Happiness is in between too little and too much

More and Less

It's Christmastime. I don't really need more of anything material-wise. Being asked what I want makes me think about what I could use more of, though . This is my list of things I would like. It is an eclectic somewhat mordant list to say the least but you all are asking so here it is:

I would like more :

FUN/ THINGS THAT MAKE ME LAUGH

I would like to laugh until I make the wierd kackle noise in my throat and my guts feel like they may explode. I haven't silent laughed in a while. You know ,the kind where you are sure you may pass out if you don't catch your breath and quit convulsing!? I need more of that.

DEPTH

in friendships, my marriage, family relationships, my thoughts and my motives. Moving so quickly from one thing to another leaves me feeling shallow a lot of the time. The shallow end is not for me. You can do much more in the deep end of life.

THINGS THAT SMELL GOOD

HOUSE PLANTS

real ones...that my cats can lick and not die. I love real plants. My friend Amy had a gaggle of plants in her apartment in college. It was a small place but it was so homey because of the life that was crawling and creeping along the coutnertops and windowsills.. good memories.

ADVENTURES

i.e.: road trips, traveling, surprises, endeavors etc.

FREE TIME

mostly to spend with my husband. We both work and he goes to school. The other nights of the week for us are full ususally. Maybe instead of free time I need to make the most of the time I do have? Check!

CULTURE

PLEASE! help! I need something artsy, classy, foreign (not Tequilas) or refined STAT.

OWLS

MY FREE SPIRIT

amidst all the routine and to-do lists my spirit has gotten a bit lost and regimented along the way. I need to free that puppy up and really live. I would like it back, please.

Things I would like less of:

TO DO LISTS

I am a no-lines on the paper kind of girl. Lately my life has been a bit to college ruled and routine. While I do love a good to do list (the house cleaning type, or the grocery list), I don't like a piece of paper or a outlook calendar telling me what to do all of the time.

COLD TOES

my toes are always like ice. I would like to be able to feel them again.

ILL FITTING PANTS

I have pant issues

.

GREY HAIRS

unless they are on Richard Gere- keep them away from me.

Safe and Secure

Maybe... we will see.
We got broken into over Thanksgiving. Which was really annoying to say the least. a. it's just a mean thing to do especially over the holidays and b. we had to end our time up north of Chicago two days early with people we hardly ever get to see. THAT is what got my goat the most.
I've never been a big freaker outer when it comes to feeling safe in this "interesting town" but I have been pretty cautions about being locked up etc. especially when we leave and go out of town. My theory is this: obviously the people who broke in needed our stuff more than we did. Fine. AND if a robber wants in, they'll find a way even if you have pit bulls and dobermans waiting at your door for them. They may lose a leg or something but nevertheless- they will find a way. Many people felt it was their obligation to tell us what we did wrong home security-wise and other wise. My favorite line from someone was "you were asking for it". Nope. I don't think we were so much. ' Gotta love those encouragers. Then, there were some who just wanted to help in any way possible(I appreciate the latter more). While my privacy was invaded and that definitely isn't OK with me, I feel quite peaceful about it all. Things happen. Life lesson learned. We were taken care of by loved ones while we waited for the insurance (which definitely was worth waiting for) so we had much to be thankful for in spite of the annoyance of being broken into. Some people that we would have never suspected, gave to us selflessly. That was really precious. So see, There is a shiny side to every penny. Even if that penny gets stolen from you!
here are some before and after pics of our door.
This is after our friend, Seth, and his dad Mark temporarily fixed it while we were en route from Chicago.

And our new and improved "no, we aren't 'asking for it' " door.

The Official Christmas Photos

These are the pictures that are included on our Christmas cards this year. One is of us on vacation this past summer, the other is of our entire famil. Yes-our cats. Dante and Lola are a part of our family so why wouldn't they be included? They both hated the posing part (as is easy to see in the picture) but admired the finished product.

Until the day we can afford $500 sitting fees with extraordinary photographers our timed self- portraits will do just fine. My photographic visions of grandeur are feebly attempted by my dying cracked camera along with the help of online photo editing. Still, one day..

Also, the photo Christmas greeting card as a whole is getting a bit overdone, I think. I was going through all of my cards from people last year and most of them were the 4x8 photo greetings. As I had mine made this year I wondered, "how many people are really going to keep a picture of us on vacatation along with a double cat photo up on the fridge all year long?"

I think I may abandon this over used trendy tradtion and do something more "us" next year.

Ideas include: sending a.) snowballs in the mail and/or b.) homemade gfits from the cats.

"Tis the season!

Good Decision, Mis

I had recently thought of getting rid of my Fiestaware because the point in having it is to have all the colors to mix and match. Since I have started a certain class my finances have been going to different things other than pieces of fiestaware. Sad but true. I decided along with the motherly advice of my well, mother, that I would regret it if I did sell them and settle for Target pottery plates. (which I used to have too, but I sold them on e-bay during year 2 of our marriage.)

I wish I would have gone with my instinct when I registered for the stuff. I wanted to register for 12 different colors but someone convinced me I needed to have atleast 8 of the same place setting. Different colors just wouldn't do. ARE YOU SERIOUS! 4 years later I am bored as can be with just Cobalt, the most undemanded color in the Fiesta realm. Always listen to your guts.

I love this stuff.

I don't have a favorite color.

Generally I am a pretty natural and muted color type of person but I geuss the mexican in me craves the brightness of these dishes.

I can't get enough of 'em.

So I will just pretend that the dishes and various pieces below are part of my collection for now.

The brightest and best.

l would call this grouping Pink Lemonade or Citrus Sensation.

My future collection

The Vintage stuff is great but full of lead and therefore, brain cancer.

Super cute.

Hoping to inherit someones vintage collection like this one

Well said

If you have anything really valuable to contribute to the world it will come through the expression of your own personality, that single spark of divinity that sets you off and makes you different from every other living creature.
-Bruce Barton

The Apple of My Eye

I'm on a [Pumpkin] roll..

Literally.

Since Monday night pie baking has proven not to be my forte' I have moved on to a pluthera of different baking projects. Pies are still invloved but they aren't my focus anymore. I was often dissapointed at how they turned out and frankly, I just need to feel good about my creative endeavors and not like a faliure so much.

Soooooo....

In the spirit of fall and Thanksgiving with the baking and non-stop eating that accompanies the holiday season- I went a little wild this past Monday.

It all started because cans of pumpkin are not appropraitely measured out. Either the recipe calls for a can and a half or half of a can- always leaving you with left over cans 'o pumpkin. So I started with one recipe and had left over pumpkin so I started another pumpkin project and had to open another can to have enough and so the cycle continued. After making 4 batches of pumpkin flavored goodies I still ended up with half of a 24 ounce can of pumpkin (not to mention my 3 whole pumpkins yet to be cleaned out and seeded).

Below are the things I made. They are all pretty good, if I do say so myself!

John's Veterans Day Punkin Pie

A pumpkin roll for the girls at the office

Pumpkin chocolate chip bread for me, I think:)

Pumpkin bars! (what I like to call: THE BOMB)

Running With the Wind

friend wrote this and sent this to me. I would like to share it with you. Sometimes the wind is against you and it makes life at that time more of a struggle, but the same wind that is against you can shift and come along with you to move you through at an easy pace. The same with emotions…they can come like a stiff wind and it is all you can do to keep running. Those same emotions can then at other times come behind you to make the run an easy journey. The wind is there to strengthen us, it challenges our breathing, our strategy, our very thinking process. If we didn’t run against the wind, we would never strengthen the core muscles of our survival…our lungs. Without breath we would die, without wind we would grow weak, and without running we would stop moving. We need to move, and we need the wind to help us to persist. There comes those times when our emotions that once were so difficult, become our strength. Those emotions come from challenges, frustrations and pain, but in the end build heart, depth and stability. We can run with the wind if we are willing to run against it at ti

Continuum

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-- this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. ~ Ecclesiastes 3

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." ~C.S. Lewis

"The Longer you wait for your future, the shorter it will be."~ Loesje

Into the GrEy

I have recently found a new love...GRAY.

I think it's great...goes with about everything..and I think it is a misunderstood color....usually gloomy and dull rainclouds and gray hairs...I think it adds something out of the ordinary to whatever you are doing, wearing, decorating etc. I am currently trying to have more Gray in my life. Not more dull gloomy things but more of something that is out of the ordinary.

Also I prefer spelling it grEy..it's more sophisticated/European..but really, who am I to speak on sophistication!?

"Shades of grey wherever I go

The more I find out the less that I know

Black and white is how it should be

But shades of grey are the colors I see.”

pics:

http://missyaculpepper.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/into-the-gray-grey/

Fall Loves

These are a few of my favorite things...

Burt's Bees

lip hydration is a must:)

Dried Veggies

awesome snack .. :)

C.O. Bigelow Lavender ANYTHING

Slatkin and Co. Candles..they smell the best-

their winter scents are UH Mazing:)

Chi Tea

Boots and Scarves...LOVE LOVE LOVE...wish I had more of

each but Dave Ramsey says no for now.

This past weekend John and I were blessed enough to be submerged into nature for 36 hours. We spent time with family and friends and got to see the awesomeness of God's creation. I didn't even feel bad about not going to church on Sunday morning because I was still worshipping as I hiked. It was amazing especially since the season is on the verge of change. I love fall. It renewed my appreciation of God's creation and really just soothed me in so many ways. I really don't ever see how people could call everything we have here an accident or say it evolved. Nature is so intricate and stunningly beautiful. It's no accident! While I was born a city girl I find myself becoming more of a nature (not hick!) girl at heart. Everything about it calms me and gives me joy.

Here are some pics of where we were.

We camped at Starved Rock and hiked at Matthieson State Park and Ramsey Recreational Area

http://missyaculpepper.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/ahhh-nature/

Zing!

"If fake is the new trend

I guess everyone is in style"

Sheesh! I heard that today and was like, "Zinggg!" but agreed anyway

Many Are the Plans..

What do you do when suddenly a new desire pops up in your heart. A desire that seems like it is out of nowhere and consequently does NOT fit into your previously planned out life!?

Recently I have had this interest and have been intruiged by the idea of Grad School ie.e :pursuing my masters degree. Since I find myself getting a bit blase' with the everyday ins and outs of work I have been thinking hard about what I want in life. I fear I have underestimated myself up until this point. I usually get scared of faliure and in turn fail to pursue anything I desire. I'd rather desire from a distance than to fail in the pursuit. Pride. I certainly am not 'too good' for my current job or career path but do long for something more. Being bored is not for me. Being challenged by my passions- that's what I like. But I fear I have hindered any challenge because of my fears that life isn't going to end up like I wanted it...it sounds silly when I write it down but has been a reality for as long as I can remember.

So here I am with this new desire...it doesn't replace any 'old' desires but instead has to fit into all of my previous ones. Where does this fit into John being in school, us not being able to afford this, me wanting to eventually have kids and stay at home with them, wanting to move (but where to?) . It's easy to say "things will all work out, they always do" and not to fully believe it. I agree, things have a way of working themselves out but I like foreknowledge. ..exactly HOW? That's the beauty of God being in control I suppose. He knows me better than I know myself. He places desires in my heart and I guess all I can do is pursue them until otherwise directed without knowing the specifics. Finding how all of my life desires fit in with one another is another challenge..work, school, kids, marriage, church, family..I will take them as they come..and try to not pre -plan anything. Things never work out the way I plan. They almost always end up better than I imagined..far better.

And Grad School!? If I am going to pursue this, I need to focus on the GRE first.. I hear it is a beast and no one gets their desired scores the first time. I have test anxiety for test I have to pay to take! And what program!? There are a lot of different ways I could go. I guess I could start studying and schedule myself for the test and then see what happens..if life happens in the meantime, so be it..

Now that I think about it, life is happening now. So be it.

A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

The Coolest Thing I've Seen All Year

obviously I don't get out much but a friend sent this to me today and I was so excited! This place takes kids' drawings and makes them into REAL pictures!

I would have that that was the coolest thing in the world when I was young. I think it is pretty sweet even now!

http://www.yeondoojung.com/artworks_view_wonderland.php?no=88

If It's creative, count me in!

Cruising the web this a.m. I found some tasty,creative things on Etsy.com (one of the best places I waste time and spend money!) My favorite thing to do is "pounce" for new items that are undiscovered:)

I found a couple of these things when I typed the search word 'recycle'. Admist the gum wrapper sculptures and macramé plant hangers these treasures stood out to me. Check it:

Made out of a spoon...called a Serial Spoon...it tells a story. I love stories look at Yipestoo's Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5091712

and this...

And old record made into a sweet bowl! by Chickalookate:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16045 How perfect would a bowl out of my mom's Sound of Music record be?

NEATO!:

A necklace made out of old wallpaper samples- pretty rad, I'd say. Jewelera's Sight: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5610

And of course my ECO find of the day!

reusable eco-friendly dryer sheets. I love the different fabrics they offer and the scent sounds divine!ReFabulous:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5194412 (ReFabulous is a cool name..good job!)

Ode to Rainy Days

Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.
-- John Updike

What Will the Sweeds Think of Next?

I was browsing around some of my fav blogs and found this treasure..and by treasure I mean it's expensive yet awesome..

Your flower pots can have their own little lamp!

"One day when I am rich.."

by Verner Panton Flowerpot Garden Lamps from the Swedish company Dansk Design found on http://blog.addicted2decorating.com- one of my favs.

Our Proud Moment/ Joy in the Meantime

Since a majority of our friends near and far are either becoming pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant or actually having their babies I wanted to write and share our good news with everyone.

After months of waiting to see if our garden would be successful, weeding and watering faithfully everyday we are proud to announce that we picked our first ripe watermelon on Saturday evening! There still is another little guy out in the garden waiting to ripen. It was 10+lbs! We were/ are so proud of ourselves. Gardens are NOT easy to grow so much. You just don't plant the seeds and hope for the best. OH NO! weeding, building supports, readjusting leaves, keeping critters out, watering, misting (yes! there is a difference), debugging...it's a job. BUT WELL WORTH IT. We are now eating not only watermelon but tomatoes(4 different kinds), green peppers, zucchini, snow peas. R.I.P red peppers...they didn't make it.

Anyway, we are glad that we were successful at this and are proud of ourselves and our "harvest". I LOVE growing things and watching them develop. I am an ISFJ after all (meyers-briggs talk).

We took pictures to commemorate these exciting few moments before we sliced into it. After we sliced into it, holy cow! It was one of the sweetest watermelons I've tasted this year.

Serious note (focus) we (John and I) LOVE to nurture and grow things. We both want children greatly however, until our time comes, like I mentioned in the cat post(see below), we find joy in and through other parts of God's creation i.e.: gardening, mentoring kids in our scatter group- other people's children, loving our animals and cherishing our family of 2 until it grows. I find myself sometimes missing out on joys in life because I wish for the next best thing. I am finding that there is so much joy to be had in the "meantime".....and I find great joy in eating watermelon that I helped grow!

We revel in our success as agricultural geniuses!

YAY!

Being silly with the watermelon

He's being extra silly with it!

WeLOVE our watermelon. Its first bath

Then we ate it- score!