Author Archives: tracye1

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About tracye1

A wee bit about me, Tracy. Married to my high school sweetie for a looooong time. Mama of 4 beautiful kiddos, now ADULTS!!!! This blog is a potpourri of posts. Some wax on about my Catholic faith, others family, some are just a “diary” of life updates. Life is a journey, taken one day at a time (sometimes one step at a time) and my blog is about my personal trek through life. Peace!

Friday, Advent and style…it’s a theme.

It’s Friday, so that means it must be:  7 Quick Takes with Jennifer Fulwiler et al.  Join on in, it’s a super crowd!!

1) I don’t want to get anyone all crazy or anything but Advent is just around the corner, December 2, 2012…the first day.  You ready??  Huh??  Huh??  Huh??  Me??  Uhhhhhh.  Sorta.  Our family does a little thing each Advent, for every day, this will be our 3rd year.  I have procured the items we will need over the past many months.  It’s something a good friend of mine started us on our first year in where we randomly and anonymously “gift” someone throughout Advent.  It’s not anything big, just something small to hopefully brighten their day and spread some CHRISTmas joy.  Yes, the cards even say “Merry Christmas”…..scandalous in this P.C. day and age, right??

2) Now I’ve just spent 2 hours trying to decide which site to use for our Christmas card with the right pictures and coupon code and the site freaked out and I had to start over.   Grrrr..  Bedtime!!

3) We’ve had soccer and cheer all week, staggered so it’s been very DRAWN OUT!  At least I’m getting my walks in!!  However, joy of joys….it is the LAST week of both girl’s sports.  Our last  soccer game is tomorrow and it’s at HOME, and cheer finishes up with competition on Black Friday (can you believe the nerve?!?!?)

4) This week gave me a little reminder of how busy the holiday season is going to be and my girlfriend and I are going to start a little holiday health challenge/focus to get us through the New Year.  It’s such an insane time of year with parties, plays, gift giving, meals, time off from school, juggling family visits etc, that, as a woman (and I’m sure a few men, too) we tend to get so caught up in taking care of others and focusing on activities that we OFTEN forget to take care of ourselves.  Therefore, we are planning on being accountable for regular exercise (nothing crazy…just staying active) and watching what we put in our mouths.  We need to remind ourselves our body is The Temple of Christ and I think we all forget that from time to time.  Isn’t Advent a “good” time to focus on that?  Anyone can join in…if there’s a big interest I’ll make up something “official-like”, for now it’s just email and texting and friends at work accountability, too!

5) Speaking of Advent…(apparently there’s a little bit of a theme this week since I continue to return to Advent), My blog is almost at 100 followers!  So, I’ve decided that  I’m going to do a giveaway of Dan Lord’s new book, “Choosing Joy:  The secret to living a fully Christian life”.    If you didn’t know, Dan is married to Hallie Lord, author of “Style, sex and substance” and blogger on marriage and style over at Moxie Wife.   I’ll post a blog on the official giveaway and all that jazz once I hit 100 followers!

6) On style….for the past two Sundays I’ve participated in “What I wore Sunday” over at Fine Linen and Purple.  It’s been super fun (awesome for visitors to my blog!!!!) and inspirational on paying a little more attention to dressing for Mass and other times when I’m out of my scrubs and workout clothes (95% of my time!).  As timing would have it,  Dwija at House Unseen posted about taking care of appearance in general and the subtle messages it sends to our families and loved ones when we do or don’t pay attention to how we look.  It definitely made me think about taking a few extra minutes on regular days, too.

7) Last one, also in reference to style….last night I bought some boots.  Target.  My boot envy got the best of me, especially since I currently don’t have any boots and will need them on our surprise trip in January to Pennsylvania!  So exciting.  The only thing about boots is that my calves are muscular and sometimes it’s really difficult to find a pair of boots to zip up past my calves.  Frustrating I tell you!!

Alrighty then….I’m out.  Time to wake the kiddies and get this day rockin’ on into the weekend!  Blessings and don’t forget to check out Conversion Diary for other great peeps!!

Tick tock…get ready!

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The holidays are upon us.  I’m getting a little panicky……Excited and overwhelmed.  However, I just bought tickets for the Nutcracker, we have much of our Thanksgiving food procured (sans the bird, yet!) and tonight…TONIGHT I will order Christmas cards!!!  For me, I just can’t start shopping until the cards are DONE!  It signifies the start of the shopping season for me.  WOW!!  How about you???  Do you wing it or are you structured?  Blessings!!

Pinterest: Finally a success

This picture inspired me, I mean….caramel apples=yum!  They’re just kinda messy and awkward, this looked “doable”.

This Pinterest photo removed the alcohol from the original, so I chose this one.

I have a love/hate relationship with Pinterest.  Apparently you need some kind of serious “attention-to-detail” gene and I might be missing that.  Whatevs.  Either way, I am completely inspired by Pinterest and in the next few weekend Hubby and I are going to tackle an outdoor project off Pinterest…(post to come, I’m sure), but as far as fancy food work…meh….I’m at 50/50 right now.  Prior to the apples we had the following disaster…..

Prior Pinterest debacle….

What it was “supposed” to look like…

The weather was fab last night, Hubby got the fire pit going, we had dogs on the grill, marshmallows over the fire, I figured we’d give this caramel apple deal a whirl.  Overall not bad….sadly, Pinterest only shows the pretty.  I’m here to show you the REALZIE.  Enjoy & have a great day!!

I don’t have a corer (and don’t send me one…I have an apple slicer and that’s great…for this a paring knife was fine to removed the core and then I scooped a little of the apple out of the middle to make a reservoir for the caramel sauce.

Bubble, bubble boil and trouble…THIS recipe was O. My. Goodness. Reason to wear stretchy pants #3001…

Cutie pie sous chef

That’s right. Guts of the apple. Pinterest doesn’t show you this!!

Fill ’em up. I used a muffin pan to keep them level and catch some of my spillage

Set them in the fridge for a bit and then slice with a sharp, wet knife. Voila!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I wore Sunday…Take 2

Fashion Sunday with Fine Linen and Purple.  It was so much fun last week, I thought I’d do it again!!  I don’t know how many I’ll do because my Sunday outfits are generally same-same, maybe mix it up; then repeat cycle again, it’s all new here, right?  I also managed to get my 9 year old to take my full photo….1/6, not too bad-ish.

I am a Poser. Shirt Apt. 9 @ Kohl’s.  Years ago…my “basic” white shirt, but I LOVE the criss cross, gather.  No fun to iron…but love the look!

Lined skirt (still needs a slip). Chaps by Ralph Lauren…on super clearance @ Koh’s YEARS ago…..I think like $7….

Shoes. Unisa. @ Parisian??  So old I can’t remember…emphasis on the (blurry) heel which Hubby just took to the cobbler and had a new one put on…JOY!!!

Earrings. Gift from Hubby. Local jeweler. My everyday faves.

Necklace. A gift from the kids years ago. Super fun. Lost one of the earrings 😦

Another Lia Sophia…love this ring, wear it every chance I get!!

Cross bracelet a gift from a girlfriend years ago…..So fun. I feel all jingly when I wear this. And trendy.

boy driving home from church. Great job, BTW….Volcom shirt…score @ church thrift store $1 and Old Navy khaki shorts off Ebay…$10….

New Driver…Y’all pray for us!!

Last week I missed the Quick Takes with Jen and the ALMOST 200 HUNDRED people who link up with her @ Conversion Diary…so if you got some time honey….get on over and check ’em out!  Without further adieu….here’s MY wrap up:

  • Sunday I joined in at Fine Linen and Purple for a fashion show of Church-lady (and men) clothes on REAL PEOPLE!  It was so fun, I’ve really enjoyed seeing what people where, how they accessorize, and most of all….WHERE they get their digs.  It’s so girly and holy canoli….my biggest traffic EVAHH from it.  Cray, cray….almost bringing me to 100 followers.  Cool.
  • Our oldest son got his learner’s permit two weeks ago and the kid is ALL about it. Dad is the more patient driving instructor meanwhile mom feels new grey hairs sprouting ever time he gets behind the wheel and I’ve learned a few new things.
  • Apparently no…there is NOT a brake on the passenger side floorboard in our vehicle.  I can’t seem to remember this when I ride with him.  Every time.  We probably WILL have a hole there shortly, so maybe we can put a brake in then.
  • Screaming “STOP” is counter productive.  I realized this the first time, now I just crescendo up…”you want to let up on the gas and start slowing down now….yes, start slowing down….slow down.  slow.  down.  …brake….Brake..BRake…yes.  NOW.  Good job, next time let’s not climb up in their trunk business, K?  K.”
  • The door handle seconds as a security blanket and with repeated kneading is beginning to bear my clawmarks handprints nicely.
  • The St. Michael prayer has become a new addition in our repetoire:                        Saint Michael the Archangel,
    defend us in battle.
    Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
    May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
    and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host –
    by the Divine Power of God –
    cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
    who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

    Amen.
  • Having a kid who drives makes me THAT much older.  THAT’s the hard pill to swallow.  Indeed.

Off to curl in a ball and suck my thumb.  Have a great weekend and be sure to visit Jen!!

sniff, sniff…my baby is growing up!