Wednesday French Inspiration

Shelle from Blok Thoughts commented that my hat was cute on last week's Wednesday French Inspiration. This reminded me that I have been meaning to post about the hat.

Before I went to France I had two things I wanted to buy there:
1. An Awesome Scarf (never got that one)
2. An Adorable Hat (absolutely love mine)

My husband and I had a morning to visit the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame before we were to meet his aunt and uncle at the Museé d'Orsay. We wanted to grab a bite to eat before we met them. On our way to an AWESOME pastry shop in the Latin Quartier, we passed the hat I was picturing in my head. I told Hubby that I had to have it. So he dealt over some Euros and told me I had to make the purchase solo. (My husband is rather fluent in french after serving a 2 year mission for our church in Paris; I draw from my high school and college courses.) I survived and was even able to tell him I wanted to wear it so he cut the tags off. Decked out with my new Anastatia-like hat, I felt like a princess.

The following day I'm standing in the Louve marveling at the Mona Lisa while surrounded by high school groups that are touring. I look up and no joke see about 5 high school girls wearing the same hat. It was like a game of connect the dots, the hat being the dots. (Notice it was high school girls; then me in my late 20s with the hat. I have a hard time shopping in the misses/women sections.) I felt my individuality being sucked away; I was no longer a princess but a wannabe - a girl at the prom wearing the same dress as 5 other girls. Only I was the chaperone instead of a student. LOL However, every time I wear my hat, I still feel cute. Why give up something you love just because other people love it too?

If you are writing something you love and you find out other people are working on similar projects do you give up your work? If you found out when picking out new tile that your friend had the same tile you wanted, would you chose a new tile? What about baby names? Would you change your choice if someone else named their child first?

This experience taught me if you love what you have or want then don't love it less because someone loves it too. Be yourself, even if there are some people who have similar tastes.

Three Shades of Green

I have been three shades of green seeing all of the three column layout blogs, and the extreme blog makeovers taking place. So I am trying to teach my blog how to exercise itself into the shape I want it. I hope that you will bare with me through the surgeries. I will still be posting. If I'm lucky after all the bandages are removed maybe you guys will be green with envy too......

Enter At Your Own Risk

Have you ever gotten mad at the UPS guy,who rings your door bell during nap time? What about those people who stop by for a visit announced?

Well today we were having a crazy lazy Saturday, and we had some uninvited guest. The visit was actually quite pleasant other than the fact that my family was all in pajamas, the house was a mess, and my daughter had a high fiber breakfast and was loudly spreading a toxic aroma as she ran around the room at top speed. I always wonder what people think when they leave on days like that. Please tell me you have crazy lazy days too. Once my embarrassment faded, I started thinking that guests really shouldn't just show up. Especially when they are visiting families with kids. You never know what you could be walking into.

On the other hand, I tend to be a spontaneous person. I have never been a big planner. So maybe it is quite hypocritical of me to feel this way about my unannounced guest. I actually like surprises.

What are you feelings about unexpected guests? Is your house always ready for visitors?

Wednesday French Inspiration

Winged Victory (Nike) of Samothrace at the Louvre

This awe inspiring statue of the Greek goddess Nike crowns a staircase in the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities section of the Louvre. The view of her as you ascend the stairs is breathtaking. Sarah and I desired to have our photo with sculpture. Not an easy task when you have a museum full of people. So there we are waiting our turn, when Lame-Line-Skipping-Guy (LLSG) decides to plant himself firmly in our picture. We tried to wait him out. No he wasn't having it he just stood there as if we were the problem not him. As not to end up in every photograph of the sculpture taken that day Sarah and I decided to retreat. In truth, we could have asked him to move, but we did not.

Now I have a photograph that will forever capture the memory of the fly in my ointment. I think of how easy it is to allow such a little thing spoil the whole. While LLSG is in the picture, I still have a beautiful photo. I think it is our challenge to not get caught up with the small things. Don't let one undesired thing spoil the whole.

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summertime?

Oh, what do you do in the summertime
When all the world is green?

Do you feed ducks in a stream

Or lazily dream by a friend

Watching clouds go by?

***

Do you swim in a pool,

Act too cool for school,

Or swing on a swing up high?

***

Do you play at the park,

Stay up until dark,

Or count all the stars in the sky?

***

Do you sit near the smoke,

Roasting food that you poke,

Or try to catch Fireflies?

***

Do you read books inside,

On a horse have a ride,

Or dress like a butterfly?

***

Do you go to the sea,

Get stung by a bee

Or catch bubbles that float up high?

***

Is that what you do? So do I!

* Changes in lyrics made by me to fit our summer happenings. Each line has a corresponding picture. I hope your summer is filled with a lot of fun things.

** I decided not to include some of the things we do that we could not post appropriate rhymes -- for short example "Grow gardens of grass... " I figured we has enough pictures already. :)

Excuse Me, Is Your Book Wearing a Thong

I am not sure if you noticed, but I was MIA this weekend. I had a last minute getaway to celebrate this beautiful country. I have had quite the day today catching up with everyone elses wonderful weekends. The blogging world goes on without me, but I tell you what I was really missing it. It is glad to be home.

When I was reading though I stopped by Debbie's at Cranberry Fries she is having a contest.

It really got me thinking about how all my books in my reading pile must feel. They are all just laying there unadorned* when they could have been wearing one of those fancy up the crack thongs. Now I admit when I first heard the term book thong I was kinda confused. Was this a thong which I could wear that was meant for carrying books**? Or a thong your book was supposed to wear? And if it is the second, could someone explain to me why my books need underwear? But after viewing Stupid Shiny Designs etsy shop I was somewhat disappointed. It was definitely not a thong for me to wear that would hold my book for me; it is in fact underwear for my book. I may not be 100% accurate in that statement. Anyhow if your books don't have any underwear you should definitely go over to Debbie's book thong contest and enter to win.


* That isn't completely true some have the slip from the library stuck in there as a bookmark
** I think I need to invent book carrying thong underwear and have Kristina P market them for me. They would go great under a snuggie.

Wednesday French Inspiration

Birds Perched upon the bridge of Château de Chenonceau

Okay when I looked out the window and saw all of these birds my first thought was " HOLY CRAP!" Literally, think of all the crap that would be falling. But then I had a more inspirational thought: When you are out on the edge, it is nice to know that you are not alone. (that is a much better thought isn't it).
When I am overcome with stress or grief it is easy to feel alone and to be blinded by my own emotions. So please don't be blinded by your emotions or your trials, take a look down the ledge and see there is a long line of friendly faces who are out there with you and willing to follow you through it all. Be aware that you are in fact on the ledge of something beautiful. I mean how cool would it be to be on the roof of a castle. Yeah I thought so. And for all of the people who don't get out there on the ledge to help you, we can send the pigeon bombers after them.