These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Random stuff I'm diggin'. Why not share the love?

Shutterfly. I used them this year for our annual Christmas-yeah-right-more-like-Valentine's-Day photo card. I really liked their options for cards... not the same old, same old. They have some very cool collage cards that I think would be a fantastic way for families to showcase individual children. They offer lots of font options on the cards, and the text is REALLY customizable (meaning, you are not limited to simply writing "Merry Christmas from the Smith Family.") Shutterfly made it easy to create the card and edit the photo just the way I wanted it. I also thought the prices were reasonable. Check out Shutterfly for other stuff as well, like photo gifts, prints, and albums.

My teaching philosophy: "Learn to read. Read to learn." Knowing this, it will not surprise you to learn that I dig kid lit that helps kids learn basic skills. The Math Start books are really cute and teach all manner of math concepts without it feeling like a math book. Ranging from simple counting to time-telling, there is probably a Math Start book suitable for your child.

We have been playing a matching game around here ever since Christmas that is just like Memory, only better! I Never Forget a Face* is a matching game produced by eeboo. The game consists of 24 pairs of sturdy "cards," each with a picture of a girl or boy from around the world. We play this game all the time here with everyone turning over different cards and declaring "Afghanistan, Viet Nam," or some such combination. It is a first step for helping our children develop respect for other cultures. (We're into that around here...) (*That link is to a site that sells eeboo products because I can't get the eeboo homepage to load properly.)

Club Mom. I stumbled upon this a month or two ago. This site has LOTS of stuff for moms... anything mom-related is there... though that wasn't the real draw for me. What intrigued me was the vast array of online merchants offering points for products and gift cards purchased through Club Mom. Points can be redeemed for products in their rewards catalog (some nice stuff in there) or for gift cards. I imagine there are tons of sites just like this out there, but it's all new to me. Club Mom is affiliated with some merchants that I do use online, so it seemed like a no-brainer to start collecting some points by making my purchases through them. (I already have my eye on a Bed Bath and Beyond gift card for when I redocorate my living room.)

This is enough to make even someone like me want to buy jewelry. I love it. Absolutely love it. I knew you would too!

I have been using this can opener for a few months now and I can't say enough good stuff about it. It works SOOO well, and after my last can opener, which I had to fight with every time I put it to use, this is such a welcome change. The Orbi can opener doesn't leave sharp edges on cans, doesn't cause the contents of the can to ooze out, and it is smooth and easy to use. If you need a new can opener, get this one. It may cost a little more than the old fashioned kind, but it's worth it. (And I got mine for only $10, so look around for a good price.)

New American Dream is a site I found a while ago when I was searching the internet for ideas about how we could be more responsible with our spending and our consumption of energy and material goods. This site turned out to offer a whole lot more than I was looking for. It offers a lot of basic information and links for more specifics. Topics include Clean Energy, Simplifying Holidays, Reducing Junk Mail, Socially Responsible Investing, and many others. I found the information about Fair Trade (with links to all sorts of fair trade merchants) and Kids and Commercialism particularly interesting. Go check it out!

This is a picture of Ms. Boo's reading chain. She isn't so into reading, so she needed a little motivation. I knew anything that appealed to her crafty side would be met with her approval. So, each time she reads a book by herself to me or Paul, she gets a new link on the chain. I keep a supply of books I know she can read in a container in the family room. They already have the construction paper taped to them with the title and author written on them. I also keep a stash of plain construction paper pieces handy, so if she wants to read we can put up a new link quickly. She hasn't really read a lot. Like I said, it isn't her favorite thing (hmmm, where did she get that trait?) but I think the chain has motivated her to read more than she would have otherwise. She wants to get the chain to stretch across the family room and into the living room. Hey, at least she has dreams.

True Lime. Love it. I have been trying to drink more water lately, but I don't really like plain water. My neice introduced me to something she found while she was away at college called True Lime. It is crystallized lime juice. I buy it in the little packets to add to my water, though it comes in other packages and has lots of other uses. No calories. No fat. No carbs. No sweeteners. 25% of vitamin C. And, it's yummy! They have a healthy living challenge, which closely resembles what I have been attempting since January. They even offer free samples to leaders of weight loss and other health maintainence groups. How cool is that?

Oh, and this blog. You do NOT want to miss it!

Hope you find something that is useful for you.

Things I thought existed (but don't)

1. Stationery that is neither the size of a notecard nor comes in a set with foil lined envelopes. Apparently, the only people who write letters of any considerable length these days, are extremely snooty. Foil lined envelopes isn't quite my style. But I want to write a "letter," not a "note." Two weeks, 5 stores and I still can't find them. (I'm swear I am going to get another letter to you, Shalee. Even if I have to write it on notebook paper... again.)

2. An off-white shirt that matches the flowers on the hip new skirt I bought. I figured off-white should be easy to find. Naive? No. Just too picky, it seems. I just don't want a shirt so tight it shows off my flab, or so low cut that I might as well not wear a shirt in the first place.

3. A slip in size 5T. Not at Walmart, KMart, Sears, Penney's, or Target. Can't. be. found.

4. A pair of sandals comfortable enough to wear every day, but nice enough to wear with a skirt.

5. My sanity whenever I try to go shopping.

Olympic Highlights

Okay, who watched the finals of the pairs figure skating?

I will admit that I root for Chinese athletes.

One pair from China attempted, for the first time ever in competition, a quad throw. She has apparently landed it in practice about 50% of the time. But during their long program, she fell HARD on her knee. When she got up, it looked at first as if she wouldn't even be able to skate off the ice.

Then they finished the routine.

And seeing them do their routine after attempting something so gutsy and taking such a nasty fall... that was awesome. It was more fun to watch than the tentative Russian pair who won the gold.

And the Chinese pair won the silver medal. How cool is that? How crazy cool!

The Chinese went 2,3,4 in that event. THE CHINESE! IN FIGURE SKATING!!! I'll be interested to see how they fare at the next Olympics, b/c it looks like they might be turning into a force in that sport. And having heard the stories about how difficult life is for an elite athlete in China, I think it would be fantastic to see them win.

I have no idea why this is such a big deal to me. But I love figure skating... and I guess I do have a soft spot in my heart for the Chinese too!

Bullet points

- I am reading Boltzmann's Atom, and it ROCKS. I am a total nerd and I love it! I could read the history of the development of atomic theory all day. I'm not kidding.

- My son correctly used the word "reddish" today.

- I am trying to decide if I want to do a post about the discipline of children, but I am not sure if I can do it without it turning into a rant.

- The ladies that I scrapbook with are beyond a blessing to me. These ladies are the real deal. Often we get very little scrapbooking done because we are too deep in conversation. What I appreciate the most is that there is a general understanding amongst us that we are all flawed and we all struggle... and nobody pretends otherwise. Refreshing. Haven't developed those kinds of relationships since college, sadly enough.

- I heart this picture:

- What's up with all the lurkers? I know who you are. Leave a comment already! (You can even make fun of me for still being in my pajamas after my kids are clearly ready for the day.)

- When it comes to transforming your housecleaning habits, I have found there is something strangely powerful about keeping the kitchen sink empty and clean. Who'd a thunk?

- I find it annoying when I hear Christians say that we are saved by faith. It seems clear from Ephesians 2 that we are saved by grace, not faith. But everyone thinks I am being nitpicky when I mention it. I don't think it's nitpicky. I think it makes a huge difference.

- I also find it annoying when people refer to the fruits of the Spirit rather than the fruit of the Spirit. I suppose I'd just be rehashing an old post if I get into that too much, but my position can be summed up thusly: if the Spirit dwells in you, then it makes sense that He bears His fruit in you, and HIS fruit encompasses ALL the good outworkings mentioned in Gal 5:22 (and then some.) Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have started down that road at all. But perhaps this will provide material for my lurkers to comment upon...

- I took a quiz at blogthings about what language I should learn. I about fell off my chair when it said Chinese. Does anyone else find that odd? Especially since I was already thinking about it...(You can take the quiz here.)

- I recently chatted with a friend I haven't talked to in a while. She is a stay-at-home mom too. I discovered that we feel very much the same about our jobs. And it was refreshing, because I don't think my feelings about it fit the general profile for SAHMs. Being a SAHM is not, for me, blissfully rewarding. Not regretting it. Not wishing I was doing something else. Definitely preferring it over putting my kids in day-care. ABSOLUTELY loving the benefits that my kids get out of it. But not getting utter fulfillment out of it. Result: I have to be purposeful about pursuing the things that "float my boat" and develop my talents/abilities. Anyway, it was just nice to hear another SAHM say the same thing, cuz that's not usually what you hear.

- I have three books checked out of the library right now. Clearly, I was on drugs when I did that, cuz there is no way I will be able to finish all of them before they are due back.

- Currently desiring to hear some Tears for Fears. Does this computer do that radio thing? Nevermind, it's too late for figuring it out...

Good night.

Getting to Know me

I think I may have picked up a few new readers just prior to and during the trip to China. Now seems like a good time to do a "getting to know me" post. Hopefully even my faithful readers will learn something new.

Here are some little known facts about me:

> There was a time in my life when I considered being a hand model. But only my left hand. I don't think my right hand would be "photogenic" because I have an ugly callous on my middle finger from where I rest pens/pencils when I write.

> During my junior high and high school years I was a big, huge West Point geek. It was pretty crazy. I'd visit whenever I could and I loved meeting cadets. I got to sit (well, stand, actually) with the corps during a football game once. It was a fun thing arranged by the only female cadet I knew, and I just thought she was the coolest. I went to an Army v. Navy game once too.

> The "baddest" things I ever did when I was a teenager: I skipped eighth period once during my senior year... and I had to walk by the principal in the hallway to do it. Also, I sat in the car while my friends drove around stealing street signs one night. I think that makes me an accomplice or something. Oh, and I lied to Heather's parents one night about where we were going. We wanted to go to the beach at night and just hang out, but we didn't think they'd dig that idea. So we told them we were going somewhere else. I could've sworn we lied to my mom about it too, but Heather says my mom knew the truth... even about not telling her parents the real story. I have a feeling Heather is right. Perhaps mom can confirm, if she recalls the event.

> I had a crush on Michael Jackson when I was in the fifth grade.

> I am thirty-two years old and I have never:
- gone skiing
- seen any of the Star Trek, Star Wars, Rocky, or Halloween movies
- been drunk
- been high
- eaten sauerkraut
- carried/owned a cell phone

> I have no desire to do any of the things listed above.

> I am not a friendly person, in that I don't say "hi" to people I pass by or smile a whole lot. People take this the wrong way sometimes and think something is wrong. Usually nothing is wrong, I just don't do those things because I don't think of it.

> I absolutely get overwhelmed with life if I don't have regular, adult conversation about stimulating topics AND time by myself. This is probably why this stage of motherhood is sometimes stressful to me.

> I like to write letters to people - the old fashioned way.

> I always wanted to be a teacher. I never remember wanting to be anything else. I think this is the case because I never realized that I was good at anything other than school.

> Don't worry, I realize it now.

> And, BTW, I was a great teacher, too - IMO.

> Some cool things I have done:
- flown in a hot air balloon
- been a member of the studio audience for a taping of "Hollywood Squares."
- studied NMR at Penn State
- went on a mission trip to Azerbaijan
- been to China! :)

> Things a lot of people like that I just don't get into:
- being a beach bum
- watching TV, or purchasing large TVs
- watching movies
- makeup (I don't wear any.)
- Longaberger baskets
- sporty cars and SUVs

> I can learn well from written directions. I have taught myself to knit and crochet this way.

> My husband recently asked what my perfect day would be like. I haven't answered him yet because I was thinking day = 24 hours. He was thinking day = "from the time you get up to the time you go to bed." But I thought I would share my perfect 24 hour day: up in the morning. Breakfast at Hardees - egg and cheese biscuit, hash rounds, and a coffee. Drive over to Waynesville to putz around at the Fabric Shack and buy some beautiful, if overpriced, fabric that I have no idea what I will do with. Get my hair washed, cut, and dried at a nice salon. Have a quiet time at a quiet, untrendy coffee shop that isn't overrun with teenagers hyped up on caffeine. I'd like to have quiche for lunch. Then, I want to check into a hotel which is near a Micheal's or a Hobby Lobby. I'd spend the rest of my night scrapbooking, so I would need to be near one in case I needed supplies or ideas. I'd stop for dinner (roomservice?) and to watch Letterman just long enough to hear the top ten list. Then I 'd sleep - uninterrupted, until the next morning when I would return home. (And now I am thinking, that's a lot of egg to eat in one day... hmm)

The End.

Vocabulary Lesson

1. AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks'trus) adj. Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub tap on and off with your toes.

2. CARPERPETUATION (kar pur pet u AY shun) n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.

3. CAMOUFLUSH (KAM o flush) n. The unnecessary flushing of a public restroom toilet to mask embarrassing bodily sounds.

4. DISCONFECT (dis kon FEKT) v. To sterilize the piece of confection (sucker) you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow remove all the germs.

5. ELBONICS (el BON iks) n. The actions of two people maneuvering for one armrest at a movie theater.

6. FRUST (frust) n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and keeps backing a person across the room until he finally decides to give up and sweep it under the rug.

7. LACTOMANGULATION (lak to man gyu LAY shun) n. Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk container so badly that one must resort to using the "illegal" side.

8. PEPPIER (peph ee AY) n. The waiter at a fancy restaurant whose sole purpose seems to be walking around asking diners if they want fresh ground pepper.

9. PHONESIA (fo NEE zhuh) n. The affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting who you were calling just as they answer.

10. TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin AY shun) n. The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you are only six inches away.

These and many others can be found at www.unwords.com

Just for the record, I have done #s 2, 3, 5, and 9, and I do #10 all the time!

Brownies, bugs, and babies

Here is how you know that your mate is your perfect match:
1. You BOTH like brownies - but he likes the middle ones and you like the corners.
2. Since you got married, you have grown several gray hairs. Just to make you feel better, he has lost a bunch of his.
3. You are always losing your glasses. He always seems to know where they are.
4. Potato chips: He likes the big ones and you like the little pieces.

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One thing that I love about Ms. Boo is that she is always saying "thank you," without being prompted. Today, after she told me "thank you" for getting her a napkin, I said "you are very good at saying 'thank you!'" To which she replied.... "thank you."

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I am totally aware that cicadas are harmless to humans. But, whenever they fly near me (especially when they are making that screeching sound) it absolutely freaks me out. I keep telling myself that next time I will remain calm, but I just can't seem to do it. Gross, gross, gross.

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Actual quote: "I'm missing the hair to Betsy Ross."
This stuff is seriously out of hand. (Click on "Graveyard.")

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Mr. Bug loves this book called "So Big," which features Elmo. I read it to him every time I put him to bed. He just giggles! When Elmo plays peekaboo, Bug puts his hands over his eyes. When Elmo touches his toes or waves, Bug does it too. When Elmo pops up on the last page, Bug tries to hug him. My son is precious!

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Unofficial poll: Lightning bugs or fire flies?

Little Things

*experiencing great frustration from the fact that there are a lot of things I want to be that I am not. feeling lazy and incompetent to accomplish them
*had a jam session with Ms. Boo today in which I played air guitar and she played air xylophone. best music i've heard in a while
*thinking about something big. can't say more, but pray if you think of it.
*goal: lose all 20 extra lbs from my two babies before I get pregnant again
*goal: read Bible daily
*desperate to see more examples of real christians who are not afraid to live life on the narrow road....there seem to be a pitiful few, and I count myself as part of the majority. I don't know why I want to SEE that in someone else so badly...well, I think I know why...it's just that I rely on it too much when I should simply be relying on the Spirit to help me be an example instead of always searching for one. easier said than done.
*Paul ran the Boston marathon in 80+ degree heat. got dehydrated and needed an IV after he finished. thank you, God, for protecting him.
*wish: for Chris Boy to sing "hallelujahs" by Chris Rice for special music at church
*prediction: Andrea S. could win American Idol if she tried out.
*appreciation: for the fact that Rob B. is a man of his word. When he says "I'll do it" he will. And when he says "I won't do it" he won't. Wish everybody was like that.
*thinking about: Karissa. would like to chat with her again.
*need: to think a little less of myself. People don't need me as much as I think/wish they did. And they don't think about me as much as I convince myself they do
*Mr. Bug is climbing on everything
*wish: I had a Tears for Fears CD
*laugh: heard the end of the song "Bust a Move" the other day and was upset that I didn't get to hear it all....... In the city, ladies look pretty, guys tell jokes so they can seem witty..... not the most uplifting song in the world, but it reminds me of the past. I like that I can still rap the lyrics to several songs.... you all know "I'm dope on the floor and magic on the mic...." and I can "light up the stage, a wax chunk like a candle."

.....oh my.........

Thankfulness

Last Thanksgiving during a weds. evening service, our music minister mentioned "counting your blessings." I have heard that phrase a million times, but I've never actually COUNTED my blessings. I went home that night and started counting. I was interrupted somewhere around 40, but have just recently gotten back to working on the list. It is getting to be quite long. I thought I would share a few entries here.

* a warm spring evening on the porch, rocking Mr. Bug to sleep
* Paul: never having the attitude that the money he earns is his
* Paul: who supports our family and makes it possible for me to stay home with my babes.
* the lady at Wal Mart who saved Ms. Boo from falling out of the cart while I wasn't looking
* the day when it is finally warm enough to open the windows... I love that smell
* spring days and a fenced-in back yard
* free flowers for my garden from my mom and mother-in-law
* cabinet latches
* nights out by myself with some coffee and my Bible
* having food "on my table" every night
* having a husband who doesn't mind that there isn't food on the table every night.
* my church
* my Sunday school class
* the preaching of Jedidiah Blake
* visits from Melissa B.
* the awesome snowman we made on 3/16
* hearing Ms. Boo say "awesome"
* that God doesn't require that I have it all figured out
* the Mercyme concert on 3/5
* Mr. Bug's safety for ??? days while his car seat was unbuckled
* salmon
* chemistry
* irises
* the visit w/ Shelby and Maureen on 2/21
* gardening
* chocolate
* watching Mr. Bug walk with his arms straight up in the air
* hearing Ms. Boo tell me what she is thinking
* Turkish food
* the free clothes for my children provided by my sister-in-law
* learning from experiences that hurt, and being able to help someone else because of them
* God loves me way more than I'll ever understand
* a free van
* Dr. E.
* Dr. H.
* chipmunks
* turtles
* spring break and a short, but fun, family vacation
* making things with my hands
* being able to write
* getting a surprise visit from a cleaning lady while we were away on vacation
* dollar stores
* God's patient teaching
* being around people who aren't like me
* making people laugh
* getting to watch "Trading Spaces"
* ice cream from Maggie Moo's
* giving someone a handmade quilt
* playing the "drawing game" with the kids in the nursery at church
* The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
* insight from Maureen
* get-togethers with Helen
* wisdom from Linda
* encouragement from Shelby
* the back porch
* catching one of the quilting shows on PBS
* CBS golf coverage

Little Things I find Exciting

* finding stuff to send to my nephew, Seth, stationed in Iraq
* seeing the plants peeking out of the ground, or the new seeds sprouting out of the soil. I swear I check those things every 5 minutes to see how much they have grown.
* seeing the pieces of a quilt come together
* throwing baby/bridal showers
* getting comments on my blog (no pressure)
* shopping for fabric
* going out for dinner w/ friends after the Sunday evening service at church
* watching my children open presents
* staying in the hospital after having a baby
* seeing an animal in its natural environment, especially frogs, fish, chipmunks, turtles
* the moment I realize that I will be able to complete a syll-acrostic
* when new people come to Sunday school
* explaining a chemical concept to someone who really wants to know and is willing to listen

I would just like to mention that I like it that silly things excite me.

By the way, does anyone else find the type on this blog too big? I am in negotiations with my template about this. So far, its desires have prevailed.