She's Star-Crossed

How to Give Thanks.

2012-01-27T07:43:00.001-06:00

There's been a lot about thankfulness lately.

I'm reading the words of this beautiful book...almost finished and I have an urge to turn to the very first page again after I've read the last and start it all over again seamlessly.

Maybe I'll read it on a loop.

We've been centering nightly prayers around thanking God for our blessings,
consciously stating the things we are most grateful for at the dinner table,

making an effort to notice the good.

Dinner time one night this week almost brought me to my knees...

seeing through the simple eyes of children sometimes will.

Something like this:

"This food is good mom, thanks."
It's Beck...he loves his mama's cooking.

"Thanks, bud. It's so great to be thankful because some people don't have this kind of food.
Some people don't have any food at all in a day.

So we need to show our thanks to God for blessing us."
I was trying to tie it together.
Trying to guide a little mind to bring praise to God.

But he trumped me.

It was this:
"But mom, why are we thankful that we have a lot and other people don't have any?"

Oh.

A punch to the gut.

Why are we thankful for our plenty...our blessings...while others are wasting away?

We sit around our brightly lit dinner table, inside our bustling, warm homes and blithely give "thanks" to God for the good.

While others...what are their lives like?
I have no clue, because I have never had to live a semblance of a life less blessed.

Why do we get the blessings poured out?

Are we more deserving? More loved by God?

Are we more His than they are?

No.

These blessings given to us were not only meant for us...

they were meant for them too.

"Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required."Luke 12:48

Can I tell you something?

I wanted to pull those three children up from the table, leave the steaming food to cool, pull on coats and mittens, empty our cupboards and head out into the dark night to give.

To give just a little of our much to anyone who wanted it.

To show real thanks to our God for his blessings.

Because, I'm coming to realize that thanksgiving isn't about murmuring a few words of acknowledgement... (although it might start that way)

it's about giving it away.

Pouring it back out.

He didn't give it to us to hoard.
He gave it to us to bless.

...and bless

...and bless.

To be the face of God to some people who haven't seen it yet.

I stammered something about giving thanks and then showing thanks by helping the people with less.

But it was so pitiful. So vague.

I didn't have a plan.

I had no idea how to carry it out with these three little searching souls...

how to make it really mean something.

I kind of left it at that.

While my mind was spinning, they went back to their blessing of a meal and our night plowed on.

Nightly baths in warm, sud-sparkled water.
Minty toothbrushes.

Brightly-colored story books and bedtime prayers snuggled into flannel sheets and down comforters.

I haven't stopped thinking about it.

Wondering how I can fit real thanksgiving into my life and into theirs.

I mean...we have a plan.

A shimmering hope of moving away from here and going where they need us...where we can be the face of God...

But can we do it here? In the meantime?

While we wait?

While life is so busy and the days and months slip by before I can catch my breath?

I don't know.

I think we can.

Somehow.

I'll keep you updated on that.

But if this post and Beck's simple question hits you as hard as it hit me...

you should read Ann Voskamp's book.

It is a dangerously breathtaking look at real gratitude.

...I am torn wide open.

Photo-a-day

2012-01-13T15:32:00.003-06:00

Some pics from my photo a day challenge.

It's been a happy January so far.

: )

We're on day 13. There's still time for you to join and catch up (or just jump right in).

Let me know if you do!

Little Girl, Big City {Part Two}

2012-01-12T14:30:00.000-06:00

If you missed Little Girl, Big City Part One

{or...ahem...forgot because it's been so long...}

Click here to read.

Where were we?

Oh yes, in a taxi, in Chicago, on the way to the American Girl Place.

So.

That taxi driver whizzed the taxi through the crowded streets and there were horns honking and people scurrying.

It was only one week before Christmas, after all.

There were places to go and presents to buy.

But soon enough they had arrived and were standing happily outside of the American Girl Place.

That little lady was so excited to get inside and look at all of the beautiful things.

But first, she had to admire the windows...

...and then she had to give the bell-ringer some change...

And then it was okay to go inside.

It was better than she even imagined...

all of the pretty things to see.

She learned about some of the historical dolls and found all of their miniature accessories quite enchanting...

even if her mama did think she was a little too young to have most of them.

She got to pick out a special Christmas outfit for her doll, Rebecca.

And her mama helped her put it on and said that she had "impeccable taste."

The little girl was so happy to be having such a wonderful day.

But, by the time 3 o'clock rolled around she was feeling especially tired.

And, although she wouldn't admit it, her mama and Grandma Honey could tell by her many yawns and sleepy eyes that she needed a break.

The idea of a fancy tea in a room bedecked in pink Christmas decorations was just what she needed to perk up...

Silly girls are still silly no matter how fancy the occasion.

She got the special birthday treatment and basked in the glow of being birthday girl.

And her dolly sat right by her side in a 'specially made doll seat.

Hot chocolate is the perfect afternoon sip but, oh, when the server brought out the plates of tea treats that girl, her mama and her Grandma Honey lit up!

Flaky chocolate chip scones, small peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches and delicate cookies.

That little girl ate to her heart's content and she even tried some new things.

She wasn't so sure about the raspberry tart...

but decided she liked it right away!

Soon after tea and a few special gifts to open it was time to leave the magical American Girl Place.

But the day wasn't quite over.

There was one more short train ride to the hotel.

And, you would never believe it, the train station was under the ground!

In the basement of the city.

The three ladies, weary but smiling after their long day, plopped into the train seats and let the train click clack down the track to their fancy hotel for the night.

And, even though her mama was sure she would, the little girl didn't snooze a wink on that train ride.

She couldn't close her eyes.

There had been too much to see and learn on her trip.

But boy, did she sleep like a little log in the grand hotel.

And, you know what?

She woke up the next morning (her actual birthday morning) to a beautiful sight:

the city dusted in perfect, white snow.

The ultimate gift for the ultimate girl.

The End.

January Photo Challenge

2012-01-07T09:22:00.002-06:00

Fun lil photo challenge to keep the blog and the instagram movin'.

Found via Beka.

Feel free to join!

Day #1

"You"

{yes, I got a haircut!}

P.S. Little Girl, Big City Part Two coming soon.

Click here to read Part One.

And...what do you say to a series of Bachelor posts?

I may not be the most regular with them but I can promise to try!

Anyone watching cute lil Ben this season?

Happy Saturday!

Our Place

2011-12-21T18:42:00.002-06:00

Do you remember this?

Or this?

This?

Family Christmas on the beaches of South Carolina.

We're doing it again this year.

Seven days of family, funniness and...the beach, you guys, on Christmas!

I've never spent a Christmas on a beach. It might be weird.

But I can tell you one thing:

I will not be complaining.

I have a good feeling that Sand and Christmas lights will make quite a dashing couple.

If you don't remember here are the posts about our last two trips to SC:

South Carolina trip 2008

South Carolina trip 2009

{PS. I love how, in this post, I was so sure I'd never see our house again.

I could not have been more wrong. We're returning to the same -perfect- beach house this year.}

A Christmas Post

2011-12-21T15:22:00.002-06:00

Chicago.

Eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate. Dark. With whip.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He wraps some and sets others out just so...for maximum "wow" factor.

Colored lights on tree/house or white? I used to think white but have been leaning toward the colors more lately.

Do you hang mistletoe? I don't. It's sort of sad. Next year, perhaps?

When do you put your decorations up? Just after Thanksgiving.

Cookie Day 2011

What is your favorite holiday dish? Any sort of crackers with cheese or creamy dip. Appetizers win.

Favorite holiday memory as a child? Looking at the decorated Marshall Fields windows in Chicago. Magic.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I can't remember. It was like this slow realization that left me neither disenchanted or bitter.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We usually do all of our "family gifts" on Christmas Eve (a tradition of the husband's) and then our Santa gifts on Christmas morning, naturally.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White lights and all handmade ornaments from my babies this year. (Nothing breakable...have you met my littlest?)

No? You haven't? Well...here he is.

My "Ralphie."

Snow! Love it or dread it? Dread it's coming and the mess it makes but adore looking at it.

Can you ice skate? Oh my. I have but it isn't pretty. I'm really good at sipping hot chocolate and watching others ice skate though.

Hot Chocolate - all dressed up.

Do you remember your favorite gift? Usually anything that came from the American Girl store was a big win.

What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Laughter. Warmth. Family. Jesus.
What is your favorite holiday dessert? Cookies.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? The advent calendar. Baking Christmas cookies with the little ones. Giving gifts.

What tops your tree? A red star.

Holiday dinner for two.

Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Not gonna lie, I adore receiving. But the look on someones face when I've gotten them the perfect gift is completely priceless. Giving.

Candy canes: yuck or yummy? Eh.

Favorite Christmas show? New: Elf. Old: Little Women. Older: White Christmas

Saddest Christmas song? Sad and Christmas don't belong in the same sentence.
But the UGLIEST Christmas song has to be that ridiculous "Last Christmas" song. Blech.

What is your favorite Christmas song? Sacred: O Holy Night. Secular: Christmas Waltz

These cookies are unassuming and amazing.

{Christmas survey from here.}
Do your own and post in my comments for a little link-up.

Little Girl, Big City {Part One}

2011-12-21T01:01:00.001-06:00

Once upon a time there was a little girl.

She was a pretty little thing with sparkly blue eyes and spun-gold hair.

She was turning five.

On the day before her birthday - a chilly day in December - her birthday adventure began.

Her daddy and brothers woke up early, before the sun even had a chance to peek over the horizon, to bring her to the train station.

She was going to Chicago!

{accompanied by her Mama and Grandma Honey, of course.}

It may not have been such a crazy morning if they hadn't missed their scheduled train...

but they did.

And so, the morning was crazy.

First, they were a little behind because Mama had to curl this little girl's hair so it would lay just right.

Next, Daddy took a wrong turn with only minutes to spare until the train left the station and put them on a path far out of the way. By the time they arrived to catch the train it had already gone without them.

Mama just about cried.

But Daddy had other plans.

He raced those worried girls through red lights (boy did Mama laaaaugh at that) and under bridges and over the highways until he beat that train to the next station and they hopped right on, just as if they'd never missed a beat.

They met Grandma Honey on the train and sat down to the strawberry cupcakes the little girl had requested, made special by her Mama.

They ate those cupcakes with a fizzy, pink drink at 9:30 in the morning.

They were famished from their busy start to the day.

Cupcakes taste just as good...maybe better...at 9:30 as they do any other time of day.

Before she knew it...

after some coloring and story-reading and window-gazing and lunch-eating and Mommy-snuggling

{and maybe some Mommy-shushing}

...that little girl had arrived in Chicago.

Her Grandma Honey made certain she was dressed snugly before she ventured out into those windy streets.

That little almost-five-year-old was amazed at the high buildings and bustling crowds she met.

Mama said, "This is the city where I was born. Do you like it?"

She said, "Yes." Her eyes as big as they could go.

Grandma found a cab to take them to their next destination...

"Where to?" the cab driver asked.

"Chicago!" that smart little girl answered.

"You're IN Chicago." the man said - he wasn't wearing any shoes! only socks.

On those dirty old, cold streets.

"To the American Girl Place, please." Grandma answered.

And they were off...

{Part Two to come...}

I'm Still Here...

2011-12-19T11:44:00.000-06:00

...and, apparently, so are you.

Thank you for not deserting my deserted blog!

Christmas break is upon me and, thus, the opportunity to blog.

New, Christmassy blog posts coming soon!

Tenderloin TLC: Roasted Rosemary Pork Loin

2011-10-12T09:53:00.002-05:00

We don't eat much pork in our house.
I never really knew how to treat it...how to coax the best flavors out of it...

how to really love it.

I mean, I knew about the classic pork and apples combos but it just never really appealed to me.

Until I had Tracy's Roasted Rosemary Pork Loin at one of those diamond-in-the-rough church Christmas parties.
{You know, the kind of potluck with a motley crew of mismatched pans and rubbermaid bowls full of the most mouthwatering deliciousness... You know the kind.}

She put together this gorgeous pork loin that was succulent and laden with rosemary and sweet juices.

Ugh.

Changed my pork-less little life.

Here's how to treat your pork loin right:

You start with rosemary.

Lots of it.

Gather and mix brown sugar, sherry, garlic and some grainy mustard.
Dump in the chopped rosemary.

Prep the bath...the loin is about to luxuriate in this...

Sprinkle a hefty amount of salt and coarsely crush pepper over the prepped loin.

Douse the seasoned meat in all of the brown sugar and rosemary mixture,

and pop that happy little baby into the oven - covered nicely and tucked in with tin foil.

Be sure to set your timer for every 45 minutes or so to take out the meat and spoon the juice over the top;

it will keep the meat glowing.

You're going to cook it for a few hours {depending on the size of your roast} and for the last hour or so take the foil off and let it crisp up a bit on the outside.

And then...plate her up and give that girl the close-up she's begging for.

Me still, my heart.

Pork tenderloin heaven.

Roasted Rosemary Pork Loin

5 lb pork tenderloin

2 cups dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons sherry

1/2 tablespoon grainy mustard

salt + pepper

garlic + fresh rosemary

{be liberated from the confines of the recipe and use the garlic and rosemary to taste.}

Cover with heavy foil and bake at 325 for 3-4 hours.

Remove pork loin every 45 minutes to an hour to baste in sauces.

Remove foil 1 hour before the end of cook time.

{Adjust cook time for a larger/smaller roast.}

This is such a great holiday recipe.

It screams Christmas to me.

Some Things...

2011-10-08T16:12:00.000-05:00

Here's the thing.
My little old brain is much too overloaded - full to bursting - with Very Important Information for school.

To the extent that I normally can't compose a coherent thought and spit it out in conversation...

and I definitely can't sit here and write an intelligent blog post.

So. Here it is. My random, catch-all blog post.

(They call it "flight of ideas" in nursing.)

You've been warned.

I have a new food love.
Cowboy Caviar.

It's a zingy little blend of corn and beans and peppers and a few tomatoes scattered throughout.
But it's not just a regular old salsa...it's got this little acidy vinegar thing going on and it's so stinkin' good I could cry.
I put it in just about everything.
On top of nachos is my favorite thus far.

{I got this particular kind here.}

Speaking of school.

Was I speaking of school? No?
Oh well...

Speaking of school, it's going fabulously.

I mean really, I've gotten quite used to seeing B's scribbled on my tests instead of A's and that is a step in the right direction.

The first few B's just about gave me panic attacks and heart palpitations (yep, I was the student that thought anything less than a 90 was failing) so it's really very nice to have gotten desensitized to the 84 and 85%'s that just keep on popping up.

You know what they say, If you can't beat 'em; lower your expectations and join 'em.

...or something like that.

And can I tell you about the friends I've made in nursing school?

They are fabulous and totally inappropriate and smart and cute and keep me {mostly} sane through this crazy time in my life.

I'm really coming to love those girls.

I started clinicals - the bit in school where you actually go to a nursing setting and take care of real, live people instead of totally ~~creepy~~ adorable rubber dummies.

I love that.
But I do get a little confused from time to time about my boundaries.
Like...we were at a nursing home last week and this great elderly lady was jabbering on and on about how much she loves her nude nylons but she only has one pair left and it has a large run that was started by her big toe and she really wishes she either had more nylons like that or she had some clear stuff to paint on it and make it stop running and she asked her niece to bring her some new ones but her niece hasn't yet and is on a cruise right now so she wont be back for a long time and maybe I could rinse them out for her and set them somewhere nice and warm to dry...

You get the idea.

I had the most overwhelming desire to leave my nursing duties right then and there and drive myself to Walgreens and get this lady a little egg-ful of nude nylons.

Seriously. She was the cutest thing.

And then I realized that probably wasn't within my scope of practice and didn't do it.

But boy, did I wash those ripped nylons well.

Beck loves soccer.
{Told you this was going to be random.}
And he is so, so good.

So good, in fact that he makes about 95% (I'm being modest) of the goals during his games.

So good that Mr. B. let me in on a little dream he has for our family...

He thinks we could get Beck into a European soccer club and ride the boy's soccer glory all the way to England or Spain or Italy or somewhere fabulous like that.

{You know, those Europeans are very serious about their football.}

Which sort of scared me and excited me at the same time.
I mean, nothing like putting all your eggs in one {little, 6-year-old} basket.

Pressure, much?

But also, if that happened I would be over-the-moon excited.

Ha!

Until then we'll just watch our dude dominate the crappy community soccer fields and be really, really, glowingly proud of him.

I think I want to make a big commitment...

Are you ready?

It's huge. It's actually scaring me because it's so huge.

I want to commit to doing another A Day in {insert month here} series.

{If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here.}

I was just looking back at those posts and marveling over how much life has changed since then.

It's fun to see what we did on a regular old day...

Would you join me if I started it up again?

Another blog-related commitment I'd like to make:

A photo challenge.

Since I got this new camera I've been a picture-takin'-fool and it might be fun to have a little guidance.

Alicia did a great one and I'm thinking of giving it a whirl.

{yeah, it says "august 2011." whatever. I'm unorthodox like that.}

Okay. Enough rambling.

I think I covered it all.

Food, school, nude nylons, pipe dreams about European soccer, overcommitments to blogging.

Yep, I'd better stop while I'm ahead.

I know I don't update the blog too often anymore but I certainly can find the time to tweet a lot.

So follow me here if you want to keep up between blogs.

How Fall Should Be

2011-10-07T15:31:00.002-05:00

I'm going to join the chorus and say, "Fall is my favorite season."
I've been loving all of the pumpkin-spice-latte and boot-wearing and leaf-crunching Fall rhapsodies clogging up my twitter feed.

I give a hearty "amen" to every single one.
{Although, I did read this funny blog post...but I have a feeling she's in the minority.}

So...with no further ado, I give you my own tribute to Fall...
The {second} most wonderful time of the year.
{Christmas still holds down the #1 spot in my heart.}

Blue skies and a sun-colored Chevy bound for the other side of the river.

Rosy cheeks and a ferry ride.

Cluttered counters and a supper made entirely of crusty french bread and fresh apple butter.

A weekend afternoon spent at the apple orchard breaking in my new shoes.

Realizing...again...how truly happy the color orange can be.

Reaching into the treetops to pluck the perfect specimen.

The perfect apple pickin' basket.
{Evie loves her Blessing Basket; a perfect Christmas gift.}

The sweetest yellow, leather shoes and stripey leggings.

Discovering that corn comes in browns, eggplant, orange and red.

A really juicy bite.

Colors so vibrant you could have sworn they were paints on a canvas.

Finding that apples can make quite nice stand-ins for soccer balls.

Making the time to just be with them...no homework, no concerns.
Just babies and apples.

To hear more of me waxing poetic about the glories of Autumn, see these past posts:

A Pumpkin-y Sort of Day

October Snacking

The True Tale of an Autumn Day

Token Fall Photos

New Camera.

2011-09-20T19:06:00.001-05:00

You guys.

I have a new camera.

I sort of love it.

I'm also quite intimidated by it.

I am convinced this baby has much much more picture power than I have knowledge to implement.

Never taken a photography class in my little life...but I'll give her a go.

September has been good to us thus far.

A dinner party at Grandma Honey's.

A romp at the St. Louis Balloon Glow.

A family camping expedition.

A long visit from Gramma.

A birthday.

I'm linking up to day with Beka in her photo challenge.

The theme for the week is "September is the best month ever."

Which just might be true...

Pirate Birthday Parrrrty.

2011-09-17T21:00:00.001-05:00

Riddle:

What do you get when you add fake sticky mustaches...

A new 6-year-old...

And some fake tattoos?

If you were thinking complete hilariousness, you'd be right...

Oh my gosh, they're cute.

Err...I mean, fierce.

I put together some Blood Red Cupcakes {much more piratey than Red Velvet...}

Planks are a must-have...
made of chocolate wafer sticks and piped red frosting.

The brave plank-walkers over stormy seas...

{or soccer balls and an empty kiddie pool, whatever.}

Auntie bequeaths the pirates their pirate names.
Names like One-Eyed Leroy Bones and Black Beard Stanley.

There was a fair prize at the end of a lengthy and rowdy treasure hunt.

Divvying up the spoils.
{Disregard my husband's nearly scandalous used-to-be-jeans. He likes to really put on his Sunday best for parties.
Just call him Captain Classy Legs.}

Pirates love birthday candles.
Check out all of the "sympathy blowers."

: )

Even little sisters get in on the mustache magic.

This was such a fun theme for a party and I found lots of resources to make it happen.

The party stores were full of pirate props and Target has a whole line of pirate party favors and decor right now.

The mustaches are actually scrapbooking supplies with sticker backs - they weren't the most pleasant experience being ripped off of tender upper-lips.

My apologies to the mothers of the boys to whom I gave an upper lip waxing experience.
They really didn't cry all that much. Just a tear or two.
{kidding...mostly.}

The cupcake toppers were free printables from here.
And many of my ideas {"Walk the Plank" treats, pirate names} were from this blog.

I can't believe my boy is six.

It just can't be.

But when his legs dangle to the floor as he sits on my lap and he comes out with phrases like,
"Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
{which grants him whatever he's thinkin' just about every time...it's too cute.}
and, "I have an excellent idea"
and, "What a peaceful night..."
I am forced to come to terms with the fact that this boy is, indeed, growing up.

And growing up into one of the most magnetic, infectiously joyful people I've ever met.

Click these links for Beck's past birthdays on the blog:

...and now, he's five

My Boy, on His Fourth Birthday

Celebrations

On Kindergarten

2011-08-27T10:26:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago my boy, Beck, had his first day of Kindergarten.

All suited up with his favorite plaid shorts and new monogrammed LL Bean pack he was ready for the adventure of his first day of school.

...and, in the process, ready to break his mother's heart.

This kid is totally his teacher's favorite. How could he NOT be?!

It really wasn't in my ideal plan to send my little ones off to preschool and Kindergarten...

it's funny how my ideal plan is rarely ever God's ideal plan.

I'm not totally sold on the whole formal schooling idea.

I mean, yeah, the kids need to learn, they need to be educated and "socialized" and all of that business.

But does it really require 7+ hours a day 5 days a week?

I am beginning to despise dropping my boy off at 8:30 in the morning and not seeing him again until 3:30 in the afternoon.

It's not natural, leaving my child under the influence of someone for more hours in the day than even I am with him.

I'm sure the teacher is a lovely woman and a perfectly capable teacher...

but...

she is not me.

I have so many other thoughts and feelings about all of this.

But this post wasn't meant to be a "bash-traditional-schooling-and-anyone-who-partakes-in-it post."

{I've read many of those and I'm totally not into it.}

What I'm trying to say here is:

My boy started Kindergarten.

He is doing wonderfully and adores it.

It's not our ultimate plan,

but I truly believe it is what we're supposed to be doing for the moment.

As soon as I get the "go-ahead" to pull the babies out and bring them home for schooling I will do so.

Until then, we are blessed and happy and living a life of lunchboxes, parent-teacher conferences and daily 3:30 homecomings that make the light come back into my day.

Mangoes for Dinner

2011-08-25T19:16:00.001-05:00

I've been wanting to blog for a few days now...

but I don't have anything to write about.

Nothing to say.

Me.

So, I thought I'd break the silence by writing about dinner.

That's safe, right?

Here it is...

The Post About Dinner.

Tonight we had mangoes for dinner.

I'm always unhappy with my mango-cutting technique. Can anyone ever cut a mango to look pretty?

I mean, I've seen Giada do it once on her show and it looked lovely.

Like the most proper chopped mango I've ever seen.

Like a mango that was just begging to have tea with the Queen.

But I can't do that.

Mangoes that go under my knife get hacked and sliced beyond recognition.

Baby helped...

He was happy with the juices dripping down his arms and clear to his elbows.

Summer isn't Summer til you get juice to your elbows.

Then I grabbed a ripe peach for good measure and haphazardly diced that little baby (I'm not very peach savvy either...it's that darned pit).

And they made the prettiest little salad tossed together in a bowl.

The sherbet orange and pink.

Like a sunset you could taste.

I turned on my "folk" playlist...which happens to be made up of mostly Patty Griffin and lit a candle for the table.

This setting-the-table, lighting-the-candles doesn't happen much midweek because my hard-workin' hunk of a husband works quite late during the week and the kids and I are solo for dinner/bedtime routines.

{Don't think this little fact doesn't give me massive amounts of mommy-guilt whenever I hear about those studies done about families that eat dinner together.

Their kids are smarter, more loving, more respectful and generally more worth living on our planet.}

Anyway, I pulled out all the stops for our mango dinner.

It was a fancy mango dinner...that makes it okay to serve a fruit as an entree to your children.

Okay...

no, it doesn't.

It's never okay to serve fruit as an entree to your children.

They're worth more than that, even if you don't sit down to cozy family dinners every night.

So I made my mom's Spinach {Not-Really-}Quiche to go along with the mangoes.

If you haven't made this recipe yet, please do.

It's not real quiche, really it's an impostor if you want to be totally snobby about it.
{I know some people who would.}

With its crust of crescent rolls...

How American in Paris is that?!

But really, it's totally yummy and the kids completely devour it and kiss my face and declare me the "best cooker in the world" when I make it...

every mom should have that experience with the secret knowledge tucked away that it's made of mostly spinach and eggs and, therefore, one of the best things your kids can eat.

{Minus the lame crescent roll crust.}

So, our mid-week dinner was delish and there were seconds and thirds and...well...fourths.

And even the baby said "more" in the sweet way he does.

See?
I'm not a total failure as a mother.

We may not eat dinner as a family every night but my kid knows sign language.

And sometimes having taught your child sign-language {even if it is only one word} is all you have.

I have so many other things I'd like to share here.

Like, Beck started Kindergarten and I have cute pictures and a lot of thoughts about that...

I finished yet another semester of school.

And other random ramblings that may or may not be blog-worthy.

Until then, enjoy the end of summer and eat mangoes until the juices run down your arms.

Family Movie Night

2011-08-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

I've got the feature for your next family movie night.
{Do you do this? If you don't, start!}

We do it about once a month - gather the blankies, the pillows, bowls of popcorn bigger than our heads, a homemade sweet something-or-other and settle in for a little family Q.T.

Our most recent movie night made me so excited.

Netflix delivered our chosen flick early in the week and I could barely wait until the weekend to share it with the kids.

One of my family's favorites growing up, Mr. B's favorite...

destined to be our kid's favorite.

It didn't disappoint.

Behold, the perfect family movie night feature:

Disney's old-timer,

The Swiss Family Robinson

Shipwreck, pirates, family values, animals and a tree-house that's to-die-for.

I wanna live here mmkay? Mmkay.

My kid's were rapt.

Alternately giggling, covering their eyes and shouting commands as to how best defeat the pirates.

This is one you don't have to worry about bleeping out the lone curse word you forgot about.

{Another of our movie nights featured The Sandlot...hum. I don't remember it being so risque.
Flaunting booties, "sh--" and too many, "shut-up"s and "you idiot"s to count.
Not my favorite.}

This one is completely family friendly.

Even for my "sheltered" brood.

And you have no idea how many snake wrestling matches and pirate invasions have been happening at our house since we first watched...

Recipe of the Month - Baked Peach Oatmeal

2011-07-31T09:14:00.000-05:00

Baked Peach Oatmeal

3/4 cup oil

1/2 cup flax seed meal

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

6 cups oatmeal

2 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoon salt

2 cups milk

2 teaspoon vanilla

2 large peaches, sliced and skinned

(or one large can of peaches, drained)

Mix oil, flax meal, sugar and eggs in large bowl.
Add oatmeal, baking powder, salt, milk and vanilla.
Add most of the fruit, mixing gently - reserve some fruit for the top of the oatmeal.

Pour into a greased 9x13 (or equivalent) baking dish.

Arrange reserved fruit on top.

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

You can use any other fruit you like.
Blueberries, apples, cherries...

Glossary for July

2011-07-31T08:59:00.001-05:00

joy: feeling the wind in your hair on a hot day.

fashion model: striped dress. striped boots. headband.
puddle. street-side.

generosity: giving licks of your giant ice cream cone...before it melts.

entertainment: Giada on a Saturday morning.

conquering: climbing the playground by yourself for the first time.

gardening: enjoying the lavender, oregano and nasturtiums we grow.

ticked-off: finding a baby bunny in the garden and declaring it devastatingly adorable.
can't kill it or even scare it away.

giving in: gathering on the deck nightly to watch mama rabbit nurse her babies.
in. the. garden.

hot: t-ball games on Saturday afternoon.

pride: watching your daughter, the only girl on the team, hit the t-ball further than any of the other kids.
and then make sure her hair still looks cute.

pretty: Evie.

breakfast: baked peach oatmeal.

desire: what you're feeling right now.

you want that recipe.

obliging: how I feel...
I'll give it to you.

tomorrow.

friendship: knowing that it's okay if you and your buddy weigh down the kiddie picnic table, you accept him anyway.

blindingly white: my legs rarely exposed to the light of day because of...

nursing school: time-sucker and total insanity inducer.

letting go: saying goodbye to Mr. B's dad until we see him again in heaven.

July: living well and fully despite the curve-balls, saddness and unexpected turns of life.

Baby?

2011-07-16T10:38:00.000-05:00

Is he still a baby?

...because he's looking suspiciously like a toddler and I'm not sure if I'm okay with that.

I mean, what is all this strawberry-eating and ball-kicking and speaking-in-full sentences business?

He's such a dude.

I love dudes.

Recipe of the Month: Lavender Lemonade

2011-07-05T09:00:00.002-05:00

The perfect (perfect, perfect, perfect...do you hear me?) summertime drink is lavender lemonade.

Here's what you need...

for the simple syrup:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lavender buds (less if you're using dried)

lavender from my gorgeous plant

for the lemonade:

8 cups water
juice of two lemons
(or more, depending on your taste)

a bit of lemon pulp if you like that

Here's how you do it...

Boil the sugar and water for a couple of minutes - stirring continuously.

Add lavender buds, remove from heat and cover.
Let the lavender steep for 15 minutes.

Combine lemon juice and water.

Strain the syrup so the lavender is removed.

Pour all of the lavender syrup into the lemonade.
Add ice.

Pour generously into cute tumblers.
(Cute tumblers not optional.)

Enjoy in the sun.

Lavishly.

Linking up with Casey @ The Weigand's

The 4th - My Way

2011-07-04T07:30:00.003-05:00

My kind of RED

credit: daniel farmer

My kind of WHITE

credit: polly wreford

My kind of BLUE

credit: sunday suppers

My kind of OOHH + AHH

credit: rune guneriussen

Happy Independence Day!

Red, White and {lots of} Blue

2011-07-03T16:49:00.000-05:00

In honor of the Land of the Free...

navy nails + some sparkle

baby in blue...his white doggie

in the garden...blue sweet peas and white gladiolas

blue soppy swim-clothes drying

unfortunate old blue countertops/tile and a sweet, soft baby

red awning

backyard blueberry picking

blue eyes

Celebrate with love.

Blog to Love :: Cakies

2011-06-29T20:19:00.000-05:00

My friend Andrea {check her out!} does this fun little deal on her blog where she highlights some of her favorite blog reads.

I love that.

It's nice, it's friendly, it's uplifting and it's done in a totally sharing spirit.

So...I wanna do it too.

I want to share some of my favorite blogs with you.

Here's a new fave - drawn to my attention by my mama.

cakies

Rubyellen is totally adorable.

And so are her three little babies named True, Brave and Soul.

{wonderful names, right?!}

And she's due to have #4 in the next few months...can't wait to get the name scoop on that one!

She has some fabulous DIY projects, some goodies are here and here.

A sweet little shop that she's just stocked up.

Her decor is fun and mismatchy and very Anthro.

I love her Vintage Here, Vintage There posts.

But her father's day surprise was my very favorite idea I've seen in a long, long time.

Her love for Christ is beautifully evident in her posts.

It's just an all-around good blog.

So, go on...follow her blog.

And tell her Ashley or Star-Crossed, or "that one girl" sent ya.

: )

Click here for my blogroll.

4.0

2011-06-29T19:49:00.000-05:00

One semester of "real" nursing school under my belt.

And it feels good.

What feels even better?

Seeing this:

Statistics A

College Algebra A

Nursing 101 A

Health and Wellness A

Critical Thinking A

GPA: 4.0

Yep. You know you want me to be your nurse.

: )

Up next:

My very first clinicals.

If last semester was "real" nursing school, then this is really-really-real-nitty-gritty nursing school.

It's getting serious.

I got my uniform.

I'm stethoscope shopping.
{much less glam than shoe shopping}

I have piles of medical books on my dining room table.

I'm ready...

I think.

I may never blog again though.

I'm gonna be so busy!

{no...I'll blog. It preserves sanity.}

I'm going to post a picture of myself all suited up in my nursing gear next week.

Squeaky white shoes, scrub pants, trustworthy smile and all.

; )

Loved.

2011-06-27T17:46:00.000-05:00

Today is our eighth anniversary.

And I feel loved.

My Brawny Man knows just the way to make me feel like the most treasured woman in the world.

He really does...I'm lucky that way.

I had been gone all weekend
{my gramps turned 80 and we had a massive bash for him, loved every minute - more on that later}

and when I came home on the eve of our anniversary I was greeted by a considerably cleaner house than when I left, eight dozen roses {I know!} and my gift...which is my new favorite possession.

Gorgeous blooms in hues of red, magenta, blush pink, almost pink and white were found in every room of the house.

I made a little arrangement reminiscent of our blue hydrangea/cream rose wedding theme...

And...behold, my new favorite possession:

A book, yes. {of course it is!}

But just a simple, leather bound journal...

with writings from him...

...to me.

Some of the pages are memories,

some are dreams for our future,

some are thoughts,

some are love poems - written by him or copied from famous authors,

some are funny, some are serious and some are "oooh la la."

Little did I know that he's been keeping this journal for the past 6 months.

It makes me want to tingle and smile and tear up and giggle and snuggle right into him all at the same time.

It's perfect.

It's my new favorite.

I had an old favorite for lunch today...

it made my house smell like heaven-in-Chicagoland.

Giordano's stuffed pizza.

The food of the gods...or something like that.

It's seriously my favorite thing to eat {next to chocolate}.

I never get it since we've moved to St. Louis unless I go to Chicago and bring some home.
I had it half baked at the restaurant and then baked it when I got home (300-ish miles later) and it was perfection.

I mean...look at it.

Sigh...

I adore good pizza.

So.

MmmHmm.

It's been a fantastic anniversary thus far.

I am moved by this man.

He loves me.

He stuck with me through my neuroses, complaints, depression and over-all quirky-ness.

Something I am convinced a weaker man could not have done.

He is amazing.

He is devoted and kind and trustworthy.

He is mine.

...and he is in for a seriously fun night.

; )

Said I'd Never Do It

2011-06-23T09:46:00.000-05:00

Here's a little bit of wisdom:

{I don't have much, but what I have I share with you...}

Never. Ever. Ever.

Eeeeeevvvveeeer say "never."

Just don't do it.

Inevitably you will be doing that undesirable, disdainable, detestable thing you said would never happen.

I said I'd never be a runner.

I'd never, ever have the desire to run an organized race - or any race, for that matter.

It's true that I'm not a competitive person so they never appealed to me.

But lately...

that "never" desire has turned into almost a fixation.

I wanted to run...and I wanted to run races!

{I think we can thank my little sis for this inspiration.}

So.

Here I am,

the girl who couldn't (wouldn't?) do the 12 minute mile in high school,

having completed not one, but two 5k races in the past two weeks.

Now, lets be clear here friends, my running technique is not going to be seen in any runner's mags soon,

nor did my finish times impress anyone but myself.

But...

I did it.

And I liked it.
I really did!

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, St. Louis - near 65,000 participants!

Please note that while I may have been sweating in the photo above,
not all of the moisture you see there is from my body.

It rained near the end of the race...and I ran through a sprinkler.

Have to keep my {small amount of} feminine pride in tact.

To Do Before 30 List:

#1 completed (x2)

Thanks for running with me, Alli!

You're a good sissy.

The Summer Book

2011-06-22T12:53:00.001-05:00

If you have any one recipe/lifestyle book devoted to the Summer season,

I am fully convinced it should be this one.

The Summer Book by Susan Branch

I dug this one from the bottom of my cookbook pile -ever growing, thankyouverymuch - and paged through it on this second official day of Summer.

I just wanted to jump into its pages and live the Summer through it.

Seriously.

There are pages on The Kitchen Garden - especially inspirational to me

edible flowers, how to "summerize" your home, ideas for outdoor lighting, menus, and, of course, recipes.

{Snake Bites, Spicy Orange Broccoli and Lavender Tea Cookies are interesting me in particular...}

Susan Branch has a new blog! Check it out.

I can tell you what's not interesting me this Summer...

complicated things.

Like this:

credit

Not trying to knock all of these creative bloggers' beautiful work.

But, can you say, trying too hard?

I guess in the craziness that is my life at this point, making a 19 layer cake that looks like an American flag on the inside isn't high on my to-do list.

I mean, it's cute, but I'm pretty sure I'd have some interesting colored baby diapers in my future with all of that food dye.

...that can't be good for you, can it?!

Find something that inspires you to live Summer right...and positively bathe in it.

: )

Cutting Back

2011-06-04T10:37:00.000-05:00

Hi there.

Long time - no post.

Sadly enough, I have a feeling that this new, once-a-week-posting trend may be a new normal for me.

I love to blog...

But I also love to feel sane.

{A feeling I've been having less and less lately.}

I wrote out a list of all the things I am giving my time to.

Good things, important things, life-giving things.

But...there are too many of these "things."

Raising three young children.

Nursing school.

Studying for nursing school - which is an entire different entity, believe me.

Church activities + ministries.

My relationship with my husband.

My family relationships.

My friendships.

My time spent with God.

Fitness and gaining perspective on a healthy life-style.
{I'm training for that 5k I've been wanting to do for so long.}

Keeping up with the housework.

Gardening.

Reading.

Blogging.

Cooking.

Social networking.

"Me" time.

I mean...

hello?

That's a lot of stuff.

No wonder I feel pulled in a 1,000 different directions...

I AM!

All of this to say:

I've decided to cut down on some of these things.

I've decided to say "no" more.

I've decided to make that list a whole lot shorter.

A whole lot more manageable.

I'm not likely to say, "Yep, mothering is getting crossed off that list! Now I feel truly liberated!"
No, some things are non-negotiable.

Like mothering and relationships and my home and my relationship with God.

But some things, like social networking, blogging, leisure reading, a plethora of play dates...

those are negotiable and, guess what?

I'm in a haggling sort of mood.

I'm cutting back.

I'm not cutting out entirely.

Just looking at what needs to be done and what isn't necessary.

This is a phase (isn't everything in life? precious few things are really permanent).

I'll be posting here less.

Maybe once a week, maybe more, maybe less.

I'll update on how school is going, family highlights and the occasional "gotta share it!" recipe or thought.

{I have a Recipe of the Month for June that I'm dying to get up here! You're gonna love it.}

When I started in on full-time nursing school a few months ago I had a feeling something like this would happen on the blog.

And here it is.

I'll be seeing you...just not as frequently.

Love. Kisses. Happy Summering.

: )

My Word for 2011 :: Revisited

2011-05-26T08:53:00.000-05:00

Maybe you remember this post.

My word for 2011 is Spirit.

I made a goal to read more spiritually focused books and simply train my mind on things of a more uplifting nature than my regular go-to topics.

I've been working through my reading list and wanted to give a little update.
Accountability is good for the soul...or something like that...

I read Desiring God by John Piper

Reviewed here.

A heavy but valuable read.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan is still awaiting me on my bookshelf.
I'm kind of saving it for a school break so I can really dive in.

I'm excited about it.

I finished Radical by David Platt.

Reviewed here.
Perspective shifter, for sure.

I am working my way through Spiritual Classics and learning so much.

This is such a practical book - I think every Christian should own it.

Check out my "Quoted" section at my top, right sidebar.
This book is where the quote came from.

And, I had a spot for a fifth book and asked for your input about which book to read.

I found one.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo.

My review here.

Oh my heavens, you guys (no pun intended).

This book is out of this world (again, no pun intended).

It is fantastic.

I think, even if you don't call yourself a Christian or identify with religion, you will get something out of reading this {short, easy} book.

And if you are a Christian...well...get ready for an emotional ride.

I can't really put my thoughts on this book into words, but a blog friend of mine did a beautiful job in her post about it.

And, while I'm talking about goals accomplished, check out To-Do List of 30 things I want to do before I turn 30.
{That's in 18 months!}

I have crossed off a few items and have some of them in the works.

The ones I'm working on now:

#1 - Scheduled for June! Eeeep!

#4 - See post.

#9 - Currently in Job.

#11 - I have a volunteer offering to make this dream a reality!

#15 - I am so proud of them!

#18 - Tentatively: December 2011.

#22 - This Summer!

#27 - So excited to see them in concert!

Just wanted to post a little follow-up and say "thanks" for letting me air it all on the blog and being a part of keeping me accountable.

Now I'm ready to hear a bit about your goals for the Summer and what you're reading!

The Kitchen Garden :: Reaping What I Sow & Varmints

2011-05-20T20:36:00.000-05:00

I'm giddy.

In the way only a newbie gardener at harvest-time can be.

Radishes and Lavender - grown by moi.

Muddy radishes have never made me so happy.

I got my first full batch of multi-colored radishes and a good bunch of lavender from the garden this week.

Eeeee!

(See? Giddy)

But seriously, look at how pretty these are:

That's a white radish.

Lovely.

I never used to be a radish-lover.

But they're so stinkin' fast and easy to grow and it's just really hard to dislike something so pleasingly round and glowing.

I'm enjoying the crunchy/pepper taste...pair them with a little soft butter and some fleur de sel and you'll feel trés french.

And I snipped my first salad this morning and served it up for lunch.

Mixed salad greens, arugula, baby spinach, buttercrunch lettuce.

The fruits of my labor: Joy of joys.

So, while I'm on cloud nine puttering in my garden and turning the spoils into pretty, delicious dishes in my kitchen, the varmints {that's West Virginia talk for squirrels, rabbits and the occasional robin} are having a hay day in my garden too.

And the sight of my sweet little bean bush - doing quite beautifully just two days before - eaten to a sad nub is enough to make me throw a {very disgraceful, very un-Christian} hissy fit.

Yesterday the piglets dragged me out on the deck with exclamations of "a squirrel ate two of our strawberries!"

And yes, in fact, there were two nearly ripe strawberries {still attached by their stems} half nibbled away.

That was it.

Enough.

You've gone too far, squirrel.

You can eat my beans and dig strange tunnels in my raised beds.
You can even dig up every one of my flowers every. single. night.

But mess with my babies potted strawberry plants?

Nuuuuuh.

{I just went hood on those squirrels. I live in St. Louis, I can.}

I'm about ready to poison the creeps.

{Mr. B is protesting in a strangely Save-the-Squirrels sort of way.}

So...this is my plea...if you have a solution for fearless varmints in the garden

{you guys...they are on the deck, 10 feet from my back door}
let me know!

I'd really like to avoid the poison,

but...

Bits and Pieces

2011-05-15T11:25:00.001-05:00

I got a shipment of ~~happiness~~ a few cookbooks in the mail yesterday (my late mother's day gifts).

I have a new total and utter favorite:

Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan

This book is like the {new} bible of French cooking.
(New because we all know that Mastering the Art of French Cooking is the original bible.)

This one is like a friendlier, warmer, more personal French cooking bible.

I'm all for that.

I have been reading the essays of life in Paris and the recipe descriptions like it's a novel.

Can't wait to get in the kitchen and start making some of these dishes...

In fact, I joined Dorie's cooking group (online, of course).

Because of the book above {and for a few other reasons}

I have decided that I was meant to have been born in France.

I'll find some way to forgive my mother for this oversight...

Although, I'm pretty sure she was meant to have been born in France as well.

Maybe we should be blaming Grandma for this one.

My house is a mess.

This is not a new predicament.

Since school started a few months ago things have not been the most tidy around here.

But, we had a slight (very slight, not to worry) emergency this week and I ended up calling the fire department.

The firemen found it necessary to inform me that there was too much {dirty} laundry in my basement surrounding the furnace and that it was a fire-hazard and that, also,

"You might want to clean out your oven, when it gets so dirty like that it can really be dangerous."

In quite a superior manner.

Oh...well...thank you fireman,

for coming to my poor-depraved little house-wife rescue and telling me how to clean my home.

I am forever in your debt (and forever mortified).

On to happier matters...
I said I got a few books in the mail.
Another was this one:

Chicken and Egg by Janice Cole
Such a sweet little memoir/cookbook about a woman's first year of owning hens in her urban backyard.
It has totally renewed my desire to raise my own backyard chickens
Someday I will...just as soon as I get that law changed {or get up the guts to go rogue and raise my chickens in spite of the law.} and find extra hours in the day.
Gorgeous pictures and mouthwatering recipes in this one, too.

One more book...
I know, I told you this was a problem {but you should see my Wish List!}
Will Write for Food by Dianne Jacob

Such a wealth of knowledge - I'm learning so much from this book.

Tonight the Brawny Man and I are going on a {rare and valuable} date.

He's giving me the go-ahead to pick whichever restaurant I desire because, "That's your thing."

I'm having a little anxiety about where to go...so many restaurants, so little time!

I think we may go see Water For Elephants and maybe, if my restaurant discernment is good, I'll have a new installment of Food Crush for you soon.

I am half-way through my first semester of {intense, real, not-just-the-prereqs} nursing school.

And, let me tell you, it is wonderfully interesting...

but...my Statistics class is likely to kill me.

All I ask is that there's dancing and rejoicing at my funeral.

And food. Lots of it.

Have a beautiful Sunday.

: )

My Child, The Hitter.

2011-05-15T11:18:00.000-05:00

Britt.

This baby.

I knew this baby was going to be a hand-full while he was still in utero.

In fact, I dubbed him "mean baby" the last trimester of my pregnancy because of his incessant pushing and stretching that brought me to tears more than once.

Mean Baby he was...

Mean Baby he is.

Of course, mother guilt - the ever-present companion of every mother, everywhere - tells me that by calling him Mean Baby I self-actualized his behavior.

It's all my fault.

It always is.

In church nursery last night he hit some children.

Um...let me clarify...

he hit five children.

Five of them.

Innocent little cherubs doing no harm to anyone and he hit them.

Whack! With an oversize lego right on a defenseless, little bald head.

Bam! On the face of a baby girl sweetly gumming away on a teething ring.

Whap! Pull! A hit and a hair pull combo for one lucky little lady.

Zoink! A stealthy bottle-steal right from the mouth of an unsuspecting babe.

{This post is unnervingly starting to sound like a retro Batman episode.}

I was mortified.

{I was working nursery last night and it was a one-woman job to just follow him around doing damage control. There were casualties of Mean Baby strewn about the floor, bawling, whimpering and pouting in certain degrees all night long.}

How do you discipline a 14 month old for this behavior?

How do you teach him boundaries?

How do you tell other parents that,

"Hey, that monster in there that gave your kid the knot on his noggin? Yeah, he's mine. Isn't he a doll?"

He actually is a doll...

I don't really know where I'm going with this post.

Except maybe to hear from a couple of readers something like,

"You're not alone. My kid was a bully too and turned out okay.

He even grew up to be a good-will ambassador and a genius at that!"

{Something along those lines...}

I guess I'd like to hear, "I'll be praying for you as your try to raise your hellion."

But maybe my biggest motivation for this post is in the hopes that some of the parents of Britt's nursery-mates will read it and see how truly flummoxed I am as to how to stop this behavior and that I don't run a

Baby Beat-Up Training Camp in my home on weekdays and that this is not my fault.

Have a little mercy on the overwhelmed, defeated Mama.

I'm off to dig up my copy of The Strong Willed Child...

A Slight Obsession

2011-05-09T21:03:00.000-05:00

Wanna know what I love?

Wanna know what I can't stop myself from reaching for?

A few of my current favorites.

Cookbooks.

Glossy paged, bright photo-ed, gratifyingly heavy cookbooks.

With treasures inside.

Treasures that make anyone lucky enough to be around your table close their eyes and lose themselves for just a moment in what you've created.

I especially love French cookbooks.

True to hopeless Francophile form.

And here is a new favorite:

I was a bit skeptical when I paged through this one for the first time...

I mean, really? Gwyneth Paltrow: an actress, travel guru, {kinda} singer and now...cookbook author?

But I was sold within the first few pages and somehow Gwyneth and her surprising cooking expertise ended up in my Costco cart.

Nigella holds a special place in my heart...er...bookshelf.

{not much of a distinction between the two...}

Probably because of this happy little moment.

I don't know what it is.

I just can't seem to have the strength to steer myself away from the "cooking" section whenever I find myself in a bookstore.

It's a serious compulsion here, folks.

Serious.

It doesn't stop at big, picture laden volumes.

I devour food memoirs.

With an appetite that almost measures up to my love for Chicago-style pizza and the best chocolate chip cookies ever.

It's sort of my little vice...

the cookbook thing.

But I'm not too concerned yet, I just read in Nigella Kitchen that Nigella Lawson has over 4,000 cookbooks

- or, as she says in her charming British way, "cookery books" -

4,000, you guys!

That's so many.

That's too many.

That's exorbitant.

That's...heaven.

I'm not confessing because I feel the need for reform.

I'm just reveling in my cookbook-induced glow and I wanted you to revel with me.

*happy sigh*

In other {still food-related} news:

I have my first-fruits!

The premier little pickings from my garden adventure...

3 perfect little, misshapen, bumpy, glowing radishes.

Aren't they adorable?!

My girls.

I've been keeping them in a little cup of water on my kitchen window sill.

{so the leaves stay green and pretty}

I'll bring myself to eat them sometime this week.

But there are certain circumstances - the stars must align - I must be alone and in quiet so I can bask in the sweetness of eating something so utterly mine.

Anyway...enough of my happy neurosis.

: )

I hope you've have a beautiful Monday.

On Mother's Day

2011-05-08T20:33:00.001-05:00

Today Mr. B. {and the piggies} had planned to surprise me and take me out for brunch HERE.

Something I would have supremely enjoyed.

But Beck has been down with a high-grade fever for the past two days

{Teetering on the point of taking him to the Dr. to see what is really up - my very last resort, I assure you.}

and I just had a sneaking feeling that whatever was planned for today would probably have to be cancelled.

It was. Cancelled.

And I was disappointed.

But...I'm also a mother.

And mothering is never more needed than when some little one is down and out.

So, on this mother's day, I found myself monitoring a fiery little forehead, sponge-bathing, saying: "One more sip of water...you must," measuring 2 teaspoons of syrup over and over, and pacing the floor with more than a little anxiety when he started having fever-induced hallucinations.

Today wasn't the most glorious celebration of motherhood known to man but then again, it was probably the most true-to-form.

Mothers never, ever get a day off.

Never never never.

It induced memories of my mother and her beautiful, giving, selfless style of motherhood.

The things she did for me when there were, I am sure, many other glamorous things begging for her attention.

...singing As the Deer to me to soothe me to sleep...

...lighting birthday candles in a dim room and singing, her face beaming...

...tirelessly driving me to piano lessons - every week, for nine years...

...teasing my bangs so they stood at perfect attention - I had the best bangs in the 1st grade, ask anyone...

...praying with me on her bed that day I was 8 years old, "Jesus, come into my heart..."

...catching me in my first major lie and dealing with it gracefully so that it brought me closer to God and her instead of driving me away...

...bleary-eyed and cooking breakfast for countless groups of sleepless "sleep-over" guests...

...sitting through my high school tennis matches and keeping a positive attitude - I was painfully unathletic...

...praying for me - I know she did this and her prayers must have been something like,

"Dear God, if Ashley is doing something she shouldn't right now catch her in her disobedience and make her feel like total crap for disobeying her dad and I."

Because they always did catch me and I always felt like junk when I got caught...

{maybe she didn't say, "total crap" in her prayers...}

...rubbing my back for what felt like hours while I bawled, prostrated on her bed on the night my first "real" boyfriend and I broke up; and being sweet and sympathetic about it even though she was probably doing somersaults inside because the guy was such a dummy...

...shopping with me and never wanting to go into "her" stores, it was all American Eagle all the time (except for those times it was Abercrombie and Fitch)...

...planning my entire wedding with barely a peep from the bride - I guess I was too busy living in another state and falling deeply in love with Mr. B. to bother with tiresome things like wedding plans...

Every little mundane, "I-could-be-doing-something-else-right-now" moment that she gave to me I experienced fully and needily.

That nurturance was so essential to me and I didn't even realize it - because a lot of times you don't realize you need something until you don't have it, or until maturity hits you and you can see clearly what made such a difference in your life.

All of these small things taught me how to be a mother.

Little did I know I was in motherhood training through it all.

I only hope and pray that I can take these every-day lessons and be some semblance of the mother she was to me.

My mom with a tiny little Evie-piggy.

Marmee, I love you.

Happy Mother's Day.

Mine Too.

2011-05-07T10:53:00.001-05:00

So I keep on posting links to my sisters blog for you to read.

So what.

Sue me.

Read THIS post of hers.

Because what is hers in this post is also mine.

And she wrote it so beautifully and perfectly and got the essence of grandma's house so right.

I wish I were there...

I love my sister.

Recipe of the Month: Crostini Any Way You Like It & the Giveaway Winner

2011-05-06T14:24:00.001-05:00

May's recipe du jour is Crostini.

Not a specific type, just any way you like it.

Here's how it's done:

{so easy it's almost shameful to have as a "recipe," but you'll love me for it.}

Any sort of baguette or crusty bread will do - it's a very nice way to use up day old bread that just isn't quite what it used to be.

In fact, you might find yourself buying lovely loaves of bread and "accidentally" letting them go a bit stale just so you can have the happy occasion to make crostini.

Crostini:

Slice the bread into 1-inch thick slices.

Place on a baking sheet or stone in a single layer.

Drizzle or brush with olive oil {be generous, my darlings}.

Broil until just golden.

Flip and broil the other side until golden.

Top with cheese of your choice and a chutney or vegetable topping.

Voila!

Crostini!

You can use whatever cheese/chutney combination you desire.

If it's a flavor you like, it will work.

But here are some of my personal favorites...

pictured above is the combo:

gruyere

lingonberry preserves

for an Italian flare:

fresh mozarella

tomatoes and basil
or
bruschetta
{rub some raw garlic on the warm crostini just after it emerges from the oven}

the one I served on New Year's Eve {and my personal favorite}:

gouda

cranberry ginger chutney
recipe HERE

I've found that the combination of slightly pungent cheese and sweet/tart jams, compotes or chutneys gives the best taste.

Really, try combining whatever you find in your fridge.

You might be quite surprised!

This is such a quick, easy throw-together snack {or lunch} and you get a huge return on your efforts.

They're pretty and I don't think there's much else in this great big world of ours that tastes quite as good.

Seriously.

If you aren't already, you'll be a crostini-holic soon after you make these babies.

* * *

And now...for the giveaway winner.

I'm so glad I gave a bit extra time for entries - we had a few stragglers enter yesterday.

{I use the word "straggler" in the most endearing way, I assure you.}

But, the winner of the 3 Silly Monkey's Animal Pillow is....

....

...

....

hehe...

.....

....

Lindsey Book

blog here.

Which I am so happy about because she is about to have her first boy - in a home full of girlie girls

{plus her husband...can't forget about him}

and she could use a good start to her "boy things" collection.

So, Linds, I know how to get in contact with you.

You'll be hearing from me soon!

A little reminder:

Just because you didn't win the giveaway doesn't mean you can't have a little something from

3 Silly Monkeys.

Check out the etsy site; Cynthia has great prices on her products.

and they're all handmade and great quality.

Thank you all for entering.

Happy Weekend!

*winner was chosen at random by random.org.*

Giveaway :: Expired

2011-05-05T10:53:00.003-05:00

Remember THIS little giveaway?

Today was supposed to be the day I chose a winner and announced on the blog.

Beetle pillow from 3 Silly Monkeys

I'm not going to do that today.

I'm extending the giveaway.

Just for one day.

So, if you click HERE and get all the details and enter by commenting on that post...

You still have a chance to win!

And if you win, you might make your little one this happy:

And it's really cute when they're this happy.

: )

I will {really, I promise} announce the winner tomorrow.

ENTER the giveaway HERE.

**GIVEAWAY EXPIRED**

Making Me Happy

2011-05-03T08:33:00.001-05:00

There has been an influx of seriousness lately...

tornado devastation {here, there and everywhere}

finals at school

friends in crisis

the killing of an international enemy

...

the list {unfortunately} goes on.

But there are things, little ones, that have been making me exceedingly happy lately too.

I want to share them with you.

THIS POST{and THIS one} on vertical gardening @ Poppytalk.

Something I am attempting to create in my backyard.

Our viewing party of the Royal Wedding on Friday afternoon {DVR is a beautiful thing}.

Miss Evie was smitten with the idea of a commoner becoming princess in a matter of a few minutes and a gorgeous wedding ceremony.

I told Evie to find a hat and outfit for our viewing party. She came bedecked in a giant rosette and tutu.
That's my girl.
She looked better than Beatrice, I can tell you that much.

Speaking of hats.

A baby in a plaid sun hat.

No explanation needed...

My little sister's latest, pretty pretty, blog post.

HERE

Easter candies.

If these colors don't make you happy, nothing will.

Trader Joe's yogurt covered raisins and chocolate covered sunflower seeds.

My new, gauzy, flowy, summer-y dress from HERE.

Best store around.

My week-long break from school.

Thus, the opportunity to finish some books and review them.

They were both so good:

The School of Essential Ingredients

Room

My spring lamb cake pan.

That I still can't get a cake to come out of without sticking...

must practice.

THESE read-the-Bible-in-one-year plans I found.

I'm doing the chronological one.

Solo breakfasts of chocolate croissant, strawberries and coffee.

This only happens once a week, friends.

Pinterest.

Oh...this site is addictive.

I've been pinning like a crazy person since last night.

{For the record, I do not have time for this.}

Source: davidlebovitz.com via Ashley on Pinterest

If you "pin" find me {starcrossedb} and I'll follow you too!

Or, if you don't have a pinterest account, I can email you an invite.

It's exclusive like that.

: )
Thanks, Andrea for my invite!

So glad to find the little things in life that put a smile on my face...

because it sure seems like the big ones are meant to keep me frowning.

What's turning your frown upside down lately?

A Giveaway for the Little Ones

2011-04-28T10:07:00.004-05:00

I'm so excited to bring this giveaway to you!

My friend Cynthia is one of my very favorite people.

Real, caring, stinkin' funny and crafty.

She makes children's goods

- pillows, plush balls, pacifier clips, bibs -

and sells them on her {new} etsy.com shop:

3 Silly Monkeys

Named so in honor of her three children whom, I can attest, are three very silly {and cute} monkeys indeed.

: )

Cynthia's in that giving Spring spirit I was talking about earlier and would love to send one lucky winner a handmade 14x14 animal pillow.

These little guys are too cute and a really nice alternative to those huge pillow pets that take up half the bed when they're unfurled.

They come in seven different animal styles:

Bee, Elephant, Dog, Beetle, Frog, Bunny and Lady Bug.

If you win you will get your choice of animal pillow (a $12 value) sent to your door.

And, by consequence, a very happy little person in your life.

: )

Here's how to enter:

1) Comment on this post after you've visited 3 Silly Monkeys telling me which pillow or product you like best.
{Required for one entry.}

2) Go to the 3 Silly Monkeys facebook page and "like" it.

{One additional entry.}

3) Become a follower of She's Star-Crossed.
{One additional entry.}

4) Post about this giveaway (with a link to this post) on facebook, twitter or your own blog.
{One additional entry for each posting.}

If you do any or all of these things be sure to come back here and comment letting me know - or else I may not know about it and give you sufficient entries.

That would be a travesty.

This giveaway runs from now until Thursday, May 5th.

That gives you one full week to get busy and rack up your entries.

Even if you don't have children, these are a great gift!

**GIVEAWAY EXPIRED**

Another great giveaway is happening over at So Loved.
Win a pretty little name plate necklace.
Have the names of someone you love engraved on a lovely piece of jewelry to wear about your neck.
Check it out here:

My Auntie Em Moment

2011-04-26T11:54:00.001-05:00

Good Friday was...well...memorable.

And not very good.

A tornado {later we found out it was massive, an EF 4} raged through our neighborhood around 8:15 pm.

We were taking cover in the basement when the steady chugging of a {very near} train passed over head.

It couldn't have lasted more than 60 seconds and this is the devastation it left on our street and the surrounding ones:

{two houses down}

{one block away}

{next door neighbor's back yard}

{one block away}

{neighbors}

{a few blocks away}

When the train stopped chugging there was the sound of stillness.

{And my sweet piggies crying in fear.}

And then screaming...from outside.

We knew then that it was bad.

Trees on homes.

Roofs blown away.

Debris. Everywhere.

But everyone was safe.

If a bit shook up.

As we surveyed the damage one thing became glaringly clear.

Everyone on our street was hit hard.

Except us.

Our home had some shingles torn away and two apple trees uprooted from the back yard,

{I'll mourn for them later...around September.}

but there was nothing near the devastation our neighbors and surrounding neighborhoods faced.

The oak tree in our front yard is massive.

Just as big as the surrounding ones that were pulled from the ground and thrown about.

It is still rooted firmly in our front yard. It would have crushed our home, and us inside.

Potted plants, the kiddie pool and my sweet little garden in the back yard were untouched.

Everything in its place.

And all around us was chaos.

{my peaceful back yard. everything is in its place.}

I don't know why, but God's plan for us did not include a tornado catastrophe.

We are so, so thankful to have our home in wonderful condition and our family safe.

Our street was hit hard by the tornado but the storm picked up momentum after it passed us.

Neighborhoods just over the hill were pummeled.

Please pray for them and our community as we clean up and try to resume life as normal.

Here are a couple of other photos I found googling the storm:

{bus on the roof of St. Louis Intl airport}

{a nearby neighborhood}

The rumblings of tree grinders and chainsaws reverberate through our walls and the cleanup efforts reach a fever-pitch.

Fire trucks rumble by and ambulances blare their sirens.

Neighbors wander, wondering when a roof will be back over their heads.

And inside my heart it is quiet.

There is a stillness there and a confidence that no matter how raging the storm is, I am held in the palm of His strong hand.

One Year

2011-04-25T19:37:00.000-05:00

Last year it was like this...

This year it's like this...

What a difference a year makes.

Feeling especially blessed this Easter.

Our neighborhood was hit very hard by the tornadoes on Good Friday.

We are shell-shocked looking around at the damage and praising God that we are all safe and healthy.

Post to come...

I've Got the Fever...

2011-04-22T16:05:00.002-05:00

Hello, my pretties.

I've got the fever...

Spring fever, that is.

And giveaway fever.

And dream-big fever.

{I especially like the dream-big fever. Makes me feel all buzzy and alive.}

Remember THIS gorgeous post?

With the birdie's nests and the tulips and the new ideas?

I'm not the only one with Spring fever.

My friend Ashley has got a raging case too.

She's serious about it.

She's giving stuff away because of it.

So...in honor of Spring and new ideas and cookbook collaborations

{seriously?! seriously.}

head over to Ashley Miller Photography's facebook page and "like" it.

That will enter you into a drawing to win an Organic Bloom 5x7 photo frame in your color choice.

The giveaway runs from now until the end of May when a winner will be chosen randomly and announced via facebook.

HERE is her blog post about it.

Ohmygosh, they're cute.

Cute cute cute.

You want one.

: )

Also...

I've got a giveaway coming right after Easter.

Perfect goodies for the wee ones in your life.

And...

scroll back up and check out that peacock feather mini-calendar in the photo.

Isn't that the best little thing?

My friend Jen from Blackberry Graphics does those and other sweet paper goods.

I'd love to do a giveaway with her in the future...so if you love her work, give me a comment and maybe she'll be convinced to do a giveaway with me.

{I really hope she's caught the fever.}

A "Little House" Life

2011-04-21T11:41:00.000-05:00

Things have been quiet on this blog lately.

Only five posts in this month of April - small doings compared to my usual 20+ posts a month.

I'm busy as a little birdie finishing up a semester of school {finals due today!} and planting the kitchen garden and trying to keep up with all of the things life with the three little piggies brings.

And dreaming...I've been dreaming a lot.

Asking questions.

Praying and bringing ideas to God.

{Ideas are useless until they've been brought to Him, I've found.}

I'm afraid this post is going to be a thoughtful one.

So, if you're into the pictures and the funny/sweet anecdotes and not much else, you may want to skip to the next blog on your list...

I've been asking myself "why" a lot - which always leads me to asking God, "why" a lot.

Why do I have the abilities and interests I do?

Why am I going back to school?

Why do I want to be a nurse?

Why am I raising my children to know the goodness of God?

Why?

About all of it.

I've gotten some answers...thankfully.

I'm not going to presume I know all of the ins and outs and how things will turn out and what God wants to do with it all.

I don't know...and I'm glad. Because, after all, if I were able to figure out every nuance of how God is directing my life, if I knew everything there is to know about the way He works, He wouldn't be very mysterious would he?

If I knew just how He was going to do things, He would be a whole lot like me {scary thought!} and He wouldn't be too worth worshipping.

So, although I wonder and wish {and, periodically freak out} I'm glad I don't know exactly what He's doing.

There is comfort in that, oddly.

I don't know to a T...but I've gotten some beautiful direction in the past few weeks.

Just enough to keep me going...to keep me excited and focused.

I have always wanted to give my children a Little House on the Prairie type of childhood.

You know, the kind where Ma is always at home and ready to give, and she's baking bread every Thursday and hanging clothes out on the line every Saturday.

Pa is out, making the living and then he's home and telling stories by the fire in between songs on the fiddle.

Mr. B. doesn't play fiddle...so that's out.

But you know what I mean.

Little House on the Prairie; where things are routine and comfy and sometimes there's a great big snowstorm that keeps you cooped up for weeks but things pretty much run smooth.

And it feels good.

Like home.

But why?

{Told you I was asking that a lot.}

Why do my children need Little House on the Prairie?

Will it strengthen their character?

Will it teach them to serve?

Will they grow closer to God?

Maybe. Possibly.

But have we been called to a Laura Ingalls life?

Not really.

Here's what I've been called to:

{And you too, if you call yourself a follower of Christ.}

"Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.

Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys."

luke 12:32

"...He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound...

to comfort all who mourn..."
isaiah 61:1,2

Those are big words.

Revolutionizing words.

Especially when comfort and a sweet home life and steadiness has been your aim.

There's nothing "Little House" about that.

But lately, comfort and home have been much less comfortable and home-like to me.

I've been squirmy and less confident in my own skin, so-to-speak.

I've seen the hurt and need in the world and I've looked at my own life and said...

"This isn't what its all about.

I have something to give...I can help them...

and I'm not."

I just finished this book {admittedly, it is probably the catalyst for many of these thoughts I've been having} and this portion struck me.

Hard.

"...orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes."

-Radical by David Platt

Which is so true.

Since I held those doe-eyed, glossy-haired orphans in China; so full of need, I have not been able to shake them.

{That was almost 10 years ago.}

If I am called...ordered to go and bind up the brokenhearted what am I doing here?

Hunkered in my little house on the Midwestern prairie with my sweet babies and a man that loves me?

Why aren't we using our resources to go, as a family, and do what God has told us to do?

Those were my questions...big ones, right?

Here's the conclusion that I've come to:

Everything that I'm doing, right now, and in the future, is done with this end in mind:

To serve other people and glorify God.

My schooling & a nursing career are the bottom rungs on this ladder that I'm climbing to get me to the place where I can go

{into the world, you guys, not just next door...into the world}

and pour myself out for other people.

The end goal here is not to be a nurse and have a fabulous job outside of my home and give my family good things.

No - it's so far from that.

I have to do this to give us the opportunity to be mobile.

So someday we can sell our things and roam the earth and find people that are in need {physically, but even more so spiritually} and help meet their needs.

It's a life of sacrifice.

But is it really?

Wont my children learn so much more about God and life and love if they're out serving with Ma & Pa than if they're cuddled up under hand-stitched quilts by the fire?

Isn't a life of giving and service so much more meaningful than a bedroom full of Zhu Zhu hamsters and iPods?

I say, "Yes."

A resounding, "Yes."

We're not going to pick up and leave the US in the next month.

{Although that would be wild fun...}

Probably not even the next few years.

We've got some hard work to put in before we can be free enough to make a big move.

But, while we work and wait, I am going to be conscious of the small things I can do to bind up the brokenhearted and serve the poor where I am.

And you can be darn sure I'm going to be planning and dreaming and preparing for a major life-shift in the next five to ten years.

Goodness.

It felt good to get that out.

I've been mulling it over so much lately that putting it "out there" is freeing, somehow.

I hope you have a beautiful Easter weekend.

{If you make some bird's nests it is sure to be a sweet one.}

: )

The Kitchen Garden :: Planting and Labeling

2011-04-18T14:43:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the day.

Sunny.

Breezy.

Spring-y.

Garden-y.

These spindly little dears were on their way to their forever home:

Is it normal for seedlings to be this skinny?

Is this what they call "leggy?"

They definitely weren't hardy and robust...

I think they didn't get enough good light in my front window.

Next year calls for grow lights.

This year calls for a little extra prayer.

: )

A couple of weeks ago we added topsoil to our empty beds.

Side note: Gardening is much more enjoyable when you've got a "helper" with arms like that.

Delish.

A couple of weeks ago I planted some rainbow mixes of carrots and radish (radishes? raddi?).

And the radishes have started poking their adorable little heads up.

I was at a bit of a loss on how to handle labeling my plants.

I wanted to get something like this:

gardenersedge.com

But never got around to finding them.

I heard there were some cute ones at the Target Dollar Spot.

Totally missed out on that...

But I have a huge bowl of little sea shells that we gathered on one of our trips to South Carolina.

The kids love playing with a big bunch of shells...something about the sheer quantity.

So I snatched a few and whipped out my Sharpie {by the way, I think I have a Sharpie addiction} and went to town.

I am aware that this would be a lot more appropriate for a coastal garden...and I'm landlocked in the Midwest.

Yeah, that bugs me.

But its cute, and it works.

I'd still like to get a good deal on some metal stakes though.

My plants are small and I'm just hoping they like their garden home more than their little starter pots.

My Amish Snap Peas are cute though.

Look at their little curls...

And the flourishing lilac is one of my favorite spring miracles.

More on Operation Green Thumb as we get further into the season.

How I hope I have flourishing garden pics to share with you!

Eggs in a Nest

2011-04-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

Spring has gloriously, unashamedly, intoxicatingly sprung.

I'm basking.

I'm also baking.

{alarmingly close concepts in my life.}

Here's what we've been up to:

The piglets and I invited over some little piglet friends and had a nest making party.

Since when do little piggies make nests?

In the spring, of course!

Spring is magic.

Anything can happen in spring.

These Spring Nests - edible, dangerously so - are a spring necessity.

Mama used to make them with me.

{She still makes them from time to time even with no little bodies in her house.}

And now I must make them with my little ones.

My spring piggies.

Here's how they're done:

Easy...

but messy.

And cute...

but much too edible and addictive.

Now...stop a minute.

Did you get a load of those photos??

Did you?!

{I'm freaking out...it's spring, I can.}

They are lovely.

Wanna know why?

I didn't take them.

That's why.

My friend, Ashley, did.

With her magic camera and her mad photography skills.

Ashley is a very talented lady and one of my dearest friends.

She is a photographer and a sweet Mommy and a giver and a teacher and a smarty-pants and a God-lover and beautiful and actually really down-to-earth in light of all those attributes.

She does wedding, engagement and other fabulous photography.

And she is good at that. Really good.

But...I'm trying my darnedest to turn her into a food photographer too...

: )

Because I love food.

Food looks better in pictures than I do...maybe that's why.

But she's doing nicely with the food, no?

Wouldn't it be fun if, one day, one very fine day, we got together and did something like what you see above and tried to...(gasp!) print it and (double gasp!!!) sell it?

Wouldn't it?

I don't know.

Just wishful thinking.

Just wondering and dreaming and thinking bigger than I've ever thought before.

It's crazy.

But it's spring, so that's why.

Before you leave this blog {shaking your head all the while at Star-Crossed and her craziness}, please stop by Ashley's website and her blog to ogle...er, I mean appreciate her art.

20 in 10 :: Week Six

2011-04-10T08:25:00.000-05:00

Unhappily reporting a weight-gain this week.

Two pounds up...that's the wrong direction.

Tragically wrong.

I would love to be able to claim total ignorance on why this has happened.

"This is a fluke!"

"I did everything I should have this week."

"I've hit an inexplicable plateau."

But...no.

Nope.

I know why I gained weight.

Last week was craziness on wheels.

{Helpful hint: tacking the words "on wheels" to the end of your sentence always makes it more malevolent. This is good for those moments you need a little drama.}

: )

But really...

I was so busy.

Midterms are coming up, I'm working on garden stuff and my babies...well...they're babies and they need me.

So workouts and the extra efforts to eat healthily flew out the window -

which is constantly open now since Spring has arrived!

Thus, the gain.

Dang.

I have a plan in place for this week.

I'm going to start training for the race I'm going to run this summer and I'm going to be taking a serious look at priorities and cutting some un-needed "necessities" out so I have more time to devote to things that really matter.

20 in 10 :: Week Five and a Valuable Tip for the Mamas

2011-04-02T11:11:00.000-05:00

A quick check-in on this busy Saturday...

{Today is dirt day for the garden!}

I'm down two more pounds from last week.

Back on track and loving it.

That puts me at a seven pound weight-loss halfway through my little program.

Ideally I'd be at 10 pounds at this point...but I'll take what I can get.

I'm going to try to catch up this week and still keep a healthy milk supply for Babes.

Speaking of milk supply...

I've had a lot of friends ask how I'm keeping the supply up while losing weight.

The answer is:

Oatmeal.

While trying to lose weight I eat oatmeal every morning.

It takes a measly milk supply and makes it buxom (no pun intended) and keeps a good supply going.

I swear by it.

I've never heard someone say that it didn't work for them.

So, if nursing a baby is your concern while working out and dieting, eat your oats...I think you'll see a difference.

{and it works rapidly. I see a change within two days when I start on the oatmeal.}

Another tip:

Don't make my Banana Bread for Grown-Ups if you're trying to lose the pesky pounds.

Just because there are bananas in it doesn't make it healthy.

{That's a lie I'm quite familiar with...}

Save that for after you've slimmed down.

But please, some day, make it!

Don't forget to post a question for the trainer.

He'll be on to do a guest-post in the next couple of weeks.

Happy Weekend!

Banana Bread for Grown-Ups - Recipe of the Month

2011-04-01T13:57:00.001-05:00

I love banana bread.

I've been looking for that perfect recipe for quite awhile.

I tried the full-o-fat route, the honey-as-sweetener route, the flax meal and whole wheat flour route.

No, no and no.

While I was reading Molly Wizenberg's {perfect} book, I came across her favorite banana bread recipe.

And it was intriguing.

So much so that I dropped the book and checked the cupboards.

Delighted to find that I had all ingredients on hand

(sort of a miracle since I don't keep candied ginger in my house ordinarily)

I threw it together and promptly fell in love with this bread.

In. Love.

Amore.

Amour.

Lieb.
(that's Yiddish)

: )

I call it Banana Bread for Grown-Ups, but really, feed it to your kids.
They'll adore it.
Mine do.

Or...you can tell them that Star-Crossed said it was only for grown-ups and they're not allowed to have any.

While you're at it, tell your husband that Star-Crossed said it's Banana Bread for Moms and he's to stay away too.

The ginger and chocolate in here take banana bread up a notch...or three.

It's divine.

(I get candied ginger from Trader Joe's.)

{oh, glory. look at that chocolate in there and the chunks of ginger. beautiful.}

Banana Bread for Grown-Ups
{with chocolate chips and ginger}

adapted from the book: A Homemade Life and the blog: Orangette

1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, at room temperature
2 ripe medium-size bananas
3 Tbs milk
2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips
Small chunks of candied ginger, to taste (I use about 3 tablespoons)
½ cup chopped walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray, and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar, egg, and butter.
In a separate bowl, mash bananas; then mix with milk.
In another separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in three parts, alternating with banana-milk mixture in two parts, stirring by hand until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips, ginger, and optional nuts.
Turn batter into loaf pan, smoothing top with the back of a spoon, and bake for one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for a few minutes; then remove bread from pan and cool on a wire rack.

As always, if you end up making this recipe let me know how it turned out and if you love it as much as I do.

Past recipes of the month:

Creamy Sweet Potato and Rosemary Soup

Rosemary and Strawberry Scones

Spinach Salad and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Pecan Squares

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Corn Chowder

Click HERE for a comprehensive list of the recipes I've shared on this blog.

My review of A Homemade Life.

I know I haven't posted my 20 in 10 weigh-in today.

If you can believe it, I forgot to weigh in this morning.

And you can bet your boots I stay away from my scale after breakfast.

I'll share the goods tomorrow.

30 Things To-Do Before I'm 30.

2011-03-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

I was reading this post on Joy the Baker
{cute, cute, cute blog, by the way!}

and it got me thinking.

I'll be 30 in a little over a year and a half.

There's some stuff I wanna do before then.

Not that life is over once you're 30 or anything...

I've actually heard it only gets better.

But I'm a sucker for a deadline...30-years-old is a good one.

Here is my To-Do List of 30 things to do before I'm 30:

1. Run in an organized race.

2. Go on another international trip.

3. Witness the birth of a baby - live!

4. Grow a successful organic garden.

5. Surprise my Brawny Man - like really surprise him - just once.

6. Bake my own pie crust from scratch.

7. Reach my goal weight.

8. Go completely gluten and dairy-free for at least one month.

9. Read through the entire Bible. Cover to cover.

10. Make a 100% organic meal.

11. Record a song.

12. Go on a one-month media fast.

13. See another Broadway show.

14. Spend a weekend in Chicago.

15. Teach my big piggies how to read.

16. Have a really fabulous tulip and spring bulb garden.

17. Get my eyebrows professionally waxed and stay committed to maintenance.

18. Take my babies to the ocean again.

19. Find the perfect waffle recipe.

20. Buy someone the perfect, unexpected gift.

21. Take myself on a weekend-long, solo spiritual retreat.

22. Get beautiful family photographs done.

23. Take Miss Evie to the American Girl store in Chicago.

24. Rent a bike and ride the Katy Trail.

25. Get an A in math. :)

26. Pay for someones coffee behind me at the Starbucks drive-thru.

27. Go to a concert.

28. Get my charm bracelet up to date.

Deadline: November 30, 2012
(also my golden birthday)

...For the life of me I cannot come up with 29 and 30 at the moment.

But I will.

And I'll add them to the master list HERE.

{the link will be in my tabs at the top of the blog.}

I'll keep the list updated and hopefully blog about my experiences knocking out my

To-Do Before I'm 30 list.

Do you have a to-do list?
What's on it?

Teaser

2011-03-28T21:50:00.000-05:00

My recipe of the month for April is a good one.

So, so good.

Patience, my dearies.

Music Monday :: The Civil Wars

2011-03-28T10:29:00.002-05:00

I have a new favorite musical love.

Thanks to my little sister.

That sister of mine...what would I be without her?

Not nearly as cool, that's for sure.

I wouldn't know about the best place to get pizza in St. Louis (it's Pi, if you're wondering), or know how to pronounce Nutella (noo-tella) correctly or know about Toms shoes or clothes made from hemp.

But...back to the music.

If it weren't for Alli I wouldn't know about The Civil Wars.

They're folksy and perfect.

The harmonies are so tight and fluid it's likely to make you shiver.

The music is minimalist and just what they need to make the lyrics and vocals shine.

And...look at them.

She's all Anthropologie and he's deliciously Johnny Depp.

Can't get enough of them.

If you're a Grey's Anatomy watcher you may have heard their most well-known song, Poison & Wine.

It's a song that digs down deep and pulls.

Just enough to break your heart. Just a little.

In the nicest way possible.

If you're married and you've been through some hard times

(anyone who has been married over 5 years knows what I'm talkin' about...)

this song will speak.

You might have tears...

I did.

Here's what they said about Poison & Wine:

"That song probably does sum us up—The Civil Wars, the name of the band—as well as any song that we've written," White says. It's the one song on the album written with an outside collaborator, their friend Chris Lindsey. "We're all married, and we were all talking about the good, the bad and the ugly, and just felt like: What would you say to someone if you were actually brutally honest—the things that you could never say because it would turn them away or let the cat out of the bag or reveal yourself to be weaker? What would you actually say if you had this invisible curtain around you and could just scream it in somebody's face and they'd actually never hear it? We were all being very painfully honest, because we're all very comfortable around each other and know that things like that never leave the room, except in a song. I'm pretty proud of that song, to be honest."

-Taken from official website

You need to know what I'm talking about.

Here's the video:

And no, they're not married.

But I like to pretend they are.

Motivation from Shakespeare

2011-03-27T12:52:00.001-05:00

Our bodies are our gardens,

to which our wills are gardeners.

-William Shakespeare

20 in 10 :: Week Four

2011-03-25T19:01:00.000-05:00

Well...

20 in 10.

Hum.

The aim was to loose 2 lbs a week.

Last week we were travelling so I didn't weigh in.

This week I weighed in 1 lb lower than my last weigh in two weeks ago.

Got that?

Math's not my strong point but that doesn't quite add up even to me.

I'd better not keep this pace or my challenge will be more like

20 in never.

Let's focus on the positive, shall we?

In four weeks I've lost five pounds.

I'm still on track, I can make up my "lost" time.

A few have been asking what my tactics are for this weight loss.

No fancy little pills or injections or silly diets.

It's really revolutionary...

get this.

Exercise.

Diet control.

Health.

I know, right?

Crazy.

And yeah, things are going more slowly for me than if I had a magic serum that made me lose 40 pounds in one month (it's out there!) but I have comfort knowing I'm doing this in a healthy, sustainable way.

Though it may be slower.

Here's what I like for workouts:

Zumba

It's not a pretty workout when I go at it - not a drop of Latin blood flowing through these veins.

But its a fun, effective one.

(My aunt told me I was too Swedish for Zumba. Ha!)

I do it at home in the comfort of my own living room.

I have an irrational (or not-so-irrational) fear of group exercise classes.

Jillian Michaels

She kicks my buns.

And I like it.

Pilates and Yoga

Tried and true workouts that make me feel relaxed and lean.

Soon I'll start running - this weather is killing me - and training for a 5k that I'd like to run this summer.

I like doing my workouts at home with free weights and the tools I have.

Gyms are so dirty and grimy, I just can't feel comfortable in a gym environment.

Ironic, considering how Brawny Man makes his living.

Nutrition:

I've been trying to stay middle-of-the road with my diet changes.

Britt is still a nursing dude and I'd like to keep it that way.

If I change my diet too much I know I dry right up so I've toned it down in the junk food dept. but haven't been completely angelic.

Once I'm ready to wean the little Mr. I'll hit the guidelines given in this book.

I love this book.

I don't see it as a fad diet, if you read it you'll realize it's more of a lifestyle change and theory of the way your blood type (A, AB, B or O) effects how food works with your body.

I followed the guidelines for a short time (read: 1 week) about 6 months ago and had such good results.

I adored it.

But my milk started drying up (sorry, boys) because of the weight loss and I had to put it on the back shelf.

Basically, for my blood type (O) it is a gluten and dairy free diet with a big emphasis on red meats, seafood and veggies.

I felt light and glowy and fab while I followed it.

Excited to go back on it.

So that's it!

The run-down.

If you're following along with me and you're on your own weight-loss journey, please comment with your weight-loss (or gain...it's okay!).

I still want to feature a few of the top-losers and your weight-loss strategies to inspire all of us.

Also...

My husband is a personal trainer.

{How's that for pressure?}

Did you know this?

He has been for ten years.

He's really good.

He also is very patient when it comes to fielding weight-loss and fitness questions.

So...this is where you get to ask him whatever you want.

I'll take questions for the next couple of weeks in the comments section and in about two weeks I'll have him do a guest post - Brawny Man's first blog post! So cute! - answering the best questions.

Fun?

Yes!

Now I'm off to try my best to catch up to the two-pounds-a-week goal I set out for myself.
Let's hope for a three pound loss next Friday.