• Best Thing Ever,  Blessings,  Confessions,  Jim Has Mad Skillz

    Stepping Out.

    I am all about stepping out of my comfort zone these days. I haven’t always been that way and it’s still not always easy but I firmly believe that many of the things I have and things I am able to do have resulted from my “getting uncomfortable” at times, and setting things in motion somehow, by either taking action or just putting the ask out there. I just realized that this week marks the thirtieth anniversary of the day I put the wheels in motion for the thing that has affected just about every element of my life ever since: my marriage. Thirty years ago this week I ended…

  • Blessings,  Jim Has Mad Skillz

    Those Shoes.

    I smile a lot. I know, it can be sickening to the people of the world who aren’t so happy-go-lucky. Sorry/not sorry. I just try to spend lots of time appreciating the little things as much as the big things. Here’s one little thing that always always always makes me smile, no matter how many times I’ve seen it–and I’ve seen it hundreds of times: Those are Jim’s shoes (Keen sandals) on the garage floor right behind his car. He wears those shoes from the house out to the garage, where he pulls his bike off of the ceiling hooks and leans it up against the brick wall outside. Then…

  • Best Thing Ever,  Blessings,  Family Fun,  Jim Has Mad Skillz,  My Kids Have Mad Skillz

    The Very Best Sundays.

    Sometimes the very best Sundays involve skipping your workout, jumping in the car with your husband, driving ninety minutes to pick up your older son, continuing to drive for another forty-five minutes to pick up your younger son, making your way over to a pizza place that your younger son recommends but finding it closed for lunch and instead eating at a place called People’s Park which isn’t a park at all but serves really yummy burgers on brioche buns, and while you eat you’re all ribbing each other but in the most laughter-filled, fun way, and then after you eat you go check out some vinyl at the record…

  • Confessions,  Do I Really Want My Readers To Know This?,  Jim Has Mad Skillz

    Movie Popcorn. We Have a Love/Hate Relationship.

    Ah, movie popcorn. It’s one of my very favorite things to eat in the entire world. And yes, I know it’s horrible for me, especially with extra butter. Let’s just get that out of the way. It’s HORRIBLE for me. Horrible. But I love it so. I happen to think that the theaters who have the little “add-your-own-butter” stations did that just for me. I get a little carried away. In fact, I expect my local theater to take away those stations someday, and it’ll be because of me. Last summer, I cut way, way back on the movie popcorn and then I gradually started eating it again. But ONLY…

  • Jim Has Mad Skillz

    SO Sick.

    I write a lot about how much I love my husband and how we make a great team. What you may not know is that there are certain areas in which we are total opposites. He hates social media, for example. That makes me laugh like crazy, considering the fact that social media is WHAT I DO during almost every waking moment of my life. (This is the part where I need to interrupt myself and tell you on behalf of Jim that his hatred of social media does not mean that he doesn’t respect what I do. He just hates social media. He is always very sweet to mention…

  • I've Got Mad Skillz,  Jim Has Mad Skillz,  Too Funny To Ignore

    I Really Love Love.

    I am one of those people who uses the word “love” very freely. If you know me personally—or let’s face it, even just on Facebook—you might think I overuse the word. “I love this song.” “I love cookies.” Regardless of what others think, specifically those who believe that the word should not be dropped at the slightest little thing and instead saved for truly important things and people, I’m fine with how I am. I know in my head the true hierarchy of people and things that are the recipients of my feelings. Obviously I love my kids way more than I love steak. (Which says a lot because I…

  • I've Got Mad Skillz,  Jim Has Mad Skillz,  Proud Moments,  We Are An Awesome Couple

    It’s Bathroom Reveal Day!

    FINALLY. Our DIY bathroom renovation has been officially complete for about two weeks now since we hung the curtains my mom made for us (the final element!) (thanks, Mom!), but every time I have thought about taking pictures, I wasn’t anywhere near the house. Jim and I are so very happy to be finished with this, the largest DIY project we’ve ever tackled. We did every ounce of work in the room with the exception of the new tub installation; we left that part to our plumber. After hours and hours (and hours) of work and in just a few short months that seemed like forever, this room went from…

  • Amazing People,  Jim Has Mad Skillz,  Review

    A Thanksgiving Love Letter

    I hope you enjoy this month’s thankful-themed contribution to Hallmark’s “Life Is A Special Occasion” campaign! Let me know in the comments who YOU’RE thankful for! As I have extensively documented here on Suburban Scrawl, I live a very full, blessed life. Though I know I make most of the choices that pertain to me and thus can claim lots of credit for the various things that happen in my life, I am well aware of the help I receive from others along the way: we don’t go through life alone. This month, Hallmark asked me to express my thanks to someone special, someone who has had an impact on…

  • I've Got Mad Skillz,  Jim Has Mad Skillz,  We Are An Awesome Couple

    We See The Finish Line!

    Even though we had planned on renovating our master bathroom at some point this year, we ended up starting in July because the pipes behind our tub suddenly sprang a leak that dripped into the downstairs bathroom. Nothing like a kick in the pants administered by old plumbing. After getting the tub replaced by a professional, we put the rest of the room on hold for a while due to a busy summer, and then we got back into gear at the beginning of October. I have been to Home Depot more times in the last six weeks than I can count, and Jim and I don’t take free time…

  • Jim Has Mad Skillz

    I’ve Been Thinking About You

    Jim and I have always been *that* kind of couple, the kind that checks in with each other a couple of times each day, the kind that connects over dinner and while relaxing in the evening…communicators. His time in the Navy way back in the day was most difficult for us, as it was before the internet and cell phones. When he was out to sea for months at a time, we relied on the rare phone call when he was in port and actual written letters, delivered sporadically on both ends. When he was a civilian again, we were better able to stay in touch during the work day.…