2010 Blog Recap

This thing still on?
Yes, I'm actually blogging. My keyboard keys are a little rusty even but here I go.

While I don't see myself blogging on a daily basis anymore,  I did want to recap my 2010. I like to reflect on the year past as a way to grow from it.   I also think the blog recap at Musings of a Housewife is fun and I have the day off so...here goes.

The first post of each month of 2010 and the first line of that post.   It is also linked up if you want to click over on that post. 

January -One Word
sur⋅ren⋅der
–verb (used with object)

1.

to yield (something) to the possession or power of another

Oh, this is where I pick my word of the year.  It was truly a year of surrendering.  Over and over.  And it was not easy.  I hate to be a downer but sometimes yielding to where God is leading you is just hard.  It took (and continues) more faith than I knew I even had.   I'll be doing this again soon with my word for 2011.


February - Complaining -What I Learned This Week
I wrote a bit bout complaining this past Sunday.

Still struggle with this.  Maybe my personality lends itself to always struggle with this.  This post really follows another post that is linked up there.   This was good to reflect on for sure. 

March - Duke Basketball Game

Whenever I tell someone (mostly men) where I live, I am often asked the question of which college team I show my allegiance to.

Oh this was fun!  Someone gave us tickets to a Duke Basketball game.  Great photos here! 


Oh and because I just can't resist - on March 3 we learned that our baby was going to be a BOY!



April - Oh Glorious Day!  
Just a video of a Casting Crowns song that I love.  Worth listening to.  :)


May - Freedom
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.    - Romans 8:1


Just a Sunday Word post.   But a cornerstone of my faith for sure.



June - Same Always
I have to say that there has just been so much change in my life lately, I don't even know how to begin blogging about it.

It seems that this time of the year was really the beginning of me not blogging on a regular basis.  This is a pretty good explanation of why and this was before the Baby T was even born.   My life is very different now.  No longer a full-time stay at home mom.  Mom to 3.   The change has been both so awesome (baby and job) and at times so challenging.   Good thing one thing never changes.



July - Happy July 4th!
Normally, we are at the beach over the 4th.

Oh, here are some fun pictures.  Boy it was hot this summer.  And this is just one more reminder that I did not get to go to the beach with my family this year.  :(



August -Welcome Sweet Baby Boy!
What more can I say?  Our Baby T was born on July 30.  Here are the first pictures of him.  He's changed our life in amazing and beautiful ways.  What a gift.

September - Life in Full Swing.  How do you Manage?
Life is in full swing here..

Full swing is just an understatement.  Still looking for ideas on how to efficiently manage my life.   I'm starting to get a hold on it but I have to say that I've been busier than I've ever been in my life.  Full of awesome activities, friends and family - but WHEW!

October - Thankful for Today, Hope for Tomorrow
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

It's good to look back on this last year and see many of my posts were focused on scripture.  It's hard to look back on this last year and know that I was clinging on to them for dear life some days.  God is so faithful, y'all.

November - Mercy
Another Casting Crowns song.   And the only post of November.
It's a great album, by the way.  Probably my anthem album for 2010 - Until the Whole World Hears.

December - 2010 Recap.
This is it.  The only post in December.  Wow.

I am looking forward to posting some new photos and updating my friends and family with the blog this year.  I do like to archive my life this way since I don't scrapbook anymore.  Eventually, I'd like to take my favorite posts and even make them into a book for my family to enjoy one day.  I expect my writing will be few and far between.  Life is just too busy.  I've got a couple drafts I'd like to finish up and publish.   We'll see.

I hope you have an awesome New Year's Eve and had a very Merry Christmas!

Bird Watching

My homeschool mom friend turned me on to this live webcam of an Owl and her babies - so cute! Click on this link here -  Live Owl Box Cam. Homeschool moms have all the best ideas!

I promise this is not all I have been doing today. I've been cleaning - getting sickness out of the house.  I am thinking Hubby actually did end up having a virus.  He finally got out of bed late last evening and actually went to work today.    Yay!

Cute Little Valentine Boxes

Oh, these are sooooo cute!  Little Valentine boxes that my friend at The Chubby Dove made. 
  She only has 4!!!      Wouldn't they be so cute to stuff with treats for the little valentines in your life?

Linked Up

Some posts I loved this week and wanted to share.    Happy Saturday everyone!

Change at the Gremlin Wrangler
Yes Edward, There is a Santa Claus at Little Bit of This and That
Reverse Blessings at Fill My Cup
My Name is Kellie...and I'm a Co-Dependent Blogger? at La Vida Dolce

Encouraged and Inspired - Linked Up

Critics Instead of Encouragers at Resloved to Worship .  Love this post about loving God's church and not being so critical of others.  

NieNie Dialogues.  I needed some perspective this week and this story did just that.   She was on Oprah this week to tell her story.  I am so inspired by this woman.   I think you will be, too.

Get Your Spook On decorating at Imperfectly Beautiful!  Love her ideas!  So fun.

Linked Up

I just can't resist a baby holding a dandelion!  Dandy at Adventures of Babywearing

Welcome Interruptions.  Interrupted and Protected at Lysa Terkeurst

The coming of Fall.  Deep Thoughts at Musings of Housewife

How do you take care of your bras?   Caring for Your Bras at Chic Critique

Love the color of these cabinets!  So Close I Can Taste It  at The Queen B

Happy Saturday everyone - I hope it  is a great weekend! 

Linked Up

Good Saturday Morning to you!   Hot one - again - here in NC.  How about you?  Is it cooling down where you live? 

Okay, so some great links today.   I posted this about packing a healthy school lunch that your kids will eat and then found some other really great posts about school lunches.  I'm putting them all here for you today.

• Packing a Lunch: Healthy Food to Go at Kitchen Stewardship
  

• School Lunches at Musings of a Housewife

• School Lunches – Healthy Alternatives at Kelly the Kitchen Kop

• Here are some fun ideas at Family Fun. 
  

In other links, here are three ways I stay connected to what is going on in the outside world.

Smart Brief  - These articles are industry specific.  You pick what you want to read about and you get an email each day with a list of articles pertaining to that industry.  ie: I like to stay on top of social media news and each day I receive an email with brief snippits of what is happening in that industry.  You can get one on Aviation and Aerospace if you want.   Or about the happenings in the United Nations which I am sure is confusing stimulating stuff. 

Worthington Wire  - Everything You Need to Stay in the Know.  Created by Allison Worthington - mom, blogger, editor and so much more.  One page, one headline per topic.  You simply click on what you want to read more of.   Like the Drudge Report for Chicks as she calls it.    


Alltop - Your Online Magazine Rack.  Let's you go in and pick the topics you are most interested in and then feeds those to your "magazine" 24/7.  This is a great way to stay on top of some super blogs out there.  I receive new articles from women's health, social media and The Economist to parenting and fashion. 

Linked Up

Register to win $50 worth of Free food from Frigidaire.

Boycott against Whole Foods is RIDICULOUS! (in my opinion) Read about it at USA Today and read John Mackey's statement at the Wall Street Journal.

Social Media working better than regular media? Gap dumps TV ads for Facebook campaign - read about it on SmartBrief and read about Twitter formalizing the re-tweet.

Healthy Nails and Skin on Chic Critique

When Worlds Collide at Fill My Cup

Something You Will Love

You are going to love, love, love this new site! I love, love, love this new site!

Many of my favorite bloggers are now writing all in one place! It's almost like a dream come true!

Created by three women who are passionate about bringing meaningful experiences into women's lives, these women have teamed up with DaySpring to bring you (In)Courage. Today is their launch day and I hope you go by to visit them! I think you'll be happy you did!

Linked Up

Check out this great discussion in the comments with Busted author, Fred von Kamecke over at FlowerDust.net - Busting some myths of Christianity. Ten of his books are being given away on her site and the author is actually answering questions in the comments of this Q & A!

Confused about how to have your family eat healthier? Want to eat more whole foods?
Check out this post at Kelly the Kitchen Kop. It's a very comprehensive list of simple ways you can change your families diet for the better.

Get the skinny on what wild Salmon is in season this summer and some great recipes at Whole Foods Market. I love wild Salmon and Whole Foods carries some of the best!

Shop at "those stores" for your teens and need a good laugh? Read this post from Darcie at Such the Spot about her recent trip to the mall with all four kids. I just laughed out loud at this post.

Linked Up - Great Gardening Blogs

My heart just skipped a little beat when I found this blog: Backyard Gardening Blog

So then I was on a mission to find other great gardening blogs.

I need all the help I can get with gardening and don't even try to stop me when I'm on a mission.

I found these other gardening blogs. Just for you.

And me.

Well okay, mostly for me, but I thought you would also enjoy them.

First off, this site gives you a comprehensive list of gardening blogs in your area. Wow - they did a lot of work. That makes my job a lot easier today. Sustainable Gardening

I could really just stop there because...well...it is such a comprehensive list.

But, here is another site that gives a pretty vast list of gardening blogs:
Dig In Dirt - love that name!!!

These are some good Gardening Websites.

Organic Gardening
I Heart Gardening
Better Homes and Gardens
National Gardening Association
The United States National Arboretum
Martha Stewart Gardening

There are seriously HUNDREDS of garden blogs. But those should get you started. Find out your garden zone before you start planting. Planting something that your aunt in Florida plants might not work in Michigan. Or even Virginia. Find out what works for your area.

Most garden centers will only stock what grows well in your area.

Ways to save money on gardening:

• Buy native plants.

• Buy mark down plants at the end of that plant's blooming season. You will not get blooms until next year, but you will save about half.

• Have a garden swap. I have a friend who has tons of Thyme growing on the side of her house. Last year, I dug up about an 8 inch pot of it and now it is going crazy in my garden. Cost: FREE. I plan to do the same with some Lamb's Ear in another friend's garden.

• Some high priced garden centers and your local home improvement store carry the same exact plants from local greenhouses. Many times I will check out what I want at the garden center and then go to Lowes to buy the exact same item.

• Go directly to the greenhouse. Last year, I bought a Japanese Maple for $20! A Hydrangea bush for $5. A pink dogwood for $8. I have to travel a bit out of my way, but it is worth the price. These greenhouses just grow rows and rows of plants, package them and sell them to your local garden centers. You might have to know what you are looking for in these places. There is little help and even less labeling.

Anybody know of any good Blog Garden Tours this year? If not, maybe I'll host one here. I would love to see your gardens!

My First Car was...

Today, I am sick. It started with Hubby. Moved to B. Now I have the wretched upper respiratory infection and feel like...well, not good.

So, I'm linking up to Kel from Girl in the Glasses and her question:

What was your first car? Yup, that's it. Well, it's the wrong color but the make, year and model are the same. My 1980 Honda Civic hatchback was silver.

It even shocked my husband to know that I did not actually get my driver's license until I was 17 years old. I was so terrified to drive! It was only when my sweet girlfriends told me they were done driving out to my house in the boonies (it was 15 minute outside of town) to get me. They were forcing me to get my license.

My mom told me if I got my license that I could have her car - the Honda Civic. That's the good news. The bad news? It was a standard. A stick shift. A five speed.

It was bad enough I was afraid to drive not to mention I had to drive a stick shift! I finally took my driver's test in my girlfriend's car and then my stepdad taught me how to drive my new car.

The only thing that went through my head the first time I was allowed to drive alone in my new car was not fear, but "Sweet FREEDOM!!!! Why in heck did I wait so long?!?"

I drove that car for another two years until a bad breakup with a boyfriend inspired me to trade in the very good running Civic, the one without a car payment, for this little number. My 1981 Volkswagon Rabbit convertible was red. The salesman saw me coming from a mile away. A young girl with a broken heart in late May. Sold.

Like any 19 year old who hasn't experienced a hint of the real world, I really thought that I "deserved" that car. While I relished, and I mean RELISHED, riding in that car with the top down it also came with a nice little car payment and lots of problems. Eventually it met it's demise in a flood that sent the Missouri River pouring over it's banks. I had the car parked at the restaurant in which I was working to pay for it. By the river.

I watched from a window as it filled up with water and there was not a thing I could do to save it.

I went through a couple more cars in my young adulthood until my Hubby bought me my very mostest favoritest ever BRAND NEW car. The smell alone has spoiled me for life.

A black 1997 Mazda Miata.

I cried the day I traded my Miata in on my first van. I was 7 months pregnant with B and it was pretty evident that my car was not made for a passenger that sits in a car seat.

Sometimes now, on a warm day, I open the sun roof in my beautiful van that Hubby bought me last year and imagine that I am driving the Miata.

Until one of the kids screams from the back that the sun is shining in their eyes from the sunroof and I'm scaring them a little by driving too fast.

With a quick jolt right back into reality, I slow down, close the sunroof, turn on some 80's music and think back to that day I first drove alone - Sweet FREEDOM!

Chic Critique Contributor - yes me!

I'm posting over at Chic Critique today, talking about how to clean your make-up brushes.

It's important stuff, y'all. If you spend a bunch of money on the right tools you want them to last AND it is good for your skin. So, go check it out - there is even a video link.

As a matter of fact, I will be posting there twice a month! Isn't that exciting? Seriously, Jo-Lynne is pretty much my blogging hero and I am honored to be a contributor one of her sites.

Okay, so go Here to check it out.

They May Not Beep But They Sure are Fun

I recently read a press release from Scholastic, Inc. about the toys that kids were asking for during the holidays. Scholastic has a pretty good pulse on what kids want based on what they are buying and reading through book orders and fairs...

Read the complete post that I wrote today - here at Triangle TRACKs.

Signed your friendly TrendTRACKer,

Linked Up

Some great links from the week.

Dear Stay At Home Working Mom from Stephanie at Adventures In Babywearing - hits right at home, indeed.

Mighty Helpful Links - Blogging Basics 101, I know a link to more links - but they are mighty helpful.

$50 giveaway at Such the Spot - she wrote a great essay called Finding Me that was nominated for an award. It's good stuff!

Leave a comment at Party Planning Professor and a 25 cent donation will be given to research Autism. She is trying to raise $100 which means 400 comments. Go help her out.

The most helpful link for me this week was DLTK Growing Together so I could EASILY make bingo cards for my son's preschool Valentine party. Very cool site.

Check out my friend's nephew making this Dunk at the Duke/UNC managers game. Very cool!

Getting it together: Priorities at Take Root and Write - great post that inspired me this week to let a commitment go.

Blissdom '09 Recap and Links at Musings of a Housewife. Lots of good blogger info.

My favorite line this week (maybe because of how much I can relate) is from Jo-Lynne in her post Because it's Friday the 13th of course...

"And then reality called —DING-A-LING! Hello! YOU STILL HAVE TO PICK UP YOUR DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL!"

Happy Linking and Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Linked Up

Some interesting posts from the week:

This one should get you talking. Real men: George W. Bush
And this is from the White House Blog. Change Has Come to the White House


Great advice from ProBlogger - 21 Ways to Write Posts that are Guaranteed to Grow your Blog

The Worthington Wire debuted this week. What a great way to get ALL the news you need in one place. Thanks Mrs. Fussypants!

Want some crockpot recipes? Here are 365 of them! Thanks to my friend Amanda for that link.

Thanks to Beth on Triangle TRACKs for this post of Office Max's Replacement Warranty on old school Supplies.

Okay, happy weekend everyone. I am sitting in a cabin by a lake in my slippers with a bunch of really cool women from my church. I promise we are working. ;)

Stuff to Know

Souper Saturday will be up at Midnight. Have your favorite soup recipe's ready to link up! Please, link up. ;)

I am off to a retreat with some ladies from my church and will have no internet access. GASP!

Yes, it will be tough for me. But I will planning and eating and playing so I think it will be okay. I just won't be responding to you until Sunday night.

Look for a new carnival at Musings of a Housewife this coming Tuesday! I will be joining in and hope you will, too.

Have a super fantastic wonderful weekend.

Say It Forward

This is a great idea from 5 Minutes For Mom. Honor those that are loyal commenters your blog.

Nothing makes a blogger feel better than when readers leave comments. When you are pouring your heart out to the world it's a good feeling to have support.

I have many wonderful readers that leave regular comments. But almost daily, without fail is LeAnn from Tollsons4Him. I can genuinely say that I hope to meet her one day. I bet she is the type of friend you can always count on.

Thank you LeAnn!

Where in the world am I blogging today?

I am blogging Here and Here today!

Please go check them out and give me some feedback. I am taking a leap here in the writing world, so I would be interested in hearing what you think before I go and make a complete fool of myself!

I would love Jo-Lynne to ask me back for Chic Critique. I'm a bit of a beauty product junkie and it is fun to write about them!

Also you might remember that I mentioned something this past weekend about Triangle TRACKs and some news? Well, I have been selected to be a Trend TRACKer! I get to write a post or two a month talking about trends in kids clothing, toys, books and all things consumed by our children.

So, throw me those ideas if you have them! I will need them for sure.

Okay, go now HERE and HERE. Can you tell I'm excited??!!?? :)

Linked Up

I am not going to be posting Souper Saturday today. Posting something with Mr. Linky and having nobody link up is kind of like what Jo-Lynne describes as having a party and nobody comes.

So, I might try to do it once a month and see how that goes.

We are off to a magic show today with B's Indian Princess group. The kids are excited. I am wishing I could just hibernate - it's just a little over 20 degrees here today and not exactly what I want to be running around in.

I have a couple links you might find interesting today.
Why Mom Blogs are the Blogs to Watch at Scribbit - I love this! Why do we blog? Here is a great answer!

Let Us All Be Encouraged at Take 90 West - Blogger frustrated? Read here and be encouraged.

Thanks to Jo-Lynne for those links on Twitter and her blog. :)

Not a Junky Car at Deadly Viper - News on how to buy Obama's car. Well, the one he traded in. It's for sale on Ebay - for real.

Local to the Raleigh/Durham area and need to know what to do with the family?

Triangle Tracks is your answer. Go here to find out EVERY family event that is happening in this town. Not to mention there is a community there - where you can join in and chat and meet people right here in your town. Be sure to keep an eye out on this site. I might have some fun news to share next week.

I went to lunch with Elizabeth right before Christmas. She is the brain/writer/creator behind this site and she is one busy, beautiful, smart and sweet woman! I look forward to getting to know her more and so will you.