In Pursuit of Family Traditions

One of the best parts about raising a set of Littles is creating new traditions.  Whether it's the small act of ordering pizza for every Falcon's game or a larger, more involved annual pumpkin patch outing, these traditions "provide a sense of anticipation, security, and continuity," (to quote the great Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project).

Each new season brings with it its own set of traditions, and we've been basking in them over here this fall!  One of my favorite traditions was started when Fiona was just 8 months old.  Chris decided for the first time that he wanted to attend his high school homecoming football game and alumni dinner.  We had way more fun than either of us had anticipated and have made it back four times over the years.  The kids love the band- we sit right by then!

Fiona's First Wesleyan Homecoming Game! 2011 

With Daddy at his Alma Mater! 2011

This picture doesn't quite capture how much fun we were having... 2016

Another (less random) tradition we've set is our annual pumpkin patch outing!  We try to get to a patch each year for the cute pictures of the kids by the pumpkins.  According to Mrs. Rubin, traditions like these "... mark the passage of time in a happy way."  I completely agree.  The kids anticipation leading up to the event is just as exciting as the actual event!  We don't always make it to the pumpkin patch (there was that one year that we got THE VERY LAST pumpkin from Publix), but it sure is fun when we do!

It's hard to not be inspired by fall.  One of my favorite memories from this current fall will be Fiona's l'automne board, which she thought up on her own and spent a few afternoons collecting the items to apply.  With a little help from her daddy, she had a project of which she was very proud (almost as proud as I was :)

Finally, one Jewish holiday that we try to celebrate each year is the feast of Sukkot (also knows as the "Feast of Booths" or "Feast of Tabernacles").  Sukkot is celebrated on from the 15 to 22 of the month of Tishri.  As part of the celebration, families will construct a small, hastily built hut and eat their meals in it during the festival.  This hut is symbolic of the huts Israel lived in during their 40 year journey through the dessert.  My favorite part of the celebration is the waving of the four species (brought together to form a "Lulav").  We wave them in six directions: forward, right, back, left, up, and down.  This proclaim's God's omnipresence in the past, present, and future.

I love hearing about other people's traditions and ways they celebrate the different seasons!  What traditions does your family enjoy celebrating in the fall?

Linger Moments ~ No. 4

lin·ger

/ˈliNGɡər/

verb

1. to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.
2. 
   
3. 
   
   
4. You know those moments: the ones often catching you by surprise, causing you to pause a little longer than perhaps intended.  Whether your upcoming weekend is one filled with activities or a weekend in which the only thing on the agenda is relaxation, you are invited to take a moment to linger before heading to the end of the week.

1. Ceviche: The Best Mexican Restaurant You're Not Eating At.

I know, I know.  Ceviche's Roswell location has been there for quite a while.  I've even been there a few times for margaritas.  Honestly, I didn't put two and two together (that it was the same restaurant) until after we had our Sunday lunch at the Alpharetta location.  Guys, this place was SO good.  SO. Good.  I was told by our server that anything on the menu bearing the name "Poblano" was highly recommended so I went with the chicken poblano tacos.  If that was the only thing on the menu, I'd keep going back.  ALSO, they have the NFL Sunday Ticket.  So there's that.  

2. Donald Davis's TedX "How the Story Transforms the Teller" 

Donald Davis is an amazing story teller and has been featured at the National Story-Telling Festival.  While perusing online for one of his stories we listened to as children, I found this TedX talk he gave in 2014 and was once again instantly sucked in.  Take a listen and be transported.

3. May Designs Rise Art Collection

The Rise Art Collection of May Book covers gets an update just in time for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  Four new covers were created by students of the Rise School in Austin and are available for the wide variety of books offered (from standard date books to fitness and nutrition journals).  100% of the proceeds from this collection goes to raise awareness and provide better education for children with special needs!  You can read even more about the process in creating these beautiful covers here. Special thanks to May Designs for allowing me to use the above picture :)  

What's caught your attention lately, causing you to slow down and linger?  I'd love to hear from you!

ALSO- Make sure to join the GIVEAWAY in celebration of the blog's 10,000 all time page views!!!

10,000 Pageviews = The Magnolia Story Giveaway!

Y'all, it happened!!!  In Pursuit of the Finer Things reached 10,000 All Time Pageviews!!!  This is such a huge deal for me and I am so humbled by and grateful for all of my readers who actually read my everyday musings and then actually share them.  I'm quite honestly blown away and so, so thankful to each and every one of you!

As promised, in celebration of the 10,000 view, I present to you a giveaway!  This giveaway is open to USA residents only and is sponsored by In Pursuit of the Finer Things blog (aka, me.).  I do hope everyone will enter!  Wahoo!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Washer-Less Week

We just completed a week (but really 9 days, 4 hours, and 24 minutes) without a washing machine.  A few weeks ago,I discovered what we thought was our toilet leaking [clean] water in our downstairs studio.  After further inspection, we found that the washing machine had actually been dripping away (for about 2 months) where the hose and faucet come together.  Drop by drop, our new flooring had been compromised.  Let's be honest though, as disappointed I was that our flooring was swelling and would need to be replaced, I was even more so nervous about how long it would take to fix the washing machine situation. Fortunately, we were heading out of town that day and even more fortunately, all of our laundry was presently clean.

Upon returning home, we were able to call a plumber who was able to come out and fix the leaky faucets in a mere afternoon.  This was on a Tuesday (only one day past my normal washing day) so as far as I was concerned, we were back in business.  I promptly started the permanent press and breathed a sigh of relief that lasted until the washing machine started to drain and the toilet started to leak GUSH water from the base.  This confirmed for me that I wasn't crazy, water HAD been coming from the toilet.  It also made us realize we had a much larger problem on our hands.  That weekend (going on day 9), Chris was able to very handily replace the toilet seal (again) and poured several bottles of different solutions down the sink and toilet in hopes of alleviating what ever might be clogged.

Surprisingly (or maybe not so much), this whole process made me so much more committed to my twice a week laundry habit.  An ENTIRE 1 1/2 days after we could safely wash clothes was spent doing just that.  Laundry is not one of those chores that generally bothers me and I truly believe it's because I don't feel like I'm doing it all the time (and maybe because Chris painted my laundry room this dreamy shade of blue).  Playing laundry catch-up, we washed, dried, and folded NINE loads in total (two of which were loads of towels from mopping up the leaks).

I'm really curious about other's laundry's methods and if you think your protocol contributes towards your attitude about laundry.  It seems to me that something we spend so much time doing should be able to be done without a sense of drudgery.  What is your laundry schedule and have you done different things to make your experience more enjoyable?  As you ponder the process of the piles, enjoy this picture of a dreamy laundry space which can be found at Chateau Soleil, the residence of the Atlanta Symphony Associates 2015 Decorator's Show House.  And a super special thank you to local Atlanta photographer Mary Powell Photography for the use of these pictures- check out her additional pictures of the beautiful Chateau here.  Is it totally crazy that this was my favorite room at the Chateau?  I think not. :)

October Goals 2016

School is in full swing and we've got a great schedule going on over here at the Diaz household.  For the most part, we're on time to school, have dinner on the table each night, and are getting adequate amounts of sleep.  In my book, that's winning.  The purple-blue morning glories Fiona and I planted last year greet us every morning and the hot Georgia weather has finally begun to let up.  Y'all, we've even had the windows open a few nights the past week!

I'm guessing it's because of all of these great things happening that I don't even feel bad for not completing each of my September goals.  I'm not even going to relist them for October.  I think I'll just put them on the "Fall Goals" list and give myself until December to complete them.  Because, that's how we roll around here.  And it's awesome.

So, here are the much anticipated October Goals... which may or may not be met during the month of October.

1. Continue blogging class: finish 8 lessons.

I'm definitely enjoying the "Blog Life" online class by A Beautiful Mess.  I completed 8 lessons in September and hope to complete as many in October.  One class that I'm excited to get to is Lesson No. 14, "Create a Killer About Page." Which naturally I'll list as my second October goal.

2. Create a killer about page.

My blog's current "About Me" page is less of a bio and quite literally my first blog post.  When we updated my blog last year with a new blogger template (you can read that first post here), Chris simply linked back to my first blog post in which I introduce myself.  That post was written back in 2010, and since so much has happened since then, I'm super excited to update that portion of my blog... Stay tuned!

3. Organize a giveaway!

Guys, I'm almost up to 10,000 pageviews (all time history).  Some of the giants of blogging actually get these numbers in one day, but seriously... reaching this number is a HUGE deal to me!  I'd like to celebrate my readers (that would be YOU) by doing my first ever giveaway.  I am so appreciate that people actually read and am so grateful for those who share!  Check back regularly to be sure to sing up for the giveaway!

4. Re-read chapter 4: En Automne: Fall Ahead from Mireille Guiliano's 

French Women for All Season

From one of my favorite authors, French Women for All Seasons takes an in-depth look at how to relish each season with tips on cooking, exercising, and even fashion.  I enjoy re-reading corresponding chapters at the beginning of each new season and love rediscovering seasonal recipes each time.

5.  Complete Amy Snow.

This book hooked me right from the beginning.  It's the story of an orphan girl found in the snow by a young Heiress.  Early on in the story, the Heiress passes away but not before creating a treasure-hunt that only Amy can follow.  It is so good and I'm excited to finish it.  So, about finishing all these books: I realized that I've got great ambitions and aspirations to read all of these books, but I do not really set myself up for success to actually complete them because basically I'm not carving out enough time each day to do so.  In addition to finishing this book, I also plan on getting back into the habit of turning in early (at least a few days a week) in order to have an hour to read before lights out.

6. Complete weekly homework for Parish Bible Study

I recently started a new Bible study with our church on the book of Gideon.  I'm not sure if the Bible study leader planned it this way, but our pastor has also recently been teaching on that area of the Bible, so it's almost like an in depth look at what we're learning about on Sundays.  Thus far I've found it extremely interesting, both at church and in the study.  Each week we have a 5-day assignment and my goal is to complete my homework before our weekly meetings.

So there they are.  Six simple goals for the month of October.  I'd love to hear from you and see if you set goals each month and what they may be!