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03 May 2013

7 Quick Takes {vol. 7}




Happy TGIF!  Some quick-a-roo takes with Jen...
Writing and reflecting on the week as Jim sits here playing his guitar; so relaxing and soothing...


 {1}
Last Saturday Jim and I were at an all day conference with Renewal Ministries; we absolutely loved it!!  One of the best things we heard??? "Sometimes we only need to be the jackass Jesus is riding in on."  That pretty much sums it up for me...of course there was MUCH more awesomeness than just that!  Jim thought that was so hysterical he leaned over and asked me "Could I get that as a tattoo?"  My response: "Only if you work to be less jackass-ish at home" true love!! ;-)
We walked away with some great tools in our spiritual tool box like how to share and draft your personal testimony, the practical how-to's of sharing your faith, and took a spiritual charism inventory to see what our spiritual gifts are.  It was SO cool because where I was strong, Jim scored lower...and where he was higher, I scored lower; guess God is working out our crazy to do something  cool in this world:)
That evening there was a time of prayer and worship...God really spoke to my heart in a way I have been praying and needing for a good long time.  Hoping to write and reflect about it more this coming week.


{2}
Saturday my friend Rebecca and I are taking a road trip to Ohio to visit our dear nun friend, Sr. Rita Clare for her community's open house.  The three of us go way back from pilgrimages to Ireland and Medjugorje, lots of trips to Coldstone, and many laughs and heart felt talks.  We will be able to visit and celebrate Mass at their community chapel (which is freaking gorgeous!) go have a night of praise/worship with some college students, and then drive home that night....bring on the strong, black coffee! ;-)

Sr. Rita Clare at her first profession of religious vows





Some of nuns in training preparing for the open house ;-)



{3}
This just frustrates me. a lot.
A 15 y/o cannot get a flu shot w/o parental notification, but they can get birth control??
I don't know much more to say than this.
I gave a chastity talk on Wednesday night and had SUCH a great discussion about this with teens, very insightful and full of a dose of awesome:)
Cause this makes so much sense.







{4}
We got our tax refund back!  And boy oh boy were we pleasantly surprised...like a couple thousand surprised.  Saving, paying down some debt, saving some for my WYD pilgrimage, and starting to buy Jim some handsome professional work clothes is on the agenda.  Any idea's of nice places that aren't too expensive to help build up a nice professional man wardrobe?


{5}
I had dinner with my sister Annie this week.  She is getting married this October, and I'm so excited her and her future hubs will be living in the local area.  I'm already loving that all our future kids will be able to grow up together and be close.  It's funny but I feel like we have so much more in common and get along better in life now that were both kind of on the same path now; working, marriage, how to make it all work, etc.  I mean we never fought or didn't get along, but I feel like we're actually closer because of our current life situations.  I'm actually 5 years older so sometimes growing up it felt we weren't as close because of where we were in life.  But since we've gotten older, we have grown closer...she's my fashion consultant, another closet to raid through, and one great listener. 
Sisters. Sisters. There were never such devoted sisters...('White Christmas' reference:)



{6}
I am slowly becoming a cook...very. slowly.  This week, I tried out another Weight Watcher recipe: Bubble-Up Enchilada Casserole.  
 Here's the link to the recipe.  Very easy to make!!  Take a 1-1 1/2 of turkey meat and brown and drain it.  Then add enchilada sauce and tomato sauce.  Then cut into 1/4 refrigerator biscuits.  You pour the meat and sauce mixture into a casserole dish and mix in the quartered biscuits.  Then bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Pull out the dish and sprinkle cheese on top and let it bake for another five minutes so the cheese is all nice and melted.

Final result??  Jim loved it but I thought it was a little salty, maybe too much enchilada sauce??  I
 just be doing something right this week, cause I'm down 2.1 at WW!  Woot woot:)
Just. keep. working.
{7}
I know living in an apartment means you have to deal with the people who live above you (because we're on the first floor), but wow.  The guy living above us is about to get another noise compliant.  I have no problem with folks who get all geaked up for sports; BUT at 1:00am when you awaken either me and/or both my husband that's not really pleasant.  Last time we complained he was vacuuming at 2:00am...I'm all about being neat and tidy, but at 2:00am it is really not ideal.  Unless you wanna see Jim bust open a major can of whoop a$% then go ahead an be my guest.  Sorry for the sass, but I'm a light sleeper and I already sleep with ear plugs...hoping I can be nice about it and he can handle himself better at wee early times in the am.

Happy Weekending :)
  
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29 comments:

  1. Your conference sounds great! And yay for visiting sisters (both kinds). Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Thanks Ann-Marie...we really loved it...hope your family has a lovely weekend too:)

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  2. I hateeed when I would hear people above/next to me in the apartment. Ughh.
    Have fun on your trip to Ohio! We'll have to meet sometime because Toledo isn't too far :)

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    1. Yes definitely...but not this weekend ;-)
      you'll be kinda busy!

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  3. Have so much fun with the nuns!!!

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  4. My husband loves Jos. A. Banks dress shirts. They are veryyyy pricy regularly, but go on amazon or look for sales and you can get them cheap (like $25 cheap.) They also wash and iron beautifully. (ha spoken like a true wife)

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    1. Oh good to know...thank you!!! Jim thought dressy shopping could be done at Kohl's or Target, silly men!

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  5. #4: Check out the new Nordstrom Rack in Ann Arbor! Nordstrom is (in my opinion) pretty expensive, but at their Rack locations there are really great deals for guy clothes - like $15 Calvin Klein ties, $25-30 shirts that are normally $60-100, pants that are half off, etc. They really do have quality clothing for affordable prices. Other than that, Michael and I like to sometimes scope out all the outlet malls in southeast Michigan.

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    1. Ohh Stephanie, I forgot about that one! GREAT idea, I'll add that to our list for sure! thanks:)

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  6. I would love to take a charism assessment! Seems like you a spiritually enriching time...let your husband get that tattoo ;)

    Sr. Rita looks so beautiful in that picture! What a blessing for our Church!

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    1. It really is awesome, and we thought it was neat to take as newlyweds because then we see even more where our spiritual gifts lie...and now Jim seems to appreciate my gift of Administration more in list making ;)

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  7. #1 loved your response to his question about getting a tattoo!! True love means being honest, right? ;)
    #3 :(
    #4 H&M!! Do you have one near you? Chris got a suit for $75 and their clothes are very fashionable for men and women!
    #5 that will be so fun to go through the same life experiences together with your sister, especially if your kiddos will be close in age
    #7 Seriously? who vacuums at that hour?

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    1. Haha, Eva, ME! I have vacuumed in the middle of the night when I worked night shift and was on that schedule. It was probably 3 or 4, but no one lived below me.

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    2. Eva, Yup you're right...if we cannot be honest (with an occasional dose of sassy that's boring ;-)

      Ohhh really H&M, huh??? We do have one near us, another one to add to our list...thanks!

      #7 I know, right...

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    3. KelleyAnnie...Okay, well that makes sense. kinda ;) maybe 4am...but not earlier...and as long as no one lived below you!! :)

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  8. Your conference sounds wonderful! We need to do something like that. I've wanted to do a marriage retreat or something for awhile, but the dates always seem to coincide with when we're moving again and the couples involved are always older. Where are all the young people at church???

    As far as your husband's work wardrobe...when we were trying to do this we shopped a lot at Macy's sales. We were usually happiest there and found the best selection. I would also look for sales at Jos. A. Bank and Banana Republic. I'm not sure what your husband wears for work, but mine usually wears a collared button-down and nice dress pants. The best shirts for him have been Tommy Hilfiger slim-fit (he's tall and thin) and you can get the wrinkle-free or easy-care ones. Definitely do that when you can--I once thought, hey, it's not that big of a deal and he says he'll iron it himself. It was and he didn't. Recently my husband ordered a trunk from Trunk Club. You fill out a questionaire and speak to an employee about your "style" and they send a box of clothes for you to try. You're not obligated to keep anything technically and you just pay for what you keep. The clothes are a bit pricier than we would normally buy, but we don't have to go to a store and they are good quality. If I was a single professional guy I would only use that service and never go shopping ever.

    Your noise comments remind me of when we were first married! We had super-noisy neighbors upstairs and had to have a meeting with them about it. I'm not a light sleeper, but they were even waking me up. I'm guilty of vacuuming in the middle of the night, but we lived on the first floor then. I worked night shift and I was home alone so I was still up and living like it was daytime :-) Good luck with that situation--I know it's rough!

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    1. Thanks for the awesome recommendations for men's clothes...this dude hates shopping. like a lot. But he does realize he needs a more professional wardrobe too now...
      Thanks it just feels awkward when we seem him going to his car cause its like we all know who complained, oh well that's what ya get for apartment living:)

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  9. I'd love to know more about the charism inventory; that sounds so cool! In the past, I've noticed a tendency for people to say things like, "oh, my spirituality is Francisican," or "it's this," and although I didn't love the idea of putting yourself in a box or just ascribing to one particular mode of prayer, I felt pressure sometimes to define myself, as well. An inventory like yours sounds like a much more balanced and insightful approach.

    We buy most of my hubby's work clothes either at T.J. Maxx/Marshalls, or at outlets. He's gotten really nice items from Van Heusen's outlets, and we found really well-made, affordable ties and some nice more casual dress shirts from J. Crew Factory. Have a good weekend!!

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    1. Stephanie, it's called "Called and Gifted" from the Catherine of Siena Institute...the mission is helping us folks know our spiritual charisms and encourage us to work more out of them, cause when we do, we actually help build better the kingdom of God.

      Marshall's, another good resource I didn't think to check...thanks muchly!

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  10. Love the "White Christmas" reference - that's one of my favorite movies.

    And #3, we've lost our minds as a culture. Lord, have mercy.

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    1. I know right, can never have too much of White Christmas! ;-)
      Have mercy on us and on the whole world

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  11. Hahaha I love that #1!! That's so awesome that you and your sister live so close. Mine lives about six hours away, and she might live even further away next year to start grad school! :(

    I hope you have a great time on your road trip today! :)

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    1. Having a sister is one of the best things...just got home last night late, but oh such a fun time:)

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  12. Aren't sisters the best! I have 3 of my own and we were at each others throats when we were younger but know we are super close...as close as we can be living in 4 different states!
    Not sure of you have a Burlington Coat Factory near you but that's where I buy all my husband's dress shirts, they have a great selection for great prices. I have gotten 5 or 6 name brand shirts for $100! Also, Kohls and Macy's clearance racks are always packed and those stores let you use their coupons on the sale items too! Good luck!

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    1. Why yes we do have a Burlington Cat Factory, haven't been there in ages...thanks for the suggestions!! :)

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  13. I wanted to make it to the Open House but just didn't plan my studying well enough. I heard it was great though. I am sure we passed each other at the FOP. Isn't it funny what a small world it is.

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    1. LOL! Too funny, what a small world :)
      the open house was great!

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  14. #4 .. my husband's dress shirts & pants come from Eddie Bauer -- wrinkle resistant collection.. no ironing !!!

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    1. Ohh thanks for the suggestion! that helps:)

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