The One with the Business of Baking

I have many hobbies. I love learning new things, expressing my creativity, making others smile. In the past few years, I've dabbled in crocheting, knitting, scrapbooking, jewelry making, laptop slipcover sewing, cookie decorating, recipe creating, blogging, graphic designing, and photography. Honestly, I've loved every one of these activities, though some of them were more easily mastered* than others. 

*I use the term "mastered" a bit loosely. I would consider myself a life-long learner. 

I have high hopes for photography. I love my Canon Rebel. I love experimenting with settings. I love setting up a shot. Unfortunately, I don't have much of a technical understanding of this multi-faceted art form. I would really enjoy taking a few photography classes, I have dreams to develop a photography business with my husband, but most of all I want to capture the beautiful moments of life. 

One day--maybe someday soon--I'd love to take cake decorating classes at our local craft store. I have a set of decorating tips, but I don't have much of an icing-making skill and creating anything other than a flimsy edging is beyond me. This hobby flows over onto my cookie decorating desires. I see so many beautifully decorated royal icing sugar cookies all over the blogosphere and I want to emulate them. Creating favors for showers or weddings or birthdays would be so much fun. I've already found my favorite sugar cookie recipe. Now to learn to sophisticatedly decorate them.  

Knitting and crocheting and sewing are super useful skills. Too bad I never had a real home economics class in high school. I envision myself embellishing existing clothes, making lovely gifts, or re-purposing old fabrics. I only know a stitch or two of each of these crafts, but with a book my grandma gave me, I'd love to learn more. 

Blogging and graphic design go hand in hand, and I can't imagine leaving these hobbies behind. Being a part of the blogosphere is now more of a lifestyle for me than a hobby. I love connecting with friends--new and old--and learning from those with more (or different) life experiences than I have had. 

And then there's my baking. If you know anything about me, you hopefully know I'm a lover all of things sweet. I can spend hours in the kitchen creating new treats, perfecting old recipes, and licking the batter off my fingers. (I wish cookie dough would stop being delicious to me. And don't worry, I wash my hands.) 

I have tried various mini-business ventures in the past year and Kevin's encouraged me along the way. Last week, though, we were talking and he had a wonderful idea. It is high time I focused. I need to focus my attention and energy on one hobby-turned-business and develop it into the best it can be. 

And so I choose baking. Cookie baking to be precise. The blogging and graphic design and photography skills are all essential elements to making an online bakery business successful, so I won't have to turn my back on all of my newly developing passions. But I'm going for it. I opened my Etsy shop for business yesterday evening. Search for The Adorkable Bakery under adorkablebaker and you'll find me! You should totally check it out. And if you have suggestions--design, recipes, or otherwise--let me know. 

For months now, our teens, our friends and our family have been filling my ears with praise for my cookie creations. I believe I make amazing cookies, and I would love to make this into a sustainable business. But I will need your help. If you've ever tasted my baked goods or peanut brittle or chocolate covered butter toffee, and you thought it was totally tasty and ridiculously amazing, please tell your friends about my shop [http://www.etsy.com/shop/adorkablebaker]. I'd love to do business with them. 

Whether it's celebrating the exciting or cherishing the everyday, my cookies and candies are for you!

The One with the Dust Attack

Having spent the last hour dusting the long-forsaken tops of dressers and corner window crevices, I can tell you it was shocking how dusty my house was. (And still is...I haven't finished yet.) I really dislike dusting. Vacuuming, I can enjoy. Wiping counters and such is a health issue necessity. Doing laundry is fine by me. But dusting?! BLECH. This is really not a good thing considering I have a bit a dust mite allergy. I think I'm growing out of it, however, considering the fact that I've been living amongst them for months now and have had zero issues. 

After changing the sheets on our bed and washing the flannel set that had been used for a long time (I won't tell you how long because I can't remember. ew), I thought to myself, "Self, you could probably run those drapes through the washer and in very little time eliminate loads of allergens." And so I did just that. The job that I have ignored for far too long--washing the draperies. At least they're not mini blinds. I HATE cleaning mini blinds. (Unless it's 90 degrees outside and it's part of my job at camp to take off my shoes and grab a bucket and hose and go to town on someone else's mini blinds. Then it's kinda fun.)

We bought those drapes a month after we moved into this house in November 2008. They haven't been cleaned since. Does that make me a bad person? 

If so, then I really shouldn't mention the layer of dust that came off of the top of our tall dresser/mirror. wowzers. Now THAT was embarrassing. 

Anyone else spring cleaning and discovering things you wish you could ignore forever??

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The One with My [Not So] Baby Sister

My little baby sister turned twenty-one years old yesterday. I cannot believe it. I am seriously in awe of the fact. First of all, it's impossible because I'm still 17 and she's 4 years younger than me. Secondly, it's only 1998. And thirdly, there is just no way that we're both grown and living on our own in cities far from home. 

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!!!

But I am so thankful for my Ashley Bashley. (That's what we called her sometimes. We are a little weird, I'll admit.) Ash and I have an infinite number of memories and inside jokes. Friday nights with Grandma and Gramps, McDonald's and Boy Meets World and maybe a little Rummy thrown in there. Summer afternoons with Mary playing drive-thru and swimming till our lips were blue. Oh, the ski trips. Running into SLOW signs, racing down the slopes and getting in trouble, showing off for dad, mom leaving you on the lift. 

Mon Frere (another weird sister thing. yes, it means "brother" in French), I love you. I'm so proud of you. Happy Birthday!

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The One with ...

Sometimes I really want to say things but I don't have anything to say. Or, rather, I have far too many thoughts flitting around the infrastructure of my twisted-wire brain that even I can't put words to them. And even if I could, well....

Add to that brain issue this throbbing headache and funky stomach and I've got myself the perfect start to the next 30 hours. 

Pray for me. 

The One with the Ten Internet Necessities

Ten Things I Forget How to Do Without the Internet

1) Request library books. Our county's library system is pretty awesome and being able to zip onto the website and request a book to be delivered to my branch is excellent. 

2) Look up health symptoms. (Though my RN of a mom is still my go-to source.)

3) Make new friends. Ok, that's not entirely true. I can still make friends in person and obviously that is optimal, but blogging friends are just awesome. I love you guys. 

4) Check up on every person I've never known via Facebook. It's a creepy stalker world we live in now. 

5) Come up with the name of that one song I heard this one time that has these five words in it. Google it and BAM! answer!

6) Stay connected with friends and family who live far away. Wait what's that thing called? The Post Office? 

7) Make calls to my mom without video chatting on Skype. Because why wouldn't you want to see me in my sleepy-eyed pajama-ed state?

8) Contact the teens or their parents. Everyone is on email or facebook. It's just easy as pie to mass communicate. 

9) Shop for birthday gifts, new computers, good books, and furniture. Between Amazon and Craigslist I'm set. 

10) Find information. of any sort. Friends, it's crazy that we no longer have to look in newspapers or magazines or even the physical establishment of a business to buy a new car, find a new house, or pick the best restaurant. It's all on the world wide web. 

And so, when the internet is down or unavailable, it takes a while to remember life without technology at my fingertips. In some ways, I love it. The communication, the connection, the accessibility. But I need a kick in the pants every now and again to come out from behind my 10 inch netbook screen and interact with the real world. 

Can anyone relate??

linked up with Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday.

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The One with the Marriage Mission

A few weeks back, a friend of mine shared a Relevant Magazine online article with Kevin and I saying it reminded her of our ministry and hoped it might encourage us. It did. The words of this article entitled What's the Point of Marriage echoed my deepest convictions of marriage and ministry. 

The Millers write, 

So on we went with what seemed like a recipe for marital disaster. Leading the youth group was the one thing we were doing together, yet it was extremely stressful. And we were failing at it. The group literally drove us to our knees. Before each event, we began to pray for the youth and for ourselves.

Kevin and I sort of stumbled into the youth ministry. Of course, the Lord guided our steps to this exact place, but the way we ended up here was totally unpredictable. I was the original youth pastor called to start a youth ministry at a small, growing church. Kevin helped out on Sunday nights, but he was busy with grad school and a 2 hour round trip commute to and from campus every day. He was stressed and frustrated and focused on his work. I may have also been a bit was stressed and frustrated and focused on my work. 

Our worlds didn't exactly intersect. We updated one another on our days, but there was no deep connection. We ate dinner together, then vegged out in the same room. There wasn't much more to it. 

But then Kevin felt the tug into deeper ministry. He began co-leading youth group with me. The teens loved him, he loved them, and before we knew it he was considering full time ministry. For the past two years, we've poured ourselves into these students for the sake of advancing the Kingdom of God. I've grown to love my husband in a new way. Watching him preach, plan, and love those students ignites new passion in my heart. I have a deeper respect for Kevin and a burning desire to continue ministry alongside him. 

Having this common goal, this shared passion has given our marriage it's purpose. I always said God had brought us together in marriage because we would be a more powerful tool united than separated, and I fully support that statement today. 

Yes, the purpose of marriage is companionship and raising up new generations. But we mustn't neglect the third component of this God-established relationship (Gen 1:28, 2:15)

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 

The new couple was given a mission to accomplish and fulfill together. Ministering together is bringing full meaning of the two becoming one. It gives purpose, unity, direction. Without a shared mission, our marriage would lack meaning.

I encourage you to pursue a shared ministry with your spouse. You will see new love, new respect, new purpose to your relationship.
If you already have a shared mission, what is yours? 

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The One with the Favorite Kitchen Gadget

Thanks to CSN Stores, I was given the opportunity to test two products that I had on my wish list.  As per usual, the cookware.com branch of CSN stores had exactly what I was looking for, the right prices, and fast shipping. I highly recommend them to all of you. 

The Oxo Good Grips sifter is strong and sturdy yet perfect for the job of sifting powdered sugar or flour. I had two itsy bitsy sifters--seriously, they are 2 inches across--but they didn't cut it for large baking jobs I undertake. This was exactly what I needed. 

The second item I chose is one of my favorite kitchen tools at the moment (and probably for as long as I use garlic in my cooking.) The Microplane zester is AWESOME. I saw Rachael Ray raving about zesters like this one and their usefulness for zesting and grating nutmeg, garlic, or cirtrus fruits. She was right on. This gadget saves me so much time and possibly a few cuts. I had been chopping garlic by hand and it's difficult getting the pieces small enough and not including a few bonus skin cells. *blech* and *ouch* The zester grates it into a fine paste, perfect for incorporating into casseroles or pasta dishes. 

Thanks again, CSN, for this chance to review 2 of your endless products.

The One with the Life Microscope

I am an open book, heart-on-my-sleeve type of gal. I love being honest and transparent with people. To me, meaningful relationships are everything. I'm not a fan of putting on a happy face, grinning and bearing it, or saying "Fine" in response to "How are you?" It's not real. 

And I'm real. 

But the difficult truth of my life--the life my husband and I have chosen to live--is one that requires prudence. Being in full time, under-the-microscope ministry means that our lives affect more than the two of us, more than our closest friends and family. Everything we say, everything we do, and even the things we don't say or do are under scrutiny. I would love to share everything in my life with everyone I come in contact with, but the reality is, I can't, I shouldn't. I can still strive be my truest self--full of love and joy and peace towards others.

The reason I am an open person is because I value the connection made with another when I lay my laundry--clean or dirty--in front of them, and they still love me. Many times, my situation can be easily related to by that other person. Sharing my circumstances may give the opportunity to minister to someone in a way I couldn't have otherwise. It's the thing I love about blogging--knowing I'm not alone, not the only one who's ever dealt with this or felt like that. 

Being a leader in the church is an awesome privilege, a high calling, and a deep responsibility. It's important for us to be accountable for our actions, for the states of our hearts. But we must chose our mentors and confidants wisely. 

It's hard to keep my lips locked at times. My natural tendency is share everything with everyone. But  Scripture states we should keep a tight rein on our tongues and think before we speak. If anything, this life's work is teaching me that lesson very thoroughly. 

Do those of you in ministry understand?

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The One with the Adoption Auction

One of my good friends, Sara (who also happens to these design amazing cards), just shared this awesome opportunity with me. James and Emily, a wonderful Christian couple, are fundraising like crazy to raise the $25,000 necessary to complete the adoption process of a child from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Right now through Friday at 8pm, they are hosting a HUGE Auction with products for home, for baby, for kids, for wedding, and more!!  I would encourage you to check out their story and even more importantly BID on a few of your favorite items, helping them fulfill the dream God placed in their hearts!

Go check out the complete list of Auction Items and browse some of my favorites. 

Family Photography Session by Wellspring Photography.

Open Your Heart Necklace.

Ethiopian Scarf and Greeting Cards.

Custom Card Design and 50 4x6 prints by Less Ordinary Designs.

Three Months of Homemade Pies by Grandma. :) 

many, many more items HERE. 

The One with Ten Recipes

Top Ten Favorite Recipes from the Past Ten Weeks. 

Because I love baking and cooking, I invite you to feast on these Adorkable Recipes--some of my faves from the past couple of months. Oh, and if you like these, it'd be swell to check the Adorkable Recipes out on Facebook. :) 

1) S'mores Cookies. Because who doesn't love sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmallows to exorbitant sizes and smooshing them with chocolate between graham crackers? 

2) Sweet Heat Louisiana Chili. Not your typical chili, but chock full of sweet and spicy veggie goodness. 

3) Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. I will probably never stop experimenting with chocolate chip cookies, but I think I may be on to something with this one. 

4) Honey Yeast Rolls. Kevin associates these with drops of heaven--so good I'm not allowed to stop making them. 

5) Taco Layer Dip. This lowfat dip is so good, you might want to make sure someone is there to stop you from eating too much. 

6) Chicken Noodle Soup (Slow Cooker). Everything you love about homestyle chicken noodle soup--in the crockpot!

7) Perfect Pizza Crust. The title says it all. Not even kidding.

8) Crunchy Almond Granola. My new favorite granola is overflowing with a wide variety of crunchy nuts and grains. 

9) Double Chocolate Coffee Cookies. Yes, please. 

10) Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. This is my all-time favorite flavor of ice cream, but the homemade-ness takes it to a whole new level of awesome. 

linked up with Oh! Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday. 

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The One with the Childhood Friends

As I mentioned in my list of 10 reasons I know I'm a “grown up,” gobs and gobs of my friends are having baby showers and subsequently giving birth to the most beautiful tiny human beings ever. March 5th was no exception. One of my friends from elementary school was having a baby shower in my home town. I was able to drive to my parents' house Thursday and spend a few quality days with Mom and Dad. On Saturday, Mom and I got all pretty and headed to the church.

We spent the next two hours talking and catching up on the lives of my closest friends from my elementary days. I hadn't seen Mary since sometime during high school—8 or 9 YEARS—and Amber and I last saw each other at her wedding in August 2008. Amber's mom was there, too, and the five of us had the best afternoon together.

I had forgotten how blessed I was to have had those girls in my life. We met in 2nd or 3rd grade at our teeny, tiny Bible school, and the hours we spent at each others' homes for sleepovers and birthday parties are countless. They are a part of a whole segment of my life that so easily gets placed in the back corners of my mind as life goes on around me. We all live in different towns. We all have different stories. We're all in different stages of life. But we still have our Jesus in common, we are all still seeking Him.

And the amazing thing is—those girls were such great friends of mine that talking to them after years of no contact was almost as if no time had passed. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable. Within minutes we were laughing together, sharing stories, finding commonalities once again. And we continued to disrupt the baby shower with our chatter for the remainder of the event. :) 

Tabitha, Mary, Amber, I love you girls. I'm so thankful to still have you in my life after eighteen years. What an incredible blessing.   

linked up with The Goodwin Family's Wednesday's Walk. 

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The One with Loans

After reading another blog post about the couple digging their way out of consumer (credit card) debt, I realized I never shared the amazingly awesome incredible news.  Drum roll please......

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.............

We are officially and completely FREE OF DEBT!!

Yahooooooo!! 

Midway through the summer, we started having to make monthly payments on Kevin's college loans. He had been out of grad school long enough that we couldn't defer payment any longer. Besides that, his two loans had been accruing interest for years. Not cool. We signed up to make double payments each month, hoping to put a dent in the principle. One of the loans was a third of the size of the larger one, so we wrote a painfully large check and paid that one off up front. 

We've had money set aside in a low-interest (really, really low interest) cd for the past couple of years, thanks to the fellowship he received in grad school. We didn't want to be left with no money in the bank in case of a major emergency--namely, Melanie gets some crazy illness and has no insurance coverage. OR one of our two 1990s vehicles bites the dust. 

But about a month ago, we did some number crunching (or Melanie watched as Kevin did math in his head) and realized paying off the second loan was a definite reality. The next day we went to the bank, closed our cd and transferred the money to our checking account. We drove home, logged onto the Sallie Mae website and clicked "submit payment." It was a scary moment, but it was SO FREEING. 

We were both blessed to be raised by parents with insanely solid money management skills centered around Scripture. We have never had credit card debt even for a month, and thanks to Kevin's dad's employee tuition discount and my mom's hard work, we graduated from college with very low loan amounts (me=$0, Kevin=$9k). And now, we have no unpaid debt. We're debt free. It's a beautiful thing. 

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The One with the Mentors

I am grateful for my past. Past experiences. Past relationships. Past learning. All of those factors have had a huge part in making me who I am today, and not only that but many of them have proven themselves continually effective in my life. It amazes me how many lessons have affected me--the way I think, the way I make decisions. 

Today, Kevin and I had the opportunity to spend a few hours on campus--our old stomping ground--Spring Arbor University. Though there is less than a handful of students who still have any idea who we are, the faculty and staff who impacted our lives still remember. It is a blessing to be able to call or email a professor seeking advice on anything--life, ministry, scholarship--and they go out of their way to answer. Many of them will even set aside two hours to buy you dinner and spend time catching up on life. 

We value the counselors God has placed in our lives. They are irreplaceable, unforgettable mentors. It is so important to surround our lives with those who are older, wiser, experienced--those willing to give of themselves to invest in us. 

Do you have anyone like this in your life? I pray you do. 

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The One with Thoughts of Spring {blog partay}

It's been quite some time since I joined in on a blog party, so when I saw Lynnette's Thoughts of Spring {Blog Hop} I couldn't resist. Maybe it was the title--I have spring on the brain. Every other day it's winter then spring, winter then spring. And then the weatherman goes and tells us it was 75 degrees on this day in 2000. SEVENTY FIVE! I want that. Or at least 63 (anything over 32). That'd be great. 

While I'm waiting on the weather, I thought I'd share a little bit about me as I welcome anyone new to my blog. Thanks for stopping by! 

If you're new here, this is me. My name is Melanie and I married my college sweetheart, Kevin, just one week after graduation in 2008. Together we lead a growing youth ministry at a small-ish church in Michigan. It is such a privilege to spend our time together--pouring our hearts into these students so that they might come to know the love of Christ. 

 (And we have a bit of crazy fun together too!)

I have a passion for leading worship. I bake an exorbitant amount of cookies. I love adding to my recipe blog. My husband and I share our thoughts on ministry and on walking with Christ at this other blog. I teach piano in my spare time. I love reading and drinking tea and watching Friends. I have recently developed a love for learning graphic design--fonts get me all excited now. I have a penchant for organization and planning events. And I hope to really learn photography.  

snickerdoodles.

Besides the basics, here's a few random answers to questions you may not have ever wanted to ask.  

How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.) Are they right?

Adorkable. I'm a huge dork, I'm a bit neurotic about a few things, but somehow I manage to remain cute and well-liked, unlike Monica. 

What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life?

Honestly, if I really admire an actor or actress or musician, it's most likely because I've learned a bit about their "real" lives and I appreciate them OR it's because I've watched their show for far too long and feel like I know them already. Therefore, I might be ridiculously talkative with them, truly believing they're my actual friends. I may have a problem. 

What is your comfort food/drink?

I'm a chocolate lover, hard core. But really, anything sweet will do the trick. 

Be brave – tell us something very random and weird about yourself.

I believe there may be too many random and weird facts to list. I'll pick a few easy ones--

I still bite my fingernails after decades of failed attempts to quit. 

I love grocery shopping. 

I fold my underwear. 

When I go to sleep I have to have the covers perfectly even and folded over me. My husband cannot stand this. 

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Comedy, Documentary? What are your favorite genres?

I am a big fan of comedies. Laughing with friends and family is just plain good for the soul. I like to throw in a drama/suspense every now and again too. 

Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Biographies, True Stories, Self-Help, Devotional/Study? What are your favorite types of reading material?

I am a sucker for Christian Fiction novels (oftentimes of the "romance" genre). Stories by Karen Kingsbury and the like just suck me in. 

Name one weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul).

I am way too uptight about way too many things. But I'm working on it. For instance, I don't get irritated at the way my husband arranges the contents of the dishwasher. (I just re-do it later. ooops. That's no good.)

When you leave a social gathering, do you wish: You would have talked more or You would have talked less? 

Every once in a while I find myself sinking back from the conversation. Large crowds really aren't my favorite. But other times I find myself annoyed with how much I just talked. I can't stand myself sometimes, so I wonder how others put up with me. 

If money wasn’t a factor, what stores would you shop in?

I am a thrift store, Aldi girl all the way. With a little Kohl's 70% off racks throw in. 

What is your greatest fear or strange phobia?

My biggest fear is having people not like me or something that I've done or planned. 

What is your greatest accomplishment?

That's a tough one. Immediately I think of my B.A. in Philosophy/Religion. But then my mind flits to the relationships we've built with these teens. And then I remember how much I've grown as a church keyboardist/pianist. I'm proud of all of those accomplishments. 

And that's a wrap! I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my life and I hope you come back again soon! 

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The One with the Dentist. Dun, Dun, Dun!!!

I went to the dentist yesterday. 

Not a big deal, right? Nothing out of the ordinary? Well, it was totally on a whim when my mom mentioned getting into the dentist while I'm home for the weekend. She found me an appointment spot for 3:30pm Friday, and I was looking forward to a good ol' fashioned teeth cleaning. As I arrived early to fill out paperwork, I was instantly faced with the reality that it had been THREE YEARS since my last dentist appointment! Woah. That is unacceptable. I was very good at my every-six-month-cleaning appointments for my entire life. But then, I got married, and we didn't have dental insurance so we didn't see the dentist. (I won't tell you how long it's been since Kevin had a cleaning and checkup.)

Now that Obama has changed the healthcare policy, I'm reaping the benefits. I get to be on my parents' insurance until I'm 26 regardless if I'm married or not. Honestly, I think it's insane. If you're married, you should not be allowed to rely on your parents' insurance. But heck! I'm totally taking advantage of it. 

They called me back to the room, and I explained that I have had some sensitivity--almost a stinging sensation--in two spots near the gum line. I was hoping it wasn't something serious. The hygienist explained the possibility of receding gum line which can be painful, but you can't really do much about it. She took my xrays and then the dentist came in. Both he and the hygienist commented on my beautiful teeth and the good care I've taken of them for not having been in for an appointment in 3 years. 

But then came the awful, embarrassing, humiliating truth.

I have four--count 'em 4--cavities. 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. 

I never have cavities. Well, almost never. Two tiny ones when I was five or six, but that doesn't really count, right? My mom was surprised because I had sealants put on years ago. But I'm fairly certain those sealants aren't meant to last longer than 5 or 10 years. And it's been at least 10 years since that treatment. 

And so, I have to come back in a couple months for my regular dentist to do the fillings He's been taking care of me since I was a toddler. :) But get this--it's going to take 2 appointments and $100 out of pocket. Crap. 

I'm ashamed. 

I'm going to start flossing more than twice a week.

Do you floss??

The One with the Daddy Dates

Tonight my daddy texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to dinner with him while I'm home. My dad asked me on a date! I said "sure!" right away, of course. I never turn down free food, after all. 

No, no. It's so much more than that. Dad loves spending time with me, and I love spending time with him. For as long as I can remember, Daddy has taken me on dates. I was probably 6 or 7 when our dates started. I would order the chicken tenders and french fries at our favorite local restaurant Caruso's. Dad ordered the special or something equally Italian, always including the salad with the "house" dressing and Italian bread. Sometimes, though, we would share a calzone. yyyyummm. 

[photo circa 11/05]

Throughout school, report card time always meant date nights. Yeah! I loved the one on one time, the fact that it was dad's idea, and having the opportunity to get pretty. All of those factors still apply. 

I am blessed to have a dad who I can call "Daddy," who still likes me to snuggle beside him, who thinks I'm worth spending time talking with. I'm looking forward to our date. Maybe I'll get the chicken tenders again, you know, for old time's sake. ;)

Do any of you have special memories with your dads?

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The One with Not Much

My belly hurts. And it has been for 32 hours on. the. dot. Not cool, gastrointestinal system, not cool. 

Last night as I waited for Kevin to come down from class it was really random to see a van pull up beside me and realize it was my other mom. ("Mother-in-law" technically, but that seems to be too distant a description for our relationship. :D) I'm going to miss out on a spur-of-the-moment Mexican restaurant meal with his family Saturday. boohoo.

This cold-warm-windy-rainy-cold-warm weather pattern we've got going on is the pits. 

I can't believe how much "stuff" people find every year to put in the rummage sale. 

My bells hurts. 

This afternoon, I made a batch of these Light Brioche Buns for our BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches. It was a whim. And it was so worth it. 

My husband has been saying he doesn't want me leave. I'm going home to visit my fam for a few days and he's going to miss me. I like that. I'm going to miss him too. He rocks. 

Today, we sold six of his textbooks to Amazon's book buyback. We get Amazon cash back which we're going to use to put toward his netbook. Funny thing, those chemistry books are worth a LOT. Two hundred sixty five and zero-zero over one hundred dollars to be exact. ($265.) 

The One with the Proof of Adulthood

 

The Top Ten ways I've realized I'm a grown up. 

1) Almost all of my friends were married within months of our wedding. 

2) We have to buy our own TOILET PAPER. 

3) Ninety Percent of the mail is filled with bills. 

4) I would rather sit at home and spend a quiet evening with my husband than party it up with friends.*

  

      *oh wait. I never partied it up. never mind. 

5) I limit my driving time to necessities so as to keep our gasoline bills low. 

6) We signed up for a credit card with reward zone points and use it for buying gas. Only grown ups do that. 

7) The congregation voted to put me on the pastor's cabinet with a 40 year old, two 60 year olds, and a 70 year old. 

8) The oldest students in our youth group are 5 years younger than my baby sister. EEEEEK. 

9) I can rent a car. Not that I ever have. But I can. 

10) I can count at least 15 friends who have recently or are almost ready to give birth to a new baby*.

            *and tonight I get to hold one of them!!! 

photo by michael j. metts.

linked up with Oh!Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday.

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