Archive for Thursday Thirteen
Crazy Days of December (An Impromptu Thursday 13)
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No month seems shorter, flies faster and disappears as quickly as December. It’s a month filled with fun and joy and full of things incomplete, projects undone and plenty of things put off until January. Or at least, that’s how it is for me – maybe you’ve got it all together!
Every night I go to bed and I lay there thinking, “Oh and that’s got to get done and this hasn’t been finished and I’d better get this done…”
We’ve officially passed the halfway point of the month, there are only 7 days til Christmas and THIS is what keeps running through my brain (It just so happens I thought of 13 things! I didn’t have to try very hard either. So here’s an impromptu Thursday Thirteen for you:)
- I haven’t mailed Christmas cards. Or written a Christmas letter. Or at the very least taken a snapshot of the kids in front of the tree and emailed a Christmas greeting to friends and family.
- I leave for my mom’s house in 3 days and I have a lot of housework that I want to get done before I go – not to mention the packing.
- Weeks ago the kids and I bought supplies to make an ornament ball wreath and these three tree decorations, but we haven’t done either one of them.
- I have taken pictures of the decorations I do have up, but haven’t uploaded, edited or blogged/facebooked them.
- In fact, I’m pretty sure there are pictures on my camera nearly a month old, and more on my computer older than that, that haven’t been edited and shared on Facebook.
- Speaking of a month ago, I bought a box of hair color when I was down at my mom’s the last week of October AND IT’S STILL IN THE CABINET. I’d really like to get that done soon – somewhere between not getting gifts wrapped and not blogging and not getting craft projects done.
- Oh – And the presents? I still have a few small things to pick up but haven’t been able to go shopping without the kids. My mom doesn’t know it yet, but I’m planning on doing that after we get down there.
- I have two presents wrapped and under the tree, but there are a few gifts in my bedroom that haven’t been wrapped yet. Need to do that before we go, so that I’m not transporting unwrapped gifts in the car. Too risky!
- Of course we’re still doing school, too. I don’t want to take a break right now because we’re going to take a break next week. While we’re down there we’re going to do some fun things together with our extended family, but I’m taking a little bit of school work and hoping they can do a few things during downtime in the first half of the week. One thing I learned from Thanksgiving was to include an off day at the beginning of the next week for recovery.
- We’re taking family pictures at my mom’s and we’re all supposed to have shirts in certain colors and I have no idea what we are all going to wear.
- I also have no idea what I am making/bringing for the Christmas meal. But I’m sure my mom is going to let me know when I get there!
- I wanted to purge the kids toys and clothes some before Christmas got here and take them to the women’s shelter. At this point I’m wondering if that’s going to happen – perhaps on Saturday?
- Oh! And my mother-in-law wants to pick up some clothes for my husband for Christmas and my husband wants me to go with her — did I mention I’m leaving in three days??
I need two of me. Or four. Four would be better.
I don’t want to stress out, and I’m not yet. But I know me and I know that by Saturday I will be stressed out from all the things that haven’t been done. Not so much the craft stuff, but the present wrapping, the packing, the cleaning… That’s the sort of thing that’s gonna get me.
And I was hoping to get some blogging done and some bloggy maintenance done while I was down at my mom’s next week. You know, year end posts, and I have finally upgraded wordpress on half of the blogs (because there are seven installations and the automatic upgrade that has always worked stopped working – of course.) But the week is filling up with lots of stuff to do – and that’s a good thing. It just means less down time pecking things out on the keyboard. Oh well!
Yes, Christmas is going to be here in a flash and there will be more pictures taken, more chores to do and so on. Next time you blink we’ll be in January and I’m going to have a to-do list the size of Mt. Everest!
Thirteen Blogs That Inspire Me
Do you feel inspired? I’m trying to draw you in and get you to read about these thirteen blogs I admire.
Did it work?
Each of these 13 blogs is great in some way that I admire, some way that inspires me in my own blogging. So here ya go…
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13 Blogs I Admire:
(in alphabetical order so as not to play favorites)…
Blog: I’m an Organizing Junkie
Author: Laura
Why it’s so great: Laura knows her niche, her passion and she sticks to it. Her blog is one of the very first I discovered when I began reading blogs several years ago, and though she has added new features and abandoned some others when need be…she has never abandoned her voice. It also helps that she writes about organizing,…a subject that I love!
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Blog: Keeping the Kingdom First
Author: Alyssa
Why it’s so great: Alyssa’s mission is to lead a frugal life while Keeping the Kingdom First. I like it! Every week, nearly every day, Alyssa dishes up ways to save money, thoughts on frugality, freebies, coupons and other great deals. Alyssa also hosts a weekly podcast along with another blogger friend, wherein they tackle one topic each weeks and toss around ideas to keep that topic frugal.
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Blog: NieNie Dialogues
Author: Stephanie (NieNie)
Why it’s so great: Like Molly, (see below,) Stephanie’s story is a story of beauty. Tragedy has tried to marr her story, but her faith, her love for her family, her family’s love for her and God’s blessings towards them..these things shine through greater than the tragedy, bigger than the trials, more beautiful than the scars. Reading Stephanie’s blog before the accident,…her love for her family shines through the pages. After, her love for them shines even brighter. Particularly, I adore the way she speaks of her husband and their marriage. It makes me smile, makes me think of my own husband, makes me want to love him more and better.
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Blog: Pensieve
Author: Robin
Why it’s so great: I love poetry, poetic things, playing with words, fantastic alliterations and beautifully descriptive sentences. Robin is poetic, creative and writes beautifully descriptive sentences. Robin also takes great pictures. Her blog has grown and changed a bit since I first began reading, but in a good way and it inspires me to remember not to become complacent but to keep learning and growing – a good lesson for many things in life to be sure! Robin also inspires me (through her blog posts, comments and our conversations on Twitter) to look for the beauty in daily life, see the details and hear life’s poetry and song. (She’s going to grin when she reads that, then feel humble and modest – but it won’t be fake – and then grin some more because the phrase “life’s poetry and song” makes her smile. Am I right??)
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Blog: Pioneer Woman
Author: Ree
Why it’s so great: Number One – the photograpy rawks! Reading her blog posts are so interesting because the photography supports them so well. Number Two- her blog design rawks! When I created Classic Housewife last November, I was looking for a way to combine all my blogs in one. My original setup was close to what I wanted, but not close enough. The current layout and functionality of my blog was indeed inspired by the creative way that Ree combined her separate blogs together in a way that they can stand alone or function as a whole.
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Blog: Rocks in My Dryer
Author: Shannon
Why it’s so great: Shannon’s blog is another that I have been reading since the beginning of my blogging days. Shannon, who also has the ability to be very serious, can also be very funny – and it should be obvious by now that I like funny. Shannon, too, has grown and changed and adjusted her blog as need be, but she’s still just Shannon. To me, even though I know her blog, readership and influence has grown and grown and grown… she doesn’t come across as OH, I’M THIS BIG BLOGGER…. AND YOU ARE?? It’s just one of the many reasons that I like reading her blog.
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Blog: Run the Earth, Watch the Sky
Author: Kristi
Why it’s so great: I envy Kristi’s way with words – in a good way. As she writes about lessons from scripture and current topics from a biblical perspective, she is able to string her words and thoughts together with a scholarly cohesiveness that I have never posessed, (but also in a way that I can understand what she’s talking about.) It almost makes me want to go to bible college. But then, it would seem kind of silly to go to school just so I could write better blog posts, wouldn’t it?
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Blog: Scribbit
Author: Michelle
Why it’s so great: Michelle has mastered the art of combining informative and fun blog posts, as well as the skill of incorporating video tutorials. She also has a great writing voice, crafting stories wonderfully. Her regular posting of 13 things on Thursdays encouraged me to pick the tradition back up myself – since back in the beginning I used to do Thursday 13 pretty regularly. Is it ironic that her Thursday 13 is making it into MY Thursday 13 list? Or is “irony” not the correct literary term for that? Anyone?
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Blog: The Pipers
Author: Molly
Why it’s so great: Molly is a strong woman. Not on her own, all by herself. Molly is a strong in her faith, and because God makes her strong. And she’ll tell you that’s what gets her through. Molly’s story is inspiring, encouraging, and humbling. It’s also beautiful. Not beautiful as a perfect and sparkling diamond or as a fine piece of art – without blemish or flaw. No, Molly’s story is beautiful because of and in spite of the trials that try to marr the beauty of God’s blessing. Though circumstances can sometimes obscure that, nothing can truly marr the beauty that is God’s grace, faithfulness and sovereignty. I admire Molly’s transparency, honesty and genuineness. I feel certain that God is using her to minister to other mothers who read her blog who have also lost their own little ones.
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Blog: The Run-A-Muck
Author: Amber
Why it’s so great: The reason I love this blog has nothing to do with us sharing the same name and everything to do with the emotions that flow off the page from Amber’s mesmerizing and magnetic writing. Amber has a way with words. Not the same way that I have a way with A LOT of words. No, she has a way with MORE meaning in LESS words. The way that she writes seems unique, though I can’t put my finger on it, not quite. Candid, telling truths and life, drawing out emotion like water from a deep well with a beautiful bucket. There’s something incredibly like-able about her, this country girl, simple, complicated, and her unabashed love for her husband and her three run-a-muck boys.
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Blog: This Side of Eternity
Author: Kristie
Why it’s so great: A homeschooling mom who is trying to save money and live frugally? Right up my alley! In addition to alerting her readers to great deals and other ways to save money, you’ll also find other posts about homeschooling, family life and good food for thought.
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Blog: Velveteen Mind
Author: Megan
Why it’s so great: I only just recently discovered Megan’s blog…but when I did, I read and read and read. Megan has a way of really connecting with her readers, and just being “real.” One neat thing about Megan’s blog is her “audio blog” page where she has recorded some of her blog posts verbally. To sit and listen to her tell you the story (I listened to The Trouble With Pies) was really neat. And it reminded me, as I listened to her telling it, at a nice calm and perfect pace, that we often speed read and skim through things, without taking the time to really enjoy them. Listening to that particular post was so enjoyable – it was a good reminder to slow down and take more time for things instead of rushing through them. Makes me almost want to audio record a few posts of my own…)
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Blog: We are THAT family
Author: Kristen
Why it’s so great: She is seriously funny. Seriously. By sharing these funny little moments with us, Kristen makes it easy for us to connect with and identify with her. Kristen helps moms everyone come to terms with and find consolation in the middle of every THAT FAMILY moment we experience. Kristen doesn’t just smile and say “how cute” and glorify all of her children’s bad moments, though, condoning and encouraging them to continue. No, ma’am. She actually approaches parenting from a biblical perspective (Grace-based parenting) and her posts about parenting issues (in between the funny THAT FAMILY posts) are SPOT ON.
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These 13 blogs are definitely not the only great blogs out there. What great blogs do you read? How do they inspire you? Why?
This post has been happily been submitted to Things I Love Thursday @ Diaper Diaries.
Mystery Photo: Lap Warmer
Congrats to Kelly from Kelly’s Krazy Kids who correctly guessed last week’s mystery photo: Dr. Pepper.
Okay, okay, that was another easy one. Maybe I can make this week’s a bit harder?
Your clue is: Lap Warmer.
So now, have it and guess away! Remember the prize is just the satisfaction of getting it right, and the person who gets it right first gets a hat tip when I reveal the answer (next Friday when I put up the new one – it’s better that way, no?) So off you go, think about it and when you’re ready leave your guess in the comments.
No peeking at the comments first!
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13 Recent Pictures I Really Like
Yes. There are no sides on that slide. Yes. My 3 yr old slid down it. Many times.
Around and around and around she goes.
A hop, skip and a jump away...
The LIVE WIRE finally comes to a rest. In the dirt.
My sweet Drama Queen picked these wildflowers just for me.
They match my fish nicely. (Pardon the dust.)
Not to be outdone, Princess picked some to add to them.
Boys + Dirt = Fun
My Little Man is getting so big! (I did play with this and make the background black & white.)
Look how he thinks he can cross the river all by himself without holding Momma's hand.
Looking for sea shells. (Or river shells?)
I SWEAR my 6 yr old was FLIRTING with her friend, "stealing" his hat for no apparent reason.
Note the wet cuffs from wading in the river. Carrying back two shoes and two socks proved quite the challenge.
Thirteen Tell-Tale Signs You Might Be a Mom
**Originally published January 18, 2009.**
You might be a mom if:
- You have at least one crayon in your purse.
- You have ever been grocery shopping and realized you had a rainbow clippy in your hair.
- Dinner at Sonic, alone with hubby, counts as a date.
- Most of the movies you own are made by Disney, Pixar, etc.
- You have ever jotted down a note or filled in a form with said crayon in said purse because there were no other writing implements.
- Next to the crayon there are barbie shoes or army men.
- You can identify the sound of a pacifier landing on a carpeted floor in the middle of the night.
- You automatically recognize the LACK of sounds as a sign of certain mischief.
- (Likewise you can hear “smack-ow!” and know exactly who hit whom and why.)
- Your house is stocked with extra paper towels, baby wipes, and all-purpose-any-surface-disinfecting (but safe) cleaning spray.
- You find strange things in your dryer, or vcr, or some other piece of electronic equipment.
- The only fine art in your house is finger-painted.
- Someone calls”MOM!” in a store, and you automatically turn to see who it is.
I’m not sayin’ I’ve ever done any of these things… I’m just sayin’….
13 Things I’m Looking Forward To About This Weekend
1.) My mom will have the kids!
2.) I will get to see my mom, even if in passing. *Mwah!*
3.) Spending time with my grandma on the way down to drop them off.
4.) I’ll get to spend time with my BFF, without kids, on Friday.
5.) I have a WHOLE weekend – without kids! 
6.) Planning a special dinner date at home with hubby for Saturday night.
7.) Watching a movie with hubby, no kids!
8.) In fact, I can watch anything I want to watch, all weekend, no cartoons!
9.) Looking forward to some uninterrupted cleaning & organizing time on Saturday – yes, I really am!!
10.) Easter Sunday
11.) Wait – I get to go to church without kids! Yay, I can pay attention to the message!
12.) Sunday nap – No kids!
13.) Getting my kiddos back at the end of the weekend, because I really will miss them, really!
13 Songs I Listened To In 1993
Thirteen songs I listened to, in no particular order, my freshman year in high school. Come along with me as I time warp us back to 1993.
- I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
- Can’t Help Falling In Love – UB40
- Hero – Mariah Carey
- I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston
- A Whole New World – Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle
- I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) – Meat Loaf
- Ordinary World – Duran Duran
- Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
- Bed of Roses – Bon Jovi
- One Last Cry – Brian McKnight
- In the Still of the Nite – Boys II Men
- If I Ever Fall In Love – Shai
Is it just me or was 1993 the year of the love song? Or maybe it was just the songs I was listening to. =P
