Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Intermittent Connectivity

Hi, islanders!  Guess what? I've come to a bittersweet realization...

My blog became a nagging reminder that I was being lazy... I put pressure on myself to meet some imaginary blog standard.  Seriously, I was *like* required to CONSTANTLY be baking, making, moving and shaking.  Well, I have some good? bad? NEWS.  This summer, I'm taking time to spend with my family. 

You know this whole Kindergarten thing has taken its toll on me.  I realize my summers are limited before she's a grown-up. Matter of fact, I have 12 left.

12 summers.

12 opportunities to plan for us to spend pretty weather months.

12 more.

That's it?

O GOODNESS. Don't make me cry again!

So, I'm tasking myself with figuring out how to schedule posts in advance and with blogging more about my life and family.  I'm going to eliminate the pressure to always have a tip, a trick and a how-to (although, we might have 1 or 2 a week).  While I love the fun of creating, I don't want to feel like I have to do what I love.  Plus, I found myself feeling bad for telling you guys about me and mine.  I've decided to remember this is my blog.  Visitors can feel free to search or click through my archives for great tutorials and tips but TODAY?!

I challenge you to step away from the cell phone, the computer, the TV, the *whatever is your distraction* and enjoy your loved ones!  Sometimes it's good to DISCONNECT from technology and RECONNECT with family.

Happy summer time!

How are you spending these warm months?

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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Savin' Saturday: Boys' Party Printables

Last Friday, I shared free party packages for girls that I LOVE and, because the world is full of boys, I thought I'd also show you some BOY stuff too.  This is new for me, islanders.  I hope you enjoy!

Preppy Blue and Green Party Package


Sports Party Printables

Source

Super Hero Party Printables


It's been fun pulling together inspiration and other useful links! If you use the printables, please be sure to share!

Have an awesome savin' Saturday!
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Friday, June 15, 2012

Kindergarten: A Chapter of Firsts, Closed.

Hello, islanders!

Have you seen my daughter?


No. Not that big kid... My baby girl:


Not even 1 yr old with all of those teeth, lol.


Always been a chatter box.

My favorite face from when she was teething, lol.
  
Those big brown eyes made her 'I'm going to bite you face' cute, lol.


Chit-chat.

Baby smells!

3 months and posing! Thanksgiving 2006

Looking like daddy!

She has always sang herself to sleep ;)

Big and bad... I guess, lol.


Yea, that one!  The one who stole my heart the moment her little 6lb 8oz self was introduced to the world...
  
2 weeks old!


Well... Apparently, you can't rewind time and you can't HOLD little-big girls tightly to prevent this whole growing up thing.

They go to the next stage happily:


They imagine, they explore, they learn, they aspire... they succeed.  Then, it's time to celebrate their accomplishments and you get wrapped up in the preparation. 

After church, Munch was singing the "shame, shame, shame. I don't wanna go to Mexico no more, more, more." I was amazed that they still do that, lol!



You buy the dress, the bow, the socks, the shoes, you invite the family, prepare for the activities, you plan the day, you find your dress, your shoes...

When you have nothing else to serve as a distraction, you go to the closet to hang up the dress and see the other dress. WHAT DRESS?! You know, the only piece of baby clothing you've saved, the CHRISTENING dress:




You carry BOTH dresses down the stairs to your husband to make the announcement that you're not ready... You proceed to cry. No, seriously, *like* the ugly cry (which totally freaks your husband out) so you go BACK into the kid's room and realize, it's time for the official big girl room because your little-big girl can't still sleep in the converted crib any longer... The same place where she's laid her little head since she was a few months old.  You look around the room and see all of the elements of baby stuff that must go and you cry more because, again, you're not ready.  Sheena calls, you talk it through and decide to spend the rest of your evening planning the next day...

Morning of...
AND YOU'RE FINE.  Well, you're surviving. You're sticking to your schedule... You're - she turns the corner and SHOCKS both you and Hubbs.  She is so adorable.  BREATHTAKING almost and you're not just saying that because she looks like her hot mom, lol.  You cry.  She tears up and starts looking for tissues because, "you have to get it all out before my graduation or you'll embarrass me, mommy!"

AND YOU'RE FINE AGAIN.

*Click*


DEFINE CRY.  It doesn't count as crying if TECHNICALLY no tears fall.  You swell with tears when she walks out (hand-in-hand with Eric, the boy who proposed after she didn't make fun of him when he had an "accident").  You swell with tears when they sing the song summarizing their school year.  You swell with tears during the awards presentation.  You're fine. Just breathe. 



THEN, 20 minutes later, it's over.

That's it.

You're done.

Ceremony. Over.

The room clears and it's you, Hubbs, your parents and the janitorial staff.  It hits you.  All that preparation and the moment is over.  You cry.  THE UGLY CRY.  Nope, don't come up for air, get it out while Munch is away.  Ignore Hubbs' and Dad's cameras... Just sob and get it out.

OK. Now, breathe.  It's time to greet your little-big girl in her classroom and you can't be snot-nosed and slobbering (people will think you have rabies). 


Grandma and Pop-Pop gave Munch a fabulous gift basket:


It had a disposable camera inside and BOY did she and her friends love it!

We took a pic with our teacher, Mrs. Downs, enjoyed some cookies & juice and left for a special day!




I got the same pic on back-to-school night and after the promotion ceremony... How cool is that?


We went to lunch with Pop-Pop, home for a nap and then Munch and Hubbs went to see Madagascar 3 that evening...

Excited that Pop-Pop shared his decaf.

Her Little Lady Gaga look-at-my-nails pose.

Polka dots that move making twirling even cuter.


Me.

My mini-me.

I survived a fabulous day. The FIRST (of several)graduations - DONE... I am so happy God gave me an amazing little girl that, quote me, "I THINK I WANT ANOTHER ONE."

All this growing is bittersweet for me because the fact that she is my only one hits hard - REALLY hard.  Hubbs has plotted on my ovaries for 4 years now so, maybe I'll start to do what I need to for this to happen. We'll see...

Until then, I'll be thankful for our little-big blessing in Munch.  We're off to summer camp!

**Congratulations, islander, you survived the emotional roller coaster of this post.  Please exit to your left and be sure to leave a comment, lol**
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Friday, June 8, 2012

FRUGAL FRIDAY - Party Printables

I know I'm not actually DOING anything but that doesn't mean the island's messages in a bottle need to stop, right?  Hmm, maybe I am getting back to my old shake-make-n-bake self?

By way of update, I am mentally preparing for our biggest day of the school year... Kindergarten graduation. OMGomgomgomgoMgomgomgomgoMg! It's here. I'm not ready but it's here

Monday morning.

Munch. 
Stage. 
Ceremony.

::snot. tears. sobbing::

Munch has been practicing her wave (because the excited wave is not allowed), she's been telling me the plan (ceremony THEN the stage THEN my class for cookies and juice THEN you ask your parents to go home because it is a VERY special day) and have I mentioned I am NOT ready? I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I asked her this morning if she wanted to change school's and be 5 all over again; she said no. 

There's no hope.

...AND I'M NOT READY!!

Maybe THAT'S where my mojo went.  It's wrapped up in the bittersweet moment of Kindergarten graduation! 



The only way to find myself is to do what I love - bring some party to life.  If I were a Spice Girl, I'd be Party Spice just sprinklin' celebration seasonin' wherever I went...

Here are a few fabulous free printables that inspire me to celebrate my blessings and keep my cash while doing so - they're ALL free.  Enjoy!

Minnie Mouse Party Pack

Rainbow Party Pack


Pinkalicious Party Pack

Source

If only I could find a FREE chevron pink and gray doll bakery party printable pack, lol.  Wouldn't that be fate!  They may not fit Munch's theme this year but these printables make great additions to the mommy party file and can help bring something personalized to your next event. 

Tune in next week for the boys' printables!  Yep, we're embracing our BOY side around these parts, islanders!

Happy FRUGAL Friday!


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Life Update - Divorce.

In my last post, I mentioned it's been 6 years since I last blogged and this particular life update is one of the reasons I buried my he...

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