Monday Musings (vol. 4): Sister Time and Helping Those In Need

Happy Monday Y'all!

Welcome to Monday's Musings, where I unload things that are on my brain.

~ Sister Weekend ~

I got to spend this Saturday with my favorite sister in the whole world!!  My brother-in-law sent us on a sister shopping day, sans children, for my sister's birthday.  I meant to take lots of pictures of us trying on ridiculous fashions, but we got caught up in adult conversations that did not include diapers and potty training and were not interjected with parenting phrases like "do not sit on your brother!!!".

Besides, we were too busy holding up the check out lines (as in making people wait longer, not pointing a gun at them) by my sister's our inability to answer simple questions such as "how long has it been since you used your card?".

Little tip:  The benefit of not getting to go shopping very often is that your store card may become inactive (who knew that could happen?).  Why is that a benefit?  Oh, because you get an extra 15% off of your purchase by reactivating your card.  So with the 40% off sale already going on in the store, my sister got a total of 55% off of her purchase!  

~ Recipe ~

I've been trying to find ways to simplify our Sundays in order to spend more time relaxing, refreshing, and hanging with my boys.  I like the idea of a crockpot meal, but we have had little success with this cooking technique.  And when it takes a large quantity of food, that cooks all day long, to get to a result that is incredibly disappointing, you might get a little gun-shy of making crockpot meals, like me.  Do not underestimate my ability to kill a meal.  My sister told me "you can't ruin it" (the kiss of death in my world) to a chili recipe ... and I ruined it.  My sister-in-law gave me a no fail potato soup recipe, and well, it failed.  It tasted like dirt with some cleaner mixed in.  You get my point.

But we have a winner!!  I successfully made pork posole*.  It was super yummy and The Hubs ate seconds interjecting his bites with "this is SO good!!".

Recipe and photo source here

Here are my tips for choosing a yummy recipe off of the internet:

1.  Choose a recipe from a website that uses a rating system.  The above recipe got 4.6 out of 5 stars.

2.  Read the reviews.  Some websites how a "most helpful comments" category.  Read those.

(*I made some changes to the original recipe:  I used green onions instead of a yellow onion because I had them in the fridge and wanted to use them up.  I also used less water per the most helpful comments I read; actually I used 2 cups of chicken broth.  I substituted two jalapeños (insides removed) for the green chiles.  And I always put more spices than the recipe calls for; I don't really measure.  I used less chile powder and added some paprika.  As our garnish we used cilantro, lime, and avocado.  It came out more "gumbo texture" than soup, so if you want more of a soup texture, add the amount of water per the recipe.)

~ Homemaking Irony ~

Several months ago I complained on Facebook about my dryer buzzer making me want to jump out of my skin every time that it went off.  The dryer model with the off switch was $500 more.  The next day I came home from Bible Study to find this.

Blessed off switch to my dryer buzzer

My blessed husband had installed a switch on our dryer, for like $1.50.  

Just last week, I was thinking about how helpful it would be to have a buzzer option on my washer because I'm constantly forgetting to switch the clothes to the dryer.  Oh, the irony.  I've just resorted to setting a timer.

~ From The Mouths of Teenagers* ~

"You don't realize how good life is until you've experienced suffering."

(*My husband and I work with the youth group at our church and help with the teens in small groups. )   

~ Donation Opportunity ~

My brother-in-law, Dave, will be running the Atlanta Marathon for the second time on October 27th, and this time he is running it in honor of the amazing students at The Joseph Sams School (where my sister works).  To raise funds for the school, he is asking people to donate $26, one dollar for every mile, or any amount that you can spare.  Here is a video about the school: 

Please support Dave's efforts in supporting this amazing school by visiting www.josephsamsschool.org and clicking on "DONATE" in the bottom left of the page.  All the money goes directly to the school and no amount is too small.  Thank you!

7 Quick Takes (vol. 3): Wit, Cuss Words, and Pinterest

--- 1 ---

from Google images

While watching the Geico commercial where Maxwell the pig checks his Geico app after hail damage to his car and then rides off with Ted's ex-girlfriend on a jet-ski:

The Hubs:  "You know that wouldn't work on an iPad."

Me:  "What wouldn't work on the iPad?"

The Hubs:  "The pig's paws wouldn't work with the capacity of the touch screen on an iPad."

Me:  "Right, because that's the only thing wrong with this commercial."

--- 2 ---

This week, Matthan and I went to lunch with my friend Ashley!  We occasionally have a Waffle House date because The Hubs is not a fan of the 'ole WaHo.  So every now and then I get to indulge my craving for friend and food :)

Ashley and Matthan

--- 3 ---

Remember I told you about my "completed board" on Pinterest?  Here is an example of a project we did inspired by Pinterest, and my review.

Found on Pinterest, source here

We found the frame just as it is at a Habitat For Humanity ReStore in Chattanooga.  I had this project in mind when we bought the frame and I think it worked out perfectly.  It was easy, simple, and quick.  The frame hangs in our breakfast nook just behind Matthan's high chair.  I love the flexibility it offers in changing out pictures.

Our version

--- 4 ---

Does anyone else have this problem?

all. the. time.

--- 5 ---

I had an amusing conversation with my sister about curse/cuss words a while back.  It went something along the lines of how cuss words, when used on only the rare occasion, at a precise moment, with real conviction, are incredibly useful and cathartic, and cannot be substituted for while having the same effect.  There is something very satisfying about the succinctness and hard consonant sounds the words offer.  Other words just wouldn't offer the same satisfaction.

Example: Try with all your might and conviction to "curse" like you've stubbed your toe while exclaiming "FLOWERS"!!!

Go ahead... I'll wait.

See what I mean?

I had a boss that "cussed" using flower names.  If we heard "PETUNIA!" exclaimed, we knew to stay out of her way that day.  True story.

--- 6 ---

In a world where it seems like the next generation (I feel old) is losing the ability to have a conversation face-to-face and are becoming less and less actually connected because they're "connected" via technology... well it just makes me appreciate stuff like this.

--- 7 ---

I get to hang out with my sister this weekend!!!  

Happy Friday!  Check out Jen and other blog posts for more 7 Quick Takes

-Just to be clear, when I direct you to a site via one of my links, I'm not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless I state otherwise).-

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}: Brought To You By The Letter "L"

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

Let's start with "real" today, and get it over with because...

{real}

I have some sad news . . .

RIP Guido

Guido the fish died last week.  He went to a watery grave.  I'm pretty bummed.  He was a very good fish. 

{pretty}

Now that that's over... Fall is in the air!  Or, you know, what we consider fall down here in the South.  The weather we're having might resemble a summer day for some of you up North, but by golly I can open my windows and not be suffocated by heat and humidity.  It's glorious!  

Recognize this wreath?  Same wreath, different door.  I had good intentions to spiff it up this year, but at this point, I feel accomplished by getting it on the door, ya know?  Besides, I think it's kind of pretty in it's simplicity.  

I attacked my office/craft room/catch all room this week.  I even organized the closet (but I couldn't get a good picture of it).  To remind you of what the room looked like before...

Before

And now it is a real, functional space!  Of course, I'm not showing you the random odds and ends still up there, but hey, look at the progress!

After

I'm still struggling with the junk shuffle.  You know, where junk gets shuffled from one room to the next depending on what room I'm cleaning that day, never settling in a permanent place.  I have a huge, unmanageable pile in the guest room at present.  Sigh.  But every time I get down about the junk shuffle, I think of the truffle shuffle.  Because we all know how my brain works around here.

{happy}

Fall around here means one thing... football!  Go Bulldawgs!  Aren't these adorable salt and pepper shakers just a happy little sight (Thanks Dad!)?

Another thing that makes me happy is cuddling.  I may have bribed Matthan with the DVD remote to get some cuddling.  Mommy broke the rules (No remotes for toddlers).  I'm going to pay for it I'm sure.  Totally.  Worth.  It.

{funny}

I think Matthan may have a favorite magnet.  He's been crawling around with the lowercase "L" for the last week.  It's not in the picture because he's currently carrying it around the house with him.  I even put it back on the fridge in the middle of all the other magnets, and this morning he went straight for it and pulled it off the fridge.  

Check out more {Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} posts at Like Mother, Like Daughter

______________________________ UPDATE:  Based on a few comments that I've received via e-mail, I have a few things to clear up.
- Like Mother, Like Daughter is a blog.  You can click on the link or the "button" (picture of stuffed chicken just above) to go see their blog.
- {Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} is a theme for the link party that Like Mother, Like Daughter (LMLD) hosts on their site every Thursday.  You write your own post with the theme as a guideline and then you post the link of your PHFR post on their PHFR blog post along with everyone else.  If you click on the link above the "button", it will take you to today's PHFR post at LMLD.  Scroll down to the end of the post and you will see the link for my blog (along with several others).  I'm number 16.  By clicking on that button, anyone who joins up and/or reads the PHFR post on LMLD can come visit my PHFR blog post.
-The "Truffle Shuffle" is a scene from the 1985 movie "The Goonies".  I realize that the movie is not everyone's cup of tea, but the "junk shuffle" made me think of the "truffle shuffle" and made me smile.  Sometimes we need something to help us get over the mountain of housework that never ends, and the truffle shuffle was my something today.  We can all relate to that need, right?  Oh right, some people have maids.  We don't like those people.  Just kidding!

Outdoor Adventure Day

A few weeks ago, while The Hubs was shopping for his birthday fishing pole, I found a flyer and snapped a picture of it on a whim.  I'm totally thrilled that I did.  The flyer was for an outdoor adventure  day at Unicoi State Park for this weekend that included free fly fishing casting lessons, fly tying, wildlife shows, skeet shooting, air soft gun shooting, archery, trout fishing, hay rides, and raffles.  Did I mention it was ALL FREE!!! My kind of price!  This is an annual event, so mark your calendars for next year.  

The Hubs receiving a fly casting lesson

The weather was perfect!  And beautiful!  Can't you tell?

My first fly casting attempts

I didn't do too shabby considering I had never touched a fly rod before.  I was only a little spazz-tic.

Pooter chilling and watching the lessons

I had a few offers from some strangers to take Matthan home with them (I didn't take any of them up on this, case you were worried).  Mr. Paul was one of them.  He just scooped Matthan out of my arms and had him smiling in seconds.  He looked like a pro.  Then I found out he has 13 grandchildren.  Yeah...I'd say that's a pro.  

Mr. Paul and Matthan

For my kid who doesn't like grass, he sure adapted quickly.  While Daddy was learning to tie flies, Matthan crawled all over the ground, even played with some dirt.  I'm so proud.  I found a bunch of key chains on a table and gave him one and he was oh-so-entertained.  He continued to crawl all around with the key chain in his hand.  I have a bazillion pictures from his adventures and it was so hard to narrow them down.

Love that face!

They stocked the stream with trout that morning, but despite that, The Hubs didn't catch anything.  He had fun trying though.  He's getting pretty good...at casting...he's still working on catching.

Daddy fishing for trout and testing out the flies we made

I pushed Matthan around until he fell asleep, and so he napped while Daddy fished.  I wanted to crawl in there and cuddle and nap with him.

Pooter took a nap while Daddy fished

After the raffle, where we didn't win anything, we head over so I could shoot some arrows.  Don't I look intimidating?

Unloaded, case you were worried.

So, I found out that I am double jointed in my elbow.  The instructor told me this after I snapped my arm a couple times with the bow.  Can I just tell you, that HURTS LIKE THE DICKENS!!!  I still have bruises.  Anyway, my double jointed-ness put my arm at risk for getting whacked, so the instructor helped me adjust to avoid this.  Bless him.  (Click on the picture below to see my mad skillz).

Check out my sweet archery skills

We traipsed up the hill to shoot some skeet and I was all prepared for Matthan to freak out, but he didn't!  I shot first.  Yep, that's right, yours truly shot a shotgun.  The instructor laughed at me because of the noise I made the first time the gun went off.  It was something like Grrhhoommppff!  I thought I hit 2 out of seven but The Hubs says I hit more than that.  Whatever!  I hit some!  That was more that I expected.

The Hubs shooting some skeet

The Hubs did really well.  That's because he had so much cuteness cheering him on :)

Smiles even when guns are going off around him

Monday Musings (vol. 3): Mustache Magnets and Questions From Teenagers

Happy Monday everybody!  Let's get to it!

Still loving his magnets!

~ 1 ~

If you're like me and you're just oh-so-very-tired of depressing news stories and it will drain your every last ounce of energy if you hear one more terrible bit of news today - read this - I promise it won't disappoint - 

The Business 9 Women Kept a Secret For Three Decades

~ 2 ~

Here are the random items that you can find in Target if you just look in the right aisle. 

Beard flask and book of "Beer Awesomeness"

Mustache Magnet Set

So wrong

Ok, ok, I didn't find this little boy in the random Target aisle, but I did buy the cake sprinkles at Target, does that count?  He played with them the rest of the day.

Happiness is a boy and his sprinkles

~ 3 ~

Speaking of sprinkles, I'm working on a project.  Remember when I told you about Jessa at ShalomSweetHome?    We have struck up a friendship via e-mail and the sprinkles are for the project I'm working on for her.  More on this later. :)

~ 4 ~

Reading children's books is a new adventure.  There are some children's books that drive me crazy, creep me out,  I fail to appreciate because (in my humble opinion) they lack...something.  If you want to understand what I'm talking about (because I'm lacking in eloquence today), check out the Library Project, especially this post regarding children's books.

Now, don't get up in arms, because Goodnight Moon does not fall on the list of books I was talking about above... however... 

... I would really like to know what the editor/publisher thought when they got to this page. 

Or maybe the book was on the way to be printed and they realized a page got left blank when they formatted the book and so they were like "hey, we need something for this page, preferably without a need for illustration because it needs to be printed now!" and this is the result?   

~ 5 ~

On a more serious note... The Hubs and I work with our church's youth group (who thought to give us that responsibility, right?), and I've challenged the kids in my small group to ask questions and take an interest in their faith.  And I was expecting questions like "Why did Jesus have to die for us?" or "Why bishops don't slap people?", but instead I get questions like this...

In case it is difficult to read, it says 

"What do you do when someone constantly trash talks your religion to your face?  In the beginning I got really upset and would argue but now its gotten to the point where I just sit there and let them talk.  Is there even anything I can say to them?" 

I'm still formulating an answer to the question, an answer that will avoid including "just poke them in the nose", but I'd love to hear some thoughts on this.  What would you tell this teenager?

~ 6 ~

When we went to our Core Team training day (core team = adult leaders for the youth group), we had to introduce ourselves by sharing an awkward quirk about ourselves.  This has been on my brain ever since.  And while I have so many to choose from, I thought I'd share one.  

When I'm singing from a hymnal, and the hymn is on the right page, once I get to the end of the verse at the bottom of the page, I turn the page... every time... after every verse.  I can't help myself.  

Now, think about all your awkward quirks this week, and please share some with me.

~ 7 ~

I've gotten some comments on my blog, but you don't see them.  Wanna know why?  Because they're all spam.  :(  :(  :(   Spam commenters stink!

~ 8 ~

Speaking of magnets (see picture above), M has already lost some.  I decided to see if any had slid under the fridge.  I used a flashlight and a yard stick.  

Warning!  If you choose to do this, please be prepared for the grossness that will emerge from under your fridge.  I spared you a visual.  Instead of grossness, how about some cuteness?

 I just can't plan cuteness like that y'all!

Have a Happy Monday!!