This & That

Photo by *Solar ikon*

This was the year I started blogging, and the year I found so many of the blogs I enjoy reading.  

When I found Megan’s blog SortaCrunchy, I knew I wanted to be friends with her. She writes with such sincerity and openness, and just when I think she’s written her greatest post ever, she tops it with another.

Secret Genius remains one of my favorites, the one I get excited about when I see a new post in my RSS reader. I like how Jill tells such a good story with just a photo and a few words. One reason I relate to her posts is we both have little girls. I don’t want to gush too much, lest she think I’m stalking her.

Sarah from Life in the Parsonage might tell a style secret that helps my wardrobe, and also share a thought-provoking post that sticks with me for weeks later.

Stephanie from Keeper of the Home writes about the topics I’ve been studying this year, and she even tried an experiment I had been thinking about too: can coupons work for a whole-foods diet?

Simple Mom’s practical advice helped me learn how to master my email inbox by introducing me to the five-sentence response. My emails aren’t perfect or as well-thought out as I’d like them to be, but I’m no longer far behind.

The Nester knows the philosophy of home, and isn’t afraid to make holes in the wall.

Missy from It’s Almost Naptime laughs at her family’s hijinks to encourage other women, and she sings Lisa Loeb as well as I sing Jewel. (Doug asked me if I would pick a Jewel song for karaoke, but I’d definitely do Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” instead — it already has a dance routine.)

Even though I thought of more blogs to mention, I’ll continue on another day. I do want to thank readers who have shared their ideas and experiences through emails and comments. You make Small Notebook so much better.

If this blog were a movie, then now would be when the band starts playing and everyone gets to dance, because this has been a really great year. Thanks, everyone!

Thank goodness there’s a week of holiday from Christmas to New Year’s, because I am not ready to go back to real life yet. Since nobody else is doing anything either, I can coast along with an oversupply of chocolate and a week full of get-togethers.  

We went to the park and played on Christmas morning, after opening stockings and gifts. Lane wore the tutu I made for her gift.

I had plans to take it easy for the new year. My only resolution I had in mind was to drink more water, and maybe drink less root beer. 

Because that seemed simple.

But then… we found out we’re having a baby! 

And suddenly my year looks so very different. 

This picture is 36 hours after learning the news. I’m thinking I can just put this baby in a sling and keep on going. Doug is wondering if he’ll worry this time as much as he did last time. 

We’ll be moving soon from the small apartment we have now to a slightly bigger apartment. We don’t know where it will be yet.  

I’ll consider my resolution to drink more water as checked off the list: done. That was easy. And now on to new goals of planning, packing, moving, and growing this family we started.

I love to get organized in January. Love it. So stick with me, because I’ve got plans to do some serious sorting and organizing. The plans, oh the plans! Be still, my heart.

My favorite family photos are always the ones we take ourselves, with one of us holding the camera at arm’s length.

There’s a trick to taking a photo this way, and I learned it from none other than Tyra Banks on America’s Next Top Model. Thanks to Tyra’s lesson of the week, my photos are much more appealing.

Here’s why:

When someone takes a photo of you, you end up with tiny posed faces and a lot of background.

If you take the photo yourself, not only are you more relaxed and having fun, but you’re closer to the camera.

The secret is to stay close to the camera.

Don’t try to lean back from it, or your smile will turn into a grimace, and your neck will look funny. Take as many photos as you want. Don’t worry about it being technically perfect, it’s not supposed to be.

Compare the difference between a posed picture versus a close self photo. 

The posed picture might be nice, but the one we took ourselves is more interesting.

Even if you miss the shot, it can still turn into something fun. We always take a bunch and then keep our favorites.

Sometimes the family photographer forgets to be included. If most of the photos you took this week were of the kids, be sure to take a couple of yourself too!

Photo by pfala

The workers who haul away the trash from my apartment complex are on strike, so all week long the garbage has piled up around the dumpsters.

Talk about keeping it real for Christmas Day. My scenic view doesn’t look much like the one in the picture. The streets here are wet from drizzly rain, and there is more garbage.

It gives a whole new perspective to “come as you are.” 

I don’t write a lot about being a Christian, since the words I need are usually beyond my writing ability. But sometimes it’s like Christmas Eve at my apartment building.

Jesus shows up in the middle of my mess. He doesn’t wait for me to clean it up first. Like it says, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” I am so thankful.

We put up our Christmas decorations — next week I’ll get to show you pictures!

Lane was sick today, so right now I’m enjoying the peace and stillness of the night while she sleeps.

Before I was a mom, I never knew that one sick child could create so many loads of laundry in just a few hours. I didn’t know that I wouldn’t care about getting thrown up on. I didn’t know how much I could do with so little sleep.

We’re going to take it easy this weekend. We want to stay home, so I think a Christmas film festival is exactly what we need.

Here’s a little reading for this weekend:

Keep Our Lives Simple

• Advent Conspiracy — Have you seen this two minute video yet? It’s definitely worth watching.

Nurture Our Loved Ones

• A Simple Holiday and Life Hack —  a guest post at Jungle of Life by Jennifer from Principles of Peace 

Learn Practical Skills

• Holidays by Hand: Quilting/Patchwork — from Gidget Goes Home (Now is when I start bookmarking projects I might want to make next year.)

Make Smart Money Decisions

• 10 Lessons Learned from No Spend Month — from Just Plain Joy

Enjoy Peace

• Christmas presents, not status symbols — from Living Well on Less