My Word of the Year in March

I started the year with a Word of the Year, Appreciate!  Yesterday morning, Jarret and I did just that.  It was rainy and gloomy in the morning.  We really needed the rain!  Jarret and I decided to take Dexter on a long walk.  Although we ended up with a completely soaked Dexter, we got to appreciate that the rain brought more life and color around us.

My boys at the beginning of the walk.

Not our house, just thought the willow finally getting its leaves back was pretty!

Even the Calorie Pear trees are blooming early this year.

 Hope everyone is getting a chance to get out and appreciate the weather!

xoxo
~Sabrina

"Funny how a melody, sounds like a memory"

Seriously, one day those girls on my Girls on the Run team make me feel old, then young, then back to feeling old.  I asked them what they wanted to be when they grow up.  They each give me about five different things, which is great that they want to do so much. I jokingly replied, I still don't know what I want to be (which of course I do, a cape making ninja like I am of course).  One girl replies: "You don't really have a lot of time left to find out."  Oh, how lovely, 27 years old and not a lot of time left...  Yep, all those things you're thinking in your head.. That's what I'm thinking too, but I held it back. :)  Haha, so while they all huffed and puffed about running during and after, I came home and ran another 2.5 miles.. Bet you can't do that youngster!!! 

Now, while on my run I couldn't help but play Eric Church's new song "Springsteen"... a couple of times completely back to back.  I couldn't help it!  The weather was absolutely perfect (70s with a slight breeze) and I love feeling like I'm in a movie (you do it too, don't deny it) and this is the part where the camera watches me run while enjoying the weather and trying to forget whatever is bothering me (like children reminding me that I am getting old).  Dexter had a good time too because it has been one strange and warm winter and the flowers are blooming already, so play the song (you know you want to) and enjoy the views from today with me!

xoxo

~Sabrina

The dog and I... we have it good!

I'm done with my second full week of coaching a Girls on the Run season.  It is going great!  It is also the biggest learning tool thus far in my quest to figuring out children.  Fourth and Fifth Graders: Not what they used to be.  They are very open and are into boys already, some of the girls aren't, but some of the girls are.  It's funny to me when the one speaks of what Santa brought her and then mentions how her ex boyfriend cheated on her (by sitting with another girl at lunch).  I'm glad Santa is still in some of their lives, but man kids are growing up really fast!!!

Aside from Girls on the Run, I get more training for my quest by simply being friends with Leslie:
Scene opens with me calling Leslie up on the phone:

Leslie: Hey 'Rina!
Sabrina: Hey!  What's going on, just you and Avery tonight?
Leslie: Yea, Grandma has Aidan tonight.
Sabrina:  Well, that's fun. 

<Interruptions of high shrill screeches in the background - I can tell Leslie is in a completely different room from said screeches>

Sabrina: Ummm, what's that noise?  Is that Avery?
Leslie: Yep, right now she is roasting her baby doll on the play barbecue set.
Sabrina: She really is turning into a sociopath.
Leslie: Listen to this!

<Leslie walks into room where Avery is grilling up some baby chops>

Avery: Hotttt Hottt Hottt

End Scene

So, you see folks, for someone who doesn't have children... I begin to think... man, the dog and I, we have a good life together. :)

xoxo
~Sabrina

Cutest Beggar!

I was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today and Dexter decided to be the cutest beggar in the world.  I warn you, being that his hair is completely black you can't see his face that well, but he is the cutest dog in the world!

Just had to share his cuteness!

xoxo

Sabrina



Good Day Sunshine

I can't believe it is late January!!!  Yes we don't live in the north where it is much colder, but usually it is pretty cold here!  62 degrees today!!!  It is amazing.  It's like the beginning of spring, one of may favorite times of the year.  I took Dexter on a nice little walk this morning and couldn't help, but to snap some pictures along the lake side with my iphone.  The sun was beautiful as was the rest of nature.  Shadows were intense!  I love it! 

                                  Dexter's little tail ^

                                                              

Hope you're day was as beautiful as ours! 

xoxo

~Sabrina

2-4-6-8- Who, What, Where, When, Do you APPRECIATE?!

Once again I have been inspired by my favorite blog, that is not ours :), The Lettered Cottage.  One of their posts was about choosing your "word of the year."  A word that helps you throughout the year and motivates you.  Their words (the husband and wife team) are "up" and "reach".  They have some beautiful notes from some of their family and friends about their own "word of the year," so I have been inspired to have my own.

My 2012 word of the year is.... Appreciate.

By definition, appreciate means:
 1. to be grateful or thankful for
 2. to value or regard highly; place a high estimate on

 3. to be fully conscious of; be aware of; detect

 4. to raise in value

Yes, there may be times when you don't feel much appreciation, but there is always a chance to be thankful, even in the worst of situations.  Don't you feel better when someone says "thank you"?  Shouldn't we put a greater value on whatever it is we find important in our lives?  Don't you like it when a person in your life is more aware of who you are and what you are saying?  And, what could be better then to raise value on anything?  If we do a little more appreciation, we just might get some more back in our lives.  Leslie and I have received so much positive feedback from customers over the fact that we include a hand written thank you note in each package we send out.  It is because we are truly appreciative.  Trust me, your hand gets tired after writing several in a row, but it is so worth it.  We are so thankful for the support from every customer.

I am truly appreciative for so many things in life.  Some bad moments that I have overcome, some great moments I never want to forget.  Every day I wake up I am lucky and every day I go to bed I am lucky.  I appreciate myself.  If you appreciate yourself you can be a more positive person, someone people want to be around, love, and appreciate.  So with this new year I promise to be more positive and even more appreciative then I ever have before.

I appreciate Jarret for being my best friend and a supportive husband.

I appreciate Dexter for being my "little guy" and the best pup!

I appreciate my parents for raising me to be the best person I can be and giving me everything they could.

I appreciate my brother for being the best older brother a sibling could ask for.

I appreciate Jarret's parents for raising such an awesome person.

I appreciate Leslie for being an awesome "bestie" and being a great business partner.

I appreciate Leslie's family for having me invade their home and their wife/mother.

I appreciate my friends, Neverland Nook customers, and you (reader of this blog).

Being appreciative can start with a simple "thank you."  If it wasn't important, they wouldn't have made a holiday surrounding "thanks." 

Thank you for reading!

xoxo

~Sabrina

PS - If you'd like.. leave your word of the year on our blog or on our facebook.. We'd love to be inspired by you guys!!!   We'd appreicate it.. Sorry, had to geek out on you :)

Still Tired, but VERY Happy

Hello!!!  It's been quite a while for me here on the blog.  I have been super busy.  I believe I made about 28 capes in 1.5 weeks.  I'm not sure if it seems like a lot to you, but when you have a part time job, a husband, a dog, house, cleaning for in laws coming to stay at your house, and you're the seamstress side of the biz... it's a lot of capes, but man it is the MOST fulfilling job in the entire world!!!!!  I couldn't help it, but to say yes to everyone that sent a message.  I'm so excited to know that a bunch of kids received capes from Santa!  I'm hoping we get a couple of pictures from some customers, it would be great to see them!  I'm not completely rested here considering I worked both jobs up until Christmas Eve, the in-laws just left today, and I'm about to make my last two cape orders that are in, but it's okay!  I'm about to embark on one of my favorite journeys tomorrow..... redoing rooms in my house!  It's finally here, the time has come to change these rooms!  Yes, the first room I am doing was just done a year ago, but my style has finally come together and I'm ready for a change, that will hopefully last.  I'll be updating you and taking pictures along the way.  I hope everyone has had a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!!!! 

xoxo
~Sabrina