What is that thing you say when you can't think of anything to say?

First, the good news:

I got the job!

Now the weird news:

I {probably} got exposed to chickenpox.

No one in our family or extended family has ever had a case of the chickenpox. Until the first day of my first job is nigh. "Irony, Mr. Collins." I was scheduled to start nannyness this Monday (Yay!) but my sweet little wards haven't had vaccinations and I don't know whether their mother will be fond of the idea of me possibly bringing a batch of chickenpox to their doorstep. What a ridiculous sort of Mary Poppins trick that'd be:

"Is that a carpet bag?"

"Yes, and I've brought you a pock. How would you like another five-hundred?"

Somehow I can't see that endearing me to the little sweethearts. There are two options open now: A.) hope the person who exposed me is actually just stricken with chiggers or an allergic reaction, not pox or B.) email Sharon and cordially invite her to a plague-party hosted by moi. Can a vaccinated person be a carrier? I don't even know. This has thoroughly befuddled me but I know it came as no surprise to God. Therefore, I can only assume He actually knows what He's doing and proceed per usual. I am so excited to begin work with the Downey family. My interview last Tuesday went quite well and I was informed the following day that after prayer and deliberation, I was chosen out of the proposed candidates as the next nanny/lass-of-all-trades to join in their family! I will be working Tuesdays and Thursday with Monday as a swing-day (And the occasional Friday). I am quite excited despite perplexity about our car situation and now this whole chickenpox ordeal. Good heavens. It never rains but it pours, does it? Anyway, striking out on faith that I will be going to work on Monday (or will still have a job if she doesn't want a pox party and needs me to quarantine myself till the case is over), I have compiled a list of advice from famous nannies that I must keep in mind:

When in doubt, put on a puppet show or have a picnic.

And sing. Always sing. Also, cut up your employer's curtains.

 

It's a good idea to always check your employer's attic for insane wives before accepting a position. 

 

Never give references, teach your charges long words their parents don't understand...and win horse-races. It encourages affection. Also, like the graphic says, never explain anything. In addition, flying kites and jumping into chalk pictures is always an acceptable outing.

 

Have a nose like two potatoes and a large black stick to bang. Makes an impression.

 

 

Dosing medicine and giving baths is very important for the growth of healthy charges.

 

Making friends with your charges and being careful to heed their parents' {sometimes ridiculous} concerns is a grand way to form a life-long relationship. Also, if you are still unmarried by the time they are all grown up, they might turn out excellent matchmakers.

Multiples can be handled and told apart one from another. Even when there are ninety-nine, all with spots.

 

Say everything three times so it will stick, stick, stick!

Well, wish me luck! I'll be keeping all this advice in mind. If you have any more, leave it in a comment!

"Excuse me, sir, he is a Prince!"

Would you go with me if we rolled down streets a fire? Would you hold on to me tighter as the summer sun got higher? Oh, and would it be okay if I didn't know the way?

-Josh Turner

The fun part of life is that it never turns out how you think it will. Sometimes it is just a little scary in a "I think this is good for me but it isn't my hobbit-hole" way. In the past week, I've applied to be a part-time nanny (and will be interviewing early this week), Sarah heard that she was accepted for a summer internship for Generation Joshua (meaning she'll be living in Leesburg all summer), we got our own intern/apprentice for our landscape business, I committed to a rather complex out-of-town fundraiser for our Romania Missions Trip, and I saw an old friend get married to her sweet man. (And they had homemade soft pretzels there. SOFT PRETZELS. The way to my heart is through soft pretzels.) In between these things, I have been editing my next novel, running errands and working for Dad, and trying not to freak out about scheduling. Oh. And we're down to one car for the whole entire family. I'm trying not to panic about the fact that if I DO get this job, it means that I will be thrown into the world of I Have To Get To Work And I Have No Car. Ahem. But God kind of just placed this in my lap and Mama thought I should at least step into it and see what's what.

Because sourdough toast deserves a glory-moment

I told Abigail Taylor today that I have a funny strain in my character: I like adventure and I like new challenges. But I will step forward into something and then get paralyzed with fright while I'm waiting, realizing I left my safe shore and can't touch bottom anymore and I'm not even certain if the other shore will hold weight. I'm very hobbit-like that way. About this nanny-job, I told her: "What's the worst the woman can say, 'Yes'?" But I'm trusting that if God brought this about, He'll bring me through, and if it isn't the right thing right now, He'll cut off the opportunity. Still, it's stressing me a little bit. Sheesh. I mean, I love my cozy little rut of earning no money and being a writer and not having to worry about an employer outside my Dad...even though I've often thought it'd be fun to have some sort of job. 

Anyway, that's an odd little rant. If you think to pray for me, it would be much appreciated! I realize I've been a little spacey and vague on this blog. If you have any questions about particular aspects of my life that I have forgotten to address, do, please, ask me about them and I'll do my best to update you! I've been getting a bit of reading done. My nose is currently in Jenny Freitag's work and P.G. Wodehouse: A Life in Letters which is fascinating. I love reading authors' letters...a person's letters give such great insight into who that person was, and how they viewed themselves, their work, and the world around them. It's almost better than a journal, really.

Let's see what else I can think of....oh! I saw Divergent and really enjoyed it! In my opinion, it was better than the Hunger Games movies...more hopeful, somehow. And Triss is a more relatable character than Katniss, for me. I also watched Northanger Abbey for the first time last night and--apart from a couple minor things--it was fabulous. Henry Tilney is such a chump. <3 A man who would tease me like that with a smile like that and a heart like that....eeeeeesh. And if a guy ever quotes his line to me during a dance, my heart will be gone:

"You must allow me one smirk, then we can return to being rational again."

(Incidentally, the title-quote has nothing to do with this post.) 

The Pink Trench: A product review

I am so pleased to once again be reviewing a product from the company of Gorgeously-Fitted Clothes, eShakti! When they generously agreed to let me review another product, I decided to go a little wild and order a trench-coat...and not just any trench-coat, but a bright pink one! In a choice between light tan and vibrant pink, what did you think I would choose? I am so glad I went with the magenta option. I mean, really, if you are choosing between looking like everyone else on earth or looking like a confident, beautiful young woman, which would you rather choose? Or maybe my personality is just big and bright enough to carry off the pink trench. People just shake their heads and laugh and say, "Yep, the coat's you." So, you know, maybe it's just me. ;)

eShakti's clothing gives me license to be bubbly, bouncy, and full of fun.

What else would you expect from a girl perfectly-fitted pink trench?

Want one of your own? Check out the dozens of gorgeous dresses at eShakti and pick the one that displays your personality best! I bet you'll be able to find something you love. :)

{All photo-credit goes to my fabulous photographer, Matthew Walker of A Simple Glimpse Photography. Check out his business by following the link.}

{Why it Works} Coral Kiss

Hello! I'm back around this blog after having spent one week pounding my keyboard to finish a first draft, and another week lounging about at the Taylors' therapeutic recuperation center. (Better known as their farm. :P) Tomorrow, hopefully, I will have my latest eShakti review up! Many of you know what product I chose, but I'm excited to give a whole post to the fabulous item. Anyway, I thought it had been a long time since I'd done a Why It Works post (nearly a month!) so I decided I'd do one today...sort of in celebration of Spring having arrived!

The Components:

Coral-colored polka-dot top

Wheat-colored shrug-lace thingy-do

Purple knotted chain necklace

Green crystal earrings

Dark-wash jeans

Coral/Rope wedge sandals

Amethyst Smokey-Eye makeup

Coral lipstick

Why it Works:

The coral shirt happens to have wheat colored polka-dots which happen to match the shrug, which seaside theme also happens to be repeated in my shoes. The dark-wash jeans anchor the outfit and because I wanted to keep the whole thing from being too dual-tone, I added a splash of color in with a purple chain necklace and coordinating eye-shadow, and the greenish crystal earrings which brings out the green of my eyes. This outfit speaks spring to me, without being too terribly hopeful that we won't have more frost. Frost made our daffodils look ashamed this morning...they've all been hanging their heads like blushing maids. As to why this style works on me, it's really quite simple. Dark jeans and lifted heels are always acceptable. The shrug skims my figure and the points of it serve to further elongate the silhouette without looking as if it is trying to do that.

A comfortable, warm-weather outfit perfect for a day running errands. La'ers, darlings!

So I caved and did a tag. :)

It has been forever since I've done a tag, but so many people have tagged me lately that I figured I would participate! :) These answers/facts/questions are from the blogs of Lizzie and Livia Rachelle who have both nominated me for the Sunflower Blogger award. I hope you enjoy this post of randomness! :)

Rules:

• Share 11 random facts 
• Answer nominator's questions
• Set your own questions 
• Nominate 11 more bloggers

1. I cannot stand the movie The Princess Bride. I feel like I divide here with most homeschoolers. (This, and disliking Blimey Cow) I don't know why on earth they both annoy me in the same way. Maybe it's an accquired taste?
2. I have a dumb-phone. It doesn't even have a texting keyboard, so if I text you and it's a long text, I must actually love you a ton.
3. I wrote my first novel at 13 and have completed...6 (?) in the subsequent years.
4. Within a month, I will have friends scattered across the globe on trips to Greece, Ethiopia, and Ireland! Too bad I can't teleport to visit those places with all of them. Teleportation would be so cheap!
5. I have never seen Dr. Who and am avoiding it. I don't have time for another fandom in my life! (Yay Sherlock!)
6. I had very good taste in men as a child. As I re-watch old movies, I realize that all the gentlemen I used to swoon over were, in fact, rather swoon-worthy. 
7. I am a sucker for all things chocolate, but I am not particularly fond of white chocolate.
8. If you have an accent, you are 100% more attractive than anyone I currently know.
9. I have always longed to spend a month on Prince Edward Island in Canada
10. My best friend can trace her lineage back to 100 A.D. I go back to Davy Crockett. ;)

Now for the answers to Livia's questions:

• What are your favorite juvenile/YA fiction favorites? Ooooh yay. The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace; The Moffats by Eleanor Estes; Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster; Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery; The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis; Thee, Hannah by Marguerite D'Angeli; Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge; The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit;
• Thoughts on cosmetics: conventional, natural, none? I am all for pretty, well-done, makeup in the conventional sense. But I think that if you get to the point where you don't look like how I know you with your makeup off, you've gone way to far. Cosmetics should be worn to enhance your natural beauty, not obscure it.
• Would you homeschool your own children, and how serious of a decision is this for you? I intend to homeschool my children, as that is how I was raised and have found to be an awesome way to get a good education. Also, I want to be sure that what my children are learning is sound teaching, and I can't imagine how hard it would be to keep close family relationships with everyone always in different corners. Also, I feel that homeschooling is an integral part of our society and if we don't fight for the right for it, we're willingly giving up something that many in other countries fight to win.
• How do you feel about reading fad novels when they are popular such as Eragon, The Hunger Games, and The Book Thief? Do you discern serious differences in quality amongst them? Have you ever read and loved some before or after they were a fad? If you know me, you know that I have an aversion to "sadly popular" things simply because they're popular; I refused to watch Downton Abbey till the third season had aired in Britain. I don't like jumping on trends most times, though I'm now a sworn Georgette Heyer fan after being coerced into it by my respected friends. I do like starting them myself, though. ;)
• If you could learn any language (fantasy, real and living, obscure, dead or dying) which would you learn? Right now? Romanian. I am planning to go back and Sarah is very swift in learning languages and has almost mastered the trick of Romanian while I'm still not even trying. I need to start in earnest, but being able to do it in one fell swoop would be awesome.
• If you could change your name to any name (again fantasy or real or obscure) what would it be? Hmmm. I like my name. It suits me. Also, I've had people ask whether it's a pen name because it fits me so well. It's not. I was born Rachel Heffington. Of course, when I fall in love I'm sure I'll want to rename myself Rachel _______.

Now for Lizzie's Questions:

• What place in the world (time travel included) would you most like to visit? e. g. Paris in the 1920's, Egypt, 1500 B. C., etc. Oh, what a jolly prospect! Germany in WWII, working in the resistance. England in the Regency Era. America in the Colonial era. Anywhere in the Western World in the 1940's and 50's.
• How would you choose to spend a lovely, sunny spring day? Taking a walk in a picturesque area with friends, or wandering around Washington DC (also with friends) or, if it was needful that I was alone, reading a good novel outdoors. 
• What are three of your favorite books? Three favorite movies? Books that were made into movies? A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken; An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott; The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit. As for movies: The Avengers; National Treasure; Emma (2009). Book-to-movie adaptations? Anne of Green Gables; Emma (2009); Little Dorrit
• Do you play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, is there an instrument you would like to learn? I do not, and if I could learn (with relative ease) I would choose the piano. If I learned a second instrument, I would learn the mandolin or a mountain dulcimer.
• What kind of pets/animals do have, if any? If none, would you like to have? I have Le Cricket (a black, half-Siamese), and a dog named Churchill Sherlock Lewis (also black.) We also have black La Mancha goats, but I try to forget they exist. They aren't pets anyway.

Alllll right! Thanks for the fun questions, girls! I am going to tag several people after I ask my questions. I don't know if I'll be able to find 11 bloggers who haven't done this already (coming in late on the trend) but I will try! :)

My questions:

• Do you like The Princess Bride? Why or why not?
• Do you have any niecelings or nevvies?
• What is your favorite book genre?
• Who is your favorite British actor?
• Have you ever read an indie-published novel?
• Who is your favorite non-christian musical artist? 
• Do you wear nail polish? If so, what's your favorite brand/color?
• Who is your favorite fashion blogger?

And I tag:

Liza Morales

Bree Holloway

Katie Sebelko

Charity Klicka 

Nana

{Why it Works} The End It Movement

Today is February 27.

February 27th is the day in which Christians and non-Christians all over the world are drawing red "X"s on our hands to show support for and raise awareness over the victims of modern slavery. I was made more aware of this issue over the past several weeks by my friend Charity Klicka, as well as through several other friends, and the End It Movement in general. If you want to learn more about how you can help end the heartbreaking industry enslaving 27 million humans world-wide, check out this article.

As I was planning to have a red X on my hand, and I already wanted to share this outfit with you, I decided I would combine the two things and put together a whole End It Movement outfit. This is one of the (very small) ways I can help: telling people that slavery still exists.

The Components:

Grey jeans

GenJ "Avengers" graphic tee

Faux leather jacket

Black patent leather heels

Light smoky-eye makeup

Pale pink lipgloss

Why it works:

The black and grey components are obviously within the same color scale, so they go well together. The tee is black, but it has a bright and simple graphic of red, white, and blue colors which keeps the whole thing from looking like a volcanic, rainy day. Add a shiny red bracelet (red lipgloss if I had it) and dark red nail polish, and you are all set in a sleek, sophisticated casual look. (Oh, and don't forget my red X) I like this outfit because the leather jacket and heels make me feel special. Leather and heels isn't something most people wear to Walmart...but if paired with nice jeans and a graphic tee, it certainly can be done. I'm also a fan of mixing up the usual top & jeans with some statement piece. In this case: the jacket. It's a very nice faux leather jacket bought on Black Friday at Target for 50% off at $19.99. I'm rather fond of it for the days like today when the outfit calls for something a little non-usual.

What about you? Are you wearing a red X today?

{The Shrinkage Diaries} Paleo Fudge

This is fudge.

This is also healthy fudge.

This is also crazy-delicious, why-haven't-I-made-it-before fudge.

This is also gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar-free fudge.

I just thought you might like to know.

It's creamy, delicious, and disappeared quicker than you can say "Bobshruckle" (It took me about eighteen years to realize Bert in Mary Poppins was saying "Bob's your uncle". I still prefer my way). If you're in the middle of a Shrinkage Plan (like me), you seriously ought to consider making this fudge. Also, if you're on a Paleo diet, this is compatible with that, so cheers! I've slung the recipe at you below:

Paleo Fudge

• 1/2 c. almond or peanut butter
• 1/2 c. cocoa powder
• 1/2 c. coconut oil
• 1/4 c. raw honey
• Dash of vanilla if desired

1.  Combine all ingredients in food processor until smooth and creamy. If desired, stir in shredded coconut, chopped nuts, or dried fruit.
2. Spread into waxed paper-lined pan and chill for 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Hope you make and enjoy this healthy treat soon! It certainly makes resisting bad-for-you foods easier to bear. And if you use peanut-butter, it really does begin to taste like a dark chocolate Reese's cup! Friendly toward your body, easy to make--what more could a girl ask for?