i did not get the memo

Apparently Jim Carrey's A Christmas Carol is not a children's movie.

It wasn't what I expected, but it was a good movie nonetheless. Just don't watch it with little, little ones. It airs on the scary side and it has adult themes that are very serious with A LOT of talking. Too much for young ones to care to listen to for a long period of time.

However, this movie...

 

is great for little, little ones!

For someone who doesn't have children yet, I love kids movies and books. Can being a teacher be a good enough excuse for watching Veggie Tales while wrapping Christmas presents? It was available on Netflix instant streaming and I wanted to have something festive on while I wrapped. Plus, I'm just a huge fan of the talking, Scripture quoting vegetables. What can I say...

This cartoon was ADORABLE and really funny. Plus, it gave us some history about the real Saint Nicholas that was largely based on fact. I read up on Wikipedia after I watched and I thought the writers did a pretty good job of telling as much fact as a child's attention span and understanding could absorb in 45 minutes. I also liked it for the way they explained Saint Nick's attachment to and love for Jesus as being the reason for his desire to give and to share with those in need. I give it two thumbs up. I say grab your little ones and a bowl of popcorn and cozy up on the couch with this one!

have you heard of that little place down south?

This morning the hubby and I got out of bed and got going pretty early. There are only 3 things in this world that can get me out of bed bright eyed and bushy tailed early in the morning. (I am SO not a morning person.) Those three things are:

1. A trip to the happiest place on earth

2. Christmas morning

3. And driving 25 minutes south to pick up some world famous cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven down in the Redlands of South Florida

Here in South Florida we have quite the gem. In a city known for it's high fashion, fancy cars, night life, and strange interesting people, this place sticks out and is a diamond in the rough. I have been going there since I was a kid and I hope to take my kids there some day, too. Have you been to Knaus Berry Farm? Please say you have, and if you can't say that, then please make it a goal for you and yours in 2011. You won't regret it!

It doesn't look like much from the outside...but as you can see there is a line forming outside and this picture was taken 20 minutes before they opened the doors.

At Knaus Berry Farm you can enjoy the bakery, home grown produce, and the best strawberry milkshake in the 305. You can also go there and pick your own tomatoes and strawberries when they are in season and thriving. I love that!  

They also sell delicious jams and jellies. This year I am investing in their honey.

And here you have 2 dozen beautiful, hot cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven.  

We immediately went to my parents house to surprise them and my sisters with the best.breakfast.ever.

You can read a little bit more about Knaus Berry Farm here. And look at way cooler pictures here since my camera is not of the awesome kind.

As I finish writing this I am fighting the urge to go eat one of those cinnamon rolls right now. It's so late!

Must.wait.til.morning.

sole mates

I maybe might have just ordered these for the husband to give to me for Christmas. I.am.in.love! This will mark the third Fall season I have wanted gray, suede boots, soooooooooo....I HAD to do it! Thank you DSW for your promo codes and your reward coupons. I heart you!

happy birthday

I feel like the term “mother in law” is often spoken with a negative tone. There is always an assumption when you say those words that there is some sort of tension or annoying dynamic associated with the relationship. Often the mother in law figure in tv sitcoms is made out to be a monster or an overbearing, controlling woman who refuses to respect the wife of her son. I have a lot of friends who tell me stories about their mother in laws that line up with these stereotypes so I know these things happen and that the funny things we laugh at in sitcoms have a foundation in many a family’s truth. However, I am a very blessed daughter in law.



My mother in law has always been very warm and welcoming to me. She is for sure one of my most favorite people in this world and I love spending time with her. She is one of the most hospitable ladies I have ever met and can entertain in a way that could give Martha Stewart a run for her money. She loves Jesus and she loves her family and it shows. She serves faithfully at our church and she cares for many who are very ill by sending them weekly reminders of her prayers. She can wield a camera with ease and take some seriously awesome photographs, some of which hang proudly on the walls of my house. Plus, she is one of the trendiest dressers in my circle of family and friends, which just ups her cool factor.


She is a doting mom to her two children and extends that sentiment to me and her son in law. She is a loving wife to her hubby. She is a devoted Grammy to my sweet niece and I can’t wait to see her with my kids one day. I love her dearly and hope to be just like her when I grow up!


Today is her birthday so today we get to celebrate her and remind her that indeed “Her children arise and call her blessed”.

to read a book for the first time

is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one.  -Chinese Saying



As 2010 comes to a close, I have been thinking about all the books I have read this year and I am reflecting on them. Some I have to ask myself, “What were you thinking? That was a waste of time!” While others I treasured and wish to read again.

I love books that can speak to me and that I can connect with. I don’t read just for the sake of reading or entertaining my mind. I read because I want to learn more about something I find fascinating. Or I read because I want emotions to be stirred up within me or because I want to find common ground with the characters in the story. I love reading so much that I tend to create attachments to the stories and characters in my favorite books so much that the thought of only reading them once would be likened to meeting an intriguing person, whom you connect with and could see yourself being great friends with, but who you only meet for one conversation and then you never pursue the friendship. That wouldn’t make any sense at all.

My favorite books are dear to me because they have made me feel something, inspired me, brought me great joy, allowed me to live vicariously through another person’s wonderful adventure, taught me about myself, others or the world around me and/or have allowed me to gain new perspective and insight.

I want to blog about books since I love them so much. However, I fear blogging about my favorites will bring about judgment and snickers from much more intellectual readers. You see, I don’t consider myself a literary. I just love reading. I’ve tried reading some of the greats. Some of the classics, and quite frankly, I don’t “get” some of them and others I can’t read without thumbing through the dictionary every few paragraphs (which is laborious when you don’t have the luxury of the iBooks features on the iPad, and sadly I do not). I know I am no scholar, though I would love to be, so forgive me if you’ve read thus far and think that I am going to wow you with my book choices and reviews. That will not happen. But if you love reading like I do and for similar reasons then we could be great book friends.

I’ll come back soon and blog about one of my favorites from this year’s reading list.

In the mean time I will leave you with a great quote that sums up exactly how I feel when I have just finished reading a book that has become one of my favorites.

"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." -Paul Sweeney

Can you relate to not wanting to finish a book because it is so good?

** I found the image above at ApartmentTherapy.com and have always wanted to use it for something! So glad I could finally share it!

from our table to yours

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

As we prepare for tonight's feast I have been really trying to think about what I am thankful for in my life. Several years ago I began a Thanksgiving Journal. In this journal, I record one liners of the things I am thankful for before drifting off to sleep. I have noticed that the most content seasons of my life have been when I am the most consistent at counting my blessings on the pages of this journal. Some of the lines in that journal read silly things like, "laughing with a dear friend until my cheeks and belly hurt". While others are much more serious like, "the Lord gave me Psalm 25 just when I thought my heart would break from lack of hope". 

I know today means different things for different people. I know some people loathe this holiday for the fact that it really was born during a time of fear and uncertainty and marked the end to life as some people knew it way back in Plimoth in the 1600s. Regardless of how you feel about this day, one thing is certain for all of us...a spirit of Thanksgiving and Gratitude should be one we carry throughout life, day in and day out. 

So today here are the things that are at the top of my Gratitude list that you can find on the pages of my journal:

• I am married to a guy who is awesome and loves me even though I am not always so lovable. 
• 
  
• I have been blessed, encouraged, and supported by that same man to take this year off from teaching, to remember why I loved it in the first place, while I substitute teach and focus my time and energy on our home, my health, and my relationships. 
• 
  
• I have amazing friends stretching from San Francisco to New York City whom I cherish and wish all lived on the same block.
• 
  
• I have a great family, my family and my wonderful in-laws(who I am missing SO MUCH today). 
• 
  
• I have been part of BSF --Bible Study Fellowship-- every Wednesday morning for the last 11 weeks and it has been one of the best experiences of my life to study Isaiah so deeply with such beautiful, godly women! 

I hope you take some time this day and this weekend to reflect on what you are thankful for in your life as well.

"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." -Eric Hoffer

since Thanksgiving is tomorrow

I better post the pictures and blog what I've wanted to since Halloween.

About a month ago now I did something I've always wanted to do! I toasted the pumpkin seeds from our carved jack-o-lantern and doing both were SO MUCH FUN!

Here's what you need:

Ingredients:
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried
6 tablespoons white sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

*I used the seeds from our pumpkin, but you can use store bought pre-packaged seeds.

The hubby and I opened up that pumpkin and used an ice cream scoop to get all of the flesh and seeds out.

We filled the sink with a little water and dumped the flesh and seeds in. The seeds float right up to the top.

Allow seeds to dry a bit. Then spread them on a cookie sheet and bake them at 250 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until dry and roasted.

In a large bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons of white sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a large skillet (or in a large wok, since that's what we had handy) over medium-high heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and sprinkle the remaining sugar over them. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar melts, about 45 seconds.

Pour seeds into the bowl with the spiced sugar and stir until coated. Allow to cool before serving.

 
Then eat and share with friends until your heart's content.

I had to post pictures of Trinity checking out the pumpkin Andrew carved in honor of her "halloween" cat pose. She approved.

* I got the pumpkin seed recipe from All Recipes