Nadir

How is it, in all my years, I haven't heard of the word "nadir"? 

I was reading an Oscar's recap and the word "nadir" was used.  Hmmm, I thought.  'Not sure what that is, I'll just keep going along.'

Then an article about Heather Armstrong (Dooce.com) caught my attention and within the article was that word again, "nadir".  What the heck???   What are the chances that within a span of 20 minutes, I would see that same word?

For those, like me, who have no idea what this word means, I've looked it up in my Funk & Wagnall's -

Nadir: 

1: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward  from the observer

2: the lowest point
 
I'm bracing myself.  I believe in signs, and in listening to "that little voice".  The fact that this word has come into my awareness today puts me on guard.   The lowest point.  *gulp*

Someone I Rely On

I've been watching this woman on YouTube for a while.  The first time I found her she was interpreting the lyrics of "TikTok" by Ke$ha. Great stuff.  When I need to giggle, laugh, laugh-out-LOUD, I go to GloZell.  I don't have anyone in my "real" life like her... I wish I did.

Random

When it's Garbage Day we have a collection of people that like to look through our bins for bottles and what-not.  (We gave up months ago on returning our bottles to receive the deposit money back.  Let's say my fellow "return-ees" were a bit rough and I wasn't up for risking my safety for $1.05.)

I don't know why but, if I'm by the window and see someone going through my bottles, I tend to duck behind the curtain.  Why am I hiding?  I'm not the one going through someone else's discards, so what's my deal?

Is it out of personal respect?  Or, that by my "seeing" them, they'll feel a loss of dignity? 

I don't know.   I over-think things sometimes.

Random thoughts. 

Which Honey Shrunk My Clothes?

Alright...

Who shrunk my pants?

Who thought it would be funny to take ALL of my jeans and switch them to the next size down and carefully place them in my drawers?

Who spent their time going through my closet, selecting my most warn tops, then replacing them with tops that are exactly the same, only one size smaller?

Yeah... real funny.

Damn. 

Love The Ocean

Woo Hoo!

Girls weekend at the beach!

There is something about the sea that helps wash away the craziness of the days.

Thank goodness

Music To My Ears

While growing up my mom always had the radio on while we rushed around getting ready for school/work.  Now the music that played on the radio wasn't my choice, the DJ was what it was all about.  By the time you heard his happy conversation with his happy newsman you should be having your breakfast.  And by the time the listener game "Stump The Jock" came on you knew you should be brushing your teeth and getting out the door.  Even though the music wasn't "cool" enough for this "hip" kid this radio program was our time keeper and got us where we needed to be on time.

Here I am, years (and years) later and I'm finding myself listening to the same radio station.  What's happened to me?!?  Have I outgrown the *pound*pound*crash*zing* of the music that used to get me going in the morning?  Have I settled into the Mom-Jeans/Mellow-Pop/"Feel Good News Of The Day" radio station?  Well let's just say, I have... for now.

Maybe it has something to do with my girls.  Newly 13 and 10, their daily conversations and questions become more intense and dramatic.  Now I'm looking for light-hearted, silly stuff.  Something that will take the edge off of LIFE, just for a little bit.

So, I will continue to listen to my Light Rock (hah!), Light News, Light-hearted radio station for awhile.
It puts you in a happy place - kind of like Xanax on the radio.

Shameless Plug

I'm not divulging any deep thoughts, embarrassing family stories or silly social commentary today.  Instead I'm going to shamelessly plug my new business that is officially launching today.  I sell Scentsy!

I love scent - wearing oils and lotions, lighting candles to have fragrance waft through the rooms.  Well, since Rob and I painting our ceilings from 14 years of candle soot I'm going to be passing on the candles, for a while any way.  Now I'm going in a different direction, I've found the scented, wickless wax product Scentsy and I am now a Scentsy Consultant.

I love this product line!  Love it, love it, love it :->  Just look at this warmer to celebrate the "Luck-O'-The-Irish" in all of us:

$30.00   $27.00  $3.00 Off Through February

And the scent of the month is Shades of Green:

$5.00  $4.50  .50 Off Through February

It's described as the "quintessential scent of grass and clover--green, sunny, and happy."  I would love to know what "happy" smells like. 

So there, I am done with my shameless plug.  If you are a Scentsy fan, or are the least bit curious about flameless, wickless scented wax and the beautiful warmers that accompany it, please contact me on my Scentsy website here and I'll do my best to help you!  (When you visit my Scentsy website, and happen to click on "My Page" that's not my family, I haven't created my page yet.  I have no idea of who those people are... although they seem very nice, and the kids are really good on the trampoline ;-> )

Shhhh

Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation and thought, 'I should stop talking now'?

You could be in mid-sentence and this little whisper stings your ear, 'Stop talking.  Bad idea.'  A feeling comes over you that the words you're saying just don't need to be said because they could come back to bite you.  And if you're not one for confrontation this is something that should most definitely be avoided.

Or, do you ever realize that the person you are talking to isn't the person who needs to hear the comments you're making?  You've been stewing over a situation, thinking of things that should have been said, or actions that should have been taken, however at the time none of those "perfect words" came out.  Now you have them though, so you retell the saga with your perfect comeback.  But this story didn't need to be retold, the situation didn't need to be brought up again.   Yet, you keep going.  Even though a little voice in your brain is telling you, 'Alright.  You can stop now.  You really should stop now.' 

But you don't, you keep going... and going... and going.

Why?  Ugh.

Congratulations Esperanza Spalding - Best New Artist!

Portland girl does good!

Grammy winner - Best New Artist

Virtual Girls Night Out - Showing "The Love"

This weekend is full of Valentine class-party preparations.  There are cards, candies and little pieces of shiny stuff all over the table.  I like it!  Tonight's blog hopping party is all about "the love".   Yeah baby. 

*The VGNO blog-hop is for those who want to party "virtually" with other bloggers. Add your blog link to the link-up below, get on your fuzzy slippers, make yourself a cocktail, visit those that have left their blog link and have fun! Happy VGNO!*

Time For Some Tunes!

Donavon Frankenreiter "Your Heart"

Time For A Cocktail!

Cherub's Cup 
Ingredients:
•1 part St. Germain elderflower liqueur
•2 parts vodka, citrus vodka, or gin
•3/4 part fresh lemon juice
•1/4 shot simple syrup
•1 part muddled strawberry
•top with Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine
•strawberry for garnish
Preparation:
Shake and strain over fresh rocks in a collins glass.  Top with Brut Rose or Brut Champagne.  Garnish with a strawberry.

Elderflower liqueur?  We'll see how easy that is to find.  If there's a problem I'll just stick to the standard Sparkling Wine and strawberries ;->


Time For A Question!

Any special plans for Valentine's Day? :->

Alright blog pals get cozy, make yourself a delightful beverage and have fun at our blog-hopping Virtual GNO!

Mary Jane in Seventh Grade

I'm not talking shoes.

"Mary Jane" a.k.a. Marijuana.  (How old am I? ;-> )

When I picked up my daughters from school yesterday my 7th grader was upset because some classmates were in trouble but she didn't know why.  She said that her friends were keeping something from her and she felt horrible. 

Later we found out these friends knew that a classmate brought a bag of pot to school and was showing it around.  The rumor was if you had anything to do with the bag you were in trouble, so I did my best to reassure Katie that her friends did her a big favor by keeping her out of the loop.

If you have a child in Middle School do you ever feel like you're living an ABC After School Special?  (Are you even old enough to know what an After School Special is?  ;-> ).    I feel like I've been in training for these moments in my childs life, yet when the moment comes I don't know if I'm saying the right things, or just looking like the dorky, out-of-touch parent.  I don't think I am, but an eye roll from a 13 yrs. old can make you doubt yourself. 

We talk and talk until she says, "No more!".  That's fine.  It kind of makes me laugh.  And I do laugh, then she laughs.  Then I walk away, hoping that we're on a positive path.  I could always talk to my mom, about anything, I hope my daughter knows that about me too.

And... scene.

What Would You Like?

You know what I would like...?

I would like an alarm clock that wakes you with applause.

I would like my grocery stores' sliding glass doors to say "Yeah!" when they open.

I would like my car seat to say "Wow, you must be losing weight" when I sit down.


It would be so nice to turn everyday tasks into something a little encouraging.

What about you?  What would you like?

After All This Time

4 years.  It's been 4 years since we brought Benny home.  The cats weren't pleased.

Now, all these years later, one of the cats is giving him a chance. 

Good job Maddy.   

What The Super Bowl Is Really About

Oh!  And the wings

Oh!  And the commercials

Oh!  And the beer

Oh!  ...I know there must be something else

In The Eye of the Beholder

Today is Rob's birthday.  Yeah!!!  Our youngest is quite the artist and started working on a birthday card for him before she went to school.  I saw the cover...

and loved all of the hearts.  She was rushing with her work, even though I told her she could finish her drawing when she came from school.  She is a determined little girl and really wanted her creation to be done before her dad left for the day so she drew as fast as she could.  She asked, "What does dad like to do again?  He likes golf, right?"  I said, 'Sure' and fast and away went her little pencil. 

Um... well...

Am I the only one that doesn't see a golf club next to a golf ball in the grass?  I mean I do... after I tell my brain that that is what I'm supposed to be seeing.  Yep.  Um hmm, it's a golf club and golf ball alright, sure.

Happy Birthday Honey!!!