What's Your Life Motto?

Under promise, over deliver. That's my life motto, well one of them anyways. I love to be underestimated. It's a little game I play any chance I get. I played it in school, I play it at work, I play it in life. For instance... I have my PhD in molecular and developmental biology. Do I look like a molecular biologist? No. Do I dress like a molecular biologist? No. Do I act like a molecular biologist? Only when I have to. And that's the way I like it. Does this cause people to underestimate my abilities as a scientist? Probably sometimes. But I'm ok with that. In fact, it motivates me to be the best. (Did I fail to mention that I am the most competitive person I know?) And so far, it's working for me. 

I have other life mottos. One of them is Love Wins. This is a phrase that many of you know well. To me, this little phrase changes everything. It means that in any situation, the best course of action is always to respond with love. Way easier said than done. A smarter and more articulate guy explains it much better here. Take the time to listen to it. 

Another life motto is It's not about me. I'm even worse at living this one out. I wish that I had the heart of a servant. Sometimes I do. In fact, I like to serve others (ie. people I don't know all that well). I really like doing outreach and volunteering at my church. I even find satisfaction in holding doors open for strangers and making a point to thank the guy that bags my groceries. What I totally stink at is serving people I know well and love. I'm working on it. Please be patient with me. 

I have a theory about why I am not as good as I want to be about walking out Love Wins. and It's not about me. I think that in the critical moment that I need to remember these phrases and what they mean to me, I forget them. In fact they are the furthest things from my mind. So... How do I remember them when I need them. I'm still working on that. The best solution that I've come up with to date is to get each of these phrases tattooed in bold black ink on my arms. Any suggestions? What is your life motto?

Home Alone

A kind of funny thing happened to me on Saturday. It's funny now, but it wasn't at the time. To tell you the truth, it really freaked me out at the time. It was about 6:30 in the evening and only Harper and I were home. We were playing in the back bedroom when I thought I heard a knock at the door. I just let it go because I wasn't sure I heard it and I really didn't want to be bothered. But then I heard it again and again. It was at that point that I started to get a little nervous. Rob wasn't home and sometimes I have an overactive imagination. I left Harper (on the floor) in the bedroom and went to investigate. The knocking continued. I crept to the door to look out of the peep hole and saw a big guy wearing a baseball cap. When I say big, I mean big. Certainly not the kind of guy I would open the door for. I wasn't trying to be rude. I was just being smart. Anyways, the knocking continued. I think he could tell we were home (the lights were on and he probably heard me come to the door). Eventually he gave up and left. I was totally freaked out! Later that night Harper and I met Rob for dinner at our friends' house. Over dinner Rob told us that he met our new neighbor. His name is Dan and he's a mix martial artist that fights in the UFC. I breathed a sigh of relief. It was Dan who came to the door. He was looking for Rob. But seriously, if this guy knocked on your door and you were all alone, would you answer?? 

Not me. The funny thing is that I guess he's a super nice guy - kind of like a Todd B. (for those of you who don't have the privilege of personally knowing Todd, read this). Rob and I are big UFC fans and actually remember watching Dan on the Ultimate Fighter. It should be fun getting to know him. It will also be fun to tell Dan and his wife this story someday. 

Five Spot

Here are my 5 favorite things that I bought at the grocery store last night:

1. Concord Grapes - These are grapes to put all other grapes to shame. If you haven't ever tried a concord grape before, go to the store immediately and get some. Time is running out. They're only available in the fall. I admit that the fact that they have seeds is a little annoying and if you're not use to it, the texture is a little strange, but these things are a small price to pay for their awesomeness.

2. Gingersnap Cookies - Did I mention that Ginger Snapp (with 2 p's) is my bowling name?

3. Swiss Miss Vanilla Pudding - This stuff is goood. It's only available at certain grocery stores (Publix here in Nashvegas). It's so good that they seperate it from the other pudding and keep it in the cooler by the yogurt...

4. Horizon Organic DHA Milk - Before I got pregnant, I was a diehard skim milk drinker. When I got pregnant, I became much more aware of the nutritional value of the food I was consuming (obviously I still snack - see said gingersnaps and pudding). This milk tastes good and is good for you. 

5. Diet Lipton Green Tea - I know that Green Tea is good for me. I also know that this particular green tea probably has the least good stuff in it of any of the green teas on the market. But, I like it and it's a start. 

On a side note... My least favorite purchase last night was wheat bread. I love white bread. Rob likes wheat bread. For the better part of the three years we have been married, we have eaten white bread (mostly because I am usually the one who goes to the store and therefore has the bread veto power). Recently, we have switched back to wheat bread - honey wheat as a matter of fact (as if the honey actually makes it taste any better). We switched because Rob brought up the point that wheat bread has more nutritional value and we should try to encourage Harper to eat wheat instead of white, and what better way to encourage her, than to set a good example ourselves. Ughhh... he used the "good example" card. Low blow. It worked. 

Who You Gonna Call...

I think I was blessed with one of the sweetest babies in the whole world. Happiness and joy flow out of her and always have since the day she was born. Seriously... we have a picture of her smiling on the day she was born, and I really don't think it was gas.

On the rare occasion that she does get a little fussy, I have discovered a secrete remedy that literally works every time. When she gets upset and nothing else works, I sing the Ghostbusters theme song to her (of which I only know two lines). As you can tell in the video, the effects are instantaneous. Don't ask me why it works or how it works. I have no idea. I've tried other songs. They don't work - only Ghostbusters. See for yourself.

                                               

My Favorite Time of Year

Although fall officially began last week, today feels like the first day of fall to me. The weather is considerably cooler than it has been, the sky is blue and clear, the mums are blooming, the leaves are beginning to change... While I am looking forward to my first fall in Nashville, I can't help but think of my favorite things about fall when I was a kid. I grew up in Northeastern Ohio and we had a family tradition of visiting White House Fruit Farm around this time of year. White House is open all year round, and we went several times throughout the year, but I always looked forward to going in the fall. My mom and I would go in search of the perfect pumpkin, a job we took (and still take) very seriously. We would also get gallons of apple and cherry cider (yeah, I said cherry and it is awesome). But the best part about White House is their amazing blueberry donuts. I consider myself a bit of a donut connoisseur, so when I say that these blueberry donuts are amazing, they really are amazing. They are so packed full of blueberries that they are actually purple and to top it off, they are covered in blueberry icing. It just doesn't get any better than that. So, if any of you readers (cough*dad*cough) are passing through Ohio and want to send me some donuts...I'd be happy to receive them!

Going Green (Or At Least Greener)

So I have finally gotten off my proverbial butt and decided to do something that has been in the back of my mind for a while. Our family has decided to stop using plastic bags from the grocery store. We ordered some reusable bags from this site. They have some interesting information about how much petroleum is consumed by making plastic bags and about how manufacturing paper bags has an even bigger impact on the environment than plastic bags. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get with the program. I guess I thought that bringing my own bags to the store would be too much of a hassle. In my mind I also justified my use of plastic bags (I used them for a variety of other things around the house like lining small garbage cans and disposing of kitty litter). In any case, I am turning over a new leaf. My excuses and justifications were small-minded. This is an easy way that I can lessen my personal impact on the environment. It's kind of cool to think that Harper may never remember a time when we used plastic bags. Being a good role model for her is good motivation for positive change. Thank you to my greener friends for planting this seed in my head and who are leading by example. I'll let you know how it goes. 

NKOTB

So last night I had an interesting experience. As Harper and I sat on the couch flipping through the channels, I noticed that VH1 was broadcasting live from the New Kids On The Block concert in Boston (yep, they're back). Not wanting to miss the chance to share this cultural event with my daughter, we watched on. It was a rather surreal experience. I was sitting on the couch with my 7 month old daughter watching the New Kids. Totally weird...