Monday, December 21, 2009

My Etsy Shop! Anyone Want to Host a Giveaway?

So, I have been off of the blogger grid lately, but I finally found something I really enjoy doing...that makes some money! Really, by accident, I found that I really enjoyed creating felt play food and that there is a demand for it. I decided to put some up on Etsy after a craft sale went bust and I was sold out in a day. I am working on developing patterns and inventory of what I can do. I have so many ideas to put into play! Right now I'm working on getting a good selection down and then I want to do some blog giveaways. Any of my established blog giveaway followers want to host one? If you do, just send me an email! I should be ready to hold one after the new year.
Here is my shop and how to find me:

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

My Favorite Food


VEGETARIAN SUSHI!

Okay, I'm not sure if it's my FAVORITE, but it's way up there with pizza. As in, I can probably eat it every day and not get tired of it. Which, for me, is a really big thing.
I made it for dinner last night, then more for Scott to bring to work (I love making his co-workers jealous!), then more for myself for lunch today. Pixie is a fan of it too!
So good, and I made it myself for a fraction of what it is to buy it.
To find out how much I saved by making it and how I made it, go to my recipe blog:

Sunday, September 20, 2009

My Weight and Health Journey

I have known about true nutrition and have gleaned many things from the studies of my parents on the subject. I know how the government recommended food pyramid is is way off on what our bodies really need and that the American view on health is completely wacked and backed by big food industries. Calcium? A good kind comes from green leafy veggies that don't have fat and cholesterol. Protein? You don't need as much as you think. There is more protein in broccoli than in steak, apparently. Protein might help muscle growth, but it means a shorter life span and other things. Think about what animals live the longest, the ones that eat diets rich in plant-based foods. I thought I knew a lot, but my eyes have been opened even wider after reading "Eat To Live" by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.. I know you've seen the ever-so-famous Dr. Oz on Oprah (love that guy) and he actually refers people to Dr. Fuhrman and is quoted in the book. Also, if you're familiar with "The China Study", the author T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D wrote the forward in Dr. Fuhrman's book on nutrition for children.

Your diet is directly linked to your health and eating processed foods, sugar, white flour, white pasta, and dairy in large quantities actually cause disease because your body doesn't get the nutrition to work like it should. Even eating diets rich in these things as a child can cause disease later in life, even cancer, because your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs. Wow. So, mainly I jumped into the 6 week diet plan for weight loss. It is a jump start and is really strict, but after that is the life plan. It allows you to eat the things you want, but only in small quantities, if at all. Once you get used to eating this way, you may not even want those things.

I had a leg up, I already try to eat healthy foods and do not think candy bars are tempting in the least. I threw all the dairy products into the bottom freezer drawer and gave away any open processed foods I had. I am 11 days into the 6 week plan and am finally getting over cravings. It's interesting. Hunger as we know it is just withdrawal symptoms. Really, think about it. He explains it really well and I found it to be true. Scott and I were heading to the grocery store to go shopping. I was talking about how I still felt full from lunch and then later I caught a whiff of a no-no food and my stomach growled. I was not hungry, but my stomach was going through withdrawals and is like a drug addict, addicted to the low nutrient food.
I have lost 6lbs so far and am excited to keep on seeing what happens. I am going to adopt this lifestyle wholeheartedly.
Right now my diet consists of oatmeal with fruit or just fruit in the morning. Not more than 1 cup of whole grain a day, not more than 1 cup of starchy vegetables. Salad first at lunch and dinner. Lots of fruit, veggies (cooked and raw), beans, tofu, sprouts, greens (kale, collards, spinach), <1 oz of raw nuts, and a small amount of avocado.
White breads and pastas are off limits, all dairy, little to no salt, no oil or fat, no sugar or any sweetener (besides fruit), and no fruit juices (unless used as dressing).
Like I said, this one is really strict, but I'm hoping it'll give me great weight loss results and let my body detox from the processed foods. The portions recommended are also bigger than anything I can eat. I am so stuffed on this diet! There are many people who have gone on this diet and have reduced or eliminated medication for all types of disease, within a matter of days to weeks! He recommends if you are taking medication (especially insulin) to tell your doctor about going on the diet because you might get over-dosed when you don't need the extra medication. After the 6 week diet, Dr. Fuhrman recommends eating a 90% plant-based diet, but he says even eating 60% will give you a 60% less chance of developing disease.

I have now moved on to reading his book for children. Pixie is already pretty good at eating healthy foods, she eats anything green, but she doesn't have the molars for lettuce yet. Although, she loves to crunch on the white parts of romaine and iceberg.
This is an excerpt from the book I'm currently reading:

"Humans suffer greatly from misunderstanding what our nutritional requirements are. We have evolved to a level of economic sophistication that allows us to eat ourselves to death. A diet centered on milk, cheese, pasta, bread, and sugar-filled snacks and drinks lays the groundwork for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune illnesses to develop later in life. It is not merely that sugar, other sweets, white flour, cheese, and butter are harmful; it is also what we are not eating that is causing the problem.
When you calculate all the calories consumed from the typical foods most children in America eat, you find that the calories coming from natural foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables, beans, raw nuts, and seeds is less than 5 percent of their total caloric intake. This is dangerously low intake of unrefined plant foods guarantees weakened immunity to disease, frequent illnesses, and a shorter lifespan." -Disease-Proof Your Child

His books are amazing and are based on scientific facts and research. I don't know that I'll follow it 90% after this, but I am for sure going to keep this a big part of our life. Maybe 80%.
Even if you don't plan on following this diet completely, I recommend reading the book "Eat To Live". It will change the way you look at what you put into your body and how you view nutrition. It will help you protect your children from nutrition related illnesses later in life (pretty much all of them) and make for healthier adults with no medical bills. Even childhood illnesses like colds, flus, excema, and ear infections can be cured by eating the right foods.
I'm on to something big here and want everyone to read what I have learned!
I'll update on my progress from time to time. The weight I have lost already was without exercise too. I only went to the gym once because I felt like I was coming down with a cold. But lo and behold, the cold passed me by! Coincidence? Maybe not!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Forever

As in, it's been forever since I've posted something.
Really, my cop out is this. Remember how the desktop got that virus? Well, Scott fixed it and then the whole hard drive crashed two days after that. So, I haven't blogged because I like to blog with pictures and I haven't downloaded the software on the laptop yet.
Also, I am using a dinosaur of a laptop at this moment. Which is, I swear, the same exact laptop that Tom Hanks uses in the movie "You've Got Mail". It freezes up about every 20 minutes or so.
I have been able to use Scott's newer laptop for the past few days. This is because I have some good news! Scott found a second job! He is working in the same capacity as he is now (with mentally handicapped people), but with a different company. He has been working on call for them, then started full time this week. If all goes well in securing the two clients in a house, he'll be a house manager next month over his own home. So, his schedule is like this right now.

Monday- Thursday 7am-3pm
Thursday 6pm-7am (Friday morning)
Friday 7am-3pm
Friday 5pm-9am (Saturday morning)
Saturday 9pm-8am (Sunday morning)

Kinda crazy I know, but he really likes his job. Besides the fact that there aren't many jobs hiring right now, there is job security in this field. Health care seems to be one field that is growing, instead of downsizing.
We are hoping to be able to move soon. We were hoping to sell a business property that would give us a down payment right now to look for one, but that isn't happening. So, we'll have to save for one and hope that our dream home comes up for sale next year. We get pickier and pickier as we see all the good deals go by. My brother-in-law is a realtor and shows us how much house you can get for a cheaper price now. I sometimes avoid looking because I start pining.

We are without hot water and water to the washing machine right now. The water heater started leaking even more and the whole basement had water in it. I sucked most of it up last night and we bought a new water heater, but we need to find someone that can install it. We have a friend in church that can do it, but we're trying to figure out scheduling.

So, besides the stinky water heater issue, life is looking up! Scott has decent work, I have another Pampered Chef show coming up, I started a new eating plan for the next six weeks, and Scott has tomorrow night off so we can go camping at the church camp out!


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Keeping the Sparkle in Your Marriage

There was a mini class I attended at a church Relief Society event about marriage. I came across this list I had kept from the class and thought I would share. Read it with your spouses and maybe you'll both get some ideas!

Keeping the Sparkle in Your Marriage
  1. Express appreciation to your spouse for little things he/she does that you often overlook.
  2. Say three nice things about your partner today- to your partner.
  3. Touch your partner non-sexually three times today, just to show you care.
  4. Try a little humor. Think of something funny, a joke or something cute about your kids.
  5. Make his favorite dessert this week.
  6. Buy her a few flowers on the way home from work.
  7. When shopping, buy your spouse a 'treat', just so he/she knows you're thinking of him/her.
  8. Ask her today one thing you could do that would make her happy.
  9. Offer your services in helping with the children before bed time.
  10. Open the car door for her.
  11. Hold her hand.
  12. Tell your spouse he/she looks nice today.
  13. Call him/her from work just to say hello.
  14. Go out on a date together once a week.
  15. Leave town together (without the kids) every four months.
  16. Leave town as a family for vacation twice a year.
  17. Say thank-you for meals prepared.
  18. Surprise your partner with a night out on the town, reservation at a local motel, or a birthday party.
  19. Hug your partner twice a day.
  20. Leave a little note that says thanks or expresses appreciation or love.
  21. Develop a hobby or outdoor activity together.
  22. Do something with or for your spouse, even if you don't want to.
  23. Take a walk around the block with your partner daily.
  24. Tell the kids how much you appreciate their mother or father.
  25. Sneak a snack into your bedroom that the two of you can eat without giving it away to the kids.
  26. Do a chore around the house, even if it's not your agreed upon responsibility or turn.
  27. Give her an extra $20, just to spend on herself.
  28. Take the phone off the hook so you can just be together.
  29. Designate six hours of one day a week as spouse care time.
  30. Tell your partner he/she still excites you.
  31. Spend 20 minutes each evening reviewing the day and just chatting informally.
  32. Watch a TV program together, side by side.
  33. Say something decent when you first meet at the end of the work day.
  34. Ask how you can assist with dinner and housework, instead of making demands.
  35. Call your wife and tell her to forget dinner- you're taking her out to eat.
  36. Tell your spouse you appreciate all that he/she does for you.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Seriously Salad

I posted the Sweet Onion, Tomato, and Cuke Salad on our recipe blog here.
It is seriously so good! It was gone in a flash..I ate almost the whole bowl. No kidding.
This is the perfect lettuce-less summer side salad. Try it! It would be great at a picnic or potluck.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Boon Products on discount at Hautelook!

I signed up with Hautelook. They have designer items discounted. Some are still too steep for me, but some are awesome deals!
They have Boon on sale there.
This animal bag is 29.99 from 59.99!

And the bath scrubbles are 5.99!

They also have toddler utensils, snack pods, and dishes.
Visit Hautelook and join, get this deal, and to be notified of future sales!

Floods, Viruses, Blood, Battery Acid and No Husband

Sounds like a plague, right? Nope, all in my wonderful week so far.
This is how it went.
Sunday morning Scott left to go on a canoe trip with his brother. Sunday was fine, Monday was fine, even though Pixie kept me up that night.
I decided to get the house organized a bit more and clear some stuff out for him while he was gone.

Tuesday
I packed up the SUV with boxes that have been cluttering our basement. I get a lot of Frontier and Pampered Chef boxes, along with anything else that comes in the mail. I ran some errands, picked up Scott's work check, then headed out on the 40 minute drive to my mom's house. I gave her the boxes to use as weed control in their garden, then took mom into town to take her shopping, since she doesn't have a working vehicle still. We stopped to deposit checks at the bank. I turned off the SUV to save gas and it wouldn't start again when we were done. Scott had mentioned that he thought the starter was going because it didn't start well for him once, but he didn't think it was a big deal. Mom went straight for the battery and there was our problem. Battery acid build up. We didn't have any tools because Scott took them out of the SUV, so the bank tellers sent out a man to help us out. Long story short, he got a tool and wiggled it while I started it. Then we went to Walmart where mom got a pair of pliers and sandpaper to clean it off. My mom is amazing.

Wednesday
I started clearing more of the basement out. We've had phantom leaks down there. One we think is from he bathtub seal, but it comes and goes. About a week ago Scott told me that he thought the water heater overflowed through the drain pipe and got water all over. There was a nice little stream when I went down there, but I didn't have enough time to do everything because Pixie woke up from her nap. She can hear everything in the basement as well.
After her nap, we went to Target and Sam's Club. Scott finally called me, he hadn't had reception, and Pixie freaked out every time I took the stroller into a store.
That night I noticed blood all over the kitchen floor. Perrin had split one of his paws and was bleeding all over. Lovely.
That night I was up with Pixie too.

Thursday
I baked bread and made 2 dozen cookies for the blood drive that afternoon. During Pixie's nap I again attempted to tackle more of the basement. Got a bit done, but Pixie woke up after 40 min. Shoot. While I was down there I investigated the water heater after finding another lovely stream of water. I couldn't find any moisture coming from the overflow pipes, so I went around to the other side...lo and behold..the middle of the entire seam that holds it together is bursting apart. It is a gas one and they are a lot more expensive. Heaven knows we don't need this right now. I wasn't too keen on Scott going on this canoe trip, as I'm not buying even much food right now and living off food storage until he finds an additional job, but he promised his little brother months ago that he'd go. So, I'm going to go down to the basement today and remind myself where the shut off valve is, just in case it blows.
Later that day I dropped Pixie off at Becca's while I went to the church blood drive.
It was my first time donating. I went in, everything was fine, my iron count was 14.8. I was really happy about that because being a vegetarian, iron is a question I get a lot. Ugh.
Everything was great the whole time I was donating. One of the other ladies got sick and almost passed out. That's because it was too hot in there, you need it to be 68 degrees and the people asked didn't make sure it got there. Anyway, she felt like a total wuss. Until I was done donating.
So, I was almost done..great! My Red Cross girl, Essence, did a great job and she was going to check on someone else and come back to finish me up. There was this other girl (whom I found out later was new) that came over, told me I was done, clamped the tube, and walked away. I started to feel like there was an anxiety attack coming on, then I was dizzy so they laid me down. Almost immediately after that I got nauseous and said I was going to throw up. I didn't have much time to react, the vomit came coughing up and it went up my nose, on my shirt a little, then the girl brought over the trash and it oozed down the side of my face, thankfully mostly in the trash. They wouldn't let me up, even though I felt fine after that, so I had to lay there smelling like barf, with vomit in my nose leaking into my throat. Finally they let me sit up, then let me go. Gross. But, I made it!! I guess there is something that happens to your body when the blood stop flowing and it makes you sick. Combined with the heat, I was a goner.

I went back home and felt a little shaky later, but was okay. I parked in the parking lot up the street and across the way since they are sealing our road today. It takes two days to do it and it's dry by that evening, but the lovely city road crews decided to make those two days Friday and Monday, so we can't drive on our street the entire weekend. Anyway, that parking lot is owned by my brother-in-law who owns a salon by appointment only. The woman at the salon will have you towed if you park there without being a customer. So I called him to ask permission and he said he would leave her a note. I put a note on my car saying I had permission to be there, just in case he forgets.
Last night I needed something to wind me down to get ready for bed. I usually talk to Scott, but he's out of cell phone battery, so I've been watching "How I Met Your Mother". I finished all the new episodes the other day, so I decided to see what the "Big Bang Theory" was all about. I went to a site I normally go to to watch videos and watched the first episode. All at once I got windows security warnings that I had been attacked with trojan horses, spyware, and worms. Great, just great. I remembered that Scott did something to the virus protection last week and got rid of a program he was told interfered with it. I don't know if that was the cause or not. I tried to run the virus scan in safe mode, but it didn't do any good. Now the desktop is out of commission until Becca's husband, James, fixes it for me.

This morning I went to step on the scale to see if I lost more than that one pound this week, with all the stress, and to top everything off...my scale battery is dead.

You know that feeling where you are worried you will forget something? Now imagine worrying not only that you will forget everything, but that your husband will too. I even have to remind him to go to work sometimes. I realized today that this is one of the reasons I feel so stressed. I put reminders in my phone for trash day and some other things. I am going to make Scott start taking brain function herbs as well and see if it will help. Of course, that'll be one more thing I have to remember. Wouldn't be nice to have an assistant to remember everything for you?

I just took a break from posting, woke up Pixie from her nap early to go babysit Becca's kids while she goes to her doctor's appointment. I walked all the way up to the parking lot and the driver's side wouldn't unlock. Finally got it unlocked, then got Pixie in, only to find out that it won't start again. Now the SUV is stuck in that parking lot and Pixie didn't have a full nap, plus Scott's laptop erased part of my post and it was saved over. What next? I feel like crying. In fact, I did a little.



Sunday, June 14, 2009

May Pictures

Here are some pictures from last month.
My mom's birthday was May 30th. I made her a cake, which was nice because she usually has to make her own! I also made her some sesame "chicken" out of Quorn (she's allergic to soy) and bought her some organic cotton string bags to collect their bounty from their garden.


Pretty huh? It was pretty good too. I'll post the recipe on our recipe blog!


I had gone shopping for myself and my mom the night before we went to their house. I was trying to fit everything in the refrigerator and freezer...and I hadn't cleaned it out yet..sorry for that! Anyway, I looked down and realized that Pixie was inside the refrigerator pulling out yogurt and trying to eat it through the lid.



Pixie has recently claimed her office space. She loves the dog cages, but she had a fight with the Swiffer that lasted for a couple days because she couldn't get it in there.



It's so funny, she'll bring a book, a toy, and her sippy cup in there. She shuts the door and does her own little thing!

It's Memorial Day!

Okay, I'm quite a bit late in posting this, but I thought some of you would enjoy seeing pictures.
We went up to the lake house on Sunday night and Becca's family joined us. Our friend, Danny, joined us on Monday. Everyone else left on Monday and we stayed Tuesday night, just with our little family.
We brought Perrin and Nova and Becca's family brought their dog, Romeo, with them. There were already 3 dogs when we got there because Scott's brother's family was there and we didn't know they were staying the night. All SIX dogs were fighting with each other and one of their little dogs barked all night. I was so surprised when Pixie slept through the entire night!

Here was Perrin having the time of his life!


And then here he is again. He was being terrorized by Romeo, so he hid and went to sleep in a bed of poison ivy.

All the boys were having a grand ol' time in the lake. This is Danny making a shot.


And James..


And Scott..we also have a jumping shot of him, which he proudly made.

Pixie and her Aunt Becca


Lion got almost all the way over to the other side, then felt a fish...
look at his face of terror!

Good Uncle Scott brought him back

Lounging (Professor is in there too)..

Lion and Princess drying off

The men making fire..

It's so nice when her aunt takes her!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Found a Way to Sleep Longer!!

So many moms I talk to have the same problem. Your babe gets up well before you are ready to wake up. Now that Pixie is 14 months old, I don't think it's unreasonable for her to sleep 12 hours at night. Heck, I know of 3 month olds that do the same thing!
She has been wanting to take two naps during the day still, but that was really cutting into her night sleep. So I have switched her myself and it seems to be working.
I had an epiphany last night and tried it out. After Pixie fell asleep at night and before I retire to my bed, I sneaked in there and put a sippy cup filled with water in the corner of her crib.
This morning I heard her wake up, then there was silence, so I went back to sleep. I woke up after 8am wide awake with probably more sleep than I needed. I thought she would be awake, so I went in her room. Nope, she fell back to sleep and she slept until 9am! I guess she just woke up thirsty. This is so great that I'm going to try it again tonight. Wish me luck!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Sophie's Chic Boutique


There is a giveaway going on right now over at Two of a Kind.
For a bunch of extra entries, you can go to Sophie's Chic Boutique and buy something for 20% off! I would so totally do it and buy this diaper bag, if Scott wasn't looking for an additional job right now. After the discount and including shipping, it would only be $31!! They have amazing prices and really cute stuff. I highly recommend checking it out. I subscribed to Sophie's blog (where she has secret sales and stuff) for when I can actually spend some moolah there!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Funny Kid Songs

I love to listen to good kid songs. Do you know that Barenaked Ladies camed out with a kid's cd a year ago? It's called "Snack Time". Like all of BNL's cds, it has a bazillion tracks and only the first half are really good, but they are hilarious.
Anyway, I came across this guy on YouTube and thought he was pretty good! I've only seen this one and "Crazy Over Vegetables"...which I think Becca will find very entertaining.
Grab your kids and enjoy!


happygreenbee Giveaway

Remember that picture of Pixie in her happygreenbee organic outfit? Well here, I'll refresh your memory!


You have a chance to win something from happygreenbee for your little peanut!
"Deal"ectible Mommies hosting a giveaway, go over and enter!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Earth's Best/ Jason Naturals Baby Travel Bag. Free with receipts and shipping!

It's too bad that we don't use baby food anymore. I have a ton still laying around and sometimes I put it into pasta to make it healthier for Pixie. So I have tons of labels, but I didn't keep the receipts! Darn. If you use Earth's Best baby food products already, it's only $1.95 shipping for your travel kit!
Here are the specifics:


Earth's Best Baby Body Care by JASON

Travel Kit

Here is your chance to receive a FREE Earth's Best Baby Body Care by JASON; Travel Kit. Each kit contains travel sizes of 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash, Extra Rich Therapy Crème, Everyday Lotion, Mineral Based Sunblock SPF30+, and Diaper Relief Ointment. Pediatrician Tested and Approved, each product has been evaluated and given the seal of approval from an American Medical Association certified Pediatrician. It's perfect for the diaper bag!

Simply send your register receipt(s) for $15 in purchases for Earth's Best products, along with the accompanying box tops and jar labels and a check or money order payable to Earth's Best for $1.95 (for shipping and handling). Offer good while supplies last. Mail to:

Earth's Best Travel Kit Offer
P.O. Box 8960 Dept. 02
St. Cloud, MN 56398-8960

Please allow 6-8 weeks for shipping. Offer good while supplies last.
Click here for a redemption form.


Wednesday, June 3, 2009

My Favorite Natural Mascara and Deodorant....That WORK!


I wanted to try a natural mascara. I tried Honeybee Gardens mascara, but it didn't cut it. It was all smooshy and ran terribly. They do have some other products that are good, just not their eye makeup. So, I decided to try another. I found a winner! Ecco Bella's mascara is really nice. I only used waterproof mascara before this and really, I don't find that much of a difference. Except that this doesn't flake off. It's water resistant and is easy to remove. Some people have a problem with not enough "volume", but I find that I can have a clean look or get more volume by more applications. The brush is not wimpy! I got my Ecco Bella through our co-op for about $9 and you can find it for that + shipping online. It's worth it!
Here is the description from their website:

Ecco Bella FlowerColor Natural Mascara
Mascara in as pure a formula as you can buy. Based on clay and iron oxides, we leave out the lacquer, shellac and alcohol. This mascara wraps around and lengthens lashes to their longest.. It's water resistant, but not waterproof. Gentle, easily removed. Excellent for sensitive eyes.



Can you love a deodorant? I think you can! I almost gave up on deodorant entirely. I used every brand in the store. Dove..yuck..I used Secret for a long time...nope. I found that every one I used would end up melding with my natural scent to smell like fragrance and body odor. Not a pleasant thing! Degree seemed to do better, but I wanted to find a natural deodorant without the pore clogging chemicals of an antiperspirant. So, after trying a few natural deodorants, with no luck, I decided to try ONE LAST TIME. I went online and searched every back alley of every forum and health site and found two options that looked promising. So, I picked one and ordered Kiss My Face Liquid Rock in Scented last co-op order. It's inexpensive (I think like $3) and it's great! Now, if you're thinking "I've tried a crystal before and didn't like it..", this is not the same thing. I tried a crystal rock before and didn't like it at all. The Liquid Rock has a very light scent (you can get it unscented too) , I feel dry wearing it, and it battles body odor. I've successfully been stink free after the gym and even the next day after applying it. This is wonderful stuff.
Give it a try!

Liquid rock™ scented deodorant
aluminum and paraben free

A liquid mineral crystal formula, naturally scented, in a convenient roll-on that really works!
- neutralizes natural body acids in perspiration
- natural, safe & effective

GOOD FOR YOU BECAUSE...
Potassium Alum: natural mineral salt that prevents odor
Salix Alba (White Willow Bark): natural herbal deodorant
Usnea Barbata (Lichen): antimicrobial, natural odor deterent


Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Win a Wii or iPod Nano?!?

Sure, I'll take it!
I wasn't so sure I'd like the Nintendo Wii when it first came out. Video games aren't my favorite thing. But when Becca's family got one and I played Mario Cart on it..I was sold! I still can't justify buying one for myself, but I'd sure win one! And who wouldn't want an iPod?
In appreciation and celebration of their 2 year anniversary, ChristianPF.com is hosting a giveaway for both a Wii and iPod Nano!
Go here to enter and good luck!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Living in the Present- Thoughts from Book Club

I believe I have mentioned before that I am in charge of our new book club for Relief Society.
We have had two meetings so far. We reviewed "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell in April and reviewed "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle this month.
Next week is our next meeting, the one I've been waiting for the most! I picked "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis. My father recommended this book to me as a teenager and it instantly became my favorite book. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it is about a senior devil, Screwtape, writing letters to his nephew. He is giving him support and advice on how to secure his patient to "Our Father Below" (the devil) and to steer him away from "the Enemy" (God).
I haven't read it in years, so I am re-reading it right now. I hope I do a good enough job retaining information and taking down notes, so that I can lead a good discussion. I highly recommend reading it.

I just read this in one of the letters:

"In a word, the Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is the most completely temporal part of time- for the Past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays."

It makes me think of when Scott tells me to "just enjoy it". Meaning to enjoy whatever stage of life we are in now. Whether it's watching a movie together, agonizing over a stage that Pixie's going through, or trying to fit our lives into this tiny house. Screwtape says that the present is most like eternity, and therefore, he advises his nephew to encourage his patient to look towards and worry about the future.
I recently was talking to Grandma Maridee I think when I came out with surprising words of wisdom. I said "prepare for the future, but live in the now". I'm not tooting my own horn, but I think I became quote worthy there!
We spent a few days up at the lake over the Holiday (pictures to follow!) and Scott wrote me a sweet letter one morning. He had gotten up and started the campfire with the dogs, while Pixie and I still slept. His letter was full of joy and happiness for the future with us. He has really changed my outlook on life and has brought so much love and joy into my life.
I wouldn't trade my family for all the riches in the world!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

The Virdict is In...

Pixie has curly hair!!!!!!
I can't get good enough pictures because it's so fine, but it's true, it's curly. Who would have thunk it? With my dominant flat hair?




Our Photo Shoot and Daily Antics

Tonight Pixie and I went to Enrichment Meeting. I'm on the board and was in charge of bringing the snack, so I had to be there at 6. Well, we waited until 6:45 to really get started because there were only about 10 people that showed up...quite a few of us in charge of it! This is a really bad month, we have a good sized ward and usually have a pretty good turn out. Anyway, Pixie was so whiny and I thought I would have to go early, but I put her off. We got home close to 9pm and started getting ready for bed, where we had an impromptu photo shoot in the bathroom. Enjoy!

Pixie wasn't liking this shot!

Some singing involved...

I thought this one was a cute one.

Ham!

I just love that smile!

She looks like she's going to bite me.

Hanging out in our pajamies.

Such kissable cheeks.

The end.



Here are some pictures from the past week or so.

I found Pixie dumping the crumbs of her Annie's crackers into Nova's cage.


I swear she gets her sense of humor from me. We were playing with her toys and she just did this on her own.


My nude model. She was trying to run away from me.

This is one of the outfits I won from the happygreenbee.com giveaway at connectedtochrist.com.
We LOVE our organic cotton outfits! Mari from happygreenbee was SO helpful and suggested wonderful outfits from their outlet. Without her information, I would have only been able to get one shirt with my gift card!



I keep going back and forth between fitteds and pockets. Lately I've been loving the fitteds and fleece covers, especially since it's been really warm.


Seriously, am I biased or is she really darn cute?!?


We do this crazy face to each other.

Goofy girl. She took some of my papers and started "skating" on them around the room. At one point she had a piece under each hand. I joined her of course!


This was from a while ago. I was going through some old boxes and found some old dolls. I pulled out my old Strawberry Shortcake Blows Kisses doll. She still is scented! Made in 1982.