I want to be this.

I loathe peeling oranges.

I order extra cream and no sugar in my coffee.

I LOVE the color gray or grey, but am never sure how to spell it.

My favorite cheesecake is Kahlua now- thanks for my sister.

My ringtone is Ice Ice Baby.

I sprinkle pepper on my cottage cheese.

I wear a Mossimo tank top almost every day.

I drool in my sleep.

I hate wool.

I like my computer mouse to be in the middle…guess my year of *only* using a laptop has changed my habits now that I use a desktop again.

The only person I’d ever allow to move into my house would be my sister.

I have a baby girl box ‘o stuff already started.

I have a ginormous urge to buy a bunch of house plants this spring…but I probably won’t bc I always kill them.

I don’t like learning new games on my own.

I am realizing I do not like surprises.

I want to collect empty frames- I have a few…

I would like to live near family.

Here are a few of my latest iphone app obsessions since I have definitely changed my focuses a bit…

ETSY – it’s sooo easy to browse through treasury lists and find cute stuff…handmade or supplies- such as my latest love- washi tape.

Pinterest – because I love pinning everywhere.

Instagram – for the first 9 months I had my phone, I didn’t use it…but now, I like it- I mostly like following other people.

And my two latest loves…

I just found this app! It lets you send a real postcard in the mail w/a pic...that pops out too! The app is free and it's only 99 cents to send a card...super fun!

This game rocks in real life- but playing on the app is even funner sometimes since it's so fast. This app was free when I got it... oh, and last nite bart and i discovered we could play against eachother- ha! we are nerds. yes we are.

i've wanted this huge canvas for at least 4 years...it doesn't help that it never goes on sale for less than $100

animal (not pictured) and alphabet cutters...

Such a random cool idea- if you sign up for $10/month you get a fun beauty box filled with samples...birchbox.com

anthro funnels. too cute.

i admit it. i have an addiction to washi tape.

a vitamix: the mother of all blenders.

i love this print- from KathyPanton on etsy.

and of course..my only clothing obsession is Jos- quiksilver shorts- ah!

The Gap has colored chinos!! Oh...I err, Jos can't wait for spring!

Side note ** my husband totally googled my pinterest “wanna buy me a present” board and got me THREE of my latest wants for valentines day- a whirly pop and anthro measuring cups and a bowl.  He rocks my world!!!

I don’t know how many countless times I’ve told Bart how excited I am for the day when Josiah has his own bed, and can come crawl into ours when he has a bad dream or whatever.  But last nite made me think twice about that constant longing.  He’s still recovering from sickness and therefore snores like a very loud locomotive…but I kinda forgot about that as I picked him up and brought him back to our bed with promises of snuggles.  He calmed down immediately and fell asleep within seconds- while I was then stuck in an uncomfortable position with my dearest sweet son’s face in my ear.  Loud train sounds continuously paralleled the heave of his poor chest as he settled into deeper and deeper sleep…thus inducing a louder and louder breathing technique.

Motherhood is a funny thing though.  Because even though it was 3am, and my body wanted to sleep; I felt my mind drawing a mental picture of that moment to remember for years to come.  I couldn’t get over the privilege I had been given- to care for my sweet son in the middle of the night, when all he needed was my comforting arms.  And instead of longingly staring at my sleeping husband’s state of being (which I usually do), I relished the chance I had been given…to love my son in the simplest of ways.

I will still daydream about a little Josiah coming to the side of the bed someday in the middle of the night and tapping my shoulder- whispering quietly for help…I’ll just need to remember it might mean less sleep for me or maybe I should conveniently forget that part….makes a better daydream that way.

*below are seemingly unrelated pictures of a single snow day- although they are actually from another daydream turned slightly skewed reality…a story for another day.

God has been speaking to me a lot lately about my daily life.  As a mom of two youngins’ it tends to seem very monotonous.  I’ve heard about a million talks about loving Jesus in the mundane and that this job is the highest calling on earth, blah blah blah.  I agree wholeheartedly, don’t get me wrong; but sometimes I find myself trying to make my life about something else.

I will go weeks without cleaning or doing laundry.  I will watch movies or play on the internet and just simply ignore the life that is going on around me.  I’m just being honest here- while in the back of my head, Mike Bickle’s “Power of a Focused Life” whispers to me…the rest of my mind battles to just get thru.  I dream about a few years down the road, where hopefully I’ll be sitting on the sidelines watching peewee soccer and riding around on my beach cruiser with the kiddos.

I play dress-up on the internet and think about the day when I actually have a reason to look cute and dress up- because I have a place to go.  I buy crafting supplies so I can create stuff that no one ever sees.  I read books but I don’t have a cool book club to go to.  I dwell on the fact that several of my favorite people are moving away from KC and am kinda getting tired of that reality.

I hear a few of you thinking “get out there, do stuff, dress up just because, be thankful you get to stay at home, etc…”  I know.  All true, but its not that simple at the moment.  Sometimes I look at the reality of a two kid nap schedule (they sleep at alternating times) that lies before me and notice the startlingly short spanse of time that is free to “get out” and be social with other people.  But on the other hand, I’m not willing to sacrifice their sleep right now.  So…hmmm.

Every other week, it’s just me and the boys; as bart travels for work.  I feel as though I am constantly just awaiting his return…when actually I need to live real life in the midst of his absence.  I’m definitely a “take the easy route” kinda girl, but I am realizing that sometimes just sucking it up is worth it.  I mean, come on- the park is across the street not 2 miles away.  And finger painting is good motivation to give him a bath…. and I love to color- I just need to get a girly coloring book and some normal size crayons for myself.  **update: i did it! I bought a girly coloring book and crayons- today is color mania if jos is feeling good.

Recently my husband and I have started playing board games while the kids sleep.  It’s cute and I really really love it.  No matter that the games we play are  meant to be for more than 2 players- it’s quality time spent laughing with my favorite person.  But of course, I get to thinking about how fun it will be to play board games as a family some day.  Ah. I’m a dreamer.

So really, the moral of this boring sob story is: don’t wish away the ‘now’.  Find contentment in what God has for you at the moment.  I’m preachin to myself.  Oh yeah, and my favorite: “they won’t stay babies forever”…which to me is like a reason to dance and cheer!!!

So, this wasn’t exactly the funny motherhood confessional post of yore…but sometimes, I just gotta be honest…and dull…and depressing.

I’m okay with it tho.

Tomorrow is a new day.  Even if it may look exactly like today.

But tonite, I figured out why.  See, I have only ever sold a couple things on craigslist and never anything over $100…so when I placed the ad for my beloved coffee table today- that we bought for $250 a year ago,  I was excited about the possibility… of cash in my pocket.

However- now I know why I never actually land items.  The trick is to offer the lowest price possible and hope that the person is desperate enough to take it.  I mean, I listed the table for $150 and the first two offers I got were for $75 (which was a blow) and $50 (which was like a slap in the face).  This kinda falls right in line with my lack of talent in the area of bartering at garage sales…I just don’t have the heart to offer a seemingly offensively low amount.

But I get it now.  Craigslist is mostly where desperate people sell stuff, so they don’t have to throw it away…just hoping to get a few bucks.  Well, this craigslister isn’t falling for that garbage.  I am holding out for no less than $120.  I did bite my tongue and delete the rude reply I typed out in my head to both the low-ballers.  I know they’re just tryin to score a deal…they are probably those people who think Craigslist is the greatest.

The funnier part of this whole story came two days later- when I got the weirdest offer from a woman who wanted to pay by check thingee and would also include the movers fee- and $50 extra if I deleted the post right away…fishy!!  So, I heeded my husband and mother’s warnings and the table is staying in the family; at least until I get another urge.

And so, I’ll keep failing at Craigslist as I sweetly email people about items who never email back…probably because they already sold said item to that guy who offered 1/4 of the cost cash.  Alas.

I don’t usually write to you personally on here much…maybe because I save all my words for your travel letters now- but I thought I might just give you a little blog love this year, for valentines day.

I can’t even begin to describe how much I love you.  I’ve been reading this marriage book lately and honestly- the biggest thing I’ve learned from it is how amazing you are and what an incredibly awesome friendship we have.  You are the reason.

When I look at our marriage, it makes me love God more- because I see how perfectly He brought you and me together…I mean, He knew I’d laugh at you more than anyone on the planet and He knew I needed that.  He knew our opposite strengths and weaknesses would mesh into one ridiculously fun life and that our children would need to see two sides of the coin.

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder…and I’m pretty sure I wholeheartedly agree; I just don’t like it sometimes.  God has designed our life right now and I trust Him but having you away every other week is hard.  Although in some ways, I think it’s making me cherish you even more and the time I get to spend with you…I can’t take it for granted because it’s special and not 24/7 at the moment.

Your hugs make me melt, your kisses make me giggle…and I believe in 50 years we’ll still be dancing around like dorks in our kitchen.  I’ll still be trying to tickle you even tho you hate it and you’ll still be taking out the trash because you know my weaknesses.  I love the way you serve me, even when I don’t deserve it.

You are the leader.  You are such a good one….and a cute one!  I love your style and your quirks and your old man car…but not your wing-tipped shoes. heheh

Sometimes I still pinch myself…that I get to be your wife- out of all the women in the world- you picked me.  Thank you, for surpassing all my wildest dreams and expectations of marriage and family- you are my best time.

Happy Valentines Day honkey.

I love you a million pinches,

K

Washi tape is my latest obsession.

no this isn't my collection. i wish it was.

What’s washi tape you might ask?

It’s just pretty tape.

At first, I thought the stuff was pretty cute, but not that useful.  Then I started Smashing…and found it to be super fun and easy to use.  Then I found this amazing etsy shop where you can buy it by the foot…and well, if you know me- you know that a. I like a deal and b. I like to try stuff out…so this is the perfect solution to my obsession.

Not only is washi tape fun for scrapbooking-ish things…it’s also fun for decorating envelopes and packages to mail…making magnets and banners and all sorts of art.

magnets

**These are not my creations…and I hope I uploaded them correctly, so if you click on them they give proper credit but…I am still learning…

Cheers to you Kim, even though you’ve already got great style.

You’ll find your name below the collage of clothing…comment if you don’t find your name but want a board done.  Seriously bored here- you know, sickness quarantine and all.

Side note:  I’d also like to state for the record that at this point in my life I do not have much style…but I do plan to return to my stylish life at sometime in the future.

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