Friday, March 30, 2012

Freakshow Friday : Karate Kid Edition

It's time for another installment of Freakshow Friday. Where I ask my readers to come up with a caption or story for a funny photo. My best friend will be the judge and she's one hilarious freakaziod. So, bring it! Here is this week's photo, it's kinda crazy.
The middle of the night wakings 
were starting to get to dad.

You got a better one for me?
If so, you may just when this awesome award
and have bragging rights forever.
Oh...do I ever have an award for you!
You will win this brand spankin' new award!!


<span class=

If you win then I'll link up to your
Blog and make a big deal
about how funny you are.
Simply leave your funny caption or story
in my comments section.

The winner will be announced on Monday.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

My stupid dumb next to last baby toe.

I was grumpy and tired
as I walked through the kitchen
with an armful of dirty laundry.
It had been a long day.

I stumbled over a toy cash register
that was beneath my clumsy feet on the kitchen floor.
My toes collided with the misplaced toy
as I caught my balance.

It did me in.
I dropped the dirty clothes onto the ground,
ran to the hallway, and cursed as I spilled
myself onto the carpet.

Then I laid there in the hallway
and cried for ten minutes.

My second to last baby toe was bleeding.

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{The stupid culprit}

Roger took pity on me and dressed my small wound.
Then, he lovingly left me
laying in the hallway to mope.
It felt good just to lay there on my back and cry.

He even offered to take a picture of me
looking pitiful on the floor for a blog post
but I decided not to document that moment with a photo.

My mom called just as I was peeling my
sad bones off the carpet.
I told her all about my bad day
and my stupid next to last baby toe getting stubbed
on that stupid dumb cash register.

"You need some TLC." was her response.


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So, she offered to take Koen the next morning
and treated me to a much needed pedicure.
She was totally right, I take care of everyone else
but I rarely take care of myself.

It felt so nice to get pampered for a change.

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I sat in the spa chair and read People Magazine.
The massage chair rolled across my tired back
and I thought about how much I neglect myself.

Long ago, when I was a teenager
and feeling a bit down,
I would take extra special care of myself.
I remember how I used to wake up early before school to take a hot bath
or to sit and read a book with a mud mask on my face.
It always made me feel better.

This mama needs to be kinder to her body.

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In the end, the pedicure was just what my soul needed.
My stupid dumb second to last big toe
felt fancy and pampered.

I made a promise to myself to
shut the bathroom door tight
and ignore the little boys
that throw themselves against the door.

It's time for me to start taking care of me too.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Potty Training Prodigies

There are conflicting reports about the best age to potty train a child.
One group of doctors claims that if you start too early,
that you are putting your child at risk.


When did you potty train your little one?
Please click here to read the article and
join the discussion by leaving a comment over at Athens Patch.


Saved by the Sun

We were having one of those days.
The boys were arguing incessantly.
Then they were bored and whiney.

I started to feel trapped by the
many hours that needed to be filled
until I could tuck them into bed
and find solace.

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I looked out the window and
saw the sun shining through the clouds.
The air felt warm so I had a brilliant idea
to cure our crummy day.

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We pulled the plastic kiddie pool
out of it's winter hiding place
and filled it up with warm water from the bathtub.

The boys ate Popsicles and suddenly the bickering stopped.
My theory was that you can't argue
when your mouth is busy eating a sweet treat.

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Roger and I sat beneath the shade
of our big ol' umbrella next to the pool
and instructed the boys not to say a single word to us
until their treats were all gone.

It was finally quiet.
(except for the slurping)
We might as well have been
lounging on a tropical beach,
just the two of us.

We had about 5 glorious minutes of solitude
and then the treats were gone.
It wasn't long but it was just enough
time for us to recharge.

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The pool was soon transformed into
a potion shop and a very busy kitchen.

Griffin asked "What kind of potion do you want, mama?"
I requested a potion that would make the house suddenly be clean.
A few stirs later and I was taking fake sips from my special brew.

Koen asked "What kind of food you want, mama?"
I requested an Apple Pie.
"Do you want red beans on your pie, mama?"
Well, of course I did.

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Before I knew it, I was actually smiling.
The boys were cute again!

Sometimes you just need to go outside
and play in the sun.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 3

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The other day, I went fishing at this pond with my dad.
It was a beautiful sunny day and the water
looked so welcoming and calm.

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My dad was a great host as this was
my first time to fish this spot with him.

He worked hard to make sure
that I was comfortable and happy.


He even set up a yummy picnic for us.

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We hopped in the boat
and he taught me how to Fly Fish.
He was so patient with me
as I clumsily attempted to cast.

There is something so tender
about being taught a new skill
by a parent when you are an adult.

Mutual respect,
kindness,
and love lingers.

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In fact, I love my Dad so much
that I let him dress me in a bright orange fishing shirt.
He perched his favorite hat on top of my head
and I didn't even complain.

I actually lipped a fish.
If you know me at all,
you know that I never do these three things.

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Yet, when I was in the pond, in my dad's sacred place,
it all felt so natural and right.

I love going to that place with him.

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Later, we drove home on a wide country road.
The windows were rolled down
and we listened to Johnny Cash on the radio
as the wind tossed the music around us.

I felt so happy and free.
It's the kind of memory that takes root
and lives within you forever.

I feel so blessed to spend time with my Pops.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.



Monday, March 26, 2012

Friday Night Dates :: Week 34

I'm inviting romance into my life
one Friday Night Date at a time
and documenting each one here on my little ol' blog.

I want to remember every detail
of these splendid home spun dates.

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Date #34



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This was a fun date night.
The Strawberry Daiquiri was so sweet
and so were the laughs that we had together.

Sometimes I think that a good laugh session
can be sexy and romantic.

There is something to be said for
a shared sense of humour.

Here are the recipes...

Basil Guacamole

Ingredients:
2 avocados, peeled and seeded
1 small tomato (I prefer Brandywine), diced
1 tiny red onion, diced (I used the baby-sized onions from my garden—about the size of a tea bag)
Juice from one lime (don’t skimp here—this stuff makes a delightful tang that enhances the whole dish)
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 Tablespoons basil, julienned (chopped finely)

Mash the avocado with a fork. Add the remaining ingredients and stir together. Serve with organic blue corn tortilla chips. Or, eat by the spoonfuls.

Strawberry Daiquiri

Ingredients

  • 6 cups ice
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 4 ounces frozen strawberries
  • 1/8 cup lime juice
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup rum
  • 1/4 cup lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

Directions

  1. In a blender, combine ice, sugar and strawberries. Pour in lime juice, lemon juice, rum and lemon-lime soda. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

Any romance for you over the weekend?


Winner : Big Boy Edition

We have a winner for this week's installment of Freakshow Friday. Please take note that my super hilarious and non biased best friend was the judge. Here are the top three in no particular order.
Linda D.
Jerry was hopeful this would finally
be the year he would move up to 1st grade.

Mama Zen
He keeps his porn stash behind his Popeye book.
Don't even ask about the Jack-in-the-box . . .

Kearsie
Hey Mom, after this will you
help me find my Transformers?

And the winner is...
Mama Zen

He keeps his porn stash behind his Popeye book.
Don't even ask about the Jack-in-the-box . . .


is the funniest blogger in all the land.
Please visit her blog
and marvel at this fantastic award she just earned!

Photobucket

Thanks to all the people who played.
Tune in this Friday for another installment of Freakshow Friday!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Freakshow Friday : Big Boy Edition

It's time for another installment of Freakshow Friday. Where I ask my readers to come up with a caption or story for a funny photo. My best friend will be the judge and she's one hilarious freakaziod. So, bring it! Here is this week's photo, this guy needs therapy.

Nick couldn't quite figure out why he was single.

You got a better one for me?
If so, you may just when this awesome award
and have bragging rights forever.
Oh...do I ever have an award for you!
You will win this brand spankin' new award!!

<span class=

If you win then I'll link up to your
Blog and make a big deal
about how funny you are.
Simply leave your funny caption or story
in my comments section.

The winner will be announced on Monday.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

A yellow haze

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All of the trees are amorous and releasing pollen.
The pollen count in my neck of the woods is astronomical.
For example, today's count is 4, 379.

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So, a yellow dust has settled on everything around us.

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It makes us crazy and sneezy.
Nothing is safe from the yellow haze.

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All we can do is pray for rain
to wash it all away.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

"Wrongful Birth" Suit


A couple in Oregon was recently rewarded $2.9 million
for botched genetic testing.
They claimed that they would have terminated the pregnancy
had they known that their daughter was going to have Down syndrome.
Do you think that they were justified in filing a wrongful birth suit?

Please click here to read the article
and join the discussion by leaving a comment over at Athens Patch.

Little ol' me?

Little ol' me recently received an invitation
to speak at The Le Leche League of Georgia Parenting Conference.
They would like me to talk about this here bliggidy blog
and my "fun" outlook on motherhood.

This is WAY out of my comfort zone.
I feel comfortable doing dance routines in front of a crowd
but standing in front of a room full of people
and babbling about myself sounds terrifying.

So, of course, I agreed to do it.
Because I'm crazy and how can you turn down
an invitation like this one?
I'm honoured, flattered, and horrified.

My worst fear is that no one will show up for my session.
That I'll be all dressed up and ready to show off
and not one soul will be sitting in the room with me.
My second worst fear is that
I'll have a room full of people,
all staring at me blankly and asking themselves
"Who is this lady and why is her hair so greasy?"

Despite all of my irrational fears,
I am excited to push myself to do this.
I will bravely strap on my platform shoes and stand tall as I talk
about my life, my words, my passion, my blog,
and my perspective on finding the
humor and joy in everyday moments.

Here's hoping that I don't hyperventilate
and end up with my head between my knees
while some stranger fans me with a conference booklet.

Pray for me.

If you live in the Athens area and want to attend my session,
registration is happening now.
It looks like it's going to be an amazing weekend.
I would LOVE to see some friendly faces in the crowd.

Click here to register.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 2

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Long ago, I once had a cat
named Cowboy that was my soul mate.

He was a loyal little scamp that loved his freedom

but always came home to snuggle and purr in my lap.


He was hilarious, and I swear that
if a cat could laugh
that we shared more then one
inside joke together.

So, I was devastated when he mysteriously died
in my front yard, seven years ago.

I miss him all the time.

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He was so independent that people
were always trying to claim him,
but he knew where his heart belonged.

I always heard stories of him sleeping in
my neighbor's beds at night
or snuggling up on the couch with them
while they watched TV.

The neighborhood kids
would dress him up in doll clothes.
Everybody loved Cowboy.

So, I made a little tag declaring my love for him
and they
always clinked together when he ran home.

The other day, when I was cleaning out my closet,

I found the tags that once dangled from his collar.

I attached it to my key ring
and now when I drive over bumps
in my car, the tag clinks against the keys.

I love that little noise...
the same happiness washes over me

as it did when I could hear him scampering home.

It's such a gift.

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I also found his water bowl
that a dear friend made for him long ago.

It has a crack but still works just fine.
So, I gave it to my two cranky cats,
Atticus and Scout.

Whenever I step out onto my porch,
I see it there and it makes me so happy.

To see Scout tower over it and claim
Cowboy's bowl is a super sweet sight.

He's still here in spirit.
Remembering him daily brings me so much joy.

<span class=

Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.



Monday, March 19, 2012

Winner : Sailor Edition

We have a winner for this week's installment of Freakshow Friday. Please take note that my super hilarious and non biased best friend was the judge. Here are the top three in no particular order.

Mich
Emmy started practicing early to be
the next Cruise Director on The Love Boat!

Linda D.
few people knew about the extra castaway on Gilligan's Island
... meet Digit... Gilligan and Marianne's love child.

VandyJ
Jessie really wanted to be a sailor,
But she forgot to specify a sailor of what.

And the winner is...
Mich

Emmy started practicing early to be
the next Cruise Director on The Love Boat!

Mich
is the funniest blogger in all the land.
Please visit her blog
and marvel at this fantastic award she just earned!

Photobucket

Thanks to all the people who played.
Tune in this Friday for another installment of Freakshow Friday!

Friday Night Dates : Week 33

I'm inviting romance into my life
one Friday Night Date at a time
and documenting each one here on my little ol' blog.

I want to remember every detail
of these splendid home spun dates.

<span class=

Date #33



Photobucket

We had a great time making these crab cakes together
but in the end, they were really heavy
and the sauce was super rich.

We ended up with tummy aches
and instead of sharing smooches,
we shared a bottle Pepto
while we held our tummies and whimpered.

Somehow, it sill felt romantic.

Here are the recipes...

Mini Crab Cakes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
  • 4 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • Large pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 6 ounces fresh lump crabmeat, picked over, patted dry, coarsely shredded
  • 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pans
  • Fresh chives, cut into pieces
  • special equipment:

    2 mini muffin pans

Preparation

  • Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan and egg; beat to blend. Beat in sour cream, citrus peels, 4 teaspoons chopped chives, coarse salt, and cayenne pepper. Fold in crabmeat. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 2 mini muffin pans. Toss panko, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and 2 tablespoons chopped chives in small bowl. Drizzle 1/4 cup melted butter over, tossing with fork until evenly moistened. Press 1 rounded tablespoon panko mixture into bottom of each muffin cup, forming crust. Spoon 1 generous tablespoon crab mixture into each cup. Sprinkle rounded teaspoon of panko mixture over each (some may be left over).
  • Bake crab cakes until golden on top and set, about 30 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Run knife around each cake and gently lift out of pan. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 hours ahead. Arrange on baking sheet; let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 350°F oven 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Arrange crab cakes on serving platter; sprinkle with chives.

Sea Breeze Cocktail

Ingredients:

Preparation:

  1. Pour the vodka and cranberry juice into a highball glass with ice cubes.
  2. Stir well.
  3. Top off with the grapefruit juice.
  4. Garnish with the grapefruit slice.

Did you find romance over the weekend?


Friday, March 16, 2012

Freakshow Friday : Sailor Edition

It's time for another installment of Freakshow Friday. Where I ask my readers to come up with a caption or story for a funny photo. My best friend will be the judge and she's one hilarious freakaziod. So, bring it! Here is this week's photo, this girl is sassy.

The laser beams must have fried her brain.
There is no other explanation for that hat.

You got a better one for me?
If so, you may just when this awesome award
and have bragging rights forever.
Oh...do I ever have an award for you!
You will win this brand spankin' new award!!

<span class=

If you win then I'll link up to your
Blog and make a big deal
about how funny you are.
Simply leave your funny caption or story
in my comments section.

The winner will be announced on Monday.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

When I feel like a mom.

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There are moments in life when I really feel like a mother. Sure, it's all too easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just go through the motions of being a mama. Yet, there are those tender moments when I find myself feeling a rush of blood to my heart and my accelerated heartbeat resounds in my ear over and over...

you're a mama, you're a mama, you're a mama!

For some reason, the other day, when I took Griffin on a special trip to buy a new pair of cleats for the upcoming soccer season, my heart swelled with happiness. We crossed the parking lot hand in hand and he had a hop to his step. He was was humming and swinging my hand. It was pure excitement and that was when I heard my heart start to beat...

you're a mama!

We walked into the sporting goods store and Griffin dropped my hand. Galloping over to the cleat section, he did a little dance in front of the shoe display. He looked so young and carefree, as if his life was easy. Such a simple moment really but I felt my heart drum louder...

you're a mama, you're a mama!

He tried on his shoes and did a test run around the store to make sure that they fit. His little feet scampered as he weaved in and out of the clothing racks and back to me. He slid on the ground as if he was kicking a pretend soccer ball into the goal. With his arms outstretched over his head, he celebrated his imaginary win and fell into me with a hug. I heard it louder...

you're a mama, you're a mama, you're a mama!

Later, at soccer practice, I sat on the grass and watched him kick the ball around. Although it was chilly out, my body felt warm. His pink chinks were grinning as he worked hard on the drills. Suddenly, I felt honored to live his life next to him, offering him chances to grow and live out sweet memories. It's so rewarding to watch his childhood unfold before my eyes and know that I am helping to create carefree moments for him to look back on one day. Sometimes I wonder if he can hear my heart beating just for him...

you're a mama, you're a mama, you're a mama!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Do French parents know best?


The book Bringing Up Bebe suggests that
French parents are superior to American parents
because their children are more well-behaved.
Do you think that we could learn from them?

Please click here to read the story and
join the discussion by leaving a comment over at Athens Patch.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

52 Weeks of Happiness : Week 1

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Playing board games with my family makes me happy
I used to love playing games when I was a kid
so it's super fun for me to play with my kids as an adult.

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There are so many life lessons
to be learned while playing a game of Monopoly.
We take the time to explain the rules
and hopefully teach sportsmanship in the process.

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Koen is too young to follow the rules,
so mostly he just rolls the dice
and tries his hardest to wreck the board.

It's even fun to watch an almost 3 year old
navigate his way through a game made for older kids.

So, we learn patience
while he learns self control.
There is a heavy dose of
encouragement to be found as well.

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The agony of having to pay the banker
teaches consequences and follow through.

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I treasure the time spent
teaching and learning through play.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.


Monday, March 12, 2012

Life Well Lived: Spring Trends

{Image created by fancy little me over at Polyvore}

Blogher asked me...
What will you be wearing this year?
What are your spring trends?


I am all about nautical prints this spring!
I just love this timeless trend.

Give me a striped little dress,
red wedge sandals,
a cute shoulder bag,
and I'll feel super sassy this Spring.

Be sure to visit Life Well Lived on Blogher
to tell us what you will be wearing this Spring.

While you're at it,
go ahead and enter the Life Well Lived Moments Sweepstakes 7:
Share A Moment and Enter to Win a Kindle Fire!