Will you be my chauffeur?

Am I the only one who sometimes wishes it wasn't rude to ask my husband if I could please just ride along in the back seat?  I mean, just look at this woman and how comfortable she is!  That could be me!  All I would need to do is put on my swaggest evening wear (who am I kidding) and climb in.  Hubby would only have to drive and listen to music without me changing it up on him (boys are too fond of rock in my opinion...give it a rest lads).  Of course, it does help if one's backseat is the size of a swimming pool (refer to photo above for swimming pool/backseat comparison).  Ours isn't bad at all, and is in fact, one of the reasons we settled on the model of SUV we did.  When company comes a'callin' I am forever relegated to the back, middle seat of the vehicle due to my compact size (completely unfair, logic notwithstanding).  I figured, if I am destined to be wedged between friends and loved ones, we better have a mode of transportation that allows for comfort in such situations.  There was one point in the vehicle testing and speculating that I waited until no one was looking and laid my body down between the back seats and the front seats on the floor, just to make sure if I fell, I wouldn't get stuck.  I know...it doesn't make sense and would never happen, but you can never be too prepared, right?  I should have planned that experiment better and done so in a floor length gown, faux fur coat, and satin heels.  Again, you can never be too prepared.



A Woman Amidst Men

Some women believe it is better, or easier attempt to fit in with the men that surround them in the workplace.  I find, however, having found myself in the workplace, that it is far better to embrace one's femininity and stand apart, different, special.  All women are special, no matter if we are in the safety of our homes, or standing amidst the masculine crowd of commerce.  I've noticed that a more natural order is restored when we do not try to fight our given cleverness, our usefulness to men, as women.

Favorite Christmas Songs

Of course we're doing this thing old school.  The first reminds me of my dad; he actually has this in vinyl from when he was a little one.  My dad's record collection borders on EPIC and I don't think he even realizes it.  Mom, if you are reading this, make sure the record player is hooked up for Christmas and we'll show my husband how it's done.  Gene Autry followed by John Denver? :)

 

Is there an app for that?

It seems like there's an app for almost anything you can think of these days.  I have apps that would make men blush...we'll it an interactive calendar.  *ahem*  I've got an app for organizing prayer lists, apps with literally over a hundred books...

...but still nothing that helps me vacuum...or clean the vacuum.

Blood, sweat, and tears will always get the job done, no matter how far technology comes.

Style Sunday

I do some of my deepest thinking wearing white gloves.  Don't you?

Feminine Ideal

I find it fascinating how the feminine ideal evolves over time.  Just look at the woman in the picture above.   Her demeanor is so quiet and pleasant and her beauty unobstructed by bells and baubles.  I long to be like that woman, but often times I am struck by the want for sparkle and shine. 

Titus 2: 12

"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world"

There's Nothing Like...

Chatting it up with your girlfriends. :)  

Bows, Flowers, and other Girly Things

Wow, I really wish I could pull off a giant flower attached to the bodice of my dress!  

Does it say, "Come, dance with me brave suitor!" 

...or does it say, "This flower has to speak on my behalf because it is the extent of my depth and personality?"

I prefer to think it would lead to dancing.

Viva la Cha Cha flower loving gals!

A Mirror

Most of the time I pass by a mirror, I try to scoot along without catching any more than a glimpse of myself.

  

...but then there is that sacred time under the dark cloak of morning, when lit by those irritating luminescent bulbs, I plaster over every pore and enhance my natural color, playing up the best feature God gave me (such as they are), and for those 10 minutes, I allow myself to pass inspection.  I reflect upon my body with as much happiness as I can muster, and all the thankfulness in the world, that any complaint I might venture to lodge against the way I am created, is small and petty.

For that, I feel blessed by ten small minutes and a mirror.

Style Sunday

Style Sunday!

Smelling the Roses

There is nothing better than taking a couple minutes out of the day to notice the beauty in the world around you.  Even if there is only one flower blooming, just pretend it's blooming only for you!

The TV

I was listening to a radio program and two of the men on the show were talking about "regulating" television programming and movie content for the sake of children.  But instead of thinking this was the responsibility of the parents, they were talking about the government intervening and regulating the people creating the TV shows and movies.  I found myself getting a little riled up.  They went on to say, "Well, if as a parent, you stopped to instruct your children against doing things you saw on TV, all you'd ever do is be pausing the television."  Excuse me, but maybe you ought to think about what you're putting into your eyes and heart then if it's that concerning that you feel you have to instruct your children against it.  There are plenty of "wholesome" programs and movies out there.  I fail to understand the logic of giving up.  Just make a choice, make a change, and embrace right whenever the spirit tells you something is wrong.  Turn away, turn the channel, and be happier and less vexed for it.

End rant.

Time, You Scoundrel!

That is all I have to say.

Proper Footwear

I saw this photo of screen actress Virginia Grey exercising (pilates?) in heels and couldn't resist posting it.

I don't know about you all, but I usually just put on a pair of tennis shoes. :)

Lovely Hair

I am one of those girls that loves a good hair style, but hates actually styling one's hair.  I am convinced that if I could muster the self-confidence to rock sleeping with a head-full of curlers, I would appear done up each day because it's such an easy thing to do.  Also, I don't really think most modern hair styles are actually "styles".  They are just cuts.  We've turned into hippies.  Not really.  But I do think it's nice to  make an effort to some degree.  It's possible, even when wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, to look nice.

Busy Hands

With our wedding behind us, it seems I will have some free time on my hands and I hate to just sit around, so I am thinking of ways to keep myself busy.  I tried knitting and for whatever reason, the muscle memory never quite developed.  I am handy enough at cross stitching, but there are only so many things one can stitch into decoration.  So, next up is sewing.  We received the most lovely wedding gift from a friend of ours, a quilt that includes personal photographs of the two of us throughout the years and her handiwork has inspired me to try a bit of sewing.  Sewing is such a useful hobby.  So useful, in fact, that it's more than a hobby really, it's a noble pursuit.  So sayeth the woman who hasn't sewn before.

Pray for me! :)

An Organized Kitchen

My current kitchen is short on storage space (in my estimation), and because my hobby life is limited to the passion I have for food and cooking, I maxed out every square inch of cabinet and drawer space.  There is even some spill over into the laundry room, something that causes me great discomfort to accept.  So this weekend, because I can do anything I want (it's my birthday on Saturday), I will be picking up some organizational items and really having a go at making my kitchen space work for me.  

A couple items on my list that I already know I'll need:

A very simple spice rack.

A drawer insert for my catch all kitchen gadget drawer.

Shelves to use so I don't stack my Pyrex and Corningware 5 containers high.

But the key to maintaining organization is to plan better, when I'm putting together my meal plans for the week so I don't end up with a stuffed to the brim refrigerator as well. :)

Happy Organizing!

Welcome Guests

It's so nice to have a welcome house guest...enough to motivate one to try their hand at cake pops.  Too bad they were very unimpressive looking, otherwise I would have posted a photo or two. 

Here's to small acts of service! 

*cheers*

Style Sunday

Thinking these days....

...of having children and being a mom, what it means to parent a child.  And am filled with squishy, lovey, warm feelings.  And maybe a little bit of fear, only where the laboring is concerned.  Anything worth having takes hard work.  Amen!