We welcome a cool weekend...time to shop a little?

With 49 days left until the big "Ho Ho Ho" event....thought I would share with you one my little secrets to get through some of the stresses some of us endure during this season. My TIP of the day? www.mybargainbuddy.com Check this website daily. This gal finds the best deals around, posts them to her site, and voila! There you have it! Speaking from experience, I find her site the best around, aside from Shutterfly, whom always delivers. What she posts' is what you get. Meaning, when she says FREE shipping, it's FREE shipping. No loops, no sign up trial deals...! Why not take advantage of a great deal, shipped right to your home. No parking lot rallies....no lines to stand in...no irritated rude people...All in the peace of your home. Then the wrapping begins.....lol.
I am so glad it's Friday. Soccer weekend yes, but a cool night in, a cooler weekend to layer my most fav sweaters and jeans....Count down til' Thanksgiving. So excited. Keeping in mind all that I am THANKFUL for. Each day I remind myself. Especially when I feel overwhelmed, as most of us do. Look around. Life is hard. But it's good. Enjoy your Friday everyone. Get your baking goods out......Cheers!

Tori Lynn....Happy Sweet Sixteen.....One..one...ONE..One..one...

November 1, 1995- A beautiful girl came into our lives.....long fingers, long toes...beautiful soul she is-
It's so enlightening, just looking back at pictures.....when they were 9....Christmas time on the beach...
Where'd the time go?

So cute!
Winter day fun....cold outside, warm inside...let's play with makeup!
Boat ride to The Springs!
Seal Beach Christmas Day 2005
Last year 15


2 summers ago....
Staying cool...Havasu 2009
Star gazing....

When they still were part of the festivities....
Marina Del Rey Brunch at The Ritz Carlton
Summer leading into Freshman year....this is when the legs powered up.
When they'd play in the sand and water...all day long....Redondo Lagoon

Tori has always loved to give Kali big big hugs....since she was little. Tori was 6 months when Kali was brought into this world...Kali was offered many hugs, many bow removals, many feedings..many pushing downs...and many times, lots and lots of laughter. These two girls can entertain themselves wherever, whenever..... Tori, Happy Birthday Beautiful girl....I am your rock. You make me so proud. Keep up the good, hard, true work. Remember, YOU are the most important.....The rest falls into place.... Love, Your other Mommy...."Auntie"-

Halloween is a little different each year.....

Looking back on the days of rushing home to get Kali dressed in her costume, and reminding Kris to be safe as he strolled the streets dressed in some crazy outfit to scare kids....arriving at Harvest Festival at Kali's elementary Christian School...excited to see her friends and what they wore. Who they pretended to be for the day....
This year I was told by Kali..."Mom, I'm excited to hand candy out and just stay home". She had tons of homework, a room to tidy..and just an exhausted body from a full weekend of soccer...and the typical Monday. I was soo excited to know we'd all be in. I made my traditional Chili Hot Dogs, with all the condiments...added sides, like chips and salsa...and fruit...just a quick little gathering of my little family...with my sister, and brother in-law. Kris and Kendall too...
My pumpkin.....I tend to change things up a little. Hallowed out for a bigger candle topped with "pretties".....lol
Kali's original pumpkin....it's suppose to have an owl on the top of these vines...she ran out of time....next year.

Yes, "Bucks" was a HOT Dog. lol! He didn't like it. Don't know why. LOL!
I've NEVER been big on scary things during Halloween. I love the pumpkins...the cornucopia's...the cute costumes..the time to gather...the orange and black. Well....my brother in law brought these two scary costumes for the "Girls" to scare kids that approached our porch. I stayed in the kitchen during the first few. I didn't like it. My sister was cracking up. Soon, I told Kali...only kids older then 10. The little ones need to see smiles....and "Happy Halloween"!....eek. I don't likey scary!!
This is what Halloween means to me. Every smile. Every costume. Priceless. So sweet.
Teen girls. Up to NO GOOD! lol
My little porch.

The girls soon gave up on the candy part, asking the guys if they could ride their "Mopeds"- Kris agreed, I finally agreed...(after my glass of wine settled in...) After all they'd go around the block slowly....it's Halloween, they'd have to go slow....hoping these little memories stagger in them for many years to come. They actually went around the block a few times...they came back with ear to ear grins....
We heard of a few Haunted Houses in our neighborhood. So I offered to drive over. All in our blocks worth of houses. Scary. Funny. Fun. Look at Bucks in the back. He couldn't figure this whole thing out. My sister, Bucks and I sat in the car as the girls shuffled in and out of these scary places....

Family. Halloween 2011- Til' next year....Halloween night marks a cute night for us. My sister went into labor 16 years ago. I showered that night, headed over to scoop her up for the ride to the hospital. I was 3 months pregnant with Kali...Tina was overwhelmed with pain. The pain that wouldn't subside until noon the next day November 1, 1995. We didn't know what she was having. I suspected a boy. In fact until her whole body came out...I was for sure convinced she was a boy. And Miss. Tori Lynn Edwards came into the world. She's my other daughter. I will always be her rock. Happy Birthday Tori. Sweet 16....More on this milestone later......

Winding down....checkin' out new towns.....

After crawling through another long week....reaching out to our buddies to get caught up...we ended up here...Tantalum's. One of my FAV places to eat on the water....Especially to catch the sunset in the Fall.....With Randy and Carmen....
Couldn't get any better than this....Kobe Burger with a Cabernet! And Onion Straws...yum!
My sweetheart walked into my house with a bouquet of these flowers....oh he has always known just the way to melt my heart. Flowers and love notes. Sigh....
He loves me. I love him. So much. He remembers my love for kissing pictures. Unplanned by me, but welcomed so very much! Kissing the week behind us....
Friendships. Bonds. Keeping things in order. Keeping each other strong for years to come....
For a couple of glasses of wine....we left there contently relaxed....on our way to pickup Kali from Harvest Fest at St. Hedwigs....
Our Saturday morning rolled out in Muholland Drive Canyon....to the most beautiful field...tucked up in a canyon. These two private schools were an obvious location for movie star kids....calling the elementary school side plush would be conservative.
Elementary schools end of play area yard. A waterfall...
My #4 somewhere out there.....getting ready to get her groove on....We ended up tying this game in the last 4 minutes, with a header, blasted by Hailey....talk about excitement! I of course cried. Just imagining how she felt...then...and the rest of the day. Melts me.
Side view of our game area....
Bestfriends...walking to play soccer!

Daddy.
Sunday we headed out to La Sierra University-Riverside. It IS AMAZING too! As we approached the campus, Kali antsi and frustrated with me, (Because I stopped at Starbucks to get an iced-tea...30 minutes early...why not?lol) She quickly got her bag and walked to the field...well...I grabbed my phone, camera, and Iced Tea....and strolled the campus...
As I approached to steps.....the sound of water trickling down these rocks...the botanicals resting near by..the smell of cold concrete and water....just breath taking for me. I sat there and reflected. Over many things...
Jesus.....This statue was HUGE...
My sweet Kali...The field was 98. Playing on Turf. Which is laid with black plastic. These BEACH Girls aren't quite used to the climate. We got spanked. Coach was pissed. I was....well...glad they were ok. Glad we all made it there and back. Unhurt. Lessons learned.
As I stroll through fields, the many many roads I have traveled with Kali following the game of soccer, I remind myself, I have a couple seasons left. And just like that, the soccer bag will be hung, my chairs will be put in the garage...the ice chest will sit inside the cupboard....and these fields will all be memories.....for now, I hold on. For now, I love rolling into new campuses. Remembering when her socks met her shorts playing U6 Soccer on school fields...has now blossomed to U16 playing in Stadiums on Turf. Life is fast. Live it love it. It's over for some way too early.