Housewife In Town

I've Moved!

2013-04-04T15:34:00.001-07:00

I am now posting at www.peteandbuzz.com -- please come visit me there!!

Why did I move? Well, I suppose I needed a shell with more space. I wanted to merge my shop and blog into one bigger presence and use the space to tell real life stories AND share handmade and creative love. My kids are growing, I have a bit more time for creative pursuits, and I'm just not identifying with the "housewife" label as much as I used to.

So -- visit my new digs to see my quilts and blankets, for creative inspiration, writing, photography, and of course a huge dose of honest and transparent real life. Hope to see you there!

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I'll Only Do This Once

2013-02-27T20:26:00.001-08:00

Moving. It's something I did so very much of as a kid, packing boxes, saying goodbye to friends, excited about new bedrooms and meeting new neighbors, missing pets that tried to go back home. I think change is character building. But it's also really really hard.

Sometimes to experience growth and blessings, we have to push our way through difficult change.

And so -- the re-branding of this blog. The new domain name. The merging of handmade shop and blog. The solidifying of goals and personal style. The changes that needed to happen. I went for it.

And maybe only thirteen of you will follow me. That's OK.

Here's the rub: I have been on a journey to find myself, to discover what I really deep down care about. I've been searching for my own authentic voice, the one that speaks without worry of what the listener will say. I've been digging up my passions and dusting them off, naming them and getting them dressed for the day. This space is more up front and you-get-what-you-get than it has been in the past and I'm more proud of it than I have been in earlier days.

If you are interested in handmade things, outdoor adventures, philanthropy, healthy eating, and topics of faith -- you'll want to follow all my posts. You'll love it. You'll be inspired and encouraged.

But I won't be posting about fashion, crafts {well, not many}, or pop culture. :)

So -- goodbye "Housewife in Town", hello "Pete and Buzz"!

Would those of you who want to stay with me do a couple things?
1) resubscribe by email if you like getting an email each time I post {see sidebar}
2) like Pete and Buzz on Facebook to get updates from me {new posts, random thoughts, etc}
3) let me know if you run across any broken links as you click through the new digs
4) tell me what you think in the comments!

THANK YOU.

{dear you}

2013-02-24T16:45:00.001-08:00

I write such great blog posts in the shower. It's the only place quiet enough for me to get intimate with my thoughts and form complete, logical sentences. Seriously, you guys, I need a waterproof keyboard.

So this post is me, sitting out here in my chair {fully dressed} trying to remember my warm-water-induced logic. Wish me luck.

Photography
We went up to the snow again today, this time with our cross country skis {and snowshoes for the littlest one}. I geared everyone up, grabbed my camera and started snapping some pictures. Then, as we started moving away from the car, I realized I really truly didn't want to take it with me. I have a thousand pictures of these boys in the snow, my right hand gets cold without its glove and I want to SKI. Which might include falling over into the FEET of powder and lodging snow all over inside my poor camera. So I asked Tim to unlock the car and put it safely away.

It was a really hard choice.

And it leaves me wondering what to do -- because part of me love love loves capturing our fun adventurous memories and want to actually travel the world to take photographs and the other part of me wants to really truly adventure -- getting wet, smashed against rocks, banged up and bruised {well, maybe not to that degree, but you get the idea, right?}. I just don't want to have to worry about my camera getting ruined or trying to get that perfect shot instead of enjoying the adrenaline of the activity. Oh dear. What to do.

My only brain wave {in the shower} was to get some really great shots of us doing the fun stuff not too far from the car, then return the camera to its safe place and go be wild and crazy. But that only works in some situations. Other times -- take the waterproof, dust-proof, bang-proof camera that takes sorta-good photos and be satisfied. OK. Still working on other possible solutions. :)

Guilt
I have a problem with guilt. Oh my do I ever. It's closely related to negative self-talk. And it is generally debilitating and just plain annoying. But it's so deeply ingrained within me -- it's going to take some hard work to get out. Tim says he'll tell me if I should REALLY be feeling guilty...all the other times, stop!

It gets really hard to enjoy the present moment when I'm feeling guilty about all sorts of other things. I need to stop that.

Finishing Things
I finished reading three books today while we drove to the snow. I may have skimmed through some of them {man, why can't some books be written with bullet points on about half as many pages?} but nevertheless it feels SO good to finish them. In the shower, I realized that I like finishing things because it means I can start something new. I really like starting new things. But something inside me won't let me until the old is finished.

And that's about when my shower ended {mostly out of guilt and partly because I knew my rememberer couldn't store many more amazing realizations}. I'll take another one soon.

Three Things Mothers Cannot Do Without
Hot Showers.
Chocolate.
Freedom from guilt.

tonight's random >> plant a seed with your silliest face

2013-02-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

:: we planted some seeds in our toilet paper rolls. think they'll grow? my husband isn't super hopeful.

:: these guys cannot help being silly. it's in their blood.

:: they eventually helped me a bit. and then went on to take flying leaps off couch cushions.

I'm tired. That's probably not super random. We call it being. a. mom. I'm reading the book Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae. It's good. There are other tired moms in the world. Join the club.

Chocolate. A hot shower. Early bedtime. Hike tomorrow.

{inspire} utah tour

2013-02-19T19:18:00.001-08:00

We're planning a whirlwind family trip to Utah this summer -- it's going to be so so fun!! I've been watching Sheena's tales of her family's adventures throughout Utah national parks. Wow, she's such a fun mom. So inspirational. :)

We'll be on the road for 10 or 11 days, spending only one night at each campsite {that's how we roll} and seeing LOTS of stuff. Have you been to Utah? What would you recommend we see?

Here's our rough itinerary so far:
Utah Lake
Zion, specifically The Narrows
Lake Powell, tour of the dam
Bryce Canyon
Goblin Valley
Arches NP
Mesa Verde

I know. That's a lot to see in one trip! But with younger kids, it works best for us to jet around and not spend too long in one place. Or maybe that works best for me. Or maybe I'll take this all back when we're done.

Here's some more inspiration for ya...can't EVER get enough Utah photography.

hiking up the narrows in Zion // hiking in Bryce Canyon // exploring Arches NP // visiting Mesa Verde

{faith} honey, where are the kids?

2013-02-18T10:10:00.001-08:00

Our pastor gave an illustration a couple weeks ago that made me smile and write some notes on my bulletin. He painted the picture of parents who finally get some time to themselves -- a weekend away or just an afternoon date. The first few hours are glorious with great conversation and laughter and then she glances into the backseat of the car to check on them and he takes the Disney CD out of the player and they exchange that look that says, "yeah, we kinda miss them."

They drive us NUTS, but yet, we do begin to miss them when they're not around.

We probably drive God nuts, in a way, but He still really wants to be with us. Regardless.

We are His creation, made in His image. He didn't stop at that though -- now we are His redeemed ones, rescued through ultimate sacrifice. We're pretty important to Him.

Read the rest at 5 Minutes for Faith... :)

{real life} self-sooth and get your pants dirty

2013-02-15T09:44:00.001-08:00

Today, I'm sharing some photos from our recent outside adventures with a few parenting and life tidbits thrown in for good measure. Happy day after "ball day" {what Ezra calls it now}.

I participated in a parenting webinar the other night, hosted by Amy McCready of Positive Parenting Solutions. Good stuff. Want a peek at my notes?

Children have plenty of needs {hah! don't we know!} but above physical needs like food and clothing and a safe place to sleep, they have these higher level needs that affect their behavior:
--they need to feel emotionally connected
--they need to feel significant
--they need age-appropriate power {independence, control over their lives}

Children DON'T KNOW how to get these needs met. They will try negative behaviors to try to get power or significance or connection -- whatever works. They need training and guidance to learn appropriate ways to get these needs met!

Three parenting strategies that often backfire:
--time out {becomes a power struggle}
--counting 1-2-3 {teaches the child that they have three chances before they are expected to obey}
--rewards {trains children to be externally motivated, they may not do what you ask if the reward isn't enough}

So at this point, all the parents attending the webinar were up in arms saying "what do we do instead?! you're taking away our only tools!" and of course, Amy has paid curriculum that she is hoping to sell so the webinar didn't provide all the answers. One takeaway {that we've already put into practice} is the "When--Then" strategy. "When your toys are put away, then you may go play outside with your friends." "When you eat the rest of your meal, then you may have a dessert." This works in many situations. Not all, of course, but many.

Above all -- try to avoid power struggles, teach delayed gratification based on internal motivators, try not to argue or negotiate, and expect obedience at the first request. We sometimes count down if the child needs a few seconds to wrap things up and needs an auditory reminder that time's a-wasting! Last night, the mess wasn't being cleaned up fast enough so story-time went from three down to two, then down to one. They will begin to realize that with fast obedience, their privileges remain intact.

I want to read more...

{dear ezra} my little snuggler

2013-02-12T14:25:00.001-08:00

Dear Ezra,

You are super cool. And it's about time you got a little note from your mama. You are my fast-growing-up baby with the spunkiest personality and the softest hair. Sometimes I let you get away with silly things {like sneaking food out of the pantry early in the morning}, cause I know they make you happy. You have the best faces, the tightest hugs, the cutest laugh.

I took you fabric shopping with me the other day and you were fun to shop with!! You were patient. You showed interest in fabric options. You played hide and seek with the cutting counter ladies. You snuggled up to the aisle of cuddle fabrics and minkey, so delighted. You love feeling soft things and cuddling up on my lap for a story. You are a feeler.

You like squishy mud. You like making dust in the air. You'd play in the sink more often if I'd let you.

Remote controls and you are best buds. You so so often want me to remote you or your Lego airplanes. Lately, the garage door opener button is your favorite. You have to be the one to open and close the door whenever we go somewhere.

You love Taco Bell. You get instantly hungry whenever we happen to drive by.

You're quick to yell and hit, it's true. You have a strong personality. But you also love deeply, usually expressed with physical touch.

You jumped off the diving board into the pool last week. You're brave.

You're my little cuddle bug and smiley ray of sunshine. I love you to the moon and back.

XOXO,
Your Mama :)

tonight's random >> tp and valentines

2013-02-11T20:13:00.002-08:00

I have a bathroom drawer full of toilet paper rolls waiting for scheduled seed planting to commence. I've been saving them for a few months. Wow, we use too much TP.

I'm going to try to recreate these valentines for Peter's class party on Wednesday.

Geocaching is fun. We found four caches in an hour on Sunday. It's such a great way to get kids to walk a longer distance without the complaining!

Ezra fell asleep while watching The Magic School Bus tonight. Guess the lesson on gravity was too much for him. He's so cute when he's asleep.

I've done enough taxes in the last two days to last a lifetime. Or one year. HAH. What a headache. Sure felt good to give that manila envelope to the postman, though.

I got a reflector for Christmas {thanks bro-in-law!} and I'm excited to read this tutorial and practice the concepts.

Oh my, the sunshine has been nice this month. I can't hardly be mean to February anymore - it's really turned over a new leaf!

I attended Kim's Influence class tonight and really enjoyed it. One of the other participants shared her handmade shop and my eyes landed on these. They are little hair clippies. Beautiful, yes? :)

So, my mind is churning over handmade shop things and now that the taxes are done, I can hopefully be creative again. :) Be watching for a love note to my Ezra and some etsy-esque topics coming down the pipe this week.

My husband and I are still thinking about what to do tomorrow night. DATE NIGHT!! hmm...something romantic...

the dark and foggy night >>Jesus Stories

2013-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

It was a really dark night. Fog hung amid the naked tree branches like a chiffon dress -- not serving any practical purpose, just adding to the mystery and foreboding gloom of the evening.

Questions fogged his brain too, causing him to stumble over exposed roots as he clumsily followed the others, none sure of where they were headed. He thought over the words spoken at dinner. He still didn't understand the rushed exit and thought perhaps he had missed something. Something that needed to be done and fast...but what could that be? And why were they headed out of town on such a cold, lonely evening?

The moon, struggling to shine some light on their path, illuminated a field of vines -- dead, fruitless, overgrown and obviously uncared for. The group paused as its leader spoke:

"I'm like a grapevine planted in my Father's vineyard, and He's the gardener. You are the branches. If there is a branch on the vine that does not bear fruit, He will cut it off; those branches that do bear fruit He will keep on trimming so they can bear more fruit. Your characters have been shaped already because I shared the Word of God with you and you accepted it as such. Stay with me and I'll stay with you. Just like branches can't bear fruit on their own unless they're attached to the vine, neither can you bear heavenly fruit unless you're attached to me."

John 15:1-4 Clear Word

I want to read more...

{food} vegan potato corn soup

2013-02-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

First, let me tell you about this soup.

It's completely non-dairy, and yet very creamy and delicious. It's got garlic and dill and chunks of yukon gold potatoes. I used corn from the freezer that I took straight off the cob a few summers ago. Obviously, it was very good. A nice hearty winter bowl of comfort. Make it thicker if you need a tighter hug.

Now, do you know how hard it is to photograph white soup with white and yellow chunks in it? Hard. I tried to contrast with one of my blue bowls {only four left from our wedding registry...} but still. I have a lot to learn and not much to work with. Maybe Goodwill will be kind to me and I'll find some cool photo props for my food. :)

Vegan Potato Corn Soup
shared by a friend
1 onion, diced
1 tbsp vegetable or coconut oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
5 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 tsp salt
1 tsp dill weed
1 1/2 tbsp chicken seasoning
4 cups water
4 cups corn
1 can coconut milk

In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil for 3-5 minutes. Add cubed potatoes and continue to saute for a few minutes. Add salt and dill weed, then chicken seasoning mixed with water. Add corn and coconut milk and bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.

{dear you}

2013-02-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

Real quick, cause it's past my bedtime...

::drops of awesome
I have to tell you about this drops of awesome thing. I read about it on someone else's blog and something clicked inside me. I'm so often the pessimist/perfectionist who says fatalistic things to myself and sees all my attempts at nowhere near what they need to be. Seriously not cool. SO. Enter your awesome bucket. Picture an eye dropper and a drop of awesome for each little single thing you do right. At the end of the day I didn't do EVERYTHING I might have hoped to do. I'm sure I wasn't perfect. But I got a bunch of awesome drops!!

Racing around the house with my kids = drop of awesome.
Making quesadillas that they loved = drop of awesome.
Buying groceries AND unloading them and putting them away = drop of awesome.
Folding part of the laundry = drop of awesome.
Hugging my husband when he came home from work = drop of awesome.

I love looking back at the day like this. What a revolutionary change in mindset. Sorry if it's not new to you. I'm slightly stoked. =)

::very very favorite song
So this song came on my Pandora radio station this afternoon and my sweet three-year-old gets the biggest grin on his face and says "this is my very very favorite song, mommy!" Break my heart cute. It's got a cute melody. We like the lyrics from the sesame street version. ;)
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 by Feist on Grooveshark

::being vulnerable and honest
I'm starting a very intentional journey towards being OK with who I am. I've been afraid for too long that if I was really myself, people wouldn't like me. That I needed to be something better than what I was. But I'm always attracted to the people who are totally cool with their quirks and their unique personality. I'm gonna get there. All part of my year toward greater honesty.

::best commercial ever
And being totally honest -- I LOVE this commercial so much, on many levels. I can imagine my husband doing something like this. How sweetly romantic!!!! And as much as we didn't have a super good time in San Francisco in January, I really think the steep streets are cool. This guy is crazy trying to ride up them. I want to go back sometime when I have more time to explore.

{reallife} snot head

2013-02-04T12:10:00.003-08:00

I've been at some level of being sick for the past ten days now, yesterday being the worst with my sinuses miserably stuffed up and achy. I've been trying to meet all my obligations in the midst of it all, but it's about time for a nothing day.

Nothing meaning I'll still need to cook some rice and bake a yam and juice a carrot or two. And read Snowmen at Night again. And remote his lego helicopter. And pick up his brother and friends this afternoon. And probably monitor playtime with neighbor friend. And play hide and seek and put them both to bed since daddy will be home late.

Yeah, who am I kidding? But I'm going to try try try to rest my weary bones and kick this annoying, lingering congestion that makes me sleep with my mouth open at night {worst ever}.

I should probably have stayed home this weekend, but wanting to enjoy some family time and see the sunshine, I accompanied the boys up to the snow for some shoeing and sledding.

My husband and I were due for a nice little chat about things we disagree about, so the drive up to the mountain {and back} was fraught with emotion and conflict. And the pain of increasing and decreasing in elevation with a head full of snot.

I want to read more...

{inspire} food in february

2013-02-01T04:46:00.000-08:00

lemon loaf by sprouted kitchen // roasted red pepper scones by joy the baker

sweet potato and black bean flautas by peas and crayons // lemon poppy seed zucchini bread by the weigands

lemon poppyseed waffles by lovin' from the oven // pecan cinnamon rolls by alexandra's kitchen

cheesy vegetable soup by lulu the baker // greek quesadillas by a couple cooks // spiced green smoothie by 80 twenty

I'm envisioning heart-shaped roasted red pepper scones...and a thousand lemony desserts.

{reallife} life and the pursuit of happy

2013-01-30T11:33:00.002-08:00

I've had a lot on my mind lately.

So of course, I either get really quiet, or I write a really long annoying blog post. Maybe there's a third option. I guess we'll see.

I am constantly analyzing life. Watching what works and what doesn't work, setting goals, changing strategies, looking for new ways of doing something, working towards better things. Truth told, it's a bit exhausting.

I should probably just tell myself to lighten up.

There are many who would say, stop thinking about happiness and just go be happy.

I want to read more...

{giveaway} Edie's ebook, 31 Days to a Heart of Hospitality

2013-01-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have a treat for you guys today. :)

Have you visited Edie's blog, Life{In}Grace? Over the past two years, she and her family have been rebuilding their home and their lives after a tragic house fire. This ebook, all about hospitality, was born out of that grief and was a product of the healing that comes from pushing through difficult times enveloped in God's grace.

I love how she says, "Hospitality isn’t about inviting people into our perfect homes, it’s about inviting them into our imperfect hearts."

In her book, she writes about the ordinary days. She writes about the lack of margin in our lives. She writes about needing others. She writes about marriage. And somehow, she ties it all beautifully into a package entirely about hospitality.

These words particularly spoke to me, "We are not rugged individualists at our core. We are vulnerable, lonely people who NEED each other. And not only have we stopped caring for each other, we've stopped seeing each other. Hospitality, in the truest sense, is our need to be known and loved -- to really be seen."

You can purchase her 117 pages of wisdom and inspiration right here, for $5.

I want to read more...

{faith} made for more

2013-01-26T08:39:00.000-08:00

So often I find myself longing for more beauty. Cuter clothes, prettier hair, warmer weather, interesting places to visit, a nicely decorated home, beautiful food.

We're designed to crave beauty.

We're also designed to long for heaven.

Yesterday, again, I caught myself discontented. Over-thinking, yearning, wishing, wondering how I could fill the empty void. At some point during the day I caught a glimpse of the eternal and things fell back into the perspective of this-world-is-not-our-home.

"The world, beautiful as it is, is not enough. The beauty itself doesn't satisfy. It promises satisfation that, mirage-like, it can't provide. Yet the beauty is a mimetic clue, both echo and foretaste, of Things Unseen, an enigmatic hint of Elsewhere which we puzzle over but rarely decipher. He has set eternity on the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done. He is everywhere baiting us, prodding, luring us. He is playing hide-and-seek with heaven and earth, strewing clues all around, brushing the commonplace with the scent of Things Unseen." from Things Unseen by Mark Buchanan

Thank you, God, for the promise of forever, that this world isn't all you have for us. Thank you for the glimpses of amazing, for the snow-covered peaks and icy rivers, for the sun above the fog, for the little clues that speak to us of our futures. Thank you for making our world beautiful, just a foretaste of what is to come.

for when you're not seeing updates on facebook

2013-01-24T20:52:00.001-08:00

It turns out that less than 1/5th of you are seeing my status updates on Facebook. {I realize I'm probably preaching to the choir...} Some of you subscribe by email and are notified with each new post, but others simply click "Like" on Facebook and then may never hear from me again.

How sad! Well, unless you like it that way. ;-o

Anyhow, since I'd like to remain optimistic that my content is interesting and most of you would like to be alerted to a new post, here's some helpful information for you. Listen up.

You know the "Like" button that you clicked at some point? Here? {down there}

If you hover over it, you'll see some options.

You can select "Get Notifications" and for each of my status updates you'll get a little linky blurb when you click on your world icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
You can select "Show in News Feed" which may or may not actually work, but is worth a try.
Or you can create an Interests List {my fav} and then add me to it. Then you have a whole 'nother news feed with all your best business and blog pages who you want to stay in touch with. Mine is called "Pages I Like" and I can click on the link on the left sidebar under "Interests".

Enough to make your brain batty? Well, I hope it helps. And always, thanks for reading!

{food} snowballs

2013-01-23T16:52:00.000-08:00

Raw no-bake cookies -- they really are quite an invention. I've tried a number of different recipes which all have their merits. There are the date truffles, with pumpkin seeds and cinnamon. And the oatmeal bites with walnuts and dark chocolate.

And these. These are a childhood favorite of mine -- I remember eating two or three at a time straight out of the fridge.
Mmmm, they are so yummy cold.

I want to read more...

{reallife} it's wintertime

2013-01-20T21:33:00.000-08:00

I want to read more...

{inspire} links to share

2013-01-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

travel photography tips from simple as that // brilliant learning games from Jennifer
ways to travel cheap from headed somewhere // ways to build confidence from headed somewhere

joythebaker with many many juicing recipes // sheena with one of her favorites

Inspirational Reads:
why its ok to admit that you're a bit of a mess at 5 minutes for faith
please don't help my kids by katie baker

Parenting Poetry:
RX by sarah dunning park
It hit me,
helping my listless kid into the backseat
and then reaching, tissue in hand,
to swipe at her sister’s runny nose:
It’s impossible to stop.

Her incessant stuffiness, yes,
and that junky cough that won’t quit—
but even more, it’s impossible to stop
this cycle of constant motion.
read the rest at simple mom

Piano Guys Love:

"I walk like my being on time or getting whatever it is done does not make me more or less loved.

I am whole because of Christ.

I can walk slow because I am enough."

Micha Boyett in The Spiritual Practice of Slowness

fresh grace every morning

2013-01-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

May you feel clean and accepted and sheltered and chosen and loved.

Happy weekend.

{food} Grandma's Cornmeal Buns

2013-01-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

I've eaten these moist, delicious rolls all my life, probably. Taken them for granted, I'm sure. Then, after moving 400 miles away from the Grandma these are named after and no longer living with my mom, her daughter, who carried on the baking tradition, I realized....if I wanted these buns, I'd have to make them myself.

Actually, my mom brought them over for our Christmas meal together and reminded me of their delicate amazingness.

Sometimes you just realize -- it's time.

So I made the dough. It's not a quick bread, like I've been in the habit of making lately. But it doesn't take much kneading.
It's really soft.

The trick is simply doing everything in the right order and planning rise time into your day.

I want to read more...

{faith} the struggle to surrender

2013-01-15T05:21:00.000-08:00

My three year old struggled tonight.

Tired, but full of excuses why he couldn't get into bed yet. He kicked and screamed, back arched, yelling "don't talk to me!" He didn't want me to hold him. Didn't want me to sing. Didn't want me to do anything.

I sat on the bathroom floor next to him while he flailed, wailing. And I waited.

He eventually calmed down and climbed into my lap, resting his head on my shoulder. I said, "do you want me to sing to you?"

His whispered "yes" put a lump in my throat. I sang "Jesus Loves the Little Children", "God is so Good", "My God Loves Me" and "Amazing Grace". He relaxed. His breathing became louder and more rhythmic. His head began to roll down my arm.

I turned the light off and kept singing verses of Amazing Grace, holding his head up and putting my fingers through his soft hair.

More for me than for him.

Because I much prefer the calm, settled warm body in my arms than the struggling, fighting, angry one. I needed to feel his submission. I needed to feel the quiet bond between us.

Keep reading over at 5 Minutes for Faith...

{real life} focusing in on a new year

2013-01-13T19:51:00.000-08:00

We went to California. It was sunny. Of course, right? No, we went to San Francisco, the home of @KarlTheFog.
And it was sunny there and sunny everywhere. Lucky us. :)

Our boys got to play with their cousins who we don't see often enough.
We hiked, we teased, we remote controlled, we ate, we played at the park, it was grand.

I want to read more...