Photo Challenge: Hate to Love It!

After a long day of music making at the schoolhouse and taking care of Mr. Cheeks, there is nothing that I enjoy more than relaxing with hubby and a cold glass of wine!  I also love a girls night out over a great bottle of Chardonnay, solving the problems of the world or just the schoolhouse.  So, without hesitation, after this past weekend's girls trip, the perfect "Hate to Love It" photo just had to be:
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Project Life Highlights

Project Life, which I've posted about before, is one of my new best motivators to capture every day life through pictures.  The idea is to take a picture every day for 365 days, and create a beautiful album celebrating the little things that make life so special.  I started this project on my 30th birthday (what better time to purposefully cherish the moment?), and will share highlights each week.  You can certainly apply the concept without the expense of the kit!

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Energy or Fatigue? Which Will The Day Bring?

As I try to motivate myself to accomplish everything on my "To Do" List, my mind often wanders to hugely successful people.
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Today's Sunday Scoop - Peek At My Paper!

Preparing for this week's Sunday Scoop was so exciting!  I loved getting all of the emails from bloggers that would like to be featured, and am creating a weekly schedule so I can feature you all!  My choice for this week's featured blogger was chosen for her inspiration to take more pictures of every day life.  She is working on something called Project Life, and has inspired me to do the project, too!
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The Journey Continues...

Today marks another milestone in my new journey as a blogger!  I was asked to write a guest post on how teachers prepare for school by Asashia at A Practical Mom!  I was thrilled at the opportunity to write a post on another blog, and what makes it even better is that today is my 30th birthday.  Rather than wallow in self-pity about no longer being in my twenties, everything just seems to be coming together at the right time!  A great hubby, adorable (HEALTHY this week) Mr. Cheeks, a great career, and bloggy success!

Check out my guest post today at A Practical Mom:

Cheers to another great decade!

It's Your Turn to Shine!

Those who follow me know that I have found one of the best aspects of blogging to be the sense of community amongst those involved.  Since I am a working mom, I miss out on having a group of moms that I can confide in.  Blogging has filled that void, and offered me every resource imaginable.  So many resources, in fact, I need another day in the week to put them all into action.

I think it is important to spotlight those who share a unique message in their blog, whether it be heartfelt, humorous, spiritual, or otherwise beneficial to all who read it.  One particularly HOT Sunday in Atlanta, I found a very enticing picture of Ice Cream, and got the idea for the Sunday Scoop.  Ending the week featuring great blogs seemed like a great idea to me.

The more I get into blogging (and honestly, the more I have returned to work), I am not sure that I am the best person to seek out blogs, as there are SO many.  So, I am putting a spin on the Sunday Scoop, and inviting those of you who would like to be featured to let me know, and we will put YOU on center stage. Comment Love will be flowing, and you may even find yourself with some new followers.

Don't be shy!  The best way to gain readership is to put yourself out there, and the talent in the blogopshere is amazing.  Check out the "Featured On The Sunday Scoop" page to learn more about being featured.  I can't wait to feature some new blogs this week!

When the Sweetness Disappears

My first full week back to school was extremely busy, very productive, and the Schoolhouse Band Room was filled with some very interesting sounding "music".  Turns out Junior High kids don't like to practice their instruments over the summer.  One moment this week really stuck with me.  It pulled at my heartstrings, and made me wonder when the "sweetness" in children disappears.
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Slow Down Life!

I don't know what happened.  Yesterday I was enduring hours of labor and crying tears of joy as I met my baby, and today he ran away from me!  Nobody told me that raising a little boy would go by at lightening speed, and I can't stop searching for the pause button.

I can remember introducing Mr. Cheeks to everyone that I could, and being in awe of him.  Studying his every feature, listening to his every breath, and finding love that I never knew was possible.

Not knowing that these cuddles, gazes back and forth, tiny tiny clothes, and miniature fingers and toes would be gone in the blink of an eye.

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Sharpen Your Number 2 - It's Game Time!

The past few days have commemorated one of my favorite times of year - the first days of school.  Although the school year no longer begins in fall, with thoughts of apples, cute cardigans, changing leaves, and COOLER WEATHER, it brings about an air all its own.  

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The Sunday Scoop

It has been a hectic week in our house, leaving little time for anything but taking care of Mr. Cheeks.  But, with a sick baby comes some of those little cuddle moments I've missed so much!

I have found time here and there to jump on the computer, and I have two blogs to share in this week's Sunday Scoop.  I am also in the finishing stages of creating a Sunday Scoop button that you can grab and play along, if you are looking for a way to share some of what you found in the blogosphere each week!  So here are my two new favorites....
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The ER Minus any Hot Doctors

This post will have to be quick, as I am sitting at my desk and in One Hour, students will be arriving for their first day of school.  I wanted to share the excitement that has been going on in our house over the last 48 hours.

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Plan To Eat - My Impressions

This week I have begun working again.  This means many things for our family, the most important of which is planning meals ahead.  I know, I know.  I could have been saving money, keeping my family healthy, and saving the world by meal planning every Monday through the summer.  But, I needed a vacation.  So dinners for the last two months have ranged from a bowl of Special K to the most fantastic crabs cakes in the world!

I decided to try an online service called Plan to Eat.  It is a sponsor of several very successful Mom Blogs, so off I went.  My review is unsolicited.
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One Year Old vs. Lifejacket Volume 1

I never realized the realm of emotions that a one-year-old child is capable of.  I guess I ran out of time to read the baby books at about the time Mr. Cheeks rolled over (go figure!).  

So, Mr. Cheeks' ability to get really mad and throw a tantrum hasn't surprised me that much.  I mean, he's a kid.  That's what kids in shopping malls, restaurants, doctor's offices, and the schoolhouse do.  But what really gets me, I mean really tickles me, is when he gets mad, but knows he just has to comply.

Case and point....

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The Sunday Scoop

O Blog, Where Art Thou?  I've missed you so!  The whole work, life, BLOG balance is a little more challenging than expected, and I just need to get out from under that comfy duvet and meet the computer again.

So here I am, in the peaceful serenity of Sunday morning, ready to highlight some great finds from this weeks blog reading.  I am going to do this in a little different format today, because I was actually given my first blog award, and it allows me to pass on the award to some of my favorite blogs!
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