Hannah's Happy Hovel

All's Jolly

2012-01-05T07:10:00.001-08:00

I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas and a happy celebration of the new year.
We went to the Mallery residence for Christmas Eve. There was dancing, visiting, singing, lots of little children, and lots of glorious food which I unashamedly gorged on.
This is our family Christmas picture. Beg pardon the caffiene-fueled cheer. It's hard to muster all that festivity without a few cups of joe.

The next morning, we had such fun giving Sean his presents. He especially seemed to enjoy the jingle bell ornament from the Takahashis.

Then we got him all duded up in his fancy suit, which, incidentally, he was bursting out of.

See his little paunch puffing out? Yeah....
We don't have any pictures from New Year's Eve, because we spent it quietly at home, with pizza, a pint of ice cream, and Get Smart (Steve Carell is Ridge's favorite comedian).
That's all for now; unfortunately, the plans with the house are taking longer than expected.
Catch you later!

I Count Myself Blessed

2011-12-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

Will become, becoming, became. Promise and fulfillment at once.

In this season when we celebrate the incarnation of our Lord, I have found myself more and more surrendering to introspect. It would seem that marriage and motherhood takes the simplest of women and renders them either hopeful philosophers or bitter cynics.
I purpose to be the former.

When I look back at the few past years, I have to marvel at all God has done in our lives. In a moment that feels like yesterday, we pledged our love to one another for this lifetime, and since then, the love that shone between us has been polished to a brighter gleam. A year ago at this time, (by my best calendar estimate) our dear Sean, though known only to our maker, had become a soul destined to join our family and bring us such joy.

Motherhood inspires such a passion for life that I fail to articulate. I love to gaze at my baby boy's face, in wonder at every intricate facet of his sweet form and dear personality. Cupid's bow is pressed gently into Sean's rosebud lips, while his eyelids flutter with the wind of his dreams. Every diaper I change, every wail I soothe, every load of soiled laundry I wash and fold, brings me a step closer in this task of forming a future man, and that reality leaves me in awe of the beautiful responsibility Ridge and I now carry.

My husband has loved me so well. His provision, protection, companionship, and devotion are more than I could have ever imagined in girlhood daydreams. Ridge asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I've had a difficult time deciding. Of course, there are myriad lovely things I might desire, but all pale in comparison of what I already have: him. His voice cheers me, his smile warms me, his presence comforts me tenfold of what it did before. We have been through what I consider quite a bit for just over a year of marriage, and though the actual honeymoon may be over, I am happy to say that my heart still races when I get his call on his way home from work, and I look forward to every morning that brings us a new day together.

I am so thankful to have such a wonderful husband, a beautiful baby, a dear family and family-in-love, old friends, new church, and.......
(drum roll)
a house that, if all goes well, we close on December 31st.
Just another blessing I thought I'd mention. :-)

But most of all, I have a Savoir.
Not a pompous and arbitrary god, but the Almighty Creator who lowered himself to give us what we would never reach for, a salvation from that which we neither knew nor cared was our destruction. Quietly he clothed himself in our mortal flesh, to live among us and call us his own. He is the gift from which all others stem.

Let heaven and earth rejoice, for our Redeemer and King has come!

Photo Shoot(s)

2011-11-05T08:22:00.000-07:00

The other day, before we took our walk down to the mail, I bundled Sean up in a fluffy suit Aunt Kathi had given him. It's a little too big just now.
Then, last night, while Ridge was editing video footage with Rem, I decided to take some more pictures of Bug in the bedroom. For not having much of a clue as to what I was doing, some turned out surprisingly well.
Why yes, I am obsessed with my baby- why do you ask?

p.s. to Mom and Dad: I'll give you guys copies of these tomorrow. :-)

Mr. McChubbins

2011-10-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

My baby is getting fat. Of course, being fat at six weeks old isn't a bad thing. His chubby face is that much more kissable, his doughy thighs more squishable, his belly rotund and just asking for tickles.
He's also a very expressive little man. Sean has begun to give us genuine smiles and giggles, and thereby melting his Mommy and Daddy.

Just watching him makes me laugh. :-)

Yep. I'm in love.

Healthy & Happy

2011-10-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

It has been almost six weeks since Sean was born, and I feel so blessed that he is healthy; gaining weight and making developmental progress. He's getting quite the little tubby tummy, enjoys his baths, smiles fairly frequently, and is a champion snuggler. We are having fun learning what songs Sean likes, and, though he doesn't watch anything else, he stares so intently while we watch Mythbusters that I really think he recognizes their voices from when he was still an inside baby. My days with him are such a delight, and I am treasuring our time together.

Besides my son doing so well, I have enjoyed a speedy recovery from pregnancy and birth. In the course of these six weeks, I have become a firm believer in nursing on demand. It takes a lot of time, and it isn't always very convenient, but the great benefits we have both reaped far outweighs its disadvantages. For one thing, I have a jolly, contented little man whose cheeks and thighs have plumped out very nicely.
For another thing, I give most of the credit for my recovery to it. Breastfeeding makes me ravenously hungry, but it's also given me a metabolism approximate to that of a fifteen-year-old boy. It took only a few weeks for me to reach my prepregnancy weight, and now I weigh a little less than when we got married last October. So, even though I could still use to tone up, everything is back to where it was previously, and my closet is much more appealing to me.
Yet another benefit I've found in feeding on demand is just how stress free and relaxed I have been. I just feed him when he needs it; I don't have to worry about anything else. Of course, babies can be unpredictable, but if Sean gets hungry while we're in the Radio Shack parking lot, so be it. If I am in the middle of reorganizing the laundry room, oh well. It just works for us that way.
Well, that's all I have time to write today; I'll try to post more pictures of Sean soon!

There and Back Again

2011-09-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love the fall weather we've been having? It's been gorgeous; the perfect blend of sunny and chilly.
The fun thing about fall is that, when it comes to clothing, you can start to get really creative with layers and rich colors. Knits, cords, velveteens, and all the other lovely textures entice in a way no other fabrics can. And guess what?
Now I can take full advantage of them (or at least, as my budget permits).
I've recovered from pregnancy and birth pretty well so far; I never got stretch marks, and by the time two weeks had passed, I was within three pounds of my prepregnancy weight. Now it's just a matter of toning everything up again. I've had great fun playing dress up with my old clothes, and eyeing new pieces for my wardrobe.
Our little Sean seems to grow and change every day. I love it when we make eye contact and he responds to what I say. His favorite things to do include looking out the window, "talking" to Daddy, and snuggling in Mommy's soft robe. Sometimes, when something tickles his fancy, he'll even give a couple little giggles, and I think he knows that I live for his smile.
Am I smitten? You betcha.
We are excited to be planning a trip to Philipsburg celebrate our anniversary in October. I am looking forward to having Sean with us, and hopefully he'll be proof enough to the lady at the B&B that we were not running away from home last year (as she asked us when we checked in; she didn't think we looked old enough to be married).
Last year we made such happy memories, and this year we will make more, I am sure of it. :-)

So Thankful for My Husband

2011-09-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

Well, since I've written about my new little man, I see it only fit that I say a few words about the other man in my life.
Throughout my pregnancy, labor, and birth, Ridge was there for me every step of the way. He took me to every appointment, helped me prepare for Sean, and gave me his emotional support the whole time.
He spent untold hours rubbing my back and trying to ease the pain of labor for me, held me while bent epidural needles were discarded, and caught our son as he came into this world.
Now, a few days into parenthood, Ridge is a fantastic father. He loves taking care of Sean, and relishes the occasional reward of a sleepy half-smile he gets in return. We enjoy just reclining on the bed, with our Bug between us, and admiring what God has given us in this first year of our marriage. Ridge has been showing Sean Rubik's cubes and music, and every day, when he comes home from work, he makes sure to go and give our Bug a kiss (after he's gotten to me, of course!).

I am so happy that we are finally starting our lives as a family, and that we are back to a good mixture of "real life," (bills, need I say more?) and jolliness.
There is a lot of kissing, laughter and love going on at this little home.

My Boy is Here!!

2011-09-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I wrote, and my followers are probably wondering what I've been up to. If you haven't, that's okay; I know you all have lives. ;-)
This here is why I've been tardy. Getting ready for Sean's arrival, a false alarm, and general late-pregnancy laziness are my best excuses for not writing more.
Our son was born weighing 6lb. 14oz., at 12:51, on Saturday morning. We're kinda tickled that he came on 9/10/11. His birth took some unexpected turns, as after experiencing an exhausting labor for nearly three days, we finally resorted to an epidural. I had been dead set on doing everything naturally, but with Sean being post-date, and after discovering that my back had become too tense for his head to be born, we decided that was our only remaining option.
Thankfully, God is good, even when things don't go quite as we expect.

Just after he was born, Sean had to be taken to the nursery because he was unresponsive and had gunk down in his lungs. The next day though, he was doing much better, and by Sunday night, he could stay in our room.
Now we are home, and the up-all-nights have begun.

So far, Sean has been doing great. He took to nursing so well, and is alert and inquisitive about everything around him, including the Rubik's cube mobile his Daddy made for him.
We love the little Mallery God blessed us with!

The Changing Lights and Shadows

2011-08-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe, but summer and my pregnancy are soon coming to an end. There have been a few days that were uncomfortably hot for me, but for the most part we've been enjoying this season of sun, no matter how late it came.
I even got to swim a little, down at Wayfarer's Park (a site that is famous among Mallerys for marriage proposals, I have been enjoying the lake there since I was a little girl). Swimming when you are eight months pregnant is very different than at three or four months. At that point, no one could even tell; I hardly could myself. But now... well, let's just say I had to improvise a bit with the swimwear. A stretchy top, and a skirt I usually only wear to church became my ticket to the water. I may have looked like a runaway funeral attendant, but I got to get wet, and that's all that mattered. Some gals may be happy with wearing a bikini while pregnant, but, issues of modesty aside, the sight of my white, never-seen-the-sticky-side-of-a-wax-strip thighs is something I think all of humanity would gladly be spared of.
It goes without saying that I am looking forward to unpregnant swimwear next summer. In fact, I'm getting all giddy over unpregnant clothes, period. I can't wait to wear a pair of jeans that actually fit my rear end, not to mention dresses with a waistline!
Yesterday, I put away stacks of tiny diapers, and began filling out Sean's baby book, starting with the very first image we saw of him, at sixteen weeks. I hardly felt different at that point, but I'll never forget that overwhelming feeling, seeing a real human being, wiggling his arms and legs in there. Fearfully and wonderfully is what the king David described our fabrication as being, and to experience it first hand has made that truth so much more real to me. And if cravings suggest "what baby needs," it's good thing we confirmed the fact that our child is human, otherwise, I might have begun to think that we were baking a fruit cake in there, with all the fruit I've been eating.
Well, that's about all for now. I know I said there would be more pictures, but the one above is one that Ridge took, while we were out on one of our evening walks. If you haven't taken a walk at sunset lately, you really should.

"Question," a parody of "Human" by the Killers

2011-08-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

This is a music video that Ridge filmed with his brothers & Mitch Underhill while I was out of town for the day. You can see that they have a lot of fun together.
We wrote the lyrics together last year, and it probably won't make a lot of sense. If you watch the original music video, ("Human," by the Killers) you might understand what Ridge wanted to get at here. His point is that, in an effort to sound philosophical, many artists have begun to just string together random thoughts and call it "music."
Anyway, hope you enjoy it!

I'm Here

2011-08-09T15:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the shortage of pictures and posts. Today Ridge showed me how to get the memory card out of his camera, (way harder than it sounds) so maybe I'll have more shots to show soon.
Anyway, it's so hard to believe that I have only three more weeks (give or take a few days) until our little Snugmuffin is here with us. Preparing for labor. Getting my post-bump wardrobe ready (how I've missed those clothes!). Wrapping up the last few purchases for Sean.
As much as I'm looking forward to sleeping on my stomach and wearing pants that actually fit my tush, (among other things) I'm also enjoying these last weeks of having my son so close. It's so funny when he gets the hiccups, which is once or twice a day, and Ridge and I have both had fun giving him a little poke & getting a bump back. It's a special time, and I am so blessed to have had no complications and relatively little discomfort with this pregnancy, and to have such wonderful support from my husband, family, and friends.
Well, like I said, I'll try to get some pictures on here soon, so check back and I might just have something interesting on here!

Showers of Blessings

2011-07-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

I had to add this cartoon afterward. I'm so glad I don't have to live up to these standards!I want to thank my mother, Carol & Megan Comstock, Barb & Anna Takahashi, and my aunt Kathi for all working together to make my baby shower so wonderful. The setting was so beautiful, the games were fun, and the food was yummier than it should be. Thank you everyone for making it such a special day for me!

More of Summer

2011-07-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday was our third trip setting up shop at the farmer's market. I have really enjoyed it, now that I kind of have the hang of how to set up the canopy and tables. Ridge has been making prints of his pictures, and we've sold a few so far.
What I really enjoy is all the people watching I get to do, and the time I usually spend knitting. Since the market is in the parking lot of Kalispell Center Mall, Ridge lets me go and shop for awhile, on the condition that I bring him back a soft pretzel.
Then, we sit and just enjoy the morning, drinking coffee, meeting friends, and talking with other vendors. This last time, the gal next to us was selling organic produce, so we got some strawberries & snap peas to munch on.
The market ends at twelve-thirty, which means we can escape the heat and maybe catch a few yard sales before going home. We usually run a few errands, then come home, make iced tea or lemonade, and kick back until Ridge heads off to Rosa's and I prepare for Sunday.
As much as I'm looking forward to meeting our little man, I've been savoring these last few weeks of Summer busy-slowness we have of just the two of us.

Adorableness!!

2011-07-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

I know what you must be thinking. Yes, I am just tickled that we are having a boy; however, I still love seeing pretty girl goodies. I found this adorable cardigan at ON, in size 0-3 mo. So cute! It just reminded me so much of Kath Kidston or ModCloth.
Now here is the fare for us! Men aren't known for going crazy for baby clothes, but lately, Ridge has been having a great time picking out togs for our little guy. As many of you might already know, Ridge has a fairly unique, not-your-run-of-the-mill style, and he is looking forward to dressing Sean in a similar fashion. Plaids, cables, argyle, cords, khaki, and all other vintage collegiate attire. Ever seen A Beautiful Mind? That's it.

Gotta love a man in a tie & sportcoat. I'll have two! :-)

8 weeks (+/-)

2011-07-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

My goodness! It's hard to believe that I am "officially" eight months pregnant! Of course, I think all women would love to throttle whoever said pregnancy lasts nine months, because human gestation (approx. 40 weeks) is really ten. So, even though eight months sounds like reason to pack my hospital bags, it really isn't that urgent, after all.
I'm not too antsy, but I will say that I am fondly looking forward to wearing my prepregnancy clothes again. At this point, spending a bunch of money on maternity clothes seems pointless, so right now my wardrobe is a little meh. Not to mention that it's too hot right now to really care what I look like (with one exception: my feet. I am still doing my pedicures, and I will never, ever wear Crocs, no matter how comfortable people say they are).
In the meantime, I've been enjoying my knitting. I looooove Caron's Spa yarn; it is soft and springy and perfect for making baby goodies. Socks, beanies, and little mitts.

Read Me a Story!

2011-06-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

As I finished registering for Sean's baby shower, I began to eye goodies on further horizons. I am looking forward to reading to my little boy, as well as teaching him to read, and the charm of books I enjoyed years ago has drawn me back to the shelf where they have sat, untouched, for years. When I look at the majority of the drivel masquerading as children's books these days, I am all the more sure that I want to give him these innocent and imaginative stories instead. Please excuse the "Look Inside!" graphics; I got the images off Amazon.

I'll Take 300 Square Inches Less Skin, Thank You

2011-06-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Before I got pregnant, I never paid much attention to maternity photography. It just seemed.....eh. I was much too preoccupied with wedding pictures. Now however, realizing that we literally do not have a single shot of the pregnant me, I find myself thinking that it might be something fun for Ridge & I to do together to celebrate our son's impending arrival.
So, I've done a little research.
Eeeeg.
I had no idea how popular it seems to be among pregnant women to go au naturel (or at least awfully close). Some people might say that it is to focus on the wonder of growing a life inside one's own body, or an artistic way of depicting a couple's anticipation and happiness, but as far as I'm concerned naked is naked, whether you're pregnant or not. Period. End of statement.
So, we'll have to come up with some ideas for sweet, fully-clothed pictures to commemorate this time in our lives. It's going by quickly.
Now, that's what I call art!

The Sun is Out...

2011-06-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

And today we went to several great garage sales. We found a baby carrier, bouncer, tub, and a Boppy pillow, all of which I had been going to register for. Hooray!
And today, for the first time ever, I had two complete strangers ask when I was due. I finally look pregnant (not just like I've been hitting on the donuts too often)! 'bout time, because Thursday marked seven months. So far, things have seemed to go by very quickly. It's hard to believe that, in a just a couple more months, little Sean will be here to meet us!

:-)

2011-05-31T15:29:00.000-07:00

Today I found these adorable tea towels, sold by the British company To Dry For.

I dare you not to giggle.

Easy Crock-Pot Gumbo with Brown Rice

2011-05-31T10:22:00.000-07:00

Here I am without a camera again. Oh well, pictures or not, a girl's gotta eat. Last month, I had gumbo for the first time ever at Cafe Max, and it was so good! Since I didn't want to pay $10 a quart every time I was craving yummy soup, I decided to come up with my own approximation of the recipe. I use brown rice instead of the traditional white, because I think it has better flavor, and I like to think the the rice I am eating is at least somewhat nutritious.

Easy Crock-Pot Gumbo
serves 4-6
2 chicken breasts
1 can tomato sauce
1 can cut okra, drained
2 3oz andoulle sausages, sliced
1 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper to taste
brown rice (I use Lundberg), prepared as directed, to serve 2-3 (1/2 cup dry)

Several hours before meal, place chicken breasts in crock pot with tomato sauce. Check in approx. 2 hrs, shred chicken with a fork. Add sausage, okra, and oregano. Let these all cook together for 1 hr (you can use this time to make your rice, if you like). Add cooked rice, salt & pepper to taste.

This makes a nice, hearty stew. You could also add diced bell pepper and/or cocktail shrimp to make it extra yummy!

Lemon & Thyme Game Hens

2011-05-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

I guess I need to start taking pictures of the food I make before we gobble it up. ;-)
Anyway, here is the recipe I made last night. It is so good- perfectly juicy and mild herb and citrus flavors.

Lemon Thyme Game Hens

time: prep=15 min, cook=1-1 1/4 hrs.
serves: 2- adjust by adding more birdies

2 Cornish game hens (thawed if previously frozen)
1 medium or large lemon
2 generous tablespoons thyme
olive oil for basting
a baking dish with at least "1 sides- this makes lots of juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut lemon in half, then divide one of the halves. Stuff the quarters into the body cavity of each game hen, then sprinkle most of the thyme in. Slice remaining lemon fairly thin. Using your fingers, gently separate the bird's skin from body; do not remove, but rather leave a "pocket." Carefully slide lemon slices into pocket, sprinkle hen with remaining thyme. Spritz or baste hens with oil, and bake for 1hr. (1hr. 15-20min. if you birds are bigger than 1lb. 2oz.) Remove from oven when juices run clear when pierced. Let rest 5min. and carve.

2/3

2011-05-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

In a few days, I will be "officially" in the third trimester of my pregnancy. It really has gone by so fast, and I can't believe that, in three months (+/-) we'll get to meet Sean for the first time.
So far, I've had excellent luck finding maternity jeans, and still am wearing non-maternity shirts. I have yet to get a dress that fits well, so for church I just go with separates.
I've begun planning a shower with my Mom, which will probably be in late July.
Overall, things seem to be going smoothly.

Lazy Cooking

2011-05-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

Count me in!
I've read quite a few recipes for oven-fried chicken that require dredging in flour, cornflakes, etc., but here is my recipe for the easiest oven-fried chicken ever. We eat this a couple times a month, and it always turns out moist and flavorful. It's also easy to cook some potatoes with the chicken, or have green beans or salad for a side.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, one per person
small dish of milk
bowl of finely crushed potato chips- any flavor works, I've used original, sour cream & onion, and BBQ, all with great results
Pan suitable for number of chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut each chicken breast in half, dip each half in milk, then press in chip crumbs to coat on both sides. Arrange in pan, and bake for 30 minutes.

Couldn't be easier, and gets rave reviews from Ridge every time. Almost makes me feel guilty...

Home Again

2011-05-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

We are home now, and had such a lovely time in Spokane & Moscow!
Ridge and I left early on Thursday morning, and arrived in Spokane shortly after lunch. We discovered that, in spite of Ridge's dread hatred of city traffic, we make a pretty good team of pilot & navigator (Megan might be surprised to learn that I am actually gaining a sense of direction. Inside joke.). We had a great time at Riverfront Park, and afterward went to Riverfront Square, which I think is the very most wonderful mall in the world. I'm not much of a mall girl, but who can resist Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, and criss-crossing escalators? Not I. And Ridge was mighty impressed by the three-story theater, too.
Then we set off to find the Lincoln Center, which it turns out, Google maps gave us directions to a statue of Abraham Lincoln, not the hall where Fernando Ortega would be playing. After a frantic call to my parents for help, we finally found it in the nick of time. After all these years, we got to see him in person, and for the cherry on top, he sang his version of "Great is Thy Faithfulness," which was the recessional at our wedding. We were tickled, and I think Sean liked it, too. :-) He's gotten very active of late.
In Moscow, we had a wonderful time with Rayia, Jonathan, Titus, and Adeline. In the course of our stay, we attended a really neat Renaissance fair in the park. It was far from authentic, but had lots of fun activities for kids. That night, we went out with Rayia & Jonathan to Nectar. It's a little restaurant with a limited seasonal menu, but soooooooooo yummy! Ridge & I split the Gruyere mac n' cheese & the nectar salad. Mmmm....
Sunday marked one year since the first day of our courtship, so we went out alone to walk around downtown Moscow, where we got hot bagel sandwiches and ice cream. Here I go about food again! We also got to attend Adeline's ballet recital, and that was fun!
So, now we are home again, and there are dishes and laundry and such to attend to, but we now have fond memories of a lovely vacation!

Favorite Strawberry Shortcakes

2011-04-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a blessed Easter! I know we did. Church was wonderful, and then we had a fantastic time celebrating with our family and friends.
And now I want to post the yummiest shortcake recipe I think I've ever tried. I brought a triple batch of these to Ransom and Jessica's on Sunday. (from MarthaStewart.com)
By the way, check out Ridge's YouTube channel. I have a link to it on my sidebar, and he is trying to get as many views on his movies as possible. :-)

Ingredients

1 3/4 pounds (6 cups) strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and quartered
1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons cold (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 cups heavy cream
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, toss strawberries with 3/4 cup sugar; let sit to bring out their juices.
In a food processor, pulse flour, baking powder, 1/2 cup sugar, and the salt until combined. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal but with some pea-size bits of butter remaining, 10 to 12 times. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup cream and the eggs; pour over flour mixture, and pulse until some large clumps begin to form, 25 to 30 times.
Using a half-cup measuring cup, gently pack dough, invert, and then tap out onto a baking sheet. Repeat to form 8 biscuits. Bake until lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool, about 15 minutes.
Beat remaining 1 1/2 cups cream and 2 tablespoons sugar with the vanilla until soft peaks form.
Slice biscuits in half horizontally. Spoon strawberries and their liquid over bottom halves. Spoon whipped cream on strawberries, and replace top halves of biscuits.

I Want It All (with a dash of everything)

2011-04-21T10:22:00.001-07:00

Pretty, isn't it?
If you are like most females, looking at lovely pictures and building imaginary dwellings of fine draperies, flooring, furnishings, and landscaping, is a pastime that can eventually become all-consuming. Certainly, looking at creative uses of furniture, fabric, and color, especially when contemplating a real project, like building or renovating a room/house, can be profitable. However, a real tendency is to start a cause-and-effect cycle that can breed discontent. We can easily slip from appreciating the loveliness to wishing we had something like it, and before we know it, we are finding every little thing that's wrong (or at least perceived as wrong) with our own houses and possessions.
And there lies the real problem (besides God's command forbidding covetousness). We follow an ideal that I strongly believe is God's best for families; and that is the single-income family. I rely on my husband for shelter and daily provision, and if, no matter how warm and well-fed I am, I persist in dreaming of what is not mine, imagine what a burden I could place on him! There is nothing wrong in having color and style preferences, but if I continually mention this or that wonderful thing I cannot have, the man who works 10 hour shifts most weekdays for my welfare is left feeling inferior to my expectations and unable to give me what I really want. What a horrible way to make anyone feel! In Ephesians, men are instructed to love their wives, (and wives to reverence their husbands) and Ridge has shown that he loves me very much. That's really all I need.
Life is full of opportunities to acquire lovely possessions, but if we blow our chances with relationships, it's hard to go back.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said , I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Wordle

2011-04-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

After seeing my cousin Aaron's Wordle, I had to go make one myself. I think it's hilarious that the word "little" made it front and centerClick the image to see it more clearly

Guess what this means?

2011-04-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Ridge and I got to see our son!! Of course, we had seen him last month, but we didn't yet know that he was a him! We had so much fun seeing him moving his little fingers and toes, and we got a good look at his face this time. The ultrasound technician said he appears to be doing very well, and estimated that he weighs about eleven ounces. We got a strip of wonderful pictures, and are looking forward more eagerly than ever to the day we get to meet him!

Oh, and the name?
Sean Wilberforce Mallery.

Pregnant, Petite, Peeker

2011-04-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

*the woman in the above picture is not me. Ok, glad we're clear on that.
Well, I'm almost to the half way mark in my pregnancy, and am finally approaching that dreaded point that every expectant woman reaches: facing the prospect of spending a good amount of money on clothes that you think are cute now, but inevitably you will hate by the end of your term. Add to that being petite, and it's become clear that finding comfy- yet stylish maternity wear is going to be a challenge. Am I up for it? Do I pledge to avoid polyester tent-like dresses like the plague? And to keep wearing my (modestly high) heels? And to eat (mostly) right, stay active, and exfoliate regularly? Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
One of my main concerns has been my weight. When I was fourteen, although I never developed an eating disorder, I went through a phase of constantly weighing myself (3-4 times daily), and I know that I don't want to be neurotic like that again. I've always been slim-but-not-skinny, and given that and my healthy BMI, height, age, and maternal history, my goal for pregnancy gain is 20-25 pounds. So far, I'm right on track.
I'd say secondary to that is the concern of clothes. Right now, I finally fit the pair of CK sz 2's that were my too-big jeans prepregnancy. I already have a pair of maternity capris, and I plan on getting one or two pairs of jeans, three or four dresses, numerous tops, stretchy skirts, and the holy grail: a modest and relatively inexpensive swimsuit.
Ridge and I have finalized our choice for a girl name, so now we are prepared for either/or. My next ultrasound is next week, and we *might* find out the little M.'s gender. It's getting pretty tempting, and to be perfectly honest, I'm rather alarmed and appalled at the fact that we've succumbed so soon to the seemingly universal urge parents develop to check out their offspring's privates. Shame on us. Pervs.

Many of you might already know, but last Wednesday, our Jeep Cherokee was stolen. It was already having problems, and when it was found a couple days later, the engine was toast. We were able to get a '96 Ford Taurus on Sunday at the Creston Auction. Our mechanic, Mike Shelley, is going to replace the transmission, and then it will need only a few cosmetic fixes. We are so thankful to Jason Ferguson, for finding our Jeep, Dad Vestal, for letting us drive his Suburban while in limbo, Dad Mallery for bidding for us, Mike, for his expert advice and help, and most of all, to God, for making a way for us.
So that has been our life lately.
And now I need to fold laundry and unload the dishwasher.

A Year Of Style

2011-03-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

The 90's were an unkind decade for fashion. We all agree on that vital point. But I found this book by Frederic Fekkai that proves it wasn't all bad. Granted, it was published in 2000, but you might recall that we were all still in intense recovery from the previous decade.A Year of Style is a fabulous book, going through each month of the year, and giving tips on skin and hair care, makeup, health, wardrobe choices, and activities for each one. The bent toward simple elegance is highly appealing, (hey, he's French, after all!) and much of the advice is very achievable. Check it out at your library or order it today.

Peek-a-Boo

2011-03-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

On St. Patrick's Day, we went in to my midwife's appointment, and after the preliminary testing and paperwork, we got to see our new little person for the very first time. The midwife's assistant had kind of a hard time getting him* to cooperate, but after a couple attempts, we could see the little beating heart on the screen. With legs kicking and hands flailing around, Ridge insisted that he must be "dancing." The only thing the little M. seemed self-conscious about was his face. We got a couple glimpses of it, and a half-decent photograph of his profile. I'll scan and post it as soon as I get the chance.
With my lack of horrendous symptoms, sometimes I almost forget that I'm pregnant, but getting to see our baby was really special, and made it quite a bit harder to forget. :-)

*we don't plan on finding out little M.'s gender, but in the mean time, I don't very much like calling our baby "it" or "he/she." So I'm using male objective pronouns. If the baby turns out to be female, believe me, we will love her just as much!<3

Happy Birthday to Moi

2011-03-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

We celebrated my birthday yesterday, since Ridge works today. First, we slept in- no alarm going off at 5:30! Then we just sat around, played a couple games on Miniclip (yes, we are so mature) and then he let me open my present.
*sigh* I have wanted a pair of Danskos for years, no joke. And he got exactly the color and pattern that I wanted. He put them on me and they are soooooo comfortable! They will be perfect for making my pregnant arches and toes happy all year. He also let me take my pick of Smartwool socks at Sportsman. :-) I'm a tightwad with most stuff, but my feet are a big exception, and does he know it!
We had paninis for lunch at a chocolate shop in Whitefish, and found a great car seat for the baby! We spent a long time walking Whitefish, then went to the Kalispell Library, (leaving with a stack of books) the Kalispell Antiques Market, and got mochas at Colter Coffee. Before going home, we had dinner at Thai Palace. ***** (that's five stars) Back home, I took a long, relaxing bath, we watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, and went to bed early.
It was a great day, and tomorrow I get to see my friends and family, which will be lots of fun too!

Upon Another Year

2011-03-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

"Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
~ C.S. Lewis ~

Being eighteen really has been wonderful, and I am looking forward to what God has in store for us in my 19th year. Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family. For you all I am grateful.
(don't ask why I chose the little laughing kid. it just made me smile)

Wee Bit of Me

2011-03-10T06:55:00.001-08:00

{one} what color is your kitchen?since it's a rental, the walls are white, but I like sprucing it up with bits of apple green and cherry red
{two} do you have a good luck charm?
probably my Pampered Chef Mix-n-Scrape

{three} do you prefer to write with a pen or pencil?

always pen. especially Uniball. I love that smooth ink and perfect color. (black)

{four} can you use chopsticks?I usually only use them at HuHot or Genki, but I've gotten a lot faster with them lately

{five} do you prefer baths or showers?baths so I can relax, showers to feel clean and energized

{six} what is your favorite salad dressing?I prefer Ranch, but also really like sesame, and balsamic vinaigrette

{seven} can you sing the alphabet backwards?I've wasted my time in many ways; that is not one of them

{eight} do you have any allergies?not a one
{nine} crunchy or creamy peanut butter?crunchy for my toast, creamy for recipes

{ten} have you ever hitch hiked?

I haven't; hope I won't have to, either

Hooray!

2011-03-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

This April, Ridge and I are going to see Fernando Ortega in concert! We have both been fans of his music for years, and have been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time. And now, along with my family, we will finally be going to his concert in Spokane! After that, we are heading south to Moscow to visit Rayia & Jonathan. We had so much fun with them in November, and can't wait to see them again!

Here are the lyrics to Fernando Ortega's song, Sleepless Night. These words have helped me connect to God in times that it seemed there were no words to encompass what I was feeling, and it is one of my favorite songs.

Another sleepless night
I'm turning in my bed
Long before the red sun rises

In these early hours
I'm falling again
Into the river of my worries

When the river runs away
I find a shelter in your name

Jesus, only light on the shore
Only hope in the storm
Jesus, let me fly to your side
There I would hide, Jesus

Hear my anxious prayer
The beating of my heart
The pulse and the measure of my unbelief
Speak your words to me
Before I come apart
Help me believe in what I cannot see
Before the river runs away
I will call upon your name

Jesus, only light on the shore
Only hope in the storm
Jesus, let me fly to your side
There I would hide, Jesus

Some Good Knits

2011-03-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

After reading Laurel's post, I was inspired to post on my favorite knitting books. I have been primarily a self-taught knitter. I was taught to cast-on and knit stitch, and everything else has been a very slow process of learning from books. These have been the most helpful.

Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby. I'll be honest: pastel yellows, pinks and greens make me want to puke. These doable designs are rendered in soft, earthy- yet still infant like- tones, and merino, cashmere, and cotton, instead of nasty acrylic. Currently in the works: shell pink "Matinee Coat."

Ridge bought me this one on our honeymoon. Written by Joelle Hoverson, of Purl Soho, there are lots of cute, practical designs in here, and they all seem to be intermediate level knitting. Can't wait to try the baby socks!

And lastly, a fabulous book for those who would like to try socks. Although I still don't have them perfected, trust me, they are much easier than they look.
Happy knitting!

I Love Yoooooooou!

2011-03-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dearest Spring,

I hope that you haven't forgotten all the lovely times we've had together, and I wish you would give some indication that you are coming soon. The snow and gray clouds here have become so dull, and I am longing for the excitement of your warm breath that brings all the soft grass and flowers back to our land. It's so wonderful every year to see the baby calves out in the sunny fields, and to place bare feet on the ground once more. Oh! And the fresh smell that lingers in the woods after your gentle rain is something no one can ever forget!
I want to watch the brown beds raise buds, and then stalks, and then the beautiful plants. I miss all the colors and smells of the flowers, and the the budding promise of Summer's fruits and vegetables. I can't wait to bask again in the sunshine, and to walk down the lane and find all the little hidden wonders that it brings to life.
Please don't forget to visit us. I hope that you will be here before long.
with love and anticipation,
Hannah

Peachy

2011-02-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

Is 'e really now? My baby bump ticker tells me that our child has grown to the size of a peach. Somehow, I don't quite buy it. If there was a peach-sized person inside, I think I would take due notice when bending over. True, some of my jeans are fitting a bit tighter, and I know my bladder senses something invading its space, but really? A peach? May be he or she is still a lime or plum. However big our little person is, I'm sure they are just fine.

BHLDN

2011-02-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of BHLDN, (pronounced "beholden") Anthropologie's new bridal line, you must go fall in love with it! I am smitten with Anthropologie, and even though I'm married, I still enjoy looking at sweet and fun ideas for dresses, accessories, and such. Here are a few of my favorites:
If you're the traditional type, this dress is the ticket! Elegant simplicity and subtle detail to let your gorgeous face take the spotlight!

Dresses with sleeves are either doomed to be tacky, or destined to soar with style and finesse. This one falls into the latter category. And check out the flowers and scalloped hem. It seems fresh and nostalgic at once.

This was my personal favorite. I love the tea length and appliques. And a diagonally shirred bodice never looked bad on anyone.

Oh yes. Cover-ups that don't say "oops, I have to be modest." No, rather more of "Grandmother's treasured heirloom."

And you know my thing for footwear. Oh love! Bright peridot heels for the bride, wedding party, or any girl who just wants her feet to feel fab.

And lastly, a demure, blushy pair. I love these because they remind me of my own wedding. And the dressmaker bow is so prim and cute. Irresistible.
So, what are you waiting for? Go see the rest.

1/3

2011-02-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

Yay!! I'm almost done with the first trimester of pregnancy! Not that it's been all that horrible, just the normal food aversions/cravings, digestive malfunction, sleepiness, mild nausea, and a suddenly way-too-sharp sense of smell. I've been wishing for summer so much, and it would seem that many hold the same yearnings. Mental trips to cherry orchards and peach stands are intervened occasionally by dreams of cool grass and juicy watermelon.
I recently reread Mireille Guiliano's book, French Women Don't get Fat, for about the third time. She includes so many yummy sounding recipes, and lots of practical tips for a healthy lifestyle. One I tried today for the first time was plain yogurt with honey. Yum! And this afternoon, I'm making bagels.
Something else I've been up to is lots of knitting. My latest project is a little lacy pink baby cardigan from Debbie Bliss's book, Simply Baby. My knitting has come along way, but anything with "simple" in the title is automatically a running candidate as to whether I'd actually finish any projects. But why make girl clothes when we could be having a boy? Well, we decided long before that we want to keep our little person's gender a secret until the big day. So, to even things up, I'm planning to make a manly ribbed jacket from the same book, in blue or green.
One of each, just in case.

Our Valentine's Day Menu

2011-02-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

We wanted to make something extra special and yummy to celebrate Valentine's Day, (which, incidentally, Ridge has the day off! Yay!) so over the past few weeks, I've gotten together a few fantastic looking recipes.
First, of course, we'll probably start with a green salad, not unlike this one:Pretty basic.
Then, we'll dig into plates of lemon-garlic Shrimp Scampi.
(drooling) I already had decided on Shrimp Scampi, when Framed Cooks, one of the cooking blogs I follow, posted this delectable piece. Butter. Lemons. Garlic. Shrimp. Can you go wrong with that?
As a side goody, we'll have plenty of pomegranates!

Believe it or not, I had never eaten a pomegranate until Ridge treated me to one on our honeymoon. I wasted 18 years of my life unaware of the juicy red goodness in this fruit. Now I'm hooked.
You must have chocolate on Valentine's Day, right?
Also on our honeymoon, we enjoyed two evenings at the Silver Mill Saloon in Philipsburg. Fabulous food, decent prices, and since we came in the slow season, we were waited on in our own private dining room. Once the staff learned we were on our honeymoon, the chef had a made-for-two strawberry semifreddo brought out for us. This time, I'll make this dark chocolate recipe.

Well, I'm officially 11 weeks pregnant, but you could probably tell anyway, with how I've been obsessing over food. ;-)
Wishing you all a delicious Valentine's Day, whether you're single, newlywed, or old pros!

The Happy Pregnant Lady

2011-02-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

Spring greens in a bowl, with artichoke hearts, a sprinkle of parmesan, and drizzled with ranch dressing. A piece of dark chocolate for dessert. All eaten sitting in front of the heater while drying my hair. Heaven.
*additional benefit of eating oil-marinated artichoke hearts: afterward, my lips are so soft, I can skip lip balm.

Can I Live

2011-01-29T17:52:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of rap, but this music video is different. It's a song by Nick Cannon, and it's about a woman facing her choice in an abortion clinic.

It's based on Nick's life, and how his mother decided to keep him. It isn't very well known, but Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood and early pioneer of the Pill, was a vehement eugenicist and racist.
Today, African American women make up 36% of abortions, while blacks overall are only 18% of the American population. Looks like Marge got what she wanted.
Thankfully, the message in this music video is to girls of every color: their baby is a gift; either for them, or an adoptive family.

Two Years

2011-01-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

Wow. I can't believe it's already been two years since I started on Blogger (and almost three since I started my first blog). My very first blog was a birthday gift from my parents. They let me start it when I turned sixteen. I shortly moved to Wordpress, and after several months there, I finally relocated to Blogger. This blog has seen many changes in my life, and I'm so thankful to have a record of them, as well as all my wonderful followers. It's been a great two years!

Ten Things That Make me Happy

2011-01-20T15:50:00.000-08:00

After seeing what Nicole posted on her blog, I was inspired to write about ten things that make me happy. There are lots more, but these are some of the biggies.

10. knitting

9. coffee (I'll take it up again after the baby's born)

8. socks!
7. 7 for All Mankind jeans

6. heels. enough said.
5. lazy mornings
4. de-luscious foods, like the fish tacos we had today. Mmmm
3. our baby (this is about what he or she looks like right now) :-)
2. his love
1. His love

Updating: Life

2011-01-17T10:05:00.001-08:00

Betcha can't guess what this one's about! :-)
On New Year's Day, Ridge and I found out that, in early September of this year, our house is going to be expanded by two (rather small) feet! We wanted to wait a couple of weeks before telling everyone, but everything is going well, and we are very excited!

The Way I Am

2011-01-12T15:01:00.000-08:00

I found this cute music video by Ingrid Michaelson today. She wants to be a clown, but just doesn't fit in. It's a sweet reminder that our loved ones see us for who we are, not how we measure up to others. Enjoy!
The Way I Am

My Husband is So Nice

2011-01-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

I grew up listening to Keith Green- I can't think of a time that his songs haven't been a part of my life. However, Ridge finds his music too "70's." Fair enough, since I can't seem get real enjoyment out of his "Gregorian Masters of Chant."
After Christmas, Ridge told me that he was going to give me another belated gift. I didn't know what that could be, until he asked me where to buy the Gold and Silver Ministry Years Collections. So we ordered them from Last Days Ministries, and they arrived yesterday. Hooray! Now I can get my Green fix, as long I as wait til my sweet and generous husband leaves for work. :-)

Here, here!

2011-01-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

I found this at The Sacred Sandwich, and it struck a chord with me.
Happy New Year! Wishing you all a wonderful 2011!!

untitled

2010-12-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abidethalone: but if it die , it bringeth forth much fruit."
John 12:24 KJV

As many of you probably know, our church, Christ's Covenant Fellowship, closed it's doors for the last time on December 5th. It was the culmination of a long progression of confusing circumstances, and many people were deeply hurt. My own feelings have ranged from despair and denial to hopeful wishing that maybe it was all one big mistake. Indeed, it is very difficult to keep from blaming, pointing fingers, and turning against our own brothers and sisters, but we have to rise above it.
There is no changing what has happened, we can only move on. CCF forever changed my life. I came a shy and insecure adolescent, and, approx. three weeks before it's end, I had married one of the elders' sons. 6 1/2 of my most formative years were spent in the teaching and fellowship of this church, with all the precious people who came and went. I will never forget the impact that special communion of saints has left on me.
Ridge and I are committed to continue in love and persevere for truth, and, no matter what happens, my hope and prayer is that we may all see beauty traded for the ashes.

yawn

2010-12-21T05:55:00.000-08:00

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb

On Sunday night, Ridge and I decided that we wanted to craft our own "staycation" the following day. We laid down some ground rules first:
1. Neither of us would be permitted to wear anything other than undies or jammies.
2. No amount of housework would be performed, except in the case of absolute necessity.
3. We would watch as many movies and eat as much comfort food as we liked, with little to no regard as to health or sanity.
4. We could sleep in as long as we wanted, and never make the bed in the course of the day.

We started the morning at 8:30ish with our usual coffee, and followed it up with a sermon video by Louie Giglio. Then we took a shower, and lazed about til almost noon, when we started Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. Not the most romantic movie, I know, but it was fun nonetheless. Owls with armor sound lame, but the battles were pretty cool. In the middle of that, we made a batch of shamelessly cheesy pasta shells, and scarfed down potato chips, carrot sticks, and pub mix for our side dishes.
Later on, we played Mancala, (I won) and Blink. (he won) We went on to eat a dinner of mashed potatoes with ground beef gravy, and watched Gentlemen Broncos. (which, at this point, I will stress that I do not recommend that one) We were both disappointed.
After getting ready and getting in bed, we spent our last waking minutes making up stories of fantasy dream houses in such exotic climes as the Swiss Alps, Tuscany, and New Zealand.
It was a fabulous day of reveling in love and laziness, and, in honor of our PJ day, I am posting the most amazing beds I have ever seen:

This one is my favorite.

Sweet dreams!

And So We Get Married....

2010-12-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

Well, here are a handful of pictures from our wedding in October. We had about four cameras on the job, so we ultimately will end up with 1000's. The photographer got married; what can you expect?

I like this one so much. I don't really know why, I just think it looks cool.

When I arrived at the church, I ran around doing this, that, and the other. I've always enjoyed being a gofer for other weddings, so that instinct kicked in automatically. Once my maids were dressed though, I had to stop and say "Hey, this is actually my wedding! I need to get myself ready!"

Here is my sweet flower girl, Adeline Soderburg, who is also now my niece.

Ridge's younger brother Remington was the best man.

Ridge's friend, Josh, from CA. He is also a photographer, and, even though I haven't gotten to see him much, in my experience he is great fun.

Ridge's brother River, who is six months older than I am, and does love so to rub it in.

Here is my own brother, Christian. I think this is a fantastic picture of a fantastic guy. I love him! :-)
Somehow we missed getting a portrait of Roshua! If I find one, I'll stick it in here. He's also a wonderful B.I.L.

Here is the Christina Wu that I bought. As happens with many brides, I had a distinct idea of what I wanted, and ended up finding something very different. I loved the simplicity and clean lines, and though I didn't think I could do a big train, it was perfect.

Waiting for our "reveal." (which, by the way, I am very glad that we did. It was so helpful to see and talk to each other beforehand. The ceremony was much less stressful that way.)
(self-explanatory)

The guys had a fun time goofing off while we all got ready.

Finally, it was time to put on my veil, which I had fun sewing.

Megan was my Maid of Honor. We have been best friends since we were eight and nine, and she has had a real impact on my life. She also was so helpful with the wedding. Believe it or not, she sewed all the bridesmaids' beautiful dresses. Amazing.

My cousin, Rachel, who moved here three years ago, and I am so glad she did!! We have so much fun together now.

Anna Takahashi was introduced to me through Megan. She is a really sweet friend, and was so gracious to come all the way from San Diego to be my bridesmaid.

Ridge's sister Raijoice. She has been a great friend, and though it's only recently been official, I feel like we've been sisters for a long time.

Raydeemie is also Ridge's sister, and she is such fun! We always have something to laugh about together.

We were/are so happy!

Now, that's a big family!!

Tyler Rasmussen (videographer) let us pose by his cute, cute, CUTE VW.

No. 1
No.2
No.3
So now, 6 1/2 weeks later, we are settled into our daily routines, and enjoying marriage very much. We have so much fun together making up parodies and silly faces, discussing doctrine and morals, drinking coffee and running errands. Having each other in every aspect of our lives has been such a wonderful learning experience, and as fabulous as being "in love" is, being committed to love makes it so much more beautiful.

“Love means the body, the soul, the life, the entire being. We feel love as we feel the warmth of our blood, we breathe love as we breathe air, we hold it in ourselves as we hold our thoughts. Nothing more exists for us. Love is not a word, it is a wordless state indicated by four letters.”
- Guy de Maupassant

New Habit

2010-11-22T13:44:00.000-08:00

I've always loved the library, and now I get to enjoy it more than I ever did before. We come here once or twice a week to use to the internet, and the huge stack of books by my side of the bed testifies to my having found other occupation here as well. Three of my favorite new books are:
This was a fun little book. I enjoyed the tips for choosing clothes and putting together outfits suited to one's one particular style and age.
I really like this one because:
1. I don't do a lot of makeup
2. when I do wear it, I want it right
3. I don't have loads of money or patience for anything complicated or expensive.
And lastly, a fun cookbook I found, written especially for the first year of marriage. Unfortunately, many of the ingredients are a bit exotic (read: expensive) but still a fun read nonetheless.
Tune in next time for: Wedding pictures finally!

You made my frown turn upside down, and now my worries are gone

2010-11-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

I can't write much now, because I'm just using the library internet, but our wedding & honeymoon were just fabulous. Everything has been so much fun. We had ten days to enjoy ourselves in Whitefish, Missoula, Philipsburg and the Flathead. We did whatever we wanted, whenever the fancy hit us, which meant visiting toy stores, eating paninis, riding a carousel, and listening to Owl City nonstop. Now we've settled into our own little routine, running errands together, and putting the final touches on our apartment. Guess I'd better get going. I just wanted you all to know that I didn't just fall off the face off the Earth. Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving!
(by the way, I am going to be s-l-o-w-l-y revamping my blog a little, so let me know what you think!)

2010-10-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, it's one week until the wedding, and I probably won't be posting any more as things get faster & crazier. Don't worry, I'll come back, and I'll still come by to see if you all are behaving yourselves. So, for a little pre-hiatus eye candy, I thought I'd share something special I found. Even though I have my dress, it's still fun to look around at all the lovely ones available. I recently found this boutique that has gorgeous vintage wedding dresses. (as well as prom, jackets, and other goodies) Here were some of the (in my opinion) highlights:
Get your dose of Jackie O. with this little white number. Perfect for a laid-back tea and cookies reception in a garden.

I'm not good at pulling off a big collar, but I think this one is just so pretty. It makes me think of old-fashioned ladies posing for a portrait.

Whimsy and tailoring in one piece is no longer a contradiction. It's fun and care-free, yet snappy and smart as well.

This one really took my breath away. It's obviously not modern, but I cannot say that it looks old. Just pure, sweeping, classic beauty.

Okay, so it looks a little like a christening gown. Or a maternity dress. Or a nightie. It's still adorable, and for those brave enough to try a gathered empire waistline, I say God bless 'em!

To be quite honest, I don't think I could ramain sober and reverent in a dress that says "play!" as much as this one.

Fit for woodland fairy nuptuals, the ragged hem is faciful without looking like a costume.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my little gallery. If you really like them, go to their site. And, if you are ever in the market, most of these dresses are realistically sized, and reasonably priced.

More Engagement Pictures

2010-10-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

Last week, Ridge and I went to Eagle Bend with Rebecca Carstensen and Laurel, to get a few more engagement shots. Rebecca will be doing our wedding pictures, so it was also nice practice. We had fun by this pretty pond.

This one is my favorite.

Other than my unsightly armpit, this is a nice one.

We tried a few times to get the reflection just right.

The fall colors were so pretty!

Up on the rock ledge.

It was a lot of fun.

Skating in the Park

2010-10-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, after my brother's classes in town, we went to Woodland Park with the Comstocks and Matt Underhill. You may recall my post two years ago, when I had bought myself a pair of old skates. I hadn't used them for quite awhile, (there doesn't seem to be much pavement around here) and so I finally got a chance. I'm sure I looked rather pathetic out there, failing and rolling ever so slowly, but I wasn't alone, 'cause my BFF Megan was there rollerblading with nearly the same amount of grace and prowess. My, did we have fun though! It was great, getting to skate around the pond and such, watching all the little kiddies at play. We finished up by posing by our favorite climbing tree and having Mom document our fun.

'Shrooms

2010-09-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Some of my followers may remember this post I did a couple years ago. Well, I still haven't lost my love of small odd things (don't say it, I know what you're thinking) This year, the inedible mushroom crop has gone gangbusters. When I went to check our mailbox yesterday, I noticed how many different kinds there were, so I rushed back to the house, grabbed the camera, and took a self-guided fieldtrip through the woods. Here is some of what I found. This splendidly ugly specimen was right near our water spigot.

These little buttony bumps were in the front yard.

Oooohh yuck!

This one is almost inverted.

I thought this looked like a birdbath.

The spiked horror. Strange, but true.

Disclaimer: I do not eat mushrooms, nor would I advise anyone else to. They are disgusting, and furthermore, wild mushrooms must be properly identified prior to consumption by those who insist on eating gross stuff.

New Blog

2010-09-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

If you want to take a look at our wedding website, now you can! I'm not done with it yet, but I figured I'd get the word out.

Jolly Good

2010-09-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, official new favorite stuff alert. Today I found the most fantastic brand of nail polish: butter LONDON. The colors are cute, the name is mahvelous, and I am angsting to get myself some.

London isn't known for being sunny, but no matter the weather, yellow like this can brighten your day.

Is it turquoise? Wedgwood? Lagoon? Whatever it is, it's simply splendid.

Every girl needs at least one bottle of a good, reliable red with some serious oomph.

This one I put on specifically for my future niece's benefit. A pink for the ages. Bright enough for tots, sophisticated enough for those who wish to be sophisticated. (laughing at self)

And last but not least, an old standby for those of us who like our nails naked, thank you very much.

Go to the site & see all the other colors!! They also carry a black tea lotion with a bright and sassy union jack on the bottle.

Insufficient Postage

2010-08-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my laziness. I have been up to other stuff, honest. We've been getting the wedding together, and so far, when I have despaired of life, Ridge has proved an able therapist. Decorations are underway, all the attendants' outfits are nearly done, and yesterday we bought Ridge's ring and met with his friend Eric Dye, who will be playing live music for our prelude and reception. *whew!* We've also been planning our honeymoon together, and by all indications, we are going to have a lot of fun.
Last weekend, we all went to Lake Koocanusa to camp. I never sleep well when I'm camping, so I'm usually a grouchy old toad, but I did really enjoy shopping in Eureka and Libby. (yes, we go camping so we can shop- I thought everybody did that?) I found a Betsy and Aiden cocktail dress for the rehearsal dinner, a couple vintage Pyrex storage containers, some gorgeous yarn, and in the thrift store, I got a new /w tags Banana Republic pink silk blouse. Size? Petite small.
So, the trip wasn't so bad after all. Getting to shower & shave can change a girl's retrospect.

Last Sunday

2010-08-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

Megan offered to take some of our engagement pictures, so on Sunday, we went to Sliter's park and a little bitty park off the Swan River. It was lovely weather, and a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

It took a minute, but we got this one figured out before too long. Romeo entreats Juliet's love. Juliet laughs.

I like this airy, sun-washed effect.

We also got some funny outhouse pictures, but those are for another post.

more news...

2010-08-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

Due to unforeseen practicalities, we have moved the wedding date to the 23rd of October.
Same place, same people.

gasp

2010-08-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

For a long time I've read those stories about gals and their wedding dresses, and how, when they find "The One," they cry and shriek and jump around and......yeah, basically a huge emotional overreaction. I knew I wouldn't get that way. (I figured that I'm...you know, sensible) I'd tried on a pile of dresses in Missoula, and hadn't found "The One," so I was resigning myself to the prospect of sewing my own.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a perfectly decent seamstress, but having my wedding gown done in 9 weeks was daunting. So this morning, when Mom suggested I give Mimi's Bridal another try, I was somewhat reluctant. I hadn't had good luck there before, so why would I now?

The proprieter helped me in and out of a couple lovely ones, none of which were like "WOW! Super Amazing!" Then, she introduced the next one as being designed by Christina Wu.

Oh.

It's.

PERFECT!

It fits like a dream, and with the exception of hemming, it needs minimal alteration.

No, I didn't scream, but since it took my breath away, I know it's The One.
I would describe it here a little, but I happen to know that my fiance has a habit of dropping by my blog now and again. Suffice it to say, it is simple, elegant, and now it's my own. :-)

An Update

2010-08-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

We have set our official wedding date for October 16, at Mountain View Mennonite Church.
Hooray!

He Asked....

2010-08-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are at long last, and happy as clams!
On Monday morning, Ridge left me a package on the front step. Inside was a lovely grey silk dress, a pink gossamer shawl, and instructions to meet him on one of the trails near Strawberry Lake. I walked part of it with my parents, and went farther on my own. Ridge met me at the top of a hill, and led me to a beautiful fairy bower, within which he had prepared a picnic with roses, fruit, and coffee. :-)We were both fairly nervous, but once he had me ringed, (or is that rung?) we were back to ourselves again, only happier.

That evening, we celebrated with our closest friends and family, (thanks, everybody!) and now we are headlong into planning for an October wedding.

A Change of Nomenclature

2010-08-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

As of yesterday, on the event of the bestowal of a very particular piece of jewelry on my left fourth finger, I hereby and thenceforth have given my dear friend Ridge a new title. He is my fiancee. (I am his likewise, and gladly) I do not have time now, but will shortly elaborate on the details, and include some pictures.

A Tube and a Hot Summer Day

2010-07-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

After church yesterday, we decided to spend our afternoon floating the Swan River on our inner tubes. We did it in akind of a twosome/threesome style, with Ridge, Megan, and I hanging on to each other's tubes for most of the way.

Our Internet connection isn't loading pictures well. Maybe I'll post more, but I'll be at Grandma's for the next three days. Have a nice week!

I Gotsa Pancake

2010-07-12T18:23:00.000-07:00

Now, you all probably know about my friend Megan, and how much she loves bananas. Well, I happen to be a fan also. They are yummy, and a good source of potassium. After we had been in town for several hours today, we came home wondering what we should do for dinner. Spying some past-their-prime bananas on the counter, I figured it was a good time to try something I've been curious about for awhile. It was quite good, if I do say so myself. So, this one's for you, Megan. Enjoy the eats and tunes. :-)

Banana Pancakes

2 1/2 c. flour (I prefer wheat)
2 t. baking powder
2 beaten eggs
2 c. milk
2 T. cooking oil
1 c. rolled oats
3 very ripe, well smushed bananas

Mix dry ingredients, add wet ingredients, gradually stir in bananas. Spoon 1/4 c. blobs onto griddle at medium heat. Cook on both sides. Flip onto plates, top with your preference of goodies. Simple.

How I Show My Patriotism

2010-06-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

First, I get some red...then I grab a little white...

and top it all off with a splash of blue!

Wishing you all a happy Independence Day!

I took the GED!

2010-06-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hooray! I'm so glad to be done! And it really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.
(picture courtesy of OM International)

Finally!

2010-06-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

Here's the dress I worked on forever.I'm so glad to be done with that project!! It was fun to have an excuse to get all dolled up. I kinda like my hair curly. And I even got to show off my hot farmer tan. (yeah right) ;-P

I submitted the pictures to JoAnn's prom contest, with hopes of snagging the $50,000 grand prize. Wish me luck!

Other news is that we got a puppy. She's a red heeler/black lab cross, and cute as all get-out. I'm not known for being a dog lover, but Sadie (short for Mercedes) has me smitten.

Awful cute, I say.

Lookee!

2010-06-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yessir, a happy day indeed. I am now "officially" a high school graduate. It's a good feeling, knowing that I've completed a twelve-year endeavor. I'm also very thankful for my parents who decided to educate me at home. It's so great to look back on those days of copying rules, taking tests, learning facts, sobbing through math, and writing papers, and knowing that it all paid off in the end.
The diploma doesn't really mean that much to me other than to signify that, every time an impossible equation stared my quaking self in the face, there really was hope at the end.
I'm so happy that many of the dearest people in my life were able to come and celebrate our graduation with us. We couldn't have asked for a better day. Thanks, everybody, for making this time so memorable!

I'm Back

2010-06-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the hiatus. There will be more as Summer progresses, but I'll try to keep you guys updated now and then.

Last weekend was a blast! Lake Koocanusa really is my favorite spot to camp, and Eureka is the most darlingest little place to comb 2nd hand shops and grab a bite. I had the pleasant hap of finding the perfect skirt. There is a fantastic cafe that we always eat at, the name of which I haven't yet learned because I'm always too busy making a bee-line for the entrance. I just know that they make the most yummy sammich.

On Friday night, my beau got to come up, so that made it extra special.Eric and Tara also got to stay with us.On Saturday, we went to a really dinky Amish auction. I didn't get to take a pony ride, but I did get a ladybug balloon. We also went to the famous swinging bridge.When we got back, we went canoeing.

Megan and Rachel on the beach.

Me with my sweet cuz.

I loved all the mud and slime. Significant other was not so impressed.

We can usually reconcile our differences though. So now I'm home. I've showered, shaved, and gotten a decent night's sleep, but am still enjoying the memories we made up in the Kootenai.

Ta-da!

2010-05-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the veil I sewed recently. It was over 4 yards of diaphanous illusion fabric, with yellow ribbon and a premade crown. It was a lot of fun, although next time hopefully I'll have more than four days' notice.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

2010-05-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I think we are.

Believe it or not, we don't spend all our time together being silly. Last Thursday, we listened to a great sermon by Louie Giglio, and last night was our last performance with the Valley Voices. We sang at two nursing homes, and Ridge convinced me to sing the duet with him in "It Had To Be You." I think he's trying to train me out of my stage fright.
Last weekend, I sewed a veil for a gal in our church who got married, and I'll post pictures once I get them.

so here we are...

2010-05-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I took Ridge down to one of my favorite spots by the lake, and we finally got some pictures of us together.

Everything was so gorgeous.

With one of my fabulous prospective BILs.

I think we look kinda cute together. But I'm biased. ;-)

Big News

2010-05-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, so maybe everybody saw it coming. Not maybe, I know they did. I'm still jazzed anyway. You wanna know my news? As of last Saturday, Ridge and I are officially courting! See? I'll bet that none of you even blinked when you read that. Anyway, we are both very happy, and we could definitely use your prayers during this time.

I didn't want to post on this until we had a picture of us together, but I'll just have to give an update when we do. :-)

My New Favorite Snack

2010-05-04T16:12:00.001-07:00

I've never been really wild about figs, these are YUM!!

I have other things I need to post about as well, but this must suffice for now...

The Woes of Seamstry

2010-04-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

(Note: I am well aware of the fact that seamstry is not an actual word)

245
I held a Jewel in my fingers-
And went to sleep-
The day was warm, and winds were prosy-
I said "Twill keep"-

I woke- and chid my honest fingers,
The Gem was gone-
And now, an Amethyst remembrance
Is all I own-

Emily Dickinson again. This poem well expresses my sentiment of the moment. The bodice of my dress is giving me absolute fits. If, for one minute, I think I am in control of things, the next minute, there is surely something awry. It seems bent on gaping at the armpits. Naturally, this is easier to fix than it being outragiously tight, but it is still quite the headache.
I have consoled myself; however, with the fact that I have been able to construct a very complex and aggravating skirt. The hourglass runs very quickly, as the banquet is now only six days away. This is where the poster on Rayia's blog comes in handy. Hopefully, all will go well. At least I have my makeup figured out. :-)

What I Want to Look Like This Fall

2010-04-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, so the hat with pom-poms is a little much. Anyway, I like the rest of it. You can't go wrong with pleated skirts, and the tights and sweater are adorable. By the way, if you like the lovely girl modeling this ensemble, check her out: Ellowyn Wilde. The cutest (and most enviably fashionable) dolls, ever.

My Latest Project

2010-04-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that I don't post pictures anymore, other than those I pirate from around the Internet. *blush* This is because our camera is currently at large. *sigh* So, when we do find it, there will be a barrage of photo documentation of my exploits. But for now, I can at least tell you.
On the 30th, the FHEA is putting on the annual senior banquet.
And this year, I'M A SENIOR!!! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell; I'm just really happy and excited. So, I'm making a new dress. It seems like any chance I get, I embark on another formal. Here is the pattern I'll be using:

Of course, it will look a little less *ahem* columnesque. Mine is soft gray shantung (I like shantung) and it will eventually have a spray of pink flowers & leaves across the bodice. I have a piece of filmy fabric that I will use to drape over the shoulders in a Grecian-style twist. Hopefully, by the time I finish, there will be a camera nearby.

Nicole let me borrow a pair of her shoes, but that's another story altogether.

2010-04-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you see who my favorite poet is. I guess my posts will be Dickinsen, unless something else grabs me.

No Prisoner be –
Where Liberty –Himself —
abide with Thee –

I love this one, it's very comforting.

More Dickinsen

2010-04-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Put a Spring in Your Step

2010-04-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

I love heels. Next to coffee, I think they are one of the greatest things on God's good earth. In the dead of winter, when sensible folk wear Uggs, Sorels, and other such footwear, I somehow manage to mince around through their footprints, still wearing the {darling} shoes which should have been in the closet months ago.

So, you can imagine my glee at being able to wear my favorite ones yesterday (and I hope you all had a blessed Passion Week and Resurrection Sunday!) to church without wet, muddy, or frozen toes. And what could be better in Springtime than a pair of sunshiny heels? Here are some favorites I found on ModCloth:

Very cute and vintage. (makes me think of picnics)

A stamp of seniority for those who can't get enough of the preppy schoolgirl look.

A fun tip of the hat to the Flathead Valley's famous cherry crop. (and the yellow heel is an unexpected pop of color)

(these are from Zappos) Heels don't have to be skyscrapers in order to make an impact. These are just adorable, with the bright pink eyelet.

Spring

2010-04-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." ~Audra FoveoIsn't Springtime just grand? The sunshine has been so wonderful, and every green thing is finally waking! How exciting it is!
April is National Poetry Month, so I am going to be posting some of my favorite poems throughout. Here is one by Emily Dickinsen:

XLVIII
FATHER, I bring thee not myself,—
That were the little load;
I bring thee the imperial heart
I had not strength to hold.
The heart I cherished in my own
Till mine too heavy grew,
Yet strangest, heavier since it went,
Is it too large for you?

And, a familiar one from my childhood by Robert Louis Stevenson:

Where Go the Boats?
Dark brown is the river.
Golden is the sand.
It flows along for ever,
With trees on either hand.

Green leaves a-floating,
Castles of the foam,
Boats of mine a-boating—
Where will all come home?

On goes the river
And out past the mill,
Away down the valley,
Away down the hill.

Away down the river,
A hundred miles or more,
Other little children
Shall bring my boats ashore

Virginia Stem Owens

2010-03-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

One of the most powerful essays I have read this year (thus far) is The Hand In The Wound, by Virginia Stem Owens. I am disappointed to have not been able to find it on the Internet, but should you want to read it too, perhaps a local library would prove helpful.
Owens' essay is basically about flesh and the deterioration thereof. It's morbid, and a little bit frightening. Yet, it is also a compelling call to examine the frailty of our earthen shells, and the awesome reality that our Savior came and made Himself like us in our mortality.
Do read it.

A Fancy, Lovely Birthday

2010-03-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

I was given so many fabulous gifts on my birthday, and here is one of my favorites: I'm not much of one for perfume, but this is different. We get those Herberger's flyers in the mail, (you know, like everyone else) and there is usually a perfume sample in there. They all smell good, but after a while, they all seem like the same stuff. Not this one. As soon as I got a whiff, I was -there's no other word for it- transported. Rapture, bliss, and delectation don't come close to describing it. So, every few months, it was "Mommy, when I turn 18...." "Mommy, for my birthday..." until I opened that pretty little box. Ahhh..... Thank you, Mommy!!

Summer Dresses

2010-03-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

I love these festive dresses. Perfect with a white cardigan, straw hat, and iced tea. A simplistic melon-flavored number a la Hepburn, courtesy of J. Crew.

A pretty poppy field by Anthropologie.
Ahhh.....now I'm craving summer. Well, I suppose it will come soon enough.

Tag from Laurel

2010-03-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

1. High heels or boots? Heels, I'll wear boots if I really have to, though.

2. What time did you get up this morning? let's not go there

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Toy Story 1 & 2 3D

4. What is your name? Hannah

5. What is your favorite TV show? haven't watched many, probably Little House on the Prairie or Father Murphy. Hokey, I know

6. What do you usually have for breakfast? usually something with peanut butter

7. What is your middle name? Elizabeth

8. What food do you dislike? I HATE MUSHROOMS!!

9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? With Love From Russell Watson

10. What characteristic do you despise? backtalk, loud, overbearingness

11. Favorite clothing? fun skirts, cute flats, the occasional sassy pair of heels, and anything eyelet or corduroy

12. Anywhere in the world on vacation? France, Switzerland, Iceland, or the nearest ski resort

13. Are you an organized person? not usually, but when I am, I love it.

14. Where would you retire to? a little chateau nestled up in the mountains. that, or an ecovillage

15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My 18th!!

16. What are you going to do when you finish this? eat something

17. What is your Birthstone? aquamarine

18. Person you expect to publish this first? ???

19. When is your birthday? March (icky)

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? I can sometimes pull off both. nights are fun, but I feel awesome in the morning

21. What is your shoe size? stillettos? 5 1/2. flats or tennies? 6-6 1/2

22. Do you own any animals? eh- um- yuck.

23. Any news you'd like to share? I am 18!! I am excited about...um....everything! (stay tuned)

24. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? A lion tamer (I kid you not)

25. What is your favorite flower? light pink roses, and anything small and white.

26. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? May 1st

27. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? bright green

28. How is the weather right now? cloudy with a chance of interesting

29. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Mrs. Mallery

30. Favorite drink? Water, coffee, and tea

31. Favorite restaurant? El Topo

32. Hair color? light brown with blondish highlights.

33. What was your favorite toy as a child? Breyer Horses and stuffed animals

34. Summer or winter? winter

35. Chocolate or vanilla? chocolate

36. Coffee or tea? it depends on my mood. I've done both at once!

37. Wish you were still young? ah yes, past my bloom, looking back on the good years... HARDLY!!

38. Do you want your friends to publish this? okay by me

39. When was the last time you cried? several weeks ago

40. What is under your bed? scrapbook stuff, a box of vintage linens, and probably a lonely sock

41 . What did you do last night? had the most fabulous party with a bunch of my favorite people

42. What are you afraid of? not realizing other's needs, my own insensitiviy and sin

43. Salty or sweet? sweet

44. Best quality you have? well, I've been told that I have a contagious laugh, and am generally pretty nice. I'll go with that

45. How many years at your current job? um....12? (I'm a student)

46. Favorite day of the week? Sunday

47. What four people will you tag? whoever wants to do it can!

big news

2010-03-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

Today (last night, rather) I turned 18. Ta-da! I made it. I have no gleaming pearls of wisdom to bestow, no lofty visions to relate. Ancora Imparo.

Tag from Jillian

2010-03-11T08:32:00.000-08:00

Rules:
1.Choose any amount of friends, blog friends or real life friends, and say at least two things(Or more!) you admire or like about them.
2. Tag the friends that you wrote about.
3.If those friends have blogs, make sure to link to them!

I chose three of you to elaborate on:

1. Jillian You are really sweet and fun to be around. I am just tickled to have you as my friend, and that you are game for letting me decorate your toes. You have an amusingly inaudible laugh, and great taste. Basically, you are a lot of fun to be around.

2. Megan My life would hardly be as colorful without you. With our history together, it's difficult to sum it all up here. You have been such a dear companion. We are so simultaneously similar and yet different, it's really incredible. You always have fabulous ideas, and whenever you help me out, I must congratulate myself on finding a friend like you! :-)

3. Josh Even though it's been a long time since I saw you, I'm glad we can keep in touch more or less. You have a singular sense of humor, and I love how you get paranoid over everything. But you are also enthusiastic over everything, which is a trait I could very well envy.

Familiar Feeling

2010-03-09T12:03:00.001-08:00

Does anyone else ever feel like this?

A Change in Plans

2010-03-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday I read the reviews, and I was very disappointed to discover that the long-awaited Alice in Wonderland has some -ahem- not so clean stuff in it. Part of me says "hey, maybe it's not that terrible, maybe the reviewer was exaggerating, etc." But I know that I definitely don't want to take my friends to a movie that probably is going to make us all very uncomfortable. (and perhaps a wee bit conscience-smitten) Since I've been duly warned, I know that it just won't be worth it. So, we might just end up at my place, eating cupcakes and playing Whatzit.

Wow.

2010-03-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

I found an Alice-themed wedding:
Alice Wedding

Alice Returns (just in time for my birthday)

2010-02-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

Remember when I posted about this? Well, here is what I'm going to go see for my 18th birthday, with (hopefully) my very bestest friends! YAHOO!!

By the way, I think this picture is just great. The Queen of Hearts & her little shmutzy-pie.

Adiemus

2010-02-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

This was fun.
If someone says "This is okay", you say: Short People (of course they're okay)
What would best describe your personality? He Lives in You (I like that)
What do you like in a guy/girl? Summer Rain (adventuresome? romantic? what does this mean?)
What is your life's purpose? Orinoco Flow (I hope not)
What is your motto? The Hairbrush Song *Ha!*
What do your friends think of you? Miracle (naturally)
What do you think about very often? China Roses (I do like roses...hmmm)
What is 2+2? Send Me on My Way (i.e. get me out of here! I hate math!)
What do you think of your best friend? Flower Duet ( I couldn't have said it better myself)
What do you think of a person you like? Altar Call (like, getting married?!?!)
What is your life story? October Sky Theme (pwetty)
What do you want to be when you grow up? Always There (it might be difficult, yes)
What do you think when you see a person you like? Amore e Musica (Love and Music? "I like you, Love and Music!" sort of strange...)
What do your parents think of you? Peace Train (I was an obedient child) {;-D
What will you dance to at your wedding? Here You Come Again (cracking up)
What will they play at your funeral? Only Time (that suits)
What is your hobby/interest? Rain (um...meteorology?)
What is your biggest secret? This Good Day (with coffee, it's always good)
What do you think of your friends? 10,000 Miles (very fitting)
What's the worst thing that could happen? Snoopy vs. The Red Baron (yeah, dogfights are pretty bad)
How will you die? A Simple Man (that is pretty creepy)
What's the one thing you regret? Me and You and a Dog Named Boo (there's a few dogs I've regretted)
What makes you laugh? Trains and Winter Rains (okay, so I have a rather morbid sense of humor)
What makes you cry? The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (yeah, that was actually very sad)
Will you ever get married? Vincent (a guy named Vincent? I don't know, I sure hope not)
What scares you the most? You and Me Together (am I just antisocial or what?)
Does anyone like you? La Vie en Rose (uh....)
If you could go back in time, what would you change? The Call (of nature?)
What hurts now? Your Love Broke Through (yikes! this is so applicable right now, it scares me)
What do you often exclaim? Fly (not really me, but in an abstract sense, yes)
Where is paradise? You Raise Me Up (go ahead and try)
What did you first say as a baby? One Piece at a Time ( ??)
If you had a pet, what would you name it? Everything is Beautiful (uh.......no.)
What is your favorite sight to see? Grandma's Feather Bed :-)
What makes you gag? Lothlorien (no....)
What are you best at? Lost Without Your Love (so you would miss me?)
If you wrote a book, what would you call it? Under the Stars (it works)
What did you wish for last? Wherever You Are (whoever "you" is)
What would your superhero name be? When She Loved Me (ha, ha)
How soon will this be over? Upendi ( Swahili for love???)
Where are you sitting? Creation Song (that explains a lot, don'cha think?)
What do you most hate? I Would Give Everything I Own (so now you know I'm also materialistic)
What do you most love? Take Good Care of My Baby ( I love taking care of people's babies!)
What do you not care about? Trolley Song ("he said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet...)"
What is your secret name? Edelweiss (small, yes- white, in a sense, yes)
What will you post this as? Adiemus
I tag my followers (again)

Factoid Tag

2010-02-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

FOODOLGY

What is your salad dressing of choice? mmm....depends on the salad. I usually like Italian
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? El Topo
What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it? Mediterranean pasta /w tomatoes, spinach, and feta cheese
What are your pizza toppings of choice? artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and feta
What do you like to put on your toast? PB and honey

TECHNOLOGY

How many televisions are in your house? Uno
What color cell phone do you have? don't have one
What does the first text message in your inbox say and who sent it? something about a tug-of-war rope.
Who was the last person to call you? Ridge- scratch that- John Mark

BIOLOGY

Are you right-handed or left-handed? right
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? blood.
What is the last heavy item you lifted? Justice Mallery

RANDOMOLOGY

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? No way!
If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I'm not sure...something old-fashioned
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? maybe

DUMBOLOGY

How many pairs of flip flops do you own? flops aren't really my thing. I wear flats.
Last time you had a run-in with the cops? never
Last person you talked to in person? my bro'
Favorite Month? May!!

CURRENTOLOGY

Missing someone? uh huh.
Mood? glad, confused, sewing feverish
What are you listening to? Joni Mitchell
Watching? my weight
Worrying about? not a whole lot

RANDOMOLOGY

What’s the last movie you watched? "The Incredibles" (finally)
Do you smile often? I think so. Ask someone else.
Do you always answer your phone? I try to
It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it? I don't have a cell phone. Now, if your counting mental telepathy...
If you could change your eye color what would it be? blue!!
What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? I hate Sonic. And most other fast food, for that matter.
Do you own a digital camera? Mom and I have dual custody
Have you ever had a pet fish? no sir
Favorite Christmas song? Cantique de Noel
What’s on your wish list for your birthday? Fancy Love by Jessica Simpson (perfume)
Can you do push-ups? a few
Can you do a chin up? never tried
Do you have any saved texts? yep.
Ever been in a car wreck? no
Do you have an accent? No, sugah dahlin'
What is the last song to make you cry? Nella Fantasia
Plans tonight? don't know
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? emotionally, yes
You ever been given roses? no, but I've thought of buyig them for myself.
Current hate right now? 80's high waisted jeans.
What were you doing 12 AM last night? feeling blessed and so happy to be alive.
What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
"Rise and shine! Stretch and drink my vinegar tonic!"

I tag all my followers.

I Eat Hearts

2010-02-09T10:39:00.000-08:00

Knew that would get ya.

I love eating artichoke hearts. They are a good (albeit morbid) way to commemorate the day of hearts. Of course, I also like to celebrate by giving and getting Valentines!

Last night I watched the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics, and WOW!! I was blown away. My favorite parts were the commemorative trapeze act for the Georgian luger who died in practice, and the wild tap dancing fiddlers in their funky kilts and spark-throwing shoes. I'm not huge on sports, but I do want to see the skiing and snowboarding. I'd like to see that fabled double-cork that Shaun White is working on. Anyway, have a Happy Valentine's Day and enjoy the snowy show!

They Have Arrived!!

2010-02-03T18:50:00.000-08:00

Today my new shoes were delivered! They are just as lovely as I expected, and fit as though some dear cobbler had my particular feet in mind. I felt like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly when I slipped them on! Now I am ready for Springtime, baby showers, or anything else calling for winsome whiteness. I don't think I've owned a pair of little white shoes since I was in Sunday School, but now I'd say I'm quite soundly smitten.