I have a confession about myself that I really have to share today.  A tale of foolish speech, if you will.

On occasion, I come down with a serious case of …

verbal diarrhea.  

 Hopefully you all know what I’m talking about.  Maybe it’s even happened to you.

I did it bad the other night.  And I’m not going to explain specifics here, but I have to tell you….I have spent 2 full days and 3 nights still feeling mortified over it myself!

MORTIFIED!

In my efforts to bring up a real valid point the other day, I ended up completely embarrassing myself and I think mortifying the poor recipient of my loose tongue as well. In the midst of sharing a legitimate thought, I was caught off guard by an additional thought and then blurted out the next thing that came through my mind!  AWFUL…truly awful.  (Anytime you can use the word “blurt” in relaying a story, you can be sure that it’s generally not going to lead to a moment of utter wisdom.)

Since sadly, I’m not a stranger to this phenomenon, I always hope that I haven’t done permanent damage to how the other person feels about me or to a relationship.  In this instance, I don’t think I have, but maybe… I just don’t know for sure.  So I do the only thing that I know how to do and ask for forgiveness for my complete stupidity.  After that I am left with no other choice but to move on and hope they can truly forgive and move on too…and also that I don’t make the same mistake again….EVER!  (So now I’m going to take my own advice and move on…let it go!  Deep breath…let go!)

Anyways, I just had to tell you…it seems I will spend my life with no shortage of “Tales of a Lesser Woman.”

“Many words mark the speech of a fool.” – Ecc 5:3

Less words next time Logan….Less words!

Hope today that you keep your mouth shut better than me!

– Logan

Saturday!  Hello love!

The Hubs has a huge project at work right now and so is having to work from 6am-noon today.  Bummer!  The boys and I got out of the house at about 8:15 and walked all around my neighborhood for over an hour.  Glory glory!  Loving this amazing weather…hope it sticks!

I’m so new to this whole blogging thing as most of you know.  And over the past few days I’ve ended up sort of dancing around a whole bunch of blogs of people I don’t know at all, but really think it’d be fun to get to know.  Now, I’m really big on relationships and by no means do I want to take time away from people in my here and now, but I love that this avenue connects people with similar interests and because of that really offers some fun inspiration.  I’ve heard in church over the years that true community is born from shared interests or activities, so I think it’s neat to see how this avenue seems to offer that, even spanning time and distance.  And I can’t help but think as I’ve surfed around several people’s sites, that I’ve been surprised at what I’m seeing, displayed in the flesh and shared all around, so much of this :

A good woman is hard to find,         
   and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
   and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
   all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
   and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
   and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
   for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
   then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
   rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
   is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
   diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
   reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
   their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
   and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
   when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
   brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
   and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
   and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
   and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
   her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
   but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
   The woman to be admired and praised
   is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
   Festoon her life with praises!

Kinda cool huh?  Biblical model of womanhood…displayed on the internet!

Bring it ladies!

– Logan

I took the day off from writing yesterday. 

Our church sent a team to Haiti this past week (the 3rd in a year…the Hubs went last September) and several of my friends’ hubbies have been gone (the team gets home late tonight.)  Anyways, my friend A came yesterday and spent the night with us last night.  We made jewelry last night and a carrot cake today (I’ll post that recipe sometime too…it’s amazing.) It was a blast, and I figured noone would hold it against me to skip a day of writing in order to be a better friend than a blogger.  Sorry if your’e disappointed…just the way it’s gonna be around here.

And, yesterday I’d decided if I did get a chance to write that I was going to do a write-up on steam mops.  I have one and know lots of people who are interested, and I did loads of research before I bought mine, so I figured I’d pass along the info…which I will soon, but not today afterall.

You know I told you the other day that I have spring fever?!  Well, if the other day started it, then the sunny 70’s today have solidified it.  I’ve got it bad.  And the picnic outside today at lunch, and watching my boys get dirty in our yard having a blast…oh man, makes my heart happy as a lark (whatever that means…I really don’t personally know the happiness level of a lark, but it must be high.)  It was great!  And you know the Rainbows I was dying to pull out the other day…YES!  Today was the day…and my feet really do look like something from caveman days!  Whatever…..

So, today instead I have to just share with you a few pictures that speak a thousand words to me!

LOVE me some dirty feet…well, maybe I just love those particular feet.

This looks like Little Bit is petting our dog so gently, but really Redd (the dog) was actually just gobbling up the rest of Little Bit’s ham sandwich.

Below, Tid Bit was having a blast blowing bubbles for his little brother.  I just LOVE to see them actually starting to play together!  And then he was having me announce “the races” in which he magically won every single one!  Amazing how that happens often when you’re 4…

I promise I’ll post soon about the steam mops.  I even had Tid Bit give it a really good test around the kitchen again at our house yesterday.  It definitely works great, even if the user happens to be a really cute 4 year-old.  More to come on this subject soon…the steam mop reviews, not the cute 4 year-old….ok, so maybe the cute 4 year-old some too.

If you live in the south, get off your computer as soon as you can and head outside to enjoy the GLORIOUS DAY!!!

– Logan

Today was gorgeous outside….but I wouldn’t really have known it, because for part of the day, I was in here…

It was my first time, and like the first time with a lot of things, you find yourself in over your head!  My husband and I joked that it was a vortex that sucks you in and steals your day.

Now most of you all know that when it comes to decorating, design, home stuff in general, I’m not overwhelmed…at all.  But today when we left, I really just needed to get a massage, or a pedicure, or take a bath with candles and silence….but since we were trying then to salvage our quality time together sans kiddos, we settled for a beer over a late lunch instead.  I do confess that still felt completely insufficient in my quest to unwind though.

I, like many of you, have heard tales of Ikea greatness for years.  And like many people, I’ve always thought most of it was just crap, which is why I’ve never gone.  And some of it is.  But today I wanted to look at cabinets to redo our laundry room, which is a constant source of cluttered frustration.  It’s our laundry room, so as long as it looks decent, I’m not looking for top shelf quality anyways.  I will tell you, that while it’s still not in the budget completely right now, I did find exactly what I wanted.  So the trip wasn’t entirely in vain even if it did leaving me feeling a little nauseous in the end.

So here’s my take on Ikea…

If you know exactly what you want, or exactly what problem you need a solution for, it’s probably pretty fabulous.  There was pretty much anything you can imagine in there…I mean, really…anything, and it was cheap!  But the beef that I have with the store is pretty much their entire bread and butter…they FORCE you to meander through the entire store to get to anything (thereby hoping you will buy anything, which likely works or they wouldn’t do it!.)  There really is just one route through the entire store and the place is freaking massive!  If you have any propensity for getting sidetracked at all, then plan on taking a sleeping bag with your for your overnight accomodations.  Reall, there is SO much to see, and if you don’t have a game plan, then you’re going to spend too much money on cheap stuff that you don’t need, and you’ll spend HOURS in the place.  Like I said, today was gorgeous, but I didn’t even know it til 2pm when we finally emerged from within!

Here’s the problem…well, one problem anyways.  I think your first time there, like any virginal voyage, you’ll basically just stumble your way through with no real clue what you’re doing. It’s a rite of passage I think.  You must have a day like we did today, just to get it out of the way.  It probably gets better every time you do it.  (But I won’t be doing it often because there’s not one in my hometown.)

And save yourself additional headache…Don’t take your kids. (Yes, they have an entire kid zone where you can drop them off, but truly…spare yourself…and leave the kids at home.  I was glad we had left ours with my parents.)

So, at the end of the day here’s how I feel…

And I might go back.

But not for awhile.

And next time I’ll have a plan…and a mapped out escape route!

– Logan

Admit it, the title caught your attention!  And if it didn’t, then this will!

Ok ok… so the Hanky Panky I’m talking about here is a brand…not you know, bowm chicka bow wow!

But for real…aren’t they cute?

Half of you are looking at the picture to the left and thinking “YEAH RIGHT!  You’d have to force me to even try and get my fat tookis in a pair of those!”  And some of you are thinking “SO Cute…I already have 4 pairs.”  And then there are those of you who’d have used pregnancy as an excuse for hideous underoos, but that excuse is clearly gone for you now since I’m even showing a picture of a pregnant woman sporting them.

I’m not saying now that I’m trying to make you give up your cottony, panty-line-showing, up-to-your-eyeballs underoos for your whole life, but I am saying…forgo them for one day for your honey’s sake (or if you’re single, then for your own sake!)

Now clearly you know after my post regarding The Jello Jog the other day, the above pictures are clearly not me.  And you may be thinking that just because you may do a jello jog too means that you have no business sporting something so lacy and small….but check this out:

These gals are no emaciated models…look, their thighs even touch.  And without airbrushing, maybe they have a little jello jog too.  But doesn’t look as bad as you’d have thought huh?  I do think that we can all remember here for a minute though that the saying is true “Tan fat is better than pale fat.” (Thank you to Suzanne Fawsett from high school for that important word of truth.) So I’m thinking a little self tanner in your Valentine’s basket o’goodies might not be a bad idea either.

But for real now.  I’m not gonna lie…they’re about $18 a pair, but you will love them.  You’ll never guess who turned my family on to these gems.  Seriously…you’ll die when I tell you.

My DAD!

Ok ok…before you think we’re really weird, he read about them in the Wall Street Journal which to him is pretty much like Biblical evidence of truth.  If it’s in The Journal, then it must be true as far as he is concerned.  The man doesn’t watch a movie without a hearty nod of approval from Joe Morganstern in The Wall Street Journal.

So check this out.  Some quotes from the article published in June of 2004:

Ok, so that’s enough of the article…but you get the idea.  My dad got them for my mom, who thought they were so fabulous that she got them for my sister and me.  Yes, my mom did give my sister and me thong underwear. (Did I mention to you that my parents have been married 36 years?!  Not saying that thong underwear deserves the credit for that, but probably doesn’t hurt huh?)  And now…here I am, a few years later telling you all “YOU MUST BUY JUST ONE PAIR!”

So here’s the deal.  Order a pair, or buy them from a dept store.  Your husband won’t even be mad (unless you maybe buy lots of pairs) because he’ll be so amazed you’ve given up the Hanes for just one day.

Trust me people.  It’s like a good recipe.  And you know I don’t share a recipe that isn’t worth sharing.

So go out there and get you some….Hanky Panky that is!

*wink* wink*

– Logan

PS. If you are a man who has just semi-suffered through this post…then go out and buy a pair for your wife.  And if she gets mad at your for trying to pry her away from the Hanes…tell her I told you to do it.