Jesus Calling: December 31st

Today's excerpt from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:

As this year draws to a close, receive My Peace.  This is still your deepest need, and I, your Prince of Peace, long to pour Myself into your neediness.  My abundance and your emptiness are a perfect match.  I designed you to have no sufficiency of your own.  I created you as a jar of clay, set apart for sacred use.  I want you to be filled with My very Being, permeated through and through with Peace.

Thank Me for My peaceful Presence, regardless of your feelings.  Whisper My Name in loving tenderness.  My Peace, which lives continually in your spirit, will gradually work its way through your entire being.




For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  ~ Isaiah 9:6

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7


But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world fives.  So not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  ~ John 14:36-27

Beyonce ... the Cat?

During the first year that we lived in our house, Mark and I had a very bad experience with a door-to-door vacuum salesman.  It was a horrible situation that basically consisted of him insulting me to my face and refusing to leave.  An HOUR AND A HALF later we got him out (after threats of calling the police) and now the short of it is this:  I refuse to answer the front door.

If I know you are coming, or if we are having a party or something, then of course I will open the door. But if I don't? No way.  What typically happens is this: if Mark is home then I go find him and whisper "someone is at the front door" (as if they can hear me from across the house and through the wall) and he gets up and answers it.  If he is not home then I become the ultimate ninja and sneak around to spy on the intruder while Merlin looks at me like I have lost my mind (and wondering why I won't let the stranger inside to pet him). 

Psycho? Yes. Am I going to change? Nope.

OK so I need you to picture this:  A few weeks before Christmas, on a random weeknight, I am sitting in our office at the computer.  I am in pajamas, no makeup, and generally looking like a hot mess.  Mark is in the living room watching some sort of boy TV while Merlin, as always, does everything possible to insure he is being continuously doted upon.

All of a sudden the doorbell rings.

The TV is muted.

Mark walks to the front door (which is in direct line-sight of the office) and looks at me.  I shrug because we aren't expecting anyone.  He shrugs back and proceeds to answer the ring.

He unlocks the deadbolt.

He unlocks the door.

I watch him as he slowly opens the front door and peers out.  He is completely silent and stands there for about three seconds and then slowly closes the door again.  He pauses for a moment and then reaches up and deadbolts the door.  He turns and gives me the strangest look and then proceeds to TIPTOE (!?) into the guest room to look out the window because it has the best view of the front of the house.

I proceed to flip.the.heck.out ... silently.

My internal dialogue went something like this:  "WHAT THE ****!?  If Mark is acting suspicious this is NOT COOL.  Oh crap the blinds in the office are open! :: leans closer to the wall to hide behind the giant computer screen ::  Where is Mark!? Why isn't he back yet!?  I do not want to get up or yell his name to find out what's going on because I don't want whoever is out there to hear me! What if they-"

About this time Mark emerges (still sneaking) from the guest room and motions for me to get up from the desk.  I shake my head.  Um, no, kthanks. 

He's back at the front door and in a full volume voice he says "Jessie, I think there is something you need to see.  There is a, um, cat at the front door."

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I am going to need to pause for a moment and have you go to the following blog post by The Bloggess entitled 'And That's Why You Should Learn to Pick Your Battles' (it should open in a new window). It is in my top 5 of the funniest things on the web.  I'll wait until you get back.

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No .. seriously .. go to the link .. you have to read it for the rest of this to even begin to make sense.

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So I slowly get up from the desk with images of mass murders dressed as Dr. Seuss in my head.  Mark has the strangest expression on his face and I am still being as quiet as possible.  When I get to the front door I stand on my tiptoes and peer out the peephole.  And this is what I see:

After a millisecond heart attack and a couple hard blinks, it registers.  I swing open the front door and proclaim "Beyonce!".  The offenders my best friend and her boyfriend immediately run around from the side of the house and Rebecca and I burst into laughter. 

Earlier in the evening, while perusing Pier 1 Imports, Rebecca and Jeff happened upon a giant hand carved wooden cat.  Seeing as we share the same humor, Rebecca's mind immediately went to Beyonce the giant metal chicken and that made it impossible not to buy said giant hand carved wooden cat. duh! ;)

So the purchase was made and the scheme was planned and NOW there is a giant cat at my door.  To get the full perspective of what I am talking about when I say giant wooden cat .. here are the mug shots:

note the height of the peep hole vs. the cat.

go to your front door if you need clarification of height.

This thing is so tall!  After the laughing died down and we got the deadweight inside, the issue became "where in the world am I going to put it!?"  It needed to go somewhere out of the way and, although our style could be considered slightly eclectic, it is definitely more Pottery Barn/West Elm vs. African Art/World Traveler/Tapestries.  I knew it wasn't a permanent resident but the location mattered.

At first I tried hiding it:

behind a curtain, perhaps?

And then I thought it would be funny if we stuck it somewhere that might make people jump:




Around the corner in the stairwell ..

 But neither of those locations really seemed "it".  Since it was Christmas, and the cat was gifted as part joke, part holiday fun, I decided on the perfect spot:




It's like "Where's Waldo" but with a giant cat instead.

And so there Beyonce remains; peeking out from behind the tree to observe and judge.  I'll admit it is an ugly, creepy statue but it is kind of growing on me.  When Rebecca and I initially joked about "totally needing a Beyonce", a small paperweight metal chicken is what I had in mind.  I should have known better.

So there you go.  From my wonderfully twisted sense of humor to yours.  Merry Christmas :)

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes

I'm obsessed with scarfs.  I wear them all the time (and maybe my green one more than most).  I typically alternate between 3 different ways of tying them.  I came across this video that showcases 25 different ways to wear a scarf in 4.5 minutes.  I think this is a GREAT tutorial if you, like me, are looking to switch it up a bit.  My favorite is probably the Magic Trick (at 2:36) but they are all great!  Check it out!!

Is that dirt on your hands?!

I have the exact opposite of a green thumb. It's called a brown thumb and it's for real. I can kill a plant just by looking at it sideways. The most impressive part of me having no gardening skills is that I come from a mother and a grandmother that can resurrect even the deadest of plants. Seriously! You think it's a goner? Nope. Just give them a couple weeks and they will have it back to new. Want more of what you have? They will slice and dice the root ball and make you as many clones as you want. And orchids? Supposedly the hardest flowers to grow? Piece of cake. Unfortunately, I simply did not inherit those skills. I have had to come to terms with this reality over the years.

Fun Fact #1: It is well-known that I kill plants and so people don't bother giving them to me. A coworker even gifted me a plastic flower because she knew better. By all means, you are welcome to give me cut flowers but don't give me anything that is supposed to last. And if you do, don't have hurt feelings if it doesn't.

With that being said, for our wedding, Mark's grandmother gifted us a potted plant that had been hers for YEARS. Mark's late grandfather had built a stand for it (which was part of the gift) and it was this really special thing.

 I promptly told her no thanks.

haha that may sound completely rude (and I certainly explained my reasoning to her) but the idea of taking in this special family heirloom totally freaked me out. It was too much pressure! Grandmother S simply shook her head, informed me I had no choice and assured me I wouldn't kill it. (I love that woman :)) Four years later I am proud to say it is still alive. I will also admit that it is to no credit of my own. Mark keeps it watered and even divided the root ball because it seemed to be getting bound. I'm not convinced it is all that healthy (I am assured otherwise but I still have my doubts) but it is alive and that's all that matters.

Fun fact #2: The first Christmas after we were married, Grandmother S gave me one of those "as seen on TV" glass-blown watering things. You know, the one where you fill it up and just stick it upside down in the plant and it self-waters. I was ever thankful of a) her sense of humor and b) that I really intended on using it!

So needless to say, when I popped up a couple days ago and announced to Mark that I wanted an herb garden, he was a little surprised. We have a rather deep windowsill over our kitchen sink and it is quite perfect for holding such an arrangement. This isn't the first time the idea has been talked about but I always miffed at it because it seemed like a waste. Over the past year, though, our usage of fresh herbs has increased so it's about time I started trying to cultivate my own. Mark is (as always) enthusiastic.

One Lowe's trip later and this is the result:



evidence


We chose parsley, basil and thyme because those are the ones we use most often in fresh form. My intention was to start with baby plants so I didn't have to root seeds but I could only find basil that looked healthy enough. The parsley and thyme plants will have to be started from scratch.

I am sure that if I really took the time to learn how to care for plants I would be fine. I either water too much or not enough and I simply lack the affection for it. I truly believe gardening has to be something you enjoy and not just a chore if you are to be good at it. I can't think of anything I would like to do less than come home after a long day at work and dig in dirt. That is just not my cup of tea.

I'm really excited to see if this works. I've never planted seeds and watched them grow before (haha at least not literally. (yes bad joke I know)). The packet said it will take 14-21 days before we see anything. With the plants being in the kitchen window, and with Mark and I watching them so closely, I think they will have a fighting chance. I will surely keep you updated on 'Sprout Watch 2012'.


Have you had any misadventures of the brown-thumbed? Do you grow your own herbs? Do you find it to be difficult or easy? Do you have any advice for the complete novice?

Merry Christmas!

Today was a wonderful day full of coffee, gifts and family.  I hope your day was as wonderful as mine!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Review: The Witching Hour

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Let me start by saying this was my first Anne Rice experience. It won't be my last.

I actually finished this book a couple weeks ago and I have been letting it soak in. You know how someone will describe a plot as 'unfolding'? I always figured I knew what they meant but I really didn't know the extent of it. This story true unfolded. Had you told me the author was going to spend almost 100 pages setting up the story I wouldn't have even picked up the book. I don't have that kind of patience. But, alas, Ms. Rice spent a very large portion of this story giving you the background. The thing is, it didn't feel like that. I didn't feel like I just wanted her to "hurry up and get to the good stuff" because the set-up was so interesting.

I wanted to give this book five stars. It was intricately woven and, although quite a tome, never felt overly verbose. The reason I had to knock off a star was simply because I didn't like the end. Everything was going swimmingly and then, within the last 15 pages or so, the main character did something that I thought was incongruent with her personality. It just didn't fit and it rubbed me the wrong way. I went ahead and read spoilers on the second book so I now see where it's headed.

This minute glitch is not enough to keep me from Rice's other works. Her writing is too captivating and her worlds too inviting not to revisit. I intend to read the second and third installment of this series but it might take a while before I am ready for more of this particular brand of crazy.



View all my reviews

The Art of Hospital Corners

Ever heard the saying "it's the little things in life"? Well that is very true for me. Getting all greens on the way to work, making the perfect cup of coffee, 70-degree blue skies, etc. I get a lot of joy out of the details. One of the things I love is a freshly made bed. I always sleep so much better when the sheets are perfect.

Although that previous paragraph is entirely true and sounds extra Martha Stewart-ish .. please don't get me wrong. I never get all greens. I tend to drink slightly-less-than-perfect coffee. I'm always stuck in my cubicle on those 70-degree days. And my bed?

I'm going to be really honest with you:  I have always been taught you should wash your sheets once a week. Yeah, this doesn't happen. I'm lucky I get all of our laundry done and put away once a week .. and there is only two of us! I just DO NOT like laundry. I will wash it all day long but I hate putting it away. So seeing as clothes are far more important than sheets, I always save the sheets for last.  If I have the energy and that time .. they get washed.  If I don't .. they don't.  With that being said .. I average 1-2 times per month.  I'm sorry if that grosses some of you out.  We shower regularly and work desk jobs.  I just don't feel like it's all that bad.

Seeing as how I just admitted to you how non-Martha-ish I am, I'm going to let you in on one of my little secrets.  Sometimes if you just take the extra time to do something really well and thoroughly .. the results last a lot longer and you have to do it less often.  I will gladly spend an extra 3-5 minutes on the following task if it gives me an extra week or two of laziness.  The task I am referring to is making the bed.

The trigger for "omg I need to change these sheets NOW" is when they just start to get all rumpled and out of sorts.  I "make the bed" every day but straightening the sheets is far different from remaking it from scratch (which you obviously only do when you replace the linens.)  I've learned that if I do really well the first time then the non-rumpled feeling lasts longer.  So if you are even slightly like me and want to know how to keep a bed fresh-feeling longer.  Here's is a how-to guide on the art of hospital corners:



1. Spread the flat sheet out on the mattress that already has the fitted sheet on the bottom and center it. Place the top end of the sheet about 1 inch from the edge of the mattress at the head of the bed.

2. At the foot of the bed, lift the mattress and pull the top sheet snugly under the mattress. Do this at both sides of the bed so that the top sheet is firmly tucked under the mattress.

3. "Eyeball" a line from the corner of the mattress to the side edge of the sheet that is hanging down. This imaginary line should be at about a 45 degree angle.

4. . Using this imaginary line pick up the edge of the sheet at the "sweet spot". This will be the only spot where you pick up the sheet from now on.

5. Fold the sheet back over the mattress. It helps if you put your free hand on the edge of the mattress and fold the sheet over it.

6. Tuck in the sheet on the side of the bed that is hanging below the mattress. It should look like a little triangle and that is what gets tucked under the mattress.

7. Pick up the edge of the sheet again, right on the "sweet spot". Put your free hand on the side of the mattress this time. Bring the sheet down over your hand.

8. And there you go!  A perfectly made bed that will hopefully buy you some extra laziness.  Just throw your duvet or comforter on top and you're done.  Once you do this a time or two it honestly doesn't take long at all; an extra 3-5 minutes max.

Do you make your bed this way?  Do you wash your sheets weekly? More? Less?  Am I totally gross because I only change them once or twice a month? (Don't answer that last one ;) )

Microwave .. Potato Chips?!

Yep.  You read that right.

Microwave.

Potato.

Chips.


While perusing pinterest (don't get me started on that obsession) I came across this nifty little pin claiming I could make potato chips -- at home -- in the microwave.  At first I had a "yeah right" reaction but once I went to the source it seemed legit.  Then I thought "well now I have to try this out"...

I am here to tell you .. it actually works!! 

If I have piqued your interest and now you want to try it out for yourself .. here's what you do:

Take a potato and slice it very thin.  I used a regular baking potato but I will be trying a sweet potato next.  You can slice it with a knife or a mandoline.  I would personally use a mandoline if you have one just for ease sake and uniformity.  The thinner the slice the quicker the process but, truly, you can do as thick as you want (at least while staying in the "chip" realm .. no hockey pucks).

Take the potato slices and toss them in olive oil and salt and pepper.

Get a microwave-safe plate and spray it with non-stick spray or rub it down with the same oil that's on the potato.

Lay the potatoes out in a thin layer on the plate.

Microwave on high for about 4 minutes.  Flip the slices and cook for 4 more minutes.

You should be able to tell they are done because the edges will start to get slightly wavy (like a potato chip) and they will lose their transparancy.  Lay them on a cooling rack and, after a minute or so, they should be crunchy.  Voila!

Side note:  The cooking time will vary depending upon how thick your cuts are.  Just start with 4 and then adjust.  You might have to flip a couple times but no big deal.  Also, don't worry about "over cooking".  The only thing that happens if they go too long is that they turn dark brown (like a burnt chip) and are extra crunchy.  This may or may not have happened to my last batch and, honestly, I kind of preferred those. 

This is one of those easy trial and error experiments and it was really cool.  Have fun with it and happy microwaving!!

Jessie's Chocolate-less Chip Cookies

So here's the deal:  Mark is a cookie fanatic.  Sometimes he gets a craving and, seeing as cookies are the simplest things to make, I don't mind whipping up a batch. 

Well, a year or two ago, Mark was having one of those I-need-a-cookie-now moments and I decided to make him my chocolate chip cookies (see recipe adjustments at the bottom).  I assumed I had all the ingredients and so I started mixing everything together.  When I got to the "add chocolate chips" step I realized ... there were none.  I decided to bake them anyways and this was the result.  It turned out to be a pretty good cookie and now (on purpose) I make these instead.  If you ever wondered what the cookie part of the chocolate chip cookie tasted like .. here ya go :)


Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2.  In a large bowl (or mixer) combine together melted butter, sugars, eggs and extract until well blended.
3.  In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt.
4.  Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture. Try not to over mix.
5.  Scoop the mixture onto baking sheets. I line mine with either aluminum foil or parchment paper.
6.  Bake for about 12 minutes. Pull them out when they start to look light brown.


For traditional chocolate chip cookies, substitute the almond extract for vanilla extract and add as many chocolate chips as you dare :)

midweek confessions

~  So I am sure you've read this in my previous post but I figured I would mention it again:  I'm an aunt!!  My niece is perfect and gorgeous and I can't wait to meet her.  Just thought I would remind you ;)

~ A few months ago I felt that Mark and I should start our own small group at church.  I LOVED the group we were in but I felt that season was over.  I found a book fairly quick that I thought would work (based on the synopsis) but now that I have gotten it .. well .. it's terrible.  I kind of feel in limbo right now.  I don't feel like we made the wrong decision by leaving the group but I also don't feel led in the direction of starting something right now.  Also, quite frankly, I'm a little embarrassed too.  People expected us to start a group and now I am unsure.

~ I was so exhausted earlier this week that I let a load of laundry sit in the washer overnight.  I've never done that.  I rewashed them the next day and they were ok.  oops :x

~ I went to a cookie swap party last night and the hostess' house was decorated perfectly for Christmas.  She is an AMAZING hostess (and decorator, chef, etc etc etc).  Well her house reminded me that I haven't really decorated that much for the holiday, nor do I even OWN that much stuff.  Now I realize decorations are one of those things that you accumulate over time but it still kind of makes me pouty that I can't just afford to go out and buy all the little things that I want.  I love my tree though and I do have a wreath on my door and a few other things.  I just need to be patient. (ah, patience.  I ALWAYS have to be patient .. one of these days I'm going to have to get better with that...)



What are your confessions this week?

I'M AN AUNT!!!

May I present to you, Miss Josephine Marie:

She was born yesterday and she's perfect!!  I am COMPLETELY smitten with this little girl.  It's so weird because I did not birth her .. and I have not met her in person .. yet I am already totally attached and commited to her.  I'm sure those of you who have experienced this can relate but, for me, this is new territory.  There is just this sense of protectiveness that I feel for this little one that came out of nowhere.  I have been falling in love with the idea of her since the summer but now that she's here .. well .. I'm just blown away. 

I can't even imagine what this experience must feel like for her parents.  They must feel like this times a BILLION.  I think I would explode. :)

Well needless to say, Miss Josephine is the greatest Christmas present EVER.  I can't wait to give her a cousin.  Hopefully one day.


In the meantime, here are some more pictures of perfection:

Christmas Cards Galore

I didn't grow up in a family that did annual newsletters or picture cards.  It just wasn't our thing.  I'm sure, at some point, my mom did this but not that I can remember.  I always loved getting them though so I knew when I was out on my own I would make a point to start the tradition.

The first year, 2008, ended up being a rush job.  I wasn't sure how to go about doing them and where the best places to get them.  I can't remember where we ended up buying them from but I learned a hard lesson that year:  photo quality matters!  The pictures ended up blurry but the point was made.  Lesson learned.

In 2009 we tried our hand at making them from scratch.  No template, no anything.  It actually turned out pretty well.  We didn't learn any hard lessons except when you design them yourself and then get them printed .. envelopes aren't included. Oops :)

The 2010 season brought us back to pre-made template designs.  No complaints from this girl.  I still like those cards.  We designed them online, submitted them and picked them up at the local store within 30 minutes.  It was efficient and great.

This year, once again, we tried something new.  We went with Shutterfly.  The price ended up double what we paid in years past so that gave me some pause.  (I'm sure there are more affordable options and I will be sure to check them out next year.)  I love this year's card.  The paper quality is fantastic and I love the printing on both sides.  One side (the side pictured) is matte finish and the other side is glossy. Love. It.

Who knows what next year's card will look like (and where it will originate from, for that matter) but, in the mean time,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

from our family to yours!

2011

.. from years past ..
(side note:  these cards have been stuffed in folders so I apologize for the poor quality.  They were scanned in .. wear and tear and all.)

2010

2009

2008

Broccoli Cornbread

When I find a recipe I typically "make it" in my head and see if I want to make it in real life.  I have a pretty good grasp on flavors so I can usually guess pretty accurately.  When I found this set of ingredients I just couldn't quite put my finger on it.  Well I am glad that I went ahead and made it anyway.  This was awesome.  Mark mentioned he wants it in the regular rotation.  That compliment is as good as gold :)


Ingredients:


1/2 cup butter, melted
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1 bag frozen broccoli florets, thawed, drained and chopped
3/4 cup cottage cheese
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tbsp parsley
1 package cornbread mix (I use Jiffy)



Directions:


1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a 9x13 pan or muffin tin.
2.  In a large bowl, mix butter, onions, salt, chopped broccoli and eggs together.  Stir in muffin mix and seasonings until well combined.  Pour mix into baking dish.
3.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

I served with a side salad.  This would also work as a great side dish.

An Open Letter to my Amazing Husband

swoon.

Dear Mark,

Ten years ago, today, I went on an impromptu trip to go get some coffee with you. Little did I know the impact that first date, and you, would have on my life.  I have never felt so blessed.

I recently reflected on our first years together and it really takes me back.  I often say that it doesn't feel like we've been together that long and it's true.  It's weird, though.  I simultaneously feel like we just met and married a couple years ago and yet I feel like you have been apart of my world my entire life.  It's a difficult feeling to reconcile.  It wasn't until I thought back to that first day that I really felt the gravity of a decade of memories.

I cherish the memories I have of our first date.  From the hazelnut breves to the plushy couch to the quiet conversation.  Hindsight is 20/20 and I see now why we quickly became close friends. I loved you from the beginning, even if it took me a long time to realize it myself. You were so charming, sweet and caring from the start. I knew you were special.  I knew you were The One.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
— 1 Peter 4:8

I still can’t believe it has been ten years already! We have been through so much during that time. In our wedding vows we talked about being there for each other no matter what; through thick and through thin. Good times and bad. I smile as I think about the fact that we read those vows on our wedding day. I know we had to repeat them then and that was fine but, truthfully, we had been obeying those rules for a lot longer than that.

You have always stuck by my side no matter what I dished out. It’s really true when, in 1 Peter, it says that love covers a multitude of sins. When you unconditionally love someone, as I do you, there is nothing you can do to make it stop. I know this because you love me back and that means that you would never do anything to intentionally hurt me. There is nothing that we can not resolve. When times get really hard, as I'm sure they one day will, there is no one else that I would want on my team. I am committed to you. Forever.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." — Lao Tzu

You have given me such strength. You are my rock and I would have crumbled a long, long time ago without you. You are my sounding board when I feel unsure.  I know that if I make a decision, and it is the wrong one, you will support me and help me fix my mistakes. You also look to me for advice and value my opinion. That gives me validation and courage. The courage to follow our dreams without hesitation because I know you will remain by my side the entire way. I have come to realize I can't plan everything and that frightens me.  You hold my hand as we tackle life together.  You are my perfect teammate.

I am constantly falling in love with you. Every day. Every moment. You are perfect in every way that matters to me. You are a godly man and I am proud that you are the head of our household. I am proud of you in so many ways and I am humbled by your selflessness. You are a true servant and I have so much to learn from you.

"Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."
— Robert A. Heinlein 

I have no idea what this next decade is going to entail. There were so many changes in the last ten years that I can’t even wrap my head around what our future may hold. I know though, that no matter what, it is going to be fun, exciting and full of laughter.

I know our journey will include many things and I pray that children will get to be one of them. You are the most natural father. You can certainly add that to the list of things that I am proud of you for. I see you with our friends’ babies and it makes me swoon. I already look up to you as a parent and try to follow your lead (even if the only thing you are parenting these days is our four-legged “first born”). I think we are going to be a great parenting duo one day and I can’t wait to begin that voyage together.

I love you, Mark Andrew. I love you so much that those words are completely inadequate. My heart swells at the thought of you. I honestly think my heart has grown entire sections for the sole purpose of loving you.  If I could be half as good a spouse as you have been to me then I would be very lucky. You have given me so much over the years and we have only just begun. Thank you. Thank you for picking me and thank you for giving me the privilege to be your wife.

With all of my love,
Jessie

Chickpea Lentil Soup

This is a delicious warm soup that is great for a chilly night.  This was my first experience with lentils and they were so good.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp oil
1 onion, chopped
7 cups broth of choice
1 cup lentils
1/2 cup small macaroni
2 carrots, shredded
16 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp thyme


Directions:
1.  In a large soup pot, saute the onion in oil over medium heat until tender.  Add broth and lentils.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
2.  Add remaining ingredients, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until carrot, lentils and chickpeas are tender.

I serve mine with flatbread and salad.  You can garnish with black olives and sour cream if you like.  We ate ours plain and it was delicious.

Getting Cozi

Thanks to my friend Allie, I have been introduced to my new favorite organizational tool.  Cozi!

The Cozi Family Organizer is awesome.  You can sign up for it free online at www.cozi.com.  It's great for all kinds of uses.  I honestly haven't had it long enough to really play with it but so far it has done two things that have, for me, given it enough street cred to last a while.

(Side note: The other important factor with this program is the free downloadable app.  By having it online and in app form it is the best of both worlds.)

One of the features I am loving is the calendar.  You can upload and sync all of your calendars so that you have them in one easy to read location.  You can color-code each family member so you can see at-a-glance when someone has something.  There is one email address/password for each account so you can have all of your family members download the app, login using the family address/password, and then everyone can see the same information.

The other great feature is the grocery list.  I typically write down everything I need on my grocery trip on paper and then mark the items off as I place them in my basket.  With this app it's so much easier.  You can quickly type up your list online and it will be on your phone when you get there. You can, of course, add items via the app but typing them on the computer (given the access) is easier/faster for me.  As you go through the store gathering items you can check them off the list.  The "checked off" feature is great because it mimickes that of a paper list by turning the font light grey and striking through the item.  The program will also save your list if you want so if you tend to buy the same things over and over again then you won't have to keep writing them down.

There is so much more to the site but these were the top things that, so far, I have found most helpful.  There is an entire section dedicated to tricks and tips for getting organized and such so I am sure I will find some gems in there as well.  Anyways, the holiday season can be hectic so here is a tool that I hope you might find helpful.

Do you know of other programs like this one that you like?  Do you use apps like this or do you prefer to have a hardcopy daytimer?

midweek confessions: the beginning

I mentioned during my first confession that the idea came from a fellow blogger.  Elizabeth over at E, Myself & I was the source of my inspiration.  She is having a link-up this week and so I wanted to share.  Check her out .. <3

midweek confessions

This is quite theraputic if I do say so myself ...

- Last Friday we simply stayed at home.  Mark watched a movie and I caught up on blogs, facebook (since my app refuses to show me messages and such), etc.  It may sound boring but it was the best Friday in a while!

- I hate grocery shopping alone.  Mark and I always go together.  I know we won't always be able to do this (with the addition of kids and such) but I really like that time together.  Mark was out of town on Saturday and I had to go alone. It wasn't much fun.  There was no one to joke with and make decisions with.

- I have been blessed with a spouse that I agree with 99.99% of the time.  We never argue.  We just simply get along.  If we ever do disagree then it's usually resolved really quickly because we would both rather just compromise then "be right".  With that being said .. it's not always perfect.  Example?  My husband is an overly-aggressive driver (my opinion) and it makes me C.R.A.Z.Y.  This is something recently (in the last year or so) that has really started to grate on my nerves.  I'm trying to keep things in perspective but I take it personally sometimes when I ask him to slow down and then he goes THE EXACT SPEEDLIMIT out of spite.  I'm confessing this now because we argued about it on Sunday.  He basically hurt my feelings and then we just didn't talk for the 5 minutes it took us to get to where we were going.  That doesn't sound bad but it certainly isn't constructive and we need to figure this out.  I NEVER want to be "that wife" that nags all the time and he just doesn't take me seriously which hurts my feelings a lot.  we'll figure it out...

- On a lighter note .. I am totally obsessed with grey nail polish right now.  I keep thinking I need to move on to a different color or something but I keep wanting to go back to it.  I think it's the perfect winter shade.  Not too harsh like black but more neutral and interesting than nude.  Love it!

- Finally .. my neice is due Friday and I may or may not be SO FREAKING EXCITED.  I am trying really hard to leave her parents alone and not smother.  I've really kept my distance because I know they have (obviously!) a lot on their plate right now with their first-born on the way but I can't help to want to quiz them about everything (since I can't be there).  also .. I might be a tad jealous. stupid baby fever...

SC Mac & the Vanilla Wafers

Man, I love my church family!

This video is specifically for all you CDF folks out there who, like myself, missed the epicness that happened during the Christmas Dinner.  For all you non-CDF folks .. this is an example of how awesome my church family is and how we can have fun together.  You should come visit us on Sundays (although I can't promise this kind of craziness :))

Special thanks to SC Mac and the Vanilla Wafers featuring SC Mac (Sheila), Mama Grace (Marie), G Money (Gabi) and P Sully (Priscilla) for rocking the house to J Train! Your talents are QUITE memorable!!!  Love you ladies!

The Art of Tying a Perfect Bow

Knowing how to tie a perfect bow can come in handy sometimes. Whether you are wrapping a gift, making a craft, tying a dress or putting a ribbon in your child's hair .. there are many ways to show off your newly learned skill. Below are three bows that I learned to tie via Ms. Stewart:

The Favorite Bow
Perfectly suited for wire-edge or stiff ribbons that hold their shape. You'll need at least twelve inches of ribbon just for the bow. If wrapping a box, first tie a left-over-right half-knot.

Bow How-To:1. Shape two evenly sized loops, one in each side of the ribbon.
2. Cross right loop over left one.
3. Knot loops by threading right loop behind left one, under, and up through the hole; make sure ribbon is not twisted or bunched.
4. Pull loops into a smooth knot. Adjust loops; trim tails to be slightly longer than loops.

The Double Bow

To make a perfect double bow, leave enough tail on both ends of the first bow to make the second one. An extra set of hands is also helpful to ensure that loops are taut. First, follow directions for the favorite bow, leaving an even tail on both sides; don't finish ends.

Bow How-To:

1. Position bow horizontally, and determine which tail exits the knot on the top, and which exits underneath. Make a loop in each tail.
2. Cross top loop over bottom one.
3. Knot by threading top loop behind bottom one, under, and up through the hole; make sure ribbon is not twisted or bunched.
4. Pull loops to tighten; make sure knot of second bow overlaps knot of first. Trim tails, and arrange loops.

The Winged Bow
This classic treatment is simple and not frilly.  You'll need twelve to fourteen inches of ribbon to work with after encircling the object; use a right-over-left half-knot to secure the object.

Bow How-To:

1. Cross left tail over right one.
2. Knot ribbon by threading left tail behind right one, under, and up through the hole; make sure ribbon is not twisted or bunched.
3. Pull evenly on tails until ribbon has tightened into a clean, smooth knot.
4. Arrange folds, and trim ends of ribbon.

Happy Bow Making!

The Art of Wrapping a Gift

This officially marks the second new "series" of posts that I have started this month.  The first new addition was my midweek confessions series; a weekly confessional where I divulge my imperfectness.  This second series I will call my The Art Of series; a photo tutorial on things that can make your life easier and more organized.  Sometimes it's simply in the minutiae.

Anyways .. back to the tutorial...

Since it is the holiday season, I thought a gift wrapping theme would be appropriate.  By no means am I insinuating that you don't know how to wrap a gift .. I just thought it would be fun to show you how I do it.

Step One:  Go ahead and gather all the materials you will need so you have them at arms reach.  The items I used are: Gift, wrapping paper, tape, scissors, ribbon, paper and markers.

paper and markers not pictured. oops.

Step Two:  Unroll your wrapping paper and, using your gift as a guide, cut out a generous piece of paper that easily wraps around all sides of the gift.

I like to pick the smallest sides as the "ends" which will be where you fold everything.

Step Three:  Fold one side up and place it in the middle of the top.  I like to place a tiny piece of tape here just to keep everything snug.

Step Four:  Bring the other side of the paper up to meet in the middle.  Fold the paper edge over so the seam looks clean and neat.

Step Five:  Find the two opposite sides that don't contain the main seam.  Push one side down and neatly crease all the edges.  Do the same for the other side.  *Note:  I went ahead and did one side so I could show pictures on the table top.  Placing the gift between your knees will allow you better handling when doing the first side.

Step Six:  Take the flap that contains the seam and fold it up towards the middle.  Take the top flap, and after folding down the tip to make it neat, fold it over the lower flap.  Place a piece of tape on top to secure it in position.

Step Seven:  Depending on your choice of "finishing touches" the following steps will vary.  I did a simple ribbon in order to demonstrate a square knot.  *Note:  After starting I realized I didn't have enough spare ribbon.  Normally I would have done a bow but I just didn't have enough to allow for that.  Sorry.

The basics of a square knot are this:  whatever side you overlap first, overlap the other end next.  (i.e. left over right then right over left).  This allows the knot to pull on itself and it won't untie.  It will also never get too tight where you can't untie it.

left over right

a more complete "left over right"

right over left

Step Eight:  I like to use real ribbon.  It makes the whole gift presentation look a little nicer.  You can find nice ribbon on sale almost anywhere.  Just try not to use busy paper and busy ribbon.  If you use real ribbon then this would be the time to tie a bow.  You can use any bow you like.  If you use gift curling ribbon then this would be the time to take your scissors and curl it.  You get the point.  Since I ran out of ribbon then I won't worry about showing you a picture of the bare knot. :)

Step Nine: Identifying who the gift belongs to.  This is another outlet for you to be creative.  If you have kids then this would be a great project for them to do.  You can buy a ton of different tags in the store but if you want to make it look more personal then you can certainly make your own.  I spent only a couple minutes throwing this one together (and it looks like it ..haha) but you get the idea.  I simply cut out a shape similar to those on the package and colored it accordingly.  Use your imagination and have fun!

Merry Gift Wrapping!