SLOW SHUTTER

speeds + zooming out = some psychedelic photos....

These were all hand held, next time I will use my tripod for even more uber - stunning effects....

AND THE SECRET INGREDIENT

is marshmallows!
My boys love waffles and they love to experiment with "secret ingredients"....

Landon picked marshmallows this morning and made sure every hole had one in it. Add as soon as it comes out of the waffle iron and it gets oooey gooey warm.

Yes it's a little reminiscent of something Buddy the Elf would do, but it's actually good.....

I AM DIGGING

this garage door rehung barn style...

via apartment therapy via urban turf

REALLY digging it....

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS MADE

by preschoolers ROCK.... Hope your Christmas plans are coming along swimmingly. I actually could use a little more time.....

I'VE BEEN HAVING A HANKERING

for some REALLY good hot chocolate and my friend, Portia sent me this link for Hot Chocolate on a Stick.....
Stir one of these into some steaming hot milk and it turns it into luxurious hot cocoa.
I'm SO going to make this....

I HAD SOME NAVY DUCK

boots when I lived in Boston....

via Black Eiffel via J Crew

With reports here and there about possible snow (I'll believe it when I see it), these duck boots are quite tempting for my tootsies.
Santa, can you hear me? I'm a size 8....

I HAVE A CONFESSION

Dear family and childhood friends,

Twenty three years ago I did not try to commit suicide, but I did try to hurt myself really bad. While out taking photographs for a high school class, I closed my eyes and fell forward off a steep ridge. My friend Katie went to get help. When I realized I hadn't hurt myself "bad enough" I decided to run away. I walked and walked and it took me a while to realize I had no where to go. I thought I would get in trouble so I did what came naturally to me at the time and I lied. I pretended that I had amnesia and kept up the lie with things I thought I was "supposed" to do, like flashbacks.

At the time, my home life wasn't the best. I hated my parents and they hated me. I hated myself and I hated the world. I was pretty messed up in the head and I wasn't a good person.

I moved in with my aunt and uncle my senior year. They thought they were helping me but I was just running away. That move though, I honestly believe saved my life. I don't know what I would have kept trying to get the attention I thought I needed.

When I moved to Boston I had planned on cutting off all communication to everyone I knew and start new. I don't know why I didn't do that, but I'm so glad I didn't do it.

After three wonderful shrinks, around age 21 things began to click inside my brain and I figured out who I was, what kind of person I wanted to be and what was important.

My relationship with my parents and family is wonderful now and I have a great life. 15 years ago I finally told my father the truth.

So why the public confession?

I don't lie anymore and I tell the truth about this situation as it arises when questions are asked. Questions are being asked but not to me and I don't want any family member to feel like they need to cover for me.

Loving family history as I do, I should set my family history straight. Laura did not have an accident causing amnesia, she was just a troubled young girl who was a big fat liar. I go into the folder of ancestors who had skeletons in their closet (and we have some doosees!)

Our family finds humor in it now and can laugh at the past. I know many of you might be angry with me for lying to you and hurt that I didn't confide in you for the past twenty three years. For that I am truly sorry and hope you can forgive me. If you can't just yet, I understand.

Most people think my life is an open book and for the most part it is, but I, like you, do have my secrets....

I COVET

this ceiling.....

via Apartment Therapy

That ceiling would be amazing in our bedroom...

I WAS LOOKING THROUGH SOME

family photographs last night and these are some of my favorite winter photos...

Aunt Lucia, Uncle George and my father

My mom and Uncle Dennis pulling my Grandpa Mark

Grandpa Mark and Grandma Betty

Grandpa Mark pulling my mom and Uncle Dennis

These photos just make me smile....

WHERE'S THE STINKIN' SNOW?

Landon associates winter with Christmas and snow with Santa. He is so worried that if it doesn't snow, Santa won't come....

They look for it a lot, especially on rainy days because he just knows it's cold enough and he's just oh so frustrated with Mother Nature....

I'M ALWAYS LOOKING

for a great gift
for the men
in my life.
I was thrilled
to read the
Stocking Stuffers For Dudes
post over at Oh Happy Day...
This one was my favorite...

DEAR SAINT NICK~

We thought we were prepared, but after 5 hours of no electricity....
we realize we need a lot more of these....

and these....

And after some water and pipes not getting along on Sunday, along with some other household improvements needed....

we need some of these....

and these....

MY MOTHER IS

an amazing quilter who hand quilts and loves to NOT use a pattern....

This is one of my favorite silly photos of her

I wanted to show off the amazing quilts she made and personalized for my boys a few years ago....
Larry J loves dragons and medieval times...

Laird loves wild cats....

Landon loves Spiderman and super heros....

Lach loves longboarding.

She has also made a stocking for each one of us kids and grandkids. I'll show you those when I get ready to put them up.

She's amazing!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE

my sister and one of the best trips I have taken was to New Orleans when she turned 30.
Click here for the New Orleans post.....

She's been reminiscing and it just made me smile because I loved the trip, I adore her - she is amazing and I adore her fabulous friends too....

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT

that there are honest people.... I lost my wallet and didn't realize it until I went to Winco late last night with my sister and it wasn't in my purse.
Heart dropping to stomach and ready to cry, I remembered that I had been in Winco earlier that day with my 4 year old.
Realizing that Winco was a great place to start retracing my steps, they checked in their safe and someone had turned it in and nothing was missing.
I'm sure that it was tempting to keep the wallet, especially this time of year.
The little that was in this wallet is big to us and I'm so thankful that nothing at all was missing, everything was in it's place and someone honest turned it.

Thank you!

IT WAS QUITE BRISK AS WE

watched the Parade Of Lights downtown.

Everyone was in wonderfully festive happy moods and some of the cars and floats were beautifully amazing!

The wee ones and I were looking for two areas. First, Daddy, Larry J, Laird and other longboarders were skating in between the bikes and the Cherry City Roller Derby Girls and second, Santa Clause....

We sat with super fun friends...

And we saw the longboarders and Santa Clause....