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Welcome! {decorate your soul} exists as a link to my family's adventures, as well as a creative spot to showcase my crafts and photography. Information for potential clients is located in the links above.Thank you for joining us here.
♥ ♥ ♥
Susie

Fast & Furious: 3 Cards, 1 Design

February 5, 2010 – 9:34 pm

It’s no secret (I think), I’m a big fan of making cards. I can’t tell you the last time I bought one, but I’m sure I cringed when I saw that it was overpriced and thought, “Hey, I can do that!” (the story of my life).

I have a few “go-to” quick and easy designs that I play around with, I thought I would add a new feature to {decorate your soul} this year and see if I could share easy ways to get creative with a small amount of supplies on hand.  I know I’m not new to this challenge in the “industry,” but cross my heart, I’m not playing a design challenge elsewhere, it’s just me here inviting you to join in if you have some spare time and some spare supplies.

Here we go- February’s Fast & Furious Design using:

One Sentiment

One Scallop Punch

One Hole Punch

_MG_4059

_MG_4061_MG_4065

I have some Valentine’s cards, but they’re getting their own post soon… Happy Crafting!

By Susie | Posted in Uncategorized | 12 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Katy   -  

    cool.. do you know I made a little Valentine’s card/tag in the last hour (before I saw this).. using.. a scallop punch, hole punch, and a sentiment stamp. :)

  2. jenny l.   -  

    These are wonderful, Susie!

  3. Deanne   -  

    Love your cards (always do!)!! I have a go-to card that I use when it comes to kids birthday parties. Typically I use the same stamp but change up the paper so it matches the bag or wrapping paper. I’ll have to see if I have a picture of it buried somewhere on a forgotten flash card! :)

  4. janine   -  

    fun cards! :)

  5. Missy   -  

    sweet, thanks for the inspiration on this cold snowy saturday morning. I may just have to curl up in my craft room for a bit.

  6. Sandi Svoboda   -  

    I love love LOVE the third one! All of them are cute and I like that they’re not folded evenly in half. Lots of good ideas! My boys helped me pick out my first solo card – can’t wait to show you!

  7. gina   -  

    thank you for the inspiration. i have the 3 supplies. i have paper. and i was planning to go out and buy a bday card today. now, no need!!! just gonna act on the inspiration.

  8. *mindi*   -  

    That “welcome, welcome” card is so sweet!

  9. Maureen Boyden   -  

    cute cute! Perhaps I shall join in :)

  10. Misha   -  

    Soooooooooooo cute!

  11. nadine   -  

    i love that scallop punch. i use it all the time!

  12. j.j.   -  

    must.get.scallop.punch.

    that was a great creative punch, my friend:)

3 of 10 free things I love to do: Baking

February 4, 2010 – 12:44 pm

Untitled-2I’ve gone back and forth on deciding if baking is technically free, but decided that the act (or art, depending on how good you are) of doing does not actually mean having to go and fork out money to enjoy the fun involved. Having said that, I present my third in a series of ten things I love to do that doesn’t cost a dime: Baking.

If you looked carefully at all the junk in our pantry a few days ago, you may have noticed (or not, it was a mess after all) the outrageous amounts of flours, sugars, Crisco and raisins (oh dear, NO one eats raisins at our house, they MUST be for baking) that always tend to have a home on our shelves. It’s an easy excuse to make a yummy with the girls on any given afternoon, to fill my home with sweet smells of baked goods, or to deliver a surprise treat to an unsuspecting neighbor. And bonus: Who doesn’t love to lick the bowl when it’s lined with warm chocolate?

And don’t get me started on dessert. I can’t help myself- I have no idea how people have so much restraint and pass on it when its offered. Baking for the reward of desserts rock.

I may not always be successful in baking adventures- in fact, the shot I have above was a recipe I made from Ina over two weeks ago and I let the buns bake just a tad too long. Baking seems to have a learning curve  to some degree and doesn’t work well with an oven whose temperature gauge is off just by that much (see my fingers an inch apart?).

Luckily, I enjoy baking enough, I’ll probably give it another go again soon.

By Susie | Posted in 10 Free Things I love | 8 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Jamie Little   -  

    I feel like every oven we’ve ever had has been a tad off…..one of the many joys of moving so often I suppose. Someday when I own a house and the oven in it, I am going to have that thing super calibrated! haha

  2. Missy   -  

    baking has always been something maya and I love doing together:)

  3. Deanne   -  

    Mmmmmm…..cinnamon rolls!!! Great. Now I’m gonna have to go make some. *sigh* :)

    Me? I love baking too! Deserts and yummy things are my fav. But I never get too fancy schmancy. Although….that might be fun, maybe i should try it! :)

  4. Marie Taylor   -  

    I have never tried cinnamon rolls-will have to put that on the list. I am actually planning today to do some baking as we are going snowed in :)

  5. jill   -  

    I love baking… and, I had this interesting combination of dinner guests on two different days this week who had totally different ideas of how to accomplish the perfect chocolate chip cookie ;) Of course, some have said I make the perfect chocolate chip cookies, but…

    Those sandwich cookies I made first when you visited me (oooo that was so fun!), are the hit though. Everywhere I take them, some says something nice. And, they are so easy.

    Cinnamon rolls… now, there lies the path of ambition. I tend to make quick bread with veggies. We have zuc, pumpkin or a fruit kind for breakfast on school days.

    And, have you tried the cinnamon dulce drink at Starbucks? This is how I will survive this day.

  6. Tamara Nicole   -  

    Good for you! I LOVE to bake and it is like therapy sometimes:-)

  7. Susy   -  

    I think I recognize that recipe. Is it one of Ina’s cinnamon roll recipes with the puff pastry? They look great. Maybe you could help Mark and I pick out a new camera~ Ours is on the dying end. Thanks for the visit today. It made my day!

  8. Susie   -  

    It is Ina’s with the puff pastry. I probably would have been okay if I took it out about four minutes earlier. I’ll talk to you about cameras on Tuesday ;)
    S

Ten on Tuesday

February 2, 2010 – 7:00 pm

1. PSA: My friend Denee‘ and I are co-hosting an evening of wine tasting and chocolate fondue in a few weeks. All interested couples, save the date for Friday, February 19th (and e-mail so I can send an official evite!)

2. I took a quiz on facebook (I know, time waster) and it was called “What 80s movie defines you?” Want to take a wild guess?

3. I’m looking for somewhere warm to take the girls over spring break. It has to be within driving distance and 75 degree weather. Any suggestions? And Anna is out of the question, she won’t be home. :(

4. Speaking of, it hit 45 degrees outside today, the girls and I strolled around the neighborhood, it was quite nice. It’s funny how your perspective of warm changes in colder temps.

5. I got my haircut last week with a substitute hairstylist. It’s kind of a substitute hairstyle, too. Blah.

6. Recently, we became owners of Ina Garten’s Back to Basics recipe book – it’s not a cookbook I would have chosen on my own, but we just made the most amazing lemon herb chicken on the grill (thank you Andy for braving single digit temps for that :) ). That’s about the fifth recipe that I’ve made and love, love it. I’m looking at adding another of Ina’s to our collection. Which one should I go for: French food to make at home or Everyday Recipes You’ll Make Over and Over Again?

7. In regards to #2: Princess Bride. Maybe I should give it another go? Sigh.

8. My beloved goes-with-everything Fossil handbag is dying. I’m on the hunt for a new one. Considering camel something or mustardy this. Shoot, maybe I’ll go treasure hunting again.

9.  Book club book this month is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I have to refrain from reading any reviews, but so far, I like! What are you reading this week?

10. Are you a thrifty decor chick reader? I caught sight of her decrapification project: the pantry last week and guess what? I’m posting this picture as my motivation to get my own pantry right with the world. I’ll be back next week with (hopefully) good news to report.

_MG_4310

This is seriously embarrassing.

Happy Tuesday!

By Susie | Posted in Ten on Tuesday | 10 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Mom   -  

    I like the carmely something and I like your pantry,you can see everything.

  2. michelle_   -  

    Hey! I just cleaned my pantry on the weekend! (long overdue) I love your ten on tuesday! :)

  3. Marie Taylor   -  

    Hahaha-decrapification. Awesome. And really, you should see mine. Except it isn’t a pantry, it is a corner cupboard that I can’t even see the back of. Now really, talk about scary.

  4. Angela H   -  

    what about the Outerbanks on NC’s coast? It’s a bit of a hike but beautiful, beautiful beaches!

  5. Misha   -  

    I love reading here. I seriously always laugh or grin. Thank you!

  6. Missy   -  

    Yah…Laney pretty much has control of our pantry. How about Virginia Beach for Spring Break? When is theirs? Ours is the week before Easter. Oh and I’d go with everyday recipes!

  7. Mary Jo   -  

    Decrapification is my new favorite word! :0)

  8. Becca   -  

    Um the handbags are turning in to old fogie bags….Not saying anyomore…O hey other then I still have my fossil wallet-it will never die…

  9. Jeni   -  

    Now wait, I can’t tell if that is my pantry or yours! This is something I need to work on! Sometimes I waste good food…I can’t eat anything with expired expiration…and things sure can hide in my pantry.

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Home Accents

February 1, 2010 – 9:05 pm

I think winter stirs up a type of redecorating bug in me because the same thing happened last winter- I had the urge to purge and then put things all over my walls. I would paint them, too, but Andy gets a little cranky about the whole paint-it-back-to-it’s-original-blah-rental-color-before-we-move part in our leasing contract. So, I do what I can get away with. Home accents.

Before Christmas, I participated in a holiday shindig where I displayed a few of my photography prints trying to stir-up some winter business (it didn’t work as intended) (but I’m plenty busy, so I’m not complaining). I checked out a couple of those shops with an excess of eclectic looking items (Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, etc.) and happened upon the mother load of french chic and nabbed a few for the table. As it turns out, they were just the beginning of this new collection and exactly what I wanted for a fresh look for 2010 (Confession: I’m a little bit obsessed with my mantel):

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(Just to be fair, I saw this one a few month’s ago and bookmarked it because it is sweet!)

The same week as the holiday shindig, I took down my “Keep Calm and Carry On” Poster to see how our new canvas would look and somehow, it never got taken down and my poster never got put back up. Luckily, I shopped my basement, found my beloved red shelf and a new home for that cutie pie poster:

Untitled-1The really cool birdcage that has sat awkward and empty in three rooms got a fresh look with some new finds on clearance at Hobby Lobby (California friends, we need to write to HL execs- this store NEEDS to come to the southland!! It’s pretty awesome!). My favorite pieces are three filigree squares that I kept grabbing more of trying to make something out of on the floor of the store- it’s funny how we can over complicate something that needs only simplicity):

_MG_4318I didn’t even know that while I was busying myself downstairs with adding accents here and there, Andy was doing the same upstairs in his office. If you look closely, you might spy the one thing that looks fresh, new and a little bit eclectic.

_MG_4339Oh wait- didn’t see it- how about a close-up?

_MG_4338Best part of his home accent addition? It was free. Yep. It only cost him a trip to the dentist every few months for the next year. He’s getting a crown fixed with an implant and got to take home his dental impressions.

Nice.

Happy home accent-ing :)

By Susie | Posted in Uncategorized | 4 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Missy   -  

    oh how I love your decorating skills. I need to head out to TJ max and look around!

  2. Becca   -  

    Thats a little bit TMI…lol..I love the mantle…Its super cute…Very antique looking….

  3. Marie Taylor   -  

    Oh everything is so cute! I especially love your apple basket :)

  4. Amy   -  

    Susie–your house looks great! I’m inspired that you were inspired to do something when you know you only have a few months left in your place. You asked about my mantle a while ago and I have some photos here:

    http://shertzertime.blogspot.com/2008/09/ten-on-tuesday.html

    I haven’t really changed it since we moved in, but I do now have an 11×14 canvas of a family picture by Erin from this July. It has all 4 of us. Permanently, I plan to put it in a wall display upstairs, but since it’s the only nice photo of the entire family, I just put it on the mantle, even though it doesn’t quite fit there like I would like. I’m waiting for our trip this summer (which will hopefully happen) to have her do another family portrait with all 4 us so I can replace the big pic (it’s 16×24) that’s currently up there. I can’t have Benjamin feeling snubbed!

Susie’s Top 5 Favorite Movies

January 29, 2010 – 10:35 pm

I don’t know if I have ever listed these here, but it’s worth mentioning, I think, in case my kids ever wanted to know or if Andy and I are every playing some couples’ game and it comes down to this. So here we go:

5. Tombstone: Some of the best one-liners I’ve ever seen in one movie. And then there’s the young version of Val Kilmer. Oh wait, that’s Top Gun. Why isn’t that on my list?

4. Cutting Edge: Toooooooe Pick

3. Good Will Hunting: Good dialogue between the characters; Matt Damon & Ben Affleck, I mean c’mon!

2. You’ve Got Mail: I could watch Meg Ryan and her cutie pie skirts & ballet flats over think and develop an interesting friendship with her archnemisis any day of the week

1. Beaches: Bette and Barbara were amazing as lifetime friends. It’s a tear jerker, but it gets me every time.

By Susie | Posted in Uncategorized | 10 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Rachel   -  

    Beaches is one of my ALL TIME favorites! I’ve seen it like a zillion times! :-)

  2. jill   -  

    oooh… these are some goodies. i loved, loved the cutting edge. but, i loved tombstone (and top gun) for different reasons ;) there are so many good ones to pick from!

  3. Missy   -  

    oooh Top Gun! My ultimate fave is Annie. Wow- I’m going to have to think about the rest. Good Will Hunting is up there too for me!

  4. Anel   -  

    Love the Cutting Edge…had the biggest crush on that guy, but for some reason the name escapes me. Now I have to google the movie to get the name or it will bug me all day…Thanks.

  5. Anel   -  

    D. B. Sweeney

  6. *mindi*   -  

    Toooooe pick! My brother and I used to watch that movie all the time :)
    You’ve Got Mail would be in my top 5 also!

  7. gina   -  

    your top 3 are some of my favs too!

  8. nadine   -  

    i LOVE cutting edge!

  9. Becca   -  

    BIGGEST laugh of the day.. Movies# 2-5 the first time I ever watched them was with you and 3 of them are on my top 10…We are soooo sisters.

  10. sheri   -  

    you’ve got mail is one of my favourites, too.

Ten on Tuesday

January 26, 2010 – 7:25 pm

1. Every time I wear the combination grey, red and black, I feel romantic. Is romance a style of fashion design?

2. My SanDisk is giving me a headache. It’s going a little bit fritzy on me and I’m about to battle it out with my hammer.

3.  We’re getting closer and closer to one of my favorite Hallmark holidays- I can’t wait for February to decorate. Why do I make holiday decorating rules anyway?

4. Lolo and Sarah got an early start today while we had some paper out for Ashleigh’s shoebox project. Here’s Sarah’s creation that Lauren is holding up:

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5. Then it made me think that I could bend the rules… so I am updating my blog banners to reflect winter & Valentine’s Day. I hope I will remember to change them again when the March lions show up.

6. I haven’t been feeling 100% lately and after piano lessons for Sarah today, I just wanted SOMEthing warm to drink. I was really wishing for a drive-thru Starbucks, but, it’s 16 miles away. So I decided to give McDie’s mochas a second try. And guess what? I quite enjoyed it (GASP!).

Untitled-87. I have been finding myself putting “Safe” by Phil Wickham on repeat lately. I just read today that his song made it to #10 in the USA Today Christian Chart. Go check it out!

8. Andy applied to an internship program in DC right after graduation and this past Sunday, we found out out that he was accepted. Go Andy! With that of information,  we won’t be moving until the summer cycle. Mixed emotions from me, but the girls are over the moon excited  because they get to stay and finish off their school year and be part of the dance recital in June.

9. While I was at Target last week, I picked up the worst-ever designed dish soap bottle. The pink and grapefruit drew me in, but the bottle is awkwardly shaped making it difficult to hold and squeeze together. Be forewarned.

10. Here is a little sneak peak for my 5 card workshop on Friday evening. I have two more spots, so if you’re local and want to join in- e-mail me :)

_MG_4076-EditHave a blessed week!

By Susie | Posted in Ten on Tuesday | 18 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Missy   -  

    5. I was just going to say how much I LOVE the banner. PS- is that owl REAL?!! Awesome my friend!
    6. I like the MD’s cold hazlenut coffee. For some reason the hot mocha’s from there just don’t work for me.
    8. So will you guys make a pit stop in DC on the way to CA? And Yay for dance recitals!!
    10. I wish I was local:(

  2. Rachel   -  

    What time on Friday? Can you send me a message on FB with the details?

  3. Janelle Anderson   -  

    So awesome to hear! I’m happy you’ll be around a few more months. :) I know Mike wants to try to get into that program next year…nice work Andy!! Oh, my boy is walking and will be one year on the 9th!! My little Valentine. Miss you. -J

  4. Tamara Nicole   -  

    I actually love McDonalds lattes! Only with flavor though. BUT they are cheaper and less calories:-)

    Yeahhhh for Valentine’s! Lovely cards.

  5. Angela   -  

    Oooh, fun and adorable cards!! Love them!! And I’ve been thinking of changing my banner to reflect the month of February, too :) Let’s face it, how can you go wrong with hearts and love?

  6. Amy   -  

    Love your updated banner! And congrats to Andy! I know what you mean about mixed feelings. It’s so hard to leave a place, but once you know it’s going to happen (and that you can’t do anything about it) you almost feel like you just want to get it over with already. But, hey, there’s nothing like moving to the desert in the middle of summer! ;-) (It was 106 the day the movers pulled up with our stuff. And it was only late May–don’t worry, it’s a dry heat!)

  7. sheri   -  

    love your banner. i love Valentine’s too. mostly for the pretty colours.

  8. becky   -  

    Congratulations to Andy! It was meant to be…yippee! I know it slows the homecoming, and boy do we miss you, but it is SO good for the girlies. So, in the spirit of a homecoming, tell me some dates and we can schedule a great camping expedition weekend and have a homecoming family blast weekend! (and NOT in Lancaster). he he.

  9. Megan   -  

    That is one cute valentine project and I love those sample cards. Yay for Andy. At least the kids get to finish their school year. I love the new banner!

  10. jill   -  

    Wow… looks like excitement ahead, adventure, fun… we’ve been doing Valentine’s since Christmas ended ;) Happy days to you!

  11. Nicole RussellWillis   -  

    I bought that same *DARN* dish soap. It’s impossible to hold and heavy and slides right out of my hand! I feel your pain!
    LOOOOOOOVE your banner. Drool! :)

  12. michelle_   -  

    Love those cards! So fun! :)

  13. j.j.   -  

    sus i was just wondering how your card workshop fun nights go – i’m thinking i’d like to host one in the future. notice i didn’t say NEAR future. also i need some inspiration cause my card box is sadly depleted. so thanks:)

  14. Mary Jo   -  

    Ooooh, like the looks of your cards! :)
    Wish I lived close.

  15. katherinemarie   -  

    ohhhhhh those look so darling! I only wish I was local— I’d come in a heart beat! :) :)

  16. elizabeth   -  

    That is NOT a real owl, but one I think I gave you, right? : )

    I am almost fighting back tears I’m so jealous you’re headed to DC. I miss it so, so, so much. Congratulations to Andy!

  17. Deanne   -  

    looking at your tray of cards makes me wish I was local. :( looks like fun! can you take that card shop on the road??! :)

  18. Jeni   -  

    Those are cute! I like that snowflake. I am a card girl too.

Afternoon Piano Practice

January 26, 2010 – 5:58 pm

Sarah began learning how to play piano this past fall. She goes just once a week for a 1/2 hour one-on-one lesson and spends about 15 minutes each day here at home playing the notes from her song books. I regret that I didn’t take any video while she was practicing today, but it’s kind of cool to follow and document her concentration as she grows in this area.

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This is one of those things that impresses me- how musicians read music and PLAY it at the same time. I’m so proud of this girl- she’s doing it!

_MG_4047_MG_4053I’m especially thankful for the internet so when Sarah asks for help (read: I need a little help) finding where a key is (or a grand staff, a clef, etc. –foreign vocabulary for sure!), I can GOOGLE it and voilà- like magic, I can find a key on the piano.

Untitled-6Hard work will pay off for this little one- I’m sure of it. Sarah impresses us with how well she picks up  a variety of activities so quickly. I didn’t realize how happy she would be to finish the exercise- she kind of caught me off guard here- she must have known I was going to show you.

Untitled-7

By Susie | Posted in Uncategorized | 7 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Erin   -  

    That’s so great! I took lessons from 8 – 16 and while I can’t play nearly that well anymore, I’m so glad I learned. When my girls get older, I hope they’ll be interested in the piano and want to take lessons.

  2. Missy   -  

    My parents have a piano ready and waiting for us to have. Thinkin when Maya’s 6 may be a good time to start some lessons.

  3. Sheri   -  

    that’s great! how old is she, Suzie? At what age did you start her on piano lessons?

  4. Mom   -  

    I love that girl!

  5. Becky.Cooke   -  

    I am impressed with musicians too. Kurt plays instruments and reads music so hopefully Peter will follow.

    Great job Sarah, stick with it girl! You’ll be glad you did.

    Also, I gotta say your wa-la is funny. The French is voilà (literally meaning “look there”) in case you wanna go for it..

  6. Marie Taylor   -  

    This makes my heart happy. Lily can’t wait to start her piano lessons…when she can read. I just answered an emergency music question for Maddie last week-so glad I could help with the answer (I’m more fun than google ;)

  7. Becca   -  

    My beautiful princess…I am always so proud of her..!

2 of 10 free things I love to do: Snuggle Bugs

January 22, 2010 – 10:23 pm

_MG_3921-EditOne of my favorite things to do with the girls doesn’t cost a dime- just my time. When a sweet request for “snuggle bugs” exits from a sweet little  girl around here, it’s hard not to resist.

“Mama, can we snuggle bug?”  says, Lolo, Ashleigh or Sarah.

Our favorite time to catch some snuggles together is in the morning after the bus picks up Sarah- so Ash and Lauren and I usually spend 5-15 minutes hanging out on the sofa watching Matt and Meredith. If you catch us later in the day, we might be under a blanket reading a story, but still snuggle bugging. Sometimes on the weekend, they crawl into bed and ask for snuggle bugs before we have to crawl out.

My heart melts. I love, love it. I love them.

Whatever you call it, it’s a special exchange that can only occur if you pause and take time to give and receive it.

By Susie | Posted in 10 Free Things I love | 6 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Missy   -  

    being a mama is the best EVER!

  2. Mom   -  

    I love snuggle bugs too!

  3. jill   -  

    This is a wonderful post, Susie ;) Somedays it’s important for me to move this part to the front of my mind when things are getting overcrowded in there…

  4. mandi!   -  

    so very, very true =]

  5. sheri   -  

    i’ll be sad when my little ones don’t want to snuggle anymore. hope that day never comes.

  6. Mary Jo   -  

    I am so glad that Evan even at age eight still needs snuggle time (although not in front of friends of course!). I’m trying to enjoy it now as much as possible because I do know that someday he won’t. I will stop everything and anything for snuggles!!!

Ten on Tuesday

January 19, 2010 – 9:33 pm

1. Are you praying for the nation of Haiti and survivors this week? Every news story results in two things around here: tears and prayer. I can’t speak for Andy, but I’m doing a lot of both.

2. There are many things that one can do, but if you are in a place and have the means, I encourage you to think about applying to host a child from Haiti coming to the US for medical attention. Thank you to Tina for this link: Angels Mission Haiti.

3. I was looking at a map that I have of the US today (it’s on a file folder) and then looked south and it pictures Cuba, but not as far south as Haiti. Then I thought, they should be pictured, they are apart of our country now-apart of our hearts.

4. One last thing about Haiti for tonight: We may not all be united here on views and policies and what nots, but you cannot deny that our country is 100% lucky to have the resources, aid, and amazing ability to reach out to neighboring countries. I don’t think I can remember another time in my life (aside from 9/11) that I was more proud to be an American. More thankful for this blessed nation.

5. Onto less important things- while I lay in bed last night, I heard (what sounded like) a child being smothered. And then freaked out and flew into the girls room only to find a zhu zhu pet got set off by my 6-year-old that had rolled over. New rule tonight: No zhu zhu pets in bed.

6. Ashleigh has become a big fan of The Princess Bride. I tried with all my might, but I still couldn’t get into it.

7. Sarah’s class was learning about penguins last week and she came home with a host of facts about real life Emperor Penguins. It’s been awhile since I did that much non-fiction learning so my knowledge kind of stunk on the subject and she pressed me and asked if she was smarter than an adult (me) because she knew everything about Emperor Penguins. Hmm. Maybe so, I thought.

8. The girls like to ditch their socks at every opportunity they get. The result is that friends and neighbors are collecting scattered socks around the city and Ashleigh has five pairs of socks. Total.

9. Last year we had zero calendars. This year, Andy bought me one (that he tracked down from Chicago, nice honey!), my sister designed a personalized one and Andy’s grandma sent us a wine themed one. We have three! When it rains, it pours!

10. The older girls have been escaping down to the basement to practice their roller skating moves- so much so that Andy took them to the local rink this past weekend. He said Ashleigh did really well, but does it surprise you? I mean, c’mon, her mama wanted to be a roller skating snowflake at Disneyland way back when.

Untitled-5

By Susie | Posted in Ten on Tuesday | 14 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Dani   -  

    We used to rollerskate in the basement of our house in Wyoming. We also jumped rope and all sorts of other things, including, sending our slinky down the stairs! Loads of fun to be had in basements!

  2. Mom   -  

    Roller skating moves into another generation. Love it!

  3. Vicky   -  

    Ahhh memories and skating. I was the neighbor who broke her wrist. One of the more painful experiences in my life. Your dad was right-he told me NOT to put my hands down but land on my bottom when I fell. Hmmm, I wonder if he knew I was going to do that? Yeah, probably. :)

  4. Anel   -  

    “as you wish”

  5. Beverly Jacobson   -  

    Amy and I are thinking of taking our girls roller skating some Monday night…they play Christian music every Monday evening, I believe. Wanna join us?

  6. Denee   -  

    Very good ‘ten on tuesday’ ~ I keep thinking about hosting a family in Haiti as well. So sad and I feel so helpless… this is a way I would feel like I am doing something.
    As for roller skating, we were there too. Monday was an adventure for sure! The kids had never been. Lils did good. Josh, well, let’s just say his ‘Xtreme Skating’ wasn’t working so well ~ he needs more work. LOL

  7. Julie   -  

    Katy, Josh and I LOVE the princess bride! She can come watch it over here!

  8. Missy   -  

    Haiti’s been on my heart too…as is being a host family. Still praying..always praying:) I rollerskated ALL.THE.TIME growing up. My girls ditch socks as well…I find them everywhere!

  9. Marie Taylor   -  

    You don’t like Princess Bride???? Shock.

    I used to take roller skating lessons from Elizabeth and Debbie Diamond in Debbie’s garage. I think they were a penny.

  10. Becca   -  

    Benfield Fmaily tradition Ash is upholding..Princess bride is awesome, I will watch it with her any time..:)

  11. Tina   -  

    The Princess bride gets a lot of play time here. I mentioned that I had not bought a calendar yet, and low and behold I was given 3 as well. And lastly, Skateway will always hold a special place in my tween heart. Even though I broke my wrist there.

  12. sheri   -  

    yah, for basements. we have a piece of plywood set up down there so sophie can tap dance on it and not wreck our upstairs flooring.

    funny about the socks :)

  13. j.j.   -  

    alla would love to go practice down there with those girls!!

    ok, the princess bride??? is ash afraid? i mean, the ROUS’? I have been DYING to show that movie to alla since like her birth, but ron keeps saying she’s too young and after all i didn’t see it til i was ten. at the theatre, thank you, and it is really one of the best movies EVER. in fact it is my all time favorite. so try again, sus:)

  14. Erin   -  

    I rollerskated in my basement, too! And I can’t believe you don’t like The Princess Bride – one of my favorite movies ever. Praying for Haiti here, too.

1 of 10 free things I love to do: Talking to Strangers

January 18, 2010 – 11:14 pm

(a meme from Carin that I will split into ten posts) (thank you Carin)

_MG_2768

I walk into Starbucks, order my favorite drink and think to myself- I wonder how the barista’s day is going?

So. I ask.

A typical start-up conversation might go something like this (feel free to replace barista with cashier, Apple store tech or postal carrier):

Me: Are you having a good day?

Barista: Well, yes I am!

Me: Good! Have you guys been very busy?
(this question might vary depending on how long the line is and my observations and the closeness of proximity the person behind me in line is)

Barista: Not too bad, getting a lot of organizing/cleaning/ stocking and what not done.

And then comes the life story.

In a two minute conversation with new friend Barista, I learn the place he grew up in, the team he competes for at the local college, and his ambitions for the next five – ten years (keep your eye out for a diver from Indiana in two years!)

I walk away learning more about some stranger than I would have had I not asked two questions to this face in front of me.

My mom has always said, “You can talk to anyone that wants to be talked to,” and I wholeheartedly believe that. I have had many conversations that have touched me because I opened my mouth with a smile and one question.

It’s the face of a wide-eyed dreamer moving to NYC to realize her dream. Twenty-two and more adventures than I can count ahead of her in her new apartment in the financial district.

It’s the work-at-home-mom taking the afternoon off to play at the mall that gives me insight to not freaking out about every. little. thing. And good news for my bathroom, she’s a shower cleaning expert.

It’s the UPS delivery guy that not only predicts weather and wears shorts through December, but also has let me know that he IS NOT, WILL NOT, and REFUSES to be Internet savvy. Still a nice guy, though.

It’s the beautiful pastor’s widow at Smashburger that splashed the town in green 9topped with a 1920’s style hat) and blessed me beyond words with her lease on life at 90-years-old.

I don’t always inquire about peoples’ days. Sometimes I’m too frantic to get onto my next place or corral the girls off to dance! piano! Awana!, but I always feel like my life is richer for having taken the time to learn about someone else. And  I take those conversations and opportunity to pray for those individuals that have passed through my life because I may never know them again, but I may meet them in Heaven. And wouldn’t it be some kind of cool if those faces that I got to share a smile with here were smiling back at me there?

See, talking to strangers isn’t so dangerous. Just use some discernment and step out of your box :)

By Susie | Posted in 10 Free Things I love | 22 comments         Hide Comments | add a comment
  1. Becky Aguiar   -  

    I love this post Susie! Who wouldn’t love to be asked a couple of questions, and coming from someone beaming with life like you, makes it easy to answer (I’m most certain of that!).

  2. Beverly Jacobson   -  

    I’m certainly glad I was one of those people you talked to. :-) I love your concern for others! A person who is genuinely interested in other people is a rare gem.

  3. Mary Jo   -  

    I learned this after Evan was born. We would go walking in the park with him in his little front carrier or stroller and complete strangers would want to coo over him and ask questions. Kind of freaked me out at first because I am such an introvert. But after a while, I found myself “stepping out of my box” and reaching out to more people. I found myself trusting a little more and not being so afraid to make eye contact. There are a lot of amazing people in the world that I could have just let walk on by, but I’m glad I took a minute to engage them even if just for a brief moment.

  4. Fancy Nancy   -  

    I’m a people watcher. Its amazing at what people wear especially at places like Disneyland and the LA County Fair. If this were a job, I would be very good at it.

  5. Marie Taylor   -  

    I remember when Lily was first born and I needed some mom friends (this was before Missy was more than Ben’s wife Missy) I would be coming home and see a woman pushing a stroller and I would have an internal debate whether or not it would be crazy for me to stop and ask her to be my friend. I never did it, but I thought about it a lot!

  6. Wendy   -  

    I believe this is how we met. lol And my life is richer for it! Great blog!

  7. Missy K   -  

    I loved this post, and I do this too Susie– I linked to you from my blog– this was better than anything I had to say today. :-)

  8. erin cobb   -  

    Love this Susie!

  9. Katy   -  

    I do this too. You make me smile. :)

  10. Angela H   -  

    Ah!! I just love this post. One of your best yet.
    You always have something to say that both warms my heart and puts a smile on my face. Thank you for that.

  11. Susie   -  

    THank you, Angela! It’s fun to see you here!

  12. Susie   -  

    Ah, shucks, Katy. Thank you.

  13. Susie   -  

    :) Thanks, Erin.

  14. Susie   -  

    Missy- I’m honored. Thank you for stopping by!

  15. Susie   -  

    Yep, pretty sure that’s how we met- Hi, my name is Susie and I talk to strangers. Want to be my friend? hee-hee.

  16. Susie   -  

    You are so cute. Thank you for stopping by, Becky! I am pretty sure YOU are beaming with life, too! It’s the joy of Jesus in you!

  17. Susie   -  

    Me, too, B! Thank you for stopping by!

  18. Denee   -  

    Hugs! You are the best! Miss you! ~

  19. Krista Hunt   -  

    I have to tell you that I LOVE reading yout blog! I feel like I know you already!

  20. Tina   -  

    It is so easy to be caught up in your own moment to really talk to someone. Imagine if we all tried a bit harder. Thanks, Susie!! PS I LOVE talking to the mac techs. =)

  21. *mindi*   -  

    I love this, Susie. You definitely have a gift. :)

  22. tanya   -  

    Love this Susie! Especially now that I am living in New Jersey, where I know no one, I find myself chatting with strangers too. Just the other day, I ended up chatting with a gentleman at the Home Depot who was wearing a New Orleans Saints shirt. He ended our little chat with “you take care now”. It felt so nice to be connected to someone. This really shows how you take an interest in others. I think that shines through in your photographs too!

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