Monday Musings

I am worn out and in the middle of one of those nasty cold/pressure/sinus things. Thankfully that waited to come upon me until after I finished a business trip. Small mercies.

I tried having a teachable moment ala "Lean In" when talking to my daughters about being called "Bossy" at school (totally true, btw). Let's just hope that feminism and leadership soak in over a series of lessons because today I was met with blank stares. Sigh.
*Edited to add*- it sank in! Em just told her sister, "You can either be a leader or be bossy." I'll call that a success.

Can you guess what these are?

Em guessed Dodo birds. Ha!

Baby vultures, found in a hunting blind on the Property. Apparently not pleased to be discovered. There goes my theory that all baby animals are cute.

I travel pretty frequently now and could write a book on lessons and observations learned from business  travel. Chief among them, "Don't be a d---- if you're running late and going to miss your plane to the rest of use who aren't." Directed at the two guys, I rode over in the rental car shuttle with who failed to leave enough time and then pushed through security because of it. D---heads. Followed closely by the guy who came pushing through the final TSA security line (where they scan your stuff) asking to cut in line because he had a flight in 4 minutes. There is NO WAY you are making that flight. Buy a freaking watch.

I just started watching "Downton Abbey" and finished the first season (thank you airport delays---sigh). Can I just say, WTF with O'Brien? And Thomas is a little crap weasel. I hope they both get their comeuppance. My friend Pam told me it only gets crazier for O'Brien from here, so...seriously, I will be so upset if nothing bad happens to her. 

Friday Favorite- Kendra Scott Elle Island Earrings

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I love Kendra Scott. Her jewelry is different enough to be cool, but classic enough that I can wear her pieces to work every day (and often do). In fact, my friend K got me an awesome Kendra Scott purple bracelet for my birthday-she knows me well. I went in a couple weeks ago to buy myself a little birthday present and found these. The new Elle earrings in Brown Pearl. They are so cool.

via Kendra Scott

You can't tell in the picture, but they are mother of pearl and change with the light, based on the clothes you're wearing, etc. I've worn them with lots of different outfits already and they look completely different each time. Really neat. Two enthusiastic thumbs up. There is also a really cool abalone pair in the new collection- beautiful blues and blacks, but those were a little "out there" for me to wear to work. The brown ones are totally wearable in a professional setting (and equally casual). I think the Island collection is only for a limited time so you might want to get a pair this summer!

Kendra Scott Elle brown pearl earrings- my Friday Favorite.

Birthday Shoes

Today's my birthday! Woo. Two years closer to the big 4-0. I'm OK with it because that's two years closer to a big trip we'll take to celebrate my new decade. I started the day with an armful of awesome handmade cards and books and art from my girls-pretty much the best gifts ever. I also got awesome birthday shoes. These.

via KateSpade.com

They are awesome. Professional, but with a touch of fun. The story of how I got them is pretty fun(ny) too.

A few weeks ago we spent the weekend at our Property. The girls and I were inside playing games and relaxing after a long day of exploring. My husband decided to head outside and (surprise-surprise) try to do a little hunting. He headed out to the blind to wait for a turkey. Our property has TONS of turkeys. Did you know turkeys roost in trees at night? Totally crazy to see. Anyhow, I was scooting around the internet in between turns and decided to check out the Kate Spade Friends & Family Sale. A few minutes later and I saw the shoes. I feel in love. A new neutral. LOVE. I didn't want them to sell out of my size, so I used our walkie talkie.

"Hey, babe, have you bought my birthday present yet?"*

No

"Can I buy it?"

Come again?

"Well, there's this pair of shoes and I really like them and they are only on sale tonight and Ireallyreallyreallylike them..."

Fine.

"Great."

Can you get off the walkie talkies? I'm trying to hunt.

"Love you."

Roger.

*NB- We had just discussed the fact that I had nothing on my birthday list because what I wanted ended up being ridiculously priced. Like ridiculously ridiculous. What can I say? I have great taste?!

Postscript- No, he didn't get a turkey. Not due to the walkie talkie discussion...I don't think.

Monday Musings- the Marathon

I'm not a Runner, but I do run. I was watching updates from the Boston Marathon today, hoping Shalene Flanagan or Allyson Felix would win while reading updates on the Supreme Court case on genetic patents (I'm a dork). Yes, I was also working-I can multitask like a Boss. I was stunned to hear of the bombings at the Boston marathon. So stunned I couldn't think of anything else after hearing about it. Just like in December... I started thinking of those people, so excited to make it into the Boston marathon, training for that moment. I pictured their friends and families coming to support them...and, then I thought of my own little cheering squad and how much easier they make my race days. I thanked God that we never meet at the Finish line. Then wondered, is that enough anymore? Is anything enough anymore? Terror in the schools, in movie theaters, at a race. This is crazy. Absolutely crazy. I'm stunned and out of words.

I don't know if I should throw myself into running to show that I am not afraid. But, I am. Around New Year's Day, I read this personality test type of article where you plug in certain facts about yourself and it tells you your resolution for the year. Mine was to give up running. At the time I was already scheduled to run 2 half marathons in 2 months and I scoffed aloud. Of course I wasn't going to give up running this year! Now it seems like a good option. I won't, of course. I know the likelihood of anything like this happening again at a race is remote-there will be new security measures. But, it feels like running (for me) has been tarnished. I ran races because it was a fun way to set and reach goals. I just don't know what I want out of it now.

I guess I'm just trying to figure out what course to take. Until then, I will add those affected by today's bombings in Boston to my thoughts & prayers and hope that sending good karma can somehow help.

Edited to add: This story of the Tough Ruck team made my heart swell. There is, after all, more goodness than evil.

Monday Musings

I came home from a four day business trip from a very windy and cold Baltimore-and less than 12 hours later headed out to the property. That was some serious culture shock- Northern city on the water to rural Texas.

Baltimore was actually really cool (and COLD), but that town must have some sort of exclusivity agreement with Pepsi. I'm a Coke girl. It took me a day to find a place that served Coke or a convenience store that sold them! Two hotels- no Cokes. I don't drink coffee, so Coke is my caffeine and I was dragging from the early morning meetings and time change. But, man, the food was Amazing. And, I'm a food snob.

The girls and I went exploring looking for bluebonnets and found fairy houses, tons of cacti, even a "mini Grand Canyon," but sadly very few Bluebonnets. I guess last Fall was too dry for them. While we were exploring, we stopped by my husband's newest project- a wild hog trap. He told me to look for a new "white deer shed." OK. I thought it was bizarre that we wouldn't have seen a deer blind/shed before since we've had the property for a couple years now. But, off we went. The girls and I drove over where he told me it was and looked, and looked, and nothing. I told him we couldn't find anything. Later on he took us out to the spot where there was a white deer shed-antler! Like, when they outgrow their antlers--like these for $50. Seriously.

We stay in our cabin while we are at the Property. A short distance away is a shed. My husband was rummaging about in there looking for God knows what for his pig trap project when he found a BLACK WIDOW spider. WTH?? He told me, "Don't worry, Black Widows don't go into houses. Not like Brown Recluses." Oh, great. That is NOT helping. Obviously, I'm never going back.

Our Property has a number of "retro salvage" pieces on it- old glass, rusted cans, barbed wire, etc. We tell the girls that they get a quarter for every piece they find -mostly so old barbed wire won't poke holes in our tires. This weekend they made over $3.00 each. Quite a racket! I'm sure we could Craigslist some of our "finds" for more than a quarter considering deer antlers are going for $50!

Speaking of Craigslist, I'm in the midst of spray painting an awesome dresser I found on Craigslist. I think I'm probably the most talented spray painter ever- I can get spray paint on the bottom of my feet. I have no idea.

Friday Favorite-Chocolate Nibs of Happiness

I bought myself a monthly surprise box for Christmas; PopSugar's monthly Must Have box. The litany of ways I think this box is better than others...ahem...Birchbox is another post entirely. As part of the February box, I received Mariebelle Chocolate nibs. They were almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Mine were dark chocolate and they were-everything delicious. I don't even really like dark chocolate. They were just enough chocolate to fit the bill, but small enough so that I didn't feel bad eating them. A small handful a day at that 2-3 pm slump and I was good to go. Until last week when I had my last one. It was a dark day indeed (pun intended).

Via PopSugar

Mariebelle Chocolate nibs- my Friday Favorite.

Habemus Papum

My faith and spirituality are incredibly important to me. I really love being Catholic; kind of weird, but true. It's an important faith tradition that I pass to my children. While I do not agree with everything my Church teaches, I believe in the Faith, the Sacraments, and the unique aspects of my religion. One of my fondest memories is attending Mass with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. It wasn't a private audience, but it was impressive and he extended blessings upon me and my family. Being in Rome as a Catholic...it's just an amazing experience. Anyhow, I've followed the retirement of Pope Benedict and the resulting papal conclave with great interest. Basically, I've read just about anything written on the subject in the past month. I was glued to the Internet when the white smoke came and watched the balcony for the first glimpse of the new Pope. Pope Francis! I was surprised. I hoped for a South American or African pope. I was convinced that Cardinal Scherer would be a front runner (for all we know, he was). Bergoglio wasn't even on my list. Shows what I know. Anyhow, I think a Pope from the Americas is a great signal and an incremental step to more progressive changes (this is a 2,000 year old church, we move in baby steps).

Today, I am happy to have witnessed the papal transition. In honor of Pope Francis and the awesome service he now performs, I intend to pray the prayer of St. Francis-at least until Easter.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen