Scrapbooking Your Baby's First Year (giveaway)

Update: Random.org picked commenters #7 and #2 as the winners! Keli (#7) and Delaina (#2), e-mail me for the FREE class info!

My goal was to finish the scrapbook about Annalyn’s first year by her first birthday party. I wanted to put the scrapbook on display, so people could enjoy photos of her and remember how tiny she used to be.

That didn’t happen.

I did end up finishing the album the next month, though, and I am so glad. It’s not just about how cute the layouts are {although, they are}. It’s because it’s no longer sitting on my to-do list, mocking me.

{What? Your to-do list doesn’t mock you? Because mine is a snarky little punk!}

However, you know what IS on my to-do list? Besides file old bills, write to my Compassion child and for the love, clean the bathtub? Finish Annalyn’s albums.

See, I have scrapbooks for each of Annalyn’s first two years. And they’re both semi-finished. For her first year, I slapped the gajillions of pictures I took onto pages like scrapbooking was going out of style (and don’t you even tell me that!), not taking time to journal or add embellishments or, honestly, even make sure all the page protectors were the same size (they’re not).

And so these projects that I so badly wanted to have finished by now are not.

It’s too late for me (I’m kidding. It’s never too late to start or finish a scrapbooking project.), but perhaps we can save YOU.

Do you have boxes of photos, waiting to be organized and enjoyed? Do they mock you? Are you overwhelmed by the thought of finding time or knowing where to start? My friend Jessica has the perfect solution for you.

As a new mom who works full-time, writes The Mom Creative blog and loves to scrapbook, Jessica Turner's life is a constant juggling act. After not finding any baby scrapbooking resources she loved and with a commitment to completing her son's first-year album while he was still a baby, she developed Don't Blink: Scrapbooking Your Baby's First Year.

Finding time to scrapbook amidst milestones and diaper changes can be a challenge, but it is possible! In the self-paced class Don't Blink: Scrapbooking Your Baby's First Year, you'll receive tips, tricks and inspiration to complete your baby's first year album – while he or she is still a baby. And don't worry; if your baby is walking and talking, Don't Blink will still inspire you to complete his album before he graduates from high school.

After taking Don't Blink, I know you'll be inspired to create dozens of layouts for your baby's scrapbook. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the amount of pictures you have taken and the layouts you could make, you'll have the tools needed to create a scrapbook that will be cherished for years by your child. AND, you will be able to get it done during naptimes, at night and whenever else you can squeeze in 15 to 30 minutes to scrapbook!

Here’s my favorite part: Jessica has been sweet enough to give us a coupon code for the class AND two free classes for me to give away!

Coupon Code: For a 20% discount for Don’t Blink, use the code blogblink at checkout.

Giveaway: To enter the giveaway for one of two free classes (in other words, two people will win this class), tell me in the comments if you like to scrapbook and what’s kept you from finishing your albums.

For additional entries, subscribe to Giving Up on Perfect, follow me on Twitter or join my Facebook page – and then tell me about it in a separate comment. I’ll draw a winner after midnight (CST) on Friday, July 2.

This post will be linked to We Are THAT Family's Works for Me Wednesday, because scrapbooking my baby's first year works for me. 

Disclaimer: The coupon code only applies to the Don’t Blink self-paced class; coupon does not apply towards other self-paced projects, workshops or gift certificates. Good for one time use, per student. Expires December 20, 2010, at 10 p.m. PST. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Coupon must be entered in the “Promo Code” box during checkout and press “apply” button; discount will be applied immediately. Not applicable towards previous purchases. Other terms and restrictions may apply.

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Works for Me: Recycling

Last year, one of my New Year's resolutions was to begin recycling. For several months, I just kept thinking about it. Thinking about how I was going to do it. I really was. But then our church started recycling and put two big bins in the parking lot.

So then I carried around the list of recyclable items for a few months. Thinking about how I was really going to do it. Really.

I even bought two big grey bins to hold my recycled stuff.

But it was only this fall that I actually moved those bins to the back of my garage and started putting my empty cans and bottles in there.

I was amazed! Man, do I generate a lot of trash!

Seriously, it did not take long until the bins were overflowing. And so I said to Mark, "Will you take the recycled stuff to church this week?"

And he said, "Umm, sure. But I thought you said you would be responsible for it."

Hmph. So I did.

I'm sure you can guess what happened next. Yep, that's right. The overflowing bins remained in the back of the garage. And now I think about how I'm going to take them to the church. I really am.

Really.

Today's Works for Me Wednesday is a backwards version, so that means it's my turn to ask YOU for some advice. So tell me, readers, how have YOU gone green? Please share your best, greenest tips and hints. 

After all, I can't just write "Take bins to church" on my resolutions list. That would just be sad.

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No more robbing Peter to play Santa

The first year Mark and I were married, we were so excited for Christmas. We were, after all, official grown-ups now, so of course we needed to buy presents for every single person we knew and loved.

And so, out came the credit card.

In the years that followed, that spending strategy became a habit, and we quickly accumulated several maxed-out credit cards and accounts – and then, slowly, paid them off.

For the past few years, as we’ve become more responsible with our money, I still haven’t been sure how to handle Christmas. So we usually wait until the last minute, crossing our fingers for a Christmas bonus, praying for a year-end windfall and eventually juggling our bills and paychecks to scrape out a modest gift budget.

A budget that’s usually blown – and paid for in January . . . and February . . . and sometimes March – because frantic, last-minute shopping is inevitably more expensive than thoughtful purchases made over time.

This year, though, I actually took a look at our budget in January. I realized that four times a year, Mark gets an extra paycheck (because I budget for four checks a month, but the year has 52 – not 48 – weeks) and I get two extra paychecks a year (again, I budget for two checks a month, but I get paid every other week, which means 26 checks a year).

Next, I made a list of all the “extra” expenses I could think of: Christmas (obviously), birthday presents, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, new tires and regular oil changes. These were the things that seemed to trip us up every year and put us behind financially, as we scrambled to find money to pay for what shouldn’t have been unexpected expenses.

[Looking back – and forward, to 2010 – I should have included the occasional baby or wedding shower and in-home party (like Pampered Chef, because yes, I actually like these parties).]

After adding up all those expenses and comparing the total amount to our extra paychecks, I was so excited to realize that the amounts matched up pretty well. It wasn’t perfect, and I had to lower adjust the amount I wanted to spend on gifts. But still – I was finally getting a leg up on Christmas (and the whole year’s extra expenses)!

I can’t say the year’s gone perfectly. We still have some under-budgeting and over-spending issues. And I have had to readjust and refigure and rethink several line items. But, I was able to “find” money for Christmas by Thanksgiving, which means . . . (yes, I do feel like this deserves a drum roll) . . . as of Friday, I had almost all of my Christmas shopping done!

Are you finished with your shopping?
How do you budget for Christmas?
And what should I get for my grandma?

If you’re still looking for gift ideas, Stephanie put together a great list of books written by bloggers. And I have a suggestion for Santa over on Blissfully Domestic.

Actually making a Christmas/gift budget works for me. For more good ideas, visit Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family.

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While you're up . . .

When my brother and I were growing up, we played a little game in our family. If we needed a drink refill or a box of Kleenex or the remote or anything, really, out of reach, we wouldn't get up and get it ourselves. We'd wait until someone else took the initiative to get up to do something productive and then we'd say, "While you're up . . . " and make our request!

Sadly, Mark and I have been known to play the same game. But I've heard about some cool "while you're up" ways to give this Christmas, and I think you're going to like them.

Hey, at least I'm not asking you to refill my iced tea while you're up.

First order of business is this: How do you feel about gift cards? Let's just get it out on the table. Do you think they're tacky? Practical? Fun? Boring? What do you think?

A certain mother I know has often said that it’s a tacky gift. Then again, this is the same mother who gave her daughter a Victoria’s Secret gift card.

That’s what I get for mentioning my need for new underwear.

Ahem. Anyway. Here’s my take on gift cards (because, yes, I know you were wondering): I think they’re great.

Now, does that mean I want a gift card in place of every gift I ever receive? No. It just means that if someone can’t think of what to get me or lives far away and doesn’t want to spend part of the gift budget on postage, it’s not going to hurt my feelings if I open up the envelope and find a gift card to Kohl’s. Or Target. Or Walmart, really. I’m not picky.

[Unless your name is Mark. And then you’d better be digging deep, reading and interpreting my innermost thoughts and feelings, so you can buy the 12 perfect gifts that show just how well you know me and how deeply you care for me.]

But everyone else can totally get away with a gift card.

There's no easier gift to give than a gift card. Unless it’s a donation to charity. Have you ever gotten that one before? (Why do I feel like a stand-up comic right about now? No, not because I think I’m so funny. I think it’s how I phrased that or something.)

Anyway. Have you? Or have you donated to a charity in someone’s name as a gift? Did they like it? I’m not sure I’d love that gift. I mean, the thought is nice. And I suppose if the day comes that I never need new underwear (I’m kidding, Mom.), the thought would be enough for me.

But I’m not sure.

How about this, though? What if we combine the gift card that I get to spend with the donation to charity that you get to deduct and we both get to feel good about? What about that?

Well, friends, I’m happy to tell you that that is exactly what Clayton Nicholas and Jeff Jacobs had in mind when they created GiveCard in 2007.

The GiveCard is a prepaid gift card that shares a set value (determined by the giver and starting at $5) with the charity of the recipient’s choice. The balance of the card spends just like a Visa debit card. Because, I think, it is a Visa debit card. It’s just a charitable one.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Or . . . it’s two gifts in one! Um . . . it really is the thought that counts?

Well, whatever cliché we decide to use here, this is a great idea! GiveCard can be used to contribute to more than 5,000 charities – and in an age when charitable giving is down around the globe, every dollar (or five dollars) counts.

So, what do you think? Are gift cards in or out this year?

If you’re looking for more ways to help others while doing your own holiday shopping this year, here are a few ideas:

• If you like to shop on Amazon as much as I do (and let's put it this way: I got four packages from them just yesterday), you can donate without actually donating by clicking on this Amazon.com link before making purchases. Thrive Africa gets a small referral fee when you buy anything from Amazon after you follow the link. Thrive is an amazing ministry founded by my sweet bloggy friend, Alece.
• Kraft Foods and American Greetings have teamed up to feed the hungry this holiday season. For every e-greeting you send through Recipe for Joy, Kraft will donate 10 meals to Feeding America.
• And last but not least, Dayspring is offering a 15% discount off their Christmas photo cards. Just design your card and use the code CHILDREN15 when you check out. You’ll get 15% off – and here’s the best part – 6% of the sale goes directly to Compassion International!

What are you waiting for? While you're up, double the giving, double the fun. What, you thought I was finished with the lame clichés? Fine. I'll stop. But giving while I'm up works for me!

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The library brings sunny days and sweeps the clouds away

Can I just tell you that I am unable to count to 12 – in English or French, not that the francais comes up often, except maybe it does – without doing it Sesame Street style? Anyone else?

I know, I know. Sesame Street had its big birthday party two weeks ago. Google and the rest of the world shouted their congratulations and wished the kids show well, and it’s all over and done with.

Right?

Except . . . I want to talk about it today.

Being late to the party is fitting, though, because our family has just recently gotten hooked on the friendly neighborhood. Of course, Mark and I are long-time fans, first-time callers of all kinds of Muppets. (Although, to be fair, more me than Mark.) But Annalyn is a newcomer to the Street of Sesame.

More specifically, it’s only been in the past couple of months that we have seen the start of a beautiful relationship between Annalyn and – I’m sure you can guess – Elmo. Sometimes we even pray for Elmo before bed. That’s how much “we” love him.

Actually, I don’t hate Elmo yet. He might have that crazy voice and ridiculous grammar, but that happy-go-lucky guy makes my daughter so happy that I just can’t complain.

The reason she’s just recently discovered Sesame Street is that for most of her life, she took a morning nap. And it coincided, unfortunately, with the daily airing of the show on PBS.

[That didn’t stop me from saying, every time I saw that our friends Amy and Jeremy did this for their kids, “I should record episodes so Annalyn can watch them any time she wants!” Not that I did it. But I totally thought about it.]

Since live TV isn’t working out for us and I couldn’t get it together enough to set the VCR, I finally had a better idea. We get our Elmo and Sesame Street fix from the library.

So far, the biggest hits have been Elmo’s Christmas Countdown (with a Ben Stiller Muppet – brilliant!) and Elmo & the Bookaneers with Tina Fey as a pirate. And yesterday we picked up Sesame Street: Being Green with Paul Rudd, also forever known as Josh from Clueless. Next on the reserve list: straight-up Muppets.

To sum it all up: Sesame Street has just celebrated their 40th anniversary, we love Elmo at our house, and checking out Elmo videos from the library works for me.

Do you watch Sesame Street at your house? What’s your favorite Sesame Street memory or story?

My (new) morning routine

My disdain for housecleaning has been well-documented, so it's a little odd that my daughter loves to clean as much as she does. But give that girl a Clorox wipe, and she is one happy camper.

Given her gotta-get-it-clean-Mommy tendencies, I haven't been surprised to see how much she loves brushing her teeth. But what has surprised me a bit is her love of my entire morning routine.

From the minute I step out of the shower and crack the bathroom door, Annalyn is fascinated by every step I take to get ready for my day.

"Panties, Mommy?"
"Umm, yes, baby. Those are Mommy's panties."

Thankfully her interest doesn't stop at my underwear. Because that would be weird. After she "helps" me get dressed, then we move on to our teeth.

"Remember, Annalyn. When I'm finished brushing, you're finished brushing."
"Okay, Mommy. Pft!"
"No, you don't need to spit, baby."

And then it's time for makeup, although Annalyn's Daddy kindly says we're beautiful without it.

"Some. Some, Mommy."
"Okay, baby doll. Here's some chapstick for you. Go like this: MWAH!"
"Cheeks! Cheeks, Mommy!" "Lotion! Lotion!" "Eyes, Mommy! Eyes!"

My new morning routine takes a bit longer to get through, but it works for me. What does your morning routine look like?

Half full or half empty

Photo by Jenny Downing

When I was in high school, I sang a duet at our spring concert. The song was called "Heart Half Empty," and it has been stuck in my head since I started writing this post.

Anyway.

Sometimes I hear people say things that are just annoying. Things like, “I don’t have time to watch TV.” Or, “Oh, I can’t eat fast food anymore. It upsets my stomach.” Or perhaps, “I just can’t go a day without exercising. I get cranky!”

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that these things are bad or even untrue. No, they’re annoying statements because, sure, I’d love develop an aversion to fast food and television and spend more time working out. But that’s just not real life. At least, it’s not my real life.

And so I get annoyed.

But you know what I found myself thinking the other day when a co-worker mentioned that she doesn’t like water? “Really? Wow. Sometimes I crave water. I can’t get enough. I like water.”

I almost became one of those people with my annoying, self-righteous, good-habited statements.

But, just like those folks who hate fast food and love to exercise (and somehow don’t make TV watching a priority), I meant it. It’s the truth. I drink a lot of water. And I like it.

Does that make me weird? Maybe. But it's my one good habit, and besides, we all know the benefits of drinking more water: weight loss, better skin, live to 100. (Just kidding on that last one.) So perhaps I can offer some helpful hints on getting more water in your day. (More, as in six to eight cups, of course!)

• If you’re a fan of bottled water (because, yes, I realize some of you probably are not in favor of disposable plastic bottles), buy a 24-pack and keep it in your car. Then you can drink a bottle on your way to work, while running errands or on the way to drop off the kids at school.
• If you are opposed to those landfill-filling bottles, then get a good thermos. That way, you can keep your “car water” cold. And save the earth. (Serious side note: I’m all for non-disposable things. But in the interests of full disclosure, I often drink water from plastic bottles.)
• If you work at a desk – or in the kitchen or in a classroom or, you get the point – keep a cup for water there. That’s what I do – I keep a giant plastic cup at my desk at all times, refilling it a few times a day.
• If you can’t stand the flavor of water (really?), use the sugar-free mix-ins. I know Crystal Light makes lots of flavors; so does Great Value at Walmart.
• Drink with a straw. If you need to, a colorful, twisty one. I can’t promise this will make your water taste like Diet Coke, but it might making drinking it a little more fun.
• Add ice. Personally, I like cold water with no ice. But my co-worker swears that drinking water with ice speeds up your metabolism. Or at least makes the water colder.

Okay, how about you? Do you drink water? I know I have more trouble getting my water in over the weekend, when I’m on the go – or at least not at a desk all day. When do you find it harder to drink your six to eight?

Drinking water works for me. For more tips, visit We Are THAT Family.

A great value?

Do you shop at Walmart? I’m not asking to start a discussion about urban sprawl or fighting the man or lousy produce or price-slashing. Nope.

I’m here today to discuss the rebranding of Walmart’s generic brand, Great Value.

Have you seen it? Do you like it?

I’ve been thinking of posting about this for a couple weeks and then on Saturday, Mark reminded me of one of the many reasons I love him. As we were in the kitchen, getting ready for Annalyn’s party, he asked: “So, what do you think of the new Walmart look?”

Well, Mark, I’m glad you asked. (Seriously. I love that he knows that I would have an opinion – and that he cares about what that opinion is.)

I don’t think I like it. I will agree that the rebranding has unified the Great Value look, leaving the consumer little doubt about which products are Great Value.

In other words, you can’t miss it. Those boring, blank white boxes are Great Value.

And that’s my issue with it. The blank, white look, especially in mass, makes me think cheap. And while I want my groceries to cost less, I don’t really want to believe that they’re cheap.

You know?

So, any thoughts? Like it? Hate it? Not sure why anyone would care about a logo?

If you raised your hand to the latter question, I can’t help you. But if you’re all over logos and branding and that sort of fun thing, here’s a bonus for you. Check out the Logo Quiz and the Company Logo Quiz.

You say I’m crazy. I got your crazy.

Next weekend, I’m going to a blogging conference called She Speaks. Technically it’s a conference for women called to write and speak in ministry, but they’ve added a blogging track. And since those are the classes I’ll take, I’m calling it a blogging conference.

I am So. Excited.

On the other hand, as I sit here at my computer, I’m wondering why I ever signed up to go in the first place. I feel so inadequate and small, and the view from my couch doesn’t help. I see blocks scattered on the floor, laundry stacked in a basket, books laying next to the bookshelf and dishes on the dining room table.

Going online to read my favorite blogs makes it even worse. Some sick, sad part of me is compelled to check my stats over and over; and then, even worse, compare them to the subscriber numbers I can see in Google Reader for other blogs.

I can’t compete. They’re cool; I’m not. They’re thin; I’m not. They have four perfect children; I don’t. They don’t yell at their kids, their houses are clean, their careers are amazing (and they’re younger than me!), they write way better than I do, their hair is prettier than mine, and on and on and on and . . .

Hold the phone. Who let the crazy out? Let’s pull it back in now.

I know I said that the Me, Myself & Lies study is hard, but it’s not been for nothing. I am learning something! Those things that I was letting spin me out of control are not true.

Well, okay, other people’s houses might be cleaner than mine. But who cares?

Because, the fact that I’m going to this conference is a total God thing. I had no idea how I was going to pay for it, and I happened to mention it in passing to my boss. My boss, who is running a company in a struggling industry in a difficult economy; the same one who said the company would pay for it as professional development! That offer came out of nowhere and just about knocked me off my seat! (Wouldn’t that have been good for the career – passing out in the CEO’s office?)

Clearly, I can’t take it lightly that I am going to this event.

After all, I remember what happened in February at Blissdom. When I got all freaked out about how cool and together and smart and funny and WHATEVER everyone else was – and missed out on a lot of fun.

Besides, it turns out that I’m not the only one freaking out a little bit. Somehow, that is so encouraging. Well, their freaking out is a little encouraging (misery loves company or something), but most inspiring is the way these women reframe their thoughts and focus on the good things God has planned for us at this conference.

• Lisa talks about clicking – or not – with new friends at conferences.
• Lysa writes about competing with and comparing ourselves to others in ministry.
• Holley shares that sometimes God has to tell her “Enough” with the insecurities and fear.
• Shelly talks about how going to this conference is out of her comfort zone.

So there. I’m not going to panic. I’m not going to wear my insecurities to the party. I’m going to pack my cutest outfits, my laptop and my new business cards, and I’m going to connect with blog friends, meet new friends and learn a whole lot about blogging and online ministries.

And I promise, when I get back, I will tell you all about the cool things I’ve learned and new friends I’ve made! Believing in myself and having a darned good time at She Speaks is going to work for me.

[As always, for more Works for Me Wednesday, visit We Are THAT Family.]

Walk On By.

Yesterday, we had two - count 'em, two - therapy appointments. Believe it or not, neither session included a couch and memories of my childhood.

No, we had two different physical therapy appointments for Annalyn. I was actually excited for them since we've had the major stroller development.

The first appointment went well until the last 10 minutes. That would be the time when Miss Judy (as we call the therapist) decided to force Annalyn to take a few steps toward me. She even provided a sticker to motivate her. It had Hello Kitty on it.

But strangely enough, after an hour of showing off and playing with the therapy toys, and about two hours past her normal naptime, my sweet, calm daughter was not interested in taking a few more steps.

And she, ahem, let us know about it. Loudly. I'm sure you know what I mean.

So that wasn't the best end to Therapy Appointment #1. But overall, Miss Judy was appropriately impressed with Annalyn's progress.

The second appointment was a full evaluation by a state therapy program that we've heard great things about. They actually come to your house for therapy sessions, and of course, as a state program, it's a lot cheaper than the top children's hospital in our area.

It turns out that I really don't pay attention to my child. Because if I did? I'm sure I would have known how to answer questions like "How many blocks can she stack?" "Can she follow two consecutive commands?" "Can she match an object to its picture?"

By the end of that appointment, I felt like I didn't even know what "object" and "picture" even meant anymore!

Thankfully, I didn't have to reflect long when asked, "Does she share well? Take turns with toys?"

Ummm, not so much.

Anyway, the good news and bad news is that Annalyn does qualify for their services. Good, because I'm anxious (to say the least) for this walking progress to continue. Bad, because the eval confirms that she is, indeed, very far behind in her development.

On the bright side, her cognitive development is above average. As if I needed a test to tell me that!

(C'mon. I'm telling you about how my 20-month-old can't walk. Let me talk about how smart she is for a second at least!)

Anyway. Therapy Day went well. And in just over a day, I will have the privilege of hearing a legend sing. At least that's what I'm told. Leroy Van Dyke is known for, among many other things, what Billboard magazine calls "the biggest country single of all time": Walk on By.

I know it's going to be a fun concert. But the thing is . . . I don't actually know this song. I don't think it's the same as this Walk on By. And it's definitely not this Chicago song that I keep thinking of, which apparently does not even share the song's name.

So this week, from pushing a baby stroller named "Beep Beep" to listening to an 80-something-year-old man sing the Auctioneer Song, walking on by works for me.

Hi, may I help you?

Here in Kansas City, we have a chain of BBQ restaurants that is famous for the greeting each customer receives. As you walk up to the counter, the energetic folks at Gates BBQ will shout, “Hi! May I help you?”

Although, to be honest, it sounds a tad bit like, “Hahmehaheppyou!”

Last week, we spent several days in the South. And I lost count of the times I was asked, “May I help you?” The difference down there? It wasn’t followed up with some smoked meat and fries tossed onto a platter and pushed down the cafeteria line. No, what came next was outstanding customer service and, more often than not, amazing food.

(Not that I’m complaining about Gates by any means. I’m just saying that our Southern eating experiences were something completely different.)

I’m so accustomed to mediocre or even lousy service that for the first couple of days, I honestly thought we were “lucking out.” It actually took me about four days to realize we weren’t just reaping the rewards of some good restaurant karma; we were experiencing that wonder we hear about, but rarely get to see firsthand up here in the, ahem, North.

We were experiencing Southern hospitality.

And ooooh, I loved it! Southern hospitality – from the friendly waiter at Chevy’s and the apologetic waitress at Flipper’s who gave us a discount after the cook put sausage on the sausage-free pizza we ordered to the helpful hotel desk guy who drew me a map of (wrong) driving directions from Orlando to Tallahassee and my Aunt Roz who welcomed us into her home and offered “something cold to drink,” which meant apple juice or Coke – works for me.

For more tips on what works, visit We Are THAT Family.

And for a few vacation photos, check out my Flickr albums.

Good night. (and good luck?)

As I’ve mentioned a time or twenty, Annalyn is a feisty little girl. She’s got attitude. She’s a character, that one.

Okay, so all her little habits and quirks are probably completely normal toddler behavior. But still, they drive me straight up the wall.

And on Monday night, we had a terrible evening together. There was crying and yelling and more crying. She got upset, too.

After she went to bed, I just felt awful. Had I told her I loved her? Yes. But would she remember? Or would she only remember how we fought over dinner and how I didn’t let her eat pudding or play with my digital camera or pee in the bathtub?

I know it’s just one day, but it was certainly not my finest parenting moment.

Last night, however, was different.

I picked her up at the babysitter’s house, and other than a stealthy escape up the stairs, she was very sweet. (Sometimes she throws a big old hissy fit when I tell her it’s time to go home. It’s heartwarming, really.)

We drove from there to the library and checked out some board books for her (and a novel for me). She loved the first book I handed her and carried it all the way to the car. And she chatted with the librarian who had to renew my library card, telling her that “No,” she doesn’t like to read books and “No,” she’s not a silly girl.

On the way home, she entertained herself in the car, talking to her favorite thing in the whole world these days: her shoes. Apparently, they have a lot to talk about, my daughter and her shoes, despite the fact that they’re rarely separated. (She even sleeps in them sometimes. I know that’s weird – and smelly – but it’s way easier than fighting over it.)

Once we got to the house, she waited for me to “buck-uh” – or, unbuckle her, as we put it in grown-up English. We went inside and read four of her five new library books – even the long one about Jesus.

Then, because I was about to die of hunger (thanks to a half-hearted attempt at healthy eating), I grabbed a slice of cheese from the fridge. Of course, my little shadow wasn’t about to let me eat the whole thing by myself. So we shared some cheese.

As I opened the fridge to get a second slice of cheese, she said, “Milk!” I love that she’s such a good milk drinker – and it’s so smart that she knows it comes from the fridge. I mean, Mark has tried to explain that it actually comes from cows, but that concept may be a little over her head at this point.

I decided, Hey, why not try something new? So I poured her milk into a regular sippy cup. Annalyn is a champ at drinking with a straw, but not so hot at regular sippies. And really, after a couple days of trying way back when she was, ahem, one, I gave up and figured straws are good enough for government work.

But last night, we gave the sippy cup the old college try. And it wasn’t half bad. There was a lot of spilled milk, of course. But we didn’t cry over it. No, in typical OCD style, we mopped it up with a towel. And by that, I mean, we mopped and dabbed and wiped each little drop.

We’re a little crazy like that, my kid and me.

After this sippy cup adventure, I realized it was actually time for dinner. So I fixed Annalyn her favorite “nuggies” – chicken nuggets. And the only vegetable she’ll eat these days – green beans.
That kid – the one who hardly eats anything non-carby these days – ate her whole dinner! She even ate most her pineapple and drank some more milk. (And, P.S., she got a little ticked when I tried to give her the straw cup. Nope, only sippy cups for my girl. Until tomorrow. Because seriously, that was one crazy mess.)

Pudding was, of course, the perfect way to end this peaceful for the most part meal. As we scraped the cup clean, Annalyn got upset because I told her it was all gone. So, as I got her bath ready, I let her go to town with the cup and spoon. I wish I’d taken a picture, because it was hilarious. Instead, I tried to hold her hands down and keep her from touching me on the way to the tub.

What? She was all gross!

Annalyn took a fun bath, playing with her duck (“Cack! Cack!”) and even standing up to get out when it was time.

I dried her off, lotioned her up, put a diaper on the bottom she’s recently discovered (oh, joy) and got her into her jammies. Then I combed her hair, kissed her little face and told her it was time for bed.

“Night-night. Bye-bye.”

Just like that.

Was it luck? My awesome parenting skills? A full moon? Doesn't matter. Perfect nights with my sweet girl work for me, although I have no idea how it happened or when another one will occur. For more stuff that works, head over to We Are THAT Family!

Almost Wordless Works for Me Wednesday

HonorMommy tagged me quite a while ago to pick a pic at (somewhat) random to share. So, in an attempt to be a little less wordy than normal, here's the seventh photo from my seventh folder on my laptop:

You can see that Annalyn is grinning, but what you can't see is that she's grinning at her dad, standing outside the window. Here are a few more I like from that "photo shoot":

P.S. Taking pictures near our back windows in natural light works for me!

Taking a shortcut on Wednesday. And Tuesday.

I love reading The Pioneer Woman’s cooking blog. The combination of delicious, down-home comfort food and fantastic photography is a thing of beauty. And it makes me hungry.

But sometimes . . . I have to admit . . . it’s a little discouraging. Because on any given day, I just cannot handle recipes with a dozen ingredients. Or fresh herbs.

So I was excited to read yesterday’s post: Monkey Bread. You know why? Because monkey bread, I have just learned, is made from canned biscuit dough.

Ah-ha!

I feel like I just discovered a national secret, a cooking conspiracy. Or somethin’.

All this thought about canned biscuits made me think about how many shortcuts I take in the kitchen. How many pre-made ingredients I use. How many products make my life easier when it comes time to feed myself and my family.

And you know what happens when I start thinking, right? I have to make a list. So, here you go. The top 10 cooking shortcuts that work for me:

1. Brownie mix – In some circles I’m actually well-known for one thing and one thing only. And that’s my brownies. That come from a store-brand mix. What can I say? Not everyone is destined for greatness. Like I am.
2. Muffin mix – Mark’s mom often made blueberry muffins for them when he was growing up. I’m not sure if she made them from scratch, but I’m going to guess she did. I, on the other hand, love these packets of muffin mix with these three life-giving words: Simply Add Water.
3. Pizza crust in a can – I’ve tried the pizza crust mix in a packet. It’s not the same thing. And yes, Mom, I do know how to make it from scratch, which is way cheaper. I just don’t like to do it.
4. Salsa – Yeah, yeah, yeah. I said I want to make my own salsa. And I do. But I sure haven’t done it yet. Until then, Sam’s Choice medium salsa is doing the trick.
5. Shredded cheese – I’ve noticed that some of the cooking blogs I read like to mention how much better cheese is when you grate it yourself. And I don’t disagree. I do, however, remember how much it hurts to catch your knuckles in that thing. And there’s the fact that it takes so much time. Like, minutes.
6. Spaghetti sauce – I had never considered making my own spaghetti sauce. It really seemed like an awful lot of work. But then I made this lasagna, which pretty much forced me to make my own sauce. And you know what? It wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was pretty good. But for spaghetti on a Wednesday or Friday night homemade pizza, you can’t beat Prego traditional sauce. Mmmm…yum.
7. Crescent rolls – Another favorite from Mark’s family, the canned crescent rolls are a staple around here. Thankfully, they make a reduced fat version. Because one can? Yeah, pretty much disappears around here!
8. Cinnamon rolls – Are you seeing a pattern here? I like my bread products to come from a can! Canned cinnamon rolls (again, the low-fat and store-brand version) is the easiest, most delicious “homemade” breakfast I make. It’s perfect when we have overnight company or have to take “treats” to our Sunday school class.
9. Break-apart cookie dough – It’s the ultimate in laziness, I think, but you better believe I do it. Not only do I buy pre-made cookie dough, I don’t even take the time to scoop it or slice it. Nope – just break it apart and bake. At least, I bake the ones I don’t just eat right out of the package!
10. Instant oatmeal – Time to redeem myself after all of that not-so-healthy talk. When I’m really on my weight loss game, I eat a bowl of apple and cinnamon oatmeal (two points, if you’re counting them) every morning. It takes just a few seconds, it’s delicious and it’s filling. Can’t beat that.

Unless you count the cinnamon rolls.

This post is part of Top Ten Tuesday and Works for Me Wednesday. (Hey, I actually wrote it on Tuesday but it will post on Wednesday!)

What are your shortcuts in the kitchen?

Works for Me Wednesday: Frugal Edition

Today over at We Are THAT Family, Kristen is holding a frugal tips carnival. And all week, I’ve been planning to participate. But as I sat down to write my post, I realized . . . I’m not actually very frugal.

Sometimes I’m cheap. Other times I’m broke. But if I’m honest with myself – and with you – I’m rarely frugal.

So today I’m going to think about how I can be frugal. Other than buying groceries at Walmart and renting movies from Redbox.

Where will I get my ideas, you ask? At Works for Me Wednesday, of course!

What’s your tip for living frugally?

One is silver, and the other is gold.

My dear old friend, Elise, came all the way from Ohio for my wedding.
Here we are - after the hair, before the makeup.

Last year, I came across a square photo with a thick white border from my 6th birthday party. When I looked at all those little faces, faces that grew into my classmates and friends, I recognized one little girl.

She was making a funny face, and that’s how I knew: Smitty was at that birthday party. We were friends even in kindergarten – even though neither one of us remembered it!

I do, however, remember Elise being my friend from an early age. We met playing t-ball, which is truly ironic, as neither of us is what you’d call the “athletic type.” In fact, I think it’s safe to say that we’re what Jim Gaffigan would call “indoorsy.”

Also ironic, given the number of years we spent in Camp Fire Girls, learning to roll sleeping bags and make dinner over a fire pit.

As the years have gone by, I’ve stayed close to some friends (Smitty) and lost touch with others (Elise). Funny. I don’t think you can ever predict in the moment who will be your forever friends and who are your friends for a moment in time. It’s just the way it goes, although I kick and scream and protest this passing of time and fading of friendships.

In the past couple of years, most of our “couple friends” have moved away: Katie and John to Virginia, Zac and Mandy to Minnesota, another couple to St. Louis, another couple about an hour away from our town.

Excuse me while I take a moment to consider if I should read something into this trend.

Nah.

Anyway, as part of my determination to get more involved in church this year, I’ve realized that we probably need to see about making some new friends. After all, being part of a Christian community is having people to do life with, in your town, in your everyday.

Can I be honest, though? I don’t really want to make new friends. Part of me can’t help thinking, “I don’t need more friends. I like my old friends. And I don’t have time for new ones. And…it’s hard!”

Making friends used to be easy, used to come naturally. You know, back when you became friends with whoever was around – in English class, in your dorm room, in the next entry-level cubicle.

But now? Now, it’s much more complicated. You have to factor in things like proximity (Because who has time to develop a friendship with someone who lives all the way out in the next suburb?), religious practices and beliefs (For example, will you drink a beer while watching football? And does poker count as the bad kind of gambling?), parenting style (I don’t care if you have kids yet or not, but do you frown disapprovingly when I let my daughter cry for five minutes – okay, 15 minutes – after I put her to bed?), and honestly, how many friends you already have (Because let’s be frank: I do not have the energy to compete for your attention. The cool kids can have you, if that’s your thing.).

Okay, so I jest. And if I’m getting hung up on things like this (which I may or may not, okay?), then clearly I may have the problem.

But the fact remains: making new friends as an adult is not easy.

That is why I am so glad to have met Josh and Britney. They joined our church and choir this past year, fresh from college and newly married. And freaking hilarious. These sweet kids – yep, I said it – are funny, smart and seemingly unfazed by the fact that I am cuh-razy.

I have talked about not showering (and therefore smelling like roadkill), I have told Josh that his outrageous piano-playin’ makes me want to puke out of jealousy, and I spontaneously (and embarrassingly) burst into tears in the middle of a light-hearted conversation with Britney.

And yet, as far as I can tell, Josh and Britney are our new friends. They even came for Easter lunch. With my family.

Yep, we skipped the get-to-know-you game night and went straight to family dinner.

New friends work for me. For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit We Are THAT Family.

Have you made any new friends lately? Do you think it’s harder now than it used to be?

You can't run before you walk...but you can do a lot of crawling.

Annalyn has been doing things on her own timetable since, well, forever. From the day our tiny premature baby doll ripped out her feeding tube and decided to eat on her own, to the weeks I waited for her to smile, then to roll and finally to crawl, this child of mine has reached each new milestone whenever she darn well felt like it.

And apparently she does not feel like walking. Because at 17 - almost 18 now - months old, she is not interested in getting off the ground and walking around.

On one hand, her insistence on crawling is helpful, as her love of the army crawl does clean a path on my hardwoods. And I'm pretty sure she's easier to corral on all fours.

But this evening, when I wanted to run into the library and pick up a couple books I'd requested? I'm just gonna tell you: it was a real pain to lug her with me. And I was really wishing she could just walk beside me.

(Yes, in this fantasy world, she would hold my hand snugly and walk calmly next to her mother, never daring to dart into traffic or topple a stack of library videos. Humor me, okay?)

So, I'm asking you: how can I encourage Annalyn to start to walk? For this week's backwards Works for Me Wednesday, I'm asking for tips. How did you help your kids transition from crawling to walking?

[Disclaimer: I understand that she will walk eventually, and I trust my doctor's assurance that she is doing just fine. I'm not losing sleep over her refusal to follow the timelines that parenting books provide, I promise. After all, I love that Annalyn is a unique individual with her own personality. (See Exhibit A below.) I'm just hoping she becomes a unique walking individual sometime before her second birthday.]

For more ways to offer your own tips on what will work, visit We Are THAT Family.

Carnival Week: Works For Me Wednesday

In my ideal world, I practice Once a Month Cooking. Every four weeks or so, I buy groceries in bulk according to a full month’s menu and spend a day chopping, stirring, seasoning, simmering and otherwise cooking – filling up my freezer and providing my family with healthy, tasty meals.

In my real world, though, I’m doing good to throw together a couple meals a week and consider it a victory if I only visit the store once every several days.

Despite my hopes and wishes, I’ve had to come to grips with the fact that I am probably never going to be that kind of person.

So I compromise. I do what I can. When I make baked pasta, I double the recipe and freeze one pan. Same thing for mini meatloafs and cheesy potatoes.

But what makes the most difference in my daily struggle to put decent food on our table is browning several pounds of hamburger at once. I may not be able to commit an entire day to once a month cooking, but I can spare a couple hours to brown some beef and put it in the freezer. Because we get beef from my cattle farmer father-in-law, we eat a lot of meals made with hamburger. So this little trick makes that easier. Spaghetti, pizza, sloppy joes, tacos – all made in minutes, thanks to pre-cooked beef.

Once a month cooking may not work for me, but occasional bulk browning does work for me. For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit the carnival’s new home at We Are THAT Family.

And for those of you who are more together, more organized or just more interested in cooking for several hours on end, check out Once a Month Mom and Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.


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Getting Over The Sick

So many things to tell you! I still haven't processed everything from last weekend, so let me start with something easy.

Last week, Amy asked what our "sick system" is. You know, are you a chicken noodle soup person? Or perhaps a lay on the couch and watch infomercials gal?

I wasn't sure how to answer her question, because I hadn't been sick lately. Then Saturday night hit. And I remembered.

When I get sick, well, let's be honest. I prefer hard-hitting antibiotics from the doctor. But when that's not possible, thank you, virus-diagnosing nurse practitioner, I rely on this method:

Fruity Hall's cough drops + Tylenol cold caplets + plenty of Kleenex

When I'm sick, that's what works for me. Well, that and sleeping in the middle of the bed on a pile of pillows. What makes you feel better?

So you're saying "squeaky clean" is a bad thing?

In December, I was fortunate enough to get a 30-minute facial at a spa. And by “fortunate enough,” I mean that I told Mark exactly what I wanted for my birthday – a massage and a facial – and he agreed…to let me schedule it for anytime after my birthday.

The facial was nice, especially when the woman working on my face told me I had firm, young-looking skin. That was nice. I’m not sure if I paid more for that or not, but if so, it was worth it.

Anyway – the part of the treatment that wasn’t as nice was when the aesthetician (facial lady) asked me about my skincare routine.

Knowing full and well she wasn’t going to like my answer, I told her the truth nevertheless: I use Clean & Clear to wash and moisturize my face, just like every good 14-year-old.

What? I’m not a teenager anymore? And that’s not healthy for my skin? Really?

Really.

After getting a lecture and a sales pitch for some pricey spa products, I left the spa. My face was very clean and also, I was told, completely protected against the elements. Personally, I was just a little embarrassed to be going out in public without any makeup on.

And wondering if I’m really doing damage to my face by using products designed for teens that I buy at Walmart.

Here’s the thing, though. I realize I should probably upgrade my skincare. I understand that I’m not getting any younger and any day now, my skin is going to realize that and start looking the part of a, ahem, 30-year-old. I should visit the Clinique counter…or my friend’s Mary Kay site…or try one of the bajillions of Oil of Olay products I see commercials for every night…or something.

But Clean & Clear works for me. It makes my face feel clean at night and not so dry in the morning.

So there’s my dilemma: the facial lady says to change, but I don’t want to. What do you think? Am I missing out on some fabulous, affordable skincare line? What do you use?

For more tips on what works today, visit Rocks in My Dryer.