Gifts

I know this will come as a bit of a surprise to a few of you out there. But at the end of the day I am a practical girl. There are times when I am willing to let what I truly want win over practicality, but most days I make the decisions that make the most sense.

It is no secret that I love to travel. It used to be considered a luxury and was filed in the "if we have enough money leftover" category of life. Until I decided it was no longer optional. I was not happy without trips. So it became a line item in the budget instead. Who needs baseboard moulding when you can go to Florida? Twice. In six months. And Illinois, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and California in between the two trips to Florida.

I may never have a bedroom set, but darn it, we will travel!

Art is beginning to feel the same way to me. I love art. I love casually glancing at it as I walk by. I love studying it for a long time. I love the textures and colors and shadows. I love huge abstracts and I love detailed realistic paintings.

I am constantly falling in love with paintings. I will happily settle for reproductions. But even those, nicely framed, are too much to make a line item. But I want too. A lot.

So far, I have one print that I love. James C. Christensen is the artist. I worked stage crew during college with a guy majoring in art. When he found out I was Mormon, visited friends and family in Utah every year, and DIDN'T know about James C. Christensen, he was properly appalled. Todd fixed my ignorance in that area a year later and one of our first major purchases as a married couple was this:

(Dylan, I get it now. I don't remember your last name, but thanks for pointing me in this direction.)

Last year, at one of the heights of my art lust I called my dear friend, Janice. I LOVE her work. I would love her work even if I didn't love her. But since I love her, it means I love her work more. Anyway, I called and asked if I could buy a print from her of one her drawings. And she mailed me the original as a house warming gift! Seriously. Because she's amazing. Besides being hugely talented, she's warm and kind and loving and generous. (And I would have said that before she gave me her picture.)

I can't find an image of my picture, but check out her website to see some of the beautiful stuff she does. http://www.janicefried.com/

I'm back to my lusting and out of money for it. My favorite paintings by local artists don't have images on line for me to show you, but if anyone is dying to buy me a Christmas present this year and is flush with cash and needs a some gift ideas, here are a few that I wouldn't mind:

I can't get away with wearing it, but I do like a nice paisley. And this one is so happy! It just makes me smile.

If the little boy in this picture had brown hair, it would clearly be a picture of Benjamin when he was little. Or last week. This is how he played then and now. Everything is organized and lined up.

This one feels so very Jane Austen. As if Mr. Darcy/Edward/Mr. Knightly, etc. could come walking through the door at any moment.

Colorful and happy people by one of my town's local artists.

*sigh*" Portrait with Red Berries" is currently at the top of my list. It's just right.

What are some of your favorite works of art?

Brrr

This week in Ohio there is snow on the ground and it smells fully of winter.

10 days ago in Florida was this:

My niece dozing on her Daddy's shoulder.

Frolicking in WARM waves!

My nephew serious about the sand.

Caleb with a sand castle moat emergency!!

Musical Monday

It is snowing here.

I enjoy winter.  I really do.  It's not my favorite, but it has it's charms.  However, I have decided that I need to take a few preemptive measures to ensure that I can stay happy and upbeat throughout the long, sunless months ahead.  (Did you catch all the clever music references in that sentence?) 

I hereby declare today and every future Monday to be "Musical Monday"!  Because, honestly, how can you not feel smiley inside when people are singing and dancing around in front of you?

This first selection is "I'll Cover You" from the movie version of "Rent".  Todd and I briefly considered it as our wedding song, but went with something a little more traditional instead.  ("I Could Write a Book")

As for this song, it makes me happy, if not a little nostalgiac for NYC.  And check out what that guy can do in heels!!  Truly Amazing.

Trippy

Todd and I have a list of movies that we really enjoy, but are convinced are meant to be watched while smoking pot. (For the record, neither one of us has ever done any illegal drugs.) Anyway, tonight we finally watched "Across the Universe" which I now love love love. Because all you need is love.

Also on our list is anything by Baz Luhrmann, and the movie "Big Fish". I should point out that these are movies which I thoroughly enjoy. But back when we actually went to Blockbuster to rent our movies I felt like the clerk should have said, "Here's your movie. Here's your pot. Enjoy and have a great night!" as part of the checking out process of these cinematic gems.

Here is a delicious taste of tonight's movie:

The Wedding

Nicky-poo's wedding (I've been calling him Nicky-poo for years now. He's too tough to smile in any pictures taken in the last decade, but he responds to Nicky-poo. Go figure...) was a black tie affair. This meant that my boys were the cutest things EVER in their tuxes. I have millions of pictures of the kids and I think one picture of the bride. And none of Nicky-poo my brother-in-law. Because kids are cuter.

Okay, I also took a few pictures of grown ups. Jenny and I left the pool early to begin the transformation process from beach bums to elegant ladies. It took hours.

I told Nick that I loved him so much I would brush my hair before coming to his wedding. Then Jen went wild with a curling iron. It's fun to have sisters in law.

Seriously. Cutest Boys EVER. My three monsters and their cousin, Charlie were the life of the party. They kept the dance floor awesome all night and were completely unabashed in their enthusiastic dancing. I'm so proud.
Check out the totally hot guys I live with. You know you're jealous.

Tell me these ladies aren't gorgeous!! That's my niece and her Momma. Beautiful ladies.

More beautiful girl. It's so nice having a niece to shop for.

What to do when it's just too much party to handle? Pull out the board game you conveniently happened to pack along with you, of course.

You have to like a beautiful bride who is confident enough to be photographed with a pink plastic pig. Welcome to the family, Erica.

Me and Jen post party and back in our comfy pajamas.

Leisure

This past week, we packed up the car and headed down to Palm Beach, Florida for my brother in law's wedding.

We stopped the first night in Charlotte, NC and were able to visit with some long ago friends from NJ. Even though our children had never met, they all got along swimmingly! After tucking them all away the adults stayed up until midnight to watch election results come in. Despite our different political leanings, everyone was very polite. ( I didn't gloat even once.) Thanks for the hospitality, Seguines!!

We made another stop in Daytona Beach on our way down where our friend Carmella fed us dinner and then we helped her pack boxes. She had people coming that night to load up her moving truck so she could move to California two days later, but she still fed us. What an amazing lady!!

And then we reached our final destination. All I can say is "Wow". Seriously. Wow. We were staying in a condo right across the street from the Ritz-Carlton. The hotel came in and built right in front of the condos, so everyone who lives there gets to use the hotel amenities as payback.


I would just like to say that I am totally good with this arrangement. I mean, it's really tough having someone rush in to spread five towels over your chaise lounge and making sure that the umbrella is just the way you want it. Oh, and someone has to eat and drink all of the yummies that the deliciously tanned boys walk around serving all day. And it would be a shame if those gorgeous salt water pools right next to the ocean went to waste! Somebody has to lounge in them, right?! Don't you worry. My family and I did our level best to make sure that it was all done. No need to thank us. We were happy to make the sacrifice.

Nathaniel and Caleb having fun with "Grampy", who looks way too young in this picture to be a Grandpa at all. Let alone a Grandpa seven times over.

Todd and Caleb relaxing on their "Pirate Ship" until Uncle Brit and Nathaniel came to attack!
Caleb completely understands the life of leisure. He didn't have any problems adjusting to having several members of the staff assist him with his every need. That's MY kid.

Todd would sing the tune of "Brown Eyed Girl" to the words "You my bug-eyed girl" every time he saw me in my sunglasses. If he weren't so endearing, I'd slap him.

Benjamin showing off the latest hole in his mouth. Apparently, my kids only know how to lose teeth while on vacation.

My Broads

Do you see these lovely ladies?! 

 I adore each and every one of them.  There are more wonderful broads not pictured here.  One of these days we will manage a real group picture.  For now this partial one is all I have and it makes me smile to look at it.  I could not have asked for a more wonderful bunch of ladies to know.  I am a better person for knowing them.  Love you lots, my broads.  

(Pictured and unpictured, alike.)