Project Beautification

I sent the photo below to Loralee this morning in an email entitled: Project Beautification. Inside I wrote: Begin Now. I needed this pic and little did I know, so did my beautiful sister!Here is her post. The pic was what she needed, this post is what I needed.
Loralee:
So yesterday I had a proofing of our newborn/family photo session by Simple Treasures Photography. Boston looked perfect in every way. Vienna - plum gorgeous. Ethan - handsome as ever. Lee took photogenic to a new level even with the eye parasite, which is saying a lot. But me... hmmm... let's say I kind of looked like I could be a mother of three. Don't get me wrong, I love being a mother of three. In fact, I wouldn't mind being the mother of the whole world as long as I didn't look like I was the mother of the whole world. (Think: Mother Teresa - who in all honesty I wouldn't mind looking like if I were 88 and even half as wonderful as she was, but I'm 28 and not even close to sainthood. So I have to work with what I've got.) Are you picking up what I'm putting down? Mortified I went to the drug store at 2am last night (between feedings) to get the necessary supplies to begin re-beautification. And then (with strikingly good timing and not knowing an ounce about my predicament), my sister Annie sent me the above photo this morning with the words, "Begin now." I just loved it.

So today, I am beginning again the trial of all women everywhere - trying to put myself back on the list - not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally as well. This is so important, because when my little Vienna becomes a mom, I want her to know from my example that she is important too and if she doesn't take care of her beautiful soul - she cannot give her fullest to those she loves. It's a difficult concept for women to grasp, but we must. If not for us alone than for our daughters! Sometimes it's easier to do it for them than to do it for yourself in the beginning (which is kind of an oxymoron), but if that is what it takes to begin the process of taking care of our souls (body and spirit) than so be it. Begin now.

She ended the post with my current theme quote: The kind of beauty I want most is the hard-to-get kind that comes from within - strength, courage, dignity. ―Ruby Dee

Then my husband sent me this video link. He said I make him this happy. It is happy and fun just like him.

May Old Cat Ladies Never Die..

...Because they give us so much to think about and talk about...and smell.
Just thought I'd share that after practicing yesterday.
Note to the Wise: Yes, in a pinch, topical anesthetic applied liberally to your mask does block out cat smell, but it also makes your nose and lips numb during the procedure. Take the time to find orange oil or PIP.
Or invest in one of these:Do you think it comes in red and pink? Too noticeable? Maybe not if you work down the street from nerve gas production.

Instructions for a Great Summer Day:

JUST ADD WATER!

You, Me and the Pilates, Kernie!

Balancing Beautifully

Faith in things Unseen

Just last week I was pondering how life can turn on a dime. I wrote about our life the last few weeks. Writing helps me process life's unpredictability and marvel at the power of faith. Then, it happened again. Life turned on the dime for my sister and her husband, Lee. After being perfectly healthy except for the annoyance of dry eyes, my BIL woke up nearly blind. I am completely amazed by their positive attitudes when confronted by this trial. They have begun an aggressive treatment that will hopefully limit the damage that a rare bacteria and/or parasite is doing to his eyes. When being confronted with months of difficult treatment and disability, they truly have faith in things unseen. Lee, we love you and pray for you. Thanks for being such a great listener and having great faith.

God Bless America!

There is nothing like a little all-American fun on Independence Day! We have had huge 4th of July already! We watched the city parade last night (I was slightly disappointed there was not a face painting booth!). We made it through about half of the parade with Peapod. She loved waving to everyone, especially the horses and the princesses. She had a concerned look on once the firetrucks came with sirens blaring that soon turned to tears. She said,"I scared" and we tried to make it seem fun. She was consoled with a fireman waving at her and sitting on Daddy's shoulders.
This morning she was dressed up red,white and blue for Nana's neighborhood kid bike parade! She joined right in the parade, walking along with all the kids. The whole way she was saying, "I coming! I coming!" while waving her large flag. Killer cute.
Then we joined our neighborhood for a pancake breakfast (thanks for hosting Piersons!) and a kid's fun run (thanks Thorells!)! The little ones were so cute running! Peapod was so tired from the earlier parade that she only rode her tricycle to the finish line. Hometown fun. Up next: family BBQ and fireworks!

Worth Looking Into

Brain Controlled Wheelchair AND The Disappearing Male made me think: Whoa, our world is changing! Especially after hearing the CBC's statement. I love seeing science working to find answers. I love the positive outlook for wheelchair quadriplegics! I'm not one to jump into being "all natural" or "organic" because I like convenience, but I may have to rethink my product choices with more scientific evidence.
Watch here.

Background Info Provided by CBC on The Disappearing Male

“We are conducting a vast toxicological experiment in which our children and our children’s children are the experimental subjects.” Dr. Herbert Needleman

The Disappearing Male is about one of the most important, and least publicized, issues facing the human species: the toxic threat to the male reproductive system.

The last few decades have seen steady and dramatic increases in the incidence of boys and young men suffering from genital deformities, low sperm count, sperm abnormalities and testicular cancer.

At the same time, boys are now far more at risk of suffering from ADHD, autism, Tourette’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia.

The Disappearing Male takes a close and disturbing look at what many doctors and researchers now suspect are responsible for many of these problems: a class of common chemicals that are ubiquitous in our world.

Found in everything from shampoo, sunglasses, meat and dairy products, carpet, cosmetics and baby bottles, they are called “hormone mimicking” or “endocrine disrupting” chemicals and they may be starting to damage the most basic building blocks of human development.

We've Gone Colonial

I made a free printable on NFF, so you can make your own!