happy birthday to me

Happy birthday to me...I don't know what I thought 41 would be like...I don't feel 41. I don't look 41. Though I do notice a bit more gray, a few more 'cracks' (as Will called them) around my forehead where I scrunch it. Midlife is not at all what I imagined way back when I thought 41 was OLD. I guess two kids under six will keep you young.

I look back at my teen years: always being the good girl, getting good grades, making it into OU. In my twenties, I was still the people pleaser. Now I was just pleasing my principal and fellow teachers. It took me a year or two to learn to say "NO" to various things I was volunteered to do.

I got married when I was 30. We moved from Oklahoma to Alaska, leaving everything I had ever known. Thank goodness for the good friends we made there. I also had two babies in two years. Now that will make life interesting. It was then that I finally learned to stop trying to please everybody.

I also figured out I might not ever fit back into those pre-baby clothes. My body is definitely curvier in places it didn't used to be curvy. But I can find and wear clothes that fit my body and look good. Clinton and Stacy (from What Not to Wear) are fountains of info! A good under garment (as Stacy and Clinton would say) is not something to skimp.

So, slowly, over the past years I have learned to realize while I might not be perfect, I am alright and I have some great bras!

Here’s what I want you to do for my birthday. Send someone an e-mail and tell them how much you appreciate them, or love them. Do it right now. Then tell me about it in the comments. That’s what I want. It’s my birthday so you have to do it.

PS, these cupcakes are definitely in my future. Here is the recipe

tuesday with tommie

Long time no post! We went to OH for the long fourth of July weekend. We had so much fun! Husband went to a bit of his twenty year reunion. We had some awesome fair food. Will rode the roller coaster twelve times. This picture of me and him was taken at the top of the ferris wheel. Right after I took this picture, he started freaking out since he thought I would drop my phone!

WHAT I’M READING: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World ...still reading this. I got all of the reservations we wanted. There is one minor glitch, but it worked to our advantage!

WHAT I’M WATCHING: DVR'd Here Come the Newlyweds. Very cute show.



WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: just turned on Pandora. It played "If Everyone Cared" by Nickelback. I love this song!!

"If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died"

WHAT I’M WEARING: shorts, t-shirt, freshly washed face

WHAT I’M EATING: nada, it is late. Had my favorite pasta for dinner though

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: having a working laptop cord. It had been delivered to my neighbor's house!

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: the Crystal Light lemonade I am drinking

tuesday with tommie

I will spare you a self portrait pic this week. I have been experiencing some vertigo, so I thought this pic of Will exemplifies how I feel, going round and round ....everything very blurry!

WHAT I’M READING: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World ...still reading this. Next week is the day I can call to make my advance reservations.

WHAT I’M WATCHING: DVR'd Hitched or Ditched...the momma doesn't like the guy's girlfriend, so you know it won't work out!



WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: just turned on Pandora, Nickleback station. It played "If Today Was Your Last Day" I love the words to this song:

"My best friend gave me the best advice. He said each day's a gift and not a given right. Leave no stone unturned. Leave your fears behind. And try to take the path less traveled by, That first step you take is the longest stride"

WHAT I’M WEARING: jammie pants, t-shirt, freshly washed face.

WHAT I’M EATING: nada, it is late. Had quesadillas for dinner though

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: thinking of the long weekend

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: Crystal Light lemonade I am drinking

Manic Monday and a fun new car

What is the longest love relationship (partner) you have had, and if it has ended, why? Being married to Husband. We have been married twelve years this fall. It certainly doesn't feel like it. I guess it is true, time flies when you are having fun!

What is on your bedside table? a Tiffany style lamp that my sister gave me, a Bose Ipod docking station (that I got for Husband when he got home from Iraq....I wonder how it ended up on my bedside table???) and usually whatever book I am reading.

How many pillows do you have on your bed? 7: two in pillowcases, two in some mustard yellow shams, two in one that coordinates with the duvet cover, and one foo foo pillow (that has somehow ended up on Livi's bed)

Do you make your bed every day? Are you kidding me? Of course I do!

Husband came home with this fun little sporty coupe. (This pic is straight from the Volvo website.) After his head on collision, it made it all too clear that despite you being a safe driver, you never know what the other guy is going to do. The car is so fun and is Safety's friend. Will called it a "go speed racer".

Friday fill in: weekend update style

Graphic courtesy of Tonya! And...here we go!

6. At Dinosaur World the sun was shining. It was so hot, I felt like I was melting!

1. She had a great sense of style. Despite the fact that I laid out her outfit with matching shoes, Livi choose to wear these pink MaryJanes. But she did mention that they were NOT the proper shade of pink. This was a battle I chose not to fight.

3. I know this: Will has the bluest eyes.....even today, someone commented on them when he was getting his hair cut.

2. Husband is by my side, always. Thankfully, even after this weekend started out with him getting in a head-on collision, he will continue to be by my side. He is fine, though a bit bruised and sore. He is sad to have to say goodbye to his convertible!

4. I still hope Husband finds a car that he loves as much as this one.

5. These words apply to me: organized.


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza with the family, tomorrow my plans include dinner with Will's future in-laws and E and Sunday, I want to take the boys to get haircuts and start looking at cars for Husband!

PS, so sorry my Fill In is all wonky! I couldn't move the pics around, I could only move the text. Oh well! Happy Friday fill in on Sunday!!

Friday fill in questions courtesy of the talented Janet

Photostory Friday: wanna flower

Livi has a gift to see the pretty in every day things. A couple of weeks ago while we were waiting on Will at his soccer camp, she found another little sister there. Before you know it she had a little bouquet of flowers.....or are those weeds? Either way, we brought them home, put them into a little vase for our dinner table.

I hope you don't ever stop seeing the beauty in things, Livi!

PS, my favorite picture of her was also taken that day.





Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

tuesday with tommie

WHAT I’M READING: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World ....pouring over all the food selections, character dining, etc. I am getting so excited!

WHAT I’M WATCHING: DVR'd Here Come the Newlyweds...love this show!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: the hum of my laptop. The babies are sleeping.

WHAT I’M WEARING: jammie pants, t-shirt, freshly washed face. It was hot today. We were outside quite a bit, so I was sticky. I can't like being sticky!

WHAT I’M EATING: nada, but we had grilled chicken and wild rice for dinner. That is one of my all time go-to meals. I can use the leftover chicken in some quesadillas soon. Yummy!

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: Husband made it home for dinner tonight. He has been working some long hours these past two weeks.

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: new dryer sheets I tried this last time...something lavender.

PS...several people asked me about my eyelashes in one of my tuesday with tommie posts. First off, I have VERY straight thin eyelashes. But my little secret that I have done every since I ever started wearing makeup...(some where along the same time I used a can of Aquanet on my hair!), I have heated up my eyelash curler with my hairdryer before I curl them. For the life of me, I can't remember who showed me this. After that, I use the mascara in the pink tube: blackest black. I have tried the waterproof, but I use the regular one.

Disclaimer here: this pic is taken pre-makeup. Not that I wear that much anyway!!