The Lazy Blogger's Rafting Post

Ben and I joined our favorite CORE Group on a rafting trip the weekend before last. I keep meaning to blog about it, but have been super busy at work. So, in an attempt to not fall behind on my blogging - I am cheating. If you really are interested in our trip, click here to view Ashley Cosby's post on our white water rafting adventure.

Thanks for letting me lean on your great, up-to-date blogging skills, Ash!

The Good Wife's Guide

I was reminded of this article the other day by Martina Penter. She pointed out that it would be quite fitting for "The Happy Life of a Happy Wife" blog. Please read with as much sarcasm as you can imagine...

from Housekeeping Monthly, May 13, 1955
(It's a wonder why this magazine is not around anymore.)

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, in time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
• Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
• Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dustcloth over the tables.
• Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
• Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
• Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
• Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
• Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
  
• Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
• Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
• Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone though that day.
• Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
• A good wife always knows her place.

I am convinced this was written by a man.

Crescent Apples

This recipe is from the amazing Maghan Craig. I made it for CORE Group last night and had several requests for the recipe. Can't take credit for it, but here it is...

Apple Crescents
2 cans of crescent rolls
2 Granny Smith apples
1 stick of butter
1 cup of sugar
water
cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
   
2. Peel apples and slice into eighths.
3. Wrap each apple in a crescent roll and place in a prepared baking dish.
4. Melt butter and mix with sugar. Add a little water to thin out mixture.
5. Pour sugar/butter mixture over apples.
6. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
7. Bake until crescent rolls are brown.
   

My Favorite Things

I have to apologize now for the late and brief posting this week. I have only listed 5 favorite things in an attempt to keep my list full of only My-Favorite-Things-Worthy items and not dilute it with mediocrity. More explanation can be found in the list below.

1. Electricity. I often say I wish I had been in born a different time period. But after spending nearly 3 hours with out power Tuesday night, it is apparent that I do in fact need the modern luxuries of today.
   
   
   
2. Girl Talk. We went white water rafting last weekend with 4 of our favorite couples. On the drives there and back we split into a car full of gals and a car full of gents. The whole trip was fun, but my most favoritest part of the entire weekend would definitely have to be the girl talk on the 3 hour drive home.
   
   
3. Cilantro. Love this herb. A very vibrant flavor.
   
   
   
4. Watching movies with my husband. Luckily, I married someone who loves movies as much as I do. This week alone we have watched 3 very recommendable movies:
   
   • The Dark Knight.
   • P.S. I Love You (a.k.a. P.S. Prepare yourself for emotional torture before watching this movie)
   • The Bee Movie
     
     
     
5. Great ideas. One of the "girl talk" topics this weekend was of course blogging. I mentioned that it is getting harder and harder to come up with 10 favorite things every week. I mean, I have done something like 16 lists now. That's 160 items! I really want these lists to be things that I LOVE. Not just space fillers. SO...Martha Hovater had a "great idea". I should poll my readers for their favorite things. Just leave me a comment and I will check it out. Every week I will pick a reader's Favorite Thing and list it on my weekly post - giving the reader the all the credit, of course. What ya think? Pretty neat idea, eh? So start sending me some suggestions already!

The Paper Nest

I haven't checked with the Secretary of State offices to make sure that this name can be trademarked yet...but I am thinking of naming my little design business "The Paper Nest". Here is a little logo I have worked on... both are subject to change.

Happy Birthday Squared!

Two of my dearest friends are celebrating birthdays today.

Betty is one of the sweetest people I know. She never has a bad thing to say about anyone or anything. Always a pleasure to be around! I hope her birthday is as wonderful as she is! Happy Birthday, Betty!


Manda Pauley is celebrating a huge year this year. She bought a new house, graduated from med school and is turning the big 26! I wish I were there to celebrate all of it with her! Happy Birthday, Manda!

My Favorite Things

1. Saffire Restaurant. After church on Sunday, Ben's brother and sister-in-law took us to lunch there. It is in a little suburb of Nashville called Franklin. The food was the best I have had (besides Restaurant Eugene) in a long time!
   
   
2. Reid & Sawyer. It is fun having nephews!
   
   
3. Cheez-its. I am snacking on them as I type.
   
   
4. My travel fan. I am completely unable to sleep without a fan. This used to pose a dilemna until I found my handy, dandy, trusty, old travel fan. It is the size of a pancake and fits perfectly in my carry-on bag!
   
   
5. Coming home to my cat. Even though he threw up twice while we were away it was so good to see how excited he was that we were home.
   
   
   
6. Lists. I am a list maker. That has probably become obvious by now. I have lists for everything you can imagine. It is the only way for me to keep my thoughts straight.
   
   
   
   
7. Jalapenos. Have I mentioned this one before? You could put jalapenos on rotten eggs and I think I would still eat them.... especially the pickled ones.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Fishsticks. Okay, so apparently I am hungry since this is the fourth time I have mention of food on this list. I hadn't had fishsticks since I was a kid, but ironically I got a craving for them when we were at the Aquarium.
   
   
9. Rainy days. I don't like to see too many in a row, but there is something about a well placed rainy day that soothes the soul.
   
   
10. Weight Watchers Santa Fe Rice with Beans. I was on WW for a minute before my wedding. I found these in the frozen section during that time. I have long stopped "counting points" but I will keep a stock of these in my freezer from now on. They are so good!