I'm Still Musing About the Enormous Fall of 2017, My 56th Birthday Celebration at Niki's West, DIY, Tuesdays with Judith, Spending Time with RT AND Pinterest Stuff (Five Ways to Know if Something is From God)

Good Tuesday evening!

RANDOMNESS #1 - I Was Wrong! I'm Still Having Musings Regarding the Enormous Fall of 2017 - Actually, they aren't so much musings as another little story...

A spin-off, if you will.

Two weeks before I fell in the middle of the street in front of Gardendale's First Baptist Church, I inadvertently dropped a can of baked beans on my toe.

Specifically, the little toe on my left foot closest to the smallest piggy.

A day or two after it happened, I had a pedicure, and sure enough, my toenail was black.

My solution...

THREE coats of bright orange nail polish, and I was good to go.

Now flash forward to one week AFTER the Enormous Fall.

Three weeks had gone by since the can incident, and I was sitting in the pedicure chair once again...

But this time, I also had the scraped knee, elbows, ankle, wrists, etc., etc.

And I was sore.

Really, really sore.

I wouldn't have gone to the nail place at all except I wanted to do something fun with Roxie before she moved to Auburn.

Roxie was getting her manicure when they called me to a pedi-chair directly behind her.

When the pedicurist sat down to start, he couldn't help but notice all of my bandages.

"I can't have a normal pedicure today. No lotion. No scrubbing. No exfoliating. Just removal of old polish and addition of new polish," I told him.

He just stared at me.

"And I can't have the massage chair turned on for my relaxing pleasure," I added. "I'm pretty sure it would kill me."

Then I told him the entire story of the Enormous Fall of 2017.

When I finished, he looked down, picked up my left foot in both hands and ever-so-gently placed it on the stand. He started removing the old toenail polish, and then I remembered the black toenail.

"Oh, yes! And I dropped a can on the toe you're about to start working on. It is very black and very sore and very loose. What we're trying to do with that is just keep the black toenail, but I'll need three heavy coats of the bright orange nail polish... just like the last time I was here," I explained.

He sat back and just looked at my bandaged knees, ankles and yucky feet.

I was overcome with pity for him, and I decided to give him a way out.

"If I am just too gross to even be here, just say the word and I'll go home now."

That's when I heard a dull thud, thud, thud coming from the direction of Roxie's manicure chair. She had put her head down on the manicure table and was quietly and methodically beating her head against it.

One might have thought she had had enough of The Enchanting Belinda for one day.

It's hard to imagine, but Mike assures me it is possible.

The pedicurist didn't answer verbally, but he lowered his head and went to work.

He finished my toes and stood up. "Hot towels?" he asked.

Ahhh. Hot towels. I love the hot towels. I thought for a minute trying to figure out if the hot towels were indeed doable, and much to my pleasure, I could think of no reason they would harm me in any way, shape or form.

"Yes! Hot towels would be lovely!"

And they were.

My little black toenail fell off yesterday. It just gave up, and I don't blame it.

Not even a little bit.

I'm going to get a pedicure sometime this week, and while I am missing a toenail and I have seven big scars here and there, I don't feel as gross as I did three weeks ago.

Hey...

I might even let him turn the massage chair on HIGH because that's how good I'm feeling about my 56 year-old self right now.

That's right!

I said HIGH!

RANDOMNESS #2 - My 56th Birthday Family Celebration at Niki's West - I was very fortunate. Everyone was able to come and celebrate little ol' me.

I got my birthday wish!


Josh and Zac.


This is how Judith looks when she is working on sticker sheets at the restaurant.


And this is the smile you get when you ask her to smile before she is finished working on sticker sheets at the restaurant.


I bet you can guess this one.

This is the look you get when you interrupt Sawyer mid-meal.

I will try not to do that again.


Brad and Stephanie.


Melia and Austin.


Happy Little Man.


T.J., Katie and Bev.




I wasn't paying attention (even though people were trying to tell me), but Roxie took this picture and she is the only one NOT in the picture.

Everyone in our little family was present.

Everyone.


So I am just "super-imposing" one of The Chick.

She came all the way home from Auburn to take a picture?

I think NOT!


Pop with Little Man and Sawyer.

RANDOMNESS #3 - DIY - Part Two of my Birthday Celebration included going to DIY in Homewood to paint pottery with Courtney, Melia and Roxie.






I think the girls could do this once a month...

Easily.

RANDOMNESS #4 - Tuesdays with Judith - Tuesday has quickly become my most favorite day of the week.

Up until Judith, my favorite day of the week was Thursday. I can't really remember the "why" of that choice, but for as long as I can remember, I have loved Thursdays.

(It is going to bother me until I remember why I once loved Thursdays.)


We started this particular Tuesday with breakfast. Blueberries, peaches, peanut butter tortillas AND chocolate milk.

Judith wanted breakfast right away, so there wasn't much time to do anything with the curls. I put this bandana on her mid-bite, and it worked very well.


After breakfast, she decided to forego the bandana while we made Play-Doh Princess Cupcakes.


Two year-olds LOVE Play-Doh AND princesses, so this activity was a win-win for everyone.


Since our Splash Pad days are numbered (we have until September 30), we decided to have our Chick-Fil-A picnic there...

Again!

As you can see, the decision was made spur of the moment, and we played in the water without our bathing suit...




And it didn't slow us down even a little bit!


Daddy had some Birmingham business to take care of, so he showed up after Judith's nap just in time to help with her flower arranging skills.

(Please note Eunice in the background. Judith put her in time-out for some reason or other, and she stayed in the middle of the floor most of the day. I just wanted to make sure you knew that isn't her usual spot.)


It was a busy day, but an ever-so-fun day, too.

Tuesdays are like that now.

RANDOMNESS #5 - Spending Time with RT - This Little Man changes a little bit every single day, but two things stay the same...

That smile...








And those big blue eyes!

Pinterest Stuff

Five Ways to Know if Something is From God

1. PRAY - Begin with prayer. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It is.

Start by asking God to show you His specific will for you in this situation.

Pray that the Lord your God will show you what to do and where to go. Jeremiah 42:3

2. GLORIFY GOD - Ask yourself, "Does this glorify God?"

God will never guide you to do something that will not give Him glory.

Ask yourself, “Does this bless my relationship with my family? Does it make it possible for me to serve others? What will my attitude be if I do this?” Give yourself completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. Use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Romans 6:13

3. AGREE WITH SCRIPTURE - Does it agree with Scripture? God gave us His Word to show us His will. You and I can trust the counsel of the Bible.

You never have to ask God if it’s His will for you to embezzle from your employer or dish the latest dirty detail about your neighbor.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16

4. BE WILLING TO WAIT - Be patient. God’s will is worth the wait. Trust His timing. If something is God’s will, He will guide you while you wait and bring it to pass. Don’t rush it. When the timing is right, God will let you know.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

5. TRUST GOD TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL IN YOUR LIFE - God will fulfill His promises and accomplish His will for you. I’ll admit, I’ve gotten impatient at times. I want a clear answer, and I want it now! But I’ve learned I can watch and wait...

God will do what He says He will do, and He will accomplish His will.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

Not everything in life is clear. There will be times when you will do all the above and still be uncertain about God’s direction for you.

That’s okay.

You can trust that if God wants something specific in your life, He will guide you to it.

If you’ve gone through the 5-step process and still have no clear answer, just keep moving. Make a choice. The good news is if you are trusting and glorifying God with your life, you can move ahead confidently.

NOTE FROM ENCHANTING BELINDA - Pinterest can be so much more than Slime Recipes and DIY Projects.

Don't get me wrong.

I love Slime Recipes and DIY Projects...

But those things do not compare to the wisdom shared in the above five steps.

Have a great Tuesday.

I hear it's the best day of the week.

Take care, and I will talk to you soon.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

Old Post Alert, Three-on-Three Basketball, Tuesdays with Judith (and Sometimes Sawyer), Spending Time with RT, One Sheet Pan Parmesan Crusted Salmon with Roasted Broccoli AND Weird National Holidays Coming Up (Official AND Unofficial)

Good Saturday evening!

RANDOMNESS #1 - Old Post Alert (First Posted in August of 2012) - I'm in my 50s. - There. I said it out loud... AND I wrote it on the blog. So it must be true.

The following is a list of "things" I noticed about my 50th year of life...

1. I had a really good "hair year" last year. I wore my hair a little longer and a lot bigger, but it suited my mood... even if it did take a lot more time to fix.

2. I realize Spanx or no Spanx, I am who I am. I need to embrace it... Or have emergency scissors and a special bracelet with instructions in case I pass out from lack of oxygen.

3. The ages 60 and 70 no longer seem "old" to me. In fact, they seem almost doable!

4. The person or persons who declared "40 is the new 30" and "50 is the new 40" should be shot. At once. Multiple times. But only in the foot. No need to become too violent this late in life. (I realize that may seem a little harsh, but so is waking up and realizing 50 is NOTHING like 40.)

5. Except for a little graying, Mikie still looks younger than me. And even though I love him, it gets on my last nerve.

6. Because I have been so "open and honest" about menopause and my "season of life," Roxie has decided to skip this season of life altogether. (If anyone can skip a season, it would be Roxie.)

7. I've accepted the fact I will never (intentionally) wear skinny jeans. I may wear "too tight" Mom jeans, but if you see me out and about, know they never, ever were skinny jeans.

8. I've also accepted the fact I will not be able to attend Body Pump classes until the day I die... unless, of course, I die while taking a Body Pump class.

9. I still adore and love my family, but I have to admit, they take up a lot of space... and oxygen. Oh. And food. They eat a LOT of food.

10. I've discovered the best way to apply make-up is to unscrew one of the three light bulbs over the sink in the bathroom. (I promise. It takes off two years, at least!) And I'm considering unscrewing another one to see if I can look 46 again!

RANDOMNESS #2 - Three-on-Three Basketball - Last Saturday, Austin's radio station (99.5 Talk) participated in a three-on-three basketball tournament for charity...

So I was able to take basketball pictures again...

Which I have sorely missed since The Chick stopped playing on a team.

A good time was had by all, and even though 99.5 didn't win the whole enchilada, they did win enough games to hold their heads high!

Also, RT was there.

And another also, RT's Uncle Payton (Melia's brother) played for 99.5, too, so it was most definitely a family affair.


Melia, RT and Austin.

You can tell Little Man is tired, but he didn't go to sleep the entire time. He loves basketball!










One more of tired Little Man, and his Daddy.


Is it just me, or does Mikie get cuter and cuter as the years roll along?

Love me some gray hair...

On Mikie.



RANDOMNESS #3 - Tuesdays with Judith (and Sometimes Sawyer) - We started out Tuesday with just me and Judith playing at the house.


This is one of my favorite toddler "hacks." Taping the color sheets to a floor where colors and markers wipe up easily, AND letting the two year-old hop from one pic to another is genius. Whoever thought of it, I tip my Nana B Hat to you!

Two year-olds are notorious for wanting to draw a line on a coloring page and immediately turning to the next page...

Again and again and again.

The whole coloring activity can last one or two minutes or less.

Tape five to ten pics on the floor and dump the crayons, and you've got yourself a five to ten-minute activity.

I worked in the kitchen a couple of feet from her, so I could supervise and talk.






It's a win-win!


Did I mention Sawyer was walking?

Did I?

He liked the Splash Pad when he was crawling, but walking around the Splash Pad...

Well, that is just too much fun.




Those eyelashes are real, by the way.


Judith overcame some timid moments.

Arms held high, she went through the most intimidating Splash Pad feature (the FIVE RINGS OF WATER) by herself.

She was so proud.


There's no better bouncy seat than Beebo's hand and arm.

There is also no better arm work-out than being Sawyer's bouncy seat.




Sawyer talked and talked and talked to Judith, and she listened politely and intently, but could make no sense of it all.

In the end, she put an apple in her mouth and nodded.

Verbal communication is highly overrated in Toddler World.

When in doubt, just eat an apple and nod.

RANDOMNESS #4 - Spending Time with RT - I can't pick a favorite "part" of RT.


Sometimes I think it is his hair...


And other times, I think it has to be his big, blue eyes.

Yes.

Definitely the eyes.


But then it hits me.

I'm quite fond of the whole package.

One Sheet Pan Parmesan Crusted Salmon with Roasted Broccoli

You will need the following for the broccoli:

1 1/4 pounds broccoli crowns, stems cut and reserved for another use, florets chopped into bite size pieces
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

You will need the following for the salmon:

4 (6 ounce) skinless salmon filets
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Place broccoli in a mound in center of baking sheet. Pour olive oil over broccoli, along with garlic, and toss to evenly coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste and spread near edges of baking sheet, leaving enough space in center to fit salmon filets. (If you like your broccoli more browned and roasted, let it roast for 5 minutes first then remove and spread to edges, this just gives it a head start. If you like it crisp, tender and slightly roasted then no pre-roasting needed.)

3. Season bottom of salmon with salt and pepper and place salmon in center of baking sheet, leaving about 3/4" between filets so they can evenly cook. In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice and garlic and brush about 1/2 tablespoon over each filet. Season top with salt and pepper.

4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together Parmesan, bread crumbs, parsley, lemon and thyme. Drizzle 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil into bowl and stir with a fork until evenly moistened.

5. Spread Parmesan mixture evenly over tops of salmon filets.

6. Bake in preheated oven until salmon filets have cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes (for a more golden crust you can broil during the last 1 to 2 minutes of baking, if needed).

Weird National Holidays Coming Up (Official AND Unofficial)

August 20
Chocolate Pecan Pie Day

August 21
Senior Citizens Day

August 24
National Waffle Day

August 26
National Dog Day

August 31
Eat Outside Day

Have a great weekend. I'll be back in a few with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

Just a Few More Musings Regarding THE BIG FALL of 2017, An Elderly Person Bought Me a Starbucks, Moving Roxie, Tuesdays with Judith, Visiting with RT, Blog Linkage AND Pinterest Stuff (Back-to-School Traditions)

Good Friday morning!

RANDOMNESS #1 - Just a Few More Musings Regarding THE BIG FALL of
2017 - If you don't understand the caption, you will need to read the post prior to this one. Reading it will bring you up to speed on the goings-on in my simple, little ol' life.

1. As of yesterday morning, my right knee and elbow were both still hurting EXACTLY as much as they did moments after "The Big Fall."

Exactly.

I kid you not.

2. On the way to the car after "The Big Fall," I asked Roxie, "You know I didn't fall because I'm old, right? You know I walked up into my flowy pants."

"Uh, yes, Mom. I don't think one is better than the other."

Good point.

Good point, indeed.

3. I am now officially a hero in my two year-old granddaughter's eyes...

Because I have to wear SEVEN Bandaids at all times.

SEVEN.

It's a two year-old's dream, I tell you.

That is all. As of today (or sometime next week), I plan to move on from The Big Fall and rarely, if ever, mention it again.

RANDOMNESS #2 - An Elderly Person Bought Me a Starbucks - The Chick was home last week getting ready for her big move to Auburn, and we were in the drive-thru at our local Starbucks getting our beverages of choice.

When I pulled up to pay, the young lady working there leaned out of the window and told me the car in front of me had paid our tab.

"Oh... My... Goodness! That is the first time anyone has ever paid for my food or drink! I am so excited! Do you know who it was?" I asked.

The worker replied, "No. He said he was from Tennessee, and he wanted to pay."

"Isn't that exciting?" I asked Roxie, as we drove away. "I mean, you think it is going to be just another ordinary day, and out of nowhere, BAM! A stranger pays for your Starbucks!"

Roxie calmly responded, "It's very nice, Mom. I saw him, you know. He was an elderly man."

"Elderly?"

"Oh, about your and Dad's age, I guess."

Well, as you can imagine, that took all the fun out of receiving a free Tall Vanilla Ice Frappuccino. I think I would rather pay than be called "elderly" at this particular point in my life.

You know how some people say, "Kids keep you young."

I'm here to tell you that is false, false, false.

Especially the third kid. The third kid is the one that throws around words like "old" and "decrepit."

And "elderly."

Heavy, heavy sigh.

RANDOMNESS #3 - Moving Roxie - After the above happened, we quickly moved Roxie out of the house and into her new digs in Auburn.

Not really.

It took the same amount of time as the last two years, and I am missing her greatly as I type this post...

Even after she indicated I might be "elderly."


This year, it took the back of a truck, the back of a car and a trailer to get her stuff from The Dale to Auburn.




And the three of us did just fine.


Roxie is living in a house with her three roommates from last year, plus another good friend of hers.

If you're doing the math, that is Five Chicks in one house.

Pictured above are AC, Ellie and Roxie.

Nat and Emma will be in other future pics...

Of that, I am certain.










Let the fun ensue!

Would a truly elderly person use the word "ensue"?

I think not!

RANDOMNESS #4 - Tuesdays with Judith - Since we had moved Roxie over the weekend, I REALLY, REALLY needed Judith on Tuesday to help take my mind off things.

She did not disappoint.


As we were waving good-bye to Pop Tuesday morning, a big truck with a big trailer behind it and a big Stump Removal Machine on the trailer, pulled up in front of our house.

Here's a little history for you.

On Monday, men came and tore down our deck AND our giant magnolia tree.

We're getting a new screened-in deck.

So I expected the Stump Removal Guy sometime during the week, but since it was supposed to steadily rain all Tuesday morning and part of the afternoon, I was not expecting him right then.

Judith was mesmerized, and I saw an opportunity for some big-time two year-old fun.


A towel, Judith and 20 or so of her favorite plastic animals (added after the pic was taken) sitting in front of the door/window in my bedroom, proved very entertaining.

For almost an entire hour, she just sat there and watched as he sprayed the house with mud and removed the giant stump and roots.

She was extremely sad to see him leave.


I was extremely sad to see him leave this behind, but something better will be here soon.

Right?

Please say I'm right!


Still raining, Judith and I read a large stack of books, and as is her custom, after I read them to her, she took them to the other couch and read them back to me.

She has a lot of inflection in her voice.

She makes the story really dramatic, which isn't always easy to do when you're reading about counting farm animals.

I can tell she's going to be a good Momma someday.


After the reading of the books, it was still raining.

No thunder.

No lightning.

Just rain.


"We're going puddle jumping," I announced.

She just looked at me, and as we changed from pajamas to puddle-jumping clothes, I told her about the giant puddle her Daddy, Uncle Austin and Aunt Ro used to play in when they were little.






It took her about two seconds to decide puddle jumping was the funnest thing ever!

And I know "funnest" isn't necessarily a real word.

But it kinda fits.


Then I took her to THE puddle her Daddy played in once upon a time...


And she played and played and played.

We both declared this particular Tuesday "exceptional" in every way!

RANDOMNESS #5 - Visiting with RT- RT is ready to play with big boy toys now. Seven month-old toys, if you will.

So I pulled out Hank, the Pink Elephant...

Hank, not so very long ago, was Emma, the Pink Elephant, and played with his cousin, Judith.


The initial introduction went very well, I thought.




But then it turned into a wrestling match.


A wrestling match Hank was unable to win.

Time and time again.

Boys and their pink elephants!

Blog Linkage - The ultimate Summer Bucket List can be found at www.kellehampton.come. Go NOW and read her post entitled, "About That Summer Bucket List." It will blow your mind!

Pinterest Stuff

Back-to-School Traditions

NOTE FROM ENCHANTING BELINDA - I love all of these ideas. They do not have to be done at any specific time during the back-to-school week to be totally effective. In fact, many of them would be good for the weekend or week after the hectic first week.

1. We read them a letter that my husband and I wrote to them. It teaches four values we felt were important to remember while at school. When they go to Kindergarten, we give them a few charms (on a keychain that is now on their backpacks) to help them remember the important points. Each year, we read the letter and have them pull out their charms. I found all of my charms at Hobby Lobby.

Be Kind and Help Others (Smiley Face Charm) - Do all you can to make others happy. If you see someone who is sad, help them. If someone is being teased, be their friend. Make others laugh. Care about them.

Learn (Book Charm) - The reason you are at school is to learn and progress academically. Focus and take advantage of the education that is being offered. Do your very best.

Be Tough and Brave (Prayer Charm) - There will be lots of hard things that you have to do at school. Some will be scary. Pray to God for help when those scary times happen. 

ANOTHER NOTE FROM ENCHANTING BELINDA - If you do the above, be sure and add a verse when talking about each charm. Over the years, those will be memorized verses.

2. Weigh and measure each kid and mark their heights in the garage.

3. A visit from “The Magic School Bus” is a great way to get the little kids excited about a new school year! Imagine your child’s surprise when they answer a knock on the door to find a bag FULL of back-to-school supplies/goodies.

4. Add a little excitement by sending your kids on a Back-to-School Scavenger Hunt in search of their new school supplies. You have to buy them anyway, so why not turn it into a fun game?

5. The first day of school can be a hard one for Mom (especially if you’re dropping off a Kindergartner for the first time).  Why not host a “Boo Hoo Breakfast” for all your mom friends and get together for breakfast after the school drop-off. Whether you’re crying tears of sadness or joy, every Mom is sure to appreciate some time together to eat and chat!

6. Begin having "School Prayer" in the car on the way to drop off your kiddos. It may seem like the years you spend dropping off kids in front of the school or waiting to pick them up in the carpool line will never end, but one day that part of your life will be over. Just think of all the personal prayers you will have prayed over your children before dropping them off at school for the day. Build, build, build that spiritual foundation!

Have a great weekend. I'll be back soon with some more pics, more stories and more ideas and recipes.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda