Worldly Woes

I have birthday posts and photos to upload and share...but for now, this is what I'm thinking about today.

The Lord has been teaching me something for a long time now.  I've only recently come to be aware of it.  Isn't it frustrating how dumb we humans can be?  If I could only see the Lord's purpose more clearly, I feel like I would be alot better off.  But obviously that's not true, as His ways are perfect and his plans were established long ago.

Anyway.  The lesson is (has been) letting go, more and more, of my own pride in my self-image, as attested to by my nice things,  And, oh, how hard my sinful little soul holds onto my pretty things.  I relate completely to the "My precioussss" of Gollum.  Sadly.

These are out of order, but the way I became aware of them as lessons.

First, the couch.  Oh, the couch.  We had a lovely couch and chair set, bought with money from my grandparents, when we were first married.  Brown leather, expensive looking.  They were kind of sealed with this great top layer thing that made them super tight and slippery.  And we thought, "Hey, someday these will just shed the drinks/food/messes that kids make.  Great choice!"  They were very impressive. Then. About a year ago, they began to...slough.  To peel.  To...lose the top layer of their shiny brown leather.  Underneath, I kid you not, was a layer akin to....raw cow skin.  Pinky-pale and the texture of suede.  Hid.e.ous.  They almost hurt to look at.  There was this human, painful aspect to their underskin.  Ugh.

Second, clothes.  I love clothes.  Dearly, with an affection that would do any style icon credit.  I have an extraordinarily lovely grandmother, with the most classic and beautiful taste.  Over the years, she taught me to dress and to buy clothes in a way that I am very proud of.  She still--always--looks flawless.  Her favorite designers are Ralph Lauren and such.  Think the styles of Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly.  She's amazing.

Also over the years, she bought me things.  Quality, lovely, classic things that are still as perfect for wear today as they were when she bought them--some of them 15 years ago.  So I have a literal wardrobe full of gorgeous, expensive things that I could never afford to buy myself these days.  Which was the point of her (and of course, my parents, who added to her purchases) buying them: develop a classic wardrobe that will always serve you well.

Except that was a good 30-40 pounds ago, and I cannot wear a single stitch of that clothing.  I haven't for years.  I honestly can't even believe I am confessing this to you.  It's so awful.  I can hear you thinking, "Hellloooo, Abbie.  Go on a diet (another one).  Get outside and go running, etc. "  I know.  I'll get to that (in another post), but stick with me for a minute on the lesson that this baby-and-all-that-follows weight has helped me learn.  Because, like my couch, those lovely clothes sit in my house, unable to make me look good.  Unable to be produced as an indication of our personal success in awesomeness.  In fact, they do the opposite: that couch made us (and the whole living room) look like what we were: a struggling family, unable to replace the raw-skinned monster.  And the zippers on those clothes are constant, unchanging testament to my failure to revamp myself and Get My Body Back (although it is very much still here, in excess!).  It's also evidence that I can't replace those clothes.  I go to Target instead.  And believe me, THAT is a humbling thing: wearing fat, Target jeans with a closet full of skinny designer clothes.

Another clothes-oriented occurrence:  laundry disasters.  I asked for and received several items of clothing for my birthday last week.  I spent waaaay too long on Pinterest and the internet, deciding what things I needed to spruce up my fall wardrobe, where to get them least expensively, etc.  Like I said, I love clothes.  So.  The first time I wore the cute, navy-and-white striped long sleeved tee from Gap that I LOVED, I splattered bleach all over it.  Now it is striped and also spotted.  Then Mom bought me a light-blue chambray blouse from Gap.  Which I washed according to directions (CAREFULLY keeping away from the bleach!).  There was a green crayon--just the tiniest tip of the point--in one of Caleb's pockets.  All over my new shirt.  Soooooo very frustrating.  I may have used some colorful language, slammed some dryer doors and generally thunked around in a bit of a fit when that happened.

So even my new, nice clothes are unable to make me look good.

And now, The Car.  Actually, it doesn't deserve capitol letters.  It's bad.

Simon bought a Honda Accord when we were dating.  It replaced a really, truly awful car, far worse than the one I am about to describe, but that's another story for a different day.  Anyway, we've had it since; it's now the kid car, and I drive it.  It has acquired a very distinct flavor over the past 8 years.  First, a year into our marriage, a tree hit Simon on a camping trip.  Three days after our car insurance expired (unbeknownst to me!).  The large dent in the back driver's side door has never been repaired.  Then, the car sat out in the Insane Sun in Wichita Falls, and instead of remaining a respectable black shiny color, the paint has sort of faded away on all the corners, so it's got these large silver splotches all over.  But why repaint a car with a dent?  Silly.

Then, the car began to make this...noise.  I noticed it when I pulled up to drive-throughs.  It's not super loud but it's a revolving sort of ksss-ksss-KSSS-ksss noise that has something to do with belts but isn't an actual problem.  It's worst when idling.

And finally, the spoiler.  THIS is kind of awesome, in a redneck way:  One day, I was driving along and I heard a knocking, banging noise every time I went over a bump.  I could see in the rearview that one side of the spoiler had disconnected and was kind of flapping in the wind and bumping the trunk.  I called Simon and asked what I should do--I think I was on a road trip to meet my mom and I was worried it would blow off and go through someone's windshield and decapitate them.  Conversation as follows:

Me:  So...what should I do?

Simon:  Just get out and pull it off.

Me:  A piece of the car?  Just...pull it off?

Simon:  Well, yeah.

Me:  Can I DO that?

Simon: If you pull hard enough.

Me:  That's not what I meant.

Simon then basically used his kind, wife-appropriate words to tell me to Man Up and get it done. So I did.  I pulled over, I kid you not, onto a dirt road off the highway.  I got out.  I approached the spoiler.  I inspected the situation.  I put my hands on the spoiler.  And I basically pulled and twisted and yanked on the thing in a very ungraceful and mostly out-of-control manner, which resulted in me suddenly freeing the thing, finding it up over my head as a result of the over-pull that finally wrenched it off, and taking a rapid succession of steps backward to maintain a standing position.  Then, perhaps, a victorious yell of accomplishment while brandishing it midair.

At that point, I had an unexpected quandary.  What to do with this thing?  My first instinct (Lord knows why) was to throw it into the abundant brush nearby and drive away.  That, I reasoned with myself, was not a good idea.  So...I put the spoiler in the trunk.  A sentence I never thought I'd write.

By the way, it's still there.  Where else am I gonna put it?  It...belongs with the rest of the car, right?

Okay so all this car discussion to give you context for the first time I pulled up and stopped (ksss-kssss-KSSS-ksss) in the carpool line.

This is a very nice private school.

There were alot of very nice vehicles in line.  Actually, only very nice vehicles. (kssss-kssss-KSSSS-ksss) And I opened the door and got out to meet my son (that's how they do it there, and all the other mothers got out, too).  And it sounded like this:  kssss-kssss-KSSSSS-kssssss, kssss-ksssss-KSSSS-kssss.... 

And, sigh, there I was again, unable to be perfect or show off.  In fact, just the opposite: my little, paid-for, low-gas, low-maintenance, perfectly good and actually a wise financial choice car, was attesting to my own inability to replace it.  To have something better than anyone else.  Or even equal to everyone else.

I mentioned we're new there, right?  That I know almost no one, and that I'm pretty much depending on the school to provide friends and community.  And, luckily for me, I was able to laugh in that moment.  And to reason through my situation, which is that, were we NOT attending this lovely school, we would probably be able to afford a new car.  But that I wouldn't--really, truly wouldn't--make that trade for anything.  And that it's worth it, so worth it.  Even if it's not just the price of a car, but also my pride.

There are more of these kind of stories.  Lots more.  Money we don't have, a rental home that I can't change or fix up (good grief does it NEED it, though), kids' fits that happen in front of the wrong people)...all of it, to me, making me look bad.

And that's exactly why God gives it to me.  Because I care way, way too much about the way I am perceived by others.  If you're a people-pleaser like me, you get it.  It's a motivating factor in my life.  But...it shouldn't be.  My purpose, as beautifully worded by the Westminster Catechism Caleb is so awesomely learning at his school (brag!), is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him.  Not to glorify myself and enjoy myself, which is my natural tendency.  To get gloried up and then enjoy the showoff.

He's teaching me, by means of rust and bleach and bad leather, to step back, set my eyes on him and pull them away from my mirror.  Not to worry about what others see; only to worry about where my gaze is trained.

And here's the other part.  The reason I can write this--is that, now, I get it. And getting it means I can (try to!) react differently to these losses of self.  It's still a terrible shame to ruin a new shirt (I colored in the bleach spots with Sharpie...just so you know), but is it truly meaningful?  Is it an occasion to sin?  Nope.  Easy come, easy go.  This world is not what matters.  These people, the people of this world, their high opinion...not my "end," my audience, my reason.

My end is to obey, love and thereby glorify the Lord.  And so I struggle to--and to keep myself from these other distractions.

Headed out to my God-glorifying car to get the kiddo from his awesome school.

See you soon!

Birthday Candles

This weekend...

Was Simon's 34th birthday.  It was happy, happy!  And (aside from slightly sick kiddos), very relaxing.

A cool front blew in on Saturday and it was in the mid-sixties all morning.  We opened the kitchen windows and the kids played in the backyard while we drank lots of coffee.  Ahhhhh.

I made Simon a huge Mexican dinner (at his request).  It's Pioneer Woman's Shrimp Quesadillas, and Simon's mom's Spanish rice (which is unbelievably good...I'll have to share that recipe with you soon).  Yes, very unhealthy.  But that's what birthdays are for, right?  Oh, also margaritas.  Can't have the Mexican food without those!

Blowing out the candles.  Watch Lyla's face in this progression.

"I didn't blow any out!!"
Poor Lyla.

And I'd like to share one of Simon's birthday presents:  The Best Candle Out There.  I've written about this before, long ago.  Woodwick.  They rock.  Especially their fall and winter lines.  You always know you can pick up a vanilla or a cinnamon candle at any basic grocery store and it'll probably be okay.  (Except I actually hate any and all sweet-food-related candles.  Cinnamon, okay.  Cinnamon bun with gooey maple sauce?  I feel like they make the air sticky.  Also, who wants another reason to crave baked goods?  Anyway.  Sorry for that rant.)  Back to these: really good, more complicated scents are hard to get just right.  Fireside smells like smoke, clean-soap, autumn leaves, rain...it's gorgeous.  Lighting that baby up each fall ups my happiness level by several notches.  Oh! AND they crackle, like a real fire.  Bonus!

This is my favorite, Fireside, recommended a few years ago by a high school friend (hi, Katie!).  Still the best fall-winter scent EVERRRRR.

Okay on to Simon's favorite.  Wait, first, disclaimer.  Simon is NOT the kind of guy who would normally care AT ALL about a candle.  Or spend this kind of money on one (they ain't cheap--20 bucks for a 10 ounce candle).  The story of the Candle Development is as follows:  I forced him to go with me to buy ME a candle for MY birthday last year, mostly because I wanted to hang with him, but also because my summer favorite (the Anthropologie blue volcano one), he HATES.  I used to burn it when we were dating and he always wanted to go out on the balcony of our apartment.  Only told me why after we were married, when he banned that candle from use during his at-home hours.  Soooo, I wanted one I could fire up without spoiling my joy in the candle and/or chasing him outdoors.

He obligingly smelled and sniffed and discussed all kinds of candles with me (poor guy).  And voted, unequivocally, for this:  Woodwick Redwood.

See how he's already burned through half a inch?

And then he burned it every.single. night.  All fall and winter.  He took to pouring himself a drink and settling in with candle burning right next to him.  Guys.  HE lit it.  HE took deep, affectionate breaths of the candle.  HE even began to comment on how much he loved it.

All of this was totally my goal in dragging him to that girlie store, and I was happy.

But it broke during the move, earlier this summer (all two inches of wax that were left were destroyed).  Hence the present.  Which he loves.  (But he did reject the idea of bringing one to the office.  I guess that's where he draws the man-line.)

Anyway--sorry if that was too much discussion of candles.  But...they do merit it, I assure you.

That's about it for this weekend!

My mom is coming tomorrow and I plan to show her around OKC a bit (though I make a rather inexperienced guide!).  I'll be back to share our excursions later!  Also, MY birthday is this weekend, and I've got a list of Virtual Presents I'd Give Myself If I Were a Millionaire.  See you soon!

Bonus Cutie Pie Pic:

HONK!

GUYS.  Oklahoma is different from Texas.

Didn't you know?

Loooots different.  And I intend to write a post on all the fun ways it's different, soon.  Working on it.

But for now, this.

PEOPLE HERE HONK AT EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME!

Now, wait.  Before you think to yourself, "Oh.  Or it's just her.  And she can't drive," let me tell you.  I CAN drive.  So there.  No, but really...I'm not a bad driver.  No tickets since 2008!  No wrecks since before that.  (Despite the huge dent in my side door.  I actually didn't make that.  A tree ran into Simon.  Or so I hear.)  Anyway.  This is a cultural thing.

In Texas, I'm pretty sure that getting honked at means one thing, and one thing only:  *&*#%!!!!  It's like car-ually flipping someone off, or cursing someone out.  And people don't usually just sort of "beep" at each other.  It's almost always a long, double or triple, hate-fueled blast that puts your teeth on edge and makes your heart beat faster for several blocks after that.  It often signals a near-death experience, whether between your car and another car or you and another driver who would really like to kill you.

It's angry.

It's horrible.

I HATE HATE HATE being honked at.  Is that dumb?  I always feel like I've been super-chastened.  I try to car-slink away, and I keep tabs on the Honker until they're gone...I've even turned down streets I had no need of just to get away from Honkers.  If I hear a honk, I jump involuntarily and jerk around, desperately hoping it's not me who has incurred the honk.

Okay.  I'm not insane.  I swear.

Anyway.  It's not like it happens alot, in Texas.  Once a month?  Honking is reserved for SERIOUS emotions and/or situations.

But here.  HERE they honk ALL THE TIME.

3 instances for your consideration.  TWO of these happened TODAY!

1.  As I was pulling out of our driveway today, I was focused on not hitting Simon's car, which was parked to the left of me.  As I neared the street (NOT in it yet), I turned back to the right and saw an oncoming car.  BEFORE I hit the street, I quickly stepped on the brakes.  AFTER my car had come to a complete stop, that car swerved a HUGE swerve to the left (as in, into potentially oncoming traffic), and then after it had gone past my house and well gone, it HONKED.  WHaaaaat???  What did THAT honk say?  "I saw you almost not see me and I swerved and way overcompensated for your proximity BUT I still know you could have backed into me at 2 miles per hour!"  ummmmm....what?  Yet, still, I was blushing and sweating and super embarrassed.  Honking stress!

2.  Leaving the (very crowded) mall today, I got Lyla into her seat, and got into mine.  I reached into the passenger side to grab phone and arrange my things a little before I pulled out.  As I did so, the car behind me, which had pulled up and was waiting to take my space, honked.  A little "beep!" honk.  And I JUMPED out of my seat and did the whole look-around-ashamedly-even-though-I-have-no-idea-what-I-did thing.  And there was this nice lady, sitting, waiting.  She'd just good-naturedly honked at me!  I had no idea that was POSSIBLE, but there she was, just letting me know she was there!  So...what does one DO at that point?  I had this insane urge to honk back, just a little "Hi!  I see you there!  Coming out soon!" beep.  What in the world...?!?  But still too much in Texas mode, I sped (safely) out of that parking lot as fast as I could (again, safely and DRIVING WELL), horrified that I just been honked at for the second time today.

3.  This next one encompasses the 32 times I have been honked at at red lights, waiting to turn, etc, over the past few days.  It's CRAZY.  It's as if they have NONE of the same context for honking as we do, 100 miles to the south.  Not meant to be offensive or even impatient, just...little, communicative honks.

Yall.  This FREAKS me out and I drive around in a constant shame-haze, hyper-aware of my driving, worried that I've become the worst driver EVER.

Yes, it's me.  I'm the one with the problem.

But still...honking.  Do you do it?  Lots?  Or do you reserve it for emergencies?  And...shouldn't we??  If you honk all the time, if you become immune to the Honk, what happens when we REALLY have an emergency?

I am not a fan of the overuse of the honk.  Maybe it's just the Texan in me.

Loving Living in OKC

Well, hello there.

This is me, returning, with lots to say and share.

Let's just jump right in, shall we?  Lots of news, and an "R" theme to organize it all.

Relocation!
Yep, it's big.  And wonderful.  We've moved from Wichita Falls to Oklahoma City.  Been here almost two weeks now.  The short story is this:  Simon got a job.  In the oil and gas industry.

Reaction to Relocation:
This:  WOOOHOOO!  We love it.  We are grateful to the Lord for the blessings he has given us in this opportunity.  Simon is LOVING the job (this is his fourth week), and we have the promise of continued and growing career and abundance in this thriving field.  Again, may I say, woohoo!

Results of Relocation:
There are many, of course.  Far too many to share right now.  I'm already brain cataloging all the things I want to write about since we've moved.  But here are a few:

1.  We are no longer actually Texans.  This has been big for me, mentally.  I absolutely love Texas, and it's a prideful thing to be from there.  When I lived in Italy (for a semester in college), the Italians were always delighted we were from "the Texas!"!  It was like an old western movie to them.  Loved that.  Loved telling them I rode a horse to school as a kid (sorry, scuzzy Italian guys...but you kind of deserved it).  However, I wear the tiny Texas necklace my sweet sister gave me and keep it thereby literally close to my heart.  And, as far as I can tell, OK isn't a step down by any means.

2.  We found the most amazing school for Caleb.  It's called The Academy of Classical Christian Studies, and, oh, be still my classically-educated, scripture-loving heart.  Seriously, check this place out: http://www.theacademyok.org/.  This is the Dream School, one that we were hoping to imitate with home school if we'd stayed in Wichita Falls...but, no WAY could I ever have done it like this school does.  The entirety of the education is designed with the end of creating careful, independent thinkers who live and think and see the world through the lens of the truth of Scripture.  I desperately wish I could return to school and be educated in this way from the ground up, so to speak.

This has been THE thing I have been most excited about, in our move.  Nothing else even comes close.

3.  The school has provided an almost instant community. If you've ever moved to a new city, you know how difficult it can be to "break in," and find like-minded friends, fill your days with ANYTHING, and generally feel like you're actually LIVING there.  Wichita Falls was especially difficult for me (though that was due, in large part, to the almost immediate pregnancy and the resulting months of sickness that kept me from making friends or even leaving the house!).  This place has been the absolute opposite, and it's because of the school.  An immediate, welcoming community of moms and dads who value classical Christian thinking!  It's almost too good to be true.  Except it is true!  I've already been to playdates, the zoo, an amazing coffee place (coffee slingers), and a Bible study.  And...less than two weeks, like I said.  Awesome.

4.  We have been camping out for, again, almost two weeks.  Our furniture?  Still in Texas.  At our old house (anyone need a cute little 3/2/2?).  We intended to only live with our current possessions for a few days.  That turned into longer.  Currently we have these things in our house:
2 pots
1 coffee maker
2 coffee mugs
Mattresses
Clothes
Towels
Washer and dryer
Paper plates
Plastic silverware
4 large blue plastic cups
Cleaning supplies
One laptop
I literally can't think of anything else.

Things we DO NOT have here:
Things upon which to sit.  Of any kind.
A microwave
Non plastic table settings of any kind
Lamps
Tables
Televisions
Almost ANY toys.

So.  Needless to say, the last few week have been interesting.  Lots of picnics.  Lots of lying on the floor, dragging pillows around so we don't have to lie down completely.  Lots of inventing creative things to play instead of having toys. (Who can sweep up the most dead bugs in the enclosed back porch?!?)

Just yesterday, we got the internet and oohhhhhh my goodness what luxury.  The iphone was getting pretty old.  You just can't stalk people on FB with a phone, you know? ;-)

And the 5th RESULT:
5.  Joy!  I have been joying in the newness, in the excitement of discovery, in the school, in the new job (which hubs loves), and, more importantly, struggling to joy in the unknown, the looming, the scary and the downright not good (two house payments?).  It's been SO easy and SO hard, simultaneously.  Seriously, I can go from the highest level of thankfulness and enthusiasm, just to crash (so hard) three seconds later, worrying, worrying, worrying about any number of things. And these are not small things--most of them.  And the Lord has been so faithful to help me SEE myself slipping into doubt and worry, and even more loving to offer forgiveness, and the sweet hand of grace, to help me out of my muddy, slippery pits of despair and worry.  He is so faithful, so abundantly full of grace.  He grows me so minutely and so largely all at the same time.  My soul thrills with joy, joy, joy at the thought of all that he has given us in this new season.

More to come--so much more!--as we move and settle in.

For the future:

1.  A tour of the most 1960ies house still in existance today (our rent home).
2.  A discussion of the road habits of Oklahomans.  I am surprised by the differences.
3.  Photos of the cutest little kid in a school uniform you ever did see.
4.  A list of mistakes I have made in moving.  Adding to this list this upcoming weekend, as we get our stuff.
5.  Lots of growth and changes--and continued struggle to reform myself in the lovey image of our Lord!

See you again soon,  I promise!
Abbie

Coming Soon

Well, hi.  

Yall.  This has gotten out of hand.

I have no other way to start!  It's been so long...I got to wanting to write something again, and then had just absolutely no idea how to go about starting up again.  Shame.  Guilt.  Frustration.  

So...to heck with all that.  I love to write, and no excuses for living and letting things go in between times.  

Here's Abreviated Update.  More to come in more regular posts.  I just can't stay away!

Caleb and Lyla--happy and hearty.  Lyla will be 2 in March and I'm gearing up for a super awesome birthday party, which, at this point in the plans, is going to be kitty-themed.  She loves 'em.  Whether or not she will receive an actual cat has yet to be determined.  Though it is being considered!  That's another post idea for another date.

The house is happily clean today...spent most of my time yesterday working on it, and I finally am back into the regular routine and swing of things since the Christmas Crash.  Don't lie.  You had one too.  Although it probably didn't take you this long to recover!  You should have seen the dust bunnies I sucked out from under our bed.  No.  I am glad you didn't.  We got several new home accessories for Christmas, which I will share.  Anyone else  kind of dread big new things?  Not because they aren't awesome--we got a new entertainment center that rocks my socks off. But now I want to paint the living room, so the colors look better, and the living room paint happens to stretch through the entire house.  Hence the dreading of newness.  It makes the rest of the house need newness, too.  

Valentine's Day is coming.  I have a really fun project for that one.  Anyone heard of Bacon Roses?  Oh, get ready.  

So.  There's my icebreaker post.  More to come...I promise!

Lyla's First Birthday

Happy Birthday Lyla Anne!

Okay, yes.  This post is almost a month overdue.  Oh well.  You know how it is.

We had the best time with Lyla's party.  I spent the entire week before making foofs (more to follow on that), party hats, cake and, of course, cleaning the house.  I had the.best.time.

This is all the stuff that went into the preparation process:

That is our kitchen table.  Pretty much what it looked like all week long.  

Note:  Let me say now that I know I went a tad overboard, I know Lyla will not remember this.  I know  that this was mostly about me, etc.  I still had a ton of fun.  And, won't she feel special when she sees all these photos?

So.  The night before, Simon, who is much more artistic than I, helped me to carry out my vision.  He is so totally awesome.  I say, "Honey, I want it to look, you know, hangey and drapey and celebrationey, but not too cluttered or overdone or tacky.  You know?"  And he says, "Yeah, I think we can do that."  And he does.

Isn't he cute with his concentrated thoughtfulness?

That's yarn in his hand.  Before you see the rest, I can't take credit for it all.  My artsy sister, Hannah, made Lyla this amazing branch-thing, at least five feet long, totally wrapped with yarn, that had these plastic flowers hanging from it.  It was like rainbow Spanish moss.  It hung in Lyla's room until, being an actual branch, it started to die.  First it wilted, then it started to break.  I painstakingly unwrapped the whole thing and saved the yarn and the flowers.  That's why the yarn is curly.  I did not curl it.  Hannah did. :-)

We hung the flowers first.  They are made from--get this--the tops of water bottles.  No kidding.  Hannah is the coolest.  This, by the way, is our "back" door, which is really on the side of our house.  The window looks into our sideyard, but looked weird open.  All this is in our kitchen.  FYI.  :-)

Next the foofs.  Foofs are not my invention, though I did make these.  The white ones are made by attaching coffee filters to a small Styrofoam ball for seventy two hours.  The pink and red are tissue paper, cut and attached similarly.  If you want to know how to actually make them, check out this amazing blog:

http://jonesdesigncompany.com/

She has a tutorial on "foofs."  Her name for them.  I wish I had thought of it.  

The final product.

Aren't they gorgeous?  And c'mon.  Wouldn't you LOVE this if you were one?

You can see, here, the bottle top flowers.  I also used white ribbon and cheap, dollar store bead necklaces to hang the foofs.  Okay, Simon used them.  I supervised.

I made a (yes, slightly crooked) ruffle cake from the Martha Stewart website.  I am not attaching a link because the icing was terrible, awful, disgusting. I even left a bad review. It tasted like stale grocery store cake icing.  If you really, really want it, message me.  I just didn't want to send a direct link to my mean review...which I cannot remove.  :-)

Also--pink punch, strawberries and blueberries and some red and pink candies.

It was pretty.  And the inside was good--I used Cake Doctor for that one.  I also made Lyla a tiny cake so she could do this:

See her boots?  Agh...so cute.  She demolished the little cake.  Love this James-family tradition!

I also made party hats, which we all wore.  Wasn't my family supportive?  And patient?  Lyla LOVES things on people's heads, so she loved this.  She even left hers on pretty well.

All in all, a successful event.

Thanks for looking!

I am a wannabe Pioneer Woman

Oh man.  I got it bad.

I have a crush of major proportions.  Ree Drummond, you make my heart beat with joy!

I have read Black Heels to Tractor Wheels one and a half times since yesterday afternoon at around 4:00.

Yes, my house is a disaster, and my kids drank Carnation Instant Breakfasts this morning.  Worth it.

I am fully aware that I may be the last person IN THE WORLD to jump on this popular train.  Here's the thing--I've had her blog bookmarked for a long time, liked her recipes, etc.  But this book made me truly fall utterly in love with her.  What a great read--why don't they make more books like that?  Note to self. I must write one.

Read it.  Read it to get away from your living room, read it to laugh, and maybe cry (especially if your hormones, like mine, are in permanent cry-mode since your last child), read it to feel hope and inspiration and to fall in love with your own husband all over again.  It's one of those.  It's also, clearly, a quick read.  Which is great for those of us who have more important things than reading to get done!

Also read it to get away from the awful, oh-so-numerous skinny-smart-woman-married-to-dumb-fatass sitcom. I hate those.  Why does Hollywood think making the men in those things DUMB will give the women the leg up?  Those women are the dumb ones, to me, for having married lazy, ignorant, emotionally stunted selfish pigs.  Wow. I had some serious feelings about that.  I may need to return to that in another blog.

Anyway, as a good friend of mine recently told me over a delicious lunch at La Duni, it's a book about a Real Man, and woman truly in love with him.  Nothing pretentious or troubled, and so refreshing to see that devotion and love played out in someone else's life besides my own.

Also, it is perhaps the most gorgeous book I have ever owned.  No, not perhaps.  It is.  The cover alone makes me very, very happy.

So grab it!  Let me know what you think!  Also...if you have any ranch land for sale, I'm thinking I might want to get going on that.

Finally, check out Ree's blog at www.thepioneerwoman.com.  You will thank me, if you haven't already read the whole thing.