Thankful amid a high-stress year

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 16 November 2010 17:23

A fresh take. That’s what I wanted to accomplish when I first began thinking about my topic for this month’s Lipstick and Pearls. It was obvious what I had to write about. November is all about Thanksgiving. But I wanted innovation. Some quick-witted adeptness.

This is what I came across instead: “They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty,” wrote William Bradford in “Of Plymouth Plantation.”

The heroes and heroines—the pilgrims—weren’t looking for ingenuity. The pilgrims were celebrating a bountiful harvest—something, I’m sure, that wouldn’t be considered so...

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Book fetish catching on with kids

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 19 October 2010 15:56

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love books. If given the time, I can hammer through a solid 200-plus page novel in a day. Although the opportunity for several uninterrupted hours of reading a big-girl book has eluded me since my 2-year-old was born.

Now I read in rhyme. And most stories have animals as protagonists. Some titles I read over and over. So many times, in fact, that my daughter, Gracelyn, can read the book word-for-word.

I love that I share my book fetish with my daughter. And I can’t wait until she’s old enough for me to read her my all-time favorite series: “Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

My infatuation with Laura’s life grew while watching PBS re-runs of the popular TV...

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Finding self in the daily adventure

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 14 September 2010 17:03

With some rare, but always welcomed, alone-time, I found myself browsing through Et Cetera Shop. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular; I was more just relishing in some quiet time.

My usual tag-alongs were in the capable hands of great-grandma, and after a fast trip to the grocery store, I decided to stop at the thrift store so as to delay my homecoming a bit longer.

While browsing, I found myself drawn to the books at the back of the store. I found a couple paperbacks dealing with the subject of motherhood. I figured reading them couldn’t hurt.

So I made my way toward the register, wanting to find out how much they cost. I had decided that I didn’t want to pay too much for the books, but when the sweet woman at the...

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Whatever happened to chivalry?

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 17 August 2010 18:54

Like any writer, I’m always on the lookout for good subject matter. As you can probably tell, I enjoy writing about my daughters. But I also enjoy re-hashing humorous or otherwise entertaining material through this column.

Just last week, in fact, I stood amid the perfect storm of column material. Here are the key components. The five Ws. Who? My daughters and me. What? Stranded in bewildered helplessness. When? A weekend shopping adventure. Where? By Auntie Anne’s. Why? We were hungry.

Here’s what happened. It all started with a rushed lunch before heading out to meet my mom and sister for a returning-to-school shopping trip. (Side note: my youngest sister is starting her senior year at Smoky Valley High School this week. I feel...

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