Friday Listing

I hope you all are doing well out in your corners of the world.  Me, I'm listing.  Literally, figuratively, metaphorically (is that the same as figuratively?), all of the listing.  I'm beat today, even though I went to bed pretty close to 9:30 last night.  It defies explanation.  I even took off Duke-a-loop's collar so that I wouldn't hate him so much in the middle of the night (scratching=jangling=wide awake Mariah=hateful feelings=rehoming...).

But anyhow, I've made it through my 8 AM class, and still, still, no one has fallen asleep.  There were some audible yawns today, which leads me to believe that perhaps this first Friday in September is a little hard for everyone.  Maybe you watched too much football last night (thank the Good Lord it is back!), or maybe you tried to rush through grading before your hot coffalatte, only to be late for class with no caffiene.  Maybe you don't know how to spell caffeine.  Whatever the reason, I thought it best to go easy on you today, and make a list of things you might enjoy :)

1.  This waffle recipe.  You have time.  This evening, go to the store and get what you need.  Tonight, mix together the oats and buttermilk.  Tomorrow, inhale delicious waffles, the likes of which you've never tasted before.  The good news is that you can taste them again, when you make them on Sunday.  And Monday.  And Tuesday... or do yourself a favor, just start with a double batch, and flash freeze what you don't eat.  Then?  On school mornings?  Freezer waffles that don't have the texture of Styrofoam.  You're welcome.

2.  This lunch recipe.  You don't have time, and that's okay, because this is seriously stupid easy.  I like to throw a goodly amount of Parmesan on there, so that there's more protein.  Maybe a salad if I'm feeling guilty about eating a meal comprised entirely of potatoes and cheese.  Maybe shredded chicken if I'm extra hungry or about to need energy.  Do what you want, just don't use Aldi's pesto - its not good.  Trust me on this.

3.  A book is coming.  It's written by this girl.  About living generously and teaching your kids to do the same.  Seriously, the idea of raising an entitled child gives me night sweats.  Riley already has so much more than I did as a kid, I'm nearly consumed with the concern that she's going to be, well, a brat.  Who thinks she deserves everything because she breathes.  I don't want that.  Stay tuned for more about this, I have the privilege of being part of the launch team, so you'll know more as we go!  If you've got a minute, check out their super high-tech video about the book.  Its made with torn paper and markers.  Just keep your cursor on the video, or else it'll fade out.

4.  This sweater from Anthropologie.  I've been trying to add some warmer elements to my wardrobe, now that we're going to actually experience a fall and winter season.  And this one, well, swoon.  So pretty!  Its on its way to my house, and I can wait to try it out!

From Pen & Paint's Instagram Feed

5. Watercolors.  All of the watercolors.  I can't actually paint well with them, but I'm so drawn to the pictures of others doing so.  I am not sure what it is, I think I may be trying to put a quilt together in my mind that takes inspiration from there.  But either way, I love people painting with watercolors. I'd watch you do it, unless thats weird...

Stolen from Printed Palette's Instagram Feed

6.  Ethically sourced and American made children's clothes.  Like Wildly Co.  and The Printed Palette.  I just love these styles, and am so so SO super pumped that Wildly Co. reached their kickstarter stretch goal, so that now I can get an entire girls wardrobe come January!!  WOOT!

Peace out my lovlies, I have to find a meeting room, and I've forgotten to grab a hot coffalatte beforehand.   Again.  I might not make it through this day, but at least I've given you a parting gift. These links, and all my love.

<3 M.

Mail Time :: Nails, Baby, Food & Feet!

I love getting mail.

I love sending mail.

Mail mail mail, I love the mail.

Please forgive my photo quality.
I hate my phone, but sometimes it is the only option.
Times like when you're parked crossways in the street, trying to snap a picture of  your mailbox.

Here's what I'm loving in the mail, lately

This box of nail polish, as a Christmas gift for my niece.  I think she'll appreciate that they're "grown-up" type colors and packaging.  I appreciate that it was free, save for shipping.  Check out julep.com if you're a nail gal, and use the code FREEBOX!

Box 2 on the left, Box 1 on the right.
Adorable baby in the middle.

Both of our boxes from Citrus Lane.  I had to search around the house, but I rounded up the contents of both boxes for you.  The first one, I ordered on purpose, and only paid half price.  The second one, I ordered on accidente, as I failed to recognize it was a subscription thing.  I really like what I received both time, but RG doesn't need new toys every month.  So while I do think its definitely worth trying the first box for half price, I'm not sure its worth the every month, full price.  So if you've got a wild hair and $12 extra smakaroos, I'd say try it, its fun!  (The link above should get you $10 off, but the code TAKEHALF should get you $12.50 off instead!)

My favorite is the Playful Wash from Episencial.
Smells DIVINE, and I feel like Riley could drink it and still be okay, its that *crunchy*
Her favorite, well, I think its obvious.
Bathtime fun is a a win for us all around here!

Let's Make It Easy

Sometimes, life is sort of difficult.  Sometimes it's just plain hard.  Sometimes it's confusing.  I know personally, I'm constantly trying to figure out if I'm the kind of person who has a clean fridge face, or the kind who covers it with photos.  Right now, the photos are winner.  Other things are more pressing, like storage problems that are actually stuff problems, and deciding whether to be hospitable if it means cleaning my house, and what to do when cold weather hits.  Maybe you have these problems.  Maybe you don't.  In case you do, let me make things easier for you with a few helpful things I've found.

1. Terry-lined Wool Socks.  These things make my life.  It's amazing how much warmer your body feels when your feet are warm!  And trust me, these things will give you warm feet.  Make sure you get the kind that are lined, though (like the ones in the link), because that's like the difference between Swiss Miss and Real Hot Chocolate.  Both will warm you up, but you'll be so much happier with the later!

2.  Dropbox.  This is my storage/have the right papers when I need them solution.  Now, I'm not a technical person, so bear with my ridiculously over-simplified explanation here, but this is what Dropbox is - a magical folder, out in space.  You can access it from anywhere with internet, and you save stuff in it.  Photos?  Automatically uploads and saves them, if you want it to (super fast, too).  Documents you need both at work and at home?  Not a problem.  Video you want to share with your brother but not the world (youtube)?  Upload it to Dropbox, share it with the brosef, and boom!  You're both laughing at the dramatic lemur, 2000+ miles apart.

You can even use it on your smart phone.  Oh, and it's free.  Which is awesome.  You can pay for a ton of extra space, but you don't have to.  So check it out.  I just got my Madre hooked up, and now we can share pictures of the kiddos in our family, so we don't have to steal low-quality ones off of facebook anymore.

Sunday Confessions

This is Sunday, right?

Assuming I'm right about the day of the week, I believe it's time for Sunday Confessions Link-up with Alyx over at Every Day is a New Adventure.  Oh, and in case you don't know Alyx, let me tell you that (1) She's the bomb diggity, and (2) I wish she'd move (even though she just did) be my neighbor and we would have good times all the time.

1.  I had a dream a week ago.  I dreamt that I would get back to my house, and all would be calm.  The world would be calm.  Perhaps even turn a little slower.  All would be serenity and peacefulness.  That dream was falsehood and lies.

2.  There is a truckload (two and a half, actually) of lumber in my carport.  Because yesterday at 2 PM some friends showed up and we said "Hey, do you think we could build a shed today?" and then things happened. These friends.  Things always happen with them.  Generally good things (minus the 'stache in the picture below - never good), but it's always something.

3. There's a half of a shed in my backyard.  It almost looks like a cage for bear fighting.  I've never seen a bear in South Carolina.  I'd love to see this shed finished in South Carolina.  Preferably within the month of August.

Some Things for You to Know

1.  My husband will never buy me makeup.  I really just can't see this happening.  He recently asked me if I owned any lipstick.  He needed it to see if the fletching on his arrows was rubbing on his bow... or something.  I told him where to find it, and he came back downstairs with mascara.  This girl, her hubs did well.  Mine, well, I just don't see that as part of his skill set.

2.  There's a really really super cool ... thing, I guess, going on over at Tico<3Tina.  I'm going to win, I'm just telling you now.  But I love to crush people in my wake will still need team members... check it out.  They're pretty awesome, I'm just going to say it.  We've been friends for about... 221 hours (don't freak out, Tina, I made that number up!) and I've already decided they're getting a Christmas card.  I mean, if I send any out.  Check 'em out!

3.  Delicate Fortress Creations is DA BOMB.  Remember them from the giveaway?  Well, I'm just sayin', they've got some awesome awesome stuff, and they're totally set up to help you with Mothers day.  How about these, Momma? 

Do you want this one?

I've got a new button over yonder (---->) and it'll link you directly to their store.  It also gives me some percentage, I don't really know what, that I can then use to shop at their store, and together we're all helping women around the globe fight poverty, enslavement, and make a better life for themselves and their families. HOO-Rah.

4.  I've invited people over for dinner tonight.  What they don't know is that we're having grilled steak salads with strawberry shortcake for dessert.  And I'm putting french fries on every one of those salads, because that's how I roll.

5.  I very nearly told my tutor-kid to "suck it" yesterday, after I had done the math right in my head, and he screwed up using the calculator.

6.  I did tell Handsome to "suck it" after I whooped up on him in Corn Hole.

7.  Maybe I should expand my vocabulary.

8.  I'm still without a mason jar to use my cuppow lid.  That makes me sad.  I'm still SO excited about it, though.  There's another mason jar lid company, masonjarcaps.com, (whose link is not currently working!) that I'm going to tell you all about as soon as I get my grubby hands on their products.

9.  My corn has sprouted.  EEK!!!

Now you know,

TFW