Freestyle

So this is Hubby's current favorite YouTube video. I have not watched it in it's entirety until this very moment. I giggled for real, not just the fake "yeah, that's funny" laugh I had given him before when he'd made me watch it over and over and over and over...

Eleven

2010 was a crazy year full of ups and downs.

2011 started with the best champagne I have ever tasted and good friends.

I felt like I did pretty good with my 2010 resolutions, until I actually took a look at the list from last year.  Oops.  At least I rocked the recipe blog situation, one that I hope to continue in 2011.  I'm not setting any reading goals for 2011, that's for sure!  I'd like to document our family adventures a little better this year though and not let the family blog be a waste of Internet space.  I'm going to give the Siesta Scripture Memory Team challenge a try again this year.  Oh yeah, and there's that pesky baby weight that needs to go away (a feat I hope to complete before summer).  

...with that being said, it's time to clean up the kitchen from last night's festivities and write verse #1 for the year in my spiral =)

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." 

~Psalm 56:3

Fireflies

So...I'm kind of obsessed with these guys...not sure who is cooler the guy that sings or the guy that produces the videos...both are kind of insane.

(Please disregard the tightness of the pants as this has caused distraction in some viewers who were given a preview of my obsession, BFF-M, talkin' to you here =P)

Phrases

Top 10 New Household Phrases of 2010

1. "It's too early, I just turned the monitor off..."
2. "I don't think Kitty wants to play right now."
3. "Why am I wet?"
4. "Are you hungry again already?" (Okay, this one isn't new, the person who this is directly at, she's new.)
5. "Pat the bunny, don't rip him in half and try to eat him!"
6. "Please stop crying, I can't hear the TV."
7. "When are you going to have teeth?"
8. "What's wrong, that is an awful noise?!" or another variation, "Why are you crying? Who made you so sad?"
9. "Ew gross, don't lick that!"
10. "It wasn't me, that was her!"

Dance!

Libraries

Other than the squeamishness I have for libraries (much to the dismay of my mother who was a school librarian for goodness knows how many years)...this video is entertaining. The wide range of "performers" adds to the entertainment value...

Sadly, reports of bed bugs infesting our local libraries will not help the cause much...but libraries will survive...in some capacity I'm sure =)

Metro

Beagle

Confession: While I do not typically like dogs, my favorite breed of dog is the Beagle.Last night I dreamed about going to some sort of store (after time-traveling there, obviously) where they sold used books (mostly those little the novelty books of quotes and lists and things) trinkets, and small animals (like hamsters and...wait for it...) Well I happened upon the cutest thing ever...MINI-BEAGLES! They are absolutely adorable and I wanted one, even after I woke up and was in the shower this morning.

Do mini-beagles really exist? I looked up "beagles" on Wikipedia and totally saw a picture of a beagle-pug mix and it was pretty adorable...but not quite what I saw in my dream...

After some more internet research I am proud to announce (to mostly myself since no one else probably cares)...

THEY DO EXIST!

Hello, Pocket Beagle!

Fall

Yes, Fall.  As in, FALL TV SCHEDULES!  My favorite week of the spring is quickly approaching and I shall be glued to my entertainment news sources for several important announcements such as: will Chuck be renewed, will I be able to DVR everything I desire to watch on Mondays and Thursdays, and what show will I be able to find David Anders on next season?

Welcome to my happy place, aka next week:

Monday, 5/17: NBC and Fox
Tuesday, 5/18: ABC
Wednesday, 5/19: CBS
Thursday, 5/20: The CW

So flippin' excited...it's nice that some things aren't changing in my world now that Baby Bing has arrived.

Piggy

So in my April issue of Parenting Magazine (oh hush!) I came across something in the first few pages that I am absolutely thrilled about and most definitely want to get for Miss LJ someday:

This little piggy bank is from Money Savvy Generation and is available in a variety of colors. It visually demonstrates the important areas of "Save", "Spend", "Donate", and "Invest" in a fun way for the kiddos to understand (well, at least understand that there are four main ways to think of money). I absolutely love it and am almost as excited about this as I am for the new Virginia legislation that is going to require a personal finance class to be completed by all public school kids before they graduate high school.

I'm only a little sad that I didn't think of this piggy bank first as a product available through Bingham Bootcamp: Finance for Kids...

Flop

This made me laugh out loud so hard I woke the baby...

Reading

We're coming down the home stretch and I think it is time to declare my favorite baby readings for the past eight months.

 

#1 - What to Expect When You're Expecting

 

Yes, it's cliche, but this book was extremely helpful (especially the index) in the weeks before my first doctor's appointment and since then for brief weekly updates and a quick reference guide.  I most definitely did not read this the entire way through, but the set-up of the book makes it really easy to skip around to where ever your interests fall during a certain day.

 

#2 - Baby Bargains

 

This book was passed along to us by some friends who had also recently had their first child.  It has been an invaluable resource for all the baby shopping and researching that has happened in the past few months.  It covers everything from maternity clothes, cribs, mattresses, baby clothes, you name it, this book covers it.  It has actually surpassed Consumer Reports as our go-to guide for baby ratings.  The book gets updated on a regular basis and there is an accompanying blog: http://baby411.typepad.com/babybargains/ with updates, recall notices, etc.  If you're my friend and will be having a child in the near future, you will probably get this book as a gift =P

 

#3 - On Becoming Babywise

 

We'll see how effective this book becomes once Baby Bing arrives, but the principles in the book make a lot of sense to us so far!  We have known parents all over the spectrum described in the book and have see the differences in their children so we're optimistic for the effectiveness of the principles we're learning.

 

#4 - What's Going On In There? (Hubby's personal favorite)

 

This book was recommended by my mother-in-law who was a pre-school teacher for many years.  While the length of the book was daunting for Hubby, once he realized this covered brain development from within the womb through age 5, it became more approachable.  It's been great not only for learning what to be doing or not doing, but for the why.  Traditional baby interactions explained in a way that makes you appreciate how God's wired us all when you realize how many "maternal instincts" actually serve a very legitimate purpose in the child's brain development (everything from labor and delivery to rocking/swaying a baby).  This book was a total winner for the engineer in the family ;-)

 

And there you have it.  My reading list has been predominately baby-related over the past few months, but I think in the end it'll be worth it and it has definitely helped combat any first-time-parent anxieties that we were feeling...or at least helped to make a dent in our feelings of inadequacy ;-)

Ten

In 2010 I resolve to:

1. Add one new dinner recipe to my repertoire per month (only "keepers" count, who knows how many new recipes I'll have to try in a month!)
   
   --> Blog through the kitchen adventures of 2010 on the Kitchen Adventures blog I set up and then never updated in 2009.
   
2. Read one book per month (Round 2).
   
3. Reassess the gardening situation in the backyard.
   
4. Limit myself to only 1 flat tire this year (4 was a bit excessive this year) 0=)
   
5. Develop a successful routine that includes Quiet Time, Hubby Time, Baby Time, and maybe even Me Time.
   
6. Come up with a stellar entrepreneurial idea with Mrs. R. that will be amazingly successful and make the hubbies proud ;-)

Decade

So, I'm a moron and just realized that all this "end of the decade" hoopla was because a real "decade" was ending. In my head, a decade was just "ten years" so if I didn't jump on the decade bandwagon this year, I'd just reflect on the past ten years next year. Again, I'm a moron.

What are they calling this decade anyway, the "Double-Os?" 80s, 90s, ???

Anyway, since it's not too late, here are some of my highlights from the past ten years:

2000
This was the pinnacle of my high school education/fun. This was the year Y2K did not crash the universe. This was also the year Party of Five ended.

2001
Graduating high school, heading to Virginia Tech...Independence was the lesson of the year. It was time and it was worth it. Scrubs became my TV obsession.

2002
Hubby (before we were even an item) earned "friendship for life" after watching Newsies with me to celebrate my birthday....mid-July we decided that five years of friendship was sufficient and tried "dating". The move to WVU happened and dorm-life ended.

2003
More WVU, friendships with my gals springing up all over, a mellow but good year I think.

2004
More WVU, my first big step toward moving to the city by way of my summer internship in downtown DC, and the most crazy proposal ever (I said, "yes") pretty much sum up this year. Oh yeah, and LOST happened...

2005
My time at WVU ends (with an amazing year of concerts!) and only a few days later The Wedding, the Big Move, and the Honeymoon. Started my first real job and quickly discovered I was in over my head.

2006
There was a lot of traveling this year, namely for work (both of our jobs actually). Alias ends while Hubby is on travel in Australia (I did not wait for him to watch it, but rather just watched it twice!) Hurricane Cruise to Bermuda happened (and we vowed never to get an inside cabin again!) Kitty makes her way into our family and Tucker (the other one) makes his brief appearance.

2007
Kicked off the new year with a new job and a few months later we purchased our first place. Spent most of the year pretty mellow enjoying our new home...and studying to get my CFE license. I also perfected the chocolate chip cookie this year.

2008
The year of BBQ -- we made two trips to Tennessee during the year and for Christmas were gifted with our own smoker for the backyard. I finally got my CPA license after an intense year of studying.

2009
The year of vacations with two cruises and a trip to the beach (with a mini-North Carolina BBQ tour thrown in there as well) made the year our last big vacation year...especially after we found out during the summer that we were expecting our first child (Baby Girl Bing expected to arrive in February 2010!)

Looking ahead, the next decade is going to be much different than this past one. We've got lots of learn up ahead, but it should be an interesting and wild ride!

Books

Since only one of my 2009 New Years' Resolutions really happened this year with any progress, I figured I would give a full report on the outcome of that particular resolution.

 

Resolution:  Finish reading one book per month. 

 

Did I really read twelve books this year?  Well, here is the chronological list of my completed readings for the year (along with my letter grade for each...since in my family we tend to grade and/or vote on everything):

1. Bitter is the New Black -- A
2. Mere Christianity -- A+
3. Love & Respect -- A-
4. The Kite Runner -- A
5. Disciples of a Godly Woman -- B
6. The Book Thief -- A+
7. Twilight -- A+
8. New Moon -- B+
9. Defending Your Faith -- A
10. The Shack -- C
11. Eclipse* -- A

(I feel like I'm missing something, but am totally blanking...)

 

I am still currently reading: What to Expect When You are Expecting and BabyWise in anticipation of Baby Bing's arrival in February and there is a high probability that BabyWise will round out the list as #12.  I also read a portion of a church history text book with our small group, but that book is enormous and I'm not 100% sure it is humanly possible to finish.

 

As for my other resolutions...

 

My scrapbooking is still a disaster (although I finally ordered copies of wedding snapshots and have all the photos on-hand for when inspiration/motivation strikes).  My goal weight situation went out the window in June when I discovered that I was hosting a human parasite.  I'm still working on that Snickerdoodle (getting closer...may make one last attempt for 2009 next week), and while I started off well with scripture memory it didn't end so well.  I do know "more", but didn't get the whole way through the year with Beth and the Living Proof gang. Lastly, well, there's just no stopping me.  If your kitchen is messy and I am left unattended, I will clean it.  Maybe that's not such a bad thing...

 

We'll give me a week or so and I'll start thinking of my 2010 resolutions...although one of them will definitely be to lose a ridiculous amount of weight since I'm pretty sure Baby Bing will not weight near as much as I have gained...

 

 

*Yes, I realize three of the books on the list are Twilight saga books.  I counted them all =P

Celebrate

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About How We Celebrate Christmas (but didn't care enough to ask)

 

 

As you can see...I have found several Christmas surveys in the recent weeks...taking me back to high school survey-maddess type, that's for sure!

 

Enjoy!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Me - Hot Chocolate (with peppermint schnapps if possible, though not this year); Hubby - Egg Nog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa does not make an appearance at our house.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White lights both inside and out.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? The weekend after Thanksgiving...or whenever BFF-D is in town to help Hubby carry the tree up from the basement and move furniture around.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? COOKIES!!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? The outdoor Christmas lights. NOT! There, all my neuroses explained.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? 3rd or 4th grade...at the Kennedy Center...while eating my lunch before seeing The Nutcracker ballet...

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Usually.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Hubby is very particular, only red balls go on the tree.  That's it (thankfully our actual tree comes complete with white lights, red berries, twigs, and pine cones on it).

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? LOVE SNOW!!  Can't wait til I can ski again...Wii Skiing only for me this season.

12. Can you ice skate? Sure, can I ice skate well?  No.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I have no idea, but it probably revolved around my American Girl dolls and/or massive doll house my father built for me (this thing was a beast, it was over 4 feet tall...up until middle school I could crawl through the front door...)

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Kicking off a season of celebrating the life of Christ in anticipation of celebrating Easter...I like thinking of Christmas-time as a beginning even though it happens at the end of the year...

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Cookies...all of them...unless they have fruit or nuts in them.  I like my cookies with just a variety of forms of sugar and goodness thank you.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Baking cookies with Hubby closely followed by leftover ham on a leftover biscuit with my cousins post-Christmas-dinner.

17. What tops your tree? Nothing.  In 4 years we have been unable to successfully find a tree topper that did not end up on the floor.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?  God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

20. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?  YUM!

21 Favorite Christmas Show? Show?  like TV program or movie or what?  I'm always partial to The Grinch and of course Hubby's traditional viewing of Opus And A Wish For Wings That Work...movie-wise, I always try to watch White Christmas and The Muppets' Christmas Carol.

22. Saddest Christmas Song? Saddest?  That's interesting...Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is a tear jerker, but only really because of my love for Meet Me In St. Louis and knowing the story behind the song and the original set of lyrics... 

Jack

In the spirit of 24 (premieres in only a few weeks!!) Jack Bauer interrogates Santa =)

...probably only entertaining for 24 lovers like me =)

Christmas

GETTING TO KNOW YOU: CHRISTMAS VERSION

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I am absolutely terrible at wrapping gifts, Husband is not.  If Husband will not wrap the gifts, they go in bags.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial for several reasons.  Most legitimate reason, Husband's allergies.  Least legitimate reason; I hate getting sap on me. 

3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? After Christmas, before New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog?  Eggs are one of a few foods I genuinely dispise.  Eggnog contains eggs and is a consistency I cannot take....Hubby drinks the eggnog in this house.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably one of my American Girl dolls, Felicity.


7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, it's a hand-me-down.


8. Hardest person to buy for? My parents.


9. Easiest person to buy for? My grandparents.


10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I'm not sure if I've ever gotten anything too terrible... 


11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail


12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas, Muppets Christmas Carol...anything classic Disney gang...

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  Usually not until I get a few good ideas.


14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, I don't think so.


15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham biscuits (leftover ham, leftover biscuits, Miracle Whip....mmmm....) 


16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear lights.

 

17. Favorite Christmas song? God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We don't have to travel far, but I'm definitely looking forward to the day when Christmas is at our home!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes.


20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  We have nothing...we've tried several different things and they all end up falling off and freaking out Kitty.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? When I was a kid it was one on Christmas Even and the rest on Christmas morning.  Now presents are few and far between so they happen whenever the gift giver is present.


22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The people who want Christmas to be politically correct.  I don't ask to come to your religions festivals, but then make you change what you call them because they don't apply to me, don't complain that choose to greet you with Merry Christmas. 


23. What I most love about Christmas? The great reminder of what it's all about and the start of the journey towards celebrating Easter.

Stop

Wait.

Stop.

Hold everything.

 

No, I didn't just smell popcorn =P

 

Better Off Ted is back on the air as of December 8th and TAYE DIGGS will be a guest star! 

 

So. Excited.

Intake

So I have decided to clue you in on my insane food and beverage intake for today, mostly because Hubby watched me pack my bag for work today and commented on the assortment of food that I kept throwing into the bag.  So, here it goes, in chronological order*:

 

1/2 cup of decaffeinated Constant Comment hot tea

10 oz water

150mg Zantac

1/2 cranberry bagel with Country Crock spread

20 oz water

2 Sunsweet Ones (Why yes, I am a 90 year old person...shut it!)

1 prenatal vitamin

1 DHA supplement

20 oz water

1 cup of garlicky/cheesy noddles with 1 cup of broccoli (leftovers from dinner last night)

1 Dole Mixed Fruit fruit cup

1 Cadbury Rose chocolate (my last of a box Hubby brought from England)

1 apple, sliced

1 cup of Light and Fit Strawberry yogurt

1 snack-sized baggie of mini pretzels

20oz water

Chicken Fajita Wrap from Backyard Grill

Side of Fries from Backyard Grill 

1 cup Edy's Slow-Churned Peppermint Ice Cream

10 oz water

150mg Zantac

 

 

*Please note these items are generally consumed fairly evenly throughout the day...pretty much hourly to keep the insane heartburn at bay =P