slacker | I got nutt'n

It has been a few days since my last blog post, but I got nutt'n. I finished the yellow shirts (THANK GOODNESS!) and am still hunting the perfect job…no, any job. Sad isn’t it?

I can’t say much else, there’s just too much complaining going on in my head and I don’t want to say something that will come back to bite me in the butt.

tea party | winter break | surprises

Sarah’s littles were out of school this past week and since I am at home anyway, they hung out with me for a few days so their mom could go to work.

Wednesday we played games…Phase 10 has got to be one of the best games on the planet! We also rocked a little Battleship, although it was not as much fun because it was travel size and we kept knocking our tiny little missiles all over the place. The littles thought the travel games were cute, but by the end of the game I wished we had purchased the regular size. Oh well, live & learn.

The real fun stuff happened on Friday. The littles didn’t know it, but I had a great surprised planned for them…first they just had to sit patiently and entertain themselves while I took pictures at one of my Besties daughter’s birthday party. It was a Mommy/Daughter Tea Party and I just have to share some of my most favorite photos…these girls were so stinking cute!

This is Bestie Jennifer's daughter Rylie at the end of the photo shoot.
She was all tuckered out from the attention and believe it or not, this is one of the only pictures she would let me take of her by herself. OK, technically she didn't "let" me take it, I just did.

Here is Rylie with the other birthday girl, Kelsey. This was taken when we had the entire group of girls together.
I just love the looks on their faces.

Birthday girl Kelsey in her Tea Party attire.
That hat is far funnier in the pictures than it was in real life.

Birthday girl Rylie and her sister Kenidee.

And the rest of the ladies in Jennifer's family...

After I finished at the Tea Party the littles and I met up with Aunt Kelly and Charley for lunch at Stevi B’s. I know, all the pizza tastes exactly the same no matter what is on it, but it’s cheap and the littles can get their own food. It’s such a casual place, and the one we went to was not crowded at all so it was no biggie to let the kids get up and do whatever because we could see everyone from where we sat.

Now for the most fun and the surprise of the day: DACKids! The littles had never been there before and Kelly had been wanting to take Charley for a while so we thought it was perfect. We found some coupons online for $2 off – which brought the price down to $6 each – free is still better, especially for the unemployed, but whatever.

I took a couple of photos and used the program Huggin to merge them together for a panorama shot of the room.
Obviously a pirate them and all in all I think there were five (or maybe six) air-jumpy things, including one for toddlers.
I secured home base by sitting on our bench putting stupid gems on stupid stickers for stupid yellow shirts.

Kelly however did a lot of running around with Charley.
Before...

After...

The other littles ran and played and ran and played and wore themselves out!
That's Riah below... scaling the ropes course on the pirate ship.

And here's T...nursing his battle wounds...

Those air guns are dangerous. Kelly got shot in the back (by some random mean kid) and I saw a number of kids get wacked in the face. T however got hit in the neck/face/jaw by the actual gun.
The cold Capri Sun did the trick (thanks for the rescue pirate guy) and then T got a cold drink too.

Guess who got to walk the plank for inflicting battle wounds...

Yeah, she looks guilty!

Charley liked this one particular jumpy house.
She climbed up the ladder and slid down the slide with Mads close by...

And of course Mommy Kelly down below ready to catch...

Kelly got to go inside the jumpy house with Charley too.
And yes, I run the risk of death by posting this picture, but I think it is too funny not to share.
I mean...look at that face.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you that she is telling me NOT to take the picture.
Oops, sorry.

The girls on top of the playground.
Yes, that is one of the air guns mentioned previously.

All three of the rug rats...

Sorry the color is so bad in some of these.
The ceiling of the room was painted yellow and no matter what I did some shots just look horrible.
(In my play place a ceiling would be blue...for the sky. Or dark...for the night.)

There are a million little soft Nerf type balls around the room.
You stick them in the top of these air guns and they shoot out the end.
They really don't go that far and then just sort of float to the ground.
The part where kids get hurt is if they are standing within about 7 feet of the guns.
I saw one kid get wacked in the face with a ball and he was literally inches away from the gun as he walked by.
It was not pretty.

When we first got there Charley walked around gathering balls.
Then she learned how to use the gun!

Charley liked being up on top of the playground...

Aunt Kelly had had enough of getting her picture taken so she took one of all of us.
Here we all are at the end...only about an hour and a half.
Everyone was worn out and tired.
Charley kept saying "bye bye" and "night night"...she was ready to go home!

I think we all had a nice time, maybe next time we can come for longer and pack a lunch.

I wonder if they will let us bring food in.

Kelly and I also decided we could do this MUCH better. We would have a different theme too...I can't give away our secrets, but you will definitely want to bring your littles to our play place!

good times...now back to the job search

and those #@!%* yellow shirts!

diploma

For graduation my fabulous family gifted me the frame for my diploma. Because I wanted to include my honors cords in the frame, technically they gifted me money intended to frame the goods. A few weeks ago my diploma finally arrived and I took it to my favorite little frame shop in Kennesaw. After a quick review of the price options for shadow box type frame that could hold my cords with my diploma I came to the realization that I was crazy to think I could (ever) afford something like that. I was fine with just framing my diploma and the school even has diploma frames, but they were so masculine that even without the fancy shadow box, I knew I still wanted a frame that was more my style. It only took me about 45 minutes to pick the perfect frame, but I knew it would look great.

I picked it up from the frame shop this week and it looks fantastic! I am so pleased, they really did an amazing job.

Here is a close up of the frame so you can see the details. Please raise your hand if you agree...this is totally my style.

And here is the big picture:

(No, my name is not fuzzied out on the actual diploma. I did that especially for all you crazies out there that have no reason knowing my full name.)

You can't really tell, but the mat is a dark maroon. It matches the dark maroon that is part of the color scheme of KSU. And if you can tell (and you may not be able to) I picked the frame with the maroon undertones so it would all play nice. I am super thrilled about how it turned out.

Thank you family...
you rock!

xoxo

Now, if we can all help Katherine find the perfect job to put all that education to good use, that would be swell.

No...seriously!

love letters | Irving Berlin

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I decided to go ahead and post the last love letter on this, Valentine’s Day eve. This last love letter is a little different. If you know me, you know how music has played a huge roll in my life. I love music…it speaks to my soul like nothing I can explain.

So on Valentine’s Day I want to share a little love from the father of all romantic ballads, Irving Berlin. He was one of the most important song writers in the United States, and most people know at least one or two of his songs (“White Christmas”, “What’ll I do?”, “Cheek to Cheek”, or maybe you’ve heard of “God Bless America”?)

But today, it’s all about the love!

In 1912 Berlin married Dorothy Goetz. She died of typhoid fever while on their honeymoon. After her death he wrote his first ballad, to her “When I Lost You”. Here are the lyrics to the chorus:

I lost the sunshine and roses, I lost the heavens of blue,

I lost the beautiful rainbow, I lost the morning dew.

I lost the angel who gave me, summer the whole winter through.

I lost the gladness that turned into sadness,

When I lost you.

And I lost the angel who gave me, summer the whole winter through.

I lost the gladness that turned into sadness,

When I lost you.

So sad. And on their honeymoon!

In 1925 he met and fell in love with Ellin Mackay. Her daddy wouldn't have any of that so he shipped her off to Europe. That Irving didn’t give up and sent his love letters over the radio with two songs written just for her, “Remember” and “Always”.

So on this special day, by the magic of You Tube (forgive the cheesy video, it's the best I could find) and the heart melting voice of Frank Sinatra, I bring you my favorite kind of love letter…

It worked. She returned from Europe and they eloped to the county courthouse. As a result her father disowned his daughter. But no bother...she and Irving had 62 happily married years together, just to spite him.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
I hope you found some love.

love letters | Ronald Reagan

I've saved two of my most favorite love letters for the last two days. Today I wanted to share some inspiration for a little more modern love...something you might be able to encourage your own sweetie to write (thanks for that comment Shauna).

Today's letter comes to us from the pen of former United States President, the late Ronald Reagan. I always liked President Reagan and I enjoyed the little glimpse into the relationship he had with Nance. They remind me of my parents in a way. They were so rarely apart and always looked so very in love. I couldn't decide on just one picture, so I chose the best two. Enjoy...this is a good one!

"Aboard Air Force One

March 4 1983

Dear First Lady

I know tradition has it that on this morning I place cards Happy Anniversary cards on your breakfast tray. But things are somewhat mixed up. I substituted a gift & delivered it a few weeks ago.

Still this is the day, the day that marks 31 years of such happiness as comes to few men. I told you once that it was like an adolescent's dream of what marriage should be like. That hasn't changed.

You know I love the ranch but these last two days made it plain I only love it when you are there. Come to think of it that's true of every place & every time. When you aren't there I'm no place, just lost in time & space.

I more than love you, I'm not whole without you. You are life itself to me. When you are gone I'm waiting for you to return so I can start living again.

Happy Anniversary & thank you for 31 wonderful years.

I love you

Your Grateful Husband"

Wonder where I found these letters?
Want to read more?
Find them HERE & HERE.

P.S.
I want a love letter written aboard Air Force One.
I would make an AWESOME First Lady!

xoxo

Valentine Cookies | lots of pictures

My Michigan littles received their Valentine package today, so it’s safe to post about the cute cookies I sent them.
(No, I don't think they read my blog, but their momma does and I wanted her to be just as surprised.)
I had a lot of help from Kelly & Charley, as a matter of fact, Kelly actually made the cookie dough and the Royal Icing and I just cut the dough and iced the cookies. It was a fun day, but it is a messy process. All in all, I think the cookies turned out AMAZING!

The lips were for some littles here in Georgia...I eventually wrote their names on them too.

Here are most of the Michigan little's cookies all together. One note, for anyone wanting to try this at home: notice the cookies toward the top left corner that say "Alex" and "CM". Those cookies I used a larger tip, like probably a 5. The others, that look better (notice the new "Alex" cookie to the right of the old "Alex" cookie) I used a smaller tip, probably a 1 or 2. Royal icing can be tricky, it is runny, dries fast and can have an attitude if you're not careful. Your hand will want to fall off by the end, but the final product will look like it was worth it...not just taste like it.

Kelly was mixing more black royal when she discovered she had a little love in the cup!

Me, icing the cookies.
Photo taken by: Charley

Miss Charley...helping with the oven mitt.

Here is a shot of most of the cookies. There were two smaller pans in addition to this, but one looked mostly like this and the contents of the other you will see momentarily.

OK. Another reason I wanted to make Valentine cookies was so I could send some to that guy up north. I don't talk about him much at all and there may be nothing to talk about at all very soon, but everyone deserves a valentine and he is no exception. I wanted to do something fun, that was more him than just simply Valentine. That is where these cookies come in...

What could they be?

Here I am transforming the little round discs into...

Billiard balls!
Do you think they look like the real thing?
Let me tell you...this was such a pain in my rear! I wanted to get them correct, you know, the right numbers with the right colors and all that. I messed up a lot! For 16 cookies I think I had to "fix" at least 5 of them. That's a lot of fixing! I was super frustrated, but in the end I agree (Kelly) they did look cute.

You can sort of see a wooden box to the right in this picture (below). It is a triangle (do you get it?) I tried to get them all to fit in that little box to ship, but they were not having it. I must have put them in that box every way I could think. I tried so many times that a few of the little cookies started to crumble on the edges (they are wrapped in plastic wrap.)
In the end I opted on a trip back to Michaels' to find a better solution.

I ended up with these darling little plastic boxes (below). I really liked the boxes, mostly because you could see through them. But then I got really creative and found some green felt for the bottom (get it?) and the display was complete. I am sure he won't think it is that big of a deal, but I wanted it to look perfect and well...this is about as good as it got. I'm happy.

I made a fun little Valentine card that said:
"Even mean ol' sharks need a little love"
(Get it? Pool sharks. Come on people, try to stay with me here!)

I also made a few traditional Valentine cookies for BJK's box too.

He received a second plastic box with the traditional Valentine cookies. It looked like this:

"Let's Kiss" is my favorite cookie of the batch!

I stacked them up and tied them with some cute "Happy Valentine's Day" ribbon (sorry, didn't take a picture of that part) and off they went to the post office. I'm not sure how the cookies held up in the mail or how good they will taste after almost 2 weeks. Especially with royal icing, I guess I'll ask when I get a chance to talk to Michigan and BJK.

The ground outside is covered in snow.
It's beautiful!
Stay warm.

xoxo

Olympics | Vancouver 2010

I love the Olympics.

I will spend the next two weeks in tears…everything about the Olympics makes me cry. Most are happy tears...

Some are not. Tonight my heart aches for the family, friends and country of Republic of Georgia luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili. He died this morning when he lost control of his sled near the end of the course. He was only 21 years old. You can read more about the accident here.

I pray there are no more sad tears. The Olympics are such a great joining of the world. I am in love with this new Visa commercial...

The scenery in Canada is simply breathtaking.
I believe I will need a visit soon.

Go World!

lovers' lane | Central Park, New York

"Lover's Lane, Central Park, New York "

Don't you just love this image. It is found HERE at the Library of Congress Web site.
Appropriate on this, Valentine's Day weekend of love.

Love.

I remember reading Candid when I was in school, but don't ask me what it was about. I would need the Cliff's Notes to write a paper on it now. Thank goodness that part of my life is over, at least for now. But that's not to say that François-Marie Arouet (better know as...Voltaire) couldn't write a mean love letter.

He wrote this love letter to his sweetie, Olympe Dunover. With a name like that you would think she came from royalty, but she was the daughter of a poor lower-class woman. He was sent to the Netherlands at the age of 19 to be an attaché to the French Ambassador. It was there that they met and fell in love. Neither the ambassador nor Olympe's mommy approved of the love affair and Voltaire was sent to prison! Hello...isn't that kind of strict? I mean come on people, there have probably been disapproving fathers/mothers/ambassadors throughout all time that didn't jump to that extreme. I mean really. Our fearless Voltaire was quick about his get-away and escaped by climbing out of the prison window. Resourceful, wasn't he?

An odd looking guy, but like I said, he could write a mean love letter...

The Hague 1713

"I am a prisoner here in the name of the King; they can take my life, but not the love that I feel for you. Yes, my adorable mistress, to-night I shall see you, and if I had to put my head on the block to do it.

For heaven's sake, do not speak to me in such disastrous terms as you write; you must live and be cautious; beware of Madame your mother as of your worst enemy. What do I say? Beware of everybody; trust no one; keep yourself in readiness, as soon as the moon is visible; I shall leave the hotel incognito, take a carriage or a chaise, we shall drive like the wind to Sheveningen; I shall take paper and ink with me; we shall write our letters.

If you love me, reassure yourself; and call all your strength and presence of mind to your aid; do not let your mother notice anything, try to have your pictures, and be assured that the menace of the greatest tortures will not prevent me to serve you. No, nothing has the power to part me from you; our love is based upon virtue, and will last as long as our lives. Adieu, there is nothing that I will not brave for your sake; you deserve much more than that. Adieu, my dear heart!

Arout"
(Voltaire)

love letters | Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was The Queen of England. Lucky lady, he celebrity status was brought on by being the first of the many wives of Henry VIII. Winner Henry divorced her in 1533, but love struck Catherine remained devoted to him until her death in 1536. She wrote the follow letter to that gem Henry on her deathbed. If you ask me, it seems like she died of a broken heart. So sad she couldn't move on. I guess we've all been there!

"1535

My Lord and Dear Husband,

I commend me unto you. The hour of my death draweth fast on, and my case being such, the tender love I owe you forceth me, with a few words, to put you in remembrance of the health and safeguard of your soul, which you ought to prefer before all worldly matters, and before the care and tendering of your own body, for the which you have cast me into many miseries and yourself into many cares.

For my part I do pardon you all, yea, I do wish and devoutly pray God that He will also pardon you.

For the rest I commend unto you Mary, our daughter, beseeching you to be a good father unto her, as I heretofore desired. I entreat you also, on behalf of my maids, to give them marriage-portions, which is not much, they being but three. For all my other servants, I solicit a year's pay more than their due, lest they should be unprovided for.

Lastly, do I vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things."

As much fun as these love letters have been...
I won't be so sad to see them go.

Bye the by...no one, not one soul, told me what they were doing for Lovers Day.
What is wrong with you people?
Comment already!

Love you.