October 31, 2011

pumpking carving tradition... oh and happy halloween.

where does the time go,
i ask?


the girls
6,8,6
2004

 one of the many 
driveway pumpkin carving 
events
ala the brookes fam

 this was always hubs gig

in keeping with tradition,
knew we had to continue the trend.
threw out a few invites to the local peeps
and low and behold, 
they showed up.
.
i know you've heard a lot about
how great i think our neighborhood is.
well, they did not disappoint

we had 7 families
with a total of 14 kids.
it truly was a great time
had by all.

 tons of food,
not to  mention a humungo pot of chili,
rice, fritos and all the fixin's. 
now that's fine american cuisine.
 
 hot cider and mint hot chocolate.
ooh and the desserts.
forget about it.

hard to believe,
5 of the 7 women here
have husbands over seas doing big strong military 
stuff for our country.
i know.
talk about fellow women with 
understanding and support.
i've got it all.

and here we have our one and only husband 
representing his kind.
scott.  
you did a great job as the only one with all the guy duties.
my garage is spotless thanks to you.
erin, thanks for sharing him.
he's a keeper, this one.

 honored to stand among 
this crowd.
truly.

 final pumpkin products

the artists behind them

all in all great night.
but i have to say,
when i recapped with the girls,
all three said fave part was playing 
 team man hunt
in the hood, 
afterhours.
hands down.
 love it.

same time next year?
who's in?

tell me about your halloween traditions.

as always,


October 28, 2011

when daddy deploys...

military families do it every day.
kids endure it.
mom's muddle through it.
families stand tall because of it.

deployment.

ain't always an easy road.
in fact, 
it pretty much stinks in a lot of ways.
but this is no pity party.
in fact,
quite the opposite.

 this is  my way of rooting for the home team
which is why i've compiled a
 humble how-to
on making the 
most of 
military deployments
(according to little ol' me)

1.  know going in,
there are going to be roadblocks.
arm your friends, your family and your handymen.
they will be called upon 
at any ungodly hour 
on any day.  
murphey's law.
as soon as hubs pulls out, 
fridge will break, 
toilet will need repair
and you'll get a flat.
plan on it.
but know who to call.
and you can do this!

2.  busy is good.
stack the calendar.


plan stuff, 
be places,
have things to do.
yes.
you will get tired of running around, 
being here and there
but let's face it.  
busy is good.  

another day down, baby...

3.  say yes to help.
sometimes i forget that i don't wear a cape 
and have super powers to do it all: 
 manage the family, deal with all the emotions that go with 
single-parenthood-by-deployment,
being the mom, dad, counselor, nurse, taxi driver, tutor, cook, do i need to go on?
when friends offer up help...just say yes.  
whatever it is: dinner together, a quick coffee on the run, 
an encouraging phone call.
allow your friends to fill you up.  
you are both better for it.

4.  celebrate the little things.
whether it's weekly, monthly or daily
celebrate how far you've come.

 'kisses from daddy':
stash enough hershey kisses in a jar 
(enough for each family 
member for each day daddy is gone).
eat one kiss a day, every day counting down 
his big return watching the jar get fewer and fewer.
ode to the dadster ala chocolate!
who doesn't love that?
celebrate your anniversary:
 treat the fam (or yourself) to a special 'outing' 
on the once-a-month
anniversary declaring 'another month down'.
starbucks?
mcdonalds?
golden corral?  
your choice...but celebrate.
we once made a paper change marking each day daddy would be gone
(yes, that sucker wrapped around the entire
downstairs twice, i think).


we decorated special rings marking the halfway point 
as well as each month anniversary.
those were the special days, 
making sure we commemorated properly.


regardless of how you do it, celebrate
every calendar milestone you accomplish.
you are his team,
keeping it real back home.
5. surround yourself with good
 good peeps: 
seek out the friend who isn't going 
to let you sit in your own muck too long.
the one who's going to tell you
how strong you are and how you can and will do this,
then pour you a glass of wine and let you vent.
 good habits:
eat well.
we all know the convenience of mickey dee's
but not every day. 
okay?  
promise?

good sleep:
go to bed early.
we need to be on our toes
to handle what comes next.

good habits:
exercise.
find the time.
it will prove you well.

we can do this, peeps.  
this is the stuff our country was founded on.  
and one thing i know for sure. 
we are stronger than we think. 
with God behind us,
we are invinsible.

our guys are counting on us.

now this next part is for all you
non-military out there.

i know you mean well. 
very well.

i'm going to let you in on a wee secret.
here are the things said (however well meaning) that don't
always bode well
while we are in the thick of things.

"deployment?  again?
oh, you must be used to it by now."
nope.
never.
we never get used to it.
much like childbirth.
just because we've experienced it, 
doesn't mean 
we are used to it.

another doozy, 
probably not going to go over well...
" gosh.  4 months already?  
wow.  that's going fast"

not so much.
believe me, 
we are counting down each day,
sometimes each minute.

you get the drill.
just put your sensitive hat on.
we can be very fragile
so go in gentle.

we are strong but not perfect.
best thing about deployment, however,
homecoming.

more on that later.

any thoughts on this subject?
experience?
please share.

October 26, 2011

i didn't know i needed you so badly

i love you, new iphone


seriously.
not the most techie person around.
perhaps i can hold my own,
but definitely not the
'have to have the latest' 
kind of girl.

my girls were teasing me about 
my slow as molasses
hip and happening 
iphone 3g 
(all of 8g by the way)

so after 2 1/2 years 
and 
one free upgrade i decided it was time.

can you say,
know your socks off?
lightening speedy?
and i haven't even met siri yet, 
but i know i'll love her.

just so happy in iphone land right now.

do you have one? 
do tell.

as always,




October 20, 2011

www resurrected: cuffs, clogs and ebay junk

skinnies: gap, clogs: dsw, top: F21, best: targie

this was me heading out to 
one of my book clubs.
yes.
two book clubs.
don't you belong to two book clubs or
am i the only book nerd?

regardless,
this is me, 
in front of my dining room table
chalked full of junk,
i mean, 
really cool stuff i'm selling
on ebay.

tell me about 
your latest fall attire.
cuffs involved?
 
do tell...

October 18, 2011

drum roll please...homecoming dress revealed

and the winner is...


madison 
chose
the plum dress
from express
as the winning prized homecoming attire
2011.


what do you think of the final product?

i don't suppose you get melancholy
like me when you see this image?

no, 
that would just be me.

don't suppose you are misty eyed either?
verklempt maybe?
ya.  
didn't think so.

just me.

she did look beautiful
(i know i'm biased)

don't like watching my baby grow up on me,
even if she is the most beautiful girl in my eyes,
inside 
and 
out.

more pics...

momma and her girlies



weeeeee


three sisters

thanks for stopping by.
would love your thoughts on 
your babies growing up,
going to big dances, 
getting all dolled up?


October 11, 2011

fall porch...evolved

remember this post?


yeah.
the non-fall, fall porch

well, take a look at the new evolution.
(notice the new orange added...)

yes. 
the girls won out.








thoughts?
opinions?
"told you so's"?

October 10, 2011

guilty pleasure...anyone with me?

i can't help it.
okay.
i'll blame it on my three teens.

they make me watch it.

really.

who am i kidding.
love every drama filled second.



who's with me?
did you watch last night?

come on...
let's dish.

all i will say.

love humphries.
so not crazy about
how khloe is
welcoming him into the
 family.

no room to talk, khlo.

anyone else out there agree?
part 2 tonight.
set your dvr now.

i did warn you.

 reality tv is my weakness.


October 6, 2011

"your time is limited. 
don't let the noise of other people's opinions 
drown out your own inner voice. 
and most important, 
have the courage 
to follow your heart and intuition, 
they somehow already know 
what you truly want to become." 
 
steve jobs
1955-2011



rest 
in
peace
mastermind.

October 5, 2011

wardrobe wednesday: homecoming shopping

   why?
why, i ask?  
why do our girlies have to
go out and grow up on us like that?

not happy.

at all.

my sophomore is getting ready for homecoming.
   dress shopping was underway.

you be the judge...

macy's white and gray 

macy's strapless 

blue lace
(thanks for the  name, kathy d)

express gold

express gray

express plum

express coral

 stay tuned to see which one 
came out the winner...


 tell me how you survive watching
your babies grow into grown up beauties?