Altruism,

I like to dream about what this world might be like if everyone knew the definition...

My Neighbors...

It's unknown how long they have been, or how long they will stay, the only certainty's are that they will leave together and return together. I can say these things for certain because I've been witness to this pattern for nearly 4 years. It's said that Swans mate for life, that is FOR LIFE. I often wonder how two animals decide to make that commitment and that leads me to consider how they keep that promise. Swans are unable to solve simple math problems, write a letter to a friend, and they aren't equipped with a conscience, and yet they are able to recognize the terms of a commitment. In a world where the biggest commitment any human can make, marriage, has been completely desensitized, as a single 27-year old woman, I find solace in "My Neighbors,"... The Swans.

Footnote: I should note that I have many miraculous examples of strong marriages in my life. Marriages that have survived unthinkables (I just made that word up), and marriages that I know will withstand this life.

Fed Up!

If you're like me and are becoming "fed up" with putting foods in your body and having no idea what's in them, I have some words of advice. I purchased this dehydrator from Wal-Mart for $40.00. I did some investigating on the internet and found that more complex dehydrator's could set you back about $200. Needless to say, you get what you pay for. If I'm able to become proficient in dehydrating foods in my $40 Oster, I might consider investing in a more elaborate machine.
Up first on the menu: cucumber chips, dried green beans, and banana chips. I lightly salted the cucumbers and green beans, and I dipped the banana's in a lemon juice and water concentrate prior to placing them on the drying shelves. 15 hours later my first endeavor in dehydration was complete!
My mounting prejudices against processed foods hasn't stalled with the dehydrator. I've been toasting organic pita bread (approx. 45 calories a bag) and baking kale. Both recipes serve as a great substitute for a potato chip or a salty snack. My twin sister Jami turned me on to the kale.
My "appetite" to be aware of what's going in my body continues. I've been addicted to home made hummus! Well, I'm not certain you call it hummus... I simply puree a can of garbanzo beans, add some roasted red peppers, and call it "hummus". I've never actually glanced at a hummus recipe. I've also added some canned spinach and garlic powder to pureed garbanzo beans and found the result to be equally as satisfying as the red pepper recipe. I like to dish my dips up in to containers that are easy for single-girls or Mom's on-the-go!

Mothers Day Weekend

Friday.... Kenny Chesney Concert

Saturday.... Mothers Day Festivities with the fam. Ave all smiles and ready to be a big sis!

Warm Weather Is On It's Way...

Impatience is bread each evening as I recline in my living room, which happens to be lined with windows that overlook the inviting waters of Pretty Lake. Sunshine is the number one requirement to warm the waters, and court the cottage-goers, unfortunately, we haven't seen much of it in the past weeks. Where do you find the affection you need to warm your heart when the sun isn't shining?

1. Humanity and appreciating something in everyone
2. Organic food
3. Morning drives in to work
4. Interacting with my co-workers
5. Putting the cart before the horse
6. Spare time
7. Candid photos of the one's I love
8. Meaningful music
9. Ideas and dreams
10. Heartfelt conversations with my students

More Dramatical P.E. Moments with Miss Todd...

"This game of aerobic ball feels more like Vietnam!"
-Miss Todd, (after receiving 18 new dodge balls)

Take Advantage of the Rain

Gloomy, Northern-Indiana, weather got you down? I've compiled a list of some ideas to help all of you busy-bodies ease your anxieties of being unproductive in this impossible weather!
(in random order)

1. Organize old photo albums and put them on a CD
2. Make a new itunes playlist
3. Send a "just-because" card through the U.S. postal service
4. Paint a piece of furniture in your house
5. Organize your meals for the week
6. Bleach your white's
7. Host a wine tasting
8. Make homeade granola
9. Give yourself a manicure/pedicure
10. Google tips for planting your garden's this summer

Easter Weekend

I went down to Marion for the Easter weekend to be with family. We went the non-traditional route and celebrated Easter on Saturday night around the bonfire. We did this partly because my family likes fires and partly because my brother-in-law is a youth pastor and would have church until mid-afternoon on Easter day. It proved to be a great idea as the rain held off, temps stayed high, and the fire stayed hot! Matt and Jami, who have another baby on the way in about a month recently invested in a burley tag-along for Matt's bike. We busted that out for the first time on Saturday. Ave wasn't too sure about it initially, but she eventually settled in and told Mama and Papa, "That was fun," after the ride.

Sunday morning I went to church early with Jami to cook up about 180 pancakes for all the youth at Matt's church and then the family drove in to Fort Wayne for an Easter Dinner celebration at....wait for it.... Five Guys! LOL! Again, non-traditional, but Matt was dying for us to try the place and I wanted to get home at a good time! I'll go back to Five Guys! I got home from the long weekend around 3:00 on Sunday, but couldn't bring myself to sit still... it was too nice outside. I kayaked across the lake and back, then I long-boarded across the lake and back. Busy Sunday!

Dramtic Motivational Moments with Miss Todd...

"You lose in P.E., you lose in life"
-Miss Todd

Distractions...

I fell in to the tapioca pudding trap again last night. Those little clear balls seem to demand my attention at all the wrong times. Again, I say, in an effort to save consumers time, they should really put the count on the side of the cup. 442 clear balls later... I have 4 sentences of a 4 page paper composed! Shameful!

Embrace

"I get my best ideas in a thunderstorm. I have the power and majesty of nature on my side."
-Ralph Steadman

Raise your glass to...

Raise your glass to the hyper-sensitive, self-aware, people-pleasers of the world. A dying breed? You know who you are, and you've undoubtedly used all three words to describe yourself. Why? Because you are self-aware. Trapped inside yourselves, only to be freed through the satisfaction of others in you. Difficult to comprehend to those you seek to please. Is their pleasure your pain or does your heartfelt happiness sweat from their smile?

Welcome A Rainy Day

I was treasure hunting last summer when I came across this lamp at a flea market in LaGrange. It was the first decoration I bought for my house. I like to brag about the fact that I paid just $2.00 for it. Unfortunately, the lamp didn't survive my Birthday party at the Hideaway, and I've been on a mission to recreate the lamp for $2.00 or less.

I had a lamp that I bought at IKEA last summer that also broke, but I've been holding on to it for the sake of salvaging it's parts in "Operation Duplicate Jar Lamp,"! I now had the electrical elements for the jar lamp, and the shade, all I needed the jar...for $2.00, or less. Less it was! My Aunt and Uncle were cleaning out their barn last weekend and I happened to be swinging by to return a suitcase I had borrowed for Spring Break. That's when I came across an old malted milk jar. Hooray! Free! I took it home and assembled the lamp using rope that I had left over from my bathroom mirror (see pics below), to hide my electrical work as well as a hot glue gun.

Cottage Tip- Wrap it in rope for a nautical feel. This mirror was in the bathroom when I bought the cottage, using a hot glue gun, I just wrapped it in rope that I bought at Wal-Mart.

American Honey Hideaway -Est. 1940

It's been almost a year since I closed on "American Honey Hideaway,". It's proven to be more than a roof over my head throughout the past 10 months. Scan through and enjoy the photos, if nothing more than to enjoy the simple pleasures that I do each time I cross the threshold of my tiny retreat.

LakeView

Look who came to visit... Father Winter.

RoadSide View

Recess is Over

While I'm certain many of my few followers have "given-up" on "keepin'-up," with me...I simply can't continue to disassemble the dreams of the thoughts in my mind. I've promised them this outlet, followers or no.