noodles and other things that go bump in the night...

" As I became aware of my body again, I marveled at my boys, who were all about their bodies. They loved nothing more than to run around naked holding their noodles.

Such things are so easy when you are too little to be self-conscious.

It's fun to be naked!

It's fun to hold your noodle!

Simple as that."

~~

"And just at that exact moment, I glanced over to catch Toby-who had just recently started

offering snacks to his noodle from time to time,

telling me it was hungry-

bend the straw of his juice box, poke it into the top of his diaper

and squeeze in some refreshments.

When Toby looked up and saw the two of us staring at him,

he just announced, "thirsty," and continued on.

Amanda nodded again.

"Just another reason," she said after a minute,

"why women should be running the country."

~~~~~

okay....now I sound like a broken record, but I just can't say enough about

"everyone is beautiful"

~~

I read so many books and they are pretty much what keeps me sane

yet

I don't think I have ever praised one like I have this one

~~

anyhow

this is a little smidgen from one of the chapters in the book

and

since I had the perfect picture

well

come on....

you know it totally reminds you of a penis.....I mean noodle !!!

~go buy the book~

I promise you'll love it.....

" And here, after all that, is what I have come to believe about beauty:

Laughter is beautiful. Kindness is beautiful. Cellulite is beautiful.

It's important to be interesting and vivid and adventurous.

A woman's soft tummy is a miracle of nature.

Beauty comes from tenderness.

I believe that women are too hard on themselves.

I believe that when you love someone, she becomes beautiful to you.

I believe the eyes see everything through the heart-and nothing in the world feels as good as resting them on someone you love."

~~~~~

I just finished reading "everyone is beautiful" by katherine center

and

it was fabulous in so many ways

~~~

if you are loved~read this book

if you feel that you might be searching for yourself~read this book

if you are a mother~read this book

if you want to be a mother~read this book

if you have lost your true love~read this book

if you are a great friend~read this book

if you feel that you aren't good enough~read this book

if you are a grandmother~read this book

if you are passionate about your hobby~read this book

if you have ever moved~read this book

if your heart is wide open~read this book

if you don't like yourself today~read this book

I promise you'll love it

oh.... the things she'll learn along the way

she's six months old

and

has so much living ahead of her

~~

I told her about all the goodness in the world

and

that red lipstick can really make your face come alive

~~

I told her how lucky she is to be loved by so many

and

that a little bit of a heel will always make your butt look better

~~

I told her that believing in your dreams is a true gift

and

that a scarf dresses up any outfit

~~

I told her that girls hold a magical power that makes us so very special

and

that thong panties aren't really all they're cracked up to be

~~

but

most importantly

I told her

that as soon as she learns to walk

that walking won't ever be enough

~instead you must dance~

always

~~~~~

welcome to the family baby madeline

it's a crazy family, but it's your family and you will never be more loved

xoxo

your cousin beth

with all your might......

sometimes

no matter how awful things seem to be

and

no matter how dark the light is

you have to hold on

~~

sometimes

your grip might need to be tighter

and

you might have to reach deep inside for strength you didn't even know you had

but

you have to hold on

~~

and

sometimes

holding on is the hardest thing you'll ever have to do

*

because you just never know......

sometimes

I wonder

what would happen if we all left our gates open

just a little

?

would the old lady with the stringy grey hair who lives down the street in the cat filled house

that the teenagers make fun of and call crazy

wander in

and

bring you fresh baked cookies

~~

would the dog that runs wild and terrorizes the neighborhood saunter in

and

lay gently at your feet as you tend to your garden

~~

would the single mom who lives next door

who hasn't slept in a few nights because of her baby's cough

stop to ask you for some motherly advice

~~

maybe

as spring continues to open wide

we should open our gates

just a little

just for fun

just to see

who comes into our lives

*

now if only you were by the sea.....

thanks to my great friend kathy

who happens to be the queen behind valley ridge art studio

I have a new love in my life

~~

I met up with her on tuesday at a tea house that I've never been to before

and

wow

was I smitten

~~

and

now you're probably hoping that I have pictures to show from our 3 hour talk fest

right

?

well since my brain was all damp and foggy from the rain coming down in sheets

that's going to be my excuse for leaving the house camera-less

~~

BUT

yesterday I went back and took my hubby with me so I could show him my new love

and

I did have my little point and shoot with me

which we goofed around with while drinking our tea

~~

the

tea room

I picked for us

is in the front window of the tea house overlooking the street

and

it's dressed in silky fabrics in shades of magenta and aubergine and lots of pillows and cushions and

the ceiling is silky

too

and

of course

to be in any of the rooms you have to be barefoot

~~

SO COOL

{can you feel my love}

~~

so we drank tea and ate little cookies and I wrote in my purse journal and he answered some emails

and

we smiled

~~

{kim and julie....guess where I'm taking you this summer}

simple....

the

leftover dancing vines

moss on the rough rocks

gloomy grey skies

sparkling rain on the roads

clouds skating across the skies

damp air

robins singing and wondering why it still freezes at night

this is my spring