Rejuvination

After working 20 some odd hours overtime last week, Bronson and Landon were lucky enough to get Thursday and Friday off this week. We had made great plans about where and what we were going to do with 4 whole days of no school for Zuri and no work for them....First, we wanted to go see the Redwoods, then we were going to surf in Santa Cruz, then we thought we would maybe even go all the way down to LA--we were dreaming big.

So, Thursday morning rolls around, we ate a late breakfast and before we knew it, it was 5 pm and there we were still in our pj's. The rest of the week looked similar to this. I took a nap every single day, we lounged around watching movies, and would go out to eat at least once a day.

It was a mini staycation and just what all of us needed.

Gummie

Gummie is Remi's new name.

Remi's best friend, Kostyn [who just turned 2] has decided on this name, and happens to say it in the cutest little voice imaginable.

Now it seems as though everyone has followed suit, and the nickname has stuck--Gummie it is.
....Along with Memi, Lemas, Reminem, and Blems.

Think she's confused?? Me too.

Gummie's headband is made by The Pink Ruffle at www.thepinkruffle.etsy.com

Fire to my brain....and then to my kitchen.

...I'm always thinking.

This day I was standing in my kitchen thinking.

But this was a deeper, more meditative sort of thinking-- about my blog, of all things, and how I want to improve it. 

My thoughts went from meditative to impatient rather quickly, and the ugly, indecisive part of my mind started to take over.
It went something like this:

I should blog now... but I'm uninspired...

I should blog about how I'm uninspired...

maybe I'll just put clothes on and take a picture....

I hate outfit post....

I am not a fashion blogger....

I really like getting clothes in the mail though....

WHAT THE HELL IS MY BLOG EVEN ABOUT?..... 

My blog is about my kids....

they're so cute....

they're growing up too fast....

I want to blog about them....

they're too special to let everyone know about them....

what am I making for dinner? 

what if when they're older they hate that I let the 'World' in on their lives?...

what if when they're older they resent me for the time I spent blogging?....

I'll make tacos for dinner

I wish I could go through my moms old stuff....

I wish I knew what was in her brain back then.....

They'll love my blog....

I need to get less commercial....

But I  need to get more commercial if I want it to grow.....

I need to stop being so personal.....

Where's the oil? I'll defrost the meat now, warm the oil.... Do I have cheese?

I need a set schedule...

I despise schedules, though......

I don't even know what I'm doing.....

I'm out of salsa.

I should be doing laundry....

WHY am I even thinking about this?! ....

why do I even care? 

...then, I walk out of the kitchen.

To make a long story shorter....I left the pot of oil I was warming on my stove burner and forgot all about it. It caught fire. Like huge fire. In the moment of realization that my whole stove was engulfed in flames and my house was filling up with smoke rather quickly, things became crystal clear.

My thoughts were methodical and thorough.

1. Its an oil fire.

2. get the kids out of the house

3. no water on an oil fire

4. smother the fire.

5. get the smoking, flaming pot out of the house.

In the disastrous kitchen scene I walked into, I somehow knew where everything was exactly when I needed it. Those pot holders I can never, ever seem to find were on both my hands before I knew it, and my huge crock pot lid was over the flames. Remi had spilled water on the floor earlier that morning and I had left the damp clothe on floor right by the stove all day. I picked the damp clothe up and put it over the lid and still flaming/smoking pot and walked right out my unlocked sliding back door that is ordinarily secured by a metal peg in a tiny hole from the bottom right corner---miraculously that metal peg wasn't in place.

done. 

it was done.

disaster averted. 

I'm not trying to make this seem like it was a near death experience or anything crazy...but it was somewhat of an eye opener for me. My children never came into the "danger zone" and were perfectly obedient, un-frightened, and patiently waiting for me to get them when everything was over.  The door being unlocked..? Having a wet clothe ready and waiting at the floor of the stove for me? Not panicking at all and knowing exactly what to do and where to go....I can't deny that there were tiny miracles that happened in that instance. 

And about my blog-

Just as my thoughts about how to deal with the fire became clear and precise, so did my thoughts about this space.

I want this space to be a place where women (and men, too) come to relate, to laugh, to learn, to see the beauty in every day life and the beauty that is in themselves...I want my children and family to cherish this blog in the next 40 years, and hopefully show their grandkids what their old, crazy Grandma Weslie was like. I want to share everything I love with everyone whether it be people, experiences, other bloggers, stories, products, intriguing facts--whatever! If I love it, I want you to know about it.

 I can only be me, and that's what you'll get here....all of me. 

A hotel with a revolving door.

That's what my house has become.

...And please don't get me wrong. That is how I want it.

I want friends and family staying with us all the time---I'll go to the wharf until I'm blue in the face and see the Golden Gate Bridge until the day that I finally stop asking why its not actually gold.

 I LOVE having people over, I really do. 

....but maybe not for 7 weeks straight.

I did the math and realized we have had visitors at least once a week from anywhere from 2 to 6 days, with a 3 or so day gap in between, for the last 42 days straight. 

Sheesh, universe...chill out! Spread those peeps apart next time, k?

I don't remember what a schedule is. 

I don't remember the last time I ate anything green or from the ground.

 I don't remember what day or time it is.

I guess I don't remember how to spell Barnes&Noble (ha) 

....and I don't remember paying any bills.

effffffff word.

So, hi. 

I'm officially back. 

Officially.

Anyone want to cleanse with me??

<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Oh! ...and we have a new room mate! My brother-in-law Landon moved from Utah into our house after filming this:

Rapt Studio / Spring Party 2013

from Rapt Studio on Vimeo.

The event at Rapt was unlike any other party I've ever been to. The space alone is incredible, and I am so envious Bronson gets to spend his work days there. I ate oysters until I lost count and had the greatest time imaginable, but I'm guessing they were impressed with Landon's work, because the next week he was an official resident of SF---and the best part, our new live-in babysitter. 

I'm feelin lucky...

...because within the last 4 weeks I have found 3 different items that make my life oh-so-wonderfully better.

Item ONE:

 Ponte Knit Skinny Pants (Juniors)

I found mine at Nordstrom's BP, and they are, hands down, my favorite pair of black skinnies.....ever. 

[They're the black pants I'm wearing in most of my Outtakes Post.]

They are thick, yet soft.

Stretchy, yet don't lose their shape.

And constructed in a way to pull you in exactly where you want to be 'pulled in.'

I want to say they are the first real 'jegging' I've found that are actually the perfect marriage of jeans+leggings.

....and at $48?

   Hallelujah!

Item TWO:

The Twisty Pins

I was moseying through Target one night when these babies caught my eye.

I have this horrible predicament of hating the "claw"....you know what I'm talking about...
These guys right here:

 -but needing them all while HATING them.

I have fine, straight, silky textured hair.... pony tail holders slip out of my hair  too easily, while flattening any extra volume I can miraculously create, so for the past 10 years, the 'claw' has been my go-to hair device.
But, claws are:
ugly
slip
bulky
poky
break easily
and nicknamed a "penis pincher"

For the last reason alone, I needed to find a replacement.

One twisty pin is equivalent to 20 bobby pins and they work by twisting into your styled up hair like a cork screw. They hold everything together while giving you lift, plus they are invisible AND comfortable.

GAME CHANGER, GUYS! 

Item THREE:
The Ebb and Flow Crop ||

  I bought these work out pants over a month ago, and I have worn them every day since. 

Promise.

They have replaced my comfy sweats even, and I have slept in them multiple times, too. The best part is that they make your booty look awesome. They're like magical optical illusion pants and if LuluLemon ever discontinues them-I just might die...or cry.

To find 3 awesome life altering items within one month is crazy, right?....I must be doing something to please the Gods.

This stuff never happens to me.

#glamGRAND Giveaway! yes, as in 1k...

I've collaborated with a group of fabulous bloggers to bring you something special today. One very lucky reader will have the chance to live glam with a grand - you'll win a $1,000 Visa Gift Card!

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter below. Points will be earned for each item completed - the more you do, the closer you'll be to winning this amazing prize! The $1,000 Glam Grand Giveaway will run until midnight Friday 29th March 2013 and is open to participants worldwide. After this, the winner will be announced and contacted via email. 

So, now all you have to do is enter, go meet these other fantastic bloggers and start thinking about how you'd spend a grand. I'd love to know your ideas, share them in the comments and let's start dreaming of how to live glam!

Kelsey Bang  |  Style Elixir  |  Moiology  |  Casey Leigh  |  Elle Apparel 

Ivory Lane  |  Pink Peonies  |  CaraLoren | Shannon Hearts | The Chiffon Diary

Twist Me Pretty  |  Dont Quote the Raven  |  Barefoot Blonde  |  Crazy Style Love  |  The Daily Tay

Jessica Who? |  MessyDirtyHair  | Glossy Blonde  | Glam Hungry Mom |  A Little Dash of Darling

Merrick's Art  |  In Honor of Design |  Coast With Me  |  Plane Pretty |  Mix and Match Fashion

Get Your Pretty On |  The Shine Project  |  Fashion and Tea  |  Crowley Party |  Along Abbey Road

Style With Shannon  |  Love Chugs  |  Dreaming In Cashmere  | Sincerely Arizona  |  Kacie's Kloset

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Terms & Conditions:
The Glam Grand Giveaway is for one USD $1,000 Visa Gift Card. This giveaway is open worldwide to people aged 18 years and over. It will run from Friday 22nd March 2013 to Friday 29th March 2013. Entries will be verified, so please be honest in completing items. Once the giveaway closes, the winner will be announced on this Rafflecopter and also contacted via email. To claim your prize, please respond to the email within 72 hours, failure to do so will result in a re-draw. Once the winner has been selected, this decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into regarding this matter. This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Visa or any other social media platform. Good luck!

ouchy...and a big Thank You

First off, let me tell you I've been up since 4:30 am thinking I was dying.

For a couple weeks now, I've had this sensation of something stuck in my throat, right behind my breast bone---Its so weird. I would always be more aware of it at night, and it started to occur to me that the sensation was getting worse with each passing day.

Within the last few days, the feeling has expanded into this horrible tightening of the chest/feeling like I can't get a whole breathe in.

I'm good at ignoring my illnesses/ailments and not saying anything to anyone while I'm suffering, until its unbearable....and last night it became unbearable.

So around 5:15am, onto to the horrible world wide web I went.

First I thought I had a tumor, then cancer, then heart disease, then a thyroid disease, maybe even the early signs of a heart attack, to now----a phone call from my lovely friend, Kelsey, has lead me to believe I have really bad case of acid reflux.

Hallelujah!...because I am no longer writing out love notes to my family.

But why is this even relevant enough to blog about??

Because oddly enough during my horrifying hours on google this morning (really, google is a horrible place to go when thinking you're sick-stick with phone calls), I kept thinking of my readers.

In the last few weeks (especially) I have gotten such amazing Emails. A lot of the current mail relates to MY RULE OF 3's post, but they are all the type of E mails that stop me in my tracks and give me tingles to my toes. I often feel like the people who write in to me are much greater writers, mothers, and young women than I ever was or am....and they are, in fact, giving me much more than they think I am giving them.

I'm just so grateful for you! Really, I am. It may sound corny, but its the truth- and its time I say it out loud. So, thank you--thanks for making me feel like I have a million and more best friends ranging from every age, and in all corners of the country. Its something I know is special, and I want you all to know I don't take it for granted.

...now, if only we could all figure out a way to go to lunch together one day...