Tiny Flecks of Color

Simple Woman's Day Book

for today 3/28/11...

Outside My Window...
Right now... I am not looking out a window, but today the sun is shining deceiving me about how cold it actually still is.
 I am thinking...
Today's session went amazingly well... I had been bouncing between being very excited for the session and being terrified that it would go poorly.
I am thankful for...
My husband, being right there for me as I approach the ledge of completely overwhelmed and mental breakdown.

From the kitchen...
Saw this great recipe from my friend Kelli at Greenie Bean Recycle - We gave up meat for Lent (we used to be vegetarians) and we really LOVE not eating meat. It's a great opportunity to be creative and it just FEELS better.

Fleck of Color for the day…
Today's session - We took a huge chance and were really successful. Praise from a supervisor, "Best session thus far..." is my fleck of color. I feel GREAT!

I am wearing...
practicum garb... wore a sparkly top since I had to sing an aria today for the session.

I am creating...
A great amount of homework. Online class, regular classes, and youth ministry certification. I wish I had time to be a bit more creative. I guess I am also creating a HUGE mess, as I pack up the apartment for our move.

I am going...
to CRASH when I get home tonight, I am so looking forward to bed.

I am reading...
Music therapy journals and articles. But I reward myself with my favorite blogs.

I am hoping...
I get everything done when it needs to be.

I am hearing...
This great family sitting around visiting next to me in the coffee shop. It makes me miss my family and join in laughing with them.

Around the house...
boxes, wrapping bubbles, and more...

One of my favorite things...
sunshine and spring air. it is truly healing me today.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Homework! Homework! Homework! Also... I need to go shopping for a bachelorette party this weekend!

Meditation...
Lord grant me the serenity...

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Spring walks... fresh air, a funny little dog, and a handsome man. **sorry this is a bit blurry - it was taken with my phone**



All during Lent - the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter - my church is hosting soup suppers for the congregation/local folk/whomever would like to attend. Each Wednesday a different ministry at our church hosts the soup supper and provides soup. I am in the following ministries: worship and prayer, faith formation, catechists, youth ministry, and Mr. Bean is a sponsor for a child. This means that out of 5 soups suppers - I have to make soup 5 times. Yeesh.

Also, during this time we are hosting a session with the pastor to talk about faith issues. All the adults are invited. I have however been seated at the "kids table" and am in charge of the children's activities. I like it though. It's a change of pace. A really interesting time where I trade in my "youth ministry for teenagers" mindset to work with preschool-3rd grade kids.
Here are some things I learned tonight about little children:

1. When you mention that you are going to play "Fishes and Whales" - they erupt into joyous shouts of "I KNOW THAT GAME!!"

2. When you teach song, hand motions are always welcome.

3. Stickers are amazing motivators for good behavior and answering questions.

4. Directions like "sit in a circle" are actually a lot harder than you may think.

5. Paint is a lot messier than you may expect.

Here is a list of things I already knew and were reinforced tonight:

5. "Fishes and Whales" is a great game... but getting all the kids to play "tackle the teacher's husband (Mr. Bean)" is WAY more fun.

4. Kids singing is ALWAYS cuter with hand motions. AND hand motions are a great way to keep their attention.

3. Trying to sit still, raise your hand quietly, and use your "inside voice" actually is REALLY hard when a sticker is on the line. Also, I am a sucker and need to get more stickers... I hate leaving people out. AND circles are over rated - and not conducive for sticker giving.

2. Crafts always take longer than you plan for, are messier than you expect, and are just a lot of fun.

1. There is no better feeling than a child who is so absolutely excited to see you that they just run up and hug you.

Final thoughts:
I can't wait to have kids. BUT I am glad I was able to send all those kids (now exceptionally excited and wound up) home with their parents.

How do you get blue paint stains off of your hands?

Children - their smiles, their innocence, their enthusiasm, their playful and loving personalities - are the perfect answer to all the worlds problems.

My challenge to anyone - go spend some time in the company of a child and its your life that will be made better.

OK! I'm the weiner for not posting the winners of the give aways...  It's my spring break, I had to make butterbeer cupcakes with my friend Sara, I just started a new online class, I needed to watch the Bachelor, I was scrunching my puppy's face, I needed to make out with my husband, no excuses except that this is the first time I've ever done giveaways. Anyway! drum roll please...

The winner of...

Kathleen's Book "Reverance and Revelry"
       Emily, who wrote, "We got T.R. when I was 8. "T.R." stood for the runt, he looked like a black lab with a whole lot of traveling salesman thrown in. When we went to check out the litter of pups I looked away from the lazy sleeping ones to see a tiny 6-week old puppy running in lightning fast circles around the yard not stopping for the 10 minutes we were there. The owners were worried no one would take him because he was so hyper all the time, but for a family with 4 kids it was love at 1st site. TR was put down in 2002 after a battle with colon-cancer, he remains the best and craziest dog we ever had. He always ran away and he never grew larger than the size of a 3-month old lab but he was ours and he was wonderful."

Kelli's Greenie Bean Bag
        Janine, who wrote, "My favorite time of the year is when the air starts to cool, letting Autumn roll in. The crispness of the air, the beauty of the leaves as they change color. The world feels fresh and beautiful. One of the most beautiful things I've ever experienced in nature was a drive up to Madison in late October, and the trees looked vibrant and on fire. It was so beautiful. One of those perfect moments that you take a mental snapshot of, to save for those cold, colorless winter days when it's hard to remember how beautiful nature can be."

Kelly and Hendrix's Banner
        Maiasaura, who wrote, "I want that banner! The truth is that WAY TOO MANY commercials and kids' movies bring tears to my eyes. The other day we re-watched Finding Nemo for the first time in a long time and oh my lord, the waterworks were out of control. Sometimes I will shed a little happy tear when my kids express love for me from out of the blue. I feel so undeserving. Even though I feel like I screw up 1000 times a day, they still accept me and love me. That is something special."

Laura's Bag
         Kelly, who wrote, "My "job" of taking care of Henry never feels much like a job. :)"

If you won, please email me at annie.walljasper@gmail.com and get me your address so that your prizes can be mailed out to you! Thank you all for your entries!! And thank you to my guest bloggers - aren't they ALL wonderful!?! Please check out their etsy shops, web sites, and blogs!

Sorry again for the delay in announcements!

Eeep! This was supposed to be posted yesterday - but Mr. Bean and I are on vacation and you know how that goes sometimes... Anyway! I will post again later today with the winners of the giveaways last two weeks. But for now... enjoy the last guest post of the BLOGiversary!

This final post is from a new friend... acquaintance? Fellow blogger. I am not sure how I even stumbled upon her site though I'm assuming its because of some of our shared interests in parenting. I love her writing and the tiny little glims I get into her life. I really appreciate when she writes about parenting type things - like breastfeeding, teaching your baby sign language, or babywearing - just because She's a few steps ahead of me in the motherhood stage of life (she's racing around with a sweet little 1 year old... and I'm not quite yet ready to have kids) and I appreciate learning from her.


"A day in the life..." of Em
Most people wake up to an alarm clock- that insistent “Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!” If you’re my husband, a melodic cell phone ring chimes “Ding ding ding, ding ding ding,” but since that doesn’t actually wake him up, it’s usually a shove from me that does the honors. My alarm clock is varies in its approach; sometimes, it’s a high-pitched, cheerful, “Hi!” Sometimes it moves straight to a kiss on the lips. Other days, when I open my eyes, I see two huge blue ones staring strait into mine as she opens and closes her hand in the ASL sign for milk. Always, waking is followed by cuddling. Neither of us is a morning person, per se, and why rush out of bed when we can slowly ease into the day? As soon as we roll out of bed, though, Tye hits the ground running with energy only embodied by one year olds.


The rest of our day follows familiar rhythms; after our cuddly warmup, we accomplish potty time, teeth brushing, and getting dressed. Then we take Mico, our 110 pound Cane Corso, for a quick walk, with Tye riding on my back in the Ergo Baby carrier. When we come inside, I whip up breakfast- usually eggs, either scrambled with vegetables or over easy atop vegetables. We eat together and chat about our day. After breakfast, Tye plays while I do chores. If I finish before her late morning naptime, we burn off some energy walking to the park or dancing together inside.

While Tye naps, I check emails, write, read, cook, and finish those tasks that are so much easier without little hands helping. When Tye wakes, we have a late lunch (it’s often 2pm by this time). Then we play with friends, go to the park, run errands, or take Mico for a really long, leisurely walk. If we haven’t already, we walk Mico again, then head home around 5 so I can start dinner, which we eat at about 5:30. After dinner, we play with Daddy if he’s home or Skype him if he’s traveling for work. Tye helps put on her pajamas and brush teeth before we read a few books. Then Tye and I rock in the chair in her room, lullabyes playing on the iPod speakers, until she falls asleep and I ease her into bed. I spend my evenings finishing chores or reading, or occasionally watching DVR’ed episodes of our favorite shows with Tyler: Top Chef, Modern Family, Thirty Rock. When Tye wakes during the night, she joins me in bed and we snuggle until she chooses my wakeup for the next day.

Doesn’t that rhythm sound peaceful? Really, it is- the ebb and flow of our day allows us to welcome the new pace of each next activity. Don’t get me wrong- life happens within this pattern. When Tye decides to empty the entire contents of my bathroom cabinets onto the floor or “help” me unpack the eggs from their grocery bag, or when she’s sick or teething and wants to nurse nonstop, sometimes our routines pause. Sometimes they go out the window and I look back at the end of the day wondering What happened today??? No matter how crazy and chaotic the day becomes, portions of our rhythm always remain to bring us comfort. Tye always knows that no matter what, we walk Mico in the morning and evening; we wipe hands and faces after we eat; we read books before we rock to sleep. And I know that no matter what happens during the day, I’ll wake the next morning to those sweet blue eyes smiling up at me.

Check back later to find out if you are a winner!

Today's "Day in the life" post is by Laura who has just opened her own etsy shop.

Laura is a friend of my from a LONG time ago - I think jr. high. Oh the good old days of bad haircuts, awkward pubescence, and first crushes. We did a few plays together... went to the same birthday parties... and in general were pretty much awesome. Laura married a long time friend (from Kindergarten or 1st grade) and her sweetheart. I love this couple, and I love Laura's new Etsy shop 

She is so creative and if this is what she's just starting with oh my goodness we are in for great things to come!

Laura and I have lost touch in the past 10 (yikes) years since high school but I am so glad to see that she is doing so well. She has her awesome man, a great job that I KNOW she's fabulous at, and now she's sharing her creativity with the world!

Speaking of sharing her creativity... one lucky reader will win one of Laura's bags!

Spring is in the air! Easter, anyone?

Isn't it beautiful! This screams "Summer" to me!

"A day in the life..." of Laura:

The pitter-patter of little feet. The squeals of excitement for another day at school. The surprise picture a student drew for me. Listening to a struggling student finally read a book. These are my joys each day as an elementary school teacher. When the days seem to drag or something stresses me out, I just have to think back to the morning bell when all the students come racing in eager to learn, listen and explore!

I hope that is isn't too much of a stretch that your job may bring blessings into your life. I hope that even though we all at some point don't want to get up Monday mornings there is something about what you do that brings you joy. If not your job - maybe a hobby? Leave a comment about an activity/job/repetetive part of daily life that is the blessing of your day. Something you may look forward to even when its difficult to wake up day after day. Leave your answer with an email address in the comments below. Entries must submitted by Friday at midnight and winners will be chosen at random and posted on Saturday. The winner will receive Laura's cute springy tote!!

Best of luck!

Today's guest blogger lived with me on the same floor in our freshman dorm. We had ridiculous amounts of fun. I remember striping and stumbling down a hill on the way home from class and Kelly threw herself down the hill like a crazy person to help make me feel like not so much of a spaz. We were both involved in spiritual life activities on campus. I also remember crying in her room late at night discussing God, spirituatliy, and the search we are all on. Eventually, we worked together on the same Residence Hall staff where again we had too much fun creating a haunted house in our hall, having dance parties, and just hanging out being awesome. I had a ton of fun witnessing Kelly and Eric's marriage and now love getting updates on her growing family. Seriously, she is one of the most genuine people I know. I really like her, and I think you will to.

"A day in the life..." of Kelly
Most days, Henry wakes up just after my husband, Eric, leaves for work. He tosses and turns, whispers excited gibberish and hugs my neck. Then he opens his eyes and he's off. I cherish those brief, dreamlike moments, when Hen is still my little baby. During the day, he is a true toddler-- a non-stop exploring machine. He doesn't have much time for cuddling.


It's been hard for me to let my little baby go. Henry is less and less a baby every day. People in the grocery store now say, "Look at this kid!" instead of "What a beautiful baby." I'm attempting to make the transition without weepy tears, but it's hard not to mourn the loss of the baby stage. The past year and a half, Henry has needed me so completely that it started to define me. Of course Henry still needs me. I'm not sending him off to summer camp yet. :) I can see there is a freedom in letting go, for Henry and for me.

This picture was taken just before he started his day. You can still see the fog of sleep around his face. You can still call him a baby. ___________________________________________________________________

Kelly is giving away a banner much like the one in the picture here. She would like us to know, that banner was made by her AND Henry. It was their very first project.
 
What Tiny Flecks in Your Life bring tears to your eyes?

Maybe its someone. something. It steals your breath and just brings you to tears. Happy tears. Tears of pride. of joy. Tell me in the comment section - and make sure to leave your email address as well. Entries must submitted by Friday at midnight and winners will be chosen at random and posted on Saturday. The winner will receive Kelly and Henry's banner! Yay!

This guest poster and I go waaaaaay back... even before jr. high! ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! Most of my memories of Janine are of a little twig of a girl (she's always be so tiny) who was my best friend. Memories of staying up late watching Grease or The Labyrinth. Swooning over Hanson and JTT. Walking to school together. Talking about boys. Laughing a lot. I feel like I giggled so much more as a kid - I think I need to get back to that. Anyway! Once in high school, Janine and I fell into our separate niches... though we still ran into each other frequently. NOW Janine is an aspiring author, a literature aficionado, a huge movie buff, and a "new" friend. I am so happy that we have reunited... and hope that we can start creating wonderful memories again.

Janine posts over at "Looking for a blue sky" - please take a peek over there. Seriously, I need her to write a novel... I'll settle for a simple paperback... ok, a magazine article. I just want more of what she has to say.


"A day in the life..." of Janine
On any given day during the week, I've realized that it really is the simplest things that make me the happiest. It's getting up when the alarm goes off (way too early), and actually feeling awake to start your day. It's laughing with co-workers, those moments at work that make you forget you're working. It's hitting every green light on the way. It's getting Olive Garden breadsticks for lunch, just because. It's finding a great book that you just can't put down and don't want to end. It's being greeted by my awesome, fat, furry, talkative kitty when I walk in the door. It's cuddling on the couch with my husband, watching good (or sometimes even bad--it doesn't even really matter) TV. It's spending time with great friends: laughing, shopping, eating, whining, and wining. It's the way my heart warms when I see my little niece jumping, playing, giggling, and talking in a language that I haven't quite cracked, but that I love nonetheless. It's the hugs I get from her, tiny but strong and oh-so sincere. It's eskimo kisses and bear hugs from those you love. It's hearing the perfect song at the perfect time, making the world itself seem perfect, if only for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. It's a text message from a good friend at exactly the time you need it. It's collapsing in bed after working a 15-hour day, my husband's arm around me as I drift off to sleep. It's going to bed content, recognizing the good things in life and letting go of the bad for a little while.

Every day has these little moments. And it is these little bright spots, even in the midst of a terrible day--actually, especially in the midst of a terrible day--that remind me of the good things in life. They remind me of the great things and people that I am lucky enough to be surrounded and loved by. No matter how bad things may get at times, I can go home to my husband and cat, or stop at my parents for some good food, good company, love, and that adorable niece of mine. No matter how cursed a day may seem or how rough the work day has been, I still have these great things in my life, reminders that this pain, drama, and frustration will pass. And in the meantime, at least I have a few little moments each day to latch onto until it does pass.

Today's "Day in the life" post is by Kelli at Greenie Bean Recycle.

Let me tell you that this girl is amazing. Kelli and JimmyRedHead went to college with Mr. Bean and I. Kelli is always the bright spot in the room. She is exceptionally caring and loving. She is sweet as can be and devoted to changing the world one craft project at a time. I love Kelli's drive and dedication to her work. Her work is her way of voicing her political statement, her activism. Is that not the coolest thing? She started Greenie Bean just a few short years ago in an effort to to educate others about "all things political, beautiful, and life affirming". To say that she has had amazing success would be an understatement, for she has inspired, educated, and changed me.

Aside from being a crafter, Kelli is a Social Justice and Community Development graduate student at Loyola University and is co-founder of the Urban Folk Circuit. She enjoys exploring every neighborhood of Chicago, cooking without recipes, frequenting local theater, and cuddling with her kittens, Killer Queen and Jubilee. Her obsessions include peppermint mochas, vintage housewares, avocado green, and protest music. Her life goals include learning to can vegetables from her frontyard homestead and running a brick and mortar craft shop. She also has a great little blog - check it out!

I truly feel honored to have her guest posting today and I am thrilled that one of you lucky readers will win this handmade tote!

Sunshine Daydream tote by Greenie Bean Recycle

"A day in the life..." of Kelli:

Eyes open, chest inflates, and I'm filled with an exquisite purpose to exist and breath and love and be. A blessing it is to just be. Grace-filled moments come in quiet minutes of hand making, tea drinking, and walk taking. The solitude of a 10am stroll fills a spirit overflowing. I soak in Mother Nature in breathless appreciation. I return to my home each evening, prepare nourishment, and crawl into bed beside the most exquisite man, human being, partner I've ever had the privilege of knowing. I offer up a sincere thanks to the universe for allowing me tiny moments in these fleeting days. Often reluctant to close my eyes, I drift softly through the excitement of today and into the anticipation of tomorrow.
Damn. I'm lucky to be alive.


Maybe its the buds on the tree just starting to come through, the crisp air the almost stings your lungs. Maybe the smell of rain or the sunshine that begs your eyes to open. Mr. Bean often talks about a ridge overlooking the Mississippi River as a "home" or "sanctuary" for him - where is that feeling for you? Leave a comment about a gift Mother Nature gives you to make evident the blessings around you. Leave your answer with an email address in the comments below. Entries must submitted by Friday at midnight and winners will be chosen at random and posted on Saturday. The winner will receive Kelli's Sunshine Daydream tote. AWESOME!!

Best of luck!



Today's guest post is from the LOVELY Lindsay. She and I are both students together and this semester I am so so SO lucky to be her practicum partner. She is seriously an awesome woman. So confident and positive. So organized and seemingly has it "all together". She inspires me. She is the gentle kind of quiet that I have always wished I was. She is the peaceful kind of beautiful I cant even try to pretend to be. She is exceptionally talented, you should hear her play piano. She is a whole lot of fun... I always feel happy and maybe just a little crazy after being with her. And she is a special kind of holy that I can't even really describe. Something about this girl touched my heart when I started school and I hope that we will be forever friends.

Lindz posts on her own blog too! So be sure to visit her and spread the love.

And now... "A day in the life" of Lindsay

A day in my life on Mondays…

Wake up. Hit snooze. Hit snooze again. Get up. Spend some quiet time with God. Be in awe of Him/His Word. Have breakfast. Make a latte. Spill ¼ of the latte right before heading out the door. Run to catch the bus. Cram-study on the bus. Arrive at school. Take in class as well as homework assignments and piano practicing. Co-lead a music therapy session. Make music with and for people; finally getting hands on experience—love it! Back to classes. Enjoy the many walks to and fro class/other obligations. Munch on a sandwich and/or a snack. Say hi to my friends/peers that I see. Chat with them about life, the weather, and classes. Head back home on the bus. Enjoy the ride. Enjoy the beautiful weather (hopefully) and walk. Check mail. Procrastinate, but finally do homework. Eat supper (ravioli from a can is a good option). Meet up with 3 lovely ladies and talk about life and what God’s been doing in our lives, challenging and encouraging each other.

Much could be said about so many of these sentence fragments. But sometimes the “rawness” of something like this can speak for itself I think.

Happy Monday!
 

Thursday will mark a year since I began this blog.

Its hard to describe what this year has been. There has been a TON of self evaluation. An absolute ridiculous amount of relationship changes/ending involvement in activities/new directions. There has been heartache. There have been hurtful comments and just plain mean behavior. But! There have also been fabulous adventures. Cherished memories. Exciting prospects. Growth in friendships. Sunny mornings and snuggly snowy nights.

All of these, the good and the bad, have been exactly what was needed. Each situation caused me to be better; caused me to grow. Its almost comical to think back a year. How much worry did I waste? How much stress and anxiety? Tears and longing? Silly. I should know that “whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened”. It makes me realize that even when I am not organized, I may procrastinate a bit, the things that I get done are because I need them to get done. And in the end they have a way of being beautiful. Somehow what it is that I do ends up being exactly what needed to get done. I said what needed to be said. I got where I needed to be. I can always use improvement but at the same time the flaws of my days are what opens me up to the beauty of them.

When you look back on a year its amazing to see the movement. Its awesome to realize how far you have traveled in 365. BUT! I feel that there is value in noticing the little moments that make up that year. It is easy to look back at a year with a fresh view - however it is much harder to enjoy each moment that makes up that year. So often (as is the case with me and the whole month of February) days rush by us unnoticed. Time is fleeting. (Yes, I did just start singing The Time Warp from RHPS.) Anniversarys make us stop each year, reunions celebrate a memory after 10, 20, 50 years. But really to slow down and celebrate the rebirth of each new day. The commemoration of your first. The recurrance of the miracle of life, a jubilee. Sure I make it sound much more amazing than what I might feel when I first wake up. I am not the easiest person to wake up in the morning. But we can try!

With that in mind, I start of the blogiversary celebrations. The next posts celebrating Tiny Fleck of Color's blogiversary will center around "A day in the life..."

We will hear from some of my favorite up and coming bloggers, some activists/small business owners, crafters, and friends. We will be giving away some of my favorite products to inspire and bring a smile to your face.

Enjoy the week - read and comment often!