So here I am ALONE at HOME for an hour, and I am loving every moment of it! Even took the time to light my new Pineapple Cilantro candle from Sue...her "Pleasure Island" candle, and took the time to unwrap and display, here on my desk, the beautiful flowers Mom and Dad Howell sent today. My iTunes is cranked up, my Uggs are on, I grabbed myself a bowl full of cheese doodles (total unhealthy guilty pleasure...these ones are great too...Terrell's...never had had them before) and the dog has been put OUT! It is "Me" time!

Being alone right now is making me think of a journal entry I wrote years and years ago, when the kids were really little. I was commenting on how hard it was to take time for ME, and how, whenever the kids were napping, or were in some other way occupied, I was busy, busy, busy doing house things. In the journal, I was obviously encouraging myself to avoid that, and take those moments for myself. I am happy to say that, many years down the road, I have fully embraced taking time for myself. Of course, my house is not as neat and clean as it used to be, and the laundry does pile up a bit at times, but we are surviving JUST FINE and I am a much more relaxed and happy woman than I was back in "little tiny baby days."

So does this have any deep meaning? Who knows. Does this make me more self actualized??? More indulgent??? More selfish??? Who cares. Online shopping anyone?

Even funnier...as I was prepping the flowers, the card giving me instructions said the following...

NOTE: If your bouquet contains TULIPS, please place them in the water with the plastic sleeve for 8-12 hours. This will support your tulips while they drink.

HA! Well, don't we all need a little support when we drink? To hell with these cheese doodles...I guess it is time for some wine!