from humbled hands

Pinterest. You haven't lived until you've joined! That's how I feel.  Suddenly I want to cook, create, collaborate. I want to decorate, dazzle, design.  It is truly inspiring.  Lately I feel like there isn't enough time in the day for me to discover more and more recipes, tips, and home remedies on Pinterest .  The thing is-I haven't actually tried any of my "repins."  I keep telling myself that I'll make the projects when I have time, I'll make the recipes when I go to the store to get the ingredients.  Who am I kidding?? When I go to the store I get the staples: popcorn, granola bars, apple juice, and peanut butter.  I don't typically run to the store to get fun things like vintage tea cups and lacy doily things or cool desks for bookshelves.  I can't just run and pick up a sewing machine.  Golly, I figured that in order to save money and live healthy I have to buy a sewing machine, kitchen aid mixer, double boiler,...

What do those letters even mean?  I took a personality test and apparently those four letters ( INFJ ) mean I'm rare.  I would say, "like a gem, rare?" or, "like a thick juicy steak, rare? but some might say, "no, you're like a mosquito bite with Lyme disease, rare."  Ouch.  So I'm a little different, ok? I always thought I was complicated, and this test proves it.  It was a little discouraging.  I was thinking some more about it, though, and realized I was actually grateful that someone had catagorized me, even me ! I don't exactly prefer to be "in the box," but I at least like to be known, understood .  I am thankful for this personality, though I don't often understand it myself.  I am thankful for it because without INFJ's this world would lack the intuitive feeler, the self-sacrificing nurterer, the compassionate leader, and the logical and creative visionary.  I suppose I am proud to be one.  (I'll just subtly leav...

(cue the Trumpets) The Dishes Are Done. For now... I'll have to get down and dirty in the sink after I finish making this honey whole wheat bread (I'll let you know how it goes) and then again after we eat dinner.  My hands get all soggy.  I splash dirty, soapy water on my shirt.  AND, if that's not bad enough, there isn't enough room to dry them all.  So, I'll stop halfway and dry and put them away and then finish washing the rest. I'll intend on washing them right after we eat or right after I finish baking.  But a lot of times I put it off.  Vince will distract me or I'll find something better to do.  I'll say "Oh I'll do it later, after I write in my blog or after I read this chapter or, or, or.."  What I've found is that it is more of a burden the longer I wait.  The longer I wait, the more I don't want to do them and the more necessary it becomes that I do them.  This reminds me of sin (I always have the most ran...

Those of you who read my last post, or know me, know that I struggle with coupons.  Here is the account of my first real attempt at couponing : I got a coupon in the mail from Target. One free loaf of bread. I continued to read the size 1 font, ensuring there were no "catches." Simple. All I had to do was go claim my free, fluffy, fresh (and healthy) loaf of bread before October 1, 2011.  It would be whole wheat, of course. I prepared our trip to the grocery store: had a list, highlighted "bread" knowing that I had to get the Archer Farms brand AND that it was a priority (like I would forget it), double-checked the pantry to make sure I had recorded everything that we needed, and we made our way to the car. As we pulled out of our apartment parking lot, through our security gate, I realized I forgot the most important item...the coupon.  Great start . Vince pulled over, I ran inside, snatched it up, ran back, and we were off. I was excited to be usin...