My REAL Mother's Day PRESENT.

Yah, yah. I know my post is late, but you see I've been busy. No, I don't have a craft or a project to post. Nope on all counts of anything newly painted or re-arranged in the Mermaid Cave. You see I've been PRESENT lately. You know, in the moment, paying attention, watching my life happen around me as an active participant. I read a post online today that spoke to my heart about How to Miss A Childhood. That post reminded me of so many days when my kids and I spent hours together staring into puddles, swinging on swings, walking trails, going to T-Ball and finding slugs. The boys are 10 and almost 16 now and slugs rarely get the same reaction they did 5 years ago ;) I find being *present* these days requires a completely different level of attention. Knowing who is dating who, why someone is being "flamed" on Facebook, where it is OK to "party" and what kind of party we are talking about....how much to be seen and when. It is a real balance with teens as I don't have to tell some of you. Being present at this age means SEEING your child with an unflinching eye and being his homebase, no matter what.

This guy though...he is still all "Mama, look at me!!!!!" And I am Quinn. I am looking right at you. I never miss a smile or wave from on the field. I want him to have exactly the same feeling his big brother had. He is my hero, I am avidly watching. I love him. I want him to win and have fun and not fall down. I will know every detail of each game, where he stood in the chorus and how he almost tripped getting on stage for his big moment in the play en' Francais. For Mother's Day this year I got breakfast, gratis gardening, the new Conan the Barbarian movie and chicken nuggets for dinner. I smiled and hugged and told each of them how much I loved my gifts and their efforts to make my day. Cause truth be told....I am half way there, aren't I?

My New Motto!

 

Do you have bad art? I mean something you bought a long time ago because you liked the colours in it but you knew it didn’t fit your decor? Voila. Here we have some sort of strange wanna-be African drummer, cause you know I have an East African theme going in a big way in my house….lol. This lovely picture has been living in my basement for years.

What to do…..I need some art that TRULY reflects me and the vibe I am going for in my home. Coastal. With Margaritas. My inspiration being my outdoor cushions that have every colour I love.

What to do? Rip that thing apart with some needle-nosed pliers, remove staples, clean glass and find the Rustoleum Painter’s Touch in “Caribbean Blue”. I want to be buried in this colour. Thank goodness it’s spray paint!! LOL

I love this colour. Have I mentioned that yet?

Looking online for free printable….I found my new summer motto. One 11 x 17 sheet of paper later and I am in business.

Bring on the gazebo, the pool, the margaritas and candles.

Keep Calm and Party On!

Rockin’ Around the House

 

Our boys have been surfing the dungeon enjoying the semi-finished basement with their friends for seven years in our home. This has kept the noise to a dull roar when large hordes of boys are in my home and means I mostly only see the teenagers when the fridge light is on. But….the guys are 10 and almost 16 and I hate to admit it, but they are growing up. As in, they are going to be gone soonish. I actually enjoy them and want to see them more. So, Greg and I came up with the brilliant plan to rework the under-utilized living/dining room at the front of the house into a lounge for the dudes and their filthy, eatingmachine  lovely friends. Complete with computer station, PS3 and reading area.

You may remember (or not) this shot of the room when I first came across the $40 settee:

We moved the extra loveseat upstairs (to be slipcovered this weekend or it will never survive), put the PS3 and TV on my hope chest for height and surface area. Baskets were scattered around to hold controllers, games, comics etc. But I hit the wall, literally, when it came to a huge expanse of wall over the settee. What the heck did I have on hand that didn’t have flowers on it or a lady in a beach scene to make wall art?

TO PINTEREST! (Just imagine Batman saying that.)

Aha! Inspiration anyone?

Source: modernkiddo.com via Dharma on Pinterest

 

I have records. Really cool records. I can do that……Quick…Robin get me my finishing nails, some bulldog clips and my record collection.

Janis Joplin? Check.

The guys love this new setup and tonight I laughed when Greg noted… “Hey we are all sitting in a room together, and no one is eating!” I think this will be awesome. Lots more boy time. Yay!