White Shoes

"All day long, I've felt like white shoes after Labor Day."
Growing up, my mother, who was as about as fashionable as you could be when you shopped for your clothes at Sprouse Ritz (picture a place where Sears and Kmart were a step up!), always said you couldn't wear white shoes except from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This was one of those "old school" rules that everyone seemed to adhere to, even the fashion challenged.
Since Memorial Day was yesterday and June 1st is tomorrow, I thought it deserved a little consideration. Looking in my closest, where there resides about 100 pairs of shoes, I find there is not one pair of white shoes! I can't remember the last time I bought or wore a pair of white shoes. My daughter thinks white shoes are one of the worst fashion statements you can make and wearing them, immediately throws you into the old lady category. If that's all it takes to keep me from old lady status, my closet will continue to be free of a white pair of shoes! Who knew it could be so easy?

In or Out?

The business section of the paper today had an interesting article. In it, the question was asked by a seventh grader, "How can you tell if a country is good or bad?" The speaker replied that it was easy. When you open the gates of a country, are more people trying to run in or trying to run out? It got me thinking about people in general. When you think of people you look forward to seeing, either at work or socially, which ones would you run toward versus run away? What traits do they possess? Are they upbeat and positive or always a downer? Are they anxious to hear what's up in your life or do they go on and on about only what is happening in their life? Do they remember to ask you about something you discussed previously ~ How's your mom feeling? Did you recover the sofa? How does it look? When do you leave on vacation?, etc. Interacting with people is not a one-sided event. Relationships are formed by sharing information about each other, not just about one. We all have met the person that, no matter what story you are telling, they interject about the time it happened to them and it was ________(bigger, better, worse, etc. fill in the blank). The point is, they always turn it around to be about them. They only hear you as a springboard to launch the next story about them. I am pretty sure, this type of person is not aware they are like this. They are too busy thinking up the next thing they are going to say about themselves. If they were a country, people would be running out not in!
Try out my theory this weekend as you gather with people at the beach, barbecues, etc. Which people make you feel better by being around them and which don't? Which are you?

Would You If You Could?

People often say they wish they knew what the future held, but do we really? We all are writing the book of our own life, complete with successes, failures and everything in between. If you could "jump ahead" a few chapters, would you? What would you read? Part of me wants to know what the future holds and how I can make it the best it can be (control freak). Decisions made today often have a ripple effect on the future, both big and small. Sometimes we can foresee these effects and sometimes, not. It is often only in the after look that we see the whole picture. It often comes with that "Ahh haa" moment when, what was once muddled and uncertain, suddenly becomes totally clear to us. Each action does cause a reaction and, for this, we must be accountable.
If crystal balls are suddenly sold on the internet, would I buy one? Maybe yes, but, most probably, no. As painful and scary as it sometimes may be, I think I will continue to write the chapters of my life one page at a time and hope that "The End" is a long was off!

Wordless Wednesday - You Rock!

Drop Cloth Magic

Got an idea that I thought was worth sharing. This weekend, as far as our household is concerned, is the start of the summer season. I have been hunting for cute outdoor tablecloths to use for our many get-togethers and haven't really found any I like. Much of the themes for summer revolve around the good ol' red, white and blue, but sometimes you just want to celebrate lazy, long summer days with other colors as well.
I went to Home Depot and bought simple painter's drop cloths. The size I chose was about $8.00 and will easily fit the six foot tables we have out back. There are many types of drop cloths, but I chose the burlap-looking, canvas types. They are a perfect, neutral background upon which to decorate any table.
The package looks like this.
Opened, you can see they fit nicely on the table. They are thick and washable. I washed mine before their first use to make them a little softer. Now comes the fun, ever changing part.
You can use anything to decorate your table. I bought foam stars just to give you an example. I will be adding a red, white and blue flower arrangement and flags for the Memorial Day party. For another time, I also have plastic, black ants ~ perfect for a picnic theme, don't you think?
I will even use these drop cloths on the outdoor dining table with candles and sunflowers. The possibilities are endless! Use your imagination. You have extra money to buy "props" because the drop cloths are so inexpensive.
Now, my only problem is making sure my husband doesn't grab them for a job site!!

Full Moon Party

Always looking for a reason to party, I think a "Full Moon Party" sounds perfect! Full moons this summer are Wednesday, June 15, Friday, July 15, Saturday, August 13 and Monday, September 12. This gives you plenty of time to pick a date and plan ahead to enjoy dinner outside under the moon. Food is probably secondary to the wonder of nature under the full moon. It feels happy and magical and full of promise.I have fond memories of taking each grand baby outside to show them the moon. For some reason, it delighted them so much. "I see the moon & the moon sees me." was a line from one of their story books that stays with me even today.
No matter what you serve for dinner, I think moon pies are the required dessert!

Piece of Cake

These are not my words, but they moved me enough to want to share them with you..

Sometimes we wonder,'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?'
Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.' "Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck' says her daughter. 'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!' 'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' "Mom, those are all yucky!' To which the mother replies : 'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves, but when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! '
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you!
Just a good thought for a Saturday morning.

Disaster or Food!

While having dinner with a dear friend last, we were discussing how much we enjoy writing our blogs and how we come up with different topics. Much to my friend's horror, I told her that I get the most "hits" or reads when I write about food (we all love to eat) or something bad happening. This has been confirmed to me by other bloggers who started writing when they had a premature baby. Giving day-by-day accounts of that little life barely hanging on, got the writer tons of hits. Now that the baby is healthy and out of the woods, readership has dropped measurably.
What is it about us that loves looking into others lives and finding out they have troubles, worries and misery? We all know, on a logical level, that no life goes unscathed. We all have setbacks, hurts and ups and downs. Why do we take some vicarious pleasure in knowing, our life may be bad, but somebody's might just be worse?? Oh, we don't say it like that at all. We tsk tsk and shake our heads and say how sad, but part of us is actually happy that it's not us. We are happy to do the mental scorecard and find we come out on top. Does this make us bad people or just people? We have all driven by the traffic accident and, try as we might to look away, we can't help but glance at it for a moment. Right afterwards, we shudder and say a small prayer for the people involved and an even bigger prayer that it's not us.
With this post, I guess I risk people thinking I am an awful person for saying such things. However, I don't think so. I think you know what I'm talking about and have felt exactly like this in your life. Again, not bad people ~ just people.

OC Wine Trolley

I am a person who always needs to have something to look forward in my life. I happened upon info about this OC Wine Trolley that runs in Old Town Orange on Friday nights. I looked into it and found out they stop at 13 or 14 restaurants. You don't get off the trolley, but people from each restaurant come out and offer you samplings from their menu. Not only that, along the way, you get to sample five wines while someone on board discusses their tasting points with everyone. It only holds 26 people and they are sold out 4 or 5 weeks in advance.
I was on a mission to put together a Girl's Night Out on this trolley. Within less than twelve hours, I had sold all 15 of the open seats for June 24th. Sometimes it's good to have Biggsuzi as a friend! I am calling it "The Fab 15" and it promises to be a night to remember! At least I hope I remember it!! :) Look for my review after 6/24.

Wordless Wednesday - Love These Boys!

Stable of Strollers

I couldn't resist taking this picture at Disneyland last week. Can you say Holy Strollers!!?? Every ride had it's own little parking lot of strollers. With the cost of these things, it's a wonder they don't have an armed guard watching out for them! The funny things is, after a certain age, the kids refuse to ride in them and you end up pushing an empty stroller. And every adult says the same thing, "I'd love to have somebody push me around all day!" In an ever changing world, some things never change!

Maddy Magic

Look closely. Can you read this note? A couple of weeks ago, I was taking the kids to the park for a picnic. Jack was finishing up watching a show on TV and I was at the computer. Maddy (age 6.5) came in and asked me how to spell "grammie". She then proceeded to write down something and handed me this paper. It says, "Grammie, let's go!" I plan on hanging onto this little treasure for a long time. Maddy has learned so much in kindergarten, it amazes me. Yes, it's not a perfect note, but she got her point across perfectly. She was excited and wanted to head out on our adventure.
When I picked her up from school today, she informed me that the bonus spelling world is aquarium! Are you kidding me?? I am thankful that I could spell check it when I wrote it here! I am so blessed to be along for this journey that is her life. Soon, she'll be teaching me a thing or two. Wait, scratch that ~ she already has!

Like Buttah

QUESTION: When a recipe calls for softened butter, what exact consistency should it be? I am impatient and want to cook. If I forget to leave it out on the counter, can I zap it a few seconds in the microwave?

ANSWER: Softened butter should just yield when you press it with your finger but should feel cool to the touch. It's important to achieve the right level of firmness, especially for baking - if the butter is too soft, you might end up with cookies that are too flat or oddly shaped. If it's too hard, it won't mix properly with the sugar, leaving you with a tougher cake. It's best not to soften butter in the microwave, because doing so can cause it to melt. Even if it melts in only a few spots, it will never reach the same consistency again. If you forget (or are impatient, like me!) to let the butter soften, cut it into pieces and leave it on the counter. It will soon be ready to use.

Inspired?

What or who inspires you?
I think staying inspired is the difference between getting through life and living your life. I need inspiration to help me to feel whole and that life is worth living. I need to be inspired in my work, in my relationships and in what I read. I want to be around people who inspire me ~ to be smarter, to think about things, to be a better person.
Interested parties - inquire within.

More Life Lessons

Sometimes, you just have to take the plunge...even if you can't see what the outcome will be.

Yes, you may get hurt.

It also might be a thrilling ride.

Appreciate every day with little pleasures. For, often, they are the big pleasures in disguise!

Just Three Words

I borrowed a great idea from a cousin's wedding where they asked every couple to write "just three words" to the bride and groom. We adapted it for a 40th birthday party and asked guests to write either three words to describe the birthday girl or a three word message. Here are some of the results.

This idea could be adapted for many types of parties. It would be fun to do it for a graduation party, a retirement party, etc. You can do it with a chalk board or a dry erase board. Just make sure you check your pics as you take them to avoid any glare. It helps to go around and tell people what you are doing to give them some time to think about what they want to write. It is always interesting to watch those that need lots of time to contemplate the perfect thing and those that immediately grab it out of your hands and just write.

Gathering all the "just three words" and making a photo book is the perfect keepsake of the party. It could even be your gift to the guest of honor.

What Is This?!

As most of you know, I am a natural redhead! HA! HA! I have a monthly date with my hairdresser to keep this fantasy alive. Every fourth week, I am amazed at what my roots look like. When I began dying my hair red over 20 years ago, I wasn't gray at all, just a mousy, boring brown. I had a doctor I had just met tell me once that my hair color (the red) suited my personality! Hmmm....fiery, bold, noticeable??

When did all this gray take over for the mousy brown? I realize that I am a grammie now, but I refuse to look like one. Rarely do I see a woman with what I would call a pretty gray color. When I do spot it, I always make a point of complementing the woman on it. I am pretty sure the gray I am seeing every fourth week is not one that would be labeled a pretty gray. It's just gray! I hope I never stop making it a priority to spend the time and money on fighting back the gray monster. Maddy made me a beautiful Mother's Day card and she drew a picture of us standing side by side. When she gave it to me she said, "You know it's us grammie, because your hair is red and mine is yellow." Man I love that kid!!!

Grown Up Kids

I have often said, when it comes to our children, we don't get to write the script for them. It is one of the hardest parts of parenting because we want what is best for them and we think, as their parents, we know exactly what that is. I have always said that what I wanted for my two children was for them to be happy, productive citizens. Looking at this picture, I can confidently say this has been accomplished! HA! Actually, they are both pretty great people. I enjoy their company and they make me laugh. I love watching the two of them tease and harass each other, knowing full well, when the chips are down, they can count on each other to be there, no matter what!! I also know, I can count on them to be there for me. Lucky us.

Winning ~ Me???

I received a phone call from the Orange County Register this week and they said I had won a $100 gift card to Cost Plus World Market! Like most people, I responded with, "I never win anything!!" There is something sweeter about money won than money earned! That must be why the lights are still on in Las Vegas!!

I turned this....


Into this...

There was something so cool about strolling around, picking out things that I could get without spending my own money that made it such an adventure. Here's what I got: three bottles of wine, two with a rating of 92 points and one that had a pink pig on the label so I had to buy it, two dipping oils, two acrylic wine glasses for poolside, four stemless red wine glasses, two stemless white wine glasses, a can of salted almonds, a can of salted cashews, a bag of potato chips, gold coins for the babies, and four battery operated paper lanterns for the backyard this summer! It was the highlight of my day...maybe even my week!

Who says money (or free gift cards) can't buy happiness?!?!?!?

Something Stinks Here

My day gets started with the newspaper and a cup of coffee. It is one of my favorite rituals. In today's paper, I was struck by two articles that ran side by side. The first one was about Kate Middleton. The perfume she wore to the wedding was announced and it promptly sold out. There is a two week waiting list for people to purchase it! Really?? Are we so desperate to "be like famous people" that we will rush out to buy a perfume just because Kate wore it?? What am I missing here? Generally, perfume takes on a slightly different scent on each person who wears it. Haven't you ever noticed a friend's perfume, loved it and went to the store to try it just to have it smell like old, musty shoes on you?!?! I wonder if some of those people on the waiting list will find out the same thing.
The second story was about Marie Osmond. She got married yesterday, to her first husband that she divorced. The part that struck me as odd was that she married in the Mormon Temple! I know very little about the Mormon religion, but really? She was married to someone else in between husband number one and remarrying him. Does the temple suddenly have a revolving door out front? Did the second one not "count" and the church always considered her married to husband #1? Is she married to both of them in the eyes of the church? You know, they hold a "families are forever" theory. Did the church make an exception because she is someone famous? Should churches make exceptions? Does that make religion a buffet that you approach and pick and choose what parts you will adhere to while ignoring others? We Catholics are famous for that approach.
Do you think Marie was wearing Kate's perfume at her ceremony?
Something stinks here...

Wordless Wednesday

Self Promotion

If you look at the right side of my blog, you will find that I have added blogs that I read and follow. You may find some of them interesting. I am hoping that people who read my blog and have one of their own, will do the same and add me to their list of favorite blogs. In this age of information coming at us from every direction, it is nice to share what matters to us. Everything I write may not interest you, but it may interest someone you know. Sharing thoughts can be a powerful tool for coping with this busy world. Finding out you are not the only one who feels that way can be like lifting a weight off your shoulders. Someone once said that Facebook is really only for two things: bragging and bitching. If you scan most posts, they do seem to fall into these categories, but occasionally, I find it to be otherwise. People share fears and concerns about friends and family. Others offer thoughts and prayers as they reach out to show someone they care how they feel. With all of our differences, we humans are also very similar in our daily struggle to find joy and meaning in our lives.

Humor

"Every survival kit should include a sense of humor."
Often I wonder, when I am long dead and gone, what will the babies remember about me? Will it be that I was always around? Will it be that I cooked awesome dinners for all of them? Will it be that I loved and supported them through all their life adventures? Among all the things they may remember, I truly hope they remember I had a sense of humor. Being silly is highly underrated! People are not silly enough, in my opinion. Silly can sustain you in a way that other things cannot. In this picture, we are all being silly ~ well, except Abigail. She is being ~ well, Abigail. She has the deadliest of looks that says it's her way or the highway. She is not out to please you, but to be herself. I hope she looks back at these faces she made when she way young and realizes, she was the silliest of us all!