Wednesday Wisdom

Short and sweet and to the point.

Let go of the fear and the regret that slow us down and keep us from enjoying a journey that will be over too soon.

Author Unknown

This Weeks. . . . . . . . . . Confessions from Suburbia

I put baby powder in my hair this morning because I was too damn tired to have a shower.

When my kids asked why we had to leave the park. I had no good excuse. I used "Because I said so." I swore I would never do that.

When the Hubby was away golfing and the kids were tucked all snug in their beds, I snuck more then my share of the freshly baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. WAY more.

I had to give myself a courtesy flush. P U!! That will teach me to eat so many oatmeal cookies!

When I saw the Jehovah Witness crew knocking on the door..... I hid.

We fed the kids Kraft Dinner for supper, put them to bed, then feasted on Lobster. Just because.

It took me three days to return a phone call from my 90 year old Grandma.

I had to throw away 4 chicken breasts and a package of ground turkey because I just didn't get to it in time.

I tried to talk my daughter out of Girl Guides because there are three girls in that group that have been so mean to her. The world doesn't need any more pre-teen drama.

I honked at an old man I saw tagging a bridge...upon closer inspection, it turns out he was cleaning up the graffiti.

Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Caught in the middle...

I'm caught up.

Caught in the middle of all the "I have to's" "I really should" oh "I just can't do that's". There is so much to do. Must forge ahead, keep up appearances, make sure the kids are in all the right activities, all the homework is done, and the house is neat!! Go! Go! Go!

Worry about weight? Concern about petty disagreements. Whine that life is not fair.

But then I read this...

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys".

...But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

Author Erma Bombeck

Time to step back.

Relax.

Chase a butterfly with my girls.

While away the hours by the fire.

Time to let go of this ideal of the house, the yard, what the world should look like.

Live in the moment.

Forgive and forget.

Trust and let go.

Be thankful for the good and the bad, the pain and the tears....because it means I still have hope for tomorrow.

In No Particular Order!!

Over the last couple of months I have been passed on some fabulous awards by amazing bloggers that inspire and entertain. It is my turn to pay it forward.
I thank each of you for thinking my blog worthy!
As you know I am not much of a rule follower! I have posted the rules that go with each of these lovely blogs, but have chosen to just pass on each award to one blogger. (It was either that or find a way to link each and every one of you and I'm just not that tech savvy!)

So in no particular order....

Vicki From Frugal Mom Know Best gave me an award!!

Here are the rules of this award:

- This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming.

- These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.

- They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.

- Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.

- Please give more attention to these writers.

- Deliver this award to other bloggers who must choose others to pass it on to and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

- I will pass this award to some of my bloggy friends that I find exceedingly charming...

*I have chosen to pass this award on to The Wife at The Cobia Family. Yep, this award fits her perfectly!


Ohhh...but I can't stop there! The ever charming Kellogsville bestowed me with the GREAT READ award!

The rules of this award seem to be that I am to list 10 of my favorite things in any category? Mmmm. Endless possibilities really.
10 fave wines
10 fave foods
10 best memories

I think I am going to go with 10 best Memories:

1) Meeting my Hubby on a far off tropical beach. He drove me crazy, made my heart flutter and confused me all at the same time. He was a hottie. I should have known right then and there we were meant to be.

2)The day Hubby proposed....sigh. Tears in his eyes, tears in mine.

3)Landing that job I fought so hard for.

4)Birth of both babies:)

5)Summers up north with my parents when I was a kid. No TV, no computer. Just my sister and the lake for entertainment.

6)1oth Wedding Anniversary trip back to the beach where we met. Are we sappy or what!

7) Taking New York City by storm! The museums, the food, Central Park, Broadway.

8) First time we took the girls to Disney World. (gee to you think we like to travel?)

9) My BlueEyed Girls first Gymnastics meet....the pride in her eyes as she stood on the podium. Never to be forgotten.

10) Christmas morning....can I just say EVERY Christmas morning with my family.

There. Sappy time over!!

* I will pass on this little lovely too...Speaking From The Crib because who doesn't want to know more about her!! Holy cow is she funny!!

NEXT!

The fabulous Heather over at Theata Mom has passed on an award to me! The bloggerbuddie Award.

Not only am I honoured to have Heather consider me one of her blogging pals, but I love this award because there does not seem to be too many rules attached!



Therefore I am going to give a shout out to one of my old favorites. Hope you will stop by and say Hello to:

Amy and Lady Di over at Daily Doses of Mama Drama





Many thanks to the uber cool chic Army Blond over at I can't believe I'm still single for bestowing me with the Swanky Blog Award!!


For those of you that don't know what swank means (don't feel bad, I wasn't familiar with the word either), it mean dashing smartness according to dictionary.com. Thus, thank you for thinking I'm dashing and smart all in one award!
On receiving the award, it is advised (not ordered) to mention and link the blogger who nominated you (DONE!), nominate and link up to 9 blogs (see below) to receive the award whose blogs amuse, allure, bewitch, impress and inspire you and Inform the bloggers they have been awarded in their comment boxes.
The nominee to whom I would to pass on this award is:

Penelope at Penelope's Oasis

I do think she is dashing and smart!

Also a big thanks to Heart Niki at Notepad Chaos for her fabulous Good Read Blog Love Award!

They aren't a lot of rules with this little baby, so I would love to ask you to pop over and visit Heart Niki and then pass on the love to....

technodoll at Bubblegum Diaries

She is always leaves the sweetest comments and definitely deserves some bloggy love!!

Last thing!

I also want to give a shout out to Jen at Shopaholic Social Worker for honouring me with the Kreativ Blogger Award.

If you have not met Jen yet pop on over and tell her I say Hi!!

Happy Friday:)

MWAH

The Carnival Ninjas

A travelling fair has come to town, you can smell the cotton candy for miles.

I have always loved the fair.

The warmth of the sun fighting with the coolness of dusk.

The magical way the bright lights from the heckling vendors and the screams of joy from the rides transform an urban parking lot into the hot spot of the week.

Nursing an injury, I was forced to slow down on my walk through this years family outing. My girls and hubby laughed and screamed to their hearts content while I sat and marvelled at how lucky I was. Looking around I was really able to take it all in....

The huge line-ups for the hot mini doughnuts covered in enough icing sugar to throw you into a diabetic coma.... Worth it.

Parents oblivious to their incredibly rude and pushy children. ...Shocking.

Do "carnies" have dental coverage...um I think not.

They can however count on good eyesight!

This year's event had a booth with Free Vision Testing.

Huh? Who goes to the fair to get their eyes checked?

Are you COVERED in tattoo's from your chin to your toes, multiple piercings, and sport a Mohawk hair cut? Do you have cigarettes dangling from lips, jean falling off your bums, extra thick make-up, and ripped up clothes? What are you doing at home? Everyone you know and aspire to look like is at the fair!

Deep Fried Mars Bar on a stick....Drool...that is this years best find.

Hot Tubs for sale? Why must we always stop and look at these at the fair? How do the deals seem so good here? Must be because our feet and backs hurt from all the walking and bumpy rides.

Does no one else think it is WRONG that the Ferris wheel (that was put together in a few short hours) shakes and squeaks so badly??

Pig races. Enough said.

4 Bucks gets you one ride, one candy apple or you can play one game. Soon only the wealthy we be able to afford the fair.

We rode rides until we were nauseous, walked until our feet hurt, ate all the junk we could find. We won so many prizes the vendors nick named us the Carnival Ninjas.

On this night full of giggles and screams, when my little girls traded fear of roller coasters for delight and cries for "more", we made memories that will last a lifetime.

Can't wait for next year.

The Quaking Kitty

I need a medical plan for my Pet.

Here in Canada we are quite blessed. If you take ill, or your child needs to see the pediatrician, their is no need to hesitate.

Call the Doctor, book the appointment and off you go.

See the Doc.

More often than not, grab your prescription and wave goodbye.

No big bill to pay as you exit the building.

NOT so for the sweet little kitty that just entered our lives.

Rabies shots

Ringworm pills

General Wellness check up

Eye Infection (poor little guy)

Booster Shot

Flu virus...are you KIDDING me?

Don't even get me started on how much it's going to cost to have him neutered!

Last night topped it all. We came home from a lovely family dinner to find a lethargic kitty sitting on the floor. No bounce in his step, no roar in his meow.

Maybe he was just tired?

Then about 11pm the shaking started.

What?

Not your average "someone just walked over my grave" tremble.

Full on tremors. Shaking with every breath.

We called the Emergency vet number.

They said we needed to bring him in.

We have had a dog for 9 years and never had to make a trip like this.

What we learned by 1am?
Ear infections can cause a kitten to spike a fever , quickly making sweet kitty dehydrated. All of this combined brings on the quakes, shakes or shivers.


Poor little kitty.

Poor little checking account.

This little man is costing me a fortune!

Good thing he's cute.....

In Pursuit of a Giftbag

A quick trip into Zellers.

I just need 1 gift bag.

Pink.

Perfect.

On sale.

Even better!

Oh and there is no line at the cashier. This is my lucky day!

What the hell???

Well excuse you family of five..perhaps you have some emergency to get to?

Go ahead, by all means, take that cart that is CRAMMED FULL of stuff for your University student (damn University town) and butt right in front of me.

Manners much!

zip ding

zip ding

zip ding

zip ding

zip ding

Good Grief ..you know when I am at the grocery store and someone comes up BEHIND me...I let them cut ahead. I let them play through. I am a courteous citizen of the world!! I was in front of you, besides, everyone knows 1 item to zip ding through is a whole lot faster then errrr 18.

zip ding

zip ding

zip ding

zip ding

zip beep...."Can I get a price check at 4"

Are you kidding me?

Foot starts tap tap tapping....

zip ding

zip ding

zip ding

FAAAARRRTT

zip ding

zip ding

Huh?

Did he just?

Did they just?

Oh help...the toxic smell!

Man fart.

I must step back .

My stomach is threatening to reveal this mornings eggs.

Silent gagging...

zip ding

zip ding

zip ding

This dude didn't even flinch!

He didn't try and hide the fact that he cut the cheese! He didn't accidentally sneak a cheek, he just let er rip!

How much longer do I have to stand next to these line cutting stinkers??

"Would you like to sign up for our store credit card?"

They say yes!!

Huh? Sorry. Rude.

I am outtie.

No stupid gift bag is worth this kind of wait.

Life is too short to stand in this toxic cloud of poo smell created by random pushy strangers .....all in the name of a gift bag?

I'll just use a freakin ribbon.

Gluttony

I graduated University more than 16 years ago? Gulp. I'm getting old.

Every year my old roomies and I get together at my place for what is now a long standing tradition of catch up, gossip and what's up.

I'm proud of us for keeping in touch.

We have seen each other through:

boyfriends

heartache

marriages

career choices and changes

babies

cancer

pain

joy

fear

death of parents

we may not be physically close, but when it counts, we are there.

Each year we celebrate.

We laugh until our sides hurt.

We confide.

We cry.

We also eat and drink.

The food, in a word, is ridiculous.

Why is it a grown woman will eat to the point of feeling sick?

I am certain that as I lounged around the pool just nibbling, I consumed as many calories as a linebacker before the big game!

I ate cheeses and dips, seafood's and chocolates, chips and cakes.

And I do not apologize. It was glorious.

I loved every second.

I'm thankful fate (or residence assignment) brought these three intelligent, beautiful, caring and sensitive women into my life.

I will tell my daughters...boyfriends will come and go, but if you find a good friend, a true friend, you have found a gift. Girlfriends are forever.

Can't wait until next year so I can once again embrace the gluttony.

Sunday Lovin'

It's Sunday (FOOTBALL Sunday according to the hubby) and feels like a good day to spread some love. I am way way behind in posting some much loved awards! So here we go!!

The lovely Amy, I hope you have all read Amy, over at Keeping Up with The Schultz Family has Awarded me with The Splash Award!



Here is the Dish on this award:

The Splash Award is given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring blogs. (Is this me??? blushing)

When you receive this award, you must:

* Put the logo on your blog/post.
* Nominate & link up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you.
* Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog.
* Remember to link to the person from whom you received your Splash Award.

I am choosing to pass on this bloggy love to:

Clippy Mat

I've Become My Mother

Alas 3 Lads

Ladybug Mama of 2

Sassy Chica

The World According to Me

Where a Woman Shakes Her Tablecloth

Oh but I can't stop there!!

The Green Eyed Momster (don't cha just love that)
passed on an award from Jenny Mac to Me!

How lucky am I?

JennyMac wrote:
"The rules: No one really likes rules, do they? I shall make mine simple. Make a cocktail, pick out some of your favorite bloggers. Send this award to 4 of them. Tell them why you think they give good blog. There are SO many fascinating, witty, and fantastic bloggers; let's invite them all to the party.

Or you can just put it on your mantle and watch it sparkle.

And if you think it sassy that I created my own Award, just consider it a grown up and virtual version of a friendship bracelet."

Cute right?

Pop on over to these great great ladies who are some of my newer and yet oh so addictive reads. Please tell them I say Hi!

A Mothers Ramblings

High Heels & Huntin' Boots

tinkalicious

The Crazy Baby Mama

Happy Sunday!

Mwah

Gossip Baby

evil
hurtful
mean
caddy
cruel
naughty
indulgent
ridiculous



Why?
Why would grown women indulge in frivolous gossip.

Seriously, the PTA is a strange entity.

I don't care ...

who bakes the worst cake
who sells the most magazines
who is late with their dues
who said what
what her daughter did
who is kidding who?

Seal you lips.

Get over yourself.

Jump out of the rumour mill.

Don't feed the beast.

Be a better person.

Take the high road.

Set an example for your kids.

Love and respect your neighbours and friends.

Shhhh

Silence is golden.

Don't be a Gossip Baby.

Men vs Woman

Courtesy of My Hubby, the golfer....a little love he received in his inbox.

Take a peek? Do you think all women sometimes ummmm over think?

HER DIARY

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much. I asked him what was wrong. He said, 'Nothing.' I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you, too.' When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. To my surprise, he responded to my caress, and we made love. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep. I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.


HIS DIARY

I made three triple bogies today, but at least I got laid.

Author Unknown but appreciated.

Carpool Conversations

One of my many jobs out here in the Suburbs is the never ending carpool.

To swimming, gymnastics, choir, track or even birthday parties it seems like I'm always hauling a load of wee ones to some incredibly important social event.

One of the wonderful things about being the invisible driver in the front seat? The conversations overheard between groups of 7-10 year old girls...

Hey we have new twins at our school. Their Mom was mad because they were put in different classes.

Did you know there are two different types of twins??

Yep. Fraternal and Nocturnal.

These two were fraternal because they are a boy and a girl.

Hmm...wonder what a nocturnal twin is?

Do you have a Rock?

Someone you can go to when you are down.
Who makes you see the glass is half full when you are sure it is half empty.
Who helps you smile through the tears.
A shoulder to cry on.
The person you run to in good times and bad.
A best friend.
A confidant.
The only one who gets who "you" are.
Who laughs at your jokes when no one else thinks they are funny.
Someone who has your back.
Who will give you at pat on the back or a kick in the pants.
Someone who will help you celebrate your victories.
Stand by you through illness and tough times.
Someone who had decided they will stand by you no matter what.

I do.

Thank you Hubby for being my rock.

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person." - Mignon McLaughlin

"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides." -David Viscott


Happy Anniversary my love.

Bras and Tears

Bra Shopping has been a solo endeavor for me for more than the last 20 years .

Pawing through little bits of lace and sateen looking for the perfect piece of miracle wear that would convert my tiny cleavage into an asset to be proud of.

I have always expected great things from the bras I brought home. I have needed these frilly little numbers to do everything from hide budding cleavage from boys, to push and pad (clearly looking to attract the boys by this point). Later I needed working bras to nurse with, and now just something comfortable and still a little sexy...please!! Although I have had high expectations from my lingerie, I really can't say I have dwelled, fretted or concerned myself when it was time to make a new purchase. Until now.

Why worry now? Why is it different?

Well things have changed.

Now I am helping my daughter pick out her very first bra. (I have decided to rebel against the words training bra...what a yuck name, what are we "training" them to do anyway?)

As we head into the cool little department store with the cutie pre-teen girls clothes I can see my BlueEyed Girl eyeing up the frilly camisoles, sports bras and wee little bras. Being the uber cool Mom that I am I jump on the moment to ever so nonchalantly suggest we grab a couple to take back into the change room with us.

She eagerly agrees.

We select a few while my 7 year old daughter dances and twirls to the music behind us.

Off to the change room.

Shocking. My 10 year old daughter wants my help trying them on.

I gamely help her do up the clasp on her first pick. Biting the inside of my cheek so the tears threatening to fill my eyes will stall. My baby, in a bra. Sigh.

10 minutes later and we are checking out...3 baby bras in a bag and one pre-teen holding my hand.

Bra shopping is not what it used to be.

I'm Not Ready!

For later bedtimes.
Requests for e-mail accounts.

Facebook is not an option.
Parties that go until 10pm?
Talk of boys with blushing faces.
Training bras?
PG13 movies.

IPods with her music.
Lip gloss (okay chap stick cause I won't let her)

Boy Bands.

What happened to:
Bedtime stories?
Holding hands with her sister in the mall ?
Pink clothes from head to toe?
Kissing boo boos better?
Elmo?

That baby smell. Sigh.

I swear to you, it seems they were all here yesterday.

Will someone please stop the clock?

Time is passing way to fast.