quote Archives - Soap Queen

Happy Girls

April 5, 2014 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“Happy girls are the prettiest.” — Audrey Hepburn

Ah, isn’t that the truth? I recently was reminded that beauty fades but smart is forever. I’m hoping that happiness is forever too! I just started reading a new book about parenting, “All Joy and No Fun.” I tried to convince my book club to read it but they’re all about fiction right now (we just finished Eleanor & Park; highly recommend). So, I’m reading the book on my own and marveling at how universal the struggle of parenthood is.

It’s no secret that moving from one child to two children is like moving from one to a herd, a passel, a gaggle and a mutiny. There is so so little sleep, so little productive work around the house (I’m pretty sure my car has a kiwi that molded under the front seat 2 months ago that I haven’t had the time to go find), and no time to sit and marvel at the miracle your toddlers are because you’re too busy chasing after them.

And then, something like this happens and it gives me just the slightest lift; enough to grin and bear it for one more day:

And yes, that is a screenshot from my Instagram account. Because we all know, if it didn’t make social media, it didn’t happen.

Three cheers for the weekend; maybe this will be the weekend I actually find that molded kiwi in the car. (pause) Meh, who am I kidding? This is the weekend that I will be a train conductor, engage in crawling races, build forts from pillows and use the vacuum 1466 times to clean up after “Look who just learned to eat solids” Lily. Here’s to a weekend full of joy …

The Fun of Work

March 22, 2013 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Mustache break with Mark, Ryan, Nikki, Lauren and Mike in the warehouse

“Fires can’t be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks.”

– James A. Baldwin

Feed the Birds

March 8, 2013 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“Use those talents you have. You will make it. You will give joy to the world. Take this tip from nature: The woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except those who sang best.”

-Bernard Meltzer

An Apple a Day…

February 8, 2013 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“A lot of parents ask me how to get kids to eat more vegetables. The first thing I say is that it starts from the top.”

-Emeril Lagasse

Eating healthy is always a challenge and making sure that the entire family gets multiple servings of fruits and veggies has been my ‘white whale’ since Jamisen was born. The way we’ve increased our veggie intake in our house is twofold: (1) We get a weekly delivery of veggies to our house (no excuses to not buy and prepare the food if it’s right there) and (2) We juice up greens almost every day. We use ‘watery’ veggies like cucumbers and celery to add to the bulk and then toss in carrots, spinach, parsnips, and beets with an apple and/or lemon to add to the sweetness. This makes the mixture palatable for the little guy. We’re losing out on the fiber when we juice but we’re gaining a lot in vitamins, minerals and enzymes from the juice. Do you have extra tips ‘n’ tricks for fitting veggies into your everyday life? Tell me! I’d love to hear what works for you.

Practicing for the New Arrival

January 25, 2013 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“What’s the good of news if you haven’t a sister to share it?” ~Jenny DeVries

Last Chance to Vote in the Bramble Bump Poll!

January 11, 2013 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Do you know how loved you are?” -Unknown

Tomorrow is the day of the Big Reveal! We’re throwing a party for our family tomorrow afternoon and I’m writing a blog post tonight to post during the party so you find out right along with our family. Right now, ‘girl’ is ahead in the polls. You predicted correctly with ‘boy’ last time. Will you be right this time?

It’s the last chance to get your votes in for the Bramble Bump poll. The big gender reveal is coming up, and just in the nick of time too. I’m about to burst keeping this secret! Stay tuned this weekend to find out whether we’re having a little lady or a wee gent…

The Great Outdoors

January 4, 2013 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Truly it may be said that the outside of a mountain is good for the inside of a man.

~George Wherry, Alpine Notes and the Climbing Foot, 1896

Monster Bottom

December 7, 2012 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.”
-Henry David Thoreau

Ol’ Blue Eyes

November 23, 2012 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

-John F. Kennedy

We’re Adding to the Family

November 16, 2012 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.” – Marc Brown

Pretty soon Jamisen will find out what it’s like to be better than a superhero! We’re expecting a second little Bramble Bump who is due to arrive in May. We are over-the-moon excited. For those of you doing the math, that means the siblings will be 25 months apart (almost to the day!). This pregnancy has been surprisingly easy. I haven’t been sick that much and other than the normal, first-trimester-tireds and the expanding waistline, it’s been a way easier than pregnancy compared to the first. Soon, our little family of 3 will become a family of 4. We can hardly wait.

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

November 9, 2012 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”
-John Ruskin

Dedicated

October 12, 2012 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”
-Vince Lombardi