these are a few of my favorite things

so i might have cheated on my list a little bit in that most of these things are things i know i love, but don't have! but i don't want to call it things i need because we certainly aren't in need. and i really feel kind of shallow to make a list of things i want....so i've combined the two. call it what you want. i'll call it my unselfish-list-of-things-i-want-but-don't-really-need-but-really-still-want-list.

i really love/would love

10. a mandoline. we love the food network and we love to cook new things. i think this would make my chopping/cutting/slicing so much simpler and it would make my serving platters so pretty. rare for me, but i've even gone low-end on this one, because i can acknowledge that i don't need nor will i use one that costs $200. you can find both at (my favorite store) williams-sonoma09. to read. i have certain authors that i continue to read but every now and then i will try someone new. it's relaxing and it's the last thing i do before turning off my light at night. and i love to trade books with my friends who have similar tastes. my current reading list is
- crazy love, francis chan
- the mommy manual, barbara curtis
- dutch, a memoir of ronald reagan, edmund morris
what are you reading??

08. an ebelskiver filled pancake pan. if you haven't seen this...scoot on over to your local williams sonoma (or visit them online) and peruse this section. if you get it, don't forget the flippers...and then tell me how much you LOVE IT! i would recommend their cookbook that goes along with it for lots of great recipes!
07. a bamboo cutting board. again, would make life so much easier (i'm sure). plus they look super cool on your counter! :) you too can decorate your counter and improve your culinary skills with this savvy board from...say it with me...williams-sonoma. (and no, i don't get paid for endorsements)
06. dr scholls shoes. haven't tried them? they are a must-have for fall and winter. your feet will thank you...plus they look great with jeans and cords. go ahead and get a black and a brown pair. if you're in bhm, swing by 'flip flops and what not', they have a great variety. which leads me to...
05. zappos.com. seriously. shopping for shoes and having them THE NEXT DAY. genius. i would so much rather do this than shoe shop with both girls in tow. i don't even mind if i have to return them...and why should i? shipping and returns are free!

04. the age difference in my girls. they are, almost to the day, 2 1/2 years apart. despite the fact that i am always, even now, asked if they are twins, i love their closeness (in age and relationship). i think they are close enough to play together and enjoy some of the same things, but far enough apart to where i didn't feel crazy jumping from one to two. everybody is different...this worked for us...and they are best friends.

03. a macbook pro. it was about 4 years ago that my obsession with the mac began. it's a beautiful thing and will change the way you view/work on/treat your computer. just ask anybody who has one.
02. a canon eos rebel, with the extra lens. if you have kids, and most of you who read this blog do, you know how important it is to capture their personality in a picture. in fact, most of us make ourselves crazy at photo shoots trying to get the photographer to 'take it now...now...Now...NOW' so they'll get that look in their eyes that sometimes only a parent sees. i'm not a photographer but i know how to capture my kids...and i want this camera.
01. a kitchenaid mixer. i've wanted one for years. i still want one. i stand by and lust after admire them every time i see one. i want the red one. or the gun-metal silver (not to be confused with the chrome). who knows...i might be the next ina garten :) 

i'm hoping that some things from my wish list show up this christmas...i'll let you know.  there's also a new coffee maker i kind of want...i didn't add it to the list, but it's here if you want to go see it!  great for entertaining!  :)  let me know some things on your wish list!

i've been stifled

for several months my blogging has been stifled. but...thanks to my friend courtney, i have been inspired. you see, i love to write and tell stories. most of my writing ideas come from life happenings and things i read ~ things that inspire, encourage and add value to my life. hearing or reading stories makes me want to tell them my way. not because the other way is bad, or mine is better...just because it's what i do.

i've been writing a lot lately - just not for pleasure. fortunately, i get to do what i love for a living: creative writing ~ story telling ~ helping other people read and understand how they can make a difference in someones life. for the past couple of months i've been swamped with writing projects and, to be honest, it has stifled any personal creativity i have. i haven't written in the girls' journals. i haven't written the book that i really want to write....and, as you well know, i haven't blogged. so i'm jumping back in...slowly. and what better way to start than a list of my favorite things? a while back i made a list of 15 things i'm not afraid to admit...and i loved it. so why not do a top 15 list again, just revamped! thanks courtney for the inspiration! look for my list, coming soon....

oh, and if you haven't seen this picture...it's worth a thousand words :)

sweet friends

"the One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it," 1 Thess 5:24

for any of you that are left reading my blog, because i've been terrible at updating, please take a moment and visit the Wright family. their journey is just beginning but their God is forever faithful.