Tuesday March 8th: Buona Festa delle Donne!

 Tuesday March 8th, 2011

 International Women's Day & Carnevale, last day before Lent 

Outside my window...clouds and rain

I am thinking...Italy...I am missing home and life there...it's different. I'm different. I'm all grown up, married and with kids!...I've been listening too much Italian music today and it reminds me of the dreamy times I had as a teen listening to the radio....and singing with friends....and dreaming of my future...growing up and where would i go, who would i be....ok, too much reminiscing.

I am thankful for...'il dolce far niente' (sweet 'do nothing!) Sometimes it's okay to not clean up your messes  and celebrate life and blessings instead...(so I've been surfing Italian music instead)

From the kitchen...not much is cooking yet...but hopefully some yummy tilapia with bell pepper and olives (and maybe some rice krispie treats!)

I am going...to seek God for my city during Lent

I am hoping... and truly it's just hoping right now, to see Jovanotti, one of my favorite artists growing up who is going to be playing at Bonnaroo this April...but don't have the money for the full event (and really wish to only go to his concert)...hoping he'll be playing some other place in the Nashville area (so I'll think positive, Serenata Rap anyone? or Bella or now that I am a mommy and auntie to my own Lorenzo, this beautiful ninna nanna (lullaby) E' per te ) ?

I am hearing...well, Jovanotti of course- my Lorenzo 1994 zio Robbie bought me back in...'94!

Around the house...kids are dancing and learning italian rap ;-)

One of my favorite things...is enjoying music. I don't take the time to listen and today I listend to Chris Rice, Claude Debussy, Jovanotti and rediscovering a 'newer' Italian band Negramaro. I love the song Meraviglioso that was first sung in the late sixties by Domenico Modugno, another legendary Italian singer (Volare is his most famous song)

A few plans for the rest of the week: well it's the first week of project simplify over at simple mom. However I intend to simplify mostly from the inside out...I have too much on my plate, but mostly b/c of what smashes inside my head all the time, thoughts, ideas, feelings that I always feel I need to act upon. I always feel the need to do more and make more...vs. be more, enjoy more, just take my time more. Simplifying my internal life is harder for me I think than simplifying my surroundings. And I think I must start there to really make any differnce. Lent will be a great time to dedicate to that internal waiting, simplifying, transforming into something more quiet and alive, fully living the moment

 

 Auguri a tutte le donne del mondo! Dio vi benedica! 

Simple Woman Daybook~ Monday Feb. 28th

Outside my window...some sunshine after the rain storms, clouds rolling in and out

I am thinking...too much ;-P Need to relax some.

I am thankful for...the 'fs' in my life that keep me well nourished: faith, family, friends and good food!

From the kitchen... a new healthy snack experiment: "Maroccan Chickpeas Snack" 

I am wearing...comfortable lounge pants and a tee shirt that is getting a bit too small to wear

I am creating...goals and hopes for this coming month and spring before baby arrives

I am going...to be patient with myself and especially the children who are a bit wired today

I am listening to....Chris Rice "Living Room Sessions" Calming piano hummed hymns.

I am hoping...for spring! 

I am hearing...washing machine, kids playing....and "Hermie the Caterpillar" talking to himself on t.v. need to turn it off!

Around the house...Several items to be freecycled and organization anticipation.

One of my favorite things...is looking forward to spring and getting excited over the sprout of crocuses. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: On my mind is some more 'mind and house' decluttering as well as preparing for Spring Challenge starting next Monday from SimpleMom.net: Project Simplify

Simple Woman Daybook~ Monday Feb.14th~ Buon San Valentino!

Monday, February 14th

Outside My Window...sunshine and blue sky!

I am thinking...of love and food (loved my 'plaki' style fish at the Blue Olive restaurant this weekend where we celebrate early Valentine's Day)

From the learning rooms... of nine and half years of marriage, I am so very blessed to be with my beloved another Valentine' Day- one of our first dates being on Valentine's Day Feb. 2000

From the kitchen...warming up some sourdough wheat bread from Serenity Farms bought on our way back from weekend getaway

I am wearing...sweat pants! And that is okay today!

I am creating...a home, a life

I am going...to work on a 'gluten free' menu for the next few weeks

I am reading...the book of Genesis

I am hoping...to keep a smile on all day long

I am hearing...the children playing in their room

Around the house...there are some overnight bags to be unpacked and some house chores to do

One of my favorite things...is starting 'new'

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...

We are home again home, jiggedy-jig :) Enjoying rest at home after some time away

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Sharing a picture from the web of Chateau on the Lake hotel where my beloved and I had an elegant and peaceful
breakfast brunch Sunday morning before returning home yesterday.

Simple Woman Daybook~ Monday Feb. 7th

Monday, February 7th

Outside My Window...rain slowly dripping from the sky

I am thinking...of my hopes and goals for another day at home with the kids

I am thankful for... home and the kids!

From the learning rooms... of my quiet time spent in the Word: may kindness rule my everyday speech and instruction, especially around the children (Proverbs 31:26)

From the kitchen...lots of piled dirty dishes....lots of work to be done, true, but what a blessing to have good food to eat :)

I am wearing...pj pants and warm brown sweater

I am creating...a mission statement, to keep grounded, focus and at peace with life's ups and downs

I am going...to try and be more industrious and focus in my every day activities: no back and forth to the computer all the time to check e-mail!

I am reading...or need to read/skim through "Creative Correction" by Lisa Whechel before I must return it to the library :)

I am hoping...to keep first things first, to have God's Kingdom's always in focus

I am hearing...the heater drumming, the cars slushing through the rain on their way to work and school, the rain quietly knocking on the window panes

Around the house...there is cleaning and organizing waiting to be done, but even cuddling on the couch, enjoying books, playing dolls and building blocks time too

One of my favorite things...Is having a longer 'morning time' while kids sleep in because they went to bed later the evening before (Oh, here comes Jman!)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Getaway weekend with just hubby, children with family in Arkansas while we spend some fun, uninterrupted and leisurely time alone as a couple (I am VERY excited, can you guess?)! 

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The diaper cake I made for a 'diaper' baby shower I wrote about last week :)

Being a cloth diaper mama I am interested in knowing you can make a 'cloth diaper cake' too :)

Simple Woman Daybook~ Monday

Outside my window... sunshine has gone, gray is back...oh but spring will be here soon. Plus the sun is setting anyways.

I am thinking... of all I want to do and why I always want to do so much with so little time

I am thankful for... a good start on my first "maximize your mornings" challenge...as well as a sweet hubby who will pick us up dinner since I didn't have enough frozen soup for tonight :)

I am wearing... my long sleeve teal shirt and my comfy cozy gray lounge pants that I did yoga in this morning

I am remembering... that I get to see the last episode of Downton Abbey tonight on the local PBS station :)

I am going... to make a diaper cake this week for a baby shower

I am currently reading... well, I was trying to finish "The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard, but it is so thick (takes in lots of brain work and is long) I am taking a break and reading "No Graven Image" by E. Elliot 

I am hoping... for wonderful news about the elections that took place in Southern Sudan, praying for freedom and peace

On my mind... my kids running and playing in the other room

Noticing that... I still have to get stuff done :) and it is THAT time of the day!

Pondering these words... "I will rejoice in His Love" (that should keep me from focusing on 'business')

In the kitchen... a little soup warming in the Crockpot. Leftover home popped popcorn for the kids snacks and my quasi empty fridge that could use a nice cleaning!

Around the house... pitter-patter of running little feet....they love to run around by the end of the day. We don't have carpet, so they take off their socks so they won't slip!

One of my favorite things  my daughter's precious little two-year old sentences

From my picture journal...

skyping with family so far away, one of my favorite things to do :)

Simple Woman Daybook~ Monday

Outside My Window...

I see gray skies again, but it's sunnier inside

I am thinking...

of how beautiful the earth is going to be when it's spring because it is resting now

I am thankful for...

a healthy growing baby in my belly

From the kitchen...

hot tea is steeping

I am wearing...

my warm brown flower sweater everyone compliments me about (so European ;)

I am creating...

another blog post

I am going...

to be gentle with my kids as our day unwinds

I am reading...

parenting books

I am hoping...

for our last month and a half of winter to be calm and enjoyable

I am hearing...

the heater warming our house

Around the house...

it's getting close to the 'bewitching' time where I will need to cook dinner, put up the clean dishes. finish laundry and keep the kids patient and calm so I can get the above mentioned done!

One of my favorite things...

is evening quiet time when I can unwind from the day

 T
FOR TODAY
Outside my window...
 Light gray sky contrast long black tree limbs, wet sidewalk and grass. 
I am thinking...
 Of finishing the short novel I am reading while sipping hot tea...(if children permit)
I am thankful for...
 My children. Hot "English" tea when you can't have coffee. Books to read.
From the learning rooms...(aka as play room here!)
children played with Kid K'nex toys creating structures and 'pictures'...mostly learning to share the pieces together
From the kitchen...
 some yummy applesauce mini-muffins are calling my name
I am wearing...
 NOT my pjs, but my nice maternity "skinny" jeans and my 'what's kicking?' long sleeve shirt, though I plan to go nowhere today :). Except that I am not wearing 'laced-up shoes' buy house-shoes, the Flylady would be proud of me. 
I am creating...
 a long-term "to-do" list of non urgent but important things (updated my Italian citizen status, get citizenship for the rest of the family, finish my history degree)
I am going...
 to try and do what I want to do, not only what I have to do
I am reading...
 "The Reckoning" by Beverly Lewis- last book of a three part series set in Amish Lancaster country.
I am hoping...
  Dr's Kings dream of a world of love, peace and brotherhood will come closer to reality, on earth as it is in Heaven, starting with where I live.
I am hearing...
 My children's CD player playing "Amazing Love...;" as they laugh and dance; the washing machine spinning the cloth diapers
 Around the house...
lights are on for this gray morning
One of my favorite things...is to have nothing pressing to do
A few plans for the rest of the week:
 Blog about our snow day, watch Masterpiece Classic on PBS, start and FINISH a few personal and house projects, talk, dream and plan with hubby about buying our first house, cook some warm yummy soups (chicken tortilla soup and rice and lentil soup) as well as attempt more homemade bread and goodies.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...