Day 14: A Picture You Love

 Waiting for my baby to come.

With Luba in Ukraine.

 Marlow as a puppy, after a nice long hike and swim in the Greenbelt.

 My Grandma. Doesn't she look heavenly here?

 This one makes me laugh.  My mom (far right) and her sisters.

 My besties praying over me before my wedding.

 And

 this

one

would fall in the category of a picture I do not love.

6th grade.  Enough said.

Day 13: Goals

I looked back to see what my resolutions were for this year.  Here's what I wrote down.

* eat at uchi

* start composting

* buy new make-up

* write more cards

* have a weekly date night

* learn photoshop

With the exception of date nights, I didn't do any of them.  As the norm goes with my New Year's resolutions.  However, I did accomplish some things that I didn't set out to do.  Such as, become an active person, build more clientele for Taste and See, go on a fun vacation to celebrate our anniversary, and get pregnant.

Some short term goals we have in the Bonser household include finishing the laundry room cabinets, spend within our weekly budget, take walks together at night, and give Marlow park time at least once a week.

Long term goals for us are to adopt at least one child, pay off all debt and stay out of debt, travel more, give more, and start a business together.  Some are rather vague, but we've got an idea how they ought to look.

Day 12: What You Believe

I believe that regardless of one's skin color, sexual orientation, social standing or religion that all should be treated with respect and compassion.

I believe in treating animals with respect.  I don't like the idea of testing products on them, using them for science, or abusing them for entertainment's sake.  I'm okay with using them for food, but let's kill them in a humane way.  Quick and as painless as possible.  There should be a reverence about it when killing them because we are creatures created by the same God.

I believe that I am no better than someone on death row sentenced for murder.  I believe that I am no different than a drug addict living on the streets.  I believe that without the intervention and saving grace of Jesus that I would be no different than Hitler, Stalin, or a torturer.  I believe this because it's not just the actions that make us who we are, but it's what goes on in our hearts that determines who we are.

1 Timothy 1:15  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

I believe that regardless of what happens in life to my husband, children, family, friends, or material possessions, that God is sovereign, knows what is to come, and has my best in mind.  It may not seem like the best in the moment, but I trust in the Lord and He is my strength to bring me through any trial.

Job 1:22  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.

Day 11: Favorite TV Shows

Rarely do I sit and watch TV, but when I do, Chris and I pick something off our instant queue on Netflix.  We like House, Glee, 30 Rock, The Office, Better Off Ted, and Arrested Development.

Day 10: Something You're Afraid Of

of all shapes and sizes

Day 9: A Picture of Your Friends

 This one is of my high school besties taken June 2009 when I was pregnant with Vera.

 This one was taken in August 2010 with my Austin friends.  Coincidentally, pregnant again, we decided to take a picture holding our due dates.

Day 8: A Place You've Traveled To

In preparing for our honeymoon adventures in Spain, I did a lot of research of places I wanted to visit.  I asked friends who had gone and read lots of travel books.  My friend, Susan, had recently gone and told me about this little convent in the middle of Madrid where she had bought some great pastries from some nuns.  She gave me chicken scratch directions of how to find this place, told me what the street looked like, what landmarks would be around it, and what the entrance looked like.  It was really fun to seek it out, knowing that we didn't have directions with names of streets or anything.  We followed her instructions and it took us right there!  We bought pastries and paid money through a lazy-Susan (ironic...Susan, get it?) and never saw the nuns.

Day 7: Favorite Movies

I tend to really enjoy movies that have a strong theme of redemption, grace, and forgiveness.  A few include:

To End All Wars
Les Miserables
The Kite Runner
The Shawshank Redemption
Mr. Holland's Opus

Day 6: A Picture of Something that Makes You Happy

I promise more things in life make me happy, but the first thing that popped into my head was coffee and dessert.  It's probably one of my favorite things to do by myself or with a friend.  It feels comforting and celebratory and slow-paced and I like it.  But other things make me happy, too, which I could have pictured above...my husband, my child, my dog, rain, a clean house, a good night's sleep, hiking, phone conversations with old friends, a good book, working in the yard, a road trip by myself, and watching old home movies.  What's your something happy?

Day 5: Your Siblings

I have two brothers and they are awesome.  They have entirely different personalities and that's okay by me.  Growing up, Andy was the quiet kid that taught himself computer languages and German and piano and chess.  He's pretty multi-talented.  Aaron is good at anything athletic the first time he ever tries it, can contort his body into weird positions and made his prom tux out of duct tape to try to win a contest.  It's sad that it's not but once a year that we are all together in the same place at the same time, but I guess that's part of the package when we all live in different locations.

Day 4: Your Parents

Meet Tom and Debbie.  Mid-westerners born and raised.  Married 35 years.  They started seeing each other when my mom was 17 years old and continued dating until she graduated college from Indiana University.  In the meantime, my dad traveled with an a capella Christian singing group around the country.  They were called The Horizons.  My parents are fun people.  They like to go out to eat, geo-cache, hike, and go to their local watering hole to fill up on natural spring water.  My dad plays guitar and my mom sews.  They have a pretty nice garden and counted out cash on the living room floor to pay for a second story addition to their home when I was in 3rd grade.  I remember counting out the hundred dollar bills.  They are frugal, simple people and are enjoyable to be around.  I've never seen my dad without a beard and my mom won't allow him to shave it.  They still go on vacations together and love Blue Bell ice cream.  My dad has a quirky sense of humor that is sometimes funny and sometimes embarrassing.  My mom is a good sport, laughs with him, and loves him for it.  My dad is a deacon at their church and my mom serves people well by cooking for them.  She's also a good party planner and thinks of the details.  They make decisions together and communicate well.  They raised 3 kids and now have an empty nest.  My dad is a mail carrier and has been for 30-something years.  My mom is a Teacher's Assistant and has mostly worked with Special Ed students, ranging from pre-school to adult GED classes.  They are both upon retirement in the next handful of years and it will be fun to see what their lives look like once that season comes.  They are wonderful grandparents and spoil their granddaugthers.  They have taught me much in life and for that, I love them.

Day 3: Your First Love

Well, I'm not quite sure how to classify "love."  Do I count my first crush?  Boyfriend?  Kiss?  Or do I go for my first serious relationship?  My first love...hmm.  That would be Jesus.  Okay, but alive today?  Let's go with my first serious crush and whom I thought "love" for the first time.  (But you have to know that even as a little girl, I was quite the romantic, so I "loved" a lot of people.)

Let's call him Jack.  I liked him for 6 years but he dated my best friend.  Eek!  Of course I never said anything about my unrequited love because my friendship with her was much more important, but I do remember feeling hurt a lot just seeing them happy together.  One of the first memories I have of Jack was couple-skating with him at the local Rollerina (that's right!) in my hometown.  I was in 6th grade, I think.  That was pre-date-my-best-friend era.  The song we skated to, I believe, was Michael Jackson's "When You Were Not Alone."

We went to my sophomore Homecoming dance together and dressed in matching outfits, khaki pants, blue top, and brown leather shoes.  We held hands a few times and I leaned my head on his shoulder once during a car ride, but that was the extent of our affection.

Once best friend and Jack started dating, I found other interests and fun people to hang out with, but I think I always had a certain place in my heart for Jack.

Fast forward 15+ years.  I saw Jack recently while home visiting my parents.  It was great to see him, but having been joyfully married to the love of my life for 5 years, it was evident to see that it was never God's plan for us to be together anyway.  Those kind of confirmations are always nice.  I do wish Jack all the best though.  :)

Day 2: Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

There's no deep meaning.  I used to read this blog and stole the name essentially.  For a long time, I've wanted to switch everything over to www.accordingtocarey.blogspot.com, for consistency's sake.  But I've just been lazy.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 1

Day 1: Introduce yourself, recent picture, 15 interesting facts.

Hi, I'm Carey and I don't know if I want to blog anymore but I'm going to give this a try.

1. My love runs deep for my pooch, Marlow.
2. I'm a little obsessive with using up every item in my fridge before buying more.
3. I started running for the first time 11 months ago and have found that I really love it.
4. I would marry my husband all over again.
5. I'm pretty blessed to have great sister-in-laws.
6. It took us almost a year and a half to get pregnant the first time and it was not intentional the second time.
7. I miss cold weather and feel like that may be the thing that makes us move more north someday.
8. I would pick up every stray dog I found and take them home with me, if my husband let me.
9. I have sleep issues.
10. I hate malls, crowds, and shopping without a purpose.
11. If I wasn't a chef, I'd be a nurse.
12. I lost 50 pounds this year.
13. In general, I prefer sweet to salty.
14. I feel lonely often for deep friendships.
15. I wish we were invited to dinner more often at other people's houses.

oh yeah.

i forgot to add below that today i kicked my lazy booty in gear and finally made it over my hump of 6.5 miles. now, my official longest run i've ever done is 7 miles. i'm thankful i can run inside when it's so dang hot out here.

lately.

* i catered a wedding reception of 200 guests out of my home kitchen. it was slightly hellish. hence, i am now working out of the commerical kitchen and paying rent. the owner and i are good friends and he's allowing me to rent as needed instead of monthly.

* vera "swam" for the first time and we dunked her 3 times. no tears. a nervous laugh. kinda cute.

* i saw "wicked" for the first time and it was a-mazing. it really is as good as everyone claims.

perfect.

this was one of my favorite presents i got for my birthday. how cute is this? i wear it all the time. thanks, siblings!

vera's little friend.

my friend's baby, addison is just 2 months older than vera and she came to visit this afternoon. it was fun to see the little girls interact.

5 years ago i married my best friend.

here's some pictures to show our little time line of marriage thus far.

our wedding day
1st anniversary

2nd anniversary3rd anniversary4th anniversary
5th anniversary
we went out for sushi tonight and enjoyed a few hours alone.

a love letter.

dear vera,
you are 7 months old now and i can confidently say that no one else has ever stole my heart the way you have. i wasn't so sure the first couple of months of your life, but we got through it, you and me, and by month four we were inseparable. i can hardly believe how fast you are growing and changing. you are doing something new everyday, it seems. last week you went from bouncing on your hands and knees to crawling with no problem within a couple of days. today i spotted two little teeth poking through on your bottom gums. i have to say, i've always loved your gummy smile and i will miss it when the pearly whites come in, but at the same time, i'm so thankful you are developing the way you should be. i am so very grateful that you are a healthy girl and i haven't messed you up too much yet. thanks for sticking with me while i figure out this whole motherhood thing. i sometimes think i haven't been the mom you deserve, but luckily you haven't held it over my head yet. i promise to always love you, no matter what. and i give you my word that i will take care of you and be there for you whenever you need me. sometimes you won't want me around and that's okay, but know that i will always make myself available to you. i love you so much and you have changed my life for the better. i can't imagine my life without you and i hope we get to experience so much together. i just wanted to share these thoughts with you because the days are a blur sometimes and it's when you're asleep in your bed that i want to hold you and kiss you and whisper my love to you.

love, momma

2 years ago today...

we found our little marlow after he was lost for a week. not a day goes by that i don't think about that still and thank God that we found him. i love my dog so much. this is a picture taken a couple of days ago when he caught yet another bird. by natural instinct he mouths it in those big ol jowls he's got and shakes it (poor bird) to death. or breaks it's neck. either way, poor bird but proud marlow. he wouldn't leave it's side until i went up to him and praised him for it. then we threw it away. he was in a very good mood the rest of the day.

some things i do.

* i keep a package of floss picks in my car and use one everyday while driving.
* i microwave dish sponges for 1 min. to kill bacteria and prolong their life.
* i freeze leftover egg whites in ice cube trays, then bag them up and freeze.
* i use an old toothbrush to help separate my eyelashes after applying mascara.
* i wash plastic ziploc bags and dry them to use again.

call me an artist.

when i set out to create chest hair, i realize now that i went a little overboard. a few strands would have gotten the point across. but the chest hair that lives in my house is more than a few strands, so that's what i'm used to seeing. just sayin.

quick update.

i have been so encouraged these last few weeks in events taste and see has booked for the summer. it still surprises me when strangers call to inquire or book something. word of mouth really markets best, as i am finding out. i love to learn what the connection is between the new client and how they heard about the company. i feel very fortunate that business has been so good. through august, i've got something on the calendar almost every weekend and a few things spread out on weeknights. i really enjoy my work and love the feeling of satisfaction afterward--not to mention the paycheck!

4 generations.

Grammy, me, Vera, GG (Great-Grandma)

now i've got a burnt orange shirt.

ran another 10k last saturday and i'm still loving it! when going downhill or when i felt energized, i'd try to pick up my pace or lengthen my stride, resulting in finishing 3 minutes faster than last time (1:07). i ran with a friend of mine who most definitely smoked me.

good morning, mom!

this is what i see when i go to get her up from naps and in the morning now. sitting up, ready to start the day. needless to say, the crib has been lowered.

i love these ladies.

these are vera's daycare workers that she hangs out with when i'm working out at the gym. they absolutely love her and for that, i love them! i really trust them and love talking and getting to know them. leti (top left) has named herself "grammie leti" to vera because she has no grandchildren of her own. daisy (top right) bought vera a pair of skinny jeans from gap because she said she "just felt like she needed some skinny jeans." elsa (bottom) has trained vera to fall asleep in my arms again, which i am grateful for. she prefers to go to sleep alone in her crib, but occasionally, she'll let me hold her til she falls asleep. i just love that these ladies enjoy my sweet daughter so much. i feel like nothing is more valuable than trusted child care providers. i try to make them know they are appreciated in various ways.

none of your beeswax.

i thought i'd share about the things i don't share.

when it comes to blogging, i recognize that there needs to be a separation for reality's sake and for safety. for my own reasons, these are some categories which i don't write much about. occasionally i touch on the subjects, but i don't delve too much into them. i'd much rather sit down face-to-face over a cup of joe and discuss the following.

- marriage
- my faith
- my political views
- complaints
- personal struggles
- work
- my cat, yarsey

p.s. remember that song "none of your business" by salt-n-pepa? title got me thinkin about it.

p.p.s. the coffee reference above made me think of this funny joke. i'm sure you've heard others that are similar: i like my men like i like my coffee: ground up and in the freezer.

p.p.p.s. coffee is best stored in an air-tight sealed container kept at room temperature, not in the freezer.

what's the perfect ratio?

how do you like your chocolate chip cookies? more dough than chocolate? more chocolate than dough? half and half? what about cookie texture? do you prefer crispy or chewy? what kind of chocolate? semi-sweet, dark, milk, combination?

i'm heading to the fridge for a glass of milk.

doing another 10k.

this running thing is addicting. and expensive.

p.s. i've never owned or worn a burnt orange shirt since living in austin. i guess my time has come.

i especially love these.

got lost tonight on my run.

but i found my way back.

will pay with food.

on a good day, i can do two errands max. with a baby, my life revolves around nap times. i never wanted to be a mom where i had to be home for those, but it definitely makes for a happier baby which makes my life happier, too. i have what seems like a never-ending to-do list that would be perfect for a personal assistant! a few items include:

- take bag of books to half price books and (hopefully) return with cash
- take pictures and list several items on craig's list
- find a new vet
- organize clothing exchange
- buy gifts, wrap, send
- return unneeded items to restaurant supply store
- paint back door
- deposit checks at bank
- purchase annuals to plant in various pots around exterior of house

kinda love these.

made from the end of silverware. right up my alley. may have to buy myself one off etsy. $9.99 isn't bad.

spring pictures.

click here.

all in a day's work.

2 hour work-out at the gym + mowing the yard + leaf blowing the yard + trimming bushes + 1 mile walk in the morning + 2 mile afternoon walk pushing a stroller and tugging a dog = good exercise

an enthusiastic eater.

this is what happens when daddy feeds bug.
i like how she has spoons in both hands.

skerd.

i signed up!
chris did, too.
hollie, will you be my running buddy?

"bacon, pork and ham all come from the same magical animal"

...in the words of homer simpson. but this post is about more meatless thoughts.

salads!
- one of my staples that i get at the grocery every week is some kind of salad green whether it is spinach, red leaf, romaine, or maiche. it's my go-to for a quick, healthy lunch. i actually prep some fix-ins for it at the beginning of each week and put them in containers so when i'm feeling ravenous, i'm less likely to eat spoonfuls of peanut butter, but instead can add a few cucumbers or berries or nuts for a satisfying lunch.
- we love to eat salads for dinner, too. and despite their reputation, they can be hearty and satisfying. adding roasted potatoes, blanched green beans, or crumbly cheeses, avocado, or hard boiled eggs...i'd say that's substantial enough to stand up against any piece of chicken.

fish!
- where to begin? if i don't eat at least one piece of seafood a week, i feel like my body is lacking those essential, rich omega-3 fatty acids. what the heck does that mean, you ask? it's the same feeling i get when i drink my glass of red wine for the day. it just feels healthy. moderation. no over-indulgence. it feels like balance. like when you drink enough water throughout the day, you just feel better. so if that's not a convincing enough argument to peer-pressure you into eating more fish, then find new recipes to make fish exciting. and when i think of eating fish, it is NOT the "fish" you see on those long john silver's commercials. lord, help me. now, i am a fan of all things fried, let's be honest. but when you batter and deep fry anything, it doesn't taste much at all like the food covered up in all that crispy, crunchy breading. real, unadulterated fish tastes so good when it's fresh and cooked even very simply.

legumes!
- peas, lentils, beans, oh my. really, i can't get enough. have no guilt in eating these little suckers. they are delish and can be prepared in multiple ways. served alongside grains, they are a complete protein. examples include dal (lentils) with rice, beans with corn tortillas, tofu with rice, or (possibly the easiest) peanut butter with wheat bread. talk about a mainstay in every culture.

nut butters!
- let this be your charge to branch out from the norm. there are so many options out there and they each taste so distinctively different from each other; almond, cashew, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, pistachio, walnut. although not all are nuts in a botanical sense, all are considered "nuts" in the culinary sense. crushing their seeds makes a spreadable consistency which we call nut butters. this is a great reason to own my favorite kitchen appliance. or, just go to your local market, sometimes in specialty sections, to find them already prepared. (here's a great blog post with pictures on how to make your own--so easy!)

pasta!
- again, this is your pep talk to discover new horizons. or let's get crazy--try making your own! it is easy, inexpensive, and will be completely rewarding, i promise. but let's just begin with buying it. in the grocery aisle these days, there are so many choices. you've got all these fun shapes with italian names i can't pronounce and lots of flavor selections, too; whole wheat, spinach, saffron, sun dried tomato, mushroom, squid ink, egg, garlic, and lemon pepper. and that's just the noodle. shy away from the red sauces and get creative. toss them with veggies and cream. make it cheesy and bake it. be simple with just browned butter. add wilted greens . or shrimp. or artichokes. but always garlic.

okay, specific meatless meal ideas to come. tomorrow.

my husband is never doing laundry again.

so long, fluffy white bathroom rug and lovely light blue bathroom rug. your colors will be missed. (p.s. how does a 30 year old man not know that red things dye other fabrics? help me.)

some things i've learned.

to my most favorite laura and any others out there that might be interested in this nonsense i write.

a few things i've learned about loving a vegetarian diet:

- beans are your friends. filling, healthy, and they make you regular.
- embrace these: eggplant, mushrooms, edamame, and tofu!
- pasta can look quite versatile
- it's okay to eat several "sides" for a meal (example, cornbread, green beans, salad)

i'll post tomorrow about some of my favorite vegetarian meals. stay tuned!

menu planning.

in planning a menu for the upcoming week, this is how i roll.

step 1: take an inventory of what i already have on hand. i usually make a list of everything i can find that needs to be eaten. i make it a priority to use up refrigerated items and fresh produce first since they are typically best consumed within 7 days. then i check the pantry and freezer. this saves a lot of money because i'm not buying products that i already have.

step 2: build a menu from that list and fill in where items are needed; sides and extra ingredients to make a meal.

step 3: from the menus for the week, i make my shopping list. when i do this, i typically buy just the amount needed. this is up for debate as some people prefer to buy in bulk, which makes sense for larger families. but for us and our freezer that is packed out with breast milk, i buy just enough for the week. for example, if i need bay leaves, i buy just 3 leaves or whatever i need. it would cost me about 10 cents instead of spending almost $3.00 on an entire jar.

the places i am willing to spend money are on fresh herbs, organic dairy products, free-range eggs, and organic thin-skinned produce (pesticides seep through thin skins easier than thick ones; apples, peppers, celery, strawberries, lettuces, etc.)

the areas i care less about spending money would be in what wines i select to cook with, pasta brands (making sure they are whole wheat still), oils, and pretty much all non-food items. :) generic is my friend, but i'm just not willing to compromise quality/nutritiousness of some food.

in general, we eat meat 1-2x/week and usually off of whatever is in our freezer. we eat some kind of fish at least once a week and meatless meals the rest of the week. if i had it my way, i'd eat meat once a month, but i've got to cater to my audience and he is most definitely a carnivore.

i would.

after all, he is my favorite.

results.

10K TIMED F 25-29
Gun Time: 01:13:35
Chip Time: 01:10:22
Class Position: 516

	Overall Place	Age	Zip	Gen Place	Total Pace	Tot Div	Tot Gend	Tot AG
	5833	25	78745	2549	11:20/M	7596	3804	709

well, for my first race, i had a lot of fun. considering i forgot to eat dinner last night, had a bowl of ice cream instead, and didn't get too much sleep, i'm pretty pleased that i actually finished the run, not to mention i actually RAN the whole thing! thanks to all my friends who came out to support me, even if i didn't see you. :) this distance was fun, but for now, i'm not so sure how fun a half marathon would be. we will see.

our little bug is sick.

doctor says she might have an ear infection. :(

unnecessary pressure.

the last couple of nights i have not slept well at all. part of it is due to nervousness about my race on sunday. my first one and i am pumped, however i am also jittery already. i know this is dumb, but i feel like i'm already disappointed in myself because i don't think i'll be able to run the whole thing. i'd love to say i ran the entire thing without walking, but the last couple of runs have been pretty exhausting, so i'm not feeling too optimistic. i'm taking it very easy this week and tapering down my distance, but i still have this fear of running outside. i'm a treadmill girl and i think it's way easier than running on pavement. the treadmill has a bounce to it, so it's easier on your knees and with a fan behind me and music to listen to, i can't say it's been too difficult yet.

all this analyzing is stupid, i know. i'm the one who signed up for the race and i'm doing it because i want to. this isn't the military. i don't have anyone screaming at me this time. if i want to stop, i can and it won't mean i'm any less of a runner or a quitter. if i didn't want to show up on sunday morning, i wouldn't have to. i'm my own boss this time. the downside though is that i just have high expectations of myself and i am hard on myself if i don't meet them.