TTMT - the RAK edition

It's the RAK edition of TTMT. Your job was to do a random act of kindness and come back to report about it. Secret Agent L is a resource for you.

My RAK:

Next week's TTMT: Show us what's in your purse. Dig it out and take a picture. The catch- you have to do it right now, no taking anything out or adding to it.

Talk To Me.... YOUR Turn!

TTMT:

Readers choice. Comment, inbox me, facebook me- leave me ideas for some 2011 Talk To Me Tuesdays. :)

Okay- This one is updated because some of you emailed me great ideas and I must have deleted them or something because I can't find them now! Sorry. :( Leave them in the comments here (PLEASE!). :)

And I guess that gets me out of participating in this week's (actually I'm auto publishing this on Thursday so I don't miss the date again....). :) But PLEASE play this week. And get started on next week's if you haven't yet. It should be fun!! And since I'm auto-publishing and changing the date- can I point out that I love when the date is so easy to write... we get to do that three times this year.

Next weeks:

This one is a do rather than an answer.... Go out and do a random act of kindness. Post the idea on your page. (For ideas see Secret Agent L's blog... you may recognize one on there from my friend Secret Agent (other) L)

TTMT (yes I know it's Thursday again!)

I've had a few people checking in on me as I skipped TTMT (again). Rest assured, the Hicks family is doing okay! We are just trying to get back into the swing of being back at work but still having appointments, basketball, photo sessions, and all the other things going on.

Here is another Thursday version of TTMT:

This week's:
What's a verse that you are leaning on right now? (Could be your all time favorite but doesn't have to be.)

Right now the verse I think about the most is Isaiah 40:31. It's a favorite of a lot of people (but ironically not one of mine). I actually have had it stuck in my head because I had made a necklace that said it for one of my best friends. It had been sitting on the counter waiting to be wrapped for awhile so I just tried it on one day before work and wouldn't you know- it fit. I ended up liking it a lot and made my friend another version of the necklace so I could keep this one myself wouldn't have to give her a used necklace. :) I've been reminded of this verse daily as I wear it bound on my neck and continually try to rest in Him.

One of my real favorite verses:

Hebrews 11:1- "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and sure of what we cannot see."

Though I have a lot of favorites, I don't have a lot of time right now so maybe I'll update this later.. and start taking my own advice on auto publishing TTMs so we can all play along a little better! :)

Next week's:

Readers choice. Comment, inbox me, facebook me- leave me ideas for some 2011 Talk To Me Tuesdays. :)

Okay- That one is updated because some of you emailed me great ideas and I must have deleted them or something because I can't find them now! Sorry. :( Leave them in the comments here (PLEASE!). :)

The next, next weeks:

This one is a do rather than an answer.... Go out and do a random act of kindness. Post the idea on your page. (For ideas see Secret Agent L's blog... you may recognize one on there from my friend Secret Agent (other) L)

Okay: So what's your favorite verse (or one you are currently leaning on)? Comment with your link to it here. And thanks for your patience as the Tuesdays roll into Wedn.... Thursdays. Love y'all!

Updated: If you don't blog, YES you can still play. Leave your answer in the comments.

Talk to Me..... Thursday?

So I'm obviously enjoying my break..... I've officially lost track of what day it is.

I was taking a break from editing today to catch up on blogs... and noticed Feisty's new TTM post. But she was obviously ahead of the game because it couldn't be Tuesday yet..... right? Uh.... oops.

Break is obviously going way too fast because apparently Tuesday has come and gone and tomorrow is the last day of the year. Yikes.

Today's Talk To Me...(Thursday) is:

What's something you're hopeful for in 2011?

I ditto what Feisty said. We've been praying about it for forever awhile.

I'm also hopeful about {cb}h. I cant wait to see what He has in store for {cb}h this year. I have some big ideas of where I would like to be with it by the end of 2011.

I am looking forward to the start of the new year. I'm thankful for the growth 2010 brought but I'm ready to see what 2011 has in store for us! I'm looking forward in Hope. For us and for you, too!

Next week's:
What's a verse that you are leaning on right now? (Could be your all time favorite but doesn't have to be.)

Next, next week's:

Readers choice. Comment, inbox me, facebook me- leave me ideas for some 2011 Talk To Me Tuesdays. :)

Talk To Me: Christmas Goodies

This Week's Talk To Me:

Fill in the blank with a food item: "It wouldn't be Christmas without _______." (recipes welcome!)

Aunt Diana's homemade caramels (this year they were made by Amy!)
I can't think of a Christmas that's gone by without them.
I'm recording the recipe here because I've asked for it (and lost it) about a hundred times.

Aunt Diana's Caramels

2 C white sugar

1 3/4 C white Karo

1 cube butter

2 C whipping cream

Boil sugar, karo, butter and 1 C cream briskly. Add rest of cream. Boil until 246 degrees. Pour into 9x13 inch buttered pan. Let cool. Cut into small squares and wrap in wax paper. May be kept in freezer.

We also have soups (usually oyster, potato, and chili) every Christmas eve and the big meal Christmas day. Sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes are two of the mainstays. Grandma's red, white, and green layered jello is usually there too.

Whatever is at your table this year, hope you have a Merry Christmas!!!!



Next week's:

What's something you're hopeful for in 2011?

The next, next week's:
What's a verse that you are leaning on right now? (Could be your all time favorite but doesn't have to be.)

TTMT: Gettin Crafty

This week's Talk To Me:
What is your favorite craft project? (tutorials welcome- hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

I really wanted to come up with a new one to post here today but I'm stuck on the metal stamping. I finally found the right metal (other than the spoons) and finally figured out a few other things that help (tape. you need tape.) and I'm on a roll.
You can metal stamp just about anything. Necklaces, gift tags, garden markers, book marks, anything (anything metal that is)!
Here's a quick necklace tutorial.

And the jewelry goods are 50% off at Hobby Lobby this week!!

So what are you crafting right now? Come back and share your link in the comments!

Next Week's Talk To Me:

Fill in the blank with a food item: "It wouldn't be Christmas without _______." (recipes welcome!)

The next, next week's:

What's something you're hopeful for in 2011?

The next, next, next week's:
What's a verse that you are leaning on right now? (Could be your all time favorite but doesn't have to be.)

TTMT | Favorite Things

These are a few of my favorite things........ (You did sing that right?)

This week's Talk To Me:
What are a few of your favorite things (think Oprah)?
Tab & I thought this would be a fun one!

As I started typing it, I realized this was a little like that one outfit dejavu....

Not that long ago, I posted a {recomended by} heidi post. Remember......

But for the sake of TTMT, I'm going to add to the list (some smaller items and maybe not right now... but when I have time). You can check the other ones out below. :)

{recommended by} heidi

After I posted an (almost) handmade Christmas ideas, I started thinking about people that purchase big ticket Christmas gifts (for the record- we are not those people). I was thinking about some of our best investments over the last few years and thought I'd share. Most of these are things we had wanted forever before we actually got them. These are some of our favorite things (did you sing that?). Zero buyer's remorse included.

1. DSLR camera
Specifically the Canon T1i. It's not a professional camera but it's not a point and shoot either. There's lots of versatility with it (lens wise) and I take it with me 99% of the time.

2. Navigation system for the car
Neither of our cars have a built in system so the portable version was great for us. It's been a huge time (and dare I say life?) saver for us. Can't imagine driving in a new city without one now.

3. King Size bed
We didn't even have a queen before so our upgrade from a full to a king was huge. Huge. HUGE. Really. This was such a good investment. We'll never regret it!

4. Kelly Moore bag
R wouldn't put this on his list but it's definitely on mine! Best purse camera bag I ever had. Okay. Fine. So I use it as a purse. But can you blame me? It's adorable (I have both the grey hobo and the mustard messenger- the hobo is by far my fave). It's pockets are amazing for anyone that lives out of their purse. And it protects your camera. What more could you ask for? And since there's little compartments inside- it's a super fast switch for me to go from everyday use to a photo session. I absolutely love it! I think the messenger one would make a good diaper bag too!

5. Sectional
Yup. I'm putting a couch on the list. It's a U-shape sectional with a chaise on one end. It's comfy. I think it looks nice but not too nice so you still feel comfortable on it. I like it. A lot. (Once I got over the coffee table issue and found the perfect 'coffee table' I loved it a lot more!)

6. Toms
You know the ones. The ones I wear pretty much everyday. That is until the 30 for 30 started and I didn't put them on the list. Yeah. I don't know how that happened either. Really. I'm still debating switching out another item for a pair of them.
Seriously. They are super comfy. Versatile. Amazing. What's awesome is I got a pair on sale for $20. What's even better is since they give a pair when you buy a pair- it was like 2 for $20. Can't beat that!
I want them in a couple other colors but since we are being good about not spending and all I have to pass. For now.
Oh- and if you plan to buy some, I know they say to stick to your regular size but all of mine are 1/2 size bigger. I think some people's look too stretched out and I've had no problems with mine being too big. They kinda form around your feet.

7. Pampered Chef Knife Set
It's one of the few PC purchases I've made (we were blessed to have a PC wedding shower and I've also earned most everything else PC that we have). We, of course, got the good deal on the set and it was worth it. I never knew what a decent knife cut like. It was life changing. Or something like that.

And I'd say my computer would make the list but I'm afraid that would jinx it and Macxine (that's her name) would crash on me. I would like to bring her little Pro nephew home one of these days. But not for long long while.

__________________________________

Next week's TTMT: What's your favorite craft project? (Tutorials welcomed!) :)

Talk To Me!

Hey Talkers!

I'll start posting the next Talk to Me Tuesdays so you can auto publish yours if you like. I'm super excited about next week's! (You can thank Tab for the idea!)

This week's TTMT:

What are you looking forward to this Christmas season?

I'm looking forward to a break from work! I have a two week break from school and a few weeks off from photos. I LOVE doing photos but two full-time jobs is time consuming. Even when it's something that you love, it's work!

I'm looking forward to Christmas music (or continuing it). sleeping by the Christmas tree. mom's cooking. and (almost) homemade Christmas. I can't wait!!

Next Week's TTMT:

What are some of your favorite things? (Think Oprah)

Tuesday.... sort of

Tuesday flew right by and the TTMT (talk to me) never posted.... what? I got on to check my scheduled posts and there's a very good reason that it never posted....

it was never written.

oops.

Today's talk to me Tuesday (er Wednesday) is what question(s) would you ask for ttmt? Comment, message, email them to me sometime before next week and I'll get a TTMT schedule up so we can all auto publish your ttmt posts! (After we actually write them that is....)

Happy Tuesday Wednesday! Happy Thanksgiving!! Make it a great day!

Talk To Me! the 4th

This week's question comes from Lisa. (I'm thinking at one point, we'll get around to answering all of everyone's questions and you're going to have to post new ones for me!)

What were you like as a student in school?

This one was appropriate for me this week because R&I were talking about this very thing today (well, Saturday when I originally typed this).

What I remember myself being like as a student and what my teachers might remember are probably very different...... but from my point of view.....

In elementary school I was pretty quiet. Did EVERYTHING I was supposed to do and didn't question it. (Well. Except maybe reading time in Kindergarten when I pretended to still be napping.)

Then I had an amazing 6th grade teacher that encouraged me to speak up (he would have probably recalled it more as trying to get to to shut up.... ha). From that point on I was a little more vocal in and out of the classroom.

School had usually come easy to me, so at times I was a little bored and may have made things a little interesting sometimes. Though, most of those memories involve the same person so maybe it was more them than me. ;) I won't mention any names though.....

In junior high/high school I was involved in most of the activities our school offered. My most memorable moments and most educational from school involve times that I wasn't even in the school building. (Big Booty in the 'borrowed' school van may not have been educational I guess... but it sure was memorable! Who knew those CB radios had a direct line to the superintendent's office?)

I currently keep a photo of me in 8th grade Home Ec to remind me of what I was like then and what was important to me then. I catch myself referring to it if I'm having a difficult time figuring a student out or why they did something. Chances are- I did it once too!

So what about you? What were you like in school? Go ahead and answer in the comments or link us up to your post on it!

Talk To Me! x3

TTMT V3.0

This week's question comes from Smith Family Blog:

If you could tell your teenage self anything, what would it be?

I love this one!

My answer this week:

Hey, 14yo Heids (you don't recognize that nickname now, but one day a man that loves you very much will call you that)-

I know you don't believe me, but life is great. YOU are God's child. He loves you just because. It's okay that you don't have it all figured out right now- 15 years from now, you still wont. But you are loved. And you matter. And the best way to help yourself right now is to help others. It's gonna be hard but it's going to be so worth it. Keep at it. Spend more time with grandma. Bake with her. Listen to her stories. Write them down. Remember these moments. Take pictures. And don't forget I love you.

PS. Pay attention in Spanish. You may think it's worthless now but one day you'll wish you knew it.

Okay. Your turn!

Talk To Me

This one comes from Dillinger Family:

If you could relive one day of your life, what would it be and why?

(I'm going to add- it can't be your wedding day or any other obvious major milestone.)

My (major milestones excluded) day that I would relive is a day spent along the shore in Hawaii listening to the waves crash in against the rock wall I was laying on, R checking in with all the great stuff he was finding, reading a good book, and not worrying about one single thing.

I have a photo from that day in our bathroom and it still relaxes me when I look at it. I can't wait for another day just like it!

Okay- your turn! What would your day be?

This week you can link up here. Just copy/paste the url to your post for today so we can all come visit your day you would relive!

Talk To Me

Okay. So I love the seven questions tag. I normally do not like that stuff. The email surveys people used to send out really bugged me.

But.

Maybe it was the questions (you know, what's your life verse vs. what's your favorite color).

Or maybe it's that my blogging friends are just really good at answering.

Either way. I'm loving the seven questions tag.

And truthfully- I wanted to tag more than 7. I wanted to tag Snappy Casual but figured Smith Family would. I wanted to tag Team Sullivan but figured Dillinger Family would. And I wanted to tag..... well you get the idea. I really wanted to tag 10 more but I'm a stickler for following the rules. Sometimes.

So that got me to thinking (you probably know from experience that these posts never turn out well... just stick with me) and I want to do a version of the 'Tell Me Tuesdays.' I'm going to steal questions from the amazing questions my tagees (oh shush, red squigglies) came up with- starting with the English teacher. And I'm tagging all y'all.

Ready?

(I don't care how you answer. Either in a blogpost and I'll add a link here or in the comments. Just play along! Got it, Feisty?)

We'll start with an easy one (you don't even have to talk about yourself... yet). ;)

TTMT#1:

What's your spouse's best quality?

I'll go first. ;)

(Okay... I said it was easy then I just deleted a paragraph about R. I didn't want to embarrass him so I'm changing my answer to.......)

R is funny. Humor is his way of dealing with life. He can laugh through anything and everything. You have to work really hard to be mad at or hurt by him because he makes it impossible for you to not laugh. Sometimes this irritates me. :) But I wouldn't have it any other way.

See? Easy! Your turn!!

Updated:

I'm going to have to start calling y'all out by name... feisty was on that quick. She set the bar high for everyone else. :)

Feisty
Smith Family

.blessed.
Twice Blessed