this stuff is garbage

It makes my lips burn. And more dry. And then they crack. And I get sad.

Don’t buy it.

will you take the pledge?

On Jumping Tandem there is an option to take the pledge to say only nice things to yourself for 21 days. I’m in, are you?

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travel essentials (that I forgot last time I traveled)

We went out of town a few weeks ago and I packed horribly. We had too much going on during the week and I wasn’t able to give packing the time it deserved (packing for myself and two small girlies takes a lot of time).

So some things I forgot that I wished I hadn’t:

Uggs:

Yes, I know. Uggs aren’t really fashionable. Or cute. But they are functional. And my feet were freezing cold all weekend. I could probably wear socks instead but I hate socks. I prefer bare feet and uggs are meant to be worn without socks. As soon as I got home I slipped them on and I instantly felt better. I wear them like slippers – in the car, around the house, to take the dog out. And I’ve had them since we lived in Connecticut (2003) and they still look brand new.

Aquaphor:

I put a thick(ish) layer of this on my lips every night. I always forget it when we travel though! And the dry hotel air and the dry Minnesota air do not make it any better. My lips were aching when I got home.

Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream:

My skin is typically not dry at all but as we switch to winter it gets to needing some more moisture. Add the dry hotel and dry air from the example above and I really need something. This stuff is amazing. I need almost nothing to get my cheeks from feeling dry and tight to smooth and glowing. I love the light scent and I love that the ingredients are good things to be putting on my skin. I’ve recently fell for the Rejuvenating Mask after seeing it on Jora’s blog and it would be another fabulous item to have on vacation.

My Pillow:

(image from potterybarn.com don’t those pillows look lovely)

I never remember my own pillow and I always regret it. There is nothing better than your own pillow to help you fall asleep in a strange place. As long as we are driving (which me most always do when we travel), I should be bringing my pillow (and the girlies’).

Two other things I don’t have pictures for:

:new toys for the kids – I always forget to do this unless we are flying (and it’s because I worry about other people on the plane) but I really need to try to remember.  new toys will make the trip so much better.  Even if it’s just $10 from Target (of stuff that they would play with anyway).  I am going to try to remember to tuck away some birthday and Christmas presents with this idea in mind.

:Fresh fruit – the only way the kids (and adults) get any fruit in them on vacation is if we bring it.  Sure there are places like McDonalds who have an apple option with kids meals now, but it isn’t always the case.  Or they could be out like they were when we ate there on our last trip.  Fresh fruit is so nice to have for snacks too.

Whew, thanks for sticking with me if you did!!  What are your travel essentials?

a rambling post.

From this post on Nectar & Light I came across a new to-me blog. It’s called Happy Lady Eats and is all kinds of fabulous.

I have been struggling lately. I want to run and exercise because I love to feel my body move. Not to lose weight. But to feel good. In the head I mean. But I can’t get to that point. My whole life exercise has been about losing weight. It has been about getting to a certain weight. Getting the body to look a certain way. Fitting in to a certain size. Not that I have ever exercised consistently.

But now I want to exercise to feel good. And I want to eat well. Like I want to enjoy every piece of food that comes across my lips. Not just enjoy it but love it. Savor it. I want to eat like it’s my last meal. But not overeat. Just real food. Good food. Stuff that is not made by men but by the earth.

So now I am here. I read a great article the other day about finding exercise you love. Because it makes you feel good. And because it puts you in nature. Not because you think running stairs 200 times will give you any certain shaped bum. And I think to myself? Is there any form of exercise I love like that?

So what is the point? I don’t know. That’s why I called this rambling up above. Have you found exercise you love only because you love it and not because you want to lose weight? Or look a certain way? Do share.

today

Casting on (super secret, can’t give details, sorry). I never understood when people said their yarn is yummy. This yarn is yummy. So squishy and stretchy and thick and it just feels great in my hands:

Finally, finally framing some things around here:

Loving the wreath my mom made for our front door (isn’t it beautiful?):

Anticipating watching more of this tonight. Please tell me you’ve not seen it? Because if you have seen I will be forever asking you why you never told me about it. I’m totally loving it.

And sitting back and loving, enjoying, and taking in the love that was given to us this weekend. We had a small (un)birthday party for Cora. No gifts. No fuss. Just come and have fun and spend time together. And some of our very favorite people came (some of our very favorite were missing too). We enjoyed the time spent with people we love. If anyone that was here reads the blog I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, we are so grateful to have you all in our lives.

Monday best of last week: link style

How I wish I could sign up for this retreat next spring. Instead we will be here (which is still a pretty fantastic place to be, I will admit that much).

Handmade tissue paper bunting instructions.

I love these dream pillows (found via Shivaya Naturals).

Really want to make Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa after seeing a link to the recipe on LobotoMe.

The anti-fast food diet on Zen Habits.

Flu Prevention on LobotoMEe.

quitting facebook something to think about.

A fantastic interview on Progressive Pioneer of the two lovely ladies behind Sugar City Journal.

Passport Cover Tutorial on Whip Up.

Some new blogs to love on Darling Dexter.

winding down

I love the evening routine. I take the girls upstairs and the husband makes snack. I run the bath water warm. And full. Not a completely full tub. I mean, it’s a claw-foot. But about half full (or half empty I suppose, depending on your perspective) which equals about chest high on little ones. The warm water cleanses them. Both literally as they do get themselves pretty dirty these days. But metaphorically, if you will, it cleanses the day. Calms them, warms them, readies their little bodies and minds and hearts for a time to rest.

The husband brings snack upstairs and takes one girlie to get jammies. All wrapped up in a hooded towel and smelling of the soap we’ve used since birth makes me think there isn’t anything much better in this life. I take the other girlie and both are dressed quickly to keep the warmth in their bodies in the cool evening air.

Milk with honey and cinnamon/sugar is drank, quickly, and toast with butter and honey is eaten up almost as fast. All that is left is a cinnamon and sugar coated cup with a straw and bread crusts on polka-dot plates little hands don’t want to eat.

Clothes are picked for tomorrow. Teeth are brushed.  Each girlie picks a book and we cuddle to read. A candle is lit and everyone on his/her knees to kneel and pray. The familiar sign of the cross, that even the littlest of us knows how to do, and the more familiar words “Now I lay me….” spoken by the four year old. Her sweet voice brings such joy to my heart, to share in this prayer, to share this time.

One last trip to the potty. A bit of rocking in the old, wooden rocking chair. And everyone is tucked in. Blankets spread across little girl bodies. Babies tucked into arms. Kisses on cheeks. Love sprinkled throughout.

It has taken us awhile to get here. The idea of a routine was always something we wanted to do. And we fumbled about trying different things. Rushing, rushing, like a lot of things in life. I like to think we are doing better now. So much of this is so because of this book but also I like to think we are coming into our own a bit.  I like to think we are trusting what we need to give and what the girlies need to receive.

It’s not always perfect.  It’s rarely perfect but it’s our idea of perfection in that we are giving and giving what is needed.  And what is important.  And I love the evening routine.  I try to cherish this time because if there is one thing I have learned as a parent it is that nothing will remain for long, everything is changing, they are constantly growing.  So we must, must, must cherish the times we have with them now.  It is all over in the blink of an eye.

Cora’s Fashion

I think we have entered new terroritory with this four year-old business.  Ok, so in the manner of totally honesty, these were taken a few weeks ago.  But all of the sudden Cora has a definite idea of what she wants to wear (this part is nothing new) and the combinations are getting a little more fun (this is the new part).

Before she would never let me put her in anything too cute.  Nothing with bows and nothing that made people look at her.  Lately though she is changing all that.  A few weeks ago we were getting ready for church and she got herself dressed.  She put on white knee-high socks, pink snow boots (it had snowed), a navy blue and white polka-dot skirt, and a white t’shirt will all different colors of polka-dots (that somehow didn’t seem to go with the skirt).  She looked adorable though.

Another example of her cuteness:

pink/white striped overall dress/skirt thing with a purple/brown striped shirt underneath

(excuse the laundry in the background please)

And she found the old baby clips that I used in their hair and she has taken a liking to wearing many of them at once. This time there were only three in each side. Other times have been about 20 all around the head.

making marriage work

I love (love!) this list on Jumping Tandem about how to make a marriage work. My favorite point? Keep your relationships in order. God first, spouse second, children third. It’s a must read.

napkins

We only use cloth napkins.  It started out as me being cheap.  I got so sick of buying new paper napkins over and over.  And over.  So I decided to not buy any more.  And to buy a set of cloth napkins.

I found some on clearance somewhere (probably Cost Plus, which we no longer have). And then my mom found me more on clearance somewhere. And I’ve never looked back.

I don’t iron them (which I think really bothers some people in my life, but I’m happy so whatevs). But I do love them. I think people come over for dinner and are kind of shocked. They expect cloth napkins to be fancy. And fancy is furthest away from what we are. But I still love them.

Do you cloth napkin? Do you iron them?