Dream Date

Top 10 Reasons Ian is a Dream Date
(a photo essay--pictures by Ian and me, taken with his camera)

1. He documents the journey. Life is in the journey.

2. He proves McD's and Bass Pro (his places of choice for our night out) beat any other date locale. Period.

3. He's health conscious, ditching fries for a yogurt parfait.

4. When the conversation lulls, he livens things up with an eye-crossing duel. In case you wondered: they don't get stuck that way.

5. During dinner he says, "Wanna see how fast I can run?" And since it's 4:30 in the afternoon, McD's is empty, so I say, "Sure!"

6. If you know my Ian, you know he is a total rocker (since birth!!), in the literal sense. Here he sits in one of his favorite spots in town: the little rocker just his size at Bass Pro, in front of a giGANtic fire.


7. He stares down the local wildlife, making clear, "I've got my eyes on you."

8. Give him some gummy worms. It's all about the gummies.

9. He never misses a photo op: "Mama--take my picture."

10. He is comfortable and finds contentment in the simple things of life. He inspires me to do the same.

Ever had a date who did all that? What a dreamboat.

What or WHO would YOUR dream date include?

Workin' Things Out

Your comments thrilled me.

In fact, your ideas are so cool, they make my surprise kind of puny. Designing my own fabric line, starting a scrapbooking company, being featured in a craft magazine--thanks, dear readers. You are a daily encouragement to me!

My "20" is none of those fabulous answers. It is something I was afraid to share until today. More hints . . . some other new favorite numbers of mine:

Since November 1:
650--meters I swim in 30 minutes (when I began, 25 meters was difficult)
93--songs on Frenchy's Workin' Things Out playlist (thanks, Steph)
24--times I have lifted weights
23--laps I can run on a good day at the gym (when I began, I could hardly run one lap)
5 to 6--times per week I hit the gym, no exceptions
2--sizes I've dropped

You guessed it--I've lost 20 pounds since November 1--20.5 to be exact. My hope is to lose about 20 more!! (Amen, sisters?)

And now, the winner of the random drawing for a $10 S'bux card is:

CousinKarat said...

I wouldn't be surprised if you lost 20lbs. I see you working hard at the gym! Hmmm, I'd like to be able to say I'd lost 20! (Well this calender year at least.) I'm not watching I'm just there too. Its not 20 weeks preggers so I'm totally out of ideas. You found a $20.00 bill?

CousinKarat, email me (yeebird[at]gmail[dot]com) and I will send the S'bux moolah straight to your inbox. Oh, and next time you see me in the gym, come say "hey"! I would love to meet you!

Thanks for playing, everyone!

20

I have a new favorite number; a wonderful, glorious number:

Know why?
Leave a comment with your guess and you may just win a $10 Starbucks card . . .
Because I'm feeling really happy this morning!
photos from Flickr

Tea Time

Creeeeeeepy.

Anyone read this one?
It inspired me to drink English Breakfast Tea this morning.
My book club discussed it last night. Although difficult to wade through at the beginning, it becomes quite the chilling tale by novel's end.

If you have read it, would you say Rebecca ultimately won?

This month's pick is Firefly Lane. Have you read it? What did you think?

Donuts and hot dogs, anyone?

What creative ideas do you use to get your children to practice writing?
(or, if you don't like that question...)
What guilty item do you always pick up at the grocery store, hmm?

First Tie

The answer to "Um, daddy? When am I gonna get one of, uh, those things?," was waiting Christmas morning under the tree.

Since then, Ian has worn his tie often around the house. He calls to me from the other room, "HONEY? HON-EEEEY!" He "goes to work" too. He wears it with his Indiana Jones hat on adventures, saving Lilly, ahem, I mean, Marion. Today, the tie went public. Ian proudly wore it to church.

Moms of little boys:
JC Penney's zipper ties are fantastic. Little guys grab the tie and cinch it up to put it on, then do the opposite to take it off. The styles aren't the greatest, but it makes for a perfect first tie. Happy shopping!

Someday My Prince Will Come

Even though her voice is super teeny anyway, Lilly finds it necessary to talk and sing in falsetto when she's pretending to be a princess.

Here she is, cleaning with her Snow White broom while singing Snow White's song. Aunt Steffy took this video on her phone. I'm in the red slippers. Nathan, Ian and Patrick are playing the Wii in the background.

Turn your sound all the way up. So teeny. So sweet!

Who is YOUR favorite Disney princess?