*Edited to include a few things I forgot/didn’t know about.
I have been thinking about writing this post all week because I keep forgetting I have a sideblog (move your eyes left and down) and before I know it I have a whole list of links I want to share with the Internet that would swamp the poor thing.
Plus, I just have bits and bobs of news to share.
Plus, plus, I have been trying to be a bit more focused and deliberate with my posting. I have been a total slacker lately.
Plus, plus, PLUS, I am trying to avoid thinking about the age-old blogger dilemma of if posts I’ve written on a touchy subject should see the light of day or not.
Here ya go. Enjoy. :)
- I’m gearing up to start a 6-weeks stint as an LG “TextEd Ambassador”. If you have tweens/teens that use cell phones you might want to chip in your 2-cents on this week’s topic, “Mobile Meanness”.
- My good friend, Karen, never ceases to amaze and inspire me. And she was a really good sport that one time at Olive Garden when I asked the waitress to take take an anniversary “Lady and the Tramp” spaghetti photo of us to document all our devoted years being in love. (I’m an interesting person to have as a friend. I like to keep things lively.) She and 3 friends have teamed up determined to finally lose the weight that has been their life-long foe and have just started a blog to get support, accountability and community. Having been right where they stand (Hi, I weighed 300 lbs and was total “pity date’ material in high school and college, remember?) I admire the hell out of them.
- Sandi has an insanely hectic life (Hello, 15 children=hectic. She runs a tight ship like you couldn’t believe. It’s a happy house, y’all. I’ve seen it.). Sandi has been there a lot for me and I love her dearly. She has walked a hell of a walk (as have I). This is one of the most honest, gut-wrenching looks at divorce, kids, adultery, true love, and what it can all do to your life for the not-so-good and the good and how feelings can change and things can mend and heal but still remind us not to charge willy-nilly into pain. (Love you, Sandi.)
- Ads the like of which we are never likely to see again. (My jaw dropped, dudes.)
- I totally did the “I-can’t-sleep-do-to-thinking-about-things-I’d-rather-not-so-let’s-buy-pretty-stuff-online-Loralee” last night and bought this bracelet in mustard from Allora Handmade. (She was sold out at The Creative Connetction.)
- Speaking of The Creative Connection, I love the photos that Tiffany took of the conference. (She took that purdy one above as well as the one below of me as “The Creative Connection Fairy”.). If you are in the Seattle area and need a photographer? The Fancy Farm Girl is your woman.
- *After posting, the lovely Lauri Tweeted that this video was up. I have been trying and trying and TRYING to convey how PRETTY everything was. Every meal was like a wedding. Well…HERE YOU GO. (Seriously, it was insanely awesome.)
- I love Palinode. (Just look at his “official seal”. How could you not like the man?) He makes me guffaw. As did this short take on a couple of movies. (Snort)
- Here is some listening music for you on this fine Sunday. I am currently “heathen status” but I have a fine appreciation for hymns and this is one of my very favorite pieces of music, ever. I have cried in performance 3 times in my life (which when you realize how much I perform is not a bad track record) and performing this arrangement at The Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake with 2,500 singers, full symphony and the organ open full force pretty much made me sob like the little girl I am. (And if you are in Cache Valley on October 9th, please join us for a concert of Mac Wilburg arrangements. This piece included. We sound effing awesome, people. :) )
- Don’t forget about my $100 give away and 6-month supply of 8th Continent ($50 ERV) where we cop to our individual moments of “fail” as parents. Would love to hear what yours is. :) )
And finally…
Does this bag make my butt look big? ;)
Photo credit: The Fancy Farm Girl (duh)
Since I’d rather you just read the links and enjoy your day, feel no need to comment, y’all. Unless you have a link you’d like to share with all of of us! (I’m always looking for fun, interesting reads). Or, if you just want to tell me my butt looks awesome. Then by ALL means, go ahead. :)
I love you. I hope we are friends for freaking EVER!!!
Thank you for the nice words last night. When you throw a post like that for the world to read. It’s scary shit. I have been tip-toeing around the scary subject, but really wanted to save some people that I love from the HELL! Things have been so good with my ex lately, things have gotten better with the nanny, and then I go and share this whopper with the internet. (I am hoping they don’t read the blog.)
Thanks for being my friend in good shit and bad shit!!
You know I adore you, woman. And I hope things remain good on the Ex front (or that they don’t read). But honestly, I am sure you did a huge service to many people reading.
There’s a chance I’m speaking at a conference in March in Newport Beach. If I do? YOU AND I ARE SEEING EACH OTHER, WOMAN!!!! :) xo
My daughter loves your creative fairy outfit!!! The skirt and tiara made it for her!
You look happy!
M
I love that beautiful song. What a privilege it must be for you to be in the choir, lifting your voice to the Lord.
I am curious: considering that your voice is such a beautiful gift, and you can choose to use it any way, and you choose to use it to sing hymns, I am wondering if singing hymns makes you feel closer to God?
I love singing hymns. They make me feel peaceful. In some way, they help me understand my faith a little better.
Singing is pretty much the only spiritual aspect of my life, so yes…I would absolutely say that. I’m not looking to understand it better, I just love the way I feel when I participate or listen to very great music.
Honestly, if going to church/praying/etc. felt the same way? I’d do it. ;)
I have to say I had already read Sandi’s post and I was freaking AMAZED and same as you thought the post was amazing…I am glad that you put it up so that many, many more will get a chance to read it!
Oh and yes your butt is super ubber sexy and no that bag doesn’t make it look big ;)
That one just haunted me. I love that woman.
I didn’t know you visited Maggie’s Farm! That is a fun place to go.
I was browsing the links on Lex’s blogroll and I about sprayed Diet Coke on my screen when I saw her post. “They’re happy because they eat LARD” Ha!
“Come Thou Fount” moved me to tears, to my surprise. Although not of Tabernacle Choir quality, the hymns sung in the small small church of my youth were beautiful music. What a loss that churches have come to the insipid stuff of today’s “contemporary” service!
We’re still very conservative in the LDS sector regarding music in services (though I don’t attend any longer). I love hymns. Always have. I’ve been singing in choirs since I was 10. My mom was the director and I had a great voice at an early age.
Ma’am, if you want “conservative” in music, check out Eastern Orthodox hymnography. A few samples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEHJY0T9RsQ&feature=related
OK, I “can’t” resist any longer, I gotta go with that old “And then the fight started” joke – No, the bag doesn’t make your butt look big…your butt makes your butt look big. (sorry, sorry, sometimes the temptation gets to be too much)
Whew! Got that out of the way….so, on to my real thoughts – if skinny you thinks ANYTHING makes your butt look big you need a 2 x 4 attitude adjustment. But I know where you are coming from. A few years back my wife had lost 80 pounds, then her son got activated and sent to Iraq…it all came back. (so did he, everything fine, thank you) Now we are both struggling to get it off again.
LOL. No, I’m good, Joe. I was just making a funny. I actually have a pretty good body image because I used to weigh almost 300 lbs and well…everything looks awesome to me after that.
And I understand the weight fluctuation ALL too well. Stress makes me eat my entire cupboard some days. (I’m glad your son made it back safe and sound.)
Thank you, Miss Loralee…but it was still a bit rude. Especially from a newcomer.
(offers her a plate of celery sticks, radishes, with a toasted sesame seed/yogurt dip)
There is NOT ONE THING in this post that I didn’t LOOOOOOVE. First off, thank you for all the links to strong, tough, inspiring women because I greatly need their influence in my life right now. Secondly, I WANT TO MAKE OUT WITH THAT BRACELET. Am buying one immediately. Thirdly, that picture of you alone has convinced me that I must attend The Creative Connection next year. Must.
And fourthly, on a very personal note, for the longest time I couldn’t even hear the words to “Come Thou Fount” without deeply mourning the loss of the family I once had that performed that song in church together. Where it used to shatter me in a million pieces, it strangely puts me back together now. Odd how time heals us.
xo
Lauren
thanks again for the link, loralee! and true story: i bawled my way through come thou font one time as well. i mean, who asks an 8 month pregnant woman to sing a solo in church anyhow? they got what they asked for :)
fount, i meant fount.
LOVE the skirt/tutu thing. Cute butt. ;p
Re: beer ad–well, beer DOES stimulate milk production?! ;p
thanks for helpful post :)