Stay At Home Mommy Saga

Way Better Than Play Dough

2012-01-21T11:25:00.005-05:00

So thanks to an instagram friend, I became introduced to homemade goo. It is seriously the coolest thing. It's a liquid solid. I don't know how else to describe it. Try it though, I'm willing to bet you have all the ingredients in your kitchen. It will keep your child busy long enough for you to clean the kitchen or do some laundry.

1 cup of corn starch

1/3 to 1/2 cup of water

food coloring of your choice

Just mix (it's not easy to mix, so you'll want to do it yourself)

And there you have it. Homemade goo.

My Favorites at the Moment

2012-01-06T14:17:00.013-05:00

Beautiful blog about a sweet family of seven children. Moments with Love.

My absolute favorite recipe website. Everything I've ever tried is amazing! Skinny Taste.

Favorite piece of jewelry. Garet bought me two so I have each of my little boy's fingerprints frozen in time. Tina Steinberg.

Favorite (and cheapest!) place to buy cloth diapers. Alva Baby.

My favorite website in general. Pinterest! I have so many things organized thanks to that lovely website. Recipes, crafts, decorating, style, travel, etc. Check it out if you haven't!

A New Year!

2012-01-01T21:47:00.006-05:00

Wow, 2011 is gone and 2012 is here. Crazy how fast that year went by.

About a year and a half ago, I wrote down a list of things I wanted to do before I turn 35. While I was contemplating this new year I thought I would journey back to this post and see how I'm doing.

All in all, not bad.

I got a pixie hair cut.

I had another beautiful child.

And we are planning to move to California by October of this year.

Now, as far as the rest, well, I still have 4 years and 3 months. The tattoo will take money (and more courage), the guitar playing will take money and time (haha, time with little ones?), one more child (garet said I have to wait 3 years), surfing will require water and a surfboard (maybe when we move to California), getting fit (i'll start tomorrow...), transitioning from a night to morning person (this is going to take a miracle!), learning how to grill (i'm not interested in that goal anymore. that's why garet is around, right?), and mastering hair accessories is a work in progress.

I hope I accomplish these goals, but the more important goals I try to think about on a daily basis.

*Is my relationship with Christ deepening and my understanding of the truth increasing

*Am I a good mother, not without fault, but trying to be patient, show self control and love

*Am I being a good wife, as hard as this season of life is with little sleep and two other people to give myself to

*Am I showing grace and forgiveness to others the way Christ so perfectly does so to me

Happy New Year to you all! It feels good, kind of like a clean slate. A clean slate full of adventures and possibilities.

Canvas + Toddler = A work of Art

2011-09-09T15:17:00.003-04:00

It's been a long week. Some days great, other days I had to remind myself God knows the way. For me, it's when I feel most helpless that God seems the biggest. This of course is only my perception, because indeed God is strong, ever present, and in control at ALL times.

I love being a stay at home mom. One of my favorite parts would be the crafts. The one I did with Thor this week was painting. I picked out a great quote by Oscar Wilde and used letter stickers to spell it out on a canvas. Then I painted two coats of red acrylic on top. Next came the fun part. I let Thor paint on it however he wanted. He told me what color he wanted to use and if he needed a paintbrush or was going to use his finger. After it dried, I pulled the stickers off and my quote was in white. I also, given the idea by my genius husband, put his little hand print on the bottom so I can treasure it for years to come. I LOVED the finished product. It is in fact, hanging proudly on our living room wall.

"With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?" -Oscar Wilde

Calzone Night

2011-08-25T21:06:00.007-04:00

So last night was calzone night in the Pahl household. I wasn't sure how things would go letting Thor make his own, but it was surprisingly not that messy! And he LOVED it. I'd say he spent 5-10 minutes making sure he had the right amount of peppers, 2 sauces, steak, chicken, bacon and cheese. I thought he would pick a few of the ingredients but he wanted all of them except for the mushrooms. He even folded it himself which was so cute (even though I had to fix it a little). I was impressed that he ate almost the entire thing too! Great healthy meal, and a fun activity.

Yummy!

Easy Quick Breakfast

2011-08-05T09:25:00.007-04:00

I usually don't eat breakfast. All through high school I would rather sleep an extra 10 or 15 minutes than get up and make breakfast. That routine kind of stuck with me. I'm not a morning person, so cooking when I get up is not something I want to do. But I'm trying to change things.

I made 12 eggs in advance so all I have to do is put my whole wheat bread in the toaster and the egg in the microwave for 30 seconds. Easy, quick, and a healthy breakfast.

I whisked 9 eggs and poured them in a greased muffin tin. The other 3 I just cracked and put in for Garet. I added pieces of turkey bacon to mine and a little salt. Baked for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Then after they cooled placed them in a bag and put in the refrigerator. I have to say they aren't as great as scrambled eggs right out of the pan but if it allows me to eat a good breakfast then so be it. I got this idea from another guy's blog, he makes a whole sandwich and freezes them. If you want to see how he does it go here.

Who knew?

2011-07-25T12:26:00.007-04:00

Who knew foil and marker could be so much fun?

And so messy.

And who knew making octopus for lunch could be so easy?

Have a happy Monday!

Recycling Crayons!

2011-07-19T12:02:00.008-04:00

What do you do with a child who would rather peel the paper off and break crayons than actually color with them....you make brand new crayons!

Thor's favorite part was breaking the crayons.

Then we put them in foil lined muffin tins. Oven for about 7 minutes at 300 degrees.

Then the freezer while Thor took a bath :)

And that's it. Super simple.

He liked all the different colors in one crayon. And I liked the fact we had an activity for the morning that didn't include destroying the house!

A Little Summer Fun

2011-07-12T16:03:00.008-04:00

Making bird feeders!

First we need the pine cones...

Then spread the peanut butter...

Kind of messy...

Add the bird seed and...

A perfect treat for the birds.

Old Testament Measurements

2011-07-09T15:36:00.005-04:00

I've often wondered why so much space in the Old Testament is taken up with strict instructions on how to make things. I'm not going to be building an ark or making garments that the High Priest wore. Why would that be information I would need to know?

I read a devotion this morning (100 Days of Blessing), and it opened my eyes to something I hadn't thought of before. God is concerned with making things to last. He gave exceptional instructions so everything would be of great craftsmanship.

And that's what He expects of us. When we do anything: for our job, as a mother, for our ourselves, we should put as much thought and time into it. Those instructions aren't there just to take up space, they are a reminder of how great God is.

"Thus the two will be joined in a workmanlike fashion and will never come apart." Exodus 28:28

Family Photos

2011-04-26T12:31:00.011-04:00

Today I just have to tell you about a great photographer that took pictures of my family a few weeks ago. She was in my Christian sorority in college, Sigma Alpha Omega, although we weren't active members at the same time. She's incredibly sweet with a great eye for photography. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from that day!

If you're looking for a photographer check her out!

Nikki's Website

Have a great day!

Better late than never

2011-03-17T09:03:00.006-04:00

I have been horrible about keeping up with this blog lately. I have to say, I am absolutely thrilled about having another little boy in about 9 weeks but I am not one to love being pregnant. I'm trying not to complain too much, being pregnant is such a huge blessing. However, trying to keep things in perspective while I have intense pains in my back, heartburn at night, and a lot of trouble sleeping, has been difficult for me. I'm such a baby! Anyway, that is part of the reason why I haven't kept up with this blog like I would hope. What energy I have right now is taken up with cleaning the house, grocery shopping, cooking, and spending time with my family.

Since my blog has been lacking lately, I promise it will more interesting once this baby is out and I've recovered a bit from a c-section, I'll tell you about two blogs from friends that have just launched over the past few weeks.

The first one has five mothers working together on one blog. It's nice because you get different personalties that shine though. Four are homeschooling stay at home moms and one is a part time working mom. They have a lot of giveaways right now since the blog is so new. Check it out!

31 Rubies

The next one is all about fashion. It is hilarious to read and you are guaranteed to get some style ideas. After reading her blog, you are going to want to hang out with Crystal. Seriously, read this one!

The Devil Wears Anthropologie

So there you have it, two new blogs to brighten your day!

Eisley

2011-02-21T14:08:00.004-05:00

Lately I haven't gotten out with my handsome husband alone very much. Between his class schedule, our two year old and a tight budget, it's hard to do. But over the weekend we were able to sneak away for a while with some friends and see Eisley! I LOVE their music so it was definitely a treat. If you haven't heard them, please go right now and look them up. In fact, I'll post one of their videos for easy access :) Their new album comes out March 1st, and of all the songs I've heard so far, Ambulance is my favorite.

Marvelous Things Video

Just some pictures from Saturday.

My other half

Three of my friends that love Eisley as much as I do

Time has passed quite quickly...

2011-02-04T15:39:00.009-05:00

Wow, it's been November since my last post. SO MUCH has happened. I'll just write a quick update on the highlights.

My pregnancy sickness is over! I can eat and I'm finally gaining weight.
We're having a boy! His name is Gunnar Hayes
My esty shop was in the Jan. issue of Her magazine in Greenville
We had an amazing two weeks in CA for Christmas.
I've started going to a bible study on David every week that I'm very excited about.
I have about one more month before I turn 30!

Here's a few pictures and a video from our trip to California.

Garet and Thor flying a kite outside of Cambria

Hanging out at Pismo Beach

Garet getting his board ready for the next day

Video of Thor trying to sneak up on the deer in

his Grandparents' yard

Gifts of Three for Christmas

2010-11-22T14:03:00.003-05:00

I was given an article by a friend last night and thought it was worth sharing. I haven't talked to my husband about it, but as of right now, I'm all aboard. If you are looking for a way to simplify gift giving for your family, definitely read it.

Gifts of Three for Christmas Article

The woman who wrote it, Amy Wagner, also has a blog with some really great ideas for Christmas. If you have a free minute you should check it out!

Amy's Blog

I don't know about you, but I'm SO excited Christmas is almost here!

God's Glorious Creation

2010-10-27T12:53:00.011-04:00

I haven't really traveled in a while. With a husband in school, a two year old and another little one due in May, it's hard to get away. But someday, hopefully in the next couple of years we will continue exploring this great planet. Until then, I think often of the beautiful places I've been fortunate enough to see.

"Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth."

Walt Whitman

I was blessed enough to live only 45 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

photo credit

It's been over ten years, but I long to revisit Prince Edward Island.

photo credit

Oh beautiful Utah.

My favorite National Park, Glacier.

photo credit

And of course, the magnificent Grand Canyon.

photo credit

Beef Recipes

2010-10-19T11:12:00.004-04:00

Sorry it's taken me so long to get recipes up here. The first three or four months of pregnancy are always difficult for me.

I didn't cook all 13 recipes in one day. Instead I did all the beef one day and all the chicken another day. So here are the four recipes I used for the first day. It made four meals for the freezer, one meal for lunch that day and one meal for that night.

The first thing I did was brown about 4 1/2 lbs of beef from Sam's club ($15.00) with one red pepper cut up in it (large long pieces so I can pick some out later). I also cooked 6 cups of frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, corn). In another pot I had about 10-12 potatoes peeled and cut up boiling (to make mashed potatoes). Once the meat was cooked I split it up into five bowls. One bowl had the most meat (a little over 1 lb), it was for one large Shepherd's Pie and a smaller Shepherd's Pie for lunch that day. About 1/2 lb in one bowl for the Chili. Another 1/2 lb in a bowl for burritos. And then the leftover split in two for the Hamburger Casserole and the Cheesy Pasta Bake (for this bowl I picked out the red peppers and put them in the other bowls).

Black Bean Chili

Combine the 1/2 lb of beef with 1 can of black beans, two 8 oz cans of tomato sauce, 2 tsp. chili powder, and 1/4 tsp of pepper. Bring to a boil then add 1 cup of cheddar cheese and stir until melted through.

I just put this in a freezer bag once it had cooled and had a bag of tortilla chips ready when we decided to eat it.

Shepherd's Pie

I used the recipe on Tammy's Recipes but I left out the onion, bell pepper (since I already have red pepper in the meat), and crushed red pepper. I also used 1 1/2 tsp of garlic salt instead of garlic clove and salt. And I didn't use quite as much cheddar cheese. Just remember to put a note that you need to add milk before you bake it.

Hamburger Casserole

This is my aunt's recipe and super easy to make. In the bowl with the meat for this one, add one 15 oz can of tomato sauce, 1 tsp. garlic powder (I used garlic salt), salt and pepper (I just used pepper), and 1 tbl of steak sauce. Pour into a saucepan and let it simmer while you're boiling the noodles ( one 12 oz package of noodles). In a separate bowl mix one 8 oz cream cheese softened and one 16 oz sour cream. Pour noodles in a casserole dish then spread the cream cheese mixture on top. Then spread the meat mixture. Last top with 8 oz of cheddar cheese. When you are ready to bake it, it will be at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Cheesy Pasta Bake

This recipe also came from Tammy's Recipes. I didn't use tomatoes or onions and I used garlic salt instead of the garlic and salt (only because that's what we had at the house), and it tasted great! Thor loved it.

Burritos

There is nothing special about these burritos. I put some taco seasoning on the meat and then layered that, refried black beans (I had already cooked this in my crock pot a day earlier), and cheddar cheese. Wrap them up in foil and stick them in a freezer bag. Take them out whenever you want a quick meal.

I hope this helps anyone who is reading. Hopefully it won't take me almost two weeks to put up the chicken recipes. I'm one week away from 3 months, so hopefully this "all day" sickness will be easing up a bit soon.

Bulk Cooking

2010-10-14T12:30:00.003-04:00

I strive to simplify my life. I see friends with 4, 5, 6 children and they seem to have it all together. I struggle to keep my one child and small apartment in order. I'm pretty good about cooking all our food, keeping it as healthy as possible. I try to stay on top of laundry and cleaning, but something has to change. It needs to be easier than this.

My first step to creating a more simplified life is going to be bulk cooking. I've realized that most of my time is spent in the kitchen, either cooking or cleaning up. If I already had at least my dinners cooked, it would be 1-2 hours less time in the kitchen every day.

I would love to bulk cook with a group, but I don't know any bulk cooking groups in Greenville. And my kitchen is too incredibly small to start my own group. So I'm going to start this little journey on my own. I picked out 13 recipes and bought all my ingredients yesterday. I spent a total of $110 at Sam's Club and Krogers (with coupons). Tonight and tomorrow I plan to cook and freeze all my meals. Since it's just three of us right now, I'm hoping the dinners will have leftovers and allow me to just heat up food for lunches the next day.

I'll keep you posted :) And let me know if you have some favorite recipes that would work well for freezing. I would love to try some new ones in two weeks.

A Week from Greenville

2010-09-29T11:28:00.009-04:00

Two weeks ago my sister had a baby girl, Lily Avonne. Thor and I went to spend a week with her to keep her son, Matthew, company so she could have some time with sweet Lily. I missed Garet terribly, and so did Thor, but all in all it was a good trip. Here are some of the highlights.

This picture was actually taken the last day we were there. Garet had driven in to pick up his family :)

I love my sweet little boy.

Thor and Matthew turned out to be excellent grocery shoppers!

A place I used to go to often. Stone Mountain, NC.

Feeling Very Crafty...

2010-09-03T08:49:00.007-04:00

At some point, when things calm down a bit around here, I'd like to start posting more of my own craft tutorials... until then here are some from other great crafters.

Enjoy!

Fabulous Fabric Flower Tutorial

Floating Vase Tutorial

Toddler Purse Tutorial

How Fast The Time Goes By

2010-08-19T14:00:00.002-04:00

It's already middle of August and I'm still thinking we're in July. Crazy how some months pass by incredibly slow and others fly by in what seems like a few days. I'll definitely be ready for September. Only working one job, cooler weather, a little niece making her arrival, and getting closer to Christmas :) (I LOVE Christmas!) I've been working on other items for my etsy shop as well lately. New necklaces, headbands, etc. If only I could make time to take some pictures... maybe this weekend.

On another note, I'm getting my haircut next week. It's been a long time since I've had a make-over (before my little boy to be exact). Normally (before motherhood), I would shop every now and then, get my hair done every few months, at least take a shower every morning and put make-up on. Now my routine is roll out of bed, pull my hair up in a ponytail, and start my day. (By the way, I do take showers, just don't have time in the morning.) Slowly, very slowly, I've been getting back to "the girl I used to be". Physical appearance isn't everything, but you definitely feel better when you think you look better. Give me a little lip gloss, mascara, and my blonde hair back, and I'll be good as new :)

Blueberry Season!

2010-08-05T14:07:00.009-04:00

Well, we made it to the blueberry farm just in time as the season is coming to a close. We met up with a couple of friends and had a blast for about an hour. Thor LOVES blueberries, so I believe he was eating more than he was actually putting in the bucket. Regardless, we made it home with about 2 lbs of fresh blueberries.

Thor and I picking blueberries

Garet, a friend, and the kids walking to the blueberry bushes

My little stud, Thor

My handsome husband, Garet, and my favorite little boy

Blueberry Muffins:

1/2 c whole wheat flour

1/2 c white flour

3/4 self rising flour

1 tbsp oat bran

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 c brown sugar

1 tbsp honey

1 egg

1 c buttermilk

1 1/8 c fresh blueberries

Mix flours, bran, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl and stir in sugar. Whisk honey, egg, and buttermilk in a pitcher. Pour wet ingredients into the dry and stir briefly to combine. Don't overmix- the batter should still be a little lumpy. Fold in blueberries. Spoon batter and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

They are fantastic!

Oh Yes...

2010-07-28T09:07:00.011-04:00

...I had forgotten how much I LOVE Anthropologie.

Here are a few of my favorite items right now:

Gorgeous!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

2010-07-23T10:32:00.007-04:00

Night before last I was craving something sweet. Lately I've been going to one of my favorite recipe books, Healthy Cooking for Your Kids, or of course, Tammy's Recipes. On this specific night, Tammy's Recipes won out. I decided to bake oatmeal chocolate chip bars. Needless to say, it was a hit. If you'd like to give it a try, here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1 c of butter, softened

3/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 c all-purpose flour

1/2 c whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

3 c oats (I used quick oats because I grabbed that instead of old-fashioned and it worked fine)

2 c semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugars, egg and vanilla. Stir in flours, baking soda, and salt, at the same time. Stir in oats. Then stir in chocolate chips. Press cookie dough in greased 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 30 min. (mine was actually done in a little over 20 minutes, so just watch it). Let cool for 20 min. and enjoy!

How to Make a Ribbon Necklace

2010-07-22T11:18:00.008-04:00

I have been very crafty lately. The moment Thor goes to sleep (either nap or bedtime), instead of cleaning the house (which is what I should be doing), I go straight to my fabric and thread. I decided to make a necklace using some beads I already had and figured why not start a do-it-yourself tutorial on my blog every week, well, maybe every other week :)

So here it is, my first DIY project.

First gather your materials.

*Two strings of beads/two chains or a combination of both

*Ribbon

*A fabric flower (tutorials here)

*Embroidery floss

*Needle and thread

*Pins

I restrung my black beads with a goldish cream floss to match the ribbon and flower. You can do that or just use what you already have. The first thing we need to do is connect the two chains. For this we are using the embroidery floss. You might need to cut your chains to get the right length for each. Make sure you leave a loop on each side to stick the ribbon through. Make the left side neat, the right side should be also but it's not as necessary since you'll have the fabric flower on top. When you get done, it should look something like this.

Next we are going to add ribbon. I put a little fray check on the ends of the ribbon so it doesn't start to fray. Slide the ribbon through the loop and hold in place with a pin. Take your thread and make stitches to form a square. Again, make the left side very tidy.

When you get done with both sides it should look something like this.

Next we are going to add the flower. Place over the square you stitched on the right and sew in place using the thread. When you finish it should look like this!

It's pretty easy (although takes some time), and there are so many different styles you can create using different colors and chains.

Penguin Stands Alone Giveway

2010-07-19T14:48:00.007-04:00

I randomly ran across this giveaway for a family portrait, but not just any family portrait...

How cute is that? If you want to participate in this giveaway just go here!

English Gardens

2010-07-17T11:16:00.011-04:00

I love flowers, especially wildflowers. Someday, hopefully, we'll have a little plot of land that I can have my own English garden. Until then, I'll satisfy my longing by looking at pictures and admiring the beauty of other's.

Look at all the different colors! Gorgeous.

photo source

I would be out there reading every chance I got.

photo source

The blue fence is perfect.

photo source

How amazing would it be to wake up here every morning?

photo source

Doesn't this remind you of the setting for a Jane Austen novel?

photo source

Climb Every Mountain, Ford Every Stream, Follow Every Rainbow, 'Till You Find Your Dream

2010-07-15T21:28:00.008-04:00

I love Sound of Music. Love it. When I was little, I wanted to be a nun incredibly bad. I thought that would entail singing on hilltops, living an adventurous life, and falling in love with a handsome older man. A few things made this dream unattainable, mainly I'm Protestant.

I found out yesterday that Maria von Trapp is an actual person. How in the world did I not know this? She wrote a book about her life that the movie was loosely based on. It's called The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. (I will make a trip to the library tomorrow for this book.)

The Trapp family moved to Vermont after fleeing Austria and opened up a lodge that is still there today, managed by Trapp children and grandchildren. It looks beautiful, and hopefully someday I'll be able to visit.

Trapp Family Lodge

Mommytopics.com Giveaway

2010-07-11T20:42:00.009-04:00

My friend Rachael from Mommytopics.com is giving away one of my necklaces!

She has a great website with all kinds of topics from parenting tips and recipes to shopping ideas. Her American Pie cupcakes were featured on the front page of Pioneer Woman's website last week! Such a great idea and they look delicious. Check it out :)

What to do with Zucchini from the market?

2010-07-10T20:42:00.005-04:00

We went to the market this past Wednesday and I bought some gorgeous squash and zucchini (which by the way, are my favorite vegetables). Another down side to living in an apartment, no garden :( I cooked them on the stove with a little garlic, sea salt, potatoes and chicken. Nothing special, I was just craving some vegetables and wanted a quick meal.

Tonight when I sat down at my computer I saw this post from Modish. All these recipes look amazing. I might have to try this one tomorrow...

Baked Zucchini Fries Recipe

My Spot to Retreat

2010-07-10T14:22:00.007-04:00

This past year it has been a slightly difficult to find some "me time". Some days this little fact is more frustrating than others, but that's what happens when you have child. I decided I wanted my own space, somewhere I could put all my cloth, felt, needles, thread, paint, etc. A place I could go when Thor was asleep and feed my need to create. Using only the things I already had and living in an apartment made this task somewhat challenging. But I'm happy to say, after a few days and some interesting ideas it all came together.

I already had this desk in our room so I just cleaned it out and put all my art and craft things in the drawers. I used part of two coat hangers hung by ribbon, to store my ribbon on the wall above the small bookcase. I also hung two ribbons from the wall where I keep the hair clips and brooches I make.

I have quite a bit of fabric so I just pulled out some of my favorite pieces, the rest are in a drawer. And of course, the baby monitor is a must have :)

I used a glue gun to glue two chopsticks to the desk so I would have a place to put my thread. Sounds a little crazy but it worked! And then a little turtle that Thor played with when he was younger turned into my pin cushion. Maybe someday I'll have a better space but right now, I'm completely happy with what I've got!

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

2010-07-05T08:20:00.009-04:00

My sister is having a girl this August and has been in the process of preparing little Lily Avonne's room. I wish I lived closer and could help, I love decorating!

Here is a bit of inspiration.

All white is so beautiful and serene. (source)

I've always been a fan of pink and brown. If I ever have a girl, those are the colors I would want to use. (source)

This is a really great idea. You can buy these stencils and then design the walls however you want. Find it here.

I wouldn't mind sharing a room if it looked like this. (source)

A touch of shabby chic. (source)

Homemade Ice Cream....Without the Ice Cream Maker

2010-07-02T08:18:00.006-04:00

Craving homemade ice cream but don't have an ice cream maker? Or do you need an activity that will keep the kids entertained for an hour?

Here is an easy solution. Elsie from A Beautiful Mess has a DIY way using basic ingredients and two coffee cans. I'm actually not a fan of homemade ice cream, but this looks amazing!

Enjoy!

Interview Questions, Answered

2010-06-27T09:45:00.004-04:00

My blogger friend Tammy was playing this game on her website and I thought it would be fun to join in.

If you would like to play as well:

1 - Leave a comment with your blog URL, saying you want to be interviewed.

2 - I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 - You'll update your blog with my five questions, and your five answers.
4 - You'll include this explanation.
5 - You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.

So here are my five questions from Tammy:

What is your favorite type of food to bake or cook?

I would rather bake than cook, only because I am a sugar addict. As far as cooking, it is Italian for sure. I love making sauces and throwing in some bacon, mushrooms, etc to add to the flavor. Lots of mozzarella cheese and garlic bread makes my day!

Tell me about your faith! When/how did you become a Christian? What church do you attend?

I've been a Christian as long as I can remember. I grew up going to church and learning about Christ, so there wasn't one moment in time that I can say that's when I started believing. It wasn't until I met my husband, Garet, though, that I really started understanding what it is to be Christian, and how much more there is to learn. He introduced me to John Piper, C.S Lewis, John Calvin, and more. Right now we attend Christ Presbyterian, PCA, in Winterville, NC. It's a great church, and we love it.

What is the age difference between you and your husband?

He is almost five years older than me. I find older men sexy :) Although, I have to say I don't even think about the age difference. He is in better shape than me and looks younger than 33.

Do you have any tips on getting motivated on housework, etc.?

I wish I did. I just have to turn on some music, and do it.

What is one of your worst habits? Best habits?

I am extremely messy. I'm terrible about making piles of things around the house and not cleaning right when I'm done (ex. kitchen after eating, putting laundry away after they've been washed).

We've had to live on a tight budget since my husband is in school and it's important to both of us that I stay home and take care of our son. So budgeting is very crucial to us. I account for every dollar that's coming in and going out. I have to plan meals ahead of time so I don't overspend at the grocery store and we have enough to last us through the month. I've become very efficient at being frugal.

Sometimes everything going wrong, is just in the cards...

2010-06-24T08:57:00.009-04:00

This past weekend I went to Wilmington with a group of girlfriends I met while in college. I was a little nervous because this was the first time I had left Thor for more than four hours. I know he was in good hands with his daddy, but it was still hard to leave him for two days. What I should have been nervous about was staying on an old yacht for 48 hours.

When we first arrived, I found out the air conditioning wasn't working. The couple that owned the yacht was supposed to have put in a new one three weeks earlier. That was strike one. It's summertime in North Carolina, high humidity, not fun. You don't want to be stuck in a place without cool air.

That night we had gone to dinner and when we got back the floor was flooded. I just knew the yacht was sinking. My first thought was "I wonder how long we have before the boat goes under". I called the guy in a panic and told him water was coming into the boat. When he got there it ended up being the toilet, not as bad as a sinking boat, but still not good. Strike two

On Saturday we woke up and went to Carolina beach. It had started raining on and off that morning but thankfully it was perfect weather for the two hours we were at the beach. We took our time coming back, stopping along the way to pick up some lunch. We had a surprise waiting for us when we got back. The whole top deck, which is sheltered, was soaked. Two of the three bedrooms leaked, one of the beds was completely wet. And there were three leaks the living room. Needless to say, the guy came back and tried to clean up. Strike three.

There were definitely good points to the weekend:

a) My friends are not very high maintenance, so everyone was in good spirits through the whole ordeal.

b) They ended up not charging us at all for staying on the yacht.

c) Johnny sang for us http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIyESqM4EVY

d) But most importantly, I spent a whole weekend with some great friends who I don't see nearly enough. Unfortunately, we are all spread out across the US.

So even when everything that can possibly go wrong does, it's all about how you react to it.

Feeling Old

2010-06-08T12:22:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe I'm in my last year as a twenty-something. Kids I babysat while I was in high school are now in college. My little brother who was in 5th grade when I graduated, will be applying to med school next year! He doesn't seem old enough!

I feel like I haven't accomplished everything I wanted before I turned 30. I think most people have/had that list of things to do before the big 3-0. I mean the 10 years after high school are pretty important. That's when most meet their mate and start a family, decide on a career, pick a place to settle down, do a lot of traveling...it's a pretty significant period of life.

I'm completely happy with the way the past 10 years have gone. I've lived in 4 different cities, two different states. Traveled enough to be somewhat content. Met some amazing people. Worked 13 different jobs. My hair has been long, short, straight, permed, blonde, brown, black, pink, red... I've gone from vowing never to date again to falling in love and getting married. From being a nanny to having my own child. From being apathetic towards politics to being passionate about my views...the list goes on.

Still, there a few things I never got in. My goal is to check these 10 things off before I turn 35.

*learn how to play guitar

*get a quarter sleeve

*have two more kids

*settle down somewhere in CA

*be able to surf well

*become totally toned and fit

*get a pixie haircut

*transition from a night person to a morning person

*learn how to grill

*become superior at making hair accessories

We shall see. It's nice to have something to strive for.

My Kitchen Table Is Full Of Fabric

2010-06-02T10:43:00.010-04:00

My Etsy Shop

It has always been extremely hard for me to show others my work. Whether it be writings, paintings, jewelry, hair clips... I'm very self conscious when it comes to items I create, although I'm definitely getting better. Garet has given me a lot of confidence since I met him and I decided to try and sell some of my hair accessories. My etsy shop is quite new, so don't judge too harshly :) I need to work on some pictures, and have many more items that I haven't even listed yet. I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out.

If you live in Greenville I'm at the Uptown Umbrella Market every Wednesday night from 5-8 during the summer. It's across the street from Starlight Cafe. You should definitely come out: great produce, fresh seafood, jewelry, paintings, food, music...

"Music is what feelings sound like"

2010-05-30T21:17:00.003-04:00

A little over a week ago we took a trip to Wilmington so Garet could see one of his west coast friends, Lee Koch. I had been told Lee sang and from what I had heard, knew I would love it. He was on tour opening up for Timmy Curran, a professional surfer who just put a new album out. We had such a great time. We hung out with Lee and Spencer Regan, another pro surfer who plays with Timmy, while they had dinner before the show ( it was so great to see how happy Garet was to get a little piece of his life back in CA here in NC). Timmy's wife, Shanoah, and their daughter, Lily, who is close to Thor's age, were also there which was great for me to have someone to hang out with while Garet was catching up. Unfortunately, having Thor with us and the show being so late I wasn't able to stay and watch. But the next day driving from Wilmington to Elkin I was able to listen to Timmy and Lee's music.

Lee's music

Timmy's music

I've listened to both almost all week (with a little Band of Horses thrown in there). If you haven't heard their music, you should check it out.

Virginia Creeper Trail

2010-05-25T12:00:00.009-04:00

If you haven't heard of the Creeper Trail it's a stretch of about 35 miles from Whitetop Virginia to Abingdon that you can hike, ride a bike, or horseback. It was a railroad up until 1956 and in 1977 they pulled the tracks up. It is BEAUTIFUL. We rode about 18 miles from Whitetop to Damascus. It's worth a trip if you live around the area.

Virginia Creeper Trail Website

My Favorites at the Moment

2010-05-18T10:13:00.004-04:00

A radio station that matches your mood....

2010-05-12T09:43:00.006-04:00

I just found stereo mood. If you haven't heard of it before, it's an online radio and all you have to do is pick your current mood and it has a playlist ready. I love it! Melancholy, feel like crying, spring cleaning, dinner with friends, Sunday morning.... They have over 80 moods to choose from.

Coupons Coupons Coupons

2010-05-06T15:56:00.003-04:00

I've never really used coupons. As frugal as I am with money, you would think that I have. Well, this past week I decided to give it a try. I bought a little organizer that fits in my purse, the Sunday paper, and started cutting away. To my surprise, Harris Teeter was also having their triple coupon week. So every coupon I had under $1.00 was tripled (FYI, everyday at Harris Teeter is double coupons). On top of the sales Harris Teeter was having anyway, I spent $8.00 on about $35.00 worth of food (healthy food).

I found this blog that had a neat post about coupons, there is so much I need to learn! Look at the part under coupon hints.

Blog Post

The only thing I have to really be careful of is: most of the coupons are for unhealthy food. They are the snack foods full of sugar that I try to keep away from my house. If you are wise about which ones you use and don't justify buying items that aren't the best for your body, you'll love being a coupon clipper.

I could never be a vegetarian...

2010-04-29T18:46:00.006-04:00

Last week I ordered beef from Nooherooka Natural. I met one of the owners a few years ago (they also run a bed and breakfast) and had always been curious about their meat. It was even better than I had hoped it would be. It's a little more expensive than a grocery store but I'd rather pay it when I can. You should check out their website, they have a lot to offer. There are several restaurants on this side of the state that feature their meat (Starlight Cafe, if you're in Greenville). If you don't live around here, I know they ship (although not sure of shipping fees).

There are many reasons to buy local organic food, but my favorite reason is to support the smaller farms.

Make Your Own Baby Sandals

2010-04-19T12:32:00.006-04:00

I found this Do It Yourself project on one of my favorite blogs to read. If Thor was younger I would totally be making some right now! Here's the link if you're feeling creative.
Baby Gladiator Sandals

For the Curvy Girls

2010-04-18T20:21:00.012-04:00

I have always had a horrible time finding swimsuits. My chest is a little bigger than I would like for it to be, so I always feel self conscious when I'm at the beach. I love Victoria's Secret's swimsuits and had a few before I got pregnant, but the XL top, the largest they make, doesn't give me the support I need now. I finally found two websites that have great styles and much needed support.

Figleaves is the first one. It is purely online. They have everything from AA to K. I just ordered a swimsuit from them last week (the one in the picture below, except in Caffe Latte). I'm curious to see if it will be as great as all the reviews stated.

The next one is Bravissimo . This website is only for those D-KK. They have some incredibly cute swimsuits (as you can see below) but I found them to be a little pricey. The sales weren't as great as Figleaves. But maybe it was just the time period I was looking. You should definitely check it out.

When I Feel Like Things Are Out Of Control...

2010-04-16T09:17:00.007-04:00

...I love to watch this video. How amazing is this universe? I know a few people that don't believe in God, and that's fine, there is nothing I can do to convince them otherwise but I personally can't look up at the stars and not believe in a Creator. I honestly would like to know exactly how atheists feel about life. Is there a sadness all the time, knowing that one day you'll die and that's the end of the story? Is there a worried feeling, thinking that you are in complete control of your surroundings and believing that one wrong choice could throw the universe off it's course?......I have so many questions to try and understand. Whether you are a believer or not, this video is amazing. It's just a series of incredible pictures. Louie Giglio did a series called Indescribable and this is taken from that.

By the way, the first time I heard this song was from Louie Giglio's series and I fell in love. Years later, I became good friends with the writer of this song's sister. If you aren't familiar with Laura Story, you should check her out. She won a dove award for Inspirational Album of the Year in 2009. I love her voice and she has the most inspiring story.

Laura Story's Website

My Love Story

2010-04-12T08:46:00.009-04:00

Four years is how long it has been since I "met" my soul mate. I always wanted to believe in a soul mate, but as years went by I was beginning to think it wasn't possible. Then God made our worlds collide. I truly know that. If you would like to know how it all came together, this is my story (warning you now, it might be a little long but I’m a girl, and when it comes to love, I like details):

I had been in a long line of relationships. I guess you could call me a serial dater. It honestly wasn't that I didn't like being alone. Most of my relationships were long distance. I’m the type that would go to the movie theater by myself every week and was completely fine with it. I was just terrified of passing up the one I was supposed to be with and then spending the rest of my life alone or worse, with the wrong guy. Without getting too deep, my theology was all wrong. I thought if I made the wrong decision, just one time, my whole life would take a turn it wasn’t supposed to and then there would be no way to fix it. I didn’t want to make the wrong choice or let the guy I was supposed to be with just walk by, so I dated a lot of guys. I held onto a lot of guys. I stayed with a lot of guys even when I knew I probably shouldn’t. If I had only known and trusted that God is completely in control. He already had someone picked out for me, I just needed to be patient.

This is where Garet comes in.

I was in a bad relationship. I had convinced myself that this was as good as it was going to be. I didn't deserve a better guy, after all the sins I had committed, this is what I got. (Again, perspective completely wrong, God does not work like this. Everyone sins. That is the reason for Jesus. There is no hope for us without Him.) I had never watched American Idol before, wasn't really a fan (I promise this all relates), but the sister of a girl I knew had made it to the top 24. She did a fantastic job, and when she was unfortunately voted off, I left a comment on her myspace page. Garet, as well, had been watching American Idol that season, was on her myspace page and had seen my comment. He looked at my profile and found me interesting so added me as a friend. Nothing came of it for a couple of months, like I said I was in a relationship.

I ran across him on my friend list one day and couldn't figure out how I knew him. (I don't normally add strangers to my friend list, this was the only exception.) So I messaged him asking where we had met (he lived in CA) and told him how great it was to see a guy who was clearly a believer, putting God first, and involved in so many extreme sports. I hadn't met one before. This gave me hope. My prince was still out there. There must be a guy like that somewhere for me.

He told me he was going through a divorce and I told him about the relationship I was in and how I wasn’t growing spiritually. Knowing he was on the other side of the country, I felt like I could be completely honest and there was no way we would ever meet. We e-mailed on and off for two days and then I called him. (I know the whole thing sounds sketchy, and it could have been bad. I don’t recommend meeting people on the internet. In fact, I was one of those people that made fun of others who met their boyfriends/girlfriends on the internet. God is funny.)

One phone call and four hours later, I was hooked. We have talked everyday since that call with the exception of a week when I was in Mexico. We had so much in common. I could go on and on about everything we talked about from The Man from Snowy River to the sovereignty of God. It was amazing. We would talk for hours at night and text or e-mail back and forth during the day.He would mail me books to read and music that I might enjoy. I literally fell in love with a man I had never met. It was almost two months after that first phone call when he came out to meet me. My parents were freaking out, I can understand why. And Garet and I both had concerned friends.

Keep in mind, he is from California and almost all of his family is in California. Well, when he had gotten back home from a visit to NC, he found out his cousin was actually living in the same town I lived in. Her husband was doing his residency here. And to make it even more interesting, he studied every morning at the Starbucks I worked at! (I can’t wait to see God’s master plan revealed one day. How magnificent it will be to see how every little detail of life was significant and played a role.)

Over the next few months, Garet made more trips out here and I made trips out there to meet his family. By January he had packed up all his belongings and moved to North Carolina to ask for my hand in marriage. In February we took a day trip to Ocracoke Island where he got down on one knee in the sand and proposed. We were the only ones on the beach, it was beautiful. In September we were married at a small church about twenty minutes outside of Boone, NC, where my parents had been married 28 years earlier.

The whole thing felt like a fairy tale. I had met my prince. And while life has had its difficulties, at least now I’m going through it with my best friend.

First time he came out to NC to meet me. (Stone Mountain, NC)

First time I went to CA to meet his family. (He had just taken me surfing for the first time.)

Taken right after we said "I do". (In the mountains of NC)

On our honeymoon. (Maui)

Our first Thanksgiving as a married couple. (Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC)

Summer Clothes

2010-04-09T10:37:00.008-04:00

It has been perfect pool weather over the past week and my family and I have gone almost every day. (My pale vampire skin needs to be summer sun kissed.) I have a dress I've been wearing over my bathing suit, and it has gotten several compliments. In fact, all the clothes I've ever bought from this website has gotten me compliments.

So I had to share. Here it is, one of my favorite websites to shop.

Swell.com

My baby is growing up!

2010-04-08T09:17:00.012-04:00

One year ago I had a sweet baby boy who would lay around all day and just smile.

Now, I have a active child who gets into everything possible! He prefers dirt over flowers, dumping drawers out instead of putting things away, and feeding our dog, Dutch, his dinner instead of eating it himself.

"Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them."

courtesy of rampantphoto.com

More baking...

2010-04-05T12:36:00.006-04:00

This past week was crazy. I know these are tough times for everyone so I'm blessed to have such wonderful friends and family to ride the wave with.

We don't eat out a lot, maybe once or twice a month. I feel like since I stay at home, I should cook all our meals here. I cook 95% from scratch. Besides being the cheaper way to go, it's also healthier. During the winter months I mostly use frozen vegetables, but once April gets here I'm able to buy local produce. I had to share this website because of all the recipes I've tried, every single one has turned out amazing.

When life gives you lemons, make lemon bars.

Lemon Bar Recipe

Jessica

$50 Cake

2010-03-29T09:25:00.008-04:00

Last night our church had a dinner/talent show/cake auction to raise money for a group going to Haiti. I think the highlight of the night was a group of three high school boys performing Blink 182. The moment they started playing their guitars and singing, all the little kids covered their ears. It was great (although a tiny bit loud).

I found a recipe for a chocolate cake, changed it around a little, added chocolate drizzle and strawberries, and that is what I got. I've never made it before, but I hope it was tasty, as it sold for fifty dollars.

Here is the recipe if you'd like to give it try. I'll probably make another one this weekend and if it doesn't taste delightful, well then I'll delete the post and pretend this never happened. ha ha. But seriously, this post will be gone. :)

1 package devil's food cake mix (without pudding in the mix, actually hard to find)
1 box of chocolate pudding mix (3.9 ounce)
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup of oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup of warm water
2 cups of mini chocolate chips

In a bowl, pour cake and pudding mix, sour cream, oil, eggs and water. Mix well but don't over mix it or it won't bake well. Stir in 1 cup of mini chocolate chips. Pour in a greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Ovens tend to bake slightly different so I would check it at an hour. Let it cool for an hour in the pan and then invert it onto a plate. Melt the other cup of chocolate chips and drizzle on top. (I dipped some strawberries in the chocolate first and then drizzled the rest over the cake using a spoon. If you put strawberries on top, stuff a big strawberry in the hole so the others don't fall in.)

Enjoy!

C.S Lewis

2010-03-26T08:18:00.006-04:00

I love C. S. Lewis. Right now I'm reading his space trilogy. I'm on the second book, Perelandra. It hasn't quite sucked me in like the first book, The Silent Planet, but I'm only on chapter 3.

As most people know, he wrote the Chronicles of Narnia. There are seven books in that series and they are all brilliant. This morning I came across one of my favorite sections of The Last Battle. It reminds me that this isn't our final destination. This is only a stepping stone.

"There was a real railway accident," said Aslan softly. "Your father and mother and all of you are -as you used to call it in the Shadow-Lands--dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."

And as He spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C. S. Lewis

Love it.

Just breathe.....

2010-03-24T11:56:00.007-04:00

With everything going on in the world today it's so easy to get overwhelmed. Politics, crimes, hunger, earthquakes... Sometimes (most of the time) I feel so helpless in a world full of sin. I am one person, with a small voice.

I just have to breathe. I turn off the news and put down the paper. I go outside where the grass is becoming green, flowers are starting to bloom and the sun is warming up the land. I help those that are near me, any way I can.

But most importantly, I thank God for the breath He gave me. For the friends and family He put in my life. For the food on my table, the roof over my head, and the clothes on my back. I thank Him for being in control at all times, even when the world seems to be falling apart. And I thank Him for the peace that only He can give.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE.

Happy St. Patrick's Day (a little late)

2010-03-18T09:12:00.009-04:00

Yesterday I didn't wear green, the thought didn't even cross my mind.

BUT I did cook a green meal last night in honor of St. Patrick's Day... (or because I saw it in Real Simple magazine and my husband thought it looked great).

Regardless of the reason, I cooked it for dinner and it was delicious. By the way, if you haven't read Real Simple, you need to. Love Love Love that magazine. So many wonderful ideas and recipes! www.realsimple.com

The recipe below is in my own words but you can find the original recipe in Real Simple magazine April 2010.

Baked Pasta with Spinach and Artichokes

Cook 1/2 box of short pasta according the directions and return to pot. Heat broiler. Add one 14-ounce can of artichoke hearts, rinsed and cut up; Add one 9-ounce package of creamed spinach; Add 1/4 cup of grated parmesan; 1/4 tsp. of pepper; and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix to combine. Transfer to a baking dish and sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top. Broil until the cheese is browned in spots (this doesn't take long so don't walk away).

Not only is this recipe pretty healthy, it's also not expensive to make.

This was the cost for my meal (shopped at Krogers):

Pasta- 1 box for 1.99 (on sale)
Spinach- 1 box for .99 (on sale)
Artichokes- 1 can for 2.50 (on sale)
Parmesan- already had
Mozzarella- 1.49 (on sale)

Bonus: My child LOVED it!

Have a great day!

Atlanta Aquarium

2010-03-16T16:33:00.006-04:00

While in Atlanta over the weekend my family and I also went to the Georgia Aquarium.

http://www.georgiaaquarium.org

AMAZING.

I had been when it first opened but that was pre-hubby and pre-child. Going with them made the experience SO much better. I think it's worth making a trip to Atlanta just so your kids can walk around all day saying "wow". (So glad Thor is starting to talk, makes things so much more interesting!)

What a Princess

2010-03-16T07:55:00.016-04:00

Princess Diana is to me, what Ronald Reagen is to my husband. I think she was an amazing woman. Beautiful, intelligent, caring, stylish, kind.....the list goes on. I was able to see the Diana exhibit in Atlanta while I was there over the weekend. Here were some of the highlights for me...

The tiara that is shown in the picture was beautiful. Crafted around 1830, and was incredibly detailed. The picture doesn't do it justice. The other tiara I saw was from her wedding and had the veil attached. I was surprised to find that the total cost of her wedding gown and bridesmaids' dresses was around $1900.

All the diamonds on this necklace detach, so it could be turned into a bracelet. Also the teardrop diamonds and pearls can be worn as earrings. That's brilliant.

Of the dresses I saw, this was my favorite. It was the last dress she wore to a public event before she died. The designer is Jacques Azagury. He sent it to her as a gift for her 36th birthday. He also designed a short blue dress with the same great neckline, she wore to a ballet. It was also there on display.

It was such a great exhibit, if you are close to Atlanta I suggest you go. One of the best parts for me was reading the letters she wrote and letters others had written to her. She was so involved in charities and causes she believed in. What a great way to use your influence.

There was a bible on display that Mother Theresa had given her. It was opened to the first page and this is what Mother Theresa had written:

Jesus is the TRUTH
to be told;
Jesus is the LIFE
to be lived;
Jesus is the LOVE
to be loved;
Jesus is the LIGHT
to be lit.

LET US LOVE JESUS
with an undivided
LOVE;
And others, as He
LOVES
You and me.

Mother Theresa 1992

Inspiring.

A Shoe Club?

2010-03-10T14:53:00.003-05:00

Has anyone heard of Shoe Fabulous? www.shoefab.com

I love shoes, although my closet wouldn't really tell you that. I have shoes I still wear from high school. I came across this website the other day and am seriously considering giving it a try. You fill out a shoe personality quiz and then each month 6 stylists will pick out six shoes for you to choose from. It's $39.95 a pair but if you don't have the funds or just don't see any you like you can skip the month. And free shipping.
Those are the shoes I'm considering. If I decide to do it, I'll let you know what I think.

I want my pre-pregnancy body back!

2010-03-08T10:38:00.007-05:00

I've never felt completely comfortable in a bathing suit, ever. But now, I'm even more stressed about showing off my post pregnancy body. I have to say, I got off really easy only gaining 30 lbs. total during my pregnancy. So about a week after having my son, Thor, I only had about 8 lbs to lose. Unfortunately, I gained about 10 lbs after having Thor. Not having a car and being stuck indoors (with food) is not an ideal situation. I needed a plan of action.

So I bought Tracy Anderson's post pregnancy work out video.

Wow. Amazing. Hard. Love it.

http://action.tracyandersonmethod.com/site

Modeling from the time I was 5, has actually helped me with self image. Being told you are too short (at 5'9) or too big (at 115 lb) when you're 15 is hard to handle, but seeing how the industry works has been a great reminder when looking at magazines or watching movies. Models and actresses are NOT flawless. They have great stylists, hairdressers, make-up artists, photographers and then still get their pictures edited.

If you're a woman feeling insecure about yourself just watch this short clip.

Have a great and beautiful week!
Jessica

I don't function well in the Winter...

2010-03-05T16:39:00.005-05:00

....on many levels.

Spring can't come soon enough. My son and I are on the verge of delirium. There are only so many things a one and half year old can do inside.

1) play in a fort; built out of a kitchen table, chairs and blanket

2) read books; Goodnight Moon, Polar Bear Polar Bear What do you hear, Goodnight Moon, Goodnight Moon, Bible Heroes, Goodnight Moon...

3) Watch PBS; I don't know about other kids, but mine will watch 10 minutes and then turn off the tv.

4) Playdates; my favorite. Adult conversation is always a nice adjustment to my day.

The positive side to Winter: How beautiful is the snow!

Bum Genius

2010-03-02T14:43:00.004-05:00

I've been asking myself this question now for three straight days: "How have I gone a year and a half not using liners for my cloth diapers!". It makes washing them SO easy! Oh well, now I know, and at least I found out with my first child and not my last.

If you are thinking about using cloth diapers, do it. It's better for your baby, the environment, and your bank account. I use Bum Genius (wwww.bumgenius.com) but there are others out there as well.

And don't forget the liners! :)

Jessica

A Piece of You

2010-02-26T08:34:00.002-05:00

"Every man's work, whether it be literature, or music, or pictures, or architecture, or anything else, is always a portrait of himself"

I'm not sure who said this, but how true it is. It's impossible to create something and not have a piece of you entwined with it. That includes the children you raise. I'm very different from my parents but there are still significant glimpses of them, I see in me.

Jessica

Let's start from the very beginning...

2010-02-25T14:50:00.011-05:00

...a very good place to start.

Since this is the first post, I'll tell you how I got to this moment in time.

I was born in Nashville, TN, the home of country music. My mom is a northerner, and my dad a true southern man. Both are very plan oriented, college educated, and career driven. We moved to Atlanta when I was two or three so my dad could get his Ph.D. My mom worked at a nearby hospital as a nurse. My two younger brothers, younger sister and I, had a nanny during those years.

I moved to a small town right at the edge of the mountains in North Carolina when I was seven. I went to a public school and spent most afternoons playing with my siblings in the woods behind our house. I was a shy skinny awkward kid back then. For some reason, a few of the "popular" kids took me in. As for school, I always had trouble. I was never focused, had problems getting my homework done, and daydreamed, a lot.

By the end of my freshman year, my body started changing. Oh if I knew then what I know now. Boys started paying attention to me, my priorities started to alter. I had no idea who I was in high school. For a cheerleader and homecoming queen, you'd think my perspective would be a little different.

I moved to New York when I was 19 to run away from my problems. Not only did emotional baggage follow me, but I gained more. It wasn't all bad though, I learned a lot about myself up there as well. My interest in art intensified, my knowledge of the world increased, and I was at the beginning stages of learning who I really was.

Right before 9/11, I had moved back to North Carolina to go to college. It wasn't something I wanted to do, but something I felt forced upon me by my parents. I'm glad I graduated but wish I had majored in art or drama. I know that God has a plan and there is a reason for everything, including the degree I have in Communication. I worked full time and went to school full time so my four year degree took me close to seven.

It was in my last semester of college that I met my husband. It's a truly incredible story, and someday I'll share it. We moved very quickly after meeting. Engaged within a year, and married just eight months after that. Three months into married life, I became pregnant with our son, Thor. And that is when my life became more than I ever thought it could. To have a child growing in your body changes you. It's something you can't fully explain to someone who hasn't experienced it. You now have a life that relies completely on you to take care of him. It is truly a blessing.

And here I am, sitting at the computer while my one and a half year old takes a nap. Life is a beautiful thing.

Bye for now
Jessica