Yesterday I had the rare pleasure of enjoying a Sunday afternoon drive with my people. It was one of those spring days where the clouds are white and fluffy, the sun is shining, and the green grass is almost fluorescent bright. One of those moments where everything felt light, kids weren't fighting, mama wasn't grouchy, and dad wasn't tired. It was simple, fun and fleeting. We went to The Bread Board in Falls City (of all places!!) and let me just say I will be dreaming about this pizza until I get a chance to return. Yes, it was that good.
To cap things off we had a lip sync to Taylor Swift on the way back home. Why you might wonder? Because it's fun and we can. And yes, we are awesome.
As a diversion from deep thoughts of any kind I thought I would share this funny little video with you today. I just came across it on a friends facebook and thought it was delightfully quirky. After watching this Ella wants to decorate her shells with google eyes and Jake is inspired to make his own movies. My favorite part is with the dog. Favorite line "all he ever wants is treats and snoozes, snoozes and treats.." Cute-ness!
I couldn't help but feel the truth of this brand new season creep in on me as I woke up to cooler temps. today. For those curious I accepted a position with the school district part time. I'll be working in a teen parent program providing care for the children of teen moms while they work on completing high school. I am fortunate enough to get to work with the tiny babies - 10 weeks to 6 months and they are so precious!
As I think about the obstacles these teens face I can't help but feel gratitude for the life I have, the simple truths I often take for granted. I am struck by the courage, tenacity and resilience it takes to move through this world, and I hope to be a voice of encouragement to these young women. I am reminded once again that each of us has the opportunity to choose how we approach our lives each day, each hour, each moment.
Today I choose life - the ordinary, mundane, joyful, messy, noisy, delicious, hard, easy, lovely, beautiful gift of today.
p.s. thanks to my Aunt Susie for sharing this awesome video:)
Dear Mr. Veen: last night I literally gave you a hi-five as we passed each other coming and going. Let me say I am looking forward to actually sitting down with you and having an adult conversation tonight. Dear 90 degree weather: you have given me a fresh realization that I'm not a fan of you this week. I will take partly sunny and 75 any day. Dear Ella: thank you for being an eight year old girl and showing me how fun it is to go to lunch and shopping just us two. You're pretty cool! Dear Fleet Foxes: thanks to a certain friend I cannot stop listening to this song which makes me feel like I'm going on an epic journey. Nice. And last to Mr. Veen: you don't drink real coffee, stay up late and are an excellent burper. Need I say more?
Dear Mr. Veen: I can't help but smile when I see Ella and Mama kitty piled on top of you on the couch. Obviously you are the most comfortable spot in the house. Dear Bailey's Hazelnut Coffee Creamer: you are d to the licious even without the added alcohol. Dear Fred Meyer: please continue to stock Bailey's Hazelnut Coffee Creamer. Dear Blizten Trapper: this song and video seems appropriate given my theme of all things mystical this week - bonus points to lead singer Eric Early for being cool enough to have grown up in the same circle I did. Dear weather: please tell me it will be warm enough for me to wear the new spring dress I ordered for Easter. Cuteness is not an option here and I'd love to have an excuse to buy some matching shoes to go with said dress. Dear weather part 2: I think it's also your fault that my eyes have been itchy and goopy the last several days, if you could put a lid on the pollen count I'd appreciate it. And last to Mr. Veen: I think I've finally succeeded in getting you addicted to my blog. Love you! xoxoxo
I have to begin this post by saying that I'm no theologian. I'm not interested in arguing. I'm also not concerned with trying to convince others to see things the way I do. What I am interested in however, is story. Everyone has one. I think the conversation is important.
A few weeks ago I heard some buzz about this little video of Rob Bell in which he promotes his new book "Love Wins". Many, many people are all upset about it. They are calling Bell a universalist and a heretic. I can't really talk about the content of this book because I haven't read it (although I would like to), but I can talk about the video and Bell himself.
For the past few years I have for all intensive purposes been "attending" Mars Hill - Rob Bells church in Grand Rapids Michigan. Through the wonders of the Internet I listen to his podcast nearly every weekend and for the most part really appreciate his approach to God, the Bible and Christianity as a whole. The thing I like about Rob is he's not afraid to ask the hard questions - as this video shows. But what I really, really like about Rob and what keeps me coming back to him as a teacher is that he's not afraid to leave the questions unanswered. He's a mystic at heart.
I think what gets people both Christian and not all crazy and riled up about this video is that we absolutely hate and fear the unknown. We like our questions answered - preferably in an attractive box with a big red bow. It's what religion is based on. Answers. Black and white. In or out. We like to think we have everything figured out - even God. We like to assume that we're better, smarter, chosen. Living with "I don't know and I'm okay with that"....it seems to be very, very difficult.
If you are interested in seeing more about Bells book there's an interview you can watch here.
Dear Mr. Veen: it seems recently we have entered a new era in our household consisting of crushes, love notes, and general "tween-ness". HOW ON EARTH did this happen? Dear Thrifting: it seems you are feast or famine. After many trips consisting of no finds I was happy to be rewarded yesterday with this and this. Happy hearts abound! Dear mother of vomiting child in the grocery store: I'm really, really, really sorry! That's all. Dear Coldplay: this song perfectly ends my week. p.s. I'd love to see you in concert some day. Dear Cosby Show: you are just as good to my 37 year old self as you were to my 10 year old self - although now I'm laughing at the parents instead of the kids. Thanks for proving some things never go out of style. And last to Mr. Veen: your patience with me is astounding. Thank you for listening to my dramas and ramblings. Beyond lucky to have you!
Today in honor of my dad's birthday I thought it only fitting to dedicate some very special movie clips to him. Anyone who knows my dad well, understands his love of certain movies especially those containing a few of his favorites namely Jack Nicholson and Clint Eastwood. It pretty much is a given that anytime there is a family meal or gathering dad will weave one of these famous lines into the conversation. He has these scenes not only memorized word for word but he also has the voices down pat! There are not many things more entertaining to me (after a few glasses of wine) than watching my dad deliver one of these lines. Even more fun is seeing him dissolve into a red ball of silent laughter at his own brilliance.
Dear Mr. Veen: every time my alarm clock goes off you jump several feet off the bed. Not sure how you get back to sleep after that but it definitely gets me up. Dear a.m. jogs: you have kicked my hiney this week! Can you say out of shape? It's the one reason I'm thankful it's not swimsuit season quite yet. Dear Justin Bieber: I am learning more about you via my son. Pros: you're cute, sing well, dance well and have good hair. BIG CON: you seem to enjoy picking up on women who are entirely too old for you. Dear Pink: something about your music channels my inner rebel. I think I've found inspiration for my next Halloween costume in this video. Dear Pad Thai: what is it about peanuts, fish sauce, bean sprouts, cilantro and lime that melds into deliciousness? I'm loving it! And last to Mr. Veen: we have begun the planning for our annual anniversary get away. Can I just say I can't wait!
Yesterday my Thing 1 got two teeth pulled out. He did so great and felt pretty good most of the day, but it gave us the opportunity to have a lazy movie day - translation: while Jake watched his movies I browsed around the Internet.
Here's some of what I found and LOVED ~
In the words of Carrie Bradshaw "Hello Lover"! I spied these on someones blog and instantly fell in love. Word on the street is they were originally purchased here. I searched and alas can not find them! However there are many other cute shoes on this site.
Last week while at my local World Market I came upon these cute little bistro chairs. They come in a rainbow of colors including yellow and I think they also have a matching table. They are all the inspiration I need to begin dreaming of sprucing up my patio!
Vanilla Latte's preferably from Peet's. That's all.
Bow ties in springy floral patterns? Yes please! I think these would look dreamy on Mr. Veen. He may not agree....
Because I've always had a weak spot for skater boys. Amazing!
There are so many adorable spring dresses at Anthropologie right now that it's hard to pick just one! This one makes me extra happy though:)
The fact that this is a true story makes me embrace the syrupy, delicious, gushy romantic scenes all the more. Pure girly fun!
I'm going through major Mad Men withdrawals just looking at spunky little Peggy! Check out this print shop for more fabulousness by artist Stanley Chow.
Word.
I'll take the chair in the sunshine with a chilled glass of wine please! Beautiful photo by Pam Garrison.
For me banana bread has always been a comfort food. I can remember walking in the house after being at school all day and immediately being enveloped by the sweet aroma of freshly baked banana bread. I loved to have a thick slice with margarine for a snack and always favored the middle section of the loaf, even better if the top layer was slightly under baked. My mom sometimes put walnuts in her banana bread, but as a kid I preferred it plain, no need to mess with the simple goodness in my opinion.
I'm not sure if the love of banana bread came from my moms or dads side of the family, but I do know that my dad always packed a banana in his lunch (and still does), and my Grandma Hay faithfully kept bananas in stock on her kitchen counter. It seems Grandma thought it was a general sign of heath and well being for a person to have a banana a day. So instead of "an apple a day..." it was "a banana a day keeps the doctor away".
For me, bananas are only good a couple of ways: in banana bread, smoothies or fresh but only if they are in the delicate half green but not too green - half yellow but no brown spots stage. And since that very elusive condition comes and goes so quickly with bananas, it's no wonder that we end up making quite a bit of banana bread in our house. And that's exactly what happened this past weekend.
As per usual I tried a new recipe out with the banana bread. And you know what? I actually didn't like it as well as my mom's classic stand-by version. I guess with some things you just don't mess with the best!
Mom's Banana Bread:
Preheat oven to 365
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs beaten
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3 small bananas or 2 large bananas mashed
1 tsp. vanilla
optional: nuts
Cream together sugar and butter. Add the eggs. Alternate adding the flour and soda. Finally add the mashed bananas, vanilla and nuts if using.
Bake at 365 for 1 hour
P.S. I understand that bananas are somewhat of a controversial fruit. Many people have absolutely no use for them in any of their forms. So in order to ease the eruption of disdain that may result over my posting a banana recipe I'll end with this video...enjoy:)
Dear Mr. Veen: apparently a little thing called "Mustache March" will soon be upon us. For the record - I take back suggesting you do the Morgan Spurlock. Dear Gropple: according to the weather man you are neither hail nor snow but instead a piece of hail encased in snow. I'm just happy to have acquired a fun new vocab word - thanks! Dear Jake: my favorite new nickname for you is "sprinkle nose". I'm hoping one of these days you'll let me snap some photos of you! Dear Jack Johnson: if there's any way to get into a sunny mood it's by listening to your music. Favorite line of "Flake" - "it seems to me that "maybe", pretty much always means no..." and now I really can't wait for flip-flop weather. Dear Self: just realize right now you WILL be waiting awhile for flip-flop weather, after all admitting you're powerless is the first step. And last to Mr. Veen: this morning you actually said "It's cold" --- and YES we're finally on the same temperature page. Wish it didn't have to get down to 20's to get us there!
I'm finally beginning to understand that I'm a person who needs a certain amount of space. The classic definition of an introvert, I'm generally not super energized after spending time with large groups of people. And I know that I need down time to myself in order to operate at my full capacity. But even though I know this about myself I don't always do it. In this busy, busy world it's hard to find space and quiet and there's always more on the to do list. In fact often it feels selfish to say I need time to myself. But I have to believe that by taking this time and making it a priority I'm actually doing the people that I love a favor - because I'm so much happier to be around as a result!
For my class this past week we were asked to schedule white space in our calenders - meaning unscheduled alone time. It was not asked that we meditate or do something in particular with that time other than just take it for ourselves. And here I have to admit that I have yet to schedule my white space. Oops! Guess I better get on that!
Thinking about my need for space got me remembering one of my favorite scenes from Sex and the City. Yes - that show has some great, thought-provoking material in it! Aiden and Carrie are living together and she's not used to sharing her apartment yet and is feeling smothered by him -- and well watch what happens....
I love that she tells him exactly what she needs! Now - it's T.V. and they resolved things rather easily and quickly in my opinion - but you get the point.
Sometimes the only way to cultivate more rest and play in our lives is to schedule nothingness with the same tenacity and commitment that we schedule our work and/or our family commitments. Your assignment today is to sit down with your calendar and schedule non-negotiable white space over the next two weeks. We’d love to hear about your strategies for carving the time and maintaining the boundaries! Self-care is self-love.
Dear Mr. Veen: I'm sorry you still have a cold. The first night you make it through without snoring may be cause for a small celebration. Dear pyrex stacking dishes with lids: you make me so happy I actually *might* have done a little dance in the kitchen while putting leftovers in you last night. Dear Mom: I think you missed your calling as the official blog PR person in my little circle of friends. Also - I think you need to start your own blog - it would be mighty entertaining! That's all. Dear Ingrid: you are like my music comfort food. This is one of the only songs of yours I don't own - might have to remedy that very soon! Dear coffee pot: every time I hear you complete your cycle I get a twinge of excitement for the goodness about to come my way. And last to Mr. Veen: thanks for being my parachute - over and out!
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
One of Tom's co-worker's made this for us and I thought it was too funny not to share! We're good as Sonny and Cher - no?
So here's the real scoop on today's potpourri post. My original plan was to reveal my dramatic (exaggeration) bedroom makeover to everyone today. But by last night I wasn't exactly done with it - aka - I wasn't even close to being remotely done! I still had a large diy project to complete to finish the bedroom look that I was after. This diy project although seemingly *simple* turned out not so simple and resulted in me throwing around piles of coffee filters, thread and tape. Turns out those window displays you see at Anthropologie actually are hard for the typical non-crafter - who knew?! Because I am determined (crazy!) with this project I still plan to reveal the final bedroom look to you soon, but in the mean time I couldn't help but think of my friend Amy Sedaris as I struggled to be crafty.
And now I think I must go out and buy Amy's book "Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People" because even though I don't have her awesome fake nails she really is a kindred spirit!
