Today's A Cuddling Day

My normally very happy and active little boy has his first fever. So we're not doing much today.

Lots of cuddling

Lots of sleeping

Lots of loving

It's actually nice to just sit with him, not worrying about how messy my house is,

or how much I'm not getting done.

My baby needs me to just hold him.

So that's what we're doing today.

(I took the above pictures just after we got our new dining room chairs. I believe it is every child's right to play with big pieces of cardboard packaging....and why not start when you're little! :)

An Accomplished Woman

I've been immersing myself recently in the world of Elizabeth and Darcy, in Pride and Prejudice. Every once in a while, I get a hankering to go back and return to Netherfield and Longbourn and Pemberly. In my reading, I came across this part, which I wanted to share with you all, in spite of the fact that most of you have probably read the book at least once yourselves! :)

"Your list of the common extent of accomplishments," said Darcy, "has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen. But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half-a-dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished."


"Nor I, I am sure," said Miss Bingley.


"Then," observed Elizabeth, "you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman."


"Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it."


"Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant, "no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved."


"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."

I have to admit, the last sentence especially rings true with me! Reading to improve the mind rather than just to entertain it is so important! I would wax eloquent on the subject, but I hear a little voice in the bedroom wanting me to come, so until next time!!

A Little Boy and His Teeth

I know I'm biased just a little, but can you really stop yourself from smiling when you see this grin?

He's such a happy guy....most of the time! His smiles melt my heart!

Oh how I love my little man who's growing up so fast!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

A very happy Valentine's Day to each and every one of you! I wanted to jot down a few things, in the few minutes left on this happy day. :)

Stephen brought these roses home for me, aren't they beautiful?! The first time he ever bought me red roses was the first time he came out to visit me when we were courting. :) There's something so special about red roses!

He also brought the delicious salt and vinegar chips (my total favorite!) and the chocolate, and.....the monkey. :) I have wanted a stuffed monkey for many, many years. Yes, there's a story behind that. No, I'm not going to tell it here. (If you really want to know, ask me sometime, and I'll tell you. :)

I hope you all had a wonderful day today, and that you were able to focus more on God's true love, than the world's fake version!

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails."

(1 Cor. 13:4-8a)

Mediterranean Salad....and Other Things

I've spent a nice chunk of my day so far doing something I really enjoy, reading about healthy food, delicious recipes, in between doing dishes, working out, washing diapers, holding Ian (as I speak, I am balancing Mr. Personality on my lap as I type :P), and even taking a wee bit of a nap! :)

Food, and good, healthy, gourmet cooking is so much more important to me now than it ever was growing up! My philosophy before was, if everybody likes it, why come up with something new!? In fact, I really hated trying new recipes for fear of them not being good, and everyone just sort of grimacing their way through the meal.

But I have changed. A lot. I love finding new, amazing recipes now, discovering new ways to put food together, and really please the palates I am cooking for! There is Nothing like cooking for people that Enjoy eating! :)

One of my goals is to gradually replace all (okay, most of) the unhealthy food in my kitchen with healthy alternatives. Sometimes it means paying a little more money. Sometimes it means going to a few different stores. But I know it will be worth it in the end!

I admit, I'm not as diehard as some people are. I still enjoy eating foods made with sugar, especially if they come in liquid form and are served in a Starbucks mug. :)

Yes, I think balance is important in just about everything, especially in food! I mean, seriously, if it tastes horrible, no one is going to want to eat it, no matter how good the health benefits are! :)

All that being said, I want to quickly share with you a salad recipe I just made up the other day that was Delicious!!

Mediterranean Salad :)

Start with a bed of lettuce

Add chopped peppers

Cucumber

Avocados

Chopped, cooked chicken (if it's still warm, it's really nice!)

Sprinkle some roasted sunflower seeds

(you could add some cheese if you're extra hungry)

Dressing:

Pour a little olive oil over the salad (about 2 T)

Sprinkle some balsamic vinegar (about 1 T)

Add about 1 teaspoon of maple syrup

sprinkle some rosemary and salt on top

Stir it all together and taste!

Of course, you can use different vegetables, or slightly different amounts of the dressing ingredients, but this is pretty close to what I did and I loved the result!