Baby fever

Posted on | Friday, April 29, 2011 | No Comments

It's amazing seeing a newborn. You forget how tiny babies truly are. Rubey is two months old and yet I feel like she must have been born last week. She feels so fragile and delicate. I can't fathom that my tall strapping young boy was once so small, but I know he must have been.

Pray.

Posted on | Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | No Comments

I know most of the people who read this already are already aware -- but Tuscaloosa, AL and the surrounding area was hit by a devastating tornado this evening. Fatalities are being reported and there are areas that, from the pictures, looks to be completely destroyed. The video below gives a good idea of how severe the tornado was:

Where's the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!

Posted on | Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | No Comments

Earlier this spring I was given some very disheartening news. My step-Dad was informed that the vacation time he had wanted for my wedding had been cancelled. In fact, all vacation time for the summer months has been cancelled for all employees. The construction company he works for had bid on several very expensive contracts, the result being a great deal of work for the crew. They needed everyone on board. Which means no one gets time off.

I told him about my idea and he liked it.

Ten things I love Sunday!

Posted on | Sunday, April 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

I almost forgot to do this again! Better late than never, right? Apologies if it looks a little sloppy, I am chasing around a very hyper four-year-old whilst combating a weather-induced flare up. At least I have a nice mug of roobios tea to keep me company and my list of ten wonderful things.

Enjoy!


1. He Has Risen!

No matter what, this will always be something that I love. Love isn't even the right word. Gratitude? Humility? Reverence? I have such a strong and unspeakable surge of emotion when I think of the sacrifice Christ made for us. For sinners who are so undeserving. How great a love He has that He would give His life for my soul. My tarnished, small, insignificant soul. I love you, Lord. And I love today.

2. Books

I love books. But especially I love old books. Books that people wrote notes int he margins about, ones that were published a hundred years back and have that fragile feel to them. You want to be delicate with them, because books don't always live that long, especially now with the worlds library available online and elsewhere.

3. Toasters

This super awesome do-dad is from Think Geek. How awesome would it be for your own toast to say "bite me" on it? Pretty awesome, I say. Let's not forget that the toaster itself is pretty darn cute, even without the pop art designs.

4. Fondue

Fondue is awesome. Dunking pieces of food in other melted food with sticks -- genious! But I particularly love this idea. Adding in sprinkles and other delectables just makes it so much more fun. I would totally throw a fondue party just to use the colorful sprinkles. I'm actually making myself hungry looking at this picture...

5. Bicycles

Okay, so it may not be the most FUNCTIONAL bike out there, but this idea is so neat. I would love to have an "Alisha" bike in bright teal (unless I decide to name my bikes like I name everything else, then there might be a problem...). I can't wait until these guys finish their prototypes, because I would totally be buying one.

6. Bookshelves

It's a tree! It's a bookshelf! No, it's both! True, you can't hold as much on one of these tree but the idea is still so cute. I could see us having one for Kael's bedroom to stack all of his Dr. Seuss books. And, maybe one for the living room too.

7. The People In Books

I wish I had thought of this! The idea is a collection of characters from famous books (check it -- GRYFFINDOR!) who strive to stay in the real world. Photos of different fairy tale characters getting sucked into their respective titles. The series itself is called “Get Back In Your Book” is a series of photos done by Lissy Laricchia.

8. Starfleet

I wish I knew who had designed these shoes. The geek in me is having a complete fit about them. They're Starfleet Academy heels!!! Although I am a little bit concerned about them being red. Red is not a good color for Starfleet. Maybe I can swap them out for Pavel yellow or McCoy blue...

9. Bounce House

I have no words for this other that it is awesome. And that I am wondering how they hang pictures on the wall.

10. Spoons

Why are all the cute things on the internet?? I love this idea so much. And I love that the spoons are different sizes and from completely different sets. It's the same way with people; two completely different sets come together and they share their lives with each other. Ice cream included.

Spring Carnival

Posted on | Saturday, April 23, 2011 | 1 Comment

Every spring just before Easter Norman does what is called Kick Butts Day, which is a city event that campaigns against smoking while offering a positive environment for children to play in. This year they had an egg hunt, bounce houses, snow cones, pizza, and popcorn free to the public. They also had a live DJ playing some pretty nifty tunes while explaining the hazards of smoking.

It's like taking home a baby

Posted on | Friday, April 22, 2011 | No Comments

Let me start off this post my saying that I love Katy. I really do. She is my go-to girl for just about everything and I am so thankful we shared that silly communications class in college or else I may have never met her.

Katy is like me in a lot of ways. She gets excited about life, even the smaller parts of it. It's why I love spending time with her (or at least one of the reasons). She will get just as jubliant about the half off Hobby Lobby yarn as I will and finds the idea of thrift store shopping to be a dream come true. We can gush about how great cooking is, and how wonderful good food can be. If either of us has a problem or needs help we know the other is only a phone call away.

Remembering.

Posted on | Tuesday, April 19, 2011 | No Comments

Ten things I love Sunday!

Posted on | Sunday, April 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

People, I cannot tell you how joyous I am that this illness is finally passing. It's such a relief to feel like myself again, even if I am slightly more sluggish than usual. I have energy. I never realized how much I took for granted my ability to do things. Even the most simple things, like doing my dishes or folding laundry. It's humbling in the most wonderful way.

1. Moustache Band-Aids!

I love how popular moustaches have become. Has anyone else noticed how stupendously popular moustaches are? Finger moustaches, and band-aids, and those awesome fake glasses with a nose and huge Groucho Marx 'stache. I wouldn't go as far as to purposefully hurt myself to have one of these awesome bandages, but I definitely want to have one of those moustaches on a stick and carry it around. If only for the simple purpose prove how superbly awesome I am.

2. Túró Rudi

3. Directions

I wish so much that this sign post was real. So many of these places are intrinsically linked to my childhood. Places of magic and wonder, places that pushed my imagination and made me see beyond my own little corner of the universe. I would lay in bed for ages dreaming about Narnia as a small child, and would joke with my other super-awesome-geeky friends in high school about how incredible it would be to receive an owl, even if that owl was a few years late.

4. Long Hair

One of the things I missed most when my hair was short was that I couldn't put it up in braids. Tying it up in a pony tail was even impossible at certain points in time (my hair has been amazingly short during some parts of my adulthood). I love having my hair in French braids or pig tails, but I haven't had a chance to try any of these yet. Although my hair might need to be a little bit longer to have them look right, some of my layers are still a bit short.

5. Breakfast

While I know it's obvious that this is meant as a meal for two, I would still have a fit of ecstacy if this was my breakfast on glorious morning. Just look at that tray. Take it all in: eggs (in adorable little cups no less!), coffee/tea AND hot cocoa, strawberries, cheese, and holy-mother-of-all-that-is-carbs bread. I think half of what makes it so lovely is the presentation. Everything already looks so delicious, and you do feast first with your eyes right? I'm getting hungry just writing this. Yummy.

6. Geekery

Okay, so I'm not a math geek by any stretch of the imagination, but this clock is seriously amazing. I love that they used graph paper and old school white board markers (or is that a Sharpie?). It's so wonderful and silly and great. The biggest question now is whether some ingenious person made this by hand or if I can buy it somewhere so that the incredible geekery of this time piece might be mine as well.

7. Adorable Space Heaters

How cute is this?! No really -- HOW CUTE IS THIS?? It's a piggy space heater! Just stop for a moment and let that sink in. How much cuter would your house be with this little guy there to keep you warm and toasty? Just imagine -- it's a cold and blustery day, you are cuddled on your favorite chair/couch with maybe a blanket and a warm drink in your hands. Then you casually reach over to turn on your little piggy and smile because of how adorable it is. Space Heating Piggy is the perfect company to keep during the colder months. Every person in Iceland and Norway should own one.

8. Fishies

Betta fish make me lament my inability to keep and sustain aquatic life. I'm like Darla from Finding Nemo, except I don't shake the bag. i just put them in the tank and within a matter of days every fish I have owned has decided that the toilet bowl was a better place than my house. I really wish I could keep them alive though. Betta fish are so stunning. Especially the crowntail Bettas. Maybe Alex will have better luck keeping a fish alive. We can get a fish, right Alex?

9. The Magic of Disney

Oh, this picture. This picture makes me miss Disneyland/world. It also makes me giggle like a small child hyped up on a bucket full of skittles. I haven't been to Disneyland since I was a little kid (and I've never been to Disneyworld. A tragedy, I know). I can't help but wonder whether or not the magic is still there after all this time. I hope it is, I hope I can share that with my own kids. Well. I suppose if Mickey doesn't cut it anymore I can always make a hop skip and a jump to Harry Potter World. They have butterbeer.

10. Bubbles!!

Bubbles are awesome. They just are. This video is proof of that. Gigantic, amazing, and effervescent as they float by. There's sometihng really beautiful and enchanting about bubbles. They only last for a few moments before disappearing, but for some reason those few moments are all it takes to make anyone watching (or blowing) bubbles to suddenly feel like a joyous child again.

Duck, duck, goose

Posted on | Saturday, April 16, 2011 | No Comments

I woke up this morning feeling better than I have felt in a week. It was so nice to be able to breathe again! I'm still coughing a lot and feeling cruddy around the edges, but it's so much better than it has been. I see the light at the end of the tunnel! I actually had the energy to clean my house today! There's something about a clean house that is calming to the nerves. Besides, if I have energy to clean my house I have to be getting better.

To celebrate my body's turn back to good health Kael and I decided to go for a drive (and maybe pick up some fruit slushes and fries from Sonic, don't tell anyone). The weather was absolutely lovely today and it just seemed fitting to do more than be couped up in the house. During our little trip we ran into another family enjoying the warm weather.

A family/gaggle of geese! Papa Goose was standing in the road honking loudly at me, as though daring my behemoth of a car to move and harm any of his exceedingly adorable babies. As if I would ever! I mean look at them, who could ever harm something so cute?! Two of the hatchlings were struggling to get back on the grass (they were in the process of crossing the street as we approached and quickly changed plans). As we waited I pulled out my cell phone and tried to snap a few pictures of the cute fowl family.

Sometimes I really mentally kick myself for not bringing my camera with me everywhere I go. Oh, well.

Kael distinctly counted nine geese, although he kept calling them "duckies". He was mesmerized by the fluffy babies more than anything else and gasped in alarm when one of them tripped over their little feet and face-planted it in the dirt. As the last little gosling made its way onto the grass Papa Goose honked loudly again and followed his little family back to the grass. We sat and watched them for a few more moments before driving away.

Sometimes, it really is the tiny things that make bad weeks so much better.

Shark vs. Train

Posted on | Friday, April 15, 2011 | No Comments

I'm still sicker than a dog (a two hour visit to urgent care earlier today verified that I still have a sinus and ear infection and I now have an exceedingly awful bronchial infection to boot!). I'm on new medications and with any luck that will help me heal up a bit faster. There's nothing worse than being so sick you can't even leave the house. Kael is feeling a little under the weather, too. But thankfully it's nothing near as bad as what my body is fighting off.

It drove me nuts for my Mom to tell me, "You can pick one book." One book?! Out of these millions of amazing new things I can read?! It was so unfair! Of course I would eventually pick one and spend the next week pouring over the pictures and words.

How could I not let Kael experience that, too?

Kael went through the same phenomenon I did as a child. Which book to pick? There were so many! It's not an easy choice for a four-year-old to make. It's not an easy choice for any person, come to think of it (have you ever seen adults meandering about Barnes & Noble for hours on end? I rest my case).

Hmmmm. Maybe the Dr. Seuss book about super awesome reptiles? It has alligators in it! And it even explains how they lay their eggs!



Wait. I think we might have a contender. This book is about a shark and a train competing against one another. Who can ride a space ship the best or fight on a tigh rope better? These are serious questions that Shark vs. Train answers. Kael was entralled.

Frankly, I was a bit amazed myself. It was really a nifty book.

And it came home with us!! Kael is currently sitting on the living room floor turning page after page and describing in detail each imaginative competition. Whoever thought of this book was a genious. I would have never thought in a million years of a shark and a train playing basketball.

I love book fairs.

Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!!

Posted on | Wednesday, April 13, 2011 | 2 Comments

I realized after posting my last blog post that this would be my 100th blog post. I’m honestly shocked I’ve reached the one hundred mark so quickly. I thought I would have time to plan for something splendid and wonderful, but I seemed to be a little bit pressed for time. That, and I'm still sicker than a dog and not up for doing anything flashy.

Sick sick sick!

Posted on | Tuesday, April 12, 2011 | No Comments

Ten things I love Sunday!

Posted on | Sunday, April 10, 2011 | 1 Comment

I realized halfway through last week that I had forgotten to post a Ten Things I Love Sunday. Whoops! I was so caught up with everything else it completely slipped my mind. It's been a very busy week for us. Hopefully I can update more on that later, I have about three or four blog posts that I need to make this coming week. Exciting!

Anyways, onto the things that I love!

1. This Song

I think I first heard this song while watching a movie about five years ago. I'm not sure, to be entirely honest. But it's certainly stuck with me. I absolutely adore this song. It's song is just.. *handflappything* It's one of those songs that every girl wants to know is written about her. I get the same feeling whenever I listen to Elton John's Your Song.

2. Harry Potter

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts! Teach us something please!

These seven books will always, always have a place in my heart. I love them. I come back to them at least once a year and spend night after night pouring over Rowlings brilliance. I never tire of it. These are books I want to read to my children. I want them to know that bravery, intelligence, and above all the ability to love are life's greatest weapons against those who fills their lives with hate.

Also. If ANYONE knows where to get this necklace pleasepleaseplease tell me!

3. Summer

I have never been a fan of the swimsuits that could double as dental floss or a bandaid. I frankly don't find them appealing and I cannot fathom why they are so popular. i would be terrified of such a miniscule piece of clothing slipping two centimeters and everyone getting a free show. But. These swimsuits? I am loving these. I love that they are feminine and gorgeous while still being modest. I'm not a being swimmer (at least not at the moment) but I wouldn't think twice about buying one of these.

4. Puppies!!

I dare you to not love this picture. I double dog DARE you.

It's puppies! Perfectly groomed puppies sporting sunglasses, hoodies, and designer jeans. Omg. I want one.

The one in the middle is my favorite.

5. Beauty

It reads:
A woman is often measured by the things she cannot control. She is measured by the way her body curves or doesn’t curve, by where she is flat or straight or round. She is measured by 36-24-36 and inches and ages and numbers, by all the outside things that don’t ever add up to who she is on the inside. And so if a woman is to be measured, let her be measured by the things she can control, by who she is and who she is trying to become. Because as every woman knows, measurements are only statistics. and STATISTICS LIE.

I couldn't agree more.

6. Rainbow Brite, If You Ever Get A Bakery...

I don't know if I could eat these. They are too friggin' cute to eat. I mean c'mon, rainbows and unicorns! WITH GLITTER. You know Rainbow Brite was totally cooking rainbows and unicorns in her technicolored Easy Bake Oven. The question is, which of you stole her recipe?

7. Old School Romance


This was my favorite scene from It's A Wonderful Life growing up (that and when the school pool magically opens and darling George falls in, although I suppose they go together). I love how Mary doesn't say what she's wishes for, and how big George's wishes are, the entire scene is just lovely. And then the best line, "Why don't you kiss instead of talking her to death!"

8. Tamagoyaki

I wish I could say this was my tamagoyaki. I've just recently branched into Japanese cuisine (I am ridiculous excited about several recipes, with any luck I'll find all the ingredients I need). I love that everything is done with purpose in Japanese cooking. It's meant to be visually appealing, delicious, and smell lovely. It's just as much about the display as it is about the food itself.

9. Happy Babies

I love watching this video. So does Kael. It's just so cute how the dog is playing with that handsome young man. He's jumping everywhere and coming within an inch of touching but never does. It's so obvious that they both love each other.

10. Little Hearts

I feel like I was run over by a sewing machine

Posted on | Friday, April 8, 2011 | No Comments

I am so excited -- I got my tattoo done today! Or at least about half of it done. For those who don't know, I'm tattooed. I'm likely going to get more work done. I don't have anything scandalous or rude and I don't intend on every having tattoos that can't be hidden by a t-shirt and shorts. I enjoy having tattoos and knowing people who have them. That's just me. If tattoos don't float your boat feel free to skip this entry.

That's Mister Sweet Potato Head, to you!

Posted on | Thursday, April 7, 2011 | No Comments

It seems that I've gotten into the habit of baking chips. Especially when they are made out of things other than russet potatoes. Last week I tried out baked kale chips (yum!), this week I thought I might try a more traditional route. Sweet potatoes! They're healthier for you than regular potatoes, and lower on the glycemic index, so why not?

One hundred and thirty five

Posted on | Wednesday, April 6, 2011 | 1 Comment

Days, that is.

Since my last super-long wedding post a bunch of stuff has changed. I should not be left in charge of such important choices, I'm so fickle I can never make up my mind. I seriously have no idea how some people can plan weddings so effortlessly. As some may remember from this post we had our colors set to be blues and purples since the blue was going to match Alex's tie.

Well. There was a problem with that. The light blue didn't match. It looked AWFUL. And the purple didn't match the blue. It was a total disaster.

So we brought his tie with us to Men's Warehouse and picked a vest color that matched. So now he's going with a dark navy vest that blends with the tie's colors fairly well. Afterwards we went to David's Bridal to find colors that would work with it and I found that Apple Red was really vibrant and bright while still not over-powering the dark blue. And! It matched with Alex's tie. After fiddling around I really liked gold as an accent color (especially since my dress is a champagne/ivory and that is basically a soft gold color) since that would tie my dress to the other two main colors.

Intense Wind + Men in Kilts + Women in Corsets = An interesting Afternoon

Posted on | Monday, April 4, 2011 | No Comments

Yesterday Kael and I went to the Medieval Fair along with our neighbor Danielle and her daughter Elizabeth. The Fair is an annual event marked by jesters, corsets, and an excess of expensive leather clothing. I absolutely love it. So does Kael.

This is our third year attending and I still get excited about it. Even though my budget can't possibly afford the $400 leather boots or boned corsets it's still so much fun to just look at everything -- people included.

The only downside is that it seems regardless of the year some inclement weather will strike during the fair. Last year it was a horrible Artic cold front that hit midday and brought the temperature from a balmy 75* to a freezing 38* in less than three hours. This year it was wind. 45 mph wind that blew dust and sand in our faces until we were nearly blinded.

This is Oklahoma though, weather doesn't faze us. Especially not wind.

Fair thee well, Madam

Posted on | Saturday, April 2, 2011 | 2 Comments

I name my cars. Likewise I also tend to name my laptops, and occasionally my toasters. But my cars always are given a name.

My Honda's name is Madam. For almost a year she didn't have a name, but Madam suits her perfectly. She an older car, she doesn't always work like she should. She has a temper and isn't afraid to show it. She also has her moments of insecurity (losing your A/C will do that) and she's been put through the ringer more than I'd care to admit as her owner. She's reliable, if not a bit rough, and although her outward appearance maybe be a bit haggard I truly love her.

Madam has been with me since I reached adulthood. She is in essence the only car I have ever truly owned. She's seen me through cross country moves, marriage (and a divorce), being pregnant, having a baby, and going to college. I've cried into her steering wheel when times were hard. It was while I was driving in this car that I came to the realization that I was a Christian. So much has happened in my life with this car, I feel like she's family. Like some key element in my life that bookmarks my entering the real world and surviving it.

Sadly, Madam isn't what she was when I bought her almost a decade ago. And the cost to make her the car she deserves to be is more than what she is worth (at least monetarily speaking). With a big move looming this summer and very life-altering changes following, the question arose if Madam could survive such a journey.

Truthfully, she can't. And it's silly of me to think that she can. Which meant that it was time to let Madam go and to find a new car that can drive me into this new chapter of my life. So today we went and traded in Madam for a new(er) car and let my darling Honda go to greener pastures.

It's strange how emotional it is, getting rid of your first car. Or maybe it's just me. I feel so emotionally tied to my vehicle, it's a testament to everything I've done since I reached the age of 18. I've done a lot. Far more than I thought I would. And although friends and living spaces have changed, my car didn't. Buying a new one was almost a surreal experience. It's like severing who I was with who I am in the most tangible way possible.

One benefit to all of this though (aside from owning a car that has functioning A/C and a muffler) is that I truly love the car I have as of today. It doesn't have a name yet, but it fits me. It's a car I can take four kids to soccer practice in, a car for VBS and for house projects. It's fancier, comfier, and most certainly bigger. I have gotten mixed responses from others as to the kind of car they think it is -- I have heard "old lady car", "undercover cop car" and "ghetto car" in the past 10 hours -- but when I look at it I don't see that. I see my car.

Mine. And it is absolutely perfect for me.

The name 'Buelah' came to mind as I was driving it home and I could almost hear the engine say, "If you even try calling me that I will break down in Tupelo Mississippi, so help me Chrysler."

Well, Madam took almost a year to name. I think we have time.