motivate me monday

like i mentioned yesterday,
this week i'm ...

finishing my first sewing project ever!
a seersucker shortall for webb.
the goal is to sew during naptime instead of focusing on "tidying up".

working on some easter cookies for sweet lou's.

... and getting inspired by this book.

motivate me monday

this week i'm on the search for a jon jon pattern, cute fabric,
and some alone time to figure out this sewing machine once and for all.

wish me luck!

motivate me monday

2 months later ... it's finally coming out of the box!

tonight i'm taking my first sewing lesson.

a couple of weeks ago joann's offered 50% off on all of their crafting classes.
so i only paid $17.50 to take sewing 101!
it's a 2.5 hour class (sounds a little long!) where i'll learn introduction to the sewing machine and basic tools,
pattern reading, seams and interfacing.
i'm totally clueless so i'm excited about learning the basics.

i'll let you know how it goes.
definitely not expecting to become a professional sewer after the class, but hopefully i'll be on my way!

motivate me monday

it's that time of year again!

you may remember that last year i took on the challenge of doing our taxes.
well, i'm at it once again!

thanks to the home energy efficiency improvement tax credit
someone may be getting her couch recovered sooner than she thought!
(though i'm not holding my breath just yet)
our hvac unit went under at a pretty good time after all.

thank you mr. obama!

motivate me monday

since we've had a little financial set back ... ya know, new hvac unit last month.
i'm trying to gear my motivate me mondays to motivate me to not spend money!
hopefully just until we get to february :)

i've talked a couple of times about about how i'm not one of those mom's that just jumps
in the floor to have never ending playtime with my child.
i wish i was, but i'm just not.

this weekend i got two emails that made me realize i may be a little off ... on more than one thing.
i'm totally uncreative and can't believe that i'm SO behind on letting webb enjoy the simple things.

like making a tent with a sheet

(i promise he has more clothes than this one smocked snowman outfit!)

playing drums on a shoe box and coffee canister

a game of "hide the wooden spoon" anyone?

aunt al showed us tonight that you can use a shoe box as a means of transportation!

my goal this week is to continue to encourage this kind of play.
that sounds really cheesy.
i know you get what i'm saying.
stay tuned to find out about all the fun activities we've got going at the hester household this week!

motivate me monday

let's just face it .. you and me both know that motivate me monday has been a total flop lately.
things just aren't working out.
i've been dealing with an error message on my old computer all week.
so getting those pictures off has become quite challenging.
(i may have to call in reinforcements)
and often, i'm just not feeling the motivation.

recently i've learned that i have "low energy".
you may think that i've had a doctor diagnose me.
nope, that's my husband's diagnosis.

really ... seriously? who wants to be know for that? not me!
when i hear that, you know what i think about? my mother ... and her talking about my grandmother.
every woman in my family has been known for laying on the couch and being exhausted.

so i've decided to do a 3 day cleanse to give me a little boost.
here's hoping it makes a difference!

the only problem ... i'm snowed in!
not really. but i'm going to start on wednesday and do it until friday.
between the weather here and needing to get to the grocery ... why not do it when i know i can commit.
i really don't want to fail this time. all seriousness.

so who's in?
wanna join me. i'd love the company!

tomorrow i'll talk more about the details of the detox.

so here we go ... to be continued!

motivate me monday

happy new year!

hello motivate me monday .... we meet again!

if you've been following my blog for a while you may remember last year one of my first motivate me monday's was moving all of our pictures (6 years worth!) to our new computer. this is so totally depressing to admit, but it didn't really work out they way i had hoped.

i logged so many hours on that project! after all it was my first motivate me monday! i didn't realize until months later that a lot of the pictures didn't transfer. it exhausted me to think of redoing the whole project. especially considering that the other computer had been put away and never to be thought of again.

well i'm back at it again and this time have done some further research. originally, i had thought i could arrange all my photos in cds by date and event (for backup) while uploading them to our computer as well. unfortunately either the cds weren't big enough or there was an operator error, which i can hardly imagine!

so here i am, one year later, at it again. i'm convinced that the third time will not have to be the charm in this scenario!
this time i'll be using a usb flash drive.
am i so totally behind the times? ... i've never even used one!

motivate monday

i've got some good news, and some bad news.

the bad news is the couch won't be recovered for christmas.
i've been in denial about it for a couple of weeks now and am currently in the acceptance stage.
the new hvac unit pretty much kicked that thought to the curb.
hopefully by summer??
key word is "hopefully".

the good news is the chalkboard is done and i hope to post pics this week!

.. and finally,
motivate me monday will resume in the new year :)

motivate me monday

this week i'm just motivated to be, to love and to cherish.

i just got back from a whirlwind trip to jackson, ms.
i drove by myself to a precious friends father's funeral.
i can't begin to tell you how saddened i am when friends experience the loss of a parent so dear to them.
i would never wish it upon anyone.

like always, i can only say praise the Lord for my faith!
and praise the Lord for my friends faith!
she knows she'll see her father again one day and he will no longer be in pain.
what a blessing!

on my 7 hour drive home on sunday i listened to lots of music.
(unfortunately i forgot to look through casey's cds before leaving nashville)

i haven't really been in the christmas spirit for some reason.
i just haven't been listening to christmas music nonstop like usual.
but then i heard this one song and i can't stop listening to it.
it puts Christ's birth into a perspective that i've never thought about.
i feel weird about saying this, but last year Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me.
having a baby myself and thinking about mary ... it's unbelievable.
this song is unbelievable.
i hope you'll take the time to listen to it.
you may need some tissues.
i did.

here are the words and here is the song. just click play.

The Night Before Christmas
Brandon Health

Empty manger, perfect stranger, about to be born.
Into darkness, sadness, desperate madness, creation so torn.
We were so lost on earth, no peace, no worth.
No way to escape.
In fear, no faith, no hope, no grace ,and no light
but that was the night before Christmas.
Warm hay, cold sweat, a mother, not yet.
Praying godspeed the dawn.
She looks to her man, holding her hand. They wonder how long.
And the shepherds, wise men come to find them, and bow to a king.
One star above shining on love, so bright it lit up the night before Christmas.

CHORUS:
And the world didn't know mercy was meek and so mild.
And the world didn't know that truth was as pure as a child.
The night before Christmas.
The night before Christmas.
And the world didn't know, redemption was sweet and so strong. And the world didn't know salvation was writing a song.
The night before Christmas.
The night before Christmas.
The night before Christmas.
Empty manger, perfect stranger, about to be born.

this week i'm focusing on my two loves.
life is so precious and we should treasure everyday.

motivate me monday, part deux

i'm still painting!

since i decided to make it a magnetic chalkboard, i've had to do a few more coats than anticipated.
timing the paint and ventilation of the strong fumes with the little man has been a bit of a challenge.
and of course at the end of the day after feeding boo, giving him a bath, and cooking dinner for me and casey ...
i'll just be completely honest, painting hasn't been my first priority.

i'm giving myself one more week.

motivate me monday

i've got a list of projects in my head that i've GOT to get started on or this house will just stay the same forever!

this week ... i'm making a chalkboard wall in the old den turned office turned playroom.

here's the wall
(to the left of the chair)

here's the inspiration

(via isabella and max rooms)

i'm thinking it'll be the height of the wall.
what do you think?
should i do it smaller with some kind of border around it?

motivate me monday

this week we're getting ready for turkey day!

i love thanksgiving.
enjoying family and old friends, eating lots of good food and not worrying about gifts.
that's my kind of holiday!

this thanksgiving we'll be heading southeast to good ole chatt town!
i can't wait.
especially since the weather is about to get cooler and dad loves to build a fire.
the holidays are the perfect time to be at the "mountain house".

since we won't be in chattanooga for christmas this year,
dad has requested our favorite family brunch for thanksgiving morning.
so i'll be cooking my famous sausage and grits casserole of course!
and a new favorite. ... chocolate chip pumpkin bread.
it is SO good!

i've never been a fan of pumpkin pie or pumpkin anything for that matter.
but last year i realized that pumpkin bread wasn't all that bad.
add some chocolate chips, cinnamon and nutmeg and you've got quite a treat.
i tried a couple of recipes last year, but it's the one i found this year that i've fallen in love with.
can't get enough.
casey and i have been munching on it all week for breakfast and for dessert!

i found it in one of my new "go to" cookbooks.
entertaining with friends which benefits vanderbilt childrens hospital.
one of my favorite places in the world because they saved webb's life!
i recommend that you get a copy.
could be a great christmas gift for someone on your list.
it's got so many great recipes from the "who's who" of nashville.

so that's this week.
i've already made the pumpkin bread, it's in the freezer, and i'm on my way to making the casserole.
i've decided planning ahead makes life way easier.
i've been a procrastinator my whole life, so this is a new thing i'm trying out!

hope you get to enjoy this yummy treat with some special family or friends and a cup of cold, cold milk.
(the only way i'll drink it! ... with something chocolately and some ice)

(photo via two peas in their pod)

chocolate chip pumpkin bread

by entertaining with friends

3 1/2 cups flour (i used white whole wheat ... it's better for you!)
1 T cinnamon
1 T nutmeg
2 T baking soda
1 1/2 t. salt
3 cups sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
4 eggs
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 loaf pans.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs.

Slowly blend in flour mixture to pumpkin mixture. Then fold in chocolate chips. Pour into loaf pans.

Bake for 1 hour or until knife inserted comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

motivate me monday

... i know, i'm a day late!

aren't these blocks so cute?

(photo from jennie from the blocks)

i recently bought a couple of sets for some friends who were expecting and i just loved how they turned out.
jennie makes them to match the nursery and you can tell her what you want on them.
the baby's initials, birth date, parent's favorite sports team, you get the point.

of course it got me thinking ... i bet i could make these!
with a little advice some from friends who are a bit more crafty than i, i'm going to attempt to make a set this week.

here's hoping they turn out as cute as jennie's!

motivate me monday

this is really more than just a motivate me monday, it's more like "motivate me christmas".

i would like to take a moment to introduce you to my couch.

my couch has been loved really, REALLY well.
this couch is the most comfortable couch you'll ever sit on.
casey often says that after sitting on it for about 5 minutes he realizes he's laying down.
it's so cozy!!

what i love about this piece of furniture are the memories that come with it.
when i was in high school my parents refurnished practically our entire house, and my mom was SO proud of it.
when she passed away and my dad sold our house, he gave me and my brother all of the furniture in the house.

for a number of years the furniture was stored away, and then once i got married
casey and i hauled all that was mine up to nashville.
that was over 4 years ago.

last night we had the MOST exciting discussion about christmas and
whether we were going to give each other gifts this year.
in the past we've always done a trip.
we've been north to the big apple and all the way south to argentina.
they've been some of the best memories, but we've both decided
that we should take money this year and make an "experience" out of our home.

i knew just where we should get started!

i've actually been in the process of recovering the couch a number of times but chickened out.
i was going to do it while i was home on maternity leave, but then i never went back to work!
(if that doesn't make sense, think dollar signs.)
it was going to be part of my birthday but then we realized webb was making a mess of everything.
why recover a couch when there's spit up, spills, boogies and who knows what else!
now seems like just the right time.

in the november issue of better homes and gardens an interior designer discussed "spillproof style".
apparently microsuede is kid friendly??
but i don't think that will work on my couch.

i know nothing about fabric.
i just know what i like when i see it.

but i do know that i love my curtains.

i'm looking for easy maintenance and durability.

i'll be posting some pics that i like throughout the week(s).

i'd love to hear your thoughts on fabric and color!

motivate me monday

(photo found here)

totally random, but this week i'm making homemade bagels.
webb LOVES a bagel, and i'm excited that he'll get to enjoy some minus the preservatives!

so i've been told that once you've had a homemade bagel you'll never want to eat a store bought one again.

i'll get back to you on that one ...

motivate me monday

are you a worrier?
worry is my middle name.

yesterday we did a little experiment and decided to go to late church instead of the early service.
we always feel so rushed in the morning that we thought maybe giving us a little extra time and getting to church at 9:30 for sunday school instead of 8:00 for early service would be extra helpful, and well, less stressful.

for me it had the opposite effect.
instead of rushing out the door and throwing on whatever was clean and in the closet, webb and i both tried on about three, maybe four, different outfits.
... the angst started setting in after outfit one.
the current weather doesn't help either because webb has clothes for hot or cold, not in between.

so what did i do but worry and sulk over the fact that my child was going to church in a summer outfit that he's worn a bizzillion times. i tried to get over it, but i was a bit self conscious.

so we went to sunday school and then to church and you wouldn't believe what the message was about. do not worry!

you've got to be kidding me, i thought! it was just what i needed to hear. as our pastor read the passage, casey underlined matthew 6:28 that said "and why do you worry about clothes?" and he looked up at me and smiled ... actually it may have been more of a laugh. he knew this message was for me.

this week i am going to do my best to keep matthew 6:25-27 in the forefront of my mind.
i guess i may plaster it everywhere i turn. bathroom mirror, refrigerator, the changing table ... who knows!

"therefore i tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. is life not more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. are you not much more valuable than they? who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

i've taken away SOOOOO many hours of my life just worrying about the little things like what to wear, and the not so little ... like will i live to see webb married with kids ... yep, my mind thinks of them all.

here's hoping i can take some of those hours back this week .....

motivate me monday

i absolutely love to cook, but lately you wouldn't know it.
when the clock strikes 5, all i can think about is the couch.

cooking dinner just hasn't been at the forefront of my mind.
i mean we still eat, it just hasn't been anything exciting.
and then the spiral begins.
takeout, pizza delivery, you know the drill.

my friend emily plans her meals every week.
what a concept!
not sure why i've never thought of this.
it seems like a lot of work, but she actually uses an online menu and grocery planning website.
i'll have to get back to you on which one it is.

all this to say, this week i've motivated myself to plan out our meals.
it was pretty easy.
i just pulled out my favorite tried and true recipes, made a grocery list, and tada we're set for the week.
i'm not sure why i've never thought to do this!
thanks emily for setting an example and giving me a much needed boost!

p.s. - do you know this cookbook?

i'm obssessed!! ... more on that later.

motivate me monday

this week, i'm going to take on the challenge of making webb a halloween costume.
if you know me well, you know i'm not too crafty, and honestly don't love a craft.
i get a little anxious and frustrated if it doesn't go just the way it's supposed to.
so here's hoping it goes the way it's supposed to!

i was inspired by this post on tweed baby outfitters blog.
i've been meaning to get to her store.
i recently discovered that she carries my new favorite pj's for webb, sweet peanut.

the pj's were a little momento for the boo from portland.
notice the bicycles.

i'm not too sure of what costume we'll end up with.

but right now i think this one is pretty daring!
kinda fitting for webb's name ... ha!

(image from martha stewart)

foodie friday

so the bread making experience was about as expected.
i wanted to try a basic recipe my first go around, and i kind of imagined there would be a few bumps in the road.

i ended up making the dough twice. the first time it was too crumbly and tough.
i was a little stunned by how small the bread was when it came out of the oven and by the fact that i could "knock" on it like i was knocking on a door. you know what i mean?

however, i will say after i cut into it, i was pleasantly surprised by how soft the inside was and how delightfully tasteful the bread was.

there were a few variables that i could have controlled a little better.
like not using country crock ... i know, who would do such a thing? i just wanted to use up what was in my fridge and you know me and my coupons. i bought the country crock spread a while back when it was at a really good deal. casey has ridiculed me for it ever since. did no one else grow up on country crock? i mean, i knew it was a bad idea when i bought it, but i think it was a desperate time. maybe ... who knows.

the basic bread recipe i used came from the simple dollar blog. ever heard of it?
it's one of casey's favorite. the name says it all. it's about living simply and spending simply. sometimes the posts are a little too long for me and kind of annoying. but there's some great finds on it as well. like this bread recipe.

you'll need these few ingredients:

1/4 cup milk
5 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoons salt
5 teaspoons butter
1 package active dry yeast
2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups flour
nonstick cooking spray

click here for the directions on how to make a simple white bread.

here's how mine turned out.
i know, go ahead and laugh.
it didn't even fill up the pan!

practice makes perfect i suppose!

i plan to perfect this recipe and end up using wheat, and a more natural butter.
i'll keep you posted on my future bread making.
casey is so excited and is convinced that we'll never buy bread at the grocery store ever again!
oh brother, what have i done!

motivate me monday

(photo from countryliving.com)

this week i'm on a mission.
i'm going to make bread.

seems like a simple concept, but i think it might be a bit challenging.
i've never made homemade bread before.

when we had breakfast at pearl bakery in portland it got me thinking.
i could make bread. why not?

i'm not really sure that i'm totally up for the challenge this week, but that's what motivate me monday is all about. making me do something that i usually would just put on the back burner and well, never do!

let me know if you have any pointers ... or recipes to try at that!
i'm starting from scratch, literally.