Best Mom Ever's Advent Calendar

When Chicken Little was, well...little, I made an advent calendar with small paper mâché boxes that I'd covered in wrapping paper and wall paper scraps.  I didn't have enough small boxes, so I improvised and the collection grew to include various decorative boxes that found their way into our Christmas decorations.  Here's a bit of the collection that I cropped from an OLD picture (the pink striped one is an example of how it started):

Every year I'd fill them with small gifts - mostly from the dollar store - or candy. I'd also include fun Christmas-themed things like pencils with designs on them, ornaments, or supplies for Christmas crafts.  As she got older, we continued the tradition and the gifts changed to things like lip gloss and earrings (vintage clip-ons from eBay at $1 or less/pair), with a few ornaments and candy still thrown in the mix.  I had as much fun figuring out what to put in the boxes as she did opening them. 

As I started to think about Christmas this year, I knew it was something we would both miss.  While this is a year of big changes, it doesn't mean we have to go cold turkey on everything.  I decided to ease our transition.  Even though CL's not home, I still wanted this to feel like Christmas for her (and, honestly, I'm not quite ready to give up on this fun tradition yet either).

This year, I bought some small tags and got crafty with some mod podge, scrapbook paper, rhinestones, and stickers.

Using stencils, stamps, stickers, and some freehand, I numbered each tag, 1 - 24.

Then I made a trip to the $1 sections at Target and Michael's...

...ok - so not all of this is from the $1 section, but you get the idea.  (I already had the little metal stocking and I have no idea where it came from.) 

Using envelopes, recycled boxes and wrapping paper scraps, I wrapped everything up, and attached the tags.

When it was all ready to go, I squeezed it all into a flat-rate priority mail box with some red and green tissue paper.  While she was home during Thanksgiving, I mailed it so it would be waiting when she got back to school.

As I'm sure you know, it's not about what's in the packages - it's mostly just junk - it's really about the tradition and having a bit of home with you when you're far away - and knowing that someone cares about you.

When my big, grown-up little girl checked her mail, she called me a wee bit teary-voiced and crowned me the "Best Mom Ever" - thank you very much.  ;-) 

I L.O.V.E. Christmas!

Linking up here and here and here and here - come on over and get inspired!

A Cautionary Tale

Do you LOVE getting mail, real mail, out of the real mailbox? I do! I'm talking about something personal from someone you love ... not bills, those I do not love and they don't count.

I also like sending mail, or more accurately, I like the idea of sending mail. I have a pretty extensive stash of cards and stationary, because I have really good intentions. For some reason, I have never managed to send as much as I accumulate. But now, I have the perfect reason to start depleting the supply: Chicken Little!

This weekend I was sorting through the cards looking for the perfect mix of love and encouragement. Instead, I was struck by this one. It seemed a little inappropriate at first (not wanting to encourage wickedness since I know my precious angel is spending every minute in class and studying), but then it occurred to me that this could be a brilliant cautionary tale...




So, I got to work with the letter stamps and markers... Think she'll get the hint?

She's supposedly "grown" now, but I'm still the Mama which means the protective instincts, advice, nagging, and unsolicited "help" will continue... even if I have to rely on the USPS to deliver it!

Mom Guilt

I was listening to Dr. Laura Berman on Oprah radio the other day and she said something interesting about Mom Guilt.

You know how when they are young, the kids cry when we leave them. What do we typically say,”I know, I'm sorry, I don't want to go either." Or, "I wish you could go with me."

Instead of doing this, imagine what would happen if we said, "I know you're upset, and I'm going to miss you too, but I'm so excited about what I get to go do!" Tell them about the really cool thing you are going to do and get them excited for you. When you get back to them, tell them all about it and they will be eager to hear about what you were doing. Just like we want them to have fun and be excited about what they are doing, I think even when they are little they want the same thing for us. What do you think?

(I found the picture at toughcookiemommy.com.)

The Sky is Falling...

Sunday afternoon I received a frantic call along with this picture and a text message: "this is not like the ones at home!" Apparently Chicken Little (CL) decided to do laundry at the dorm and was confronted with an unfamiliar and non-compliant piece of equipment.




She'd put her quarters into the machine and they provided a nice snack. However, nothing happened in return. Then she tried to run both her bank card and her student account card through the card reader on the machine and both were declined.

CL was distraught, not because the machine ate her quarters or because there may have potentially been a problem with both of her means of accessing money, but because she didn't know how she was "EVER" going to do her laundry. The sky was falling and it was the end of the world.

First, let me say, that I was extremely proud of her for having the initiative to do laundry without me having to ask (a.k.a. nag) her about it. Wooo hooo!!! WAY TO BE A GROWN UP!!!

From a distance, I had a hard time understanding the angst this situation was producing. Also, my technical ESP was broken on this day, and in spite of the questions I asked, I was unable to fix the machine, resolve the problem, or provide any sort of helpful advice. So, as she was hanging up on me, I got the response: "I don't know why I called, you can’t help me, you're not here!" I had to laugh...

This incident has prompted me to address why my favorite nickname for her is "Chicken Little".


I hate to stereotype, but in this case I’m going to, and describe her sensibility as "artistic." Let’s just say that she can occasionally be a bit… ummm… sensitive and dramatic. Since she was a toddler, every day is either the BEST DAY EVER, or the absolute WORST DAY OF HER LIFE, depending on what has happened in the last 2 – 3 hours.

For those times when the sky was falling, “Chicken Little” just seemed like the most appropriate moniker.

I'm sure you're dying to know - “Does she have clean clothes?” Later that evening, CL apologized for the drama (no worries – there wasn’t any on my end) and let me know her solution. Instead of talking to the maintenance people, the RA, or the person at the front desk (all of those were my suggestions), she pulled her stuff out of the machine, went back to her room, went online and found a different laundromat 0.2 miles away. I was informed that she will go there in the future.

All is well with the world again, and the sky continues to remain where it is meant to be. (surprise, surprise!)

Here We Are & Dorm Cuteness

We were up early on Thursday morning. She couldn't check in until 9:00, but she didn't want to be late!

Notice the irritation - the nanosecond it took to take this picture was too long for Lib.

And we arrive...

Thank goodness she was only on the second floor. We had to unload all that junk and get it up those stairs. That was my least favorite part of the trip. I have a hard enough time hauling myself up - much less all of her stuff! And it was about 93% humidity - I was looking really pretty. What? It wasn't about me? Really? Hmmm....

Anyway - the dorm room is essentially a 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment. Chicken has one roommate who's in a single room, and then she shares her room with one other roommate. I met both of them briefly and they seem like very nice, normal girls (thank God!).

Living/dining room - no tv's in any rooms. There is one common TV for the entire complex - definitely have their priorities straight! (in this picture - the kitchen is behind me)

This is the bathroom - just a shower, potty and small sink - I just took this picture because I loved this shower curtain. I thought it was really clever for those having to share a bathroom with very little storage space - they don't have to tote their stuff back and forth.

Lib's room. We brought the desk. It's one of those inexpensive "farm" tables that we got a garage sale for $15. She sanded and painted it hot pink this summer. CUTE! No room for it, but we managed to find a place at the end of her bed and we wedged the night stand under it.

Notice all the junk she had to stack on top of her wardrobe. I was beginning to think I was going to go home with the van still half full.

Picking the bedding was quite a challenge. Lib didn't know what color or style she wanted, and then we finally saw a picture in a some magazine with a white bedspread and blankets or quilts at the bottom. PERFECT! She can change the cover at the bottom depending on her mood or the weather. This summer, she made that quilt at the bottom - it turned out really cute, and worked perfectly with the white.

The nice thing about this dorm is the homasote on the walls. The school has done this so the kids can have places to hang the art pieces they are working on or have finished. Pretty clever - and it also allows for the obligatory posters...

That vintage suitcase on the desk is full of her art supplies.

Think she was getting a little tired of all the photos?? I thought the sequined top for move-in day was an especially nice touch.

And then it was time for the long ride home. The van was really, really empty.

Wow! What a really wonderful and horrible day that was. I was incredibly proud of the independent, talented young woman she is becoming, but at the same time worried and sad to close this chapter. Leaving at the end of that day is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I started missing her before we even said goodbye.

No worries - YEA me for a job well done! I know she will soar.

And We're Off

Last Tuesday afternoon, we hit the road for the long, long drive from Dallas to Baltimore.

I rented a minivan (you aren't obligated to own one if you only have one child). We put the seats down (it took both of us to figure out how that worked). She loaded it up (to the very top), and off we went...


Yes, she took all of this to outfit her dorm room... and this was after weeks of scaling back on the "to go" pile. I have a firm belief that it doesn't matter how nice your stuff is, when it is piled in the back of a truck (or van, in this case) it just looks like a bunch of junk.


Notice that the door is not fully open. The entire van was like the overstuffed hall closet - you had to open the door a crack, put a hand in to catch anything that may come tumbling out, and then, without opening the door all the way you could quickly put in or take out what you needed. Just like that piled up truck on the Beverly Hillbillys intro...



Load 'em up, move 'em out. Say cheese!


Enough with the pictures already, Mom! LOL! She held that bonsai on her lap for about 8 hours before she was finally able to make a spot for it on the floor in front of her. It left her with about 8-10 inches of room for her feet.

It was hot! Even though most of our time would be spent in the car, this heat was not something I would miss over the next few days. 1300-ish miles to go!

Bon Voyage

We threw a big party a little over a week ago. The purpose was to get the family together for one final send-off for Chicken Little before she leapt from the nest.

I spent less than $10 on fresh flowers. I was concerned about the cheesiness factor, but I really liked the color combinations with the vases (I already had those). The second one was so festive!

Speaking of festive.... LOVED these shoes worn by my mother! Not what I was expecting for a cook-out, but since we stayed in (except for the actual cooking part), they were perfect!

This looks like only a few people came, but about 20 people showed up, and for most of the time, everyone was gathered in the kitchen (isn't that how it always happens?!).

The grill-master makes his final preparations... (please note his proud display of the team colors - it may only be pre-season, but my annual widowhood has already started - from now until February, I'll only have his attention on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.)

We tried to keep the menu, easy and summery, but it was still quite the feast. We had chips, salsa and queso to snack on, and the absolute best homemade sangria (recipe below), and iced tea, of course. Then for the serious eating section of the party, we had burgers, dogs, watermelon (yummy!!!), and potato salad. And for the really, really serious eating at the end, we had TWO desserts...

Banana pudding and hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting.... and homemade banner. I had planned to make cupcakes, but Chicken Little wanted a cake with frosting and layers, so I went with Plan B. It was the first time I made that cake, and it was scrumdiddlyumptious - even if I do say so myself. :-)

Chicken Little with said cake... I think a good time was had by all, and she was sent on her way knowing she is loved and will be missed. (please ignore the messy kitchen counters in the background)

Yummy Sangria Recipe (I found this at allrecipes.com)

½ c. brandy

½ c. triple sec

¼ c. lemon juice
1/3 c. frozen lemonade concentrate
1/3 c. orange juice

1 (750 ml) bottle dry red wine

¼ c. sugar (optional, but I added it)
1 lemon, sliced into rounds

1 orange, sliced into rounds

1 lime, sliced into rounds

8 maraschino cherries (or however many look festive to you)

2 c. carbonated water or ginger ale (optional, but I went with ginger ale)

In my version, none of these measurements were exact. I added more of what I like and less of what I don’t like – it’s hard to mess it up. Regarding the alcohol, get the cheap stuff because you’re doctoring it up so much that it won’t matter.

Directions: In a large pitcher, mix together the brandy, lemon juice, lemon concentrate, orange juice, red wine, triple sec and sugar. Float slices of lemon, orange and lime, and maraschino cherries in the mixture. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor. For fizzy sangria, add club soda/ginger ale just before serving.

Serve cold – over ice or not. Be careful – this stuff tastes like punch and will sneak up on you before you know it.

Absentee Blogger

Forgive my absence this past week. My world has been busy, busy, busy! Last Tuesday afternoon, Libby and I embarked on the College Road Trip. We left Dallas at 4:00 pm on Tuesday and arrived in Baltimore at 9:00 pm on Wednesday. Then, there was the whirlwind of unloading, unpacking and getting settled, saying goodbye, my seemingly much loooonnngggeerrrrr trip home, and my recovery for the last several days.

I've got tons of pictures from the last two weeks and a few stories to tell, but right now I'm trying to get caught up at work. My plan is to catch up on the blog a little later this week.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Ready to Fly

Only 4 more days before this little chick spreads her wings and starts to fly. I can’t believe it!

We have family in town and are planning a big be-off-with-you party tomorrow evening. Not to mention all the packing and anxiety we are already dealing with.

I'll be taking tons of pictures, and should have plenty to share next week! Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

The same but different

Hmmm.... These two notes were written about 25 years apart. The top one to me from my mother (who knows why I felt it was scrapbook worthy), and the bottom one from me to my daughter.

Both of them similar in intent and message, but oh so different.

First, my mother called me "do-do" - pronounced "doo -doo". Yes, so kind, but it was a term of endearment. My child would claim to be scarred for life if I were to tag her with a similar moniker.

Second, notice the "added benefit" on the letter to me of how impressive my home keeping skills will be to my future rich husband. Again, things that make you go hmmmm. True, good home keeping skills always come in handy, but I've never known the ability to clean a toilet to "amaze and astound" anyone, and certainly not a man! I guess that was supposed to be the motivator so that I would want to get this stuff done. The motivator on the other note: beauty appointments - getting the hair on your head cut/colored and the hair on your body removed. Kids today have it so rough.

Finally, notice the different chores on both notes. The one addressed to me: straighten house, run vacuum, and clean bathrooms - only 2 hours to complete! I'm left wondering what chores were assigned to my younger brother that day?!

So, what did I ask my Chicken Little to accomplish: run vacuum (same), water the plants, pick up "your" stuff, and bring down "your" laundry (god forbid it say "do your laundry")! All of this taking approximately 30 minutes to complete - if she rested between each activity.

While I'm thrilled to have found actual proof of the "walking-uphill-to-school-both-ways" type of generational differences we all claim to have, I am a little dismayed to actually see how easy the child really does have it.

I'd better get busy, only a few more weeks to come up with all sorts of chores to make up the difference. Otherwise, she won't have any "hardship" stories to tell her own chicks.

How perfect is this?

Friday, June 25

Pisces Horoscope: Lisa,Your circle of friends is about to expand dramatically. You are attractive to others who will seek you out to join in creative or social groups. You may find that there are some unexpected expenses or a commitment of time that comes as a challenge though.

I think that's my sign (ha! ha! pun completely intentional!) that I have to start this blog today. I cannot procrastinate any longer. It's not the perfect blog that I have imagined (I want to completely re-do my banner), and I really don't know where it's going, but at this point good enough is AWESOME because it's so much better than what I've got so far which is nothing.

What seems like a hundred years ago, when my daughter was small, I heard the saying "My only wish for you, Little One, is these two things: to give you roots and to give you wings." Almost every day since, I have thought of that. As my Chicken Little One gets ready to leave the nest, the ideas behind that saying have been hovering over me more and more. I think I've done pretty well on the roots part, but I'm concerned about those wings. I'm worried that in my efforts to keep her safe, secure, and grounded (I'm so punny today) that I haven't done enough to prepare her not only to fly, but to soar. She leaves in approximately 8 weeks, 4 days and 6 hours (who's counting?) so I guess we shall see.

My intention for this blog is twofold - first, to give me a purpose, something that encourages me to look for beauty and fun and cleverness and possibility in every single day, something that is creative and fun to do as I gingerly move into this next stage of my life; and second, a place to share things that inspire me and will hopefully inspire Chicken Little or anyone else out there to soar beyond their imaginations and their aspirations. (Right now, when she reads this as my only follower, she will think it is cheesy, but one day she will understand.)

Now, here I go, too... jumping out of my safe nest into this strange bloggy world...I think I am finally ready to stretch my rusty old wings and fly into this new horizon.