Now I have a sink of dirty dishes calling me. Goodbye beautiful manicure...hello dishpan hands.
Wish flower? I wish someone would invent a nail polish that could withstand dishes, laundry and tiny Polly Pocket clothes.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Lazy Sunday
Now I have a sink of dirty dishes calling me. Goodbye beautiful manicure...hello dishpan hands.
Wish flower? I wish someone would invent a nail polish that could withstand dishes, laundry and tiny Polly Pocket clothes.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Humble me...
I never give money to homeless. I say this not with pride or shame, but just a simple statement of fact. I just don't. There are alot of reasons....I never have cash on me. If I do have cash I need it for something else. Or I just don't trust that they will use it for food. All of these reasons are true. Absolutely.
Does it make my actions correct? I don't know. I donate quilts and clothing to the homeless shelter. I contribute to the office food drive. I'm a good person...
However, that being said, yesterday I drove to the liquor store on my lunch hour. We were invited to a friends house for dinner and I wanted to bring a nice bottle of wine for them. I enjoyed a leisurely 30 minutes in the liquor store browsing the selection of wines. I love wine. I love the pretty bottles they come in. I love the way they are stacked in rows for my enjoyment and perusal. I love the first sip of wine with a good meal.
But eventually I made my purchase and wrapping my coat a little tighter around myself I hurried to my car. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a gentleman sitting on the parkstrip with a cardboard sign. I got into my car, started the heater and strapped on my seat belt....all the time watching this gentleman.
He was probably in his late 50's? I'm a terrible judge of age so this is my estimate. He was wrapped in an old moss green pea coat. His beard was matted and dirty. He looked emaciated. It broke my heart. He looked like my father....my father is sickly and emaciated looking too. (Health issues that are too long to get into at the moment).
I had $5 in my purse. I had been planning on buying myself lunch before heading back to work. I did have the $5 earmarked for something for myself but before I realized what I was doing I had rolled the window down in my car and offered him my $5.
He walked over to my car. He stunk of dirt and sadness. I was nervous, sad and concerned all at once. He thanked me for the money. I reminded him that it was supposed to snow the next day (which is today and boy is the snow coming down!) and asked him if he had a warm place to go. He assured me that he did. He spoke beautifully and intelligently. He told me that he had spent 40 odd years hating the world and was just now learning to see the good in people. He talked a little about his time in Vietnam and about a sister that he had recently reconnected with. He told me of his travels. He was eloquent. He was kind. He made me humble.
It was the best $5 I had ever spent.
My wish flower? I wish that this man find the peace he is looking for. I wish that I will never forget this lesson he taught me. I wish, wish, wish for better for both of us.
Does it make my actions correct? I don't know. I donate quilts and clothing to the homeless shelter. I contribute to the office food drive. I'm a good person...
However, that being said, yesterday I drove to the liquor store on my lunch hour. We were invited to a friends house for dinner and I wanted to bring a nice bottle of wine for them. I enjoyed a leisurely 30 minutes in the liquor store browsing the selection of wines. I love wine. I love the pretty bottles they come in. I love the way they are stacked in rows for my enjoyment and perusal. I love the first sip of wine with a good meal.
But eventually I made my purchase and wrapping my coat a little tighter around myself I hurried to my car. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a gentleman sitting on the parkstrip with a cardboard sign. I got into my car, started the heater and strapped on my seat belt....all the time watching this gentleman.
He was probably in his late 50's? I'm a terrible judge of age so this is my estimate. He was wrapped in an old moss green pea coat. His beard was matted and dirty. He looked emaciated. It broke my heart. He looked like my father....my father is sickly and emaciated looking too. (Health issues that are too long to get into at the moment).
I had $5 in my purse. I had been planning on buying myself lunch before heading back to work. I did have the $5 earmarked for something for myself but before I realized what I was doing I had rolled the window down in my car and offered him my $5.
He walked over to my car. He stunk of dirt and sadness. I was nervous, sad and concerned all at once. He thanked me for the money. I reminded him that it was supposed to snow the next day (which is today and boy is the snow coming down!) and asked him if he had a warm place to go. He assured me that he did. He spoke beautifully and intelligently. He told me that he had spent 40 odd years hating the world and was just now learning to see the good in people. He talked a little about his time in Vietnam and about a sister that he had recently reconnected with. He told me of his travels. He was eloquent. He was kind. He made me humble.
It was the best $5 I had ever spent.
My wish flower? I wish that this man find the peace he is looking for. I wish that I will never forget this lesson he taught me. I wish, wish, wish for better for both of us.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Helping Hands
Quick note because its Uber-busy today!! Uber with a capital U busy.
Check out www.momastery.com today and their Helping Hands program. Great idea to share what we can with those in need or to reach out for help if you're the one in need.
Let's all work together!
Check out www.momastery.com today and their Helping Hands program. Great idea to share what we can with those in need or to reach out for help if you're the one in need.
Let's all work together!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Tiger Stripes aka Stretch Marks
I saw this on Pinterest today. I love it.
Why are we so ashamed of our stretch marks? We grew a HUMAN inside our own bodies! Of course that's going to leave a mark...but it should be one of pride. We should be able to pull up our shirts, point to the marks on our abdomen and say "Hell yes I have stretch marks! And I earned every single one of them!".
Instead we cover them up like they are track marks on a heroin addict.
No more ladies! Be proud. We created, nurtured and incubated a little life for 9 long months. And then we spent 23 hours (personal experience there) pushing said life out of our bodies in a sweaty, painful, gut wrenching process. Those are battle scars! And I'm going to be damn proud of them!
Disclaimer: That is NOT my body but I'm envious of this woman.
My Wish Flower: My wish is that I will never be ashamed of the marks left on my body for the blessing of my two little girls and what they bring to my life.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Party Pandemonium
I am in full planning mode for Petal's 5th birthday party. It's a princess theme. I don't know how the eternal cynic such as myself has a child who believes in the power of "Happy Ever After" and "True Love Conquers All". I have never had the heart to correct her belief system...I figure life will do that for her in due time. And if it doesn't...good for her.
I always feel like my holidays are a 4-part system of chaos. I mentally click off each event as we get through it.
First: Halloween. $100's of dollars spent on costumes, candy and decor. Glad it's done.
Second: Petal's birthday. My girls do not get a party each year. More like every 3rd year. Sorry girls, but it's just not in the budget each year.
Third: Thanksgiving. Whether it's the awkwardness of my in-laws or the cramped quarters of my parents...it's a holiday I dread. The food is great. And don't get me wrong, I do love to eat (as my excessive rear end can attest to). But the drama! OMG the drama! I find it all exhausting. I'm starting to realize that's when men sleep after Thanksgiving dinner...it's just to avoid the soap opera that follows.
Fourth: Christmas. I love Christmas. I do. But by the time I have spent every cent I have on presents. Wrapped presents. Ran from store to store looking for the best deal. And then all the fun festivities and parties in between...I totally need from Christmas Day to New Years trying to rest.
So my stats are 1 down: 3 to go.
The party is this Saturday. I have all presents bought. Nothing wrapped. And still have to come up with games for a group of 5 year old girls to play in 5 days.
Plus my stomach is in knots worried that no one will show. Worse than the drama of getting it all ready is the fear that we will be sitting there waiting for the party to start and no one knocks on our door with brightly wrapped presents. Please, please, please let at least a few little girls show up.
So in a few more days I will be 50/50 for the holidays. Then it's turkey and presents and I'm done. I firmly believe that New Years Eve was strategically placed after Christmas to give parents a good reason to drink.
My Wish Flower today? I wish, wish, wish that Petal will have a wonderful birthday...and that some of her friends will show...and that my house won't be destroyed in the process. Here's wishing...
I always feel like my holidays are a 4-part system of chaos. I mentally click off each event as we get through it.
First: Halloween. $100's of dollars spent on costumes, candy and decor. Glad it's done.
Second: Petal's birthday. My girls do not get a party each year. More like every 3rd year. Sorry girls, but it's just not in the budget each year.
Third: Thanksgiving. Whether it's the awkwardness of my in-laws or the cramped quarters of my parents...it's a holiday I dread. The food is great. And don't get me wrong, I do love to eat (as my excessive rear end can attest to). But the drama! OMG the drama! I find it all exhausting. I'm starting to realize that's when men sleep after Thanksgiving dinner...it's just to avoid the soap opera that follows.
Fourth: Christmas. I love Christmas. I do. But by the time I have spent every cent I have on presents. Wrapped presents. Ran from store to store looking for the best deal. And then all the fun festivities and parties in between...I totally need from Christmas Day to New Years trying to rest.
So my stats are 1 down: 3 to go.
The party is this Saturday. I have all presents bought. Nothing wrapped. And still have to come up with games for a group of 5 year old girls to play in 5 days.
Plus my stomach is in knots worried that no one will show. Worse than the drama of getting it all ready is the fear that we will be sitting there waiting for the party to start and no one knocks on our door with brightly wrapped presents. Please, please, please let at least a few little girls show up.
So in a few more days I will be 50/50 for the holidays. Then it's turkey and presents and I'm done. I firmly believe that New Years Eve was strategically placed after Christmas to give parents a good reason to drink.
My Wish Flower today? I wish, wish, wish that Petal will have a wonderful birthday...and that some of her friends will show...and that my house won't be destroyed in the process. Here's wishing...
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Butterfly (fairy) and a gypsy...
We survived Halloween. Candy, goblins and pumpkins. I'm exhausted.
My girls had a great Halloween.
I went to a 9:00 a.m. parade at Autumn's school. Petal went with me...I had to entertain a 4 year old for 20 minutes while we waited for it to start. Thank goodness for the invention of the iPhone. The singularly greatest invention to entertain children. So my cute little butterfly fairy waited...not a butterfly though. A butterfly fairy! DO NOT forget the fairy part...the drop of that word from a sentence has led to more drama than a preteen slumber party.
As we waited ther in the gymnasium that smelled of school lunches and elmer's glue I was notified by Petal that she needed to bring treats to her parade...which started at 10:00. This was the first I had heard of treats. I frantically checked my watch and quickly recalculated.
If Autumn's parade was over by 9:45 I could still get to a store and back to Petal's daycare in time for her parade.
Luckily, the parade started right on time. Kindergarteners came out first. My little Petal will be one of these kids next year. I can't believe it.
Anyway, Autumn's class was near the end (of course!) but at least we saw my cute gypsy girl coming. I snapped a few photos, and a one second video (that I discovered after a little too late). And then blowing kisses to Autumn, I grabbed Petal and off we flew to the grocery store.
Grabbing a bag of candy (uncaring of the what I was going to be giving to small children) and running back to the car we made it to Petal's parade with 5 minutes to spare. Whew! She was, of course, adorable in her parade.
Have you ever had a great friend? One who you told your most intimate details to? One who suffered along with you through Junior High and High School? And then lost touch with? I had one of those....and ran into her at Petal's parade. Awkward after all those years of friendship to realize we had nothing to say to each other. After kissing Petal goodbye, I left the daycare feeling bittersweet. It was nice to see her again and to see her cute daughter in the parade, but how sad is it to have such a reminder of a close friendship that was lost? And for no reason that I can pinpoint other than simply "life got too busy."
Too busy for a friend? Did I really let it come to that? Did she? I guess the answer to that was Yes. Yes, we did. What a horrible, gut wrenching truth to realize as I drove home to start stew for tonight's Halloween festivities.
The girls had a great time trick or treating...but for me the rest of the holiday was tinged with a bit of sadness. However, nothing will keep me from smiling and laughing for the benefit of my girls but...
My wish flower today? I wish that I will never, ever let life get in the way of a good friendship.
My girls had a great Halloween.
I went to a 9:00 a.m. parade at Autumn's school. Petal went with me...I had to entertain a 4 year old for 20 minutes while we waited for it to start. Thank goodness for the invention of the iPhone. The singularly greatest invention to entertain children. So my cute little butterfly fairy waited...not a butterfly though. A butterfly fairy! DO NOT forget the fairy part...the drop of that word from a sentence has led to more drama than a preteen slumber party.
As we waited ther in the gymnasium that smelled of school lunches and elmer's glue I was notified by Petal that she needed to bring treats to her parade...which started at 10:00. This was the first I had heard of treats. I frantically checked my watch and quickly recalculated.
If Autumn's parade was over by 9:45 I could still get to a store and back to Petal's daycare in time for her parade.
Luckily, the parade started right on time. Kindergarteners came out first. My little Petal will be one of these kids next year. I can't believe it.
Anyway, Autumn's class was near the end (of course!) but at least we saw my cute gypsy girl coming. I snapped a few photos, and a one second video (that I discovered after a little too late). And then blowing kisses to Autumn, I grabbed Petal and off we flew to the grocery store.
Grabbing a bag of candy (uncaring of the what I was going to be giving to small children) and running back to the car we made it to Petal's parade with 5 minutes to spare. Whew! She was, of course, adorable in her parade.
Have you ever had a great friend? One who you told your most intimate details to? One who suffered along with you through Junior High and High School? And then lost touch with? I had one of those....and ran into her at Petal's parade. Awkward after all those years of friendship to realize we had nothing to say to each other. After kissing Petal goodbye, I left the daycare feeling bittersweet. It was nice to see her again and to see her cute daughter in the parade, but how sad is it to have such a reminder of a close friendship that was lost? And for no reason that I can pinpoint other than simply "life got too busy."
Too busy for a friend? Did I really let it come to that? Did she? I guess the answer to that was Yes. Yes, we did. What a horrible, gut wrenching truth to realize as I drove home to start stew for tonight's Halloween festivities.
The girls had a great time trick or treating...but for me the rest of the holiday was tinged with a bit of sadness. However, nothing will keep me from smiling and laughing for the benefit of my girls but...
My wish flower today? I wish that I will never, ever let life get in the way of a good friendship.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Good Gourd!
We carved pumpkins last night. Autumn wanted a big one. Petal wanted a small one. And frankly, I didn't want to do it at all. Carving pumpkins is one of the Halloween traditions I hate. What a mess! Not to mention small children with sharp knives. Who thought of this?
But we got it done. We laid out plastic bags on the floor and great big bowls for pumpkin guts and we got down to work. I helped Petal with hers. Or she mainly just held by hand as I carved everything out.
I was proud of her this year though...she reached in and pulled out the guts by hand. It looks like even my little Diva can get her hands dirty once in awhile.
On the other hand, Autumn has never shyed away from getting messy and dirty. Her hands dripped ooey orange pumpkin goo within five minutes of cracking open that pumpkin. Steven teamed up with Autumn to help her with her pumpkin.
Tonight we are roasting pumpkin seeds. I've never done it before, but I consulted my good friend, Pinterest, and we have made a plan. The seeds are sitting on a cookie sheet drying out for a good roasting tonight.
The girls had a good time. Tomorrow is Halloween and then the sugar overload will finally be done....at least until Thanksgiving.
I have just resigned myself to the fact that for the next two months I will be broke and exhausted.
My Wish Flower for today? I wish that I would have discovered I had pumpkin seeds stuck to my butt before I heard my family snickering from behind me as I walked away.
But we got it done. We laid out plastic bags on the floor and great big bowls for pumpkin guts and we got down to work. I helped Petal with hers. Or she mainly just held by hand as I carved everything out.
I was proud of her this year though...she reached in and pulled out the guts by hand. It looks like even my little Diva can get her hands dirty once in awhile.
On the other hand, Autumn has never shyed away from getting messy and dirty. Her hands dripped ooey orange pumpkin goo within five minutes of cracking open that pumpkin. Steven teamed up with Autumn to help her with her pumpkin.
 |
| Petal's Pumpkin (do you notice that "scar" on the side of his face...that was my contribution. I'm no pumpkin artist, that's for sure.) |
Tonight we are roasting pumpkin seeds. I've never done it before, but I consulted my good friend, Pinterest, and we have made a plan. The seeds are sitting on a cookie sheet drying out for a good roasting tonight.
The girls had a good time. Tomorrow is Halloween and then the sugar overload will finally be done....at least until Thanksgiving.
I have just resigned myself to the fact that for the next two months I will be broke and exhausted.
My Wish Flower for today? I wish that I would have discovered I had pumpkin seeds stuck to my butt before I heard my family snickering from behind me as I walked away.
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