random

I’ve professed my love for Cirque du Soleil since first seeing Quidam a few years ago in Charlotte.  I’ve seen a couple shows since but after returning to Quidam last night, I remembered why I fell so hard for the shows in the first place. 

Quidam is the quintessential Cirque du Soleil show only rivaled by the water show “O” that I saw in Las Vegas.   While there is a loose storyline of a girl experiencing her imagination through a magic hat, the main acts shine.  From six men hanging only by ropes twirling at break-neck speeds in sync to juggling acts that leave your mouth hanging open, Quidam astounds.

I admit I was a tad worried the girls would be completely lost and bored.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  Seeing the show through my girls’ eyes was my favorite part of the night. 

Emma would see someone do something amazing and look up at me to see my reaction.  Our eyes would meet as in, “Yes, I saw that, and I thought it was amazing too!”

A few times I caught her clapping unprompted by me, or anyone else in the audience.

Lexi, who of course didn’t even want to go, stubbornly said she liked it during break but professed by the end that she “absolutely loved it.” 

Even Scott, who admittedly is allergic to any cultural events, said that although the “distractions in between didn’t do anything for me, the main acts were amazing.”

A special part of last night was sitting in front of a little boy, about 3, who insisted on commentating the entire thing.  The show would move into a dance or transition that was meant to be very moody and artsy and he would say things like:

“They are running like dogs.”

“That person looks naked.”

“That sounds like a helicopter.”

“He is funny.”

It was the most innocent, straight-forward, tell-it-like-it-is commentating I’ve ever heard.

We had a fantastic time as a family and I’d highly recommend it for all ages.

You can still get the family ticket pricing.  No promo code is required.  Just use this link or click on the image below.

 

I was provided 4 tickets in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Last week I announced that Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam show is coming to Charlotte July 3rd-7th.

I talked a bit about how the show inspires me.  I just can’t imagine all it takes to put the tour together.  Did you know there are 45 artists from 20 different countries that perform?  And that the show includes 2,500 pieces of handmade costumes worth $2,000,000!! 

It’s just fascinating to me looking at the picture above to know that someone came up with the overall theme of the costume design and then handmade each piece that you see.  I think it’s so far beyond my abilities that it astounds me.

Just amazing!

I wanted to remind you that there is a discount for a Family 4-pack.  No promo code is required.  Just use this link or click on the image below.

 

AND, don’t forget I have a family 4-pack to GIVE AWAY for the Saturday show at 3:30pm!!

Just head over to the original post to comment to be entered!

Did you ever have a day that just did not go as planned? Our Sunday was going just fine until it got flipped, turned upside down about 7:30.

The short story is the girls decided they were going to clean a few stuffed animals out of their closet today and we found mold on the molding, carpet and the base of the wall. Ugh!

Turns out the furnace’s water pan was overflowing, leaking down the walls and sitting in the closet floor. All the stuffed animals sitting in there were also soaking up all that water and many of them had mold on them too.

Cue the mess above.

You know how I was saying I wasn’t very organized? If I were to pick an area in the house that was the least organized, this closet was at the top of the list.

We had to get all the stuffed animals out (trust me, I realize it’s a ridiculous amount), remove all their shoes and all their clothes. Scott then removed their shoe rack and cut the carpet out.

The insurance company was called, Scott temporarily fixed the furnace and the girls were moved to the guest room until we figure out just how much of a mold problem we have.

I’m trying though to look on the bright side. I’ve been forced into reorganizing that closet, we probably will be replacing the carpet finally and it’s looking like we’re going to use this as an opportunity for Lexi to move to her own room.

I’m also super thankful this happened when Scott is off for a few days and the girls aren’t in school.

Still, anyone would admit what a pain something unexpected like this. Definitely not how we planned to spend our Sunday night or start the Summer.

Have you ever had a water leak or unexpected house emergency?

I’ve loved Fast and Furious from the beginning but admittedly, I haven’t watched every single movie. But still, Dom, Brian and the crew are sort of ingrained as part of my pop culture life. And let’s just be honest with each other–cute boys and fast cars are hard to resist.

It’s hard to believe 5 sequels in they could deliver all the goods. A solid storyline, riveting car scenes, nail-biting fights and characters you can’t help but love.

This particular sequel boasted strong themes of love and family that hearken back to the original and if you’ve ever loved the franchise, this is a must-see.

If you’ve seen it, let’s hit the comments because there were a few things I was confused about.

 

So, Hidden Valley ranch dip isn’t new and it probably is on a bunch of people’s bad list (including my own) but I have not been able to find a ranch dip recipe to make at home that tasted good. So I buckled and got the ranch dip mix and we loved it. So yeah, good or bad, I’ve been into it.

 

After taking the Shoot Fly Shoot Photography 102 class (see sidebar), I was convinced I needed a new lens and Scott got me one for Mother’s Day. And I think the guys were right–I have been LOVING my new 50mm lens. It’s been perfect for my WIWW posts and would be great for anyone wanting to take portraits. I’m sure it’s good for other stuff to but I feel woefully unqualified to tell you. Hit Josh or Kevin up on Twitter or email, I’m very sure they’d love to answer any questions you have.

 

To go along with the new 50mm, I picked up a lens remote and holy cow does this make my life easier. Now I can pop my camera on my stand and snap as many photos as I want without annoying my family. It’d be great if you want to try your hand at family photos and you want to be IN the photos and not have to get up and down to keep setting the timer.

 

I’m linked up to What I’m Into at Leigh Kramer’s blog

I’m afraid at times I’ve given the impression that I “do it all”.  If you don’t have that impression, GOOD!  But, a few people have recently said something along those lines, and well, it’s not near the truth!

I do some things but there is certainly a long list of things I don’t do at all, or if I must, not well.

If you’ll give me a few hundred words, I’ll share just a few.  

Balance our checkbook

I haven’t balanced a checkbook in at least 5 years.  I don’t even HAVE a check register.  We have all but 1 bill automated, never have cash and monitor all activity through our online banking and mint.com account.  Several years ago, I would balance the checkbook religiously but it got to the point I got so frustrated that I just threw my hands up and said life is too short to balance a checkbook.

We tried all cash a few years ago but after I lost $100 and Scott got frustrated at having to remember it, we both agreed it wasn’t for us.

We do keep a budget in mint.com and I monitor it closely so hopefully Dave Ramsey is not crying too hard somewhere.

Clean Our House

As a trade-off for working full-time we have someone clean our house biweekly.  I know I can do it, and did for a time, but I choose to spend my limited time doing other things.  I feel exactly zero guilt about getting help and I love my house every other Wednesday about noon.

Do The Dishes

I’ve mentioned this before but let’s be clear–I rarely wash dishes.  I empty the dishwasher and do the dishes if Scott is too busy with a project but the general rule is that I cook and he cleans.

Organize Paperwork

I haven’t filed a piece of paper in years.  I keep super important papers in a pile inside of our file cabinet but I haven’t filed anything.  The papers in-process I need are in stacks in my desk and in the kitchen and wherever else a piece of paper happens to land.  I’m really, really bad at paperwork.  It’s still on my list to read 10 Steps to Organized Paper.

Organize Anything

OK, let’s just be clear–I am horrible at organizing anything.  My bookshelves are a wreck, my shoes are piled in my shoe rack, the Tupperware cabinet looks like there was an earthquake, my pantry is stuffed and my linen closet is disheveled.  Sure, my house is picked up most of the time but don’t go looking too hard or you’ll find my messes.

Get My Hair Cut

When my hair was short, I would get a hair cut every 6 weeks but I’m too cheap and too busy to do that now.  So I grew my hair out and last time I got it professionally cut was last summer.  I cut it myself two months ago.  I actually need to break down and get a good cut soon but just adding this to say I don’t spend hours at a salon every 6 weeks.

Get My Eyebrows Plucked

I’m a home-plucker.  Again, too cheap and busy.

Get Regular Pedicures

I’m a home-pedicurist (is that a word–probably not).  I might get one once a year at the start of summer but that’s usually it.

Go Shopping – Even at Target

It is rare that I go shopping anymore.  Rare.  Now, when I do go out, I might spend a chunk of change but that’s only because I usually only do it twice a year and most of it is on the kids.  Those darn kids keep growing.  My friend Dani feels mercy on me every once in a while and gives me bags of her hand-me-downs.

More specifically, I only go to Target if I absolutely must.  I learned in the past few years that it’s just a downfall for me.  I want every other thing there and I spend too much money so I deliberately don’t go.  I get most of our toiletries free or almost free at CVS and get other absolute necessities at WalMart.  And even then, I try to send Scott.  

I’ll add a caveat here and say I do grocery shop on my own religiously on Saturday mornings.  It’s rare we go any other day.

Remember Appointments

Unless I put an appointment or event in my calendar I rarely remember it.  I’m so bad at this.  If you are expecting me at a party of some sort and I’m a no-show, please text me and help me save face.  The invitation is drowning in some sort of paper pile in the house.  It’s not you, party-planner, it’s me.

Remember Birthdays, Special Occasions, etc

And more to the point, I’m really, really bad at remembering people’s birthdays or anniversaries.  Facebook is a lifesaver most of the time.  But still, please don’t expect cards.  I’m so bad at this and wish I was better. It’s not that I don’t care.  In my head, I’m throwing confetti but I can just never get myself to a store to get a card or organize my paper enough to put something in the mail.   Remember, I don’t even mail my bills?

When the kids have something special at school, I’m the mom running to Walmart the morning the t-shirt is due and dropping it off in the office.  Again, the reminder is buried in a paper pile somewhere.

DIY

It is a rare day that I attempt a DIY project.  You’ve seen a few projects on here but that’s because it’s rare and it needs documented.

Exercise Regularly

OK, so this one goes back and forth.  Sometimes I get on a kick and exercise regularly but other times, like now, I’m not doing anything.  We did the P90X for 60 days but then Spring happened.  I seemed to trade time with the garden and pool in the summer for exercising in the winter.

Watch TV

I probably need a whole post on this but at the current time, I’m not regularly watching any TV.  Yep, I gave it up. I watched The Office finale last week and one or two season finales after skipping the back half of the season.  I quit a few months ago and I LOVE the extra time.

Extracurricular Activities

After trying Tae Kwon Do, guitar, gymnastics, art and horseback riding lessons, my girls have spent the past year not doing any extracurricular activities other than school-related clubs.  I don’t spend evenings or weekends at practices, games, concerts, recitals or otherwise.  Both girls are showing interest starting back up in the fall so we’ll see if this lasts.

Get Up Early

There was a season where I was getting up about an hour early and I loved it.  I saw a lot of benefits and wish I could get back in the habit.  But right now, I get up when I absolutely have to and usually it means stumbling to the kids room after hitting snooze 4 times.  I don’t get to bed super late. I try to be asleep by 10 but I still find myself needing at least 8 hours of sleep.

 

I could add a ton more here…sew, can food, scrapbook, volunteer at charities regularly, travel often, go to the movies, attend sporting events…oh my word, what DO I do??

I hope you get the drift–there’s a lot I don’t do or don’t do well and I’m nowhere near a super mom.    

I don’t list this to shame myself. I just realize I have budget limitations, time limitations, organizational impairments, and personality weaknesses. And I want to be sure you see them too.  Please, please don’t ever think I do it all. It’s hard to know these kinds of things when we live screen to screen where you’re often reading my highlight reel. 

The truth is no person anywhere is doing their best in every area at the same time. 

In the past few years, it’s helped to see we go through different seasons with different roles.  When the kids were little I was horrible at cooking dinner and grocery shopping but I exercised regularly and watched a lot of TV because that’s how I stayed sane.   Then there are other things, like organizing, that I just don’t think will ever be strong suit for me.

So, let’s just do what we can always do—for ourselves and others:  celebrate the things we’re doing well and paint some grace into the gaps. 

 

So fess up, what do you NOT do?