Want to see what I've been up to?

So last week my mom called and demanded- ahem- I mean offered to take the kiddos for the weekend. Not one to look a gift horse  in the mouth, I had to agree. :) I don't usually look for opportunities to be away from the children- I actually kind of enjoy them- but it's also nice to get some stuff done around here without 10,000 interruptions and distractions!  

The first thing I wanted to do stock the freezer with goodies for Annabel's lunchbox. Her school requires her to take a lunch each day, which is great in theory until I'm already 5 minutes late for work and still have a pb&j to make. So I made- and froze- homemade lunchables, a stack of homemade "uncrustables" (pb&j's without the crust), and 2 quiche (Annabel's favorite!). Oh yes, and homemade fruit roll-ups.

Uncrustables!

From this:

Yummy vegetable goodness for the quiche- sometimes the only way to get them to eat it!

to this:

to this! Individually wrapped and ready for the freezer!

the fruit roll-ups were a little disappointing. They look like bacon roll-ups if you ask me.

 The next day of (blissful) solitude was spent making a month's meal plan and grocery list. Then grocery shopping. Then starting/prepping and freezing several of the meals. Ok- now I realize why I never do this when the kids are here- because it takes all day!! And it's exhausting!

I know I'll be thrilled to come home from work in the next few weeks and know exactly what's for dinner and be able to pull out the already-cooked meat and already-prepped veggies! 

The third day was a little more "fun" as I worked on stocking up my etsy shop. Here are some sneak previews of upcoming listings...

It looks wonky but it's just the way I have it on the hanger!

this one is actually for Annabel, but will also be offered as a custom.  She picked out all the fabric herself! :)

In addition to all this, Derek and I managed to get sushi with some friends, see Hunger Games in the theater, and do pizza and a movie in. It was nice. They are home now, but as Annabel said at dinner tonight, **big sigh** "I know this is my favorite supper, but I wish I was eating it with Grammy." I think they had a good time, too. ;)

Dipping my toes back in??

I've been contemplating the idea of blogging again. I love to write, and there is so much to write about. So it makes sense, huh? But there's a dark side of blogging... which is a certain vulnerability that comes with putting yourself out there on the interwebs. A vulnerability that means you can see me but I can't see you. You know what I'm thinking- but I don't know how you take it, if your eyes narrow or if your mouth curls up, or if you shout to your husband/wife in the other room... "Hey, listen to this!" And I don't like feeling vulnerable (I mean, who does, right?!). I like the solitude and peacefulness of my quiet little corner of the world, with no prying eyes or judging hearts. Yet I'm too INFP to leave well enough alone and write only about the fluffy goings-on of life.

So why am I here? Well, as I stated above, I do love to write. I feel like I'm decent at it. Several people in the last few months have told me they miss my posts. And call me a narcissist, but I like that. I like thinking that maybe I've caused someone to think about a particular topic in a new way (a better way? Ha!)  and even if you don't agree that you've enjoyed my ramblings-on enough to tell me so.

So here's what I'm asking in return from you, reader. Share your thoughts (but please do so respectfully!). If you like my post, I would love to know. <3 And when you read, try your hardest to assign positive intent to my words. I promise that I rarely address a topic with a judgmental or bitter spirit, or without careful consideration of the words I am using. My intention in writing is not to make any reader feel guilty or attacked, but rather to make you think. That's never a bad thing, right?

So anyway, stay tuned. I'm in the process of updating and renewing this space and will attempt to post at least weekly. I doubt I'll post as much about the children and our every day lives as I used to, or post many pictures, since that's really what facebook is for (not that I've spent much time over there recently, either!). I hope that you will enjoy this blog, and that I will see you back here soon!