Motherhood and other creative adventures
I was in Big Lots the other day, can’t remember what for now, and while waiting in line I was browsing the cheap jewelry. It’s so unlike myself to make an impulse purchase, but I totally fell in love with this ring when I saw it, fake plastic “diamonds” and all.
I am trying so hard to avoid the mom rut in my dressing, but once you pass 30 and aren’t interested in looking like you’re 20, I’m starting to think it might be unavoidable unless I dress in cocktail dresses everywhere I go.
I think these fancy new shoes I got are a great non-rut option that are still not-heels.
Look what came out in the wash with a load of thrifted clothes! It seems I just got paid to shop.
And Miss Jem Kitty earned her food for another day by being a not so patient model.
Spring has hit Modesto, and everywhere I drive I’m surrounded by glorious flowering trees. Orchards line many of the streets near me, so I get to watch as the nut and fruit trees rejoice in the change of the season. It’s glorious.
Except for the fact that I, like most of the people living in this valley, have suddenly developed allergies. Every day at 3:00 all my energy leaves me at once and I get a splitting headache. Right now my nose is completely stuffed and my eyes are running like they’re training for a marathon. But I’ll go see the doctor and get sorted out. It’s still worth it to be a witness to such beautiful seasonal change, and the incredible produce that comes out of it.
Here’s the last picture I’ll take with my trusty Olympus. My first digital camera that I’ve been carting along with me for the last five years. The lens I used for everyday snapshots stopped focusing, and after searching the entirety of the internet I decided it would be a better investment to switch camera brands and get a whole new camera rather than buy a new lens. I’ve been limping along over the last few weeks using an enormous zoom lens and standing across the room from everything I needed to shoot.
It’s bittersweet, but for just about the same price as a new lens I got this sweet little lightweight Nikon D3100. Poor Olympus. You served valiantly, I will miss you. But now I have this new little guy to keep me company.
Sally had these at her place over Christmas and I used them to eat an entire cheese ball. I was both thrilled and angry to discover them at Wal-Mart because I’ve been using them as the perfect cheese delivery system and I have eaten way too much. They’re especially great with strawberry cream cheese, that sweet and salty pairing just can’t be beat.
An East Indian friend of ours gave us this present to help us through our recent bummer times. Not only is it a sweet little gift, and a thoughtful expression of support, but it means so much to me when someone reaches out with love in a way that shares something significant to them. It seems somehow not only a gesture of love, but also of trust.
Bear came through in a big way for Valentine’s Day this year.
First, as a gift of love to console me through the tough news, he took advantage of all the pre-Valentine’s flower sales to bring me my favorites. These tulips arrived as little green pods and it’s been a joy to watch them burst.
On the day itself Bear came home from work making a huge racket as he struggled through the front door with a great big box and a big plastic bag. Once he unveiled all his treasures I wound up with five boxes of my favorite lollipops and latest obsession, and…
this stunning aluminum table I spotted at Costco a few weeks ago and moped about leaving behind. The stinker made me see reason, that we really couldn’t afford it and we had so many other places to use that money, and then he went back the next day and bought it. It’s been stashed in his office ever since.
It’s easy to see that gift giving is one of Bear’s love languages, and I just get to be the lucky girl who lives with it.
So much to share about Atti’s birthday and first day of school, but all the words are currently plugged behind the snot occupying my brain. Today I am very grateful for the cold aisle at the pharmacy that is allowing me to drag my sorry self out of bed long enough to do what absolutely has to get done before I hack and sniffle my way back.
My mother in law Sally is a devoted See’s chocolate fan, so for every holiday you can count on her having a box of it lying around. When we went down for Christmas she also had a selection of their lollypops, including a new-to-me flavor of cinnamon.
I turned crazy over them, hogging every one in the house and then going to three different See’s stores to see if I could get my hands on any more. But by then it was after Christmas and they had disappeared.
Until it was time for Valentine’s Day! It’s too embarrassing to confess how many of these I’ve eaten over the last week, but let’s just say that my mouth feels like I’ve eaten nothing but Cap’n Crunch for every meal. The canker sores are legendary, but totally worth it.
