2009 December | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for December 2009 – Page 2

Preparation

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

By Beth

Which is totally okay. Brian, the kids and I decided to pack up at the last minute on Friday and drive down to Kentucky to be with my sister. Just in case.

We’ve had a very busy weekend which has included lots of walking and shopping but not so much sleeping. We stayed in a hotel and I’m not going to lie to you, staying in hotel room with my kids is about the sweetest thing in the world and I swear I could do it much more often than I do. I love watching them drift to sleep, it’s such a treat. The problem was that I couldn’t sleep, my mind raced, my legs ached and the baby moved around so much in my belly that I thought it was going to dance right out of me.

I loved it.

Sarah is being induced in the morning – Brian and the kids are now back at home, my Mom and I are here, ready to support my sister as she labors and delivers her third baby.

Today, we prepare and shop even more.

baby blankets

in the hospital bag

{I can’t wait to find out the gender!}

books

before 3

I purchased the yarn for this blanket and one of my best friends, Stephanie knitted it for my sister. It’s so, so special.

blanket - made by Stephanie

Just like tomorrow is going to be.
_____

{follow us on twitter as she labors tomorrow! Sarah on twitter and me on twitter!}

Categories: Family

Friday morning coffee.

Friday, December 18th, 2009

By Beth

I’m sitting on my couch, drinking coffee. I just finished a bowl of cocoa puffs. I can never decide which is better, the actual cocoa puffs or the chocolate milk it leaves behind.

I’ve tried generic cocoa puffs and they’re just not the same. So, if it’s on sale, I buy the real thing.

I’m not sure what’s on my plate today. I have cleaning and shopping to do but I’m pretty sure my sister is in early labor, her body is trying hard to evacuate her baby from the premises but her baby is holding on for dear life.

He or she is very comfortable. And I’m pretty sure that her baby has been playing and whispering and laughing with James and Jake during this time and they all just don’t want their time to end together. So bittersweet. So unbelievably beautiful.

Yesterday I had a woman who works at my salon, who I do not know, come up to me and start rubbing my belly, like all over it. She closed her eyes and made predictions like “it’s a boy and it’s very healthy.” Meanwhile, she would moan lightly in between her words. The whole time I’m doing my best not to start tapping her on the forehead while saying “THIS IS MY SPACE, CRAZY LADY.“ I could not believe how she was violating me and she was!

She then said “oh, your husband has dark hair!“ and I said “Nope! He doesn’t.” and I walked (RAN) away.

It was weird…really weird.

I love baby attention, like, A LOT, but this? Was so wrong. So, here’s a little piece of advice for you…don’t do that to anyone, k?

I love being pregnant, this pregnancy in particular has been so magical for me. Tomorrow I turn 25 weeks which completely blows my mind. I still feel like I’m ten weeks pregnant and that people don’t know that I’m pregnant, the other day a stranger started asking Brian about my pregnancy and I thought “wow, I can’t believe she can tell I’m pregnant!” I told Brian my thoughts and he thought I was a little crazy. Because this baby belly of mine? It’s a big one.

Which is okay with me.

I can’t believe Christmas is just one week away. I am so excited. No matter how crazy the week ahead is going to be, and I’m hoping not TOO crazy, I love the magic that my kids are starting to feel right now. Magic that they’ll hold onto for the rest of their lives and share with their children.

These traditions and these moments are so important, so I’m going to try to take each step slowly and calmly and remember that even if nothing goes as planned, there is joy in every moment.

…the baby kicking in my belly, my kids talking quietly to each other about their day at school, my husband coming home from work and seeking me out to give me a kiss, the quiet moments at night as the kids are sleeping, the tree lighting the room, are my JOY this holiday season.

I have so much joy.

Santa visit 2009

Categories: Family, Holidays, Pregnancy

You Capture – Holiday Decor

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

By Beth

If you’re new to You Capture, welcome! You Capture is a great place for anyone interested in photography to start focusing a little more with a different assignment each week. It’s so much fun. Anyone can join!

This week’s You Capture was Holiday Decor, I hope you had fun capturing the holiday festivities that surround you!

One of the shots I captured was of the cookies I made. I promise you, when I make cookies during Christmas, it feels like decor. Know what I mean?

This is one of my favorite recipes – and this link takes you to a recipe to make SEVEN dozen of these bad boys.

peanut butter blossoms

Last night we took the kids to see Santa, I love this shot, it’s SOOC (straight out of camera) and those are not my kids. I’m just the creepy lady who takes pictures of random people. Nice to meet you.

holidays

And here’s my kids walking towards Santa. They’re all like “hey Santa, how YOU doin’?”

hey santa, what's up.

On my mantle – a different angle.

berries

On my porch -

snowflake

and also on my porch. When the Kmart design team was over, the Chief Home Design officer encouraged me to put this shelf on my porch, it had been all dusty in my office. It’s funny because during the summer I almost sold it at my garage sale for three dollars, but now that it’s outside…I LOVE IT.

And you may notice that I only have one bird, that’s because one broke in October but I don’t want to talk about it.

outside decor

Now it’s your turn! Please remember to READ THE RULES for linking up!

Click here for the rules!

next-week2

I have decided to take next week of from You Capture but here’s the thing, you should still take out your cameras because on December 30th we’ll be sharing TWO WEEKS worth of captures. What’s the challenge? YOUR HOLIDAY.

Don’t forget to take pictures of your loved ones! HAPPY HOLIDAYS, FRIENDS.

(and Happy Capturing!)

Categories: Holidays, you capture.

Handmade for the Holidays – so easy. Promise.

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

By Beth

Today we are going to make peppermint bark which pretty much tastes like heaven…in a tin. And what makes this recipe even more heavenly is that it’s so simple.

I’m serious, just try it, you’ll see.

This makes a great gift for a neighbor or perhaps a postal worker! You will need a double boiler for this. Remember, if you do not have a double boiler, you can just put a metal bowl over a pot of boiling water. But be careful, this is hot stuff!

What you’ll need:

peppermint bark

2 lbs of white chocolate baking chocolate (OH YEAH, BABY.)
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
12 large candy canes

Before you do anything, start to boil that water and then take out a large cookie sheet (one with sides) and cover with wax paper. Then unwrap the white chocolate and the candy canes, this is by far the most difficult part of the recipe. (which says A LOT.)

white chocolate

Cut up the white chocolate into 1/2 inch squares, this make the melting process go faster.

Chop up your candy canes. Now, the size depends on your preference. Some people prefer larger pieces, others prefer smaller. I prefer smaller. I put all of the candy canes into a 1 gallon zip lock bag before crushing which keeps candy canes from flying all over the kitchen.

Add your white chocolate to the top part of the boiler, once the water is boiling, and begin stirring. Once smooth, add a 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract and stir thoroughly.

Then add your crushed candy canes.

pouring

Stir, stir, stir and then pour directly onto the wax paper covered cookie sheet. But WAIT, before you pour, grab a towel and carefully (it’s hot, man!) wipe off the bottom of the pot or metal pan to avoid water dripping into your recipe.

Spread evenly.

pour

Chill for about thirty minutes. Take out of freezer and break apart, placing the beautiful pieces into a cookie tin, on a plate or directly into your mouth.

mmmmm……

finished

Store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to one week.

ENJOY!

Categories: Handmade for the Holidays, handmade inspired, Holidays

Christmas Tour of Homes 2009

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

By Beth

Hi friends! It’s that time of year again to take you on a holiday tour of my home. This year’s Tour of Homes is hosted by The Nester. Do me a favor and do not look at her house before you look at mine because, well, you know…SHE’S THE NESTER.

I thought about going through my archives to find the tours I have done for the past three years but that requires so much clicking and well, more clicking. I’m not that ambitious. (Perhaps later.)

So, let’s get started, k?

Would you like some coffee or perhaps some hot chocolate? I have truffles and peppermint bark in the fridge. (yes, friends, the peppermint bark tutorial is coming tomorrow!) Please, help yourself.

This is our tree. I suppose it would make sense for me to act like I held the camera in such a way and that the tree only looks like it’s leaning except that would not be truthful. The tree is leaning. I don’t know why. I do not care.

Christmas Tour of Homes 3

Our little fireplace with our four (and a half) stockings.

Christmas Tour of Homes 2

Christmas Tour of Homes 1

Everybody needs mistletoe. (maybe even year round?)

Christmas Tour of HOmes 6

The Nativity.

Christmas Tour of Homes 4

The outdoors. (a snippet, at least.) I would show you the whole house except I had just changed into my pajamas when I remembered to take photos so you know, it’s cold out and I have no bra on and also I don’t want to be the crazy, weird neighbor who takes photos of her house at night in her pajamas.

Just a stigma I’m trying to avoid. So, I stayed on the porch.

Christmas Tour of Homes 5

This wreath reads “blessings.”

Christmas Tour of Homes 7

Can you smell it? Man I love Christmas candles.

Christmas Tour of Homes 9

And finally. WE ARE BELIEVING.

Christmas Tour of Homes 8

I hope you enjoyed this simple tour – I am wishing you and your family a very, very Happy Holiday! And thank you to so many of you, for blessing me everyday with just your presence on this blog. Wishing you only the best.

(Click to see more tours)

Categories: Bloggityville, Holidays

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