bring joy

pear salad with sweet & spicy pecans + creamy pecan dressing

I’ve been seeing babies everywhere.

I think that happens right before you’re about to have a baby of your own. Suddenly, at the grocery store, in the library, at church, the screaming tiny things just appear. And they’re everywhere.

I’ve always had an apprehension about babies. Even after having successfully guided four babies into toddlerhood & beyond.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the sweet scent of their freshly bathed skin. The cuddling & coos. The amazing-ness of having a new member of your family.

But I worry a lot when they’re so helpless & they can’t communicate in a way that always is clear.

I remember not being able to sleep for about three nights after I had Hyrum (my first).

I just lay there, anxious, eyes wide open. It was as if my fight or flight response had been kicked on...

Frugal Tuesdays: entertainment on a shoestring & 50+ fave books, movies & tv series

books, frugal life

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Joseph & I are theater people.

We were both drama geeks in high school & one of my minors in undergrad was theater studies. One of my dream jobs would be something theater related–acting of course, but set design, makeup, costuming, script writing also intrigue me. I love watching it, being a part of it. It’s just exciting to me.

When we lived in Utah, though tight as money was, we always made room for attending plays & concerts. Between the two universities, & several theater companies, there was always plenty of affordable shows to attend. Even though San Antonio is a metropolis, I’ve found it wanting in the theater/performing arts arena (at least in our current budget range). Yes, there’s the symphony (we were able to get discount tickets to...

{MM} My 7th vegan-versary + lots of apple recipes

marvelous mondays

This weeks fave life pins–these thoughts seem to encapsulate my current pregnant existence.

both images repinned from two penny blue (top image originally from slufoot tumblr)

♥ I don’t know why I always naively assume that the weekends will be a time of calm, cleaning, napping, that sort of delicious stuff. Instead it’s usually jam packed with activities & get togethers.

This weekend was Asher’s 7 birthday (marking my “real” 7th vegan-versary!).

We had soccer games, kids painted pumpkins, took them to a Halloween event at the botanical gardens, had a “mini-birthday” party, & had some friends over for dinner yesterday.

We decided to only do “big” birthday parties for each child, every other birthday. This year was a non-birthday party year for Asher. He invited two friends...