Clothing Confession

I had a job interview last week and got a call back for a second interview on Tuesday. I am thrilled but scared out of my mind.

Yes, I want this job. It would be THE PERFECT JOB for me, and I for it. So of course I want to make a FANTASTIC impression.

I wore a cute skirt and top combo I bought at Geoffrey Beene a few weeks ago to my first interview. I looked great and felt great.

At the same time, I bought this great black and white skirt, but couldn't decide on a shirt. I had my heart set on white, but just couldn't find THE ONE.

So on to my confession.

I was looking through my closet this morning for a shirt to pair with my new skirt and realized I have 0, (count that, ZERO) plain white or plain black tops in my closet.

How could this happen? Aren't those considered closet staples, like potatoes or macaroni and cheese are to the pantry?

I have failed the fashion industry standards. "What Not to Wear" would be so ashamed. You see my dilemma.

However, with my God given ability to turn every negative into a positive, I have decided to look at this as an opportunity.

To quote Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Much to D.'s delight, and I'm certain my children will be SO on board, I must make the shopping trip of the century.

So interpeeps, when you see a red head flying through the stores with four screaming kids and one husband who looks like he may commit a mall massacre, just say hi.

No need to say more.

Before and After

I just found this "encouragement" on BooMama's site. What in the world could possibly need fixin' or improved in my home?

Oh, I kid.

See my post from a few short hours ago where I put my LR on a website for the world to see.

And judge.

Out of 5 possible stars, I got 1.9.

Bad enough (or is it good enough?) to be on a show where they help the design challenged.

Needless to say, as the days went by and the ratings GOT WORSE , I took my LR off the chopping block. Which was kind of dumb because now I'll never be surprised by the makeover fairies.

Ok, so here's my list of things to accomplish by July 25:

1.Paint half bath.
2.Paint upstairs hallway AND hang pictures (does that count as 2?!).
3.Hang curtains in LR.
4.Add accessories to LR and dining room.

That COMPUTER INTERNET STUFF

I love homes. I mean homes that feel like home. I try really hard to achieve that feeling in my own home. It usually takes me about 8 months to a year to really get settled in and know what works in a new house.

So considering we have only lived in this house a month, I think it is safe to say I have NOT achieved the feeling of home yet.

More like BORING.

So, for some inspiration, I went to a popular home site and posted a picture of my living room, hoping to get some feedback (aka help).

No one in our families has seen our home yet. So I had a great idea.

I would call my mama at work (it's a family owned business, which will come into play later) and told her my LR was online if she wanted to see it.

Here is about how the conversation went.

"Mama, go to www.blahblah..."

"Wait, let me get some paper."

Grin.

"Ok, I'm ready now. double u, double u, double u..."

"blahblahblah. Click on the icon. Go to the LR category. Mine is listed near the beginning because I just posted."

We got off the phone and about 30 minutes later I got a call from my mom.

"I can't find it."

Grin, sigh. "Ok, mama, I'll walk you through it. Are you on the home page for website blahblahblah?"

"Wait, I don't know nothin' about this computer internet stuff. Let me get Todd."

So I wait and hear "Todd, are you busy? Can you come over here and get me to look at this living room picture?"

This is where I thought it was good to know this is a family owned business and it is ok for them to walk over and help my mama out with this computer internet stuff.

So I ask Todd," Is she on the blahblahblah website?"

To which he responds, " Wait, let me just retype it in. Ok, there. Now what?"

I walk him through the entire process (which consists of about 4 clicks).

He hands the phone to my mama and she exclaims, "I FOUND IT!"

Grin.

And then, "How DID you get your living room on THE INTERNET?"

It reminded me of the time before reality TV, when you were a STAR if you made an appearance on the ever-so-hallowed TV screen.

So mama, thank you for making me feel like a star!!

I love you!!

If my head wasn't attached, I'd lose it too

We are a military family. We move around. A lot.

I would like to think that having moved so many times, experience would make me a better mover.

This, however, is not the case.

Do you remember that song, "Where have all the cowboys gone?" by Paula Cole?

Where is my Jon Wayne?
Where is my prairie son?
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Where is my marlboro man?
Where is his shiny gun?
Where is my lonely ranger?
Where have all the cowboys gone?

I have some new lyrics that run through my head daily.

Where are all my pens?
Where is that vase I bought before the move?
Where is my address book?
Where are those shot records?
Where is my sanity?

I am a self proclaimed neat freak. I cannot stand clutter. I like organization because I do not want to spend the 15 minutes of free time I have daily looking for something that could be easily found if put in its proper place.

But when we move, nothing has a place anymore. At least not yet. And until I can locate my stuff to put it in its place, I am lost.

Everything is unpacked.

I'm just not sure where I put it.

Hot Dogs

Does anyone else feel sorry for their dog when the water from the faucet will not come out cold no matter how long you let it run, just because it's 158 degrees outside?

Well, I do. Ginger is a golden retriever with long hair. She stays inside and enjoys the A/C but I just feel the need to give her COLD water.

I like ice cold water. LOVE it, actually. Especially in the summer.

So, after I put the warmish water in her dish from the tap, I put about 15 ice cubes in to make it all nice and cold and tasty.

I wonder if she notices.

Did Jesus go to camp?

Last night my two oldest children came home from a week at camp. More like 5 days, really, but who's counting?

Mad, my tween-age daughter (God love 'em), apparently had quite a moving experience.

"Mom, Dad, our last night there was so awesome. We had the most awesome devotion EVER. Like, we had to write down what we wanted to work on in our lives for Jesus and share it with our cabin and pray about it and it was like, so awesome."

I think, great! I know the word "attitude" was on that paper. That is what she is so excited to tell us. So I take the plunge.

"So, what did you write?"

"Well, I just wrote about being a good example for my three younger siblings."

There it is! The answer I was hoping for!

" But seriously, mom, dad, these girls in my cabin were sharing about their sick relatives and problems at home and then one girl, well, she started to cry, and then we all started to cry, and then we just cried and cried and cried and seriously, it was just awesome."

My husband looked at me as if he wanted to cry. I have never seen a man more dumbfounded than when his oldest daughter becomes a tweenager.

I just patted his hand and shook my head ever so slightly to let him know not to say anything because it would definitely be the wrong thing.

He knows I'll explain the way an 11 year old girl thinks once she is out of ear-shot.

As for our son, he talked about swimming, staying up all night, and how he's losing his voice. Maybe I'll get a few more days of quiet after all.

I must confess, my husband and I are a little disappointed that our kids didn't come home with this burning desire to be missionaries or share their love for Jesus with all of our (brand new) neighbors.

But I have to remind myself that one of the reasons we shelled out nearly our entire life savings to send them to camp was to make friends.

We just moved to a different state around the time school let out. No school equals no friends. The church we are attending had a few openings for camp and we both thought, what a great way for them to make friends.

And to quote Mad, "We have friends now and it is so awesome."

Awesome.