live * laugh * love

chocolate chip pumpkin bread

2011-10-13T13:45:00.004-04:00

This recipe came from a Betty Crocker Fall Baking cookbook -- you know, the little kind you find at the checkout lane at the grocery store -- that I got from my Mom in 2006. I've made several recipes from this cookbook, and they have all been absolutely delightful!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

4 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips -- I used regular
2 tablespoons chopped pecans -- I HIGHLY recommend putting these on!!
2 teaspoons sugar

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of two 8x4-inch loaf pans with shortening; lightly flour (or spray bottoms of pans with cooking spray; do not flour).

2. In medium bowl, stir flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until mixed; set aside.

3. In large bowl, beat 2 cups sugar and the butter with electric mixer on medium speed 1 to 2 minutes or until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in water and pumpkin on low speed. Add flour mixture; beat on low speed about 1 minute or until moistened. Stir in 1 cup of the chocolate chips. Spread evenly in pans. Sprinkle tops with remaining 2 tablespoons chocolate chips, the pecans and 2 teaspoons sugar.

4. Bake 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. 2 loaves (16 slices each).

laundry room with a face lift!

2011-08-04T15:03:00.005-04:00

Remember a while back when I posted about how my laundry room (closet, really) was in dire need of some style? Well, the project is moving along nicely, and I only have a few more things to do until it is completely up to my standards. Actually, to say I have standards for a laundry room is a bit over the top. I'm extremely happy that I have a laundry room in the first place!

BEFORE:
blah. bland. ivory/yellowish/cream. uninspiring.

AFTER:
uplifting. blue-green. white accents. new lighting. organized.

The light fixture that used to be here covered a gaping hole of sorts in the ceiling, so the hubs will eventually cover that up. Also, you'll notice the hideous electric panel box on the back wall. That will, too, be covered up with a nice cabinet facade that will open up to allow access to the panel! And, I'd like to hang a shelf and some hooks on the right side wall for hanging clothes to dry, and storing the extra dryer sheets. This would allow me to actually fold clothes on top of the dryer.

Ahhhhh... I love an easy room makeover. :)

grief

2011-08-01T16:09:00.003-04:00

The past week has been incredibly difficult. Death. Someone I admire leaving. Someone I love being thrown into a difficult situation. And more.

I've learned that grief comes in many forms, and people deal with it in many different ways. Or maybe there are a bunch of stages, and we're all in different ones? I don't know, but I do know one thing, and its the ONLY thing that is certain -- God. God is the only sure thing in this world.

My trust has been ripped from me on more than one occasion recently, and it is hard to cope with. How do you feel when you find out that everything has been a facade? How do you react? How do you cope?

I personally move from shock to rage to sorrow to pain to disbelief to acceptance to peace, and a myriad of other emotions in between. Its like a moving scale. Some of these feelings are huge, some are minute, and it can go back and forth a number of times until finally, it settles on peace. (Note: I'm still waiting for it to settle on peace.)

Anyway... I turn to the Word of God. Remember? The only SURE and TRUE thing?

"For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea." Psalm 102:16-17

a jar full of memories

2011-07-21T11:54:00.003-04:00

Traditions are very special to me, and I have started a new one in our house. I got the idea from Pinterest (side note: if you haven't joined Pinterest, you simply MUST because it is amazing, amazing, amazing!). It was so easy to make that literally ANYONE can do this!

Okay... so what is it already!?

A jar full of memories! Grab a large mason jar, make a cute tag (or not), and start writing down fun memories as the year goes along and sticking them in the jar. On New Year's Eve, read all of them together as a family and reminisce about the year. Starting January 1st with an empty jar, begin making (and writing down) new memories!

It is genius, and I'm just sad I didn't think of it myself. :)

Here's our new memory jar!

For the tag, I used a paint sample card and cut it to look like a gift tag, then punched a hole in it, and used some leftover elastic thread I had lying around (from a project that TOTALLY AND UTTERLY FAILED, but that's besides the point) to tie it onto the jar. Oh, and that cute little flower button was found at Joann's Fabrics on sale, and of course, I had to add it to my tag! I hand-wrote the word "memories" with a thin sharpie. So simple, people.

Now go make one for yourself, and start making some memories!

{To add to the tradition, you could also keep the memories at the end of the year and perhaps stick them in an album or notebook of sorts. It would be fun to be able to reminisce even years down the road about what the family did together over the years!}

fresh cut flowers from the yard

2011-07-21T11:52:00.002-04:00

I love me some summer Dahlia's and Lily's! Here are some I cut from our yard, minus the three HUGE earwigs that were hiding in the Dahlia's. YUCK! The lily smelled amazing, though. :)

wordless wednesday: summer beach vacation

2011-07-06T12:17:00.002-04:00

out with the dingy

2011-07-05T16:49:00.010-04:00

Now that I have two children, I'm practically doing laundry every day. Lets face it, with all the pee, poop (yes, I said it), snot, drool, grass stains, dirt, sweat, tears, blood, and all that nastiness, laundry simply needs to be done on a daily basis. And since it takes me a while to get to the actual folding of the clean laundry, its an even more prolonged process.

Now, to get me more motivated and excited about doing laundry, I decided to update my dingy old laundry closet. I mean, LOOK at it. YUCK! (Whoever decided ivory/cream was a good neutral is WRONG. I loathe ivory/cream.)

Here is the plan for the revamp:

You'll notice a certain stuffed lemur sitting on the washing machine. Yep, he needs to be hand washed because its covered in pee. And, to be honest, its been sitting there for more than a week. Perhaps this little room could also be considered a confessional? I kid, I kid.

I will be changing the paint color on the walls and ceiling (already done!), changing out the light fixture (already bought!), covering up that unsightly electrical panel (I have something fabulous in mind), and organizing all of that... stuff.

Also:

There is a nice space inside the laundry closet with shelving, which of course, are ivory/cream, and of course, will be painted (already done!). I will also be organizing all of THIS stuff. Games, cleaning supplies, and most importantly, my fabric and crafting stash! I'm not privileged enough at this point to have a craft room, so this is it. It must be organized. Seriously.

On the other side of the washer dryer is a blank wall, which I have big plans for as well. Think text art and clothes drying functionality.

Oh! And I made THIS:

It will find its home in an extra large frame that I found for 50 cents (50 cents!) at a yard sale. The frame had glass intact, and I will use the extra space below this printable for adding more stain tips as I go along. With age comes wisdom right? I'm just allowing room for that. :) And, glass is awesome because I can use a dry erase marker or sharpie to add to my list!

This cheat sheet is made at size 8.5" x 11" (a standard sheet of paper), but if you would like one changed to 8" x 10" or colors edited, comment and leave your email address and I'll see what I can do!

Linking to:

DIY gift from coach to players

2011-05-16T18:11:00.005-04:00

The hubs and I coach club volleyball during the winter and spring, and we just finished up another great season! We celebrate the end of each season with a picnic in our backyard, and invite all of the players and their families over for a BBQ feast and some outdoor volleyball.

We also usually get a little something for each player as a "thank you" for being on our team, working hard, and doing a job well done.

This year, JT got some blank note cards and wrote one for each player, with notes about how they did this season, what he saw them improve on, and also gives them their goals card, which each girl completed at the beginning of the season. This gives them a visual to see what they wanted to work on, and whether or not they improved.

So I did something fun to go along with the card! See?

Here's how to make these cute DIY pop (or if you're from the east coast: soda; or if you're from texas: coke) bottles:

1. Get Crush pop (soda; coke... you get the idea) bottles in the glass version.

2. Make the labels to go on the bottles themselves. Click the image below to download your own copy for free! {Obviously, this only works for volleyball, so if you coach a different sport, you'll need a different cutesy phrase.}

Click the image, then click on it again to enlarge, then save (right-click and save as). It is 8.5" x 11". I printed on white card stock. Font used is "Cracked."

3. Cut each label out and adhere to the glass bottles. I used a piece of double-stick tape on one end, then a piece of regular tape on the seam.

4. Make your name tags. I simply used iWork Pages for MacBook, added dark purple stripes, then a text box with name and jersey number over top of the stripes. After printing on white card stock, I cut out with a scrapbooking scissors in an oval.

5. Punch a hole in each name tag.

6. Tie onto bottle with twine, or whatever you have on hand.

THAT'S IT!! So easy, so fun! Each of our players LOVED them, and some said they weren't ever going to drink the pop. Ha.

spring wreath!

2011-04-06T15:40:00.003-04:00

I've been seeing a lot of blog tutorials on how to make bright and cheerful spring wreaths, so I decided to make my own.

I grabbed my trusty grapevine wreath form from the basement {where it has been sitting for only like a month... I literally JUST took it down from Christmas time. Yes, I'm a slacker.}.

I then raided my fabric stash and found the fabric for the scarf I was trying to make a while back. I was TRYING to make a ruffly scarf for a friend using elastic thread, and it was a COMPLETE FAIL. I remember throwing the scarf across the room and screaming. True story.

I wrapped the scarf around and around and around the wreath, then secured it by wrapping twine (from my husband's garden stash) around and around and around the wreath. I love twine. Just sayin'.

Last but certainly not least, my favorite part: a fabric flower! I made this a while back thinking I'd add it to a scarf (to wear around my neck... not for a wreath), but haven't really done that. It has been gathering dust on my dresser, actually. So I pinned it on my wreath and it adds just the right amount of cheer to my simple spring wreath, don't you think?

I love it. It's understated, but I like that. You can really see it nicely from the street.

Oh, yes, more pictures...

And, of course, the toddler wanted in on the photo shoot, too. Love that girl!

saturday surprise

2011-04-04T14:22:00.005-04:00

If you're like me, you have a husband who likes running errands, and doesn't mind taking one or two kiddos along for the adventure. My hubs left Saturday morning on a hunt for a new chest freezer. We have a stand up freezer in our basement that (probably) is older than me, and sucks up a LOT of electricity. And it is nearly empty! Thus, the need for a new freezer.

Well, the hubs got back around lunch time and didn't have a chest freezer in the back of his truck.

He came inside and said he had a surprise for me. I love surprises! Especially THIS kind of surprise!

It was on sale. {I KNOW what you are thinking! Usually that is a woman's excuse! "It was on SALE, so I HAD to buy it!"} Now I get to use this excuse. I mean, usually the things on sale that I have to buy are much smaller... like clothes... and shoes... and home decor. :)

Anyway, I'm THRILLED! A brand new set of front-loading high efficiency laundry magicians. I actually don't mind doing laundry... even with my old nasty washer and dryer that came with the house. But NOW, it will be a treat!

I mean, look at these options!

And when I get the laundry closet painted and organized, it will be FUN to do laundry! Have you seen those vinyl signs for laundry rooms around? I will be getting one.

THANKS BABE! You know how to steal my heart. :)

$105 worth of fabric for $25!

2011-03-29T17:26:00.005-04:00

Yep, you read that right! I scored the deal of a lifetime, and I didn't even do it on purpose. There was no planning, no scheming, no coupon clipping!

The hubs and I went to Roanoke for a volleyball tournament this past week -- which was AWESOME by the way! -- and did a little shopping on Friday evening before the festivities began. I had looked up craft stores in the area before we left because I wanted to get some items for a project I want to work on. Like, two little measley things is what I was looking for, and it was not fabric.

I googled "craft stores Roanoke" and Jo-Ann's popped up. Woohoo! I made a mental note of the location (um, 2.1 miles from our hotel!), and off we went. The first stop after checking into our hotel was Jo-Ann's. We drove the 2.1 miles over there, and walked in. There was almost NOTHING in the store. What?!

They were moving to a new location across town. They didn't actually move any of their current merchandise over, and were selling EVERYTHING in the store at a super deep discount -- like the cutting tables, display cases, fabric, notions, fixtures, EVERYTHING! If I had lived in Roanoke and had a truck, I would have bought a LOT more. (The fabric cutting table was on sale for $35! HELLO!) The two little items I was looking for were not there, BUT THEN I HEADED TOWARDS THE FABRICS...

75% off!

So, I picked up bolt after bolt after bolt, including cottons and outdoor fabrics, and headed to the cutting table. The lady there was smiling as I waddled up with my stash and asked what I was going to make with all of this. "I dunno! Something!" She laughed. I had a huge goofy grin on my face!

Lets put this in perspective. Outdoor fabrics cost $20 a yard. $20 A YARD! The others I bought were originally $9 a yard. I didn't know how much to get because I didn't have any sewing projects planned, but since I got a book this Christmas with all projects that require a yard of fabric, I decided on one yard per bolt. (I should have gotten a lot more. Kicking myself!)

This is what I got. Value = $105!

This is what I spent: $24.95!

Lets take another look, shall we?

Side note: I found the new Jo-Ann's location in Roanoke, but it isn't opening until the middle of April.

Now, WHAT SHOULD I MAKE?!

what a hoot! i painted my first mural

2011-03-28T13:02:00.004-04:00

I love painting. When I was in college, during one of my breaks, I painted my bedroom at home a limey-minty green color. (My Mom wasn't too fond of it at first, but I think she's grown to like it. She hasn't painted over it yet, anyway!) Since then, I've painted many a room, and absolutely LOVE choosing colors and decor. I probably don't need to mention that my life is crazy busy and it takes me FOREVER to finish a room, but that's besides the point. :)

Last week, I painted my first mural! I decided on a whim that I wanted to do something fun in my daughters' bedroom. The walls are aqua (Ocean Whisper, to be exact -- and my husband says there is no whisper about it!). The theme is sort of gardeny, with flowers and butterflies. So I decided to go with the current trend and paint an owl! He's lovely, sitting on a branch, and the leaves are my absolute favorite. Don't you think he's just adorable?

Okay, so he's a little huge. But I like a statement. Hello, I painted a whole bedroom AQUA!

Every paint color I used was something I already had stashed in my closet downstairs. The owl and branches are "Dark Granite", the leaves are "Sprig of Ivy," and the claws, beak, and whites of the eyes are colors I used in our master bath redo. So this project was definitely cheap! The only thing I had to spend was time. It took me about five hours, because I had to do two or three coats, depending on the color.

See how it goes with the garden theme?

(Don't mind the crooked white flower. The toddler decided to rip it off the wall... a second time.)

And here is the cute little (*ahem* big) guy through the little window from the hallway. We get to see it each time we walk past. This is one of my favorite features of our house. It is a genius idea for a nursery!

And one last look...

In the future, I might add some sort of scripty lettering that says something like "Owl love you forever." Wouldn't that be sweet?

blessed...

2011-03-16T15:07:00.002-04:00

I have a warm home.

I have a husband who loves and respects me.

I have kids to love on.

I have food to eat.

I have parents who raised me well and who love me unconditionally.

I have a job.

My husband has a job.

I have a reliable car.

I have great friends.

I have good health.

I have time to care for my kids and my husband and my home.

I have been so blessed. And the most important blessing of all...

I HAVE SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, AND MY FATHER GOD LOVES ME AND IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL. HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS BLESSED ME. I AM THANKFUL!

These are all the thoughts that are floating through my head these days. We have friends in Japan, and friends who are raising support to go to Japan, and because of them, I feel a more personal connection to the people there. It is a very tragic time, and one that I can't really wrap my mind around. It puts everything in perspective.

I think twice about complaining. When I want to complain, I say a short prayer for those in need. I hope to hold onto this for a long time to come. If you hear me complaining, please just remind me of all that God has blessed me with!

manhattan mist = love

2011-03-04T14:12:00.005-05:00

On New Year's Eve (I know, I have so much catching up to do!), I painted our master bedroom walls "Manhattan Mist." Ohhhh how lovely! I wanted something gray on the blue scale, and something light and refreshing. Enter this color and I fall in love.

I'm going for a completely neutral palate so that I can spice things up with our bedding and throw pillows and blankets. Right now the bed is rocking a gorgeous purple and orange motif, but soon we'll shift to teal, then maybe yellow? Green? Chartreuse? Mango? Fuschia? Indigo? Butternut? Cherry? The possibilities are endless, you see.

Here is one of my fave items... a large photo of Mount Baker, hanging next to my side of the bed. It is the last thing I see when I go to sleep, and the first thing I see when I wake up. This is where I grew up, and I miss it more than words can say. THANK YOU to my parents for giving me this awesome gift for Christmas! I cherish it every day.

And here is a fun little potted plant sign that I also got from my mom. She really knows me and my loves. This happens to be stuck in one of my African violets at the moment, which is holding on for dear life. *Please stay alive, little African violet! You have so much to live for!*

So there is a glance at our new wall color. When I finish the room to my liking, I'll post more pictures. First, though, I need curtains, wreaths (yes, wreaths), and an overhead light fixture. Maybe throw in some vinyl, too. We'll see about that. For now, as always, we live in a half-finished project.

forcing spring to arrive

2011-03-04T14:06:00.004-05:00

I LOVE SPRING! I love Fall the most, but Spring is a VERY close second. Flowers bloom, the temperatures are warmer (but not too hot and definitely not humid -- yay!), baby animals are born, volleyball season is well underway, I'm loaded with work because of new listings coming on the real estate market, the smell of wood smoke and fresh cut grass mingle together in the air, I could go on and on.

Technically, it is still winter around here for another month, so I decided to force Spring upon my home. I went to the backyard, cut three branches from our Forsythia bushes, brought them inside, and stuck them in a vase of water. Then I waited. Each day, I talked to the buds and invited them to open. The toddler did the same. After not even a week, the blooms arrived!

I had never forced blooms before, but this will definitely be a must on the winter checklist from now on!

This picture was taken yesterday, but today ALL of the branches are blooming so brightly... LOVE.

welcome, guests!

2011-03-04T13:59:00.005-05:00

I finally found a bit of time to be crafty. Not too crafty, but a little. I made this sign for my guest room and it will eventually rest on a shallow black shelf on the wall of our guest room. When they arrive, they'll be welcomed each time! I'm in love with the bright color of the frame, which of course I painted. This is the same orange that is on the walls of our office nook in the rec room. And this will probably also be the same orange I paint our laundry closet... when I get around to it.

Until then, these little projects will have to suffice.

If you want this sign for your own home, here it is! This is an 8 x 10 size. I printed mine on my own photo paper with my own printer, but you could certainly send it over to Costco online, too. Enjoy!

my last two weeks... survival

2011-03-03T14:39:00.004-05:00

I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll just make a list of things that happened over the past two weeks, and then you'll have an inkling of how I am feeling right about now.

* Infant puked 4 times.

* Toddler puked 2 times.

* Multiple members of our household had diarrhea.

* Because infant was sick, she did not go into the nursery at church, and therefore sat in "big church" with us. She was fine until the sermon began (of course) and then was fussing. I took her out, and heard absolutely zero words of the sermon.

* Toddler got Grandma sick.

* Toddler got babysitter sick.

* A coach of another sport of some of our volleyball girls decided to be completely irrational about scheduling practices on weekends, and is not budging on the matter. (Still working through this one...)

* Husband has been the most stressed I've ever seen him about the above, plus a lot going on at his work.

* I got little sleep, but lots of prayer and snuggle time in.

* Infant lost half a pound, had a blood test, urine test, and x-ray done to make sure she was okay. All normal!

* Toddler still has no appetite, and looks (believe it or not) even more skinny. We have battles at meal times regularly.

* I had to miss bible study last week because of sicknesses, and finally got to go today. When asked how I was, I broke down. Oh, how I was trying to be strong. Sometimes just a hug makes me lose it.

* I've done multiple loads of laundry every day for the past week because of all the nasty bodily fluids expelling themselves. (Loads still waiting to be washed now, too.)

The list goes on... I'm whipped. But I survived the illness, and that is only because I prayed for a miracle and God blessed me with health. I also sanitized every 10 minutes, wiped all the common surfaces with Clorox, and tried to stay a healthy distance away from the kiddos when I could.

Can I take a nap, now?

On a happier note, my tulips are peeking out of the ground! Spring is coming!

chocolate chip cookies {v-day style}

2011-01-28T13:39:00.002-05:00

Ohhhh man, these cookies are GOOD! And I almost always have the ingredients on hand, so that makes them even better. No runs to the grocery store = one happy mama. This recipe is actually my mama's chocolate chip cookie recipe, and I made some yesterday afternoon, but instead of plain old chocolate chip cookies (which are so delicious plain), I added some Valentine's Day love to them... dark chocolate v-day M&M's! *Drool*

NOTE: This recipe makes 10 dozen cookies. YOWZA! I usually half it and have plenty.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 1/2 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Blend the above and set aside.

2 c shortening (not margarine)
1 1/2 c granulated sugar
1 1/2 c brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp water
4 eggs

Mix the above in a large mixer bowl.

Add flour mixture to the mixer bowl. Mix well. Stir in 12 ounces chocolate chips and 1 cup nuts (nuts are optional). {To make the v-day version, add in some pretty M&M's at this point! I added the chocolate chips, then some M&M's to have both, and they are extra chocolatey and delicious!}

Bake 10-12 minutes at 325 degrees.

one of those weeks

2011-01-21T15:03:00.003-05:00

It has been one of those weeks. You know, where some things are going fine, but a lot isn't. Today is Friday, which always brings a sense of excitement... "The weekend is coming! What shall we do?!"

But I also look back at the week and wonder where it went. What did I accomplish? Or, rather, what DIDN'T I accomplish??

Well, this week the laundry piled up, and up, and up. Four loads got washed but never folded. One load finally got stuck in the washer today, and it sits there still. (After I post this, I suppose I should transfer it to the dryer, huh?) One toddler forgot to put on a "ni-night undie" (as we call it) last night, and thus peed all over her bed early this morning, waking up in tears. That bedding hasn't been washed yet.

I've been looking forward to a webinar all week about social media. It was scheduled for this afternoon, and was going to be led by a well-known real estate agent from my hometown. Um, cool! But when the time came to sign in to the webinar, my computer failed. I couldn't access the webinar, and many other sites weren't working. UGH! FRUSTRATION! Luckily, if you miss a webinar live, they'll post the recording online later. BUT STILL.

This week is going by slowly. I've been looking forward to our first club volleyball tournament all week. It will be on Sunday. It can't get here soon enough!

Anyway... it has been one of those weeks, and I'm super glad the weekend is finally going to arrive this evening.

The end.

ummm, its been 2.5 months since i've posted!

2011-01-14T23:22:00.003-05:00

Whoa. This is a record for me, I'm sure of it. I haven't posted here for, oh, about 2.5 months. That is almost a quarter of a YEAR! I apologize to you faithful readers. I'm sure you come here and check to see if I've written anything juicy on a regular basis, and each time you've come for the past 2.5 months, you've been sorely disappointed. I can't promise that I will post more frequently because life with a toddler and an infant is completely and utterly unpredictable, which challenges and stretches me, but hey, it's my life.

Speaking of life... I've come to the realization that parenting is a HUGE job. I mean, I knew this before, but I'm really understanding now that each day is precious with these little ones and I need to take it seriously, but also have fun at the same time. Thus the less frequent blogging. I'm spending more time with my kiddo's. And I'm loving (almost) every minute of it!

So hopefully I'll be posting sooner rather than later. See how vague I can be? :)

the colors of fall

2010-11-02T14:47:00.003-04:00

Ahhhh, my favorite season...

turning 29

2010-10-28T16:15:00.003-04:00

Each year on my birthday, especially since turning 25, I've experienced an internal battle. Oh no! I'm a year older, and what on EARTH have I accomplished?! Now that I am turning 29, today in fact (happy birthday to me!), that battle fights on... even more so. Next year there will be a "3" at the beginning of my age. A "3!" Ohhh, how I dread that day.

Okay, moving on.

I want to clarify that I don't think people who are older than me are OLD. I feel this internal battle and complain about getting older because I did NOT picture my 20's turning out like this. Living away from my home the entire decade, not celebrating one birthday with my parents during my 20's, not celebrating one Thanksgiving with my family during my 20's, living in small town rural America, working part time, having two children, the list goes on. I pictured my 20's as lively, successful, working a lot at a big time job in a big city and loving every minute of it.

HOWEVER, when I look at my life, I mean really step back and look at it, I have truly been blessed. I have a wonderful husband (who, by the way, gave me a birthday card this morning that made me cry, and who loves me despite my weaknesses), two healthy little girls, a home that I love with a big yard that has lots of potential (the deck is coming, I promise!), a perfect job for me right now (working part time in real estate doing marketing from home so I can watch my girlies grow!), a great church, awesome friends, this list could go on too.

Nobody lives in a perfect world. Its just how it is. Its a fallen world. Nothing is perfect. Although, I do get quite jealous (and sometimes angry) when people live close to their parents and siblings and get to spend a great deal of time with them. Its not fair, but again, this life isn't perfect. Those people might be close to their families, but maybe I have something they don't. Perhaps they are missing something from their lives, too.

I want to use this coming year (my LAST year in my 20's) to do some amazing things. Travel? Be adventurous? Random acts of kindness? Make a difference? Support a great cause? I want to be spontaneous, do things I normally wouldn't do, take risks, and have fun. That is what being 29 is all about for me!

Back to the birthday... here is the bouquet of flowers that the hubs brought home to me at lunch today! He said, "Look, babe, its fall colors!" He knows me so well. :)

i do not have it all together

2010-10-17T18:48:00.002-04:00

A couple months after I had baby Adah, I was sitting in church waiting for the service to begin and a lady walked up to me and (after introducing herself) said, "Wow. You really seem to have it all together." WHAT?! She obviously doesn't know me very well. Since having Adah, I've definitely lost it. All control in my life used to be stored up in a nice glass jar with a tightly screwed on lid. Now? That nice glass jar has been thrown onto the floor and shattered, letting all of the contents fly across the room amongst shards of glass.

I never know when I wake up each morning how the day will turn out. Will I keep my composure when Maddie disobeys? Will I be patient when the milk spills? Will I complain when things don't go according to plan? Will Adah cry for hours on end?

I definitely feel more refreshed on weekends because my hubby is around. He is currently working full time and coaching varsity high school volleyball, so his time at home is minimal these days. Maddie is acting out, Adah is needy (as all babies are) and crabby during the evening hours (when most Daddies are home to help), and I have lost it. Being a mother is mentally, physically, emotionally, and physically challenging. I felt in control with just one. With two I feel like a complete failure. Having the hubs around from Friday night through Sunday night is like a breath of fresh air. (And by the way, his season will be over sometime in November, so I'm counting the days!)

I have come to appreciate even more the world of a single parent. They have a LOT to be responsible for. They only have two hands. They probably lose their patience just as much as I do, but I almost always feel like I am the only one in the world who does not have it all together.

I love my kids, I love my husband, I love my home, and I love my job. Handling all of this with grace isn't possible, at least not for me. God is good and sovereign. He has a plan. He will get me through this. Adah will not be an infant forever. Maddie will not be three forever. JT will not be at volleyball practice forever. All I can do is trust that what God has me doing is right, and lean on Him.

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8

perseverance in times of struggle

2010-09-21T11:46:00.003-04:00

I've been struggling lately with life... managing everyday life with two little ones, a job, a husband, and a home is basically impossible. Being the control freak that I am, this has been extremely challenging, and I find myself barely surviving, and losing heart in my purpose. I've been growing weary.

This morning I was doing my Bible study and came across this verse from Hebrews 12:1-3. It really hits home today, so I thought I would share it and perhaps if you are growing weary, you needed this too.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

This is so refreshing. I particularly took to heart the last verse -- "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." It is a great reminder that Jesus went through hell, literally, and did not complain. He was oppressed much more than I am today, and sits at God's right hand now. Because of this, I can persevere!

I also like that Jesus endured the cross, "scorning its shame." Praise God!

easy butterfly mobile

2010-08-28T15:08:00.003-04:00

When Maddie was a baby, we had a plastic store-bought mobile above her crib that worked okay, but it wasn't something I loved. So when Adah came around, I decided to make a mobile for her. And why not butterflies?

I used this tutorial to make the butterflies, but added a small button to the bottom instead of just tying a knot.

Hang at the appropriate height above the crib. When Adah starts standing (which seems like a long ways off right now!), she won't be able to reach the butterflies. You could use different fabrics for each butterfly, or a different fabric for the front than the back.

I think it's cute, don't you?

over-the-door toddler shoe organizer

2010-08-28T14:56:00.003-04:00

A while back, I was inspired by this 9-pocket door caddy (technically designed for jewelry or lingerie) and decided to try my hand at making my own, but using it for storing Maddie's shoes. They currently live haphazardly in her closet, and it drives me nuts!

Let me tell you, this was a great project for me to work on because I feel like I'm a much better seamstress now, but it took a lot of patience and time management (and several trips to the store) to get this done.

Isn't it just adorable?

Flip-flops and slippers can fit two to a pocket, but tennis shoes and sandals only fit one to a pocket, so if you decide to make your own and want more space for shoes, I suggest measuring accordingly. I'm not advanced enough in sewing yet to make those kinds of changes, so I went exactly according to the tutorial! :)

It calls for drapery grommets, so I used bronze to coordinate with the fabric, and they were SO easy to use! The tutorial also suggested using over-the-door hooks to hang the caddy, but I decided ribbon (held to the top of the door with tacks) would work just fine. It adds a little sass, don't you think? I'm in love with hot pink and anything shiny.

Now, if I could only get my shoes organized!

old window put to new use

2010-08-28T14:49:00.003-04:00

A loooong time ago, I was in need of some inspiration for an old window I bought (cheap!) at a yard sale. Finally, in redoing our guest bedroom, I decided it would look perfect just hanging on the wall. I did nothing but clean it up and stick it on the wall. I will likely add a few small nails or hooks to the bottom and hang something cutesy on one of them, like Maddie-pie's flower girl headband that I dried.

What do you think? I just love this cottage look!

Next time I make it to IKEA, I'm going to buy a new floor lamp for this corner and move the tiny table lamp. It just doesn't look right yet...

quick, easy, and delicious snack

2010-08-26T09:00:00.003-04:00

I came up with a new rule for myself: no eating after 9:00 PM. So, naturally, when 8:30ish rolls around, I try and think of some sort of healthy snack so I will last until morning. Ha.

Last night I whipped up a quick, easy, and delicious snack, which I also ate for breakfast this morning!

Simply grab a small glass or bowl, put in some low fat vanilla yogurt, stir in a little bit of canned pumpkin (I had some left over from some scones I made yesterday... yum!), and then add a bit of granola. I used Quaker Granola, which I found in the cereal aisle. You could also use homemade granola, of course, but who really has the time, especially when a quick snack is in order? :)

Possible variations:

* Instead of pumpkin, use fruit (berries would be yummy!), or use jam
* Instead of granola, simply use chopped walnuts or almonds
* Instead of vanilla yogurt, use a flavor like raspberry or blueberry
* Add in a touch of cinnamon or ginger for some spice

Scrumptious!

sewing projects

2010-08-25T13:13:00.003-04:00

I have a few sewing projects that I've finished up and will post about with photos later. Just wanted to whet your appetite!

1. Butterfly mobile for Baby Bean's nursery

2. Over-the-door shoe organizer for the girlies

3. Maternity shirt turned (non-maternity) tank top

What have YOU been working on lately?

men's dress shirt to vintage lacey skirt

2010-08-18T14:52:00.003-04:00

OH. MY.

This recycled dress-shirt to skirt is simply adorable. Next time I have an afternoon to just sew, I'm doing this... if the hubs will let me steal one of his nicer shirts. :) This will just look too cute on my Maddie-pie!

Anyone happen to know where I could find some vintage lace around Harrisonburg??

hot and humid = grumpy and disgusted

2010-08-18T10:57:00.003-04:00

I had never experienced true humidity until I went to school in Texas. The moment we would step outside, we would start sweating. And I'm not talking about a nice glisten. I'm talking drip sweating with clothes sticking to your entire body. YUCK. Well, hot and humid weather resides in Virginia as well. I AM NOT A FAN.

{Today is cooler and rainy, which I LOVE.}

The other day was another hot, humid, sticky day. Here are the reasons I loathe it.

* You take a shower in the morning, only to step out of the shower and become sweaty again. EVEN when you have A/C running. And the sweat gets worse if you blow dry your hair. Ugh.

* It is next to impossible to go outside and enjoy yourself... no playing, no crafting, no yard work, no walks.

* Your photos and other paper-like materials crinkle up, EVEN when you have A/C running.

* Your A/C bill can be outrageous.

* If you don't want your A/C bill to be outrageous, you suffer in sweat daily. And your photos and other paper-like materials crinkle even more.

* When the weather is muggy outside, shops, stores, offices, and houses crank their A/C, and if you will be inside for very long, you will need to bring along a jacket or sweater. This seems insane when the temperature outside is reaching 96 degrees. There is no happy medium.

These are reasons #92 - #97 to move back to Washington State. :)

my menu board

2010-08-16T14:28:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I posted about a project I was definitely going to work on called a wipe off weekly menu board. LOVE!

I went to Michaels this morning with my girlies and found a 12" x 12" frame in black (it was originally $20 but I got it on sale for 40% off!) and a cool piece of scrapbooking paper (also 12" x 12"). I decided not to add lettering to the paper itself because I can use this for a message board, menu for a fun dinner gathering, to-do lists, etc. I like the idea of flexibility.

What do you think? It literally took about 30 seconds to put together once I had both materials!

wipe off weekly menu board {from little birdie secrets}

2010-08-15T23:01:00.002-04:00

Dude, I'm TOTALLY making this wipe off weekly menu board! Completely excited about this! I may need to make a trip to Michaels tomorrow...

bubble fun

2010-08-15T18:49:00.002-04:00

side table revamp

2010-08-14T14:08:00.004-04:00

I've been married for over 6 years now, and since we bought these plant stands right after we got married, that means they've been sitting unfinished for that long in our various homes along the way. BO-RING!

So finally today (because it is FINALLY at a cool enough temperature that I can tolerate being outside for more than 2 minutes!), I decided to spruce them up a bit with some spray paint. A while back I raided the paint aisle at Walmart and bought some Pebble colored Krylon paint. I have big plans for that color in our dining room (more on that later... when I actually get around to doing that project), but wanted to bring the color into our living room as well because it is a big open area.

Technically, one of these tables resides in our guest room at the moment, so Pebble is represented in three rooms in our home now, but whatev, right?

I had started priming the tables before realizing I wanted before and after shots, so here is a "before" shot with just the top primed. *yawn*

And here, fully primed and awaiting paint...

And here, finished! Well, mostly finished. I am going to put a clear coat on it tomorrow. Perhaps I'll take a photo of each table in their respective spaces and post them later.

two months ago...

2010-08-11T14:17:00.003-04:00

I gave birth to our dear little sweetheart. She was a tiny baby at 5 pounds 14 ounces and has grown and thrived vivaciously ever since! I took her to her two month well visit today and she weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds 11 ounces!! Hoky fright! Although this seems so heavy, she is still only in the 25th percentile for weight. She measured 21 3/4" in length, which is also in the 25th percentile.

She had to get shots, too. She cried. Mama cried.

the center of a cinnamon roll

2010-07-27T10:41:00.003-04:00

Oh. My. Goodness. My tastebuds LOVE the center of a cinnamon roll, and I found these little babies at Costco the other day. They are packed with so much cinnamon that they taste just like the center of a cinnamon roll.

If you've never tried them, you must. SOON! Go today! They are called Two-Bite Cinnamon Rolls, and you can find them in the bakery department in a box for like $7. Zap them in the microwave for 15 seconds and they seriously melt in your mouth.

Someone once told me that cinnamon is really good for you. I don't know how, but this bit of information makes it that much easier to eat the whole box in one sitting. ;)

all choked up

2010-07-26T14:32:00.004-04:00

Dude. My baby girl, Maddie, is old enough to go to vacation Bible school now. I got all choked up when I dropped her off this morning. I could blame it on hormones, being all postpartum and emo, but I think I would have felt this way regardless of baby Adah entering the world recently. I just can't get over how much Maddie growing up these days.

Not only is Maddie attending VBS, but she is also now officially wearing undies every day (except during nap time and night time), organizing toys by color, and getting creative with her toys and dolls -- having tea parties, etc.

I just can't help but feel overwhelmed this!

potty training chronicles: chapter 3

2010-07-22T11:34:00.003-04:00

Ugh. UGH! I hate potty training. Everyone says to just let it happen, don't push it, and don't get frustrated. Well I'm FRUSTRATED! I hate that Maddie is now three years old and I still have to buy diapers. I mean, seriously! We were making great progress this week. She has been wearing undies during the day and sitting on the potty, earning stickers for her chart like nobody's business. I was so proud!

Then today Maddie decides she doesn't want to wear undies and I make her do it anyway. I ask her every once in a while if she needs to sit on the potty and she says no. I'm in the kitchen sweeping and hear whining (this is way too normal around here...) so I go to check out what she's doing. She peed all down her leg. UGH!!!! I ask her why she didn't sit on the potty and she said she didn't want to. UGH!!!!

I give up.

Maddie is back in a diaper and I put her in her room and walked away because I am at a loss. I don't know what to do. And I'm frustrated. My blood is boiling. I'm that frustrated. Its days like this that motherhood is no fun.

Thanks for letting me rant. I promise I'll let Maddie out of her room... eventually.

baby bean

2010-07-22T11:27:00.003-04:00

Our little one arrived! (which is why this blog has not gotten much attention lately.) She arrived in June, a week earlier than expected, and she was little. At a month and a half old, she is still wearing newborn size diapers and clothes, and swims in 0-3 month sizes. Sheesh! Never thought I'd birth a tiny kiddo. But there you have it! Here she is:

Adah Renee
June 10, 2010
5 pounds, 14 ounces

ready for baby

2010-06-09T13:48:00.003-04:00

Not only is my body ready for this baby to be born, but my brain has finally caught up as well. If I would go into labor today, I would be satisfied... EXCEPT for the fact that my Mom wouldn't be here for another week and a half.

Another reason I'm ready to have this baby is because inspiration has struck and I want to be crafty again! I have been relatively useless during this pregnancy because everything I want to do involves paint, lifting, and other things that aren't conducive to a safe pregnancy. SO... I've made a list of things I want to get done and somehow, some way, I will make it happen once Adah arrives! (I know, I know... I will have two children to take care of, and I will be tired, but I'm all about "me" time, too, folks!)

I just can't wait to meet this little one. I wonder if she will look like our first little peanut...

toddler in need of attention? OR a mommy needs to pay attention!

2010-06-01T13:04:00.003-04:00

I haven't been sleeping very well lately, for obvious reasons. The 6 pound child I'm carrying around in my womb these days doesn't help with the sleeping. So Saturday morning at 3:30 I got up to *ahem* relieve myself and could NOT get back to sleep! I laid awake in bed for 2 hours. Finally, I decided to forget about trying to sleep and I got up, checked on Maddie, and went to Facebook (naturally).

By 6:00 I was feeling sleepy again, so I just laid down on the couch to snooze. Two hours later, I wake up to the sounds of spanking in Maddie's bedroom. Uh oh. What did she do now?!

JT had woken up to find that Maddie had taken apart her travel toiletry bag -- which *DUH!* I had left on her dresser, which is right beside her bed. She apparently decided it would be fun to dump out two travel baby powders, a baby shampoo, and a baby body wash all over her comforter, and create a (wonderfully-smelling) white paste. There was powder ALL OVER her room, covering every possible nook and cranny! JT said he had to stand there for a minute and do pregnancy breathing exercises so he wouldn't lose it. :)

This is what the comforter looked like AFTER JT had tried to pound the powder out of it:

exhausted

2010-05-13T10:47:00.004-04:00

This third trimester is kicking my tail. I have been so exhausted lately, and can't seem to be up and doing anything for very long without wanting to lay down or without having my lower back start hurting like crazy.

So the other day, Maddie woke up from her nap, and we snuggled on the couch while watching some afternoon TV. JT found us this way when he got home from work. I actually really cherish these times right now because it is wonderful to have a couple hours in the afternoon to rest (thank you, God, for those moments!), and to spend some time with my girlie.

coffee beans and candles

2010-05-13T10:43:00.003-04:00

My wonderful hubby gave me a set of pretty hurricane glasses for Christmas, and I am just now getting around to using them! I set them up on our mantel and filled each one with whole coffee beans -- which provided a wonderful smell in our living room for a day or two! -- and white unscented pillar candles. LOVE!

new bathroom vanity

2010-05-13T10:39:00.003-04:00

With our master bathroom renovation almost complete, we decided to remove the pedestal sink and replace it with a small vanity, which provides a lot more storage (and lets face it, I need storage in the bathroom!). This one came from IKEA, and its a bit contemporary, but I'm going to bring some cottage feel to it soon with a small glass round knob for the cabinet door. We love it already!

Note: the drain is currently leaking, so that is why the rag underneath the vanity, and the shelves resting against the side. :)

happy birthday, maddie!

2010-05-11T14:10:00.004-04:00

I. LOVE. MADDIE. She is one of the best things in my life, and I am so blessed to be her mommy. Three years ago today, she changed our lives forever!

Here are some things that she has been doing recently that make me smile:

* Singing her ABC's and Nursery Rhymes
* Learning Bible Verses
* Always saying "Hi!" to strangers we pass in our daily outings
* Imaginary friends
* Being a chatter box, especially in the car
* Singing "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum :)
* Drawing smiley faces and hearts
* Digging for worms in the garden
* Telling us she loves us every day and giving us plenty of hugs and kisses
* Riding her trike, even UP the driveway, which has an incline!
* Being very polite and using her manners
* Excited about being a big sister
* Excited about being a flower girl (twice!)
* Excited about seeing grandparents soon
* Reading her books to Shadow and her dollies
* Helping me pick things up off the floor when I drop them (this is a big deal right now!)

These are just a few of the joys I get to see as she grows up into a little girl and out of the baby stage.

She had her three year well checkup earlier today and she is perfectly healthy, 90th percentile for height, 40th percentile for weight, and very smart! I'm a proud Mama.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE GIRL!!

growing up so fast

2010-05-10T16:08:00.002-04:00

She picked out the Geranium. Great color choice, I think!

Starting to pose for photos now! :)

mother's day

2010-05-10T16:03:00.003-04:00

I have been a mommy for three years now! My first was one of the best because we left the hospital with our new little Maddie-bundle at just two days old. What a sweet Mother's Day gift! Now three years later, here I am about to have another precious child -- to hold, love, snuggle with, sing to, hug, and raise up to (Lord willing) become a beautiful, Godly woman. I am blessed.

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, who I love and cherish! I would not be the person I am today without your guidance and influence on my life. And I wouldn't be the mother I am, either. I am sincerely grateful for all that you have sacrificed for me, given me, blessed me with, and of course, all the laughs and hugs!

This is what JT and Maddie got me for Mother's Day. Isn't it just gorgeous?!

time flies

2010-04-17T08:26:00.003-04:00

I keep a calendar online. It is full of appointments, volleyball practice times, tournament dates, outings, events, you name it. (Another great thing about this application is that I can also set reminders to myself, which is AMAZING!)

Well, yesterday I wrote in the day of the c/section and realized that from now through the end of May, I am BOOKED SOLID! Life is just crazy right now. I keep hoping that JT and I will get to spend some time together before the baby arrives, but I just don't know if that will happen. Perhaps at the beginning of June, when I'm SO large and uncomfortable, we can go on a date. Even just for dessert. Something!

I just know that my life is going to change forever as soon as this little one makes her grand entrance to the world. Maddie's life will change. Shadow's life will change. JT's life will change. My life will change. We will adjust, as all families do, but not knowing how it will be is unnerving.

In other news:

* I haven't been able to find a preschool for Maddie for next year that has class on mornings other than Thursdays. We have Bible Study on Thursdays that I don't want to miss, and all the preschools I've tried have 3-year-old classes on Thursdays. Lame.

* Maddie STILL is not potty trained. She sits on the potty a couple times a day, and has gone only a handful of times, but doesn't LIKE sitting on the potty, and doesn't volunteer information, if you catch my drift.

* JT is going to take a CAP I volleyball coaching course at the end of May in Charlotte, NC. This will be a great experience for him, and will get him certified as a CAP I coach, which is a nationally recognized USA Volleyball accreditation. I'm so proud of him!

cleaning pet peeves

2010-04-12T17:13:00.003-04:00

Every woman has them. If you are a woman, you have one. Don't deny it. For me, its floors and clutter. Okay, of course I have TWO. Cleaning pet peeves, that is. The thing that drives me the most nuts about the cleanliness of my house.

Everything else could be in disarray (okay, not totally, but whatever), but if my floors are covered in dog hair tufts -- because it is inevitable in my house what with the 43-pound black hairy monster living amongst us -- and there are PILES of STUFF sitting around, I go NUTS! And not just when I'm pregnant.

There is a lady in my Bible study who hates dirty windows. Another woman I know hates dusty baseboards. What is YOUR cleaning pet peeve? What dirty THING gets under your skin? You know you have one. Don't deny it.

easter 2010

2010-04-04T20:43:00.004-04:00

Happy Easter! Today was a fun and exciting day, filled with celebration of our risen Savior (He is Risen!!), friends, fellowship, food, and an egg hunt.

I am so grateful to God for sending his only Son to die... for my sins... for sending his only Son to hell for three days... for me... and for raising his only Son from the dead... for me!! We went to the Good Friday service at our church on Friday night, which I think was the first time we had gone, and it was incredible. A great reminder that I deserve nothing, and that God deserves all the glory. Then celebrating Jesus' victory over the grave this morning was even more incredible! I am just in awe at what God has done for me.

So, I know you are all wanting to see photos of my pretty girl in her Easter dress and new barrettes and earrings (made by my talented sister, Sara!). These pictures just remind me again how much of a big girl she really is, and how much I love this little drama queen. :)

hunting...

so excited!

daddy and maddie

mommy and maddie

ready for church

my bestie, amanda!

showing off the fruits of her labor

she couldn't find this one, even though she was staring intently at the grass two inches away! ha.

mallie-girl

the spectators

wrapped around her finger

2010-04-01T14:12:00.003-04:00

Oh, this girl has her daddy completely wrapped around her finger! I came across this on Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church. :)

First, please disregard the nasty bathroom. It needs some serious updating. Second, notice the orange potty chart in the background? Yeah... I'll write more about THAT later. *sigh*

double peanut chunk cookies

2010-03-26T19:54:00.004-04:00

I made these cookies this afternoon. I had ripped this recipe out of my Family Circle magazine (September 2009 issue) a while back and kept it on my fridge for the perfect moment to bake them. Well, a rainy and dreary Friday afternoon is the perfect time to bake! They are huge -- the recipe says it will make 16 large cookies, and I made 19, so they could have been even larger! But every bite is delicious.

The two to-die-for ingredients in these cookies: chopped peanuts and dark chocolate Reese's miniature cups. Can you say "YUM?" By the way, they were very easy to make, too!

Double Peanut Chunk Cookies

Makes: 16 large cookies
Prep: 20 minutes
Bake: 22 minutes

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
1/2 of a 12-ounce bag Reese's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures, coarsely chopped

1. Heat oven to 325.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

3. In another large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until blended. On low speed beat in the flour mixture until just blended and a dough forms. Stir in the peanuts and chopped chocolate cups.

4. Using a 1/4-cup ice cream scoop or measuring cup, drop dough in slightly rounded mounds onto ungreased cookie sheets, about 3 inches apart.

5. Bake at 325 for 22 minutes or until crispy around the edges and slightly golden. Place baking sheet on cooling rack for 3 minutes. Remove cookies to rack to cool completely.

Per Cookie: 374 calories; 20 g fat (9 g sat.); 6 g protein; 45 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 196 mg sodium; 57 mg cholesterol

another step closer to baby

2010-03-24T17:44:00.002-04:00

Each day, I'm realizing more and more that my life is about to change dramatically. I have no idea what it will be like to be a mother of two. So I feel the urge to be as prepared as possible. I want to get the nursery in order before Adah arrives. (In case you didn't know, that is the name we chose for our baby girl!)

We're going to try having both girls in the same room, so we'll see how that goes. Maddie is a pretty good sleeper, so I think it will be okay, but we'll find out soon enough. Of course, Adah will be sleeping in our room for the first couple months, so Maddie will have time to get used to the idea of having another child in the house (taking away all of the attention previously given only to her).

Right now, though, that bedroom is a designer's nightmare. I have so many color schemes happening, and too many large pieces of furniture crammed in there, so I need to make it cohesive and inviting. I found the perfect rug to bring it all together, but of course, it is from Pottery Barn, and of course, it is super expensive. I also have a solution for the furniture. I want to take out the big dresser and either get rid of it or store it in the basement. Then I want to get an "end-of-the-bed" dresser with just two drawers that sits low so I can put canvas bins on top of it with toys organized inside of them. But, again, of course, what I love is from Pottery Barn, and it is super expensive. So we'll see how this all pans out.

Why do I always get caught with champagne taste on a beer budget?

For now, though, we are one step closer to Adah's arrival because we converted the crib from a toddler bed back to a crib last night, and I put all the baby bedding on it. I'm still in love with this bedding, even after three years. This small step gives me a bit of peace, at least for today.

snuggle time

2010-03-17T14:59:00.002-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, I walked into my bedroom and found two cuddly creatures snuggling between the pillows.

And one little girl with a look on her face like, "Well, of COURSE they are snuggling, Mommy!"

I wonder who could have put those two friends on my bed...

little things that make me smile

2010-03-16T12:23:00.002-04:00

The smell of spring... I love how this scent fills my home every day.

I love that JT brought this book home... now to actually GO on one of these dates!

A pretty flower in my window sill.

The smile of my precious daughter. I cherish these every day!

growing exponentially

2010-03-15T12:23:00.003-04:00

Wow. Every morning these days I wake up feeling larger and larger and more and more uncomfortable. I have to stand up slower, sit slower, and someone told me the other day that I have started waddling, but I don't really think that is the case. I refuse! It's too early!

Here is a photo JT took of me yesterday. I'm almost 26 weeks!

new dishwasher!

2010-03-15T12:18:00.004-04:00

This weekend, we went to Lowes three times, Sears twice (it was closed the first time), and Home Depot once. This is probably the most comparison shopping we have ever done in our almost 6 years of marriage! But we did it... we bought a new Whirlpool Quiet Partner II dishwasher!

It is gorgeous, it is quiet, it is energy efficient, and it was on sale. :) In case you were wondering, we ended up getting it at Lowes because they were the only ones that carried this particular dishwasher, and they were also the only ones with a 10% off sale on energy star appliances this weekend.

It took JT about 4.5 hours to install because of some water draining problem, but we ran it last night and it was so quiet I could barely hear it!

If you are in search of a dishwasher, let me just warn you that there are a billion different options, and you just need to decide what will work best for you, what is a deal-breaker, and how much you are willing to spend.

DIY earring holder

2010-03-12T19:56:00.004-05:00

I finally took a photo of the earring holder that I made! It has already proven to be a much better organization system for my earrings than what I had before, which was just a regular jewelry box with a drawer. Now I can see all the earrings that I have, and even have space for more! (Anyone who wants to add to my earring collection is more than welcome to do so.)

The screen works great for studs and hooks, and the wires work great for hoops!

To make your own:

* Take a large photo frame and spray paint your color of choice.

* Cut two small pieces of wood for the center of the frame.

* Cut a piece of screen (found at your local hardware store) a bit larger than half of the frame, and staple three sides of the piece of screen to the frame and put the free (4th) side of the screen between the two small pieces of wood that you cut.

* Staple on the back of the top piece of wood after pulling tight.

* Spray paint the center pieces your color of choice.

* Now take four eye hooks and screw each pair parallel to each other for the wire.

* Take two pieces of wire and wind around the eye hooks.

* Add your earring collection and display in your bedroom.

* You're finished!

is there such a thing as pre-nesting?

2010-02-27T14:07:00.004-05:00

Wow. I just went through my house like a whirlwind -- sweeping, arranging, picking up, cleaning, magic erasing, sorting. And I still have a long way to go. As I was going through each room, I decided that I need a project journal. Just a simple notebook to write down thoughts and ideas for each room. These thoughts usually randomly pop into my head throughout any given day, and it would be great to have a place to store my brainstorming ideas.

I know nesting isn't supposed to happen until right before the baby is born, so I'm thinking this episode (and lets be honest, some previous ones last week and the week before) is more like pre-nesting, if there is such a thing.

Usually these moments come when I've been to a super clean house (like when I go to a new listing and they've got it in showing condition... jealous!), or when I've been reading magazines about how to spruce up for spring, or when I'm reading my new book about stress free productivity. When I come across these spurts of pre-nesting, I act fast because I never know how long this feeling will last.

Watch out! Mama's on a cleaning and organizing rampage!

my brain takes over

2010-02-24T11:45:00.004-05:00

I love shopping, especially on days when I have time to kill, its nippy outside, and coffee is available at a nearby Starbucks. Oh, how I love days like that! Well, yesterday afternoon, I wanted to get out of the house. I ran an errand and then stopped by Target. Dangerous, I know. But my brain takes over.

My heart is totally into the shopping, but my brain won't let my heart have any fun. A cute Spring dress for Maddie? No, its too expensive. But what about for Easter? She'll need an Easter dress eventually, and this one is RIGHT HERE, just waiting for you. AND its in her size, AND its adorable, with all its pink and white thin stripes with a scalloped neckline. No, you can wait until next month. Your budget is shot. Okay... so what about this super cute 1920's style orange and white swimsuit? Size 3T! Or this adorable, tiny, newborn size dress for the new baby? Summer is coming! The baby needs clothes! Ugh, NO, you just went through all the baby clothes and you have what you need, plus babies like to be swaddled all the time anyway, and does not need this dress. Oh, FINE!

And we give up, and we leave the store, with only a razor, deodorant, and birthday card in hand. Not even a cup of coffee. So lame.

Next time, I'm letting the heart win out.

a valentine's day treat for my loves

2010-02-19T16:03:00.004-05:00

Instead of racking my brain to figure out what to buy my hubby and daughter each Valentine's Day, I make them a special dessert. (I guess this goes back to how my Mom usually celebrated my Dad's birthday - with an apple pie!) This year, I went for Mud Pie. It was on the cover of Family Circle magazine, and man, was it delicious!

What is mud pie, you ask?

Oreo crust, vanilla ice cream, more oreos, coffee ice cream, fudge, almonds, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. (We had pink M&M's on the side -- Maddie's favorite!) And WHAT is not to like about that?!

more snow

2010-02-15T14:33:00.005-05:00

It is snowing again. Apparently today will mark the day for record snow fall in the Harrisonburg area at over 53" for the winter. Sheesh! I'm pretty sad about not seeing my bulbs pop up any time soon, or feeling warm sunshine on my face, or taking walks with Maddie to the park.

I'm trying to enjoy this snow... it is pretty. But it causes problems in my schedule, and I am just ready for Spring!

To brighten my (and everyone else's) spirits, here is a photo taken at Easter last year. Green grass! Sunshine! Little Maddie!

what's in a name?

2010-02-11T09:32:00.003-05:00

Naming a child is a complex situation. The name you choose for your child is the name they will go by for the rest of their lives. Names are important. One of the first things you learn about in business is that remembering people's names is imperative because it is probably the most important thing in the world to that person. Being remembered is nice. Have you ever been called the wrong name? It hurts, doesn't it?

Well, JT and I, for some reason, have an easy time choosing names for boys, but alas, we are having another girl (which I LOVE!). Girl names are so hard for us to come to agreement on. There are some names that I love and he is just okay with, and vice versa. There are names I love, but can't use because a relative has that name, or it sounds too close to someone else I know with that name. There are also names I hate because I've known someone not-so-nice with that name. I like classic, feminine, uncommon names. Picky, I know.

Then you have the ordeal of choosing a name that goes with the name you've already chosen for your first child. What goes with Madelyn? Something old fashioned and feminine. There are many names that go with Madelyn, but not a ton that I have fallen in love with. What if I choose a name that people generally hate? Would they finally get over it once they got to know the sweet little girl that held that name? Should I even care what other people think?

Then there are middle names. Do I choose one from a family member that has made an impact on my life? Or do I just choose one that sounds good with the first name -- that has yet to be chosen?

I have read through lists and lists of baby girl names, and have only been somewhat "wowed" by a small handful.

So I go to the masses. If you could choose any baby girl name(s), what would you choose right now? I may or may not use these names, so be careful when handing out this precious information! :)

baking with mommy

2010-02-06T12:34:00.002-05:00

For Christmas, Maddie got a lot of baking stuff... cupcake pan, measuring spoons, whisk, spatula, neon food coloring, and I got a "mommy and me" apron set that is just adorable! So we baked cupcakes the other day, and of course, had to get a photo of this special occasion!

Cupcakes of choice? Devils food with dark chocolate buttercream frosting. Yummy! They were quite delicious, and although I had a hard time letting Maddie help (I'm sort of a control freak, not that you didn't already know that), we had a great time!

snow * infinity

2010-02-06T12:28:00.004-05:00

The snow has been falling nonstop since yesterday morning. When we woke up this morning, at least 8 more inches had fallen, and this is what we saw outside our backyard. We got all geared up and tromped around outside for a while, and found out that the snow was up to my knees!

Snow continues to fall, and I think it is supposed to keep falling through tomorrow, but who knows. Perhaps I'll take another photo when its all said and done. It is pretty, but it canceled yet another volleyball tournament, so I was quite disappointed yesterday. However, I am happy to have not had to drive two hours to Richmond in this weather early this morning!

dental work is my enemy

2010-01-26T08:32:00.003-05:00

A week ago (well, technically, a week and a day ago), I had a root canal done. Ew. I know. Some people say no problem, other people cringe. I cringed. This particular tooth has been giving me problems since I moved to Virginia, and it was fine until my hubby made me go to the dentist, where they promptly told me I needed a different type of filling for that tooth, which had already had a perfectly good filling on it.

So they changed the filling, and ever since, I've been miserable. Having to eat on one side of my mouth, sensitive to cold, etc. So then it just got worse. I changed dentists, too, by the way. Now I needed a crown. Ugh. Okay. So I get the crown. It hurts. WAAAY worse than it should. So they shave it down a bit because it is too high in my mouth and I'm biting on it funny. That didn't work either. Now I'm writhing in pain and it is super sensitive to hot and cold.

Thus, the root canal. At least I could put it off until I had insurance. I wasn't interested in paying in full for THAT little procedure.

Normally, when someone gets a root canal done, they are sent home and told to take Advil or Aleve for a few days because it will help with pain and inflammation. Well, guess what? I'm pregnant, obviously, so I can't take an anti-inflammatory. It's considered a general no-no amongst us preggers.

So I go until Saturday, not wanting to bite down AT ALL because it hurts. Like you know what. I mean, PAIN! And when I sleep, I clench. And I grind. And I don't notice until I wake up with the sorest mouth in the world and pain shooting down my jaw. UGH! If only I could take a stupid Aleve!

I finally call the dentist on Saturday. He's on call. He looks at my x-ray and says it is just inflammation and if I could take an anti-inflammatory, he is convinced the pain would go away. The tissue under my crown is tender and inflamed, and just needs to be taken care of. But, he can't "prescribe" that for me, because I'm pregnant. There is nothing he can do. I get off the phone, and bawl my eyes out for a little bit.

Monday morning, I get up and call my OB doctor. I beg and plead for any small dosage of Advil or Aleve, and tell them my situation. They sympathize! This is a good sign. The nurse calls me back a few hours later, and gives me strict instructions about being able to take a small amount of Aleve for only a specific number of days.

As soon as I hung up the phone with her, I took an Aleve. Then one more 12 hours later, and HELLO!!! The pain is nearly gone! Sheesh. Always an ordeal in my life.

I declare, next time I need a root canal, I will opt for extraction. Just take the tooth OUT!

my dramatic daughter

2010-01-21T14:38:00.004-05:00

Dude, the toddler is so dramatic. Every little thing requires some sort of emotional response. I don't know where she gets this from!

Some instances of drama:

* Diaper changes -- needing one, not needing one, all of it

* Eating dinner. For some reason, she eats breakfast and lunch well, but not dinner.

* Choosing shoes in the morning. Which ones to wear? I want her to wear nice ones that match, she wants to wear tennis shoes or crocs. Every day.

* Tank tops. "Mama, I wanna wear tank top today!" Except that it is 34 degrees outside.

* Turning off "Word World," her favorite TV show.

* Independence. "Maddie do it!" Even if this means she wants to measure and pour in a 1/4 teaspoon of Allspice into the muffin batter.

* Smelling the coffee. I wanna smell!!!!

* Seeing the pictures on the camera, while I want to take her picture. You must take the picture, then look at it on the camera.

Maddie's reaction to previously mentioned camera drama:

But I did get an okay one... eventually. Notice she's already headed for the camera to see the picture?

so much sadness in the world

2010-01-14T14:24:00.003-05:00

It seems like as I get older, the more I become vulnerable to sad news, and the more sad news seems to rear its ugly head. Just in the last week and a half, I've heard of a classmate dying suddenly, an earthquake killing hundreds of thousands, a rape, a friend's father being diagnosed with cancer, a toddler being diagnosed with cancer.

My heart is overwhelmed with sadness and mourning for the folks directly and indirectly affected by these situations.

It makes me realize how good of a life I lead, that I need to count my blessings, and not take anything for granted. It also makes me run to the feet of Jesus. He cares for each and every one of us. He knows the number of hairs on each of our heads, he knows our desires, our thoughts, our needs, our sins, our cares, everything. He knows our weaknesses, and yet he still loves us. Regardless of our imperfections!

Luke 12:6-8 says "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God."

Please pray with me for those who are hurting...

one last christmas celebration

2010-01-12T10:05:00.004-05:00

Because we went to Washington State for Christmas, and JT's sister, Elisabeth, went to Germany to visit JT's other sister, Anna, for Christmas, we celebrated our Christmas with the Oates a little late. But we had a great time, anyway! (And my Christmas decorations are finally down, which is satisfying, to say the least.)

Here are some fun photos of our weekend with the Oates...

JT and his gifts

Adorable hat from Anna and Elisabeth

A Kaleidoscope

Memory!

...and relaxing after the festivities were over

family bonding & a snowman

2010-01-12T10:01:00.003-05:00

I know, I know. Its been awhile... yet again, since my last post. My apologies! I know you are all just waiting on the edge of your seats for my next posting every day. :)

On New Year's Eve, we all woke up with colds, but that didn't stop us from going outside to enjoy another snowfall. We cleared the driveway, salted the walks, and then built a snowman together. Maddie was actually refusing to walk around by herself in the snow, so there was a lot of crying from her, but really, what else is new?!

This was probably the first snowman I've helped build since I was in college. Good times!

getting back into the groove

2009-12-30T16:54:00.003-05:00

I'm one of those people who likes to have a routine, but also likes variety in life. Doing the same thing every day bores me to death, but knowing that I can have some things the same way every day makes me sane... like knowing I'll get a hot cup of coffee in the morning, and that I can choose my schedule for work, and that the toddler will take a nap right after lunch for an hour or so, and that my husband always comes home from work around the same time. That sort of routine.

But variety is great, too! Scheduling last minute hang outs with friends, running errands on my own time (instead of, say, on a lunch break), throwing together a baked good on a rainy afternoon because I feel like it. Love it.

So now that we are back from vacation... glorious, beautiful, Washington vacation... I need to get back into the swing of things. Not that I truly want to, but I need to.

I'm finding myself wanting some change. I want to organize my life, my house, my family, so that I have that sense of sanity and understanding what exactly is happening and when. The more planning I can do ahead of time, the better I function. (Except for the previously mentioned last-minute sort of hang out times and coffee with friends.) I also want to clear the clutter. My new year's resolution, of sorts, is to go room by room in our home and get rid of things we no longer use or that I no longer like. We have so much "stuff." I'd like to live simply. That way, it will be easier to get organized again down the road.

What is YOUR new year's resolution? How do YOU stay sane and organized? Any tips are much appreciated!

this day turned out longer than desired

2009-12-19T16:27:00.003-05:00

I'm sitting in the Houston airport. Finally. Well, originally, our schedule planned for us to be in Lynden by now, but the biggest winter storm in the Mid-Atlantic over the past decade decided to hit last night. Ugh.

So we drove to a hotel close to the airport and stayed. Boy are we glad we did! The roads when we woke up were awful. But we took a shuttle! Got to the airport, and our flight was scheduled "on time." Woohoo! One of two flights that were on time for the whole day......

EXCEPT...

We sat on the runway for four hours. And we were on a plane to connect in Cleveland, but then they changed us (and about 9 other folks going to Seattle) over to the other "on time" flight to Houston. We finally made it out, and now here we sit. There are three flights to Seattle from here, and we're booked on the last one. So it will be a late night. And we've been up since 4:00 AM -- Eastern time. Ugh.

Maddie is doing pretty well. We've had a few meltdowns along the way, but she did take a good nap on our last flight, and I'm hoping she'll take another one on the next flight! Our schedules are all messed up, we're tired, and we're sick of sitting around. What a great way to spend the first day of vacation, huh?

The good news is... we'll be on the WEST COAST by the end of the day (Lord willing)!!!

i'm like a 7 year old in a 28 year old's body

2009-12-14T14:57:00.003-05:00

So this weekend, we are flying to Washington to be with my family for Christmas. And let me tell you, I am SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS TRIP!!!!! I've been counting down the days, making lists, getting organized, not wrapping gifts to stick in my suitcase (you know, because they have to go through security), buying tiny toiletry items for my carry on, checking weather reports on both ends to make sure I won't be stuck here and not able to go, and so on and so on.

I'm like a 7 year old in a 28 year old's body. I am so excited. There are so many things to be excited about!

* "What is Christmas" we ask the toddler, and she replies "Christmas tree!" and we say "It's Jesus' Birthday!!" and she replies "Jesus' Birthday!!" (We're getting there.)

* I haven't seen my family since July! Granted, I won't get to see all of them, but I will get to see most of them. And I haven't seen my extended family since August of 2008.

* Um, duh, I'm going WEST! I love love love the West. It is gorgeous. There are snow-capped mountains. It makes me feel rugged and cozy and, well, like I'm HOME. I can't help it. I just do.

* Maddie is now old enough to be excited about Christmas, but not so over the top that she thinks she knows it all. She gets excited about opening the door each day on the advent calendar, she gets excited about presents (but doesn't snoop or peek), and she's been learning about baby Jesus in the manger (or as she puts it, "the cows' house").

* We'll get to go with Dad/Grampa and chop down a real tree and help decorate it! I'm so glad he is waiting for us to get there, and hopefully there will still be good selection to choose from. If not, perhaps we'll have a Charlie Brown Christmas. Ha.

So yeah... I'm excited.

christmas decorating

2009-12-07T10:19:00.003-05:00

I love to decorate, and Christmas is no exception. Here is my mantle this year...

winter wonderland

2009-12-07T10:15:00.001-05:00

This is what I woke up to on Saturday morning, and it was beautiful.

family photo shoot

2009-12-02T20:29:00.004-05:00

In an attempt to take a good family photo for our Christmas card, we took a bunch of photos last night in front of our fireplace. None of them turned out well enough for my Christmas card standards, so I shall show them to my faithful readers. (That would be you!)

These photos were taken with Photo Booth, so the quality wasn't good enough either, but it was fun squeezing into the screen together!

And, of course, we had to do one with a silly effect!

a time for thanksgiving

2009-11-20T10:37:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and I've been reminded lately that it is important to realize what I am given, and to be grateful for it! So here is a list of things I'm thankful for:

* A new life growing inside of me. So far, we have avoided sickness, and besides feeling extremely tired and only a tiny bit nauseous, I'm doing fine! (Things could be a lot worse!)

* My family. JT is a great husband, and Maddie is a super, well-behaved toddler.

* My home. I have shelter, and a place to decorate. :)

* Time to rest. It isn't often that people really have time to rest these days, but God has provided me with more time to rest these past few weeks, and I'm SO grateful for that!

* Friends. I have awesome friends that God has put in my life, and I'm thankful for them! I usually have a hard time making friends with girls, but I have some amazing girl friends in my life now!

* The chance to visit my family next month! We're going to Washington for Christmas this year, and I cannot WAIT! I rarely get to visit with my extended family and my parents, so I'm completely elated for this trip! Plus, Christmas is my all-time favorite holiday.

Just a short list of what I'm thankful for today. What are YOU thankful for?

i have a reason for being MIA

2009-11-17T10:31:00.002-05:00

I've been feeling weary, fatigued, nauseous, gross, tired, lazy, moody, and a lack of energy. First trimesters are like that. I'M PREGNANT! 9 weeks along, and due on June 22, 2010. Crazy!

I apologize for not posting much lately, but now you know why, and I'd appreciate prayers for health and safety during this pregnancy. :) I'm also looking forward to the second trimester when I'll hopefully have a boost of energy and can get back to real life!

volleyball champs

2009-11-02T22:26:00.004-05:00

Here are some pictures from the final tournament that my BRCS team won. It was a whirlwind of a season, but I loved every moment of it. The next volleyball season starts in just a few weeks!

Number ONE!

Maddie wanted to get in the picture...

Coaches in action. Sort of.

See Maddie? She loved stretching with the girls.

Again, stretching.

cutest little bumble bee

2009-11-02T22:19:00.003-05:00

a golden birthday

2009-10-28T10:02:00.004-04:00

So, ever since I realized I was having a birthday coming up (in fact, it is today!!), I've been telling my friends that it is my Golden Birthday, which means I'm turning 28 on the 28th. I am a big dork, and have been looking forward to this particular birthday my whole life -- or at least since I can remember. So after today, what do I look forward to? Ha.

Anne Geddes sent me this cute birthday greeting this morning...

And for the rest of the day, I will have the song that Michael Jackson sang on The Simpsons years ago -- "Lisa, its your birthday. Happy birthday, Lisa." -- in my head. Remember it? Oh yeah, now its in your head too!

Here's to a Happy Golden Birthday!

last day at two-seven

2009-10-27T15:21:00.005-04:00

Life has started to slow down for the time being, so instead of sitting on the computer like I usually do, I've been relaxing, reading, watching movies, playing with Maddie, and generally taking it easy.

Club volleyball will start up again soon (probably right after Thanksgiving?), and life will again become hectic, but in a good way. The holidays will be here before we know it!

Time flies. And today is my last day as a 27-year-old. I'm not sure how to feel. I know I'm in my 20's and I should be having the time of my life. But, am I? I don't know. Perhaps I'll look back on my life one day and say that, yes, in fact, I did have a great time during my 20's, but I feel like it is going by waaaaaaay too fast!

So, to celebrate my youth, I decided to step into the Mac PhotoBooth and have fun with Maddie...

Can I just tell you I was laughing so hard I was crying (hence the smudged mascara)? Hi.Larious.

how to create a button for your blog

2009-10-23T10:15:00.005-04:00

I posted yesterday about the new buttons I made for my blog, and got a request for how to do that. So here is a quick and easy tutorial...

1. Open up your favorite software for designing. I have a Macbook, so I use Pages (iWork), but you could certainly use Photoshop, Paint, or even Word. Any software that you can insert photos and text into.

2. Go to page setup and change the size of the document to 1" x 1" (actually, I used 1.5" x 1.5"). This is the size you want your button to be.

3. Insert a photo or graphic of choice, and crop as desired.

4. Add a text box and put in your wording of choice. My buttons link to different categories on my blog, so I put my category labels in my buttons. You can now add a background color (I used white) and set the opacity so it is easier to read and lets in a bit of the graphic, too. (I set my opacity at 70%.)

5. Save the document. (With Pages, I had to print it to PDF, then open the PDF and save it as a JPEG. Too many steps, in my opinion, but it works!) In the end, you want the button saved as a JPEG file, so if you can do that directly from your design software, that is great!

6. Now go to Flickr or another online photo application. Upload your button.

7. Now in Blogger, go to your layout and add the HTML widget. You'll need to write some HTML code to make this work. Here is an example:

This is an example for just one button. The "center" tags make it centered in the column. The "br" tags add spaces between each button. One of those brings it to the next line, and the second one adds the space. Sort of like hitting the "enter" key twice. If you insert more than one button, you'll want to put the "/center" tag at the very end.

When you link to the button on Flickr, use the link that goes directly to the photo. It should end in ".jpg".

8. Publish to your blog! Make sure you check the links by clicking on each button. If it doesn't work, you'll need to check your code and make sure you put the correct links in.

If you have questions, just comment!

i love me some blog candy

2009-10-22T21:01:00.002-04:00

A lot of cool blogs I read (which are linked to in the right column of this blog) have their categories split up nicely with buttons that link to each category. So I created my own buttons that link to my own categories. They are at the top of the right column... see? Now it will be easier for you, my faithful readers, to navigate around and pick and choose which categories you'd like to visit.

I went back quite a few posts and updated all my posts to include categories (or in web lingo, "labels" or "tags") in each post because I hadn't been doing that from the beginning. In fact, when I first started this blog, it was only because I was told I would have fun with it, and that it was a good idea because I do not live close to my family. So it started way back when with hardly a thought, and now I dare say I'm addicted to blogging!

Anyway... if you're feeling like straying from the main page and want to check out, say, DIY stuff I've posted about, click on the DIY button and fill your brain with all my DIY projects. I know, you're giddy!

I may add more buttons later as more categories become more popular, but this should suffice for the time being. Enjoy!

okay, seriously, leave me alone

2009-10-20T11:22:00.002-04:00

I hate spammers.

They take a good thing -- the internet -- and use it for bad... and dare I say, evil. How do you sleep at night, knowing you are scamming people and ruining their online experiences? Why can't we just all get along?

If you are a spammer -- and I mean anywhere, like Facebook, Twitter, email, anywhere -- do you spam in person, too? Do you walk up to strangers and shove strange messages in their pockets without them knowing, or do you shout at them about totally inappropriate subject matter? Just ridiculous. I'M SICK OF IT!

Thank you.

one of the best soups i've ever tasted

2009-10-19T12:09:00.002-04:00

I have made this soup a couple of times, always for a nice get together with friends, and it has gotten rave reviews every time! It is easy, fairly fast, delicious, and warm. What's not to like about that?

I decided to share the recipe. I actually got it out of Better Homes & Gardens a while back, and it was labeled as a prize-tested recipe, and this particular recipe won $400! That is how good it is, folks.

TORTELLINI FLORENTINE SOUP

1 (9 oz.) pkg. refrigerated 3-cheese tortellini
2 (14 oz.) cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 (10 oz.) container refrigerated light Alfredo pasta sauce (you can use the jar stuff, too)
2 cups shredded deli-roasted chicken
1/2 cup oil-packed dried tomato strips, drained
3 cups lightly packed packaged fresh baby spinach
1 oz. Parmesan cheese, shaved or shredded (optional)

In 4-quart Dutch oven cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

In the same Dutch oven combine broth and Alfredo sauce. Stir in chicken and tomato strips. Heat just to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

Add cooked tortellini and spinach to chicken mixture. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to heat through and wilt spinach. To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Makes 6 servings.
------

I always serve this with rolls and some sort of salad. Yesterday, I made it with rolls and a harvest salad kit from the grocery store, which included dried cranberries, walnuts, and an apple cider vinaigrette dressing. YUM! Very fall, and very delicious. For dessert, we had pie. Are you salivating yet?

cheap and easy bathroom wall love

2009-10-15T10:44:00.004-04:00

It seems like it takes far too long to finish a project around here these days, even a simple one! But I did finish one this morning...

This is the wall in our newly remodeled bathroom (that, yes, needs a few more finished touches).

If you want this look for your wall, head to IKEA and buy a package of those simple wooden frames. Get some cute postcards (these were also from IKEA, but you could get any postcards you like). Spray paint -- woohoo! -- the frames the color of your choice. I chose dark gray. Put the postcards in the frames. Hang them stacked like this with two long nails and two short nails. It helps to lay them out on a bed or the floor before putting the nails in the wall so you can measure how far apart they should be.

This adds interest, color, and depth to our bathroom wall. I do love a splash of color here and there!

in need of some inspiration...

2009-10-15T10:41:00.003-04:00

I have this sitting in my basement.

I was thinking of putting it on our shed in the backyard with a window box under it full of cute flowers, but would like more input before actually putting it to use.

Any thoughts?

Side table-top? Picture frame? Wall art?

Comment and let me know! I 'ppreciate it!

a household task that i despise

2009-10-15T10:22:00.003-04:00

Before we left for Atlanta last week, I had to go into our laundry area and get my dress out to iron it. How long had it sat there, a wrinkled, jumbled mess? Oh, about a year. A year!

I despise ironing. I remember leaving for college back in the day and my Mom wanting to buy me an iron. I told her not to waste her money. I do have an iron now, but I don't like doing it. And how often do I get to dress up nice? I guess about once a year! Ha!

the jumbled mess... along with two of JT's shirts.

proof that I actually do own an iron!

I'll have you know that the dress is now hanging in my closet, ready for the next nice event, not jumbled in a mess in my laundry area.

more crafty ideas...

2009-10-14T16:16:00.002-04:00

I still have some craftasticness under construction -- earring holder, welcome sign for our guest room, and the craft corner, not to mention the never-ending bathroom remodel and bedroom upgrades -- but I want more!

I'm adding these to my list of to-do's:

* Patchwork trim tea towels

* Perhaps paint my laundry closet a fun color. Right now it is boring cream, like most of the rest of the basement. *Yawn* I will then get my hubby to help me make one of these awesome laundry room drying racks that hangs on the wall.

* A feaux headboard for our bed... stay tuned!

* Painted pumpkins with "Welcome" or our house numbers on them, and perhaps sitting in our wheel barrow by the front door, with moss or some other type of filler.

I think that is enough for now. Who knows how long it will take me to get to all of these things! My projects always seem to slow down when hubby has to get involved, so maybe I should teach myself how to use his tools. (And put the ER on speed dial!)

she's a washingtonian at heart, folks

2009-10-13T14:17:00.003-04:00

This morning, the toddler was feeling crummy. She's had a cold for the past few days and has been acting normal except for the constant runny nose (yuck!), but this morning she was whining a bit and just sounded awful. So I gave her a hot bath and then put her in one of her new shirts (from the awesome shopping festivities this weekend!). She LOVES baths, and she LOVES new clothes. She takes after her Mama!

Well, what shoes to wear with a long sleeve t-shirt with butterflies on it, and brown stretchy pants? Maddie typically gets to choose what shoes she wants to wear, so today, she wanted to wear her blue sandals. It is COLD outside, people. So I told her she shouldn't wear sandals. I got some socks out and put them on her feet, and she insisted on wearing the sandals. Okay, so they do match, but socks with sandals?

She is a true Washingtonian after all! This may not be my proudest moment, but it does make me a little giddy.

love atlanta. atlanta love.

2009-10-12T20:20:00.006-04:00

We drove -- ummm, yes, drove -- to Atlanta this past weekend for the wedding of one of JT's high school friends. On the way down, we left Friday morning, stopped to eat and shop (yay!), and finally arrived at our destination 12 hours later. Long day.

The day was filled with wonderful things, though: a picnic lunch at one of the few open rest areas on I-81 where we met a tiny puppy poodle and a nice lady who was traveling through the Shenandoah Valley from Tennessee (and boy did she have an accent!), outlet mall shopping where I bought some HOT purple pumps for the wedding and an absolutely fabulous orange table runner from Pottery Barn (yes! Pottery Barn outlet, people!), and Macaroni Grill for dinner where Maddie got to color to her heart's delight on the table. Need I grumble about how shopping in Harrisonburg -- and even anywhere NEAR Harrisonburg -- just really, really, really, really sucks?

So that was Friday. Saturday we did some more shopping, because like I said, we don't have good shopping... we went to Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta, which is one of the nicest malls ever. They only have posh stores. I'm talking Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, and the like. I went to Crate & Barrel and bought a white rectangular serving platter, and we went to Baby Gap and bought Maddie-pie three long sleeve shirts (on sale, mind you!) and a pair of brown corduroy mary-jane style shoes. Adorable!

Then we went to JT's friend's parent's house to watch some football and get ready for the wedding. Their house was a lot closer to the wedding location than JT's friend's house, where we were staying. Anyway... so we got ready and headed for the wedding. Maddie neglected to nap, so needless to say, I was a little worried about her being wedding-friendly. Turns out Maddie took a nap during the ceremony, and spent most of the night on the dance floor. Is this a foreshadowing of sorts?

It was a pretty wedding. I had flashbacks of our wedding because this bride also chose orange flowers, and the same hymn that we had sung: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." This bride's secondary color, though, was dark brown, not silver like we had. Then when they went to the reception, each bridesmaid had hot pink pagmina's. Awesome! The reception was at the Emory Conference Center Hotel in a very nice room with windows surrounding three sides, and a huge stone fireplace. I can only imagine how pretty it would be with snow falling outside (though I'm not sure how often that could actually happen in Atlanta)!

After the wedding, we hung out with JT's old friends for a while, and went to bed way too late. Sunday morning we had breakfast with the group at Cracker Barrel. Then we hit the road, way too late, and didn't get home until 10:00 PM. Ugh.

It was a GREAT weekend and we had sooooo much fun! I always feel like a giddy little girl when I go to a big city. I just love it! Here are some photos...

New purple pumps!

That would be me, in the mirror.

And that would be JT, waiting for the rest of the crew to get ready, while watching football.

Our friends had dogs, and Maddie loved them. But they had to go outside when we left for the wedding. She was sad, and they were begging for her to let them back in.

I also thought it was funny that both small dogs had the same ear inside out.

The awesome stone fireplace at the reception.

The ceremony.

Maddie and me!

She was so tired...

Ceremony.

JT and his best friend from high school, Josh, at the reception.

This was the best one I could get with the two of them. Seriously.

Erin and Mark dancing.

They had lanterns on all the tables. Love!

Maddie met this girl at the reception. She taught Maddie how to twirl and do some ballet moves. Cute and hilarious!

toddler wearing the new men's-shirt-turned-toddler-dress dress

2009-10-06T12:53:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I posted photos of the dress that I made -- turning the men's dress shirt into a toddler dress -- and many of you asked about photos of the toddler actually wearing the dress. If you have ever tried to photograph a toddler, it is darn near impossible! At least with this toddler. She probably gets it from me. We're an antsy bunch over here.

So I sat down last night and took a bunch of photos. This really is what I came up with. And I never really got a great one. However, Maddie is wearing the dress, and she is having fun, so I can't complain too much about that, now, can I?

At first, Maddie was a little unsure...

So I got Daddy in on the mix.

We did a close-up (Notice the bruise on her nose? She took a face plant on the deck of a new listing. Not fun!).

And a far away shot. (Right after this photo, she threw the ball across the room and got me right in the gut!)

Action shots (she LOVES that little volleyball! She actually hits it, too. I'm so proud)...

Pardon the diaper exposure!

... Aaaaaand we're out.

hubby's shirt turned cute and sassy for toddler

2009-10-05T14:46:00.004-04:00

After I read this tutorial for turning a men's dress shirt into a toddler's dress, I simply had to do it. I mean, why not at least try, right? So I raided hubby's closet and found a red shirt, that he has always complained is pink. (I bought it for him a couple years ago, and I can count on one hand the number of times he's worn it.) So I thought this was the shirt for the new toddler dress.

For the waist band, I went to the stash of old baby clothes that had nasty stains on them. I kept these for using as scrap fabric, which was genius, because I incorporated a part of Maddie's (cute) past into this dress, too! Daddy's shirt, Maddie's baby sleeper, Mama's joy (and lets not forget... hard work!).

I followed the instructions, went step-by-step through the tutorial, and finished the dress last night. The tutorial says it takes 2 hours... um... maybe if you're a pro! It took me 4-6 hours. I kind of lost track. I was so involved in the project, I didn't even eat!

Here is the dress on the hanger. Maddie is wearing it today, and let me just tell you... she is a-DORE-able! She even likes wearing it, which is great news for me. AND, I'm so proud to tell folks that I made it for her! Trust me, if you have a sewing machine and a little motivation, you can do this too! (And it probably also helps if you have, or know, a toddler.)

ribbon and 15 minutes of free time

2009-10-03T13:06:00.004-04:00

So yesterday I happened to be in Michaels again (mostly because I had a 40% off coupon that I couldn't let go to waste!) and picked up some gorgeous burnt orange ribbon. Its fall, and I do love me some orange, so I couldn't resist!

I had a bit of time yesterday during toddler's nap time, so I decided to do something with the ribbon. I went into the unfinished part of our basement and saw a vine wreath (which I love!) and the creative juices started flowing.

I wrapped some of this ribbon around one portion of the wreath, then used some floral wire, that I also had lying around, and made a bow. It is not easy making a bow with ribbon that doesn't have the wire already built into it, but I did it anyway. It turned out pretty good, after a lot of pulling and fluffing and adjusting. I didn't like that it was so plain, so I found some thinner light green ribbon and hot-glued it around the center. Then I had an ugly hot-glue spot on the front, so I found a large brown button and hot-glued it on top of the ugly spot. Voi-la! Pretty wreath with pretty ribbon bow!

It now hangs on our back door, which is the door most often used, even by guests. I couldn't just let the poor door sit there plain-jane-like, especially during my favorite time of year! It is lovely, don't you think?

the craft corner is underway!

2009-10-02T14:12:00.005-04:00

Sweet mammy pajammy! The craft corner is finally underway, meaning I moved the table to its position, brought a lamp over for lighting, and spread some stuff out. Still to come: cute picture frame with family photos in it, the wrapping paper wall holder, and probably some sort of cork board for crafty ideas I pull out of magazines. Still to depart: hubby's football plaques. He can hang them in his corner, don't you think?

I know the table is short -- because its actually a coffee table -- but we don't use it for anything else, and I might just get some riser thingys for it. It may end up looking goofy, but at least it will be functional. I also plan on getting a stool or small chair of sorts so I don't have to wear out my knees.

Don't judge the mess (because I don't judge yours)...

Notice the baskets underneath the table that are full of toddler toys? Those toys will move to allow for crafty storage for Mama. Where will they go, you ask? In the new (cute) baskets I got at Michaels on clearance (I love a good sale, just like my Mama)!

fed up with clutter and messes

2009-09-30T13:49:00.003-04:00

Arg. You know when you get really busy and don't quite follow the routine of putting things away after you've used them, and don't really clean every day to make your house livable? Well, that has been happening around here, what with all the volleyball practices and games, work, small groups, and life in general. So, today I woke up and decided everything was going back to the way it should be!

I've spent a couple hours -- yes, hours -- walking around my house and putting things back where they belong. Everything has a place in my house, and not much was in its place. Lame.

After putting pretty much everything away, I decided to move some furniture. What can I say? I appreciate change.

Before, my basement rec room had one corner full of stuff that never really got used because it was in a pile in a corner. Yuck. Now, that corner is a craft corner with a big (albeit, short -- can you say "floor pillow?") table and room for a floor lamp, and empty wall space for a gift wrap holder wall thingy (and I'll probably modify this to add ribbons, too!). There is also a sitting area across the way with two chairs and a side table, with room for either another floor lamp, or a table lamp. Believe it or not, my basement feels even more spacious now that I have the room divided up nicely.

Ahhhh, my life is back in order. How many days will it take to get cluttery and messy again? I should take a poll, but I won't, for fear of knowing what you all think. ;)

potty training chronicles: chapter 2

2009-09-28T10:55:00.003-04:00

The potty training process has been put on hold, at least for a while. The toddler was so upset with chapter one that I let it go for a couple months. Yesterday, though, she did sit on the potty again and go stinkers. Woohoo! So perhaps there is still hope for the little one -- and lets face it, me too.

Stay tuned for chapter three!

a glimpse of my wall art project

2009-09-27T22:41:00.004-04:00

I have been working this weekend on a really fun wall art project (thanks to U Create for the idea!). I went to Michaels while my hubby went to Home Depot. I picked up some 12" x 12" scrapbooking paper, and he picked up some MDF and spray paint. We brought them home and he cut 6 pieces of MDF to 12" x 12". I then took the spray paint (dark gray, to go along with my blue-gray and orange theme) outside with the newly cut MDF pieces. I spray painted the edges and let them dry overnight. I then sprayed adhesive on each piece of paper and on each piece of MDF and adhered a piece of paper to a piece of MDF. I did this 6 times to make 6 pieces.

My basement is slowly undergoing a face lift. I don't like that right now it is disheveled, not uniform, and more like a man cave than a tastefully decorated basement. So I'm working on it! The colors are trending towards blue-gray and orange. I have an office corner that is painted a pumpkin color, and someday the rest of the basement will be painted a blue-gray. I put this wall art -- only 6 pieces because of the short ceiling -- above our day bed in the basement. This bed is situated across the room from my future fun craft corner. I'm taking it one step at a time so as not to get overwhelmed!

Here is a glimpse of what I've done. I actually hung them on the wall earlier today, so they are up, but I want to do one more fun accent to make it complete. More photos to come when I finish that part. (Note: I know I need to change the cover on the bed. There is too much going on with all the prints now. I'll probably find a new duvet or just cover it up with a cozy throw!)