For Your Pinning Pleasure Too

HERE I gave you For Your Pinning Pleasure, the first.

Now I'd like to share more pretty quotes I've made for my posts....you know, in case you weren't paying attention and missed them. :-)

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Pin. Share. Enjoy!

Getting to Know My Daughter Better

Of course I've known Camryn all of her nearly 12 years, but the past couple of weeks I have gotten to know so much more. There was plenty I already knew, like about her personality and interests. What I didn't know, was that she has been doing some growing.....but it's like it was turned on like a switch.

At the end of the school year all the 6th graders around here put together a big "Who Am I?" project. I've mentioned Cami's twice already, sharing a story and a poem she wrote.

She had been slowly plugging along at it since it was first assigned right after the MSP testing in May. This past weekend we did the final push to get it completed to be turned in yesterday. I was so proud of how hard she worked, pretty much all day, both Saturday and Sunday, without whining. I helped, but ONLY as a nag to keep her organized and as the grammar police (to an extent). When it came to putting her scrapbook together, I gave her creative license, letting her use anything of mine she wanted, only suggesting she change up the layouts so each page didn't look identical.

I happen to think Camryn's book came out fabulous! I really hope her teacher agrees and gives her a big, fat A!

In the process of watching her project unfold I learned that my daughter is thoughtful and perceptive. She does internalize things and feels deeply. She knows what she likes and what she hates (at least for now). And she is creative.

I think this was the perfect grade/age to do this sort of project too. Cami has enough years behind her to have plenty to share and document. Enough has happened that is starting to shape her. Also, now is a great time to clearly identify who she is and what matters to her, as she heads into her teens.

I got pretty invested in seeing this through with Camryn. My dad called me twice to see if I wanted to catch a movie with him, but both times I said no, that I gotta keep helping her. She did need my guidance, but also, I was really enjoying watching it happen. I was very proud.

Cami's photo collage

Question Me: About Blogging

After recently publishing Confessions of a Blogger, I thought the next set of blogoversary questions I answer might as well be the blogging ones!

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1. What is your favorite piece you've written and why?

I think I've determined that my most favorite post is How Do I Love Thee?, because I was able to articulate to my satisfaction the complexities of my feelings for my husband. And I still think it sums things up well, despite having written it back in 2010 and lots happening since then. I do have a page up there under my header where you can find a list of my best posts.

2. How do you feel the connections/friendships you have made in the blogging world, have impacted you in comparison to your "real life" relationships?

The connections that can be made online are totally real. The great thing about them is that these people most likely aren't judging you AT ALL. And you get a whole other perspective from online friends. In comparison to IRL friends? I would say that online friend compliment, or round out, IRL ones.

There's even the possibility of making someone you met online a "real life" friend. I got to finally meet Danielle of motherhood: TRUTH this past weekend! My bestie Jessica (who also has a blog) and I met Dee in Seattle.

We had dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory where we were seated next to a screaming child. All three of us shook our heads, wondering WHY when we moms get out for the night do we still have to listen to screaming children?

We had a little time left before Dee's ferry back to her side of the Sound so we stopped into the Red Robin bar where I drank one of these:

And then we asked the bartender to take a photo of us!

Left to right: Danielle, Jessica, Me
(We would have had bigger smiles, but the bartender took a little
too long to take the picture.)

It was quite literally wonderful to meet Danielle! She let me give her a big hug and squeeze her tight, something I've been wanting to do for months now because we both need all the hugs we can get.

I simply must add that being able to blog through the tough stuff in my life, and receiving so many sweet, caring and thoughtful comments back, is a HUGE gift.

3. Do you have any subjects that are off-limits to your blogging?

Well, no, not really. I can't say anything is completely off limits because I can't seem to help how transparent I am. That said, I do have things I'd rather not blog about. Not all that hip on discussing sex, money or dieting. Funny, but I can handle religion and politics, perhaps because I enjoy a good, healthy debate. Just haven't had lots of reasons to talk about those things. But I suppose I may since this is an election year. (Can we just skip it, leave Obama in office and call it good?)

But let me add, that I do try to be tactful and appropriate with my honesty and transparency.

Oh and, I don't want to completely embarrass my kids. I know, I'm too nice. I'm sorry, I just can't blog about something mortifying that happened to one of my kids. But there is a "sliding scale", shall we say? ;-)

4. Does all your family know about your blog, and are they supportive?

Yes, I do believe everyone in my family is now aware of my blog. They weren't at the beginning of the year, which is why I proclaimed, "I am a Blogger". And yes, I think they are all supportive. I know my parents are (they even comment). I think Mark's are too, but I have no idea how much they check it out.

This goes back to what I said about transparency. Don't think I'd have been able to go for long without talking about blogging with everyone, at some point. Also, Mark brags blabs about it a lot!

5. Where do you think you'll be with blogging in 2 more years?

I intend to still be doing it. Beyond that, I don't really know. I am open without expectation!

What I do know is that blogging gives you a voice. Whether it's to find yourself, help others, share recipes or fashion tips, or all of the above...it's your voice and a platform. I didn't realize this when I started; I just didn't know about the scope of the blogosphere. Now that I do, I see it as this amazing opportunity to connect and share, to find a new path, to influence....for free therapy. I hope I will always blog well.

Do you know how you'd answer any of these questions?

For Your Pinning Pleasure

I love me some quotes.

I really love me some nice LOOKING quotes, something I've discovered only recently as a blogger, and as the phenomenon that is Pinterest has taken off.

I've made a few of my own "pretty" quotes already. And I thought I'd better make some more before our beloved Picnik disappears on the 19th.

Here are the ones I've previously included in my posts:

My Facebook page header

Here are a couple new ones:

And this is me. This is one of the best things I've ever said in a post!

So, feel free to pin away, if you like any of them!

Do you have a favorite?

I totally almost peed my pants!

source

Guys, I narrowly escaped peeing my pants last night!

Allow me to explain. I was finishing up dinner (BLTAs - yum!) and noticed I needed to go to the bathroom. I excused myself from the table and headed upstairs.

I stepped into my bathroom and immediately felt my nose tickle.

No! I can't sneeze NOW, I've got a full bladder here!

But the sneeze was coming. There was no stopping it.

Instantly my hand flew to between my legs and then I crossed them for good measure, and braced myself for the inevitable by planting my other hand on the little counter.

Let me just stop right here and point out that I was STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TOILET. Talk about adding insult to injury.

ACHOO! (Holding my crotch with crossed legs, trying not to fall backward. I wish I knew how to do crappy drawings for you.)

OMG I didn't pee! I didn't even leak!

I guess I've done enough kegels.

Yay me!

I don't wanna! You can't make me!

This week's Listicle topic was chosen by Wendy at Twisted Domestic Goddess and is 10 things I would rather do than clean the house!

Since I'd rather do almost anything than housework, this should be easy-peasy.

That was said way back in 1966. Huh. So true, yet there's still so much guilt if our homes are messy. We moms (or just women in general) really need to cut ourselves some slack. Cleaning is not the most important thing in the world! Yes, it's gotta be done, but I don't believe we need to break our backs. Staying up til midnight should be spent watching TV, reading or hanging with the hubby, not folding that last load of laundry. You can do it tomorrow. Balance, people!

So, instead of cleaning my house, I'd rather*:

1. Watch TV

2. Knit/crochet**

3. Read

4. Go do something with a friend

5. Have "family movie night"

6. Blog

7. Tweet

8. Go for a walk

9. Take a bath

10. Talk to Mark while watching Top Gear or reruns of Family Guy


*My house is not a disaster. I do clean it.


**By the way (Jim), I'm working on knitting my second legwarmer.

Daddy & Daughter

For several years now a Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance is held in our town. Two years ago Mark and Cami went. They both got all dressed up and posed for pictures. I think they were both a little nervous. Mark because he was taking his little girl to her first dance, and Cami because she was the center of attention.

Feel free to Pin this!

Camryn is her father's daughter, no doubt about it. He was the one who wanted to name her that, a girly-fied version of Cameron, which his mom had almost named him. The day she was born, it was very obvious who her daddy was. Upon seeing her for the first time, our priest said, "Well, she's definitely not the milk man's child!"

But it's more than a family resemblance. Cami is so much like her dad, right down to her ADD (although he was never diagnosed). And now, she seems to have gotten an interest in cooking from Mark. I am proud of their father-daughter relationship because I know it is so important for a girl to have that, especially as she gets older. I know when I was a young girl I thought my dad was the best guy in the world. I also thought I could marry him when I grew up. So funny, the things we think when we're little.

So I dedicate this month's Memories Captured, as well as today's Quotable Bits and this week's yeah write, to my husband and my daughter.

A Cat, a Cup and a Quote

A truer thing has never been said.

I've blogged about my cat Julius a few times now.

Because he's a big, fat squishy hunk of cat who lets me be his person.

See this?

I have been waiting a whole year to get these pictures!
Because he is partially named for Orange Julius.
Isn't that awesome??
The answer is YES!

Why I Love the Serenity Prayer

Yes, the Serenity Prayer.

No, I'm not in a 12 step program.

Although I probably could be... ;-)

I just think it's kind of perfect for pretty much every situation.

Source: vak73.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;"

This speaks to me in regards to control.  I cannot control everything.  And I just love the word "serene". Say it to yourself, serene...serenity.  It's about being calm and peaceful.

"the courage to change the things I can;"

This tells me not to live in fear, not only of whatever is troubling me, but also of change.  Having courage to change the things you can means looking for solutions to problems, asking the questions you need answers too and following through on a plan.  Even if it's scary, and even if you don't want to.

"and the wisdom to know the difference."

I think wisdom is 2 things: knowledge or an understanding gained through experience, and the ability to listen to and trust in your instincts.  The wisdom to know the difference between something you can and cannot change is tricky.  I think it involves listening to your heart...and of course, serenity and courage.

This is a brand new weekly meme all about quotes - yay!
Click the button to read more posts.

World's Greatest BFF/Bestie

Today I will enter a friendship contest on behalf of both my BFF and my Bestie.

Wait. What's that you say? Aren't BFFs and Besties the same thing?

Well, I suppose to the average girl they are, but not to me.  Allow me to explain.

I have a BFF (Best Friend Forever) AND a Bestie.  This is because I love these two women equally and cannot pick just one of them to call my "best friend".  One I have known longer than the other so I give her the title of BFF just for that reason.  I call the other my Bestie because she has become just as close to me as my BFF over the last 8 years.

"Yes'm, old friends is always best, 'less you can catch a new one that's fit to make an old one out of."

~ Sarah Orne Jewett

My BFF is another Jennifer.  In high school we would introduce ourselves as Jen...nifer, pointing from her to me as we said it.  Today I fondly and lovingly refer to her as J.Ho.  (That's a play on J.Lo, in case you didn't make that connection.)

She's wearing a Christmas shirt that says "Ho Ho Ho".
She added the J. I love it!

I met J.Ho in 7th grade waaaayyy back in 1986.  But we were just acquantances in the same PE class back then.  Our relationship really took off when we got to high school. Each year we had a few classes together and because we both had H last names and lockers were assigned alphabetically, we had lockers close by each other.  Between each class we'd pass notes, J.Ho's with the funniest little cartoons at the bottom.

When J.Ho got her driver's license and bought a sweet '56 Chevy truck, she wouild pick me up for school and we'd leave campus for lunch.  She'd let a bunch of other kids pile in the back of the truck and it was so fun!

We would rock out to the B52s' "Love Shack", INXS' "Suicide Blonde", Madonna's "Vogue" and Deee-Lite's "Groove is in the Heart".  I would sing my lungs out to Deee-Lite in J.Ho's truck!  She probably wanted to laugh at me so bad, but she never did.

We went through several boyfriends.  She helped get me through a dumb mistake I made.  She got me drunk for the first time.  Then this really stupid thing happened.  We had a fight over my boyfriend that resulted in us not hanging out for almost all of our senior year.  Even after the stupid boyfriend dumped me, I had too much pride to apologize to her.  And by the time we did get back on track, we graduated and she bolted from Tahoe so fast, all I could do was wave goodbye.

But!  Because she's so totally awesome, she made it a point to keep in touch with me.  And thus began the beginning of the best long-distance relationship EVER.  Seriously, there are no two closer friends who don't live anywhere near each other, than me and my J.Ho.  We have been each other's Maids of Honor, she hosted my first baby shower, I planned and co-hosted her bridal shower and we are Godmothers to each other's kids.

J.Ho holding my baby AJ at his Baptism.

We email almost daily, use Facebook and text.  We are both really good about mailing the other photos.  J.Ho is an awesome gift-giver, never once ever missing either of my kids' birthdays or Christmas.  She is thoughtful, generous, supportive, talented and so funny!  She is like family.

"There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound."

~ Diana Cortes

My Bestie is Jessica.  We met in the Fall of 2003 through our local MOMS Club.  It was Recipe Club day with an apple theme.  Jess brought an apple cake.  She was pregnant with her 2nd child with the sweetest little 3 year old boy in tow.  We continued to see each other at day outings including one where we took our little kids bowling.  Her belly was so big, my husband helped her son with his bowling ball.  I couldn't believe Jess even showed up that day!

A few months later I had a little extra spending money and wanted to go shopping.  I can't drive, so I sent out an email to the new friends I had met, asking if anyone would like to take go with me.  Jessica raised her hand and we had a great day at the mall.

After that we started talking on the phone a lot, finding oodles of things we had in common.  Even the stuff we didn't have in common was cool.  I mean, we spent HOURS on the phone, chatting the day away while we did housework and took care of our kids.  We could talk - yell at kids - talk - start a load of laundry - talk - get snacks - talk.  It was really quite a productive relationship.

Along with another really good friend of ours, Carin, me and Jess both have millennium babies and this has been something that has bonded us.  Jessica's, Carin's and my oldest kids went to preschool together.  We have tried each of the last 8 years to get at least 1 photo of the 3 of the kids together, almost without fail.  The 3 of them are good friends too.

Left to right: Jessica's son, my daughter, Carin's son
July 2010

Left to right: Jessica, me, Carin
July 2010

Jessica has been there for me in some huge ways, most recently last year when my husband Mark had his heart bypass surgery.  She went above and beyond for me and my family and if she hadn't before that, she cemented a place in my heart forever.

Jess sewed this "badass" cover for Mark's heart pillow.

I can't count how many GNOs Jess and I have had together, how many movies, Mexican dinners, kids' birthday parties or conversations.  She is a truly consistent friend.  She is kind, giving, talented, funny and she helps me be a better mom.  And just like J.Ho, Jess is like family to me.

Love is like the wild-rose briar;
Friendship is like the holly-tree.
The holly is dark when the rose briar blooms,
But which will bloom most constantly?
~ Emily Brontë

Jessica is the one who encouraged me to start a blog.  She has one too.  And then I encouraged J.Ho to start a foodie blog.  I believe in paying it forward!

When something is going on in my life, I need both of them to know.  When I was spending my days in the hospital with Mark last year, J.Ho cried on the phone with me and Jessica held my hand.  Literally, at the same time.  I am so blessed to have these two wonderful women in my life, to be able to call them my friends.

I've had other best friends in my life....Tressa, Shelley, Heather, Lisa, Brandie...and I've loved them all.  But I think the older I get the more I refine the definition of what a best friend is to me.

"People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime."

~ Author Unknown

I could really go on and on, but this is already so long!  Suffice it to say that my BFF and my Bestie are amazing and I love them.