50

50 of my favorite things.
I was inspired by what I saw here and here.

1. homemade bread
2. Mason sleeping in a ball on my lap
   
3. the sun shining in my living room
4. a clean kitchen
5. a mowed lawn
6. quiet
7. comfortable shoes
8. my porch
9. Hinsdale
10. laughing with my family
11. changing leaves
12. daffodils
13. farmer's markets
14. luminaria
15. 5:00 on Friday
16. naps
17. fireworks
18. car trips
19. the beach
20. umbrellas
21. scarves
22. handmade gifts
23. my monogram
24. antiques
25. needlepoint
26. a new magazine
27. purses
28. my diamond earrings
29. hot tea with honey
30. NC pottery
31. board games
32. hugs
33. applesauce
34. live music
35. picnics
36. cheese
37. polished nails
38. cookbooks
39. being tan
40. Charlotte
41. a new calendar
42. letter press stationary
43. cloth napkins
44. a balanced checkbook
45. water
46. white tee-shirts
    
47. nice hotels
48. new blogs
49. fire in the fireplace
    
50. pizza

I hope you are inspired to make a list too!

me

I found this on another blog and thought I would tag myself. I have to laugh at some of these questions, as I am not an expert on fashion, but I do have an opinion!

1.What is your current obsession ?
Real foods. Eating healthy and being healthy.

2. What are you wearing today?
Right now, PJ's. But eventually I will probably sport my Sunday uniform....running pants, tee shirt and hoodie.

3. What’s for dinner?
Hamburgers, sweet potato fries, kale and apple sauce. Mmmm.

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Fresh veggies at the Farmer's Market. {do you see a trend here...food, food, food}

5. What are you listening to right now?
Peace and quiet!

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Since I tagged myself, I think I am pretty good person.

7. If you could have a house, totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
At Holden Beach, NC.

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
A white tee-shirt and Rainbow flip flops.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
I would like to go to Napa and have a wine tasting and a delicious farm fresh meal.

10. Which language do you want to learn?
I know Spanish, but would love to use it somewhere and become fluent.

11. What’s your favorite quote?
I can do all things through Him, who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
I would like to meet Martha Stewart.

13. What is your favorite color?
I would probably say red. I like to decorate in red and wear red. But I also wear a lot of pink.

14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
I love my black Ralph Lauren cotton sweater. It was a bargain and it is so comfy!

15. What is your dream job?
I would love to own a small farm and sell my stuff in the front yard. {don't laugh, mom}

16. What’s your favorite magazine?
I have several favorites. I love Body and Soul, House Beautiful, Real Simple and Food and Wine.

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
I am getting ready to re-do my bathroom so I would spend it on that.

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Dressing too young.

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
Angelina Jolie. I don't get her or the people who think she is an icon.

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
I prefer short hair. The shorter the better. I like my haircut right now...stacked up the back and just below my ears on the sides.

21. What are you going to do after this?
It is a beautiful day so maybe some yard work. I also need to get started on my Christmas cards.

22. What are your favorite movies?
When A Man Loves a Women, St. Elmo's Fire, The Holiday

23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?
MAC 'O' lipstick, Carmex, MAC eyeshadows.

24. What inspires you ?
Jesus inspires me to be the best person I can be.

25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you?
1. Always wear lipstick. Nana wears lipstick all of the time...bright red lipstick. She even makes sure she has it on in the hospital.

2. Have nice teeth. Brushing, flossing, good smelling breath, white, straight teeth; all make you much more attractive.

3. Don't wear too much make-up. The clown look isn't attractive.

26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
I usually wear a favorite outfit so at least I am comfortable.

27. Coffee or tea?
I like both...a lot. It depends on the time of day and my mood.

28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Do something to get my mind off of myself; read a magazine, watch a movie, sleep.

29. What is the meaning of your name?
The meaning is unknown but it refers to the Spanish Saint Teresa of Avla.

30. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
The ones on my blogroll and a few others. I love blogs!

31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Chocolate cake with good icing.

32. Favorite Season?
Spring

33. If I come to your house now, what would you cook for me?
I just found a recipe for shrimp tacos. I want to make those for someone...they look yummy!

34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
Stay away from them. I don't need that in my life!

35. How do you calm yourself down when you are agitated or angry?
Allow myself to get angry for a bit and then focus on something else. I also pray a lot.

36.Who is the modern ideal girl: The one who knows how to shop, dress and enjoy, or the one who is simple but manages the house, kids and herself well?
Ideally, the one who can do it all. I would like to be the one who is simple but manages and enjoys my life well.

Go ahead and tag yourself! I did!

bargain

I love when Amazon has $5.00 subscriptions!!
Right now you can get Cooking Light for 5 bucks...what a great stocking stuffer that would make!

ETA: It looks like this was a one day deal. Sorry!!! Today Instyle is $5.00 off.

ho ho

I am slowly turning my wardrobe over from a teachers' wardrobe to a corporate wardrobe. The problem is I don't really work in corporate America and could wear jeans to work everyday that I don't see a customer. So the transition has been slow as I figure out what I want/need.
In my teaching days I had Vera Bradley briefcase. {I personally don't find them grandma-ish, as some people do}. It is a retired pattern and I really do like it, but I do think it screams teachers. While this really isn't a problem because my customers are teachers, I think it is time to get a more sophisticated bag.
Martha Stewart {have I mentioned how much I love her?} had a show on purses back in January or February and she said that she carried the Town and Field Tote from LL Bean. I was intrigued and checked it out. It looks perfect for what I need and the comments really sing its praises. I think it will be the next step in my wardrobe transformation.
My family is doing Christmas a little differently this year, so instead of Santa bringing it, I might have to get it for myself. Maybe I will still wrap it and put it under the tree.

be safe

My neighborhood sent this out last week. It has some good stuff listed although I think some things are easier said than done. This list was given by the Police Department, so they are the ones recommending being called {see 16}. With the holidays coming up, it is a good idea to be overly cautious.

1. Have someone you trust check on your home each day you are gone.
2. Have a neighbor collect your mail and all newspapers.
3. If you do not have a neighbor that can pick up your mail and newspapers, have them stopped during the time that you are away.
4. Have someone return your roll-out garbage can from the edge of the street.
5. Do not publicize the fact that you are going on vacation.
6. Put lights and a radio on timers.
7. Burn an outside light all night, not just when you go away.
8. Do not close your blinds and curtains if you do not normally do so while you are home.
9. Do not stop deliveries! Have a neighbor pick them up for you, as well as circulars that accumulate by the front door.
10. Make arrangements to have the lawn cut while you are away.
11. Turn your telephone ringer down to low or turn on the answering machine. Do not leave messages saying that you are on vacation or when you will return home.
12. Lock all doors (including garage doors), windows and screens before leaving.
13. Store items such as lawn furniture, garden tools and hanging baskets in a secure area of your residence.
14. Consider asking a neighbor to park a vehicle in your driveway during your absence.
15. Leave a phone number (and/or email address) with a neighbor where you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
16. Call the Police Department to request a zone check of your residence while you are away.

life lesson

A couple of years ago it was suggested that I might be co-dependent. Not the 'child of an alcoholic and continue to have similarly destructive relationships as an adult' co-dependent; my particular type of co-dependency manifests itself in my need to give unsolicited advice and then, more importantly, the fact that I take it very personally if that advice is not taken. For example, I have a friend who has long, straight hair. She and I went to the same hairdresser and I felt it necessary to tell her that I thought she should get a style to her hair. Who am I to tell anyone how to do their hair??!!? At the time I thought I was doing her a favor...she would look better if she did it my way. The thing is, she was perfectly happy with her hair. Now I realize that I was hurting her by letting her think that her hair was not attractive, or not good enough for me. Nice, huh? {I could name so many other examples, I owe a lot of people an apology!}
When I was told I was co-dependent I didn't take it very well. But after a lot of research and reading, I realized that it was a correct analysis of my personality. I didn't like it and knew I had to do something about it.
I have spent a lot of time and energy trying to change this character flaw {one of many}. The more I thought about it the more I realized that it was really effecting my relationships as well as my self worth. I put too much weight in how I helped others and whether or not they thought my advice was worthy by whether or not it was followed. I also realized that I have NO RIGHT to give advice unless my opinion is asked. Not to mention the fact that I needed to focus on myself, not others.
As I go on this journey, I am more aware when others do the same thing. I know this is a reminder to me about why I shouldn't do this to others. I also think it occurs at a time when I might be falling back into old habits, funny how it works that way.
I am so very grateful for this observation and the fact that someone in my life had the courage to point it out. While it was painful at first, I think it has made me a better daughter, sister and friend.
Important life lessons are not easy to learn but oh so necessary!

I really do wish!

This week Kelsey is hosting a good one on Wishful Wednesday. I wish I never had to do ________ again. She goes on to say 'what is the one chore/task you wish a fairy would wave a wand over and wha-la, it's done for you!" There are so many to choose from but I really think the one thing I wish I would never have to do again is keep my car clean. I wish the fairy would wash, wax, vacuum, dust etc my car out every week. I don't spend a ton of time in my car, but I just love a clean car. It makes me so happy to see the water bead on a well waxed car, to see shiny tires and to see a dustless dash. Oh the little things that make me happy!!!

the car I will drive until it dies!

observations

...from Walmart.

• having your family stand across the entire aisle blocking the path for anyone coming and going while discussing the best paper plate to purchase is annoying
• if I can smell you over in the next aisle you probably smoke a little too much
• standing in the paper towel aisle staring at your cell phone for 5 minutes is a little odd. put it down and shop.
• you can smell the cinnamon pine cones ALL OVER THE STORE. they made my mouth water.
• what is the point in shopping with your friends if one is listening to her iPod, one is on the phone and the other is texting? can't you do that at home...alone?
• yes, that off white {supposed to be white} car in the parking lot is mine. I should probably give it a bath sometime soon.
  

pretty pantry

Last week when Adam was in town the weather was crappy. So we went to the equivalent of an adult, indoor amusement park...IKEA! I didn't buy very much, and Adam bought even less but I did pick up my favorite thing there. I love these glass jars. You can see I keep rice, homemade granola, beans, Quinoa etc in them. They are the perfect storage container...cheap, useful, easy to clean in the dishwasher and everything looks pretty in the pantry.

big change

On December 21, 2008 I posted this. {make sure you look} How far we have come in a 11 months. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! AP Top 25 1. Kansas (55) 0-0 1,612

2. Michigan State (5) 0-0 1,515

3. Texas (1) 0-0 1,397

4. Kentucky (3) 0-0 1,372

5. Villanova 0-0 1,347

6. North Carolina (1) 0-0 1,320

7. Purdue 0-0 1,284

8. West Virginia 0-0 1,115

9. Duke 0-0 1,064

10. Tennessee 0-0 897

11. Butler 0-0 864

12. Connecticut 0-0 844

13. California 0-0 800

14. Washington 0-0 776

15. Michigan 0-0 578

16. Ohio State 0-0 465

17. Oklahoma 0-0 410

18. Mississippi State 0-0 393

19. Louisville 0-0 335

20. Georgetown 0-0 326

21. Dayton 0-0 318

22. Georgia Tech 0-0 301

23. Illinois 0-0 282

24. Clemson 0-0 217

25. Minnesota 0-0 172