How Bad Can It Be?

Today Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee is hosting

which basically is a way for bloggy friends to "meet" each other and "see" the face behind the blog.

And since it's been well documented that I will do almost anything for blog fodder, including blogging my naked face, here's my little cameo:


I See What You're Saying! from Please Pass the Salt on Vimeo.

(Anything longer and I would have required cue cards.)

To "meet" more faces, head on over to I See What You're Saying!

Before and After: Girls' Room

Welcome to my edition of

I'm using my girls' room for today's carnival simply because it is the only room that has actual 'before' shots.

(Which is convenient for a 'Before and After' display.)

A little background info in case this is your first visit here; we just moved back into our house after being away for a year and a month. Adelaide was a newborn when we left and still sleeping in the cradle (which was placed strategically in the guest room next to ours).

My son and daughter were 3 1/2 and 2 at the time, and shared the third room. Drew now has his own room and the girls are together.

You ready? Good!

BEFORE:




AFTER:



The full decal swirly thingy:


Madeline's bed sort of reminds me of Baby Bear's bed from Goldilocks:




Notice the rug:


This next shot is to give you a closeup of the trim. Our renters ripped out the carpeting in two of the bedrooms (don't ask) and so I had to nail down quarter round to fill in the space between the baseboards and the floor. (Also why we even had to purchase that rug pictured above.):


(Sidenote: Target and Homegoods should pay me for this post. Nearly everything decorative and all of the bedding were purchased at one of those two stores.)

A few closeup shots of some of the fun little things:


And I just love these whimsical fairies:



...and this butterfly:


The windows at the last house were shorter, so I added the pink fabric to make them longer:


And, just for fun, presenting the Inmates:


(Madeline above, Adelaide below.)


Thanks for stopping by! For more Before and After fun, head on over to Boomama's!

A week off, and hightailing it to the cookie jar

Alright, interpeeps, I need a break and I'm taking it. I'll have a new post up next Friday.

In the meantime, however, I plan on republishing a few of my archived posts. So don't go too far! (Especially if you're a newish reader.)

Gotta get moving (after another cup of coffee)

(I hope you people realize I'm joking around on this blog about 95% of the time. I'm just sayin'. I didn't really go to K & Nicky's shower for a piece of chocolate cake, delicious as it was. You knew that, right?)

So. Today has been designated The Cleaning Day of the Century. Or at least Month. We've been busy every day this past week and even the evenings have been full. And it shows.

It might just be easier to burn the house down and start afresh. But that might be inconvenient. So I'm off to play cleaning lady. What are your big plans for this lovely Saturday, hurricane conditions notwithstanding?

Using my voice

for those that cannot help themselves.

Read this, it will change your life.

DW on SP

I'm typically not all that interested in politics (save for my own dear dad), but I am interested in preserving the sanctity of life and other issues that we should be concerned with as Christians. I also don't always agree with everything Doug Wilson writes, but on this issue so far, I do. Absolutely. So I'm just going to take the easy way out and link to his recent posts on the subject at hand.

An excerpt, (also why this election is so critical) from DW: "my touchstone issue on whether or not this reversal is likely or possible has always been the abortion issue. That is the issue that we have to begin with, and it is therefore a non-negotiable. If we repent there, we can get to other issues as they arise. If we don't repent there (with repentance measured by nothing less than overthrowing Roe), then it doesn't really matter what we do elsewhere because it will be nothing but God's judgment, whatever it is.

"...if the Dalai Bama is elected, we will have absolutely no chance of getting pro-life judges on the Supreme Court. And if the Republicans have the White House, we might or might not get pro-life judges. But wait . . . there's more. McCain's persona of deliberately irritating conservatives with that maverick schtick of his has been such that it convinced me that there was no way that he was going to be the one to topple Roe -- right up to the recent reports that were circulating that he was actually considering Lieberman for his VP pick. But the bottom line has always been that if I knew that McCain was going to appoint pro-life judges to the Court, I would be more than happy to vote for him. But I -- like many other conservatives -- believed his various erratic and eccentric signals. "Don't ever trust me on this one" was his message, and "okay" was my response. This choice of Palin appears to a clear signal in the right direction, a signal that goes well beyond a pie crust promise --easily made, easily broken. So, is this VP choice making me rethink this election? Yes, it is."

And later: "Scripture gives us examples of extraordinary women who are used by God in extraordinary times. The woman's seed was to crush the serpent's head, and we see this prophecy of Christ typified throughout the Old Testament in striking ways (Judges 4:21; Judges 9:53). It seems to me that Sarah Palin, as a walking rejection of the pro-aborts more emotional arguments, will be in a position to give Roe a bowl of motherly milk and then put a stake through his head. If that happens, then the question for Christians will not be "how could a woman do that?" Rather, we will see that no one but a woman could have done that." (My emphasis.)

I'll go ahead and link to the posts from Doug Wilson so far on Sarah Palin for those that are interested and don't read his blog (admittedly, I don't that often myself) because they are very well written. And don't worry, they're also not too long:

Post 1: Kinda Spooky When You Think About It.

Post 2: Cons and Pros on Palin.

Post 3: And Another Thing...

Post 4: John Knox and Sarah Palin.

One last question, while I'm at it

One of the comments when I asked y'all to help me this week said my blog was finally "fixed." I emailed R directly to ask what she meant and she said for a while my right sidebar had been down underneath all my posts.

Um. NOT GOOD!

I'm sorry to be such a nag, but could you leave a comment if you can't see both sidebars, sandwiching the posts like they should be? It looks fine on both of my browsers. Also, another friend (Hi Debs!) said she can no longer see the brown swirly wallpaper on the edges. So, clearly I have some issues.

Although, everyone else I've emailed specifically about the wallpaper says they can still see it. (So maybe you need a new computer, Deb.)

(KIDDING!)

Andy just took the 'big' kids to the pool so I can get caught up on laundry. So that's what I should go do, now, right?

;)

Because my brain is mush

(I totally copied this from Boomama's, posted several weeks ago.)

What were you doing 10 years ago? I was settling into my new digs as a freshman in college. Let the party begin.

(No, I didn’t really party.)

(Like, ever.)

Favorite Snacks: chips n’ salsa or guacamole, those junky frosted sugar cookies from the bakery that really taste like cake, kettle peanuts, pink starbursts

To Do List: Yes, please, I love lists.

Yesterday my list consisted of the following:

1) Take Drew to preschool (actually Andy took him)
2) Play over at Nicky’s
3) Lunch
4) Naps
5) Sit on the couch and pretend I’ve nothing to do
6) That’s as far as I got

Today my list so far is:

1) Have Andy roll the trash bin down to the street
2) Sit on my bum and drink coffee
3) Feed Adelaide her oatmeal
4) Go to Sarah’s for a swim and picnic lunch

Jobs I Have Had: babysitting, salesgirl at the Limited Express during the Christmas rush and then ended up staying on, Frame stylist at LensCrafters, server at Chili’s, legal assistant at a lawfirm downtown (my “real” job), mama (my other “real” job), making retainers for Ethan (bah ha!)

Places I Have Lived: Born in Madrid, Spain; moved to D.C. when I was three months old; three years in Utah with a three-month stint in Vegas in the middle; Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; Osan, Korea; Alamogordo, New Mexico; Alexandria, Virginia; Hampton Roads, VA; Las Vegas (three years of junior high); Layton, UT (high school); and then Lookout Mtn, GA for college. Also, a semester in the South of France my junior year. (When life was rough.) Since marriage, spent one year in the Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia. And now we’re back down South. Thankyouverymuch.

Bad Habits: Interrupting people (sometimes I don’t catch myself until it’s too late. I’m a work in progress, what can I say?), picking at things, procrastinating, worrying (I come by it honestly, right mom?)

5 Random Things People May Not Know: I competed in gymnastics when I was little, I love a good practical joke, I had a French minor in college that I never finished and no I don’t speak French, my mom made me take piano lessons and no I don’t play the piano, and I’m the only blue-eyed person in my little family (thank you dominant Andy genes)

CDs I would want if stranded on an island: I’m very insecure about telling the interpeeps my music selections because I’m married to a music snob and have deep music issues. So don’t judge (and no, this won’t be spiritual). S'Il Suffisait d'Aimer (A French Celine Dion CD my cousin Vangie gave me in college), SheDaisy, the Finding Neverland soundtrack because I heart it, and maybe something spiritual after all – a hymn cd like Fernando Ortega’s?

What I’d Do if I Were a Billionaire:

1) Wow that’s a huge tithe check, that’d be fun
2) Hire a maid
3) Pay off the house and other random debts
4) Actually I’d sell the house and get one with a craft-y room (with a strong lock) and more than one bathroom. And an actual playroom would be nice (instead of our living room. Ahem.)
5) Spread the love
6) Maybe do something splurgy like a family cruise? Okay, friends can come, too.
7) Renew my pass to the children’s museum and not wait 'till Christmas
8) Go see friends and family in far-off places. (Make sure I’m not flying alone with my three kids. Or if I am, I’m well-stocked in Benadryl. Just kidding. Sort of.)

Help!

Okay, y'all, do me a wee favor.

I normally use Firefox and my blog looks fine. In Safari, though, it looked all wonky. I think I fixed the wonkiness, but can you help a girl out and tell me something? Is there a border around the main post content? Or no? And what browser are you using?

(In Firefox I can see a border around my main wrapper and also around the outer wrapper, next to the wallpaper. In Safari, no borders.)

For Clicks

Today I'm guest posting at Chic Critique, solving the (mostly) straight hair problems of the world.

Purely out of curiosity

We've got a wedding to go to this morning (Andy's co-worker and friend) so I have no real time to post today. But I had a curious thought while reading some of the comments on the last couple of posts: it'd be fun to know the people reading here (even if very occasionally) who went to Covenant.

So if you read here with any regularity, or stumbled here by accident, and you went to Covenant (even if we've never met IRL or even if you only went for a semester), leave a comment to this post, would ya?

Oh come on. It'll be fun! (If only in an internet chat room sort of way.)

You'll find me over there

I have the privilege and honor to be guest posting today at Musings of a Housewife. Go on over and have a look-see!

Be a dear

and click on my new ads! I'll love ya forever.

I'm sitting in the front seat of my van, the kids are watching "Red Toy Movie" in the backseat and we're on our way.

(Yes, I'm mobile. Thank you Andy's old job.)

I'll post some house pictures, as requested, when I get to where we're going and have an outlet since the laptop battery is about to die.

Until later then...

Things Fall Apart

Apparently I forgot how difficult it is to unpack with three rambunctious kids underfoot.

And by that I mean impossible.

So our house will have to wait for evenings and weekends. I'll just attempt to ignore all the clutter (and the whining) in the meantime.

You people are hilarious. Wave a little free Target shopping and everybody starts talking! I used Random.org's number generator and was rewarded with a cheery number 5. Commenter 5 was Babiesforruby. Congratulations! Email me your mailing address at Moriah (at) pleasepassthesalt1 (dot) com and I'll send it off pronto.

Talk about commenters coming out of the woodwork - you know, you're free to comment any time (doesn't matter who you are), I promise I won't bite!

(Much.)

One Year

It's been exactly one year since my first post.

So in honor of such a momentous occasion in my blogging life, I'm going to host a little giveaway.

Leave a comment in order to be entered to win a $25 gift card to my favorite multi-purpose store, Target! (Where else?!)

I'll leave comments open for the rest of today and draw a random winner from comments received before midnight. Make sure I have a way to reach you if you don't have a blog.

For now, I have to drive - HOME!

(We finished packing and I mopped myself right out the front door about midnight last night.)

Jo-Lynn, my new BFF

So I got tired of waiting elsewhere and had Jo-Lynne design my new header. (If you read my blog in a reader, you must click over and see!) And just in time for my first blogiversary on Tuesday, too.



Thanks, Jo-Lynne! I love it!

FMI

If you have a blog and come here often, and I've never left a comment for you (or say, it's been a while) leave me one so I can find my way.

Unless you don't want me to visit. In which case, never mind.

Ahem. Carry on.

In Which I Prove I Have No Shame

As if there was ever a question.



The gals over at Chic Critique are doing a little Blog Your Face event. The rules of the make-up bag tour:

1. a picture of your face, bare naked, unmade-up and fresh as a daisy
2. a list of the skin care and make-up products you use daily, with brand names and colors/shades
3. an "after" shot of your face all prettied up

(This should prove, beyond any doubt, that I have entered the realm of blogging addicts that will go to extreme lengths of public humiliation for blog material and also that I have no shame.)

So.

Hi my name is Moriah and I use drugstore make-up.

(Let's not let that come between friends.)

My daisy-fresh face:


The first thing I do is apply a tiny amount of this moisturizer (a big pricey but the best stuff I've used by far):


I've been using Maybelline's Mineral Power powder foundation and concealer.


Me, with foundation: (And I'm not sure what's going on with the lighting of the photo.)


Next I use an eyebrow pencil (CoverGirl's Brow & Eye Makers in Soft Brown with a little help of my eyeliner, which we'll discuss later):


See? Eyebrows.


Next, I use L'Oreal's Wear Infinite eye shadow in Autumn Leaves:


This is the UNBLENDED shot with the light color under the brow line and the dark at the edges:


This is the second UNBLENDED shot, adding in the medium color all over the mid-lid ("for depth and shape"):


Next, I do this:


And then apply eye liner. I've been using CoverGirl's Perfect Point Plus eye pencil in Espresso for the past forever:



Eyeliner. Never leave home without it.


My current mascaras (all in the blackest black):


That's Maybelline's Full N' Soft, CG's Lash Blast, and L'Oreal's Voluminous, in case you couldn't tell.

Sometimes I smudge a little eye pencil under my eyes along the lash line but I never wear mascara on my lower lashes because I can't stand it.

Next, I dab a bit of Maybelline's Expert Wear blush in Dusty Mauve on my cheek "apples" (I'm sure you can tell it's been dropped a few times), and if I'm going somewhere important, like say church, I'll put on Rimmel's Exaggerate lip liner in Epic and Maybelline's lipstick in Cocoa Plum (I don't see any specific lipstick name to give you but at least you can see what the tube looks like):


And, finally, the finished product of my morning face routine:


All made-up and ready for poopy diapers.

A Day for Treats

After a slightly-crazy morning involving too-few cars and the ensuing runaround, a Jeep that ran out of gas, and a 'check engine light' coming on, I was finally able to meet a bloggy friend for lunch today - in real life.

(Okay go ahead and laugh. I'm sure our husbands did/are.) But I had THE BEST time hanging out with Mer (from Life at 7000 Feet), face-to-face.

THE BEST.

We met at Panera and ate outside. Got a little sun-kissed, even. And just talked and talked and talked and talked. (That's what happens when mamas go out to lunch without kids. It's like a mini-vacation.)

I think it's sort of rare these days to connect to a new friend on so many levels, especially when you only first "meet." But we've been reading about each other's lives, via blogs, for quite some time now and have lots of familiarity to work with. We've shared plenty of similar experiences - including but not limited to, meeting our husbands in college and cafeteria first dates, husbands going to seminary, having three kids, and also some church-y stuff that I won't specifically mention.

Well, and blogging. (Which almost goes without saying.)

Her kids are older than mine but she has a firstborn son and then two daughters, just like me (so we're practically twins!). We share a lot of the same perspective/views on life in general, which makes for an easy friendship.

So here we are at Panera (and please excuse my lack of lipstick):


I'm thankful I have a sure friend whenever we come to visit my family here in Colorado.

Later this afternoon my mom called my Granddad to see if he would be willing to watch the kids so my mom, sisters and I could run to the shoe store (I say "run" as if it would be a quick trip. But we all know better.) and then to grab some Starbucks on the way home. Thankfully he said yes and we were able to do our little girly outing. And can I just say that the mint mocha chip frappuccino is divine?!

A very fun lunch, some new black heels, and a girly coffee drink - I'd say definitely a day of treats!

Here it is!

The Real Deal, interpeeps! Do you want to win a free sling from BohoBaby? Well then click right over to Musings of a Housewife and enter yourself in the giveaway.

And Happy Mother's Day, while we're at it!