Too cool.

It is pretty clear she is a rock star.

She is getting more and more independent every day.

Case in point, she put her own nightgown on in these photos.

Sure, it's inside out and backwards, but she did it herself.

She has quite a love affair with my shades as of late, too.

And, as every knows, it's a unique fashion sense and a great pair of sunglasses that makes one a rock star.

Now, if only she could work out a guitar...

Eh...?

I'm not sure why, but this is what 

Rosie is walking around the house

saying this morning...

"Let's hear it for Quebec!"

So, why not?

Let's hear it for Quebec!

Hip-hip-hooray!

Hip-hip-hooray!

Hip-hip-hooray!

Go Quebec!

Things I like...

1. The American Flag


2. Getting the boys new tennis shoes, mostly because you would have thought I gave them a shoe box full of gold instead of sneakers.


3. The RESULTS of exercise and eating better.  

4. 4-year-olds who endlessly talk into a staticy walkie-talkie of which there is no pair.


5. Little boys who pretend they don't like their mother's hugs.

6. Clean, tight sheets.


7. Fiber.


8. Lush.

The End.

Cooking! Food! Dancing!

I love to eat.

But, I will eat anything.  Junk, good stuff, meat, veggies, tofu.

In my quest to 'toiten' up, I am trying to eat better, and not snack.

Last night was pizza night.

I made my own concoction on a whole wheat tortilla.

A splash of good olive oil, a sprinkle of parmesan, and load of fresh stuff...onion, broccoli, spinach, shrooms, and tomatoes after it was baked at 350 for about 8-10 minutes.  Did I mention the goat cheese?

Just a few dabs here and there.

It was delish.

My husband and boys would never eat it.

Ever.

Sigh.

In order to keep a good thing going, 

I cut up a bunch of fruit and veggies and put them in the fridge ready to go.  

That's part of the problem.

Convenience.

If it's all ready to go, I'm way more inclined to eat it.

Also, I like to dance around while I'm cooking or baking.

This is a good song for that...

It's Friday...so DANCE!

Deal.

 photo via Gap.com

Sometimes things just happen right.  God is beaming down on you, the stars align, and Gap has 40% off the lowest marked price.  

I have admired that dress above for some time.  Alas, it was $89.50.  My wedding dress was $225.  I could not consciously buy a $90 dress just because.  I tried to justify it.  One of my favorite people in the whole world {my cousin, Tony} is getting married in October.  There's a reason.  A 6 months away reason. But the price tag still gnawed at my sale loving soul.

I would periodically check for a markdown on-line.  It went down to the current on-line price of $79.99.  Then, I got a hold of a 30% off promo code.  Still couldn't do it.

Yesterday, my sister and I went to the mall.  For me, that doesn't happen often.  I wanted to show her the source of my anguish.  Here's where the story gets good {if you aren't asleep already}.

The dress was marked down to $30.99.  WITH AN ADDITIONAL 40% OFF THE LOWEST MARKED PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, then the story gets sad again.  They had big sizes and little sizes, but not MY size.  Sigh!  Plus, the on-line store does not honor in-store prices anymore.  Sniff, sniff.

Here's where it gets better again...a quick phone call located my size at another mall right by my house.  

Here's where it gets tragic...again.  They did NOT have the 40% off the lowest marked price.

But, this tale takes another turn in my favor.  The sales girl told me to buy one there and then, the other store would do an even exchange for the one in my size.  Ca-ching!

I am now the proud owner of a 'Tiered tulle dress' from Gap for $20.16 with tax.

  

So, to recap...wanted a way too expensive dress for an occasion 6 months away.  Practiced self-control, and decided it was out of my reach, and ended up getting it for a steal.  

Patience is a virtue, my friend.

Some randoms.

I've been taking a lot of photos, lately.  That is a good thing.  

Surprisingly, I get more done with gobs of photos to edit that someone paid me for.

It forces me to prioritize.

Time for laundry, cleaning, photo processing, laundry, cooking, laundry.

Laundry.

That last photo is of Jake.

I was not paid to take that one.

In money, anyway.

Maybe with hugs and smiles, but no dollars.

That photo is why I love taking pictures.

If you do it right...you capture the essence of the person.

Forever.

That photo is sooooo Jake.

Quiet, thoughtful, introspective, sensitive, empathetic.

All right there frozen in a moment.

I can't believe he's going to be 10 in May.

I'm not old enough to have a 10 year old.

Am I?

One a much different note...

my friend Jeanne {above} needs your help.

She is a wife, and mother to two littles.

This past July, Jeanne got diagnosed with breast cancer.

But, she attacked it!

After taking an aggressive approach to fight it, she is now a survivor!

She is a tough nut to crack!

Here's where you can help Jeanne.

Major League Baseball's 'Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer' campaign is having a bat girl contest.

She needs votes to become the honorary bat girl for the St.Louis Cardinals.

Her kids would love to see their momma help our home team!

She definitely deserves it!  

Go HERE to vote for Jeanne.

You do not need to be local.

ANYONE can vote!

You don't have to register.

It takes 10 seconds.

For realz.

Incidentally, she is doing the Susan G. Komen 3-day Race for the Cure.

60 miles in 3 days!

Surviving breast cancer AND challenging your body to do 60 miles in 3 days!

See?  Tough!

For more information click the photo below...

And, if you're interested in helping Jeanne's team reach their fundraising goal, 

click HERE.

Hump day ear candy.

I am terrible blogger.

I am comfortable in that knowledge.

Let's resurrect 'hump day ear candy' to take some of the pressure off.

Shall we?

Not that there is pressure on me to blog, but I do like doing it.

And, in keeping good with my readers, I will share with you a new-to-me musical discovery.

Ellie Goulding.

She is a young British  tiger that has somewhat recently hit the scene.

She has style, moxie, and runs 6 miles almost every day.

She even invites fans to run with her in all the different cities on her tour.

And her voice is haunting.

She writes and performs her own music, and does amazing covers, too.

Here's my top Ellie picks:

This is a cover of Temper Trap's 'Sweet Dispostition'.  Wowza, wowwy, wow!


'Wish I Stayed'.


A cover of one of my favorite Cold Play songs, 'Don't Panic'.


#4  HERE  'The Writer'

#5 HERE 'Starry Eyed' {acoustic}

Enjoy!

Snapshots of home.

Things are coming along swimmingly.  

I found some great fabrics locally, and have been sewing pillows galore.

Finally, we have a spot for our mid-century green chaise.

We've had it for almost 11 years.

Incidentally, it reclines and vibrates.

It's amazing.

I discovered this great bench at Home Goods.

The colors tie everything together.

It was a happy, happy find.

My momma passed down a chair in the perfect shade of yellow.

I'm collecting Gs for a wall vignette.  

{If you have any good sources for old, nasty letters...do share.}

I painted our big clock in a chevron print with the help of my mathematical husband.

It really anchors the dining room.

Here is a good tutorial if you're interested in painting chevron stripes.

I'm happy to have a bundle of forsythia branches resting peacefully on the entertainment credenza.

Spring is coming.

And, finally, we come to my new favorite.  

That big, yucky head on the other end of the credenza {also from Home Goods}.

We have named him 'Bob'. 

I think he'll like it here.

Sadly for him, if he does not...he has no legs to leave.

Poor Bob.

I'm also hoping to share the gallery ledges Jake built for me sometime next week.
I'm still tweaking photo arrangements and painting frames.
There are A LOT!
Hopefully, enough to fill approximately 30 feet of shelving!

Have a great weekend!

I'm taking the boys to see THIS.

The first one was so great, so we have high expectations!

Jake and Pete are huge fans of the books, too.

Hope we like it...