Changes...

I saw this and just had to smile. First it made me giggle. Then it made me think...

from factsaboutyou, via this lovely gal's board while slightly addictive-ly perusing pinterest

What if it was this easy to cut the unhealthy out of your life, whether it be people or things or thoughts? Would you do it? Should you? Are these people/things/thoughts there to teach us about ourselves?

I'm not so sure, but it's got me thinking...

Overheard at My House: Real Life

Meet Lemon.

He's our one and only pet at the moment. A birthday present for our 8 year old, who really wanted a dog but was not disappointed in the least. This little parakeet is very loved. He gets enough love to serve a whole litter of pups.

Here's the scene: Actually he's in pretty much every scene these days, as he's a member of the family, and the topic of much talk around here, but here's a glimpse at the latest of conversations surrounding our yellow feathered friend:

little gal: Are we ever going to get a girl bird, so Lemon can live a real life?

me: ....... No.

I should have encountered as to what a real life really means. I should have used this as a natural opportunity to have a a good conversation about the facts of life and birds and the bees and whatnot. I should have said a lot of things, but all I said was, "No."

I just didn't have it in me.

Next time I'll be ready. And I need to be, considering yesterday was the first day of 3rd(!) grade! I need to keep on filling the sponge in that girl's head before anyone else does!

Lunch Box Lovin'

It depends on who you talk to... The beginning of school causes moms everywhere to either be holding back the tears or jumping for joy, or more than likely, a little of both. No matter what everyone wants to be sure to send their little ones off with some extra love.

I used to scrawl a little message on my daughter's napkin and tuck it in your lunchbox, until I realized that she didn't use her napkin. Didn't even take it out of the lunch bag. It was always perfectly flat in the same spot I packed it. That was the give away, along with the very dirty shirttails that seemed to match that day's meal. I decided I'd make it easy on myself, and a bit more obvious. I made these little lunch box love notes and laugh cards for just that purpose.

Slip these little cards into your kid's lunch box and they're sure to feel the love. The notes are simple and sweet. The laugh cards will serve even more of a purpose. They can be conversation starters and cause for positive interactions.

I'm excited about them and have just recently added them to my Perfect Sentiment Etsy shop. They are a printable file... Just print, cut, and love! Let me know what you think.

'Member Me??

Oh my. Was it me that said I was back to blogging? Surely not, because I don't lie. I do, however, get overwhelmed and under-inspired. Hmmmmmm....

So anyway, here I am back at this neglected little spot trying to brighten it up a bit. And get re-acquainted. And inspired. And organized. It's a tall order but it's to be done! Here's where I'm absorbing some all-of-the-above from right at this moment:

Life is a Verb by: Patti Digh

Seriously good stuff. I am taking this book in slowly, and reading and rereading so many nuggets of awesomeness. What do you think about this line:

"It's not about doing great things-- rather, it is about doing small things that give you life, bring you joy, help you inhabit the stories of your days... To fully live, you must be present in the biggest way possible."

Wow.

And what about this one:

"Be fully present; listen... without being tempted to respond by recounting your own.. Do nothing else but listen."

and this quote by Erich Heller, "Be careful how you interpret the world: it is like that."

And I'm only on page 60 people. Most good books are so great that you just can't put them down until you've reached the very last page. This one is so good that you can't rush through it. It's like that dessert you chose to savor because you wanted to taste each morsel. So far it's that good. Really.

See you soon!

Really.