Healthy Ways- Linked Up

I follow a couple fun websites dedicated to diet and exercise. I follow the websites but I am not necessarily dedicated to diet and exercise.

No really, I do strive to be healthy and so I thought I would pass these along.

Please let me know a favorite one of yours. I would like to put them all together in a post and have a link to them all.

Hungry Girl - fun and great advice for a healthy eating lifestyle. Especially if you are on Weight Watchers. She has a book out, too. Here's an example of Hungry Girl News.


A Sizable Apple - Everything from healthy eating tips, training tips to workout attire. I have linked to Dana before. Here is a great post on inexpensive exercise wear.


I am not gluten free but know a lot of people that are.
Gluten Free Mommy - great recipes for those that need to be gluten free and also super grocery tips. Check out this post from her A Frugal Healthy Grocery Budget



So, now it's your turn! Tell me your favorite foodie, diet, exercise, cooking, grocery shopping website!

She Speaks Linked Up and Goals

If you are coming from Lysa's blog - Welcome! Leave me a comment or shoot me an email. I would love to get to know you before She Speaks. If you are going and have not been to her blog, she has a Mr. Linky going so we can get to know each other. Go there now and link up!

Updated

Alyssa from Organized Life By Design posted her goals for She Speaks and I think this is a great idea. I have ideas of my goals in my mind, but it would be great to get them out of my head. I need less in my head.

1. My biggest goal of going to She Speaks is to see if speaking is something I am truly interested in pursuing. I enjoy speaking to groups of women but not sure I would enjoy it or be any good at it on a larger scale.

2. I am very interested in the blogging sessions. This blogging thing has become a huge part of my life and I need to make sure I am in it for the right reasons and doing it well. I do not like to do things half-way and know there is much I leave out of my blog. It is my goal to learn from these very talented ladies how to blog better.

3. Leadership. I am in some leadership positions in ministry. Again, while I feel called to be in those positions, I want to make sure I am being effective and truly glorifying God by serving the right way. I often feel I am missing something in my leadership. I enjoy conferences to help me fill in those blanks. I am looking forward to these sessions at She Speaks.

I am a conference junkie. I would go to one every other month if I could afford it. My biggest goal of any conference is to leave with one life-changing lesson. Just one.

While I learn much and take notes like a mad woman, I can look back on all of my conference experiences and remember the "One Thing." That way, I allow myself to learn and keep an open mind, but not be overwhelmed with all of the great information. If I walk away with more than one life changing lesson then it is just a bonus!

20 Things I will Never Do

Found this over at BooMama and at Sarah at Twinkle and at This Ain't New York.
It looked like fun.
It was so much harder than I thought it would be!

I am one to declare "Never say Never" because well, you just never know.
But I ended up thinking of this list.
Which is good because with the busy weekend looming, I needed blog fodder.


1. I will never be a famous singer. Just ask those that sit next to me in church or the car.

2. I will never not love North Carolina. I hope to never leave.

3. I will never be Mother of the Year. Try as I might, I always mess up somehow.

4. I will never have my laundry completely finished. I have a load to do right after this post as a matter of fact!

5. I will never be in the French Open.

6. I will never be a size 2. Never was. Or a size 4 - I was once but only after starving myself and working out like a maniac. It was so not worth it.

7. I will never look up stocks daily.

8. I will never like politics.

9. I will never understand why some people in this world are starving and others...aren't. And why the ones that aren't, don't all take care of the ones that are.

10. I will never open up the newspaper and pull out the Sports section first.

11. I will never eat the chicken livers that my husband fries up sometimes. That make my house stink to high heaven. I will never eat those.

12. I will never look at chocolate pie or banana cream pie and think, "That looks disgusting."

13. I will never be the funniest blogger around. Some of you are so funny!

14. I will never be the best writer. But I will keep writing.

15. I will never finish reading the bible.

16. I will never (hopefully, please) stop eating chocolate, potatoes of any kind or drinking good wine.

17. I will never compete for the Mrs. Universe title.

18. I will never stop getting pedicures, plucking my eyebrows, getting my hair done or generally caring about my appearance. Vain girl that I am.

19. I will never find a pair of shoes I LOVE and not try to figure out what I can sacrifice to have them. Shallow girl that I am.

20. I will never enjoy cleaning my bathrooms.

How about you?

Tiny Dancer

Last night I went to a dress rehearsal for B. It lasted 5 hours! Well, it lasted a lot longer than that, but her dance numbers were only included in 5 hours of it. We did have a dinner break where we wolfed down some Italian food in about 30 minutes. Yummy, though and quite the task to make sure she did not get any sauce on her white skirt. Luckily, she is an Alfredo girl!

This is our 4th recital coming up this weekend. She has really started to blossom as a dancer and it is so rewarding as a mom to watch. She absolutely nailed her ballet number! She is strong and focused. Her jazz number was so cute and you could tell she was having fun. This is her first year in jazz.

4 years ago, I put her in a 3 year old dance class. I placed her pudgy little toddler feet in a pair of pink ballet shoes which I have safely packed away now.

I relished in finding her dance outfits.

Her fine little blond hair would not even stay up in the "required" bun for class.


She immediately loved it.

She was hooked.

Me too.

How could I not love watching my princess - dance like a princess?

So, this photo is of her in her first ballet class. Her favorite teacher and director of the dance school is the one touching her shoulder with the wand. Thank you to her. She is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. She treats each girl like a star.

I will update later this weekend about the recital. Welcome family that is traveling in to watch our girl and break a leg, sweetie!

Check out more flashback photo fun at We are THAT Family.
Go Here!

Twitter

Okay, I joined Twitter! I was a little scared because, well - what if no one Twitters me or follows my Twitter? Please don't leave me hanging out there with no one to talk to. Do you Twitter? Tell me, so I can chat with you.

When and where do you Twitter? Tell me all about it. I am a little in the dark here.

Doggy Makeover

Before

After

He looks 10 years younger, doesn't he?

For more wordless photos, go to 5 Minutes for Mom

Boys boys boys

I just wanted to share some funny things Bubby has said around here recently. Oh and a little story about some ticks in a not so public place.

"Mom, Mom! A Fly!"

"Quick, get your bug killer (this would
be a fly swatter) and smash it! Smash it dead dead dead!"

A little aggressive, don't you think? One dead is enough, I think.

Me: "You are getting so big. Stay little, please."

He says, with the most serious face and voice ever as he takes my face in his little
hands,

"Mom, I am going to grow up. And when I grow up, I will grow into a Ninja
Turtle. Okay?"

As I was putting him to bed a couple nights ago - again - with the most serious voice a boy can have:

"Mom, I am a ninja named Yoda. But you can call me Bubby."

I guess moms have special privileges to undercover ninjas.

Last night while getting undressed

"MOM! I have 2 ticks on my penis!!!" (can I say that on a blog?)

Me, "Hubby!!!!!"

I am his mom. I will do what I have to do for my kids when I have to do it, but I was so glad my husband was home to do that little task.

I would have had to call on Jesus big time to help me remove little critters from my son's privates.

Now my mom has called 14 times today to make sure he has no signs of Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I thought that Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever was from mosquitos, by the way. And who names a disease that anyway? That is the longest name in the world for a disease. Can't we just from here on out call it the Spotted Fever or Rocky Spots or Mountain Fever?

And by the way, I have heard of Lyme Disease and do know that ticks carry it. I didn't just become a mom yesterday, ya know.

Ah, fun times.

If I do nothing else

I won another contest! If I do nothing else with this whole blogging thing but enter the contests of these very generous women, it will be so worth it!

Okay, first of all I have told you before and I will say it again. I never - I mean never ever - win anything in real life. But in the blog world, I am suddenly a lucky ducky!

Last week I won the flash drive from The Mom Salon
and then a day later a $30 gift certificate to Pure and Honest Kids from Notes From My Nest

Tonight, I won a $200 gift card to TARGET!!!!! You know, Queen B? You know her mom, Queen Mother - she has a new blog, Beachy Mimi. And today, she had a giveaway for a $200 gift card to Target. So, of course I entered, because , well I love Target and I shredded my Target card a month or so ago, BUT also, I so love to read the conversations between B and her mom - they are fun fun fun! And then I won!!! I am beyond excited.

We just built a new patio. Well actually, we had someone build it, because - we don't build things around here. So, I want a fire pit to put on our new patio to roast some marshmallows for the kiddos and neighbors. And look, now I can just go and get it!

Or wait. Oh yes, wait. I just remembered my iPod is broken - as in it plays the same 5 songs over and over. Who can get their groove on the elliptical machine to the same 5 songs? Anyway, I may need to use it to get that. Hmm. Oh, now I have to decide. But just the fun in deciding is so great!

Thanks Beachy Mimi! I am very excited. Can you tell?

In Honor

In honor of all soldiers who have fallen to protect our nation.
Thank you. God bless the families.

Remember the Fallen

An online memorial for those fallen in North Carolina since September 11, 2001. Tar Heel Fallen

Happy Anniversary to us!

Eleven years ago, I said "I Do!"

I could not imagine a better life than the one I have with you.

I would do it all over again and not change a thing.

Happy Anniversary!

During our wedding a couple sang a song by Steven Curtis Chapman called I Will Be Here. On my very special wedding day he provided a song that would flood my mind with precious sweet memories every time I hear it. I am so incredibly saddened for his family this weekend and their loss. I pray their faith carries them through this hard time and they find peace in the precious sweet memories of their little girl.

I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman

The Kid in Me

Check out 5 Minutes for Mom and The Kid in You Photo Contest.

Use # 105 for an exercise ball. But this one is the most fun!!!
Bounce Bounce!

Recycle Your CROCS - Soles United

RECYCLE your worn out Crocs! Why? Well...

Soles United says on their website,

"It’s the first-of-its-kind recycled footwear donation program. Give back your
worn-out Crocs shoes to be recycled into new shoes and they will be donated to
people in need around the world."

Check the website out to find out how you can recycle yours: SolesUnited

Dandelions - Linked up

I am finding a lot of stories about dandelions right now. In honor of my blog title here are a few of my favorite from the last week or so.

If you have one or know of one, please let me know in my comments.


Dandelions, Baseball and Birth Stories From the Lil' Mommy That Could

And these two from my bloggy friend, Sarah at Twinkle. She really takes the most amazing photos of her two sweet kids. And she has some great music playing on her blog.
Mother's Day

This is my favorite! Absolutely precious.
Nothing Deep



Happy Saturday! Have a fabulous Memorial Holiday!

Enough to suck the life right out of me

I am talking about computers here. Drained by my computer woes, I must post about this so I can feel better.

I checked my computer in to be fixed on March 13. I got it back Monday - a little over 2 months to replace a motherboard. (whatever that is) It was still not working properly on Tuesday and I didn't have time on Wednesday to mess with it. So, I finally took it back in yesterday and they fixed a couple little things. I have since spent the entire afternoon yesterday and this morning trying to retrieve information off of my back up discs, loading programs and re-configuring my email account. Yesterday, I had limited Internet connection and was getting errors popping up left and right.

And to add to this frustration, I cannot find any of my favorites on this back up disc that they made or my email address book! I just don't even think I can fathom this information being lost. Hundreds of contacts and favorite websites - lost. I am still holding on to the fact, that I just have not located it, yet, and my hubby will be able to help find it.

So, can I just have an blog hissy fit right here and now! Ugggghhhh! That feels better.

It would be one thing if I understood thing one about computers. But I do not. I am challenged at every single turn. What seems simple to others takes me days to figure out.

When I took my computer in yesterday, the guy asks what is the problem and I tell him using the most technical speak I can muster up. Which is very little and I am sure he senses that.

Of course, when he plugs it in and looks at it, it works just fine and any problems I might have had are just small potatoes to an guy who lives and breathes computers.

I can just hear the smugness oozing. "Oh, this is easy. You just do this and this and there, - it's fixed." "See, it's working just fine."

Me, "Not so easy. It seems easy, but it is not so easy."

My thought process is going a little like this, though...And if I could pick up my computer, I would throw it at you. But since it is now 5 years old and weighs as much as my youngest child, I cannot do that. So, how about I just strangle you with my bare hands?

Instead, I had him check my monitor which was also broken. His very simple statement, "yeah, this is shot, you will need a new one." Conveniently, they had one on sale and he happily helped me pick this out. Without a hint of smugness.

I do likey my new monitor, though. It is way cooler than the actual computer serves.

Another lucky break is that my brother, is a cable guy. Literally he works for my Internet service provider. Family does have it's perks sometimes. If it had not been for me calling him crying I would most likely not be typing this right now. Thanks, bro!

So, thanks for listening. I am hoping we are on the upswing for a bit with the computers. I pray for being on an upswing. I just don't know if I could take it!

How little boys graduate from preschool

Bubby had his "graduation" from his 3/4 year old preschool class today.




I found some interesting differences in how girls and boys graduate from preschool based on my own two children.





Girls hold their graduation certificates up proudly.

Boys use them as telescopes and helicopters.





Girls stand with their little friends and say cheese.


Boys...don't.





And until today, my boy doesn't normally sing.





But today - he sang. With hand motions. Surprise Surprise!



The funniest thing is that I did not even know he was practicing these songs at school. When my daughter was in preschool she would let me know every single note of every single song that was being sung while she was in school. She filled me in on all the details most of the time - pretty much didn't miss a beat. Not so much the same thing with my boy.


I did cry sweet mommy tears. The songs these kids sing are just precious. It really is moments like these that being a mom is about the best thing around.

Ask my girl her favorite part of preschool and it was always: Art or Music.

When I asked my son what his favorite thing was: Without even thinking he said - The playground. Playing outside.

He had great teachers this for his first year in preschool. I was not sure we were going to make it. Read here about more of that. But, we did and he grew a lot socially and emotionally this year. I was very proud of him! The teachers said he came a long way and that's pretty cool to hear as a mom.

I finally did get my shot with his certificate, although it would not be complete without a silly face. Boys will be boys, I suppose.

Congratulations Big Boy!

Wordless Wednesday - Let's Dance

The girl likes to dance.

For more wordless shots go to 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Tackle It Tuesday - what else but the laundry?

So, my dryer, precious dryer, was broken for 4 days! Not good. You just never know how much you love a dryer until you don't have one. In order to keep up with the laundry I have to do it at least every 2 days. I really try to do a couple loads every other day.

Add to the fact, that there is a load in the washer waiting to be dried and a load in the dryer also waiting and now they both have to be washed again because they have that yucky sour smell.

So, yes. Today, as in right after I finish this post, I am tackling my backed up laundry. And do you really want to see pictures of my dirty laundry? I think not. Maybe you are actually okay with it, but the real me does not want you to see my dirty laundry - literally.

I will show you the finished product of my sock folding tackle, though.

I have a terrible habit of just throwing all the socks in one basket until it gets pretty full and then folding them all at once. I usually do this in front of the TV, but since I am watching less TV the basket has been staying full. So, without any other laundry to do, I was able to fold 56 pairs of socks. 56 pairs of socks!

Isn't that crazy? And most of them were Hubby's. That guy has a serious amount of socks! Black, blue, brown, light brown, golf, workout...an entire large drawer full of socks. Well, it is full now. Yesterday, not so much and I think, as understanding as he is, he was getting a little peeved about having to retrieve his socks from the big laundry basket.

So, I tackled it! Now, it's on to the big stuff. big sigh. I missed my dryer, but it was kind of nice having an excuse NOT to do laundry now that I think about it.

The REAL you

I just wanted to let you know that I have inspired a discussion over at Mom Bloggers Club. So, my picture is right on the opening page with my discussion question as the feature for this week!

I have to say, I was a little excited. Mostly because someone thought it was also an important question to discuss. I get excited at these things.

I love this site! I have met a lot of really fun and encouraging women here that I chat with weekly. They have been supportive of my blog and I have enjoyed reading theirs. Within this club there are even smaller groups, like Christian Mom Bloggers, Southern Mom Bloggers, The Think Tank, Organic Mommies, Twitter Moms and a few others.

There are fun discussions mostly concerning what it is to be a mom and blogger at the same time, but also a lot of other just fun and interesting topics to talk about. They feature various blogs weekly and have a Mystery Mom Blogger featured each week.

So, head on over there and check it out and get yourself signed up. Oh, and join in on my discussion over there:

How much of the REAL you do we see on your blog?

Oh, and I just won a Free Cruzer Gator Flash Drive from The Mom Salon who is a major contributor to MBC! I was just getting ready to go out and buy one and lo and behold - I won!!! I am telling you blogging has allowed me to win more stuff than I ever have. I am so thankful! Thank you to The Mom Salon and Mom Bloggers Club.

If you comment on this post and want me to, I will email you a personal invitation to Mom Bloggers Club. I am not sure what difference it will make, but hey an invitation is always good!

Monday MMMM

This stuff is G O O D, good.

I love yogurt. I love Stoneyfield. I love this new Stoneyfield Greek Yogurt.

If you go here Oikos, you can read about it and get a coupon!

You must find yourself some and eat it up.

Fat Free.

Smooth and creamy.

Just enough sweet.

Fat Free

Fat Free.

Did I say that already????

Oh, and a bunch of other stuff that is really good for you and your digestive system.

A Real Pleasant Unexpected Treat

For the last 2 Saturday mornings, my children have allowed me to sleep in. We are normally up before 7 am, but these last 2 glorious weekend mornings, I have actually slept...past 7:30...past 8:00. 8:30, y'all! Eight. ding. dang. thirty.

It's like I am a single person without kids. You see, hubby sometimes works on Saturdays. So, here I lay in my cozy bed with my little dog snoring beside me. Hubby gone. Kids in the playroom - playing. Quietly. Not destroying anything. NOT. FIGHTING.

Last weekend, my 7 year old made breakfast. Sure I had to clean up cereal off the couch, but it was so worth the extra sleep. And her effort almost made me want to cry at how sincerely she wanted to help.

So, this morning, as I type, I have not even said good morning to my kids. They have shut the door to the playroom and are building a city out of blocks and Legos and Little People. I have listened in, lest you want to call social services for ignoring my kids all morning.

You see, as soon as I say good morning, the requests will begin. The "mommy needs" will start. "Mommy, I need this and Mommy, I need that." And sometimes, I love the break from those. Especially in the morning. I am not a morning person. I stay up too late almost every single night and wish every single day for more sleep each morning.

I don't even feel a little guilty for not acknowledging them, yet.
Well, a little.
I guess I wouldn't be blogging it, if I didn't need a little reassurance from you.
Plus, what is mothering without guilt?
But, I have actually been able to read, blog and enjoy an entire cup of coffee this morning without interruption.

That has been pleasant. A real treat. Unexpected. A real pleasant unexpected treat. How often do you get those?

Well, gotta go...I sneezed and they just realized, I'm up. Mommy is on! Let the fun begin.

Some things on my mind

I really do hope for my blog to be a place to come and be encouraged, but I gotta vent some things!

1. Season Finales. I don't watch much TV anymore. I really just don't have time. Blogging, reading, catching up on housework and emails, etc. etc. The list never ends. BUT, I do have a couple favorites that I enjoy watching when I need to veg out.

I get that they need to have Season Finales eventually, but since they just started up because of the writer's strike don't you think they would give us a couple weeks more of new shows? It is already ridiculous how the shows have gone to about 13 per season while being paid a million dollars an episode, but now we don't even get that!

And what happened to the Season Premier of "24" ? Where is Kiefer?



2. Love angst on my favorite shows. I know it keeps it exciting and you will come back to watch more, but why can't these people just be happy? Why is McDreamy taking up with Rose when he clearly is still in love with Meredith? Why why why?

3. Politicians and the fact that they need my money? What? I mean really - we are talking about millionaires here that need my donation to keep their campaign going. For what? So, we can continue to hear them debate the same things and mud sling. It absolutely infuriates me. I can promise you this if any candidate is reading. I will NEVER send money to any campaign unless I really believe in the candidate and they are dirt poor. Right - a poor politician, that's an oxymoron. Any extra money I have will go to the church and the hungry. Or build wells in Africa. Or sponsor a child.

4. Exercise and Food. Speaking of hungry...Why the more I work out, the hungrier I am? I know, I know. My body needs the energy, but hello, I am trying to lose some weight here which is one of the reasons why I work out. AND THEN, I am starving and need more food.

Which reminds me of another reason why I exercise. To relieve stress. Which is where I am going now - to cycling class.

Please share your comments on these things that are bothering me. Maybe you have some wisdom - please share.

Mother Styles

This was fun and quick. Apparently, I am the fun mom. I am not sure I always live up to that, but hey, I'll take it. I do really have fun with my kids. They are fun people. They laugh all the time and bring much joy to my life.

So, here were the results of my test.

Your type is: ENFP —The “Kids R Fun” Mother

“Whatever I enjoy—playing tag or singing in the car—I can do it with kids
around. And it’s totally legitimate!”

• Playful and energetic, the ENFP mother finds her children to be good company and enjoys being with them. In fact, she says being with children justifies her own “being a kid again.” And children say she’s fun to be with — spontaneous, hearty, and imaginative.
  
• Naturally drawn to introducing her children to the joys of life, the ENFP is something of a free spirit. She is less concerned with rules, routines, and schedules, and more inclined to give her children plenty of free time to play, explore on their own or with her, and have fun together.
  
• Tuned in to her children, the ENFP mother enthusiastically encourages each one’s individuality and unique potential through a great variety of experiences. She is also quick to identify with others feelings and thoughts, making her an empathetic supporter of her children, not to mention her mate and many, many friends.

Find out what kind of mom style you have here.

Sincerely 'Fro me to You - Prom 1988

Oh, I even used my scalloped scissors to scrapbook this photo!

In 1988 it was my Senior Prom. I spent many weeks preparing. When you are a Senior in high school, Prom is the biggest event ever. Nothing is more important and nothing could stand in between me and the local tanning beds. Beds - plural because I went to one every single day, sometimes two in a day. And that was against the tanning bed rules. There is a reason for this - a little thing called skin cancer. Oh sure, I heard the story of the girl frying up her insides by spending too much time in tanning beds, but when you are 17 and the prom is coming, who really cares?!?!?!

I got the dress in Kansas City. I don't know if you remember I have mentioned before that I lived in a small town. My friends and I went to the big city to find our dresses so they would be different than everyone else's. Well, after I found this dress, wouldn't you know it was in the window (but in hot pink) of a local boutique in town. When another one of my friends asked if I would mind her purchasing it even though it was like mine, I threw a real live teenage hissy fit. No way! Matching dresses even if they were in different colors at the Senior Prom? The horror.

The hair and make up? I think they speak for themselves. It was the 80's.

Those guys flanking me on each side are not my dates. Just my protectors from my dates. My brothers. The one on my left is getting married in June.

Well, that's it. I think my hubby purchasing me a scanner was a dangerous thing. The photos, I can pull out!

For more great photos from the past check out Sincerely Fro' Me to You at We are THAT Family.

Wordless Wednesday - Roses

I was so excited this year to see my roses bloom like this. They are only 3 years old and I am just really enjoying them. Mmmm, can't you just smell them?

For more great photos go to 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Super Suppers

Apparently, I have been living under a rock.

Tonight, for the first time I went to Super Suppers. It is one of those places where you go and pay money to prepare food that you will freeze and then cook for dinner later.

With your friends.

While you drink wine.

And eat appetizers.

It was so much fun! And I have 5 meals to just pull out of the freezer for my family! ( I gave one to a friend who is about to burst with her twins) Dinner in no time flat.

A good dinner.

With different spices and sauces.

Not just chicken.

For way less money than I could ever spend on my own at the grocery store to make the same meals.

Genius really. A mom's best friend. I can't believe I have not tried it before now!

Pulling Up My Pansies

This is the post formally known as No Guilt Here. This new title seems like more fun.

Today has been a crazy busy day for me and I almost didn't post - again.

But then I thought you were probably just sitting by your computer waiting for me to share the events of my day. :)

No really, I just decided that I missed blogging for one. whole. day. and a half and thought of this. Well, I didn't really miss it as much as I needed my fix from it. Addiction is a powerful thing.

Anyway, it's not much, but it's what I got.

Yesterday, on Mother's Day it rained and rained. My new rain barrel is now full! Which is very cool, except that it keeps raining and I have nothing that needs watering today or probably for the next week.

So, I guess I will just save it for...a NON-rainy day. Get that? Save it for a NON-rainy day, because I wouldn't save it for a rainy day. Oh my - it has been a long day and a rainy one. Long and rainy.

But on Saturday, I was able to do some gardening. Well, after dance pictures, a birthday party and the local TurtleFest. Yes, Turtlefest. It. was. fascinating.

I pulled up my Pansies to plant some Vinca's for Summer.

I was so sad to pull up my Pansies.

Okay, now I am snickering at how funny that sounds - pulled up my pansies. Like it is some article of very important clothing.

I digress... Actually, my pansies would have been alright for another month, but I needed to give the new flowers time to root and grow before the scorching temperatures of July hit North Carolina.

And then everything dies anyway because it stops raining. But it's a good thing I have a rain barrel for the NON-rainy days!





Anyway, I had to take a picture - they did really well this year blooming with lots of color. This picture doesn't really do them justice.






I'm so glad I could provide you with the most boring post you have read all day!
So, is it better to post or post something boring? hmmm...
Don't answer that. That way I can go on pretending you really care about me pulling up my pansies.

I will say that this post from Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer makes me feel a lot better about taking a break to live some life. If she can take a break from blogging, well then, so can I. For a whole day and a half.
Also, check out my sidebar where my new bloggy friend, Jen from Cheaper Than Therapy, sent me. Blog Guilt Free. Good concept.

The Lesson My Mom Taught Me

Today I am participating in a Meme at the Internet Cafe. The question is this:

"What is the greatest lesson you learned from your mother or a mom like figure in your life?"

This is easy peasy for me. (spellcheck does not like that word, peasy, btw)

To persevere.

My mom has always had to work very hard. She was a single mom for a long time and never ever stopped working. She always made sure we had what we needed and often sacrificed much for herself. Even today she works 50 hours a week and is in her late 50's.

She has always just moved on. And some things were not easy for her to leave behind. She has always pulled herself up by her bootstraps. Given it a second try. Or a third. Or a 2oth! She taught me to always keep trying.

Never give up.