{this moment}...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

~Inspired by SouleMama

(I know it says no words, but I just have to say something!)

My littlest little loving her avocado.  Boy, it's so messy (that and sweet potatoes), but it gives me the greatest joy to clean up after these fun-filled, food slinging, baby meal explorations! 

She's just so darn cute!

Weekend blessings coming your way!

Kelli

Beach 2011

This is what happens when you wear the same sandals all week at the beach.

Happy End of Summer, all!

Here's to cooler weather, turning leaves, comfy sweaters and sock covered feet.

Kelli

Hello...Is it me you're looking for?

I had hoped I hadn't lost you forever.

The way pregnancy tends to go, I was beginning to wonder.

But you're back and I'm oh so glad.

With a few new tweeks of course, but that's ok.

Now you have lumps and bumps, a little more sag and some stretchmarks, too.

Even a battle scar to prove your latest babe did in fact come from your womb.

Your skin is reaking havok and your hair is a wirey mess.

But, let's look on the bright side...

You can fit in your pre-pregnancy jeans again.  And most importantly your wedding ring, too.

Welcome back my non-pregnant self.  I have missed you terribly.

You don't know how nice it is to see you again.

Stick around for a while if you don't mind.

The P-Dub Experience...

Yes, you read that right...

P-Dub.

PW.

THE Pioneer Woman.

Ree Drummond.

This lady...

You might recognize her...

Joseph-Beth Booksellers, in Charlotte, NC, around 6pm (on May 7th) sounded like a Justin Bieber concert. 

Seriously, all us crazy fans belted out like...well...crazy fans when she walked in!

My friend and I (Angela from Angela's Peony Patch) had planned on meeting PW in Atlanta during her winter book tour, but as fate would have it, we weren't able to make the trip and I thought all hope was lost.

But then we caught wind of her "short" Spring book tour and Charlotte was one of the lucky spots!

Boy, we jumped on this like hungry ducks on a june bug...

Seriously.

We were fortunate enough to land some GREAT tickets and were some of the first to meet Ree.

I almost wet my pants with excitement.

Here's another picture of her.  She really is this beautiful.

Though she kept talking about not taking shots from this angle. 

I didn't listen...

And obviously "this angle" isn't a bad one for her.

She also made mention of her beloved spanx.  And tugged at her britches.

Funny gal =)!

While I was snapping away, it never once occurred to me that I would have to actually talk to her when she signed my cookbook.

Yeah...

When they called our group number, we started up the steps and all of a sudden I became a basket of nerves.

I've never met a famous person before.

Nor have I ever met one as inspiring as a mom, wife, photographer, cook and homeschooler.

It got scary...

real quick like.

Here I come P-Dub.  Forgive me if I say something stupid...

I say, "Angela...you go first.  Show me how it's done."

(note: while I'm saying this I'm scarfing down a million Altoids)

This doesn't look so bad.

I mean, she's human like anyone else.

As my momma said, "she puts on underwear in the morning like the rest of us."

Here goes nothing....

Of course I brought her a gift...

Maybe an apron?

then...

I froze.

And giggled.

I did manage to get out a "It's so nice to meet you" in my best I'm terrified, you're famous, I love you voice.

Oh boy...

Nice face huh?

Real nice.

Just the one you want captured on film while talking to your favorite blogger.

If only I could've stuck with the frozen and giggling.

Nope...

All those nerves and I just started yapping.

That's where she asked if I lived near by.

I proceeded to tell her I lived waaaaaay out in the country, but close enough.

Stupid comment #1.

I think she knows something about living "waaaaaaay" out in the country.

Oh, Lord.

She's signing my mom's cookbook here.

I'm telling her that my mom is at a Lee Greenwood concert.

She said, "Well, I can't compete with Lee Greenwood!"

Then the picture lady asked for big smiles and I was wisked away.

But wait...

I had no time to explain that mom was in VA at a Lee Greenwood concert.

Ugh...

Of all the things I could have said.

You rock.

You inspire me in everything you do.

I want to be a Pioneer Woman when I grow up.

I love your chicken salad.

Giggle, giggle....

"Yeah, that's my mom's...she's at a Lee Greenwood concert."

giggle.

Stupid comment #2.

Oy vey.

But she was very gracious.

Ree~ if you're reading...

You rock.

You inspire me in everything you do.

I want to be a Pioneer Woman when I grow up.

I love your chicken salad.

And Lee Greenwood~ if you're reading...

I've seen you three times since I was five years old.

Me and my mom love you.

I'm proud to be  an American, where at least I know I'm free.

But no offense...

You're no match for PW.

Sharing this on Works for Me Wednesdays over at We Are That Family

&

Things I Love Thursdays at The Diaper Diaries!

Peace out,

A Bowl Full of Random...

(painting by jackson pollack)

Wow...

Things have been crazy this last week.  So busy I haven't had time to blog.

But I'm hoping to get  back on track here soon.

In the mean time, let me give you the rundown of what's been going on in my life and my noggin'...

Birthday style!!  

In honor of my recent celebration of 31 years on this earth, I give you just as many random tid bits...

1) We're looking at cars.  Vans, specifically.  And it isn't a fun process.

2) Emma has taken to the terrible two's prior to turning the trying age.  Say that five times fast.

3) I ate sushi for my birthday and it was heavenly.

4) I'm late on accepting and nominating awards...my apologies to Bri and Mandy, but thank you both!!

5) I'm up to my ears in sewing aprons.

6) I'm also sewing Emma's Easter dress.

7) I have failed miserably at not consuming soda during Lent.

8) I praise Jesus that my salvation does not lie within the walls of a Dr. Pepper can.

9) On a more serious note, Palm Sunday was a thought provoking day...in church I read the part of a doubting criminal that hung beside of Jesus.  My specific line, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us all!" I found that part fitting seeing that I often doubt Him in my own life.

10) Many people are in my prayers right now.

11) I get to see my momma in four days and I couldn't be happier because of it.

12) I pat the baby in my sis-n-law's tummy yesterday and it took me back to when I pat my own pregnant belly.  I'm getting the fever it seems...

13) Speaking of fever, I'm reading "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" and I've never felt more enlightened about womanhood then I feel now.

14) I don't say, "I'm proud of you" enough...to my husband, to my daughter, to my friends.

15) I constantly think about writing a book.

16) God constantly tells me to write a book, too.

17) I haven't listened yet.

18) Jon and I enjoyed a date night on Saturday and my favorite part was holding his hand.

19) I dropped Emma off at the sitter's this morning and she cried and cried (which is unusual).  I wanted to quit my job and hold her forever.

20) I cried most of the service on Sunday...Jesus has a way of doing that to me.  Thank you for loving me, Lord.

21) My best friend is coming next week and I get to meet her new little boy.  I already love him so much and I have yet to lay eyes on him.

22) I wish I had an eye for style...both for myself and my home.

23) I'm meeting The Pioneer Woman on May 7th.  If I could do a cartwheel, I'd do 50.

24) Emma calls the witches on Princess movies bad ladies.

25) Apparently the woman in front of us at Wal-Mart resembled a witch because Emma repeatedly yelled out, "Bad Lady, Bad Lady, Bad Lady!!"

26) I wanted to crawl in a hole and hide.

27) I don't like skinny jeans.

28) Having said that, last week I wore maternity pants and a maternity tank top on two separate occasions.

29) I'm not pregnant.

30) I repeat...I don't like skinny jeans.

31) My heart is blessed by those that have read this list in it's entirety!

Love ya'll!

Things I Love Thursday: Dimple Smooches

(photo of Emma the week we came home 04/08)

I love smooching my girl's dimples.  My gracious, there's just nothin' on earth like it.  Back then I could just nuzzle and kiss to my heart's content.  Now she runs from me saying, "No Mommy, no tisses!!"  But I always manage to snag a couple anyway.

Do you have dimples in your family?

Have you kissed them lately?

If you haven't...Good golly you're missing out!  Go smother those sweet little crevices with some love!

And if you have...Go kiss them again!

Blessings Ya'll!

 

Things I've learned from the Stomach Flu....

Sorry, I've been MIA the last couple of days.  I had (and still have) several posts in store for the first few days of the new year, but as fate would have it, the entire Mayhorn clan came down with the stomach flu.  We're starting to feel a bit normal again and are well on our way to a full recovery, but it's been a rough week to say the very least.

Here's a few things I learned from the process...

(by the way, if you hate the words vomit, puke, regurgitation, hurl or diarrhea...then stop reading now!)

1) First and foremost...I learned that it is within my being to NOT throw up when my daughter pukes all over me.  I wasn't so sure at first.  And it was a test.  I was pushed to the very limits of my strength, but I succeeded.

2) Dogs don't mind being hurled on or help in the clean up.  Gross, I know.  But God love her that she loves my girl that much.

3) Stomach bug + milk and your child = really, really, really, really, really, really BAD in all ways, shapes and forms.

4) First of the year weight loss goals have officially been achieved.

5) And I have kicked my caffeine habit too seeing as all I could stomach was ginger ale and chicken broth.

6) Like a really stinky perfume spray from the Macy's cosmetics aisle, so too is the smell of milk vomit stuck in my nostrils.

7) From #5...it's stuck in my carpet as well.

8) From #5 (and 6)...it's stuck in my dog's fur also.

9) My house looks like I have housed desperate, ravaged, and hungry refugees, only our diet of saltines and pedialite made them trash the place in search of more sustenance.

10) I never want to see my laundry room again.

Praying you all stay well this icky-sicky season.

Conversation with a 20-month old...

Emma wanted to watch her Thomas movie for the forty trillionth time today.  I had to distract.  It worked for a little while at least.

Emma: Where Thomas, toot too, mommy.

Mommy: Upstairs

Emma: Oh

Emma: Mommy, Eiiidy (Lady the train) Thomas, toot toot?

Mommy: In your bed (she has a stuffed Thomas)

Emma: Oh

Emma: Mi na mi na na Thomas, toot too? (Sorry, I only made out the last part)

Mommy: In your room (again, referring to the stuffed Thomas)

Emma: Oh

Emma: Thomas toot toot

Mommy: He's not down here, he's upstairs.

Emma: Oh

Emma: Offin mommy boots, Thomas toot toot.  (Mommy take your boots off, Thomas toot toot~ I have no clue)

Mommy: Taking my boots off....

Emma: starts screaming crying

Welcome to our life!

Another PW Post...

Today...

I've heard people are writing on post-it notes how they want their cookbooks signed.  And leaving little notes along the path straight to the table of Ree Drummond.

Lucky...

As fate would have it, I'm four hours away with a promise of a hotel room that fell through and a hubby that doesn't see the need in driving all that way to stand in line (for hours) for PW to sign my cookbook and smile a warm hello...NEXT IN LINE!

Jon, I know you're reading this and all I have to say is...

No more Cowboy food for you!

So...

If I were one of the privileged ones heading to see Ree this is what my post-it would read:

 

(Mall cop: "Ma'am, move along please. Ma'am, there are a lot of people waiting. Ma'am...NEXT!)

I'm only kidding!

I'd settle for...

 

So to those that get to have your cookbook signed...I envy you.  But have a wonderful time.  I'm really not bitter.  And I'll still read your blogs recounting all of your wonderful experiences.

But give me a couple days...

Again, kidding!

Blessings friends!

www.thepioneerwoman.com