My new favorite thing...

My hubby gave me the most wonderful present for our anniversary this year. I am now the proud owner of a pair of wrap boots from TOMS shoes. Are you familiar with TOMS shoes? They are a casual, earth friendly shoe and for every shoe you purchase, TOMS gives a pair of shoes to a child in need. Read more about TOMS here. They also come in other colors like the sassy red pair, pictured above. Here I am sporting my new pair of shoes.

As you can probably tell by the name, these boots actually wrap around the leg. That way they fit each person perfectly...which for me is a plus since as you can see, I have scrawny little legs. Plus they are super comfy. I love, love, love mine! And I love that someone else who REALLY needs a pair of shoes now has a pair. You can't go wrong with TOMS.

This is a really great blog about a trip TOM's volunteers took to give out shoes to children. The pictures alone are priceless! So what are you waiting for? Order some TOM shoes today! And if you live in our area stop by Bettyejanes and check out the TOMS shoes there!

Soup's On!

I love it when I discover a new recipe that I want to make over and over. This is my new favorite recipe. It is warm, yummy, goodness in a bowl. I discovered this recipe when I purchased this book. I needed to plan some meals ahead for those busy months I would be in school. I have been very pleased overall with how all the recipes we have tried have tasted. However, THIS recipe is my most favorite.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 T. oil for sauteing
• 2 lbs chicken, cooked and shredded
• 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 5 oz. can RO*TEL tomatoes
• 1 - 14oz. beef broth
• 1 - 14oz chicken broth
• 1 - 10oz can tomato soup
• 1 1/2 cans of water (use soup can)
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce

Toppings (optional)

• grated cheese
• corn tortillas cut in strips and fried in hot oil or corn tortilla chips
• avocado
• sour cream
• diced tomatoes
• chopped fresh cilantro

Saute onion and garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 35 minutes.

Yummmmmmmmmmmm! Enjoy.

Who knew laundry could be so sexy?

Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2.3-4

What's this you ask? Well, my friends let me tell you. This is the sight of three, count em, THREE empty laundry baskets. I have never seen them this way as I am wholly incapable of having all the laundry clean and put away at any given time. In fact, I would argue, I am one of the worst laundresses on the planet. I had no idea of my inadequacies until I went away to college and my roommate enlightened me in the ways of wash. Who knew there was more to it than cramming things in the machine at random, selecting cold water, and dumping in some soap?

But I digress, the reason I have this beautiful picture of THREE, count em THREE, empty laundry baskets is in thanks to my husband. My darling husband, the servant of all servants, used his time off to magically make all the dirty clothes disappear. He was not asked, cajoled, or even threatened. He just saw the need and did it for the family. Talk about taking one for the team.

So thank you dear husband for leading through serving. I will follow you wherever we may go!

Simplicity

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why its called the present.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Today the little birdies left the nest to return to school. In classic T fashion, I heard the clomping of small scuffed boots at 5 am this morning shuffling into the bathroom. I groaned as I threw on my robe and went in to check on her. What I discovered was a girl experimenting with hair options, already fully dressed. "It's still three more hours until school starts!" I whined. "I know," she replied confidently. "Get back in bed!" I demanded. She hoped in boots and all and to my relief fell back asleep for a couple more precious hours. J managed to fall out of bed all night - which on a side note it must be some sort of miracle that Daddio was able to lift him from that position each time without hurting himself! I wondered after the last thud if this wasn't some new way to amuse himself...I rather think it is. And even though he was up and dressing when T's alarm finally woke the dead, I found it rather curious his own alarm never went off, especially since I personally double checked it last night per his request. I think the little saboteur was busier than the shoe elves last night.

The house is eerily calm and quiet. I am enjoying hearing her breathe. I find myself inexplicably dreading the return of mayhem to my life when I start school once more next week. And then I mentally scold myself, "fun sucker, enjoy the quiet, peace of this moment...tomorrow has enough worry of it's own".

She has a certain joie de vivre!

"Joy is not in things; it is in us."

Richard Wagner

I glanced out the kitchen window to the sight of my daughter joyfully jumping her guts out while singing a little diddy of her own at the top of her lungs. The only verse I caught was:

"I wanna be like Abraham Lincoln. What were they thinking!???"

Golly, I love that kid something fierce:)

A Little About Me

Hello, I'm new to the neighborhood. And as the newest girl on the block I thought it only fair to share a little about myself.

What I'm doing right now: Cooking dinner and reading new blogs with a warm cup of joe and the fire roaring. I am savoring the smell of the last of the zucchini from our garden this summer.

Things I enjoy: Decorating my nest, nurturing my kiddos, learning, reading, organic gardening, eating healthy, creating/crafting, laughing with my hubby.

Revelation of the new year: That I am more than just a wee aversion to intimacy in ANY relationship.

New Years Resolution: To get closer to those care about this year.

Guilty Pleasures: Touring others homes via the Internet, reading Stephanie Plum novels, and the occasional glass of wine:)

If you were my best friend you would know: I say quirky things like "fresh" when I mean back talk or mix up sayings like "too many kings and not enough Indians".

If you stopped by on any given morning unannounced: You would find the dishes from the night before still sitting in my sink.

Websites I have under my favorites:

• http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french
• http://www.buyappalachian.org/index.php
• http://www.compassion.com/default_a.htm
• http://www.fedcoseeds.com/
• http://www.pandora.com/
• http://www.relevantmagazine.com/
• http://www.sweethollowfarm.com/page/page/2926411.htm

You should know: I'm very Irish...or as most people say deeply loyal and defiantly stubborn!

Well that is just an introduction. I hope you'll stick around and we can find something in common.

Bonjour Petite Amies

Happy New Year all. We have spent the day unwinding from a late night and doing my most favoritess of things...absolutely nothing. All this down time lends itself well to day dreaming and creativity. T was up first and had already composed and illustrated an entire book by the time I awoke. It is entitled, If You Were In My World. My favorite page says: "Instead of a schoolbus, there would be a unicorn with wings". Ahhh, girls and their dreams:)

I spent the day catching up on favorite blogs, clipping inspiration from a year's worth of Home Companion magazines, and dreaming up projects of my own. After reading this post on soulemama's blog I was inspired to drag out some of my favorite aprons and create a spot for them. I am tres content with the results. Tres jolie, n'est pas?

When we took down the Christmas decorations in the living room I decided it was time to freshen up some of the wee vignettes. Below is the mantle a la New Year. These are a few of my favorite things, central to room to produce maximum happiness.

I love birds.


And this is the revised piano top. The portrait is oil pastel of my mother as a child.

Much to my good friend Jocy's delight I am sure, I finally finished reading The Shack. There has been so much buzz about this book and I was just not impressed when I first sat down to read. However, once I got into the book I was mesmerized and could not stop reading. Now I understand what all the hooplah is about. If you have not read it, you really should. Just be sure and read the prologue before beginning. It makes much more sense if you do:)

And finally mon petite amies I would like to leave you with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Dream beautiful things this year!