Glam Squad...

Second verse same as the first, yes, back in the valley again. Chess tournament in the valley with a twist… The Glam Squad is in town!

What you ask is the Glam Squad? The Glam Squad is comprised of my mother, my aunt, my older sister, and me of course. The Glam Squad is going to go all “Edward Scissor” hands on my favorite cousin and one of best friends today. Okay… so maybe not the scissor hands part but definitely going make sure they are the most beautiful ones at Homecoming.

I do believe my cousin is under the same set of dating rules. Yes, our mothers are sisters and well, rules are rules.

This day is a very special day as we get to take part in a tradition to see the belle off to the ball. In this case x 2 belles. Days like today remind that not all little girls have their moms physically present for special days like today.

I know that in a very special way those special moms are the guiding force to ensure the right people are present for their daughters on days like today. As a small child, I always believed in Fairy Godmothers, today, I finally get it. Joslyn and Isabella you have a very special angel watching over both of you. The Glam Squad is honored to be a special part of your day.

Coin Purse...

This week my sister is away at a Chess Tournament so I agreed to fill in for her.

My family and I have traveled to Phoenix for a very special event. My cousin recently got engaged and her family is having an engagement party for her.

My cousin and I are separated by 11 years. She lived with us for a short time and the bond we have in common besides being family, is our Grandma Jane, and the fact we are the youngest children in our families. I am the namesake of her father who passed away when she was 4 years old. This day is very special as we are celebrating her and her happiness. She is very special to our family and I am blessed to have her in my life. 

My grandmother and her younger sister had a long standing tradition to exchange one birthday card every year. This card traveled many miles over several decades. For my cousin's engagement gift I will keep the long standing tradition of the birthday card to exchange the coin purse my Grandmother left me. Each year on our birthday's the coin purse will travel between us. We will  share memories, hopes, dreams, and one ailment. Grandma and her sister usually ended their letters with one thing that was ailing or nagging them. 

The coin purse is very special to both of us and I am honored to share it with her. Each quarter inside the purse is a memory of Grandma. Memories of happiness and love. 

Family traditions are the ties that bind. Traditions like her homemade Texas sheet cake and ice cream at family gatherings. Grandma would be so delighted. I'm quite certain she is whispering in a family member's ear in Heaven, "that's all I got!"

-David Henry

Frustrated…and Encouraged!

Just that kind of day. Subjecting myself to more standardized test, chess tournament, and everything else that goes along with being pulled in 15 different directions. Ground hog Saturday!

Ever feel like you’re just not on the same page with people in your inner circle. It’s amazing what you learn about yourself when you’re removed from what you consider to be the “norm”. My norm these days is school, work, home, homework, and family. I’m thankful for the norm as my friend(s) have me a little annoyed this week. Enough said!

Last week my Mom turned me on to a new organization which I can lend my talents to. I just feel the need to let my creative side loose. The program is “Beads of Encouragement” which is an arts-in-medicine supportive care program for children coping with serious illness, their families and the health care providers who care for them. I will be using my sewing talents to create bead pouches. In turn the pouches will be given to children who receive the Beads of Encouragement.

My mother and co-workers will receive a pair of matched beads to carry or wear on an adventure big or small. Mom and her crew go on daily adventures!!! She will return one bead to the organization along with a note of encouragement. The bead and story will be given to a child or teen receiving the necklace with the Bead of Encouragement. My mother will keep the other bead to symbolize her shared strength. The rest of the beads on the necklace represents each time the child receives a blood transfusion, each time they are poked with a needle, each time they receive chemo, surgery, and the list goes on. The necklace is a symbolic strand of support.

It’s amazing when I think about my frustration how something as small as a bead can provide me encouragement and a reminder life is good! Thanks for the reminder Mother!!!

Caramel Anyone?...

I got a craving to create this week. Since Tony is away I thought I send a care package his way. One of his favorite treats that I make is Caramel Corn Puffs. So off to the kitchen to create a great batch of puffs.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of salted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 vanilla
• 1 bag Chesters Puffcorn

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Melt butter.

Once butter is melted add 1/4 corn syrup.

1 cup brown sugar. 

Mix, bring to a boil, and  boil for 4 minutes.

  Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.

 Pour puff corn into a baking sheet.

Pour caramel over puff corn.

Mix puff corn and caramel...mix well.

Bake at 250 degrees for 50 minutes.

Stirring gently every 10 minutes.

Turn out on parchment paper or foil and cool breaking apart large chunks. Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy!

Promise...

I’ve been thinking about the word Promise for last 2 weeks. What does it really mean? Why do so many people break them?

As children when making a promise we would say, “cross my heart and hope to die!”  Silly when you think about it why the heck would someone hope to die. Chalk that one up to childhood stupidity.

 Promise for me is sacred. If I give my word, it’s gold. I’ll do what I say and say what I’ll do. I guess it comes from my upbringing. The phrase “I promise” in our household is NEVER used lightly because for us it’s a binding contract. The word ranks up there with “I love you” and “I trust you.” Serious stuff eh?

The last Saturday (Best Day Ever) I spent with Tony before he embarked on his college adventure he gave me something to hold onto. Very few words were spoken other than… Um, I can’t take this… are you sure?!?

The gesture was so sweet and endearing I found myself screaming something in my head. In my head people and not out loud.

“I promise”.

I hadn’t told anyone until Thursday night. Shock value is an interesting thing with my parents. I casually approached my mother and said, “Hey mom do you want to see what Tony gave me?” Mom had been away for 2 ½ weeks so she was in a “Yes… whatever you say” kind of mood. So, I show her the gift, she looks at me, and back at the ring... AND says OUT LOUD, “Um, why do you have Tony’s ring?” “Hey Mike do you know about this?”

Wait for it… My Dad’s head does the inspector gadget move and says, "NO!" It was funny because the only other time I heard about him doing the Inspector Gadget move was when he first met Tony (um sitting next to me with his arm innocently on the bench when I was a Freshman). I laughed so hard. Of course, we discussed the gift… Let’s just say I will leave that discussion for a chapter in Penelope’s “best of... wait for it moments!”

Now I’m seated in the upright position taking my SAT’s on this gorgeous Saturday morning… yes, a 4-hour ordeal. Fidgeting with the ring on my necklace and a smile on face.

Applications...

I have many reasons to be dreading this beautiful Saturday morning. #1 my Tony is now 293 miles away, yes, 5 hours and 8 minutes from my front door. Not counting or anything like that…

My heart is weepy sad but I’m so excited for him! I saw his parents last night for a moment and wanted to cry. So… enough of the sappy girlfriend saga.

The other reason for my dread is the College application season has begun. I’ve applied to 4 colleges and have been accepted by two. Two more to go.

I’ve answered over 100 questions, submitted grades/transcripts, and now have the awesome task of answering ESSAY questions to give them insight as to why I want to attend their fine institutions… that my parents are footing the bill for…

If reason ruled in this situation I would be submitting an essay to my parents. The essay would be "Why the Hell do YOU Look so GOOD on PAPER?" 

On paper my parents appear to be of awesome means. The sad thing about that statement is our government fails to see that what’s on paper is typically not reality. Whoa did I just say that? Our government and reality in the same sentence. (Disclaimer… Going off the rails moment… doesn’t our government appear to be a bad reality show right now? I mean the channel says CNN but it looks more like E! or BRAVO!)

Back on track… what the FAFSA doesn’t list is:

My family is separated because of a quality of life issue. Well it started out that way… You see I couldn’t exist in the Valley of the smog… I mean Sun. Too many bouts with pneumonia and asthma had my parents seeking a better climate for me. Unfortunately, mountain standard time does not pay what the valley pays. So, one of my parents commutes weekly to their job to ensure life, college tuition, weddings, emergency from every corner, and day to day is maintained. The other one holds down the homestead and works close to home to ensure we have everything we need and then some. This unfortunately doesn’t factor into what the government wants to see on their reams of paperwork.

So back to my college essays and keeping myself busy… Why the Hell do YOU Look so GOOD on PAPER? BECAUSE I'm LOVED!

Best Day Ever...

Today will be bittersweet as I spend my last Saturday with Tony, a.k.a. “The Boy”, before he heads off to college next week.

It’s funny how our mothers came up with nicknames for us. Yes, mothers are amazing creatures who can spot a boy or girl trying to capture their child’s heart. Then they proceed to create names for those SOMEONES!

It’s a dark and gloomy Saturday as we head down to the Valley of Sun. The sun is doing her best to make an appearance to make this a special day. As I reflect on my freshman and sophomore years when “The Boy” stole my heart and I couldn’t tell him because I was an awkward girl with “RULES”. Remember RULES!

What “Ms. Girl” found in those 2 years was a best friend in the “The Boy”. Oh, how I will miss him, miss long discussions about our futures, and sparring over our different views on life.

Wishing” The Boy” a great Freshman year navigating new surroundings, new friends, new sights, and hopefully lots and lots of homework to keep him busy!

Love, Ms. Girl