Saturday, March 31, 2012

Feeling Blue~ a tribute to Erma

I've had this perfectly good, brand new bottle of OPI fingernail polish for awhile now... BRIGHT blue. It's really pretty actually...it came in a gift set with other colors, just in case you're wondering why a woman well into her 30's owns a bottle of bright blue fingernail polish.  Every time I would contemplate using it, a teeny tiny voice in my head would bring me back to reality, "Are you kidding me? You're almost 40! You can't pull off blue!"

And then I remembered Erma... and her rose candle quote.  Burn the pretty rose candle before it melts in storage.  So I embraced my age, painted on the blue....and loved the outcome.  And when Rea sees them, she'll want blue too.   :)





If I Had My Life to Live Over ~ Erma Bombeck:

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the GOOD” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up! on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I wasn’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment realizing that the wonderment growing inside me was! The only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s” and more “I’m sorry’s” but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute…..look at it and really see it … live it. And never give it back.

Source:http://thetwelvelawsofsantaclaus.com/2011/09/20/if-i-had-my-life-to-live-over-erma-bombeck/

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Spring has sprung!

Much to my dismay, winter ended early this year... Reagan is loving the warm temps!  We have been experiencing outside adventures every night this week. 


Getting ready to play with the neighbor boys...






Loves her big red ball...



Checking out the baby bunny in the yard...
Rea says, "The Easter baby bunny!"



Her "treasure" find...a golf ball.


Daddy found a toad!
Rea says, "I no like that froggy!"



Giggles with daddy!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Celebrating Papa!

These kiddos love their papa!


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Wordless Wednesday~ 2 going on 12....


(As soon as I took the pic, Rea asks for lipstick...2 going on 12)

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Memories

I've lived a lot of places in my life... houses, apartments, dorm rooms and (for a short stint in the summer of '96) a frat house... and when I met, fell in love with and then moved in with Andy, a carriage house offset behind an old beautiful Victorian occupied by his parents. 

Naturally, it was love at first sight, that Victorian.  The amazing view (see pic below) off the dining room, the wide, winding staircase in the main room, the all-season porch with the comfy overstuffed furniture and warm fire place on cold winter days...even though Andy and I lived in the carriage house above the garage, the old Victorian always felt like home. 

It was only fitting we had the wedding there to share in the tradition with Andy's brother and sister in law.  I remember racing over there the minute we found out we were expecting peanut, telling Andy's parent's the exciting news in the kitchen, even though it was late on a week night...

The only problem with the Victorian, it was too far away. :)  So this weekend, Andy's parents packed up the moving truck and headed over to our neck of the woods.  They are now only a stone's throw away from us, which is exactly how it should be.

We'll always hold fond memories of the Victorian but it's time for a new house, new memories and the best part, new neighbors.

The Victorian circa 2007 (thanks for the pics Susan!)




The view~

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Progress

I've said it before and I'll say it again, weight loss does not come easy for me. 

I tend to put everything and everyone else first. How can you celebrate without food?  Plans with friends? Skip the gym!  Peanut hasn't gone to bed yet? Stay home!  Stressful day at work? Eat 3 candy bars... so you see my pattern.

Despite the odds, I have managed to claw, kick, scratch, and fight my way to an 18.3 lb weight loss.  I'm barely hanging on- like a rock climber without a rope.  The slightest thing could throw me off- like more SICKNESS or something like that.

But for now, I'll acknowledge that it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to drop those 18.3 lbs.  I wish I could say I had reached the end of my journey.  But it's only the beginning. 

Two things I know for sure:  calories in versus calories out.  And there has to be exercise. Lots of it.

Oh and the next person who tells me their great 'diet' trick is to substitute 100 calorie packs for actual CAKE or CANDY is getting the side-eye