My Ardent Life

Dear Santa

2011-12-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

Dear Santa,

If you wake the baby, we're through!

Love,

Me

Love, Joy, Peace

2011-12-17T20:29:00.000-05:00

Hope you are resting this season!

Pre-Dibs Jeans

2011-12-16T10:14:00.000-05:00

So, I have these jeans from well over five years ago before I met Dibs.

They are threadbare because they have been washed a million times. Which is also why they are incredibly soft and broken in.

I just love broken-in jeans, don't you?

They have have rips in both knees.

They have seen me through some of the best of times and the worst of times.

They look skin-tight, I have to lie on the bed to zip them up, and I have the muffintop from Hades but I can ~~fit~~ squeeze into my pre-baby, pre-Dibs jeans. Go me.

All I Want for Christmas

2011-12-15T20:35:00.000-05:00

My Two Front Teeth!

(Mama wants a Silent Night.)

2011-12-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

"Dear God, thank You for food

and fam-ee-lee

and Mama

and Leslie

and Daddee...

(pause)

and BREAAAAaaaadddd.

A-men!"

That's my girl.

She Will Be Doing This for the Rest of Her Life

2011-12-13T20:14:00.001-05:00

We knew when we named her that Arden would go through life spelling her name for people. Anything out of the norm is just like that. But I didn't think she'd learn quite this early.

We haven't coached her in any way, other than to read and talk about the alphabet and show her the letter when we write her name on paper or with sidewalk chalk. She also has one of those programmable dogs that sings and spells her name. So when she stared repeating that song and then pointing out the letters she knew, we thought she might pick it up. Dibs got out the foam bath letters and she did the rest. We've been having a blast.

It boggles my mind that my helpless little firstborn is now a little girl. She can count to twelve, spell her name, pray, and when we go to tuck her in at night, she's in her wee bed with her head on the pillow and (usually) her body under the covers.

31 Observations and Epiphanies

2011-11-30T19:21:00.001-05:00

For those of you who have been reading along with this month-long challenge, it has been a fun adventure. I hope you enjoyed it, too.

I don't know if I've offered anything here this month that terribly informative - it's been as typically self-centered as any other blog - but I have learned a lot. I thought I would wrap up with a little list of things I have either observed over the past month or epiphanies I have had over the past few years that came to mind this month. I'll leave it to you to guess which is which.

Tabasco is hotter than "hot sauce."
People in the church are still just people.
I get more done by getting up early than by staying up late.
It's better to be loving than to be right (most of the time).
Ignore the opinions of those who won't follow their own advice.
If you need the medicine, take it. No one will give you a medal for toughing it out.
After childhood, no one will make you take a nap. Do it anyway.
Everyone struggles with something.
Order what you really want.
Don't fail to plan; just know sometimes plans fail.
Enthusiasm and warm sincerity are the most attractive qualities anyone can have.
Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want doesn't mean they don't love you.
Give the world your best. Not for the world's sake - but for yours.
It's called faith for a reason.
Debt-free feels good.
Be there.
I want to be the kind of woman who prays about things more than she talks about them.
Your audience is always pulling for you.
Nothing wins a crowd over like humor.
Marry the person you can go through valleys with. If he can make you laugh even in the bleakest times, so much the better. (I did and he does. We've been through some dark days together.)
I would have missed many beautiful sunrises were it not for my children.
Nobody cares how much you know unless it's a job interview (or your mother).
If something ever happened to me, I'd hate for my friends to come through my house and think, "Man, she was a lousy housekeeper." But that's better than being a lousy wife or mother.
It never hurts to ask.
Comparison truly is the thief of joy.
It's really tough not to compare yourself with other parents and your child's abilities and achievements with their peers. Better to realize it and stop now than to hurt your child later.
There's a fine line between toddler inquisitiveness and naughty mischief.
When we talk about the "gift of cooking," some people are referring to a talent. But actually, cooking is a gift of time, effort, and taste to the one being fed. It's an opportunity to be creative, to try new things, and to have fun, so in that way, it's a gift to the cook as well.
There are things a lady just should not find funny.
You can pitch a fit or get the job done but not both at the same time.
To learn a new behavior or unlearn an undesired one, take the 30-day challenge. I did!

31 Things to do Before 32

2011-11-29T09:39:00.000-05:00

Well, today's the day! Sound the horn - today kicks off a year of adventure, reinvention, and challenges.

Start 529s for Arden and Leslie.
Make a quilt. Probably a small one.
Make one clothing item each for Arden and Leslie.
Complete my cooking list.
Organize recipes/ make cookbook.
Finish the wooden door mat (from the 31 Projects list).
Make a headboard.
Make a rag rug.
Invite one person or family over for dinner each month. I hope we actually do more than that.
Make enchiladas. I've never done it and you know it's one of my favorite foods.
Teach at least two workshops of any kind.
Have a Pinterest party (or similar craft party).
Read at least 6 biographies. I imagine my reading list will not be terribly large this year. I don't mind.
Learn to use my camera on manual.
Potty-train Arden!
Lose 10 lbs. 20 would be divine but I'll settle for 10.
Purchase land for our next home.
Write two letters a month, minimum. Postcards from Postcardly do not count.
Make myself a denim skirt out of old jeans.
Do the Ruler Growth Chart (from the 31 Projects List)
Paint my white fan to look like this one. Yet another from the 31 Projects.
Make a time-lapse video.
Have Leslie's Christmas stocking monogrammed... pronto.
Go to the Georgia Aquarium.
Make magazine baskets.
Make a fabric Memory Game.
Frame Arden's Are You My Mother? banner.
Teach Arden to dress herself.
Hang a hook/ hooks in Arden's room for jackets and hats.
Stain the girls' IKEA table and chairs.
Make at least one overnight trip to The Farm. (Heh, maybe by this time next year, I'll get around to a night away with NO babies. Now that's a goal.)

31 Things on My Bucket List

2011-11-28T09:39:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the movie The Bucket List? Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson play two guys faced with their own mortality who decide there are a lot of things in life they want to experience before kicking the bucket. It is funny and inspiring and it launched a lot of Bucket Lists when it came out. Here's a portion of mine.

Windsurfing

Learn to start a fire without using matches.
Visit all 50 U.S. states.
Start a scholarship.
Get a Master's Degree (or equivalent).
Ride a snowmobile.
Teach a child to read. (Okay, to be clear, I do realize I have two children, with hopes for more, and, yes, I intend to teach them all to read!)
Grow a vegetable garden. Compost.
Create a recipe.
Learn five different birds by their calls.
Master five complicated recipes.
Learn to use my camera on manual.
Speak at a conference.
Ride a camel.
Ride an elephant.
See the Northern Lights.
Build a tree house.
Restore something - house, car, boat, etc.
Ride a horse on the beach.
Visit the Grand Canyon.
Travel to Rome.
Tour The Louvre.
Visit Blenheim Palace.
Learn woodworking.
Hang an original canvas in my home.
Give all handmade gifts for Christmas.
Try windsurfing.
Visit Israel.
Make a full-sized quilt.
Write a book (writing is not the same as being published!).
Go to a writing conference.
Take a class at Le Cordon Bleu.

31 Lines of Prayer

2011-11-27T09:13:00.000-05:00

This is a different kind of list today. These prayers (attributed to Mother Teresa) have been in my heart lately so I thought I would share them. I have heard people say, "But I don't want to be delivered from the need to be loved." I understand the sentiment. We all want to love and be loved.

I think the prayer is asking for help in putting off human desires in favor of spiritual ones, as Paul talks about in Ephesians 4:22-24:"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." The last line in this list captures it all - "The evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to You." If we have put off our old self and pursue Christ with all we have (which He enables us to do, by the way), the fullness of our hearts with love for Him will not leave room for any of these other desires or fears.

Will you join me in praying these 31 Lines of Prayer today?

Deliver me, O Jesus,
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire to being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the desire of being popular,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being suspected.
Dear Jesus, help us to spread Your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with Your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being, so utterly,
That our lives may only be a radiance of Yours.
Shine through us, and be so in us,
That every soul we come in contact with may feel Your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus!
Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine as You shine;
So to shine as to be a light to others.
The light O Jesus will be all from You, none of it will be ours;
It will be You, shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise You without preaching, not by words but by our example,
By the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do,
The evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to You. Amen.

31 Ways to Reinvent Yourself

2011-11-26T10:47:00.000-05:00

I don't know if it's part of getting some wisdom with age but I'm noticing a lot of things about myself that I want to change. Probably none of us are who we thought we would be at whatever age we are. What I am realizing is that it's not too late to change that habit, gain that skill, or pray that prayer.

As I'm sure you have heard any number of times, it takes between 21 and 30 days to start a new habit. Why wait for the first of the year? Give yourself the gift of a new you by Christmas.

Here are 31 Ways to Reinvent Yourself. Some are more permanent than others. Most are actions to try everyday for a month. Let me know if you can think of more!

I'm embarking on some life renovation; care to join me?

Get married
Adopt a pet
Start a business
Plant something
Take a class: cooking, woodworking, cake decorating, CPR, dancing, defensive driving, gardening, scrapbooking, knitting, writing, photography, history, chemistry, accounting... so many to choose! Try one a month until you find your passion!
Try new foods
Fast and pray
Take the Couch to 5K (C25K) challenge
Become a parent
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything
Try a new hairstyle (or men: grow facial hair!)
Wear more color or one you have never tried
Dress up
Start a blog (or set a blogging challenge)
Write thank you notes to former teachers and mentors
Listen to talk radio
Get certified: SCUBA, CPR, Master Gardener, Real Estate, Professional Organizer, Montessori educator, Nutritionist, Lactation Consultant, Lifeguard...
Take a walk
Nap
Recycle
Volunteer. There are a lot of needs: Big Brother/ Big Sister, Scouts, soup kitchens, the church nursery, foster care, animal shelters, the local polling precinct, local schools, libraries, nursing homes, museums, zoos... the list is truly endless.
Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Read more
Cancel cable
Tithe
Do something creative. Paint a picture, take a photo, write a poem, sing a song... so many options!
Learn an instrument
Wake up earlier
Apply for a new job, ask for a raise, move your desk
Go to church (and pay attention)
Listen

Remember, Life is Good.

31 Favorite Things

2011-11-25T21:34:00.000-05:00

Are you ready for Christmas? Are you the type to have the decorations up and all the Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving?

Not me. I have had years where I was about 75% done with shopping by Thanksgiving but not this year. And honestly, if I buy too early, then I end up over-buying because I find yet another item that would be perfect for the giftee. So it's a plus, really. And I'm not stressing about it. I have some done but I'm thinking I'll be going the way of homemade treats for a lot of people this year and I'm just getting started on those.

In keeping with the Random Mondays, here is a kind of Oprah-style list of 31 Random Favorite Things. They would also make great gifts, so if you are shopping on this Cyber Monday, here are some gift ideas for anyone on your list (or yourself!).

Rose Salve from Bath and Body Works. This stuff is great and a great price, too. Dibs slips some in my stocking every year. I have two tins floating around the house right now. Love it.
Baci Italian Chocolates. Delectible dark chocolate, wrapped around a creamy chocolate center with a hazlenut at the core, with a poetic love note foil wrapping. They are a perfect bite of nutty chocolate goodness with some sweetness for your heart, too! You'll find them in TJ Maxx, Ross, and Marshalls this time of year. I think Target may carry them as well.
Olay Quench Daily Lotion. The purple bottle. It smells so good!
L.L. Bean slippers. Well-made and oh-so-comfy. Dibs' mother got me a pair a few yeas ago and they are still kicking.
Kitchen Aid Mixer. Not exactly a stocking stuffer but one of my favorite things.
Mini food processor. I have two and I use them all the time.
Yankee Candles. Farmer's Market is my favorite scent.
Nail Kit from Bath and Body Works. Dibs got me one a couple of years ago. I use it all the time. I can't find one on the site now but if you find one in the store, snap it up.
Handmade - check out Water4Christmas for handmade items that you will love to give because not only is handmade wonderful and these items are well made but ALSO proceeds go to build wells in Africa. 'Tis better to give for sure.
Gap Leggings. I got these as a gift from Katy last year with a note that said, "Trust me." I love them. Where have they been all my life?
5: Where Will You Be 5 Years From Today? by Dan Zadra. A great, inspiring book to help you set goals and make your dreams come true.
Little Heathens by Mildred Kalish. For anyone who likes Depression-era memoirs, is fascinated with the idea of living off the land, or just enjoys listening to stories at Grandma's knee. Delightful book!
Coca-Cola. Give a case of the classic glass bottles.
Netflix.
Little Debbies
Scrabble
Magazines. You know how I love magazines. Country Living, Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living. Wait a minute, I'm seeing a pattern here. Popular Science is pretty cool, too. Lots of amazing pictures.
Postcardly. I love to send my grandmothers pictures of the girls this way. Get a free trial HERE.
Chick-fil-a
iTunes
Rubber boots
IKEA. I know this isn't a product so much as a place. Or a way of life. But this is my list of favorite things and IKEA belongs there.
Disposable fountain pens
Note cards. This gal can never have too many!
Bartenura Moscato Sparkling Wine. I'm not big on wine or any other alcohol, really, but this white wine is very light and very good.
Twix
Old Navy's Denim Pencil Skirt. I'm wearing it now.
Canon T3 Rebel Camera. We love this camera! Now, if I can just learn to use it on manual...
Roku HD. Dibs bought this little gem a few weeks ago. And he is writing a how-to-use-it series on his blog. Check it out. Say goodbye to your cable box forevah.
L'Oreal Paris EverSleek Smoothing Deep Conditioner. If there ever was beautiful hair in a bottle, this is it for me. I just discovered it and it works.
Infantino Ecosash Baby Carrier. I bought one of these to use with Leslie and we both love it. Easy to use - I highly recommend it!

31 Things I Am Thankful For

2011-11-24T14:49:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed a lot of people doing the Month of Thankfulness on their blogs or as Facebook statuses? One friend started a blog this year specifically to record the things she is thankful for. It's called Year of Yay and Amy posts about something she is thankful for every day. I mentioned it in my 31 Blogs list. Here's a short list of things I am thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Salvation - Jesus loves me, this I know. He doesn't have to, and nothing I can ever do can make me worthy but He made a way for my sins to be forgiven so that I can have a relationship with Him.
Freedom to worship, along with all other freedoms granted by the Bill of Rights
Dibs
Arden
Leslie
Motherhood - it has changed me in so many ways and made me a better person
Our home
Electricity
Indoor plumbing
Air Conditioning - living in the Deep South, it's a way of life. Can't live without it.
Good friends. I have some of the best. You know who you are.
Clean hot and cold water. So many people do not have it!
Betty White the Buick. She's a way to get my whole family from A to B and I'm thankful.
Growing up with siblings - there are four of us and we all enjoy each other's company. Love 'em.
My vision - I am thankful that all of my senses are in good working order but I am especially appreciate of my vision. I have terrible eyesight but it can be corrected by contacts and glasses. I can read, cook, watch the stars, and see my beautiful children and handsome husband.
Ability and love of reading - and my children seem to share it! (Well, no, they can't read yet.)
Library access. Free books!
Clean laundry - our washing machine gave up the ghost several weeks ago and we were able to just go out and buy a new one. We are blessed.
Food - we are given more than our daily bread. I have never had to worry about how I am going to feed my children.
I get to be a stay-at-home-mom. I love it.
Family - I got to know my grandparents and because we live near our parents and see them regularly, my daughters get to know their grandparents, too.
The Internet - I admit it. What would I do without the Internet?
Breastfeeding - This one may sound silly to some but a lot of women do not have the opportunity to feed, nurture, and bond with their child in this way. I know that mother's milk is superior to any formula and I am so thankful to be able to nourish my children through breastfeeding.
The means to earn a living. While I am perfectly happy being out of the workforce to be home mothering, I am capable of earning a living if it were necessary. I am thankful for Dib's hard work. I am thankful that all of our needs are provided for.
Autumn - it's my favorite season.
Chocolate
Humor - What would life be if there were no laughter?
Sleep - I've never been one to have much trouble going to sleep or staying asleep. I do not want to take it for granted. PS- Leslie slept through the night last night. Yay! It's been a month or so since the last time she did that.
Comfy pajamas - Okay, this it totally frivolous but it's my list. Every time I put on a pair of comfy pjs, I am so comforted and instantly relaxed. Definitely list-worthy.
Our fancy camera - to capture all the moments our other camera would have let get away. I can't even tell you how many times I have felt that little thrill of gratitude for that camera.
Snail Mail - I love to get mail and it's rare these days to get a real pen-and-paper letter but I cherish the ones I do get. Someone took them time to write and I take the time to enjoy - often reading it several times.

31 Quotations I Love

2011-11-23T09:40:00.000-05:00

I'm big on quotations. When I was 15, I started a Commonplace Book, at my mother's suggestion (hi, Mom!) in which is written witticisms, words of wisdom, and whole passages from a variety of sources - scientists, ministers, playwrights, actors, poets, writers, statesmen, and so on. They have shaped my young mind and life. I am now on Volume Two, having discovered so many interesting thoughts to record. Here are just 31. Enjoy!

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. -Herm Albright
Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value. -Albert Einstein
Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. - Jim Elliot
The man who has ceased to learn ought not to be allowed to run around loose. - M.M. Coady
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. - Mark Van Doren
Want to know the shortest route to ineffectiveness? Start running scared. -Charles Swindoll
Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood - the virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft-living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. -Theodore Roosevelt
Don't create barriers for yourself or put limits on your aspirations - keep stretching and enlarging your mind so that you can envision participating in life in more exciting and meaningful ways. - Angela Lansbury
What hindereth thee more than thine affections not fully mortified to the will of God? - Thomas aKempis
He is your friend who pushes you nearer to God. - A. Kuyper
Man finds it hard to get what he wants because he does not want the best; God finds it hard to give, because He would give the best and man will not take it. -George MacDonald
How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. - George Washington Carver
Let early education be sort of amusement, you will then be better able to find out the natural bent. - Plato
Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts. -Elisabeth Elliot
This is my only comfort in life and in death: that I belong - body and soul - not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me. -Heidelberg Catechism
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. -Jack London
Captive Greece took captive her rude captors. - Horace
How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone and narrow to be everything to someone? No, a woman's function is laborious; but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute. - G.K. Chesterton.
A house without books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up his children without surrounding them with books if he has the means to buy them. It is a wrong to his family. Children learn to read by being in the presence of books. The love of knowledge comes with reading and grows upon it. And the love of knowledge, in a young mind, is almost a warrant against the inferior excitement of passions and vices. - Horace Mann
People are basically lazy. If you make it hard, they will give up. Then, bang! Oops! You lost your chance to communicate. - Judith Schmitt (my college English Professor)
Creativity does not truly come from the popularized image of the tormented artists, struggling with the muse. True creativity is born in community as men and women of God listen to each other and to Him, as we seek to understand each other's woundedness and strengths. - Michael Card.
Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the differences between what things are and what they should be. -William Hazlitt
As a writer, an idea must first move you before you can hope that is will move anyone else. -Amy Grant
There is hardly a higher compliment you can pay an individual than helping him to be useful and to find satisfaction in his usefulness. - Donald Laird
To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. - George MacDonald
Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement,but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways. - H.Jackson Braun
Personally, I think if a woman hasn't met the right man by the time she's 24, she may be lucky. -Deborah Kerr
No quality is more attractive than poise - that deep sense of being at ease with yourself and the world. - Unknown
The kind of beauty is the hard-to-get kind that comes from within - strength, courage, dignity. - Ruby Dee
Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people hae is when they take a bite out of you. Zig Ziglar
One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. - Lucille Ball.

31 Pantry Staples

2011-11-22T17:12:00.001-05:00

Source

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? For those of you who are hosting some kind of gathering, I suppose it's time to start cooking. Or at least thinking about it! No doubt the grocery stores will be packed for the next few days. I'm getting off light this year - bringing tea and 2-liters and someone else is picking them up for me. Shocking, I know, for all the cooking I like to do. But it's a nice change of pace.

At the holidays, a fully-stocked pantry comes in even more handy than usual. I found lists online, changed them a bit, and added to them for my personal list of 31 Pantry Staples - pretty much everything I try to keep on hand. What did I miss?

Cans of tomatoes
Cans of beans
Chicken, beef, and/ or vegetable stock/ broth/ bullion/ granules
Pasta (different kinds: spaghetti, penne, etc.)
Rice
Breadcrumbs
Extra-virgin olive oil
Vegetable oil
Vinegar, Balsamic vinegar
Spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, chili powder, etc
Salt and pepper
Red-pepper flakes
Garlic - dried and/ or fresh
Ketchup
Coffee and tea
Oats/ oatmeal
All-purpose flour
Sugar, brown sugar
Bread, crackers
Jarred marinara and alfredo sauces
Nuts
Milk
Butter
Cheeses
Honey
Tabasco
Peanut Butter
Frozen veggies (peas, corn, spinach)
Fresh fruits (apples, bananas, grapes) and veggies (broccoli, green beans, peppers, onions, potatoes)
Chocolate
Yeast

For more, read this Martha Stewart article on Setting up a Pantry and this Real Simple Checklist.
And thanks to my mother-in-law, Sharon, for the idea for this list!

31 Random Things About Me #3

2011-11-21T21:36:00.001-05:00

Happy Random Monday!

I love oatmeal cookies! This Martha recipe for Anytime Oatmeal Cookies is easy and delicious. (And there's a freebie printable to wrap around the oatmeal canister for gifting!)
Trail Mix is delicious.
I prefer firm apples and firm bananas.
Banana pudding is wonderful.
I only like strawberry jam on my PB&J.
I grill my hamburger buns. Yum.
I evidently think about food a lot.
I got my hair cut Friday. Locals, go see Andrea Webb at Salon Ritz!
I'm scheduled to teach a cooking workshop in December at a retirement community.
It's kind of intimidating to think of teaching people who have been cooking twice as long as I have been alive.
I bought my first Spanx today. They are actually faux Spanx.
Does that make them Fanx?
I may never take them off.
That may be because I need the Jaw of Life to get them off. But I'll never tell.
I also bought jeans with an elastic waistband at Old Navy. I know what you are imagining but they are not like that. And they are not maternity because I asked.
Katy told me about them.
I also bought baby jeggings for Arden. I could not resist.
I love Law & Order but I really can't explain why.
I introduced Dibs to the film Stalag 17 on our honeymoon.
I would have to say it's one of my favorite Christmas movies, which Dibs thinks is funny, since it's about WWII POWs.
I like Mountain Dew.
I like to drink from a straw.
I crave ice when I'm pregnant.
I'm not pregnant and I'm not craving ice.
I need to paint my toenails.
I need to take Leslie's Christmas stocking to be monogrammed. When we bought our stockings a few years ago, we bought about 6 of them, with the idea that we might as well, since we liked them and weren't likely to find them the following year(s) for additions to the family. If/ when we ever need more stockings, those will need to be replaced anyway.
I have a box of cranberry-orange muffin mix in the cabinet and I am SEARCHING for a reason to make them.
I used to iron our sheets. They breathe better and are SO comfy. You could try it! Or even just start with pillowcases. I will post a tutorial on how to iron sheets quickly if there's any interest.
I don't iron sheets anymore because now I have children.
I think I'm overdue for an overnight trip to The Farm.
I want to take another class with Maria. Anyone up to joining me for the January class?

31 Things I Love About Leslie

2011-11-18T23:03:00.001-05:00

I hope you didn't think I was going to leave Leslie out of my 31 Lists! I am so happy Leslie Nicole joined our family. I cannot imagine our family without her. I am so blessed to have two daughters and I love that they will always have each other and I hope they will always be best friends. There is SO MUCH to love about this sweet, snuggly, beautiful angel and the past five months have been a blast. I'm looking forward to getting to know her more and more.

She smiles with her whole body. I love those toothless smiles!
The smell of her neck. I can't describe it but there's something about that scent that is some kind of sensory bond. I love it.
She took to breastfeeding immediately. Even though her mouth was so tiny and we had to work at it to get a good latch every feeding session for weeks, she stuck with it and we worked it out. And life is good.
She has blue eyes. Sometimes they look just like my Papaw's.
She's even more blonde than Arden. Who would have thought I would have blonde babies? Thanks to Dibs' strong blonde genes, I've got an almost-cotton-top baby and I adore it.
Her hair sticks up - SO cute. The little swirl of hair is smack in the back of the top of her head, so I imagine we'll be dealing with cowlicks - can't get over the cuteness!
She's getting to be a pro at rolling over and is trying to crawl. Just yesterday, she was my teeny newborn!
She adores Arden. ADORES.
That laugh! So contagious.
Her cry is (usually) not irritating. Dibs always thought Arden's cry was cute but it grated on me (like it's supposed to - it's made me jump into action, anything to make it stop). Leslie's isn't as high-pitched or something, and it takes a lot longer to get me to that flustered, panicked mode.
She's healthy. I totally take this one for granted. We are so blessed to have a happy, healthy baby. Life is truly miraculous.
She has discovered the comfort of slurping on two fingers. Neither of my girls have been keen on pacifiers but somewhere along the way in the past month, Leslie has discovered that two fingers on her right had are extremely tasty and comforting. It's adorable and a life saver, to tell the truth. I know we'll have to help her break that habit down the road and I'm not looking forward to it but for now, everybody is happy. And it's so cute.
Peekaboo is already fun for her.
Those little tootsies. What is it with me and baby toes?
She likes to hold my hand. (We're big on hand-holding around here.)
She likes being read to. I think she's going to love books, too.
"The Wheels on the Bus" is one of her favorite songs. Odd but I'll go with it. Now, whenever Leslie starts crying, Arden launches in to a rousing rendition of "Wheels on the Bus" or the Alphabet Song - her personal favorite.
She is generally happy and easy-going. I marvel at the fact that I have two generally easy-going children.
She's learning to hold things. A-mazing.
Those Cheeks! Those chubby cheeks are irresistible.
She is trying so hard to sit up. It's kind of sweet to see her work so seriously and so hard.
She started sleeping through the night at 2 months old, just like Arden. I always thought it was a fluke with Arden and was prepared for a different experience. Now that she is teething, we are getting up several times a night but she goes right back to sleep after some comforting and feeding and in some cases, just jabbers for a while and puts herself back to sleep. I'm kind of at a point now where I don't count the sleep I do get - I just know it isn't enough - but I think it's generally about 6 hours or less and often in increments of about 2 hours.
She wakes up happy. Both of my girls are happy early (EARLY) birds. I love those seeing those happy, sunshiny faces, even if the sun isn't up yet.
She talks to herself. It's precious.
She's talking! Coos, giggles, squeals - we've got it all. I can't get enough.
She has the most delicious fat rolls. Those little arms and thighs are getting so roly-poly.
She loves to squeal and splash in the bath. So fun. It doesn't get old.
Her existence is good for my prayer life. I pray so much more now that I'm a mother. Sometimes, when my arms are full of baby and I can't go or do anything else, I am reminded that I can pray. So I do. And it has been a revelation.
She is not a terrible spitter. She is a spitter and I have some memories of REALLY disgusting experiences but, on the whole, it's not that bad. And I know it could be so much worse.
She's fairly predictable. My girls (and I) love routine. I can almost set my clock by her - when 6 pm rolls around, she starts rubbing her eyes and giving the signals for me to drop everything else and get her ready for bed.
She loves her Mama. It's so endearing, probably mostly because Arden never really expressed a preference for me unless it was mealtime or she was really tired. When Leslie was born, we got a minute together (see video) and then she was rushed off to the nursery. I knew it would be a while before I would see her again, because I would be in recovery from the c-section for about two hours. It's just kind of hospital policy that you don't see the baby until you are in your room. I guess they are afraid Mama might drop her or something while recovering from all the good meds (and I was blissed out, in a very serene state of mind, thanks to my anesthesiologist). But after just an hour or so, while Dibs and I were jammed in the TINY recovery room, marveling over all the pictures and video he took in the nursery, the lactation consultant bustled in with Baby and announced that Leslie wanted her Mama. And she's pretty much been that way ever since.

31 Blogs to Read

2011-11-18T22:18:00.001-05:00

I follow a lot of blogs through Google Reader, which shows which blogs have been updated and when, and it's all in one place. I like to think of it as a very efficient way to waste time, discover projects and products I didn't know I couldn't live without, and/ or catch up with my friends. If you like to read a blog or ten and don't use some kind of reader, I recommend it. Maybe you'll want to add a few of these to your subscriptions.

Totally Shrewd (This is Dibs' blog. Cute, huh? He has some great info, too!)
Katy's Neverending Story (My BFF making a life in NYC. I heart her and her blog.)
Whatever (Lots of crafty, photog, inspiring goodies. Color, color, and more color. Love it.)
The Pioneer Woman (If you don't know who she is, just click over and check it out for yourself.)
Under the Sycamore (Lots of photog tips, beautiful images, and parenting perspective.)
Top of the Page (Thoughtful, spiritual, and well-written. Leslie has a great writing voice and I think she's going places.)
Year of Yay (Amy, friend and birthday twin, documenting a year of thankfulness.)
Moments with Love (Love is a sweet mother of 7 - three are adopted from Africa. She inspires me to dress better.)
Anna Maria Horner (All kinds of sewing, crafty, sunlit goodness. You're welcome.)
Talk of the Trains (Another local friend, Lauren. Fun posts.)
Boomerina (Yet another lovely friend AND birthday twin, Paige. She's more social-media savvy - actually all-around savvy! - than any one person ought to be.)
How About Orange (How about it? I personally am loving orange right now.)
The Tsukayama Corner (Friends in Brasil as missionaries. They have four children and one on the way. I love their hearts and they way they disciple their children. Yes, disciple.)
Design Sponge (I like the DIY articles and the "Living In" series. Want to live in the time/ place/ decor of your favorite film? The author of Living In does all the research for you.)
Here In the Bonny Glen (Author Melissa Wiley - good posts in the arenas of Geek Mom, children's books, and homeschooling. Oh, and Comic Con recaps.)
Uprooted Magnolia (Leah was our wedding photographer. She's incredible. You'll be hooked on the images of the Wyoming landscape and wildlife.)
Young House Love (More home decorating. They're excellent DIY-ers.)
The Lettered Cottage (Still more home decorating. Great style and writing style. Love it when people chase a dream.)
Smitten Kitchen (Deb is in the middle of cook-bookery. Precise and delicious recipes. Amazing foodie photography.)
Mama Lewis (Her kids are about the ages of mine. Except her older child is brain damaged. And no one in that family feels sorry for themselves, instead choosing to see the humorous in life. Very inspiring.)
Apartment Therapy (More home decorating and lots of efficient living in small spaces. The Ohdeeoh page is so much fun.)
Southern Savers (Not sure it's technically a blog but a website dedicated to saving money, mostly through shopping sales, couponing, and promo codes.)
Clover Lane (Great cleaning tips and life with a big family.
On Just a Couple Acres (Homeschooling 6 children and attempting sustainable living.)
The Montessori Child at Home (Montessori ideas put into practice by parents of toddlers.)
The Handmade Home (Yet more home decor. And recently a lot of Walt Disney World tips.)
Lifehacker
The Nest Effect (Tons of organization tips.)
Mel's Kitchen Cafe (Recipes and cooking tips. I want to try everything!)
The Purl Bee (The most gorgeous "sketchbook" of tutorials and ideas using fabrics, yarns, buttons, etc. Even if you don't have a crafty bone in your body, you will enjoy the colors and images.)
The Picky Palate (More cooking. Great ideas, well written and photographed.)

31 (+2) Ways to Stay Creative

2011-11-18T21:11:00.001-05:00

Okay, so this is a cheat. I admit it. I didn't create this list. I have nothing to do with what you are about to read. I do, however, want and intend to remember and practice these over the next year, in a hope that in that time they will become instinctive. If you are feeling stuck in a rut, blocked creatively, or maybe your imaginary friends won't talk to you... perhaps this list will help you, too!

31 Projects to Try

2011-11-17T21:22:00.001-05:00

Are you sick of reading about ME yet? What's that old joke... "But enough about me. What do you think about me?" I feel like it's getting a little too self-indulgent around here.

How about some projects I want to try? You might like to try them too! I'm thinking some would make GREAT gifts! I'm linking up to them where there is a tutorial and also created a board on Pinterest. Enjoy - and let me know if you do (or have done) any of these!

1. A tutu photo shoot

2. Grandma's Hands Photo

3. Wooden Doormat (I actually have everything ready for this, just have to assemble it.)

4. Convert Old Mason Jars (How cool is that?!)

5. Ruler Growth Chart (I already bought the vinyl from this Etsy Shop.)

6. Make a Board Book

7. Make a little girl's dress from an adult sweater

8. Mr. Potato Head felt toys

9. Flannel Rag Quilt

10. Tea Light Candle Holder

11. Upcycled Mint/Gum Tin for Earphones

(Really dying to paint something metal. Weird, I know.)

12. Milk Jug Lunch Container

13. DIY Fabric Softener Sheets

14. Tripod Camping Stool

15. Glass Etching

16. Dress up a paper plate

17. Seed Tape (tutorial link isn't working)

18. Rootbeer Reindeer

19. Baby Footprint Ornament

20. Sock Monkeys (includes pattern!)

21. Make a plain fan beautiful

22. Star Wars Snowflakes

23. Sibling Kiss Photo

24. Thanksgiving T-shirt and/ or Onesie (Need to get on this if I want them this year!)

25. Girl's Dress out of Daddy's Dress Shirt

26. Vertical Garden

27. Jar and Hook combo

28. Felted Wool Patchwork Throw

29. Board Game Frames

30. Hot Chocolate Truffles

31. Christmas Lights Photo

31 Things I Want My Children to Know

2011-11-16T21:32:00.001-05:00

By no means an exhaustive list, these are 31 nuggets of practicality and (I hope!) wisdom out of many things that I hope to teach my children over the course of my life. I very definitely do NOT have them all down myself yet!

31 Things I Want My Children to Know

Internal beauty is more important than external beauty.
Actions do speak louder than words.
Nothing takes God by surprise.
Thank-you notes matter. Write them.
You can never lose my love.
It's not always all about you.
But sometimes it is. And that's okay.
In your relationships, it's better to be loving than to be right.
Read the book before you see the film.
Nothing is too small to matter to God.
Miracles happen.
If you don't want to tell your parents about it, you probably shouldn't be doing it.
Tell us anyway.
Time spent feeling guilty is wasted time.
Tithe.
Creating, learning, and growing are far more worthwhile than being entertained.
All work and no play is not what life is all about. Work can (and should) be something you enjoy.
Life is precious.
A test is simply an opportunity to show how much you know.
Enthusiasm is refreshing and contagious.
If you don't like the book or movie, you don't have to finish it.
True Love really does wait. We did.
Your vocabulary and imagination are big enough to allow you to communicate without curse words.
If someone asks you to go against your conscience or your faith, that person is not your friend.
Love your body. Take care of it. It's the only one you have.
Fearlessly be yourself.
Live passionately but don't be ruled by your passions.
It is never right for the things you have worked for and earned to be taken from you by another person. But it is truly a beautiful thing when you give it away.
Your unforgiveness doesn't hurt the one who harmed you. It only destroys you.
Having goals is half the journey. The other half of the journey may be more valuable than the destination.
Jesus wept. It's okay if you do, too.

31 Books and Authors

2011-11-15T07:53:00.001-05:00

It's no secret I'm a big reader. This month of lists wouldn't be complete without a list of my favorite books and authors. Some have been favorites since childhood. Are any from your childhood? I think I have read every title on this list at least twice, most more than that. Do you re-read books or am I the only one?

31 Favorite Books and Authors

Lucy Maud Montgomery, especially the Anne of Green Gables series, and particularly Anne's House of Dreams.
Jan Karon's Mitford series, particularly At Home in Mitford.
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
Cheaper By the Dozen, Frank Gilbreth, Ernestine Gilbreth. Kind of a memoir. Bells on Their Toes is equally lively and entertaining.
Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series, particularly The Beekeeper's Apprentice. (The most recent titles in this series don't really read like the others and I'm not fond of them.)
My Life in France, Julia Child. Memoir. Love it.
Gracie, George Burns. Memoir. Such a charming book about a charming and remarkable woman.
Little Heathens, by Mildred Kalish. The subtitle says it all "Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression." True story. It was a selection in my book club a few years ago. Love it.
Page after Page, by Heather Sellers. One of the best and perhaps the most entertaining books on the craft of writing. (One would think they all would be!)
Jane Austen - with Pride and Prejudice being the clear favorite, since I own at least three copies.
The Chosen, Chaim Potok. Set in 1944-1950 Brooklyn, focusing on the Jewish community against the backdrop of the historical events of the time. Sounds boring but it's so good.
Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand
The Last Lecture, Randy Pausch. Such an inspiration!
Life with Father, by Clarence Day, Jr. There is a delightful movie with William Powell, Irene Dunne (love her), and young Elizabeth Taylor.
Agatha Christie - I think I prefer Miss Marple to Poiroit, though of course he is wonderful, too.
Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock. Need I say more?
C.S. Lewis, especially The Weight of Glory, the Chronicles of Narnia series, of course.
Dorothy Sayers, with favorites being Lord Peter (short story collection), and Murder Must Advertise.
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series.
The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas
Making Time Fly, a bio of Lillian Gilbreth
An Appetite for Life, bio of Julia Child
Underfoot in Show Business, Helene Hanff. She is best known for 84 Charing Cross Road and it's wonderful. Her other books are good, too. Apple of My Eye is a treat.
Understood Betsy, Dorothy Canfield Fisher
A Redbird Christmas, Fannie Flagg. I really enjoy Standing in the Rainbow, too.
Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books. I remember the day I discovered Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe. I read Fer-de-Lance, which is not his best one, but still enough to get me hooked!
I own Some Buried Ceasar and Three at Wolfe's Door.
Found Treasure, by Grace Livingston Hill. An oldie but such a wonderful book! Every young (and not so young) girl should read it.
I Remember Mama by Kathryn Forbes. Read it and then watch the movie - which also features Irene Dunne! Win!
The Club of Queer Trades, by G.K. Chesterton. I know what it sounds like but it's not like that at all. It's a collection of short stories that chronicle individuals who have created unique occupations for themselves - ie, "queer trades."

31 Random Things About Me, #2

2011-11-14T07:58:00.001-05:00

Just another Random Monday, folks!

I love to smell Leslie's neck.


Leslie

Having daughters made me love pink.
I coupon.
I am (usually) brand-loyal to Luizanne Tea Bags.
I make sweet tea by the gallon. Three family-size teabags and 1.5 cups of sugar.
Lucky Charms is my favorite junk cereal.
I'm kind of a punctuation snob, even though even I don't always get it right.
I have purchased one brand-new car. It was a 2004 Scion xA.
I still have it. Dibs drives it to work. It has over 100K miles and runs great.
I name my cars.
The Scion is Miss Daisy. The Buick is Betty White.
I am partial to white cars. Both of our vehicles are white and that was a happy accident.
I like Yorkshire Terriers. I used to have one. He died. I'd like another one someday.

Yorkie

I like my food to be piping hot.
In the Krispy Kreme vs. Dunkin Donuts debate, I am Team Dunkin all the way.
I own at least 8 Amy Grant albums. (Don't judge.)
I met her once. She's very nice.
Heinz Ketchup is king.
I think letter-writing is a dying art form.
I have always loved biographies.
I like epistolary novels.
On the Myers-Briggs assessment, I am an INFJ.
I picked my OB/GYN from a magazine article.
I bought my boutique wedding dress for $300. The one I tried on and loved before it was $4400, and THAT was half-price.
We paid less than $5000 for our wedding and honeymoon combined. We were so broke - but so in love.
I like bluegrass music.
I have had two C-sections.
I was homeschooled.
I graduated from high school a year early.
I finished my B.S. in three years.
I have never been skiing, snow or water. I would like to try water but not willing to risk sprained/ broken limbs on the snow at this point in my life.

31 Snacks For Toddlers (Or Yourself!)

2011-11-13T15:24:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but my idea of snacks involve a lot of sugar. Or carbs. Or chocolate. Or all three. I like healthy foods, actually, but it's so easy to reach for the junk. Having a toddler who requires two healthy snacks a day has challenged me to be a little more creative than grabbing the nearest box of Little Debbies.

I imagine a lot of others deal with the same challenge: coming up with snacks that are yummy, easy, and (somewhat) healthy and NOT offer the same old thing every day. Arden will get bored and stop eating things I've offered too often.

Meg at Whatever (which is one of my favorite blogs, by the way) did a few posts about this at the beginning of the summer. Here's a list compiled of her readers' suggestions.

I took those ideas and made my own list, keeping like items together, so I can quickly run down the list and pick out something based on what we have in the house. These are all things we offer as snacks or additions to a meal on a daily basis. Most of the items are staples, so I'm sure you will find ideas to suit you and/ or your child. Enjoy!

31 Snack Ideas for Toddlers

(or yourself!)

Fruit - Plain

Some non-traditional faves: Mandarin oranges
Peaches
Kiwi
Watermelon
Grapes
Cantaloupe
Mango
Pineapple

Fruit - Frozen, frozen on popsicle sticks, frozen in juice as popsicles.

Blueberries are good frozen

Fruit with cheese
Wraps - made with tortillas or pita bread
Wraps - made with meat wrapped around cheese and/or vegetables
Wraps - made with lettuce wrapped around cheese, veggies, or other filling
Wraps - made with bread flattened with rolling pin and spread with filling, then sliced into pinwheels. (Used to make these a lot for Arden, especially when eating away from home. They're neater than a regular sandwich.)

peanut butter
honey
jam
nutella
hummus
cheese (cream cheese, pimento cheese, or any spread would work great!)

Toast

with jam
cinnamon toast (throw butter or soft spread in a food processor with brown sugar and cinnamon and make fast cinnamon toast spread. No need to turn on the oven, just spread on hot toast and it melts. Yum.)
honey butter (Make your own with any kind of honey. We have some blackberry honey that is divine.

French Toast

cut it into sticks, triangles, or other shapes using a cookie cutter.

Pancakes or Waffles
Pancakes or Waffles with toppings

yogurt
nutella
honey
peanut butter
applesauce
syrup (obviously)

Cheese There are a ton of options: string, shredded, sliced, babybel.
Cheese melted/ grilled on toast
Granola bars
Cereal (plain or with milk)
Smoothies (These are so much easier to make than I used to believe. Just scoop yogurt in the blender or food processor with some combo of the following: ice, frozen fruit, sugar-free popsicle, fresh fruit, juice, milk. Just add the liquids a little at a time until it's the consistency you want. Also, I sometimes add ground oats - just put them in the processor first and process until fine. There are a lot of other ideas to sneak in nutrition but I haven't tried them yet.)
Crackers with meat or cheese
Crackers with a spread or dip

hummus
peanut butter
nutella
whipped cream cheese
yogurt

Muffins
Hard-boiled egg
Scrambled eggs

add in cheese, bacon, sausage, sauteed or steamed veggies

Crescent rolls or biscuits
Crescent rolls or biscuits baked with cream cheese, jam, and/or fruit filling
Crescent rolls or biscuits baked with scrambled egg filling
Goldfish crackers
Bread. I love quickbreads!

pumpkin
banana (omit nuts for safety)
cinnamon
lemon poppyseed
blueberry
chocolate chip
zucchini (no nuts)

Veggies

with dip (hummus, cream cheese, pimento cheese are all good)
steamed (perhaps left over from dinner?)

Popsicles - made with juice, pudding, or just sugar-free store-bought
Yogurt

plain is good; with sprinkles, cereal, or sliced fruit is even better!

Pudding
Applesauce

31 Recipes to Try Before 32

2011-11-12T20:22:00.001-05:00

I've read Julia Child's My Life in France at least three times. And I'm finishing An Appetite for Life, Noel Riley Fitch's excellent biography of Julia Child, for the second time. These always put me in the mood to putter in the kitchen, not that I need much encouragement! I have a Double Chocolate Cookie recipe on deck to try as soon as we're feeling better around here.

By the way, if any of you are on Pinterest, I have a board just for eats and treats, and a lot of the recipes are pinned there. Follow me by clicking on the red Pinterest button on the sidebar. I plan to report back on how they turn out. Any others you think I must try?

Tiramisu

31 Recipes to Try Before 32

Osso Buco

Coffee Toffee Cheesecake

Tiramisu. This was one of the recipes we made with Maria in my 30th Birthday cooking class last year.
Oregon Peach Pie. There it is again. I'm looking for my copy to post and share the deliciousness.
Homemade S'mores Candy Bars
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Pecan Streusel
Dried Strawberries
Cake Pops
Truffles
Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Rolls
Carrot Cake from scratch
Andouille-Crusted Fish
Jalapeno Cornbread
Homemade Caramel Popcorn
Gnocchi
Cheesecake. I have always made this one (and it is awesome!) but I would like to try another recipe or two. I would really like to try a New York-Style Cheesecake recipe.
Chicken Spaghetti
Spareribs. I like this one for Sweet and Smoky Oven Spareribs from Smitten Kitchen.
Osso Buco. Another recipe from my Birthday class.
Biscuits from scratch. I've made them before but it's been a while!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
Black Bean Quinoa Burgers
Ricotta Chocolate Chip Cookies
Coconut Cream Tarts
Martha's Anytime Oatmeal Cookies. I actually made these a couple of days ago. They're already GONE. Yum.
Julia Child's Queen of Sheba Cake
Pralines
Breakfast Cookies
Onion Straws
Coffee Toffee Cheesecake Yes, I know cheesecake is already on my list - but this one is just for Dibs. He loves toffee. And in case you think I spoil him... I do. Just look at that picture and tell me you don't want some!
Monte Cristos - these Mini Monte Cristos sound good!
White Chicken and Artichoke Lasagna

Couscous - this Parmesan Garlic Couscous recipe is interesting.

31 Things I Love About My Husband

2011-11-11T07:50:00.001-05:00

Happy Veterans Day! I thought today was a good day to do this list, since one of the many, many things I love about Dibs is the fact that he is a vet.

And as hard as it is, I'm going to refrain from echoing that line in Fever Pitch: "I even made a list of all the things I like about you. I don't have it with me but I remember what it said. I'll skip down cause the first 7 are all body parts."

31 Things I Love About My Husband

He is a veteran. I want to thank ALL of our service members. No matter what job you do or have done, it is for our freedom. THANK YOU.
He is a mature believer in Christ. Strong spiritual leadership makes for a strong marriage and family.
He is confident and bold and it comes across in a very charming way. I liked that about him from the first minute.
He's strong.
He thinks I'm funny.
He likes to snuggle.
He does not follow sports.
He's interested in current events.
He has written a study guide to the US Constitution.
He wears glasses. I liked that about him from the beginning, too. But he looks terrific without them, too.
He's a wonderful, attentive, affectionate father. Our girls are so, so blessed. I love to watch him play with them and take care of them.
I have never heard him say a bad word about anybody.
He just asked me if I want to move furniture. (Swoon.)
He's the most unselfish person I know.
He lets me sleep in on the weekends while he takes care of Arden and makes pancakes.
He's a great listener.
He treats others (not just me) with respect.
Sometimes he wears a tie to work just because I like it.
Even in the middle of tough circumstances, he can make me laugh.
He loved me first. I know people say that love at first sight is really lust (I was in that camp at one time) but we truly have a "love at first sight" story. So it's a close call on who saw whom first but he was brave and decisive and said it as soon as he knew it. I love that he still says it anytime he thinks it.
He trusts my instincts as well as his own.
He quotes movie lines.
He always tells me the truth, even in those times when I don't want to hear it.
He is generous but not a spendthrift.
He works hard every single day to provide for his family and never, ever complains.
He likes to hold hands.
He likes everything I cook.
He has a great handshake.
He's a grammar snob. I like that he knows big words and how to use them. Ooh, la la.
He is a good tipper.
He encourages and believes in my dreams and ideas and helps bring them to life.

31 Things That Can Make Me Crabby

2011-11-10T21:15:00.001-05:00

I hesitate to do this list. Mostly because it's just so negative. That's not what this blog is about. Who wants to know what I find irritating, anyway? Is it even a good idea to put a list of my kryptonite out there? But let's be honest; we all have pet peeves and little irritants. When my friend Shannon suggested this list, I thought I'd give it a try. I bet you could scratch out a list of 31 as (remarkably) fast as I did. Try it, if you're willing to brave the negativity.

31 Things That Can Make Me Crabby

(if I let them)

Having the back of my seat kicked. This is #1 for a reason and it probably should be on the "things that make me rage" list. I go from mild-mannered to the Incredible Hulk faster than a speeding bullet over this one. Yes, I'm mixing superhero references. Try to keep up.
Having to repeat myself. Mothering my terrific two-year old means I repeat myself A LOT. I'm learning to deal and be patient. But I don't have to like it. "Don't touch, it's yucky. Don't touch; yucky. Don't touch, yuck. Don't. Touch. YUCKY, yucky! DON'T. Touch. Did you hear me? DON'T TOUCH!"
Stubbing my toe. Wow, clumsy and in pain. Good one, Jess.
Being embarrassed or the butt of a joke. No one wants to be the butt of anything, am I right? But having children means I have been and will again eventually be embarrassed. I think my tolerance threshold needs to be lowered: laugh more, crabby less.
Owning a ton of clothes and not being able to find a thing that fits. You know what? I am SO blessed. I have a ton of clothes! I have two healthy children under age two who are the reason nothing fits. (Well, okay, I have a slight affinity for breads and carbs. That too.) So what if everything shows a roll of fat. That means I ate today. (Boy, did I.) I have so much food, I have fat. That's a blessing in disguise, if there ever was one. The excess of food, that is. Still trying to disguise the fat.
Wasting food. I hate trying something new in the kitchen only to have it turn out inedible. Or have to throw out something tasty for some reason.
Misuse of apostrophes. Come on, people. I know schools and teachers are overloaded and they aren't able to hammer down on some things like they used to. But this is a simple one. With the exception of some symbols, abbreviations, or acronyms, plurals do not ever need an apostrophe. Never. Ever. And FYI: "its" = "belonging to it;" "it's" = "it is."
Confused homonyms. To. Two. Too. Your. You're. Yore. There. Their. They're not the same. To be fair, this and #7 tick me off more when I discover them in ads or on billboards. Typos happen to everyone. But often they are just the result of laziness. Step up, America!
Not getting it right the first time. I am kind of hard on myself and I unrealistically expect to get things right the first time. In case you are wondering, that's not working too well for me. :)
Being taken for granted.
Being manipulated.
Inefficiency.
High-maintenance women.
High-maintenance men.
Someone backing out of plans because something better came along.
Drama. I like the entertainment kind just fine.
Not getting what I ordered.
Burning food when I cook. Kind of like #6, with a dash of #9. Grrrrr....
Traffic. Does anyone not get crabby in traffic?
Spills. I'm clumsy. I spill. Crabbiness ensues.
No sleep.
Plans not working out.
Hot water running out during my shower.
My cell phone dying.
The gas gauge on "E."
People trying to see how far they can get on "E." Makes me nervous, which makes me crabby.
Things I don't understand.
Broken appliances.
Being interrupted repeatedly. Companion to #2.
Being treated like a child.
Being late. Even though I was kind of chronically late even before I had children. If running late counted as exercise, I'd look better than Jillian Michaels.

31 Words I Like

2011-11-09T14:37:00.000-05:00

"I get lost in the language. Words like "thither." "Mischance." "Felicity.""

-Kathleen Kelly in You've Got Mail

31 Words I Like

31 Ways to Entertain a Toddler

2011-11-08T22:09:00.000-05:00

My sweet Arden is a pistol. She wakes up early and hits the ground running. It's hard to entertain her and not succumb to the temptation of the almighty, fascinating TV.

We don't have cable but we do have a collection of Baby Einstein videos and DVDs (they're pretty awesome, actually), and the Baby Faith DVDs (also great), both of which she LOVES. Also, we have Netflix streaming via the Wii, and that gives us access to The Busy World of Richard Scarry and dozens of episodes of Sesame Street. So we're no strangers to "tee-bee." And there are times I absolutely have to turn on one of her half-hour "moo-bies" to distract my little padawan while I get some things done.

But that's 30 minutes. What to do for the rest of the day?

Here's my list of fun things to do with a toddler without spending any money, resorting to TV, or relying on any specific toy. Nothing too earth-shattering but maybe there will be an idea or two you haven't tried. I'd love to hear your suggestions!

31 Ways to Entertain A Toddler

Books. (You knew that was going to be first, right?) Read them, let the child read them, talk about the pictures, stack them, count them, put them in a bag and carry them around, pull them all off the shelf, put them all back. Repeat. Go to the library and get new ones. Books are awesome.
Coloring. Arden learned to say, "God made the sun, moon, and stars." last week by coloring pages with sun, moon, and stars over the course of a couple of days. We cut them out and pasted on scrapbooking paper and put them on the fridge and talked about it every day. We also have some cardboard pieces left over from a cardboard playhouse my parents got her last Christmas. Once it was too battered to stand, we cut/ tore off the panels that were still in good shape. Now she/ we color them on the kitchen floor. Crayons really helped her make the association of the names of colors.
Dancing. Turn on some music and have a dance party. Jam to some Led Zepplin, do ballet to Tchaikovsky, sway to Norah Jones, tap to show tunes, slink and stretch to Gershwin. Kids love music and, to my mind, the more variety we can expose them to, the better.
Counting. We count a lot. Anything and everything. Fingers, toes, blocks, pieces of cereal, socks, crayons, spoons, shoes, on and on and on...
Unload the dishwasher. I'm serious. She hands me all the plates and cups and I put them in the cabinets. I take out all the knives and she puts all the spoons and forks in the flatware drawer. It's a total mess and it takes longer but that's a small price to pay to encourage the helpfulness.
Laundry. I ask her to push the wet clothes in the dryer and take the clothes from the dryer to a basket or pile on the bed. One time she make the trek from dryer to bed for each individual piece of clothing - it was mostly socks. Wore her out. Don't call the child labor law people on me!
Puppet Show. You don't have to be Jim Henson to line up some stuffed animals (or just one!) and play pretend. Pop them up from behind an ottoman or couch or even your hand. Get into it: make up voices, tell a story, sing a song, whatever comes to mind will work great.
Red light/ green light. Arden will run through the house and I'll say "Red light, freeze!" and catch her to hold her still. Then, "Green light, go!" and off she goes. Pretty simple but fun.
Fetch. Yes, I realize these are toddlers, not pets, but it's fun for us and them to toss something across the room or kick a ball across the yard and egg them on to "Go get it! Go get it!"
Singing. I'm not crazy about kid's music but there are some fun songs with hand motions, like "The Wheels on the Bus," "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," and "If You're Happy and You Know It." Plus, just singing in general can be very captivating. We sing hymns, show tunes, children's songs... so fun.
Line up toys. It's just fun to line things up and talk about them, re-arrange them into patterns, count them, stack them, knock them down, and put them away. Possibilities are truly endless.
Watching through the window. We have a big front window and a storm door on the front door. We open the blinds, the front door or go out on the porch and sit and watch the world go by. This is especially popular in the afternoon when Daddy is due at any moment.
Photoshoot. We're big fans of the homemade photo shoots. We'll hang a blanket or sheet for a backdrop, dress the children up, and snap away.
Stacking/ nesting cups. We have these from Ikea, and these but measuring cups and bowls work really well. Very popular around our house right now.
Pretend sleeping. My grandfather used to do this with me: pretend to sleep, fake LOUD silly snoring, then when the child does anything that could "wake" you - giggle, touch your arm, shake you, call your name, etc - startle awake, which kind of startles them, which leads to more giggling.
Stickers. I dole them out a couple at a time - stick stickers (or even tape) on her shirt or pants and give her time to practice peeling them off and then sticking them back on. Have to keep a sharp eye out to keep her from eating them.
Sidewalk chalk. What can you draw on the sidewalk or wooden fence? Letters, numbers, shapes, pictures, musical notes, and all kinds of doodles. And you don't even have to spend any money. You probably have everything to make it. Here's a recipe to make sidewalk chalk paint, and here's a tutorial for some in a spray bottle.
Build a fort. A lot of fun can be had with some blankets, pillows, and the kitchen table.
Magnets. On the fridge (or this cool DIY idea) - magnets are kind of fascinating. Another one of those everything-goes-in-the-mouth hazards, though. Watch closely!
Take a walk. Point out dogs, cats, and birds. Say hello to the neighbors. Pick up rocks, sticks, leaves. Balance on the curb. Step over the cracks. Skip, hop, twirl. A lot can happen on a walk.
Exercise together. I stretch, jump, and crunch and she tries to imitate me. Better than imitating me hammering down on a bag of potato chips.
Tickling. 'Cause it's fun.
Chasing. Chase in the yard, in the house, by actual running or play "chase" with stuffed animals or even fingers "walking" on a tabletop. Once you catch her, what do you do? See #22.
Peekaboo. There's still magic in it at this age. Enjoy it.
Name parts of the face/ body. Yet another educational game! Eyes, ears, mouth, nose, teeth, hands, fingers, feet, toes. Sometimes we mix in a little singing, and some counting.
Smell flowers. You might do this on a walk or just in your own yard. PS - the child won't know if the flowers are fake. Trust me.
Tear up magazines. This one might backfire if the child gets ahold of one you don't want destroyed. But it's fun. And then there's the clean up - that takes up time and uses cognitive skills and coordination. All from some lowly junk mail catalog.
Play Jewelry. In a pinch, I've let Arden wear some of my longer necklaces, old watches, and bracelets. Only when I am RIGHT THERE, and only the ones without lots of tiny beads. Beware choking hazards.
Hats. Hats are popular in our house. On, off, on, off. On her head, on my head. If I don't have one handy, I'll make one out of paper. Or use a headband.
Bubble Bath. Who says you can't take one in the middle of the day?
Eating. If all else fails, we snack.

31 Random Facts About Me

2011-11-07T21:48:00.001-05:00

31 Random Facts About Me

I am allergic to shellfish.
I married Dibs 4 months after Imet him.
I have two babies in heaven.
I’m not as private about that as Iused to be.
I have been pregnant orbreastfeeding (or both) since February 2009.
I have never dyed my hair.
I have never seen “Pretty Woman”.
I think Julia Roberts isoverrated.
I’m so non-athletic, I haven’tbought a new pair of sneakers in three years.
I prefer dark cabinets andfurniture to light ones.
I love sunrooms and sunshine.
I am just learning to love cranberries.(Cranberry orange muffin @ Panera Bread? Yum!)
I don’t drink milk.
My first (only) organized sportwas a rec league soccer team in college. I STANK. I was so bad, I’m embarrassedjust thinking about it. We started winning when I was sidelined by a sprainedankle.
I’ve sprained my right ankletwice.
I’ve shot skeet. And been to morethan one turkey shoot.
I like video games. Tetris is myall-time favorite.
I’m great at packing the car. It’slike real-life Tetris.
I’ve never worn braces.
I actually like going to thedentist.
I’ve worn glasses/contacts since Iwas ten.
I have never left the USA.
I have never seen “E.T.”
I want to learn ballroom dancing,just for fun.
I have hit a deer.
I have been in a helicopter. Itwas awesome. I want to do it again.
I got lost in the Garden of theGods (Colorado Springs, CO).
I’ve ridden a mechanical bull.
I’ve been robbed at gunpoint.
I’ve changed a blow-out diaper inthe back of a Buick - in January. {Shudder.}
I once breast-fed Arden in a backoffice of a funeral home. I was wearing a dress and leggings and practicallyhad to disrobe to get the job done. Poor planning on my part. True story.

31 Things I Love About Arden

2011-11-06T23:51:00.002-05:00

My Arden turns 2 today! I can't believe it has been two years since she came into our lives. It might be totally cliche but I truly can't imagine life without her. Motherhood has changed me in so many ways and I am so blessed to be her Mama.

People ask all the time if Arden is a family name. It isn't. Often it's easier to point to Shakespeare's magically beautiful Forest of Arden in "As You Like It" as our reference - we're nerdy enough - it works. But the truth is that"Arden"means "high" (like a mountain) or "fervent." As the word "Ardent," it represents enthusiasm, passion, and zeal. The Greek word "enthusiasm" means "Filled with God." Isn't that wonderful? That's what we want for Arden's life - a filling up of God, a passion for life, a boldness and fearlessness, and a strong character to take the high roads and carry those traits into the world and make a difference. I pray daily to be an example of that for her.

31 Things I Love About Arden

She's ticklish!
She's a morning person. I'm not really too peppy in the morning but it's so nice to see that happy smiling face every day, greeting me with a "Hi, Mama! Goo Borning!"
She is very happy.
She has a lot of charisma. I realize this sounds like I'm bragging or am simply a proud mother but there's just something about her that appeals to people. And she is completely unconcerned with what others think about her, which is a trait I do not possess and I hope she always does.
She LOVES baths.
She rocks pigtails. Pigtails are so cute, it's (usually) worth the stress of trying to convince the child to sit still long enough to do them.

She is an eater! I love to see a child with a good appetite and she has always had one.
She would rather eat fruit or (most) veggies over candies, cookies, or other sweets. I know, kind of hard to believe she's mine, isn't it?
She loves being outside. I think she would spend all day, every day outside if possible.
Her toes. Aren't they cute? I just love 'em. And I'm proud that she can and often does walk outside in the grass with bare feet. I think that's an ability that should be developed early. No tenderfoots or tenderheads is my motto.
She is not afraid to get dirty. Question: Are tomboys born or made?
She lets us dress her up. Let's face it: Arden isn't in the stage of childhood to want to play dress up. But apparently Dibs and I never outgrew that stage.

She ~~likes loves~~ LOVES to read. This has, without a doubt, always been her favorite thing. I really, really like that. It's just precious.
She likes to hold hands to pray. Her newest thing is to say her own prayer after we pray over our meal. We don't understand much of it but she always mentions "Sissie."
She loves Leslie (and the feeling is definitely mutual). Arden is a great big sister. I am so proud of her.
She plays well with others.This is not the first lick she has given this friend, by the way.
She is friendly. A few weeks ago, we were at the zoo and she just ran up to a random little boy gave him a big hug.
She is not jealous of Leslie. I wasn't sure if she would be but she has accepted Leslie as a member of the family from the beginning. There have been times where she has clearly wanted my attention but she has never taken it out on the baby in any way.

This face. What else can I say? She has this signature "scrunchy face" look that is always very entertaining.
She loves to help! This video (Blogger is giving me a hard time with the video right now) is a sample of what happens almost daily - Arden helping Mama or Daddy unload the dishwasher). In fact, she has a meltdown if we deny her the chance to help.

She is persistent. She's going to stubbornly try until she accomplishes her goal. She reminds me so much of her daddy. For example - she tried over and over to drink the water from this sprinkler and he made just as many attempts to catch it with the camera. Neither one ever gets terribly frustrated, they just try, try again. I wish I were more like that.
She is curious. Life is a grand adventure!
She tries to be independent. I'm so thankful we haven't yet had to deal with tantrums over choosing her clothes. No doubt my day is coming.
She is fearless. Sometimes, this is a trait I wish we could tone down a little bit - like the day we introduced her to the ocean. She loved it and kept making a mad dash for the sea.
She's a thinker. I look at her and I can see the wheels turning... and in this I can see Dibs, too. I am so thankful that she has so many of his wonderful, lovable, dear qualities.
She is enthusiastic. Not a day goes by that she doesn't live up to her name.

She loves water. I do, too.
She likes to try on our shoes. It's so sweet and endearing.
She completes our family. Not in the sense that we are complete but in that we would not be the same without her.
She is a loving, affectionate little girl. Some days a hug from Arden makes things right again.
She's my inspiration. She plays hard and lives life to the fullest every day.

Happy Birthday, Arden! I love you!