wasting away a sleepless moring

So it's 6 am. I'm having another morning where the silent, nonexistent, imaginary alarm woke me up at 415 and going back to sleep would only turn me into a zombie for the rest of the day. What is it about trying to sneak in one more REM cycle before you alarm actually goes off that dooms you to become the office's hot mess. SO instead I have decided to listen to my dogs snore, the neighborhood birds wake up, and watch the sunrise out my window behind me.

I was going to spend this morning being somewhat productive on a side project I've been working on. No reason to waste the twilight hours right?

Then, instead, I read a few cracked articles, caught up with Whitney, added to 2 of my burning man lists (more on that soon) and removed some of my follows from bloglovin. Sorry but my "pageview" and part of your follow count is actually just me skipping over your blog on my way to something I do care about. I figure I'm not helping either of us.

Now my actual alarm is getting ready to go off and I should start my morning routine... again trying to avoid hot mess status. Because the sun is up I figure I should get this 90 degree day started. Which is another thing I could rant about for a while... I thought I lived in a valley, what is with a week of 100ish temps. I'm tired of being hot and cranky, and even more tired of everyone else being hot and cranky. Now take a moment to realize that is coming from the girl who is willingly going to camp in the desert for a week in August.

But there is quite a difference you see... in the desert they embrace the hot mess!

The San Diego Airport Story

"what do you think I should write about"
"me"
"what about you"
"That I'm cute and cuddly and adorable. I have three dogs, and an auntie and a grandma and a whole ginormous family" (Yes, ginormous is in her vocabulary)

This was my suggestion from P today. As we sit in the San Diego airport. Its funny how life imitates art as art imitates life. As she said this all I could say is, "that is just about all I do talk about, love." My good little traveler is continuing to read as I type which is not usually the case. She's much more likely to be watching netflix, creating epic sagas with her mounds of unusual characters in her room, or splashing in the pools with the dogs. It's a little funny to listen to her read the words as they pour out of my head.

Usually we are not sitting in an airport with 4 hours to go before our flight. Even though this week (that I'll recap in a separate post) has been a very busy one, and totally worth it. I could do without 4 hours at the airport. People watching does make it easier.

Airports have always been an interesting place to me, so much transition, so many people mildly anxious about their next step, about all the things that travel brings. New places, new foods, new sights, or smells. So many ready to go home, much like us, you can see it in their faces. Too much sun, maybe also a few too many cocktails. Recovering from days of rich food and super soft beds lead to feeling a little dazed while awaiting our boarding call. Looking for the comforts of home on the other side of this flight.

killing time

Among the typical airport chaos The World Cup is raging on behind me. While I'm not a soccer fan, the whole process is interesting. I'm glad so see the US doing well, and so many cultures brought together. The tiny airport bar, usually only frequented by day drinkers and business travelers that need use of their outlets, is currently standing room only as fans shout, gasp, and sigh with each turn of events. It makes me want to be more passionate about it, but really I'll probably just continue to admire those dedicated fans and read the recaps tomorrow online.

I think I like airports because of the people they bring together. So many faces, going so many different destinations. A million story-lines to be fulfilled. I'm really a little surprised there aren't more stories that involve airports and their travelers, it all seems so full of potential.

Stressor

A dear friend and fellow blogger mentioned my recent sabbatical over drinks on Friday. This is something that has been on my mind quite a bit.
I want to post and it's not for lack of words on pages for me, it's that this has never been a venting space, well at least not without some form of resolution in the works. Lately resolutions have not been my strong point. I start a post, begin to dissect the day to day, and that triggers the stressors of late that cause me to vent. Usually these bitch sessions are short lived and can be edited out but these ones are longer than usual. These ones have been ramblers that make very little sense and are caused by things I have little control over. Which in turn bothers me even more.
I realize that so much of blogging is about bonding and sharing lives and seeing others' lives but I never want this to be anyone elses' burden.So please be patient with me as I continue to edit out the blah and fine happier words. I hope to be back soon and may even be a guest on Beyond The Clothing soon.

Hope everyone is well. Tell me how you relieve stress.

Sunday Social | A little walk down my TV's past

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

 

These are all about TV shows from the past!

1. What was your favorite TGIF show?

I think Full House is my official favorite, with Step by Step as a close second 

2. What was your favorite Saturday morning TV show?

 I don't remember many Saturday shows, I think I was always itching to get outside instead... I do remember being VERY young and watching Mickey Mousercise 

3. Mickey Mouse Club or Kids Incorporated.?
 MMC! Little Justin, Little Ryan, Little Brittney was even cute then.

4. Zack Morris or AC Slater?
Zack Morris... Always have liked a bit of a bad boy and I totally wanted to be Kelly Kapowski

5. Which show would you love to see remade? (For example, Boy Meets World is back as Girl Meets World)
I really love that Boy Meets World is coming back. I think it would be fun to see the Full House group together again... Stephanie raising 3 boys? 

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above, and find a collection of other blogs to go visit.

Helping Daddy turn 65 with some love for Canva

*I have not been compensated for this post and all opinions are my own*

This adorable invitation went out to 50 of my dads closest friends last week:

When mom asked for help finding a fun invitation I asked a very busy friend, and when it got close to crunch time, I went to find my own solution. I looked up one of the tools I found at my work conference and decided to put it to good use. Canva is a wonderful free resource for photo editing. It is no Photoshop in it's capabilities, but if you don't own Photoshop or just aren't terribly interested in getting extreme with it, this may be a perfect site to use. I've found it a great resource for blog images, editing photos for Facebook and Twitter, and now inviting our family and friends to celebrate.

So Canva is so sweet and simple, they even offer wonderful premium elements for only $1 each.
Here are the basics:

That's a very rough basic run-down, and with each image I tend to spend lots of time tweaking fonts, altering sizes, and changing elements. It is a great resource for any blogger looking to spice up their blog images.

What is your favorite tool for blogging?

recover, relieve, recooperate | Sunday social

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. Who do you call when you need to vent?
Depends on what I'm venting about, usually my mom, unless I know she's stressed out about something else, then my poor boyfriend gets to listen.

 

2. Where do you go when you need alone time?
 Usually my porch out back. P is good about playing by herself when I ask her too so I can relax alone. I'm also a sucker for a glass of wine and bit to eat at a crowded place where I can be invisible.

I really adore our back deck

3. What is your favorite alone time activity?
Sometimes I just sit, and watch the world go by. I do a lot of reading, and puzzles too. I love a nice hike when I can get away. 


 

4. What is something we should all stop and read right now?
In Blogland: Beyond the Clothing
Physically: Lust Lizards of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore

 

5. Who do you wish would read your blog that doesn't already? Family? Celeb?

I always appreciate new readers, but I don't necessarily want to know who is reading all the time from my real world... wouldn't want to censor myself 

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend.  

Taking advice from Crazy Eyes

"sometimes the feeling inside me get messy like dirt, then I like to clean things. Those things are like my thoughts, and clean my mind..."

I couldn't help but to rewind and get this quote down. It feels so close to home, so realistic. There are days my brain gets all muddled, my thoughts sloppy and, my personal state of sweet enthusiasm is lost in self-doubt and frustration. This will not be a clean post, it will not be spotless and refined. This post will be muddled.

Work is clear, well the basics of work is clear. My 9 to 5 checklist is filling out just fine, I'm accomplishing my daily tasks and meeting my goals. I've been recently approached with a consulting opportunity, which makes things all blurry. In one way, I really should take the opportunity. Start to make a name for myself, show off my skills, open future doors. But then I could fail... I could be less good than I think. I could be incapable of helping someone else do what I do well.

Home is clear in the daily tasks, checking things off, dinner, dishes, laundry and floors. The easy stuff is being kept up with. Now it's about planning a back lawn for the dogs, getting my garden planted and a yard sale organized. Everything else is half done. My desk isn't organized, the garage could use some work, the deck should be refinished.So many dirty little corner tasks that would make me much happier to be done, but for now they wait.

Family, friends, coworkers are clear on the surface. I text mom every day, keep up with friends each week, and help coworkers appropriately. I could do more. I could go sit with mom more, really talk to her. Friends deserve face time, not just Instagram comments. Coworkers deserve attention, focused attention, not just enough to satisfy them.

P is clear, she does her homework and her chores. We make dinner together, she earns her Netflix time. Again the basics get done. The day to day is fine. Then there seems to be something missing. We're not painting or drawing or doing cartwheels on the front lawn. We're not getting any deeper than the neat clear waters of a good kid, and a decent mom.

Where's my scuba gear, how do I get beyond the clear, clean top layer. Where do I go to find the dirt, and start to clean it. Today I start to clean, from the inside, today will be a day of affirmations, and taking notes from wonderful columns like The Other B Word, and finding inspiration in people like Tiana. If you need to come find me, please bring a mop.

"and you have to start from the inside out, or you step on the clean"

- Crazy Eyes, Orange is the New Black

Let's air some pet peeves.... | Sunday Social

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. What is your biggest driving pet peeve?
People that go less than the posted speed limit... It's California, its beautiful, the roads are fine, just go.

2. What is your biggest blogging pet peeve?
When bloggers obviously "phone it in". I once read a product review that was almost completely copied from their website. There wasn't a personal word on the post.

3. What is your biggest shopping pet peeve?
Uninterested staff. I don't want you to fawn over me, but you could pretend to appreciate your product as much as I do.

4. What is your biggest general pet peeve?
Rudeness and inconsideration. I work in hospitality so I think I'm more perceptive to how far a little kindness goes. 

5. What is your most irrational fear?

Being injured at home and needing my daughter to help me. I've never been injured at home, nor to I take unnecessary risks at home, but the idea of Peyton having to call 911 for me just makes my skin crawl

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend. 

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High five for Sunday Social! (on Monday... again)

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. 5 songs you'll listen to the rest of your life 
Jessica -The Allman Brothers
Faithfully -Journey
Let it Be -Beatles
Crave - Flight Facilities
She Keeps me Warm -Mary Lambert 

2. 5 things on your bucket list
Visit Barcelona
Skydiving
Burning Man
Be part of a flash mob
Be his wife for 50 years

3. 5 celeb you'd love to hang out with for a day
Anna Kendrick!!!!
Justin Timberlake
Kristen Chenoworth
Ellen
J-Law 

4. 5 things you always carry in your purse
Phone
Headphones
ID
Gum
Business cards


5. 5 books on your reading list
Divergent
The Serpent of Venice
The Son of a Certain Woman
The Antelope in the Living Room
Happy to be Alive, Because
 

6. Share the last 5 pictures on your phone

Our Easter Sunday in pictures

Easter Egg Hunter

Our Sweet Little Roses

mommy getting her coffee

This is how we let her go to breakfast

Cutest Easter Cake Ever!

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend. 

The 5-day countdown to easter!

Are you aware that Easter is only a few days away!? That's crazy to me. Granted my 6 year old is getting more skeptical all the time, starting to ask questions that make me think she might be too smart for her own good. Regardless as long as she plays along I will too, so really, I need to get prepared for Easter.

From Saturday's festivities

I'm not a fully crunchy momma, but certainly picky about food that we have in the house. We occasionally stop for french fries or froze yogurt. Her papa lets her have soda, and grandma takes her out for pancakes. However, we also eat fruits and veggies, every day, and  buy or grow organic as often as possible. I just don't want her to be the sugar fiend that has become such a norm for kids. And was a norm for me.

So when holidays like Easter roll around I cringe, all I see is calories, sugars and artificial ingredients pouring out of baskets and slapped into little plastic eggs. We attended a community hunt on Saturday that provided just that, jelly beans, laffy taffy, and bubble gum filled the really cute eggs she collected. Out of the 25 eggs she collected there was 1 non candy item. A mini yo-yo that broke when she tried to use it. Did I mention Whole Foods was a major sponsor of the event? Anyone else see the contradiction there?

So I have vowed to make P's eggs candy free this year. She received plenty on Saturday and there are so many other great options!
Here is my top 5 list of things (other than candy) to include in your eggs this year:
Stickers - We found coloring pages that come with stickers at target. I cut up the stickers and put them in eggs so she can add the stickers as she finds them.

Puzzle Pieces - this is a great way to pack many eggs. She can collect the pieces and put the puzzle together until she has them all.
Temporary Tattoos - This is a great spin-off from stickers and gives her something to take to school on Monday and show off.
Nail Polish/makeup - she's at that age where cheap sparkly nail polish and flavored chapsticks are a big hit. Finding mini sizes keeps it easy to use, and quick to use-up

source

Coins - nickles, dimes, quarters and pennies... anything to make that piggy bank heavier, because Yay money!

I also love getting creative while filling her basket (which happens to be a tote bag this year) and away from sugar coma options. We're big gardeners, it's one of the things I love about summer, so with this being just around the corner I love to give her things to help out.

This kit from target is fantastic, gloves, shovels a rake and water bottle. Plus an adorable apron and it all packs into a tote to keep it organized.

We're also including some new flower seeds, her very own tomato plant, and a DVD from Strawberry Shortcake: Bloomin' Berry Gardens. Because you can't break theme right?

What is going in your Easter baskets this year? Any tips for getting away from the sugar craze that seems to plague these holidays?

Putting my Best of the Best foward | Sunday Social

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. What was your best birthday?
26 was pretty epic. Honey bought me tickets to Armin Van Buren in San Francisco and we stayed the night in the city, ate way too much great food. Really a perfect weekend!

2. What was your best vacation?
At 17 I went on a 2 week trip with my school, to tour Western Europe. I didn't know anyone and there were only a few kids from my school. It was an enlightening experience.

3. What is the best date you've ever been on?
My guy's 30th birthday. We spend the day with family, then got amazing sandwiches at our favorite deli, Guigni's. We had a divine dinner at Bottega courteous of a gift certificate. Then went to dance at Ruby Skye with 15 of our closest friends. It was 18 hours of perfection. 

4. What is the best movie(quality) you've seen?
I think Earth is the most beautiful and stunning movie I've ever seen

5. What is the best TV show ending of all time?

When Rachel got off the Plane! 

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend. 

And then we all went POP

Last Saturday was one of my favorite parties of the year. Skills presents Pop 2014 The Dream   this massive event brings tens of thousands of music lovers together, for a night of glorious dancing, new connections and stunning lights. I would even call it a little Crazy.

There are many negative stereotypes and unflattering mainstream views of the idea of a rave. But in reality, there is something ethereal about events like this rave, party, edm event,whatever you want to call them. In my experience they are a blessed look at the true beauty in all people.

Everyone I met was offering bracelets, sharing stories, passing around water and checking on their fellow dancers. I have new instafriends, tweeps to follow and fan pages to keep up with. I am only now getting fully rehydrated and remembering each and every detail.

There were many things I want to dive into about this party, the memorizing music, awesome light show, and fantastic people... but there weren't the words. I could give you a play by play, my favorite song from each act, I can try to recall all the people we met, the thrill of having a VIP wristband and the wonder of getting to see some of my favorite people. I kept trying to find the words... and then went to visit the event page and found this:

I think this very well spoken young man hit the nail on the head. He speaks to why we attend these parties. It's about feeling accepted and fitting in, no matter who you are. People come with good intentions, people come to dance and laugh, people just come out. It's a wonderful beautiful sense of camaraderie. I feel blessed to be part of such a gracious crowd.

Okay I'll leave you with one song so you can understand just how awesome it all was. Here was the first tracks (one of my favorites) played by the headliner Dash Berlin:

Twitter-pated for Sunday Social

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

Next Weeks Questions:

1. When did you join twitter?
April 2009 (yes I had to go look) while serving on a Jury.

2. Who is your favorite non-celeb to follow?
My very dear friend Matty! He cracks me up

3. Who is your favorite celeb to follow?
Ricky Gervais because he's also hilarious.

4. Have you ever had a celeb respond to a tweet?
 Nope

5. What is your favorite store/brand to follow?
Chandon USA: bubbles, so many bubbles:

6. Give us three tweeps we should be following.
 Post Secret a beautiful look at the secrets we keep

Amanda Palmer: A beautiful artistic soul

The Daily Tay - a great blogger and funny tweeter twitterer tweet poster

What's your favorite twitter account?

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend.

Earn the Burn: This is Yogabitch

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I want to introduce you to someone I make snarky comments to several times a week. She's calm and encouraging, and gives great constructive criticism. Yet is a perfect example of why I don't go to the gym.

could she be anymore obnixoulsy supportive?

This is who I affectionately call Yogabitch. I'm slowly getting back into shape and the Wii U Fit has been a big part of my progress. Being a single mom hinders my ability to go out for a run, take a class, and my single mom budget hinders my ability to afford the gym membership plus daycare (is $10 per dropoff really necessary?)

So my most common workout happens at home, on the WiiU balance board, with Yogabitch. She instructs and encourages, and makes it so easy for me to take out my personal frustrations on. There's something so annoying about Yoga being hard for me... is that just me?  Stretching shouldn't be difficult, yet I find myself sore, sweaty, and being judgingly encouraged by Yogabitch.

It's funny to me how one calm voice, of a computer animated woman, can get under my skin. But I feel it has much to do with me facing my own inadequacies more than her being incorrect. However, my inadequacies taken out on a computer generated, non feeling personality, makes things just a little bit easier. She gives me a chance to be angry and get my frustration of daily duldrums out. Besides Yoga should get easier at some point right?

What helps you work out?

 Does calmness help you when you're frustrated?

My first and Best work family

What is it about certain work places that just make everyone seem like family. In 2005 I took a weekend job at a hotel, while I went to school in San Francisco during the week week. Just a weekend job to earn a little cash to pay for my Starbucks addiction.

The hotel's goal was to provide a "home away from home" which it did well, however some people got a little too comfortable. Like the group that brought a case of beer to the lobby, put their bare feet up and proceeded to camp out there until midnight. We often had people with far to little clothes on. And guests who experiences a few too many wineries that day. We saw highschool proms and were the headquarters for 1500 runners of a local marathon.

We had couples fight and want separate rooms, we had traveling colleagues who wanted connecting rooms and we had a professional sports team who moved in for over a month and created pure chaos. I helped parents give their kids with Easter baskets and letters from Santa. I helped husbands surprise their wives from 3 states away, and boyfriends get down on one knee for the ever epic "yes".

Among all the celebrations, the madness, the events, there was something so much more memorable for me. Among the smiling faces that made your reservations and called a cab for dinner, ensured your wake up calls were set, solved every travel dilemma, met every preference. Those smiling faces who were yelled at, blamed for lost luggage, and expected to do the impossible. Those smiling faces, are now these smiling faces.

and they're some of the most epic souls I have ever known. The 5 people in this picture haven't been together in over 7 years. It was wonderful to hear about new positions, new kids, and new spouses. This team came together this weekend to bid a proper farewell to one of our own. One of our sisters from work, one of the girls who worked with us to manage these crazy nights, long days, and all of the travelers. 

This group pulled together to check in dozens of people in no time, we solved problems and kept our sanity. We learned, together, to meet all brand standards and then take a verbal beating. We listened to people who were upset with their room, their delayed flight, their lost bags, or their drunk girlfriend. We listened, made it better, and sent them on their way. There's something about having a work family that makes it a little easier to go in every day. This family made it easier to leave my daughter at home and go back to work. In the end these people made it all better, fixed me and then sent me on my way.

Do you have a work family?

Do your coworkers make your job easier?

Monday Social?

This weekend encoutered a scheduling fail (oops!) So I give you Sunday Monday Social This week!

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. What is your ideal way to relax?
A glass of wine while sitting on the deck.

2. Where is your favorite place to be?
Outside, just about anywhere. Home is such a pretty place most of the time it's hard to not want to be outside. 

My Backporch // St Helena // Downtown Napa

3. Who do you consider your biggest role model?
 My mom. She's taught me so much about how to live a life that doesn't make you crazy. Keeping calm, letting things go, and allowing yourself a cocktail and a steak are some of her key pointers.

She's a darn good grandma too

4. What does your life look like in 3 years?
Princess will be 9 - ugh I'm not sure I want to think about it

 

3 ........ 6 ......

5. If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?
I might re-think the terrible bob I got in 8th grade though. 
(sorry no picture of that one!)

6. What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far?

Choosing to raise P alone, and being ok. I don't think I thought I could do it, but I have.

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend.   

A link share due to distraction

I'm supposed to be writing. I put Tuesday nights aside just to write.  Usually I'm good about it. 2 to 3 posts, formatted at the least. Tonight isn't that. Tonight I'm listening to Orange is the New Black and reading some of my favorites. I'm "supposed" to be writing. Which is funny. Like many, this is a hobby. I work 45 hours a week, I'm a full time mom, I work in things like exercise, friendship, cooking and cleaning. I try new recipes, vacuum my floors, and walk the dogs most nights. On Tuesdays I hide out with the DJ and usually write. Tonight choose to share some of this weeks favorite posts:

Erin went to Serendipity - yes the bakery, from the movie. This link is mostly about jealousy really. mmm it all looks so good.

Taylor shared some of her doubts  - I fully commit to my anxiety being based in "reasonable caution" but that is really quite a crock of a crap so her story hit home a bit with me.

Kari posted about making new friends in our 20s -Let's be honest, after college there seems to be some sort of secret handshake that no one told us. She really hits the nail on the head about the lack of options.

Helene just got back from Vegas: Always read the Vegas reviews ladies, they'll help immensely with tips and tricks your next trip. Helene also became a meme this week - uneducated, but amusing none the less.

What is a blog post that got you distracted this week?

A Tale of Threes - Sunday Social

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and go follow any one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

I'm joining Ashley and Neely with their link-up today for Sunday Social! Visit one of their pages to find the full listed of linked up blogs that participated this week!

1. What are the top 3 things you can't go a day without doing?
drinking coffee, laughing, checking my phone 

2. What are 3 things that scare you the most?
losing someone I love, missing out on a great opportunity, not living honestly

3. What are 3 places you want to see before you kick the bucket?
The Tulip Fields in the Netherlands, Half-Dome in Yosemite, 

1 | 2 | 3

4. What are 3 movies you will always love?
Dirty Dancing,  The Family Stone, White Christmas

5. What are your 3 favorite current songs?

All of Me (Dash Berlin Rework), Baby Come Back (Kill Paris), and Tennis Court (Lorde)

As always I hope you participate with us, I love reading these.  If you repost please be sure to link up with the girls above. Part of my Sunday morning is now dedicated to couch time while reading all of these! Have a wonderful weekend.  

Have a wonderful Sunday!

I can't wait for Summer because.... A link up!

Hi friends, before we get started, will you do me a favor and check out one of my social media sites today; please and thank you... links in the pretty circles to the right ->

Hello Friends,

I'm jumping into a great link up that makes me so happy to start thinking about the wonderful warmth of Summer. Can we start off without this song.... No I don't think so:




1. Dresses: All dresses. I love summer mornings - Shower, hair, makeup, dress, sandals, accessories and go. No need for the dozens of sweater/scarf/boots/pants options to choose from.

2. VEGGIES! Daddy built me gorgeous Veggie beds last year, that turn a great crop. Napa also hosts a bi-weekly Farmers Market and the farm stand BIG Ranch Farms near my house opens with a fantastic bounty of fresh produce. I'm so excited to get back to diving in to a giant tomato salad.

MMM these will be so full soon!

3. Grilling! Time to fire up the BBQ again for dinner, steaks, garlic bread and squash all on the grill which means no dirty pans. Add paper plates and sit outside and the house remains wonderfully clean.

4. Napa City Nights : this is one of my favorite ways to spend a Friday night. We take a huge pile of hoops, a few bottles of wine, and hang out in the grass of a downtown park to listen to live music from local bands.

4. Little Hooper at NCN

5. Suuhhummer Niaaaahiights those long hot nights, where you can sit outside just about anywhere and enjoy the cool air.Can't wait to make use of every porch, patio and other alfresco drinking dining options in Napa.

6. Swim Lessons - Little princess comes home exhausted and proud of herself - two things every parent dreams of! And she looks so darn cute doing it:

7. Day Drinking: there's something about summer that  makes it perfectly acceptable to crack your first beer or mini sparkling bottle at 10am. 

8. Finally it will bring me one step closer to my first trip "home" to Burning Man, and enjoying the 15someodd fundraisers to help get Opulent Temple (the sound camp we'll be with) get there too.

Please visit Helene and  Taylor to grab a button and link up with them,  this is a great way to let us daydream our way to warmer days and nights.

What's your favorite thing about summer?

something our kids are missing out on

We talk so much about what our kids have being the new generation. The technology, knowledge, possibilities, the same sex marriage. What we don't talk about as much is what they don't get to have. This was posted by a friend in a group of moms I belong to on Facebook: 

So an old man just asked if when my kids get to the age of playing hide and go seek am I going to let them? ... My answer was I'd watch them play. He said did your parents watch you? I said no. He then asked me to think about when I have grandkids and what the world might be by then?

The Moms (myself included) responded with a grand general consensus. Our kids don't play out front without parents. They don't go to the neighbor's unless they are escorted. They don't go to the park alone. This all from a group of hundreds of women, living in Napa. A city with a crime rate well below average. Several of us live in small neighborhoods, next to good schools, where we may not know our neighbors names, but are friendly.


This whole conversation broke my heart a little.The days of unsupervised roller hockey at the park down the street, running through the neighborhood without supervision, having limits of "when the street lights come one" or "I'll holler for you when dinner's ready" are things our kids may never know.


Our kids will face bigger challenges than we ever saw. How do we manage give them enough freedom to learn who they are. I lived down the block from a school and about 3 blocks from a large park. I knew every kid within a 3 block radius.

The park was the scene of my first time climbing up a slide. The first time I skated backwards on my Roller-blades, the first time I fell out of a tree and my first bee-sting. The school was where I learned to shoot a free-throw and archery, climbed on the roof in hide and seek and the scene of the first (and one of the only) punches I ever threw.

It scares me to think that we may be limiting their opportunities to learn from their peers, and take chances. I did try stupid things but usually only once. I learned a lot from those kids, and consider many of them dear friends to this day. There's something to be said for allowing our children the opportunity to make good decisions, or at least learn from bad ones, but I can't seem to find where that falls in line with keeping them safe in our ever changing world.

Do you (or would you) let your children play with the same level of supervision you were given?

What is one thing your parents would have KILLED you for doing, that taught you a powerful lesson?