The Grass on the Other Side

I'm at the time in my life where many of my friends have families with young or grown children. Many are experiencing the turmoil of separation and divorce. There are often circumstances that create the necessity for this change, like it or not. Mutually agreed upon or individually created. 

My divorced "cougar" gang is embarking on a new journey. These are the one I admired for their relationships and family life. I'm not saying I don't admire them now, I'm just saying from the outside they looked perfect before the divorce. Those couples and families that I often compared my marriage with during arguments with hubby.

Don't get me wrong, I respect and support my friends decisions and will be there till the end. Quite frankly its none of my business so I merely listen, and encourage. I don't point fingers or judge. I'm here when they need me and just request to come along from time to time to play.

When a relationship ends, whether divorce or even a youthful breakup, its time to make change. Change of career, hair, goals, shoes, whatever! However, before you break up I would advise you to go out to a bar on a Friday night and take a look around. This is what scares me the most, its getting older and starting over. Obviously a bad bar is not the best place to pick up a new friend but you never know. And if its a bar you must try some new ones from time to time.

Cheers to those of you that were slapped with the reality without a choice. You fighters and I'm right there with you to move on. For the rest of you thinking about separation...go to church and ask for some spiritual guidance, call your parents or your older kids, and run like a maniac to clear your head. The grass is not any better on the other side. In fact, it looks better from a distance but its a no different up close. I pray I dont have to find out. 

Ok, its happy hour. Dont forget to take a cab when you go to the bars to play!

Go with the Flow...or not?

Today I decided to see if my youngest could just "go with the flow" on her nap schedule. The conclusion is that it was not a good idea. This "go with the flow" kind of day turned into an display of craziness and tantrums.  My typical 4 hour a day napper got about one hour when I finally put her in bed at 3pm. All because I wanted her to go along to her sisters dance class and save some money on a babysitter. The conclusion, which I believe most parents would agree, sleep begets sleep. 

So now I wonder why we are not all aloud a daily nap. This world would function better if we all had a late day nap. Rather than us throwing ourselves to the late afternoon vending machine we could go get our nap. Better for the figure, the wallet, the mind, blah, blah, blah. I used to think I could go without enough sleep but I swear its impossible. People need more sleep in this society.

Im tired just thinking about it. The bottom line is that today sucked and I wont be doing that again! Night night. 

The Bus

Ive always been a huge fan of public transportation. Saving money on gas, the environment, the list goes on. 

However, until this week, I had never considered putting my daughter on a school bus. Perhaps it was because I lived 1 mile from preschool and our schedules were manageable. 

Today was different, Skylar would ride the bus home from school. I sent her to school with a "first student bus" postcard and told her to double check the number for her afternoon bus. Did I mention she just turned 7 in September? She said, "great...see you later...bye bye". 

I was nervous she would forget that she was taking the bus or maybe they would forget she was on the bus. I know it sounds silly but there is a first for everything. 

The bus pulled up to my front door at the exact time I would have pulled in my driveway tugging along 3 screaming kids in need of an afternoon snack. Skylar jumped out and we met her with a smile! Wow....why did we wait so long. 

Three cheers to the bus driver! And thank you for delivering my oldest baby right to my front door. See you tomorrow!

7369 Victoria Falls, Cincinnati, OH | What a deal

7369 Victoria Falls, Cincinnati, OH | Powered by Postlets

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Pictures coming soon....this is a deal! 

I know I love urban living but this is prime and easy suburban living! 2 minutes from Kings Island...a second from Sharon Garden Nursery (you know from my latest posts how I feel about that...great!), right off I-71. Brand New, lived in for a few months....this townhome cannot be built with these finishes for this price (208,000)! 

Weeds

I admit...I have an obsession with killing weeds. I spray, round up, stomp, tear, blah....We had enough a month ago to start a thistle farm. I believe I am getting somewhere but they still pop up here and there. I find myself googling weed types, slowly driving by weedy lawns, checking out roadside overgrowth... just to be sure I know what Im controlling. They drive me nuts and I am trying to win.

Check out my attached photos.....my daughter Shay is shown in a few of them. Some might say the hair resembles a weed? In fact, I believe a dandelion! I say that my obsession is also love. Oh that little Shay, she is into everything, I can keep her out, she is determined beyond belief. I try to control, to organize, and Ive learned to let her move freely on her path. This is how she and I both find happiness in our day.  

So...neighbors, friends...Im sorry to say....next year we will have a full grown thistle farm and I will be proud of it. Unless of course you know a reasonable landscaper that will work with us. Im a great manager but I lack the time to create the scape outdoors. By the way...my sweet dandelion is screaming as I write. bye bye!

smores

The Herr recipe for smores is three types of chocolate (cookies and cream, dark chocolate, and almond Hershey), layered with a large marshmallow, surrounded by honey graham. No need to pile each on top of one another.....lay horizontally across the graham cracker. Roasted fire pit smores are great but when you don't have time to roast outdoors the microwave is pretty darn close. When roasting with open fire and kiddies around please note that their needs to be a head smore roaster and supervision at all times. Enjoy!