Table for Eight

Last month I ordered each of our kids a "PETA for KIDS" kit online. They day they arrived, I was so excited. The kit was AWESOME--and looked so cute: coloring books, stickers, and coupons for kids--all encouraging them to be kind to animals. SO, imagine my surprise when Kaya (who turns 11 on Thurs.) comes up to me and says, "Mom, this PETA coloring book is sad. I want to throw it away." I said, "What? Sad?" She said, "Yeah. It's about a stray dog that has babies in an alley. Only, the dog and her puppies have no food, so the puppies starve and die." I said, "WHAT?! Are you kidding me?" She wasn't kidding. Sure enough, that was the story. As I quickly skimmed the pages, I read the backpage: "SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS." Oh, I get it: they're just trying to encourage my kids to spay and neuter their pets. That's the reason for the tragic dog coloring book. Well, I'm pretty sure Kaya got...

The first thing that drew me to Dave was his calm. His peace. He seemed more content than any person I'd ever met. And I loved it. I felt like a life with him would be a life of facing challenges with peace. And for the most part, I was right. (With a few exceptions--like the Magna bike incident, etc. But those are other entries!) Okay, my point. Dave brings peace to everything he does. And I'm so thankful for that. It makes my life more peaceful and helps me cope with the many many many stresses I invite into my life. I love you, Dave.

It's been a kind of soggy Saturday. Indoors. Kind of ho-hum. Here's what we've done to entertain ourselves--in between laundry, schoolwork, and playing Legos (for HOURS!): These are supposed to look like Butterflies. Please tell me you "see" them--wings and body? I'm subbing in nursery at church tomorrow, so the kids helped me make these for snacktime. I thought they looked cute until I realized that nursery kiddos are under age 3--which means they can choke on googly eyes. (Looks like I'll be praying a lot tomorrow because heaven knows I'm not holding back my treat bags. LOL!) NieNieDialogues and SmittenKitchen are always talking about homemade Oreo cookies. I finally broke down and made them today. Holy insulin! If I wasn't pre-diabetica before today, I am now. We are talking SAWEET! (I think I'd make mini-Oreos next time. And yes, I'll make them again. I said SAWEET, not inedible!) Oreos up close. The idea is really way cute to me--LOV...

My brother, nephew, and DAD! Today's my dad's birthday! Hooray! Have a great day, dad! And now . . . the birthday acrostic: G reat father (and grandpa!) A lways caring R eally big heart Y ou deserve your own parade!

Life seems so contradictory. It's both happy and sad. It's fun and boring. Good and bad. Or at least that's the way I categorize things. I have an experience and then I sort it into either the "good" or "bad" category. And then I look at the categories. A lot. And I inventory them. And I think about them. And I wonder why there are more in one category than another. And I wonder why someone else's list is WAY long on the "GOOD" side, while mine seems WAY long on the "BAD" side. Do you do this? Okay, maybe it's just me. But for some reason today, I'm thinking, "enough classifying." Life isn't good or bad: it's just life. And really I just want my life to be filled with love and laughter (and some hormone-free/cage-free beef and veggies). Period. So, I'm setting a new goal for myself: don't sort life into GOOD and BAD. Just try to find love and laughter in everything that ...

Congratulations DonnaV is this week's Giveaway winner! Your zebra Snuggie and Hershey kisses will be on their way! (* For those of you with questions on "odds of winning." We have a small pool of entrants. This week had 4. Really, 4. Pretty good odds!)

Happy Valentine's Day weekend, everyone! I hope you have a LOVELY holiday AND that you enter our LOVELY Giveaway. Up this week: * 1 zebra Snuggie * 1 bag of Hershey Kisses Guidelines: 1. One entry per email address. 2. Previous winners may enter. 3. Contest ends Tuesday, February 16th @ noon (extra day because of President's Day). 4. Continental US entrants only. (Keeping shipping to a minimum. Sorry to my one reader from Helsinki.) To enter: 1. Send an email with SNUGGIE in the SUBJECT line to gardengnomesandcherrycola@gmail.com 2. Winner will be notified via email on Tuesday, 2/16.

("Grey Day in Paris") It's not often that I find myself short on words. But today the weather is gray, half the clan has a cold, sinus infection, or some other maladay, and I'm feeling kind of quiet. Actually, I'm feeling kind of blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah! So, rather than complain, I thought I'd post a new "Top Ten" list. This one has nothing to do with food--my latest obsession. (BTW--MSN's main page has an article today about how carrots are bleached before they are packaged. Awesome.) This list has to do with money and abundance. It's a list I posted on one of our boards two years ago. I look at it nearly everyday. I love it. It's by Wayne Dyer. (And I really really like Wayne Dyer.) It comes from a children's book he wrote about finances/money: 10 Lessons About Money and Abundance 1. You're not what you've got. 2. Live within your means. 3. It doesn't matter what "they...

Okay, I'll admit it: I'm a little over-the-top with the whole SNUGGIE thing. I love them! (And yes, you can love an inanimate object despite what I tell my kids. Unless it's Top Raman. You can't love that and live in this house. It's cardboard, I tell you.) Anyway, in my opinion SNUGGIES are everything a consumer product should be--FUNCTIONAL and FUN. Seriously, anytime someone puts the SNUGGIE on, I laugh out loud. Which is why, when I saw the SNUGGIE for DOGS this Christmas, I had to buy one for our next door neighbor's dog Toto  (he visits a lot and we love the furry guy). Which brings me to today's thought: Why is there a market for the DOG SNUGGIE, but not the CAT SNUGGIE? Poor, Chase--the newest feline in our clan--he wants a CAT SNUGGIE! See? Here he is on Paigey's SNUGGIE this morning. Can't you just picture him with the little sleeves and cow-neck fleece? I'm designing a prototype as I type. (PSS: If Dave designed the...

It's not a BIG deal, but it is bugging me. BYU began a new parking "sticker" process for faculty this year: we no longer use a sticker as our permit, but rather our car license plate as our "permit" to park. You see, they/BYU purchased this amazing computer system and cars that literally "scan and read" our plates as they drive through the lots. This system allows them to check hundreds of cars in a matter of minutes--and it saves time/costs for faculty because we are no longer required to renew permits (paperwork, administrative costs . . .). But there is one problem: there's a glitch in the scanner that mis-reads your plate if it's a specialty plate. And I have one of those plates--a BYU specialty plate. I got the dang plate years ago because it has a little Y on it AND because each year a $50.00 donation goes back to the university when I register my car. I thought it was a cool thing. WAS being the operative word here. Afte...

This week's Giveaway Winner: drumroll, please . . . Jen J.! (Your Swedish Fish are on their way! Congrats!) (And remember folks, our next giveaway begins Friday 2/12.)

It's been a year since Fahjdi crossed over. We loved that dang cat so much. Funny how much a little furry creature can impact your life. That's the power of one, baby. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO, Fat-Fat. You made our world a better place while you were here.

We love you so much. Call me, girlfriend!!!

A weekly "full share" of produce from a local CSA. (The size varies from CSA to CSA.) I'm pretty sure I'm in the slow group on this one. I've been to Farmer's Markets before, but I really didn't know much about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Well, until last year. And even then, I didn't know much. But this year I get it! Community Supported Agriculture means local residents "buy in" to local farms and somewhat "sponsor" the farm. You see, most farmers sell their food three places (or more): 1. to restaurants 2. at Farmer's Markets 3. and to members of their CSA So, if you like to buy locally grown organic fruits, veggies, eggs, cheese, and proteins, then joining a CSA is one way to get 'em. And there are lots and lots of CSAs. Just Google the name of your state and CSA or Community Supported Agriculture, and you'll see 'em. This one is in Wisconsin--or Michigan! Can't remember. (LOL!) I...

Before the giveaway . . . I want to tell Jonah how thankful I am to have him as a son. A friend of his had his bike stolen at Christmas time. A few weeks ago, Jonah thought he saw the bike a few neighborhoods away. Turns out, he was right: the friend's bike was really at this home. And so yesterday Jonah called the police, met them near the bike and explained the situation. About 30 minutes later, the police met with homeowners to discuss the matter . . . and bring the bike home! Is that amazing? (I'll answer: yes.) Jonah, I love you. And now, the giveaway. In honor LuLu's favorite candy, "SWEET-ish" FISH, we're giving away one COSTCO-sized package of Swedish Fish! Click here to enter the giveaway. One winner will be selected Sunday at midnight (which is technically Monday): http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PKBPR9R (PS: Dave writes the surveys for me and I think today's is hilarious. You have to understand that I have major anxiety abou...

Three things on my mind today: 1. Inspiration. I watched and read what I believe is the best commencement address ever. I mean that. It's the most inspiring talk I've heard in forever. It's given by JK Rowling at Harvard in 2008. I hope you'll watch. It's 16 minutes. Get a cup of hot cho (entitled "The Fringe Benefits of Failure"): http://www.ted.com/talks/jk_rowling_the_fringe_benefits_of_failure.html 2. Chickens. Camry and I went to see "The Chicken Lady" yesterday. It's part of my "buying local" goal--as we try to eat foods that are healthier (no antibiotics, normal chicken life--roaming around the yard, etc.). What an experience! I still don't know how to process it. We loved the eggs. We loved the woman selling them. BUT, it's a different experience SEEING where your food comes from. Holy cow. There were a lot of chickens--all types. And they pretty much rule the roost. (I'm killing myself.) Basically, C...

I've been thinking a lot about change lately. (I blame the existentialism on the weather.) I'm not talking about the kind of change that happens TO you (like illness, divorce, natural dissaster, job changes, etc.). I'm talking about the kind of change YOU create/cause to come about (diet, exercise, perspective, habits . . . ). So today I'm wondering, "Is change possible?" I have such conflicting thoughts on this topic. One part of me remembers a Maya Angelou comment, "When people show you who they are, believe them." (I think Oprah told me that one afternoon, so it may not be Dr. Angelou's comment. LOL!) Anyway . . . That comment makes me think: people don't change. My second thought is a scripture that says basically "With God ALL things are possible." Now that comment makes me think: people can change. So which is it? Can we create lasting change or are we really hard-coded for certain behavior/actions? Doe...

How does technology affect the way you live? To me, that's THE million-dollar question (right now, at least). How do you "digital parent"? Are you connected, but disconnected? Are you distracted by everything? Does technology bring us closer together? Can we really multi-task? How much is TOO much? And . . . have you seen what South Korea did with their "connection"? (Holy cow!) We could go on and on and on. I'm really sooooooooooooooooooo excited to see this documentary. It's on PBS for the first time tonight (see local listings). The promo has me so intrigued. See link below: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view/?utm_campaign=viewpage&utm_medium=toparea&utm_source=toparea

First of all, congratulations to our giveaway winner: Janeil! (Mr Bubbles is so happy!) Be sure to check back this Friday for our next giveaway (the goal is to do one each Friday in Feb). Thanks to everyone that entered (responses to the question: "Best Valentine's gift" were fun to read--flowers, cards, CDs, chocolates...nothing too saucy!) And now, my post: I know there's a saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned." Somewhere in the universe that rule has to apply. But clearly it's not when we are talking about purchasing appliances. Apparently saving a penny on your appliances actually earns you the opportunity to SPEND two pennies in the not-so-distant future on yet another appliance (In the form of a repair or a replacement.). BTW: For those of you playing at home, here's a quick tally of the appliances Dave and I have replaced this year: Kitchen Faucet--3 yrs. old; Front door peephole--1 yr. old; Oven heating element--3 yrs. old...