Off We Go To Milwaukee!

Earlier this summer I had a crazy idea that we would drive over five hours to Milwaukee. Lucky for me I am married to T-Bone and beyond my giving him grey hair he is a pretty good sport! How many husbands would agree to a 36-hour trip that 10+ was driving? 

It would be a surprise visit to Summerfest for my child to see Billie Eilish. 

p.s. I agree it was an amazing show and her brother was also fantastic to watch. I'll give my review later...

But along the way, we found other ways to amuse ourselves. 

Me - I looked for license plates (after I saw Alaska!) and I found:

I got a lot of problems with you people and now you're gonna hear about it.

I am of the opinion though that Illinois has FAR too many variations of their plate & that people have plate frames that oddly cover a large amount of their state name. Which I can't believe is legal. 

Then, of course, there was Sunday Brunch & watching USA Women's Soccer KICK A$$!

Rose Bowl @ Wicked Hop

We wrapped up our weekend in a place where T-Bone could be happy too. 

The Harley Davidson Museum! Who goes to Milwaukee & doesn't do that? 

We took a guided tour - heard about plenty of motorcycles (and other motors!) and went into the limited run exhibit "Daredevils! A Century of Spine-Tingling Spectacles" that had everything from Buffalo Bill Cody to Joie Chitwood & Evil Kenevil. Plus, some idiot that tried to build a loop-de-loop & mountain bike it...ugh! Do NOT try this @home. 

And now we are home again - jiggidy-jig!     

How is your summer? 

Fabulous Friday - Oh the pain!

About four months ago Boo Boo La La and I went to a fundraiser for Girls On The Run.

Girls On The Run is a National Organization for elementary/middle school girls focused on girl empowerment through a program that includes running - and ultimately recognizing their GIRL POWER by running a real 5k.

Like hundreds of people run - it is open to the community and is really a great time.

That little pumpkin smiling big in the front left - NEVER wants her picture taken. 

That is the power of GOTR.

And why I believe, as Bob Ross said:

The happy accident here was one of the mystery boxes we opened at the luncheon.

It contained a certificate for three training sessions and nine cycling sessions at a place called Bodies by Burgoon.  I thought about it for a while and finally set up an account and emailed them to get started in July. 

Then they asked me - what is my intention?  And I thought about it and realized that I wanted to run with my daughter. Not someone else being her running buddy at the GOTR 5k. 

And so today - even on Fabulous Friday - I am in pain peeps. 

I worked out HARD yesterday and my muscles are sobbing, but I still parked 3/4 of a mile from my desk and walked up every painful flight of stairs.  Because I want to be smiling in that picture this fall too. 

Have a great weekend! 

Memories of a Mommy Blogger - Part Deux

I think I got us all a scolding on this video.

We got an email reminding us to be safe while we were out their making our videos.

  :)

2010 Chevy Traverse Cool Feature from Lisa Scherber on Vimeo.


Happy Wednesday Peeps!

Always

I always get up pretty early, but it seems to not be enough time to:

Do some laundry
Go to the gym
Do some laundry
Have rousing discussions with Tbone about the "idiots" at the gym or on television
Wake my daughter
Play a little Bejeweled Blitz
Get breakfast
Make Coffee
Find outfits for myself and Boo Boo
Cuddle
Snuggle
Take a bath - play some more Bejewled Blitz in the tub
Make the bed
Brush the teeth and hair
Put on the makeup, don't want to scare anyone
PROD the frozen child Boo Boo La La AGAIN to "Eat already!" and "Are you dressed yet?" and now the popular "Have you got your backpack & lunch?"
Check on the laundry again
TRY to put things in the dishwaser - fail, it's clean
Get out the door with the cell phone and MY lunch....crap go back into the house for one or the other or BOTH...

Yup, late again.

Inspired by Mama Kat's Writers Workshop Prompt -
2. Write a blog post inspired by the word: late

School Days - First Day of Fourth Grade

To say she was ready is an understatement.

She picked out her clothing, put stuff in her backpack, asked me questions like, "Do you think the new principal will let us wear hats in school?"  - No, probably not. - "Shoot, I love this one I got at the fair and it matches my outfit."

It does!  Cool, but no.

"Okay, I will just have it in my backpack for later at daycare."

Off we went to iHop - had a grand time playing the box game and laughing at the kiddie menu.

What is that???

Economics Teacher: Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
Simone: Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
Economics Teacher: Thank you, Simone.
Simone: No problem whatsoever.

But...iHop was terrible and we ended up stopping for a chocolate croissant, a car selfie and....

"My & Marriage"

A visit with the new Crossing Guard!!!










All in all a successful start to the new school year including a great note from Dad.  :)








I hope you all have a great day and can choke back the tears like I did.

And pray for the teachers, lunch ladies, staff and bus drivers.  They keep our babies safe!

This is an oldie, but a goodie. For the day you have a zit RIGHT ON YOUR NOSE!

Lush Decor - You want some, you really want some now.

I love decorating.

I have been known to track down items by calling around to stores in other states.

I stalked a boutique up North for a painting I wanted.

I hounded my hubby to paint the walls of our living room and dining room the exact color of blue-grey I wanted and searched for months to find just the right red curtains for my living and dining room. Both inspired by the sofas I already owned and a pillow cover I bought years ago and kept in the plastic in my basement until I got the other pieces of the puzzle into place.

I love my home to be cozy and comfortable.  Just like you do.

This is where LUSH DECOR comes into place.

If you see something you like right now at their website use the code LOVELUSH1 to get 10% off your purchase. This code will not expire - so go ahead and use it already.

If you want more? Well I have the giveaway for you - seriously this is the BEST giveaway I have had in the longest time people.

$200 to spend at LushDecor.com on whatever floats your boat.

Really this site has romantic items, shabby chic, americana, fun items for a kids room...

You could even refresh your bathroom with a dramatic ruffle shower curtain

Right? I mean fun and drama! And they come in different color combinations. 

Here is how you can win:

1) Visit Lush Decor on Facebook - Like or just check them out.

OR

2) Follow Lush on Pinterest (and their Pinterest boards are AWESOME!!!)

OR

3) Follow Lush on Twitter

4) Leave me a comment with your Facebook Profile Name, Pinterest Account Name, or Twitter handle and Voila!

If you want to tell me what you would get with your $200 in an additional comment I will slip you an extra entry!

You have until the end of the Super Bowl 2015 to enter, I will place numbers representing each comment into a bowl after the Super Bowl and let Boo Boo La La draw the winner at random.  

If you win you will receive a code for a one time use to spend the $200, no value will be held. Product will be shipped to you and you may use your Amazon.com account to checkout!  

Good Decorating!!!!

My "not so little" Girl.

Okay children, story time from the big girl has begun...

I watch her at gymnastics, or at daycare, or in groups of children where they gather.

Really, is she that tall?

When did this happen that I could barely carry her because her legs hang down so far?

When did she get so big she can read summer camp descriptions and choose for herself?

Who is this girl who just turned nine?

NINE? How is it nine years since I held her all day long and fed her and changed her and could not bear to be without her?  I would leave for the store and feel my body was not whole if I left her home with daddy.

She is growing up.

She has opinions (I'll say), style, compassion, good friends, and the love of all around her.

And boundless creativity and energy and sometimes a mama can't keep up, but my dear Boo Boo La La - your mama will always give it her best shot.

Enjoy being nine, because your "not so little" but you don't need to be big yet.

Love,

Mommy

We have it pretty good, don't we?

Yesterday morning I was pissed off.

I was pissed off and tearing up all day.

I was mad about a lot of things and was wishing things were better.

Then, I realized how lucky I had been yesterday and today this morning.

Something was wrong with my car. >-<

Something was wrong with my car, but I am lucky enough to have a husband who uses a work van - so each day there is an alternative vehicle I can take to get my daughter to daycare and myself to work.

How lucky am I?

I have a working washing machine to clean my daughter's gymnastics leotard so that she can go to the class we can afford to pay for....even if I forget to wash it until the morning of gymnastics.

How lucky am I?

My family is healthy and all have jobs and a warm home to live in.

How lucky are we?

I have a fantastic group of ladies and gentlemen who attend the meetings for our Parent Teacher Organization at my child's school.  Involvement goes up every year.

How lucky are all of us?

I have friends who take me out and laugh (at me and with me) Cookie exchanges, beers, wine, fun, random card games, tears.

How lucky am I?

I got flowers and cards in the mail at work today because some of the people I work with really appreciate what I do.

That sure is lucky.

I should think about this every day.  My problems are typically First World problems.

Woah is me.  Gloom, despair, agony.

My latte got cold. I got cut off in traffic. Someone forgot to EMAIL ME THAT CONTRACT!

None of it is really that important.

But you are important to me.  So in this season I say to you.

We have it pretty good, don't we?

Happy Holidays,

ML

Power on the go? Yes please - give me a Magicstick.

About a year ago I bought a power 'brick' to keep a charge on my phone.

It was just that, a brick. 

I tried to like it, but it was a pain to charge - and the connector really didn't sit in my phone well so it was tedious to use.

Recently a company called PowerRocks contacted me to ask if I would like to use their Magicstick 2800mAh.  I went to their website, PoweRocksMedia.com, and really? It looked cool.  Much slimmer design that the one I purchased a year ago. Simple, used USB ports...I had to try it.

I got a really nice silver one and well...

That is it! Charged itself fast, slipped right into the inside pocket of my purse, re-charged my phone from 18% to FULLY CHARGED in no time. And considering I usually forget to charge my phone at night this little Magicstick is definitely useful for me to keep in touch. 

I was super impressed. I had to tell you about it, well because they sent me one free, but also because it is pretty awesome. I have had it for over a week now and could not be happier with it.  And I speak from experience in using a similar product. This is so simple! So powerful. And because you charge your electronics by plugging your charge cord into a USB port on the Magicstick it can power up just about anything. My Samsung Galaxy, Boo Boo's iPod, our Nook...anything.

Seriously.  If you need a last minute gift I would HIGHLY recommend this for any busy mom, college student, person in sales, etc. If you need one (maybe for yourself) you can get them at their website where they offer free shipping or if you have Amazon Prime I have seen it available there!  Just search for the POWER\OCKS Magicstick 2800mAh.  

Hmmm. I maybe need a second one.  

What makes August Fabulous for Me?

Every August we go someplace very very special.

Breezy Point!

Why is it so FABULOUS?

B-I-N-G-O
Cocktails!
Golfing
Swimming in the lake
Fishing
Swimming one of three pools
Cocktails!
Boating from lake to lake, island to island
Sleeping in
Waking up to a view of the lake
Going to sleep to the sounds of loons - or Elvis

I write about our vacation to Breezy Point every year. It is something that our whole family looks forward to doing and being. We relax, we let it all out, we get tan and we be us.

This is the ESSENCE of Fabulous Friday - now it is your turn.

Give me your Fabulous Friday - save the image of

As I have NOT figured out how to make a button grab yet.  And enter your post.

PLEASE if you do enter a post - be polite and visit other posts and comment.  Say something nice and not just "Cool - Came from Mommy's Nest", you know you do not like it when folks do that to you!  Say something like - "Wow, your day was FABULOUS! I am glad I stopped by to visit." or something else original, okay?  I love you guys and I know we can get FABULOUS together.  

We all DESERVE it. 

Give it away, give it away, give it away now....

I am busy today selling my old stuff!  In our hood there is an annual sale the First Saturday in June and this year we are hauling our stuff out to the yard to see if we can con anyone into taking it off our hands for a fair price.  ;)

Remember when I showed you how to make an Easy Canvas Print? It really is SUPER easy to do and I love the quality of their product.  So while I am SELLING to the neighbors I am GIVING to you!

You can make one of your own Easy Canvas Print's if you WIN! - just follow the raffle copter prompts and you will be entered!

Contest starts today, June 1
Contest closes Saturday, June 8th
Winner Announced Sunday, June 9th

The Winner will get one free 8" x 10" canvas print of your their own to create a memory.

Enjoy!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

A look ahead...

So, yesterday we ventured out in the middle of the snowstorm, like seriously it ended before we headed home.  We had a morning full with worship participation Sunday - Boo Boo La La and her class having the part of choir for the day.  Except I totally forgot my camera, and Boo Boo didn't do the actions on the second song....

"I was too TIRED Daddy!"

My Mom retired finally at the end of January and we went out for a lovely brunch at Spasso.  Thank you Sister In Law dear for picking up the tab, you clearly did not have to do that and I now owe you lunch!  :)

I got a lovely dinner made, dishes and laundry put away - thankfully had done all the grocery shopping on Saturday and settled in (to watch Dean McDermott win RvG on Food Network because obviously the Grammy's are no longer aimed at my demographic) because it is about to be a week!

Wait, let's look at Dean a second, shall we?

You know I like hot guys who cook, right?

Onward!

Tonight?  PTO meeting and the first night back at Kid-Fu!  Yes, at the same time of course so Mama has to let Daddy get all the glory of being at Kid-Fu.

Tomorrow? Girl Scouts and our Valentine Party and giving our Cookie Mom's all the checks and cash and getting my SIXTY more boxes of cookies.

Wednesday night we have to put together 24 Valentine's for the class because I can't make it easy and bought a fancy Valentine KIT from Michael's.

Thursday is Valentine's day and I know there will be a sugar crash from Boo Boo in my future....

Then Friday we will have to find just the right gift for a three-year old cousin for Saturday's Jumpy House Party!

Not to mention homework and reading our One School/One Book chapters of "Because of Winn-Dixie!"

...and look!  Right there on the kitchen counter.

The Girl Scout Treat Bucket remains....un-decorated.

Hmmmm.  When will we fit that in?

Are you wondering?

So - I LOVE where I work now and have for the past year.  Yes, like all workplaces there are challenges and obstacles and stupid people (duh!), but the good FAR exceeds anything else.

Exhibit A: My co-workers and I gathered in a cube this morning to giggle over this song on someone's Samsung.



Garfunkel and Oates from better thanyoufakeit on Vimeo.

Don't you want to send that out this year???

Merry Christmas Peeps!

What Makes You Smile? - @psfromaero

  I got invited to a pretty cool event.

I thought I would take the most STYLISH person in my home.           The Cowgirl.  The Super Model.  Huggy Bear.  

The one who loves Tinkerbell and Yoda equally.

I got invited to bring My Girl, My @Iambooboolala to design a shirt.

What makes you smile? 

Can you draw it? 

Not only do I think this t-shirt design contest is a great outlet for creativity in the Elementary School Set.  It benefits their SCHOOL too.  Yes, $500 gift card for each grade winner First to Fifth.  And $1000 to their schools.

I don't know if you are familiar with what is going on in the world, but most schools I know could really use that money to benefit their students.

I think p.s. from aeropostale is doing one fine thing with this contest.

Making Mommy Smile Daily

So go to the contest website at www.pswhatmakesyousmile.com and download your t-shirt template.

Get your kid excited to create a design.

Upload it.

Come back November 1st, 2012 and get your friends and family to vote!

Remember their will be FIVE winners.  So amazing.

Oh and p.s. I am getting a $50 p.s. from aeropostale gift card to show up at MOA for their live event tomorrow night. (Watch for our @mommylisa @iambooboolala tweets around 5pm) and tell you about this cool contest.  I wonder what great find Boo Boo La La will encounter at the store?  A hoodie?  New jeggings?  

p.p.s. I got invited cuz I know cool people like AntiSupermom - go ahead I dare you to read her blog.

Heard in my kitchen: Regarding the Republicans

This morning T-bone and I were in the kitchen, getting lunches ready, listening to the news when they began showing clips from the RNC in Tampa.

Oh dear, sweet, goofy T-Paw.

We heard what he said and T-bone turns to me:

Apparently since he won't be Vice President he is practicing to be a comedian.

Yeah, in church basements.

Good one Hon. <-Doh! I never get a reaction like that from T-bone, he usually tries to ADD to the joke.  Yeah me. 

*end scene*

And where did you put your sign?

So a while ago I had a giveaway for some window clings and I asked if winners would send me a picture of what they actually did with that window cling - and I got two GREAT pictures. (If you are reading this and still want to send me your photo - please do!)

Beth at Anti-SuperMom has a son who is obsessed with signs so her cling went into is room.  I love the way his room color made the CAUTION pop!

Then I got this one from J who is an Awesome Mom & Red Sox fan at Raising Z & Little C...DARING to send this to Twins Territory...

Her son loves to sing along to songs on his playlist so this was perfect for their vehichle.

Thank you J.

I follow both of these women's blogs - you should be doing it too!  :)

And remember if you need any printed item from a small window cling to a big birthday banner - give BuildASign.com the chance to help you out!  I am doing another review for them in April on their newest cool thing - Canvas Prints - I am VERY excited to show you what I selected.

THANK YOU! What an honor!

The Drama Mama at The Scoop on Poop

gave me this award for being a Stylish Blogger

I like that...

However, now I am to give you FIVE SECRETS about me???

Okay - I will give you random and silly secrets.

1. When I was little my Grandpa Bye told me I was magic...he told me to close my eyes and wish he would disappear and it would happen.  I did and he did!  I am sure he just went in the garage and hid on me, but I was sure I was magic...
2. My babysitter and I wanted to watch The Holocaust on television - my mom told us not to watch it because my brother was too little.  He vomited from one scene and my babysitter vaccumed it up!
3. I HATE it when anyone tries to touch my belly button...
4. I am not tickle-ish.
5. When I get nervous about something I feel like I have to pee every five minutes.

There you go!

Now to give this award to Five Stylish Bloggers:

Iris at My Life in Purple - she is FABULOUS you know.  (and a beautiful Canadian!)
Cathy at Antsy Pants - enjoy her Booze Days! (& because I owe her a guest post!)
Rebecca at Just Be! - she is the most Beautiful Geek I know...
The Town & Country Mom - finds awesome stuff
AND
Michelle at {So Wonderful, So Marvelous} because I still owe her a guest post for next Friday!

So, who do you love?

Cool Car Tales - 5th Trip!

Today's Cool Car Tale comes from my little (well, younger) brother Pete!

Who is all kinds of awesome!  Please visit his blog and enjoy this story. 

p.s. I loved this car too!

My first “love”!

The first Car (of the now ten I have owned) was the 1964 AMC Rambler Classic 770.




It was bought new by a nice lady in St.Cloud who only drove it to “Church and the grocery store”. She left it to her nephew with only a small dent and 24xxx miles. The Dad and I bought it for $1000 bucks in 1988.






I LOVED this car!!!

It came to an untimely end – cause I smashed it up- a few years later but it had a nice ride! (note from Mommy Lisa - I am the one who got the call from the cops and picked up the poor brother from the crash...)




My best memories (outside of romantic ones) in this car involve playin’ CB Tag with My Boys- the Bastards.






We developed this game by accident-we all had CBs in our cars and would play a radical version of hide and seek in our cars.






You were “tagged” when a “seeker” was behind you by less than a car length at a stop sign or red stop light. This and the boundary lines were pretty much THE ONLY RULES.

As 18 year old boys- we were CRAZY! Honestly- looking back- I am amazed no one got hurt. We only had two crashes in the 5 months or so we played the game.

It got sooo crazy- the County Sherriff had a “Task Force” to catch us.




They did- it took them two months and a team of 10 officers- but they did.

The Bastards have joked about playing ‘Tag’ again someday but with all of us being “grown-up” now I doubt it.

Maybe when we are all retired and need something to do we’ll play again. Or then again- maybe that’s when we’ll take up “skitchin’” again.

But that’s another story!

Look @ me...

This award was given to me by My Life In Purple...

She always makes me think about this poem.

Needless to say I was speechless...

My hair stood on end....

But, I will share the love!   This time with a woman who so richly deserves to be called a Beautiful Blogger for her opinions, determination, love of books and family - plus, she needs a big hug every now and again!

So MNMom at Happy to be from Iowa...this award is for you!