Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Mom at 17.

 Happy Birthday to the most important woman in my life - my mom!!

The picture above was taken exactly 40 years ago on my mom’s 17th birthday. Neither my mom nor my dad, who were high school sweethearts, can believe how quickly the years have passed. Neither can I. It seems like just yesterday, Mom was tucking me in with a song and helping me with my homework. Now, she is my number one resource for tackling all the challenges of life, from the kitchen to the work place.

Thanks, Mom, for always being there! I just wouldn’t know what to do without you!

By the way, isn’t the collar on her dress darling (Mom confirmed she was indeed wearing a dress, a very short one!)?

Group Project: 8 Weeks to a Better Me (Week 5: Loving Life & Having Fun)

 I’m actually on time this week. WOW!!

We have now entered the second half of the group project 8 Weeks to a Better Me, where we make and meet small goals which will lead to big-time improvements in how we go about our lives. Creator of the project, Danielle of Sometimes Sweet, has chosen the perfect topics to focus on, so far. I have already experienced a change in how I move through life. You know how you pay attention to how much food you eat when you keep a food diary? The same thing is going on here; I am taking stock of my personal habits and improving where I can.

Week 5’s topic is Loving Life & Having Fun. Lauren of Busy Bee Lauren is this week’s guest blogger. I really appreciate what she has to say about how noticing the little moments of beauty in her life makes her feel blessed. She takes noticing a step further by documenting those moments through photographs she can reflect upon later.

 

1. Be a Big Kid. - Playing makes life fun! I fully intend to laugh heartily, hang out at a playground (I’ve been dying to swing on a huge A-frame swingset!), go rollerskating, watch cartoons, and cook up some fun activities with friends, such as a craft night, a game night,  or a swimming session.

2. Celebrate the Littlest Things. - I will reward myself on the small victories and delight in the little pops of beauty that brighten my day. In my world, making my boyfriend a yummy dinner from little more than a can of beans, a bag of shredded cheese and two tortillas is a major accomplishment! Unexpectedly coming upon a Luna Moth is to find hidden treasure!

3. Make New Memories. - While I recall dramatic episodes having taken place in high school, the details have slid away over time. What I really remember is how much fun I had with my friends! My goal is to get together with my pals, from high school and beyond, and continue building meaningful memories together with laughter as our soundtrack.

More than what you have or what happens to you, happiness is a state of mind! A tool I use to keep myself aware of the gifts I receive, the talents I possess, and the good people I have in my life is a gratitude journal. I highly recommend finding a beautiful little journal or notebook and listing what you are grateful for each day. While it feels good to rant, it feels even better to keep what makes life great at the forefront of your thoughts. I promise it will lift your mood and help you move beyond your trials and tribulations.

What do you do when you’re in the mood to play? What little accomplishments do you celebrate? What are you favorite memories with friends?

What makes you happy?

Have a fun-loving week,
Alison :)

Kashi Goodness & TerraCycle, Too

 Learn more about Kashi's food packaging reduction here.

 Maybe I am out of the loop, but I just noticed the lack of packaging on the Kashi granola bars at the right for the first time last night. Its printed sticker binds the granola bars together and takes the packaging to nearly nil. It freaks me out when companies introduce “green” products that have tons of packaging to advertise them as such. I have to give a huge “THANK YOU” to companies for making an effort to walk the talk. Also, it makes it really easy for consumers to be eco-conscious.

Kashi is a well-known and widely available brand committed to making earth-conscious business choices. Being big can lead to decisions and issues a smaller company may not have to face, but, by doing something as simple(?) as reducing packaging, Kashi can raise awareness in consumers and hopefully influence other companies to reduce their packaging, too.

I am a big fan of Kashi, especially GoLean Crunch and their newish line of frozen entrees (I LOVE the Mayan Harvest Bake.). I have not tried their frozen pizzas yet, but they sure look good! Their meals are perfect for when you need something quick and wholesome. I checked out their website tonight, and it includes delicious sounding recipes (and they don’t necessarily call for the use of Kashi products), ideas for natural living, and encouragement to live better. You can even sign up for their newsletter to get healthy living tips, recipes and coupons delivered directly to your inbox.

Easy as can be!!

Kashi + TerraCycle = a good combination

 
Oh, and here’s another cool thing Kashi is doing: Kashi has teamed up with TerraCycle to form the Kashi Package Brigade. Kashi fans in any city can form a Brigade and send Kashi packaging in to TerraCycle, where it will be made into accessories. For each package sent in, TerraCycle will donate 2 cents to the Brigade’s chosen charity. TerraCycle is an innovative business that manufactures new products from post-consumer materials. You may have seen upcycled products made from materials such as CapriSun pouches or M&M bags. I own a little pouch made from Koolaid packaging. I think I found it at Walgreen's, of all places! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE TerraCycle's mission and business model!

What eco-conscious companies and products do you love?

Alison

Group Project: 8 Weeks to a Better Me (Week 4: Loving Yourself)

We have hit the midway point of 8 Weeks to a Better Me, an amazing group journey to self-improvement, launched by Danielle from Sometimes Sweet. Each week, we make and meet small goals that will reap major benefits over time. So far, I feel more enlightened as to what is going in my own mind. I also feel like I have made positive changes in how I conduct the business of living my life. Pretty soon, I hope these small shifts in behavior will become more apparent to the world at large.

Loving Yourself is this week’s topic. While I like my core self most of the time, I have struggled with body image issues and insecurities for as long as I can remember. Having a poor body image has affected nearly every aspect of my life, from being a late bloomer in the romance department to the type of art I made in grad school. Now that I’ve turned 30, it has become a huge goal of mine to get right with myself on all levels. I am all me, and my body is all mine.

Kaelah Bee from Little Chief Honeybee, who knows a little something about liking herself, shared her experiences as Danielle’s guest blogger. Kaelah brought up a really good point. While I always try to dress nicely (and I LOVE my fun jewelry collection), I never really thought about getting rid of clothes as a way to make myself feel more confident. I tend to hang on to clothes out of sentimental attachment OR because I hope I will someday be able to wear clothes I can’t fit my pinkie into anymore. When I stop to think about it, though, having clothes that really fit my body and my lifestyle well at this point makes me feel good about myself. Owning clothes that no longer fit me or where I am in my life hold me back. They keep me from living completely in the present. Cleaning out my closet is a major goal this summer.

1. Silence the inner critic. - I have this inner critic who is relentless. She drones on about my body, my face, my mind, my words, my abilities, everything. I may not be able to turn her off completely, but I can flip the channel whenever she gets too loud. By making a conscious effort, I can start tuning into the cheerleader who also resides within. Any time the critic starts talking, I can choose to replace her words with the words of my inner cheerleader. In other words, listen to the positive and forget about the negative.

2. Be here now. - So, you know the Serenity Prayer? If not, here it is: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And Wisdom to know the difference.” I have recently adopted the Serenity Prayer as a positive affirmation (No, I’m not an alcoholic, but I am addicted to beating myself up.). Something that keeps me from really appreciating myself is my concern with maintaining control, but that just isn’t feasible in life. The result of my struggle is worry and dissatisfaction with myself. I can’t help what I weigh today (so I shouldn’t beat myself up about it), but I can eat healthy meals (and eating well will make my body feel energetic). I can’t help that I lost my job in February (and no matter the circumstances for job loss, it is a huge hit to your self-esteem), but I can stay positive and productive (that will make me feel like I have a purpose, and having a purpose makes you feel good about yourself). Being in the moment and allowing myself to accept what is will give me freedom to simply be my best.

3. Learn something new. - There’s nothing like mastering a new skill to make me feel accomplished and proud of myself.

What do you do to love yourself better? 

Alison :)

The R-Word

 

I have taught art and other classes to adults with developmental disabilities for over five years. I love my students and highly value my experiences with them. I have come to realize people with developmental disabilities are far from one-dimensional. They are varied individuals, and they have just as much depth as anyone else. Like any of us, they have their special talents. I have students who draw better than I do and students who call their legislators regularly to demand rights for people with developmental disabilities. I have students who are marvelous actors and students who have been in longer romantic relationships than I have. Through my students, I have witnessed true acts of dignity, strength, generosity and love. Although I am their instructor, I have learned so much more than I have taught.

I know a lot of nice people who refer to others as “retards” or “retarded.” It is so easy to use a derogatory word without considering the meaning or the people behind it. While it may not be intended, the implication is that the receiver of the putdown is as stupid as someone with developmental disabilities. But people with developmental disabilities possess the strengths and weaknesses all humans do. That is why I was so happy to see the public service announcement  “Not Acceptable” featured at the end of last night’s episode of Glee. It moved me to tears. It was intense and empowering, and I hope it will make people think before they dub someone a “retard."

The language we choose to use when referring to others is important, and we should all work on stopping the spread of hurtful stereotypes. While I do not use the r-word, and  am vocal about my distaste for it, I am definitely not perfect. I have been guilty of using labels (particularly when I’m in my car and feeling road ragey or when I am relating said road ragey incident to friends). I will work on cutting that out, if you r-word users will make an effort to remove it from your vocabulary.

For more information, visit R-Word: Spread the Word to End the Word, a website launched by the Special Olympics in 2008 to end the derogatory use of the r-word.

**Just as an aside, my students have had such an influence on me that I wish to cultivate a career working with or on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities. I have not quite figured out how to make this happen, but keep your fingers crossed for me!**

Here's to giving people the respect they deserve by breaking our bad habits and cultivating better ones!

Alison

Such a Fun Weekend!

At Riverstock 2011, in front of a VW bus I liked a lot.

What's in there!? Checking out the interior of a Beetle.

Let me be a little redundant here. I had such a fun weekend! I kicked it off by heading over to my boyfriend’s house on Friday afternoon. He had the day off and was working on one of his three classic Volkswagen Beetles. He’s a fan, what can I say!? While he puttered in the garage, I dirtied the kitchen making what I like to call “Banana Yum Pops,” a sweet little treat from (neverhome)maker, except this time around I used regular chocolate chips and Peter Pan Crunchy Peanut Butter. I also left out the coconut because my boyfriend is not into it. It tasted delish, anyway! I’ve made three batches this week! The batch for my boyfriend, a batch for my friend Kate, and another for myself. I still have some hanging out in my freezer. I have a MAJOR sweet tooth, so it’s great to be able to sneak a couple a day for a small treat. They are chocolatey AND healthy! Score! Plus, it’s such a kitschy throwback of a dessert. I’ll definitely serve these at the tiki party I MUST have one of these days.

We woke  up extra early on Saturday, so we could attend the 2011 Bug Blitz Bus Blast - Riverstock, which was held in Riverside, Missouri. I told you, the bf is a Volkswagen fanatic. We saw a good variety of cars. Of course, I was far more excited by the aesthetics of the vehicles than by the engines. I saw a canary yellow Karmann Ghia that I just adored. I was also rather fond of a bus painted in white and deep orange.

A sampling of the VW buses on display.

Wouldn't I love to drive around in that gorgeous canary yellow Karmann Ghia!?

I never paid all that much attention to cars before I met my boyfriend. I always liked Beetles, though. They’re iconic and make me nostalgic for something I never had, much like Woodstock. However, it’s really cool to learn about cars, especially as an artist. What I find so interesting about classic car ownership is how much variety there is. Purists exist, but there are also a lot of people who enjoy customizing their rides (Don’t get me started on rat rods; I’ll save that for another post.). My favorite detail of the day was the steering wheel emblem used on a dove blue Beetle. It was shaped like the bust of a goddess. I later learned the image actually depicted St. Catherine. It was a beautiful piece, and it was not a Volkswagen part. However, it worked well with the feel of the car. That’s just one example of a styling detail that can add personality and individuality to a car.

Anyway, lots of fun and sun. I have the burns to prove it!

Today, I went to my friend Greta’s baby shower. She and my grade school pal Derek are expecting their first son about a month from now. Greta looked so healthy and lovely in all her pregnant glory, and I got to meet a cool group of ladies. We ate so much delicious food made by the hostess of the party. She created a wonderful Thai style pizza that I am going to have to try to replicate! Instead of tomato sauce, the pizza was made with homemade peanut sauce. She also made perfectly seasoned sliders and spinach-artichoke dip. YUM.  

The lovely Greta at her baby shower.

Greta modeling the little house I made for her, Derek and their little one, who will arrive shortly.

A closeup of the little house I made using elements from Greta's baby shower invitation.

The little houses I've made so far.

After we ate, Greta opened her gifts. I gave her and Derek a gift card to Target (that way they can get what they most need), and I made them a little house, similar to the one I made for my mom for Mother’s Day. I had a great time making this little piece, and I hope Greta and Derek enjoy it and remember this special time in their lives when they look at it. I incorporated elements from Greta’s baby shower invitation into the design. I have found that it is gratifying for me to recreate invitations into sentimental gifts for people celebrating milestones in their lives. This project was particularly fun to make, because I love Derek and Greta so much!

Once all the gifts were opened, we headed out to the garage to tie dye onesies for Greta. It was such a great idea! I can’t wait to see the results! I am sure having a summer baby is going to make onesies Greta’s go-to clothing choice for her little one, so the more the merrier, I'm sure.

What did you do over the weekend? Anything coming up next weekend I should know about?

Hope you're all having springtimey fun!

Alison

Group Project: 8 Weeks to a Better Me (Week 3: Healthy Food)

I got caught up in a little art project for some good friends of mine who are expecting (but I can’t share the project until they see it first!), and I fell behind on my 8 Weeks to a Better Me entries. Have no fear, though! I am still following along with the group project put together by Danielle of Sometimes Sweet! The focus of the third week is healthy food. This is an area I’ve been exploring recently, as getting healthy and fit is a short- and long-term goal of mine. I recently stocked my fridge and cupboard with lots of yummy and healthy foods, including grapes, apples, quinoa, spinach, salmon, Greek yogurt, almond milk and hummus. I am looking forward to cooking up multiple concoctions with all these fun ingredients.

Tonight, I had dinner with my friend Kate. She made a healthy pasta meal. Pasta, though carb-heavy, is not in and of itself unhealthy. It’s relatively low in calories (if you measure your serving size); it’s the toppings that can make it truly bad for you! Kate’s pasta was made with a little bit of butter and olive oil, chicken broth, chicken, tomatoes, broccoli and a dusting of shredded parmasan cheese. It was a delicious combination! I really enjoyed how the broccoli was still a bit crisp. It was yum, yum, yummy. I think I’ll try it myself sometime, and maybe trade out chicken for shrimp or broccoli for snap peas. I feel like the simple combination of meat and vegetables offers room for healthy(!) experimentation.

Danielle’s guest was Tracy from Shutterbean. Visit her site for some tantalizing recipes. I love how Tracy emphasized moderation and admitted to enjoying visiting the naughty side of cooking and baking. That’s it, visiting, NOT moving in and settling down!

 
1. Cook at home. - I often take the easy route and either pick up something for dinner or eat something directly out of the fridge or the cupboard that doesn’t take much planning or preparation. I would like to branch out and find some new inspiring recipes, such as Kate’s pasta, mentioned above. Maybe I’ll even improve my cooking chops.

2. Replace unhealthy snacks with healthy ones. - Yes, salt & vinegar chips are my very favorite (and, actually, they are the only chips I get into trouble with), but I am just as satisfied with raw carrots and hummus. I have more trouble replacing sweets with fruit than I do replacing salty snacks with vegetables. I have a massive sweet tooth. That might just take a little more time to figure out...

3. Eat at least one salad every day. - This was Tracy’s advice, and I think it’s a great idea! I’ll be sure to have raw vegetables each day, and it’s bound to cut down on fat and calories (As long as I’m not dousing it in high fat dressing or eating an entree salad at a restaurant. Those are notorious for being less healthy than you would expect.).

I am also looking to local restaurants for recipe inspiration. There are so many in Kansas City that focus on fresh wholesome food. I also intend to follow a few cooking blogs for added inspiration. Being surrounded by healthy food choices and recipes is bound to rub off on me!

What are your healthy eating tricks? How do you eat sweet stuff without blowing your diet?

Here's to happy and healthy eating,

Alison :)

I Love Trash

Finds of the day: a metal box fan, a vintage camp oven, a folding ironing board and stove burners!

Just call me Oscar the Grouch. I found the objects pictured above in my landlord’s trash pile as I returned from a long walk, thus adding another 45 minutes to my workout. And, yes, digging through  trash IS a workout! I was in heaven when I saw it all! I walked away with a metal box fan (with metal blades!), four stove burners, an abused ironing board, and a vintage camp oven.

You see, I have (fortunately? unfortunately?) inherited the family disease; like my grandma and my mom, I am a junk revivalist. I cannot walk away from a good pile of junk without seeing if there’s anything worth keeping, using or recreating. I gotta squeeze every last bit of life out of things, or at least let them pile up around me (did I just admit to being a hoarder?). I have some ideas for all of the items I found, but the plan for the ironing board is the only one firmed up so far. And I think it’s a really fun one! The next time you see these objects, they will be settling into their new and improved lives with me.

What kind of junk turns you on? How do you incorporate it into your life? 

Alison :)

Feathering My Nest

Standing on my porch, looking in at an out-of-date display.

  

Why, yes, those are snowflakes* hanging in the windows of my porch door. Yes, in the middle of May. Now, I’m completely embarrassed you’ve seen that. I like to pretend my visitors don’t notice the snowflakes, but I am sure they do. They’re just too nice to mention them.

Feathers made from upcycled fabrics.

In order to prevent anyone else from having to pretend there are no snowflakes in my living room, I decided it was time to move along, change seasons, and get up-to-date. At first, I thought I might like to replace the snowflakes with spring flowers, but, then, I realized feathers are just the right motif for my life and my porch door. I am spreading my wings and making like the phoenix - emerging from a pile of ashes to begin life anew (or to continue life in a new form). 

A jumble of fabrics.

Fabric feathers, before they were tagged.

 First of all, I grabbed a bunch of fabric that pleased me. I knew I wanted to start with solid colors. I ultimately decided to work with an off-white linen skirt and a vintage pair of men’s swimming trunks in turquoise, with yellow piping down each side. I simply grabbed a piece of paper, drew and cut out a feather shape that was pleasing to me. I then positioned my pattern on the turquoise fabric and traced around it. I let the piping on the swimming trunks do the work for me. I did not have to create the feather shaft, because I placed the piping down the center of the feather each time I traced it. After I cut out my feathers, I placed the cut-outs on the off-white piece of fabric and traced and cut out a slightly larger version of each feather. Because I wanted a quick and easy project I could finish in a short amount of time, I chose to glue my layers together. I like the simplicity of the results, but I could have easily complicated the project by stitching the layers together and adding embroidered details. I could have added more than two layers or even included appliques. 

Looking out at the feathers hanging in the doorway.

I sewed hangers onto the feathers, and, voila!, they were ready to be hung. I chose to work fast and furious, and I think the results are just as cute as can be. I was pretty loose with this project; I let the fabric fray and didn’t worry about each feather being exactly the same. I think the imperfections add to the charm. Now, if this project had been intended for someone else, that would have been a different story, a much longer and more complex one. Because who doesn’t want a good ending !?

*Eek! I know. I still need a good camera.

If you make fabric feathers, please provide a link. I would love to see your projects!

Alison :)

Rainy Day, Deliver!

Singin' in the Rain!

The somber sky has threatened rain all day. I am ready for the onslaught. Oh, yes. Doo dloo doo doo doo...

I hope your Saturday has been just lovely.

Alison

Group Project: 8 Weeks to a Better Me (Week 2: Fitness / Working Out)

 Apparently, I just run a couple days late when it comes to responding to the 8 Weeks to a Better Me feature being sponsored by Danielle of Sometimes Sweet. At this point, my “week” is going from Tuesday to Tuesday. This week the topic is fitness/working out. This is an ideal subject for me to focus on, because I am all of a sudden in the right mental state to make myself stronger, fitter, healthier and hotter. Maybe it’s because I was looking at photographs from not all that long ago where I look great! I want to get back to that, and it’s not such an absurd change that I feel it’s unattainable. I know I feel better about myself when my body and mind are healthy and active. Unfortunately, I am really susceptible to life changes, and I love sedentary activities, such as reading and blogging. Life changes can really throw my schedule and blow my motivation. I need to learn how to work through the ups and downs, because life doesn’t stand still. Neither should I (ha ha, couldn't resist). I won’t give up my hobbies, but I am definitely working on making physical activity and healthier eating habits a part of my daily routine. Maybe I can work out while listening to a book on tape!?

Amber from I Love You to the Moon is the featured blogger this week. Her thoughts on exercise are much appreciated. I especially find her encouragement to keep going and pushing your body to do what it is capable of (and what it’s capable of is usually more than you think) so inspiring. I really took that idea to heart when I did DeStorm’s The Best Home Workout today. I was sweaty and shaky afterward, but I sure felt good about myself.

1. Keep a food and fitness diary, as it’s really easy to fudge on your diet and your exercise routine when you don’t have to be accountable. - I started my diary today, and some of the healthy words in it include “workout video,” “yogurt,” “oatmeal,” and “apple.”  I won’t list the bad things. ;)

2. Again dealing with accountability, I want to work out more with friends. - I am highly competitive when I am exercising or playing sports/games with other people. It’s way easier to do less when you are alone.

3. Walk every day, even if I skip every other type of workout. - It’s invigorating to get sun and fresh air. I also sleep better when I have a regular walking routine. In addition to that, it is entirely possible to lose weight on a walking routine, as long as you spend enough time walking and watch your diet, as well.

A longer term goal of mine is to lose 30 pounds. That’s quite a bit of weight, so I want to make sure I celebrate every small success. I don’t want to lose sight of my goal when I have bad days (And, oh, who am I kidding? There will be some.). Wish me luck!

Chinese infant born with 2 heads

Chinese infant born with two heads, May 10, 2011, 8:44 AM

 "CBS News RAW: A double-headed Siamese twin girl was born in Xining County, Suining, in Southwest 

China's Sichuang province. The infant has two separate heads but shares only one body."

Okay, whose head needs to roll for publishing the headline and description for this video? YUCK. Gross manipulations and errors, like the ones above, really get my goat. There is no such thing as a “double-headed Siamese twin girl” or an “infant born with two heads.” With very little research, you can find that there are, however, several types of conjoined twins. One type is dicephalic parapagus, which refers to two identical twins (NOT twin) who share one trunk, have two heads and two to four arms.

The most famous pair of dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins are Abigail and Brittany Hensel. Each twin controls one side of their body (and each girl actually has her own heart, spinal cord, stomach, etc.). I have seen several documentaries and interviews featuring these girls, and they are clearly two people with differing desires and tastes. They have some uncanny ways of interacting, too, which cannot be completely explained (not only do they have the special way of communicating only twins share, but their bodies are shared, too).

Conjoined Fiber Department, shared legs.

Two-armed blouse with double buttons and collars.

Sweater knit for two, with three arms and two collars.

I have actually had a longtime interest in conjoined twins, mostly because the ideas of the self, liberty, repetition, interconnections, experience, social conditioning, etc. appealed to me conceptually when I was studying Fiber and Creative Writing at the Kansas City Art Institute. I spent a whole semester exploring and designing clothing for multiples. I believe your experiences and understanding of the world will differ from everyone else’s, even if you are born conjoined and have to go everywhere together. Simply waking up looking at opposite sides of a room will cause you to experience life uniquely.

I know it's a rare existence, but these little beings deserve to be evaluated with dignity. Instead of treating them like sideshow freaks, couldn’t the children have been described with a little compassion and, oh, yeah, proper pronouns? CBS News, I'm calling you out.

On Mother's Day

Grandma's brownies. One of our favorite treats.

 For Mother’s Day, we met up at my mom and dad’s house. “We” included two aunts, one uncle,  three cousins, one sister, one brother, one mom, one dad and one little ol’ me. It was quite the Mother’s Day crowd. Normally, my brother, sister and I either cook for my mom or take her out to eat. This year, we decided to have a big cookout with the family. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and had baked beans and salad with all the fixings (including chopped beets and feta cheese, YUM!) on the side. For dessert, my uncle made delicious strawberry shortcakes, and I made classic brownies. I used my grandma’s secret recipe. This Mother’s Day was the first one spent without her, so we wanted to make something in her honor. We miss her so much! I should have made her famous peach cobbler! Too bad I just thought of that now. I gotta get cracking if I ever want to cook as well as she did!

 

The little house I made for my mom. It took a long time to locate just the

right magazine pages (i.e. green and red ones that matched Mom's living room).

My brother, sister and I gave my mom a garden stone and a gift certificate to a local mani-pedi place. I also made a handmade card and a little house of paperboard and cut paper  from magazines for my mom. I am really pleased with the results, although the cell phone photos don’t do it justice. I really need to upgrade my digital camera.

We had a really pleasant afternoon and evening. I feel so happy when I am spending time with my family. I am truly thankful for them. Even though it was the one day on the calendar when moms are encouraged to relax, Mom orchestrated the whole event.

I hope all you moms out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day!