Beach Fun

This past Saturday, the temps were cooler (the high was only 80) and we decided to head off to South Padre for some fun. What we didn't think about was the fact that since it was so "cold," we'd pretty much have the entire place to ourselves. That is, unless, we stayed in town - it was Biker Week ("Roar By The Shore"). The kids enjoyed seeing all the bikes as we drove through, but had waaay more fun playing in the water...

Withdraw much?

I am an introvert. Now some people that know me might laugh at that statement, but it is absolutely true. After waitressing through high school and college, then working in Human Resources, I have learned to deal with people - but it is draining. Yet another reason this move has been difficult for me. I need time alone, and even when I am with other folks, I really prefer a group of 3-4 as opposed to party mode.

The Flourishing Mother linked to this article, and I found myself nodding mmm hmmm-ing a lot as I read it (although I think my "humor bone" is pretty well developed :). Good stuff.

And now I'm off to MOPS, as an exercise in developing a new inner circle.

More Crafty Home Stuff

Yes, this time I'm posting something that *I* made - you can read more about it here if you'd like.

I've been busy this week - gotten quite a bit done around this house, including trying out a wall color in the laundry hallway (it's a keeper!), spray painting miscellaneous small items, and setting out gourds and such to make it feel more fall-like despite the 90 degree temps.

And just in case my stories of domestic bliss are making you rethink stuff in your own abode, then head over to The Nesting Place, where she's doing a month-long series on Beautifying Your Nest :) Good - and cheap - ideas abound!

Friday Funny

Doesn't get any simpler than that! :)

Some Seriously Cute Shoes

I am definitely a craft geek. I've sewn, glued, and painted my way through all sorts of projects (although I'm mostly into stamping these days) - but I must admit that I haven't played all that much with Mod Podge. That may be changing soon.

I discovered "Oops! I Craft My Pants" (and on a side note, every time I even think about that name I just start giggling :) last month, and she generally features a Mod Podge project each week... Last week was this amazing pair of shoes - and now she's giving away a custom pair!!

I think these would make even my giant clodhoppers look pretty stinkin' cute. And here's a link so you can take a shot at winning your own!

Etsy Love

As we've settled into this house, the bare walls have irritated me. Larger house means more space to fill, and I wanted to find some good stuff. Off to etsy! I purchased the fabulous coffee print from Life Verse Designs, and it now hangs in my kitchen, adjacent to the dining area. The next two pics are from Cherie Lester Photography, and they're by the table (opposite the door you see in the background on the first photo).

I also wanted to address the empty space under the built-in cooktop. The folks at Vinyl Lettering were great to work with, and created this custom sized scrollymabobber (yes, that's a technical term). Won't it look great?!

Well, I'm sure it would if the cabinets had been properly primed and painted... Let's just say I'm really thankful that it was another shade of white paint under there.

On a side note - we're hoping to revamp the kitchen in about 2 years. It's not a great layout, and we'd like to knock out a wall and open it up into the dining area. Plus I can then replace the badly painted cabinets (complete with their faux aging that simply makes them look dirty...)

Book Review - Intimate Conversations

I had the privilege of reviewing Intimate Conversations, the new book from Alicia Britt Chole, which also happens to be the MOPS theme devotional for 2009. When I received it, I thumbed through, reading a few random sentences. And I was hooked. Even in a cursory perusal, I was thinking about my life - and my relationship with my Savior - differently. I liked the way the book was summarized over at christianbook.com: All women need strong relationships but the one that most often gets neglected in the busyness of the day is God himself. In Intimate Conversations, you'll find an encouraging God whose grace does not stop with our imperfection or exhaustion. Amen!

The book is broken out into 12 "Dear God..." sections, and each has 4 or 5 devotionals - perfect to work through in a week. They each open with a little story, and include a key verse and questions for pondering/journaling. They're quick to read, but provide plenty of food for thought, and made me want to dig deeper into my Bible. The "Dear God... I Feel So Unproductive" section really spoke to my heart, and I think it will resonate with stay-at-home moms. A few of my favorite quotes:

• Abundance may make us feel more productive, but perhaps emptiness has greater power to strengthen our souls. (Ps 1:3)
• Anonymous seasons afford us the opportunity to establish God as our souls' true point of reference if we resist underestimating how he treasures our hiddenness and take the time to decide whose attention and acceptance really matters in our lives. (Col 3:3)

The book ends with "Dear God... Grant Me Wisdom For This Journey" and the final lesson reminds us to enjoy the journey - for "Life is not about the scenery. Life is all about the Company. God is with us. And his presence is enough."

I can tell you that I am looking forward to reading this again at a more leisurely pace. And I'm definitely going to be checking out her other writings.

Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group