Common, everyday blessings

After years... twelve years... of lamenting about not having Coldstone in Portugal I finally thought, "why don't I try making my favorite Coldstone icecream myself?" I have noooo idea why I never thought of that before. Enter: coffee icecream, caramel topping and oreo cookies. Divine. Just divine. Enough to start a blog post with.

Inspired by this post on Fountains of Home, I also got a milk frother for my hubbie for his morning coffee (never knew those existed!) and French wine for my weekly online grocery shopping.

I think I appreciate these homemade desserts because we seldom go out to eat and we appreciate these splurges because I've been trying not to buy anything extra. We've been trying to live even more simply and I've been trying to cut any extra activities.

“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness -- just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.”
― Laura Ingalls Wilder, Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom and Virtues


We've been visiting my sister more often, who just had a baby and wasn't feeling too well. I wish I had more time and less distance to spend visiting people. But it has been nice to spend that extra time with her and a huge blessing for our kids to have cousins the same age.

And Addie and Davy are getting along better. Well, by that I mean her with him. Which is relieving. It's like he'll actually be an autonomous member of our family soon... exciting. He is crawling but still likes to be held most of the time. Absolutely nothing like his sister was. Momma's boy? Yikes.

I am busy trying to check things off my to do list... as usual... never feeling like I'm getting anything done. And trying to get in more daily habits. Prayer, as always the constant struggle. Plus reading, exercising and piano playing. Not really working. Alas. Kids are cute though, right?

Starbucks

Hanging out with the BIG girls...

...and me making baby food at Starbucks!

Woodland Baby Shower

I organized a woodland-themed baby shower at my sister's house for my nephew who will be born soon. I wasn't able to do everything I wanted to do (as usual), but I was so happy when it still turned out wonderful. It was a relaxed afternoon with a few of her friends.

Some party quizzes and a wild baby animals DVD.

Nuts, berries, an apple cake and chocolate cupcakes (that wer supposed to have mushroom-like frosting.. but that didn't happen. On top of the table cloth there is some woodland wrapping paper I found.

 A fox print for guests to sign with uplifting motherhood messages, which will go in the nursery.

Owl bookmark favors.

Some books as gifts.

Of course some baby shower games, like timed and blindfolded diaper changing and guess that baby food.  

Sisters and nephew...

 And finally, kids and husbands came later on and, naturally, Addie was the center of attention! 

 

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Sister date

Having a baby seems to make life so much more intense. There are highs and there are lows, but not too many in betweens. There are those days when she sleeps and laughs and I feel like a great mom and those days where she won't go to sleep and I just know it's because I'm stressed out and my negative emotions affect her. 

One thing I seem to be coming back to again and again are priorities. And since I am only able to do one or two things a day other than take care of her, I have to really choose them well. Seeing people is good for me and for her and I'm so happy we've been able to hang out with her aunt. And hopefully one day she can have a sister or brother too, because it's a great gift. 

Bachelorette

My sister went all out and threw me a wonderful bachelorette party. It included international friends, lingerie and other fun gifts, AMERICAN food, and fun games. I felt really lucky to have my sister do that for me. In two months, I'll start planning hers and I hope it will be just as great!

Keep calm and só faltam 7 dias (7 days left) 

 Ohmmm...

 Groom's game... thinking about the groom...

 /And the next day... a spa and massage date!

Viva Mexico!

 My dream has finally come true: a good Mexican restaurante in Lisbon. My sister and I have tried them all and it always seems when I order enchiladas they look like French crepes with mushroom sauce. Or something else gross and tasteless. My lovely sister found a new restaurant that has opened up in the food court of Lisbon's mall Colombo and it's pretty good. Not fabulous or mouth watering... but good! I'm so happy!

 

I had a veggie burrito, jalapeño poppers and a drink I forgot the name of... made from a plant!

So L.A.

My head is about to explode from the minute organization a wedding involves and we have put off until now... plus all the drastic life changes it involves.

 

 

Meanwhile...breathe in, breathe out... I have been able to spend lots of time with my sister (well... I am living with her I guess) and drink some Starbucks. This day I barely had lunch, but then had Starbucks and a cookie. "I'm so L.A.", I told her.

 

Here is a foot picture my sister's fiancé enjoys taking...

Tick, tock...

I went all out and bought a really expensive dress for my sister's wedding this summer (the scarf is below). It's perfect for her beach wedding and her favorite color. She also bought a wedding dress and a dress for my wedding on the same day... all at the same place. It was pretty insane. It is cool that we're getting married in the same summer, that way we can shop together. BUt... it's especially insane to think that I'll be married when I wear this dress! It's like a really big promise and time bomb ticking in my living room...

The Nutcracker

It was really special to go with my sister to see a ballet we both have memories of... the Nutcracker. We used to watch her dance school perform it every year and both of us have danced in it. I play the soundtrack every year for Chistmas. It was special to dress up, go downtown and be with my sister. It was inspiring to watch the human body be so graceful and playful... I feel we all must be made to dance.

 

A happy and holy Christmas to you and yours.

Chili's in Portugal

One thing I'd like to always make time for: dinners with family. And silly jokes about bananas and french people that never get old.

My sister and cousin

Nothing like stuffing your face as if you were in the USA... at Chili's in Portugal! I feel ill. Happy weekend!

Sushi

Spinach soup and
vegetable curry

I had a great weekend. Mini-dreams came true on friday: first a silly one, in which I was thinking "I need to eat more spinach" and ate lunch at a place that happened to have a spinach cream soup that inspired me to make spinach cream soups at home.





Plus, I've always wanted to go to more classical concerts, especially piano. Danny and I got free tickets from our new musician friend... two mini-dreams coming true: concerts and dates. It was a great, great night. 

Sunday was a great day for various reasons. My youth group was definitely the highlight. There is real transformation happening in the lives of some of the teens and I am so happy and privileged to be a part of it. SO honored to have their trust.

I love going on the train to Lisbon on Sunday morning because you see millions of people walking, biking, rollerblading, etc. along the beach and river.

I ate out for lunch, something I don't like doing especially on a Sunday. I have this theory though that a good reason for eating out, other than being with people that are important to you of course, is to eat food you couldn't make at home. So at least I had two good reasons for eating out: to hang out with my sister and to eat YUMMY Japanese food. I <3 sushi. That might sound snobby but it's true. It's so clean and delicious and nutritious. I <3 miso soup.  

My sister and her new smart car



Yummy, delectable sushi
...is your mouth watering?