Fall Into Reading 2007

I'm a pretty big reader. I've always got at least one book in my rotation. I've never participated in a reading challenge before, but I'm up for some good fun!

My baby's due December 1, and I know the reading will stop for a while after that. I won't be reading anything at the December 21 deadline, I'm sure! Because I'll lose a few weeks, my list will be a bit modest. My first thought was to put 10 books on this list, but I'll be realistic and leave it at seven (now it's grown to eight!). I can do that. If I go over the eight, I'll just pat myself on the back and take myself to Starbucks (like I need an excuse for that)! So here's my list!

TO READ
1. Time to Be in Earnest by P.D. James (started before the challenge)

2. The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer
3. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
4. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (I gave up on this one; too much football!!)
5. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

6. Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty

FINISHED

1. Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty (finished 9/27/07)

2. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (finished 10/16/07)

If you want to participate, go to Callapidder Days for the info and the Mr. Linky!

EDIT 03/15/08 - Ahahahaha! What was I thinking? A new baby and reading? Riiiight!

The ladies at the girltalk blog have been interviewing Mary Mohler (wife of Al Mohler) this week. To this quote I say, Amen!!

What do you think is one of the greatest needs among mothers today and how would you encourage them?

As I said in the "Motherhood Matters" article that you kindly referenced above, I think moms need to stop apologizing for doing a full time job full time! I am not going to state that all moms must be stay at home moms but for those who are, they must stop feeling inferior for their decision. I am tired of the mentality that is becoming more and more prevalent that says women who stay at home raising their children are wasting themselves even as they serve to drag down the economy. That’s a lie. Women who are home raising their children should do so with gusto and no regrets. No one can love your children like you can. God made you to be their mother and no one else. Learn everything you can about how to be the best mom you can be by God’s grace. Hold your head high when you state that you are a mom—not “just a mom” but a mom full time. Love your job because the days are fleeting. Those precious little ones will be grown up sooner than you think. Motherhood is a high calling now just as it has always been. Those who think otherwise are deceiving themselves.

pinching pennies

Lately I've been looking for ways to save a few pennies here and there. After all, they do add up. I've been on the hunt recently for autumn placemats and linen napkins that won't clash with the tablecloth I got for the season. I still haven't found anything that I like, but cute things I saw in stores inspired me to try something new.

I really get tired of buying paper napkins at the grocery store. We've got a pretty good stash of paper towels built up, but I get frustrated when a roll runs out quickly and I have to go get a new one. It's a small frustration, I know, but I've been wishing I could make each roll last longer than it does.

Today in Kohl's, I hit paydirt with cloth napkins. They had a big section of clearance dining items, so I spent some time pawing through the racks. I paid anywhere from 28 cents to $1.49 for 11 napkins. I found myself gravitating toward soft, neutral colors in cremes, yellows and greens. Those will work just fine for everyday use, and I can always look for nicer matchy-match ones for specific holidays or seasons when we have family or friends visiting for supper.

I brought them home and sent them through the washer, then folded them all and put them in a spare basket I had collecting dust in the laundry room. I'll set the basket out on the kitchen counter (and keep collecting more napkins!). I think I might add a wicker wastebasket that's in the garage to the cabinet under the sink. When your napkin's dirty, just toss it in its own kitchen hamper. When I see the stash of clean napkins getting low, I'll just wash the dirty ones and we'll be all set. I really only need a few more to have enough to last the two of us nearly two weeks. In no time, these napkins will pay for themselves, in the money they'll save at the store and in the environmental impact of less wasted paper. And hey, it's one less thing I'll have to unload from my grocery shopping!

ARE! YOU! READY?!

It's football time in Mississippi!!!

Ohhh, I love the SEC. It's the only conference that matters, of course. :)





HOTTY TODDY!!

bloggy meme

The fabulous Southern Girl did this little meme and offered it up to any of her friends who wanted to have a go at it, too. I can never resist a good survey, so here we go!

ACCENT: I always thought I had sort of a neutral accent until I heard myself on my radio show in college. Hoo boy, I'm 100% Southern. And quite proud of it. :)

I DON’T DRINK: Egg-nog. Blech.

CHORE I HATE: Taking out the trash. I have a physical aversion to it.

PETS: Oliver, a blue parakeet who's afraid of anything that moves, including people, his own feathers and air; and Dacey, a mackerel tabby who merely lets us live here.

ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: The DVR. I really don't know if I could live without the thing. How else would I be sure never to miss a new episode of The Fashionista Diaries on SoapNet?

PERFUME: Ralph Lauren's Romance and any good-smelling vanilla body spray. Not together, though.

GOLD OR SILVER: Silver, all the way. I only own a couple pieces of gold jewelry, and I rarely wear them. I'm not a fan.

INSOMNIA: With pregnancy, it's a bit more common for me than usual. Most of the time I'm asleep less than 10 minutes after the light goes off.

JOB TITLE: Wife and almost-mama.

MOST ADMIRED TRAIT: Hmm. I really don't know. I asked John and he said he admires my strong convictions about things. His opinion is what matters most to me, so there you go.

KIDS: TBA in November/December! :)

PHOBIA: Somebody breaking into my house while I'm in the shower; spiders; house fires

RELIGION: Christian, specifically Presbyterian (PCA)

SIBLINGS: none

TIME I WAKE UP: Most days I can get up whenever I want. I usually get up around 6:30 when John's leaving for work, but if I know my body needs more sleep, I'm up no later than 8:30.

UNUSUAL TALENT/SKILL: I never know how to answer this. I don't stand out in any particular way, really. I'm dull, I guess. :)

VEGETABLE: I love most of them, really. I have zero love for rutabega, though. *shudder*

WORST HABIT: Complete and utter laziness sometimes, which leads to mega procrastination. I think having a kid might whip some of that out of me, though!

X-RAYS: I've had my left knee x-rayed when I fell a few years ago... regular dental stuff... nothing else, I think.

MY FAVORITE MEAL: Lately I've been making carbonara a lot. I do it with hot sausage, diced tomatoes, black olives and mushrooms. Mmm. Of course, it's got to have garlic bread with it, and either ice water or tea.