Just the Facts Ma'am

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It's official, I am a card holder at the Lewis and Clark County Public Library! Woot woot! Which is great because I have finally started working on Sleeping Beauty again and I've been able to take advantage of the library's general peace and quiet (and Ed's day off) to get some writing done and to check out some fun research materials that pertain to my story.

Here is the fact-laden goodness I am currently reading. Yum!

A couple of odd facts:

1. The juvie non-fiction is interfiled with the adult non-fiction at ye ol' Lewis and Clark County Public Library, which means that picture book of Sleeping Beauty is on the same shelf as the "Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairytales," which spends quite a bit of time highlighting the lovely subjects of rape, incest and cannibalism. However, I suppose you could argue so does the original versions of the Grimms' tales which I wouldn't be surprised to see filed in Juvie. Still, it's weird to me.

2. My many, many years volunteering, and working, in the Los Angeles County Public Library systems have permanently damaged my brain. I apparently have the Dewey Decimal system still random access memory filed away in my noggin. I didn't have to look at the catalog once, I just went directly to the 398s for fairytales and the 535s for the gemology - like a homing pigeon that's been set free in a forest of non-fiction. Bing! There I was in front of the right section without much conscious thought. It was actually disconcerting. I don't have room in my brain for this nonsense. I forget things that have actually happened to me and yet, I've got a whole numeric filing system in there? Couldn't that space be used for more convenient (like spelling words I've long forgotten) or romantic (foreign language anyone?) purposes?

I did, however, manage to get about 2,000 words our of my head and onto a page on Friday, so here is hoping new scenes of Sleeping Beauty can take up residence in my head and wait for their turn on the page.

Settling In - and a Giveaway!

We are starting to settle in here in Montana. I finally got to do a big grocery shopping trip yesterday (with two toddlers in tow, oh the joys!) and was a just a little bit shell shocked at the prices. It's also a little bit traumatic to be paying for fruit from California at more than twice the price I'm used to paying in California. Let me just tell you, I have taken oranges for granted my whole life.

I haven't had much time for decorating yet as are still getting furniture set up and organized - our living room is kind of a small, odd shape so the couches aren't fitting quite how I'd like them. The coolest part of our living room is this awesome fire place with a mantle and built in book shelves on both sides and a large space for a poster or picture highlighted by recessed lighting.

We haven't decided yet what to put up here. An option is to get Ed's reproduction vintage Disneyland poster framed and put up . . . it's of the original submarine ride (the plan is to get posters of all our favorite old school rides.) On the other hand it would be cool to have the mantle area free for holiday decorating, there are always cool mantle linkys around the net. But honestly, am I that on top of life? More likely I'd have St. Patrick's decorations still up in July. I also think it would be cool to have the vintage Disney posters up in Ed's office at church, so I am really torn.

The space is mocking me with it's blankness . . . I am sure we will feel more settled in once we've got stuff up on the walls.

Decorating a new place can be fun and intimidating all at the same time . . . who am I kidding, decorating a place you've been in for years can be just as intimidating! Are you doing any decorating? Maybe you need to breathe some life into an old room or add a new fun gadget to your kitchen? Well I bet you'd love to win $25 to CSN Stores to help out! CSN Stores is letting me give away a $25 gift code to one lucky reader and it's easy peasy to win!

Just leave me a comment on this post telling me what you would buy from CSN Stores (they have over 200 online stores!) if you won - and if you have any suggestions for above the fireplace you can hit me with those as well!

That's it! I told you it would be easy peasy!

If you'd like extra entries here are a few (please leave a comment for each entry).

1. Follow my blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter.

3. Follow CSN Stores on Twitter.

4. Tweet about this giveaway, please include a link to this post and @narniamum and @CSNStores in your tweet - or you can copy and paste this: Win $25 to @CSNStores - over 200 online stores to choose from! #giveaway on @narniamum http://bit.ly/fcH9AE

5. Comment on another one of my blog posts.

This giveaway will remain open until Wednesday, March 23rd at 7pm Mountain Time and is open to residents of the US and Canada. Thanks for entering!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks!

In Celebration of Spring - My 5 Favorite Baseball Movies

One of the surest signs of spring is the return of baseball! I am actually obsessed enough to watch spring training games, so for me baseball has already started. It is fun to see all the minor league talent that is invited to training each year as well as the veterans that we know and love. So in celebration of spring I thought I'd share my top five favorite baseball movies with you!

As a note: this is no way meant to be an exhaustive list and is based purely on the enjoyment I receive from these movies and not on authenticity or what critics consider the best representation of baseball. I'm just a girl who likes baseball and movies!

5. The Rookie

The Rookie is just a fun, sweet, family oriented movie about a high school coach, Jimmy Morris, who makes it into the majors after promising to try out if his high school baseball team made the playoffs. There is something about Dennis Quaid's understated performance that just sells this whole movie.

4. Frequency

I always have to have a controversial pick on my lists! You may not realize that Frequency is a baseball movie, but I assure you it is (as well as a thriller, mystery, and family drama, also oddly, my second Dennis Quad movie on the list). "The Amazing Mets" are integral to this film, and it is awesome! In fact, everything about this movie is awesome! One of the things I like best about this movie is it shows how baseball, and a favorite team, become an integral part of a family. How that team's history becomes part of the fabric of the family's history and influences how the family communicates. It is also one of those totally quotable films. The song in the final scene & credits kills me every time. Watch it. Love it.

3. Field of Dreams

Of course this is on the list. It is gorgeous and moving. It's about fatherhood, and America, and America's pastime. Who doesn't tear up when they flip the lights on for the first time? Or get a shiver up your spine when you hear "if you build it, he will come?" Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Jackson is perfection. When Ray Kinsella gets to play catch with his Dad? Well, by then I am usually a puddle of goo and sobbing quietly into my popcorn. I also have to give a shout out to the book this movie is based on Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella. Seriously one of the most beautiful things I have ever read.

2. Major League

And now for a comedy! Major League is truly hilarious. It is also rated R for pretty good reasons. There is a reason this is on most people's favorite baseball movies lists, it is a screwball satire full of great characters and amazingly quotable lines. I am sure I don't go a day without quoting Major League ("What do you want me to do dive for it?!" "Juuuuuust a bit outside.") Also, Corbin Bernson, whom I love, is in it. (Also, pre-insane #winning Charlie Sheen and the always fabulous Tom Berenger). Good times, people, good times!

1. The Sandlot

Best baseball movie ever! There a million reasons why I love this movie. First of all, it is about a pure, unadulterated love of the game. These kids don't play for big salaries or fame, they play because they love baseball. It's set in Los Angeles, and it's such a gorgeous representation of suburban L.A. in the 60s. Also, it starsJames Earl Jones and Dennis Leary, 'nough said. But the kids - and baseball - are the true stars of this film! "You're killin' me Smalls!" will immediately be your favorite saying after watching this movie, I guarantee it. The Sandlot also makes it into my top 5 buddy movies, kid movies, and L.A. movies . . . so I think it's a pretty good all around pick for my top baseball movie.

I must also give a quick honorable mention to A League of Their Own, mostly because I tell Maddie "there's no crying in baseball" at least once a week ;)

So, what about you? Any favorite baseball movies. Shocked that I left out classics like Bull Durham (yawn) and The Natural? Or maybe you haven't ever watched a baseball movie. If so, I suggest you start with my list ;)

Before I Was a Mom

Before I was a mom . . .

I never would have had to put "take a shower" on my to do list.

I knew what eight hours of sleep a night felt like.

I saw movies that were rated higher than "G."

I read books.

I would have been hard pressed to have an entire conversation about poop and vomit.

I did things on the spur of the moment.

I actually closed the door when I went to the bathroom - and it stayed closed.

I had personal space.

Before I was a mom I wanted to be one so badly that my heart ached.

If I had really known what I was missing, there is no way I would have made it through 6 plus years of infertility . . . because what I was missing wasn't just exhaustion and tears and feelings of inadequacy.

It was Maddie and James.

Of course there are times I am tempted to just completely melt down and lock myself in the bathroom, but would I trade even the most frustrating moment of parenthood for one more moment of infertility?

Never in a million years.

Inspiration Board : Cupcakes and Carousels

This is my first inspiration board . . . just some fun ideas I am considering for Maddie's 3rd birthday party which will be held at the Great Northern Carousel.

I am calling this board Cupcakes and Carousels.

photo credits:

center image: Ticket to Ride Fine Art Photograph by Irene Suchocki

top (left to right): Carousel Dreams Necklace by theleidy, Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane Dream Dot in Celery at Lola Pink Fabrics, Vintage White Headband by Nest Pretty Things, Jolly Holiday Party Straw Tags by Bellezaeluce

second row: Alice's Vintage Inspired Cupcake Gift Tags by Berry Sweet Treats, Pink Raspberry Baby Pom Pom Fringe/Trim from Sugar Pink Boutique

third row: Pink Cupcakes by Barbara Beery Kids Cooking, Cotton Candy Fabric Bunting by Jaime Mancilla

bottom row: Cupcake Flat Back Buttons by Buttons and Badges, Sugar Sweet Valentine Heart Punches by Sugar Pink Boutique, Printable Vintage Carousel Cupcake Toppers by The Gypsy Factory, Madeline Apron Knot Dress Pattern by Romeo & Mae

Oops, I zapped!

Moving is a lot of work.

Moving when you are sick is even more work!

So far since January we have had a cold, a new cold, the rotavirus, and now back to colds!

But we are here in Montana . . .

Getting settled in and figuring things out.

It's snowed three times, mostly just flurries that melt a few hours later.

I discovered that if you leave your laundry detergent in the car it will freeze. I mean it makes sense and all, I just didn't think of it.

It is so dry, our skin is itchy and our hair is standing on end. Everything you touch results in a mega electric shock - the crackly blue lightening arcing from one person to another type of static shock. We all look like Emperor Palpatine blue lightening the heck out of Luke Skywalker, except that we can't control it and it usually takes us by painful surprise. Maddie keeps saying "Oops, I zapped!"

And oh, happy day, I discovered yardage of my favorite ever Robert Kaufman print in the bottom of my fabric stash. This is the fabric I used for the Maddie/Jamie's crib bedding and I didn't think I had anymore of it. But now I am torn, use it for something or save it in case there is ever a baby #3? Cause I love it. Desperately love it.

Any opinions? Hold out for a baby? Make some pretty summer clothes (in white, yeah right) for Maddie? What else could I do with this gorgeousness?

Thanks and More Thanks!

Thank you all for voting for my short story, Attempting Elizabeth, in the Jane Austen Made Me Do It short story contest. I am so excited to announce that my story made it to the top ten! This means I will get considered, along with the other nine stories, by the editors of the anthology. Thanks to all of you! It was a really great moving day present to see my name in the top ten!