lowercase letters

the Light

2012-02-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

this just in: life is hard. i know it, but i forget. smooth sailing often brings memory loss. the idea that you've faired your share of hardships kind of makes you feel immune to future trouble, in a way.

when the dark grey clouds loom the horizon, it's always harder to see the sun. but is it, really? does not the dark make the light seem that much brighter?

there's a queen of iowa, it's true. you probably have yet to hear of her, but she exists and there is even a song for her:

the queen was raped, contracted aids because of it, now has brain and lung cancer along with a whole host of other diseases that should have killed her by now. she's frail, in desperate pain, yet in her darkness, she has The Light. (more on the story here).

then there's me. compared to the queen, i'm just a commoner, a girl. a girl who learned that pain is real when my parents signed on the dotted line to end what they had already signed up for. a girl, who held my daddy's hand as i quietly said goodbye minutes before he succumbed to cancer. a girl, the one that married a widower and compared myself day after day. a girl who still has a lot to learn. just when i think i know, i don't. when i think i am firm in my footings, my feet get clumsy. i need the Light always.

this lesson is lifelong, i'm certain. i may think i've learned and grown and have unmovable faith. until things seem dark and blurry and i realize there is still more to grasp and understand.

this week, my sister-in-law learned that their baby - she is in her second trimester - has a 50-50 chance of survival at best, due to a very rare growth along it's neck. my sister-in-law lost a baby last year already. the wound is fresh. we have faith and are believing in a miracle. this storm cloud setting in seems really dark and heavy. at the same time, i can't help but think this is going to make the Son shine all the more brightly in our eyes. because like the queen, we have The Light and it pierces the darkness.

no matter how dark the dark may be, the Light will always be brighter.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”- John 8:12 ESV

the life and times of carissa.

2012-02-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

in case you wondered, this is what i wore for valentine's day. i thought about getting all dolled up, but my honey really prefers me without makeup and in jeans/t-shirt type of attire. he doesn't have to tell me twice; i went low-key for him. plus, a hoodie with CALI LOVE for this california girl? a must for Valentine's day.

i set out on the midnight train to georgia or nowhere or something like that when i officially signed up for twitter late last night. really my husband did it for me. he said it is better than facebook? i half believed him. and in the same day i downloaded instagram. seriously, was it my last day to live or something? because between blogging, facebook, pinterest, twitter, and instagram it could be entirely possible to only do social media for a living without getting paid. it's a crazy new and fast world, that twitter is. i'm trying to catch up. find me so i can find you:

@carissa_graham

on to slightly more meaningful things. it's kinda funny watching Valentine's day play out on facebook. people show pictures of what their significant other's gifted them for the day, hoping to outdo their friends. well, sorry gals, but my honey outdid them all. he bought me an individual serving size package of Cadbury eggs. yes, that's Easter candy for Valentine's day. i could not have asked for anything better. and yes, this is totally undoing my no sugar february. maybe i'll just try again in march?

i'll admit, i'm not a hopeless romantic, but once in a while i can get sentimental. yesterday, with love in the air, i got the dreamy(?) idea of going through my old photo boxes. the kind that hold your entire life's memories - the good, the bad, the sweet, the sad, all of it. instead of crying my way through the photos while seeing my nine year old self in the last pictures i'd ever take with my dad, i actually got tickled while looking at my ever changing figure and hair.

my hair has been a sight to behold from the very beginning.

this goes out to all my real-life friends who don't believe me when i tell them i was chunky:

at least i was tan? this was the haircut that led to the school photographer calling me a boy. i'm still trying to recover. this is THE reason Sage will always have long hair... she'll thank me later.

at least i was tan, again? this seemed so cool at the time.

#1 reason why i will never get bangs ever or wear Roxy sweater shirts:

somehow, my hair survived it all and turned out okay. i'm just glad it ended up curly (contrary to the picture on the very top... once in a while i go for smooth) and i hardly have to fix it. because, i'm telling you, it's a beast that is hard to tame.

the moral of this story: be glad you are an adult and have the cognitive awareness to make good hair choices.

ps. even though i am an adult, i'm still waiting for my acne to go away. i'm banking on my grandma's promise that oily skin just means less wrinkles. let's hope she's right. if you get zits like me, what kind of face wash do you use? tell me as long as it doesn't cost 25 dollars. my pores along with my pocketbook thank you.

miscellany monday

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

write your randoms, grab the button, and join in below.
there were some problems this morning with the link-up. but it is finally working!

1. some grammy observations:

a) adele is the best. classy, amazing talent, and performs like a dignified star.

b) katy perry is weird.

c) lady gaga is weirder.

d) deadmouse is out of this planet weirder than weird.

2. our weekend was pretty normal. we were in a commercial, that's all. which meant a free boat ride and free food. let's just say it's fun having friends in high places.

3. hunter clearly could not get enough of the boat. he was on overdrive and exceptionally energetic.

4. sage was terrified of the camera men but did pretty well considering her obsessive compulsive i need my mother at all times personality. but look at her poor hair. we lost her hair bow in the midst of it all, plus it was dewy and overcast which are less than perfect conditions for girls and their hair do's.

5. let's hope we look better on the commercial than we do here. this is hilarious. there is not one redeeming expression to be found:

6. after a recommendation from my awesome friend, i splurged on a $6 knee brace and it bought me a whole lot of good. i can run without feeling like i'm going to be paralyzed. cue the hallelujah chorus.

7. this is what happens when my mom buys me a new shirt (she bought it at the LOFT outlet - i think it was around $15... she picked it out and everything. you did good, mama!) and being thrilled over it, i ask my sister to take my picture. what do i get? ridiculousness.

8. tomorrow is Valentine's day. my kids are cute. the two and two go hand in hand:

9. that "BE MINE" canvas? a $2.50 white canvas spray painted with chalkboard paint. they may end up all over my house.

10. i was suppose to be avoiding sugar this month. well i have cheated a few times. when you run a lot it's hard to avoid things since you know you're burning gobs of calories. plus, i often think i run just to eat chocolate. and loads of it. i have to tell you about this dessert: no bake nutella cheesecake. make it for your Valentine lover. you will score mad props. my picture does not even begin to do it enough justice.

no bake nutella cheesecake

from my baking addiction (fyi: her pictures of this are six hundred times better than mine)

Ingredients:

12 Oreo Cookies, crushed into crumbs

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup Nutella

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 (8 ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed

get the directions here.

{miscellany monday}

threads of afternoon sunshine

2012-02-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

sometimes in the beautiful world of motherhood or wifehood or plain life, the days are long and hard and i end them slouched on the couch, wondering if i spent my time filled with anything valuable. while hoping i did, praying i did, i rest on the hope of tomorrow and the new mercies the morning can bring.

then there are some days i never want to end. my life flashes before me, the minutes seem to skip to the beat of my heart, the hours move like a freight train, i beg it to stop... big brother kisses little sister out of the blue and whispers an "i love you" that makes her smile like it's going out of style.

can't every day be like this? can't every moment be so sweet? then i remember there is Eternity for such things. and my soul wells up as i crane my neck toward the sky and rejoice. because really, all i can do is rejoice, as hope of forever spent with the Creator fills me to the very brim.

all the precious goodness down here is just a mere foretaste of glory divine. this makes me smile. every single day i wake, even on the hard ones, there is joy to be found knowing my hope rests in the maker of heaven and earth. when Eternity is my perspective it's possible to count it all as joy. threads of afternoon sunshine remind me to lace this hope around my very thoughts.

linking with Rachel today. and it's her birthday! happy birthday, my friend.

a piano banner and a prayer jar, all in the name of love.

2012-02-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

taking care of business first. the winner of the Oreck AirInstinct Giveaway, valued at $499.99 is: da da dum... comment #115 - Lily from a Lil Story! congrats, girl! i know you are going to enjoy it as much as we do.

what is free and beautiful and joyous, something you can give, something you can receive, something you can delight in, something that comes from above? L-O-V-E. it is more than just a mushy, well written Gold Crown card. it is the best of all, more precious than any other gift. it can melt a heart of stone, it can rip down walls, it can make you feel deeply, it can bring you to your knees, it can save your very soul.

love is in full swing this month and i'm taking the opportunity to really teach my kiddos about the Father's love for us, what it means to love others, and how we can love because He first loved us. inspired by my friend's prayer pail, i knew i had to make a prayer jar. out of, of course, my favorite kind of jar, a mason. because to love is to pray for. our friends, family, neighbors, are all planted in our life for a reason and one of those is for prayer. i'm thankful to know we have friends and family praying for us; i want our family to be that for others as well.

one of the best parts about this? it cost me $1. i raided my single rubber maid keeper of craft supplies and determined i'd make it work with what i had (minus the $1 paper heart doilies). it also took me five minutes or less. probably less. best kind of craft? yes. now, i'm certain you can figure this out on your own. even so, here's the rundown.

put your people's names on pieces of paper.

if you want to be over-the-top, attach a little label with something about love or prayer or both.

fold all the paper names in half and fill your jar on up.

mix them around and draw a name. bingo! you just found the day's prayer request.

the paper heart doily has many purposes. and they are all wondrous, i'm sure of it.

also while in the craft rubbermaid raid, i found some baby clothespins i bought in the fall for a baby shower. they are the cutest little things and i officially want to use them in every craft i ever make (which is not really saying much, since i make two crafts/year, but still. i do. i am devoted to these things). i felt almost as genius as Sasha the Queen of Crafty, (almost. Sasha, don't be offended. please?) when i pulled together the country goodness of some twine, paper heart doilies and mini clothespins. it kind of makes my heart pitter patter.

i strung them across our beauty of a piano. but wait, it still gets better.

my mom was over and randomly found some pictures and put them along with the hearts. she totally gets the Sasha award.

i am pretty convinced that my piano will never again go without a banner.

so that's how we're celebrating this month of love around here. how 'bout you?

miscellany monday

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

grab the button, write your randoms and join in below.

1. what's on my nightstand lately? glad you asked.

a) just finished He Heard Hannah, a true story that leaves you speechless and in awe of God's sovereign plan. a review and giveaway is coming soon.
b) i read Morning and Evening constantly. it's the only devotional you'll ever need to own.
c) this one is the kicker: Lies Women Believe. if a Christian woman had to choose one book outside of the Bible to read, this would be it. Lies Women Believe hits you square in the face while reminding you to fight for Truth in your life.
d) finally started the pioneer woman's love story, Black Heels & Tractor Wheels. it's absolutely CUTE.
e) my honey and i are about to start Tim Keller's The Meaning of Marriage. Keller lets go of the sentimentalism and embraces the reality of marriage pointing to a greater picture of Christ and the Church. i have a feeling i'm going to learn a whole lot.

2. our valentine photo shoot started and ended all at once:

3. the best way to take pictures of children: occupy them with a swing,

or a see saw (hint: don't get the see saw in the shot),

or a bicycle. (watermark fail)

or a daddy.

4. my boy. see all the green hues in the trees? spring is here, i tell you. we've had consistent 70 degree weather for weeks now. someone out there please enjoy winter for me.

5. a rough beginning: pictures with mommy did not rank on her priority list.

Sage finally gave in. how nice of her.

6. they tell each other they're best buds for life. and they aren't kidding.

7. it goes from brownies last week to broccoli. sorry for the let down. this is, however, the best tasting broccoli i have had. it's entirely simple as well.

the best broccoli of your life from Amateur Gourmet

preheat oven to 425 degrees

put 4-5lbs of broccoli on a baking sheet

toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper

add 4 peeled and sliced garlic cloves

roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until crispy tender

drizzle with more olive oil and 1/3 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese

8. if you have not yet entered to win a $499.99 Oreck Air Purifier, why the heck not?! click here to enter. giveaway ends tomorrow evening (Tuesday, 2/7).

my boy is three, but my baby he will always be.

2012-02-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

it really happened. there's no stopping it. my firstborn, my baby, my boy turned three yesterday.

this growing up thing is cool for kids but bittersweet for moms. i know, i'm preaching to part of the choir, but still. how can you stand the years passing like a bullet train? i sure wonder. i tell myself to soak up every dripping second of the days going by. i do forget, it's true. mostly though, i choose to play with trains and dolls and puzzles. the dishes can wait. the laundry can wrinkle. the carpet can be crunchy with crumbs. the love lingers and will always be remembered; it's what counts. also, with potty training, i have almost no time for that stuff anyway. although i'm not changing his diaper any longer, taking him potty takes way longer. no one mentioned that.

potty training update: since you're dying to know, i'll dish it. he's done really well. i have decided that taking a child to use a public restroom is something i would rather avoid at most costs. especially when sister girl is wandering around the stall with us. would it be wrong if i stood him on top of the toilets and told him to aim? because i love target, but man, their bathrooms. G-ross.

to celebrate yesterday, i put up a $3, store bought, happy birthday Thomas the Train banner because it is his favorite and we had pizza (another favorite) and egg free brownies (find recipe here. note: the pioneer woman has soared to even greater levels in my book. she has an egg free brownie recipe, and it's not because there's a substitute - it's actually a recipe that doesn't need eggs. she had Hunter in mind and my allergy boy got to try a brownie. thank you Ree.) after dinner, he stayed up an hour past bedtime doing summersaults and rowdy things because even three year old's know how to party. especially three year old boys.

oh, and even though my blog has led you to believe that my diet consists of mainly sweets and detox smoothies (to undo the damage of the sweets) here's a tiny bit of proof that that is only partly true. this recipe is my new favorite: crockpot cilantro lime chicken. mostly because it is easy, but also because it's tasty and tender; reaffirming my devotion to the slow-cooker.

cilantro lime chicken from Pip & Ebby

plop all these ingredients in a slow-cooker:
one 24 ounce jar of medium or mild salsa
juice from one lime
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
one package of taco seasoning
add 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves and coat with the salsa mixture.
cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
the chicken is great for tacos or a taco salad.

that wraps it up. in sum, my boy turned three, i eat sweets (but not in february), and also some chicken.

ps. although i'm scared to say it, because i'm scared of not following through, i am not allowing myself to eat any desserts/sweets for the month of february. why i chose the month of chocolate? well, i didn't think that through at first. for now, it's already a done deal (i hope).

linking with these lovely ladies~

fresh air for february :: win a $499.99 Oreck

2012-02-01T08:07:00.000-05:00

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

listen ladies and gentleman(?), we sure do have fresh air at our house these days. would you love some fresh air, too, to go along with this lovely new month of February? i thought so.

let me introduce you to this beauty. meet Oreck's brand new AirInstinct 200 Air Purifier. Oreck contacted me and asked if they could send me one to review as well as one to pass on to you. let me think about it, YES. now is your chance to win one, valued at $499.99.

(photo and air purifier courtesy of Oreck. giveaway facilitated by me.)

the AirInstint is a new kind of smart filter, using pre-filter, anti-odor, and true HEPA technologies to monitor and manage air particles. through a continuous automatic monitoring of the dust, pollen, allergens, pet dander and smoke in the air, the purifier adjusts it's air flow speed accordingly. the AirInstinct cleans your air, removing 99.7% of the particles and odors. it's quiet, efficient and energy star certified. plus, Oreck backs their product with a limited five year warranty. the filter lasts for up to three years, so the up-keep is very minimal and inexpensive.

i knew my kids would be very curious about our new machine. Oreck knew they would too. which is why there is a vented security panel that keeps little fingers out of the fan's way. also, when the machine is opened to change the filter, it automatically turns itself off. thanks, Oreck for watching out for the littlest of humans!

we really love the fresh air the AirInstinct gives our home. it brings a fresh smell, that i can only liken to being way up high in the mountains with nature, reminding me of the good ol' days living in the Sierra Nevadas. i have a doctor certified dust allergy, so i am really thankful for the continuous dust monitoring. we live in Charleston, which happens to be one of the worst places for pollen, so this year when Spring comes in full force i won't be scared. : ) we also have a furry little boston terrier that lives with us; yay for less pet dander thanks to the purifier! not to mention, it looks incredibly sleek and takes up very little space. a win, all the way around.

here's how you can win:

mandatory entry: visit Oreck.com and tell us one thing you learned about the AirInstinct.

additional ways to win:
1. follow @Oreck on twitter.
2. like Oreck on facebook.
3. sign up for Oreck's email list by clicking on "Sign up for Email" in the top navigation bar.
4. tweet about the giveaway mentioning @Oreck and a link to this post.
5. facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post.
6. follow lowercase letters through google friend connect. if you're already a follower, say so! it still counts as an entry.

leave a separate comment for each entry you complete. (even if you don't have a blog, you can comment by clicking anonymous and leaving your name and email address)

important rules and details : there will be one winner of the new AirInstinct 200 and it will be shipped directly to the winner from Oreck Corporation. the giveaway winner must be a resident of the U.S. 48 contiguous states. the giveaway will end on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 9:00 pm EST. the winner will be announced on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. the winner will have 72 hours to contact me by email (lowercaselettersblog (at) gmail (dot) com) to claim their winnings. in your entries, please make sure an email address is linked to your profile, or if not, leave your email address in your entry(ies) comment(s). winner will be selected by random.org.

disclosure: i received the AirInstinct from Oreck for review for free. however, all opinions expressed are solely my own. i have received no compensation for this review and giveaway. Oreck Corporation provided the prize for the sweepstakes but is not the sponsor of the sweepstakes, and neither is Twitter or Facebook a sponsor. i am the sponsor of the giveaway, Oreck is only supplying the prize.

eyes that really see

2012-01-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

our heater is probably broken now for the third time in three months. it stinks and its cold, but we live in the south and this year it's the land of the forgotten winter; it could be worse. and really, it always could be worse. we would like to be able to start a savings account. for emergencies and such. but there just isn't any extra.

but did God ever promise to give me a savings account? no.

He did promise to meet my needs. He feeds the birds of the air, the lilies of the field are watered; I know He cares even more for me. remember light burns brightly. He has given us so much and provided ever and anon.

i'm not here to tell you about my money worries (clearly i struggle with it a lot). i have to give those to the Lord daily. i am sure many of you, and on average, most people in the world, live paycheck to paycheck, or with no paychecks at all. heck, some people don't even have food or clothes or shelter or heaters.

this is what it boils down to. my eyes are too small. i only see the here. the now. my american bubble. i need reality checks often and frequently and constantly.

i'm begging the Lord to give me His eyes. to see eternity rather than now in every single area of my life.

so that when...

...i'm jaded after looking at pinterest and wishing for a new shirt or shoes or a wreath for my door, i'll think about my soon-to-be niece, Sunny in Haiti. she has been waiting for my sister-in-law and her family to take her home for over two years. in the meantime, Sunny sleeps on a tiny mattress in an orphanage with too many children. but because of the courts in Haiti, and the disorganization within, she has been waiting. she is seven years old. Sunny needs a family. how much longer does she have to wait? THAT is a real need.

...my kids are whiny or disobedient, i can be patient with them because He first was patient with me.

...i'm selfish and elevate my needs above my husband's, i can remember Christ's selflessness and know that very same selflessness is at work within me because of His spirit.

...i'm tempted to buy into a lie, that more is better and less is less, i can remember that my treasures are not here but there, because that is where i want my heart to be anyway.

...it's winter i can find the lone bloom.

so that when i see things through my eyes, I'm really seeing through His. to have eyes that really see.

miscellany monday

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

write random, grab the button, and link up below.

1. i had a dream that i was a wedding photographer with fancy cameras and equipment, i woke up, never wanting the dream to end. in the meantime, i went to a wedding, that my husband played music for, and took pictures as unobtrusively as possible. oh, and it's extra special since this is the very same chapel we were married in over seven years ago.

2. i caught Sage cleaning her ears out with two pieces of chalk. chalk, q-tips, same difference?

3. if someone tells me something is a miracle drug or at least really good for me, i'll believe them, it's true. so when pinterest tells me there's a detox smoothie, i'm first in line to give it a try. the ingredients: 1 sliced frozen banana, 1 sliced and peeled pear, 1 cup of spinach, 1 cup of kale, 1 1/2 cups orange juice. put it in a blender and get a green detox drink. i had low expectations; i thought it would taste something like death. thankfully, i was pleasantly surprised. but, by the end of it, i was gagging and trying not to heave. so that's why they call it a detox drink. ; ) try it, if you dare.

4. pizookie. find the recipe here. they are all they're cracked up to be. this was the perfect thing to eat after my detox. : )

5. three words: lightroom 3 trial.

6. princess dreams.

{miscellany monday}

the day in which i cleaned out my cupboard.

2012-01-27T06:30:00.000-05:00

you know what makes me happy? purging. i love seeing empty spaces in my house and my closets and my cupboards. it helps me breathe easier. also, getting rid of stuff is plain good for the soul. letting go of more that i could be storing up is kind of freeing. we have had one junk/nick nack/whatever cupboard in our kitchen that has laid to waste. as soon as our kids were born our house became curios free and i am not sure that i'll ever go back. there's less to dust this way. yes and amen. well finally, i could not stand the hidden clutter cupboard any longer.

no, those aren't bugs down there... just some twigs and grass. gross and weird.

also weird? evidence that i used to have some crazy mad love for candles.

these were only taken four years ago, people. which makes me really scared for 2016.

the fact that this one is in a frame is quite frightening with the fake ocean backdrop. this was actually on a wall in my house? i suppose we paid a good $20 for it, so i wanted to get my money's worth.

this is Kelly's trophy he received when we left youth ministry. the best part? he actually made me put it up in our house for a few years.

thankfully, it gets better. these are some things from my grandmother. she died when i was eight so i count them as treasures. i'm guessing she used these for something like ambrosia. don't know what i will use them for. one thing i will not use them for is ambrosia.

more grandma stuff. i wouldn't exactly call these birds(?) my style, but i'm trying to get in touch with my sentimental side.

here we go. cha ching. if there's one thing my grandmother did well it was tea and coffee. i remember being five, at her house, asking for cream and sugar in my decaf. yet, i don't like coffee now. what happened? i really want to know. but i do see plenty of tea parties in the future with my Sage.

the moral of the story: clean out your cupboards and hope to God you're not as weird as you used to be. you may even find yourself a few treasures as you let go of more.

linking with rach because who does't count a cleaned out cupboard as a favorite?

the verdict is...

2012-01-25T06:30:00.000-05:00

...i've gone all nutty like Betty White.

i kissed my brain cells goodbye, just as you suspected. yesterday morning i gallantly announced to my husband and to facebook that it was day one of potty training BOTH of my children, Hunter: age 2 (almost 3) and Sage: 19 months. in theory it was a grand idea, similar to Machu Picchu, and almost declared a wonder. the three day method is miraculous, is it not? my hopes were as high as the moon.

it started out as smooth as a gravel road. Hunter cried over not wearing any pants, who can really blame him? he refused to stand up for awhile and insisted on tucking his shirt below his knees. i was losing some hope right about then. somehow with the distraction of Little Einsteins he got over it quickly. the appeal of flushing his stuff down was all it took to lure him in. we made it through the whole long day with only one tiny accident, which he practically recovered and made it to the potty in the nick of time, minus some dribbles. no biggie. i told him i was super proud of him and he replied, "i'm proud of you, too mom." why thank you.

Sage. it's likely to be a traumatic memory. in two hours i soaked up pee from our carpets seven times and wished for hardwood. with a floor to potty ratio of 7:1, i put her back in a diaper. let's just say that bluebeary sat on the potty much more than Sage ever did.

also, a salesman rang our doorbell during naptime. how dare he do that in the middle of the three day potty training method. what the heck. in the land of online shopping, door-to-door sales are like five steps backwards. will they ever learn already?

all in all, it was easier than i psyched myself up for; what a gift! Kelly has his longest days, like 14 hours, on Tuesdays (lucky for him, i didn't think about that when i planned it) and it was 70 degrees outside. if i could've planned it all over again, i'd go for a soggy, 50 degree Wednesday. Sage agrees as she looked out at the kids playing under the warm sunny sky. but there's no complaining here. our diaper budget is well on its way to being cut in half. this is wondrous.

ps. i did watch Ellen yesterday. it's kind of an old favorite pastime. it's been months upon months since i'd seen a show. well, Seal was on. yeah, the guy that is separating from Heidi Klum. that Seal. he said he and Heidi were surprised about separating. as if they didn't have any control over it?!

pps. he then sang his rendition of "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green. the one that says "lovin you forever..." was it supposed to be a crazy joke? it was tragic.

ppps. what about the kids? so sad. so very very sad.

((via))

miscellany monday

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

write random and link below.

1. granola. granola. i am obsessed. especially when it takes all of five ingredients. the kids call granola bars cookies which makes my life pretty easy. Sage was caught licking the batter and the oat crumbs produced the perfect evidence. unfortunately for her, there was no getting out of this. except look at her sweet eyes... they rope me in and melt me every. time. forgive this pic for its grain, it was in honor of the recipe. ; )

i used this recipe and adapted it for the ingredients i already had.

five ingredient granola bars adapted from here

4 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup natural peanut butter

2 tbsp flaxseed

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup agave nectar

(some great mix ins would include chocolate chips, chia seeds, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, coconuts, and wheat germ. trust me, use a mix in or two or five!)

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine oats and flaxseed. Add honey and agave nectar; mix to combine. Add melted peanut butter and mix until moistened. If you're adding mix-ins now is your chance. You may need to get in there with your hands and work it. If dough is too dry (this can depend on your ingredients) add more peanut butter or syrup (or honey) 1 tablespoon at a time until moistened. Press dough in a greased (non-stick spray) 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.

2. no shame, no gain. for the sake of turning a tragedy into a triumph, i choose to laugh. and what else can you do, really, when you come home to find a ginormous chocolate spot from who knows where on your hiney for all the world to see? i'm guessing the world didn't think it was chocolate. whatchya think? ((sorry for the awkward behind shot.))

3. it's official. i give up being invested in politics and sports... this weekend was full of heartache. i'm sad for the 49ers, my hometeam, and politically speaking, bummed with the results here in SC. that pretty much sums it up.

4. during the football games yesterday, Sage asked 5,900 times "where'd go ball?" it was slightly annoying but mostly entirely cute.

5. my mom and step-dad got our kids a play kitchen for christmas. i'm continually amazed by how much time this gives me to do my thang. if you need a free babysitter, get a play kitchen. you may even get "micowabed" eggplants everyday.

6. our super rad friends, travis and ashley write amazing music and are the makings of wright family music. ashley wrote their new single in the midst of their infertility that highlights the tenderness of our loving God. her voice will charm you ~ ((you can listen below, then download for free or donate))

<a href="http://wrightfamilymusic.bandcamp.com/track/richly-loved">Richly Loved by Wright Family Music</a>

tales from mommyhood :: edition 3,429.

2012-01-20T06:30:00.000-05:00

last night was a real hoot and holler. i watched nbc's comedy night and on commercials (i'm glad liz lemon is baaaack!) watched the debate streaming live from cnn that was held 20 minutes down the road; i felt obligated in a way. and now i am even less enthusiastic about voting on saturday. one thing i am enthusiastic about?

these painfully addicting things: carmelitas. they sound all sweet and pretty. carmelitas are sweet and pretty in a calorie-full type of way. not in the i'll be your best friend kind of way. cause really they're the devil in disguise; your worst enemy.

Carmelitas from Lulu the Baker

32 caramel squares, unwrapped
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely smooth; set aside. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Pat half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting. Trust me, COOL COMPLETELY. otherwise you will be eating carmelita soup.

the good news? i don't run for nothing; i've put 21 miles on my nikes this week. which is a plus considering i most likely ate 2,100 calories worth of carmelitas. i think crossing the finish line is almost as good as these chocolate and caramel packed magnificent obsessions, but it's still up for debate.

yesterday Hunter had his first official aiming lesson during potty training. ::enter the need for mommy to eat more carmelitas; sanity:: hey, at least it means he's going. right? thought you needed an update.

also? my kids are officially in the nose picking/eat your boogers/announcing every tootie (ie: gas passing) stage. which makes a trip with the two of them a real hoot. i mean toot. no one ever told me being a mom would be so embarrassing. even if they did i'd still be in. the red face is at least half worth the awesome laughs.

beyond carmelitas, there's another thing that keeps me slightly sane. going to my backyard bff's (julie's) house and watching our kids play together while we try to muster up the brain power for a meaningful conversation in between breaking up fights and changing poopies and teaching a 19 month old what self-control means.

yesterday, after julie let their dog, clara, back inside from a potty break, clara left about five paw prints on their wood floor.

hunter was not having the paw prints and asked julie right then to cween them up. i mean. the gall. he is two and refused to walk across a paw printed floor. and i thought he'd outgrow the dirty floor phobia.

the thing that makes it all worth it? before leaving our friends, and giving hugs, hunter announced a big hearty "i love you" to all. that will do it. carmelitas, friends, and i love yous? sign me up.

hope your weekend is full of carmelitas, friends and i love yous. or something kinda sorta like that.

///

ps. congrats to: Jenn!!! she's the winner of the lovely $50 shop credit to Art by Erin Leigh!

linking up with my girl, Rach.

family fashion?

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

because sometimes i like to talk about style.

i'm not really cool anymore. of course that would first imply that i used to be cool. which is up for negotiation. so i'll just go with i'm not trendy cool in a fashion kind of way. this first occurred to me after skinny jeans came out. and i hated them. but now, several years later, i'm finally giving in to their painfully tight, circulation cutting ankle lengths and going with it. my sister said i should and i half believed her.

interjection :: i do remember the days when i enjoyed the current styles but that was back in high school. and those days brought more zits than one human should have to handle along with mean girls and ugly school uniforms. i'll take sanity over coolness any day of the week.

who needs pinterest when i can take fashion tips from my twelve year old sister?!? someone please tell me if i start to look like the disney channel. and in that case i demand you call for an intervention. until then, i want to borrow her clothes and by some odd miracle, i can fit into them.

ladies, the cowl neck scarf has finally hit the south, so my sister says. of course, she has it before i do.

there is something so pretty about her plaid shirt, too. i used to resent plaid and thought it was only for farmers. my Hunter seems to think plaid is reserved for pajamas because i went to wear plaid and he wondered why i was getting dressed for the day in my pj's. good thing i don't take style tips from a two year old.

she must let me borrow her plaid. her scarf just doesn't quite have the same effect with my target thermal.

and stripes. oh stripes. in the recent past, i was scared of stripes. someone once said they make you look wider and who really wants to look wider? no.one. i see them everywhere and think, i've got to get over my fears. i did take a few risks and with an old navy gift card i am now the proud owner of some striped camisoles that i prefer to wear under everything (remember FPFG's #1 style rule: always layer and layer some more). i also plan on borrowing my sister's shirt straight from old navy's spring line. striped coral and navy? bring it.

oh mustard. i'm loving it. i've confessed this before in my rantings of an aqua plus mustard affair.

sister girl is also teaching me about not matching. i'm trying to let go of the matchyness, afterall, i am a self-proclaimed bohemian and i don't really think boho's care about that all too much. i would not normally pair a mustard purse with these colors. but i'm kind of digging in a big way.

for so long i have neglected my wardrobe for the sake of paying our bills. good decision, huh?! no worries anymore, though. sister friend is here. : )

what kind of fashions are you loving these days? fill me in before i go selena gomez on ya.

ps. speaking of style... if you haven't yet, be sure to enter the Art by Erin Leigh giveaway for a chance to win a $50 etsy shop credit for some gorgeous, stylish mixed media prints. giveaway ends tomorrow night (thursday, 1/19 at 9:00 pm EST) and winner will be announced this friday.

miscellany monday :: i survived + a giveaway.

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

write random and link below // also below, enter the giveaway to win a $50 shop credit to Art by Erin Leigh... this giveaway is now closed.

1. you can tell the marathon registration was last minute by looking at my outfit. not matching at all. also, i woke up at 5:30 am that morning (which never happens) so it was especially straining on my appearance. oh, and the temps were in the mid-30's. my legs went NUMB.

2. thank YOU for your prodding and encouragement. all your words kept me from breaking out in anxiety with only five zits instead of ten.

3. these guys are the reason i ran. so thankful. (please don't get confused, though. short shorts, hat wearing, old man to my left had nothing to do with it.)

kaz - amy - me

(thanks to Hillary G. for the pic!)

4. amy ran the race last year, so i just did everything exactly like she did. they were so patient with all my ridiculous questions. amanda (not pictured) also ran last year (didn't run this year because she is having a baby any day!) and is a marathoner; she gave me strategy tips. which were awesome, but also funny, because my main goal was to finish before my knee gave out. i could hear amanda's voice in my head, telling me to weave and go faster every now and then. thanks girl. : )

5. i ran the first four miles in 27 minutes. hello 6.75 minute miles. but then. at mile five, i started having my occasional knee problems. at that point i was scared to death of not finishing. God carried me, i tell ya. i promise, it's true. after i hit the finish line i was in a euphoric state of dementia. i was freezing cold and stiff and exceptionally excited.

6. i knew i ran it close to two hours. yesterday i checked the official time and it was actually 2:06. and i know some people are thinking, what's six minutes?! it's kind of a lot. running is addicting; you set these goals and feel like you must get there. next year my goal is 1:45, and then the next year i think i will go for a full 26.2 miles.

7. it's really funny because before this race, i said i was not interested in ever running a Full Marathon. something insanely crazy happened and now i want to. amy, you with me?! : )

8. my fan section. my mom and sister showed up as a surprise. sad i didn't get their picture.

9. some of our dearest friends came over this weekend. their baby girl is such a miracle and such a beauty. i could love on her all day.

10. don't we look a like?! olivia and i ate at applebees about six years ago and our waiter was shocked to find out we were not twins or even related. since then, just about everyone tells us we're like the same person. i'm so not complaining! total compliment.

me and olivia with her baby girl

11. the giveaway part :: art by erin leigh.
meet my friend, erin. erin is a sponsor here at lowercase letters and is entirely gifted creatively. this girl has such a special talent for artwork. her mixed media collages always have me drooling.

~~wanna win a $50 shop credit?! of course you do!~~
~~here's how to enter: (each is a separate entry)~~
~~1. visit art by erin leigh and tell me your favorite item.~~
~~2. like art by erin leigh on facebook and tell me so.~~
~~3. sign up to receive erin's newsletter and tell me you did.~~
this giveaway will close on thursday, january 19th at 9pm EST. winner will be announced this friday, january 20th. open to U.S. residents. i have received no compensation for hosting this giveaway.
///
now it's your turn to link up your miscellany! and go!

grace-laced (this is where you tell me i can do it)

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

i think we're born with a deep feeling of entitlement and dark sense of deserving. maybe it's because we started out in Eden, we live for Heaven, so in the meantime, earth is a settling all on it's own.

we receive good gifts, like Grace and family, church and friends, clothes and shelter, food that fills, hearts that explode because we have.

we kind of expect those things. we work hard, try to attain a certain status that in the back of our minds is tied to the money in our paychecks or our 401k.

it's easy to think we've worked hard for such and such and so deserve it.

but then something happens when someone gives you a gift in the shape of a four wheeled vehicle parked outside in our driveway.

humility and undeserving come to mind.

there is no way i can think i deserve it. i didn't work hard for it. it was a gift. free. a free, beautiful, grace-laced gift. like Salvation.

tomorrow i will run my very first half-marathon. which is way different from my high-school cross country races, although it seems the nerves are the same. i had been training for this since last May. when mid-November rolled around, it was looking like a frivolous thing to spend our money on since things are pretty tight financially. so my training wained and i just let go of that goal. i was really okay with it. but then, two days ago, a friend of mine wanted me to run and paid for my registration. humbled again.

i am excited and scared to death. 13.1 miles is a lot for two little legs. i don't deserve to run in this race. i didn't pay my dues, they were handed to me. but grace. so much grace.

even if we did not get a car, even if i was not running this race, even if God had not provided for us last month in the numerous miraculous ways He did, He would still be faithful and i would still have more grace than i deserve. i want to remember that. these earthly gifts are not the end of the road. they are just pointing to something far better. my hope lies in eternity with Jesus not in the things - even if they're gifts and good things. i don't want to "be like a child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by an offer of a holiday at sea," as C.S. Lewis would say.

back to the race. this is where you tell me not to fret and to go for it and that i can do it. : ) i'll be back monday for a report, if i survive.

linking with rach. because running is a fave of mine. and obviously Jesus is my ultimate favorite.

reverse letters

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

sometimes i like themes. sometimes i like random. sometimes i put the two together and get reverse letters. letters in which some thing/person/place/whatever writes me their very own note.

dear long-sufferer,

you putting up with me in the midst of my gut flinging escapades while the dishwasher is running, is quite betty draper/june cleaver ish.

begging for mercy,

your broken-for-months garbage disposal

dear pride,

even though your two-year-old recently called you Mac, as in the semi-truck from Cars, it does not mean you are ginormous. it really just means you are your child's favorite, after all, he has only seen that movie 541 times.

best wishes,

your ego

dear fish mama,

thank you for feeding me fifteen beta pebbles each day instead of three. i'm convinced you are to thank for my extra long nineteen-month life span.

thank you from the bottom of the ~~sea~~ bowl,

the world's longest living $2 beta fish

dear customer,

we are sorry for your inconvenience and our not being able to differentiate between a 2t and a 4t size. that's what you get for ordering a $3 pair of carter's pajama's thinking you were getting the deal of your lifetime. sucker!

sincerely,

too good to be true (kohl's)

dear mom,

hewe's yo micowabed eggpant.

love,

your Hunter boy, the bearer of everyday microwaved plastic eggplants

dear my beautiful bride,

you uncaged bird, you.

xoxo,

your husband who is so happy you're experiencing a new sense of freedom with a car on the week days

dear camera girl,

there are other pictures in the world besides those with a sunflare.

regards,
broadening your horizons

whatevs! cannot.stop.snapping.the.sunflare.

the end.

ps. (i didn't invent reverse letters. i'm not as cool as you thought. sorry. a gal named Chelsea, who is darn funny, did.)

miscellany monday.

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

write random and link below.

1. i am probably turning into my grandmother. something sudden and wonderful and strange is happening. i like nuts in my dessert.

2. recently i have been posting pictures of myself with make-up on. this too, is sudden and wonderful and strange. i feel like i'm false advertising. 95% of my life is spent without my face on. see:

Sage apologizes for her growl face.

3. a smoothie a day keeps the fat away? maybe? that's what i tell myself.

4. pajamas that fit are way overrated, says Hunter.

5. ms. thang knows how to work it. cue tossle the hair, hold purse up high.

6. our weekend was heaven sent with 70 degree temperatures. we took full advantage. my honey even wore shorts. also? it is entirely attractive seeing your man with your children even if he is saying, would you quit taking pictures already. and also again? this wagon is rad, thank you papa and gigi.

7. could possibly be my most favorite photo ever, in all the world.

8. words to live by. trumpeted by my Pastor. yes and amen.

grab the button and link-up, lovelies.

telling a story

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

they say that a picture is worth a thousand words. i think they are right. nothing other than a camera can capture so much emotion and love and joy and beauty in just one small instant. taking pictures of people, i'm learning, is like getting a cast of characters and being asked to author their story. with a snap of the shutter you begin putting words together, writing a tale, that you hope will reflect their lives.

to capture the love of two people is an honor. you step inside their romantic world to frame bits and pieces of their passion to make time stand still, so that when fifty years have gone by and they look upon these images it will take them right back. right back to being young and in love with abandon.

i hope i wrote your story well, matt and alison.

this was my first time taking pictures of a couple. normally i am bribing kids, making whacky bird noises while lying and saying a butterfly is flying above my head just to con them into a smile or five. when you are dealing with adults, it's so easy. they totally obey. : )

have i told you lately how much i love to use my camera? it is so fun telling stories with it. i hope you are capturing bits and pieces of your life, telling your story, too.

linking with my dear, rach ~

tea for she and he.

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Tea contacted me in regards to a collaboration project. it took me all of .00001 seconds to say yes and hallelujah. they are a clothing company for little citizens of the world with inspiration stemming from around the globe. tea, the beverage, is shared by many cultures alike, just like the clothing; it's about experiencing life together without being in the same place. in their own words, Tea creates "easy-going, culturally-connected styles, designed to fit your life." and each piece is made from the extraordinary qualities of cotton which means the outfits are comfortable enough for play-time all while being pretty enough for church.

the kind people of Tea sent me some clothes and i tried them out on my little lovelies. we did what anyone would do. headed to the most charming island town i know of, the kids romped around, comfortably and adorably in their Tea ensembles as i snapped away.

so Hunter was not totally digging the camera at first.

we took them out on the pier and that helped warm him up a bit.

i told you this island was a charmer.

Sage and her shy face.

Sage is warmed up. Hunter still needs some work.

he's getting warm.

this did the trick. put a two year old on top of a fake water squirting turtle and their life lights up.

my favorite shot ~

Hunter is wearing a Zocalo plaid shirt inspired by the Mexican town meeting places. on the bottom he's wearing their Sporty Pants which fit perfectly, with an elastic waist that looks entirely comfortable. i want my pants to fit this well.

Sage is wearing the Canon Tonala Reglan Dress inspired by the painted pottery of the Tonala Canyon region of Mexico.

yes, just for laughs ~

success! Tea clothes are tried and true. i told you they are super cute. completely comfortable, with an unsurpassed quality, gorgeous styles and variety, even i want some in my very own size! they do sell women's clothes, too!

the best news is that Tea is hosting their semi-annual sale which makes items 50% off (or more!), with an additional 25% off on top of the sale prices. use code: 25OFFSALE (offer ends Sunday, 1/8/12 at 11:59pm, Pacific Time). score yourself some deals.

disclaimer: aside from receiving the outfits to review for my children, i received no additional compensation for this review.

miscellany monday // a new year.

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

write random and join in below.

1. happy new year. our last year was an intermingled tapestry of grace and life and good and bad. it's a joy to know that the One who carried us through the now-knowns of twenty eleven is the same One who will carry us through the unknowns ahead. i'm not a list-maker/goal setter when it comes to resolutions; i hope to view life through the lens of Christ more than i did yesterday.

2. i'm a newfound fan of deep aqua married with golden mustard yellow.

i mostly blame it on this fantastic jcpenney clearance necklace that my mom found.

3. my oldest niece, taylor (left) turned eight and it's bittersweet, of course. i go from holding her at one month old, just after kelly and i started dating, to watching her become a young girl. i love that she will always know me as her aunt since i was there ever since she can remember. : )

4. the makings of a much anticipated girl's night out. i had two girl's night's in all of 2011. this year i'm aiming for three. ; )

we ate pizza for dinner and talked over coffee for hours. the fact that we held an adult conversation for that long is impressive considering we have seven kids between us, all four and under. i love these gals. and also? i came home to my man steam cleaning our carpets. how wonderful can one night be?!

me - julie - beth

5. dreamy comfort.

6. starting off the New Year right with a date night. we cashed in a gift card for dinner, read books, and walked along a pretty pier.

this pier is gorgeous even if it was closed...

so happy my date gets to come home with me every night!

kelly read his Lord of the Rings book and i browsed photography pieces. we recently had a conversation to the effect of getting excited over the length of long books. in our book, the longer, the better. we're so cool. ; )

7. a daily affair. riding in the car while holding hands. (disclaimer: phone photos) for the past few days, i turn around and see them like this on their own accord. {swoon}

grab the button and link-up ~

light burns brightly

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

(this is our really big, fat, awesome news)

Christmas morning showed up with a chilly temperature and a certain chatty eagerness about the kids. Kelly left early for work (church) while the kids and i lounged in our jammies until it was our turn to get ready to head off for worship. i hear a knock on the door. i assumed it was Kelly, he must have forgotten a guitar pic again, and answered right away. much to my surprise, looking back at me was someone not my husband. instead it was a family.

i was dingy, fresh from the bed sheets, my hair ratty, my face covered in splotchy morning appearance, standing in my oldest pajamas. all i could say: i am not even dressed, i've been sick (probably still recovering from heaving my guts out the days prior), and i look awful and hi and Merry Christmas.

they smiled, said Merry Christmas as they handed me some shiny car keys. (to reiterate: they gave us a car!)

then this is where it really got embarrassing on my end. i sobbed the ugly cry but for good reasons. it was so ugly, they got teary. they uttered pretty things like... "God has put this on our heart, we want you to have a reliable car, we've been blessed and want to pay it forward, God is providing for you through us and we couldn't be happier..."

i was speechless. still sobbing. trying to speak a thank you. their lights in our dark place of need were burning ever so bright.

///

so the journey of our family with one car comes to an end. it's been eight months this go-around. the year before it was ten. i can go grocery shopping on a monday. i can go to Bible study on a tuesday. i can take my kids to the doctor. i can always go to church on sunday. endless possibilities float the horizon.

i'd love to say that i learned a great deal of patience or contentment through this little trial of being home-bound, but honestly, i was whiney, felt alone, almost abandoned, sad, and fighting depression.

God didn't give us a car because i had finally learned some huge lesson.

God gave us a car out of His love and mercy and kindness. this giving family, had compassion, saw our need, cared about our need and met our need, all in the bright name of Jesus. we could never be deserving.

this gift of a car, points to an even greater Gift.

we come to Jesus all dirty, sin-laden and ratty, He hands us the keys to eternal life with open arms, we try to say thank you, knowing no thank you could ever be enough to fully express our gratitude and He simply gives. His light in our dark places burns ever so bright.

i tell this story to remind you that God is a God of provision. even when we are undeserving. because we're always undeserving. always. and if you're in a place of need, keep trusting. He is there and He will be there always to meet you and your needs.

miscellany monday

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

happy day after Christmas! write random, recap your celebrations, and join in below.

1. this is the year i almost missed Christmas. i told you that thursday was my most productive day all year. well friday and saturday were my very least. i had some kind of violent stomach bug that resulted in at least twelve (stopped counting once i hit the dozen mark) pukes. it was baaaaad. real bad. i actually wished i could be in a hospital just to feel better.

2. i missed kelly's family's Christmas celebrations and was sad over it. instead i stayed home, cozy on the couch, oozy in my stomach, crying over pitiful Hallmark Christmas movies. then i read through the Christmas story in Luke and cried some more. i'm so humbled that our God would stoop so low to save me and you.

3. then! yesterday was a new day and i felt close to normal, in time for the big day. AMEN!

4. Sage is ready for winter, whether the South is or not!

5. every year our families spoil our kids like they have to buy their whole lives for them all in one day. it's really nice and i'm grateful and i am also making a trip to Goodwill tomorrow to get rid of some oldies.

6. i was pretty spoiled last week, too. alely from oh, sweetlee me sent me this gorgeous hand-stamped necklace with a pearl and rose pendant, along with a beautiful ring, "just because." i'm serious, it's like the Lord told the whole world i needed some major encouraging or something because everyone, like bunches of people, have blessed me in major ways. #undeserving.

7. if there ever was a little boy who looked up to a bigger little boy, it's my little boy with my brother.

8. and if there was ever a little girl who looked up to a bigger little girl, it's my little girl with my sister.

9. i'm the proud new owner of my very first pair of TOMS, courtesy of my awesome brother and his girl. they are comfy and cute and outstanding.

10. the TOMS givers. they rock my socks (and shoes) off.

11. my mom and step-dad. he makes some mean sourdough bread that instantly takes us back home to sweet San Francisco.

12. speak of the devil. we ate fresh baked sourdough along with low-country boil (shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes) for Christmas dinner. slightly untraditional, totally delicious, and the perfect blend of our West Coast roots meeting the current Southern soil we trudge.

13. my daughter is glowing. too bad Kelly and i are plagued with hat shadow.

14. i told Hunter yesterday that he looked handsome like daddy. then he told me daddy pooped in Hunter's diaper like Hunter. ???

15. i'm trying. i was told by a very wise woman (FPFG) to layer and layer until i can't layer anymore. here's my attempt. complete with my pocket tucked inside itself. #slick, not.

16. if you're female, buy this music. i got it for Christmas (well, Kelly bought it for me with an iTunes gift card he got... love it when he spends his gift cards on me! best man ever!) and i'm obsessed. her voice is magic, her lyrics are real and poetic and resonate with every piece of me. they could even make you cry. in a good way.

17. i have a huge, big, fat, wonderful story to share with you. i don't dare give anything away, other than to say that it needs it's very own post and our Christmas day was pretty much extra special this year. coming to a computer near you soon. : )

18. it's funny that i set out to make this a mini post. and now it's a novella, turning out to be the longest miscellaneous yet. oh, and can you believe that this little meme of mine has been around for two years come this spring?! thanks for joining in and enjoying it. really, thank YOU.

enjoy your week, link-up below!

christmas cheer.

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

yesterday was the most productive day i have had all year. i did not even drink a red bull. not that i normally do. but now i'm wondering why i don't.

this is unwatermarked for a reason. not sure if i really want to claim it. it gets my eagerness across. yesterday i was full of eager energy. it was nothing short of a small miracle. Sage has reverted to her newborn days, waking up 2-3 times/night and i've reverted to the zombie state in which i only do the absolute necessities. all the unabsolute necessities piled up and thursday became the day i ran a marathon without even running a marathon to get it all done so i could enjoy this weekend.

it started out rough with a dental appointment at 9 am in which i forgot about until 8:40 am. somehow i made it there and came out with a good report. if my teeth look clean this is why.

next on the agenda: errands, three craft projects, cleaning the entire house, make three meals for my family, grocery shopping, and an afternoon run.

seriously. i told you it was the most productive day of my year for a reason. i blame the energy boost on these:

wednesday i made oreo truffles (they are easy peasy yet make you look like a famous chocolatier that everyone will adore) and ate ten too many.

today i will make more because we ate the ones that were supposed to be for gifts. #noshame.

i also ate an entire jar of this Trader Joe's Christmas delight (commonly referred to as pepper jelly) over a bed of cream cheese and wheat thins. this is my kind of comfort food. apparently, it helps with productivity.

on to the projects.

i am really good at pinning things on pinterest. but then i think my memory is amazing or something because i just start and finish a project that i have pinned without even referencing it. i think i have managed to bypass the entire pinning point of pinterest. so, i'm sure i saw these things somewhere, but i couldn't tell ya where.

project 1: present for daddy

kelly and i don't get each other Christmas gifts. we never have; there just isn't room in the budget, and we're okay with it. BUT. i did have a bunch of pictures printed, i had mod podge, a canvas, and thought, how could i not?! this will go in his office at work. and i gave it to him right after i finished it because i can't keep exciting secrets and mostly because i didn't want to wrap it. efficiency is key.

project 2: present for my mom

(mom, you better quit reading now. even though i hacked your amazon account to see what you're giving my kids doesn't mean you can get even. remember, you're the better person.)

this is so easy and inexpensive. i bought five wooden plaques that fit 5x7 pictures. i had my little brother spray paint them black (because he's 13 and thinks spray paint is rad). then, after the spray paint dried, i mod podged the photos i took of their family right on top. you can attach hanging hooks to the back of the plaques. -i wish i would've done this before the mod podge rather than after. this is where referencing a pinterest pin would've been handy. you live, you learn.

finished product:

can't wait to see these decorating their abode!

project 3: jar snow globes.

these were a last minute decision. when i realized i could make them for under $5, i had to indulge in a little non-necessity crafting. in honor of the kids. they think they're pretty cool, but Hunter thought a snow globe meant it would snow outside; leaving him a bit disgruntled.

all you do is clean out a jar, glue some christmasy pieces to the lid, pour some snow in and screw the lid on. add some burlap and twine and boom. instant snow globe. kelly thought i was crazy for not adding water and said they were lame and not real snow globes. men. they don't get crafting.

after all is said and done, i am ready to put the preparations aside and rest in the meaning of the season. hope you can, too. we have a powerful reason to celebrate!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6 ESV

linking with rach ~