Snowmageddon

I love snow days.  Even on maternity leave, I get excited.

Two days in a row Justin got to go into work late and come home a little early.
We had restaurant style omelets and coffee and lingered in bed a little longer than normal.

I hope you and yours enjoyed the snow day and you were able to stay safe and warm.

the BEST dads get promoted to grandpa

Dear Dad,

Happy birthday.  I'm so thankful for this day (a number of years ago I won't mention) because it allowed you to be the dad you are to me.  

And now, the grandpa you are to Carson.

I always knew how lucky I was having you even when I didn't want to admit it while growing up.  What I didn't always know was how lucky my children would be to call you grandpa.  

I love watching your eyes light up when you look at him.  And I can't wait to see his eyes light up when he understands that he is going to see you.

I love how gentle you are with him, advocating for him and assuring him and everyone else that he is a good baby.  And I can't wait for him to know that about you.

I love how you will get up at all hours of the night to hold him.  And I can't wait for him to eagerly climb into your arms the minute he sees you.

I love how you call each day to check on us (him).  And I can't wait for him to ask to call you.

I know how lucky he is to have you for a grandpa because I know how lucky I am to call you dad.

We love you so much.

Happy birthday, Grandpa.

The best kind of weekend.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

A.A. Milne

That quote explains exactly how I feel right now to a "T."  Couldn't have said it better myself.

Sweater: H&M, Jeans: Old Navy Maternity, Shoes: Steve Madden, Necklace: Premier, Bracelets: Forever 21

It's difficult to really express the weekend I just had.  If you get to see your family on a consistent basis, you may think I'm a total freak for thinking I had the best weekend when I did a whole lot of nothing, but got to do it with the people I love most.

Prior to last Tuesday I hadn't seen my parents since July.  That's a long time!  Especially when one is incubating a baby...there is a lot of growth in those months!  

Last Tuesday I got a wild hair and despite promising myself I wouldn't miss a day of school before baby, I decided to leave at 3:00 and head to VA to spend the night with mom and dad.  I found someone to cover my late bus duty, our ball game was cancelled so I didn't have ball game duty, and I took the next day off work.  It was worth every second of vacation time I used.

We literally did a whole lot of nothing on Wednesday, but we did it together.

We ate a big breakfast, scoped out Goodwill, and went through 2 huge garbage bags full of baby clothes mom purchased for Baby G!  They are adorable.  He is so spoiled already.  Obviously mom has the same thrifting gene I do - wonder where I got that from!

Over the weekend, hubby and I went back up to spend the weekend with them at the campground and we did a lot of sitting around the campfire, laughing, and making new memories together.

It was a bombDOTcom weekend.

To the one that prepared me for what I'm about to do...

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I feel so lucky to have had such an amazing mom in my life - 

I know I've shared it here before, but now that I'm about to become a mommy

I'm realizing just how priceless mine was and still is.

There are so many things I will do because my mom did them for me:

I will be at every game/extracurricular event my child participates in.

I will make breakfast for my child each morning.

I will wake up early so that my child can sleep in.

I will volunteer for anything possible.

I will make rules and make sure he follows them.

I will know who his friends are.

I will know where he is and who he is with all the times.

I will make sure he has what he needs, but that he also understands the value of hard work.

I will make sure he feels loved every day even if it's tough love.

I will work extra hard so that we have the money to make great memories and take family vacations.

I will open up my home so that his friends feel comfortable hanging out there.

I will make sure he knows I am his biggest fan, his worst enemy, and his shoulder to cry on.

The list goes on and on...

Happy birthday, momma.  Thank you for being an awesome mom.

the Desire and the Dose

DomesticatedWorkingWoman

Blame it on Pinterest, or Blog World, or our generation, but there are so many incredible moms out there that I find myself with a strong desire to be Super Mom.  You know... cloth diapers, homemade organic baby food, breast feeding for 16+ months...

It hit me the other day that some women are extremely talented and maybe even called to do ALL those things.  It is their job to be a stay at home mommy and bless them for that.  Unfortunately staying at home is not in my cards...at least not right now.  Therefore I needed my own mom to give me a dose of reality when I was carrying on about all these magnificent things I'm going to do on top of being a wife, mother, teacher, student, and keeping the child alive!

She brought to my attention that I cannot do all of those things and do them 100%.  And she is right.  I am the type of person that does things 100% or I don't do them at all.  So, it was time for me to sit down and prioritize what is best for me, my husband, and our growing family.  It is okay not to do everything ourselves.  It is okay to spend money on conveniences that save us time.  It is okay to admit that there will be times that I will be too tired, busy, or stressed to be Super Mom.

None of these things will affect the love I demonstrate to my baby.  So, it's okay.

I've realized that the best moms capitalize on their strengths and make up for their weaknesses in other ways.  The best moms focus more time and energy on their baby and less on cleaning, cooking, and worrying.  So, as I come into mommyhood there are things you will and will not see on this blog and there are things I will try to do and fail at.  There are things I will not want to do that may work out for the best.  I promise to share it all with you: the good and the bad, the success and the failure.

You will not see me using cloth diapers.  I wish I could and I know there are so many women out there just as busy as I am that do.  However, after looking at expense, time, and effort I have realized that this is one area where convenience is worth the money.  It is difficult to find a daycare willing to use cloth diapers and this is a decision we have made for our family.

You will not see me making ALL my baby's food.  I will make most of the food, but this is another area where at times convenience will be worth the time saved.  My husband and I eat many steamed veggies so I will definitely be preparing those for baby, but I cannot commit myself to spending a few hours each week preparing all the food myself.  When the time comes, if I realize I enjoy making the food and it is not super time-consuming, perhaps I will change my mind.

You will see me attempting to breast feed for as long as physically possible, but this will include pumping as I will be going back to work full time.  I've heard horror stories and blessings about breast feeding and I'm praying already that I have the blessing of this bonding moment with my babe.

You will see me loving this baby, unconditionally with all my being each and every moment of every day.  I'm sure you will get sick of pictures, tweets, stories, and celebrations.  I'm also sure you will forgive me.  After all, this is the most essential thing I can do for this child.

I think every mom is a Super Mom.  

Navigating motherhood and raising children is not an easy job.  

Any woman who does so with grace, humility, and love is a Super Mom in my book.

*Go sign up to win a Sweaty Band - only a few more days to win!*

Sentimental-ism

Maybe it's the fact that I'm home, around my family, or maybe it has something to do with me becoming a mother.  Whatever it is, I have found that my typical sentimental-ism is even higher than normal.  And already it's alarmingly high.

I find myself wanting to save everything.  I want to savor every moment, every memory, every minute. I want to reminisce and drink in and create new memories.  I just can't get enough.

I'm spending as much quality time as possible doing the things that may not come easy in the next 6 months.  I'm visiting family and friends and taking lots of pictures.  I don't want to forget any of these moments.  I'm afraid they will pass so fast that I won't truly embrace them.

Are you sentimental?

Happy Birthday, Poo!

To the brother that threatened to kick a guy's butt if he ever hurt me,
the one that calls me in the middle of the night just to talk,
the one that played Barbies with me and shared his Matchbox cars,
the one that gives up his bed so I have a place to sleep,
the one that makes me laugh until my stomach hurts,
the one that will be the best uncle ever,
the one that loves me unconditionally,
and the one that will forever be my best friend

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I love you.

1. Worse, 2. Better

Maybe I'm at the age where life just got real and things get tougher.
Maybe I'm more aware of what is going on around me because I'm not as self-consumed as I was.
Maybe I'm just surrounded by marriage and babies and things that make life complicated because I'm at that stage of life myself.  Either way, I'm alarmed and saddened by the amount of people that are so willing to throw things away for "grass that is greener" or so it appears.

I'm not going to lie to you and say that everything about my life or my marriage has been rainbows and butterflies.  That's not reality.  Fact is, we face obstacles and hardships daily because they shape us and make us better human beings.  And they are worth it.

I look around me and see people giving up on marriages and love and relationships in general because they aren't meeting expectations.  Women seeking the attention they want from their husbands from their male coworkers instead.  Men flirting with female counterparts rather than their wives.  The grass is greener on the other side...in their eyes.  It makes my heart sad.

Just like grass needs the rain, our relationships need attention.  Rather than admiring what someone else has, seek to make what you have better.  Flirt.  Go on a date.  Cook a special meal.  Find a new hobby together.  Go for a walk.  Sit down at the dinner table and turn off the tv.  Try a new restaurant.  Turn off technology.  Listen.  Kiss.  Hold hands.  Dance.  Remind each other why you fell in love in the first place.

I wish more people would spend some time on their relationships before throwing in the towel.  It's not always easy, but it's always worth it.  A friend shared this quote on Facebook this week...

Maybe more marriages would last if people realized sometimes the 

better comes after the worse.

Unknown

I love you, Jus. xoxo

Lessons from my Mother

I've learned so many valuable lessons from my mother...

~to laugh with my mouth wide open allowing snorts to escape~never to litter and to pick up litter when possible~to work hard and diligently at everything I do~the value of a good pair of shoes~to prep food ahead of time so that meals are easier throughout the week~that classic and simple equates elegance~

to write thank you notes~the importance of making time for friends~to try new things~to dig deep for the thrifted gems~to scream and run from rodents~to find a man to take care of those rodents~that its okay to be emotional~tears don't mean weakness~less is more~makeup should be used to accentuate beauty not cover it up~modest is hottest~the way we treat others speaks volumes about ourselves~everyone needs someone to love them~patience~unconditional love~forgiveness~how to hold my head up and smile when things are hard~to kill people with kindness~to take the high road~

not to change something if it doesn't need it~to appreciate my hair just the way it is~to be silly and make time to laugh~the importance of a good night's rest~the beauty in a Disney movie~the value of spending time with loved ones~how to care for another human being~to get dirty and allow messes to happen~to bake cookies~to make up games~to build snow angels~to finish what you start

I'm so blessed to have the mom I have.  On Mother's Day I found myself sad that I couldn't spend the day with her and then I realized how lucky I am that I could talk to her.  I can talk to my mom every single day, hear her voice, and lean on her for support.  I'm so lucky to have an amazing mom and an even more amazing best friend.

I love you, mom!

Homesick.

I'm going to premise this post by saying I absolutely love where I'm at in life.  I love my husband, my job, my home, my pups; I am totally happy here.  However, every once in a while I get hit with a wave of home-sickness and I find myself missing the silliest of things about my family and friends at home!

• Mom waking me up early in the morning clanging around in the kitchen.
• Dad's famous sayings:
• "Drive fast, you know how I worry."
• "We don't accept phone calls after 9:00."
• "Yes, Lindsays' home....oh!  You want to talk to her?"
• "Go play in the road."
• The view from our picture windows.

• Brandi bed hopping through the night.
• Waving at every single car you meet because you know the driver - not just to be polite.
• Dairy farms
• The sugar shack across the street
• Driving around the lake

• Knowing that any given Friday, the bowling alley will be hopping.
• The fact that the entire town shows up to the basketball games.
• Soccer country
• The crisp, humid-free air
• Mom asking where I'm going, where I've been, and when I'll be home.
• Speeding up the mountain
• Riding the ferry on a choppy lake
• Walking through Downtown Essex Day
• The random events my brother and I make each and every night

• Sandwiches from The Village Meat Market
• Ubu Ale
• Walking through the snow in Lake Placid

• Girl Scout Rd. (only Jessy Poo will know about this one)
• The room with the circle window at Mimi's
• Cold Brooke Camp
• The freezing temperatures and the feet of snow

I hear my students say things like, "I can't wait to get out of here."  I was once that student.  I wished my way out of my town.  All along people told me I would miss it.  They assured me I would be back.  

It's not until you are away that you realize the blessings you had while growing up.  I never noticed the beauty, literally, right outside my window until I moved away and came home to visit.  I never paid attention to the tree line or the lake edge as a teen be-bopping around the Point.  I would get so frustrated with my mom always wanting to know where I was and I took for granted the time I got with both my parents and my brother.

So, even though I'm happy in North Carolina and even though I have no intentions of leaving, I do miss home.  I do get home sick.  I was so blessed to grow up in a beautiful piece of America, with amazing parents, and friends.  I'm so glad I have a place to miss like this. 

We interrupt this program to...

Sorry, folks.  No Tales from the Teacher's Lounge today.  It's way too important of a day to stick to the reg.  Instead, I must pay homage to the day that created the man that helped to create me.

Happy birthday, Daddy!

Over the years you have taught me so much...

how to ski downhill using the pizza pie

how to get on and off a chairlift all by myself

how to drive a stick shift...as painful as it was

how to stack wood in ranks

that jeans are not as warm as sweats

how to tackle a DIY project

how to laugh so hard it hurts

the importance of reading

how to properly cook bacon and eggs

how to check the oil in my car

how to speak the truth...even when it hurts

how to show love

I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful daddy in my life.

You are loving, supportive, involved, and understanding.

I know I can call you and talk or cry and you will always be there.

You have always been my biggest fan: cheering me on at ball games, watching all of my plays and concerts, driving me all over the North Country to get me to practice, rehearsal, 4-H meetings, and Girl Scouts.  I never heard you complain.  Not once.  You always do what is best for your family.

Not just your family, your community.  Dad, the fact that you have served 13 years on the schoolboard, several more years on the BOCES school board, and are now on Town Council has had a huge affect on the children you raised.  Because of this, we know the importance of standing up for what you believe in, not fearing other people's menace, and the difference one person can make.

The love you've always shown Grandma and Grandpa Wrisley, Mimi and Papa, and all the members of your family is so genuine and tangible.  I understand the significance of a helping hand, a card in the mail, a phone call, and volunteering because I've seen you do it for them and others.

Thank you for being willing to lay on the floor with me and color, read a book, or even play Barbies.  Thank you for being willing to make enemies to give Josh and me the best school possible.

Thank you for being an amazing daddy, but more importantly, an amazing husband to mom.

Thank you, daddy, for being you.

I love you.

A Weekend at the Races...

 Guys, seriously, things got so cray cray at the races this weekend that I whipped out my phone and took notes so as not to leave any details out!  For reals.  Like I said yesterday, even if you hate racing, cars, being outdoors, camping, whathaveyou...you can have so much fun at a NASCAR race!

People watching is almost as exciting as the real sport.  I mean, I can't even begin to count how many crashes I witnessed this weekend off the race track.   There was one couple that decided it would be a great idea to ride their wagon down the hill (not a road) to the concert below.  That was a fun one to watch.  Not to mention, my hubby made $5 off the deal betting that they wouldn't be able to ride it the whole way down.  I think you can figure out how it worked out for them.  I also got to see a guy not once, but twice, fall into a ditch and onto someone else's tent while trying to make his way to the track. His better other half was quite upset with him and made it very clear before swerving and tipsy-ingly apologizing to us for the state they were in he was in. Then there was the woman at the track who didn't get to see, but ten laps of the whole race because she was passed out the entire time. I actually took a picture of her, but felt really bad posting it online - maybe her grandma reads my blog... or something.  I actually felt bad for the girl sitting next to her because they definitely didn't come together and more than once she put crashed her head onto her shoulder.  It was entertaining to watch her do a hula dance with her eyes closed.  I'm just impressed that she didn't fall over - I am definitely not skilled at sleeping while sitting up like she is.

Okay, so the real fun began Friday night when this man who called himself Bubba Smith (yes, for reals) graced us with his presence.  I know when this man was born: month, date, and year, where he lives, how many miles his home is from the track, how he purchased his tickets, his dog's name, what his nipple looks like - long story - , when he was born, how many miles his home is from the track...  Oh, did I already say that?  Well, so did he....waaaaay more than once.  I actually got pretty frustrated with this dude after helping him find his lost puppy (locked in his truck) twice in the same night.  He also shared his passion for plumbing which explains his Facebook name, Waterboy.  Yup, you read right, he "gets the water out of the ground, makes it go up, and then back down."  Now, at this point, I'm sure you're thinking what I was thinking...that man had too much to drink!

Brother Bear and me.  Love him.

Except the next night he returned and although he could stand up a little straighter, it was the same show and dance!  I honestly question how we attract these crazy party folk.  I guess we all had "Nice Guy" stamped on our backs.  I tried my hardest not to be as friendly and welcoming Saturday night because, quite frankly, I was there to spend time with my family and enjoy their company, not get interrupted every 30 seconds by someone wanting to tell me their birthday. #sorrynotsorry So later that night when he interrupted us yet again to ask if we had seen his dog (who is named Clarabelle after the cow from Mickey Mouse even though her tail has a white dipped end instead of a brown), I simply looked at him and said, "No!"  He didn't return - hopefully the dog was okay - she was really sweet.

He also sat down on the ground to tie his shoe and after two attempts admitted, "I got a little frustrated and mistied my shoe." Oh, I forgot to tell you the story about why I know what his nipple looks like.  My husband mentioned that we should all take a picture.  

So Mr. BubbaSmithWaterboybornOctober13,197330milesfromthetrack took that as an invitation to whip up his shirt and shout, "Take a picture of this!" Keepin it classy.

Like I said, NASCAR races are a blast whether you're a fan or not.  And to be honest it's really easy to become a fan with racers like this sweet ginger driver, Brian Vickers. *Swoon*

  

ADK

Look how beautiful that lake is.  Tell me this isn't a lil slice of heaven.

Smiling and laughing.

At this point, we're seriously ready for the pics to be done.  Still smiling!

My brother bear is my very best friend. <3 br="br">

Guys, this is where I grew up.

Where I get to go for Christmas this year.

I can't wait to make new memories:

see snow, my brother bear, and my family.

Living away from family is so hard sometimes all the time.

I love them and miss them all so much.

Looking forward to my winter in the ADK.

A Good Life

There is a time for everything...

But a lot of times, we aren't ready.

We are never ready for the time to come.

It's amazing how God makes things happen in His time.

Regardless of whether or not we are ready, He just calls the shots.

In a way, I'm grateful He does.

I really don't think I could handle making big decisions in this life.

Sometimes, time just takes your breath away...

knocks the wind out of your sails,

and leaves you gasping,

unprepared,

shocked.

Tuesday, knocked the wind out of me.

My husband called me at work (which never happens)

to tell me that his Mamaw was found that morning and no one could wake her up.

It just totally surprised me.  I wasn't prepared for this news.  And I know I've shared with you all that I'm far from my home and family and its not always easy for me.

Mamaw has become my Mamaw.  She loves me and listens to me and cares about me and now she isn't here.  And sometimes, I feel a little selfish for even being upset about it all when I didn't have the opportunity to know her nearly as long as her children/grandchildren/great grandchildren/great-great grandchildren.  Honestly, so many people loved Mamaw.

Words used to describe her:

loving

motherly

caring

faithful

young at heart

In the 5+ years I've known Mamaw, she has made me feel a part of the family.

She told me she loved me before my husband told me he loved me.

I will miss her.

So, in this hiatus from blogging, please, pray for our family.

Specifically pray for my mother in-law and my husband.

Thank you

LuLu's MiMi

LuLu's MiMi is named after my grandmother.

Growing up, Mimi was (and still is) one of my favorite people to hang out with.

I would spend nights at her house and we would have tea parties on the front porch, sleep out on the screened in porch, walk to the library, and use her special china for a simple meal, etc.

Mimi has always been one of my best friends.  I love our conversations, meals, times together.

Over the years, Mimi made me many outfits; she even made my prom dress when I was in 7th grade!

It only seemed fitting that since she was the one to instill a love of sewing and teach me how to sew, that I call my little business venture: LuLu's MiMi.

Recently, I've been overwhelmed with blessings.

I was asked to make the gift bags for our first TriFABB meeting last week and was very excited.

I shared a picture of the bags on my facebook page for people to see and a lady from our town contacted me.  She owns a local gallery called The Liberty Artisan and Craft Gallery and wanted to put my stuff in there!

So, I started the process of designing business cards and my wonderful friend, Laura, of Somethin' Blue volunteered to design them for me.

Since, signing a contract with the gallery, creating my business cards, and putting them in each gift bag at the TriFABB event, I have been contacted by several people requesting orders for burp cloths, pillows, and cheer leading bags.

I am so excited about this little business venture and keeping my Mimi's legacy going.

Sewing is a dying craft and it is something that I love doing.

It is exciting to share the things I'm sewing with my Mimi and my family; we get to share ideas and techniques.

One of the best feelings is having someone come up to you and ask where you bought something and being able to respond with,

"I made it!"

If you like what you see, you need to go sign up for my first
GIVEAWAY!!
It is a very trendy item that I made for LuLu's MiMi.

And all the waitresses came...

Last night we celebrated my father inlaw's 77th birthday with all of my husband's siblings/families.

We toasted him with homemade chocolate pie and some good southern cooking.

Topped with hugs, kisses, and of course The Birthday Song.

Once we were done singing, my father in law insisted that the waitresses all come in and sing to him!

If you only knew him...

Here is what I wore to the dinner/musical.

Tank: Old Navy (old), Necklace: Bannana Republic Outlet, Skirt: me, Shoes: Jack Rogers

I'm in love with these shoes...partly because of the story behind them.

**By the way, can we just talk about how fast I got ready for this dinner?

I literally got home, walked my dogs, finished my book, ran 4 miles,

and then got cleaned up for din din.  That's what I like to call natural beauty.**

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

You two are a wonderful example of marriage.

I love the way you still make each other laugh, hold hands,

tuck each other in at night,

go on vacations together, and cook dinner.

I love the way you show your love

and put each other first.

I love how you never found it necessary to bring others

into your relationship, your business, or your marriage.

I love how you have supported each other

over the years

and how that support for each other grew while you were raising

your children; flexing work schedules, driving many miles, and volunteering hours.

I love how you have made life a journey,

traveling together,

and experiencing life's joys and sorrows.

I love the unit you two create.

After all these years of growing up,

watching your love never wane,

I am blessed to know what true love really is

and what a healthy marriage looks like.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being amazing parents, but most importantly,

amazing spouses to one another.

Happy Anniversary & a tutorial

My parents' anniversary is coming up and I wanted to make them something special.

Unfortunately, both, my brother and I moved away from home upon college graduation.

So I decided to recreate something I had seen on Pinterest as a gift for mom and dad.

I wanted to make my parents a frame with the city we each live in documented on a map for display in their house.

Here are the materials you need:

• frame (whatever size you want)
• scrapbook paper
• maps cut into hearts (I printed mine offline.)
• glue stick

This CD frame from Hobby Lobby was perfect in size.

 To make the frame:

1. Cut your scrapbook paper to fit snugly into frame.  Use the insert as a stencil.

2. Align your heart maps on the scrap paper the way you want them. (*Make sure you account for the overlap of the frame in front.)

3. Glue the heart maps down.

4. If you wish, write the names of the cities directly under the map onto the scrapbook paper.

5. Insert everything back into frame.

Voila!

There you have it, folks!

Don't tell mom and dad, but this whole project only cost $5.

Home Sweet Home

Have no fear!  I'm alive and well.  I've been visiting my hometown for the past week and a half.  For those of you that don't know, there are still areas of this country that do not support WiFi, cell service, or at times gps!  I had the luxury of growing up in one of said places.

You may sense some sarcasm in that, but I have to say, I thoroughly enjoy my time at home because it provides me that time away from my laptop/cellphone/kindle leash that I've tethered myself to. (Or that society has us all tethered to.)

It hit me several weeks ago that I had not been home since Thanksgiving.  And it broke my heart until I turned to my hubby who immediately fixed the problem by saying, "Well, let's go!!" Just one reason why I love him so.

There are so many reasons why I love going home:
1. Already mentioned: unavoidable inaccessibility
2. Family. I'm huge on family and miss them all so much it hurts.
3. The view.  I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains on Lake Champlain.  It doesn't get any prettier and as much as my father in law tries to argue, it really is God's country.
4. Friendships that have lasted and will continue to last a lifetime.
5. Sharing my childhood memories with my man.  He gets to share his with me all the time because we live not far from where he grew up.  It's nice for me to get to show him around.

As soon as I got home, mom and dad's dog jumped on my suitcase and demanded I never leave...

I will have to tell you the story of how they got Brandi some day...it's a good one.

I drove up to NY by myself stopping first to spend 3 days with my brother in Syracuse where he treated me like a queen.  I spent a day with my aunt who also loved on me.  Then I trekked up to the ADK.  Justin wasn't able to get as much time off work so he flew up later in the week and I rode the ferry over to Burlington, VT to pick him up.

While home I caught up with friends I haven't seen in entirely too long and spent precious moments with the family I love so much my heart swells just thinking about them.  And I always make sure to stop and visit my cousin, Sgt. Justin Wrisley Garvey's, bridge.