tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81914918312026856232024-03-12T18:52:15.098-05:00Pretty Little NestChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.comBlogger372125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-47175101423436901032015-02-09T07:14:00.000-06:002015-02-09T07:14:00.214-06:00Groovy Mother Goose
I have a soft spot for vintage children's books. Okay, okay it's a big honking love. I am especially drawn to books from the 1950s and 60s. And there's just something about Mother Goose books that I like but what that something is, I couldn't tell you. Maybe nostalgia since most of us grow up with Jack, Jill, Little Boy Blue and Miss Muffet? Maybe the game of trying to figure out if there is Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-31895890268463001372015-01-30T07:30:00.001-06:002015-01-30T07:33:45.165-06:00A few thoughts on packing and unpacking
I am surrounded by boxes! Mountains of them. And it is getting me down. So down that staying in bed under covers all day would be awesome. With a good book and maybe some hot tea. Lots of blankets.
We've moved from a cozy post-WWII cottage with three bedrooms and one bath into an apartment with two bedrooms and a kitchen half the size. Truly the best part is the two bathrooms (TWO!) and a hugeChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-69788027337344359922015-01-13T08:22:00.002-06:002015-01-30T07:32:18.581-06:00Chattanooga Day 1-14A regular feature where I document our first year in our new city …
We loaded a huge moving truck — by "we" I mean dear family and friends who earned lots of good karma points — the last Monday of 2014. Not surprised that not everything in the house fits in our temporary apartment so Chris and I have made a pledge to get rid of junk in the new year. At the moment, wall to wall boxes. But hey,Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-85636475415968783932014-12-02T14:27:00.002-06:002014-12-03T12:16:01.995-06:00Sending holiday cheerIt's December and I'm ready for all the Christmas cards to start appearing in my mailbox. If you have sent me a card in the last 10 years, I have it. Heck, if you have EVER written me anything, I have it. That includes notes passed in 7th grade and the first ever e-mails I received in college. With us moving, I am slowly trying to get rid of such things because no one wants to see my high school Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-8486470914973583472014-11-28T21:35:00.000-06:002014-11-28T21:35:07.249-06:00Random Thoughts No. 25Gosh, I haven't written one of these "Random Thoughts" post in awhile. They are so fun because I can just share whatever I want and it doesn't have to have a theme or anything. It's a little snapshot of what's caught my attention lately … and it's a great distraction from all the packing and cleaning I should be doing.
1. I've been binge watching the BBC's "Robin Hood" (2006-2009) on Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-85804442016321648302014-11-04T08:51:00.000-06:002014-11-04T08:51:33.698-06:00Watch out Chattanooga, we're coming!
Things have been quiet at Pretty Little Nest. I didn't share the annual summer to-do list. Or post back-to-school photos. A recipe for watermelon ice and a lot more went unshared. You see, my husband was dismissed from his job in March. Nothing he did, regular old office politics he had nothing to do with.
It didn't take long for our energy to be sapped by the ups and downs of &Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-91422797475214245362014-04-10T07:30:00.000-05:002014-04-10T07:30:03.474-05:00Daffodils + food coloring = Pretty science
Remember using food coloring to "color" daffodils when you were a kid? I always thought it was amazing. I recently picked a few blooms to show the kids.
I'm not sure how amazed they were but I still think it's pretty darn cool.
Have you never done this? Go pick a few daffodils before they are all gone! Fill a vase with water, add a few drops of food coloring (I have theChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-86062653720649799792014-04-04T09:44:00.001-05:002014-04-04T09:44:23.271-05:00We're messy — vote for us!
I've entered the Get Messy Contest hoping to win a new kitchen or at least some great Mrs. Meyer's products. You can help by voting every day between now and April 18. Normally I shy away from these type of popularity contests but I think we have a good chance of winning. Look at that face! You know you want to vote for him. Pretty please?
Vote here!
Back story: We were making donuts. Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-31344976889019986742014-02-27T16:45:00.004-06:002014-02-27T16:45:59.171-06:00More books! More books! More books!
So, it was that day again. One of my favorite days. All those books just waiting for me to take them home. I don't miss the book sale at Emmet O'Neal Library. I probably should miss it (where will I put them? All the bookshelves are full!) but we all got stuff that makes us happy for no good reason and bringing home a bounty of books is one of mine.
Joseph was a true champ hanging Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-26282595050460301992014-02-24T09:05:00.000-06:002014-02-26T08:13:40.768-06:00On the tree 2013
So how long ago was Christmas? Because honestly folks, Will's little blue tree is still the nightlight in the boys' room and the ornaments are still boxed in the hall waiting to be stored. Despite it being 303 days until Christmas 2014, I wanted to share what Aunt Catherine made for us in 2013.
You guys love what Aunt Catherine does. My "On the tree" post from Dec. 2011 Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-6309085202124749952014-02-19T09:04:00.002-06:002014-02-19T09:04:53.227-06:00Crazy weather in Alabama
As I am typing this, the temperatures are in the 60s and heading into the 70s by afternoon. Less than a week ago I was looking at four inches of snow on the lawn. That is a crazy amount of snow for us. If we get snow it's usually just a few flakes that don't stick to anything. You'll say oh, it must be so nice to have temperatures in the 70s in February but check the barometer because Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-23124095483772820362014-01-21T09:11:00.000-06:002014-01-21T09:11:31.088-06:00A surprise on the library shelf
Looking at a list of my top 10 favorite books, "Watership Down" by Richard Adams is at the very top. I have read and re-read it over the years and each time it does not disappoint. Recently I was at the library waiting to checkout books, not really focusing on anything when my eye happened to spot this, "Tales from Watership Down" published in 1996. What?! A sequel?! How had I not Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-48744680999533984862014-01-19T19:08:00.002-06:002014-01-19T19:08:40.359-06:00I DO have a type!
I like to kid my Mom about her TV-viewing habits, past and present ...
Her type is so obvious! She likes brunettes who play by the rules but are willing to break them when necessary. Bonus points if you recognize all the shows.*
I never thought of myself as having a "type" but recently it dawned on me …
I like British guys (and Scots!) with dark hairChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-27756864514555868512014-01-09T07:30:00.000-06:002014-01-09T07:30:01.386-06:00Top Books of 2013Every year I like to look back at the books that we really loved. The ones we read again and again. Sadly, the list is getting shorter and shorter. Will has grown away from picture books and is reading lots of chapter books on his own. He's a one and done kind of kid, moving on to the next thing rather quickly. And our reading habits are changing — when Will was little we'd read an average of Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-74685741822463825412014-01-06T07:30:00.000-06:002014-01-06T07:30:02.305-06:00Jump into the new year
So you may be thinking — Gee Christina, where are all your posts about walking?!
Way to NOT keep your resolution. Well, I did walk, okay more like shuffle, from the bed to the couch and then back again on January 2. And January 3, I walked from the van to the doctor's office. Seems the combination of a sinus infection and head cold was just too much. UNCLE! Slowly feeling better with Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-4811110514655435612014-01-04T23:06:00.000-06:002014-01-04T23:06:49.597-06:00Santa vs. Joseph
Oh my Will, always so happy to see Santa and tell him what to bring for Christmas.
Joseph on the other hand ...
He wants nothing to do with the big guy in red.
This year I suggested Joseph try standing next to Santa. But no, I was not even
going to get that. Tears people, tears! I may or may not have yelled, "Stop crying. This is
suppose to be fun!" I hadChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-36950681272344079932014-01-01T17:02:00.001-06:002014-01-01T18:25:59.338-06:00Go take a hike
I am making a simple resolution this year. One that I hope I will keep. And that resolution is to take a walk every day. Occasionally I hope to get everyone out for a big hike at Ruffner or Red Mountain. Or a few laps at a local park with Chris after the boys are off to school but before work. Most days, like today, it will be a quick stroll around the neighborhood. It's a good resolution. Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-2765713852118987722013-12-02T07:30:00.000-06:002013-12-02T07:30:03.805-06:00More words on the wall
Recently my friend Amy* mentioned in a Facebook post she was looking at book wreaths on Etsy. Then another friend commented she would like one too. Knowing they aren't too hard to make (here's mine), I told them to pick a design, pick a night and pick up a bottle of wine. I would bring all the supplies. We got together last Monday at Amy's and had a good time talking and ripping books Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-91516912221671577622013-11-19T07:30:00.000-06:002013-11-19T07:30:01.387-06:00Pictures! Cool pictures!Oh, I've been waiting for a cool family photo shoot. One to make everyone go "how awesome" and "love it." Because thanks to the internet, I know everyone out there is having fun photo shoots but me. Just google "cool family photo ideas" and come back in a couple of hours. But now, thanks to a friend and some graffiti, I've got photos that make me grin every time I look at them. These are just a Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-47107700403066137322013-11-15T09:42:00.002-06:002014-04-30T09:50:30.705-05:00Halloween 2013
What's that you say? Halloween was two weeks ago? It ain't over until I document it. Which means Halloween 2012 is still going strong. I sure thought I had posted pictures. There is at least one photo of Will.
Halloween this year was ... interesting. The four-year-old took full control of his costume. While Will always picks his costume, Nana or Mommy are the ones that make it appear. NotChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-79185497748237333972013-10-21T08:47:00.000-05:002013-10-21T08:53:01.852-05:00Well, did you?
I really do remember how many times my mom asked if I washed my hands when I was little. Because it was a lot of times. Heck, she still asks me every now and then! And now, I sure do grab my little guys' hands to see how wet they are and if they smell like soap.
The sticker labels of the Wal-mart brand hand soaps come off very easily. I thought about getting a friend with a vinyl Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-64619808803703889612013-10-09T08:56:00.000-05:002013-10-09T08:58:19.888-05:00Goodbye boxDo you remember this box? It came into the living room in January after a neighbor took delivery of some large furniture. After eight months it was starting to fall down and wasn't played with as much. It was time for it to go. Several times I told the boys the box was going to go and there were small protests or I would think in my head, it's time, and then come in the room to find Joseph Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-52867533334220807152013-10-03T10:33:00.000-05:002013-10-03T10:36:14.032-05:00File under why not? Candy corn pancakes
Everyone is talking about apples. No really — everyone. Julia's Bookbag, Design Mom, SouleMama to name a few. So much so that I could't take it any longer and made praline apple bread yesterday. I subbed cream cheese for the sour cream which was okay but not life changing so not planning on doing that again (picture and recipe if you follow the link. I promise it is delicious and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-14316572412449463032013-09-23T11:12:00.000-05:002013-09-23T11:12:19.285-05:00Boys are in school — what now?There's a new level of chaos in the morning routine around here. Instead of one boy to get ready, there are two. Joseph has joined Will at St. Rose, moving from his 3-day-a-week half-day preschool to a full school schedule. We expected tears in the morning but he walks in ready to start the day. It's not all smooth sailing but he's doing all right. We miss his old school and would still be there Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191491831202685623.post-18066831544038394582013-08-26T12:37:00.000-05:002013-08-26T12:37:03.019-05:00It's 2nd grade for Will
May he be greeted warmly by old friends while being nice to the new kids. May the new teacher see the good and sweetness inside all the kids as they take over her classroom (13 boys in that class! 13 boys!) May he learn and grow and eat that lunch that I packed with care frantically this morning with no doubt that 90 percent will end up in the trash. Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05783505451611282485noreply@blogger.com1