Oh I wish I were...

I've waited my whole life for this and finally it happened....

What I Know Now

I'm reading a book by women who are writing letters to their younger selves. So far this is my favorite quote - "When juggling as much as you are, remember some balls are glass, some are rubber. You can't drop the glass balls. Also, learn to put blinders on about certain things. Laundry will wait very patiently." - Nora Roberts. What would YOU tell your younger self?

First and foremost I think I would tell myself that it doesn't matter if you don't fit into a certain group.  Cliques are overrated.  Make friends with everyone because one day you will still be friends with everyone.

That D you got in Algebra doesn't really matter in the long run.

Live on your own before you live with someone else.  And for goodness sake make sure that person lives on their own too!

Don't let anyone ever tell you that you're stupid or inferior or that your feelings don't matter.  Stand up for yourself and know that you deserve so much better.   Find the guy that will be your partner, not your dictator.

Don't ever regret what happens in life, good or bad.  Every moment will shape your thoughts, your emotions, your relationships.   You will end up wise and confident.

Be spontaneous.  Spontaneity will take you on great adventures and help you meet great people!

Don't stress too much about motherhood.  Love your children the way you've always loved everyone in your life and they will turn out ok.  You'll have your battles, especially with your oldest but keep in mind that her spunk will help her be a strong independent woman one day.

Most of all, be kind to yourself.   Take time for fun.  Take pictures.  Write.  Do the things you love.  Laundry really will wait for you.  

N'awlins

I ran away from home this weekend.  Actually my sister needed me.  She asked me to come and I went.  My friend Mary came along and we spent the weekend eating our way through New Orleans.  The people watching there is sublime, especially at Jazz Fest where we also watched The Eagles.  We savored beignets at Cafe DuMonde, we ate crawfish, we shopped the French Market and we tried on hats... lots of hats.  It was a whirlwind but a great escape and the memories will live on.

My mom has made Mary-Ellen and I pose like this since we were little.  Its the "We're Pals" pose and we just do it automatically now.  Note to self - gather all those pics and make a photo book.

Please, no pictures!

My mom hates to have her picture taken.  I mean hate with a capital H.  I have a ton of pictures of her giving a pained smile or of her holding her hands in front of her face.  I keep telling her that her pictures at her memorial one day are going to be nothing but those shots.  She always says she prefers candids but she sneers in those too.  On Sunday my oldest daughter was confirmed and we went out for a celebratory lunch where I took this shot.   I think its going to be the one that gets blown up poster size at that aforementioned memorial (hopefully not for another 30 years).

Its What's for Dinner

Roasted Red Peppers - I used to think I didn't like red pepper but thanks to my friend Shirley Ann I changed my mind pretty quickly after trying her Roasted Red Pepper Lasagna.  My husband now uses them all the time in our spaghetti sauce and we finally decided to try Stuffed Peppers for dinner.  They are filled with a tomato, onion, rice, beef mix and topped with cheddar.  Mmmmmmm

BFF's

I am wary of posting pictures of other people's kids without permission but I love this pic and I'm pretty sure it doesn't give away any identity unless you happen to know these girls.  The redhead is mine.  This to me is what friendship is all about.  We were walking to the movie theater on a school field trip to see The Lorax.  I couldn't help but snap the pic.   The best part about this picture is that the girls get to be in the same class again this year.  My best friend in first grade moved away the next year but we were close like this.  Our teacher used to call us the Bobsey Twins.  I'd give anything to find her again.  I know people change over time but I have the feeling that as close as we were, we'd still get along famously.

Amateur

I did it.  I finally bought a DSLR.  Once again, I need to learn how to use the darn thing but for now I can play with it on Auto and take some pretty good shots.  Its the bottom of the line with only one lens but lenses will come with time.  This is good enough for me for now.   First shot out of the box - still standing in the
Target parking lot.