Her outfit pics are also quite helpful – I am bad about wearing the same clothes the same way all the time. Hopefully this will kick my remixing skills up a notch or three!

I’m so glad that most of you picked Option B – leaving early, spending a few days on our own and saving a nice piece of change.  That was surely my plan. But…my SIL fudged around for so long on where her kids were leaving the US from (either with LG and I or with the Houston part of the group) that the fabulous deal I had my eyes on disappeared. Grrrrrr.

This is this hotel I was looking at – my bad, it’s $66 a night, how I “rounded” that to $50 I don’t know. New math I guess. But, I’d stay there in a heartbeat. Inexpensive, pretty centrally located, and clean? My type of hype. Oh well, maybe next time.

Now, LG and I are traveling to DC, hanging out for a day and a half and then traveling on to Espana! I’m pretty psyched about (hopefully) taking LG to the Smithsonian (probably Natural History) and to the fireworks show on the Mall! I hope the Great Sequestration doesn’t negatively affect my plans…I’d planned to take her to DC for Spring Break ’14 now with this little trip, we may go elsewhere for Spring Break. Either way, I’m excited. I love DC and can’t wait!

Let me tell you – this weekend was awesome!  First off, my refrigerator is finally fixed. Whoo hoo. For real. Not cooking for over 2 weeks sounded great at first, but that got old real quick. I did cook a few times, but ended up throwing away the leftovers since I had nowhere to store them.   Anyhoo, my kitchen is almost back up and running (hope to get my stove this week) and I am glad about it.

Since I had to restock my fridge and freezer I decided I may as well do some reorganizing in the kitchen too. My little pantry looks 100% better, I bought new containers for storage, and as soon as I find a pattern I like, I’m going back through to re-line my shelves with something bright and cheerful.

Organizing stuff makes me happy y’all.

What else? Oh yes, even though I’d asked God to make it rain on our karate demo at a local family festival and my request was denied, LG and I ended up having a good time. She did three demos and in between the demos we space jumped, ate carnival food, and played in the mud. And by “we,” I totally mean LG. I stood around talking to folks and gawking at all of the daisy dukes/cowboy boot combinations that were out and about. Thought about staying for at least a little of the concert (Little Big Town), but the temps started to drop and chilly is one thing I don’t play. So we bounced. And spent the rest of the evening chilling with Smoochy.

Sunday, I pretended like I was going to early morning service. Laid my clothes out and everything. Didn’t make it. Smoochy and LG gave me strict instructions not to come downstairs. Three hours later – yes, 180 whole minutes – they brought me breakfast in bed and gave me my gifts.  Everything was so wonderful and I stopped to thank God for blessing me with my family. And to ask His forgiveness for skipping services.

And before we knew it, the weekend was over. Clothes were being laid out, lunches were being made, and one more happy dance was done around the refrigerator!

How were things in your world this weekend?

Here’s the deal:  this is a family trip. In addition to LG & I, my parents, one brother and SIL, my niece, my nephew, and some extended family are making the journey. The plan is for us to all arrive and depart on the same dates. However….ticket prices have increased more than we originally thought when we decided to go on this trip.

So LG and I can:

A. Stick to the original plan, arrive and depart on the same date as the rest of the crew, pay around $1500 per ticket.

or

B. Deviate from the plan, arrive two days earlier, pay around $1100 per ticket, book a hotel room for about $50 a night, and meet up with the family (and change hotels) when they arrive two days later.

What would YOU do? Would you stick with the pack – safety in numbers and all that jazz or would you seize the day and travel halfway around with the world with a…spirited 8 year old and limited Spanish skills?

What do you think I’m going to do?

I had to spend a little time under the hairdryer this weekend. So I turned to Pinterest and ended up making three delicate little seed bead bracelets. I love them! They’ll be perfect this summer when I want to add a dose of color, but not weight, to my ensembles. I plan on making a few more, but need to pick up another packet of clasps before I can proceed.

Speaking of making things – do you craft? If so, what do you make? When LG is a little older, I think I’m going to sign the both of us up for sewing classes. She’s expressed interest, and if I could learn to make myself a pair of pants, I’d be a happy, happy camper.

Um…did anyone read “The View From Here?” I kind of forgot all about it. My Mom sent me her copy so I’m happy to have a discussion about it in a week or so if anyone else read it. Anyone? Anyone?

Do y’all have Sonic restaurants where you are? Let me tell you, I love this place! Their cherry limeades bring me joy all summer long and I now have a new reason to visit. They’ve declared this the “Summer of Shakes.” What, say what? I love – LOVE – a shake and Sonic has seen fit to tempt me with 25 flavors from which to choose. I’m going to stop short of saying I want to experience all 25 this summer, but really, I do. Well, all except for the peanut butter bacon flavor. I appreciate the juxtaposition of salty and sweet as much as the next girl, but I have to draw the line at pork products in my milkshake.

LG – and the rest of her elementary school – is in the middle of state testing. I really hate how aware of standardized testing she already is. She was glad we skipped church yesterday because “I need that extra study time, Mama.” Sigh. I want her to do well, and I’m certain she will (if she slows down and oh, I don’t know, actually reads the questions/problems), but I don’t want testing to be a major force in her life.

That’s it! What’s shaking in your neighborhood?!?

…came home to a brand new water dispenser sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor. Smoochy is turning into his daddy – I really need him to stop buying every single thing that looks/sounds like a good deal. What in the world made him decide we “need” a water dispenser I don’t know. But it does dispense water hot enough for tea, so there’s that

…sold some gold. I felt so bootleg.  Went to the local jewelers and sold enough scrap gold – broken earrings mostly – to cover the cost of having the inside of my engagement ring coated in rhodium. Hopefully this will allow me to wear it. Apparently my odd skin will tolerate 10K and 14K gold, but not 18K. I am so backwards. I now – of course – also have my eye on the prettiest little pair of amethyst earrings. Thinking of gifting them to myself for my birthday!

…told LG I was having my wisdom teeth removed this Friday and she’d be riding the bus home and letting herself in. She’s so excited to a) ride the bus home in the afternoon b) see me act all loopy c) eat whatever she wants  d) stay awake and watch TV until Saturday. Silly girl. Your auntie will be picking you up at around 5 – nice try trying to wild out 8 year old style though!

…painted my nails an aqua color. I think I may look a bit like Smurfette. This color is being relegated to “toenails only” status from here on out. I’m comparing my beloved Seche Vite topcoat to 3 Minute Gel Nails. I can already tell – Seche Vite wins again. My left hand still looks good while the right has a chip, is duller, and had dents because it doesn’t dry as quickly.

…finally watched The Hunger Games. As always, book trumps movie. The movie was okay, but really, I could’ve done without it. Left out so much of the detail that made the book the awesomeness that it was. Don’t think I’ll be hard pressed to see the other two movies whenever they come out.

…dreamed that I cut off my locs. Got to church and one of the ladies I talk to regularly had cut hers off and is now rocking a teeny red ‘fro. So cute!

…hung my yellow blazer back in the closet   Thanks for voting y’all! I’ve decided to wear it this week and see how I feel about it after that.

How was your weekend?

I’m planning to get us both to around 10 outfits per season – there will be overlap of course – and donating/tossing everything else.

This is where you come in. I’ve got some questionable items that I don’t wear, yet can’t seem to let go of. So y’all can vote stay or go and I’ll go with the majority. Cool? Cool.

First up is this yellow and white striped jacket. I got rid of the pants ages ago as I washed something into them and ruined them. Oh yes, you read correctly – your girl had a yellow and white striped suit. And I loved that thing.

Here’s the jacket. Ignore the wrinkles…if you can.

Here’s a close up of the fabric

So do I keep my yellow blazer (and what do I wear it with if so) or is it time to let it go – is it another love TKO? Sorry…couldn’t resist!

• Heavy heart for the people of the Boston Marathon bombings.  Heavy heart for my child’s loss of innocence as she asks me why people keep killing children.  Heavy heart for mothers in war-torn countries who have to answer that question regularly.
• Have I mentioned this boot camp class I’m in? Well, Sunday classes at 3 p.m. haven’t been all that easy to work into my schedule, so this weekend I coughed up $10 and went to a Saturday afternoon “extra” session. Y’all. I would’ve been a terrible slave. After pushing a track hurdle up and down the football field a couple of times and running the bleachers a gazillion, okay 10 times, and various other forms of legal torture? I was through! And that was only 90 minutes. I cannot image a day full of slave labor. God bless my ancestors.
• After boot camp I went home, showered and took LG to a kid fest. Parenting – it never ends. All I really wanted to do was collapse into the comfort of my bed. So I did, as soon as we got home and pretty much there for the rest of the weekend.
• I’m wearing blue every Friday this month for Autism Awareness. I always mean to participate by changing my front porch light bulb to a blue one, but forget.  Of course this has extended to my fingernails   Last week’s manicure was a denim blue shade. This week? It’s electric! Boogie oogie oogie oogie.
• Gave up sugar for the month of April. So far I miss coffee the most. I crave a cup every morning. Everything else, surprisingly, I’ve not missed much at all.
• Bought LG a $69 refurbished Kindle – she loves that thing! My primary reason for buying it was so she’d have something small to keep her occupied as we travel this summer. I thought she’d put some apps on the Kindle and keep right on “borrowing” Smoochy’s full sized tablet. Didn’t happen – she has returned his tablet to him, charger and all! Thanks again to TIH for pointing out the CNET deal that made the purchase possible. I am thrilled all the way around.
• Speaking of CNET, apparently you can have up to 5 lbs. of documents shredded gratis at Off.ice De.pot for the next few days. Coupon here.
• It’s so good loving somebody when somebody loves you back! Teddy P. knew what he was talking about!
• Good conversation about chores and allowances last night on Twitter. I need to be more consistent as it relates to LG and chores. I’m horrible at follow-up. Horrible. But I know if I don’t buckle down, neither will she.
• I bought the softest lightweight sweater from Old N.avy the other day. I’m in love. Perfect for the freezing cold temperatures of my office during the summer. If this one holds up in the wash I’m going back and buying at least two more.
• I’ve started and scrapped posts about marriage, child rearing, and love. Hopefully they’ll come together sooner rather than later.  I’ll be struck by a most genius (in my mind anyway) thought, but by the time I get around to writing about it…yeah…

Anyhoo, I hope that all is well with you and yours. Have a beautiful day!

My thoughts are basically:  a) I think homosexuals should be allowed to marry as not allowing it is discrimination, and b) I feel like a bad Christian for being okay with gay marriage. 

What are your thoughts?  Are you conflicted over this issue?

Just a reminder – please keep your comments civil.  Not that any of my regular commenters need to be reminded of this

• I guess I’ll head to Target, get her a couple of pairs of wacky socks, a cute little t shirt and maybe a puzzle or two and hope that the book will miraculously spring to mind.  Smoochy’s supposed to get her a pair of Converse, so those will go in her basket as well. (I tried to talk her into some generic high tops this weekend – she really was not having it!)

• Thank goodness our church is having a “come as you are” Easter service this year.  I know it’s horrid, but Easter is my least favorite Sunday to attend church.  I can hardly pay attention to the service for all the rustling new clothes and gallons upon gallons of perfume and/or cologne.  I’m actually looking forward to services this year.  If you’re in the Jxn metro area feel free to come worship with us at 10:00 – we’d love to have you -  services will be at the Convention Center – dress as casual or as dressy as you please.

• Smoochy asked what we were having for Easter dinner.  Well, since we’ve been too trifling to replace our oven, there shall certainly be no macaroni, dressing, or baked hen.  So I’m thinking…pizza?  Who knows

• Do you make Easter baskets for the child(ren) in your life? What do you put in them?

• Have you ever had a Cad.bury cream egg?  Are they tasty?  Nothing about that candy looks right to me!  I’m a fiend for those Star.burst jelly beans though and will most definitely be picking myself up a bag…or two.