tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31187631723056131052024-03-13T10:37:59.462-07:00Love to be GreenAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comBlogger1581125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-43640232688024340042012-12-28T12:27:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.589-08:00And of course, more pictures! Christmas continues...More pictures from our Christmas weekend...Oh, Boone! We had so much fun with you this year and can't wait for you to visit next December.Baked brie and caramelized onions on crostini and raspberry spritzers to celebrate the Winter Solstice. We put Cruz to bed, opened a bottle of bubbly, and cooked an old-fashioned Beau-and-Ashley spread, just like the old days. We made one of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-50207815062795376372012-12-27T19:38:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:39:23.027-08:00The Woes of InternetSo. My Internet situation while on Christmas vacation has been rather precarious. To say the least. At my parents house they get Internet. Or rather, they can pick up the neighbor's Internet.The only thing is you have to be in the living room.Sitting on the couch.On the middle cushion.Yes, that's right.Needless to say, I had a difficult impossible time updating my blog. If I were a good Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-5490762242997750452012-12-27T12:13:00.000-08:002012-12-30T21:38:52.524-08:00May You Have a Rich Multicultural Year in 2013I'm dreaming of ice skating: photo by DrieCulturenI really wanted to write a Christmas wish this year but before I knew it I was too late. So before new year's eve hits us I want to wish you all a rich multicultural year wherever you are at the moment and wherever you will be going in the year ahead. Thank you for reading this post. Thank you to everyone I have connected with this past year Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-1967730939143048812012-12-27T08:54:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.598-08:00The Common Force of ChristmasAt our candlelight service on Christmas Eve night, Pastor Dave referred to the Christmas story of Jesus' birth as the 'most compelling story ever told.' Read and loved by some 2.8 billion Christians across the globe and translated in more than 2,000 languages, this story of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem has withstood the test of time more than any other story ever written. He then wentAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-84518645864867353842012-12-26T20:29:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.608-08:00Wordless Wednesday...It's one of my faves. My little elf, in his little grinch jammies, in front of our little Christmas tree on Christmas Eve night. It was one of the most special nights... Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-75489037135064846192012-12-25T08:07:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.615-08:00Merry Christmas...Love to all of you this Christmas Day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-8088257681678656742012-12-24T06:05:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.622-08:00Outtakes #2Because I'm just not good at narrowing them down...That's all, folks! (And thanks to the woman behind the camera. I love you, Mom)... Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-87181582117561816402012-12-21T06:38:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.630-08:00Simple ChristmasWe're truly snowed in around here this morning. This massive snow cloud, referred to as 'Snowmageddon' by local radio stations, did not disappoint, and left us with a thick blanket of 9-12 inches of snow this morning. It was the kind of storm that called for major hibernation around here, the kind we haven't seen before Christmas for a long time. It's 5:00 p.m. and our Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-62966742017431182062012-12-20T06:59:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:39:23.034-08:00Secret Santa RevealFor the first time ever, I was a part of a blogger gift swap. I signed up warily, mostly because I love getting mail, but I was nervous for sure. I knew, I just knew, that whoever got me would flake out and I would put effort into sending a gift and get nothing. Which sounds very Scrooge-ish of me. Haha. So I sent my gift and tried to prepare for the possibility that I wouldn't get a gift. But I Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-61622652002088098152012-12-20T06:48:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.638-08:00Anatomy of a Photo ShootAnyone who follows this blog knows that I take a lot of pictures. It's a passion of mine, and has become a lens for me to capture pieces of this life in attempts to store up the details I hope to never forget. I have a nice camera, and like any good hobby, I've learned over time that the longer you do something or the better you get at something, the higher your expectations are. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-25444396511767516692012-12-18T14:42:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.647-08:00Heritage FarmsWith Christmas just a week away, I find myself grappling, attempting to balance the final preparations of the man-made side of this holiday with the real meaning of this season. My shopping is done, but I've got presents to wrap, food to make, and rooms to clean, and all I really long to do is curl up on the couch with Cruz and watch Home Alone with our fists stuffed in a big bowl of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-39126961808341481882012-12-18T12:11:00.000-08:002012-12-30T21:38:52.550-08:00A Christmas Giveaway "Fly Away Home"Maggie Mykleburst is the author of the book "Fly Away Home". It's actually a great title for a giveaway at this time of year. Isn't it what we all want to do at Christmas: fly home! Sometimes the question is where's home? Maggie was born and raised on the Jersey Shore. She is married to a Norwegian and they have lived as expats in Houston and the Netherlands.The giveaway is a signed copy of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-57171115779278672332012-12-18T06:59:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.655-08:00God with us.I am having a difficult time comprehending the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I'm not sure if it's my age, or my role as a teacher, or the fact that I am now a parent, but Friday's events have sent shock waves to my core and it's been hard to concentrate on anything other than those parents whose sweet babies didn't get to go home with them on Friday. I'm trying to wrap my Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-84527814855335407742012-12-17T19:19:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.663-08:00Light Has ComeI heard this song at church and couldn't help but listen to the words through the hearts of all those hurting in Newtown. It's Christmas and our hearts ache for the broken hearted, but there's hope, in a baby, born in a manger, here for us all.Light Has Come (Charlie Hall) Good tidings to the world aroundTo the weak and the broken downIn a small, poor and dirty town, Light has comeA Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-20132148260740126302012-12-17T16:46:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:39:23.041-08:00My New Favorite BandI love this band. Like love love. Sometimes when I'm at home alone, I put the computer on the Jayesslee station and listen to all of their songs in a row. It's pitiful. But great. So you guys should listen to them! I doubt you'll love them as much as I do (that would be really difficult!), but I'm sure you'll love them almost as much. I Won't Give Up -- Jason Mraz coverSilent NightTry -- Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-2607268740859388642012-12-16T18:31:00.000-08:002012-12-30T21:57:36.766-08:00Pentel Libretto Pen and Pencil SetPentel generously sent me this handsome pen and pencil set known as the Libretto. The pen is a .7 mm and uses the popular LR7 refill, known for high-contrast, consistent, quick-drying lines. The mechanical pencil is a .5 mm size and has a retractable tip, making it safe for pocket carry. As far as design, the pen and pencil are all metal; they feel well balanced without being too substantialAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-66154870327047323792012-12-16T10:00:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:39:23.047-08:00Of North Face and UggsI haven't been thrifting in awhile, but here are some of my more recent finds. I bought this North Face (or is it NorthFace?) jacket at Goodwill. It's always been one of my small thrifting goals to find a North Face. And I saw this one on a rack in Goodwill for $10. Seriously. I'm not a huge fan of purple, though, and sometimes I secretly make fun of people who wear North Face jackets, so I Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-40599035973020517442012-12-15T08:18:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:39:23.054-08:00Tis the Season for LegwarmersLegwarmers. Some people love them and some people hate them. I happen to love them. :) I bought two pair of legwarmers last season, but I really haven't worn them much. But I was out Christmas shopping the other day, and I noticed that one store had a package of legwarmers, but they were re-labelled as "boot toppers." Genius. Especially since I am completely, irrevocably in love with my ankle Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-80565906605728543942012-12-14T08:53:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.716-08:00Christmas Traditions - Old and New There is perhaps no other season cast with as much tradition as Christmas. I wait all year for those first Christmas carols sung in church, excitedly anticipate the first Thursday of December for our Main Street's annual Jingle and Mingle on Main, and have Thanksgiving Break calculated down to a science: breakfast and Macy's parade Thursday morning, a table by the window at Soho, martinis Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-91768853073079517152012-12-13T14:06:00.000-08:002012-12-30T21:57:36.775-08:00Sanjay Needs Recommendations!Sanjay reached out to me with a request for some recommendations for pen and highlighter advice. I will provide him with some of my own, but I wanted to pose the question to visitors of the site to get a more well-rounded set of suggestions:"My entire family are pen freaks. I am currently in Medical School and need some pen, highlighter and marker advice.Currently in school my got pen is the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-71286921266846334572012-12-12T12:00:00.000-08:002012-12-30T21:38:52.562-08:00Dealing with Third Culture KidsSome time ago I wrote the post Counselors be curious about the upbringing of third culture kids. I received a comment from Elfie and she wrote about her experiences with therapists: Counseling a TCK. Of all the therapists she had there was not one who knew the term "third culture kids". It's sad that therapists do not know what kind of challenges we face. Luckily there are some that do know! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-80555554443317707832012-12-12T05:16:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:47:54.772-08:00Wordless Wednesday - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It SnowA few snaps from Cruz's first snowfall this year. Hoping for a little more of the white stuff before Santa comes...:)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-74017435232384064392012-12-11T13:36:00.000-08:002012-12-30T20:39:23.060-08:00Floral and ZooeyI have been having a really hard time posting on my blog. I'm not even really sure why. I just have been wordless lately. Which is okay. I'm sure I'll get my words back soon. Hopefully. The other day I was bored. And I had been watching Army Wives, because it's my new favorite show and may just possibly be the best show in the entire world minus grey's anatomy and gossip girl of course but Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-19139012942383115062012-12-11T10:07:00.000-08:002012-12-30T21:49:51.678-08:003 Tips To Reduce, Reuse, Recycle This Holiday Seasonby Mistie DawnThe holiday season is in full swing! And here comes the holiday packages filled with goodies from friends and family. Did you know that Americans generate 25% more waste (that's 6 million tons, up 20% since 1995) between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day? Here are a few suggestions on ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle this holiday season.1. Styrofoam peanuts. They're every whereAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118763172305613105.post-82304796719380614212012-12-10T16:09:00.000-08:002012-12-30T21:57:36.783-08:00DP Leatherworks Utility Notebook Cover UpdateLast year, I received the DP Leatherworks Utility Notebook cover for Christmas, and I had meant to provide an update at some point down the road to show how well it has held up. Well, just under a year later, and I'm happy to report that it is in very good shape. Sure, it has been weathered a bit by fingernails, hitting my belt being removed my back pocket, and other general wear and tear, Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00828776361064961488noreply@blogger.com