Morning, glories,
Coming to you from the big D…Dallas, today. Right from my bed at the Holiday Inn downtown for this edition of “Currently, 04.2018”. Here with my sister for a library convention, and to visit my daughter Brennyn and granddaughter Cadence. For this post I am joining Anne in Residence and Jessica from I Am Teacher Fit. Talking about what we’re currently showering, cultivating, expecting, buying and cooking.
Currently, 04.2018
You gals know how I like my Currently prompts alphabetized, right? So let’s start with B for buying.
Buying
…a few more on-sale items to complete my spring wheelbarrow. Hobby Lobby had their Easter decorations 40% off and plastic greenery on sale, so picked up some large eggs, a few stems of foliage, and a faux potted plant to combine with what was left-over from last year. Weighted the wheelbarrow down with a bag of sand, river rock and decorative white stones. I like the end result so much that, despite its heavily Easter theme, it might have to stay up for a few weeks more.
Cooking
…several Weight Watchers recipes to get a jump start on getting back into my jeans! In truth, my jeans still fit but they are giving the skinny trend a new meaning. While my Prince has been away, I have prepared Weight Watchers skinny egg roll stir-fry, recipe here. And this recipe for Asian chicken soup. Enjoyed this slow-cooker Tex-Mex stir fry over corn tortilla chips. And, always a little late to the party, I tried the overnight oats craze with this banana bread oats recipe. I like my oatmeal hot, though, so zapped it in the microwave first. Yay, me!! Have lost the 3 pounds that had attached themselves to me in Kentucky. Now to keep them off in Houston, Dallas and Ft. Worth this next week.
Cultivating
…quite the album of pictures and some new photography skills through my participation in the 52Frames photo challenge. Here are a few of my most recent submissions.
Expecting
…to have a great time with my sister at the 2018 Texas Library Association annual conference this week in Dallas. We have attended TLA together for close to 10 years. We participate in programs all day and then scrapbook back at our hotel in the evenings. Checked into our hotel about 4:00 pm today and then decided to enjoy the 3 mile walk down to the convention center to pick up our registration packets and enjoy opening night at the exhibits.
After walking at a brisk pace for 45 minutes, we were still only half-way to the convention center! And could tell we would hardly arrive before the exhibit hall would close for the evening. Decided to rent 2 bikes to ride the rest of the way. After a 10 minute battle trying to get the bikes unlocked, we were on our way, only to discover Valerie’s handlebars were so crooked that they were facing east when the bike was moving west.
We asked a bicycle police officer how far we had yet to go to get to the convention center and he recommended we park the bikes and hire Uber. He directed us to a spot in front of the NBA basketball arena to reserve an Uber. Because the Dallas Mavericks were playing, the streets were log-jammed with cars and pedestrians making their way to the game. Neither of us could get satisfactory enough cell service to arrange for an Uber!! We kept walking.
Finally Valerie called the Holiday Inn and asked the shuttle driver to retrieve us from the parking lot of a CVS pharmacy where we were pinned in by traffic jams on all sides. By that time, the exhibits were closing and we had the driver just take us back to the hotel. Will start out a lot earlier tomorrow!
Showering
…my bride-to-be daughter Brennyn. Her future sister-in-law, Mashgan and Parveen, her future mother-in-law are hosting a bridal shower this Saturday for my baby. Wish this Currently post was coming due after the shower but stay tuned for photos in upcoming posts.
So much going on in my life right now. Grateful for all of these exciting times and wonderful experiences.
Your Turn
How would you respond to the prompts for “Currently, 04.2018”? Maybe you are cultivating a fairy garden like Nikki at Gwin Girl Inside and Out? Or expecting a baby like Kristen at Taz&Belly or a grandbaby like Sue at Sizzling Toward Sixty and Beyond? Would love to hear all about it in a comment below!
Off to bed. It’s been a long day and we have a big day planned for tomorrow. HaPpY hUmP dAy, girls!
Hugs and kisses,
Laura
While your Prince is away, can I just come to your house for dinner? Yummy food, Leslie!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You cutie, you have a standing dinner invite. Come on!
Whitney @ Whitney à la mode
I hope you’re having so much fun at the convention! Your bike story is too funny. But I give you credit for getting out there!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thanks, Whitney. The convention is so much more about spending time with my sister than anything else. We did attend some good sessions this year and came away with ideas for lesson plans for our TpT store. And we walked well over 10K steps everyday!!!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Haha! Love the bike story! I have never called an Uber on my own, but my husband has when we’ve been OOT. Ohh, I can’t wait to see photos of Brennyn in her wedding gown! So exciting! I need to start eating healthier again. I’ve been on the chocolate Easter bunny and jelly bean wagon! Ugh!! BTW, your wagon is adorable! I’d def. keep it decorated for a few more weeks since Easter was so early!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Carrie! Uber is pretty cool when it works but we sure couldn’t get it to do a thing for us that night. I have no fear that you will work through your Easter-themed interest in chocolate and jelly beans and get back to eating better soon. I have eaten a lot of not-so-good for me stuff this past week. Eating healthy sounds kinda good!
My wheelbarrow was slightly wind-blown when I got home last night but I got it straightened up and will leave it out for a few more weeks. Especially since winter keeps rearing its frosty head over and over this spring.
Gail
Congratulations on the 3 pounds, I wish I could say the same! Your Easter barrow is very pretty! Bridal showers is not something we have in the UK but must be lovely if you’re a bride! All those goodies! X
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thanks, Gail. I am beginning to think we Americans look for any excuse to decorate and throw a bash. Brennyn’s future sister-in-law had the cutest things for her shower. A blue color scheme with delicious food and delicate desserts. I am sure I regained all three of my pounds that afternoon.
Daenel T.
Congratulations to your daughter. I cannot wait to see the photos from the shower.
How fun that you and your sister do the library trips together. I wish my sisters and I could do something like that. It’d be so much fun to just hang out and do sister stuff… *sigh*
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Daenel. Once we are both out of the library business for good, I think we will continue to have these little sisterly retreats, maybe then just for scrapbooking and being together. My sister and her husband are looking at moving out of Texas when they retire in a few years so it will be harder to get together then. You and your sissies need to find some place to meet up for a long weekend of pampering, shopping, reading, resting and being together.
Lauren
I love your spring wheelbarrow! It looks very cute and pretty!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you! My wheel barrows are fun to put together.
Laura
You had quite the adventure getting to the convention center! Or at least trying to get there! Your spring wheelbarrow is darling! I love that idea!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Laura! It has been so windy that half of my decorations in the wheelbarrow have blown away to parts unknown! Boo! We have another windy week ahead this week so might need to just move the whole thing out of the wind for now.
We were absolutely exhausted trying to get to the convention center. Drove the car down the rest of the week. Even doing that, we had to park blocks away so still got in over 10K steps a day. We would never have made it trying to walk from the hotel!