tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115623202024-03-05T22:59:18.338-06:00silvermari & the stickProgressive Christian wife, mama, writer, editor & crocheter blogging from Baton RougeMarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.comBlogger1742125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-44817586161887986912021-11-23T21:26:00.002-06:002021-11-23T21:27:06.648-06:00Once Upon a November<p>This is my second year to not do NaBloPoMo. I'd done it for maybe a decade before that, never creating anything worth reading but reliably and consistently producing post after post of content each November.</p><p>I love November - it's my birthday month and the weather is most conducive - plenty of cool, breezy days, maybe a few non-threatening rainstorms mixed in. But there can be some warmth and sunshine now and again. </p><p>It's Thanksgiving week. We're at the beach, meeting the in-laws and so the girls can have some nice relaxation time. I have worked from here - the remote work is fine but the set up in the extra bedroom of the beach house has really jacked up my back. And I am feeling all kinds of guilt about not being in the office, although I'm plenty productive and doing the things asked of me.</p><p>A lot of things about going back to work are startling to me -- both the things I'm learning about myself and the things I'm realizing about other people -- as professionals and just people in general. I know who I am and what matters, my girls, Shawn, my family, and so I've made the right calls of prioritizing time with them over what might feel "right" for the job, and it's good to make that choice and prioritization even through the discomfort. <br /></p><p>I also deserve rest of my own. Even though I've "only" been working full-time for a few months. Even though I should be able to handle it all -- the mothering, the professionalism, the juggling of calendars and wanting to be in two places at the same time.</p><p>In my writers group, where I'm not writing much at all, someone mentioned a three-item daily gratitude list as a way to keep yourself writing. Yes, gratitude and thankfulness are important, especially as we head to Thanksgiving and the end of the year. I want to infuse my life with thanksgiving. To be truly satisfied. I'm not so much experiencing that, at least in part because of my tendency to see the bad, what's not working, the glaring obvious inefficiencies that then grate at me and worry me, giving me no peace.</p><p>So perhaps a three-item gratitude list wouldn't be the worst thing. But I haven't brought myself to do it even once really. My three things are Shawn, Jane and Livia. I'd like to be my best self for them, and that means not being great or perfect at anything. Muddling through where I can. Remembering what really matters and who I really am.</p><p>I haven't taken the time to write about it, to journal, to anything. And I process a lot of things through writing. Email drafts are too long. Emotions get wrung out in scribbled pages. Type type type type here on this blog. None of that has been happening (although a few emails -- I'm getting better at writing and deleting them at least). So there's some feeling adrift without the writing. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuyKhJq4EV44B9tHORTTh9M1Hz7lgCJ23vAMOlHRpuaWVi0svZw9mk29Xr2MJ0GUZqzY_Dpdvd3XIf_-8H-qeqO9eFtkGqD5RpMD-3dS0hs6e5oycnFWGY1QV0BkNMVx3nLTm3A/s2048/IMG_20211122_170829282_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuyKhJq4EV44B9tHORTTh9M1Hz7lgCJ23vAMOlHRpuaWVi0svZw9mk29Xr2MJ0GUZqzY_Dpdvd3XIf_-8H-qeqO9eFtkGqD5RpMD-3dS0hs6e5oycnFWGY1QV0BkNMVx3nLTm3A/w320-h240/IMG_20211122_170829282_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-36548700040545780792021-08-28T15:00:00.000-05:002021-08-28T15:00:04.955-05:00An Email Request - Black Lives Matter<p>I very rarely get emails about something seen on my blog making someone think I'd be good to feature their product or service here. I recently got one because I wrote the words Black Lives Matter in 2018. Normally I delete any marketing request like that, both for the sake of me and the person hoping my traffic can help theirs. But Black Lives Matter, so I have no problem providing this link to the article.<br /></p><p>Supporting BLM is crucial to help people in our society. This is the resource I was asked to link to, a detailed article on why we need to support the Black Lives
Matter movement and how to get involved: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dnaweekly.com/blog/support-black-lives-matter-reasons/&source=gmail&ust=1629927220145000&usg=AFQjCNFSQwvTnhe87IozXiLWpElquQQdpg" href="https://www.dnaweekly.com/blog/support-black-lives-matter-reasons/" target="_blank">https://www.dnaweekly.<wbr></wbr>com/blog/support-black-lives-<wbr></wbr>matter-reasons/</a></p>Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-41661594849888353732021-06-14T10:01:00.003-05:002021-06-14T10:01:54.648-05:00Read: What Is God Like?<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55198937-what-is-god-like" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="What Is God Like?" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615420041l/55198937._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55198937-what-is-god-like">What Is God Like?</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3207795.Rachel_Held_Evans">Rachel Held Evans</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4049822942">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
What is God Like? God is Love. This beautifully illustrated book shares the heart of the late Rachel Held Evans and provides the basis of her faith in a way that's accessible to young readers and reinforces the beautiful gospel truth for all ages. I loved reading a digital NetGalley advanced reader copy, and I'm looking forward to holding the hard copy in my hands and sharing it with my daughters. Grateful that Matthew Paul Turner was able to see Rachel's vision through, and this book's beautiful prose will touch many children across the years.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1262042-mari">View all my reviews</a>
Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-5544481544977844992021-05-10T16:20:00.000-05:002021-05-10T16:20:05.601-05:00Enneagram One Memes to Save<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made this one in Canva after listening to this <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unsolicited-advice-for-type-one/id1447982978?i=1000520461414" target="_blank">Unsolicited Advice for Ones episode</a> of the Enneagram & Coffee podcast:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f4V8C4ctchiYIO2qWnxq9XYSAeSl4XmE6pNJSl7bmLyITvctfuhNilzKbL9Urxd6bTjwphOcDUMb61-bPH2P-T96t0KihOkLTya8r2jPPQ_-5I-m262W7yM5qCIa1TF1YmUvrg/s1080/Not+The+Voice+of+Reason.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f4V8C4ctchiYIO2qWnxq9XYSAeSl4XmE6pNJSl7bmLyITvctfuhNilzKbL9Urxd6bTjwphOcDUMb61-bPH2P-T96t0KihOkLTya8r2jPPQ_-5I-m262W7yM5qCIa1TF1YmUvrg/w400-h400/Not+The+Voice+of+Reason.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><br />Then these are just ones that I've screen-shot from Instagram primarily, and in a very non-One way, I'm not going to try to link or find original sources (although I'd be happy to add links or take something down if any of this is your content):</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD1uO6djLeYnuDZ7sP7MklmJmuSvX7FQGjCFD4wF_-kIilXGW7DHZt3Ab9WYQLD4vXYuppxrleGZHm8KUKrjIFyP9FP35m0R3sAsX4QUPEM0kZHnXh5tdbqbJkWpWL1VLEwUZFw/s805/Screenshot_20210122-200255.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD1uO6djLeYnuDZ7sP7MklmJmuSvX7FQGjCFD4wF_-kIilXGW7DHZt3Ab9WYQLD4vXYuppxrleGZHm8KUKrjIFyP9FP35m0R3sAsX4QUPEM0kZHnXh5tdbqbJkWpWL1VLEwUZFw/w378-h400/Screenshot_20210122-200255.png" width="378" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_AXYYJvDrPWlqs8f0vFRndXTS0CeGSfVuyxFIP3z2Xw15u2HE8T3hbt5iZY9ifnUMSrmKVaWCprojLS3sXVXQU5qQnH6p0BpRQC2Ge_l6LPkJeUotHf0T9QkR4W2kGv5ZWJWYw/s760/Screenshot_20210122-200327.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="760" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_AXYYJvDrPWlqs8f0vFRndXTS0CeGSfVuyxFIP3z2Xw15u2HE8T3hbt5iZY9ifnUMSrmKVaWCprojLS3sXVXQU5qQnH6p0BpRQC2Ge_l6LPkJeUotHf0T9QkR4W2kGv5ZWJWYw/w400-h386/Screenshot_20210122-200327.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55fIGjAE0PYQlaiY-pfLuxgvlBdaAZsbzOrgupVG2St3zuXI6vhW8vMjUnm95kPxu28ojG10g_4lhBvCdBCGAiZrxfLYEjBXbFntjj5XytJUOGojoiuINqBHG1P0lSIOYjsdk-g/s760/Screenshot_20210122-200942.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="760" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55fIGjAE0PYQlaiY-pfLuxgvlBdaAZsbzOrgupVG2St3zuXI6vhW8vMjUnm95kPxu28ojG10g_4lhBvCdBCGAiZrxfLYEjBXbFntjj5XytJUOGojoiuINqBHG1P0lSIOYjsdk-g/w400-h389/Screenshot_20210122-200942.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaP9CMUFEvWpVKnO-EZKHJ0-Ysrrs9YN-iOB2LTkUIo3oetoFTODfsxAslgKIVgIBHMcPCtUZQ7J8A1Z2l_IHx7R-KV9Oat1Fv59Jre9l-w4RdGAAmhijsEQjH2OUd_WFqV8ovw/s855/Screenshot_20210122-201349.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="743" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaP9CMUFEvWpVKnO-EZKHJ0-Ysrrs9YN-iOB2LTkUIo3oetoFTODfsxAslgKIVgIBHMcPCtUZQ7J8A1Z2l_IHx7R-KV9Oat1Fv59Jre9l-w4RdGAAmhijsEQjH2OUd_WFqV8ovw/w348-h400/Screenshot_20210122-201349.png" width="348" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBrdZSqLud8hh7PwWC3Yjkc1z-rt6VZhH2oxD7OqzH9BEinVRElNze5Jl33kjuYkmuBP5ZQkja1aQUIuNqZo_KbjFlgXrRCntLMrpmJlfdi2kZL3hyphenhyphenpZqAGBTAy1-Sj9LjORv3g/s760/Screenshot_20210122-202401.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBrdZSqLud8hh7PwWC3Yjkc1z-rt6VZhH2oxD7OqzH9BEinVRElNze5Jl33kjuYkmuBP5ZQkja1aQUIuNqZo_KbjFlgXrRCntLMrpmJlfdi2kZL3hyphenhyphenpZqAGBTAy1-Sj9LjORv3g/s320/Screenshot_20210122-202401.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-DfMqWV58zEFhQFNcTILgp8ymK3wjD_wlP3Wy_SbDnJTy2nzSo-CjjT7F2zNz9o-MOc5okTBKBFWQ0pcAvMY6XarXEzPcVm9mHOYo2RJjsZ4hl6sIdXe0VvpliA-UoxSia02Gg/s811/Screenshot_20210209-201852.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="743" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-DfMqWV58zEFhQFNcTILgp8ymK3wjD_wlP3Wy_SbDnJTy2nzSo-CjjT7F2zNz9o-MOc5okTBKBFWQ0pcAvMY6XarXEzPcVm9mHOYo2RJjsZ4hl6sIdXe0VvpliA-UoxSia02Gg/w366-h400/Screenshot_20210209-201852.png" width="366" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jsorwDBunyu-YzAOro_HAJFyf3MxOi_F24ULBTb_W7xn6mm_YEavEEmX-P2jde9zwGHKvN2J2jhWvQ-CNmtJ2zKR9K0_z2tbHRCbXJTwa5U1K38aBwIq8MCx-UOdoYCpsJ1TZA/s760/Screenshot_20210213-114631.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="760" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jsorwDBunyu-YzAOro_HAJFyf3MxOi_F24ULBTb_W7xn6mm_YEavEEmX-P2jde9zwGHKvN2J2jhWvQ-CNmtJ2zKR9K0_z2tbHRCbXJTwa5U1K38aBwIq8MCx-UOdoYCpsJ1TZA/w400-h391/Screenshot_20210213-114631.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSRUsfK9ODBfKMwN9mnYwDL4XhwR_saFRjxAVyib80OV47nui4DUBHgFzmgAYiZZhm64aMrgCdwokcm9N-lIaMvnzT3tV5hDCG81GpioDBaiI4SpqDZdT7qUHw_hd7ULaZM6YDw/s760/Screenshot_20210214-184331.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="760" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSRUsfK9ODBfKMwN9mnYwDL4XhwR_saFRjxAVyib80OV47nui4DUBHgFzmgAYiZZhm64aMrgCdwokcm9N-lIaMvnzT3tV5hDCG81GpioDBaiI4SpqDZdT7qUHw_hd7ULaZM6YDw/w400-h393/Screenshot_20210214-184331.png" width="400" /><br /></a></div><p>Even before I knew Enneagram I had "You are doing great!" as my message in my Start Menu - I am my own best hype man!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPY27XhNj2vE4hNXZdj7FoJmnyaMH5SfIzGtp4gw_Ax61pnzmonN7S7PF406Ra3kyn-q6qcql5iOlRdCm1BwIUoBgD6a7bZQrq5XhB9QaBMR2kOFxQE14K_v6tSc7KMjDCz00Lw/s760/Screenshot_20210215-143557.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="760" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPY27XhNj2vE4hNXZdj7FoJmnyaMH5SfIzGtp4gw_Ax61pnzmonN7S7PF406Ra3kyn-q6qcql5iOlRdCm1BwIUoBgD6a7bZQrq5XhB9QaBMR2kOFxQE14K_v6tSc7KMjDCz00Lw/w400-h393/Screenshot_20210215-143557.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIHAPhu7wVYk9CpsR9AgPVP_tLI9U2vy1RezjZk-vWEqADLIxN-piZrZMzOdVOBmj2K3-qjAKQuZ91lo7_KwpXZ704vL4k7ceXpJCRvhEmv6thIJho1T9Imxr2q6UX0x_kIkt9Q/s852/Screenshot_20210216-182108.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="760" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIHAPhu7wVYk9CpsR9AgPVP_tLI9U2vy1RezjZk-vWEqADLIxN-piZrZMzOdVOBmj2K3-qjAKQuZ91lo7_KwpXZ704vL4k7ceXpJCRvhEmv6thIJho1T9Imxr2q6UX0x_kIkt9Q/w393-h439/Screenshot_20210216-182108.png" width="393" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmXz6u1DDVMdVUaG9FaoVt-GVWuWdlnGYrbTjgnphHYpkfnADKhdFrIaZy4O3BQlaiGq5uffIN-env6MIWgnSm848dnqB8C3iCxDwpvyO4HP24n53cV_qJ0ktluTu0IObCr45dg/s760/Screenshot_20210218-114313.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="760" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmXz6u1DDVMdVUaG9FaoVt-GVWuWdlnGYrbTjgnphHYpkfnADKhdFrIaZy4O3BQlaiGq5uffIN-env6MIWgnSm848dnqB8C3iCxDwpvyO4HP24n53cV_qJ0ktluTu0IObCr45dg/w400-h395/Screenshot_20210218-114313.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBObFxUp1qBf0hMzlnPwGUi_JEnrurhXGOZ3RWLBJJFYzWpD4M3j7Pde36rE2s5_YfDb2m9Ti0qsaPy26D1d_1Wslh45rcwy0XYp-dbcv4X89NfKtFpkaTXsZOAaRzSY30d02sg/s771/Screenshot_20210222-205146.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBObFxUp1qBf0hMzlnPwGUi_JEnrurhXGOZ3RWLBJJFYzWpD4M3j7Pde36rE2s5_YfDb2m9Ti0qsaPy26D1d_1Wslh45rcwy0XYp-dbcv4X89NfKtFpkaTXsZOAaRzSY30d02sg/w395-h400/Screenshot_20210222-205146.png" width="395" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbMLkSfFmBzbU-2M2ickprEhtTEPDcnP9qxAznXwdUz4Q2ftCcjXt_f4TTo0ztiLKd14DjINJ2lxkh4Ks3gm2H5Jub3p7Qg42UFfxeI8q7eHPXUvra545e624ux5mcmRJPEnUSw/s760/Screenshot_20210311-083256.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="760" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbMLkSfFmBzbU-2M2ickprEhtTEPDcnP9qxAznXwdUz4Q2ftCcjXt_f4TTo0ztiLKd14DjINJ2lxkh4Ks3gm2H5Jub3p7Qg42UFfxeI8q7eHPXUvra545e624ux5mcmRJPEnUSw/w400-h398/Screenshot_20210311-083256.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9z2hs_D8JR6Jsn6yzhLrU56guMdD_rHjy1j6QrMG2aYN0ssg5SQdN1Mc1Ymb7TW3ov2wj9GZgAiAx349nFwOlC5lv03GqQo5TirpJDcBHO-Q_leXdA2HJ82bjjytUG0sasgpNA/s872/Screenshot_20210414-210405.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9z2hs_D8JR6Jsn6yzhLrU56guMdD_rHjy1j6QrMG2aYN0ssg5SQdN1Mc1Ymb7TW3ov2wj9GZgAiAx349nFwOlC5lv03GqQo5TirpJDcBHO-Q_leXdA2HJ82bjjytUG0sasgpNA/w349-h400/Screenshot_20210414-210405.png" width="349" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1ssqOEc9KbxE8VbsbirEpsbGozV0p_54EEHN8hHMabjqhmMq2YAGZfb4SlG2h77Sf9lLg1tnZ6JPK7Wl_-aV2Q_sLDINMbqUCTm4469hZTVtbRfuLEM_XZgtRAV0_RcBLLllVA/s760/Screenshot_20210415-185834.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="760" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1ssqOEc9KbxE8VbsbirEpsbGozV0p_54EEHN8hHMabjqhmMq2YAGZfb4SlG2h77Sf9lLg1tnZ6JPK7Wl_-aV2Q_sLDINMbqUCTm4469hZTVtbRfuLEM_XZgtRAV0_RcBLLllVA/w400-h399/Screenshot_20210415-185834.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-4047342970990965852020-08-17T15:14:00.001-05:002020-08-18T16:31:58.924-05:00Be Kind to Yourself<p> I've been part of an Enneagram study with my church -- all on Zoom of course. It's through Life in the Trinity Ministries, a video course via Vimeo rather than DVDs or anything. Pretty expensive (each person had to pay for their access to the videos separately rather than just buying the DVD once that we'd all be able to watch together), but most people have seemed to enjoy it and get a lot out of it. My favorite part has been community building with my sub-group of friends. But the whole thing is tiresome especially during pandemic and when I've been very busy and pulled and stretched in different places and different ways.</p><p>This was a video that was recommended for my number (I am a 1) - by another participant. I just want to be able to find it later.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sYiM-sOC6nE" width="320" youtube-src-id="sYiM-sOC6nE"></iframe></div><p>I've exhausted my core small group with my writing about my 1-ness. I can't identify "growing edges," and even Shawn is tired of hearing about it. I know I'm capable of change, but I can't even see what that change might look like.</p><p>Edit to add one more video, also 1-focused:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-sO2UMoOaFQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="-sO2UMoOaFQ"></iframe></div><p><br /></p>Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-22163244857451146012020-05-04T17:21:00.000-05:002020-05-04T17:21:13.771-05:00Psalm 64:1<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZekFhmIQgrRu7pPfpEj9rENCvbOq_bRIj1pGwUjuvNUcfHl5rlAnwBCt_gPf-XDO9YJr2isZ0cqlmWZbLd8LGaPVshQfSDJFti8Yw9O3GV0p21fAmScOYhaADj5jzbtDSDX0IOQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZekFhmIQgrRu7pPfpEj9rENCvbOq_bRIj1pGwUjuvNUcfHl5rlAnwBCt_gPf-XDO9YJr2isZ0cqlmWZbLd8LGaPVshQfSDJFti8Yw9O3GV0p21fAmScOYhaADj5jzbtDSDX0IOQ/s320/Psalm64_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>They have changed the back-end editor for Blogger and so far I hate it. I can't adjust how the graphic appears -- text wrapping I mean, and I don't really want to break out my HTML skills for blogging. </div>Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-36273540981633172482020-04-22T11:38:00.001-05:002020-04-22T11:38:35.407-05:00Internal Weather Check: Raging Storms<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zi4zG0tirmDlAsj_38m8IbhW27R3OOvzOg6TlvaUaGEOKrPXivBq3p_LQsMCz-01OrKCV_e8PClDPWcaA5fkkVkULsExVYOhDUmJXSKC9jrrCG-TTlxb5OTL0rrYxE_E6xgDlA/s1600/IMG_woti6u.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zi4zG0tirmDlAsj_38m8IbhW27R3OOvzOg6TlvaUaGEOKrPXivBq3p_LQsMCz-01OrKCV_e8PClDPWcaA5fkkVkULsExVYOhDUmJXSKC9jrrCG-TTlxb5OTL0rrYxE_E6xgDlA/s320/IMG_woti6u.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Official artwork of this time<br />*I love my initials*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Housekeeping: I reverted the design of this blog back to "simply classic" or whatever the basic Blogger theme is. I liked the option of the other, but I couldn't get the older post/newer post scroll to work, and that's how I like to look at my blog, so the new theme wasn't working. I've still got it on mariwalker.com, and I'm trying to decide what to do with that site. Possibly a professional WordPress site would be better, as I am still creating content in other places and want to have a record. I'm not sure what's worth the effort (or expense beyond the simple domains).</i><br />
<br />
I haven't written here since the pandemic, social distancing and stay-at-home orders. I've <a href="http://www.mariwalker.com/" target="_blank">written elsewhere</a>, of course, and at night while I'm trying to sleep I write like a demon in my mind. It's weird, when I am in front of a blank Google document or blog window the words don't flow like they do when I'm working things out before resting in the dark quiet of my room with the hum of a fan and Shawn's sleeping presence.<br />
<br />
Everything is different. And yet a lot is the same. Some of that I can explore and unpack in a post for the magazine, since that's parenting-related. But some things are emotional and messy and more ME, and I decided this is the place to write and keep those memories. Or at least attempt that.<br />
<br />
On a Zoom meeting yesterday (church staff meeting, of which I'm not on staff but my volunteer presence has expanded exponentially during this time ... another experience to unpack that's appropriate for here or as a faith story but another post entirely -- for a time such as this), our pastor asked for an internal weather check. Similar to John Wesley's "how is it with your soul" but with the prompt to respond with weather metaphors. I get a constricted heart and panic when asked the soul question. I'm not in tune enough to have a good answer, perhaps? It's also general anxiety of sharing with people that pre-dates the pandemic. But I experienced it anew in this virtual experience. I have answered the question more honestly on previous calls because the answer was clearer (mostly cloudy, anxious, maybe a little windy from the swings up and down). Yesterday I just said "fair" because in the moment it was just OK -- my kids were fine in the other room doing their Kindles, I could focus on whatever the call was going to be about. The reality of my internal weather, however, is volatile and there is not a constant weather pattern to be sure.<br />
<br />
While trying to sleep last night what kept coming to mind was RAGING STORMS of anger. I am furious at the lack of federal leadership. This type of situation was what entered my mind and filled my being with terror on November 9, 2016. When this jerk and the establishment that enabled and supports him ruins everything my fears included: How will I get contacts? Will I have enough pens and paper and eyeliner? (Good grief.) How will I take care of my kids, and how can people who love them deeply do this to them? And those fears are more real than ever in this time.<br />
<br />
Currently I'm furious with the notion that we can get back to "normal" any time soon, even as tens of thousands of Americans have died from this. How many deaths were preventable if adequate personal protective equipment were available? If the pandemic team hadn't been fired years ago? If shut downs and shelter-in-place orders had been issued across the country (you know, at a federal level)?<br />
<br />
So I can push those storms down temporarily, and focus on my own little world and my little work. Parenting my two girls through this. Supporting Shawn and his research work. Keeping our church family connected through online offerings and other support. But when the rages surface they are engulfing. And the storms and anger can absolutely spill over into these other areas of my life. I speak unkindly, overstep my bounds and even break things (RIP two pairs of headphones so far).<br />
<br />
The raging serves no constructive purpose, but neither can I change that about myself. I hope by recognizing it, marking it down and sharing it I can step toward peace or some semblance of it. <br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
I RAGE ON.</h2>
Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-79988078913259292132019-12-22T13:50:00.002-06:002019-12-22T13:50:43.861-06:00Crochet: Blue Swirl HatI made a quick swirled hat, basically designed by the almost-seven-year-old intended recipient, a friend at church. She flipped through my book with designs I'd crocheted and picked out <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/divine-hat-2" target="_blank">this Divine Hat pattern</a>. I used the exact hook sizes as the pattern recommends and worsted weight yarn.<br />
<br />
But she wanted to make specific edits - with the colors and adding the dark blue lines on a light blue background. I put off doing it for many weeks but started it while she was at our house on a play date, to ask for some specifics (what color do you want the band at the bottom - light blue, is it OK that one of the stripes -- my beginning/ending of each round -- is thicker than the others? yes, do you want a pom-pom added to cover the light blue circle at the top? no). It took me a few hours to finish over the course of a few days, very quick and it turned out great. A little big on her but not too big, probably sized for a small adult or tween because of the length. I like when hats can be worn for longer than just today (I've made one or two for my girls that are outgrown within a month ... what a waste).<br />
<br />
Anyway, I like the way this turned out and think it would be really cute with white background and red stripes, as a peppermint, and with a striped band at the bottom, although that would be even more of a struggle!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqdE6oRddi3jKqmEWjhapKyCpSC5ZFLl317aP0Fppb6MZoRgaTU9NSRa6qgJ3q1WlqpnmnrNVH49ywlsg0HQUXraZqtxcx5i6SlRD-3Sv3TIrt1M6X4HWrTCHGBlGMbNLn7osBg/s1600/BlueSwirlHat_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqdE6oRddi3jKqmEWjhapKyCpSC5ZFLl317aP0Fppb6MZoRgaTU9NSRa6qgJ3q1WlqpnmnrNVH49ywlsg0HQUXraZqtxcx5i6SlRD-3Sv3TIrt1M6X4HWrTCHGBlGMbNLn7osBg/s640/BlueSwirlHat_1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EWp7mQkyfepzRzv6ti4npZtQcrbpb0OfyA-S9fNQ1QXZoJexVOuPaw32drmZRN51FOud1xxP8TVUR6ekGVWRZQnaJMbY2_zpHP3CIpWkE6VpcOOD-nHnfKR9LcvfEx0rF9HgXA/s1600/BlueSwirlHat_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EWp7mQkyfepzRzv6ti4npZtQcrbpb0OfyA-S9fNQ1QXZoJexVOuPaw32drmZRN51FOud1xxP8TVUR6ekGVWRZQnaJMbY2_zpHP3CIpWkE6VpcOOD-nHnfKR9LcvfEx0rF9HgXA/s640/BlueSwirlHat_2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-89989789016947846822019-12-04T11:13:00.001-06:002019-12-04T11:13:27.002-06:00Taco Soup in the Crock PotSo I don't forget -- I made <a href="https://www.thecountrycook.net/crock-pot-taco-soup/">a delicious taco soup in the Crock Pot </a>while my mom was visiting over Thanksgiving break. I am making it again today and don't want to lose the recipe in and among the hordes of similar recipes. This one is probably the easiest out there, but I might have added too much water today! I eyeballed it until the crock pot was full, egads. Here's my slightly modified version, mainly that I cook the meat with the taco seasoning instead of adding it with the liquid).<br />
<ul>
<li>Brown one pound of ground beef and one chopped onion with packet of taco seasoning until meat is brown.</li>
<li>Put the mixture into the Crock Pot. </li>
<li>Add 2 cups of beef broth (about half of a standard size box); a 28-oz can of Rotel, undrained; a 15 oz can of pinto beans, undrained; a 15 oz can of corn, undrained; and one cup of water. </li>
<li>Stir it up, sprinkle on a dry packet of ranch dressing and slowly stir in. (There's probably a smarter way to do that too without sloshing the liquid! Maybe sprinkle the ranch over the meat after added?) </li>
<li>Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.</li>
<li>Put shredded cheese and sour cream on top to cool it down and cream it up. </li>
<li>Eat with Tostitos Hint of Lime chips (Jane's favorite) or Fritos (maybe my favorite).</li>
</ul>
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Tastes even better the next day heated up. Nom. Nom. Nom.Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-55336975089287883712019-11-30T17:32:00.000-06:002019-11-30T17:32:26.888-06:00Just Pretending<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWPElhbZiF6Ag05H81E4Xf5osSuDWmtt5cqHKEDMYAXUd4tREKPZ0gTzyKwXfObo7GWxE7P-5iKICBcsiqsBXBpbtI1R1-3sOWkZxrDHTS-7PsRvaWojboQzkb8Js29OJW01o7A/s1600/IMG_20191129_174942358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWPElhbZiF6Ag05H81E4Xf5osSuDWmtt5cqHKEDMYAXUd4tREKPZ0gTzyKwXfObo7GWxE7P-5iKICBcsiqsBXBpbtI1R1-3sOWkZxrDHTS-7PsRvaWojboQzkb8Js29OJW01o7A/s320/IMG_20191129_174942358.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first decoration of Xmas 2019</td></tr>
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We are slowly getting our Christmas stuff out. It feels like pretend. I don't know if it's the calendar, the weather (so hot, and our A/C is on the fritz!) or a combination of everything, but I don't feel merry yet. Just kind of stressed, which I guess is in keeping with Christmas, at least the secular version.<br />
<br />
My first decoration that we hung up is a new one, from my friend Paige's business called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeezusandRoux/">Beezus & Roux</a>. She started making art from Mardi Gras beads, and they're beautiful. Epoxy means they'll last. I'm not sure about the bow -- if I were more decorative myself I could fluff it or something, but it's fine for this year. I'll need to keep it inside in the linen closet instead of outside with the other Xmas junk to keep it from melting. A small price to pay. (It is a small piece, so not a huge space sacrifice either.)<br />
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I did some Christmas shopping today, buying a bunch of small Frozen II items. The girls both want a BIG Frozen thing -- a vanity (plastic, blech) or dollhouse (too big, and we already HAVE a dollhouse -- a friend just gave us a dollhouse bookshelf). Jane wants a Nintendo Switch, but I don't see that as a good idea, or this learning catalog teacher set that I wouldn't get last year. (She did get a teacher set, the cheaper Melissa & Doug version PLUS my sister, actually a teacher, made her a set of some of the materials she uses, like red pens, name plates for desks, etc.) Livia circled half the items in the Target and Amazon catalogs -- she'll be pretty happy with any toys I think. I now have more than enough for them, although almost entirely TOYS. And none seems "big." But do they really need something BIG? They got Kindles last year, but we still monitor their use and it's not something they have constant access to.<br />
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Many things to consider.<br />
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Advent is going to fly by. I'm not sure that I'll miss blogging daily -- I know most Decembers I feel that reflexive muscle kick in. I have a LOT of magazine writing to do though, so that should keep me busy and quell any urges. TBD. TBD. TBD.<br />
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Happy end-of-November.Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-33659157919623882502019-11-29T14:03:00.001-06:002019-11-29T14:03:27.054-06:00Skin Sins<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2CDmnCxGUrkDqYPaVrpDxo1H2myrEVCfBBmv0DEsXxsI0p2O0DCL044XzUGap4aS9d9vvUIU0qVLSVCktG8QDD7yTltufW-dgbQcAvLWLcHFsocXDd9BY5-NjQfNrW_O9E2zaA/s1600/IMG_20191128_224712264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2CDmnCxGUrkDqYPaVrpDxo1H2myrEVCfBBmv0DEsXxsI0p2O0DCL044XzUGap4aS9d9vvUIU0qVLSVCktG8QDD7yTltufW-dgbQcAvLWLcHFsocXDd9BY5-NjQfNrW_O9E2zaA/s320/IMG_20191128_224712264.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Filter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWszFvdO4ubHOQriCza5aHUQUR870k1lVrsgPDIiVrzH5fsVjjaSlWOdTd-VS0C5FAV_woK-NpR-m94TxY3jhMGyt08wmWKBQ6IkUjVkKq04COUGV3Tpj97v4F3XuRuWI3y9NJ7w/s1600/IMG_20191128_224803891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWszFvdO4ubHOQriCza5aHUQUR870k1lVrsgPDIiVrzH5fsVjjaSlWOdTd-VS0C5FAV_woK-NpR-m94TxY3jhMGyt08wmWKBQ6IkUjVkKq04COUGV3Tpj97v4F3XuRuWI3y9NJ7w/s320/IMG_20191128_224803891.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty Filter</td></tr>
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<br />
I hardly took any pictures yesterday, certainly none at our dinner with friends. What is wrong with me? Anyway, I did some "beauty filter" shots -- above left is with the filter and right is without. I'm not really self conscious about the lines on my forehead, but definitely notice them more now and hate them. Look how the filter even blurred my neck a little. LOL.<br />
<br />
I am interested in more serious skin care -- a regime to give a glow up perhaps. BUT I think what that really is -- young people who use expensive skin care but have great skin mainly because they are young. I am aging out of the young range, but will still probably throw money at my face. Really if I would just be more consistent with sunscreen I'd look a lot better. I don't go OUT in the sun regularly (and when I do there's sunscreen involved generally), but every day exposure is something I slack on. Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-30694757372037484972019-11-28T20:19:00.002-06:002019-11-28T20:19:23.018-06:00Gobble Gobble Wobble WobbleBack from our friend's house and it was a lovely holiday. I am very full and tired. Still have to get the girls showered and in bed. I took corn casserole, pumpkin dump cake with ice cream and cranberry Jello salad.<br />
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I thought of a sort of good blog post to write, but I'm going to try to use it for the magazine, i.e. get paid a little bit for my writing. We'll see where it goes though. I haven't been writing the last few weeks much. Been busy/distracted/boycotting a little. I don't know. Will catch up me next week for deadline!<br />
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Only two more posts to go before December. I'm really scraping the bottom of the barrel here. I had an index card somewhere with some post ideas. Kind of in a food coma now and just want to watch TV after the kids get in bed. We watched 3 hours this morning with the Thanksgiving Parade. Screen time is my favorite.Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-71846627340825972842019-11-27T20:04:00.000-06:002019-11-27T20:04:01.768-06:00Lack of CookingIn usual Novembers, and NaBloPoMos past, the day before Thanksgiving has been another free space for me because I can catalog what I've been cooking. Today all I made were deviled eggs. I have some cooking to do tomorrow and actually a couple easy things to make tonight because I forgot. (Cranberry salad and pineapple cream cheese ball.)<br />
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Instead of cooking the full meal for the five of us (my mom is visiting), we decided to accept an invitation to a friend's apartment. I hope it goes OK, and I'm not sure my mom totally wants to go. But the allure of not having to do the entire meal (turkey included) was too much to pass up. And we had Thanksgiving with this friend last year and it was pleasant. I've gotten to know her better this year too. I just hope the worlds colliding (of family and chosen family) goes OK.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3WfUUern0LZeNlGxAnEIZTCk_7ynCzKgTgvDtGgAMge9VxI9Xp9ydZVjPGvbFA9rQx0rKqRW7tBds-SkpqERZN3vjxPWCS6-MEfoywhDrLaSfBG-T3kSom_5lFMxK-jr8Vo2UA/s1600/IMG_20191127_101547083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3WfUUern0LZeNlGxAnEIZTCk_7ynCzKgTgvDtGgAMge9VxI9Xp9ydZVjPGvbFA9rQx0rKqRW7tBds-SkpqERZN3vjxPWCS6-MEfoywhDrLaSfBG-T3kSom_5lFMxK-jr8Vo2UA/s320/IMG_20191127_101547083.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My face at "Defy" - LOL, jk</td></tr>
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We went to "Defy," which used to be "Area 51," which used to be something else. It's a trampoline park. The girls had a great time -- I knew we couldn't just stay home all day. They also got to go to the park, and I got some time at home and tidied (cleaned filthy bathrooms and vacuumed) plus got a huge chunk of my mariwalker.com website together. All still drafts, but I have posts with my magazine content and blog posts ready. I just need to fool with the layout and colors I guess.<br />
<br />
I may re-do this site's template too. There's a way to have a Featured Post in the layout at the top with some of the choices. There are only a few choices on Blogger -- so if I'm planning to stay with it (might as well?) -- I can pick one that's got that on the top built in so I can have my How to Buy a Crochet Hat post at the top -- so when people get my card at a maker faire or otherwise are looking for me because of crochet that will be easy to find.<br />
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News you can use: the entire Frozen 2 soundtrack seems to be available on Amazon Music for free. Exciting. I adore Unknown.Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-85154011018697409802019-11-26T15:39:00.000-06:002019-11-26T15:39:23.150-06:00Thirty Nine and Feeling Fine<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGIYh7xwm8yPSwWtn-yLW6f0unYS83BWxEDggsdq68XqrZ2FiKuKnIcbZJKbJfrGP3Br6QYbte_AzJiFz4TFknCGwzagVtukADDydK-7WyytHDXAQkOu3gHLgAu4x6EqVVZVRvQ/s1600/IMG_20191126_150747856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGIYh7xwm8yPSwWtn-yLW6f0unYS83BWxEDggsdq68XqrZ2FiKuKnIcbZJKbJfrGP3Br6QYbte_AzJiFz4TFknCGwzagVtukADDydK-7WyytHDXAQkOu3gHLgAu4x6EqVVZVRvQ/s320/IMG_20191126_150747856.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the start of my 40th trip around the sun</td></tr>
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Another birthday, nothing much to report. I woke up pushed to the very edge of the bed by a little 3-year-old. I stayed up too late and got up early-ish, so still pretty tired. I got some presents, which are fun, and I will start wearing my new <a href="http://0.0.7.227/11/shopping-luck-mama-bear.html">Mama Bear slippers</a> tonight I think.<br />
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We went to the 9:20 a.m. showing of Frozen 2. I liked it very much but would have liked it better without that same 3-year-old climbing all over me. And out of the theater they ran after the movie, including out the door of the entire place before I could stop them and herd them to the bathroom (I always have to pee after movies, even if I haven't drunk anything). Very irritating, and it's like they act even worse when my mom is here (or really any company).<br />
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Next we went to Superior Grill for lunch. I ordered large queso, which would have been enough for a meal. It cost more than my meal - LOL, whoops. Girls were mostly OK, although Jane still pushed my buttons due to being hungry (both of us).<br />
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We stopped to look for shoes for Jane. She's a 3.5, and there weren't any options that didn't have shoelaces. There were in 3s, but not 4s either. I don't want to buy an expensive (i.e. Nike) pair that she'll outgrow in a month. So the search continues. I thought I could just find the shoe we liked in 3s online in 3.5 but nope. So aggravating. Will keep looking I guess. Blugh.Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-34953042124350563952019-11-25T20:50:00.000-06:002019-11-25T20:50:27.836-06:00Shopping Luck: Mama Bear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboQlNwEsv3CDI4Ao31lDvUI5Fz7xfwl8LMEyyolrVBbH97lXl3cKYbPu-1JonARfkcIXy_A6tL8eFYeNfWnp3Dq419HZe6RLbwKFSOsl4RPBHIPJlKYRQBiV7MuKrxDWTmSkVpw/s1600/IMG_20191125_200927289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboQlNwEsv3CDI4Ao31lDvUI5Fz7xfwl8LMEyyolrVBbH97lXl3cKYbPu-1JonARfkcIXy_A6tL8eFYeNfWnp3Dq419HZe6RLbwKFSOsl4RPBHIPJlKYRQBiV7MuKrxDWTmSkVpw/s640/IMG_20191125_200927289.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I saw these slippers on a deal blog with availability at Walmart, but they were sold out by the time I read the post. They were about $25, but I was willing to buy because I love em! I never ran into them at Walmart either.<br />
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On Saturday when my mom, aunt and I did some shopping we went in Tuesday Morning looking mainly for Advent calendar goodies and I found these for $10. I didn't think they would have my XL size but they did!! And I'm pretty sure I have a matching set of jams I got at Target on clearance last year after Xmas. Huzzah!!<br />
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They were on another deal blog today. They are Dearfoams so I think it was from their site. Still twice as much as my score!<br />
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Happy birthday to me! LOLMarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-50550820322505440422019-11-24T17:34:00.001-06:002019-11-24T17:34:22.463-06:00Photo CardsIt's feeling like crunch time for Christmas and it's not even Thanksgiving! We are one month from Christmas Eve, but the turkey hasn't even hit the oven... It's just a calendar quirk, and usually Thanksgiving falls earlier in the month (hello, Friday November 1). But the realization is still sharp, and it will mean less time listening to Christmas music (I haven't been able to avoid it while shopping). I can continue it through Advent and maybe won't have the itchy feeling to get all the decorations down and the house back to "normal."<br />
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I have purchased a few gifts but am nowhere near done on my list. I also don't have gifts for family in Alabama, and one of them is here visiting while my mom is here. So I could save some bucks on shipping if I'd planned better or thought ahead. D'oh.<br />
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I DID take Christmas photos of my girls yesterday. I had bought buffalo check plaid flannel shirts when they were on sale at Old Navy, and they consented to wear them with jeans for about 20 minutes while I snapped some photos outside. I am not a great photographer and have next to zero editing skills. So the photos themselves are meh. The shirts are wrinkled, adding to the slap-dash effect. BUT I got them taken, there were three that I loved enough to want to see them on a card. Minor consultation with Shawn and voila, they'll be on their way and arrive in early December. So that's SOMETHING checked off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspA8Lb1ohmpDY1PDIhoz7nlQPyGhPxhMjDCzqlzrCMLq1pG6wW_jzVrwuHelzqP2Lf2r9NN-KvdM2hMYKBcPs4cABrysNx6vPbGj2q19V5f7gslzuDKTCYrxfwjhFkbdDogflTg/s1600/BuffaloCheckOuttake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspA8Lb1ohmpDY1PDIhoz7nlQPyGhPxhMjDCzqlzrCMLq1pG6wW_jzVrwuHelzqP2Lf2r9NN-KvdM2hMYKBcPs4cABrysNx6vPbGj2q19V5f7gslzuDKTCYrxfwjhFkbdDogflTg/s640/BuffaloCheckOuttake.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An outtake, although the lighting isn't bad in this one (as it is in some others)</td></tr>
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<br />Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-12484861110077751042019-11-23T15:40:00.000-06:002019-11-23T15:40:05.829-06:00Advent PlanningEvery year after Christmas I wrap children's Christmas books in tissue paper, and my girls can open one each night of Advent. (I wrap one for each of them, for a total of 48 books wrapped). We also have been doing separate calendars too. Trader Joe's sells chocolate ones for $.99, so that's a win-win. Last year Jane had a LEGO Friends calendar, and Livia got a Paw Patrol one. Both were good.<br />
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This year I thought I'd just do books and chocolate, because when I asked Jane that's what she said she wanted. (She just wants candy, frankly.) But then I was in Ollie's shopping and there were two Frozen Advent calendars. They're big castles and look pretty neat and sturdy, so reusable. But what I wasn't sure of was whether there were any Frozen contents or gifts inside. I bought them anyway, but some internet sleuthing made me realize they are empty.<br />
<br />
SO - do I return them ($12.99 each)? I could surely find 24 times two little do-dads to go inside the cubbies, although not all Frozen (maybe no Frozen actually). We went shopping today and I found some things -- some washi tape in a pack and a multi-pack of tiny nail polish. I also have some chapsticks that I bought for their stockings, and there are surely other little things that I've squirreled away. And I can always make some days super great (maybe just the weekends?) with actual candy. The Trader Joe's candies are fine, but small and just plain. (We're still eating Halloween candy though, so ...)<br />
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The Frozen calendars are also big, so they'll be hard-ish to store. I had a poke around in Shawn's shop when I was looking for a specific Christmas book (it's definitely one of the ones we have wrapped up), and he has some shelf space still available. LOL.<br />
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I'll probably go for it, and I guess I don't have to have all of the cubbies filled on December 1, since I can add to them as we go. Scrunchies for Jane are another idea. Maybe little blind bag things from the dollar store, or stickers I have saved in my Christmas stuff once we get it out.<br />
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Hard to transition from turkey to nativity, but here we go...Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-86616250280828358882019-11-22T16:13:00.000-06:002019-11-22T16:13:47.719-06:00Cooking for CrowdsI'm kind of a terrible housewife in that I hate to cook and hate to clean. Cooking isn't SO bad, and I definitely like to eat. But the clean up is annoying and the constant cycle of come up with ideas, shop for the ingredients, make the food, rinse and repeat, is a less-than-delightful part of my life.<br />
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Today I cooked multiple things. Tomorrow we are going to a Friendsgiving dinner, so I made a cornbread dressing and deviled eggs. The dressing is the kind Gran made for holidays -- cornbread, a stuffing mix, butter, onion, celery and seasonings. I hope I didn't make it too salty. Meh. It makes two big pans, so I'll save the other either for Thursday or for Christmas, depending on what we end up doing for Thanksgiving proper.<br />
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I also made a Mexican black bean lasagna that we'll heat up for tonight. It's basically onions, jalepeno, red bell pepper, corn, black beans, garlic, chili powder, cilantro and lime juice as a cooked filling layered with red enchilada sauce, corn tortillas and cheese.<br />
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I'm tired from it -- took a couple hours multi-tasking -- and the kitchen is still kind of dirty. Ran the dishwasher once, but have another load after we've eaten. So first I have to empty the clean dishes. Ugh.<br />
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Shawn's home from his latest trip, my mom and aunt are here too. Shawn hasn't had any time at home yet though, so things like my tire's air pressure, the leaves all over the yard, etc. haven't been addressed yet. More failings of house-wifery.Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-82834964619682443892019-11-21T20:00:00.003-06:002019-11-21T20:00:29.966-06:00A Very Online LifeI've started working on a task I've had on my to-do list for months: updating mariwalker.com. I want to have links there to all my work -- the articles and blog posts from BR Parents and past blog posts that have been published (anywhere but here basically). I want a place to easily find them (and still link to the actual sites where the full articles and posts live). And it would be a nice portfolio of sorts.<br />
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I wrote a few blog posts for Woman's Hospital during and after my second pregnancy. They have since moved to a different blog, and not all of them have my by-line. I've figured out which ones I wrote though (I have the emails I sent to the blog editor). That was the first step. I've got draft blog posts linking to each one.<br />
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Next step will be making posts for all my BR Parents content -- and there is a lot. Several blog posts but even more articles. On the site my byline search comes up with 45 hits. And that doesn't include the content sections I write (my title is "Section Editor" now), as those aren't online articles but mainly in print with a web layout version also posted (and which I can link to). I've been writing there for more than a year, so it's a lot of posts to create and links to get in order. Then going forward it would be a little easier.<br />
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There are other projects and jobs I could write up little summaries of and link to the published bits even without my byline. Will think through those and see what makes sense.<br />
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I'm making them all as drafts and back dating them appropriately. Then I'll launch them all at once I guess. I also need a new look to my site. I used to have a WordPress site, but the hosting felt expensive and it is literally a one page site right now. So I switched to Google Domains and used a free blogger blog to become the site itself. I don't like it nearly as much as WordPress for a professional site, but I may be able to use one of the templates to make it a little easier on the eyes and look moderately professional. I want it to go to mariwalker.com rather than redirecting to a page URL that's longer and less clean. But I don't think I'm willing to pay more money and pick up the site and move it back somewhere else. Will keep thinking though. If you want a professional site you have to pay professional money.<br />
<br />
I wonder if I should make a professional-ish Twitter account. Not that I say anything problematic, but maybe people wouldn't want to hire or work with me knowing just how liberal I am. Radical even? But only about some things. I also wouldn't want to apologize, so who knows what's good.<br />
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I am who I am on Facebook and LinkedIn, although I could look at LinkedIn especially and add info about BR Parents, especially since I have a title. I don't want to lose any momentum I might have toward getting back into the workplace, although the struggle is real. <br />
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<br />Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-91452308671121301442019-11-20T16:28:00.000-06:002019-11-20T16:28:34.690-06:00Two Little Pumpkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fA8U_WYruaL9VQaf8yzlGXqbefiyi2emwJ9bp3712STaQn2EHd-gJZ6_2t1EsQES_hK4tils1wrRnkLTljY14tDUpjyeH0lvQ8Gd4h3s5uyLpFm02R5qbDOdvsnGh5l_djHtnA/s1600/IMG_20191119_100859092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fA8U_WYruaL9VQaf8yzlGXqbefiyi2emwJ9bp3712STaQn2EHd-gJZ6_2t1EsQES_hK4tils1wrRnkLTljY14tDUpjyeH0lvQ8Gd4h3s5uyLpFm02R5qbDOdvsnGh5l_djHtnA/s640/IMG_20191119_100859092.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My latest commission is two pumpkin hats for an aunt to gift to her nephews who live somewhere much colder than south Louisiana. They are pretty cute and I hope they fit -- still working on arranging delivery and payment. The vertical crochet makes for a nice stretchy hat, and the brim lets you roll it up or down to further customize the fit.<br />
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This pattern is really just a method -- chain until it's about the height you want the hat to be (because adding the top will allow for the brim fold) and double crochet in the back loop only back and forth until it's as long as the hat needs to be around. Sew up the two sides to make a tube. Then attach the green to one end of the tube and single crochet evenly around. Decrease every 10 stitches, then every 9 stitches, etc. until maybe 8 or 9 stitches left and single crochet around to make the stem. Decrease until you sew up the top. The curlique vine is easy - chain the length (knowing that it will curl up) and put three double crochet into each chain. Sew it onto the stem. If desired or needed you can reinforce the green-to-orange attachment with simple sewing. Weave in ends.Voila.<br />
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I use 100% acrylic yarn so my hats are washable. I dry them flat because the dryer makes the yarn a little fuzzy and can break it down faster.<br />
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I've made <a href="https://www.silvermari.com/2014/05/crochet-hat-pattern-vertical-stripes.html">this hat in stripes</a> - changing colors every-other-row and leaving off the stem but adding multiple curliques. You could maybe decrease faster to make a smaller top section. If you made a longer tube you could cinch it by weaving in and out -- maybe even with a long chain. I bet a rainbow, multi-colored hat would be cute like this. I probably have every color of the rainbow after my fury of crocheting before the maker faire so I'll put it on the "to make" list. I have two-toned blue swirl hat to make for a young friend. I need to measure her head and I keep forgetting. It's probably standard kid sized and it would be fine if I make it to fit Jane's head.<br />
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Keep that hook flying!Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-13803445003956263042019-11-19T12:47:00.001-06:002019-11-19T12:47:52.786-06:00Beauty Filter<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPbyYwugrhkyyr75addkrBibJoVp_uJxzITiyhhAOdbTg2q_hLIMWLQRjpK6bjZW4SSZDcL7JoxFm0ee7ChQkU-afMtY_SunqUGYQe9qcgW64V_-ZR8ao-wdfRdAntSB8QXsZTQ/s1600/IMG_20191118_085905289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPbyYwugrhkyyr75addkrBibJoVp_uJxzITiyhhAOdbTg2q_hLIMWLQRjpK6bjZW4SSZDcL7JoxFm0ee7ChQkU-afMtY_SunqUGYQe9qcgW64V_-ZR8ao-wdfRdAntSB8QXsZTQ/s320/IMG_20191118_085905289.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foundation in a filter!</td></tr>
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I take selfies with Livia while we wait in carpool sometimes, and I noticed a button on the phone's camera. It's a beauty filter and basically smooths out all wrinkles and takes away freckles! What a way to see myself. I am making a totally goofy face, but damn, I look young!<br />
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I always thought I would age gracefully and that I didn't really care that much about appearance. That did not turn out to be true and it turns out I was just young and cute. Maybe I thought I always would be?<br />
<br />
My forehead wrinkles are the thing I notice most of all now. They're all lines from raising my eyebrows. Not so much frowning lines, so I guess that's good -- maybe a sign of more happiness than sadness? I've started trying a Clinique serum that a cousin gave me (someone gifted it to her and she doesn't need it). I don't know if it will make a difference. I am thoroughly tempted by the Sunday Riley Good Genes serum, as I've heard it really does great things. But the price tag is enough to keep me searching for ways to like forehead lines!<br />
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For a while I worried about my eyelids - I watch a lot of "how to" videos on Facebook from pages like Crafty Panda or 5 Minute Crafts - and there was one about using a tiny piece of tape to hold up an "overhanging lid" to make makeup look better. I didn't know that was a thing and then I couldn't UN-see it on my face. My eyes are still my best feature, even as they age and even with drooping lids.<br />
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I loved every line on my grandma's face and hands. They were her and were meaningful to me. As much as I like feeling and - yes - looking young, I want to try to embrace my aging face. But sun protection is still a must, and I'm not the best about that. (Much better at putting it on the girls, and I've even been slacking on that, frankly.)<br />
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I'm still going to keep using that serum and buy more if I see results (even if only in my mind!). I'm tempted by some "frownies" stickers on Amazon too. Shoppers gonna shop, I guess.<br />
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Do you have any anti-aging secrets?Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-91885841408843862462019-11-18T20:51:00.002-06:002019-11-18T20:52:31.181-06:00Second Grade RealizationsI was in second grade when I had a crush on a boy that I remember. Or maybe just the first crush that liked me back -- just for a little while. He wrote me a note on a slip of paper saying he liked me. We were in the Halloween carnival together a few weeks later, so it was in October. I remember roller skating with my Girl Scout troop the night I got the note and we'd been chosen as our class' carnival king and queen. I was skating on air - what a funny feeling and memory.<br />
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(I have a second grader right now - look out world!)<br />
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Just that memory, of my nascent opposite sex attraction, keeps my wheels turning. Obviously it was just who I was, who I am. Not something I wanted or chose. How can we deny other people's experiences? Especially when they're so similar to ours in the core ways? Love is love is love is love.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0FHdi_Us387mMK2uJ3OSlHeTRkSK5UPlRFvtjSU6O4gL7EgHia_7y_uuusukYlD0u0PJYPpbEY9UWeJCAINM8xMMbuVDh-JfFpsME0kvn0yLP_urfpaqb3_CcKmyKGkwnZMRCw/s1600/IMG_20191118_204655334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0FHdi_Us387mMK2uJ3OSlHeTRkSK5UPlRFvtjSU6O4gL7EgHia_7y_uuusukYlD0u0PJYPpbEY9UWeJCAINM8xMMbuVDh-JfFpsME0kvn0yLP_urfpaqb3_CcKmyKGkwnZMRCw/s320/IMG_20191118_204655334.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me, about Jane's age. (Undated photo)<br />And the same stupid cropped-in-the-front bangs. <br />She is her mother's daughter.</td></tr>
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<br />Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-10014175486378413962019-11-17T17:01:00.001-06:002019-11-17T17:01:22.361-06:00Great Haircut<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPGTBtTO7D7pZHL6QQTECIcRMazkOtjllZs8DaJip75V76U2e_FzQgoJh072HaW7EUwQe5u3Fbq2_X3UjCZlJegddi-x1tCbLu5u1UBHt6vY0R_rPeTlMmY8XtYDDn-Jrq-32dQ/s1600/WIN_20191117_16_51_11_Pro+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPGTBtTO7D7pZHL6QQTECIcRMazkOtjllZs8DaJip75V76U2e_FzQgoJh072HaW7EUwQe5u3Fbq2_X3UjCZlJegddi-x1tCbLu5u1UBHt6vY0R_rPeTlMmY8XtYDDn-Jrq-32dQ/s320/WIN_20191117_16_51_11_Pro+%25282%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pretty Good Hair Day<br />Captured on webcam</td></tr>
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At church today at least three people, maybe more, commented on my hair -- great cut, looks great, etc. I have been cutting my hair off for a while, and this is the same general style. My last cut was in October. It's already growing out, which is good, because as per usual my cut was initially simultaneously too short and too long. (Mullet seems to be what stylists hear when I say I like it choppy and layered.)<br />
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Don't get me wrong - my hair looks great today. It is clean - washed and dried it last night (with my <a href="http://www.silvermari.com/2019/11/twitter-guided-shopping.html">amazing Revlon brush dryer</a>), smoothed it a bit this morning with the flat iron to make it a little less flippy (the round brush dryer gives a lot of body and flips the ends in the front, cute but I prefer straight ends).<br />
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But what's REALLY happening, and why people are commenting is that I've lost weight and my face is much slimmer. That makes my hair look better in general, based on our societal standards. The weight loss is intentional, after a weird injury to my right foot this summer. I was exercising regularly, and doing Fitness Blender workouts that included plenty of jumping. I also weighed a lot a lot, so the impact on my foot was astounding. The injury was a Morton's neuroma, so there wasn't an actual injury like I tore anything, just a nerve in my foot acted up to the point where I could hardly walk due to the pain. In the aftermath of that I've been trying to reduce weight in order to prevent anything like that happening again (it's a matter of time though). I stopped exercising in that way, and I honestly haven't picked up anything else other than a bit of light walking with a friend while our girls are in a class together. I love being strong and having cardiovascular endurance, so maybe I can find a way to get that with low impact. Or maybe if I can get my weight down enough I could jump again (can I be thin enough to exercise?!).<br />
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Part of it is a plan to be as healthy as possible for my 40th birthday (<i>next</i> Thanksgiving - the ACTUAL Thursday!). Part of it is just doing it, and the process to do better for my insulin resistance, keeping it from becoming anything worse. I'm working with a doctor, and she just seems all about losing weight. Her diet advice isn't that great or consistent (try keto! try intermittent fasting!). She sends me lots of videos to watch (and I haven't been really). I guess it's fine, but I wonder if I'll be able to maintain limiting my food intake. I still eat all kinds of things, including sugar on occasion. But I also know that DIETS FAIL and almost all weight that is lost is regained and then some.<br />
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For now I'll enjoy my "great hair" compliments. Even as it's getting greyer it does still have a lot of bounce. Maybe that describes me a bit too.<br />
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<br />Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-50608294884368795662019-11-16T19:08:00.001-06:002019-11-16T19:08:20.378-06:00Geauxing To VoteIt's Election Day here in Louisiana. I early voted, and I'm team John Bel Edwards in the Governor's race, even though he's not nearly progressive enough for me. Even so the attack ads against him are saying he's "too liberal for Louisiana" and is in the pocket of national Democrats. Kind of a joke. He's pretty popular in general (he's a Democrat in name only basically), but there's a very real chance he will lose this election because of that party name. I am heart-stricken knowing that, as the opponent is just a mini-45, spouting similar racist and hateful catch phrases, dog whistles that are basically screams. How can you miss it? People I know and thought I respected campaign for him, post about his parties and generally gross me out.<br />
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I early voted last Friday so that I wouldn't have to worry today or take both girls with me to the polls. Our polling place rarely has lines and is easy in-and-out. But we had a church event in Lafayette today. We left at 8 and got home at almost 5. It's been a long day and I'm exhausted. I'm sure the election results won't make me feel any better.<br />
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There were two other races I cared about on the ballot - our state Senator race and our state House race. Both votes went to women Democrats who were both similarly maligned for being too liberal despite being pretty moderate Democrats. I get that it's politics, but it's also disheartening that being "liberal" is a smear here. Gerrymandering makes it very difficult for progressive (or even just non-lunatic) candidates to get elected around here.<br />
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Why does the state, in general, tend to vote against the best interests for the majority of its people?! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0b1w40WpTLXB6ctZjZjROX55bbMNyW0t9tLA08Ajkz9ZZfJ2udEh-dlVbt4RDcgo2dG3P-V3i6swyhrUVnQ-Zt-GJk3lriPxIgSHQEqszz_Ul-Z54RLwHQBr7e88KdiP7nbqLQ/s1600/IMG_20191108_095414807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0b1w40WpTLXB6ctZjZjROX55bbMNyW0t9tLA08Ajkz9ZZfJ2udEh-dlVbt4RDcgo2dG3P-V3i6swyhrUVnQ-Zt-GJk3lriPxIgSHQEqszz_Ul-Z54RLwHQBr7e88KdiP7nbqLQ/s640/IMG_20191108_095414807.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wore my sticker as intended today.<br />I accidentally held it with this finger for the picture and then found the symbolism apt.<br />Bonus that it covered my forehead wrinkles...</td></tr>
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<br />Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11562320.post-90140345665167560802019-11-15T21:28:00.001-06:002019-11-15T21:28:10.538-06:00Decade AccomplishmentsA social media question that has come around and around this week was something about how the decade is coming to an end and what have you accomplished. People have written about amazing successes. Ten years is enough time that things certainly change. But I know not always for the better. For me, I'd say yes in a personal sense. (For our country, OMG, this is the authoritarian, Nazi-driven pits.) But for fun, and an easy blog post here's what's different about my life from the end of 2009 to end of 2019.<br />
<h3>
2009:</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving 2009</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>28 years old (nearly 29)</li>
<li>Been married for just over a year</li>
<li>Lived in New York City in a studio apartment, rarely drove</li>
<li>Worked from home full-time doing communications work for a non-profit organization</li>
<li>Worked out, ate fairly well - beginning the cycle of weight loss</li>
<li>Attended Park Avenue UMC in Manhattan, minimally involved - I think by then we'd gone to a young adult event/volunteered at a food pantry and I'd designed a logo of sorts </li>
</ul>
<h3>
2019:</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<ul>
<li>38 years old (nearly 39) </li>
<li>Been married for just over 11 years, love him more day by day</li>
<li>Mother of two girls, 8 and 3 (so two pregnancies and births in this decade), finding parenting to be simultaneously like breathing and the biggest chafing challenge of my life</li>
<li>Live in Baton Rouge in a home we own, drive constantly as a carpool chauffeur</li>
<li>Work from home part-time writing for a local parenting magazine</li>
<li>Not working out after a foot injury (oh, another free blogging idea!), eating less although not necessarily better - in the cycle of weight loss after tremendous swings over the decade</li>
<li>Attend St. John's UMC in Baton Rouge, more involved than I ever thought possible</li>
</ul>
More wrinkles, much less sleep, more crocheting, more loving, more fighting, more cooking and lunch packing, more LIFE.<br />
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I can only vaguely picture what life might look like in another decade. I'll be nearing 50, Jane will be graduating from high school. (She's a decade from adulthood with her eighth birthday.) Livia will be a teenager too. Where will we live? What kind of work will I do? Will I still be as embroiled in politics of The UMC? I'll take it day by day and just enjoy every day where I can ... and get through the others by hanging on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vo7-DAkWcG_J8FvII-tHjDMKZv5jyBmfbqe7lqDajy1dGQO3zIJ87WTOO1P4QFtwQSsHs3XEZw0kPYlceh-WFL2fibXqEu0qbGOaPDUVOnQATpzXurOxfllClZYepHFECZPcNw/s1600/IMG_20191030_204109802.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vo7-DAkWcG_J8FvII-tHjDMKZv5jyBmfbqe7lqDajy1dGQO3zIJ87WTOO1P4QFtwQSsHs3XEZw0kPYlceh-WFL2fibXqEu0qbGOaPDUVOnQATpzXurOxfllClZYepHFECZPcNw/s320/IMG_20191030_204109802.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October 30, 2019<br />Fifteenth Meet-a-versary</td></tr>
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Marihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334290998976437208noreply@blogger.com0