The Middle

I woke up in the middle of the night panicked that I left the pizza out from our dinner ... Because after we ate dinner in the living room,  amongst me folding laundry, daughter one doing homework and my other daughter stretching,  I was toast. 

As I stumbled to the kitchen, I flip on the light. There isn't anything on the counter- nope. Pizza is gone.  Where is it? Well, in the refrigerator in baggies for lunch tomorrow! (Why else do I say, "yes" to pizza in the middle of the week!!!  Leftovers!

 Daughter one,  in between all the other stuff we tended to last night,  cleaned up the kitchen.  

 Go ahead,  judge that it is 4:36 am and I'm just recognizing that. But I'm okay with that after our crazy night of our normal.

 In between getting husband ready for work, laundry, grading, reading, planning and looking ahead to tomorrow (well, today, but you get it...) I forgot. 

I'm in middle.  

I'm in the middle of my life. Middle aged, middle parenting,  middle career... middle marriage.

Two weeks ago, we celebrated fourteen years married. Two weeks before that, I celebrated forty three years on this planet. This is my middle.

Middle of being an adult. Some may stuck in the middle. 

But I don't think the middle is so bad ... Ever had an Oreo?!? 

So,  here is what happens in the middle. 

Busy, hectic but beautiful. 

I crawl back into bed, I have at least 40 minutes plus 2 snoozes before I will get out of bed for real! I check on the girls. I cover up daughter #1.   

 I ask her if she is cold she says,  "I'm good."

 I say,  "Thanks for putting up the pizza"  ... She says,  "of course."

If this is the middle.  I'm okay with it.  Truly.  The moments in the middle (of the night, in this case) is what matters.  

The Summer of LuLaRoe

It never fails someone always asks me what I did last summer? Heck, there is even a song about it... now you are singing it ... YOU ARE WELCOME! I love to summer hard and this summer hasn't been any different.  I decided to do a countdown; there is exactly 87 days from when school lets out in May until we return in August. It seems to get shorter every year; however that is because I am "off" in the summer and we all know it flies by!

My countdown has been fun... I take pictures of whatever tickles my fancy, represents my mood, my day, whatever we are doing in the summer. You can follow my journey on Instagram.

BUT right now I want to tell you my summer is all about...  leggings... more specifically, it is all about

LuLaRoe

LuLawhat?? Yes... LuLaRoe.

So you get it right?  Currently in the summer of LulaRoe it is crazy;  no one is paying me for this blog entry or advertising; me and my friends are just simply obsessed maybe even a little mental about these super soft buttery leggings. Oh, and the prints, they are fun and whimsical. I like to call them conversation starters!

Watching a live sale in the Lularoom

What is LulaRoe?

You can read and learn about the company here. But it's this amazing community of women (and men too) that sell clothes made up of fun and inspiring patterns. It is set up like network marketing and let me tell you people are killing it. You can only purchase through online sales and in home parties. I was introduced to the phenomenon by a good friend, who was introduced by her sister. The craze started for us with leggings... they are soft as buttah and yes; they can be worn as pants. Look at these cute prints!!!

One of our LulaRoe hauls this summer

So that same good friend and her sister started this adventure together and well let's just say I am a groupie. You can join their group here. I know when they get shipments of new goods, when their parties are happening, live sales and new albums will be available for purchase. I am obsessed. But in a totally good and supportive way! Aren't they the cutest???

Fierce consultants, sisters and partners

So it started with the leggings and then, there was Irma.  Oh, Irma... I love you! It is soft and covers all my perfect imperfections. And next Madison... or wait, was it the Maxi... then the Perfect Tee and the Classic.... OH GOODNESS...my love affair runs deep and true.

My very first piece... I just love this Irma. 

The thrill of the hunt at a Pop Up party

The other thing that is so awesome about these clothes... if you even need another reason?? You wash them in cold water and hang dry... no wrinkles. Easy Breezy!

It's all about looking for your print in your size and style.  Because consultants can't buy specifics. They just order sizes and styles and are surprised when their shipment comes. It's like Christmas morning when UPS delivers. They have hard to find prints that the consultants have affectionately called Unicorns... and the thrill of the hunt for these unicorns is so fun!

My Unicorns!

"Self confidence is the best outfit. Rock it. Own it." 

LulaRoe in my opinion is all about creating a village of women who inspire and encourage others. The confidence to wear a whimsy print and mix the patterns to make a fashion statement all comes from within.
It has brought people together and made shopping fun! You can shop with your friends and make new ones all from the comfort of your own couch!

So if you are still on the fence about giving LuLaRoe a chance let me preach for a sec-

5 of the top reasons I love LuLaRoe:

1. The clothes are unique: they only create 2500 of certain prints so ...the combos are endless.

2. The clothes are comfortable...I forgot I was wearing my Maxi skirt! The light weight fabric is easy to care for too!

3. There is something for everyone...with sizes going to 3XL it celebrates all sizes and beauty.

4. It creates community and sisterhood...this goes without saying. 

5. It feels good on! If it feels good, you look good! WIN! WIN!

If you are interested in learning more start here and join my friends group... she will help you every step of the way!  

Have fun and happy Unicorn hunting!

The Day I Let My Daughter Cook

Today I said yes more than no and I created some memories for my daughter. It was hard at times. Like for reals hard. But I got through it. And it was awesome.

We all know that dinnertime is the one of the craziest in any house; so the fact that my daughter wanted to wreak havoc on my kitchen after a long day of summering hard... well... I was reluctant scared to say the least.

I am a self denying control freak. I tell myself nope! I'm super chillax. Ha. Not true!! As I get older, I think it is getting worse, folks. Like, I always want to drive places; or be at the restaurant first; or host the parties; pick the menus; choose the outfits;  pick me. Love me. UGH. I am a monster!

A couple nights ago daughter #2 asks as if she can make dinner from start to finish? I had to pause. And think long and hard before I didn't do a knee jerk reaction and say no. Nope. Not today!

I swallowed hard. And I said yes!

She squealed. And said really?  She said it  way too many times and I could feel the heat raising on my neck.  Do I not let them do what they want? Do I control and not let her just be?
I pushed back the desire to ask her that... Instead I smiled and we started the planning.
I had a few stipulations - guardrails if you will:

1. The meal needed to have healthy choices
2. She would have to make her own grocery list 
3. She would have to come shopping with me and put away the groceries. 

And away she went.

Pinterest luckily is always on the ready for times like this and last night it was no different. You can follow me here.

She searched for healthy easy dinner recipes, healthy dessert recipes and also an appetizer.

It all happened pretty fast! And before I could recant my yes... She had a menu.

Fruit Salsa with homemade Cinnamon Sugar Chips

Zucchini Boats

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

We got up and went to the store. She was very organized; had her list and she was ready.  As you can see she loved the process!

I coached her along each step; giving her pointers on how to hold the knife; to move the handle from the pan towards the stove etc.

I couldn't help but hear my Grandma saying "do it my way or not at all!" I may or may not come from a long line of control freaks! However, I have learned so much from these women in my life that I tend to remember more of their passion and zest for life and how to live then anything else!

I admit (now) my Grandmother knew more than me at that time... But now I think she would realize that there is more than one way to get things done. Gasp.

As she chopped the strawberries. I cringed.   Then cheered her on and praised her precision. Although it took a long time to cut those strawberries I am proud to say she got better by the end!

Next came the awesome tortilla chips. The least healthy choice... They were so good. She nailed it!

Do you think she was having fun?!?

The zucchini boats were surprisingly easy to make and she whizzed through it. I had to show her a few times how to hold the spoon to get the insides out of the zucchini but she did very well!

Now on to the dessert my friends. So yummy and decadent and so clean. I was impressed that she went with it   She doesn't like hummus ... But this recipe calls for chickpeas. Yes, you heard me! I linked all the recipes for your enjoyment. Let us know what you think!

Dinner was a huge success. For both of us! She was very proud of herself for working as hard as she did to feed the family.  She may have told me that it is hard work cooking and cleaning all day... I just laughed!  I didn't make a comment about how I know all about that... I just let her do her thing.

It was worth it. 4 hours letting go of control in my kitchen translated into my daughter learning some cool things about herself one summer afternoon

1. Cooking is fun 
2. She knows how to make healthy choices
3. Her mom is awesome 
4. She can follow a recipe
5. Measuring is math 
6. It is okay to make a mess!

I am so glad I said yes to her.  I mean for all the feels... Look at her smile.

I will do my best to give her more chances to make a mess in the kitchen... Cause let's face it. She is old enough to clean it up. The right Her way!

Mermaids and Ruby Slippers

As we floated in the pool to escape the heat daughter # 2 asks me;

"Do you like mermaids momma?"

I never really thought about it.  So I give her a shrug of the shoulders and reply with no enthusiasm what so ever:

"I guess they are kinda cool. Why do you like them?"

"They are so pretty and they have powers!"

She was beaming. Her smile was big. And I kinda felt bad for being a downer... then it hit me.

This was a huge teachable moment for me and it was waiting there for me to seize it.  Do not squander it. don't be less than enthusiastic; don't be a downer!

Sitting there on a silver platter was the opportunity to tell daughter # 2 this:

You are pretty and have powers too,  ya know?

It may look different then the mermaids powers but you do. Even if you don't see it sometimes... they are there. You just have to figure them out!

I went on to say that the power is in us to do lots of things, 

 the power to be kind 

 the power to make a difference 

 the power to learn 

 the power to do something bravish

 the power to forgive
 the power to be anything you want to be
 the power to dream

Her brown eyes just stared at me. A smile curled up on her lips...

"Where do I get that power?" she said.

"Well you get that power from your passion and drive and your village. Your people, your friends,  help fuel that power."

Hopefully. 

She laughed and the moment swam off. As I heard those last words come out I believed every word of them. We all have that power and passion to do something. Whatever it is. And the people around us are the ones that keep us afloat and paddling when we want to give up.

The Little Mermaid was all about dreaming and the power to change her course. With her dinglehoppers and passion she makes her dreams a reality.

We recently went to see The Wizard of Oz and the aha moment went off again sitting there holding my girl's hand. Dorothy desperately wants to get home. Glinda the Good Witch tells her; "You have always had the power my dear; you just had to learn it for yourself".

I am pretty sure Ariel and Dorothy would be best of friends, don't you??

Whether its your mermaid tail or your ruby slippers... you have the power.

So surround yourself with people who get it. And get you! Be someone's biggest fan and give them the fuel and energy to power on. You don't get to take their power. Use your own.  We all have it, we just need to learn it for ourselves.

Kindness Rules

Kindness is my mode of operand i. I believe you should try to be kind in any and all situations- you, we, all of us should just do it. It bothers me when people aren't kind to waiters and waitresses, retail clerks alike. There is a saying that goes like this , "If a person who is nice to you but isn't kind to the waiter is not a nice person".  You get the picture, right? Or how about the person that hides behind the computer screen... and picks fights and belittles others while trying to make their point.

I preach it to my girls. I preach it to my students. And after I preach it I try and show them what it looks like. Now before you get all judgy on me; I am not saying I get it right all the time;  I have flaws and have made mistakes. But ultimately kindness rules. So imagine when my nose got all out of place when I read an article about just the opposite. To say I was ticked off is an understatement.

After I read this article on TODAY.COM  about an incident that involved three young girls at a Starbucks not being kind and saying mean things about other people, particularly Catherine and how they voted her out of their singing group. They went on to bash gifts they had received and people's performances at a recent talent show. These pretty girls were talking ugly about others. It struck a nerve. I'm not going to lie it made me angry to just read of this.  How dare they?

What happens next is so awesome- a lady hears them; obviously unnerved by the whole thing and does something. Because she simply must! In a North Carolina Starbucks she simply stood up to the unkind behavior of three girls with none other than kindness! She writes them a note and buys them another drink! The note reads: 

Hi Girls!

"I sat near you today in Starbucks and listened as you talked. You three are obviously pretty and hard-working. I wish your kindness matched your pretty exteriors. I heard you talk about a girl who sang a song about being lonely in the talent show – and you laughed. About a girl who couldn’t be lead singer because you got all the votes, about crappy presents other people have given you…and you sounded so mean and petty.

"You are smart and you are pretty. It would take nothing from you to also be kind. – M.

Courtesy Of Facebook page Michelle in the Middle
http://michelleinthemiddle.com

This was one of those moments that I wish I could give this awesome, brave, lady a high five. Her name is Michelle. You can read more about her here. She totally nailed it and is the epitome of what authentic kindness is. Right? I mean, she could have just shrugged her shoulders and walked away ticked off. Instead she did the right thing- even when no one was looking. Aw, my friends, integrity, loyalty, authentic kindness, all stuff that is hard to come by these days. But I refuse to be okay with that!  

If you see something or your spidy sense goes off and something just doesn't feel right... you must say something. Be true and be brave. Stand up for what you know is right; even if it isn't what everyone else is doing.  What if your daughter was Catherine?

Good Friends

It is summer.  I am grateful for the slow start to the summer season with the rain and canceled plans. The weeks leading up to the coveted break was anything but slow. It was frantic, hurried, hard, sad and emotionally draining.

So because it is summer I have lots of time to reflect, recharge and reinvent myself. (In between planning for next year's school year, tech seminars, NETFLIX and enjoying my new pool of course!)

Remember how I said it was a sad few weeks; well let me say that when there is pain and hurt you find your village waiting for you...  like that lighthouse showing you the way.

They send you a love note in the middle of the night; they meet you where you are to just say... hey it is okay! They make you laugh even when you don't want to, they make you take your vitamins, unplug your phone and make sure you have showered. Essentials.

It seems so elementary- but being a good friend is that. Simple. Easy breezy.

All the feels. 

I love sappy and sweet- I do. But I know it isn't always that way... sometimes we have all the feelings with our friends. And maybe just maybe we want to punch them in the throat ( as an act of love of course) but ultimately, friends... true, real friends... those are the ones that make this "adulting" thing manageable.

As I caught up on the phone with a dear friend recently; we laughed, listened, encouraged and loved each other in the short 13 minutes we had. It wasn't elaborate; it wasn't glamorous but in those moments she knew I loved her and was her biggest fan.

No one should feel alone; connection is key in this plugged in world we live in...so make it count. So what is a true friend?

This is a list I came up with the little help from a friend.

How to Be a Good Friend

1. Listen to them...don't interrupt, really listen.
2. Be intentional about spending quality time time together
3. Give them space to explore things on their own
4. Laugh with them and at them... because come on!
5. Show up! That is all!
6. Watch movies together... stupid ones, serious ones, let them pick and make fun of you if you DON'T GET IT
7. Be loyal
8.  Get pedicures together... let them get the color they choose without comment. okay you can comment- but don't think it will matter!
9. Take their side- unless they're being ridiculous in which case you have to tell them.
10. Respect your differences- hell, welcome it!
11. Know their favorite drink...THIS IS A MUST.
12. Ask them what scares them... and then comfort them,
13.Try new things together and don't be afraid to fail.
14. Be their biggest cheerleader and their biggest fan, but also know when to tell them to hang it up.
15. Love them hard.

I am not the perfect friend - this list isn't meant to make you pace and get nervous; it just is. This is what being a true, honest friend looks like for me. It is what I was shown selflessly by people who have loved me when it wasn't always easy... and I hope I can reflect this to my village everyday.

Dreams Matter

Contemplate the minds of our little ones. They are so fragile,  yet strong and I take the job of teaching them very seriously. I am passionate and enthusiastic about giving them the tools to be creative and resourceful to think on their own. This past week, when I did a lesson on Martin Luther King Jr. and encouraged them to write their own I have a dream speech, I was. Blown. Away.  

I Have a Dream

By a 9 year old world changer 

I Have a Dream

That I can dance on Broadway 

That my family can be with me all my life 

That my friends grow up to be strong 

Oh I have a dream...

That all children can get a good education

That grown ups don't have to work too hard 

That people will start to make better decisions

Oh, I have a dream...

That people will find that God is with them 

That people will learn to read and write correctly

That there will be grace in our future 

Say what?? This is straight from the mouths of babes...no prompting. No start up... Just this 3rd grader. Rocking the world. Wanting her world to be full of God and Peace and Grace. Equality. Love. 

And this wasn't the only one like it. Their papers were filled with awesome dreams. Big dreams. Brave dreams.

There were dreams of healthy families, cures for "canser" and for people to take care of their dogs. There were dreams of being soccer players, forgiveness, fairness and for God's will to be done  and (wait for it) for our country to be safe and protected. 

I couldn't stand it.  I was punched in the gut by each of them. These children get it. The love thing. We as adults are still confused by it all. Why is that???

On this day, the day we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and his dreams - my message is that every dream matters.

Continue to be brave little dreamers. Your dreams matter.  

Crazy Girl vs. Action Girl

Let me introduce you to Crazy Girl and Action Girl. They are two antagonists living in the same body. But it makes for some good fun and she is okay with being the butt of many of jokes! She is also a good sport. On Sunday, this landed in my inbox from my crazy/action friend. After you read this you will know that she is totally crazy. And the best part about it is she knows it, owns it and admits it. We call that just owning your s#%*!  

"I may have bitten off more than I can chew. 

I've decided to learn how to cook healthy, organize my kitchen and maybe lose some weight at the same time.

I'm not asking for advice- remember last week when I said I don't want to hear it? I'm not even looking for pity or a side-eye glance. 

I'm just stating the fact that there are changes that need to made, I want to accomplish them and....

I recognize I'm a crazy head.

     Just thought you should know.

I believe that winter is a time of renewal, not spring. By the time spring rolls around I want to be frolicking outside, with all the springtime creatures. (I live in a forest but really I'd be hanging out in my hammock with a good book.)

When winter comes, and I'm stuck inside, I look around and decide ' I need to cook more' or 'this cabinet is appalling! I can't find anything'. I'm not sure why this hits me in winter. It might be partly because of New Year's resolutions but also cause it's hard to function when you're staring at cupboards full of crazy food you won't eat (chili tomato spaghetti anyone?) or hunting for a lid for 15 min before you realize that there is no damn lid.

So being an action sort of girl I'll take the food bull by the horns and go a couple of rounds. Surely I can figure this out- organize, cook, lose a bit of weight. 

Can't be that hard.

Can it?

Nope, don't tell me. I don't wanna 

hear it."

So crazy met action on the corner of winter blues and man it was a doozy. She wants me to tell her something then she doesn't. Makes no sense.  So this is how I responded to Crazy. 

"Hey crazy.  You are an action girl?  True dat. You are a doer for surer. When you have a list of things to get done I know you get bat ass crazy about the list. BUT you get it done! Me on the other hand... I'm a little bit of the fizzer outer sort. You know! I like to plan and then let someone else make things happen! 

So- first off  I am totally proud of you!! I know it is hard to fit in this time FOR you. And you are tracking your progress and letting us hold you accountable. Run for your life my friend. Even if you are allergic to it!

But here is my truth- I want to hibernate. Remember last year - when all you wanted to do was sit on the couch and read?!? And in between that you were praying for snow days?!? That's where I am - no meal plans, organization tactics or plans to be a better me. Why the hell can't we get on the same cycle?!?! I mean it would make our lives easier.  

So go on with your bad self and organize and cook healthy and eeks... RUN!!! I'll be over here watching Netflix. 

The truth is I like you no matter what. With your disorganized pantry and chile tomato pasta, and 5 bottles of mustard. Do you even like mustard? 

And I don't care if you can run a marathon. Your heart is still just as good to me...but if you are ready then I am ready to be your biggest supporter. To some degree... I can't not promise that there won't be a side way glance or better yet a signature eye roll. 

Go get your doing on, Crazy!  Because spring is coming and your hammock is waiting!"

Just like my crazed action friend - we are bobbing and weaving through our days. We make mistakes. We succeed. We try new things.  And we stop old things. We get excited. We get disappointed. We get crazy.   We fizz out only to want to bite off more than we can chew like my crazy friend. 

The truth is whatever you have your eye on to do. Do it. And when you mess up - own it!

Just start again...seriously because when the hammock is swinging and springtime is on the brink I want to be ready! Ready for that first whiff of fresh cut grass and the baby buds on the tree. 

Don't apologize for your crazy. It's really only an amped up version of enthusiasm. 

No glory. Just guts

So I have this on going banter with one of my favorites about guts. You know what I mean, right? Do you have the guts to say what you mean? Or how about the guts to say, 'No, not today!'  Or the guts to say what you need and not be ashamed of it? Or how about this one: what does your gut instinct tell you?!!

Grab a drink of your choice-Or a glass of vino... Or a carafe. No judging here. 

This was a dialogue between friends in the height of the holiday hustle and bustle. And in my quest to be okay with who I am in the upcoming year- I am challenging myself not to over do ANYTHING-the timing was perfect to share some gutsy adult talk. 

"Hi! I see you. No really, I see what you're doing. Lemme tell you something.

Wait. Hold Up. Let me not tell you something.

Aren't you tired of being told what to do every day? Bombarded by advice from FB, Twitter, Pinterest, and on and on. Photoshop has ruined reality for most of us- to a point where if our Elf on the Shelf isn't being creative, then what kind of mother are we?  Or if your body isn't beach-ready then do you really deserve a vacation? What do you mean you forgot it was Ugly Sweater Day at school? Don't you read the newsletter? I can't believe you even made it out the door today. In our 'real' world.

I'm tired of it all. I can not take another single piece of advice. Please don't tell me what to wear or what not to say or how to dress my family for my cutesy fall pics for the Christmas cards that I have to mail this weekend. If I see another recipe for fudge or another 3 point schedule for squats, I will lose it!

Unless it's Grandma: then I might listen. Or you. I might throw you a side eye, but you are usually pretty right. Damn it. 

Why is that? What price are we setting on this unsolicited advice? Why can't we listen to our gut instinct anymore? I think it's because we can never find a still, small place to listen to ourselves. And that's super sad cause I'd like to think of myself as pretty smart. But even then I'm not listening to me. I'm too wrapped up in the "I should's to even pay any attention to the  "I have to's. 

We have lost our relationships with our guts. Probably somewhere between the juice fasting and the liver detoxing and the preparing freezer meals, would be my guess. Or the crafts and the decor and the homeschool curriculumn. 

Somewhere along that super long road, is our gut. Sitting with it's tiny suitcase wondering where the hell we are and when the hell are we coming back.

Go find yourself. She's lost and needs you. I have no idea how, don't even ask. I'm going to be off somewhere, backtracking on my road, eyes peeled for myself."

And then it was countered with this:

"Yes!  I hear you. Loud and clear.  But why do you love my rotten, bloated guts and not your own!?!?

They are just as awesome. You have enough guts. You are enough! 

I have a confession though... I may or may not be one of those moms doing all the stuff and seeing what every one else is doing... You know that cause I text you a bazillion times to say- did you see?!?!?  

My guts aren't original. I have all good intentions of doing my own things. But fear and shame shake my guts and say better stick to the plan. 

I guess just like you don't like to listen to your guts. I don't like to listen to my own ideas for fear that they aren't worthy or good enough. Why is that?!?!?  

Here is the deal- you need to listen to your guts  and I need to be brave and show my guts! 

In order to do that... 

You must be still!

I must be still. 

Listen to your heartbeat and the sound of your breathing and realize that you are enough! 

Our guts are so amazing, all by itself.  God gave us these guts- scared, jealous, brave, torn, cleansed, bloated whatever our guts look and feels like they are ours.  Authentic. No more denying our guts.  

So love your messy guts. I do! Be brave and take that next right step. Be still. And listen to your guts. They have a story to

tell. It's your story. Xo "

And with that I am out. Happy hump day. Love your guts. Listen to them.