random thoughts

i've been following my heart a lot lately

it's probably time to listen to my head and get back in the gym

but i have this stubborn wrist injury that is making me crazy
and i do love wine...

 

 

i just love CJ's meemaw so much. she is such a strong lady and a real example to all of us

and now she's facing a tough battle

i'm keeping her in my prayers and i hope that you might too

 

 

 

 

 

my proud little American

i really wanted this bubble to last her from Memorial Day through 4th of July and Labor Day all the way until the election, and it did. i think i calculated that SG will be 21 when she can cast her first presidential vote. i spend a lot of time wondering what kind of world this will be by the year 2032

 

 

 

 

 

 

one of the things i miss most about my old job is the opportunity it gave me to give back.  but the truth is, my new job presents limitless opportunities to give back if i would just take them. i think this project, OPERATION Christmas Child, would be especially neat to do with children who are old enough to understand the concept of helping others.  we need to be teaching our children to help, love, tolerate, and understand one another at an early age.

 

 Samaritan's Purse

From their website:  The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) gives a clear picture of God's desire for us to help those in desperate need wherever we find them. After describing how the Samaritan rescued a hurting man whom others had passed by, Jesus told His hearers,

"Go and do likewise."

 

 

Here's how you can help

(from their website)

 

1. Shoe Box
Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

2. Boy or Girl
Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. Fill with gifts
Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. 

4. Include $7 donation
Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our “Follow Your Box Donation” option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. Drop-off
Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop it off at the
collection center nearest you during our collection week, November 12-19, 2012.

For locations and hours of collection visit our Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

 

 

 

i was pleased to find that there was a drop-off location only 5 miles from my house

SG and i will be filling up some shoe boxes this weekend and i'll let you know how they turn out!



on love and loss

i had the announcement all planned out

we were going to send out a Christmas card with a picture of SG wearing a "Big Sister" shirt

i couldn't wait to order that shirt. to take that picture. to see our families faces.

my little girl was going to be a big sister. the best  big sister. besides her mama

 

 

i don't know how to sugar coat it

the truth is, when i found out i was pregnant with SG, i was devastated

i blamed my reaction on the fact that i was about to start a brand new job. my dream job

and now i'd have to tell my bosses that i was expecting a baby

 that the person they hired no longer existed

she disappeared the minute that bright blue line popped up. we'd been married 11 months when i found out i was pregnant the first time. we both had good jobs. we'd been together 6 years. we were happily married. so i should have been excited, but i wasn't. i lost 19lbs my first trimester because all i did was cry. i was too upset to eat. and i have never felt so alone.

i know now that my reaction had nothing to do with that dream job and everything to do with me.

i was terrified.

my grandparents raised me because my mother couldn't. or wouldn't.

and during my entire pregnancy i was afraid that i wouldn't be a good mom. that i wouldn't know how to be a good mom. that i'd want to drop the baby off at the nearest fire station, and run away.

 i was pregnant for 41 weeks and i never once felt ready for the baby to come.

 

 

ready or not she finally came, a week late, on her daddy's birthday

and those first few days were really hard

but i fell in love with my little girl. and i fell hard

 

 

so this time. this most recent time. was different.

when this test was positive i got to give my husband the reaction he'd always wanted

and i meant it. i was so excited this time

because this time i knew how much i could love my child. my children

my daughter has taught me that i am capable of love beyond measure

she healed my broken heart and restored my belief in a mother's love

and i want to give her a sibling. because no matter what doubts i have ever had about a parents love i have always known how important siblings are. i am the oldest of four kids and i don't know what i would do without my sisters. and i want that for my daughter.
 she is enough for me but i worry that i might not always be enough for her

 

 

 it all went wrong pretty quickly

and i was at a crowded concert so there wasn't much time to react

i have cried a million tears. i have asked God why. and i have listened to the quiet

enjoy this little girl you have. appreciate this time you have with her. with just her

 

so that's what i've been doing
enjoying my little girl

and that's what i will continue to do

and i will trust in God's plan because even when i thought i wasn't ready to become a mother He knew i was. He knew that a chubby little 8lb baby girl was exactly what i needed to make myself whole and His timing was better than anything i could have ever planned myself



Trader Joe's Tuesday

rice rolls

 

 

 

i'm a sucker for the "new arrivals" end cap at my Trader Joe's

you can count on me stocking up on anything new

and anything the sample lady is selling

 

 

these were just okay

sort of a cross between a rice cake and one of those sweet kashi cereals

i wouldn't buy them again, but they weren't awful

 

 

 

lemon curd crumpets

 

 

these have become a household favorite

a shmear of lemon curd is our favorite

but you could do jam, honey, and even peppper jelly

 

 

 

 

 rice-a-roni

 

 

 my sample lady hates when i assign brand names to Trader Joe's products

"no, those are not pop tarts. those are Trader Joe's all natural toaster pastries"

alrighty then, tastes like an expensive pop tart to me!

i digress. this "rice orzo pilaf mix" is an awful lot like rice-a-roni

but so much freaking better

i like to use 1 cup water, 1 cup chicken broth instead of the 2 cups of water the box directions call for. and if i'm really feeling crazy i use 2 cups of chicken broth instead of water

(especially when i'm using homemade broth which can be a little bland compared to store bought)

 

 

pull-apart dinner rolls

 

 

last night i made chicken pie and i served it with trader joe's "rice-a-roni", fresh sweet peas, and these rolls. since chicken pie has a biscuit topping i hadn't considered serving bread with this meal

but as i was pouring a glass of wine i caught CJ using one of these pull-apart rolls to sop up his plate

i was about to make a smart ass comment but my watering mouth wouldn't let me

these would be perfect for Thanksgiving or with any meal that leaves behind a yummy gravy mess on your plate. which includes exactly nothing that i should be eating anytime soon



Weekend Recap

this weekend was a lazy one

between the 90* weather and the time change

we just kind of rolled around

watching football, playing outside, and cleaning out the dvr and the fridge

 

we also spent a lot of time chasing each other with the hose

*daddy wanted the nekkid baby picture censored

 so i figured i'd go ahead and add a bow while i was at it*

 

the critters we find are the worst part of living alongside a canyon

there is nothing fun or cute about your 21 month old bringing you a potato bug

and i'm not talking about a roly poly bug

these are easily the most disgusting creatures i've ever seen

 

 

so we spent time

hanging out in SG's somewhat critter free playroom

 

 

on sunday night we tackled the return of the "witching hour" with a quick trip to the beach

we hoped running up and down the pier might distract her from the time change

 

 

 

it worked

until it didn't

 

 

 

between the forecasted heatwave

and adjusting SG to the time change

this week should be a blast!

 

 

 



Friday Five

one

 

 

get yourself to Nordies and try a honey almond latte

 you're welcome

 

 

two

 

 

i meant everything i said about loving zara's website

i thought the only thing better than free shipping and paypal checkout would be zara on ebates

i was wrong

the only thing better than free shipping and paypal checkout

is shopping in their brand new two-story building in Fashion Valley!

unless it's naptime and you're out of snacks

 

 

three

 

 

C. Wonder

 

C. Wonder is coming to Fashion Valley! I'm excited to see their stuff in person. it's supposed to be a lot like Tory Burch, at a lower price point. in my experience, Tory Burch is too expensive for the quality so i'm hoping C. Wonder is priced more appropriately

 

four

 

{Catching Fireflies sign}

 my floors speak for themselves

 

 

five

 

 

now that SG has stopped eating her way through her books

this is why we affectionately call her Samma Goat

i pulled the trigger on these BabyLit board books

they are buy 3 get 1 free on amazon.com right now

and since they are even cuter in person Santa might be bringing 4 more this Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 



Halloween Recap

 

i decided to throw a little Halloween party at our house

so that all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends could spend the evening together

 

 

I came up with this menu for the night:

carrot "fingers" and hummus

Pumpkin Bars

fun-sized candy and hot chocolate

chocolate sheet cake adapted from here

Trader Joe's "Joe Joe's"

marshmallow mummies

Halloween Martini

* 1 part orange juice

*2 parts cranberry juice

*1 part pumpkin pie vodka

(not pictured)

buttermilk cornbread

Corn Chowder

 

 

 

 these two were so cute trick-or-treating together

i expected to take SG to 2 or 3 houses max but she just held on tight to her cousins hand all throughout the neighborhood and it was just way too precious for me to make her go home

we got home right around (SG's) bedtime and once she was down for the night

the cocktails came out for the adults and my nephew took over trick-or-treat door duty while we mixed martinis and enjoyed some corn chowder and cornbread

 

 

everytime i want to move out of this state

which is daily

i am reminded how lucky i am to spend the holidays with my family

just a mile from where my sisters and i grew up

 

 

hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween!