30 Things

Thirty is a big number!
Here are my thirty things to do before turning thirty..

1. Take and pass the NIC exam
2. Take a class/attend a workshop for fun
3. Go on a girl's trip
4. Purchase a DLSR camera.. this is the year!
5. Make a book sling for Charles
6. Print photos and put in albums/books/frames
7. Save money for Norway/Europe trip
8. Go to Brooklyn
9. Continue writing in Charles' journal
10. Give to a charity/non profit/ministry (time, money, items..)
11. Go on bike rides as a family
12. Start running again
13. Get a jogging stroller
14. Memorize more scripture
15. Start a craft club/host craft night(s)
16. Re-learn how to knit
17. Learn how to embroider
18. Explore Minneapolis/MN more
19. Attempt a 30 Day Clothes Challenge (30 items/30 outfits/30days)
20. Make a DIY/redo play kitchen for Charles
21. Make a growth chart for Charles
22. Find an apartment/house
23. Go on a weekend getaway/trip
24. Go camping
25. Finish canvas project
26. Get sewing machine fixed
27. Refurbish/paint an old dresser/table
28. Read three books off the list
29. Try some more advanced sewing projects
30. Take advantage of free/local events and activities in our city

From 29 to 30

I know my birthday was over a month ago. I am aware that I haven't posted an update on my list from last year nor have I posted my list for this year. Part of the reason is because I am having a hard time making my list of 30 things. That is a lot of things! Too bad I can't turn 27 again. Then I would be set. ha
While I think of three more things to add to the list I might as well let you in on how I did this past year. Warning: It's not that great.

29 Things:

1. Open Etsy shop and sell onesies If you want to check it out, it's called CityBird.
2. Take NIC exam (and pass). *progress is being made towards this goal. It will happen this year!
3. Lose 20 lbs.
4. Make my own greeting card sets. *this is 50% completed
5. Take class/attend a workshop for fun
6. Go on a girl's trip. *girls trip came to me this year, so it doesn't really count- but I had a lot of fun!
7. Save money for a DLSR camera
8. Learn how to use my sewing machine
9. Paint something (other than the walls)
10. Go to Washington DC
11. Explore NYC more
12. Plant garden in backyard
13. Make '123' and 'ABC' book for Charles
14. Get better at couponing (I am better than I was, but no where near where I would like to be)
15. Do more crafts
16. Pray with a purpose (this is a life goal and something that constantly needs to be worked on)
17. Memorize more scripture (I think we memorized about 18 verses in bible study, but aside from them I didn't put any others to memory)
18. Save money for Norway/Europe trip (this will be carried on to this year's goal)
19. Read at least three books from 'the list' (This was a good year for reading, a lot of good books. The ones from the list were: Frankenstein, Mansfield Park, and Atonement)
20. Continue to write down milestones/memories of Charles (after his First Year Book I have writing in a journal for Charles)
21. Print photos and put in albums
22. Make curtains for front room (I decided to make them for the Mother's Room instead)
23. Host a themed party (perhaps it doesn't count but I feel like our shower for Jessica was the themed party)
24. Take advantage of free, local events (my favorite being story time at Postmark cafe)
25. Begin to meet with interpreting mentor
26. Attend more deaf community events
27. Bring Charles to the beach
28. Contribute to the ministry at our church in a new way
29. Learn to make an authentic Indian dish

Happy Christmas

Our first Christmas back in Minneapolis was pretty nice. The weather has been amazing- much like a NYC winter- and I am so Thankful for it. Who would have thought Minnesota could pull a 45 on Christmas Day??
We had made ornaments with Charles for gifts this year. So fun and easy!

 

Christmas Eve we spent with Margaret and Anthony. We stayed until midnight so we could see Anthony open his gift from Margaret.. he was sure excited about it! 

I finished my ABC book for Charles. 

But to be honest, after opening his gift from Nana and Papa he wasn't really interested in anything else. Every morning since then he has woken up and asked to play with his train first thing in the morning. When we were out at a friend's house the other night he wanted to come home and play with his train. Needless to say, I think he likes it!

   

As part of our new family Christmas tradition we made a birthday cake for baby Jesus and sang happy birthday. 

All in all it was a good day. Time with family, good food, and celebrating the birth of our Lord. How was your Christmas?

'tis the season...

for eggnog. Eggnog bread to be exact.

Last week I stopped into a little cafe near the U called Bordertown. They have amazing breads. I first discovered this about a month ago when I tried their vegan blueberry almond bread. wow. Since then I have had their pumpkin bread (the best pumpkin bread I have ever had. With a crumble crust. I love crumble.) and then last week.. eggnog bread. Both so so SO amazing. wow.

So, me being me, and both wanting to save money and bake something new, I went on a search for eggnog bread recipes to make my own. I found this recipe and gave it a try. So GOOD. Chris gave it a 4.5 out of 5. And he's a tough critic.
The first time around I didn't make the glaze, but since Bordertown's Eggnog bread had a glaze I decided to make it this time and I am so happy I did! If you like eggnog, or just the flavor of it, I highly recommend making this. Right now.


I apologize for the quality of this photo. It was taken on my phone, late last night, in a poorly lit kitchen. 


Glazed Eggnog Bread

For the Bread:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 cup eggnog (low fat is fine)
1/2 cup salted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla (or eggnog extract, if you have it)
1/2 teaspoon rum extract, optional

EGGNOG ICING
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash freshly grated nutmeg
2 to 3 teaspoons eggnog

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, eggnog, melted butter, vanilla, and rum extract (if using). Add egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until moistened (batter will be lumpy).

4. Spoon batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes. Check for done-ness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the loaf -- it should come out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on a rack.

5. Prepare icing: Combine sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg. Stir in enough eggnog to reach drizzling consistency. Drizzle cooled loaf with icing. Grate a little bit of fresh nutmeg over the icing, then let icing set completely before wrapping loaf.

Recipe courtesy of recipegirl.com

Trees. By Charles Weaver

May I present to you an up-and-coming local artist... Charles Weaver.
'Trees'

Martha's got nothing on us

working on our own handmade holiday



more photos to come after Christmas!

Stoop Days

I miss our old stoop everyday. This is from our last day in Brooklyn. Sharon and I were trying to get some pictures of Charles and Hailey together. We told them 'put your arms around each other'.
They both did this at the same time.


There, that's better


 

It's crazy how fast they are growing up. It's only been three months. Sharon and I share pictures of our kiddos with each other pretty often and to see how much H has grown since I saw her last hurts my heart. Sharon can't believe it either. We used to see each other almost every day. We have had them talk on the phone a few times and I know he remembers her. It will be crazy to see them together again this summer. I am sure they will have changed so much.

cut-out cookies

Growing up my family had a certain tradition that fell between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Usually right after Thanksgiving actually if I remember correctly. We would make cut out sugar cookies for Christmas. I remember standing around my Grandmother's kitchen table rolling and cutting out the cookies (and sneaking bites of dough) and then my favorite part, decorating them! This is something I have always and enjoyed and continued to do with out friends in Brooklyn.

Last night the tradition continued in our kitchen here with us and my parents. (missed you Grandma but will save you some cookies)

Charles helped press the cookie cutters and even frosted a few. His favorite was the polar bear. Perhaps not the traditional Christmas cookie shape but hey, he liked it. 

 

 

 

Drawing Fish

yes, he's two. And this mother thinks his fish are pretty darn good! :)

Advent

We have been in Minnesota for three months now. Crazy. It doesn't feel like it has been that long and yet our last summer in New York seems like so long ago. And now Christmas is only two weeks away! Two! I can't believe how fast it has come. My goal is to make our Christmas presents this year, at least the majority of them, which means I have a lot to do before Christmas. I was able to get our advent calendar finished for the countdown to Christ's birth. I had bought this vintage printers drawer on etsy in June not really knowing what exactly I wanted to do with it, and then had the idea of using it as an advent calendar. Perfect!

The little cubbies are kind of small to have a treat or gift in each one and I also like the idea of having a special activity to do so instead I wrote down on folded paper something for each day. A few of them are little gift for charles like a box of goldfish, a hot wheels car, a book. Others are crafts or things to do as a family like movie night, go to the Holidazzle Parade, story time at the library, make a cereal/popcorn garland, bake cookies, go to the play land at Ridgedale Mall. 

 

On Christmas Day we will bake a birthday cake for baby Jesus and sing him Happy Birthday. 

a month of thanks.. 24-30

Finishing up my month of thanks..

24. Sharon

25. play dates

26. time to read

27. answered prayer

28. skype

29. my health, and the health of my family

30. the 2:7 series

A month of Thanks 14-23

14. A mantel. I love having a mantel.

15. the library

16. morning breakfasts with old friends

17. my hands and the ability to use them

18. a mild fall in to ease us back into Minnesota's cold weather

19. public transportation

20. technology (ie skype) that bring people together even though distance separates

21. garage sale finds (ie: my bike)

22. the crazy funny things my two year old says

23. a woman who chose life

probably our last fall trip to the park..

Last Friday was pretty nice for a mid-November day in Minnesota so Charles and I took advantage of it and headed to the little park near our house to slide and swing and collect pinecones. It was lovely.

On a side note. I think it's time we retire Charles' hat. I love it but it's definitely gotten too small. Here he is wearing it as a wee babe.. maybe three months old? Yea, I'd say it's time.

I am almost done collecting the images of all the letters for my ABC book that I am making for Charles. Originally I had wanted to not only get the letters but also have photos of things to correspond with the letters, you know 'A is for apple, B is for basketball' etc.. However, in the process of all this I realized that it would be kind of hard to get photos of some of the things. Or, it would just take so much longer. I want to have this done to give to him for Christmas. And, it's one of my items on my '29 before 29' list. Henceforth, it will only be a book of letters. OR I might decide to make them into flashcards instead.
We'll see..

FINALLY!

I don't know if any of you pay attention to my "what I'm reading" sidebar but if you have you will know that it hasn't changed in a looong time. This isn't because I haven't been reading anything but because google told me that my space for uploading photos had reached it's limit (???) and would no longer allow me to upload images from my computer. I had tried in vain to put the photos on there using their URL and that didn't work either.. or more likely I wasn't doing it correctly because I just decided to give it another go, determined to be smarter than the computer and.. success! yea! Now I can keep updating my book list!

I can't remember all the books I have read since the last time I was able to update it but the most recent ones were The Help by Kathryn Stockett,  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (I would highly recommend them both) and Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly (#931).

A Month of Thanks.. 11, 12, & 13

11. MAXWELL DAVID HILDEN! we are so happy you are here

12. homemade pumpkin bread

13. playing at the park

A Month of Thanks

In the spirit of Thanksgiving I thought I would make a list of things I am thankful for during this month. One item of thanks each day sounds good so since today is already the 10th I better catch up.  Here goes..

1. My husband. You take my breath away

2. Charles Gabriel Weaver- you have forever changed my life for the better

3. Nana, Papa, Geeba, and Grandma Betty

4. Betsy- I miss you!

5. my friends, both near and far. My cup runneth over

6. my job. An awesome job. I miss being home with Charles so very much, but if I have to work then this is the perfect job. I love it. Also, a job for Chris. God is amazing and we are so thankful to have found jobs so quickly- for him even before we left New York!

7. someone I know and trust, who loves the Lord, to watch Charles during the day.

8.The Knowles. I love and miss you with my whole heart.

9. Brooklyn.

10. A place to live

A Reason To Get Dressed Up

Friday night our friend Nate got married. We had met Caroline only a few times before but it was so obvious that they were a perfect match. God is cool like that.
Aside from the excitement of being able to celebrate our friend's wedding, we were also looking forward to a date night. It had been a long time since Chris and I had gotten 'cleaned up' to go out for an entire evening of fun. He wore a tie, I wore a new dress. There was dancing. It was thrilling.

A Plug..

There are a lot of babies being born right now- I feel like so many people are pregnant and due soon! It's such a fun time with growing bumps and fun showers. If you are like me, you probably know someone who is expecting a baby soon. What better way to celebrate the upcoming birth, or new arrival, with a handmade onesie ....made by me!
These onesies are super cute and hand sewn using vintage and recycled fabric. Check out my etsy shop CityBird to see the what I have for sale. If you have seen something on here in the past that isn't in my esty shop, or have a special request, let me know and I can make a personalized order just for you!

   

Missing my friend

'I thank my God every time I remember you, in all my prayers for you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now... it is right for me to feel this way about you because I have you in my heart..'
Philippians 1:3-7