Quote (as seen on Soulemama blog today)

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"-  Mary Oliver

Weekend Wedding

Saturday night my husband's oldest and closest friend was married (seriously, they have been friends since they were 7). This was the second marriage for both and they chose the simply elegant and beautifully casual Cactus and Tropicals for the venue. It is a working greenhouse and nursery that grows tropical non-native (obviously!) plants, it was gorgeous. My husband was the best man and it was fun seeing him all dressed up (the last time he wore a tux was at are wedding and that was almost 10 years ago). Instead of doing a toast all of the groomsmen roasted the groom. I believe my husband, who is witty but has a very dry sense of humor, mentioned the fact that the groom has lived at his dad's house, when they were growing up, more than he had. It was a wonderful night full of laughter, dancing (badly on my part), and little croissant sandwiches.   

Our little family (minus Birklee
who was hiking through the plants)                              Elly dancing her heart out

Below: Maddy explaining one of her plans
to Daddy

   

My new addiction

      Here is a picture of my newest addiction! I swear to you it is the best stuff since sliced bread (and they go deliciously together). Biscoff spread is apparently Belgium's version of peanut butter and let me tell you that country is on to something. You can eat it on toast, bagels, apples, a spoon...it is that good. Try some today! They also make Biscoff cookies, but I have not tried those yet (I do not feel the need to rush off and gain 50 lbs).                                                                                  

A life of contradiction....

Looking at my life I realized that much of everything I love contradicts each other. I do have to say it keep my life interesting and always gives me something to talk about!

Example 1:  I love clothes and I love getting outfits for my 4 little cuties. But nothing makes me happier than seeing my little kids dressed up so adorable while playing in the dirt, climbing a tree, etc. My little Maddy even wears her fanciest dresses when we are going on walks in the mountains or when go fishing, she appeases her daddy by throwing on a pair of jeans underneath so her little legs don't get scraped up. Sometimes she may look a little crazy, but she's 4 so for now it is cute (and I figure by the time she's 80 she will just be considered eccentric). Who knows maybe I have just seen one too many R.L. ads, but I say why not wear your nice clothes everywhere.

Example 2: It is my mission to make sure my children have the best manners. I think manners and structure are very important in a child's life. On the other hand I like a kid who has a little mischief in them. I know that they will not do anything to hurt others or anything so horrible it can't be fixed, so I say a sense of adventure is marvelous (think boys on "leave it to Beaver). It even makes me proud when they dive into something that may seem a little crazy. I take it as a sign of confidence that they are so sure they take on the world head first. Better to have children like this than ones that cower in the corner too afraid of getting in trouble. Another plus, it gives us all something to look back on and laugh about, and as Grammy said "a sense of humor is the most important thing".

Example 3: Spontaneity. My favorite vacations are the ones when my husband tells me "we are going somewhere tomorrow, I won't tell you where, and don't pack a bag  we will buy everything when we get there".  On the other hand, during the school week I thrive on a very scheduled life! With a 2, 3,   4 1/2, and 6 yr old I am pretty sure a rigid schedule is the way to go. Am I starting to sound like a schizophrenic yet?

Example 3: My  music preference.  Really I listen to everything. I love Lynard skynard (truly I love all 70's rock), classical, country, sublime, pearl jamm (eddie vedder in general), beastie boys, pretty much most 90's music, Mumford and sons (LOVE), Adele, Florence and the machine. I am everywhere across the board when it comes to music, it just depends on the day, well really the hour!

Example 4: I grew up on a barrier island in Florida, I could swim before I cold walk, and I love surfing. What could you expect from a girl who grew up in the same town as Kelly Slater (LOVE again) and went to school with e Hobgood twins. I think everyone in town loves surfing? In fact before my husband was my husband there was a solid group of us who would be out there with our boards (waves or not really) for 8 hours a day. It was life for us, and a pretty good one I may add. Now we live in Herriman, Utah. It is a small town in the foothills of the Salt Lake valley. I could not even imagine moving away from my mountains, or even down to the bottom of our hill (the views of the valley are amazing!) So that explains me, a natural born beach girl who can't leave the mountains!?

On a side note, and back to clothes, with the possibility of sounding a bit eccentric myself, I read a blog recently where the girl was talking about the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. She loved it so much, it was her exact size, but she said it is so fancy and I would never have anywhere to wear it. WHAT!??? where is the optimism. I guess this sums up my life completely. If there is something you love get it. Have optimism that you will have the opportunity, and if the opportunity doesn't show up  make one! And YES making one could mean wearing that dress around your house for yourself!!!! Have enough confidence in yourself that you could pull it off! This blog entry made me little sad for the young woman, but it also reinstilled the fact that I will always find a way to do things that make me happy, regardless of how it may make me appear!

Spring vacation

 Sorry I have not posted anything lately! My husband had a week off from work, so we have been here and there and everywhere. First, we headed off to the lovely warmth of Las Vegas for my cutie husband's baseball tournament. Actually we stayed a bit outside of Vegas because I just feel so gross every time I have to schlep the kids some smokey casino to our room (but that is besides the point!)  So we had a great time enjoying the sun, baseball games, and worn out children!!! When we there I also might have become addicted to the Red Robin Blue (or is it bleu because it has bleu cheese?) Ribbon burger (if you doubt me go try it!) it would be even better on a summer day with a gin and sprite! The best part of our little adventure was, when we left there was 12" of fresh snow in our yard and when we came back it was all melted! So now that I am back home, unpacked, laundry done i will do my darnedest to write more on this blog....or maybe I should just pack up and go somewhere warm again?

                                                                      

Makes me laugh every time I am sick.....

I have been a little bit sick this week and every I am not feeling well there is one saying that makes me laugh... " I am only 2 stomach bugs away from being my perfect weight!". I don't even know where I first heard this but it always puts a smile on my face when I am not feeling well.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I absolutely love valentine's day. What's not to love flowers, candy, chocolate, a special dinner! Ihere people saying it is a commercial holiday thought up by manufactureres to get people to spend, spend, spend. Well...I don't care! I love flowers and I think any excuse to buy them is a perfect one. Today I made valentine's cookies for the kids, bought my husband 10 irises (they are his favorite flower)  and I am going to volunteer in my daughter's kindergarten class for the party! I remember I even loved this day as a kid. I would be so excited to get all the cards fromn school mates. Then when I would get home I would look a them a million times, rereading the ones my crushes gave me hoping and searching for a special note! Now I have 5 permanant valentines and it couldn't get any better. But I say even if you don't have a special someone treat yourself. I mean you can't really love anyone else until you love yourself=)  So go out, buy yourself some flowers, get some chinese takeout and watch a awesome movie, oh and don't forget the chocolate!What do you guys love about valentine's day?  Have an awesome day!