Love

Day 30: Share a picture you love

Welcome to the end of the 30 day challenge! This has been fun. Now to find a picture I haven't shared before...

Emma, age 8, and her Daddy

I love the happiness and love in this picture. I miss those days. The love is still there, but the times of happiness just to be together are less frequent. I know it's part of growing up, but sometimes the whole teenage thing just stabs me right in the heart. I know it's all part of  growing up into an independent adult, but still... why does it have to be so hard on the parents? And who made it go so fast??

Important

Day 29: 3 things you cannot live without



I'm guessing this beyond the usual food, water, oxygen, shelter, clothing, and caffeine. So here are three things, in no particular order.

Lip balm. Nivea, Neutrogena, Burt's Bees, Carmex, whatever. I have to have something on my lips! If I don't use any, I wake up with little cracks or whatever in the center of my lips and that HURTS. Even Sophie asks for some, as I'm putting my makeup on in the mornings. She'll point to the tube on the bathroom shelf, say "Me! Me!" and purse her lips. It's so cute!

My iPhone. Yes, I realize it sounds awful to feel that way about a phone. But it is so much more! Games and shows to entertain Sophie (and Emma), email, internet, diet, GPS, and more. Last night I walked 2 miles while watching an episode of Doctor Who, in the park! Now isn't that mind-blowing to think of? And FaceTime is great when my husband is traveling.

These two. Come on, I couldn't leave them out, could I? I was just telling my husband a few days ago that three years ago, I was perfectly happy with only one child. Our family was perfect and complete. But now, I can't imagine not having both girls. I honestly believe the world would stop if anything happened to either one.

I heart books

Day 28: Favorite books

I love reading. Seriously. I love so many books, too, and some I can't even remember the names or authors! So, I'm going to just list in no particular order.

James Patterson's Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club series
The Moonstone
Janet Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum series
Harry Potter series
Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series
Mexico and Hawaii by James Mischner
The Hope and The Glory by Herman Wouk
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

I know there are more, I just can't think of them all right now. Books are my drug. I read compulsively, and rarely leave a book unfinished. I just really enjoy reading! I may come back and add more later, or possibly have a Round 2 post of more books.

Wishing

Day 27: Three wishes

Hm. What would I wish for? I'm sure the standard rules apply...

One thing I'd wish for is money. Not a lot, just enough to take care of everything that needs taking care of. Trips to dentist, medical bills, car repairs, house repairs, vet visits, class trips to Washington DC, along with the everyday bills and expenses. Nothing extravagant. But, I read "The Monkey's Paw" in junior high and have been afraid of wishing for money ever since.

I'd wish that the girls grow up healthy and happy, and still love (and like) each other and us also.

Third wish? Oh, I have no idea. Once the family is taken care of I guess I could think of something fun and extravagant to wish for. I can't think of anything right now, though.

What would you wish for if you had three wishes?

Operation Birthday Surprise!

This weekend was my husband's 40th birthday, and we had a surprise cooked up for him. On Friday, his mom and sister came down from Chicago to spend his birthday with us! The last time they were here, Sophie was two weeks old. She quickly warmed up to her grandma and aunt, though, and of course Emma was thrilled to have them here. My husband was very surprised and happy to see them. We spent time together on Friday, and all day Saturday, ending in a surprise birthday party for him at Carrabba's restaurant.

(Just a side note- out of all the restaurants I called about the party, Carrabba's was the easiest to work with and most flexible. Even though it was a busy Saturday night we had no problems reserving space for the party, and were even able to bring in our own birthday cake, which they kept in the kitchen until it was time. It was my first experience with the restaurant ever, and I highly recommend it to anyone planning an event like this.)

On Sunday, we had breakfast together at our house, then they left on the return trip home. We were so worn out we didn't make it to church, just rested at home. Emma ended up going to my parents house for the afternoon to spend some time with my cousin who was visiting from Colorado, and leaving before next weekend.

Catching up on the challenge!

So I got behind. We had a busy and amazing weekend (more on that later). For now, a catch-up on the missing challenge days.

Day 23: Favorite blog hop you participate in.
This one is simple - I don't. I like the idea, and I have participated before, but I just don't have the time right now! The one I do like, though, is The Mom Pledge Blog. It is moms committed to eradicating cyberbullying among the mom community. They have a monthly blog hop.

Day 24: Favorite places to shop

I love to shop :)
Target, JC Penney, NY & Company, Babies R Us, craft stores, office supply stores

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle and share the first ten songs
1. The Outsider - Marina and the Diamonds
2. Bonkers - Dizzee Rascal
3. S&M - Rihanna
4. Drive In, Drive Out - Dave Matthews Band
5. My Sharona - The Knack
6. Sitting Still - REM
7. Perfect Circle - REM
8. Sick of Myself - Matthew Sweet
9. The Real Thing - Gwen Stefani
10. A New Neighbor - The Whole Nine Yards soundtrack (the link isn't for the music, but to the scene in the movie where Oz and Jimmy meet. LOVE this movie!)

And that brings us to today.
Day 26: Best concert you've been to

I haven't been to many concerts. My first one ever was New Kids on the Block (I was 12, ok?) I went to a Martina McBride concert at Dollywood with a friend, Alanis Morrisette for my 18th birthday, and to a free show Lynard Skynard put on a few years back. Best of those by far was Alanis. Love her music, we had good seats, and it was a fun time.

Hobbies?



Holly Hobbie

 Day 22: What are your hobbies?

I like to make things. I even sell some of the things I make :)
I also enjoy making things for our own use - like Sophie's first birthday party decorations. I just wish I had more time and space to create more! I have a whole supply of things to be creative with, but not enough hours without a curious toddler. But, she won't always be a curious toddler. I'll have time again.

Sophie's birthday cake

Birthday banner



Hats



Hair clips

 I've also made several things for both girls' bedrooms. I don't have any pictures of it, but I made Emma's name out of wooden letters, and I've painted four small square canvases with a letter on each to spell her name. I had fun decorating Sophie's nursery, too.

I made this for Sophie's room with scrapbook paper, ribbon, and a fabric iron-on.

A poem by a family friend, with the same paper and ribbon

I found these wooden blocks on sale and painted them to match her room.

Just for fun

Tonight Emma and I were watching last night's season premiere of Glee. We love this show! During "We've Got the Beat" (third video above), Sophie dropped her toys, ran to the center of the room, and started dancing like crazy. She spent the next 10-15 minutes standing frozen, captivated by the screen. She loves music and dancing so much!

Stress

Day 21: Something that stresses you out

This won't be a shocker to anyone, because I know we all feel it - money. There just never seems to be enough, is there? And it's not even for things like vacations, new car, new clothes, but basics. But that's life, especially "in this economy." (I hear that expression all the time and it drives me crazy.) It's like we're all part of this juggling act of incoming and outgoing and trying to keep all the balls up in the air.

But, someone always has it worse. In the paper this weekend was an obituary for twin baby girls. One died at one day old, the other at two days old. I cannot imagine that family's heartbreak. I am sure they'd much rather have money stress and be homeless with a complete family than bury their two baby daughters. Other people have so many bigger issues. My car might not sound the greatest, but I can use it to get to work. We have food to eat. We have a house to live in. We have clothes to wear. With those simple things, we are richer than a majority of the population of the planet. I just have to remember the bigger picture.

Hi

Day 20: Share a picture of yourself.

Lovely. I get to share a picture of myself! (Times like this I really want a sarcasm font.)
Since I have no pictures of myself handy, and I'm usually the one behind the camera anyway, I'll use the handy little front-facing camera on my phone and do  just what I get onto my teenage daughter for doing because it irritates me - take a cell phone picture of myself.

Nicknames

First, to explain yesterday's title for anyone who didn't get it.

In the late 90s, a band called Everything But the Girl had one big hit in the US - "Missing." I used to LOVE that song! Oh who am I kidding, I still really like it.

Day 19: Share your nicknames

Mama! (Sophie pretty much always says it as if it has an exclamation point at the end)
Mom, mommy, mother
Jen (but only if you're MY mother... otherwise don't)

That's about it... Christine is a hard name to nickname, except to Chris, and I've never liked being called Chris and now it's my husband's name. Well, my great-uncle (grandmother's brother) always called me Chris, my whole life. No one else was allowed, though. I'm not big on nicknames for myself, anyway. A few special people throughout my life have had little nicknames (like my grandmother used to call me Teenie), but that's it. And I prefer it that way!

Everything but the girl

(If you are a 90s kid/teen like me, you should get the title reference) =)

Day 18: Something I miss

My grandmother
Lazy summer days
"Little" Emma
Hours reading on the porch swing
Travelling
Self-confidence
Old friends

Regrets

Challenge day 16: Something you regret

The logical part of my  mind tries not to have regrets. What's done is done, right? Move on and learn. But my emotional mind? Does't often listen.

Regrets:
Times I didn't speak up, didn't stand up, let someone else negatively influence me, times I apoligized for doing my best and succeeding to make someone else feel better, times I let loved ones down, time I didn't spend with love ones who are no longer with us.

Challenge day 16 - halfway there!

Day 16: Five blogs I visit daily

Ok, I honestly don't visit five blogs every single day. But I do visit more than five several times a week! I just can't do every. single. day. Who can? I am "following" many, though, and I visit every time there's a new post.

So, five eight of my favorites in no particular order. (I couldn't narrow it down any more!)

A Bumbling Idiot  "A homeschooling mother of five." Love her stories! Her youngest is also a January 2010 baby, like Sophie.
View from Down Here Written by Nain, a lawyer who doesn't write "lawyer-y" - reading her blog is like having a conversation with her. She and her husband T have some big news, too.
Passion. Dedication. Life. Us. Another mother of a January toddler (can't call them babies any more!) who writes engaging stories about her family, running, doing fun things, and reenacts events with Discovery Village and takes pictures :) (I love those posts!)
Depression Cookies Tia and her mother coauthored the fabulous book by the same name as the blog. (Buy the book here. Trust me, you want to read this book. It's amazing.) They're working on the sequel now and I can't wait! The blog is about more than the books, but it has the same overall theme as the book: mothers and daughters.
bhulbhulaiyan I had to copy and paste this blog title, because I don't trust myself to ever get it right! Anjuli is a very talented writer, though, and you MUST see the pictures of her daughter's recent wedding. A charmingly beautiful outdoor wedding! And the most recent post "One size fits all" is simply touching.
Love, Life, and a Baby This blogger is the force behind Fit Mama Club.  She is a family therapist (I think I have that right?) in NYC and also has a toddler Sophie's age (we really need to have a blogging play-date sometime with all these blog babies!). Her most recent post is a must-read for everyone.
She Started It "It" being her book. Anjali also blogs about her family, and this summer blogged and photographed a beautiful trip to India.
Teaching What is Good Kate is also a homeschooling mother, but her site is more than that. She has a frugal shopping ebook, recipes, and thoughtful insights about many things. We are also working on a first for both of us- a joint blog post exploring a subject we have different views about. Who knows where it will lead? (And no, you have to wait to see what it's about!)

Ok, so there's my list. Visit each one - I know you won't regret it!

Smoothie love

Peach-mango-banana smoothie

Since beginning Fit Mama Club, a few people have mentioned smoothies to me as easy, healthy, on-the-go breakfasts. I remembered that I would make them when I was pregnant with Sophie. So I dug out my recipe booklet.

The first one I made mostly followed the recipe: a banana, frozen peaches, honey, vanilla yogurt, & orange juice. Then I started experimenting. I added in a handful of fresh sliced strawberries one day. Today I used the banana, peaches, & mango with the yogurt & juice. I also have an idea I want to try soon. I will brew a cup of jAVERDE Triple C coffee (a chocolate covered cherry flavor), and blend with frozen dark cherries, chocolate syrup, and yogurt. Or ice cream. Or use yogurt then freeze, so it's like I'll be eating ice cream for breakfast, but healthy. Hm, I like that idea!

I'm trying to make them healthy - I know that smoothies can really rack up the calories! I use fat-free vanilla yogurt (I bought a large container of Yoplait and spoon it out). The fruit is all unsweetened - because why does fruit need added sugar? I've never understood that. I'm sure I could leave out the honey, but I love honey so much. And just a spoonful isn't too bad. Right?

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