Five Favorites

Oh, how I love this new feature at MoxieWife.com!

1-  I recently switched my to-do lists and organization over to pretty binders.  Just seeing them in all their prettiness makes me feel calmer about what I need to get done.  I am loving them!  No splurging... just prettiness from Target.

2.  I am toying with new flooring in our our very old kitchen and small bathroom.  I am really digging the idea of old black and white checkerboard.  But maybe it's just too much.  Still on the fence about it.  My cupboards are a retro green in our kitchen but it's small... and may just overpower it.  Still deciding but I definitely would call this look a favorite this week!

3.  Preppy Sneakers.  I had an orange pair of Sperry tennis shoes.  Now that I am 40, I think I'll mellow out w/a birch color for summer.  They are comfy w/lots of padding so they feel better than Keds.  I love them!

4.  Don't know why but I really really really want to replace my coffee maker and get a Keurig Vue.  The idea of at home lattes is fantastic.  

5.  I love reading. I read slowly and don't get more than a few minutes a day.  Right now I am loving Unorthodox:  The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots  by Deborah Feldman.  The author is in her late 20s and takes us back to her ultra-conservative Hasidic childhood.  Fascinates me!

Have a great week.... we are headed to Utah for vacation... I can't wait!

7QT

Happy Friday...

1.  This video just ended up in my feed. I love it.  I am so excited for Pope Francis.  I feel his warmth already.

2.  We were excited on Wednesday!  Here's a clip of MJ:

Mary Jane and Pope Francis

I watched a bit of the coverage of the conclave with her and she now seems to be able to identify the difference of a Pope and a Cardinal... but she still thinks everyone is Fr. Jim.

3.  I posted this on FB--- My "Who's on first" moment.... trying to explain to Mary Jane that her new tee shirt says "The Who". Me: It says "The Who". MJ: Mary Jane! Me: No, "The Who". Mary Jane: Besty? Me: No, "The Who". MJ: ME! 

Fun times in toddler land!

4.  Being a mom of two toddlers is so much fun.  That's all :)

5.  I attended  retreat last weekend. It was Created for Care, a Christian retreat for adoptive mamas.  I was blown away... it was so nice to meet women whose hearts understood my heart.  I have so much admiration for the women with huge families.  I feel so blessed by the experience... everything from sharing a car w/a random stranger turned friend to the music we heart... it was moving and inspiring and I do feel like I am a better mom.

6.  In one week, we leave for a family vacation... My parents, sister and her family, and my aunt.  We are all headed to Utah.  It's so exciting!  I can't wait for R and R, and time w/my family.

7.  We are really at a crossroads... I feel badly... I was a bit tough on the mister this week but I feel like we need some certain plans for our future.  Is CA where we want to be or should we move closer to my parents in AZ?  How does someone make these tough decisions?

7 Quick Takes

Happy Lent... it's been a while since I've logged on.  I had a seven quick takes prepared for last week or perhaps the week before but "bubble nose" entered our home so everything was slightly askew.

For those wondering what "bubble nose" is... it's your common cold among my toddlers.

So onto this week's 7-Q-T:

1-  FINALLY I have two baptized toddlers!! It's crazy making.... the Archdiocese of Los Angeles had me jump through a million hurdles to prove that my sweet peas were "okay" to baptize.  I guess they've had issues in the past w/foster parents (which we never have been) baptizing children that wouldn't be forever with them... .it's crazy that private adopted kiddos had the same scrutiny.  But we did it... it was lovely... and while I was a crazy person pushing to get this done (like for two years!), it was especially sweet because I do believe MJ will remember her special day of entering into the Church.

2-  Fun baptism related story--  So MJ is a bit skiddish and I was worried that she'd freak out during the baptism so I googled YouTube videos so she could watch.  For a 26 month old, she's pretty perceptive and wants to understand things.  So fast forward to the Monday after she was baptized.  We were cuddling in bed in the morning and she proceeded to tell me that she was going to baptize her panda, her monkey, and her giraffe.  She got water and wet their heads down.  Loved it :)  Makes me happy that she has a pleasant association with her first sacrament.

3-  Weight loss is going.... down 3.5 lbs and 4 inches!  Slow progress but in the right direction.

4-  So excited about a retreat next weekend.  I am going to Created For Care in Atlanta.  I am combining the trip and doing business too.  I will hate to be away from my family but I so look forward to some time to reflect on my blessings.  Created for Care is a retreat for Christian moms who've adopted.  (I do get the since that I may be one of few Catholic moms... but I'll wear my faith with pride.)

5-  I'd be remiss not to mention Pope Benedict XVI.  It's funny how I've grown to love and respect him.  I was like a child that was sad when Blessed JP left our earth and I didn't want to have that deep connection to Pope B... but I do and will miss him.

6-  On that note... so excited to watch the conclave unfold.  Exciting times.

7-  Looking forward to a Spring vacation with all of my family.  Utah here we come!  Moab and Bryce.... I hope this SoCal girl doesn't have to deal w/snow but either way it's going to be so nice to spend a quiet week with my entire family.

XOXOOX