Stuff that matters and other stuff that doesn't matter much

We'll get the stuff that doesn't matter out of the way first

('cause it's still fun to talk about).

1.

So, this was on my Amazon wish list as as suggested stocking stuffer idea.  Unfortunately for Jeremy, I'm impatient and bought it yesterday.  It's {OPI's "You Don't Know Jacques}" nail polish.  I'm apparently way late on {trying out this trend}, but the brown/grey shade is perfect for the weekend ahead because of it's flexibility.  Case in point:  I'm sporting some grey dress pants at work today with open toed (zebra print!) shoes, but TONIGHT I'l be wearing a chocolate brown silk cocktail dress for our Progressive Dinner.  Somehow it chameleons between the two.  Smart and sexy.  I like!

2.

Being out sick for two days really makes life crazier.  101 emails.  33 missed calls on my personal line and nine new messages.  And an event today where everyone is putting in last minute requests.  Ah, good times!

3.

Apparently, I'm notorious to Jeremy for constantly trying new recipes and rarely repeating them.  Maybe I'm picky, but not many make the list of repeatable recipes.  I tried one called Autumn Harvest Stew over Thanksgiving that won't make the repeatable list.  Unfortunatelly, I made such a large quantity that it's being repeated anyways.  It's not awful, but it's far from my favorite.  Believe me, there are certain leftovers that I can appreciate, but this one... How long do I have to eat this stuff?!?

4.

I'm jealous of Meredith's sequin Santa hat.  I haven't seen it.  She tweeted about it this morning, though.  Leopard print would be just great, too.

5.

I'm excited about our dinner tonight~soup and salad at my place!

And now for stuff that does matter.  (also known as what's been on my mind)

1.

Second chances are amazing things!  I was given the opportunity to speak to the high schoolers last night.  They are doing a series where they preach the Gospel in language and pictures that make sense to our teens:  specifically using media to show the truth of Romans 1 (that the truth of God has been made plain to the world) and Psalm 24 (that everything in the world belongs to God).  So my theme was second chances.  People everyone have a built in desire for second chances.  We looked at two songs that deal with that idea:  "What I've Done" by Linkin Park and "Airplanes" by B.O.B.  Everybody can get the second chance they long for by making a decision for that second chance.  The Bible is full of people who were given second chances.  And I, for one, am seriously thankful that God gives second chances!  If you're interested in more about that, you can check out my notes {here}.

2.

People's name's are really really really important.  Refusing to even try to learn someone's name is the same as saying, "you're not worth my time or energy."  I get that it might a hard skill.  We identify with our names so much, it's worth the effort to let your fellow man (or woman) know they are a valuable human being simply because they are!

This is a skill I have to constantly work on... my short term memory is great for names.  The long term gets me into trouble sometimes.  Plus, I have my work cut out for me... between my job (managing a Conference Center for 9,000 employees and contractors in downtown Houston, plus others globally) and Jeremy's job (youth and family minister at a local church of 1,500), both are new within the last two years.  I've got a couple of names and faces to learn.

3.

Seriously craving some mama time with my kiddos!  Justus got his {album} in the mail this week.  He was thrilled!  Cannot wait to take Lexi to The Nutcracker with our girlfriends, April and Chloe, this weekend!

Stuff That Saves My Life

It's no secret that we're busy.  Truly, who isn't busy!?

This is a collection of some of the resources I have come to depend on to help me manage the chaos and make more time for F-U-N.  Cause, honestly, I like to have life at least somewhat in order so I can really indulge in the fun.

My latest find is {Relish!}  I went out looking for an alternative when our Super Suppers shut down.  I'd just started using Super Suppers and was pretty thrilled with how easy it was to have dinners at home every night.  If you didn't follow me in that tragedy, basically the story is this... I ordered enough for a month.  Loved every minute of it and told all my friends.  I went back the next month to order more and they'd disappeared, shut down, closed up shop!  I was devastated!  I didn't know what to do, so I attempted to duplicate the process at home.  That was a TON of work!  The food was delish, but too much work.  So, one day on the bus, I was surfing for alternatives and came across this gem... Relish!

They offer 15 different menu choices for your fridge each week and a collection of freezer items, too.  You select up five of each.  They include an entree and a side dish.  You plug in the quantity of people you are cooking for and press a button... out pops a PDF that has a grocery list that is divided up by store catagories, easy to follow recipes, and labels with reheating instructions for the freezer items.  What?!?  It takes all the brainwork out of planning... I love that!

But wait, it gets better!  They have an app!  It's web-based so it automatically syncs with what you do on the website.  (Which also means I can plan the menu and let Jeremy log in to the account for the shopping list at the store.  What now?!)



In my opinion, this is one of the coolest sections... "This and That" it offers all kinds of party menu ideas and even some fun Dinner and Movie night themed menus for a movie night at home!



If you decide to try Relish!, be sure to tell them I told you about it, please.  :)

Next up is the {FlyLady}... She has really saved my thinking about how to keep a home.  The biggest lesson for me is that it doesn't have to be done perfectly to be worth doing, meaning it's better to do a little at a time than none at all!  She teaches her readers how to implement routines to stay on top of home-keeping tasks.  I'd recommend reading her book, {Sink Reflections}, before subscribing to her on her website or Facebook.  Reading her philosophy in the order it comes in the book really helps to make the principles sink in better.

If you saw our {Routines and Chore Charts}, those were inspired by her.  Even Lexi knows her routines by the little pictures I included for her.  :)

If there's one thing I know I can't live without it's my iCal, which is synced with Jeremy's iCal.  The instant one of us enters a new event, it updates both calendars.  How cool is that?  We keep the entire family's schedule in one portable place.  It's fantastic!  We can see how potential plans and activities affect the rest of the family and set reminders for ourselves.

When I decide to step it up a notch, I go to the {Mommy Tracked Toolbox}.  There are all kinds of free organizational downloads.  My favorite is this...

It lets me post our plans for the week for everyone to see... including the kids' activities (and notes about what they need to remember for school!), dinner plans, and other ToDo items.  It helps for keeping Justus and our nanny up-to-date on what's happening with the Williams.

So, there ya go... a few things I use that give me more time for the important things, like family and FUN!

Having Ourselves a Merry Little Christmas

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.  ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

There is more decorating to be done!

Mi Case Tour: Volume 2, The Entry and The Dining Room

The Mi Casa Tour continues, however this time we're starting in a more appropriate place... the front door!  Wecome, we're glad you're here.  Hope you can stay a while.

As you can see, it is adorned with a "proper wreath" for Christmas.  The {Living Room} is straight ahead and the Dining Room is to the left. 

This is a parson's bench that was given to us by our friends, the Nohrs.  It houses many of our fun board games and also serves as a time out bench.  Straight down that hallway is The Master Suite and The Powder Room.  (Be patient, we'll get there in another post! ;)  )

Our entry table.  Love the bins in this piece because they are a great place to catch all kinds of items.  Down the hall on the right is The Kitchen, which we will see at a later date.  The decorations on here are kind of fluid.  I haven't felt like they are "done" yet, so I keep reworking them and obviously still have a little more space available.  I'm thinking it needs a plant or flowers to give it more life... I do like it as it is, but haven't deemed it complete yet!

View from the balcony above.



There's a collection of cherished family photos on the stairway.  I love the banister, too... it's so pretty!



A perfect dance floor, no furniture removal required.  Confession:  I cried some happy tears the day Jeremy was passing me in the entry and stopped me for a quick dance.  I was so thrilled with just how perfect it is!  It gets used... the occasional waltz or salsa, a little breakdancing with the kids, practice stage for Justus' We Love America program, etc.  That makes me super happy!



Perspective from The Living Room.  Cozy, huh?

The Dining Room is home to our Gathering Table.  There is tons of room on this table and I'm amazed at how I can fill it up with food some nights!  It's perfect for dinner with four couples.  We're learning how to make it work better with the little ones... passing food can be tricky.  I've always thought an oversized lazy susan might be extremely useful here, but not enough to actually get one!



One day I got a little spray paint happy and started altering some of the decorations I'd had around my house.  I like the off-white theme and plan to add more to the whole unit to tie it all together.  The indirect lighting at the ceiling is a pretty cool feature, as are the built-in speakers.



Jeremy built these picture frames for me.  Love my handyman!  My sister, Jill, had a pair of these candle holders made and gave them to me.  I love how they look and the warmth that candles on the wall bring into the room.



Last view of The Dining Room.  I really like the plantation shutters on the front of the house.

We're hosting the Soup and Salad Course for a Progressive Dinner with our friends on Thursday evening, so all this is getting a Christmas makeover this week.  Pics to come!