For Today

My two favorite cowboys

THINKING ABOUT...the Connie Schultz article I read in Parade on Sunday.  Every time I read one of her pieces, I find myself smiling--sometimes even chuckling, too.  Connie is a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist who crafts columns that are inspiring, funny, and insightful.  Click here to check out Connie's  essays.
 
THANKFUL FOR...my sweet husband who likes to cook.  On Monday, before he left for work, Brian made a batch of raviolis for me, so I would have dinner while he was gone.  So, so thoughtful.  

INSPIRED BY...Bumbo's commitment to the people of South Africa.  Nearly 100% of the profits from the sale of Bumbos go to support South Africans in need.  Kudos to Johan Buitendach, the inventor of Bumbo, for his generous spirit. 

WRITING...a children's article about how to create a scrapbook layout.  It's not coming together as easily as I thought it would...and it's due on Friday--eek!  Could be because I am just a wee-bit distracted by an adorable almost seven-week-old named Noah.  Oh, and let's be real: I'm a procrastinator by nature.           

LOVING...the beautiful daffodils on the windowsill in our dining room.  (Thanks, Aunt Susie!)


JUST FINISHED...reading Heaven is for Real.  It's a quick read, but definitely worth checking out.

READING...I Don't Know How to Cook and Marriage Rules.  I'm enjoying both so far!
 
LOOKING FORWARD...to spending time with my niece, McKayla at the end of March. 

PERUSING...Scrapbooks Etc. April 2012 issue.  Excited to see a Baby Love album in the magazine; I think I might be able to create something similar for Noah.

WATCHING...The Voice for the first time.  I'm amazed by the talent of the singers (unlike some of the contestants on American Idol), and the interaction between the judges is fun to watch.  Adam and Blake are my favorites. 

BAKING...Easy Coffee Cake (from I Don't Know How to Cook).  It must be pretty delicious--Brian had two pieces!

ENJOYING...Noah's smiles.

Hope you are having a great week!

J

Right Now

Ali & Mike's Wedding--9.24.11

Hi All!

I've been missing in action here on my blog over the past few weeks.  

It's a sure sign that school is back in session.

In addition to working and commuting, I also recently began a writing course.  (More about that later.)   

As such, blogging has had to take a backseat.   

But that's not to say that I don't think about blogging.   

I do. 

In fact, while I'm driving in my car two hours a day, I often brainstorm blog post topics.

Case in point: I dictated most of the following post into my iPhone while driving home on Friday.  (My dictaphone died a few weeks ago, so I switched to recording voice memos on my iPhone.)

Right now, I'm...

Watching--

Frontier Force


I watch very little television--maybe 5 hours a week--but this show on the National Geographic Channel has captured my interest.  It's a 1-hour "cop" show, but what I love most about it is the breathtaking Montana scenery, and of course, the wild animals.  Next summer, Yellowstone, here I come! 

Listening to--

Lady Antebellum's Own the Night album 

I'm loving tracks #1 and #2, both of which have been released to radio. 

Reading--

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

I really wanted to like this book, based on all the stellar Amazon reviews, but I'm on page 182 of the 288-page Kindle book and I'm finding it difficult to keep reading.  I commend the author for having the courage to write a memoir about her childhood, but I am horrified by some of her parents' actions. 

I'm looking forward to reading The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks, which is due out in October.

Writing--

In August, I enrolled in the Writing for Children and Teenagers course through the Institute of Children's Literature.  As part of this course, I submit assignments to my instructor every 6-8 weeks and receive feedback 10 days later.  In early September, I turned in (read: e-mailed) my first assignment to my instructor and she e-mailed me feedback this week.  Now, I'm busy writing my second piece, a 1,000-word story, along with reading the assigned pages in my course manuals, and revising my first story.  It's such a challenge, but I am loving it!       

Eating--

Home grown tomatoes...yummy!


Shopping for--

A new car with all-wheel drive...possibly the Subaru Outback or Tribeca.  I adore my Honda Pilot, but we need a car that will be able to drive on snow-and ice-covered roads this winter. 

Digging--

Pandora's new interface.

Disliking--

Facebook's new design.  :-(

Looking forward to--

Celebrating Brian's birthday on Wednesday night, attending the Casting Crowns concert with my mom on Thursday night, and heading to Apple Hill with the Liotine family on Sunday. 

Hope you have a wonderful week!

J