CHECK...one...two...three

love on any given day (oh how pinteresting)

2012-02-15T06:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the Love day. It's the day you focus on it. Celebrate it. Wait 2 hours for a table because of it.

But as strong American women we need to be guarded. We need to be independent. We need to not need. anyone.

Beautiful but tough. No one can truly get through.

Even as positive person or a happy person. People can only get so close...

Because of fear. Fear keeps us from experiencing. Fear keeps us private. Fear keeps us in our own cubby and then we believe we're safe. Just draw the curtain.

but isolating yourself only leads to more

guarded hearts only lead to hard hearts

Playing it cool only makes you cold

Because you will only get what you give...

Unless..

you give it up.

No not like that...

Give up the cold, the toughness, the barbed wire...

Let in the fresh wind

Blow out the cobwebs...

Pour your heart a tasty beverage

The drink of Love without hangups.

Without holding back

Without all the "what ifs.."

because we can't control the future.

we just do not know.

scary right?

but what if the "what if's" never happen

and you look back and think

I wasted a lot of time...behind a curtain.

They only saw my feet.

They never saw the real me...

what a shame. because you have so much to give. you have so much to offer.

but not just that...

you have so much you can receive.

When we stop hiding or guarding we can actually enjoy

what is right in front of you.

Step out of the cell

it's cold and drafty in there.

You are a beautiful shell

But you have an even more beautiful heart

linking up with the Vintage apple

If you can't be with the one you want

2012-02-14T04:51:00.001-08:00

love the one you're with...

Brandon's working late and it's just baby boy and me tonight.

I don't know where he stands maturity wise...he flip flops between newborn and 30 year old...(Solo, not Brandon...)

Yesterday he woke up from his nap and came into my room and slept curled up next to me, mouth open deep trance sleep like when he was a baby.

But then at the store that afternoon he said "we need to get sushi mommy".

At dinner he wanted his water in an actual bottle (I didn't give it to him)

But then after dinner he played a full on story with his cars complete with one missing their mommy and another getting stuck in the mud.

He loves to vacuum the kitchen for me (finally!)

But then sometimes he just wants up and for me to hold him.

He leaves random 'heytell' messages for friends and knows what apps do what

But can't sleep at night unless he has his blue blanket and yellow duck.

He's using the potty all by himself

But can't get the pants up in any form of order...

Loves to play with other kids and will do that for hours

But don't piss him off, he will try to bite you...he's like a Jack Russell terrier. (this is NOT problem solving behavior we encourage...don't worry)

turns the tv and the fire place off before we go (both are remote control)

but a baby gate will still stop him in his tracks...

He loves to pray for any boo-boos he has

And he loves to pray for every.single. family. member he can think of at bedtime

BUT everytime I say "hey Solo do you want a baby brother or sister ..."

He always says ..

"No thanks"

say something (oh how pinteresting)

2012-02-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

I always feel strange when someone says "Admitting is the first step". It seems like a silly step. Why do we have to admit anything...why can't we just say "get better" and things would all aline?

I recently put that into practice. It was a first time for me. I had never "asked" for help before. Never.

You think you're not allowed or you think you will look weak.

But it's simply not true. Asking for help actually takes strength.

Anyone can sit there and pretend. Anyone can hide. Everyone does it all day long.

BUT what a freedom there is when you say "can you...?"

"Would you...?"

Sharing a need with a friend, or more than one, lightens the burden.

You don't have to do it all alone.

source

You weren't meant too.

What is your need, your request, your ache...

Stop telling the book without a face

Where judgment flows behind computer screens

Leaning on someone to help you through something is easier than going at it alone.

Two heads are better than one and where two or more are gathered...

Love is in the midst.

JUST YOURS

2012-02-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my friend Grace on Sunday at a party...oh yeah, there was a football game on, but whatevs...

We started talking about art. She goes "I want to be inspired by own creativity"

Genius.

She explained, that we are all are artists inspired by things all around us but often we see something at the store, PINTEREST, or where ever and we just copy.

Nothing original...It might be ours, but it was an off shoot of something we saw already done.

Now it's hard to not be inspired by the world we live in, I mean it's all around us. BUT if we took a moment and just started to create or let ourselves create anything I bet we'd be surprised at what we do.

IF you had no limits, nothing else to do, and money wasn't the problem...

what would you create?

Real Advice

2012-02-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

Todays Five Minute Friday word is Real. Now I could go on ALL dang day about the word REAL. It's a friend of mine. Sometimes the words "maybe too" introduce it when talking about my personality. But hey...that's me.

But if I was gonna give REAL advice and not sugar coat it then I have to say this. Listen carefully because it applies to EVERYONE.

This will help you

When you feel "ugh"

When you just had a baby

When you are getting ready

When you feel out of sorts

When you are bored

When you are excited

When you are making an impression

And just for all around everyday:

If you are a

Brunette: never leave the house without wearing lipstick/colored lip gloss

Blondes/redheads: never leave the house without wearing mascara.

There you have it.

It's true. It will change your look and even if you only have two seconds to get ready you have two seconds to apply lip color or mascara.

Make the choice.
Decide who you are

And thank me now...or later.

Have a great Friday.

Getting Real,

Kells

Thankful Thursday

2012-02-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

Creature Comforts Edition

Weather you are sick, just had a baby, have been up with a waking child or just can't sleep lately (show of hands if you are all four..you deserve a hug!) there are some things that make getting up easier if you have them close by.

1. Coffee- whose kidding who I mean caffeine. In any form. Although I am not a big Rock-Star, Monster, Brain-Melt drink kind of girl I do love a hot mug of something in the morning, and by golly it had better be caffeinated!

2. Tulsi Tea- this is good for what ails ya big time. It has holy basil in it that is supposed to be some wonder herb. I know what you are thinking - "that sounds like Pizza Tea!" but it's really tasty. I love it. Also there are other flavors...this is just the kind my store had...oh and this doesn't have caffeine so it's in addition TOO my coffee. It seriously shortens your sickness by at LEAST a few days if not more.

3. Airborne Chewable Vitamin C- WOW. Forget what you know about that disk you plop into your water and watch fizz for the next 5 minutes. And then try running that glass through the dishwasher...I swear that Airborne scum NEVER comes off your cup....BUT have hope...these little guys have won me over! They are so tasty and there are 32 in each bottle, and they are GOOD! I mean take them to the movie theatre and pop them like skittles good! Plus they are jam packed with of Zinc & Selenium. Stuff that puts you in a good mood when you are feeling sick.

4. Carmex Vanilla Chapstick- it smells like sunshine and feels so soothing. Plus it has sun screen. And when I am not feeling well I find that my skin is dryer, maybe from all the tissues, BUT this is powerful stuff, even if you have a head cold it makes your lips cold and smooth and is just great.

Now add good tv or a good book, maybe a bowl of really good soup and you've got yourself a mini vacation! Load all this stuff into your cart along with that latest US weekly - (Why is Demi Moore in rehab? And why is she hitting on the guy from High School Musical...gosh Demi quit robbin' the cradle!) and you are set!

This is what I am thankful this morning because I was 3 out of those 4 things mentioned at the top of the post. Pray for me and I'll pray for you!

And guess what!? It's almost FRIDAY!

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300th Post (oh how pinteresting)

2012-02-01T06:10:00.000-08:00

If you think you have no clothing...think back to the last 3 things you bought to wear...

If you think you aren't encouraged...think back to the last three encouraging things you were told

If you feel lost and have no direction....think back to the last 3 plans you made

source

Now...

Did you wear those items?

Did you take that encouragement and pass it along?

Did you dismiss it..."No I can't______"

Did you put some time to those plans you made?

source

Did you give them a second thought after you thought them?

With the help of a very good friend I was able to do this exercise recently. It puts things in perspective.

We are giving so much. But so much of it is discarded or just forgotten. We look at closets brimming with clothing and think...I need more.

We look at our hearts and think no one is calling me or encouraging me at this very moment so I must be alone.

We look at others lives and think, wow, they are doing so much...they have so many opportunities.

But that blazer and that scarf that you wore once hang in the closet...try wearing them separate, or with a skirt...look at them differently

The nice words a friend texted you the other day are in your message box...did you pass that encouragement to someone else?

source

The giant resolutions you made on January 1 are just memos on a post it...you DO have good ideas. you DO have opportunities! They are right in front of you.

No one is stopping you. And no one can take it from you. They are yours.

Get started. And keep going. Even rivers change their course...but they keep going

Mississippi river flow patterns over the years

Tenders

2012-01-27T06:04:00.000-08:00

Right after Solo was born we did a segment on the radio show about what you should do about private parts. lol, right? I mean in the Parenting magazines they say don't give your kids "parts" funny cutsie names because then it teaches kids to be ashamed about their body...or something.

So as a mother of a boy I really didn't know what to do. Not to get graphic but "we are gonna wash your hair and your feet and your penis" just sounds weird to me. But maybe cus I grew up not saying much about that stuff.

So we took calls "call now and tell Kelly what she should call her sons privates..." yeah it really went something like that...people love to be a help, so the calls flooded in...

...just call it what it is, someone suggested.

...we call it a wiener at our house...(wow. how'd ya come up with that!?)

.... we call it a peep.....(I spent WAAAAY to much time around chickens as a kid to be calling someones parts a peep...and what happens around Easter...marshmallow peep anyone? sounds like gag gifts at a bachelor-ette party.

call after call until someone called up and said

"we call it Tenders at our house..."

The jokes rolled in after that...how do you explain to your kid what Chicken Tenders are?
What will your kid think when someone says they are going to "tenderize the steak before putting it on the grill"
and don't get me started on what a kid would think of God if they read the word Tender in Bible. "give me a tender heart!?!?"

since I am not a big fan of the word "tender" anyway I figured it probably won't fly.

I know what you are thinking....I thought you weren't going to use a cutsie name for parts...well that's easier said than done...Even if I felt comfortable using that word for a boy I REALLY feel weird using the clinical word for a girl, so that's my reasoning. So I am gonna just let my kids make up the names.

STOP.

Shower the people you love with Love

2012-01-26T04:34:00.000-08:00

Thankful Thursday...

Yesterday SUCKED. I know that sounds dramatic,(and not thankful...) but I felt dramatic. After being given an amazing new opportunity I was pretty sure I would be entering the work force (not dance related) again..(oh and not radio related either). It was more of a communications-people-relations job and it sounded amazing. Until I sat down and really thought about the cost. The cost outweighed the return, big time.
I hate to disappoint anyone. I'm not real good at saying no, I don't like to turn down opportunities and I was just having a crappy day in general.
But as I look back on my day, it's dotted with amazing people who took the time to talk to me and give me insight or just make me laugh...

Sam- my best friend, no she wasn't running a race in a tank top she was on her way to shopping in the car with noisy kids. She listened and discussed my options. Ya know when you can tell someones listening to you, because they give you good advice.

Brandon, my husband- After a quick call to see how my day was going, he noticed something wasn't right so he got off his ladder went out to his truck and spent a good 20 minutes talking praying and encouraging me. He also gave me wise council. And then he said what good husbands say to their wives "I want you to do what's best for you..." ah. peace.

T, my sister- by the time I got through my whole day and dance class and pick up Solo at her house I was done. But we visited for a bit and laughed. And just relating to each others situations...it was good. And sometimes you just need people to relate or say they relate to what you are going through. All in all she encouraged me, while I am sure patting herself on the back, and it made me feel good like only an older sister can...

I am usually thankful for situations or good "things" that have happened during the week but today I am thankful for my peeps. And God putting them in my life at the right time to be an encouragement to me.

I did get a funny call from my mom, my aunt called me who was very insightful, and a tell-a-marketer was good cus I could just hang up of him (that always feels good). So there were others in my day as well...

The day ended with pot roast from the crock pot, tv time with Brandon and a funny call from my friend Jo...God puts the right people in your life for a reason.

who are you thankful for today?

WHY in the hec!

2012-01-25T05:12:00.000-08:00

I walked into Target and there they were...collecting all the food smells from the Tarjay Cafe - they hung, lonely and fully stocked on the racks.

BIKINIS?!!?!

It's January Target! Do I need to go to the Calendar section (across from cleaning supplies) and show you!

I find it ironic that right next to the place they sell the slushies and chicken fingers in value meal portions they hang the teensie neon two-peices!

I huffed past them shaking my head as if anyone really wants to slide on a bathing suit in the cold white dead of January...not this girl. Unless you've been tanning my guesses is that your tan lines have faded since the summer (although my tan lines are still there proving there is a color paler than milk white)

But then, I spotted it.

Hanging in the 75% off rack. Smushed between an oversized cardigan and a horizontal striped maternity shirt (yeah cus that's exactly what pregos want to wear) was a severely marked down bathing suit bottom.

The chevron pattern. The colors peach, tan and brown with little lines of blue

MISSONI! It was in my size and hiding out...waiting for me.

Last year when Missoni released their products for Target they were sold out before they were fully stocked on the shelves

The colors are so vibrant and fun and well nice to look at for 5 seconds before they were all swiped up.

But here waiting all by it's lonesome for 5 dollars it hung:

I am not one for matchy matching tops and bottoms for bathing suits so I can wear this with a light blue top or a brown or a peach or just go topless like I do in Miami....

SIKE

Just because I will feel like a model wearing it doesn't mean I will act like one...I will most likely be playing tag with my son in the pool, or laying out talking to my friends/sister as I munch on snacks wearing this...

lets just be real.

I am still mad at Target for thinking we are all bathing suit ready especially with all the V-day candy displayed.

But I will give it a pass since they were nice enough to knock this down 20 bucks so I could rationalize buying it. Besides I need to go back next week anyway...I can't stay mad for long.

Target....why can't I quit you?

Take one and pass it

2012-01-24T04:36:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 27:2 Let someone praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.

I was featured over at Friday Night Date Night!!!! An amazing blog that proves even with a small budget AND a baby you can always make time for Date Night with your husband....

Mackenzie is a lot of fun and asked to feature our engagement story on her blog today!

CHECK IT OUT

And check out her other date night ideas!

Have a great Tuesday!

You ugly....yeah yeah You ugly

2012-01-23T08:44:00.000-08:00

U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi ....

M-a-m-a we know how you got that way

Yo' Mama! Yeah yeah Yo' Mama....

when I look at you I think "blech! you are just UGH!"

and when you make even the littlest noise I think "ya know, you sound pleasant but if you ugly thing so much as makes the baby wake up I will deconstruct you!"

I am, of course, talking about my....

DOOR BELLS

I call this one the "old rugged bell"

and this one here is "legs"

My house was built a freaking long time ago...and I am pretty sure these were actually added as part of a "remodel"- I mean, cus look at them...they scream modern and they definitely give the wall that added flavor the room was needing.

When we moved in and painted every. single. room, these gals got taken down so we could paint around them and not get smudges on them along with outlet covers and door hinges...WHY I was so concerned about these babies is BEYOND me.

Well today I took matters into my own hands. And by own hands I mean I tried to take them down...

Parts would easily come off but other parts were on there for the long haul. So in order to paint it I would have to protect the wall behind it....thing is, we were outta tape.
Sesame Street stickers to the rescue!

Can you say HOT MESS? wow. There is glue left over from when we painted and tape around what looks like an electrical nightmare... I am not sure it's supposed to look like that- Did someone plant a bomb in the doorbell? Is this like the movie Speed where after so many dings of the door bell the house blows up?

I dunno.

But what I do know is if I paint the cover I won't have to think about the short circuit we've got waiting for us in our home. Johnny number 5 anyone? Tell him his love child is here on my wall, and she's got major issues.

SO yes, back to me, I used the stickers to keep the wrinkled craft paper up so I wouldn't spray paint the walls and have to touch it up with an actual paint brush.

Spray paint....the lazy mans paint. No clean up. What's not to love.

All in all I learned something...in a rental things don't matter as much, but you still don't have to stare at ugly door bell covers everyday...you and they, deserve better!

ahhhh. much better. well...I mean, ya know, it's better.

High Five Fridays

2012-01-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't ever done a high five friday but I am gonna start...

So since I am so excited it's friday I am gonna tell you about my top five awesome-ness happenings from this week!

1. Hulu Plus - WORD say WORD!
Its like a DVR and cable and amazing all wrapped into a CHEAP package...wrapped in really pretty ribbon....10 bucks ma friends! Show of hands of people have a CHOKED DVR that they pay for every month.....I see that hand..amen...
well....why not get rid of that thing and just use HULU plus?

2. It's been around 30 days since I started using the Patricia Wexler skin regime from Bath and Body Works - it's great! I mean I don't know if anyone else is noticing a HUGE difference in my looks but I have...this stuff makes your skin feel like buttah. And don't forget that neck area either... I had my Sissy Butt feel for herself and she said "yeah that does feel smooth.." and that was on week 2 or something...

so ya know....if you have a 10 dollar coupon to Bath and Body works for a purchase 20 dollars and over...give it a whirl...it's great!

3. arts and Crafts! Just kidding...no but seriously Sam (bestie) and I worked on Valentines day shirts . I mean I saw those really cute appliqued shirts on line and thought...I can make that...don't you love how Pinterest gives you all kinds of confidence? American Apparel shirt- 4 dollars on sale and the fabric I had...boo-yah! Cheaper than Old Navy even!

4. My good friend is having her Art displayed at a local show tonight and I am super pumped for her...

Plus B and I get to leave the house together and have a mini date...so that's a bonus too...

5. VERY HOT button on my hair dryer...I always thought it was bad to use the VERY HOT button but today I used it and thought, "wow my hair is drying SUPER fast!" and then I looked down and my son who must have been using it for a gun must have been playing with the settings...well that thing is NO joke....it dried my hair in half the time...( I only wash my hair once a week so I don't think it's doing too much damage..more on that later)

my hair dryer is totally state of the art and a brand new cutting edge machine! (sike, this is my old one....SIKE...it's stock footage off of google, but wouldn't that be CRAZY if it was?)

Thankful Thursday

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Is it just me of does it feel like January is flying by faster than last year...

make. it. stop.

But actually aren't you glad time keeps ticking by...I mean people are always talking about time slowing down or wishing the days would stay when their kids are young and the memories are sweet. BUT we are the biggest buncha impatient people in the world...right? Americans as a whole are always speeding someplace. Waiting for this to arrive, or tapping their foot in that line...we wish time would stop but we have NO idea what that entails. Be careful whatcha wish for....

So we are back at Thankful Thursday again...

1. That monkey of Comcast off our back. Seriously they are so ridiculously priced for what?! nothing! Brandon called last Monday and canceled our service. Praise the Lord-ah!

2. Brandon had the first part of the week off and was THE most helpful person ever. I forget how great of a friend and helpmate he is because he does work (outside the home) so much. But when he's home he did laundry, cleaned, cooked, cleaned out cars, organized the basement and helped my grandfather chop wood - he is such a blessing.

3. Being here in Pa. I miss my friends in California for sure. And our church. And the weather. And the unlimited shopping. BUT I love Pa. I really do. My family, my friends, my job..just about everything except the speed limit (soooo slow). I saw this on Pinterest and could not believe how true it was- I made it my laptop wallpaper-

PREACH! Pinterest! Amen Amen!

4. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST. Blogger has FINALLY made it so you can respond to peoples comments! It was driving me bananas not being able to actually keep a conversation going with someone who comments...but it finally has happened. So if you are sweet enough to make a comment (which I totes love) I will SOOOOOO comment back because now I can. Heeeeee!

What are you thankful for? Tell a sister!

what world am I living in

2012-01-18T04:56:00.000-08:00

We recently cut our cable. Got rid of it completely. It is refreshing but I had a mild panic attack when Solo woke up yesterday and said "I wanna watch George"

UHHHHHH WE DON'T HAVE GEORGE ANYMORE!!!!!!!!! That was on regular Tv..I don't know what to do?!?! We shouldn't have gotten rid of cable...what were we thinking? Solo doesn't have any shows anymore....ahhhh.

Get a grip woman! (I said that to myself.)

Then my husband groggily stumbled out to the living room picked up the Apple Tv remote and searched netflicks for Curious George and - like always...that crazy monkey and that freakish man that only wears yellow popped up on our screen and Solo resumed watching.

Before though Solo never understood when a commercial came on live tv. He'd always say "more Santa mama!" not knowing that Santa just paused for a station break and would be back shortly.

Yesterday Sissy-butt and I were talking about some old recordings we had...ON TAPES.

She remembered she had them in a box in her attic and then took 10 minutes to explain to her 11 year old what a cassette tape was

11 year old: oh I know, it's black and small...

my sister: no that's something you use for a video camera

11 year old: oh, is it a bigger black thing that sometimes has movies on it?

Sister: no, that's a VHS movie tape....it's a rectangle that has two holes in it....

11 year old: ok I'll look, I think I've seen something like that...

He returned successful with a shoebox full of tapes. we laughed together as she read the music labels.
Erasure, Tribe called Quest, Right said Fred...oh brother. We did find the one with some voice recordings on it...the thing we were looking for in the first place....

And then it dawned on us...we had NO way of playing them. There wasn't a cassette player in the whole house...in our cars....they don't even sell them at Target...literally just pieces of plastic that have no purpose anymore.

We laughed and shook our heads...Especially when one of the tapes was all pulled out and her husband took a pen and feebly tried to reel it back in.

And this weekend as I lay lazily on the couch I said to brandon

is it snowing outside?

husband: I don't know...

me: hand me my iphone and I'll check....

husband: or you could just look out the window like we did in the olden days!?!!?!?

I laughed rolled my eyes and thought oh yeah, duh. How sad is that?!

And in the end I kept my butt on the couch and just checked the weather on my phone...

it wasn't snowing.

finish what you started

2012-01-16T05:23:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning thinking that since Solo has pink eye I wouldn't be going anywhere.

That's ok. I have like 20 projects including cleaning that needs to be done.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend who said that a counselor (from her past) told her starting projects and getting super excited about them and then fizzling out was a bad cycle to have in her life. She was frustrated. She was annoyed and a little pissed. The counselor pretty much said her way of life was wrong.

I think there is a difference between those people who start a bunch of things and then fizzle out like an hour into it and there are piles of laundry... all over their house...everyday. Or the person who says they will do something and then, they never follow through. Or that person who says "I really need to start eating right...I am going on a diet...and then shoves 3 brownies in their face.

But there is something completely NORMAL about getting into something, loving it, being passionate about it and then life happens and you get side tracked or the excitement goes away. The things that are important in life aren't things.

The important thing is that you actually DO get excited about things. The important thing is that you get a plan together and research and draw out and give it a try. As I was talking to my friend about this I was reminded of the verse that says "For the people parish with lack of vision

Proverbs 29:18 says "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast of restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law."

LITERALLY that if you have no vision in life no TELLING what you will get into. Because you aren't set looking forward and have ideas and hope for the future. You will just throw your hands in the air and say 'who cares!"(cast of restraint)

Eating way too much
getting involved with bad relationships
drugs

or worse, a life filled with Facebook stalking! (kidding...no but seriously...fb is a huge time suck)

I mean the possibilities are endless. So keep planning for the future, keep getting excited about new ideas, set goals, start doing some of the projects you've been "Pinning" and keep that vision alive. Because your excitement is contagious and brings life. It gets other people motivated!

So if in a couple of months you realize that knitting isn't for you - then donate your supplies to someone or teach a child how to do it.

If you find out that running isn't as fun as you thought it would be, then sell those expensive shoes on ebay and donate the money to a charity

And if you find out that bee keeping, dog training, horse breeding or chicken raising is harder than you have time for, get rid of it or turn it over to someone who does want to do it.

But at least you tried. At least you're doing something. You had a feeling and you went for it.
After all, that's what the greatest historians did...had an idea and went for it.

Good luck! And I hope it's a great productive week for you!

pics from my insta-feed

2012-01-14T05:55:00.000-08:00

Doing the 30 day picture challenge on Insta...here are some of my fav colors...I recently got into knitting and crocheting...so fun and so relaxing, well, now it is...before it was like stress central because I had no idea what I was doing.

Day 14 was Hands...our family. We always do "Team on Three...1...2...3- TEAM!" Soccer has influenced my life to this day!

And one of my favorites. I LITERALLY prayed for Paper Whites and THAT day a friend brought a bag over to me...So I put them in different vases and pots around my house. Paper whites are a simple house plant and definitely Inspiring in the dead of January.

What inspires you in winter? How do you stay UP when it's dreary and cold? Or are you a "winter person"?

Have a blessed Weekend!

awake

2012-01-13T06:03:00.000-08:00

I love dreams. I talk about them often. I write them down. I think about them. I like to discuss them.

Last night, or rather this morning I had a dream that a friend was putting very personal details on her Facebook.

They were vivid. In fact, they popped me out of my sleep. I was awake.

I laid there thinking about it.

Her status read "I finally read the engraving on the inside of my wedding band...all these years I thought it said "I will not forget you" when it really said "I will forsake you"

Another status update saying how she needed Jesus Christ in her life ...

Another one that said something but I couldn't make sense of it...it was blurring in the dream world.

As I laid there my phone buzzed.

I was awake. I picked up my phone.

"I am leaving..." with a picture enclosed in her text of plane tickets connecting flights from Philly to Fort Lauderdale Florida. It was the same friend from the dream.

Baffled.

I texted back.

"What?! are you ok? when will you be back?!"

with the only reply

"the papers are sent"

It was done. My heart saddened. Thinking of the end of her marriage. Although he was terrible to her. I knew she was still saddened. I prayed. The engraving on the ring was right.

God awaken her heart. Awaken her with Joy in the middle of the night. Awaken her dyeing heart.

STOP.

(and that's all the time we have folks. but I will say this. Your dreams mean something. They always do...take them seriously. even if you just think about them. You don't have to interrupt them, but just being in tune with them allows one more way for God to communicate with you. It's like God's Facebook to you....)

the cold doesn't stop us!

2012-01-11T05:55:00.000-08:00

yesterday after morning dance I hurried to my car and breathed big puffs of white steam, as in I could see my breath, because it was FREEZING.

Later that morning, after I got home my friend Jessie Hey-telled me to go to the park with her. She said she wanted to take advantage of the sunshine. I thought hmmmmm, it was cold, maybe it's heating up!?

I call Sam to join us and we all meet out at the central location to all our houses, the park. It. was. still. freezing.

The toddlers went right for the SWINGS?! Don't they know that's the worse option in temperatures like this?! None the less they climbed up and sat there till someone pushed them. Meanwhile Sam and I stood there, until I slapped her on the thigh and said "you're it!"

Don't worry the baby wasn't in the Baby Bjorn while we were running

And off I ran. The kids were secure in those harness swings and she took off after me, around the rubber floored toddler part of the park I was dodging between club houses and the wooden train...Jumping over the ramp to the slides and over a tic tac toe board...suddenly whack. CAUGHT.

I turn around and run after her. Yes, we are mothers, yes we are late 20's yes our children were watching us laughing in delight and sort of staring confused. But...

It was COLD. As soon as started to chase Sam I was transported back to recess. The cold air in my lunges my hair being whipped around. Laughing like a crazy person- The thrill of almost reaching out and tagging someone.

And then I became winded and I had to cough...ya know like you do when you're in the cold.

I was tired (but warming up) so I did what any self respecting 5th grader- er Generation Y person would do....

"Sam, oh wait," - she was about 10 feet from me, catching her breath, sort of pushing her daughter in a swing...

"sam come here, you've got something on your pants, WHOA!? what IS that?!"

she turned herself to inspect the back of her leg while I made my way over to her...

"it's it's...it's here, let me get it...." WHAM-O I slapped her on the butt cheek and exclaimed "YOU'RE IT!"

And away I jogged...

Listen, she's always been more athletic than me, she's very fast and nimble and I am short and scrappy plus I am in Ugg boots and I think I had twisted my ankle...how else was I gonna get her.

A little cold weather isn't gonna steal our Vitamin D away from us! And being out-run isn't going to stop me from winning a game of Tag!

all of our toddlers squished into a swing for a picture...this last 2.3 seconds

(Jessie showed up later and was probably wondering why were puffing like steam engines and were red cheeked as she pranced in place with her hands in her coat sleeves. )

Baby Mosey wanted to sleep so I jogged around with his stroller till he drifted off...it was a two fold thing I stayed warm and he stopped fussing.

Good times, in the dead of winter, at the Park!

my how time flies

2012-01-07T05:47:00.000-08:00

I realized today as I was looking at blogs that it's the 7th.

6 years ago I was doing radio and it was a Friday. The show was wrapping up and I see Brandon's face at the studio window. He was waving, as soon as the "on air" sign went dark he swung open the door and said "Hey! I am picking you up from work!"

My co-hosts snapped their heads in my direction to see my reaction. I said "huh? why?"

Brandon said that he had the day off and we were gonna go up to Baltimore to the aquarium. I looked at the guys (my co-hosts) and said "oh it's friday I got a ton of things to do ....I have promos, and spots to finish up...I think I have to voice a couple of lines for an endorsement too..." The guys just waved me off and said they'd do it. Hmmmmmm....that was VERY UNLIKE them....

As I climbed into Brandon's truck we made our way down the highway. We stopped at 5 guys burgers and fries (we had never heard of that place before it was pretty new) and off we went. When we got to the Baltimore exit Brandon just kept on driving..."um babe...where are we really going?! you just passed our stop!"

Brandon reached behind my seat and uncovered a suitcase with a drop cloth...MY suitcase.

"I think we should go to the beach this weekend instead....Miami!"

My jaw dropped! Miami!?! And he said yes, "you keep talking about going to the beach and going to Florida - so we are going! Right now...our flight leaves in an hour..."and with that he took the BWI airport exit and off we went!

FUN CITY! When we got there it was super late but we went down to the beach anyway. It was so warm. The next morning we played on the beach and went exploring in South Beach. My mom and Brandon had packed my suitcase so it was jammed with every shirt and outfit option you could think of, it was great.

That night Brandon was getting ready in bathroom and was fiddling with his side-burns...I had never seen him act like that...he never cared about his facial hair. We got in the car and went for sushi. Afterwards we wanted to walk on the beach.

brandon was eating so fast, I couldn't understand why then

All of a sudden Brandon started talking:

"Kelly, when I first met you I said that God has more good thoughts about you then there are sands in the seashore," as he did this the moon shown on him as he scooped down and picked up a handful of sand- I saw something twinkling in his palm..."I want to be with you to experience all those good thoughts, and things...I want to be with you forever...." then he got down on one knee and I thought

'ohmygosh....it's happening...this is what THIS feels like....he's proposing!"

"Kelly will you marry me and be my wife forever?!"

I was jumping up and down and yelling YES YES YES! It was like an out of body experience because I was just so stoked.
He picked me up and twirled me around...It was pitch black besides the moon light so I ran to the closest light (a nightclub that was on the beach) and looked at my ring.

that night we celebrate at a Kareoke bar that was attached to the hotel

We called our families that night and friends. And 6 months later we got married at the exact same spot.

the day after our engagement

the day of our wedding

Anyway I was just thinking that today when I saw the date and thought I'd share the story...it was an amazing night - can't believe it was 6 years ago!

If I knew back then how life would be I would have never guessed it. But that's just like God, all you have to do is say "yes" and He takes care of the rest.

a roaring lion?

2012-01-06T05:23:00.000-08:00

Five minute friday.

Isn't it funny/strange/weird that both good and evil in the Bible get the Lion comparison...

We have God...the Lion of Judah who saves and delivers and sets free. AWESOME, right?

but then the Bible also says

"your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, seeking out whom he can devour"

So we have the Lion of Judah who comes to DO something

and we have the devil who just roars a lot. and did you notice that it says "seeking out who he CAN devour" ??!? So apparently he's looking to devour someone ...it doesn't say "he's roaring and devouring everyone in sight" nope.

He's looking for weakness. He's looking for someone whose not alert. Someone who might be staring at their reflection in the tide pools. Someone who has a bum leg who isn't running like they should be...

he can't hurt everyone. Only the ones who let him.

Don't be a target. Don't nurse yourself. Don't have pity parties...because that's the perfect time for that noisy lion to take hold of you

"you aren't good enough" ROAR!

"you are a bad parent!" ROAR!

"you've got fat thighs" ROAR!

"if you're such a Christian, why are you so worthless" ROAR.

The beginning of the Verse in 1 Peter 5:8 says "BE SELF CONTROLLED AND ALERT..."

Stop that voice when you hear LIES. Stop it. It's just a roaring noisy lion looking for some limping gazelle to pounce.

Stay with the pride. stick with the strong. be alert. don't put your head down to examine yourself for a minute. look out. Look up. Stay with the Lion of Judah who brings strength.

Stay away from that roaring lion who preys on weakness.

you aren't weak. You are STRONG. The Lion of Judah tells us so.

STOP. and by stop I mean START....start to be strong. you've got this.

Thankful Thursday

2012-01-05T05:23:00.000-08:00

I really am stumped when it comes to starting the new blog year. I love new years. LIKE LOVE IT. I love change. I love new beginnings. I love when you can kick something off.

I think it's because I moved a lot when I was younger. I changed schools 7 times between kindergarten and 12th grade. And we moved houses like double that...Every time we switched schools it was fun and exciting. Every time we moved I would change my furniture around start with an extremely clean room.

So I guess, new years in a way, is like moving...it's a great way to tweek somethings or fine tune your attitude.

So this morning I am thankful to say the least.

1. So much quality time with my husband over the break. He's been working so much that over Christmas we were able to see movies, go out to eat, and stay up late watching netflicks...*grin*

2. Words. My sister likes to start out the new year with a lunch and a "word" - sort of like a new years fortune cookie. You select your word and find what it means to you....if you want a word she will select you one - she takes it seriously. (click that link)

3. Really fun night with so many friends on New Years Eve...laughing, games, "grape drink"....it was so amazing.

4. Solo's vocab. I swear he learns a new word everyday...yesterday he asked Brandon "Daddy Brandon where is my cell?" Since he's found out we have actual names he calls us "Mama Kelly or Daddy Brandon" and yes, he thinks the ipod touch is HIS cell...*shakes head* (ps. it's not!)

5. Dance has started back up and we are beginning our dance practice the annual performance in June...it's fun. But a challenge! The kids are great though, and crack me UP! I love it. (I teach 3-6 year olds Hip Hop)

What are you thankful for today?!

For new years (open!)

2011-12-30T06:51:00.000-08:00

Since I've been up this morning I've painted my nails (computer chic by Sephora OPI) laughed with my husband, and discovered two, TWO count them, two tubes of eaten chapstick...(clue: neither Brandon or I ate them)

But I also got excited about 2012...

And I couldn't agree more with this...My wish for my family and all my freaking lovely readers...thank you for taking the time to even glance at my corner of the blog world...(although out of the entire bloggy sphere I doubt I would get a corner...)

Much love for the new year and may you be open to all the wonder blessings this year has to offer.

As my favorite cheer leading movie would say "Bring it On!"

(truth be told...it's the only cheer leading movie I know...)

Bye Lovies!

out in the middle of no-where

2011-12-29T05:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my brothers fiance, my mom and me (and Solo) all drove up to the location of the wedding! Ben, my brother, is marrying Andrea in June and like most brides was feeling a tad nervous about all the preparations so we took a road trip up to Lilly Manor to see the sight and talk to the wedding planner. It was a lot of fun...for the girls. Solo on the other hand probably bored outta his gourd. But oh well, there were cookies and coloring books to keep him entertained...for a minute or two.

THANKFUL THURSDAY PRESENTS:

1. On the way we laughed and talked and laughed some more...I am so happy for my brother and I am happy that Andrea will be a new sister.

2. Sushi for lunch- nuff said!

3. Painting and eating and milkshakes at Sissy-butts the day before- great day.

4. Christmas Money!

5. Solo loves all his new toys...a lot.

6. A wonderful fun and funny Christmas eve with my family- we played the game "Say Anything" get it if you have a fun group of people to play it with.

7. Brandon who hand selected the most thoughtful great gifts...he never "phones it in" when it comes to gift giving...

8. Week off of work, even if I kind of miss it!

9. Netflicks where I have re-watched my favorite show while nothing else was on...30 rock...hilarious!!!! even the second time around.

10. Hand made biscotti to dip in my coffee as I sit here and type this...

DELISH!

OVER.

2011-12-27T06:07:00.000-08:00

Man Christmas just whirls around you like a tornado and then plops you in the middle of the week somewhere between boxing day (what the hec is that?!) and New Years Eve....

But I do like the stillness and chill-mode that that week brings.

And playing with the toys...and spending Christmas money and relaxing.

Captain America can get a little shy sometimes...but don't let that fool you...he was in full swing all day!

Things I have learned this year...

2011-12-20T05:12:00.000-08:00

1. Hope is all around us- whether it's a dragon fly sitting on your windshield doing it with another dragonfly in the middle of February or it's single rose in a vase on your window sill that keeps it's bloom for weeks and weeks...looks for Hope and hold on. Because without hope...for SOMETHING...there is no expectancy for the future...and that means you are in stagnant waters. And stagnant waters usually smell like toots...gross.

2. When in doubt spray paint. I have used my trusty Rustoleum Spray paint a lot this year and it's always come through for me...if you don't like something...consider your favorite color and then spray it down with that color...

3. In parenting stick to your guns. When it comes to toddlers if you say it - then thats it. Because the MOMENT you give in because of too much whining or crying or making a scene...you have lost. And now that child KNOWS they can pull something anytime they want their way. Might not be always, but it's better to just let your yes be yes and your no be no....or you might gradually create a monster. Like I said these are my opinions. If you don't agree that's fine...this is just something I have learned as I started parenting a kid instead of taking care of a baby...(anyone agree with me though?)

4. Being thankful really does change everything. I know Thankfullness is a common theme round the internets but it's true. When in doubt - let some thanks out.

5. Toy Story 3 is a great movie, but will make you cry.

6. Don't facebook while you are on the phone with your spouse. You might type something you didn't mean or you might not realize you have been sitting in silence for the last 5 minutes with him asking questions on the other end...either way...keep them separated.

7. If things are a fun relaxing amazing time, at least they can be an experience. So don't discount times in your life where things aren't action-packed. Weather you are watching movies with your kids, trying Zumba for the first time, or thinking of trying a new job even going on a road trip..it might not be amazing at first but take it as a gift, and learn something from it. You are never too old or too young to make life lessons.

(is realize spelled wrong or is that an appropriate way too?)

Here's to an amazing 2012!

reason 512 why i love Christmas...

2011-12-18T04:27:00.000-08:00

Cookies for Breakfast! I made the typical chocolate chip yesterday after dance class and then at the last second I added toasted almond slivers....um YUM. So now, with that added boost of protein I totes feel like I'm eating a balanced breakfast! I mean, with coffee of course...

Have a delicious day!

5 minute Friday: Connected

2011-12-16T05:58:00.000-08:00

the word is connected and you get 5 minutes...

As much as I yawned internally when I saw that todays word was connected the more I thought about it the more I thought about myself.

another yawn. (who wants to hear someone talk about themselves...oh wait, that's what blogging is all about...right?)

I like connection.

Most likely to a fault.

I hate when relationships end.

It bothers me when something is over.

I have had some end...and not come back.

It blows.

But then I was on Pinterest and I had a revelation....

after reading this of course...

"If someone is dumb enough to walk away, be smart enough to let them go. Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you."

ahhhh don't you feel better? I always for some reason think it's my fault. Or that I should have done things differently but if someone is that eager to leave...let them.

Which, now that I am writing, is the exact opposite of Connected. But seriously I only want to be connected to real people. Not fakers who are part-timers.

And just imagine the wonderful things that will be brought into your life, if you let go of HANGING onto someone who isn't meant to be there.

It might seem like empty space. But it's not empty - it's potential for something better!

Have a great Weekend full of amazing times with people who want to be there.

STOP.

Small ways to celebrate

2011-12-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

Less than 12 days till Christmas! I love to savor the moments. Love to celebrate in little ways. like...

1. Whipped cream in your morning coffee. Wether you get it at the bucks, or you get it from your Kuerig a swirl of whipped cream (and maybe a few sprinkles) is a great way to start your day. It takes a moment and tastes wonderful and begins the day with delight.

2. Laying infront of the tree and talking. Normal chats take place on sofas and beds...but laying a blanket down in front of the Christmas tree to discuss anything from daily "peaks and pits" to what powers Batman has...letting the twinkle of the tree and the lights make you feel so warm as you spend qt with your loved ones.

3. Christmas ornament from your rear view mirror. Super cute and super festive. I also put cinnamon air freshener in there too. I mean, you spend so much time in your vehicle might as well feel Christmasy in there too!

4. Christmas Pj's. It seems every year I get either pants or a shirt or both and I have collected quite a stack. It's just more season-y (yep made that word up!) to slip on your flannel pajamas and climb under a cozy throw and watch Home Alone.

guys, this is what I totally look like when I wake up - you do too, right?

5. Advent Calendar. Simple touch as the days go on to flip back a new day and a new revelation. I was given this one and I really enjoy reading it out loud with Solo or Brandon and thinking about it.

source

6. Secret Santa. Whether it's to the 5 closest homes on your block, someone you work with, or even your husband- leaving little gifts, sweets and notes on someones doorstep or car seat is a sweet gesture and makes both parties feel what the Christmas season is really about.
The best ones are, when you aren't expecting anything back in return.

So cute right?! Proving that it's really the littlest things that really make something memorable...

I linked up with the Vintage Apple

Fun Fun Fun weekend

2011-12-12T06:36:00.000-08:00

Friday night I put on my cuddleduds and jeans and sweaters and mittens and boots and everything else I could find to go to Christmas CandyLand! So much fun. Our local amusement park "Hershey Park" opens parts of the park for Christmas and the lights and hot chocolate and rides are a ton of fun.

My whole family met out there with some (new) family friends and since I had just been there in the summer I didn't think Solo would be able to ride much. BUT don't you know as my dad said "wow, you feed them and they grow!" He was already a "Hershey Kiss"! That's the scale to measure who can ride what rides there. I am a Twizzler...clearly I can ride anything...I'm a big kid now. *buffs fingernails on shoulder*

He had a blast! The dizzy drums, the carrousel, the blast off rockets...he loved each one more than the next!

The best part was when my dad, mom, brother , Brandon and I all went on the Claw. That ride makes me feel old. Because it rocks you out into the atmosphere but then spins you at the same time. Oof!

Only this was taken in the hotness of July and we were spinning in the freezing-ness of December night.

I was laughing and screaming all at the same time.

The next morning we were up at the crack o' dawn to head to New York City. Brandon's mom was there with "Delilah" (you know that radio host who does the "Love Songs on stations all over the country) She was hosting some skating in Central Park thing for the radio station and she's best friends with Brandon's mom and asked her to go along.

Solo had a blast!

Although when we got to FAO Shwartz he was asleep so it took awhile to get him awake...hence the pic above with his eyes shut...he's asleep.

You would have thought he won Publishers Clearing House when Cookie Monster, Elmo and Piglet met him on the streets.

It was a great first trip for Solo to NYC we didn't stay too long and he was a champ to travel with.

Yesterday we went to Chruch to see my oldest nephew, 11 years old, play percussion at church...what! He did such a good job. I have to admit I got a little teary eyed - we went over to my sissy-butts for lunch afterward.

It was a great weekend with my swell family and totally stoked for a fun filled week. What was memorable about YOUR weekend?

Lets Talk Color!

2011-12-09T06:25:00.001-08:00

I love meanings. I mean I love when stuff has meaning. I barely can buy anything without it meaning SOMETHING. I bet more people are like this just not aware of it.

I mean everything we do is for a REASON. Even if it's to eat a box of Entemanns donuts - the reason being they looked delicious and I was hungry (ok maybe not a box but gosh, those white powered ones are freaking amazing!)

Dressing for success in your daily life is about Color. You might not think so but your brain is telling you things when you pick out clothing that you might not be aware of like:

Blues: have a very calming effect. We know this. We've seen a manger scene a time or two to know Mary's always got blue on..."all is calm"
Wear blue when you are need to keep your nerves, or when you are stressed out. Blue calms, and cools, and settles your heart. It represents loyalty, confidence and tranquility.

Reds: It's no mistake that M. Night Shamalyn uses red very distinctively in his movies. It's to represent anger, rage, and danger. Red is a hyper color and is often used for warnings, alarms and power. Wear red when you need to be energetic. When you need to draw attention or when you yourself are feeling a low. Orange is also very similar but not as sophisticated, best used in sports, classrooms and small holiday decorations.

Neutrals: Believe it or not they are unifying colors. Although some might say drab i.e. khaki, white, tan, or grey- they are actually smart back drops to more vivid colors. If you have a teal skirt, red shirt and bright yellow bangles nothing is going to stand out. Although all great pieces nothing is getting attention and what might happen is the outfit gets lost and the clothing begins to wear YOU, instead of the opposite.

Neutrals are great for statement pieces. Black skirt, grey shirt EMERALD necklaces. Suddenly the outfit takes a whole new approach. (I also consider denim a neutral too.)

Which brings me to

Green: Usually associated with growth, nature and fertility Green also means safety and dark green usually corresponds with money. Wear green when you yourself are making a first impression. It shows a sense of self and makes other feel safe. It's also a very visually stimulating color for all genders.

Yellows: Bright cheerful and sunny. BUT can also bring thoughts of children or being baby-ish. No one would buy a yellow bmw or wear a yellow dress suit. So this color is best used in small doses or when promoting children's products. It's a great accent color in bedrooms and kitchens. Think lemons and bananas, but don't pair yellow hues together.

hope this helps you get dressed today and if you are thinking of adding to your wardrobe keep these tips in mind when hunting for a new scarf or dress.

Top Ten

2011-12-07T05:50:00.001-08:00

My top ten from Pinterest (does anyone else feel like it's only a matter of time till Pinterest gets a shortened nick name...like Pinny or Tristy...I don't know, it a world of "adorbs""totes" and "amaze" I feel like Pinterest is entirely too long)

Love this color palette but the darkest color needs to be in little bursts in a room...maybe a bedroom or something...it's dreamy.

hilarious...oh wait...I am laughing AGAIN! yes!

pinned from this blog And I totally made it this week and the boys loved it. Couldn't get enough!

we are supposed to get snow soon and this picture is so sweet

rub chalk on grease stains before you launder and the chalk dust absorbs the grease!

beautiful coat and color

because I find myself watching more and more kid shows lately I could not agree more with this!

I have a nostalgic love for rock candy...I am not into eating as much as I love the look of it...

I mean for reals?! This is just so amazing...

and this little diabetic shocker is just as tasty as it looks. I know, because my sissy-butt made these and I got to try them! Guys, that's not just caramel...that's a ROLO!

That's my Pinny list (think it will stick?!) for the week...which one was your favorite?

do you even care anymore?

2011-12-05T05:18:00.001-08:00

Can I just say one thing.

If you are starting to not care or maybe you "just don't care anymore" and it's something that holds great value you either need to change it or move on.

I woke up thinking about why I left radio a year and a half ago....and it's because at the end of the day I didn't care anymore.

working red carpet

And when you don't care about something anymore, you aren't helping anymore...

you are phoning it in....

you are just puttin' in your time...

Now granted if you are waiting tables at Applebees and you don't care about that or never did - I get it.

But if it's your craft. your art. your career, and you don't care anymore - move on.

It doesn't mean you won't do that ever again...it doesn't mean you aren't good at it anymore...
it doesn't mean that right before you move on you'll have the highest ratings in that market to date ... if it's not in you...get out.

Even if in theory, it's amazing...

It may not be amazing to you anymore...

You're only wasting time doing something that you aren't passionate about anymore...

Not to say you won't have good days or lows, or writers block, or creativity bumps

But if you don't have that zeal or passion like you once did...

Stop.

Think.

And do something that does make you feel productive...

Do something you think matters...

Because if you don't care, or just shrug your shoulders when you talk about it...then it's not what it used to be and it might be your cue to exit stage left...

You may be back...you may not...but embrace the new.

Embrace the next phase...

Embrace your next stage...

Tired

2011-12-02T04:55:00.001-08:00

Today's five minute friday is about Tired....

Ever swish through your hangers and go blah at all your clothing?

ever glance around your house and say 'blah" at your living room furniture?

ever take a look at your spouse and think "blah" (whoa, getting real here people)

The first response is to think "my CLOTHING stinks...I need more"

or "this house is lame... I need a new sofa"

or even "he really needs to notice how awesome I am?" as he picks his toenails and flips on the History channel.

Often times in our lives when we start to blame/hate/dislike or become discontent with our surroundings it has very little to do with the objects or people and a lot to do with US.

The mind is a serious computer. And wishful thinking or being tired of the things you have are major viruses ...

This is not to say that Virus' don't try to wiggle their way onto your motherboard...but do you click on the hyper link and see what's inside...

do you entertain the thoughts that come into your brain. Do you let them stay, snuggle up and get cozy in your head?

If you do. Stop. It's only going to really make things suck. Last year I was flipping through my jeans and thought "I have no cute jeans...these all stink" but I stopped myself...(first time for everything!)

I said outloud "I love my jeans....thank God for these clothing that I have...they fit so perfectly because I have worn them in perfectly!" Wouldn't you know that not even a WEEK later a wealthy friend sent me a brand new pair of jeans (valued 157$!) because she accidentally bought the wrong size.

I am not patting myself on the back. But I am thanking God because wallowing in self pity and saddness over things like clothing or furniture or the fact that your husband didn't have riveting conversation with you last night will only bring you MORE of that.

When tired thoughts start to make roost in your head...say SHOOO! Get lost! That ain't the truth!

My clothing just needs a little accesorizing

My furniture just needs to be refigured! And make a decorative pillow or ask a friend to show you how

My husband rocks! He's freaking smart for watching the History channel and how about YOU start riveting conversation with him...over wine...or hot chocolate...

Your life is what you make it. Some crappy things do happen but that doesn't mean you can't THINK differently.

I say all this because I need reminders like this. Start by checking your thoughts for just an hour...and wake up tired thinking.

The sun is shining...get up and get going!

thankful thursdays

2011-12-01T04:11:00.001-08:00

Reminds me of when I used to celebrate thirsty thursday...good times...most of the time.

on with the show. In being Thankful you really have to see God in the little things else wise you will sound like the pre-recorded lady who used to come on if you miss dialed using a land line...

"if you'd like to make a call ...please hang up and try again...if you feel you've received this recording in error ...blah blah blah"

...I never listened past that...but it's true. How many times can you say "food, family, and my house..."? I guess forever...but that makes for boring blog posts...lets just be honest here.

1. Christmas decorations...so fun and festive and so many more to add to our house...well, if I wanted too...

can you say, Gorg!

2. Organic Free Range Turkeys on sale for CHEAP at Costco last week...AND even more thankful for my sissy butt who roasted my turkey for me and showed me how to carve, pick and save all the eatables...I will eat for DAYS I tell you!

3. Moving up from Assistant to Teacher for our Pre-school Hip Hop class...let me just say teaching 3 year olds how to dance is probably as difficult as teaching 90 year olds how to dance...but they have a LOT of fun. Even though being responsible for 12 kids under 4 learning their choreography for the annual performance is sort of daunting we actually are doing it and have a blast...

thought this was funny....cus everyone always complains that hip hop stars sell out just like pop stars...but lets be honest...if money is involved people "sell out" fast...

linked up to Black Tag Diaries

what are you thankful for today?

Easy zippered pouch

2011-11-30T07:59:00.001-08:00

So I am two for two...using my Wednesday to MAKE something from Pinterest.

Todays lucky pick is a zippered pouch I saw from skip to my lou's blog...

Seems simple enough...well I am getting to know that that's not really the case when it comes to sewing...

I am the worlds worst reader when it comes to comprehension. I can read and read something over and over but nothing will compute. I have to SEE it being made...which is why blogging has made it so much easier for me to sew...I can follow a tutorial as long as their are pictures...I am a visual creature. Most of us are....

Ok so I started out with the VERY EASY tutorial she put up...

But somewhere between sewing right sides together and turning the lining inside out and upside-down I decided I can't do tutorials ...it's best left up to the pros...and by pros the peeps that actually KNOW what they are doing and not just copying off a blog ....

I loved both these fabrics and wanted to incorporate them into a small-ish pouch to put whatevers in...

Here is the finished product...did the zipper with my zipper foot on my machine...that thing is genius!

Here's a shot of the inside of the bag...throw in your earbuds, your lip glosses, or it even makes a great gift card holder for Christmas...either to keep your gift cards or to give someone...

I think hand-made gifts are some of the most treasured gifts...don't you think? Or would you rather get a store bought item?

Have you made anything from Pinterest?

Putting up the tree

2011-11-30T04:19:00.001-08:00

When we put up our (palm) Christmas tree it's always a good time, and even more so this year because Solo is two and loved all the ornaments. One by one Brandon would pull them out of the box and say "give this to mom" and Solo would hand it over to me at the tree but not before acting it out...if it was a fish or a star or just a blue bulb he was going to tell me something about that ornament before it got put up.

After the tree was lit I started to explain to Solo about the Nativity set and in true kid fashion this was the best "toy" ever. I mean I can't say I blame him...people, animals, a baby it's really an amazing thing to just be brought out and not allowed to be played with...

I told Solo the Christmas Story and when we got the three wise-men part I told Solo they were so excited for Jesus birthday so they sang to him.

Later that night he was playing (under my supervision, hence the picture) with the animals and started to sing "Happy Birthday" to baby Jesus- well he had one of the cows serenade Him...

(you can see Brandon fiddling with the tree in the back ground)

I have been asked time and time again why we put up a Palm tree instead of a regular fir tree...
before Brandon and I were married we saw a picture of the nativity if it were to happen today and around the manger and through the desert lands of Bethlehem were Palm trees. Considering that seemed more historically accurate and Brandon and I love the beach and palm trees we decided that's the kind of Christmas tree we wanted...and wouldn't you know...they sell them! So we got ours when we got married...

Have you put up your tree yet?! what's your theme? Is your tree real or fakezeez?

I'd like to thank the academy

2011-11-26T03:53:00.001-08:00

I have been given a blogger award. I know right? Move over MTV Moon-man!

It's called the Liebster Award

This award is given to bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers all in the spirit of fostering new connections. Liebster is German and means ‘dearest’ or ‘beloved’ but it can mean favorite.

Since I can only choose 4 I wish to acknowledge the four following blogs for their diverse styles of blogging. They are unique with what they share and contribute to the world of blogging.

I am sharing it with:

My bestie and homey for life Sam over at "Revelations from a Baby". She's a elementary school teacher turned stay at home mother of two in two years! Go her! Her blog is all about just that...she basically turns her kids into students...and then recalls what SHE learned in the process...she's a gem.

Black Tag Diaries she's a photgrapher in Kentucky who is cute and funny and real and hosts the Thankful Thursday that I usually take part in...she's cool. Pop on over and see her cool ideas and really good lists of blogs, decorating ideas and photo-ops!

Friday Night Date Night is a sweet blog that has super creative ideas about dating your husband. Not over the top sex-pot but just good ol' fashion fun. Some are group dates and some are one on one...either way she's funny, tall and someone to look up too...seriously she's super tall and gorg!

Art is Beauty I actually had to check to see if she had under 200 followers and she is like 3 away! This girls blog is great! You would NOT believe the free hand painting she does! She is amazing and just busts out amazing furniture pieces, and gifts...and she does it all in freezing temps! She's an art rock star...check her out like now.

My sissy butt is the one who gave this award to me over at A Seed Inspired and she's all about inspiring e're body so pop over and check it out...your soul deserves it. She also makes kick-ass wood work and paints AND home-schools all 7 of her totally bodacious children...thanks sis!

five minute fried-ay

2011-11-25T06:41:00.001-08:00

Todays word is GRATEFUL. How predictable!

just joking....

No but seriously. I had to look up the word Grateful it sound like you would be FULL of Grate...which is something you do to cheese....hmmmmm

well it's actually from the Greek word Gratitude...gosh I can be such a bone-head sometimes...why was I thinking Cheese grating?

The meaning of Gratitude is A lively sense of anticipation concerning favors about to be received.

usually when I think of Gratitude it's AFTER something amazing has happened. OR being thankful for something already received...but one of the definitions of Gratitude is what I wrote above: a LIVELY sense of anticipation, or realization in advance; foretaste...

concerning favors about to be received...to take into one's possession (something offered or delivered)

So to be Grateful is to be FULL of anticipation and a realization in advance that something favorful or wonderful is about to happen.

Sounds a lot like Faith. Sounds a lot like the two go hand in hand. Sounds like you believe the BEST of God....and the ones God has given to you.

When they say wake up Grateful to be Alive - it sounds like you expectant. How truly Grateful are we?

How grateful am I? What if you handed a your best friend a gift and before they opened it they said "Oh i bet this will be a mediocre present..." Pretty insulting right? It would take everything you've got not to rip it out of their hands and say "ya know what? FORGET IT!"

Wake up Grateful. Wake up Expecting. Wake up trusting He will deliver. What a different way to view a life given if we had a true spirit of Gratefulness...

STOP.

In the true sense of the word what are you Grateful about/for today?

1. our future house!
2. more family members
3. opportunities to give
4. relationships nourished
5. provision

Scrappy turkey shirt

2011-11-23T11:15:00.001-08:00

So many pieces of material hanging around isn't really working for me. So I wanted to put together a shirt for Solo for Thanksgiving. Plus Brandon took Solo out alllllllll day to run errands...so I was taking full advantage of it. holler!

The idea is fluttering around Pinterest so I can't take even an ounce of credit for it. ok maybe a tad.

(*applause please* sign starts to blink..)

Thank you! It means so much!

I made my pattern, for the feathers, and the turkey bod, using those annoying flappy order form things that are in magazines...you know you always tear them out and wing them across the room at a Doctors appointment....oh, I am the only one that does that?

weird. and here I thought we were friends....

I traced my feather pattern on all sorts of fabrics, and used a big brown piece for the turkey body.

I didn't know how to do feet so I used my embroidery machine for that...bingo bango, bongo...

FEET!

Then I used some sew and steam or whatever it's called to fasten the feathers so I could sew them on

And then I fastened on the turkey body...

normally I would blanket stitch this or even satin stitch it but if the sides get a little frayed it will be fine cus, hey that's what feathers do...

Boom. Done-zo. Now I didn't add eyes or a beak because i feel like it's artistic and a face would just "kid" it up too much....I know I know, it's for my two year old, but still...I wanted the feathers to be the focus not a corny beak and make-shift turkey waddle thing....

what do you think?

make anything totally festive lately?

(linked up to frugallysustainable check it out...so many amazing ideas!)

and

TOP 5 Tuesday

2011-11-22T04:57:00.001-08:00

My Top 5 for Tuesday the Thanksgiving edition is:

1. Enjoying my husbando being home for longer than just sleeping hours. Ahhhhhhhh.

this pic was taken in 2008 ...the last time we were seen together.... jk.

2. The parade. I know I know it's cliche. BUT I love the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I love that it's on in the background and that Solo loves the "balloons" and I cook and it creates an atmosphere in our home.

3.While teaching dance the kids have REALLY gotten to love the "Turkey Wobble" song. They LOVE it. And Solo and I sing it around the house. We even get my nieces in on it...there's a part where the farmer comes out to shoot the turkey (great kids song, I know) and all the turkeys run and hide...(RUN FOR YOUR BLODDY LIVES KIDS!) they love that part. Nothing like an adrenaline rush to get you in the holiday spirit!

4. FOOD. My mom makes the best stuffing known to man. It's one of my favorite parts. My brother in law smokes the turkey for probably 100 days (no not really but gosh that seems like a huge task). It's soooooooo good.

5. BABY BOY! My how he's grown over the years..

3 weeks old

One year old....

and this year he's TWO....so that photo hasn't been taken yet...

(i linked up with just peachy)

one is silver and the others gold

2011-11-21T03:59:00.001-08:00

My room-mate from College (shout out to South Western University! what what...!) flew out to visit me last week.

I took her to see Hershey...gotta see the chocolate factory and all the tasty-ness.

We went to Lancaster - home of the Amish and LOTS of Amish buggies...

And then I wanted her to see New York during the Christmas season so on Saturday we ventured to the big city. It was so amazing to be with one of my best friends from 10 years ago...(crazy I know!)

But what was even cooler is she unexpectedly pregnant with her third. So it such a special time in her life...well at least that's what I keep telling her.

Some street performers (From Americas Got Talent) were dancing in the street so I decided to join in with them...

We got sushi (my favorite) at this really awesome Sushi place in West Village it was SO good. Amanda wasn't ready for the picture

Walking around mid-town...love this part of the city. Such a cool vibe

one of the 5 jillion stores in NYC...if you look close you can see us in the mirror

HAD to get cupcakes at Magnolias Bakery...Melt. in. your. mouth. Good.

Gotta see Time Square, right?! Of course.

Central Park. Every part of New York is spectacular...and with Tonda (that's how Solo pronounced her name) by my side I never got lost. Crazy. She's never set foot in that city but knew exactly where to go and how to get there! She was even telling other tourists how to get to different places. She's an amazing friend and I was so blessed to have her stay with us for a few days!

Here we are at 19 hanging out in front of our dorm before curfew...I know right?! CURFEW?! well that's how our school rolled...Amanda and I had our fair share of times breaking that curfew...we still know how to break the rules...just a tiny bit.

Here's to friends!

Cheers!

quick. decorate your house

2011-11-14T06:42:00.001-08:00

So I am attempting something from Pinterest. Yep. I know. Amazing right...I have like 500 pins and really haven't put many into practice. well whatever... I am now.

enter the gallery wall. My bedroom is like 10x12 aka Small. ANNNNNND we have a Cal-king bed in our room. So basically it's a room with a bed in it. we look like a bunch of swingers but we aren't. we just have an enormous temperpedic bed and an its bitty space to put it in. So besides a closet and a clothes hamper my bed is pretty much all you see.

I started with a ton (well it weighed a ton) of frames from Sal-Val (Salvation Army...my friend asked me what that meant the other day...I thought everyone called it that)

I took them home and spray painted them grey...they were just terrible to work with...some had these huge staples some had straight up nails keeping the old artwork in place...at one point I thought...why didn't I just buy new frames...but I chugged on...

I cut up a bunch of similar looking scrapbook paper...I love light blue and green...I can't help myself..it was my wedding colors, and I just always come back to it....

I hung up a few at first just to see how I would like it. They look blackish in the pic but they are grey...

Then this morning I told my husband to hold up my favorite mirror next to it all and see what that looked like....I liked it but it needed more...right?

So after I shopped my house I pulled in these light blue mirrors and stuck them in...you can see where they were in the mirror picture...

I took down my brown mirror...I felt like it was throwing the whole thing off

Final decision!

relatively simple and quick way to cover a completely blank wall...what do you think?

Frames from Sal-val- $8.41

One can of grey spray paint - it was left over from another project so it was free

scrapbook paper- $3 .00

nails and hammer - had them in the basement

total project - around 12 bucks!

woo hoo!

Unexpected ways to make new clothes work

2011-11-11T03:49:00.001-08:00

Five Minute Friday (word is unexpected)

Around the holidays people think they know you and try to buy you and your family clothing. Now, don't get me wrong it's awesome...some people really nail it and you are like "whoa! I love this gift! thanks!"

but other times you open up your children's present and their is a life size screen print of Nader and the rest of the gang from Cars 2 on a shirt. It's not that your child didn't LOVE that movie, it's just that ...well ....no one wants to WEAR the movie. Right?

Think Layers.

Your child could still technically wear the cartoony shirt. If it's long sleeved put it on your babe. Then take a less garish t shirt and layer over the cartoons.
The striped shirt Solo has on has Toy Story characters all over it- but I put his heather grey "Lets Roll" shirt over it and Voila...cute toddler instead of a walking movie poster.

Use the sleeves again.

My friend Sam was recently looking for leg warmers for her daughter- instead of buying them cut the sleeves off the gifted sweater, hem the one edge and slide them up your daughters leg! use the middle for a pillow, a skirt or even mittens...awesome. This isn't limited to kids...I would still rock some leg warmers...no doubt.

source

Uh oh! too small!

So Grandma thought your kid was a 24 months and now the pants are too short. Don't get rid of them! Go through your fabric stash and get our your favorite flannel, cord or other heavier fabric...cut the amount of inches it would take to make the pants long enough and double that. Hem the ends and add to the end of the pants and fold up...extra cuff equals the pants still work! As seen here in this blog Love from Texas

similar to this!

Of course if you get a gift receipt you could always take the clothing back for cash...hey oh!

but sometimes that's not possible...So here was some unexpected ways to make some clothing work even if it's not working for you.

happy FRIDEE! (that's how peeps say it in Pa Dutch country...)

xoxo

Thankful for Justice

2011-11-10T04:41:00.000-08:00

Thankful Thursday. And you know what?! In the heat of College Football I could not be happier that the light is being shone on the dark dark campus of Penn State.

If you missed the story (click here...for crazy details)

People keep saying "he did the minimum the law required". No. Not true. The minimum would have been completed if AFTER JoPa told his superiors if THEY would have called the cops...

But that didn't happen. Everything was brushed under the rug. After hearing his defense coach was having sex with young boys from HIS charity he told his boss but they didn't call authorities. They didn't do anything. And Jo Paterno never followed up, on record.

If you see your neighbors house burning down and you shout "FIRE! FIRE!" in the streets and no one hears you and go about your day. The house will still burn down.

You didn't start the fire, but you certainly didn't do anything to stop it.

And that's where I am at with this whole thing. How could someone SO many people look up too, just do NOTHING?!

Jo Paterno was fired yesterday and honestly I am not sad. His apathy has tarnished an entire University brand. A lot of my family has gone to Penn State...held records in sports and academics. There is a lot of PSU pride and instead of being a HERO JoPa and his whole crew look like evil thugs...worried more about their football stats than the well-being of children. MANY young boys.

So today I am thankful Justice is being served. Sorry to get so heavy but my heart is so heavy for all the victims for so many years that were abused and it could have been STOPPED! ENDED! If just SOMEONE would have spoke up!

"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:6

Seeya Jopa, Sandusky and the rest of those guys...wouldn't wanna be ya

Brand

2011-11-09T04:48:00.000-08:00

I used to LOVE brands. Not to a snobbish point, but I got Lucky magazine and In Style and would pine over them trying to figure out who was who, and what celeb was putting out what, and how ultimately I could get my hands on them.

Well I don't have time like that anymore (it's crazy to think I did at one time) but yesterday I was at Marshalls with Solo and we were looking for many things but of course I wander into the clothing section...

I found a heather gray long sleeve tee and when I got home I added it to my PILE of heather long sleeve tee. I seriously have a problem with Heather. I LOVE it. Heather added to any color makes it that much better...or is that just me?

You can do SO much with a great long sleeve tee. Scarves, earrings, belts, sweaters, short sleeve shirts...

the possibilities are endless I tell ya.

But then I found a flannel and it was super cute but the price tag was 50.00! I could see the Buckle tag still on it. But Marshalls had covered it with their 9.99 price tag!

It looks like this but not Vans brand.

So when you don't have a phone (dropped it off at Best Buy yesterday) shopping (or browsing) is the only thing left to do. Grand total for both shirts 12.99! yeah...I know right? Marshalls is my jam.

Solo kept himself occupied parked in front of the mirror making faces at it. He also got a few pieces of candy corn...candy and mirrors makes for easier shopping trips...can I get a what! what!

The rest of the day was spent outside playing soccer and taking walks. It was GORGEOUS. 75 degrees!

what about you are you brand obsessed? or is it more about the bargain?

I am naked

2011-11-08T04:50:00.000-08:00

Or I will be soon. In order for my iphone to get fixed (notice my lack of pictures lately?) I have to be without it for a day or so...YIKES.

Seriously I know how sad that is. but my iphone

is my eyes and ears to the outside world

my calendar

my camera

my Facebook, instagram, and hanging with friends entertainment

PINTEREST (when things get boring you can always browse the app...)

my flashlight to see when I am unlocking our door at night

it has all my coupons on it too...for Target, Joannes, etc

oh yeah...and I use it to call...which is rare...but STILL!

In honor of being cell-phone nekked I am posting some of my fav outfits from polyvore

even though I'm really pissed at ol' Kimmy K I still like her outfit and those shoes...whoa.

this is pretty without being too ruffle-y and that jacket...major!

Love this sweater and lets face it that gold matte watch is pretty slick...a little girly a little masculine...it's great.

Ok well wish me luck...how sad that its hard to say goodbye to our phones for a day...

but honestly it's not just a phone...it's a friend..lol.

(this public service announcement was brought to you by....)

boom

2011-11-07T05:34:00.000-08:00

if you are having a tough time waking up on this Monday morning...

quick judge that person who drinks everyday- it will make you feel better about your one or two glasses of wine (as if wine is the problem)

quick judge that person how they don't go to church- it will make you feel good that you have a church you go to, but are not involved in

quick judge that women how she dresses- if will make you feel better about your impeccable style-didn't you win project runway last season?

quick judge that guy how he gives to charity- it will make you feel better how you splash some coins in the Salvation Army bucket during Christmas

There don't we feel better? Ahhhh....judging is awesome.

yeah. not really.

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”- mother theresa

How much more productive if we weren't obsessed with OTHER peoples lives and life choices...I am not talking about being so self absorbed that you don't see others in need, but no one NEEDS to be judged...it's actually the last thing anyone needs...

I need this reminder as much as the next person....we aren't the judge. we don't have a say in other people's lives...

so lets move on....

now who can we help today? do you need help? tell someone...

tell me...

Five Minute Friday

2011-11-04T05:08:00.000-07:00

Todays word is REMEMBER. I remember a lot of things. I love memories. I love to reminisce.

I remember the day my parents told me we were moving and my best friend and I sat on our porch crying. Just all out wailing. My mom popped her head out the door and said "girls? you're still crying?" and we would just cry harder as we hugged each other. It made us stronger- it made us closer. Still friends now.

I remember walking slowly down the hall of CC broadcasting once I got the call -"we need to talk to you for a bit...come down to our office" My heart skipped a few beats at the shear thought that I would be on the air. I sat down "we really think you'd be a nice fit as the female co-host on the morning show"

I can remember walking again, down the sandy isle, by myself. Holding my bouquet my eyes filled with tears. Getting closer and closer to the man in the Calvin Klein suit. His blonde hair and ruddy skin tone...waiting for me. All eyes on me....even the people on the pier....and on the pool deck....

And then I remember two years ago. As they wheeled me into a bright operating room. My husband over my shoulder dressed like Papa Smurf, head to toe blue scrubs. And they said "you won't feel anything..." What seemed like 5 seconds later out came this wiry gummy baby... they cleaned him up I craned my neck to see...and there you were brought over to me, I kissed you all over your little scrunch face...kiss kiss kiss....immediately in love.

Don't forget. Memories are the only thing you can take with you....keep them with you. Except the bad....just don't bring THOSE with you....they won't help.

Help yourself to good memories.

STOP.

where did ya go....my darling....

2011-11-03T04:49:00.000-07:00

I wanna know....where did you go.....

OK so I am back. My mother in law was in town for Solo's birthday...would you believe my camera on my iphone is kaput-zeez? I am so bummed. But it just means I shall go get the new one....no, not the 4Gs...but just another 4G...Best buy is cool like that...replacement like that *snap*.

Solo's birthday party began with a bang...of snow. HUGE. Wet flakes falling and not stopping.

Once I got everything loaded in the car my hair looked like I had gone through a drive through car wash. Whoa.

Not to mention once we were at the location my husband gets the call that our house now had no power.

awesome. As a reminder we haven't gotten significant snow fall in October since the Civil War...we accumulated like like 8 inches till it was all said and done.

The party was really awesome. I love celebrating Solo's life. I love that he is so loved. I loved that so many people care about him. I know that's pretty typical for a parent to say but I think you don't even realize it till you have a child and you look around at how much others care about them. I can relate I was an aunt WAAAAAAAY before I was ever a mom. I looooooved my nieces and nephews...they were my world. But now to see other people treat my kid the same way....it's just amazing.

I am going to try to load all the pics back on my camera even though they don't show up on my phone I was hoping they'd still show up on my computer. I am so stoked for November and what that has to bring. So much!

Since it's Thursday already Here's my thankful thursday list

1. safe travels for my husband and my mother in law.

2. california king sized heating blankets...with timers....um hello perfect night sleep. (get yours at Costco!)

3. Solo being able to spend the morning (the power was off) with his great grand-parents and his grandma AND his dad. (i was there too, but I always am)

4. new blog friends

5. Kuerig coffee maker....where have you been my whole life?

what you thankful fo?

Five Minute Friday

2011-10-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

Here I go, here I go, here I go again, girls what's my weakness?

MEN?! Ok...not really

but that's the lyrics to (anyone know?)

Actually here we go again with 5 minute Friday words...the word today is Relevant.

"closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand."

Actually the word makes a tight feeling in my throat. When I was on the air everyday we'd start our morning meeting with "ok what's new?...what happened overnight?"

The show had been prepped the day before but there were still a few gaps to fill where relevant things would fill in.

Ya know earth shattering things like:

When the Bachelor Jason picked Melissa to be his wife but then later wanted Molly.

Paris Hilton being released from Jail

Britney shaving her head

Ya know...important stuff. *eye roll*

I watched every award show, every MTV video music blah blah, every finale,every season premier, and every single Super bowl commercial...

anyone remember the Sopranos ending...well it was really anti-climatic...and I know what most of Sacramento feels about it too.

I didn't know why at the time, but it was like grit in my teeth, because it's like tomorrow this won't be important anymore...something new will take it's place.

In the true sense of the word it's not really relevant... it's not substantial like relationships (not television ones)

it's not long lasting. Focus on the true relevant. Your spouse- your kids -your family- your art - reaching others. in some way....on the airwaves or not. Just reach them...that's being "closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand...."

STOP.

Thankful Thursdays

2011-10-27T05:24:00.000-07:00

Woke up, it was raining.

My mother in law pops her head in my room...."did I wake you up?"

does anyone ever answer honestly to that question...I mean she didn't...but in other ways who says "yep you woke me up...thanks a heap."

Anyway some things I am thankful for this morning...

1. A full bottle of OPI top coat in a box of toiletries down stairs...didn't know I had it.

2. conversation over coffee...

3. dance.

4. exploring goodwill with my sister...(does anyone else feel like they need to wash their hands when they come out of there...or is it that our Goodwill is just creepy...?)

5. Baby boy's birthday on Saturday...book worm theme... I saw this on Pinterest the other day

So true. Strange how the definition of Hip changes...remember...silk shirts....that was a pit stain waiting to happen am I right? *shudder*

What are you thankful for right this minute?

Wordless Wednesday: The first Wii fit

2011-10-26T05:12:00.000-07:00

In 1984 they were waaaaay ahead of their time "inter-active fitness"

(found this unopened product (gosh I wonder why?!) at Sal-Val yesterday just had to share!) I am sure the wife who received it for Christmas was pissed at her husband for buying for her AND was confused as how to hook it up..I mean the TV had to be on channel 3 for the VCR to work, can you even imagine the wires and confusion that came along with setting this up!!?!)

linking up with

15 dollar challenge

2011-10-25T04:36:00.000-07:00

My sister Heytells me last night and says that we should do a contest since there is only like 8 weeks till Christmas or something. The contest is take 15 dollars (or less) and buy something to transform it into something else! Basically make a gift for 15 bucks or less..

easy peazy right?

I don't know. I haven't done it yet officially. So it's either going to be made 100% or you buy something from Goodwill or wherever and transform it for all under 15 bucks. I will be featuring some of my creations here's one that I did in the past that I was pretty proud of...

these were mine...

but I made these little blue and brown ones for my sis in law plus the little owl in the background...she and I love owls...(but lately everyone loves owls)

Started out with clearance fabric and just got the tutorial off of Martha Stewart and there ya have it....it was like 11 dollars when it's all said and done.

The challenge starts next week....if you have any ideas I'd love to hear them...if not, then maybe this will spark some creativity and you can get going making something for someone too.

The dream that you dream will come true

2011-10-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

Spent my weekend walking in the leaves, dancing, and kissing my baby- next weekend he'll officially be 2!
His last weekend as one!
Here's to the future and a really fun week!

5 minute Friday BEYOND

2011-10-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

you only get 5 minutes...and how true of life.

Todays secret word is BEYOND. It reminds me of that song that says "beyond belief beyond belief" I really don't remember the song or who sang it, which is rare for me but I've only had three sips of my coffee so far this morning.

I think most things that seem BEYOND are worth the journey. My best friend growing up lived Beyond a huge field that sometimes grew up and there was itchy grass to run through and some weeds would get stuck between your toes...but it was worth it when I got to jump on her Trampoline and drink milkshakes and laughter and memories.

When I was in labor with Solo I was tired and exhausted and completely outside of my comfort circle but BEYOND the labor was a perfect little honey drop that made my life so much better...and I am glad I didn't just quit with the labor...being pregnant with a two year old seems impossible and fatal.

Beyond the argument is an apology. Beyond the fear of the "scary" homeless is a person who needs help. Beyond the insecurity of the women who sits next to you in church is someone who needs a friend. Beyond the US boarders MY sister "found" two of our family members, sisters, who were beyond hope.

Beyond is your self is growth. Going beyond is worth it. If it just seems a little further keep going, you never know what's just beyond.

STOP.

Collaborate Listen...Ice is back with a brand new invention. SOMETHING grabs a hold of me tightly ....sorry I couldn't help myself

thankfullest of thursdays

2011-10-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

1. my mom being able to watch Solo yesterday because my sisters kids were not feeling well

2. brand new tap shoes! I love them.

3. friends who HeyTell just because

4. hardest working husband...no complaints just works. <3

5. fall tv! yeah! I forgot how much I miss my "friends" (Leslie Knope, Nard-dog, Jeff and Abed, Gloria and Jay...they make my week)

6. my dad, who always always tells us he loves us.

7. farmers markets with apples for the CHEAP

8. the new iphone update...holy awesome...it's like Steve Jobs put me in his will and I inherited the new Operating System (can I get an Amen!?)

9. People who "wave you thru" in traffic- gosh Bless those helpful people, or I'd never get out, get over or make it anywhere on time.

10. Solo who greets me every morning in his room with such a surprised look on his face and his hand over his mouth when I flip on the light...never gets old.

Baby Aslan was laying under his play pad while Sam did her eye make up and Solo thought he needed company

What are you thankful for????

Survey Says!

2011-10-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

I have a couple of questions I don't care who you are I'd love to know more about you...I answered them too !

1. Are ya married? Engaged? Single? Yes Brandon is my first husband...and my last.

2. What is your favorite brand of nail polish? I love any polish that I didn't have to put on myself. My right hand really gets the shaft (that's what she said?) when it comes to painting nails. My left hand is soooo weak!

3. Favorite season? I love Summer...but a close second is Fall

4. Where do you mostly find your inspiration? Talking to others, or when I am staying in hotels...I don't know why but I turn into a master mind when I am away from home.

5. Your best way to save money? coupons. LOVE IT. Also, Joannes has an APP so if you go to Joanns get the app because then you just have the coupons right on your phone and you just hand it to the clerk.

6. Your go-to food if you are having a party or a get-together: dips. I love dips. My first home-run dip was buffalo chicken dip waaaaay back in 2005 and then I just decided to stick with it.

7. If you had 300 dollars (and you can't buy food and pay bills) where would you spend it? Beer and Lingerie....
(just kidding)
Clothing. Mainly J.Crew outlet, or Franscecas Closet...also who DOESN'T love Target for a sweater or boots? And then I use whatever is left over for something crafty...Looking cute while I craft!

(just copy and paste this in the comments to answer...)

Ok your turn!

1. Are ya married? Engaged? Single?

2. What is your favorite brand of nail polish?

3. Favorite season?

4. Where do you mostly find your inspiration?

5. Your best way to save money?

6. Your go-to food if you are having a party or a get-together

7. If you had 300 dollars (and you can't buy food and pay bills) where would you spend it?

GO!

5 minute Fridee CATCH

2011-10-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

(Todays word is CATCH)

Catch one idea. Just catch it in the super awesome freeway of your mind.

They are whizzing by at 80 mph. Thoughts....ideas....regrets....emotions.....

Catch one. examine it. turn it upside-down. what's printed on the bottom? Made in China? Sent from Heaven?

Out of the abundance of the heart the Mouth will speak. Catch the abundance and DO something with it.

Take every thought captive. Don't let the cheap crap set up shop in your mind. If it's not true. It's from the past. It invokes a feeling of regret or guilt. Drive it outta your mind.

Catch the ideas. Catch the positive things. Catch the things that will help others. If your arms and thoughts are full of these things you won't be able to hold onto crappy crap.

Catch one idea: start to crochet. START. or Go for a Run: GO! Read to your baby: Get Reading. Memorize an amazing verse or proverb: write it down and tape it to your dashboard.

Don't let the amazing ideas whiz by and do nothing. Catch them. Do them. You'll be so busy DOING that you won't have time to stop and THINK (waste precious time, and brain capacity) about the trash.

What ideas have been swirling past lately? Get busy. Do it. You're supposed too. Why else do you think you have those ideas?

Catch the Good. If you were fishing and you caught a boot or a tangle of weeds you would not bring that home satisfied to eat it. You would throw it back. And CATCH a fish. Suitable.

What are you catching today? What are you throwing back. Just because it swirls by in your mind doesn't mean you have to stop and talk...

It's not a catch. It's a trap.

Your positive ideas/thoughts/feelings are gold. Don't let go of them.

Thankful Thursday

2011-10-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

Thankful for 11 more followers! THANK YOU! The give-away is coming next week! My first one. I am so amped. I think you will be too...

So much to be thankful today (and everyday) but sometimes it's the little things that are the most amazing.

1. Dance. Just started assisting at my good friends dance studio. It's awesome cus my nieces are dancing while I teach and they love it. We are all so pumped when we get in the car at the end of the night - so much to talk about!

2. The awesome gas station attendant who filled ALL four tires with air when I told him I had no coins for the machine. Such a blessing he was to do that. In the rain. for free!

3. Friends and family coming in for visits. My Mother in law is coming for Solo's birthday and my old college roommate is coming in November!

4. My sister who watches Solo while we go to dance. Such an enormous blessing..that goes both ways I am sure.

5. Helpful husbands who call at just the right time...

6. cars- nothing sucks more than car trouble and you don't realize how much you need your car till something goes wrong...even low air in your tires.

7. blog friends! each and every single one of you...I could just hug you. Aren't you glad I didn't say butterfly kiss you? Is there anything more awkward that being thiiiiiis close to someones face while you batt your eyelashes...unless your 5...but I'm not 5 so....lets move on.

8. RAIN. still thankful for it.

9. unexpected flowers just because

10. french fries...what an amazing invention. You could dip them in paste and they are still good. Ok maybe not paste but french fries are soooo good...anytime...yes?

what are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T07:41:00.001-07:00

Pleasantly greeted by our giant tree this morning- making coffee while admiring God's amazing artwork.

Opinions please

2011-10-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

Found these puppies in the childrens section of Target. If you get a size 5 kids it equals a 7ish in women's. They only go to mid calf cus they're for kids.
They are super cheapzeez right now... Thoughts?!

Pics from my insta-feed

2011-10-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

Some pics from this weekend. Friday kicked off w my (soon2be) Sis in law having a "crafter-noon". She made an awesome yarn wreath I redid my eater wreath. I removed the eggs and added this felt pumpkin that I quick made w felt leaves and a stick from my yard.
Then Brandon and I had a date night in the corn field. No not to make out - but to conquer the corn maze. Which we did in 30 minutes! Really fun!!! He's a true boy scout- no doubt.

5 minute TABLES?

2011-10-07T06:29:00.000-07:00

I normally do a Five minute friday...but since Gypsy Mama is MIA this week I decided to link up to a furniture change up.

I bought these side tables last year for 20 bucks. 10 bucks each at an antique store....my sister and I call it the junk shop.

I liked them because my living room is super small and they were half mooned shaped which meant no one is gonna bump their head on a sharp corner AND they fit snug against the wall or couch or chair...or whatever. BUT lets face it they weren't much to look at. I took them down to my basement during the Hurricane and sanded them and started to paint and prime them.

There were lots of water stains on the tops, but didn't have any special paint to stop that from bleeding through. I was determined to use what I had...and white paint was what I had.

You can also see that I wasn't gonna be troubled with putting down drop clothes...oh well.....

When I brought them upstairs I liked them...I did. But I wasn't convinced....

table with white top

It looked fine but wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I mean white DOES go with anything but I wanted it to look a little more purposeful...Especially since it would only be a matter of time till those water spots would make an appearance....

So a couple of days ago it was nice and sunny and I brought those puppies outside for a little make-over. *Grey spray paint moves to center stage*

I taped the outside with some painters tape and voila- grey tops that are super glossy and match my grey sofa

See?

And since it's a glossy paint I don't have to worry too much about hands with trucks scraping and scuffing the paint. The flat white paint was a different story!

This is my first furniture friday...hence the iphoto pics...but what do you think? Not bad for 10 dollar tables.....right?

Thoughtful Thursday ( I am still thankful ...)

2011-10-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

Thankful for all things that start with a little "i" I do not know where I'd be with-out them...

If you were on Facebook in the last 24 hours you are bombarded with TONS of Steve Jobs quotes, pictures, sayings and things he is famous for, like his 300 some patents for Macintosh.

Crazy. I really don't think anyone has ANYTHING to say negative about Steve Jobs. He was an inventor. He made our lives SO much better (I seriously LOVE my iphone - who doesn't?) He was humble, he took time to explain his company and what was going to happen in the future. He was a true leader. I mean did you ever see him wear anything but a black shirt and a pair of Kirkland brand jeans? No. He was just himself and did what he wanted to do.

It got me thinking of how much this life matters. I know that's as cliche as saying "mama said there'd be days like this..." but it's true. He made his life matter. I have met a lot of "influential" people, but what they influenced is a COMPLETELY different story.

I spotted him at a party once, and introduced myself, only because my bestie and I would watch talk shows on days we didn't have school due to snow...which was A LOT growing up- also our parents would have never let us watch his show- which I completely understand now, as a parent.

Like this man for instance. I bet the Facebook status's would be COMPLETELY different if he passed away. (I don't want anyone to pass...lets just get that straight)

And lets be honest, Jerrry Springer will most likely live forever like Hugh Hefner and Bob Barker.

But I digress, how will you be remembered? How do you make your life count? You don't have to invent an iphone to be influential. How about just taking your neighbor some flowers, or writing a quick note to a friend and leaving it somewhere she will find it. Influence the ones around you...inspire them to be their best.

Doing things differently was Steve Jobs motto. He was always talking about coloring outside of the lines and taking the road less traveled.

How will we be remembered? It's sad to think about it- but should also spark some excitement under us to live this life to the fullest. How can we? In our day to day lives doing the same thing everyday how can we make each day count? Thoughts?

giveaway

2011-10-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

everyone is doing it. I want to do it with a purpose though. I have a GREAT give-away in the works. When I reach 10 MORE followers to my wee blog I will do an awesome giveaway...it involves a couple of my favorite things

-hand-made

-cute colors

-home decor!

-one of a kind

Ok so if you don't follow push the follow button and be a gem, would you?

Thanks Lovies.

Autumnal

2011-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

My friend, Liz, over at Savvy Seasons is doing a give-away - an amazing giveaway. It's 100 dollars to Fall-erize your home. Fall is hands down my favorite season. I absolutely love it. I know a lot of people do too. But click over here to Savvy Seasons for your chance to win too!

But with the cold snap we've had the last couple of days my mind goes back to some of my favorite things about Fall.

source

The decorations!

the CLOTHING!

source

The Pumpkins!

source

Truth be told I always wanted a fall baby too. I know crazy right? I loved having Solo in October and having a baby to snuggle during the holidays, but I also wasn't GIANT pregnant in the dead of summer either(which is also probably debatable)...Fall babies are great. I've only had one, but I think they are great.

How awesome would this be for a party! wow. Very cool.

When I was a teenager we'd always go to the same haunted house and hayride. So many good memories wearing hoodies all snuggled together in the back of the wagon...until a man with a chain saw would come running by and scare the hot chocolate out of you...(figuratively speaking of course)

What's your favorite thing about fall, it can be general or personal...I'd love to hear it.

And don't forget about the give-away too!

Monday Monday

2011-10-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

We had a jam-packed weekend.

Friday was actually decent and we got to be outside for a bit.
Saturday my sister and I woke up and headed to the 8th Annual Soup Cook-off.
Um, we didn't win. I HATE THAT!
I hate losing. I mean it makes me feel just terrible. My sister made Chicken Curry Soup and it was so tasty. BUT in true Central Pa fashion the DESSERT soups won?! Cue the sad trombone....

Saturday night my buds, Sam and Johannah came over. We talked, ate brownies and ichatted with my cousin in North Carolina. I love Fall. It was raining that night and we were all snuggled on the couch laughing. It was deeeee-vine!

Sunday my brother in law drummed during the worship service at church, then we came back to my sisters house for Sunday dinner...so. much. food. Everyone brings something and we just eat and relax.

Afterwards we walked it off in the woods on the trails...

Solo has to stop and throw the biggest rock he can find into the stream though...

my bro-in-law, sister, brothers fiance, and brother...the kids are up ahead.

What was the best part of your weekend?

5 minute Friday: You can pick your friends

2011-09-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

Today's secret word for 5 minute friday is FRIENDS.

My favorite thing to do with friends...

Friends have always been the most important thing to me. I mean, I love my family and my country and food and of course God. But I always made time for friends.

Like when I played with my Barbies (as a kid...not recently...) I was more concerned on the story line not getting them dressed or building their house. I wanted them to visit with each other, have drama then work it out, I wanted them to be excited for each other and have parties.

So it's no wonder the same rules apply [to me] here in blogland. I legitimately care about blogs I read.

Lately so many of my friends are going through such terrible things. Mostly about marriage. So many people are getting separated. It breaks my heart.

But then it dawned on me, people stop being FRIENDS with their spouses and just remain room-mates. If there is no relationship and only rules and regulations for keeping a house then that's not a marriage that's a ...a....something not good.

Be a good friend to your room mate. To your blog friends, and your spouse. A friend does LOVE at all times. My thoughts are all over the place because I am sad about the ending of marriage. It's the end of something so big. It's the end of friendship.

STOP! (wow that 5 minutes went fast today)

What are your thoughts on being a friend?

You just never know...

2011-09-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Thankful Thursday starts off with a little bit of stress. The other day I was eating lunch with a friend and her kids. After we were done the kids began to get rammy. Solo began to bounce in the booth up and down up and down. I told him to cool it. But it's hard to tell your child to stop something if their friends are all doing it. (he'd stop a minute but then start up again)

I told him to knock it off. He sat. And then began to bounce on his knees. Meanwhile my friend takes her toddler to the bathroom.

Solo is sitting next to me and suddenly gets a strange look on his face. Right then BLEEEEEEEECCCK. (sorry to be gross) but throw up poured from his baby mouth. I am dry heaving thinking about it. I put my HAND over his mouth so that it wouldn't shoot out across the restaurant. I grabbed a napkin (there were like 2 used napkins that were crumpled into ketchupy balls - frustrating!) while I am trying to clean it up. He goes for round TWO! Into the Red Robin basket. (yeah the one with wax paper and HOLES in it) I just kept yelping "stop stop stop!" although I don't know what or how he would have stopped. I looked over at the couple catty-corner from us they were shielding their eyes as they TRIED to enjoy their lunch. But my child had Niagara falls shooting out of his mouth. The two napkins were done-zo. I was sweating. Solo sat in a crumbled mess. My friend was sitting in a shocked unbelief and I am pretty sure the Red Robin staff was writing up papers to have me banned from their restaurants.

Solo has an extreme sensitive stomach when it comes to jumping. He's gotten sick from a trampoline before, so I knew he wasn't "sick" he just upset his belly with all that jumping.

He stood up and smiled. And acted as if nothing happened. I just looked at my friend and we both just burst out laughing. I mean - what else could I do? I cleaned it up and discarded the evidence and I just shook my head. Although it was a totally stressful situation I was grateful I had someone with me who just helped me to laugh it off. Kids are crazy. You just never know what's gonna happen next.

Solo and his jumping companion.

More things I am thankful for:

1. I saw the words "Lighten Up" on a salad dressing bottle and it's so true. There is very little we can truly control in this world. I am glad for that reminder to just laugh it off and Lighten up. The world did not end!

2. Quality Time. It's my love language and I am so grateful for awesome QT this week. Wether with a group, one on one or with my fam...it does a body good.

3. Rain. We have gotten so much rain this year it's unreal. I don't know why we've gotten so much but I gotta be thankful for it.

4. Buses. Solo loves to run to the window and watch the kids get on the school buses. It brings him so much joy. He waves and says "bye bye" as they board.

5. Coffee. nuff said.

6. My new lamp, it was on extreme clearance and I snagged it. So grateful for those red tags at Target.

7. SOUP! (more on that later!)

8. my sewing machine. sometimes I just wanna hug it. (but I refrain)

9. my husband. so creative. so clever. I should do a post on all the things he creates

10. Solo. His sweet face in the morning. Even after he's done throwing up. He has a great attitude.

What are you thankful for today?

Go go go

2011-09-28T11:18:00.001-07:00

Today Solo told me he wanted to Go go go to Big Balls.
"what?!"
"mama...go go go to Big balls!"

I was a little taken back then it dawned on me - ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Target! They have those giant red stone statues out front. Makes sense...

Wait. They're doing WHAT?

2011-09-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

You've heard about it on Oprah.

You've seen documentaries about it.

You talk about it and shake your head in disbelief

But it's so real. It's happening all over the world.

Human Trafficking. Women who have no choice about their life.

Children chained to beds. Babies born into Slavery.

It just seems like WAY to much. I have to be honest, when I talk about it with friends it just seems like it's such a HUGE issue that there isn't anything that I could do.

And then I heard about a company that is changing Lives. It's rescuing the broken. It's giving a future and a Hope....

source

And it doesn't involve getting on a plane. It doesn't involve a giant inve$tment. Everyone could do a little.

My sister documented this "party" we went to on Sunday, and how ANYONE can help their fellow sister.

Even me. Even You.

Click to Look at the Party I went too that will help save someone's life.

You don't see the whole picture

2011-09-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

Many many times people say over and over "well God sees the beginning from the end" or "His ways are higher than your ways". I took that nugget and tucked it in my brain pocket and whipped it out whenever something happened that I didn't quite understand.

This summer as I was walking to the beach with Solo it was about 90 million degrees outside with 99.9% humidity. Once we got on the beach trail I put him down and walked ahead as he followed.

And then it started...

"Up up ! Up! Up Mama!" he whimpered.

"keep walking!" I would say over my shoulder...

He continued to complain. Then he started to cry.

"Come on Bud, we're almost there!"

I just could not hold him. He weighs 30 pounds but beside that I was carrying a beach bag, a chair, his sand shovel and bucket, my cell and a beach towel that was becoming unrolled and I was trying not to stumble over the tail that was dragging on the ground...

He sunk down on the sidewalk.

"UP!" he demanded.

"Solo you're very strong- so just keep walking we are almost there!"

What he didn't know was that my beach bag was full of snacks- for him. It had juice boxes, a sandwich, some goldfish and a cold milk bottle inside. The bucket and shovel were for him to enjoy in the sand. The towel was in case he wanted to sleep under the umbrella and the cell phone was to take pictures of him having fun at the beach. All was for him.

But all he saw was the long walk. (Which wasn't that long)

All he felt was hot and tired of walking.

I had all his needs thought of and ready for him.

I can't carry him forever or he won't grow strong. He needs to walk. He needs to know how to walk.

I was leading him a wonderful place- a place of rest and fun.

But all he felt was the here and now.

I was right there. Leading him. Encouraging him

We arrived at the beach and he was running all around. Playing in the sand. Absolutely delighted.

And then like a lightening bolt to the brain I felt like God say "This is a picture of you and I"

How many times in life did I think things were too hard.

You think it's too long of a walk. You might even feel like God has forgotten what you need.

But see, He is right in front of me. He knows all my needs and carries them in a big beach bag ready to go. He leads me to a place of peace- a place of wonder. The walk is to increase my strength.
It increases my Faith.
Because I see He's right up head. Watching. Listening. Encouraging.

I knew where we were going. I knew the walk would not hurt Solo. Because I saw the whole picture.

How much more does God who is FAR bigger than us know our future and know we can keep going.

Remember just because it feels like the road is long, He is right there...I mean it. And He's prepared everything just for you.

And unlike me, God doesn't have a towel coming unrolled and beads of sweat on his forehead with a stray hair in in His eyes. He sees clearly. He knows you can do it.

Personality Test time

2011-09-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

I spent last night doing something really fun. Well, it was fun for me. I love self exploration, and this test brings a lot of clarity and it's very detailed.

I have done scads of quizzes and tests but this one seemed to be spot on for my sister and me.

Try it and let me know what you are...I was an advocator.

"Friends are what life is about to Advocates, moreso even than the other personality. They hold up their end of the relationship, sometimes being victimized by less caring individuals. Advocates are energized by being around people. Some have realdifficulty being alone, especially on a regular basis."

also " Advocates are introspective, values-oriented, inspiring, social and extremely expressive. They actively send their thoughts and ideas out into the world as a way to bring attention to what they feel to be important, which often has to do with ethics and current events. Advocates are natural advocates, attracting people to themselves and their cause with excellent people skills, warmth, energy and positivity. Advocates are described as creative, resourceful, assertive, spontaneous, life-loving, charismatic, passionate and experimental."

Scroll down and take the "Basic Test" it's free of charge and all you have to do is register - it takes 5 seconds. (Am I the only one who makes up names and birthdays when "registering" for something free, I just sort of blah blah blah my way through it to get to the good part...which probably says something about my personality...)

TAKE TEST HERE

Don't forget to tell me "who" you are....I think this stuff is fascinating.

Happy Saturday!

5 minute Friday GROWING

2011-09-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

growing sounds terrible.

That's todays word.

For 5 minute friday.

It sounds like

growing out of pants

growing old

growing up

growing too old for fun childish activities

But then GROWING also means

Growing a garden

Growing your family

Growing in your friendships

Growing in Faith

Growing out that hair cut

Growing Growing Growing if you say it too much the word loses all meaning.

But it means so much. it means you are experiencing. It means you are living. It means you are causing Life. It means you are apart of something BIG. If you are growing you are moving. It may be very slowly but it means you are. Growing. Despite what Girafes from Toys stores want you to believe Growing up is ok. It's good. It's how you know you are on the right track. So....Keep going...Keep Growing.

Cala Lillies my mother in law grows - she always has a vase ready for me when I visit

PS I am really bummed that today's secret word was Growing...I feel like it's so generic BUT if you write about growing and its totally awesome please tell me, cus, that would be inspiring and interesting...and better . (in my opinion)

Psalms 92:13-14a
“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age”

Thankful Thursday

2011-09-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Driving driving driving. That's what we did when we left our hotel on Monday afternoon till Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. We stopped in Orlando to meet up with my grandparents and for Solo to enjoy the wonders of Disney
It's odd when you put your address into your GPS and the arrival time isn't until the next day. Well that's what happens when you drive from West Palm Beach stop in Orlando and then travel like a bat outta hell back to Pa.

But there's always so much to be thankful for...

1. Wonderful (great) grandparents who care so much about us (aren't they good-looking!)

2. Cars. Where would you be without one? I will tell you where..somewhere in South Carolina that's where. Brandon and I were saying what did they do 200 years ago when they wanted to go to the beach? Well they had to pack up a wagon and get food and sew up a few swim suits...gosh that alone would make me not go...do you know how hard it is to sew Spandex? Not to mention you'd have to first invent spandex THEN sew it....sheesh. cars and other modern conveniences sure are awesome.

3. Jobs that take us on adventures

4. Art that reminds us that beauty can be anything or anywhere. Just open your eyes and take it in...

5. Coupons. I recently have found the value of clipping coupons. What a fun game to play with yourself on how much you can save. It really is the little things.

6. Marriage. As I sat across from my grandmother who celebrated their 57 year together she said "it's not always easy but it's so worth it." I asked her what her secret to a long marriage and she said "don't worry about the small stuff...if it's not earth shattering then it's not worth getting upset about....it's just reminding yourself of this that takes work..." I laughed because it's so true.

7. The one I am married too. He literally worked from sun up to sun down while we were in West Palm. He doesn't complain he just does it. And continued to ask me "are you having fun on your beach trip babe?" he just wants his family happy.

8. Awesome family to come home too.

9. Slow mornings with baby boy.

10. Hope for the future. There is always Hope. Always.

Building castles in the sky

2011-09-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

Just the two of us you and I. Because Brandon can only work while the store isn't open that leaves him asleep catching Z's during the day and Solo and I chilling together. We meet up w Brandon at night for dinner and he goes to work and we go back to the hotel.
We watched Avatar tonight and the scenes where he's training to fight and fly and ride get Solo so amped he has to act them out while watching.

My brothers used to do this growing up. It wasn't too strange to see one of them in a fist fight...with themselves. Or riding the arm of the sofa only to fall off because they'd been "shot". And I'll never forget the time we saw one of them wearing a toy doctors bag on his head because in the shadow of the lamp it looked just like the top hat one of guys in the movie had on.
So it's no wonder when Solo was trying to fly tonight ie jumping on the pullout couch, he threw himself into a pile of discarded pillows and slid down the wall in defeat.
"Ohhhh!" he'd yell.
It was the 4th time he did that when we heard the neighbors door click open. I ran to the peep hole and saw an Indian man looking toward our room.
Whoops. I tiptoed away from the door and whispered "ok that's enough!"
I don't know what I thought the pissed neighbor would have done. But I felt the need to ninja myself to and from the door without letting him know, that I knew, he was there.
Suddenly I was 12 again hoping I wasn't going to get yelled at by a friends dad.
Solo who was still fascinated by the movie attempted one more flying leap and I whispered "do you want a snack?!" he quickly sat and waited for his strawberries.
I turned on HGTV.
I heard the neighbors door slam shut. Loosen up Rip van Winkle it's like 8:00.
And then as I watched this couple get a completely redesigned rec room I thought why don't boys act out THESE kind of shows. Painting, spackle and lighting! You prolly won't be in a ton of gun fights when you get older but your wife might need you to hang a picture.
So sit down and pay attention and for Pete's sake get that doctor bag off your head!

Today's five minute friday

2011-09-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

The word is JOY.
There is no bigger joy in my world than Baby boy.I often wonder how I was as a baby and he helps me to see what I might have acted like.
Today he sat in our hotel room after he had taken his bath and he said "you, mommy" and he pointed to me. Then he pointed to himself and said "I'm daddy"
"oh, your daddy?! I thought you were Solo!?"
Shaking his head he then he got off his seat and said "I'm daddy" and then he got right in my face and said "I wuv woo" and gave me three fast kisses on my lips. I just laughed and laughed. He thinks that's all daddy does?!? I would say "I wish! " but lets be honest someone has to make some money around here. And kissing doesn't pay that good.
But thats just like Him. To send me a child that's pure joy- and jokes.

Nosey Neighbor Phobia

2011-09-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have a complex. Seriously. I really do. When I do something crazy in my back yard whether it's act like a horse with my son, or run with my groceries during a rainstorm, or yell "QUIET!" at my dog barking I feel like my neighbors are all peering out their windows watching me.

I didn't realize I actually did this till my sister and I were spreading mulch at her house one day. She had a big wheelbarrow full of mulch hanging from her spindly arms the way a wheelbarrow pulls on you making you look like a orangoutang as you shuffle around your yard. She had small hill in her back yard that took a lot of momentum to get up but as she started her descent her postpartum boobs and tiny frame were all going this way and that...she looked like Rod Roddy had just called her name on the Price is Right and she bounced all the way down the hill. Not only we were laughing uncontrollably about her jumbo breasts going all kinds of crazy, but she was trying desperately to maintain control of the mulch.

It was quite a sight. We stopped and when she finally caught her breath from hysteria she said 'the neighbors probably think we are nuts..." and then I said "what are you talking about - they are probably loving this show of yours!"

At that moment we both realized we think the neighbors are sitting inside their houses peering out at us all.day.long.

I think it has something to do with the house we grew up in...The neighbor on the top of the hill was into everyone's business. She knew EVERYTHING...about everyone. She would see you out in your yard and casually say 'I see you switched from Always to Kotex" being caught off guard you'd shake your head with a "huh" expression on your face and she'd just reply "I saw you bringing in your groceries yesterday..."

blinking you'd just mutter "yeah" and then shudder at the thought of her knowing, like, EVERYTHING about you.

One time my brothers and I couldn't find a red rubber ball to play dodge ball with so we thought a basketball was a good substitute. (It isn't. Never use a basketball for dodgeball). The next day there goes the Nosey Neighbor walking to our yard with a proper dodge ball under her arm.

"Walt doesn't use this anymore...you kids use it...the basketball is too hard"

She was like Santa or God or the Devil....I can't decide...

Either way, we don't live in that neighborhood anymore. I have moved plenty since then too. But the thought of that lady has never left my mind.

So you can understand why my heart stopped yesterday when I pulled this note outta my door :

It wasn't in an envelope. It's not on church stationary. It's written by hand in pen. Maybe it's a letter from God. Some might say it's definitely a sign, and that it's the good Lord above prodding me to read more scripture.

But something deep inside me makes me wonder

What did a neighbor see me do, that caused them to write this letter. What did I get caught doing that reading the ENTIRE Bible would make better.

Nothing comes to mind, but then again....I'm not in the mind of some nosey neighbor.

10 Years can change a lot

2011-09-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

This isn't JUST in regards to yesterday being the 9-11 tenth anniversary but it sort of is. It got me thinking about how much can change in just 10 years. It seemed like it took forever for them to get that memorial up where the towers stood. But yet, if I think about it, it feels like yesterday.

...I was sitting on a foldout fishing chair in my dorm in Texas. We had a great big dorm apartment that I shared with just two other girls.
I flipped on the tv since I had some time before my Intro to Acting class started at 9:30. I stood. Searching the screen trying to figure out if what I saw was a movie trailer or special effects or WHAT? I grab my phone and call my mom who was in Pa at the barn since early that morning.
"Mom! I am watching TV and it looks like the World Trade Tower was hit!"
My mom shouted to my dad who was with a horse a couple stalls down. "Steve, turn the radio up!"
And then before my very eyes another plane crashed into the other tower.
"Mom the other tower was hit!"
"WHAT?! Are you sure?
"Yeah, they don't know what hit it, maybe a small plane or something!?...no wait it was our own plane! It was one of our planes!?!?"

There was silence and then she said "I gotta get the boys outta school...I love you, bye."

By the time I got to Chapel (we had a church service everyday at our college) All the planes had hit.
All I could hear were students crying. Praying. Interceding. It was beyond me. I took a seat next to my roommate Amanda.
"Matt's dad is 90 minutes outside of NYC", she whispered. Her boyfriends Dad, her future father in law, was in Allentown Pa., going to New York that morning. Everyone knew SOMEONE who was close by or effected by this tragedy.

And as I held Solo yesterday morning after he woke up, I flipped on the TV. A&E was on from the night before. It was new videos and phone calls that have surfaced since that day. I was watching a video of a woman looking for fresh air, in one of the towers. She was saying there was fire on her floor and she was trying to breathe. I just stood there and muttered "this happened before you were born."
I then realized this was far too sad or deep for me to watch with Solo so I looked for the zapper to change the channel.
"It's HOT! It's HOT!" He kept saying over and over.
"Yeah, it was hot, buddy." I turned the channel to PBS. Tears were forming in my eyes. So much sadness. Too much to bear.

So much has happened in the 10 years.

I left college. Came home worked waiting tables and writing for a newspaper.
I met my husband
Got a full time on-air gig
Got married
My sister had 4 kids by this point
Moved to California
My sister adopted two more daughters
I get pregnant
Have Solo
Stop Radio
Move to back to PA

We've been back for about a year. I have my own car, my own house, a cell phone - not one that has a green screen but an iphone. Those didn't exist back in 2001.

I can only imagine what the 20th anniversary will be like. By that time Solo would have learned about 9/11 in school and I will talk about it like my parents talked about the JFK assassination. Something I know was a big deal, but don't know the magnitude because I didn't experience it. I only hope he doesn't have to experience anything like 9-11 to understand it. We have more footage of that day than, it seems, any event in history.

And as you look at your kids or nieces or nephews you can't help but be expectant for what the future holds.

what I'm loving: saturday edition

2011-09-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

My Loving Wednesday got a tad waterlogged as Brandon and I were scrambling to get everything up in our basement. Actually just the task of GETTING to our house was a project since it was surrounded by water. But apparently the waters have crested and are receding. So thankya Jesus-ah!

OK, What I am loving:

Fall scented candles! I mean there is nothing better than a burning candle on a fall night. Right? Living in California was great for weather reasons but I can remember MANY a Halloween night with 80 degree temps and the palm trees swaying. It didn't feel much like fall, but I would burn my candles. Now it's great living in Pa cus you DEFINITELY get a fall here.

Which brings me to my next point. I wasn't too impressed with her stuff at Kohls when it first came out. But old Lauren Conrad has upped her game since then and I was impressed with some of her items while I was there yesterday.

source for all

Super cute, there LC!

Also I am loving Fabrics.com. Ever since my mother-in-law got me my sewing machine I LOVE fabrics. (Nerd alert! but I am serious I really do love it!) But it's true. You can do so much with just a few pieces of fabric.

As always I love my typical colors. But hey, I am easy to buy for...right?

And as always Baby Boy:

and

Brandon

St. Patty's day this year.

What are you loving this time of year? OR in general. I love hearing about new or old things that are awesome...so please don't keep it to yourself!

In real life: Five Minute Friday

2011-09-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

In real life, it just looks like little drops of water falling from the sky. Tiny. Teeny. Drop. After Drop. Every single one. Accumulating. But it's just a little drop of water right? It shouldn't tragically change things? Right?

Drops fall and fall and fall and even record breaking roller coasters are halted. Zoo animals are surrounded by water and euthanized. Water pours into a basement and memories are destroyed (thankfully not ours!)

Restaurants with water up to the doors. Furniture floating around the buffet.

Roads lead into deep water. No way to get to family members unless you drive around the entire city. You are met with road closed signs and detours. Every bridge brimming over and some completely gone.

Farms that had fields of dairy cows are now waterfront properties.

And Pizza Hut's Wednesday Wing night will have to wait.

All because a couple of drops of water mixed with a couple more drops of water over three days creating a lot of damage.

Which reminds me. One tiny mean comment, mixed with another snide comment, drop in more hasty words or angry words and pretty soon you will have a deluge of hurt. But what could it hurt it's just ONE drop of sarcasm, it's just one drop. It's amazing what one drop can do after awhile. Because in reality just one drop over time can do so much damage. Cracks that will take so long to repair. In reality, a couple of tiny drops does make all the difference.

Proverbs 15:1-2
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

Piece of cake...piece of pie

2011-09-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

Remember that J.Lo movie "Enough" where she kicks the crap outta her ex-husband? Her and her diner friend always said "piece of pie, piece of cake" or something. Which reminds me...I love pie.

I also love nothing more than to sit down and talk with a friend or two. I used to run up giant telephone bills when I was teenager talking to my friends...or boyfriends. It didn't matter. I just loved to talk. Ask questions. Talk about life. Think about the future. Tell a hilarious story. Keep adding onto a joke till you're laughing so hard you can't add onto it anymore. We don't sit down over dessert and talk enough.

We have all these interesting people around us. Everyone has a story. How well do you know your best friends? Your kids? Your spouse? We talk about the day to day but what's really inside their hearts. Fill your relationships with good conversation:

What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?

What was one of the best parties you’ve ever been to?

If you knew the world was ending in 2012, what would you do differently?

The best part of waking up is?

The most important thing in this life is relationships. Nothing comes close to your interaction with others. Is your interaction sweet? Is your interaction often? Is it encouraging? Very little is said about possessions or stuff in the Bible, but almost every other verse is about interacting with people.

What’s the best/worst gift you’ve ever given/received?

Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best?

What story does your family always tell about you?

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?

(Big thanks to my mom for taking the time to show me how to bake a pie...crust and all!)

Sit. Talk. Eat. Relax. Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough worries of it's own. Right now is the only time you truly can own.

What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?

What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?

What's your favorite thing about being married? (Or for non-marrieds) What your favorite thing about being single?

What’s your least favorite mode of transportation?

It's not hard. It's a piece of cake...or pie. You will most likely be surprised at what you learn, and it only strengthen your relationship with that person. Happy Talking!

It's Fall Y'all

2011-09-05T05:11:00.000-07:00

I am a sucker for fall. I absolutely LOVE it. So in an effort to maximize our fall experience I am doing something fall-ish every week to celebrate!
My very best friend, Sam, got this idea from the Queen of Crafts herself, Martha Stewart, so we decided if it's good enough for Martha, it's good enough (and hopefully easy enough) for us!

We started out with a bushel of corn - shove it in the back of your jeep with black seats that way you will always see the remnants of corn husks that are left behind. If you don't steal it from a local corn patch then you can prolly find a big bunch like this at a roadside stand for about 5 dollars.

Eva is somewhere on the other side of this monster of corn but made for good laughs because of course the kids thought it was back there for them to pick at...and they did!

Next drag it to your back yard where you can start selecting your husks. I liked the soft cream of the actual corn husks that surrounded the corn. Sam really liked the stalk leaves (?) with the purples and greens....it's whatever "speaks" to you...

During this process have a mixing bowl with water in it so you can soak your husks so they are pliable enough to work with. If you aren't familiar with corn they let it sit out in the field till it's dry (I think it has something to do with Ecoli or something- I am talking about animal corn only of course) Anyway if you tried working with dry husks they'd crack all over the place leaving you stressed out and sweating...ok that's how I'd be...you know yourself better than I do...take it from just soak your leaves!

It won't take long for the leaves to become manageable enough to be folded and pinned to your wreath. I poured out my water after about 45 minutes and just left a little in the bowl. I then started folding the husks into loops and fastening them into the straw wreath. I liked the way big loops looked but Sam liked to crease her husks so it was more of a flatter look...here is her's in the making...

Notice her greens and different colors...I wasn't aware how pretty corn husks are...(does that make me sound country or WHAT?!)

So you continue going one direction pinning three across and hiding the pins under the next line of loops... I recommend giving your kids tons of snacks during this time or you might have one million distractions...

In the end this is what you should come up with:

Mine is the bottom one just cream and simple. Sam's is the higher one (already fastened to her door) she included some corn tassels too for a super cute look! I got some burlap ribbon to make bows with and it just screams FALL!

Just a simple, organic wreath to put on your door and it can stay up till Christmas! (and then it should prolly come down)
Hope you enjoyed it. I linked up to the Nester's "you made a wreath outta what?!?"
(I reposted this from last year that's why baby boy is so little)

Model behavior

2011-09-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

Being a model is no freaking joke. It's not something I would want to do professionally...you know if I even had the choice. My 5 foot nothing frame isn't being called by Kors, Karen or Cole to do their runway shows. Let's face it, the Best of Harrisburg Gala is where this career beings and ends.

The day began with Andrea picking me up around 10 - Solo stayed with our Godsend Jessie and her daughter Naomi. When we arrived we sat. Sat in the chair to get hair did, sat in the next chair to get make up done...It was a lot of fun, but we definitely sat a ton. I didn't mind, it was a needed break just to sit and talk to people I don't know.

My dress was hot pink and gold so the make up had to be NUTS. Here's me shortly after I was done

Me and Dre in the bathroom - checking out the look

The inspiration for the hair was Sarah Jessica Parker but the make up inspiration was Ke$ha - complete opposites right?

Andrea is my soon-to-be sister wife (sister in law) and she sent a picture of us to my bro Ben. He sent it back a little more gussied up. He called it blue steele of course.

Shelbi (the one in white) was a model AND our hair girl...She was amazing because she actually got my hair into an updo, which NEVER happens. And the crazy part is, it stayed all night.

Emily and Andrea tearing it up on the dance floor. Once we were done posing it was our job to get jiggy with it. we did- dancing COULD be our full time job. Much easier than modeling ANYDAY.

The girl in the black is the make up artist, Carmina. Here's Dre and I with another model in white.

(l-r) Me, Andrea, Leslie, Shelbi and Em

There were more girls that were involved, but here are my favorites. The girl in the middle is Leslie Gilbert, the phenomenal photographer. She's also hilarious so she's very easy to pose and get photographed with.

The venue was amazing. The night kicked off with a jazz band, but later the DJ took over. And that's when the DJ booth started to move...UP! They floated the booth above the dance floor. It was definitely a wow moment. I just felt bad for my friend and DJ, Mike, because he's DEATHLY afraid of heights- even little ones...like 10 feet...so he stayed busy mixing so not to think about it.

It was a lot of fun, and we did a great job, but I was so stoked to come home to my family at the end of the day. I went upstairs to see Solo asleep in his bed...tucked him in, and had Brandon give me a hand with the 75 bobby pins up in my head.

Such is the life of a "model". They probably don't end the night with a basket of onion rings and a vanilla milkshake huh? Well that's how I ended mine...it was GOOOD!

Rest doesn't' mean "Sleep"

2011-09-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

Five Minute Friday at Gypy Mama

The word today is REST.

You know the drill.

Often times when people think about entering God's Rest they think "heaven" or "a still place" but I don't believe that's EXACTLY what God had in mind.
When the Israelites were set free out of Egypt through a series of events they found themselves in the desert. Filled with turmoil and complaints the same Israelites who were asking God for YEARS to deliver them from slavery were now thinking they were left for dead by God. He had supplied their needs with food from heaven and water out of ROCKS. He showed the way in the dark and led them during the day, but at their breaking point they thought "this is it...we're done-zo" (my paraphrasing of course)

Later the bible says they did not get to enter the Promise Land for 40 years, instead they wandered. In Hebrews the Bible says they didn't enter into God's rest.

The promise land was a great place for sure, but it wasn't a place where you folded up your hands and sat back in your hammock all day sipping pink lemonade from one of those Tiki glasses with the face on it. There would still be farming, planting, sewing, cooking, child raising, sheep herding, basket weaving, house making to be done in the Promise Land.

The Promise Land, in short was the Israelites DESTINY. It was where God intended them. But the same place that was their destiny is also called "God's Rest". Perhaps when you have found what God has called you to do or your gifting- that is truly where you experience REST. It doesn't mean there isn't work involved. But because you are in sweet communion with what God wants for your life, you aren't toiling anymore, you are co-working with God and fulfilling dreams. "Delight yourself in the Lord and HE WILL give you the desires of your heart".

HOW do we get to find God's Rest here on earth without going through deserts for 40 years and getting totally sidetracked?
-STOP complaining about your present place. God is suppling your needs - He always will. He always DOES. A Thankful heart prepares the way for our God.
-Seek God's face. Everyday. Whenever you can. Except NO substitute. No golden calves. Just GOD.
-BELIEVE. When the spies went to look into the Promise land only TWO of them believed and saw how Good it was. Don't listen to the people around you telling you that your dreams won't happen. That there are too many GIANTS already in that industry. Don't listen. If God called you to it. He can bring your THROUGH it.
Believing is a BIG one. So just believe. Write it on the dashboard of your car.
oops times up.

What I'm loving Wednesday!

2011-08-31T06:20:00.000-07:00

I am loving a TON of stuff....

I am loving Nicki Minaj's Boom Boom super bass song (edited of course)....and that Solo and I sing it in the car with a fever.

I am loving the cooler weather...and the fact that neither the AC or the heat are being used.

I am loving that tomorrow a couple of besties and I are going to be in the "Best of Harrisburg Gala"...and that we get super fly dresses to wear and hair and make up did.

I am loving how much Solo is changing everyday...and that I get to see it all, and enjoy it with him.

Which wouldn't be possible without:

I am loving my hardworking husband...who thinks it's just as important for me to be home with him.

I am loving how God speaks in just an instant about little AND big things and that we have such amazing access to such a BIG GOD.

It looks like a painted Sunflower but it's very much a real flower...amazing.

Nice Jorts

2011-08-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Sam's husband always wears jean shorts, he calls them jean shorts but I always tell him how nice his "jorts" (jeans and shorts) are. I am not sure if he thinks I am making fun of him, but with Summer coming to a close (it's so much cooler around here already!) You might wanna make some Jorts that you can pair with t-shirts, or flannels or, if you're into football, your favorite team jersey.

The key to cutting off jeans is not to go too short too soon.

Slip on the jeans and mark the desired length on one leg with chalk. “Take them off, fold the leg at the mark, and iron the fold,” says Caroline Calvin, creative director of Levi’s. “Then cut just under the crease with fabric scissors. Lay the short jean leg on top of the other side and cut to evenly match.” Repeat as needed to get the length you want. Ninety-degree days? Bring ’em on.

The key is that you transition into fall and as slowly as possibly because even if you have your pumpkins out or your harvest wreath on the door, the weather is the last to catch up with the season. There is no reason to be a sweaty mess because you're trying to be Fall Chic. So I think jorts are the best answer. Pair with just about anything..all the celebs are doing it

This is the WRONG way to wear Jorts:

No giant cuffs, no cargos, no acid wash, not too short, not too tight and NEVER EVER with socks and sandals...if you are cold enough to wear socks you probably should be wearing PANTS.

Right? Will you or do you partake in the Jort?