I simply couldn't take the torture that is Typepad one second longer. Please join me in my new digs. It's kind of bare over there currently but I'll fill it up again soon I'm sure. LOL!
I'm still playing around with different things so there will be changes until I'm comfortable with it again so please be patient with me.
If you have suggestions for anything you'd like to see, let me know. I like new stuff too.
This site will stay as is unless I figure out an alternative.
I have to be honest with yall when I say that another huge part of why I've been blogging less is that I'm truly sick of Typepad. I've been wanting to leave this platform for over two years now but my blog is so large that it locks up on every system trying to import it. Then...Typepad has the export process so crazy that the files aren't even in the form you need them to be in to do so without some serious man hours. Everyone I step to to ask to help laughs.
Typepad doesn't have any of the features that indicate it's 2014. There have only been a few improvements since I started using the service in 2006. I go to other sites and see cool stuff only to get angry that I pay for this service and don't get to do the same. Hell...free WordPress blogs have more bells and whistles than this old archiac Typead. I've only stuck in there with them because, again, it's a pain in the tookus to move. UGH!
I'd love some advice. I've started a new blog on Squarespace, which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! What do yall think about my just starting over on that system and just leaving this here and link to it as an archive? Do you think it would be okay? I could stop blogging over here ASAP and just start blogging at the new place. Would yall go over there?
I am blessed that I have three best friends, lots of great friends and a whole host of really, really good friends. I have friends from waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in elementary school and people who's spirits I've fallen in love with instantly in more recent years.
But I only have one best girlfriend. She knows the majority of my secrets and she knows when I'm dealing with something even though she knows that I'm not ready to talk about what I'm dealing with. She waits patiently and she always knows exactly what to do and say. You guys know her and you also know that we love as hard as we fight. LOL! Thankfully we haven't had a major blowout in years and we both think we've reached the point of no return as far as our blowups are concerned. I doubt if we ever have another one cause we're older.wiser.gentler and more framily-er. Oh...and we have Cole. LOL!
Since she knows me so well she always gives me the absolute best-est gifts. I love a long robe and it's very seldom I find a robe long to the floor on me and when I do I buy it because, again, I love a long to the floor robe. All of the ones I currently own are for mild weather up North and that's about to change so she searched for a Summer weight one for me:
Isn't that MARVELOUS????????????????? GO ME! GO SHELLYBEAN!!!!!!!!! IT'S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!!!!
And the best thing about it?
Oh yeah...the monogram! Yall know I love a Mingogram. LOL!
Thank you again. I love you and I know you love me. You're my favorite. :)
Do you have a robe that hits the floor? How tall are you? Where did you get it? Aren't they FABULOUS?
If you know me truly, you know that my favorite person on Earth is my husband. He's down South heading up a program currently and I haven't seen him since mid-August but the days are counting down until I see his face again. Until I'm wrapped in his arms again and my cheek rests on his shoulder. Until I wake every morning to a kiss from him and his knowing and thoughtful perusal which always seems to capture what I'm feeling and what I'm thinking.
I don't know if absence has made our hearts more fonder because we love each other and are in love with each other, but I do know that absence has made us know that we're truly the other's touchstone. I'm not even me without him. Nobody knows me as well as he does and nobody knows how to put me back together when something triggers me into memories that threaten to pull me apart yet again.
I have the type of personality that everyone looks to when they need something. If I'm out and about with people I tend to be the one who finalizes decisions or helps everyone make a decision. My framily, family and friends call me when they are attempting to figure out the major things in their life and I always consider their situation thoughtfully before I offer my opinion. People count on me to have answers or to know where they can find the answers. They count on me to provide a safe landing for them when they are overwhelmed or need a hug or need to sit quiet or simply to have a good meal and share a bottle of wine listening to good music.
And I am able to provide that because my husband constantly provides that for me. That love, unconditional support and loving kick in the pants when I need it.
I was talking to a framily member the other day and we were talking about marriage. He said that whenever he tells people about the best husbands he knows, the ones he looks up to, Robby is one of the two he would love to one day be like. He shared how we were all somewhere doing something once and that I was all the way across the room in a stressful situation and that it was like I FELT that Robby had arrived. He said he looked up at me and my face broke out into the most joyous expression as I rushed over to meet Robby as he was rushing over to meet me. He said he watched how we hugged each other and he knew that none of the chaos in the room was there anymore for either of us and that it was clear that each other was all we needed. He then said that's what he wanted. A woman who looked at him that way and that he felt the same about.
I didn't know what to say other than I prayed that he found that one day and I was struck by how he'd put into words exactly what I'm always feeling about my husband. He is so prominent in my entire being and the world doesn't quite work the same without my being able to see his face and touch him. I'm not the type of woman who can be without her man for long. I'm built for partnership. I'm built to love and be loved. I'm built to take care of my loved one. I'm a simple, simple woman when it comes to what I need. It's him. Always will be. Just him. I can function without him but I'm not LIVING.
It's been a rough week on my spirit. I ran across my family photo albums from when I was growing up and I flipped through them and got deep down into myself and The Robinator wasn't here to make it all better. He tries over the phone and over Skype...but you and I both know they are poor substitutions for the real thing.
The countdown to seeing my FAVORITE face is near. October 9th is right around the corner. I can't wait.
On Saturday, Shelly and I had an early dinner at one of my FAVORITE restaurants, Black Market Bistro. We went early since we'd skipped lunch and the night was still young so we decided to go catch an indie film. When we arrived at the theater, there weren't any good seats available so we purchased tickets to go see the next show at 9:30. Um...it was 6:50. LOL! Fortunately we were in Bethesda so we decided to walk around and shop and then find a place to have a drink and maybe some dessert.
While heading to Lululemon, we passed this place and stopped: Make Meaning
There was a flyer stating Saturday's were adult crafting nights from 7:00pm - 9:00pm and we could paint some pottery for $30 for both of us. SIGN US UP!
There was a selection you could choose from and, of course, we both choose doggie bowls for our super spoiled pooches.
I'm certain no one is surprised that I had a wonderful birthday weekend since we all know I love doing what I want to do. I got great gifts, saw amazing friends, ate good food, and was the recipient of more than a few surprises. It was AWESOME.SAUCE!!!!!!
I hope, more than anything, that if you ran into me during a rut in your life looking for new stuff to do...you learn that you need to do whatever you can do to be happy and celebrate living life out loud. We have only this one life to live and this time next year I will be the same age my mommy was when she died. I hope I'm making her proud by how I live life. I hope she's smiling thinking..."That child of mine knows she knows how to enjoy herself." LOL! That would make me feel just perfect!
Happy birthday to me! I hope you enjoy today as much as I'm going to! Off to pick out a tiara!
I'm always astonished by how much my family looks alike. You can pick us out anywhere. Does your family look alike too?
We take the garbage out on Monday and Thursday during the week. Recycling is organized and put out for Wednesday pickup. I use the word WE loosely here because yeah...Robby takes it out.
Jaru likes long walks. He generally gets one good long one and two micro walks. Robby gives him that good long walk because he poops a lot and I love my doggie by my poop picking up skills are never something I enjoy cultivating.
The tire indicator came on in my truck letting me know I needed air in my right back tire. *sigh*
Yesterday the coffee maker made a pot of clearish hot water. I did what Robby told me to do and was successful in getting a pot of weak coffee made. It did the same thing today and I got out the manual and did a full scale super clean on it. I'm talking I whipped out a flashlight, the vacuum cleaner, etc. and now it's darn near in a brand new state of clean. I cleaned that thing to within an inch of it's life all the time knowing I have a lot to do today but at that moment...nothing was more important than cleaning that coffee maker perfectly and I started crying because I'm tired and my favorite Uncle has left us and I have so much to do but I have to go tell him goodbye and Robby isn't here so all of my pains have gone unsoothed because he soothes me and he makes it all better. He does all the heavy lifting and I get a little too soft because he cherishes me and does all the things he knows I don't care to do. I have put out the garbage twice even though I forgot to put out the recycling and I got a guy to put the air in my tire by playing cute chick without a clue and I've been scooping up poop like a pro.
And I've made my own coffee. Nine days in a row now and counting.
And my heart hurts and I'm sad and I have regrets about not being as...I don't know...communicative as I know I could be but I hate the phone and it's easier to get me online because I don't have to talk per se but our Elders...sometimes they can't get to their computer even though when they could...they read my blog and enjoyed it and laughed and fussed at me for cussing and gave me advice and talked to the other Elders about eDress Me and worried about me still being out here giving strangers rides and such even though they've always known that I was special, their words not mine, and have always been surrounded by angels.
And now I have another guardian angel popping in checking out what's going on and he is probably sitting over my shoulder right now while I'm writing this because...he missed reading my blog.
And yeah...I'm crying because I should have done more than I ever probably would have because well...I'm my father's daughter and that will always be my most significant weakness.
I'm so hurt that during a time I should be the happiest ever based on other things going on...my favorite Elder left us before I got a chance to do the more my heart always wanted me to do. This will be my most astonishing regret in life and the thing I question WHY the most.
I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself but I've gotten soft. I don't worry about what I don't want to worry about because I always know that The Robinator has it handled. He's the man. He's MY man.
I'm truly a woman who can't live without her man. I need him to hold me and make it all better because that's the only thing that will soothe this empty burn filled with heat that is my heart right now. I just hurt all over.
*sigh*
Good morning. Sorry. I'm feeling some kinda way today.
I am on the lookout for this $9.99 hat from Target in khaki and black. I visited two Targets and couldn't find it. If you see it at your Target, please send me a bat signal because I want them so and they aren't available to buy online. It fits my peanut head perfectly and I love it so.
Thank you in advance.
I don't like clutter. I'm just like everyone else, however, and sometimes things get stacked up on top of each other. I have a specific clutter area. The area where I sit in the family room, my nightstand (inside and out) and any purse that I'm carrying. At any given time you can look at those areas and they aren't neat. STUFF is spilling over and out and I have to search to find what I need or want. Sometimes I change my mind looking for what I was looking for simply because it required too much work.
So I stop.
And I sit.
And I do nothing.
And the clutter stays in a heap and it disgusts me because I know I can and should do better.
Then...one day it's too much for me and I get up and get a bag, or a box and I dump all the clutter in it. Then, I go through the box and throw away what needs to be thrown away. I put away what needs to be put away and I replace the things that were supposed to be there.
Neatly.
And I feel better. Every time I do this...I feel better. And I KNOW I'll feel better after just as I've known all along as I lived with the clutter.
I have so much to do currently and my mind is so cluttered with thoughts of how I'm going to get it all done. I need to prioritize and sort tasks and I need to get started on this YESTERDAY. My ind is racing with all that I need to do and I don't have many days to do it all and yet...yesterday I hung out on the sofa all day with Jaru doing nothing. I surfed the net and watched back-to-back episodes of "Baby Daddy" on Netflix. I just discovered the show this past weekend and I'm already on Season 3 so yeah...I'm quietly procrastinating knowing that I need to get with the good foot.
And this morning I'm sitting here thinking about options and planning in my mind because the project ahead of me is SO.BIG. and I'm about to go make some stuff happen.
I think.
Any minute now.
Yup...any minute now.
Watch me.
My cluttered mind needs a box.
Totally wish mediating worked for me.
Do you ever have a lot to do but can't get started? Have you ever watched "Baby Daddy?"
Homework for Grown-ups: Everything You Learned at School and Promptly Forgot
Cool. Found the gifts I'm giving for Christmas this year. Go me!
It's not a secret that I adore me some flowers and that I try and do something different once a week to make me smile. I have been adding flowers to pretty much every room that we use daily by dropping a bud or two in bud vases. The impact is simply lovely and cost pretty much little or nothing.
Whenever I'm in HomeGoods or TJMaxx, etc. I look for cute little bud vases. Surprisingly, some of my favorite ones were only three or four dollars. Then, I hit up Trader Joe's or my favorite flower shop, Kentlands Flowers & Bows, and buy some fresh blooms to put in them. My favorites these days are alstroemeria, bupleurum, hydrangea (especially green), stock , solidago and spray roses (orange ones are 2.DIE.4!)
Hand blown glass vases bring me joy, joy, joy and I love grouping them together to make fun stuff! I'm kinda in a funk of sorts so I'm about to head out to get some flowers. I'm already thinking of what I want to buy and I'm wondering if this week is going to require sunflowers.
Do you currently have flowers in your home? Do you buy them weekly or monthly? Do you only have flowers in your home when someone gives you flowers?
These are seriously the most challenging crunches for me.
Knees up.
Toes pointed.
Fingertips on edges of ears.
Pulse for 15.
Crunch for 15 without head touching floor.
Hold for 15.
Repeat 5 times.
No rest.
3 - 5 sets depending on how long Jaru lets me be on the floor without him.
Reach through side planks? HATE THEM HATE THEM HATE THEM! But hell...I do them do them do them. Often. UGH!
Weighted lunges and squats? When I'm doing them I constantly think:
But I do them because I am vain.
I do the majority of my workouts before I get dressed in the mornings before I brush my teeth. I have some hot water and lemon, eat a banana and then a cup of coffee. Then...strength stuff. Then...I drink as much of the water in my water bottle as possible. Complaining. I do them in the mirror so I can see myself and make sure my form is good because if I'm not doing them right...it doesn't work. I fight with my brain every second and tell myself, "Self...this is some bullish!" But I keep going cuz hell...I know I have to do it.
Then...second cup of coffee, bath, etc.
Then...breakfast.
And then...it's okay to speak to me.
Barely.
I'm not on any type of schedule per se. After years of knowing what I need to do...I just do it. I get bored quickly so I'm always looking for something new to do and sign up for different stuff all the time just to make sure I keep it mixed up enough for my random as heck brain.
I still don't like running so I still don't run. Sometimes I'll do sprints during my walks or on the treadmill but I feel like that's not really running so I don't count it as running. LOL! Most of the time it's just to race Robby.
I love hiking because it's not boring and we tend to do a quick clip pace when we hike to keep our heartrate up.
And I weigh myself EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I know the size I like to be and if I tip past that...I adjust. DAILY.
I was just talking to someone who does the majority of her workouts at home too or out at the school near her home. She was saying that she enjoys those workouts more than group classes or going to the gym even as she knows she has to go to the gym sometimes, especially when it gets cold.
What about you?
Do you do any of your workouts at home and outside or are you a gym person mostly?
I will be 45 years old next month and I have to renew my Driver's License before then. I got my reminder notice in the mail and went online to renew it so I didn't have to go to the DMV.
I pulled out my Driver's License and smiled. I like the picture and was happy I'd get to keep it. GO ME!
I filled out the application and added my credit card information to pay my renewal fee and clicked submit.
And I waited.
And it thunk on it.
And thunk on it.
And then...it said, "Say bruh...you gotta come in. You're over 40 now and your eyesight info has expired so bring your old azz up in here so we can handle this."
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Sheesh.
Color me NOT.HAPPY!
So, now I have to not have any wine or mojitos for a week, go get my brows done, make a hair appointment and put on mascara early one morning and head down to the DMV to get a new license.
What? Think I ain't?
Do you like YOUR current DL pic? How old is it? You got hit with the over 40 no renew online thing yet? Made ya feel old huh? That's alright...from what I see in these 20 somethings...we still fly. :)
On Sunday, The Robinator and I were on a hike when it started to rain. We'd procrastinated leaving the house all day and ended up getting a later than usual start so we were a tad bit frustrated with ourselves. We contemplated what to do and decided to keep on since we were hiking in an area with a canopy of pretty large trees. It was warm enough so if we did get soaked, we wouldn't be too uncomfortable and we had towels and whatnot back in the truck to dry off if need be.
So we continued on. The sound of the rain on hitting the leaves and then sliding softly to the beyond was soothing. I'd forgotten my earbuds so all I heard was the sounds around us, The Robinator and the occasional voice of the woman on RunKeeper chopping down our stats.
Needless to say, it was peaceful as all get out.
We continued on and got to an area that was so beautiful, you'd swear it was a glade where fairies lived. The trees were strong and majestic, natural ferns so green and so lush. Nothing but trees, grass, rocks, dirt, and whatever lived out there. We reached the area by trudging up an incline and, just as the incline was about to level off...there is was. Perfection.
I found myself wishing I'd had my real camera instead of the camera on my phone.
As we continued on, the rain stopped and, just like that, the sun broke through the clouds once again. I looked back at my guy and I just smiled because, once again, he was right about continuing on.
I love hiking. I've loved it since I was a little girl hiking with my father. Robby teases me because I always keep my eyes out for a good walking stick. I very rarely find one, but I'm always looking for one.
We try and go to different trails and he checks out the trails online before we head out. We like there to be a changing topography, water, etc. Nothing boring. Constant change. And we like to hit pretty remote trails where we don't run into many people because sometimes, people can change the energy of the pace. The week prior we were hiking and came up on a guy in all black leather on a motorcycle in the woods. Just odd as hell. I didn't care for that. My imagination is too active. LOL!
Do you ever go hiking? Do you ever look for trails in your area? If you don't, I bet you'll be surprised at what you find. I'm constantly amazed at the stuff we find in our own "backyard." It's truly stunning. We're planning to do a 10 mile hike this coming weekend and we're trying to plan it out so we can have a picnic too. I'm considering taking my camera but hey...who wants to carry that for 10 miles plus food and water? Not me that's for sure.
What kind of workouts do you do with someone else?
"...let us rejoice and be glad in Him."
My feelings about religion can be considered mired in memories too dark for the general public I believe. My mother used to say/sing that all the time. "This is the day the Lord has made...let us rejoice and be glad in Him."
And...depending on the mood my father was in, the day could be beautiful but often times...it was fucking fear filled horrible.
So...I went to see Prince in New Orleans and BAAAAAAAABY! I had a good dang time.
Listen up. That concert was, hands down, the absolute best concert I have ever, ever, EVER attended. Prince showed his behind off. Dude danced MAGICALLY! Did you hear me? It was MAGIC! The music was on point. The dancers were on point. His outfit was on point. It was just all amazing. There were a few technical issues that I'm certain a sound engineer got zapped for...but hell...nobody but Prince seemed phased by the issues and yeah...he pointed them out.
The day was just full of awe. I woke up that morning thinking to myself...today is the day I get to see Prince. And that feeling carried over the entire day into the night and into the next day since we didn't get home until 4:30 am on July 5th. LOL!
We got up, got dressed and headed out for brunch and I was excited in my pre-Prince purple:
Continue reading "Prince. New Orleans. Family. Framily. Friends." »
Ever since I found out I had cancer, my insurance has been extremely high. The highest. I've had no choice but to pay it because well...you need insurance and I love living. When the enrollment period started, we went online to see how much it would cost us to be insured at the same level and we were pretty shocked at the difference in price. We QUICKLY signed up.
QUICKLY.
INSTANT.MONTHLY.SAVINGS.
I won't say there weren't some snaffoo's initially because there were. The website kept crashing...but we kept trying. We signed up and then didn't get our cards for a while but we had the printout that said we were insured. When we got our cards, we needed a few questions answered and it took a while to get someone to answer them but now...we have cards in hand.
I used it for the first time yesterday. This is the time of the year where my pollen allergies create teeny tiny bumps around my eyes and they started. I needed the cream my dermatologist prescribes for it and, since it's been a year, I needed to make an appointment.
My copay for a specialist was $40. My doctor accepted my insurance even though she wasn't on the list. When I called and asked them, they said yes.
Even though they weren't on the list.
I had no problems at all. Got my cream, blood tests, etc.
And it is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than I'm used to paying.
#SUCCESS
Any of you use it? How has your experience been? Was it cheaper than what you were used to paying?
Yesterday was seriously THE.FUNNIEST.DAY I've had in a while. There were times when I laughed so hard I couldn't even talk. Who was I laughing at? Myself and my people who were laughing at me. T-Rhonda was in her office talking to me on the phone laughing so hard I just knew someone was going to pass by and close her office door. Just a mess!
As the day continued...it just got funnier and funnier. I imagined how people would react if they could just be a fly on the wall of my life with the people I love in it and I swear...I think we'd change the world for the better just by how much fun we have, how much we laugh and what we actually for real find interesting and talk about. The main culprit? My husband. He is seriously THE.FUNNIEST.MAN.ON.EARF.
And you'd also be surprised at just how many of us are nerdy as hell. Fascinated by the most interesting things, hitting up Mr. Google, sharing articles, pictures, hell...even full on scientific studies about some things. And the next minute? Something ridiculously ratchet.
PURE.JOY!
In person conversations, email, messages, comments, texts, phone conversations, etc. We some funny people.
Are YOUR people funny too? Do you have more joyful interactions than not? When your people are laughing at you...can you laugh right along with them because you know good and well that ish is funny too?
If not...I sure hope so. It's healing in the best way possible. I promise.
Question...what was your LAST text message?
Mine? If a bear is on your flight, just give him some of your almonds and don't make any sudden movements.
*sigh*
COMPLETE.JOY!
I was sitting outside this morning and heard a sound from up top across from me. I looked up to find a mountain lion had decided to check out the view from up above. I got up slowly and backed the hell up letting myself out of the pool area quietly. When I hit the door to my building I RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN to my room and called the front desk alerting them. They were on it. I went to the gym so I could see if he was still there and he was. Chilling. Cleaning himself. On top of the thingy surrounding the pool. I'm still shaking and I may or may not need to change my underwear.
My skin is already looking healthy and hydrated just from laying in the sun for a few hours. I totally missed the sun. Makes me happy, happy, soooooooooo happy! Can't WAIT to have this sun on my own deck at my own home!
On a scale of 1 - 10...how's your week been so far?
Out of all the things in life I've had to deal with, child abuse, tragedy, cancer and infertility...infertility is the one that came close to breaking me. Many of you were reading the blog back when we were trying to have a baby and it was one hell of a roller coaster of everything.
And yeah...I barely survived it.
Years later and I'll be in line at the grocery store and a kid is having a meltdown because he/she wants whatever crap it is they want that their parent isn't buying them.
Years later and I'll go to a friend's house who asks me to take off my shoes because the kids eat off the floor and I'll step on a lego and tears will pop up so fast and I'll have to LITERALLY bite my lip to not scream an F-bomb at the pain.
Years later I'll be on the phone with someone whose child is about to get cut for doing something or NOT doing something they were told to not do or do.
I'll politely get off the phone while they handle that and go back to whatever it was I was doing. I'll look around our home and be glad that, while it may currently be dusty...there aren't legos in the vicinity of my fluffy sock enclosed feet. I'll fix a lovely meal that I know everyone will enjoy and Robby and I will get to eat it in peace along with a glass of wine and some cuddle time on the sofa while we watch television.
Our evenings are quiet. We laugh a lot. We read a lot. We pretty much enjoy each other.
And the quiet. We enjoy the quiet.
Now...here's where I'm going with this before your inner snark monster starts saying "She knows good and damn well she wishes she had a kid or six." LOL! Cuz you're totally right.
HOWEVER...it didn't happen. It might not happen. Should I dwell on it? Should I allow the very real pain of it to hinder me from finding the silver lining? The joy? The things I'm grateful for...in the life we HAVE?
I don't think so.
I'm writing this for a friend. They know who they are. Life didn't give them what they thought they wanted more than anything and they have been wallowing in the ish for years now. I didn't know them before they accepted their unhappy state of being but I'm assuming they were once happy...BEFORE the dream didn't come to life. I'm not saying they are miserable but I am saying that they've allowed the disappointment to color every.single.thing they held dear. They go to work and just do the minimal. They withdrew from their family and friends. They let that thing that didn't happen became the train wreck that DID happen.
They can't find the reason they should have to BE.
They don't know how to #ChooseHappy.
I'm not happy we didn't have babies but I'm happy with our life. I'm happy I have him and he has me. I'm happy we have Jaru. I'm happy we have good people in our life who love us. I'm happy for so much even though I wish we'd had babies. Even though sometimes I see a toddler walking that toddler jerky walk and my heart skips a beat at what I don't have.
Because I do have a lot to be thankful for.
Most of us won't get what we think we want. That's okay. We have to learn to live with that...just like the toddler who didn't get the $6 colorful piece of crap toy they fell out about in Target.
They'll find something else to smile about soon.
P.S. I love you. :)
It's World Cancer Day! Show a survivor some love and beef up on your commitment to early detection by making sure you continue to get your yearly physical. Early detection SAVED.MY.LIFE.
Congrats, again, to all the survivors I know and love. We're still here. Let's make sure we spread the word about early detection to everyone we know so we have less occurrences of people not making it. PLEASE.
Bey looks like this drunk in love:
The Robintor and I didn't have a beer or even a glass of wine last night. He kissed me this morning as always, with a smile on his face.
When I found myself in front of a mirror...I decided I'm a lucky, lucky gal cuz it's obvious dude REALLY loves me.
When my hair is done I never feel bad.
My truck rides better when it's clean.
A clean home means I'm happy.
When the fridge is a mess...usually so am I.
I will never be a morning person.
It's extremely difficult for me to chit chat before 10am.
No one who meets me for the first time before 10am and walks away thinking I'm personable.
I currently have about 40 pairs of shoes tossed around the floor of my closet.
I'm looking at a pair of shades I've been looking for sitting on a bookshelf in my bedroom.
I won't remember where I saw them when I'm looking for them again.
Imma read this book next: Queen Sugar: A Novel
I have lots of clutches but I honestly hate clutches. They don't make sense to me since I know good and well I can't fit ish I want to carry in them.
But I guess they're cute huh?
I'm tired but got 9+ hours of sleep last night.
Man...I don't know hell...
I've reached that point in the season where I'm weary. I was talking to a stranger recently and they basically said that people who are sick of winter need to get over it because it's winter every.single.year.
(WARNING! DON'T LET YOUR KIDS READ THIS! *INSERT.EYE.ROLL.HERE*)
SIP: I wanted to punch him in the face yelling "B'DIE!" and then kick him in the shin and stomp all over his head while he rolled around on the ground screaming like a school girl getting her hair pulled by someone MAD.ABOUT.IT!
I chose to say nothing.
Of course it gets cold in the winter. Of course it snows, sleets, all of that. Doesn't mean we'll ever get SO used to it to think it's the best thing since stuffed olives. Cuz it's not.
It sucks.
I'm so ready for some warm sun on my skin while sitting on my deck. I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just because I'm sick of it doesn't mean my expectations are that it's going to warm up tomorrow and winter be over. Hell...I know it's not. But I'm sick of it anyway. And my feet are always cold. And why should I comb my hair when I'm just going to put on a hat?
Erica B. was passing out some stellar makeup advice to someone the other day. Something about wings and red. I almost rolled my eyes clean out my head. It's too cold for all that. I hardly even smile these day let alone put on makeup. Imma save what she said for spring cuz honestly...right now...I can't.
My theme song came on yesterday and I turned it off. Go get happy somewhere else Pharrell. I just couldn't do it.
Am I the only person sick of all this? Or are all of you those annoying..."It's winter. Duh." people too?
I hear people say this and I think it's weird.
Makes me think...why buy a good meal? You're just going to crap it out later right?
Yeah...yeah...I have issues.
GOOD MORNING GUYS! DID YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND??????????
I recently ate an entire roll of Life Savers in one day. When I realized exactly what I'd done...I felt like crap. Four of them make up a serving. There are probably about 16 in the pack.
Thirteen grams of sugar per serving. Four servings. That's 52 grams of sugar. If there are 4 grams of sugar in one teaspoon, that means I just sat there and shoveled 13 teaspoons of sugar in my mouth, down my throat, into my blood stream, leaving little sugar footprints all up and through my major organs, settling in for a stay in my stomach.
UGH.
KILL.
ME.
NOW.
I felt horrible.
But look at how quickly that happens. Just doody doody do...SUGAR.
I got up and drank a large glass of hot water and lemon juice and just felt disgusted with myself for the rest of the day.
Does this ever happen to you? Do you ever eat something...realize exactly what you just did to your body and then you feel sick to your stomach?
I'm totally going off sugar for a month. I'll only get sugar in natural foods. No added refined sugar. None.
I still feel ugh.
Anybody want to cut out refined sugar with me?
Well, I ordered our Christmas cards from Tiny Prints again this year even though they messed up the shipping last year. The quality of their cards is just so good, I keep ordering them. I thought that maybe having them delivered to me and not letting them ship them to our recipients for us would alleviate last year's problems but alas...that simply isn't so.
I ordered them on December 10th. It's December 22nd and I still haven't received them. There were some printing issues which delayed shipping. They didn't tell me this mind you...I had to find out by calling them when I hadn't received my cards by the date I was supposed to receive them by.
The customer service rep I spoke to offered me some sort of discount but I was too frustrated to deal with that. I told her I'd call back to deal with that once I've received my VERY.EXPENSIVE.CARDS.
I haven't received them yet.
I'm quite upset but honestly...I'm totally going to move past this. I'm CHOOSING HAPPY. I'm not going to let anything put me in a foul mood for Christmas. I bought some cute cards and I've been sending those out. No pictures. Handwritten notes. It makes me think about each individual person as I'm writing them a note and it makes me smile.
Christmas is going to be PERFECT this year! PERFECT! PERFECT! PERFECT!!!!!!!!!
I found this at TJ Maxx last week for only $19.99! I used it to make brownie bites. All I did was mix up some brownies and baked them for like half the time in this pan. Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Cast-Aluminum Nonstick Tea-Cake and Candy Mold
GO ME!
I eat at Founding Farmers pretty regularly. I love their food, the ambience, etc. The concept of clean eating feeds my soul and, when there isn't much out there that I can eat on the fly...it's nice to know I can pop over to Founding Farmers and grab a seat at the bar and have something I can eat relatively quickly.
Well...Saturday I had my first bad experience there and it was pretty bad. I won't go into all the specific details...but I basically stopped talking so I didn't snap and curse and let my friend do all the talking. Long story short...we were there for about an hour and a half before our meal came and those around us were coming and going. The truth never really came out...but I sense our waitress simply forgot to put our order in. Wouldn't have been a big deal except she didn't tell her manager the truth so there was a tad bit of confusion that I decided to NOT participate in.
Before we left...a manager came over and gave us his card. He told us to email him or call him before we ever came in again so he could personally make sure our experience was a good one.
I thought about it all day and determined that I liked that. Dude was, quite obviously...a class act.
So I emailed him:
My great Uncle Oscar was the most awesome man in the world. He not only taught me how to drive...but he was just generally a happy, GOOD man.
I loved him so.
Whenever he saw one of us...no matter what, he'd give us a dollar. ONE dollar. To split FOUR ways.
There are some of you who think that is crazy.
And there are others who had a candy lady in the neighborhood and know that twenty-five cents at her house went FAR!!!!!!!!!
FIVE BLACK AND WHITE COOKIES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
Tell me a quarter didn't go far at YOUR neighborhood candy lady's house!
When I was in high school...I wanted a Polo flag sweater. I mean...I wanted it so badly I knew it would be life changing. I begged and begged and begged for that dang sweater but my mother wasn't having it. In her opinion...the sweater cost too damn much for someone without a job to own in hot azz Louisiana.
Dammit.
Humph.
One day I came home from school and there it was. Sitting on my bed. Looking FABULOUSLY AWESOME AND FLY! I was the absolute happiest girl I knew. With a sweater...in hot azz Louisiana walking around pretending I'm not hot as hell and all shiny 'bout the forehead with sweat.
GO ME!
Knowing what I know now of my parent's life and of my mother, specifically...I know she probably watched that damn sweater until it was as cheap as possible. I know she probably didn't have it hidden anywhere to surprise me with later. She probably put it on my bed the SECOND she came home with it, excited that she was able to get her baby girl what she wanted.
Knowing what I know now...and not looking at my parents through the eyes of a child...I know she probably sacrificed a lot to get me that damn sweater. She probably always had it in the back of her mind how much I wanted it and promised herself she'd make sure I got it.
Knowing what I know now...it should come as no surprise that when I walked into the mall recently and saw a Ralph Lauren flag sweater...I burst into tears amid all the holiday shoppers.
Knowing what you know of me...I'm sure you're not surprised that I bought one and consider it a Christmas gift from my mommy.
Sheesh...Christmas man...
*sigh*
Anything you loved in the 80s coming back that you want?
A couple of weeks ago I went to my favorite Colombian (Thanks SraRod!) restaurant and got some lunch to go. You know how you be in the mood for something but don't know what it is? Yeah...that was me. I was just roaming around all casual and whatnot and decided that yeah...I want some arroz con pollo.
When I walked in I noticed a soldier sitting by himself waiting for his food. I was getting mine to go and when I was paying, I asked had the soldier paid for his meal yet and they told me no. I told them to put it on my check.
They did, I signed and rolled out.
No biggie.
When I opened my bag, my receipt fell out. I bent to pick it up *BLINKED* when I looked at it. Dude had ordered $40 worth of lunch. I FELL.OUT laughing. It was seriously the absolute funniest thing in the WORLD to me. My lunch was $14. Dude's was $40. DEAD.
I enjoyed my food laughing my azz off the entire time cuz seriously...that was funny.
When I told Robby about it he was eating an apple. He choked he started laughing so fast.
I hope he enjoyed the hell outta that $40 lunch where it normally costs $14. LOL!
Do you ever buy a soldier a meal or a cup of coffee when you see one?
I've been wanting to take a picture outside together for our Christmas cards this year.
PAUSE...
Ms. Smart's card came the Saturday after Thanksgiving this year. I've been *HARD.STARE* in her general direction since I opened it. WHO DOES THAT?????? UGH! HATE.HER!
N E WAY...
No...wait...CaliGirl's card came in and it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO perfect and happy, family, awesome that I was ooohing and aaaaahing the entire time I flipped through it. LOVE!
So I was like...I need to get on this ASAP.
But I didn't and I started getting nervous. All I wanted was a nice picture to put on front of the card.
Lord...Robby DROVE ME.
I like my edge. I like knowing that I can jump up out a ditch with the best of them at a moment's notice and feel absolutely fine with my decision to go there.
Listening to someone talk about their mother being abused in a nursing home puzzled me recently. They were all calm and ish about it. Just basically talking about the plan of action, what they are doing, what's been done, etc. I sat there thinking...well...they are just the loveliest of people. A real responsible adult who is thinking about how their actions affect lots of lives.
Lovely.
Just...lovely.
I didn't share what I was thinking because I already know I'd pop off so badly behind something like that...it wouldn't even be right. Like...I can't even imagine being able to calm myself down enough to NOT pop off super crazy. Abusing my mother? MY MOMMY? WHO IS PRETTY MUCH HELPLESS? IN A NURSING HOME?
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.
Carry on...I'm simply not evolved enough to be calm and handle this possibility like a responsible adult probably should cuz I already know...THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE BLOOD.
Is that bad? Probably. But I'd feel better with everyone knowing that right off the bat so if it ever crossed their mind to do so...they already know repercussions were in store that ain't got ish to do with the law BEFORE the law has been summoned cuz they are probably going to be summoning the law on me.
Again...I love my edge. I love that I can jump from nice lady to SIP in point 00000000000000000000000009 miliseconds.
Do you have an edge? Or are you one of those lovely, always responsible adults who handle business the text book way? What would give you the MOST edge? Messing with your kids? Your parents? Spouse? What? What brings out your EDGE?
I'm kinda weird about pajamas. I love, love, LOVE them! But I ONLY buy my favorite kind, Munki Munki, at Nordstrom when I have a gift card. I just feel weird paying $70 for pajamas on my own. LOL!
But if I have a Nordstrom gift card? Baaaaaaaaby...I'm getting a new pair of Munki Munki pjs!
I was in Marshall's recently being all casually random and saw a Munki Munki tag. I stopped in my tracks and darted over in a frantic fashion flipping through the racks. A woman noticed me moving so fast and came over.
Her: What did you find?
Me: (looking up squinting) Um...give me a minute.
Her: I saw how quick you got over here so I knew it was something good.
Once I'd made my choices...I told her the pajamas were usually like $70 at Nordstrom and they were super soft and awesome. She picked up a pair and felt them up. Then...she agreed that they felt good.
I left her there happy and excited with my find. GO ME! Munki Munki pajamas for $24.99.
Lemme hit my tap dance slide again right quick. HAPPY DANCE!
Of course I get the ones with the sock monkeys on them. Hey...what can I say...I like actual monkeys on pajamas. LOL! I know it's weird but hey...you know I'm weird.
Do you know anyone with a movie playing on Showtime?
Why yes...yes you do. :) The Coalition
Team Sizzle
Our road trip to the Smokey Mountains was a success! Robby and his father got to golf and his mommy and I did a bit of crafting and a wee wee tiny bit of shopping. Most of all, however, was relaxing and spending good quality time with people you love. That is IMPORTANT. That is necessary for all of us to do in order to reconnect and stay connected with the very heart of who you are.
It's no secret that my mommy-in-law is one of my favorite people on earth. She is so sweet and funny and awesome. Just WAIT until you see what she and I have cooked up for Christmas decorating. It's going to be sweeeeeet!
So...that up there is our haul back from their farm. String beans, pears, pickles, preserve, pecans, etc. We even got an entire bowl of satsumas. SOOOOOOOO DELICIOUS! If you've never had fresh canned veggies and fruits, you're missing out BIG.TIME. My mommy-in-law shelled those pecans for us herself and I plan on freezing them in quart size bags today because baaaaaaaaaby...pecans ain't cheap these days. She said to let yall know that they will probably be pricey this coming year because pecan trees throughout didn't produce much. I can't WAIT to make some sweet potato pecan candy!
I'm not going to say that I'm already looking forward to our next road trip. Because I'm not. It's hard on the body. LOL! I don't want to do more than one per year and if it has to be for Thanksgiving...so be it. It was nice. VERY nice. And The Robinator was in seventh heaven and honestly...if he's happy...that makes it all great. Jaru REALLY loved the mountain air, if you can believe that! Our pampered pooch LOVED it outside!
How was your holiday? If you road tripped...when did you head back? How long did it take you? We got caught up in traffic in Tennessee so our 8.5 hour trip took us 10 hours and all three of us are SO.TIRED!
We survived the road trip.
Almost.
I kirked out at hour 8 and wanted to jump out the window and roll around on the ground like a 3 year old in full on tantrum mode. Yall...I was DROVE! I'm talking Oprah DROVE.
So was Jaru. I looked back at one time and almost died laughing at my poor puppy cuz he looked like he'd just given up on life.
That's funny because he was SO SAD looking when he saw our suitcase since he's used to us leaving him so when he saw me pick up one of his beds to take out too...BAAAAAAAAAAAAAABY! DUDE STARTED TWIRLING LIKE A CIRCUS DOG! TuTu and all!
But lawd jeevus...he soon realized that a road trip is not all it's cracked up to be. How folks do this on a regular I vow to never, ever know. I have a friend who does a road trip every month or so. I now think she must be a serial killer looking out for new places to hide bodies cuz yeah...no.
So we got here and when I saw the view...seriously...it was SO worth it!
I plan on sitting out on this deck as soon as someone gets rid of that snow because I'm kuntry and when a kuntry girls sees a rocking chair...rocking must be done.
My food traveled super well. We dang near needed a blowtorch to unwrap my turkey. I'd wrapped it three times in foil and then three times in Saran Wrap. I was so nervous but when we took it out...it was nice and cold to the touch. Instead of reheating the entire bird...we sliced a platter of meat and reheated that with fresh sprigs of rosemary and damp paper towels covering it. Everything was delicious and my tablescape was simple and lovely. The centerpiece traveled well too and it was super quick to lay out.
Hold on...let me side eye my mother-in-law right quick. She's talking about going forage for pine cones in the woods with the bears and the other wood stuff that lives on side of a mountain with a winding dirt road surrounded by trees. I need to remind her that we can get a bag for like $1.50 from Michael's with a 40% off coupon.
Side eye sequence complete.
How's Jaru you ask? Dude took to the cabin like water to a duck. (Why did I first type like butter to a duck cuz seriously...that was just odd. LOL!)
Dude is all good.
THAT FACE! I love my puppy.
Well...the menfolk are about to get ready to go golfing. We're going to run to town and forage for pine cones IN A STORE and fire starters IN A STORE cuz ain't nobody going out there foraging in the woods. LOL! My mommy-in-law brings me JOY! She's simply the cutest EVER!
How was your Thanksgiving? All well?
Your Aura is Blue!
1. Those two youngest kids. o_0
2. Why didn't Julian leave with his wife and kids after she found out about the video? He just stayed behind? With THAT kind of crisis going on in his marriage? SERIOUSLY? AND WHY IN THE HELL HE SHOWING EVERYONE ELSE THE DAMN VIDEO BUT HASN'T TALKED TO HIS WIFE ABOUT IT?????????
3. When did they practice the dance routine? I can see Mia arranging to have matching costumes at the ready...but the dance routine? That took practice. When did they do that?
4. Can we stop with the dating White people jokes already? It's 2013.
5. Yall know the fertility clinic wouldn't have put them embryos in without being paid in full first right? Trust me on this one.
6. Who is Shelby's baby daddy? How'd she get on that show she was on?
7. They delivered a breech baby. In a Lexus SUV while speeding. Oh...and if they were in snail traffic one minute...how did they end up FLYING down a damn near empty interstate the next?
8. Shelby and Quenton being disrespectful getting busy when they did?
Continue reading "Black Filmmaking: The Elephants in the Room..." »
We have company coming. I always keep a doggie gate up in front of the guest bedroom because Jaru has nainh problem hopping up on the guest bed and getting his nap on. Dude be sprawled out CHILLING and I be mad as hell.
Every.single.time he does it...I have to wash all the CLEAN linen on the bed and yall...it is annoying.
We have company coming.
The guest bedroom was clean.
WAS clean.
My husband moved the gate to use it downstairs. (We have a doggie guest currently.)
He was adamant that Jaru wouldn't get on the bed.
Nice, super clean bed and room.
OCD dog.
Big azz sprawling mattress compared to his dog bed.
Jaru got it in.
We have company coming.
GOT.DAMMIT.ALL.TO.HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My husband is in the office working.
The office is next door to the guest bedroom.
He's working and I am always respectful of his space when he's working.
I stripped that damn bed so loud you'd have thought an army of Clydesdales were in there stomping. I almost yanked the lid off the washer shoving the linen in and I promise you've never, ever, EVER heard Downy poured so LOUDLY!!!!!!!!!! Just TWIST OFF LID, FLING IT, GLUG, GLUG, SPLASH, SPLASH, FIND WHERE LID WAS SLUNG, TWIST LID BACK ON, SLAP CONTAINER BACK ON SHELF KNOCKING ISH ALL OVER!!!!
THAT.ISH.MADE.MY.TEETH.ITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I didn't say a word because he's working.
Oh...but he knows I was boiling mad and I'm sure he was probably in there ignoring the pig ish outta me because he has a deadline.
Now...I've gotten over it as I write this and listen to the washer, laughing at how much noise I made stripping that damn bed.
Passive aggression at it's finest.
What about you? You ever employ passive aggression at home? How long do you generally stay mad about some dumb ish?
Recent Comments