Monday, January 31, 2011

Somebody Pinch Me.

A snowstorm is coming this way.
I could care less.
I am flying high from this past weekend.
I spent the weekend with an amazing group of bloggers.
Somebody pinch me.
I am completely inspired.
I am renewed.
I am encouraged.
Why do I feel so tired, then?
It must be the amounts of sweets I shoved in my face.
It might be the fact that I made crafts for the first time ever. 
It might be that I used up my daily word allotment for the next month.
It might be that I didn't go to bed before 1 am for two nights in a row.
More coffee, please.
I wonder if we can do this all over again next month???

Friday, January 28, 2011

A Lurking Fashion Trend: Summer

I am always curious about what's coming up for Spring and Summer this time of year. After perusing the swimsuits online, I think it's safe to say that there is a trend that is trying to make a move into our lives just the way the skinny jean did. And remember, the skinny jean succeeded with many people, including this skeptic. This "new" trend one that is actually kind of...mature. Quite frankly. I gasped at every site and said out loud to no one but my computer, "Uh, no."

What is this trend?
The SWIM DRESS.
Source: Stylefind.com
It's everywhere. 
And it's being marketed to people under 65.
Dillards
JCPenney
Kohls
Target
Macys

There are some cute ones out there.
What if the swimdress isn't just for Grandmas anymore? 
What if one would creep into my life the way the skinny jeans did?
Will I be trying one on? 
I'm curious enough.
But am I old enough?!!!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Which One of These is Not Like the Other One?

So let's talk about my bedding very briefly.

Several days ago, a few of you made some comments on my Happy post about liking my bedding.
Here are the details per your request.
I bought it at West Elm. (They are having a 20 percent off sale on bedding right now, FYI.)
The color is called "natural". It washes beautifully.
I chose a queen sized duvet. Why didn't someone tell me before I bought it that I'd want a King?!
Someone should've told me I'd want it longer on the sides.
Someone (me) should've asked someone (you) else. That's what I get for not asking for any input.
Bedding that matches was one of my favorite birthday presents ever.
It kind of makes me feel  kind of grown up.
Thanks, Mom and Dad.
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For months I have been trying to find a meal that my entire family will eat without complaining. (McDonalds doesn't count.) I am proud to report that I have found one: Crock-pot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches and Steak Fries. Click here for the recipe. You might remember Maggie. She gave us all the incredible Peanut Butter Cup Cookies. Oh, you do remember? Well, make the Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, too. They are so good that even Ella ate them. (Like Mikey in those old Life cereal commercials.) Then, make those cookies again, but remember! Don't give me any. I can't stop myself. No really, I can't. I have Peanut Butter Cup Cookie issues.
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And then there's Julie...from Joys Hope. This week I made the fastest fudge in the west, thanks to her. To say this is easy is an understatement. I followed her directions and then added a splash of coffee to mine. DELISH. I then had two cups of coffee to wash down two small pieces. The recipe is here.
"Five minutes to ruin"...indeed.
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I think that's all I have to say today.
A little white bedding, BBQ, and chocolate fudge, anyone?
It makes total sense to me.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

WORD.

 Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words of my mouth; 
these are what I chew on and pray.
Psalm 19:12-13, The Message

Monday, January 24, 2011

Happy.

Does anyone remember that book 10,000 Things to Be Happy About? My cousin Rachel got me hooked.

Oh wait. I just looked it up on Amazon and it's 14,000 Things To Be Happy About.  Does it take more to make us all happy than it did in the 90's? Did they add 4,000 more? Or, did I only read the first 10,000 and think: Well, I'm happy. I'm done.
At any rate, I loved reading those entries.
They inspired me.
I loved being reminded about the things that I could be happy about. Click here for the author's website.
I started making my own list today as I found myself once again inspired.

1. A child who can entertain herself.
2. Movies "rented" from the public library.
3. Snowmen.
4. A made bed.
5. Cotton candy painted clouds.
6. A disaster of a junk drawer reformed.
7. Hot chocolate.
8. A good stretch.
9. Blinged out Sketchers.
10. Friends who selflessly share what they know. Click here.  And here.
Photo by Megan Hein

I wonder how many posts it would take for me to come up with 13,990 more things? 
It could be fun trying. :)
What's on your list of things to be happy about today? 

Friday, January 21, 2011

In Style's "On My Mind"

It's time for In Style's "On My Mind". This month the celeb is Kim Kardashian.
I wonder if she knows that I was the original Kim K. It's true. My maiden name starts with K and when I was in elementary school I was known as Kim K. because there was more than one Kim in my class.
Which reminds me, does anyone know where Kim M. is?
Back Miss Kardashian's topics. You'll have to pick up an In Style for her answers. Here are mine...
My to-die for- style icons are...Carrie Underwood, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Aniston, and new this week---Kelly Ripa.
My latest passion is...READING. I have finally made time in my schedule to do a little bit of reading every day. I'm currently reading Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck.
I can't travel without...Tylenol PM. I don't sleep well in a hotel room without it...especially since the bed bug outbreak.
I am dying to go to...France. I went once in college. Someday Bruce and I will go there together...someday soon, I hope.
I love wearing...Spanx. They're warmer than Cuddle Duds in the winter and you look like you've lost five pounds. As soon as I realized this, I kicked Cuddle Duds to the curb.
I love to collect...I don't really collect anything. I kind of think that collections have a tendency to collect dust and I collect plenty of that without one.
I'll never commit to...my real hair color and Jay Leno. 
How about you? I'd love to hear what you have to say. Copy and paste the categories in the comment section and fill in your answers. Answer them all, or answer a few. I can't wait to read what you have to say.
Happy Weekend!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Distracted.

So I'll admit, I may not have been very present in the life of my three year old this morning.
I was doing laundry.
I was watching Regis and Kelly. (Kelly had on this amazing pink dress. Want, double want.)
I was making a grocery list, reading my daily Bible passage,and cleaning up the kitchen.

Talia was getting into everything. And whining about EVERYTHING. And mixing it up with real tears while being all over me.
What really got my attention was when she said to me,
"What happened to you? You were in such a good mood at breakfast!" 

To which, I laughed out loud.

What happened to me?
What happened TO ME????
I said, "Disobedience happened."
She looked at me wide-eyed like she had no idea what I was talking about.
While it's true that she had been disobedient several times, it's also true that I was paying very little attention to her. I had been saying, "Uh-huh, yes, totally," and not really hearing a word she had said. I was doing what I was doing and wishing she would do what she could do to stay entertained.

Someone commented on the Tangled Weekend post that they were inspired to spend more time with their little ones after reading about our weekend. Well, this morning, I needed a bit of inspiration myself. So, before running errands, we headed outside to both breathe deeply.

It was snowing something that resembled the Dippin' Dots that you get at the mall. I've never actually tasted Dippin' Dots, but it felt like what I would imagine Dippin' Dots to feel like if they fell from the sky.
Talia decided to have a taste.
Not bad.
"Oh, wait. I got it in my eye!"
"That's better, but my scarf is choking me."
"It IS choking me."
I was reminded while we were catching snowflakes with our tongues, that making those deposits is important. It's also very exhausting. Why can't I see those interruptions as big time investment opportunities? When I feel like she's withdrawing more than her budgeted amount, it's time for me to take notice. It's time for me to be generous.

Generous in love.
Generous with time.
Generous with discipline, if needed

It doesn't just "happen" over a weekend when we decide to take her to the movies because honestly, that is not enough.

If I am banking on the fact that both of my "investments" will be worth a lot in the end, there is work to do.

Now's the time to invest in me, so I'll have more to give away.
Talia's napping.
I'm off to read a magazine.
Maybe I'll be able to get past dinner without being called out on my mood. :)

Monday, January 17, 2011

The Tangled Weekend

A few weeks ago (when Ella was in the wedding) we sent Talia to have some special time with Grandpa and Grandma.  We intentionally sent her on her own so we could have one on one time with Ella. This past weekend, we kept Talia at home with us and sent Ella off to play with Bruce's parents. She was a little too eager to go, and that makes me happy.
We spent time doing things Talia really likes to do: we read tons of books, attended a basketball game, and went to the movies. THE MOVIES...now that's special to Talia. Especially since her sister wants nothing to do with the darkness or the loudness of a movie theater. 
She loves everything about the movies.
The arcade...no money was spent. She doesn't know the difference yet, does she?
The popcorn...
Waiting for the curtain to go up...
And sitting between us. 
I know this picture is horrible (I'm still learning about low lighting), but just look at that face. 
Look at those little arms crossed. She was eating this all up, and I was eating her up.
I am so thankful that we are able to have these one on one times with our girls. 
I hope that someday they look back and remember their one on one times with Grandma and Grandpa....
And their weekend dates with us. 

Here I am pretending to get caught up in Rapunzal's hair.
My hope is that we are filling their love tanks more often than when we can get a date weekend with them. We may have to look at date nights, date afternoons, or date hours. Sometimes life is like that, isn't it?

What I'd love to know from you today is:
1.Do you have a individual time with your kids?
2.Do you have a special name for that time?
3.What's the best time to do that? Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly?
4.What age did you start doing that?
5.What kinds of activities speak to your kids the most?

Saturday, January 15, 2011

A Gift for Bruce...Ahem.

Last year Bruce and a group of his friends decided that they would read through the Bible in a year. Because he met his goal and finished, I bought him a gift.  
Is there anything sexier than a man reading his Bible every day? That's right, "sexier" and "Bible" can be in the same sentence, and when that "man" is your husband....
I may or may not be purring right this second.

Back to his  the gift.
Any ideas what I bought myself? I mean him. Ahem.
The Daily Message.
That's right.
I'm throwing my hat in the ring.
I am reading the Bible in a year.
I started this morning...15 days late.

Anybody else reading the Bible through in 2011???
It's not too late, is it?

Thursday, January 13, 2011

SRN...again.

I found this picture today, and it made my heart smile.
Talia skipped into day care this morning like she hadn't seen her friends in years.
Did you know that in sick time one week equals a year?
I dropped Bruce at work.
Took my turn at carpool.
I happily went to the dentist.
Then the school called.
Ella's sick.
Again.
We thought we were all well and in a moment I am Screaming, Running, Naked...down my snow packed driveway!

After a few tears, I read this Word posted by Heather. 
God remembers me.
Does anybody else need that Word today???

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Escaping the Dailyness

To escape the dailyness of life I found myself in need of a big change today.
I left my three sick family members at home alone (hopeful they'll do the same for me if I get it) and went to a regularly scheduled hair appointment.
It took me forever to get there driving 40 mph due to the icy roads.
I took joy in every minute of it.
No one was asking me for crackers, 7Up, or a clean pull up.
It was me and the open road.
I told Bruce I might come back.
And come back, I did...with less hair.


Tonight I'll color.
Tomorrow I'll learn how to style the thing.
Thursday I'll get brave and leave the house.

What kinds of things do you do to escape the dailyness of your life?
I think I need some ideas.
I've only got so much hair.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Ten on Ten:: January 2011

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. 
Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. 
Then share your beauty with us!

I'm not going to lie.
I needed an excuse to find the beauty in today.
As of 5 pm, everyone in my family is sick but me.
Five minutes ago I found poop on the front of my jeans.
It's been at least five hours since we've had that kind of issue around here.
That's the kind of day I've had.
I've documented the good stuff, though.
Thank goodness.
Looking forward to wellness for all.
And hoping that I'm not next to get it.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Nella's Turning One

I woke up to this post written by Kelle.
That girl knows how to feel the love.
Just go look at those beautiful faces.
Give, if you want.
It will make your Saturday.
I promise.

Here's a face that adds beauty to my life every day...Ella Corinne.

Click here for Kelle's post.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Random Minnesota Pictures

Here are a few more pictures from Minnesota. 
How do I love this place?
Let me count the ways!!!
My dad, his brothers, and one of the many son in-laws.

Turkey Supreme sandwich, I love you. Someday soon I'll share the recipe. This was not my plate, but mine was piled just as high.


Until next time Minnesota. 
I'll be back when the sweet corn is ready to be picked...
butter in one hand and bug spray in the other. :)
********************************************************************
In case anyone is wondering...Talia is still sick. 
Sweet little one.
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