Flying is fun!

I'm jetting off for a quick trip to Florida to join Beck's final adventure as a single woman - should be a great time!

Happy Friday all - happy fur baby Friday!

Not Exactly How I Planned It

I have never been one who possessed great amounts of self esteem in the appearance department, but this past week has just been ridiculous.

Exhibit A if you will: I realized it was my final weekend to shop for an outfit for this year's Derby extravaganza since I'm out of town this coming weekend and the following weekend is the big day. So...I set out for some serious shopping. Nothing fit. I mean seriously - nothing. Dresses were too bulky in some places and way too tight in others. Way too tight even in bigger sizes. WTF? I know I haven't exactly been a fitness buff of late, but I don't eat horribly and it's not like I haven't worked out in years. Let's just say I was even less happy under those abhorred fluorescent lights than usual.

Exhibit B: most of you know that this past year wasn't my best in the dental department. My teeth have always been a good asset and I had never had a cavity in my life until about a year ago. Granted, I did skip out on going for 3 years (not a typo) leading up to that appointment and might have (MIGHT) fallen asleep a time or two before brushing, but it is not like I lost my toothbrush altogether. In any case, I had 6 cavities (again, that is not a typo). I seriously looked at my dentist like she was an alien. So over the course of a year or so, I had all 6 fillings done - insurance included, this was still an adventure into the thousands of dollars. She also informed me that I was doing some serious damage to my teeth with my clenching habit (another post, I promise). For that, I needed to be fitted for a night guard. Immediately. I told her the guard would have to wait and I'd just do my best to stop the clenching on my own (awesome plan, I know).

Fast forward to Monday of this week. Are you ready? I'll give you the short version. 2 more cavities and the damage from the clenching (not even a year has passed) is exponentially worse. So much so, that my front bottom teeth are even chipping (she showed me in a close up mirror - I'm forever grateful as now I'm totally obsessed with staring at my effed up teeth) and one of my back bottom teeth is literally missing the majority of enamel on the outside layer.

Suffice it to say, I am just beyond thrilled to shop for my 2 new fashionable fillings and super sexy night guard (which I'm going to get before my teeth shatter into a million pieces). Just the way I wanted to kick off spring. And also? I'm feeling like I really began my 30's with a bang - a bang of the fat-assed, snaggle toothed variety.

NOT the image I had my head. Not at all. Send dental floss. And weight watchers.

Love,
Me

The Mother of Organization Projects

They are few and far between, but they are appearing. They are. Signs that spring might actually make an appearance in Chicago.

On Friday, the temps reached 70. I celebrated by leaving work early (shock of all shocks, but I did it!) and taking the boys to the park. And sitting on our deck with a book and my laptop (not the work one I might add). And also? I bought fresh flowers. Lots of fresh flowers. Because nothing says spring to me quite like gorgeous flowers. I can hardly wait to plant some...but more on that later.

Another milestone to mark spring's entry? An organizational project...namely, the great closet transition. Yep - I ditched the heavy winter stuff and left the middle weight stuff. Switched out the drawers and took the opportunity to take yet another stab at reorganizing. 

I have a dream closet. Seriously, I do. It is huuuuge. And it has lots of drawers and built in shelving and several layers of hanging space. That closet IS in my future (somewhere), but in the interim, I am going to work with what I've got. So I spent several hours in organizational bliss. I heart organization. Big, pink fluffy soft heart it, I do.

*update: I drafted this post a week ago, and have attempted multiple times to upload the photos to accompany it, but it just isn't happening. I decided just to hit publish - maybe I will share the pics another time. Boo technical issues!

Why my Wireless Internet is now Topping my SUCK IT List

I have so many posts planned (seriously, a whole list of 'em!), but a little something TECHNICAL keeps getting in my way...

Can someone please send IT support? Or the geek squad? Or the entire staff of the mac genius bar? Or copious amounts of wine? Or maybe a little something called patience?? Thanks.

ps - I am also clearly a genius photographer judging from the light on that first pic. Sheesh!

Family

Baskets of Goodies

Sorry to be a bit late with this post, but per usual, life has been a bit difficult to keep up with lately.

The annual Easter with extended family at the lake was bliss. Very frigid bliss, but bliss with sunshine and blue skies nonetheless.

Hope you glimpsed spring in your celebrations too. 

when the sun filled the sky, we headed for the open field in back of the house for hours of joy for Jack...he chased his beloved orange ball until we forced him back inside.

checking things out from atop the dock...next time we visit, this will be back in the lake where it belongs!
showing his cute face in attempt to score some of our dinner. for the record, he totally succeeded.
bounty for the boys from the easter bunny - they are thrilled with the new loot!
blue skies are gracing us with their presence once again...ah, how I've missed you!

Excuse Me While I Kick Fear to the Curb

I love this so much. Almost as much as I love the awesome addition to my blog roll that housed it.

I revel in its simplicity and the oh-so-dreamed about desire to do away with fears entirely with the quick swipe of an eraser.

We should all do more of this - figuratively sure, but also? Literally. I'm thinking of purchasing my own over-sized chalkboard and making this a regular reality.


What are your fears? And how do you (can you) let them go? If you had a chalk board of your own, what would you write?

p.s. - photo copyright: Gabe Kirchheimer