Inspired.

To be more purposeful with girlfriend get-togethers :: How Can I Help Someone Else When I Have So Much to Do at Home? :: Preschoolers and Peace

Sewing for spring :: Fabric Easter basket :: Moda Bakeshop

Who knew what felt could do?? :: Gulf Coast Cottage :: Etsy

Crafting for Him :: Easter garland :: the homespun heart

Keep resting on Sunday (I pretty much do exactly what this post says!) :: How Can Sunday Be Restful with Little Ones? :: Preschoolers and Peace

Hmmmmm :: Relevant Conference

Planning: The Thanksgiving Edition

I remember an older post about how I felt like I was always planning. {I thought this post was maybe a year old. Turns out its a little older than that. I've been blogging for that long??!!} Well, it's that time again. We will be hosting Thanksgiving this year, followed by Sebastian's first birthday, followed by, of course, Christmas and New Year's. This post will feature my Thanksgiving planning, followed by posts to detail the other two events.

First I chose the time. 3 pm for dinner. It may seem a little early to some, but I have a few guests who drive 2 hours to get here, so I wanted to be sensitive to their return time. Next up, menu. I only have a rough outline so far. I plan on doing many of my old familiar recipes, along with some newer ones. I'm getting more and more untraditional as far as Thanksgiving goes, but of course I don't want to freak out my die-hard old-fashioned guests. My menu in progress:

Turkey: Rosemary Breasts & Smoked (?) Legs
Potato Dish: Potato & Leek Gratin
Sweet Potato Dish: Spiced Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Green Veg: Green Beans with fried Shallots (?)
Stuffing: Crock-pot Stuffing with Sausage, Mushroom & Apple
Bread: probably rolls of some sort with a loaf of some sort
Condiments: store bought gravy & Cranberry Zinfandel Sauce
Dessert #1: Rustic Pumpkin Pie
Dessert #2: Pecan Pie (?)

Thanksgiving, for me, is like the World Series, Super Bowl & World Cup all rolled into one. I am willing to include lots of touching details since it is just once a year. {Of course, to see how well I work under stress, I HAD to have a baby - birthday - the week after Thanksgiving.....} I plan to send out Thanksgiving invitations, but haven't been successful in finding inspiration for those. Still need to decide if I want to do buffet or family-style. I kind of enjoy the Norman Rockwell appeal of family-style, but buffet style would mean more room at the table. Now for the Thanksgiving table eye candy for our viewing pleasure:

:: first six images are Country Living - last three are Martha Stewart ::

The Martha Stewart images are all clickable for project directions! The kids could easily be involved with assembling some of these table decorations. I love the gratitude sayings wrapped around the glasses. Those will definitely be part of my tablescape this year! I have always like the idea of setting 5 kernels of corn at each placesetting, as a reminder that some days, that was all the Pilgrims had to eat. Another idea that will on my table!

So, there ya have it. My preliminary plan for the best food-related holiday of the year.

Thoughts?

Welcome Distraction

I've discovered the blessings of podcasting, ya'll! I've been so stressed lately, mostly because of my fussy baby. {Both I and he are working on this.} I needed a pleasant distraction to take my mind off of his sleep issues, so I figured I'd snoop around for a podcast. My first one was from Grace Talk. I listened to the 12 Habits of a Wise Woman {2/21/08}. It only covers the first three habits, with a promise of more to come. I see there are follow-up podcasts scheduled for the rest of the habits. I am also looking forward to downloading this Thursday's episode titled "Overcoming Bitterness & Judgmental Thoughts".

The second podcast I downloaded was from Natural Moms. You crunchy mamas will love these podcasts! I listened to this one. Fascinating stuff! I mean, *super* interesting. It is about how best to assimilate our children into the urban culture. Don't let the technical sounding title scare you off. Two of the points that stick out in my mind are that 1) when we see other people parenting, it helps us to be better parents. If we see other women breastfeeding or even see a dad wearing a baby sling, it makes us more likely to do those things ourselves and 2) being around children makes us better people. We use better language, act better, use better manners, etc. Isn't that true? She mentions that there was a study where they brought babies & toddlers into schools and showed the effect that it had on the older children in that it lessened bullying. Really neat! It took my mind off of my long walk in the light drizzle. {Exercising = YUK.} I wish I loved exercising in the way I love cooking & baking. Maybe then everything would balance itself out. The podcast served as a welcome distraction and actually made my walk enjoyable.

For lots of different mom related podcasts, visit Moms Talk Radio. So many goodies here! Even though my kids to go to public school, this episode appealed to me & I can't wait to listen to it {on my next walk of course}. And I'm guessing it won't be long before I listen to a podcast from The Household Helper Talk Show. It's weird in a way, listening to these radio talk shows, especially considering the prolific TV watching in our society. Kinda makes you feel like a renaissance woman.

Do you podcast? Do you know how? Let me know if there are any other great "shows" out there or if you have any questions!

Have you....

....had your quiet time today? No. Seriously. If you haven't, please don't read my blog. I much rather you spend a few minutes praying or reading your Bible, then hear me babble about my latest craft project. In an attempt to realign my priorities, I have set Proverbs 31 Ministries Daily Devotions as my home page, instead of having Yahoo! tempt me into reading my email. That way, when I plop myself down in front of my computer in the morning, I will be reminded what I should be doing or have done before I go blog-surfing. {On a side note, if you decide to join me in setting your homepage to Proverbs31 & reading their daily devotionals, I'd love to correspond with you via email to sharpen each other's iron, so to speak.}

I loved today's devotional on having a rag tag soul. So much of what was written resonated with me, particularly these parts:

I was so full of knowledge and yet completely starved of experiencing God Himself.

And I dared to admit that I was not a woman of faith. For if I was completely honest, I lived a life that required no faith at all.

I mean, that second part really got to me. Let me face it. My life is safe. He hasn't been asking me to make seemingly impossible choices. I want to experience Him again for the first time. I want more of Him. I really like the last paragraph as well:

One thing I do know is that a few years ago the world was asking, “Is Jesus real?” That's not the question any longer. I'm convinced the question the world now asks is: "Does Jesus work?" Oh God, that my life could answer this question with a resounding yes, is the very beat of my fragile heart, and the song of my rag tag soul.

My prayer is that others would be able to see the same in me.

That Jesus works.