Breaking for Spring

Spring is in the air! And here in Arizona Spring Break comes early . . .

And being Senior Year for my Girls, I try to spend as much time with them as possible. We had an impromptu Pool Party! Yes it's 90 degrees in March here! 

Our favorite thing that happens in Spring is the Arizona Aloha Festival! Where you can see some of the best Hula Dancing, and have Hawaiian Shaved Ice!  :) 

All our kids and "Grand Kids" (The Dog's) were here. ;) It was Wonderful! And Hopefully, someday we will actually have real Grand Kids! (Yes, that's a "subtle" hint to our Married kids!)

We were blessed to get to Celebrate Easter together!

The Newlyweds; Zach & Kendra!

Kyle & Katie

And Beautiful Erica

All the kids got Silly String in their Easter Baskets!  And ambushed Lexi as she walked in the house!

We always have a good time when we're together! 

 It was a really good couple of weeks! 

As we were all sitting around the dinner table together, and I looked around, I remember thinking; we might not have a big house or fancy cars, but this is a really good life we have built!

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Political Unrest

This Political Season has gotten more and more ridiculous!

I keep thinking it can't be real!

Let's take a look at the People, not even tackling the Policies yet; 

Let me start at the beginning; I have to tell you, I have watched every season of The Apprentice, and Celebrity Apprentice. I am a Donald Trump Fan! I have followed him, and his children, on Social Media for a long time. He is a great business man. He's a larger than life personality. He is a fun celebrity to follow. But, I believe with my whole being, he is not the person who should be running this great country! In all my time following Donald Trump and watching his shows, I've never once thought this is a great humanitarian. The thought that he might consider himself a Christian has never once crossed my mind. Actions speak louder than words, and his actions let me know he is a womanizer, her constantly belittles women & looks down on them. Publicly putting them down. On his show searching for the best possible apprentice for his company, he never missed an opportunity to sexualize the female contest's. Though he may be fun to watch, this is not the kind of person I would vote for! Ever! Under no circumstance! And I don't understand people who call themselves Christian backing a person like this. It's preposterous to me.

I am registered as a Republican, though I vote according to the Issues that are important to me, not the party! And those issues are Gender Equality, Equal Pay, Minority and Immigrant Rights, Stricter Gun Control Laws, and Education, to name a few, and many of my views line up with those of many democratic candidates. And I have stated and will state again, if Donald Trump is the Republican Nominee, I will be voting Democrat! The problem is, I'm not thrilled with my choices on that side of the ballot either!

I would Love to be able to vote for a Woman! And though I agree with many of Hillary's stances on the issues, I don't really like her as a person. If the whole Benghazi thing hadn't happened, and she had left Bill back in the day, I'd have a lot more respect for her, and would have no problem voting for someone with her experience. Then there's Bernie, who is hard to take serious. I don't really get the whole Socialist thing, and don't really see our whole government system changing even he is elected. But to be honest with you, I'd really like to see someone other than an older white man as our President. ;)

So where does that leave me? I honestly can't believe our choices!! I'm really hoping the Republican Nominee is Marco Rubio. Who may be someone I could back! I sure hope it's not Donald Trump! Who is out of control already & is inciting violence everywhere he goes. He is not what this county needs! If someone had told us Donald Trump would be a serious contender, we would have thought it was a joke! If it is him, I will most likely find myself backing Hillary Clinton. Who's policies, at least, I can get behind, even thought she may not be my favorite person. Is it too late to start all over with new candidates?!

I'd throw in the hat; Condoleezza Rice or Colin Powell on the Republican Ticket, and maybe V.P. Joe Biden or Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez on the Democrat side, if only I ran the Country! Who would you like to see run for President?

Leap Day!

Today is February 29th. That only happens every 4 years! 

If you were born on this day; Happy Birthday!

Over the years,
We've known 2 couples that have gotten Married on Leap Day!

It's kind of like we've been given an extra day this year.

Though it's really too bad it has to be a Monday! :(

What are you doing with your extra day?

What should we be doing?

What would you do if you didn't have to work?

If money was no object? 

I happen to have the day off, 

but the rest of my family has work or school. 

If I could do anything I would Travel; 

Greece or Hawaii, or just about anywhere! 

But, wherever you are on this Leap Day

Do something fun or a little crazy! 

It's an extra day! 

Try to make the most of it! 

Dress For Success

Since June of last year I have been volunteering one Saturday a month at Dress For Success. There is a local chapter in downtown Phoenix. I love it so much that I want to share it with you.  

"The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life."

 

Simply put, Dress For Success takes disadvantaged women, teaches them things like how to put together a resume and interview skills. And with donated clothing, shoes and accessories, they outfit them for a job interview. And when they get the job, they come back in and are outfitted with several outfits for their work week. Take a look . . .

  A Beautiful Welcome

A Boutique full of Business Attire

A look inside the Fitting Rooms

Make-up Station

Computer Room to search for jobs or create a Resume

How I heard about Dress For Success was through my company Vanity Fair. I am an area Merchandiser and part of my job is to hold Fit-Events, and we did Events with a purpose, that when you bought a Bra, you would get one free, and we would donate a brand new bra to a women in need at Dress For Success in your honor! So I looked into the company, liked what I saw, and decided I wanted to volunteer. And Vanity Fair will be holding these events again this fall!

I was so excited when I went in to volunteer and saw the Vanity Fair Bra Donations had arrived! We donated brand new Bra's to Dress For Success chapters in all the states our company held events in. Because, let's face it, who wants to wear a used bra? Um, No thank you. 

 

And since I love retail and fashion, I volunteer as a Personal Shopper. I talk with the client, and find out where they are interviewing, or where their new job is, I ask about their needs, likes and sizes, and put together outfits for them to try on. It is so much fun! They also from time to time have volunteers who might come in to give hair cuts or do the clients make up. You could also help them learn how to research jobs online, or how to create a resume. How to Interview, Etc. There are a lot of ways you can help out. My daughters and I have gone through our closets, and donated clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, scarfs, Etc. that are business appropriate. They also take scrubs for those Dr.s or nurses out there! You can actually donate clothing that isn't necessarily buisnessy as well, I know with our branch they have sales twice a year, where they will advertise & sell anything they can't use and all proceeds go back into Dress For Success. We've gone to a sale as well and got some great items and was happy to be helping them out in that way as well.

Another thing Vanity Fair did with our donations was have women write a little note of encouragement to a woman who would be receiving a donated bra if they wanted to. And I love handing those out as well. I love working for a company that encourages women to help other women! After all that's what "Support" is all about! ;) (Just a little bra humor!)

I think everyone should do something to help make the world a better place. And I would encourage everyone to Give Back, in whatever way they choose. I love helping women get back on their feet in a way that's important to me. If you would like to support or know more about Dress For Success, click here or they are on Social Media. Thanks.

A New Idea For A Book Club

I had what I thought was a really great idea for our Book Club: Last year for Christmas I asked for & received Brooke Shields' Book There Was A Little Girl. I've always been a fan of hers & wanted to read her Book! And we all know Books make the best gifts! And this Christmas I got (Actually for my Birthday from my Daughter) a Book I'd been asking for forever, that I was just dying to read! The Woman I Wanted To Be by Diane Von Furstenberg . . .

 

Even though I love Novels, from time to time, I enjoying reading about real people too. Well, seeing a pattern in my own reading, I got an idea, and brought it before my Book Club, who thought it was a good idea and were willing to try it. So for the month of January, instead of us all reading the same Fiction Book and discussing it, as normal, we would each choose a Memoir or Biography, read it & when we got together for our monthly meeting we'd each share about our book. 

We had 5 questions we each had to answer;

1. Who is your Book about, and why did you choose it?

2. Share 2 or 3 Highlights or Interesting Facts of this person's life. 

3. Do you think the Author is trying to elicit a certain response from the reader, such as sympathy? Has this Book changed or enhanced your opinion of the subject?

4. What is the Authors most admirable quality? Is this someone you would want to know?

5. Are you glad you read this book? Would you recommend it to a friend? Why or why not?

 

The above picture is just some of the Memoirs/Biographies our Book Club read this month! It was fun hearing & learning about different people. (We read about a Journalist, an Author, You Tuber, Comedian, Actor, Fashion Designer, to name a few.) Everyone enjoyed it. So we decided we'd do this EVERY January! It brings something different & fun to our Book Club. Give it a try! So what Memoirs, Biographies have you read that you really enjoyed? I have a few on my To Be Read list! :)

2016: A Year Of JOY!

 This was my result from a random Facebook quiz I took!

When trying to choose a Word of the Year for 2016, there was a lot to consider. As I looked forward to the New Year ahead, there are some really exciting things that will be happening! For one thing; Our closest Friends will be moving to Aruba! How Exciting is that?! We are so thrilled for them! And are so proud that they are really doing it and are following a life long dream! But, on the other hand; Our Closest Friends Are Moving Far, Far Away! We have rung in the New Year together for many years now! And we are sad that we won't be able to see them anytime we want to. But on the other hand, we have an open invitation & a place to stay on Aruba! :) (Yes, I have always been a glass half full type person!)

 With our friends & soon to be Aruba citizens; Tammy & Jay,

On New Years Eve!

Both our son's are Married now & on their own. And in 2016 our Daughters will Graduate from High School! The night before their senior year began, I admit, I shed a few tears. I am no where near ready to have an empty nest! I am hoping that like our boys, the girls will choose to stay home throughout College. But they have dreams of traveling the world! I wonder where they got that from? By the age of 2, they had been in like 25 States (and that numbers doubled by now) cultivating a love for people, cultures & places! (That was dumb of me!) ;) I really do want them to live full, big lives & to see the world! I've always told my kids they can do anything they set their mind to, and be anything they want to be! But, can't they do that close to home with their mom right there?! :)

 Our soon to be Graduates!! 

So, even though there are a lot of Wonderful things happening in this year, I was starting to feel sad thinking about it all. But, I've always tried to look on the Bright Side of any situation, silver lining & all, so I wanted my Word of the Year to be something positive. Then the perfect word hit me: JOY! I'm choosing to see all the Joy in everything that will be happening this year, instead of concentrating on the down side.

 Continuing my theme from last year;

Gifts, Gratitude & Grace!

I started gathering things that say Joy on them and putting them around the house. And for Christmas my loving Husband bought me a Journal that says Be filled with Joy on the Cover. And on the inside he wrote some quotes on Joy, with a personal note. I love it! And all throughout the year I will use it to write down each day, something that brings me Joy!

 My Joy Journal! 

I will also, throughout the year, do things purposefully that bring me Joy. My Girls & I are working on a special project, a way to share Joy with others who need it, I will tell you more about latter. And since Dancing always brings Joy, I am thinking of taking a Dance Class of some kind. Possibly Hula again, but I'm keeping my options open for now. I guess we'll see where this Joy Journey takes me!

Let there be . . .

What is your Word Of The Year this year? Do you make New Years Resolutions? Or do you pick a theme or word to live by? Or simply set Goals to work on throughout the year ahead? Which ever way you approach 2016, I wish you a very Happy New Year that's full of Joy!

This Year Has Been Brought To You By The Word; Grace

 My Word Of The Year, for 2015 has been the word Grace. After reading the Book last November, One Thousand Gifts by: Ann Voskamp, where she reminds us that no matter what's going on in your life, there is always things to be Thankful for! And that Grace comes in the form of Gifts. It got me started keeping a Gratitude Journal of my own, taking the time to notice the big & the small gifts I've been given.

And this year I've read a Book called What's So Amazing About Grace? By; Philip Yancey. Another great Book about the beauty & importance of receiving & giving Grace. I highly recommend both of these Books. We've been given so much. And to whom much is given, much is required.

We receive Grace, or unmerited favor, & we should in turn extend Grace to others. Choosing this as my Word of the year was just a way of reminding myself to notice, and be grateful for, what I've been given, and in turn to give back. Bestow Grace, just as I have received it. What a Beautiful word, Grace.

So ask yourself, What Grace has been given to you? Be grateful for all you've been given. And how can you extend Grace to others who are in need? 2015 has been a beautiful Grace filled year! I am more aware of the presence of Grace in my life & I look for opportunities to show and extend Grace to others I might meet. And you'll just have to stay tuned to see what my Word for 2016 will be! :)