Shabbee Tip of the Week

I love natural remedies!!! Here are some of my favorite all-natural (or mostly natural!) remedies for summer!

• Ants? Before you buy those toxic ant poisons, try placing whole bay leaves and/or whole cloves in your cupboards, on your shelves or wherever you see them walking around!
  
• Insect bite? Bee sting? Ouch! Put some ice on it immediately while you make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub it on the sting site and let it dry. It works! Trust me.
• Keep your aloe vera bottle in the fridge for a cool refreshing moisturizer for sunburns or wind-chapped cheeks!
• Sprinkle some baking powder or soda in your bath water to relieve sunburn too!
• Drag your fingernails over a bar of soap before you garden. Keeps the dirt out!
• Too many onions? Chew some parsley from your garden. No breath mints required!
  

"The dandelions and buttercups gild all the lawn; the drowsy bee stumbles among the clover tops, and summer sweetens all to me." -J.R. Lowell

Blackberries

...mmmmm! The girls and I picked blackberries at our local blackberry farm recently. It was HOT and sweaty business, but today we reap the fruits of our labor! Blackberry cobbler for dessert! Jason will be thrilled! It's his fave!!!!







Nothing like a big bowl of cobbler with melting vanilla ice cream on top! Mmmm....

We are so excited to go to Ashley's on Thursday to watch the town shoot off fireworks. She is having friends and food and water and fireworks-sounds like a great combo to me!

We will be a little family of three at the BBQ, though, because Molly is getting ready to leave to go on vacation with her special friend, Kialey. I just love Kialey's family and I totally trust her Mommy-she is a good one. But my tummy hurts thinking about my baby being gone for 4 days. HURTS. I've never been away from her for 4 days before. Is that unusual at the age of 11? She is over the moon, of course!

Also, thanks for understanding about the People post. I have had a lot of you comment and email me directly and that is so nice and refreshing to hear from friends. It hasn't ended well, sadly. I hate that feeling of conflict. I've actually lain awake at night thinking about it. But it is what it is, and I'm going to take the good and take the bad and take them both and there you have the Facts of Life, Willis. Ain't always pretty, but it is what it is.

Happy Monday!

People

"People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only
if there is light from within."
-Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Sometimes people are a huge disappointment.

I've had a weird week with some encounters with people. Different people.

In this small town that I live in, this little bubble that is safe and stifling and yet comforting as well as smothering, I don't often experience displeasurable people. Or if I do it is a hit and miss encounter. But this week...this has been a strange week.

I had a wonderful night out with 6 girls that I went to high school that I haven't seen in *cough* 15 years. It is always great to see the little girls I used to know in a group of grown women. And it was almost like we just picked up where we left off, only with bigger hips, babies and husbands. I love those kinds of people.

I had a great experience with a group of parents who have daughters that I will coach this fall cheer season. I think we will really have some wonderful, supportive, excited parents this year. It always makes things more fun when parents get involved with their children. I like people like that.

I've been spending a lot of time with my own child's tumbling coach, too. She is doing a boot camp for some Mommies and I like to call it a bootie camp because she is kicking my bootie! But I have learned that I need to stop saying "I am not a runner!" because I am! And I have lost 5 pounds! This woman is so very interesting and positive and teaches you to embrace the things about yourself that go along with, but apart from, your physical body. She wants people to excercise to feel good, not lose weight! And that positive mind set is always so motivating and uplifting and makes me say "I can do this! I AM a runner!" even in 105 degree (not kidding) heat. I adore people like that.

But, sadly, I've had some let downs. Disappointments. Crappy situations. I had a run in with a person who has been in my life for years. I know you have people like this in your life. This lady runs in my circle. She knows a lot of the same people I know. Our daughters know each other. And I, (can I be honest here?) I just don't like her. I have tried to like her or excuse her behavior for years. But it has stopped working for me. I have really high standards for myself with the people I allow into my life. Really high. I don't have time or energy or room in my world for inauthentic people, and I normally don't let people like this woman in. But sometimes you just have to suck it up and keep the peace for the sake of those around you,right? This week, I made a poor choice in words and instigated a situation that cut this woman from my life forever. I tried to own my behavior, but in doing so...in being truthful I caused conflict. This is not a bad thing, but the repercussions of it are. I think I have lost another friend in the process. Another friend who loves and cares about this woman.

I know I'm being vague. I'm trying to be careful, you see. I don't want to hurt anyone any more than they have already been hurt and I'm afraid they might read this blog. I almost didn't discuss this situation on this forum. But then I thought to myself...I am an injured party here. And this is my blog. And by censoring myself on this blog I am only hurting ME! So discuss it I will.

It seems sad that as an adult, we can't be honest with each other. I think I must wear rose colored glasses when I look at the world. I assume people will tell me if they are hurt. Tell me if I have offended. Tell me if they don't care for my actions. And then I, in turn, should be allowed to carefully tell them the same. The older I get the more I find out that the world doesn't work that way.

Why?

Recently, this past school year, Molly got her hair cut. She had a stacked, layered haircut that was darling, but super short. She wanted to grow it out. Have you ever tried growing out a stacked, layered SHORT haircut? It is not fun. We went to the salon to have it trimmed and shaped so we could continue in this grueling process of growing her hair out. Her best friend told her at school the next day "I don't really think that haircut suits you." and Molly said "Tell me about it.". Why can't we, as grown ladies, be honest with each other and tell each other that sometimes their haircuts don't suit them? Molly's friend wasn't trying to be mean, only honest. Molly knew that and accepted it. Why can't we do the same?

When did being honest and open become a taboo thing? Why can't I say to someone "You know, I just don't like this person. She has no depth of character. This isn't about the two of us, but I don't care to be around her or have her in my life." and not be condemned for it?

Why?

Sometimes people suck.

Yes I said suck.

And then there are people like Ashley who write posts like these. People who are real and authentic and love me despite me being loud and abrasive and brutally honest. People like my friend Jenny who will call me and say "Are you all right?" when I'm being unusually negative. (I know she really wants to say "What the hell is your problem?" but she, unlike me, operates with a filter.) And my Mother who will read my emails and not say "You probably shouldn't have said that..." but "You are awesome! Rawk on!" because I'm being real. And my dear, sweet husband who has stayed with me for 15 years and embraced my brutal honesty who will say "We are so much better off without that toxic influence in our lives. Forgetaboutit." They don't tell me that what I see as an issue is unimportant. They know that it if is important to me, then it is an issue, no matter how small it may seem in the grand scheme of things.

I love people like that.

So most of the time, change is good. But sometimes, like transplanting a flower, you dig up the plant to change it and it takes a good amount of wilting and settling in before the roots start to grow.

I hate the transplant stage.

Brutal truth.

"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."
-Oprah Winfrey

This Post has no Title!

I just love you guys. You are always emailing me telling me to blog more because you miss me! Aw, shucks, you're so darn sweet! The thing is...I'm so buuuuuusssssy!!! I think we are busier now with the kids out of school than we were all year! But it is a good busy! It is a going to the lake, going on vacation, playing out in the pool, having BBQ's busy! I'm trying to blog at least once a week-more if it is a good week-this summer! I promise to inundate you with my boring rabble full-time once school starts back up! I hope everyone is having a summer like mine. I think it is the best one yet!


On Monday we took the girls to see the Jonas Brother's Concert. It was a really fabulous show! Totally worth the money we spent on our absolutely fabulous seats. Jacy said "I could almost touch Joe right now!!!"

They weren't at all excited.

They asked me if they could go home the entire time. NOT!!!! I have never seen so many screaming girls in my entire life.

I think all of Oklahoma was there. And parts of Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri!


This is before my earplugs went in my ears. 7,000 screaming girls in one room...not the most pleasant sound. But after the plugs went in...ahhh...Jason is the one who brought the earplugs. He is a smart guy!

And yes, he went with! When my friends see the pics I took they are always so surprised to see that Jason went along! I feel sorry for any Daddy who doesn't get to see his daughter in all her hormonal pre-pubescent splendor! He laughs and gets a kick out of them as much as I do and he is in it for the long haul with his girls. He takes them to the nail salon and shopping just as much as I do. So how could he miss the Joe Bros??? Plus he loves Kevin and he was jumping up and down and screaming "I love you Kevin!". Only not.



We've also been at the lake this summer. Our favorite place to be. A fab-oo place to eat watermelon. You get as messy as you want and then you just jump in the lake!! Easy clean up!


We love to knee board and tube on the lake! Go Molly!


Go Jacy!


All food tastes better on the boat!


And Daddy is so relaxed!



For Father's Day we had a BBQ and invited all the dads and granddads. This is the only picture I took because I was having such a fun time harassing all the Daddies! This is my flag cake I made. We also had homemade ice cream! An essential to any BBQ!


And Molly's bday is coming up soon! She has asked for a "Hotel Party" for her birthday! She will having nothing else! We are going to glam it up with a Spa Getaway for the girls! She is getting so old. I can't believe my baby doesn't want a pool party with a Jupiter Jump and Cotton Candy and ponies anymore. Boo hoo!


And I'm lunching and breakfasting and waterparking and softballing and road tripping and so much fun stuff! I hope you all will understand that summer is just so crammed full of fun that the old blog sometimes gets a little neglected! Kinda like housekeeping! But you have to catch up sometime, right!?! So I'll dust it off and use it daily again soon! Thanks for checking back though! I promise to try to post at least once or twice a week! Good blogging friends! Mwah!

Also, don't forget to head on over to the website and download your 4th of July Freebies! I'm still hard at work on designs and blogs and websites this summer! That never gets a vacation so be sure and visit there to see the Featured Artist and whatever freebie I have going on! There's always activity going on over there!

Have a great week!

Summer Checklist

To Do!

1. Catch fireflies in a jar! But don't forget to release!

2. Have a picnic!


3. Eat ice cream and snowcones and hamburgers on the grill. Lick popsicles and Big. Fluffy. Cotton. Candy!


4. Go swimming.

5. Play volleyball!

6. Enjoy waterparks and rollercoasters!
7. Go to the lake with a cooler full of sandwiches and watermelon and ice cold beer.

8. Make sun tea with mint from my herb garden!

9. Pick berries at the local Berry Farm and make a cobbler. Don't forget the whipped cream!

10. Hang an American Flag!

11. Buy peaches and corn on the cob and big sunflowers at the Farmers Market!

12. Make homemade ice cream. Eat it on a quilt in the backyard at night.

13. Take the kids fishing!



14. Ride bikes and rollerblade and play hide and seek in the backyard.

15. Drink lots and lots and lots of lemonade!

16. Draw pictures and color in coloring books in front of the air conditioner.

17. Go to the library!!!

18. Pick wildflowers.

19. Garden in my big floppy hat!

20. Play outside in the summer rain!

Ballet Recital

Jacy just had the sweetest ballet recital! Lovely lovely lovely! I love ballet!!!! It is so sweet and beautiful and little girl-ish! I'm so glad I have a violin-playing ballerina who loves glitter and make up and pink tutus!!!! Yay for girlies!





Jacy's teacher, Miss Mary, is absolutely perfect! At the beginning of the year Jacy said "Mommy! She looks like a beautiful Barbie Doll!" and she does. She was a professional dancer at the Dance Theater of Harlem and has a ballet resume as long as my arm. When I talk to her I feel like one of the girls' Weeble Wobbles they used to play with when they were babies. I try to stand up straight and tall, but I still feel only about 6 inches tall and really really fat. Really fat. Super duper fat. Sigh.


They danced to a beeeeautiful song by Tchaichovsky and it made me tear up with lovely little girl emotion.



We love Jacy's new ballet studio. It is so fun and kid-friendly and has really taught her a lot! We are sad that ballet is over for another year, but we can't wait to start again in the fall!!!!

Free Fourth of July Ephemera

You know you are thinking about it! Come on! You've got a taste of seashells and watermelon and sparklers and American Flags and hay bales and "My Country Tis of Thee!" and bug spray and big loud fireworks and BBQ and corn on the cob! Better get your projects ready too!!! Head on over to the WEBSITE for a ha-yuge bundle of totally FREE Fourth of July Ephemera! Download to your heart's content and get those projects ready for Independence Day!