finding lori

Two of the many loves in my life are consignment shopping and coffee, so how excited was I that my sister asked if I wanted to go do both today!!??  Our first stop, of course, coffee.  This cute little local coffee house called the Brick House, is one of our favorite places to go.  In the summertime there is a huge wrap around porch with little bistro tables and chairs to sit at.  In the winter there is a beautiful fire place with cute little tables and comfy worn leather chairs to use.  This is where we sat today, in the comfy chairs :)  Oh it was heaven!  This is a picture of the Brick House at Christmas time. Wouldn't you stop here if you were driving by?? :) After coffee, we continued our day with some consignment shopping.  I was in search of picture frames, or pictures that I could rip the frame off of.  Old or new, didn't matter what color, because I plan on painting them.  This is a picture that I found online that is my i...

I have Mondays and Fridays off during the week and Fridays are my grocery days.  I usually go to the gym first, but today started out with me in a "poor me" mood.  Since I've been off and on with my eating, I've been in these moods a lot lately.  So, what did I do to help myself??  I ate.  I over ate.  Then I didn't feel like getting dressed and going shopping, let alone the gym.  I hate days that begin like this one.  The feeling of failure.  The feeling of ugly.  The feeling of fat.  I was wallowing big time.  I decided to get up and at least clean the mess I made in the kitchen.  Once that was done, I started feeling a little better just by getting out of the chair.  I went out to the family room and was greeted with this adorable little sight.......... My little sweetie Mia.  How can you be in a bad mood when you look at her?  Well you can't.  She was so sweet, like she could sense my sad moo...

Today is my sister Connie's 20th wedding anniversary.  Her and my brother in law Paul are like the perfect couple.  They complement each other and have a love for each other that everyone strives to have in their life. Here is Connie in our grooming salon today with her two dogs, Ellen and Greta.  The pillow is a gift from me :) Connie is not only my sister, neighbor and business partner, but she is also one of my most best friends.  I am so blessed and lucky to have her in my life.  She gives me strength when I don't think I have it.  I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for my sister :) Connie and Paul also gave me Paul, my wonderful nephew, who is one year younger than Dominic.  Paul and Dominic as just as lucky. They grew up together.  They are like brothers.  They were best friends when they were little and Connie and I used to wonder if they would still be as close when they were older.  Well....they are older now and...

Today we celebrated my sister-in-law Julie's birthday.  Our family is pretty close.  I have a brother who is 13 months older than I, a sister who is 18 months younger, and then came our brother 12 years later :)  My parents have been together since they were in 9th grade, and just celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary :)  My brothers are both married...30 years of marriage, and 15 years and have 8 kids between them, my sister has been married 20 years and has one son which, along with my 3 totals 12 grand kids for my parents.  4 girls and the rest boys.  I give my parents the credit for all of our long lasting marriages. They have set a beautiful example for us all to follow.  Besides the fact that we all get along so well, we all live next door to each other too :)   Us girls in the family try to celebrate our birthdays together as much as possible.  Today we went to lunch and had a wonderful time.  My oldest niece was unable to be ...

Wow, is it Sunday already??  This has been one busy week and it's gone by super fast.  My youngest moved back to college today after his long Christmas break.  This past week has consisted of work, shopping for supplies, shopping for fun food, and last minute lunch dates before he heads back.  It's not like he is moving far away,  it's only 30 minutes to his school, but being a boy, I take Mom/Son time when I can get it.  I try not to "bother" him while he's away from home.  I want him to do his own thing, and have his own space.  Let me tell you, that was hard initially.  When he left in August, it was so hard not texting or calling him to see how he was doing.   We are pretty close and I missed having him around.   He is the baby of the family and we always tended to baby him.   After some time,  it was easier to let him do his thing without having to know his every move.  It just took time.  He is loving colle...

Sundays are one of my favorite days.  As I look out of my computer room window, my view is just beautiful.  The sun is almost down and the snow is amazingly stunning. Sundays are my day to reflect on the past week, and to plan the week ahead.  Sundays are church days.  I love spending time in prayer, and centering myself.  I look forward to seeing and talking to my church family, and I also teach CCD ( it's the Catholic way of saying Bible School).  I have the second grade class and I look forward to spending time with them.  They take everything I say in, process it and question it.  I simply love it.  I've always been involved in my parish, but this year is the first year that I have taught a class.  This has been something that I've wanted to do for a long time and just never had the "time" to do it.  Really I just never felt like taking time away from the family to do it.   Dominic is no longer in CCD, as it only is ...

Good morning friends!!  Today was supposed to be the day that I jumped back on my diet again after my disastrous holiday eating.  I woke up determined to start fresh.  I got a cup of coffee, went up to my computer room and was face to face with this vision..... Doesn't it look just too good not to eat??  I fought it for little bit, and then ate every piece, plus a few more left over holiday goodies.  Now you all know my secret......I have no willpower!!!  If it looks pretty, I'll eat it.  I have been working on losing weight all my life.  Well actually since my first pregnancy.  I never lost my baby weight and continued to gain throughout the years.  One thing on my "before 50" list is to lose weight.  I have been losing steadily for 2 months eating no sugar.  No added sugars and no natural sugars, which pretty much means that I have been eating meat, cheese, some veggies, eggs and...thats about it.  I've lost 30 po...

So, I'm not quite sure what to write next. I guess I will explain a little about my need for change before I turn the big 50.  You see, I met my hubby when I was 16.  We dated a few years, then got married a month before I turned 20.  We were together 2 years and then had our first baby, a girl we named Blayne.  She was followed 18 months later by her brother Connor.  When they were 6 and 8, their little brother Dominic came along.  These were wonderful years. I threw myself into being their mom.  I was fortunate enough that I was able to be a stay at home mom until Dominic turned 5 then I started my dog grooming business.  Anyways, long story I know.  The thing is, now there are gone.  Well Dominic is technically still home, but away at college and we are now empty nesters.  When he left for school in August, I realized....I don't know who I am anymore.  I really don't feel like "Mom", and I haven't been "Lori" in 27 years. ...

I wonder how many people will begin something new today.  With 2015 just beginning, I'm sure many will try to make changes in their lives.  I am just one of the many.  I've decided to start a blog.  Umm...did I just say that?   I've always outwardly disliked bloggers.  Who do they think they are, putting it all out there for everyone and anyone to see?  Why do they think anyone even cares?  Secretly I've been obsessed with them for a while now.  I care.  I love reading them.  I want that.  I want that feeling of putting something in writing and having being held accountable for it.  Even if no one ever reads my blog, I will never know so I will still feel like someone, somewhere is holding me accountable.  This is my 50th year.  Hmmm.....50.  I remember when that sounded really old.  I still feel like I am 30 so it really hasn't started to bother me yet.  I decided last year at 49 that I didn't wan...