A Few Favs

I've been quoted on the cover as The Sweet Bookshelf!

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I don't just enjoy reading books. I also love reading blogs. I love seeing how others live. Just a peek. I love the pretty pictures even if I can't take them myself.

Here are some of my recent new favorites::

01. Nat The Fat Rat. She lives in NYC with her husband and two yr old. I love seeing glimpses of NY and her son is pretty adorable. I never miss a post. I actually scroll through all the blogs just to see if there is anything from her.

02. E Tells Tales. She's married to a man much much older {which I think is awesome} and she is probably the busiest person I've ever heard of. She loves to connect with her readers in the comments section and she almost always responds. I love that. She's uber creative and I love her writing.

03. Breakfast at Toast. She's the editor of The Everygirl. This is her personal blog. I just like having a look into successful people's lives. She seems really down to earth.

04. Reading My Tea Leaves. She lives in NYC in the tiniest apartment. It is so cute! She gives tips on small apartment living. We all know that Great Britain has some small spaces! I need all the help I can get.

What do you look for in a blog?
What are you looking for with this blog?

Tell me and I'll make it happen.

Just Being Kids

This is a famous picture in my family. 

I'm the little one and I'm with my older sister Becca. 

It was Easter Sunday and my Mom had made our dresses.
I don't remember much but I do remember this::

After church I remember my sister Becca taking my hand and telling me to follow her. Next thing I knew we had chocolate all over us. I like to tease her that she ruined me. It was all her fault! My Mom caught us red handed and snapped a picture.

We look disgusting! 

But, I love this picture. 

We're just being kids. 

I'm waiting for the day when Sebastian comes to me with chocolate or marker all over him. 

I'll smile and take a picture of him just to remember.

I'm blogging every day in May!

The Good Stuff

Last night I went to a Michael Buble tribute night. I ate a 3 course meal and it was so delicious! I started with a creamy vegetable soup that I dipped my crusty roll into.  The roast beef with seasonal vegetables and yorkshire pudding covered in gravy was amazing on all counts. I ended the night with a white raspberry cheesecake. Then a Michael Buble look-a-like hopped on stage and sang his songs. A little dinner theater if you will. I stayed out way too late and danced until my muscles hurt.

The sun came out yesterday! Hallelujah!! It's the small things guys. Sebastian and I ran some errands and went to the park where Sebastian was jumping up and down saying, "YAY!!" When he would go down the slide {they call it a chute here} he'd say, "One, two, WEEEEEEE!" We have four different parks here in town and we like to use them all so Sebastian never gets bored. The park is one of our favorite spots ever.

LD got a call yesterday morning that both shocked and excited us. Good things might be coming our way. I don't want to jinx it so I won't say any more. But, this would be very good for us!

Sebastian had a hearing test this week and his ears are perfect. I'm so happy all is well!

Sebastian has been speaking much more and he's coming out with new stuff every day. I couldn't be happier about this! We even got the go ahead for speech therapy. We'll get our little guy talking even more by the end of summer. I've been so worried about this and I feel so good about it now.

LD has one more week of work and then he's off for two. Hooray!!

It might be raining today, but I see a picnic at the beach tomorrow for sure! It is supposed to be gorgeous!

That's my good stuff for the week. Happy Weekend and I'll see you back here next week.

A Day for Baking... {and Miffy!}

It rained all day yesterday. The hard kind of rain that is thick and fast. We had about 2 hours of respite in the morning and Sebastian and I rushed out to do a few errands. We didn't make it back before the rain started up again though. The rain was coming at me from the side and everything! I had Sebastian's rain guard so he was nice and toasty. He even fell asleep on the way home and I had to pick him up to put him into his bed. I love those times! He slept for 3 hours too. My guy is a fantastic sleeper.

When he woke up we decided to make sugar cookies with a butt load of frosting. Is there any other way to eat a sugar cookie? While he'd been sleeping I got the dough ready and refrigerated. Although I do have a recipe that doesn't need that oh so annoying step.

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Miffy Facebook | Miffy Twitter

I got Sebastian all tied up in his new Miffy Apron and about died at how cute he is! Thanks Miffy! He also looks like he's getting so big. The apron is perfect for him! It is nice and thick and he's not going to ruin his clothes when we paint or anything. He actually wore it all afternoon. He didn't want to take it off! At only £5.99 it is worth it to buy a child's apron that is going to last. I loved it so much we ordered him this. Miffy has all these great classic toys. Wooden puzzles and books. I love that. I also want this, this, this and this.

yes, he's still holding the iPod...

Sebastian is a pro at cutting out shapes. We practice a lot with the play-doh. He cut out all the cookies! He was going so fast that I couldn't put them on the cookie sheet fast enough! We baked and ate all afternoon while the rain came down. I'm not going to tell you how many cookies I ate yesterday. I'm just not.

Now, are you ready for the best sugar cookies and buttercream frosting ever?! Here's the recipe::

Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cream of tarter

3 1/2 cups flour

Combine all ingredients

refrigerate for 1 hour

Roll to 1/2 thick

bake at 200 C for 8-12 minutes

Cool and frost!

Buttercream Frosting

6 TBSP butter

1/4 cup milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

4 1/2 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar) 

Enjoy!

Things That Make Me Happy

Portugal 2007

Things that make me happy...

The sunshine and warm weather

kisses from Sebastian

laughing with LD

a really good book that I literally can't put down

chatting with my sisters on the phone

walks to nowhere

dance parties with my boys in our flat

Sunday naps!

the color blue

my best friends Sarah, Christy, Colleen and Jessica

and...

traveling, a good cry, watching movies with LD, my Mom, doughnuts, Mexican food and the ocean. 

What makes you happy?

I'm blogging everyday in May!

St. Conan's Kirk

You never know what you're going to find here in Scotland. There is all manner of old sites just waiting for us explore. When we took our drive up north to Oban we saw a church on the side of the road. It over looked Loch Awe and was surrounded by the forest. I made LD stop so I could take a look. What I found was St. Conan's Kirk.

Up until the 1870's there was almost no human habitation there. Lord Blythswood's brother built himself a stately mansion not far from here and his wife and mother stayed there. His mother found the drive to church too far and wanted something closer so they had this church built. Isn't that crazy?! Oh what money can do.

It started to rain as we walked up to the church and you could hear the rain drops on the old windows. I couldn't help but wonder what it was like to go to church here back in the day. It has gorgeous large windows and I just imagined if the sermon got boring I'd look out on to the loch and do some day dreaming.

The door was open for us! I love old doors. Don't you? Upon entering there was a collection box to leave a few pence for taking a look around. These old cathedral's have so many nooks and secret places to leave things. It was very cold inside as everything was made of stone. We took a look around and left as silently as we came. There was a special reverence about the place. I wished we could have stayed longer and really explored the place. Maybe next time.

When you're driving through Scotland you need only look into the horizon and you'll find spires shooting above the tree's. History is hidden through the woods but if you can find it you can take a look so you'll always know where you came from. It's quite magical.

A Few Things...

+ Tuesday was the most perfect day. It got up to 70 degree's Fahrenheit and I didn't want the day to end. Sebastian and I spent the whole day outside. The Scots are joking that that was our summer. It very well could be. I'm not joking.

+ LD and I saw Iron Man 3 and loved it!! It was amazing and everything we'd hoped for. I love me some super hero's and Tony Stark just does it for me. OK, Robert Downey Jr does it for me. He's hot!

+ I was making some potato salad while I was on the phone with my sister the other day and I slipped in the kitchen and did a split and then slammed my knee on the floor. I was still holding the plate of peeled potato's.  It totally shocked me. And it hurt. Now, I can't stop laughing about it.

+ LD has some holiday time coming up and I need to get things planned! We might not be leaving Great Britain but we're going to be doing a ton of stuff. Camping in the Lake District is on the list!

+ My library books are late. I could have brought them back on time but I just didn't want to walk in the rain. I'm so lazy this week. All in the name of supporting the library with my few pence!

+ It is bedtime and Sebastian is currently in his crib laughing. Oh, he just squealed too!

+ If you ever wondered why we're teaching Sebastian two languages, this video sum's it up.

A Moment...

I'm here at the hospital right this moment for some testing. 

Sebastian is home with his dad.

 I hope LD's not feeding him chocolate and watching television. 

But....whatever.

Please send some prayers or good juju my way.

7 Tips on Visiting Scotland

If you're wanting to visit Scotland let me give you some advice....

01. You must visit Scotland in the spring. The last 2 weeks in May to be specific. It is the best weather Scotland has to offer. You'll be able to see all that you want in the best light and for as long as you want without getting rained out.

02. Rent a car. I know public transit is very popular and affordable here but without you knowing exactly what you're doing you're going to waste a lot of time just trying to get to where you're going. You'll be able to roam the country as much as you want! Remember that petrol {gas} is £1.33 per liter {abt $10 per gallon} so add that to your travel costs.

03. Try out public transportation. I know I just said rent a car, but take a double decker bus ride around town for the fun of it. Hop on the train for one of your day trips. Just try it out! It is an experience on its own.

04. Dress for comfort. A rain jacket, layers and warm shoes are what you need. Oh, and bring a hat. Sometime's the gale force wind can be fierce!

05. If you are deciding between Glasgow or Edinburgh...pick Edinburgh. While both will show you the city life, if you only have a chance to do one Edinburgh will be you what you want. There is a plethora of historic buildings and monuments while allowing for shopping and great food.

06. Always have cash. A lot of businesses operate on a  cash only system here. Not to mention the credit cards here are made with a chip and pin system. It is easier to have cash on hand. Any of the ATM's will be of use to you to make that possible.

07. Don't eat at any chain/fast food restaurants! Find yourself a pub or a cafe and enjoy the foods Scotland has to offer. Have yourself a steak pie and an Irn Bru and think of me.

I'm participating in Blog Everyday in May.

My Big Truth & Fear

I am absolutely boggled that 5 years has gone by and I'm still living in Scotland. When I look back on our time here I wonder where it all went. What was I doing?  I have a big truth to tell you. It's big and messy. Sometime's I don't like living here and I'm depressed.

I fear saying that out loud at the risk of sounding like I'm ungrateful. Oh poor me. I get to live in another country and try new things everyday. I get to meet new people and see places people only dream about. Whine whine whine. I know how it sounds and it isn't good.

It sounds so cruel. I'm doing things other are wishing they could do. I'm living this different life that other's wish they could experience even if just for a little while and here I am complaining. It seems as if I'm not counting my blessings. But, sometime's it is hard living away from everything I know.

I've struggled with depressed since 2005. I say that like it is on a timeline or something. But, it kind of is. My therapist explained it as situational depression. The situations I'm in play a part in how I feel. I've come really far since those dark days in 2005 and my great fear is slipping back into that dark hole and never surfacing again. Never being able to see the light. Sometime's I feel like I'm headed right back down that road and I'm trying with all my might to change my course. It makes me so tired.

Everything can't be rosy all the time and it isn't here in my life in Scotland. Sometime's I cry and crave to be near the things that I know. The things that make me comfortable and my support system. Then I'm afraid of crying too much because what if I never stop?

I'm not always depressed. Don't worry. Scotland feels like my normal now. As much as it can. I'm sure if I did move back to the USA it would be a huge shock to me. We made the decision to stay here and I'm pleased with that decision. I feel that it is right. But life isn't always greener on the other side of the fence ;)

This is my fear and my truth; Sometimes I don't like living here in Scotland and I'm depressed.

I'm participating in blog everyday in May.