We're Back from the Mountains!

I have to say that I feel like I've been in La-La land. A magical place with no cell-phone towers, tv, internet or video games. It. was. heaven. I spent much needed quality time with my family, great friends and all of our children. I am overcome with gratitude for the many blessings that I so often take for granted.

Oscar had an amazing time and once again impressed us all with his amazing ability to adapt. We loved sharing a room with him and while he slept in the pack-n-play most of the time, we enjoyed our morning snuggles immensely. And we even had a couple mornings that started with a gentle tap-tap-tap from Grammy asking if she could take Oscar so we could sleep in. Yes, I said ASKING.

I just don't even know where to begin. In a way the trip was so fast-paced and fun because there were people everywhere. But at the same time, we had a wonderfully relaxing vacation. Memories are rushing through my brain at a rapid pace and all I can focus in on are images of laughter, rest and love. I know once I have a chance to regroup I will be able to write more. But for now, I think that sounds like a pretty great Christmas.

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What Blog??

Goodness I have been busy! Jerry is off work this week and while one might think that would make me less busy, it is quite the opposite! We've been having a great time sharing our days with Daddy. Yesterday we went to the mall and today we had a mini-Christmas at home. We're getting all ready for our Semi-Annual Mountain Trip and I. CAN'T. WAIT.

We let Oscar open his gifts from faraway family and from us this morning and he had a blast! I know that Christmas morning he will know EXACTLY what to do :-) I hope everyone is enjoying this Christmas week and I look forward to posting my reflections once I get a chance to be still, enjoy the snow and porch rockers and dwell on the beauty of God's creation. Until then!

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What does Labor Look Like?

it all started with 10+ hours at home - contractions spent on the birth ball, in the tub and on the toilet (yes really)

So I've been taking a trip down memory lane as of late looking through old photos. DON'T ASK ME WHY I AM LOOKING THROUGH MY PHOTOS, IT'S CHRISTMAS OK? So anyway, I was looking through pictures and I found a file on Jerry's profile that I had completely forgotten about. My labor! Obviously, once Oscar was born, we skipped straight to baby pictures, but we. all. know. that I worked for that cute face, so lets have a looksee shall we? I spared you the pushing pictures. You can thank me later.

Jerry was amazing throughout

we made it to the hospital and Jerry and Christina (our Doula) are working my sore muscles

My sisters hopped in the car and drove 3 hours as soon as they got the call! And here I am hooked up to the monitors for a few minutes. These were on and off the whole time, but mostly off which was nice.

I LOVE this picture. My support. 

I still lean on you.

Well Oscar didn't come out the old fashioned way, but he sure made an entrance!

Proud parents, then and Now!

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What a difference a year makes...

Last year at this time, I was finishing up my job, waddling around at 34 weeks pregnant and had no idea how my life would be completely flipped in just 5 short weeks. The change has brought the most staggering, wonderful, exciting, exhausting and educational year I have ever had. I am looking forward, but sometimes you just gotta look back and say, wow.

As I am getting ready for our trip I am just getting so excited to spend this holiday with my family. I can't wait to share the joy and love that Oscar has brought us over the past year. Time really does fly.

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Santa!!! Santa's Coming! I KNOW HIM!!!

I hadn't planned to get a picture with Santa but today was just the perfect storm of events so we took the plunge! Oscar and I went to the mall in search of adventure and pajamas, what else? Once there, he was absolutely fascinated with Santa workshop and the big giant reindeer. We circled it a few times on our way to various stores, but noticed that there was NO line. Oscar also happened to look pretty festive in a red striped jumper so I decided to go for it. He didn't seem to care much about Santa but kept pointing at different things all around trying to touch them. I stood behind the camera and helped get him to smile. It was fun and awkward to do all my "noises" in front of strangers. But mostly fun.

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10 Month Update!

Golly, I almost missed the boat on this one! Oscar will be 11 months old next week and I still haven't written his 10 month update! This solidifies the fact that once he has a birthday, I will be switching to quarterly updates. He's just too darn busy these days!

Oscar turned 10 months while we were in Alabama at Thanksgiving. He has really turned a corner and starting to "grow up". While we were down there he started saying Ball and it's basically all he said the whole week! He loves balls. I said it.

He had his first Thanksgiving dinner and loved everything (especially the stuffing and homemade egg noodles!). The one thing he did. not. like. was cranberries. I couldn't resist the adorable sour face though so I kept giving him little bites. You know, after the good stuff when he is good and trusting what is on the spoon. Then BAM cranberries! Mom WTH? I know it's mean...I just love that face...

I think he has also outgrown his stranger anxiety. He did great on the trip and since then has been absolutely happy to go in the nursery and play while we are at church. He no longer bursts into tears when someone smiles at him and has actually become quite the flirt! Another fear he no longer has is that of the vacuum cleaner. He loves his white-noise fan, but has always been absolutely terrified of the vacuum to the point where one of us had to hold him while the other vacuumed. Now, I can just put him in the crib or exersaucer and he will just watch with curiosity or ignore me completely. I look forward to much cleaner carpets :-)

Aside from the almost walking, he is really getting around. He cruises around the furniture and constantly wants down when we are outside. This is where I think I will be glad when he can walk, because especially now that it's cold and often wet, I can't just plop him on the ground or he will be soaked.

Favorites right now are water (especially fountains), balls, babies (real or pictures), and things that spin. He discovered the pinwheel in his room and we now have to visit it before and after every nap and bedtime, just to say hello.

He is really getting fun with his words too! Some of this should probably go under 11 months since I am so late, but he says Mama, Dada, Ball, Baby, Duck (dut - my favorite), and I am pretty sure that Waa-Waa means Krusty. He also mimics the animal sounds for Dog, Cat, Bird, Monkey, Owl, and Lion! Sooo adorable. He also greets me with a HIIIIIII whenever I come to get him out of the crib. I need to get it on video because it's just how I say it. His voice starts out high and then gets lower (as if the word had 2 syllables), like HIII-iiii. Love love love that. I am really loving his little voice and I can't wait to see how he will sound when he really starts stringing sentences together!

I don't know his stats but I think he is around 25lbs and definitely in a size 5 shoe with a little room. I have a feeling our grocery budget is going to grow right along with our boy! So there you have it, Oscar is 10 months old!

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Steppin out...

Last night Oscar took a step. I'm not gonna freak out and be all he walked he walked! Because he didn't. I got him balanced and let go for 3 seconds and instead of diving for me, he stepped toward me. We tried to get him to do it on video but he got too distracted by the muted TV. Not really sure why we didn't turn that off. But trust me.

It was awesome.

He's getting so close to walking and he wants it so bad. I have mixed emotions about the whole thing. Don't even get me started on the fact that his birthday is next month.

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Handmade Stockings

Just in time for Christmas! Jerry and I have never had matching Christmas stockings. It's just one of those things we always forgot about until Christmas. And then we would immediately forget again for another year. This year, with my holiday antennae on high alert because it's Oscar's first Christmas, I decided we needed family stockings! I started to look around in a few stores but they aren't cheap. At least the ones I like aren't :-). So I decided to make some!

I scoured the internet for patterns and ideas and decided it looked simple enough. I had a lone stocking from years past that I used to trace the pattern and decided to add some embellishments. It was VERY simple! So easy that you still have time to whip some up for yourself. Read on for the how to.

Step 1 - Go Thrifting

I decided to use men's cotton shirts to make our stockings. They don't stretch but I am still a bit of a beginner and stretchy fabric is harder to sew (at least for me). I found 3 plaid shirts for a total of $8. This was more than enough for our 3 family stockings plus one for Krusty!

Step 2 - Make a Pattern

Like I said, I just traced an old stocking for the pattern, but really, you could probably freehand this. I also drew the cuff and patches and then cut them all out of poster board. I like using poster board instead of paper because it's easier to trace.

Step 3 - Cut your fabric

I decided to make 3 stockings using different contrasting colors. Get creative. This is the part where you make it your own! Don't forget to cut the mirror image of the stocking for the back - you want the right sides to match up hehe.

Step 4 - Attach patches/cuff

On the front side of the stocking, I used fusible bonding web to iron on the patches and cuff. I didn't use alot, just enough to make it stick. The point of this is to keep the patches in place for sewing. Are you seeing a pattern here? i'm ALL about the ease....

Step 5 - Sew Patches

I used a zig-zag stitch directly over the part where the 2 pieces come together. This hides the unfinished edge and gives a fun little decorative touch. Contrasting thread is really fun here!

Step 6 - Join Front/back

Again I used a contrasting color for the backs of the stockings. You want to lay the two pieces flat - right sides together - and stitch along the edge ( I gave about a 1/4 inch seam allowance). leave the top open. Before you turn it right side out, fold the unfinished edges of the top over and sew along the inside, attach ribbon loop to heel side of opening.

Step 7 - Turn right side out and Press

All done - Tada!

I still plan to add our names to each stocking but that is going to take some more cutting and stitching. I haven't decided exactly how I want to do it yet either. Anyway, this was so much fun and SO easy. I promise. I made all 4 stockings in under 3 hours! Happy Sewing!

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Becoming Mom: In Sickness and in Health

The past week has taught me a lot about myself and my personal selfishness, especially when I am feeling physically spent. As you know, I've been sick with a head cold for what seems like forever about a week now. I have noticed that my mom style has also taken a nosedive. It's all about survival. The first couple days were the worst. I even called Jerry one day and he came home to work from here so I could close my eyes for a bit. But it got me thinking, there are no sick days in motherhood.

I am blessed with good health most of the time, but on those days when I feel like a pile of poo, I am learning how to suck it up and keep going. The funny thing is Oscar has been super sweet to me this week. He'll come over to me and give me a kiss or snuggle for a minute on his way to the next big thing. I am hopeful that he won't get the cold and so far he's been clear. I think that he is probably getting some of my antibodies through nursing so that makes me feel better.

In the meantime, I have chosen to try and enjoy our days at home before the crazy life kicks in again. We leave for the mountains in two weeks! Lots to do before then, but nothing that can't wait a few more days. It's funny how you  come full circle. Even as I know I can't get a sick day, there is still nothing I would rather do than care for this amazing little boy. I am so thankful to be a mom, in sickness and in health.

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I'm on BlogNosh!!

I am so excited today because one of my posts is being featured on Blog Nosh Magazine!!! I have known about this for a little while but the day is finally here! Just a little happy about it!!

I also wrote an article for a new website about the home ownership process. The site is targeted toward single women, but it's full of great information! Check that article out at Home For Her.

I have been trying to diversify and get my name out there a bit and these two sites have really made my day by posting my articles! Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

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The Untree Tree

This year, Jerry and I decided not to get a Christmas tree. We went around and around about whether to get a real one, fake one, when to go, how much to spend etc. But the bottom line was, we were gone the week of Thanksgiving, I was sick last week and we are going to the Mountains for Christmas where we will have a real tree in our cabin. It just didn't make a whole lot of sense to shell out good money for a couple weeks so we decided to skip it.

Of course, me being stuck at the house all week and staring at the empty space where there COULD be a tree, I decided to improvise! I got some ghetto fabulous silver garland at Target and decided I could do SOMETHING with it. I have to say I am loving the result! I call it the Untree Tree. It feels very Ralphie Parker to me and besides, now we have a baby friendly tree and a place for gifts when we open them before leaving on our trip! Win!

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Strugglin....

Well, as happy as I am about the holidays, the past week has been pretty rough. I am battling a nasty headcold that just. won't. quit. and subsequently learning that the hermit's life has a downside. We were out of town for 9 days and once we got home, I immediately got sick and have quarantined myself to the house. It's for the best, I say, but man I miss my friends! It's one thing to choose to be a loner for a while, but this has been no fun. It's Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, and I am stuck! 


OK so I know there could be much worse things to complain about. I don't think I am complaining as much as I am trying to say that I really appreciate my friends and I can't wait to see you all again. I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder. I always dreamed of being a stay at home mom who would go on playdates and have my friends over to talk and watch our kids grow. Lately it just seems like schedules are out of control and I don't see anyone. I know it starts with me. I have to put myself out there and take the initiative to hang out when I DO feel good and not squander those precious moments of bliss with cleaning or some other such nonsense ;-)


That being said, Wednesday night is Ladies night. Location TBD. Let me know if you want in! 

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Saturday in Pictures....

Here are a few pics from our recent trip to Alabama. Enjoy!

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Missed Oprah....maybe I can make it to Ellen one day...

I guess I am 15 years too late to visit the Oprah show. Funny how I have never really wanted to go until now that she is leaving the air (network at least). I mean I would NEVER pass up a chance to be on one of her favorite things shows, but I don't know. I guess I am not that into Oprah.

Ellen, however is a completely different story! If I had a Tivo, hers would be the first show I program in. Her generous giving makes me cry almost every time and it's an embarrassing display ok? I mean how cool is it that she can bless people like that? This week starts the 12 days of giveaways and I am entering online every day. It's fun and I get to feel like I have a chance. Even if it's just one in a million. Once she was supposed to be in Raleigh and I happened to be at the restaurant she was to visit. They gave everyone Ellen T-Shirts and everything, but she didn't make it. And I was so bummed!

Why am I writing about this? I don't know. Part of it is that it's Friday and I am out of ideas. Part of it is that I just really love this show and it puts a smile on my face. Why NOT tell the world? Or at least the handful of you who read this blog. Even Jerry likes Ellen. She's just funny. That's all.

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12 Hours of sleep does a body good!

First off, I just want to thank you all for the well wishes the past couple days. I have been under the weather and decided to go to bed last night just after Oscar did. As in, 7:45pm. I then proceeded to sleep for 12 hours! And what a sweet sweet sleep it was. Just what the Dr. ordered. I am still taking it easy, but to say I feel much better would be a gross understatement!

I don't get sick very often, and for that I am thankful. But when I do, it takes me DOWN. I just can't handle it. This is the first time I have been sick since I had Oscar and it was HARD. I had zero patience and could barely keep my eyes open. Thankfully, I have an amazing husband who was able to work from home in the afternoon so I could lie down for a bit. PUBLIC HIGH FIVE, BABY! You rock.

In other news, we still need to get a Christmas tree,  finish the outside lights, and to turn our pumpkin into Orange Santa (ala Marty). Other than that, our house is Christmas central! Music is going, nativity is up and I have already baked some muffins. Cookies soon to come....

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16x20 Canvas Print Giveaway - Winner!

Thanks to all who entered our Canvas Print giveaway! I'd like to congratulate commenter #10, Jennifer Wells from Jennifer Wells Photography! I hope you enjoy your print!

Please respond to my email with the email address you would like your prize sent to within the next 48 hours. Happy Holidays!

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Ahh the letdown...

If there is such a thing as a vacation high, there is definitely a come-home let down. We had an awesome trip. We spent quality time with family, ate good food, saw a movie and Oscar traveled like a pro. I'm home now and have spent the day getting settled in and putting up Christmas decorations. It's been a good day. But I'm just not feelin it.

Maybe it's the fact that I have missed the past 2 Sundays at church. Or that despite a wonderful vacation I am just really tired. But I just feel all kinds of BLAH. I'm cranky and honestly not much fun to be around, unless you are a 2.5 foot tall 10 month old who laughs at fart noises. Hopefully the funk will pass and we'll get back to being our annoyingly chipper selves.

Until then, I just wanted to let you know we're here and we are ready for Christmas! Bring the Cheer ya'll.

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Rwandan Basket Giveaway - Winner!

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! I had a wonderful time in Alabama and will be posting about our trip soon. In the meantime, we have a winner for the beautiful handmade basket from Rwanda! Congratulations to commenter #1, Sarah C. from MamaLovesBooks! You have 48 hours to respond to my email with your mailing address. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks to all who entered! If you haven't already, enter to win the 16x20 Canvas print! Contest ends tonight to get going!

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A Week of Thanksgiving: My Husband

There are a few things I know about God. I know that He is faithful, I know that He loves me, and I know that He cares about the little things. I also know that he handpicked my husband just for me.

I don't know a lot about destiny or fate or divine intervention, but I do know that God worked in my life and helped me make the decisions that led me to meeting Jerry. In 2005, I was completely set on moving to New York City. I had an apartment lined up, I was interviewing for a great job, and I was ready to leave my home and all that was behind me just like that. Behind me. To make a very long story short, I lost my peace about this decision, exactly 6 days before I was to drive away. I took the for sale sign off my car, begged my landlord and my boss to reconsider my leaving and unpacked my boxes. I had no idea why.

A couple weeks later, I met Jerry. We casually talked and emailed over the next few months. We were in the worship band together at Vintage. I was not in a great place at the time spiritually and he really inspired me. I would say, "if I could just get my act together, I would hope I could get a guy like that to date me". Little did I know that he was already thinking of ways to ask me out! That Christmas before our respective vacations, we went on our first date. It was the best date I have ever had. I went to the mountains for a week telling my family and friends that I was so excited because there would be a 2nd date! Four years later, we will be going to the mountains as husband and wife, and as mommy and daddy to our amazing Oscar.

I know this about God. He led me to make the decisions that led me to Jerry. I am thankful that I learned about finding my peace and following it. I can't imagine where my life would be if I had moved. This man is my rock. He is an amazing husband and father. He is my best friend and the one person who gets me. He drives me crazy and I, him. But crazy with him is infinitely better than sane without. He is my lobster. And I love him. And for that I am so very very thankful.

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A Week of Thanksgiving: My Son

Yesterday was Oscar's very first Thanksgiving. We spent the day with family and played and took naps and took lots of pictures. He ate turkey and stuffing, scoffed at mashed potatoes and cranberries and gobbled up pumpkin pie. He played ball (and said ball) and watched Daddy play rough with the big kids. Everyone commented on how happy he is. And it's so true! We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful child.

Oscar is very good natured and we are certainly thankful for that! But more than anything we love who he is. The child that God created for us. At 10 months old he is already very much his own person. They say that once you have kids you don't remember life without them. I can see how there is some truth to that statement. Being a mother is constantly changing me. It points out the parts of me that are completely selfish. Motherhood is the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever had. I love my baby boy! I know that I am learning more about love than I ever though possible and how I would do anything for my family. For my child. Oscar makes me laugh every day. Watching him learn and grow has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I am truly blessed and SO thankful!

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A Week of Thanksgiving: My Family

 

I don't thank my family enough for all of the ways they have loved on me throughout my life. I am the youngest child and while that comes with many benefits, I was always the last one to do everything. However, despite age and lifestyle differences, my two older sisters have always counted me a friend (well at least once I stopped stealing their swiss cake rolls and trying on all their clothes when they weren't home). I am especially in awe of their brilliance knowing that they have raised 5 children between them. Now that I have a son and hope to have more, I have a deeper respect for the position of "mom". I know that it only gets better with age. I value my sisters' opinions and am constantly asking advice during the ups and downs of my days. They laugh when I laugh and cry with me when I cry. I can only hope that I am able to return the favor when needed. My brother-in-law Dean has been an awesome example to look up to as well. Technically he is an in-law, but since I was 12 when he married my sister, he totally counts as my brother. I have always admired his drive and faithfulness to his family. He gets it done and is truly a great example.

My parents are truly one of a kind. Not only have they been married for more than 40 years, they have been faithful to each other, to their children and to God. My Dad has been a Pastor for my whole life and the number of people's lives that my parents have touched is seemingly limitless. I am always "Les' daughter" because his reputation precedes him, and me apparently! My mother is a rock and THE perfect example of the Proverbs 31 woman. No matter what our financial situation, she always made sure we had a great time. I am so fortunate to have my parents living near by. I know that most people don't share this amazing blessing and I don't want to take it for granted!

I also want to say how amazing my inlaws are. Seriously, another thing I understand is not the norm. Jerry has an amazing family that has welcomed me in like I have been there all along. I am so thankful for their willingness to embrace me as part of the family. Every time we visit or spend time together, I feel completely at home. It is truly a blessing.

So, thanks family! I love you!

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A Week of Thanksgiving: My Community

Today I want to take some time and express how thankful I am for my community. Friends I have had my entire life,  my church family, people I have never met in person. It takes a village. Or in my case, a metropolis!

I am unbelievably fortunate to have an army of caring friends surrounding me, supporting me and keeping me on the right path. I have friends who make me laugh, who let me cry, and who slap me in the face with truth when I am being ridiculous. My community group is one of the most amazing groups of people I have ever known, always willing to help another. I have grown so much with these folks and thank them for their willingness to do life with me.

Sometimes it's really hard to get out there. I don't think I am alone in feeling very secluded at times. Even though I try to stay connected, I often feel like an outsider. It's hard to meet new people or make friends. Even for an extrovert like me. Getting past surface chatter can be really difficult. Thankfully, my friends meet me in the middle. We give and we take and it's a beautiful blessing. I know that I have so much to learn from you and I hope to be a better friend starting with acknowledging how much you all mean to me. So thank you!

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A Week of Thanksgiving: My Church

To start out my week of thanks, I thought it would be appropriate to thank my Church. I am a Christian and I have always been a part of a church community, but this church is something really special.

Vintage 21, in Dowtown Raleigh was founded several years ago in the auditorium of a Middle School with only a handful of people. I found the church through an ad in a Magazine a few months later when they had moved to downtown. I don't know why I felt drawn there, other than to say God was leading me. I began going to a community group and soon after found myself wanting to become a member.

The thing about Vintage was that anyone could come as they are. At the time, I was really suffering from a lot of poor decisions on my part and trying to find out if I even wanted to seek God. I was able to do this at Vintage without feeling any pressure or guilt. I am so thankful for the leaders for making Vintage a supportive and inviting place for me. As followers of Jesus, the men and women who work so hard for this church have really set the bar high. I know that being a part of this church has been a huge part of what has solidified my adult decision to follow Jesus.

Years later, I met the man who would become my husband while playing in the Vintage Worship Band. The church is much larger now, and the faces I recognize are fewer. But the welcoming, non-judgmental environment for seeking the Lord is alive and well. I love my church and I am so thankful to have found a real home there!

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A Week of Thanksgiving: Giveaway!

Are you ready for more free stuff? Uprinting has been so generous to me that they are offering another giveaway through LargeFormatPosters.com! This week I am happy to offer one lucky reader a 16x20 Rolled Canvas Print! Rolled canvas prints are perfect for home decor, photo prints and signage. Honestly, there are a million directions you could go with this! As always please feel free to check out Uprinting Reviews on their site.

 

Here are the details:

Giveaway Prize: (1) Rolled Canvas for One Lucky Winner

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents 

So how can you win?

***Leave me a comment with your favorite thanksgiving treat! ***
 
How about some extra entries? 

• Follow this blog
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest - sample: RT @Lilkidthings: @Uprinting is giving away a 16x20 Rolled Canvas Print on Lilkidthings.com!
• Follow me on Facebook

Just be sure to leave another comment for each thing you do so it gets counted! And as always, if your post is anonymous, make sure I have an email address to reach you in case you win!

Contest ends on November 30, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. All comments after that time will not count as entries. Winner will be drawn from the comments, using random.org and will be notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with their mailing address. If no response is received, a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to residents of U.S. only. For my participation, I will also receive a rolled canvas print. 

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Winner 50 Free Thank-You Cards!

Congratulations commenter #2, Jessica from We3Liebs! You have 48 hours to respond to the email I sent you to claim your Thank-You Cards!

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A Week of Thanksgiving!

This week, I have decided to devote each day to a different aspect of Thankfulness. Every year, as we would sit down to Thanksgiving Dinner, my Dad would go around the table and ask each one of us what we were thankful for. Every year, I knew it was coming yet I would always freeze up when it was my turn. Surely there must be SOMETHING I am thankful for....and I would usually say, well I am thankful for my family and my friends and um...yeah. Next!

I always felt like this was a cop-out answer and now that I am older and (hopefully) a little wiser, I would like to really take my time and acknowledge who and what I am thankful for this year. So, on this blog each day there will be a new post of Thanksgiving! Please comment with your own thankful thoughts. And if you feel so inspired to do your own blog post, feel free to grab the Week of Thanksgiving button for your blog and spread the word! Don't forget to come back here and link us to your post! We'll kick off the week with a fun giveaway so be sure to check in tomorrow! Happy Thanksgiving!

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It won't be long now....

Despite a bit of a fall and the teeeniest amount of blood yesterday, Oscar has no intention of slowing down. Happy Friday!

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Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Rwandan Basket Giveaway!

Ya'll I have an amazing giveaway to share with you. I am so excited about this one that I have been putting it off because I want to make sure to do it justice. I have been fortunate enough to be included in Rwanda Path for Peace project headed up by The BlogRollers! This project really is amazing. Rwandan women are supporting their families with the sales of handwoven baskets, jewelry and textiles. They are creating beautiful goods that are sold in a fair manner so the profits reach the artisans instead of lining the many deep pockets between here and Rwanda. The Fair Winds Trading Company and Macy's are partnering with these extraordinary women to sell the baskets and other items including the O bracelet that was recently featured in Oprah's O Magazine. They have done an incredible job in aiding these women. You can purchase their creations at Macy's, but today I have a hand made basket to GIVE to one of my readers!!!

As I said earlier this week, it seems like either we are all more thankful or more vocal about our thanks this year compared to the past. Maybe I am just paying closer attention. With the status of the world today, it is so important to appreciate the blessings that surround us. At no given time are we guaranteed success of any kind and sharing with, encouraging and supporting each other are more important than ever. I think these baskets are beautiful and I love the message they contain. Imagine, women working together to support each other instead of tearing them down; creating beauty and passing it on to benefit many instead of just themselves. I am honored that I get to be a part if it and share a basket with you!

So how can you win? 
Leave me a comment telling me how another woman has supported you.(even if you are a man, let's celebrate the ladies!)

How about some extra entries? (Only valid after first entry is completed)

• Follow this blog
  
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest - sample: RT @AndreaUpdyke is giving away a hand made Rwandan Basket! http://bit.ly/tfciU
  
• Follow me on Facebook

If you are already a follower in any of these ways, just leave a comment letting me know! Remember to leave a separate comment for each thing you do so it gets counted! And as always, if your post is anonymous, make sure I have an email address to reach you in case you win!


Contest ends on November 26, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. All comments after that time will not count as entries. Winner will be drawn from the comments, using random.org and will be notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with their mailing address. If no response is received, a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to residents of U.S. only. For my participation I will be provided with a basket, apron and linens.

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Happy Blogiversary to Me!

It's hard to believe, but as of today I have been blogging for SIX YEARS! And before that I was tolling around on the now extinct Geocities. Do What? That's a lot of nothing. But it has meant so much!

I'm so excited to be celebrating my Blogiversary! I am trying to get all my older posts imported from the various platforms I was using way back when, so bear with me. And I just have to say, THANK YOU for reading! You all have made my little internet life so much fun and I have learned a lot from your comments! Here's to another 6 (or 60) years!

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Another Win for the Internet and a Prayer Request

I love technology. I always have. I might not have the latest greatest gadgets a lot of the time, but I love to tinker. I have been "online" since the early days of Prodigy and dial-up. When my family was in Israel in 1994, we set up email to connect with our loved ones at home, most of which had to drive to our church to use the computer because it was the only one that could connect to email and the internet. And so it began.

Fast forward 15 years and the world is immersed in Twitter and Facebook and Blogging and we are making friends across the globe with ease. Today's post is about one such connection.

I've been blogging for years, but just recently decided to join Twitter. One of the first connections I made was with a hilarious blogger named Anissa Mayhew. She has her own blog and also runs a collaborative called Aiming Low. I don't know Anissa. We have never met. But her sense of humor and personality have been much more than words on a screen. She is a stranger to me, but one that has made me smile. As a stay-at-home mom, it can be hard to feel connected to the outside world. This is one reason I believe socalled "mommy-bloggers" are so prevalent in the online community. When babies are napping and kids are home sick or schedules just don't jive, there is always the internet. It can be an amazing way to find support and friendship through otherwise lonely days.

I'm sad to say that yesterday, Anissa suffered a stroke and is currently in the ICU of her hometown hospital. She has been responsive according to some updates through the grapevine, but she needs all the prayers we can send her way. In the same way that I would call on my "in-person" community to pray for a friend in need, I am calling on my online community to do the same thing for Anissa. I might not know her in person, but her story has touched my heart. Please pray for her full recovery, for her husband, and her children. If you wish to leave a comment or find out how you can help further, you may do so at Aiming Low.

Thanks friends.

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5k and Counting!

Well, it's official! I have finished my second 5k in as many years. A LITTLE pathetic, but mostly awesome. Sunday's race was a really great experience for me! Unlike last time, when I was absolutely not prepared, this race was challenging, yet fun and enjoyable!

First of all, it was a beautiful day in the low 70s. Perfect for a run! I had some friends who also planned to race so we met up at the start/finish line. We didn't stay together because we all had our own personal goals in mind, but it was great just knowing that I wasn't alone out there! Jerry also came to cheer us on with Oscar and Krusty! We made it a family event. And despite Oscar being an hour past his nap time, he did great!

Pardon me, My Geek is showing....

One of the hilarious parts about the race (for me) was that my number was 1337. This means nothing to 99.9% of the population, but for those of us computer geeks (and I say us lightly because I know enough code to barely qualify) 1337 means leet (or elite) in leetspeak! HAA! I'm leet! I kept telling Jerry, Baby I'M LEET. I knew it was going to be a good day.

So it begins....

I started off pretty strong, trying to keep pace with my friends. After about 1/4 mile though, I knew I would not be able to keep it up. If I wanted to have a good strong run, I needed to slow down, so I got myself back to the pace I am used to by humming one of my running songs. I was bummed because they said we couldn't use our ipods. I don't really know why but I didn't realize how much I rely on my music to distract me and keep pace. I really missed using it! Like I said, I tried singing the songs in my head but I only know the chorus for most of them and that was getting really boring! So I just did what anyone else would do in my situation: follow someone interesting and listen to their conversation!

I finally found my groove about halfway through and started to enjoy it. Tangent: why do you have to have a mile and a half of SUCK before you like it? What is it about the body that has to get to this point? I still don't understand. This is probably why I gave up on running those other forty-thousand times. I had heard there was a wall but I never made it far enough to push through it. My wall is right around 1.5 miles. Now I know. 

A Happy Ending!

The last mile was pretty simple and straightforward. I didn't say easy, but I do think it was easier than the first two. Thankfully, the final straightaway was just that, straight. I picked up the pace once I could see the finish line, just like a horse who can finally smell the barn. I am that horse. I finished at 37:01 minutes. My goal was to come in under 40 and I am really happy to have done it! But seriously? 01 seconds?  I couldn't have gone a LITTLE faster? The funny thing is that for a brief moment when I could see the end in sight, I actually started to tear up a little. Chalk it up to runner's high. Some people laugh. I cry. And then I really almost lost it because I imagined Jerry showing up and handing me the leash and Krusty would be galloping right along side me helping me finish strong. And then I was singing Chariots of Fire. Dramatic? Who ME?

All I can say is that I am seriously proud of myself! At one point when I realized that all my friends (ALL of them including the 7 year old) were smoking me, I just had to remember that it wasn't about them. And that's what I know about exercise and weight loss in general. It's all about competing with yourself. Do a little better than your best and keep doing that. I felt so strong when I finished. I felt relieved and tired and excited. I will definitely do it again and I know I can get even better. Because I already have.

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