Dear Monday

What better way to start off the week than with a Dear Monday with Megan at Happy Day?

Dear Monday, I totally forgot that you were Halloween.  I blame Sunday for scrambling my brain.

Dear Trick-or-Treaters who do not visit our house, We buy candy for a reason.  Mmkay?

Dear Jaiden, I cannot believe you will be 11 on Wednesday.  I still remember sitting (and sleeping) in the waiting area of the hospital, un-patiently waiting for you to be born.  Tonight you dressed as a sorceress.  And you kept hissing at me.  I love you, too.

Dear Brock and Sonny, I am sorry I tortured you this evening and made you put on your Halloween costumes.  I promise I wasn't laughing at you.  I was laughing with... OK, at you.

Dear Hubby, You told me that after one of the few trick-or-treaters said, "Thank you...." for the candy - you said "Thank you" back.

Happy Monday, and Happy Halloween everyone!

Take Luck,

LP

Real Life

Today while cruising the blog-circuit, I came across a new blog.

The blog is by a woman in Florida who has her own photography business, loves cute shoes, and has a couple of kiddos.  The youngest of kiddos gave the couple a surprise upon delivery, and was born with Down Syndrome.

As I was reading, and the woman was sharing the birth story and pictures  of precious moments after birth, Ryan happened to peek over and see a picture of the new baby (who is now one year old).

I started to tell him about what I had previously read - this woman was all excited (duh) to have a new baby.  But as soon as the baby was delivered - she knew something was wrong.  No one else seemed to notice the glaring physical characteristics that were screaming, "Down Syndrome."  She said she felt like this wasn't her baby.  She felt like she wanted to run away from it.

My dear Hubby's response was, "That's depressing. Why are you reading that?"

My answer was simple, "It's real life."

It got me thinking about some of the other blogs I follow.  I follow some true and "real life" friends, but a lot of the blogs I faithfully read are written by women that I have never met.  And likely, never will meet.

So why on earth do I follow them?

I follow some of these ladies because they blog about real life.  They blog about marriage and the work it requires, motherhood and raising kids, adoption, balancing work and a family, and a number of other things.

Most of these women don't sugar-coat it.  They tell it like it is - whether it is pretty, ugly or everything in between.

That honesty is something I have really grown to respect and appreciate.

Life is not clean and pretty.  It is often messy and hard.

I am inspired by all these women.  In different ways, of course.

It amazes me to see not only the cards they are dealt, but how they play their hands.

Take Luck,

LP

Busy Day

For having the day off today - I was sure busy.

I started off the morning by spending time with a dear friend and her two kids.  I got to snuggle with baby Hallie for a whole hour and a half.

That right there made my day.

My mood quickly shifted when I started driving towards my dentist's office for my cleaning appointment.

I hate the dentist.

After that - I embarked on painting the bathrooms of our house.  I have been talking about painting the interior since we bought our home (uh, almost two years ago).  Every wall is white (with the exception of our lovely foyer that is wallpapered green with a floral print.  Awesome.

I don't know how but I powered through the taping and painting and finished our two bathrooms in about five or six hours.

Once I finished the smaller, half-bathroom I debated on taking a little break before moving onto the master.  But knowing myself, I knew that if I stopped or rested - getting back up and moving again was going to be that much harder.

So, I continued.

Here is a look at the finished product.

Half-bath #1

Half-bath #2

Master Bath #1

Master Bath #2

In some light the paint looks brown, and others I think it looks like more of a custard yellow.

Anyway, I am happy with the results.

Although right now, my arms and back are not too happy with me.

Take Luck,

LP

Fill in the Blank Friday

 

It's time for another fabulous Fill in the Blank Friday with Lauren at the little things we do.

1. When I was a kid I wanted to be a comedienne when I grew up.

2. As an adult, my dream job would be to appear on Saturday Night Live or be a world-traveling-photo-journalist. 

3. When I was younger I wanted to be just like my brother. 

4. The childhood Halloween costume that I remember most was when I was a clown.  I wore a red turtleneck, black leggings, and I also had a perm.  I think Mom made me a hat and painted my face.  I was crushed this Halloween because my friend and trick-or-treat buddy Ali was Belle from Beauty and Beast.  She wore the dress, complete with white gloves.  I was totally jealous.  I think the neighborhood felt sorry for me and gave me more candy. 

5. My favorite childhood toy was a baby doll, named Rebecca. 

6. The time I got into the biggest trouble when I was a kid was when I was mean to my little sister. 

7.  I get daily inspiration from bloggers, Etsy, and my Hubby. 

That is all.  Happy Friday!

Take Luck,

LP

Ping Pong Balls

I've been having some eye issues this week.  They are burning and super sensitive.

And in some bizarre way, I remembered this video that my sweet niece Kennedy loves to watch.

Whenever she says she wants to watch the Elmo video... This is what she is talking about.

I'm so happy and relieved to know that Elmo knows how I feel.

So yes, my eyes look like ping pong balls.  Well, maybe they feel more like ping pong balls.

I wish I could chalk this up to taking too many Elmo vitamins!

Thanks, Elmo.

In other eye related news, because I am having issues - the eye doctor told me to keep contacts out for three and a half weeks.

That's a long time.

Last night when I got out of the shower sans glasses/contacts, I looked into our bedroom and could faintly make out a brown blob laying on our bed.

I called out, "Is that you, Sonny?" (Like she was going to respond...)

I put my glasses on and looked back at the bed.

It was definitely Brock.

A 10 pound dog versus a 75 pound dog.

You'd think I would be able to tell the difference, with or without corrective lenses.

I guess not.

Take Luck,

LP