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Thursday Ten: You Are Beautiful Edition

February 11, 2010 by 10 Comments

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1. According to Facebook and this article in Glamour , today is “Tell Her She’s Beautiful” Day. As the mom of two young girls, this is always something in my mind for parents to “remember how life altering their words and actions can be” when it comes to the body image and self esteem of our children. Facebook’s definition is a little more broad – extending further than our children – to cover anyone you think is beautiful… Just let ’em know. And since clearly you should do everything Facebook tells you (Unless it involves farms or the mafia), this is a kind of cool thing to do. I’m kind of surrounded by beautiful people – so I could be at it at all day… except I’m gonna issue a blanket statement: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Yes you. You are beautiful because you are full of kind words. You are beautiful because your actions are true to your heart. You, over there, are beautiful because you have a laugh that is contagious. You’re beautiful because your smile lights up a room. You’re beautiful because you come up with amazing ideas. You are beautiful because you challenge me to be a better me. You’re beautiful because you know more dirty jokes than anyone else I know. You’re beautiful because you share my love of music. And you are beautiful because you are an amazing friend. Beautiful.

2. Ahhhh, look at my beautiful mood. Would you believe me if I told you that two hours ago I felt anything BUT beautiful and the only thing that turned my day around was an amazing guitar lesson? After not picking up my guitar in over a week (OUCH!), I still managed to do alright – and started working on some new things again.

3. Pumpkin was having a screaming tantrum fit when I dropped her off at preschool today. I think she was screaming about her scarf but to be honest, I was totally unsure once her voice went into those upper registers that only dogs can hear. Mortifying. Through it all, I just kept walking – and smiling. You know how hard it is to keep a smile on your face when your child is screeching? Pretty damn hard. But I did it. And she stopped crying in no time.

4. Post Blissdom Snack Bliss – Take a bag of microwave popcorn and pop it (I prefer Orville Reddenbacher Smart Pop Kettle Corn – the other brands don’t have enough of a kettle-y flavor for me). Then, take a few of the Hershey Bliss Milk Chocolate squares and melt them. Drizzle it over your popcorn. Take a few Hershey Bliss White Chocolate squares and melt them and drizzle that over the popcorn. Now throw in some pretzels, toss the mixture around the bowl and let it set. Then eat all of it in one sitting without sharing with your family.

5. While I was in Nashville last week I MISSED PROJECT RUNWAY. What did I miss – did you watch it? I haven’t even read the recaps except to know it was a red dress challenge.

6. Valentines Day is this weekend. Pumpkin had a party at school today and she’ll have one tomorrow. The Princess has one tomorrow. Me? I don’t really celebrate it. Do you?

7. Google Buzz. Why?

8. Yesterday, we got slammed with snow and I woke up to an email announcing the school being closed for the day. Even though I’d been expecting it, I was thrown off course nonetheless and started thinking of all the places I would rather live than Michigan – Michigan gets so cold, and snow? Blech. Of course, in the midst of my grumbling about how I’d love to be lounging on a beach soaking up sun versus huddled inside because of the snow, Hubby said, “But then you’d be grumping about how hot it was there.” Um, yes. Probably true. So, odds are, I need mild weather where it is anywhere between 60 and 75 degrees most days. And I’m guessing that place is not in the Midwest.

9. In response to my “Things I learned at Nashville not related to Blogging” post, Kat mentioned she thought I would write about my wicked ability to walk into inanimate objects – to which I respond: I’ve always known how to do that. It’s a skill I’ve been working on for years. It’s actually a pretty odd thing – I’m pretty active, and I can be graceful… it’s just that sometimes? I’m really not.

10. I’ve spent all day staring at my split ends. I think a hair cut is coming soon. This means that there will also likely be a post saying, “WHY WHY WHY DID I CUT MY HAIR?!” Stay tuned.

Filed Under: Thursday Ten

Top Five Things I Learned This Weekend That Have NOTHING To Do With Blogging

February 8, 2010 by 10 Comments

1. You can fly with an expired driver’s license for up to a year.
HEY! Guess what I found out? My driver’s license needed to be renewed on my birthday in October. Who knew. Thanks to the TSA guy at Chicago Midway who pointed it out. And the other guy at Nashville’s airport who also pointed it out. Also, a good fun thanks to my friends at Facebook who inquired, “Hmmm… do you think your license is suspended now?” Clearly, I needed something to worry about while I was out of state and powerless to do anything about it at the time. But no worries – I’m renewed now. What a way to kick off my Monday, though.

2. Rescue Remedy? It works. HOLY MOLEY, does it work.
You know I’m afraid of flying, so it shouldn’t surprise you that I sought remedies for my fear so that I wouldn’t get too wigged out on the plane.  Rescue Remedy can be taken by itself or in water. On the way down – I didn’t take nearly enough (the woman at the healthfood store said “four drops” — the website I linked to says ten). The way back? Four drops before my flight, another few while ON the flight, and I was calmmmmmm. So calm that I didn’t even get road-ragey driving home from Chicago to Michigan. That’s saying something.

3. There are approximately 153,206 ways you can get lost at the Opryland Hotel.
I put a lot of miles on my feet this weekend. The hotel is HUGE. It’s gorgeous and huge and a little bit confusing.

4. Barbecue pulled pork on buttermilk biscuit sandwiches are the BEST. SANDWICH. EVER.
Thursday night’s cocktail party was held at the Jack Daniels restaurant. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres (Yes, I just googled the spelling of that. Shut up). The food was awesome, but these sandwiches? Well, I guess you just have to understand how much I love barbecued pulled pork to understand how full of AWESOME these sandwiches were.
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5. Frizz-Ease Take Charge Mousse Smells So Good That People Will Tell You Your Hair Smells Amazing
No joke. I only bought this stuff because it was in the trial size section at Target and met two of my criteria – under a buck (for the travel size) and made for curly hair. First of all, it really shaped curls well. Secondly, I am not sure if I have ever had so many people sniff my hair and say it smelled good. So, there. Well done, Frizz Ease. I will opt not to complain about my travel-size deodorant choice (BOO!) and the cheap razors I bought (Also – big freaking thumbs down says the gouge on my right leg).

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A Community Under One Roof

February 7, 2010 by 10 Comments

I have spent the past several days in Nashville at the Blissdom Conference and while I head home today, I am both glad to be returning to my family and sad because I am leaving a lot of friends behind. This weekend has been one where I have ranged the spectrum of emotions – from complete, unabashed, rolling on the floor with laughter JOY to heartbreaking sadness as MckMama shared the story of her son, Stellan.  In between there was hope, migraines (thank you, Mother Nature. No REALLY, you shouldn’t have), exhaustion, and at times, a feeling of being completely overwhelmed and trying to just BE in the moment.

I follow a lot of people on Twitter. I read their tweets and their blogs and comment on their Facebook status updates. I know their lives by their words – and then suddenly, so many of those people are under one roof and it’s kind of an awesome thing. You see someone across the room and think, “Hey, that person looks familiar” – check out their name tag, and when it hits you that the person standing in front of you is @WhoeverThatPersonMightBeInThisInstant, it’s a rush – a huge sensation of, “You’re REALLY here.” Suddenly, imaginary internet people become very real. The moment when someone goes from “that person who blogs” to “the woman I shared caramel corn with” or “the one who rocked out on karaoke” or “the one that made me laugh so hard my abs hurt” – THAT MOMENT is why I’m here.

There will be another post later, one where I tell you how awesome the sponsors are (they are!), and how I think that Alli and Barbara really outdid themselves (they did!), and how I didn’t sleep very much for several  days and worried my lovely roommates (true story!), but… not yet.

Right now, I’m still in the moment. After filling my days so completely, I slept hard last night and I wake up knowing that while I’m so glad to be returning home to my family (a little less enthused about that airplane part), I am going to miss a lot of people a whole lot.

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No Watermelon Carrying Moments

February 6, 2010 by 1 Comment

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A few weeks ago, I posted when we found out that Harry Connick, Jr would be performing at the Blissdom Conference in Nashville. At the time, the plan was to have a meet and greet – we’d all do photos with Harry and get to meet him.

Well…. apparently, there’s a big football game on tomorrow? And one of the teams playing is from HCJ’s hometown of New Orleans?

I love that he didn’t bail – I mean, the SuperBowl, right? That’s huge. But, he didn’t cancel. Instead, he shifted things around on his schedule and came to perform last night and today he’s off doing SuperBowl-y stuff. We were glad he still came to perform.

Not only was Harry entertaining (and so funny!), but his band? FREAKIN’ AWESOME. Actually – let me go even further: his band blew me away.

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Not pictured: the guy on bass and the dude on drums

Two of his musicians (including the saxophone player, pictured above) are residents of Musicians’ Village in New Orleans which provides a home for the artists who have defined New Orleans’ culture so strongly. The Musicians’ Village was conceptualized by Harry Connick, Jr and Brandford Marsalis, and is supported by donations.

After a rendition of “When The Saints Go Marching In”, they finished and we were all able to quickly meet and get our pics snapped with HCG – it was so fast that I didn’t have a chance to say something stupid to him. I think we can both count our blessings on that one.

*Pictures taken by me. Unfortunately. I can’t wait to see what the shots look like from better cameras than my own!

Filed Under: music Tagged With: ,

Thursday Ten: The I’m In NASHVILLE, Y’all Edition

February 4, 2010 by 1 Comment

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1. Despite my massive fear of flying (actually, the phobia is more so the fear of NOT flying, or rather, plummeting from 35,000 feet cruising altitude to the ground – WHEW – my pulse races thinking about it. Ugh. So yeah, anyway…), I boarded a plane yesterday bound for Nashville to attend the Blissdom conference. There are a lot of amazing workshops and seminars this weekend – but I tell you, I’m STOKED for today’s photography workshop with the amazing Mishi. She takes phenomenal photos and if she can tell me what some of these buttons on my camera mean, I’m gonna be over the moon happy. I’m HERE, y’all.

2. Doesn’t my “y’all” seem more authentic when you know I’m actually in the south?

3. It was hard for me to leave my family at home. I left notes for them written (on the girls’ dirty bathroom mirror) with Crayola Window Crayons*. I’ve written a few notes for them to find while I’m gone.
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4. Proving that I am nothing if not supremely coordinated and graceful, last night while walking through the hotel I walked right into a brick bench. A NON MOVING BRICK BENCH. The sucker didn’t jump out in front of me – I was just so distracted looking at stuff. Grace, I haz it. I also have a pretty banged up knee now.

5. Project Runway last week. BOY WAS I WRONG. I was so sure they wouldn’t send crazy Ping home so early – but I suppose they ran out of reasons to justify her being there. I may have done a little bit of a dance when she got auf’d.

6. Did you watch “Lost” the other night? I never realized just how many people DO watch this show until the other day when that’s pretty much all anyone was talking about. I’ve seen about fifteen minutes of the show. Total. Fifteen minutes from the very first episode. Never watched it again.

7. I have been awake since 3 a.m. so it’s fair to say that in a few hours, I will be curled up in the fetal position sucking my thumb somewhere. Or on my tenth cup of coffee and ready to run sprints. Time will tell.

8. Last week, my brakes started making this horrible noise. It wasn’t just the squealy noise that tells you your brakes are done, but this groan-y, grind-y noise. We ended up taking it to a mechanic over the weekend. The dude said, “Check back in two hours.” Two hours later, he STILL hadn’t looked at our car. It wasn’t until FIVE hours later that we were on our way, several hundred dollars lighter (dagnabbit). The worst part – worse even than the cost to repair the brakes – is that while we were waiting, our whole family was at the mall. Five hours at the mall. Imagine that.

9. Last night, I was walking with a friend of mine through the hotel and we passed a burger restaurant. I realized that I haven’t had a hamburger in Y E A R S. Like, probably over ten years. I don’t miss them. It wasn’t a conscious decision – I’m not a vegetarian. I just never really think to myself, “Oooh, hamburgers.” Ever. Weird, right?

10. Did y’all watch the Grammy’s last weekend? What did you think? After about an hour, I was tired of it (actually, my patience was officially gone when Beyonce covered Alanis Morisette). I used to pride myself on being pretty current with music – but now? I’m not. I hate that.

*Crayola pays me nothing to say anything about their stuff. Hell, I even bought my own crayons. I just really dig these Window Crayons, as do my kids.

Filed Under: Thursday Ten, Uncategorized
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