catharsis

does setting (and sticking to) a financial budget make you want things more than you did before? i hope it's not just me. we've done a 'cash only' system for sticking to our budget for about a year now, give or take a few months. we've really seen the benefit of it- when you're out of cash, you stop spending. done. easy, yes? pretty much. we're not credit card crazed, so it's not as much about paying off debt as it is living within our means & finding ways to use our money wisely & generously.

i believe in this... i really really really do. in fact, i believe that more money & more things would not make me happier. i can easily be selfish & focused on what i want that i don't have. let's be clear- i have too much already, so there's nothing i should be whiny about. truly.

lately we've gotten back on the cash only track & are setting aside money to fix-up the girls' bathroom, i've been wanting things. i know that i want to see this goal through- pay for this remodel with cash & not overspend. i think it's a good goal for us right now- it will benefit us both now & when we have to sell this house down the road.

but holy cow!

every time i turn around i see something that i could fix up or make better or cuter or more comfortable with $50-$100. or $1000... whatever.

that would NOT help us save towards our goal.

(matt would say his goal is a new laptop... that's my next goal, i promise!)

so long introduction to what Greta says is cathartic for her...

THINGS I WANT BUT REALLY SHOULDN'T (OR CAN'T) SPEND $$ ON RIGHT NOW... OR IN SOME CASES EVER:

Carriage House Chandelier (small)

from Ballard Designs $89

to replace the ugly fixture in our front hall that really bugs me.

6 foot Denim Rag Rug for my mudroom

from etsy- Back Porch Country

$42

Farmhouse Table (mocha) that seats 10

Williams-Sonoma Home

$1950

this one isn't nearly as cool as the one my mom & i found at an antique mall last year... but i can't find the picture of it right now.

Scattered Strip Rug (6 x 9)

Williams Sonoma Home

for our family room

$148

hmmm... i don't know if i feel like i don't want these things now or not. i was tempted to make a really long list & then find them all online somewhere, which probably isn't a good idea.

Swap Party Follow-up!

i'm so bad- i didn't take a single picture of our Housewares Swap Party on Saturday.

i have excuses... like i was too tired on friday to take pictures of the set-up

(long run day).

and i was too busy keeping julia away from the lovely items on saturday morning.

and then i was having too much fun chatting & eating & getting free stuff...

have you ever heard "excuses only satisfy the person who makes them?"

yeah... well, i wish i had taken pictures.

it was really a great morning!

about 15 people signed up to come, but 3 were unable to come (missed you ladies!), so there were 12 of us all together. the limit was 5 items, and most ladies brought 3-5. the majority brought their things on thursday or friday, which helped me know how much space to designate for displaying items. we put everything in the dining room, which made it easy to snack on the yumminess that everyone brought while watching the swap action!

we divided into groups of 4, so 1-4 went first, then 5-8, then 9-12 went twice and back down the line. there was a great range of housewares: candlesticks, wall decor, bowls, baskets, lamps, plates, framed pictures, empty frames... all lovely stuff! of course, there were items leftover... i think most everyone took home 1-2 of their own pieces on top of their new goodies. but that's to be expected... i could have made a Goodwill run, but i'm not that nice.

what did i get? a great basket, a framed drawing of the St. Louis Cathedral Arch, and a baby gift... no i'm not pregnant. i'm quite happy with my 'stuff!'

so would i do it again? absolutely. maybe a 'holiday decor' swap, definitely a clothing swap, FOR SURE a children's toy swap... and another housewares swap will be due after Christmas, i'm sure!

best part of the morning? sitting on the couch, sipping coffee with 4 ladies who i never get enough time with... totally worth it. thanks for playing with me, friends! : )

housewares swap!

Time to clean out your closets & basements... find those lovely housewares that you never use... and turn them into something you love!

i'm shamelessly copying Nester and her Swap Party... i found several boxes of beautiful things that i never use, and i know someone out there would be able to use them! so here's the basics: you bring stuff you like but don't use. you pick up some stuff that you love & will use all the time! you eat some food, talk to some friends, and have a morning of fun. win-win-win, if you ask me!

here are the details:

- Saturday, November 13 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at my house! let me know if you need the address.

- 15 women only!! if you RSVP, i'll let you know if you're on the waiting list or if you're IN! if this works, we'll do it again.

- drop your items off at my house on thursday or friday (11th or 12th), and i'll make our display tables organized & beautiful!

- you'll receive a 'tag' for each item you bring, up to 5 items. this means you will get to choose 5 new items to take home with you!

- items accepted: housewares & home decor, which includes lamps, pictures, frames, decorative accents, bowls, platters, pitchers, vases, table settings, silver ware, baskets...

- items NOT accepted: appliances, pots/pans, utensils, paper goods, books, food...

- groups or pairs of items will be counted as ONE item (ie: a pair of lamps, or a set of matching dishes).

- NO VALUE WILL BE ASSIGNED TO YOUR ITEMS, so if you'll feel cheated out of your Tiffany lamp being swapped for a Target mirror, don't bring it!

- please also bring an appetizer to share! hooray for a fun morning with friends! (please, only nursing infants- no older children may attend!)

- questions? leave me a comment, email me, facebook me, call me! just don't stalk me. i don't like that.

* this is not an exclusive event by ANY means! first 15 women to commit are IN.

thanks again to Nester for the idea... she's kind of my source for all things pretty & fun! : )

a blog post

i wish i could blog while i run... i always think of good things to write about while running.

(well, i think of things. whether they are good is completely irrelevant because i cannot blog while running. that would actually defeat a good portion of why i run: to have a little peace!)

so then i'm home & i'm not alone & i can't pull any coherent sentences together.

for example, see the above sentences.

anyway- i'm thinking of things to write about. but right now, my kids are watching a VeggieTale for the second time in a row and eating Halloween candy instead of the pancakes i made for them. Matt is sick for the 6th straight day and i'm pretty sure it's the flu. i feel badly that he is sick... but selfishly, i'm worried that i'm going to get it. is anyone else like this? your spouse tells you that he or she threw up, and your first thought is: "get away from me!" my second thought is, of course, "i'm so sorry- can i get you anything?" but is quickly followed by my 3rd thought: "what has he touched that i need to wash or disinfect, and how many vitamins can i take to prevent getting this?" i'm a very self-centered person, as it turns out.

so instead of continuing to blog right this minute & ignoring my children, i think we'll do a little christmas shopping. retail therapy, yes? not with my kids! someone will lick the wall in a public restroom before the day is over (julia) and someone will probably pee or scream at a very inappropriate time (caroline). someone else will spend more money than they should & feel guilty later & spend insane amounts of time doing returns next week... that would be me.

i think (if i had time) i would write a blog post right now about how no one told me that 'having a baby' meant becoming a parent. being a parent involves teaching that baby how to be a person, and that's really super hard. i'm not very good at it most of the time (hence the screaming in the background, which you can't hear because this is a blog), and i can't imagine having another child anytime soon. but congratulations to all of you with 3+ kids- i'm sure it's wonderful & you are better at this than i am! : )

i probably shouldn't post this- i'll offend someone or make someone think i don't love my children. i love them- i just don't want more of them to love right now.

an invitation...

i'm a part of something happening all over the world...

an international gathering of men & women who want to know God & understand the Gospel more intimately.

it's starting up again next week with a shiny, bright hot-off-the-presses study of the book of Isaiah.

and you're invited...

here is a taste of what i learned today at our leader's workshop

(i'll be a children's teacher this year- 3 year olds- yay!):

*this is completely quoted from BSF teaching materials- no plagiarism here!!

1. those who have glimpsed the holiness of God are able to put life in proper perspective.

2. begin with God, and you will have a right view of people and circumstances.

3. begin with people or circumstances, and you will have a wrong view of God.

wow. in other words, if i begin with the Truth of the Gospel (that i am forgiven & saved by Jesus Christ's death on the cross), i can approach all areas of my life & this crazy world with right thinking.

wow.

not like i'll get it right all the time... i most often begin with ME. i'm a pretty big deal in my world- my own idol, if you will. i'd like to ask God to take ME off the pedestal in my world, but i'm afraid that might be uncomfortable. it's a little scary, this whole business of giving up my selfish desires.

but how amazing if it can happen, right? if God & the Truth of how HE sees me & this world was my starting point instead of MY version of truth & goodness?

and it's not if- it's now. God doesn't start me on stuff He's not going to finish.

crap. this is going to be quite a ride.

i'm already amazed by the beauty & intimacy of Isaiah- it's REAL stuff, y'all. it's full of application to my life... and to yours as well.

would you like to join me? classes begin next week all over the world- click BSFinternational.org and go to the tab "BSF classes." then find a class near you- they make it SO simple to join. FREE. with children's classes (not childcare- our kids learn the same things the adults learn, but with snacks & playdoh for good measure. my girls ADORE it). and materials. and fellowship with other women (or men, if any men read this blog- they have men's classes).

and Jesus is there, which is awfully cool.

questions? i'd love to answer them. ridicule? no thank you. concerns? please let me know.

just know that i thought about you... and wanted to invite you to something i love, okay?

*yes- i'm a part of an amazing church that i absolutely love. and i love BSF. there is no competition between the two in my heart- i love them for separate reasons, and for the same reasons: at each ministry, the Bible is clearly taught each week; the people are seeking the Lord with their lives; and they actively pursue relationship with each other in an effort to live out the Gospel.

i have 2 places in my life where that is true... have i ever complained about my life? i take it back. i'm ridiculously blessed.*

long run thoughts

thing i thought about while running 15 miles today:

i'm SO much slower than i used to be (and taller & wider & thicker), but i think i'm okay with it.

i haven't quite lost my competitive nature-

i passed a woman while in my 15th mile. bad idea- it hurt.

i have my first black toenail after 22 years of running.

it's gross.

i have probably pooped/peed in every park, playground & shady space in webster groves.

i ran through the following municipalities today:

webster groves, shrewsbury, crestwood, oakland, kirkwood, glendale.

is there one i'm missing? hmmm.

i stopped to ask an elderly man with an oxygen tank if he needed help- turns out he was just getting comfortable on his seat at the end of his driveway, which is where he reads for an hour every morning. i think this is fantastic.

i saw WAY too many people in their undies getting the paper & smoking & letting their dogs out. think about this: no matter how early the hour how dark the sky, how private you think your yard is, i can see you. and there are others out running or walking, too! we can all see you in your undies! put on some pants.

or don't, i guess. whatever.

there are composting port-a-potties on Grant's Trail.

very cool. and breezy on your behind while you use them, too.

there are significant sections of this city that don't have sidewalks on major roads. are we not supposed to cover those distances except in cars??

Watson, Berry Rd., Manchester...

there are also significant portions of Webster Groves that are difficult to make it down the sidewalk because of tables/chairs/potted plants. our city planners must not be runners, and they definitely have not EVER pushed a double stroller down those sidewalks.

(i did NOT push the double stroller for 15 miles. i'm not insane.)

out of every city i've lived in, teenagers in St. Louis are by far the most rude to me while i'm running. they don't move from their spot in the middle of the sidewalk, say hello, or even make eye contact. (mostly- there are exceptions.)

i'm making a mental note to teach my children to be polite. or at least not speed bumps.

my dog doesn't stop to poop- he just spreads his legs & poops a trail down the road.

this makes it difficult to retrieve the pieces (yes, i try).

this also makes me jealous. is that weird?

my ipod 'shuffle' mix is not so random... i am beginning to hear patterns.

St. Louis has so many beautiful old trees- they're really fun to look at while running. and i can't wait to crunch through the leaves when it's really Fall!

STL also has restrooms at almost all the major parks & playgrounds... i appreciate this.

however, i wish they didn't close 'for the season' when it gets colder. there is not a bathroom season- i poop year round.

i've used the word poop way too many times in this blog post.

i take naps like a pregnant lady on days that i run long. feels good, and then i wake up fuzzy.

i may still be fuzzy from my nap- i'll have to proof read this post.

i think ibuprofen & ice are magic.

i think my husband loves me a lot- he makes it possible for me to run long on his day off, and i appreciate it very much. i'm generally too tired on these days to show him how much i appreciate it... but i'll get my energy back at some point.

(no this is not dirty- get your mind out of the gutter.)

i should stop writing before i talk more about poop.

whatever

i'm clearly undecided on this whole blogging thing.

no declarations of my newfound faithfulness to the blog.

no announcement of abandonment.

just another post. probably sans pictures- sorry mom.

i'm ready for real life to begin again.

summer was fun, lazy, open-ended & delicious.

i need a schedule NOW!

i need to be a bit more busy- a bit more 'book-ended' by obligations. looking ahead to 4-5 days with nothing on the calendar was wonderful for the summer. now it's over & i'm ready- it was getting tiresome.

our fall looks pretty good! caroline has school (half days) on MWF, julia has 'parents day out' on WF. I have BSF leader's meeting on Mondays, which julia will go to with me. all 3 of us go to BSF on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 12:15ish. Thursdays are our unscheduled days- zoo, library, botanical gardens, world bird sanctuary (my kids love it- so strange) here we come! i'm glad we have a day each week that's open ended- stay in PJ's & eat pancakes, build a fort, have a tea party (which ALWAYS involves orange juice & goldfish crackers- why? i dunno).

fridays are a question mark... matt's day off. girls in school. my 'long run' day (training for a marathon- that's a post unto itself). sounds nice, yes? i'm secretly (not so secretly- this is a public blog) afraid that i won't get to take full advantage of my 3 hours with no kids because matt will be at home! yes, the pastor's wife is admitting selfishness- take a deep breath. i'm SO overwhelmed by how hard parenting these 2 beautiful & obnoxious little girls has been this year- i'm DYING for 3 hours by myself (2x a week- woohoo!) and i don't want to share it! i know we'll reach a wonderful compromise- right, matt? love of my life? you still love me even though i put this on my blog, yes?? : ) maybe it will involve coffee dates before we go pick up the girls from school... that would be nice. i know he needs time to himself, too- turns out being a pastor is hard work-

who knew?!

that's it... ready for school, ready for BSF, ready for 65 degree temps & the smell of falling leaves. ready for long sleeved t-shirts & shorts- my favorite outfit, always.

maybe ready to re-enter the blogging world? we'll see. thanks for your patience & for not sending me hate mail.