whatever

wowza!

well.... how awesome are you?

i was not sure i could meet my goal of 50 stoves...$1000.

and as of NOW we have raised $4230 and sponsored 211 stoves.

THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!

 

let's keep this momentum going! 

:)

we have five more days.... let's hit $5000!!!!!  i bet we can!!

thank you to everyone who gave so far!
the adventure project thinks you are so cool. 

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this fake commercial was on Saturday Night Live last week.
i thought it was very funny....

 

also The Lumineers were on!!!!
they were so so SO goooooooood!
did you see it?
you should go over here and watch  and then watch this one too!
they are pretty dreamy to listen to. 

 

i meant to have my craft weekend post up and ready today.
but it's not gonna happen.
i have been so busy....very happily busy... all good stuff.

how about some instagrams from the past week-ish?  

annie loves to go to the thrift store with me.
i told her she could pick one thing only..... i wish she would have chosen that couch!
instead we came home with that valentines bear from 2006.
i know it's 2006 because that is what is on the bear's foot.

my favorite mug.


kimberlee's coffee cake....it was totally delicious.


many monrings look like this over here.


i went back to the mall last week and the gold shoes
that were completely covered in gold glitter were 70% off!  
score. 

annie shouted "MOM pleeeeeease can i get one of these?! They are only $39.99!!"

only???

 

ran five miles by myself.... well, me and the avett brothers and mumford & sons.


tulips.
they are so nice on the eyes.


talby found these in the bathroom and wanted to know WHY? 
Why do we have them? Whose are they? What are they for? Where did they come from?

(they are a mold of craig's teeth...fascinating right?)

a vase of dr.seussy flowers were sunny and nice during this FREEZING week we have had.
 

so cold.
going running in this cold weather is quite something.
frozen thighs no matter how far we go.
but the reward will be endurance when the weather improves.... right?
i hope so.

i love this breakfast.
cutie...greek yogurt... granola... coffee with LOTS of half & half.


cleaning at the craft house is always pretty decent because it's all so pretty to see.


i steal my husband's socks for cold running.... they are just better.


on friday we did our run and then gathered at my friend's house and helped her prepare 25 meals for her freezer as a birthday gift to her.  :)
the gift was helping it get accomplished.
she is super organized so we did what we were told and it all worked out great!
that is my favorite way to cook... "just tell me what to do"

i chopped and chopped and chopped.


then i put together calzones.
it was a lot of work but so worth it!  it's a GENIUS way to cook meals.


saturday morning i snuck in some time under a blanket with coffee and my book.
the sun came up and became too much for me sit there anymore.
but i will take that sunshine anytime!

i took sean to his basketball tournament for the day... just the two of us.
he had three games and i really enjoyed it all.
it has been SO MUCH fun to watch my kids improve in their sports this year.


after sean's three games we went to scott's game at our old high school gym!
it was very surreal to be there as a grown up... as a parent... of a HIGH SCHOOLER?!
so weird.
and lots of the same people sitting or standing in the same place they did when i was in high school?!!

i am reading The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out.  

it's wordy but so far it's reeeeeally good.

"for grace proclaims the awesome truth that all is gift"

sunday night swimming.... yes please.
craig and sean spent almost the whole time wrestling.
why do boys do that so much?

talby organized all annie's babies for her so annie had to feed them all before going to bed herself.


and this morning.... we ran 6.17 miles in 17 degrees.
it was HARD.
but it's done. THANK GOODNESS!


then we met AGAIN but this time at the craft house and we made freezer to crock pot meals!
we made 6 recipes all together and bagged them in freezer ziploc bags!
awesome.

touching all that raw meat all day was kinda gross but i think we will all happily eat it.

i will definitely blog the recipes we tried and show more pics of that soon!
i honestly can't wait to do it again!

and now i am stinkin' tired.

i am going to bed.

 

thanks again for the stove sponsors!!!

you are RAD!

if you haven't given yet and you want to... CLICK HERE  and it will tell you how.
it couldn't be easier.

 

it's a good monday.

i slept until noon today.
i did get up from 6:45 to 7:30 to see my kids off to school but then straight back to bed.
sleep is a good thing.

craft weekend was pretty excellent this past weekend.



lindsey and joy came as helpers and were nothing less than amazing at that job.

we did not plan our wardrobe... we just happened to all match perfectly!

wendy came too!!  (blurry picture is better than no picture? maybe ;)

she took a bajillion photos for us doing all the things we do at Craft Weekend and i got to spend time with her which was super happy for me.  

i hope you loved being here as much as i loved having you here wendy!
maybe you should ditch your world tour and just come to craft weekend every month???
there will be cinnamon rolls.... 

i know you are tempted.

 

kimberlee pampered us all with food that tastes so much better than anything i could ever make.

and our crafty guests were awesome.
so kind.
so happy.
so lovely.
such a treat to have them and get to create alongside them.

tulips are so cheerful in the freezing cold of january.
 

we made a really cool painting!!



and these were the treasures i brought home from the antique store on saturday.
a quilt...some vintage trims... salt shakers for holding tiny craft supplies...sugar shakers for twine...and a pencil sharpener for the craft house because we are always looking for pencils!

i can't wait to share about the actual weekend.
and tell you about our awesome sponsors we had this month.
it was just a really great time.

now... i guess i have to go run off the cheesecake & cinnamon rolls i stuffed myself with this weekend.
or at least i should go.
but... i would have to get out of my jammies.
and it is 25 degrees out.

we'll see what happens....

 

happy monday to you! 

 

God is good.

the shootings in Newtown were devastating.
it's horrible.
it's heartbreaking.
it is evil.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Lord continue to be with all the families affected by this tragedy.

 

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my friend pam is getting better and her girls are getting better too.
their health is improving.

i am praising God for that this week!
i have absolutely LOVED the amazingness of the internet and cell phones this week.
she and i can "talk" fairly easily ACROSS THE WORLD!
getting an email from Pam is cause for stopping what i am doing and reading it.
i love to hear from her.

 

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this is my "GET IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT" week.
i am determined to get it.
i will bake.  i will pray.  i will sing.  i will craft.  i will shop.  i will wrap.  i will plan.  i will BE MERRY.

there will be kids craft posts all week long!

i have five days to finish.
oy.

how are you doing on your christmas attitude?  
are you having a hard time like me remembering that christmas is about jesus, not schedulues, gifts & decorating?

i am trying. 

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thankful for so many little details in my life this weekend....candle light dinner with the kids...creativity...healthy legs to run...those faces...kids who eat peanut butter like crazy...sleeping in LATE...cuddling with waffle...basketball games...silly moments like shoulder rides and running barefoot in the parking lot.

 

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who says she can't be a lefty after all.
she drew the whole picture with a pencil first and then colored it all in...with her left hand!!

 

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talby and i put together some Blessing Bags yesterday.
she said "this is so nice to do for people! this makes me feel good."
exactly.
she was reading my mind. 
i look forward to her being able to pass them out.
we are keeping them in our car so we can be sure to have them when we need them.

read about how to make your own blessing bags HERE.   

 

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this morning....

super foggy.....ran with friends in 24 degrees....breakfast - i love those! ....annie bought an AG with her own money and it arrived today. she is going to be SO excited after school!!

 

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    I am joining The Adventure Project again this holiday to help in Haiti, Africa and India....

                                           

                    

 

     

   Go over to The Adventure Project to see HOW you can can be a part of this amazing tribe!!

 

 

hello...i am still here.

well i kind of just disappeared.

my week just sucked the life out of me.
annie was sick & throwing up with the flu...with her broken arm....so sad to watch.

then she went in for her real cast after she had been so sick.
she was still weak and queasy.
it was a craaaazy appointment.
long story short.... she passed out for a moment....and there was a lot of screaming.
talk about stress!!!
that 30 minute appointment took me days to recover from.

 
she chose KU colors for her cast and it looks so fun.
but honestly she is SICK of the cast already and i am for her.
it is so exhausting doing anything because she is right handed.
i just hurt for her not being able to be her spunky self.

but it will pass... it's temporary.



i focused on my husband for the evening and surprised him with pumpkin pie with homemade pie crust.
sometimes you just need to snuggle in with your man and eat something yummy like that to make the day feel okay.
am i right?

teenagers can be hard and emotional and confusing...but still wonderful.
jr highers can be too.
i just want to raise them with out them making any mistakes that they will regret forever. 
i realize that is not possible.
everyone makes mistakes.  
and sometimes they are big.... and sometimes they aren't and we have to deal with figuring out which is which.

and that is HARD to deal with day in and day out.
especially when there is puking and broken bones and LIFE going on at the same time.

 

all week what kept me going...kept me from crawling under my covers, drawing the blinds and crying was

"saturday is coming".



my girlfriends and i ran the Jingle Bell Run again this year.
we dressed up a little more than last year.
and it wasn't AS killer as last year (but it was still hard for me)
it's a four mile run.  

and when we run a race we have a tradition of starbucks and massage afterward.
so we did.

oh mama.

going for massage is one of the best ways to spend some time.
ever.
it's just so good.

 

time away with friends is refreshing.
good to get a new perspective on things....getting to talk out loud with grown ups about anything... sharing dreams... encouraging others dreams... shop... laugh... eat.... it's all so good.

it makes weeks like this feel okay.
like i'm gonna be alright.

:)

 

ok......

winner for the MPIX.com canvas:

Nanette said...

Right now it is a picture of my 3 boys on the 4th of July...from 2 years ago when my youngest still had rolls of baby fat under his navy blue shortalls...all waving flags, smiling and hugging. It has been front and center on my entry way table for the last few years and always makes me smile and remember how fast they grow!

ReplyDecember 01, 2012 at 09:13 AM

 

 

and the TWO winners for the Lisa Leonard gift certificates:

Melissa Hermon said...

My mom's wedding ring. She passed away 11 yrs ago and it is such a great reminder of her.

ReplyNovember 30, 2012 at 10:53 AM

AND

Naomi said...

My most meaningful piece of jewellery is a necklace my parents gave me, with my grandfather's nickname for me stamped on to it.

ReplyNovember 29, 2012 at 12:11 PM

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email me your info and i will hook you up with your prizes!!

 

 

NYC....last one

people have asked me about the apartment we rented.
craft weekend alum Karen lives IN new york city and gave us SO MUCH help with ideas of where to stay and what to do and where to eat!
she rocked.
she shared this blog post with me and that is how we ended up with vrbo.com.
we stayed on stanton st.
it was nice enough and safe enough.
it wasn't fancy.
but it worked great for us to have some space and room to sit around and talk.
 i am a bit of a hotel snob and missed my bed being made for me.
but other than that it was perfect.
memories were made with our friends....lots of nervous laughter when we arrived.
using vrbo you are never 100% sure of what you are going to get.
but it's always worked out great for us. 

we rode all over new york on those double decker tourist buses.
it was cheaper than cabs and we learned as we rode.
one tour guide had the best thick new york accent that it felt like he was faking it....but it was REAL.
also i got MUCH less motion sick on the top of the bus too.
bonus.
the first day was so hot i thought i might die...but after that day it was fine.
:)
and i am still alive.



that is cool and artsy....but also....very weird.
she looks like the costume lady on the incredibles.... (oh you've gotten fat!) 

dave convinced me it would be cool to rent bikes and ride through central park.
once we got out of traffic it was fun.
i always visualize bad headlines like "mother of 5 killed by a tour bus while riding a rented bicycle in NYC"
i was very worried at first...but it turned out to be great!
thankful it was only two hours though because i had a very tiny bike seat for my not very tiny real seat.

on instagram i said "name every movie with this fountain"
there were a lot of comments.
this is one very famous fountain.

 






the dude in the spandex was doing yoga...alone in central park.
i can promise you that is something you will NEVER see me doing.
yoga alone in a public park in spandex.
nope.



we headed over to 30 Rock because Dave had scored tickets to Jimmy Fallon!!
jimmy fallon and letterman tickets are through an email process that happens months before the show.
dave worked hard for this trip.


it was AWESOME.
we are BIG jimmy fallon fans.
his guests were matt lauer and mike tyson!!
i thought this hour was the best part of our trip.
and... jimmy touched my hand.
i haven't showered since.
ha.
it was SO MUCH FUN!


practically twins.
but mine is way cuter.
when i cut craig's hair he always says "just give me the matt lauer" 

jenny dressed to match our NBC studio day!

i kept my eyes open for liz lemon all day long... i saw nothing.
blerg! 

we went to the top of the Rock.
amazing isn't it?
all week i felt like i was walking around in a movie set.



our last day was filled with more rain....bleck.
but we were troopers.
girls shoes just aren't good for rain.
especially if you are trying to look cute.




we hugged goodbye at Penn Station and went to different airports home to our kids.

 

i spotted corbin bersen across from me at the airport and texted jenny every thing he was doing.
he's eating soup.
he put on glasses.
he is on his laptop.
now he is having a lollipop.

poor corbs.

at least i didn't go bug him to his face right?

but now that i see this....i really wish i had gone over and said "hey man...we were LITERALLY just talking about you over breakfast this morning!"

because we were!!

how bizarre and random is that?
we talked about all the shows we watched growing up...starting with brady bunch all the way out to dallas, falcon crest and then later in life... LA LAW.
and there he is!
crazy.

but...i stalked him instead.
what a dweeb i am.

new york was good.
it was overwhelming.
it is a busy, loud, full, crowded place but it's also a LOT of fun.
i never get enough time with jenny now matter if it's a week or a weekend.
i love spending time with them no matter where we are.

but i loved getting back to my kids too.
i really did miss them.
and my VERY quiet little farm.

so... have you been to NYC?
do you want to go?
where are you headed next... where is your next trip?

 

 

NYC...continued

i am not planner....i don't like to be the one who makes the schedules.
i don't like to be the one who decides what everyone will be doing.
on trips or in groups i tend to just go with the flow.
or at least i try.
so the only thing i think i said besides "i want starbucks" when deciding where to go
was "i would love to see Fishs Eddy in real life.

i got my wish. 

i was in love at first sight.



major hot burning passionate love.

i loved EVERYTHING in here.




this picture is overexposed but those mugs look like notebook paper!!!
(if only they weren't 12 oz. mugs...i need a big mug)


for reals...vintage linens just like at the barn in kansas!
i prefer my barn prices to fishs eddy.  
:)




a million milk glass cake stands.


sour apple green hutch?
fabulous.

i loved every detail in this store.
every display piece.
every hand painted sign.
every dish and cup and tea towel.


i could have easily spent another hour here.
EASILY!
but of the four of us....i was the only one freaking out on the inside about how
completely amazing and REDONKULOUS this store was so i bought a t-shirt and we left.

i did not want to.

also i said "i'm going into anthro..." when i found it.






we don't have many fire escapes in kansas....















 we walked to the 9/11 Memorial.



it was very quiet in here....right in the middle of the city.
the waterfalls and pools are so big.

i can't imagine what it was like for people in New York City on 9/11.
i looked around and was trying to comprehend it....
all i could think was "i hate that day"
i was far away from new york and i hate that day for me.
i was so scared for my children and my husband.
so i just can't imagine how the people of new york feel.
the people who saw it with their own eyes...who lost family and friends....
i hate that day.



the memorial is beautiful.
it is a lovely place to honor the people who lost their lives.
but it's sickening that it has to be there at all.
evil.
evil in this fallen world.
but i was thankful for that beautiful quiet place.

we took a ferry boat to the statue of liberty.



she's lovely... just like i thought.



storms were rolling in.


after the statue of liberty we also took a tour of Ellis Island. 
and it poured rain outside.
POURED.

i did not stay dry.

and i didn't stay very chipper about it either.....

i am a girl.

i don't like to get rained on. 

we ate dinner in Little Italy.
it was so weird...they hassle you to get you to come eat at their restaurant?!
begging you to come in...try THEIR food....whadda ya lookin' for tonight folks?
with heavy new york accents.
 we chose the ONE place that didn't do that.
and it was yummy. 

one more new york post tomorrow.

:)