Summer Issue of LBD LRW

Click here to view the Summer Issue.

FYI - my article is on page 20. "Make Your Bed".

Now, THAT'S a pedicure!!!

My friend Amy, just had her toes done. But this was not just any paint job. Check out these darling little toes!!! The lady HAND-PAINTED leopard print on them. Not a sticker or nail art. I LOVE that she knew how much I would appreciate her pretty toes, and that she let me take a picture of them!

Wesley's 1st Dentist Appt!

I was a bit nervous taking Wesley to the dentist. He's just more 'spirited' than Will. I just imagined him in a room with all the instruments, hoses, and the chair that goes up and down with the touch of a button... BUT, he did so GREAT! He loved that he got to choose his toothpaste flavor. The hygienist was so good with him. She let him hold the 'straw' - the sucky thing. He did get a little carried away with that.

Will was so disappointed because he has 2 cavities. The dentist told me, in Will's defense, that it's because he has really deep pits in his back teeth. AND, the hygienist said Will had the cleanest teeth of any 6 yr. old she had seen! Will was just so sad he didn't get to have his picture taken and posted on the 'no cavity' wall. Poor guy. He's brushed his teeth 10 times since we've been home.
Goody bags!

The Proposal

This is a really funny movie. It has gotten some horrible reviews in the media. But, trust me, it's hilarious. There's one scene at a bachelorette party that is kinda gross. Other than that it's a really clean movie. Did I mention it was hysterical??? It also makes me want to go to Alaska! Ryan Reynolds facial expressions crack me up. I can just look at him and laugh. This was the first movie I've seen him in. Good date night movie. And that's my unprofessional review on "The Proposal". :)

5 Things I love about my hubby today:

1. He cleaned out our "outdoor" trash can with bleach and a hose - NOT a fun job.

2. He answered the phone 3 times in a row when I called, even though he's very busy. AND, he was pleasant about it.

3. He gave me a Chick-fil-A, 'free chicken sandwich' coupon for lunch today.

4. He listened patiently as Will described in detail each of his 'Bakugan' toys.

5. He told me it was 'great with him' if we just had turkey sandwiches for dinner!

Vacuum Help

Anybody have advice for an affordable but GOOD vacuum?? Here's why: I end up doing all the work myself. I can't tell you how many pieces of fuzz or string I've picked up and 'tried again' to vacuum them. This is a dirt devil, which seems to be a good brand, but this is not doing the job!

I Surrender

I had another one of those nights last night. Where, I went running and found myself taking out the day's frustrations on the pavement. I felt like my heels were beating on the asphalt and my head just throbbed. My joints were begging for mercy. But I had to do it. Running (and listening to my ipod) is therapeutic for me. Even though I despise running. Is that crazy or what? This song ("I Surrender" by Joy Williams), is one of my favorites. It came on at the end of my run and I got a BURST of energy. I LOVE this chorus:

Everything I held so precious

Everything I've kept away

I give it up, give it up

All for YOU, I give it All for you

Everything I have that's treasure, I give all for YOU.

No matter what kind of day I'd had mattered. Everything I spin my wheels doing, everything I hold dear and precious to me, all come from Him. Giving it all back to Him is freeing.

There's an old hymn I sang growing up called "All To Jesus, I Surrender". I think life has taught me what that really means.

Figuring it out...

Last night in the car, I had a little conversation with Wesley:

Wes: "Mommy, am I hand - right-ed, or hand - left-ed?"

Me: "You are RIGHT handed Wesley"

Wes: "See, I told ya Will, I'm hand - RIGHT-ed"

Will: "Wesley, you're not saying it right"

Wes: "I am, I just said RIGHT, I'm hand RIGHT-ed"

Will: "But you're not saying it RIGHT!"

Wes: "Will, I just SAID, I'm hand RIGHT-ed, I said RIGHT!"

You get the picture...it went on until we got to the pool, where I told Will to drop it and I would explain it to him later. It made me laugh!

Husband Project

Click here to enter to win "The Husband Project" book. It's a 21 day book that can help you take your marriage from ordinary to amazing. I've been blogging with Melanie for a little while now and "Bella-Mella" is so encouraging and uplifting. If you haven't already, you need to add her blog to your sidebar!

Favorite Things

My hair has grown really long. I'm in need of a new cut. But in the meantime, I've been sporting these babies EVERYWHERE!!! I forget what my hair looks like when it's not in a ball cap. Pomegranate Red Tea - YUM! It has only 50 calories per serving and it's so refreshing!Sani-Hands wipes for kids - on the go packs. The smell is a little strong, but I like it. I always have a few of these packets in my purse. They also come in handy at a restaurant where the table is a little icky.Maybelline Colossal Mascara. This stuff is FABULOUS! The NON waterproof version works really well. It doesn't smear too bad at the pool either. I do water aerobics with this stuff on...no raccoon eyes. 99 cent Pepperidge Farm Goldfish at Kroger!!!!! Need I say more??Softsoap Body Wash...Pomegranate Mango. This smells so refreshing and has little soft exfoliating beads in it. Family Rules Poster. A friend of mine gave me this. I saw it in her home and I LOVED it! Love God is suppose to be at the top. My boys are actually memorizing these and we've started teaching them the verses that go along with the rules. GREAT! If you want the list, email me, I'll send it to you.

Our little Jitterbug

Happy 4th of July! Last night Paul put on a fireworks show for our family in our driveway. He even made a cd of patriotic music to set it to! My kind of man! Wesley kept dancing to the popping noise of the fireworks...

Kids will keep you humble...

Awww, aren't they cute??? Yep, these cute little things keep me on my knees every day and keep me HUMBLE!I thought I would post some funny things my boys have said to me. They're so honest...so BRUTALLY honest!

1. "Mommy, what's the skin marshmallowing out from under your arms?"

2. "I Love You" - (Wes pats my stomach) - "my big momma".

3. Cleaning the house in my 'cleaning' shorts - "mom every time you bend over, I see your...(he spells it out cause he thinks it's a bad word)... c-r-a-c-k!"

4. "Mommy, your hair looks messy". After I've just finished fixing my hair to go to church.

5. While I'm eating some Doritos, my son says..."mom, please don't eat the WHOLE bag, again!" What??? I had 3 Doritos people! And the word again??? I've never eaten the whole bag, well, not recently. :)

6. "Mommy, can you stop singing, it's hurting my ears." (I'm a bird, I sing all the time! What's a girl to do?)

7. Getting ready to go to the pool, I walk out of my bedroom in my swimsuit..."mommy, that's not appropriate."

8. Kissing my little Wesley in the morning..."mommy, your breath smells like Africa."

9. "Mommy, you should wear pigtails, they look really good on Bella." (a girl in his class at church)

10. Trying on dresses for my boys at Marshalls, they were judging how each dress looked on me from 1-10, 1 being the worst, 10 the best. "Ummmmm, is there anything lower than a 1,?, cause that one looks like you're squeezing into it. (I give him a 'look'), I, I just mean, it looks like you can't even breathe!"

After all that brutality, one day, my son Will said, "Hey mom, you look like her..." I looked up at the TV to see ANGELINA JOLIE-PITT on the screen! Blow my socks off! I laughed so hard I almost cried! There had to be another woman on the screen right before her. Only thing I can figure is I had just gotten stung by a bee and my lips were swollen!

Thank God I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made! And so are YOU!