My Messy Manger

Project 366: Days 43-49

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 02:59:00 +0000

Day 43: Going Out in the Cold

Day 44: Color Matching

Day 45: Beet Borsch

Day 46: Addicted to Downton Abbey

Day 47: Dad

Day 48: Rehearsal

Day 49: Mr. & Mrs. Davis

Project 366: Days 36-42

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Day 36: Three Years Old

Day 37: All About Kids

Day 38: First Day of Preschool

Day 39: Clean Dishes

Day 40: Sharing His Hat with Larry

Day 41: Watching the Snow with Larry

Day 42: Visual Schedule

Project 366: Days 29-35

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:48:00 +0000

Day 29: Church Nursery

Day 30: Bible Study & Skype

Day 31: First Day of the Semester

Day 32: Happy Jen

Day 33: Last Therapy with Dr. Lisa

Day 34: The WK Parkway

Day 35: My New Wheels

Project 366: Days 22-28

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:43:00 +0000

Day 22: Wedding Shower

Day 23: Sleeper

Day 24: Mr. Potato Head

Day 25: General Tso's Chicken

Day 26: Movie in the Floor

Day 27: Eating with a Fork

Day 28: Wedding Alterations

Peanut, Peanut Butter

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:50:00 +0000

(For those of you who weren't die-hard MK&A fans when you were younger, you're supposed to sing that title like this. You're welcome for now having that stuck in your head for the rest of the day... at least I hope you do, because I sure do.)

"Mom, why are you taking pictures of me eating my bowl of peanut butter?"

Well, sweet son, it's just that you've suddenly gotten very good at using utensils for eating...

... and I'm just so proud that I can't help myself. I have to document such a big accomplishment! You still haven't figured out which hand you want to stick with using, but that's okay. Your dad thinks that you're right-handed, but that your left-handed mother has confused you a bit. I learned how to survive as a lefty with two righty parents, so I think you'll be okay in the end, no matter which hand you decide to use.

And also because you might have a little something on your face... and I think it's adorable.

* * * * * * * * * *

After scooping out the last of the peanut butter from the jar for his snack, I put the empty jar in the top of our pretty full trash can. A few hours later, I turned around and found this:

He had gotten the jar out of the trash can and was getting out every last drop of peanut butter with his hand.

What can I say? My boy is quite the problem solver... and quite the peanut butter lover.

Project 366: Days 15-21

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Day 15: Favorite Friends

Day 16: Bible Study

Day 17: Reading Bible Stories

Day 18: Seven Years Ago

Day 19: Playgroup

Day 20: Beaver Dam

Day 21: Birthday Party

Moldova... Years in the Making

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Last weekend, we traveled to our parents' homes for a birthday party for Jude, Josh preached morning and evening services at a local church, and Josh's sister and fiancee had a wedding shower. It was a busy weekend! At some point, I managed to drag out the bulging three inch binder full of the letters that we wrote back and forth between Murray (where I was at school) and Louisville (where he was at school) during the semester before we got engaged. We didn't talk on the phone almost at all that entire semester, but instead wrote letters almost daily. It is a precious treasure of a keepsake.

Anyway, as I was flipping through the binder, I found a letter dated February 8, 2005, in which I wrote:

One thing I've kinda considered is the camp we do in Moldova- not as a counselor but a director for a while when the camp is trying to get on its feet. I dunno... Don't think I'm going to pack up and move to Moldova for 3 years, but it's just something I've considered because its a combination of two things I really love, camp and foreign missions.

Then in a letter dated February 22, 2005, Josh wrote that he'd been thinking about "the possibility of Moldova..."

I obviously had no concept, at that time, of who ran the camp (Eric, Stephanie, and a fine team of Moldovans), or how well-established it already was, but God was obviously already stirring in both of our hearts a desire to work in Moldova about four years before we would seriously consider it and commit to going.

I think that's pretty neat.

Jude Singing Part of the VeggieTales Theme Song

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:08:00 +0000

There are few things that this sweet boy loves more than VeggieTales. A few days ago, out of nowhere I heard him start singing the tune to the last part of the theme song. You know, the part where they say, "Broccoli, celery, gotta be... VeggieTales!" I didn't get a good video of it then, but yesterday and today I've sang it once for him, and he immediately grabs Larry (the cucumber) and starts singing it!

I love this sweet boy so much, and I love hearing him sing, even if he doesn't understand the words!

Project 366: Days 8-14

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:17:00 +0000

Day 8: Beautiful Memaw

Day 9: Home From the Dentist

Day 10: Calvin

Day 11: Pea Balls

Day 12: Mail Run

Day 13: Finally

Day 14: Welcome Home

I Heart Faces: By The Book

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:35:00 +0000

This week's theme at I Heart Faces is By the Book. I had a hard time choosing between a couple of other great pictures of people reading, but when I remembered that I had this one, the search was over. I had so much fun with this sweet family, and I loved their precious kids!

Project 366: Days 1-7

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

I wasn't sure if I wanted to share my Project 366 photos on my blog this year, but the further I get into it, the more I just can't let them languish in an iPhoto album all year. I think I'm going to post them a week at a time as I get around to it.

Like I said in my earlier post about what I want to do differently with my photo a day project this year, part of what bogged me down with the project last year was the pressure to get each day's photo edited and posted on here on time. This year, I'm taking it easy and editing three or four at a time as I get around to it, and I'm enjoying it a lot more.

Also, last year I worried a lot about having too many pictures of Josh and Jude, and I think that as a result, I missed some great moments that really should have been a part of my project. So this year, although I still want a very diverse range of pictures, I'm not worrying about it. I'm glad I didn't decide to quit after my first year of a photo a day project. I feel like I learned a lot last year, and this year's pictures are going to be even better because of it!

So, here you go, my first week of Project366:

Day 1: Happy New Year

Day 2: First Snow

Day 3: Love

Day 4: Last Day at Starbucks

Day 5: Goodbye

Day 6: Slide Fun

Day 7: Mom's Old House

30 Before 30

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:42:00 +0000

About 2 months ago, I had a revelation: I was going to be 28 soon! That meant I was a little over 2 years from being 30! Today, I really am 2 years from being 30. I know that turning 30 may not sound like much to those of you who have already taken that leap, but you have to admit that it's quite a big deal for every 20-something.

Me, too young to ever dream of turning 30, and my cousin Jeff, who has already climbed that hill.

So, I decided that I wanted to make a list of 30 things I want to do before I turn 30. I wanted my list to be challenging and ambitious, but relatively affordable and totally do-able. I started jotting things down in a note on my phone as they came to mind. Now, on my 28th birthday, I'm sharing this list with you.

I'm excited about every single thing on my list, but once I finished it and looked back at it I realized that I'm really going to have to make this stuff happen! One of my most ambitious goals is #29: Run a half marathon. That's not just something I can decide to do one weekend for fun... I really have to work for that! A couple of goals-- like #2: Have a VBAC and #11: Have a conversation with Jude-- are almost completely in the Lord's hands, but they are still things I really want to be able to do in the next 2 years.

Anyway... without further ado, here is my list:

1. Adopt a child
2. Have a VBAC
3. Re-visit Moldova
4. Visit a new country
5. Go to the Louisville Science Center
6. Photograph a wedding
7. Have professional pictures taken of our family, plus parents, Jessi, & Mark
8. Go to an IKEA and buy something
9. Memorize a Psalm
10. Take dancing lessons with Josh
11. Have a conversation with Jude
12. Grow a garden
13. Build something
14. Attend a TEDx event
15. Go to the Nashville flea market with Mom
16. Reupholster a piece of furniture
17. Fly in a bi-plane
18. Anonymously buy a stranger's meal at a restaurant
19. See a live play/musical
20. Own and wear a really cool vintage dress from the 50's
21. Host a Moldovan meal
22. Welcome at the airport friends bringing home adopted children and photograph the event
23. Start meeting with an accountability partner regularly
24. Throw my own birthday party
25. Finish Jude's quilt
26. Buy a vehicle with a third row
27. Host a Bible study
28. Attend a live Prairie Home Companion show
29. Run a half marathon
30. Finish my Moldova scrapbook

Yikes! It feels a little vulnerable to put that out there. I'll keep you updated on how things are going with my list as I check things off. Wish me luck!

2012 Project365

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:24:00 +0000

Well... Happy New Year, y'all.

Day 1: Happy New Year

You may have noticed that my blog has been severely neglected lately. Things have been extremely busy around here, and, although I often think of things that I would like to blog about, I just never make the time to sit down and write like I used to.

I'm still chewing on my thoughts about the future of this blog. There for a while, I was a really consistent blogger, and I was enjoying the way the blog was shaping up. But honestly, it's just not a priority for me anymore... and that is more than okay with me. I have a home to keep clean and laundry to do, I have a son with special needs who requires more of my time and energy than the average kid, I have a menu which requires that everything we eat be made from scratch because of our limited diet needs, I have a blooming photography business that I'm really enjoying, I have a husband with whom I love to spend time, and I also have a need to get a good night's sleep. That doesn't leave much time for blogging.

Anyway, I think that this little break I've taken from blogging will free me to be a less consistent blogger, which will hopefully make make me at least slightly more consistent than I've been the last few months. I finally accepted that I don't have to pressure myself to do a giveaway every Friday (giveaways are a LOT of work), a recipe every Monday, a picture every day, and on and on. I'd like to think that will mean that I'll do more meaningful posts.

Speaking of the picture every day thing, I had just about decided not to do a project 365 for 2012 because I have failed so miserably at getting the pictures up on my blog in the last few months. I even got lazy in November and had a few days where I didn't take a picture at all. The good news is that I ended the year with a resolve to make my December pictures great, and I made it happen. That, combined with the "This was the Year" book I'm making at Paper Coterie from my favorite project365 pictures from 2011, has reenergized my love for the daily challenge. I can't stop taking a photo every day. I'm not sure if I'll blog them every day or not, though. We'll see.

I am making a couple of rules/challenges for myself, though.
1. No cell phone pictures. I used a lot of cell phone pictures last year and I'm just not happy with them. My sister-in-law did a project365 in 2011 entirely of pictures from her iphone 4, and they are super cool. But when I mixed pictures from my iphone 3 in with pictures from my 60D, it just looked bad.

2. I want to get in more pictures. I managed to get in quite a few in 2011 by using the timer or shooting into a reflextion, but I want to challenge myself to get in even more of the pictures this year.

3. No (okay, at least much fewer) lazy snapshots. I want pictures that I'm proud of, even when they are of the simple, everyday things. Especially when they're of the simple, everyday things.

That's it, I guess.

Are you doing a project365 in 2012? Do you have any rules or challenges for yourself? Will you display your pictures online? If so, how?

I look forward to walking through 2012 with you!

Christmas Round-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:28:00 +0000

Since I haven't had time to blog much lately, I thought I'd do a round-up of some of my favorite blog posts from Christmases past... the good kind... not the Scrooge kind.

How about a nice big cheesy "Merry Christmas" smile from me to you?

First, always, is the requisite annual watching of Little Joshy, Cousin Audrey, and Maddie Mae telling the Christmas story. If you've never seen it, you'll love it. If you've seen it before, you'll love it all over again.

Last year, I was confused by the wording "The Lord is come" in the song Joy to the World, so I did some research and learned some really cool stuff. Who knew grammar could be so theologically packed?

If you're still looking for some good Christmas music for tonight or tomorrow, check out all of the awesome free (legal!) Christmas music on noisetrade.com. I bet 3/4 of our Christmas music collection has come from there.

You can enjoy watching my advanced English class from the school in Moldova singing Silent Night in English, Romanian, and Russian. I miss them so much.

And lastly, if you want some free last minute photo ornaments, take a look at how I made these festive ones last year.

Merry Christmas and God bless!

I Heart Faces: Bust a Gut

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:46:00 +0000

I haven't entered an I Heart Faces challenge in a while, but I knew I had the perfect picture for the bust a gut challenge.

A couple of weeks ago while shooting the precious Dandeneau family, I was getting some of the mom and her two grown daughters when they got the giggles... or more like the gut busting laughs!

Day 317: The Eye Doctor

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:22:00 +0000

Day 316: GFCF Supercookie

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Day 315: Pizza for Two

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:20:00 +0000

GFCF on the left, regular on the right.

Day 314: Boy in the Mirror

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:19:00 +0000

Please don't mind the giant water stains on the couch from the leakiest sippy cup EVER.

Day 313: Old Blackie

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:19:00 +0000

Day 312: Dinner Fail

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:18:00 +0000

Day 311: Water Break

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:17:00 +0000

Day 310: It's Hard to Be Big

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:17:00 +0000

Day 309: Lamborghini

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:09:00 +0000

Day 308: Lacing Beads

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy Leigh Hutchens) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:08:00 +0000