As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood

Though it's one of the greatest times of the year, spring can be a little unnerving when you realize that parts of your body that haven't seen the light of day since October are going to be on display for all the world to see.

With that in mind, Kelleigh and I had a lunch date last week. We went and had our first of MANY pedi's for the next 4-5 months. If you haven't had a pedicure since the frost and snow started, go get one and remember...

As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, you pledge to follow the rules when you
wear sandals and other open toe shoes:
I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch

the ground, nor will my heels spill over the back. The sides and tops of my

feet will not pudge out between the straps.
I will go polish free or vow to keep polish fresh and chip free.
I will not cheat and just touch up the big toes.
I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.
I will shave the hairs off my big toes.
I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, co-worker, mother
or sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.
If a strap breaks, I won't duct tape, pin, glue, or tuck it into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.
I will not live in corn denial, rather I will lean on my good friend DR Scholl's if my feet need him.
I will not wear a toe ring!
I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend, co-worker, mother or sister
when she asks me if her feet are to ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell
her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal can make her feet look good.
I will promise if I wear flip flops that they will actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking. I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.
I will promise to get a professional pedicure at least once per season.

Mirror notes

As I stumble into the bathroom at 5:40AM Friday morning, I quickly wonder why Brad Pitt is staring at me. This is what I see...

1) Turn off straightener --- That's from me to Aaron. I have been battling with him all week about turning off the straightener before leaving for school. He left it on ALL DAY twice this week. I made a note and taped it to the mirror in his bathroom.
2) Put on choir t-shirt Saturday morning --- That's from Aaron to Aaron. Aaron was selected for the Select Men's Choir Ensemble at the beginning of the year and has thoroughly enjoyed it, just as we have. Aaron attends Lincoln Jr High and had to try out to be in the regular school choir. The choir teachers then make their decision and listen to the recordings again and decide who is in the 'select' choirs. About a month ago he had a choir contest and it was held here in Bentonville (Jody and I attended b/c were dorks like that). The Select Men's Choir made straight 1's, even a 1 in sight reading. Not bad for 7th and 8th graders :) The choir teacher (what a brave woman) took all of the students to Silver Dollar City today as a reward. This was his note to remind himself he had to wear his choir t-shirt.
3) Brad Pitt --- What is he doing taped to my mirror? (reminder, it's 5:40am)

I stand there and my mind starts going in a direction that worries me. #1 - Turn off your straightener. #2 - Select Men's Choir Ensemble. #3 - Picture of Brad Pitt taped to his mirror...

I head right back in to the bedroom, tap on Jody's shoulder and say "Hey, get up, we need to talk." "HUH? What is it?" he says. Me, "I think we have a problem. Jody, why does Aaron have a picture of Brad Pitt taped to his bathroom mirror?" I get the 'are you serious' look because he doesn't have to wake up for another hour and a half. He says "I don't know and if it's not important, can we talk later?" I stand there a minute and start to think to myself that I am over reacting and he finally says "Oh, I forgot to tell you that I am taking Aaron to get his haircut at 4:30 today. He has decided he wants it all cut off (he has shaggy hair). He wants it to look like a picture he saw of Brad Pitt." The knot in my stomach released and I left the room.

As I made my way back to the bathroom, I decided to step in the office and grab my camera. Before I knew it, I was laughing so hard it was hard to keep my hands steady to take the picture...

The things we worry about as parents - mirror notes

Every Woman

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD HAVE…..
One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come ~ A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family ~ Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour ~ A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying ~ A youth you’re content to move beyond ~ A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age ~ The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it ~ An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account, all of which nobody has access to but you ~ A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded ~ One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry ~ A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra ~ Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it ~ The belief that you deserve it ~ A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30 ~ A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better ~ Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to ~ Eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored ~ A feeling of control over her destiny ~ How to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship ~ Where to go be it to her best friend's kitchen table or a charming Inn in the woods when her soul needs soothing ~ How to fall in love without losing herself ~ What she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, and a year.



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…..
How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship ~ When to try harder and when to walk away ~ The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town ~ How to live alone, even if you don’t like to ~ How to take control of your own birthday ~ That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents ~ That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over ~ What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love ~ That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long ~ Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally ~ Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault ~ When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye ~ Never laugh at anyone's dreams, people who don't have dreams don't have much ~ Talk slowly but think quickly ~ When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?" ~ When you lose, don't lose the lesson ~ When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it ~ Spend some time alone ~ How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next ~ How to fall in love without losing yourself ~ Believe in love at first sight ~ Love deeply and passionately, you might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely ~ Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk ~ Learn the difference between when he says; I LOVE YOU to get into your bed, or I LOVE YOU to get into your life!

Author ~ Pamela Redmond Satran

My Accomplishment

Let me start by saying this post has been a LONG time coming. It is a very personal and emotional post for me so bare with me as I stumble through... And also keep in mind that 'fat girls' never have a body shot to share :)

The photo above was taken April 2007 in Mountain Home, AR at one of the many music festivals that we attended that year. After down loading these pictures, I started browsing and came across this picture. I remember my exact thought when it came up on the screen. I will not share that thought because it is quite embarrasing and painful. I then realized 'somethings gotta give'. After years and years of failed attempts to diet and exercise, I finally went to a nutritionist. I set a goal to lose 60 lbs by April of this year.

My friends, today is April 8, 2008 and I have lost 67 lbs!!! Look at me now...


Am I bragging? Just a little. Does it feel good? Well, heck yes it does. Did I deserve what I bought myself for hitting my goal? I sure did!!!!

Now all of this shopping leads me to something different... You see, Ive always had a shopping problem, at least thats what my friends call it. I've never looked at it that way until this weekend. Well maybe I didnt look at it as being a problem but more of a lifestyle. What has changed my way of thinking? Well, for all you PLUS size women out there, you will understand this.... I've never really had a problem with shopping the the PLUS size section of the dept store. Just a fact of life for some :) But this weekend, I had to go to the 'other side' of the store to find something that fit!!! You talk about excited, I cant remember how long it's been since I shopped "over there"! So what's the problem you ask? The problem is, I couldn't quit trying on clothes and buying them. Now, Houston we have a problem!!

I'm starting to look at like this... Some people collect stamps, others spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on real-estate. You cant wear a house! Well, for me, I collect anything that comes from a boutique, the mall or a world-renowned fashion designer (i wish for more of this). Call me superficial but clothes and accessories are one of my hobbies. I bought lots of cute things this past weekend but these are a couple of my favorites...

My little Tree Hugger

How creative can you get when trying to get a two year old to take a picture? I tried everything to capture this photo last week. Guess who made it happen? A five year, my niece Lauren!!! We ,3 of my nieces and I, were outside playing-swinging when I noticed Kylee Kay leaning on the tree and "bwasting off", which is the cutest thing ever. I ran over and tried to get her to lean up against the tree for a picture. She quickly retreated screaming "No auntie, tired of pictues", and yes I know I left the 'R' out of pictures, and yes I do have the camera in her face the whole time I'm with her. But thats how she said it and I can still hear it :) such a cutie, so... The whole Bwast Off thing comes from them playing Hide and Seek and she's counting with her face in her hands, very quitely, 1-2-tree-foo-seben-weven-foorteeeen-twentee--- BWAST OFF!!! And there she goes... The next time she came to the tree I tried to get a picture and she was very persistant in her NO! Lauren had a great idea, she said "Auntie, take a picture of me loving the tree. Aww, what a sweet tree" she said to KK. Lauren started hugging the tree :) Well, Miss Kylee Kay couldn't stand it and the next thing I knew, I was in the middle of a photo shoot!!!

Amazing.