Crackers and Music

Just relaxing after a Tuesday night practice and eating my new favorite snack.

You are supposed to let them sit in the bag overnight. However, I was a little impatient. They taste awesome right now. :-) I also subbed olive oil for canola oil. AND I halved the original recipe which called for 1 1/2 cup of canola oil, 2 bags of ranch seasoning, 5 tsp of red pepper flakes, and a whole box of saltines. TASTY!

Anyway, I have a music blog which I never write in, but I decided to just write some music thoughts here ... since I'm blogging here for now. I was putting together my set list for this weekend a couple days ago and have been thinking on some things since then. There's always a giant controversy about the old songs vs. the new songs. We all probably know the story. As a music director I hear all kinds of feedback... positive and negative. Regardless of the feedback, I love to put songs together that have the same message. For instance... "Not to us, but to Your name be the glory..." and "Glory to His name, glory to His name, there to my heart was the blood applied, glory to His name." Which made me think, what difference does it really make that the beat is a little different? When God's presence falls in a service, you won't find me sitting back and taking it easy. I can appreciate ANY Christian music that has a powerful message. Anyway, I have enough to fill up a book on that subject. Just MY opinion. :-)

We had such a busy weekend. It all started when I decided on the spur of the moment to head to my grandparents and surprise them and my mom and stepdad with a visit. Here's a pic of Ainsley right before we left. :-)

My mom was so surprised that she screamed for EVER and scared Ainsley. Anyway, we had a fabulous time. Of course, Ainsley was the center of attention. Her favorite activity of the trip was pulling up on the coffee table and pushing the magazines one-by-one to the floor.

I cherish my time with my Nana. She's such an awesome lady. She helped me finish a jumper project I had started and abandoned when it got tough. She also made divinity...

Do you believe that she doesn't use a thermometer? She showed me how the sugar is supposed to string out when it's just right. It was "divine." In fact, I've still got a few pieces left... I might go get one.

On Saturday morning, I headed back home. When I came in a saw a new cookbook named "Cake Pops" that Shawn had gotten me while I was away. I decided to try the simplest cake pops in the book late Saturday night. I was much more difficult that it looked (to me). Firstly, it feels yucky on your hands. (Note to self: use gloves next time.) Secondly, to get the melted candy coating to cover the pop was not easy. In fact, I don't think it ever happened for me. Lol. They turned out cute anyway... and quite tasty if you ask me. They were strawberry and cream cheese with a dark chocolate coating.

I gave them to our youth SS class. I assume they enjoyed them. :-) Okay... it's been a long day. I'm thinking of going to bed extremely early...

Night, night.

Mommy and Ainsley go thrifting...

Okay... let's just say that I'm extending my deadline on the organization project. It's much bigger than what I thought. However... I've thrown away / donated a TON of stuff in my effort to clear out the clutter. I've taken some "before" pics, but I don't want to take the "after" pics until I am totally done. You wouldn't believe the difference I've already made.

Anyway, part of my project was getting baskets for a couple of the main rooms we live in for Ainsley's toys. Usually they are just sitting on my dresser or on our fireplace. The last few times I've been in Target I've looked. I did see several that I liked, but all were over $20. So today I decided to go to the thrift store. Because I was alone and wasn't up for a lengthy ride in the car, I went to a new Goodwill near my house. I said a prayer that I'd find just what I was looking for. At just the right price...

Here we are heading out to find our bargains...

Everyone we passed today was in love with Ms. Ainsley. :-) She was quite the little superstar. So this is what I found... a basket, 3 books (bible stories... I had these exact books when I was little. They are in great condition), and a scarf. All for less than $10!

After wiping everything down with antibacterial wipes (of course!) I put Ainsley's toys in our "new" basket. I really like it! I think I could get into this thrift store thing...

Day 1 = Success

Today I cleaned out and organized my nightstand cabinet and my dresser. I started working on my closet, but didn't quite get finished. I will continue working in my bedroom tomorrow. :) Pics coming tomorrow.

My 30 day challenge to myself

Does anyone else wish they were OCD? Not the part with switching the light on and off 20 times or washing your hands a jillion times a day... but the organized part. The part where your clothing is organized by color and outfits are already put together. (If you could see my closet, you'd understand.)

As a new mommy, I'm finding my house is getting more and more cluttered. My hubby and I weren't exactly organized before Ainsley came. I call what we had "cute clutter." But having a baby has put a whole new meaning into clutter... her stuff is everywhere. A swing, 2 bouncers, a walker, a high chair, a bumbo, random toys, headbands, etc... all of this is along the walls of my breakfast room and den.

Bottom line, I think I'd be a happier person if every part of home was organized. Down to underneath all of the beds. If we haven't used it in the last year and it has no sentimental value, then it isn't serving a purpose. Soooo. My 30 day challenge is to organize every nook and cranny of this giant house. I may not can do it in 30 days. Who knows. I may can do it in less...

I'm going to blog my progress. I'm starting tomorrow in my bedroom since it is the room where we spend the most time.

PS - This may lead up to a giant garage sale or donation to Goodwill.

We've had an eventful last two days. Although in our lives almost every day is eventful. I honestly thought things would slow down once I had a baby and was working from home. Not so. We've had something going on for the last million nights. Not really, but I've only had one free night in the last 2 and 1/2 weeks, and I used it to clean. It's not going to let up this week either. Got something planned for every night except Saturday. I wonder what it must feel like to like in a tiny town where you're always home and in bed by 9 pm. Thank God I'm usually home during the day.

Ainsley's dedication was this weekend. It was beautiful and everything I could've hoped for. She slept through it. (I prayed for that.) Then, today I had her pictures made in the christening gown she wore for the dedication. I can't wait to see how the pics came out. I think they are going to be gorgeous. I have a feeling my home is going to end up being one gigantic Ainsley shrine.

Tonight we had a party for my brother-in-law at our house. I wish I could've cooked something spectacular, but I opted for tacos since it's such a large group (9 adults and 5 kiddos) and Ainsley's pics were being done at 3 pm so I didn't know exactly how much time I'd have. Anyway... I'm starting to wonder really how many kids I want. The 5 kids got pretty crazy tonight. At least for my house. I've been saying 4 for the last 6 or 7 years, but I love my peace and quiet. Who knows? :) When we're ready to have another, we'll do it. If we never get ready, then we'll never do it. Unless, of course, we have an accident. Lol!

Stinky Baby

During the last week or so, I have been stumped by an unpleasant odor I would smell when holding Ainsley. Now don't start thinking I don't give her baths or am not taking care of her, because I do. :) The first time I smelled it I thought maybe she'd somehow gotten spit up on the back of her head. Then, the second time I got a whiff I thought I'd found the culprit. I believed it was behind her ears. I thought I'd been cleaning it good. Shawn and I discussed it several times. I told him to pay special attention behind her ears when bathing her and I did the same.

This morning after my devotion time, I sat down to hold her in my glider. I was holding her up and playing with her when I caught a glimpse of something grey underneath a fold on her neck. It took me a while to even maneuver her head so I could get under there. Oh My Lord! Neck Jam. All the way around the front of her little neck. It was difficult to even get to it knowing it was there. Her head had to be tilted back. I did wash her neck during baths, but the way her little bath sling has her sitting her neck isn't really visible. Thank God I found the smell. I didn't want people thinking I had a stinky baby.

I guess being in the devotion mindset I had a thought. How many little creases need to be cleaned out in our mind and heart? A build-up of junk that we don't even realize is there. Every now and then it comes out and we catch a whiff of something that is not pleasing to God. What if others catch a glimpse of some "grey" matter that we don't even know about? It might be difficult to get to and we may have to search ourselves daily. Lord, please don't let me have any "neck jam" hidden somewhere. :)