A NOTE (OR FEW) BEFORE WE BEGIN: 1. I fully realize the extent of the floppiness of the 2nd hat. They were $2 at Walmart yo. I just couldn’t pass them up. Besides, she’s still almost bald and we prefer non-sunburned heads. 2. Yes, I also realize the room in which these photos were taken are kind of dark. I am in desperate need of some photo editing software for my Mac (*cough* Photoshop! *cough* like for my birthday *cough*).
SET 1: Lorelelei dressed in an elegant No Boundaries dress in black from Mommy’s Closet (it doubles as a tank top) and beautiful faux pearls. To top off this fantabulous look is a black/white polka-dotted hat with a tiny rosette. A second necklace will appear later in this set, and that’s from Mommy’s Closet as well.
SET 2: In these photographs, Lorelei is wearing a fashionable dress from Melo’s closet (thanks Nissa! I love you!), as well as a hot pink football Mardi Gras style necklace (that she did NOT in fact get from Mardi Gras, thankyouverymuch) and a very floppy (but cute) hat. As in the first set, Lorelei chose her own necklace – in fact, mommy suggested the white pearl again for set 2, but Lorelei disagreed and took the white off to put the pink on. In this set, Lorelei shows us that these necklaces can be doubled up or worn as a long strand (only for the seasoned models/walkers, however).
What do you do when you turn around to put food on the highchair tray for (her) lunch, and the highchair’s missing? You bribe her to roll it back down the hallway and put it back. You can count to three all you want and threaten , but the thing that gets this kid moving? Food.
NOTE- I know numbers two and five are missing…that’d be myself and hubs. I have our address memorized (waiting for a standing ovation…cookie…or something…) *sigh* Fine.
Second, I will explain to you how you got your partner. The idea is that you know ONLY who you will be sending to. Take a look:
Number 5 is me. Those folded up papers? They all contain numbers between 1 and 13 (well, except for 5). If you signed up, your number is one of those. To demonstrate, I unfolded mine. To the left, is a number (which will correlate DIRECTLY to the signup list above)…that person will be mailing me something. To the right is a different number, and I’ll be mailing them something. Make sense?
Out of fun, fairness, and secrecy (because I don’t want to know who is sending me anything), I left the 4 pieces of paper directly behind my number unopened. I will mark them so I know which order they went in and have Steven open them and email THOSE partners. I could have left only the number right in front of me unopened, but who are we kidding? I would SO have known by the end of the emails.
So, now…I need those of you on the list above to send me your emails. I will send you (or Steven will) the address of the person you are supposed to send your package/mail to. I did this TOTALLY randomly. I not only could not see the numbers, but I also didn’t have the names/numbers paired together where I could see them or memorized. In full disclosure, I did have to have 2 ppl swap places on the circle because Angie was going to be mailing her husband something, and that would’ve sucked. Other than that…I didn’t tamper with anything. So, if you wanted a different partner…um…well I have no clue what to tell you. Luck hates you I guess? I kid I kid. I know we allll love each other equally, right?
Assuming that you send me your address soon, I should have your partner’s addy sent to you by this weekend. After that, prepare a box (or letter) that’s full of love. Anything you want (welll…). The send-off deadline is September 15, 2008. You can send sooner, if you want. DO NOT POST or tell ANYONE who you sent your stuff too. When sending off your package or letter, you can tell who you are. And, once you get it from the partner that sent to you, you can post what you got on your blog.
Let me know if I forgot anything?
PS – I highly highly recommend getting Delivery Conf numbers because occasionally people that your packages were NOT intended for get butterfingers…and your packages go missing…and the post office sits on their hands. It took me $200 worth of packages to figure this one out. Just sayin’.
- You “honk” people’s noses
- All animals are either dogs (panting noise) or cats (OW! –derived from the sound “meow”)
-You still love bananas and refuse to call them as such. They are “nana” for now. You ask for them for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, supper, and any other time. You even ask for them when you are sleepy or get hurt.
-You take showers. You know how to “wash” yourself.
-You do love water, and swimming is fun, too. But lake water? Not so much. Actually, you scream.
-You loved your first boat ride with Grandpa, Daddy, and I…but the life jacket? It just pissed you off. But, once we started riding you got quiet and shut your eyes (because of the wind).
-You climb things. Even people. Or, you try.
-You like to hold things…in both hands. It makes you happy.
-You hug and kiss alot and are incredibly sweet and affectionate. You’ve even said “I love you” a couple of times.
-You know how to put a person on hold and then hang up on them once you’ve said “hiday” or “hi” to them. Once you hang up on them, you try to call places without our area code…in fact, I’m not even sure it’s in the US. Sometimes, you’ll sort through our phone book and find people that we rarely talk to.
-You like to feed Glory. Your food.
-You can dance, even to music on the local radio station that wasn’t intended for one year olds.
-You know how to water the garden
-You share well
-Sometimes you get really frustrated with things, especially if you don’t get to do something you really want to do. I know it’s just a stage, but the whining is…urgh.
-You SOOOO have daddy wrapped around your finger…all of them.
-You love accessorizing with your necklaces. You know how to put them on and loop them to make them shorter (as to not step on them). You love wearing them anywhere we go…or just by themselves.
-You are beginning to get interested in dolls. You will love on them and even try to feed them (well…give them drinks)…but you’ll ditch them as soon as a better toy comes along. Like your water table. (Or, you might make dolly go swimming/drowning?)
Yesterday, when I got the phone call about Shad, I worked on getting a “prayer chain” together. I messaged some of my closest friends, blogged it, and even sent out a mass email to my contact list. I never dreamed that Gmail would randomly attach emails that belonged to companies and almost everyone I’d ever conversed with in the past few months. I braced myself for a lot of backlash, both from unfeeling people who did not share my beliefs as well as from people scolding me about my (accidental) un-professionalism. And then, I decided I didn’t care. I decided that for every person that wanted to send me a hate email (there was actually only one that was truly “hateful” towards ME), there would be tons more that got to pray for Shad, that wouldn’t have had Gmail not been wiley. Yesterday, over 400 people across the globe prayed for Shadrach Boaz (we know him as Shad Boaz).
Today, Shad passed. He had been flown to Vanderbilt, in hopes that there was something more that could be done. But, the damage was too great. I firmly believe that each of your prayers and warm blessings and thoughts did NOT go in vain. I ask you to keep praying for him and for the family and friends he left behind. I am choosing to leave the previous message up, and I invite anyone that would like to leave a message to do so – whether on this post or the previous one.
God bless you all and thank you so much for your prayers. They are -and forever will be- deeply appreciated. More than you will ever know.
Do you ever hear something that just really touches you, brings memories back? This afternoon, while getting ready, I was listening to the radio and this song came on (Bye Bye by Mariah Carey –above). And, I blinked back tears as I remembered those that have entered and left my life (one way or another) and the imprints that they left.
This…is for you.For my Gramps, who I miss so very much. I see you in so many things: riding lawn mowers, gourd bird houses (any birdhouse, actually), an empty ash tray, military medals, when someone says “You ordered it. You eat it.” And, so much more. I miss you Gramps, and I hope you know how much I love you. I really did mean to say goodbye…
For the many aunts and uncles who are no longer here. I miss you all, too. Uncle Paul, you inspired me. Aunt Pat, you were always so fun and so full of life – I remember you always smiling and laughing. Uncle Milo, I remember rides on your trike. Uncle Bo, you were always so kind and so sweet…and gone in an instant. Uncle Ed, I remember the way you made us all laugh, and you could entertain us for hours–like magic. Literally.
For D. my best friend, who chose to leave when I needed you the most. You turned your back on me and voluntarily walked out of my life. I miss the person you used to be. I miss the long phone calls, and the connection we shared. I miss the way we could make each other smile through the many tears. I hope life is treating you well…
For C., the boy who held my hand when I cried. Who defended me when people trashed my name. You were the first boy I fell in love with. You picked me up when I fell, defeated. And, then…you turned around and tried to break me. But, you didn’t. Sometimes, I miss you too. Or, who you used to be. We used to have a lot of fun, together. I miss the friendship. But, to be totally honest, I hope I see you soon. And, although I’m happy now, I hope I look kick ass and I hope you see me and feel a little regret. Just because you were a total ass when we said goodbye.
For J and B. You both changed my lives dramatically. You saved me from myself and you were there when I needed someone (and didn’t know that). Thanks for that. I miss you, both. Sorry I was an idiot. And, in case you care…things are pretty great now in my life.
For S.B., I never thought your story would end the way it did. I thought you were indestructible, I guess. My mom told me when she heard. I had to pull over on the side of the road as I cried. I miss you. You held my hand and you dried my tears when I’d come to school late, crying because I just had a fight with my mom. You’d threaten to kick the other boys stupid arses, which made me laugh. When B made cry, you ran after me — ignoring the “Girls” sign on the bathroom. You drug me out and you made me talk…and then you made him be nice. And, when B2 tried to humiliate me in class, you took care of it. You had my back. I had yours. We talked everyday, and then I went away. I’m so sorry that I didn’t keep in touch…and, now you’re gone…and, it’s too late. I thought I had forever, and I was wrong.
I’m sooo excited! I just received this super duper cool award today from Miss (whom I LOVE and she rocks and is my new BFF):
The rules that come with this award are:
You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.
The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link “Arte y pico” blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
Show these rules.
So, here we go….
I am really tempted to give Maria, Huck, and Miss the award a second time, but I’m pretty sure they’ll kick my ass because that means they’d have to redo this all. Heck, I may just do it so they’ll come kick my ass – that means you have to MEET me chicas. I’m like pure genius.
1. ZoeyJane from Mommy is Moody. She’s oh so sweet and is even sending me some butter chicken sauce all the way over the border…because I can’t find any here. I don’t just love her for sending me food (I swear), she’s fun and sweet and I love her mucho.
2. Hubs from Dadspeed. He also happens to be my dear husband. He’s witty and he’s got balls. Do check out his latest post.
3. Angie from A Whole Lot of Nothing. In the past few weeks, I’ve really gotten to know Ang…and duude. I love her!! She’s so sweet and so incredibly funny and honest in her blog (and in life, too).
4. Nissa from Nissa’s Niceties. This chick is just full of sweetness and kindness. We’ve never met, and yet I consider her as one of my real-life friends….
5. Kim from Jogging in Circles. Kim has some really awesome photographs, an awesome sense of humor, and has given me lots of helpful …err..tips. lol. (Shh)
Each and every one of these folks mean a lot to me. I consider them all great friends and wonderful people.
But, whatever you may see in those pictures…may or may not be what *I* see.
I see an awful nose.
I see un-toned arms and flab.
I see a belly button that was an outtie for almost 6 months.
I see a tummy that looks much different than what it did pre-pregnancy (it used to be toned, now not so much).
I see thighs that rub together.
Knees that are not what models are made of.
“Square feet.”
Angular (bony) wrists.
Small chest (which is also not in the shape it was pre-Lorelei).
I see dark hair that stands out on light skin.
For years, I hated myself. In more ways than one. I battled depression and some really difficult times. I climbed out of that hole years ago, but still have a ways to go. At 22, I’m learning to love myself. All of me. It doesn’t mean that I have to “let myself go,” it simply means that I can love my body as is and appreciate the beautiful things it can (and has) do(ne). It means that instead of looking in the mirror and frowning, I’ll do a few crunches and pushups most days – but, not necessarily go through surgery after surgery to be made into everything I’m not. It means realizing that I’m not that airbrushed chic on the front of the magazine. It means that I don’t have to watch the scale just to make sure it doesn’t tip over 100…because it’s OKAY if I weigh more. It’s OKAY.
Certain clothing designers have been quoted saying that they want “human clothes hangers” for their models. And yet, many of us aspire to be that. We want to be thin, with thighs that don’t touch. We want to be tall. We want our tummies to be flat and a C cup. We want to be tan, and possibly even airbrushed. And, yet…for most of us…it’s not natural. And, we hate ourselves for it. You tell me I’m pretty, and I’ll say “thank you.” In my head, I’m thinking of every reason that makes me “not pretty.” We, women have this horrible thing we do. We pick ourselves apart and hate on ourselves more than anyone else.
And, why? Are we afraid someone else will if we don’t? – That we need to beat them to the punch?
I see beauty in so many things, and yet…sometimes, I have trouble seeing it in my own mirror. And, that…is just plain sad. Ridiculous, even. I cannot control the events in my life that have made me who I am and the things that have impacted my self esteem. But, you know what – I CAN control how I let it affect me NOW. And, this is what I choose:
My body may not be as thin or as toned as it was. It may not be as tan or “perfect” as some. But, it doesn’t make it less beautiful. My body is not a human coat hanger, nor would I ever wish it to be. My body created, housed, fed, and nurtured a beautiful miracle for 9 1/2 months. My body has withstood the crap I’ve put it through, time and time again (brownie bite after brownie bite, and razors too). Some of the features of my body have been passed down (inherited) from certain family members (nose, square feet, etc.), and instead of hating them because they aren’t what everyone else calls “perfect” – I am choosing to love them. Now. It’s who I am and where I came from. This is who I choose to be.
I kid I kid. I know we allll love each other equally, right?
