– Beth Moore’s latest Bible study, Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman, is hot off the presses, and there’s a giveaway for a free Esther DVD leader kit over at LifeWay Women All Access, oh yes there is.

– We’re Newsweek subscribers at our house, and their “Secrets of the 2008 Campaign” special election coverage has ensured that I’ve been up late reading every single night this week. It’s seven chapters long, and the behind-the-scenes perspective of both candidates’ campaigns is completely riveting. Two thumbs up (and a snap in a circle) from me.

– Several of y’all commented or emailed about where to buy the White Lily White Cornmeal Mix. Well, you have options. You can check out the White Lily website to see if any stores in your area carry it. Or you can order it online. And if you go buy yourself a new cast iron skillet, here’s how to season it.

Now doesn’t that just bless your heart?

– I found this list of the healthiest grocery stores in America so fascinating that I ’bout near scared myself. And I also wondered: where’s Fresh Market?

– As a general rule I’m terribly uncomfortable with high-fiving. Because I always feel like I’m high-fiving incorrectly. Aye, and unnaturally.

But these high fives? Crack me up. And they also make me want to practice. (source)

– And finally: Andy and Angela are “putting the ‘us’ in ‘rustic.'”

Trent Monk came back through town about three weeks ago, and we had a little living room concert at our house. Trent was on his way to much bigger and much better gigs (Yes. I just said “gigs.” I totally did. Next thing you know I’m going to be talking about people’s “merch” tables.) in Georgia, and it says a lot about the kind of person that he is that he would be utterly delighted to sit in the corner of our living room and play for about 25 people (most of whom were sweet bloggy friends) on a Tuesday night. We had the best time.

By the way, if this video is any indication, I may want to turn on a few more lamps if we host any other musical guests in the future. So I apologize that the video is a little dark, but oh, it was ever-so-warm-and-cozy in person.

Did you hear the young’uns in the background? You can’t get that kind of ambience at your fancy clubs, people. But Trent was totally cool with people bringing their kids, and I think it takes a special kind of performer to happily sing deep songs about love and Jesus while there are kids watching “Star Wars” and playing with light sabers right down the hall. And it made me so happy. Seriously.

Trent is such a delightful, talented guy. In fact, I asked him if he’d be interested in just living at our house and singing in the living room from 6:30-8:00 every single night, but surprisingly he was not at all even a little bit interested. But he did laugh loudly when I asked him, and I was ever-so-appreciative of the courtesy guffaw.

Right now Trent’s setting up his schedule for 2009, and if you’d be interested in having him into your house or church or club (after all, I know many of you are full-time club owners) for a show, email me so I can send you contact info.

And, as always, rock on.

Because you know that you want to, people.

You know that you do.

My sweet friend NK and I went to lunch Saturday, and afterwards we walked over to a few of our favorite local stores. Typically I’m not much of a boutique shopper because I tend to favor 1) Walmart(s) 2) Target(s) 3) Steinmart(s) or 4) TJ Maxx(es), but I saw lots of cute, affordable gifts that I would’ve happily bought if, you know, I’d done any Christmas planning at all. Sadly, however, the extent of my Christmas preparedness is to say YES, WE WILL JOYFULLY CELEBRATE IT, but I haven’t exactly reached ye olde list-making stage.

Even still, I had the best time looking at Christmas decorations in all the stores, and I ran across some fun ideas for things I’d like to try in our house this year. Our window-shopping adventure totally sparked my Christmas decor interest, so when I got home I did what any God-fearing American would do and proceeded to WEAR GOOGLE OUT looking for inexpensive decorations online.

And do you know what? I found some adorable things. All for less than $10 per item. But before I share them with you, a brief aside.

As some of y’all know, my love of a certain kitchen cleaner knows no bounds. I adore it. It works well and smells divine and turns the world on with its smile. It can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all worthwhile.

Well, Saturday afternoon NK and I were walking through this little specialty linens shop where I can barely afford to even look in the general direction of their high-priced wares, so I stayed in the home fragrance section because it’s a little more in tune with my budget. While I was standing there I saw a new kind of kitchen cleaner that will no doubt change my life, and OHMYWORD I TOTALLY BOUGHT IT, even though I could practically hear my sensible friend Shannon saying, “You’re going to pay ten dollars? For something to clean your countertops? SO THAT YOUR COUNTERTOPS CAN IN TURN SMELL LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE?”

To which I imaginarily replied, “Yes! I am! ISN’T IT EXCITING?”

Because oh, y’all – this stuff smells like, well, Christmas perfection. Plus, we have an artificial tree, so I long for that fresh tree smell. My plan is to start using it the day after Thanksgiving and I know I’m weird to be so tickled to death over some new countertop spray but SOMETIMES I JUST CAN’T FIGHT THE CARZY.

Anyhoo.

I now give you (AFFORDABLE!) decorative Christmas wares for your enjoyment and perusal.

– Colorful star lanterns – I’d hang red, lime green and white over my kitchen table and then marvel at the cuteness. If you want paper lanterns that are a little fancier, Pier1 has them, too.

– Handmade owl Christmas ornaments – They’re funky and retro and oh-so-charming. Owls seem to be in the midst of a decorative resurgence, and I for one say hoorah. And also: HOOT.

– Santa Star Christmas ornaments – These are handmade, and if you’ve read Barb for any time at all, you know that they’re METICULOUSLY done (edited to add: and since you get 3 for $20, technically they still fall under the less-than-$10 per item limit).

– Jingle Bells napkin rings – I’m a fan of anything that’s practical, festive, colorful, and, well, jingly. I’m sure someone is going to leave a comment telling me that I could make these for even less than the $3 I’d spend in the store, and while yes, that’s true, you must also remember that craft projects and I are SWORN ENEMIES.

– Green starburst ornaments – I’d love lots of these hanging at alternating heights from a small chandelier…but the suggestions on the website about using them in a bowl (or a glass apothecary jar, maybe?) or as placecard holders would be delightful, too.

– Finally. Make five year-old happy it will.

Make it a merry Monday, y’all.

There’s a five year-old in this house who loves movies.

No, there’s a five year-old in this house who LOVES movies. And for the last couple of weeks, he’s offered me the same gentle reminder at least once a day: “Mama. I need for you to please remember something. Madagascar 2 is in theatres on November 7th.”

MEMORIZE PREVIEWS MUCH?

So, since one of our favorite mama / son activities is to go to the movie theatre and find good seats and lift the armrest in between the two of us and snuggle up and share some popcorn and laugh a whole bunch, the little guy and I made a trip to the movies this afternoon. It was damp and rainy outside – pretty much perfect movie-going conditions – and once we bought our tickets and got settled in our seats, I decided there was nowhere on earth I’d rather be at that moment, and the only thing that would’ve made it any better would be some sort of seatside diet Coke fountain / Rotel dip dispenser / melted milk chocolate pump with bowls of tortilla chips and pretzels readily available.

Oh, the sweet and salty combination is a gift, isn’t it?

Anyway, we watched the movie and I got just a wee-bit teary-eyed when I saw the animated versions of acacia trees (LET ME REPEAT: ANIMATED TREES MADE ME TEARY-EYED, FEEL FREE TO PITY ME), and then I laughed a whole bunch at the silly antics of the wacky animals. I even decided as I gazed upon the animated African landscape that I could totally live there, maybe even in a tent right alongside the Nile provided that someone can figure out how to air condition the outdoors, because really, what could be more natural (and sensible!) than a girl who has numerous nature-related phobias deciding to spend the rest of her life camped out next to a river where wild animals roam freely?

So. Back to Africa it is. I’m glad that’s settled.

Also: I may have dozed off in the movie for one or fifteen minutes because I was a little chilly and the little guy snuggled up really close and I got all warm and toasty and my eyelids felt a little heavy and then suddenly it was VERY loud and I was totally surprised that the airplane was working again, but even with my gaps in plot point memory I can tell you that the movie is super cute and I especially enjoyed the music, the end.

(I mean, it’s no High School Musical 3, but that is understandable since there is no basketball-playing / drama-loving tiger named Troy Bolton in Madagascar 2.)

(But if there were? I’d give it seven out of five stars.)

(With four exclamation points at the end.)

(OHMYGAH TROY!!!!)

So now we’re home, and we have exactly zero items on our weekend agenda, which is JUST LIKE I LIKE IT. Hopefully the husband will build us a fire, and I’m going to sit on the couch with my favorite blanket and watch TV and enjoy the blessed calm while I try to figure out if I’m going to cheer for Alabama or LSU in their game tomorrow.

Which is to say: I think our weekend’s gonna be just dandy.

Hope yours is, too.

Tonight’s episode of “The Office” was near perfection in my humble opinion. You had Michael fumbling – but not to the point of utter humiliation, Jim pushing Dwight’s buttons to beat the band, and FINALLY a decent level of interaction between Jim and Pam.

Plus, the conspiracy plotline? GENIUS.

Some of my favorite moments:

1) “Whenever I’m getting married, you don’t believe me.”

2) “Kelly Kapur is our dusty, exotic customer service rep….”

3) “What color is his shirt? Mustard or dijon?”

4) “WHAT DO YOU THINK I’M SAYING TO YOU?”

5) “…and there’s our smudgeness.”

6) “OUR PRICES HAVE NEVER BEEN LOWER!”

7) “I don’t want to be married in a tent like a hobo.”

8) Dwight driving in the parking lot.

9) Pam: “That’s what she said! That’s what she said! That’s what she said!”

10) “I was right. I was right. I was right!”

And finally: OH MY LANDS, DWIGHT KICKING IN CELEBRATION, I’VE NEVER LOVED ANYTHING MORE, WE WATCHED IT SIX TIMES IN A ROW.

To top off all the funny, we got a touch of bittersweet with Jim and Pam – and a touch of mischief with Dwight and Angela.

Tripled loved it. I enjoyed having a little break from All The Awkward.

What about y’all? What did you think?