My Little Life

Looking forward to the weekend!! I'm hoping to do a photoshoot of a co-worker's newborn baby, just for my very own practice! I am LOVING this photography bug that I've been bitten by, and I would LOVE to turn it into more than a hobby!! Anyway...I'll be sure to get her permission to post some pics! I'm so excited!! My hubs is hosting the Bachelor party half of the wedding couple of whom I attended the Bachelorette party and refused to ride the mechanical bull. (I know that probably only makes sense to those of you that follow me on Twitter!!) Dang...that thing is hilarious! Let's get on with the preview!! Reminder: This post is JUST the preview post! Your chance to nab the questions ahead of time and get your post ready for the morning linky !! Rules for Five Question Friday : Have fun!! That's most important...but, you'll need to copy and paste the following questions to your blog, answer them, then watch for the linky to appear Friday morning! Quest

I've gotta gripe. A big, fat, major gripe...wanna know what it is? Anonymous Naysayers . I don't understand the concept, the reason, or the logic behind posting a negative comment anonymously. What, exactly, are you afraid of? I wrote a couple of posts last week that stirred up some controversy. Here are a couple of comments. (I posted the other one here.) Anonymous said... I am a mother who has children in their 20's- all are successful, happy, independent children- an actor, a doctor, and a college senior headed to law school. This debate has been going on for years and really needs to stop providing divisions between working moms and stay at home moms. I had my own business and yet was there for my children before and after school, volunteered at their schools and had family meals together. My husband and I worked together as a team to make this work for all. There is no " better " "right way" . Each family needs to figure it out for themselves and ne

Because I like to help people out...and prevent anyone from taking any missteps along the road of life...I enjoy sharing newly gleaned knowledge with all y'all. (Yes, I know I'm from MinneSOOOOta ...but once upon a time, I was granted permission from a Southerner to say "y'all", and so I do.) Friends, my tips for a pool party with 9 year old girls: 1. Don't do it. 2. If you do not heed tip #1...limit yourself to a 10 minute party. 3. Trust me when I say 4 hours is too long. 4. Don't do it. 5. Make sure your daughter invites herself. And you. And that's it. 6. You know, on second thought, disregard tip #2...10 minutes is entirely too long. 7. Bring ear plugs. I didn't. What? WHAT? Speak louder...I can't hear you!!! 8. Restrain your arms at your sides...if you don't, you risk pulling out all of your hair. 9. Downside to tip#9 is that if someone goes down...they're on their own. Restrained arms are not helpful in CPR. 10. Try not to cry wh

Or, I guess what I mean is: "Oh girl, oh girl, oh girl, oh girl, girl, girl, girl, girl!!!" Yes. Girl x 8. It's what I'm doing this afternoon. The Belle is having her "Friend Birthday Party"...which means I will be the sole guardian of 8 little girls, at a hotel pool, for 4 hours. When I spoke with one of the mom's and told her the times I was planning, she said, "Oh. REALLY? Are you sure you want them that long?!" And I panicked. I started stuttering and stammering, "Wha'? Well...what??? Do you think that's too long?! You've done it before, am I gonna go crazy?????" Then she tried to cover her tracks..."Oh, only 4 hours? Well, I'm sure it'll be fine." I really think she meant this: "Muwahahahahaha!!! You poor unsuspecting sap!! Good luck to YOU!!!! They'll eat you aliiiiiivvvvveeeeee!!!!" So, now I'm nervous. And unprepared. I think I was trying to pretend I really wasn't gonna do i

I won! I'm the winner of Sami's RAW(e) "Smiles and Laughter" challenge!! This photo...this photo that makes my heart smile...is the winning photo!! Now...*gulp* I've gotta pick the next winner! Yikes!

A desire. A, almost, need to do something? But, been too afraid to take the leap. To make the plunge. Too afraid of failure. Of rejection? Money holding you back... uncertainties about how to forge ahead, how to make it work? Me too. And, someday...I hope I can see this dream come to fruition. Someday soon!!

It's out there. Our dog has it. Our Hambone had a nasty infection on his scalp last summer, and was treated for it. My hubby pulled off a nasty tick Sunday...then showed me the area he pulled it from. Nasty. Red, scabbed, bruised looking center. Certainly NOT "bull's eye"...but definitely not pretty. I told him he needed to see a doctor on Monday. He said (scoffing), "I'm NOT going to the doctor." And that's when I got mean: "WHAT!!! Yes , you are. WHY wouldn't you? It would be pure stupidity if you didn't go." When I called him Monday morning...he still hadn't made an appointment, so I did it for him. He went...and basically got it handed to him. "NO MESSING AROUND WITH LYME'S." The PA he saw treated him for Lyme's disease with a standard one time dose of doxycycline. Then, he went to the pharmacy, and got taken into the back room...where the pharmacist talked to him with such sincerity and honesty, that I thi

Whoa. Wait...get your head out of the gutter! I'm just talking about "feel good" feelings!! Three weeks ago, I was a crazy, PMS consumed, prednisone ruled lunatic. It was bad. For a girl who is normally cool as a cucumber, mellow, emotionally stable...feeling like a crazed, psycho, insane, emotionally unstable person was totally out of my box. Looking back, I think it was a culmination of a whirlwind last month of summer starting with when our home became the resting place for a giant old oak tree, added to a vacation that cost more than we were anticipating, a weekend of busy running, back-to-school readiness, the Mr. leaving the country (which we couldn't afford because of the first two aforementioned things), then getting hit with Aunt Flo and a prednisone burst on the same day, in addition to some other stressors . Really...I can see why I became crazy. I have given my husband strict instructions that if I am ever in a life and death situation, and the only thi

Really, really... Wanted, To take some amazing fall photos of my kiddos. Only they don't work so well together. We really need to work on team work in this family. When mama says, "Okay, everybody look here and smile!!" it would be great to actually have everybody look here and smile. Such is life. And, somebody's p.o'd: These, however...I'm quite certain that I love. Or, at least like a lot! Oops! How'd that one sneak in there? Oh, yeah...I said "some of the one's I love"! That's riiiiight.

Was dead tired earlier...then, like seems to be the pattern, 11:30 hits and I'm all bright eyed and bushy tailed! So, while I was going to wait to post our Date of the Week, tomorrow...I'm doin' it now! Rebelling against my own rules. Busy weekend...work, bachelorette party (for which I forgot my camera), work, birthday party (for which I remembered my camera), drooling over the new Nikon D7000 and trying to figure out how on earth I'm gonna get my hands it. Dear God: I'm not opposed to money growing on trees. Or large windfalls of money. Or, heck, just drop a Nikon D7000 out of the sky and onto my head and I'll be happy as a clam. I've got an "official" title for the upcoming wedding of my BIL and his fiancee...I am (drum roll please...) the "Candid Photographer"! I love having official titles...and I am soooooo excited to have a reason to snap gobs of photos of everyone and hone my skills!! Hence, the coveting of the D7K...maybe I'l

Before I say anything more...I need to wish my Dad a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Looking forward to kielbasa, french fries, and corn on the cob. ;) Love ya!! Carrying on... Um...did anyone see where the last week went? No, scratch that...did any see where September went? Holy Hannah!! It's almost the end of September, and I still feel like it shouldn't be any later than June! I mean, didn't the kids just get out of school? Certainly they can't already be nearly a month into the new school year already, can they?! Anyway, if anyone finds my lost time, will you please return it? I'd greatly appreciate it. Sooooooo glad it's Friday! So, so, so glad! Oh, and even more glad that I came home to a clean house! I have the best husband in the whole world. He's a saint...and I am one blessed woman! Let's get this 5QF show on the road! Welcome, everyone, to 5QF!! If you've never played along, join in the fun!! You'll enjoy it, I promise...pinky swear promise! Rul