Father's Day Crafts and Stuff

Hey Y'all:

Father's Day is Sunday and if you haven't gotten your stuff together yet here are some really cute ideas that will show him how much you and the children really adore him.

This first one is my all time favorite from Disney Family (I'm going shopping for the goods tonight)

I hope I did the embed correctly, if not all of these are for dad but the one I love is the DAD cake; too cute.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Twin Tuesday: Underwear Madness

Hey Y'all:

I haven't posted a twin Tuesday in quite a while. I figured you might get a chuckle out of this one.

Nana sent the twins some underwear the other day. Thomas and Friends for Myles and the Disney Princesses for Leah.

Myles was so excited to see Thomas printed on something that he could wear that he immediately took the underwear out of the package and ran with them. I was in the bathroom getting dressed to go out and low and behold I see my little boy walk in the bathroom with the underwear on his head.

"Mommy shirt" he kept saying "pull it down". "Myles it's not a shirt" I said after I finished laughing hysterically. Poor thing was insistent that it was a shirt and cried for about 10 minutes because he couldn't pull it down over his head.

Oh the joys of boys.

I didn't get a picture of this because it was spontaneous but I'm sure he'll do something new by the end of the week that I'll capture for his high school graduation party photo album.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Will the city that never sleeps go night night?

Hey Y'all:

I'm a New Yorker born and bred and so very proud to still live in the Big Apple. I have a question though, where is the money going? Between the high taxes we pay and the terrible services we receive how in the world is it possible that NY State is in debt? How is it that according to today's newspapers if the budget isn't signed off by midnight NY is going to be shut down!

What does that mean exactly? According to the NY Times:

It would mean that New York’s agencies would not be permitted to pay salaries or issue unemployment benefits to some half a million New Yorkers. Aides to Mr. Paterson have concluded that the state would have to close most of its offices immediately, as well as courts and parks; shut down the state lottery; and cease local assistance payments to municipal governments. Notwithstanding a flurry of stimulus-related construction projects, the state would also be unable to pay contractors.

As if we aren't already dealing with enough in this city, yet another thing is going to cause so many people heartache and pain. UGH....

How are you fairing in your city? MrsDeveter's journey may end up in another city!!!

Until next time...
MUAH!

Who's ready for a good read?

Hey Y'all:

I don't own a Kindle, I still love the feel of a book between my fingers. I still use my library card and this summer I'm sure I'll get into a few good reads.

Thought I'd pass on a list of top 5 summer books for you to consider.
Thanks to my friend Ms. O over at Elev8 for some of these suggestions.

The Ideal Wife - Jacqueline Thomas
Marrying a handsome, wealthy lawyer and living in a Hollywood Hills mansion…it’s a dream come true for twenty-four-year-old Jana, from the moment Lawrence Collins swept her off her feet and into his luxurious world. True, she put her studies at a local Bible college on hold in order to wed after a six-month whirlwind romance. Beautiful and vivacious, with a stunning body, Jana knows men like Lawrence don’t come along every day, and she vows to be a perfect companion — the ideal wife — to this sexy, powerful man. But at what price.

The Shack - Wm. Paul Young (I am reading this right now.. it's GOOD!)
Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

Summertime and the livin' AINT easy!

Hey Y'all:

The song lyrics say "Summertime and the livin' is easy" George Gershwin must not have had any children because he would have known that when you have children and a job the summertime is just as taxing as the winter, spring and fall! Aint a thing EASY about it!

I wasn't able to get Erick into summer camp anywhere. He's only 5 and the programs that were reasonable and convenient only took children starting at age 6. I found this horrible lesson out by experiencing a NO when trying to sign him up.

The family and I left home early one Saturday morning to sign him up for summer camp! This particular morning it was raining like nobodies business, and it was cold out! We were troopers because we really wanted to get Erick into this camp, it's right up the block from my job and super reasonable.

I was number three in line while the hubby and children waited in the car with the DVD playing their Nick Jr. favorites. I sat and waited until it was time to fill out all the paperwork. I think I pretty much ignored the sentence that said ages 6-13 because I was reasoning with myself that Erick is in Kindergarten why wouldn't they follow the rules of the public school system? If he's old enough to be in Kindergarten; surly he could spend a summer in camp! Well I walked up about five flights of stairs, filled out about 6 pages of information and waited for my number to be called. The young lady checked my paper work... so far so good I thought. Until she got to the D.O.B. 2004 was the year she saw, she must have been trained to look for the year 2003 or anything earlier, she look at me and said "sorry".

I thought for some strange reason that I could 'reason' with this woman, convince her that my boy was a mature 5, I worked right down the block and was confident that he would be fine. "He's in Kindergarten", I said almost near tears. She looked at me and said... "Sorry Mrs. Brown maybe next year."

So my 4th of July weekend will be spent on the road taking him down for a two week visit with Nana. We'll just have to wing the rest of the summer I guess! Ugh!

What are you doing with your little people for summer vacation?

Until next time...
MUAH!

She's Back...

Hey Y'all:

Sorry I've been MIA but my brain was in need of a break! I'm back and have plenty to share.

Last night by beautiful big boy kissed me every so gently on my cheek and then my arm and said "Mommy I love you. You are my girlfriend."
"I love you to but I'm not your girlfriend, I'm your mommy" I replied
"You can be my Mommy and girlfriend" he said
"No, I can only be your Mommy because I'm Daddy's wife " I reasoned. "I love you very much because you are my son but I can't be your girlfriend"

He didn't say much about it after that response but it got me to thinking. Mother's are a sons first love. His relationship with any women will be defined by the relationship he has with his mother. If Mommy is affectionate and loving toward her son she's teaching him how a woman should treat him. If she is rough and unyielding, that is what he will come to expect out of relationships with other women.

I pray that Erick and Myles will continue to think of me as their 'girlfriend' that way I won't have to 'dress down' the little girls they bring home for me to meet in the near future. I'll be the only example they'll ever have of a woman; giving them ability to know exactly what they want, need and deserve in a woman. A woman like me!

Until next time...
MUAH!

My Feet are FREE

Hey Y'all:

Monday marks the unofficial start of Summer and my toes are ready! If you are anything like me getting a pedicure is a true luxury but something that must be done during the summer months. I am so happy to have shed the closed toed shoes and sneakers and have on my flip flops today!

Yesterday as I sat in the manicurist seat and dipped my feet in the warm water, I was reminded of the "Open ToedShoe Pledge" I'm sure you've seen this around the net and have recieved it in emails... but here it is again for good measure.

THE OPEN-TOED SHOE PLEDGE
*please raise your right hand and say the following*

• I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.


• I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.


• I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.


• I will shave the hairs off my big toe.


• I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.


• If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.


• I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr.. Scholl's if my feet need him.


• I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.


• I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.


• I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.


• I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.


• I will promise to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure


• I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear...

Ladies if you have taken this pledge, please sign your name in the comment section.
By signing this pledge, you are acknowledging that you will abide by all the guidelines set forth above, and will abruptly let a woman know if she is in violation. Let's keep this Summer crusty feet free!! Not only with the fellas appreciate it, but those of us that do take care of our feet will too.

**LADIES SPREAD THE WORD..TELL YOUR GIRLS TO SIGN THE PLEDGE**
**FELLAS PASS THIS ALONG TO YOUR LADY FRIENDS TOO**

Until next time...

MUAH!