Author Archive
All Quite on the Western Front
Posted on: April 4, 2011
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
Actually, our house is anything but quite right now. We are still in the throws of unpacking and organizing the new house. But we don’t have Internet until Wednesday. I’m currently writing this from Jonathan’s iPad. Which is harder than I expected, since the app isn’t letting see as I type. {So let’s hope I get this right the first time ;)}
I promise I really do have some fabulous posts coming. Ranging from new adventures to an update on my 30 before 30.
Stay tuned!
- In: Life
- 22 Comments
I have feathers. In my hair. On purpose. And quite frankly, they kinda rock.
I have four sections of feather extensions {two on each side}. Two are larger feathers {more of what you think when you think “bird feather”} and then the rest are long and thin {think rooster feathers}. I’d totally go for more, but, as it turns out, feather extensions aren’t cheap. Here in Austin, they average $20-25 a section. Thankfully, my awesome new stylist said she wouldn’t charge me for each extension, just one. You can buy kits, but it seems just as pricey to me, since they are geared more toward salons.
The extensions last up to 4 months. As your hair grows out, you can go back in for them to readjust the feathers {or, with some pliers, do it yourself}. Once the feathers are in, you can wash and style your hair as normal. I was a little worried the first time, but the feathers did fine. My larger feathers reminded me of what a wet bird looks like {sort of poofy and crazy} but they calmed down. I’ve been told, the feathers take on your natural oils with time and blend in completely with your hair. I haven’t noticed that yet with the two larger feathers, but have with the thinner ones.
So far, I’m in love with them. Love, love, love. Jonathan was a little shocked at first – just because I had gotten four sections and, honestly, because of my two big feathers. I think they freaked him out a bit. 😉 I figure it’s just a stepping stone to preparing him for me getting dreads.
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
Please Pardon the Silence
Posted on: March 30, 2011
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
I wish my house looked this tidy*
We sign on our house tomorrow afternoon.
The movers will be here Friday morning.
And I’ve been in crazy packing mode for the last several days.
I will have a post tomorrow to debut my feather hair extensions, but will quite back down for a few days.
So please pardon the silence this week.
The Beginning of the End
Posted on: March 25, 2011
- In: Life
- 10 Comments
Folks, I’m turning 29 today. It’s the closing year of my fabulous 20’s. It’s been a grand journey and I’m looking forward to finishing the decade off with a bang.
Today I’ll be celebrating with a pancake breakfast, my favorite birthday dinner {poppy seed chicken}, spending gobbles of time with my wonderful family, enjoying a free dinner at Applebee’s and getting my much needed haircut.
I hope you all have a wonderful Friday.
One Week Before We Move
Posted on: March 24, 2011
- In: Life
- 12 Comments
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how we found a house, put in an offer and had the offer accepted in less than 48 hours. As with a lot of other life things, housing buying can be tricky. Between finances, paperwork, inspections, schedules, etc., anything can go wrong at any time. So, in an effort to not put my hope in the wrong place, or to hype anything up, I haven’t written about our move.
But it’s happening.
While we haven’t signed the closing paperwork, everything is set {finances approved, money in the bank} and ready to go for next week. We are having a few scheduling issues arise, but we think they should be smoothed over {for those of you who want the boring info – the short of it is – we are set to close on the 31st, but our locked in interest rate ends on the 30th, so we need to figure out which day to close}.
Here are just a few pictures of my favorite things in the house:
Look at that beautiful {big} kitchen! It overlooks the living room and backyard. Sigh.
The girls' room. Already painted girly pink and everything!
A playscape! Heart be still, the playscape stays! I am one happy mama {with two happy little girls}.
While we still don’t own the house, we are pretty certain everything is going to go through as expected. Which means, come this time next week, we will be in our new home, starting some wonderful new adventures! I cannot wait!
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
*If you’d like to see the rest of the house, let me know and I can email you a link to the tour {it has our address and I don’t want that on my blog}.
Angel Food Ministries
Posted on: March 23, 2011
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
Last night I had dinner with some friends, when they asked if I’d ever heard of Angel Food Ministries. I admitted that I had not, and they proceeded to tell me about the coolest food ministry I’ve heard of in a long time.
Angel Food Ministries distributes food boxes filled with frozen meats, fresh or frozen veggies, canned goods, etc., for a discounted price. It was started in 1994, with the desire to help families afford feeding themselves. Their food packages range in price from $16 to $51. Typically speaking, you save about half your money for the goods received {a $30 package is about $60 worth of food}.
The best part is: it’s open to all families. I love that. I love finding easy ways to save money, while at the same time giving to a good cause. Because the more I buy from Angel Food, the more they can continue to help provide for other families.
While you can order as many packages you want, the distribution is only once a month. I’ve missed the deadline for March, but plan to order a box come April. Now I will say this: I’m sure the food isn’t organic, the meat isn’t grass feed and the mixes they provide are modified in some way. But, shockingly, I’m okay with that. You know why? Because I have a peace about feeding my kids non-organic veggies. And while in my ideal world, we would only eat grass fed beef, right now, our budget won’t allow it. So, I figure, even if the package isn’t my “ideal” it is pretty amazing. And feeding my family amazing food works for me.
Have you ever heard of Angel Food Ministries? Would you ever participate in a food ministry like this?
Visit Kristen at We are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday.
Why I’m Bad at Having Short Hair
Posted on: March 21, 2011
- In: Life
- 15 Comments
I haven’t had my hair cut in nearly a year. I know it’s been that long, because I had it cut for my birthday last year {which is later this week}. And for my birthday this year, I’m having it cut again. Clearly, I don’t have a very good track record for regularly maintaining my hair. It’s not that I don’t want to, I just don’t make it a priority. At all.
Which is why I’m so bad at having short hair. Because when you have short hair, it has to be a priority. Hair cuts every 6 weeks {maybe even sooner}. I can’t remember to feed my dog some mornings, let alone have my hair cut.
But my bad hair cutting track records doesn’t stop me from wanting short hair like this:
Or even as short as this:
While I’m having a hard time finding photo evidence on my computer, my hair was this short for a time in college. And fire engine red. I. Kid. You. Not.
I just love short hair. I think it looks pretty good on me too {in a totally not vain sorta way}. And when I see other people with short hair, I’m always a tad envious of how cute it looks. Yet despite my love of short hair, I am no good at maintaining short hair. Which is why, come Friday, I’ll be getting my hair “trimmed” not “cut”.
But, I am going to mix things up this year and get feather hair extensions. Ever heard of them? I just discovered them from a friend who had some put in a few weeks back.
Party Like a Rockstar
Posted on: March 18, 2011
- In: Life
- 6 Comments
Despite the week starting off a little rocky, it’s gotten better and better with each day.
– Having Julia “read” to Hannah {and she actually knows the books so well, she gets the concept of each page pretty well}.
– An impromptu road trip to visit my sister-in-law and nieces in Waco.
– {My favorite} Taking the girls to their very first concert – The Strokes.
Tonight we have a babysitter for 3 hours and are planning some more SXSW fun.
What’s your Friday Joy?
- In: Life
- 10 Comments
Growing up I prided myself on having no Southern accent. I worked continuously to sound as if I was from any where but Tennessee. Then in the summer of 2002, after spending time in southern Alabama, I realized how deeply I missed my Southern accent. Unfortunately, it no longer comes naturally {unless I’m very tired or very upset} and it seems odd to work on an accent at nearly 30. So instead of drawing out my vowels and slowing down my speech, I’ve devoted myself to other Southern endeavors, like mastering fried chicken, sweet tea, and teaching my girls to say ma’am and sir. One endeavor {which might be my favorite and easiest} is to subscribe to Southern Living. And while, I don’t always make their mouth-watering recipes, when I come a cross one that grabs me by the horns, I know it’s going to be a keeper.
Goat Cheese and Strawberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich
The original recipe called for more ingredients than I had on hand, so I made a simplified version:
1/4-1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
2-3 strawberries, thinly sliced
2 pieces of bread
Place half of the goat cheese on a slice of bread. Layer with strawberries. Add remaining cheese. Grill on a lightly grease frying pan {or in your George Foreman, like me}, until cheese is melted. Cut in half. Enjoy!
I’ve experimented with other cheeses, and will say that goat cheese is the way to go. It’s tanginess mingles just perfectly with the sweet-tartness of the strawberries. It’s delicious!
What’s your favorite grilled cheese sandwich?
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
Ponytails and Little Girls
Posted on: March 16, 2011
- In: Life
- 7 Comments
A long time back, I wrote about how Julia hates to have her hair brushed {or even really touched for that matter}. And as her hair gets longer, it just gets more matted and gross. Slowly, I convinced her to let me brush it, but never, ever {ever!} would she let me pull it back in a ponytail. Now that might seem strange to some of you out there. After all, Julia is the child {and only 3} and as the mama, what I say goes. Right? Well, when it comes to screaming and crying over pulling her hair into a ponytail, she can win that battle. Because at 7 in the morning, it’s not something I want to deal with.
Then, as the genius that I like to think I am, I had a brilliant idea. Julia loves Angelina Ballerina. And Angelina always wears a ribbon in her hair. Well… you can’t have a ribbon in your hair, without a ponytail, now can you? No ma’am, you cannot.
I asked Julia if she wanted to wear a ribbon like Angelina {and I might have gone even further by saying all real dancers wear ribbons}. Her eyes lit up and she said that yes, she did want a ribbon. I told her that to wear a ribbon, we needed to put a ponytail in her hair. She didn’t buy it at first, but once I googled some pictures of Angelina’s ribbon, she totally bought it. And up went her hair and in went the ribbon! Now, she doesn’t want it up every day {and I’m totally okay with that}, but, get this, she’s asked to have her hair pulled back just so she can wear the ribbon.
Score 1 for mom.
Visit Kristen at We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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