Ann Again...and again

If it's Thursday it's time for Mama Kat's (pretty much world famous) Writer's Workshop .  My prompt: .3) But it's got a great beat! Tell us about a song you loved growing up even though the lyrics were ridiculous. It's hard to justify my love for this song, other than the music and his voice made me love it.  But the lyrics, the lyrics are disturbing (ridiculous?) and I hope you don't think badly of me when I tell you the title of this song.  O.K. here it goes... "Into The Night" by Benny Mardones  (http://youtu.be/2bpOBAwrFVw) "She's just 16 years old, leave her alone', they said."   Now, there was never a time in my young life that I wanted to run away with an older man.  There's nothing that I can relate to in this song, it's just that his voice is SO COOL and I love the music.  That's it.  That's all. I also loved Rizzo in Grease but I didn't want to act like her.  I loved how Sandy could change h

Rob's herbs While his job is full of stress (computer tech), Rob turns to our yard to do something he truly enjoys - gardening.  The sage, rosemary, thyme and... are those beets? ... look beautiful. Do you enjoy gardening?  What's your favorite vegetable to have straight from the garden?  I don't think anything can beat a fresh tomato. I'm participating in Wordless Wednesday at Sincerely, Paula.  Click the button to see more photo's and to participate as well.  Let me know if you do! :->

This week's Tuesday Truth is light-hearted (no soul barring truth, or question, from me today). I took the weekend off from blogging.  Instead I threw parties! First, I hosted a Scentsy party on Thursday night.  I'm a Scentsy Consultant and I had slowed down with my business. I wasn't sure if I was going to continue however, I got a spark and decided to stick with it.  (I love the product and I just wasn't ready to let it go ;-> ). Then, the most important party happened on Saturday.  We celebrated Rob turning 50 with our family and friends!  The rain held off and we were able to play in the yard. Rob Holding Court Rob works so hard on his garden and I'm happy he was able to show it off. Rob checking out the green house with Brian I had his school pictures, age range 8 - 15, copied onto card stock then cut them out.  While we started to sing Happy Birthday everyone brought out their "masks" to surprise Rob with a crowd of his

Today I'm hosting a 50th birthday party for my husband. It's not unusual for us to entertain, we do at least three times a year, but the fact that this is, what I feel, is an important marker in a lifetime, I am stressed about this party! We have a tiny house, so when the weather is clear - and even better, sunny! - we almost double our space by being able to hang out side.  But the weather has been cold and rainy the past week and I'm trying to figure out how people are going to fit into our tiny house.  (Images of a Clown Car are loud and clear.) I need to calm down.  Our guests are our family and friends. It's just that I want things to go well.  I want it to be nice.  I want it to go smoothly.  I  want, I want.  Well, really, I just want Rob to have a really good time.

"This looks like a great day to go to Oaks Amusement Park!"  said none of the children and C haperones  that were at Oaks Park today. Could it have been any colder, rainier, windier?  Nope.  Don't think so. Thank goodness I had heavy boots, huge raincoat and a large umbrella.  (I was still wet and cold at the end of the day though.) If kids are being treated to an end-of-school year celebration at an amusement park, nothing can dampen their enthusiasm! I'm participating in Sincerely, Paula's Wordless Wednesday.  Click the button below to participate as well.  Let me know if you do! :->

For this week's "Tuesday Truth" I have a delightful Guest Post from Dominique at My Work At Home World : Yesterday, I snuck outside for a cigarette while the little ones were napping (Yes, Dad, I'm quitting.) and as my boyfriend and I are standing on the front porch, a young boy comes tearing down the street in a sports car.  I find myself shaking my fist and saying "Got Dang Kids".  Which then lead to the realization (that's happening more and more lately) that I'm turning into my mom. It's not a bad thing.  I love my mom to death.  She is an amazingly patient, nice, sweet lady who has been my rock forever.  She's just... um.. not hip (Love you Mom! I swear I wasn't going to say old! lol.) and I'm only 26.  Surely you don't turn into your mother before 30, right?!    It got me to thinking...  Have I really made that transition from "cool, young person" to *gasp* my mom? Well, let

Starting the week off... with some encouragement. L: Lily  R: Her buddy Kaitlyn Yesterday I shared that my 6th grader Lily was very anxious, very upset, about going to Outdoor School.  (Post: Is It Right To Make Her Go? )  Well, we got her packed and she made it on the bus.  Here she is sitting next to her sweet friend, and cabin buddy, Kaitlyn.  When the bus started to pull away from the curb I saw her take a deep breath and try to smile. I've been sending her positive thoughts and vibes all day and night.  I hope she has fun.  (And I hope she enjoys the magazine of One Direction and the candy I hid in her duffel bag ;-> ) More "Starting The Week Off..." posts: ~ Worry About Yourself  (LOVE this video!) ~ You Can't  Buy Happiness But...

Between the gold glass cupboard doors in the kitchen and the wood paneling in our family room, we've got the 1970's vibe alive and well in our home.  For the purpose of my '70's theme party coming up this Saturday that's all fine and good but, for our day-to-day living, this look is definitely not our true style.  We need to update our wall coverings . I'm hoping to change the look of the paneled walls soon but I'm not sure about painting.  While painting can be a quick solution toward making a change in a room I'm wanting a bit more detail, something that looks rich and with texture.  (I hope my husband is going for the same look as I am, or this could be a longer process than I intend it to be ;->.)  I've found absolutely gorgeous wall coverings at Atrium Wallcoverings and I believe my husband will be on board once he takes a look at their designs. This is a project that's still in the "Idea" phase however, after seeing the var

My 6th grader heads to Outdoor School today.  She is less than thrilled. For those that aren't familiar, Outdoor School (see info/video here ) is a program for 6th graders that takes their education out of the class room for 3 to 5 days and puts them in nature, living in cabins, learning about what makes our ecosystem tic.  It's a fantastic opportunity for children whose parents aren't able to venture into our lovely forests, and see what true beauty really is.  And we're are so lucky to have it all around us in the Pacific Northwest.  And it's terrific for those children that spend too much time with the Kindle ( Ahem, my Lily ). I know why she's nervous, Lily is really a home-body (much like her mother).  For the past 3 years, when it comes to sleep-overs with her friends, she usually wants them to come here.  When we have the opportunity to go out to dinner she complains that she'd rather eat at home.  (Mom would rather have someone cook and clean FO

* The Friday night blog party is on!  Time for the Virtual Girls Night Out.  It's a party and a blog hop in one!  Relax, put on your fuzzy slippers, make yourself a cocktail (Guest Bartender's tonight - One Martini At A Time!) and join the fun.  Leave a comment so we know you've stopped by.  We'll be sure to visit your blog and say 'Happy Virtual GNO!'* Time For Some Tunes! Phillip Phillips "Gone, Gone, Gone" I have 3 favorite American Idols;  Kelly Clarkson, David Cook and Phillip Phillips.  (I don't know why David Cook didn't catch on after his win.  He really tried on the touring circuit but it just didn't click.  His cover of Mariah Carey's " Always Be My Baby " is fantastic!)  Do you still stick around for American Idol?  Or, have you left and moved toward The Voice?   Time For A Cocktail! Our bartenders tonight are Carri Brown and Jessica Torres, famously known as the creators of the terrific

I'm participating in Mama Kat's (Pretty Much World Famous) Writer's Workshop .  Today's chosen prompt: Create a "May Bucket List" ... what will you accomplish this month. Well, there are a few things that I've been undecided on for months now, and recently I got my spark back and am on track to get things done.  The first one: *My Husband's Birthday Party   Rob's birthday was in February, however he was in a play so having a party was proving to be a scheduling problem.  We did go to his show on his birthday but no special party happened. Me, Rob, Katie and Lily Then, when the show was over, we had circumstances that made having a party not a top priority. Days goes by and no formal 50th celebration.  That's just not right.  I'm getting it together for the end of this month.  It will be done! *Moving My Review Blog From Blogger To Wordpress. For years I've been reading the debate between blog platforms Blogger an

Does the phrase 'Put your shoes away' mean nothing to my family?!? Oh wait, some of those are mine ;-> I'm participating in Sincerely, Paula's Wordless Wednesday.  To participate click the button below.  Let me know if you do! :->

I'm very happy to have a Guest Post from Kaui at Organizing Military Mommy .  Her story: "Growing Up With Fear" I grew up in a family that promoted fear on a regular basis: "Never talk to strangers because they could hurt you." "Don't take candy from your friends because they might try to molest you." "Don't eat too much because then you could get fat and no one would like you." These were the kinds of things I heard from my parents and extended family all the time.  To top it all off, my family was strict.  VERY strict.  If you stepped out of line just a little you were going to get yelled at by someone.  Stepping out of line a lot warranted some heavy punishments and hours of lecturing that occasionally lasted until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. As you may have guessed, by the time I was an adult I was scared...of everything! Scared of the dark, scared of talking to people, scared of getting married,

Starting The Week Off... with a laugh: Yes ma'am!  Too funny To see more Starting The Week Off" entries visit: You Can't Buy Happiness, But... White Lilac In 40 Seconds

*The Friday night blog party is on!  Time for the Virtual Girls Night Out.  Put on your fuzzy slippers, make yourself a cocktail (recipe below) and join the fun.  Leave a comment so we know you stopped by.  We'll be sure to visit your blog and say 'Happy Virtual GNO!'* We'll my girls have started the count down, the End-of-the-School-Year count down.  How could the school year almost be over?!  It seems like only a few weeks ago it began.  *snap*  Like that, the days go by.  Are your kids counting down the days too?  I don't have any plans for the summer break yet.  I better get on that.  First things first, party time at the VGNO! Time For Some Tunes! Capital Cities " Safe and Sound " My latest favorite video.  Love it!  (This one's for my sister.  Love you!) Time For A Cocktail! Lemony Lemon Drop Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. White Sugar 1 cup ice cubes 3 Lemons, peel grated and juiced 2 Large mint leaves 2 shots of Vodka

When I was in high school I was invited to become a part of a gathering called Young Life.  I discovered that this was a Christian based youth group and I wasn't warming to the idea of being preached to.  However, I attended the group meetings with my two best friends and we found it to be more of kids hanging out, talking about life and gentle reassurance about Jesus and his message.  I'm cool with that!  I had some of the most incredible experiences and will never forget my time being in Young Life and our fun, thoughtful leader Vance Day.   One fun experience was attending an Amy Grant concert.  Christian pop music was new to me, and I was incredibly skeptical, but we all had a great time and she won me over (was it the leopard jacket? maybe ;->).  Amy Grant has a new album to be released on May 14th.  Her first studio album in 10 years!  View the interview below to learn more about her latest release, How Mercy Looks From Here. Have you been a fan of Amy'

If it's not raining you'll find me in the garden Taking a normally sad corner of our patio and adding some life! Starts of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (truly :-> ) along with lovely colors of plants from the Cotoneaster family. Join in Wordless Wednesday at Sincerely, Paula.  Let me know if you do! :->

So self conscious.  So embarrassed.  I spent the majority of my youth obsessing over the birthmark on my back even though hardly anyone knew it was there.  I had the feeling that if someone saw this birthmark that they would never look at me the same way.  Once they saw me in the hall at school, or any where, they wouldn't see me, they would see my birthmark.  I had talked myself into this belief. And the stress of shopping for bathing suits wasn't the dread of  "do my thigh look huge?' it was 'can you see it?'  No two-piece bathing suits for me.  And it seemed that ALL bathing suits in the late '70's through the '80's were bikini / two-piece swim suits.  And if they weren't, they looked like suits for o-o-o-o-o lder women (my age now, perhaps? ;-> ).  My closest friends were getting tired of my embarrassment.  So often they would say "Why do you let it bother you?  You're fine.  Who cares?!?!"  Which is sweet in a way.

Starting The Week Off... with a laugh: For more "Starting The Week Off..." entries see: White Lilac In 40 Seconds What's Your Body Type?

You've reached the Friday night blog party where all you need to make this party complete is a beverage of your choice (cocktail recipe below for inspiration) and your fuzzy slippers!   Going through channels recently I came upon the movie Desperately Seeking Susan .  I don't even remember how many times I went to the theater to see this.  I was slightly obsessed.  It wasn't so much that I wanted the "Madonna look" that was so popular, it was her casual, tough attitude I loved.  New York looked so cool!  I wanted to be there (and I wanted Aidan Quinn to show me around on that little scooter ;-> ).  4 years later I went to NYC and looked for that crazy Magic Club but I couldn't find it.  I did find Bleecker Street Cinema though.  (I read it closed in 1991. Sad.)  Let's have a trip down memory lane for this weeks Virtual GNO! Time For Some Tunes! Madonna "Into The Groove" Love it! Time For A Cocktail! Tequila Sunrise

It's time for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop .  Today's Prompt: ~Share Something That Makes You Laugh My sister-in-law asked me to watch her dog while she went out of town.  Sure, why not. This is what happens when I watch other people's dogs, I dress them up. Bam Bam as Bruce Springsteen Bam Bam is The Boss Bam Bam as a Portland Hipster. ( Watch " Portlandia "?  Well, that's where I live. Check out this scene here, it's my neighborhood coffee house: " Did You Read ?"  ) Bam Bam is catching up on his Willamette Week Bam Bam as a Princess When there's tons of pink ev-er-y-thing in my daughter's room it's bound to happen We had a great time and laughed and laughed.  Funny.  I haven't been asked to watch her dog since.  Hmmmm.   If you wish to read other's participating, or link-up yourself, click the button below.  (Let me know if you do :-> )

Found in my grocery store's parking lot It's been da-a-a-a-ys since a good rain in Portland, OR and this little rubber ducky is desperate. I'm participating in Wordless Wednesday over at Sincerely, Paula.  If you link up, let me know :->