Ann Again...and again

As we settle into summer temperatures around 90 degrees, I'm OK with that. I mean, I'd rather deal with that then crazy 100 + temperatures. It's incredible what a difference those few digits make. I'm ready to sip something cold, sit in front of a fan and have a Virtual Girls Night Out! New to the Virtual GNO? Welcome! This party has some of the best bloggers around! The original Virtual Girls Night Out is a blog-hopping party that I started last summer. After a very long week I wished for one night away from my precious children and some adult conversation. However, I couldn't find child care so, I did the next best thing and turned to my blog friends. I'm "virtually out" with all of you! Get Your BLOG Over Here! To join the blog-hopping fun, check out this VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers that have signed in. It's a party so at a party you mingle, right? Go blog-hopping! I want every

*** When I open my eyes will there be ice cream? :-> *** I'm Koo-Koo, what can I say. Will we reach our high of 106? Stay Tuned....

Had a wonderful time with the family yesterday. We spent the hot afternoon in a cool spot where two little rivers meet. So beautiful. Many pictures were taken (on a camera that is on it's last leg. So frustrating!!!!) Last night we looked at the pictures of our day and, instead of being happy with our memories, I fixated on the size of my thighs, the pooch of my stomach. I couldn't believe that I looked like that! I've been feeling so strong lately. I've been exercising and swimming. I don't jiggle as much when I walk and I can get up off the couch without using my hands to heft me up. I feel strong! But then I look at these pictures and feel like crap. Argh. I'm not going to give up. Feeling strong feels really good! I just need to work a little harder. And only take close-ups ;->

Well, there is a huge party going on at the BlogHer '09 Conference, but I just couldn't make it. (Sorry Chicago family). Let's get our Virtual Girls Night Out groove on while wishing our BlogHer pals a great time. For those of us that are at home I've got a "virtual vacation" going on. Let's get it started! New to the Virtual GNO? Welcome! This party has some of the best bloggers around ! The original Virtual Girls Night Out is a blog-hopping party that I started last summer. After a very long week I wished for one night away from my precious children and some adult conversation. However, I couldn't find child care so, I did the next best thing and turned to my blog friends. I'm "virtually out" with all of you! Get Your BLOG Over Here! To join the blog-hopping fun, check out this VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers that have signed in. It's a party so at a party you min

When Rob and I lived in NYC we decided to add a cat to our tiny apartment. Well, the tiny cat we choose from the ASPCA had a sister and they couldn't be parted. Of course not. So we brought them both home and they are with us still, only now in Oregon. Everyday we would find them in a different nook and cranny of the apartment. Here is the first photo in the series of what I like to call "Maddy & Phoebe Get Cozy". This Week: Maddy & Phoebe get cozy in the shoe rack :-> Go find more ATWT photos at Jen's Cheaper Than Therapy .

I watched a woman dance at a Jazz Festival last weekend. She caught my attention because her arms were all over the place. Hard to miss. Her moves were creative and not exactly in time with the music but, after watching her a while, I finally understood that keeping the beat wasn't the point of her dancing. She was just "feelin' it". She was dancing as if no one was watching . I envied her. I have no idea why I didn't get up there and dance too. There was a sweet, little group of people swaying about. There was plenty of room for me on that stage, yet I just kept watching and stayed on my blanket. And the whole time I'm thinking, 'So what if I look like a fool? When am I going to see these people again? They're strangers.' Will I be at the grocery store and someone will come up to me and say "Hey! Aren't you that lady that was crazy-dancing at the Jazz Festival last weekend? Ha! Ha!". No. I doubt it. Although here I a

Our area has been having some high temperatures and, let me tell you, we are not a "hot-weather-people". I refer you to my version of the Journal of the American Medical Association, "Native Oregonian's Sweat At 80 Degrees." My girls and I caught a break when we were invited to a birthday party. The mother accommodated the need for heat relief and planned the party at an Aquatic Park. It was a bit of a drive, but who cares! We gathered the kids in our cars, cranked up the A.C. and headed to the pool. After parking the car we walked quickly into the building. We were so excited. We followed the balloons to the party room and had the cake and ice cream as fast as we could. Let's get in that water! Upon opening the doors to the pool we were hit with a wave of hot air. Not surprising though, there's bound to be a little humidity. As the first drip of sweat ran down my face I soon realized that this was not a little humidity though, this was an all out saun

Another week older ( Thank You SO MUCH for the birthday wishes!!!) and feeling great... (and tired and sweaty and sweaty some more). Portland's back in the swing of things with the hot weather so let's break out our oscillating fans and have fun at the Virtual Girls Night Out! Haven't done this before? Welcome! The original Virtual GNO is a blog-hopping party that I started last summer. I really needed some time away from my precious children, and some adult conversation but, I couldn't find child care. So, I did the next best thing and turned to my blog friends. I'm "virtually out" with you all! Get Your BLOG Over Here! To join the blog-hopping fun, check out this VGNO post then sign the Mr. Linky guest book with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers that have signed in. It's a party so at a party you mingle, right? Go blog-hopping! I want everyone to connect. That's what it's all about. Time To Move ! The White Rabbits - " Percu

I'm ready for the Substitute to come in now. When summer vacation approaches I make lists of all our city has to offer. Hikes, water parks, educational programs, etc. I try to make sure my girls don't lose what they've learned through-out the year, but I get that we all need time to do 'nothing'. And I want that right now. I want to have someone else come in and plan the day while I... oh, I don't know... do nothing . I've had my fill of meal planning. I've had my fill of whining. I've had my fill of chaperoning the "Field Trips", what we call outings. (Hoping that by calling the trips to the grocery store "Field Trips" the kids would get ready faster. Nope. Time for something new. Maybe I'll call them 'If You Get Ready I'll Give You A Dollar'.) I praise daycare coordinators. I honor home schoolers. I think you're amazing. But for me, that Staples commercial is sounding pretty darn good right now.

After leaving the Liquor Store with the makings for some yummy margaritas, Hubby and I noticed a "Garage Sale" being held inside a building across the street. With our brown paper bags tucked under our arms we headed over to the sale to see what treasures we could find. I had walked by the building many times, but had no idea of what it was all about. The title on the outside made no sense to me and Rob didn't know what it stood for either. When we entered the building we saw what looked like a hotel lobby only very stark, nothing fancy. We were told that the sale was happening upstairs. When we reached the space upstairs we saw many teacups, ashtrays, books, and blankets. Not the treasures we were looking for but I'm sure someone would love them. As we looked over the shelves of wine glasses and flasks Rob and I talked about what to make for dinner and of some other flavors we wanted to add to our margaritas. As we were about to leave the sale I asked the atten

Whoo - Hoo! I may be sleep deprived from having a sick child and, I may be spending the better part of the day cleaning up after said sick child but, hey! I'm going to celebrate my birthday a day early (It's really on 7/11) and make sure all of my VGNO friends get gifts too! Let's get this Virtual Girls Night Out going!!! First Virtual GNO party? Welcome! The original Virtual GNO is a blog-hopping party that I started last summer. ( Wow! I can't believe it's been a year!) I really needed some time away from my precious children, and some adult conversation but, I couldn't get a sitter. So, I did the next best thing and turned to my blog friends. At least I can "get out" in my imagination. Get Your BLOG Over Here! To join the blog-hopping fun, check out this VGNO post then sign the Mr. Linky guest book with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers that have signed in. It's a party so at a party you mingle, right? Go blog-hopping! I want ever

Normally being told you smell like dirt wouldn't be a complement. However, the name of the scent I wear is "Earth", I love the scent and so does my husband. The name of the oil, through my husband’s own interpretation machine, goes from “Earth” to "Dirt". I don't think his title would sell the product very well. And that got me thinking, what are some great perfume names that aren't being used? And what are some confusing ones that are? I would totally go for scents called Enlighten, Rapture, or Coconut Cream Pie. But the scent called “Poison” has always confused me. From the name alone I definitely do not want to spray it on my body. I can just imagine my children overhearing a conversation “Oh, what are you wearing?” says a fellow mom at the park. ‘Poison, do you like it?’ I respond with X’s over my eyes. I have enough things in this world I need to explain to my children, the name of the scent I’m wearing is one I choose to avoid. We can se

Our family survived the holiday without injury. Yeah! I always get so nervous about those crazy fireworks. I wish I didn't. It takes away a lot of the ' Oooh ' and ' Ahhh ' enjoyment. Instead it's more like 'Hey! Don't point that at people!' Or 'You're too close! Get away from there!' Ugh. I remember when I was younger and I couldn't wait to get sparklers. I loved to write my name to create my own neon sign or throw them in the air for my own fireworks display. One year a sparkler went a little crazy in my hand and sparked too much. It burnt holes in my precious navy blue polyester pants. Ye-e-e-ouch! That did it for me. No more sparklers after that. (And considering I was wearing polyester pants, maybe the sparklers did me a favor? ;-> ) ***Update*** My daughter's best friends father is returning home from the Hospital today. Thank you for your well wishes and prayers. It's going to be a long road.

Easy does it. That's what we're doing so far this summer. The Pacific Northwest heatwave is hitting us now and the days seem to be a series of; open windows - water the garden - grab a popsicle. As the day gets hotter; pull the shades - close the windows - turn on the fans- grab a popsicle. Such a healthy diet! Let's have a little laid back/Independence Weekend Virtual Girls Night Out! First virtual party? Welcome ! The original Virtual GNO is a blog-hopping party that began in the summer of 2008. I couldn't get a sitter and was in desperate need for time away from my children and some adult conversation. I decided to do the next best thing and turned to my blog friends. At least I can "get out" in my imagination. Get Your BLOG Over Here! To join the blog-hopping fun, check out my VGNO post then sign the Mr. Linky guest book with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers that have signed in. It's a party so at a party you mingle, right? Go blog-hoppin

If only our computer screens had "Smell-O-Monitor" This little patch of Sweet Peas are my Happy Place. Join others in A Thousand Words Thursday at Jen's Cheaper Than Therapy