in my purse:

pull-ups
wipes
tiny board books
used tissues
random trash picked up during our travels

...these are the small items in my purse that remind me you are NEAR
even while away each day amidst our daily routine.


This post is a part of the Six Word Friday's weekly over at Making Things Up. #sixwordsfriday
SWF: "Near"

Nyiah.

this is nyiah

she's my #1 gal

she's also my little cousin

this girl is amazing...she was a preemie

(I dreamed of her birth)

she's now 10 years old...vibrant, yet sensitive

this picture is from her try-out at BSFA

eventually she will become a teenie bopper and all that stuff I was

every time I see her I'm in awe - It's crazy how time fly's

A wordless Wednesday Post

...with words - sometimes I break the rules, sorry.

cheezee

...not cheese

a Wordless Wednesday post

rainbow.

 

...there something about a rainbow that restores my faith...in a fluffy sort of way...

weekend fab-u-las-ity!

pewwwl!
i think if my cousins saw this picture here they'd come after me!
wait, my one crazy cousin isn't on this picture - so it's safe!
ewwwwl flashback old school picture!
look at us!
look at my aunt's kitchen cabinets!
my cousin (tall dude, top left) flew into town this past weekend and we all got together.
to say that we had a good time would be an understatement - we had an awesome time together!
it was like back in the day when we were all kids...except most of the conversation was about our kids!
i loved it!
it was fabulous!

Vegas Bound...'the lost post!"

Fine Dining, Travel, Sight Seeing!

Bellagio. I love this garden (It's changed since my last visit)

The Wynn

Revolution Bar & Nightclub - Beatles inspired

Entrance to the Hoover Dam - Statue dedicated to those who helped build the dam and lost their lives

View from the Hoover Dam

Scale Model of the Hoover Dam - So Awesome!

Above are a few photos from my trip to Vegas, Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday.

I apologize, I got extremely lazy and didn't have much time to crop all the photos taken...so I posted a few. Enjoy!

p.s. Shout out to the tour guy "Steve" a quirky but interesting character! He made the Hoover Dam tour extremely interesting with his guided and often off course facts! 

If you ever visit Vegas you should definitely try to get him as your tour guide.

Nanna, are we famous now?

Nanna and the grand kids caught strolling about on a early fall morning.

***this photo submission is part of Wordless Wednesday***

it's also my "happy view" - and reminds me of that moment of peace 

that can sometimes happen

i adore...

this monster

[my son]

the place I often visited as a little girl

[Enchanted Forest]

our "time out" area

[a seating area in my house]

this morning moment

[packing and labeling lunch]

this wall

[it's a reflection of home]

Wordless Wednesday: TwoTired Monsters

and now I know...

after days,weeks, and years of patronizing Ikea, I realized they have a family parking area;

after days, weeks, and months of parking in the family parking area, I realize they have a bicycle parking area;
and yes, I was in awe. 

Let's just say that my brain isn't as swift as it used to be! 

and so now I know and I'M SO ON TOP OF THAT! 
[but seriously, I'm not riding my bike to Ikea - wishful thinking but it's not happening w/ the boy]

Morning Conversation Between Three

Son:

Elmo peeze (please)

Banket, banket (blanket, blanket)

Mom:

You want Elmo & your blanket?

Son:

Yessss!

Mom:

Okay here you are

A few minutes later while sitting on the bed, my son looks at Elmo...

Son:

Elmo hug…Elmo give kiss

Son to Mom…via Elmo:

Muuuawh

Son:

Me kiss!

Son to Mom:

Mmmmuuahwwh

Mom:

Thank you ‘E’ and thank you Elmo. 

‘E’ and Elmo loves mommy?

Son:

Yesssssss! Yesssss!

...He Played Many

As the nursery rhyme goes:

This old man, he played one;
He played knick-knack on my thumb.
With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
Give a dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

Well this old tub (pictured above)

he played many;

He played bath time/wash up from birth till shall we say

two weeks ago (21 months of age)!

With a knick-knack, paddy whack,

Give a dog a bone;

This old tub came rolling home.

This old tub, he also played slide;

He played knick-knack on my ottoman, floor, & couch!

With a knick-knack, paddy whack,

Give a dog a bone;

This old tub always came rolling home.

This old tub, he played and he's lived his life;

He played knick-knack many a days.

With a knick-knack, paddy whack,

Give a dog a bone;

This old tub left home this past weekend and took a trip to the recycling bin

No more confined baths.

No more throwing the tub on the couch in super hero mode.

No more sliding the tub off of the ottoman and across the floor banging it into my walls.

That old tub now has a new home.

Paper Cuts

"Bound to Be Free," Peter Callesen

I've always loved the work of Peter Callesen. Often I'll go onto his website to see if he has done anything new or to see if one of his installations will be in a neighboring town (wishful thinking). I wanted to share one of his works but there are just so many that I enjoy. Nevertheless, you can visit his website here.

"Dead Angel," Peter C

Cozy Goodness

There's something about the look and feel of a clean, cozy, organic space that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside but, then makes me do a double take because I now have a wild monster (toddler) in my house!

 
BUT 

if you'd like to see what I'm talking about then hop over to Apartment Therapy where all the cool spaces are and check out Cecilia & Roope's Hilltop House in Barcelona, Spain (Wow, Spain...only in my dreams).

Cecilia & Roope's Hilltop house> here

Oh! The Places Your Sneakers Will Go

 Have you heard? Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers just got "kid classified".  

There's a new collection celebrating everyone's favorite doctor - Dr. Seuss! These Dr. Seuss inspired tennis or sneakers (take your pick) are available for children young and old and  feature characters and artwork from your favorites - including "The Cat in the Hat" and "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish." and more.

Oh! The Places Your Sneakers Will Go

Available at Converse! Grab a pair or two!

Happy Fiday!

Taking a moment to wish everyone a safe and joyous weekend break. Below are a few things that crossed my path this weekend.  Enjoy!!!

• After all the Lebron James mania (Did you join in? Be honest!), see what folks in Maryland are talking about here or what folks throughout the nation are talking about here, 
• Oooh, these driftwood sticks are too awesome and make me giddy. See for yourself here,
• If it has been hot in your hood cool down with one of these,
• Interested in a new book for the kid(dies)? Check out these,
• Looking for that last minute weekend get away? Then make your way to Baltimore, MD and take part in the fabulous art scene (<---click that a way). I bet my first born you'll enjoy your visit...okay not my first born but, I'll bet you something!

Happy Weekend Ya'll!!!! 

p.s. I  HEART this...do you? 

Happy 4th of July

What do you get when you put together a few toddles, a few in-betweens, some teens, and a couple of old farts (adults)? You get family comedy!

That will be the basis of my holiday end! The family is planning to end the holiday weekend with an impromptu trip to the beach! So it's going to be a water shoe, wet and wacky (not to mention HOT) kind of weekend! But first I am going to start off the weekend by going to a fancy garage sale, and then to a fabulous cook out that a dear friend is having, church on Sunday and possibly a pet parade (no seriously), and lastly the beach!

What are your plans for the holiday weekend? Do tell!!! I’ll wait! I’m listening…spill the beans…but seriously whatever you do be safe and enjoy!

Before you head out for the weekend, check out a few of my favorite finds this week…

Still loving M.J

D.C and shopping…what more could one say (it’s always a winner) 

How about a scavenger hunt…in green while shopping

It’s cool but seriously my watch doesn’t provide for this such as this…

I’d rather have someone throw his shoes and socks at me while driving or have a back seat meltdown

and when all is said and done…stay green and send a note electronically here

Etsy Finds

I’m so excited about my new Etsy finds.  I’ve been spending way too much time on Etsy the past three weeks…it’s so addicting. There are way too many great designers out there!

It all started out with this print (thanks Running Mommy):

I Am A Child of God | Persimmon & Pink 

(I purchased one for my kid and later another for a colleagues kid)

and later, these:

Hello Good Looking | Persimmon & Pink     

Our Daily Bread | Persimmon & Pink  

and then:

Home | mi vida bonita  
Modern Kitchen Art Print | Oddles of Color    

the ABC’s | Honey & Bloom 
Keep Calm, Carry On |cut & past print 
3 Poms |  Sweet Poms

and the list doesn’t  stop there!

Origami birds, toes, and a hint of sunshine

What a Happy View!!!

An image by Chesea Chew found on "beauty in everything". 

 

What image represents your “Happy View”?

remembering the time

...when I screamed as I moon walked across the kitchen floor, thinking about the woman in the mirror and how sometimes  they really don't care about us. It all gave me butterflies! It was just human nature being a smooth criminal (not literally)! To say the least...here I am at the break of dawn thinking about how he, his life, and the memory of his music continues to rock my world!

(NOTE: music player does not start automatically. Please feel free to listen or had these favorites to your playlist.) 

 R.I.P.: Michael Jackson 1958 - 2009