We are a cereal household so I was so happy to be selected to participate in a My Blog Spark Campaign for
My husband eats Wheaties cereal every morning. We need to buy stock in it because I buy at least a box a week.
I learned from General Mills website that not only is cereal lower in calories and fat than most other breakfast choices, cereal is also:
rich in nutrients
a leading source of whole grain
in children's diets
One study of 16,000 adults revealed those who skipped breakfast tended to weigh more than those who ate breakfast.
Eating cereal could mean that you:
consume less fat at breakfast
reduce calorie intake
Cereal is an easy way for kids to start their morning out great. Really, is there even a reason for kids to miss out on breakfast! Children who eat cereal frequently are less likely to be overweight, and they consume less fat and cholesterol than infrequent cereal eaters.
There are other benefits for children who eat breakfast.
A 1998 study showed that – compared to children who skip breakfast – those who ate breakfast:
performed better at school
recorded higher test scores
reduced absenteeism and tardiness
Just eating cereal every other day gives kids higher nutrient intakes in general compared to kids who don't eat cereal. That benefit extends to kids who eat presweetened cereal.
Beside the added benefits of cereal, General Mills is a great company who have helped so many organizations this year. General Mills donated a record $91 million in contributions across the U.S. and abroad in fiscal 2009 to ease hunger, advance nutrition wellness, and support K-12 education. To read more about the organization and who they helped this year, head over here.
You can visit General Mills site HERE to find more information about their cereals.
With so many choices of cereal you will never be bored! Invest in a bowl you love and grab some cereal. It will do your body good.
When I received Beyond Blue by Therese J. Borchard in the mail I was feeling the polar opposite of what the book was about. I have a wonderful husband, healthy children, good friends and a positive outlook on life however, I know a lot of people like a Therese.
Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes - is part memoir/part self-help. It describes Borchard's experience of living with manic depression as well as providing cutting-edge research and information on dealing with mood disorders. By exposing her vulnerability, she endears herself immediately to the reader and then reduces even the most depressed to laughter as she provides a companion on the journey to recovery and the knowledge that the reader is not alone.
Comprised of four sections and twenty-one chapters, BEYOND BLUE covers a wide range of topics from codependency to addiction, poor body image to postpartum depression, from alternative medicine to psychopharmacology, managing anxiety to applying lessons from therapy. Because of her laser wit and Erma Bombeck sense of humor, every chapter is entertaining as well as serious.
In A Nutshell: Therese is a good writer; the book is witty and full of guidance from someone who knows depression first hand. This is the kind of book that will speak to people. Therese is not only an author and the book is not just another book about depression.
Here is how Therese describes herself:
That would be me.
Hi. I’m Therese. I’m a manic depressive, alcoholic, and adult child of an alcoholic; a codependent, boundaries violator, and stage-four people pleaser; an information hoarder or clutter magnet, Internet abuser, and obsessive-compulsive or ritual-performing weirdo; a sugar addict, caffeine junkie, reformed binge smoker, and exercise fanatic; a hormonally-imbalanced female, PMS-prone time bomb, and sexually dysfunctional or neutered creature; a workaholic, HSP (highly-sensitive person), and, of course, I’m Catholic. Which could possibly explain some of the above.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May all your wishes come true this holiday season. Whether you are waiting for someone to come home, heading out to spend time with loved ones, enjoying your first Christmas with a new baby, in a new home, or with your new pet, however you intend to spend the day; I hope it is the very best holiday ever.
If you are alone, my thoughts are with you too! Christmas can be a time of joy for so many, but also a very lonely time for others, believe me, I have had my own horrific Christmas. Everyone, everywhere is special and important. May those who suffer this holiday season, find peace and comfort.
Merry Christmas,Kwanza, Ramadon, Hanukkah,Krismas, Omisoka, and Fesivus to each and every one of you.
Now, I am in no way suggesting that she has a boyfriend at 4. Thankfully she has no idea what that even means. I am simply stating that she has a friend who happens to be a boy. The reason I am writing this down is because this morning she was creating yet another work of art (she loves drawing and giving little presents). So, I assumed it was another picture for Daddy or me. I was wrong. This picture she informed me when she was done, was for "Mitchell". Mitchell and Goddess have been friends since school started. She has always talked about Mitchell. In fact the first time she sat in the naughty chair was because she was having so much fun with Mitchell that she started throwing toys around with him. Ummmm hummmmmm....be still my mommy heart.
She rolled the picture up which happened to be a drawing of her and "Mitchell standing on a mountain". Then she got a sandwich baggie, put the picture in there with some tinsel that had fallen off the tree. Awww..her first little present.
She carried it to school and I just had to watch what would happen. I mean, this experience could sit with her the rest of her life (give me a break, I'm a helicopter mom and what? It could. Don't judge me). It was her first gift to a boy and I wanted to see it unfold. She walked through the little circle of boys who were sitting on the floor, held out her gift and said simply, "here". Then she stood patiently while he tried to open the baggie (he is only 4). He said, "thanks" and finally tore it open.
I looked at her face to see what she was thinking about the tearing but she seemed ok. I walked over to tell her good-bye. She didn't look up at me, she simply said "bye mom". Leaving, I had a glimpse of where I will stand when she finally does have a "boyfriend."
When I went to pick her up, Mitchell's dad was there. While we were waiting I told him about the gift. We did a few "Awwww's" together and waited for them to come out. I overheard Mitchell telling his father that "Goddess had made that for him." The dad asked if he said thank you and he said yes.
As we were leaving the school, Goddess turned to me beaming and said, "Mommy, Mitchell kissed the picture I gave him."
So, there it is, in all its innocent glory. The first "boy" that happens to be a "friend" gift. Hopefully, this will be the last for a very long time.
The beginning of the week I mentioned that I was reviewing this book and really wanted to get it up so that maybe you could add it to your Christmas/holiday list before everyone is done with their shopping.
The Happiness Project by best-selling writer Gretchen Rubin is an amazing read. You will feel compelled to live your best life or at least start the journey that will lead to total life happiness.
Gretchen is like most of us, she is a mom, married to the love of her life, has a great career, great relationships with her family and friends but felt that she wasn't living the happiest life she was entitled to. So she gave herself a time line, and began The Happiness Project. Decideding on 12 Personal Commandments and tackling a few keypoints each month, the Happiness Project will show us the way to personal happiness.
What I appreciate about The Happiness Project is that Gretchen DECIDED to get happy and found a way to do it.
The book reads like a novel, it isn't just a self help book, all choppy and full of bold headlines. This is Gretchen's story on how she became happier. I always felt that you can MAKE yourself happy if you choose to. This is a very inspiring book and I am taking the Challenge in 2010.
You too, can take the Happiness Challenge starting in 2010. What a great way to really do something good for yourself. And as we know, if we do something good for ourselves, we do something good for everyone we touch in our lives. It's a win-win.
To help you get started with your happiness project, answer the following questions:
1. What makes you feel good? What activities do you find fun, satisfying, or energizing?
2. What makes you feel bad? What are sources of anger, irritation, boredom, frustration, or anxiety in your life?
3. Is there any way in which you don't feel right about your life? Do you wish you could change jobs, cities, family situation, or other circumstances? Are you living up to your expectations for yourself? Does your life reflect your values?
4. Do you have sources of an atmosphere of growth? In what areas of your life do you find progress, learning, challenge, improvement, and increased mastery?
Join in! Promise yourself to make 2010 a HAPPIER year.
Each month, Gretchen will propose an area of life to tackle in your happiness project, and suggest simple, manageable resolutions to help you boost your happiness.
Sign up now! Studies show that taking an action, like signing a pledge, will help you hold yourself accountable for your resolutions.
January--Body
February--Love
March--Work
April--Money
May--Mindfulness
June--Order
July--Spirit
August--Fun
September--Parenthood
October--Friends
November--Attitude
December--Boot Camp Perfect
These categories are just suggestions. The important thing is to get started. Whenever you read this, and wherever you are, you are in the right place to begin.
More? Well, Gretchen will be promoting the book on a tour next year starting in New York. Check the locations here.
The picture is Violence
Ok, well it was not really too violent but he threw a snowball at me and it got all over my very expensive Canon 50D lens dammit.
There is a new face on missionaries. The face is a little more lined, sometimes a little less hair, or maybe a sprout of gray but this face always has a smile.
I had no idea before reading this book how many people are taking their lives in a completely different direction than they had originally intended.
A social worker from New England . . . a Texas airline pilot . . . a homemaker from California . . . a lawyer who has lived everywhere . . . a quilter in Oregon. What do they have in common? All are on the adventure of their lives.
Like many others among the 77 million baby boomers, these men and women don't want to retire from contributing when they retire from their careers. So they are using their time, skills, and resources to make a difference. Written in conjunction with Finishers Project, an umbrella organization that encompasses more than 100 mission organizations, this book will help baby boomers discover a second-half adventure that fits them and counts for eternity.
It's true, why would a bunch of healthy, fit, educated, thinking, striving, individuals simply sit on a couch, watching TV and doing puzzles when they could really make an impact for the better of mankind. This is not your grandparents retirement.
After reading this, I am sure, that if God gives me the breath and the strength to do his work after my children are grown, I will remember this book and take the path that my heart leads me to.
Have you ever read a book that you just wanted to shout about from the roof top? Well, this is the one.
Secrets Girls Keep, What Girls Hide (and why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence by Carrie Silver Stock is a book every girl over the age of 12 should have. Side note: depending on the girl, maybe even younger.
I wish this book was around when I was a child. From page 1, I felt this book spoke to even the 43 year old me.
We all know how hard it is to be a teenager. Come on, I'm 43 and I remember. It wasn't that long ago. Whether you felt awkward, silly, ugly, numb, or whatever your inner feelings were you put on a happy face or you withdrew. This book validates you! Gives you the permission to be who you are!
Chock full of advice from dating, to making friends, handling family drama, cyber space, emotions, lack of confidence and more, this is a book that you should consider for every young girl in your life.
Parents of girls 11 and up, I think this could very well become your bible.
Carrie Silver-Stock is a social worker who founded girlswithdreams.com.What I admire about her is that she saw the problem and came up with a necessary, teenage friendly, hip way to talk to girls. (from girlswithdreams.com) Carrie wants to start a movement and revolution for girls to not only stop putting each other down, but to design a safe place they can get new ideas and support for some of their toughest problems. The mission is simple: to create a place founded on friends, dreams, and action where girls will empower one another to build their best lives. Girls will learn how to be leaders and take action in their own lives and in the world.
Isn't it true? Girls putting down girls or worse beating each other up. We've seen it on the news. It's happening. Girls are girls worst enemies and there is absolutely no reason for it. Jealousy, cattiness, immaturity, whatever it is that makes girls want to compete rather than collabrate needs to stop and this is a great way to get your girls on the right track early.
Q and A with Carrie
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Sample Media Questions for Carrie Silver-Stock , author of
Secrets Girls Keep: What Girls Hide (&; Why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence
1.What inspired you to write Secrets Girls Keep?
I wrote Secrets Girls Keep because after working with young people for over 15 years I continued to see girls struggle, much of the same way that I did as a teen girl. I didn’t feel this was right and I wanted to do something to help teen girls deal with their biggest challenges, from issues with self esteem, to dating, friends, family, etc... I felt it was really important that we let girls know they aren’t alone and give them an avenue to speak to each other and make sure their voices were heard.
2.What secrets are girls keeping?
Girls keep many secrets, from the superficial to very dangerous. I’m more concerned with the secrets girls keep that potentially put them in harms way. These are secrets about their sexuality, teen pregnancy, depression, eating disorders, drug/alcohol use, cutting, and more.
3.What is the cult of secrecy and why are girls hiding?
Secrets are a part of our society and even part of growing up between girls. It’s so often the secrets that cement friendships between girls. However, there are some secrets that even friends stop sharing. Girls hide for many reasons. It might be because they are scared of being less than perfect, they are embarrassed, they are worried about getting in trouble, or they think they are the only ones feeling a certain way.
4.What do teen girls need in their lives to keep from hiding and feel secure?
If teen girls are going to stop hiding and feel more secure, girls need to know they are not alone. They also need places they can feel secure (ideally at home, school, and with their friends). We need to start sharing our secrets and stories about what we’ve dealt with and how we’ve overcome it. Girls need to know it’s okay to make mistakes. We need to work against ending the fierce negative competition that exists between girls and work towards respect.
5.How can girls start to break the stress of silence?
Girls can start to break the stress of silence one step at a time. If they are too scared to talk to anyone about something they are dealing with then they might start by reading stories of other girls. But, it’s important they look for a trusted adult or friend they can open up too. If this is still too scary, they might build on that trusted relationship by talking about things that aren’t as scary.
6.How can parents help their girls do this?
Parents can help girls break the stress of silence in many ways.
-Parents can listen to their daughters, both by what they are saying, and by watching their actions. It’s important to keep communication lines open as best as possible. This is a challenge because starting in middle school parents might feel a shift where friends seem to be more important than parents.
-Let your daughter know it’s okay not be perfect. Our society encourages girls to be ‘good girls’ from an early age. Of course we want our children to succeed and do well, but I believe we put too much emphasis on being perfect and sometimes this creates too much pressure. If girls know it’s okay to goof up, they might be more willing to talk about their mistakes.
-Watch for signs of change in your daughter. This could be a change in friends, sleeping habits, or eating habits. If there is something different, this can be a clue you need to pay more attention. If you think your daughter is having a problem and she denies it, but your gut is still telling you differently, don’t ignore that feeling. Watch her closely. She might be too scared to tell you everything that is going on.
-If you find out your daughter is having a serious challenge, don’t feel like you both have to handle this on your own. Don’t be afraid to get professional help.
This book is something Mothers and Daughters SHOULD read together. What a great idea for a reading group.
I have ordered 4 copies for some of the girls on my shoppping list this year.
If you order now, there is a fantastic special offer included. Go here to place your order and receive.
Here’s What You’ll Get When you Buy the Book
FREE downloadable 11 page Discussion Guide and Companion to Secrets Girls Keep
FREE downloadable 8×10 Girls With Dreams Manifesto Poster
FREE 20% off Coupon towards purchase at Artistic Sensations.com (A Teen Boutique)
FREE Teen Room Makeover Tips by Kim Gellman at Artistic Sensations
FREE Parenting Tips by Dr. Tim Jordan, M.D. and Coupon towards Camp Weloki
FREE Ebook How to Communicate with Teens and Tweens 101 by Vanessa Van Petten
There is no time like the present to help your girls be the best they can be. Head over to Girls with Dreams and see why I believe this to be the new parents of girls bible. Secrets Girls Keep by Carrie Silver-Stock should be on every girls book shelf.
Ok, so it isn't too far back but back in August 6, 2006 my baby girl was almost 1.5 years old. Yes, I know she looks about the size of a 9 month old but I rest assure you, the pixie was older.
In this shot she is eating cheese doodles which is something I would have never let my first born do at such a young age. This was a different kid. She was sharing the bag with her daddy. One for you, one for me kind of thing. I thought it was so cute and had to grab the shot.
Outside my window... cold, snow, icy, gray but expected to be high 40's today.
I am thinking... Hours this week have to be used wisely as the kids last day before the New Year is Friday.
I am thankful for... being done with my shopping, good friends, and my health.
I am wearing... Grey jeans, white long sleeve shirt and a gray accent shirt.
I am remembering... Watching New Moon with my girlfriend yesterday and how badly I want to see it again. We had the theater to ourselves until 5 minutes before it started when 6 other people showed up. Although we drove through an ice storm to get there, it was our first time "out" without kids in the 4 years that we know each other. We knew if we didn't see it now, we would be waiting for the DVD. You can barely see me standing on the steps surrounded by empty seating.
Shutterday has a theme every Saturday. This week: Nostalgia - Show us pictures of when life was as good as it was ever going to get, or something that reminds you of that. Remind US.
For me, Nostalgia could be so many things in my life but the one that changed me and made me what I am today is this one. This is the first photo ever taken of me as a mother. Can't see me? It doesn't really matter. This is my son's very first photo if you leave out the hospital photographers. At the time I called him "my prince".
I never felt complete until my children were born. This is the beginning of life for me. Everything before this moment, paled in comparison. This is LOVE.
I have an amazing product to tell you about. This past Monday, I received a Sensor Soap Pump to review and try out from a company called Simple Human.
The company description reads: The sensor soap pump dispenses soap touch-free to help avoid the spread of germs. Simply place your hand under the sensor to dispense soap automatically. An intuitive LED display lights up when the sensor is activated. Four volume settings allow the pump to dispense preset amounts of soap or lotion. Operates on 4 AA batteries (not included).
In A Nutshell: I love this product. It makes me feel like I have a little bit of glamor in my family friendly bathroom. Only this high tech gadget is completely family/child friendly. The kids want to wash their hands as often as possible. I used to have to remind them to wash their hands when they went to the bathroom, now they go into the bathroom just to wash their hands.
I would love to buy one of these for each of their classrooms. With flu season being early this year, swine flu, H1N1, and more this is a product that is a necessity in our lives.
If you have someone on your list this year that loves high tech gadgets, loves the latest and the greatest, loves cleanliness, has a soap fetish or whatever, this soap dispenser will be a hit. It is priced right for wherever you need soap. The bathroom, the kitchen, the office, school, the doctors office. You can fill with lotion, dish detergent, hand soap, sanitizer, whatever your need.
Plus the company has three types depending on your decor; nickel, white and black.
My baby girl loves singing, but look at the mouth, the hair, the hand, is this not Cher?
Yesterday when I picked Goddess up at school she informed me that she didn't get a sticker today because "I didn't do the right thing!"
When I pushed she said, that after snack, she was supposed to either color, do a light bright or play with clay. She and her buddy decided to run around.
"I really, really wanted to do the right thing Mommy, but my brain wouldn't let me."
Two days ago I received A Tassimo (insert Angels singing here). Is it possible to be in love with an appliance?
When they told me they were sending me a Tassimo to try out along with some of their coffee samples, I was floored. Are you kidding me? I am going to get to try a Tassimo? When it arrived I wasn't there to answer the door. I made a pot of coffee while my husband took his "power nap" on the couch waiting for him to wake up. As I headed downstairs to grab some papertowel I saw the box in the hallway. It was like Christmas morning staring at the black box with the gold "Tassimo" on the side.
What, huh? Tassimo came and I made a pot of coffee?
I shut the pot of coffee off, pushed it over and opened the the Tassimo box. Really, what is it about new appliances that make people happy?
The set up was easy, I read the directions, plugging it in, pouring water in the back, running it in clean mode, inserting the filter (we all know filtered water is important for a really good cup o' Joe). Picked the coffee I wanted to try and let me tell you that was the hardest part. Tassimo was kind enough to send many samples; Starbucks, Starbucks Cappucino, Chai Tea Latte, Gevalia, and Hot Chocolate.
I picked the Starbucks Cappuccino. First you take the milk disc, shake it up, insert, press the button, wait for the orange button, take out disc, insert espresso disc, press button, wait for orange button, remove and behold the beauty of a true cappuccino with the visual, taste and exquisite taste that allows Starbucks to charge over $4.00 for a medium coffee. But at home you get it in half the time, 1 minute to a wonderful cup of coffee in your own home. Yummy!
Then my husband woke and he tried the same, while I had my first of many since then Chai Tea Lattes. In my personal opinion the Chai Tea is the reason to BUY the machine but that is just me.
Why give all your money to the coffee houses when you can get a perfect cup of coffee in the comfort of your own home?
There are four types of Tassimo machines to suit your individual needs retailing for $129.99 - $199.99.
If you have a hot drink lover in your home, this is the perfect gift. Whether it is coffee, tea, lattes, cappuccinos, or hot chocolate this is the gift that will NOT sit in the box in the closet.
There is a special going on right now at Tassimo Direct. Purchase the TASSIMO Hot Beverage System for $169.99 (including shipping and handling) and receive 4 FREE packages of T DISCs as our gift for joining the TASSIMO Subscription Service and get FREE SHIPPING! View program details
For my videos of using Tassimo go here and here and watch me again make a fool of myself.
Wish you could smell this fresh coffee brewing.
If you have any questions about this review, please feel free to contact me directly at ree026 (@) optonline.net.
Thank you Tassimo for sending me a the machine and all the samples. I am a very happy women.
Let's run the numbers and see who it is.....shall we???? Ok, here we go....66 entries - 6 incorrect entries leaves 60....
The winner is
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
8 - Clarissa
Timestamp: 2009-12-11 19:53:16 UTC
Congratulations. An email was sent to you, please contact me directly if you don't receive one. Just a reminder, you have 48 hours to claim your prize or another winner will be selected.
I have been having major computer problems lately. Please bare with me as I struggle with the desire to take a sledge hammer to my beloved laptop. What used to take me 10 minutes now takes me approximately 2 hours. No lie. It takes everything I have everything I have to keep my cool.
I am typing this up on my husband's laptop because he isn't home yet so doesn't need it. How silly to struggle all day and have this sitting closed and off. Why not use it?
Since I haven't uploaded anything new, I am posting another shot of my photo shoot with Goddess.
My little actress cracks me up. She is a natural model. I love all the faces and movements.
I have it from a reliable source that Kendra Wilkinson is in labor. Cuutteee!
Kendra was my favorite Girl Next Door! I was upset when she left but then she got her own show "Kendra". Kendra” The Complete First Season DVD will be available January 5th from Fox Home Entertainment
If you haven't seen Kendra's show yet, here is a description.
Kendra Wilkinson has left the Mansion! “The Girls Next Door” star has a new life and a new baby due Christmas Day. Also arriving at the holidays is the first season of her all-new reality series. See what’s in store for Hugh Hefner’s former girlfriend as she builds a career, plans her wedding and makes a new life for herself and husband, NFL wide receiver Hank Baskett. Don’t miss any of her incredible story and get more of Kendra when “Kendra” The Complete First Seasondebuts on DVDJanuary 5 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Originally airing on E! Entertainment Television, the series finds Kendra in the crossroads of her life as she leaves behind her former lifestyle and ventures out to live on her own for the first time. Leading up to a lavish wedding ceremony where the two lovebirds tie the knot, the series also features many celebrity movers and shakers including Hefner, Brittany Binger, Amber Campisi and Kendra’s Mom, Patty Wilkinson.
Premiering as the highest-rated series debut on the E! Network since 2002’s “The Anna Nicole Show,” “Kendra” out-performed all premiere episodes of “The Girls Next Door” in the adult demographic. Packed with exclusive special features including a bonus episode, blooper reel and episode teasers, the “Kendra” The Complete First SeasonDVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $22.98
Kendra has come a long way from Playmate to Mommy! You have to love someone who makes no excuses and lives their lives the way they want to.
When Us Magazine asked Kendra some pregnancy questions here is what she had to say:
Do you feel prettier pregnant? Kendra: I have never felt this beautiful! The one thing I love about being pregnant is my skin, I used to have the worst acne. My whole life it's been horrible -- on the Girls Next Door, it was disgusting. This is the best skin that I have ever had in my life!
What's the best thing about being pregnant?
Kendra: The greatest thing is probably just feeling like a queen. Everybody does everything for me. And Hank is always just giving me unconditional love -- that different type of love that I've never felt before.
If you were to give Kendra some advice on parenting what would you tell her?
POM Wonderful sent me over a case of POM juice in order to write this review.
Ever since I was a child I knew there was something special about this juice. Every year my parents gave my sisters and I a "Chinese Apple" once a year.
Now years later POM Wonderful is doing what I couldn't do as a child; they get all that delicious, juice out of the fruit without the pink fingers. I downed the first bottle of juice in record time, it was of course, delicious as I had remembered. The second bottle I decided to savor and research. 1st Finding: It is delicious. 2nd Finding: It has mega health benefits
Whatever your taste buds like, you will find something at the POM Wonderful recipe link that makes your mouth water.
I think the 3rd bottle will be my experiment bottle. There are so many drinks I want to try. Like this one called the POM Truffle. I hear truffle and my interest is peaked.
My Blue Monday this week is a picture of my first painting. Notice the date? 1993. I had taken a painting class on a Tuesday night. It was my first class and I was so excited. I told my boyfriend ("shithead" who put me in therapy)I was leaving for class and headed out.
I lived with my boyfriend and in the same town as my best buddy (my now husband). Class was only 8-10 minutes away from my house and walked in so excited to be doing something I always wanted to do. When I left class, I was so proud of my painting. Never feeling especially creative and very low on self confidence, it still looked good to me and my self esteem at the moment was soaring.
Driving home I kept thinking how I couldn't wait to show "shithead" or well what the hell, his name was Michael. Why not, I don't owe him the benefit of an alias. I got out of the car with my painting, opened the door and walked to the bedroom. Mike was still awake but was trying to go to sleep because he worked a crazy 11:30-5:00 a.m. thing. Knowing that he was exhausted I said, "Mike!?" He said, "hey honey, how was class?" I told him it was great. "Look what I made." He said, "honey I am sure it is great just put it in the kitchen and I will look at it when I get up later."
Still holding it, I held it higher, still smiling and right in front of eyes, :"Mike just open your eyes and look, let me know what you think."
"Babe, you know I have to wake in a few hours, I will look at it later ok?" Then he gave me an air kiss and I walked deflated, into the living room.
Dejected I sulked for a few minutes, called my buddy who wanted to know how it went, I told him it was fun. He said, "come over for a while, we can hang out side". So I headed out to my buddy's house. Mike was sleeping so I didn't even mention that I was leaving.
I pulled in front of now husband's house, and he was already outside. He walked over to my car and I got out. He was like, "Dude, let me see it!" I took the picture out of the trunk.
He took it from me and "holding it up examining it from every angle said, "You did this? I can't believe it. This looks amazing. Wow, dude you did an awesome job. I am so proud of you."
I felt my crushed self esteem getting bright again.
Years later, when we were talking about possibly moving our friendship into something more, something he had always wanted but never told me until I finally said something; he told me more about that first night of painting.
"You know when you had that painting class? The very first one you took?"
I said, "yes".
"Well, I watched you that night. I stood outside the window and watched you paint that picture."
I was floored and teary. What a sweet thing to do and then never telling me. No fan fare. Just something he wanted to do because he loved me. Just one of the many reasons I married HIM and finally smarted up enough to know that my special "dude" buddy was the one I should stop looking past.
