August 2011

Preparing for My Glidden Brilliance Paint Challenge #GliddenGallons

August 29, 2011

Our three youngest daughters share a bonus room upstairs. It’s a large space, but unfortunately they’ve messed it up by trying to hang things themselves and touch up their own paint (yes, you read that correctly). Kids’ bedroom walls just need repainted periodically: not only do they get dirty, the kids usually want a color [...]

Read the full article →

We Moms Need a Few Tricks up Our Sleeves

August 29, 2011

Thursday evening I glare at a plastic McDonald’s cup lid lying in our driveway—a lid that I’d left there for a couple of days, waiting for one of the kids to have an attack of conscience and pick it up—and an idea begins to brew. Minutes later I call the kids together at the dining [...]

Read the full article →

What’s the Most Outrageous Letter You’ve Ever Received from Your Homeowners’ Association?

August 27, 2011

Do you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners’ association? Do they ever make you want to scream or beat your head against the wall due to their strange/obnoxious/seemingly random/all-of-the-above requests? Our homeowners’ association has apparently decided that we should REPAINT OUR HOUSE. The first letter had some vague legal-speak about the necessity of getting [...]

Read the full article →

Camera Phone Friday: First Week of School Edition

August 26, 2011

Link up your camera phone photos for the week! 1. Lunch date (finger lickin’ good) 2. Last pedicure of the summer 3. The Cuteness 4. My kind of snack (peanut). What’s your favorite M&M? 5. Moth on my front door. How to open without letting it in…? 6. The cook is in Make collages from [...]

Read the full article →

And it Begins: A New School Year

August 25, 2011

We started a new year of Classical Conversations classes on Tuesday and I’ll be perfectly honest: I wasn’t ready to let go of summer break. Last year was my first time tutoring Challenge II—the equivalent of 10th grade—and it monopolized my life and attention for the school year. I knew the first year would be [...]

Read the full article →

Why, Hello There!

August 22, 2011

Out-of-state company; preparations for a new year of Classical Conversations; one son returning to college tomorrow and another one moving back home on the same day; savoring the last days of summer break with the family: all this and more has slowed my blogging pace lately. I wanted to take a moment to share a [...]

Read the full article →

Camera Phone Friday: Back to School Next Week Edition

August 19, 2011

1. Tweegram = cute free app! 2. Foil art: a chip boat @Moes_HQ 3. They put my daughter’s foil chip on display @Moes_HQ. Love! 4. New short do for my daughter (& I cut it) 5. Real malts. I could be in heaven @redrobinburgers 6. Kid pizza @chilis Our household is in crazy mode with the start [...]

Read the full article →

iHeartFaces: Beautiful Eyes

August 15, 2011

This week’s challenge at iHeartFaces is Beautiful Eyes; I’m submitting an old favorite. It may not define beautiful in the traditional way with its bloodshot eyes, dirt, and water—but it’s beautiful to me.