What's Your Love Language?

What's your love language?- and I don't mean Italian, French, or Southern drawl.  I think most everyone has heard about the five love languages.  If not you can learn about Gary Chapman's book here.  He believes that we feel loved by acts in one of five basic areas.  Relationships can become strained when the love language you express yourself with is not the same one that your spouse needs.  You can also take a test to find out which love language you speak- hey,  you might be bilingual!  There are five basic love languages:  words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, gifts, and physical touch.  My love language is acts of service- and my husband is fluent!  

He noticed that I like to do my hair while sitting on the floor- that I was always looking around for a magazine or book to set my hot curling iron on so that it wouldn't melt the carpet- he made me this little parking garage for my curling iron and hair dryer.  Yep, I leave it tucked next to the wall (and large mirror that is leaning against said wall) all the time- it's so convenient and safer for the kiddos that dance around me while I'm trying to straighten my frizz head.

Over Christmas break he made these really deep, wrap- around- two- sides -of- the- garage shelves for our home- love them!  Can't wait for the paint to completely dry so that we can start filling them up with camping gear, etc.

And dear husband, thanks for learning my language and for showering me with your love!

Activity Day sewing project & What I've been up to

As you know I've been assigned to lead a church group of girls ages 8-11 in a bi-weekly midweek activity (love it!).  This week we are sewing fleece hats and making no sew scarfs- just in time too- as a cold front hit town yesterday... brrr.

Since it's more then a tad bit chilly out it is the perfect excuse to stay home and snuggle under the covers reading a book.  I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I enjoy old fashioned Christian romances.  The ones I read will probably never win great literature awards, (English teachers probably tremble at the thought)- but it's fun entertainment.  My rationalization is that I watch very little TV, go to the movie theater about once a year- or less--- so this is my guilty pleasure.  Last week at the library I found A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer and really enjoyed it.  Amazon has this one used starting at $3.50

Did I mention covers?  Don't you hate getting into a cold bed?!  One night while preparing for bed I took a heating pad (the kind you get at Walgreens for a bad back) and placed it between the sheets- turning it on high.  By the time I've brushed my teeth and said my prayers my bed is toasty warm.  I shut off the pad, toss it out of the bed and snuggle down for a warm winter's nap.  Works for me.

Another book that looks delightful is Cath Kidston's Stitch- maybe I can talk my librarian in to getting a copy?!

Do You Know Someone Who Has Suffered a Tragedy and Needs Comfort

This short video was recommended to me by several people before I finally took the time to watch it- AMAZING.  This man lost half of his family as a result of teenager drunk driving- his story is inspirational-  I hope it helps someone.                                                                             

                                                                                                

Helping Haiti

It makes my heart overflow to see all of the people around the world that have stepped up and reached out to help the people of Haiti.  I've chosen to help out in a very tiny way with this group that is doing  tremendous service.  If you have time, read story number six about an amazing woman, Liz Howell, whose husband was killed in the 9/11 attack on the pentagon.  She has dedicated her life to helping others.

This same organization is helping people around the world.  Visit this site and don't miss the video link on the right about providing wheelchairs to those that have been confined to their beds for years- please stay tuned until you hear the song sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (that is when the story really starts)- you'll need a tissue- and you'll have a feeling of gratitude for your families health for a LONG time. 

Personalizing your Pandora Music Station

I'm listening to Christmas music- are you?

Here are some tips for using your free Pandora music station for Christmas:

Go to Pandora and sign in. Do a search for Christmas stations and select "Best Christmas Songs EVER". Then start giving the thumbs up or down on the songs played. Rename the station, "My best Christmas songs EVER". Pandora says that if you are very picky about giving a thumbs up it helps them get your station right.

To further personalize it I went to the "create station box" on the left and clicked on my station. An orange box appeared. I selected "add variety". Then I typed in various artists that I like. When the artist's name appeared in the drop down list I made sure to check their name with the word "holiday" after it.

Some of the artists I selected: Burl Ives, Gene Autry, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Perry Como, The Kings Singers, Josh Groban, Andy Williams, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. You can also enter songs titles that you really like.

If they are not playing the songs that you enjoy. Give them a thumbs down and don't give up. Keep Trying. It seems like sometimes they play all songs that I love, and other times they aren't even close.

What I Use It For

I know many people store their addresses electronically but since I am somewhat technically challenged that could be risky for me. You know, hit one wrong button and ten hours of typing is sucked into a cyberspace black hole! Instead, I have a handy dandy recipe box- it's my address "book".

I write my friends' names, addresses and phone numbers on a 3x5 card and file them alphabetically with the letter tabs you can get at any office supply store. Then if someone moves I just flip the card over and write the new address on the back- if they move again they get a new card.

It's easy to trash old cards from those I have lost contact with- the ones that moved across town and figuratively speaking dropped off the edge of the earth.

The recipe box method stays much neater then the traditional address book- all scribbled in and pages erased until the paper is worn thin, etc. Just a tip:0)

The cute box pictured and the alphabet cards can be found at Amazon.

10/24/2009- This idea is just like the old roladex office address thingies-I guess sometimes I prefer the old over the new ;o)

Goodbye Lazy Summer Days

School starts here on Monday. I'm looking forward to the routine of things. I'm going to miss the relaxing, go-with-the-flow days. If you ever have a friend or loved one go to Guatemala ask them to bring you back a hammock! They are the best! This spot gets great morning and early evening shade. It's the perfect spot for a nap, a snuggle or a good book.

Hanging Pictures Straight Tip

I have a few pictures that I just can't get to hang straight. It seems like every time I look at them I have to go over and fiddle with them- trying to get it right. It's these little annoyances that drive me bonkers. I certainly don't need any help in that area and I have the doctor bills to prove it. Well, enough is enough.
I had some removable putty (from an office supply store) that I use in teaching my church children's group... and the head swirled a bit and out popped this idea:


Move in on the annoying-forever-tilting frame and take a bit of putty, stick it under one corner of said frame. Adjust your picture as you like it and give it a firm push- it won't move again- no more fiddling- unless your in a country band ;oD

You can't see it unless you smash your face- or your camera- against the wall!


Way back when I said I'd show a few of the pictures that I put together using out of date calendar pictures and frames from Hobby Lobby. Here is one that is part of a collage in my front room. I really love how this one turned out probably because I LOVE the picture; a mother seeking blessings for her crippled son. Aren't the prayers you offer up for your children some of the sweetest, most sincere prayers that you ever utter? They are for me. I'm grateful there is a loving God to hear them!

Travelling On a Plane With Children

Since traveling 18 hours (back from Australia) on a plane with a newborn and a two year old (many years ago)I've learned a few things about traveling with children.

Tip one: Give your child the appropriate form of Tylenol 30 minutes before take off. If you've ever travelled with a bad head cold and felt the pressure in your ears you know why those little ones scream- it hurts!

Tip two: Take snacks.


Tip three: Pack some quiet toys that you aren't too worried about losing. I make a run to the dollar store or some other similar place and pick up a few new coloring books, small toys, etc. Depending on how long the flight is I may add a nicer toy or two. Then I wrap them. At certain points through out the flight the kids get to open one present each. For instance they open a gift at take off, one hour in the air, during a lay over, etc.

Opening the gifts through out the flight breaks up the trip for the kids and gives them something to look forward to. I hope your summer trips are fun and happy!

Little Miss Muffet

I know it's not Halloween yet, but this is a creepy story:


I know it's not very clear in this picture- but can you tell what kind of spider this is? I was happily running some mail out to our box when I opened the front door and saw this swinging from our wreath. It was dead and I thought it would make a good blog (it's so big and ugly) so I took about ten pictures, putting my hand about four inches behind it so that I could show perspective, etc.


Finally, I decided I should get a shoe and knock it down. I found one (it was Mark's, you can't smash something this ugly with a girl's shoe). I went to swing at it and it started running up it's thread- "ahh, (loud scream)... it's alive!" I whacked it and it exploded all over the glass door- so disgusting! It still makes me shiver- At first I thought it was a brown recluse, but Mark found some pictures to compare it with where it looks like it was probably a harmless orb weaver spider. This is what a brown recluse looks like in a clear picture off the web (bad pun intended). Most brown recluses have skinny bodies though.


No matter what kind of spider it was I'm glad I didn't have to touch it! Life tip: Don't put your hand next to 'dead' spiders!

Check These Out

Just a random photo of a beautiful girl and her friend Bree.

Picasa photo editor and organizer just came out with a new version- Picasa 3. It's a free download and makes photo editing very quick and simple. It's obviously not for you super cool photographers, but I use it to edit most of my pictures and it's great!

If I remember to log onto LDS Voices I don't mind folding laundry and that is almost unbelievable. It's a free site with hundreds of LDS talks- they even have Sherri Dew's 2008 Women's Conference talk. Enjoy!

Try Not to Hit the Car With the Blue and Red Flashing Lights On Top

Yeah, Saturday I was feeling kind of blue. The kids and I decided to see if we could find any treasures and went to a few yard sales. We were slowly driving through a beautiful neighborhood when we came upon a man out walking for his morning exercise. I very politely stopped at my yield sign and nodded for him to go ahead. No, no he shook his head and waved his hand motioning for me to go first. So, I did. I pulled forward and nearly creamed a POLICE CAR.

You know, they don't really like that. I pulled over and started looking for all the pertinent info. The officer turned on his lights and pulled up behind me. The officer was really kind and he would have let me off with just a verbal warning (probably because I had tears in my eyes) but somehow I had forgot to take my car in for it's annual inspection... so, he gave me a ticket for that. Yeah, well, it wasn't my happiest moment. But it could have been worse. So, life tip- Try not to hit the car with the flashing blue and red lights on top! (I did not take the above picture)