in numbers to big to ignore, cuz I know too much to go back and pre - te - end . . . . Are any of you all old enough to remember this Helen Reddy classic? This was truly my theme song when I was a divorced mom and going back to undergrad working toward my law degree! Fiercely strong and independent - I was the most manly woman I knew :0) My, my, my - how things change!
On The Homefront
There were more roses in my kitchen last weekend
but, they weren't for me. It was Hannah's birthday, and my son went all out to plan a very special day for her - melting my heart along the way as I watched!
He wanted to have a quiet dinner here with take-out for her before taking her to the movies, so I set the table for them
where they ate 54th Street burgers with our favorite dishes and finest linens, and drank Dr. Pepper out of wine glasses!
After they left for the movie, I cleared the mess - and McStudly and I had a romantic candle light dinner of our own!
We had lamb chops with wine sauce and this awesome Aspragus & Gruyere Tart (found the recipe on Pinterest :0)!!
This morning I put together a Turkey Roulade for dinner tonight. You can find the recipe Here!
(Ina's Pix, not mine)
I couldn't get my breast pounded out flat - so mine is more folded in half than rolled! So mine won't look this pretty, but it smells delish!
The Valentine Mail Is Rolling
The boys are loving it! I decorated their mail boxes
and left them a note on the bathroom mirror
to remind them each morning to check their mailbox!
This was the mail for my McStudly Yesterday:
And, surprise, surprise - I got some mail back :0)
Here is tomorrow's mail
I'm having a ball - and the boys are loving their mail :0)
Super Bowl Fun
Oh, and I mentioned before that I so heart the Dating Divas Blog, and I truly do! I couldn't care less about football or the Superbowl - but, I do care about connecting with my guys, and planning lots of good times for them!
So, they had this idea on there to draw for a team to root for, to fill out these score cards, and then to choose whatever you want if you're team wins! This way, we all have a stake in the game - greeaaattt idea :0) I added a bit to the fun, and created our own game cards. If you'd like, you can download them Here.
The boys are already teaching me about football, and helping me on how to fill out my score card. I'm going for a "McStudly Planned Date" - where he plans it all, takes me out, treats me like a lady, and even orders my dinner - I love those dates! Wish me luck!
Will You Help Me To Brighten A Little Girl's Life?
One of the highlights of my weekend was receiving a Flat Stacy.
My mom teaches 2nd Grade, and has a really fun learning project planned for her class. The kids are reading books about "Flat Stanley", a boy who gets flattened by his bulletin board. They realize that Stanley can travel to all kinds of places through the mail - and so the kids learn through reading about his adventures.
For the class project, the kids mail out their own Flat Stanley/Stacie to someone, and that person takes the Flat Stanley places, takes photos of Stanley, and they send a letter back to the child with photos of where they took Stanley - and the kids get to read the letters to the class.
Well, when they went to make these - one little girl came to my mom and said "I don't have anyone to send my Flat Stacie to", and my mom said, "Oh, I know someone who would love to have her - my daughter, Kelly." And, this little girl was super excited!
I have a lot of fun adventures planned for Stacie, but I thought it would such a treat for this little girl (and the whole class) if this little girl could get letters from all over the country and the world to share with the class.
If you would be willing to print Stacy, cut her out - and take her to some places in your city or country, and e-mail me the photos and a short letter about what you did with her, I'd greatly appreciate it. Anything you can share about interesting things in your area (history, cuisine, language, culture, entertainment, etc.) would be great!
You can download Stacy Here, and e-mail me at kelly at cottoncharm dot com.
Bloggy Break
I'm going to be taking a bloggy break for a while - not because of anything bad, but because of something really exciting for me. Not much time to explain here - I have a hot date ya know :0)
So here is a quick run down. I believe that everyone has a gift to offer to the world, and I think that gift is often revealed to us by the compassion we feel for a certain group of people. And, for me, that is the modern American women who are under a tremendous amount of stress and pressure to be and do it all. And, the weight of this burden carries a heavy price tag - there are millions of women struggling with anxiety and depression, and millions of women are unable to meet their most basic need of a simple good night of sleep. Their stress and pain is real, it's palpable, and it's something that weighs very heavily upon my heart.
Since the late 90's when McStudly and I first began reading the John Gray books, I have been systematically changing my life - moving away from being that "manly" woman and striving to embrace my feminity - and I've experienced so much more joy, intimacy, and peace. Even better, the lives of McStudly and my kiddos have been enriched and transformed as well! Yet, I've felt that there was something deeper that I hadn't quite put my finger on - something that would bring even greater fulfillment.
(one little finish for you :0)
And, well, I think I've found it. In some recent reading, I came across something so profound, so transformative - just reading it. So, I need some extra room, some extra space in my life - both to do further research, and also just time to put this into practice in my own life - to really receive it. And, then, to write!
Yes, I'm still singing "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar" - but in a very different context!
I love you all - you amazing women who truly deserve peace, joy, fun, intimacy, and sound sleep :0)!! I'm gonna miss you! Take good care while I'm gone - I'll be peeking in on your blogs!
TTFN,
Kelly
