Everybody's Nuts!

This is a bit of a product endorsement. I really like pistachios, but I really love this brand of pistachios. I tried them in lieu of the Sunkist brand one afternoon, and realized there is a difference in pistachios. 

Not only are Everybody's Nuts pistachios bigger and truly open (which means easier for me for me to get into), but they come in flavors! Salt and pepper, unsalted, European roast and South of the Border. The Salt and pepper variety is my personal favorite. 

Just for the record, no one asked me to blog about these nuts. I really do think they are that good. 

I'm on vacation in Dallas right now hanging out with friends while Reia is having the time of her life in Disney World with her Grammy, Grandpop and cousins.  

Ready for Etsy?

I seem to have some funky creative mojo going on right now. I really wish the above picture did it justice, but this is the gift the girls and I made Terry for father's day this year. 

While attending the Dynamic Church conference in Frisco, Texas we stayed at the Embassy Suites and got to look at the unique and modern artwork hanging in the hotel. There was one piece Terry and I really liked. As usual, I thought to myself, "I could do that." Of course, I normally can't. I don't have the gift of the artsy or the fartsy in my blood, and those things that look so easy, usually aren't.

This time, however, I thought I'd give it a shot. Terry needed a piece for a large wall in his office. Off I went to Hobby Lobby (AKA: The Mother Ship) for a canvas, print I thought Terry would like, mod podge and coordinating scrapbook papers. 

I consulted with Mandy over at Messy Canvas to see if she had any additional ideas to help my project be super fabulous. Because let's face it, I can't re-do it once the glue went down and can't return it if Terry doesn't like it either.

What I thought was going to be a week long project was finished in an afternoon. I was surprised at the vision I had for the piece and how I let myself get all gross with glue. I finally stopped wiping off my hands since it seemed to be part of the creative process. (I did keep a wet rag handy for when glue hit the table. That stuff is sticky.) 

Terry gets home on Monday from Paris. I won't get to see his reaction since the girls and I will be long gone in Dallas for the next week. I hope he likes it, and I'm seriously half-tempted to make some more pieces and give Etsy a try. =)

The Runner In Me

I just came back from a 5.5 mile interval run with my friend Amber. For us that means three to four min of running and then two minutes of brisk walking. Mostly, I'm just trying to get used to what 5.5 miles feels like without actually killing myself. The plan is to be able to run it by the end of the summer, and then start training for the half marathon in the fall. 

I so often have people tell me "I am just not a runner." Well, me either. Never have I had to work so hard at being barely mediocre at something. 

My legs are short and not terribly flexible. If there is even 5% humidity in the air, I feel as if I'm breathing water and have always had a hard time getting air into my lungs. I don't have a runner's body at all. 

But there is something about running that feels good. Ok, not the actual running part, but the feeling of accomplishment when I reach a goal. At first it was one mile. I thought when I was able to run one mile without stopping, I had arrived. (Arrived at what? I have no idea. The one mile marker on the course I suppose.) Now, one mile seems pointless. If I'm not grabbing at three miles, it's really not even worth my time. My brother in law calls this my tipping point.

It is amazing what God gives us the capacity to accomplish. As I've gotten older, I've really started trying stuff. Creative stuff. Physical stuff. Stuff that allows me to get my hands dirty and revel in what God equips us with on a daily basis. (Although I am still OUT on sushi.)

I will most likely never run the Boston marathon. Personally, I don't see the point of running for hours on end, but I never thought I'd be training for a half marathon either. So, who knows. But I will keep trying.

I am a runner. And it rocks.

Anxiously Waiting

I started several tomato plants for a container garden several months ago. When we went to Dallas last month, we stopped by mom's house. And while my tomato plants were all but dead, hers looked amazing. They were all bushy and gorgeous with tons of flowers, so I said "I love you, mom. It really stinks you have 13 green thumbs and I have NONE." 

She loves me of course, and when I came back at the end of the weekend, she had this little gem for me. A tomato plant that was gorgeous and bushy and already had 10 tomatoes on it. (She bought it at a grocery store of all places.) Needless to say, I came home replanted it, planted marigolds around it to help with the bugs and watered it with Miracle Grow. Just. Like. My. Momma. Said.

Here is my beautiful plant. It makes me happy just looking at it. Up to this point I've been waiting on all of the tomatoes to turn red. I've even consulted the experts about when in the world these things were going to be edible. I was assured the nights have just been too cool. So you can imagine my delight when I came outside and saw them like this....

They are turning red!!! Looking forward to some tomato and avocado salad very soon.

Summer Vacation

We have been on summer vacation for one week. 

So far, we have cleaned house only to mess it up again. 

Slathered boatloads of sunscreen on our bodies before many trips to the pool. 

Taken Reese for her four year shots and checkup, and then for ice creams afterward. 

Bought a OKC Zoo membership and actually went once.

Had my niece in town for a visit. She will be here until the 15th. I think she's bored. Are 13 yr old ever NOT bored?

Read a novel (see my reading list on the side bar over there.) And am starting another today with three on the nightstand waiting for my attention.

And now I really need to get back in the blogging game. On top of the two I barely keep up with, I am going to start another with a friend.  Because, really, I can't sit completely still.

I do need a  few more weeks of downtime before I can get the show on the road so to speak. The best part is I will have time to work on stuff and not feel crunched with the end of summer! Yay! 

See you guys with a new post soon. No, really. I will.