I found this on someone's blog when I was blog skipping one day (it wasn't in a blog hop...I was just skipping around to blogs and I thought I'd saved a link to it, but I didn't...boo me!!)
Age: 45, I’ll be 46 in September
Bed Size: Queen and we really need a king as often as we have multiple children in bed with us!
Chore I hate: Putting away the laundry. Don’t mind doing it, don’t mind ironing, but ugh…putting it all away!
Dogs: we don’t have one, we might get one in a few years, though. That is, if we can agree on a breed.
Essential Item for the start of my day: Coffee!!!
Favorite color: I love purple and green (olive, lime, apple…greens that trend toward yellow)
Gold or sliver? White gold and silver
Height: I’m 5’5”
Instruments I play: Thanks to a year of piano when I was little, I can read music but I can’t really play anything. I also took viola for a year when I was 10. I could kick myself now for quitting both.
Job Title: I.T. Project Manager…and wife, mom and teacher
Kids: Elizabeth Jane, Katherine Martin, Anne Lancaster and Thomas Harrison
Live: Central Arkansas
Mom’s name: Mom
Nicknames: Gina Boo; Nene (nee-nee…my nephews call me that); Dear (Brad never calls me by name!)
Overnight hospital stays: November 1997 – had a kidney stone that was stuck and had to go into the OR to have it removed; January 2003 after a c-section; March 2003 after a cholecystectomy where I had a really, really bad reaction to anesthesia; May 2004 after a c-section; December 2005 after a c-section; February 2008 for 5 days after a difficult c-section and with a newborn who got significantly dehydrated
Pet peeve: misuse of homophones (their/there; two/to/too; your/you’re); using words that aren’t real (irregardless)
Quote from a movie: Since the invention of the kiss there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind. The End. {The Princess Bride}
Right- or left-handed? Right; though I have been told I knit like I’m left-handed (only tried it once), I set up the ironing board like I’m a lefty, too.
Siblings: Sammie, and Jacob Martin; Craig and Tiffany F. (my half-brother and sister…biological father’s children with his 2nd wife)
Time I wake up: Usually around 7:00a.m.
Underwear: Uh…yes? How in the world am I supposed to answer this and why in the world does it matter?! Good grief!
Vegetables I dislike: tomatoes (technically a fruit); mushrooms (technically a fungus) and fennel (technically a herb)
What makes me run late: trying to get four kids ready plus myself and underestimating how much time that’s going to take!
Xrays I’ve had done: spine; chest; ankle; knee; teeth (of course); sinus; shoulder; wrist, full head (by dentist)
Yummy food I make: chewy granola bars thanks to Jennifer; caramel cake with browned-butter-caramel-sea-salt icing; oatmeal-chocolate-chip-flaxseed-meal cookies; quick chicken and spinach; creamy Italian chicken; flaxseed-meal-cardamom-vanilla pancakes; my BFF’s incredible Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe (that I can’t share until after Thanksgiving…maybe)
Zoo animal that is my favorite: I have more than one…giraffes, elephants, lions and hippos
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Five Question Friday
1. Do you apologize to your kids? I blow it on a regular basis and I think it is important – it is vital – for me to seek my children’s forgiveness when I do. Usually when I do, I seek the Lord’s forgiveness while I’m with the child(ren) involved in my blowing it. I think it’s part of gospel parenting. And I pray daily that the impression left with my kids is not how often I blew it, or how badly I messed up – but that I faithfully admitted when I was wrong and I was humble enough to seek their forgiveness.
2. What color are your nails right now? Neither finger or toenails are painted right now. I just took off a super bright Sally Hansen pink from my toenails. I have plans this weekend to paint my toenails Moscow Red – it’s an old OPI color that I love. It’s r-e-d, let there be no doubt!
3. When you were growing up, how difficult was it for you to stay home from school sick? (As in, did you have to vomit or just say "I don't feel good".) We had to actually be sick – vomiting or running a fever. Mom used to set up the sofa as a sick bed. As we got older, staying home sick meant we were really sick and we stayed in bed.
4. When is the last time you bought a new comforter for your bed? 13 years ago. It’s a blue and white Tommy Hilfiger that’s been retired for about 11 years. Haha!! It’s a great mix of floral, a couple of plaids and toile. I love the blue and white, but I’m ready for something different. I really want a quilt and a coverlet – just can’t find anything that I love.
5. Favorite Website(s)? Papertrey Ink, Paper Crafts Connections, Moxie Fab World, and I love my Google Reader
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Planning for summer
First off, did I tell you I painted one of the walls in my dining area with chalkboard paint? Well, I did. And I wish I'd done it three years ago when we started homeschooling!
I love being able to write their Saxon math meeting information on the board – and they transfer it to their meeting strips. If you’re thinking “Gina, that’s not black…or green…like the chalkboards I remember.” No, it’s not. It is Rust-oleum’s Tintable Chalkboard Paint – tinted in Latte. It’s just a smidge darker than the Havana Cream that our walls are painted. So, this section of wall from chair rail to ceiling, corner to corner, is a little darker {shrug} Doesn’t bother me!
II. Brad has been gone for the better part of four days and three nights. I’m so ready for him to be home tonight. So are the children. I’m abdicating as soon as he gets home (he knows that, I have a meeting).
C) I’m increasingly anxious to get back into paper crafting. I purchased some stamps from Papertrey Ink last month to make Mother’s Day cards and I’m totally smitten. I love it and want to learn more about stamping, I want to do more. I really want to learn to do what some of the girls on the blog hop have done. Um, WOW! I’m also planning on working on our scrapbooks and getting them significantly caught up this summer. I’m NINE YEARS behind on our family scrapbook. Yeah. Really. Next year, I’m totally starting Project Life and doing our family albums that way – the kids can do their own scrapbooks if they want. I’m focusing solely on family memories.
Fourth, I’m eyeing curriculum for next school year. All three girls will be doing Story of the World for history, A Reason for Handwriting for their handwriting and probably Apologia Astronomy for science. Elizabeth and Katherine will be doing Shurley Grammar and using the Veritas Press literature lists for their respective grades for reading. Elizabeth (3rd grade) will be moving to A Beka for math. Katherine and Annie will be doing Saxon Math (Math 3 and Math 1, respectively).
In conclusion, I’ve always wanted to say that…we’re converting Harrison’s bed from a toddler bed to a double bed sometime in the next several weeks. We have to order the rails, have them shipped and then buy a mattress (already have box springs). Should be fun to re-do his room but I’m going to be so sad to see his bedding go!
I’m in it to win it. Seacrest out!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Project 52 v2011: Weeks 14 -21
Week 14: March 27-April 2, 2011
You have already seen this photo once. This is our April Door Décor – ready for Spring and Easter!! Made from kraft paper, acrylic paint and blue gingham ribbon – a lot of fun to do! We love these door decorations!
Week 15: April 3-9, 2011
Any mom will probably recognize what is going on here – packing away the winter clothes and unpacking the warm weather clothes. This process literally takes weeks in my house and I must admit, I don’t like doing it. I need to change my focus and be thankful that my children have clothes rather than bemoan the fact and sound like an ungrateful wretch.
Week 16: April 10-16, 2011
This is probably one of my favorite photos of late. We were in the garage playing because the power was out (severe thunderstorms in our area the night before). The kids set up the play tents and tunnels. I got at the end of one and snapped this picture of Bitsy. She was having so much fun! And really, this picture captured her sweet, fun personality better than any one I’ve taken in a while.
Week 17: April 17-23, 2011
Elizabeth, working on math fact sheets. This is the story of our every day – and every day, we work on math, among other subjects. She is a great student and I am so thankful.
Week 18: April 24-30, 2011
Easter Eggs! (seriously? After 7 years of blogging you’re not expecting that each and every Easter?!) As you can tell our little man did NOT want to be part of the picture. This is my life. I embrace it or go crazy.
Week 19: May 1-7, 2011
My cousin got married. Long story but the wedding ended up being at his parents’ house…on the front porch, sheltered from the pouring rain. It was a great day, despite the rain. Love this picture of Bitsy and the bride. So sweet.
Week 20: May 8-14, 2011
This is the closest I got to a Mother’s Day photo. Bitsy’s preschool class had a Mom’s Day Tea and one of the other class moms was kind enough to take a picture of us together. Love this little girl!!
Week 21: May 15-21, 2011
Even though Nin’s birthday was actually last week (May 11), we celebrated on the 21st. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows at my parents’ house, had cake (from Blue Cake, Nin chose the polka dot colors) and ice cream. It was a fun evening and we were thankful that the rain held off!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Lemon-Basil Angel Hair, with Chicken
My bloggy friend, Amanda, posted this recipe to her blog. As soon as I read it, I knew I’d be making it for dinner that evening. Especially since I had everything needed to make it. If you want to see a picture of the dish, click on the link to Amanda’s post. She’s good at photographing dinner. Me? Notsomuch.
Carapelli recently sent me a bottle of their organic EVOO to try. I promise that took no arm-twisting as we love olive oil. My favorite thing about Italian restaurants? Olive-oil-as-butter on that yummy, crusty bread!
Since I was cooking dinner for six people, I added the chicken as Amanda suggested. I also doubled everything. It was so good!! The only thing my husband said was that he wanted more of the “sauce”. Making this with fresh basil…oh, yum. And with the organic Carapelli’s? Heavenly! We’ll definitely be having this over and over through the summer – probably with grilled chicken as it get hotter around here and we don’t want to heat up the house by turning on the oven.
Lemon-Basil Angel Hair – from Amanda at My Heart’s Desire
8 oz. cooked angel hair pasta
2 T. olive oil
1 T. fresh lemon juice
1 T. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 T. fresh basil, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooked chicken breasts (optional)...a great, versatile way to prepare chicken to top salad or pasta is to cut the chicken breasts longways in half. Coat with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Bake on a broiler pan lined at the bottom with foil for about 30 minutes. {my BFF also suggested zesting the lemon with the chicken}
**Using fresh ingredients truly makes this dish splendid! Now is the perfect time to plant a basil plant! It will explode with leaves, giving you fresh basil all summer long!
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, basil, and salt and pepper. Drain the pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Pour the olive oil mixture over the pasta and toss with tongs to combine.
Garnish with whole basil leaves, if desired.
For a full dinner, add cooked chicken breasts to the top of the pasta.
**Disclosure: Carapelli’s sent a bottle of organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil for our family to try. I was not paid for this post and the opinion expressed is my own. If I’d hated it, I’d have told you. Seriously, though, who hates olive oil?
Friday, May 13, 2011
My Precious Big Girl
When Katherine was just a couple of months old, we were headed to a friend's house when I realized I didn't have a blanket for Nin. I sat the car seat/baby bucket on the kitchen floor and said to E, "I'll be right back, I need to go get your baby sister a blanket." When I came back - Nin was sweetly covered with a blanket...Elizabeth's Purple Blankie (which she still carries around and sleeps with to this day). I literally stood there with tears in my eyes. "Did you share Blankie with your baby sister?" She nodded. I asked, "Would you like to have Blankie back? I can cover her with this one." She said, "Baby have it." Absolutely! So I told her, "When you're ready to have Blankie, let me know and I'll cover her with this one, okay?" "Okay." Even at 17-18 months old, she was a tender-hearted little thing and concerned about taking care of her sister.
Fast forward seven years - now her favorite thing to do is fix everyone's lunch. As we're driving home from preschool pick-up I'll ask what each child wants for lunch and Elizabeth will say, "Can I fix it?! I love to make lunch!" Today, Annie and Harrison wanted grilled cheese sandwiches. She loves to make grilled cheese. So, I'm clearing the table, sweeping the floor, clearing the counter and wiping it down when she says, "While this is cooking, I'm going to empty the dishwasher. Is that okay?" Yes - but we've got to keep an eye on the sandwich so it doesn't burn. She did a great job! No sandwiches were burned in the emptying of the dishwasher. {wink} But it just reminded me, yet again, at how willingly she works. How diligent she is in just about everything she does.
Daily I am humbled by her willingness to serve - and the joy with which she does it. I cannot thank the Lord enough for her and the way He uses her sweet spirit in my life.
Fast forward seven years - now her favorite thing to do is fix everyone's lunch. As we're driving home from preschool pick-up I'll ask what each child wants for lunch and Elizabeth will say, "Can I fix it?! I love to make lunch!" Today, Annie and Harrison wanted grilled cheese sandwiches. She loves to make grilled cheese. So, I'm clearing the table, sweeping the floor, clearing the counter and wiping it down when she says, "While this is cooking, I'm going to empty the dishwasher. Is that okay?" Yes - but we've got to keep an eye on the sandwich so it doesn't burn. She did a great job! No sandwiches were burned in the emptying of the dishwasher. {wink} But it just reminded me, yet again, at how willingly she works. How diligent she is in just about everything she does.
Daily I am humbled by her willingness to serve - and the joy with which she does it. I cannot thank the Lord enough for her and the way He uses her sweet spirit in my life.
Right Now...Friday, May 13, 2011
Right now...I am still recovering from whatever was ailing me. Man! I've not been this sick since Harrison was a baby!!!
Right now...we're all five eating FlavorIce. Yeah. Totally HFCS and artificial color and artificial flavor. But good for my scratchy throat.
Right now...Elizabeth just erased the dining room wall/chalkboard. She is great at doing that.
Right now...Harrison is out of Pull-Ups and I'm having to learn to live with it just like he is. It's only a problem at night (he's no where near night-trained)
Right now...Katherine is officially seven. Her birthday was Wednesday. I was too sick to post her a love note here.
Right now...Annie is carrying around her Pet Rock (from preschool) like a baby. She even slept with it last night.
Right now...we're waiting on Daddy to get home from work -- 20 more minutes!!!
Right now...we're all five eating FlavorIce. Yeah. Totally HFCS and artificial color and artificial flavor. But good for my scratchy throat.
Right now...Elizabeth just erased the dining room wall/chalkboard. She is great at doing that.
Right now...Harrison is out of Pull-Ups and I'm having to learn to live with it just like he is. It's only a problem at night (he's no where near night-trained)
Right now...Katherine is officially seven. Her birthday was Wednesday. I was too sick to post her a love note here.
Right now...Annie is carrying around her Pet Rock (from preschool) like a baby. She even slept with it last night.
Right now...we're waiting on Daddy to get home from work -- 20 more minutes!!!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
10 Crafty Questions
Kalyn posted these fun questions on her blog yesterday and I thought I'd play along...now that I'm finally picking myself up off the pavement (apparently a bus ran over me Sunday...flattened me...and then backed up Monday to finish me off! I'm so sick!!). Anyway, here are her questions - and my answers.
1. How long have you been paper-crafting? I've been paper-crafting since 1995 - mostly scrapbooking; but in the past 5-8 years, I've started making cards, tags and gift "boxes" more than scrapbooking (don't have the time or patience for all the decorative-y stuff...and really, I don't like it. I think Project Life is much more my scrapbooking speed and may start doing that next year)
2. Do you listen to music while you craft? If so, which genre? When I craft, I'm usually in the kitchen and listening to the cacophony that is my house!
3. Do you snack while you craft or is your craft room a no-food zone? If yes, what's your favorite crafty snack? No, I don't snack while I craft!! I'm too much of a klutz. I will put water or tea in a cup. With. A. Lid! (klutz, remember?)
4. What's your adhesive of choice - glue dots, liquid, tape runner, hot glue gun, or something else? Xyron for solid pieces; glue dot runner for small pieces; glue dots for buttons, metal charms and the like; for making boxes, I use that super tacky double-stick tape (like this); when I make door decor (here and here) I use hot glue and staples. And I've been known to use that thermoweb stuff for hems - yes, I actually ironed a card for a friend of mine. Sorry you asked?! :)
5. Keep scraps or toss scraps? It has to be at least one-inch wide and at least four-inches long...then I might consider keeping it. If I keep it, it goes in a folder - by color. If it's a small scrap, it goes in a gallon zip-top bag in the folder. It's my OCD. I embrace it.
6. Buttons - to thread or not to thread? Threaded buttons, please!
7. Do you clean up your craft table/surface after every project or leave the tidying up for a rainy day? I have to clean up after every project because I'm usually working on the chopping block in my kitchen. But even if I had a "craft room/space", I'd tidy after each project (look up a couple of questions...OCD...and not just calling myself that, diagnosed-by-a-psychiatrist-really-OCD)
8. Instead of a deserted island, let's make it a deserted craft store. So, you're stuck in a deserted craft store and you can only use one three (I could not choose one) paper companies' paper for the rest of your life - which companies do you choose? Bazzil, Basic Grey, and anything Jen Wilson designs for My Mind's Eye. And if I have my computer and printer, then I'd totally cheat and buy the digi versions of Cosmo Cricket and Echo Park from Jessica Sprague's digi shop!
9. Do you keep a sketch book or notebook with ideas for future projects or do you craft-as-you-go? I am not good at design - at all - so my "sketch book" consists of paper crafting magazines.
10. Decorative scissors or edge punches? Which is your favorite? I just purchased my first edge punch. I'll never look back. I want more, more, more!! Mainly because I can't cut a straight line to save my life!
1. How long have you been paper-crafting? I've been paper-crafting since 1995 - mostly scrapbooking; but in the past 5-8 years, I've started making cards, tags and gift "boxes" more than scrapbooking (don't have the time or patience for all the decorative-y stuff...and really, I don't like it. I think Project Life is much more my scrapbooking speed and may start doing that next year)
2. Do you listen to music while you craft? If so, which genre? When I craft, I'm usually in the kitchen and listening to the cacophony that is my house!
3. Do you snack while you craft or is your craft room a no-food zone? If yes, what's your favorite crafty snack? No, I don't snack while I craft!! I'm too much of a klutz. I will put water or tea in a cup. With. A. Lid! (klutz, remember?)
4. What's your adhesive of choice - glue dots, liquid, tape runner, hot glue gun, or something else? Xyron for solid pieces; glue dot runner for small pieces; glue dots for buttons, metal charms and the like; for making boxes, I use that super tacky double-stick tape (like this); when I make door decor (here and here) I use hot glue and staples. And I've been known to use that thermoweb stuff for hems - yes, I actually ironed a card for a friend of mine. Sorry you asked?! :)
5. Keep scraps or toss scraps? It has to be at least one-inch wide and at least four-inches long...then I might consider keeping it. If I keep it, it goes in a folder - by color. If it's a small scrap, it goes in a gallon zip-top bag in the folder. It's my OCD. I embrace it.
6. Buttons - to thread or not to thread? Threaded buttons, please!
7. Do you clean up your craft table/surface after every project or leave the tidying up for a rainy day? I have to clean up after every project because I'm usually working on the chopping block in my kitchen. But even if I had a "craft room/space", I'd tidy after each project (look up a couple of questions...OCD...and not just calling myself that, diagnosed-by-a-psychiatrist-really-OCD)
8. Instead of a deserted island, let's make it a deserted craft store. So, you're stuck in a deserted craft store and you can only use one three (I could not choose one) paper companies' paper for the rest of your life - which companies do you choose? Bazzil, Basic Grey, and anything Jen Wilson designs for My Mind's Eye. And if I have my computer and printer, then I'd totally cheat and buy the digi versions of Cosmo Cricket and Echo Park from Jessica Sprague's digi shop!
9. Do you keep a sketch book or notebook with ideas for future projects or do you craft-as-you-go? I am not good at design - at all - so my "sketch book" consists of paper crafting magazines.
10. Decorative scissors or edge punches? Which is your favorite? I just purchased my first edge punch. I'll never look back. I want more, more, more!! Mainly because I can't cut a straight line to save my life!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)