As hard as it was to read some of the prayer requests yesterday, I was so glad that y’all shared them. I spent some time praying for each one of you. I’ve never really done that before because, honestly, sometimes it’s just hard to know about all the hard things happening in people’s lives, but I think it’s a something I’m going to start doing from time to time because there is nothing that brings peace like knowing people are praying for you.
Not to mention that it totally fits into my resolve to quit living in fear of all the what-ifs.
So, just know I’m praying for all those requests. For peace. For resolution. For strength.
I should also maybe pray that my days get a little more interesting because I am sitting here trying to figure out how to make a day spent running errands sound remotely exciting.
Yesterday morning I went up to Caroline’s school because she was doing the announcements. They do them like it’s a news broadcast so she was with a group of her classmates. And so I went to her classroom to watch on the big screen. I probably frightened a few children because I don’t believe in putting on makeup before 7:30 a.m. unless it’s under extreme circumstances.
But I felt like I got away with it because I put on my yoga pants and an Adidas t-shirt like I was leaving for an imminent workout. The truth was I waited until Caroline came back to class to tell her she did a great job and then went to Starbucks.
For many, MANY, months, Starbucks has been like my own little writing office. However, I’m kind of at a lull with the book right now (similar to the eye of a hurricane) but I’m in the habit of going to Starbucks at least three times a week. Basically I’m a step away from becoming the old retired guy I see there every morning who walks in, drags a chair from the nearest table to use as a makeshift ottoman as he sits in a comfy chair, drinks his coffee and reads three different newspapers cover to cover.
The only thing that differentiates the two of us at this point is I still don’t feel comfortable enough to wear my house shoes to Starbucks.
After a couple of hours there, I left to drive to the Volvo dealership because the dashboard of my car has been screaming for weeks that I have MULTIPLE BULB FAILURES. Not just one bulb failure. MULTIPLE. And I’ve realized that part of the multiple includes my left blinker. I wasn’t that concerned when I thought it was just a taillight, but when your front left blinker is out you become that annoying driver that never signals when you’re about to turn and no one knows what to do and chaos ensues.
So I went to see if they could help me with my multiple bulb failures and they can. On Tuesday. Which means I get to have five more days of being THAT person.
I drove from there to Target because I bought Caroline a t-shirt a few weeks back that she deemed unacceptable. It was pink. With hot pink hearts. What was I thinking? It was clearly offensive.
Speaking of, Caroline told me last night at dinner about a situation at school. And I told her that I thought what she was feeling was a little bit of jealousy and that was perfectly normal. She looked at me and said, “THAT IS SO OFFENDING. IT’S NOT JEALOUSY”. I apologized for being “offending” because she is teetering on the emotional edge these days and I wasn’t really up for a meltdown. Does anyone know if eight is the new thirteen? Because sometimes it feels like the new thirteen.
Anyway, I walked around Target and tried on some colored skinny jeans that were only $22. I really wanted them to work but they fit more like leggings and the waistband didn’t even cover my bottom while I was standing up. So who knows what fresh horror would be unleashed if I actually tried to bend over in them.
Then I meandered through the shoe department and found some gorgeous platform leopard print heels that don’t go with my life at all. Not to mention that I’d probably want to cut my feet off with a plastic knife if I wore them for more than five minutes at a time. They are more of a sitting shoe.
So I left the shoe department and looked at the Easter stuff and eventually made my way to small electronics where I debated buying a new blender because I’m on a huge smoothie kick right now and our blender is about the worst blender in the history of blending. You can’t even turn it on and off. I just have to unplug it and plug it back in. It’s a tedious process at best. But the smoothies make me feel so healthy and so I LABOR INTENSIVELY over the blender each morning.
I nearly bought a blender called The Ninja because, well, it was called The Ninja. But I couldn’t commit and hated to make a wrong blending decision. And after all that, I ended up leaving Target with just one thing.
A book.
I bought The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks because I’ve heard it’s good even though it appears to be about science and medicine. Two subjects I try to avoid. Which is ironic considering I used to sell pharmaceuticals.
But the point is that I spent an hour in Target and only spent $13.87.
It was a Target miracle.
And to celebrate, I stopped at Sonic and bought myself a large Diet Coke.
That was my day.
I can’t apologize enough for all the lameness contained therein.
I bought The Ninga for Dirty Santa this year because I wanted it, and sadly I did not get it. Who would have thought a blender would be a hot item?? Anyway, my mother sent me one after Christmas (I am currently pregnant with their first grand baby, so she is all about spoiling me) and I love it. I have only used it for smoothies. I don’t have to take the lid off to stir and get the chunks to the bottom. Easy to clean too!
I just realized I misspelled ninja. Ha! I am blaming it on the pregnancy sucking the brain cells out of me!
You will love the book! It didn’t sound like my cup of tea, but I really loved it.
My mother-in-law got me the Ninja Professional blender for Christmas, at my request, and I absolutely love it. I use it for smoothies and milkshakes. It is so quick and easy and powerful and easy to clean. I would highly recommend it. I was using the same blender for the past 15 years and was frustrated every time I tried to make a smoothie. Love, love, love the Ninja!!
“Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is a book well worth reading!
Ninja rocks! You must go back and get one or get one from Amazon like we did. We make a lot of smoothies in it and even better? Pioneer Woman’s salsa.
The Ninja is a MUST!!!! I bought one bc my in-laws had one. The absolute best kitchen purchase I’ve made in years! I use for so many things. It’s super easy to use & clean!
We got a Ninja a few months ago and it’s AWESOME!!!
Ninja ALL the way…you will NOT regret it!
We have the Ninja – BEST BLENDER EVER!! It will change your life. Love, love, love.
We have this model:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=34WfjEeltxOVyGc55qv4wA&cp=7&gs_id=8h&xhr=t&q=ninja+blender&pq=ninja&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=960&bih=488&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=10985884260295607488&sa=X&ei=N15PT_2_GqrKsQKS54iqDg&sqi=2&ved=0CHAQ8wIwAQ
My oldest daughter turned 9 in December and the emotional roller coaster is about to do me in. I am not sure I am ready for the “REAL” hormones. We are happy one minute and storming to our rooms crying the next. Lovely. I guess I can journey this with you.
I am so happy to hear that there are other 8/9 year old girls out there (and their mama’s) going through this! My oldest daughter turned 9 in December as well, and with all the drama and emotional rollercoaster, I was certain that she must be one of those “early bloomers” who is about to start her period at any moment. Lovely journey, isn’t it?
The Ninja will change your life!!! Haha! Seriously, we bought ourselves one for Christmas and it is the best blender ever. You will love it.
Ok, now I am jealous! Your “lame” life sounds wonderful! It involved Starbucks, Target and Sonic all in one day! And I completely appreciate the Target miracle, because I rarely get out of there under $100!
So MEl, here is the deal. I am not a poster just a lurker…like…forever. I come out of the lurker world to say…..GO NOW and get the NINJA!!!! I know I am already 12 comments behind but those that go before me are speaking TRUTH, do you hear me, TRUTH into your life!!! My Ninja is a dear sweet friend, and life without it….I shutter to think…..
I am just like Kelly B, a lurker for a long time and not a poster, but yes, the Ninja will make your life complete. My mom got all four of us kids this model: http://www.amazon.com/Master-Professional-Blender-Chopper-Crusher/dp/B003UVG3X4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330604377&sr=8-2 at Christmas. It is awesome, you can make smoothies, you can chop onions, you can make homemade frappuccinos, blend soup, you can do anything with it, I am convinced. So, yes, it is highly recommended!
This post was a delightful way to start my day, Melanie. I own many “sitting shoes” and an relieved they finally have a label : )
Loved the book, hope you will too!
I got a Ninja for Christmas (that is just fun to say) and it is definitely WAY better than my old blender (which by the way didn’t turn off either…. did you have an Oster?) It blends well and is dishwasher safe. I would definitely recommend it. Smoothies are so good!
RUN…don’t walk….BACK to Target and get yourself a NINJA!
The book is just amazing. I wasn’t so sure I’d like it either but once I started I could not put it down. The author writes so well and I know that I connected with the story and the characters immediately, and it is heartbreaking. You’ll have to share your thoughts!
You must get The Ninja! It is awesome!! I use it every day for smoothies and it take about 30 seconds to blend up.
i never comment – just read and enjoy – but i just had to tell you that my husband bought the Ninja and i, like you, was a little skeptical, but oh my word it is FABULOUS!!!! we are making smoothies constantly!!
I don’t think I ever would have picked up that book on my own, but my book club read it and it was really good. It’s one of those books that you will always remember, and it lead to some good discussion. (Clearly, it’s too early in the morning to think of creative adjectives. “Good,” and also, “really good.”) Congrats for staying under your $15 budget. ; )
We LOVE our ninja. Great purchase!
I, too, have a Ninja and love it. Not only for my morning smoothies, but for snow cones! I think you said that Caroline loves snow cones. The Ninja with take normal ice (as opposed to abnormal ice?) and pulverize it into ‘snow’. When I tried doing that with my old blender, I broke the blade, hence the new Ninja. Anyway, I make about 3 or 4 homemade snow cone syrup flavors at a time (lots of recipes online), store them in clean Gatorade ‘squeeze’-top bottles and let the kids choose their flavoring after I spoon the snow into cups for them. It’s super easy and they think you’re Mom of the Year. And you don’t even really have to clean the Ninja because it’s only ice/water in there. Woo hoo. I hope you can get one soon.
I just want to know what “house shoes” are – is that a southern thing?
That is so funny since I grew up saying house shoes as well. I guess others would know them as slippers or house slippers.
I was so tickled to see “house shoes” in her post. my Mom always said that for slippers.
You will NOT regret the Ninja!. And even if you do that’s what the return department is for. But you won’t!
And yes, 8 is the new 13. Which makes 13 a reallllllly long year.
I am sorry to disagree with previous writers, but we DETEST our Ninja for smoothies.
Love it for veggies- HATE it for smoothies.
Prior to the Ninja we used a 30+ yr old Vitamix- maybe this spoiled us?
The Ninja ONLY chops the fruit at the bottom of the container. Which means you have to scrape it out and return the top portion of unchopped fruit. Messy, time consuming, irritating, aggravating, maddening. It makes me want to scream- and I am a calm person.
The instructions also say to only chop in short bursts. Again- annoying.
WAY too high maintenance for me. I need a working blender.
In the interest of keeping my blood pressure at a minimum, I have promised myself to never make a smoothie with a Ninja again. We read a number of reviews prior to our purchase, but wish we had passed on this item.
You made a good call based upon our experience.
Sitting Shoes-love it!!!!!
Apparently, the Ninja was THE hot item for Dirty Santa this year. My 25 year old son was crushed (as crushed as you could be at a celebration) that he did not get the Ninja for his Dirty Santa gift. He was jonesing for it.
As far as Caroline goes? THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!!!
If you have a Costco membership they will be on sale starting March 8 for $25 off!!
Can’t wait to get ours.
I am a firefighter, and we have the Ninja at the firestation. It is the only thing we have not been able to tear up…
That should say a LOT about the quality!
You should watch the infomercial about the Ninja. I got ours at Bed, Bath & Beyond because we needed a new blender and then saw the infomercial and was impressed that it could do so much stuff!! Pizza dough, cookies, snow cones!!
Well, I think I may be your only reader without a Ninja.
Anyway, I do have a daughter and she is 11 and it does scare me a bit to know that she is on the brink of womanhood. Actually, it scares me A LOT!! But I have enjoyed watching her grow up and yes, the emotions start so early!
I have an 11 year old. It isn’t so much the whole drama thing as it is the sassy mouth thing. She is about to drive me nuts with that and the I don’t think I have to do what you tell me to do thing. It honestly makes me want to pull my hair out as I’m drinking a liter of liquor.
The bit about the liquor didn’t sound very Christian. I promise I am not drinking a liter of liquor. I just feel like could sometimes.
Wow! My husband is really big into smoothies. We have started fixing them every morning for breakfast. Like you it makes me feel healthy. We don’t have a Ninja but it sounds like if our blender breaks that is what we should get.
BUY THE NINJA! It is the best thing ever! And I mean ever! I make smoothies with it and have owned many blender and this one is hands down the best! I have had it for two years and it has never once disappointed me.
I don’t have have a 9 year old any more but fourteen years ago my oldest daughter was 11 years old and it was definitely a terrible time! But my other daughter sailed through puberty with only a few terrible teen moments, thank the Lord Almighty. Keep praying, you’ll all need it.
My girls always started to get more moody around 9-ish. My 9.5 year old is deep in the throes of it. Seems a shame– she used to be so easy-going. But sanity will return. Someday.
I love reading your ramblings.
Mary
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a wonderful book! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did- and I am not a science and medicine girl either. Leaving Target and spending less than $15 is truly a miracle- I don’t know if I have ever done that. I am in awe : )
Funny, I just ordered a blender yesterday from Amazon. I went for a Krups. It was pricey but the reviews were amazing. Now that I think about it, they were probably written by Krups employees, but whatever. They boasted of the motor starting off slow then intensifying for less splash. SOLD. We’re doing smoothies a few times a week and the fear of getting splashed milk on me while pouring it in the top hole while it’s running is truly terrifying.
I too have a daughter who is 8 going on 13 – I have this hope that it will all be out of her system by the time she actually is a teenager! Also, had the exact same Target trip a few weeks ago – had the Ninja in and out of the cart, worried that it wouldn’t really live up to it’s claims and couldn’t commit. Now I have to go read the comments to see what everyone is recommending!
Also, less than $50 at Target – truly a miracle. It was only a year ago that I learned you don’t have to sign when you spend under $50!
ooh, I have to say, about the blender… my mom has a Ninja and makes smoothies every morning for her breakfast. She loves it! For a while after she got it every time I visited all she wanted to talk about was her awesome new blender… I get a smoothie every time I visit, too!
“Sitting shoes”- not even Jessica Simpson has sitting shoes. I think you’ve just discovered an unfilled fashion niche! You may be right that eight is the new thirteen. We have a ten year old granddaughter that switched overnight from a childin to a teen. It was quite a shock.
Ahhh yes, the age of eight. Enjoy. You will be on an emotional roller coaster until her 16th birthday. 8-11… She is THINKING she is independent 12-14… She will be BEGGING to be independent. 15…thinking that YOU are the one that is stifling her independence. SIXTEEN… She can drive herself to Mc Donald’s and all is right with the world again.
Hi Melanie – Listen up. I never, EVER comment but this is really important. Skip the Ninja (I tried it) and make the major investment for a Vitamix. I know you will think there is no way any blender could justify this price but – trust me – this is like nothing you have ever used in your kitchen. If you live near a costco and can go when they are having a vitamix demo – take your husband. If he is a tool guy and understands the beauty of buying quality tools, he will totally be on board for this purchase. The minute the demo guy revved up that motor my husband was sold. This thing will blend the hardest fruits and veggies into a silkly smooth commercial-quality smoothie in seconds. Seriously – go for it – you will NEVER regret it.
I second the Vitamix. It’s the Rolls Royce of blenders. We use the snot out of ours.
Wow, that sounded disgusting. But trust me, the Vitamix will not disappoint.
EXCEPT, the Vitamix is extremely tall. We like our blender on the counter, and it wouldn’t fit on the counter under the cabinets. So back it went and we bought the BlendTec, which I think is great. With the Vitamix I was constantly having to tamp down the food. The BlendTec hasn’t required a single tamp-down with the exact same recipes.
Loved Henrietta Lacks – doesn’t feel like a non-fiction book about science and other things I can spell, but have no idea what they mean. I was absorbed in it and read it in about 3 days. I, too, was a book club member sucked into reading a “science” book. All turned out okay.
Sorry to tell you this, but you’re about to the age of the eye-roll. At 14, we’re still there, and I’m not sure if it will ever end. I am apparently the most ridiculous mother on the face of the earth. At least on some days.
I don’t know anything about the Ninja, but I do have a Blendtec (which is essentially the same thing as a Vitamix). And I have to agree with the previous comments- that it is an expensive and it is worth every penny. I use it multiple times a day. For everything from making smoothies, to salsa, snow cones, ice cream, soup and even pancakes with whole wheat berries. We love it!
Ah, puberty. Last summer, my 9 yr, 10 month old daughter began “budding” and started getting more emotional than usual. I freaked. My husband said, “It’s nothing. She’s just going through a growth spurt. She’s just tired.” Then I did some reasearch and discovered that the median age for girls to start puberty now is…..9 years, 10 months. OOOOOh, the dismay!! I cried. I was 11 before anything started happening to my body, and 14 before menses…the thought of my LITTLE GIRL going through all that when she was still supposed to be playing with dolls and riding her bike and climbing trees and rolling down hills with her sisters just broke me. The only thing that made me feel even a little bit better is that it takes a few years for all the changes to happen, so she may be closer to being a teen before the big changes come. For now, though, we just work on her attitude…just because she’s getting hormones doesn’t mean it’s OK to be sassy, and being disrespectful and snappish to anyone NOW is still just as wrong (and punishable) as it was before. So. There are ways to sail the pubertal seas (don’t even know if “pubertal” is a word, but it works, so…) and come out of the storm still the MOTHER and friends with your woman child (I AM SO “SPEAKING PROPHETICALLY” HERE, as we are only at 10 yrs, 5 months, but I am looking at my 17 yr old nieces and seeing how well THEY sailed – and their mothers – and expecting to repeat that history in my own house!).
This is so helpful Shannon! Thank you
I am reading that book right now and I can hardly put it down. I am surprised by how much like it because I don’t normally like this kind of book.
I thought the book was a little light on the technical stuff, but I’m a science geek. I hope you enjoy it because it’s a great story.
I have a feeling my husband would PAY ME $100 if I only spent $14 at Target. It’s like I normally spend $1 for every step in that store. Oh, I love Target.
“Sitting shoe” sounds so very Downton Abbey. I hear it with a British accent in my head.
What healthy smoothie recipes are you using? I’d love to know since I want to lose 30 pounds before we go to the beach in 4 weeks.
ha!
I’m a writing professor – I don’t do science. But I LOVED Henrietta. At its heart is a book about humanity. You will LOVE it, I know.
I thought I was alone in categorizing my shoes by how they should be used. I have practical shoes (read flats) that are for shopping and walking and then ridiculous heels that are far too high that are eating and meeting shoes. You do NOT want to shop or walk in the eating and meeting shoes!
I don’t drink smoothies, rarely do I chop an onion and in our 5 years of marriage I’ve used our blender 3 times and all three were for margaritas…however now I want a Ninja after reading the comments. I am also pregnant with our second child and this time we are having a GIRL…I’m hoping the ninja comes with a lifetime warranty because if the hormones are like that at 8 I have a feeling I will need to make a lot of margaritas in the future.
I just bought this blender and I love it! So easy and only one thing to clean!
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=oster+blender&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=6348098187275318700&sa=X&ei=lLJPT-PQG4SPsQKRzpzCDg&ved=0CJ8BEPMCMAU
Sonic is new around here and I JUST had my first experience the other day and LOVED IT! The fried chicken sandwich. I know, FRIED is not good for you but when you are going to eat “fast food” you might as well go big or go home. De-lightful.
I don’t own a Ninja, however I loved my old “smoothie maker” which was a Phillips brand dealie that looked like an emersion blender but had the power of a monster truck motor and it broke. They do not make it any longer! I almost called Japan! Replaced it with another emersion type thing and it just doesn’t have the power to make even a sub-par smoothie. All these comments are tempting me to go get one. It would beat the heck out paying $400 for a Vita-Mix which I’ve heard are beyond amazing.
Between full-time studying for the bar exam and then 6 months of freelancing, I spent more time in Starbucks in 2011 than anywhere else, including my own house. What a treasure trove of people watching. For awhile I was unkempt girl with many highlighters, ha! I read Henrietta Lacks last year. It’s a super interesting topic (I’d studied some of the legal cases she mentions in school so that was kind of a nice tie-in) and makes for great discussion. I didn’t care at all for her writing style so I don’t really rave about it, but from the responses I’ve gotten that puts me in the minority
The book can drag at times, but thinking about the entire story being true is just incredible. I enjoyed the book.
go. back. and. buy. the. ninja! i got mine at bed bath and beyond (20% off coupon) because our family loves smoothies and milkshakes. the best ever! our last blender was a quality brand (cuisenart) but could not effectively blend frozen ingredients. you will love the ninja.
Things that made me laugh today:
1) ‘fresh horror’
2) shoes that ‘don’t go’ with my life
3) ‘they are more of a sitting shoe’
love it!
I can’t speak for the Ninja but we have a Blendtec and LOVE it! My boys love it most in the summer because of ice cream, milk shakes and ice (like snow) for snow cones. My daughter (who is 16 now – you WILL survive by the way – ages 8 through 11 are tough but it gets better) loves smoothies. And my favorite is that it can make peanut butter. If you’re trying to eat healthier and like peanut butter then making your own is a must! I will never eat Jif again – and this is coming from someone who was given a jar of Jif with a spoon for my birthday one year. haha The Blendtec is a bit pricey but so worth it.
Agreed. Very impressed and happy with our Blendtec. It’s a little loud, but it works beautifully. And the blade isn’t sharp so I don’t have to worry about cutting myself or shredding my rubber spatulas when I’m getting that last bit of smoothie out.
The Ninja, huh? Who knew!
Hi Melanie,
If you are seriously considering a new blender I highly recommend outlaying the cash for the
“Vitamix”. It’s expensive but it is a wonder and the motor is so powerful. It is the same unit they use at the Jamba Juice franchises (Juice bars here in California.) You can use it for making smoothies, ice cream, use it as a food processor and you can even make hot soup in it. No kidding! It comes with a recipe book and an instruction video that shows all the neat things you can do with it. They run about $350.00 but they usually have a special on them at the county fair during summertime. I love mine, have had it for years and don’t expect I’ll ever need to replace it so I consider it a worthy lifetime investment. Just my two cents.
Have a great day!
“more of a sitting shoe” !!!!! LOL! I thought I was the only one who could classify a shoe as such, but then there was you and I’m no longer alone.
go get the ninja.
if it can puree rock hard frozen strawberries (it can), there’s nothing it can’t do and there’s no need to splurge on a vitamix or spendy equivalent. we use the ninja all the time for smoothies, to puree veggies to hide them from veggie fearers, for PW’s salsa, and for baby food. it’s a dream. it saves so much time. all you have to do is quarter an onion or bell pepper, throw it in, and the ninja will turn it to LIQUID in no time. i can’t oversell this thing. hie thee hither melanie.
You must get the Ninja. It will revolutionize your blending. The hubs and I make smoothies for breakfast every day, and for about 2 years I had to listen to constant grumbling about the substandard nature of our blender (we’ve been through two). The Ninja has ceased the grumbling and made everything better. It is the perfect blender. Amen.
Melanie – so many people have strong feelings about blenders! Who knew? I just wanted to say that I think what you are describing in Target is shop therapy at its finest. I live in a Chicago and our Targets are all little with multiple floors and elevators. Some times on vacation, I visit large suburban Targets to just roam and relax. Its blissful. Will you share out one of your favorite smoothie recipies? We’ve got about 6 more months of winter left here in Chicago, but when it warms up…I love a good smoothie.
Mel, I just love your writing style! You can take what is to you a “lame” day and make it funny & interesting! I love your “thought process”! Keep up the great work!
Looks like there is a consensus on the Ninja. I spent 2 months shopping them and finally took the plunge. It is a great blender. Though I have to say it’s not the greatest for juicing, which it claims to do pretty well. Scott makes us a protein shake every morning and we decided to kick it up a notch one day by adding kale. Cade cried when he took a sip and said (with tears and all), “Mommy, I don’t like it. It’s a little salad-y.” Smart boy.
It was indeed a little salad-y. Blech. So now we juice our greens and Ninja our fruits with protein powder and dark chocolate almond butter.
You’re going to be sorry you skipped the skinny jeans and bought the book. I got it at the library and I ONLY finished it because I am incapable of not finishing a book. It is indeed about all things medical and is a slogger. I guarantee that a person who likes Friday Night Lights will be so disappointed in this book.
I personally reccomend the Magic Bullet, but maybe this one is even better. I don’t know. I love my Bullet. It’s also easy to clean. About the 8 being the new 13, I wouldn’t know, because my oldest daughter acted 13 since she was 3! She’s now 11 and hasn’t changed much except that her vocabulary has increased which is not a good thing, trust me! My younger one is 9 and she’s had her moments. In fact, I do believe the first she rolled her eyes at me she was 8. Hmmm, maybe 8 is the new 13. They say puberty happens earlier these days. So far that hasn’t happened yet with either and I started at 12, so clearly Angela isn’t going to be significantly earlier than I was. And thank you for praying for me. I can use all the prayer I can get and yes, it sent a warm feeling through me just knowing your praying for me, so again, thank you.
I don’t even own a blender. Sad.
Oh, and I love the new comment boxes. They are new, right?
Maybe I’m not very bright, but I use a $24 Cuisinart stick blender from Sur La Table for my smoothies. I’ve had it for 2 years – it comes with the big cup, I put my coconut milk/frozen fruits/goat milk yogurt/protein powder/ground flaxseed in it & it’s done & I clean it in a flash & move on. A blender for that sounds like a lot of extra work to me!
(Lest you underestimate my compulsive tendencies, I have a Kitchen Aid blender, a juicer, & a Vitamix compliments of my sweet & generous friend Julie. Using those takes time management. Take it from me – throw a little green stuff like kale or spinach or bok choy – Dr. Oz says it’s a superfood! – in your smoothie & you’ll feel like a total health nut champ with your little ole immersion stick!)
Happy blending! Loved praying over everyone, & loved the reminder that so many of us go through tough things that we are hesitant to share. That makes my own “burdens” feel lighter, too. Thank you for allowing your blog to be a blessing to so many.
I, too, drive a Volvo wagon. I got in it the other day — a week after having all my bulbs replaced, thank you very much — and had a message that said “transmission service required.” A few minutes later, the message changed to “brake failure – stop safely.” I love Volvos. They’re so polite. (As it turns out, the actual problem was a communication failure and the car is fine. I’m $120 poorer since that’s what it costs for a factory-trained technician to read a computer, but whatever.)
Love that book. Everyone should read it.
Again and again you make me laugh out loud.
I am waiting to hear about your blender decision…our blender is weird and puts off a strange smell. I’m pretty sure that the area around the turny thing under the blender jar (does any of that even make sense?) is NOT supposed to be black after using.
P.S. I do not understand jean designers who make jeans that don’t cover bottoms. This trend is alarming. I have experienced it too. Unfortunately, the older I get the less bottom coverage I find is available. I refuse to wear pants that have a waistline two inches above my belly button, though. Sorry, folks. The answer might be longer shirts…
I would love to have a Vitamix or BlendTec but just can’t bring myself to spend the money. Loved reading all the reviews of the Ninja. Did you decide if you’re getting one? Would love to read your review on it too!
I have just got off the phone, where I made an appointment with the pediatrician to have my 8-year old daughter’s iron levels tested. I am hoping the extreme irritability is due to anemia, not to the fact she is the world’s angriest child. Oh, my, how I treasure the .5 minutes a day she is the sweet, happy little girl she used to be!