smitten with the mitten

Smitten with the mitten. That's what I am. Especially in the summer. I know there are plenty of beautiful, friendly, amazing places to live. I am a born and raised Michigan girl. If you are from Michigan, you will undoubtedly use your hand to explain where you are from while traveling. Even if you are from the Upper Pennisula. This summer, friends that are not from Michigan, are joining us on the outside of the pinky's fingernail; it's my favorite part. Sometimes it looks like this:
And even this:

As much as I love Michigan, the reason I love it so much is that my people are here. And I'm smitten with them, too.

I'm thinking about getting these. I wonder if anyone will share them with me? In the winter, when I need to remember how much I truly am smitten with the mitten. They are pretty and probably cozy. A lot like Michigan.

Though, they look more like Libya. Go ahead and look. I've saved you the trip.

wordless wednesday

the quest for the perfect stool (trust me)

I watch Oprah. Not everyday. But, I watch Oprah. I watch when Dr. Oz is her guest. I love Dr. Oz. He has great information. And he brings disgusting props for Oprah to hold in her orchid purple gloved hands. Doctors on television may be invaluable to a nation that does not provide healthcare to ALL it's citizens. Outside of the emergency room. But this post isn't about that. So I'll leave that alone. Dr. Oz and others are able to reach and teach about better food choices, the benefits of eating a little 100% whole wheat bread before a meal, how to use a neti pot, your omentum and why you should care about it and the perfect stool. He stresses the importance of the "S" shaped stool. It is an indicator of good health. But, this post isn't about that either. I know. Thank goodness.

It's about another stool. The stool I've been on a quest to find. It had to be taller than a standard chair (17") but shorter than a standard barstool ( 29"). Then it needed to fit my aesthetic; a hybrid of Asian and shabby chic meeting classic and bold. And then, it needed to fit into what I teach my boys is the "good value rule". Which is, what we would be willing to pay for something before we know what the seller is asking. Would you believe I found it? Yep, 29 bucks and it was mine. And blue. Deep water blue. It's not "S" shaped but, I'm feeling fine about it just the same.

So last night I decide to post about my good fortune and wouldn't you know it Alison at http://www.cluckandtweet.com/2009/07/stools.html writes about " stools". Today. What are the chances? You should read what she has to say on the matter. She's hilarious. Trust me.

theMotherhood - Live Chat on Health Care Reform

Today at 1:00pm EST theMotherhood will be hosting an informational live chat on Health Care Reform.

MelissaSchober will be hosting: In addition to being a mom to a toddler, Melissa is an expert in women's health care policy, appropriations analysis, and legislative relations with the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues for Women's Policy, Inc., a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose sole focus is to help ensure that the most informed decisions on key women's issues are made by policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels.

theMotherhood is an amazing site. It is a virtual neighborhood where real friendships are formed and where mothers from all walks of life, at every age and stage support and encourage each other - meeting moms where they are.

To learn more about the live chat, please check out the link below.

http://www.themotherhood.com/circlechat.php?l=55923

And thank you to theMotherhood for hosting this event where women have the opportunity to learn more about this important issue affecting their lives and the lives of their families.

best
Deborah

earning it's name

Last weekend was fabulous. Many of our favorite activities with some of our favorite people. A championship little league baseball game (lost), a delicious picnic with family while listening to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at a local Metropark and a birthday party. I of course, had my everything all the time handbag with me. I almost always do. But, that weekend....it earned it's name. By Sunday night it contained my wallet, keys, cell phone, a pen, hand sanitizer and an umbrella. Sounds fine. I also had a card game, gum wrappers, my son's boxers and two pieces of chicken all floating around in there. I will say the chicken was secure in a sandwich bag and the boxers were only in my handbag because the little guy changed at the birthday party into a swimsuit. However, I did not know the everything all the time handbag could be a trash receptacle, suitcase and picnic basket. You learn something new everyday.

vintage posy is going on the road

SOLD

Four sides of the generous rectangle vintage posy everything all the time handbag. I hear it is going for a road trip to the south. Hmmm....

surprise....it's a frog

We celebrated Austen's (not his real name) birthday 13 days ago. Family and friends in the backyard. It was a very nice day. We had tons of food, much of what we continued to eat for the following four days. The boys played whiffle ball and tag and Austen opened presents. One present he did not have to open. His good friend showed up carrying a plastic cage with an American Green Tree Frog. His mom was with him. Stunned, my husband quickly thought of both my son's feelings and this happy frog carrying boy's feelings. This boy was so excited to be giving the "best" gift. But, the mom never asked us. The frog also came with a tub of food. Live crickets....live crickets that we would also have to keep alive by feeding them potato. My houseplants risk their lives in my home every day.

So the frog stayed. Austen was hesitant. He is a HUGE animal lover and is so careful and mindful of animals. All animals. Even the ugly ones. Even the creepy ones. So, seeing little said green frog in a plastic cage when he knows the little green frog would be happier in the wild was a little difficult. Austen kept saying, "I think she likes it in there".....like he was convincing himself. After a few days, he allowed himself to name her "Hopper" ( according to all the research Austen did, Hopper was in fact, a girl). Austen would check on her several times a day, mist her cage and carefully feed the crickets. He was a very caring frog Daddy. By Wednesday of this week, Hopper stared looking molty and bloated. Thomas and I just looked at each other. By that evening, Hopper had made her last hop. We told Austen and he went to the bathroom for a long while. After sometime, we all gathered in Austen's bedroom to sit shiva together. We buried Hopper in the front landscaping. Austen cried because he loved his little green frog. Russell teared up because of his little brother's sadness. Thomas choked up because he wanted to keep that little frog alive for his son, and for his older son's empathy for his brother and for his little boy's love for a little frog. And I cried because in a house full of tough boys seeing their love and empathy for each other is more than one mom could have ever expected from a little green frog gift.