Oh So Much More...

The Goodbye

2012-08-30T15:00:00.000-04:00

After a lot of thought I have decided to step away from the blogging world.

I have never been very good at goodbye's, but I do have some "good" for this goodbye...

When I started this little blog in 2010 I had huge aspirations for where it would go and the experiences that I would have. What I didn't realize is that what I actually would learn would be far greater than my limited expectations. Nope, I never made it to a fashion week, and nope, I never worked with a huge brand, but what I did discover was a little niche full of amazing women who taught me so much about life and it's influence on style and along the way I was able to help a few fabulous people as well.

I don't care what anyone says, you feel better and act differently when you look put together. The cool part is that "being put together" is a relative term and can mean a zillion different things to a zillion different people. Style is not fashion. Style is who you are and why you choose to wear something. I have learned that fashion is part of style, but you have to know your style to truly appreciate fashion. Not everything in fashion is going to be wearable to everyone based on their personal style. I am beginning to develop my own style and have learned to be creative. I can, seriously, not even enter into my closet and view my clothing the same way all because of blogging. I am so completely thankful for that.

The needs, at the time, for starting my own blog weren't entirely clear to me. I understand them now and, well, my needs have changed and I don't need to blog to have them fulfilled anymore. This is honestly, the main reason for me shutting down Oh So Much More... I am moving in a new direction with my life and the place within myself that was once filled with blogging needs to be open for new experiences to have room to grow.

The most important aspect to me right now is to acknowledge all I owe my followers and how I appreciate you staying with me through the many changes that the past year as brought me. I wish you well and please know that I have appreciated every comment and email that you took the time to send me during your busy day. I also so appreciate all of the new people who have continued to find and read my little blog. Hopefully we will cross paths again, so until than, thank you, thank you , thank you, and take care.

XOXO,

Julie

Oh, So Many...

2012-08-13T01:00:00.000-04:00

There have been...

Oh, so many changes here.

Oh, so many new things have been discovered.

Oh, so many dreams that were pinned have made themselves a reality.

So thanks for hanging in there while all of these, oh, so many experiences have been taking place the last few months and in all seriousness thanks for all the support since Oh, So Much More was created.

As with any change life looks a little different, so I hope that you continue to read on while I make a few changes in the content I share right here at Oh, So Much More.

Let the journey toward a beautiful life begin!

Time Keeps On Moving

2012-06-13T01:00:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe that another school year is over, but it is.

I have no idea where the time went, but it went just the same.

Otto is done with his first year of school today and I am finished teaching tomorrow.

Than it is on to moving, divorce finalizing, and starting again.

It is so strange to me that things have happened so quickly.

I think back to last year at this time and it seems like ten years have passed since than.

Anyway, cheers to a new chapter and a fresh start.

I am excited by the possibilities of not having any idea of where my life is going or what is going to happen to me.

For the first time ever I have no plans and that is just fine with me.

Happy end to the school year everybody.

XOXO,

Julie

Oh, The Torture

2012-06-06T01:00:00.000-04:00

(Worn in April before the May debacle)

I cannot stand shopping for jeans.

When I think of a torturous shopping experience, buying jeans or a swimsuit come in at a close tie.

Since finding a jean that fits just right is so difficult I only actually own two pair.

This particular pair pictured was one of those two.

Notice I say "was".

Yep, they have died and gone to jean recycling.

I was slightly devastated when my brother oh so casually asked me if my jeans were ripped.

I told him, with a protective "No", that they were of course not ripped and than I felt my hands even more protectively feel the back of them.

To my horror, I realized that he had been rather kind in his question because they were not just ripped but the entire seam had disappeared!

Ugh!

Second ugh, how in the heck did I not notice this before walking all over town in them!

Pure humiliation at it's best.

Any suggestions on how to make this shopping trip a little less of a horror story?

All points and tips would be greatly appreciated.

I don't mind spending a little more for jeans, but I do live on a budget so I don't want to spend a crazy sum of money on a pair of jeans.

The exception would be if they have some kind of magical power attached to them that will grant me model-esque qualities than by all means I will shell out the cash in a heart beat.

Who couldn't take an Emperor's New Clothes moment again in their life? LOL!

XOXO,

Julie

A Little Fedora

2012-06-04T01:00:00.000-04:00

I have to say, one of my favorite ways to mix up my closet is to wear items that are a little more dressy with a casual spin.

I find if I can spin my wardrobe in this way than I can stretch it in a new directions.

I find myself wishes that I lived during a time where hats were a must wear statement for every outfit.

Hats are one of my favorite accessories, but honestly I hardly ever wear them.

I have quite a few and they never quite make it to being worn.

On a whim I decided to wear this fedora to try out the idea of adding a few more hats to my styling options.

I love how it looks with this outfit and I love how it looks without the fedora as well.

I suppose that is the beauty of accessories, outfits can work in lots of different ways with just a change of an accessory.

Have you ever tried to mix up an outfit with changing up your accessories?

I would love to hear about what accessories surprised you in your remix.

Happy Monday!

XOXO,

Julie

Popping Collars

2012-06-01T01:00:00.000-04:00

I have become a little obsessed with styling using my jean jacket this Spring.

Spring is definitely coming to an end in Michigan.

School is winding down and the weather is heating up.

I mean, heating up for reelz this time peeps, not just that oh so sweet gift in March we

received of balmy weather.

~~(No idea where that came from but I am just going to go with it.)~~

Warm weather equals fewer layers and little miss jean jacket is about to be packed back into the closet.

Before it say "see you later" until fall, here is one look that I love and wanted to share.

Embarrassing Habit: I have to pop my collar. I seriously cannot wear the collar down. It is like an itch that won't go away if I know it is down. So pop, pop, pop your collar and salute the 1980's prepsters for that precious fashion gift that just keeps on giving.

XOXO,

Julie

Tippy Toes

2012-05-30T01:00:00.000-04:00

I love flats, but have yet to figure out how to pose in them without wanting to

stand on my tippy toes.

I can only assume that it is some reaction from childhood from begging my mom to let me wear heels in middle school when she wouldn't let me.

There may even be a family wedding picture out there from around that time with me, very obviously, standing on my tippy toes to appear taller in my white patent leather flats.

~~I am definitely not going to vent into a diatribe about my loathing of my legs.~~

~~I diatribes enough in the last post to last me awhile.~~

So am I the only tippy toer out there?

Does anyone else have the same response when wearing flats and taking pictures?

XOXO,

Julie

Pick Wisely

2012-05-29T14:45:00.000-04:00

"People inspire you, or they drain you ~

pick them wisely."

~ Hans F. Hansen

I choose to live an inspired life as much as humanly possible.
I choose purposely to surround myself with people who are inspiring.
So, what happens when you cannot pick who you surround yourself with?
This question could be used to sum up this past weekend.
I traveled 4 hours away to spend time with individuals who I have not gone to visit
in a couple of years.
Oh, sure, I have seen them on occasion, but I haven't driven the 4 hour trek to be a guest
in their home for an entire weekend in two years.

Here is why:
I was brought up in a home where I was encouraged to be inspired by
the adults in my life.
I wanted, so badly, to be just like them.
I wanted, so badly, to be accepted.
I wanted, so badly, to just be loved for me.
It was a failing battle.
It was a war that could not be won.
I finally had to just surrender and move on.
Either, I was going to accept them for the all that they could offer, and let that be enough,
or I was going to continue to live my life as if I was never worthy of love, their's or anyone else's.
I couldn't decide what to do.
I couldn't choose.
Deep down so desperately wanting something that I had asked for and was told it wasn't possible.
So I simply avoided.

Oh, I am far from perfect, "I don't walk on water", and "I never asked to be placed on a
pedestal".
I have screwed up and I have battled my inner most hurt little girl for the ability to make
decisions that are the "right" one's in my life and that have not been made out a deep desire to just be loved.
And I have had to apologize on more than one occasion.
And, as you all know, I am correcting the latest misdirection in my quest for love and acceptance right now.
You may find it interesting to know that that person and this person have MANY similar personality traits, or maybe you wouldn't find it all that interesting if you have ever looked at the psychology of childhood and the impact it has on adult relationships.

Here is the answer I came up with...
You cannot choose, but you can choose.
You can choose how you will react around the people who choose to drain.
You can choose to let it roll over you like a gentle wave.
You can choose to give the kindness your gentle soul needs.
You can choose to be the example you wish they could be.
Because, they can't be what you want or what you need.
And they never could no matter what they say.

So what now...
I seek to live a life that is positive.
I seek to live a life filled with hope.
I seek to live a life of peace.
I seek to live a life that can inspire.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

XOXO,

Julie
___________________________

Linking up for
Monday Mingle

Playing Catch Up

2012-05-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

Dress: Ross
Heels: Target
Sunnies: From My Sister

This weekend is all about playing catch up.

I am catching up on posting pictures from the last two months.

(These are from a trip I took to Niagra Falls and Toronto for work)

I am catching up on spending time with my dad, brother, and step-mom, as well as meeting

my brother's girlfriend for the first time.

I am catching up on a much needed road trip with my sister, brother-in-law, and sweet little nieces. (Pinconning De Pepper Mill can't wait to see ya!)

That alone makes for a terrific and interesting weekend.

And I am catching up on some much needed relaxation.

I hope you are spending your weekend in splendid ways as well.

If, not, well there is always Fourth of July to look forward to.

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone.

XOXO,

Julie

Color Me

2012-05-23T14:45:00.000-04:00

One thing that style blogging doesn't hold back on is holding a mirror, so to speak, up for me to have to take a good hard look at myself.

I am not loving what I see right now.

Solution: To Get Movin

I have always been terrified of running long distances.

Yep, completely terrified.

I can only assume this irrational fear comes from my childhood and being one of the last kids to finish the mile in gym class.

You see I am REALLY competitive when it comes to games or sports.

I like to win and I cannot stand losing.

This is a character flaw that I have been dealing with for sometime now.

Anyway, one of my bucket list items is to run a 5K.

So, when I heard about the Color Run from one of my students I couldn't imagine a better way to kick my fear in the butt.

Problem: I would have to run.

There was no way that I would be able to do this on my own so I enlisted my sister to help me out.

Away we went and guess what?

I DID IT!
I ran 1.5 miles straight and, other than needing to work on developing a rhythm to my breathing, I felt amazing.

Now I need to invest in a better pair of shoes and a heart rate monitor.

Any suggestion?

Color Run here I come.

XOXO,

Julie

Oh, For The Love

2012-05-21T10:51:00.001-04:00

Shoes, shoes, shoes, that was all I could think of this morning.

Why shoes?

Because these were the items that my son decided that he wouldn't wear to school.

He even went so far as to hide them.

Yep, he hid them I tell you.

This might have just been something of an annoyance except for the part where I drove him all the way to school and THAN figured out what he had done.

All the way back home we went and all the way back to school with the shoes on his feet.

All I can say is that had it not been for the love I so strongly feel for this child and the hysterical story it will make in 10 years, I would have not been so jolly walking into work later than usual this morning.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Linking up for Monday Mingle. Go check out everyone else's style on this lovely Monday.

XOXO,

Julie

A Time To Explain and Turning It Over

2012-05-16T10:51:00.000-04:00

A Time To Explain...

When I was younger I had a picture in my head of what my life would become.

I made lists and plans and more lists and more plans.

I was a major planner and along with it, a map of my own making.

I never thought about the fact that maybe the decisions I was making, while all of the planning was taking place, might not be the best one's at the time.

If the decision seemed to fit the plan than I took that road instead of another one that might lead into unplanned land.

I was far from adventurous.

I was "safe".

I chose the path that made the most "sense".

I chose the path that I could control, although I was certainly wrong about that as I would learn much later.

Truthfully, control is overrated and honestly, all it does is suck precious energy that could be used in better ways.

Control may seem like it is working for awhile, but what one's begins to learn is that it is just a game and I HATE games.

Fast forward, to the end of 2011, as my world and my plans were unravelling before my eyes and I am fighting desperately for control and failing miserably.

I needed to make a decision and for the first time the map was blank.

No plans, no decisions already made, no path to follow, only the complete unknown.

This was mentally, emotionally, and physically draining for me.

I needed to decide, but for the first time I would have to go off course.

I would have to "rough" it and I knew that meant there would be a significant amount of pain and I HATE pain.

The decision came from digging deep inside myself.

I have no idea why I never dig deep until I am so desperate that I cannot even think.

When I have run out of thoughts and ideas is usually when the digging begins.

(I am working on figuring out a solution for this as we speak.)

The answer that was discovered was more painful than anything that, I decided, I would have to face.

The answer was that I had been living in pain for years upon years and ironically, over the most of that time I had been in physical pain as well.

If I had been ignoring my inner monologue my body wasn't.

Interestingly enough after I made the decision to accept the pain that would be caused to end my marriage, some of the physical pain was alleviated.

Emotional pain replaced the physical pain though, but unlike fighting it in the past I let it roll over me like waves.

I have always been a spiritual person, but not religious.

I have always been uncomfortable in church and would prefer to do my honoring of the Holy Spirit in the privacy of my own space.

I have always kept my spirituality to myself.

I count my relationship with God as one of the closets relationships that I have, but if you asked anyone close to me they wouldn't be able to tell you this.

I am not one to flaunt it.

(Well, until now that I am sharing it with the world on the internet.)

The concept of turning it over wasn't foreign to me, but letting go in the process was.

I let go of the control and ...

When the pain became too overwhelming I started turning it over to God.

When decisions seemed too overwhelming I turned it over to God.

When I didn't want to wake up some mornings or even function enough to do what I needed to do during the day, I turned it over to God.

Every path I have followed in the last 5 months has been directed by turning it over to God.

Here is where giving up control and turning it over has taken me...

Currently I have no plans.

Currently I have no map.

Currently my future is a blank book.

Turning it over is my new plan.

Currently I am more at peace than I have been all of my life.

When my new plan became turning it over to God, and allowing myself to finally listen to my inner and physical dialogue, the pain slowly subsided.

The process has been rocky especially when I feel out of control and fall back on old habits.

It is a constant factor of being aware of what is going on and turning it over to God.

So thank you kind readers for your emails and comments throughout this rocky process. We are moving towards the end so I felt that you deserved to know why I had made the decisions that I have made the last few months. For all of your who asked me how I was managing to get through it, turning it over and giving up control was the only solution (and a hell of a lot of counseling). Thank you so much for sticking with me and for the new friends that I have met through this process, thank you so much for keeping me going with your kind words.

Sincerely,

Julie

It's All Left Eye Here...

2012-05-04T16:21:00.002-04:00

It is all Left Eye tears here.

I feel that I have been possessed by a zombie.
I have taken a beating this week.
People who barely know me are shocked that I have not been driven to drink.
Friends and family keep reminding me of how strong they see me.
They keep telling me that I possess an unimaginable amount of courage.
That I am "JULIE" and that I can do anything and that this too shall pass.

The funny thing is that I know that they are right.
A year from now I will look back at all of this and while it may still hurt, I will be better, happier, and even appreciated.
So why than is that funny?
Because, while I know they are right in my brain, my heart hurts with a constant throbbing pain.

6 days.
6 days without my children.
6 days without seeing their smiling, sweet, and precocious faces.
6 days is a LONG TIME people!

Here is my attempt at the positive...
6 days will be followed by 5 days of uninterrupted joy of cuddles and kisses and hugs only to be followed by 5 days of pain and the pattern repeats. (Whoops, guess the positive isn't really coming through right now)
I know that in a year this will be routine but, right now, it is torture.
I feel like it is going to be a constant ripping of a band aid.
A constant festering wound of loss.

Yes, I wanted the divorce.
Yes, I needed the divorce.
Yes, I would not change that fact.
Yes, in a year I do anticipate that I will be better and, by God, IT HAS TO BE to make the 5 days worth all the pain.

~Julie

Wish Come True, Sort Of

2012-04-17T08:04:00.003-04:00

Well, I got my wish... laying around in sweats today.

Unfortunately, it is so I can more easily and efficiently clean up

the puke Otto is heaving.

Beggars can't be choosers.

Happy Tuesday!

Slovenly Chic

2012-04-16T13:30:00.002-04:00

Shirt: Gap, Thrifted, Salvation Army

Jeans: Gap

Vest: Worthington, Thrifted, Goodwill

Heels: Jessica Simpson, Filene's Basement

Choker Necklace: Banana Republic, Outlet

Long Beaded Necklace: Lia Sophia

I have been feeling like a total slob.

Getting out of bed, let alone, getting dressed has been a task lately.

I would love to be able to simply walk around in yoga pants and am seriously jealous of the physical education teachers who actually get to do this very thing everyday.

My solution to my slovenly ways is to try and figure out the closest items that create a feeling of comfort and than try to amp them up with accessories.

This outfit is a perfect example of this.

Start with a comfy cotton button up shirt, high waist jeans that hug curves, a vest to pull the entire outfit together, and fun accessories.

While still wishing for yoga pants, I appear put together and don't have to worry about a What Not To Wear moment.

Although Stacy and Clinton if you are available I would love an escape to New York, a closet revamp, and hair extensions. That is all, not much, just a little.

Linking Up With Monday Mingle:

Your Oh So tony...

2012-04-12T01:00:00.000-04:00

...and I don't mean the common Italian name.

I am talking about...

"An Americanism, tony entered the language in the 1870s.

Its precise origin is unclear, but it is related to the word

tone meaning "a particular quality or way of sounding."

Also meaning, high toned, stylish"

dictionary.com

So I have decided that Rachel Zoe can keep bananas

because from now on I am

oh so very tony!

(I would like to point out that I never really used

the term bananas to describe anything. Well,

except for that one time when I did and let's just say

that it didn't go over well with the 5 year old

and under crowd.

All they said was sure mom I will have a banana!)

I am positive tony will be received much better.

I can just see it now,

Me: "Isn't this outfit so tony?"

Otto or Ava: "My name isn't tony mama.

Why can't you ever remember my name?"

Me: "Oh, but you are so tony my little love!"

Yep, it is going to be so tony to use tony to describe tony things.

XOXO,

Julie

Pouncing

2012-04-11T14:37:00.001-04:00

A few little lovelies that I am coveting...

Zara

Topshop

Joss & Main

I have to say I have a love hate relationship with animal print clothing.

I tend to purchase and than never wear the print.

But as I am planning out my new home I am finding my animal print

love sneaking it's way into my decorating ideas.

I decided that it must be meant to be when I spotted my neighbors

putting out their garbage, which include a barely used zebra print chaise lounge!

My neighborhood rocks for finding amazing finds the night before trash day and Monday was my lucky night.

It is so lovely and so very me.

(Print is the same as the Joss and Main chair above)

I cannot wait to cuddle up in my fabulous chaise with a cup of coffee and a wonderful book.

XOXO,

Julie

Clothed In Strength, Laughs Without Fear

2012-04-06T16:51:00.001-04:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you dear sweet friend who sent me this quote.

I suppose if you see me this way than I can try it out.

Maybe it can become like my favorite neon pink cardigan.

The one that I wear when things are feeling upside down and

I need to be reminded that there is still fun and hope in store for me.

Just live for the second right? Than try for a minute, an hour, a day, etc.

That does sound like good advice.

Thank you dear friend.

XOXO,

Julie

No Sugar Fix Here...

2012-04-04T16:18:00.001-04:00

Divorce..

well it SUCKS!

No matter how agreeable,

no matter how amicable,

no matter how, without major problems,

it still SUCKS!

The pictures posted don't even match this post

but I seriously DON'T care.

I am sad, I am hurt, and I am drained.

I am broken by my 3 year old daughter's constant tummy aches

while all the while she is smiling and being her overly silly self.

She hides her sadness just like her mama.

I am broken by my 5 year old son telling me that I didn't hold

up my end of the deal.

The deal is that when you get married you stay married.

Wow, little man, you are wiser than I ever was at your age!

I am broken by a soon to be ex-husband who NEVER fought to keep me.

Why was I the only one ever fighting to keep this relationship going?

Why was I so lacking for your love and affection?

What the hell did I ever do to you besides giving you everything

and taking care of everything so you never had to be bothered?

I am broken, I am pissed, and I am angry.

I sick on lawyers and threats and court dates looming.

I am sick of decisions and being put on hold and arguing.

Bottom Line...

My life wasn't supposed to turn out like this.

My life wasn't supposed to include these details.

My life wasn't supposed to be a facade of

lies, excuses, and cover ups.

Bottom Line:

How the hell did I allow this to happen?

Oh, yeah,

I was terrified of being alone

and

I wanted to be married when I had children

and

Fear is far more powerful than love.

Fear is more powerful than any emotion.

Fear,

now that is something to look out for.

SO for all of the sugar coated posts here is a raw one for you.

No sugar coating here.

At least your are saving a few calories reading this:)

A small positive out a a lot of not.

Hips Might Just Lie

2012-03-30T01:00:00.000-04:00

Dress: Topshop

Necklace: TJMaxx

Belt: Forever 21

Heels: Payless

Watch: Kohl's (Gift)

I feel like I should be singing along with Shakira with my lovely lady curves in this dress. Funny, though, I am not sure how hips are supposed to lie and if they did lie would they tell everyone that I never consume sugar and that I always workout. I know that Shakira didn't mean it like that but what if? Yep, what if? Okay, enough of that. In her song hips don't lie in my version they just might stretch the truth a little bit. I would never want my hips to lie so yep I always consume sugar of some kind and I work out more than most. That most would be people who only sit on the couch though, but that is more, and more is more.

Have a wonderful weekend!

XOXO,

Julie

And for your viewing pleasure....

A little Shakira

Crazy Town Smile

2012-03-28T15:00:00.000-04:00

Shirt: Vintage, Goodwill

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Steve Madden, Marshall's

This hair growing out thang is driving me a little nuts I tell you, nuts! The hair on my head has reached the awkward stage of in between yuckness. It is too short to pull back into a pony tail and it is too long to simply wash and go. It is driving me crazy. I broke down and pulled out the hair straightener this morning. I haven't used it in exactly a year since I had my hair cut into a pixie and I am happy to say that it is like riding a bicycle AND my hair actually looked half way decent when I left this morning. The bummer is that I now am going to have to put in a humidity control product because as you can see I am looking a bit like I was electrocuted:( I realize that this entire conversation is ridiculous with everything else I have been dealing with but it is refreshing to deal with the mundane in the midst of crazy town.

Crazy town...

... like a mortgage refinancing company who keeps mistaking you for someone else and giving you the WRONG information and than doesn't bother to ever call back.

... A store that specializes in pretty underthings who doesn't send you a credit card bill in February and you think that you paid it off in January and get a BIG ding in your credit rating for a whopping $10 bill. Yeah, that is so much fun let me tell you.

... Even better, your buyers agent calls to ask you why she just had a phone call from the sellers agent of your new home asking why the deal is falling through because someone from your work called and told them that it was and they wanted to make an offer. Yep, fun times in my little world peeps. Fun I tell you, oh so much fun!

Bottom Line: I may be smiling in these pictures but I am finding it more and more difficult to smile these days. Yuck!

80's Lady Likey

2012-03-26T01:00:00.000-04:00

Dress: Belk

Shoes: Payless

Bracelet: F21, Gift from a student

Watch: Gift from my mom

Earrings: Target, Gift from my mom

80 degree weather is my favorite weather ever since it makes getting dressed a breeze, all I have to do is throw on a dress, shoes, and a few baubles and walk out the door. Seriously, it takes more time to pour a bowl of cereal and eat it than it does to get myself dressed. Oh, and since I have the extra time I actually get to eat said bowl of cereal in the morning before leaving the house. That is opposed to eating it out of tupperware at my desk as the bell rings and my students start arriving. I have often wondered what they must think as they enter the room and I am shoveling cereal into my mouth. Oh, don't worry children Mrs. S is eating her cereal at home out of a china bowl thanks very much to the temperature goodness that it is outside. It is the small things people, yep, the small things.

Dexter, MI: F-3 But Dread Naught

2012-03-20T01:00:00.000-04:00

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Dexter, MI: F-3 Tornado

Image of storm at Hudson Mills Metro Park

Living in Michigan I have dealt with tornado warnings and watches all my life. The closet that I have ever been to a real tornado was two year's ago when a F-1 touched down briefly 7 miles up the express way from our home in Milan. Thursday's storm hit far too close to home actually 1/4 of a mile from my mother's home was the epic center of destruction. As any adult-child would I was concerned and I was worried when I heard that a tornado had touched down in Dexter, but worry turned to panic when I found out that a colleague's home had the windows blown out 1/4 of a mile from my mother.

Akward:

- Not being able to get a hold of my mother for 2 hours after the storm hit and having no idea if she were okay.

- Roads blocked off and police barricades not allowing anyone to enter town to get to their homes and families who had lived through the tornado.

- GAWKERS and helicopters and did I mention Gawkers! (We were one of the most popular gawker destinations since all of the other destruction was still barricaded off to prevent looting.) I now have a better idea of how celebrities feel. Not a good one people!

- Picking up tiny pieces of people's possessions scattered all over the yard and field.

- Insulation covering every inch of my mom's home like snow (that we didn't have) at Christmas in December.

- Cleaning up the front porch and roof of the neighbor's home kitty corner to my mom, out of all of the trees, field, and yard.

- Finding out through Facebook that an acquaintance from HS had completely lost his home and all of it's contents. It had sustained a direct touchdown blow from the storm.

- Driving through the quaint town I grew up in and seeing all of the destruction and devastation. Simply surreal.

- Will go on record as the earliest and one of the worst tornadoes on record in Michigan. It is simply unheard of to have a storm this powerful in March in Michigan.

Acquaintance's Home

One of the news helicopters

Amazing:

- Not one person was killed during the storm and only 7 injuries! Now that is truly amazing!

- The immediate response to help those in need.

- The sense of community that was immediate as everyone joined together to help everyone else out. Amazing!

- The terrific outlooks people had who had been impacted but who all said that possessions and homes can be rebuilt. The fact that there wasn't a death or major injury was more important than the loss of stuff.

- The vast majority of building sustained minor damage because the trees literally fell around them.

- Finding honeymoon pictures of said acquaintance from HS, in the field next to my mom's house. As well as his credit card. The tornado had carried them 1/4 mile before dropping them.

- The only damage to my mom's house where two "good" trees. All the dead trees stayed standing, but the two good one's were lost and that was it!

- Being able to follow the debris pattern and realizing that the tornado had swirled around my mom's house but that it seemed that the house had been inside a bubble of protection.

Tree pulled up in my mom's front yard.

Five trees down, but not one of them fell on the house!

__________________________________________________________________

A Snapshot of the Storm:

A National Weather Service Storm Survey confirmed an EF-3 tornado touched down near Dexter, MI with maximum wind speeds of 135-140 mph. The path length was 7.2 miles with a maximum width of 800 yards. The tornado touched down at 5:17pm just northeast of the intersection of N Territorial and Dexter Townhall Rd. The tornado moved southeast and produced EF-1 damage with winds estimated at 100 mph. Damage was limited to uprooted and snapped trees as well as minor roof damage. The tornado strenthened as it hit the Horseshoe Bend Subdivision (it traveled through my former friend's parent's back yard) with winds estimated at 120 mph and structural damage to the outside of homes. The tornado then continued to track southeast alongside Dexter-Pinckney Rd. and produced EF-3 damage at 5:31pm. Winds estimated at 135-140 mph destroyed one home northwest of Dexter. The tornado then made a left turn and paralleled Huron River Dr.(literally traveling along the river and through my best friend's parent's backyard) producing EF-2 damage on the north side of Dexter. The tornado then produced EF-3 damage again at 5:49pm in the Huron Farms Subdivision with winds estimated at 135-140 mph. One home was destroyed (a acquaintance of mine from HS, we found his credit card and a two pictures of him on his honeymoon in the field next to my mom's home) and another house had only interior rooms left standing. The tornado then weakened as it moved southeast (the trees around my mom's home showed the last of the destruction) and lifted at 5:52pm near the intersection of Zeeb Rd. and Ann Arbor-Dexter Rd. The tornado scale is a 1-5 scale with 5 being the worst.

"We Are The Dreadnaughts

The Mighty, Mighty Dreadnaughts."

We will Dread Naught the storm,

but rebuild together with community spirit.

The message on Facebook over the weekend

was that our school mascot had never been so appropriate

as the community came together

to fight back and repair the damage left in the wake of the storm.

Saw Dust and Pennies

2012-03-19T01:00:00.000-04:00

Sunny days are here again. I love wearing red and white gingham. It reminds me of picnic table cloths and saw dust penny hunts. Oh, saw dust penny hunts! I have so many wonderful memories from childhood of searching for pennies in saw dust at union picnics in the summer. I think a close second would be eating ice cream off of wooden spoons. Yep, saw dust and wooden spoons and pennies and ice cream. Simple things are truly the best.

XOXO,

Julie

Oh, Those Peepers

2012-03-14T01:00:00.000-04:00

Shirt: Walmart, Clearance

Jeans: Gap

Boots: Payless, OLD

You would think that my delicate little eyes would soak in the very bright sun like a person stranded in the desert would to water. Nope, not these little peepers. I could barely open keep them open. The beginning of Spring in Michigan always makes me feel like I am a human (or a zombie, shout out to The Walking Dead) who has been trapped inside a dark room for to long. Oh, but I love to torture myself by walking around outside without sunglasses. Oh, just a little torture isn't so bad especially when it is almost 70 degrees and gorg!~