Experiences

We all get in the habit of life. We get up about the same time, we accomplish the things that need completed and we have the end of evening route. The summertime should be the time to let those routes go slack, at least a little bit. Lay in bed and read for a half hour before you have to be moving. Eat popcorn for breakfast. Stay up playing board games AND read the weekend paper that tells what fun stuff is happening in the next week... and go to some of them.

I've lived in Charlotte for almost 7 years and I had never been to the Summertime Symphony Series at the VERY cool amphitheater. There is a huge grassy area that you can bring blanket and chairs and food and a bottle of wine. I've heard about it and it just never came into my consciousness when thinking what to do on Sunday night. That weird habit thing...


Last night we were invited to go with a group of WONDERFUL friends, some new friends, some old friends and it was GREAT. It was the Big Band Theme night and it was just perfect. Now it will definitely be part of our "summer habits" that we look forward to every summer. 

WHat do you do with your wine when you need to clap?! Thanks for the demo

Chlorine is My Perfume!

Our neighborhood swim team won the other night against Foxcroft. It was a nail bitter! The kids like to write on themselves (and each other) with Sharpies with things like, "Eat My Bubbles"... This young girl felt that was being mean to the swimmers from the other team and has taken to writing "Chlorine is my Perfume". Fabulous!!!!!

Chlorine is My Perfume

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On the Edge of Something Wonderful

a view from heaven

to purchase and view my gallery click here 

Ever feel like you are on the edge of something amazing? Today, I feel like I'm looking over the edge and if I just take a chance I'll soar. It's a weird feeling. Things are happening and changing everyday and this is very exciting. My career is starting to get a solid foothold. I've always been my own worst critic and doubter, but never letting it go. Now, I'm trying to listen when a very respected friend and businesswoman says, "... that I can't stop doing what I love, so I may as well not just make money at it but make a career out of it." I think it is time to do just that! More on that later...keep your fingers crossed!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

My husband is a baby tosser. He is non-discriminating on the age of the Tossee, as long as his back can take it. So be forewarned if you have a baby around him, he will try to toss it. I will say that the kids LOVE it! Most moms not so much. We have had MANY "Discussions" about this in our existence together. I've finally resigned myself to just warning unknowing parents with babies around us. 

This is a picture of my daughter Vivien being tossed by my husband. At least they were in a pool! This always makes me laugh....

It's hard to be a Dad, or a parent for that matter. I've been fortunate to know some REALLY great Dads, and can say with authority that I'm married to a REALLY great Dad. So to honor him, Here are a few pictures of the great Dads of his family.

Reverse Planet Alignment

OK, know the saying... "If the planet's align correctly then..." such as "If the planet's align correctly I'll be able to drop the dog off at the vet, get child #1 to school, buy the perfect shoes for the party that is tonight, get a bikini wax, and tidy the house in time to make it back to the school play at 1:30." Well I've discovered that there is a force in the universe that aligns planets to pull against you and create the perfect storm.


Evening out should have gone like this... 1-5:45 meet for dinner at GReAT restaurant King's Kitchen (discussion on that at a later date) 2-Go to the Filmore to hear Matt Kearney play! (yea) 3- depending on what time concert was over MAYBE grab a drink somewhere on the way home 4-Arrive with the teenage sitter having decided to clean the house after my angel children went to bed on time and without any incidents.

Summer Night

Instead this is how it went... 1-5:45 meet for dinner at GReAT restaurant King's Kitchen (so far so good) 2 - 7:25 Left for the concert. Filmore is not where we thought it was. We weren't lost exactly but just not at the Filmore. After asking help for a lovely local to the First Ward of Charlotte, we make it to the Filmore (super great venue). Confused by the age of the crowd, not just young but looked like many still needed babysitters. But excited so sort of glossed over it... 3 - 8:15 Get a drink WAY too easily (should have been a clue) 4 - 8:30 Standing in the crowd a sweet girl next to us announces that Matt Kearney has already played and we are patiently waiting for a group called Owl City. 

 

5 - While still reeling from having missed a concert that must have been five minutes long right when the doors opened at 7:00, the electronic pop sensation that recorded Fireflies begins. 4 - 9:00 decided we'd had enough of the music but stayed a couple of minutes to see how long this young girl could hold a plastic owl up to tower above the crowd. To my knowledge she made it the whole hour. Impressive! 6 - BRIGHT SPOT! Got free tacos and burritos from the TacoBell bus that is traveling the country. 7 - 10:30 Attempted to find a fun spot to have a beer, visit with our friends and laugh about the evening. Three bars later due to drinking contest, country music and just general interest in the atmosphere. We ended up at a local hotel bar. Nice jazz, great drinks, created our own seating and all was looking up... UNTIL 8 - The fire alarm starts going off and we have to evacuate!!!!! 


At that point I decided that the Universe wanted me to go home and write about learning when to say UNCLE! And to realize that it really was a fun and funny evening. I loved hanging out with my old friends and making some great new friends and get a little glimpse of what makes a 13 year old girl dance and sing at the top of her lungs!


Back to experiencing that go with the flow thing...

The Bounty that is Summer

Summer's Bounty

available on etsy

I love the simple cooking of summer. Cold, hot, last minute grilling, breakfast for dinner, anything seems to go for dinner in the summer months. The farmer's markets are busting at the seams right now with white peaches (the real kind not the ones you get at the chain grocery!) so sweet that you have to eat them that day or they will go bad, white shrimp fresh off the Lowcountry boats, and the berries! There are strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and many berries you've only read about in novels you were forced to read in high school. It is definitely the time to be a bit more Tao and just go with the flow. 

Too quickly it will be over

Heart and Soul

I've been working on editing photographs from a Spring Recital Weekend for a local school of dance. It always amazes me what comes out of such young bodies! Thought you might like to see a little of what I have been working on...