Finally Retiring THE Outfit, Yes That One

HipChick Outfit 2007

Today, I’m opening up the Blog Time Machine, and resurrecting this post from 2007.  Reading it this morning, I was taken aback with nostalgia, as Hip Chick is now 10! Today I held an impromptu retirement ceremony. There were no guests, no speeches, no refreshments or parties afterward. The objects had fulfilled their duties faithfully [...]

Your Life, Your Blog 1-4-10

YourLifeYourBlog

Wow! It’s weird writing ’10 in a date already.  Well, I started to feel bad last year because I kept running out of time to read all the posts that were linked to my weekly blog carnival!  I felt like I was being a bad host in a way, but now I miss reading, commenting, [...]

When a Friend Expects Your Secrecy.. But You Think Someone Else Needs to Know

I’ve been writing about my experience with a trusted friend, whom I felt had betrayed my trust. Read the first post, “The Kindred Spirit Friend,” and the second, “The Trust Factor: Broken” Please forgive me if this posts starts like one of those personality quizzes in Seventeen Magazine! So here’s the scenario: Your very close [...]

The Trust Factor: Broken

I’ve been writing about my experience with a “Kindred Spirit” friend. Read the first post here if you haven’t yet. This post is going to sound sort of negative. Well, it pretty much IS negative. I don’t share this to sound like a victim or to complain, I was in the wrong, too. But to [...]

Do You Have a "Kindred Spirit" Friend?

Have you ever had the kind of friend that you could go to with anything? When the feelings bubble up from where you’ve stuffed them, when you’re angry, when you’re feeling catty, even when you know you’re wrong, you can share them with this friend. She will listen with a grain of salt. She may [...]

True Choices, True Hope

I believe it is so important that women (and men) have thorough information when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. They need Grace, Love and Truth, along with support if they decide to carry their child to term. I have been touched by several young moms who have decided to raise their babies, or place them [...]

She Chose Life

In honor of “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday,” I am reposting this entry from August 2007. There are several touching comments on the original post, as well. Today, I had to go to the local courthouse. Don’t get all excited, I did not get arrested, nor get a speeding ticket, thankfully. I just had to [...]

Getting Your Kids to Sort Laundry is Easier Than You Think

I used to spend so much time sorting laundry right before putting it in the washer. Having all the laundry together meant that I couldn’t just take out one load, I had to go through it all to find the Whites, Lights, and Darks. When we moved into our new house, I decided it was [...]

Mom Profile:The Work-Outside-the-Home Mom

Mom Profiles: The “Don’t-Stay-at-Home Mom“ The Work-at-Home Mom The Work-Outside-the-Home Mom It’s been interesting to hear the responses from my “Mom Profile” posts. It seems we moms are not one homogeneous group! Each category of mothering has its unique joys and challenges. Sometimes it helps to step into another mom’s shoes for a while, and [...]

Back on the Budget Bandwagon

Oh the budget roller-coaster! Each time we get one we can work with, circumstances change, and it’s back to the drawing board! We had a pretty good budget going last year while we were renting. We stayed with it, but weren’t able to save anything. Then we moved into our new house (after going a [...]

Things I Love Right Now

1. The gleam of the sun on new-fallen snow. 2. Spending so much time with my children over Christmas vacation. 3. My wonderful husband, who has been working so hard on household projects lately. 4. My two-year-old singing “Jesus Loves Me” to her favorite refrigerator magnet. 5. Not having any schedules to keep, nor anywhere [...]

10 Reasons I Finally Went Back to the Gym

When I put my membership on hold last spring, I had grand visions of bringing the kids to the park everyday, to play in the playground, while I walked, ran, or worked out on the track. I wouldn’t need my membership if I could spend time outdoors. It worked well for a few weeks. Until [...]

An Unwelcome Companion

Every now and then, she returns; like a long lost companion. I was happy to see her go, but there is a comfortable familiarity in her presence. I know this feeling like the deepest part of my heart. It’s easy to sink deep into her embrace and hide in the knowing; easy to erect a [...]

Real Friends vs the "Right" Friends

My eldest daughter, HipChick, plans her birthday party all year long. At seemingly random times, she will blurt out something like, “I think I just want to invite girls, mom.” To which I say, “To what honey?” I should learn by now that it’s always in reference to her birthday party. For her next birthday, [...]

Cheap and Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

I realize I have been more utilitarian than philosophical lately at Real Life. Well, this is “Real Life”, right? A girl’s gotta eat, a girl’s gotta shop, a girl’s gotta make cheap decorations! What can I say? First, I’ll show you my grapevine wreaths that can be hung on the wall or door, or used [...]