Father's Day

                           "...The glory of children is their father." Proverbs 17:6

20 Answers

Well you asked, and now it is my turn to answer.  I enjoyed getting your questions through your comments, e-mails and in person.  So here are my 20 answers.

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Oh and I thought this was going to be easy.  I really don't have one favorite color, so I will name some of my many favorites.  Blue, because it is calming and I really love all of the different shades of it.  Red, because it is bold and energizing.  Pink, because it is pink. And Black, because it is timeless.


Q: Did you ever wish you were an only child?
A: Good one.  Yes there have been times that I did wish I was an only child.  This usually happens when we are dividing up dessert, or my belongings have been raided by three little roommates.  But at the end of the day I would not trade my four siblings for anything in the world.  I am very blessed to have a wise and caring older brother, and the three cutest little sisters on the face of the earth.  Each one of them has their own special qualities and quirks, but so do I!

Q: What was your favorite age?
A: Short answer, the one I am now.  But if I had to pick one I would say 11.  That was when I became on older sister, began taking on more household responsibilities, and really started to "grow up".

Q: What do you say to people who ask if you are in college?
A: It all depends on the situation.  If it is just small talk in a social setting, I will tell them that I'm spending my college years serving my family at home and being politically active.  If I have more time, I can explain the wonderful calling of being a homemaker, and how I hope to be like the women I most admire, my mother and grandmother.

Q: When did you decide to become a Homemaker?
A: I have wanted to be a "Mommy" ever since I was a little girl.  There was a time when other things did tempt me, but my heart has always been at home.  If there was an age, I would say 14 is when I resolved to be a homemaker. The best part about being a homemaker is that it involves so many of my interests.  Cooking, baking, interior design, organization and teaching.  I could be a doctor, a lawyer or a CEO.  Or I could raise a doctor, a lawyer and a CEO.


Q: Have you ever wanted to be anything other than a Homemaker?
A: Yes. There have been times in my life when I wanted to be an interior designer, private investigator, classical pianist, political operative, intelligence operative and Peter Pan.


Q: What is your favorite thing to do around the house?
A: I LOVE to cook!  And I love to organize.  I'm one of those people that have the cans in alphabetical order and shirts in the closet arranged by color.

Q: What are some of your interests outside of the home?
A: Our family has always been very active politically, but we have been in high gear for the last year. I love politics for many reasons, but mainly because it something our entire family is involved in.  I'm interested in design (architectural, interior and fashion), I love old movies, and all things British. Oh, and hockey.

Q: What is your favorite book of the Bible?
A: Ephesians and Proverbs.

Q: What was your favorite vacation?
A: In the summer of 2007 we went to the Jamestown 400 celebration that Vision Forum Ministries hosted.  It was an amazing trip that the Lord put together at the last minute.  We were not planning to attend until 10 days before.  In those 10 days God brought us a motor coach from a Christian company, a professional driver from the group New Song (of "Christmas Shoes" fame) who fit in with our family perfectly.  It was a blessed trip in every way and one of the best memories we have as a family.  This August we will be going to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, and look forward to making more memories.

Q: If you could have dinner with any living person, who would it be?
A: Pam Tebow.  She is such a wonderful example of a godly mother and Titus 2 woman. 

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I like to watch an old movie, something directed by Capra or a good mystery.  My nightstand is always filled with books, and I enjoy browsing home listings online.

Q: What do you do when you feel like you can't get on top of it all?
A: Bluebell Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream.  Does wonders!

Q: What is your favorite number?
A: 87

Q: What is your favorite animal?
A: Horses from a distance, dogs up close.

Q: Where do you like to shop for clothes?
A: I shop at a wide variety of stores.  For classic wardrobe staples Talbots is my go to source.  They offer lovely classic clothing that will last for years.  For more basic items like tees and jeans I shop at Old Navy.  J. Crew has the best sweaters on the market.  I am particularly fond of their beautiful Jackie Cardigan & Shell.  Other stores where I have had success are, Landsend, L.L. Bean, Gap, LOFT, and Dillard's. 

Q: Could you recommend some books for young women?
A: For young women, I highly recommend So Much More and It's Not That Complicated by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin.  So Much More was the book I read that helped reaffirm my commitment to being at home when I was 14.  Their second book which was released last year on relationships is very well written, with helpful advice and some humor thrown in too.  Other books I would recommend are The Family by J.R. Miller, Joyfully at Home by Jasmine Baucham, and What He Must Be by Dr. Voddie Baucham.


Q: What are some of your favorite things about the South?
A: I love the people, the hospitality and warmness that they have.  I love the architecture and history.  And the food, oh the food!  You have not lived until you have true Southern cooking served to you at a restaurant where all waitresses call you "honey", "darlin" or "sugar".  As my Dad says "The best and brightest in the world come to America.  And the best and the brightest in America, come to the South.".


Q: Could you ever live up North?
A: If that is where the Lord sent me, yes.  And I would introduce everyone who crossed my path to Southern hospitality, with a tall glass of sweet tea and some pimento cheese.


Q: Where do you see yourself 10 years form now?
A: Oh my!  The Lord has thrown so many curve balls at "my plans" lately, that I have no way of knowing.  It is really easy to try and plan ahead, but I have learned that there is only one plan that will work out perfectly, and that is God's plan.  I know that I can trust Him to do what is best for me, and to give me the grace, courage and strength for whatever lies ahead. 

20 Questions-You ask, I'll answer

As a child I always loved playing 20 questions.  It was how we passed the time on long road trips or how we would entertain ourselves at night when we should have been asleep.

So I thought it would be fun to have our own version of 20 questions.  Just leave a comment and ask me anything you want.  My favorite books, craziest homemaking mishap, NHL playoff predictions, anything! At the end of the month I will go through and answer 20 of them, and I'll even give more than a yes or no answer.

So don't be shy, and submit as many questions as you like.  And don't worry about your questions sounding silly, I have three little sisters so nothing will sound silly to me.

L.L. Bean Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to Jenna, Momma Chilson & Hearth Keeper in Christ!

Please visit L.L. Bean  to make your selections.  Then e-mail southernhomemaking@gmail.com with your tote color and monogram choices along with a mailing address.

Thanks to everyone that entered!
I enjoyed reading your ideas and hope you got a few as well.
Hmm, what should we give away next? Any suggestions?

Spring is almost here!

Its in the Bag

Or should I say the Boat & Tote!  Here I have a few pictures of ways we currently use our Boat & Totes, plus a list of ways we have used them in the past.

-Picnic bag
-Children's books
-Family gift
-Car tote
-Library books
-Mobile bill paying station
-Helmets (when we were younger)
-Bedside tote with books, flashlight etc.
-Mail bag. If it comes in, it goes in the bag
-Child paraphernalia, you know what I mean!

Now for the pictures...

We use three medium totes as school bags for the girls

And like everything in our house, they are color coded.

They are just the right size for their books and pencil boxes

We use extra large totes as laundry hampers. 

Color coded too! Each kid has one and then brings to the laundry room.

This large tote is a mainstay in the car.

It coordinates with the cooler perfectly.

 

The is what we call our "Travel Tote". 

A friend of Mom put the names of the places we have traveled to on it.

And this is my pink collection.

I use my medium for magazines. Southern Lady, Southern Living, Real Simple, Tea Time, Paula Deen, and believe it or not,  The Hockey News.

The small always holds my cross-stitch projects.

we use Boat & Totes for just about everything, even our bathroom tissue!

The medium holds 9 Charmin Family Rolls, in case you were wondering.

One last reason to love these bags...

Fabulous Friday Find+Giveaway!

Today I'm sharing and giving away an item that our home could not be organized without, L.L. Bean Boat & Totes!

These are absolutely indestructible, a must in a busy household.

We use them for everything, storing school supplies, carry-all for the car, corraling crafts and believe it or not, laundry hampers. I'll explain all of these next week with pics, but for now take my word for it, and enter because... I'm giving away 3 Medium Boat & Totes!

3 winners will receive a monogramed tote in the color of their choice!

How to enter:
Each person can have up to 5 entries. Please leave a comment for each entry.

1) Leave a comment and tell you favorite color tote and how you would use it
2) Follow "Southern Homemaking"
3) Like Southern Homemaking on Facebook
4) Share this giveaway on Facebook
5) Share on your blog

The winner will be selected using Random.org on Saturday March 3rd.
International entries welcome!