Guitar Skillz

Impressed.  Amazed.  A little creeped out.  I think my kids are starting to look like total slackers.

Nothing says "child prodigy" like the guitar actually being bigger than the child.  And on a side note, what's up with the little boys wearing tights too?

A Prayer for a Child... by Tina Fey

So... While Tina Fey and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of issues, I appreciate the humor in this prayer.  Avert your eyes if an occasional naughty word bothers you.  

“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.”

-Tina Fey

(Click on the link and pick up Tina Fey’s book Bossypants for more.)

Exhausted

I'm exhausted from the last two weeks of craziness... wedding shower planning and prep, the big event itself, wedding rehearsal planning, schooling the boy, 20 piles of unfinished projects, catching up on orders, laundry... oh the piles and piles of laundry.  I have lots of fun things to post in the next week, but not today.  Today I'm just tired.  Here's a sneak peek though :)  Happy Monday!

The Big 4

{photo via Christina Hendrick Photography}

My Sweetpea is four now. 

 I think she is beautiful.  * She is a little naughty and a lot sweet. *  She has taught me what being strong-willed really means. *  She loves noodles, and hates zucchini. * She loves baby dolls, and likes babies.  * She despises bedtime, but adores being the first one up. *  She randomly will tell me she loves me, or that I'm the best mommy in the world. * She has crazy crazy hair.  * The first thing she does when she gets home is take off her pants.  * She has a great laugh. *  Her favorite people are her family.  *  She loves being at home. * I like the way she says b-puter, b-diculous, bee-zert, and toot... i.e computer, ridiculous, dessert, and cute. *  She loves to exercise with Gary and me. *

There are just so many things that I love about her and want to remember about her four year old self.  I love you sweet girl, and I can't wait to see how God uses your life to bless others!

The ABC's of Me

1. Age – 32
2. Bed size – queen
3. Chore you dislike the most –  unloading the dishwasher
4. Dog? not yet, but the rest of the family is desperate to have one

5. Essential start to your day –  Thyroid meds... boo
6. Favorite color- turquoise
7. Gold or Silver- silver
8. Height- 5’10"
9. Instruments you have played –  cello for eight years
10. Job Life – cashier, hostess at Olive Garden, college bookstore, elementary school teacher for 10 years.
11. Kids- Buddy Boy (6), Sweetpea (4), Babycakes (5 months)

12. Live – Valley of the Sun, Phoenix area
13. Mom’s name – Pamela
14. Nicknames –  Shmoopy (we are not a pet name kind of couple... but when we were dating this is how this nickname got started... based on the absurdity of it... watch the video below), Chiaela Face, Mommy

15. Overnight hospital stays –  when I was 18 months for about a week, for five days when I had menengitis about four years ago, and when I had my babies
16. Pet Peeves –  people who seem oblivious to those around them 
17. Quote from a movie – "I like to do my hiking freeform, with only a notebook and a childlike sense of wonder."

18.Righty or Lefty for Politics- totally depends on the issue
19. Siblings –  Michael, or his alter-ego "Dr. Rob"
20. Time you wake up on weekdays –  about 6:45 or 7:00
21. Underwear - comfy and cute, but usually not at the same time
22. Vegetable you don’t like –  lima beans
23. What makes you late – breastfeeding, dirty diapers, lost shoes
24. Xray you have had – dental
25. Yummy good food you make – enchiladas verde
26. Zoo animal favorite – giraffes

I Counquered My White Whale

So this will be the post where I share about Creative Estates.  Just to get you up to speed, if need be... Creative Estates is a conference for bloggers and small handmade business owners and such.  As luck would have it, it was held literally five miles from my house.  I would have been a fool not to go.

So here's why I didn't want to go...

I have ENORMOUS anxiety when it comes to social settings where I know no one.  Like, I kind of wanted to cry, throw up, or run away as fast as I could, and possibly all three at the same time.  It has only gotten worse over the years.  My desire to go, however, overpowered my fear, and I pressed on.  This is progress people.  I even mingled.  yikes.

But here's why I wanted to go...

To learn from the best of the best, and to experience a conference atmosphere that before now, I had only read about on other blogs... and to conquer the elusive white whale of stepping outside my comfort zone ;)

Some funny things that happened, otherwise known as me being in over my head.  Day one, I sat down with a table full of ladies I had not met before (besides my friend Kari of Adam's Blankie), and everyone simultaneously whips out their business cards for a swap, as well as their smart phones.  Everyone starts swapping cards.  Pan to me... "oops, I didn't bring any."  I start scribbling my information on scraps of paper.  Super Ghetto.  Sweet.  THEN, everyone starts asking what each other's twitter handle is.  Pan to me... "I'm not on Twitter."  *crickets chirping and blank stares*  Then literally an audible gasp, with offers to sign me up immediately.  Then I brought my stalking full circle and introduced myself to a couple of my favorite bloggers who were at the conference (thanks Erin B., Heather, Erin E., and Laura for being so nice!)


I'll sum it up with some pictures, all of which I stole off of the Creative Estates Flickr feed and Facebook page because, why yes, I am that super lame and didn't even bring my camera.

{The Swag}

Headband by Craftee McGee, Letterpress notecards and envelopes, Pick Me Up scrapbook tool, modge podge and glitter paint, Bookmark by Hoot Designs, Business Card holder by Taradara, Necklace by The Vintage Pearl, 

{The Cupcake Table}

sponsored by Decadent Delights, styled by The TomKat Studio

Panel discussion with Kim from TomKat Studio, Erin from The Vintage Pearl, Ashley from Lil' Blue Boo, and Shey from SheyB 

A group shot at the Inspirador in Chandler

So next year when I go, I know that I'm going to love it, and I'll be way more prepared so I won't be such a loser imposter.  Seriously, I need to get my stuff together.

Where I'm At

I'm at Creative Estates this weekend!  If you're there too, maybe I could meet you in person... in all of my socially awkward glory ;) 




  I can't wait to share on Monday!  Happy weekend!