Socially Conscious Christmas Gifts Friday, December 14, 2007

If anyone is interested, there are some really great bath and body products that are hand made by residents at Magdalene (a 2 year residential community for women with criminal histories of prostitution and drug abuse) located just outside of Nashville, TN. The women create natural and organic handmade products from lavender fields in which they help tend and maintain. 100% of the sales proceeds go to support the residents.

Erik and I had the privilege of hearing Becca Stevens, an Episcopal Priest and founder of Magdalene, speak a few years ago. We also got to meet and hear stories from some of the women who's lives have been changed as a result of the support at Magdalene. It really is a phenomenal ministry that is making a real difference in the lives of women.

Here's the link:
www.thistlefarms.org

Skiing on the grass! Wednesday, December 05, 2007

So, usually when we ski in Maggie Valley there is considerably less GRASS. This past Saturday, Erik and I went skiing (well, of course Erik snowboarded) with my friend Regina. It was totally spur of the moment on Friday night, we were like "we're going at 6:30 tomorrow morning!" That's how we roll...

It was just funny to me to see all of that grass under the lifts. The runs were nice though, a little icy at first, but it turned out to be a great day for the first ski of the season! Maggie Valley, N.C. is only about an hour and 1/2 from us. That's Regina in the white pants!

Beautiful views from the lifts!

Fall in the Smokies Wednesday, November 28, 2007

There is nothing like fresh mountain air, and a weekend with friends! We were in North Carolina a couple of weeks ago soaking up the last of the beautiful fall colors and spending time with old friends. It was this same weekend a year ago that we all got together in the same place. Maybe this is starting to become a tradition?




Erik, Will, and Gaines all braved the trampolines at the Asheville Mall. What a strange concept, to PAY be strapped into a harness and jump up and down for 5 minutes. Weird. But pretty funny.



Shawna and Will are amazing parents! Gaines is so smart and respectful, I've never met a 2 1/2 year old like him. They're expecting a new addition to their family very soon. I can't wait to meet her!

4 friends, 4 babies, for 3 days! Wednesday, November 07, 2007

A few weeks ago, I headed to Dallas to meet up with my girls from nursing school. Usually, 6 of us get together for a weekend of catching up, re-connecting, and laughing until our sides hurt. Sadly, Maurine and Wendi couldn't make it this year (we missed you!) so it ended up being the 4 of us pictured below (Alisha, me, Suz, Jessicca). Suz just had QUADS, so we spent 3 days together loving on her precious babies; Andrew, Benjamin, Savannah, and Ethan. SO sweet.


Suz and her husband Joe have the babes on an awesome every 4-hour feeding schedule. We all jumped right in and helped with feedings, diapers, laundry, bottles, and burping :) It was definitely a reality check into the world of parenting. Granted, most parents aren't juggling 4 newborns! But, I must say, Joe and Suz are doing an amazing job.


In a moment of insanity, Jessicca and I volunteered to do one of the middle-of-the-night feedings by ourselves! It was absolutely hilarious. Imagine us waking up all 4 babies at once, changing diapers, most of them started screaming, and Savannah decided to vomit the most I've ever seen come out of a baby, right on Jessicca's chest! We ended up doing just fine, but it was just one of those times I wished we would have caught on tape. Good times...

Corn Maze Monday, October 15, 2007

Yet another thing to add to our list of "firsts" this year...a Corn Maze. What a crazy thing. You run around a corn field, in which a maze has been cut out, trying to locate all of the stations to get a punch for your card. We opted NOT to do the haunted maze. For one, Chris and Ashley had their precious little girl with them, and secondly, Erik was scared (HA!) Our small group went together this past Friday night. We split up into groups (boys vs. girls) to see who could finish first. I'll just let you guess as to who won!

Ok, seriously? This is probably the worst thing I've ever heard of (or close). FRIED TWINKIES?!! And 3 dollars no less! I just couldn't believe it, so I had to take a picture. I couldn't find anyone eating one, so I have no idea what they look like. Are they breaded? On a stick? How does one fry a twinkie?

We got lost, big surprise, so I hopped up on Amber's shoulders to try to get a look at where we were. It totally didn't help. Below is Ashley and her little girl, Elena. She was so good all night, we carried her all over the maze and she never made a peep! What a sweet girl...

We had a good time, for sure.