Festival of Trees

This weekend Brian and I had a chance

to take the kids to The Festival of Trees.

I talked a little bit about it here

but I wanted to share some of the pictures with you all.

These aren't very good pictures, 

but it will give you an idea...

Each  tree at the festival has a theme and is made by sponsors.  

The trees are for sale as well and by the time we arrived

on Saturday evening, many of them had sold.

The tree in the foreground of the top picture was made

by a decorating company and it had paintbrushes, wallpaper, and such

throughout the tree.

The tree in the middle ground was made full of candy...
M&M's and candy canes!
Now THAT is a Christmas tree!

The one in the background had a Southwest Airlines theme

and included a $250 flight voucher.

I can't remember who made the above tree, but it is

the Heat Miser vs. The Snow Miser

from the movie The Year Without Santa Claus.

If you aren't familiar with this popular holiday favorite,

here is a quick video to introduce you:

The tree above had a white and blue theme, obviously,

but I don't remember the details of this one

other than thinking of how pretty it was.

This one (above) had a Goetze's Candy 

(which is proudly made in Baltimore) theme.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE

Goetze's candy including cow tails.  

Mmmmmm.  

This tree was sold already or I may have considered it.

The one below was an amazing and unique theme. 

It was an upside down tree that was

decorated in the theme of 

Through the Looking Glass.

There were tea cups and playing cards

and all things Alice in Wonderland.

We had a really great time with the kids here.

I still have to share the images of the gingerbread houses 

that were there...

another day soon.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Change of Perspective

Isn't it amazing how things appear differently with just a little change in perspective?

When I took my trip to Florida recently,

so many things looked one way to me

and then I changed my mental perspective and 

realized that sometimes what we think we see

is actually what we want to see

and not really reality at all.

It is no secret that I am a horrible flier.

I hate heights and I am claustrophobic.

That combination does not go well when in

a full not-one-seat-empty-overbooked-airplane.

I usually use meds to help me cope with my anxiety 

while traveling in the air,

but on my way home,

back to Maryland, 

I was not nervous at all.

I decided to go without my meds,

as I am a person who does not like to take 

unnecessary medication.

Of course, of all times NOT to take the medicine,

this flight probably ended up not being the best one 

to choose to go med free.

The flight started off really well.

Despite the fact that I was crammed between the window

and two very large gentlemen,

I was able to deal with my fear of being trapped

in a closed space.

I had my magazines, my Blackberry and earphones,

and a word and logic puzzle book to keep my mind

off of my surroundings.

But the saving grace turned out to be my trusty

Canon G11 Powershot.

Since my Canon 5D was tucked away 

in the overhead bin,

I had my G11 to go to when I needed to refocus

my attention to composition and patterns

rather than the height and tightness of where I actually was.

I was smart enough to pack it on my under-the-seat carry on.

And thank goodness I did.

It turned out to be my medicine when

we hit some VERY rough turbulence

(this was the only flight I have ever been on

where people in the cabin were either screaming in fear

or "wheeeee-ing" in delight from the

stomach dropping turbulence.)

I didn't make any noise at all despite

my intense fear because I used deep breathing, 

meditation, and a change of perspective

to help me cope.

G11...I know you are an inanimate object,

but I love you and

I owe you my sanity.

Next time...

I think I will go for the meds 

no matter how confident I feel in the beginning.

You just never know when you will 

have a roller coaster ride in mid air.

Inside and Out

Ty in Reflection

Last night we took the kids to

Festival of the Trees

to support a local children's institute,
Kennedy Krieger,

that serves children and adolescents

with disorders of the brain,

spinal cord, and muskuloskeletal system.

I will blog more about that later,
as I took lots of pictures
of various Christmas trees
and gingerbread houses
so I can share them with
those who do not live in Maryland.
For those of you who do live in Maryland,
the Festival of Trees
is going on through today
at the Timmonium Fairgrounds...
get out there and have fun
while donating money to a good cause.

Today we are off to find an artificial Christmas tree.
I can't stand having the live needles tracked throughout
the house...
especially now with two extra children in the mix,
I just don't have time to keep up with the maintenance
and the cleaning this year.
I grew up with an artificial tree,
but since marrying Brian,
we have had real trees...
so it will be a change.
My two oldest have never had an artificial tree,
so they seem a bit disappointed with my decision,
but I tried to explain that the upside
was we get to put up the tree earlier
and keep it up later than we usually can.
So, we will see how this goes...

I hope you all have a great ending to your weekend!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas ;0)

Tuned In

I do not consider myself a techy kind of girl,

however, I did recently upgrade my phone from 

a Blackberry (seen here during my recent trip to Florida)

to a Droid Pro.

At first I didn't think I would like it as it is very 

different from the Blackberry,

but I have to say, I am hooked.

I love the different photo apps I can

download and I am digging the games

that can be played such as suduko and solitaire.

I picked the Droid Pro because I wanted something

that offered a keyboard similar to the Blackberry

but also allowed a touch screen...

the best of both worlds.

I also went this past week and purchased a new

Macbook Pro to replace the HORRIBLE 

Windows based laptop I had for the kids.

That stupid thing has not worked since the 

day we bought it 4 years ago.

 I couldn't wait to be 

rid of it and get a Mac.

So, while I don't have to have the 

latest and greatest in technology, 

I am very happy with my recent purchases.

And when I am a happy consumer, 

I pass the news to all of you 

who may be in the market soon for new purchases!

Have a great weekend!

This is What I Feel Like After Pigging Out Yesterday

I wouldn't even care if the birds picked my teeth.

Thanks to my brother and his wife 

for hosting a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.

The food was delicious and the company was divine.

Now...off and running for the Christmas season.

I think we may head to Longwood Gardens today

to see their Christmas display.

I've never been there for Christmas, 

so I am excited!

I hope no one is regretting eating too much

or drinking too much yesterday ;0)

And Happy Black Friday

to all of those crazy enough to join the mayhem.

I will not be partaking in THAT craziness.

Hugs...

Happy Thanksgiving!

My father in law sent this to me via email 

and I just had to share with you all.

Can you imagine being in the mall food court

and this happening?

What fun!

I think more people should do things like this.

It brings spontaneous happiness!

I know this was a Christmas themed post, 

but I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving!

May your hearts be filled with joy and thanksgiving

and your bellies filled with delicious food!

I am thankful for all of you,

xoxo

Wordless Wednesday: Room With a View

Please visit my photoblog, 

This Too Shall Pass, 

to see today's Wordless Wednesday.  

Please leave a comment over there 

instead of here if you are so inclined. 

Thanks!

Reflection

I don't have much to say today

because I am so stinkin' angry 

at how the school handled 

Ladybug's bullying issue

that I could spit.

So, instead,

I will answer some reader questions.

What's the most delicious meal you've ever had?

Well, that is hard to say,

but I can say that I had two of the most

amazing meals (breakfast and dinner)

I've ever had when I visited

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

in Western Pennsylvania.

If you've never been there,

you MUST go.

Who is the most overrated musician?

I am not a fan of Teenie Boppers, 

so I would have to say Justin Bieber.  

I don't like him.  

He seems like a real jerk.  

I also don't care for Lady Gaga.  

I am not sure why everyone is so gaga over Gaga.

If you could go on a road trip with anyone,

dead or alive, who would you go with

and where would you go?

It would have to be my mother.  

I don't get to spend much time with her anymore.  

I want to be able to spend quality time with her 

while cruising across America, 

making sure to stop at any landmarks she wants to see 

but has never had a chance to see.  

Second in line would be my husband.  

I didn't say him first because I think we will have our retirement years 

to do all the traveling we want.

Thanks for asking great questions!

You all rock and I don't know what

I would do during these difficult times

without all of your support.

xoxo

To ask questions for a future post,

or to read the history of answers,

you can visit my Formspring page here.

Emptiness

Taken at the Hippodrome Theatre- Baltimore City

When I saw this scene at the Hippodrome Theatre,

I knew for sure it had to be added

to my "Resting Places" series.

There was something forlorn,

lonely, and sad about the 

two empty chairs waiting for

occupants to sit and chat.

The mood of this image fits nicely with the theme

of today's post.

Bullying.

Yes, bullying.

Ladybug is yet again the target of a bully.

Only this time it isn't third grade...

it is a middle school, foul mouthed,

abusive, violent, promiscuous, mean girl

who thinks it is entertainment to threaten

my daughter.

I don't want to go into details,

but do want to say that I think

this nation's bullying epidemic 

has a lot to do with parenting.

I know in this girl's case

and in many other cases, the parents of the bully

are nonexistent emotionally and 

allow the child to control the home

with no discipline, boundaries, or love.

I have empathy for the bully

that home life is not what it should be,

but I can't allow my empathy for her to interfere 

with my judgement when making sure 

I protect my daughter's right to a 

bully free school environment.

Anyway, sorry to be a downer on 

a Monday morning,

but today I have to begin the process

of working with the school with this issue

and it is how I am feeling.

Empty.

Angry.

Frustrated.

Sad.

I hope, however, you all have a FABULOUS day.

xoxo

Into the Night- A Few of My Favorite Things

Downtown Baltimore with view of Bromo Seltzer Tower 

Things I am in love with right now:

Mike and Ike candies

The Avett Brothers

Droid Pro

Tidy Cat Breeze Litter System

Panera Bread's Reward Card

Maxwell House Toasted Hazelnut and Cinnamon Dulce Cappuccino mixes

Just thought I would share a few of the goodies

I am thankful for now that Thanksgiving is coming up ;0)

I will be answering more reader questions soon...

Please click here and ask me anything you want...

serious or silly, it doesn't matter!

Thanks!

Moving On Up

Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore City

I went to the middle school yesterday

to visit Ty and Ladybug in their classes

for American Education Week.

First off, I was surprised

that my 8th grade teenage son

and my preteen 6th grade daughter

actually wanted me to show up.

That made me feel so good as a mom.

But being at the middle school and watching

the interaction between the students brought 

back so many memories of that time

in my life.

I had a good time in middle school

but I remember being physically lanky and awkward,

starting to like boys,

trying to figure out who were my true friends,

and worrying about moving on up 

the ladder of social status.

Times have not changed.

I sat there and observed the subtleties 

of middle school behavior...

the sideways glances of 

a boy and a girl that like each other;

The man play of boys trying to 

edge each other out for status 

(like wolves in a pack);

the girls gathering in clique groups

whispering and giggling about the day's news.

The part that I didn't quite remember?

The smell of a middle school gym class.

Remember those stinky pinnies we had to wear

when divided into teams for gym?

They still have them.

And from the look (and smell) of them,

they are probably the SAME ones

we had 25 years ago.

That is one memory I could have done without.

Thanks Ty and Ladybug for being secure enough

in yourselves to not mind your embarrassing ole mom 

to come visit you at school.

I love you both!

Read Street Irony

Downtown Baltimore City

irony 

- 6 dictionary results

i·ro·ny

¹    

[ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-]  Show IPA

–noun, plural -nies.

1.

the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite ofits literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” whenI said I had to work all weekend.

2.

Literature .

a.

a technique of indicating, as through character or plotdevelopment, an intention or attitude opposite to thatwhich is actually or ostensibly stated.

b.

(esp. in contemporary writing) a manner of organizing awork so as to give full expression to contradictory orcomplementary impulses, attitudes, etc., esp. as ameans of indicating detachment from a subject, theme,or emotion.

3.

Socratic irony.

4.

dramatic irony.

5.

an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might havebeen, expected.

6.

the incongruity of this.

7.

an objectively sardonic style of speech or writing.

8.

an objectively or humorously sardonic utterance, disposition,quality, etc.

"Ironic"

~Alanis Morissette

An old man turned ninety-eight

He won the lottery and died the next day

It's a black fly in your Chardonnay

It's a death row pardon two minutes too late

And isn't it ironic... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid

It's the good advice that you just didn't take

Who would've thought... it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly

He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye

He waited his whole damn life to take that flight

And as the plane crashed down he thought

"Well isn't this nice..."

And isn't it ironic... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid

It's the good advice that you just didn't take

Who would've thought... it figures

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you

When you think everything's okay and everything's going right

And life has a funny way of helping you out when

You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up

In your face

A traffic jam when you're already late

A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break

It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife

It's meeting the man of my dreams

And then meeting his beautiful wife

And isn't it ironic...don't you think

A little too ironic...and, yeah, I really do think...

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid

It's the good advice that you just didn't take

Who would've thought... it figures

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you

Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out

Helping you out 

Read Street Tattoo 

located on Park Avenue?

Hmmmmm.

Thought I'd give you a smile for a Friday.

Have a good one, y'all.