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a Monday brain dump

Aug202012

Every once in a while I just need to have a pointless, useless, unintentional post and get a good brain dump out there.

1. Hudson has his first dentist appointment today. It was scheduled for a few weeks ago, but we had to reschedule because I couldn’t get a babysitter for Hayes, and I really didn’t want to bring Hayes along to Hudson’s first appointment. So we’re going today. Wish us luck!

2. This brings up a reminder that it has been shamefully long since my last regular dental check-up. I know, Mom, I just need to do it. I’m not nervous for the actual appointment. I’m just worried that the hygienist will shame me for letting a year go by without an appointment.

3. After four years of marriage, I think Todd would tell you that the things about me that drive him the craziest are 1) I leave drawers slightly cracked open instead of closing them all the way. I have absolutely no idea why I do this. 2) I take off my shoes and just leave them where I took them off.

4. The things that drive me craziest about Todd are 1) His old school BlackBerry and the fact that the keys are so loud when they click. And that trackball! So loud. and 2) He loves going to sleep with the TV on, and likes for it to be loud enough so that he can hear and make out what is being said. I don’t even want the TV on at all.

5. I love those little quirks.

6. We had to bring food to two parties at church this weekend and I brought this cinnamon roll casserole and these crack potatoes. You all need to try both of these…. stat.

7. There was a major closet clean out this weekend. I only kept things if 1) they fit and 2) I love them. I did, however, hang on to all the clothes I wore for our wedding weekend. I just couldn’t get rid of them. I donated 90% of the stuff I purged, but I may have a Facebook sale for the rest. Please notice all the dry-cleaning bags that were hanging in my closet. And notice the orange and purple Jam bag from 2001? Oh, the treasures that you find in a closet clean out.

8. Preschool starts next week. I know Hudson is so excited. I’m just not quite ready for our summer to be over.

9. With the start of school also comes the start of all of my TV shows. Homeland will be back soon!

10. Hudson does a wild amount of screaming at his brother. Really, their favorite activity is to just chase each other through the house. Our little house that we’re quickly outgrowing has become an indoor track. Hudson chases Hayes, Boudreaux chases Hudson, and Fiona chases Boudreaux. And mommy needs a nap.

11. That’s about it for today. Toodles, poodles!

Estrea Body Care Set review and giveaway!

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Aug152012

I’m not really a beauty products junkie. I tend to stick with my old standbys and favorites for years and rarely venture out to try new things once I find something I really like.

But recently I was given the opportunity to review a great line of lotions by Estrea. And y’all, this stuff is so great!

Even though I’m aware of my time in the sun and very aware of premature aging, I’m not a huge fan of lotion other than for my face and neck. I have never liked the way it makes my hands feel right after I use it. There’s just always a hot, sticky feeling to me.

But it turns out, I wasn’t using the right lotion!

Since trying the Estrea set, I have completely changed my tune about lotion.

The greatest thing about this entire line of lotions is the scents. They are all the most natural, fresh smells. Nothing too fruity or overwhelming, and nothing that gives me a headache. (Which is saying a lot from a non-lotion lover.)

Since I don’t wear a lot of makeup in the summer, I’ve just been applying the face and neck lotion every morning and not even putting my tinted moisturizer on top of that. I love the fresh smell and love that it moisturizes my face without leaving it oily.

The hand lotion is amazing! It’s so light and it absorbs into my hands really quickly, so I don’t get lotion all over everything I touch. The cent of olive oil and citrus is so light and fresh. This stuff has been in my purse for the past two months. I take it everywhere with me!

I always forget to use lotion on my feet unless I’ve just taken a long bath, but when I tried the Estrea foot lotion I loved it. It has the greatest minty scent and it’s just not a heavy lotion.

And, finally, the body lotion. This stuff is like silk! It’s really thin and light so it rubs in quickly and doesn’t leave this thick film on your body. It has this really interesting scent of olive oil, ceramide and coffee. I know, I thought, “coffee? Really?” But it’s not a strong scent and just like everything else in the line it just smells fresh. I love it.

The great news for all of you, is that Estrea is giving away this set to one of you!

To enter, all you have to do is like Estrea on Facebook, follow them on Twitter (@EstreaUSA) and come back and leave a comment here!

The winner will be announced on August 30!

did you know?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Aug102012

Did you know that I’m on Facebook?

I’ve been trying to update more on Facebook and would love to connect with y’all over there, too!

And I’ve decided that I’ll be using Facebook to share fun coupon codes and specials that readers and sponsors send my way to share with other readers since I’ve not doing much of that on my blog anymore.

I’d love to get to know more of you over there! I’ve gotten so bad about responding to emails. I do eventually get to it, but I’m always embarrassed at how long it takes me. This way I can communicate much faster and from my iPhone!

So here’s my Facebook link!

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Today is our last day at the beach and we’re in a serious state of sadness. We’ll be making the most of every minute of this day and will be spending it in the sand and enjoying each other’s company.

And if you haven’t read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Do it now! It’s so good.

I choose freedom {a guest post by Ellen from sweetwater}

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Aug92012

Note from Erin: I first met Ellen when I had her precious son in my 3-year-old Vacation Bible School class at our church. A couple of days later, I saw a picture of Ellen on Naptime Diaries. I emailed Jessi to ask how she knew Ellen and then Jessi helped Ellen and me get connected on Twitter. Gosh, I love the internet and how it makes the world seem so much smaller! A couple of days after that, I ran into Ellen at a women’s event at church. Since then, Ellen has been a huge source of encouragement to me. She is incredibly wise and has encouraged me so much as a writer and as a mom. I’m so excited to get to share her with all of you today! Please hop on her over to her blog so you can get to know her better.

Ellen Parker blogs at sweetwater where she writes about small joys, everyday messes and the sweet things in the middle.

Just the other day, I pulled into a Starbucks parking lot, whipped out my phone and took a picture of the sky. That’s right. On a busy suburban road, right across the street from the mall where every sixteen year old in the vicinity probably rolled her eyes at me. Next it will be tube socks up to my knees and fanny packs. We might need to call the Grandma police.

But. The thing is it was beautiful and I needed to remember it. Because it was perfect.

Perfect is something that has haunted me much of my adult life. It’s an endless winding road of try and fail. And mostly pitfalls. It’s every morning is an opportunity and every afternoon is filled with not enoughs.

And now that I have been being a human for all of thirty five years? I am finally starting to understand just a little bit how to take perfection chasing off the throne of my life.

It starts with understanding that God is perfect. He just is. And I can’t be. And He doesn’t want that from me. Christ has already covered that for me anyway. So. Now? I am only slightly embarrassed to hold my little phone camera up to a blazing sky in front of the free world. Because I need to remember over and over that the God who makes absolutely beautiful sunsets is the God who loves me; complete and perfect in every way.

This dethroning comes, too, when I’ve come up short. It comes when I’ve been every bit not enough or not like so and so or I’ve just plain made a mess. I’m learning to think in this way: this deep down hurt like sick feeling of fear because I can’t measure up to unrealistic expectations? Christ already felt the weight of that. When He offered himself up for me, He was crushed under the weight of all of my not good enoughs. Yours, too. So I don’t have to feel that crushing weight. And I can say no to it. No to it.

It’s a funny thing. Because all that perfection chasing has really just been chasing freedom and peace. And the very way to find it? Is to lean into my weaknesses so that I can lean into who He is. That’s it. I’m not enough? Help me trust your grace, Lord. Let me wrap myself up in it. It’s the same whether I’m the world’s best at everything or just a mess of a thing. And it’s surely the same when I’m, like, totally old and stuff with my phone pointed at a sunlit sky.

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