Holy Crap.

Hi. Working on what to say. Be back soon (but you probably don't believe me. And I don't blame you.)

Signs of Life

A heartbeat, a pulse, a surge, a pitter-patter. We're slowly digging ourselves out of the mess we made of our relationship.

Lily Beaner Pumpkin Eater

Here is Miss Lily (see her new bangs!) on her first day of Pre-K 2009. She's wearing her mama's color du jour, GREEN. For those who are interested, her new Waldorf school that opened after her last year school closed - CLOSED TOO. It just couldn't make it as quickly as it needed to. There is hope that something might arise by January...but for now we are at Bara-Hambright School of the arts. To be honest, I am sad and not fully content there, but it is the closest thing to Waldorf in our area. It takes many Waldorf elements and combines more modern twists and turns. My heart was singing with Waldorf and Miss Jill (her old teacher) but obviously that is not meant to be right now. It has been a stressful summer in regards to that whole Waldorf school saga. I am hopeful Waldorf will be an option in the near future for our area.

This next picture is a photography DON'T: subject facing sun, squinting, dark pits for eyes...but she was yelling at me, "Mom hurry! They're going to start without me!" Because yes, we were running a few minutes behind schedule. We Moon girls have some time management issues.

Reader Participation

Okay, so if you could only read 5 blogs and NOT ANY OTHERS, which 5 would you read?
I really, really, really want you to do this. Please leave your answers in my comments or link me to a post on your own blog.
xoxoxoxoxo

I'll start: (these are all in my sidebar)
Decor 8 (because it's total eye candy and I love it all)
All & Sundry (because she writes like I think)
Shutter Sisters (because it makes me love my camera)
Sheye Rosemeyer (because she makes me love my kids)
Emily Falconbridge (because she makes me believe life can be simple and beautiful)

The Art of Self-Reflection

Hello!!!!!!
I just completed a self-imposed blog hiatus...mine and YOURS. Blogging and blog hopping makes me insanely happy, but insanely overwhelmed with:

• Why the hell am I blogging? What do I have to share with the world and does it freakin' matter?
• My blog sucks.
• Your blog is way cooler
• Oh my, what a cool blog THAT was and why am I blogging?
• Oh, I MUST HAVE THAT (insert object here) (insert bounced check here)
• Oh my I.must.take.up.that.hobby.now.
• I.must.make.that.right.now.or.I.may.just.die.
• Oh my I.can't.make.that.because.I.suck.
• etc.

So, I had to get a grip. I've temporarily gotten a grip so I am back until my next melt down.

See the background color of this blog? I pained my entire office area that color and it friggin' rocks. I am loving green. And orange.

Oh, I have so much to tell you all about everything that is going on or not going on (that's always a good thing, too).

I'm back! Yay for me! Even if no one reads this...I'm happy to have my spot on the internet.

xoxoxoxoxox

For Ava

For Ava
Can you do this, too? I will.

hello

i love joshua radin (anything by him)
i love bulgur (served like oatmeal) with a dash of cream and sliced peaches (and a few figs thrown in) (who knew??)
i love my friends
i love my girls
i love to take photographs, but sometimes get lost in the shuffle
i love to do artsy craftsy stuff
i love coffee
i love free time
i love rain
i love yaz (remember them???)

that's all for now ;-)

So unavailable!

Hi You,
Well, I'm preparing to go visit her with Noodle and Bean this Sunday. So I'm in full court press trying to edit my sessions and get our house in order so we can leave happy...I won't be back here on Noodle and Bean until July.

Until then...stay well!

xoxoxooxxoxo

Holy Moly - Friday Sounds

Oh, my...have you heard of Kate Nash? If you love Regina Spektor like I do, buy her album immediately In particular this song below. Lump in throat, chills on arms, oy vey....soooooo goooooooooooooooooood!!!!!!!!! Listen to it...I think you'll love it.

Touched on Tuesday on Wednesday

from her blog

boho girl

free. radical. independent.
her style is her own.
it’s personal, existential.

her only fear is convention.
her only weakness, shoes.
the bump on her nose adds character,
the scar on her shoulder adds strength,
the curl in her hair adds attitude.
there is no such thing as imperfection,
just originality.

unmovable, unshakeable, unstoppable,
she is america’s next top role model.
someone both inspired and inspiring.
she embraces her spirituality,
aspires to her dreams,
lives through her passions.
she is a world changer.
she is bohemian.
she is boho girl.
- boho magazine

Taste on Tuesday

OK. For the love of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, would someone tell me how to make a delicious cup of coffee at home? It is absolutely laughable how many contraptions I have purchased to make it taste good when I make it (as opposed to going to Starbucks for my white chocolate mocha). Each and every one of those contraptions has had one result: SUCK. Here's what I've tried: (don't laugh)

The Toddy System

The result: eh. Also: pain-in-the-ass. Also: hate reheated/microwaved coffee which is part of this process since this is a cold brewing process.

The French Press (b/c the coffee snobs of the world said I had to):

The result: OMG. the worst of the bunch. You can take your essential oils and stick 'em up your arse. Too bitter.

The french press in a mug thingy:

Result: Oh please. See review from above...only worse.

The french press in a pot thingy (to keep it hot all morning! yeah, right!):

Result: Oy vey. Suck.

The super lo-fi espresso percolator for your stove top:

Result: Stupid and sucky.

The espresso machine:

Result: Delicious cappucino, ridonculous amount of cleaning the thing for two cups of cappucino.

The Cuisinart Grind and Brew (my Dad is successful with this...why not me?)

Result: Suck and also: bitch to clean.

These have all gone into various garage sales or Goodwill piles.

And now, because of my Starbucks detox (which I have relapsed...by the way) I have this:

It's $25 from my local Kroger. It has one switch: ON/OFF. The result: SUCK.

What am I doing wrong? Why is my coffee too strong or too weak? Please! Someone tell me the exact measuring utensil, the exact brand of coffee, the exact grind, the exact measurement you use to make a good solid cup of delicious coffee. Because I'm about to sell my soul to Starbucks. Again.

Friday - Sight

I spy, with my little eye, my very favorite show of all time ever in the history of the world... SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.

I love it. I love it. I LOVE it!!!!!!!!

And there's gonna be one in the Fall, too. Huzzah!!!!!!!!!

Do you watch it? (I know Clarissa, you do. Yay!!!)

I have such a crush on Cat. She completes me.

Tunes on Thursday (Sound)

Back with more of my musical stylings this week. Probably every week. I adore music. Music is a huge part of my life. It moves me, can get into my core and change my whole outlook on a day. One time in college while living in my adorable little old house on DeVerne St. in Austin, I plunked in a Grateful Dead cd and "Uncle John's Band" came on. The song started playing...I had it up really loud...it was summertime...I was inspired...so I immediately called in sick to work and went to Barton Springs with my roommates. I've also decided to save my marriage based on a song or two I've heard while out driving around and pondering life...

Anyhoo, here's another few gems of mine:
1. For the month of June on XM channel 56 it's all Dave Matthews Band all the time. I love the DMB. Love love love love them.
2. This old song is a delightful cool drink of water. Buy now for $.99. So worth it.
3. I've spoken of my love for this song in blogs of yore:
4. And finally, I had to laugh out loud this morning when I heard a new song on 20 on 20 on XM called "I like you so much better when you're naked". It was a girl singing, too. Her name is Ida Maria and it's a darn good song.

Smelling Salts

Get me some. Stat. Look at the first two posts (the self-portrait post, then the one after that about the wedding in italy - the second picture in black & white with the tree overhead? i fainted.)

the most creative couple, the most amazing photographers, oy vey.

enjoy.

Touchy Feely Tuesday

Ya know what's touching me today? That horrible Air France plane crash that's what. The plane crashes that have happened in the last 6 months (remember the one that crashed over Buffalo?) and there was another one...I'm forgetting. These have all been affecting me in a not so sane way. Now this one.

If you didn't know, my number one fear in life besides losing a friend/immediate family member is flying. I'm the chick on the plane who does that highly annoying short but loud inhale (like you're about to hold your breath) when the plane makes the tiniest noise or hits the tiniest bump. If the plane makes a louder noise or hits a bigger bump fuggedaboutit. I'm loud. I've been known to whimper, scream, hide my face in my hands, ring the flight attendant bell in the middle of the take off ascent, claw Mike's arm until it bleeds and weep uncontrollably. All true.

The Buffalo crash and this latest crash have juuuuuuuust about sent me over the edge. I can imagine (and have imagined) myself on the planes and going through the terror. Well, it's unimaginable, but I've thought about it in vivid detail.

I'm about to go John Madden and take a bus everywhere I need to travel. I'm really not joking. I realize this limits my travelling future quite a bit but I think stepping on a plane would take a year or so off my life because of the stress.

What's your biggest fear? Or are you too healthy for such nonsense?

The Taste of Monday

What are you up to organically lately? What do you eat that you swear by that's actually healthy? Please share.

The only consistently organic thing I buy is milk. I don't know why I skimp on organic. I fluctuate back and forth between saying it's too expensive and then saying - whatev. because it's so worth it.

I would like to incorporate these things into my diet:
Flax
All natural protein smoothies
Local and seasonal produce
Local and/or organic and grass fed meat

I found some great links for meat. Check these out.
http://www.eatwild.com
http://www.wildideabuffalo.com

And if you have anything I should know about...please tell me!

Looking at Her

Today is Friday...my day to highlight what I see.

I really enjoy watching Noodle do anything.

Natalie 14 months from sara moon on Vimeo.

Sounds of Thursday (on Friday)

Little Peeks into my brain on sounds I am loving.

OK. This is old news, but I've been meaning to shout from the rooftops that the BEST SONG I HAVE HEARD IN YEARS:

Did you know that I loved Matt Giraud on American Idol? He was my fave. (On that note, Also: love The Fray.)


I am really digging that humble cutie Kris Allen now. His rendition of "Heartless" by Kanye West was brills. Also: love Kanye West.

Miss Regina Spektor (oh I love her so) has a new album coming out June 23rd. Can't wait.

I will try and post another sound I am loving but it will take me awile. Be back soon.

Yay oh yay oh yay!

So, the good news is...all the Waldorf peeps from Lily's school have taken on a huge task. I will be helping out however I can.

Yay! Behold: Great Oak School

Smelly ol' Wednesday

Lame post alert!! Lame post alert!! (I'll be better next week on this topic...I hope.)

Hmmm...I'm sitting here thinking about what the heck to write about smells as a blog topic. And to think I have to do this every week...yikers. This might be the day I find hardest to blog about.

My favorite smell factoid: How it can take you back in time like nothing else ever could. I find that freaking fascinating.

Love these smells: onions, bread baking, popcorn (but not to eat), coffee, patchouli (recently discovered this), lavender, freshly washed hair, just before it rains, fresh cut grass, sweet olive trees in bloom,

Hate these: rose/flower perfume of any kind, poopy diapers, pee diapers, mustard, moldy clothes that sat in the washer too long, pickle juice, jalapenos, olives,

Did you know:
Everyone has his or her own unique odor-identity or “smell fingerprint. No two people have the exact same odor-identity or “smell fingerprint” which is determined by many factors including: our genes, skin type, diet, medicine, mood state and even the weather.

No two people smell the same odor the same way. In other words, a rose may smell sweeter to some people than to others. In fact, according to neuropsychologist, Robert Bonkowski, a person never experiences one smell the same way twice. Furthermore, an individual’s ability to detect odors changes from day to day, depending on his or her physiological condition.

Our sense of smell becomes stronger when we are hungry.

Your nose can smell directionally, telling you where an odor originates.

Your sense of smell is least acute in the morning; our ability to perceive odors increases as the day wears on.

A woman’s sense of smell is keener than a man’s. However, her sensitivity does change over the menstrual cycle. These changes are influenced by estrogen, which increases smell acuity in the first half of a woman’s cycle. It peaks at a time when women are most fertile and most sexually responsive.

Peace out, see ya tomorrow with something much more interesting...let's hope.

Tuesday: Touch

Touch Tuesdays can be literal or emotional. Today it is emotional.

I do love me some reality TV. I do love People magazine (and US Weekly). I don't read any other entertainment magazines or tabloids and I have long since given up on Entertainment Tonight. I have standards!

The most recent voyeuristic event I am fascinated with however, and touched by, is this Jon and Kate fiasco. I have nothing negative to say about either person. I FEEL their pain. I feel it down to my toes. I get it, I empathize, I've been there, I know, I understand, and it sucks. Of course I'm not a TV star, but that's so not what this is about. If you've seen either of them speak about this issue or caught glimpses of this story and lingered to watch - it's real. And again, it has nothing to do with their show. It's what's inside them, their personalities and temperaments, way down to the core.

Marriage is hard work. HARD work. Raising kids? Ohmygoshharderthanyoueverthinkitcouldpossiblybe. Put those two tasks together with the right (or wrong) personalities and you have a recipe for disaster. A long and winding and very bumpy road. I identify with this Jon and Kate story. To be just as honest as I always am...it's pretty much my story. Minus 6 kids and the TV show. Mike is Jon and I am a less demanding Kate (yes, I am LESS demanding!)

Except, except: Mike and I still have lots of embers burning inside that can be fanned and nurtured. If I am reading their body language and faces correctly (and I am an expert reader of people) for Jon and Kate...I hate to say it...but I see their fire as smoking coals that probably can not be lit again. I can read it on their faces - especially Jon's.

I guess it's a little odd I'm writing about these people that I don't know, and that I'm being dragged into the tabloidness of their very sad situation. But the thing is...what they are dealing with is so real, so raw, and so the lives of many many people.

It just touches me. Makes me sad. I feel for them. (Mike and I are fine, by the way...so no worries. We are definitely on our own very bumpy road, though.)

New Vibe

Going to try thematic posts for each day of the week to keep me focused and current.
Mondays: Taste
Tuesdays: Touch
Wednesdays: Smell
Thursdays: Sound
Friday: See

Taste:
If you'll notice in my Sara's Internet Find of the Week, I've finally posted a new link to Urban Nectar. Isn't that a cool name? Check it out.

Also:
One of the everyday blogs I read, My Happy Little Life, has started a new foodie-type focus. She posts healthy recipes as part of her weekly menu planning that I think are quite doable. Check this out too.

Finally:
Anything you can recommend that you are loving to eat right now? I'll start. I am loving frozen waffles. Could eat them all day everyday. Specifically, Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Oat brand.

Latest Drama (why me?)

i think i attract drama like flies to sh*T. so serious.

the latest?

lily's waldorf school is closing. yes, closing. how in love with her school was i? very.

actually it's merging with another school - that's not waldorf. WTF????

i'll keep you posted on the latest developments - because there are some and they are drama filled (not related to me, but in my orbit...)

i don't know if you remember a loooong time ago on noodle and bean i posted about this fabulous gym i joined? i was a member for exactly two weeks and it closed up shop OVERNIGHT. i was absolutely loving it. it was small, run by these amazing women, the gym was classes only! spinning, yoga, cardiofit, etc. they had a dispute with the landlord and had to immediately close up one weekend or lose all their equipment. anyway, i was soooooo loving it and excited and whammo. over.

now this school that i love and that there are EXACTLY ZERO others around like it. it's not like i can go to the waldorf school across the street. the only other waldorf school in texas is in Austin.

so, if this all falls through i am seriously considering moving. i want austin, mike wants portland, and our budget wants a trailer park.

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh.

Hilarious

Some of these seem too good to be true, but some are fur reaaaaaaaaaaaal!
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

vote for me!!

For Family Photographer
in Houston

Actor's Studio Questionnaire

Claire-issa posted her hilarious answers on her blog here. Below is my go:

What is your favorite word? effervescent
What is your least favorite word? vomit(or lotion)
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
creatively: the beauty in imperfection
spiritually: natural beauty of any kind
emotionally: niceness
What turns you off? mean anything (unless it's about republicans)
What is your favorite curse word? f**k - oh yeah, baby.
What sound or noise do you love? Every.single.one.of.Natalie's.happy.babbles.
What sound or noise do you hate? my kids whining, nails on a chalkboard, when our smoke detectors beep b/c of a low battery. the list goes on.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Rock Star - The guitar playing front-woman kind. Without a doubt.
What profession would you not like to do? Janitor/Principal
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? You did great down there.

I love this invitation to play along:
**Your turn! If those asshole actors can do it, so can we! ~ by Clarissa**

Donations Needed

Hello local readers,
If you can help out, please do. Contact me at saramoonphotography@gmail.com. I will figure out how to get your donations where they need to go. Read below. This is from the coordinator of the volunteer committee at my mom's company in the Woodlands. She just happened to send it to me to get any baby girl clothes we no longer need and it really made me sad and thankful at the same time.

"I'll give you a little background info on Victor...started with my company in 2002 after coming to the States from Guatemala. His first couple years here were trial and error, but after meeting his wife, he has changed his life for the better. She is deeply religious, and opened Victor's eyes to God. If we pick up furniture from a customer that is to be disposed of, Victor will take it and donate it to his church even though he could sell it. After learning that they were expecting, I asked him what he needed and the only thing he said was a crib. So, I gave him Avery's crib. A week before she was due, I did go to Target and pick up things, just to make sure they had them at the apartment. Well after several hours of labor, 3 hours of pushing, she was rushed for an emergency c-section. I went to their apartment the day they came home from the hospital because they have no family here, and saw that they needed much more than I thought. I went to Target that day and bought sanitary pads, nursing pads, a nursing bra (she didn't have any of these things), baby towels, baby wash, baby shampoo, lotion, alcohol, diapers, a few outfits, blankets and dreft. They are basically in need of so much. Items I think they could use.....a swing, baby clothes 0-3 months and up, high chair (for later on), exersaucer. As far as their house goes... pots and pans, dishes, basically anything. (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, deodorant). Work has been so slow and he has not been getting the hours, so he really needs his cash to pay for rent and bills. Let me know if you have any questions, and I can't thank you enough for your help with this."

A Mom and her Toddlers

This mom totally reminds me of you. And you. And you...and me.



At this point I'm squealing with excitement. They're coming they're coming!! (This is a pond right by Lily's school. We stop every week on the way to school and check on the babies. They have already grown a ton. Hmmm...sounds familiar.)


Below, the mom duck is saying, "Where in the heck are they running off to now? I was all the way across the pond, watching the Today show and they just had to interrupt the interview with Briston Palin and her baby..."


Now she's saying, "Aw, I guess I can forgive them. They are so.dang.cute."

And so are you. And you. And you...and I am, too.

(Hope you didn't get bored with all the duckling pics! It was either these, or pictures of Lily's coxsackie blisters that are ALL OVER her little body.)

Who Needs Swine Flu when you've got...

COXSACKIE VIRUS!?!? (hand, foot and mouth disease)

Yeah, our virus name beats the pants off the swine flu.

Both girls: blistery tongues, blistery palms and soles of their feet, and other wonderful maladies.

If you have a friend who tells you they've been exposed to it, or they've had it but are better - steer clear for a looooooooong time. We haven't seen the person who gave it to us for over 10 days, THEN we get it. Our friends hadn't seen the person THEY got it from for over 10 days, then THEY got it.
It's a sneaky little virus.

I hope to be back later today to post some pictures of baby ducks. Now those are some sweet words to combat COXSACKIE VIRUS.

A la Stephanie Morrison...

(ETA: Stephanie Morrison is one wonderful corner of the triangular-shaped friendship of Sara, Stephanie, & Clarissa)
Background information: Lily, Natalie and I had to drive from our home in the sticks to the medical center on a Wednesday afternoon. It's a long way. Then, when we got there, we waited over an hour (in those little doctor offices!!) to see the doctor. THEN, on the way home, we took the HOV lane. It was moving at a snail's pace. Doncha hate that? You think you're all cool in the special lane and it is slower than the rush hour traffic lanes. suck.
The moral of this story is me and lily were stuck in small confines together for approximately 4.5 hours on our medical center excursion. That's a lot of Lily time.

A notable Lily conversation:

Me (approx. 5:45 p.m. somewhere on a Houston Freeway): Man, Lily, you TALK a loooooooot.

Lily: I knoooooooooow. I.can't.help.it. (said all whiny but sharp) My mouth.........(pause).......it's always open! It.won't.stop.talking!

::::

Later on that same drive, while passing through downtown I spy a questionable looking person/woman wheeling her little doggie in a doggie pram.

Me: Oh, Lily, look at the lady with the doggy in the buggy!

Lily: That's not a lady. He doesn't have eyelashes. Only girls have eyelashes.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????

Here's my Steph with baby Maris (who is 4 days older than Noodle! so cool!)

HAPPY DAY HAPPY DAY CLICK HERE

one of my favorite photography websites picked my picture as a picture of the day that represents hope. click below! (oh, when you click, scroll down until you see Saraluna14 - that's me!)

LOOK AT ME ROCK ;-)))))

For each of you

Two of my faithful readers have had some downright awful events happen in their lives over the last month/week. You know who you are. I am thinking of you.

All of you reading can take away something from this beautiful piece of writing I found. It made my heart swell. Perhaps you can share it with someone else who could use it as well. It is from a blog in Hong Kong, so some of the grammar might be topsy turvy ;-)

Here is a nice sharing from my friend Jinyuan. Please read it and hope it helps you when you meet something frustrating. It does help me.

Have you ever observed
the behaviour of birds
in the face of adversity?
For days and days they make their nests,
sometimes gathering materials brought from far away
And when they have completed the nest
and are ready to lay eggs,
the weather, or the work of humans, or some animal,
destroys it,
and it falls to the ground,
all that they have done with so much effort
Do they stop, bewildered,
and leave the work?
No way.
They start over
building the nest
again and again
until they have eggs in the nest again.
Sometimes,and very often before the chicks are are hatched,
an animal, a child, or a storm
destroys the nest once again,
but this time
with its valuable contents.
It hurts to go back to begin again…
Even so, the birds do not ever stop,
they continue to sing and build,
and keep singing and building…..
Do you sometimes get the feeling that your life, your work, your family
is not what you had dreamed?
Do you sometimes want to say
“enough”,
the effort is not worthwhile.
It is all too much for me!
Are you tired of it all?
Do you feel that the daily struggle is a waste of time,
your trust has been betrayed,
your goals not reached just as you were about to get them?
Life strikes you down sometimes, but do you go on,
say a prayer,
put your faith in hope, not darkness?
Do not worry if you get injured in the battle,
that is to be expected.
Gather yourself together and rebuild your life,
so that it runs well again.
No matter what happens…
Do not shrink back, but move forward.
Life is a constant challenge,
but it is worthwhile to mostly accept it.
And never stop singing.

A Few of My Favorite Things...more

Well, these:

Her:

and Her:

and Texas in the Springtime. So pleasant!

Did you know...

that Anthropologie has a Garden Store? Sigh.


Thank you Stacy, Letha and Farrell for roll calling ;-)

Small Magazine

This is a wonderful online children's magazine. Even if you don't have kids...it's just eye candy.
Small Magazine

and the best news is that they just started a blog. FABU!

Smaller (the blog)

Saint Cupcake

Another of my favorite things: www.saintcupcake.com For $21 smackeroos, you too can have 3 cupcakes, 3 frostings, and 3 sprinkles sent to your door from swanky, cool, hip Portland, OR. Lily about peed her pants when I told her we needed to go to the mailbox to get our cupcakes. She was never more well behaved than after she got an entire package of cupcakes in the mail.
It was very fun. Do this for yourself, or a loved one!

Oh So Perfectly Said

(I have absolutely no idea who to attribute this to. I found it on a blog, who found it on a blog, who found it on a blog, etc.)

These are a few of my favorite things...

First up:

DO YOU HAVE COLD FEET? Seriously. Are your feet always cold in your house? Mine are.

Number one thing I am loving right now (tied for first place with the post below about Apartment Therapy!)

These.

They're actually a nice tan/latte color, not gray as it says. I wear these constantly at my house. The cool thing about wool is that it breathes and adjusts to the temperature naturally. My feet are never too hot - just perfect. I even sleep with these puppies on. I adore them. They are worth the money. Handmade. They make me happy.

And these are Lily's version. We call them our rainbow slippers.

Apartment Therapy

So. How have I decluttered and reorganized my home you ask? Well, some of you have asked. I stumbled upon an amazing, life-changing book/activity/project called Apartment Therapy: The 8 Step Home Cure (buy the book or download it to your kindle!)

This is the website that has also helped change my home (started by the author.) This is the section on the website that will give you tons of ideas and inspiration and help along the way with The Cure.

It is the first organization book that has ever made sense to me. It has heart and soul and you don't need to buy anything or be rich or have a beautiful house. It's all about putting the heart back into your home. It is a lovely, doable, manageable progression from week to week. It might have saved my marriage (and I am not kidding.)

We are actually stuck on week 2 still, but the hub and I are loving it. This book is for you if:

1. You hate your house

2. You love your house

3. You need a small change

4. You need a big change

5. You don't know what change, if any, you need

6. You want to redo your whole house

7. You only want to redo one room

8. You have great personal style

9. You have zero style

10. You are soooo organized!

11. You are a recovering slobaholic (like me)

12. Your house is perfect

13. Your house is a disaster

Catch my drift? EVERY.SINGLE.ONE.OF.YOU. can have a life changing moment with this book. I cannot recommend it enough.

That is my home reorganization secret. If I can do it? You can do it. Even if you think your house is perfect - read this book. It can be more perfect. I promise.

For My Local Readers

The Harvest Waldorf School
Visitor Morning Wednesday, April 22, 2009 9am - 11am

Ever think about when and where your child's sense of wonder began to diminish? Wish there were a way to educate children that protected their childhood while awakening their intellect?Looking for a truly unique way to educate your child that achieves the same rigorous academic goals? Searching for a learning environment that nurtures and supports your child's innate capacities?

Ever heard of Waldorf Education? The Harvest is a developing Waldorf school that believes in educating children from the inside out by providing the optimal environment for them to flourish developmentally. It takes a special place and a special teacher to nurture childrens' bodies, minds, and souls and we believe The Harvest is that place.

Please join us for our special Visitor Morning to learn more about the Waldorf philosophy, chat with our extraordinary teachers, learn about our Pre-K through 7th grade programs, and view our beautiful campus.
Please visit our web site at http://www.woodlandswaldorf. org/ to learn more about us.
Please RSVP by calling Tori at 832.381.4665 or emailing prophetmother@gmail.com.
The Harvest is located at 5125 Shadowbend Place (shares a building with Congregation Beth Shalom) in The Woodlands, between Lake Woodlands Drive and Gosling Road, near David Elementary.
Blessings,Tori Prophet-Schlough
Enrollment CoordinatorThe Harvest School

***Visitor Morning Wednesday 4/22 9am-11am!!!***
www.whywaldorfworks.org www.woodlandswaldorf.org
school 281-298-8632
cell 832-381-4665

Confession: I drive too fast.

I've always said that 55 is my default speed no matter where I am. I know, it's awful. I can't help it. I mean, I totally pay attention in school zones (and drive the speed limit) and also if there are obvious kids on the street, etc. However, on familiar roads, deserted roads, 4 lane roads in retail areas...I drive too fast.

Well, on March 27, 2009 the universe caught up with me in a BIG BIG way.

I got not one, but TWO tickets in TWO different parts of town on the SAME FREAKIN' DAY.

How many people do you know who have had THAT happen to them. Well, now you know one.

Instead of Writing My Own Posts...

I'll just let Sundry do it. Ditto everything she says in this post, but I'm not as eloquent, witty, hilarious, or creative. And she has the best commenters in the LAND. They are almost as funny as she is. Read those, too!

Spinning Plates Syndrome

I always equate life to that trick where you try to keep all the plates spinning at the same time...and you know...it never quite works out for the spinner. Something drops. Something breaks. That is so me. I try and try and try...run to that plate...run to this plate...eventually I let them drop.

On that happy note ;-), let's review my 2009 Wishes so you get a goooooooooooood feeling for where I'm at and which plates have long since crashed.

1. Relax. R.E.L.A.X. (not my body - my mind.)
I'd give myself a C. I'm busy by choice and can't really relax with ease, but don't feel stressed which is good.
2. Organize my life just a wee bit more
B- (I'm doing sooooo good but have a ways to go before I get an A+)
3. Reduce, reuse, recycle! I can't believe our city doesn't offer curbside recycling. Travesty.
B- (The bins are in garage are slowly starting to fill up. Could have started earlier than we did. Totally buying second hand everything. Had garage sale, sold stuff on Craigslist.)
4. Be nicer to my dogs
D (There is just no time to give them!)
5. Meal plan on Sunday for the entire week
D- (Did this for a while, then got out of sync. Will recommit this weekend!)
6. Eat out less
A+ Yep. yep. yep.
7. Restructure my bidness
A+ Done.
8. Be firmer with the grandparents about my expectations for the kidlets. (Remember we see them a lot more than most peeps see their grandparents.)
B+ Yes, and no. It's a fine line to walk.
9. Get more exercise
F (I have the whole year, right?)
10. Spend less money
C (Well, I've picked up a few new artsy craftsy habits...)
11. Learn to sew (in progress!)
D+ (Remember that thingy majig I made? That was it. The end. I have hope to do more, but it might not be my thing.)
12. Craft more, make things (I used to love scrapbooking...then business got in the way)
C (Well, this is totally overtaking my life in a new inspirational way, but I'm more about gathering supplies than actually making anything so far. I have BIG plans though!)
13. Take pictures just for fun!
B- Was doing so good, then started back at photog work and it goes right out the window.
14. Take a self-portrait every day. Yikers, this will be hard.
F. Did this for like 2 weeks, and then I got bored. Done. Over.
15. De-clutter my life (this means YOU house)
A+++++++ Yes, there is a post coming soon all about this. I rule.
16. Make a garden
Incomplete: Coming soon, I hope!
17. LOTS LESS STARBUCKS (in progress!)
A+ Oh, hells yes.
18. No yelling at the Bean when she frustrates me to no end.
C (I have my slip ups, but for the most part I am holding it together and always trying to do better.)
19. Send out birthday greetings and prezzies ON TIME
F. Man I suck at this.

Okay. I'll be back again with more things I've been doing. Hugs!

Ooooh, I'm a horrible blogger

Coming soon with posts...have so much to say. As soon as I have a moment I will be back! I miss blogging terribly.

Hello!

Popping in to say hello!
I found an Etsy shop through SouleMama that I opened up and couldn't believe the goodness and prices. I loved everything and it was all so affordable - though I didn't buy anything (yay for me!) Check it out: Bayan Hippo

Also, I had 4 shoots, 4 days in a row last week...whew! Busy busy ;-) Feeling better today.

Hope you're all well! I'll be back soon with more!

one day

i will be organized
i will live on a budget
i will keep my house clean
i won't worry so much
i will live in the moment
i will appreciate
i will laugh more
i will relax more
i will love and be loved
i will be happy

until then, i'm trying very hard.

posts may be infrequent for the time being, but i'm still here. keep checking in on me.
xoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

Proud

Super duper proud of my latest session with Jason and Laura. I'm back in action!

Pictures, anyone?

http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/2008/09/thoughts-on-having-your-portrait-taken.html

seven skirts rule

This one's for you, my mom friends.
And don't forget about Penny down there below this post. Help me find her a home!
The Seven Skirts Rule

A Shiny Penny

Due to a whole lotta circumstances, I need to find a home for our lovely Penny Moon. She is a wonderful dog. Please consider her for your own, or please please pass on the word to anyone who might want to adopt her. She is fully house trained (never had an accident!), she is so lovable, she loves to cuddle, she is GORGEOUS and is awesome with kids.

Please pass this on...

Because...

my husband won't read the stuff i send him that makes me so happy - here's a GREAT read for you. My Sundry. I love her. I laughed so so so so hard at the picture of Dylan in the "big sister" shirt.
Also, her writing and anecdotes are what I would be saying if I was a writer. I am of the same mind as her on SO MUCH!
Totally different than Sheye, who I posted about below, but also so real and so me. Sundry is the devil on my shoulder and Sheye is the angel. I love both frames of mind!

monday, monday.

Hello Lovelies. (Been trying to post this all day yesterday to no avail. Internet was timing out on me.)
What a weekend. All.4.of.us.moons.have.the.barf.virus.
Can I come live with you and leave it all behind for a moment?
Please read Sheye's loveliest of all lovely posts today. Would that I could write like her, take photographs like her, appreciate like her. She is...something else.
Two bits of happy. Here is a pic of Natalie on her birthday last week:

















And here is a super home made lamp that I wanna make one day...isn't it cute? (lamp on right)

The Best Birthday Ever

Her. She. Noodle, Doodle, Natta, Nat, Nat-Nat, Little Love, Angel.

She is easylikesundaymorning.
She is smiles and cuddles and kisses and waves.
She is a complete joy.
She is beautiful.
I am so thankful for her.
Happy First Birthday Natalie Noodle.