MIDST

8

2013-04-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

how does this happen....
your 8, and I'm still 30 (right!~ as I wash that grey right out of my hair... again!)

all I have to say~ is you rock!
you inspire me to be my all in all....
and your sweet blue eyes~
are gonna get you into trouble one day.
(I have to tell you that... so that you know~ I'm onto you!)
Happy Birthday sweet Monkey!

I know that one day you will be a contractor, a teacher, a xylophone player in an orchestra, a mountain climber, surfer, and an astronomer.... but first and foremost ~ you are my son!

I feel like....

2013-04-06T15:08:00.001-07:00

yep... that says it all!

I wish I had the time to sit here and talk to you all.... I really do...
but, I have been busy... planning a birthday for my youngest. Easter Sunday Dinner for 16 peeps (not the marshmallow kind... but we had them there!)... and packing.
This girl is taking the family on a much needed vacation... to an island where beaches, pools and cabana boys bring pretty drinks with umbrellas.

I have my earbuds, my books, some yarn.... and sunscreen!
so, see you soon, oh faithful blog friends!

I will have much to share... I promise!

working on...

2013-03-26T12:50:00.001-07:00

a Mario party.

someone turns 8 soon...

and this mom has done a little painting with white.

kids will get a mustache and mario hat to look the part!

more party supplies and fun will follow soon.

Bottle this

2013-03-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

honestly,
someone should bottle this scent.
I know many people who would love to smell this all year round... me being one!
I get the joys of having one right outside my front door....
as each bloom bursts- the fragrance of sweetness fills the air.

oh daphne~ you are the first signs of spring for me.

spending the days

2013-03-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

getting ready for Spring.

Now that we have "sprung forward"... and the time makes our day longer....

photo by my friend~ Jenny Tan

with the sunshine out...
it seems that things get moving...

seeds get started.
tree houses get rock wall stones.
parks get a workout.
bikes get exercise.
new trails get explored.
dogs get tired.

lets just say.... with warm sunshine comes a lot of activity.

Hart Park with O

rock wall trunk complete!

a black paint pen

2013-03-06T10:16:00.000-08:00

do you remember.... from "way back when"....
where they put colorful paint into a tube and attached a pen tip.
Paint pens where in all sorts of colors.. and had the infamous scent of highly toxic paint fumes.
Even now, I am sure you can hear the ticking taps as you shook the pen vigorously.
It was a mini paint can of joy... that every teenage girl would use to decorate their finger nails, their lockers, and even a few BFF notes passed in class. If you had pink, purple and blue... you knew you could create anything your heart desired!

as a surprise to me.... they still make these pens.... and in my need to fix up a sink cabinet... I bought one.
As I sat on the floor, ready to paint a cupboard door.... I smiled, remembering the good ol' days.
~ I began to touch up a little black here, and bit of black there.

With half of the chore done... I wanted to share the difference a paint pen makes!

can you tell what half is done?

lets all say it together now

WOW!

up close... see.... what a difference!

now, off to paint the other door before I forget what I was doing.

today

2013-02-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

among all the testing and craziness in our immediate outside world....

someone started sneezing and speaking like a frog.

he took a time out day~ and called in sick.

of course- today was the "busy" day I had planned with two meetings and errands... but some things come first. Lucky for me I have a hubby who works from home and can help out a bit. With a little shuffle here, and a move over there... we have some snuggle time.

a date night

2013-02-25T12:52:00.000-08:00

Friends,
the best birthday present ever is one of a night of babysitting.
and since I have a friend who offered~ my hubby and I went on a Sunday Night date.

Of course the plans of seeing a movie were stomped on when we found out the movie was sold out.(what!?!?! who sells out movies on a Sunday night??? apparently, most theaters do!)
after accepting such news, we sat in the car questioning.... what now?

Well, we could go pick up some coffee beans, kale and milk at the store.
Maybe even stop at the supplements store, down the way, to pick up some much needed bottles...
about an hour into our "errand running date night" we pulled into Powell's for a simple time waster and book looking.

photo credit

ahhhh... the book store.
ahhhh.... the Powell's Book Store.
new. used. multiple topics. and just fun things to look at.

Our date night suddenly had a"pick me up" as we walked through many aisles filled high with books.... laughing. sharing. talking. We barely finished in the kids section when we realized that the store was closing in 15 minutes.
How can that be.... I wasn't even close to the cookbooks, craft books... nor the gardening books.... I didn't even get to touch the bargain box! One must visit the bargain box!

NO! NO! NO! stores don't close at 7pm.... oh wait. It's Sunday.
Sadly, with our copy of Treasure Island and The Iron Giant... I dragged my feet and whimpered to the check out counter... begging for them to stay open just a little bit longer.

As we got into the car I look at the hubby and said "Do people give gifts for half birthdays?" and the hubby just tapped my head ( like a small puppy) and said " there, there. let's take you home."

I replied back with genuine excitement "When can we do the bookstore again?"
he laughed saying "We need to get you out more often, don't we."

"understatement".

looking forward....

2013-02-22T12:45:00.003-08:00

he keeps himself busy

2013-02-20T10:10:00.001-08:00

so, as I have shared with you all many times...
Whenever I go away, somethings happens here...
and it always rocks my socks!

things get built....
and not small things...
but huge en-devours happen, and I come home to a whole new something or other.
(like a tree house in the back yard!)
well, this past trip... was no exception.
The boys decided to build my raised beds.

look at this space....

its almost finished....

but when I left, it was just a flat ground level where our play structure use to be....

and now its a beautiful extension to our already amazing garden space.

OH MY HEAD... is BUZZING with all the great produce I can grow this year!!!

the view from my kitchen window

::and the answer to the already popular question::
is NO! My hubby is not for lease, sale or borrow!
well, maybe for borrow~ chocolate and macarons speak volumes.
just sayin'

refreshed.

2013-02-19T10:03:00.001-08:00

I have a place....
I call my HAPPY PLACE.

It is here I find quiet. calm. rest. and friendship.
It is here where I sleep~
drink coffee~

not a bad view for a cup of joe!

Sloppy Moussaka

and cook amazing meals that may not go over well at home.
Where the time ends to quickly....

but I leave with a sense of joy and peace to return to what is the norm.

RECIPE UPDATE::

SLOPPY MOUSSAKAs recipe was a huge huge hit! They were amazing with a handful of garlic fries and a PONZI pinot noir.... This meal is a definite make again for the hubby (its a touch to "hot" for the littles).

The recipe was in this month's Rachel Ray Magazine or you can click here for the link. enjoy!

bags are packed

2013-02-14T21:33:00.000-08:00

this lady is going out of town.
leaving early.
leaving the boys.

and not looking back~
see you soon!
(with a few stories to tell....)

February

2013-02-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

Modern Artwork design by Other Metro Etsy

this month.... February

brings grey skies...
brown and hard ground...
the darkened hours start to lift...
I guess some would say the "blah" month before spring hope begins.

but wait.... right smack dab in the middle...
is a day~ a day of pinks, reds, and hearts.
kinda a more feminine day....
but one that sparks love and friendship.
a glimmer of bright and smiles.
Happy Valentine's Day!

oh, and to make you day brighter....
bake this::
Chocolate Mousse (via Martha Stewart)
I always half this recipe... because its so good, I cannot have any extra around! Or ELSE!

Finally

2013-02-13T09:16:00.001-08:00

FINALLY~ EGGS!

photo credit

your wondering.... what are you talking about?
and honestly, I have no idea what I am talking about....
but the hens decided to all stop laying for a while.
for a very LONG while.
One started to molt in September.... the others followed suit soon after.....
and it has been a very S.L.O.W. molt.
and the eggs stopped!

I believe we got one egg in December.
We got another 1 in early January.
and since September~ we have had no more than 5.

I have hated the fact that buying eggs at the market is now a monthly thing... especially when I have girls in the yard for that! Its the same feeling I get when I need to replace a brand new pair of jeans that my son, so kindly, decided to slide into third base.... and rip up. It makes me want to "GRRRR!"

When one has bird struggles- you seek out advice.... and at our local feed shop the owner has birds~ and struggles with the same thing. She said that with 20 bird~ she only had 7 eggs for the whole month of December.

The weather.
The dark. (even with a light in the coop)
The molting.
so many factors.....

as of this past week though.... there has been some ruckus in the coop, and the girls have started to sing again. The past two days we have had 1 egg.
Imagine my excitement when today I walked out to find 2.
it was almost as if I could sing from a mountain top....( I have never been known to not be dramatic!).

Who knew that having chickens would create such excitement in one person.... much like the birth of your first child (ok, so not THAT exciting), but maybe when your child brings home their first 100% on a spelling test... Or when they finally start understanding multiplication tables (can you tell I have a 4th grader!).

So, all this to say.... We have eggs.... and I am "oh so happy" about it!

there is a word.

2013-02-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

There is a word...
a word that has been floating around me lately.
that has been in my head...
in my heart...
just really... everywhere.

so much so, that I have really begun to reflect on it....
praying my life oozes what this word is.

KIND. /kīnd/
adj. having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature.

KINDNESS./ˈkīn(d)nis/
noun. a kind act.

I watch the ELLEN SHOW... every morning.... I record it, and once the kids are off to school, with a cup of coffee in hand I watch her. I adore the first 10 minutes... Many times I am laughing so hard~ my side aches with genuine joy.... My husband knows that if its 9am, and I am busting up in laughter I am doing one of two things.

Talking with my friend Kristin (one of the kindest people I know) on the phone or
watching ELLEN.

Ellen always ends her show with these words " BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER".
and every time (honestly- EVERY TIME!) she says that... I imagine a world who would embrace just those simple words.
to BE KIND.
I was raised by parents who embraced kindness. Who taught empathy and giving to others. I watched as RANDOM ACTS of KINDNESS were just a simple act in everyday life. My dad~ was probably one of the most beautiful givers of kindness I had the privilege to be around.

KINDNESS. you see, for me.... the word kindness is very much a word that involves action.... motion... a seeking out of. Your heart is the leading force of kindness... and as your heart is open to others, so is your ability to act. Its those little tugs of "I think", "I wish", or "Maybe one days" that begin to change to "I will", I can" and "today is the day".... those actions that speak louder than words.
the more silent the action.... the louder the gift of kindness.

I reflect...BE KIND.

I long to seek out KINDNESS.
because it matters.

I pray that one day... someone will use that word...
to describe me.

"oh my" cookies

2013-02-11T13:25:00.000-08:00

you will never guess where I got this recipe....
oh wait, maybe you can guess...
where have I been getting EVERYTHING... lately!

PINTEREST again... yes, I know.
but once again... the search for things sweet, tasty and amazing... all get generated through this site.

This sweet treat was from Food Blog STICKY:GOOEY:CREAMY:CHEWY and her recipe for HolyCrapAmazingCookies was one that I just couldn't pass up. This past weekend I was in the role of Single Parent ... and we planned to hang out with some friends Saturday night. I wanted to bring along something that everyone would likely enjoy. This is where this recipe came in. By the way.... the given name says it all!!!

They were super yummers!
Both boys loved them. I made them with Gluten Free Cornflakes (which were SUPER HARD TO FIND!!!!) and mini marshmallows for an added goodness. With my youngest on board with these balls of "goodness me" tastiness... I knew they could be brought along to share with others.
Lets just say... They were a hit!

seriously- make them! You cannot go wrong.

yield 1 1/2 dozen

1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup of creamy peanut butter
3 cups corn flakes ( we have GF ones)
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
3 oz. dark chocolate (melted)

pour into medium size bowl flakes and mini marshmallows and set aside.
on low heat mix together the sugar and corn syrup and bring to a full boil.
remove from heat- and add-in peanut butter.
once sugar and peanut butter and melted and blended~ pour over dry mix of flakes and marshmallows. Be sure to mix well and coat all the flakes.
with a spoon or cookie scoop ~ roll into 1-2 inch balls and set on parchment paper.
drizzle with melted chocolate.

let cool... or at least rest for a few minutes (if you can!). and ENJOY!

trust me, you will be camped out at the table for a while as you lick your fingers with a smile!

with gratitude

2013-02-09T07:30:00.001-08:00

on my FACEBOOK wall today I wrote::

It is with a grateful heart that I post today. Through the pure fighting spirits and drive of many amazing people... I was able to see many of you care, love, and encourage in a way that I had never experienced firsthand before. Whether you voted, shared the story, or rallied until the bitter end... you brought tears to my eyes, many times over, the past weeks. With simple touches of love. Outstretched arms of encouragement. and floods of inspiration. Bjorn's story ( which is special to me), was shared and in-turn, gave many people tears, inspiration and hope. Which if you knew Bjorn~ you know that he brings those things into my life each day that I get to be his mother. So, thank you. Thank you for clicking "LIKE" on a photo. Thank you for posting it on your wall. His story was told to more than 3000 people... and my inbox was flooded with messages of pure love for him. No matter what happens in his little life... he touched many~ because you shared! Thank you!

to read the story about the contest I am giving thanks for click HERE

to see his winning photo click HERE

I think we all need a pep talk

2013-02-06T09:52:00.000-08:00

If life is a game.... we are all on the same team... right?!?!
This is life people...you have air coming through your nose... you got a heartbeat~ that means its time to do something!

I want to be on the one that leads to AWESOME!
Keep going... keep going.. and keep going!
What will you create that will make the world awesome?

this is YOUR time... this is MY time... This is OUR time...
WE WERE MADE TO BE AWESOME!
give the world a reason to dance...

a day of hearts...

2013-02-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

its time to start thinking valentine's day cards.
With a 4th grader~ I know that this will soon come to an end for one of my boys....
do they give out valentines in Jr.High???

You know me,
I don't like to spend money on cards... I will buy everything else "hearts" worthy, but for cards~ I like to make my own. I know, logically, it makes no sense.... but~ its how we roll here at the homestead~ completely senseless!

once again, PINTEREST has saved the day....
seriously people, it is a love hate relationship with that site.... love because you find all theses amazing things ....hate because you find all these amazing things! The time seems to fly as you "play" around looking at weddings ideas (and I'm already married!).

back to our Valentines.
for O~ we found some free star wars ones... that are 4th grader worthy! Who knew that boys could have such an opinion on cards... but I showed him three different ones, and he said these ones were the "coolest". I have to admit~ they are pretty awesome! We added an additional "rebel seal" on the back to make it "authentic", cut them out... and now we need to sign and distribute! You can find the link to AleciaDawn Photography and her Star Wars awesomeness here.

for B~ since he cant really have candy (or should I say.... most candies) we went with a sweet little playdoh valentine found at SUPERMOM here . They say "YOU BETTER SHAPE UP.... MY HEART IS SET ON YOU"

and sadly,
I am going to say this....
sadly, the entire time I was cutting and filling the paper bags I was singing this song.

oh wait... what's that.... Your gonna be singing it now... for the rest of the day.... whoooppssie!
my bad! Have fun with that!

"your the one that I want.... your the one I really want... who hoo hoo... honey!"

I just can't.

2013-02-02T10:39:00.001-08:00

I bought FLUVOGS for my birthday. For those of you who do not know Fluvog Shoes.... you may not want to visit their website.... they have the funnest, most unique shoes ever! Not to mention probably the most comfortable....
yes they are pricey...
but, they are worth every penny. I have a few pairs that I have acquired over the past 19 years, and I wear them ALL the time.... my pair that is 19 years old are still going strong... and they are just as awesome as the day I bought them. Many years ago, I would "have to" travel to New York to buy them.... (pre-Internet). Lucky for me, I have friends there... so I would visit them on my way to the store ( just kidding .. I am not that shallow!). Today, there is not only the Internet, but there is also a shop in the city... just a stone's throw away! (which is good/and bad~ you know what I mean!)

I bought a pair, on sale... for my birthday....
and I can't wear them.
don't get me wrong....they are awesome! super fun! really cute! and I love them!

but on the bottoms they have this quote!
its so perfect.... I don't want to wear it off.
oh what a dilemma!

This is what they say on the bottoms of my shoes

"Hey Minstrel, (music notes) Your love makes me sing! Arise! Come with me!"

do you see the dilemma!

Curses John Fluvog... curses!

Birthday bucket

2013-01-30T15:22:00.000-08:00

so last year, on my 40th birthday I wrote out a bucket list. I found it was a great experience for me to put down in words things that I want to do.. could do... and should do. I re-read it last night and saw that I can start to cross off some on the list...
as well as, maybe add a few more.

so, in celebration of being 40 plus 1
I bring you the updated bucket list.

~~experience family life~~ (or should a say... doing!)
travel through South France (Provence area)
Travel through Greece and Italy (the whole Mediterranean area, really!)
Live in a flat in the Netherlands
~~tour and sing with a band~~
Open a small restaurant that serves homemade baked goods and soups.
enjoy a Hot Air Balloon ride (I will do it this year!)
~~be a mentor to college kids~~
volunteer at an orphanage/medical center in Africa.
knit a sweater
~~teach piano lessons~~
have lunch with Colin Firth
~~see O ~ Cirque De Soleil~~
hang out in Hawaii with Jack Johnson and his family.
Take the kids to Walt Disney World
visit the Grand Canyon
be a host mom (a billet) for a Portland WinterHawk's hockey player.
snowboard in Whistler, BC (or just hang out in the village)
~~win big in LasVegas, NV~~
visit and dwell with the Amish community for a weekend or two.
London, England
learn to spin wool.
take a pastry class at Western Culinary (registration starts in Fall~ looked at the schedule)
go to a NHL Stanley Cup finals game
work on a local farm for a week during the springtime. ( doing this Spring)
be on the Martha Stewart Show (okay-so this one if far fetched~ due to her show being cancelled this season!)
~~learn the ukulele~~ ( got one for Christmas 2012 and am plucking away!)
~~graduate from college~~
Niagara Falls, New York
~~Snowboard in Mammoth,CA~~
~~own chickens~~
~~walk the streets of Dublin, Ireland (~~in platforms ~ and tripped!)

::Now adding::.

33. Volunteer for Pacific Whale Foundation

34. Beekeeping

35. visit with a blogging friend, in person!

36. learn to make leftse

37. sleep in an overnight train

38. sit in the audience of a live TV show

39. try glassblowing
40. horseback ride on the beach

"Life is either a daring adventure

or nothing at all"

~Helen Keller

a tisket a tasket

2013-01-29T08:20:00.003-08:00

I asked for a basket.

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I asked for one of those big garden baskets.... you know...like these ones that you can get at Lee Valley

these baskets are great because you can pick your veggies, and then hose the dirt off while they are resting still in the basket. Its great~ no more bringing in dirt to the kitchen sink while you rinse your veggies.

there is only one problem- these babies are $50.

NEVER FEAR~ PINTEREST IS HERE!
I found that I had PINned a DIY on making one a few months ago. The DIY was through runnerduck.com and I showed it to the hubby to see if he could work his magic.
Of course...you know he can... especially if he made my closet shelves and the kids' tree house...
The DIY is for a small basket,but the great things is~ you can make it your own.
The hubby said he made it for less than $10 and it took him less than 2 hours to put it all together.

and its huge!
and gorgeous!
I must say I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.... my husband says I'm pretty easy to please. its a Win~Win for both of us.

In the Closet

2013-01-26T16:27:00.000-08:00

Remember my ramblings about my downstairs closet...under the stairs....
I had PINned some ideas, and thought of a few of my own...
but with a space so narrow, and odd... I didnt quite know what to expect.
I stated my ideas, showed the hubby the plans... and waited as he began to prep his mind for this task (as the chore was put on the honey-do list... along with many other things)

Early this month I emptied it out.
Painted it.
and gave my hubby a week to work his magic.

Behold,

magic was performed.

one side is perfect for wine bottle,

root veggies,

and baskets of "what nots"

storage!

and the other side fits multiple rows of mason jars of all sizes...

ready for years to come of canning goods.

oooo....canning space!

I added some chicken silhouettes on the door...
and kept the jacket/backpack hooks.

here chickie!

"Oh goodness me!" the space is amazing. It has given so much more room in my kitchen~ I LOVE IT!
dont you?

so, what have you PINned lately?.... and do you like it?

so I did a little something

2013-01-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

that I NEVER do!!!
but, I saw the contest, and knew that maybe... I could shed some hope that we found in our lives.
This was a hope that we would have never expected...
a hope that was found in an animal.
an animal that is not really alive....
but... gave life....
to a boy who needed help.

You have read about bunny before.
HERE and HERE

but even with that said.... bunny goes everywhere with us.....
for proof see HERE

and is part of our everyday lives.
for proof see HERE

you see, Bunny (her full name is Bunny Bumpy), saved our lives. As in the previous posts you read about his difficulty in sleep... she not only helped him sleep.... but she became such a part of his life... that it was in the relationship with her, that we realized he could engage with others. So we began to use Bunny as the gateway to him. We used her in Speech and Social therapy, Vision Therapy and in Occupational therapy all the time.... She started to help him in opening up, not only with us, but with others as well. He didn't speak for a while... so we encouraged him to talk to bunny. Then bunny would turn to us and whisper in my ear. I would pretend that I couldn't hear bunny~ and so he would have to tell me.
We found if he could look at bunny, he could learn to look at others. If he could be compassionate with bunny, he could learn to be compassionate with others. If bunny was with him.... he was more willing to experience the world. If bunny was with him... he was more willing to allow the world experience him.
Bunny gave us language.
Bunny gave us nourishment. ( she was used to help him eat)
Bunny gave us touch.
Bunny gave us communication.
Bunny gave us connection.
Bunny gave us behavioral tools.

Bunny gave us.....OUR SON.

My son.... grew in ways that I never thought possible..... all because he loved a bunny.

so, I did a little something.....
I was told of this contest for PEOPLE.COM..... its a silly little entry about "Tot's favorite Playthings" and I have this photo of B with Bunny Bumpy, that just melts my heart.... you just really see the tenderness that he has for her..... and I thought, well, I'm gonna just send it in.

this is the picture!

Well, they posted it.
And, well, Bunny now has an opportunity to have her story told.....
its based on "LIKES"
and if Bjorn and Bunny get the most "likes" they could be on the web site.
How great would it be to have their photo on the web....
but also, how beautiful would it be, if the story of a boy and his bunny was told.
How a child with autism.... through the simple gift of a bunny.... was able to connect with his world around him.
You see,
HOPE!
Bunny gave a boy HOPE.
Hope for a future. Hope for family. Hope for a life outside of his internal world.
So if you read my blog....
please take a moment and "LIKE" his photo.
and lets see if we can share the story of a boy and his bunny (I know a long shot....)
Click here.... to visit PEOPLE.COM and vote for my boy and his bunny.
if you have other social medias.... please share his story... and lets see how many LIKES he can get.

and tomorrow... I promise I will be back to my normal programming.....
maybe!

We CAN!

2013-01-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

we need this printed in our house... as a constant reminder that we can~ and always can!