The Mondayest Wednesday there Ever Was

Wednesday's are hard. It's 11:22 am and I have yet to finish my first cup of coffee that I started at 8:45 am. It's 3 vs. 1. Monday generally consists of easing into the week so it never seems quite like Monday to me. Regrouping from the weekend. Grocery. Visit to Mimi and BBob's house. But then there's Wednesday. Scarlett is tired from preschool the day before. Sadie is stir crazy. Trip is fussy. Mom is just trying to keep everyone injury free. Or from getting on each other's nerves. And usually failing at both. 

There's a construction site across from our house right now. Earlier in the fall they drilled for rock. For TWO.SOLID.WEEKS. Drilled. Started at ten after seven in the morning. The driller took a lunch break where he stood in front of his pulverizer machine and smoked cigarettes. Resumed his drilling and wrapped up about 3:30. 

Those were very long Wednesdays.

Today's construction process is much quieter. They are pouring the concrete walls of our new neighbor's foundation. All 4 of us were locked in the playroom, which has a vantage point overlooking the job site, and I was on the verge of losing it for the umpteenth time, when I saw it.

Do you see it? Look closer and ignore my grainy iPhone pic.

There on the crane arm of the concrete spewer were the words: Philippians 4:13. Now I'm not one to be able to match bible verses to their contents off the top of my head. I guessed-Upon this rock I build my house? Clever concrete joke? But I googled the verse.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Pause. Blink. Blink. 

Deep Breath.

The days are long but the years are short. I know all too soon I will be missing these crazy days with my babies. But still, I need ideas to get through those long days. What do you do during the cold winter months when you have three little ones cooped up inside?

Give me ideas! And thank you, Lord, for the reminder that my strength comes through you, and that I've got this. 

Tap, Tap: Is this thing on? New Year, Same Blog.

"Mom the tree doesn't look like itself, "Scarlett remarked to me as I took the last of the ribbon tag garland out of our Christmas tree. I'd already plucked out the magnolia branches and unwrapped the red and white plaid ribbon that once adorned the tree; the ornaments were scattered across the bar of our kitchen island. "No, you're right it doesn't," I chuckled. 

There's something quite sad about un-decorating your house after Christmas isn't there? It's now bare and bland and means the season and the year have come to a close. I know there's a lot of people giving 2016 a big thumbs down for various reasons, but I've got to say, 2016 might've been the best year of my life to date. I'm really sad to see it go. 

When we welcomed in 2016 I was so hopeful and so jubilant, according to my Facebook memories. We didn't yet know we were pregnant with Trip, wouldn't find that out until two weeks later on Tony's birthday. We had already started the process of building our house, so I know I was joyously anticipating that endeavor, but what else was I so excited about? I can't remember! But it did turn out to be quite remarkable, personally. 

2017, I don't know what to think about you. I'm cautious as we dip a toe in the water of this new year. There are some uncertainties in our lives that we will hopefully resolve in the coming months. And I'm not normally a resolution maker, speaking of resolve, but this year I felt a calling to write it down. I want to make this the year of "me," as selfish as that sounds...but I guess three babies in four years will do that to you. I want to read more books for myself--I don't think I've read a single book for myself since Sadie was born. I want to take time to eat lunch--not scarf down whatever fast food I can get my hands on in the carpool lane. I want to take more time to pray and get involved at our church. I want to write again. Hence returning to my blog, small steps toward words on "paper."

Scarlett and I also came up with a 100 book challenge today, after we read 100 books we get to go to House of Boom together, just her and I. Mind you, when Scarlett goes to the library she picks out only chapter books, so this might take awhile! I also want to do one project a month that the kids can help with--something that shows them the joy in giving back to others. Stay tuned and I will fill you in on what those projects are! I'm not ready to come up with any blog goals or weekly promises, those I think will form once I get in the habit of journaling my thoughts again. I envision topics about motherhood--it's challenges and unique encounters, the acts of kindness we take on as a family--and how you too can make a difference in the lives of others, spirituality, writing, crafting and cooking, home decorating and house building, and who knows what else. If that sounds like your sort of thing, read along! 

For now, it's back to motherhood, as Sadie tries to sweep my arm, now my hair, encouraging me to log off the computer...

Kentucky Derby Cupcakes

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Kentucky Derby week. This weekend we hosted a Kentucky Derby themed couples shower for my brother-in-law and his fiance. I somehow convinced her to allow we to throw a Derby themed shower, because anyone who knows me knows I am gaga over Derby. I figured she would tell me my theme was overdone...but no, she allowed it! I will post more about the party later with some additional recipes, but with plenty of time for you to get your grocery list together for your own Derby party this weekend, I wanted to give you the recipe for these amazing Kentucky Derby Cupcakes. Maker's Mark Icing. What more do I need to say? They are phenomenal! If you are a novice baker, no worries, so am I! Since I was cooking for a party, I made about 36 cupcake with this recipe.

Kentucky Derby Cupcakes

3 cups Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (or more, depending on your obsession with chocolate chips, whoops) of semi-sweet chocolate chip mini morsels.
1 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons of Maker's Mark Whisky
1 cup of softened unsalted butter
1 and a 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
1/2 cup of light brown sugar
4 eggs
You can also add 1 and 1/2 cups of chopped walnuts if you wish...I did not because my future sister-in-law is allergic to tree nuts.

Since I am a novice baker like you, I dump all ingredients into my stand mixer and mix them together. Then I grab my tablespoon measuring spoon and scoop about two tablespoons worth into lined muffin trays. I found these awesome gold cupcake liners at JoAnn's Crafts to go with the gold theme of our party, but any standard cupcake liner will do. I baked them at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes.

Maker's Mark Amazing Icing

2 cups unsalted butter
5 cups powdered sugar (The checkout guy at Walmart asked me, what's with all the sugar??)
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons Maker's Mark Whisky
About 2 tablespoons of milk.

Make sure you start your butter at room temperature, so it is nice a soft. Put it in your stand mixer and whip it good-for about 5 minutes. Put your mixer on the lowest setting and slowly add in your powdered sugar. Once your sugar and butter are combined, add in your vanilla extract and your Maker's Mark. Depending on your consistency, add in a few splashes of milk. I could tell by looking at it that it was a little too thick for piping...so I added the milk and it was the perfect consistency. If you accidentally spill too much milk in your mixer because you've been drinking the Maker's Mark...just add in some more powdered sugar. If you don't have a stand mixer you can always use a hand mixer! My mother-in-law bought me a stand mixer after I made 100 cupcakes by hand for our fall party. I think she felt bad for me.

When the cupcakes are nice and cool, ice them with your amazing icing! I bought a set of Wilton cake decorating tips at Walmart a long time ago that have been so helpful when icing cupcakes. You can get the bag liners at Walmart too. Get an oversized plastic stadium cup, fold the bag over the sides of the cup, and fill the bag about halfway with icing.

I made these cupcake toppers with my new Cricut Explore-which has changed my life forever:) I am now officially a craft-a-holic. I also made chocolate horses for favors for the shower, and used the small sized chocolates from the mold for a cupcake topper as well. I found the mold on Ebay.

Enjoy!

Crafty McCrafterson: Why am I Always Covered in Glitter?

We're in the post-Thanksgiving-blitz-to-Christmas! I made a pact with LAS II that I'd wait for him to decorate this year. So here I sit, day after Thanksgiving, waiting, while he sleeps. The LSU vs. Arkansas game is blaring loudly from the tv in our bedroom and I don't know how he can sleep over the noise (not to mention suspense). But bless his heart, he's on the night shift at the hospital this week. So while I was eating broccoli casserole and turkey with my family last night, he was at the hospital. While he's catching up on z's, I decided to start on one Christmas decoration I knew he wouldn't want any part of: A Very Glittery Wreath. 

I never get involved in that black Friday nonsense, partially because I hate crowds, but I did shop on Thanksgiving. When I was on my way back to Lexington from my aunt's house I stopped at a very convenient Michael's craft store in Frankfort. It's right off the interstate and they were open until 10. The crowd was light. I needed some ribbon for today's glittery project. I gave in. And I was glad I did! I purchased all the items necessary for my front door wreath.

The color scheme in my house for Christmas is green (sage), brown, and gold, with some poinsettia accents here and there. I had a ton of green and gold ribbon left from the roll I bough to wrap my tree. But I needed some accent ribbon to make a wreath. I bought a chocolate glitter roll, a gold glitter roll, and a cheetah roll! WHAT? Cheetah for Christmas? I saw this ribbon at Michael's a few weeks ago and knew I had find some way to incorporate it into my scheme.

I started this wreath the same way I started my Halloween Wreath. I bought a much smaller hay wreath form, because I knew the ribbon would add some height. I don't have a lot of room between my front door and storm door! I bought some sage green yarn and wrapped the entire wreath form in it. I found a perfectly coordinating brown sparkly pine cone at Walmart for 97 cents that I tied to dangle from the center. Then I started adding the ribbons.

Cut about five inch sections of ribbon. To pin the ribbons, get some straight pins. Instead of making a singular roll of ribbon, I like to bunch my at the ends. Stick the pin through the ribbon and directly into the wreath. At first I thought, this looks terrible. But once it starts filling in, it looks great!

I used four colors of ribbon, and I think it turned out nicely. You could do more than four, but I think any less just won't do. Let this serve as a warning that I am covered in glitter. My kitchen table is covered in glitter. The floor around my table is covered in glitter. My dog is covered in glitter (not really. Once I started taking pictures, she left the room. She hates cameras). You too will be covered in glitter if you use glittery ribbon. You could use other varieties of ribbon to avoid a mess, but I'm just a sucker for glitter. Happy Christmas, ya'll!

ADPi Time: Welcome to the Neighborhood

As I write this post, I am sitting in the kitchen part of the living quarters of Alpha Delta Pi Memorial Headquarters, looking out over Ponce de Leon Ave. My return flight to Lexington does not depart until later this evening, so I have some time to introduce you all to the neighborhood that is Ponce.

First, I was in Atlanta this week for another Alpha Delta Pi technology discussion, this time for our website. If you all get a moment, cruise over to the current ADPi website and tell me what you like and hate about it in comparison to other Greek organizations. K? Thanks. 

When I was in college, I just assumed that the ADPI "Headquarters" was some office building. I didn't consider where it was located, what part of Atlanta it was in (I didn't know if I was supposed to put the "NE" on the Ponce de Leon part of the address when I mailed off a form, or if it went in front of Atlanta, like NE Atlanta...), or really, just who worked there. Did the International President (Or Grand President, as she was called way back then) live at Executive Office? (No. She lives in her own normal home wherever that might be.)

So let me take you on a little tour of Ponce de Leon.

Alpha Delta Pi Executive Office is located in the posh Druid Hills neighborhood. And if I lived in Druid Hills, yes, I would want my future children to go to this darling school...

Springdale Park Elementary School, or SPARK, as they affectionately call it.

So let me show you some of the houses on the block. 

And they do a lot of decoratin' for Halloween...

It was a lovely visit to the ATL, and I shall return again for more technology madness in November. 

Before I made my way down to Atlanta this week, I drove up to Highland Heights, Kentucky, specifically to Northern Kentucky University, to participate in an Alpha Delta Pi expansion presentation.

Expansion is the name for the process when a college decides to add a new Greek chapter on campus. A team of Alpha Delta Pi alumnae and collegians presented to the current NKU Greek community. If we are awarded the opportunity to colonize a chapter at NKU I can see myself being very involved in this process, as they are right up the road from me! This will result in more travel, but also more excuses to blog:)

Now, I must sneak in a quick power nap before I head to the airport. Posh and lavish as the Druid Hills 'hood is, it is also very scary sleeping in this big old house by yourself...so I didn't get much sleep last night.

Recruiter on the Road: Nashville

Ok, so whoops. This entry is a lil' bit belated. Instead of blogging about work I've taken the last week to...
1. Clean my atrocity of a closet
2. Have a life and enjoy some Keenland time
3. Make my husband real, actual, dinners
4. Do a bunch'a ADPi paperwork
f. other stuff

Now I will catch you up to speed on my life as a recruiter, and the final installment of my blog series regarding the see blue. Preview Night road show aka my life for that past seven weeks.

I'm not going to lie, it has been super weird coming into the office everyday this week. Not getting to stop on the side of the highway to snap a shot of a barn. Not typing away on my laptop while eating a Bacon Turkey Bravo at Panera. With a Chocolate Chipper. Not scanning a hundred radio stations. Not wearing jeans most of the day.

But it is so good to be HOME.

Our last see blue. Preview Night was technically held in Franklin, TN, not Nashville. Who doesn't love a good visit to Nashville? Well, Franklin is even better because it's got all the Southern hospitality, less traffic, and more charm. I happened across this little park right across from our event at The Factory in Franklin.

This little park, equipped with BARNS. 

Hello, I just made Rebecca's day. 

Oh, didn't I tell you? Rebecca loves a good macro shot. 

I'm just wandering around...wondering why people are setting up tents. Then I pass one filled with navy and gray coats. And I realize this park is getting ready to be the site for a civil war reenactment. The Battle of Franklin reenactment, to be exact. And when the dark clouds rolled in and the rain drops started to fall, I bid adieu to the park and hightailed it across the street to our event site. (Ok, a few more pictures)

So, The Factory. 

I love this site for several reasons.
A. It is beautiful--rustic and classy at the same time.
B. It is always the last stop on the preview night tour, thus signaling the end of my evening working hours for a while.

Farewell, Preview Nights! I am going to be real honest right now and say that I've made a pinky-promise-pact with two of my colleagues (who shall note be named) that we won't be back for round #4. That we will have moved on to some bigger career/life aspirations by August 2012. This will require patience on my part, listening on my part, and a lil' direction and guidance on God's part.

So I promised a best a worst list. Here you go:
Best Pillows: Homewood Suites, Buckhead, GA
Worst Hotel Stay: TIE: Hampton Inn Pikeville and Embassy Suites Blue Ash, OH
Best Hotel Room: Hotel Arista, Naperville, IL
Best Hotel Breakfast: Hampton Inn Hopkinsville
Best Barns: TIE Maysville and back-roads-drive from Hopkinsville to Owensboro
Worst Photo Opps: Columbus
Best Prospective Students: Naperville, IL
((Don't want to say WORST--so...)Maybe UK Shouldn't Come Back to This City for a Preview Night Next Year: Pikeville, KY
Best Conversation with a Waiter: Kevin, Pizza Hut, Maysville

Sigh. It's been real. It's been fun. But it hasn't been real fun.