Happy Spring!

I am finally getting around to celebrating Spring. E and I are outside soaking up the beautiful weather listening to Texas Country on Spotify.

Also, I got a mani/pedi with Kathryn.

Seafoam Green shellac

Strawberry Margarita (virgin of course)

However, I failed using self-tanner. I am going to have to wear pants the next few days. It's not pretty. I am going to try again. I used Neutragena Spray On Self Tanner.

Indulgence?

How do you indulge?

I feel everyone (man and woman) should indulge every now and then. I’m not saying go and buy a Louis Vuitton when you only have $10 in your bank account, but more affordable things. Do you get your hair cut/styled/colored regularly? Mani/pedi? Massage? Go shopping for clothes or accessories? Buy fancy chocolates? Buy stuff for your house? (My mom always tells my dad "you're the king of this castle and my job is to decorate it." I don't think he buys it.)

I have realized I don’t do any of these things (unless they’re gifts or my mom is in town). I get my hair cut 1-2 times a year. If I do color it, it’s out of a box. I like to get a mani/pedi to celebrate Spring, but I need a babysitter (and I have a gift certificate!). I LOVE massages. But again, I need a babysitter. But again, I have gift cards!! My mom and I recently went shopping. I got a daring pair of white jeans! I’m excited for Easter to come so I can wear them without guilt. I want to start to wear lipsticks, but I’m too scared. I feel the lipstick industry is a huge scam. How many times do you spend $7 on a tube of lipstick and when you get home you realize it’s the ugliest color in the world?!

What about homemade indulgences? With Pinterest, you can do anything from making your own Biore pore strips to lip balm to the most delicious chocolate dessert.

(Side story: I am wanting to write “decadent chocolate dessert” but it says that decadent means “decaying.” But “decedent” isn’t in the dictionary. So I looked for synonyms of delicious and nothing came up. But I did find a magazine article named “7 Decadent Chocolate Desserts,” so I’m confused….)

Anyway, the question is… how do you indulge and why do you indulge in that one thing? Is it to make yourself feel prettier? To relax? To escape? To make you feel powerful? Let me know!

And I’ll post my new spring outfits as soon as I get the courage to take pictures of myself!

Stage 2…don't think so.

I’m not ready for Stage 2 foods. 

Oh, Ethan’s ready!! He loves food.

Let me explain (aka copy & paste from a website) Stage 2 foods…

“Some parents define Stage 2 baby foods as baby foods that are chunky. These foods should be appropriate for babies who are beginning to master "chewing" their foods and who have completely lost any form of the tongue thrust reflex. The commercial Stage 2 Baby Foods in this range are targeted to babies who are between the ages of 7-8 to 10 months old.” 

Some examples:

“Bring on some spices and the softly mashed, or chopped into fine pieces of fruits, vegetables, meats, pasta and dairy such as yogurt and cheeses.”

Stage 1 foods were easy… peel, microwave, puree, done. Homemade yogurt?! I don’t think so. I don’t do anything that involves a cheesecloth or a thermometer!  Pureed meat?! Ugh! That makes me want to… ugh!! *lalalalalala*

I don’t know what I’m going to do!

*sigh* Fine.

For the sake of my blog, I will attempt to make Stage 2 foods. If you have any advice, please feel free to leave a comment! I probably won't start this until next week, so you have time.

A Day in the Park

Thank you so much for all the encouraging words! They mean so much to me! I'll re-read the comments when I'm down and overwhelmed!

Saturday, Kathryn (Jay's sister) and I took Ethan to the park. It was his first time.

He didn't like the swing at first.

But then he loved it! (I'd mute your volume because I sound dumb)

Applying for Grad School

As you know, the initial reason for my blog was to find my Christian “talent.” And all along I think I’ve known what it was I was just too afraid to chase it.

I attend a relatively large (450+) conservative church of Christ in Houston that is full of wonderful women (and men). The talents are abundant – teachers, song writers, singers, mothers, etc. In fact, this past weekend we had a weekend devoted to women. We studied women mentioned in Luke. There were four categories – Women of Faith, Women of Promise, Women who Needed Jesus, Women who Loved Jesus. It was an amazing study and I can tell you more about it if you want, but it’s not the point of this post :)

The point is, I was looking around the room at the wonderful women and thought one day I’d like to be a respectable member of this congregation. I would like for people to come to me for something. And then I thought… hmm of a congregation this side there isn’t a psychologist or counselor (there’s a social worker though). Conveniently, I’ve always wanted to be a Christian counselor!

So after Jay hitting me upside the head (figuratively) and saying, “duh! I’ve been telling you to do this all along!” I’ve applied to LeTourneau University. It’s an interdenominational university that offers M.A. in Counseling online! I just submitted my application and they’re supposed to call to ask me more questions, but one of the things I was most nervous about they don’t seem to require – recommendation letters. I have them, but they’re dated 2008.

The only thing I need is confidence. I have it right now, but it’s really easy for me to lose it. So I may ask to be uplifted and encouraged frequently!