Cowgirl in the City

Mommy Dearest

2012-02-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

The Baby Buckaroo is now over a year old, and is starting to go through that so, so sweet stage of being clingy to his mommy. When I put him down when we're visiting friends, he'll hold on to my leg, or hide his face against my pants. He's not shy for long, and usually starts smiling at everyone around him. He's truly such an incredibly happy baby, and I treasure every time he hides his face from strangers and clings to me for support, because I know in a few short years he won't need his mommy the same way.

As for me? I still haven't outgrown my need for my mommy.

I was three or four here, and my mom was a bridesmaid for her sister's wedding, and I was a flowergirl.

I've always been shy at first, and then I slowly warm up to the people around me. And while I no longer cling to my mommy's leg (can you imagine what people would say as I, a 30 year old law student, hid my face from the scary world while clutching my mother's clothes?) I still need my mommy's support, her encouragement, and her constant cheerleading. I talk to my mom almost everyday as I drive to work, telling her about my day, about my baby and my husband, hearing about her life as well. No matter what I say, Mom listens intently, offers her honest advise, and is my biggest fan, encouraging me by telling me I can do anything I set my mind on.

I still need my mommy in my life, and I was thinking last night how sad it is for people who don't have their mother's in their lives, or don't have the same relationship that I have with my mommy.

Everyone needs that person in their life, whether it's a close friend, a family member, or even your spouse. But if that person was your spouse, I guess you couldn't really get the same marital advice or debrief about that argument you just had with him, talk about awkward!

Today I'm fighting a cold and have what feels like a dozen deadlines looming. And as childish as it sounds, I want my mommy to tuck me into a blanket on the couch, fix me some chicken soup, and just sit and talk with me.

Hopefully, Baby Buckaroo will be wanting his mommy for many years to come. I'm not ready to let go yet.

Finding Perspective in Law School

2012-01-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

The past three weeks have flown by. At the beginning of every law school semester I completely freak out. I stress out because I don't have a ton of homework looming over me, so I have more time to think about the bad economy, the fact that my full time job keeps me from doing internships, working as a summer associate, or clerking for judges. I start listening to the little voice in my head telling me I'll never get a job, that I'll graduate law school and not be able to pass the bar, or if I do pass the bar, I'll not get a good job because I'm not an A student and don't have a ton of practical legal experience.

These whispers of doubt cripple me, and I struggle to get anything done. I can't concentrate when I read, and so don't retain anything. I search for legal internships during class and don't pay attention to the lectures. I sleep more, literally burying my head in my pillows so I don't have to worry about the unknown future.

But then, I'm rescued. Usually after 3-4 weeks I confess all of my stress, fears and failures to a close friend, who then smacks me alongside my head and tells me I'm an idiot.

And I am an idiot. I stress myself out. I do it to myself.

Last night, the Chef sat me down and we had a long conversation about my schedule and how I always overcommit to things. It's only the end of the third week law school and I'm already behind in my reading for my two classes, Corporate Law and Family Law. In addition, I need to spend at least a day editing an article for the Law Journal. Since I'm applying to be on the editorial board next Friday, I really need to get my article edits turned in on time by next Wednesday. In addition to my normal editing work, I also volunteered to write a Case Note for the Law Journal. I made an appointment with one of last semester's professors to go over my final papers, to see if I can convert one into a writing sample for job application.

This Saturday, the Chef's kung fu school is doing a ton of performances in honor of Chinese New Year. While I can't go to all of them, it means a lot to the Chef for the baby and I to go to the main celebrations in the late morning. I had considered attending a friend's baby shower, and hanging out with another friend later that afternoon. My husband, as gently as he could, told me, "You're crazy. Just say no. Stay home and do your homework."

I struggled with that a bit, but then realized he was right. I'm a hard worker, and always believe I can get everything done, but really, I need to be realistic. Usually, I feel terribly guilty for not being able to go to events hosted by my friends, and agonize about telling them no. I need to remember that my family always comes first, before school, work, and friends. But I need to honor my commitments with school, after all that's my life right now. I need to spend time with my husband and not be constantly stressed out-- I think the Chef feels my stress more than I do sometimes.

I have my perspective back.

I'm doing the best that I can do. The future will take care of itself, and it's not helping me now to just sit and worry. I'm going to law school to benefit my family, to help provide a better life for my family. I can't get so wrapped up in law school that I destroy my physical and mental health, or destroy my relationship with my family. My friends understand when I can't spend time with them. But I don't want to miss any milestones with my toddler because I've planned poorly or I'm too stressed out to treasure the moment. I have to remember what's truly important right now.

And in remembering, I need to kiss my baby goodnight, and then get back to studying.

Year of the Dragon: Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-23T13:26:00.001-07:00

There is so, so, so much that has been happening in my life, and despite the fact that many good things are happening, I seem to be unable to actually find the time to blog and share them with you. But it's New Year's, (again!) so I have hope for the coming lunar new year.

One of the joys about being married to The Chef, is that I get to learn and embrace a whole new culture, and with that, those superstitions. I'm not very superstitious at all, but some of these top ten Chinese superstitions about the Chinese New Year I can get behind.

1. Don't Clean the House today.
You don't want to sweep the good luck away with all that dirt.

2. No Ghost Stories
What happens on Chinese New Year sets the standard for the rest of the year. So while you don't want to scare yourself or your children, you also shouldn't swear or tell stories about ghosts or zombies. You never know what the year will bring, if you do.

3. No Washing Hair
Like sweeping away the bad luck, washing your hair can wash away the good luck too. But oddly enough, it's encouraged that you have your hair cut on New Year's day.

4. No Books
The word book sounds like "lose" in Cantonese, so many book stores are closed on New Year's Day, and buying books is a big no no. But you can always read books, just not buy them. I wonder if my Kindle counts?

You can read about the rest of the top ten superstitions here.

As always, red clothing is good. Since red really isn't my color, I'm wearing a fuchsia sweater, that's almost red, right? Almost, but not quite? I guess it's as close as this German/Irish girl is going to get, but I have high hopes for my son, after all he's a quarter Chinese, and therefore, he's wearing a lot of red today in celebration.

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year!

First day

2012-01-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

As today is the first day of the spring law semester, I'm using it also to be the first day of my new schedule, the first day to start working on all of those resolutions I hate making. Its a new beginning, the slates have been washed clean, and there are no mistakes yet made. I love fresh starts.

I woke up with the Chef this morning at 3:30, or as I like to refer to it O Dark Thirty. Sigh. It was rough, but then I sat down at my computer and wrote for two hours.

I wrote, the words just pouring out of me. I was writing, working on my book, and not stressing over homework, not trying to be witty and brilliant in a blog post-- just writing, opening up my imagination and letting the words flow. That is a wonderful feeling, and makes getting up a O dark Thirty completely worth it.

And now... off to start the rest of the day.

The Cowboys are back in Denver!

2012-01-05T17:23:00.001-07:00

In Denver, the event that triggers my realization that it is indeed a brand new year is the National Western Stock Show. Today, at high noon, local cowboys herded a bunch of longhorn cattle through the streets of downtown Denver, as part of the National Western Stock Show parade.

Cowboys, on horses in the middle of very urban, bustling downtown, with a herd of mooing cows-- udderly priceless.

Source

"In its 105th year, the National Western Stock Show is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate level scholarships in agriculture and medicine for practice in rural areas. It is also our mission to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier Stock Show, Rodeo, Horse Show and center for year‐round events. The 16‐day show also serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, largest horse show and Colorado’s largest tradeshow."

I've bought tickets to the rodeo this Saturday. My Baby Buckaroo and I are excited to experience our first rodeo together! :)

I'd Rather Be...

2011-12-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

Right now, I'm trying to finish up three short papers for my final project in Water Law. It's due tomorrow at noon, but I need to finish it today, as I don't have childcare tomorrow, and there's NO way I can write with my baby trying to crawl up my leg.

So I must write... but I'd rather be quilting.

Or playing with my baby-- who just turned one, so now he's a toddler!

Or watching TV.

Or looking at this lovely bloghop over at the Quilting Gallery. Over 241 individual quilting blogs are hosting giveaways and fun contests, which ends December 17th. While I wish I could check everyone of them out... right I must write.

Although I'd rather clean my refridgerator out.

Or clean out my filing cabinet.

Or...

Well maybe I just better write. These papers are not turning out well, but hopefully I can polish them up so they're not too hideous.

Rather like putting lipstick on a pig.

Baby, it's cold outside! (and snowing!)

2011-12-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Winter has officially arrived in Denver. It's been snowing all day. The commute this morning was so terribly icy and full of bad drivers that it took me a horrendous amount of time to drive to work this morning.

How long you ask?

Well, it's twenty miles.

In the snow and over slushy, icy roads.

With bad drivers who believe the fact they drive a 4 wheel drive makes them invincible.

It took me... TWO AND A HALF HOURS to drive to work.

Yup. That's 150 minutes.

That averages out to 8 miles an hour.

Arg!

But looking at this cute little face makes it all better! :)

Study? ehh, I'd rather quilt.

2011-12-01T11:40:00.001-07:00

I always get so much done when I need to be studying for finals. Despite the fact that I am trying to work on NOT procrastinating, I still do it. Case in point. This month I made this baby quilt for my friend Kelly's little girl, Tatum.

While I should have been rereading all of my Water Law cases or working on my Property outline, I quilted.

I bought the fabric last fall, a jelly roll by Moda, It's a Hoot by MoMo. I fell in love with the bright colors, the patterns, and of course the owls!

I did a simple log cabin piecing and did a freehand stipple quilting pattern.

Quick, easy, and perfect for a little girl.

Bebe gave it a cuddle before we wrapped it up for Baby Tatum. He thought it was a little girly for him, and didn't seem too impressed.

But I loved how it turned out. AND, it was way more fun than studying for those beastly law school finals.

Generation Gimme

2011-11-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

I've watched for months in astonishment as the Occupy Wall Street movement has swept the country, demanding that the voices of the 99% of non-rich people be heard, and that we're being oppressed by that elite 1%. I don't like to argue politics, but I heard a news story this morning that I wanted to share.

An economics professor, Jack Chambless, from Valencia College asked his students to write a 10 minute essay on what the American dream meant to them. Eighty percent of students that their American dream included:

Free tuition and health care
Guaranteed jobs
Money for a house
Money for Retirement
Money for me (by taxing the rich)

Many of the students talked about how they expected the government to provide them with an education, health care, a guaranteed job, money for a down payment on a house, and other perks, truly labeling themselves Generation Gimme. Many of the students echoed OWS by suggested taxing rich to get money for their American Dream.

John Locke and Adam Smith have said that while we have a God given right to life, liberty or property, the government doesn't have a requirement to provide those things for us.

As I'm studying Property law for my law school finals next week, I think of Locke’s labor theory: Every person owns himself. Because you own your own labor, when you mix that labor with something unowned by anyone, you own the resulting mixture. Another philosopher, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, 1809-1865, is generally known for one phrase, "Property is theft" or "Property is Robbery." That seems to be what OWS is saying, that those who own property and who are rich have stolen that from the masses- their wealth is another's impoverishment.

There are two ways to make money. 1) You can work. 2) You can own stuff. Generally we respect people who own things because they've worked for it. Or their parents have worked for it.

I'm not rich. My parents aren't rich, but I don't begrudge those who have worked hard for many years. The key idea is work.
Prof. Jack Chambless discusses how he uses examples in his economics class to teach the Generation Gimme about "why using the government to plunder people to support our American dream is fundamentally, morally wrong, constitutionally wrong, and leads to a lot of economic [woes]... if we let that idea gain ground."

Economic woes... could that be the staggering number of people who are currently unemployed in the United States. Yes, I know that people don't usually have much to say when their company downsizes or folds completely, and in our economy that's happening almost daily. But spending upwards of 99 weeks on unemployment? I find that outraging.

My financial plan for the future? Keep working hard. Hard work will always pay off in the end.

Reference Article

Need to be a little more like Hermione this week

2011-11-28T12:52:00.001-07:00

I need to be more like Hermione Granger.

It’s reading week for law school, which means we have about a week to study, put the finishing touches on our class outlines, and do practice problems before the joyous two week period of final exams begin. But I’m not like Hermione Granger, that intrepid, studious girl. Instead I’m afraid I’m a bit more like Ron, squeaking through my finals on sheer nerve and luck.

For instance tonight, I had a few hours to study, and instead of getting to it, I played with the Baby for two hours, then cleaned the kitchen, baked pumpkin bread, cleaned out the fridge, ironed, and sewed two quilt blocks. Now that I’m finally sitting down to study, I’m tired and its past my bedtime. Perhaps I’ll study better in the morning before the baby wakes up. Hmm…

Hopefully when finals are finished this year, I'll be known, like Harry Potter's Hermione for my "use of cool logic in the face of fire."

Procrastination, thy name is Amy.

Lovely Money Saving Blogs

2011-11-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

You remember that Spending Fast I started on November 1? Well, it's a fail. I have totally fallen off the budget wagon several times... Dang Starbucks. But over all, still on track to save a bunch of money this month, hopefully, as long as the wheels don't fall of my car (literally).

I wanted to share this post with you from the blog, 24 Savvy: titled 50 Best Money-Saving Blogs and Websites. I spend about three hours looking through these blogs and have found several new favorites. Check them out, and check out 24 Savvy too!

MONEY
1. Squawkfox is a budget drill sergeant and will whip you into savvy shape faster than fast. Now drop and give her 10 before you read The Real Reason You’re Broke
2. And Then She Saved blogger Anna Newell Jones had mega-debt until she went on a spending “fast.” Find out how you can do it here.
3. The Simple Dollar managed to get out of debt, save $600k (!) and lives his dream of making his living as an artist. Try this savvy no-brainer, Spending Less Than You Earn.
4. RetailMeNot. We don’t buy a thing without checking this super-useful site for coupons first.
5. Mint.com lets you link up all your accounts, giving you uber-helpful at-a-glance breakdowns of where your money flows and goes each month. Sign up here but don’t miss out on regular money-saving columns.
6. Budgets Are Sexy is another “got out of debt and lived to tell the tale” dream blog. Don’t miss How I Accomplished My Goal of Full-Time Blogging.
7. Unconsumption helps clarify the whole consumer debt conundrum alongside fun and useful repurposing posts like “Wine O’Clock.”

HOME
8. Thrifty Fun is our fave mega-hub of everything related to saving money at home. They’re a fab resource for homemade gifts, crafts and decorating, particularly around holidays, birthdays and special occasions.
9. Ikea Hackers is for those times you gotta go with the cheap, Scandinavian flow, but you really want to make a piece zing! Check out “What to do with your kid’s artwork”
10. Not Just a Housewife turns clearance-rack sow’s ears into silk purses almost every day, with super ideas for savvy décor. Check out this FAB mason jar wall planter (swoon!).
11. ElegantThrifter points us toward so many Martha-quality makeovers like this repurposed Hi-Fi-turned sideboard, you’ll be hitting your local thrift shops in search of throwaway gems you can prettify yourself.
12. FrugalBabe and Mr. FrugalBabe are happily self-employed (from home! with kids!) and make it all work with savvy strategies like mega-harvesting, preserving and canning their own goods.
13. Daily Danny designs and decorates with an eye on budget-friendly, upcycling home solutions. Read: How to Find $500 Really Fast.
14. DIY Life is a soothing site to hit when you feel like tackling projects on your own. They’re also savvy enough to tell you when it’s time to put down the power tools and call the pros. Check out: 10 Home Projects You Should Never DIY
15. Design*Sponge. While not overtly budget-minded, Design Sponge nevertheless inspires us to make our home a sanctuary of loveliness so we’re less tempted to throw money away willy-nilly on dining and entertaining out. D*S’s Before & After projects like this geometric rug are pure inspirational manna from the heavens.

FOOD
16. Field to Plate educates us about seasonal produce picks, meaning spending less money, enjoying more flavor. Bookmark What’s in Season in Your Region
17. Dinner Tool lets you plug in ingredients you’ve got on hand so you can whip up a meal in a flash without wasting a thing. They’ve even got budget and healthy options for keeping it savvy and sweet.
18. Allrecipes is another supah-bad ingredient search site and pulls up so many community-generated recipes, you’ll never waste another half-pound of produce again.
19. Wise Bread has frugal everything, from food to travel to personal finance. Don’t miss their Frugal Living columns like these 25 Quick, Cheap Lunch Ideas.
20. 99 Cent Chef makes really great food with really cheap ingredients. Try Peas, Mint & Salmon Pasta.
21. Smitten Kitchen has made “dining in” sexy again making unique recipes from “everyday” ingredients. Check out author Deb’s drool-worthy photos and Roasted Tomato Soup With Broiled Cheddar.

TRAVEL
22. Kayak remains our number one pick for nabbing a savvy airfare deal. We know there are others but this one always seems to turn up the price we click on.
23. Airfarewatchdog is our go-to for booking flights when we’ve got a destination in mind and a little extra time before we pull out the credit card. Just sign up for airfare alerts, keep your eyes peeled and buy when you see the price you like.
24. Travelzoo rounds up megadeals on hotels and travel packages all around the world. Sign up for your favorite cities and keep an eye out for a “keeper.”
25. IgoUgo is our fave info-sharing site for the best scoop on deals and destinations from your fellow travelers. Just type in your city and check out what users have to say.
26. AirBnB is our new fave site for scooping up accommodation deals all around the world. Forget budget-busting hotels when you can stay in a comfy, stylish flat in Paris for $60/night or Berlin for $40/night. (True story, email us if you want deets)

GREEN LIVING
27. Treehugger is a metropolis of green info and also has a super-sweet forum for all your queries and quandaries about living a more sustainable, budget-friendly life.
28. The Daily Green is a one-stop green-your-life shop with savvy money-saving ideas like these 19 Easy Winterization Tips.
29. Green Upgrader constantly makes us think twice before throwing something away. Try Repair[ing] Old Shoes to Save Resources and Cash
30. Grow and Make is the go-to site anytime we need green solutions such as these cheap, homemade, all-natural cleaners.
31. The Green Mom Review reminds us that child-rearing doesn’t have to become a giant financial and consumer-waste pileup. Try these Green Tips for Back-to-School.

FASHION
32. The Swapoholics remind us that it’s never too late to get some swapping action going with your girlfriends--y'all will end up saving a ton revitalizing the stuff y'all have already got. Find or list a swap here.
33. The Budget Fashionista will inspire you to adopt the motto: frugality doesn't have to equal frumpality (well, almost. ;-). Required Reading: Recession Proof Your Closet.
34. Cheap Jap will restore your love of thrifting with her savvy sifting tips and brilliant finds. Get inspired by her sartorial hit-the-jackpot post Damage-Free Digging.
35. PS I Made This is a wonderland of DIY fashion and home projects often made from nothing more than everyday household objects. Try this Hepburn-worthy chunky pearl necklace.
36. Cheap Chicas whips up super savvy style with budget-friendly buys that won't put the slightest pressure on your wallet. Don't miss 30 Looks for under $150.
37. EcoSalon puts sustainable fashion and beauty ideas right in the palm of your green hand. Try 5 Fashion Trends to Thrift Right Now.

BEAUTY & HEALTH
38. Makeup Alley is an uber-smart beauty product review/board/swap webopolus that helps you try or find out which products are worth the dough before you blow your wad.
39. Jezebel. Our favorite repository of topical sass has recently started turning out a pretty fine column, “Worth It” spotlighting beauty products the writers swear by (but don’t get for free, because they are SERIOUS journalists, not beauty bloggers, dur)
40. Makeup and Beauty Blog not only has smartly-written reviews galore, they’ve also got a sweet, regular “bargains’ column we love to hit when we’re looking for a cheap thrill.
41. NouveauCheap not only treats you to fab affordable beauty finds, they also lasso up sweet super-coups* as well. (* = coupons, dur.)
42. My Home Remedies is surely not the site to go to if you’re having an emergency, but for minor cuts, scrapes and colds, we’ve found many a cheap, helpful home remedy on their friendly and useful boards.
43. Weight Watchers appears to be the only program that teaches sustainable life-long weight loss and maintenance. We regularly cruise their Fitness and Food columns for budget-friendly, liveable solutions.
44. Greatist gives you zippy, peppy, actionable ideas for boosting your activity, fitness and health goals. Don’t miss The Greatist Challenge Series: Fitness on a Budget.

FAMILY & CHARITY
45. Simple Mom hacks the home scene with smart tips, worksheets and eye-mazing projects like What to do with Bad Paintings.
46. Freebies4Mom has about a bazillion freebies every day. Get on their RSS feed or follow them on Twitter, STAT!
47. Social Moms is a warm friendly blankie of useful, money-saving info. Snuggle up to What to do With Leftover Baby Cereal for starters.
48. Money Saving Mom doesn’t go bananas with crafts you can’t use, just dishes up super deals and ideas for living simply and affordably. Check out 3 Ways You Can Save Money Without Changing Your Spending.
49. Savvy Sassy Moms deals out fun, fab mom solutions like a budget-super-star. Try her Tips on Throwing a Green Birthday Party.
50. Charity Navigator is the first, last and only site we hit before we want to do that savvy donation thing. Find out how savvy (or not!) your fave charity is before you dig deep.

Farm Photo Friday

2011-11-04T15:55:00.000-06:00

Today I'm sitting at my desk, wishing I could be back on the ranch. Wishing I didn't have paperwork and payroll to mess with, but could help trail cows. Even the though of mucking out the barn seems pleasant right now.

I have over 250 pages of law school text books to read this weekend (I'm behind). I have a court report to edit for the Law Journal. And we're having a bunch of friends over for dinner on Sunday, so I'll need to try to clean the house a bit, luckily my husband, The Chef will be cooking up a storm and doing all the prep work for the dinner.

As much as I'm looking forward to the hours of law school homework, while my husband and baby play downstairs without me, (sarcasm much?) I would much rather be on the ranch, working cows. (See earlier blog post: Ranch Chores: Working the Calves).

Oh well... I guess I'll stay warm and out of the weather. Law students don't have to deal with the elements like farmers and ranchers do.

Participating in Fresh from the Farm's Farm Photo Friday.

The Spending Fast

2011-11-01T12:30:00.000-06:00

Last month I focused on faith, studying out Proverbs 31 for the entire month. One of the lessons I learned during this concentrated studying, is that I need to be more disciplined and grow in my money management. Its my family responsibility to make sure the bills are paid and that there's money in our checking account at the end of every week. Because of my responsibility comes a lot of freedom, and I can fudge our budget a bit to make sure everything works out. But that often means I'll grab Starbucks to stay awake in class or a fast food burger or Illegal Pete's Burrito because I forgot to bring my lunch with me. Those little impulsive purchases add up.

Today, November 1st, when all the rest of the world is gearing up for the spending orgy that is the American holiday season, I'm embarking on a Spending Fast.

That's right, a Spending Fast.

What is a Spending Fast, you ask? Well, let me tell you, a Spending Fast is the brain child of Anna Newell Jones, a fellow Denverite started a Spending Fast last January 2010. She paid off over $18,000 in debt in one year, and then in April of this year, was completely out of debt-- paying off over $25,826!!!

Wow. If she can do, I'm determined I can do it too!

First, the rules.

Buy only what you need, not what you want.
Focus on paying off debt and saving money.
Rinse. Repeat as necessary. (oh, wrong directions)

But what do we NEED? Our family needs are:

Paying the Mortgage
Paying the Utilities
Buying food staples as necessary
A small gift fund for family
Regular charitable giving
Gas for our cars (because we each work at least 20 miles from home and with the baby taking a bus isn't an option).

What do I WANT-- and thus, don't need, so I'm not going to buy:

Starbucks Coffee (even now that they've launched the holiday red cups... sad)
Fast food and eating out
Lavish Christmas gifts
Clothing (even if it is drastically on sale)
Quilting Fabric. (its scary how much fabric I have squirreled away. I can't buy any more fabric until I use up what I have!)
Makeup

I'm sure both the needs and wants list will or could grow much longer. But I'm rather depressed at the moment thinking of what we can't have, so I'll focus on what we can have.

Getting all of our credit cards paid off and saving 6 months of living expenses (just in case!).
Paying off our cars and being able to start saving for elaborate European vacation to celebrate my Law School graduation.
Starting a college savings plan for the Bebe
The financial freedom that comes from being out of debt.

How about you? Care to join me on this Spending Fast?

Conclusion: What I learned this last 31 Days

2011-10-31T23:22:00.000-06:00

As you know, I've spent the last 31 days studying and reflecting on the Proverbs 31 woman (see the entire month here). This woman seemed like she did it all. She was an incredible wife and mother, she built a business to provide luxuries for her family. She saved and invested her money to create more jobs and opportunities for her community, but also so increase the financial security of her own family. She was an incredible friend, speaking with wisdom and kindness. She was giving, feeding both the poor and hungry. But above all, this woman loved God with all of her heart, mind, and body.

As I've spent the month thinking about her, at times I've felt insecure. I mean, how can I (or anyone else) for that matter imitate this woman. She's superwoman!

But then, I realize, that we already have the tools, we just need to figure out how to use them. I firmly believe that we as women, have already been fully equipped for every good work, and that we can do everything through Him who gives us strength! (2 Tim 3:17, Phil 4:13) Since we have the tools, lets learn how to use them! Since we have the strength, let's practice and learn how to be more efficient with our work.

Personally, I have learned that I need to be more disciplined in my life, in my time management as well as my money management. Sometimes I tend to be all dreams and vision, with no practical follow through for the task before me. And other times, I get so caught up in the sale or in what I want that I forget that we actually need to stick to a budget.

So, at the end of the month, what's my take away?

I have an incredible family, and am surrounded by immeasurably more blessings than I could ever deserve. While I will never be perfect (nor do I have any desire to be perfect) there are a lot of areas in my life where I can grow so I can give more to my family-- giving more time and showing more love.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Words of Wisdom

2011-10-31T20:42:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of the month I set a goal to memorize this chapter, or at least the part of the chapter I'm studying out. Did you accept that challenge? Did you memorize with me?

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

¹⁰ ^[b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Actually forcing my mind to be disciplined, to mediate on these verses throughout the day, helped me so much! I felt more closely connected to the this woman, and I kept having fantastic ideas to blog about. However, only 31 days, and too many topics. Maybe one day I'll revist the Proverbs 31 woman on this blog, and continue writing about her.

Or maybe I'll write a book about it, sharing this Biblical Words of Wisdom to others.

Or maybe not.

Right now, I'm relishing every moment, treasuring every memory with my sweet little Baby Buckaroo.

Happy Halloween!

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Hard Work: Turning Dreams into Reality

2011-10-31T14:13:00.000-06:00

I've always dreamed of being an author. Yet I've also always known I didn't want to be a starving artist, I need to know when the next paycheck is coming and that I have health insurance. Sometimes the urge to just sit down and write a story is so strong, I can hardly fight it off. But then, I say, I'm in law school, I have too much going on right now, I couldn't possible start working on The Novel again, or rewriting The Memoir. I'm too busy. Maybe after I graduate...

"If you're going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write.

Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come.

You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow."

– Louis L'Amour

But then I think of Lauren Willig. This author of historical romances is also a fan of being an eternal student, she attended Yale for undergrad, and then went to Harvard to pursue a PhD in English history, and then started law school.

Harvard Law? This is no Elle Woods, the girl has brains.
But attending law school while finishing up her PhD in history wasn't enough. She was also writing historical fiction. And during her 1L year-- the worst, most heinous time of law school, she signed her first book contract. She finished writing "Pink Carnation" during her 1L year, scribbled "Black Tulip" her 2L year, and struggled through "Emerald Ring" as a weary and jaded 3L. After three years of taking useful and practical classes like “Law in Ancient Athens” and “The Globalization of the Modern Legal Consciousness”, Lauren received her J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. For a year and a half, she practiced as a litigation associate at a large New York law firm. But having attained the lofty heights of second year associate, she decided that book deadlines and doc review didn't mix and departed the law for a new adventure in full time writerdom. (source)

Ok? Seriously, is this woman for real? I can't imagine how hard Harvard Law school is, but she managed to write three books while attending classes-- AND she graduated magna cum laude.

What's my excuse?
Oh yeah, full time job, husband, baby, a life.

But still.
Maybe I need to stop blogging so much, and start working on my writing more.

She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.

Proverbs 31-:15

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Prepared for Every Change in Season

2011-10-31T11:55:00.000-06:00

Last Tuesday night through Wednesday it snowed about 8 inches in Denver, and because of the weight of snow, about 200,000 people lost power for hours, or even days! Luckily, our house still had power (and our electric baseboard heaters worked), but it made me start thinking, am I prepared not only for changing seasons, but in all aspects of my life?

"When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet."

Proverbs 31:21

Actually I think we are prepared for a blizzard accompanied by a blackout. We have a TON of food in our house, pantry, garage, and freezers. If we lost power, our heaters wouldn't work, but we have a wood burning fireplace, and almost a half cord of wood. We would be warm survive, at least for a few days and roast frozen steaks on the open flames. :)

But as prepared as I feel in my home life to weather extreme winter storms, I know I'm am woefully unprepared in law school. I am a horrible student. Although I do have a family and full time job, but really, I'm terrible at keeping up with my homework. I dread my law professors calling on me and asking me about cases, because at least half the time I haven't read it.

Prepared as a wife and mom. Yes.
Prepared as a law student. No.

And we have three weeks left of classes before reading week and then finals. I feel the panic rising like bile in my throat. I need to start working on my outlines and create a study schedule. Sigh... does it count if you fake being prepared? Does faking it until you make it count in law school?

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Her Contribution: A Beautiful Money Manager

2011-10-31T11:14:00.000-06:00

So much of Proverbs 31 is about money, about the woman being a good money manager, about her being frugal, budgeting, and starting cottage industries and a business to add even more money to the family coffer. I think the root of the chapter is not that we all need to work hard to hoard as much money as we can, because that'll give us a happier marriage-- but that money can be the root of much marital strife, and as women, if we are wise in our money management, we can both strengthen our marriage and provide for our family.

Money is a tough topic, and I imagine even in the Old Testaments marriages were similar, and women liked to shop. I can see it now, a wife smuggling shopping bags home underneath her camel's saddle. Two months later she pulls out a new shawl and her husband comments on it. "Oh, this old thing? I've had it in the closet for months. See, it even smells like camel."

But the Proverbs 31 woman wasn't sneaky. She would never intentionally deceive her husband about her spending habits. The verse says, "Her husband had full confidence in her, and lacks nothing of value." Proverbs 31:11. It doesn't say, her husband feel's ok about her, but doesn't trust her to balance the checkbook. No, it says he has FULL confidence in her ability to manage the household-- which includes managing the budget and paying all the bills.

Elizabeth George’s book Beautiful in God’s Eyes gives the following steps to become a better manager of money.

How To Checklist to Become a beautiful money manager!

Keep track of your expenditures
Create a budget and stick with it!
Cut back on spending
Shop wisely
Stay out of debt (especially credit card debt!)
Save six month's worth of living expenses for emergencies
Set aside money each month for savings and investments
Talk it over with your husband.

In the past I've been better at this, but recently have slipped back into my bad spending habits. We were thrilled to pay off the last of our credit card debt in August, but then a wedding in Seattle and a unexpected root canal plopped us right back where we started. In order for me to get set up for even better money management, I need to get radical.

I need to keep track of daily and weekly spending, tweak our budget and stick with it!

I need to eliminate all spending on things that I want, but don't NEED. (Gulp. That hurts.)

A fellow bloggie friend went on a Spending Fast for a year and paid off over $17,900 in debt! She got radical and made a commitment to not go out to eat, go watch movies, buy new clothes or makeup. It hurt, but she saved a ton of money, and paid off her debt.

In fact, I'm so inspired by what Anna did, I'm joining her by starting a Spending Fast on November 1 (tomorrow!) I'm not ready to commit to staying on this fast for a whole year, but I'm committing, here and now, in writing, to stay on this fast until the end of the year. I have the Baby's birthday and Christmas presents purchased already, and have a little budget for other family presents... but the majority of Christmas will be handmade (double gulp).

Maybe by January, we'll have saved enough to check off a few more points off the list above, get out of credit card debt, stay out of debt, and get started on our six month emergency fund.

Or maybe we'll just blow the whole wad on this beauty: a new Crate & Barrel dining table.

Basque table

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Her Children Arise

2011-10-30T13:12:00.002-06:00

My baby has said his first words. For a while he'd chant, "Da, Da, Da!" but now he's moved on to "MaMaMaMa!" Yup, he's saying mommy, and every time he says it, (usually at the top of his voice) my heart swells.

He'll see me across the room and crawl over so I can pick him up and cuddle him.

When I pick him up from the Nanny's house, he beams at me, and dimples up.

He is the reason I'm on this quest to be a better mom. Not only do I hope this lengthy study of the Proverbs 31 woman will strengthen my marriage, one day I'd like for my son to stand up and tell me I didn't screw him up too much.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Proverbs 31:28

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?
Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.
If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Procrastination: Gathering the Harvest

2011-10-29T16:27:00.000-06:00

The word procrastination means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. One Stanford philosophy professor, Dr. John Perry, nicknamed the Philosopher of Procrastination, wrote an essay focused on the idea of "Structured Procrastination":

Structured procrastination means shaping the structure of the tasks one has to do in a way that exploits this fact. The list of tasks one has in mind will be ordered by importance. Tasks that seem most urgent and important are on top. But there are also worthwhile tasks to perform lower down on the list. Doing these tasks becomes a way of not doing the things higher up on the list. With this sort of appropriate task structure, the procrastinator becomes a useful citizen.

Last month, Prof. Perry was awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Literature. The 21st First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony, held at Harvard University, honors "achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think." Prof. Perry, said in an interview in The Chronicle, that the tardiness of his award was "quite appropriate" given the nature of his essay, which grew from an experience in 1995.

Perry said, "To be a high achiever, always work on something important, using it as a way to avoid doing something that's even more important." (Essay: "How to Procrastinate and Still Get Things Done," The Chronicle of Higher Education, February 23, 1996.

As a champion procrastinator myself, Prof. Perry's idea makes sense to me. Never is my refrigerator cleaner or my house more dust free than when I have a deadline for a paper. I rearrange furniture, I scour bathtubs, all items that are on my list of things to do, but because of this other pressing deadline, suddenly become more urgent.

While this form of procrastination is effective, I'm not sure if its the best way to use time. A lot of my procrastination grows out of lack of discipline and priorities. I often find myself on the couch watching hours of tv when instead I should be reading a law book.

I have a feeling that the dreaded, sometimes hated, Proverbs 31 woman did not struggle with procrastination.

She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27

While procrastination may be effective for some, and I can get a lot of "things" done, I know that I can be more efficient with my time and with the work that I have to do if I prioritize and then stick with my plan for getting that work accomplished. Since my penchant for procrastination drives the Chef crazy, making a plan and then sticking with it seems to be all around a better option.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

A Woman Who Fears the Lord

2011-10-28T11:41:00.000-06:00

Today is a big day for me, an anniversary of sorts. Ten years ago today on October 28, 2001, I made a choice, one that I have never regretted. And God has blessed that decision immeasurably more than I could ever imagine. Here's just one example of the blessings God has showered upon me:

One of the questions I often contemplate as I try to walk with God is this: what does it really mean to "fear" the Lord? As He is our heavenly father, I can't imagine he wants us to be literally afraid of him, trembling in our boots, and unable to voice our thoughts, concerns, and thanks because we are afraid He's going to reach down from heaven and smoosh us. No, its not that kind of fear, is it?

Psalm 34:4-14 really describes what it means to fear the Lord. To fear Him means to Trust and Obey. Those that trust God are radiant, their faces reflecting his love and grace. I think of some of my best friends, women who were examples to me in college on what it meant to trust Him with their futures. I think of the women who have taught me how to be a friend, a girlfriend, a wife, and are now teaching me how to be a mother. Yet more blessings! And what can be sweeter than the special fellowship of a friend?

I am an eternal student, and feel like I will be in college forever (even though it is only two more years until I finish my J.D.). But despite the classes and degrees I seek here on earth, how much more are we called to always be studying and growing in our faith?

Psalm 37 gives us the Trust and Obey Checklist:

Do not fear
Delight yourself in the Lord
Commit your way to the Lord
Be still and wait (have patience)
Refrain from anger
Be meek and humble
Give generously (and pay back debts)
Turn away from evil and do good
Speak wisdom and know the Word
Take refuge in God through prayer

1 Peter 3:8-12 adds a few more bullets to that list:

Live in harmony with others
Be sympathetic, compassionate, and loving
Repay evil with goodness

Again we see in the last chapter of Proverbs that, "A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" (Proverbs 31:31), such a short simple phrase, but it packs so much into it. There are so many nuances there, many dimensions of what it means to trust and obey, I'm sure that a whole lifetime can be spent on just this one study. Talk about being an eternal student!

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Her Vision

2011-10-27T22:47:00.000-06:00

“She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard”
Proverbs 31:16

This woman is a visionary, a person given to dreaming and imagination. Elizabeth George’s book Beautiful in God’s Eyes describes the three steps this godly woman took in order to move her vision into reality.

Step 1 -Consideration: She considers a field, she doesn’t act impulsively, but puts her mind in control. She does research, investigating the value of the property, considering its worth and examines it for herself. She also considers the state of the finances, she considers whether there is adequate money to purchase and improve the land without endangering the family’s welfare. She also takes an inventory of the time, considering her already full schedule, and the time commitments she has to her family to determine whether or not she has the time the ownership of the field would require. She finally reviews her priorities. Her family is her primary area of ministry and responsibility, so she wisely considers whether working on the field would endanger that priority. Finally, after thought and much prayer, she brings the matter to her husband, sharing her vision, her research, and asks for his input, knowing she won’t act independently of him. She is wise, and wants advice and input.

Step 2- Acquisition: The money for the investment comes from the Proverbs 31 woman’s thrift and expert money management; as well as her work, her industry, and her doing without; all of which furnish the capital that makes her dreams come true.

Step 3- Renovation: With her hard-earned, well-managed and faithfully saved money, she makes her investment and beings the renovation, and ultimately purchases another property out of that income!

George asks, How do dreams become reality? The progression for God’s Beautiful Woman went like this:

Her virtue (vs 10) led to Her willing heart (vs 13), which led to Her industry (vs 13), which led to Her savings (vs 11), which led to Her investments (vs 16), which led to her prosperity (vs 25).

What are your dreams? First, consider your dreams. Pray. Count the cost. Pray. Gather information. Pray. Talk to your husband. Next, do the work in order to move towards making your dream become a reality.

Consider studying this out further in Beautiful in God's Eyes.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Enterprising Spirit

2011-10-27T22:41:00.000-06:00

“She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.”
Proverbs 31:14, 18.

This woman was an enterprising woman, approaching life and her business with an inventive, resourceful, creative, and adventurous spirit. She is motivated by love, determined to provide the best food and clothing for her family.

I read an article that in the nineteenth century preachers would refer to this passage to reaffirm that a woman place was at home, and that she was equipped to do only “traditional women’s work.” I’m not sure if those nineteenth century preachers were reading the same passage as I am, but while this woman excelled at managing her home and caring for her family, she is also an incredible businesswoman.

She is a seamstress and also a businessman, selling and trading both her handiwork and other products. She is real estate developer, seeing the potential of raw land and then taking the time, labor, and resources to develop that land. This woman balances these two careers, and still has time to donate her time to her family, friends, and charities.

I look at this woman, her incredible spirit that is always looking for ways she can better serve and provide for her family, and I am in awe. But as well, I am comforted. I often feel torn, that I haven’t yet “grown up” enough to know what my career path is. My current position is best described as clerical, and while I love my career, I know that there is something else out there for me. Part of that something else I’m finding in law school. With two more years, I’m still not clear which direction my legal career will take. And yet, deep down I’ve always wanted to be an author, to write and publish books—but I have no desire to be a starving author living in a garret somewhere. I long to quilt, to throw myself headfirst into my hobby, and eventually begin selling my creations. See how scattered and overwhelmed I feel at times? That my heart seems to be pulling me in different directions when it comes to a career?

But I am encouraged by the Proverbs 31 woman. For this woman did not accomplish everything at once, but over the course of a long and very full life.

The stage I’m currently at includes a clerical job as well as law school. Someday, at a different stage, I’ll try my hand at a legal career. And someday (but not this Sunday) I’ll be a writer; and have time to set up some kind of quilting business. I wonder if Etsy will still be running in 20 years?

There is a time for everything in this life, and if I imitate the Proverbs 31 woman with her enterprising spirit, who knows where God will direct me?

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Joyful Attitude

2011-10-27T22:39:00.001-06:00

My Grandpa Dan would constantly remind my brother and I to have a cheerful attitude while we worked. He would urge us to “work with alacrity” no matter what we were doing, reminding us that “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) and work as if we were working for the Lord.

Those constant reminders when I was little, whether we were mucking out the barn or on a cattle drive sunk deep into my mind. Even now when I feel buried with paperwork and receipts, I whisper to myself, “alacrity” and immediately think of Grandpa Dan, and that scripture.

The Proverbs 31 woman also had a grandfather who taught her about alacrity. “She seeks wool and flax and willing works with her hands” (Proverbs 31:13). She tackles her work diligently and cheerfully. Full of eager energy, she looks at her work with joy rather than dread. She sees tasks as challenges, rather than drudgery. She has a joyful habit of looking at each demanding task of life and deciding to do it, to do it well, to do it unto the Lord, and to enjoy doing it!

How do you look at your daily tasks? Your boring chores? Those tedious tasks? Determine to have a mind change, and put on a joyful attitude!

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Planting Vineyards

2011-10-27T21:00:00.001-06:00

I know that it's fall and winter is close upon us, but I always start getting the spring gardening bud early-- and throughout the winter it just keeps stronger. By February I succumb and buy too many seed packages and nursery plants to be mailed in May. Now, as I sit and look out the window at my backyard, I dream of lush vegetable gardens and thick cottage garden flower beds. In my dreams, everything is neat and weed free, but in reality, I'll plant too much in the spring and then be overwhelmed with weeding and watering during the summer.

Since our little house has a great backyard, and was a blank slate landscaping-wise when we moved in, a lot of my gardening time has been spent establishing flower beds and trying to get my lawn to be thick and healthy. Even though I didn't plant a vegetable garden this year, I did plant an apple tree in the front yard as well as a small berry patch in the back.

I planted three blackberry vines and an elderberry (I don't even know if that's edible, but the plant was pretty). Of course none of them bore fruit, but the idea that in a year or two my little vines will be bushy, spread out along the east fence and be laden with fruit... that idea makes me giddy.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Proverbs 31:16

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Eager to Work

2011-10-27T07:15:00.000-06:00

When we think of Priela, the Proverbs 31 woman, we realize that the woman got an incredible amount of things accomplished? Why, because she was eager to work. Look at these verses in Proverbs 31:

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

The woman was eager to work, and because of her strength of character and body, she was able to accomplish an immense amount of things every day as well as over the course of her life.

There are three things that hold me back from being eager to work.

Procrastination
Feeling overwhelmed
Not knowing where to start

Anyone else struggle with those things when it comes to cleaning the shower, folding laundry, or even getting your law school homework done?

Procrastination-- I'll deal with that in a later post.

(See?!!)

I discussed earlier how I envy the Proverbs 31 woman her discipline. She was organized, probably had a detailed schedule and task list on her Blackberry, and was constantly aware of the amount of work she had, so she could schedule her time and take on one task at a time. She was not overwhelmed by the amount of work that she had to do, just tackled one task at a time, took one day at a time in order to accomplish the most amount of work.

The lesson I can learn from her is to take one job at a time, to do one thing completely before starting another. And I learned from Franklin Covey, 7 Habits for Highly Effective People (see this post or this one) that in order to get things done in a very busy day, you have to do the big jobs first. Like filling a jar with sand, pebbles, and large rocks, the only way to get it all to fit is to put the big rocks in the jar first, at the bottom of the jar, then the pebbles, which shake around the large rocks to the bottom, and finally the sand to fill in any gaps. By starting with the big jobs, the onerous jobs, the most important jobs, then we can fit everything else into our schedule. What's the most important thing you have to do everyday? For me its spending time in the Bible and in prayer-- thus I do it first thing in the morning, before my son even wakes up, and usually before I have a shower or breakfast. That's the most important thing in my day, and if I do it first, I know that everything else will fit into my day, if I wait until the end of the day, some other task or small task will come up and I won't be able to do it.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

A Thrifty Wife

2011-10-26T07:18:00.001-06:00

In this economic down turned economy, the one thing that I'm excited about is that thrift is now a popular word.

The definition of THRIFT: The quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully. Thrift is a hobby for some. An obsession for others (have you seen Extreme Couponing!?). Either way, the fact that being thrifty is a popular or even a desired trait excites me.

Do a google search for thrifty blogs… a ton. Or a twitter search for #thrifty. People are talking about it.

I think our idea of "thrifty" is NOTHING compared to those character traits and habits that developed from people who survived the Great Depression. My Great Grandma Ella, an incredible work horse of a woman lived in southern Idaho and ran her husband's farm while he got a job in town. She worked from sunup to sundown outside, doing hard manual labor, while taking care of two little girls. During her eighties and nineties, Grandma Ella was permanently stooped over, her body bent from doing so much hard work. Grandma Ella had thrifty embedded deep within her core. She would make gorgeous quilts out of scraps of clothing she'd saved, from skirts, shirts, kids clothes, anything that she could cut a 3 or 4 inch square out of was saved to go into a quilt.

Her daughter, my Grandma Marge, would often tell me that she'd have to stop her mother from washing a load of clothes, stopping the washer before the spin cycle, remove the cleaned clothes, hand wring them dry, and then put another load of laundry into the washer so she could use the same water and laundry soap. Her version of thrift was to wash two loads of laundry with one washer full of water and one cup of laundry soap.

That's a bit extreme, and is more on the borderline of cheap than thrift.

I'm not that thrifty for sure, but I love too hunt for a good deal.

When we found out earlier this year that we had the opportunity to get a cow from the ranch, we knew we'd have to buy another freezer to hold all of the meat. So we went shopping. The Chef wanted Stainless Steel, I wanted one of those awesome french door refrigerators, like what Kelly Ripa advertises. So we looked, hunted, and dreamed.

The problem was that buying a new stainless steel refrigerator would eliminate any money we'd save from buying our beef in bulk. Until I found a deal.

The Bebe and I found this beauty:

It was exactly what we wanted, but had been installed in a house, the sides scratched and the front slightly scuffed. It was returned, and Sears promptly sent it to their Appliance Outlet store. Because of the imperfections it was at least $1000 cheaper than if we'd bought it brand spanking new.

We moved our small ugly refridgerator into the garage next to our freezer (with the Chef in residence we make and store a lot of food) and moved this beauty into our house. Slowly we're getting our matching, all stainless steel kitchen appliances, switching out one appliance at a time, and paying for them in cash as we do it... sensible, money wise, and well, thrifty.

Thrift equals new kitchen appliances? I can get behind this one.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.
What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Bringing Food from Afar (or not that far away)

2011-10-25T18:02:00.002-06:00

Meet Belinda.

(Warning: I tend to name my food)

Belinda is a cow.

She's a happy cow. And like other happy cows on the ranch she fills her days with wandering the grassy sandhills eating grass to her heart's content. But Belinda has a problem. She has a fertilility problem-- which in a cow life is a terminal problem.

The solution?

A freezer full of grass fed beef.

This is the Cowgirl's version of being like a merchant ship bringing her food from afar to feed her family. Or as far away as Nebraska is from Colorado.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.
What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

A Solid Rock: Her Loyalty

2011-10-25T17:27:00.000-06:00

As I've written about in the last few posts, Proverbs 31:11 has caused me confusion and frustration. What does it mean? In my trusty study guide on this chapter, Elizabeth George writes in her book Beautiful in God's Eyes that another translation of this verse says:

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her."

Trust. That helps clarify things. I know what it is to trust someone and to want to be trusted. In our marriages, we ought to live a life so that our husband never worries about our character, or our management of the home, our finances, or our time! A man should be encouraged, feel confident in his ability to trust in his wife! Her loyalty and trustworthiness is a daily encouragement to him.

Below are ten areas discussed at greater length in George's book. Each of these are ten big pillars on which we can build unwavering trust in our marriage.
Money-- Can your husband's heart and mind rest because our your diligent management of your family assets? Proverbs 31:27. Or are you a shopaholic, buying merchandise online or in the mall constantly? Do you have a Gucci purse full of maxed out credit cards? Can he depend on you to be thrifty, wise, and debt free?

Children-- Are you a devoted mother, dedicated to training up obedient children who love the Lord, love their father, and bring honor to their names? Proverbs 31:1-2

Home-- Is your husband encouraged by the knowledge that all is well, and will be well, at home because of your focused efforts to run an orderly home? Proverbs 31:13, 27

Reputation-- Is your husband's heart at rest because he knows you will do good, never causing any questions about his character to arise? Proverbs 31:12, 23

Fidelity-- Can your husband trust and even rejoice in your life-long faithfulness to your wedding vows. Proverbs 5:18

Emotions-- Does your husband rest in the knowledge that he can depend on you to be emotionally steady and stable, avoiding blowups? Proverbs 14:30

Happiness-- Are you a fountain of joy, delighting yourself in the Lord and refreshing the hearts of those at home? Psalms 37:4

Wisdom-- Can your husband trust you to handle the challenges, difficulties, and crises of life with godly wisdom? Proverbs 19:14

Conduct-- Can your husband count on you to conduct yourself with graciousness (Proverbs 11:16), discretion (Proverbs 11:22), virtue (Proverbs 31:10); and dignity (Proverbs 31:25)?

Love-- positive progress in the preceding nine areas is progress in love! Love is known by its action, and your active care for your husband's assets and the details of his life is powerful evidence of your love for him. (Proverbs 31:29)

How do I measure in each of those pillars of trust above, according to the standard of the Bible? Am I building my life, my home, my marriage on these rocks? Or is your marriage built on a shaky foundation, soon to be on the rocks?

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Time Management

2011-10-24T13:58:00.000-06:00

One of those practical skills that I need to work on is Time Management. The key to running a home and life smoothly is excelling in time management.

When The Chef and I got engaged, he gave me a Franklin Covey planner, so I could "be organized" when I started planning the wedding. At the time I wasn't sure if he was insulting me or not, but I've since fallen in love with Franklin Covey and their time management products. I use both the regular paper planner as well as the Franklin Covey software for Microsoft Office. With both products I feel that I can scheduled and plan my days/weeks/months most effectively.

After all, time is the most precious commodity God gives us, and He expects it to be used wisely.

In Colossians 4:5, the English Standard version says, "making the best use of the time"; and Ephesians 5:15-16 says, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." I don't know if the days are evil themselves, but I do know what a time suck Facebook, HGTV, and the couch are. If I allow myself to stumble upon any of the above three, immediately time warps, and its 45-70 minutes later and I have gotten NOTHING productive done.

Making a schedule is key, otherwise I flit from one project to another, without getting anything accomplished.
So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

Even Jesus kept a schedule. It might not have been on his fancy Blackberry calendar software, but he made a point of getting up early, and scheduling time to spend with God.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World. What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Practical Skills: Emotional Stability

2011-10-24T13:00:00.000-06:00

As I've spent the last few weeks studying out the life of the Proverbs 31 woman, the verses that I dislike the most are:

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

Proverbs 31: 11-12

The reason I dislike these verses is simple. It seems too much to ask of a woman, to be so good, so organized, so... everything(!) that her husband has FULL confidence in her, she brings nothing but good things into his life. I don't know what that even means. Not bringing harm into his life... what? Promising not to trip him or talk bad about him to his boss?

Not bringing harm. Full confidence. Lacking nothing of value. What does this mean? It doesn't say that the wife is perfection, but what is the Bible really saying?

If lacking nothing of value means always having clean underwear and socks in his drawers, I have already failed that one.

I can pretty much guarantee that on most days, even when my husband and I are in great moods and nothing weird happens, I can't say that I only bring good things to my husband. Sure, I don't serve him bad food or throw a running blow dryer into the shower with him (now that would be a harm, I know that!), but do I give only goodness to him?

I've heard it said that a woman's attitude is the barometer of the attitude of the house. If momma's not happy, nobody is happy. I think a man can have full confidence in his wife, when he knows that no matter what day it is, how upset his wife might be, that she is in control of her temper; that she is in control of her emotions.

The picture above is a pictorial expression of my attitude a lot of time, except the steam is coming out of my ears, not nose. I get upset, I don't control my temper, when I'm tired or hungry I snap, using harsh words.

Elizabeth George wrote in her book, that the Proverbs 31 woman was a master of her temper and her tongue.

Master your Temper: A woman of strength nurtures a peaceful heart (Proverbs 14:30); She knows how to wait (Proverbs 19:2); She is patient and forgiving (Proverbs 19:11); She is self-controlled (Proverbs 25:28).

Master your Tongue: This is a topic often discussed in the Bible, that our words can cause real damage to relationships, especially our relationship with our husband and kids.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18

A woman trying to live according to the Bible would speak less often and listen more (Proverbs 10:19): speaks only after considering her words (Proverbs 15:28); speaks only what is sweet and pleasant (Proverbs 16:21-24); and only speaks with wisdom and kindness (Proverbs 31:26).

Whew... maybe that's why I dislike those few verses in Proverbs 31; because they are the most convicting. I have a lot to think about and work on.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.
What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Growing in Practical Skills: Feathering My Nest

2011-10-22T18:00:00.001-06:00

The Proverbs 31 woman is described as being worth far more than rubies. I think about that and wonder, were all women, or good wives considered to be worth more than precious stones back in the day? I'm romantic, love to read historical fiction, and have a vivid imagination. So immediately I'm thinking of some great ancient Middle Eastern prince offering some rather grumpy man a handful of sparkling gems for his pretty young wife. Priela, the Proverbs 31 woman, would be of such value and be so treasured by her husband that he wouldn't even consider the trade.

I'm glad that in the past two thousand years times have changed, because sometimes I think the Chef might have thought a handful of gems might be a good trade for his flighty and contentious wife.

But anyway, worth far more than gems... how can we cultivate that? How do I, as a wife, shine up my rough edges so that I sparkle, enhancing my life and the lives of those around us?

Elizabeth George mentions in Beautiful in God's Eyes that we need to Grow in Practical Skills, and those skills include: homemaking, money management, and time management.

Hmm... just saying I need to grow in my skills as a homemaker makes my teeth grind together. I work full time! I'm a law student! I don't have time to increase my homemaking skills.

I think of my Grandma Marge, the epitome of an incredible homemaker -- AND one year she was voted Homemaker of the Year out of the entire state of Nevada. I think of small little crafts, needlepoint, learning how to make a baking powder paste to get those stains out of the carpet... but then again, if I did know how to get those coffee stains out of my carpet it would save me a whole lot of money. Maybe homemaking doesn't have to equal grandma hobbies-- oh, I already like to quilt. Why then am I so prejudiced against the word homemaker? Maybe its a defense mechanism, some kind of internal feminist mechanism that tells me that being a homemaker isn't as important as working, going to school, being a mom. I'll need to study this out further, and in the mean time, take a little special time to feather my nest.

Money Management and Time Management I can get behind, maybe because they're more business skills-- skills that look good on your resume. I already know I need to greatly increase my knowledge and practical application of these skills. But something is telling me I need to spend as much time increasing my homemaking skills, and maybe that'll help put a bit of polish on me, so I don't look like the old dusty piece of gravel I feel like.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Pattern for Discipline: Teaching an Old Cow New Tricks

2011-10-22T12:02:00.001-06:00

My greatest weakness is discipline. I know it, and it causes the most arguments in my household. My husband is probably one of the most disciplined, most schedule oriented person I've ever met. If I tell him that I'm going to do homework all afternoon, but then get sidetracked with cleaning the house, running errands, quilting (or even taking a nap), his whole sense of schedule is thrown off and he gets frustrated. My lack of discipline has started a myriad of arguments in our house-- and maybe might be the root of much of the contention in our house.

Priela, that incredible Proverbs 31 woman, shows a great example of a woman who has discipline down to a science.

Early Start

We've seen in an earlier post, about how she gets an early start: "She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and work to her maids." -- Proverbs 31:15

Elizabeth George, in her book Beautiful in God's Eyes writes that the Proverbs 31 woman must get up early to tend to the fire in the hearth. In those days, housewives couldn't just turn on the natural gas and hit the button to start the fire, nor did they have a zippo in the shelf. They had to constantly tend the fire so that it did not go out.

Another important aspect of rising early in the morning is Tending the Fire of our Hearts, spending time with God. Rising before the chaos of the day gives us time to pray and read the Bible, to orient ourselves spiritually before the pressure of the day pull us in every direction. With children, rising early in the morning, also also the Proverbs 31 woman to Tend the Fires of her Children's Hearts, spending time around the table with a morning devotional and Bible reading.

Food for the Family

Granted, I grew up on a cattle ranch where my Dad worked close enough to the house so that our family ate all meals together, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Occasionally Dad would have to pack lunch to work when they went for a long cattle drive or if it was in the middle of haying season-- and when we were in school, my brother and I obviously ate lunch at school. But every breakfast and dinner found the four of us around the breakfast table, talking about the days news, current events, life. Those times are precious memories for me as I look back, and The Chef and I want to recreate that with our own family. And it begins with breakfast.

A Plan for the Day

Proverbs 31 talks about how Priela rises early, organizing her day and giving her servants directions about the work they were to complete that day. She knew what needed to be accomplished everyday, so it was easy for her to delegate. By rising early, the woman had time alone; time with God; time to plan; and time to get a jump on the day's work.

George wrote, figuring out the math, that if you get up earlier five days a week, Monday through Friday, it will give you 40 extra hours every month-- that's an entire week of work every month. If you continue to do that all year, you'll have 12 extra work weeks a year. Man, that's convicting! If I didn't love sleep so much I'd have time to maybe finish than novel-- or at least keep my house clean! Up and at 'em!

As I've shared before, it's hard for me to get out of the bed in the morning. I end up snoozing, and then snoozing some more (sometimes 30-90 minutes!). I am determined to change this terrible habit, make a plan, a schedule, and then stick with it. Here it is folks, in writing, so you can hold me to it... I plan, schedule, and am sticking to the promise of getting up at 4:00 a.m. every morning until the end of October. That's only 90 minutes earlier than I usually get up, and that will give me time to make breakfast for the Bebe and I, shower and get ready for the day, spend time with God, and get some studying/homework in before the Baby gets up.

Gulp.

It's not too late to teach old cows new tricks is it?

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Considers a Field

2011-10-19T16:00:00.000-06:00

One of the biggest reasons I am putting myself through the agony of law school is that I have a deep desire to return to the land. I am a rancher at heart, and as much as I love our nest in the suburbs, I long to have some acreage where I can have a few horses, a large garden, and maybe even a milk cow. I want to live on a tiny farm.

Problem #1.

My husband, The Chef, is from New York, and he thinks Denver is a small town. He does not share my desire to live in the sticks. He'd be happy living on Pearl Street in downtown Boulder, just a half an hour to Denver.

Our compromise? When I'm a big fancy lawyer pulling in a big fancy paycheck, we'll find a house with a few acres in Boulder County, a close drive to town-- close enough we could ride bikes if we wanted. This makes The Chef happy, and thinking about owning land with a view of the Flatirons makes me happy. And think, my Baby Buckaroo will know the joy of riding across the meadows on his horse before breakfast, and learn the responsibility of caring for animals. I want him to be a quasi-farm kid.

Problem Number #2.

Land with a house and zoned for horses close to Boulder is prime real estate in Colorado. The Chef's job and my position as office staff at a fancy private school doesn't really put us in the jet set.

Problem Number #3.

Getting a law degree in this economy does not equal great job. With the current glut of law students, down economy, and not very many positions currently open, there is no guarantee. And well, I'm not exactly in the top 10% of my Law Class.

But I'm hoping, by the time I graduate, my 8 years of professional work experience will make me stand out from the crowd of doe eyed law school graduates who've never worked more than a summer at Starbucks. I hope that employers will look at my resume and see that my writing experience, the fact that I worked full time throughout law school while raising a family will get me in the door for an interview.

There are no guarantees in this world. I just want to work towards a better future for my family.

She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Proverbs 31:16

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Finding Balance

2011-10-19T12:34:00.001-06:00

One of the biggest challenges for all law students is trying to figure out how to balance the craziness that is law school. First you have crazy assignments, moot court, and student organizations to balance. During the second year of law school, through in more networking activities, internships, and law reviews... in addition to the crazy homework assignments and classes. Balance is hard to find.

That's life for a typical law student who takes classes during the day. Through in a full time job and a baby, and balance seems almost impossible.

Last week was the final week of my fall internship downtown at The Courthouse. Every time I would park my car and walk in my suit and heels towards the courthouse I'd walk past the Denver Art Museum, just because it reminded me about balance.

Crazy angles, with no walls at the normal, typical 90 degree angle-- it looks off balance and a little bit haphazard. But those angles, that unbalanced silhouette is unique and beautiful.

There's one thing about the Proverbs 31 woman that everyone can agree on. The woman had balance figured out. She was a mom, a wife, a weaver, seamstress, businesswoman, investor, real estate developer, AND she had time to be a snappy dresser in her fine linen and purple.

When we're pulled in ten different directions at once, just remember, embrace the craziness. Maybe we can't get everything lined up and put in perfectly organized columns in our planners. Maybe during this time in our life, we need to be a bit haphazard.

I haven't got balance figured out, but instead of fighting it, I'm embracing it.

And I've recently picked up a used book that I one of my best friend's loved: Finding Balance- From the Inside Out. Maybe that might be my next project... 31 Days to Balance?

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

The image of perfection

2011-10-18T21:43:00.000-06:00

I've been struck down by guilt. Law school and life have kept me ridiculously busy recently. On top of my busy schedule, I've had serious writer's block because of the guilt that this 31 Day Project is passing, and I'm what, like 12 days behind already?

Here I am, someone who is often biting off more than I can chew, and then choking on it.

But enough of my pity party, let's think about something more positive, more well, spiritual. When I think of the Proverbs 31 woman, I'm pretty sure she also had days (weeks) like I'm having, where it doesn't feel like she's getting enough done. But this noble woman doesn't give up, she just keeps pressing on, keeps working, and things get done.

The Proverbs 31 woman knows how to persevere. Wait... I can't spend the rest of this month calling this remarkable woman "the Proverbs 31 woman." Not only is it a mouthful (and really long to type) but it's also ridiculously impersonal. Here I am, trying to spend a month focused on this woman's virtues and mediating on the last chapter of Proverbs, and I can't even put a name or face to the woman.

Here's my solution:

Meet Priela.

(yes this is from One Night with the King)

Priela is a Hebrew name, meaning Fruit Of God, and I think, the perfect name for this famous unnamed woman. Proverbs 31 lists all of these virtues that come from living a disciplined and faithful life in service to God, and I believe that there is a promise there, that by working towards these godly qualities we can bear fruit for God and be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Philippians 1:9-11 ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Romans 7:4
So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

As incredible of a woman as Proverbs 31 describes Priela to be, she's not perfect. Thank God, for neither am I! The only thing perfect in this world is God, and He is the image of perfection. I don't have to achieve perfection, but it is good to set my eyes on a role model or description of a model wife, so that I can strive to better myself.

On November 1, after I complete the 31 Day Project, I'm not going to wake up perfect, but hopefully, I'll be a teensy bit better at this whole wife/mom business.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenged to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

Early Riser

2011-10-12T07:23:00.000-06:00

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenged to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

I've always been a morning person. I love watching the sun come up and paint the mountains and sky with colors like a woman dolling up with makeup getting ready for the new day. Mornings are crisp, cool, and impossibly quiet.

Unless its fall, and you wake up in the morning to hear 800 newly weaned calves bawling for their mommas. But that sound dissolves into the quiet with its regularity. The bawl of a weaned calf and the answering bellow from its mom always reassures me about the cycle of life, harvest season, the coming of winter. It's weaning season now and I wake up in the morning with ears straining to hear the bawling of the calves. But my house in Denver is too far from agricultural areas to hear the calves.

But I do wake now hearing the bawling of this little baby.

Trust me, he's more precious than a baby calf.

She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
(Proverbs 31: 15)

Even though I've always liked mornings, I do love my sleep. Pregancy and law school have both turned me into a slugabed, and I've been sleeping through my alarm clock more often than not. But nothing gets a woman out of bed early in the morning like the squeal of her baby boy.

Now that Bebe is 10 months old, he needs more for breakfast than a bottle. He needs a solid food breakfast. Luckily that doesn't mean pancakes or omelets yet, but getting up a little early to make him oatmeal or scrambled eggs is cutting into my beauty sleep.

But thinking about this verse in the Bible, how much more will I love to spring out of bed in the morning at o'dark thirty when I think of my early morning routine as an act of love for my family? That out of my love and sacrifice, I can help my family start their day with love, kind words, and good nutrition. It's a thought that keeps me from hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock.

Trust me. It helps!

Power of Body

2011-10-11T18:23:00.001-06:00

Like Superman, the Proverbs 31 woman could probably pick up buses and toss them around. Although back in Biblical times, they were probably oxen and carts. But anyway, the woman was STRONG. We just looked at the strength of her mind, but now, let's look at the strength of her body, that gives her the potency and effectiveness to get this impressive list of tasks done.

The Proverbs 31 Woman had a powerful body, her full life requires the strength and stamina to get through the day, and a vigorous approach to work. Elizabeth George, in her book, Beautiful in God's Eyes: The Treasures of the Proverbs 31 Woman describes the characteristics of her Power of Body:

"Observe the beautiful-- and strong-- Proverbs 31 woman at work.

She works willingly with her hands (Prov. 31:13)
Those willing hands plant a vineyard (Prov. 31:16)
They also operate a spindle and distaff (Prov. 31:19)
She works from early in the morning until late at night (Prov. 31:15, 18)
She nurses the needy (Prov. 31:20)
She weaves the cloth for her family's clothes (verse 21), for her for her household needs (verse 22), for her own clothing (verse 22), and for sale as a professional (Prov. 31:24).
Never idle, she watches over and builds her home (Prov. 31:27).

"This virtuous and very industrious woman needs physical strength and ability to do the work of her life, the work of love."

The Proverbs 31 Woman was a workhorse. But not a plodding, thick legged beast like a plowhorse, but like a quick-footed Quarter Horse, whose muscles are limber and ready for work. She did not do all of the things above on the same day, but she was well practiced with a full resume of skills.

I attached a picture of a barn to this post, because in my mind, the Proverbs 31 woman was well acquainted with farm/ranch life. The Bible refers to the agriculture the woman was involved in as viticulture, but growing wines in the American West is hard for me to wrap my mind around. But ranch life, that I get. I'm sure growing a vineyard has chores similar to ranch chores. A rancher, when calving season is upon them, eagerly gets out of their warm beds and go out into the frigid air at 11 p.m., 2 a.m., and 4 a.m. to check on their heifers. But if you love what you're doing, you're eager to get out of bed early, or not let your lamp burn out at night.

I'm neither a rancher nor do I have a vineyard, but my schedule is full of crazy work, and like the Proverbs 31 woman, I want to set about my work vigorously, I want my arms to be strong for my tasks. (Proverbs 31:17)

The Chronological Blog Index of 31 Days with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Power of Mind

2011-10-11T15:19:00.001-06:00

What would you do if you had unlimited strength?

Like Superman you could leap tall buildings with a single bound. Imagine the possibilities.

If I had unlimited strength, I think I would give up sleep. (Gasp. I can't believe I said that, I LOVE to sleep.) As much as I relish the feeling of snuggling into my bed at night, imagine what we could get done if we didn't grow tired, if we never grew bored with a task, if we always came home from work with bounds of energy to get things done. (Even thinking of the possibilities makes me tired.)

The Proverbs 31 is just such a superwoman.

But before getting discouraged, realized that this chapter of the Bible was written by a man, from advise his Mother-- a WOMAN-- had given him. His mom told him to look for a woman like this. Really? If his mom thought that these were impossible characteristics, why would she urge her son to seek a woman like this out? His mom probably demonstrated a lot of these characteristics herself.

The Proverbs 31 woman has been compared to a coin, with two distinct sides. She has both great Power of Mind (which constitutes her moral principles and attitudes) and Power of Body (potency and effectiveness in her activities).

Characteristics Demonstrated by her Power of Mind:

Purity- a woman of virtue (Prov. 31:10)
Honest- her husband trusts her (Prov. 31:11-12)
Industrious- busy from sunup to sundown managing her interests and expanding her enterprises (Prov. 31:13-19, 21-22, 24, 27, 31)
Thrifty- her skills with finances enables her to care for her loved ones and increase her property (Prov. 31:14, 16)
Courageous- faces daily challenges with undaunted courage (Prov. 31:25, 29)
Kind- compassionate for the unfortunate, governs her life and sweet speech flows from her lips (Prov. 31:20, 26)
Wise- Walking in wisdom is her way of life (Prov. 31:26)
Holy- wholeheartedly loves the Lord (Prov. 31:30)

These internal qualities enabled her to manage her incredibly full calendar. She managed her life, her time, her money, her mouth, her relationships, and her self.

I have to pause and take a moment as I write. These attitudes, these ingrained characteristics, are not what I would call my strengths. Of the list above, I think its easiest to consider myself courageous, I tend to look at things like an adventure, and don't let too much get me down. I would like to say that I am naturally holy and kind. But, well, I'm not.

Do not be discouraged. These characteristics are not a commandment, but simply a pattern of a woman's life that I find inspiring, and hope to live up to someday.

Can you imagine a Mom telling her son to look for a woman like this? She'd know that he'd have a very difficulty time finding someone, if at all. Maybe I'll start encouraging my Baby Buckaroo to look for a woman like this too... it'll probably keep him away from those scary high school girls!

I'll spend a day on each of the characteristics above, studying them out in further detail. I hope you'll stay tuned!

I referenced Elizabeth George's book, Beautiful in God's Eyes: The Treasures of the Proverbs 31 Woman for this post. It's a great book that really delves into the characteristics of the woman. A great aid for future study!

The Chronological Blog Index of 31 Days with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Grace and Truth

2011-10-10T06:34:00.000-06:00

As many of my plans go, I had big, grandiose plans to blog every day about my reflections of the Proverbs 31 woman. Well, I've been reflecting every day and studying her out, but getting the time to blog? Well, that's another issue.

But, I'm not discouraged! God has never demanded perfection from me. (Thankfully!) Sometimes I demand perfection of myself, but that is my own foolish decisions. I create these goals, and then am disappointed when I don't (or can't) complete them (i.e. 101 things in 1001 days, this 31 day blogging goal).

"From the fullness of his [God's] grace we have all received one blessing after naother. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17

I'm going to continue my 31 Days with the Proverbs 31 woman, and try to catch up with the calendar. But I'll remember the main thing-- do be spending time studying the Bible and reflecting on it, not just to meet self-imposed deadlines.

To read all of my 31 Days with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Prov 31: Quilting Endorsement

2011-10-05T04:00:00.008-06:00

In my quest to spend each day reflecting/studying the Proverbs 31 woman, I've been working on memorizing the 21 verses that describe the life of this awe inspiring woman. As I struggle to remember the verses and etch them into my memory during my long commutes, this verse keeps leaping out at me:

She makes coverings for her bed;
She is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Proverbs 31: 22

As I want to imitate the life of the Proverbs 31 woman, I realize that essentially, the Bible is endorsing quilting! The verse says, "She makes coverings for her bed."

Hallelujah!

Now, what I've considered my quilting addiction (I'm still looking for a Fabriholics Club to join) is actually a religious activity, sanctioned by the Bible!

Does that mean when I buy more fabric, I'm tithing?
I've got this Proverbs 31 characteristic down!

This is my son, Bebe, trying to figure out how to sit up (which he does by first putting his head down and then walking his feet towards his head until gravity knocks his bottom down). This baby gymnastics routine is done on the covering of my bed, a quilt I created for my husband (then boyfriend) over 6 years ago (it prompted him to pop the marriage question!).

Maybe this demonstration of my Proverbs 31 skills that encouraged The Chef to think of me as wife material!

Girls, you've heard it here first! Quilting is Biblical, and it will land you a husband!

Putting all joking aside, the Proverbs 31 woman was artistic and creative. She worked with her hands to create lovely things for her home, whether it be quilts, paintings, vases full of flowers, or whatever. She used her labor and skill to bring loveliness and beauty into her household.

As I look at this chapter as an ideal model of a wife and mother, it reminds me that no matter how many chores, errands, or even jobs that keep us frantically checking off tasks off our daily planners, we need to take some time to be artistic, to create beauty.

For it is those acts of beauty that shape our home. Those artistic attempts decorate our lives, and make us unique. And in the future, we can look back at our creative endeavors, and see what we've accomplished, and what memories we've made in the process.

I'm participating in a 31 Day Challenge to Change my World.

What am I doing for 31 Days?

Spending it with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

If you'd like to read all of my 31 Days with Prov. 31 please click here.

31 Days: Disclaimer

2011-10-04T21:44:00.000-06:00

I realize that this quest about writing about the epitome of the perfect wife for 31 days can open me up to a lot of criticism. Let me just state now, I am not the perfect wife. I have only been five years, and I am constantly screwing up, often acting selfishly in my relationship with my husband, and we've even been known to argue.

But I want to reflect on my studies this last chapter in Proverbs, and as I study and apply principles to my life, I'll share them here. Not preaching, not as someone whose got everything figured out. But from a woman in the marriage trenches, determined to fight for an incredible marriage, and to be the best wife that God has designed me to be.

Like I said on the first day, I am NOT June Cleaver-- I'm not a stay at home mom, primped up in heels. Nor can I say I'm an incredible parent. Ten months with Bebe has not exactly left me feeling like an experienced veteran.

I am not Martha Stewart-- I'm not a high powered businesswoman who has diversified her interests and companies. I'm a simple office manager, taking care of budgets, payroll, and other tasks. As a law student I hope someday to be able to be a part of creating great businesses that help others, but that day is not today.

Hey, I'm not even Monica Geller Bing. (Please tell me I'm not the only one who mourns for the tv show Friends. There has been a lot of imitations, and nothing has come close.) Monica was a neat freak, and kept a sparkling clean house and relished every opportunity to be a great hostess. Just ask my husband, cleanliness is not my strength.

But I feel that the Proverbs 31 woman is a little bit June Cleaver, Martha Stewart, and Monica Geller with a whole lot more wisdom and grace added in. Maybe in a month I'll identify and start working on those characteristics that set these women apart.

I hope you'll join me on my adventure.

31 Days with the Proverbs 31 Woman: Memorizing

2011-10-02T12:03:00.000-06:00

In my quest to spend the next 31 days reflecting on the character and life of the Proverbs 31 woman, I've decided to work on memorizing it. By meditating on it, day and night, I hope will bring me a more full understanding of the woman herself.

Care to take the challenge with me?

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

31 Days With the Proverbs 31 Woman

2011-10-01T17:10:00.005-06:00

I have a love/hate relationship with this woman.

Depending on the day I'm having, I'll swing back and forth. I hate this woman. I love this woman. When I consider the last chapter in the book of Proverbs, the incredible depth of envy, awe, and guilt is staggering, but in the next breath, I find myself wanting to BE her. I respect this unnamed woman SO much, and yet she sets a standard that is impossible to imitate. Or is it?

Five years ago, just months after my marriage, I picked up this book: Beautiful in God's Eyes: The Treasures of the Proverbs 31 Woman. After chapter two, I literally threw the book across the room.

An impossible woman! Why is she even in the Bible? To make women feel bad about themselves?

But over the years, I have developed a hesitant, but growing interest in her. The verses tickly my mind, heart, and imagination. Waht would it be like to really set my heart on studying this woman? Would I grow in admiration? Would my life change? Would my marriage change?

I am NOT June Cleaver. I am not Martha Stewart. Hey, I'm not even Monica Geller Bing.

There is a reason Proverbs 31 is in the Bible, and I intend to explore it. Join me on my adventure as I spend the next 31 days with the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Click here for an updated list of my posts for this 31 Days to Change my World Project.

Reading: My (not so) Storybook Life

2011-09-29T21:35:00.000-06:00

My bloggie friend, Liz over at Mabel's House, is getting her first book published! It's a memoir and I'm so eager to read it! My (Not So) Storybook Life will be released in a few weeks... and I can't wait! The author has generously allowed (asked?) me to post an excerpt of her book (see below).

***

Once one has breathed in the deep pungent aroma of sewage, you never again forget the nose-hair singeing, eye clawing, throat gagging experience. It comes over you slowly. You begin to feel like a character in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as your muscles involuntarily jerk and you run screaming and blowing raspberries. Anything to get away from the mind-numbing stench.

But let me explain.

It was 6:30 a.m. I was standing in my retro pink tiled bathroom trying to open my bleary eyes and ready myself for work. As I stood there, peering into the mirror and wondering what demented nighttime fairy had planted four new wrinkles on my face, I paused and sniffed.

“Matt… what’s that smell?”

Matt staggered from the bedroom in his underwear, eyes half shut. “I don’t smell anything.”

I pointed my nose into the air like a hunting dog. “Seriously? You can’t smell that? Did you go to the bathroom in here earlier? I told you to use the room spray when you do things like that.”

Matt puffed out his bare chest and gathered his pride as best a man can with sleep in his eyes and a small hole in the side of his underwear. “I just woke up!”

I frowned, catching a glimpse of my makeup-less hot-rollers-in-hair state and tried not to think about the fact that I looked fifty instead of twenty-nine. “Well, help me figure this out. Because something smells ripe.”

We sniffed the sink drain and ruled it out as a suspect.

“Is it coming from the toilet?” Matt asked, examining it from top to bottom.

“No, that’s not it,” I snapped. I’m not known for my milk of human kindness in a disaster. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a survivor. I plan on eating my radish like Scarlet and clawing my way out of the nuclear dust while dragging my loved ones with me. But I won’t be doing it with positive phrases and a smile.

“Hon, I just don’t know. We’ll call a plumber after work, maybe it’s coming from under the house.” Matt staggered a little, trying to get past me and out of our tiny bathroom.

“Well, that’s just great,” I moved aside and pulled the shower curtain back so I could perch on the side of the tub and give Matt room to move out the door.

That’s when the full brunt of nastiness filled the air around us, a swirling mix of excrement and acrid stench that would have brought the sewer dwelling Ninja Turtles to their knees. Where the normally slightly-clean-with-a-hint-of-soap-scum bottom of the tub should have been, there sloshed gallons and gallons of brown sewage.

I clutched the front of my sweatshirt and held my breath. Matt began to dry heave.

“Get out and shut the door!” I screamed as we bumbled into the hallway.

“I’ll deal with this,” Matt grabbed my shoulders, trying to talk and hold his breath at the same time.

I could feel my eyes glaze over, the horrors of typhoid and hepatitis in our bathtub filling my mind. But more importantly, I could envision our evaporated savings account. In my mind’s eye I could see the long, gray hallway at the bank. A worker shrouded in a black suit pulled a set of keys from his pocket and unlatched a small locker labeled “Owen Bank Account.” Inside were two small stacks of quarters and a few crumpled dollar bills. It was bleak, not only because the banker with an unimaginative wardrobe gazed at me with an expression that could only be interpreted as “You’re a Big Fat Loser,” but also there was a very definite possibility we wouldn’t be able to pay for a plumber.

I wasn’t necessarily a spend thrift. In fact, I was downright frugal when it came to decorating with thrift store furniture and rewired vintage lamps. But the fact was, we were poor. We were starting out at starter jobs with starter salaries. We were starter adults with a starter bank account.

“Okay,” I nodded numbly, thankful that Matt was taking the lead on such a disastrous biohazard. “But make sure the plumber is super cheap. We don’t have much money!”

I left for work like a wino stumbling through a fog, not really remembering my commute, not really doing any work as I sipped my coffee and stared blankly at the computer screen. A disaster of such gargantuan proportions had previously been unthinkable in my life, and now I found myself attempting to push the image of a vast sea of bathtub poop from my mind. But I was sure of one thing: Anne Shirley never had to get ready for work while breathing raw sewage.

101 in 1001 has come to an end!

2011-09-29T14:38:00.001-06:00

1001 days ago I started a project to complete 101 goals in 1001 days. Back then, on January 1, 2009 I thought it would be a good idea to do this instead of making silly New Years's Eve resolutions that no one really keeps anyway.

The Mission:

Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. I officially started January 1, 2009 and finished today, September 29, 2011.

The Criteria:

Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?

Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

The Result?
I completed 52 items on my list of 101. I wish I could have gotten more accomplished, but I'm pretty happy with what I've done. Law School and Pregnancy certainly threw me off schedule! :) I blame both of those for not finishing my 101...

What's next? I'll be starting a new 101 in 1001 in a few days. I can't wait!

The Old 101 in 1001 list

My goal was to finish the following 101 things in the next 1001 days... (completed goals appear in red)

Start 1/1/09 Finish 9/29/11

Writing Goals

~~Send out Novel to Agents~~

Finish Novel Two

~~Write 5 more Ranch Essays~~

~~Compile Branded Nonfiction Book~~

~~Join Book Club~~

~~Join Writing Club~~

~~Advertise Copy editing Services~~

Read 75 books and blog about them (12/75)

Read 12 classic books

Read 20 devotional books

Read the Bible in one year

Blog at least 5 times a week

~~Write in a paper journal daily for a year~~

Daily Devotional time for one year +

~~Attend two writer's conferences (4/2009)~~

~~Apply to Law School 1/1/09~~

~~Complete 36 credit hours of Law Classes~~

~~Donate 101 things~~

Give blood 5 times (3/5)

Submit biweekly budget reports for six months

~~Complete Access training course~~

~~Complete Excel training course~~

~~Create Personal Web page~~

Physical Goals

Do cardio 4 times a week for 4 months

Lift weights 3 times a week for 3 months

Get below 22% Body Fat (physically possible?)

Complete the Couch to 5K plan

Write Down everything I eat for 2 months

Run a 5K

Run a 7K

Run 5 miles Cherry Creek Sneak - May 1

Run a 10K

Complete a half marathon

Do 50 pushups in a row

Get defined Abs and Arms

Swim Two lengths of the Pool without stopping

~~Lose 5% of my starting weight on January 01~~

~~Lose 5% of my weight after losing the first 5%~~

Lose 5% of my weight after losing the second 5%

~~Take a multivitamin daily for 1001 days~~

~~Don't drink caffeine for one week~~

~~Don't watch tv for one week~~

Take two pilates classes

Attend 20 yoga classes

Attend 24 spinning classes

Financial Goals

~~Pay off Discover Card~~

~~Pay off Citibank Card~~

~~Pay off USBank card~~

~~Pay off car loan~~

~~Create Budget 1/1/09~~

~~Maintain a Personal Planner Daily for a year~~

~~Read 10 financial books~~

~~Create Snowball Debt Plan 1/1/09~~

Ride bus to work 4 times a week for 6 months (3/24)

~~Pack lunch to work daily~~

Save a dollar a day for 1001 days

Open a Mutual Fund

~~Refinance House~~

Nesting Goals

~~Plant Vegetable Garden 5/2009~~

~~Paint Garden Shed 5/2009~~

~~Complete Wedding Scrapbook~~

Scan and upload old photos

~~Make a souffle~~

~~Make bread from scratch~~ (Feb. 27)

Make doughnuts from scratch

~~Plant Roses~~ (6/1/2009)

~~Redo back porch~~

Learn how to knit

Knit a stocking

Learn how to Crochet

Finish Queen sized quilt

~~Make 5 baby quilts~~

Build a gingerbread house

Create Emergency Kit

~~Buy a freezer for garage~~

~~Learn how to can food~~

~~Create Guest Room for Family~~

~~Meet all neighbors~~

~~Host Neighborhood Party~~

~~Visit Coure d'Alene family~~

Visit Mom in Missouri

~~Visit Dad and Mom in New York~~

~~Give handmade Christmas presents to everybody once~~

~~Get Pregnant~~

~~Give birth to a healthy, happy baby~~

Do 25 random romantic things for hubby

~~Buy husband a bike~~

~~Plant herb garden~~

~~Learn to refinish furniture~~

~~Visit a flea market~~

Wild Adventures

Fly to Europe

Visit Ireland

Kiss the Blarney Stone

Eat dinner in Paris

Visit Italy

Visit Avignon, France

~~See a Broadway Play~~

Climb a 14er

Go camping with hubby

~~Go on a cruise~~

Plan special 5 year anniversary vacation

Work you to Death: A Day in the Life of a Law Student

2011-09-29T11:40:00.001-06:00

Everyone has heard the saying:

The first year of law school they scare you to death.
The second year they work you to death.
The third year they bore you to death.

It's popular because it's true.

Right now, I feel like I'm being worked to death, and trying to deal with law school while working and having a baby doesn't seem like the best idea right now. I'm just hoping I can get the projects that are due this week done, and attempt to catch up on my reading.

Here is a day in the life of an evening law student-- well actually, I can't just pick one day, so here are the last two days in the life of a law student.

Tuesday:
4:45 Wake up (crap, I slept in!) eat breakfast, get ready for the day
5:30 Read a few water law cases, pray that I don't get called on today
6:25 Wake up Bebe, dress him, and give him breakfast.
7:15 Start commute-- drop off Bebe at childcare
8:00 Work
10:30 Walk to Law School for Water Law class
12:00 Attend staff meeting for the Journal I've just joined
1:00 Work
5:30 Leave work, walk to the Law School for classes (the Chef picks up Bebe from childcare-- on Tuesday and Thursday he drives 60-75 miles since his work and childcare are in complete opposite directions)
5:40-7:20 Property Law
7:45 Start drive home
8:10 Arrive at home, spend a few minutes catching up with Hubby, head to office to start homework.
9:45 Go to bed because I can't keep my eyes open.

Wednesday:
4:00 Wake up, eat breakfast, get ready for the day
5:00 Read appellate briefs for State Supreme Court hearing
6:00 Wake up Bebe, dress him, and give him breakfast.
6:45 Start commute-- stop at grocery store to buy formula, then drop off Bebe at childcare
8:15 Arrive at Internship downtown
9:00 Observe State Supreme Court case and take notes for extra credit
10:00 Brief coffee meeting with classmates to organize group blogging project
10:20 Back at Internship, do research, write briefs
1:00 Commute to Work
1:30 Work, try to get caught up with emails and work
4:30 Leave work, start commute, pick up Bebe.
5:45 Arrive at home, play with Bebe and hang out with husband.
7:15 Put Bebe to bed. Watch tv shows I've recorded on DVR (Biggest Loser)
9:00 Go to bed, try to read Property, fall asleep with book open.

As you can see, I'm not getting much homework done during the week, and usually need to get as much done as possible over the weekends. But once the weekend comes all I want to do is play with Bebe. Sigh... maybe this weekend I'll get caught up with homework.

Mountains of Paperwork

2011-09-27T16:28:00.003-06:00

Right now, I'm feeling a bit like Radar O'Reilly.

You know.

Radar.

From M*A*S*H*?

He sits at his desk in the front office of the Army field hospital, and spends all of his time going through the mountains of paperwork required by the bureaucratic, regulation happy government. His inbox was never empty, and whenever he went to see Col. Blake and later Col. Potter he'd be handing things for them to sign. Eventually he had so much paperwork, he'd just have Col. Blake sign blank pieces of paper.

His best lines occur when he hands Col. Blake a stack of papers and says. "Initial here, Sir. And then initial each of these pages, and then sign this page."

Col. Blake: "What am I signing?"

Radar: "Forms. Your signature indicates that you're initialing where you should have been signing."

I feel like that right now. Mountains of papers. An overflowing inbox, multitudes of tiny little red "sign here" arrows.

At least that means I have job security?

Well, now I'm off to law school, where I have more paperwork awaiting me. Sigh.

Gary Richard Burghoff (born May 24, 1943)^[1] is an American actor, known for playing the character Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly in the M*A*S*H series

Long Lost Days of Summer

2011-09-24T22:32:00.002-06:00

It's officially fall, and all I can wonder as I wake to chilly mornings and leaves turning colors is... where did the summer go?

At our annual work retreat on September 1, my fellow coworkers and I had to submit a PowerPoint slide that shows how we spent the summer. I watched pictures of beaches, Paris streets, and road trips and I couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. My summer was a tad different. I took a few long weekends to the ranch, but otherwise my days were filled with law books and baby bottles. It was difficult to keep from drowning in the books, as I took eight credits this summer, Basic Tax and Trusts & Estates. When finals were done at the end of July, I had exactly two weeks before the fall semester started.

I'm six weeks into the fall semester-- and am somehow surviving.
Once again, I'm only taking two classes (got to use that tuition waiver and being a part-time evening student lets me still work full time). I'm taking Water Law and Property (finally!). I was able to drop Property last fall because of schedule conflicts -- I was automatically registered for Constitutional Law from 5:40-7:20 two nights a week, and then on Monday/Wednesdays registered for Property from 5:40-7:20. Since my work day starts at 8:00 AM-- being on campus for 12 hours a day for four days a week during the last months of my pregnancy was NOT my idea of a good time. After much pleading and petitioning, I was able to drop Property. Looking back I know that was a good idea, I would never have survived four night classes during the last trimester, I would have drooled or snored all the way through the classes. But back to the present-- I'm in property now, and am LOVING it! Taking Trusts & Estates before Property was challenging, I'm glad to finally understand what in fee simple means!

The Bebe is growing like a weed. He's got five teeth, and delights in gnawing on everything he can fit into his mouth. He hasn't mastered crawling, but kind of skootches around, pushing off on his big toes. Its not very fast, but he doesn't seem to care, all he wants to do is stand up and walk. He's mastered pulling himself up to a stand, but hasn't quite figured out how to walk.

Working full time, taking two law classes, and being a mommy keeps me busy, but I couldn't help adding a few more commitments to my schedule. I found an internship for a Judge for the fall, and am using my vacation time at work so I can spend a day and half a week at the courthouse. It's been fascinating and a great learning experience, and has opened up whole realms of legal practice that I had never considered before.

This seems to be the fall for becoming a joiner, because I competed in the Write On competition for one of the journals at Law School, and just found out that I made the journal. Hmm... who needs to sleep, I can do an internship, law journal, keep up with classes, not get fired from my real job-- and be a great wife and mommy, can't I?

My crazy life just got crazier. And I think I'm going to blog more... just so I can keep it all straight in my mind. Hope you stick with me... I know my blogging silence has lost me some readers, but forgive me. Life happens.

What are little boys made of?

2011-08-15T12:09:00.000-06:00

What are little boys made of
Snips & snails & puppy dogs tails
And such are little boys made of.

Luckily, Grandma's dog, Mr. Darcy doesn't have to worry much about Daniel taking his tail-- it's already pretty short to begin with.

But boys and little dogs... its definitely puppy love.

Kale Smoothies

2011-08-12T04:53:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but my CSA is giving me so much kale I can't stand it. Every week my box of veggies shows up, and I'm always so eager to see what's inside. And inevitably, there are 3-4 bunches of kale. A girl can only eat so much kale!

But I've found a way to eat my veggies, and how to actually use up the kale before it goes bad. And, best of all, it actually tastes good! Like one of Odwalla's Superfood juices, or some fancy schmancy drink from a juice bar.

Kale Smoothies

Ingredients

1 banana
2 cups chopped kale
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon flax seeds
1 teaspoon maple syrup or 1 or 2 frozen strawberries, or a peach, if you want to cut down on sugar.

Directions

Place the banana, kale, soy milk, flax seeds, and maple syrup into a blender. Cover, and puree until smooth. Serve over ice.

Breathe

2011-08-11T13:28:00.000-06:00

I often get so caught up in the stresses of my life that I can't see anything positive. But then, I remember to slow down and thank God for all of the blessings He's showered upon me.

There are many.

Law School Orientation: The Smell of Fear

2011-08-10T11:04:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again. Next week law classes start up again, so this week is 1L Orientation for incoming students. You can just walk across campus and get a tingle of exhilaration and terror-- you don't even have to be by the law school to feel it. In the campus bookstore, the law books are stacked high, shiny, and expensive, as throngs of new 1L's stand crowded around the shelves, checking their class lists, trying to figure out which section of Civil Procedure they're in so they can shell out $195 for the casebook. In the halls of the law school, booths and tables are set up. Already bar-prep companies are talking to students, hawking their wares. Other booths are manned by students who are checking out lockers, handing out information packets, class lists. And through it all, permeates the smell of fear.

The 1L's eyes are wide, frightened, as they ask themselves, "What in the world did I get myself into?"

I know what they're feeling, what they're thinking, as just two years ago I went through the same thing. And I survived. They will too.

Tonight I'm sitting on an "Ask Anything Panel"-- an experienced 3LE (that's evening 3L-- I still have another two years to go, so I'll graduate in 4 years instead of 3) sitting with three of my friends I met at the exact same orientation in the fall of 2009. We'll share about what law school is really like, about how it's horrible. It's hard. It's... well, hopefully it'll be the opportunity that opens the door for a new career for me. I feel like I have a slightly different view of things than some of my other classmates. I started law school married, working full time at another job, and tried to squeeze law school in at night. I had a kid in the middle of my second year, and now I'm still trying to figure out how to balance having a husband, a baby, a full time job, law school, and now a judicial internship!

Just typing that makes me tired.

I'll be encouraging, and honest, of course. It's hard. Without my support system-- my faith, family and friends, I wouldn't have done it. And it still feels like a toss up about whether or not I'll make it to the end after all. But I'll keep plugging away, taking one day at a time, one law course at a time.

Breathe, 1L's. It's scary. But remember, we're all scared. It's hard work, but remember, that which doesn't kill us, just makes us stronger.

Just breathe, 1L. You'll be fine.

Back in Town

2011-08-09T10:10:00.000-06:00

I'm back! Both from a long weekend with my parents on the Ranch, and from a very long blogging vacation. It seemed that I needed a break from the blog, simply to catch my breath, as it seemed that the rest of the world was crazy around me. There's something about spending time on my parent's ranch, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by meadows, big wide open sky, and breathing clean air, flavored only with a bit of horse, dust, and green grass-- no air pollution-- that seems to reset my system. I'm back in town, and ready for the new law semester to start-- ready to get going.

Remember, back in school, when you had to write essays that first week after summer, something along the theme, "What I did on my summer vacation"? Well, since I work at a University, the students and most of the professors left, but work just started cranking for me. We moved our offices out of the old library so it could be renovated. (Can you say asbestos removal anyone?) During the next 18-24 months to make the old library shiny and pretty again, we're squatting in some old dorms that the U will tear down as soon as we move back to the library. So the dorms are too ghetto for students to live in them, but as offices? We love them. I have a huge window by my desk, lovely! I have my own personal air conditioner unit. Two other people share a private bathroom and kitchen with me. The paint may be chipping and we have a piece of plywood glued to the top of the tub to make sure we aren't tempted to take baths at work... but all in all, we're pretty happy in our old dorm office spaces. The move over was horrendous though, and a month later, I'm still sorting and cleaning and trying to find a place for everything.

In the midst of the office move, I took two classes this summer. Basic Tax and Trusts and Estates-- both four credit classes squeezed into 6 weeks of class time. Whew, I felt like I was squatting in front of an open fire hydrant trying to get a drink. Talk about overwhelmed. But I enjoyed both of the classes (when I could go) and survived the finals. I feel like I should have done better in each of the classes, but who has time?

And then there's my family. Little Baby Buckaroo is growing like a weed. He's mastered sitting up by himself and has started army crawling/scootching all over. Nothing is safe from him, or his constantly flowing drool. He's got two baby teeth, and tries to chew on anything that can fit in his mouth. He's a handful, but so darn cute! The Chef and I are taking turns chasing after our little Sonny, while the other takes care of the house or simply takes a few minutes to relax.

This summer? It's been go, go, go... and I have a feeling that the fall is as busy as the summer! Such is life.

Give a Weed an inch... and it'll take a yard.

2011-07-13T01:00:00.001-06:00

I want my home garden to look like this. Manicured, but with an element of country cottage romantism.

What I have is the complete opposite... weeds, overgrown, and looking like the country cousins from Redneckville moved in. My garden plot has thistles that are quickly growing as tall as me. Maybe taller.

Sigh.

Like this post here, "Don't hate me Martha," I have problems with my intentions (I want to be Martha Stewart) and reality (I work full time, am in law school, and have a seven month old baby). Balance and setting the right boundaries for myself are a struggle. I often overcommit myself, and then wallow in guilt for not getting everything done.

But tonight, I squeaked out enough time to weed half of my front flower bed and deadhead my climbing roses. While its not perfection, and definately not what Martha Stewart would have done, at least its a start. Baby Steps.

Crossroads

2011-07-12T01:00:00.001-06:00

A week ago I turned 30. Whew... it was kind of hard just to write that number down. I'm in a whole new decade, and am no longer a carefree, young twenty-something. Thirty-somethings... I feel like I'm supposed to be more mature, more responsible, more ... well... steady, than I feel.

As I enter this new decade, I feel like I'm at a crossroads, both with my life, and with my blog. Amy Adams in Julie and Julia talked about blogging:

Maybe I'm being a little narcissistic... what do you think a blog is? It's me, me, me everyday.

Who cares what I write? I'm not egocentric enough to think my life is that interesting. I write what I feel, what's going on with my life, mostly to keep myself writing, since I'm certainly not busy composing the next great American novel. I share pictures of Baby Buckaroo with my family on the blog (but then I do the same thing on facebook). Most of my friends don't know that I write a blog-- I try to keep it as anonymous as possible.Is this a good thing? I don't want to jeopardize any future legal job by the fact that I have a blog, but at the same time, I don't write anything I wouldn't mind my boss (current or future) reading.

So why do I blog? Why should I continue blogging?

"When I was 29 it was kind of a big year in my life, and I was trying to decide what I was going to do, it was a crossroads to me."-- Amy Adams

Back to Julie and Julia, Julie Powell started her blog just before she turned 30, in an attempt to make a space for herself in her own life. The actress Amy Adams agreed to play the part of Julie Powell because she identified with the memoir, in so many ways. Julie Powell was feeling lost in her life, so her blog was her way to turn inwards, to figure out who she was.

My girlfriend told me on my birthday that I would love my 30's because its a much clearer decade than my 20's. As I've thought about that for the last week or so, I have to agree. When I was twenty I was a foolish, crazy college junior. My life was going in ten different directions then. Now, I have a very clear idea of who I am. I may not have accomplished all the many things that I imagined I'd have accomplished by 30, but I know who I am.

I am a wife. A mother. A child of our mighty God. I am a law student, a working professional, a part time baker, photographer, quilter. I am the cowgirl in the city.

Dimples

2011-05-25T07:40:00.001-06:00

Hello Dimples.

I can't help it, I have to share these dimples with the world. Baby giggles melt me. Baby cuddles warm my heart.

But these dimples?

I swoon.

While I want to chew on Bebe's cute little toes and cover his neck with smooches, I could seriously stare at these dimples for the rest of my life, completely happy.

Am I the Biggest Loser?

2011-05-24T21:37:00.000-06:00

Nope. Olivia is.

But I want to be.

I couldn't believe it, tonight's Biggest Loser finale had an all girl finale. The sisters of the purple team, Olivia and Hannah were the biggest losers, with Olivia winning the title, The Biggest Loser.

(pic)

And Deni, a 59 year old grandma, lost over 48% of her beginning body weight to win the at home prize of $100,000. Deni has eight children and gained weight after each child, and never lost the weight she gained.
I was sad that Rulon Gardner wasn't at the finale, but apparently by making the decision to quit the show a few weeks from the finale he had to abide by production rules -- people who quit cannot participate in the finale. Here we had an Olympic athlete, a gold medalist, a real winner -- and he quit. It was Olivia, an overweight opera singer, Hannah, an injured college athlete who ballooned up after college, and Deni, a 59 year old grandma, who made it to the end, never giving up.

I've been inspired by all three of these women. While they earned the Biggest Loser prize money and totally remade their lives, they inspired me to get off the couch and start working out. My weight and my fitness is solely my responsibility, and in my hands. Only my determination and discipline will earn me a healthy and fit body. It's up to me. I might not be on the Biggest Loser, but I can take ownership of my health.

Wedding Weightloss Challenge: The Inspiration

2011-05-11T08:49:00.000-06:00

My cousin is getting married in Seattle this September. I still haven't lost all the weight I gained during maternity leave (not during my pregnancy, I lost that weight right after Bebe was born, but then the 3 months I stayed at home turned me into a pile of lard. I have to tuck my stomach into my pants every morning... not attractive!) and I'm determined to be in fabulous shape by the wedding.

My inspiration? I want to wear this dress and look fabulous in it!

It's September, and may be (probably will be) cool in Seattle, so I think a cute sweater or shrug would complete this look.

I love the shape of the dress, the poof of the skirt. Its adorable. And if I can trim myself down to a size 8, this cute dress from Anthropologie will be all mine!

Its time to hit the gym, the yoga mat, and start pounding pavement again!

My First

2011-05-09T11:01:00.000-06:00

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm thrilled to be celebrating my first ever Mother's Day as a Mommy.

Bebe doesn't seem to care one way or the other.

Monday with McCutie

2011-05-09T11:00:00.000-06:00

I can't help it. I, as does every mother everywhere, think my kid is adorable.

And Bebe thinks he's pretty hot stuff too. He loves to pose for the camera.

Sigh.

His shirt says it all... he's a little McCutie.

Wish List for Mom's Day

2011-05-06T08:53:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to celebrate my first Mother's Day this weekend! :)

Bebe and the Chef asked me what I wanted for a present, so I decided to come up with a wish list, just to help them out.

A necklace would be a good way to celebrate, and Bebe's birthstone is blue topaz. Or Tanzanite. (Why are there two birthstones for December?) But this Blue Topaz Journey necklace can be found here.

Or, this lovely Kindle can be easily found here.

And well, how could I say no, if The Chef whisked me away from a chilly Colorado Spring so we can have a romantic dinner here?

I mean, who am I to complain?

Or even if the Chef got me a bunch of flowers, that'd be nice too.

But, I think the best Mother's Day present will be snuggling with my two main squeezes, the Chef and our Baby Buckaroo!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

What do you want for Mother's Day?

Souffle Lovin

2011-05-04T10:57:00.000-06:00

I did it.

I conquered my fear of Julia Child, and I made a souffle.

Pictured above are the cheese souffles I made for breakfast for the Chef and I. They were puffy and incredibly yummy.

Later that afternoon, I made a chocolate souffle! (Because I can!)

I was so excited when I pulled it out of the oven I didn't take a picture, but the next souffle adventure I take, I'll be sure to document!

Take that Julia! Souffles aren't as hard as previously thought.

Fairybook Weddings: Kate Middleton and Grace Kelly

2011-04-29T09:46:00.002-06:00

I was delighted when I saw Kate Middleton exit the car this morning to get married. Kate's wedding dress is divine! Classic, romantic, and very much befitting the future Queen of England.

I love the lace arms and detail of her veil... and the white dress her bridesmaid sister wore... gorgeous!

Now, Kate is no longer a commoner, but a Duchess. Buckingham Palace said in a statement published at 8am on Friday: “The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales.

His titles will be Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. Prince William thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Miss Catherine Middleton on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.”

I love it. Grace and elegance combined. And the little flowergirl pouting in the bottom left is precious!

No one can do grace and elegance better than Grace Kelly.

Swoon.

Although I'm not a fan of the headpiece.

I'm very excited to bore my husband to tears by watching the Royal Wedding later tonight in more detail, and see the small little wedding tidbits analyzed.

I am struck, however, as is most of the world, at all the lovely similarities between Kate and Grace. Both are commoners marrying a prince. Grace Kelly married Ranier III Prince of Monaco in 1956. Her wedding party wore all white, as did Kate's. Grace Kelly was a model before acting, and Kate was modeling at a fashion show when Prince William first noticed her.

Hmm... if Kate was channelling Grace Kelly for her wedding dress design, I think she did a good job. Grace Kelly is the epitome of charm and beauty, not a bad person for a future Queen to emulate.

I love weddings. And I'm so glad that Kate Middleton got her fairybook princess wedding.

However, it makes me a bit sad that I can't wear my wedding dress again and relive my own wedding day. I'll just have to watch the video again and look at pictures. The picture below was taken almost five years ago, and I'm not going to even think about getting my post pregnancy body squeezed into that dress again... I better go to the gym today.

Source of Pics of William and Kate

Source of Pics of Grace Kelly

A Library with No Books-- Is this the future?!

2011-04-28T15:23:00.000-06:00

I am a self diagnosed bibliophile. I love books, always have, and hopefully always will.

A few months ago when we moved a huge bookcase into our room to make room for the nursery, my husband said, "Can we get rid of some of these books that you haven't read in years?"

I froze at the suggestion, unable to comprehend getting rid of my precious books. "No." I said finally.
"These books are my friends. I have memories associated with them, like the first time I read them, the people I talked about the book with, stuff like that. The books aren't leaving."

I love books, its true. I'm currently on a quest to read 75 books this year, and blog about as many of them as I can. I've discovered Goodreads, and have joined two different reading groups (because one isn't enough, is it?). My favorite place growing up was a library, and now my office is even located in a library. I love taking five minutes and browsing the stacks when I get a chance.

But that could all soon be changing, as the University's library is soon to be under construction for a huge remodel. The bad news? Only 20% of the books will be returning to the library. The rest of the space will be for studying, offices, a cafe... but not many books.

Since the decision to return only a portion of the books to the library was made by the board of trustees, not the professors or students, much controversy has been stirring (see here and here).

I'm just sad. A library with no books. I hope this isn't the future for every library. Yet, I'm afraid it might be.

Interested in Signing up for a CSA Farm Share?

2011-04-28T10:39:00.001-06:00

The Chef and I love freshly picked, organic veggies, and are passing along this info in case you're interested. Getting involved with a Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) is a great way to help out local farmers and is an economical way to eat organically. In Denver, we've been involved with Grant Family farms or three years. We love it, and since its spring, if you want to participate in the CSA this year, its time to sign up!

The farm is just outside of Fort Collins, and the vegetables are yummy and organic. The vegetables are delivered once a week to a host site and people who have signed up come to our house to pick up their share. The vegetable share starts the first or second week of June and goes through the first week of December-- six months of vegetables! You can also sign up to receive fruit, bread, eggs, flowers, mushrooms, meat, etc.

Here's a picture of one week of vegetables early in the season (thus the multitude of greens).

We found that sharing a family size share between three couples gave us a lot of veggies (although not quite enough for The Chef since he cooks all the time) and really cuts down the price. You can also sign up for a working share and go to the farm and work a few hours on the weekends, doing things like sorting eggs, washing fruit, etc. in exchange for a discount on the price of the share.

If you live in the Front Range area of Colorado, consider signing up for Grant Family Farms. However, the prices will go up on May 15, so SIGN up here!

The CSA model is the first truly sustainable farming model, for it is you that commit to the seed money, and it is that support that allows us to commit to growing food for you and your families. So I know, I know I sound like that guy from PBS or NPR during their membership drives, and no I don't have any cool celebrities to parade through our programming, but I can tell you that YOU are a part of history in the making, for with your help and commitment to local food, you have had a hand in keeping one more Colorado Organic Family Farm, FARMING! For in this current economic climate, there are not many banks that will sit with a business these days, let alone a farm

Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions!

Beginning Gardening: Starting Seeds Indoors

2011-04-27T11:46:00.000-06:00

I did it. I entered my first spring where I've started some plants indoors instead of waiting until the temperamental weather heated up. The Chef asked that I [try to] grow tomatoes this year, because he's eager to make tomato sauce in abundance. I agreed, scared of the unknown. Tomatoes seem so picky... and growing them from seed, almost impossibly hard.

I remember my Grandma Margie and how she'd start tomatoes, babying them all spring, then when she transplanted them outdoors used wall-o-waters to tee pee around them to help protect them from the weather. Once the tomatoes were larger, my mom would pay us to pull off the ugly slugs (caterpillars?) that seemed to always cover the young tomato plants. The going rate for the slug removal was a quarter, but I deemed it unworthy of the task.

I'm trying not to think of the bugs now (ick!) ... just focus on the young sprouting seeds. That's what I'll do.

In an effort to save time and effort, I bought some Coco One Steps, little pellets you immerse in water, and they swell to make little self contained pots for the seeds.

I soaked, I planted. I watered. Now, I'm just eagerly waiting for some sprouts.

Hopefully I inherited Grandma Margie's green thumb, and not the Black Thumb of Death I fear.

About Me

2011-04-21T22:09:00.000-06:00

I'm having a blog Identity Crisis. I don't want to write just another Mommy Blog, because I am still trying to fit myself into the mommy mold and figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do. My blog can't just be another online rant by a student in law school or a cooking blog. It's all of those and more.

And beyond my blog identity crisis, I feel that I too am struggling to determine who I am.

I’m trying to find a balance between being a wife; brand new mom; career woman; law student; Christian; Daughter; homeowner; writer; gardener; reader, baker; quilter.

Its been a struggle, and I’ve contemplated quitting the blog altogether. I've struggled, as I feel like my blog has no focus, no central theme. Should I have several blogs or none at all? But then I realized that I write my blog for me, and it is a reflection of me right now. Scattered. All over the place. No focus, and a bit frantic.

I feel pulled in so many different directions, and I feel like because I don't have the time or energy to focus on only one direction or role, I feel constantly guilty that I'm failing in every area of my life. I am struggling to remember my identity, who I am, while juggling the many different aspects of my life. But I endeavor to always be optimistic, to be hopeful, and rejoice in my life, because I'm holding to the promise, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength"! (Philippians 4:13)

I am the Cowgirl in the City, and I don’t have one role, but many, and I’m struggling to find balance.

Growing up on a cattle ranch I learned that you have to do the work that you’re presented with. Several times a day ranchers have to change roles, from veterinarian doctoring a sick calf, to accountant and bookkeeper of the ranch finances, from farmer cutting hay to roper catching calves to mechanic fixing the old feed truck. Other roles might include politician, agriculture advocate, marketing, advertising, etc. Like my father and the many roles he has to play as a cattle rancher, now that I’m a cowgirl living in the city, I’ve had to adapt to my many roles that I have to play.

If you’re interested in the life of a part time law student struggling to be a good student and still manage a career, a marriage, a new family, while maintaining some sense of creative outlets, please, continue to read my blog!

Dad used to say, "On the ranch we get more done by 8:00a.m. than most people get done all day."

While my day seems to start the same time as it used to on the ranch, no longer am I getting up early to saddle the horses and ride out after the cows. These days I'm wrangling my baby boy, saddling up my car to hit that hour long commute to the office. While the job is different, I'm still a cowgirl at heart, and I think the only feasible way to fully satisfy the myriad passions and interests in my life, I may need to start getting up earlier in the morning just to get things done.

Sick as a Dog

2011-04-18T11:51:00.000-06:00

I've fallen to one of the maladies of being a mom... getting a horrific cold from your child. I kept telling Bebe to cover his mouth when he coughed or sneezed, but the little guy refused to listen to me. And well, I'm sick. I was so sick in fact that I took the day off from work on Monday, calling the doctor and started to take cold medicine. Then I felt so bad about calling the doctor for my cold, that I guiltily called Bebe's pediatrician and made an appointment to bring him in to get a check up. Luckily, he's fine, just has a lingering cough.

Book Review: Ladies of the Field

2011-04-08T12:37:00.000-06:00

Early Women Archaeologists are profiled in a delightful, quick reading book!

Amanda Adams took seven women archaeologists (or those passionate about archaeology) and did a brief biographical sketch on each. While Adams is an Archeologist herself, she wrote this book for the mainstream public, and I fell in love with the women as much as Adams did herself.

A few days ago I listened to Amanda Adams give a presentation about the book and her process of writing the book. I was charmed as she talked of the Victorian women who shook off the bounds of polite society where women were only to delicate, frail creatures who should keep to the house and housewifely affairs. These women, most financially independent, ventured into the wild, unmapped deserts in search of history.

Reading about Amelia Edwards (1831-1892) and Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) as they traveled and explored history of Egypt and modern day Iraq, respectively, I really tasted the adventure they craved and sought after. Another woman, famous mystery author Agatha Christie (1890-1976) spent thirty years working on archaeological digs with her second husband, all the while writing her famous stories.

This non-fiction book is written well, fast paced, and a great read on a cold spring night! I could almost feel the desert heat creeping out of the book and warming my toes!

Beginning Gardening-- Spring Cleaning your Outdoor Spaces before Planting

2011-04-07T09:31:00.000-06:00

Spring has Sprung, which means its time for spring planting. Last Friday the temperature climbed to the 80's in Denver, but on Sunday it snowed. Welcome to crazy Colorado weather! Yet despite the often erratic temperatures in Colorado, I see the garden centers crawling with people buying plants. This always worries me, because what will happen when a person drops a ton of cash for flowers, plants them, and then two weeks later it freezes?

Its always important to know the last frost date for planting in your area. In my area of Colorado it's around the end of April, although I like to play it safe and not plant until the middle of May.

That gives me six weeks to clean up my garden and prepare for planting!

Last summer I didn't garden at all. I was still overwhelmed from my first year of law school, exhausted with pregnancy, and well, just plain tired! Because I didn't garden last year, my huge garden plot was grown over with volunteer vegetables, onions, herbs, and weeds of all kinds. While the blooming onion stalks were lovely in the fall and covered with frost, it's time to get them cleaned up!

My Gardening To Do List before May 15th includes:

Cleaning, lawn, garden, and open space immediately next to my garden of any debris, branches, and dried overgrowth.
Start seeds indoors. This is an new adventure for me, I've never started seeds inside before, and I'm already a bit nervous about it. (And behind, as I should have started my seeds last week!)
Prepare garden beds for spring planting by adding organic matter or compost-- or in my case, adding manure. Nothing makes a garden grow better than well rotted and dried cow poop!
Clean up the patio furniture and outdoor accessories, and prepare containers for planting.
Plant cool-season crops like lettuce and peas.
Repair dead spots in the lawn before weeds take over. Fertilize and reseed the lawn where necessary.
Talk husband into getting the sprinkler system up and ready for use.
Prune roses and fertilize.
Apply mulch to landscape beds and borders. Mulch helps cut back on weeding, as well as conserving soil moisture.

Thank goodness the days are getting longer, it looks like I've got a lot of work to do!

Quilting Again Despite Mommy Brain

2011-04-04T08:47:00.000-06:00

Last night, I sat down and cut fabric, preparing to start quilting again. I had dreams of my maternity leave being full of reading deep books, painting rooms in my house, decorating, and hours and hours of quilting, with my baby sleeping soundly in a basket at my feet.

Not one second of that reflects what actually happened.

The closest I got to quilting during maternity leave was when my mom and I took Daniel to The Quilt Store to buy fabric. I fell in love with Mark Lipinski's line, Winter's Grace, and since it was on sale, bought a ton of fabric to make a full sized quilt. That fabric, along with several unfinished projects sat in a bag in my office closet for months. But finally, I had the energy-- and creative juices-- to start cutting fabric.

However, that decision was risky. People always said that after you have a kid, that you're brain shrinks, that you become super forgetful. It's true.

On Saturday I tried to make brownies, and despite reading the directions only seconds before, instead of measuring 1 cup of oil and 1 cup of water for a triple batch of brownies, I measured out 2 cups of oil and 2 cups water. Oye. And I'm a baker! (I went ahead and cooked the brownies, they were only ok, and very oily, but the chocolate covered up a myriad of mistakes.)

This morning I tried to unlock my office door by pushing the unlock button on my Toyota car keys.

I also poured my cold cereal in my coffee mug with coffee creamer this morning, not in the bowl sitting next to it.

So when I go back to my fabric, I hope that I made my fabric cuts right. At this point, anything is possible!

Baby Buckaroo's Nursery Revealed!

2011-04-01T07:47:00.001-06:00

The one downfall of not finding out the sex of your baby until he's born is that you can't decorate the nursery before he actually arrives. That being said, I have had a blast over the last three months working on Bebe's nursery.

The theme, of course, for our Baby Buckaroo is Retro Cowboy.

My favorite thing about the nursery is the crib. I fell in love with it last May, just weeks after we discovered we were pregnant. While this crib was more spendy than what we wanted to spend, I couldn't find another that seemed to work. In the end, we compromised, buying this lovely crib, and not purchasing a bedding set. Instead, I spent about six hours trying to figure out how to make a dust ruffle for the crib, using Michael Miller's Yippee Cowboy Retro fabric.

That fabric was the basis for the whole nursery, soft denim blue, salmon, and a cheery yellow. Grandma Connie made a soft flannel quilt echoing those same colors, which I've hung on the wall. The rocker is a hand-me-down from my Grandma Margie, and when I rock my son to sleep, I think of her. My mom made another quilt, which I have draped over the back of the rocker, ready for us to snuggle under.

The changing table below is another hand-me-down, a gift from my mom, who used this same dresser for both my brother and I. She stripped the old wood, refinished it, relined the drawers with cheerful paper, and found gorgeous metal cowboy star drawer pulls to finish it off.

In the weeks to come, I'll show more pictures of the nursery, in more detail. I don't want to be accused of being a mommy blog (or do I?) so I'll end the nursery tour here for now. Stay tuned for more!

However long the hours of my decorating labor, Bebe does not seem impressed. Maybe in six months or so, he'll appreciate it. But then again, he is a little boy. He probably won't care one way or the other.

Google's April Fools Day

2011-04-01T07:26:00.001-06:00

It's that time of the year again, when Google releases a new, totally awesome feature that makes our lives much easier, and within days we forget how we ever lived without it.

This time, it's Gmail Motion, which allows a person to be able to "write" emails without a keyboard or mouse, but by simply moving.

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/motion.html

My thoughts? Totally awesome!

Happy April Fools!

My Failures have Served me Well

2011-03-31T21:15:00.001-06:00

Top Chef All Stars is over, and the best chef, Richard Blais, won. I've been rooting for Richard all season, and love his neurotic and crazyiness. I was worried throughout, because I wondered that his obvious superior skills would get him kicked out, like Jen Carrol got axed earlier in the season. This was Richard's season to lose.

Last night during the finale, Richard talked about how he had choked during the finale of his previous Top Chef season. He said, "My failures have served me well."

If only we could all learn so much from our mistakes.

Congratulations, Richard!

What's in my Mary Poppins bag

2011-03-31T09:55:00.051-06:00

I've been having a big of an identity crisis recently, as I've gone back full time to work and am still in law school (thus the sporadic posting for the past few months). I feel like I've been spinning my wheels, or more accurately paddling furiously just to try to stay afloat. While I contemplate my blogging future, I

That said, Whitney at the Glamorous Life of a Housewife blog asked her readers, "What's in your bag?" and then proceeded to show us hers. I thought about that post for a while, and since I'm still feel like I have identity limbo, I thought I'd share my messy purse with you and see if that helps me organize myself!

Here's my bag below. I don't call it a purse, because that seems to dainty and insubstantial for me. My New York in laws call all purses (no matter how huge) a pocketbook, which makes me giggle every time I hear it. So my handbag is not a purse nor clutch, not a pocketbook, but a bag.

I'm a cowgirl, that's how I roll.

Inside the bag is this:

oye.

Blackberry. I've always have loved my cell phone, and feel even more attached to my Blackberry. Personal email, work email, my digital Bible, google maps, photos, work calendar. I love my Crackberry, and I don't know what I'd do without it. Although the other night I learned an important lesson about the Crackberry. When the baby is finally asleep and cuddled up in his crib with a blanket and I'm going through the house, turning off lights, turning down the heat and I can't find my cell phone-- DO NOT, I repeat, do not call your cell phone in order to find it. Because inevitably, the cell phone will be wrapped up in the blanket right next to the baby in his crib, and you'll have to spend the next hour trying to put the baby back down to sleep.
Franklin Covey planner with a raspberry leather cover. While my Blackberry keeps me organized, I have to have a paper planner to jot down appointments, ideas, task lists, and to do lists. Nothing motivates me to finish my to do list than physically crossing it off in my planner. And the amount of receipts, coupons, random bits of paper that my planner keeps organized is a life saver.
Small journal. This is my Gratitude journal I've been keeping with the girls from church. I also use is to write down scenes from the novel I'm working on, or random blog post ideas. If I don't write it down, the creative juices dry up like an old prune.
Pens. Because I never have one when I need one.
Newspapers. Yesterdays newspapers that I've skimmed through once but didn't get a chance to finish last night. The New York Times and The Denver Post. Wednesday is the Food/Dining day, so I always have to save the food sections for yummy recipes. There's a potato doughnut recipe in the Post that I can't wait to try out.
Folder of paperwork from work that I work on at home. This whole flextime at work thing is a life saver! Who needs sleep, just keep working!
Work Keys.
MP3 player, headphones, and cord to recharge my MP3 player. I listen to audio ebooks that I can check out for free from the public library. I love it, and am able to get my reading fix while driving or cleaning the house.
Watch. I bought this cute new watch at Walmart, but didn't have scissors in my car to cut it free of the box. Cuteness, practical, and only $10.
Purse Hook. For those times when I'm eating at a restaurant and desperately do not want to but my bag on the grimy floor.
Car key with silver spur key chain from Brighton. The little engraved spur makes me smile every time I see it. This is me, cowgirl style.
Wooden boot from baby shower. Why this is in my bag is beyond me, but I think its adorable and can't throw away this party favor. Just five months ago I had a baby shower, and now I'm a mom. Crazy.
Paperclip. Who knows?
Yellow mittens for the Baby Buckaroo. Bebe's hands get cold all the time, probably because he sucks on them and gets them wet. And yet, I can never find mittens when I need them.
Pink Flowered Pacifier holder. Just like the mittens, I lose pacifiers all the time. There are currently three pacifiers in this cute Paci pouch, made by my favorite baby designer Amy Coe. :)
Vitamin water. Breastfeeding dehydrates a mommy like nothing else. I'm always parched!
Diaper bag pouch. Since we just came back from vacation, I still have everything crammed in here in case of emergencies: gas drops, infant Tylenol, baby lotion, lanolin, thermometer, aspirator, pacifier clip and another pacifier (!), rattle, bracelet rattles, baby brush, and comb.
Random makeup. Lip gloss, powder, Bare Minerals foundation, and mini kabuki brush.
Eye glass cleaning cloth.
Hand lotion. It's Denver, and we have zero humidity so I'm always super dry.

Not pictured: my MP3 player (I was listening to The Count of Monte Cristo while taking this picture); my camera (obviously); and my flip cam (which I was charging).

Holy crap! I think I might need a bigger bag! (And my bag, by the way, was $3 at Walmart.)

So, what's in your purse?

As Free as a Bird

2011-03-29T18:03:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting in the JFK airport, waiting for our redeye flight back to Denver, and back to reality. We took a long weekend to get away from work, bills, and trouble to spend time with the Chef's dad and family in New York.

One 90th birthday party for the Chef's Pop Pop, three lazy mornings sleeping in with hubby and baby, and many many New York bagels later, I'm feeling refreshed and rested.

Baby Buckaroo is a good flyer, and on the flight to New York, he was as good as gold. Now I'm praying that he sleeps and is happy tonight for the flight back. I know tomorrow morning will be a rough one, and hope my day at work isn't too stressful.

I'm rambling and feel randomly vague in my thoughts. Five days on vacation... two redeye flights. I should be stress free and relaxed, right? Why don't I feel as free as a bird? Is this motherhood? Constant stress?

Hungry all the Time...

2011-03-21T13:11:00.000-06:00

Well, it's true. I'm back in the saddle again. My maternity leave is over, Bebe is in day care, and I'm back at work. Is it horrible, that as a first time mom, that I was delighted to go back to work? I love adult time and I love the fact that I can have a long conversation with some friends at work without being interrupted by a crying baby.

And I have the best boss in the world, who is letting me work an hour a day from home, so that my work day is shorter, and I don’t have to leave my little Buckaroo in childcare for too many hours at a time.

The downside of being back at work is the fact that I’m starving all the time. When I was pregnant I had to force myself to eat, and had to count calories and protein just to make sure that I was eating enough. My whole pregnancy I gained ONLY 15 pounds, and two weeks after having the baby I had lost 20 pounds.

Oh the Joy!

But the long, cold winter months of staying home with Bebe have not been kind. Now, I’m at work, and still breastfeeding, so I’m hungry ALL OF THE TIME!

By the way, this picture is of Prissy, an orphaned calf I bottle fed while I was in high school. By the luck of time, we needed to keep as many replacement heifers as we could that fall on the ranch, and little Prissy got chosen. When the ranch moved from Oregon to Oklahoma, Prissy made the trip—although my Grandpa and Dad refused to call her Prissy, instead naming her Bucket, short for Bucket Calf. (Ranchers are sure not creative when they need to be!)

So here’s Bucket, eating as much supplements as she can before her calf finds her and sucks her dry, and now I totally understand her pain. Prissy, err… Bucket, epitomizes the plight of nursing mothers everywhere.

Thrifty Reading

2011-03-09T04:50:00.000-07:00

In my eternal quest for financial wisdom, I've discovered that I love reading financial planning books. (I know! Crazy!) In the wee hours of the morning while I've been feeding Bebe, I've torn through books, including Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life with Style by Marjorie Harris.

This book was an incredibly quick read, and while the narrator's chatty voice entertained, it also verged closed to the line of irritating. However, there were great personal stories, interviews and thrifty living tips by Canadian based writers and people that I've never heard of (but I probably would have if I grew up in Toronto. Overall, the most thrifty thing I learned from this book is to always check out non-fiction like this from the library, because then I can return it and not have to worry about wasting money on a book that will sit on my shelf never again read.

I thought this book was full of interesting ideas and great advice, including Harris' top 20 tips about frugal living:

Understand the difference between your needs and your wants. Being thrifty means being self-aware.
Define and redefine your needs until you are confident that you know just who you are.
To thrive is all-important. Being thrifty should enhance a feeling of well-being rather than deprivation.
De-clutter your life. Organizing your life is the first step toward organizing your finances.
Always have a budget in the supermarket, in the garden, in life.
Never borrow more money than you can afford to pay back.
Consolidate your debts.
Figure out your net worth; you may not be as poor as you think.
Take a percentage of everything you make and save it monthly.
Become money literate.
Always do your research before making any purchases, big or small.
Read the small print.
Buy well and you buy once. Quality is the hallmark of thrifty shopping.
Thrift is not about cost but about value and long-term emotional investment.
Avoid shopping as therapy.
Repurpose, repair, refit, reuse, resell, recycle: from food to fashion to home evolution, be creative and make the most of what you've got.
Never buy more than you need.
Don't throw good money after bad...
Thrift is about the experiences you create, not how much you spend to create the experience.
The essence of frugality is quelling the desire for acquisition. It's about making things complete."

Learning to Focus on Small Things

2011-02-18T10:01:00.001-07:00

As I'm figuring out my new Fancy Schmancy Camera, one of the things I've learned is to focus in on small details. Sometimes by trying to look at the big picture, and getting the whole subject into the viewfinder, I'll miss the small, truely amazing things.

Like Bebe's lips here. And his chin. I love it. Are all babies born with this cute little chin, that on a full grown man would be called weak, but on a baby is precious?

He could be the next Iron Chef

2011-02-17T21:47:00.001-07:00

I am addicted to Top Chef.

I'll admit it, proudly. I love Top Chef, and have a chef crush on Tom Colicchio.

I have watched all of the seasons and love them. I've got my favorite contestants, and those contestants whose restaurants I wouldn't want to eat at. This season, with the All-Star cast from previous seasons, I'm rooting for Richard Blais to win it all.

My least favorite chef, Marcel, was kicked off the show a few weeks ago, but he'll be back next week, according to previews. I just couldn't like the guy who seems so overly sure of himself, so cocky and arrogant.

Marcel's parting monologue as he was told to "Pack your knives, and Go" was:

"I didn’t make any mistakes, per se… [it was] just picking the wrong team. I’m probably known as the most notorious, diabolical contestant of Top Chef history, but also the most misunderstood.

I’m a nice guy."

Marcel, I have to tell you, whenever people tell me that they are in fact nice guys... usually it means they are completely the opposite. I've watch your season of Top Chef, this season of Top Chef All-Stars, and am still not convinced that you are a nice guy.

Dale was not one of my favorites originally, but this season, he's been endearing himself to me. He's so sarcastic, I love it! This week, as they were working on the quickfire cookie monster challenge, Dale said:

"I'm not like these new-school parents who are like 'we're all winners' -- %*!& that. It's bull-$#*! Who ever said losing is okay? In what country is that cool?"

I about fell off the couch laughing. And then when Dale won the quickfire challenge by making a cookie that was sweet and salty (he used chocolate and potato chips-- I so want that recipe!) and later the elimination challenge by making grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup-- well, I think Dale is pretty awesome at this point. And hey-- Dale made his grilled cheese with a clothes iron-- he is the next Iron Chef!
Last week Jimmy Fallon told Dale that his food was attacked by the Salt Monster. This week Angelo's food was so salty that it was completely inedible. I wonder who will have issues with salt next week?

I can't wait.