For nearly two weeks I've been so overwhelmingly busy I haven't been able to write blogs, read blogs, discover new blogs, or anything. It's amazing how out of the loop I feel. The blog community has become a small, yet significant part of my life, and I really miss it when I have to stay away.  

There are a few reasons for my short hiatus: Landon gave me his nasty flu-bug and I couldn't shake it for nearly 3 weeks, I have a new challenge/commitment ahead of me that I've been preparing for (more on this to come soon), I actually got to do a bit of work with a former colleague, I've been crafting (I know, gasp!) and then just the everyday occurrences and relationships. Not to mention, L's naps are getting shorter giving me barely enough time to eat my lunch and get the house straightened up before he's awake again. I'm going to have to find a new window of time in my day to write posts. 

It's was incredibly fun working with my former colleague and good friend this past week. Just a small project, but it felt great to exercise that part of my mind once again. I really love not working and being home with Landon, but I do worry about losing my edge. I'm afraid I'll head back into the workforce ten years from now (or sooner) and be completely lost - everything I once knew obsolete and irrelevant in our fact-changing society. But when I look back on the past few years I realize God has been taking care of me all along. I've had four editing jobs land in my lap since transferring to stay-at-home-motherhood. The jobs haven't been paid, but they've allowed me to continue to hone my skills and stay just a tiny bit involved in the industry. It's been just enough too; because although I've enjoyed the work it's hard to juggle home, kids, husband and job. I greatly admire women who do it regularly.

Maybe at some point I'll return to work, but if I do I'm certain of one thing: it's my house that's going to suffer, because there is no way I'm missing out on precious moments with this little dude. They are flying by way to fast as it is!

Awesome/Awkward

My friend Jessica (Jess - if i knew how to link you from my iphone I totally would!) sometimes does these AWESOME posts called awesome/awkward. They are hilarious.

The other day at Trader Joes I saw something that just screamed Awesome/Awkward so I'm going to be totally Awkward and rip off her idea (which I believe she may have stolen from someone else, so now it's a tend, which is awesome.)

AWESOME: Trader Joes now does cheese samples! So not only do I get a mini cup of coffee and a small snack while shopping but now Landon and I get a cheese chunk too. Yippee

AWKWARD: Last time I was at the cheese tray of freebies I noticed an average looking, middle-aged woman loading a napkin with cheese samples and sneaking them into her purse. Odd but possibly understandable. It was really good cheese. Ten minutes later I find her in the parking lot in the car next to me feeding the dozen plus cats in her backseat!!!! Waaaayyy awkward.


In other news I've taken to wearing leg warmers recently. Awesome or awkward? You tell me.

Sugary Sweet

Anyone else on absolute sugar overload from the holidays? Maybe it's just me and my pregnant belly but this year felt particularly indulgent, and we still have loads of sweets in our pantry. At one point RJ casually mentioned, "I think we should put the Sees candy box up higher because Landon seems to be getting into it." Yeeaaahhhh, that's definitely Landon's doing alright...
 
I am actually sick of sugar, candy, ice cream, cookies and cakes. Yet, I still find myself eating it once  twice  up to three times a day! The probablem with sugar is once you start you just can't stop. The white stuff is addictive.

Having pregnancy as an excuse you would think I would just embrace 9 months of indulgence, but I actually feel quite guilty. At this point of my pregnancy whatever I eat the little dude both eats and tastes, and he is enjoying way too many sweets for one so young.

And he's not the only young lad who has been spoiled recently. A certain two year old seems to think that lolipops and snickerdoodles make up their own food group.

Quitting sugar cold-turkey is hard and honestly unrealistic for me and my family. We like our sweets. But we need to cut back and make them a special occurrence rather than the norm. During her 30 days of clean eating my friend Erin raved about a bunch of vegan, low/no sugar dessert recipes over at Chocolate Covered Katie. I remember thinking those sounded cool and then promptly heading to the kitchen for my second piece of marshmallow fudge.

I forgot about the healthy dessert blog until it popped up on Pinterest the other day and I decided to check it out. That gal Katie is a chocolate-covered vegan genius. The desserts on her blog look amazing and most of them are chalk full of healthy ingredients. This afternoon I was craving my usual after lunch dessert so I whipped-up some of this:

Cookie Dough Dip

Dip that tastes like cookie dough. Seriously. So. Good. I ate it on a graham cracker and my sugar craving was completely satisfied.

There is sugar in the recipe but way less than regular cookie dough. Plus, no raw eggs (yay for this preggers gal) and no butter. The fat comes from healthy almond butter and I added flax seed for an extra nutritional kick. The main ingredient: garbanzo beans. Basically it's chocolate chip hummus. Don't gag - I know it sounds really weird but it is surprisingly delicious. (I will be completely honest- if you think about eating garbanzo beans while chowing down you can taste them just the littlest bit, but if you didn't know you would never be able to tell.)


I am so excited to offer this to Landon for dessert tonight. I just know he's going to love it and I'm going to be silently chuckling watching him eat a big serving of beans and nuts while thinking I'm the best Mom in the whole wide world for allowing him dessert.

Weekend Update

It has been mellow weekend. Landon had a 102 degree temperature on Friday so we've kept close to home. Lots of puzzles, movies, stickers and hot "tea".

Poor little sicky was complaining of feeling cold Saturday afternoon despite his sweats and socks. Knowing I love a warm cuppa when chilled I thought he might enjoy his first brew. I dunked a peppermint teabag in warm water for two seconds, added lots of milk and a heaping teaspoon of honey. The little man loved his warm beverage and kept cupping his hands around the mug and saying, "mmmmm hot tea. mmmmmm" between sips. Pretty much the cutest boy ever.

What to do with all your Christmas cards

I got this idea from a book about family traditions that Shirley Dobson published at least 15 years ago. I'm not sure if it's still in print but you can find used copies on amazon. The images are completely cheesy and out of date but the content is still relevant and useful.

Anyway, I've mentioned in the past that I love keeping the Christmas cards we receive each year. I keep them all together and enjoy going back and seeing how our family & friends have grown and changed over the years. But this year we are going to put the cards into good use before stuffing them away.

RJ decided that Landon is old enough now to follow and participate in nightly family devotions. Along with our devotional stories are are going to pull one Christmas card per week and commit to praying for that family each evening. I think I'll take it one step further and place the weekly family on our frige so we are committed to praying for them whenever we see their smiling faces. I'm hoping this activity not only blesses our friends but teaches Landon the importance of praying for others.

Welcome Twenty-Twelve

Image from This Is Glamorous 

I don't think I've staying up to ring in the New Year since 2001.

I just value my sleep more than most normal twenty-nine year olds.

But I do love the first of the year:

Fresh starts, new lists, past reflections, exciting possibilities on the horizon...

I just know 2012 is going to be a good one for our family:

-our little dude is scheduled to arrive

-I'll be turning 30! 

- another year to watch Landon grow and develop

- and, although I'm not counting on it, possibly a Referral from Ethiopia???

My prayer is that this will be a year of growth for our little family.

That we will fall more in love with God, each other and our community.

And keeping with my past traditions I've mulled over a new 

list of goals.

- I have 5 specific people I am committing to prayer for the entire year. They don't know I'm praying for them and I'm incredibly excited to see God work in their lives. Of course, I'll be praying for other people, as well as my family, but I feel that God wants me to specifically focus on these 5 during 2012.

- Write (almost) everyday; either on my blog or in my journal. I love to write. It's a great outlet but lately I've found myself slipping away from it. I know it will be more difficult to commit when #2 arrives but I want to try. 

- Keep my house clean/organized. I have an amazing iphone app called Motivated Moms. It gives me a daily list of chores to do. Everything from dailies such as wiping down the kitchen sink to those pesky once or twice a year duties that always seem to get ignored. I used it for about 3 straight months last year and it was amazing. I'm excited to get back on track.

- Sew something for the baby. This has been on my goals list for the past few years and just hasn't happened yet. This year is the year. I can feel my creative juices flowing already.

- Accessorize. My closest and drawers are filled with such fun accessories that I buy and never wear. I want to get in the habit of choosing at least one thing - be it earrings or a scarf- to keep my outfits fun.

- Because this year I am committing to buying fewer clothes. I have a bit of a cheap clothes addiction (target, f21, etc.) For the most part these "tiny" purchases are just a waste of money. I want to be a better steward of our finances. Plus, I honestly think grown women look so much classier when wearing just a few nice staple pieces rather than five-hundred layers of cheap threads. Believe me, Target tees still have a place in my closet - it's just getting smaller.

- And finally, bake a Julia Child's french dessert. Something decadent and fancy

How about you - any goals for 2012?

Oh, and if you are cleaning up the Holiday decor today I urge you to hold off on tossing the Christmas cards you've recieved. i have a great idea for them that I'll share soon.