a four year giveaway!

July 12 was my little old blog's anniversary.

Four years.

Crazy!

Four years ago I had a one year old, a four year old, and a six year old.

{it makes me so sad that I can't easily remember them being that little!}

I had just started reading blogs and thought it would be fun

to start my own.

So I did.

And I'm so glad I did.

It's my scrapbook.

I guess I should put all of my dusty scrapbook stuff

on freecycle, because it's never going to be used again.

And, as crazy as it seems to some people, I've met great people through this blog.

And not one of them is an ax murderer.

So...to celebrate...I got a few of my favorite things for you!

First, the GOOD MORNING mug.
I love this mug.
I bring it to swim team every morning because it's huge and holds a ton of coffee.
And I need a ton of coffee at swim team.


I also love those little rainbow mixing bowls from World Market.
They'd be so perfect for letting the kids decorate cupcakes
with a bunch of different sprinkles!


And then...the hagelslag.  
It's my husband and kids' favorite treat.
They eat it like the picture on the box: on bread and butter.
I eat it like sprinkles on ice cream.  Mmmm.


And finally,
remember back in June I told you how I needed this print?

Well it's on its way to my house as we speak.
AND...the super awesome Lindsay from Pen and Paint is offering 
up an 8x10 from her shop to you!
Go to her etsy shop and look at all of her amazing art.
Seriously...I want to paint like her,
but I can't.
So instead I'll shop. 
:)


Want to win?
Leave a comment and tell me what you were doing four years ago.
Or what you'd like to be doing in four years.
Or what you'll be doing at four o'clock tomorrow.  I'm easy. :)
And if you want another entry follow Lindsay's blog.
And mine, if you want yet another entry.


I'll pick a winner Thursday.
And now I'm off to drink, like, a gallon of coffee in my GOOD MORNING mug.
Seriously, it's huge.

insta friday - the 'cranky post office people' edition. {and a winner}

Hey, y'all!
{i lived in texas for a couple of years, remember? i feel like i'm allowed to say that.}

Today was a good day:

my migraine is gone,

I got my hair done

{blond again!},

and I had lunch with my dad.

A good Thursday.

Thursdays are usually good days, it seems....

Hopefully I'll make this Thursday a little better for

Susanne and Betty.

Yay!

Email me your addresses, if you please!

{forever folding laundry at hotmail dot com}
And thanks to everyone for the nice words about my shop.

And now:
on to the instas.

This was my fortune last Friday night when we went out for Chinese.

I think that fun party may just be happening this weekend.

I read this over and over this week.
Worry is definitely my struggle.
Thankfully I have a Refuge.

In line at the post office.  Waiting waiting waiting.
And people watching.
I noticed that people seem to be very cranky at the post office.
And that the workers seemed to be totally unphased by bad attitudes.
They must deal with a lot of crankies. :)

Red and green.

The drummer in the family is practicing for school talent show tryouts.

The piano player is practicing as well.

They have a duo in the works - I can't wait!

And tonight was a pumpkin pancake and turkey bacon kind of night.

I love those kind of nights.

Happy Friday!!

moving forward.

First of all, thank you.
To all of you who commented on my last post,
and all of you who emailed,
thank you.

You confirmed what I already knew,
which is that 99% of people who look at this little blog
are just lovely.

Thank you for introducing yourselves,
thank you for telling me a little about your life
to assure me you're "not creepy".
I loved hearing from all of you!
I'll do my best to respond, promise.

For now, I've decided not to go private.
Here's what I've done instead:
through Blogger I have de-indexed my blog from search engines.
{which i think can take a little time to fully happen, but eventually will address many of my concerns.}
I've also gone back through some of my old posts and reverted them to drafts.
{they're still there, so when i'm ready to print them i can, but no longer visible.}

I've also put this site to use.
It allows you to block certain ip addresses from visiting your blog.
{and it works.}

And finally, I won't be posting as many pictures of the kids.
I tried to be careful before,
but will be even more so now.

So that's where I am.
Hopefully that will alleviate my concerns,
and help ensure that this space remains as I'd like it:
a place that's fun and creative and just day-to-day life.

Again, thanks.
You all made me feel supported and happy to be here.
:)

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.
Next post?
Let's get back to the fun stuff.

one sweet weekend.

This weekend was a whirlwind.
My friend Liz and I headed to our kids' soccer games Saturday morning,
and then Saturday afternoon hopped on a plane to Long Beach.

We spent our Saturday strolling around downtown Seal Beach,
eating the best fish tacos ever,
watching the sun set over the Pacific,
and then meeting a bunch of great friends for cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory
at Fashion Island.
{ooh la la - fashion island.  tres fancy.}

Sunday morning Liz, Kate, and I wandered around Huntington Beach
and shopped {hello, havaiana's store!}
and lunched and people-watched from our table at Fred's.

And then we headed to this:

I listened to my friend Julie and the awesome Jeannett speak about using your blog to uplift others.
I listened to the sweet Lindsey Cheney speak about balancing a business and family.
I listed to my friend Meg speak about God using each and every one of us in a unique way.
I saw great friends
and worked up a major sugar high thanks to all of the goodies.

And the thing about these great friends:
with the exception of Liz, we met through our blogs.
And I get it...that kind of sounds weird.
I could see it on friends' faces when I told them where I was going last weekend.
They were thinking:
that's weird.
You're weird.

I guess it's possible. :)


But the thing about "blog" friends,
is that they become real friends.
They are real people with real stories who choose to share those stories on their blogs.

And I'm sorry I didn't get more pictures of these lovely ladies,
but I left inspired.
I'm inspired to share more and love more and serve more.

And...I left with a new pair of Havaianas for Avery and I.
Score.

three years ago today...

 

...I was at the park with a friend

and she was telling me about how she discovered

this website written by a woman 

living on a ranch.

She was telling me about the love story

this woman was writing about herself and her husband, aka "Marlboro Man".

And I was telling her about this website

{"i think it's called a 'blog'?"}

I had just discovered 

while doing a google search for cakes 

authored by this cool girl in Kansas

who writes about her family and beautiful home and her love of color.

The first blogs I ever read,

and just the inspiration I needed.

Three years ago today I went home and started a blog.

I had no idea what I would blog about,

or if anyone would ever read it.

But here we are.

I blog about...let's see...random? nothing? everything?

and there are a few of you that read.

Thanks for that, friends.

Here's to another three!

xo

today, tuesday

Today was one of those days where I just couldn't wait
to get Avery to preschool so I could have
two and a half hours of quiet.

I went on a walk downtown.
It was sunny and warm and quiet.
So nice.
I wasn't powerwalking,
because with this stupid cold
if I walk quickly
or run
or laugh
or breathe,
I cough.
I probably burned more calories
coughing than walking,
but whatever.

So:
thank you for all of your input the other day
about 'casual chic'.
The dresses came yesterday.
I was hoping the first one was The One,
but it was too short.
Bummer.
I wasn't too optimistic about the white one.
But....
I. Love. It.
{i ordered it in purple,
which is a color I never wear,
but it actually works}
So I think I'm good.
Thanks, friends.
You're like my own personal
Stacy and Clinton.
:)

Oh...and the winner of the giveaway
was Toni.
Congrats!
Email me your info.
{foreverfoldinglaundry at hotmail dot com}

And on an unrelated note,
my chalkboard at the top of the stairs
is keeping count of how many 
days of school are left.

Seven more days.
It doesn't seem possible.


Today the kids were extra
hyper / bickery / crazy / whiny after school
and that small number on the chalkboard
made me nervous.

Let us all pray for
a large dose of
summertime patience. 


{or maybe it's just me that needs that....}


 

casual chic? {and a giveaway}

Lately I have felt a little...off?  disconnected?  blah?

It could be because my girlfriends and I
haven't had our usual Friday morning coffee
in several weeks.
{liz? joy? do we have a date for tomorrow?}

I've had a stupid chest cold since Mother's Day.
I even broke down the other day and took the OTC medicine
with the worst medicine name in history.
{to the makers of mucinex: seriously??  it's gross.}
Bright side: I'm getting a killer core workout from coughing.

I'm in party planning freak-out mode.
I know I'll get everything done before Avery's party on Sunday,
but I'm still feeling princess tea party-crazed.

I'm a week late for my usual hair appointment.
Not good.
I r-e-a-l-l-y need to get my blonde on.

And I haven't been doing much blog reading lately.
That's always a bummer.
How are you all?
Have I missed anything good?

But despite the weirdness
there's good stuff, too.
Gary and I were invited to attend the Cars 2 premiere
in Hollywood in June.

Fun, right?!
Yeah, BUT:
the attire is "casual chic".
Hmmm.
That threw me for a little loop.
I understand black tie,
but casual chic is a little tougher for me.

So I ordered this:

{link here}

and this:

{link here}

I have a super cute taupe pair of heels
from Anthro that I'd wear with whichever one works.
Yes?
No?
Are they casual chic?
Too casual?
Not enough chic?

Halp.

Anyway...
when I was window shopping online
for the elusive casual chic dress,
I bought you something.

I'm a big fan of summer journaling.
I made the kids journal two summers ago,
and I'm going to do it again this year.

And I'm going to do it with them.
But I always love a good writing prompt.
I saw this while browsing on anthropologie and knew I needed it:

It's a 5-year journal filled with prompts:
*how happy are you?
*what can you smell right now?
*today was unusual because _____

I like it.
I'm going to do it because
I want to remember those little things.

If you want your own Q&A journal,
just leave a comment telling me
what you'd like to remember about today.

Here's mine:
I'd like to remember how proud Colin was that
I wore the necklace he made me for Mother's Day to his fieldtrip.
He was beaming.
I need to remember that.

I'll choose a winner Monday.

**************
{and help a girl out: am i on the right track with casual chic?}

Because...

Because my boys are still sick,
and we are stuck at home
{hopefully for just one more day}

because I am sick of winter
and am loving the bright green baby leaves that are appearing on some of our trees
and am dreaming of retiring my wool socks for a few months

because I hung a bird feeder filled with niger seed (aka thistle seed)
in my plum tree
and now have tons of yellow finches visiting

because I need something happy to look at
and thought you might, too

and because I like you.
:)

I bought one for me,
and one for you.

I have the perfect spot in my sewing room for this:

{visit her shop - so many cute prints}

And those words could not be more true.
{for me, anyway}

Want one?
Just leave a comment and tell me what you're doing today.
I'll go first:
I'm at home doling out Ibuprofen and puffs on inhalers.

Please tell me you're doing something a little more fun.
{I'll announce the winner on Friday.}

meet my new friend.

Back in 1991,
when Beverly Hills 90210 was super popular,
I saw Tori Spelling and her boyfriend in a store in San Francisco.

I was like...Donna Martin!  I saw Donna Martin!!  Cool.

Two years ago Gary and I were at an event and
we saw Patrick Warburton.
We had a 10 minute conversation and he was the nicest guy.

I was like...Putty!  Elaine's boyfriend from Seinfeld, Putty!!
Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove!
I love him.

They were ok...
but then last night I met her.
Yes, her.
Ree.
Sorry Donna Martin and Putty.  She wins.

My friends and my mom and I headed over the bay bridge
to The Pioneer Woman's book signing.

We got to the bookstore at 6:15ish.
There were a l-o-t of people there.
Like...400 people.

When my friend called before the signing,
the book store told her they were expecting a lot of people
and were surprised
that a "mommy blogger" would attract so many people.
{Ree a "mommy blogger"??  Um, no.}

But even waiting all that time was fun.
I saw my blogging friend Mel - love her! -
and met Kim
and even saw a friend from high school.
{hi rebekah!}

My friends Liz, Kristin, and I had our books ready.
 

Ree brought her girls, her mother-in-law, her sister-in-law and niece, too.
They are all gorgeous.
And her girls are TALL.

And then...it was our turn.
We were all nervous!

We finally got to meet Ree...
although don't you already feel like you know her?

She is just as you'd imagine.
She's nice
and down-to-earth
and cute
and kind.
And she liked my shirt. :)

We waited three and a half hours
and didn't get home until midnight.

But it was totally worth it.

I'm pretty sure if P-Dub and I lived closer we
would meet for coffee and then spend an hour shopping at Anthropologie.

It could happen, right?



::and, as a postscript to yesterday...

I went with the brown.
:)

The Gift of Water

Do you remember Project 320 last year?
It's back.


It's all about giving access to clean drinking water
to those who need it.
It's something we *can* do.


And I know this is a tough time of year to donate.


Between gifts for your own family and children
and the angel tree at church
and adopt-a-family at the elementary school
and gifts for teachers and piano teachers and drum teachers
and everything else
things are tight.
I totally get it.


But if you have $10 to spare
(skip Starbucks this week?)
consider giving towards clean water.

And...you can even win something!

A clip for every month.
Because what little girl doesn't need a snowman clippie next month?


You will win this cute scrappy wreath I made, too.
It will look great from now until Valentine's Day and beyond.

So if you want to enter
{and, more importantly, help build a well}
 here's how it works:

For each $10 donation through the charity:water
Project 320 well page,
you earn *one* entry.

There's no limit to how many times you can enter,
as long as you adhere to the $10/entry rule.


And...there are other blogs participating.
And lots of other cool stuff.
Check out the Project 320 page to see it all.

the power of a simple gift

Today I went to Avery's preschool Thanksgiving party
Colin's teacher conference
{he is *rocking* 1st grade}
and his drum lessons.
I had intended to cook dinner
but was exhausted and we brought Subway home instead.

{I'm feeling a little blank right now.
It's either because Gary is working 12 hour days and I'm virtually a single parent
or because I just finished watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Not sure which.}

After dinner the kids were looking through one of the dozens of catalogs we got in the mail this week
and making notes for Christmas.

Then I remembered what I had seen on another blog about Samaritan's Purse.
It's an organization dedicated to filling shoeboxes with toys and goods for
children around the world who
will otherwise receive nothing.


So we switched gears and went from making our Christmas lists
to making lists for others.
Have you heard of Operation Christmas Child?
You can fill a box, too.
Watch this video to see what they do,
and what you can do.

Whoops.

I totally forgot about my 2 year blogiversary.


It was in July.


That's not quite as bad as forgetting your wedding anniversary,
{which I've never done}
{and which Gary has never done}
{because he knows what's good for him}
but still.


So...I got you something.
Okay, technically I got us both something.

I love Country Living...and the Farm Chicks.
Oh, and Christmas. :)
So I had to buy this:

I bought one for both of us.

It has cute anecdotes
and Christmas decorating ideas
and recipes.

I love those trees.
I want to make the yarn one.


If you want to win the other book,
just leave a comment.
If you want to become a follower and leave another comment,
you can have another entry.
I'll choose a winner Monday.


And then once you win the book
you can get right to work
making your Christmas decorations.

Ha.

Water.

Have you heard?

It's *the* gift to give this season.

Too many people in this world have no access to clean water.
Something we all take for granted daily.

But we can help.
Julie had a vision, and there are many people working to make it happen.
(Me included.)
Find out more here.


Make a change in a real person's life: help build a well.
{And as a bonus: you can win some fun goodies!}

Money well spent, don't you think?