Fun Mail

I love fun mail.

And, I really love when a magazine arrives for me.

Even though this bit of fun mail is for my daughter, it still made my heart soar!

Placing it on her bed knowing that it will be a fun treat for her at bedtime made me smile!

Another Day Another Hat

So here is the deal. I do shower. I do wash my hair. And, I do blow dry my hair. However, it's steps 4 and 5 that I avoid if at all possible. Step 4 being taking a curling iron to my hair and Step 5 being make-up. 

I'm clean. I'm very clean. I adore clean. And I smell good and my skin is moisturized. My teeth are brushed, flossed and mouthwashed. 

My hygiene is good. I promise.

But without steps 4 and 5 I am just not able to pull off the "out in public" look anymore.

So, hats are becoming a friend to me. I really like hats! Inexpensive fashion statements!

I figure why do hair damage and perform clog poring rituals if not necessary? There are enough events in life that require full on makeovers! A typical Thursday in my current life does not require extra beauty effort. Effort, yes. Extra effort,no.

I say just be clean and wear a cute hat. And sunglasses. And lipstick.

I really love this lipstick by Urban Decay. It's called FIEND. I went in looking for a neutral, pink toned color that could be dressed up or worn down. This was what the make-up specialist at Ulta pointed me towards and it has not disappointment me! 

I'm going to wipe off my lipstick now so that I can drink my coffee that I drove through Starbucks to get on my way to the sweltering carpool line. See, why even bother with lipstick on an ordinary day? It just melts off my face in the heat or gets all smeary when I drink my coffee! Except for blog selfies, of course, then I should wear lipstick!

Embracing the Heat

This year I am not going to be and act desperate for the fall season/weather to arrive. 

Would I like for the temperatures to be dropping? Yes! 

Would I like to be able to light a pumpkin candle in my house and have it feel appropriate? Yes! 

But the reality is that it is still hot in Texas. Like really hot!

And so, I am going to continue to enjoy my summer clothes and flip flops and I am going to not complain as I sit in carpool line in a steaming, HOT car!

I am going to embrace the heat because there is not a single thing I can do about it!

Such a better way to live! 

Simple acceptance!

40-Something ADD

I seriously think I have a case of 40-Something ADD.

I know ADD is nothing to joke around about. I have a son and a mother who have it for real.

However, I seem lately to be suffering from what I hope is only temporary inability to stay focused on the project at hand.

For example, right now I have several things going on and none of them are complete. I keep walking from project to project.

Sloppy Joe's for the youngsters in my house...

 Half made salad for the old people in the house...

 Chicken that needs to be baked...gross picture, huh?

I am clearly blogging right now. And taking pictures for the blog post. What is the matter with me? I don't have time for this!

And, just to make it even crazier, I set up the ironing board in front of the TV in an effort to iron my daughter's uniform blouses...

My husband arrives home in about 31 minutes. I need to wrap these messes up!

I Shouldn't Have

I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have.
But I did.
And I bought one for Kassie too.

I had only planned on buying paper towels. That was all I truly needed.
But I detoured to the school supply section of Target to quickly look at their Day Planners.
From there I detoured yet again into the workout clothing section.
And from there, as I was trying my hardest to get to the paper towel section, I was forced to pass by the pajama section and well, y'all know what happens there. 
I melt for pajamas. 
Especially when I see something that screams feminine and pink and soft! And a hood? 
Oh my. 
At $21.99 it wasn't a question. 

I did re-evaluate my purchase once I arrived home. Just to make sure there would be no buyers remorse.
I tried the robe on before taking the tag off.
I still liked it.
I cut the tag off and tossed it in the washing machine.
It washed well and is now hanging in my closet.
I think it's a find! They came in gray and blue too!

You probably shouldn't either, but if you love loungewear like I do, check it out at your nearest Target!

Last Night

Last night I got to try out a look I love!

I bought this beige sweater in July thinking I would wear it in California but wouldn't ya know? It was too hot in California for sweaters when I visited! And if you know anything about Texas, you know that summer time is NOT sweater time. Ever. Unless, you get a freak cold front that comes through in August and forces cooler temps over the toasting and roasting southern state! This is exactly what happened yesterday! It was awesome! The high was only about 82 degrees which allowed me to wear my beige sweater! Yay! I tried to pull off the white/beige look I adore! Of course I only had it on for about an hour an half while I attended Back to School Night, but hey, I felt snazzy for that meeting! Do you think maybe I need to get dressed up more often and/or find more reasons to get dressed? So that it's not such a monumental thing to put on fun clothes? Nawwwww! I don't think so either! But it is fun once in a blue moon to try a new look!

Dinners Need Not Be Fancy

With temperatures in the high 90's and low 100's here in Texas, 

Jeff and I have been eating salads almost every night for dinner. 

I have had to get pretty creative with the greens. 

I've Googled and found several options on the internet 

which has helped to keep the salads interesting. 

As interesting as salads can get anyway.

Last night we had tuna salad on a bed of lettuce.

I stepped up my tuna salad game with you guess it - a recipe from the internet!

I like to mix my greens - a bit of fresh and a bit of boxed.

Capers and Dijon Mustard were a nice twist for this recipe - I also liked the red onions!

It also called for lemon juice. I was going to skip this ingredient but decided against it. 

I always cut up the remaining part of my squeezed lemons into small pieces and toss a few of them down the garbage disposal to freshen it up - does anyone else do this? 

Of course the salt and peppa!

I found the recipe here, on the Bon Appetit website. 

I figured with a fancy name like Bon Appetit 

they must know how to make tuna fish out of a can taste simply splendid...

And they did...

It was delicious!

Now I have to think about dinner tonight!

UGH!

I found this yesterday and thought it was so true...

Some Days

Some days I just don't feel like "getting ready".

And some days I need more coffee than others.

 Today is one of those days that I just didn't feel like "getting ready"

and

I need more coffee than usual.

Sometimes I put my hair up like this and I think I look o.k.

but then I see a picture of myself and think better of it.

Do I change my mind and "get ready"?

No.

I simply put a hat on it.

And drink more coffee.

Oh. 

And add pearls. 

Pearls make everything classier!

Let's Get This Party Started. For Real.

All right-y, lets get this party started for about the 100 millionth time on this here blog!

School started today! It was a fabulous summer, probably one of the best ever in my books! Our days were a good mix of busy and relaxing. I don't feel like we wasted away the days, each day was well lived! And the fact that each day felt full and good was no mistake, it was an answered prayer!

As summer comes to an end, and I shift gears yet again, I am planning to make more of an effort to write. Yada! Yada! Yada! Actions speak louder than words, Kari!

My house is going to be quiet. It is going to be even quieter than in years past as my youngest child will be even busier than in years past.

In an effort to fill the space and time I am having to get real honest with myself as to how I am going to spend my days.

I signed up for a Bible Study which begins in September. I will exercise. I will clean. I will do laundry. I will run errands. I will be the taxi driver. I will volunteer at school.

But what else?

I want to write! I really, really, really do!

I am normally a very goal orientated person. I like to say my goals out loud, commit to them and then go for it. However, I am feeling non-committal (in an outwardly fashion) quite yet. Maybe I need a day or two to really let the idea that school has begun and that it is time for some personal fresh starts to sink in?

Maybe.

I did send my youngest to school today with Back-to-School treat bags for her teachers. I am kind of a kiss up like that!