On helping...

Oh friends, I can't watch the news or see the images about the devestation in Oklahoma.

The people, the elderly, the families, the children.

Do something super-easy today -- text "Red Cross" at 90999 and donate $10.

Super easy. And it will make a difference.

Check out the Oklahoma City Red Cross page here, too. Also, CNN has compiled a list of other organizations working to help the people of Moore. See here.

**And ignore the post below. It's funny how tragedies like this put everything into perspective.


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...On life.

I'm working on being in a better mood because lately I've been off my game.

There's value in being truthful on the 'ole blog because life is life and it's not always pretty instagram photos and happy status updates.

It's not always smiling, happy children and perfect meals.

Sometimes, life is annoying.
Sometimes your bangs get cut too short and you look like a cross between an 8-year-old and a Beatle.
Sometimes your clothes get accidently shrunk in the dryer.
Sometimes the day-in, day-out monotony gets to you.

And this is all ok to talk about because it doesn't mean I'm not grateful.
It doesn't mean that I don't love my sweet little family.
It just simply means that sometimes life is ...eh.

It's not horrible, but not overwhelmingly awe-inspiring either; what with the ear infections, meetings, doctor's appointments, oil changes, lack of sleep, whining toddlers who break eggs while sitting in the cart grocery shopping and don't tell me about it until it's far, far too late...

The egg squisher. GUILTY.

So yeah. Life isn't always rainbows and butterflies for everyone all.of.the.time.

And well, maybe it's better that way because it makes us appreciate the incredible moments that much more.

And let's be honest, there really are so many of those moments.

Ice cream Friday. Look. Lila looks 8.

Crazy sisters posing.

Bonding with Daddy.

Sweet, sweet faces. Ah, cousins.

Cupcake eating cousins

Cousin peek-a-boo. 

Yep.

This is such a good reason to choose happy.

This is, too.

Here's to a better week.


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Happy Birthday, Two Pretzels!

It's true. Today is a big day. May 17th marks the 7th anniversary of my blog.

[insert cheers here! But no clowns. Clowns are terrible.]

Yep, I've been writing this blog for SEVEN years of my life. This is actually my 4,702nd post.

Awesome.

(Wanna read my first-ever, earth-shattering post? It's here.)

[This is all well and great, but you GUYS. I got my hair cut yesterday and I'm not happy so I'm not able to feel the joy of celebration yet.  I'm slightly irate. It's my hair. You know me.]

That said, I love this space.
I love this blog.
I love that people actually read this blog.
I love this this has been almost a daily outlet for the past 2,555 days.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you for listing to my rants.
Thank you for sharing in the tears and the joys.
For your encouraging words.
For making me feel like I'm not crazy.

YOU, my dear reader and friend, are awesome.

I've had this blog longer than any job I've ever held.
I started this blog when I was an Ohioan.
I've had this blog longer than I've been a Mom.
I've had two children while writing this blog.
In Mexico.
I've had many haircuts while writing this blog.
I've learned many lessons while writing this blog. (Like for example, if your bangs are cut too short and choppy-like you look like a cross between a Beatle and an 8-year-old. AND, you can indeed have TOO many layers. I'm trying to work through this...)

Moving on.

Thank you.

Here's to 7 more years.

--

(Hair mess-ups kill me.)


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On aging.

Vicky from the Real Housewives of Orange County BEFORE... Vicki now.

(Article about Vicky here.)

I highly doubt I'm going to "grow old gracefully."

In fact, I think that's a lie younger people say to older people to annoy them. (Ah-hem... sister... I apologize for what I said six years ago.)

The truth of the matter is getting older is...different. And by "different" I mean not cool. I mean foreign. I mean I don't love it.

Now, I'm strictly referring to the physical side of aging. I understand that as we get older we have a better handle on "who we really are" and what we "really want". That we're more emotionally stable blah, blah, blah. While I'm sure wisdom collected from life experiences is invaluable, let's talk about wrinkles.

And sun damage spots.
The dark pigmentation on my upper lip.
Forehead creases that will one day be wrinkles.
"Laugh" lines.
Skin that is starting to feel... I don't know... different. Loose.

Let's talk about how my butt is starting to slide down the back of my legs. (gasp)

And let's talk about how before when I wanted to lose a couple of pounds, I'd chill out on my snacking and then BAM! In 2-5 days -- weight.gone. Let's talk about how it's not happening that quickly these days.

And then there's the grey hair.
The wiry, offensive, visible-in-all-lighting grey hair.
The grey hair that taller people can easily spot when they stand near you.

No, friends. Aging and I aren't going to be amigos.

Sure, I'll embrace what I presume will be my head full of grey hair at some point in my life -- perhaps when I'm 70? I'm sure there will come a time when my vanity will fade away and I won't care as much about my muffin top -- but for now, I want no part of it.

At almost 34 -- I don't love magnifying mirrors and if I were a betting gal, I'd confidently wager that I will NEVER say that I'm "proud of each freckle and wrinkle I've got because it's a tribute to the life I've lived."

Yeah right.

I can GUARANTEE  I won't be saying that.

Sure, we all can work out to maintain our health and stay, well... healthy. But no matter WHAT we do, we're getting older. What did Truvy say in Steel Magnolias? "...Time marches on and eventually you realize it's marchin' across your face."

No truer words, Truvy. No. Truer.Words.

Wrinkles you, guys. WRINKLES and LINES. Droopy necks.

I don't think I'm going to handle this well.

[sigh]

**And that was your uplifting message on my normally chipper blog. You're welcome.

**And see Vicki up there at the top of this post? While I think she looks like a shadow of her old self, I'm not quite as judgmental as I once was.

**Note you should also never say to someone, "Age is only a number" or "You're only as old as you feel" because both of those annoying sentiments are dumb.

Again, you're welcome for the optimism found in this post.


--

Very important "news"

I'm disappointed that Bill Hader is leaving SNL. I know, I know, "Saturday Night Live is horrible... and dated... and old..." [NO.] But see? My Dad liked SNL and I always watch it because he did.

I'm loyal.

Stefon is leaving. This saddens me.

Conversely, I'm so pleased that Seth Meyers (head writer) on SNL is taking Jimmy Fallon's old gig. I might have a slight crush on Seth.

I might.

This pleases me.

So they keep saying that Beyonce might be pregnant again. I hope Beyonce is. Why? I don't know. Because I just do.

That's all from my world of VERY IMPORTANT news.


--

My current favorite thermometer

**In the spirit of full disclosure, I received this product free.

A while back I received a Klout Perk that I've never written about. I don't write about the free stuff I get unless I like it. OR hate it. This falls into the like category.

Until now, I've been really happy with this temporal artery model. (See above.)  I've always been kind of awkward with it though and literally must stand behind my toddler to get it to gracefully float across the forehead. This thermometer is accurate and has been our favorite for a while. (And you know how often Lila is sick.)  The not cool part, though? If their heads are at all sweaty or clammy,there's trouble. It skips awkwardly and I have to take their temp like 4 times just to feel comfortable.

Enter the Vicks behind-the-ear Gentle Touch Thermometer.

1. It's fool-proof. Read the directions once, you've got it.

2. Yes, as some of the online reviews complain, you do have to put the thermometer in the right location in order to get it to work. However, I'd rather find the right location and place the thermometer there for one second than roll my other thermometer over sweaty foreheads 6 times in the dark.

3. The display is backlit and lights up green (normal tempt), yellow (beware), red (fever).

4. I used the reading from this thermometer against my other thermometers for about 3 days -- to be safe. I'm not looking for an average temperature of my sick two-year-old, I want the real deal. Finally after a few days I felt comfortable enough with the operation of the Vick's thermometer that I didn't even need to compare. I'm a temperature-taking whiz now.

5. It's only $14.99.

Bottomline - I like it. It was my go-to thermometer during the week of hell and was accurate on ALL four of us. Nicely done, Vicks. It's our go-to thermometer at this point.


--

Fleeting.

{as we were walking out to the car to go get our first-ever mommy/daughter manicure & pedicure...}

Lila: Mommy, do you know everything?

Me: [With no hesitation] Of course, I do.

Lila: [Waits. She's thinking about my response.]

Then she says, "...Yeah. Me, too."

--

Indeed.

And this is why we'll have words when you're older.

But for now, let's hug.


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