Wordless Wednesday: Happy New Year!

SImple Woman's Daybook

For Today... December 30, 2008 (almost the end of 2008)

Outside my Window... a beautiful, sunny day! - perfect for taking pictures!!

I am remembering... back through everything this year has held... and what a year it's been!

I am thinking... how true this [lyrical] line is: "everything will change, but love remains the same..."

I am wearing... white tank, under orange striped shirt... knee length jean skirt... Old Navy flip flops... hair & makeup done..

From the kitchen... Just made some soup for lunch... we're having dinner at the DeVeaus house, tonight. - tomorrow, pizza at church - Thursday, we need to make mashed potatoes for dinner at Nouna's.... and if I have leftovers, I think I'll make shepherd's pie on Friday!!

I am creating... Getting ready to create engagement photos for Vanessa & Chris!! <3

I am hearing... Music playing from Pandora...

One of my favorite things... spending time with longtime friends!! ::warm fuzzies::

Around the house... Need to do laundry, and scrub bathroom... and there are always a few KB toys to pick up... but for the most part, it doesn't look half bad...

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Like I mentioned before, I have an Engagement session with Vanessa & Chris this afternoon, followed by dinner at the DeVeaus' house --- Tomorrow evening we have a New Years Eve Service, where I have to play for one of the special musics of the night. B will also be giving one of the eight [preaching] challenges during the service!! Then, following the service I think a few families are staying around for Pizza & Wii --- Thursday, we have dinner at Nouna's -- I would also like to drop off some "recovery" flowers to Mrs. M, who is having hand surgery on Weds afternoon --- Nora/Steve & JAmes (as well as Vanessa/Chris) leave to head back home, on Friday... so I am also hoping to see each of them, one more time before they leave!! --- B starts take-down with Trimmers on Friday afternoon. --- We're supposed to have a 4-H meeting on Sat, but with B working, I don't think I'll go. --- I think I have offertory on Sunday, again.

Quote...

"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.." - You've Got Mail

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

A shirt I got for Christmas...

Goals for 2009

• Get "good" soaps for kitchen/bathroom/hands/KB &amp; Me
• Get Bamboo utensils (Pampered chef?)
• Remove all plastic dinnerware (all cups, plates, utensils, etc)
• Limit other plastics (ie storage, etc)
• Get KB at least one Klean Kanteen - get rid of plastic sippies
• Find a regular time for bible reading/prayer
• Get EO's and learn uses for them.
• Other than our once-a-week Chick-fil-A... not eat fast food during 2009. (esp McDonalds)!
• Limit soft drinks to 1-2x month! (at MOST!)
• Get a sewing machine &amp; become efficient on it!
• Start a schedule for day &amp; reorganize the chores schedule 
• Start a weekly date night
  
  Morning:
• Feed fish
• Unload dishwasher
  
  Night:
• Clean up kitchen (wipe down table/counters - sweep)
• Load remaining dishes in dishwasher - start it.
  
  To Read:
• "How to raise a healthy child in spite of your doctor" by Robert Mendelsohn.
• "Continum Concept" Jean Liedloff
• "Diaper Free Baby"
• "The Natural Child: Parenting From the Heart" Jan Hunt
• "Grace-Based Parenting" by Dr. Tim Kimmel

What a deal!

Steve & Barry's in the mall is going out of business, and everything in the store has slowly been marked lower, and lower. When my mom & sisters were here, I got three shirts, two skirts for KB, and a new bathing suit for under $20! Not bad.... Well THEN ,we decided to stop in there, today... and everything was down even more - to $2.00 & under! (t-shirts were 60¢!) Though the store was a disaster... and the selection, not nearly as vast as before.... there were definitely deals to be found! We ended up with two shirts for B, four shirts & a pair of pajama pants (pictured above) for me, a shirt for my sister, a shirt for a friend, and a baby's sweater vest for a friend. The grand total? Only 9-dollars & change! :-) The funny thing is, the receipt shows your savings... and it said we saved like close to $60!! Isn't that crazy?! I just love finding a good deal!

BTW, Huntington Beach, CA (t-shirt in picture) is were our friend JAmes lives now. B & I thought it to was quite funny (& ironic) that there would be a shirt of the same place... so for such a price, I got it! ;)

Hey Facebook...

Breastfeeding is NOT obscene!!! 
 Obscene - adj. - something offensive due to sex or violence to the point of being illegal....

Breastfeeding is not sexual... it is one of the most gentle, least violent things you can do for a child... and is *perfectly* legal (there are even laws in place [in many states - FL included] which protect breastfeeding mamas against such discrimination).

SO... if you are so annoyed & bothered by it... that's fine. Just do us all a favor, and put a blanket over YOUR head!!

It's not about my rights to breastfeed...
it about my BABY's rights to eat!!!

Chocolate Chipped...

Ok... so, this isn't a normal (health conscious) food related recommendation... but then, even I, with as much as I strive to only serve healthy, well-balanced meal.... have one weakness, that I just CANNOT give up.... and that would be chocolate! (esp dark - hey, it's healthy, right?? Lol). Well, if you anything like me in the choclate-loving arean... then have I got a blog for you!!
 
http://www.chocolatechipped.com. - A daily blog of all things chocolate!! The author is currently taking a breather from posting her daily chocolates... but there are pages upon pages of archives containing wonderful chocolate photos and recipes to keep you busy, until she returns! Enjoy, my fellow Chocolate-lovers!!

What Christmas is *really* all about...

Luke 2:7 - 13
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Wordless Wednesday: Helping daddy at work.. <3

Christmas time in our home...

I have had the tree up & lit for weeks now.... but finally seized the opportunity, yesterday (i.e. energy/motivation) to finish decorating it, as well as the rest of our home, for Christmas! Just like last year, I didn't want to make a big fuss - pulling out all the ornaments & decorations - I wanted just a little bit of classy yet, simple [almost primitive] Christmas elegance. For the tree, I used plain, white/clear lights... the wooden stars I made last year... the sign Marmee gave me for Christmas... and my beautiful black, punched tin, star topper. Then I put just a few of our most treasured ornaments across the garland leading from the living room to the music room - which was already strung with white/clear twinkling lights. I hung our stockings on the wall unit... my Grandma's santa figurine on the side table... my beloved Willow tree Nativity on another table (in the music room).... and lit my wonderful "Mistletoe" candle - filling the air with fresh, piney goodness!

Here's just a glimpse of what our home now looks like, at this wonderful time of year....

Hanging from the garland...
and my newest addition (given to me recently, by a dear lady in our church...

Other spots around the house...

Then later, B got home from work early.... and so we enjoyed some chips/salsa together, as we got caught up on one of the shows we like to download & watch...

A Day in the Park...

Pictures of a recent trip to the park...

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... December 22, 2008 (three days before Christmas!)

Outside my Window... It's getting chillier by the moment! (mid 50's and dropping) - I also see some smoke off in the distance (brush fire) - and two crazy dogs, that think they want to come inside.

I am remembering... putting up Christmas decorations last year..

I am thinking... I wonder what this Christmas will hold?

I am wearing... Royal Blue tank... black skirt with sequin detail... barefeet... hair pulled back in a clip & then a messy bun... bangs clipped back out of my face. (I might need to go put a sweater on, if it gets too much colder!)

I am reading... Nothing... I just finished the book I was currently working on.

From the kitchen... It's all cleaned up! (except for the floor - I need to buy a new mop!!) Spent much of the afternoon doing a much needed deep clean. Then made Ziti for lunch (something filling, since B will be working late)

I am creating... I just finished creating a beautiful Christmas atmosphere around the house...

I am hearing... The dogs while outside... KB playing with random objects around me.

One of my favorite things...
My Willow Tree Nativity...
Around the house... I [finally - it only took me several weeks of working on it here & there] finished putting all my Christmas decorations up... it looks SO pretty!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Need to buy some Coca-Cola... so I can finished my bartering deal, and get B's Christmas present! (heehee) -- James flies in tonight, so hopefully we'll get to see him sometime while he's here! -- Wednesday night we have a Christmas Eve Service at Church, during which I have to work in the nursery -- Thursday is Christmas, and [honestly] I don't know what all is planned -- Thursday night we are going over to Nouna's house for Joy's Birthday! -- Sunday I have Special Music in the morning.. and offertory in the evening.. there is also a Chalk Artist guy coming for the Evening Service! -- Meanwhile, I am sure B is going to continue to have to work late nights, to keep the lights maintained and the rich folk happy!

Quote...

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
- Dr. Seuss

Verse...

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

At the TnT (youth group) Christmas party...

she didn't feel good, can you tell? :-(

Hathor the Cowgoddess...

I occasionally read this pretty awesome [most of the time] pro-AP comic called "Hathor the Cowgoddess"... some of which are not only inspirational, but *hilariously* funny! Hathor is a character created by an artist in LA. She is a superhero who wants to save humanity through the combination of nurture, sustainability and bonding inherent in the practice of attachment parenting. Her movement is called the Evolution Revolution, her breasts are her superpower and her sidekick is her baby, always carried in a sling and prominently (politically) suckling at her exposed breast.

Anyway, recently I read this one, and it just about made me fall out of my chair I was laughing so hard. As any avid breastfeeding mommy, I can so relate!!

(Don't think it's that funny? - you obviously haven't been there.... LoL!)

*Sign* Language...

How's this for decisive? LoL!

Wordless Wednesday..

Heather & Bryce

I finally got most of the pictures I took for Heather & Bryce's anniversary, edited and posted! -- Here are a few of my favorites!

http://picasaweb.google.com/Keys2praisehymn/HeatherBryce#