Broke My Heart, Came Back, In Love Again!

Those 8 words pretty much describe the relationship.

After a painful exit last spring...a glorious return last night.

Ahhhhhh!





Steve Nash and his boys, collectively known as the PHOENIX SUNS, are back.

They beat the Spurs.
You know, the dirty-playing, boo-hoo crying, boys from San Antonio. AND, they did it in Texas.

Can I get a woot-woo?

Sharing my STRIPES and a SALUTE

Some of you asked, so here they are...my stripes!

The small, angled wall is part of the family room. The rest of the room is solid "beachnut", the same as the darker stripes. The darker wall is the hallway...a yummy, milk chocolate-y color.

Now, for the Salute:

Happy Birthday Cliff...so glad you are part of the family. Love you!!!

(If you don't know Cliff, you should. He's such an impressive young man! Check him out here.)

Real Mothers...Yes, You!

This is for all of the young REALMOTHERS that I know, admire, and love!

(One of which I'm pictured with-Kendal, and the one who is on the receiving end of her REAL MOTHERING, Stone-last month in Texas.)

REAL MOTHERS don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

REAL MOTHERS know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

REAL MOTHERS often have sticky floors, filthy ovens, and happy kids.

REAL MOTHERS know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.

REAL MOTHERS don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

REAL MOTHERS sometimes ask "Why me?" and get their answer when a little voice says, "Because I love you best."

REAL MOTHERS know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade.

Happy Haunting!

$19.84...estimated amount the average adult spends on Halloween candy.

10.7%...percentage of girls who chose to dress up as a princess-the most popular child's costume-last Halloween.

1/3...fraction of adults who play along, dressing in Halloween costume.

8...number of sequels to the original Halloween movie which starred Jamie Lee Curtis in 1978.

1982...the year Thriller was released, in time for Halloween. Comparing the old Michael Jackson to his current image? Now that's scary!

One Dark October Evening

One evening during a violent thunderstorm, a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked, with a tremor in his voice,

"Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?"

The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug.

"I can't dear," she said, "I have to sleep with Daddy."

A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice:

"The big sissy."

Enjoy this dark, October evening...and the weekend that follows!

When Life Hands You a Lemon (or LIME)...

suck on it...

and make the sourpuss face!

TAG...I'm it! Thanks Deborah. Instead of making the SOURPUSS face, I am happily complying. Hopefully this will be painless for me and those of you reading.

8 Random Things About Me:

1. I love a good horror flick...no scaredy cat here! So, it's a good thing that-

2. I am NOT afraid of the dark. I love a dark, candlelit room!

3. My celebrity crush (since I was 7) was Paul Newman. So sad with his passing. He was always so CHARMING in interviews...and those eyes! (and HELLO?...Message in a Bottle...ahhh!)

4. Unlike most females on earth, I have never crushed on George Clooney. He doesn't do it for me...nope, never has. (Although I did like him in "One Fine Day")

5. I love BIG hair. Never fully grasped the whole flat-iron thing. Am so pleased that full hair is once again acceptable :)

6. My toenails are ALWAYS polished...always. Yessiree, even in the winter.

7. These days I'm loving the "boy nails" look on my fingers with 2 coats of clear Nail Life.

8. I am obsessed with BLACK PAINT. I have accented my home with black for quite a while now...but, since the move, it has become a bit more than just an accent. Thank you, black paint. LOVING it!

If you are reading this...TAG, you're it!

Ahhh Orville...I'm in Love!

Have you seen it? Tried it? You must...you really must!
Mr. Redenbacher has done himself proud.
As I was strolling (okay, pushing my cart) down the
snack section of my local grocer...it caught my eye...and then it called out to me. My heart started pounding. Seriously.

LIME & Salt popcorn. Natural. No preservatives, no trans fat! Thank. You. Orville.

And until now (this occurred a few days ago) I have failed to mention this discovery to my daughter. Forgive me Kendal...being busier than usual is no excuse...how could I keep this glorious news from you? After all, you are my partner in **LOVING all things CITRUS!

We delight in any food enhanced with/by citrus...we adore even more, full (citrus) flavored goodies! (Think: key lime pie, cilantro lime chicken, lemon poppy seed scones, lemon bars...oh heck, we ate a whole 9x9 pan of those one Sunday afternoon, just the two of us, remember?...oink,oink)

Okay, okay, I was carried away (to citrus paradise) for a minute there...back to the popcorn. As if it's LIME flavor weren't enough...a bonus: mini bags! I love mini bags...enough to share (if I must) or, not too much to polish off on my own! (without any feelings of guilt)

Don't you just love life's simple pleasures? Like microwave popcorn and DWTS. It just got better! (and woohoo, we have Rocco for another week!)

For the love of LIME...run out and get a box now! Except if you're 8 and 1/2 months pregnant, then send your hub out (love you M & J)...or if you have a 3 year old and twin babies, I'll go get it for you! (love you L & B)

**We (K-girl and I) also love citrus scented things! (Think: candles, car air-freshener, Arizona in springtime...wink, wink, etc.)

UPLIFT

up-lift [v. uhp-lift] 1. To raise; elevate. 2. To exalt emotionally.

Once again (as with the first weekend of each October & April) I feel inspired and uplifted.

Once again, I am encouraged to be good and do good.

Blessed. That's what I feel. That's what I am.

Friday Fill-In...Again!

***Kendal's mantel...we decorated for Autumn while I was visiting.


Friday Fill-In...passed on from a friend...join in if you'd like!
(copy and paste and change my answers, in bold, to your own)


1. Birthday's are...a celebration!

2. Autumn...is my favorite season because...it's the beginning of the best 8 months in the Valley of the Sun!

3. I feel my best when...I get 7 hours of snooze time!

4. Right now, a shredded beef chimi...is my favorite food!

5. First impressions are...so much fun!

6. The best advice I ever received was...look before you leap!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to...a shredded beef chimi, tomorrow my plans include...redeeming a gift card & DVR-ing conference...and Sunday, I want to...continue a tradition!