Author: Melissa

The other day, Ellie got off the bus and said, "That mean girl sat with me today."

WHAT!? After all that, that bully had the nerve to sit with her again?? My blood pressure immediately shot up and I was ready to call her teacher right away. Wait, calm down, I told myself. I calmly asked her very casually why the bully had sat with her.

"She didn't sit with me. I sat with her."

"What?" (unable to hide my shock)

"She asked me to sit with her and I did. We talked and she showed me her new toy. Its a puppy toy and it was so cute. And I met her friend and she was nice too."

I am completely amazed.  My sweet, kind girl was brave enough to give a bully a second chance. I wouldn't have. I would have said, "No way I'm sitting with you." I would have ignored her. But Ellie didn't. After all that girl put her through, she took a chance and risked getting bullied again to reach out – to an older girl – and try to be her friend.

Ellie told me all about how nice the girl was and how they now wave and say "hi" when they see each other in the hallway or in the cafeteria. How she is so glad that this girl has changed and decided to be loving to others. And how happy she is that God used her to help and to show this girl how Jesus wants us to act towards others.

This is my daughter.
I'm in awe of her. I am challenged by her.
And I am humbled that God chose me to be her Mama.

Okay, does anyone remember a few weeks ago when I talked about how we were hemorrhaging money? And how I was going to stop spending money and not put one single toe in Ann Taylor Loft?

Well, this month I mean it. Because, oh my goodnessgracious, somehow September was even worse than August. I think I've written more checks this month than in the last 6 months combined. We didn't even buy anything! Well, nothing big, like a car, or super cool, like an iPhone. Let me show you how this worked:

$125 to sign Ellie up for soccer
$15 to buy soccer cleats
$10 for Soccer Pictures. Because we have to buy the picture of the team. Especially with Daddy in it!
$5.50 for a Soccer trophy (YES, we have to buy her trophy. Apparently $125 doesn't include a stupid $2 trophy. Do NOT get me started about this)
$60 for Soccer goals bought by my husband. (Because we are not allowed to practice on a field with actual goals. Again, not getting started.)
$10 for snacks for soccer team (2 boxes of Capri Suns, 2 boxes of pretzel sticks, 1 big bag of oranges)
$5-10 will probably be asked to contribute for a gift for the coach at the end.

And we signed Gracie up for soccer too. See how it snowballs? And we also have school pictures, PTO directories, and school spirit wear to purchase. And they all outgrew their shoes. And have ballet lessons (see soccer list). And girl scouts. And it just goes on and on and on. As much as were trying to save money, its just flying out the door!

So now, I mean it. This can NOT go on. I think we've got these back-to-school purchases done (I dearly hope).  No more buying stuff!!! I mean it this time!

So this week I learned that it is impossible to try to cut back spending in September. What did you learn this week? Read more posts here!

A few weeks ago, I enjoyed a thoroughly yummy dinner at The Cookshop Restaurant in New York. It was fabulous. One of the specials that night was an heirloom tomato salad that was divine. I was determined to recreate it! So here's my go at it! I made this for two (along with roasted asparagus and steakhouse steaks) but it could easily have made four smaller servings.

Heirloom Tomato Salad
1 pound heirloom tomatoes (I got mine at Trader Joes and they were delicious and only $3.99.)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
1 bunch arugula, washed and dried
goat cheese (optional)

1. Halve tomatoes and place on salad plates. Arrange some arugula on one side of the tomatoes.
2. Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Before serving, drizzle tomatoes and arugula with dressing. Top with a good-sized slice of goat cheese, if desired.

I'm completely in love with this cropped sweater swing coat at Old Navy. And they are the item of the week this week for only $20! Don't get black. I know its hard, girls. We'll do this together. Say it with me: "I will stop buying everything in black." Don't wimp out on me and get charcoal grey. Go with this season's hot color, plum:

Can you just picture this with skinny jeans and a scarf? Or a pencil skirt and boots?

And wouldn't a pair of animal print ballet flats add a little zing to your typical jeans and a black sweater? And you can get these at Target for only $13. Not too shabby! But I won't dwell on shoes. I could go on all day!

 I recently discovered Recession Denim: premium denim that retails for under $100. (If you know about premium denim, you know how amazing that is!!) I've been on my 'perfect jeans' quest this fall and have been positively wincing at the prices of some premium denim lines. (Seriously, for $200 a pair, they'd better come with an iPod in the pocket.) I'm totally and completely in love with Recession's skinny jeans in Ink Blue. They are cropping up in my dreams, people. But these Marlboro jeans caught my eye as well:

Aren't they gorgeous? They have that perfect worn-in look – just like all the celebrities wear. I had a pair of distressed capris like this and I wore them practically every single day all summer.  An absolute wardrobe staple! Wouldn't those look amazing on me? I know, right?
Recession Denim hits Bloomingdales this week, so if you're at the mall, go check them out!

I may be a little bit in love with this dress from White House Black Market. Isn't it a great twist on the little black dress? (Yes, I realize I told you not to buy grey 8 seconds ago. Go with it.) Bonus – it was featured in the current issue of People's Style Watch!

And, finally, this tote bag is awesome because:
1. Its designed by Marimekko. (ultra hip!)
2. Its only $10.
3. $6.24 of each sale goes directly to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.
Just buy one. You can use it for yourself or give it as a gift to someone! Like me!

Can you blame me?

Yes. That would be Gracie. WITH PAULA DEEN!!!

You may know how Gracie is obsessed with the Food Network. She loves to watch all the shows, she reads cookbook for fun, wants to be a chef when she grows up, etc.

Well, we found out that Paula Deen was coming to do an assembly at Ellie's elementary school so of course I knew I had to take Gracie!  (She was off the wall excited all day and picked put a special outfit to wear to see Paula! It was hysterical!)
Anyway, we snuck out just as it ended to head home to relieve my friend who was watching Colin and who was climbing into her car? Paula!!
Gracie waved to her and Paula rolled down her window to wave back. I said, "Paula, This is Gracie. She loves your show and wants to be a chef when she grows up just like you!"
Well then Ms. Paula Deen won a place in my heart forever.
She said, "Come on over here, Darlin'! I just love that you want to be a chef! You can do it if you want to, Sweet Pea!! Come stand by me and let your mama take a picture of us!"
(Her manager was telling her they needed to go and she said, "You just hold on a minute, I need to get a picture with this little girl.")
She gave a big smile for the camera and reached out and patted Gracie's head and told her, "Aunt Paula says you can do it if you want to!! Bye, Darlin'!!"  

She could have kept that tinted window up and driven away. Instead she took a few minutes to make my little girl's YEAR. Gracie is beside herself. She came home wanting to cook, so she could practice being a chef.

All I have to say is: Paula Deen, you are one class act. I cannot even tell you what that small moment meant to my little Gracie. And to me. Thank you!!

October's Try This Carnival theme is…. COMFORT FOODS! The carnival will be held on the first Thursday of the month and, yes, the first Thursday of October is next week. *faint*
Anyway, time wraps aside,  you will definitely want to get your recipes ready for this one!! This month, everyone who enters a recipe will be eligible to win a totally amazing giveaway. I'm seriously so super excited, I can barely contain it. Should I just give you a hint and say that "Y'all better get cookin' your best dishes!"??
Okay! Okay. I'll tell you.
I'll be giving away a cookbook by the queen of Southern cooking, Paula Deen.
An autographed cookbook. By Paula Deen, y'all!!!  (Yes, you read that right! I'm going to go see her today. *swoon* I feel like I should bring a pound of butter as some sort of love offering.)
Get out those cookbooks and get your favorite go-to comfort recipe ready to share on October 1st!!

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This week over on Girlymama Reviews, I'm giving away a family four pack of tickets to DISNEY ON ICE! If you live in or near the Philadelphia area, go enter your name to win! I have vivid memories of going to this with my family growing up and I remember it being so magical. I can't wait to take my own kids and watch their faces as they see it all!!

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This Saturday is National Museum Day, hosted by Smithsonian Magazine. There are literally hundreds of museums all over the country with free admission this weekend! In Philadelphia, check out  The Franklin Institute or The Academy of National Sciences!

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Please remember to keep all the victims of the flooding in your prayers. Head on over to Lots of Scotts, see her incredible pictures, leave her a message and send her a prayer for her family.

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I leave you with this series of photos I've entitled "Time Out."
(Alternate title: "That's What Happens When You Hit Your Sister In The Face With A Sword.")

getting up early:
The kids wake up by 6am, without fail. Regardless of when they go to bed, how tired they are, what time I went to bed, whether it is Saturday… I need to embrace it and start going to bed earlier and dragging  my bum out of bed when my three little alarms without snooze buttons go off.

the schedule:
Ugh. The schedule. Why fight it? We're going to be this busy until they all leave for college. In 17 years. Maybe we'll be able to have a life then. In the meantime, its ballet lessons, soccer practice, meetings and more lessons.

my girls' rooms:
Toys, toys everywhere. Everywhere! We could spend all day cleaning their room and within minutes, its a mess again. The only time it has been clean in the last year was just before we had a showing when our house was on the market.  I will no longer worry about their room and insist on picking it up everyday. I'll clean it occasionally, but that's it! Its their job now!

No matter what I do, its all over the place. Any style, any product, doesn't matter. Whatever style we try, it just falls right out because their hair is so soft. (This is them with their hair done. Really.) So I give up. I'll do their hair in the morning, but then I'm not going to worry about it. If they want it hanging in their faces, they can go ahead. If they want me to fix it, I will. But I am through chasing them around with a hairbrush!

So this week, I learned that I had to give up some useless battles I was fighting in order to keep my sanity. What did you learn this week? Go read some more posts here!

Notice his assistant coach 🙂