Sour Grapes

Here's a close up of my Monday. My sour grapes Monday. There's really nothing wrong, per se. I woke up to the sound of my beating heart. Considering there is balance in the universe, that was both amazing and miserable. I feel alive today, receptive to all the signals of my existence- Hypersensitive.Have you ever felt bruised by conversation? This weekend there were words and tears and truths with someone very dear to me. Just as the flu is your body expelling bacteria to heal, our minds needed to spew a few harmful thoughts to heal.  It's a good thing. Not a fine thing but a good thing. The air feels a lot clearer now and I'm grateful for that. Just licking my wounds and still scraping myself from the sidewalk. I am one moody babe.

Summer Soul

Summer is such an enchanting time! I'm guilty of saying that at every change of season, but really truly, there is something so naturally, heart-swellingly wonderful about summer! 

all image sources can be found through my pinterest page

When I was small, my only summer care in the world was finding an "adult" to lifeguard my Nonnie's pool on the daily. Mornings were slow in the best unsupervised fashion, forcing my siblings to endure a back-to-back stretch of The Price is Right and Unsolved Mysteries over cereal or peanut butter/bologna toast (or something equally gourmet), then was the task of persuading someone to watch us swim for the day. An aunt, friend's mom, etc.*  If soap operas aired, my life was over. That meant the day was dragging on and I wasn't yet speed-pedaling my Schwinn through the park to Nonnie and Papa's to meet my cousins. We'd feast on popsicles and twice-baked potatoes and choreograph synchronized swimming routines; we'd teach ourselves to dive, to flip, and to jump like ruffians from the top of the waterslide. When the day was done, my dad would appear on the fence line like a knight in shining armor to load my bike into his truck bed and haul my waterlogged bones home. <<<>>>Now, summer carries a different sort of freedom to that same electrifying tune. It's fresh produce, the promise of travel, longer days and a touch of Vitamin D on my skin.  My cousins still meet for our annual halfway-full pool party, and I can still count on my dad to rescue me and my bicycle... but for reasons now resembling summer Shandy or too many margaritas. It's Friday, I've been (paid) off for the day since 8:30am, and summer has just begun. Life is good! <<<>>>*I was once so strung-out desperate to go swimming, I agreed to let my big brother shoot me (40 t-shirts layered and raincoat clad) with his paintball gun in return for some buddy system swim time.  Believe it or not, the pool isn't my most resonating memory from that day.

Hi, Hi, Hi

Dear Diary,
It's been a long while since I've written...

I probably started about 400 entries like that as a kid, well aware of my inconsistency. But who cares, right? Blogging would lose it's luster if I stressed about it. Oh, blogging about blogging, such silliness.

Cheers to stupid Monday, scurvy summer hair, and that obnoxious nail color on the bottom right.  Today, I'm doing everything I can think of to kick this menstrual migraine.  Magnesium tiny tabs, Coca-Cola, Excedrin, snap-heat pads, water to the max.  A few moms at the park recommended an acupuncturist, but it seems I've tamed my headaches down to just one week a month; a week that I like to refer to as shark week.  It's vicious.We had a relaxed weekend loaded with lovely visitors- the wiggly type, the drinky type, and the Philly's dad for a day type. Teddycat was a good host, sniffin' baby heads and minding his own business. We dropped in on the First Friday block party since it's literally just out the back door, but the sun was blinding my way across the street and the people were in swarms. Sometimes I can't handle all that. P worked 91 hours last week so he was all, "giiirl you don't have to explain ya-self!", except he said it differently. So, we got our fish and lemon shake-ups and went back home. I sure love him sometimes most times. 

Nothings

City Market is in full summer swing! I didn't buy any kettlecorn, but sure wishing I had. Word on the street is that you can find Butterfinger flavored popcorn there. What in the heck?!

Some not-necessarily-sweet nothings as of late...

+ I've recently confirmed that I am, indeed, allergic to shrimp.  My throat swells up big time. I don't eat it very often, and the last couple times I blamed it on things like wearing a strangleneck turtleneck shirt and even maybe possibly having a little piece of dinner stuck in my throat.  Nope. And all this time... I thought I was that kid who could shout from the rooftops, "Sure, I'll eat your peanut M&Ms! I'm No Allergies Girl!" Philly is allergic to kiwi skins. Okay.

+ I have not been getting enough sleep.  Last night, I heard a police siren, "Bwip!" and then a loud bang in our building. I could have SWORN it was a burglar repelling from the roof into our loft. 

Oh and the night before, P returned from burning the midnight oil and claims that I told him, "I'm just the glaze on this sleep donut. None of it!" I've been known to laugh in my sleep too; a very monotone machine gun- like laugh. Huh-huh huh-huh huh-huh huh-huh. So. Darn. Creepy. 

+ I just ordered this swimsuit in black and this floral cutie, this hat, and really want this gorgeous maxi. Ugh, consumerism. 

+ My sister's birthday is sneaking up on me. I sent her this birthday in a box. Crap-ola, I  do not think I can top that this year. We'll see!

I've always wondered what Littlecat would do if maintenance had to enter our loft and I wasn't there to shoo him from the door. He is the friendliest of fur doormen, always greeting us upon arrival. Just look at that happy little scragglemuff below.. Turns out, Kansas City water breaks down one of our toilet parts (I'm a tap drinker- yeep!) and the pot's been dripping down on the travel agency below (double yeep!).  So, the neighbor grandpa who pulled Kevin McCallister down from the coat rack shows up at my door this morning to fix the drippy toilet and what does Teddy do? Mister hides under our barstools with an arched back like a 'fraidy Halloween cat. I couldn't have trained him better. I am harboring an illegal, you know. 

Philly's been working like a maniac for the last few weeks (which is not such a stretch from the norm). I miss that dude! Here's to hoping things settle down this weekend. We booked flights to Key West this a.m., so I'm not allowing myself to pout about nerfin'! Besides, it's been pouring all week and the sun is finally scheduled to shine. Ta da!

Living In Yellow

I'm making an appearance on Erin's page today! I'm sure you've heard of her... She's pretty "amazeballs".

If you found me through Living in Yellow, that is not news to you. And, W E L C O M E! 

Tell me something cool about yourself. xo

Flower Child

pink peonies from my parents' new land in the country

I absolutely can not get enough blooms this summer. It's nuts.
Now that we have that out of the way... How are things? Are you having a good week?

I have the week off, short of a few gopher (go-for?) errands, so I suppose you could say I'm getting a little taste of what life will be like in the Fall when the small duder goes to kindergarten full-day. I have a meeting tomorrow about an opportunity that will hopefully integrate well with my nanny schedule.  I'm crossing my fingers and toes that it'll pan out and that there was depth to the original suggestion of this opportunity.  Am I still jinxing myself in remaining vague?? Send me some good vibes, pretty please! I'm off to a hair appointment.

Cool bye!

Long Weekend. Long Story.

Guys, this weekend was a whirlwind, and also kind of not a whirlwind.  My kindergarten best friend, miss Mary Kate in the middle, had a bridal shower on Saturday. I planned to zip up to my hometown Friday evening after work, but sometimes I'm a total spaz when there aren't enough hours in the day to get things done.  Also, a spaz when I don't get fed enough, or sleep enough, or hugged enough (which sounds curiously similar to the behavior of an infant)... the point is, I needed to create some time. I took Friday evening to tie a few loose ends in KC, then set my alarm to farmer people time and hit the road. Early birds are the happiest birds.

phone photos commence. beware.

Before scooping up my Kieron-cousin. I did a quick wardrobe change from my elephant leg sweatpants to some elephant leg dress pants (neither of which are overly flattering). Meanwhile, my dad is whisper-hollering from the other room for me to hurry up and check out what was in the backyard. We don't normally like actually kind of hate deer because all they do is chomp on my mom's flowers and run out in the road causing wrecks*, but you know what we saw? The most miniature Bambi-baby-fawn trying to figure out leg things in the backyard. It was SO itty-bitty and stumbled around like a drunk little feller. I swear it had just fallen from its deer mom's bottom- to which my brother informed me, "Babies do not come from the mom's bottom, Sarah." I wish I had a photo to share. Cutest little happening you ever did see.

Me, Kieron ... Kieron, Kathryn, Me

The bridal shower was a hair on the stuffy side, so shoot me, but Kathryn and I have a history of histories so it was special to see her Dallas face, regardless. People change, but I never love them less. I can only hope for that in return.

Me, Baby Girl, Auntie Meg

On Sunday, I fell in love with a tiny human.  Her family just moved back to the midwest from Pennsylvania, so I got to meet little Mads and snug on all my cousins.  Check out her a d o r a b l e booties! Kieron (pictured above) crocheted them. She's super talented.  The long rain-splashed weekend was exactly what I needed, but I'm happy to be settled back into the lair with my boys. Phil (and my furry one) stayed in KC to catch up on himself, get ahead at work... and stuff and things. I was happy to give him time to himself. Every soul needs it now and again.  

Happy Week, you all!

Howlers

Yesterday morning, I mentioned the full-speed five year old BOY that I had on my hands. And what to his wild man eyes should be waiting in the driveway after school, but the world's biggest (in his mind) mound of... mulch. So, we howled about it.

p.s. Remember when I told you about ShoeDazzle in this post? Well, today through Monday the 27th they are offering an additional 30% off sale items for the long holiday weekend. Treat yourself, fools!

Oh, Boy.

The very minute the small one woke today, I confirmed that I am indeed caring for a mister.  Yanking window cords, ripping leaf bunches from their limbs, and shrieking whistle toys that I am quite sure slipped past quality control in regards to volume, the boy is livin' it up today.  In fact, dude was too busy with his storm alert sonic blast whistle to focus on putting pee in the toilet today. All I can say is bless that heart of my Philly guy's mama for raising three little stand-to-pees in a row.

For the sake of my sanity, please enjoy this unrelated photo of my Dad's flower bush. Lovely, no?