Punkin’ Press

My friend Nancy and I have been emailing a little since this post and I felt like I should maybe clear something up. J I love these kinds of posts – organizational, meal planning, list making – because that is how I do tend to think as far as keeping stuff straight in my poor little head. However, I would NEVER want to give the impression that I am like this all the time or that everything here is perfectly organized down to the tiniest detail. I know *you* know this, because you are just like me, but I’m not perfectly organized. Some days (I admit they are fairly rare) I don’t open my calendar to see what needs to be done. Some weeks I wait until the last minute (meaning I don’t know what we will eat next) before I get around to menu planning). And frankly, sometimes I am too tired and overwhelmed to know which end is up on training my girls.

The naked truth. J

I once told my Gina that I can be an enthusiastic procrastinator at times … there might be a project or a task that I really and truly am looking forward to doing, but I keep putting it off because I want to do it so perfectly. Then I procrastinate until I can find the *perfect* time to work on it. And you all know what happens … there never is that perfect time with littles. J And, then I’ve run out of time so I have to put something together quickly and am disappointment with what I’ve done … only because I didn’t start when I knew I should and work on it baby steps – little chunks here and there.

Anyway, all that to say, I would hate for you to get the wrong impression from what you see here. And maybe that leads to another question that I’ve been thinking about asking for sometime – what types of things do you enjoy from my little site? J Is the glimpses into homemaking and organization? The occasional scrapbooking layout? (I haven’t done much posting in that department lately). Or is it for the shamelessly cute pictures of my girls. LOL I’d really like to know.

In the meantime, happy Thursday. J I would like to do a Thursday Thirteen post later – we’ll see if I get a chance!

Posted on May 15th, 2008 by stephanie
Filed under: From the Punkin' Patch | 2 Comments »

Things that make you happy … from the mind of Nattie Rose.

• Reading to my girls … Noelle and I started Beezus and Ramona last night.
• This chapstick in mint … I will buy no other now!
• Creating a little bit every day
• The feel of pen gliding smoothly over paper
• Seeing Elizabeth’s face in the rear view mirror since she is now facing forward in her car seat
• A freshly mowed lawn

For more Friday Felicities or to link up your post, head on over to Becky’s.

Posted on May 9th, 2008 by stephanie
Filed under: 1000 Gifts, Friday Felicities | 3 Comments »

In June, it will be the first anniversary of my friend Nattie’s first year with Jesus. In celebration of that, Heather has a new reading challenge over at the Nattie Challenge blog. The gist of the challenge is as follows:

Pick a book that makes you think of our Nattie-Pie. This may be a book you know she loved, a book you know she wanted to read, a book you have already read or something completely new. There may be an element of the story that reminds you of Nat (a single mom, a woman with cancer, someone beautifully in love with Jesus) or maybe the cover just brings her to mind … Part 2 of this challenge goes beyond reading. I want you to give a book away in Natalie’s name. Or, if this isn’t possible (books cost money, and we don’t all have that), you can do one of 2 things…

1. Email me with the address of the person you want to give a book to and I will see what I can come up with to send them in Nat’s name, for you.
   
2. Read a book to a child and think of Natalie.

I’ll be participating and giving away a book that I just read recommended to me by Nattie oh-so-long ago: On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle. The book *I* will be reading is No Clue at the Inn by Kate Kingsbury.

If you are interested in participating, hope on over to the Nattie Challenge blog and let Heather know. (Miss you Nattie).

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by stephanie
Filed under: Book Love | No Comments »

The Story: For fifteen-year-old Scotty Dawn, life is starting to resemble a movie. After learning that her movie-industry mom is actually her grandmother, Scotty receives more shocking news: Her father was killed by the mob. With his murderer still at large, Scotty hides out on a film set in Texas. There she encounters old rivals, new friends, and a young girl caught in a desperate situation. But in the middle of her fears and intense loneliness, Scotty discovers the life-changing power of prayer.

Book Two in Lisa Samson’s 4-part Hollywood Nobody series, Finding Hollywood Nobody, is set to be a spectacular sequel. I get very excited about young adult books that are well-written and safe for me to pass on to friends and family … and I know I can say that about everything that I preview! (You can read my review of the first book in the series, Hollywood Nobody, here as well as an interview with the author.) Lisa Samson also has a blog / website you can visit for information on this and other books by her.

Oh, and by the way, the third book in the series, Romancing Hollywood Nobody, is due to be released in July!

Posted on May 7th, 2008 by stephanie
Filed under: Book Love | No Comments »

Happy Birthday Betsy Boo! Our littlest is one today!

Posted on May 5th, 2008 by stephanie
Filed under: From the Punkin' Patch, Holidays, Punkin' Pics, The Punkin's | 2 Comments »