No Need to Panic

I have been MIA this past week because, well, I have a job.  A job that has taken LOTS of hours in the past week and leaving no more brain power for anything else.  That combined with sleep deprivation does not make for an interesting life.  

This week's Ventage theme was faith.  It is an important topic to me and I wanted to share so that the rest of the gang didn't feel that I picked a tough topic and then didn't even do it!  

a few things:

1.  Grace is an important part of faith.  If you believe, you also have to believe that grace and forgiveness exist.  I am at a place in my life right now where I sometimes struggle to extend the grace to others that i wish they would extend to me.  That doesn't make me a hypocrite, it makes me human.  Life is hard.  There is struggle.  God knows that and wants us all to find ways to forgive as taught by his ultimate sacrifice.  

2.  I am a converted Catholic.  One of the things I find in my new Church that touches me the most?  The theme of Mother in many teachings.  I consider my fear of being a bad or imperfect mother - man, can you imagine Mary?  talk about mommy guilt!  my faith stresses that imperfect motherhood is expected, but that despite imperfections, God knows how critical mothers are and how afraid they can be.  It gives me strength and focus and helps me extend MYSELF some grace.  

3.  People and music.  Church is made up of the people, and the music and without these it is just words on a page.  its primal the way some songs touch my heart and takes my breath away.  

4.  I love nonbelievers.  I am not judging you.  I hope your path brings you to God and faith, and if having me in your life helps you on that journey, that is awesome.  If your journey does not bring you to God or faith, I will still love you and be your friend.  Perfection or conformity is not faith for faithful.  

5.  Don't be afraid.  God is love.  I try to see love in the commandments, the lessons, the church.  But in many ways, like all things touched by humans, we will fail.  That does not mean God has abandoned us.  

Happy Easter friends.  May the love of God, your friends, and family touch you in many ways this holy weekend.  

I Thought I was the Only One

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” C.S. Lewis

This arrived in my mailbox yesterday.  A note the reminded me that there are others out there who KNOW, who HAVE BEEN THERE, who UNDERSTAND, and are willing to cheer others on. 

This girl - Miss Josie - was the best part of my day yesterday, from hours and miles away, she made me smile and wiped the tears away. 

So grateful for my tribe - even when they are far away and sometimes our friendships hang on only by the interwebs. Thanks for holding me up.  Thanks for saying, ME TOO. 

There are things...

There are things I could write because I am crabby.  and tired.  and overwhelmed with all responsibility in my life. 

Instead? 

There are things that I love, that even when grumpy make me smile:

1)  My new favorite kind of yogurt - Chobani Greek Yogurt (fig with orange zest). It is good.  You might want to try it. 

2)  Reading email screeds that are in all caps.  I KNOW IT IS INTERWEBS IMPOLITE BUT I LOVE IT ANYWAY.

3)  Humorous hashtags.  For example:  #momswhocaretoolittleaboutstupidcrap #pinterestcalledandsaidyouareeffingitup #ihatemyjobbutnoonecares

4)  A phone call from my brother discussing handguns.  And then this gem of a conversation:

N:  I can't believe it, we have something in common

A:  Well, we have the guns but we also have our love for Mr. Bean.

N:  (laughs) Yeah, Mr. Bean is awesome.

5)  Silence on my commute.  I haven't even been listening to the radio. 

Ventage Tuesday - Garden Party Fashion?

A little hard to write this springy post when we got 5 inches of snow last night.  But I am determined to press on and dream of spring... and spring clothes.  Around Wisconsin, you can only wear spring clothes for about a week so you have to plan ahead. 

My fashion plan for spring?

These cute emerald flats will go fantastically with,

My new favorite cardigan - here is one very similar to mine from the gap. 

I am coveting these way too expensive denim crop pants

to pair with a (as always) white tank top and this divine necklace

that is my plan for looking hot this spring.

BONUS:  Makeup for spring! 

NARS Taos blush (if you have never tried NARS blush DO IT, RUN TO SEPHORA RIGHT NOW), Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow (I will be wearing Bikini-Tini, Birthday Suit, and Skinny Jeans), Too Faced Lipstick (I will be trying out I want candy).

Check out Katrina, Em, Steph, and Barb for their must haves for spring.  

hello monday

hello children who need more outside time... my kids have turned into maniacs.  they are soooo stir crazy and that in turn makes me crazy and tired.  i may have turned to mike yesterday and said, "don't worry, it won't be like this forever, someday at least Dottie and Charlie will move out" bwhahhahahahahahaha. 

hello state champs!  in a follow up to my previous post, the Notre Dame Tritons are state champs!!  Luke and i went to the game saturday night and I am soooo proud of the beautiful miss katherine!  I got a little teary even. 

hello big things...  there is an interesting opportunity heading my way, not quite sure what to make of it or if this is the one I have been waiting for... only time will tell.

hello emerald green... I am not much of a green girl usually (I leave that to the lovely Miss Stephanie) but I bought this emerald green cardigan and am LOVING it and wearing it with everything. 

hello to finding a way and powering through...  moms of the world - you are doing a great job and YOU are ENOUGH (no matter what FB or Pinterest says). 

From Your Cutest Fans With Love

Our Katherine, my bestest babysitter, is a high school basketball player.  Her team, the Notre Dame Tritons have qualified for the State Tournament (starting tomorrow).  Her biggest (and cutest) fans have to let her know we are behind her all the way (even if the game is during nap time). 

Go get em Katherine!!!

Ventage Tuesday - Wanna Get Lucky?

Some days you feel like the luck is coming your way.  Like it is running out of your ears, close parking spot at the grocery store, kids go to bed relatively easy, your favorite friend calls to chat. Those are good days my friends.  

But sometimes, you don't always feel lucky.  Even when you are.  

Five things that are lucky in my life:

1)  my fridge is full of good things.  

2)  my children make me laugh even on the days they make me crazy.

3)  I am not afraid to be imperfect.  

4)  my friends are fierce.

5)  This Snoopy Video.  

Hello Monday

Well, Hello... Super friends watching over me.

Hello the feeling that someone actually HEARS and UNDERSTANDS what your heart tries to say.  Someone taking the time to listen and not be afraid to say, hey - me too.  Real salve to my heart.  To that someone - you mean the world to me and I am so grateful you are in my life. 

Hello trying to navigate communications with my husband.  Sometimes two ships passing in the night! 

Hello birthday thank yous that must get written. 

Hello laundry - FYI I hate your guts.

Hello opportunity - I do hear you knocking, it just takes a while for me to get to the door. 

on my mind...

{here is a glimpse at the inner workings of my brain}

i am a nerd.
i find filibusters fascinating.
i am disturbed at how little people know about how government works.
I am surprised at how little people fear the government.

i like my outfit today.
navy and lime green is a great almost spring combo
i am lazy about spelling and punctuation
i wish i knew what i wanted to be when i grow up
i hope it involved green eyeshadow

i love the scab on luke's nose right now
i think it is hilarious that charlie has started growling
i am wondering how long this needy three year old drama llama phase is going to last with miss dottie

i am trying to bring back the friday afternoon office dance party
i am suspicious of anyone who does not like beyonce
i also love miranda lambert - i am much more miranda lambert than taylor swift

my bff loves taylor swift
barb has been visiting
i am glad she likes chaos

i am keeping Kleenex  in business
i hate orange juice
i also dislike bananas


{now do you see why it is so exhausting in my head?}

Hope your own little voice is a little more coherent than mine!

Springtime dreaming

Everyone is fighting off the winter blahs.  We are ready to move forward and cast away the dark, the cold, the yucks.  Here are five things putting a SPRING into my step today!  

I am dreaming of spring food - asparagus to be exact.  I can't wait to try this asparagus torte from Martha Stewart - does that just look like spring happies?  

 

Spring in Wisconsin is wet and muddy.  I think I might need these Hunter boots to survive it.  bwhahahahah.  

Someone (cough, cough, Stephanie) has a spring birthday.  I think this dress would be marvelous for her spring soiree.  

I am not a gardener but I love things that grow.  I am thinking an herb seed bomb would be something I could handle (black thumbs and all).

Today though? What is putting a spring in my step is that I get to see Barb, Josie, Em and Stephanie this weekend - laughs and inappropriateness are sure to be in large supply.  

What about you?  Check out the rest of the gang too!

This Boy at One.

This boy came into the world a year ago March 2nd.  Early.  We were not quite prepared.  There were two sick siblings at home.  There were no plans for Momma to be in the hospital.  There were not even any plans for Momma to be driven to the hospital. 

He was not quite prepared either.  Well, at least his lungs were not.  They were hard and had fluid and this meant, that Momma and Daddy could not hold him.  Have you ever been able to NOT hold your minutes old baby?  Well, it sucks.  It really really sucks.  He was wires and tubes and oxygen and monitors. 

He was beautiful.  He was oh so much loved.  He did lose the tubes and the monitors and the tape scars.  His family prayed.  HIs family gave thanks for all the wonderful and loving people in our life.  Now his life. 

This boy?  So loved.

At one...

He weighs 27.9 lbs.  He is a beast just like his brother and sister.  We are creating our own family of line backers apparently. 

He has been walking for two months.  He is a sumo style walker, wide stance, arms out, teeth bared. 

He is the happiest baby I have had.  Smiles, laughs, claps.  So happy, especially if Luke and Dottie are around. 

He loves to dance.  He has a ghetto booty shake that could put Shakira to shame. 

He is a momma's boy.  Despite his fierce independence, he does hang pretty close to my leg if he is unsure of himself or the world. 

He is a horrible sleeper.  Many months of ear infections will do that to you.  His favorite spot?  Perpendicular to Momma and Daddy in their bed.  Urgh. 

He has an insane amount of teeth.  10. 

He loves food - especially fruit and mashed potatoes and meatballs. 

He is so loved.  By all of us.