Does anyone know who was in charge of sending out the updated version of etiquette as it pertains to the status of attendance to a special event?  Apparently, I was not on that mailing list as I am still under the assumption that when you share with the hostess that you will be attending a party you will be attending the party.

By AMY FREESE
DesignHer Living columnist
When it comes to designing and creating beautiful surroundings, so often my attention has been focused on doing so on the inside of the home. However, in the last few years much of my energy and creative juice has flowed to the space outside my back door.

I think my interest in digging in the dirt began out of necessity as I had run out of interior spaces to expend my creative energy. How many times can a room get redone just because you’ve got some pent-up juice waiting to be poured?

Once I stepped outside my back door and realized there was a blank canvas awaiting my attention, the interior of my home soon took second fiddle.

By AMY FREESE
DesignHer Living columnist

“Excuse me – did we just hear what we think we heard?” “And excuse me, you little smart-aleck 20-something, for your information, we are completely in our prime!” Yes, that was the bullying that my fabulously 40-ish and rapidly approaching gal pals and I were treated to when we recently celebrated a “milestone” 50th birthday with our perfectly primed and poised friend.

To bring you up to speed, some too-big-for-their-britches whippersnapper shared as we passed by that my lady friends and I were “past our prime.”  Whatever…. and what does that even mean?

Society may state a certain more youthful age as “prime,” but in my opinion a woman can be in her prime at any age she chooses if she designs it that way.

By AMY FREESE
DesignHer Living columnist

During our Christmas family getaway my teen boys informed my hubby and I that for the upcoming spring break they wanted to spring free from us and not with us to some far flung exotic island or ski dusted slopes like we were suggesting.  How dare these teens of ours suggest their desire to experience a spring break literally this year and not figuratively with their folks. 

Our initial reaction to their fantasy of flying solo was nothing short of shock and horror, “How could you not want to be with us? ” to “I’ve read Jim Welborn’s columns so I know what happens on spring break when a bunch of teens get together!”

Part of our message at church on Sunday included a reminder that there must be an equal ratio of inhaling (quiet time, prayer, worship) and exhaling (pouring our life into others and letting others pour into ours) taking place in our lives for our lives to be effectively and peacefully used by God.  

As I looked to what the new week held for me, I knew there was going to be a whole lot more exhaling going on and I was hoping I had enough breath.

We’ve all heard the expression “too much of a good thing isn’t so good.” This comment is  usually thrown around when referring to behaviors and attitudes that need reigning in or modified but that same ‘reigning in’ should also be practiced when fluffing your nest.