What's Up Wednesday

I haven't blogged in multiple years, but I've thought about it many times.  I've even written some in my head. That counts right? So I'm going to see how this goes. I started reading Sheaffer's blog and buying 90% of the clothes she suggests which led me to Shay's blog which led me back to here. So I'm going to try and write and if I get it done, link it up. 

What's up on this humpity hump day?!

1. We're eating on the Daniel Fast still.  

The first week was hard. But I was so pumped it got me through. Basically we eat like Daniel did when King Nbicenisser took him for 21 days. No meat, no dairy, no sugar, no flour and only water to drink. I feel great! But I really miss coffee, and Hadley is selling girl scout cookies. 

Steel Cut Oats & Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

Vegan Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Vegan Cuban Bowl

NOT Hurt's Donuts

2. What I'm Reminiscing About

Warmer days. Like yesterday. Today is COLD. It seems like seasons have shifted. Our summer is now july to almost october. Fall is middle of October or november to January and winter starts at the end of January and lasts till end of march when its supposed to be SPRING! But I got to wear my favorite red coat that makes me think of Paris, so that's a plus. 

3. What I'm Loving

I love This is Us. 

It is my Parenthood replacement. I know lots that love it, like it and can't tolerate it. I cathartic cry, or "happy cry" as my girls say.  almost every week and it warms my heart. 

4. What we've been up to

Hadley was terrified of selling her girl scout cookies. After a single facebook shout out we sold ALL our cookies! We restocked but didn't get enough so we are already planning our 3rd reorder.  She still gets nervous talking at first, but if there is one thing that kid knows its cookies! Plus she loves visiting people so delivering cookies is the highlight of girl scouts she said! 

5. What I've been dreading

The senate hearings, especially Elizabeth DeVos for Education Secretary. I've been tweeting senators and listening to CNN and reading the news too much. I've now post-it noted on my computers "God grant me the ability to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." I also read a good facebook post about changing our prayers from get me out of this or take this away to please God MAKE IT COUNT. 

6. What I'm working on

Every year I rearrange the books in the library. Why? I'm a masochist. I don't know. Last year it was re-dewing nonfiction AND making a display shelf in the middle of the columns like book people. This year it's genrefying! You know how the books at Barnes and Noble are grouped by mystery, romance, etc? soon they will be like that here instead of all fiction together. I've gotten realistic fiction done! aren't they pretty? 

Realistic Fiction section

And I'm moving dystopian today and pulling Sci-fi tomorrow and scanning them. 

Dystopian

But I didn't think through my book cart situation so now I'm low on available carts... Let the book tower stacking begin! 

Soon to be filled with dystopian and sci-fi!

7. What I'm excited about

My beautiful sister in law Tracy (who is so freaking hilarious and awesome) recently got married to her freaking hilarious and awesome soul mate Dave on a beautiful island in paradise! In a couple weeks we get to go to Amarillo to celebrate them and see tons of family we never get to see! We can't wait!!! 

 

8. What I'm watching/reading

I'm reading Irena's Children by Tilar J. Mazzeo. It's about a young woman during WW2 in Poland who saved thousands of Jewish children by relocating them out of the ghetto and hiding them with other families. Its a difficult read (like most holocaust books are now that I have children, but amazing). 

I'm also reading Bringing Up Girls by the great Dr. James Dobson. I read about it on Mix Match Momma's blog and Lord knows I need all the help with these two yahoo's at home that I can get! 

9. What I'm listening to

I'm trying not to listen to CNN in the car because I'm getting a little obsessed. (see number 5). But Since I have Hadley and Harper and they ALWAYS "Want to be the DJ" we are never listening to what I want to. We have on repeat Hamilton soundtrack, Trolls soundtrack, Radio Disney or Kidz Bop, Be Jealous. 

10. What I'm Wearing

My closet or room is never clean enough to post outfit pictures like all the "real" bloggers HA! But I got some fabulous stuff at J Crew outlet this weekend. 

Light Indigo Shirtdress

This is the BEST denim dress! I wore it with black leggings and black boots but I can't wait to wear it with my Tom ankle booties or some cute sneakers that I haven't bought. It says its $72 but everything at the outlet is always 40-50% off instore PLUS if you have you teacher ID you get an extra 20% off. 

Long sleeves striped boatneck t-shirt

I also got this top and I LOVE it!! It's the Long sleeved boatneck and I may go get other colors. It's so thick and is the perfect length. They showed it with this paisley skirt but it was way too much pattern for me. 

11. What I'm doing this weekend

This weekend we have our church's daddy daughter dance. We skip the Frisco one since its usually insane and it's always been the best decision.  Saturday Hadley has a birthday party and I'm working out. The girls like to be HOME on the weekends. In their PJ's, on the trampoline, being lazy or playing but home or possibly a trip to Sugar's house. 

12.  What I'm looking forward to next month

February 24th is our 10th wedding anniversary! We are celebrating by taking a long weekend to Charleston! We had the hardest time deciding where to go! Do we go to New York?  That's our go-to trip place, but it's so cold in february. Do we go to the beach? I let my passport expire... I've always heard lots of good things about Charleston and since we booked it, it's all over the TV and news! We've made out hotel and dinner reservations already. Not to plot out what we are going to see and do! I can't wait. And what to wear???

13. What else is new?  

Since I blogged last, tons but I wouldn't even know where to begin. So we'll leave it at that. 

A is for Actor

This week Hadley's class us talking about the letter A.  Their homework for the week was to be Actors  and do a performance for an Audience on Friday instead of usual show and tell.  She could prepare a story, a song, a dance or whatever.  She told me she wanted to read her favorite book: The Little Red Hen. 

She loves this story.  Sugar gave her one of the little Golden Books of it for Christmas and she looked at it and squealed- I love this story! I asked her what it was and she gave me the "duh mom" look and said the little wed hen! I was shocked and said uhhhh can you read??? She laughed and said no silly but we read this at school. 

We currently have 3 copies of The Little Red Hen and all are different.  She chose the red cover to read today. Sadly no parents could attend the performance (probably best) but her teacher sent me these pictures.  She gets a little shy and nervous when talking in front of her class apparently.  I haven't seen this side of her but her teacher assures me it's there.  I'm guessing that is why her face is red, sweet Hads.

Insomniacs

It's not secret my kids hate to sleep. It shouldn't be a secret- I complain about it enough. Harps usually easy, Had isn't. At all. Thanks to a nutritionist we have some herbal fall asleep fast remedies but I'm still up 2-3 times a night with her. Tonight she went out like a light before 8! Harp was down at 7:56 fast. Sure enough an hour after Harps bedtime she started crying. I left her cry a while but have in to rock her.

That's how I ended up here, inside a crib, patting a 1.5 yr old who keeps mocking me. She makes woof woof noises every couple min then SHH!'s me! UGH.

Cutris Culwell Day

December 19, 2012 was Curtis Culwell Day! We went to a reception and retirement ceremony at none other than the Curtis Culwell Center.

Or as Sugar calls it (slowly and southern) The C. C. C.

It was so nice to hear what we already knew about my Dad. He is a great educator who cares for the future of education and readily fights for it in Austin.  He isn't intimidated by Rick Perry powerful people who haven't given enough attention, money or interest to public education. He has been recognized by many public officials over the past couple months and even by The March of Dimes for his contributions.  Since Lauren and I were born premature he has always felt very strongly about their organization and has made his school districts aware of their fundraising needs. Beucase of his leadership GISD was a top donating district!

I know he is going to do great things in Austin but I am beyond sad he is moving. Sugar is holding out for now, but not sure how long she can make it in Garland without him.

The girls were excited to get dressed up last night and go to Big's party at "Biggie's Big Top!" Their favorite part was playing on the stage with a microphone...



7 day forecast

So I'm guessing thanks to the Mayans we aren't having a White Christmas? His means we should open presents Thursday!!

She-Ra fail

Hadley is having a She-Ra Princess of Power birthday party! And of course she wanted a She-Ra costume. I got her gold sequin boots, gold leggings and a She-Ra t-shirt think she would be pumped. Instead I got "mom, She-Ra does not wear leggings" so I thought I'd paint a t-shirt to look like the REAL dress. Yet again my creativity mixed with lack of artistic talent and topped with half-ass-mess led to the worst dress ever.

Quote- Galileo