When you're....

I am not feeling my absolute best today. In fact, I felt so terrible I laid in bed ALL day, miserable. Now that I'm feeling better, I feel a bit guilty about laying in bed all day--but to be fair, I don't think I could have functioned properly in the adult world.

When you feel like I do, and your husband comes home looking hungry (not at you because you look like crap from laying in bed all day) for food, you do the only thing you can: send him to your mom's.

When you send your husband to eat at your parent's house, your mom finds out you're sick. When your mom finds out you're sick she sends you a care package. When your mom sends you a care package, it looks like this:

2 Diet Cokes, Homemade potato soup with cheese, 2 ice cream sandwiches & a bottle of Tylenol PM. 

I think I'm going to be ok. 

Thanks mom!

Do you feel that breeze?

The other day, I was minding my own business looking through pictures.....

.....when I realized.......

 

.....well it was more a feeling than a realization....

 

.....it whispered in my ears and rattled my bones....

...I heard: "Summer is coming! Summer is coming! Summer is coming!" and could practically feel the sun on my face, and the water from the lake splashing my skin.

At that moment, I knew exactly what was happening: change was inevitable and unavoidable....

Remember how I told you when the winds of change come blowing my way I follow them with reckless abandon?  The winds of change that told me to do this last December: 

Well it was them, the winds of change, reminding me that summer is near and my hair would much rather be a lighter shade. Who needs this dark stuff when the sun is shining so brightly?

So me and my ADD/ADHD walked (yes walked, my hairdresser lives 3 doors down) and said: 

 

"Who cares if it's only the beginning of March, and it's not even technically SPRING let alone SUMMER!? LET'S DO THIS! 

And then the winds of change, gave me this: 

See you at the lake!

P.S. Do you think these 'winds of change' talking to me could be brain swelling or tumors?!

 

You never know what you'll find....

My phone decided it no longer wanted to be a phone, but an inanimate object that would neither charge nor power up. When this occurs, one of two things can happen: 1) You fall in to a tail-spin of panic, depression and over-eating because you no longer have a phone and your communication to the outside world is shut off; or 2) your dad graciously lets you borrow his old phone until you get a new one. Fortunately, I fall into the 2 option. When you get your dad's old phone, you also get his contacts, alarms (6 am dad? NO!), and pictures.

I found some really great pictures; some I'd never even seen before, and they showcase my family's personality just beautifully. Oh my gosh, there was this one really crazy one that-- actually instead of telling you, let me show you:

You know it's going to be good when the first picture is of Andrew in a gorilla suit:

Just my dad....

 

......taking a picture with a statue of Mark Twain, like a boss.

This was in Colorado, last summer:

I wasn't there for this, but I think Andrew is yelling: "We're on top of a Mountain!!!!"

I found this very sweet photo of my parent's

Right next to a photo of this: 

The word 'poop' out of painter tape, compliments of Andrew. 

Speaking of Andrew, my little smooshy face,  I saw this: 

He is using the sign to let people know that apparently, the party is NOT at my parents house, 

but in his pants.

I think this picture represents every male who is forced, by his wife/girlfriend/mother/sister,  to go to IKEA:

IKEA should consider opening a bar at some point.

I found sweet pictures like this one of me and my brothers...

Obviously I didn't get the "wear a plaid, button up shirt" memo,

and mistakenly showed up to dinner in black.

Then I found pictures like this: 

My mom and her dog, Scout, each in their own Snuggie. 

I found a video of my dad dancing to his birthday song where my mom and I tried (and failed) to harmonize at the end:

Here's a picture of our friend, Carrie, at her 40th surprise birthday party...

My mom and I totally made that sweet sign.

I am trying to put a batman mask on Scout in this picture...

He's very photogenic. 

Speaking of my parent's animals; here is a picture of Penny, the gray cat, snuggling up to a taxidermied bobcat.....

Is that a bobcat snuggling with a gray cat? NOPE. Chuck Testa!

(If you have no idea who Chuck Testa is, you need to google him and watch his video right now)

And finally, I leave you with: 

An unexplainable picture of Christian and I wearing sombreros while I'm (what I can only assume) playing air guitar.

HAPPY MONDAY!

My quest

Ever since the internet informed me that I am seriously ADD/ADHD likely the world has made a little more sense, and I feel comfort in the fact that any dumb ideas, my messy house, or whacky moments can be blamed on ADD/ADHD.

I used to say:

"Whoops! Sorry I left the garage door open. I was looking for hammer to hang a picture when I thought the lawn mower should be moved, and right as I was moving it I found a quarter that I immediately went inside to put in my change jar and when I put it in the jar on my shelf I noticed the shelves were really dusty so I dusted them until I realized I had to go to the bathroom or I would explode. When I was in the bathroom I found the movie I was supposed to return yesterday so I got in my car and left to get something to eat."

Now, guilt-free, I say:

"It's not my fault! ADD/ADHD made me do it!!" It's quite liberating, you should try it.

That sneaky ADD/ADHD got me again today. 

I'm calling this adventure: 'The Case of the Missing glasses.'  Before I left for work I realized I was not wearing my spectacles, and went to the last place I could remember having them...basically anywhere. I have re-created my search for you with pictures so you have a better understanding.

I started in the living room: 

 Hello book shelf holding some of my favorite things, do you have my glasses?

Nope.

Maybe I set them down on the old radio?

No, definitely not there. 

mmm.....maybe they are by the front door where I keep a bowl of Snickers...

Not there, and WHO ate all the Snickers? I just bought those!

Ok on to the bedroom, maybe on the dresser next to the t.v.?

Not here, and those shiny things are DEFINITELY NOT Snickers wrappers I just crumpled up and threw there....Ok fine they are- but ADD/ADHD made me do it!

Getting flustered I continued my search around the room: 

This picture of the bookcase, by my side of the bed, tells me 3 things: 

1) The glasses are not here
2) I need to take my drinking glasses to the kitchen.

3) That fan really needs a good cleaning.

The windowsill didn't tell me anything: 

I see my SUNglasses but no eye-glasses. You are of no help to me windowsill.

My last resort was the shelf in the bathroom. Sometimes I get in the shower with my glasses on, not realizing it until they fog up; and then I panic that I have developed some kind of immediate eye disease. 

Again, no luck.

Since I can see without my glasses (and ADD/ADHD was setting in, making me lose interest) I gave up my search, and went to work. 

A few minutes into work I remembered I had to pee.

 I walked into the bathroom and found my glasses.....

On my face.

We're supposed to get a big thunderstorm here in Missouri, tonight. It's already started to get windy, and a little spooky, so I popped outside to snap a picture:

Ever since that stupid F-5 tornado hit Joplin last year, I get (along with a lot of other people I'm sure) a little anxious. 

The one good thing about this picture? 

 The blossoms on the tree! Which can only mean one thing:

BRING ON THE SPRING!

Are you ready?

This morning I was woken up at 4:45 to a kiss from Chris saying good-bye. I was slightly confused at first why he was leaving the warm cozy bed, and then I remembered: High School baseball season started today for our sleepy town. I wished him good luck and bid him farewell,  telling him I'd see him again in late August.

 I looked through some old pictures to get myself ready for Spring:

Aside from sunflower seeds, Big League Chew is a baseball necessity. This is the first step in becoming prepared for baseball spectating.

Layla knows when a hat is forced upon her head and a thousand pictures are being taken, it's baseball time!

These umpires are probably getting their eyes checked right now and getting into tip-top shape....

....maybe not.

It's still cold when baseball starts, so it's imperative to gather all warm clothing:

Amanda understands this and is totally ready!

Chris and my dad have been giving up their weekends, and have worked tirelessly on the field...

and now it looks like this:

Ok so not really, but pretty darn close!

I decided this year needed a good luck charm, so I made one. 

We use to make these in college all the time.

Baseball charm bracelet? Check!

Now that I am more prepared than ever before, I just need to convince Chris to let me kick off the first game of the year like Aunt Bethany in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (start at the one minute mark): 

See you at the field!

Fat weekend, Part 2

Every time I climb aboard my private jet (2006 Kia Sorento) and fly (cruise control at a comfortable 75 MPH) to Kansas City, like the true jet-setter I am, there is ALWAYS something new, or somewhere I have never been to experience.

Once, we went through this exhibit called "Dialogue in the Dark"where you are in total darkness, given a walking cane and led by a blind guide through different simulated scenarios like a park, grocery store, and a busy street . We used our other senses to discover our surroundings. It was INCREDIBLE! I think about it at least once a week.

My best friend, Lesley, knows all about this unending "quest for something new" personality trait of mine, and always graciously tries to accommodate me. This trip, she was able to tug on my heart strings. Enter: THE CITY MARKET!

For once I took an iphone picture that isn't blurry! Huzzah! Do you think "Historic City Market" would pay me for this masterpiece?

Apparently this place hosts a HUGE Farmer's Market, but only on certain days. Unfortunately, we missed those days BUT they still have shops open with unique, funky goods, and a slew of specialty shops where you can buy items you won't find at your local Wal-Mart. I was so excited, I decided to wear a hat:

The light was so perfect, I insisted Lesley let me take her and Blake's picture too:

Ok! Enough pictures already!!! Let's GOOOO!!

When you go to Historic City Market you see all kinds of goodies for sale:

Anyone interested in this framed-stained-glass-teacup-set-work of art? The spoon is included! 

It costs $115, it's kind of an investment piece. 

Lesley was confused as to why someone would want to pay $60 dollars for a boring black dress. 

When you go to the Historic City Market you see delicious sights that make your stomach rumble:

This was about the time I found the Italian Deli/Store, and realized I was actually visiting heaven. They had fresh ricotta cheese. FRESH RICOTTA CHEESE!

CHRIS! Show me how excited you are!!

This is his: "I'm humoring you, and pretending to be excited because you'll pester me until I act as insane as you" face. After this he said, "why don't you let me handle the camera for awhile."

Now THIS is an olive bar! I thought this place couldn't get any better until I rounded the corner and saw this delicacy:

Have you ever had truffle oil? If not, drive yourself to Historic City Market right now and buy some. I was so excited I did a little dance right there in the shop:

HUZZAH!!  

Our wonderful morning at Historic City Museum made us realize we were starving. Lesley and Blake swore to us that once we ate at "Oklahoma Joe's" we would never look at BBQ the same way: 

And boy were they RIGHT.

So next time you go to Kansas City, be sure to stop by Historic City Market, I'll be the one dancing with the truffle oil.