Playlist {March}

Always eclectic because if I had to listen to one style of music all month I may go crazy. Some oldies but goodies and some really random like ...Pink…never ever did I imagine myself putting Pink on a playlist but that song is catchy and Nate Ruess’ voice is fun! (pun intended) Happy Friday!

Love Lust by King Charles

Surrender by Ball Park Music

The Dress Looks Nice on You by Sufjan Stevens

Re: Stacks by Bon Iver

Just Give Me A Reason by Pink & Nate Ruess

Sun by Two Door Cinema Club

Zooooooo

This one will be filed back where it belongs (cough January cough) but for now I wanted to share one of my favorite memories of 2013 so far and it happen to take place on the very first day of the year. We are not much for impromptu trips due to work schedules and money and my over planning mind but this weekend was different; we both had the day off and Saturday afternoon I found myself calling to make sure the Zoo was open and H&M was open. Jacksonville, here we come.

We didn’t tell Moses this morning car ride was turning into an adventure until we hit I10 which made it all the more fun; we sang and talked and sang and talked and eventually pulled into the mall parking lot to load up on toddler H&M clothes. In and out as fast as we could because we had lions and tigers and bears to see!

 

The zoo had visitors but was never busy. The weather was cool but hot at the same time. We were kicking ourselves for not having enough time only to find out we had plenty of time. The experience was new and glorious.

My most favorite memory was the giraffe exhibit; as we walked up the ramp we were overwhelmed with the several very large creatures standing so close by. I was thrilled we had some vacation cash on hand to be able to feed the giraffes and I may have been more excited than Moses. We savored the few seconds it took for that long purple tongue to wrap around the branches and swallow them whole and I think both of us had smiles plastered on our faces long after it was over.

We started off the New Year right and to be honest it’s been going pretty great ever since!

Taking the back roads

It’s as if you are running at full speed sprinting for the finish line and as soon as you cross it you completely stand still. No light jog to slow your racing heart; it all just stops and your suspended somewhere is a blissful lalaland. That is my joys and fears of May. I parent, I run errands, I cook, I spouse, I clean, I friendship all while I work a full time job; life for me is always driven on the interstate with the occasional fast lane and the occasional exit for a bathroom break but what about when it turns to back country roads? How does one even spend all day inside their home? My incredibly wise Mother reminded me once the baby is here its okay to have days when you accomplish nothing. It’s okay to sit and nurse and sleep and sit and just be. How do you just be? With Moses we were young and I was an emotional mess and within two weeks I was thinking about pumping and storing milk and routines and prepping myself to get back to work; but what about when the TO DO list is to just be?

Moses {four}

It’s the legs that got me. They’ve gone from tightened rolls that were slightly bowed out during his first steps to long thick legs made for running. The slim figure that once wore size 3T is now filling out every which way and slips nicely into 4T shirts and pants. The feet, oh the very smelling stinky feet that accompany the size 11 stinky shoe kills me. Who knew they turn into smelly men so suddenly?

 

He gets haircuts more than all of us and his toots will knock you out but his heart is bigger than ever. Boy, can he love. He has a heart for the Lord and I’m always hearing from school or church how well he knows the bible which makes this Mom’s heart swell. He is full of questions and they are getting harder to answer; why did Grandpa die when he was sick? Why do we love God? And his favorite response to me answers, “That just doesn’t make sense”. He’s is a heavy sponge just waiting for the right moment to be rung out like when we pass a distracted driver and he casually tells us “she’s probably texting” and has yet to master the art of when Mom says shhh that doesn’t mean to ask me again louder.

 

Despite my greatest efforts he is all boy and asks me on a daily basis when he turns 5 can he be Spiderman for Halloween. He loves nerf guns, Cars, racing any small cars, exploring with his pirate sword, and playing games. He’s learned how to play Go Fish perfectly and we are currently teaching him Old Maid (or as he always calls Old Navy/ Old Nave) and Crazy 8’s. I’m always telling him he can’t watch Superhero shows (yet) and he’s always reminding me how much I don’t like SpongeBob and how he can’t watch it. His favorite colors are red and purple but most days he throws in a few extra for variety. He is just like his mom when it comes to sweets; shows no favoritism. I blame him for our weekly Starbucks runs as he will always promise me to get ready fast so we have enough time before school.

 

He can successfully dress himself down to socks and shoes, brush his own teeth, buckle himself into his car seat, and ask for breakfast within 3 minutes of waking up. He shows his baby brothers lots of love by wrapping his arms to form a circle over my belly and talking to him; morning belly kisses are a must. He’s a Goober and won’t ever let me forget that.

 

Moses, my four year old.

 

February Playlist {coachella style}

This playlist was about twice the size until I realized I kept skipping over songs to get to the good stuff so I just left the good stuff. Once I created this playlist I couldn’t stop listening to it; sometimes I’ll even listen to it over and over again until I realize half the days gone by and I’m still jamming.  They don’t do together (AT ALL) but there is a little something for everyone and Coachella was the major influence this month. #4 is my cousin’s song off his new EP which I recommend because 1. He’s an incredible worship leader 2. He’s family. And then #7 well it’s just straight up crazy but I love it J

Two Fingers- Jake Bugg

Old Pine- Ben Howard

Call Your Girlfriend (cover) – Ashleigh Brown

With Voices Raised – Jordan Colle

All Your Gold – Bat For Lashes

People Say – Portugal, The Man

I Love It – Icono Pop feat. Charli XCX 

 

 

Like always, the playlist can be enjoyed on Spotify!

Eat your brussels sprouts, kids!

Phew, it feels nice to have the entire list written out but I’m thankful it’s over. Time to share things that have been on my mind for weeks like my sweet baby turning four or a baby update. But today you’re getting a very easy recipe that could possibly change your life.

Ok maybe not that dramatic but it could make you like a vegetable you never thought possible; Brussels sprouts! I don’t remember ever trying one growing up because come on they are Brussels sprouts and eww! I think most southern people boil them so they are a mushy “green” that goings alongside your mushy potatoes and your fried chicken or something but these are the complete opposite. Crispy, crunchy, full of flavor, and wonderful.

My friend Ashley first told me how to do this and now we eat them a couple times a month. Ready?

1. Preheat oven to 375 (if you’re cooking something else on 350 or 400 that’s okay too because they are adaptable)

2. Wash your Brussels sprouts and pat dry.

3. Cut in half or in quarters depending how big they are (think bite size) and toss into bowl.

4. Add a couple tablespoons of olive oil and ground sea salt and pepper then toss covering the sprouts really well.

5. Lay on baking sheet and bake for 10 min then turn over and bake until crispy.

The baking time varies every time I cook them so the key is to watch and make sure the leaves aren’t turning black. You still want green color with golden brown hues throughout. I’ve tried cutting the bottoms off which resulted in the leaves separating too much and burning; the bottoms will get tender so don’t worry!

Can you tell I’m a very loosey goosey cook? Baking is a science and I stay very precise but with cooking it’s always a winging-it game!  Enjoy!

The 25 {21-25}

I challenged myself this past year by completing 25 personal goals...to read the full list go here and to read (and see) the details of 1-5 go here and 6-10 go here and 11-15 go here and phew 16-20 go here.

21. Take a 7 day fast from TV

As I mentioned in #8 I did these two together and basically avoided all media outlets for the week. It was funny how many times in conversation it would come up “oh did you see….” And I would have to remind them I didn’t see it nor do I want you to share it with me. After all if your husband is highlighting everything that happened then I might as well have seen it myself. There were some nights I choose to fold laundry in my bedroom instead of the living room so Davy would still enjoy TV and I wouldn’t be tempted to watch. I read more than normal and spent free time working on a TO DO list instead of vegging out. About once a month I’m tempted to get cable but then remind myself how easy it is to get sucked in with our 10 channels and I feel like with 100 I may never vacuum my house again!

 

22. Jump off the high dive at Wakulla Springs

Between our unexpected move over the summer, my week long road trip, and getting pregnant in August I regretfully didn’t do this.

23. Spend time with my Grandma outside of the holidays

This didn’t happen either. Right after Christmas we found out she had failing health and ended up getting her chest cracked open during open heart surgery. It was scary and made me realize even more why I wanted to spend more time with her; she won’t be here much longer and I don’t want any regrets. We visited her just this past weekend at home where she is recovering wonderfully from everything and it was so refreshing to see her. No excuses I must see her more this year!

24. Color some part of my hair a non-natural color (I’m thinking purple)

Purple hair, don’t care. It’s small because I have a professional job. Sadly it’s faded so much since I got it done a month ago but I love it; it’s my very small revolt against adulthood.

25. Get pregnant

Even with all of our conversations I wasn’t sure if this was going to happen when I wrote this list in 2012. We wanted more children but money and logistics and honestly just being ready kept delaying the process until spring of 2012 when we started to set timelines of removing prevention and actually making this happen. And then it did. And we floated around on cloud nine elated. And we found out I was forever outnumbered in the house. And now here we are entering the third trimester and daydreaming about newborn life. Oh, what a sweet way to end the list.

 

One thing I wasn’t expecting to do over the last year was read so much; 18 books to be exact. I surprised myself because although as an adult I finally enjoy reading but I never felt like I was a book worm. My problem is I start reading a book, it consumes every moment of my free time, and then it’s done a few days later. 

 

I don’t plan on making another 25 list this year because we are already expecting so much change I’m ready to ride the wave!