In Which I am the Minority

I don’t care much for fruit. I like berries. I’ll eat the occasional banana or apple, but mostly, I’m not into it. I certainly don’t want my desserts to be of the fruit variety. Mr. Gray, however, has a totally different opinion on such matters as fruit and desserts. One of his favorites is peach cobbler. 
I’ve posted this recipe before, but it is worth repeating. People love it–well, you know, people besides me.
 
Peach Cobbler
2 cups Bisquick
2 cups sugar
2-14 ounce cans sliced peaches
1 stick butter
Cinnamon
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Pour both cans of peaches and their juice into 9×13 pan
  • Sprinkle cinnamon over peaches
  • In a separate bowl, mix Bisquick and sugar
  • Add 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to Bisquick mixture and stir 
  • Pour Bisquick mixture over peaches
  • Spread Bisquick mixture evenly to cover all liquid and peaches
  • Slice 3/4 stick of butter and put slices on top of Bisquick mixture
  • Top with cinnamon
  • Bake 30 minutes
  • Meanwhile, melt remaining butter 15-30 seconds in the microwave
  • Check cobbler at 30 minutes
  • Pour melted butter over any Bisquick that is not liquid or wet
  • Bake another 10 minutes or until top is completely golden
There is no exact science to getting the cobbler to lay out exactly right with the butter. You have to play with it a little. It will get golden brown and beautiful, though. 

Out on a Limb

I’m confident in statement pieces as part of my outfits. Usually. Sometimes I take a step a little farther out, though, and I second guess myself. Yesterday was one of those days. 

Turquoise

I wore turquoise pants. Denim. Turquoise denim. They weren’t Rockies, and it wasn’t 1990. They were cute; although, the photo quality is terrible. 

Turquoise

I’ll wear them again. Next time, I’ll know they’re cute. I won’t wish I had packed a back up outfit.

A Roll of Insight

I know this will come as a surprise, but I’m pretty particular about things in my kitchen (and elsewhere as well). 
If you’ve ever tried to help in my kitchen, one thing you may have noticed is the fact that I am contributing to my very own landfill based on my paper towel consumption alone. Now, these are not just any paper towels one might pick up on sale and thing will suffice. Nope. I like the solid white, create-a-size paper towels. 

Towels

Mr. Gray suggested we get a sponge recently. To someone exhibiting slightly less neurosis, that might sound like a good alternative to wasting using so many paper towels. All I can think of with a sponge is wiping germs all around counter or dish. 

I use paper towels to dry dishes, to clean counter tops, to wipe Baby Gray’s hands and high chair (and the floor when he makes it that far), to wipe out my cast iron skillet, and so much more!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I use dish towels and dish rags as well, but not nearly as prominently. 
I use dish towels for drying hands and the occasional odd job around the kitchen. 

Towels

I use dish rags to wipe things down: get them wet, wipe a surface down, and then off to the laundry room it goes!
Towels
Aren’t we all full of insight now? 

Bend Until You Break

I’m a rule follower. Really. So, of course, prior to having Baby Gray, I had all these rules set up for how we would do this and that. For the big issues, we’re true to our convictions as parents. We discipline consistently and scaffold Baby Gray so that he knows right from wrong. 

Sometimes, though, things just aren’t that big of a deal. They’re not always worth being so rigid about. Even for me, the rule follower. Take this photo, for example. 

Bowl

This is actually the second time Baby Gray put that bowl on his head. I missed it the first time, so I asked him to put it back. He happily obliged. Now, is this how I want him to eat all the time? No. I loved that he was being creative, though. I like his ability to think outside the box! So I went with it. No one was hurt, nothing was even spilled.

I love those moments that make me sit back, laugh with my son, and remind me to enjoy the little things.

Counting Down

It is so weird for me to think that one year ago, I was gearing up to run a 5k. At the time, it was the farthest I had run. Why’s that weird? In a little over a week, I’ll attempt complete my first half marathon. Yep, half marathon. 13.1 miles.

I’m feeling pretty good about being able to complete it. After my long run two weekends ago, I have been feeling super encouraged (even though some of my short runs in the interim have been less than stellar). I’m not totally set on my goal time yet, but I’ll be displaying my blazing speed once again when I head out.

What’s crazier? There is a duathlon the following weekend that I have decided to take on as well. It’s a mere seven days after the half marathon. I’ll be rockin’ the mom-bike (sans Baby Gray’s seat) for 14 miles! 

Bike

Thank goodness we have some friends who cycle, so I have a helmet I can borrow. I don’t know the first thing about cycling.

Who’s That Mom?

Baby Gray doesn’t watch much TV. I’m not a fan of toddlers and television. He has seen Sesame Street at Sea World (twice), and we also went to see Elmo’s Super Heroes in San Antonio. The child loves all things Elmo. 

Because I’ve somehow turned into that mom, we got a fun talking Elmo at Target this morning. 

Elmo

The bad part? Baby Gray didn’t even ask for it. I went over to the toy aisle and picked it out. All he asked for was an Elmo book from the dollar section (we got that, too; remember, I’m that mom now).

Elmo has been everywhere with Baby Gray since the shopping cart. He was last seen at naptime. 

Elmo

Keeler Heels

Our trip to Grapevine for C3 (more on that later) was amazing; however, I didn’t run a step while we were there. I rode the bike for a bit one evening, but that’s it. We got in really late Friday night really early Saturday morning, so I wasn’t feelin’ my long run Saturday and skipped it. It’s the first run I’ve blatantly skipped since I actually started focusing on my training. I’m hoping I don’t regret it too much on March 4th.
Sunday afternoon, I headed out for a short run to get back in the swing of things. Now, let me back up a tad; I wore heeled boots to church Sunday. My calves had gotten quite the workout while I was wearing them. I clearly did not use my running brain when I picked my outfit for church. I headed for a run in my new, new kicks (they’re just like my others in another color; I am my father’s child)

Shoes

and quickly was certain I was about to die. My tension usually settles in my calves anyway, so when they were already sore, I was in bad shape. I was only a mile in when I had to give myself a major pep talk. It took me a few little tough love spiels to convince myself I had to keep going. 
Less than a half-mile after my talk with myself, a car honked. I didn’t think much of it until I saw it was a black Explorer with a man honking at me. He gave me a huge smile and an enthusiastic thumbs up. All of a sudden, I was refreshed and renewed. Just a simple sign of encouragement made all the difference. I sucked it up, picked up my feet, and finished the run.

Proper Disposal

At the end of The Color Run, my shoes looked a little rough. 

TCR

I asked Mr. Gray if I could rinse them off in the sink, and he suggested a bucket. The story gets a little fuzzy here; I’m pretty sure he just offered the bucket as another idea. He’s pretty sure he offered fair warning that the sink was not a good idea and directed me to use the bucket instead. I can neither confirm nor deny the validity of either side. I can only present the facts that happened after. 

I washed my shoes in the sink. The kitchen sink was my choice because it has a garbage disposal, which could easily be used to wash the mud on down the drain. 

This did not turn out to be the best solution. After attempting to solve the problem myself, I sent the following text to my husband: 

Disposal

Nice, huh?

When Mr. Gray came home from work, he had his work cut out for him. 

Disposal

Luckily, my husband is honorable. He didn’t say I told you so or make any ugly remarks; he didn’t even make me feel bad about all the yuck he dug out of the disposal after its disassembly. 

Disposal

He fixed the sink, and he even washed my shoes. He’s a keeper!

Ya Dig?

I always love to read posts about what others are diggin’ on, so today’s the day I share my own. The most recent ones I’ve read are here and here. I love hearing about what others are into and finding new favorites of my own! 

These are in no particular order.

1. My new kicks: I’m lovin’ my new running shoes! We haven’t been very far yet, but our inaugural run was so much better than what I had been running in prior to their arrival. I went to Run On! in San Antonio and got fitted for them; best thing I’ve ever done running-wise. 
Diggin'

2. Smash: My mom introduced me to the pilot before the show actually started last Monday. I haven’t had time to watch the latest episode, but I already know I’m hooked. I love pretty much all things musicals, so this is right up my alley! 
Source: nbc.com via Mrs. on Pinterest


3. C3: I have felt giddy and excited in the weeks leading up to C3. It’s like I’m a kid going to camp. I can’t wait to learn, get ideas, and come back fired up for The Kingdom! (We’re on our way there now!) 

4. Man vs. Wife: Our current series at Revolution is Man vs. Wife. I love being challenged to be a better wife. I want to love, honor, and serve my husband to the best of my ability! Need a place to start? Read Philippians 2:1-11. Pray to see where you fall short serving your spouse. Pray to see your spouse as Jesus sees him/her. 

 
5. Adoption Blogs: In the past few weeks, I have gotten to read about sweet Emme coming home, Camp’s face being known, and so much more! I love that these mamas share their stories!

6. Retreauxgirl: I got two pieces of jewelry from Retreauxgirl for my birthday. I love them both! I get compliments on each piece when I wear it. She puts “junk” together to make some great wearables! Annie and I shopped with her at The Barn Sale this November. I hope she comes back next year so I can stock up.

Source: etsy.com via Mrs. on Pinterest


7. Weddings: We’re in a wedding phase of our friendships again. We have four weddings in the very near future (between now and July) and another couple of engagements. I love weddings–I love to be in them, help plan them, host showers for them, decorate, coordinate, give directions, be OCD. I love watching new couples start their lives together as one.

8. Family: Baby Gray is at such a fun age. He loves to dance, sing, play with us, love on us, talk to us, and just bring joy to our lives. It is so awesome to see Baby Gray grown and learn each day. 

I love my boys!

Boys

Who Do You Love?

Whoever does not know love does not know God, because God is love. 
1 John 4:8 (NIV)

I love this verse. God is love. We are sharing Christ and the church when we love others. Not when we love the people we like, when we love everyone. It’s easy to love those we like. It’s not always easy to love those we don’t. I’m still going to try, though–it’s what I’m called to do.

Valentine’s Day isn’t too big of a deal at our house. We have fun with it, but nothing too extravagant. Mr. Gray left sweet cards for me to find throughout the house; so fun!
For those I love this morning, I cheesed it up a little. 

Mr. Gray got an assortment of pun-intended valentines scattered throughout the house. You know, he’s “red hot” with a cute little arrangement of candy; he makes my heart “burst” with balloons to pop and messages to read; that kind of thing. Cheese to the max.

Hearts

Our boy hasn’t been feeling super the past week or so, and he’s been living on toast and waffles for a few days with a tummy ache, so I loved-those-up for him this morning, too! 

Hearts

I hate that it takes a special day rolling around to be over the top for my guys. I’ll add that to my list of things I’d like to improve on daily!