August --- How did this happen?!

I've clearly fallen behind on blogging...I've been taken by other exciting happenings in my life, like grocery shopping, laundry, and chasing N. But seriously, I am going to take some time tonight to be crafty and make something (no clue WHAT yet) and I'll blog about it. TONIGHT. See, when I say it in capital letters, I am totally committing to it.
Our household has been busy visiting w/family, going to Le Sueur for Giant Days fun, cheering on D in mountain biking races at Buck Hill, hitting up the farmer's market, and I've been reading. LOTS. Update on that soon.

Also, I will post some pics that I've been taking with my cool new-to-me camera. That'll make you feel better and give me a slightly artsy appearance.

One more thing: I love sugar. I know I shouldn't love it so much, but I do.

WaaaaAAAAAaaaaay Behind

Realizing I'm way behind, here's a little update on my life:
N turned 2.
I turned 30.
I am seriously considering a 10-day juice fast.  It sounds crazy when I just go ahead and say it like that, but...I'm still considering it.  I figure my body is probably full of all sorts of preservatives, and it would do me some good to detoxify.

I haven't made anything other than dinner or banana bread in an embarassingly long time.  And I'm forgiving myself for the misspelling of that word, because there are some things I just don't have time for.

Professionally, things are moving along well.  I interviewed someone today, so that was a big new thing.  I have about one week to decide if I'm gonna stick with my current position for another year.  This is tough, because I really like what I do, but I'm having a really hard time dealing with the low, low, low income part.

Since I don't have anything crafty or creative to show, I'll leave you with a promise: something new will be planned out on the bus this week and will get made this weekend.  So, now you've got something to look forward to :)

Maintenance and Beyond

I realized this weekend that I've been doing a half-ar$ed job lately at maintenance.  Better in some areas than others, I've particularly fallen off in such important but easy to forgo self-maintenance tasks as toenail painting and hair styling.  I convinced myself that ponytails are stylish and that I can just continue to neglect my feet by always wearing socks and shoes.  No sandals for this girl!  Eek.  While I'm not about to teach N that her image is the most important thing she can give the world, the impression you leave with others concerning your style choices IS important to establish professional credibility and portray a sense of individuality.  So this week, I'm determined to get a haircut that suits me and my lifestyle.  Again, as I'm always in hot pursuit of this.  Any suggestions are appreciated.  Also, I painted my toenails this morning, bright red (which N called "orange" over and over).  I didn't wear open-toed shoes to showcase them yet, but I'll get there...

Beyond maintenance, however, I want to take a moment to get excited about positive changes I've been making.  Through a combination of efforts: nearly eliminating soda from my diet, eating more fruits and veggies and fewer processed things, and regular exercise (mostly wogging - a combo of walking and jogging with N in the Burley and the dogs trotting along beside me), I have shed 10+ pounds over the last few months.  Great for my health (and self esteem - hello visible leg muscles!), but not amazing for my wardrobe as most of my dress pants bring to mind one of N's current fave books - The Saggy Baggy Elephant. Ooph, not a good look.

Creatively, I've been working on crocheting with yarn and different materials - particularly t-shirt "yarn".  I found a blog this morning that totally motivated me to use my random t-shirt stash, and dye some of the dingy white tees I've held onto after D told me to chuck 'em.

Great news: my little sis is coming home tomorrow!  We haven't ironed out the day-to-day details, but I'm so excited to see her!  Family get-together celebrating G'ma Shirley's 80th on Friday (likely at Mystic), so lots to look forward to.  Lots of fun to be had.

* Brief reality TV update: happy that Olivia won BL.

I still haven't started my seeds (squash, beets, etc), and it is the END of MAY!  My grand garden plans have...dwindled.  I would love to have a veggie garden, but I realize I'm running out of time to get it started.  Maybe Ali can help me?! I don't know, but it is a nice thought.  More on gardening to come.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, When Will This Rain Stop?!

1. I hate ticks. I still haven't found the dogs' tick medicine, which drives me crazy because I know we have at least 3 months worth per dog, ready to go.  I just have to figure out where the dog meds are stashed...

2. I saw some really cute stuff I could/should make while shopping in Stillwater w/Iris and Nora today. A few things I should get to: greeting cards (obv), crocheted owl hats, bracelets with buttons, tutu skirts and magic wands for girly girls, and leaf soaps...well, maybe on the leaf soaps.  Stillwater is still full of cute little shops.  My fave of the day: darn knit, anyway.  I love fibers/wool/yarn and crocheting (and perhaps knitting again, someday), so this store was right up my alley.  It had a separate sewing room, and a lounge area in back with a kiddo play area.  I would love to manage/own a shop like that someday -- perhaps after I master all the fiber arts.  I DO know how to spin wool.  Maybe I could put that on my resume someday.

3.  On to a legal question: Did you know SCOTUS maintains a double space after sentence-ending punctuation?  Like that.  And this.  I've followed that rule/standard since 7th grade keyboarding class, so I'm happy to hear I won't have to change my writing style for the high court.  Because, you know, I'm so headed in that direction right now.

I don't have anything prolific in mind right now, and I'm getting pulled away and "C'mon"-ed by the Great Distraction, so I'll be back for more later.

World News Tonight and a Hometown Day

Spent the day in LS to celebrate my niece's Confirmation. Rowdy N and I had a great time, though sad D couldn't join us due to work.

Got the news on my drive home about Osama bin Laden...sat in my car, lights off, in the driveway to hear President Obama and a bit of the afterspeech.  Not quite sure what to make of it, other than stung by the old hurt of September 11.  Proud of America, I guess you could say, inasmuch as one can be proud for extinguishing a life.  As someone who generally doesn't support the death penalty, he's as guilty as anyone could be found, yet I'm a little put-off by the idea of celebrating someone's assassination.  At some point in his life, he did have a mom...even if he is the symbolic face of the scariest terrorist organization/ideology of our times.  Again, not sure how to react to this so I guess we'll leave it there.

Had a great time in LS with the Neal-Hank crew.  N absolutely loved playing with her Con-man, and hugged her Uncle J for a full minute.  We've been talking about them lots, so no surprise that she loved every minute and wouldn't nap if her life depended on it.  Another piggy-tailed day for N, she rocked a dress over her shirt/pants, and at one point layered two additional skirts over her ensemble.  Quite the fashion statement.  She trusted/loved/wanted to play with all the adults there, was a little nervous over Lady (Bama's teacup-sized cockapoo pup), and pretty much only wanted to eat cake.  Carried her noodle-y bod in from the car and successfully transferred her into a bed - a feat usually only accomplished by D! Proud moment. Mkay, that moment has passed.
As always, left Ash's house w/more stuff than I came with.  New to our house: second bike trailer, baby stroller, more books, clothes, and a tricycle (one pedal needed). Good haul!

At least three big things are happening tomorrow:
1) I'm washing dish mountain.  Don't even bother asking for a calculation of days this mountain has taken to appear.  The facts ain't pretty.
2) I'm going on a wog...probably with baby and dogs.  No idea what weather I'm in for, but research shows I'm 110% happier when I get some physical activity in my day.
3) I'm going to spend at least 20 minutes crocheting.  Probably the same 20 minutes I spend watching the news before bed?  Likely.

There. Committed. Now you know my plan.
Also, I will make something totally easy and moderately nutritious for dinner. No idea what that is yet...Clearly, something with bacon. ;)

Okay, past my bedtime and then some. Get out there, push buttons, and save the world.

Step Two - There's So Much We Can Do!

Geek level/pride over title reference: high.

Busy weekend: check.  Had a lovely, pearly, girly time with my Phi Mu sisters at Lynn's amazing Pink Carnation Tea on Saturday.  Delicious tea, fabulous hats, fun raffle, and fantastic sisterhood.  When I come home from such an event, I always leave feeling fuller than when I arrived.  Buoyed up by the support of my sisters, and excited for their new challenges and adventures, I feel so fortunate to be part of such a dynamic sisterhood.  Thanks for the laughs, ladies!  Sunday brought more back-and-forth across the metro area.  I whipped out my baking skills and treated my grandma to some Sot Suppe and coffee cake, got the baby to nap during a lengthy car trip, picked up a fantastic passenger (you'd be jealous if I told you who), and N was the best-behaved toddler ever during a nearly 2 hour advisory council meeting in Woodbury.  Good day, indeed.

I'm beginning a challenging internal (occasionally external) cost-benefit analysis over my current position.  I'm supposed to start thinking about whether I want to complete a second year of service.  Props to The Clash for getting to brass tacks on the question I can't yet answer.  My job is educational, great experience, and good exposure.  The one problem: lack of meaningful compensation.  I don't mean to whine, really.  I signed up to be a VISTA and I knew what that'd mean financially...I'm just having a hard time trying to weigh the financial limitations of the position against the plentiful benefits.  Another week or two may flesh some of this out.  Too bad my meeting to discuss this is Tuesday. Eek.

Probably boring you to death, but planned out meals for the week:
M - white chicken chili and cornbread (beans already soaked and cooked)
T - pork roast, cabbage, apples and onions in the crockpot
W - tuna mac 'n' cheese with broccoli
R - beefy spanish rice with peppers and tomatoes
F - fish sticks, carrot and celery sticks, baked apples

Always looking for interesting/dynamic recipes to try, so please share.

I just nodded off, so time to go. Push buttons, save the world...Go!
 

Words: I love 'em

I decided today was the perfect day to start a blog.  Here goes a little bit of something!

I'm home from work/working from home with a sickish little imp, currently slumbering with her buddy bear on the couch.  So sweet and inquisitive, even when she isn't feeling well.
There is a counterfull (a measuring term) of dishes to be washed, not to mention all the other tasks of life built up over the week, but something in me was yearning for a way/place to be heard.  While I may not have all the best words lined up, I do have some potentially useful or amusing stories to tell.  Or maybe I'll post pics of a yummy dinner.  Or my silly monkey-kid.  Or chronicle the lives of my brown and white couch-warmers, Idgie and Bueller.  Or maybe I'll show you the crazy stuff I make when I finally get around to making it.  Haven't figured out what exactly I'm blogging about yet, but let's just say this is me on my quest to be better.  At what?  Everything.  Kinder, healthier, more patient, more creative, more faithful, more inspired, more inspirational...I could go on but I think you get me.

In the meantime, here is a short list of the stuff that makes up our daily family life:
Bumper's first sentence (that we know of, after getting a ponytail hairdo): "I look so pretty now."  She can jump with both feet off the ground, is picking up new words like crazy, and is presently obsessed with the boat in our yard.  More on that later, I'm sure.
Big D is selling bikes, lotsa bikes, and enjoys the lifestyle that goes along with it.  When he's not working, he's really not working and that has been a blessing for all of us.  He has been riding his bike to work pretty often, and is in awesome shape because of it.  He went through his summer clothes and his shorts have to be replaced, as they all completely fell off his body.  It was an amusing runway show ;)
I'm loving my work and enjoying the folks I work with.  Our family schedule has been pretty fun, with dog walks and two family bike rides so far.  Last weekend, I took N to an animal open house at the community nature center, to the best local thrift store (yes, ever), and to multiple parks for lots of climbing and sliding.  I have some artsy craftsy ideas I'm hoping come to fruition soon.  I have been cooking with bouts of energy (homemade, healthy, inspired) and then the inevitable lulls (fish sticks, anyone?).  I was recently honored to receive a nomination for University of St. Thomas School of Law's Alumni Living the Mission Award.  I didn't win, but I sure felt special for being nominated, and had a lovely time at the luncheon catching up with some fantastic folks at UST.

I hope you can gather, my friends, that this life is good.  There are pits and puddles, certainly.  We'll get to those, make some messes, and splash around a bit.  But writing this has really firmed it up in my heart: this life is good.  I appreciate the time you've taken in your day to read up on me.

You can look forward to my adventures in*:
Gardening and composting - Us v. The Raccoons (or coyotes, maybe?)
Cooking (and eating) barley
Finding the right faith community for our family
Sewing a little girl's dress from an old sweater
Lunges - yep, I committed to it online - I mean business!
Finding a professional identity
Thrift store shopping sprees
Chick lit book reviews
Opinionated parenting rants
Stories I enjoyed on NPR
* This list is not meant to be exhaustive.

Hope this finds you well.  Now go push buttons and save the world.