Warm weather Quick Takes

Joining Jen for another 7 Quick Takes

1.  You may (or may not) have noticed some changes 'round these here parts...I switched up the template for my blog....It's a "free" template...and I'm still trying to work things out with the code and what not.  But I certainly don't know all that I could about code so we'll see how that goes. Thoughts?  Like this better or worse than my other template?

2. I don't know where most of you live, but here in Maryland we've enjoyed quite a gorgeous weekend.  Chris and I spent some time in Lowe's and Home Depot getting a few herbs to start our (very small) herb box.  Mint, basil, and cilantro.  I'm hoping we can get a few more/maybe some veggies but we'll see how well we can keep these babies alive.

Day spent plantin' some herbs and sippin' some pomegranate martini

3. So I'm really hoping spring has officially sprung.  And am therefore beginning my spring cleaning.  I started today by cleaning out my closet.  Those skinny jeans (might as well be called sausage stuffers) that I've been holding on to, just assuring myself I'll fit into one day?  Yea, they're being donated so someone 1/2 my size can enjoy them.  That slim fit shirt that's become just a little too slim fitting?  Also getting donated.  Good Will is gonna love me.

4. Which leads me to my new found commitment to working out/eating healthier.  I'm using the My Fitnesss Pal app and have a gym membership @ Planet Fitness.  I am determined to lost that "newlywed 15"...2 years later.  The fact that we're going to Fl with Chris' family in a month is also a motivating factor.

5.  I'm working really hard at ignoring the fact that this month is yet again a month without a positive pregnancy test.  Trying reeeeally hard you guys.  And I hate complaining, because I know there are people who are suffering through so much worse, I know.  So I cover it all up, and pretend I'm totally ok with it.  I drink my pomegranate martinis and act like this is what I want.  Because I need to do that or I'll end a blubbering mess every month.  Especially when very well meaning old ladies remind you "not to wait too long" Uh, thanks.  We're not exactly in control over here, but thanks for that mini punch in the gut (well meaning, I know she meant well!)  Ugh, and just typing these words makes me feel like a terrible person because I feel like I don't have the right to be so upset by this.  I keep telling myself, and Chris does an amazing job of reminding me, that God  is in control and His timing is where we need to place our trust.  Your Will be done, not mine. (my latest mantra...seems appropriate for Holy Week)

6. Speaking of Holy Week, have you seen Kendra's post about how she does Holy Week?  I loved it, and think I'd like to incorporate some of what she does into our week this year.  My new company gives us a day off on Good Friday, and Chris has fought for his Good Friday off as well, so I'm still searching for ways to create new Holy Week traditions for our family.  Last year we attending the Holy Thursday mass, I went to the Good Friday service on my own (Chris' company wasn't so generous last year), and then we just did Easter Sunday with the family.  This year will probably be very similar, expect I'll have my husband by my side for Good Friday, which is so nice.  We usually also watch either The Passion of the Christ, of Jesus of Nazareth.  How do you keep the "holy" in Holy Week?

7. This article was trending on my Facebook news feed this week.  I'm so glad I decided to click the link and read it.  He makes so many fantastic points about modesty....like this:

                "Modest is hottest might work as a bumper sticker, because it rhymes and it’s three words long, but it makes for a woefully abysmal defense of modesty. The point of modesty isn’t to better achieve the intended results of immodesty. Modesty isn’t  virtuous because it’s ‘hot,’ it’s virtuous because it’s concerned with something far greater than being hot."

 I feel like with the warmer months coming up, and the great "bikini debate" that is sure to arise, this article is just another great way to look at modesty.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

And with that, I bid you a Happy Weekend :-)  I hope you're enjoying the nice weather as much as Chris and I are!

Squeaky Clean...Sometimes

We all have growing edges, right? Right.  A couple of mine happen to be organization and keeping my home clean.  Chris and I both tend to lean toward the "lazy" side (vice, I know)  So while this means the pile of clothes waiting to go in the laundry and the stack of dishes in the sink don't lead to many arguments it still gets to a point where one of us (usually me) gets to the "AHH!! Our house is a MESS, we MUST clean!!"  And then a weekend long cleaning spree ensues.

That happened this weekend.  I decided our house was disgusting and we needed to clean.  NOW.  So, I started by googling different "spring cleaning lists."  Now, we live in a 2 bed 2.5 bath townhouse so there really isn't all that much to clean so I mentally adjusted said cleaning lists into something manageable for our home.  And after the hour or so spent finding the "perfect" list and a good iheartradio station - Time to Dance in case you were wondering - I finally started actually cleaning.

I began in the kitchen cleaning window sills, drawers, dishes, the fridge, (we haven't cleaned that since we moved in and I just have one word for that.  EW.) the oven, floors etc.  It took me all of Friday night but man did our kitchen sparkle.

Today I only really managed to clean our teeny "dining room," if you can call it that.  Our small dining room table tends to be a "catch all" for bills, letters, cards etc.  so after sorting and filing all of that we could see our table again!  I dusted the furniture in our living room and called it a night.  Tomorrow I plan on tackling our basement and master bedroom.

I hate cleaning.  Bottom line.  I love the result and actually having a clean house...but putting the work into sucks...for lack of a better word.  When I do actually clean, I am borderline OCD about it, but again, it sucks.  I keep telling myself I am going to make a cleaning schedule (oh wait, I have) and stick to it (oh wait, I haven't).  But hey, that's the point of growing edges, isn't it?  Something you know you need to work on.  I know I need to work on this, and I'm trying.  I'm a homemaker work in progress