Kindred Adventures

She never disappoints...

2012-08-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Do to my back being out of waked. I couldn’t make it over to Laverne’s house last week. I was so excited to be able to spend the whole morning and part of the afternoon with her and those lovely .5 pints. We were giddy with anticipation. How often do my girls get a chance to show off for, dance, be obnoxious mommy's best friend and drive mommy crazy while she's blogging and tweeting (that last one almost daily). As I started the drive to Laverne’s house the pain just kept increasing down my leg. See I have what I think is a bulged disk and it pushes on a nerve that runs down the back of my leg, down to behind by knee... I’m no doctor and need to wait for the MRI results to see what my back issues are….

Any whooo…back to my story.

As I was saying... the nerve pain was increasing and getting worst by the minute. I got 10 minutes into the drive and pulled in to a strip mall. Calling Laverne in tears telling her I can’t make it, My heart was absolutely crushed to hear her in such pain. She, as sweet as can be, said she understood and wanted me to turn and go back home. We chatted she listen to my babbling cries of complaints of my back. Its what besties do! And they totally need to invent a car that people with bad backs can drive laying down...I'm sure Shirley will be all over that! As soon as I got home I took some pain meds and laid on the couch.

I talked to her a few days later and we re-made plans but with her coming to me instead of me trying to drive out to her. Gosh…she is so very special! I don't know if its special or selfish. I miss my Shirley. I need my Shirley time and anytime more then a week without seeing each other is a day too long! So here it was a night at my house...

We of course had WINE. It sure was fun wine. It even had a Wine Blog on the back label. How cool is that and I didn't even plan it. We had pizza but not just any pizza but pan pizza...so much for the Slenderizing. It was Lou's pizza {swoon delicious, cheezy goodness}. I ate so much I could hardly sit. It was worth every bite. We talked, we tweeted, we updated out blogs...oh did I mentioned we had wine...and to top the night off my wonderful husband... he is really a wonderful guy and my full to the rim I can hardly sit straight stomach totally needed it too... went do Dairy Queen for dessert. Like I said so much for the SlenderizeMe. Oh well it was worth it! It was all worth it!!!

We are both just so happy to be back at this space together. Creating our own creative spaces has been absolutely wonderful, but both of us missed this space too. As our blogging lives begin to fall into place and how this whole adventure works... you can continue to expect posts on Kindred Adventures.... not as many, not as frequent but we will continue to share our adventures together and we are so excited to do it... As Shirley said, "Just like old times!"

...in case further proof is needed that our brains frequently run on the same wave length {GOOMH} (get out of my head) here is the picture I made about our night...

Kindred Adventures Update

2012-06-25T08:31:00.001-07:00

Two months ago Laverne got a email from Shirley, "What do you think of this header?" and a attached was a colorful, cleverly designed header for a new blog she was thinking of starting.

Thursday we met for some girl time... yes, Big Bowl. We caught up on life. As much life as we could catch up on considering we talk at least every other day. We talked some more, drank and ate and talked some more. As we talked our conversation changed to talk about Kindred Adventures. What this space meant to both of us and what would be its future.

Saturday Laverne sat, she created, she typed, retyped, typed and retyped html code (hate that stuff). Laverne had the start of a blog she had been thinking of starting.

Sadly we are here to tell you that our friendship has not survived blogging together. We are no longer friends.

Kindred Adventures is over forever!

I'm TOTALLY joking....Seriously!

Today we are as best as best friends can be and Kindred Adventures is not going anywhere. It is simply going to look a little different. Our girls night talk on Thursday night gave Kindred Adventures a new direction and reminded us of a couple of things...

· We were friends before blogging and we will be friends blog or no blog

· Shirley is wise beyond her years (we didn't talk about that I just thought it and don't tell her I said that)

· Kindred Adventures is OUR space

· We are both very creative people

· Kindred Adventures is no fun unless we are doing it together

· We both enjoy and are energized by having our own space to be creative in our own way

· This is not the end of Kindred Adventures

· Kindred Adventure's posts will only be about things we do together

We hope that you will continue to share our adventures with us. We are excited to continue to share our wonderful friendship and the adventures we have together with all of you!

. . .

Just cannot think of life without Laverne or Shirley in it? The thought of us not being around to ramble, rant, and chat your ear off feel life altering devastating? We know what you mean! Breath easy! You can join both of us on our newest adventures...

You can find Shirley at

www.cindysgrandadventures.blogspot.com

You can find Laverne at

www.akalaverne.com

Don't forget to follow both of us on Twitter... @knownasshirley and @akalaverne

Road Trip: Wednesday's Woman

2012-06-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today I was asked by the beautiful

Kimberly over at *Sperk to guest post for her

Wednesday's Woman segment.

I am speechless (that's hard to do) and

in awww of being asked to be there.

So come on and take a trip and

visit with me over at Kimberly's space!

Is This Still For Me

2012-06-09T06:23:00.001-07:00

A month ago I had neglected this space and found myself saying, "MWAH MWAH MWAH I have missed you." Well, I has been two weeks since I wrote that. The scary thing is I have and I haven't missed this space. Life has been insanely busy. Trying to manage all parts it has left me exhausted and only available for mom, wife and teacher duties. This space has always been an added bonus for me. Writing is something I get to do when I have extra time (huh)... what mom does. The longer I stay away the easier it is to forget about this space. The easier it is not to write. Writing, blogging with Shirley introduced me to a world I had no idea existed. The thing is writing gave me a voice. It allowed me to connect and build relationships that I never knew would have so much meaning. Regardless of knowing all this, my neglect of this space made me wonder if it is something I want to keep doing.

In the mists of writing this I realize...

I love to write and share

It feels good to look back, find a moments and share them in words

I need to share more freely and get wrapped up in perfection or minute details

I love to be creative

Being creative doesn't mean just writing

I need to let go of the competitive nature blogging can feel like

Do what we came here to do... have fun, share, spend time with Shirley and connect with others

So I'm back. I haven't gone anywhere and I'll be here a while longer.

Source: zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com via Monique on Pinterest

Your Gift to Me

2012-05-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

Eight years after the death of my mother the pain in my heart still stirred. Thoughts of my mother caused me great pain and anger. More then that it hurt me that I felt that way about a mother who had loved me so very much. On most Mother’s Days I simply could not think about her.

Last year the time I spent writing posts for our blog and at Just Be Enough taught me so much. I learned how to open up and look deep inside. I learned how to share thoughts and emotions I had never done before. I wrote, I typed and I took huge deep breaths as butterflies fluttering in my stomach swirled with each click of the publish button. I had been given permission to share.

Each click of the publish button fed my confidence. It wasn’t the kind of confidence, “oh I am good at this or oh I feel good about myself.” It was the confidence that no matter how deep I dug and how intimately I shared you were there to listen. You were there to really hear me. You were there to share back and ensure that I never felt alone. You connected with me. Most of all you were there to accept me and embrace me for all parts of me.

This year on Mother’s Day as I read families and friends facebook and twitter messages and viewed pictures of memories being made I smiled and then I cried. For the first time in nine years my heart was healed.

The anger no longer weighed on my heart, the shame no longer lingered and the pain was gone. I cried because for the first time in nine years I was a girl who missed her mom terribly. I was a woman who was proud to be her mother’s daughter. I was mother who could finally celebrate motherhood with a warm heart healed of all its pain.

It is a Mother’s Day gift that I will never forget!

Cupcakes and Coffee

2012-05-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

MWAH...MWAH...MWAH...MWAH... Is it wrong that I just made out with our blog for a moment?

If you noticed I haven't been writing for a bit.

I'm still here!

We are still here!

This is my crazy bust season at work. Instead of trying to manage meetings, paperwork up to my eye balls, a full-time job and all that is motherhood I decided to give myself some time off (I just didn't tell anyone...oops). As a matter I even forgot to tell my own brain! It just never seems to stop (except when I sleep). So here I am today on my "blogging day off" not resisting the urge to share these two… three....

hmmmm what would you call these?

Meme's, micro blogging with pictures, word art, pictures I made??

I call them pure pleasure…

channeled creativity…

plain old fun!

.....

Gabbing with Abby

2012-05-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

What happens

when

you bring your

daughter to a

Princess Party

and you get stuck there?

Come join me over at

Abby Gabs to see!

I Sit. I Smile. I Draw.

2012-04-30T09:54:00.002-07:00

Olivia sat at the kitchen table. Her six-year-old hand held a pink Crayola marker. The marker moved across the paper. Its strokes brought her imagination to life. I spied a smile as it curled on her cheek.

"What are you doing?" I asked her from the living room.

"Nothing mommy," she teased.

I walked over to her with my own smile. My index finger poked her just under her ribs, sure to get a giggle.

"Nothing Mommy, nothing Mommy, nothing Mommy," I mocked. "Seriously, what are you doing?"

"I'm making a Draw Some for you Mommy!" she giggled with a glow of pride.

"Aren't you a clever girl!”? I replied with giddy surprise.

"You clever, clever girl!! I know what we can do!” I said with excitement. "How about I draw a Draw Some everyday and leave it for you. Then in the morning you can solve it with Grandpa?!" I said with raised eyebrows and a smile looking for agreement.

"Yes...Yes Mommy!!!!" Olivia answered with joy.

"Me too Mommy! Me too!!" Francine shouted, sure to not be forgotten.

"Of course you too silly! It will be fun. We will do it until the end of the school year. It will help us not miss each other too much!" I reply.

So as the days leading up to the end of the school year bring out our annual count down calendar, excited anticipation and potent reminders of how much we miss each other while I am at work…

Each morning

I sit.

I smile.

I draw….

One for each of them to guess.

One for each for them to think of me while I am at work.

...and when I get home from work I find drawings left for me.

One from each of them.

Each of them drawn as they think of me.

Our very own version of Draw Some.

Spreading Cupcakes

2012-04-25T13:24:00.001-07:00

It's Wednesday and that means I am Spreading Cupcakes again. This weeks cupcake is inspired by Shirley.

Unexpected kind words have a way of warming your heart.

WAIT!!
What would Wednesday be without Ryan....sighhhh!
Lucky girl Shirley... She inspired this one too!

Spreading Cupcakes is a weekly post inspired by the beautiful Kirstin Piccicni at The Kir Corner.

You can read about how she inspired me here... Let's Talk Cupcakes.

Stasha and Her Perspective

2012-04-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

I first met Stasha (www.northwestmommy.com) through Listicles. You see Stasha is the mother of Listicles. Every Monday bloggers flock to her blog. They laugh, they have fun, they joke, they share their lists that applies to that weeks theme and it is an absolute blast! There is something about writing a list, something about joining Stasha and her Listiclers at that space that makes writing fun!

Even with all that fun, it wasn't until I joined Instagram that I really got to know her…. I had just started out on Instagram. I followed Stasha’s photos and was amazed by their beauty and Stasha’s ability to capture it with her camera. Instagram was my first step toward sharing more of the real me. I wanted to share the real me with more of my twitter and blogging friends but quite frankly I was terrified (long story, irrational, ask Shirley about it, she'll roll her eyes, shrug her shoulders and sigh... its a long story. I'm working at it). I hit the green approved button allowing Stasha to follow me on Instagram. I was actually giddy with excitement that Stasha the photography goddess (oh, is that only in my mind?!) wanted to follow my pictures. Still I was terrified.

I rushed to twitter to DM her. I spewed to her my typical ramble, these pictures are the real me but I am fiercely protective of my anonymity on Twitter and with blogging. I hope you understand. Then Stasha did what she does best.... she graciously listened, she was infinitely kind, she shared and she gave me perspective...

Perspective that bridged fear and lead to trust

Perspective that brought whimsy to the ordinary

Perspective that brought me depth

Perspective that gave me strength

Perspective that allowed me to share the real me

Perspective that had more layers then she knew...

My stomach continued to churn and I took several deep breaths. Sharing with this new friend was a huge deal to me. After several DM's continuing to explain my concern she simply responded, "I would hope that you would show me, my family and my pictures the same respect I show you." That moment I learned lesson 1,256 about people I have met through social media... They have so much to teach me.

Stasha taught me.

Stasha taught me an unexpected and deeply meaningful lesson in perspective. I am more thankful then she will know for the perspective and trust in others she has shared with me!

I just simply could not talk about Stasha with out sharing with all of you my ~~slight~~ ~~huge~~ ~~crush~~ infatuation for her handsome Newfie Max...

Ok I swoon for him!

All photos were used with Stasha's permission.

To see more of her work visit her at...

Stasha B. Photography

Spreading Cupcakes

2012-04-18T09:18:00.001-07:00

Last week I shared my inspiration for

this new weekly post when I wrote

Let's Talk Cupcakes.

Today I am spreading cupcakes with

a side of Ryan (inspired by Shirley...lucky girl)...

Whenever...If Ever

2012-04-16T21:10:00.000-07:00

Our two-person table was right next to the window. Exactly the same table we sat at last time we were here. A purple t-shirt hung framed on the wall above us. Printed on us was "Help Clare Fight Prostate Cancer 2012". A waitress walked by us wearing purple tie-dyed, knee high, athletic socks and the same purple t-shirt. The Cubs game played on televisions as gray haired regulars around us ordered their weekly fried fish.

I waited all ~~month~~ day to see her. Finally we were sitting down at our favorite dive restaurant for our sister's night. Drinks were ordered. We just needed to decide on what to eat.

I needed to decide if I was going to ask her.

"What do you have a taste for?" she asked.

"I have to have the Southwest Egg rolls. I’ve had a taste for them all week!" I smiled.

"Ok," she replies. "I think I'll have the nachos then."

"OOOOOO that sounds great! That means we can share."

We talked and talked. We had so much to catch up on. We talked about her job, my kids, my job, friends and life in general. No matter how long it has been we never seem to miss a beat.

I had waited so long to ask.

Throughout my sisters 7 year marriage I had never asked her. The miscarriages I had before we had children left me fully aware of the pain that comes with wanting children and not being able to have them. The scar it left on my heart and the emotional memories it engrained in me were reminders of what not to ask or say.

I waited for the right moment.

Seven years of memories and moments, time spent together, carefully listening for hints of what I wanted to hear and I was still left me needing to know. I wanted to be respectful of her journey. I needed to know if she was suffering or if her heart was in pain.

It was now or never.

I took a deep breath and hoped my words came out the right way.

"I have never asked because I am sure that you get asked a lot. I just want to see how you are doing. So, Are you and Brad thinking of having kids?" I hoped that my words were sensitive and not too direct.

She smiled at me and looked down.

She took a breath and looked at me with a forced smile, "We are trying but it hasn't been long enough to be worried or get help."

"Oh," I replied.

"I hope you don't mind that I asked."

She politely smiled and said, "No its ok."

I sat and listened as she shared with me. My eyes focused on just her. I didn't want to miss any of her words and needed to connect with how she was feeling. My heart became heavy and suddenly I was overwhelmed with sadness. I felt the tears start to well in my eyes. I kept listening.

In between the Southwest Egg Rolls I savored, laughing until I cried, drinks, long talks and hours of fun spent with my sister I had asked the question. I asked a question I was afraid to ask and in return I realized something. I didn't really want to know the answer to my question (ok, I wanted to know a little bit). I desperately wanted her to know, to remind her, that I was here for her for anything, whenever and if ever she needed me.

Let's Talk Cupcakes

2012-04-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

I first wrote about Kirsten from TheKir Corner during one of my very first Talking to Strangers posts. Kirsten had written about and her cupcakes back in November. I was moved by her post comparing her comments to cupcakes. She wrote words like:

"...they are an instant celebration in a small paper cup."

“I believe our stories are our cakes, our attempts at baking from scratch and setting it on the table so everyone can look at and admire it. We want our guests to enjoy the dessert we offer, to smack their lips and lick their forks, satisfied with our effort.

“A dainty yet delectable slice of my heart that I give you in exchange for the stories and secrets you have made and shared with me.”

She even went on to share, “I may not be good at a lot of things, but I can promise you that if I read your words, I will never leave your space without leaving a whole lot of sweetness behind."

She moved me. She inspired me. She inspired me to also want to share kindness, positive words, meaningful words that would bring a smile or even happiness to someones’ day.

A twitter account @inapaperwrapper, a whole 632 tweets, a Pinterest board and six weeks after it started my mission to spread cupcakes was smooshed and I was pooped! I LOVED what the cupcakes did for others... If I was on Twitter and I saw that a mom or twitter friend was having a bad day, grumping about mom stuff or just down I would sent out a tweet with a link to something (usually a cupcake) that would cheer them up. It was so much fun to do and it made me feel good. Unfortunately it was just too much and after about six weeks I stopped doing it. I was disappointed to say the least.

. . . . . . . . .

Fast forward to a week ago...I was checking my email and I saw that Kirsten has left me a comment on one of my posts. I excitedly read it and there it is again....

Her words, her....

How did she put it?

Oh yes, “A dainty yet delectable slice of my heart that I give you in exchange for the stories and secrets you have made and shared with me.”

With tears of happiness welling in my eyes and a full blown #HeyGirl Ryan Gosling addition I was inspired all over again...

A note from Laverne: I have been dying to get this piece written for the last week. Now that it is written and my inspiration has been shared you can expect a cupcake every Wednesday and on a really good week some #HeyGirl Ryan Gosling too (I swoon for him... what can I say!).

I can only hope that these cupcakes do for others half of what

Kirsten’s “cupcakes” do!!

and just because...

Studio30 Plus RoAd tRip

2012-04-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago Kim at Rubber Chicken Madness she asked me if I wanted to write a featured post for Studio30 Plus. I giddily said YES!! (love being asked to visit and write at other places...hello Kindred Adventures.... yes we love road trips).

As instantly as the words "Yes" were typed it occurred to me that I had no flipping idea what Studio30 Plus was and I had no idea what I was going to write.

A quick Google search and a couple of clicks... Studio30 Plus is a social media site for writers 30 and over. To me it is like Facebook for writers. You can improve your craft, learn how to become published, receive support for your writing endeavors, join discussions topics related to writing, be recognized for your writing, make friends and socialize, be inspired and learn. There are groups to join, forums to partake in, other writers to "friend," a Community Blog to read, and a ton more I haven't realized yet.

A couple of days and a Pinterest pinning fest... I had an idea for a post!

.......

ToDaY I am taking a RoAd tRip over to Studio30 Plus as a featured blogger. Come on over an share this new adventure with me!

Brandi and Her Colors

2012-04-03T04:06:00.000-07:00

They were strangers the first time I "met" them. Today I find my adventures enriched, inspired and filled with laughter because of them...

It started with Amy and Her #Sixthings.

Then it was Kir and Her Cupcakes.

Minky {Moo}'s took her turn with her Instagram

Rubber Chicken Madness's has shared with her nuggets

Leila from Don't Speak Whinese had a complaint letter filed against her

Kelly from Mom Got Blog's was told her what she didn't know

Elena's from CiaoMom was shown just how far her amazingness extends

Today it is Brandi from Brandi Girl Blog turn and I am sharing with you her beauty that extends far beyond the colors she uses!

I've been talking to strangers and what do you know I've made some friends!

.......

Shirley and I sat at her kitchen table. We had both finished lunch (delicious chicken salad that she had made). After lunch we were both excited to get on line and explore and share with each other sites we had discovered.

“I found this one site last night. I can’t remember the name but I loved its colors and simplicity,” I rambled happily.

“I found one too, by some artist I think. It’s so clean and she’s great at using color. I can’t remember her name!” She giggled.

That day we both came upon her sight separately. We were both instantly taken. Her site was simple, clean and had a perfect use of color. In short we were in awww.

It was one of the first blogs I subscribed to. Her pictures matched with beautiful color palates began to arrive at my inbox. I wanted to learn. I wanted to see if I could catch, bottle or learn just a smidge of skill she had by watching her. I loved seeing what she was going to capture next and I admired her ability to find beautiful colors in everything.

As time passed I began to notice that this artist’s blog was far more then color palettes. She wove stories and memories in with her pictures. I continued admirer her as she shared the lessons she was learning. Her hunger for learning and self-discovery oozed off the screen. She was a seeker of knowledge and so passionate about it. It inspired me.

The holidays came along and I got to travel with her as she shared her visits with family. I giggled and smiled as she shared stories of visits with her sister, niece and nephew. It didn’t take long for us to connect on twitter. We began to tweet more and more. I felt like I had a new sister…forever kind, passionately supportive, thoughtful, understanding, warm and a truly wonderful person.

I subscribed to her blog so I could learn from this stranger...instead I found a friend who taught me about the colors all around me and all the beauty there is to be found in unexpected places!

Happiness Disguised As A Birthday Party

2012-04-01T19:38:00.001-07:00

Shirley sat in the big brown comfy chair. My other two friends sat on the floor and couch. Presents had been opened, cupcakes had been eaten and the giddy screeches of eight happy little girls filled the house. I sat down on the arm rest of the chair Shirley was sitting in. It was the first chance I'd had to talk to any of them.

Princess crowns and wands zoomed by us causing us to pause our conversations.

We talked about the Hunger Games movie (we'd all read the books and all had our own opinions), how work was going (more gossip then work talk), what our kids were up to, and we swapped husband stories. Each time one of my girl friends spoke our eye contact warmed. It reminded me of our friendship, what our lives we have in common and why they are my friend. Each unison of head nodding reminded us that even though motherhood and work was hard we were not alone.

The giggling, screeching and increased frequency of "Mommy she's not sharing or Mooommmy so and so won't let me play too!" let us all know the party was winding down.

At the front door Moms and kids furiously chatted, trying to get in every last word in and embraced in hugs. Hugging Shirley, I didn't let go...Shirley didn't have little ones. She came anyway. She came to hang out with me and to share this time. Shirley said she wouldn't be able to make it because they would be out of town. They came back early, she surprised me and came anyway. I reluctantly let Shirley go. We all said our good byes with hugs and kisses. A feeling of sadness tugged at my heart. Saying good-bye was just another reminder of how much I wished Shirley lived closer and how much I wished I saw each of them more.

Francine danced in the living room still relishing in her day.

I plopped myself down on the couch. The cold Mike's Hard Lemonade in my hand reminded me that the party was over. I took a sip of my drink and I smiled. I am a lucky woman. I have wonderful friends. I am really, really lucky. They are such great woman. They make me so happy! I took another sip of my "lemonade", popped up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. I squeezed my husband tight.

"I'm so lucky. I have such great friends!"

"Yes, you do," he replied with a kiss.

Today I am linking up and taking

a road trip over to Yeah Write.

I'm excited to get there, visit, and share with

this incredible community of bloggers.

10 Exhausting Days

2012-03-27T08:47:00.002-07:00

Day 1: Fever, cough... sick 4 year old

Day 2: Fever, cough, sore throat, negative strep test... sick 4 year old

Day 5: Fever, cough... sick, tired, crabby 4 year old and one very tired mommy.

Day 7: Fever, cough, negative mono and flu test and blood work... sick, tired, poked and prodded, crabby 4 year old and one beyond exhausted mommy.

Day 10...
Today was the day we were taking Francine back to the doctor. We still had no answers. We still didn't know why she would start to feel better but around noon her fever would shoot up to 101. She would curl up on the couch, her lips purpled and she shivered in fevered chills. The doctor suspected it was a virus followed by another virus. I was a scared mom who just wanted her daughter to get better.

I was a worried sick mother who had to walk into the other room when her daughter's fever shot up. My brain fought off the negative thoughts... is it time for her to go in the hospital, could she have...., or maybe it was..... I wiped my tears, took a deep breath and told myself the doctors knew what they were doing. I would not entertain any other thoughts. The doctors would figure it out.

Everything else in life was taking a back seat to this. My husband and I took turns staying home with her. Everything extra went to the way side. Running, making a home cooked meal, writing, laundry, house work, alone time with my husband.

I took a shower and got dressed. Her appointment was first thing in the morning. We decided that my husband and I would both go. That meant the whole family was going. The doctor walked into the office. He shared with us that her chest xray was clear. That meant no pnumonia. Her blood work showed that her white blood cell count was down, another good sign. The culture they took for her urine sample showed that she had a bladder infection.

All of this was because of a nasty virus followed by a bladder infection. I couldn't believe the simplicity of it all. Relief flood over me, then happiness and then embarassment. All my concern, the worries I had fought off, the people I had bothered with my daughters progress and their worry were all for a virus and a bladder infection!

Day 12...

Several naps, multiple loads of laundry, a couple of home cooked meals, an antibiotic and two sisters yelling, "MMMOOOOMMMYYYY Olivia is bothering me!!!" "MMMOOOOOOOOMMMMY Francince won't share!!!!"... Life is back to normal and I can not help but feel even more thankful and more blessed for my family, my friends and my children's health!

Today I am linking up over at Yeah Write.
I have missed the group of incredible bloggers over there!
I am excited to be writing again.

For those of you visiting from Yeah Write

I thought you would get a kick out of this.

Erica last night with me on Twitter...

It's why we love her so. Affectionate with a side of sass

and a true passion for Yeah Write!

Talking To Strangers... Anniversary Style

2012-03-26T16:13:00.002-07:00

One of my most favorite features here (if you call it that) is Talking to Strangers (see the end of the post...Ado was one of them). If you know or visited here long enough you are fully aware of my first impressions or my assumptions about people on the Internet. I think I have referred to thinking of them as "terrifying weirdos in the land of Internet that were going to stalk me, my girls and my family". After a year of Tweeting, Facebooking and blogging I have been more then overwhelmed by the amazing woman I have met and become friends with. None of them weirdos or stalkers. All of them are phenomenally amazing beyond my very wildest dreams.

Each time I sit down to write a post about a stranger I now happily call a friend my heart is warmed. I really do it because I feel passionately about people I care for knowing what they mean to me. For this post I really wanted her to know how I felt!

I wrote this favorite post as a letter to Leila from Don't Speak Whinese. I remember writing it. I thought it would be easy. Just be funny, witty and sassy. The sassy part I had plenty of. The funny and witty parts were way harder. This was different then anything I had written before. It's not my deepest, most emotional or thought provoking post but it was soooo much fun to write!

......

Dear Head Ninja in Charge,

Last month, I interacted with Leila. She delivered her usual quick wit, sass, did something silly, odd, strange or not normal thing and posted it on Facebook. I commented on it calling her a dork.

I found the interaction that followed unacceptable and damaging. The usual confident exterior, sarcastic, sailor mouth and quick wit sprinkled with a humble and thoughtful Don't Speak Whinese failed to perform what it promised because Leila is a smart ass. I am disappointed. Leila has forever destroyed my use of the word dork as a sassy response to Leila’s and any other friends insane, silly, dumb, thoughtless, laughable actions. Additionally, she has forever stole my perfect kind version of your a dumb-ass word. He smart ass act has also caused permanent scaring to my brain. The very thought of the word dork sends pictures to my brain of a whales.... ak! No! Bad! (Leila so kindly educated me on the fact that one definition word dork is: blue whales penis). My precious word is forever tainted and damaged.

To resolve the problem, I feel very strongly that Don’t Speak Whinese ninjas should supply me with a new replacement word to describe the things that Leila and others like her do. A new polite word I can use to comment with when others engage in foolish, absurd, moronic and senseless acts.

I look forward to your speedy reply and a resolution to my problem. I am certain that you will resolve this matter and I will not be forced to contact the Better Smart Ass Agency or only be left with sighing and rolling my eyes as a response to Leila's Facebook status updates.

Sincerely,

If you would like to read more about the strangers I've talk to...It started with Amy and Her #Sixthings. Then it was Kir and Her Cupcakes. Minky {Moo} took her turn with her Instagram. The Momalog and her TV. Rubber Chicken Madness shared with her nuggets. I told Kelly from Mom Got Blog what she doesn't know...

I've been talking to strangers and what do you know I've made some friends!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

ADO and ALISON!!

Pinning Laughter

2012-03-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Today I am linking up again with the wonderful, thoughtful, amazing and sweet Kim over at Rubber Chicken Madness for her Hen Picked. I never like to be late to this link up or miss it. I mean come on its sharing pins... hello Pinterest Addict here.

This week has been a little rough for me. Francine has been battling a nasty... something. We still are not sure what it is. It is an awful virus with a fever that breaks and returns. Shirley said her doctor called it a boomerang fever. Never liked boomerangs and I do not like this. Sleepless nights, tending to a sick 4 year old, tears and worry have left me in need of... humor!

Some of my favorite pins from our Adventures in Sassy Board, Adventures in Laughter Board , Road Side Rants Boards and a couple of new additions.

Pin's Sources:

1) Yes, I Know...

2) Nobody Move...

3) Laughter

4) DANGER

5) You Tube

6) Hen and Bunny

7) No Matter...

8) I am fluent...

One last pin to share.

It's an original Kindred Adventures pin.

This was made special for the Rubber Chicken Momma (and any other punctuation goddesses). It is also because my addiction to finding Ryan Gosling Hey Girl pictures has turned in to making them whenever I get a chance...

A Letter to Mother Nature

2012-03-20T10:02:00.004-07:00

Dear Mother Nature,

Spring has arrived early here. Everyone is so happy. They have pulled out their Spring clothes, painted their toe nails bright sunshiny colors, put on cute dresses and slipped on sandals and flip flops. The kids have their bikes out. Chalk drawings are all the rage. Children are soaring as they pump and swing til their hearts content. The sun shines strong, day light is long and the flowers are blooming... Everyone is soooo happy that Spring has arrived. Better yet it is here ahead of schedule. All of this fun, new warm weather has made everyone else happy, but quite frankly I pissed at you!

In between all your warm sunshiny days you have delivered a knock you off your ass virus and poor Francine has taken the brunt of it. Your nasty Spring virus had delivered the gift of three days of fever. Six nights of interrupted make you feel like you have a newborn again wake every two to three hours sleep. Moments of spontaneous throw up from coughing so much. Your lovely gift to my house has turned my easy going, pleasant, adventurous 4 year old into a neurotic whining crying, my hair hurts, my elbow hurts, don't touch me, I'm cold, carry me, I'm too tired, my toe hurts, my eyelash hurts sick little crazy girl!

So while the world plays outside, enjoys walks in the sun, hours outside in the backyard basking in the suns glow.... we are stuck inside still recovering from your stinkin' virus.

Spring You SUCK!!!

Go away and come back when your ready to be nice!

'CLICK' Picture for Source

Pinterest {Swoon}...

2012-03-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

Lots of road trips on the schedule for this week. Today I am heading over to link up with Kim for Rubber Chicken Madnesses for her Hen Picked. Kim asks us to share the best/most fun/most inspiring things we stumbled across on Pinterest this week.

This week I am sharing my newest...love, pinterest find, go to craft idea.....naaaahhh. My latest swoon! A swoon that not only makes me sigh, but smile and laugh too!

Hey Girl Ryan Gosling...

Do I really need to say more or explain?

'CLICK' to view links

1) HeyGirl: Wrapped in lights

2) HeyGirl: Perfect Saturday

3) HeyGirl: Two Scoops

4) HeyGirl: Golden Girls

5) HeyGirl: SN Ryan Gosling

What can I say...sighhhhhh!

It Has Changed Me...

2012-03-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

Today I am excited to be heading over to celebrate Tracy, John, Sweaty, Ryan and Missy's one year blogging anniversary. They've got prompts, a link up and a couple of great prizes (I can't say I hope I don't win). It's their Great Blogging Anniversary Link up!

When we first started blogging I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I certainly had absolutely no idea how blogging would influence my journey!

Simply said, blogging hasn't just influenced me, it has changed me.

Blogging has changed what I know. There are so so so many voices out there sharing words, words that are just waiting to be read. Their words are informative, creative, educational, funny, passionate, inspirational. There are stories teach me about things, different parts of the world, hardship, struggles, adventures, lives that I would not be aware of otherwise.

Blogging has changed my perspective of people. I remember signing up for Facebook years ago. My sister had to help me. I was terrified of all the weirdos in the land of Internet that going to stalk me, my girls and my family. I was super protective. My major concern was that people that were not my family and were on the internet were stalkers and weirdos. Holy sh*t was I wrong... really wrong! To this day I continue to be absolutely blown away and seriously moved by the amazing awesomeness of the people in the blogging community and on Twitter. They have showed me the true beauty of social media and the goodness that I have always hoped people had!

Blogging has inspired me. Learning and changing my perspective is a wild combination for me. It is a combination Shirley knows full well the danger of... an inspired Laverne. The things I have learned and the people I have met continuously inspire me. They move me, make me feel, spark ideas, fuel passion and well... inspire me!

Blogging has gave me an outlet. This space has given me a voice I could never in a million years imagined I would have. If you would have asked me two years ago...even a year ago if I enjoyed writing, I would have given you an astounding NO! Today I find this space welcoming, safe, non-judgmental, infinitely accepting and excited to write on. It is a space that I am excited to share with Shirley for months and years to come. A space that encourages, welcomes and embraces all parts of me!

A very Happy Anniversary to

Tracy, Sweaty, Ryan, Missy and John!

CHEERS...

here's to many more Years!!

Rear View Mirror

2012-03-10T05:27:00.000-08:00

We made our plans, picked out the places we wanted to visit, packed up our car and even used a map....A weeks worth of souvenirs, pit stops and asking for direction later this week's adventures are in Our Rear View Mirror.

Laverne learned about this whole #heygirl thing. She learned what a meme was (go ahead and look it up I had to). Laverne is still slightly confused by the word...she thinks she knows what it is but isn't sure how to say it. She knows she likes them though!

Laverne continues to be absolutely floored and amazed by the infinite awesomeness of the people she connects with through social media... absolute kindness and thoughtfulness. Shirley proved that chivalry isn't dead everyday our tweets prove that kindness and thoughtfulness is not either!

Friday Laverne braved the snow storm to meet Shirley for food and drinks at.... duh!! our usual spot Big Bowl. We chatted and caught up on everything. We went to see the Vow. Laverne was ready to ball her eyes out and was determined not to fall asleep during the movie. Laverne and Shirley, for that matter, did not ball our eyes out and Laverne didn't fall asleep (I know! Unheard of right?!). It was an OK movie but Shirley will not be picking the next one (hey! Shirley is the one that said it!)

Laverne started a #heygirl board over on Kindred Adventures Pinterest Page. She completely blames Sunday Stilwell for starting that new infatuation....siiighhhhh {swoon}.

It was a great week for us here. Monday Laverne talked to strangers again. This week it was Elena from CiaoMom's turn. Her Six Dregrees reaches farther then she could have ever imagined.

Shirley proved that chivalry is not dead. The boy brought her flowers people!!

Shirley also came across this beauty of Cheryl Hines on the Ellen Show. If you have ever wondered what it is like to be out with the two of us watch as Cheryl describes a night out with her girl friend.

and Laverne leaves Shirley with this Ryan Gosling #heygirl just for her!

To: Shirley

From: Laverne

A Ryan Gosling Meme just for you!

Chivalry Isn't Dead

2012-03-07T04:06:00.000-08:00

It is Turnabout day for my daughter she asked a guy and he had said yes. I was so happy for her she had been going through a hard time with her best friend (which is another whole other post in its self). Her best friend came over to our home waiting for the boys to show up. The door bell rings and the girls let the boys in. My daughters date had a bouquet of flowers and a wrist corsage I am sitting on the couch and my jaw dropped. I though holy moly he brought her flowers how frickin cute is that.

Tink's date handed her the corsage. Then she called me over to them. I thought she needed help with the corsage. Her date handed me the flowers and said they were for me. I was shocked. I mean who brings flower for their dates mother. All I can say this young man is being raised by a great mom and dad. He is such a gentleman. He opens the door for Tink and says cute things to her like he loves her giggles that she is beautiful. He had played the guitar for her and say her 3 songs. One which was her favorite.

O.k maybe I am living by curiously through her. But this guy is a sweetheart. Unfortunately I think my daughter isn't as smitten by him as I am. He reminds me of how my husband acted when we were dating. I don't tell her this cuz she would be grossed out. I'm so happy to know that boys are still being raised as gentlemen. Hallelujah CHIVALRY is still alive!

Six Dregees of Elena

2012-03-05T19:23:00.000-08:00

They were strangers the first time I "met" them. Today I find my adventures enriched, inspired and filled with laughter because of them...

It started with Amy and Her #Sixthings.

Then it was Kir and Her Cupcakes.

Minky {Moo}'s took her turn with her Instagram and

Rubber Chicken Madness's has shared with her nuggets

Kelly from Mom Got Blog's was told her what she didn't know

Today it is Elena's from CiaoMom 's turn and I'm showing her just how far her amazingness extends...

I've been talking to strangers and what do you know I've made some friends!

. . . . . .

Kevin Bacon once claimed that he had worked with everyone in Hollywood. Some people know it as the Kevin Bacon Game others know it as Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. People play the game to see how many degrees (connections) away any actor is from Kevin Bacon. To me the game shows that no mater how distant a one person may be from another, we are often connected and sometimes one persons reach extends far beyond what they ever realize.

Elena is my Kevin Bacon. No she can't swing from a high bar in the middle of a warehouse while Bon Jovi's Runaway plays in the background and I am certain she has never helped defend a small town against strange underground creatures which are killing people one by one. I am certain that she does not realize how far... what degree of separation her amazingness has on us!

My most vivid first memory of her was her call for bloggers to link up and share their lists, "What I like About Me". I was all in. No hesitation, no second thought, no pause.... I had been moved. Next came Elena's announcement that she was starting Just.Be.Enough. A flood of inspiration filled me deep inside. I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of it. This was the beginning of my six degrees of separation from Elena...

Six Degrees of Elena

Elena's amazing force has moved me in ways I am sure she is not completely aware of. The JBE team (assembled by Elena) taught me more about the true kindness, acceptance and genuineness of people then I could have ever imagined. They also taught me that it is OK to let your guard down and safe to let people in. Being part of Elena's team made me want to be a better writer and taught me dig deep down inside to write. Elena showed me that someone can be there for you even if they do not live near you and that I can cry for someone I care for even if we have never met. Elena made me brave. She showed me all the wonderfulness that social media is and all the true greatness that is out there with in it. My experiences with her built the courage that took me to {GLO} where I met other bloggers in real life and showed the real me. To me she is a kindred spirit that I easily connect with and understand, who share daughters who make things out of nothing, daughters who go through reams of paper and rolls of tape and who drive us crazy with love, imagination and frustration.

So while she can not swing from a high bar in in the middle of a warehouse or fight strange underground creatures which are killing people... Her six degrees certainly reaches far beyond anything she could even begin to imagine and anything I could even begin show here!!