Anxiety

This is a picture that I was so proud to take. My daughter went with me to vote for the first woman to be President of the United States. We bought a cool t-shirt and a button at the Fair even that summer. 

I was sure of it. 

I felt it in my bones.

I had no clue that people hated her quite that much. Or hated that she 'let her husband get away with, xyz'. Or that EMAILS! 

I was kind of crushed.

Boo Boo would not go with me to vote in the next election. She was crushed too. 

Now she takes to Instagram and posts about anti-bullying, being kind, and taking care of others. Protests - #sayhername #blacklivesmatter #Beruit - She knows what is going on and asks me questions.

Mom, do you know who Kamala Harris is? 

Do you know why Joe Biden picked her to be his running mate? 

Did you and Daddy vote yet? 

It all is starting to feel familiar though. And with the #45 Parade down our Lilac Way this past weekend, I am anxious, to say the least. 

Not to mention all the vitriol on posts by our Governor. I can honestly say, I would be afraid to be in front of some of these people. 

How did Minnesota get like this? 

The white supremacy seeping out from the "nice". 

I will remain positive, but a little anxious, until this is all over. 

Maybe by Christmas. 

Just please, no Jason Lewis. 

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? 

Still Relaxing. Come again later.

The people I vacation with make constant poo and fart jokes.

'TorPEEdo!'

'No that was a torPOOdo!'

But I have time to read, drink my latte...or wine. And I don't go to work until tomorrow.

Come again later.

Business Travel - Or, Maybe I am too old for this sh.....

Last week before I left for a business trip I thought of reposting this from June 2011, but I hate to speak of the dark days of when I had a job that made me cry when someone asked, "And what do you do?"

Really. I would cry. Hated that job.

So - what I decided to do was take a few pictures and tell you ...

What I learned flying Sun Country to Boston and Back

1. Lake Michigan was still full of ice!
   
   
   
   
   
2. Boston looks cool from way up above.
   
3. Guys from Canada really do talk like that - even if they are the VP!
4. Saying "Wicked Pissa" will make people laugh when they know you really well.
5. My niece was born while I was in another time zone. 
   
6. Terminal E does not have the best food options. Burrito Elito? Eeek.
7. Minneapolis looks cool at night.
   
8. Don't answer your work phone on Friday at 11:30am when you are trying to leave early and you do not recognize the number.
9. My child rocks at choosing floral arrangements.
   
10. It is SO good to be home. 

Enjoy your Saturday Peeps

Are We There Yet? - What to do in very different places

I have teamed up with Kendra Thorton to bring you some travel ideas that are good for all seasons!

First it's my turn.  Where do I like to travel?

It is within driving distance for my family and we go there at least once a year - usually twice.

Breezy Point Resort has a rich history from its days of being built by Captain Billy Fawcett as a playground for his friends in the film industry - Yes, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard went fishing here!

It has grown now to have a convention center, three 18 hole golf courses, a marina, an ice arena, pools, beaches and so much to enjoy year round.

Last summer we took everyone - Fiance and Girlfriend AND Dear Friends - for a few rounds of golf, karaoke at the Commander for Sunday Family Karaoke Night and boating.
J-Dogg even sang "Barbie Girl"

This winter we went for ICE FEST and enjoyed snowmobiling across the frozen lakes, snow golf and watching Pond Hockey!

My top three things to do while vacationing at Breezy Point are:

Whitefish Golf Course! The very first time we rolled up and heard the classic Sinatra tunes pouring out of the clubhouse we were in LOVE.  It is a great course for couples - those who golf a lot and those who just golf a few rounds a year.

Pirates Cove Adventure! A great place for all ages to try to get a hole in one! And there are go karts too for the family speed demons!

Nisswa! Take the family for a stroll around Nisswa, MN for shopping, ice cream, candy and EATING at Rafferty's Pizza. You can get just about anything in Nisswa.

The real attraction of course is the great outdoors.  I would highly recommend this as a vacation destination if you really want to relax in the beautiful woods and fall asleep to the call of the loons.

And don't forget - all summer long - ELVIS! 

Now for my travel partner in crime.

My name is Kendra Thornton and I'm 40 and a mother of 3. Before being promoted to the full time position of mom, I was the former Orbitz Director of Communications where I was able to travel a great deal. I now live in Chicago with my family, where they are my number one priority in everyday life.

I love to travel. There are so many places in the world that are great to visit. One of my favorite places to see is Las Vegas. Here are some great places that I like to visit in Las Vegas.

Great Places to See in Las Vegas

1. A Pink Tour

When I come to Las Vegas with my family or friends, I always make it a point to take a tour of the area through Pink Jeep Tours. This experience begins with a pink Jeep arriving at the hotel to pick us up. Next, it takes us to a variety of difference places in the area. Each guide on the tour is friendly and answers every question that we have. There is a day tour that takes people all the way to the Grand Canyon and back.

2. A Tour with a High View

I really like flying into the airport in Las Vegas, since I can get a great look at the view of the city. Maverick Helicopters Las Vegas enables me to take a tour of the city from the air. My pilot was friendly and quite knowledgeable. It felt so neat to put on a headset and rise above the city. It was an experience I will never forget, and my children bring up this adventure every time they see a helicopter.

3. Dinners to Remember

In Las Vegas, there is not a shortage of fantastic places to eat. Although prices may be a bit steep, it is worth the cost for families and couples. When I am in the city with my husband, we love to go to the Fiamma Trattoria & Bar at the MGM for unforgettable Italian food. The pasta is memorable, and the prices are reasonable. Steak enthusiasts will enjoy the SW Steakhouse, which is at the Wynn. There is a great water show that entertains diners.

4. Relaxing Fun at Mandalay Bay

I love going to the beach, and Mandalay Bay has brought it to Las Vegas. I can grab a beverage, get on an inner tube and float on the water. It is great to soak up the warm sun. There is a wave pool and a lazy river. These options give me the opportunity I need to relax.

Las Vegas is a great place for me to be and the city offers a number of hotel options. Sites like Gogobot make it easy to read user reviews so you can be sure about your purchase. 

There are so many things to see and do. That is why I keep going back each year. 

The Fun Sisters

This Week's Writing Prompts for Thursday 08/22

3.) Open your picture folders, close your eyes and pick a random photo to share and write about.

My daughters - The FUN Sisters at Pequot Lakes Fun Sisters Boutique

See those CRAZY girls?  That is Boo Boo & Sair from last summer when we HIT "The Fun Sisters" in Pequot Lakes, MN.  No, I didn't let Boo Boo get daquiri goggles.  I am not THAT bad of a mother. 

The Fun Sisters is the one place we NEVER EVER EVER EVER miss when we go up north for our week at Breezy Point.  Last year I don't think we bought that much, but we sure had fun.  They even give you a "Glitter Makeover" if you ask and pay the fifty cents. 

A dollar for two colors of glitter.  

If you are fancy like that. 

We have gotten some pretty crazy stuff here - sparkle flip flops, "scarf" flip flops, rings, hair extensions, FAUX-Yurman, FAUX-Tiffany, and purses and ponies and sunglasses...OH MY! Boo Boo got a GLITTER TATOO kit this year.  She glittered EVERYONE for "Max Power" she said. 

I know one day Sair won't be with us at The Fun Sisters.  Then it will just be Boo and Me. 

I have to remember to treasure these trips. 

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. 

Too Many Things

I know they say that God never gives you more than you can handle.

But right about now I am crying and for reasons both happy and sad and distressed and just general life stuff.

Do you ever have that feeling?  You are so out of control of the life around you that you do not know what to tackle next?

Today is that day for me.  I am struggling to stay on any one task - finish ANYTHING - and I have way too much to do at work, for PTO, the list goes on.

I hope tonight Boo Boo just wants to play a silly game or something.

Maybe she will read Baby Mouse to me?

I need my Mommy and a hug.

At least she made it...

Last Thursday my carpool mate said, "Hey, let's drive ourselves tomorrow.  I want to work late."

Crap.  It is going to snow, I could work from home, but I left my laptop in the building.

I get home and my husband, who is packing to leave for a snowmobile trip, says, "Boo Boo isn't feeling well."

Crap.  I left my laptop at work and it is going to snow and my kid is sick.

Crap.

Maybe she will feel better in the morning.

6:20 am a little person shuffles into my room.

"Mama, I don't feel good.  My tummy hurts." and CRAP!

I get dressed and put my hair up.  Bundle her into the car with water, a bucket, and some gatorade to retrieve my laptop so I can work from home.

Crap.  I HATE driving while it is snowing.  Double crap.

I take the back roads hoping to avoid other cars sliding into me.  From the back I hear, "Mama it is too bumpy and hilly and its making me sick."

We are almost there baby, hold on.

We pull into the lot at work and I go to the back to help Boo Boo get out - and she says, "I don't feel so...."

BLECH - right into the bucket I am holding as I am helping her out of the car.

And we are standing in the snow, child barfing.

At least she made it to the parking lot.

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?

Sick on vacation...

This is my view for the first few days of vacation.

It turns out this crappy humid weather has played havoc with my nasal passages.  I have vasomotor rhinitis and am now taking flonase and ibuprofen and trying to rest.

It bites.

So Boo Boo La La and Jake and Daddy have been swimming and I have been just resting.

Blah.

Hope you are doing better than me.

In honor of The White House "Rick-Roll"

In honor of the "Rick-Roll" by The White House Twitter Account - I re-post this Friday Video for you from July 30th, 2009 - ironically when we were also on our way to Breezy Point and where I am right now!



Enjoy your week kids - we are off to Breezy!
p.s. I created this post Thursday night and came into work to publish this a.m. But, the Doctor beat me to the pop-culture reference!

Rewinding a Boo Boo on Boo Boo

Back on November 20th, 2007 when this story happened I had a job working out of my home office.  Ah to have a job again...oh well.  Enjoy how lucky I got when Boo Boo La La fell to the floor. Age 23 months!

**************************************************************

We got up this morning and I had to get Boo Boo La La right into her clothes...she HATES that! She prefers to dawdle until after breakfast to get her pj's off and into clothing. I had to bribe her with her Hi-Five t-shirt.




Thank goodness that still works.

We went down and got Jacob and took off for his ortho appointment. Then, since we were done so quickly I decided we should go to McD's...and sit at a high table...and SMACK!!!! Down went my Boo Boo!!!!!

ARGGHHH!! AWWWWWWWWW! OOOOOCHHHHIE!

We calmed her down, put ice on and packed up...taking J-dogg to school. While he talked to her and made her giggle I called the doctors...we go in very quickly...doctor, McD's and school are all within a mile of each other thank GOD!

Guess what? NOTHING is wrong...no bump, no bruise, NOTHING!

I was strangley weirded out by this and kept asking the doctor, "Are you SURE that she is fine? I heard her head HIT the McD's floor? She was screaming. ARE YOUR SURE???"

She said, no bleeding, no bump. Unless she thows up or something seems "odd" she is just fine and that happens.

HOW IN THE H - E - double toothpicks did I get so lucky.

I started to shake and cry. I had been calm prior to this.

Now, she is totally normal.

What a day and it is only one pm. Deep Breaths everyone. Keep reminding me, deep breaths.

Saturday

Since Mommy is on vacation - she thought this year she might post old blogs for fun.  Back from when I had like two followers - here is Saturday, October 27, 2007. p.s. I added the photo of the cake for this time around...don't know why I didn't add it the first time!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Terry got up and fed Marin breakfast so I could lay in bed for a bit...that is always a good start to the weekend.

I got up and got dressed, then we were off to Byerly's. My favorite Byerly's is the one by the old Planet Ford; but I forgot Highway 100 was closed today past 394 until I got past 55. I exited at Glendale, then we meandered around the side roads/frontage roads until we got to that Byerly's. I was okay with that, lazy Saturday with no where to really be.

We got lots of nice help from the employees as we were looking for specific items, then when we were checking out the nice checkout lady said, "So did you have trouble with 100 closed, or did you just come down Louisiana?" Uh, yeah! That's what I did...on the way home! I am so goofy sometimes when I forget that there is a simpler way. I always make it harder somehow.

* pause, OH SH**!

Like just now when I realized that I had a pan of brownies ready for the oven on the counter and for sure the oven is pre-heated after 15 minutes or so! I am making a recipe I found on Simondelivers in honor of Halloween. Enjoy! I will let you know how they turn out later.

Brownies with caramel are baked in a round pan, frosted, and decorated to look like a spider web. Halloween fun!

AND I had a pumpkin platter!

SERVES: 12 <-yeah, right, twelve.
PREP TIME: 5 Minutes
COOK TIME: 30 Minutes
Ingredients
1 package Brownie Mix for an 8 or 9 inch pan1 tub White FrostingBlack Decorating Gel - or - 1/4 cup Chocolate Frosting
Directions
Follow directions on box to prepare the brownies. Bake in a ROUND 8 or 9 inch pan instead of a square one. Cool.
Remove brownie from pan and place on serving plate. Frost with your choice of white frosting.
Make a spiral of decorating gel or chocolate frosting onto the white frosting. Note: If using chocolate frosting, put into one corner of a ziptop bag. Snip the very, very end of the bag to create a piping bag.
Pull a toothpick through the spiral from the middle to the outer edges about every inch or two to make the spider web. Serve with a cold glass of milk and other Halloween Treats.

Easy Canvas Prints

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

Step Four

Check Out!

Enjoy - www.easycanvasprints.com

Flashback Friday: My Favorite Vacation Ever!

Today I am playing Flashback Friday where you post an old picture and share a story about it. 

I like Deb and today just felt compelled to play and share pictures from my favorite vacation ever.

Now if you know me and my family you know we look forward ALL year to the peace and quiet of Breezy Point Resort and our jaunts out on the lakes.  Golfing, pizza eating, shopping and long walks are also on the agenda.  But this time was different....this was Boo Boo La La's FIRST ever summer vacation.

And yes.  She was pretty much in the pool or naked the whole time...

What about you?  Any old pictures to share with us today?

...and the fun comes to an end for Boo Boo La La!

Sorry I missed giving you a Boo Boo La La Saturday last week - I was in a wedding and it was a CRAZY week!  You see DAYCARE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR TWO WEEKS!

So for the past two weeks Grandpa (My dad, not T-Bone's) has been helping out by driving to our house - 30 miles each way! - to spend time with his Boo Boo La La.  The man deserves a vacation to Hawaii!  He did three days each week all by himself - they went to:

7/13 The Como Zoo to ride rides and see the Polar Bears
7/14 The Minnesota Zoo - cuz they both LOVER it so much! (she was afraid of the crocs though and would not go see the new Africa exhibit....hmmm.
7/15 The Splash Pad, naturally
7/16-17 Grandma joined the fun for a local "beach" and she stayed OVERNIGHT while we were in the Groom's Dinner and such...
(Grandpa and Grandma got a break Saturday night cuz they were ALSO invited to the wedding - Candice stepped in!  Boo Boo loves her some Candice!)
7/20 They laid around and only went to McD's playland for two HOURS.
7/21 Willy Wonka at Stages AND the company picnic at the job my Dad just retired from...whew!
7/23 They laid around and went to McD's playland for anothe two HOURS! (Dad got to read the paper, he was good.  But I think my child ate McD's 4 out of the 7 days!)

Grandpa was also a good sport about playing kitchen, even if she fed the stuffed animals and told Grandpa he could serve himself "Cuz your a grown-up!"  He even let Boo Boo La La paint & color a bunch for Mama....including the one above that I got the full lowdown on Thursday night before dinner.

You see its a girl Mama.  She has to climb up those red & green spash poles to get to the beach.  And she has purple hair...and the green thing, that is the button you push and it makes a noise like spllloush and you get lots of water on you.  And that silver part is her hat.  She needs the hat to climb up to the pool and spinny slide and the beach...the whole thing is the beach and right here (pointing to the side of the blue "pool") that is the lifeguard and they keep everybody safe and tell the rules and blow their whistles like this TWEEEET!  Really the WHOLE THING is the beach and this part (pointing to blue "pool" and darker blue "slide") THIS part is the pool and slide and she has to climb those splashing poles to make it in there. 

You get it?

Sure babe.  Its as crystal clear as your pool.

I really need some advice today...

I saw True Confessions of a Single Mother's post today and was thinking about our dilema.

See this cute face.

I know, I know you have seen Boo Boo La La's cute face a lot.

The trouble we are faced with right now is that she is four.  During the day she is 100% potty trained and has been for a while, a year or so...she was a bit stubborn and wanted to potty on her terms.

We went away for New Year's like usual - Miss K, who Boo Boo La La adores and is younger by almost two months, does not wear pull-ups to bed.  Boo Boo still did. 

About a week later - the day after her 4th Birthday Party - she said.  "Mama, I am four now and I don't need to wear pull-ups to bed any more.  Miss K doesn't!"  Okay---well, you are usually dry in the morning.  Let's give it a go.

About one month later and after three crying pee pee bed wetting jags in two nights we had enough.

Mama and Daddy made Boo Boo put the pull-ups back on.  But, how do we get out of them?

1. She sleeps like a ROCK.  Nothing wakes her up short of the apocolypse.
2. She feels bad now, we are telling her she still needs to get up and go potty but the pull-up is just so she is not wet if she has an accident.  That it is not a big deal, she is STILL a big girl!

I was thinking of getting a calendar for her to put stars on for every morning her pull up is dry. 

Do you think that will help?  Or hurt?  (because of the mornings she gets no sticker...I don't want her to feel bad if she has an accident...)

HELP!

Tell me why...I don't like Mondays! blah

So we are back. We had fun...will write more later.

See how cool and relaxed I was golfing Whitefish?

what is not to like about a place that plays DEAN MARTIN & Sinatra on their outdoor speakers?

I try and try and try and try some more to be positive,(you saw the pictures from the walk - I took my baby to a nice concert at Orchestra Hall - I tell people nice things!) but I just keep having the negative creep up on me. Anything can trigger me feeling bad and wanting to cry - something someone says on the phone(even if they don't mean anything by what they said), the awful "Buy This Big Giant Christmas Gift" commercials, the news, an email...

I want to go back to bed and stay there for about a week. I do not want to drive anywhere, talk to anyone on the phone, argue with my friends, spouse, child or others, watch news, read bad things on the internet, or work out.

What I want is some rest, some cuddles, a back rub or two and some nice glasses of wine. Maybe an omlette with tomatoes, cheese and turkey.