Favorite Books for 2010

For the first time in my life, I have not read very many books this year. I have managed to snag a few good ones, though, on recommendations from either Bas Bleu or from my mom and friends. Starting from the newest to oldest.
A semi-fictional war novel, Every Man Dies Alone, is based on a husband and wife who stage simple resistance in Nazi Germany. The author, Hans Fallada, tells a simple story with simple, yet appropriate prose and pace that draws you deeply into its characters and their inevitable deaths.

This book, Half Broke Horses, drew me in with funny, gritty stories of a fascinating woman in Arizona around the Great Depression. I loved learning about the history of Arizona as well as the amazing resilience of the author's great grandmother. This one was probably my favorite of the year.

I read also this thriller by Sarah Waters called, The Little Stranger, which was a little out of my typical genre, but still well written if you like suspense and drama.

Another good one this year was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is a very interesting novel written about the women on both sides of society in Jackson,Mississippi during the civil rights movement. (Note: it has some adult situations in it)

For something humorous, try Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, by Rhoda Janzen. It isn't serious writing, and tells a self-discovery story that we have heard a few times; yet, she has some really funny stories that will make you laugh.



My spiritual highlights this year were these three books. Edges of His Ways by Amy Carmichael was perfect for those mornings when the coffee just wasn't strong enough, yet I needed some rich spiritual food to keep me going through the day.

The Praying Life by Paul Miller has become my new top five spiritual books. His words were so helpful and inspiring to really see God in a fresh way in my spiritual communion. It has been very uplifting as my family has fought to keep our faith strong during my father's depression.

Lastly, my other favorite, was by an old favorite, Elyse Fitzpatrick, called Because He Loves Me. I find her writing to be much "thicker" than a typical woman author. She has a lot of deep ideas about God's radical love for us and how it can transform our thinking about God.

Looking forward to new books this year as well, when I will pick up my tradition of reading one great big fat classic novel as well as other books along the way...


Any suggestions out there for this year's classic novel that no one ever reads or finishes?

Two Months.

On accident I published the wrong video with Kate in it.
Here's another go at it.

This was our 6 week video with some of his first smiles.
At two months he has slept through the night twice, continues to eat like a champ and is generally pretty happy. He seems like he is growing out of his clothes much faster than his sister; at two months, he is already growing into some six month basics. I know it is because he is my second child, but it sure seems like he grows faster and every time I blink, he gets longer and stronger.

Paris

It was eleven years ago. A little shop in Paris. Croissants to die for. I think I bought a box of ten to take back with me to my dorm in Cambridge. I don't think I shared with anyone except Elizabeth.

My tongue has returned to Paris today. Thanks to this little shop. My Mom took Kate and bought the last five chocolate ones after an article appeared in the paper over the weekend. They were the best and the closest to true high quality Parisian croissants that I have had since I was there.

Bliss.
I think I will go broke visiting this shop, which is only fifteen minutes from my house.

Suprise!

Imagine my delight when we opened up our eggs for these next two weeks from our egg lady, Shaela, and saw this... guess we'll have to read about green eggs and ham again. Ever since I was a little girl, reading my Oma's Martha Stewart magazines, I have been in love with Araucana eggs. Another reason why farm fresh eggs are SO worth it.

Happy Tandy Day

Trying to explain Valentines to a 20 month old is a lot easier when you explain that it involves "tandy" and "tocolate". She woke up and said, "TANDY DAY!"

Happy TANDY Day to all our dear loved family and friends!

The broom

Let me explain our relationship.
There is no other phrase more appropriate than,"all day, every day", especially for life with a 16 month old. Dark hardwood laminate floors are beautiful, but not when peppered with breakfast's dried out scrambled eggs, a stray assortment of snacks, the cook's accidental droppings, and coffee cake crumbs mixed in with a little outdoor chalk dust and the regular variety of dirt.
Thus we spend a lot of time together.
We have bonded.
We hold hands every day, unless I am cheating with the vacuum. We get together after meals, in between meals and in the morning and at night. We are very committed.
Until a new relationship replaces me; but, alas little Kate is still a little young for starting a relationship...even if it is only with the broom.

All Things Coupon

Meet the "coupon lady".
She stands in line for twice as long as you.
She questions every price; she wheels the cart around with authority.
She grills the cashier.
She might even wear her hair in curlers with the plastic hat tied under her chin.

That was then.
This is now.

Meet me.
The newest convert.
After several months of out-of-control grocery months, I caved. My friend Steph convinced me with promises of extra cash to eat out, buy gifts and clothes and has greatly helped me source some of the best ways to keep my grocery budget down.

Down to $40 per week.
No, I am not joking.
And it takes me ten minutes a week, the cost of a Sunday paper and my computer.

Here's the cheapest way-- follow this site and find your state's "Screaming Deals"
and then buy:

1) only the items you need
2) stock up on only the 5-star items

It's really easy with this site: www.pinchingyourpennies.com
And I am not buying junk.
It's what I did already, except helps me cut down the cost of the few premade basic items I do purchase like pasta, applesauce, cereal, icecream; and, it helps me discipline myself to buy only the items I really need or that are really cheap. It even helps me figure out where produce is cheapest!

So now if I could only use all that money to buy a fabulous new wardrobe with all those great fall accessories :)

A New Look

I told you.
I am on a quest to update.
Feeling better already.
Wardrobe is coming together for Italy.
Hair appointment tomorrow *who knows what will happen**
and a new look for this blog...my sister told me my background was "a little much".
Thanks sis.
I simplified.

ps...if you haven't seen it yet, check out what Kate has been doing while I've been working here

Ever feel...

like you WISH you could do something, see something, be something, cook something or look more than just something?

All those things have evaded me recently.

Realized most of my clothes have past the five year old mark and the sweater I wore to work yesterday has reached decade status.
All my purses are just old, abused and unused.
My staple shoes are battered Rainbows and Dansko clogs.

Two weeks of work have made my menu plan look like this:
Spaghetti
Pizza
Steak
Pad Thai
Frozen lasagna

I am on a quest to update. Update my hair (appointment next week!) update my wardrobe, buy a fabulous Italian purse, buy some impractical shoes and come back from Italy and bake some fabulous time waster cookies like these.

Once I return, I shall update this blog and return to the world more than just in something mood.

Results

It didn't work.
No vent hood last night.
But look at the steal of a deal we got on craigslist.
Have I said I love craigslist yet???!
We got a brand new Martha Stewart 8X10 rug for $125 dollars. Ridiculous deal. Retail: more than $500.
It is thick and plush and a great pattern-- not too modern but not too traditional.

We're getting ready...

The move date is Saturday, but Kate moved in already to her new "house"...except she got a barn too, lucky girl.

I will be supporting my sister as she serve at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya this next year. Consider supporting her monthly. For more information, visit her blog.

According to...

Emily, "Skim milk is, like, empty calories"

Nice try my dear. No, they're not. Now it's not as good for you as milk with some fat, but it does have some merit :)

Post-gorge update

A little of this. A little of that.
Full.
That's all we have to say after the festival today.
Little Miss had her first taste of many types of foods....hope the infant food police don't come after me! She didn't seem to mind.

March 11 is...

National Registered Dietitian's Day!

Congratulations to my colleagues who work so hard in a field that strives to improve the health and wellbeing of Americans.

For more information, click here.

According to...

My dear friend, Ashley, told me this one:
Use a lint roller with the disposable sticky tape to clean your lampshades.
It works awesome.
Another fabulous cleaning hint I've learned this year.

There's nothing like...

...the smell of a clean bathroom.

Call me a "dutchie"-- ie. cleanliness is next to godliness... but, on Monday night, after a great day at work, I came home and was superwoman:
Laundry, check.
Vaccuum, check.
Dust, check.
Bathroom cleaned, check.

Ahhh....inhale.... you have to admit, the smell of a clean bathroom, scrubbed and clean, is good for the soul.

And for those of you who are germaphobes, my friend Rachel emailed me this:

I read in 'Home Comforts' last night *the 'Bible' of homemaking if you haven't heard of it but you probably have* that bleach is actually the safest cleanser to use in the kitchen b/c it breaks down to salt and water as it dries... leaving no chemical residue. But it does take a contact time of a couple of minutes to kill stuff. Go bleach.

I like Method cleaner so that I don't use toxic chemicals all the time, but, I mean, come on, doesn't every toliet and shower deserve bleach sometimes? If you have kids you understand. They might come out of the bathtub smelling all clean and beautiful, but they sure don't get into it clean :)

And in terms of cost, I don't have time to make all my cleaning products, so Method is affordable because a bottle last me more than 6 months for a bathroom/kitchen and it saves me valuable time.

Makeup Postscript

Instead of Vaseline, I mixed my old broken eyeshadows with a little Lasinoh--natural purified lanolin. It worked great! And it keeps the eyeshadow out of my eyes which keeps my contacts cleaner all day...

I just rescued my favorite copper eye shadow which goes great with the new copper highlights I got done on Thursday!

Makeup rescue

While I sat in the salon, I got to catch up on magazine reading... ahh....so relaxing.
And I ran across this article that tells you how to rescue your makeup that breaks. Finally! A solution that works for the cheapskate in me. I cannot tell you how it breaks my heart and irritates me that I have to throw away a pressed shadow or powder that breaks from a fall in the bathroom or too many trips in my purse.
Here were their ideas:
1) for the broken eyeshadow, mix a dab of vaseline with the shadow until a paste forms and place into a makeup sample cup for a creamy eye color.
2)for the broken powder, crush with the back of a spoon in a bowl and then place into a powder sifter available at Sally's Beauty Supply.
3) for the broken lipstick, melt a jar of carmex in the microwave for 30 seconds, then mix in the broken lipstick and then replace into the carmex jar for a tinted lip color.

Best Toe Forward

I tried Target.
I tried Old Navy.
I tried Babys R' Us.
Let us just say that none stood the test of Little Miss Wiggle Toes.

Then I changed my friend's kids socks.
I noticed:
A wide, sturdy elastic band to keep them on!
A decent weight that does not alter shoe sizes!
Adjustable elastic sizing!
Walmart!

The world must know! Go to Walmart! Pick up the eight pack. No one told me that more than half of the socks you buy your kids never make it back into the drawer after the first wash! They get lost, eaten in the washer, stolen by the dryer...these tiny toe covers are impossible to own.
But at Walmart, they not only fit, stay on, but they are six dollars for eight pairs.