Caught in a trap

...and I can't walk out.

OK to quote Elvis is classic but really, I'm not classic and I am caught. More like in a rut but trap will work too. I have stuff I want to do. Crafts and improvements I want to make but I, for the life of me, can not seem to get the mojo running. I have a hanging tin basket that I need to make a spring/Easter "wreath" with and wooden planks to make SOMETHING out of but yet, there it all sits. Collecting dust and whispering "Help me. Make me beautiful".

Sigh.


So now what? I'm on my second, yes second, don't judge me, cup of coffee and still no idea, no motivation to get my hands dirty and thoughts together. Hmm, maybe it's the coffee. Maybe all the caffeine is too much and my mind can't get to a spot to calm down enough to....well, wait, what?

OK, no more coffee for me today. I'm done. So now I look to you, my fellow bloggers and friends. Help me. What words of motivation can you swing my way  to get my butt in gear? Have you done any projects lately that you love and think it's the bees knees? Share it here! I'd love to take a peek and have your mojo rub off on mine!

~Bugs & Fishes,

Aleigh

Hair and all that scary stuff

OK, I have long hair. It's not anything exciting and it's not hair people look at and go "Oh, that's pretty hair. I want her hair." SO! In knowing that and in knowing I want a change, I made myself an appointment to visit Robert at his salon. He's a good friend of my Sister and I've seen him a few times in the past to trim my ends and add a highlight or two. I'm going in a week and I'm excited but have NO IDEA what I should do. Should I go light? Short? Decisions, decisions. Since I find myself at an empass I took the liberty to check out Pinterest and see what ideas and looks jumped out at me. Here are my top picks.

Notice a theme? Hmm, yea. It's all long and blond. My hair is long and dull brown. There are some bangs in there too. I have a love/hate relationship with bangs.


For shorter cuts/styles I like these.

Both look to be a bit choppy and still long enough for a small ponytail. Sigh. I just don't know. I have a feeling it won't look any different than it does now I'm such a baby when it comes to my hair.


What are you chicken about? I'd love to hear! AND, which pic do you like the best? Thoughts? Ideas?

~Bugs & Fishes!

Aleigh

Guest Blogger

Every once in awhile someone comes into your life. Now, they either make such a great impact on you that they stain your heart and stay forever, OR, they break your heart and fade slowly away. My friend Amanda is the first of these people. She is a wonderful woman for so many reason and I asked her to share a bit of herself today. She, without hesitation, said yes.

His love is wide

There was a time when this blog was supposed to be about my artistic endeavors. Yes, even cooking is an art. Oh, what good times they were. I started off so strong and then lost all my umph. One thing about me is that I am NOT a naturally creative person. Not in the least. I have always been more logically driven. It just so happens that everything I find passion for, that I enjoy and strive for, involves a decent level of creativity. Since it doesn't come naturally to me I work at it. Painstakingly work at it. At times...err, always...its a slow process. I'm working on that. In the meantime I find it impossible to not share where I am personally.

When I started going to church, just over a year ago, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had gone to church as a kid but don't recall being too involved. What I never expected was how much it would change me, consume me, fill me with joy. I was seeking to refine my beliefs, and I got exactly what I asked for.

I have had the song Furious by Jeremy Riddle in my head for the last two days. I have heard it in church a couple of times and all I can say is that this song completely overcomes me. One thing, in any genre of music, that pulls me in is emotion. I want to hear it in their voices. To feel it in my heart. And when that happens I am moved to tears without any real knowledge of why I am crying. This song is no exception. The only thing I can say is that it fills my heart with love, and who doesn't want that? And His love at that.

I came home from Cambodia two weeks ago. I have been struggling with what to post and sat down several times at my computer to do it but the words would not come to me. This song has inspired me. Although I'm still not sure what I am trying to say while I am typing away :)

"His love is deep. His love is wide. And It covers us. His love is fierce. His love is strong. It is furious."

My time in Cambodia was spent helping people that needed to be shown this kind of love. To know that it is available to them, waiting for them. After enduring years of genocide, which is still fresh in their history, their country needs healing. And what better way to heal than with God's love? It empowers us to do more than we imagined possible.
During the week we spent in Takeo visiting different villages I helped register our "patients". I struggled with not having much opportunity to interact with the people more than I did. They told my translator what they needed to be seen for; I wrote down what he said. But I tried to find moments to connect when words were not necessary. A smile is universal, right? Those small connections were some of the highlights of my days that week. Of course learning a tiny bit of Khmer, their language, helped a little too.



We saw just under 900 people in that week and I saw many people turned away because we simply could not help everybody. A majority of the people had pretty standard complaints; arthritis pain, toothaches, colds and stomach aches. There were some that had been dealing with chronic issues for 5, 10 even 20 years without ever seeing a doctor. Whether it was a 7 year old boy that had an abscessed tooth pulled. An 85 year old woman getting glasses so she could read again. Or a 40 year old man being given pain medication from falling out of a palm tree, true story! We brought relief and hope.
I was met with so many faces of endurance. Of resiliency.

of innocence.

The children. Oh, don't get me started on the children. They truly stole my heart. Seeing as though I could probably talk about them for hours, I will save that for another post.

I can only hope that I helped touch their lives as much as they touched mine.

If you want to know more and learn about Manda and her passions, please stop by her blog http://somethingsorta.blogspot.com. I know she'd love to have ya !

 Bugs & Fishes!

Aleigh

Ever heard/used the expression

I'm freezing my butt off? Yea, that's what I was doing up there in sunny, WINDY Colorado Springs! I had a blast don't get me wrong. When my Sis and I get together it's pure craziness and fun but I hate being cold. Ask the Hubs. If it's under 75 I'm freezing.

We did a lot of cool stuff and saw some amazing places. Each one more beautiful than the first. I think I could live in CO as long as the weather stayed like it is in June/July all year long. That to me is perfect conditions. Sis had the gaul to say that the snow was beautiful and it's not wet snow. Umm, that's like me saying the heat in AZ is not like heat in other places since it's a DRY heat. I know what she was saying. I get it, but for the first time I realized how nuts it sounded.

So without further adu, I'm posting a few pics of the lovely trip I had. It was nice to get away but man, a full week is too long for me to be away from my Family. Next time, I'm dragging them with me!

These are from Garden of the Gods. SUCH a gorgeous place! That's Sis and I. I'm the one on the bottom.

My Nephew Christian and I being big ol' Goof balls!

Just a house I saw on the side of the road. It reminded me of a doll house and something my Daughter would LOVE to live in! I wish I could have gone inside and taken a look around. I can only imagine the charm that house has. I picture beautiful corbels and lots of vintage touches like real wood floors, wooden caseings and door frames. Oo, and maybe a tin ceiling and a claw foot tub. Sigh. Oh the things you can think!

This is balancing rock. Original name huh? Anyway, here I am doing the traditional, cheesy tourist pic and acting as though the weight of the world is upon me and I, look fantastic holding it!

Downtown Manatu Springs. What a great little town. Naturally I had to pose for a quick pic with Smokey's cousin Wheezy. Notice where his gaze is? Yep, typical guy!

Actually, I like this picture of me. It shows me happy and not with a fake grin on my face. I rarely have pics like that of me. Not to mention those steps were super tall to a house off the road.

This one makes me laugh! Sis was squatting and talking to this squirrel trying to get it to come to her. Well, she freaked when it actually got so close it smelled her fingers!

A cute advertisement. How cool are those bubbles? And look! Notice the sign post is all plumbing supplies and a shower head! That store by the way, smelled amazing!

These next few are from a haunted cemetary there in the Springs. We went on a uber cold day and it was grey! Set the mood nice but since we couldn't go to where the actually "ghosts" were spotted and recorded, we just looked around. This statue creeped me out but I loved the saying.

                                              "It is not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after."

This is the haunted chapel. It was locked. Boo!

An overall shot of the grounds. Yes, it was actually that grey outside. If you ever visit Colorado Springs, CO and want to visit a haunted cemetary, look up Evergreen. It was on A&E in their show My Ghost Story.

OH! And one final piece of advice.The adage ,"when packing for a trip you should aways take double the money and half the clothes." Yep, it's true. DO THAT!

~Bugs & Fishes!

Aleigh

My home style

Comfy, clean, bright and homey. This is what I would love my home to be. Such a welcoming place that as soon as you walk in, you prop your feet up and sigh. When I think of all those things I picture spaces such as the farmhouse that Sarah Richardson did back a few years ago. There was nothing in it I would really change. That home spoke HOME to me.

See what I mean?

I do, however, find that my tastes are running towards the sea. I love the sea. The water, the colors, the air and the food. All of it. As I've said before, I belong there. I fit.

  I can see myself lounging here. I love the enormous starfish in the window and that lantern. That throw looks like pure bliss!

My own personal library with all sorts of books. I love the way books smell don't you? Though I appreciate all things technology, I just can't and won't read a book on a screen. I need pages to dog ear and words to underline.

How's this for front porch sittin'?

A bike ride anyone? I think we should go down to the local antique market and see what treasures we can find. Afterwards, a bonfire on the beach.

I will one day have that dream. A house on the water where salty air kisses my cheeks and flip flops adorn my feet.

~Bugs & Fishes!

Aleigh