Royal Friday!

1.   I am looking forward to      the royal cookout I am attending tonight the baby's room getting painted tomorrow. My baby showers. My baby actually getting here. And a possible little getaway before the Woobie gets here. Basically all things baby.  .

2.  Something kind of embarassing that I still love anyway is    I like rose scented perfume sometimes. That's usually a nana-ish thing.. sort of embarrassing maybe??  .

3.  My favorite car is     the one I have right now- an Endeavor.

4.  If I could pick one type of weather to live with for the rest of my life it would be    the desert in California. It gets oh-so-hot but it's never humid. And the sun is always shining  .

5.  My favorite thing to do after a bad/stressful day is     be alone usually. Sometimes I like to go do something spontaneous. I haven't had a lot of those days lately so I can't really think of what I like to do on those types of days  .

6.  This weekend        I will be starting it off with a nice friend-filled cookout and celebration of the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge and then making my self scarce while John paints the nursery (that probably means I do some baby shopping!)    .

7.  If I were a color, I'd be       light green     because,       it's fresh and it's happy and it makes me think "positive" . 

How sweet was this by the way??

I'm  all about princes and princesses.

This was just precious.

She is beautiful, he is dashing.

It's perfect really :)

A very long post of love

Hi!

I have had such a busy last week and a half.

Last week I went to my home state, Indiana, where I gladly reunited with some of my favorite Hoosiers.

Friends and family abounded and it was soooo good to be loved on the way I was while I was there.

 We had to do two seperate coffee dates to fit in all of the schedules. Oh, how I miss these loves. We REALLY have been through much together. Each time we get back together, it's like no time has passed. It's the best. We have our own way of communication. I don't have to explain things like "hey boss"or "lesbian bubble" (it's not as bad as it sounds!) to them, We speak each other's language fluently :o)

I love where I live now but there is just something missing a lot of times:

My family and my childhood friends.

People who know every detail of who you are and why you are like that and still love the crap out of you anyway, that's rare and it's a treasure.

I think living a bit further away helps me to REALLY value this in my loved ones.

You make the time count.

You love like crazy.

I saw my Father and my stepmom and brother and sisters down south.

(what am I doing with my fingers? Awkward.)

I like to play the game: "Who Got All of the Hispanic Genes?"

I usually win.

Then..

I visited my Nana who is feisty and cute.

I hope I am like that even when I'm older :)

Then...

I visited my Mom and Dad too.

Mom, Christi and I went crib shopping (and other shopping) for my sweet girl.

It was so fun!

We spent 30 minutes trying to rescue a duck who had a hurt foot in the parking lot of the Sam's Club parking lot where he and his wife were dodging trucks and cars.  I was sacrificing my pregnant self in front of F-450's to get them to stop for the ducks. You should have seen us calling every DNR number available hoping some wild animal rescue would pick up and help. Alas, no answer, no help. So we were the Superwomen of the day. With the aid of a fellow animal lover, we wrangled the husband and wife duck up and sent them into flight far away from the parking lot. 

We felt like we had done something great! I would have seriously been the saddest ever if they were stuck in that parking lot. I really would have cried and thought about it for the rest of my life.

THEN....

We ate at fun restaurants.

Bravo! and Serenity Tea Room. LOVED both of those.

We celebrated birthdays and we had a huge family dinner.

Serenity was the best. I really enjoyed it.

Fresh desserts everyday, gourmet everything. Delish!

Best grilled cheese of my life. 

The only one that rivals is at The Fountain on Locust

pretty vintage plates everywhere!

Best tea I ever had..

It was great!

I'm so excited for my Bundle of  Sweet to get here and start these fun things with her.

I'm not by my family but we are creating our own little unit here and I am so excited about it!

My sweet grandparents are still very much in love

Me and Grandma Wilhite. She's feisty too!

(come to think of it all of my grandma's are super feisty!)

Mommy and Christi looking divine for high tea

Daddy and me :)

We celebrated mommy's birthday

(Yes, I still call my mommy "mommy")

I made it into a V for Vicki. I'm so creative!

The funny side of the table.. Mommy, Chris, Bubba (Aunt Patty) and Grandma

It was a great visit. I enjoyed every minute of it. 

In other news:

Things I am excited about

* carpeting and painting Miss Sassafrass' room

* getting the crib put together

* The Royal Wedding on Friday. I'm attending a Royal Wedding party- no big deal.

* The crazy amount of beautiful green that this monsoon of rain is causing. Seriously, nature has never been so green. The rain is good. (Most beg to differ!)

*Our town's one non-gross Chinese restaurant reopened last week and I have been there twice in 2 days. Yep. That's exciting.

* I get a pre-natal massage tomorrow. Hoping sleep will be a bit sweeter after that!

* Last but not least, I will be posting on my other blog SurrenderStory later today. It's a "real" look into my heart. It's heavier than Misinterpretations by far but it's something I am looking forward to getting back into.  Check it out later!

Now, go love on your family! Be thankful if they are near. If they are far, make a phone call or a visit soon to show the love and get loved on!

Smelly but awesome

In efforts to become very aware (not obsessed) about what we are cleaning ourselves and our home with, I thought it would be semi-helpful-very helpful to some if I posted this.

I have loved getting to know the "natural" and organic way to clean my house. John and I have always tried to do what's best for our health and our environment to the best of our ability. It takes some extra work sometimes but usually, it's lots easier and cheaper!

Sometimes this means I have to forgo the favorite smells of clean I remember while growing up. However, the longer I clean "green" the more I realize those so called "clean" smells I remember are really quite toxic.

 There are some very good options as far as both everyday and heavy duty cleaners. You don't have to go bleaching everything in site to clean. (That's a whole different post about how bleach really doesn't do what people think it does..)

 Sacrificing health for a clean look or feeling isn't really worth it. It's worth it to be aware of what is actually in the products you use to clean.  I won't get on a rant or a tangent about toxicity or how most people are poisoning their households with cleaners, soaps etc. I will just encourage you to know what you are using to clean. It doesn't take long to get informed. And while it may seem overhwelming at first, it's worth the education to help with quality of life and health, yes?

Most times a product just infects more than it disinfects for reals.

Some of my favorite brands now are:

Method, Seventh Generation, Melelueca, Mrs. Meyers.

So this brings me to a little recipe my mom used to use.

Recipe:

Vinegar.

Ok it is notoriously smelly but it also is famous for working VERY WELL and are you aware of how stinking cheap it is?!?

Well, it's cheap.

I get my big 'ol bottles of vinegar for like $.75 each. Quite easy on the budget, if I do say so myself.

There are ways you can make it less smelly. Also, the smell dissipated after an hour or so in most cases. I use mine for cleaning windows. I use it in lieu of jet dry in my dishwasher, I also use it to mop floors if they need a good scrub.

I'd rather be sniffing vinegar which is quite harmless than be sniffing my favorite lavender scented potion of death.

Sorry, I said I would get on rants.

The end.

So let's educate

 The Vinegar Institute (yes, there is an actual institute..) says this:

Vinegar can be made from any fruit, or from any material containing sugar.

it's made like so:

Vinegar is made by two distinct biological processes, both the result of the action of harmless microorganisms (yeast and “Acetobacter”) that turn sugars (carbohydrates) into acetic acid.

the first process is:

alcoholic fermentation and occurs when yeasts change natural sugars to alcohol 

the second process:

 acetic, or acid fermentation in which a group of bacteria (called “Acetobacter”) converts the alcohol portion to acid. 

Safe, safe, safe. I wouldn't recomend drinking it though or leaving it out for your baby to play with on a regular basis..

And it will sting your nose a little but it's not going to do a lot of brain cell modification or harm if you sneak a sniff.

So, here are some easy uses for this super cleaner. Try a couple and see how they work. See how you save money and see how your house sparkles :)

1. General Cleaner and Disinfectant

From countertops and windows to bathtubs to hardwood floors, countless household surfaces can be cleaned with vinegar. “You can clean and disinfect just about anything with vinegar and water,” Joy B. shares. And as mother-of-two Katherine C. advises, you can use pure vinegar or a diluted solution, depending on the severity of the dirty situation: “Use vinegar full-strength for tough cleaning jobs and to remove lime or hard water stains, or mix the vinegar with warm water for a milder green cleaner.”

2. Fabric Softener

“I use vinegar in the rinse cycle to remove residue from detergent and to soften clothes,” shares mother-of-five Lori P. “I use 1 to 2 oz depending on load size. And when clothes are dry there is no vinegar scent.” As a natural fabric softener, vinegar is an especially smart choice when a family member has sensitive skin or allergies to dyes and perfumes.

3. Odor Remover

Is a strong scent lingering in your home? Vinegar is a natural odor remover. Ontario mom Jessica G. boils vinegar to remove odor evidence of her wood-burning stove, while Ohio mother-of-five Deborah B. simply sets out a small bowl of vinegar: “Remove lingering tobacco odors by filling a small bowl or saucer with apple cider vinegar and placing it in the room where the odor is…. within a few days your room will smell fresh and clean.”

4. Stain Remover

Whether you’re cleaning carpets or cloth diapers, vinegar is a powerful stain remover. Mother-of-one Toni L. explains: “Put a good amount of baking soda on the stain, then spray/sprinkle some white vinegar over the baking soda. It will go really bubbly and smell very strongly of vinegar. Put in wash and ta-da! Stain gone!”

5. Blemish Treatment

Vinegar is also a simple remedy for curing pimples. As Joanne E. suggests: “To banish blemishes fast combine 1 tsp. salt and 3 Tbs. vinegar in a bowl and dab on pimples using a cotton ball. Let sit 30 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.”

6. Drain Cleaner

Moms like Jodi L. swear by baking soda and vinegar for freshening up kitchen drains: “To keep sink drains clean and odor free I periodically pour baking soda into the drain, then white distilled vinegar. The foaming actions cleans the pipes.”

7. Pots and Pans Cleaner

Why spend 20 minutes scouring off burnt food when vinegar and baking soda can do the work for you? As mother-of-three Sharon G. suggests: “Use vinegar & baking soda for stainless steel pots…Sprinkle the bottoms (inside bottoms) of the pans with baking soda, put on over the heat (stove) pour on vinegar after a minute. This will lift any baked-on crud.”

8. Weed Killer

Vinegar is a helpful tool outside, too. As Vicki H. advises: “Vinegar in a spray bottle kills grass and weeds in sidewalk cracks too...my new fave.”

taken from circleofmoms.com

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE:

Environmental Working Group

Goodguide.com

Guide to less toxic products

Like I said, it can be overwhelming but at least it spurs us on to change. 

Happy and Healthy cleaning!!

The world is a looking-glass..

“The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion.” 

~William Makepeace Thackeray~

A sweet room for a sweet baby

I picked out my baby bedding finally. 

4 months isn't feeling like an eternity at this point.

I feel like the last 5 months have gone too fast, really.

So I picked it out. Well, John made the executive decision really.

I liked too many different styles and so I asked him to narrow them down, one for each style genre ( I know, it sounds like I make it way too difficult..) and then I went back and forth over 3 styles for a while. Most of them were the shabby chic vintage look, which I already have in our bedroom.  

 I need a little help being decisive these days. My already indecisive attitude is on crack lately. Committing to design or decor is hard for me when I am not pregnant. I change my mind often.

 I like to call that being eclectic. It could just be I have issues. Who knows.

Anyway, I have a feeling our girl will be a bright sweetie of a girl.

"Some" say that bright bedding is the worst- it will cause the kid to be too excited at bedtime or nap-time and so you need light, pastel, muted and soothing colors (last time I checked it was dark at night...)

I have read in other books (like my child psychology books, thank you Dr. Grill) that bright is best.

Whatevs.

I didn't even analyze it that much.

I just went with what I liked and John made the final decision.

And a good one it was.

I am excited to make her a little garden room. I don't have any set ideas but I'm sure I will get some inspiration once we start setting her crib up, painting the walls etc.

John was the one who was like, "hurry up and order her stuff so we can decorate already!"

That's cute.

So...here it is:

Yay!

'Hope she likes it :)

Think again

If you think you aren't artistic or don't have the means to be creative, think again!

It's easier than you think..

I was inspired by one of my cards today:

So get going, get your art on!

Mini-rant: If one more person tells me how miserable I am going to be this summer (swollen, hot, sweaty) I might make them miserable now.  I am usually all three of those things anyway when I am a non-pregnant.  I love summer. And baby being born at the end of it, was a specific answer to prayer. Booyah.  End of rant.

1.   Something that makes me a great friend is,    I'm totally copying Lauren's answer. I don't know how else to put it. She said it well:    I am an investor. When I have a friendship I invest time into it. I'll call, text, plan coffee dates... I enjoy my friends and make time for them whenever I can  .

2.  I am    becoming. I am becoming more laid back and relaxed about both the small and the big things in life. I am becoming a mother soon. I am becoming a new creation in Christ, I am becoming somewhat of a crazy list maker, I am becoming more satisfied  but less satisfied all in one    .

3.  I am not    as compassionate as I would like to be    .

4.  If I had to describe myself in 3 words, they would be     hospitable, visionary, eclectic.   .

5.  Something I'm really cheap about is    shoes and purses. Even though my taste is generally far too expensive for this trait, I still am. Unless it sings and dances for me, I don't see the point in spending money on things like that. My style mood changes too frequently to "invest" in those accessories .

6.  Something I'm willing to splurge on is      things for my home i.e.: home improvement, classic decorations that will be "in the family" for a while, antiques   .

7.  I would trade       nothing      for    something free     in a heartbeat.

Fill in the blank yo'self. Go here to play along!

sixty to seventy

I just like this picture.. 

************

#60 a husband who listens and hugs often

#61 my early mornings with John and Lola-Jean

#62 hanging baskets of flowers

#63 "windows down" weather

#64 free baby stuff

#65 friends who call just to encourage and to listen

#66 fun childhood memories experienced through old pictures

#67 surprise baby showers

#68 long walks with friends

#69 laughing 'til my guts ache and my belly bounces

#70 trip anticipation!

As I have been journaling my thankfulness and gifts, I am more inspired and prompted to start blogging again at my other blog Surrender Story.

It's going to get a face-lift first and I am still writing and finding inspiration for things but if you want to follow along with my ongoing journey to surrendering fully in every area of life, please check it out once in a while! It's a place for me to process and work through some things but I hope that it will also be an encouragement to others too.

I will let you know when it's up and running again :)

Follow the list of the many gifts, small and large but all very significant, that God has blessed me with. 

Click HERE!

Project time!

I like to call it "first stage nesting".

I am sort of going project crazy.

I think there are just so many things to be done and squared away before the Sweet One gets here.

So far, here is the checklist:

o   Recover(maybe repaint)glider

o   Paint nursery

o   Carpet nursery (maybe)

o   Buy baby furniture

o   Make baby art

o   Redesign the living room {cheaply!}

o   Sand and repaint my china cabinet

o   Rearrange my bedroom to accommodate Sassafrass’s bassinet

o   Repaint the shutters that were once red and are now  80’s mauve

o   Organize garage sale items and price them

o   Go through 25 years of family pictures and scrapbook them for my parents

ü  Consolidate closets

ü  Install more storage cabinets

ü  Go through baby memorabilia

That’s it for today…

I think all of these things are totally doable by August. If not, then wahtevs.

But, I know once She arrives those things will go to page 500 of my priority list for all of eternity.

Ok, maybe that's a bit extreme. But you get the point, they won't be at the top of my list. I won't even HAVE a list for a long while.

Although, I like to think that I may be quite organized as a first-time mom. We shall see.

So far, here are a couple of little successes:

'Made new pillows for the living room

 that one day will get a facelift

 and obviously, I am a little excited about this fabric from Urban

 that I have had forevah, I'm making everything out of it!

Our recovered piano bench (which took me only 15 minutes!) 

and here is the glider that needs a makeover

got this little gem for free from my friend Danielle!

and praise be that I finally get to sell that heinous rug you see.

 It was a wedding present from one of John's military room-mates. 

I've lived with it for 6 1/2 years and I ready for someone else to experience

 the joy of owning it..

So that's it for now. We will see if my to-do list shrinks anytime soon.

Right now I am off to start organizing 5,000 photos..

Wish me luck!