Ketchup
Ketchup? Yeah, I should probably just say catch-up, but ketchup is more fun. Isn't ketchup a weird word?

My sister had her baby! James Michael arrived Tuesday evening weighing 5lbs 15oz. He had some breathing issues and was in the NICU (still is actually) but he's doing GREAT now and is off of oxygen and may get to go home in a couple of days! I'm going to see him in about three weeks and am super duper excited! He is C-U-T-E. And I rarely say that about newborns.

It is REALLY starting to feel like fall here. We've had extremely chilly mornings for a couple of weeks now, and our high temp today is supposed to be 70! I love it. John usually takes our middle-schoolers to school each morning but today I volunteered to drive them so that I could swing by Starbucks. There's just something about forty-five degree mornings that screams pumpkin spice latte! It was delicious.

Despite downing copious amounts of Emergen-C, I finally succumbed to the cold that has been pestering me. Yuck. I'm hoping it's short-lived. I went to bed at 8:45pm last night and I never do that. I have some time at home this morning and was actually excited about getting caught up on some stuff around here but it's hard to get motivated to do anything when you feel terrible. Blech. I'm hoping to squeeze in a nap later. Or sooner. Sooner sounds much better than later.

I am so happy to report that I've been walking and hiking for a few weeks now and am finally pain-free! I do have a little bit of pain if I forget to stretch really well after working out, which is huge motivation to not forget! I am sooooooooooo grateful to be on this side of my injury.


Today
Outside my window... It is cloudy, cool, and a gentle rain is falling. {Ahhhh. Happiness}

I am thinking... about my sister. She is having a c-section later this afternoon and will get to meet her sweet little baby boy! We are so thrilled for her! I'll share more when I have some info!

I am thankful for... John, Will, Sarah, and Abbey. I love those guys so much.

From the kitchen... I have a roast in the crockpot and it smells soooooooo good. John peeled some potatoes for me a little while ago {I'm allergic to something in the peeling and will have a full-blown asthma attack if I peel a potato--weird} and I'm going to make mashed potatoes, gravy, and roasted brussel sprouts to go with the roast. Yummmmmmm.

I am wearing... shorts and a t-shirt. And flip-flops.

I am creating... a new two-week menu plan and fun theme for Bunco. I'm thinking football!

I am going... to pick kids up from school in a little while. And drop some stuff by Goodwill. I've been de-cluttering and it feels great!

I am reading... The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

I am hoping... that I'm not getting a cold. I have a scratchy sore throat and a very runny nose. Ugh.

I am hearing... rain falling and my husband working in the other room. {I love it when he works from home!}

One of my favorite things... is when everyone arrives home from their school day!

A few plans for the rest of the week: A couple of hikes with friends, a meeting, a Camp Rock 2 pajama/pizza party, and a double date {concert} with some friends we love!

-----From The Simple Woman's Daybook-----


Merci Beaucoup!
Thanks so much for all the answers you chimed in with yesterday! Elizabeth thanks you as well, and we're both thrilled to have some new recipes and a cookbook or two to try. As for the teenage social scheduling thing, you guys had some good thoughts there too. The biggest thing I struggle with is not knowing the parents of the kids who invite my kids. I think it's just plain weird to have zero communication with them and then entrust my child to them for an afternoon or evening. My kids usually end up disappointed. Parenting is a tough job sometimes.

Today is super busy for me. I'll be going pretty much non-stop from the time school starts until bedtime (just keep swimming, just keep swimming) but I just wanted to pop in before things get crazy and let you know how much I appreciated your answers to the questions from yesterday. Merci beaucoup! Have a wonderful day!!!


Got Answers?
I'm soliciting answers/advice to these three questions today:


1. Does anyone know of a brick and mortar store that sells open stock Fiestaware? I only want to buy dinner plates and bowls, but every store I've been to only sells the place settings. I don't want or need more cups/saucers. I know I can buy open stock online, but I'm looking for an actual store!


2. Mothers of teenagers: do your kids handle all of their own social scheduling? Am I being old-fashioned, unhip, and/or unreasonable by insisting that I hear from a parent when my kids are invited somewhere? I almost always talk to a parent (by phone, text, email) when my kids invite a friend to do something, but my kids are being invited places by text and I'm often so far out of the info loop that it's not funny. Am I alone? Am I wrong to expect a little more parent-to-parent communication? John thinks this is just how kids do things these days. I need insight from experienced moms!


3. Does anyone have a recipe for a meal that freezes really well? My friend, Elizabeth, is expecting her fourth baby soon and she's trying to stock her freezer with meals she can thaw, cook, and serve. I do lots of meat prep and freezing, but when she asked me for meal ideas I realized that I don't really have any meals that I make and freeze. Suggestions? Links? Recipes? Please share!


Thanks, you guys. You all are really my best resource!!!


Platter Project
Remember that tiered serving platter idea I shared last week?

Well, I made one!
It was super duper easy to make and I think it turned out GREAT!

I was at Kohl's one afternoon and found the cute melamine plates on clearance. They were C-H-E-A-P! I even had some Kohl's cash to spend so I guess technically they were free!
I ran in our downtown thrift shop the next day and found the candle holders. I only needed one but I bought two because they were on the red-dot/half-off shelf so I got them for .50 each. SCORE!

The most expensive part of the project was the epoxy. I bought it at Home Depot, but later discovered that my Walmart carries it for almost a dollar less. It think it was around $4. I bought this kind (for plastic) because I was using melamine plates.
It literally took my family more time to eat these yummy scones (thanks, Chef John) than it did for me to assemble the platter! I'm thinking of making another one using fall-themed plates for Bunco next month.


If you're interested in making one of your own, click here for detailed instructions! And be sure to show me photos of your completed project!



Loves of late
Things I'm loving of late...

Basil plants sprouting up. I finally got tired of buying fresh basil and bought some seeds so I could grow my own. I use lots of fresh basil when I cook. Love it.


Emeril's Kicked-Up Tuna Melts. Oh my. We love these. The recipe is from Everyday Food magazine and I've never made a single recipe from that magazine that wasn't wonderful.

I love this quote from Annie Proulx:
"I read omnivorously, I always have, my entire life. I would rather be dead than not read. So, there's always time for that. I read while I eat, and our whole family did. We all had very bad manners at the table. All of our books are stained with spaghetti sauce, and that sort of thing."
I love even more that my husband sent that quote to me with a note that said: This reminds me of our family.

I love the rhythm that our weekends have developed over the last year--they feel almost sacred to us.

Our dairy delivery service. After taking a break for a year or so, we started it back up again this summer. It seems so quaint to open our front door and retrieve milk and eggs and bread and lots of other things from our dairy box. The only thing I don't love is that the eggs come in styrofoam cartons. I haven't found any place that recycles styrofoam.

I love that it's almost football season. Specifically I love that it's almost SEC football season. Twelve more days, and yes, I'm counting. I've been excited about college football since all the pre-season SEC chatter started in July! I love that the Hogs are ranked #17 right now. And love that I get to go to a Razorback game this year! Go Hogs Go!!!

I also love that my sister's due date is almost here. We can't wait to meet her little guy! She's due in less than two weeks.

Trader Joe's Joe. It's my very favorite. Thanks to my friends, Julie and Lane, I have enough to last me for awhile!

Mondays. I really have grown to love the fresh start to my week! Hope your Monday is a really great one.


Quiet
Things have been sorta quiet on the blog this week. Sometimes I get tired of listening to myself.

Things have also been really quiet around my house with the kids in school all day long. Everyone is off to a good start and comes home happy each afternoon.

Part of the reason I've been quiet is because I'm trying to find my school-day groove. Adjusting to new carpool schedules. Trying to get back in an exercise groove. Figuring out what commitments I want on my plate. Trying to establish an evening rhythm. Trying to be intentional with my time and with my family. The only thing I seem to have down pat right now is my social schedule and it's been really fun catching up with friends this week!

Part of the reason I've been quiet is because I've been in a funk. Struggling with some hurt and disappointment. It usually takes a lot to hurt my feelings, but a few things have happened lately that have really hurt and it's thrown me for a loop and left me with few words. I've needed some mental space.

Quiet is good. Very good. Quiet feels restful and spacious and full and I'm pretty sure I need much more of it in my life. I'll be back when I need to hear some noise again. (Smile.)


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