Not Even Close.

My dear friend Josie face booked me this picture this week.

I just want to put this out there.

My house?  Disaster.  You literally cannot see the carpet in my bedroom.  It is a sea of clothes.  (very wrinkled and disheveled looking clothes).

My kids?  Been pretty naughty this week.  We had a glorious day on Monday at the park just hanging out.  Since then?  DEMONS.  My children love to play in our yard pretty much naked.  Good thing we never mow the yard so it just looks like we are "back to nature" people instead of too lazy to mow the lawn and too lazy to chase after the kids to get dressed people.

My job?  I am in a state of career flux.  lets leave it at that.

My husband?  I have to call him at work just so we can have five minutes of conversation per day that are not handing off duties to one another.  I am very excited for our kid free weekend this weekend to celebrate the wedding of friends.  we need some time together - more than just laundry lists of chores and who does what with the kids.

My friends?  I love them.  I get irritated.  I get impatient.  I am so freaking grateful that they ignore their own irritation and impatience with me.  Without them my life would be dull.  I do not love the friends that are busy-ness martyrs.  take that to someone else please.

Not so Wonder Woman.  Although I would be smoking hot in the hot pants.  Maybe I should just get some gold bracelets and call it good?

Remember when you are starting to feel like that other woman or mom has it all figured out?  SHE DOESN'T.  She has a few things she is really good at and that is what you are seeing.  Also, if you are feeling bad about how things are going, wear lipgloss and mascara.  I don't know why it works, but it does.

You are a wonder woman too.  At the exact moment you need to be, you will (with or without the golden lasso).

Winter Spring Summer or Fall.... You've got a friend.

We are not always all about the love, us Ventage girls.  We can be a critical bunch.  The weird web that has brought us together is unlike the rest of my friendships, and that can create some interesting intersections of personalities, experiences, and tastes in boys.  

If you had told me that this woman who I "met" on the internet and had a mini meet up with at a Starbucks, followed by a trip to Galena Illinois (SCARY AMISH HIGHWAYS) and then some seriously heartbreaking times and then some seriously joyous times would be the friend to me that she is today, I would have thought you were crazy.  Not just Al Gore Interwebs crazy but AL GORE crazy.  

Meet Miss Stephanie.  

Isn't she beautiful?  For someone who always is snapping pictures - she doesn't always like pictures of herself.  I don't get it.  I think she is gorgeous. I see strength, and humor and genuine love of life that is irresistible.  

I see a friend who has struggled and overcome and never loses that struggling woman in her heart and has such a compassion for others that are struggling right now.  She can get overcome by her feelings of empathy for others.  She FEELS it.  She is with them and wants to stand beside them to give them strength.  

I see a friend who has seen me at my worst.  Can't walk?  Have a 4 year old 2 year old and infant and a traveling husband -she was there.  

I see a friend who isn't afraid to admit that no matter how badly she wanted to be a momma - she seriously would like to run away and join the circus with me sometimes.  that it isn't perfect.  that it is hard and demanding and sometimes very overwhelming.  

I see a friend with ideas and projects and lots to offer the world.  She doesn't quite always see what she is ALREADY offering the world - she has given me so many great ideas and encourgaments - and I know that she does the same for a million others.  

I see a friend, who when I was struggling, was not afraid to say - me, too.  I have been there.  Lets drink wine and talk about stupid stuff to make the hurt go away for awhile.  

I see a friend who is not living in the past but planning for the future.  

I hope I am in that future forever.  

Love you Steph.  happy early birthday.  

This is my favorite Stephanie picture.  Luke was 3 months old.  Stephanie was still on her journey to be a mom and I am sure it wasn't always easy to be with a hormone addled new mom.  But she always had time for me, and she is so beautiful and real in this picture.  The two of them look right out of a magazine I think.  

Monday Whinefest. Feel Free to Disregard

Four weeks ago, I was diagnosed with an ear infection.  Did the antibiotics thing and just didnt feel better.  

Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with pneumonia.  Did a 10 day antibiotics run.  Around day 8 I started feeling a little better.  

Since then?  I know have, what can only be described as the plague.  I will spare you the details other than I have been running a fever for like 5 days.  Hurt all over and cannot stop coughing.  

And today?  My husband leaves on a three day business trip.  

Please send healthy vibes for me?  Please pray my kids do not get whatever it is that is making  me miserable?  Please pray that they are relatively well behaved when Mike is gone? 

I am usually one of those sleep and tough it out till you feel better types.  But FOUR FREAKING WEEKS OF SICK?  COME ON!!!  I must start feeling better.  I have my girls to see this weekend!!  NO MORE SICKIES.  

A Google Doodle a Day Late - Ventage (not quite) Tuesday

How did we live without the Google?  Answering our most basic (and sometimes most urgent) questions.  I am fascinated by what kind of information people are seeking.  That brings us to yesterday's topic.  Five things you googled in the past few weeks.  Here are mine.

1.  Why won't my baby sleep?  See also Pediatric Chiropractors.  As is a recurrent theme here, Charlie does not sleep.  He is 14 months old, healthy, happy, but a vampire.  So I have taken (as do all desperate, deprived mommas) to Google to answer my questions.  Google had no answers on the why, but did have a few suggestions as to pediatric chiropractors.  We are giving it a whirl, seems safer than whiskey.

2.  Best Bar Food in Green Bay.  This one had some interesting results, several reviews and recommendations of places that I dislike, but it did provide me some options.  We ended up at Nicky's Lionhead Tavern in DePere.  I went with the muffaletta.  Yums.

3.  Weight Watchers Friendly Salty Snacks.  I have been inspired by Miss Stephanie and her WW journey.  Mike and I have been doing the WW for about 2 months.  I am down a respectable 17 lbs but content to do this slow and steady.  Steph has been a great resource but lately I have been craving the salty snacks.  I did end up on a fairly healthy nacho recipe that may kill the urge - we will see.

4.  Coupon Codes for (insert retail site here).  I have been on somewhat of a spring/summer shopping binge and have relied on the Google to help me find some deals.  In particular, kids sandals seem to be a sticking point for me.  Lots of searching only to come up with several duds OR something super expensive that feels like too much money for shoes that will get shredded up.

5.  Summer Eye Makeup Looks for 2013 (Brown Eyes).  

This is one I am curious to try... seems so modern.  Hopefully not too weird!  

So what have YOU gone to the Google for lately?  Check out Stephanie, Katrina, Em, and Barb to see what they are up to as well!

What I Would Tell That Girl

Today, Katrina's daughter Hope turns 21.  Happy birthday Hope!  21 is such a milestone birthday and not because you can cut up the fake id and buy your own beer (not that Miss Hope would ever do such a thing) but because it is a time of crossroads for so many people.  

Here are the things I would tell my 21 year old self if given the chance: 

Do not run away from things that are painful.  Walk through the pain because there will be light on the other side and something good.  You might not know what that something good will be - uncertainty does not mean nonexistance.  

It is possible that you might meet the perfect person for you (or you might know him right now).  Don't resist.  Get married sooner.  Don't wait so long.  You already know if he is or isn't the person you are willing to walk through those painful things with.  You may think that a good job and financial security will eliminate problems.  They will - but they will also cause new and different problems that you are not even considering.  There is not a perfect time.  

Embrace your own style.  You have your own look.  Don't try to be a version of someone else because your own look is pretty damn cool.  

Focus on friendships.  Yes, school is important.  Achieving is important.  But making friends as an adult is a lot harder than making friends when you are a student.  It is OK to put a high priority on those relationships.  Your friends will need you and you will need them.  Feed the fires today.  

Learn to set boundaries.  If you only learn one skill for the rest of your life, learn this one.  

Just because life can be hard don't think it can't also bring you more joy than you can imagine.  Walk in the sunshine.  Laugh with friends.  Wear silly nail polish.  Everything doesn't have to be so serious and future driven.  Don't forget about today.  

and Call your mom.  She loves you more than anyone on Earth.