Blessings to you

Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friends! I pray that you have a peaceful holiday and that you are able to remember all the things in your life in which to be grateful.

Le petit bal perdu

Have you seen this? Love it.

Harvest Swap

It's swap time again! I love swap time. Carrie and Monica are such nice hostesses. (See link below).

This is what I received in my swap box, from Anne Marie of Married to the Empire. I couldn't have been happier with my little treasure.

I'm pretty sure all the swappers have blogs, so it's fun to get to know a knew friend through their posts. Anne Marie had posted her hand stamped journals and sculpy clay ornaments and I was a little jealous. So imagine how happy I was to receive them in my package!

My pumpkin sits in a place of honor on my mantel and my daughter and I had the pumpkin spice coffee this morning for breakfast and it was DEE-lish. I'm going back to World Market to get a big bag of that stuff. My tea towels will make my Thanksgiving kitchen look all pretty, too. And I'm sure to get lots of holiday ideas from my magazine.

Thank you, Anne Marie! I hope you like your box, too. It was so much fun to be introduced to you this way and I look forward to continuing our bloggy friendship.

For more swap sights, go here.

Excuse me while I brag a bit

Today was an awards ceremony at the elementary school.

My girls have done me proud.

My youngest daughter scared me when I first sent her to school in Kindergarten. She was a lover, but she was often contrary and bossy and her first instinct was to growl rather than smile.

So, it is with pleasure and joy that I tell you, only three short years later, that she was given an award for creativity, good behavior and perfect attendance.

My next daughter never gave me a moment's doubt about her ability in school, but I did have moments of concern about her nature to be so task oriented. She was always friendly and easy-going but she would spend hours on work that would take another kid 30 minutes to complete. And it showed. Her work is often superior because she is a hard worker and she is just naturally academically inclined.

It did not surprise me one bit that she brought home an academic award today for getting straight A's this first quarter.

But even better, she came home with the Compassion award, for being sensitive and showing love for others.

My heart is overflowing.

Sixteen Years

I don't know how it happened, but my baby girl is sweet sixteen today.

I tease her that she really, really, rrrriiillllly hurt. But then I remind her that she is so worth it.

This girl of mine... she is independent, tough, sweet, silly, stubborn, loving, cute, gorgeous, crazy and mostly just wholly indescribable.

I'm so happy that she is a part of my family. I'm so lucky to get to watch her change from a baby, to a girl who would only wear clothes from the boy's section (FOR THREE YEARS!) to this girly-girl, athlete, totally great person.

I'm so proud of her and so in love with her. I hope she feels it. I think she does.

Thank you, God, for the blessing of my daughter.

New to me

Okay, before you think I'm some sick-o, I should tell you that I always have a camera in my purse, and I don't usually take it out in the bathroom.

But I found this interesing.

Pee up, poo down.

One of the buildings for the organization where I work is a 'Green Building'. Non-toxic paint and carpeting, environmentally good products, special toilets. Very special toilets that give you a choice.

Of course, I work in the old building. But that's okay. I get to visit the new one every now and then.

And when I do, I always use the loo while I'm there.

Weekend Observations

Two days of non-stop candy eating will make one very puffy, indeed.

There is an addictive quality to candy that I don't understand. After the first couple of little bars they don't even taste good anymore. However, if they are there, I will continue to eat them. This means that all candy will leave our house today. Either by means of consumption (not by me, for heaven's sake) or by the garbage bin. We cannot have it in the house anymore.

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Window Cleaner DOES NOT WORK. It is streaky and leaves a haze on whatever it is sprayed on. Don't like it.


I like going to church. But, I don't like going to a church where I don't know anyone. However, in order to find a church you have to church hunt and attend places where no one knows you. Don't like it. I look forward to finding a church home soon.

If you work out of the home all week, and then take off Saturday from actually working in your home, Sunday is no longer a day to look forward to.

One can never take a day off of laundry. It's just a fact of life.

I like having pajama day. Get up, take a walk, come home to shower and then put pajamas right back on. Very cozy.

I might do the pajama thing again today, after church (where we don't know anyone). But I will keep the laundry going while lounging. :)

Throwing away the carved, rotting, pumpkins is an icky job.

It's a new month! Welcome, November.

Happy Halloween

I ate too much candy. And that's all I have to say about that.

Things I'm learning

My new job is a little scary. I'll be okay, but there is a lot to cram in this head of mine. I just need to give myself a break. No one expects me to know everything quite yet, so why do I think I must?

I'm going to see some sad things because of the nature of the type of business I'm working in. Even though I'm mostly in the administrative side of things, I like to think that what I do will be a benefit to someone in a significant way.

I need to go a little easier on the caffeine.

Keeping my cool will help others keep theirs.

I need to take my breaks even though I feel like I might not get something done. A walk around the block is just the right thing to do sometimes.

I need to consistently get eight hours sleep, with one night of longer sleep and a weekend nap.

People tell me that one day everything will just 'click' and then my job will become easier. I am choosing to believe them.

I actually prefer to eat lunch by myself, but it would probably be beneficial to eat in the breakroom every now and again.

I won't always be the new person. Yay!

I'm smarter than I think I am. I think this job is going to allow me to use skills and grow in ways that will be good for me.

I like to wear skirts to work.

Deep breathing really does work. So does prayer.

Don't slouch. It hurts after a while.

Soccer tunnels and other stuff

I love it when the boys team makes a tunnel for the girls team after a good game.

This is our cat, Dusty Hazel. She helps with the homework by sitting on it.

I love how the girls make a tunnel for the boys, too. They usually get more participants.

I love it when little kids pull other little kids around.

I'm over the colored tights thing. I have been browsing pictures and unless you are under 25 and 6 ft tall, they just don't look good on a person.

Today was my second day at work. I am surviving. The person who is vacating the position is brilliant and I'm glad she will be around for awhile so I can pick her brain before she leaves to get married.

This is my pumpkin. Cute, eh?

She is amazing. She is fierce. She scares the pants off of keepers all over the Puget Sound area. She has scored 10 goals so far this year. Like I said... Amazing.

A question about tights

Photo from Target.com

I've got them in black.

I've got them in brown.

Can I have them in colors? Is that allowed? If I promise my skirt will be much longer than this one? Is it business appropriate?

And, of course... the most dreaded questions. Am I too old? Am I too, gulp, fat?

What do you think? Do you wear them? Are they gross and I'm just too charmed by the bright, cheery colors to notice? Maybe it's because I am a child of the 80's and they bring back good memories.

So, bring it on. I can handle it. Love 'em or hate 'em?

Pumpkin fun on a Sunday afternoon

When it rains, it pours

I've had two more calls for job interviews, after a couple of months of nothing!

I know I've made a good decision with accepting this offer, though. I can just feel it.

I dropped the kids off at school today and did my first dry run, to see how long it takes me to get from school to the office. Thirteen minutes. I made a wrong turn, so I think it's probably more like 12 minutes.

I need to arrive at work at the same time my kids need to arrive at school, so they are going to have to be dropped off a tad early. There is a safe place for them to wait with the other early birds, so I'm not too concerned about it, other than the chore of actually getting the kids out the door at the right time.

We will need an extra measure of morning grace and good cheer. And coffee.

Confidential to Linny D.

Sing it with me, now

I got a jo-ob, I got a jo-ob, I gotta jo-ob!!!

Yay. I am very excited. I start next week.

This is what I looked like after I calmed down.

This is what I looked like when I missed the call the first time and had to call back to see if they were hiring me or letting me down easy.

Also, that's the face I made when I saw all the laundry on the table behind me. Better get crackin' and get the house in order before my first day!

Funny how a deadline will produce productivity.

Thank you, friends, for your encouragment and prayers. Thank you, God!

Interview Insecurities

I had a pretty good interview today. Of course, you never know that you're the one they want until you get the call.

I'm rethinking my interview wardrobe choices. I had the librarian thing going on. Black tights, Mary Janes, skirt, cardigan.

The candidates before and after me were in full on business gear.

It was hard to know. It's an office position, but it's for a non-profit agency. Oh well. I won't stress over it.

I also have another interview tomorrow with a big company. I took a tour of the building today and the peans were all wearing jeans and t-shirts, but the management had on suits. I think I will try to strike a happy medium.

I didn't get a job last week for which I was very qualified, but I told them some of the things I was concerned about should I get the position and it turns out they were very valid concerns because they were the reasons I didn't get offered the job. The employer was very nice and told me he was thankful that I was honest in the interview as they would not wanted to have hired me and then have me leave in a month because I wasn't suited for the job, but he did forward my name to another department where I might be a better fit. So I consider that a successful interview even if it didn't end in my employment.

I have to take a small break from the gifts. There will still be 29 of them. Just not daily. There's just too much going on right now, but I will remain thoughtful about the gift giving so as to not miss an opportunity.

Oh, friends. How I hate job hunting. But I'm glad the phone has started to ring, so I am thankful.

4/29

Thank you, Kaylen, for asking about the recipe.

Today was a busy day and I was having trouble coming up with something to give away. So, since you asked, I will give away my best cookie recipe.

1 1/3 C. Butter (I used part butter and part margarine)
1 C. Sugar
1 C. Brown Sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla

In a separate bowl combine

3 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Mix it all together and put in a whole bag of chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for 9-11 minutes. Don't let them get too brown. They are supposed to be a soft cookie. They should look firm but not really change color.

This is really an excellent recipe. I think the high fat content makes them popular. :(

Have fun! If you make them, be sure to pop back over and tell me what you think.

Oven update!

It seems that the flame should be only blue with white tips, while our flame has high yellow tips.

We need to reduce the gas intake in order to regulate the flame as well as get rid of the smell when the oven is on.

So, we are waiting on a call from the propane company to tell us how to accomplish this, or have them come and do it.

In the mean time, I'm not using the stove and the baking was done with wide open windows!

Thanks for checking in, Erin!

3/29

Yummy gifts for my elementary girls' teachers.

This recipe made a little over three dozen. With the gifts and the warm cookie eating, there are only four left in the jar. All the kids took extra to school in their lunches, too.

I may have to make another batch.

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In the job hunt news: I am officially a clerical substitute for two school districts. I just have to go get my fingerprints taken (at the cost of $75.00!!!) and then I can start work. The pay stinks but at least it's something. I'll keep looking for a permanent gig while I sub.

I had to have my picture taken for badges. They are always so unattractive.

What's up for today:

Go for a walk

Catch up on laundry

Figure out why this post is centering itself

Figure out tomorrow's gift

General house work

Go to son's soccer game

Work on the spiritual condition of my heart

Take over the world

Not bad for a day's work, eh?

2/29

Twice Baked Potatoes. A gift for my daughter.

She loves 'em. And I hardly ever make them because, although they are easy to prepare, they take a long time and there are so many steps.

I forgot to take a picture of the finished product, but they were yummy. And the girl was very grateful.

This gift made me feel like a really good mom.