Hey you! How are you today? I apologize for missing our usual catch up otherwise known as Happy Monday for last week. In fact, I think I dropped off the radar for the entire week. Have no fear, I am fine I was just having some fun and took the week off. My sister came to stay with us on Wednesday and we had a really nice time. For a long time (years) I have been trying to get my sister to color he hair. She had been going gray for a long time and I thought it would be a fun change. Finally she took me up on my offer to go to the hair salon I frequent to make that change happen. It is her birthday this week so I told her it would make me happy if I could give this to her for her birthday. So off we went and I am happy to say she looks amazing. What a transformation. We spent the rest of the week, catching up and her spending time with my boys. We even went out for a little (ok, maybe a bit big for me) retail therapy at The Loft.  Hey when great sales are happening, I get weak and try on everything!

Yesterday, I spent the day with my in-laws and celebrating a belated birthday for my father-in-law. October is a busy month for birthdays. My mum’s birthday was yesterday. I was glad to be near my sister for a little while before she left on my mum’s birthday. No day goes by that I don’t think about her and miss her terribly. Usually my sister and I share fun memories on her birthday over the telephone so being with my sister in-person was nice.

Last week, with our house guest present, I decided to take the week off from Belinda’s Crafts. But you know what that means for this week – major catch up. I have deadlines that I need to meet so I will need to work a few days this week after the boys arrive home. I typically end my day before I go to pick them up but I don’t want to have to push all of my deadlines out. This time of year makes that rather challenging. I have also been reviewing my inventory and ordering up my fall business supplies which included a great desk attachment that my friend Elaine recommended at our last Craft Crop. It attaches to my desk and has a place for my drink and a little trash can. So I can avoid spills while working. I just received it and love it.  I have a few more things to order and then I should by good through the new year.

My only dilemma is that after this weekend’s weather of strong winds, my first big batch of leaves await my attention. I usually do a little in the day after picking up the boys from school, but I need to work so a delicate balance of time management will need to be planned. I actually enjoy the beginning of the leaf raking season, something about clearing away those golden leaves to reveal the tidy yard beneath, makes me happy. But I promise you, by the third round, I am one grumpy momma!!

As to my reading adventures, I completed my latest read from Helen Oyeyemi and will be writing up a review soon. I selected my next read which will be set in Japan.  I also attended my book club last week, and was able to get my recommendation voted for our November read. It is called, “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly.  The movie version of this non-fiction book will be released on Christmas of this year. So I am thrilled to read it prior to the movie. More about this later in my Book Nook.

Well back to work for me, I hope you all have a great day!

Belinda

Hello happy Monday!! What? You thought I forgot you? No, I didn’t honest, I didn’t forget. Today the boys are home from school so our schedule was a bit different. I had to run some morning errands and now I am finally sitting down to wish you a happy start to your week.
I am very happy today for many reasons, for one, Leao made it home safely from his business trip in North Carolina,  and my family in Florida are safe after this treacherous storm. But I still have prayers for all the people of Haiti and other areas that have been completely devastated by this storm.

I am also happy for the long weekend with my boys, poor Leao had to work. Let’s see, oh and my quarterback has returned to my football team and they rocked it out of the park yesterday. I managed to finish another book and just started one of the amazing books I received on my birthday. So I am feeling good about reading what I own.

The sun is shining bright today and I spent a little while reading on the deck. I will squeeze out a few more sessions before the weather gets too cold and then off to my reading nook for the winter!

I paid to have a signed poster of Nick’s frames for him on his birthday and today we went to pick it up. He was so surprised. I will be sure to share a photo once we hang it in his room.

I spent time reading with Apollo today for his latest book report and reading comics with Nick. He scored big on Saturday when we went to a neighboring town for breakfast (that would be the yummy photo of my breakfast above!)and when we went to leave, we saw a comic book store he always wanted to visit. So he stocked up on some favorites. So he has been catching me up.

I hope you all have a good day and I hope the week brings you something to smile about.

Belinda

I hope you have a blessed day and a wonderful week and I will be writing more posts this week so you better come back!

Have a blessed day!

Belinda