And you may be right about that. However, in this case I’m talking about this week’s Ask Away Friday partner – TiaMaria from Becomin Neurotic! Tia is my Facebook friend, my blogging friend, a wonderful supporter to many people, and the mastermind behind a blog about what it’s like to live with chronic illness. Not only that, she is loving, inspiring and funny too.
Be sure to read TiaMaria’s answers to my questions HERE. And now my answers to her questions:
1. You and your husband work hard to keep the magic alive for your children. What has been your favorite magical memory?
Are you talking about for the kids? If so, I’ll work with that right now. It’s so hard to pick just one. The Disney vacation, the Magic Mailman and the puppy.. I think the kittens story might be my favorite because it was just so.. ludicrous – to find kittens in your garden and to think fairies brought them? And if childhood-magic-ludicrosity is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
2. You recently photographed your first wedding and battled a lot of anxiety to get the job done. What is another instance where you’ve overcome anxiety?
Cool. Really. This question gives me butterflies in my stomach in a good way. I can think of a lot of recent episodes of this, but I’m going to go back into the past. It was a year after Cassidy and I had first broken up and I was still in love with him. I thought that maybe since a year had passed, he didn’t know that I still felt that way. It was my birthday and I had always heard that people have more power on their birthdays. So I got advice from my mom, my sister, my friends, even HIS mom, and I did it! I called him and gave him a very grand gesture of love, one that may or may not have included me offering to leave my entire life and run to San Francisco to maybe stand under his window with a boombox playing, “In Your Eyes.”
3. I also love sundresses and flowy skirts. What is another must have in your closet?
Jean jacket! And skinny jeans. Love them or hate them, they are so darn comfortable and they go great under boots, which is another staple of my fall/winter wardrobe. Brown or black boots. I wore skinny jeans while 38 weeks pregnant with Scarlet:
4. Your husband is a Phish fan, but you’re not so much. What band/artist do you love, but him not so much?
hmm.. that’s a good question because I DO love Phish, in that it makes him so happy, it reminds me of some of our fantastic times together, and it is highly soothing for me. I think I just like more of a climax and then an ending with my music. Not into.. 20 minutes of the same jam. That said, to actually answer your question! Well I love Tori Amos and I don’t think he’s ever shown a lot of interest in her music. It hit me at the right time in my life. I do think he’d absolutely be open to seeing her live with me.
5. Besides your camera or computer, what one object can you not live without?
Well I’m glad you ruled those out, because they’re at the top of my list! And I’m not obsessed with objects but those two are my tools for photography and blogging! I’m going to have to say my phone. It’s just that good at keeping me connected.
6. You’ve made 2 cross-country moves. Are you guys pretty settled now, or would you contemplate another big move? Where to?
We’re pretty settled right now and the thought of moving again, even within town, gives me the heebie jeebies, I guess I’d never say never. If money were not a problem, I’d honestly live six months of the year in Sonoma, CA. Without a backwards glance here at buggy summer and dreadful winter. I love a lot of things about being here, although not everything, but a lot of things.
7. What is your favorite tool or app that helps you as a blogger/writer?
I honestly love the WordPress app! I can write whole posts on my phone, although I never do, but mainly it helps me with commenting. Not only do I answer my comments right on the phone while waiting for things or when I have a free moment – for all of you people who ask me why I’m so good at replying to comments – but it also lets me know if someone has replied to a comment I wrote on another WordPress blog. I also love my Bloglovin app for when I’m away but still reading blogs.
8. I’ve been following along with your tales of kittens. Have things calmed down a bit there? Where are you now on being a cat person?
Another cool question! Yes, things have calmed down. There’s a bit more of a rhythm now with feeding, litterbox cleaning, and what to do about their midnight and 5:00m crazies – the answer is to keep them on the first floor of the house overnight! I’m not a cat person. I will never be a cat person. They’re yucky to me. It’s hard to admit this, publicly no less, but I do adore one of them more. Dinah the black and white one has one setting – affectionate. She’s goofy, cuddly, and fearless. Bella the Grey (like Gandalf the Grey, but so unlike Gandalf the Grey) has two complete personalities, and they change by the minute. So she can be all in my face and cuddled into my neck and purring, but the next minute she’s scared of me. It’s one-sided a lot. She only gives me the time of day of anyone, but will tolerate Scarlet. She always has a wet mouth and she farts terrible farts. Want a cat?
9. What is your favorite funny memory of each of your kiddos?
I think it was the day I took a not even three-year-old Scarlet with me to the doctor for Des’ appointment. It involved talk of balls, peeing on floors, and a hamster in a cage. I wrote about it, actually. Link HERE.
10. I love your stories about your husband. Do you have any tips for a successful relationship?
Other than all the usual.. I’d just say to be positive. If you’re having a great date, a great vacation, a great kiss, a great night – don’t use that chance to say, “We never do things like this.” That’s like finding the negative spaces in a wonderfully whole circle. It deflates. Congratulate your partner on successes, and be someone they would turn to when sad, angry, mentally ill, etc.
Be sure to check out our Facebook page “AskAwayFriday” for a great place to meet up and send out a #BuddyRequest if you need a partner to swap with or to just talk about anything #AskAwayFriday!
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Aww, loved that last line and try quite often to dream of the future together and know that we definitely have so much more to come! And by the way, I knew what you were going to say about the cats here and we must be talking a lot lately for me to be able to totally finish your thoughts – love it seriously and wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂
Ha! Maybe that’s the new finish the sentence Friday. It’s where we finish each other sentences! Cats are just not my thing. As I write this there is one very cute one right in front of me. The other one is hiding like a punk!
Omg, that would be an awesome new FTSF and would totally come out of retirement for that one with you!! 😉
And I’d have to join FTSF! I think I did it once but only with one of my ten Ask Away Friday questions.
I remember now that you did do it with Ask Away Friday, but still admit my Fridays are definitely less chaotic now without it, as much as I miss it was the right move for me and the end of my weeks now.
I hear you. I used to try to do more than that… Three cheers for better Fridays!
My blog is a bit down today and you know there is nothing that raises the blood pressure like that!
Definite three cheers for Friday and I am now a bit down as it is official and Emma is truly starting Kindergarten, I got her teacher and room placement in the mail today. Seriously, how did this summer fly by and our kids grow so quickly?!
We got those last week and yesterday was the third of four school sponsored play dates. It went really well but I’m having some sort of PTSD from my own youth. Not cool! I wish I could just cry like a normal person.
We have her “Sail into Kindergarten”, which is similar to what yours sounded like next week and I am so not crying either, but also seemingly having a bit of PTSD from it, too. I should be writing an article right now and just can’t concentrate!
I’ve been having a rough couple of weeks. This is why we are twins. We will get through this.
We are definitely twins and together we will get though this, I promise 🙂
Ooh, boots and skinny jeans – the thought of them gets me excited for fall! I would love to spend summers and winters in California too, and spend fall and spring on the East coast. A girl can dream!
Hey, it could happen! I think the reason I don’t like fall and winter and I haven’t in a few years is because I haven’t had any money to buy fall clothes. This year, I think I should change that. Fall clothes make this girl happy.
Oh those are just such great questions!!!! I just love reading this posts…. I ALWAYS learn something new about you!!! And dammit DAMMIT I want to READ THE STORY NOW!!!!! He didn’t drop the phone and run to you?? WTF???? (Yes- that totally deserves that) Wow. Bless your heart!! That must have CRUSHED you!!
At least I know the ending is good. No one is gonna CRUSH my girl!! Grr……
This is the best. He totally crushed me! I don’t get it! Who doesn’t want someone to make a grand gesture of love?
You will have to read the story to see him redeem himself.
i wore skinny jeans too, just kind of rolled them down over the bump until the hubs finally took me shopping for maternity skinny jeans, what a concept!
That picture of your beautiful newborn Des and Scarlet is amazing!
I too love Tori Amos, especially the Crucify song!
I chose that song because my little brother who doesn’t like anything of that kind of music, likes that song! So I figured it was more for the masses.
I had maternity skinny jeans that I honestly still wore a year after the babies were born.
I’m hoping you don’t get this comment twice, since I got some weird message about my request timing out! The photo of you pregnant is so lovely! Wow, even though I read all 20 parts of your love story, I didn’t remember the part about your husband turning you down after the breakup. I must have forged it out of my memory! You all really do keep the magic alive for your kids. That’s so great! I hope my husband and I are able to do the same for our kids. Life’s just more fun that way!
I think I put that part about the phone call in my story. I will have to find it for you! And nothing is wrong with your computer. There’s something going wrong with commenting on my post!
Love your tips for a successful relationship although I have to admit I need to work on few things still. Can’t believe Cassidy turned you down after you declaration of love!
I know! At least he came to his senses later. And I’m definitely no expert on successful relationships. I just write about the one I’d like to be in!
Trouble won’t sit on anyone’s shoulder but she is mostly attached to me. She usually is either in my lap or sniffing around my laptop while I’m working/blogging.
Mine really likes when I’m working too! I wonder if it’s some sort of comforting hum that is coming from my computer or me! I do think she likes the glowing light of the monitor.
While I’m always sad about the end of summer, fall is my favorite season (and as you know, the best season in New England!). I adore my fall wardrobe…skinny jeans or leggings and boots and a cozy sweater. I’m just bummed that my favorite skinny jeans that fit like magic got worn out by the end of this past spring.
My cat kind of does his own thing for the most part, until bed time and then he’s totally in your face wanting to be snuggled. And he tolerates Eve (that’s really the best way to put it), though he’s very good and occasionally lets her grab his fur and bury her face in it.
That sounds like how our dog is with Des.
Fall really is amazing in New England. I don’t think I even noticed it as a kid but now I can’t help noticing that October is exquisite. And as a parent, there just seems to be no end to the fun you can have.
Skinny jeans are the best with boots. I love my jean jacket too:)) Just downloaded the wordpress app. Where have I been ??? It will make replying to comments so much easier – which I am sooooo bad at!!!
It makes it so easy, but something is wrong with mine today and it’s not taking. And comments on my blog itself are weird. Usually it works well, though!
You were made for skinny jeans!!! I can’t wear them (too hippy!!!) – oh well.
I read your whole story awhile back about you & Casidy but I didn’t remember the birthday call and you getting shot down! Glad that worked out after all!
You’re not the first to say that, so I need to go look through my story and find it. I must have written about it for sure. Luckily the good stuff outshone it.
Ha! this post reminded me of when I was little and we had a cat and I found out cats fart too. It also gave me a peek into what it might be like when the new baby comes…oh the funny things JR might say and repeat. He says a lot now. He will be a lot closer to 3 when we have number 2. So nice of you to have taken one for the team to get the cats that Scarlet wanted so much. I’m sure she is loving it!
Scarlet was just about three when Des was born. It was really a wonderful age difference.
Second attempt at commenting, sorry – not sure what happened. I dream about the west, too. And we agree on Sonoma. I love flowy skirts, sundresses and skinny jeans, as well. And so it continues…
You know, you’re not the first to say that. I wonder if something is off with WordPress because it won’t let me easily reply to comments in my app either.
Luckily it seems to be working somewhat! Maybe hostgator is the problem.
Moving on, I will always think of Sonoma in the fall because I was there several years in a row in the fall. Miss it!
I agree with you completely about being someone your husband can go to when things are difficult! My husband was going through a tough time at work a few years ago, and he didn’t want to tell me because he didn’t want me to be worried. When he finally did sit down and talk with me, he felt so much better! It’s good to work through those tough times together.
Thank you for trying again with the comment. I have no idea what’s going on today but nothing raises blood pressure like website problems.
I’m so glad your husband chose to talk to you. And that you both got to feel better about it.
Nice post. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Lady Lilith! Hope you have a beautiful weekend with lots of photos.
YES to the skinny jeans, year round! I agree. When I am with my husband (alone or not) I try to find the positive even if it is a hard time because Lord knows someone out there has it worse.
You are so right and what a refreshing, and sad, but true way to look at things. I will just think of skinny jeans right now!
Totally got the WP and Bloglovin’ apps per your awesomeness at commenting! I love your stories on how you keep magic in your kid’s lives! Super cute. I can’t believe Cassidy said NO! I’m so glad he changed his mind. 🙂
I’m so glad too! He had a live-in girlfriend, so I guess it’s totally valid that he had to say no then.
The WordPress app is giving me trouble today, for some reason, but it is such a timesaver.
WP has some pretty terrible reviews so I’m hesitant to start using it. Glad you told me so I don’t start today! If you think about it, when it starts working right, let me know. 🙂
Interesting because this is the first time I’ve had trouble with it in ages. Do any of the reviews complain about the commenting system? That’s the problem I’m having. They still go through but I have to hit the “reply” button tons of times. I’m wondering if I need to uninstall and reinstall it.
Ok so I uninstalled and reinstalled and it’s no change. Checked the reviews and it turns out that the las update on August 11th was screwy for many. Hoping a new update is released immediately!
YAY! Such great answers! HOW did I miss the kitten’s name is Dinah? Now I want to watch Alice in Wonderland. I have the WordPress app, but I’ll have to look into Bloglovin, so thanks 🙂 I heart Tori Amos, she’s one of the ones I’ll scream along to on the anxious days, so there’s a tip for you 😉
Thanks so much for swapping this week, it was a delight! I hope you have a great weekend full of magic and happiness 🙂
I love your questions so much and they were challenging which I love even more.
And we totally got the kitten name from Alice! Scarlet fell in love with that little cutie in the cartoon movie.
I love your ask away Fridays because I feel like a fly on the wall…a quiet fly! Loved this post!
And today – the fly talked! Thanks for helping me troubleshoot this. It’s an annoying problem to have!
Natalie wants a kitten too. One day we told her she could have one. So far, we just have Max the Cat. I’m a total cat person. Dogs freak me out. And they know I don’t like them, because they always bug me. It’s awkward when I’m meeting a person for the first time and they have a jumpy dog and I’m trying to push it away nicely. Most of them understand. Some of them are like, “You don’t like dogs? Weirdo!” Tom and Natalie would LOVE a dog. Tommy and I keep saying no.
I can’t wear skinny jeans. I eat too many cookies and they look weird on me. Boo.
That’s funny because I don’t like cats but they love me. I wonder if they’re all sniffing us out to get us to love them too.
Who knows?
The worst is when someone has a crotch-sniffing dog. Awkward! My dog never does that. Also, she’s too short which is nice.
I eat a lot of cookies too, and many trends look funny on me!
I couldn’t imagine moving either. It would be so overwhelming trying to pack up a whole house. It was tough just moving out of my 500 sq. ft. apartment I lived in before I got married.
I have to finish reading your “How I Met Your Father” series. I haven’t made it to the breakup.
Well thank you for reading up to that point! You’re still in the nice part of the story.
I think that historically, moving has been easier for me at some points. Usually if it’s a giant upgrade – like from a place I didn’t like to a place I did like.
I loved our condo so moving from it was really hard, even though it was to a house. And I was pregnant. It was terrible because of that.
I once read an article from Oprah that was something like, “How to Know if Your Partner is Forever” (I think I butchered it) but one of the questions the article post stuck with me, “Would you trust your partner to pick your assisted living home?” Your last sentence totally reminded me of it when you said to be the person they turn to when…I love how focused you are on staying positive and full of light. Your energy is magnetic! I think you’re onto something with that birthday power thing. I want my birthday to come now! What will I use my power on? I don’t know…but LOL at Cassidy shooting you down. Not funny at the time but just look at you now. Too funny!
That is such a deep question!. And that is something that would take a lot of trust!
It is pretty funny that he shot me down so badly. He had a live-in girlfriend at the time so I guess we can give him that, right?
I had very little power on my birthday this year. Or at least that’s what I thought. Maybe I had more than I knew.
I know we all have a past and whanot but ew, no. Cassidy with a live-in-girlfriend irks me. It’s not allowed, he has always and will always be all Tamara’s, all the time. GOT IT CASSIDY? lol
Wait. It gets better.
His ex live-in girlfriend has the same name. As his mom.
Oh yeah, that always works out *rolling eyes* My dad’s twin brother married a woman who shared his mom’s name, Anita, and they divorced so he tried his luck with a second wife…named Anita. Also divorced. lol
haha!! You would hope that third time is the charm.
And my mother-in-law’s name is not like.. modern or anything. It’s what you’d picture a grandmother’s name being. Not a girlfriend!
Yes!! Jean Jackets are a MUST! I love those things. 🙂
I haven’t bought myself a new one in years. They have to be very special for me to buy them, and then I wear them out like crazy!
“Life happens as it happens.” Fav quote in a while, and love the preggo pic!
Thank you! I think I was channeling my dad with that one. He is known to churn out some good ones.
Great Swap! I love Tia’s questions and as always, I adore your answers. I love the magic that you great for your kids. I should really do more of that! I love the last few lines of question 10 too and I,completely agree.
Thank you! Not that I’m saying that we practice all of that very well. It’s more like a wish list!
I resisted skinny jeans for a long time but now, can’t live without them in my life. I think that the magical kittens are the best. I also love that you’ve brought Tori Amos back into my life. She was a big part of my college days but I haven’t listened to her in so long!
You will have to excuse my fast reply. I’ve been having commenting problems all day, and since I really depend on them, it’s been stressful!
I was the same way with skinny jeans. First I thought there was no way I would wear them. They just really seem to work with my build and no one really knows about it anyway because I’m just wearing boots with them.
Tori Amos has always been in and out of my life. I really haven’t bought any of her albums in years but I still find her to be magical.
Love the imagery of a furry, purring parrot! My cats are too big to sit on my shoulder, so they sit on top of the coach and lean over me 🙂
Mine are still young! I keep wondering how big they’ll get. The parrot one is looking a bit thick to me.
Ha! I just jinxed myself (read on)! My “request timed out”…what the heck? Lost an entire awesome Comment. Will retype…sigh. My life has been a fairytale every day with Phoenix! I’m a huge Cusack fan and that moment in “Say Anything” absolutely rocks (no pun intended)! Now granted, your pup may have been staring at you for food! But I so believe in dogs feeling and connecting vibrationally with infants in a human mother’s womb. Sounds silly but that’s what I believe. Tori Amos – yes please. Ironic on the what you can not live without question. I’ve had all sorts of technology drama here lately. Slowly getting it worked out. As you know you are my HERO for turning me on to Bloglovin’! I’m still wayyyyy behind in the blogging right now. I enjoyed your relationship advice and staying positive. One little thing I do (shhh…just between you and me and the Internet)…and I did this recently. When the vibe is right from the outset and I know it. I will say immediately from the start, “If I forget to tell you later…I wanted you to know I had an awesome time with you tonight.” I know, more corny 🙂
This broken blog thing gets old really fast. It’s been timing out all day – and no one knows why! Grr!
I don’t think it’s corny at all what you say. I think it must go over VERY well.
Oh! And I meant to ask what Tori Amos songs you love.
I don’t listen to her often but you remind me of how much I enjoy her music when you put her on a post. And gawd she’s SO beautiful! Pretty Good Year and Silent All These Years are good. But, does she have a bad one? Ya know what I mean, Tamara?
Great songs!
Did you know she’s 50 now? And looks just as good!
Ok I admit there are songs of her I really don’t like. Back in the days of cds, I’d skip right over some tracks!
I figured as much on her age but I have to keep that young Tori Amos in my mind 🙂 Plus, she gives us redheads some recognition lol 🙂
Redheads are the best! I’m a fan.
I just spent two weeks in Sonoma for work, and I would have to agree with you. It is a beautiful, beautiful place. And the people there are great too. And then the wine. Yes. That is important.
It’s refreshing to hear your thoughts on creating magical moments for your kids. I do this with Marshall a lot too–he’s pen pals with the Statue of Liberty right now in fact–and I embrace it. Children are so open and imaginative; why not enjoy it? It’s been suggested to me by a couple of friends and family that this isn’t exactly truthful, that I may be doing him a disservice. But I feel the idea of “truth” for kids and for adults is very, very different. And many times, I prefer the kid version.
What great relationship advice too! It can be easy to slip into negativity after several years of marriage, especially when work gets hectic, etc. etc. Thank you for the wise words.
And the chocolate – VERY important.
Ok, so the Statue of Liberty thing. Amazing. Needs its own post. Can you tell me what the Statue of Liberty says to Marshall? This might be the best story I’ve heard today, and it’s been a hard day, so I thank you for that.
What people have suggested to you.. I guess I don’t agree. Santa Claus. The Tooth Fairy. And more things I probably shouldn’t discuss.. are magical and fun. A disservice? I think not.
What do I know, though?
My blog is not 100% focused of being a mom, i think I need to improvise to expand my networking?!haha…
I did not know that you have kittens…maybe it was told here and it was the posts that I missed.
The break up story was great, yeah, you did the right thing! I think your house is very beautiful to be moving again….
Mine isn’t either. I don’t think I could do it, to be honest.
Yes the kitten story was maybe from about two months ago. Was very fun!
Oh girl, I love the kitty story! That was such an epic way to present them! I love the way you guys keep those dreams alive…growing up comes quick enough! I am not much of an animal person at all, though we have both dogs and cats. I am however allergic to both dogs and cats, so I generally try to keep my distance. I also love your answer to #10! I think that you hit the nail on the head with that one! Hope you have a great weekend, girlfriend!
Wow! You are allergic to both and you have both? I guess it’s not severe! And do you have to take an allergy medicine? My friend wants a kitten but her husband is allergic!
Laptop ad Camera – could NEVER leave without those but the phone yes definitely needed. I love my WordPress App and actually answer 95% of my comments that way.
Now as for cats. I grew up with 13 cats! Sometimes all at once sometimes in rotation. My grandmother was THAT woman – clean but way too many cats. When I moved out I vowed No More Cats! Now my Girlies want 2 but I am standing my ground…for now 🙂
13 cats! Wow. I’m glad you said she was clean because I had a friend growing up who had a house full of cats and it smelled horrible! Like acidic cat urine! They must have peed everywhere. And it lingered on their clothes!
Thank God No! I give her that much she had every new fangled self cleaning litterbox and feeder in the world and they weren’t allowed everywhere but still 13!?!?! LOL
“They” say you should have a litterbox for every cat you have.. so my friends definitely didn’t have 35 litterboxes! Maybe one.
Testing testing 😉
tried twice to leave comment too – not working?
Been down since yesterday, Sue! So frustrating. I’ve got open tickets but it’s the weekend.. Boo!
Thank you, Kenya. I owe you one. I know the big one didn’t work but I appreciate you trying.
Great tips.
That cut me off – meant to say that I love #10 best!
My mom is a fan of jean jackets and I have lots of hand-me-downs from her but I rarely use them because of course, mine is a very tropical country! Lol. And I totally love the idea of surprise kittens from fairies and the magic mailman. I know how it feels to see our kids’ eyes lighten up. I love the feeling when I see the spark in Reiko’s eyes if I have little surprises even for something he already expects I’d bring for him like Chuckie chocolate drink!
I’m actually wearing a jean jacket this morning! It’s only 54, but it’s supposed to be 81. I love that. And sunny!
I don’t know what a Chuckie chocolate drink is but it sounds awesome! One of my favorite things is to go to the cookie store (you know the one – I write about it) but not tell them first. And then see their eyes light up when they know where we are.
My dad would do that to us with a favorite ice cream place we went to as a kid. If we went out to dinner, it was a left turn to go home up on the mountain we lived on. If he didn’t make that left.. it meant ice cream!!!
I love your relationship advice! I’m going to file that one away in my back pocket because you are so right!
Thanks! I think it was more of a wishlist than a “I do everything on this list!” type of thing. We’re still young, though, right?
Gulp! I’m glad Cassidy & you found your way back to each other, I’m enjoying reading your love story 🙂 Your advice is spot on in regard to marriage.
Such wonderful questions & answers!!!
I do not have the WP app… I’m on it! Thanks for the tip!
XOXO
Thank you!
The story made me anxious to write so I wonder what it’s like to read it and to not have gotten to any happy(ish) endings yet.
The WP app saves me a lot of time.
This is a test.. is anyone out there?
Yes!
Posting a comment to make sure comment-notify emails work..
hope it works
This was so fun! I love your advice about marriage, about not deflating the moment. Sometimes just focusing on the positive, which can seem like such a “little” thing, makes such a big difference. And can be hard to do! But so worth it. 🙂
It’s true! It can be very hard. I think we are both guilty of doing it countless times over the years.
I like your advice about not allowing negative space into good, positive times. Just enjoy it for what it is.
Ah cats. I never thought of myself as one either, until I actually had a cat. Then, I was childless, so Regal was like my first child. He was sweet, laid back and very calm, even as a kitten. He was good practice for the next dozen cats we rescued then rehomed, or rescued and kept. Now we don’t have any pets, and I’m glad. I just can’t keep up with another creature 🙂
Makes total sense! I’d have been happy with one dog and or cat, but it wasn’t in the forecast.. One of my cars is such a love. Always cuddling with me. The other does too but only sometimes. The other times, she’s petrified of her own shadow.
Totally agreed with and loved your marriage advice! And also agree with the skinny jeans as well as the boots, both closet staples for me too. I’m all about comfort!
Me too!
The marriage advice just came to me. I’ve been asked that before and didn’t want to give my same boring answer.
“Dream of the future together.” Love that. It’s so true – I think that couples who can see themselves together in the future, who set goals and actively make them come true: definitely are better connected and more likely to actually remain together.
That has got to be true! We have always dreamed of a better life. And some might say we have a pretty incredible life and we would agree, but we still dream about all the things we dreamed about when we met. Just with mortgages, kids and pets, sometimes it seems far away. Too far away.
1. I am shocked to not find “stormtrooper helmet” listed in your must-have items in your wardrobe. To me, nothing sets off a great pair of skinny jeans on a woman like a stormtrooper helmet.
2. Having three girls, I never really had to have the whole balls conversation. They believed balls were just something men got racked on movies like “Home Alone.”
3. Lately I wondered, what keeps us here in North Carolina? We don’t see family as much as we once did. I moved a lot as a sportswriter and worked hard to get back here with family. But they hardly ever invite us over for dinner. Maybe I should move back to Tallahassee.
Or Massachusetts?
The helmet was in last year’s wardrobe, but it was so last year. This fall I will be wearing a Boba Fett helmet. I wish I could say that was a joke.
Is Massachusetts ready for a boy like me?
I’d rather see you in a Boushh helmet. But only if you took it off in slow motion and did the hair flip.
Are you ready for these winters? I don’t know if anybody could be.
And I’ll have to keep that in mind for my fall 2015 wardrobe.
Cookies have nullified winters ever since Laura Ingalls Wilder wore the same floral dress for six years. I think I could handle it with the right cookies.
We definitely have the right cookies
and I could deal with moose and the Red Sox and even the snow.
If I can deal with the Red Sox, anyone can!
#BetterThanTheYankeesdodgersorgiants
#GodIHateTheGiants
Love the Yankees!
For some reason it never dawned on me that you aren’t much of a Phish fan. The Husband and I definitely have different tastes in music, though we do have some overlapping areas. And I LOVE what you said about not making negative comments when you’re with your spouse. I probably need to take that advice more often.
We have a lot of overlapping areas too. Lots of classic rock. And I’ll never be a fan the way he is, but I have to say that over the years Phish does have a positive association!
I haven’t given WP app a try, maybe I will from now on :). And great tip on staying positive, like NOT saying “we never do this”!
I wish I could say we practice the tip! The WordPress app is so good I’m using it right now. That’s probably why you’re getting so many emails from me at once. It is fast! And I use it with voice command.
I love your marriage advice. I know I need to work on some things but it has been tough for me lately. Ive been so scatter brained and dealing with chronic pain sucks the life out of me.
I really understand that. That’s what anxiety does to me. It can suck the life out of a marriage very easily too. We are not always equipped for that.
That’s great marriage advice. My husband is a natural pessimist, so I have had to teach him to not inject bad into the good moments. It’s a work in progress, but well worth it.
That sounds like Cassidy!
me too. i love tori! she is so amazingly talented.
I admit I haven’t bought her new albums in years, but she is timeless to me.