Five Favorites

It's Wednesday and that means time for Five Favorites...

1.  Healthy Kids!  

We had a bit of a stomach bug here and I'm happy to report that everyone is currently in good health (knock on wood)!  Until the next aliment comes our way...

2.  The Magic School Bus.  

Since we were cooped up the past 48 hours I found a new favorite show on Netflix that 3 out of 3 kids over the age of 2 enjoy.  Who doesn't love Ms. Frizzle??!?!?!

3. Greek yogurt with chia seeds.  

I've been trying to eat high protein with lots of fruits and veggies now that Michael is 3 months old and bathing suit season is here.  Obviously greek yogurt has a ton of protein.  And chia seeds in said yogurt are actually a non-issue.  I like it.  

4. Vacation Bible School.  

Clare and Jude are both enrolled at Vacation Bible School at our parish this week and enjoying it very much!  I'm very much looking forward to my weekly grocery shopping with half of my offspring in tow! 

5.

My new chairs.

Cheating and repeating what I said yesterday...

Head over to Hallie's for more!

5 Favorites

Happy Wednesday!  I'm joining Hallie via Grace and company today for my 5 favorites this week...

1. Jose Cuervo Light Margaritas.  Salted.  I was just pregnant last summer and didn't get to enjoy many of these once the warm weather was upon us.  To me these really are the perfect summertime adult beverage!   

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2. Downton Abby.  I'm late in the game on this one (better late than never, right?!) so we've settled into a routine of watching one every night.  (Other adults in our house may not admit to partaking in this viewing, but I assure you they indeed are!)  Perfect activity when you're nursing and nursing and nursing a certain 2 month old to bed!

3.  This book.

From the cover you can tell I've had it (and referenced it) since Clare was born.  It's nice to get a refresher as to what Michael will be up to next.  I seriously forget what milestones we're approaching each time I have a baby.  And upon reading that Michael would enjoy black and white pictures, I have our favorite infant book on reserve for him at the library:

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4.  Visitors!  We were lucky enough to have my younger sister, Aunt Margaret, here for a few days.  The kids enjoyed her visit very much.  I know she reallllly enjoyed listening to Green Eggs and Ham and playing Just Dance 4!    

5.  The hubs!  Ryan was on a 5 day business trip and is now home!  Hooray!  I think Ellen is the happiest of all!  

Sunday Social

Making the Sunday Social rounds again with Ashley and Neely...

1.  Top 3 favorite kinds of food.

(Even though I'm tempted, I don't think it counts to just say chocolate, chocolate, and chocolate...)

1 - I like Mexican food.

2 - I could also eat a double cheeseburger from Swensons (local hamburger joint in my hometown) at any given moment.

3 - And Ryan says I spot any kind of grilled chicken or pasta (or combination of both) off a menu.

2.  First 3 things you do in the morning.

Use the bathroom.

Wash my face.

Put my eyeballs (contacts) in.

3.  Last 3 things you do at night.

Check to make sure the doors are all locked and the garage doors are closed...sometimes I do that 3 times.

Check on the kiddos.

Put on chapstick and hand lotion.

4.  3 TV shows you NEVER miss.

Modern Family is pretty much the only show I watch on a regular basis.  Clare and I have been catching Property Brother together lately.  Other than that I really don't watch a lot of TV.  I might catch the news here or there.  

5.  3 places you want to visit.

Ireland/England on some empty-nester dream vacation.

Family trip to DC when the kids are old enough to appreciate it.

Hawaii.

6.  3 people you can always count on.  

Ryan.

My parents.

A good handful of friends that we have been blessed to know as our roots here have gotten deeper.

Have a great Sunday!  

Dove's Amazingness

I inherited my mom's thick, naturally curly hair.  Over time, I have perfected my system of managing and straightening my hair.  Even so, my hair usually frizzes when it rains and grows in humid weather.  And since my perfected straight-hair system involves blow-drying my hair, all of the heat can leave my hair fried.  Add in time spent in the sun at the pool and the beach this summer, and the extremely hot weather my hair has endured the past few months. and my hair was feeling rough and looking for some love.

It is important to me to use a shampoo and conditioner that can prevent my hair from getting damaged from the constant heat while also helping me keep the unwanted frizz away.

I was thrilled to have the chance to try and review Dove's advanced conditioner, "Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Conditioner."  (Plus the UPS truck at your door is always exciting at our house!)  After my sample arrived, I looked forward to using it on my hair that night.  (I'm a PM shower-er.)

The Dove advanced conditioner container is designed so the bottle sits upright with the dispensing end on the bottom, so the conditioner is always ready when it's time to rinse out the shampoo and start conditioning.  Dove Nourishing Oil Care is nice and thick, and smoothed nicely through my wet hair.  I loved the way it smells...not overly flowery or fruity, but just an overall light, clean girly scent.

After towel-drying and combing out my hair, my hair was incredibly smooth and felt nourished.  No stickiness, it wasn't greasy, and it didn't hold the water in my hair like some smoothing and repair products tend to do.  (Which leads to longer time for me under the hair-dryer - boo!)

But with Dove's advanced conditioning, my hair dried nicely.  Once dry, my hair was incredibly soft to the touch.  I kept running my hands through my hair because it was so smooth.  I didn't have any fly-aways, my hair was silky, but still had all of it's natural volume.  My hair definitely felt healthier and nourished.  I felt pampered with touchable, soft hair that lasted all day!

I'm inviting you to treat yourself with a chance to win a $1,000 Spafinder gift certificate! When you follow the link below to enter, share your favorite way to give your hair -and yourself- some TLC.

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Dear Summer -

I really hate to complain, but I usually look forward to your care free days every year: catching lightening bugs, playing and picnicking at the local parks, watching fireworks, enjoying flower gardens in bloom, eating ice cream cones on the deck, and days full of sunshine.

But this year, you've just been too hot for too long.  I have not been a fan of breaking a sweat standing outside at swim team practice at 8 AM, or lugging my sprinkler around my scorched yard and flower beds.  We've been cooped up inside a lot because many times it has simply been too hot to even swim.  

Right now you have us looking forward to cool fall temperatures, pumpkin patches, apple cider, pumpkin cookies, hay rides, fall walks, pumpkin bread, and (dare I admit) the first day of school!

Better luck next year...

Sincerely,
Me

How We Spent our Week - Quick Takes Style

Happy Friday!  

1.  Jude found a newborn picture of himself (with doting parents) and decided it needed to be properly displayed on the bulletin board downstairs by the laundry room.  

2.  If looks could kill.  Or maybe she's working on her version of the Zoolander pose?    

3.  We have been asking for more responsibility around here, particularly in picking up after yourself and helping with the nightly clean up.  Clare put the dolls away in the dollhouse the other night and I found the mom and dad like this the following morning.    

4.  Jude's 2nd breakfast:

Cheese?  Check.

Tongs?  Check.

Garlic press if needed?  Check.

Batman winter pajamas?  Check.

5.  Ellen, AKA Miss Shoe Fashion Police, has a new favorite pair of shoes.  It doesn't matter that they are black patent leather and it's the heat of July.  They especially make quite a statement when paired with a bathing suit.  

6.  At the grocery store this week, the Hot Wheels display caught Jude's eye and I let him pick a car out to take home.  That one new car was brought home and introduced to the others that haven't been out in awhile.  Days upon days of "new" entertainment here.   

7.  We made no bake cookies the other day in honor of my brother Max's birthday.  They are his favorite cookie/dessert and we were happy celebrate many miles away!  

Enjoy your weekend!

Half-Way Mark

We enjoyed Independence Day 2012 with record high temps, an afternoon at the pool, a family BBQ, and fireworks and glow sticks for all.  July 4th marks the half-way point of the summer for us.  We are definitely enjoying these lazy days.  Although with record breaking heat, we are usually cramped up inside if we aren't at the pool.  Lately it hasn't been so peaceful and quiet around here, either...even when Ellen is napping.  I've found myself separating a little more bickering lately, and pulling more tricks out of my hat to keep people entertained.  

In Judy Crawford's devotional book Time -Out for Tired Moms, she writes about everyone wanting a piece of mom while mom usually wants some peace.  But when a mother can take a few minutes to herself, it can give her the strength to give these pieces of herself to her children.  What a good reminder for me as we hit phase 2 of our summer.     

I witnessed a perfect example of giving a piece of oneself for my own children on July 4th when my father-in-law held 3 kids on his lap in the hot and sticky summer heat while watching the fireworks.  My kids just wanted a piece of grandpa, and he was happy to oblige.      

Happy Friday!

Summer Hands and Feet

Our last MOPS meeting of the year is always a "favorite things" meeting.  Everyone brings a "favorite thing" and tells why they love it and then picks a name for someone else to keep it.  This year many were either chocolate or summer adult beverages.  :)

O'Keefe's for Healthy Feet was one "favorite thing" this year.  It was pitched as something perfect for summer feet.  With sandal season here, I thought I would give it a try...so I bought some for my mom and then tested it out on a recent trip home.

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This stuff definitely makes your feet sandal-worthy!  My feet were moisturized and soft and ready for summer.  Now I just need to get some for myself!  

The "favorite thing" I got to take home was OPI's Bubble Bath nail polish.  It's the perfect natural color for your fingernails...makes them look nice and healthy.

(PS -  I have to confess that I was one of the "someones" who brought dark chocolate to the meeting...)

Quick Takes

I'm hoping on the 7 Quick Takes Friday bandwagon today...so here we go...

--- 1 ---

Since it's the beginning of a new weekend, so I'll share the excitement from last weekend.  Painting the bathroom ceiling.  We know how to have a good time!

This also means I want to repaint the bathroom.  Not feeling the green in there, so I'm coming up with another color scheme/plan.  Stay tuned...

--- 2 ---

Kindergarten is officially over!  So all of Clare's school supplies came home this week, including her rest mat.  I'm afraid to know what else came with it.  It has since been well disinfected!

--- 3 ---

I'm pleased to announce that my deck flowers are blooming!  Since I planted them as seeds (and have no green thumb) I am quite proud of myself!

My basil is also growing nicely and we made and enjoyed our first batch of homemade pesto this week.  Delish.

--- 4 ---

The other day Jude came in very upset that he lost his "fun guy" that Clare had given him.  I assumed he was talking about some toy figurine/action figure.  Then I realized he was talking about a "fungi"...a mushroom Clare had found growing in the yard and given him.  I think we are watching too many nature shows around here.  

--- 5 ---

Summer temperatures are holding steady and I'm getting my money's worth out of my summer wardrobe.  Although with some recent purchases, I must have been seeing stripes during my shopping expeditions...

--- 6 ---

I won't be doing any baking, or using my oven at all, anytime soon.  I was making banana bread this week and the heating coil at the bottom of the oven caught on fire and melted in half!  That was a little bit too much excitement for me.  Thankfully we can grill, take advantage of the crock pot, and use the stovetop until the "situation" is fixed!

--- 7 ---
Happy Friday!  Happy weekend!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

New Pair of Jeans

In my child-bearing years I have worn a wide range of sizes.  And I have learned not to get rid of certain clothes, especially jeans, because they will eventually fit again.

I really liked the way this particular pair of jeans fit me (especially the length), but the color was a bit dated/lacking/faded.  So I bought some "denim blue" Rit dye and hoped I wouldn't regret the outcome.    

  And I'm happy to say the end result turned out great...perfect for spring!

These jeans now remind me of some of the bright spring/summer 

colors popping up at Old Navy and Loft.  

Linking here. 

todayscreativeblog.net

betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

igottacreate.blogspot.com

Cinderella Project

I read about the "Cinderella Project" in our local newspaper a few weeks ago.  The goal of the project is to help provide formal dresses, shoes, and accessories to underprivileged teen girls for their prom (or other formal event).  The project is sponsored by various organizations across the U.S.  Gently used, clean dresses can be donated to this effort.  

Yesterday I was happy to make a donation at our mall for this cause!    

(Love this dress...but I was 4 weeks postpartum when
I originally wore it, and I haven't worn it since.)

Go to donatemydress.org to see if there is a "Cinderella Project" is in your area because prom season will be here soon!

Guest Posting Today

I'm happy to be over at The Grant Life today sharing my "Labor of Love" story about Ellen's arrival!

Kelley was so kind to include me in her series on labor and delivery stories.
I'm also excited to be a part of her "Mommy Panel."  

(more info here)

So grab your coffee and head over to The Grant Life with me!

True Story

So Modern Family was (finally) new and that got priority over anything exciting happening over here...

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Can't stand up Phil Dunphy!

A "Blogoversary"

It's been 1 year since I started my blog.  And 261 posts later...I'm still here and growing by the day!  A big thank you to those who have stopped by everyday (Hi Dad and Mom!), those who have encouraged me along the way (Hi Ryan!), those who have joined me along the way, and those who have flattered me with a shout-out on their own blogs.

I started blogging after being inspired by Judy Crawford, a speaker at a MOPS meeting, to "Pursue the Dream."         

And in pursing my dream, I have enjoyed seeing the art of homemaking in blogland this past year.  I love seeing people passionate about making their homes beautiful for their families...from what they hang on the front door to what they put on their dinner table.

Living far from my family and my hometown, I am constantly trying to make my new home "feel like home."  Obviously being surrounded by my husband and children takes the cake.  But there are other "things" I find that help make me feel more at home.

I feel like I belong when I am active and involved at our church and my children's schools.  I also feel a sense of rapport when we take part in activities and events around our community.  I like making family traditions and good memories for my children.  Consistency, being surrounded by what is familiar (including the faces of family and good friends), and knowing what to expect make any place feel more like home to me.  Nothing replaces the feeling of walking into my childhood home, and so I want to give that same feeling to my own children.

Thank you for making this blog feel like home to me!

     

What I've Learned this Year:

1.  Never take an 11 month-old on a boat.  Even if you promise them that they will see dolphins.  Not  fun!

2. Don't pitch the Target $10 gift card promotion prescription coupons before they expire.  Your child will need a scrip filled within 24 hours.

3. Little boys really do stink.  Open the windows in their bedroom and air it out at every chance you get!

4. Oxiclean is a mother's best friend.

oxiclean.com

4. So is amazon.com.  This Santa will never shop the old way again!

5. Murphy's Law: When traveling with a 14 month old, flight delays and being stuck on the runway are inevitable.

6. All day kindergarten is a l-o-n-g day...for your kindergartener, too.  (It took me a good month to get used to it.)  

7. Don't wear suede boots to the mulch playground. 

8. Blogging is a lot of work, but can be very rewarding.  Thanks to those who have stopped by in 2011.  

Hoping to learn from my mistakes in 2012!  

The Gift of Sanity

Christmas was a bit crazy for me this year...  My older sister got married out of town (for us) the week before Christmas.  I thought I had planned the trip there and what I had left to do when we returned rather well...  Then Ryan ended up with an appendectomy 4 hours after we got back in town from the wedding.  (Something very spontaneous for left-brained me!)

Add in 3 kids, unloading and reorganizing and getting back on schedule from a long weekend out of town, a 15 month-old with an ear infection, the "normal" household routine, school Christmas parties, Christmas plays, last minute gifts and errands, assembling gifts, and wrapping I felt like I was treading water.  

And I'm not a very good swimmer.  

I was very grateful when my in-laws offered to take the two older kids for TWO NIGHTS so I could tend to Ryan and Ellen and the rest of my Christmas list (which I edited quite a bit after the appendectomy!).  At first I felt so guilty that Clare and Jude weren't home.  I felt like a bad mom for have to call in the reinforcements.  But then I also realized that I had been so overwhelmed I had lost all charity in my words and actions towards them and Ryan.  (OK, I might have been told this by my better half...)  With the older kids having a ball at Grandma's house, I had less on my plate and was able to embrace preparing for Christmas instead of stressing over all of it.  And Ryan and I enjoyed being able to spend time one-on-one with Ellen.  (Something that doesn't happen a lot.)  I also realized when Clare and Jude returned on Christmas Eve (what a wonderful gift!) that I was in better (perhaps more rested!) mood and had a lot more charity and patience toward them.  I needed that break to be able to be a better mother and wife.  I am very thankful to have been gifted my sanity this Christmas!  

Why I "like" the cold weather...

1. Seat warmers in my car.  There's a reason why this is my #1 reason.  Once you have them you'll never go back.

2. Flannel sheets.  It definitely feels like home hopping into warm flannel sheets on a cold night.

potterybarn.com

3. Clare wearing her robe in the morning while she eats her breakfast.  Pretty much the cutest kindergartener I know.

4. Using a warm corn sack...Clare has become a huge fan.  (And so has Ryan, though he won't admit it!)

5. Boots!  I love breaking my boots out on the first day it's cold enough to use them.  Just did this past week.

6. Looking at pictures from the beach...and thinking of warm weather...and of being at a beach...

6. Christmas.  :)

Blog Inspiration

I am involved in the MOPS group at our parish.  It has been a wonderful way for an out-of-towner like me to meet people and make new friends.

At the beginning of the year we had Judy Crawford speak at our MOPS meeting.  The basis of her book "Time Out for Tired Moms" was the subject of her talk.  Judy's book is an 8 week devotional that ends with the challenge for a mother to "Pursue the Dream."  The dream is something you aspire to do outside of motherhood.  It is a way to give yourself an identity outside of just being "So-And-So's-Mom," but at the same time keeping your children as your #1 priority.

At the beginning of the year I kept toying with the idea of writing a blog and during her talk I felt encouraged to take the steps to do so.  My decision was finalized when I won the "doorprize" at our meeting, Judy's book "Time Out for Tired Moms."

Now 6 months later, I am fortunate to have been accepted into the Blogher family and am excited at what lies ahead!  So I encourage you to take the plunge into that one thing you have been waiting to try! You never know when God is holding a door open for you.

As Judy quotes Philippians 3:14 in her book:

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  

1993 Thunderstorm

There was a thunderstorm at my parents' house while we were visiting a few weeks ago.  It's always neat to watch a thunderstorm on their front porch...especially when you're watching with your Jude-Buggy.  

The storm reminded me of a "poem" I wrote about such an event in 6th grade.  And of course I found it in my 6th grade "Book of Poems" in my basement when I returned home:   

(Hello 1993 computer font and printer!)

I can smell the rain from here!