No Place Like Home

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.-Author unknown


I'm so excited to do today's blog, I do not even know where to begin... but as I look up, I read the wall hanging above my computer which reads...   "HOME is where your story begins."

Here is a little card I crafted for BRENDA in honor of her BSOBAD
dance shows yesterday entitled  "NO PLACE LIKE HOME"
The photo on the card was taken of some little dancers on picture day at the studio
 in the beginning of May. Mariah is 3rd from the left in the picture.

This picture was an "AH HA moment" as OPRAH would say... for me!
I love how the circle of life continues and as I watch my daughter apply make up on her daughter for her first TAP dance ever... it almost brought a tear to my eye as I took a quick little stroll down memory lane to when I was putting on Jana's lipstick at a dance recital when she was small.

Jana and Mariah just before show time in the afternoon after all the final touches have been made to hair and make up!... AHHHHHH another proud moment for me!

Another moment of pride as I gave the next generation of dancers in my family a little hug before she would perform her first ever tap routine on stage... co-incidentally entitled
"I LOVE YOU"
I want to give a shout out to MISS CARA and MISS AMBER, her teachers, for doing such an amazing job of setting such a good example for little ones to look up to!
These years are so important in a dancer's journey.

Me with BRENDA on my way through backstage to my seat in the audience  at the afternoon show.  Brenda and I share so many cherished memories together...
really enough for a WHOLE blog all of it's own!!!

Mariah with her PROUD POPPA BRIAN and her  PROUD DADDY, too!
Now holding the PINK rose in exchange for the original red one... thanks to one of the other dance mom's for making a trade!
I got red thinking it matched the costume,... hehehe but what was I thinking?

Some of the staff just minutes before the evening show. I was unable to round up everyone for this photo... hope they finally got one with all of them in it!!!
I was on my way out to watch from the audience at this point.
I loved how the TEACHER Routine opened the show in both performances and showcased each of the teacher's specialties written on their shirts!!!
They danced to the Lady GaGa song... "BORN THIS WAY"
One teacher missing was AMBER who was expecting a baby on MAY 22nd, and had a baby girl yesterday just minutes before the afternoon show ended!...
How cool was that?... she "danced" in making her debut on dance sow day!
BRENDA was able to announce it on stage at the end of the show.

Another attempt at a staff photo... still not everyone is here!!! This was following the evening show...and some were already gathering up their stuff and or kids... etc...
so we just got who was there at that moment.
Brenda looked like a movie star...
(as she often does) right centre front in her stunning evening gown!

Another cherished moment for me yesterday was a chance to snap a pic with some of the gals I once taught... ANA and ALI on the left(who are both still dancing) were giving LEAH on my right
(who came to watch the show), a hard time about not getting the memo about wearing polka dots!!! 

At the after party at Brenda's house, I captured many more memories but will hang those ones on the studio bulletin boards for everyone to enjoy... but I just loved the cake on her table... so fitting with the RAINBOW which was a prominent part of the day's performance yesterday
as the production, which was an abstract version of the WIZARD OF OZ
started with the song "Some where Over The Rainbow"
 so beautifully sung by a dancer with a great voice.
It was pouring rain outside by the evening, too, but yesterday's rainbow had many silver linings on it!

My gift, flowers, staff photo, and show program with 22 pages of achievements and studio events from the year's accomplishments along with some photos and program order for the 2 shows!
The program itself is a work of art!

There is something so magical about the end of a season at a dance studio... and yesterday was no exception to that rule!  Even though I retired from my teaching in May of 2008 at BSOBAD, I have been fairly involved in other ways in and around the studio.  My most proud way of course  is as  the role of GRAMMiE D to my dear sweet grandaughter, Mariah, who performed her first ever TAP number in yesterday's BSOBAD afternoon show. It did take me back a few years to when Jana was little and dancing, too... oh such fond memories those are!


BRENDA of "Brenda's School Of Baton And Dance"... otherwise known as BSOBAD, is the mastermind behind this year's accomplishments. She is so very lucky to have a STELLAR STAFF who all do a great job of helping in all their specialized areas of expertise which makes for a wonderful end result. 


She has so many students that her afternoon show showcases the tot program and little dancers in their early phases, while the evening's performance showcases the competitive more seasoned dancers. Both very enjoyable shows!


This was Brenda's 28th dance season... and I closed my DIANE WILL DANCE STUDIO following my 28th season... so this brought to mind memories of that season for me. I then joined her team at BSOBAD... and we all become one big happy tappy family!


Just browsing through the program in more depth today, I marvel at all the accomplishments the studio has gone through this season from ballet, tap, and jazz dance exams, to dance and baton competitions, along with a couple of fund raiser events... 2 of those being shows as well in addition to the 2 shows yesterday. WOW!


The fund raising was for the studio to take 3 teachers and 53 dancers to compete in a dance competition in Chicago this July. Brenda will also take her baton twirlers to compete in the nationals this year held in Manitoba in the summer as well.


For me, when the year end show was done... so was my season! ... OH... but not for BRENDA!
I wish them so much luck as they get all geared up for the next events to come!


So needless to say yesterday was on going fun and excitement from the 9 AM rehearsal  in the morning for the afternoon show, then the show and then the evening show followed by the party... where the dancers who came to that went right into watching the video of the show once again! 


OH the memories... once a DANCE ENTHUSIAST... always a dance enthusiast! 


I was ever so delighted to sit on the other side of the curtain though, now... my "TEACHING" chapter is closed and my "GRAMMIE D" chapter is only beginning! ... I see a great future for that one as well... so many more "AH HA MOMENTS" to come!


I have been honored to have some of my poems in the BSOBAD year end programs for the last few years, too... and here is the one for this year's theme... "NO PLACE LIKE HOME"


It's fun to go out... and also to roam...
Although in the end, there's 
NO PLACE LIKE HOME!
But for the dancers, 
the studio is just a great place,
To see all their friends and be in a good space.
To them it is "HOME away from HOME", too...
They love their dance friends and all that they do.
The friends create memories second to none,
The times spent with them are always such fun.
There's NO PLACE LIKE HOME,
and what comfort it brings,
It's warm and it's cozy, among other things!
When the HOME we love best 
is a place where we dance,
It's a great kind of HOME, and not just by chance!
The people we dance with 
are just the best friends,
They're like second family 
where the joy never ends...
The memories we build 
throughout the whole year,
Remind us of comforts of HOME held so dear!


... and on that note I want to add that I have become a real "HOME BODY" since my retirement from teaching. I must say I enjoyed that especially in the cold winter months when I could be warm and cozy  in the comfort of my home, and didn't have to go out and start a cold car after hours of teaching dance!


Congrats to BRENDA and her awesome staff and students along with their supportive parents for TAPPING into another year of AMAZING success at BSOBAD!  Many more cherished memories were made!

Finales and Milestones!

I know I have included this quote in my blog before, but it is a favorite of mine and it goes with today's theme so well, so here it is again!


"The journey between what you once were and who you are becoming, is where the dance of life really takes place."
- Barbara Deangelis


And another favorite quote of mine is...


"The secret of Happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does."
-James Barrie

It's been a busy and eventful week for my little Princess this week, yesterday she graduated from preschool. Here is a little card I crafted for her with a picture taken on her birthday on the 24th!
What a cute little graduate she is... and oh how i love to craft a card!

Here are my 2 baby girls! Where does the time go??? Jana is now 30 and Mariah is now 5... This is a milestone day for Mariah... just heading off to her Pre-school grad here, with flowers and card for her special teacher, Mrs. Knisley.

Mariah signing her name to her card for her teacher... She enjoys printing and is becoming such a neat little printer, too!... Oh I love this stage of life!

When I went to craft a couple cards yesterday, I was rooting through some old stuff and came across these two cards. The one on the left is a picture of Mariah when she was around 1 and a half... it was one of my very first attempts at a photo crafted card! I almost used it as her grad card yesterday, but decided to save it for the future some where along the way!
The card on the right was a valentine one crafted of our PUG, MOCHA, in 2008.
Yesterday was the 3 year anniversary of Mocha's passing, and I still miss that dog!

I know I posted MARIAH, the BIRTHDAY BRIDE earlier this week already, but for those who missed it... here is another pic of her in the adorable wedding dress and all the trimmings from her Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Arvid .
 I am not ready for this milestone, just yet... it was funny because Jana made the comment when MARIAH got this gift, that Mariah had a wedding dress before her own mom even!!! hehehe
 Jana and Nels have been engaged for a year and a half now,
 but no plans for wedding for them, yet,  either!

Here is a picture of me and a former student, KIM, who came to see me in my final recital in 2008.
She was always such a vibrant and enthusiastic student when I taught her.
I am holding the "TAPPED OUT" t-shirt that I was going to wear in a little "CAMEO" appearance I would do in the adult tap number in that show!

I also wanted to mention that Kim was a good friend of Jana's growing up and at Jana's 11th sleepover birthday party, I popped downstairs to see how the party guests were doing in the morning after ... many of the girls were still sound asleep in sleeping bags, and I distinctly remember KIM popping right up and saying in her lively way...
"WAKE UP AND SMELL THE TREAT BAGS!"
That was so funny at the time, and I have thought what a cute quote it would make on something somewhere... maybe in my next life when I do my "Party Planning Business!"

On this week of finales and milestones...
I figured that would be the perfect theme
for today's blog!

I have not been a big OPRAH watcher over the years, infact I sort of tuned in here and there occasionally, but I did watch her 3 final shows... and thoroughly enjoyed them. She definitely went out on a high note! She is a well respected and loved lady for sure in the world of entertainment, and will be missed on TV.

I could totally relate to her way of thinking that it wasn't really bitter sweet... it was all sweet, because she had so many cherished moments in her 25 year stint on TV.

I, too, felt that way after "TAPPING OUT"
in May of 2008,
from my full time role as a dance teacher. People often ask me if I miss teaching, and I really do not miss the teaching part... I miss the association with people part! However... I can pop down to the studio anytime I want and see the dancers and teachers,
and it is on my time that way!
I am looking so forward to the
BSOBAD dance shows this weekend and wish everyone the best of luck in them, too!

Mariah has another milestone day tomorrow...
as do I!
Last year she performed in the BSOBAD year end show... but doing her little tot ballet number. This year she was able to take TAP for the first time... so she will be TAPPING in this year's show, and what a proud moment that will be for her TAP- HAPPY GRAMMIE D!

I also watched the finale shows of
"Dancing with The Stars" and "American Idol" this week, and yesterday watched the start of this season's
"SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE"
show on TV...
I love the competitive reality shows and it helps keeps me connected to the things I enjoy.

 So many Finales, and Milestones....
and the beat goes on!

 I want to wish my little dancing princess, Mariah, all the best in her first ever
TAP PERFORMANCE tomorrow...
at BSOBAD'S afternoon show.
It will be a nice way to sit back and relax in the audience after my busy week of babysitting my little BEAU!

The term "ROCK ON" used to apply to my dance teaching... and now it applies to my snuggles with Beau!

Dream Big

The dreams of tomorrow, begin today...
Dream real big , so they'll come your way.
Strive to make every day just the best,
Try to make it better than all of the rest.
Reach for your goals and reach real high,
Then move on to looking up to the sky!
Appreciate all the little things in life,
Accept all the good along with the strife.
With each new chapter, learn to embrace...
Create new loves, which will now replace!
Go above and go way beyond,
Make more memories...
With the ones you are fond.
Capture the moment with every snap,
Make some time to shuffle and tap!
And TAP into simple, make it special each day,
Share with your loved ones,
Your joy every way!

TAP into CHERiSHED MEMORiES!

TODAY... is NATIONAL TAP DANCE DAY!
... so in honor of that I am extending my wish for "TAPPiNESS" ALWAYS and 4- EVER!!!

Here is a CHERiSHED "TAPPiNESS"
memory for me!
Here are some of my TAP Soloists at
a competition in Sherwood Park
in my final year of teaching
spring of 2008.
Jana and Mariah surprised me
and came to watch! 

Another CHERiSHED memory!
Brian, me and Jana's Friend, Shelane
Wearing our
"Welcome to the World COSTUMES"
At the hospital in Edmonton
May 24, 2006
when Mariah was born!

Here are the proud new grandparents with our
Special GRANDPARENT  t-shirts on.
Our little Mariah was so tiny,
she weighed 4 pounds 11 ounces
at her birth, here she is 3 days old!

5 years later... same t-shirt!
Mariah on her 5th birthday looking so grown up!
She is such a sweetie...
and this grandma still
LOVES her!

Mariah just off to her pre-school
on her 5th birthday
May 24th, 2011

Beau and his little monkey!
I babysat him at his house
while his sister was at
pre-school yesterday.

I crafted 2 of these cards
for Mariah's dance teachers,
Miss Cara & Miss Amber
for her to take to her final
 lesson of the season today.

As I sit here with my vanilla coffee out of my red polka dot mug that says...
"Life is what you make it"
inside...
I have had a chance to think about so many cherished memories for me at this time of year.

This is the wind up time of year for many things... such as dancing... and today is Mariah's last day of her lessons for this season. She will then perform her little dance called
"I LOVE YOU"
in the BSOBAD year end show this weekend.
That will be a very
CHERiSHED MEMORY to TAP into for sure!

Year end shows and dance competitions always brought cherished memories for me. Today is national tap dance day, so it was bringing to mind many of my fond memories of my teaching days. TAP was always my favorite bringing me so much TAPPiNESS over the years!

Yesterday was Mariah's 5th birthday... which is also a cherished memory for me... and she had lots of celebrations to ring in the year of FIVE!
Such a celebrated little girl she is!

Today is the 7 month anniversary of mom's passing, and a day doesn't go by that I do not remember and think of many of the cherished times we celebrated together. Her and dad were always my biggest fans and supporters and especially at this time of year with the dancing!

I am helping out with lots of babysitting this week, infact I have little BEAU here now sleeping. My brother Brian popped by for a little visit with us today, too. I've shared lots of cherished memories with him over the years.
He has taken a real liking to little Beau and enjoys getting chances to come see him and watch him grow!

Later this afternoon I will get Mariah from her daycare and get her to her last dance lesson before show time saturday. I enjoy sharing that kind of time with her, but do find the carting of the car seat with Beau, too, is a little more work now.  It is always a reminder to me of why we have our kids while we are young!

I have been enjoying watching lots of TV lately, ... not sure how I find the time to fit it all in... sometimes just all my shows on TV add up to nearly a full days work in themselves! I'm glad I can tape some of them, as sometimes the show I watch overlap at the same times!

Yesterday for instance... I watched ELLEN in the morning, then bits and pieces of this and that at Jana's while babysitting Beau yesterday, and then the full hour of OPRAH yesterday and the day before... plus... last night watched the 3 hour finale of "Dancing With The Stars", the one hour "AMERICAN IDOL" and the one hour show called "THE VOICE".  So all totaled I am quite sure I watched at least 8 hours worth in and around all the other things I did!

Speaking of CHERISHED MEMORIES... WOW the finale shows of OPRAH have been amazing. She has definitely got lots of memories over her 25 year run of her show on TV...and what an icon and role model she has been.

This morning JUSTIN BIEBER was on ELLEN. It was a rerun, but I taped it for Mariah to watch later as she is so into JB!... and she will come back here today after her dance lesson until her daddy comes to pick her and Beau up later.

I did not make it to the gym yesterday like I normally do on Tuesday, because I was helping Brenda from the dance  studio wrap up the year end gifts for her show saturday.
This gift wrapping has also become a cherished memory for me...and a tradition. I began helping her with her show gifts the year before joining her studio back in 2001. I do enjoy gift wrapping and anything related... card crafting, etc!!! So those are all things I consider to be CHERISHED memories for me to TAP into!

BRENDA always says this to her
BSOBAD DANCE FAMILY...
"Make a Memory"

So I hope all dancers out there are taking time today to think of some of their favorite dance times and TAP ones especially seeing as it is the day to honor TAP.

Tomorrow night is the kick off to the new s season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.

...and the beat goes on!



I have so many cherished memories,
and many special times...
And one of those is sitting here
to write my daily rhymes!
I look forward to doing my blog,
and writing down my thoughts,
And you all know me well enough,
to  know I cherish DOTS!
I really feel so very blessed
with many things in life...
So very loved by husband Brian,
it's great to be his wife!
So lots of things and people
tend to bring me happiness,
And days like this remind me of
the times for TAPPiNESS!

Celebrating "FiVE" in a BIG Way!

Each day comes bearing it's own gifts... untie the ribbons! Happy Birthday!

- Ruth Ann Schabaker

The PARTY PRINCESS!

Tomorrow, MAY 24th, MARIAH, my adorable Grand daughter, will be FIVE years old! 
Where does the time go?


It is hard to grasp the concept that I have been a "GRAMMIE" for that long! In some ways it seems like only yesterday when we were on our way to meet our very first grandchild on her date of birth in Edmonton , where she was born!

The "Grammie D" Crafted
Birthday Card!
I hope the crafted cards will mean something
 to Mariah as she gets older!

The excited "PARTY GIRL"
at Saturday's family
gathering!

The cake theme for the family party
was from the DISNEY MOVIE
"ENCHANTED"

A bit EXCITED to open the gifts!

Mariah and Beau anxious for more
party guests to arrive!

Eating cake with cousin Rowen on the right
and a friend's little girl on the left.

The JUSTIN BIEBER DOLL!

The JUSTIN BIEBER
poster...and
 a WEDDING GOWN
with all the trimmings!

Beau under the table
pushing around a gift box!

Treat Bags for the KIDS ONLY PARTY!

A photo book made of RI and RO!

Mariah was born in Edmonton early the morning of MAY 24th, 2006. When we got the call to go meet our first grandbaby, we called one of Jana's good friends to come along with us.
Her friend, Shelane,(who did join us on that trip!) co-incidentally had her first baby this weekend, too, while we were celebrating
Mariah's 5th birthday!

Congrats to Shelane and her husband Jarret
 on the birth of their son, BRAXTON JAMES!

Jana chose to have 2 parties for Mariah this year ... one for family and one for kids!

The family party was with cake and presents with all the grandparents and some special aunts, uncles, cousins and friends of the family.
This was on Saturday night.

The THEME of that party cake was "ENCHANTED".  Mariah was a very excited little party girl all night and was a typical little princess!  She received many lovely gifts and was treated royally as a princess should be!

This little PRINCESS  had fun with cousin ROWEN and a friend's little girl, too...
the girls played and danced together all night!
In the course of the evening, Mariah changed FIVE times... kind of co-incidentally... seeing as we were celebrating her FIFTH birthday!

She is so into the pop teen singing idol sensation, JUSTIN BIEBER... (or "BEAVER") as she says it! Anything she received with his picture on it was a hit. Another hit was the adorable wedding gown and all the trimmings to go with it, that she received from her other Grandparents, NANCY and ARVID who came especially to celebrate with her on this birthday.

The wedding gown came from the
DISNEY STORE...and I believe might be from the DISNEY MOVIE "ENCHANTED"!
It came with little shoes that looked like glass slippers with flashing lights on them!

Mariah received so many wonderful gifts from the many people there and some from people who sent gifts along for her, too. Among those gifts were a lot of very cute books.
I put together a book that features all pictures taken of Mariah and Rowen
in the five years of Mariah's life!
I am hoping this will be something she will enjoy in years to come as the two of them grow up.
Mariah idolizes Rowen!

Yesterday's party was held at a place called "FLIP"...
It is a gymnastic type facility where people
host birthday parties.

MARIAH told me
"Real people can't come to the
gymnastic party... only kids!"

So after given those strict orders... we stayed home... and let the KIDS ONLY have their fun!

Not only was this a GYMNASTIC type party... it was in "JUSTIN BIEBER" theme!...
(Jana tried to convince Mariah to stick with the Princess or a Barbie theme...
but nope JB it was!)
So she had a second cake with his picture on it!
No picture of it, though!!!

The treat bags I made for the 12 little party girls included many little candies and chocolate bars along with some JUSTIN BIEBER stickers,
 a skipping rope, and some MOVIE STAR
type sunglasses!
(I seem to be all about the sunglasses
for some reason lately!!!)

I attached the glasses on the outside of the bags so at the end of the party the kids could get a picture in them...
but apparently that was a bit of an ordeal!
OOPS... sometimes as a grammie... I can  be a bit high maintenance, I guess!!!...
a bit OTT!
(over the top!)

Jana did get a photo and I saw it this morning on her cel phone... Looked cute!

This morning before the Edmonton Grandparents headed back home, we all met for a nice long weekend brunch breakfast together.

Tomorrow Jana is Pre-School helper mom and will take cupcakes to celebrate
MARIAH'S REAL BIRTHDATE!
I offered to look after Beau then to make it easier for them!

In addition to that babysitting... I will have Beau wednesday, thursday and friday this week leading into the dance recital weekend  held on May 28th...
so never a dull moment around here!

 I would say MARIAH was and is very celebrated as a little girl of only
FIVE YEARS OLD!

BUT... I must add...
SHE IS REALLY WORTH CELEBRATING!!!

Here is the little poem in Mariah's
crafted birthday card...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a
Sweet Princess who's 5!
It's hard to believe the day finally did arrive.
You are wished so much love...
more than you'll ever know.
It's been our true pleasure,
just watching you grow!
With each passing year
you grow better than before,
Giving us a girl to LOVE and just to ADORE!
Hope this year's a special one,
spent with all your friends.
And you just have so much FUN
from the start until it ends!

Happy Birthday
To our little
"JUSTIN BIEBER PRINCESS!"
xo Love Grammie D and Poppa Brian

Made in the SHADE(S)!

 

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
... soon to be the "Party Princess"!

Me and MR. SUN, SUN...
Mr Golden Sun!

My partner in laughs and fun!
Gailene

Out of the sun and into the shade!
OK... is it just me...
or is he really getting cuter
by the day?

Out in the SUNSHINE... on the new deck
An iced latte with Cousin GWEN,
BEAU and SHUFFLE!
...and more fun and laughs!

Some pursue happiness, others create it.
-Author unknown

     A GOOD LAUGH is sunshine in a home.


      ...(this is a little saying on my kitchen wall above my window 
                              looking into the sunny backyard!)


Yesterday I had another day spent with little Beau and was fortunate enough to have two visitors drop by... my friend Gailene and my cousin Gwen. Both of them are lovers of fun times... so my day went by fast!


This weekend MARIAH is very excited to be hosting her birthday a little ahead of time. Her real birthday is on Tuesday next week... 
May 24th. It is so hard to believe she is going to be FIVE already... where does the time go???


On Wednesday after Mariah's dancing lesson I went and got some stuff to make up treat bags for her little party tomorrow. I LOVE to make treat bags, I always found that to be the most fun part of my kid's parties when they were little! Infact I often thought in a second life I would come back as a party planner... I do love a party and a theme!


This year will be Mariah's first party with only kids...although the family is going to their house tonight for a little cake and gift opening.     Tomorrow Mariah will have the
        KIDS ONLY party...  
(I don't want to spoil any surprises... so I'll include more on the parties in a later blog!)


Gailene and I had fun with the leftover sunglasses from last month's Easter Baskets yesterday when she popped by. Beau was into the shades as well. The picture of Mariah from above was taken on Easter when she tried on her glasses from her basket! 


Something about SUNGLASSES, or SHADES of any kind makes me smile!


I enjoyed my visit and a little iced latte and some ripple chips with my cousin Gwen yesterday, too... we initiated the new deck and enjoyed soaking up some great sunshine out there while doing so! Beau was also loving the outdoors...
as was Shuffle!


Today I made it to my WW meeting and to the gym for an awesome Body Flow class... so I should be ready for a little cake celebration with Mariah tonight. I know she will be super excited as well... she is a little girl after my heart... we both enjoy a reason to celebrate!


Mariah and Beau's other Grandparents, Nancy and Arvid, made the trip from Edmonton to be here for the occasion, so I know it will be special!


I am so excited to share pics of the party festivities... but for now, SHHHHHHH.....
it's all a secret!... Stay tuned!


As I look outside now... I see it is raining, but that will not put a DAMPER on our fun!


"Anyone who says sunshine brings  happiness has never danced in the rain."- Author unknown


I just love it when people drop in,
We have lots of fun, then the laughs begin!
Yesterday we shared some fun 
with some SHADES...
I got excited about the treat bags I made!
It's hard to believe nearly 5 years ago,
I would become "GRAMMiE D"... you know!
Mariah is celebrating this weekend, too,
She's having two parties with her "peeps"... 
old and new!
It's a surprise so I can't share in this one...
But please stay tuned in for more PARTY FUN!

Exercise, Energize, Organize... Monopolize!

A great saying from my Seize the Day calendar...


"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."
- Katherine Hepburn


I know I have had these 'happy heart tips' before,
on my oatmeal packages, 
but today I got them again...


"Nourish your emotional heart."


"Prioritize what matters most."


Both of them are so true and right on track to where I am in life!... Here are some pics that didn't make it into my blogs last week... enjoy!

MARIAH getting EXERCISE... and being
ENERGIZED while she MONOPOLIZED
my attention as I watched
AMERICAN IDOL
last thursday night!

A "LATTE" LOVE!

'Out to Lunch' with my friend Gailene
Last thursday at a favorite little
spot for us called 'MOKA!'

Mariah actually letting me
capture a cute pic of her!
She's normally ON THE GO!
Hard to believe she will be 5
next week already!

Monday at STARBUCKS
with my friend Brenda and Beau!
Brenda is in a busy stage
of her dance season with her show
coming up next week!

BEAU on the Starbucks outing!

SHUFFLE adapting to the new deck!

FLOWERS bring me HAPPINESS!

I got a good deal on these ones

which makes me even happier!

Yesterday was a great day to just catch my breath after all the action around here lately!

It was so nice to have a day to just do as I please... ALL DAY!

I started off by thinking I would do TWO classes at the gym, because my two favorite classes are back to back on Tuesdays. However, seeing as I have not made it to the gym much lately... I thought I better ease back in with just one class!

I chose to do Body Flow... I love that class, it is a fabulous blend of YOGA, TAI CHI and PILATES,

and what better way to start off a day!

Next I picked up some groceries and while at the grocery store I noticed a great deal on 

GERBER DAISIES, 

(which are my favorite flowers!)

a bunch of 7 for only $2.97

So for that special price... I couldn't afford to be without them!

I felt like a bit of a "Suzie Home Maker" yesterday so decided to make a crock pot stew.

 It was really yummy, too, if I do say so myself!

I managed to get some organizing done around here, which was much needed after all the activity we have had going on around here lately.

I took Shuffle for a long walk through the park listening to the soundtrack of life on my ipod!... until my ipod battery died, then I just enjoyed the sounds of summer coming ... 

lots of birds singing and a little breeze blowing!

I wandered through Market Mall and saw a few people I knew and had a few brief visits!

Last night I monopolized the TV... as I pretty much do Monday through Thursday every week!

I am so lucky Brian is a good sport about me watching all my reality shows. 

Mon.-Tues.

I watch "Dancing With The Stars"

And now Tues. 

I also watch "The Voice", 

which is a new singing competition show!

Wed.-Thurs. I enjoy the AMERICAN IDOL, 

and I think this has been the 

very best season of that yet!

Next week "DWTS" and "AI" 

will wind up for another season and

 "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE"

will begin for another season... 

 and the beat goes on!

Brian can watch his shows after the ones I watch and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights!!! 

...sometimes he watches mine with me, too!

Today I have another day to 

Exercise, Energize, Organize, and Monopolize!

I have no problem filling in time, it seems!

AHHHHH... LIFE is GOOD!

Sometimes it's good to have a day to myself...

To clear off the back burner,

and to dust off the shelf.

To go to the gym and get some exercise,

To just get things done...

and to organize!

Lately it's been busy,

so a day off was in need,

Yesterday was that kind of day,

I kind of felt real 'FREE'd!

It helped to pick my energy up...

Let me catch my breath, and enjoy a fresh cup!

A little rain outside to freshen the air...

A great day to MYSELF, without any care!