Drawers in your drawer

My house is clean.

It's Saturday, after all.

Hours and hours wer spent making our casa a castle.

Everything is in its place.

Floors are shining.

Sink is too.

Carpet is vacuumed.

Shelves dusted.

I'm a happy mom. A happy wife. A happy girl.

There's just one thing...

Trey's drawers are open.

He can't keep 'em closed.

Maybe, just maybe, if they were neatly put together

it would be okay.

But they're not.

They're messy and disorganized.

His drawers aren't in his drawers.

Drives me crazy, loco!

Now that we've got states and capitals down

I wonder if he can learn to shut those dang drawers.

At ten I suppose there's still time to teach him.

Beg him.

Bribe him?

:)

My lil workerbee

Trey had a goooooood week.

He earned an A on every test today!

Math, Social Studies, Reading.

That's a feat, if you ask me.

He even took an AR exam.

He's killin' it.

Let's hear it for the boy!

Let's hear it for a NO HOMEWORK weekend.

Mia

12 years ago I became a mommy.

Now, I'm just Mom.

A mom to the most beautiful girl I've ever known.

She's been my joy and delight since March 29, 2000.

Easy baby. Adorable toddler. Amazing girl.

She's a bit sassy. She can challenge. But she does it with a smile.

And she does it with grace.

Mia is a perfect mix.

She's a girly girl one minute and athlete the next.

Jokester today and serious tomorrow.

Trey is one lucky son of a gun to have her as a sister.

Her friends...they're blessed beyond measure.

Her daddy and I giggle at her antics

and beam with pride at her accomplishments.

Every year gets better and we can't wait

to see her make all her dreams come true.

She will, you know.

Happy Birthday to my baby Mia

Thanks for the best 12 years of the most awesome adventure.

Yes Indeed

They sure do.

Thanks baby for being my biggest fan.

Good News

Good Day.

For Moi.

It's awesome.

I'm happy.

Prodigy

I wished upon a star and a birthday candle

to have a musical talent.

I think I was 10

It was the days of Debbie Gibson and Tiffany.

I wanted so desperately to be able to make music.

Didn't happen.

I think someone else in my home is wishing the same thing

and from the sounds of it

her wish might just be coming true!

Amazing melodies are coming from that upstairs bedroom.

One tube...two uses

Lucky me.

I inherited baggy eyes.

Even when I get a full 8 hours of sleep

my eyes tell a sleepy story.

My granny had 'em. Dad does too.

How happy was I when I learned the secrets of the beauty queens?

Dab a lil Prep H under the eye.

It's a cure all.

Do you know what the stuff's real purpose is?

I do. Don't have those problems.

Anymore.

I know, TMI.

But let's face it friends, babies do

ridiculous things to your

booty body.

It's Monday and I ran out of my fave elixer.

Took a trip to the local drugstore.

As the kind gal was ringing up my purchase

I decided to be friendly 

and share my tip. 

"I love this stuff, works better than cucumbers."

She nodded and gave me a very confused look with her

very enlarged eyes.

As I gathered my purchase, I realized I never mentioned

the bags were under my eyes.

And laughed at myself, all the way home.

Completely True...

No...I didn't take this photo.

It came off of Pinterest.

I'd seen it a bazillion times.

Never thought anything about it.

Until tonight.

I'm always ALWAYS up for a night out.

So tonight when a girlfriend called to see if I could

sneak away for a cup of joe and piece of pie

I should have said, "yes."
But I couldn't.

It was a crazy weekend.

Too much to do.

Too many comittments.

And I fulfilled everyone of them

And then took my bra off.

And that says it all.

Sorry friend...next week.

Promise. Me and my bra are in (or on)!

Date with Dudes

We had a family fun night.

Bowling.

Mia, Me and the DUDES.

They bowled the most pins.

But we all won

...because nothing is better than being together.

JLP Grad

I celebrated tonight with my JLP gals.

These awesome ladies finished their first year in the League.

I couldn't be prouder.

I've been guilty of using the excuse of "being too busy"

to keep me from giving more of myself.

These ladies are BUSY.

Moms, wives, teachers, attorneys, researchers, friends, daughters...

The list goes on and on.

So once again, I'm inspired.

Inspired by women who choose to say yes to making a difference.

Women who give and give and give.

And stay this beautiful all the while.

Incredible, eh?

Thursday It's that time again...

Posted late...sorry. Life got crazy!

My mailbox is filled with reminders that swim season is

right  around the corner.

This little ditty was in one of my favorite catalogs

that just came.

Farewell to carbs

Hello cucumbers..

Ahhh hell.

Chaos..."for reals"

First let's start with my ride in the elevator.

A seemingly normal gentleman

 told me that my stockings and shoes made him "blush"

I'm not even sure what that means.

I wasn't going for a sexy librarian, naughty schoolgirl or

as one lady put it "madmen-inspired" look today.

Here's the super boring Truth - 

Rumor has it that this is one

of the last cool days of the season

so I'm embracing closed-toe shoes and tights.

I happen to be doing it nice and conservatively with a '40s flair.

That's all folks. 

Next let's discuss the term "for reals"

If you are older than 8 years old, please refrain from using it.

Now.

I mean it. It makes no sense. It's poor English.

And it's driving me BATTY!

Lastly, my life is chaotic.

Really chaotic.

Too many deadlines, responsiblities and people to please.

Did you notice my desk?  A. Riduculous. Mess.

Only good thing waiting to be finished is the drink

within the Starbuck's cup. See it?

I have to write. Organize. Coordinate. Hand-hold.

So to the person on the other end of the

telephone line who said,

"Oh you're busy? Don't you all just put your feet up and

talk to others in the "comms" department?"

This post is for you.

And since I'm in a mood caused by fashion-lacking, poor English-speaking

rude people you can do what you will with it.

"For Reals"

A Sight for Sore Eyes

These lovelies greeted me when I got home tonight.

On my clean counter sans crumbs.

There's not much better, is there?

It'll be 15 years this July that me and the

hubs have been married.

They say it's the little things that keep a relationship strong.

I agree, I suppose.

I think it's a whole lotta things, really.

Like clean counters and flowers...

More

More than a reminder, isn't it?

For me, a wake-up call of sorts.

Perfectly timed...

God works that way, doesn't he?

Lucky

Lucky, me!

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Notice the empty candy jar ~ mmmm Andes Mints.

They are green, ya know.

Date Day

Perfect Day!

Perfect Date!

Postino in the afternoon.

Movie in the evening.

Yes, please.

Choices

March.

Spring. St. Patty's. Madness.

March Madness, that is.

Now that Dad's home, somebody is stoked to watch

game after

game after

game.

His choices have been made.

Who's is gonna be, this year?

(As I type tonight, many an upset have been had!)

He's home.

He's home.

All is right in the world.

Everyone I love is exactly where they should be.

The In-Between

Trey had his buddies over.

And it hit me.

He's not little. He's not big.

The boys wanted to watch a movie.

and they struggled to find one...

They're too big for lil kid flicks

and too little for big kid flicks.

 They searched through all the choices.

Movie after movie.

They decided: No cartoons. No talking animals.

I decided: No Violence. No Boobs.

(sorry, I had to say it) 

They're stuck in the In-Between.

Being in the In-Between is rough. Isn't it?

But they don't know any better.

So they just do what boys do - laugh, play, have a blast.

And me, I just hope it slows down a bit. 

Haunted

I love stories.

I like reading them, telling them and thinking about them.

But I've got a story in my head now that I wish I could forget.

The Glass Castle is wonderfully-written

but the story - the horrible recollections have me haunted, sickened.

Have you read it?

What did you think?

Girly Fridge

Lil man isn't happy.

He's claiming that we have only "girly food."

Girly food?

"There's no manly stuff in the fridge, I can't wait for Dad to get home."

Hmm...eggs, lemons, juice, Pellegrino.

Maybe he's right.

But wait, look behind the juice.

See it?

Oh wait, girls like that too.

Road Trip...of sorts

While Frankie is on the east coast

enjoying the best NYC has to offer

I am on a trip of my own...

with my fifth grader.

He happens to have a test when school resumes

List the 50 states and their capitals, by heart.

Spell them correctly.

Put them into the regions to which they belong.

Yup...

A lot like real road trips

The kids get a bit on the nerves

There's a ton of whining

And the destination is a welcomed sight.

Do you know the capital of Deleware?

How about Vermont?

Promises

I made the kids promise something today.

I tend not to do that.

Promises are reserved for VERY big things.

I took the risk.

I made them promise that no matter what

regardless of what happens

how upset the other might get

that they'll always remain the friends they are today.

That they'll look after one another.

They'll love one another.

That they'll always think of each other.

They promised.

And rolled their eyes.

And giggled.

And then posed for this pic.

Super

Inspired...

To be this and more.

Hard Things

My hubby is out of town

So no I'm not talking about anything related to him

that was completely inappropriate

he must be rubbing off on me

(but then it would apply to him, wouldn't it?)

Sorry.I digressed.

I did not take this picture.

I stole it off Pinterest.

But it applies to our day.

I tend to hover,

as a mom.

I made a promise that I wouldn't related to a few things

and I had to let my kiddos fail,

in each of thier own ways,

and it's killing me.

Really, really killing me.

A very long conversation was had.

And we decided that we ALL could do hard things.

And we can.

Big lessons. Hard Lessons.

It's what makes us grow the strongest.

All of us.

Swing

A few years ago we were lucky to go to Mexico for a wedding.

We toured an amazing home for abandoned children.

Each month we give a wee little bit to the organization

to help support their program.

This photo, taken at the orphanage, hangs in my

workroom reminding me that

I'm blessed to have not just a home,

but the work that it takes to keep it.

Today I needed the reminder.

72

$72 is what the little thingy in the parking garage said I owed.

What?

That's more than a tank of gas. Barely.

Anyway, it was one of those days that nothing made sense.

No, I didn't pay it.

I pressed lost ticket and paid $12 instead.

See, I told ya.

Nothing made sense.

Monday

There are so many reasons why Frank should

never consider staying away for too long.

Here are two:

HH for dinner (don't judge,there's a story that goes along with it)

Screams over the special angles (what the hell is so special about them?)

Happy Monday.

Lil man blue

Frankie is traveling on business

and left a little guy behind.

"Not fair," says the little guy.

He's lost without his dad.

He has a sore throat and another fever.

So I, being the mom I am, was a total "DUDE" with him tonight.

Glad to report he's feeling a wee bit better.

So am I.

Corned beef and caramel

Guess where I spent my evening?

With the best peeps, ever.

There were girls at one end of the table and the boys at the other.

(You know sorta like Jr. High but in a really fine way)

There was corned beef, yummy taters, soup and muffins and 

"grown-up" shakes that were green, of course

there were friends laughing and having a good time.

there were rainbows, pots of gold and Baileys, too!

And that's about as good as it gets.

It was one hell of a Lucky night!

Voicing on the Voice

We DVR The Voice

Kids love it. They thinks it's "Super Cool."

We watch it on Friday night before Family Movie.

Yet, I'm not sold.

I wanna be. But it hasn't happened yet.  

I'm not digging the constant banter.

The constant boobs.

Enough already.

And what's up with the "I want you" on the rotating chairs?

Yuck.

Of course it's better than Jersey Shore or Teen Mom.

But don't get me started.

PS...we don't watch those shows before Family Movie night. :)

An empty wallet, full mouths

"Oh wow, that's nuts!"

Says the gal working at the granite topped reception desk.

"Two at once, that's tough," she exclaims.

The pretty little thing with perfectly white and straightened teeth might want to

get trained in putting on a better poker face.

Yeah, I know it's tough.  

Kids have braces. We've been saving.

Saving for a new car. A vaca. The list goes on.

So tonight, the miserably sore-mouthed kids have a bunch of metal

in their mouths and I have less paper in my wallet.

Typical and expected.

I think it's called parenthood.