Hello, Dolly

My friend Karin made S this beautiful woolen dolly affectionately named “Poppy”. Isn’t it cute?! S has been snuggling with Poppy for much of the day. She even fell asleep with her. Thanks, Karin!

Apparently…

…tupper-ware bowls now double as space helmets.

Who knew!

Could Someone Please Tell Me…

…who took THIS BABY…

…and replaced him with THIS LITTLE BOY?:

Saw This in the Paper…

…and decided that the term “homemaker” should officially be changed to this.

All in agreement, say “ay”.

Wordless Wednesday

Our Date

Last month my husband and I went on a lovely date…

…actually, it was more of a weekend getaway at an “all-inclusive resort”.

The grandparents came to our house to babysit.

We loaded our luggage into the car and drove to our destination.

We took a long walk.

I wore a gown.

We had some good talks.

Meals were provided.

The service was impeccable and available to us anytime, at just the push of a button.

We left feeling happy and like we had something new to bring to the family.

You know, as I look back at this description, I can see I left out a few details. Let me start over.

Last month my husband and I went on a lovely date…on March 28.

…actually, it was more of a weekend getaway at an “all-inclusive resort”…also known as “the hospital”.

The grandparents came to our house to babysit…after we called to tell them my water had broken.

We loaded our luggage into the car and drove to our destination.

We took a long walk…through the hospital hallways, an IV pole faithfully accompanying us every step of the way.

I wore a gown…a lovely, modest hospital gown.

We had some good talks…while waiting for contractions to begin.

Meals were provided…at precisely 8, 12 and 5 each day. For me, not M.

The service was impeccable and available to us anytime, at just the push of a button…the button with a big red cross on it, located on the side of my bed.

We left feeling happy and like we had something new to bring to the family…i.e. THIS:

That was a pretty good date, don’t you agree?!

If They Were Gone…

So…have you heard of the 3-50 Project? It’s basically a campaign to encourage people to support local businesses during this rough & yucky economic time. The question it poses is “what 3 local businesses would you miss if they disappeared?”.

The challenge it poses is to support them.

Done.

I like it.

Hearing about it got me thinking about three of my favorite local businesses — all of which happen to be handily located in the same little mall!

Scrapbooks Too — I LOVE this scrapbooking store. It’s small, but well stocked and the service is both personable and impeccable. I can tell from the moment I walk through the doors that they truly value each and every one of their customers. The store’s owner, Sue, is regularly there to greet and help customers. They offer lots of fun deals as well as weekly “crop” nights in the store. Their tables are also always open for anyone who would like to come in to the store to do a little work.

I’d miss them if they were gone.

Quail Ridge — This is an adorable little gift store/boutique full of knick knacks, jewelry, books, candles, clothing, and a wide range of other gifty items. I visited the store yesterday and purchased a lovely little birthday gift for my grandma. When I opened the bag at home, I found a little printed note thanking me for giving them my business even in this tough economic time, and reminding me that they would love to hear feedback from their customers on how they can improve.

I like this, and thus…I’d miss them if they were gone
Frankie’s Pizza — This place is part of our history. While M and I were dating, our dates would often consist of me swinging by Frankie’s and ordering a thin crust pepperoni and pineapple pizza (and perusing Scrapbooks Too while I was waiting for it to bake) and taking it over to M’s place where we would eat it while watching American Idol or Survivor or some other worthless wonderful show worth watching. Seriously — this pizza is gooooood. So good, in fact, that we’ve semi-boycotted the fancy new pizza place that recently opened up the street, out of fear that they would put Frankie’s out of business. The extra good news? We ended up getting married and buying a house in the area — and Frankie’s delivers. Woo-hoo!

I’d REALLY miss them if they were gone.

Now it’s your turn —  I challenge all of you to blog your 3.

Ready…..GO!

Her Very Own Castle

This is where my little sister is living right now:

…sigh…

Baby Jude

Will you please pray with us for baby Jude?

He is a little 9 month old boy I know (actually, I know his grandparents…but I know his mom a little…) who, while at a restaurant the other day, pulled some extremely hot Curry soup onto his lap, and is now in the burn unit…and will be in the burn unit for the next month or so…with severe burns (some possibly even 3rd degree). Please pray for his healing and for his parents, as well. Apparently they are heartbroken…he reaches up to his mommy and she can’t hold him.

Thank you for praying.

New Music

Well, guess what, folk(s). It has happened. I have put my iTunes gift card to use.

My children made it easy for me. You see, apparently they read my blog, because Friday night my hubby came home bearing “thank you mommy” gifts that the kids had bought me. W got me the “Once” soundtrack and S got me an Ingrid  Michaelson CD. Don’t they have great taste? And the fact that I got them in CD form gave me the huge bonus of also receiving the CD packaging. As a designer, the idea of getting music without the artwork to go along with it is a difficult thing to adjust to, and will probably keep me primarily in the CD era for a long time to come…like people who still listen to records (because they don’t want to let go; not because it’s cool to be retro). To me, the CD’s artwork is part of the musical package (figuratively and literally). Before I’d ever listened to Jars of Clay’s first CD, I got a feel for what they were like from the faded blues and greens, the black & white photography and the recycled paper of their CD insert. “Acoustic and organic”, it said to me. And it was.

But I digress.

Anyway, seeing that my children knocked 2 CDs off of my CD “wish list”, my wish list became much shorter. Too short, actually, as it only left 1 CD that I could think of that I wanted. Then I watched a movie yesterday that reminded me I’d wanted it’s soundtrack, so…problem solved!

In case you Regardless of whether or not you are interested, here is  the music I purchased  with my gift card:

• “The Story” by Brandi Carlile

• “The Dan in Real Life” soundtrack (which is mostly music by a guy named Sondre Lerche). I like this movie alot, and I love it’s soundtrack.

• “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop” by Landon Pigg. I bet you think you’ve never heard this song. Think again. Do these lyrics ring a bell? “I think that possibly/maybe I’m falling for you“…yes folks, I purchased that song from the diamonds are forever commercial. I am not ashamed.