41 Years

 via revelment

This Saturday is my 42nd birthday and I was going to write about 41 things I have learned this year but that got kind of exhausting. I thought about cutting it half and that was still too much and I finally decided on maybe 3 things I've learned this year. 3 is doable and it's probably the most honest amount.

I have learned that I am not ashamed of my age or my body. It has carried me through many trials and the lines on my face show every tear, every laugh and every memory. My body is not perfect to everyone but it is to me. I love my curves, my crooked smile, my hysterical laugh. Just today I was looking at my hands and I saw my mother's hands. It made me feel connected.

Sometimes people who you think are there for you, really aren't. I have thought friends were there for me when I fell but instead they kept walking, but the most beautiful thing is that there was an unexpected hand to help me up. Sometimes the people on the sidelines are the best friends to have. They are not running the race or fighting the battle but cheering you on. 

The grass is not greener on the other side. Instead, you should nourish your own lawn. People may have more and seem happier, but in reality, they have the same problems as you. They cry, just like you. They have doubts, just like you. Everyone (except my dogs) look like crap in the morning. It is just a fact. Learn to love your life and appreciate the small things your are blessed with. 

I know I was only going to give you 3, but I couldn't resist this bonus lesson. It's probably the most important lesson of all! Ready for it? Lighten up! Make that choice to accept happiness in your life and laugh. Laugh loud!

I hope that my 41 years of wisdom have made you think or at least give you a little giggle. I promise the next year will be equally as awesome. Watch out 42! You are in for a butt kicking! YAHOO!!!!

No More Reruns!

 

Thank you TinTrunk for this vintage picture

Remember when summer time meant reruns? None of your favorite shows were on in the summer, you turned the TV off, cussing it because you already watched that Lavern and Shirley earlier in the year. Well, nowadays, shows start all months with total disregard for your summer plans.

It may seem like I'm complaining, and I'm really not. It's still pretty chilly and rainy up here and I need something to watch while I'm stitching.

Two of my favs this summer are animation. They are from Disney and I swear, they went all out to entertain the older person in the family.

Motorcity is amazing! It is like watching a Gorillaz video only better! The basic story is that a city was built over Detroit. The upper city is shiny, pretty and completely controlled. Lower Detroit is free but underground and struggling. Mark Hamill plays a starring role on this cartoon. It is fast, creepy and very cool. I would recommend it for kids 8 and older.

My other favorite new show is Tron Uprising. Remember Aeon Flux? This cartoon is on par with the animation. It is so slick! The storyline is great and the voice actors are top notch. Elijah Wood and Lance Henriksen play the lead roll with appearances from Paul Reubens and Mandy Moore. Again, maybe about ages 8 and up for this one.

Check out these two new cartoons if you are looking for a smart, well written show to share with your older child or just on your own. Oh yeah, if you miss the first run, they will play it a few more times, just like a real summer rerun! 

Gotta Love the Pops

Guess what's coming up next week? If you said my birthday, then you get a big smooch! If you said Father' Day, well, I guess you're right too. I mean, I have to celebrate one of the people involved in me being here. Without my dad, I wouldn't have a fab birthday to celebrate!

I teamed up with Craftster to do this awesome Father's Day video. Look at what radical cool stuffs you can make your pops!

 I love this evil looking octopus...so cool and creepy.

Maybe dad isn't into an evil octopus, he could like dinos. Gotcha covered!

Okay, I'll admit that the crab is staying with me for my tropical backyard. How great would this look in  a beach house?

Tie One On Tuesday

Across the pond my friends are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee. Of course I want to celebrate with them, I love a good party and there is no bigger one with more sparkles than the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration.

I'm pretty sure if I gave the guard of the crown jewels a few of these, he would let me borrow at least the tiara for one night.

Cherries Jubilee courtesy of  Acme
2 ounces Bombay Sapphire infused with Cherries and Vanilla (this can be easily done by taking cherries and vanilla beans, mixing with the gin and letting it sit for at least 24 hours)

1 ounce Lime Juice
1/4 ounce simple syrup
Dash Orgeat syrup
Dash Creme de Peche
Dash Grapefruit Bitters
Mix together in a shaker, serve in an martini glass. 


Ain't no party like the Diamond Jubilee party! Hey! Ho!

Jubilee Punch via Bar Magazine

2 parts Gin
1 part Dubonnet
1 part  Sloe Gin
½ part  Cherry Liqueur
½ part  Cassis
½ part  Framboise
A splash of Ginger Liqueur
3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
1 part Lemon Juice
4 parts Earl Grey Tea (chilled)
4 parts champagne
Build the ingredients in a punch bowl or jug and top with ice. Garnish with fresh seasonal berries and currants, lemon wheels and flowers. Serve with punch glasses or highball glasses.

During the Jubilee, even the martinis are extra fancy.

English Martini
1/2 ounce Chambord
1 ounce gin
1 ounce pineapple juice
Shake and serve in a martini glass.

Congratulations to the Queen! I have to love a woman who has an amazing flare for hats and loves dogs. Now, if she could just lend me her summer palace for the weekend, we would be besties 4 ever.

Feel Good Friday

from tumbler, unknown source, if it's yours, please let me know for some credit.

Not only is it Friday but it's the beginning of the month of PAM! That's right, my birthday is this month and I have decided to celebrate it all month long cause that's how I roll! 

There are a few reasons that I love this piece by LaWhimsy-first, that little girl is just too adorable and  second, look at that cute puppy! LaWhimsy has some mad stitching skills! Her lines are so clean and again, look at the cute puppy!

The Pie Face Game! The game to play with those jerk relatives and friends! Seriously, if someone gives this to you, it means they don't like you.

I'm pretty sure I need this table for my birthday. OMP better get his baking skills up to speed. He can get great tips from Amy is the Party. I want one of every party she has, please.

Are you kidding me? This is over the top! Seriously, I have watched this video a half of dozen times just today! 

Well, my cute little babes, I am going to head out to the garden and enjoy the sliver of sunshine. The pups are yelling at me and I really should listen to them-they can be so demanding! Enjoy your weekend and have ten tons of fun! 

I Can Relax!

OMP says that I can never just relax and sit still. I have no idea what he is talking about. My weekend was relaxing. Here's what I did,

I did a little embroidery...



I made a word bubble for Pete. I need to know that he's thinking...(please excuse our redneck dog dish. We have to lift Pete's head due to damage to his neck and throat from his bad previous owners)


I recovered the couch and the chair and made these pillows...

And I baked cupcakes, but I ate them. Insert collective "AAWWWWW MAN"

Oh wait, I also deadheaded the rhododendron, helped OMP in the front yard, planting new flowers and ran errands! Whew! Maybe OMP is right...HA! Yeah sure, OMP right, that's a good one.

Going Bananas

Last night I had a horrible nightmare. Now nightmares are scary enough, but trying to explain your nightmare is even worse! They never sound as scary and you just can't convey the fear you had. 

Me: I had a horrible dream last night

OMP: Oh, baby, what was it about?

Me: Well, there was a ghost in the house and he pinched my butt.

OMP: That was no ghost. 

Me: No! Seriously! It was scary! The scariest part was that the ghost shut the door and when I opened it, he was standing there and I was scared. 

OMP: What did the ghost look like?

Me: He was wearing a ghillie suit with a gorilla mask over it. 

Dead silence....

OMP: A ghost, in a ghillie suit and a gorilla mask.

Me: YES! I was scared! 

OMP: Again...a ghost, in a ghillie suit and a gorilla mask.

Me: I don't think you understand how terrified I was.

OMP: What were you scared of? That he was gonna steal our bananas? 

Me: You know how precious those bananas are to me.

OMP: Obviously...

(for the record, this is a ghillie suit)