it's a great day to put up my saturday post a day late!

so, we celebrated my birthday and anthony's awesome new job at the pub friday night with friends & family

slept in on saturday morning, then went to see one of the youth group kids in a play

and then anthony told me that he wanted to take me shopping for my birthday

he knew what he wanted to buy me, but knew that i would want input.

he wanted to buy me a north face jacket (which i've wanted for YEARS but haven't justified the money spent)

so we went to a couple of stores, and ended up finding a triclimate jacket on *clearance* for a hundred dollars off normal price...and a light hoodie on clearance as well.

i ended up walking out of the store with two jackets -- and a pair of reef flip flops that ALSO happened to be on clearance, all for well under the amount he had budgeted and set aside for the original jacket.  

i'm spoiled, blessed and happy :-)  

today is church, lawn mowing, and once upon a time/gcb with natasha.
i'm kind of not wanting this weekend to end!


happy sunday, all!

thursday's ten: about turning 30

so by the time next thursday rolls around, i'll be 30. my birthday is monday. that SO does not seem possible! entering a new decade seems like it should be a bit more monumental to me, but i guess because i've done so much living since turning 20 that it really isn't fazing me.

here ARE 10 things about turning 30 in a few days though...things that i've learned in the last 10 years.




1. i love an excuse for celebration. especially when that celebration includes a pub night ;)
2. i'm much more comfortable in my own skin than i was 10, 5, even 1 year ago.
3. that biological clock just keeps ticking along!
4. i'll make my own birthday dessert to share just because irish cream brownies are that good.
(i'll post the recipe here tomorrow. ish.)
5. there are some things and some situations that just aren't worth my time. and i've learned to recognize them a bit more readily.
6. some days don't contain enough caffeine. this gets truer as i get older!
7. there really ARE more aches and pains in my body than there were when i was 20. i'm not imagining that. but i don't have to dwell on them, and i don't have to let them define me or how i feel.
8. taking a few moments to sit on a porch swing or lay in a hammock is time well spent. so is the occasional afternoon nap.
(my 20 year old self is SCREAMING that this statement can't possibly be right...lol)
9. kids really do want structure and boundaries. they crave them. and there is a healthy way to create and enforce these things.
10. you really CAN get used to wearing a piece of jewelry 24/7 :D

how about you? what have you learned or done differently in the last 10 years?

monday's memory: the one with the awesome pub picture

one of our favorite photos of the two of us
ever
taken at the pub last february, by our friend natasha

meal planning tuesday .2

(i'm taking my lunch to work several times this week since my employers are in the process of moving and therefore food is a bit more scarce than normal :)

tuesday (today)

breakfast: coffee
lunch: at nanny gig
dinner: chinese leftovers

wednesday

breakfast: coffee, bagel
lunch: at nanny gig -- bring leftover chinese...there were a lot!
dinner: frozen pizza (church night)

thursday

breakfast: coffee
lunch: at nanny gig -- bring leftover steak
dinner: creamy broccoli soup

friday

breakfast: coffee, bagel
lunch: at nanny gig -- bring leftover sausage/ravioli lasagna
dinner: we're having a pub night with a friend from out of town (YAY!)

saturday

breakfast: coffee
lunch: shepherd's pie
dinner: babysitting -- at their house

sunday

breakfast: coffee
lunch: leftovers
dinner: babysitting -- at their house

monday

breakfast: coffee, bagel
lunch: at nanny gig
dinner: with anthony -- he's making spaghetti for our valentine's meal

shopping list:

i have a few coupon and sale deals to get at harris teeter this week (frozen pizzas are buy 2, get 3 free).  other than that...

• onions
• vegetable broth (low sodium)
• broccoli
• kosher salt
• white cheddar cheese
• bagel chips
• garlic
• mixed vegetables (frozen, at trader joe's)
• tomato paste
• tomato sauce
• bagels

Thursday's Ten: photos

so seriously? i started to write a blog full of 10 potty training tips. i wish i were kidding. this is NOT going to turn into a mom blog, especially before i'm a mom for pete's sake...but can you tell what i'm doing this week?

(btw, boys are much different to train than girls. just sayin')

instead, i think it's time to pull out a few favorite photos. mine will be from the past few months since i do this particular thursday's ten on a semi-regular basis.

share pics--caption if needed, stories if you wish!

here's mine:

1. emi loving me :)

2. a and i with my valentine's day flowers
3. the doggies i "sat" for (a's parents dog, a dog each from his 2 aunts and his grandparents 2 dogs) while they were in kentucky for the second memorial service for his granddaddy.

(yep, that's f-i-v-e itty bitty poodles!)
4. my friend laura's little girl being quite pleased with herself
5. emi's glamour shot
6. a pic our friend natasha took of a and i at the pub
7. at a friend's wedding

8. indiana field--i was a little obsessed and took a few pics :)9. my friend beth and her little boy "e". i have a couple of him that are adorable, but don't want to show them here without her permission! so you'll have to settle for his cute back :)
10. a self portrait i took at the rehearsal dinner for the wedding i was in almost a month ago (i'll post pics of that weekend with the professional ones come in). i just like this one because the dress is fun...and it zipped up with NO problem when it wouldn't even close a month before :D

I ♣ This (Irish for I ♥ This)

nashville has a controversial piece of art
it's called musica
it's a gorgeous bronze statue in the middle of a roundabout on Music Row
some folks around here apparently took issue to it when it was raised
and it has the nickname of "nudies" to most of us natives
(but I still think it's beautiful. don't you?)

musica (or the nudies) has the (un)fortunate position of being right.next.to an Irish pub
in fact, the pub that i spent a lot of time at before my friend opened his own
(and where i will still be going from time to time)

with all the irish and scottish pride rampant in nashville today
is it any wonder that the nudies were kilted?

St Patrick's Prayer

May those who love us love us.

And those that don't love us,

May God turn their hearts.

And if He doesn't turn their hearts,

May he turn their ankles,

So we'll know them by their limping.

(Irish blessing)

one of my favorite days of the year is today.
last year, i linked to a favorite veggie tales rendition of the St Patrick story.
this year i link you to this site, which will give you all the history you'd like.
my ancestry is german and irish, and today is a day i spend in thanks
for the one who brought my faith to ireland
to the people who would become my family
to the green island i hope to one day visit.

it is a day where many people drink
after all, that is a common irish pastime
it is a day where i will go to the pub, sip on a pint, and listen to some great irish tunes
but i will also remember
the true importance of today

St Patrick's prayer is what i leave you with today. these are his words. may they bless you today.

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

It's a Great Day to play Laser Tag

(go here to join in)



I made a header! AND button!

I know that's really not too impressive and they're not all that, but I'm still excited that I figured it out :)

Today a big group of us are playing laser tag, and then I'm babysitting. At SOME point this weekend I AM going to the Pub. My friend's new pub just opened! You can check out his website here.

Thursday's Ten: Things about 2010

Ten things about 2010
1. Nashville is dropping a GUITAR instead of a silly 'ol ball. Because we're cool like that.
2. I WILL have a full-time job in 2010. I WILL.
3. I will lose at bare minimum 30 pounds this year. I'm hoping the majority will happen before May since I have a bridesmaids dress to fit into!
4. Since I have perfected a bloody mary recipe...my next step is making a fabulous mojito.
5. The only big purchase I plan to make in the next few months is a Wii and WiiFit. I probably will wait and buy it with birthday $$ though...
6. My friend opens his pub this year, right around the corner from my house. I'm SO excited and thrilled for him. And he'll be headlining nightly :)
7. I really want to do the 3sixty5 photo thing. It should be SUPER easy since my iPhone takes great shots as well. So...we shall see.
8. I will carve out time for ME--as much as I carve out for loved ones.
9. Emi will get to go out to the patio more often this year because *I* will go out to the patio more often this year.
10. I will love and laugh and little more easily.

No MckLinky tonight--just grab the button and let me know you're participating so I can visit you too!

Weekends are Wonderful, and I am Lazy!

LAZY day over here...just now posting this!
(visit Shannon to join in the fun!)


(join Cate to join in on THIS fun)

Lazy Day...but now decorating begins!

It's a day late because last night we went to the pub...after crazy shopping...and a good nap. I usually put up my tree after shopping and that nap, but the pub was AWESOME last night and totally worth the day late-ness on the home decor part!

So. I'm headed out RIGHT NOW to drop off my recycling in the daylight (stupid DST), pick up a couple of jewelry making things, and look at Target for just one or two more things...and then I'll be coming home, turning on the Christmas music, and putting up the trees. Ahhh...I love today.

Sunday's Song

So many amazing songs to choose from...
So many I'd love to share.

And usually it's a worship song that I share on Sundays, but today I bring you another Pub Favorite.

It's called The Last House on Our Street, and it's haunting. If I could give you an opportunity to actually listen to it I would...maybe I'll be able to figure out how to do that soon!

Irish music often reflects the era it is written in (it's not ALL drinking songs!) and there's often quite a bit of social awareness written into the lyrics (think U2 for example). I love that about it. This one is an example--written and sung in a rhythmic way that mimics a ball being passed back and forth, it sounds at first like a children's song...and it does seem to be written through the eyes of a child. But reading the words is heartbreaking when you realize what they're saying.

Like I said--beautifully haunting, and I hope you can get some portion of that from the lyrics below.

Blessings on your Sunday!

The last house in our street
The last house in our street is the one that we are living in,
Throw the ball against the wall and back to me,
All the other windows have concrete curtains,
Open up your eyes and tell me what you see.
The flowers in our garden are made of bricks end broken glass,
Throw the ball against the wall and back to me,
And 'round the back we're growing an outside toilet,
Open up your eyes and tell me what you see.
Wee Albert Mooney was blinded by a petrol bomb,
Throw the ball against the wall and back to me,
The bombers said, We're sorry it must have been en accident,
Open up your eyes and tell me what you see.
A big rubber bullet killed little Johnny Morrissey,
Throw the ball against the wall and back to me,
A policeman fired it, it must have been en accident,
Open up your eyes and tell me what you see.
God made the world and Belfast is a part of it,
Throw the ball against the wall and back to me,
Sometimes I wonder if Belfast was an accident,
Open up your eyes and tell me what you see.
There's a wall, so there is, between us and them, there is,
Throw the ball against the wall and back to me,
Is there anyone can tell me that they didn't help in building it?
Open up your eyes and tell me what you see.
But the eyes of the world have concrete curtains,
Throw the ball against the wall and back to me
Would you tear down the wall, would you open up the windows,
Would you open up your eyes end tell me what you see.
The last house in our street is the one that we are living in,
Throw the ball against the wall and back to me,
All the other windows have concrete curtains,
Open up your eyes end tell me what you see.
Open up your eyes end tell me what you see.
Open up your eyes end tell me what you see.

Ok, blog readers. It was driving me CRAZY that I couldn't find a version of this song on youtube. So I created my own. Please know--I'm not a professional (which you'll be able to tell by the mediocre chords I'm playing in accompaniment) and my voice isn't necessarily suited to this sort of song...but it HAS to be shared. So I'm sharing it. Be gentle, kind readers :0)

Oh...you won't really be able to see me in the vid. That was slightly by design. Midnight on a Sunday isn't necessarily my best look!



(by the way this is a private youtube video, so let me know if you can't see it and I'll send you a copy)

Bad Haiku Friday

My Friday will be
told in the form of haiku.
So read on below:

My fingers are cold
My whole body is freezing
Fall? Where did you go?

Going to the pub
Gonna hear some Irish songs
Drink a little too ;-)

(the drink should help me
warm my insides a little
or maybe...a kiss :-)

Thursday's Ten

Ten Things that Keep Me From Being in Bed at a Decent Hour

1. games on Facebook
2. Family Guy reruns
3. phone conversations with my man
4. poker nights
5. playing other games (like Halo) with the man
6. pub night
7. blogging
8. the fact that my favorite bedtime is 2 am (unfortunately the world does not operate that way...but when you don't have a job to go to in the morning...)
9. general playing online
10. clipping and sorting coupons

What about you? Are you a collapse in the bed at an early/decent hour or a night owl like me?

*yawn*

...pub...

Perhaps I should qualify that last post a little...

I've written about the Pub quite a bit.
If you ever come to see me in Nashville you'll have to go with me.
But it HAS to be on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night.

Those are the nights my friends, Sean, Josh and David (who make up Nosey Flynn) play live Irish music.

(ok, to let you in on a little secret. There are actually 2 pubs. Well, there are several pubs in Nashville, but only 2 Pubs. One is downtown Nashville right off Music Row, the other is south of Nashville technically in Brentwood. Sean and Josh play at the Brentwood pub on Fridays and Saturdays and at the downtown pub on Sundays. Sunday night at the pub is the more traditional crowd--kilts, and free-flowing Guiness and ciders. But Friday and Saturday nights at the pub are quite fun too :)

As Sean always says: "It's all about audience participation, communication, and intoxication!"

(or as he often says, "the more you drink, the better we sound". It's not true though. He and the rest of the band are TRULY talented, not only at leading a raucous crowd in traditional Irish drinking songs, but also in showcasing their musical abilities which are amazing.)

I love the Irish drinking songs. Especially the ones which allow me to release my "inner profane self" as Sean calls it. I think the first time I requested "Alice" I caught him really off guard. Since then he has realized that I can yell out the necessary phrase just as loudly as anyone else ;-)

But I also love the songs that aren't necessarily drinking songs. There's "Caledonia", which I first fell in love with as they sang it. There's the hauntingly beautiful "The Last House on Our Street" and "Loch Lomond". There's "Fairytale of New York", "Charlie on the MTA" and "Southside Irish" (the latter two also representing the Irish populations in two of my all-time favorite cities: Boston and Chicago).

There are the serious points as well--Sean is a devout Catholic and makes sure to intersperse his faith into the show, whether in a humorous way ("see, I can go to confession tomorrow. You Protestants are screwed!") or in more serious ways, such as making sure the true story of St Patrick gets told amid the crazy crowds on that day.

What's my point? I'm not entirely sure myself. I guess since I'm not going to be able to afford a trip to the island itself for awhile, this is my little slice of it right in Nashville. So when you hear me talk about "the Pub"...maybe you'll have a little clearer picture of why it means so much to me. The music, the people, the faith...it's all a part of what makes me ME.

By the way, if you're interested in hearing a little slice of Nosey Flynn, here's a link to their myspace page. They have a few songs on there...including Caledonia which is my absolute favorite.

Slainte!
(that's Cheers :-)

Ahhh, the Pub

*note: all posts this week (Sunday - Thursday) are scheduled posts. I am WAY out of cell phone and wireless network range. I love your comments and will look forward to reading them when I return on Friday!

I love the Pub.

I told Anthony the other day that it's no coincidence that two of my favorite cities in the US are Boston and Chicago. And when we were at the pub the other day my friends Sean and Josh played back to back "Charlie on the MTA" and "Southside Irish"

And then there's the classic Irish drinking songs. And the craziness of the regular crowd that jeers and sings along. As Sean says, it's all about audience communication, participation and intoxication!

The pub is a place where I can just go and BE.

What are your places like that? Where you can have a great time, or just chill and enjoy being with people you love?

Thursday's Ten

With the economy as crazy as it currently is, I'm sure Anthony and I are not the only couple looking for cheap and creative date nights. None of these are particularly glorious, but they are things we enjoy doing and that keep us from falling into a rut.

1. Dinner and a movie, economy class.
We take turns cooking for each other and then catching a flick on the big ol' living room screen. The standard, moved home. This is a lot of fun for me since I love cooking, so trading off meals is a great thing...we're definitely doing a lot more of that than going out these days. And I have to say, having him cook for me while I sit on the sidelines is kind of a nice thing too :0)

2. Taking advantage of the natural beauty around us
Who knew exercise could be romantic? I'm lucky enough to live about 5 minutes from the part of the greenway that crosses the Cumberland. The other night we crossed the bridge right at sunset. It was gorgeous!
Greenways and state/national parks are great places. Or anywhere with a good walking trail. Even a neighborhood with nice big houses.

3. The zoo
This was an initial cost--it was $55 each. For a year. So we visit the zoo quite often these days--it's free for us now, and we can bring along another couple for a double date if we want since we each get a free guest.
(plus our zoo encourages people who want to run to come in the last hour or so, since the crowd dies down between 4:30 and 5. We have plans to run the zoo together soon)

4. Revisit childhood
When we were visiting his aunt in Atlanta the four of us (A and I, his aunt and little sister) walked down to a playground in her neighborhood. A and I both made a beeline for the swings, and competed to see who could swing higher the fastest, etc. We're both slightly competitive...
Anyway, what's stopping you from visiting a local playground together? I would suggest that you wait until most of the actual kids are gone...

5. Play
Have I mentioned we're competitive? Games we often attempt to slaughter the other in include Scrabble and Uno Attack. Games that we play with other couples or his family include Apples to Apples and (our favorite) hand & foot. We have discovered, however, that we enjoy competing as a team nearly as much as against each other. We were a force to be reckoned with the last time we played hand and foot as a team! Guess that dating ESP comes in handy :0)

6. Historical Landmarks
We're also both big history buffs, so the fact that we live amid such history is a positive. We're planning to go to the battlefield at Shiloh sometime later this summer, and of course in this area there's TONS of other historical stuff to see. One of our favorites (although not necessarily cheap) was the Ghost Tour in Nashville last fall. Fun stories mixed in with a bunch of history.

7. Video game nights
I've had a lot of fun on the nights that we sit with little controllers in our hand and escape to a world of...something. Anthony is still shocked and amazed that I enjoy playing Halo. I also love Little Big Planet, Flower and Infamous. And of course, there's always a little Rock Band action thrown in!
It's important that you don't do TOO much of this I think. But everything in balance, right honey? Speaking of...we need to do a video game night soon!

8. Live music
Nashville has a plethora of concerts and ticketed events to attend on a weekly basis. However, there are probably 10 small shows to every 1 large event. Covers range from 0-$15 a head, most falling in the $5 range. Supporting local musicians and the establishments they play in is a bonus.
(this brings in my favorite--the pub. Free live Irish music all weekend, Sundays is $3 pint night. Lovely. I can get a pint of woodchuck and a side potato salad and tip at 100% for $10).

9. Putt-putt or bowling
Sometimes more fun as a group activity, sometimes better enjoyed as a couple. You gotta love the prices, and if you eat before you go (dinner at your place or mine) it's even better.

10. Local wineries
Often free or very cheap, and one that's fairly close to us even encourages you to bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds for as long as you like. They're usually gorgeous, and they have good samples...
(of course in the land of Jack Daniels I should also mention that a trip to the distillery is in our near future as well)

Bonus: Just be
We've discovered that even the mundane is more fun when we're together. Hence our date nights often include a "honey? do you mind if we run to Target for a minute?" Anthony has suggested that once the humidity dies down we take blankets to a nearby grassy area and just read together. Possibly pack a picnic lunch, maybe play a game or something. We just enjoy spending time together, so at this point anything we do seems fun. Are we mushy-gushy or what? :P

Sunday's Song and an Award to Give

Usually if I post a Sunday song it's one with a worship feel, since that's the mindset I've been in. However, tonight I'm sharing with you one of my favorite Irish pub songs. Ok, so the song's actually from Scotland, but it's haunting and beautiful. I've included Celtic Woman's version of the song as a youtube...as usual you'll have to turn the music off on the lower right hand side to hear it well. Sorry about that :0)

The words that resound with me so much in this song are found in the second verse: I have moved and kept on moving, proved the points that have needed proving. I've lost the friends that needed losing; found others on the way.

In so many ways that describes my life to a "t".



Caledonia

I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
That I might drift away
I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I've come from
That's the reason why I seem
So far away today

Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home
But if I should become a stranger
Know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the ladies (fellas) and left them crying
Stolen dreams, yes, there's no denying
I have traveled hard, sometimes with conscience flying
Somewhere with the wind

Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames have cooled, don't get any higher
They've withered, now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When hands have shaken, the kisses float
Then I will disappear


Finally, I've been given another award! This one is from Bethany, and she graciously awarded me the Lemonade Award.

The Lemonade Award...

The lemonade award is for showing great attitude and/or gratitude.

The Rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog, nominate at least 10 blogs, which show great attitude and/or gratitude.
2. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
3. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
4. Share the love and link to this post, and/or to the person from whom you received your award.

And the nominees are:

Lucy
Amber
Jaycee
Brooke
Lynnette
Shanda
Sara
Laura
Cathy
Megan

Weekend Stuff

Between girls night on Friday, an awesome concert on Saturday, a baby shower today, an English bulldog who is temporarily living at my house, and other crazy and wonderful things...I'm a day late on this!

Today's wordle:
go to Shannon's blog to participate!

AND


A Most Perfect and Wonderful Weekend

You know the weekends when everything goes right? There's gorgeous weather. You're babysitting a sweet English bulldog. You get a walk in on Friday afternoon and then have a group of great friends come over Friday night. Saturday dawns and you have a massage scheduled, after which you go to the boyfriend's house and walk together for about a mile to the stadium where Jason Mraz is opening for Dave Matthews Band. The weather remains perfect, and you collapse into bed upon getting home...Sunday morning comes, and while getting up is tough the sermon is amazing and worship is meaningful. Then there's the baby shower for a friend where lots of laughs and pictures (my favorite!) happen. And you wrap up the whole weekend by sipping on a cider and splitting a plate of fish and chips with good friends at the Pub.

Yeah. It's been a perfect weekend. Aaaah.
(thank you Captain Mayhem for your part in that :0)