Girls Weekend

For our super secret girl getaway, I took Abbey to St. Louis for a surprise birthday celebration for my twin aunts who live there. This side of my family usually gets together for a football weekend but it didn't work out for anyone this year so I was happy to be able to take Abbey somewhere fun since it was her "turn" to go with me. She was pretty insistent we go somewhere on a plane and I was racking my brain for ideas. When my sister told me about the birthday weekend I knew it would be perfect.

And it was.

Our plane was little. 

My sister and I were scheduled to arrive in St. Louis within five minutes of each other and I should have known that was too good to be true. Abbey and I were delayed for over an hour in Denver making us quite late. My aunt picked us up and took us to the hotel where we met up with another aunt, my cousin, and our family friend. My aunts live in the city, but we spent the weekend at a hotel downtown.

View from our hotel room. Not bad, eh?

Friday night we just hung out in the hotel room, snacking and talking.
Saturday we got up and went to breakfast (which ended up being lunch by the time we ate) and then went to see my cousin's very cool apartment. We did a little shopping (The White Rabbit was a treat!) and then got changed for dinner.

Dinner was at The Libertine in Clayton and it was amazing!!!

 Mustache girl and her Shirley Temple. 

On Sunday morning I took Abbey to the Arch. We went to Saint Louis for Thanksgiving a few years ago and were going to take the kids up in the Arch but we didn't have a ton of time and we opted for The City Museum instead, which was a great choice at the time. I'm terrified of heights but put my brave face on for Abbey.

I think we picked the windiest day of the year to venture to the top. As soon as we got out of the egg-shaped compartment that carried us up I could feel the arch MOVING. I was freaked. A lady I was talking with at the top told me that even on the windiest of days it never sways more than 18 inches. 18 inches? Are you kidding me? The security guard at the top said the wind was the worst he'd ever seen. I guess we have a knack for timing, don't we. I felt off balance the entire time I was up there. Thankfully we just snapped some pictures and went back down.

 See those ominous clouds? Keep reading.

My aunts were checking out of the hotel while Abbey and I were there and as we were waiting for them to pick us up a freak storm blew in. We were outside waiting because I couldn't get a cell signal in the (underground) Arch area and that crazy wind was blowing us both around. By the time I realized we should head for cover it was too late. The wind-driven rain came so fast. We were drenched from head to toe. Guess we have a knack for making things memorable too.

A quick lunch, a little more shopping, and then we were Denver bound. I think Abbey best summed it up when she looked over at me on the plane and said, "Mom, that was the best weekend ever!" I think she had fun. 

Flag Banner Giveaway!

My friend, Amanda, makes the cutest custom flag banners! Several weeks ago I had her make one for me that was reversible--one side was Sarah's high school, the flip side was Will's. I thought it would be fun to take to football games or even use for school events but Will asked if he could hang it in his room. So fun!

 Didn't it turn out cute? It's even cuter in person!!!

Amanda's flags are adorable.  Here are some others she's made.

Picture frame banner. So cute. 

Have I mentioned that I'm crazy about chevron? I am. But I also adore this little mini-flag banner she makes--it's perfect for those of you who have an elf at your house.

All of her flags are hand-made (excellent quality) and fully customizable. I love the idea of having one for birthdays or Christmas or Valentine's Day to pull out and use year after year! Or even one with a child's name on it to hang in their room. They make great gifts--hint hint! 

Amanda is generously giving away cute THIS NOEL FLAG BANNER to my readers. It's a slate-blue burlap and is soooooooo pretty! 

To enter the giveaway, visit Amanda's website (The Party Orchard) or her Etsy shop and look around. Then come back and leave Amanda some comment love! If you want an extra entry, like The Party Orchard on Facebook and come back and comment that you liked it. I'll randomly choose a winner on Saturday and get your banner mailed first thing Monday--giving you time to enjoy it for the holidays.

I apologize in advance that I have word verification enabled for comments. I just get so much spam that I have to keep it turned on.

Friday Five

1. This week kicked my tail. I got back into town late Sunday night and hit the ground running on Monday. A sick kid at home, internet issues, projects, and a lot of unforeseen stuff really threw me off track.  You can only imagine my delight when I woke up this morning to the news that school was cancelled--SNOW DAY! It was a surprising but very welcome gift in the middle of a week of craziness. Because of the snow day our Thanksgiving break began one day early. Hooray!

2. Speaking of Thanksgiving, two of my kids have decided they don't want turkey this year. Huh? They'd rather have ham. Ham. Oh the horror. Are these really my children? The other child and John and I trumped them. We're definitely having turkey but I did concede and buy a small ham for the other two picky children.

3. One of my children played outside in the snow with friends almost all day today. One of my children played inside on the computer almost all day today. And one child entertained herself until her friends called and invited her to the matinee of Catching Fire. I'm excited to see that movie with friends over the weekend! It was my favorite book in the series.

4. I am slightly freaked out about how quickly the next few weeks are going to fly by! Our December is already feeling very full. I've done a little bit of Christmas shopping and by a little I mean I've bought maybe two things. I need to start making lists to keep me sane. I'm thinking of changing up my Advent wreath this year and I have a little over a week to get it ready. Hobby Lobby, here I come!

5. Here's a pic from my girls' trip with Abbey last weekend. I have twin aunts who live in St. Louis and they were celebrating a milestone birthday. One of them knew we were coming but the other didn't and she was very surprised to see us. We had a great time with my aunts, my sister, a cousin, and a much-loved family friend. I have many more pictures. Hopefully I can make some time this weekend to write a post about our trip!

Happy Weekend everyone!

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

This is one of my husband's VERY favorite soups. My friend, Leah, gave it to me several years ago and it's from The Mason Jar restaurant in Colorado Springs. She and her family were here visiting and ate there one night. They thought this soup was delicious and asked for the recipe and surprisingly they gave it to them! It's easy and healthy and goes great with a pan of cornbread! Enjoy.

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

Ingredients:
2 lbs lean ground beef
28 oz can tomato sauce
28 oz can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
28 oz water
2 cups chopped green pepper (about 2 medium green peppers)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp beef bouillon granules (or 1-2 cubes)
3 cups hot, cooked white rice

Preparation:
In large skillet, brown beef with salt and pepper until no longer pink. Drain grease. Add beef and remaining ingredients to large stock pot and simmer for 30-60 minutes until green peppers are tender. While soup is simmering, prepare white rice. Spoon rice into bowls and serve soup over rice.

*The original recipe calls for 2 quarts water and suggests cooking the rice in with the other ingredients. I've done it that way but ended up with mushy, overcooked rice so I decrease the liquid and cook rice separately.

Friday Five

High five for Friday! I love weekends!

1. Abbey and I are heading to the airport this morning for a super secret girl getaway! A few years ago I started taking one of my kids with me to an Arkansas football game/mini-family reunion and this was Abbey's year to go. Imagine her disappointment when the Arkansas weekend didn't pan out. A few weeks ago, we had an invitation to do something different that I knew would be a great substitute. She's excited and so am I! Going to be a fun weekend. I'll fill you in when we return. Smile.

2. Can you even believe it's less than two weeks until Thanksgiving? We are staying here this year instead of traveling and I am so grateful for a week of rest and down time. And yummy food. Need to get started on my Thanksgiving menu.

3. We went to our area Young Life Banquet earlier this week. As usual it was a fantastic event. I left my Young Life admin job this summer to work for a friend and it was strange to just "go" to the event that I've worked to coordinate for the past few years. Gotta admit it was nice to have a relatively stress-free October though and to just "show up" for banquet! Weird, but nice.

4. I had a very impromptu lunch with a friend yesterday. It was just one of those things that fell into place almost better than if we had planned it. It's easy for me to get caught up in work and home and responsibility and I forget how much I need to make time for things that nurture my heart. Yesterday was just what I needed. I'm thankful for good friends!

5. If you're local and are around tomorrow, John will be signing books at Covered Treasures Bookstore in downtown Monument from 10-12AM. I'm sure he'd love to see some familiar faces!

Happy Weekend, everyone!!!

Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup

How about some soup for dinner? This recipe is so easy and so delicious, especially with a grilled cheese sandwich on the side.

Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup

Ingredients:
1- 28oz can whole tomatoes, do not drain
1- 14oz can petite diced tomatoes, do not drain
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 dozen fresh basil leaves sliced in thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
2-4 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper (try white pepper if you have it on hand)
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 stick butter (see note below)

Preparation:
Puree the can of whole tomatoes in blender then pour into large stockpot. Add remaining ingredients (except for cream and butter) and simmer 30-40 minutes. Add butter and cream. Stir until butter is melted and cream is combined.

Notes: You could probably get away without adding butter. I happen to be particularly fond of it, but I typically only use 2 Tbsp. I've also used half and half instead of cream and it works but is not nearly as thick and rich.

Stitch Fix #3

I've posted about Stitch Fix before but I'm doing it again because I just got my third "fix" and I'm absolutely crazy about it!

If you're new to my blog or to Stitch Fix, here's the 411:
Stitch Fix is a personal styling service. You pay $20 to fill out a style profile and receive five hand-selected items in the mail--anything from dresses, pants, tops, accessories (you can specify what type of items you'd like to receive). Try everything on and keep the items you want and send the rest back within three days in a pre-paid mailer. Your $20 styling fee applies to anything you purchase. If you keep all five items, you get a 25% discount on the entire box. My advice is to be VERY specific about your size, your style, and your price point.

Another awesome thing about Stitch Fix is that they send you style cards that give suggestions on what to pair the items they send you with. I LOVE that because I need all the help I can get!

Despite feeling CHEESY and RIDICULOUS, I had Sarah-my-amazing-daughter take pictures of my latest fix. Here we go…

Item #1- Black Knit Cardigan $48
Thoughts: It fits great! I'm short and I have the hardest time finding cardigans that fit me and aren't too long. I threw it over the gray t-shirt I was already wearing and added the fun scarf for this pic. Black goes with everything and it's so versatile.

 Verdict: KEPT it!


Item #2 - Chunky Knit Open Cardigan $98
Thoughts: I thought it was really cute and I can wear sweaters from October to May but $98 is a little too steep for me. Plus I thought it was just a little too big. Nothing spectacular enough to keep.

 Just a little too big and bulky under my arms. 

Verdict: Returned it.



Item #3 - Striped and Layered Hi-Lo Shirt $38
Thoughts: Gross! I do NOT like the hi-lo trend. I had a long-sleeved tee on so you can't tell in this pic but the sleeves were sheer. Yuck. Just NOT me at all. Blech. Are you getting the message that I hated it?

 Hi-Lo is thumbs down for this girl!!!

Verdict: Returned it.


Item #4 - Black Maxi Skirt $38
Thoughts: I had asked Stitch Fix to include a maxi skirt in the fix I got over the summer but didn't get one until now. This was black and very basic and they suggested I pair it with a top I kept from my second fix. I tried and it just wasn't working. I didn't know whether to tuck the top in, scrunch it up, leave it long or what but it just wasn't working. Period. It wasn't flattering in the least. Yuck. The photography is bad too--you can even really tell it's a skirt--sorry!

Verdict: Returned it. Licketly split.


Item #5 - Green Tab Sleeve V-Neck Blouse $68
Thoughts: Normally much more than I'd spend on a top but I liked it a lot and felt great in it. I love the color and the fabric and can wear it with cords or jeans or even dress pants. It's a thin, polyester fabric and I will probably FREEZE when I wear it but the style card suggested pairing it with the black cardigan (item #1) and I do think it would look great under some of my other sweaters. Also a great color for the holidays, right?

Verdict: After a lot of indecision I KEPT it. It helped that I had a significant amount of referral credit.

What is this referral credit I speak of? Well, once you sign up for Stitch Fix you get a personal link to refer people. When your friends use your link to schedule a Stitch Fix you get $25 credit. I had some credit left from last time + new credit and so that made this fix much more affordable. I have no idea who the credit came from so if it was from you--thank you for letting me shop with free money!

Other thoughts:
I do NOT generally spend a lot of money on clothes. I am a bargain shopper. However, I will pay a little more for something that is unique and well made. The fact that I don't have to go to the mall is a huge plus for this girl who does not like to shop! That's probably the biggest reason I love Stitch Fix.

Let me know if you have questions! I'm happy to answer them in the comments.

Okay, one last picture for you--proof that the grey/black striped top and necklace really are cute when worn properly. Both are items I kept from Stitch Fix #2.

Being Thankful

I took my teenagers out for a quick bite to eat the other night. As I pulled into our destination (a shopping center with numerous restaurants) I let out an audible groan. We were greeted by Christmas lights, Christmas wreaths, Christmas decorations and Christmas sale banners at every glance.

Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. I really do. It's just that I feel like we jump straight from Halloween to Christmas and directly into "need MORE, want MORE, buy MORE" without ever even having a chance to stop and be thankful for what we already have. Thanksgiving has little to offer retailers so it gets quickly trumped--as if it didn't even exist. 

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Over the years we've built some traditions around this holiday that hopefully cultivate some gratitude in our children. 

Years ago we started the tradition of a "thankful chain". Beginning on November 1, I'd keep strips of colored card stock in a bowl on our kitchen table and each night at dinner we'd write something we were thankful for on a strip, then staple them together making a simple chain. 

Our chain would typically hang in our kitchen the entire month (or longer, depending on how long I could stand it!) One Thanksgiving, I improvised and used our chain as a last minute centerpiece by arranging it around a candle in a deep glass bowl. All of our chains are hanging on a coat rack downstairs in our basement. I can't bear to throw them out.

A few years ago, I took the same idea of the thankful chain and switched it up to make a Thankful Turkey! 

Using a grapevine pumpkin I had, I cut a turkey face/body and turkey feathers (using my Silhouette) and used double-sided tape and toothpicks to insert them into the pumpkin after we'd written what we were thankful for on each side. I like the "turkey" because it doubles as a bright and cheerful centerpiece to our table for the month of November. I've saved all of our "feathers" from years past just like the chains; it's fun to see my kids' handwriting and what they've been thankful for from year to year. 

My children are older but they still look forward to these traditions. In fact, I haven't yet made the feathers for our "thankful turkey" this year and all three of my children have asked me why! Don't worry--it's on my agenda for the week!

November Currents

Current Read: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I just started this last night and daylight savings time has prevented me from staying awake much past 8:30pm so I haven't made enough progress to tell you if I like it or not.

Current Playlist: I'm not kidding when I tell y'all I'm all over the place with my music.

Current Color(s): Orange. Gray. Black. Red. Those seem to be the colors I've been wearing the most lately.

Current Drink: I've been doing a great job staying away from caffeine but I have enjoyed a couple of decaf pumpkin spice lattes. I must admit though that I CRAVE soda. It's so hard for me not to drink it but I've been avoiding it and drinking water instead. Water and herbal tea. That's about it. Blech.

Current Food: I am completely addicted to this greek yogurt jalapeño dip from Costco. It is so good. I eat it with tortilla chips for lunch four to five days a week. Dairy does a number on my stomach but greek yogurt doesn't bother me and I am thankful for that!

Current Favorite Favorite: Nexxus Frizz Defy. I bought a tube of this hair creme about a month ago (Thank you, Jill! Check out her post on her favorite hair products here!)) and it is perfect for my hair. It tames the frizz, makes my hair much more manageable, and leaves it super soft and shiny. I bought it at Ulta (on sale + coupon + Ulta points) for cheap. Prior to purchasing this, I'd been trying to use up all the various hair products we had around the house. Ugh. It really does make a difference when you find the right product for your hair! This creme is awesome!

Current Addiction: It's a toss up between fantasy football, Pinterest, and Words With Friends. I suppose there are worse things to be addicted to, right? 

Current Wish List: Boots. I have my eye on a pair that I'm saving up for. Santa has also been informed. 

Current Need: A nap!

Current Triumph: I crossed every single thing off of my to-do list yesterday. That felt like a huge triumph. AND I've kept my email inbox to less than 10 emails for the past week. That is a ginormous triumph! 

Current Annoyance: Can you believe I can't think of anything right now? That's a first...

Current Mood: Happy!

Current Blessing: A warm house and a full pantry/fridge/freezer.

Current Outfit: Jeans, boots, cardigan, and scarf. 

Current Excitement: An upcoming girls weekend! Abbey and I are sneaking away for a weekend  and we are getting pretty excited.

Current Project(s): Start working on our Thankful Turkey!

Current Prayers: I'm praying for four women right now who are battling breast cancer. Some days it overwhelms me and my heart just can't hold it all. I'm also praying for a friend who needs a a big 'ole dose of hope. And I'm praying about an opportunity I have…one that quite frankly scares me…but one that I'm not so sure God didn't put before me. Trying to listen and discern. :)

Current Link: I know I linked to Kara's blog last week but you guys, her posts just wreck me! She is one of the women above that I'm praying for, and I'd love for you to join me.

Current plans for the day: Take Abbey to orthodontist, finish one small work project, make a menu-plan/grocery list, laundry, carpool, dinner. My life is sooooooo glamorous. 

White Chicken Chili

My friend told me the other day that her family doesn't eat soup or stew or anything remotely like it. I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped! My family LOVES soup and I think it's the perfect winter meal. I'm going to be sharing some of my favorites here, starting with White Chicken Chili. So delicious!

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Tbsp cumin
1/2-1 Tbsp chili powder
3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 can navy beans, drained (can use two cans if desired)
1 cup frozen white corn, or 1 can white corn, drained
1/2 can of creamed corn (optional)(if using 1/2 can, freeze the other half for next time)
4 oz can diced green chilies
3 cups of chicken broth
1 can petite diced tomatoes
3-4 Tbsp salsa verde (I like Herdez brand, medium)
sour cream
chopped cilantro
shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack
tortilla chips

Preparation:
Cook and shred chicken. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil in large stock pot until tender. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Simmer over low heat for 30-60 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream, shredded cheese and chopped cilantro.

SMP 11.5.13

SMP = Seven Minute Post

I had to bust out the heavy down coat for my walk this morning. Brrrrrr. It's getting colder and colder in the mornings but thankfully it's a tiny bit lighter thanks to daylight savings time.

Ahhhh, daylight savings time. I actually love that it gets dark earlier. But I should qualify that. I love it that it gets dark earlier IF I'm home for the day and able to put on my pjs. If I'm out driving or running errands, then I dislike it. I also dislike that my body thinks 4:30AM is a perfectly acceptable time to begin the day.

Abbey tested postitive for strep last weekend. Actually, her rapid test on Friday was negative but the one they sent to be cultured turned positive over the weekend. So…she's on an antibiotic and hopefully going to school today. Her throat is better but her cough is horrible. She's still sleeping but I'll evaluate her once she wakes up!

On tap today: a haircut! lunch with a friend! and according to FedEx tracking, a new Stitch Fix box should be arriving in the mail! (I had more referral credit--I can't tell who got a "fix" from my link but thank you! Free shopping money is always nice.)

Pin-spiration

Never in a million years would I consider myself a fashion blogger. I don't regularly read any fashion blogs and I don't think I even have a "fashion" board on Pinterest. I do however, have a lot of friends who regularly pin outfits on Pinterest and those outfits show up on my Pinterest page.

One morning this week I just happened to be browsing on Pinterest (was actually trying to find a recipe I'd pinned and bought ingredients for!) and came across this outfit that a friend had pinned.

I was still in my bathrobe but thought to myself:
I have a red v-neck sweater!
I have a denim shirt to put under it!
I have jeans!
And I have some cute leopard-print flats!
(I got the flats a few weeks ago--on sale and with a coupon-- and I LOVE them!)
I can do this!
And voila! I created my first Pinterest-inspired outfit!

Sarah commented on it immediately after school telling me I looked like I'd been reading Pinterest or fall fashion blogs. I took it as a compliment. John complimented me too! 

I liked it and I'll wear it again, but probably with jeans that are a little less "bulky". 

Now I'm addicted to searching Pinterest for cute outfits to find new ways to wear the clothes I have in my closet! 

Random-Listy-Life-Sch-tuff

1. I caught my husband getting into the Halloween candy last night. It made me laugh because of the five of us, he is the least likely to eat candy. I had to hide it in a closet to keep it away from ME and the kids. I rarely bake these days, but I should probably bake that man some cookies or something.

2. Speaking of 'that man', he took me on a date last weekend. It was so nice. We went to dinner and then we went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and bought a bedskirt. I've had mismatched bedding since earlier this year and it was driving me cuh-razy. Not the most romantic date ever but time alone with him is high on my list of loves. It was a nice night.

3. Last week I got a "change of address" card in the mail from a friend. I stuck it on my fridge so I'd see it and remember to update my Christmas card list (which is basically my address book). I glanced over at it last Saturday and my heart sank. My Christmas card list was on my hard drive that failed. I nearly cried. There's no way I can start making that list from scratch and I don't have a hard copy. Not sure what that means for cards this year…

4. I am desperate for a haircut! My last appointment was the end of July. When I called at the beginning of the month they said it would be NOVEMBER before I could get in. I'm looking and feeling shaggy. My appointment is next week and I'm literally counting the days…

5. I posted this picture on Instagram a while back but just saw it on my phone. I use lots of spirals for work and realized on this particular day that I'd inadvertently matched my outfit to my notebooks. Actually Abbey pointed it out to me. Made me laugh. By the way, I love chevron and I love that scarf which I bought here.

6. I've been working my way through some social media training for work and it is fascinating! I've learned a ton and I'm starting to feel very tech-savy, or at least social media savvy. I still have an intense love-hate relationship with it though. 

7. I'm not sure who came up with the idea of giving our elementary students the day after Halloween off from school but I want to give them a big 'ole kiss! Getting kids to be at a decent hour after trick-or-treating and prying candy out of their hands is hard! Will and Sarah have school tomorrow but Abbey is off so I took the liberty of scheduling a dermatology appointment and haircut for her. She gets to sleep in a bit though and she's excited about that!

8. Last week was ROUGH. I heard the word "cancer" a few too many times in regard to a few too many people I love. I cried a LOT last week. I hate cancer and all that it robs us of. Ugh. A couple of weeks ago, John pointed me to this blog. Wanna join me in praying for Kara and her family? Warning: read this blog with tissues nearby. 

9. Must sign off and get ready for a Halloween party with Abbey's class! Happy Halloween!

Six on Saturday

1. Our Friday nights are changing. Since school began, we've had *one* Friday night with all of our kiddos at home. The new norm is for at least one of them to be out with friends or at at football game or a sleepover or something. The one Friday that we had was because one of the parents in this home insisted we all stay home together. I am happiest when all my peeps are home with me! But I'm slowly adjusting to the fact that this is changing.

2. Today would have been my dad's 68th birthday. He was only sixty-three when he died--way too young. I was doing okay until I walked into the new Pendleton store while we were out doing some shopping last night. My dad used to take me to the one in Memphis and I have some good memories of ending our family shopping trips with a stop in "his" store. I think I'll cheer for the Hogs tonight in my dad's memory...even though this season is proving to be a tough one for Razorback fans.

3. We woke up to snow yesterday morning. We've had a few days of flurries but this was the first snow to accumulate. Aren't you jealous? I'd prefer for fall to stick around a bit longer (and it will--we're back in the 60s today) but it did make me look forward to snow days!

4. I think (I hope) the worst of my caffeine detox is behind me. I have five-coffee free mornings under my belt, which were aided in large part by ibuprofen and herbal tea. Some of you asked if I could do decaf coffee. The short answer is yes. The long answer is no...because I don't want to wait for John to finish his pot of regular coffee then make another. The solution might be a Keurig but I don't want to buy one just for that. I'd rather go without. L.A.Z.Y.

5. I've had some conversations/experiences over the course of the last three weeks that have completely affirmed some decisions and hard choices I had to make earlier this year. It's very freeing to realize that those choices, while very hard were, for my ultimate good. Deep down I knew that when I made them but it's nice when God affirms that with such clarity. Especially on days when doubt creeps in.

6. Alright, gotta get this day started. On tap: coffee with a friend, errands, laundry, and some football! I love Saturdays, especially if it falls during a long weekend. Makes for a much more leisurely day!
** "Coffee with a friend" really translates into "coffee for her and tea for me". Just wanted to clarify. :)

Currents: October

Current Read: Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge. I got this book in August right before we left for Arkansas but I wanted to wait to start it until I could read it slowly. I returned from that trip and got caught up in back to school stuff and honestly didn't remember I even had it until a few weeks ago. Lame. I pulled it out last week and started reading. It's very, very good so far.

Current Playlist: I am all over the place when it comes to music right now. I've been putting my iPod on All Songs>Shuffle>Play and letting it surprise me. 

Current Color: Gray.  

Current Drink: Today begins my caffeine detox. It's for real this time. Over the weekend I stocked up on herbal tea. Ugh. I really like coffee and got hooked (again) back in the spring but caffeine really seems to affect my sleep patterns and I know that I feel much better without it in my system. So buh-bye coffee, hello headache. I stocked up on ibuprofen too...to get me through the first few days detox headaches. 

Current Food: We've had some great fall weather lately which is perfect for soup and stew. We've enjoyed some of our favorites and tonight I'm making another soup we love-- white chicken chili.

Current Favorite Favorite:
These NFL mini-helmets have been keeping me entertained lately. I've wanted a set for a long time (even asked my family for them for Christmas for a couple of years) and finally resorted to buying them for myself. Every week I match-up the teams who are playing and my picks are on the left. I'm slightly football-crazed, but guess who is #1 in BOTH of her fantasy leagues right now? That's right, this girl is. Thankyouverymuch.

Current Addiction: If you couldn't tell, I have a slight addition to all things football.

Current Wish List: I keep thinking I want to try one of these Scentsy warmers. Also, I really really really want a big Le Creuset dutch oven. I have a small-ish one that belonged to my grandmother (very vintage!) and I use it all the time. My family can eat more mine holds though and I'd love to have a bigger one but they are incredibly pricey. I just keep telling John that one day I could pass it on to our grandchildren. :)

Current Need: I need nothing. Except maybe some sleep, a long weekend (we get one!), and a vision exam. My bifocal prescription is no longer strong enough. UGH!

Current Triumph: I survived last week. John was out of town and so many crazy things happened. Isn't that always the case? It sure is for us. All is well in our world now that he is back home. Hallelujah.

Current Annoyance: My computer crashed last week. Turns out it was the hard drive which they replaced for me yesterday. However, I didn't have time to wait for technician to retrieve my files and photos from my failed drive (who has two weeks to be computerless?) so I'm basically starting from scratch here and constantly remembering files I need but don't have!!! I will take my old drive back soon and have them retrieve my pics and files--which hopefully aren't lost forever. I'm optimistic. I know, I know. First world problem. 

Current Mood: I'm in a good mood!

Current Blessing: Friends! I had dinner last night with a group of friends that I love dearly...and I'm super thankful for each of them. Another blessing? A really nice pace of life right now.

Current Outfit: Yoga pants and fleece top right now, but it's very cold here today and I have to leave the house for some meetings so I'm changing into jeans, a sweater, and boots.

Current Excitement: A short week and a long weekend! 

Current Project(s): Clean out my email inbox! Reconfigure my computer desktop and customize my settings since everything is new! Work on a wreath for my front door!

Current Link:
This post by Whimzie had me laughing out loud. Especially if you dislike running as much as I do.

Current plans for the day: Work, meetings, carpool, laundry. Lather, rinse, repeat!

10 years...

Last weekend marked the 10th anniversary of our move to Colorado.

Ten years. That's the longest John and I have lived anywhere.

To celebrate the day, we took a day trip up to Divide, CO to see the aspens, where they are a little more  plentiful and more intensely colored than down here at seven-thousand-feet-above-sea-level. The drive did not disappoint.

Our children were each about their own thing on Saturday so we decided we could either force them to go with us and endure their grumbling or we could go alone and enjoy the time together. We chose the more pleasant of the two options. Of course we did. And it was a perfect afternoon.

On our drive, we talked about our ten years in Colorado. About how straight the path getting here seemed to be, but how crooked it's been ever since. 

We talked about the people who have been a part of our journey--leading, directing, cheerleading, and befriending us. People who have spoken deeply into our lives. We feel blessed to know some some truly amazing people. 

We also talked about this physical place where we live. Not one day goes by that we're not grateful for the beauty that surround us. Mountains. Aspens. Blue sky. Evergreen. It stuns us. Daily.

We do not know if Colorado is our forever home but on the chance that it's not, I never want to regret not having explored as much of it as I could.

 It was c-c-c-cold in the mountains on Saturday. I threw my boots and a light coat in the car and was so glad I did...

but really wished I'd  brought a hat too!

We were having dinner with some friends a few weeks ago and talking about moving here and I was reminded of one of my favorite songs--Wide Open Spaces by the Dixie Chicks. It has become my Colorado theme song.

My heart needs wide open spaces and I think that's why I love the West so much.

We have no idea what the next 10 years will hold or if God will move us some other place, perhaps even back to Arkansas? No doubt about it though, Colorado has a HUGE piece of my heart.

Winners!

Sorry I meant to post this yesterday but we decided to take a little day trip to the mountains to see some fall color! It was gorgeous! Next weekend will probably be the peak weekend for the golden aspens but we saw some beautiful color.

(And this photo was actually one of my outtakes! I'm working on a post for later this week.)

I let random.org pick the winners. The first five corresponding commenters win a book!

That means I'm sending a book to:
#12 Julie
#14 OMom
#10 Rae
#17 Amanda
#18 Shopestewart

I will be emailing you in a few minutes. Congratulations!
Thanks everyone for being excited with us. Wish I could send all of you a book.

Friday Five

1. I must confess that I stooped to an all-time low yesterday. One afternoon this week, Abbey and I stopped at Walgreens on the way home from school to pick up a birthday card and some plastic cups (random) and I could not resist the allure of the Hot Tamales. Knowing I would eat the entire box and feel miserable later, I asked Abbey to hide them when we got home. Yesterday afternoon a sugar craving hit hard and I remembered there was almost full box of candy hidden somewhere in the girls' room. I spent the better part of ten minutes searching it out but eventually found it and polished off the box. The hiding spot? Inside her boots.

2. Those boots? She's going to need them today. I'm not quite ready for this. I've even heard our meteorologist used the word "snow" a few times lately. NOOOOOOO!!!!!

We are having beef stew for dinner tonight and I'm trying to decide if I want to spend a couple of hours sitting on cold metal bleachers for the high school football game or stay home in my pjs by the fire. Hmmmmmm. No brainer. I'm staying home!

3. iOS7 has been out for a couple of weeks now but I'm afraid to install it on my phone. I'm the holdout in my family and everyone tells me it's wonderful. Should I believe them? Surely there are some strong opinions out there.

4. I'm trying something new today--yoga. A friend invited me to go and I said sure. I'm a little nervous because I've never done it but she's confident I can pull it off without embarrassing myself. I keep telling myself that my grandmother used to do yoga so I should be fine. Anyway, I'm looking forward to spending some time with my friend and being inside where it's nice and warm today.

5. Thank you for all the support for John's book! It sold out on Amazon on it's release day. Should be back in stock soon, but is available here in the meantime. There's also still time to enter the giveaway I'm having.

Peace out y'all! Have a great Friday!!!

*FYI: 10 minutes after I posted this, it started to snow. SNOW. In October. Ready or not...

Homecoming 2013

Sarah's high school Homecoming dance was last weekend. So many kids here go in big groups and I love that. It wasn't really like that when I was in high school but it's such an inclusive and fun way to go! Sarah went with a big group of friends and invited a few of them to come over to our house beforehand to get ready and have dinner. I offered to order pizza, grill steaks or burgers, or take them out to eat (sans parents, of course) but she wanted takeout from Chipotle. So that's what we did! It was fun having them here and taking them to the dance. I actually REALLY like being around teenagers and I think my kids have some pretty great teenage friends. It's fun to wonder what paths God will lead them down in the future.

Here are a few pictures! Sarah is in the green dress.

 They're spelling out YOLO--You Only Live Once. It's a popular teenage phrase.

This picture makes me smile. I snapped it as they were walking inside the gym. 

By the way, Will chose not to go to his Homecoming dance this year. His was a few weeks ago (they go to different high schools). John was out of town the weekend of his dance and the girls were both at parties so he and I had a Saturday night date at Buffalo Wild Wings. Win-win.

Know When To Hold 'Em: Giveaway!

So.......

I've mentioned at time or two ten that my husband has written a new book. I'm super duper proud of him! It officially releases TODAY!

Know When To Hold 'Em: The High Stakes Game of Fatherhood is a collection of personal short stories about fatherhood. Most are about John's experiences fathering our three children, but there are some other fatherhood stories mixed in there too. It is a beautiful collection that reflects his fierce and tender love for his family, and believe me, the man can string words together like no one else I know.  I really think you will love reading it.

I'm helping John celebrate his book's release by giving away FIVE copies to FIVE lucky blog readers.  I could probably cash in some favors and have them autographed as well. *wink wink*

If you'd like a chance to win, simply leave me a comment below. You can tell me something about your dad or a dad you admire, or you can just say "Hey, Meredith. Pick me!" Comments will close on Saturday morning 10/5 around 8AM MST and I'll randomly choose five winners sometime that day, notify them, and mail books on Monday 10/7.

*Important! Please make sure I have a way to contact you in your comment (i.e. email address) should you be one of the five lucky winners.

*If you want an extra entry, share this post on Facebook and come back and leave another comment stating that you shared it. I no longer have a Twitter account, but feel free to share there too. And sure, you can have an extra entry for a tweet! I don't have a fancy-schmancy "share" to social media button so you'll have to copy/paste the link. Thanks!

Of course if you don't want to wait to see if you win, you can certainly purchase a book here!

Our celebrated last night in anticipation of an exciting day today!

 I love these people!!!