This is what the middle brother said to his older brother at breakfast last week. I had to gently explain that there isn’t a next time. This is it and you get to be the middle brother. I did my best sell job. Although, I’m not sure I was that convincing.
August 19 2008 | good times | Comments Off
I truly love throwing parties. Wedding and baby showers are my absolute favorite. On Sunday, I got to throw my sister-in-law a bridal shower. I’m not sure who had more fun me or Gayle.
Place settings were put together using silver doilies found at Ben Franklin, champagne glasses decorated with lavender sugar crystals and vintage cloth napkins.
I made Gayle a scrapbook so she can add photos of the shower and remember the people who came and the gifts she received. I also asked guests to give Gayle a piece of marital advice by filling out a page of the scrapbook. I helped them get started, by giving topics such as: When I got married, I wish I would have known…
Gayle is on the right in this photo. Shown with her cousin, Adena, who celebrated her one year anniversary the day after Gayle’s shower.
All this celebrating weddings turns my thoughts to the work of marriage, how important I think the actual institution of marriage is and how critical it is to fight for your own. I’m cherishing my family a lot more these days because of it.
August 06 2008 | good times | Comments Off
Today is Beatrix Potter’s birthday. If you are at all interested in this very interesting and talented woman, I would recommend:
Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature, a great, but lengthy biography and Miss Potter, the charming film starring Renee Zellweger.
July 28 2008 | good times | Comments Off
There are days when I make a huge list of things to do and attack it with fury.
There are days when I stay in my pajamas until 10 reading while the kids watch TV.
No matter what kind of day it is, I need to remember to keep it simple. Don’t overcommit. Don’t lose my patience because I’m hurrying the kids to and fro. Don’t worry about what can wait until tomorrow. Be present today. Be here for your family. Be content.
Today I’m thinking about being rather than doing.
July 24 2008 | good times | Comments Off
While my husband was away on an overnight, I took the liberty of adding some decoration to the mudroom. (I get tired of having to ask him to drill holes and hang stuff for me, as if the poor man doesn’t have enough of his own home improvement projects to work on.) So, I dug up from the basement a lightweight drill my dad had bought for me when I was hanging a lot of stuff on the walls at Shoestring Home, and went to work.
I love the way the clock hangs discretely and yet reminds you of the time right before you walk out the door. And since it usually takes me about 10 minutes to actually get all the kids and all of the backpacks, diaper bags, FedEx packages, library books, etc. in the car before I can actually turn on the ignition and leave, it’s nice to have a clock by the door to the garage as a pretty way to remind me to keep moving.
The mirror helps the space feel a bit bigger and offers the opportunity to check myself before I run into a friend from high school at the grocery store with food in my teeth or hair sticking out of place. I actually did consider the implications upon my vanity of hanging this mirror in such a well trafficked place, because it’s mere location will likely result in me looking in it a half a dozen times a day. (Is it forcing me to care more about my appearance than I should?) In the end I decided I can get as vain about my appearance as I want to be. Mirror or no mirror. Because after I look, it’s still up to me whether or not I get worked up about what I see, or if I just decide to put on some lip gloss in the car and get on with it.
June 27 2008 | good times | Comments Off
I just put the baby down for a nap. As I was walking back downstairs, I had this sudden and overwhelming urge to eat a bag of candy corn. Never mind that I just finished all the candy corn that resided in our home yesterday and that I’m still in my pajamas and that it’s not even eight am.
As I was reluctantly sharing my candy corn with my oldest the day before yesterday, he was trying to convince his brother of the merits of this delectable treat. “C’mon it’s yummy,” he said. The orange is for orange. The yellow is for lemon and the white is for onion. They all join together to make corn candy.”
Not exactly. But yummy nonetheless.
June 19 2008 | good times | Comments Off
Now that summer vacation has officially begun at my house, here’s what I’m hoping we’ll get to:
Old World Wisconsin Maybe one of their Vintage Baseball days.
Kettle Moraine State Park It may be asking for trouble, but I’d like to at least try to take all three on a nature walk. Especially one of the shorter trails. We may be overrun by mosquitoes since we’ve had a ton of rain lately.
Milwaukee County Zoo They have lots of evenings open to members only, plus it’s a great thing to do during the day to burn off energy.
Madison’s Farmer’s Market There is so much wonderful stuff here. If you can wait to eat breakfast, there are at least a half dozen vendors with freshly baked muffins, scones, and the like.
June 18 2008 | good times | Comments Off
“I never realize how much I like being home until I’ve been someplace else for awhile.” -Juno MacGuff
June 13 2008 | good times | Comments Off
Not much sleep last night. Up three times to take care of kids. A good friend of mine said recently that she finally gave up the idea that she was entitled to a good night’s sleep and I’m thinking I need to quickly come to the same conclusion.
In an effort to move toward that sort of contentment, here are ten things that I can choose to be happy about this morning.
1. Hearing an “i love you” from my boys.
2. That despite being out of half & half, eggs and frozen french toast stix, we still had frozen waffles and syrup so I could feed something to the boys for breakfast.
3. Reading this morning “Joy is not gush. Joy is not mere jolliness. Joy is perfect acquiescence–acceptance, rest–in God’s will, whatever comes.” Go Amy Carmichael.
4. Since I seem to spend a lot of time in my pjs, I ordered new ones that should be here any day. I hope that I’ll love them and then be able to add them to the store.
5. That I’ve decided to join Facebook and am reconnecting with people I haven’t talked to in years.
6. I am reading, reading, reading and learning, learning, learning.
7. We didn’t get any more rain yesterday.
8. The thought of getting to watch a movie with my husband tonight after the boys are in bed.
9. Being overwhelmed is not an option. I have people who can help me and want to help me. I just need to be better at asking for help. There isn’t a medal awaiting moms who finally get all of their kids in school without once asking for a break.
10. I am going to get my scrapbooking stuff out today.
June 12 2008 | good times | Comments Off
I just got to smell all three new limited edition Caldrea fragrances for this fall/holiday season. Boy, am I excited.
All three are absolutely divine. There isn’t a bad one in the bunch, which will make it hard for you all to choose a favorite. In fact, Caldrea doesn’t have a read yet on a best seller, all three are doing so well. The three fragrances are:
ALPINE JUNIPER FIG A snowy trek through an alpine forest inspired this natural and traditional fragrance. Top notes of fig, bergamot and nutmeg are a pleasant surprise and delicately temper the awesome forest. A complex heart containing notes of honey, cinnamon and clove adds richness. Base notes of regal myrrh, amber, aromatic vetiver and bold juniper exude spicy green character.
SWEDISH CLOUDBERRY MINT This invigorating, icy fragrance is reminiscent of moonlit sleigh rides during the clear, long nights of a scandinavian winter. Petite ripe
cloudberry and fresh clean mint are artfully balanced in a healthy tonic to delight the senses. Modern, memorable notes of sophisticated musk and juicy blackberry provide
support and interest.
NORWEGIAN ANGELICA The delicate flowering blossoms used to flavor aquavit provide a model for this sparkling clean fragrance. Simple, classic top notes of zesty
lemon and parsley are woven with silver birch to provide an indelible impression. Sensuous base notes of musk and sandalwood keep this effusive fragrance grounded.
The sink sets are redesigned and they’ve now come out with a diffuser. So, make sure you remember to save some of your Christmas gift giving dollars for all your Caldrea favorites in these three new fragrances. These are especially great for teachers gifts! All three fragrances in hand soap, hand lotion, dish soap, candles, sink sets and diffusers will be available for purchase August 1 at Shoestring Home.
June 11 2008 | Stuff you might want and good stuff | Comments Off
