southern mamalogue

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Anthropologie Addiction

I just left Anthropologie. Ahhhhh... I got my fix. I tell you.... I could really do some damage there. I am absolutely in love with that store. My sweetest peetest husband (can you tell I'm kissing up to him) bought me a couple of things while we were there. I really had to hold back though. I could have bought the store!!! But instead I got this... the CUTEST top ever

Isn't that just the bees knees!?! Anyhoo, It's my new favorite top. I figure I can wear it with jeans and some cute silver flats, or I could dress it up with a skirt and heels.

I also got some cute "petal pushers" as my mom would have called them. Capri's if you please. So I'm loving life.

Should I be ashamed that my happiness can be bought....nah.. girls will be girls.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Boy How Times (And Standards) Have Changed

So, I came across this picture of my dad in like the first carseat EVER!!!!

Wow! How times have changed! I can't believe how different things are now. I always get these emails about how "we never wore helmets, we took asprin from containers without foil tops, we rode in the back of pick-up trucks, and we lived" (that last one might actually only be in the southerner's version) Well, this is the picture that should come with those emails.

I mean, look at what our children today are riding in.

First off, it doesn't just "slip" over the back of the seat, and secondly, it has like every safety feature ever known to mankind. Side impact protection, 5 point harness, and if it isn't LATCH compatible, forget it!!!! Todays carseats even have their own cup holders for crying out loud!

We've come a long way from the days where moms just wanted to go somewhere without having to be driven and didn't want to have to hold their babies and drive at the same time apparently, because I would say that's all this poor carseat did. It's a wonder I'm alive!

Lost In The Past

What fun times..... I just wanted to share.

This is a collage of pictures of my grandparents from June 8, 1941 in Abington, PA. It was a Sunday afternoon and I bet it was just beautiful. I think they look so happy and it's so obvious how much they adore each other.

This next mosaic is composed of pictures of my father's childhood, mostly his very young years. He is the smartest person I've ever known, a man who would do anything for his family, someone who adored his wife, one of the best people this world has ever known. I find it fascinating to look at pictures of his childhood, the times that "built" this man I know. I hope you enjoy all of the smiles in this mosaic as I do (oh yeah, and get a kick out of the one pouty face)

Karen: is that second picture at the top not Dillon or what!?!

I am so excited to display these pictures at home in some frames that I bought and just love (inspired by Z Gallerie)
For the Potter family: I am currently scanning all of the photos so that I can get a copy of them to all of you. I hope to be done with this over the summer, but it's a pretty big project, so I can't make any promises. For the time being, you can get the photos that I've done so far from my Flickr acct.

Emma's 2 Month Check-Up

Emma had her 2 month check-up. All is well. She's very healthy, but a little grumpy because she was stuck 3 times. Poor baby girl. But she's alright. She is 9 lbs and 10 oz and 23 inches. I looked back at Drew's information at 2 months and he was 23 1/4 inches and 11 lbs. 14 oz. I guess Emma is a dainty little girl. The doctor was very pleased with her though. I've been trying to get a picture of her smiling, but have not been very successful. When she sees the flash, she gets really serious, and when I don't use the flash, the picture comes out very blurry.
Even though it's blurry, you can tell what a cute moment this was

Our little cheerleader-in-the-making

This picture is for Judy. Remember when we were talking about eyelashes.... I think Emma is going to do very well in this department... she'll be like her mama and have to pick out sunglasses based on whether they hit her eyelashes.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

More Snow!

Wow, so the other night we had snow again! For all of you that are reading from colder climates, I know that it doesn't seem like a big deal, but for those of you that are from around her or even more southern, you know how incredible that is. I mean, it's March. We NEVER get snow in March. We rarely see snow at all. Anyways, we were so excited to see it yet again, so I got some pictures. This picture was taken from Emma's window. You can't see the snow coming down, but it was really beautiful.

The next morning I made snowman pancakes for breakfast in celebration of the special occasion.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Dear Children,

My babies.... for now (and through my eyes, forever). This is all for you. I am keeping this "journal" so that one day you can read about times that you may not remember. These are such precious times to me, and I want to share them all with you when you are older, so this was the best way for me to keep up with them. One day, I will turn this into a beautiful book that you can treasure forever. You'll be thankful for it one day.
My message to you is the same one that my mom's was to me. Her song to me was "I Hope You Dance." I remember I made her a scrapbook based on that song to show her that I am dancing (I don't think she ever worried about leaving me after that, which was my hope). And now I am making a journal to show you how we've danced and hopefully to inspire you to keep on dancing.
I will do my best to model this list for you for the rest of our lives:
Please go out there and do.

Live.

Don’t be the same as yesterday.

Don’t live vicariously through anyone or anything other than you.

Don’t use language that has no meaning or talk ideas you don’t really live.

Don’t hide.

Don’t copy others or live their ideas or life.

Don’t fear doing your thing.

Don’t fear doing.

Instead of reading a decorating magazine, paint that room.

Instead of thinking of baking, do up a cake.

Run, walk, bike.

Let go of the snark, your worries, your anger and fear and give into possibility, action, joy and life.

Do.

Do some more.

Stop thinking about you.

There’s a world out there to connect to, really connect to and email doesn’t count.

Being of use is more important than being popular.

Think about the lady down the street, the person at the drive through, the man fallen in the street, about politics, the environment, healthcare, another country and then do something about it.

Never stop at thinking.

Dream big, work harder.

Have lots of fun, lift a finger, do something for someone else.

Cheer your friends on.

Cheer yourself up.

Celebrate as much as possible.

Enjoy everything. Right now.

It’s OK to want more and do more but be present with where you are or who you are with.

Don’t rush the situation - even if it’s bad.

Move on when you can.

Don’t settle.

Try everything you can and get over everything holding you back.

Go outside.

Make a difference, make some change.

Don’t complain about someone unless you’re talking to that someone.

Don’t complain about a situation you’re not willing to make better.

They don’t have it better and you don’t have it worse.

Don’t make excuses, you’ll never see possibility if you do.

You’re smart and worth more than settling for a life of complaining and limitation.

Hope.

Hope more.

Give someone else hope.

Get healthy and contribute to a healthy environment.

Think about everything you do, you buy, you say.

Only be lazy on Sunday and even then, be conscious.

Rest is useful, giving up is not.

Live with a light heart.

Play more.

Remember what it’s like to be seven (this one is for the future)

Remember to listen to a seven year old because you just have more words and life experience, not necessarily more wisdom. (This one too)

Have more questions than answers and don’t put everything into words.

Sometimes just feel things and be. Be quiet more often, listen harder, talk exactly as you mean to.

Strive for your best and not what you think someone elses’ best is.

Follow through.

Don’t let others’ down.

Don’t let yourself down.

You are better than your circumstances.

Ask for what you’re worth.

Make magic happen don’t wish for it.

Don’t envy others’ lives, envy yours.

Live it fully.

Teach by example how to live well, how to be treated, how to be kind, how to be alive.

Do.

I can’t stress that one enough.

Take action on your life.

Make the change.

No more sulking, waiting, thinking, reading, talking about.

And I'll add the adage that's on every fridge magnet, but good advice: Live Life, Laugh Lots, and Love Forever

I love you guys always and forever,

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Light Up My Night

Emma lit up our night last night with her first smile! It is the most amazing thing ever!!! No pictures yet, but if she keeps it up, we'll have plenty of opportunity to snap one soon.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Vinyl Wall Art

I was having a hard time finding artwork that would go in my master bedroom. I didn't want something that you see everywhere, I didn't want it to be too "matchy matchy", but I wanted it to look good with our bedspread. I actually found this product while shopping around for baby nursery ideas, but then I thought of another way to use these vinyl decals that solved my problem. You can easily find a huge variety of "vinyl wall slicks" or "vinyl wall art" online.

What you will need:
~ vinyl wall art or vinyl wall slicks
~ a pre-made frame
~ foam board or matte board to fit your frame

All you have to do is follow the directions on your vinyl wall art kit, except instead of putting it on the wall, put it on the foam or matte board. This is very tedious if you get a complex design, but very worth it in the end. Be sure to measure accurately, you only get one chance with this stuff. You'll have plenty of vinyl pieces to work with, but you don't want to have to buy more board (you know the old adage... measure twice, cut once)

Then put everything together in your frame and voila! There you have it. Great looking, custom artwork, for a not-so-custom price.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Southern Mama's Biography

Hmmm... A bit about me. Well let's see, there's a lot to tell, so where to begin? I live in a small town outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is where I was born and lived until I was in the 5th grade. In 5th grade we moved to Louisiana where my older sister, whom I am close to, still lives and is raising her family. So it's a bit confusing because now I'm back home, but I consider Louisiana my home too.
I am a graduate of LSU... Geaux Tigers!!! And I teach elementary grades now. I teach the gifted program at my school, so I teach all grade levels.

My parents were married for 37 years before my mother passed away from leukemia. My father passed away a little over a year later of a broken heart. He loved her so much and he just couldn't live without her. Theirs is an amazing love story.

My love-story-in-the-making is just as amazing. My husband, Colin, is my best friend, soulmate, and biggest supporter. He has picked me up through some very tough times and a lot of loss, but most importantly he has given me the most precious times of my life. He has shown me how to look at the bright side as much as possible, how to laugh at myself, and most of all, unconditional love.

We have two beautiful children together, Drew (19 months) and Emma Jane (8 weeks today), who are the center of our world.. We are excited about how close in age they are and we hope they will be best friends (at least most of the time anyways).

Our home is a happy, loud, loving place where we have lots of fun, regard the values of our past and, build new traditions for our future. Where we savor slow conversation over sweet tea and good home cookin'. Our home is a place where we live, laugh, and love.... a lot.

Some of my random "quarks":

I love to hang out on the couch at night with my hubby

I love to bake, just so I can lick the icing (or batter, or whatever I can get my hands on)

I can't sleep with socks on, therefore they end up on the floor at the foot of my bed at night in the winter

When I drive on the interstate and I change lanes, I am neurotic about not running over the reflectors

I love word games (but since I've had 2 babies I've gotten much worse... hmm... not really sure what happened there)

I have become a girl who fits no molds, I'm not afraid to be myself, even though it is far from perfect...

I Just Want to Dedicate This Song, Mr. DJ

Remember the days of "dedicating" songs on the radio? You'd call in and hope to get through (well, I actually never did, I was way too shy for that so this is all from memory of what friends would do), then, if you actually got to talk to the DJ, you knew you were gold. You'd dedicate the perfect song to the boy that you were "going with." And you would listen to the radio on Friday nights to see if any of your friends made it through. That's just what we did back then...it's just the way things were.
Well, I miss those days.... so I'm would like to dedicate this song to the boy I am "going with" Mr. DJ..... my husband, Colin. I sure hope he's listening!
If you would like to hear the song, I've posted it on my sidebar.

I drink you up
For every drop of you is sacred
Every drop I drink you up

You fill my cup
The way you laugh
Eyes of a child
Lean on me, you fill me up
You make me love
So unconditionally generous
To me you give me love
And break my heart
Slip, you fall, I pick you up and dust you off
You break my heart

Rain, rain, rain down on me
Again and again
Rain down on me

Take all you want
For what is mine is yours
No better use is there for what I've got
Take all you want
And only hope can I, you won't deny
Your love for me, my love

No, don't cry, if it's too high
I lift you up, we'll make it, make it
When I was oh so tired
You come along to wake me, wake me
Time and time, again and again
With a smile you save me child
Oh, oh, oh...

Rain, rain, rain down on me
Again and again
Rain down on me

Look, we play our cards
And I question by the grace of what
We play our cards at all
Come fill me up
Oh, fill me love when I'm empty
when I'm all dried up

No, dont cry, if it's too high
I lift you up, we'll make it, make it
Oh, I was so so tired
You come along to wake me, wake me
Time and time, again and again
With a smile you save me child
Oh, oh, oh...

Rain, rain, rain down on me
Again and again
Rain down on me

Rain, rain, rain down on me...

File' Gumbo

Gumbo:
It's not just "a stew originating from Louisiana." It's a staple of the Louisiana kitchen, it's a way of distinguishing the Creole and New Orleans culture. It's a social event. It's a way of life. It's what LSU decided to call it's yearbook for crying out loud!
Now, the scariest part about preparing Gumbo happens at the very beginning. The roux! You have to cook the roux to a chocolatey brown color to achieve that rich gumbo flavor, but you can't burn it. Well, of course, that color and flavor that you are looking for happens only a split moment before the roux burns. Karen says that it's like playing "chicken." How far do you take it.... how far will you push your roux to get the richest flavor? Marcelle Beinvennu, the author of the cookbook "Who's Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make A Roux?" says that her father said that you cook a roux for Gumbo as long as it takes you to drink two beers. Well she says that since she doesn't really drink beer but loves music, she cooks it as long as it takes her to listen to two full length albums.
If you can make it past the roux, you are home free. It's time consuming, but the rest of it is relatively easy. You throw in all of your ingredients, let them cook for a few hours, and voila! Enjoy!

Chicken and Andouille Gumbo
1 roasting hen (3 to 4 pounds), cut into frying pieces
Salt and Cayenne pepper, to taste
1 cup of vegetable oil
1 cup of all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups of chopped onions
1 cup of chopped green bell peppers
1 cup of chopped celery
10 cups of chicken broth (preferably home made)
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme leaves
1 pound of andoullie, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices

Season the hen generously with salt and cayenne.
Combine the oil and flour in a large, heavy Dutch oven over medium heat to make a dark roux.
Add the onions, bell peppers, and celery (the trinity as they call it in New Orleans), and cook, stirring, until they are soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
Add the chicken broth (warmed). Stir to blend, and bring to a gentle boil.
Add the chicken, bay leaves, and thyme, and cook at a gentle boil for one hour.
Add the andouille and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is very tender, an hour to an hour and a half longer.
Adjust season to taste.

The Roux when it's still friendly

This is the roux after I've put the vegetables in (the "holy trinity" as they call it in Louisiana... celery, onion, and bell pepper)

And finally... the finished product complete with wine

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A Trip To The Park With A Friend

There's nothing like a day at the park with friends. Drew and Gracie had a great time at the park the other day. We all packed up our "crews" and headed off to the land of slides and climbing walls. The kids soared through the air on the swings (ok, so that was more Drew than Gracie) and slid their little bums off (and that was more Gracie than Drew...Drew slid his face off....almost literally, but no war wounds...no worries).
Although it was a bit chilly, the fresh air did us all a little good and we had two tired kids that night.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Bath Time

Drew's friend Grace is in town from New Orleans. We've been having a great time playing (more on that later). Last night, they had to take their bath so I thought I would share a few cute moments of their splish-splash fun.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Winter Wonderland

Yet another cold snap.... it has me reminiscing of my real winter experience. When Colin and I were falling head over heals in love with each other, I moved to Canada for a year. What an experience! I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was a leap of faith that showed my love, it was a way to understand Colin's Canadian background, to experience the world he lived in, it was an experience of living in a different country and making lots of new friends. Although we've ended up down south, I can completely relate to him and where he comes from because I've experienced it and met the people behind the stories. We really lived it up that year and packed in so much fun in such and amazing place and such a short time.
Taking a walk around his parent's land. It was a beautiful day and we trekked for about 2 to 3 hours.

Skating (with my own ice skates... who would have thunk it.... this little southern girl has her very own ice skates) on a pond at the ski resort after a day on the slopes.

At the top of the hill. This was the coldest I've ever experienced. It was -45 at the top that day. The snow was up to our hips... you sure didn't want to step out of your skiis. The next day they closed the hill because it was -61!!!

Colin and I after a wonderful Scandinavian spa treatment. We actually jumped into a river that evening as part of the treatment. Our friend who went with us had to break a layer of ice that had formed on top of the river. Now remember, rivers run... do you know how cold it has to be to freeze running water!?! I guess that makes us kin to the Polar Bear Club.

Skating on the Ottawa Canal, the longest outdoor skating in the world. I had never skated on natural, ungroomed ice before. It certainly has its own challenges. This is what I would do for exercise some days when Colin went to work.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Uptown Girl

After visiting the Discovery Place, we took a stroll uptown. We had a meal and then just walked around for a bit. It was a very quiet day there and the weather was nice (a bit chilly, but not too bad) and so we took advantage of two very cooperative kids. I thought I would share uptown from our perspective.
It's funny how you see the city in a whole different way when you have a camera in your hands. I saw things that I NEVER would have paid attention to before. I mean, barrels....really?

I thought this was a bit humorous. This is a picture of the Bank of America building reflecting in the Wachovia Building. Hmmm.. what should the title of this picture be....

Another neat reflection shot. I don't know why I love doing these so much.

I just really liked this doorway.

I love window shopping

Discovery Place

Today the family went to Discovery Place. We had a blast! Drew absolutely loved it.
First, Drew got to play in the toddler room. That was really neat because there were just tons of things to do and he could just go from one to the other whenever he was ready and in any order he wanted. His favorite was the trains and cars of course. He also really liked the legos. (I foresee Mama hurting her foot on a rogue lego in the future).
Have you ever wanted to play "Plinko" on the Price is Right?