Website Love

Here's a breezy couple of website recommendations for you, if you're looking to kill a little time. The first, and more practical of the two, is called "Leftover Chef". If you're like me, you let your cupboards dwindle down to nearly nothing before going grocery shopping. This site lets you type in the few random items you may have left, and it directs you to recipes you may be able to use! So if you're wondering what to make with that random can of pumpkin pie filling that's been sitting there for ages...check it out!

The second, and more entertaining of the two, is a site called "F My Life". (If you're wondering what the F may stand for, I won't elaborate...but think the worst.) I recommend this cautiously knowing that some of the content may not be suitable for all audiences, but basically, people leave short quips about horrible/ironic things that happened to them today. Some of them are pretty funny. Here are a few of my recent favorites:

Today, I wanted to be creative. I hid an engagement ring for my girlfriend inside one of her running shoes. I expected her to find it and wake me up, but she didn't. Later, when I asked if there was anything in her shoe, she responded, "There was a rock. I just shook it out outside. Why?" FML

Today, as I got into an elevator, I spotted a little old lady hobbling desperately to get on. I frantically tapped on the 'door open' button but the doors closed. I got dirty looks from the people in the lift, only then did I realize I had frantically tapped the 'door close' button instead. FML

Today, I posted a status update on Facebook about how much I liked the Season Finale of NBC's "Heroes". My hand slipped to the right and it came out as "I really love Herpes. It's much better than everyone says it is". I didn't notice for few hours. FML

There you go...enjoy your web perusing today.
Any favorite sites to add?

The Bump is Here to Stay!

Okay...I'm now at nearly 24 weeks. That's 6 months, people! And, for six months, I've managed to avoid the baby bump documentation. There hasn't really been much to see. Then, it seemed like I grew overnight! Here's the proof:

In case you missed that, here's a closer look:

If you look REALLY hard, you can probably see her kicking. I'm convinced this baby is going to kick her way out like a little ninja. Get ready, world! Other than what seems like CONSTANT movement in my belly, I've been feeling great!

(This maternity update is sponsored by Julie, who sent me a huge box of preggo-wear to add to my wardrobe. They've been put to use, girl...thank you!)

The Wicked World of Registries.

I'm not gonna lie...
The only reason I'm writing this post is because I'm delaying having to work on my online baby registry.

I HATE registries. Not the idea of the registry itself, but the process of inputting all the items and having to visualize EVERYTHING I need all at one time. My brain doesn't work that way. I hated the wedding registry, and I hate the baby registry just as much.

I realize this puts me in a rare and confusing category of women, right alongside those girls who don't like shoe shopping, or those girls that didn't cry at "The Notebook". (All true about me.)

I suppose registering for gifts would be semi-tolerable if I didn't live in Duluth, where the jenky shopping options leave little to be desired. Couple that with having showers in CA and MN, and the challenge of finding someplace that both states share, and my options narrow to one: Target. This caused the following chain of events:

1) Jamie starts registry online with Target. They don't carry our bedding or accessories, but I'll deal. Weeding out the "online only" items proved too big a task; we visited the local store instead.

2) Chris takes hold of the registry gun (with my supervision), but we are sorely disappointed with the half-empty shelves in the baby section. We find about half the necessary items. While my back is turned, Chris adds a baby Vikings jersey to our registry.

3) Chris deletes the baby Vikings jersey while Jamie watches.

4) Jamie gets back on the computer and finishes the online registry after hours of sifting through products.

5) Jamie discovers that our bedding and accessories, as well as EVERYTHING we registered for at Target is available at Bed, Bath, and Beyond! Stockton and Fargo both have this store....SCORE!

6) Jamie transfers the entire Target registry to Bed, Bath and Beyond. After deleting the Target registry, discovers that NO B,B&B actually carries baby products in store. Must now RE-REGISTER at Target.

This is currently where I am in the registry process. And after ALL of that, I still had to register at Babies R Us for a few incidentals. Hopefully our next child will be a girl so I NEVER HAVE TO REGISTER AGAIN!!

A-Shopping We Will Go.

I'm not exactly decking my halls with boughs of holly yet, but I am getting a jump-start on my Christmas shopping. Those of you with children are familiar with the substantial drop in energy that comes with the end of pregnancy, and if it's anything like trimester one for me, I'm screwed. Unless we get the thing up by Thanksgiving, Chris will likely be decorating the Christmas tree by himself, with his whale-of-a-wife barking orders at him from the couch. I can contribute to a stress-free holiday season by getting some things out of the way now. Online shopping is a godsend.

So I'm wondering, are you an online shopper? If so, what fun sites do you recommend?

It's Getting Hot In Here!

Summer finally decided to arrive in Duluth! Today it hit the mid-eighties, far warmer than it's been all summer. Unfortunately, when this settles in to our non-air-conditioned house (wrap your brain around THAT one, Californians!), it's pretty miserable! I got out of the house today to run errands, but found it too warm to bake the cake I'd like to make, or assemble shelving for the baby's room (meh- I should leave that for the man of the house, anyway!). I finally chose some paint colors for the nursery, and will be undertaking that project soon (pictures to come!).

I must thank you for your encouragement and support over the last few days. Many of you are following Derek's updates on my mom's blog, DEEZCENTRAL, and the information is kept up-to-date. This week was a major setback, but we have much faith that God is working in Derek's body and through his skilled doctors. I have received e-mails, phone calls, and even hugs from nearby friends and family...all incredibly uplifting and a constant reminder of God's provision. My friends in Stockton have been CHAMPIONS, essentially becoming my hands and feet on the west coast, making food runs, delivering birthday wishes, and staying bedside at the hospital in my absence. There is no doubt Derek feels VERY loved!

Faith in the Storm.

Dear God,
You woke me up with your thunder.
It sounded as if the night sky split in two.
So loud, it shook me to the bone.
So loud, it startled even the native Minnesotans :)
My baby started kicking. Did it wake her, too?

And then I thought,
surely the God who controls the thunder,
the God who knows my child better than I do,
a God of infinite power and love
can touch my brother's body and heal him.

Lord, COME in your healing power.
Restore health to sick cells.
Show us again what your mighty hands can do!

Crisis Averted.

Don't you love it when things go unexpectedly easily?
It doesn't happen often.
But when it does, I feel like running around the house cheering.

I thought returning to subbing would be a process steeped in paperwork.
Because of all that's happened in life and family recently, I didn't complete one of the requirements to renew my Full-Time teaching license.
This meant going back to the less-than-cooperative Department of Education to see what to do with my lapsed license.
Hopefully it wouldn't delay my employment this fall.

Good news...
The license I applied for previous to the Full-Time License (Short-Call Substitute) did not expire like I thought, but is good through this school year, too!
One little refresher orientation, and I'm good to go for fall employment!

Ahhhhh....you can probably feel my sigh of relief through your computer screen. :)

It's Birthday Week!

Not mine...but half my family!

Today, I celebrate my beautiful mother, and on Wednesday, I thank God for my courageous brother (not that I don't celebrate them both ALL the time...). I love you, Mom AND Dizzle, and wish you MANY, MANY more birthdays!

Head on over to DEEZCENTRAL and wish them a very happy birthday!