Archive for December, 2007

13 hours until 2008. Are you ready?

Published by Sarah Bray on December 31, 2007 in Site Updates. 1 Comment

Oh, how I love New Year’s Day! It is my favorite holiday. The lack of pressure to get things done, the mellow feeling that comes after the Christmas merry-making is over, the freshness of a clean slate…there is just nothing better.

As you may guess by my exuberance, I always make New Year’s resolutions. They’re never elaborate, and they’re never difficult to accomplish. They are not goals or abstract aspirations. They are small, do-able steps that will improve my life and help me to better achieve my goals and live the life I’m meant to live.

Now after all of that fanfare, I bet you can’t wait to hear mine, right? Well, if you’re expecting profundity, this list will be anticlimactic (just how many big words can I stuff into one small sentence anyway?).

  1. Go to bed early
  2. Check my email/blogs/myspace no more than twice a day
  3. Remember my friends’ birthdays

The great thing about this year’s resolutions, besides their simplicity, is the huge impact they will have despite their smallness. I like little things that make a big difference, don’t you?

And that brings me to some more information that I promised. This year Today’s Homemaker will be focusing on little things that you can do in your home that will reward you ten-, twenty-, or (dare we say?) a hundred-fold. Everything will be simple. Everything will be do-able. But despite the inherent “smallness” of our focus, we will be achieving big results.

This is not an “all-or-nothing” gig, either. There’s no wagon to fall off of. No habits to make or break or feel guilty about making or breaking. Not that I’m against those things. Everything in moderation. However, I’ve decided that life is more about “being” than “doing.”

So what helps us to “be” better? Inspiration in huge doses. Encouragement in huger doses. A positive outlook. True friends. Family. And in my experience, a relationship with the Almighty above all else.

And that’s what we’re going to be about this year. A wise friend once told me that the first thing you have to do before going on a journey is to label your bus. Friends, this is where we’re headed. I’m so thankful we’re together on this trip.

Happy New Year!

Sneaky peek

Published by Sarah Bray on December 28, 2007 in Site Updates. 1 Comment

Well, I am not “officially” back until Tuesday, but I’ve missed you all so much that I just had to pop in and say hello!

We spent this Christmas visiting my family’s cabin in the mountains of southeast Virginia. We had a lovely time. There is nothing like the air up there. The kids were spoiled half to death with toys and goodies. They did not want to come home initially, but they are having fun being back in their routine of things.

I’ll post pictures later. My camera’s battery is not quite functioning at the moment.

In the meantime, I wanted to tell you of an exciting event that will happening here shortly. Starting on January 1st, we will be embarking on a journey to have cleaner, more organized, cozier homes. There will be weekly goals, daily mini-projects, lists, tips, and all-around good times. We will conquer this thing called the home and we will enjoy every minute of it. Hurrah!

I will be filling you in on that a little more over the next few days. Welcome back, everyone who has been Christmas-ing, Holiday-ing, or Merry-Making in general!

Taking a blogging break…

Published by Sarah Bray on December 17, 2007 in Site Updates. 0 Comments

…until the new year! Enjoy your Christmas, everyone! (And whatever other holidays you might celebrate this time of year.) :)

Missing my friend :(

Published by Sarah Bray on December 14, 2007 in Uncategorized. 3 Comments

My incredible friend Tiffany moved several states away last week. I’m missing her terribly today. I don’t know what it is…perhaps all of the Christmas stuff that I don’t get to do with her. There’s definitely a hole here in Virginia Beach without you, Tiff.

Carol, Tiffany, and I

Carol, Tiffany, and me

My first watercolor attempt

Published by Sarah Bray on December 13, 2007 in Uncategorized. 6 Comments

So I’ve been meaning to tell you — I painted my first “real” watercolor over Thanksgiving. John’s dad helped me out quite a bit, showing me how to do a leaf or two and then letting me copy his skills.  These photos aren’t great, but at least you can see that it looks like a bird (which, by the way, is what it’s supposed to be…success!).  And it looks great on the red wall in our living room.

Chickadee Watercolor

Let me tell you, watercolor is a lot tougher than people think. It’s kind of unpredictable if you’re a newbie like myself. There are actual techniques that you have to learn — you can’t just throw color on there and hope it turns out. It usually won’t (at least that’s been my limited experience). It takes foresight, planning, and actual skill. Or an incredibly talented father-in-law who’s willing to teach you. :)

Chickadee Close Up

Train, train, choo choo train

Published by Sarah Bray on December 12, 2007 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

This past weekend, I took Nolan and Lilah to go see the holiday train display at Avalon Church of Christ. It was awesome! Nolan was completely mesmerized by the trains that were everywhere, and Lilah just kept pointing and laughing. My camera and I were on speaking terms long enough to take a few photos:

Trains

You can’t tell in this picture, but the entire gymnasium was FILLED with trains.

 

Lilah with trains

My daughter loving on the trains

 

Ahoy!

Ahoy!

 

train station

All aboard!

 

Circus

My favorite part…the circus

 

Drive-in

Miniature drive-in (Ice Age was ACTUALLY playing…so cool)

 

Family

My unsuccessful attempt at a photo op

 

happy

My son’s verdict of the evening

Cookie exchange winner

Published by Sarah Bray on December 11, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

I am sure you are all clamoring in your seats in anticipation of the cookie decision.  Right?  Of course.  Well, the winner was…the rugelach pinwheels from Smitten Kitchen (which are really Martha’s), one of my very favorite food blogs. I would have pictures, but frankly my camera and I are not on speaking terms right now. Hmmph.

Everyone at the cookie exchange loved these, but they were a bit crumbly. When she says to use parchment paper, use parchment paper. Otherwise you will be trying to pry the fragile cookies off of a hot pan without them falling apart (batch 1). Or you will let them cool before attempting to remove them and they will be hopelessly stuck.

And when she says to chill the dough for 2 hours beforehand, do it. And then don’t look at it afterward and say “My, that feels too hard to roll out. I think I’ll let it sit on the counter for a little while before attempting.” Because that would be stupid. And stupid you are not. The dough is cream cheese-based, making it soft and sticky unless very, very cold. And it gets warm quick, so you need to work fast.

So besides those thoughts (which are really just a result of my hard-headedness), all I have to say is that what everyone says is true — these really are delicious and impossible to resist.

Menu plan Monday

Published by Sarah Bray on December 10, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

MONDAY:
Breakfast: Cereal, juice
Lunch: Club sandwiches, chips1, cookies from yesterday’s exchange
Dinner: Baked ravioli, garden salad

TUESDAY:
Breakfast: Waffles, juice
Lunch: Leftover ravioli
Dinner: Whole roasted chicken, sauteed cinnamon-brown sugar squash, green beans

WEDNESDAY:
Breakfast: Cereal, juice
Lunch: Pastrami melts, chips, bananas
Dinner: Chicken fajitas (made with leftover chicken)

THURSDAY:
Breakfast: Waffles, fruit
Lunch: Peanut butter and banana sandwiches, pretzels
Dinner: Soup beans, cornbread

FRIDAY:
Breakfast: Brown sugar-cinnamon oatmeal with raisins
Lunch: Egg salad sandwiches, pretzels, fruit
Dinner: Eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy

SATURDAY:
Breakfast: Hardees :)
Lunch: Whatever we can find
Dinner: London broil and portobello sandwiches, baked potato wedges

SUNDAY:
Breakfast: Cereal, juice
Lunch/Dinner: Walnut-crusted chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots

Dessert of the week: Coconut layer cake with homemade frosting

  1. an indulgence left over from this weekend [↩]

Miss fancy pants

Published by Sarah Bray on December 10, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Yep, that’s me. I’ve gone and stepped out into the entrepreneurial world with arms outstretched. (How DOES she do it?) Well, let me tell you, it ain’t easy (oh, and did I tell you that my business is an editing firm? Strike “ain’t”. Insert “isn’t”.)

So I’ve created a myspace page here…you should come visit me! I’m awfully lonely as of yet. :)

I love Craigslist

Published by Sarah Bray on December 9, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

It’s posts like this that make me laugh uncontrollably. I just love it.

i have one heavliy used floor lamp it works everynight, it is black with gold accents… sorry but i am not willing to part with light bulb(it was a gift with great meaning).
things i am looking for… wii, ps3, 8gb i phone, and lcd hdtv i absolutly refuse to consider any trades with projection tvs.
i can also consider throwing in a used fan it works, the metal cage is bent and the cord smokes. and a 3/4 used yahnkee candle sandlewood scented.
if you have a john boat, atv, or hand gun that was not used in the commission of a felony (misdemeanors ok). you can take it all. pictures coming soon. only serious inquries only no bs

So yeah…I’ll give you a “heavily used” lamp (not including cherished light bulb) in exchange for a Wii, PS3, iPhone, or LCD HDtv. I’ll consider throwing in a practically broken fan and three quarters of a candle (a “Yahnkee” candle no less!). Sign me up, baby!