The Mermaid In My Life....

Grew up tonight. She has always gotten life. Her lessons in life have been treated with respect by her, and she has never taken advantage of my trust in "life lessons"  in her. As much as some moms may think that our choice was too mature for such a little girl, in my heart I feel so ok.

You see, my 7 year old blond daughter has grown up with blond hair...on her head. My lovely and confident daughter grew up with black long and thick hair on her legs. She has been a rockstar on her own. She never asked me or voiced her concerns about her dark haired legs...until last summer. Had nothing to do with her trying to be a big girl. She simply saw that her legs were sooooo hairy and dark and thick.

I am all about confidence, so I spoke this her about this. I am a boudoir photographer! I get it. But, I am an all natural girl.
Tonight, as any night for the past 2 years, my daughter put on her brave smile with the dress she picked...saying "I pray mommy that noone sees my hair.".

I saw her soul. She is confident, she is lovely, she is smart, she is good.

I tried  her daddy's razor.... we shaved her calve and shin. She cried as she said "mommy, thank you for getting me. I will always respect you". She followed this with prayer.. "Thank you for my mommy understanding me, Lord. I pray she always gets me, I pray I always get her... I pray for all of my friends....amen."

Love Day.... The Good Stuff

A year ago, my husband and I were so very disconnected. We let ourselves let go of communication and just....be. Not good in a marriage. It almost ended us. Truth.

Fast forward one year. A year of us constantly remembering to communicate, a year of gaining back control of how we stand as a family, a year of seeing the woman of one of the strongest couples I have ever known say goodbye to her soul mate (my mother in law), a year of being there for my husband as he let his dad go and promising to be there for his mom in her time of need and beyond, a year of our children learning to see us kiss again, a year of kissing my husband goodbye again daily as he leaves for work, a year of being brutally open to my friends who have prayed for us over and over, a year of being the new and improved couple for only ourselves, a year of rediscovering each other and forgiving along the way, and a year of both of us remembering why we fell in love in the first place.

What a year.

Thank the good Lord we decided to fight this out. It took two. Not everyone has two to fight, so I know how lucky we are.

I have not shared much of this out in the blogging world. Because we were still healing. We were dealing. And we only trusted those closest to us the struggle we had endured.

And here we were yesterday. Valentine's Day 2012. Buying funny cards for each other that are a tad bit tacky and we have to hide them from the kids. We were covered up in Valentine Parties, not only for our own kids, but being there for my niece and nephew who are new at our school (awesome post for another day, my cup runneth over). I was exhausted and could not think and had a car in the shop and was just keeping my head above water with work and the house and awesome kids. Romantic, huh?

Yesterday at 6pm or so, we left both kids home for a few so we could take the niece and nephew home and I could get my car back. While hubby dropped off kids, I went home to get the house cleaned up. The kids were in their rooms, being very sneaky. Those boogers were making me a card. The best kind to get.

My daughter made a sweet card, but we talk all the time of our love and appreciation of each other. My son, he is more quiet. His little card was so simple yet so heartfelt. Tears.

After a fabulous dinner by my husband, we all sat on the sofa together. One by one, we told the other what we loved about each other. I half way expected this to be a total fail. The kids fighting, refusing to be nice to each other. Instead we got love that had us all tearing up. We heard our children say things to the other that we never thought we would hear, so very awesome. Our children said things to us about their love for us, and we realized that we were doing it right. Raising awesome adults who truly enjoy the good stuff. It isn't all about how we look in other people's eyes or how we are thought of. It is about us, our hearts and souls truly "getting" it. Life, and how the people around us can keep us inspired and good and real. Then came my words to my husband. Funny, it came down to how we met. He danced with me, led me, and made me feel safe. Still stands strong today.The words to me from my husband were surprising....he called me the glue to the family. What a statement.

So while I saw people mad at what they got for V-Day, or what they didn't get, or what they wanted, or how they don't believe in it....I just have to say:

I enjoyed my day. I enjoyed the holiday. I got pretty flowers, I got handmade cards, I got a naughty card, I got to spend time with extended family, I got to enjoy a meal made by my hubby (although it wasn't cleaned up haha), I got so very much. Some that some people would roll their eyes at. But I have my husband. I look at my mother in law mentioned above who celebrated her first Valentine's Day alone (although she spend most of the day with us and at parties, so she was with people who loved her beyond belief) in who knows how long. I can not imagine how she felt.

So I will say that I will take my simple and beautiful day into evening over diamonds, trips, crazy expensive flowers, and fancy dinners. Because the words I heard my family say to the other was....wow....

Just wow.

A Few Of My Favorite Things: 2011

Inspired from my previous post and this post from 2008,I decided to share my favorite things at the moment (or they have been for a long time). Warning, several may revolved around food...but not all! Hover over links to get details on products and such.

Tahitian Gardenia Perfume: I have found this once again after our local natural food store stopped carrying it. Found it at Sprouts. This is a lovely subtle perfume that does not overwhelm, but I am often stopped to ask what I am wearing when I dab it on. ;-)


Roasted Chickpeas: These are also my daughter's fave snack ever. There are a gazillion ways to make it, but our fave variation is this.

Bison: Thanks to my dear friends, Jeff and "DonnaDear", we are sold. Although I can never ever ever recreate Jeff's meals (oh how I want his mustard sauce)....they turned on my entire family to bison. Read about the good stuff that bison has to offer here because I am too lazy to type it all out.  This is our fave way to make it. I need Jeff and DonnaDear to help me with more creative uses of it.

My Wonder Woman Coffee Mug: It makes me smile. Although the mug sees more tea than coffee, the attitude of the mug wakes me up.

My New Car (Buick Enclave in Cocoa): Something else that makes me smile. Funny how your fave things can make you smile. :) But this one can carry around my nieces and nephews and friends this summer. This being said, my fave car dealership is THIS ONE

Candied Bacon: NUFF SAID This is coming from a girl who doesn't like sweets

OnStar: Because it is cool and I feel like a VIP when I use it!

Pintrest: Duh

My 85mm 1.2: Several years later, it is still my fave lens ever. Especially for boudoir!

Salon LaPage: There are times I can't get in with the stylist I ask for. This being said, I am never ever let down. Now I don't know who the hell to go to. Ha.

MPIX: I have used MPIX for years personally...but totally impressed with print orders this year, plus reasonable prices! .

My Boots!  I love these even over a year later. I will always eye more boots, but these go with everything!

My Gym: They never let me down, no matter how naughty I have been.

Last Minute Holiday Craft

Most people that know me KNOW that I am not super crafty. I have tried sewing, didn't love it. Never attempted scrapping, was never interested (although I adore looking at other's). I don't make cute templates or canvas prints. Not crafty at all.

But I AM creative...AKA I rock at coming up with something creative at the very.last.possible second in a select few occasions. .

Last week I had that "oh crap" moment. I am room parent for my 9 year old son's class. That meant class party. Like planning a craft and such. I had a week.

 I came up with a theme: A Few of Our Favorite Things.

Basic plan was:

• For each child to bring their favorite treat or snack (my son picked my homemade cornbread).
• I will bring my fave holiday drink (ok, safe for kids)...Apple Cider (I totally winged this too, and although I expected the kids to dislike it, we had to ration it instead). 
• Come up with a craft that has something to do with one of the child's fave memories.

And so this "craft" was created.

I love using the clear glass bulbs for gifts each year. In the past I filled them with a special photo. But this year I did these as gifts..... so I took this idea and ran with it, on a smaller scale.

What you need:
Mini Glass Ornaments (Hobby Lobby)
A Thin Strip of Paper
A Few Strips of Shiny Ribbon

Have your child write your fave memory (depending on recipient of gift, it can be a fave memory with that person...thanks to my friend Evea for that idea). My memory was celebrating Christmas for the first time as a mommy. Twirl the paper with something small, like a wooden skewer or toothpick, and place inside ornament. Fill with ribbon (you can twirl it around the skewer or just let it curl inside bulb as you place it in).

Simple as that.

Now you take this idea and run with it. :)

Christmas & Such

Boy, Christmas snuck up on me this time...but I fought like hell to stay on top of it. :) Not to be the over achieving mom, nope. Just to create memories for the family. They may be simple memories, but that's the good stuff.

With the introduction of Pintrest into my life, just like all of my friends, I am now constantly putting inspirational things onto my life to-do list. A few of those things I actually put into action.

Mind you, this is not fancy. Not the most creative. Done in a bit of a rush. I am sure I could have done a ton more to these....but you get what you get. Right?

The first was a simple ornament idea that my 7 year old daughter saw. She calls it "SPARKLES!!!". You should hear her say that. SO we put together some ornaments for the girls in our lives. (look away Evea....please):

Next up was an advent calendar. We decided to have an activity advent. We numbered little envelopes and wrote activities on the card stock. We display the activity once it is done. It was easy, and most activities are easy. Although two will require quite a bit of work! One actually is going to end with about 40 kids at my house I am sure. Really really.

I have had a few people ask me what the activities are....

In no order:

1. make cookies for a neighbor
2. watch a Christmas movie
3. write a holiday play
4. stir peppermint into coffee, cocoa, or tea
5. watch Jordan's holiday performance
6. watch Andrew's musical performance
7. do a scavenger hunt with friends in neighborhood for local food bank
8. write a Christmas letter to a soldier
9. decorate ornaments for friends
10. go see friend's Christmas play
11. go look at Christmas lights
12. eat some peppermint ice cream
13. go see friend perform in Annie
14. spend night with besties
15. Christmas Carol with friends (this is what has turned into a TON of people)
16. make snowflakes
17. celebrate Daddy's birthday
18. bring Christmas flowers to Nana at cemetery
19. make homemade hot chocolate
20. decorate cookies
21. write letter to Santa
22. tell a stranger Merry Christmas
23. watch a Christmas TV special
24. Christmas Eve Surprise!

I hope this inspires you all in some way. :)

Friday Morning Musings

My Thoughts

I love being surrounded by quirky, silly, lovely yet imperfect women. It helps me remind AND show my daughter that perfect girls are boring. She believes me because she sees my lovely, color outside of the lines, confident, and witty friends.

Oh how I enjoyed sitting outside, under a blanket, drinking hot tea with my sweet son last night. While hubby and my daughter were at softball practice, we had time to connect. He is getting so big, yet still enjoys time with me. It was a gorgeous night.

I get my new camera today! Squeal!!!! So ready to play!!

Speaking of.... after taking quite some time off to focus on my family, I am scheduling sessions again. Not as many as before, since we have active children and I am enjoying my weekends with my family.

J has her first softball game tomorrow! Can't wait!

I am so loving more and more date nights with my husband. We had gone months and months without one. All of a sudden we are spoiled. Nice to reconnect. Really.

I have so many friends that I am proud of for so many reasons. Stepping out of their comfort zones. Healthier living. Setting boundaries with negative people/situations. Recreating themselves into a better version of them. Embracing the good instead of running from it. I could go on and on. Rock on my dear friends!

I have come to realize that certain changes are so hard that they can even break your heart. You wonder if those changes were the right ones to make. Have to trust....

Have a fabulous weekend everyone.

xoxo

7th Birthday

My baby turned 7 last week. In lieu of having a birthday party with all of her friends, she asked to go to the farm...Greer Farm that is. So we packed up 3 kids (her "sister-cousin" Catie came along at the last minute!) and made the 3 hour trip.
Here is the trip in pictures (not bad pics taken with a little point and shoot).



Icee Tongues




Girls watching boats





He was a fishing fool





Time to pick blueberries





Girls playing with antlions





Mermaids





Peach Orchard





Buddy the Dragonfly




More Antlion Playing





Little S'more Brownie in Cabin





Cousins




Farm Dog Tux




Farm Dog PePe

 Happy 7th my dear girl. Love you so much.