Favorite Things Friday

Welcome to a new little weekly feature. Since I've been blogging I've learned about so many neat things (books, make-up, clothes, websites, events) through other peoples' referrals.

I often come across something in my own life that I think is really great and I think, "I should blog about that." (sound familiar?)

So, each Friday I'll be telling you about a few of my favorite things. None of these are paid sponsorships and I'll only be writing about things I've experienced first-hand.

If you have hair like me (thick, coarse, wavy), the summer heat and humidity is not your friend. There's the song by my good friend Sara Evans that says, "Straight hair girls they all want curls and the brunettes want to be blonde." I've got the blonde thing down, but I'm one of those curly girls who wants to be straight. Thanks to a recommendation from Amber, I invested in a Chi flat iron and my hair woes went bye-bye. It smooths, straightens and doesn't snag my hair like many of the cheaper irons.

This weekend only...and only in stores: It's the JCrew Summer Sale. Up to 50% off. Can you ever have too many tissues tees or sundresses? I think not.

Zone Perfect protein bars now come in dark chocolate. Oh my stars! If only working out was this heavenly.

Thanks to my sweet husband for sharing this video of a father and son love story that will touch your heart. Grab the Kleenex. 5:47 minutes long.

Happy Friday.

After a Long Day

Mommy leaves work.

Mommy picks little boy up from school.

Little boy winds down:

Mommy winds down:

Wordless Wednesday - "My Little Bum"

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

The Line for Good Teeth

I have a dental appointment bright and early tomorrow morning. In honor of my bad teeth, I thought I'd republish this post from last year.

Happy drilling to me.
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When God was forming the Line for Good Teeth, I was not in it.

Instead, I was put in the lines for Small Wrists and Becomes Nauseous At The Drop of a Hat.

So, if you want to know anything about a root canal, ask me... 'cause I've had two in two months; the most recent being today.

Thank goodness for the three shots of Novocaine to my gums and five shots to the roof of my mouth. They numbed the whole left side of my face so well (including my nose and the outside corner of my eye) that I didn't feel any pain during the actual procedure.

However, I did have to watch Regis and Kelly on the plasma TV mounted on the ceiling above my chair. That is sorta like pain. Then Madonna came on as a guest, and that was really like pain. Watching Madonna and listening to Kelly squeal while having your mouth propped open for nearly 45 minutes with a metal frame contraption is not my idea of fun.

Not anywhere close.

My shots are now wearing off.

I am feeling some pain.

The swelling will begin.

I am leaving work early.

I would eat something comforting like chocolate or potato chips, but I am on the nutrition plan, so I may have water and some green beans.

However, I did recently learn that both gin & vodka are carb-free.

Amen.

No, I am Not Pregnant

I don't know what kind of strange hormonal imbalance caused me to crave pasta with sauce and garlic bread at 8:30am this morning, but I hope it's not a permanent condition.

Yes, I ate it.

No, there is none left.

Thank you.

Wordless Wednesday - "Baywatch 2025"

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Our Summer Vacation

Doug and I joked about needing a vacation to recuperate from our vacation as we pulled into the driveway last Saturday afternoon. As you know, there's never a vacation from cooking and laundry and all the other bustling and juggling moms and dads do when traveling with kids.

That said, we had a wonderful week away at Seacrest Beach, Florida last week. We left on Monday, June 9 (in a rented minivan and the wiggle room was quite nice) and came home last Saturday, the 14.

I especially enjoyed not having to be on a schedule, not having to drive in traffic each day, and not having to wear make-up and do my hair!

This was taken driving up the street to our house.

This was our home for the week.

Seacrest is part of the string of resorts along Hwy. 30A in Florida's panhandle. It's just west of Panama City Beach, and about 30 miles east of Destin.

I've been vacationing at this area for about 10 years, give or take a year here or there where I couldn't make it due to work obligations, etc. Doug and I have been 4 of the 6 summers we've been married.

One evening while I was sitting on the beach watching Doug and the kids dig and play in the sand, I was reflecting about how different my beach trips are now, compared to my trips to the beach with my girlfriends (** Hi, Girls!!!**).

In those days, we'd pack a simple cooler, a towel, a chair, and a book and off we'd go to the beach for the entire day. Back home, shower, and out to dinner.

These days, we go to the pool during the day for a few hours and save the beach for the evening when it's cooler. We prefer to eat in. We take lots of naps. As I saw my family on that beach I got a little sentimental (OK, a lot sentimental). Who knew back then I'd be watching my own children play in the same sand and run in the same waves? **sniff**




A very special treat for our family was going to visit my dear blogging friend Kat, her husband George, and doggie hostess Miss Daisy. They were so very gracious to invite us into their home for drinks before we headed out to dinner.

Within the first five minutes Adam tripped on the brick floor, cut his lip, had ice applied by Kat and covered her glass patio door with tiny little fingerprints. Good thing two-year olds get a break on the whole first impression thing.

We were then treated to golf cart rides for a tour of the neighborhood and then to dinner. George drove Doug and Bayley in Kat and George's more "souped up" cart, which I think could go about 23 mph vs. 12mph for the borrowed one Kat drove with me, Kendra and Adam. Adam was wedged between Kat and me and I told him he had to keep his hands folded on his lap because the kid is so enthralled with "dry-bing" I thought for sure he'd be trying to take the wheel.

We had a wonderful time with them and I am truly blessed to have met such wonderful blogging friends. Thank you Kat, George and Miss Daisy!


Kat and me

Here's George with two new buddies Adam and Bayley.

We were so blessed to be able to get away for a little while.

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, I don't take time enjoy the simple things enough. We watched birds and sunsets, held hands, ate chocolate chip cookies, sipped Corona, floated in the pool... and Doug and I both finished a whole book!

Life is good.

A Day That's Doubly Dad

Today we're double celebrating at our house. Not only is it Father's Day, it's also Doug's 46th birthday.

In honor of both, I thought I'd ask Kendra and Bayley to answer a few questions about their dad. Hopefully Adam can join in next year. This year he answered "I doe know" to everything I asked.

What things do you enjoy doing with your dad?
Kendra: Hanging out, playing games and talking with him.
Bayley: Lots of things. Throwing the football, playing basketball and just being with him like hanging out.

What three words do you think best describe your dad?
Kendra: exciting, funny, awesome
Bayley: loving, kind, forgiving

If your dad could have a day to do anything he wanted, what do you think he'd choose to do?
Kendra: Work outside in the yard, come up with some big project and include all of us.
Bayley: He would stay home and spend time with me, Kendra and Adam.

What is your dad's favorite....

COLOR:
Kendra: green
Bayley: orange

FOOD:
Kendra: tacos
Bayley: BBQ

VACATION:
Kendra: Seacrest (the beach where we just vacationed)
Bayley: Seacrest

SPORT:
Kendra: football
Bayley: basketball

PERSON IN THE BIBLE:
Kendra: Jesus
Bayley: Jesus

So, here's to you, babe. Thanks for being such a great father to our children and husband to me. I hope the year ahead is wonderful for you in every way you wish.

We love you!

Channeling Jimmy Buffett

Gone beachin'.

Back soon.

Coats, Coats, Coats

One of my favorite wardrobe pieces is an overcoat. Here in the South, we don't have a need for heavy coats because it just doesn't get very cold. However, light to mid-weight coats are a must in the winter months and I'm a sucker for them. I'm tall, so I can wear longer length coats with no problem. Plus, they hide a myriad of flaws (but who's counting?)

Even though we're about to enter the hot, hazy, humid days of summer, this happens to be the time of year I buy a new coat or two (or three....or.....).

I get most of my coats during the Summer Sale at Nordstrom.

Here are a few that** just might** be hanging in my closet as we speak:

I love the little ruffle at the hem. And the color is divine, don't you think?

The gathers at the waist make this one very flattering.

Does this say, "Take me to New York to see the Christmas lights!" or what?

And this tailored number will be perfect next spring.

Now I think I need a couple bags to go with them.

A Couple Tips

As I was working on my to-do list over the long Memorial Day holiday, a couple tricks I use time and time again really came in handy:

I always keep on hand one of those "cans of air" used to clean computers. They are great for cleaning artificial plants, window blinds and anything else that is hard or tedious to clean with a rag. Don't know what it does to the ozone layer, but at least my fake plants are clean.

I'm in the art and framing business, so I know most good frame shops double wire larger pieces of art so they won't slip and move on the wall. However, smaller pieces are not usually double wired.

As a solution, I buy the pre-cut squares of adhesive Velcro. I attach one side in the middle of the bottom of the artwork, and then stick the other side, adhesive side out, to the piece a;ready on the art. Then simply hang it on your nail and gently press the bottom of the art to the wall. The sticky side of the second piece of Velcro will stick to the wall and you've got yourself a great way to keep the art from moving.

I've got lots of wall space to fill, and one of the prettiest and most economical ways to do that is with plates. I love to comb the shelves at TJ Maxx or Homegoods. You can often find really pretty plates for less than $4 each. Here's the wall in the hallway between our kitchen and living room. Total cost of this project was $20.



But I won't tell you how many times I had to pound nails in the wall to get them to all line up. My bag of tricks ends there.

Wild Child

You know your child is a bit - shall we say "rambunctious" - when you tell your husband you put the key under the doormat for the carpet cleaners and he thinks you said the kid is under the doormat with the scissors.

Wordless Wednesday - "Kitchen, 6:00 AM"

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Pondering

Are we better, richer, more enlightened Christians if we
attend church regularly?

What might we be missing out on if we don't attend? or if we do?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.