Grandparent’s Day is Today
September 13, 2009 in Family, Friendship, Weblogs There are countless ways that Grandparents contribute to the raising of our collective kids – by baking cookies together, having overnight slumber parties, taking them on a special trip, lots of babysitting, helping out with expenses, reading stories, tolerating lots of messes, outings to the park, clapping louder than anyone at the recital and sitting through countless animated movies.
Even though they usually don’t require it, any bit of thanks is usually appreciated.
Remember to send your Grandparent a little “Thanks” on this Grandparent’s Day.
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Coloring for Grandparents
September 6, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Family I’ve got a great little coloring project perfect for little ones who want to make something special for Grandma and/or Grandpa for Grandparents Day. (It’s next Sunday, September 13!)
Pick up a fresh box of crayons and download as many copies as you need to entertain the kids with a fun afternoon project. Pop them in the mail just to arrive in time for the 13th.
Also, check out our new Grandparent’s Day e-card and pop it in the virtual mail box for instant delivery.
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The World’s Gone MAD
August 8, 2009 in Family, Friendship, Television I know I have anyway. The countdown in underway on my calendar for the Premiere of Mad Men’s Season Three and it’s only one week away! If you’re a Mad Men Fan (like I obviously am), be sure to set your DVR, TiVo, VCR (or whatever) to AMC, Sunday, August 16 at 10:00pm.
Murphy, Anna and I have already made plans for our Premiere Party. We’ll make a 60’s meal – I’m thinking a Tuna Casserole dish and maybe I’ll try one of the Old Fashions that Don Draper is always drinking. However, we have all agreed that there will be no chain smoking! If you have Comcast, you can catch up right now on all the Season Two episodes on On Demand.
Or, you may need to call in sick on Monday, August 10 to watch the all-day Mad Med Marathon on AMC.
For even more fun go to this link www.madmenyourself.com
I did it and turned it into my screensaver while I count down the days to August 16. Go Mad!
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Vacation Getaway Recap
July 23, 2009 in Excercise, Family, Food and Drink, Friendship, Holidays, Well-Being
I grew up in Seattle and making a road trip to vacation at the Ocean was a favorite tradition in my family. We revisited this tradition with a recent trip to a coastal fishing town in Washington called Westport. We spent time doing all the touristy attractions. We climbed 135 steps to the top of the tallest lighthouse in the Northwest and learned about what an enormous job it was to keep a lighthouse operating. (Now replaced by simpler, modern technology)
I didn’t realize that every single lighthouse has a different light signal so
sailors know where they are. We dined at the oldest resort in Washington. (we did our best to ignore the ants that were crawling around on the table – but couldn’t help but laugh about it after) We browsed the gift shops, the Oyster Farm, bought cans of best Tuna you’ll ever taste, toured the Museum, and even spent a few hours tasting and lunching at the Westport Winery.
When we weren’t being tourists, we enjoyed walking the beach looking for whole sand dollars while taking in the wonderful sea air. It’s actually a pretty decent work-out to walk against the wind and trudge through the soft sand. (an excuse to eat more!) When you grow up with certain smells and sounds it is so very nostalgic to experience them again. We happened upon a great driftwood structure that we surmised locals had spent many hours constructing. But mostly we ate – and every meal was seafood. And it was all great seafood – crab, oysters, clams, tuna and prawns and then we’d do it all over again. Don’t worry though – we ate our veggies too – my sister introduced us to the best Bloody Mary ever!
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Kris Retires
July 12, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Family, FriendshipNo one likes change, unless it’s their idea. But you know what they say about change, it is the one thing you can count on to be constant. After 10 years at Debbie Mumm, Kris decided she was ready to retire and attend to some family priorities. Good for her, bad for me!
The good thing is it gave us an excuse to have a little party and shower her with gifts. Because she is going to be spending some of her time caring for her Mother, our group at the office made her an RX Caregiver’s Kit. We filled it with all her favorite beverages, lots of scrapbooking supplies, we all scrapbooked a photo of ourselves and filled it with lots of other goodies too.
As an assistant to me for 10 years, Kris did many things to take care of me in and out of the office. So I guess after looking after me, doing the same for her Mom will be a piece of cake.
I’ll always be grateful to her for the millions of “extras” she did to make my life easier. Because she has such a passion for Scrapbooking, I decided to create a Memory book with photos and captions for her to remember the people, trips and fun parties we shared. Best wishes and many thanks to you Kris.
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Happy Father’s Day and First Day of Summer!
June 21, 2009 in Family, Friendship, Holidays Hope it’s a wonderful day of Sunshine and Backyard BBQ’s.
For your upcoming summer Parties, use our easy to send e-card invitations. Just fill in your details and you’re done!
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Mom’s Weekend
April 9, 2009 in Family
I’ve been keeping you up to speed on Spring projects, but it’s been a while since a Murphy update. This weekend was all about Murphy and Mom. It was Mom’s weekend on Campus and I’ve been looking forward to this since I tried to make a hotel reservation 6 months ago. The hotels were booked and at first I had some “reservation” when I realized I was going to be sleeping on his little dorm room bed. The more I thought about it, the more I looked forward to camping out on campus.
His cozy little room for one gave us the close quarters that allowed for some great Mother-Son conversations. We barely even paid attention to the movies I had brought just in case.
We had a few chuckles over the routine we had created of him standing guard in the hall every time I had to use the restroom in his all male dorm.
On a sunny Saturday morning stroll on our way back from breakfast, I leaned into Murphy and told him that I was having the best time. He leaned back into me and flashed me a Murphy grin and said with perhaps a little surprise in his voice that he was having a great time too. It was “a moment.” I must say every time I saw a Mother-Son duo hauling a sleeping mattress, stocking up on supplies (and new shoes) at the Mall, out for a meal, or just smiling and laughing together it kind of melted my heart. It’s a big birthday week too as Murphy officially said good-bye to his teens……oh, it all makes a Mother proud.
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All About You - Part 2
August 28, 2008 in Family, Quotes, Well-Being
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Lime green
22. FAVORITE SMELLS? The ground after it rains, fresh rosemary and coffee.
23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Lynn :)
24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Gymnastics (have to admit I'm getting tired of "diving.")
25. HAIR COLOR? Natural or colored? Oops - "Only my hairdresser knows for sure."
26. EYE COLOR? Depends on what I'm wearing. Usually green, but sometimes blue.
27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No.
28. FAVORITE FOOD? Adams Crunchy Peanut butter
29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I'm under the seat at a scary movie. Happy endings, for sure.
30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (recommend you see this one as a rental only - the first one was much better)
31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Green with blue and tan owls.
32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer (I still have 14 things to do before it's over)
33. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs
34. FAVORITE DESSERT? Homemade Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookie
35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? "Have your Cake and Kill Him Too" by Nancy Martin
36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Wireless Mouse - no pad
37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Guilty of watching "Swingtown" that I DVR'd.
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? I'm not sure if it's further to Brazil or Australia. Both were long, long flights - especially coming home!
40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Some tell me I'm artistically inclined. I have to work at it though.
41. DO YOU FORWARD CHAIN E-MAILS? Almost never. However, in this case.....I suggest you delete my answers, fill in your own and send them to your friends to get to know you better.
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All About You - Part 1
August 22, 2008 in Family, Quotes, Well-Being
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Sometimes I tell people that I'm named after Debbie Reynolds, or maybe Deborah Kerr, but I might have made that up.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? When I stepped on the scale.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Not as much as I wish I did. When I write fast, it's pretty sloppy (which is most the time).
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? I always get chicken, but I do have a fondness for roast beef too.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes, my son is Murphy.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I'd like to think so. I'm not nearly as high maintenance as everyone tells me. HA!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Apparently, I'm not completely "sarcasm-free."
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes. But appendix - GONE!
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Never!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Grape Nuts
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I've eliminated "tie-shoes" from my wardrobe.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
I can't decide if I'm getting emotionally stronger or weaker over time. Physically, I'm no Incredible Hulk, that's for sure.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Chocolate, no question.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? If they smile.
15. RED OR PINK? Pink.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My memory. It seems to be diminishing.....I'm sorry, What was the question?
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Murphy, when he is away at college.
18. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Brown. (I know, how boring)
19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? 3 strawberries and a Wasa cracker
20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? I'm listening to a downpour of hail and "Smoky Mountain Hits" is playing on the CD player.
(2nd part of the list to come!)
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Forever Family
August 11, 2008 in Creativity, Family, Quotes
There is very little in our lives and in our world that doesn’t change. And change seems to roll in faster than ever. It seems once you think you have something (or someone) figured out, it changes! When I look back at all the different chapters of my life, it’s surprising to realize how the stories and characters continue to change.
I also recognize how different I am and how I continue to change too. (Although, I’m hoping, for the better ~ opinions may vary on that.) You do start to wonder if there is anything that is constant. For many of us there are certain people that we can always count on to remain a part of our lives at least in spirit and that is family. Kris offers us the following Quote of the Month for August; “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.”
