My Favorite Things

busted

My laptop is currently busted.
I've had a few complaints about my lack of blog posts.
And even though complaints are normaly a bummer...
that kind makes me a little warm and fuzzy inside.
Anyhow, my laptop is currently in the shop.
And by shop I mean husbs lap.
Feel free to email him with encouraging notes...like...
fix that laptop STAT ;)

I hope to be back to my normal blogging schedule soon.
Ha...which is kind of a joke since my schedule hasn't been normal for months.
I have a dessert recipe already typed up and ready to share as soon as I get my computer back.
It involves chocolate and Martha Stewart.
And its so good it will make you forget what a lame blogger I have been.
At least I hope so ;)

bieber fever

Do you guys remember me making fun of Justin Bieber a while back?
This is what I wrote.
I wasn’t really too mean.
I really did think it was a girl singing that song.

Anyways, you might have already seen this YouTube video…but if you haven't seen the Jimmy Kimmel conclusion here you go.

I think the little girls obsession at the age of three is weird.
But…I have so say I might have the Bieber fever now.
He melted my heart when he went straight to her and picked her up...no hesitation.
Not much is better than a sweet teenage boy.
Lets hope he stays that way ;)

creation station

One of the most popular crafts I do at homework club is the recyclables craft.
I love it cause its cheap and easy.
The kids love it…well i guess they love it because they get to use their imaginations.
The downside is that it takes FOREVER to save up the supplies.
The recyclables craft is me saving every single paper towel roll, toilet paper roll, cereal box, soup can, egg carton, etc.
And then one day I bring it into club and let the kids have a free for all.
They get to make whatever they want.
These are some of the things they come up with.
The downside is that it takes FOREVER to save up the supplies.
There are over 50 kids and husb and I can only eat so much.

Enter the Creation Station!
The most awesome store ever.
I took a trip there last week…brought my camera and then forgot to take pictures.
However, you can get a feel for what the store is like from their website.
It’s basically a giant store of nothing but random recycled items.
Here are some of the things I picked up.

My favorite!

Months ago I was in Crate and Barrel and came across these plastic containers stuffed with all kinds of odd and end craft supplies.
It was made to give kids something to do during those “I’m bored” moments.
I thought it was an awesome idea…but when crafting with 50 plus kids…$10 is a little outta my price range.
So with the help of Creation Station…I’ve made my own version!

They started out as tennis ball containers…they ended up as my craft buckets!
And for $1.41 a kid…its affordable!
Now…I need to stuff 55 tennis ball containers.
I told you my days of tedious work wasn’t over ;)

mexico 2010, part 2

As I mentioned in my last post, the boys drove supplies down to the studio.
This beast of an espresso machine was one of those supplies.
 
The boys job was to build a home for it.

Thankfully, Natalie found work to keep us girls busy too.

 

 
Little sis re-upholstering chairs.
I think it is her hidden talent.

   

  Yep…Natalie trusted us with the sewing machine.
God so knew what he was doing when he gave her the art studio.
She is so at home there…and such an encouraging instructor.

Check out our finished product. 
 
Aren’t they so cute?
We were inspired by her.
Although, I have to admit they are on the girly side.
I like to think they balance out some of the more masculine graffiti.
But I just tell myself that as to not feel guilt over the comments Natalie might get from all the teenage boys that frequent the studio ;)
 
We worked hard…but it was only a matter of time before the goofing off started.
I blame it on all the tacos…they go straight to the hips and then to the brain.

 
  
Behold the finished project!   
 
Studio Del Creador’s first coffee bar!
A few more fun things we got to do during our trip…
eat breakfast at the most beautiful restaurant.
It was built around huge boulders.
 
Did you see the boulder behind the fireplace?
And the tree growing out of the floor?
And the chandeliers doubled as wine racks. The restaurant had the most amazingly delicious chili rellano…thankfully Ty was willing to share his with me ;)
It was also positioned atop a hill so the view of Tecate was great.

 
I had to stock up on sandigomas so Natalie took me to the coolest candy store.
I left with arms full of candy and the prettiest sprinkles.
I’ll have to make cupcakes or better yet these cookies and then show you.
 
I had to take a picture of these piñatas.
 
They were the biggest I have ever seen.
Whenever I see a piñata I think of my 7th birthday.
Sorry Mom…I gotta tell the story.
We had just moved to Arizona from Florida and my Mom was embracing southwestern culture.
She threw me a little party…complete with my first piñata.
I remember all us kids taking a swing at it…totally having a blast.
Then finally the last hit tore the thing apart…
but to our dismay not a single piece of candy spilled out of it.
Mom had missed the most important step in the piñata tradition.
It’s okay Mom…I bet you did it just to make it memorable for me right?
It definitely worked ;)
 
So there you have it…our trip to Mexico.
We worked, then played, then ate, then played and ate even more.
Natalie and Pato were such sweet hosts.
They turned our “missions trip” into a full on vacation.
Hopefully Natalie can keep thinking up projects for us to work on.
We need lots of excuses to come visit her!

mexico 2010

We’re back!
Actually, I’ve been back since Tuesday night.
But…as you will all be very surprised to know…I lost my camera cord.
Shocker right?
Well, God had mercy on me again and it has been found!

I’m super excited to share pictures with you!
Our group consisted of Husb and I, my baby sister Gabby (aka Gretta) and Ty.
We went to Tecate, Mexico…a boarder city about an hour away from Tijuana.
Our goal was to deliver supplies to Natalie for Studio Del Creador, build some sort of coffee bar and visit Natalie and Pato.
We accomplished all three goals!

Before we even got into Mexico I found this.

Haha…cracked me up.
A whole line of Governator products at the airport.

Natalie and the boys met Gretta and I at the airport.
Since husb and Ty drove down…they got were able to stop for a meal at the Nickel Diner.
I made my wishes well know…please bring me a bacon donut!
  He did :)
I love them…even if others are slightly disgusted by them ;)

Last November, during our first missions trip to Mexico we stayed primarily at the ranch and happily worked our tails off.
This trip was all together different.
We saw much more of Mexico’s boarder cities and how people actually live.
The people are poor, living conditions are not always the best, crime and corruption is a reality.
However, the people are kind and beautiful and Jesus is touching so many lives.

And let me tell you…
they have some AMAZING FOOD!
My personal favorite…the queso taco
 
Get ready for this.
They take carne asada (chopped up beef cooked in tomato juices) or shrimp, wrap cheese around it, fry it and then place that on a corn or flour tortilla and top it with a special sauce and avocado.
Inspired by God I’m pretty sure. That same restaurant also serves these white marinated jalapenos.
Delicious and dangerous.
There were tears ;)
My relationship with them ended once I realized they were a community appetizer.
Community meaning previous customers and previous tables had also enjoyed the same bowl of jalapenos.

I also had my first Torta and of course we had mulitas. 

On our last night Natalie took us to a really great hot dog joint.
I know…your in Mexico and you get a hot dog?

But the girl knows how and what to eat.
They were giant hot dogs with all the fixins and they definitely hit the spot.
As if the spot needed hitting after all those tacos ;)
The boy above is one of Natalie’s art studio kids…Eduardo.
Totally sweet teenage boy who spent his evening driving around with a bunch of crazy white people.
I can only imagine the things going through his head ;)
Hopefully he enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed his.

While we are on the subject of food…
let me introduce you to a Mexican grocery store.
Colorful
 
Mole
The biggest pork rinds I’ve ever seen.  Mouth watering cheese
 
and meats
I love the shape of their soda bottles.
 
Gabby was feeling opinionated about Coke Zero.
Disclaimer: Coke…I love you. In your Original form that is…if I go to a restaurant and order a coke and they ask if Pepsi is ok…I say no and order a lemonade. So please don’t be offended by this picture.

 
And I had to take a picture of this.

I think it’s a brilliant idea.
How much easier would it be to place a slice of Philadelphia cream cheese on your bagel than mangling it with a butter knife?
Kraft is totally holding out on us!

I promise we did more than eat and take pictures of food.
By the way…I got the funniest looks while taking pictures in the grocery store.
I don’t blame them though…I know I looked crazy.
Especially when taking pictures of the cream cheese sign ;)
I’ll share pictures of us working hard tomorrow.
Right now I need to wipe the drool off my chin and figure out how to smuggle in some queso tacos!

really?

Let me introduce you to the saddest little potato around.

Here is the deal.
Husb left for San Diego early this morning.
Gretta and I fly out to San Diego tomorrow to meet up with husb and then we all go down to Mexico.
We are visiting this chick and her studio!
So anyways, back to the potato.
As I have no husband to cook for tonight, and I have no food in the house, and I don’t feel like fast food, I’ve decided to get Thai food for dinner tonight.
YUM!
However, I can be cheap at times and can’t justify going to Florida, then Mexico and eating out for lunch and dinner all in the same month.
So I was left to scrounge around in my pantry.
I found a bag of potatoes that have been in there a little too long.
But they were edible.
No one dies from eating a semi soft and slightly wrinkled potato do they?
It did get slightly more wrinkled once I put it in the microwave.
However, I camouflaged him with broccoli and cheese
 
and he served his purpose.
Holding me over till dinner :)

On a completely different note…
I think I’m coming to the realization that I need to learn to sew.
I can’t take all these cute tutorials of how to make a belt or a scarf.
Or being able to pull off tricks like this.
Really?
You bought a dress that was too short and sewed on extra fabric to make it perfect?
Really?
I have a feeling a sewing machine is in my future.
I’m not sure I want this or I’m ready for it?
However, I’m pretty sure it’s inevitable.
Darn.

Disclaimer: I wrote this post on Thursday as I can relate with the Nester and don’t want to tip off any killers! I will be scarce around here until the middle of next week. I will miss you friends…but I’ll hopefully have lots of fun pictures to share when I get back! Pray that all goes well as we are down there!

tedious

I feel like that was yesterdays word of the day. We are doing this craft tonight at homework club.
Which means I spent hours stapling paper bags and cutting ribbon so that 60 kids will have something to do when they arrive at club tonight.
And even tho…I thought my head would explode after the 40th bag…I will happily do it all over again next week.
I love those kids…and as long as they keep coming up to me and asking what the craft of the day is I will continue to provide.
Although, I can’t always promise it will be a well thought out craft ;)
I’ve been known to make them paint three weeks in a row.
With watercolor non the less.

In other news…our youth ministry is having an auction next month.
Yours truly is responsible for decor!
I know…scary right?
Yesterday I had to bring a sample centerpiece to the auction meeting for everyone to approve. It went well.
They were approved.
They really are an easy crowd to please ;)

And finally, lets discuss Christmas cactus.
This is my new one.
My Mema gave me two cuttings of hers.
One is tangerine and one is lemon.
That is how she described the colors to me…not orange and yellow…tangerine and lemon.
How sweet is that?
You know you are from Florida when you start describing your colors as types of citrus ;)
Anyhow, about the Christmas cactus.
I’m going to be honest here…I’m not a fan.
They have beautiful blooms but I just don’t think they are a pretty plant.
I have an issue with having cactus type vegetation in my home.
Maybe it’s those ten years living in Arizona and having one too many cholla spine in my foot.
Laura B you know what I’m talking about!
Anyhow…I am honored that my Mema would share her cactus with me.
And I happily picked out a pot for it, bought it some soil and planted it.
In spite of my aversion so succulents…I do hope it takes root and survives.
Even though thinking about it brings me to tears…I’m under no illusion that Mema will be around forever.
And having her Christmas cactus in my home…blooming each Christmas year after year will be a pretty special thing.

Now if only I had a green thumb;)

happy valentines day

45 minutes till the day is over so I guess I can still say that!
Hope you guys all had a great day…whether you had a valentine or not!
Our day started out pretty normal…church and then home for lunch.
I decided to make husb Pioneer Woman’s doughnuts as a Valentine treat.

They turned out pretty good…despite the fact that they refused to rise on there own!
She isn’t kidding about them needing a nice warm environment.
I found a good tip in the comments section…
preheat the oven to 250 degrees, turn the oven light on, then turn the oven off.
Place the donuts inside the oven with door cracked.
I did this after about 4 hours of them not rising…it worked.
I also used maple extract instead of vanilla…cause husb loves a good maple glazed donut.
Overall they were pretty good.
They absorbed a little too much oil…might have been an oil temperature problem?
Husb liked them and that’s really all that counts ;)

Then we decided to go to a late dinner at The Repp.
However, before leaving for dinner I came across The Great Date Experiment on Katie’s blog.
Husb and I laughed at the first “point” and decided to do it.
We had to kiss at a red light until the car behind us honked and I had to yell out the window “my husband is hot!”.
The picture below is from one of the other “points”…but I’m not going to spill the beans on what the directions were incase some of you want to do it with your spouse.

It was a lot of fun…made us laugh and made for a perfect Valentines Day!
The next date is in March!
I think we are hooked.

florida…a colorful, lawless swamp

quote from last Thursdays Office…totally cracked me up!

We just got back last night from our yearly Florida trip.
The goal was to spend time with my Mema.
Mission accomplished!
It was a very short trip…only two days after flying…so we didn’t get to see everyone.
However, we got to spend plenty of time with this little pest.
 
Mema’s new puppy…Toby.
He is half German Sheppard, half something else.
He is going to be a BIG dog.
Really sweet and calm for a puppy.
 
But boy…he doesn’t let you sleep!
He stays inside at night…in a dog crate.
As soon as you go to bed he whines and barks and cries!
FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR!
Then he does it again about 5am and 7am.
We tried everything.
 
Took him out to pee, fed him, tried to wear him out during the day, bought him a chew toy, flea meds, EVERYTHING!
We came to the conclusion that he just doesn’t like to be alone.
As long as you are in the room with him he is fine.
BRAT!
But a real cute one ;)

Toby wasn’t the only cute baby I got to play with.

My newest baby cousin…isn’t he a little chunk?
He was a 9 pounder.
Yikes!
Loved those chubby cheeks!

Mema had a seriously huge plate of fried chicken waiting for us Tuesday night when we arrived.
 
She tried really hard to make us eat it all.
The cutest thing is the coffee she bought for us.
Seattle’s Best ;)
 

 

 

I think that tree is just beautiful.
But I can’t help but think of all the redbugs in that moss.
Makes me itch just to think about it.

When visiting Mema we usually make multiple trips to Walmart.
I couldn’t help it…I still had the hair poof on my mind and just had to find some freeze it hair spray.

If only they would let me bring it on the plane!
If you notice to the left all the mega freeze it is sold out.
The girls in the video said to stay away from the mega because it was serious stuff.
Get your poof on Lake City!
Ha!

It was a good trip…but it’s always good to be home and in your own bed.
Especially when trying to fight off a cold :(

house tour

more like a very quick tour of our rented condo.
I find it very hard to take pictures of this space.
It’s very long and narrow.
I’ve tried twice to take better pics…this is about as good as it gets for now.

Welcome to our kitchen!

There is a laundry room, second bedroom and guest bathroom down the hallway.
I’m still getting them put together.
I’ll have to show them another day.

The living room.
There is a really large window and kitchen to the right of the couch

 

Meg, your right…our TV looks dinky on top of the fire place. 

I think this is really a linen closet.
However, the kitchen is just to the right of it…and this new kitchen is smaller than my last one.
A compromise I had to make ;)
So I turned this into our pantry.
Excuse the disorganization.
I’ll get to it.

  
Master bedroom

 
with a master bathroom

There is a shower…but by this time I was over trying to take pictures of such narrow spaces.
I’ve complained to husb that I need a wide angle lens ;)

One of the coolest things about our new place…
a walk in closet!

 

So there you have it.
Oddly composed pictures of our new space.
It feels much more warm than it comes off in the pictures.
I have work to do though…
like organizing that closet!
Ick!

poof

I came across this video today.
I found it on this blog.

Poofing from Jennifer Francis on Vimeo.

Totally cracked me up!
I saw a link to the video, was intrigued, watched and laughed…and then wrote my Mom a mean email about all the things she deprived me of by moving me from the south.
Like knowing how to do a good poof ;)
And just to prove it I ran to the bathroom and took this self portrait.

Girls got no poof!

awesome

I have been a blogging slacker.
A ton of pictures I took over the last two weeks wouldn’t load onto my computer.
I just sat down and decided to bite the bullet and blog about some other topics and then realized that the pictures HAVE LOADED!
Thank you Jesus!

So get ready for picture overload!

Birthday flowers from my sweet husband

Are you blinded by all the light streaming in through that big window?
Me too!
And I love it!
Our new apartment is so full of light…totally beats living in a basement.

Mark helping husb build our bar stools

Mark helping me babysit his baby sister

This was the first time we officially babysat these two little munchkins.
It was about stinkin time!
Lots of fun!

However, before that babysitting job we had to finish our other babysitting job.
I thought I had mentioned it before.
However, I just scoured my posts and don’t think I did.
Well…our dear friends asked us to babysit/housesit/dog sit for them.
Just a few reasons we couldn’t say no…
they are two of the kindest people we know…
their kids are cute, hilarious, fun…
they are devoted foster parents and deserve some time alone…
and you could consider Todd my boss.
I’m not going to bite the hand that feeds me ;)

So we happily said “YES” and became the parents of two little girls and two teenage boys.
Can I just say…older kids can be so great.
I didn’t have to do any chores.
The boys did dishes, fed the animals, vacuumed, etc.
The oldest checked in with me constantly…asking if he could do anything.
Awesome!

Since all three of us girls had birthdays within a week of one another…
we celebrated by making funfetti cookies!


 

We may or may not have burnt a batch.
We all voted to just tell anyone who asked that they were chocolate cookies ;)
 
At one point I filled the sink with water and soap suds.
And let the little girls go wild.

   

Don’t let that sweet…I’m cuddling on the floor with the kids face fool you!
This dog is a pill!
Don’t worry…me and the broom showed her who’s boss.
At least I think I did.

The week we were babysitting husb bought a new bike!
He has been riding it to work.
I’m so proud of him!

The day he got it we spent some time outside.

If you did your math right…your noticing one kid is missing from the picture.
What can I say?
Teenagers are elusive creatures.
During the day he was doing chores and studying for finals and in the evening…
well…I’ll just say husb had some good video game partners ;)

just call me austin

I mentioned back in November that I injured my big toes while on our missions trip.
The shoes I wore basically pushed the toe nail back and up!
It’s really gross.
They look horrible still.
And the left one hurts like a mother!
Well…after husb telling me “gosh Lee…you gotta make a Dr appointment!!” about a million times A DAY and being in pain, and frustrated that I can’t wear my Cole Haan boots…I finally made an appointment.
Thank you Jesus for podiatrists!
And pushy husbands I suppose ;)

I refuse to take a picture of my toe to share…it’s just too gross.
But just imagine a toe nail that is totally black underneath, crushed on the sides and pushed up on the front.
Well…maybe you don't want to imagine it.
The good news is the Dr. fixed it.
It still looks sad but not as horrible.
And the best part…it doesn’t hurt and I can wear my boots!
Wanna know what he did?
He used a Dremel!
Not even joking.
I had to go to a Dr and have him saw my toe nail!
Just like this

except insert my toe!
Just imagine that scene from Austin Powers…after he has thawed out and they are taking a power saw to his feet.
That was me this morning.
And the whole time I was thinking…I can’t believe this is happening…I’m going to have to blog about it.

sombrero

I was made to wear one last night.
  
It was my birthday dinner.
My sweet husband planned the whole thing.
He did all the inviting, reservations, ordered Trophy cupcakes AND a Molly Moon ice cream cake!
Are you over me and Molly Moon yet?
Well, get over it cause I’m still in love with that ice cream and will probably talk about it a million more times ;)

Anyhow, we ended up going to our local Mexican restaurant.
Which really…is a great place to go if you are planning on having a big crowd.
They are awesome…split checks a million ways, have good prices, lots of waiters, and everyone loves Mexican food…even kids!
However, if you are celebrating your birthday…
they do sing to you and make you wear a sombrero!
Which wasn’t even in husb’s mind until KRISTEL reminded him!
I guess that’s what friends are for…right?

So yeah…I don’t like to be the center of attention so much.
Well…I wont lie…to an extent I do.
But that is normal right?
But just a small…extent.
Last night was a big extent!
But I was reminded what sweet family and friends God has blessed husb and I with.
So many kind, funny and God loving people.
We don’t deserve it.
Really…none of us do.
But that is what’s so special about God…he gives even though we don’t deserve.

Speaking of giving…check out the camera strap my Mom and Dad bought for me!

It’s from Mod.
I feel like such a blogger now…with my cute girly camera strap!
If only I would learn to take better pictures ;)

sunday night

I’m sitting in my flannel Pajamagram pants…courtesy of my sweet father.
He sent us girls a Pajamagram a few years ago for Valentines day.
It really is the perfect gift!
I’ve paired them with my Florida Gators t-shirt…courtesy of my Aunt Anna!
Thanks Aunt Anna…love you!

I’m sipping my vinegar tea (felt a tinge of a cold coming on) and watching Masterpiece Theatre.
It’s my new obsession.
I always thought Masterpiece Theatre was boring and for old people.
Well…I’m 28 now and I’ve accepted Masterpiece Theatre into my life.
A couple weeks ago it was Return to Cranford and tonight it’s Emma.
I’m excited for Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
So as you can see I’m quit boring tonight.
So let me entertain you with a trip down memory lane.
Yep…that’s husb and I.
17 and 18 years old.
Senior year of high school.
Oh my.
We look so happy…we had so much fun.
What a cutie he is.
See his shoes?
He wore the same kind on our wedding day.
Now…my shoes.
Well…I wish someone would have told me to get a shorter pair.
Come on…that dress is ridiculously short.
High water dress anyone?
And what's up with my hair?
Despite all that…great memories!
Ty and Tasha were with us that night.
Tasha and I had not realized our friendship potential yet ;)
I’ll have to scan and share the pic of the four of us.
I’m sure Tash can’t wait ;)
 
Gotta love this picture.
Me and my Lunstrum girls…Hannah, Leah, and Esther.
We are hanging out in Barry’s parents basement.
Even back then I couldn’t take a pic without closing my eyes.
Those were good times.
Esther…do you notice the jacket?
Mom…is that jacket still in the coat closet?

Well…now you’ve peered into my life as a teenager.
And now that I know how to scan pictures…I might even get brave and post a few of my middle school years.
Maybe.
Depends on what mood I’m in.
They aren’t pretty ;)

One last thing.
I linked to it above…but wanna point out that my dear Leah has a blog!
You know I love to share my friends blogs with ya!
She is such a sweet woman and even though she just started her blog…well…she is pretty much blowing me out of the water.
It’s a fun read and she always has lots going on.
I guess not everyone's lives revolve around Masterpiece Theatre and pajamas;)