Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge

It's time again for the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.  Or maybe it's not even on Pinterest, maybe it's just something totally new that I'm trying for the first time.  

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.** 

A Thanksgiving-y Project 

We were walking through Walgreen's the other day and they were doing some major rearranging.  The employees were hustling to rid any sign that Halloween existed.  They were in a hurry to make room for all the mini-Santas, faux garland, tinsel and miscellaneous Christmas paraphernalia. 

"What happened to Thanksgiving?" asked Lucy in her best Tiny Tim voice.

"Oh, honey, no one cares about Thanksgiving," I honestly explained to joked with her.  

The Walgreen's employee hunched over a box labeled Mickey Mouse Santas looked up and laughed a "you said it sister" laugh.

Oh but I do care about Thanksgiving.  And so do a lot of grateful people on Facebook--all those folks participating in the 30 days of gratitude who are thankful for sunsets, their amazing husbands and the like.  Mildly annoying, but I like their Thanksgiving spirit.

I've wanted to do a Thanksgiving-y project with my kids for a long time.  And the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge seemed like the ideal place to give it a go.  
The inspiration came from this pin from katescreativespaces.com.

This is all about a cute, meaningful way to enjoy fall.  I gave mine a Thanksgiving/Gratitude spin, as well as a much more simplified set up.

With a cheap puffy poster board from Michael's for $4.99, ribbon on sale for $1 a roll and old construction paper and push pins we had around the house, my Thanksgiving/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown was created.

This new tradition is going to be fun because I thought of it more as a game or lesson.  Each leaf represents a day closer to Thanksgiving and a lesson in gratitude--what to be grateful for and how to express that gratitude.  For example, one leaf says Family: Call your grandparents and tell them you love them.  Other leaves say Neighborhood: Offer to rake a neighbor's leaves; Health: Go for a family walk; Home: Clean your rooms (I'm sure that one will be their favorite.).

Today's leaf.  We are very grateful for democracy.

There are a few leaves that read like game cards: Pass It On: Do one extra nice thing for someone in your family.

So far, I think I love this challenge.  Again, it's not perfect and doesn't look as great as the cute picture in the Pinterest inspiration.  BUT I feel pretty happy with this challenge.  It's cute and has a pretty cool purpose.

So how about it, will you take the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge? What have you made, painted, cooked, arranged, sewed, Mod-Podged from Pinterest?  Or did you try something new and outrageous?

Share it in the comments or leave the link to a picture of your project or meal or furniture or pumpkins....well you get the idea.  

Check out some of my other Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenges:

The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here

The pumpkin address-click here




Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here

Oh yeah, and follow my Pinterest boards too.

Beyond Grateful

Monday morning, I drove my husband, Tim, to the outpatient surgery center.  I took him in for his first surgery ever.  How is that even possible?  Thirty-eight years old and no surgery? To say he was nervous, was an understatement.

The whole thing was strange.  In our almost 15 years together, it has always been me in the hospital bed.  Either having a baby or having some minor surgical procedure.  I'm the one hooked up to monitors and oxygen.  I'm the one being poked and prodded and drugged.  

And here's what...I prefer it that way.  No, I don't love all the drugging, poking and prodding.  But I prefer to go through it rather than watch someone you love go through it.  Any of it.  The nerves, the scary possibilities, the what ifs, the pain, the worry, etc.

Tim is my rock.  He is the stable one in this relationship.  He is the healthy one in all definitions of healthy--physical and mental. 

His shoulder surgery went smoothly.  He has been a surprisingly good, relaxed patient here at home.  And for that I am relieved.

He is still the one making jokes and making everything okay.

That is the one perk of this whole surgery ordeal, he is home from work.  Even though it is a challenge to keep baby Wade away from him while he rests and the big kids are at school, I love being able to hang out with him in the afternoon.

These past few days have been weird, slow, long.  I knew it before, but now I know it more, I love Tim so much.

This post is so sickeningly sweet, I know.  But it's my truth.  It's my life.  And I am beyond grateful.

As Alicia Keys says, "I don't want to forget the present is a gift."  Love this song- Like You'll Never See Me Again

"When the kids are old enough we're going to teach them to fly." Damn straight Dave Matthews Band. Love their song You & Me.