Hello, March!

I am almost certain that I speak for all of us Southerners this year when I say, I am so over Winter. I am absolutely a Fall/Winter lover. Its not really that the Snow or cold, for that matter, bothers me at all. I am just ready to be able to get out in the yard and plant some flowers and pretty up my little yard. I have a few DIY projects that I am itching to do. I want soak up sunshine and watch my oldest play basketball and my youngest dig in dirt and blow bubbles. What I really think I need is change! If you are new to my blog it wont take you very long to figure out that I love the very beginning of each season! Am I the only one? Probably! But seriously am I the only one that goes stir crazy and my kids drive me insane being cooped up? 

Before the snow started melting is was a beautiful white wonderland! I was able to get a few shots mostly with my mobile. Reagan did let me bring my "real" camera out for some action for a few. Kullen, as usual, wouldn't really let me photograph him. 

This month I would like to:

March-Restaurant Free . Eating out is so much fun, however, it can get expensive and with the new journey I am embarking on (see below) I think it would be better to stick with home prep. Back to those meal plans! #gains My only exception to this rule is the occasional Starbucks. I mean a girl cant go without! 

Actually Workout. Holy crap weight packs on. Seriously. I’m not even going to pretend like I have really worked out on a regular basis in a very embarrassing long time. I mean I did workout out a few times but nothing that would produce results. I am thinking about posting to the blog for accountability....What would you guys think? Would you be interested to see my journey? Would you help me! let’s do this. 

Spring clean. Those damn ceiling fans. Pardon my french.

Weekend away. Plan a weekend getaway with my husband. I think slipping away every once in a while for a day or two is key for a marriage to thrive. (my own opinion!)

friend time. I think I invest myself so much into my marriage, family, work and my business that I let my friendships take the back burner. I would like to catch up with an old friend.

Also, I am pretty positive that everyone in the whole world knows about Scentsy. If for some reason you have been in a cave and dont know, it is this really awesome wickless candle. You put your wax in the warmer and voila! Awesomeness. My husband was giving me so much flack on how much money I was spending on this product! Hey. Hey. I guess out of all of the senses, smell must be my favorite. Who cares if I have dirty clothes in the floor and dishes in the sink (not really, im pretty OCD) if my house smells good it makes me feel good. I truly believe scents change moods. Wether it be purfume or candles, a smell does a soul good! So I decided to sell it. I dont really really care if someone buys from me, but I hope if you do, you will purchase from me. Disclaimer: I am no salesman! HA!

My go to scents are( for this time of the year):

• Weathered Leather
• Skinny Dippin'
• Luna
• Perfectly Pomegranate 
• Thunderstorm

Now, my husbands favorite that he wants me to use year round and I swear ya'll he would bathe in it is, Silver Bells. He loves it! It makes him happy! 

You can order from me here on my website.

Thats all Ive got for now, until next time! Ciao!

-Mandi

Home Sweet Home

These past few months have been both a whirlwind of excitement and nerves.

I sit here at my dining room table, I look around in amazement at my surroundings. Look at this house!............. the home that my husband pretty much built with his own hands. Its beautiful. I cant believe we are moved in! I am in love. Beyond blessed.

We actually moved in right before the holidays and had our first Christmas and New Years in it. We made precious memories we will never forget. The kids really thought it was Christmas just from unpacking their rooms. We slap dab wore ourselves out! We were on an unpacking frenzy! We were on a tight time-frame to get boxes and furniture out of the POD so it could be returned. I really hope to never move again. We survived. (only because there was an abundant amount of wine consumed throughout this process.)

There are still so many projects left. I am a lover of all DIY, on a smaller scale of course so I am loving finding and repurposing or creating things.

I wanted to stop by and tell my readers a) I am still alive and b) give you SOME PICTURES Eeek! Thanks for all of the emails & text! 

I am waiting until each room is absolutely finished before posting. You will have to settle for cell phone photo quality. THESE PHOTOS DO NO JUSTICE! :)

First up, Kullen's room.

Adam built this wall. I love his room. It is so cozy.

patchwork plaid bedding at target here

Lamp purchased at target here and here (MIL bought this, and it was a perfect match!) 

Next up, Reagan's room

Reagan's room was mainly built around her little doll that came from her Stepmoms mom, and her bed, that was purchased from her Gomaw. Majority of the decor pictured was found at Canton. The best place in the whole world (oh be still my junker heart). If you havent been you are seriously missing out. here Her room is bright and cheerful just as a little girls room should be.

I was so excited for Fixer Upper Season 2 to start. I am super inspired by Joanna Gaines. My honey-do list grows with each episode. More updates to come!

-Mandi

Camper life.

Lets just start out with saying, I am way stressed, and when I am stressed, I come here and write about it and it usually calms me down and its way cheap therapy.


>>>> I would love to torch this camper we have been calling home since August. I am. dead. serious. KABOOM, up in flames!

No I am not ungrateful, by any means, but enough is enough here. Camper life is simply...not for us.
I am more than ready for our house to be complete.


PRETTY much nothing has went on the BUDGET or TIMEFRAME that we originally had in place. And thats just plain reality for home building for ya. We are saving a whole lotta dough by doing majority of the work ourselves but some days I wonder if it was worth it. We honestly did not realize what all is involved in this whole process. We didnt realize how hard it would be.

August until now, have pretty much been a blur! I feel like I have missed out on precious Birthdays, Showers, friends having babies and Weddings ETC .......I have had to bow out of Photography to help Adam out. I know I am not much help, but every open helping hand or just company to talk to makes time go by faster.

None of this adventure has been normal at all, lots of tears, frustrations and fights, but it has forced me to face my OCD ways, it has made me live more humbly, knowing that my "camper" that I complain about I will eventually be out of and in a new home, is better than the cold dark alley that some may call home. My kids probably will never look at life the same as they now have went months with no toys. We are forced to eat together, communicate more. It has really tested my marriage and I dare not lie that if we make it through this whole ordeal, we can make it through anything. It has truly made us all THANKFUL.

We should be in by Christmas, every second counts right now! It kills me to say no to my friends when they just want to hang out, and no to my clients who just want pictures for Christmas. I hate saying no! I know they all understand, and I just feel pretty confident that next year, at this very time, I will be in my new home, with a warm and cozy fire going, chatting with my friend (s) or planning Mini Sessions.

I appreciate the kind words and encouragement from all of you, because even though I know this was self induced changes brought on by our (my husband and I) own choice to build, and that it is all going to be ok like here in the near future, buuuuuut It helps sooooooo much to have prayer and support. 

At the end of the day,Even though I needed to vent out into the world via my own little cyber space, I am feeling so blessed. My heart is so full! Thankful, God is so good!

#HomeSweetRaglands

So, first to report on the mobile home, we actually ended up being able to sell it to family members! God always works things out the way they were meant to be! 

Second, the kids and I decided to embark on some school clothes shopping on Friday. Our trip was very successful. We got up early to beat some of the crazies out on the Texas State Tax Free holiday.

Kullen tested for his yellow belt. He did an awesome job! I am one very proud MOM!

The new house is finally starting to look like a house and not a chicken coop :) lol

I know we have a long way to go, but we are a lot closer to being finished than if we would have never started right? 

Here is some progress:  #HomeSweetRaglands

I am really nervous at the thought of the kids starting back to school while living in a camper. :/ I know we will adapt and I keep praying for the lord to give me strength and patience. 

The best new of all, is that Adam moved his letter back to our home church, and I am going to be baptized to become a member. (I was previously baptized but not in a Baptist church) My family and I went on a church adventure but everything and all Prayers led us back to this church. We feel like it is where we belong and where the lord wants us. 

God has been very good to me, my marriage, my children.....We are feeling very blessed! 

Please pray for us as we have never lived in a camper before!! :)

{five} years

Today, I'm blessed to be celebrating five years since I started officially dating my darling husband. And what an amazing crazy five years it has been!

My heart swells when I reflect back over the years. I can remember just like yesterday how my heart felt. I knew without a doubt that he was the one for me. He was the answer to my prayers.

He gave me butterflies. 
It was the can't eat, can't sleep, over the ballpark type of love.
He was so handsome.
I turned into a big pile of mush with his every smile and the way his baby blue eyes danced as he talked. 

It was a hook, line & sinker type deal as I got to know him. I fell in love with his kindness, honesty and humor. Anyone who knows my husband knows that he's a comedian, always the one to hold court wherever he goes. But, behind the dry and hilarious extrovert lies a man with a heart of gold. 

We fell hard and fast and it was no denying that only God himself had orchestrated the details. But, isn't that way the best things always happen? When we least expect them?  


To Adam:

Thank you for loving me so wholly and unconditionally. Thank you for accepting me for all my faults and shortcomings, and for giving me the grace to be my best self.

Thank you for your faithfulness and for your commitment to "us". 

I cam not wait to see what the future holds. I am so excited we are getting to build a house together. 

I love you.

Always
Mandi

Moving madness!

Greetings. Is it seriously already July? Is it just me or does time move faster as the years go by? For instance, I remember when I was around 10, Christmas would take 48 years to get here. Now, sheesh, I blinked and it is just around the corner. Not complaining, I love Christmastime. 2 months ago I created a countdown on my APP. (serious business) currently it reads..... 71 days until Fall, 136 until Thanksgiving, 137 until Black Friday (Although I think I am shopping via my PJ's at home this year) 164 days until Christmas. Not that I am counting or anything. Do you guys start shopping early?

In other news, we SOLD our Mobile Home! Just as I had hoped and prayed, the buyers are awesome. I know they will love the home just as we had and they will make many memories in it.

I'm going to not to get all sappy here, but the way I feel is sappy so, here goes. Its totally a God thing. Adam and I had been discussing different options for a while now. This is something we have prayed about for a good while now. We decided to take a leap of faith, and just go for what we wanted. TO BUILD A HOUSE! (were adding on the the existing shop, and building a small shophouse)

Sure there have been a few hiccups, sleepless nights. Adam and I havent had have had a few spats! (everyone says its perfectly normal) Building a house is no walk in the park. Some days I just want to pull my hair out, and throw in the towel. We had no clue what we were getting into. Really, I mean it doesnt come with instructions, plus we are doing alot of the work ourselves.

Everything has worked out so far and Ive learned to roll with the punches, as it will work out and in the long run it will be such a blessing. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband who puts aside his needs and wants to provide for our family. I am so glad he is a jack of all trades. He has completed everything from plumbing to wiring hisself. He gained so much wisdom from his Dad, Roy. Thankful for his wisdom as well.


Some of you who close with me, or friends on Facebook, may have seen I was struggling with my OCD. The fact is our lives are TURNED upside, down, right now....you know what..this has been so good for me. Everything has went back to the basics, everythings packed up so not much to clean...I have actually relaxed. Maybe not with my hands, but with my mind! I am still working on the new house and such...but that nagging, "always have to be doing,cleaning etc..." has improved. I am seriously going to be sticking with the less is more motto with the new house!

Here are some progress pictures.

Please be praying for my family! I will do my best to keep the blog updated!
Mandi

Mrs. Thomas' Kinder Class 2013-2014

My baby is about to graduate Kindergarten! I think ill go cry now.
I compiled a video to remember Reagan's Kindergarten year and also in appreciation for all of Mrs. Thomas' and Mrs. Dickens hard work! I am so thankful I got to be present for the first half of her year! It was sad when I had to go back to work, but I knew she was in good hands with the Teachers. (you other Mommie's feel free to use the video if you would like to. There are alot of Reagan in there. LOL)

Thank you,Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Dickens for working so hard with Reagan.