I love this mustard satchel by Angie & Lola from Target! Extra-awesome in my book!
Maybe next year I'll do a Mario-themed Christmas tree....I think so!
Dec 7, 2009
scent of a man (mine in particular)
There is nothing so delicious as the smell of a man. Well, maybe except for the smell of a baby. Or puppy's breath. Or warm cookies. Or new car.
Okay, so there's almost nothing so delicious as the smell of a man. Just the other day, a good-looking good-smelling man came in the office. I didn't realize he was so wonderful smelling until he leftbecause I was a good girl and resisted the urge to jump across my desk and I was able to walk over to where he once stood. His cologne lingered...and it was some damn good cologne! It matched him perfectly. I hate to see/smell a man wearing cologne that is just all wrong for them; some people can carry certain scents. On others, it just washes over them and comes across too strongly.
Justin has several scents. I remember those first few months of dating when it was winter, and he'd wear this great big gray and blue, puffy, flannel jacket. I'd lean up against his chest and just breathe him in. He was so warm...and smelled so good. To this day if I smell that cologne my mind just goes back to those crazy first few weeks. He only wears cologne on special occasions nowadays; and I'm kind of grateful. I'm afraid if he wore it too often I'd get accustomed to it. And I never want to grow "used to" that scent. I always want that weak-knee feeling it gives me. I treasure it.
I also love his "clean" scent. He never uses the same bodywash/soap two times in a row, but he always manages to come out of the shower smelling the same. It's lovely - well, he wouldn't want me calling him "lovely", so I'll say it's amazing. Awesome. The best. And it really is...the BESTsecond best to Sidney.
And then there's his "dirty" smell, too. I know you'll think I'm crazy (and a little gross) but I used to love that post-football game smell boys' had. The sweat and stink and dirt and salt. LOVED IT. It was only made more magical to me when the weather turned real cold, and they'd steam as they kneeled there in the huddle, sweating and steaming - steaming and sweating. Whew! Makes me smile just thinking about it! I love when Justin's been busy working outside and he comes in all covered in sweat (and usually either grass or grease). It's a familiar smell; it makes me happy even as it kind of grosses me out a little.
What I'm trying to say is, I appreciate a goodand sometimes bad smelling man. I'm so thankful for my sense of smell and for all the memories it helps to trigger on a daily basis. I'm thankful for my husband and his ever-changing scent.
Does your partner have a favorite cologne that makes you smile? Any smells you adore that most people cringe at?
Okay, so there's almost nothing so delicious as the smell of a man. Just the other day, a good-looking good-smelling man came in the office. I didn't realize he was so wonderful smelling until he left
Justin has several scents. I remember those first few months of dating when it was winter, and he'd wear this great big gray and blue, puffy, flannel jacket. I'd lean up against his chest and just breathe him in. He was so warm...and smelled so good. To this day if I smell that cologne my mind just goes back to those crazy first few weeks. He only wears cologne on special occasions nowadays; and I'm kind of grateful. I'm afraid if he wore it too often I'd get accustomed to it. And I never want to grow "used to" that scent. I always want that weak-knee feeling it gives me. I treasure it.
I also love his "clean" scent. He never uses the same bodywash/soap two times in a row, but he always manages to come out of the shower smelling the same. It's lovely - well, he wouldn't want me calling him "lovely", so I'll say it's amazing. Awesome. The best. And it really is...the BEST
And then there's his "dirty" smell, too. I know you'll think I'm crazy (and a little gross) but I used to love that post-football game smell boys' had. The sweat and stink and dirt and salt. LOVED IT. It was only made more magical to me when the weather turned real cold, and they'd steam as they kneeled there in the huddle, sweating and steaming - steaming and sweating. Whew! Makes me smile just thinking about it! I love when Justin's been busy working outside and he comes in all covered in sweat (and usually either grass or grease). It's a familiar smell; it makes me happy even as it kind of grosses me out a little.
What I'm trying to say is, I appreciate a good
Does your partner have a favorite cologne that makes you smile? Any smells you adore that most people cringe at?
Dec 4, 2009
Dear Ryan
Ryan has an amazing post up at Pacing the Panic Room this morning. Really, it's quite moving. And it's inpsired me to chime in with my two cents.
I think what Ryan's dealing with is the endless guilt that comes with being a new parent. Yes, I realize he's been LB's step-dad for quite some time now, but it's still not exactly the same as having a child born of your body, made from the fibers of yourself. A step-child is parallel to your other children, equal in almost every way, except for little ways that only you can feel as a parent. This guilt he's feeling is common and well-known and shared by parents all over the world; what I think a lot of people don't realize about this guilt, however, is that is spills out beyond parenting into your professional and personal life. You start to feel guilty about everything. It manages to tie itself into every single aspect of your life, whether you realize it or not.
You find yourself questioning every move, every sentence, every decision you make. You constantly worry about right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable. Who are you really screwing up here? Your kids or yourself? How do you balance all the things you want to do for your children with the things you need to do? How do you incorporate all these ideas and philosophies you have into daily life with your child(ren)? I don't think I can count how many times I said "why?" during those first months with my daughter (sometimes I still find myself saying them without reason).
And that's the main bullet I'm trying to make here: we do these things without reason. Why do we have to even say "why"? Why do we question the way we do things, as parents and as people? Even the least troubled person in the world will find themselves asking the question "why?" when they become parents.
Why can't I do anything right? Why do I sound like such an asshole all the time? Why do people have to comment on everything I do? Why does my kid have to live up to these standards? Why am I doing it this way? Why don't people shut up? Why don't people help out more? Why does my kid do this? Why can't I be more like this? Why? Why? Why?
This guilt, this poisonous guilt that comes with parenting, is the root of all of our why's. We feel guilty for everything, even when we're doing things the "right" and "best" way we can. We try to share our experiences with one another and offer support (and sometimes advice); but then we start to second guess ourselves and think we're unworthy of giving anyone else support/advice. We want to stand up and be proud of ourselves and our parenting skills, but this guilt eats away at us and makes us believe we are useless as parents. We keep saying "why didn't I do things differently". It's an endless cycle. I don't know that I'll ever feel 100% confident in my success as a parent. I'll always look at my daughter and remember times when I could've done things different, done them better. And I'll ask myself "why was I such an idiot".
Ryan, I think you should know that you are worthy of telling your own story. We are just your readers, your audience. We can follow daily, read every entry, every tweet and article. But that's as personal as our experience gets. We only know your family in the manner that you (and Cole) let us. You shouldn't feel guilty about the way you write. If anything, it is our fault as readers for not looking at things through your eyes; we must put aside our own personal guilts and trials, and be clean states for interpretation. Sure, we can use our own experiences to back up our comments, but they shouldn't get in the way of your story. Personally, I think your blog is beautiful. It's inspiring. You're an honest person telling a raw and honest story of a young family's daily life. It's not glamorous. It's not glossed over and perfected to the point it's unrecognizable. To me, it's genuine and real. And that's what keeps me coming back for more. I enjoy your struggle as a parent, as it helps to remind me that I'm not alone in this realm of guilt and ceaseless questions that begin with "why". I hope you continue to grace us with your words, your thoughts, your hopes for your children. If nothing else, know that you have inspired another reader, another parent, another human being in this world...and for that I am ever grateful.
If you don't read Ryan's blog already, I encourage you to check it out here.
I think what Ryan's dealing with is the endless guilt that comes with being a new parent. Yes, I realize he's been LB's step-dad for quite some time now, but it's still not exactly the same as having a child born of your body, made from the fibers of yourself. A step-child is parallel to your other children, equal in almost every way, except for little ways that only you can feel as a parent. This guilt he's feeling is common and well-known and shared by parents all over the world; what I think a lot of people don't realize about this guilt, however, is that is spills out beyond parenting into your professional and personal life. You start to feel guilty about everything. It manages to tie itself into every single aspect of your life, whether you realize it or not.
You find yourself questioning every move, every sentence, every decision you make. You constantly worry about right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable. Who are you really screwing up here? Your kids or yourself? How do you balance all the things you want to do for your children with the things you need to do? How do you incorporate all these ideas and philosophies you have into daily life with your child(ren)? I don't think I can count how many times I said "why?" during those first months with my daughter (sometimes I still find myself saying them without reason).
And that's the main bullet I'm trying to make here: we do these things without reason. Why do we have to even say "why"? Why do we question the way we do things, as parents and as people? Even the least troubled person in the world will find themselves asking the question "why?" when they become parents.
Why can't I do anything right? Why do I sound like such an asshole all the time? Why do people have to comment on everything I do? Why does my kid have to live up to these standards? Why am I doing it this way? Why don't people shut up? Why don't people help out more? Why does my kid do this? Why can't I be more like this? Why? Why? Why?
This guilt, this poisonous guilt that comes with parenting, is the root of all of our why's. We feel guilty for everything, even when we're doing things the "right" and "best" way we can. We try to share our experiences with one another and offer support (and sometimes advice); but then we start to second guess ourselves and think we're unworthy of giving anyone else support/advice. We want to stand up and be proud of ourselves and our parenting skills, but this guilt eats away at us and makes us believe we are useless as parents. We keep saying "why didn't I do things differently". It's an endless cycle. I don't know that I'll ever feel 100% confident in my success as a parent. I'll always look at my daughter and remember times when I could've done things different, done them better. And I'll ask myself "why was I such an idiot".
Ryan, I think you should know that you are worthy of telling your own story. We are just your readers, your audience. We can follow daily, read every entry, every tweet and article. But that's as personal as our experience gets. We only know your family in the manner that you (and Cole) let us. You shouldn't feel guilty about the way you write. If anything, it is our fault as readers for not looking at things through your eyes; we must put aside our own personal guilts and trials, and be clean states for interpretation. Sure, we can use our own experiences to back up our comments, but they shouldn't get in the way of your story. Personally, I think your blog is beautiful. It's inspiring. You're an honest person telling a raw and honest story of a young family's daily life. It's not glamorous. It's not glossed over and perfected to the point it's unrecognizable. To me, it's genuine and real. And that's what keeps me coming back for more. I enjoy your struggle as a parent, as it helps to remind me that I'm not alone in this realm of guilt and ceaseless questions that begin with "why". I hope you continue to grace us with your words, your thoughts, your hopes for your children. If nothing else, know that you have inspired another reader, another parent, another human being in this world...and for that I am ever grateful.
If you don't read Ryan's blog already, I encourage you to check it out here.
Dec 3, 2009
Dec 2, 2009
the perfect combination
Ask any of my close friends and they'll tell you I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Rob Zombie. I know what you're thinking...Rob Zombie? Really? Out of all the men out there in the world, you obsess over Rob freaking Zombie?!
And the answer is YES. I love him. His music. His movies. Even his looks (when he's not in costume). I even love his wifealmost as much as I love him. There's just something about him that I cannot explain that draws me in and keeps me captivated. Maybe it's the freak in him. Or the artist. Or the rebel. Or the dirty boy. Or the rockstar lifestyle. Or his voice. Or his style. Or all of the above!
So far, my absolute favorite Rob Zombie film is "The Devil's Rejects". I think it's horrific and gross and funny and all-out awesome. Usually I have to watch it at home by myself because Justin is over it, and he knows that I'm sitting there thinking about Rob Zombieand his wife the entire time. And my absolute favorite scene from that movie is at the end - the grand finale. Maybe it's because I like to think I'm a true Southern gal with true Southern pride, but there's just something about the combination of guns and "Free Bird" and this movie that jump starts my heart. It pumps me up right as the movie goes off; and then I want go shoot something (note: I said something, not someone).
It just electrifies my soul and makes me smile and root for the bad guys, even though they've done nothing but cause mayhem, death and destruction throughout the entire movie (and in the previous movie "House of 1,000 Corpses"). Even if you've never seen, nor want to ever see, the movie just watch the clip below. Does it stir you the way it stirs me?
And the answer is YES. I love him. His music. His movies. Even his looks (when he's not in costume). I even love his wife
So far, my absolute favorite Rob Zombie film is "The Devil's Rejects". I think it's horrific and gross and funny and all-out awesome. Usually I have to watch it at home by myself because Justin is over it, and he knows that I'm sitting there thinking about Rob Zombie
It just electrifies my soul and makes me smile and root for the bad guys, even though they've done nothing but cause mayhem, death and destruction throughout the entire movie (and in the previous movie "House of 1,000 Corpses"). Even if you've never seen, nor want to ever see, the movie just watch the clip below. Does it stir you the way it stirs me?
Maybe it's just me (actually, I know that's not true because Dobby felt the same way)...but this just is the epitome of an awesome ending to an awesome movie for me made even awesome-er because I know Rob Zombie directed it.
And here are some of my absolute favorite Rob Zombie songs:
Don't judge me...I know everyone's got that one freaky person they hate to love but just can't help it!
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