Life With The Stanfords

Frivolous List Friday (13)

Because of tonight's lunar fantastickness, this week's list is: Great Things About The Moon.

Like a woman, it changes moods so easily. A full moon can be sooo romantic in the Summer, very spooky in the Fall, whimsical when it has a rainbow light around it, awe-inspiring when it's low and huge and orange.

It reflects the Sun, which, if you're a bible teacher, is very useful in the spiritual analogies department.

The moon is fun to look at with the kids. Mine like to say Cookie Monster took a bite out of it when it's not a full moon. I know that's silly, but, whatever.

The moon lights up the night. When the moon is really full, it gives off a white light that is so fairy-like. Everything looks magical.

It makes for some good songs. Blue Moon, By The Light of the Silvery Moon, Yellow Moon, Moon Over Bourbon Street, Shine On Harvest Moon, what else? There must be tons more.

OK, have a great weekend. We are partying like it's 1999 this weekend. Will have fun details on Monday, I hope.

Frivolous List Friday (12)

It's Christmas time and gift-giving is in full swing. It always reminds me of the nice things I've received over the years, so the list for this week is: The Best Gifts I've Ever Received. As always, I'd love for you to share your greatest gifts in the comments.

I wrote an article for Louisiana Life magazine when I was in college. A friend of mine had the magazine cover and article professionally framed. To this day, that's the most stunning gift I've ever received.

When I was pregnant and alone, I mentioned to a lady I knew how much I loved her terry cloth bathrobe from Victoria's Secret. The next day, I had a red, terry cloth robe from Victoria's Secret hanging on my door when I got home. I still wear it - 12 years later!

My friend Cathy sent me a beautiful cross-stitched work that she did herself (it would have taken me years to do it) out of the blue when I was still a single mom. She had no idea that it came at the perfect time to remind me of God's love for me. I cried and cried when I received it.

Right after I had my third child, I was feeling really yucky. You know that feeling - fat! I mentioned that I just didn't feel beautiful anymore in a small group of ladies at church. The next Sunday when I went to get in my car, there was a beautifully wrapped gift from Victoria's Secret on the seat. Inside was a gorgeous silk nightgown and a card that read, "I think you're beautiful. -- God" I'm tearing up right now just thinking about it.

For our second anniversary, my husband took me to The Court of Two Sisters restaurant in New Orleans, bought me sapphire earrings and treated me to a night in the Le Meridien Hotel. That was fabulous! But the greatest gift he ever gave me was right after we fell in love. I was at work after staying up all night talking with him. The front desk rang me to let me know I had a visitor. It was Jade. He had brought me a big, steaming cup of cappucino. My feet didn't touch the floor the rest of the day.

OK, there's my list. Isn't it lovely to take a moment and remember all those gifts along the way? Truly, they are a sign of God's love for us. We are all so "gifted", aren't we?

Frivolous List Friday (8)

I'm still a little upset about the fact that I have a mommy blog. But, it has made me start thinking about mommy stuff. I was just thinking of all the things that make my house look clean and smell nice - my cleaning products.

I think women may consider their cleaning products the way they do their makeup. We all have our favorite colors, brands and smells, but we're always looking for something new and improved! I would really love to hear what your favorite cleaning products are. You know, the really special ones that stand out. Here are my Favorite Cleaning Products:

Fabuloso (the blue kind) - Hilda is my friend who came to clean my house when I was on bedrest. The house always smelled fabulous when she was done. She told me she uses Fabuloso on everything - the floors, bathroom and kitchen. It smells really good.

Scott's Liquid Gold Wood Preservative - This is furniture polish. It has an almond scent. It makes my wood furniture really shiny and makes it smell expensive.

Clorox Cleanup - This is the greatest cleaning product ever made in my opinion. It takes out stains, it disinfects, and it makes my house smell like I've been cleaning all day. Also, it takes the zoo smell out of my bathroom (I do have two small boys whose aim is not so good).

Febreze - Yes, this is a standard. I figured out that my carpets smell nice longer and aren't powdery if I spray this on my carpet after I vacuum. I like that much better than the powder carpet deodorizers.

  Lampe Berger - OK, this is not really a cleaning product, but it's the icing on the cake of a clean house. I love to light my Lampe Berger lamp after I finish cleaning everything. My two favorite scents are green tea and wild grass.

There's my list. Go forth and clean (and have a nice weekend).

Frivolous List Friday (6)

We're getting ready to go to the mountains in North Carolina next week. It should be beautiful...and cold. I'm unpacking the kids' sweaters and long pants. I'm also going to have to buy something more suitable than flip-flops for them to wear on their feet. All of this activity is making me think of the joys of Fall. So that's the list: The Best Things About Fall...

The smell of smoke, either a good outdoor fire or chimney smoke. Why does smoke smell so good in cold weather?

 

Soup. Warm my toes, make me cozy, fill me up soup. My favorites are taco soup and crawfish and corn soup. And, of course, a good gumbo, Cher! I could eat soup everyday.

 

Super hot showers. I always get cold at night and it seems like the only way to get warmed up is a good, steamy shower. Love it!

 

Candles. You know the ones that smell like cinnamon or apples or pumpkins or vanilla. Happy smells.

I have many more food-related Fall favorites. Enough for another post. Another day. What about you? What's the best about Fall?

Frivolous List Friday (5)

Changing seasons seem to bring out the mushiness and sentimentality in everyone I know. I've been reading the sweetest blogs about people's children and families. I think, also, with the prospective economic fallout, people are focusing a lot more on what matters most.

So, that brings me to this week's list:  How I Tell My Kids I Love Them. This list was an idea from my friend Cathy, a children's minister. Here's my list...

I take them to the store with me. I'm usually trying to sneak off by myself, so when I pick one of the kids to go with me to the store, it's pretty special. (Incidentally, have you ever tried to steer one of these babies through Wal-Mart? Make sure you're prayed up or medicated).

I let them play with Play-Doh. I love the idea of Play-Doh, but in reality, I hate it. When love and joy overflow from my heart for my kids or if I've been behaving like a wicked stepmother, I let them have it. Play-Doh, that is. (Aren't those kids in the picture cute? Notice how the Play-Doh is not in their hair or on the cabinets and the colors aren't mixed into a brownish-gray blob. Yes, they're robots.)

I let them eat in the den. Food does not travel outside the confines of our kitchen. Our critter problem is bad enough without giving the little suckers an invitation to every corner of the house. So, when the kids have been angels, we pop in a movie and sit on the floor of the den to eat. This is a spectacular treat in our house.

We "do a project" together. This requires mental preparation on my part, but if I take the time and cook apple fritters with them or paint or make something fun together, it's the greatest. Those are the nights they will tell me before they go to sleep that I'm the best mommy ever and they love me even when I'm mean to them (isn't that sweet?).

I snuggle them. Sadly, this doesn't happen often enough around here. When we're able to pile up on the couch together and just talk for a few minutes, I'm on top of the world. They actually behave better afterward, too. Snuggling on the couch is a miracle cure for ugly behavior in our family.

That's my list. What's yours? Got any creative ideas for making your kids "feel the love"? Share, please. And don't forget to go to church on Sunday. God will surely love on you there.

Frivolous List Friday (4)

The seasons they are a changin'. That can only mean one thing - it's time to pull out the hand-me-down boxes. I do this twice a year because I'm trying to earn my way to heaven with continual self-flagellation (no, I did not say flatulation - c'mon people!). But seriously, here's what we, I mean I, do...

I wash everyone's clothes and put them all away. Then I empty out everyone's closets and drawers and make three piles:  throw away, Goodwill and hand-me-down for the younger, less fortunate sibling. After that, I pull all the boxes out of the barn and have a massive try-on. The kids like this as much as they like eating salad. Yeah, that's right, they don't. I put all those clothes away in drawers, pack up future hand-me-downs in the boxes and put them back in the barn for six months. Then we go shopping to make up the lack. That shopping thing deserves it's own post, some other time when the wound is still fresh.

That little intro leads me to our list - Closet Cuties! Since Mama doesn't get new clothes very often, I need to be reminded of all that is right with my old clothes. So, I am poring through my closet looking for all the really awesome clothing choices I've made. These include classics I'll wear 'til I die and groovy stuff I just like. Please, please, please share your good stuff with me! Send me pics of your best stuff and tell me why it's your best stuff. OK, here we go:

This is my Audrey Hepburn dress. It is awesome because I bought it at Target a few years ago and I still love it and it was cheap! Notice the belt. It looks really good, but last month I tied a wide, red grosgrain bow around the waist. Smashing! This dress is perfect for everything - cocktails, church, funerals, weddings, Wal-Mart, you name it. Just kidding about the Wal-Mart thing. (Oh wait, is that a doorknob on the shelf? You better believe it. This is a totally "green" closet. The previous homeowners refashioned the door to my closet as a closet shelf. I know. I know. Too cool for words.)

Here is my H-O-T-T HOT Banana Republic dress. I got this little honey for $30 a couple of years ago. It was worth every penny. I just hope this thing fits when I go to my sister-in-law's wedding in a couple of weeks. I'm scared to try. Let's all say a prayer.

 

Love this pink cashmere sweater. I'm a sucker for cashmere, even if it is cheap cashmere. I think I got this for $15 at Old Navy last year. It is so lovely. The color and the cut are just wonderful. And look at the long gathered sleeves. Soooo pretty!

 

This is my fashion-forward black velvet jacket from Cato. Can you believe - Cato? Actually, this is the most expensive buy on this list. It cost $60 a couple of years ago. It sort of has military styling, but it's also really feminine. It looks great with jeans and boots or over a brightly colored dress. Tres Chic.

Lastly, the grooviest purchase I've ever made. Really, for me these are just over the top. They are pure awesomeness. My Bongo wedges. Look at the heels on these things. LOVE IT! I can't wear these for long because they kill my bunions and my sciatic nerve, but when I want to pretend I'm 20 again, these do the trick.

Thanks for looking at my closet with me. Maybe my clothing situation is not quite as desperate as I once thought. If it is, don't tell me. Ignorance is bliss. Happy weekend!

Frivolous List Friday (3)

Today's list is brought to you by my loving genius of a husband, Jade. He knows everything there is to know about fixing cars (and trucks, vans, SUVs, etc.) I wish you guys lived here so he could fix your car. He is so nice to his customers; he's honest and he's cute, ya'll! Here's the list:

Things You Should Look For In A Two-Year Old Car You Want To Keep More Than Three Years (Editor's Note: Please do not feel pressure to add to this list. I realize this is pretty specific, but I just love it when my husband talks shop. It's so sexy. You should hear him quote tire sizes. Whew! Hot! I couldn't resist - I must have an anniversary hangover!):

No European makes - My take: These things aren't cheap and easy to begin with, don't expect the maintenance to be either. Hey, was that a comparison of cars to women? Purely unintentional, I assure you.

Not necessarily low mileage, but preferably highway driven versus city driven - My take: You know how hard it is to sit in traffic (especially with kids) and how stressed out you get? Apparently cars feel the same way.

 

Record of regular maintenance (oil changes, fluid services) - My take: Yes, of course.

Not from the North if you live in the South (salt corrosion) - My take: Here's the deal - the Yanks put salt on their roads to de-ice them. That salt water gets splattered on the undercarriage of all their vehicles. It's not as bad if you stay in the North, but if you move that vehicle down to good ol' humid Dixie, that sucker's gonna rust like an iron skillet left in the sink overnight. See example below - not pretty.

 

Not purchased from anyone whose name or dealership begins with "Honest". My take - Same as if someone begins a sentence, "To be honest,..." Get ready for a lie.

No fluid leaks - My take: That's right, dear. You tell 'em.

So, there you have it. I'm pretty sure you won't find another list like this in the whole wide blogosphere. Perhaps that's as it should be. Have a lovely weekend.

Frivolous List Friday 2...

OK, so now that we have the Favorite Romantic Movies list out of the way, we can move forward with more creative lists. Here's the list: The Five Things You Would Send With Your Kid If They Were Going To Be Stranded On A Desert Island. Here's my list:

1. The Bible - "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Water Distillation Apparatus - Fun Fact: Did you know that you could distill urine into potable water?

3. Seeds - Broccoli, carrots, peas...they will be so excited I thought of this.

4. A Case of Duct Tape - This is pure genius on my part. Everyone knows you can make anything with duct tape, maybe even a boat to escape the desert island!

5. Field Guide to the Area - This will, of course, contain everything they need to know to survive wherever it is they are.

Hmmm, they're going to need to know how to read on this island. Excuse me, I have to go drill the 70 basic phonograms. Have a great weekend!

(Send me your list!)

Frivolous List Friday...

I love lists, don't you? They make me feel so...orderly. I can make a list with the best of 'em. School Subject lists, School Curriculum lists, grocery lists (by aisle in Wal-Mart), housecleaning lists, goals in life lists, and the list goes on (heh, heh).

It doesn't really matter if the list gets totally accomplished or not. In my mind, I have acknowledged said problem (thus the need for a list) and defeated it. I could actually solve the problem, but I don't have to because I've just shown the world, by making a list, that I could do it if I wanted to. Does that make sense? Of course it does.

Sometimes, to keep track of all the fabulous trivia running around in my head, I like to categorize what's up there. So I decided to create a new feature on my blog...Frivolous List Friday. Yes I know this is not a new idea. There are lists running around everywhere in the blogosphere. There's a reason for that. People like to make lists! Every Friday, I will post a new list and ask for your additions via comment. This will be fun. It will be like, I actually got to go out with my girlfriends Friday night to Starbucks and sit around and talk about nothing. I love doing that! So here goes...

The first list is...My Favorite Romantic Movies Of All Time. I had to get this one out of the way because it would just keep trying to butt in line in front of all the other lists in my head. These are in no particular order:

The Notebook -"I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough." This may just be the most romantic movie I've ever seen. I think I could watch it every day and not get tired of it. I'm tearin' up just thinking about it. Shoot! 

Pride and Prejudice - "My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on." Be still my heart! Say that with a British accent and it takes on a whole new meaning. What lovely torture to watch this whole movie knowing the outcome, but still terrified that somehow Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy won't end up together.   

Out of Africa - "I had a farm in Africa." The whole movie is pure beauty! I was ready to pack my bags and move to Africa (Hey, I still am!). And when Denis washes her hair out on safari? Oh my goodness.

Legends of the Fall - Is there one single girl on earth who didn't wish she could have Tristan for just a minute or two? He's that part of a man we all want - the wild part that can't be tamed...but we'd sure like to try.

Pretty Woman - "You're late." "You're beautiful." "You're forgiven." Or how about this, "If I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight." And the clothes? Delicious!

The Rainmaker - I cry every time I watch this movie. Katherine Hepburn plays the plain girl, Lizzie, who is an old maid growing up in a houseful of men. Burt Lancaster is a flim-flam man passing through town promising rain. He woos Lizzie and makes her feel beautiful. In the end, can he fulfill Lizzie's true longing? You must rent it and find out!

Dirty Dancing - Everybody remembers "Nobody puts baby in the corner." But do you remember when Johnny says to the snobby waiter, Robby, "You just keep putting your pickle on everybody's plate and leave the hard stuff to me?" Sheesh! What a man! 

The Thomas Crown Affair (remake) - Renee Russo was H-O-T-T HOT in this movie! Her clothes were absolutely fabulous. She made me want to cut my hair off and dye it red, for Pete's sake! (And no, I don't know who Pete is.)

Hope Floats - "Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma always says. She says that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will..." This movie came out after my first marriage ended and before the second began. I was a single mom and this movie just turned me inside out.  

Romancing the Stone - Ultimate cheese, but I don't care. This movie was a romance novel on film. The plain girl gets beautiful and has an amazing adventure with the mystery man. Love it.

The Long Hot Summer (original or remake) - The first time I saw this movie was when Don Johnson did the remake. I was completely crushed out on him and this movie made it worse. Then I saw the original with Paul Newman. Wow! Steam comes off the screen when I watch it.

OK, so that's it. Let me know if you've got some more movies to add to the list. I'm a HOPELESS romantic, so the more the merrier. Thanks for commenting!

Editor's Note:  Pre-marital sex occurs in all but two of these films. I do not condone pre-marital sex. It's a messy business and God says don't do it. There, I've said it.