Friday Favorite's - Hometown edition

Ya know, Pittsburgh really is a cool place to live.  

You may think of steel mills and smog when hearing about Pittsburgh but it's far from that outdated misconception.  I won't lie, it is cloudy here most of the year but what makes Pittsburgh special is the diversity.  It really is a city founded on a bunch of different little ethnic neighborhoods. 

Even though I've lived here for 22 years, we've only recently really begun to take advantage of some things our city has to offer.  We got year long passes to the Children's Museum, Aviary, Science Center, and Carnegie Museum.  I think we've been "downtown" more in the past 6 months more than we've been in the past 6 years.  And we've really been enjoying it!

We recently got to attend a Pirates baseball game at PNC Park.  We took the boys to their first baseball game and believe me, they were excited.  I did have to make sure E understood that we were going to see baseball players and not actual Pirates ;)

They went completely prepared to catch a fly ball.  Even though that didn't happen , they still had a blast.  L was actually in to the game but E more so enjoyed the social side of it.  Chanting "let's go Bucs" and dancing around to the music played between the action.

It was fun to see them get all excited at the mascot shooting T-shirts into the crowd, the aisle vendors yelling "cotton candy here", and watching the traditional "pierogi race".

The pierogi race around the bases

All the while having a stunning view of downtown (there is a river between them, you just can't see it).

Travel and Leisure magazine recently named Pittsburgh’s PNC Park the best baseball stadium in America.

The magazine said PNC Park took the top spot because all of the seats have terrific views of the baseball games and the Pittsburgh skyline.  

It really is awesome.

Too bad they lost the game but we had a blast anyway.

Here are some of my favorite things about the city I call home.

*It has it's own language...Pittsburghese....check it out here...it's hilarious an 'at!

* We eat chipped chopped ham.
(eat it in a ham BBQ "Sammitch" - there's that Pittsburghese for you)

*Primanti's sandwiches...it comes comes with fries and slaw.
What makes it special?  The fries and slaw come in the sandwich, not just with it.

* Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowls.

* Pittsburgh Penguins have won three Stanley Cups.

*The bridges.  We have more than 1,700 bridges.

See the rowing team at the bottom?  I used to be on the rowing team in highschool.  You didn't want to mess with me, had muscles like a brick house.  What happened to them?  It's a mystery.

Some other fun facts about the 'burgh

* The fountain at Point State Park, right at the tip of the golden triangle (downtown Pittsburgh) is fed by a glacial formation and sprays 6,000 gallons per minute. 

* The Dark Knight Rises was filmed in Pittsburgh among other locales.

* The D. L. Clark Company was born in two back rooms of a house in what is now Pittsburgh's North Side in 1886. The famous Clark candy bar is now an American tradition.

* Heinz products are another proud Pittsburgh tradition. Heinz founder, Henry Heinz, literally sank his competition in the 1880's when he bought the products and equipment of a competing company and sank them in the Allegheny River!

* Brewed fresh daily at the Pittsburgh Brewery in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, Iron City beer is definitely a Pittsburgh tradition. One of the first true lager beers brewed in the United States.

* Can you come up with the only country club to have hosted seven U.S. Opens? It’s Oakmont Country Club. Oakmont has beaten golf’s best, and is the only course named a national historic landmark. Oakmont’s legendary lightning-fast greens, thick rough and plentiful bunkers have played host to a record 18 major golf championships, including seven U.S. Opens. Golf Digest ranks Oakmont #4 in its most recent version of America’s Top 100 courses.

So there you have it.
Some favorites from my Pittsburgh home.

What's unique about your hometown? 

Linking up with Rachel :)

They're here, they're here!

finding joy

I haven't linked up with Rachel for Friday Favorites in a while but when I do,
it's usually filled with moments of peace, love, and family that are highlighted.  

Well this week it's a little different.  

Not that I didn't have those other great moments because believe me I did but occasionally 

I get to have these fun little *squeal* moments as well.

Ok most of you will probably roll your eyes but if you didn't know already,
I ADORE BEADS.

Everything about them.

the endless array of colors

the subtle textures

the various shapes

 the sparkle of Czech glass

the warmth of Rosewood

I could go on and on.

Since selling almost completely out of my current stock, I've been blessed to order some new items for some new designs that I'm so excited to transform from my mind's eye to actual wearable pieces.  

I branched out this time and bought some beads on Etsy for the first time.

It feels really good to support other small business owners.  

These particular beads came from Bead and Ribbon and I couldn't be more pleased with my purchases.  

I mean, just look at them!  And I have another shipment from a different supplier due any day!

Enter the *squeal*

I'm like a kid on Christmas morning when I get a new shipment of beads.  I mean who else gets inspired to do an impromptu quick and dirty photo shoot of their beads...ahem...this goober.

 Anyhoo, I'm dying to get started on my new designs but my time is being monopolized with preparations for our weekend plans (not a bad thing though).  

Can't wait until next week when I can hopefully get started :)

 

Happy weekend all!

Do you have something that gives you this 

crazy-nerdy-ridiculous sense of intense joy?

Do tell!

Deep thoughts and rocks

The other evening I spent some time with my boys outside and we 

found ourselves having some deep conversation.

I asked them when or how they feel God.   Their answers were so precious and simplistic.  It reminded me that yes indeed He is in the simple things and too often we overlook that.

L said he feels Him when he is swinging, that he can feel Him moving past him as he flies through the air.

E said he feels Him when he sees a beautiful cloud that God made.

It's in these tiny moments that we can feel Him in our everyday lives.  Amongst all the running around and multitasking that is the norm these days, it's good to roll the windows down and feel the air on your face, stop to admire how delicately the flowers are made, belt out your favorite song as if no one was listening.  There is so very much to be thankful for.  Let's recognize the remarkable blessing we have simply in experiencing 

all these small facets of life.  Don't let them go by in a blur.

Then my little men and I started 'treasure hunting' for rocks in our landscape.  Both would squeal and get excited over what they found.  "Mom, look at this one!"  There were stripey ones, sparkly ones, rough ones, fossily ones, smooth ones, and spotted ones.  Each one had something unique about it.  How quick we are to look and dismiss something as just a pile of rocks.  

Oh what we are missing when we fail to take a closer look!  

Beauty abounds in the details my friends, 

we need only to stop and look.

These small lessons from my kids are helping me to find peace, grace, and faith.  

I can only hope that I am teaching them as much as they are teaching me!

Linking up with Rachel of course ;)

The Chair - Friday Favorite Things

Yep, I think I'm THE LAST person on the instagram bandwagon but I'm hooked ;)

If you don't have an overstuffed chair, may I suggest you run right out and get one?  It doesn't need to be snazzy.  This one is about 8 years old now and in shabby appearance but it has held so many wonderful moments.  It's just big enough to fit two people if you really want and small enough that the only way you're getting two people on it is to snuggle ;)  It kinda forces the snuggle....I like that.

I have wonderful memories in this chair.  My first Mother's Day was spent laying across the arms with a sleeping baby on my chest.  Sheer bliss.  I can't tell you how many mornings I have brought a sleepy little one fresh from bed down to snuggle on my lap in this chair.  All tucked up in my arms, smelling of sleep, and skin flushed from just waking.  Such blessed moments that will be gone all too quick.  I am hanging on to them for as long as I can.

Linking up with Rachel :)

Favorite Things Friday

finding joy

Most of us know joy.  But do you know how to intentionally seek it?

I sort of did but ever since finding Rachel at Finding Joy, I have been able to experience joy much more fully and on a daily basis by being intentional about it.  Her Favorite Things Friday link-up is a great way for me to revisit the things that brought me joy.  So not only do they make me happy at the time but documenting them in this way brings that happiness back for a second dose :)

Here we go...

*Can you find the.....?*

Reading with E before bed is sometimes a challenge.  He just has so many questions I can barely get through the actual story.  But this train book is perfect.  It has so many hidden details in the illustrations, we have more fun pointing them out and talking about them than we do reading the words.  He's one smart cookie I tell ya!

*Playing Madagascar Kart racing on Xbox*

It was L versus E and me versus Hubsy.  No matter how hard I tried I couldn't even come close to Hubsy but I laughed so hard my sides hurt.  Gotta love that.

*A glorious sunrise*

No one was hurt in the taking of this photo I promise;)  It does not do the sunrise justice but I WAS driving and it WAS taken with my phone.  Probably not the safest thing to do.  I was on my way to work listening to K-Love and reflecting on finding God's presence as I crested a hill and *BAM!* there was the sun all fiery and glorious in the sky.  Pure divine creativity right there in front of me. What a way to start the day!

*The simplest gift*

My Dad saved me this" letter from God" that was in a local publication.  It has beautiful concepts about how God loves us and lists each of the passages that they came from.  And to cap it off, it is signed "Your Dad, Almighty God".  He liked it because it was from "both my dads".  So sweet huh.  I absolutely love it and plan to frame it :)

*Trying something new*

Like this Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus from Giant Eagle *love*  

Practically ate the whole thing in one day.

*A health conscious kid*

The words "get healthy" have been swimming around our house a lot lately so it's only natural that the little ones are picking it up.   L wanted to try his hand at the treadmill, in his school clothes and socks no less, but he loves it and wants to get on every time he sees me on it now.

*This picture*

Precious praying hands 

*Blue Soup*

It wasn't supposed to be blue.  It's actually chicken noodle soup that me Hubsy made but we didn't have any regular noodles so he used some Michigan University themed noodles that he received as a gift.  They are shaped like the Michigan "M" and some were even dark Michigan Blue....hence it turned the entire soup a blue green color.  Not very appetizing for the eyes but it still tasted good and gave us a funny memory with our boys going on and on about eating "blue soup" :)

*Entertained kids = our time*

We don't like to use the TV as a babysitter but sometimes there just is no other option if you want a little quiet time together without the constant interruption of "I need a drink" and "look at this" that goes on in our house.  We threw a DVD in the portable player and bought ourselves an hour and a half to talk and watch our shows on TV.  The boys don't look like they minded ;)

What made you happy this week?

Take some time to reflect on all those little things.  They can add up to a whole bucket-full!

Have a great weekend!

Favorite Things Friday

It has been WAY too long since I've linked up with Rachel for Favorite Things Friday.  Sometimes we get so caught up in the goings on of life that joy needs to be intentional.  I learned that from Rachel and her link-up is a great way for me to stop and purposefully find the little things that bring me happiness each week.  My blessings are many and I need to not only recognize them but be present in them and soak them up.

finding joy

*Me and the boys got our crafty on!
Remember the Valentines decor ideas I got here?  I'm awesome at getting inspired, it's the follow through that I lack a lot of times so I glad me and the boys actually took the time to make some of the decorations I liked. We made paper hearts and hung them from mini clothespins over our sliding door.  L drew the hearts and helped me with the glitter while E added his stellar scribbling skills for some lovely abstract hearts.  I'm usually pretty anal when it comes to art, I like it to be "perfect" and "my way" but I let that go and just enjoyed my boys' hearts.  They're perfectly imperfect and were indeed made with love and that's why I treasure them :)

Theirs

Ours

I also made my own spin on the framed art decor idea.  So simple!  I used some scrapbooking paper fro the background and cut out my letters from watercolor paper I had.  I also used a stamp with the Chinese symbol for LOVE on it.

Theirs

Mine

*Play On!
I do not do this enough and I know my kids need it bad.  We busted out the Handy Manny dominos.  L would much rather make tracks to knock down than actually play the "real" dominos.  Fine by me :)  We had more fun laughing at our inability to get them all lined up before one of us would accidentally knock them down than anything.  To laugh with them, that was definitely a true joy.

*Some sweet sales!
I brought a mini jewelry display into work this week. I'm lucky that they don't mind me bringing it in a few times a year.  Of course I had to take advantage of all the men I work with and Valentine's Day coming up....you have to make it easy for them ya know :)
Some of the girls showed themselves some love, oh yeah,  let's hear it for the independent ladies ;)
I love the interaction of a face-to-face sale.  Seeing people enjoy my creations is simply priceless.
 

*Working up a sweat!
Been making it a priority to get some workouts in every week.  Wish I could do more but a working mother I am and likely to be for a long time so I try not to be too hard on  myself.  I actually really enjoy pushing my body.  I was on the rowing team in highschool and also a competative dancer for 9 years. I like to run, just not in the cold weather. I found a great military circuit training workout online and have done it a few times since.

I use these light weights and a treadmill for the cardio part

20 Minutes Circuit Workout
(*choose light weights for max reps)
1) Bench press* or pushups - max in 1:00 (I do pushups)
2) Squats - max in 1:00
3) Pullups or pulldowns - 1:00
4) Bike or jog - 3:00
5) Military press* - 1:00
6) Lunges - 1:00 each leg
7) Bicep curls - 1:00
8) Bike or jog - 3:00
9) Tricep extensions.- 1:00
10) Leg ext - 1:00 (requires leg machines - or repeat squats with weights) (I repeat forward lunges)
11) Leg curls - 1:00 (requires leg machines - or repeat lunges with weights) (I do backward lunges)
12) Situps - 2:00
13) Crunches - 2:00
14) Stretch

Let me tell ya' it will make you sore.  Feels good though, even if I can't get out of my chair without groaning!  There's a satisfaction to be had in pushing yourself.

What have you enjoyed this week?
.

Favorite Things Friday

I haven't linked up with Rachel in a while and wanted to reflect
on some of the joyful moments I have had over this past week....

finding joy

* Getting prettied up in my new dress for a hot date with Me Hubsy out on the town.

* Enjoying good company, good food, and acts of kindness at the fundraising dinner for St. Anthony Special Education Program (the site of the aforementioned hot date) held at Heinz Field.  I will probably never get there for a Steeler game but was glad for this opportunity to see the facility.

* Putting out our Christmas lights. Yes we are already decorating.  Me Hubsy is of the mindset that it is better to do it now while the weather is warm and I can't say that I blame him!

* Hearing my sweet baby saying his nightly prayers in that cute little toddler voice....too sweet!

* The "second-hand booger"...that deserves it's own post I think ;)

* L behaving much better this week.

* I think my favorite part though was getting more organized on the home front so I can spend more time playing with my kiddos and less time running errands.  I sure hope this continues!

Happy Friday!

Favorite Things Friday

It's been a strange week.

Peace and beauty mixed in with frustration and sadness.

But that's life I guess.

Here's what I found immense joy in.

A simple family walk in the woods

You can see my boys aren't really meanderers but it was still peaceful being in the quiet of the woods and smelling all the wonderful fall smells in the air.  This is one of our favorite things to do as a family.

My favorite gift

I adore my digital picture frame.  My hubs got it for me a few Christmases ago and it hangs on my office wall.  A perfect daily reminder of what I love in this life and reminder of the best moments I've had.  Aside from my kids and wedding ring, this is THE BEST gift he has ever given me.  LOVE IT!

My iPhone

I know, I know.
You're porbbaly all sick of me rambling on about how much I love my phone.
But God has really been using it to help me out this week.
That's right people, GOD will use an iPhone if need be!
I had a bad day at work one day and it was getting to me.  The next day started out to be pretty much the same so I turned my Pandora channel to some Christian music (the fact that I can listen to this at work is a blessing in itself!) and it totally kept me centered on what is truly important and helped me maintain a Christian attitude toward all the people I dealt with.

You can see my hubby is a man of few words :)

Not to mention with the new phones my hubby and I can message each other for free.  Lo' and behold we've been using it several times to drop little lovey reminders to each other throughout the week.
Who doesn't love that?!

My potty-training 2-1/2 year old

My sweet E has been keeping his diaper/underwear dry!
That is SOOO worth celebrating!  He loves the M&M's we give him when he is successful.  He will remind me to get them before we're even finished in the bathroom.  
Diaper days, I am about to kiss you bye bye :)

What's been bringing you joy?  
Go link up with Rachel and tell us about it!

finding joy