Being a friend for the "after"

I have a few friends in the midst of serious medical issues with loved ones. I see so many people reaching out via social media, offering kind words, prayers, and virtual hugs. Often, a question is repeated, "how can I help?"

Those words bring me back to a time where I was the person disseminating news of a dear loved one's trauma and recovery. I was being asked, "how can we help?". Sometimes, a tangible answer would arise out of a current need - a lunch here, a phone call there. But most of the time, we simply asked for positive thoughts and prayers.

When a crisis happens, a crowd of caring people rises up to voice their concern, share their support, and to offer assistance.

Disney Update: Frankenweenie and a monstrous sweepstakes

The movie opens across the country in a few days, and you can still enter this spooktacular sweepstakes!

Enter the Frankenweenie Monstrous Sweepstakes for a chance to win a monstrous vacation for four to experience all the fun of Halloween Timeat the Disneyland® Resort. 

Peer support for kids with glasses

I contributed to the Little Four Eyes site today!

Come visit the post: Bifocal Questions and Answers

LittleFourEyes.com is "a community for family and friends of little ones in glasses. A place to share experiences, tips, tricks, and pictures." Such a fantastic resource!

Gooey, cheesy deliciousness

Savory, mouth-watering aroma of aged Italian cheeses.
Bread, handmade that morning, rising as it bakes in a hot, open oven.
Oregano warming within gooey, bubbling red sauce.

 Pizza is an iconic food for many of us. A true comfort food. A convenience food. A football and beer or picnic-by-the-pool food.

#WW: Apple Picking in North GA

"Almost Wordless" Wednesday...

Fall has arrived! In the Atlanta area, we are finally enjoying some cool morning temperatures. We wake while the neighborhood is still dark and burrow further underneath the covers for "just a few more minutes". Amelia and I don our matching hot pink fuzzy socks before heading downstairs to launch our day. By afternoon, we can play outside without jackets and soak in the sun's happy rays.Soon, we will observe the changing leaves nestled along the nearby mountains.

If it isn't right, it is not the end

I have been known to scoff at all those quotes and images friends post all over Facebook these days. And now I must finally admit that one made me sit up and take notice.

"Everything will be alright in the end. If it isn't right, it is not the end." 

Through all of Amelia's eye issues and unsuccessful surgeries, I have often floundered, gasping for breath, in the quicksand of guilt and worry.

Mommy & Me: Beach Babes

Our annual family beach vacation is something I look forward to every year. It is something my family did when I was growing up. We frequented condo #202C on Myrtle Beach year after year, then spent some time at Caswell Dunes on Oak Island when I was a teen. These days, we have a Hilton Head Island tradition. Extended family, fantastic food, extra attention for Amelia, and lots of beach fun.

Did I tell you that we are master sand castle builders?

Disney Update: Did you see the "Sophia The First" commercial?

A new commercial for "Sophia The First" aired on The Disney Channel the other night while we were watching the evening family special "Jake Saves Bucky". It took approximately 0.2 seconds for my princess-loving child to light up, jump up, and exclaim "it's a little girl princess!!!!" She watched in awe, gasping each time a recognized character showed up. The fairies from Sleeping Beauty! Cinderella! Talking animals! 

She was excited, to say the least.

34 Years (a six-word memoir)

34 years, I finally know myself.

"Add an image to your  Six Word Memoir based on...well anything." 

#WW: Office Days

I have the best work schedule of all time. I work when I can, mostly from home, and show my face in the office only two days per week for four hours each time. I do not even remember what rush hour is like (thank goodness)!!!

A view from within the office

Genius, preceded by failure

"We haven't failed. We now know a thousand things that won't work, so we are much closer to finding what will."--Thomas Edison 

Oh, the power of positive thinking. If it were not for can-do attitude, the human race would be deprived of an extraordinary number of amazing things. 

Disney update: The Scare Floor goes 3D

MONSTERS, INC. is returning to for the first time in 3D! 

However, it looks like I have the code for the Nemo 3D trailer... so enjoy that instead! LOL. (I am on vacation, don't judge!) 

A regular day - in photos

"Share a day in your life represented only in pictures  and the time the pictures were taken." 

6:56 a.m.

#WW: Fairy Houses

"Mommy? If we keep growing mushrooms, will fairies come to live here?"

Too hard to let go

When we are in the "ups", the little things shape our world.
Smiles. Crayon drawings. Laughter. Music.

When we are in the "downs", the fog rolls in to cloud our minds and stifle our hearts.
What ifs. Worries. Guilt.

Only parents can understand the power of parental guilt, the heart-squeezing fear of doing something utterly wrong. When rational thought attempts to break through the clouds to let in some light, the guilt can smack it back with tremendous force. I believe there is no greater power on the face of this earth.

Disney Update: Fantasyland is almost ready! Some sneak peeks.

We all have a soft spot for Disney. I especially love the adorable and fun characters and the magical feeling of everything they share with the world. I am giddy when I think of the new Fantasyland opening soon at Walt Disney World's Magic kingdom.

More rides!
More castles!
More entertainment, food, and magic!

A few more sneak peeks were shared on the Disney Parks Blog this week:

Fun Friday - spoiling my girl

Amelia got her new glasses yesterday evening! She was quite upset and angry with me initially, but has since adjusted somewhat. This morning was another little battle, but once again it passed rather quickly.

When my little girl goes through something new, difficult, or sad, I want to make her feel better. I am definitely guilty of showering her with gifts or fun activities to brighten a challenging day.

Since she began the new school year, we lost a "home with Mommy" day. So Fridays are special to us. The only day remaining where she and I are on our own with nowhere to be.

Today, I declared a "Fun Friday!" We have had a fantastic morning.

Losing weight - it's just science

I cringe when I hear of yet another friend on yet another gimmick diet. I want to scream when I see commercials on TV like the one where they exclaim, "eat whatever you want, just shake this stuff on your food!" Ridiculous.

Losing weight is a matter of science. About 3,500 calories = one pound. So if you want to lose one pound per week, make sure you consume 3,500 calories less over one week than you normally would to maintain your weight. That comes to about 500 fewer calories per day.

I began using a calorie tracker in early July (I selected My Fitness Pal via my iPhone). It was able to tell me how many calories I could consumer per day to lose one pound per week. The number differs for everyone, as it should be based on height and weight at the time, plus usual activity level. I started out at a maximum of 1,200 calories per day...

#WW: New things

We have a few new things in our home this week!

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

I have some new glasses - with a
peek of flowers on the side!

Riding in style: from car seat to highback booster

This weekend, we finally agreed that the time had come. Our little girl, growing like a weed, was ready to say goodbye to the convertible car seat. Hello to a brand new phase of growing up.

She is four years and five months old and exceptionally tall. Never less than the 95th percentile, and now only a mere few inches from the limit on the car seat. It has become difficult to buckle and too tight by her legs. So today, she took her first ride in her booster seat in the family vehicle.

Disney on Ice: Rockin' Ever After

October is a lovely time of year in Atlanta. The trees begin to change, the fall breeze cools the air, and a new Disney on Ice show arrives at Phillips Arena! Last October was Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream. Amelia wore her Snow White dress and waved her glow sticks enthusiastically throughout the show.

This year, on October 10th, we will "get our princess on" once again for Disney on Ice: Rockin' Ever After!