All Things Beautiful

Since its been a couple (or more) weeks, this will mostly be a picture update of all things beautiful :)



We re-did the girls' bathroom. Its now no longer the "refried bean" color as in earlier post :D Pretty much everything I bought to re-model the bathroom came from TJ Maxx (loooove that store!) and mostly on clearance. The mirror was bought on craigslist, and I actually ended up meeting the director of Little Sprouts Preschool. She has a gorgeous house!



Here's a different view. I very much so want to make that stick and mirror hanging for the ceiling that was in the picture from previous post for an idea for Lillian's room. I need a craft night!


Close up of the shelf


We had a blast going overnight in Little Rock for Beth Moore's conference. She's an enthusiastic speaker, and I just ordered her devotional on Paul. I did the devotional on David with a friend, and really liked the lay out and way she explains things. I cried at the end, not like huge sobbing but one of those "moved to tears" experiences. I've been crying a lot lately, Doug thinks I've tapped into my feelings finally and am no longer a stone sculpture. So, crying is good? hahahah. Ok. I also cried last Sunday when I was thanking another member's son for his service, and while telling him how much it meant to me I started crying. I guess those are just the sort of things that make me cry! One thing is for sure, men do NOT know what to do when cornered by a crying girl. Ahahahah...

We ended up having NO electricity at our hotel! There was a 10 mile radius of power knocked out because of storms the previous night. It was very interesting, half of us went to an aunt's in Conway and half of us stayed since it was already late. There were so many things going on that weekend in LR that other hotels were packed too! I think I got 3 hours of broken sleep? When I got home and finally layed down, I definitely PTFO'd (Passed The Frick Out) til the next morning and once again that afternoon just to be sure.


"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!?!?"

Such a momma's girl. I love it.


Easter Cake. Soooo simple, and all I did was type in 'Easter Dessert' into my phone for ideas. Its 3 layers (Thank YOU Duncan Hines!) sealed together with frosting, then frosted all over. The "sticks" are actually just a milk chocolate bar cut at a 45 degree angle, which curdled it enough to look stick like. Then, chocolate malt balls from easter candy section! BOOM!


Cupcakes. The coconut is dyed green with just regular green dye, and dried for a bit while I baked them. These pretty flower toothpicks are actually left over from Addie's birthday garden party!


Cupcakes #2. Same as before, except I bought granola cereal and created the "nest".

Making all of these pretty things has really challenged me, and though I knew it would happen, I don't want to stoooooppp...but I must, because these things are not cheap, you know.

I'm so sick of all of this rain, but even more so of hearing people gripe about it. The ditch that Bella Vista is supposed to have cleared out is clogged once again, and once again ALL of the water is flowing across the road onto our property. The sidewalk has constanly been flooded, and there is now a small stream line etched into our side yard. Sick. Doug has video'd it and sent it to the mayor to inform and ask for help. Someone drove by REALLY slowly as if investigating that morning it was received, but still no answer. I know there's a lot more going on with the golf courses being flooded, but this is our HOME.


Gross.

AND, to finish it out on a good note, this is my beautiful new butter dish. I cannot explain how happy this dish makes me. I've been forgetting to pick one up at the store and have been reduced to butter on a small plate with a plastic container over it. Is it too 50's? I don't know, and I don't know what it is, but I think this has an Anthroplogie feel. If I had gazillions of dollars and never needed to worry about the price, I would definitely do all of my house in an Anthropologie/Pottery Barn fashion. Duh!



:D

Keslyn

I hate people today.

I finally took that stray cat into the animal shelter. He’s more than surpassed his welcome, scratching on the screen just because I opened the window to feel the cool breeze today. Every time we went outside, there he’d be. Like a predator, waiting to snatch up any spare leg available to rub on and any excuse to whine out. I let the girls love on him a little, partly because I felt bad, and partly because I knew if I touched him I wouldn’t stop slapping my hands around making sure the ‘imaginary’ hair has flown off by jostling my hands around. He found a way to get his dander up my nose anyways, rubbing on the girls and them bringing it to me. They’re sure he’ll find a good home. I’m glad to be rid of him.

I’ve had one of those days where I truly believe I hate people. These days come and go, and maybe every two weeks there’s that one awful, huffy day where everyone and everything makes me angry. I take offense to everyone, because only on this day does everyone ignore or just not answer in a positive way to which I expect. Maybe I just hold people up to a higher standard on that day than the standard they woke up on. Sometimes these days happen because I’m feeling blah about myself, my self esteem, or my appearance. Like, a bad hair day. A bad hair day goes a long way on a girl. In attempt to make myself feel better, I stop by a salon to have my hair trimmed real quick. I immediately regret my choice, because it’s the walmart smartstyle. Not that these people don’t know what they’re doing, or what styles are in, or even what I mean when I say what I want…but its not the relaxing atmosphere I imagine having spent money on for a service. And, most of the time, paying more in a pricier salon also somewhat ensures less drama and more etiquette. After having a blah day, I set down in the chair and feel like I’ve insulted her because I don’t want her to do much. Or shampoo my hair. Or even style it. Just spray it and trim it, quick…with my two kids in the cart next to me. WHYYYY did I decide to do this again? Oh, right. Because I never plan hair appointments, and when I decide I’m disgusted with my hair I want it fixed IMMEDIATELY. Good salons require appointments. And I am still hesitant afterwards, definitely not filling my ‘feel good’ meter.

“She’s(Addie) never seen me have my hair cut before, I think that’s why she keeps commenting on it, hahah. Did you hear a damn word I said that time?! I cannot believe you are treating your customer so rudely. I’m about to pay you way more for this stupid hair cut than I should, because you’re about to charge me full price for a half ass job. You didn’t even wash my hair, nor dry and style it and still going to charge me full service. Unbelievable!!”

Nothing. Possible smirk, but I am obviously not important to her.

I said the first sentence out loud. The rest I haven’t the galls to ever say, to ANYone. I hate confrontation. I just sit in my reclining loveseat later at night stewing over the things I should have said. The things I would have said. The things I didn’t think of quick enough. Then get mad for failing once again to say anything at all. Kicking myself, I’ll just swallow that and pretend I don’t care. This followed the ‘not-so-important’ feeling from the animal shelter, because they were sure I wasn’t going to adopt and didn’t want to waste their time. Just take the stupid cat, please. I hate people today.


Addie and her giant "pewer" she's using on the frog she found.


On a positive note, I finished The Help. Good book, definitely about segregation in Mississippi and ‘the help’ is actually referring to the black maids. Not slaves, but maids in the 60’s. First time I’ve read anything about the point of view of the maids during the transition into integration. Before and during. The other two books are staring a hole in my head, waiting for me to get started. I feel so guilty, because I know these books are now overdue, and I hated the feeling of waiting while others were so stupidly ignorant of others and never returned theirs on time so I could read them. At the same time, I am DRUNK with power. I am keeping these books on my own terms, and nobody’s come to sass me yet!

I hung a bird feeder up in my front yard. For two days I am sad the birds are not eating from it. The third day I see the hard plastic side has been punched out and placed neatly on my porch. There’s birdseed all around the tree. I am sure this is a message to me personally. Between the raccoon that ramsacks my garbage when I fail to close the garage door, and the squirrels who tease us constantly through the window to the back deck, I know its one of them. Doug took to his bb gun to “thin out” the ever growing population of squirrels overwhelming our woods. One ate it in the face, and now has a scar. I think he’s gone all mafia like on me, Grandfather Squirrel is sending me a warning. Little Bastard. Eight dollars for three days worth of waste.

The girls have taken to singing every day. It goes something like this:
Lillian: “Oh, na na.”
Addie: “(big giggle) Oh, na na!”
Lillian: “(bigger giggle) OH, NA NA!!”
Addie: “What’s my name, what’s my name, what’s my name…”
(REPEAT, til mom says knock it off)

This is funny to me, it’s a Rihanna song. I’m not really sure what the song is about, and maybe I don’t want to know if she’s singing it. We heard it one day flipping through the stations and they sing it all the time now. SO sweet that they’re doing it together, not arguing, for the moment…

I’ve had a lot of people in my life lately in need of prayer, for something different, each one of them. I’m out for an afternoon by myself, the girls at home napping and Doug doing homework keeping an ear out. I look forward to this day every week, and just the fact that its starting to feel like an every week thing elates me. I need this moment of sanity and QUIET. Or even just to listen to whatever I feel like, since most of the time its narrowed to kids music, KLRC, or country. Which is all that is mostly acceptable when the kids are in the car.
“God, please watch over my cousins, You know why they need You and I’ve prayed several times this week for them because I’ve thought of them so much. Just keep…may break my bones//but chains and whi…dangit Rihanna!! (punch radio button OFF) Stop interrupting me while I’m praying!!! So. Rude.” (I realize this sounds totally inappropriate, but it definitely happened. Funny, but I’m not sure God is laughing.)


OH she's coming in fast!!


I have some amazing things to look forward to this week. Heading to a Beth Moore conference, and my car will be full of awesome young ladies down to Little Rock this weekend…overnight! Doug and his mom will be working something out for the girls, and we’re sort of considering this a weekend for girl time and a chance to grow in God. There’s something else I might be working on that could potentially be fun! It has to do with Charlotte Russe? I’ll explain more later once I know more.

We watched Tangled this week for Family Pizza Night, sooooooo cute!!! Doug also made me watch MacGruber with him. #stupidestmovieeverrr…


P.S. I really took the time to listen to Britney’s Circus song, and have diagnosed the reason her voice is so unique: She sounds like a baby prostitute. The. End.

P.P.S. Please LIKE this if you are reading. I think about quitting often, it's nice to know people are reading!

I preceded to ram my left front side into the MAILBOX.

I know this is an extremely insignificant thing to include on my post, but this is the only thing I have ever had and kept alive and actually EATEN. I love parsley, there are just a few spices I think I always end up using throughout the week that I would consider staples. Parsley, Paprika, S/P of course, seasoning salt, onion powder, etc…




I was ridiculously happy to have a real and fresh herb at my disposal!!

The girls have been arguing like crazy lately.
Lillian: “No.”
Addie: “Yes.”
Lillian: “No.”
Addie: “Wiwian, stop saying no to me!!!”
Lillian: “…….No.”

Yes, it’s the dreaded point where “no” STOPS being cute. I don’t remember Addie going through such a long phase of NO. Maybe because I never argued with her or gave her flame any fanning by answering. She knows it’s a joke if Addie thinks she’s in charge and bosses her, but still, what else is a baby to say in her defense? I’m trying to be patient, but today was ludicrous. She’s figured out the exact way and attitude and “death ray stare” to say it so that it makes Addie infuriated. AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHHYYYYY?!?!?!

Doug: “I don’t want to go to work.”
Me: “I’ll trade you places today!! Take me with you!!”
Doug: “Take them to work with YOU!”


Spring Planting from front...


Sidewalk view. Marigolds/fern/giant pots/bird bath/red potted flowers. I have some pink ones in by the mailbox, but that's not really worth sharing.



At a family birthday get together (of which I completely dominated kickball and would have earned MVP at, at least defensively, if they issued awards) my niece randomly told me something to get it off her chest. She’s 13. Apparently her and her friend played catch (in close range, I’m sure) with her friend’s pet hamster. I laughed, completely honored to have her guilted honesty unleashed on me. It made me wonder if there was anything I should confess…and, there is. Sometimes, I use the kitten self-addressed labels sent to us by Petco to mail Doug’s bills off. I laugh haughtily all the way to the mailbox. I’m so sneaky. The kittens, I assume, are somewhat emasculating, and that makes me smile evilly because I’ve pulled one over on him. It’s the little things.

Last week I was in the car with Addie, and left Lillian at home with Doug so that we could grab pizza for family pizza/movie night. We were just backing out of the driveway, and being the multi-tasking queen I am, I brought letters to mail out and bills to be paid in our mailbox as well as (finally) finished library books.
I was pulling up to the mailbox when Addie so cleverly decides to ambush me with:
“Mom, Daddy says your GPS is a piece of…(slight hesitation in which I look up see her next word, obviously horrified of what it may be if daddy said it)…JUNK.”
At this point, I preceded to ram my left front side into the MAILBOX. Awesome. She tells me these things often, a lot because she thinks I am also in charge of Daddy and that he will get in trouble if she tells me what he’s done. Also, she is my minion and takes offense when someone makes fun of me or my property in any way. A loyal, faithful, argumentative, clone minion. It’s the real deal, try it and see how quickly you’re put on Addie’s hit list. She’s a mean little person. It shook me up a little bit, and of course made me super nervous overanalyzing how I drive. Turns out, when I’m actually fully paying attention, I know how much of a horrible drive I actually am. If you were in Pakistan on a good faith helping hands mission, you would never know the difference between the way they drive and the way I drive. Minus the days of grime and dust smell. Or, if you’ve never known (or read) how freaking scary the drivers are there, like a typical New York foreign driver…beaded seats, horrible music, pictures of religious leaders hanging in the window and possibly flying out wavering wildly while taking curves. I am an imitation of a too fast, too jerky Pakistani driver. Can I write that off as just efficient?! Point A to point B?

The mailbox…the mailbox…seems to be popping up a LOT in this post. The mail lady!! Its her!! That wild haired banshee has surely put a curse on us via mailbox touch!! We will have words. There will be many. I will probably cry and slink back into the house, but OH there WILL be WORDS!!!

I finished Three Cups of Tea. It was like pulling teeth til halfway. SOOOO. MANYYY. FAAACTS. I know this is good for me to read something that really did happen, and especially of all the great adventures abroad and of all philanthropy…but, damn. Pulling teeth. Once I finally got into the lingo and language and understood it better, the story got so much better. It’s a good book to read, and I actually learned its required for all higher government employees and all special ops working in the Pakistan/Iraq/Afghanistan area to read. They wanted their men to understand the idea of helping the people and how the Muslim culture is not in unison in working against our country, as learned by an American wanting to build schools for their severely uneducated children. Just like Eat.Pray.Love., I feel like I learned something worldly. Now, back to meaninglessly entertaining fiction! Haha…

Mother nature is screwy lately. I’ve read updates about people thinking Mother Nature is in transition to menopause, that its “her time of year”, or that she’s bi-polar. Get that girl a drink and send her out on break for the night, that cures just about anything!! I’m saying!!

Kesolyn