I Fly Like a Bird

in which I discuss being a Momma

2012-02-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes being a mom is serious business- like stop you in your tracks serious.
Other days not as much...
For example here is a comment I left on Mrs. Sarah's blog yesterday, when she was writing about being the Momma of a toddler.

(fair warning I use the word booger a lot (like excessively))

you are welcome!

in which I'm just sayin'

2012-02-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

You know that person that whenever you around them you can't believe they are just that nice.
Or just that wise.
Or just that sweet.
Or that same person who doesn't give you many glimpses into their private lives, but when they do you get to see this extremely multi-faceted person that you just want to know more about.
That same person who always just seems to be on the periphery but when brought into focus is special and caring and one of a kind.
Well, I'll tell you something- tell them all those things.
Regret is a bitch- and sometimes you don't even know you are going to regret until it's too late.

So share with that person just how fascinating you find them.
That you want to know more. Invest some time in them. It is surely going to be worth it- if not for you probably mostly likely it will be for them.

Just saying.

in which I don't actually talk about anything while I talk about germs

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

So, I try not to think about a lot of things:

Bar soap.

Fountain drinks fountains.

That crack in the car seat you have to reach down into getyour lost seatbelt buckle.

Chapstick.

Toilets without lids.

Railings at Metro stops…

And, ummm, the first napkin you pull out of napkin dispenser.

So you are probably wondering why I don’t think of thosethings.

Germs- lots of icky yucky no good germs.

Now, I in no way have a real problem with germs (andcertainly would never make light of anyone who does) but I’ll tell you, when Istart thinking on those things…it’s not good!

When I start thinking about those thing I just think of all the people who have touched it and left their germs- think about it! GROSS, HUH!

I can't really say when I started even thinking about left-behind-germs...but I will tell you this, I think about them now. Do you? What are the icky-germ places you try not to think about?

and that is the end of my post
you're welcome for one of the most pointless posts ever!

in which I link up with Chesterrific!

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up again with Maegan, from Chesteriffic, with 5 things I'm loving right now!!

1. Revlon Lip Butter

Source: revlon.com via Thuy on Pinterest

2. Getting Ready for Valentines Day

3. Friday Date Nights with my girl!

Look out local hibachi grill- me and my girl are coming and are going to TOTALLY catch some flyin' shrimps!!

from our last date night to Red Robin- it was a triple date, Rebecca came along!

4. new direction for my blog look

5. making progress on my 28 before 28!

I've managed to keep up fairly well with four of my 28:
Wear lipstick daily

Write a letter each week to someone special
Make more special occasions
New furniture for Aubrey/handmade decorations

go check out more five things people love on Maegan's blog!

in which I write an open letter to pinterest

2012-02-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Dear Pinterest,

I love you.

In like an undying love kind of way. You are a wonderfulprovider of ideas and fillers of empty ~~hours~~ moments in the day.

The inspiration I’ve glommed from you has been indescribableand the projects I’ve shared with my daughter and family that have leapt frommy personal boards have been joy bringing.

But we need to talk.

I’m compulsive in my assigning of pins to boards. It’s bad.I have no clue some days how stuff ends up on boards it ends up on. JUST.DON’T.ASK!

But you pinterest- you don’t make it easy to fix my problem.If I want my boards in a different order (and honestly who cares about that) it’sa simple click and drag. WHY CAN’T I DO THAT WITH MY PINS!

O, with such ease could I organize my pin boards- when apinning session of organizational tools inspires me- if I could just click, drag, drop! There must be a way! There MUST be!!

Pinterest, I love you, think Toby Keith “Red Solo Cup” kindof love! But, seriously, get.on.it!

Also, please forgive me for always mispronouncing your name!Pin-interest sounds so much cooler to me then pinterest (Seriously, it soundslike someone has food in their mouth!)

Ok, loveya, bye!

Yours forever (esp. if you make rearranging pins easier)-

Tessica

Follow me on pinterest!

in which I talk about a gift that was so so so much more

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

I recently received a journal from a friend,a friend who knows the ins and outs of my life better than most people.And while the journal was pretty and nice and a wonderful present it was her inscription inside that made me tear up (that and the letter she wrote me that had me practically sobbing). This friend knows the details of my life,she's held me during the ugly cries.She's been the brave one to tell me that the way I was living my life and letting depression control is was NOT okay.( a friend who will do that is irreplaceable- I can only imagine the courage it took)She's the one who forgave me for what I did to her bathroom the night before I leftand only got sort of mad when I totally missed a spot when I've bleached her hair.I'm telling you irreplaceable. Her inscription was advice I wanted to share with all of you.She encouraged me to use that journal to write down the things I think I shouldn't say,the things I wouldn't normally saybut want to so badly.The thoughts that scare me so badly I've made an effort on this blog in the last year to almost completely privatize my life... the events ongoing in my life aren't for sharing.But I haven't allowed myself another outlet for those things that sit on my chest each daythose hounding thoughts of failure that I would have used to expound upon and work through in writing (while at the same time looking for suggestions and support) on this blog are no longer part of what I bring to this blog.purposefullyAnd, if I'm being honest, I've stopped going to the people that I've gone to in the past. My constant fear of burdening has kept me from that former outlet- not to say I don't still go to them- but not for things- I feel I shouldn't say, or couldn't say, or just wouldn't say. So her advice, her gift of this outlet I'd denied myself, I wanted to share it with you.In just a suggestion:get a piece of paper, an old envelope, whateverand write down:what you shouldn't saywhat you couldn't saywhat you wouldn't say What you do with it then, I don't think it matters.Throw it away, shred it up, put it in your purse or your pocket.Finally share it.Whatever you do with it doesn't matter. What matters is that you've let it out. Gotten it off your chest.You've acknowledged it.That's the first step to dealing with it.And I think the hardest one.

in which I share some confessions

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

I decided to illustrate my confessions this week. Here ya go you lucky people:

1. I tweeted about this the other day: When I get excited, I cry and when I say excited I mean like I'm telling you a silly anecdote about Aubrey. Or I'm at a concert and really like the song. It's totally uncontrollable! I just start leaking. Shortly after tweeting about it, Kelly Oxford posted this video, it was like she had read my tweet! Kristen Bell freakishly and accurately sums up just how I am! Watch it for a good laugh!

2. Aubrey can totally pick out her own clothes, but I still do so that I feel like I'm contributing some to her getting ready- girl's gettin' big! Sad face!

Source: centralinteriordesign.com via Dawn on Pinterest

(while not Aubs' closet her's is surprisingly just as organized)

3. I was asleep by 930 on my birthday- it was magical- yes, I know I'm lame!

Source: google.co.uk via Coquette & Dove on Pinterest

(no that's not my bed, but good lord if it was I'd never get out of it!!)

4. I offer Aubrey marshmallows to be out of bed/dressed/ teeth brushed/ hair combed/socks and shoes on/ dogs put away by a certain time. She usually gets it done. I usually give her the marshmallows even if she doesn't.

5. I don't sort laundry by color. I sort by item- as in a load of pants, load of tops, load of undergarments...etc...is that weird?

Source: pbteen.com via Cassandra on Pinterest

So, I've done three weeks in a row of Midweek confessions every week something has come up about laundry...I didn't realize how much I disliked it!

in which I talk about my new list

2012-01-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I told you that I would talk about my new list and explain some more, so here I go!

My general goals for my 28 before 28 are to:

Source: tuckedstyle.com via michelle on Pinterest

Run, move, dance more- I danced all through high school, I exercised all through high school, I've always been active. Now, not so much- and I do honestly miss it! So, I want to make more time for running, dancing and just getting out and moving. This is also important because of my desire for a healthier me!

Make more special occasions- I downplay just about everything...except if it is for someone else. Then I try to figure out how to make it big and important for them, to show them just how special I think they are! I think it's time I let myself go big or go home for myself too! And also, I need to stop overlooking those small moments that make up the big ones! Those are just as worth celebrating!

Source: blog.amyatlas.com via Shaunna on Pinterest

Source: momentswiththemontanos.blogspot.com via JustLoo on Pinterest

Embrace embarrassing loves- I love mah jong. I also love some really "crappy" music. I love blogging. All those things and many more are things that I love that usually I might expect to be a little embarrassed of, but NO more. It's about time I stopped being embarrassed by those things. Letting other's judgements dictate what I do isn't an example I want to set for Aubrey- so this year I am putting my foot down and embracing my embarrassing loves!

Do you embrace your embarrassing loves? Celebrate you as much as everyone else? Do you bust a move as often as I probably want to?

in which I share about a swap

2012-01-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

Literature has ALWAYS been a passion of mine.
So much so I went to college to study and one day teach it. And then I went to another two years of grad school to learn even more about it.
Now I, by no means, am a book snob because of this- I pretty much love all kinds of books!
Here's a smattering of the books I've read over the last few months if you don't believe me!

Source: google.com via Traci on Pinterest

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy- Larsson, Stieg
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A Novel- Foer, Jonathan Safran
The Last Werewolf- Duncan, Glen
Ham On Rye- Bukowski, Charles
The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Chbosky, Stephen
Perfect- Hopkins, Ellen
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks- Skloot, Rebecca
We Need to Talk About Kevin- Shriver, Lionel
Wither (The Chemical Garden Trilogy)-DeStefano, Lauren
The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Imposter- Seal, Mark
The Compound- Bodeen, S.A.
Flowers In The Attic - Andrews, V.C.
Ender's Game- Card, Orson Scott
The Princess Bride- Goldman, William
Books I-V: A Song of Ice and Fire- Martin, George R.R.
The Hunger Games Trilogy- Collins, Suzanne
Flat-Out Love- Park, Jessica
Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel- Vonnegut, Kurt
Water for Elephants- Gruen, Sara

But anyways, my love for books and bloggy buddies prompted me to sign up for a book swap with Heather and Katie!
I was paired with the super lovely newlywed Nichole! What a sweet girl, she totally didn't even get weirded out by my random Hey Dude reference in my first email to her- you think I'm kidding, ha!
After some back and forth I picked out a book for her that I really hope she likes, you'll have to head over to her blog to hear about what I picked!
As for the book she sent me, all I can say is I love a good rainy afternoon in bed.
huh what?
Ok, what I mean is, you know those rainy afternoons in the middle of winter where the only place to be is in bed with a bowl of popcorn and a hot drink? That's what this book reminded me of, it kept me engaged and interested through the entirety! The Brightest Star in the Sky deals with relationships in a Dublin apartment building (Nichole doesn't know how much I love Dublin-but that aspect made the book even more awesome to me! ps the library up there: Trinity Library, Dublin, Ireland- one day I will go there) but doesn't just stop with friendship and/or love triangles, Marian Keyes throws in a twist to really shake things up!
I recommend this book and can't thank Nichole enough for the thought she put into picking out my book for me!

in which I share my new list

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Well, in one year I will be 28 (as in today I'm not 26 anymore) and as such, it's time for my 28 before 28 list! This year I've been a little more organized in writing my list- an offshoot of my reflecting on my 27 before 27 list. So here they are:

28 Before 28

ongoing

Make a “grow-able photo album”

Reach 100 sales on etsy

Read 52 books

Give 100 books

Wear lipstick daily

Write a letter each week to someone special

Learn to play the mandolin

eat at 10 new restaurants * no chain with exceptions

one time

Submit a poem to be published

A museum day by myself

Savings budgeting

Take a trip by myself

Take a train trip

Take a trip with Aubrey

Me date night once a month

Host a brunch again

Play the slots

Plan a surprise for someone (not Aubs)

Jump out of or off of something

timed

Complete a no buy challenge

Complete a photo challenge

Maintain communication better

general

Run, move, dance more

Make more special occasions

Embrace embarrassing loves

Aubrey

New furniture for Aubrey/handmade decorations

Have pictures taken with Aubrey

Spa day for myself if I complete the first 27

What do you think? I'll explain them more later on.
Have you kept up with your own "bucket" lists?

in which i explain about how Aubrey looses her marbles

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

"close your mouth while you are chewing"

"elbows off the table, you'll knock something over"

"sit up, legs in front"

Over a month ago you could have potentially heard those words uttered over and over and over at the dinner table- to Aubrey of course! I mostly always remember to chew with my mouth closed. Mostly.

This constant need to correct Aubrey or the eventual necessity to "punish" her for too many manner indiscretions was making dinner time not enjoyable for all involved.
I realized something needed to happen.

Enter the marble cup (which doesn't actually have marbles in it).

Let me take a step back, first it is important that you know that punishments rarely work with Aubrey. Taking stuff away I mean. It just doesn't encourage her to modify her behavior. In other words a negative consequence rarely produces a positive outcome in her.
You might say well it's cause she is spoiled and has something else to distract her or she knows she'll get it back.
I don't think that is the case. And yes that could just be because I am momma...but I also just don't think it is the case because of what I have seen that DOES work.

So, knowing that a change needed to happen I mulled over what is the opposite of a punishment- ok a reward. But I don't want to go around rewarding Aubrey for something she should be doing anyways- correct table manners. So, I then began thinking about everyday things Aubrey enjoys- tv time, computer time, dessert..etc.- that she doesn't get very often, but that I also don't have any real fundamental problems with. My next thought was, what if she is responsible for earning something she likes each night and it being dependent on her.

Enter the marble cup (finally, I know)- this cup is one that Aubrey picked out (giving ownership is huge I think) and contains five puff balls (five was totally arbitrary). At dinner, if Aubrey can finish the meal with at least one "marble" in the cup she can earn one of the following-
1. a small dessert
2. fifteen minutes of tv time
3. fifteen minutes of computer time
And if all five are removed she hasn't earned anything (but she has probably only had to be "talked to" five or so times- a VAST decrease from before). Marbles are removed, obviously, for bad manners.

Let me tell you, I think that we have gotten to no marbles MAYBE twice. And Aubrey almost half of the time is the one who takes the marbles out- cause she recognizes what she did. And there is no fuss about it! We had joked about it needing to go to restaurants also but I swear she is so much more aware and I see the bad manners so much less even without the cup to remind her.

And to be honest I'd say a third of the time we don't even end up having time for whatever she has earned. And she doesn't even make a fuss about not having it. We did lay out some ground rules at the beginning that helped with that- explaining just because she earned it, if there isn't enough time there isn't enough time. Also, that she could save up 15 minute tv times to watch a whole movie on the weekend.

Overall, I think putting the responsibility for earning her tv/computer time or dessert in Aubrey's hands has been really effective. I bet that this method could be used in other ways to encourage/modify behaviors and would readily suggest it.

You know what the best part is though- dinner has become so much more enjoyable- even Aubrey thinks so!

in which I recap my 27 before 27

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I am about five days shy of being done with being 27. It has been to say the least an interesting year.

Source: ubercuteness.tumblr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

It could be really easy for me to say that this year hasn't been that great- but really when it comes to the important stuff, the stuff that really matters- it's been a good year.
I wanted to take another opportunity, before I post my 28 before 28, to look over my 27 before 27 and see how I've done. Two years ago I managed 13 of 26 from my 26 before 26 list and this year I've managed to complete 15 out of my 27 (almost 16 but due to unforeseen circumstance my plans were canceled in route).

I feel good about what I did complete and think that the ones that I didn't do fall into two categories: 1. not "necessary" and 2. works in progress. My not necessary ones were like the monogrammed pillow and watching the Lost series, while I may not have done those I do think I did other things that were the equivalent of the spirit of the goal. The in progress goals like savings and submitting a poems are goals that I am moving towards and while I didn't finish them in the year, I've still made an effort towards them. I feel satisfied with my efforts and my progress and I feel good about doing those things for me! So here is the whole list with some links to when I have talked about completing something:

bold- completed
~~strikethrough~~-changed or removed
all others- not completed

1. Take a weekend trip somewhere by myself

2. ~~Read~~ and watch Gone with the Wind- 7/24/11

3. Make monogrammed pillows

4. Plant flowers –many times

5. Submit a poem to be published

6. Buy an antique and refinish it-10/2/11

7. Make a photo album for each year Aubs has been alive

8. Get a mommy/daughter mani/pedi- 7/19/11

9. Figure out how I like my martini

10. Walk more EVERYDAY!!

11. Do a free makeover at a Clinque counter and buy at leastone thing from it

12. Write a new living will

13. Run/walk in a 5k

14. Go to a museum for a day by myself- attemptedunsuccessfully

15. Take professional pictures with Aubs and not just in astudio

16. Finish the Lost series

17. Try going vegetarian for another week- completed for almost 4 months

18. Go camping- done x4

19. Sort through my internet bookmarks and organize them-done

20. Go to at least three concerts and/or musicfestivals

21. Make more time for reading- everyday!

22. Put at least $2500 in my savings and keep it there

23. Givespontaneously and anonymously whenever possible

24. Dance more- with friends and loved ones, with mydaughter, and with just me

25. Take morepictures and actually print/frame them

26. Eat local as much as possible- grocery store/farmersmarket/restaurants

27. Go on an impromptu weekend trip (a get in the car anddrive kind of thing)

in which I make some midweek confessions

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm joining in again with E for Midweek Confessions

1. When watching the most recent episode of Glee and hearing the song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" I cried. That was the song I walked down the aisle to (Johnny Cash version), I still think it is a beautiful song. I remember that at the time those words seemed so perfect and even now still think they are so beautiful and such meaningful words to describe the kind of love that I still believe a marriage should be built upon.

2. When Aubrey crawls in bed with me in the middle of the night I feel bad turning away from her but she always lays on the side that I usually sleep with my back to!

3. I've slept with two stacks of folded towels at the end of my bed for three days- I just don't want to make the space for them in the closet.

4. I completely ignore the serving suggestions on Progresso soups and always eat the whole can- I think I can afford two-100 calorie servings for my lunch!

5. I online shop all the time...I just never press the buy button! It's almost as fun...ALMOST!

in which I share one of Aub's favorite things

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

When Aubrey was born and we were in the hospital there was some hours that it was just me and her.
And it was in those hours I discovered her predilection for butt pats.
You know that gentle pat on the bottom that kind of lulls kids to sleep or calms them down or just comforts them in general.
It's like a back rub but a pat on the butt!

Aubrey didn't stop liking butt pats after she grew out of infancy.
She continued to be comforted by them through her toddler years and on through preschool and kindergarten and on into first grade.
Aubrey still likes them enough to come and ask for one.

She will crawl in my lap, lay her head down on my shoulder or chest. And she will either ask for a butt pat or she will just simply lift up my hand and get it into position.
At seven and a half Aubrey has got self soothing pretty much down. When she falls she doesn't generally need a kiss to make it stop hurting any more.
She's got pouring her own peroxide on a cut down to an art (let them do it themselves and it takes a lot of the stigma out of it).
She goes to bed without a fuss and doesn't have much of a fear of the dark- monsters maybe sometimes- but I think she psychs herself out about those.

But anyways, my point is that she is a pretty well adjusted little gal, who doesn't need to come to Momma to make her feel better most of the time. I like to think I had a hand in making her confident enough in herself to be able to self soothe.

But you know what else? I love giving her a butt pat.
I love her big-little-girl self climbing in my lap and asking for one.
I hope she never stops.

in which I share the cavern that is my purse

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

true story: I didn't own a purse until I was in college

It was just never my thing. Totally not the case now and I wanted to share the ridiculousness that is my purse.

Brace yourself.

Seriously- I mean it.

Here we go! (Please ignore Jack cat- he's a rude photo bombing cat)

So...let's spill it out...

I'm a sorter...everything has it's own little bag...ok but to be more specific:

1. Kindle 2. Planner 3. Pretty Bag 4. Extra Bag 5. Wallet 6. Umbrella 7. Work Wallet
8. Skinny Cow Carmel Clusters 9. GAP 15% Reusable Bag 10. Gloves 11. Gloves 12. Coupon for Beauty and the Beast 3d 13. Change Purse 14. Sunglasses 15. Girl bag 16. Keys and Charger

My "pretty bag" includes:

Just what you need in case of most "pretty" emergencies! Make-up, jewelry, and stuff!
You know the essentials! Oh and my favorite perfumes!

Last but not least my "extra bag," that bag that has a little bit of everything! Plus Chuckie Cheese coins for when you need them!

So...someone please tell me they have more in their purse so I don't feel as crazy! Also, If you want to see a purse that is not a crazy cavern go check out Lauren's who did a purse post with me!

in which I make some midweek confessions

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

You know that girl in school that has the neatest handwriting- and no matter what you did yours was NEVER going to be as nice?

Well, that girl for me was E from E, Myself, and I!

I took several classes alongside her my senior year of college and will happily admit then I was jealous of her fantastic handwriting and now her adorable cute blog and new baby boy, Sam!

She recently started a midweek confessions meme and I wanted to link up this week.

So, here we go!

- I have no less than 16 drafts sitting in my post queue. Some are almost completely written, others are enough words for me to remember what I wanted to talk about. Even with 16 I've still managed to not post for the last four days.

- I have turned into the pushy mom hawking her kids goods- in my case it's Girl Scout Cookie selling time- I've managed to sell at least 20 boxes via twitter and blogging...so damn pushy! btw anyone else need to order some? I'll mail them to you!

- I spent an inordinate amount of time contemplating the correct spelling of dammit/damn it yesterday- but couldn't be bothered to do any research. Not even a google...sigh

- I have a load of laundry sitting by my bed that needs to be folded...part of me is really tempted to just get dressed out of it for the rest of the week- except then I would be wearing the same outfits I wore last week...BUT I DON'T WANNA FOLD THEM!

- I think possibly my most difficult (non child rearing) decision I had to make the last night was whether to watch Big Bang Theory or Glee...I can't decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing...

in which I talk about a goat

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

You know what really gets my goat?**

And I mean gets it in a totally uneccesary and ridiculous way?

I can't wear bangs. I want to. But I can't.

I mean well I could. And I even have.

But it was always a bad idea.

My hair is too fine. Anything I put in front of my face just hangs there limp, completely unwilling to do anything resembling a swoop (bless my hair dressers heart, but it doesn't matter how much I train those suckers).

Source: keikolynn.com via Lynsey on Pinterest

And a straight across blunt look. HA- ha, I say.

I'm a sweat-er. Five minutes in to the day those cute things would be plastered to my forhead and there to stay until I pin them back in disgust.

Source: fashionising.com via Gina on Pinterest

I can't wear bangs. And I know it.

That doesn't make me not pine after them.

But I can't wear them.

Crap, I even have a plan in place to make sure I don't perkily and optimistically, for the fortieth time, tell my hair dresser, "Sure, let's give them a try again...they'll grow out!"

Whenever I feel the bang urge coming on (and it is an approriate time) I text my friend- who I can always count on to be blunt and remind me that they are just a BAD idea.

I love her for talking me down, every time. Time after time.

...or, if it is an inappropriate time (ie she is working and can't remind me) I apparently vent in a blog post....

** what does that EVEN mean!

Source: cuteoverload.com via Rachael on Pinterest

and yes, that's exactly how I feel about bangs.

in which I've said some stuff I'm proud of

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

I contemplated not posting this post.

I worried some may consider it boastful or immodest.

But the more I thought about it, it couldn't be either of those things.

The very nature of a blog is that we put some value in what we have to say.

So that being said, I want to share some of the things I've "said" over the last few years that I believe are of merit or are especially revealing of me.

If you would like to read them in context of the post they were included in please just click on the date above them.

This is not a complete reflection of my entire blog but it does contain snippets from about two-thirds of the posts from the last two years.

10/4/11Failure is a feeling that worms down in and is hard to root out. And it is possibly, or in my case anyways, the one that stays around the longest. But it stays in the shape of a paralyzing fear of making the same mistake again. Do me a favor, remind them please, failure is not infinite. It does not pervade into every aspect of our lives unless we allow it. Failure in one moment does not equate to failure in every moment. And what seems like failure isn't always that.

2/20/10

"Aubs...i know you didn't want to get in trouble"

"But please never put your hands in the toilet, especially a yucky toilet"

"It doesn't matter if you dropped your necklace in there while you were going potty"

2/15/10

sometimes it is hard to remember we live in this big beautiful world with so many amazing things

and some of them even fit in your arms...

3/14/10

I love our shirts. I love our picture. I love my friends. 3/24/10 It is funny how sometimes the hardest things don’t seem so hard when you reflect back on them.
4/7/10I AM okay with the future. It will be different than what I expected and it will be scary and tough. But I have a future in front of me! A whole unfinished canvas to fill with the great and wonderful things I want to fill my life with. How could I not be okay with that?

4/26/10

inevitably someone checks out of a relationship before the other, it seems to me rare and far between that it is a simultaneous decision to end any relationship

so inevitably in the coping stages following the end there is going to be someone a bit behind: as in behind in moving on

and i don't mean moving on as in seeing another person but merely dealing with the heartache/anger/rejection etc

now the person who "checked out" first needs to remember this as much as the person checked out on

because one person is farther ahead it may be hard for the person left behind to understand they way the other is acting or even how they could be so "fine" with things

and the person ahead can probably have a hard time understanding why the other person seems so distraught and upset when they are "over" or past it

it is important not to trivialize or misunderstand the stage either is at, the person ahead was at some point there and the person still behind will get there

not being in sync makes it harder, promise

but i think that realizing this reality will maybe or could maybe make it easier on both people

5/5/10

maybe the world isn't as complicated as i thought it was...

hello, world,

hello

5/19/10

Dear Aubs,
My sweet girl, Victor Hugo said: "Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings." Remember you have those wings, even when they seem that they aren't strong enough to support you. I'll be your branch, but more importantly, I'll help you learn to use those wings.
I love you darling. I love you.
Mommy

6/10/10

does anyone else, in some small moments, wish it was sunday

so it would be postsecret day

and you could see all the secrets

especially the ones that are so close to your own

and you feel a little bit closer to the rest of the world

because it doesn't seem that large when you see

a shared secret

those are nice moments of smallness

in which I share something Aubrey said

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Does your kid say odd stuff sometimes?

Mine sure does, like last night, when it snowed for the first time this winter:

Me: "Aubrey, why don't you build a snowman?"

Aubrey: "I'm not sure I have enough resources."

I didn't even know how to respond...but then again here is one of my tweets from yesterday:

Maybe she gets it from me?

Hopefully she doesn't inherit my inability to use hashtags incorrectly. We can only hope.

in which I was tagged and pass it on!

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

My friend Maegan from Chesterrific tagged me with this fun one! It's a 3-part tag - 1) list 11 random facts about you, 2) answer 11 questions you've been tagged with, and 3) make up 11 new questions and tag 11 new people ... here we go!

11 facts about me

1. My second toe is shorter than my big toe (most people's aren't)

2. I have a Masters Degree in Literature and have only read oneCharlotte Bronte book all the way through (Jane Eyre is the only one I've read all through**correction** )

3. I still watch VHS tapes of movies I love

4. I lived outside of DC from the age of 8-18 and then 18-22, off and on, and only just visited the Washington Monument for the first time on my Birthday last year

5. My birthday is at the end of the month, the 30th of January to be exact

6. My great-grandpa calls me Tessie and I love it!

7. I can speed read

8. Before this last year I'd only been to four concerts in my entire life, this last year I went to more than five!

9. I can't wear necklaces that are too short because I feel like I am choking- same goes for anklets or bracelets-when they are too tight they make me feel anxious and claustrophobic

10. I like to organize by color

11. I have an overhead light and three lamps in my room- I usually have all four on...

11 questions I was asked
1. What did you dream about last night? Decorating my daughters room-oddly enough it was in a house I don't live in...
2. Do you like the rain? I love, love, love rain- esp when it is heavy and hot out and I can dance in it!
3. What is your favorite book? There is no way I could answer this...my top three are: The Handmaids Tale by Margret Atwood, Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice, and Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (oh and the short story- The Dead by James Joyce)
4. How often do you go online? ha, daily- no but seriously...I'm pretty consistently on but that doesn't always mean I am engaged with it
5. Have you ever served on a jury? What was it like? nopers!
6. Would you give a homeless person CPR if they were dying? of course I would!
7. Let's say you just won the Miss America beauty pageant, congrats!! Give me your acceptance speech ...

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my wisdom and concerns with the audience that this position provides. Thank you for choosing me to represent your interests and I hope I can live up to your confidence in me. Thank you.
8. Where was your last vacation and who did you go with? Went to Iowa for the holidays with my Mom, Dad, Brother, His GF, and my daughter, Aubrey
9. If you were stranded on an isolated island, what 3 THINGS (not people) would you take with you? kindle w/ internet access, lots of coke, popcorn
10. Have you ever gone cow tipping? nope, have you?
11. Do you untie your tennis shoes when you take them off, or just kick them off with your other foot? mmm half and half

11 questions I am asking you
1. What is your favorite flavor chapstick?
2. Any upcoming plans you are really excited for?
3. Any moment in your life that didn't live up to your expectations that you had for it, as in...I thought that would be more exciting...?
4. What was something that way surpassed your expectations for it?
5. Last movie you saw in the movie theatre?
6. Something you love to secretly watch others do? (example: watch Dads play with their children)
7. Mittens or gloves?
8. Pancakes or French Toast?
9. Favorite store to shop at?
10. Do you collect anything?
11.If you could recreate a scene from a movie which scene would it be (in real life with the real life people in your real life)?

Here's the official rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. Step 1 - You must post 11 random things yourself.

3. Step 2 - Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.

4. Step 3 - Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.

6. No stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this.’ Blah blah blah, you legitimately have to tag 11 people!

Tagged:
1. Lauren
2. Janae
3.Kay Bee
4. Amy
5. Devon

6. Abby
7. Leeann
8.Linny
9. Laurel
and the rest are blogs I am new to that I would like to learn more about the writers!
10. Andrea
11.Mallory