Category Archives: Food/Drink

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: Hotter Than Hades Edition

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 14, 2014

Outside my window… dark and a frigid 82F. Just looked on Weather.Com and it was 111F earlier. Ugh.

I am thinking… about some of the phone calls I need to make tomorrow.

I am thankful… for my mother-in-law watching Daniel so I could go to church and take care of some errands today.

In the kitchen… I had some pumpkin ice cream before heading to bed.

I am wearing… my Online Debate Team shirt and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon and some special intentions.

I am going… to curl up with my book once I’m done with this.

I am wondering… where Freya is.

I am reading… Eggs in a Casket by Laura Childs. I will be awaiting the next one coming out in December very impatiently.

I am hoping… I can get some paying freelance work one of these days.

I am looking forward to… community dinner at church on Wednesday.

I am hearing… the A/C.

Around the house… quiet. I’m the only one awake except for a couple cats.

A favorite quote for today… “A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.” — Douglas Adams

(I needed a break from C.S. Lewis and Adams is so incredibly quotable.)

One of my favorite things… black cats. (Edda is helping me type.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: various errands, community dinner and choir on Wednesday, and whatever else comes up throughout the week.

A peek into my day… my Sunday best!

What I Wore On Sunday

My outfit today is one that I’ve worn a number of times. My thought was that it would be cool enough under my choir robe. Yeah… no.

Daniel and I

Dress: Kohl’s
Camisole: Target
Shoes: Naturalizer
Blankie: crocheted for Daniel when he was in utero and finished 5 months late because of the preeclampsia and losing the feeling in my hands.

Here’s a detail shot of my skirt and my shoes. You can see the tan line from my flip-flops and some of the bruising in my foot from the stress injury I have.

Details of my skirt and shoes.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook and the pretty ladies at Fine Linen and Purple.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 7, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 7, 2014

Outside my window… sunny with some clouds. I’m hoping the clouds cool things down because our heat index is in the triple digits.

I am thinking… about the sermon I heard this morning, especially the part about treating people like Gentiles and tax collectors if you can’t resolve things with them. It’s from the Gospel according to Matthew who was… a tax collector. A call to show mercy, much?

I am thankful… for my mother-in-law taking over Daniel this morning so I could go to church and worship. We still haven’t gotten good church behavior down with him and so my very awesome and wonderful mother-in-law babysits so I can go and be fed. I have some ideas for practicing sitting through church this week and I’ll let you know if they work.

In the kitchen… Daniel and I unloaded the dishwasher. I haven’t cooked anything today but I know my mother-in-law made something with pesto for my father-in-law’s lunch so it smells heavenly.

I am wearing… a purple heather shirt from Old Navy and black capri cargo pants from Kohl’s. Oh yes.. also flip-flops from Old Navy. (I live in mine.)

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for various people dealing with various illnesses in my life, for discernment on a few issues in my personal life, and for a couple special intentions.

I am going… to probably do a Target/Trader Joe’s run with Daniel later today to give him a chance to get out of the house because it’s too hot to go for a walk.

I am wondering… about a couple things I read online recently.

I am reading… Eggs in Purgatory by Laura Childs. (It’s part of her Cackleberry Club series.) I read/finished Gone with the Win and Clam Wake by Mary Daheim this week. (Dental appointments are good for that.)

I am hoping… Jon gets a few funeral calls this week.

I am looking forward to… the weather eventually cooling down one of these days.

I am hearing… Daniel rumpusing in the other end of the house.

Around the house… laundry-folding is happening intermittently in the kitchen, I’ve unloaded the dishwasher/reloaded it, and I think my mother-in-law is adding stuff to it so we can start it.

A favorite quote for today… “We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn,’ and I accept it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.” — A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis.

It came up in a conversation on my Facebook wall with one of my mom’s former co-workers regarding a blog post on Victoria Osteen’s comments about how we go to church for ourselves because God wants us to be happy. *hears the Osteen-is-a-heretic alarm sounding*

One of my favorite things… quiet. I’m a mom and an introvert after all so it’s something I crave but don’t always have.

A few plans for the rest of the week: my father-in-law’s birthday is tuesday but that’s just about it, I think.

A peek into my day… It’s time for another link-up!

What I Wore on Sunday

It is hotter than Hades here so I went for incredibly airy and cool clothes, ones in which I can joust with palm branches or fix a flat tire.

As you can see, I take Sundays very seriously. Here I am attempting to play good hymnody.

Me pretending to play the organ.

Unfortunately, adorable children do have to be tickled on occasion.

Tickle fight.

Jen
Shirt: Kohl’s
Skirt: inherited it from sister-in-law who probably thrifted it.
Shoes: Naturalizer

Daniel
Shirt: Promise Walk for Preeclampsia 2014
Shorts: Circo (I heart Target.)
Sandals: Circo

Here’s a lovely close-up of the skirt and shoes. I’m one of *those* people who wears long skirts to church and never bears their shoulders EVER. (It’s not a religious thing. I’m just short and I can’t sew. I also get kind of sick of having to play with liquid nitrogen yearly because I get interesting spots on my shoulders.)

My hemline and shoes.

Here’s another picture of my precious sweetling helping my mother-in-law by putting out the children’s books for the Little Free Library. He’s got about 18 inches to go before he is taller than I am. (See? I really am short.)

Daniel putting out the books.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook. Go see the pretty ladies at Fine Linen and Purple for what everyone else wore today.

Five Favorites: Dental Work Coping Mechanisms

Posted on by

Five Favorites

I had to have dental work done today so these are my favorites related to that.

One

My mother-in-law. She took care of getting Daniel off his bus today as I was at the dentist’s office and she took Daniel out with Jon a bit ago so that my father-in-law could have a nap and I could lie down and deal with the headache from my jaw being propped open for 2 1/2 hours.

Two

My dentist. She is a lovely Iraqi woman who wears beautiful scarves… and her concern today was to put me in the least amount of pain possible. I was supposed to have a root canal and two fillings (broken tooth that formed a food trap) but the broken part didn’t extend down to the nerve so she didn’t want to mess with it. Instead, they shaped it for a crown and did the two other fillings. I’m grateful that she has this attitude because it means my bill will be much lower and I’m not in as much pain.

Three

My 6 year old iPod nano. I charged it for the first time in 4 years today (haven’t had to use it since 2010 because it was mainly what I used to listen to music at work in Montana) and spent most of my time in the dentist’s chair listening to Bach and classical music from various iTunes playlists on my computer.

Four

Aleve. I’m not having serious pain right now. Granted, it’s early yet but the numbing is almost gone from my jaw and I don’t have more than a headache.

Five

Jamba Juice. I needed something I could just drink for lunch today and the smoothie I got had the right combination of protein and carbs. It allowed me to have something on my stomach so I could take the Aleve and the cold was therapeutic.

Go love up Heather.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 24, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 24, 2014

Outside my window… dark and cool. A nice change from the heat of the day.

I am thinking… about the errands I have to do tomorrow morning while Daniel is in school as well as the dental work that will be coming up.

I am thankful… for my mother-in-law watching Daniel this afternoon so I could have a much needed nap.

In the kitchen… pesto tortellini tonight.

I am wearing… a plum heather shirt from Old Navy and black capri sweats from Target.

I am praying for… a new parish for Jon, healing for some of the people in my life, and for some special intentions.

I am going… on “epic errands” tomorrow morning.

I am reading… Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs. I’m binge-reading all of her scrapbooking murder mysteries.

I am hoping… Daniel does well this week at taking the bus to school. I’m also hoping that we have the same bus driver as last week because she was very nice.

I am hearing… my girls being nocturnal.

Around the house… silence as I’m probably the only one up.

A favorite quote for today… “Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and go well with ketchup.”

One of my favorite things… ice chips.

A few plans for the rest of the week: working on my proficiencies for ODesk, doing errands as needed, and whatever else comes up. I don’t know that I have any really major plans.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 27, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY July 27, 2014

Outside my window… sunny and bright. According to Weather.Com, it’s 96F here right now. Ugh.

I am thinking… about my upcoming trip this weekend and what I’ll need to pack for it.

I am thankful… for my mother-in-law who is watching Daniel so I can take a breather and blog.

In the kitchen… nothing as of yet though my mother-in-law did make some stuffed peppers yesterday that looked pretty good.

I am wearing… green v-neck shirt and khaki shorts that I’ll have to replace this week as they’ve gotten a few small holes from being washed and worn so much.

I am praying for… my trip this weekend. It will be the longest I’ve been away from Daniel since his birth five years ago.

I am going… to Kohl’s in a bit to go shopping for shorts.

I am wondering… about what will be unfolding in the next few weeks.

I am reading… Light from Heaven by Jan Karon. It’s the last of the books in her series “The Mitford Years”. Next on my agenda are the first two in her “Father Tim” series in preparation for the book that will be coming out later this year. After that, I’ll read Sugar and Iced by Jenn McKinlay.

I am hoping… we get more consistent results with potty-training this week.

I am looking forward to… seeing what God may be calling us to.

I am hearing the A/C and my mother-in-law cleaning in the kitchen.

Around the house… it is now 5 hours after I started writing this, night has fallen, and people are heading to bed.

From the learning rooms… potty-training, reviewing shapes/numbers/letters/colors, learning to write letters and numbers, reading books, and working on life skills.

A favorite quote for today… “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Daniel’s laugh when we play “Ring Around the Rosy” with my in-laws.

A few plans for the rest of the week: A peds appointment at some point for Daniel to get his cough checked out (and establish care here), various errands, and a flight out to my undisclosed location with Jon on Friday.

A peek into my day… Here’s one of the pictures of the sanctuary of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels that I took last week after the Mass for Immigrants that I attended. It’s an amazing space and all of it is tastefully designed. Some of these tapestries were used for the cover of My Life with the Saints by Fr. James Martin, S.J.

A shot of the tapestries on one side of the sanctuary of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown LA

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 14, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY July 14, 2014

Outside my window… muggy and humid and hot. It feels like the Midwest instead of southern California. It rained on us a bit when I was at Trader Joe’s earlier.

I am thinking… about the issues we’re having in finding an ABA program down here for Daniel. The school is required to provide one but it might not be in this school district so they’re having to make a referral. And no, homeschooling is not an option. We’re already dealing with a home teacher and I’m having to figure out how to structure her time so that it’s actually useful. I have the patience and temperament of a drill sergeant which is why I didn’t become a teacher in the first place. Additionally, I’d prefer not to have to get a Master’s in Education focusing on ABA in order to educate my kid correctly so I’d really rather find people who already have the training.

I am thankful… for my mother-in-law who made me vegan chocolate-peppermint cupcakes yesterday and who is doing everything in her power to support what I’m doing with Daniel. I am seriously blessed to have her and my father-in-law.

In the kitchen… I finished up my scampi from Saturday night for lunch today. Dinner has yet to be decided.

I am wearing… my Run for Courage t-shirt and jeans short.

I am praying for… a special intention, grace to forgive certain people, wisdom to know how to structure Daniel’s days at the moment, for friends who are dealing with a lot right now, and for Hevel’s safety.

I am going… to hopefully go visit my boys this week with tuna so that their new mommy can get them acclimated to her. (Tuna will bribe them to come out.)

I am wondering… how to teach certain things.

I am reading… A New Song by Jan Karon.

I am hoping… the house cools down. My mother-in-law just turned on the A/C so that should help.

I am looking forward to… finding out where God is calling us to go next.

I am hearing Daniel and his teacher working on counting. I’m having to intervene and make him actually say the names of the numbers because otherwise he’s not getting any speech connection or practice.

Around the house… laundry going and my mother-in-law is probably cleaning something.

I am pondering… too many things to list.

A favorite quote for today… “The Christian idea of marriage is based on Christ’s words that a man and wife are to be regarded as a single organism—for that is what the words ‘one flesh’ would be in modern English. And the Christians believe that when He said this He was not expressing a sentiment but stating a fact—just as one is stating a fact when one says that a lock and its key are one mechanism, or that a violin and a bow are one musical instrument. The inventor of the human machine was telling us that its two halves, the male and the female, were made to be combined together in pairs, not simply on the sexual level, but totally combined. The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all the other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union. The Christian attitude does not mean that there is anything wrong about sexual pleasure, any more than about the pleasure of eating. It means that you must not isolate that pleasure and try to get it by itself, any more than you ought to try to get the pleasures of taste without swallowing and digesting, by chewing things and spitting them out again.” — C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

One of my favorite things… Trader Joe’s Iced Tea-Lemonade

A few plans for the rest of the week: speech therapy for Daniel on Tuesday morning, lessons with his home teacher Tuesday – Friday, and various errands.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 6, 2014

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY July 6, 2014

Outside my window… cooler. It was 96F in Claremont today. I hate July in the desert…

I am thinking… about the organizing of all of Daniel’s therapy notes, IEP’s, goal paperwork, ABA reports, etc. that starts tomorrow for me.

I am thankful… that I have a really good relationship with my in-laws, especially my mother-in-law. People have commented upon meeting us that they’re kind of shocked that we’re not mother and daughter. (She’s been my “other mother” for 14 years now — we’d better be getting along well.)

In the kitchen… just cleaned it. My mother-in-law made a peach/raspberry cobbler today with the peaches off of her tree. I’m not a fan of cobbler but it smelled pretty good.

I am wearing… my preeclampsia survivor shirt and black running shorts.

I am praying for… discernment, some special intentions, Daniel’s school time to go well this week, for another call for Jon, and for healing for various people.

I am going… to Target tomorrow to pick up the scripts they couldn’t fill today because of computer problems.

I am reading… A New Song by Jan Karon. I finished Out to Canaan yesterday.

I am hoping… the weather is much much cooler tomorrow.

I am looking forward to… finding out where God wants us next.

I am hearing my mother-in-law’s Mints and Roomba running. It sounds (and looks) like “Robot Wars” going down in this house.

Around the house… laundry to fold once I get Daniel to sleep.

I am pondering… aspects of the human condition.

A favorite quote for today… “There are two kinds of love: we love wise and kind and beautiful people because we need them, but we love (or try to love) stupid and disagreeable people because they need us. This second kind is the more divine because that is how God loves us: not because we are lovable but because He is love, not because He needs to receive but He delights to give.” — C.S. Lewis (from today’s email — I’m on a mailing list in which a piece of his works appears in my inbox every morning)

One of my favorite things… Daniel asleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week: “school” for Daniel Monday – Friday, speech on Tuesday, and various errands sprinkled throughout the week.

A peek into my day… Felicity (one of my in-laws’ cats) asleep in the laundry I have to fold.

Felicity *helping* with laundry

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook