fact that someone is obese and loves themselves? Especially when being overweight is unhealthy? But then again, thin people can be just as unhealthy, so why is it ok for them to flaunt it? Why is it that we view skinny girls as pretty? Doesn't God love us all at any size? Aren't we supposed to take care of our bodies? I don't know the answers, but a few weeks ago I absolutely fell in love with a post I came across on Instagram.... The following is my version, edited from @clothesandcurves - you can read the original here . I have been married for 15 years..... and it dawned on me how many days of those years I was completely in my head about my body and my appearance.  I ...

Well, I done it again.... had a big argument with my teenage daughter.  Let me insert here.... I love this girl. Period. I want what's best for her. I want her to have everything I didn't, and I want her to be happy, and successful in everything she sets out to accomplish. She is a gifted writer, player of music, singer , photographer, graphic designer, and artist . She sees the good in everyone.... But she is so very different from me.  I am a Type 3. I see the world in black and white. I don't like people and I usually only give someone a chance once. If they mess it up, I'm done. It's over. I'm very opinionated and really don't care what other people think. I'm strong headed and can be kinda rude. It's really not worth my time arguing with you. But she. NO. She is a Type 2 and thinks the best of everyone. She sees the world in grey.  She gives people chance after chance after chance. She never wants to hurt their feelings. She...

I made my first jewelry holder back in 2011 and ever since then, I have displayed my jewelry on our bedroom wall. My ideas, wants, decor and jewelry has changed a bit since back then.... (which is probably a good thing! ) In 2014 I made another jewelry holder, which was the perfect size and looks great on the wall. I still use it today. However, I have always kept my bracelets in my jewelry box tucked away in my closet.  I love wearing bracelets, but since they weren't out where I could see them or easily accessible, most days I never wore them... Well, alot has happened in the years since then... we have minimized our life style, getting rid of a bedroom dresser, mirror, and cairo cabinet, and cleaned out our bedroom closets.... oh, and a new chair and fresh coat of paint made it look like a completely different room. Except, the crazy little jewelry box was still sitting in my closet, driving me crazy, most of the bracelets unworn. So, I decided to final...

Another year school has begun. And just like all the other moms, I take 1st day of school year pictures. But here's the thing.... it's always sad for me. Not in the "Aw, they're growing up" or "I can't believe how fast time goes" or "I can't believe my kids are in (insert grade level) grade" kind of way.  But rather I'm sad, because to me it's a reminder that although I should have a seventh and fourth grader, after all these years, I still have a kindergarten and first grader. I'm sad because their future (especially my sons) looks so different than other kids.  The older they get the harder it is to be excited about school or to post pictures about it or talk about it because I know that my kids are not normal. When other moms are posting about how good their child's doing in school or how excited their son or daughter is to be going on to the next grade, or how many friends they have in their class, ...

I have an 18 yr old daughter... she is beautiful inside and out, has a heart for people, thinks the best of everyone, and is talented. She can write, paint, sketch, play four musical instruments, has a beautiful voice, and loves animals. She is taking Graphic Design in college, and has a full time job. She is a soft, kind hearted young lady.  And while she still lives at home and has a dad to look out for her, she's not all peaches and cream. She can hold her own pretty well, and has her own ideas, standards and reasoning. But, when it comes to dating, she has seen some of the worst brought out in guys... In the last few years, she has had six guys interested. Some have asked her to date, some have wanted to do everything but date. One lied to both her and her dad, one was 11+ yrs older than her and lived in another country, one didn't have his licence and wanted her to drive out of state to his house, one told her he needed space from her family before they even we...

The new Ikea catalog came in the mail today.... and I found a few items that I'd love to have.... I visited my first Ikea store in 2015. Hubby took me there on a date. It was three hours away from where we live. I fell in love! So, I was ecstatic when I learned that an Ikea store was going in one hour away from our house, which I happen to drive right by every couple months. I get it.... sometimes Ikea is over rated. Sometimes, I get tired of seeing bloggers homes that just scream Ikea.... like seriously - in my opinion, a house needs some old worn bits of history thrown in to make it look good. The last couple times I went, I was actually disappointed in the quality of service and the cost of the items, and I told hubby that I need a break from ikea for awhile.... But, with that said.... here is a few IKEA items that I absolutely love! First up... the BESTA storage cabinet. We went from having a filing cabinet, 2 dressers, a large desk, and a table in...

"Whenever you want to add to your life.... take away something instead.  You'll find that the more you take away, the more you have. And even better, you'll find yourself buried down there at the bottom somewhere." - Rhoda A Kindred

Today, we are talking about closets.... Never underestimate the difference that a little change can make . I have always used plastic coated wire hangers in my closet, but over the years, I had just about every color and style and flimsy ones they make. Hubby on the other hand always used plain old wire hangers with some wood ones and yarn wrapped ones, that his great grandma made. They just looked bad. I hated hanging up clothes and I hated looking at them even more.  So, I purchased brand new plastic wire coated heavy duty hangers in white for our closets and it's amazing how much of a difference it makes!  Left - after white hangers and hung by type and color Right - before uniform hangers (hung by type, but NOT color) Another way to brighten the closet is to change out incandescent light bulbs for some bright white LEDs and to throw a fresh coat of paint on it. We just painted our shelves white (they were just an ugly stained wood) and that mad...

I have cancer. Its non curable  It's slow growing. But its cancer . Hubby and I finally finished finalizing our will. Complete with funeral arrangements. If that doesn't sober you up, I'm not sure what will. It's been something we've been trying to finalize for years, but never got it done until now.  (No, your not getting anything, and don't bother contesting it, cause we put in a no contest clause.) To make a long story short, I don't want a viewing with an open casket with people filing by to look at my dead cold body, or a traditional funeral. And I want something odd on my tombstone. Something quirky, but out there, just like me. Something that make people stop and laugh and say I can't believe they put 'that' on a headstone! But anyway, back to this post.... Most of the people I know who have died, have died from cancer. Not all, but a very high percentage. Today, Beth Chapman died. I've been reading all the g...

A Former Monk’s Financial Guide to Becoming a Little Bit Wealthy .... and Why That’s Okay Anyone that knows me, knows that I am not good with words... especially big words. I have trouble saying them, reading them and understanding them. I enjoy reading (and writing) as much as the next person, but when a book is written using big words, is hard to comprehend, or goes too deep, I zone out. Most financial books have me never finishing them. But not this one, - this one I got!  This book is good. I love the way the author provides easy to comprehend words, sound practical advice, and a down to earth, relate able, and compelling story.  The author makes a strong ethical case for striving to be "a little bit wealthy" by stepping off the treadmill of mindless consumerism (excessive unnecessary spending) and managing money more effectively to accumulate wealth over time. After all, it's up to us to take care of our financial health, which ultimately is a p...