Monday, February 28, 2011

Oscar's Fashion Winners

Did you watch the Oscars?
I love them. 
I love to love them and all award shows that involve pretty clothes.
It makes me want to go to the mall and try on prom dresses. 
Here are my top five female fashion winners who certainly did not get their dresses from the mall. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
5.
Sharon Stone
I realize that this is going to be a stretch for some of you, but just look at the dress. Look at that body in that dress and ask yourself, "If I were almost 53 and could wear this dress and look this good, would I?" 
My answer: You better believe it. 
I might do my hair differently, but the hair is her.
Source: InStyle
4.
Anne Hathaway
She's worn red 100 hundred times before and you know what? 
It works for her.
If it ain't broke...
Source: People Stylewatch
3.
Gywneth Paltrow
I loved the dress and her hair.
Surprising, modern, and completely Gywneth. 
Not to mention that I watched her Glee episode this week, and I'm in love with her all over again. 
I'm not sure if I can bring myself to see Country Strong, though.
Source: Huffington Post
2.
Halle Berry
She's Halle Berry for crying outloud.
 I don't think she does it wrong.
Ever.
She does not disappoint.
I'd like to see her wear a trash bag next year and prove that fact.
People (including me) would still rave.
PS. Halle, I still want your hair.
Source: Huffington Post
1.
Reese Witherspoon
I loved this classic dress. 
I loved the pony tail so much I considered hair extensions for a moment.
Did you notice she was wearing emerald earrings?
When she walked down the red carpet you could tell that she felt good about herself.
That's a dress to love right there.
Source: InStyle.com
Who were your favorites this year?

Sunday, February 27, 2011

What I Love About Sunday

I love impromptu Sunday trips to Wal-Mart.
Last week Bruce was looking for a bike. Nothing fancy.
His bike is our second vehicle. And we've been without a second vehicle since last Fall.
So, after thinking about it.
And after a few rounds of riding.

We went home with one in the first picture.
And we're all smiling a little bit more now that we're a two vehicle family.
I love Sundays.

Friday, February 25, 2011

The Perfect Bedtime Pillow

Several months ago I noticed that my chiropractor was selling Chiroflow Pillows.
Have you heard of them?
You put water in to get your desired firmness.

And you know what's genius about that? 
They never go flat! 


I discovered recently, that I can get them through the distributor that I order my office supplies from.
Ours came this week.
I put two quarts of water in mine. The directions said I should change it yearly.
Bruce put in a little more water in his pillow than I had in mine.
We are going on our fourth night of sleeping on our Chiroflow pillows.
I am sleeping deeper than I have slept in months.
I'm not waking up with headaches.
My neck doesn't hurt.
And I don't think I'm really moving at night (With the exception of little people who come in my room at 2:30 am and say they have to go potty, but that doesn't count, does it?) because I'm waking up in the same position I fell asleep in. [On my back.]

All this thanks to a little water.
I need more water in my life.
The reason I feel compelled to tell you all this is because as a massage therapist people often ask me about pillows. This is the one that I'm currently loving.

Anyone else want to give a shout out for a brand of pillow that they love?

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Song of Silence

My extroverted personality is on vacation this week, which is why I haven't blogged much.
I have found happiness in piddling around my house in silence.
I have found nourishment in the quietness of a paintbrush.
This bad boy is in process right now. I bought it at a garage sale for $15 last year.
Today it's raining...not a great day to paint. I'm hoping for a little sunshine this weekend so I can finish it up.

Because it is a fabulous day to stay in, a soup lunch with some new friends was in order. I made Tortellini Soup, Garlic Bread, and those PB cup cookies I can't keep my hands off of. I totally scored 50 percent off of PB cups the day after Valentines Day. I already can't wait until the day after Easter. :)
I think I'll pour another cup of coffee to go with another cookie. I have reading to do...in silence.
Amazon, $12.83

What do you like to do when you have a little bit of time to yourself?
Do you find yourself wanting to hang out with friends, or spend the time alone?
My favorite kind of day right now includes both.
And cookies.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Everything and Nothing

We did everything and nothing this weekend.
We were without plans.
We read books.
We snuggled on the couch.
We played outside in 75 degree weather.
We baked cinnamon rolls on Saturday morning, and celebrated our neighbors with them. 
That's vanilla bean in the frosting, not pepper. :)
We did things that make us happy.
We didn't rush out the door to get anywhere.
We took our time.
We laughed a lot.
We had the perfect weekend for us.
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My friend, Heather, Miss Cookie Mondays herself, is giving away the cutest dress from Shabby Apple. Am I the last person in the world to know about Shabby Apple? LOVE their site. They will tell you what you should be wearing according to your shape. I spent a ton of time on their website this weekend. I am currently in love with pretty much everything they are doing. Make sure you enter the giveaway. I'll probably still like you if you win and I don't. :)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

ThinkFun Prize Package Winners!

Talia and her cousin Owen loved playing Zingo 1-2-3 together at Christmastime.
Learning to lose graciously is also an important life skill...we're still working on that.
The Winners of the ThinkFun Prize Packages including Zingo 1-2-3 and What's Gnu? are.....

#1 Erica said...

Erica Buller just "liked" Think Fun!
and
#37 Greta said...
I also posted the link on facebook. :)

Both winners liked "ThinkFun" on Facebook...you should too.
And you know what else they are going to like love?
Both of these games!!!!

Congratulations, Erica and Greta!
Email me your addresses so we can get your prize packages mailed out to you!

Thank you, ThinkFun for making this giveaway possible.
I love you forever and ever. 
Amen and amen.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Running Dialogue

I'm having kind of a running dialogue kind of day.
It's constant chatter in there.
In my head, I mean.
Here's about two minutes worth.
1. I'm so happy to wearing flip flops.  If I could put my boots away for the season I would be a happy happy girl. I'm dreaming about pedicures and online sandal shopping...
2. Sandals...I wonder if this is the year that I will get to go on that romantic beach vacation...
3. Hooked on Houses  hurt today. You had convinced yourself that only people in movies live like that. {Insert thinking about an ugly cry here}
4. New counter top for the kitchen...you have put more thought into this decision than is really necessary. You spent less time thinking about your children's names than this. This is embarrassing.
5. You spent very little time thinking about what Ella should wear to school picture day today. What goes with a fake forest background? At least she's not wearing green...
6. You told yourself you would eat a salad for lunch. You even bought lettuce at the store this morning. That quesadilla was yummy.
7. I love cheese. Cheese is my "street drug"....
................and so it goes.
I'm exhausting myself.
Does anyone else know what this feels like?
I didn't think so.
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The ThinkFun Giveaway ends tonight at 9 pm. I'll announce the winners tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The Kind of Thing

This is the kind of thing that makes me love both of them more.
Add to the fact that this picture was taken on Valentines Day, and I'm in deep.
It doesn't matter that she told me she didn't want to go to school and sassed me before 7:30 am.
This is the moment. Right here....it's what I'm choosing to remember about Valentines Day 2011.
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And if you haven't entered the giveaway from yesterday, click here.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Giveaway Day!

By now you know I've pledged my love to ThinkFun and their awesome game Zingo 1-2-3.
{Just in case you missed my ThinkFun lovin' click here and here.}
Well, ThinkFun is giving Zingo 1-2-3 to TWO of my readers!

BUT WAIT!
Guess what else?
ThinkFun is also giving those same TWO readers their game, What's GNU?
Two readers will win BOTH games!!!!
Is that awesome, or what?
Both games sneak in reading/ math skills without kids really knowing it.
That's why I want every 
parent, 
teacher, 
daycare provider, 
grandparent, 
friend, 
aunt, 
uncle, 
person 
to enter. 

This giveaway is too good not to enter your name for the kids in your life that you love the most.

Here's what you need to do to enter*:
1. Go to ThinkFun's Facebook page and "like" them. Leave them a comment telling them why games are important to your family.
2. Come back to this post and leave a comment saying that you did so. Also, leave your name in the comment so ThinkFun can verify your entry.
3. Want a second entry?
Copy and paste this link to your Facebook status:
 http://thedrivewayoflife.blogspot.com/2011/02/giveaway-day.html
Then tell me that you did so in a separate comment.

I'll close the giveaway Wednesday at 9 pm and announce the winner Thursday morning.
*You must have a US mailing address to enter.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO YOU!!!!!!
+++++Comments are now closed.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Talia's Prayer

When I tucked Talia into bed last night she asked me if I would lay with her a little while.
I did.
We prayed together.
I prayed first.
I prayed and thanked God for our day, for fun friends, and for our family.
I prayed that she would love Jesus passionately every day of her life.
I paused in my prayer and quietly I heard her say:
"God, you are big and strange."

I had the kind of week where I was looking for God and could see His hand at work, but I seriously wondered what He was up to. I may not have put it in to words the way Talia did, but I have to admit, when she said it, my heart laughed and agreed.
God is big.
God seems strange.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways."
Isaiah 55:8, NIV

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Ten on Ten:: February 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!

OPI Color: You're such a Kabooki Queen.
Thanks, Jana. :)
This is beautiful to me because it means that I can walk to the mailbox again.


Once again I am happy to have taken part in Ten on Ten.
I used the manual setting on all my shots today for the first time and am finding that I have 
a lot to learn. (Obvious statement.)
I am inspired to do better, to shoot better, to not take every shot so dang close. 
I really try not be so up in the face of all my subjects, but I like to SEE things.
Especially those pudgy hands in that last photo. 
Love those.

ThinkFun's Featured Family

At Christmastime, I told everyone that the game Zingo 1-2-3 was a great gift idea for kids, remember that? 
Well, someone at ThinkFun was reading my blog that day and contacted me about being one of their Featured Families on their website. (I'm still trying to get over the shock of that!) Which brings me to today.


We are ThinkFun's Featured Family right now. 

Over the last couple of months, I have had a blast getting to know the ThinkFun people. 
While it's true that they make awesome games for kids of all ages, they are also very generous people.

Make sure you check out what we're doing on my blog on Valentine's Day.
It involves one of my favorite things. 
Need a hint? 
It's starts with a Give and ends in aways. 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ten on Ten today...I promise to post some more snow pics later. 
I'm only kidding, sort of.
Happy tenth!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Russian Pancakes {Crepes}

We are on our fourth snow day this February.
Bruce was up early to shovel our driveway...something he loves. Seriously. He loves it.
This was out our front door at about 7 am.
I'm not sure if you can tell but there is a huge drift making our house look level with the ground.
It's at least two feet deep here.
This is out my back door and onto the deck.
In effort to make another snow day special. I made Russian Pancakes for breakfast.
The Mennonites in the area call them that. The rest of the world calls them Crepes.
No matter what you call them, it's a treat.
I got my crepe pan a few years back from my in laws.
The brand is Berndes. (Cindy made crepes at the craft weekend and she used something like this.)
We sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar.
Roll them up.
And eat and eat.
Both of the girls love them.
He loves them, too.
And guess who else loves them? So much that I don't even care that you're seeing me like this.
Do you make Russian pancakes/crepes?
What do you eat on them?
I have Nutella on the brain lately...doesn't that sound delish?
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Russian Pancakes
3 eggs
3 cups milk
1 tsp. salk
2 cups flour
Beat eggs well. Add milk and salt. Stir. Add flour. 
Beat until smooth.
Pour batter in greased skillet or griddle about 1/8 inch thick. 
Turn when set and lightly browned. 
(I don't let mine get brown, I like them a little doughy.) 
Rollup and serve with cinnamon. and sugar.
source: Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church Cookbook, pg. 113

**They will keep in the fridge for days, if there are any left.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

A Mirage of Sorts

Dreaming of flowers, green spaces, and highs in the low 70's.
Anybody else???

Monday, February 7, 2011

This and That

I have a passionate three year old.
Translation: She cries a lot.
Lately we've been battling bed time.
We've been doing a reward star chart. We've never done one before. See my fancy chart? Ha.
I asked Talia what would be a good reward. Guess what she chose?
She wanted her very own bag of Cheetos.
She is mine.
Immediately I agreed. I knew she would be motivated.
WIN. WIN, as far as I could see it.
One night last week as she was going to bed, Talia said, "Can I have my Cheetos for breakfast?"
"Yes, you totally can!" I heard myself say.
Afterall, we were winning the battle.
Cheetos is what she had for breakfast this morning...with Golden Grahams on the side.
Ella acted like it wasn't a big deal that Talia was eating them.
She didn't even ask for them. She must've been full of pancakes.
Or was she?
As soon as Talia left the room, I spotted this.
I'll never tell.
WIN. WIN. WIN.
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I did finish my hoop art over the weekend.
Embroidery is hard. I already know what I would change if I did it again.
So, even though I think it looks like a three year old made it, I'm going to show it.
It looks better far away.
See?
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If you want a challenge today, read this from Beth Moore.
I'm starting today over for the third time. :)
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