Well, I have been feeling accomplished the past few days. But, accomplishment does not come without its frustrations either.
First Win: I finished another scarf already! I wove it so fast that I didn't even take a picture of the warp for a sneak peek. I really should have though. The warp by itself was just mesmerizing. It made me think of peacocks and circuses. The colors are so vivid and lively.
Win #2: I am reading a book that was actually written for adults! It's true, I'm generally much more enraptured by the endless possibilities of teen fiction. It seems that adult readers just won't stand for such outlandish and unthinkable things like magic powers, imaginary worlds, talking animals, and heap loads of daring rule-breaking. However, right now I am reading a book that was written for an adult audience! Wow! This is also where the frustration comes in... a lot of the book is set in the early 1900s, and that's exactly how it reads. The phrasing and diction are a challenge to follow sometimes. In a section I read just today, the author went on for the long half of a paragraph about the behavior of electrons, and the subject of the book has nothing to do with science! It is very rambling, winding, and descriptive, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless. It's an impossible love story at heart, and I'm a sucker for that kind of thing.
Third Win: Thanksgiving is tomorrow (and Friday, for me), and I can't wait! I love Thanksgiving! I wish it was not followed by Black Friday, but I just decide to act like Black Friday doesn't exist. Yay! A holiday that is purely for stopping to think about all the wonderful things we have in life is just wonderful!
Last one: The weather today is just to die for! All the windows in the house are open, and it's a beautiful, sunny, breezy 74 degrees! Love it!
Woohoo! Yay for wins!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
I am my Father's Daughter
To be completely fair, I have a lot of both of my parents in me. Even my father couldn't tell my mom and I apart on the phone when I lived at home because our voices sounded so similar. I love to cook and bake (though I was a late bloomer in this area), which comes directly from my mother. My mom and I get along so well. But a lot of the way my brain works comes from my dad. He's a very analytical, straight-forward, logical, always-has-a-plan type of person. I have a bit of a crazy, unbalanced, artistic side in me, but mostly, I have my father's over-prepared brain. (We're also both corny nerds, but that's beside the point!)
Thus, when I was preparing to cook my very first complete Thanksgiving meal last year, I had the plan to cook the exact replica of what my mom cooks, but I planned it in a way that, I think, would have made my dad smile with pride.
Oh yes, I made a spreadsheet.
Let's say I based it on the fact that I had never cooked such an intricate meal with a number of dishes that graced the double digits that all needed to be ready at the same time to be packed in the car to take to a friend's house to eat the meal. That truly was the reason behind the spreadsheet, but it turns out that the spreadsheet itself gave me so much satisfaction that I decided to one-up it this year. (Of course, I typed it up and saved it on my computer for future use.)
So, this year, when I decided to invite some friends over on Black Friday just so that I could have the pleasure of cooking this wonderful meal again, I pulled out that lovely spreadsheet. And edited it. And decided that it wasn't quite detailed enough. Oh no, a time schedule of exactly what I'm supposed to be doing during half hour increments for the whole morning leading up to eating time was not enough for me! This year... I added the dishes I will use for each portion of the process. (Are you laughing at me yet?! If not, we might be kindred spirits.)
When my husband laughs at me for this (which he already has and will continue to do so), I always add some feeble excuse like, "Well, if I don't plan out all the bowls and things, I'll end up running out and won't have a dish to serve _______ in!" (In my defense, I do have a limited number of serving dishes and a tiny kitchen.) But since that never convinces him that I'm anything other than crazy, I just shrug and say, "Well, I am my father's daughter!"
Now, only because I am shameless and actually quite proud of this lovely spreadsheet, I have included a picture for your viewing enjoyment below! The only problem I had with it this year was shrinking it down enough so that it would fit on one page! And as you can see in the corners, it is already hanging on the fridge eagerly awaiting Friday morning at 10:30 am when I will walk into a spotless kitchen, lace up my apron, and wreak an organized havoc!
Happy {crazy} Thanksgiving!
Thus, when I was preparing to cook my very first complete Thanksgiving meal last year, I had the plan to cook the exact replica of what my mom cooks, but I planned it in a way that, I think, would have made my dad smile with pride.
Oh yes, I made a spreadsheet.
Let's say I based it on the fact that I had never cooked such an intricate meal with a number of dishes that graced the double digits that all needed to be ready at the same time to be packed in the car to take to a friend's house to eat the meal. That truly was the reason behind the spreadsheet, but it turns out that the spreadsheet itself gave me so much satisfaction that I decided to one-up it this year. (Of course, I typed it up and saved it on my computer for future use.)
So, this year, when I decided to invite some friends over on Black Friday just so that I could have the pleasure of cooking this wonderful meal again, I pulled out that lovely spreadsheet. And edited it. And decided that it wasn't quite detailed enough. Oh no, a time schedule of exactly what I'm supposed to be doing during half hour increments for the whole morning leading up to eating time was not enough for me! This year... I added the dishes I will use for each portion of the process. (Are you laughing at me yet?! If not, we might be kindred spirits.)
When my husband laughs at me for this (which he already has and will continue to do so), I always add some feeble excuse like, "Well, if I don't plan out all the bowls and things, I'll end up running out and won't have a dish to serve _______ in!" (In my defense, I do have a limited number of serving dishes and a tiny kitchen.) But since that never convinces him that I'm anything other than crazy, I just shrug and say, "Well, I am my father's daughter!"
Now, only because I am shameless and actually quite proud of this lovely spreadsheet, I have included a picture for your viewing enjoyment below! The only problem I had with it this year was shrinking it down enough so that it would fit on one page! And as you can see in the corners, it is already hanging on the fridge eagerly awaiting Friday morning at 10:30 am when I will walk into a spotless kitchen, lace up my apron, and wreak an organized havoc!
Friday, November 22, 2013
Thankful Thursday #3: The "Basics"
*I got this ready yesterday, but I forgot to post it, so here you go!
This Thursday, I am thankful for the things that I consider to be basics in my life. And I am even more thankful for them when I think about the fact that there are many people in this word who don't have any of these things.
*Friday Update: Something I'm not thankful for: falling up the stairs with too many groceries so that I have knees the size of grapefruits! Yep, I fell up the stairs today with about 9 million groceries in my hands and a metal pan clattering all over the landing, and now I don't want to move. (Sarcastic) Awesome!
This Thursday, I am thankful for the things that I consider to be basics in my life. And I am even more thankful for them when I think about the fact that there are many people in this word who don't have any of these things.
- A wonderful home!
- Delicious and nutritious food to eat every day.
- Air conditioning!!!
- Clothes that I (most days) like to wear.
- A kitty that's adorable!
- Hobbies that I enjoy.
- Books to read and the fact that I can read.
*Friday Update: Something I'm not thankful for: falling up the stairs with too many groceries so that I have knees the size of grapefruits! Yep, I fell up the stairs today with about 9 million groceries in my hands and a metal pan clattering all over the landing, and now I don't want to move. (Sarcastic) Awesome!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Scarves=My Fave Accessory {Wednesday Wins}
I DO like the way the pattern turned out. I like how scrunchy and thin it is. It looks a little messy and lived-in, and I like that about it. I always love the way this yarn feels too. How could you go wrong with 100% silk?!
The thing I don't like about it is mainly the color. I chose these colors, if you remember, because they were like a less ukky version of fall colors. As it turns out, I just still don't love it. I'm more of a vivid, vibrant, pop color kind of girl when it comes to my scarves. This one just isn't quite as bright as the ones I normally tend towards. (It doesn't help that fall is my least favorite season. I'm a summer girl, and I like summer colors.)
Also, it doesn't help that it started raining today before I could take the photos. So the lighting was all wonky. I was able to edit them up a bit, but I never really feel like photos show the true colors anyway.
So, you're probably thinking, how is this a win? True, I don't love the scarf, and it will probably go in the closet with the other scarves that I'm not crazy about and therefore hardly ever wear, but it is just such a sense of accomplishment to finish something tangible. Something that took hours to complete and was frustrating. And one of the best parts of weaving, for me, is getting to pick out the next one and warp it onto the loom, watching the colors come together! (Speaking of that, I already warped up another one last night! I'll take some photos when the lighting is better, a.k.a. when it's not raining.) So, finishing it is a win, even if the scarf itself isn't.
One last thing, (not to be a saleswoman or anything) if you ever like a scarf I've made or want one made-to-order, I'd love to weave one for you if you're willing to cover the cost of the yarn. Just as an example, this scarf is made of really nice quality yarn (and of course it's my fave) and it cost me about $15 to make (so this one's up for grabs if you like it; like I said I'll probably never wear it!). So, just let me know if you ever want one!
Monday, November 18, 2013
Funny Story {Lundi Little Lovelies}
So, nothing major today... Just a mild Monday. It certainly has not been a bad day; it's really been pretty good. But, still, nothing major has happened. So here are a few little lovelies.
I have several different types of fresh fruit in my fridge right now! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just love fruit, and I love variety. I've caught some good sales in the past few days, so I have different fruits to choose from when I want a snack. In fact, I'm eating an apple from the huge bag I bought the other day, and it is a-maz-ing! Seriously, it's like eating apple cider it's so sweet!
Guess what came off the loom today?! Yep, the latest scarf! Woohoo! I literally just pulled it off and walked away, so photos will come later this week.
Thomas and I are having date night tonight! We're going out to dinner, and though we've discussed where to go for about 20 minutes already today, we still don't know where we're going!
Not a little lovely, but a funny story... I woke up with a shot of adrenaline this morning. I was slowly resuming consciousness while hearing weird noises. I was thinking that Lo was probably digging around in the closet (as she does every so often). But then I shot up out of bed when she started (cat) screaming! (Like a high pitched gurgle-y meow) Freaking out, I started to untangle myself out of bed when I saw the bottom two drawers of the dresser open, looking over, there was Lo, sitting next to them shaking herself out. So she managed to get herself stuck in the bottom drawer, then pulled the one on top of that out on top of her so that she had to squeeze out a tiny 2 inch space to get out. Yeah. Not the nicest way to wake up in the morning!
Happy Monday!
I have several different types of fresh fruit in my fridge right now! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just love fruit, and I love variety. I've caught some good sales in the past few days, so I have different fruits to choose from when I want a snack. In fact, I'm eating an apple from the huge bag I bought the other day, and it is a-maz-ing! Seriously, it's like eating apple cider it's so sweet!
Guess what came off the loom today?! Yep, the latest scarf! Woohoo! I literally just pulled it off and walked away, so photos will come later this week.
Thomas and I are having date night tonight! We're going out to dinner, and though we've discussed where to go for about 20 minutes already today, we still don't know where we're going!
Not a little lovely, but a funny story... I woke up with a shot of adrenaline this morning. I was slowly resuming consciousness while hearing weird noises. I was thinking that Lo was probably digging around in the closet (as she does every so often). But then I shot up out of bed when she started (cat) screaming! (Like a high pitched gurgle-y meow) Freaking out, I started to untangle myself out of bed when I saw the bottom two drawers of the dresser open, looking over, there was Lo, sitting next to them shaking herself out. So she managed to get herself stuck in the bottom drawer, then pulled the one on top of that out on top of her so that she had to squeeze out a tiny 2 inch space to get out. Yeah. Not the nicest way to wake up in the morning!
Happy Monday!
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Three Sneak Peeks
Ok, so maybe I don't have any funny stories to tell today or anything. But I do have a light-hearted, not-so-sappy post! So there's a change!
Two of these sneak peeks are of my own making. One is very much not, but possibly the coolest of the three. (Shocker, right?! I have nothing to do with the coolest thing I have to share today!)
#1: Here's a much over due sneak peek of my current scarf project. The photo's not great, but you get the idea. This scarf is a first for me. The weave you see is called "Leno Lace", and it can be really cool, but it is also a big fat pain in the butt! So it's coming along. Mainly, though, I just can't wait to finish it so I can see what it looks like off the loom. I can't really tell if I'm going to like it yet. Anyway... moving on!
#2: I just pulled a batch of these babies out of the oven. Mmmm! I haven't ever made these, but they're a staple at my parents' house during the holidays. And I just so happened to buy a ginormous bag of Reese's on clearance after Halloween, so these were the perfect thing to make for Life Group tomorrow. You can find this recipe on basically every recipe website there is. Just type in something like Reese's cookies and you'll find a billion of them (and they're all basically the same).
#3: Alright, here's the coolest sneak peek of the day. Guess what?! It's a movie trailer! (Another shocker there!) So, last night Thomas was trying to tell me about a movie coming out about Noah (yes, the one from the Bible) starring Russell Crowe. But I was in a not-great mood at the moment and kind of blew him off (sorry honey). But, a little later, I got on my favorite website ever and a trailer was right there on the front page (the source of Thomas' info), so of course, I watched it. And WOW! I am stoked for this movie now! Talk about capturing the epic proportions of the story! Wow! You have to watch it. Seriously, you have two minutes to be awed!
Woah! Right?! Well, that's all. Enjoy your weekend!
Two of these sneak peeks are of my own making. One is very much not, but possibly the coolest of the three. (Shocker, right?! I have nothing to do with the coolest thing I have to share today!)
#1: Here's a much over due sneak peek of my current scarf project. The photo's not great, but you get the idea. This scarf is a first for me. The weave you see is called "Leno Lace", and it can be really cool, but it is also a big fat pain in the butt! So it's coming along. Mainly, though, I just can't wait to finish it so I can see what it looks like off the loom. I can't really tell if I'm going to like it yet. Anyway... moving on!
#2: I just pulled a batch of these babies out of the oven. Mmmm! I haven't ever made these, but they're a staple at my parents' house during the holidays. And I just so happened to buy a ginormous bag of Reese's on clearance after Halloween, so these were the perfect thing to make for Life Group tomorrow. You can find this recipe on basically every recipe website there is. Just type in something like Reese's cookies and you'll find a billion of them (and they're all basically the same).
#3: Alright, here's the coolest sneak peek of the day. Guess what?! It's a movie trailer! (Another shocker there!) So, last night Thomas was trying to tell me about a movie coming out about Noah (yes, the one from the Bible) starring Russell Crowe. But I was in a not-great mood at the moment and kind of blew him off (sorry honey). But, a little later, I got on my favorite website ever and a trailer was right there on the front page (the source of Thomas' info), so of course, I watched it. And WOW! I am stoked for this movie now! Talk about capturing the epic proportions of the story! Wow! You have to watch it. Seriously, you have two minutes to be awed!
Woah! Right?! Well, that's all. Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Thankful Thursday #2 - People Edition
So, this week, for Thankful Thursday, I want to focus on some of the people in my life. And please note that it would take for-e-ver to list everyone I'm thankful for, so don't get all huffy if I don't mention you or someone. Know that I'm thankful for a lot more than I can take time to list.
I am most thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him in my life, forgiving me, loving me, leading me, saving me, I would have nothing. Without the Lord, I wouldn't have anyone or anything to be thankful for.
I am truly and wonderfully blessed that God gave Thomas to me. We are best friends (which means that many days I want to throw him out the window just as much as kiss him), and I am honored that God chose me to get to take care of him and love him for the rest of our lives. (And Thomas, I better get rewarded for saying such nice things about you so publicly! Lol)
I am so thankful for my family. To have grown up in a godly home is a blessing that so many do not have, and I am so glad to have the parents I have. And now that I'm not a stubborn teenager anymore (mostly), I can say that with a sincere heart.
Since we have moved to Florida, God has placed us in a wonderful church! And through that church we have received so many blessings. We have friends that truly sharpen us just as we have the honor of sharpening them. It is a joy to have people to live life with.
There are so many people who have poured into me and helped to shape me into the person I am today. And I am thankful for each and every one of them. It would take entirely too long to list everyone by name, and I don't want to do so because I would inevitably forget someone. But the list ranges from friends, friends' parents, teachers, youth pastors, pastors, friends' friends, parents' friends, family. So many people have taken the time to invest in me, and I am so thankful to be so blessed.
Ok... was that sappy enough for you?! Somehow, I struggle with writing a sincere post that doesn't sound so rehearsed and sappy. Oh well though, this is the best I got! I'll have to come up with a not-sappy post for tomorrow or Saturday... now I just need something funny to happen to me so I'll have something to write about! Lol. Not likely!
I am most thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him in my life, forgiving me, loving me, leading me, saving me, I would have nothing. Without the Lord, I wouldn't have anyone or anything to be thankful for.
I am truly and wonderfully blessed that God gave Thomas to me. We are best friends (which means that many days I want to throw him out the window just as much as kiss him), and I am honored that God chose me to get to take care of him and love him for the rest of our lives. (And Thomas, I better get rewarded for saying such nice things about you so publicly! Lol)
I am so thankful for my family. To have grown up in a godly home is a blessing that so many do not have, and I am so glad to have the parents I have. And now that I'm not a stubborn teenager anymore (mostly), I can say that with a sincere heart.
Since we have moved to Florida, God has placed us in a wonderful church! And through that church we have received so many blessings. We have friends that truly sharpen us just as we have the honor of sharpening them. It is a joy to have people to live life with.
There are so many people who have poured into me and helped to shape me into the person I am today. And I am thankful for each and every one of them. It would take entirely too long to list everyone by name, and I don't want to do so because I would inevitably forget someone. But the list ranges from friends, friends' parents, teachers, youth pastors, pastors, friends' friends, parents' friends, family. So many people have taken the time to invest in me, and I am so thankful to be so blessed.
Ok... was that sappy enough for you?! Somehow, I struggle with writing a sincere post that doesn't sound so rehearsed and sappy. Oh well though, this is the best I got! I'll have to come up with a not-sappy post for tomorrow or Saturday... now I just need something funny to happen to me so I'll have something to write about! Lol. Not likely!
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