Virtual GNO - Do Over!

I feel horrible! I want a "Do Over".

The morning routine was going along just fine; everyone was on time, a little mix-up of words created huge laughter, it was good times on a Friday morning. Then, something happened and it all went downhill. I get it now; I know why the mood changed. I just wish I had handled it better. Crap!!! Well, I do believe I need a Virtual Girls Night Out to lean on the virtual shoulders of my blog friends!

*New to the VGNO? Here's what you do to play at the Friday night blog-hopping party: Check out this VGNO post, sign the MckLinky guest book below with your blog name/blog link then click on links of fellow bloggers and leave some comment love. A sweet message of "Happy VGNO!" is great. Go blog-hopping!*

Time For Some Tunes!

*I need a good laugh. These guys 'aughta do it.*

Flight Of The Conchords "HipHop-o-potamus & Rhyme-nocerus"


"Why? Why? What? Why?". Love these guys!!!

Time For A Cocktail!

Happy Buddha
Ingredients:
1.0 oz Pineapple Juice
1.0 oz Rum
1.0 oz Triple sec
Directions:
Mix 1-2 oz. any flavor rum, 1-2 oz. triple sec, and 1-2 oz. pineapple juice. Serve over ice with a cherry.

Why is this called the Happy Buddha? Maybe after a few you start rubbing your tummy. I don't know.

Time For A Party Game!

Is It Wrong?

I'm asking some questions here:

Is it wrong to put your kids to bed early because you really want a glass(es) of wine? (a.k.a. "mommies juice box")

Is it wrong to accept a compliment on your naturally flawless complexion when you actually spent 10 minutes putting on your Bare Minerals before you came to pick-up the kids?

Now it's your turn. What are some of your Is It Wrong? questions.


Go forth blog friends! Sign MckLinky and blog-hop. Say Happy VGNO!!! Leave your Twitter address and I'll start following you too!



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Her Latest Trick

My morning routine is brightened by my 9 yr. old Lily. Though her older sister stays in bed as long as possible because, in her words, "there's nothing exciting to get up for", my little Lily gets out of bed without any prompting. (Or begging or bribery).

We have a heat vent tucked in-between a tall shelf and a 3-tier bookcase. This is her primo spot in the morning. I can't blame her. The house I grew up in had a heat vent in the floor and I would stand over it with my long nightgown. My own little heat tent.

What gets me laughing in the morning is Lily's latest move. When I pass by the tucked away heat vent Lily will go from sitting cross-legged to rising to her knees, facing the book case, and staying still until I leave the room. She thinks I can't see her. She's 9 yrs. old and still thinks that if she can't see me, I can't see her. Well peek-a-boo baby! I see you!

Love it. Love her. It's a great way to start the day.

Wish I Had Known

I wish I had known when it was the last time I would push my baby in a stroller. The last time we would play at a playground. The last time the girls would want to ride a Merry-Go-Round.

These were part of my everyday life. No more.

Not that by knowing I would have appreciated the experience more, I just would have given a proper 'Good-Bye'.

Time goes by so fast.

Virtual Girls Night Out - Just Breathe

OK. I've paid the bills. We're out of money. Hubby has been out of town all week. My 12 year old dear daughter is staying after school in detention for her crazy behavior in class. I say I need a night out. Since I can't really leave the house let's get going on our Virtual Girls Night Out!

*Is this new for you? Here's what you do to play at the Friday night blog-hopping party: Check out this VGNO post, sign the Simply Linked guest book below with your blog name/blog link then click on links of fellow bloggers and leave some comment love. A sweet message of "Happy VGNO!" is great. Go blog-hopping!*

Time For Some Tunes!

Pearl Jam "Just Breathe"


Anything you want Eddie. So wonderful.


Time For A Cocktail!

*It's more a grown-up dessert than a cocktail*

Everything's Peachy

Ingredients:
~ Two shots Disaronno Amaretto
~ One shot peach schnapps
~ 2 peaches
~ 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
~ One shot lemon juice

Directions:
Blend the above ingredients, drink and enjoy!

I better make a "kiddie" version for my girls. A round of milkshakes tonight!


Time For A Question!

While watching the Olympics I always imagine myself skating on the ice or skiing down a hill. I have never been graceful enough, or strong enough, to be any where near the level of these athletes, but it's fun to dream.

If you could be in an Olympic event, regardless of your current strength, what sport would you choose?

I would love to be a Snowboarder. I'm absolutely horrible at it on my Wii Fit. So in my dreams I want to be an excellent Snowboarder, baggy pants blowing in the breeze and iPod shuffling tunes to keep me pumped. What about you?


OK now, go blog hopping! Sign in with MckLinky below to join the Virtual GNO. Click links and visit your blog friends. Hopefully you'll meet some new ones! I would love to meet your blog friends, so post A LINK to our party on your blog and have them join us. Send our party into Twitter world. The more the merrier! That's what it's all about.

***Let me know if you're having trouble adding your link***




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Lesson Learned on Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday. The only reason I know this is because it says so on my calendar. This reminds me of a story...

My husband and I lived in Manhattan 14 years ago. I worked in a very nice office that was the USA headquarters for a French perfume company. Now, coming from Portland, OR I wasn't into the pricey smells and exotic lotions that permeated the cubicles. I had (and still do) my favorite essential oils that helped me get through my day.

I was a constant source of amusement for the NYC residents who kept questioning me about the Pacific Northwest. "So, people really wear those Birken-something-shoes? Really?!?" "So, it rains there all the time, right?" "Where is Oregon again?" Yes, people wear Birkenstock's (I haven't). Yes, it rains a lot (It rains in Seattle more, so there). And Oregon is that gigantic piece of land that is between California and Washington (What's the matter with you?!?)

Manhattan is such an incredible source of all things that everyday was a new experience. One of them being, people on the East Coast seriously observe religious holidays. In Portland, Oregon religious observation is very low key. We're pretty low-key about many things.

So, on this particular Wednesday, I was sitting at my desk when a co-worker came to speak with me. While he was talking I couldn't help but be distracted by this black smudge on his forehead. I thought I would do him a favor and quietly tell him he had a "little something" on his face. He gave me a blank look. I said 'It's right there, in the middle of your forehead' while I kept pointing at my own. He continued to give me a look that was a mix of Are you kidding me? and You're an idiot. Finally he said "Ann, I know. It's Ash. This is Ash Wednesday". Ooooooh. I see.

Thus continued my education of living in Manhattan. And the day I stopped telling people if there was something on their face.

Ooh! Obama Is Setting A Trap!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Apparent Trap
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Virtual GNO & Vlog Update

Happy Friday blog friends!!! A lot is happening today/this weekend so let's get started with our blog hopping party, shall we? Happy VGNO!!!

*Is this new for you? Here's what you do to play at the Friday night blog-hopping party: Check out this VGNO post, sign the Simply Linked guest book below with your blog name/blog link then click on links of fellow bloggers and leave some comment love. A sweet message of "Happy VGNO!" is great. Go blog-hopping!*

Time For Some Tunes!

My 6th grade daughter is having a Valentine's Day school dance. Ah, nervous memories are flooding me now. Time for a flash back...

Michael Jackson "Rock With You"


Anyone else doing "The Spank"? Sway that tush*side-to-side*sway*sway*

Time For A Cocktail!

Agave Kiss

Ingredients:
2 oz Tequila
1 oz white creme de cacao
1 oz double cream
1/2 oz Chambord
white chocolate flakes for rimming fresh raspberries for garnish

Preparation:
In a cocktail shaker with ice, add tequila, white crème de cacao, double cream and Chambord. Shake for 15 seconds. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass, rimmed with white chocolate, add a spear of fresh raspberries, and serve.

Are you kidding me?!? This sounds absolutely amazing. Kids... go to bed! ;->

Time To Vlog!

Last week I vlogged my commitment to organizing my pictures and getting my scrapbooking in order. Have I respected my commitment?




I need to hang out at Julie's blog Julie Chats to get better idea's for my pages. But I'm making things! Good for me.

Time For A Party Question!

Did you go to dances while you were in Middle School and/or middle school age?

I was tremendously shy and a nervous wreck. Hated it. My friends made me go, so I was the cliched "Wall Flower". All the while my friends swayed side to side and tried to look like they didn't care as much as they really did about the boy they were dancing with. Good times, good times.

What about you? Were you a Dancing Queen? Or a Wall Flower? Or something in between?


OK now, go blog hopping! Sign the Simply Linked guestbook below to join the Virtual GNO. Click links and visit your blog friends. Hopefully you'll meet some new ones! I would love to meet your blog friends, so post A LINK to our party on your blog and have them join us. Send our party into Twitter world. The more the merrier! That's what it's all about.

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Throwing Myself In The Den

Our schools art teacher has a very impressive resume. He has been teaching art techniques and Art History for over 30 years. His students range from Elementary School, High School, College age to inmates in prison. He claims to have worked with them all but, he told me, a particular group brings him to the conclusion that "Life is too short" and he's thinking of retiring. This particular group? The middle school kids at our school.

Yikes.

Now, I know I'm harping on a theme here. But it's my daily life and I'm hoping, by throwing out my concern and aggrevation, that someone will share some tools to help deal with these kids that are so lost and seem to be heading down a very bad path.

I decided to volunteer for this class. I wanted to be there and see how it was getting so out of hand. I’ve heard stories of all paint being taken from the 8th graders because they would load up their brushes and flick them at each other. I've heard of a student so defiant about not wanting to draw that she stood nose-to-nose with the teacher and threatened him with bodily harm. (And this is the public school that everyone in my area is trying to get into?!? This is the school where people use false addresses to claim they live in the district?!?)

Yesterday was my first day in this art class. It actually went well. It's my daughter’s 6th grade class and I feel they were typical ‘tweens. Some were louder than others but, work was being done and the teacher was able to get his point across. But I could feel his disconnect. I can’t explain it.

When the day was over he said “If you really want to get into it, come back Friday”. (I came in to that class two weeks ago to drop something off and that’s what’s started my eye opening experience of this school getting out-of-hand.) The teacher said “When I get home on Friday I tell my wife not to talk to me, and I go sit somewhere quiet. It’s brutal.”

Gulp. Well, I do want to know what’s going on. I care a lot about these kids. I want them to care about themselves. I think I’ll hang out on Friday afternoon. Wish me luck.

These Children Are Our Future?!?

It might be best for me not to go into the halls when I pick-up my 6th grader. I'm finding it more and more difficult to brush off the nastiness of Middle School age children. Nasty I tell ya'!

Our school has been adding grades for the last 4 years. We were a K - 5 but each year a grade has been added to make us a K - 8. And I'm happy about that, it's just that the school administration doesn't seem to accept that the "precious children" they knew from Kindergarten have grown up to be vile kids.

Oh. I'm being a bit harsh. Not all of the kids are vile.

I feel like the cranky old lady who yells at kids to get off her lawn. I'm trying not to be hyper-sensitive to what is probably normal 'tween behavior. It's just that words that are directed at Teachers are disrespectful and a majority of the behavior that I see scares the crap out of me! These children are our future?!? Aye Carumba.

VGNO - Are You Kidding Me? & The Mighty 3

Virtual Girls Night Out is oh-so-true tonight. I had to pick-up my youngest from school this morning. Fever, aches and pains. Crap. Not again?!? I'm going to tend to her all the while I bounce around the blogosphere and pretend I'm partying with my pals. It's a Virtual GNO!

*Is this new for you? Here's what you do to play at the Friday night blog-hopping party: Check out this VGNO post, sign the Simply Linked guest book below with your blog name/blog link then click links of fellow bloggers and leave some comment love. A sweet message of "Happy VGNO!" is great. Go blog-hopping!*

Time For Some Tunes!

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix "1901"



I feel like I'm at a dance in high school. Jump! Jump!

Time For A Cocktail!

Freddie Fuddpucker
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz tequila
Orange juice
Galliano
orange slice for garnish
Preparation:
Pour tequila in a highball glass filled with ice. Fill with orange juice. Top with Galliano. Garnish with an orange slice.

I've never tried, much less heard of, Galliano. But I'm willing to try! Click the name to visit the Galliano link. Sounds delicious.

Time For A Party Game!

The Mighty 3

Name 3 Places You Would Rather Be Right Now:
1.) Calistoga, CA
2.) Sunny Beach in Hawaii. -Don't know which one. I've never been.
3.) Gigantic hot bath filled with bubbles

Name 3 Things You Will NEVER Drink Again:
1.) Gin ~ Ugh! 'The Night Of Gin' I will never forget, unfortunately
2.) Anything blue
3.) Buttermilk

3 People You Would Like To Have Dinner With-Not necessarily at the same time:
1.) Sting
2.) George Clooney
3.) Matthew McConaughey

What are your Mighty 3?

I've Been Inspired!

Wanna see what up? Click here. Maybe you'll be inspired too.

OK now, go have fun! Sign the Simply Linked guestbook below to join the Virtual GNO. Visit those that sign-in. Go blog-hopping! I would love to meet your blog friends so post A LINK to our party on your blog and have them join us. Send our party into Twitter world. The more the merrier! That's what it's all about.



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Vlogging My Commitment - 52 To Fabulous

If I put it on video I feel more accountable. (And what is with my eye?!?)



Thank you Kat! Thank you Linda! (Now if I could just get rid of this head cold. Ugh)

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

I'm noticing more self-assurance from my 9 year old.

She questioned why, while on a little shopping trip, I asked her permission if we could stop to look at an item. I did? She said "Why are you asking me? I'm just a kid." I really didn't know what she was talking about, then I thought about my words. I have gotten into the habit of saying 'Can we just look in this store? It will just take a minute.'

I realized I had been doing this for years. And it isn't that I'm truly asking for my child's permission, my intention is more of a "gentle guiding toward a change in plans". My 12 yr. old is very intense (on the Asperger's spectrum) and you never know how she is going to react to a change in plans. I know that's why I don't give a direct 'I know I said we were going to the car, but I want to stop here first'. I need to be more direct.

After a long shopping trip last Sunday we were all pretty tired however, my oldest had plotted in her mind where she was going next. My youngest was ready to leave and I said "Katie, we're tired. Can we go home now? I'll bring you back here another day." My little Lily looked me in the face and said "What are you asking her for? YOU'RE the parent. Don't ask her permission!"

Yikes. She was right.

I told Lily she was right. I thanked her. Gave the direction and home we went.

No more watching Super Nanny for her. Jo Frost, look out!

Incredible P!nk

In case you missed Pink's performance at the Grammy's...

And Down Goes The Video. Oh Grammy's, Why?

Well, it brought,

Tears.

Goosebumps.

Love Her!!!