Tales of Me and the Husband

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 8.

red lipstick.  
every lady should have it in her stash.
makes you feel like an instant goddess… a classy goddess.
even in your pj’s – but who does that?
anyways, available just about everywhere.
and sting makes me a little weak in the knees with these lyrics&song:
(the song is the last on my playlist over thurrr, ch-ch-ch-check it out)
The priest has said my soul’s salvation
Is in the balance of the angels
And underneath the wheels of passion
I keep the faith in my fashion
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings

I’m still in love with you
[I’m gonna find a place to live
Give you all I’ve got to give]
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings


If I could break down these walls
And shout my name at heaven’s gate
I’d take these hands
And I’d destroy the dark machineries of fate
Cathedrals are broken
Heaven’s no longer above
And hellfire’s a promise away
I’d still be saying
I’m still in love
sting is lovely, just lovely.  if you don’t listen to him already, you should.

A craft, a craft!

I don’t do crafts and I’m not an artistic person and stick-figures is about the best you can get out of me.  But, inspired by a few websites (Nie being one… gosh, obsess much?) I made my first silhouette!  Me!  A craft!  It’s a Chrismahanukwanzakah miracle!

The outside is actually a light blue but the picture doesn’t show that.
It was fun and by gosh I think I’ll do more!!
 
This got me and sister, Kate, the one with the pumpkin, talking (that’s us on the steps of my old house with the lovely Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop; Mom-Mom made a mean peach cobbler and had the perfect bosom to curl up to for a nice, long winter’s nap).  Kate is artsy, and she is sage, and she is also silly (best of both worlds).  I am mostly silly, a little sage.  So, stay tuned.

Distraction, thankfulness, & favorite thing no. 7.

So I read NieNie’s article last night. (How is it that if you become a blogger, you automatically find out about Stephanie Nielsen?  She is totally famous in the blogging world.  It’s like a secret society that I didn’t know existed until I pushed a little “Create Blog” button.)  I couldn’t stop.  Part of me wanted to, it was so sad.  I have no experience with burns so I really couldn’t have any sort of medical understanding about what third and fourth degree burns are, the toll they take on a body.  The article described some of that and it was so devastatingly sad.  Her hands needing pins in them to keep their shape… skin needing to be grown to be replaced on her body… the clashing of emotions: happy to be alive, sad to have a face unlike your own.  I can’t do it any justice.  Read the article.

So, it is with Stephanie Nielsen’s story in mind that I post my next picture.  I found this in Lindsey’s room one day when I was cleaning.  The best part, to me, is that she wrote this and never drew mine or Steve’s attention to it.  She really just wrote it for her.  I think that’s pretty special.

Ain’t she sweet?  I especially love the “Help us to ask the question, “What would Jesus do” and then just do it.”

And of course, a favorite thing.

I don’t own this and have only dabbled (yes, dabbled) in it ever but it’s pretty amazing and I’d like to own it one day.  It’s pretty pricy.  Anyone want to give me theirs?  I will give you a back rub in exchange.
And on another note, look what arrived this weekend!  This baby made me $10 at the concession stand on Saturday (think I’m gonna need to aim a little higher next time, especially since $2 was from Steve and most of the rest was tip money William made helping out–every time he made any, he’d stick it in the jar and smirk at me to make sure I was looking.  What a guy).

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 6.

This stuff smells just like Christmas.  Frasier fir, to be exact.  I am majorly into smells… good ones, that is.  So this stuff is just perfect.  I have only smelled it (and envisioned sugarplums in my head) as I browse through a particular NBPT store, however one day I’ll splurge ($14 for hand soap… it’s a tough call) and get it for the season.  Imagine getting the candle, cleaning spray, soap, and lotion all at once.  It’d be a Christmas extravaganza.  A Christmas miracle!

So, from our house to yours this morning,

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 5.

Tomorrow will be a crazy day.
I am being a good parent and doing my share as a volunteer at William’s school.
In fact, I am the sole organizer of a concession stand for 100s of hungry peeps shopping at a craft fair.
I say that’s my share and then some.
So, I’m revealing favorite thing #5 a few hours early.
(I find it so funny to say revealing like it’s a big deal or something.)
This is some of the best TV I’ve ever watched.
Watch it and bask in the glory that is God’s creation.

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 4.

This was given to me by my sister Meghan.  She is the eldest, I am the youngest, and there are two in between.  They’re some of my favorite people in the world.
That’s beside the point.  This smells lovely and is small so it can go in your pocket so as to smell good all day long and seduce everyone you pass: the check-out person at the grocery store included.  Because that’s what we’re all striving for.
Enjoy.
And have a good Friday!
—————
Cute story: William just put my first “tip” in my Make it Right jar.  50 cents.  Thatta boy!
What’s that?  You don’t know what I’m talking about?  Oh, let me help you.
Click the hat!
————-
Have you seen THIS?

A trench coat and skinny jeans on a little girl?
*photo from gap kids.
SO CUTE.
And for a total of $136, it can be yours!
Apparently Ms. McCartney’s children do not spill on themselves, use their sleeves as tissues, or their jeans as napkins.

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 3.

I was pretty late in discovering Etsy.  Am I the only one?  I only discovered it last year, and then of course I felt gipped all the prior years of life before knowing about it.  Anyway, now I know, and am grateful.  I could furnish my entire home and self and kids and hubby at Etsy and be quite pleased (mix a little Anthropologie in here and there, if you don’t mind).
Anyway, this was my first Etsy purchase, in my orange bathroom, and I love it just as much as I did when it first arrived.  I think it’s a good sentiment to read in the bathroom, don’t you?  Sometimes, on the toilet, you’re not totally sure if it’s going to be okay.  So this reassures us.
It can be yours for $23 (not including frame–I got that at Target).  And here is the lovely Etsy shop where you’ll find it.
And I know I’m breaking the rules here by listing 2, but these have captured my heart for over a year now.  I don’t own one yet, but one step at a time.

Another good bathroom sentiment.  And also found at Etsy… and in soooo many colors, it’ll make you swoon.

Bridget’s favorite things, no. 2.

this CD is a little breath o’ fresh air.
and who knew scarlett johannson could sing?
fabulous lips, acting skillz, and now a singer.  envious?
nah!  i make a shrimp scampi like it’s nobody’s business!
click here to hear the title track.
and once again,
available at your local target, walmart, kmart, or amazon.com!
also, might i interest you in some holiday giveaways?
As Good As Cake

The man’s a child at heart.

When I first moved in to where I live now, people were already living in the house.  Those people (this time my husband is included).  So, naturally, there were some things already done (you know, furniture put in places it did or did not belong, a curtain here, a stack of towels there) and of course, a lot left undone.  A single dad with four kids–come on, it was a full on bachelor pad, if you disregarded the random pink underwear, headless Barbies, or the American girl on the kitchen floor, complete with the knotty never’ll-be-the-same-again hair.  Basically, it needed a woman’s touch.  I was just that woman.

Just before we were married, my husband was adding a third floor to the house (a floor which I really like.  He has good taste.  Hi honey!).  In this project, one thing was left undone for which I am ever grateful.  He was in talks with the builder about putting a pole from the third floor to the second floor.  Like a fireman’s pole–nothing else (you dirty girl; but now that you mention it?).  This would be for the kids to grab onto and slide down to their little heart’s content.  Where would it end up you ask?  In the master bedroom closet.  Yes, indeed.  They’d grip onto that pole, wrap their little legs around it, let go, and seconds later be in my closet peeking their heads out at all sorts of ungodly times.

“Mom and Dad are just wrestling, kids!  We do this a lot!”

Needless to say, it did not happen.  Do you hear the Hallelujah chorus in the background?  I certainly did.  I remember him telling me about this unfinished business of his (I still think he has this dream for a future home) as if I would be disappointed.  Disappointed?!  Ecstatic is more like it!  Not that I’m anti-children’s fun (or am I?) but I am anti-children’s fun when the fun is happening one place, and seconds later, without warning, that fun is at my back door, literally.  It’s just bad feng-shui.

So, it is with my husband in mind, that I post this picture.  I love it and would absolutely give it the thumbs-up in a future home.  I suppose it could be a bit of a danger with a waddling toddler nearby, but at the moment, that’s neither here nor there.

“Wheeeeeeee!”
*taken from swissmiss
Perhaps this would fulfill my husband’s “adventure-in-the-home” fantasies.  As for those other fantasies…

William gives a “thumbs up!” to some soup.

Carmelized Leek Soup
*epicurious.com
2 pounds leeks (white and pale green parts only; about 2 bunches)


  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/4 cup vermouth
  • 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
Halve leeks lengthwise and thinly slice crosswise. In a large bowl of cold water wash leeks well and lift from water into a large sieve to drain. In a 6-quart heavy kettle cook leeks in butter over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until some begin to turn golden, about 40 minutes. Stir in sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Stir in vermouth and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is evaporated and most leeks are golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Deglaze kettle with 1/2 cup broth and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes more, until liquid is evaporated and leeks are deep golden. Add remaining 3 cups broth and bring soup just to a boil. Season soup with salt and pepper.
It’s seriously good.
My tip: don’t stir too much.  I did that once.
It should look something like this.

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