Free! All this month JC Penney is giving kids K-6th grade free haircuts! I took Tatianna in yesterday and they did a fab job on her. I normally take my little guy to Snip Its- a kiddie salon so he was newly shorn and didn’t get a cut. I saw other little boys and their hair looked great. They are so kid- friendly and offered a toy treasure chest and lollipops to boot. Normally,Tia has her hair trimmed by Grandma or myself so it was a nice treat for her to be in a salon chair for the first time!
      There was no catch! Of course, you wanna tip your stylist. Call your local location  and you can make an appointment or just walk in like we did.

         Most people love going to theme parks. I’m not one of them! I think it all started when my jokster Uncle lied to me about the ride that I was buckled into and told me it was just ” a ride that shows you around the park”. Lies! I was horrified after my unexpected ride on a roller coaster and banned them for about a decade from my life. I eventually succumbed and realized they really bang you up. I have surmised that a day spent at Burke Williams Spa is a day better spent!

     Now, I try to be a “good” mom and traipse around these money-grubbing establishments for the sake of my kids. I have decided that I have paid my dues and that my husband can join another dad on any future theme park adventures.  Here are a couple reasons why I strongly dislike theme parks:

1. Being money gouged from every angle
2. The day spent mostly waiting
3. The short, mediocre ride after the mostly waiting
4. The myriad of unhealthy families I see
5. My aching calves from mostly waiting

    I know, I know the memories. Honestly, I think the memories I have from doing simple things like  having a family dinner where after we put on costumes and masks made out of a random cardboard packaging better.

My husband actually asked the ticket taker where he could get me a wheel chair at Legoland yesterday. The man pointed where and said for ten dollars we could get one.

Ten dollars!

Man, they even charge people who can’t walk!

    
     Our new house has a detached bonus room which we intend to use as a play/craft room! I’m so excited to have the toys relegated to their own special abode. I came across this picture at
http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2012/04/playroom-progress-sweet-seating-part-1.html by Jen Jones. This design makes my heart go pitter patter! First of all, I dig any new and clever unintended use for a project. The seats pictured are Expedit bookcases from Ikea turned on their side. She covered them with foam and stapled indoor/outdoor fabric to them. I am so into the intense blue/green combo too, I think the birch stencil adds a whimsical and outdoor ambiance.
     This layout really opens up the area for play utilizing baskets beneath to collect whoozits and whatzits galore!

     I promised in my May post that I would be expressing why I LOVE Newfoundland dogs. About four year ago I was at a local dog park (even though I didn’t have a dog) because I just love dogs. I ran into a behemoth of a dog that looked like a bear roaming the city and had to ask the owner about it’s breed. She explained that Newfoundlands are from Newfoundland, Canada and are gentle giants that are bred to water rescue. Just a few factoids: The dog in Peter Pan is a Newfie, a Newfie accompained Louis and Clark on their expedition (and was kidnapped by Native Americans as ransom-later to be returned), a Newfie rescued Napoleon Bonaparte when he was exciled to Elba (he played a key role in early U.S. history); additonally the Kennedy Clan have owned Newfoundlands for decades.

     I did tons of research and the more I learned about this amazing breed the more I knew I had to have one. My desire was solidified after I read this fiction-like (but indeed factual tale) of a boy and his Newfie in a book called In the Company of Newfoundlands. The story begins in California. The child had autism and connected deeply with the service Newfie at the Special Needs program he belonged to. The dog’s owners then relocated to the East Coast. This devestated the child. One night the dog-seemingly spooked; ran out to the road and was struck by a vehicle and killed. The owners were stunned and tried to examine why the dog would do that; shortly after the phone rings. It’s the mother of the boy on the west coast. She explains that her boy ran out into the street and was struck and killed by a vehicle! They determined that the accidents happened simultaneously. It seems that the Newfoundland’s instinct was to rescue the little boy from 3,000 miles away! I sat reading this in a Whole Foods Cafe and had goosebumps all over and decided then I HAD to have a Newfie in my life.

     We just bought our first home and are moving soon. I contacted the Newfoundland Rescue of Southern California and was matched with “Brownie” a bronze (they are usually black or black with white) Newfoundland. I fell in love instantly. Her foster mom is holding her for us until we move.

    I had considered a puppy but am happy to avoid the “knawing” years. Her foster insists she go to a home with children. We look forward to opening our hearts and loving this beautiful creature. The picture is from yesterday-we went and met up with her at a park. A bystander asked jokingly if Brownie was a  “California Grizzly Bear”. Not quite, but her “bear hugs” are like no other. I can’t wait until she is home.

     Last month I gave a presentation at the M.O.P.S group that I attend regularly; that’s Mothers of Preschoolers a monthly group that supports mommies of kids from birth through Kindergarten.
The topic was Dressing Right for your Body Type. I love design on all levels and wardrobe is another form of artistic and scientific form I have an appreciation for. I went through every body type ( I’m bigger on bottom f.y.i) and addressed styling and make-up tips. Afterward, we did a fun clothing swap. Moms brought garments and accessories they no longer wanted and the other ladies were able to incorporate “new” items into their closets using the info I just shared!
   Above is Amy. She was an attendee who came up to me a week after to exclaim about her new purchases. She normally does not wear dresses- typically opting for “Juicy Couture” ‘warm-up’ suits. She was effervescent in describing how excited she is with her dresses (I extoled them for their ease). I explained during the presentation that she should wear dresses with “tank” straps- the width provides support for the “girls”!
      The first black band at the waist of the pictured dress gives her definition. She explained that she ommitted earrings because she already put on a necklace and bracelet- echoing my suggestions about accessorizing. She added two other dresses to her closet and is thrilled about continuing on her new garment vitatlity.
      I let the moms know that although I love to style myself I went through a clothing slump after my son was born and didn’t recognize myself in the mirror. Fifty dollars at Forever 21 helped me see the light and motivated me to get my swag back. Overtime, I have completed my list of wardrobe staples and added fun pieces periodically. My secret is to buy one thing at a time as to not scare the husband (I do that with my kids too). I now know how to dress myself easily and get excited mixing and matching pieces-making Mommyhood “look” easy!

     If you have any fashion questions I’m happy to answer them!

    
     We just returned from a very relaxing weekend away in “Slots Vegas”. We have family there and were blessed with a hotel voucher for a free weekend stay at the beautiful Vdara hotel and spa. This is a smoke and casino free hotel. I was thrilled by the modern decor of dark woods and egg- shaped soaking tubs with plush crisp towels in high quanitities ( I am not eco-friendly when it comes to towels and linens when traveling)! I insisted that everything in our room be put away to maintain the glorious simplicity, my husband was this close to kicking me out, especially given the fact that I must disinfect all wipable surfaces and it was a weekend for him to “relax”. What?!

We met up with my family who were also in town at their time share. In Vegas many of the poolside waitresses are in swim suits. Our waitress had a very noticeable, jarring scar that graced her whole torso. My mother asked her if she is required to wear her bikini. She said they gave her an option to wear a one-piece but she is fine with it. She wears her badge proudly, it’s nothing compared to what she survived!

    She explained that while in a car six years ago (she was then 18) a drunk driver slammed into she and her sister after a birthday celebration for her sister’s 13 birthday. The airbag deployed and obliterated her insides. She recounted that her internal bleeding was so severe, blood ran from her eyes and ears. She had a 10% chance of survial! Miraculously, through her shock she was able to calm her little sister. After, she remained in a 2 1/2 month coma, the doctors told her mom that even if she survived she would ” be just a vegetable” (heard that one before). Her mom said “that’s O.K, she will be my vegetable”.

    By now my mom and I were both in tears. She remained in the hospital for six months total after four code blues. Her mother slept next to her every single night. The miracle was that she and her mother were not close and had a contentious relationship-until this. Our waitress said that she and her mom and  her 13 siblings (I know!) are closer than ever and speak on the phone daily. By the way; her little sister had just a broken arm but now drives like “an old lady” at age 19.

Her triumph is clearly a heavenly-orchestrated event. I realized as I sipped my free drink (she liked us) that God is ever present, in every city- at every moment. Even in a place dubbed “Sin City”. Praise God!