November 30, 2008

home again

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Home from the holiday.
Mom and Dad's house was just as wonderful and welcoming and comforting as ever, but it feels good to be back. I realized today that this little apartment is truly starting to feel like it belongs to me and I belong here: when I walked in the door, I caught a whiff of something very familiar... I recognized it to be the scent of home.
Home has a very distinct aroma. With time you learn to perceive it, with more time you identify with it, and after still more time you become oblivious to it again. At least that is the cycle that I have experienced. I think right now I am in between the perceiving and identifying with stages.
i am also..
pleased to be making progress with adjusting to a whole new life.
stuffed with enough good food to last until the next time I put my feet under Mom's table.
excited to get started on my Christmas decorating.
blessed to have a fridge filled with favors sent home with me by my parents.
thrilled to be listening to Christmas music.
relieved that the stockings were found.
delighted with the solace and stability of a husband.
thankful for a peaceful and happy thanksgiving with my wonderful family
p.s. mom's pumpkin pie was especially beautiful (not to mention delicious) this year thanks to her handy work with these
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November 26, 2008

happy thanksgiving

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"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States... to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwells in the heavens." President Abraham Lincoln
Oct. 3rd, 1863 - Proclamation of Thanksgiving
this pretty picture is from Alyson's blog milk eggs chocolate, you can see more of her work over at her other site, unruly things
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she shall have music wherever she goes

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I am not particularly skilled or knowledgeable in the field of music, yet I am amazed at the significance it holds in my life. I have realized this about myself: I must have music to accompany each and every activity throughout my day. It is essential. In order for me to enjoy the elements of my routine to the max, they must be supplemented with music. Does anyone else feel this way?
When I sit here and blog: a certain playlist on iTunes sets the mood. In the kitchen: I have a cd ready to blare in my old player from my bedroom growing up. While out and about in my running gear: my handy-dandy little ipod shuffle hooks on for the ride. In the bathroom: an ipod is connected to a clock radio-- instant shower sing-along enjoyment at my touch. Going to sleep: my laptop sends out sweet, soothing sounds. Every room in my house can be reached by several music sources. I made sure.
Ever since I created my first account several years ago, iTunes has become the hub of my life soundtrack. It is constantly, unnoticeably close at hand. But today, I am noticing it. And I am thankful for it.
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November 24, 2008

from: me

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Ever since I saw this, I fell in love with the idea of using newspaper to wrap up some of my Christmas presents this year. Liberated by the black & white concept and free from the worry of clashing colors, I decided to form some non-traditional gift tags out of some scraps that I had laying around. Although I love the bright hues and will surely use them, I am not going completely rebellious for 2008. I actually very much enjoy being engulfed in a veritable whirlwind of the traditional red and green everything. So, don't worry, along with my newsy gifts, I will also be packaging up some regulars.
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have yourself a merry little read

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Martha_Stewart_Living.2
After reading this review of the latest Martha Stewart Living, I was determined to get my hands on a copy of it. I don't usually cross paths with this magazine, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it perched on top of Judy's stack of ready-to-grab reading material while over at my in-laws' house yesterday. How convenient!
I eagerly snatched it up and within minutes of setting it in my lap, fell victim to its Christmasy charms. I savored each sleek page; admiring elegant holiday tables, studying ornament how-to's, and hastily jotting down recipe ideas.
When finished, I closed the glossy masterpiece, swelling with a fresh supply of zeal with which to embark on my Christmas endeavors. Equipped with my notes on spiced chocolate egg nog, old-fashioned candied citrus peels, and iced peppermint cookies, I am prepared to take to the kitchen and make all of my holiday dreams come true.
All this to say, I think this magazine is worth an extra dime and a tiny stretch of your time.
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bear with me

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Forgive me as I may be changing my header from time to time these days. (as you can see, I have already started) I am searching for something that fits me just right. Something that makes me feel good when I come in and sit down and write. Maybe I have already found it, but knowing myself, I will probably change my mind a couple of times.
As a homemaker I have learned that it is natural for me to seek out a way to beautify my surroundings. That proves true for this little spot, as well. I find myself continually moving things around, finding things to tidy up, moving things back to where they were originally, and recording ideas for potential redecorating.
So, if you see any editing going on, please disregard my seemingly fickle tendencies as I search for the look that suits me. Thank you for your wonderful patience!
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November 21, 2008

luxuries

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Now that I'm out on my own, buying my own toothpaste and toilet paper, my hair care regimen has changed. I was spoiled growing up in a house with 4 girls. Our shower was literally strewn with an array of lovely smelling concoctions to choose from. Now, I survey the shampoo aisle at Wal-Mart and happily discern which item will be my best bargain without stooping to White Rain, which is usually a pair of oversized bottles that read "compare to Matrix Sleek Look." (for an amazing read on this very subject, go here) Let's face it; this isn't really that big of a deal, right? I can make do with a little suave in my shower! No problem. But it's getting close to Christmas time and I'm going to put a few hair luxuries on my wish list! Before I decide which ones are worthy of wishing for, I asked my lovely and brilliant stylist sister to give me some helpful hints. Haley has graciously offered me her sought-after wisdom and I will be presenting the advice to you in a series of interview-style posts. Here we go!
in your opinion, what is the overall best line of hair products?
for styling: (1) Tigi: Bedhead and Catwalk
for reconstructing: (2) Redken
most affordable: (3) Biolage
what is the best deal out there (getting the most for your money)?
(4) Matrix Sleek Look Iron Smoother. Excellent heat protection from flat ironing- won't leave hair feeling sticky or weighed down. Calms frizz and fly-aways, leaving hair looking perfectly straight and smooth. Smells wonderful. I've had the same bottle for months and still have over half left.
(5) Redken Satin Wear. It's a great blow-dry lotion that can protect your hair up to 450 degrees. Makes hair silky and smooth, easy to style, smells great, lasts forever.
what would your dream beauty cabinet hold?
(6) S Factor Health Factor Shampoo/Conditioner. Smells lovely. Gives just the right amount of protein and moisture that everyone needs. Not too heavy for people who want lift, but heavy enough to get the job done.
(7) Pureology Hydra Cure Intense Moisture Hair Masque. One use of this, and your hair feels completely transformed. Makes hair softer, bouncier, shinier, smoother, and healthier. Smells amazing, and I can still smell it in my hair THE NEXT DAY. Hair doesn't "kink" as easily from hair ties, bobby pins, or pillows.
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November 20, 2008

The G Delights (aka Fudgy Chocolate Cookies)

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you should really give these cookies a try. rrreally.
at our house, they are known as "theG" (for grant) delights.
he really likes them. and i do, too. and you will, too.

you'll need...
1 stick butter
1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 chocolate cake mix
powdered sugar for rolling

prep.
1. blend butter and cream cheese together
2. add the egg, vanilla, and cake mix
3. chill for 30 minutes
4. roll balls the size of a 50-cent piece in powdered sugar (i forgot this step, but they are still fine, don't worry.)
5. bake at 350 for 12 minutes (commit to this precise time. don't give in to the pressure of over-baking. don't do it. you'll be so happy that you didn't.)
*yields 3 dozen cookies. enjoy.

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November 19, 2008

the list

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concerning my blog..
I've realized that what I thought would be a "list of lovely things" isn't really a list anymore.
Rather, this space has become a margin of sorts, where I can jot in annotations about my life
and lovely things that are on my mind. Although I am enjoying this type of writing immensely,
my favorite format will forever be the list.
The inspiration for my blog & title is my original "things I love" list, which I refer to simply as the list.
Currently comprised of 2 notebooks and 612 items, the list was started years ago and grows each day.
I began documenting because I wanted to be more aware of the beauty and wonder in everyday things.
I wanted to be more grateful. I wanted to be happy with humble things.
And I think that the list has really helped me focus on those things.
I've decided that it would be fitting to provide some excerpts from the list every once in awhile.
So, here is the first snippet. I love...
the list | number one
28. long car rides
63. extremely soft things
103. being appreciated
151. deep sinks
21. bacon, lettuce, and NO tomato
11. a clean room
91. sitting in a full bathtub
159. listening to clock chimes
130. lindt lindor truffles
54. christmas lights
125. thick carpet
144. lucky charms (the cereal)
193. the library
218. trivial pursuit
244. putting away newly-purchased groceries
image via here
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November 18, 2008

what's wrong with me?

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I can't seem to get my taste buds into the right season of late. This, in the words of Grant, is "the month of anticipation!" I should be dreaming of wassail, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, peanut butter balls, egg nog, and Grandma's spritz cookies. But am I? No, of course not. Lately I've been craving two very summery things: 1. fresh, sugared strawberries and 2. a tall glass of
that's right. Iced tea. And not just iced tea, but sweet tea. Mmm... liquid candy.
I dare say that this problem could have been prevented had I not made the foolish vow to NOT listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Surely I (and my taste buds) would be appropriately in the holiday spirit if I were filling my head with the sounds of Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby crooning their sweet, familiar melodies. Until I can listen to them with a clear conscience, I suppose the mellow tunes of Norah Jones will have to sustain me. I'm sure the Christmasy cravings will come soon.
p.s. happily, if any of you made a promise similar to mine, there's only 9 days left of this deprivation! also, there's help: "painter song" by norah has been a wonderful christmas music-substitute
image via here
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November 17, 2008

6 month mark

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last week marked the 1/2 year point for my grant and me. we have been married for 6 months already. time flies. i just read this part in one of my most favorite books and was amazed to see how much i can relate to it now that i am married. i feel exactly the way this character does.
"As my husband sleeps, I listen to his steady breathing. I am astonished over and over again that he is lying beside me.
I hadn't known what to expect, after all, when it came to sharing a life with someone.
Would I feel hemmed in? Invaded?
But I had never felt hemmed in or invaded, not once. I felt, instead, a kind of awe that made me lie very still, scarcely breathing.
How this could have happened, this sharing of a life? I couldn't imagine.
During the day I can imagine it, and ponder over the slow and gradual and wonderful process that had brought us to this place.
But at night, it seemed a miracle, defying reason.
Oddly, I can feel myself becoming something more, as one might discover new rooms in a house she had lived in all her life.
When I lay there and simply let the wonder of it sink in, I am suffused with a kind of joy I'd never known before."
thank you for that joy, Grant. i love you madly.
quote from These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon
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November 15, 2008

happenings

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poring over williams-sonoma catalogs, lingering on these .... working on a secret writing project, which must remain secret due to a certain reader ... wondering if anyone needs to find a good home for their Christmas tree? we will take it! ... hoping that mom and I can try this one out this thanksgiving ... excited that this is in my shower once again! oh, how I've missed it ... loving all of the prints at this little shop ... reviving my tendency to wear scarves whether i'm outside or not ... breaking in a new box of this, enjoying it immensely and hoping it becomes a routine.
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November 14, 2008

the french toast experiment

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My husband and I are in the process of creating the ultimate french toast recipe.
For us, french toast needs to be straightforward. No nonsense. No fruit. Just the classic flavors. We want something traditional, but not boring. Something idyllic.
One must consider that there are many options when it comes to french toast. Which elements produce the consummate blend? Sugar or no sugar? Salt? Oh yes, it NEEDS salt. Flour? Now that doesn't seem necessary, does it? What about the milk to egg ratio? And then there's vanilla and cinnamon... some people leave those out completely, right? Now what about quantities? And the conjecture continues, until the likelihood of achieving perfection dwindles, to the point of seeming utterly unfeasible.
But, after experimentation, we find that there is hope! We are getting awfully close to being content with our concoction, but are still open to improving it. (maybe you can help us! do you have a never-fail french toast recipe?)
Here's our recipe thus far...
1 c. half and half (or milk will do)
3 large eggs
2 T. honey (microwave for 20 seconds before adding)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla
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November 13, 2008

I never win anything

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But today, I did.
A huge thank you to Melanie, of the lovely you are my fave, for selecting my entry as a winner of her "inspiration board" contest.
I actually sent in a picture of the lovely things that occupy my fridge.
Check it out here. (mine is the second picture you'll see)
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November 12, 2008

starting this evening, my wednesday nights are booked

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Tonight, at 9:00, I will be planted in front of the tv.
Not typically a cooking show enthusiast, I am surprised by how much I love this show.
Happily, my husband loves it too.
So we will watch it together. We will agree on the dishes that look well-executed, freely announce the ones that we would never eat, determine which chef is going to annoy us, and predict our winners.
And it will be a wonderful night.
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November 10, 2008

heirloom

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While over at my in-laws' house last week, my father-in-law was looking through some things in his garage. He found these antique opera glasses that belonged to his aunt, and he gave them to me! He called it my November 1st gift. How sweet and beautiful.
I was glad that along with the present, I got this little piece of family history:
The lovely lady who owned these glasses was married to a physician. And this man happened to be the physician of President Eisenhower.
You never know what intriguing connections might come to light when someone kicks up a little dust in their attic, or in this case, their garage.
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November 7, 2008

giving thanks

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Mmm...Cetaphil. I am so thankful for it.
This is one of those products that you will find in almost every "beauty buy" magazine article ever.
And there's a reason why- it is the best.
Happily, you can get it in liquid form or the lovely, old-fashioned white bar. I buy the bar because it feels good in my hands, it's slightly more fragrant, and I get to save a few bucks.
I am so satisfied when I find products that I will buy for the rest of my life because they are so inexplicably perfect.
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November 6, 2008

my husband- the coach

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The school's in trouble.
They need a boys' basketball coach- and fast.
"Mr. Harms... will you do it?"
And in true Grant fashion, my heroic husband agrees to take the position.
(early morning practices start THIS monday!)
Now, when it comes to basketball, my husband's no novice. (oh, no. let's just say that a 3rd grader once asked him why he wasn't in the NBA.) But coaching?! If I were him, I would be scared to death. But not Grant. He's not worried. He's calm, cool, & collected. Not to mention distractingly handsome.
Grant, thank you for being fantastically brave and selfless, you inspire me.
You made a lot of 7th grade boys really happy.
And you make me happy everyday.
categories:,, | 5 comments
November 5, 2008

appreciating simple things

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"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" Leonardo da Vinci
1. flowers monochromatic. i prefer one color. it's so much prettier.
2. doing the laundry. i enjoy this. i like putting everything to rights in my life, clothes included.
3. wire basket from target. it's cute, it's inexpensive, it's for organizing- of course i'm going to love it. and it makes a nice home for some washcloths.
4. analog alarm clocks. pretty. and makes me work just a bit harder.
5. homemade rice crispy bars. perfect.
6. glass canisters to pretty up ordinary things. why shouldn't cotton balls and q-tips be convenient and beautiful at the same time?
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November 4, 2008

being faithful

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being faithful means being the girl who follows through. shows up. remains stable. keeps her commitments. keeps her word. gets it done. (and votes.)
i'm reading a book on this subject right now and liked how the author pinpoints the attitudes that keeps us from being faithful..
1. tiredness "i can't do it"
2. laziness "i don't want to do it"
3. hopelessness "it doesn't matter if i do it"
4. procrastination "i'll do it later"
5. rationalization "someone else will do it"
6. apathy "i don't care if i do it"
7. rebellion "i won't do it"
don't give in to these mindsets. whatever responsibilities you have today, just DO IT. no matter how trivial the task may seem. try it for an hour, a day, a week. do it. be faithful.
and in your haste to fulfill your every duty today, don't forget to vote.
(photo courtesy of right here) ("faithful notes" from the writings of elizabeth george)
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November 3, 2008

butterscotch pecan muffins

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this recipe seems novemberish to me.
it uses some whole wheat flour, so you don't need to feel bad!
you don't even need to dirty up your mixer- this is a spoon-stir only recipe.
Butterscotch Pecan Muffins
(attempting to get close to the butterscotch pecan quick bread I once had at Great Harvest Bread Co.)
1 1/3 c. all purpose flour
3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 T. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 large eggs
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. butterscotch chips
2/3 c. pecan pieces
turbinado sugar for topping
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease one 12-muffin tin.
1. In a large bowl, stir together the flours, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.
2. In another bowl, stir together eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and brown sugar until smooth.
3. Form a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture. Stir to combine. (don't over-stir, some lumps are okay)
4. Fold in butterscotch chips and nuts.
5. Spoon the batter into prepared muffin tin.
6. Sprinkle turbinado sugar over muffins, quickly place muffins in oven and reduce the heat to 375 degrees.
7. Let bake 12-15 min. or until the tops are lightly browned.
* baking times will vary depending on how well your oven holds the heat- the high heat creates a burst of steam in the batter that helps the muffins rise with well-domed tops
categories:, | 5 comments
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hello

hello

about this blog

Hello, I'm Summer. A people-loving introvert whose hope and life is in Jesus. His promises are my passion and my ministry is homelife. This blog is a place for me to write about everyday things. Especially food. My favorite thing to do is sit around a table, lingering over a long meal with good conversation. I live with my husband and our 2 littles. We like blizzards, thrifting, grammar, guacamole, cheerful hearts, nice manners, good movies, and making simple, real, nutrient-dense food.

"If Christ be anything, He must be everything."
-C.H. Spurgeon

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