Laughs | A Thankfully Imperfect Woman

Jan 8

It’s Time For Some Silly Fun

So, I went into a fun little gift/clothing store/spa on Tuesday to buy a little birthday gift for a friend.

Of course, while I was there, I enjoyed looking at all the fun goodies they carry and before I left a friend came in to start her work shift. This friend, Bailey, is a young woman I met through my daughter…actually a friend of hers…who then became a friend of mine!

Bailey is one of those crazy fun, interesting and fantastic people who you can’t help but laugh with when you’re around her. Our topic of laughter was a new fashionable piece of clothing they had at the store.

I just couldn’t resist, I HAD TO try it on.

Yes, it was just Christmas…and yes, we overspent again this year. But a few of the sweaters I’d purchased off Zulily didn’t fit, so I resold them to friends and decided I could spend a portion of the money on something different for me.

What did I find when I tried it on? I LOVED IT!

IT being a Slip Dress Tutu! And it was 25% off!

Bailey saw me in it and decided if I bought the pink one, she’d get the black one.

I put it on hold for a night. (OK, along with a GREAT sweater that had a deer head in a frame on the front and cute black buttons all the way down the back. It was 1/2 price.)

The next day I went to work, doing all the grown up things I do…spreadsheets, expenses, year-end reports (aaaaaahhhhh!). After that I got a call from a friend and had a very adult/sad conversation. Which brought me to my next stop…The Pebble Spa (the store holding my silly tutu dress).

I debated…should I skip it? I’m way too old to dress like that anyway. But it was fun…it made me feel like a kid again…young, carefree, like I could skip through the park with all my favorite little friends (kids).

I made myself go in and try it on one more time.

And it happened again.

I went from being this serious adult to feeling like a young girl again.

I bought it right then and there. I left the sweater behind so as not to overspend. See? I had an adult moment there.

And today was the day.

The day I decided to stop being a serious adult…that has dealt with far too many serious situations since I was little…and feel like a kid again.

I had to take a picture for you, since some of you who know me personally wouldn’t believe it without a visual.

Ta-daaaaa!

As I skip to my car to go to work.

I hope you had a great day like I did!

Patty O…

Feeling fun and fabulous at 48!

Photo credit: Pinrose.com

Sep 8

Don’t Pull Your Pants Down in Class

Thank you teachers…

For all the things you teach our kids to do…

And not to do.

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Hope this brings a smile to your Monday as much as it did mine!

Patty O

Photo credit: Nathan Cryder

Sep 3

Father and Daughter, Off to School

This is my favorite ‘First Day of School’ picture.

I actually didn’t plan this shot at all. I said my ‘Have a good day(s)!!!’, they left via the back of the house, and I headed out the front to put a card in the mailbox. I looked up as I turned to go back in and there they were.

{Sigh}

Doesn’t this tug at your heart?

It’s especially sweet when you consider the fact that Gabi is 13. I love the fact that she still likes walking to school with her Dad. Well…most days. Once winter comes, she’s not as inclined to head out as early as Tim does (when it’s -20). I think she holds out hope that either we’ll have a heatwave in that 1/2 an hour that she waits, or that Mom will feel sorry for her and give her a ride.

Right.

We only live 3 blocks from the school.

Not happening.

There are moments that I do give her a ride. The days that are colder than -20. Like -30…-40, or if it’s pouring rain outside.

I know…I’m up for Mother-of-the-Year.

Hmmm…

Maybe that’s part of the reason she likes walking with her Dad. Well…that and I’m sure they talk math and athletics on the way to school. She is his Mini-Me after all.

{Sigh}

I sure love those two.

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I had planned on ending my blog there, however, Gabi just sent me a text from her CC Running practice…here’s the conversation:

Gabi…Mum?

Me…Yessssss?

Gabi…Can you pick me up when we’re done?

Me…Why? (I know, I’m such a loving mother aren’t I?)

Gabi…Cause I don’t want to walk home in the rain and cause you are an amazing mother.

Me…Hahahahaha! (That was for the buttering up.) It’s not raining now!

Gabi…Yeah, but I will call you when we are done and then we can decide

Me…Ok

…..guess who’ll be walking home if it’s not raining! 😉

Patty O

ps…for those of you who are new to my blog…my husband is an advanced math teacher and athletic director at our high school.

Aug 19

Rewind to Day One: 219 Blog Posts and 410 Followers Ago

Just for fun…and, well, because Gabi wanted to see it, I pulled up my first blog post.

As I re-read it I laughed at myself and thought maybe I should re-post it for those of you that started following recently. Read more

Mar 29

Best Snack EVER: Frosting & Graham Crackers

This post comes courtesy of Miss Gabi and Mr. Lah’s Speech Class. Her assignment was to do a demonstration speech and she chose ‘How to Frost a Cupcake’. Can I just say YUM?

I had to write a note to her teacher so that he knew she made them without any help. Of course, I couldn’t just leave it at ‘Yes, she did it all herself’. Me? No. I also added ‘Feel free to give her another food assignment’!

The inventor of this Best Snack EVER is my sister Carol. She is a woman of many talents; cake decorator, painter of pictures, stained glass art creator, house and yard decorator, baker of amazing cookies, caregiver, great Mom, and yes, everyone loves her. I hate her. Just kidding. I admire her – always have and always will!

It was in her cake decorating that she came up with the idea of using the extra frosting by putting some between graham crackers. Her sons and I thoroughly enjoyed her extra frosting creations. And now you can too!

For the frosting for Gabi’s cupcakes, she used a fantastic recipe courtesy of the Food Network’s website and creator Gale Gand. I hope you like it as much as we did:

Quick Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream

Directions:

In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter.

Mix on low-speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Now for the tough part…to frost a cake or a use it all as snacks. Hmmm…

I vote for the snacks.

Set up your station with your bowl of frosting and your pack of graham crackers, now grab your graham crackers, break them in half and slather (technical term) some frosting on half. Use the other half to top off your creation.

We’ve discovered that the best beverage selections to complement your creation are either a glass of milk (our choice of beverage when her sons and I were younger), or a glass of wine (for us now in the ‘over 21’ category).

Ready, set, EAT! Yummmmmmmy!

I hope you enjoy your treats as much as we did!

Patty O

ps…As you can see Miss Gabi added food coloring and made rainbow frosting. I wish I’d taken a picture of her cupcakes, they were beautiful!