Wednesday, November 25, 2009
My New Apron!
It's done!
It's done!
I just LOVE Amanda. She is so cool, creative and talented!
Her etsy shop is here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/amandasews
(You see the sweats and the filthy bathroom? Just keeping it real! :P )
Friday, November 20, 2009
Where is Christmas?
Christmas at our house is going to look different this year- mostly because I blew our Christmas budget on charity events like the Operation Christmas Child and the Portrait Project. You know what? I don't regret it. The kids don't need more toys. Joe and I don't need any more "stuff.' Well, I would love a DSLR, but let's be honest- I am not getting one for a long, long time.
I guess the fact that I don't care really is speaking to me lately. As we pushed carts through Target last weekend, and Joe and I were looking at the different trees to buy (we Freecycled ours, the bulbs did not all light and it smelled mysteriously like dog pee), I just felt nauseated to spend hundreds of dollars on something in the name of tradition only.
So, we decided to go a different route. We bought three or four small 1-foot trees for $6 each to put all around the house and a small 3' tree for Daegan's room, and another 4' tree (both of which were under $20) for our living room. I want to see how much I really miss a large Christmas tree this year.
I really want to bring back Christmas for our family from a holiday of materialism, having good behavior rewarded with expensive gifts, to a holiday of celebrating Christ and who we are as a family. A family brand has to be built, and I am working hard on creating a culture within our family which would not care that there are not 50 gifts under the tree. I think I would be a little disappointed in my children if they really ever expressed regret about that.
So, in honor of that family brand, I was trying to do a home-made Christmas. However, I am not entirely confident that it will work out because I am so stressed and under so much pressure while completing this charity benefit that I have been planning that I don't have much time for arts and crafts. That, and I am realizing that no matter how creative I get, there is very little I can give to adolescents and pre-adolescents that they will actually appreciate. I mean, come on- it is not like I can use glue and glitter to create a PSP game. So I am frustrated and overwhelmed. Gifts have to be mailed within the next two weeks, and I have very little done. I have been working 40-50 hours a week right now, and just don't have the creative energy I need.
So, now I am stuck. Do I do the homemade Christmas and live out our values, or do I cave and buy a few cheap but thoughtful gifts and just be done?
How can I make our family culture of Christmas, which seems so different from mainstream expectations, something that does not offend either my friends and family nor my values or budget?
Hmph. I will probably cave and just buy stuff, but who knows? The charity event is this weekend, and I may find myself renewed by Thanksgiving and ready to dig in again.
I guess the fact that I don't care really is speaking to me lately. As we pushed carts through Target last weekend, and Joe and I were looking at the different trees to buy (we Freecycled ours, the bulbs did not all light and it smelled mysteriously like dog pee), I just felt nauseated to spend hundreds of dollars on something in the name of tradition only.
So, we decided to go a different route. We bought three or four small 1-foot trees for $6 each to put all around the house and a small 3' tree for Daegan's room, and another 4' tree (both of which were under $20) for our living room. I want to see how much I really miss a large Christmas tree this year.
I really want to bring back Christmas for our family from a holiday of materialism, having good behavior rewarded with expensive gifts, to a holiday of celebrating Christ and who we are as a family. A family brand has to be built, and I am working hard on creating a culture within our family which would not care that there are not 50 gifts under the tree. I think I would be a little disappointed in my children if they really ever expressed regret about that.
So, in honor of that family brand, I was trying to do a home-made Christmas. However, I am not entirely confident that it will work out because I am so stressed and under so much pressure while completing this charity benefit that I have been planning that I don't have much time for arts and crafts. That, and I am realizing that no matter how creative I get, there is very little I can give to adolescents and pre-adolescents that they will actually appreciate. I mean, come on- it is not like I can use glue and glitter to create a PSP game. So I am frustrated and overwhelmed. Gifts have to be mailed within the next two weeks, and I have very little done. I have been working 40-50 hours a week right now, and just don't have the creative energy I need.
So, now I am stuck. Do I do the homemade Christmas and live out our values, or do I cave and buy a few cheap but thoughtful gifts and just be done?
How can I make our family culture of Christmas, which seems so different from mainstream expectations, something that does not offend either my friends and family nor my values or budget?
Hmph. I will probably cave and just buy stuff, but who knows? The charity event is this weekend, and I may find myself renewed by Thanksgiving and ready to dig in again.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
School Photos
Daegan's First School Photos
If you would like copies, let me know and I will send you the link. They are around $13/sheet.
:( bad modeling
I feel like such a shit.
Logan and I are at the grocery store, and we get into line. I am the second person, and the person in front of me is this very pregnant woman. I notice that she only has like 10 items, so I start cataloging in my mind exactly what I will do with the remaining hour and a half before I need to go pick up Daegan.
Noticing that I have been standing there for a while, I tune in to the world around me and see that the cashier is looking up every single item the woman has.
I sigh. Loudly, and unintentionally.
The lady looks at me, embarrassed, and mouths "I am so sorry!"
I realize that she is buying basics- milk, bread, cheese. If they are looking up items like that, when she is not holding coupons, she must be on WIC or another social program.
That cannot feel good- being a million months pregnant and not being able to buy your own milk, and to top it off having every trip to the store be a very public hour of humiliation.
I seriously wanted to go hug her and tell her I was not trying to be passive-aggressive by sighing, and offer her help in buying her groceries. I wanted to buy her chocolate or something... but ten minutes later, they were still working on her order. Having to move on with life, I moved all my stuff back into the cart and went to the next lane over. I saw the look in her eyes as I did that, apologetic and mortified. I felt like the worst person in the world and wish that I had the time to just sit and wait so that I would not hurt her feelings.
But I did nothing. I didn't know what to do- she was a stranger. It would be pretty lame of me to walk up to her and say, "Sorry about that- here is some Hershey's." It would probably embarrass her more if I had paid for her bill. So, I left, feeling like the biggest shit in the world.
Why did I have to sigh? I hate that I am such an impatient person that I will sigh before I choose to open my eyes and my heart. Seriously. :(
Logan and I are at the grocery store, and we get into line. I am the second person, and the person in front of me is this very pregnant woman. I notice that she only has like 10 items, so I start cataloging in my mind exactly what I will do with the remaining hour and a half before I need to go pick up Daegan.
Noticing that I have been standing there for a while, I tune in to the world around me and see that the cashier is looking up every single item the woman has.
I sigh. Loudly, and unintentionally.
The lady looks at me, embarrassed, and mouths "I am so sorry!"
I realize that she is buying basics- milk, bread, cheese. If they are looking up items like that, when she is not holding coupons, she must be on WIC or another social program.
That cannot feel good- being a million months pregnant and not being able to buy your own milk, and to top it off having every trip to the store be a very public hour of humiliation.
I seriously wanted to go hug her and tell her I was not trying to be passive-aggressive by sighing, and offer her help in buying her groceries. I wanted to buy her chocolate or something... but ten minutes later, they were still working on her order. Having to move on with life, I moved all my stuff back into the cart and went to the next lane over. I saw the look in her eyes as I did that, apologetic and mortified. I felt like the worst person in the world and wish that I had the time to just sit and wait so that I would not hurt her feelings.
But I did nothing. I didn't know what to do- she was a stranger. It would be pretty lame of me to walk up to her and say, "Sorry about that- here is some Hershey's." It would probably embarrass her more if I had paid for her bill. So, I left, feeling like the biggest shit in the world.
Why did I have to sigh? I hate that I am such an impatient person that I will sigh before I choose to open my eyes and my heart. Seriously. :(
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Art Show
On Thursday night, I put on a dress, lots of makeup, some non-baby-proof jewelry and some heels and headed down to a swanky downtown club in Central Phoenix called Fez on Central.
Oh yeah, baby! Last night was a night of martinis and posh music, of networking and mixing. Last night was my very first art show.
My pieces were framed in beautiful black matting, and sat alongside pieces made by well-known and very expensive artists.
Someone bidding on my photos...
Here is Joe posing with my dear friend, Megan.
She was one of the amazing creative masterminds behind the event.
This piece (below) was my absolute favorite. It was a dragon painted in... get this... spices! The only paint on the canvas is the black down the spine. The rest is cayenne, black pepper, onion powder, etc.
I wanted it soooo badly, but alas! I cannot pay $600+ for a painting.
I can, however, take lots of pics of it!
We won an etching in the raffle, and at some point in the next week I will find out how much my photos sold for. Until then, it was a fairy tale night of martinis, little black dresses, and art critics.
At 9:00pm, the night was over. It was back to suburbia, motherhood and DragonTales
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
little Scholar!
Daegan and I were baking muffins this morning in anticipation of the Operation Christmas Child Party in a few hours. As I was adding the spice, he looks at the spice box and says, "Pumpkin Spice!"
We have been working on sight words for a while, but he has always relied on some visual cue before...but in this case, this box of spices looked like 14 others I own and use regularly. There is nothing other than the words "Pumpkin Pie Spice" that indicate what it is.
So, I ask him, "Daegan, how did you know this was the Pumpkin Spice?"
"Mommy, the word Pumpkin is on it! See, right there!"
He points to the word.
2.5 and he read his very first word!! I am totally geeking out!!
We have been working on sight words for a while, but he has always relied on some visual cue before...but in this case, this box of spices looked like 14 others I own and use regularly. There is nothing other than the words "Pumpkin Pie Spice" that indicate what it is.
So, I ask him, "Daegan, how did you know this was the Pumpkin Spice?"
"Mommy, the word Pumpkin is on it! See, right there!"
He points to the word.
2.5 and he read his very first word!! I am totally geeking out!!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Want to win a $10 Starbucks or Walmart Gift Card?
This is RE: http://seedsmaricopa.blogspot.com/2009/10/portraits-at-duke-benefit-for-for.html
There are two ways to win!
1. The person who sells the most raffle tickets will get their choice of a $10 Walmart or Starbucks gift card.
They will be sold for $3 each or two for $5.
2. The person who gets the most people signed up for Portraits will get their choice of a $10 Walmart or Starbucks gift card. *They must actually attend to count towards the total.
Game on!! :)
There are two ways to win!
1. The person who sells the most raffle tickets will get their choice of a $10 Walmart or Starbucks gift card.
They will be sold for $3 each or two for $5.
2. The person who gets the most people signed up for Portraits will get their choice of a $10 Walmart or Starbucks gift card. *They must actually attend to count towards the total.
Game on!! :)
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Love Letter
Did you know that you are beautiful. Really beautiful?
Our Daddy made you- he hand-sculpted you. He created your talents, your weaknesses, your cravings and your soul. He wove your DNA, composed your cells, arranged your tissues and painted your features. He knows you and He loves you so intensely that it defies the words we have created to describe love.
The same being who called each star into existence, who planted the first flowering seeds, who arranged the tides and the currents made you. He intended you to be. You are not an accident, you are not the mere result of sperm-meets-egg. He hand-selected your soul for your body and your circumstance.
Consider that for a moment.
Look at yourself from his perspective, and not from the cultural scripts of beauty and worth. Through his eyes, you are radiant and full of possibility. He finds joy when you find joy. He laughs when you laugh. His heart breaks when yours breaks.
He knows your name, he knows your thoughts, he knows your heart.
You are created by The Perfect One, who makes no mistakes. Who are you to consider yourself overweight? Ugly? Who are you to judge The Creator's work, to question his art? You are beautiful.
You are his child, and I am his child. I may not know you, but I love you. You are my sister, my brother. You are created as I am created. He knows my cells, my nuclei, and my spirit just as he knows yours. And as you are beautiful, so am I.
Our very being is insufficient to contain or really conceive of the depth of his love for us.
All of creation, that delicate symphony of matter, mass and time- all of it, created of love and by love.
And for that reason, I will always feel compelled to help you when you are hurting. Not because it is my responsibility, or because it is my obligation, but because you are beautiful and loved and deserve protection.
This is my love letter to you.
Our Daddy made you- he hand-sculpted you. He created your talents, your weaknesses, your cravings and your soul. He wove your DNA, composed your cells, arranged your tissues and painted your features. He knows you and He loves you so intensely that it defies the words we have created to describe love.
The same being who called each star into existence, who planted the first flowering seeds, who arranged the tides and the currents made you. He intended you to be. You are not an accident, you are not the mere result of sperm-meets-egg. He hand-selected your soul for your body and your circumstance.
Consider that for a moment.
Look at yourself from his perspective, and not from the cultural scripts of beauty and worth. Through his eyes, you are radiant and full of possibility. He finds joy when you find joy. He laughs when you laugh. His heart breaks when yours breaks.
He knows your name, he knows your thoughts, he knows your heart.
You are created by The Perfect One, who makes no mistakes. Who are you to consider yourself overweight? Ugly? Who are you to judge The Creator's work, to question his art? You are beautiful.
You are his child, and I am his child. I may not know you, but I love you. You are my sister, my brother. You are created as I am created. He knows my cells, my nuclei, and my spirit just as he knows yours. And as you are beautiful, so am I.
Our very being is insufficient to contain or really conceive of the depth of his love for us.
All of creation, that delicate symphony of matter, mass and time- all of it, created of love and by love.
And for that reason, I will always feel compelled to help you when you are hurting. Not because it is my responsibility, or because it is my obligation, but because you are beautiful and loved and deserve protection.
This is my love letter to you.
November
Well, November is finally here. It is GO TIME. And I am feeling nervous, overwhelmed and a bit terrified of failure. Next Thursday is the art show, where the Pomegranate series will be featured. Then, the 15th-20th is the big raffle push, culminating in the Portraits event at the Duke on the 22nd. Thanksgiving comes right after that, beginning the Christmas shopping season.
I am excited about the art show- my fears of being inadequate are slowly calming down. Who cares if someone doesn't like my photos? I won't see them again, anyway! Besides, it is a great opportunity to raise awareness for a super-cool non-prof and if I sell the prints, then I may have some extra cash to send to UNICEF this year.
The Portraits project is the juggernaut of the month. I have sponsorship, and all the major details are laid out. The minor details are working themselves out... except one. I need about 25 people to pull off the event... and have four. I am praying that God inspires some hearts towards service on the 22nd. I am terrified that I have put hundreds of hours into this project, and that we have the potential to raise thousands of dollars for the food bank, but that it won't work out because there won't be enough help.
However, I prayed to be called towards HIS purposes, and the project was my answer. I have taken only one step at a time, letting the next step reveal itself to me, so I think maybe this is a practice in Faith. Faith that God will work. If he called me to do this project, then there must have been a reason for it. I cannot control other people. So, God, if you read my blog... can you please reveal some willing hearts for this?
Oh yikes. This has been interesting, really, and I am ready for it to play itself out now.
Hopefully, the sling drive will end by the end of November. I am waiting for all the sewing to be done. I will know the results of Trick or Treat for UNICEF today, I hope, if I can get over to collect all the boxes.
Well, that is where I am right now. There and caring for Joe, who is still sick and in a lot of pain, and dealing with two croup-y kiddos and finishing a Master's class... and... and... :P
I could use some prayers that November works itself out smoothly...
I am excited about the art show- my fears of being inadequate are slowly calming down. Who cares if someone doesn't like my photos? I won't see them again, anyway! Besides, it is a great opportunity to raise awareness for a super-cool non-prof and if I sell the prints, then I may have some extra cash to send to UNICEF this year.
The Portraits project is the juggernaut of the month. I have sponsorship, and all the major details are laid out. The minor details are working themselves out... except one. I need about 25 people to pull off the event... and have four. I am praying that God inspires some hearts towards service on the 22nd. I am terrified that I have put hundreds of hours into this project, and that we have the potential to raise thousands of dollars for the food bank, but that it won't work out because there won't be enough help.
However, I prayed to be called towards HIS purposes, and the project was my answer. I have taken only one step at a time, letting the next step reveal itself to me, so I think maybe this is a practice in Faith. Faith that God will work. If he called me to do this project, then there must have been a reason for it. I cannot control other people. So, God, if you read my blog... can you please reveal some willing hearts for this?
Oh yikes. This has been interesting, really, and I am ready for it to play itself out now.
Hopefully, the sling drive will end by the end of November. I am waiting for all the sewing to be done. I will know the results of Trick or Treat for UNICEF today, I hope, if I can get over to collect all the boxes.
Well, that is where I am right now. There and caring for Joe, who is still sick and in a lot of pain, and dealing with two croup-y kiddos and finishing a Master's class... and... and... :P
I could use some prayers that November works itself out smoothly...
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