Flashback Friday

All this week I have been looking for a great, classic, end of the summer movie, to share with my kids.
I finally landed on A League of Their Own. It is truly one of my all time favorite movies. With a cast so fun and a topic so great it is for sure a classic in my book. I know it's technically not a classic since I don't consider it that old being that it was filmed in the 90's. But, if you were to ask my kids if it's a classic well... you should have heard the comments at the end of the movie when the actors were made up to look like their older selves.  And I quote, "Wow, the makeup artist's did a really great job making them look old. It's so believable for being such an old movie."
Ahem... yes a movie from the 90's is OLD to my children, and so am I . Welcome to my world.

 But, my kids kept recognizing tons of other actors and actresses that I didn't even know. I guess the lady from the TV show Monk is in it and Tea Leoni. And Tom Hanks really cracks me right up as the grumpy, drunk coach. One of My favorite parts is when he yells at one of the girls for making a bad play and she starts crying. He says,"What are you doing? Are you crying? There's no crying in Baseball. THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!"
Anyway, it's a great "OLD" movie(wink wink) and if you and your family haven't seen it yet do yourselves a favor and check it out.

I was paying close attention to the hair do's and the way the women were using the scarves to put their hair up. And because I love you, and trust you not to put these silly pictures up all over the internet(bah ha ha) I am gonna share a few of the styles that I came up with, with you all. Tell me what you think?

And Your Welcome.

In honor of the movie I chose a baseball post to go along with the movie. It wasn't hard for me to find a baseball post, although it's hard to believe this whole season I haven't written a single blog about it. Other than of course my boys playing.
I think this week I shall have to remedy that.
Happy Friday Everyone! Hope you all have a great labor day weekend ahead.

So now it's time for what I like to call a little FBF- if you are new here this is a link up for blogs that are a year or older. You find an old post that you want others to read or re-read and link it up. Then you read each others and I hope comment and get to know your fellow FBF'ers.

Reprogram Time

My kids start school next week, but
we are already in the back to school mode around here. The meet and greet of teachers for the boys is today, and the High Schooler has been for two weeks already at her school everyday for Volleyball practice. The resident Jr. Higher this year doesn't get a meet and greet apparently, but we are just gonna go roam the halls for fun. Let's hope we don't get kicked out before she even gets started. 
So with all of this I have to reprogram the internal clocks from island time to "REALITY" time. So in the evenings we have been preparing for bed around 8 and then reading for about 20 minutes, and then lights out around 8:45 ish.
Let it go on record,
That's been a pretty big (Ish) folks.

Last night was rough, that's all I'm gonna say. 

When I cracked the whip at 8pm to go brush teeth and get ready for bed, you should have heard the out cry. 

But then around 11:30 the house was quiet, and I was still awake.

Go figure, that the biggest whip to crack is gonna have to be on my ass.
Because here it is past midnight and yep, you guessed it I'm the only one awake. 

There is a part of me that feels SO not ready for the lazy days of summer to end. In the summer I throw that whip out the window and let the Fab 4 stay up til all hours making memories.
I personally feel, that's what the summer is all about.
In fact,

I always think of the Billy Holiday(she's my fav) song Summertime when summer rolls around.
But, as the school supply lists are being handed out, and I am at the bank taking out a loan to pay for it 

I think about the fact that the nights will get longer, and the days will get shorter.

I try to soak in the Vitamin D while I can and sit outside as much as possible.
Because come October, The "living will no longer be easy" and "the fish won't be jumping".
Sigh..
Which makes my mind jump immediately to... HURRY QUICK...
 I have to buy one last watermelon and have one last EPIC BBQ to mark the occasion. 

Speaking of the word EPIC...

Apparently,

I didn't make the summer as EPIC as I could have in my children's eyes.
And I quote Isaiah, aka Zed, aka my baby, aka my 8 year old boy, "Mom I can't believe the summer is already over. It was SO not Epic"
First of all where did this kid come from?
Second...
Can I get a witness that if you didn't take your kids to Disneyland or some kind of amusement park, or just some where other than your local beach it was NOT EPIC to them?!?!

He must have forgotten that we bought a ba-zillion fireworks on the Fourth, went to a couple Mariners games, had Summer Little League baseball games 4 nights out of the week, Swim Lessons, visits from all kinds of beloved friends and family,camped, made smores right outside our doorstep...But still... NOT EPIC.

So I say, "What will you tell your teachers when they ask what was your favorite thing about your summer?" And I shutter to hear the very honest answer. From the mouths of babes people, comes... well... their truth. 

Can I also get a witness that sometimes it's hard to hear our children's truth, and sometimes it's just downright funny ?

On this particular occasion it was funny because well The Fab 4 all chimed in, and they all have a very varied view(ha ha say that 5 times fast) of what an Epic summer should look like.

In Other News...

I have begun to really long for the schedule, the routine that is the END of summer.

I have already started bringing out all my apple decor in the spirit of back to school days. 

I start stocking up on pumpkin spice everything. I literally almost fell over with complete and utter joy from the smell of a pumpkin spice candle at the grocery store the other day.

I start to get giddy with excitement about the fact that my favorite season is right around the corner.

And I bid this summer a do which despite my children's description was, "SO NOT EPIC!"
Who needs Epic anyways?
Was your summer Epic?
Please do tell what did you get to do this summer that my children would be jealous of.

*Oh and let it go on record, I don't really have a whip, maybe some COOL whip ;)

Love/Hate

I Love my new design, thanks again to the amazing and truly fab Alyx. I Hate nothing about it, at all what so ever. Nothing but love right there. 

I Love  coffee and that I live in the Mecca of coffee land, Seattle. So many coffee beans So little time. I Hate that sometimes I drink more of it than I probably should and stay up til the wee hours of the early morning.

I Love, LOVE, Love watching old movies. I watched How To Steal A Million the other night and I thought...

I Hate that I haven't seen this movie until NOW! So many movies so little time.
I LOVE... no I adore My niece Savanah Rae. 


Is she not the cutest 5 year old you have ever seen?

I hate that I am not there in NV to see her off to Kindergarten or to take her out for some special Auntie/Niece after school cupcake time. I also hate the fact that she is growing up so fast. SO not okay!
I Love that in one week(One WEEK people) from today I will have a High Schooler, A Jr. Higher,  and Two boys in Elementary. I Hate that 3 schools will get to enjoy my kids for more hours in the day than I will. 
I Love that My Favorite Season, Fall is right around the corner. I Hate that the summer is almost over.
Now it's your turn share some loves, share some hates, grab a button and link up.

Some Might Say

some might say I'm a housewife 
some might say she's nothing more
some might say how hard can it be to sweep the floor?

some might say that I can cook, 
some might say that I can clean,
i wonder if my job will ever truly be esteemed ?

some might say she's just a mom
some might say she's got the hardest job
i feel like half the time my days are but a fog.


some might call me crazy 
some might call me silly
i think i'm maybe both

some might say i'm quiet
some might say i'm loud
i think i'm in between

some might say i nurture
some might say i protect
i feel there is no problem that I can't deflect

some might say i sing 
some might say i write
i know my voice will disappear 
one day from sight

some might say i watch
some might say i yearn
i know how hard it is to listen
and how hard it is to learn

some might say i'm vintage
some might say i'm new

i think i'll stick to what i do

and be among the few
to not worry about what

some might say.

Winner Announced

I just want to thank everyone who participated in my 7 year  blogversary celebration. 
And although this announcement is long over due   WE have a winner!!

Rachael from  twenty-something-sherbet.blogspot.com 
IF you haven't already met Rachael please go say hello and congratulate her.

Stay tuned for a Back to School Giveaway planned for the first week in September. 

Mama's Gotta A Brand New Bag

I know it's Sunday, and I know I have a rule on Sunday that there is to be no technology, but I am breaking my own rule. That's right I said it. I am breaking my no technology rule today because, well look around.  It's a whole new place over here.  What do you think beloved reader? Do you like my new look? I have had so much fun working with Mrs.Alyx to change the place around.
Which brings me to my second confession, the first confession was that I broke my technology rule today in case you didn't catch that. The second confession I want to make to you is that I really don't like or haven't ever embraced change. But, when I approached Alyx about this new look I was so excited.  I was nervous, don't know why exactly, but I was mostly excited. And I have to say, I am really proud of myself for actually seeking out change. Now granted, my blogs new look isn't Earth Shattering change, but for me it's a pretty big deal so throw me a bone people. And finally, my last confession this Sunday, and it's one some of you might already know;  generally I don't like to clean. I mean I like it when things are clean and organized, but I have a hard enough time keeping up with the day to day cleaning that is required for a family of 6+2 cousins+4 village people+2 dogs, so I don't often deep clean. BUT, and here's where the confession number 3 comes in; IF you really piss me off, I will clean like the Dickens! (Ha ha, who's Dicken's and why does he clean?)  Seriously, though I will scrub, I will launder, I will iron, I will paint, I will scrub some more, I will dust, I will throw out stuff I should have thrown out long ago, and I WILL CLEAN. I have had this trait since I was a young girl.  Ask my mom.  So if you come over and I am deep cleaning it probably means someone really pissed me off and that's how I'm dealing with it. What do you do when you get really irked?
Ok I think that is all I can divulge for now. I better go before my family wakes and sees me breaking my own rule. Shhh... you are sworn to secrecy! 
Thanks Alyx I love what you have done with the place. 

Flashback Friday

Breakfast at Tiffany's 

Who loves it?

Who hates it?

Who has never seen it?

Well, you better believe this girl loves it. I have watched it a thousand times at least, and have of course introduced my girls to the movie. 

Audrey Hepburn playing the character of Holly Golightly is so eccentric.

So bizarre.

So troubled. 

So mysterious in this movie. 

Is it any wonder that it became so popular?
But, I have to say watching it as a parent knowing what I know about all the social innuendos that are made was a bit different then when I watched it as a young, naive teenager for the first time. 
Still, it will always be a favorite. Did you know that Audrey H. had just given birth to her son 3 months prior to filming the movie? How is that even humanly possible to be that thin after just having a baby. 
And did you also know that she Audrey hated Danishes, but that was the pastry you see her eating in the first scene.
My favorite scene in the whole movie is when she catches the woman at the party's hat on fire. I laugh so hard at that every time. 
I also cry every time she lets the cat go, even though I hate cats I just think it's so sad that part. 
I'm a big baby at movies so that's not a big surprise. 
My favorite Audrey H. movie is My Fair Lady. What's yours?
My mom loved that movie and even played the role of Eliza Do Little in College. 
Eliza DoLittle, and Holly GoLightly ... I wonder if there are any HUGE Audrey fans out there that named their daughters Elize and Holly after her??
Well, and my flashback blog is about my momma-zita today so with that I say get ready to FBF;

So Are You Ready Bloggity Bloggers? This is the dealio:

1. You have to have been blogging for at least a year.(Mandatory) 

2. Link up your old posts from at least a year ago. Don't link up your website, click on the actual title of your old post so that's what the other linkers will read(did you know you could do that?)So if you did know way to go Smarty Pants, but if you don't know how to do that you click on the title of your post that will give you the right http:// to copy and paste in the box that says LINK. 

3. Follow Your Host- It's the decent thing to do.

4. Have FUN!! 

The Snark Has Been Lifted

Here's the thing, I have been some kind of Snarky recently.

Really, beyond Snarky.

I've been bordline B-word.

But I just love that word Snarky.

Do you know what that word means? 

Well, I will tell you,

actually Urban dictionary will tell you.

Snarky- Adjective 

Any language that contains quips(what's a quip?) 

or comments containing

sarcastic or satirical witticisms intended as blunt irony. 

Usually delivered in a manner that is somewhat abrupt 

and out of context and intended to stun and amuse.

I'm not sure that my comments are stunning or amusing, they have been more on the border of bitchy! (Oh right we covered that)Sorry for the curse but it's really true. I guess it's good that I realize this, but it's not helping me to be less Snarky.

Last night, I was even shocked by the comments that were rolling off my tongue and onto a platter of garbage, so I thought ya know I need a "check up, from the neck up." I headed out the door with two kids in tow. I dropped them off to a youth event at church and I proceeded onto Choir practice, where I thought surely worshiping Jesus will change this Snarky behavior right around.

Nope.

So then I thought well, maybe I just need some junk food? Who will be my witness that sometimes what we eat really helps our overall attitude and mental well being? Anyone? Come on people don't leave me hanging! I went to Jack in the Box and got my "Go To" favorite junk food of all time, Jalapeno Poppers. I gobbled them up lickidy split and drank some Diet Dr. Pepper and still nothing. In fact at this point I started to get a belly ache, which only encourages a Snarky tude. 

 

After picking up two happy youthz(New Girl fans quote for ya) I decided that the only hope to rid myself of my Snarky behavior was just to go to bed early. I got home, got kids all settled in and went pretty much straight to bed.

And do you know what? 

It worked.

I woke this morning feeling better.

I felt renewed.

I felt refreshed.

I felt like the Snark had been lifted.(At least until next month ;) wink wink)

To keep that Snark from coming back I have a list of what I'm thankful for because after all it is Thankful Thursday.

Today, I'm thankful for a fresh perspective.

I'm thankful for a good nights sleep.

I'm thankful for Jalapeno Poppers.

I'm thankful for youthz.

And I'm thankful for people who love me despite my Snark!

I'm thankful that Emma made the High School Volleyball team.

I'm thankful for coffee with foam.

I'm thankful for my health.

I'm thankful for my children's health. 

I'm thankful that My Giant is home after his recent business trip.

I'm thankful for my 2 cups of Awesome.

I'm thankful for you beloved reader.

I'm thankful for good books.

I'm thankful for "new days fresh with no mistakes."

Love/Hate

Well here it is Wednesday again time for a recap of my week with some Love/Hates.
Feel free to join the link up if you have a few you'd like to share yourself.

I love the summer time.

I hate that there is only a few weeks left of it here.

I love that I am really getting good at sewing.

I hate that sometimes my sewing machine doesn't want to cooperate with me.

I loved having the 50's retro photo shoot a few weeks ago.

I hate how grown up my girls look now, and how old I feel sometimes.

I love that my girl Emma got on the High School Volleyball team
I hate the small fortune I had to pay just so she could play.

I love My Giant. He is a masterpiece of a man.
I hate that he is away for work right now.

Those are my Love/Hates right now what are some of yours?

Oh, What Can You Do

These are the things I tell myself to keep my sentimental heart from bursting into a thousand pieces never to be okay again.

I tell myself she's only 14. 

That means I have 4 more years.

4 more birthdays.

4 more Christmases.

And really, who leaves home right away when they turn 18 anyway? (You be quiet Auntie Jenny)

Sure, she is  going into High School for the first time, but at least it's not her Senior year, or worse at least she's not heading off to college.

I tell myself that she will have so much fun. 

That she will always be my baby and come running home whenever she needs a hand to hold, or an ear to listen.

I tell myself that even though I can't enter this new planet(High School) with her, the Holy Spirit can and will lead and guide her.

I tell myself that my prayers for a protective bubble are being heard, and will be answered.

I tell myself I have prepared her well.

I tell myself, It's Only High School.

I tell myself it will all be okay.

Right Now

I am having one of those mornings where I really want to write something amazing, something substantial, something life changing and all I can come up with is a WHOLE LOTTA NUTTIN'!
So I guess, I will tell you about my life Right now.

Right now, my kids only have two weeks left of summer, and I am feeling like I do around this time every year at the end of summer, where I am just not ready. I don't want them to go back. I don't want the butt-crack-o-dawn early mornings. Or the forever long supply list that they come home with that I swear gets longer every year. And not only has that list gotten longer, but I feel I have to take out a small loan just to pay for everything on that list. I'm not ready for the forever long days where they are gone from Sun up until Sun down. I'm not ready to crack the whip around here as far as the clock goes. I like summer island time where I don't have be the bad guy and announce BED TIME!! every night. Nope, not ready.

Right now, in fact just this morning I was out of creamer for my coffee and milk for kids cereal. I knew this last night, but instead of going to the grocery store I went out on a HOT date with My Giant(which btw was amazing Giant) and neglected to prepare for Monday morning. So I got up earlier knowing that we were out of these things and I went to head off to the store and surprise the kids with donuts. My car was dead. DEAD!! To which I said ARGH!! Beasty Boy (that's what I call my car) Why you do me like that Beasty? Well, thankfully I live with a Village of people, and I borrowed one of the Village peoples (ha ha ;) village people) car's and the tragedy was averted at least for today. Kids are happily eating donuts(not me, I've been off sugar for 2 months and going strong WOOT WOOT!) and I am drinking my coffee with some yummy creamer, that yes does have sugar... but come ON!!

Right now, I am enjoying the creations that I have able to make with my sewing machine. I may have just found a new hobby, sorry Blog Spot I love you but..... I love Kenny Kenmore too. I have been making headbands with cute little buttons and flowers, so if you get one in the mail you'll know who it came from. Thank you Momma-zita for teaching me once again how amazing the sewing machine really can be.

Right now, I am thinking about my dad. Praying for him really. Hoping that he is feeling better. He was admitted to the hospital on Friday, which is the reason I didn't get on here for a few days. Sorry to those of you who were waiting for a FlashBack Friday that never came. I am Praying that he has gotten some much needed rest. And realizing that I should probably get off of here and give him a call to check in. Not to worry you all, he is doing fine now, but I do appreciate your prayers and kind thoughts toward him.

Right now, I am thinking about the song that goes like this:

 I am remembering a time when I was young and naive to the world and all it's ways. This song didn't really mean much to me back in the day that it came out, but now it means so much more. Anyone else out there that feels the same? Love me some Van Halen.

Right now, I am in the process of redesigning Noe's Beautiful Life. Stay tuned for the finished product. I'm pretty excited about how it's all coming together. And I am really enjoying working with this ladyAlyx. She's the bomb-diggity if you haven't already met her go say hello :)
I'm thinking I have a confession to make so I'm gonna link up with her over at;

Right now I should be on here paying bills instead of blogging. Shh... don't tell My Giant, but sometimes I can really get distracted once I click that Safari button it's like I really am on Safari of the WWW and then I forget... OH yeah you had a reason why you got on here.

AND finally...

Right now, I have to go because I can hear my boys in the other room having a some what loud wrestling match that could at any moment turn into a full blown WWF match. So I  hope you are having a wonderful Monday morning beloved reader, and that you are off to a better start than what I had and that I didn't bore you too much with my silly self ;)

Oh The Joy of Being A Housewife

Good Morning Beloved Reader

I have a real treat for your this morning.

The above photo has inspired this hodge podge post where I will give you a poem, a quote maybe two, and of course some thoughts from yours truly.

Many of you know that last fall I hung up my apron from teaching to take up my first job again and that is the job of a Housewife.

Not really sure where that title came from because I am neither a House(sing: She's a Brick House she's Mighty Mighty) nor am I married to my house, but whatevs.

It's like the title Stay At Home Mom, 

Do we really Stay at home, Moms? 

Anyone? 

Uh-oh I'm getting off to rant-ing kind of start and that is NOT what this post is going to be, I promise.

Now, I realize this is a large topic with many opinions out there, but I'm not really here to rant or to rave  about all those opinions, cause you know what they say about opinions?

They are like... well, you fill in the blank on that one.

Okay moving on about a month ago I participated in a gift exchange and I met this amazing lady

who writes poetry

Dragonflight Dreams

and Designs

Amanda Cobb | Freelance Graphic Designer

and is amazing... oh wait I already said that.

To prove to you how amazing she is I would like to share a poem 

of hers that she wrote and I bookmarked to share for a topic such as this;

On The Injustices of Dirty Dishes

Thrown casually aside into a pile,

indifferently stacked and pressed up against strangers,

like a body count of war victims

dumped all into a unmarked grave.

Discarded as soiled, impure, 

bacterial shame colors their faces

in the wake of their hygienic rape.

Forcefully tortured with 3rd degree aquatic burns

only to have bristle-and-wire pads scraped across them,

their skin rubbed raw for faultless blemishes,

uncommitted crimes -

innocents punished for the flaws of their masters.

Parts of themselves carved away,

or smoothed over,

the psychologist of the sink

replacing them all into carbon-copy rows,

identical, cleansed faces normal once more.

See Amazing right? 

Anyone who can talk about a sink full of dirty dishes like that is 

pure genius in my book.

Now every good housewife knows that her life's work will consist of many, many, many dirty dishes, but I hope now that you have been enlightened to the feelings of those dishes you might get a good giggle next time you stand at that sink for countless hours.

Maybe this quote will help too;

"Housework is like stringing beads

with no Knot at the end."

Can I get a Witness on that one desperate housewives?

I saw that quote a while back and it reminded me of another quote 

that came on the cork of a bottle of wine from Mad House Wife Wine,

which btw would be my prescription to you beloved housewife if you have had a 

BIT OF A DAY

like I did yesterday.

"Housework can't kill you but why take the chance?"

And now as I prepare to tell you the secret of how to be a joyful housewife(pay close attention it's hidden somewhere down there) I leave you with one more final note of encouragement;

YOU ARE A ROCK STAR!

For real. 

That should be our title :

Rock Star Housewife Stay At Home Mom

What do you think? 

Too long? 

Ok well, you really are. Those of you who are reading this post and have already done a load of laundry, a sink full of dishes, read your bible(the most important ingredient to a joyful housewife), made some coffee, kissed hubby as he headed out the door, and have now managed to sit and read this;

YOU ARE A ROCK STAR!

Go ahead pat yourself on the back and realize that you are untouchable

in the jobs department. There isn't a resume long enough to brag about all that you are capable of and seriously, if we were having a cup of joe right now listening to Billy Holiday and laughing I would say it again.

YOU ARE A ROCK STAR!

did you find the secret in there?

*today you can find my thankful thursday guest post here;

The Fontenot Four

and I am participating in a giveaway here;

A Little Piece of Me

Happy Birthday To My Sister Jen

I interrupt this Wednesday's usual Love/Hate link up to bring you one of my all time heroes in life; 

My Sister Jenny.

Today is Jenny's birthday  I would just like to take this opportunity to do a little blaggin about her.

She's the beautiful bride in the above photo. On the left is my younger sister Gina, then my Momma, and Me.

I really could go on and on about all 3 of these women in that photo, because they are all so unequivocally amazing, but today is Jenny's day so let me do some blaggin(blogging+bragging) about my sister Jen.

Ever since I can remember I have looked up to my sister Jen.

If Jenny was playing with a toy I wanted it.

If Jenny was going somewhere I wanted to go with her.

If Jenny was singing a song I tried to sing with.

You get the idea. 

Early on in life I know I was a real pain in the butt  and had a bit of the Copy Cat syndrome stuck up in my bones. 

Poor Jenny.

I think it's a typical younger sibling kind of thing to look up to your older sibling with adoration. 

But, there was a brief moment when I remember I didn't want to be like her.

When we were teens, well she was a teen I was probably a 12 year old tween, Jen had a rough patch in life.  To quote one of my favorite movies, "She was an angry little Elf." 

It's crazy to think about now but there was a time when around every corner she seemed to be getting in trouble, and with passion.

And then like a switch that was turned on her life changed.

She came to know Christ in such a way that her little sister was left wondering what happened to Jenny?

She truly was a new creation in Christ.

You see, the thing about Jen is that she does this LIFE whole heartedly. 

She is not your stick your toe in the water to see if its warm kinda gal.

Oh no, she is go jump in off the diving board full force and then find out whether the water is warm enough kinda gal. 

COMPLETE opposite of me, but it is without a doubt what I love about her so much.

And it is what I admire most about her relentless pursuit to know her Savior.

From the moment she could choose her life's course 

She's like this;

I think I'll move to Tulsa OK the day I turn 18 to go to college

Then I think I'll move to LA

Then maybe I should move to Europe(Hungary, Budapest to be exact)  where I don't know anyone and don't know the language.

I think now I'll take up Triathlons.

Sure, yeah, let's DO THIS!!

Never a worry, never a care she just goes and does whatever it is in heart to do.

And now that we are older, wiser, and I hope more mature

I still admire her for those reasons.

Sometimes I wonder if she is ever afraid of anything. 

She has been my biggest cheerleader

My longest friend

My sister in word 

and in deed. 

Happy Birthday Jen 

I love you more than words 

could ever say