Tuesday, August 30, 2011

today i celebrate both love and death...


9 years ago today I lost one of my best friends and greatest supporter, my daddy.
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But, 8 years ago today I gained a new best friend and even greater supporter, my husband.
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And so today I celebrate two of the most amazing men ever to touch my life and my heart. 
I am forever changed by their incredible unconditional love, which has allowed me to feel safe in who I am, and safe in the love we share.

It's rare to be loved that way once in your life.
And so I am incredibly blessed to have been loved that way twice.

And even though my dad may be gone, the effects of his love is not.
It lives in me, giving me hope, giving me comfort.

But, I continue to grow and blossom mostly because of the  husband I have been blessed to have.
We've had amazing days, and we've seen the darkest and hardest of them as well...
but his commitment to me and to the Lord, 
is what inspires me more than anything.

I am so thankful for this day.
I am so thankful for them.

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Monday, August 29, 2011

is the mood cure in our blood cells?

bloodcells

We both sat and stared at this picture before us.  I was frozen, afraid to move, afraid that by simply breathing I would give away why I was there.

Suddenly he turned and looked at me with such empathy, and sighed.
"Oh Summer, what you must be feeling right now."

And I almost cried, because I was sure he was looking right into my soul.

This is exactly how my appointment began with Dr. Hugh Smith at my recent Biocytonic appointment.

I told him not one thing.
He knew nothing of me before I walked into his office.
And yet, within minutes of looking at the cells in my blood, he knew my battles and called them out one by one.

"You suffer from anxiety, don't you?"
"Do you tend to cry a lot, or easily?"
"You have absolutely no energy, and it takes you till probably at least 10 before you feel awake.  And then around 3, do you drop off again?"
"How about lower back pain?"
{i swear, i was NOT a riddled anxiety crying holding my back in pain almost asleep kind of a mess while i was there! i wore MAKEUP and DID MY HAIR!  i totally tried to trick him by appearing normal!}

I did however, sit there and nod, holding back tears....How did he KNOW?!?
He continued to list, and I continued to nod.

I was mesmerized...in absolute complete awe at all that was going on in that single drop of blood, and how it was all just happening before me on a giant computer screen.  Things were moving and growing and changing.  It was all a bit surreal and amazing.

It wasn't until I heard the magic words that I snapped out of my daze:
"How would you feel if I told you that within a week, you could already be on the road to recovery?  That all of this stuff is absolutely reversible."

I wanted to hug him.

We spent the next hour looking at my blood cells while he described every last detail of what he was seeing, and he patiently answered every one of my endless questions of, "Wait!  Woah!  What's that?!?"

He showed me on my white blood cells where I was aging, and told me he should be looking at someone in their 50's....not someone in their 20's.
Okay, okay.  30's.  Who's counting?
{he also told me he could have prevented me from losing my gallbladder! what the?!?}

I begged him to give me an exhaustive list of EVERYTHING THAT WAS WRONG WITH ME, PLEASE!!!
...but he knew better.

"Let's just get you FEELING better....and then we'll move on.  Because if I can get you feeling better?  You'll believe in what I'm doing, and you'll trust the process."

And it was only then that he asked for the paperwork I had filled out listing my symptoms and medical issues, and then took a moment to look it over. 
Amazingly, he had already touched on each and every one as well as ones I didn't even think big enough to include.

"See?!?  Easy!"  He exclaimed.
"This isn't magic.  This is 500 years old what I'm doing...."

And as I walked out of his office with his cell phone and email address in hand ("call or text me ANYTIME you have questions, and I will always answer or get right back to you!"), I had hope for the first time in a long while.
I felt understood, listened to, and cared for.

If you've followed my blog for awhile, you know of my health issues along with the anxiety that at times comes without warning.  I thought it was just me.  In my head.  The thorn in my flesh, and I would just have to learn to overcome.

Come to find out, perhaps there is a reason.
A reason that can be fixed.

It's been a week now on the supplements...
{supplements he doesn't sell, btw...i don't know, somehow that was important to me}
Do I feel better?
Amazingly, yes.
Am I totally cured?
Not yet.

But, I believe the things worth having are worth fighting for....and sometimes real complete healing takes time.
And suddenly this path I'm on, doesn't feel so confusing anymore.
Mostly because I have a cell phone number to use anytime I have questions.

And believe me, I've already used it.

ps...
{this post is already WAY longer than I planned, so i'll go into more details another time.  or feel free to ask questions and i'll answer in the comments.}


© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Friday, August 26, 2011

its what i wore out, brag book: vintage pleats

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{skirt: vintage; top: thrifted; wedges: dkny; bracelets: f21, tiffany &co, & thrifted; jacket: vintage; purse: olivia & joy; belt & sunnies: f21}

Today I'm linking up with Hollywood Housewife's Brag Book, showing off our favorite outfits from the summer.
I choose this one (worn last weekend to church), because I am OB.sessed with anything vintage.
Also?
I adore pleats.
Like Mega Love.
So when I discovered a VINTAGE PLEATED skirt, I almost died.

Speaking of vintage pleats:
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{also almost died when i discovered this dress!}

And then let's talk about that top.
{back to the original outfit!}
Um, those delicate little fabric flowers?
Yum.

And then the polka dotted jacket.
Oh my.
Polka dots WITH pleats?
Does life GET any better?
Oh wait, it does.
Add in mary jane wedges.

Put it all together, and it's loose & flowy (which is good after 2 kids!), but still fun and stylish.
{i hope!}

And that is why this is my favorite go to style this summer!

{now check out Hollywood Housewife's site to see other Brag Books and fave outfits!}

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Thursday, August 25, 2011

i don't speak french: my blog title explained

I think it's time to address the elephant in the room....or rather, le elephante.

And that would be....

I don't actually speak french.
I know.
Most of you are probably quite surprised what with my FRENCH title and all.

But, no.
I speak not even a little.
Or would that be "poquito?"  

Oh wait, that's spanish.
See?
I prove my point.

I do, however, LOVE Moulin Rouge.  So much in fact, that Come What May was our wedding song.  And because I love Moulin Rouge and I danced to a song sung by people who pretended to be french, I somehow relate a bit with the french speakers.
{i also like cheese.  AND FRENCH BREAD!  see?  so much in common!}

And so, that is why one night, long ago, when I stayed up after taking an Ambien....I started a blog.
And on that hazy night, a blog was named:
Le Musings of Moi. 

Yes, I now know it's supposed to be written LES Musings of Moi.
{and even then, pretty sure the arrangement of words is wrong as well...save that for another post!}

From what I gathered over the years of anon commenters (and some not so anonymous),
here's the real deal.....
Les is pronounced LAY.  Les is the female form.
Le is pronounced LUH, Le is the male form.
{i think.  just hang tight, i'm sure there will be email confirmation on that ANY second now...}

But, listen.
Ambien didn't know that.
Ambien doesn't speak french either.
{unless, of course, a french person is taking it...but that's way beside my point}

Other things Ambien doesn't know?
That it really shouldn't order books off Amazon, especially when they happen to be cookbooks, and I have never cooked a day in my life.
Also?
It doesn't know that sending emails or texts TRYING to be either funny, sentimental, or wise....
is not only none of the above...
but will be FULL of spelling errors AND will not be remembered the following morning.
Except by the confused and possibly disturbed person receiving said email.
{awkward.}

All Ambien knows is that what it wants, it wants...
and what it likes,  it likes.
And when Ambien watches Moulin Rouge late at night, 
and Come What May plays it's way into my little feeling heart...
a blog is born.

Le Musings of Moi.

And if all that isn't proof that no REALLY, I don't speak french...

This is how I sound when I sing Lady Marmalade:
boo loo coo vey a les bwa...le sha....


Close?
No?
I did get the les part right there though, I think.

And we wonder why they hate us.
How about I just stop with the awkward blog title?

p.s.
you'll be happy to hear, i quit the ambien.
especially you french speakers.

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

hair do i did: i went ombre

I did it....my platinum blonde is gone.
We decided to take baby steps and not go TOO drastic....
and I'm quite okay with that approach.

Although...I think next time we'll probably add more blonde to the bottom.
In the meantime, I am happy, and I love.

And because it's late, all I have are the iPhone pictures that we took in the salon, but I'll be sure to take some better ones later this week....

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So fun.
And now, I'm off to celebrate new hair AND the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!
Praise Jesus for school.
That's all I can say.

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

hair tutorial: how to straighten your hair

YouTube time....
Get your flat irons out and get ready to learn how to flat iron your hair!
And don't forget to subscribe!!!


Products used:
All things Derm Organic

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Monday, August 22, 2011

its what i wore out: completely thrifted

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{jacket: j&co; top: rie rae; skirt: julies closet; wedges: madden girl; belt: f21; purse: petus co; bracelets: thrifted, t&co; sunnies: f21; ring: mark.com; hair: air dried}

Okay, so maybe it isn't ALL thrifted, but the majority of it is.
I found my top at Platos Closet, and the skirt & shoes from my thrift store.
My jacket and purse are from Marshalls, and the ring is from mark.com.

I totally need to get back to thrifting more often.
Actually, I just need to get back to shopping period.
It's for the blog after all....

The things I do for you guys...

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Sunday, August 21, 2011

giveaway winners: tea collection & canvas photo

You guys ready for this???

The time has come for the winners of both giveaways!

Easy Canvas Photo Giveaway Winner is.....

Simply Sara!!!  Come and claim your prize! {email me your info!}

And for the Tea Collection Shopping Spree....

Mari J.!

And I have ANOTHER giveaway coming next week, so if you didn't win....
come back.
There's more good stuff.
Stuff I love, and stuff you need.

xoxo

{you both have 7 days to get in touch with me or i will pick another winner, thanks!}

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Friday, August 19, 2011

fashion/beauty friend friday

I happened upon Modly Chic through my sweet friend Jen's (the stylish housewife) blog.  Immediately I loved.

And I really quite love her "Fashion Beauty Friend Friday" where she asks the hard hitting questions, and we put our answers on our own blogs and link up.

Today we're talking about our dreams....the ones we have deep inside and tend to think will never really happen.

I love that kind of stuff...I mean, seriously...that's the stuff my journals are made of! ha!

So read below, for my incredibly deep thoughts on dreams:

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1. Fess up, if you could do anything professionally, what would it be?
Oh my, this is a loaded question, if there ever was one.  
Especially if you read my recent post on how BlogHer 2011 taught me that I needed a job like, ever so bad.  So. I've been thinking about this a lot.  
Over my stay at home mom years, I've tried to wear many hats.... Professional Matchmaker, Event Coordinator for a Speed Dating Company, Personal Assistant, Personal Stylist....  I kid you not, I did each and every one over the last 6 years.  And I loved them all...  But here's the thing.  I love to write.  And I kind of think making YouTube videos is the cat's meow.  So, if I could combine the two AND find a way to get out of the house to be social with all you out there....THAT would be my DREAM job.  
Okay. 
I just realized that's probably about what Paris Hilton & Kim Kardashian are famous for. 
But hey....if it works. 
Sign me up.

2. What draws you to this?
Let me just say that I LOVE my kids (most of the time), and being a stay at home mom is (or will be one day from what I hear) INCREDIBLY fulfilling.  But.  Sometimes I feel like I need something a little extra in the here and now.  The beauty in writing and connecting through video, is that I am connecting! I am meeting and relating to amazing women, and it's all through and because of the things that bind us together.
Life, love, beauty and fashion.
And sometimes parenting.

3. When did you first start dreaming of this idea?
I would have to say about 3 years ago when I first started this blog one hazy Ambien night. (the story on that later!) I had been staying home with my son for 3 years, and knew I was losing myself.  I needed to find me, my loves and interests again, and I needed to find women out there who were doing and interested in the same.


4. What's holding you back from going all in?
Basically the opportunity of a lifetime to fall in my lap. =)
Okay, so since that's not likely to happen (or maybe it already has?!?)....I think my own fear keeps me.  Fear that I won't have anything different or interesting to say than somebody else.  Fear that I won't live up to expectations that either I or someone else has set up for me.  Basically, what if I think I'm cooler than other people do? =)  Then that just kind of creates a problem. haha

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5. Sometimes the first step is the hardest....what's one step you can take now on the way to realizing your dream?
Being consistent with my own writing and blogging for sure.  Setting up my own deadlines and goals, and living up to them.  And getting out there and connecting with the people who not only read my blog, but who write their own.  And mostly?  Getting over myself and my fear, and learning that there is no gain without risk!

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{making friends at BlogHer 2011}

***edited to add***
And because my sweet amazing friend brought up the obvious, that I failed to mention....
In addition to the dreams above, I would also like, DIE to work with or for Tracy Anderson.
Her method has changed my life, my world, my view on health and fitness.
Plus, she's totally cute and adorable, and I love her taste in fitness fashion.
I would so TOTALLY go shopping with her.

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{ready to workout tracy!!!}

And, if none of that works out, just put me on Broadway as Roxy Hart, and I'll be one happy girl.
You may not be, as I'm sure singing isn't my strongest suit....but we're talking about me here.
My dreams.

{aren't you intrigued?  now go and read other posts on dreams on Modily Chic.}

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

tea collection giveaway

I adore fashion.
I love unique.
And shopping online?
Yes please!

Therefore when I happened upon an email from Tea Collection about a giveaway, I was ALL about it!

I mean, just look at how much cuter my kids look now with the few things I got to pick out to review.


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{top from tea collection...currently sold out}

I literally spent WEEKS looking at their site, going back and forth, needing this and wanting that....everything was just so chic.
Should I buy for myself, my kids, myself AND my kids.....

And you're about to have the same problem, because Tea Collection is offering ONE of my amazing followers (you follow right?!?) a $50 gift certificate to shop your little heart out.

Here's what you gotta do:

1. All my giveaways are for my amazing readers....so make sure you're a member of my blog.
{one comment}
2. Visit Tea Collection and let me know what you'd love to get your pretty little fingers on with all that money you're about to win.
{another comment}

Extra entries:

~ tweet this giveaway
~ follow me on twitter
~ follow le musings on facebook
~ blog this giveaway
{separate comments for each}

I'll be back on SUNDAY to pick a winner!
Have fun shopping!

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

hair do i did: twist/fishtail tutorial

I know I took a week off the videos....a little something called pms captured me last week...
But, I'm BACK!

And with a hair tutorial this time.
Only, as I was taping the tutorial (last saturday)....real life happened, and it just couldn't be edited out.
And because life happened, I couldn't film another take.

Welcome to my life. =)
And then go immediately after to take your birth control.


Let me just say that it was a fire ant bite which caused the drama.
And I ended up taking her WITH me to dinner and drinks, because I am a mama that rolls with the punches.
I am also a mama that needed a girls night out...
and also maybe a drink.
{i just had one! don't judge!}

Plus, I did my hair!
And my makeup!
Someone had to see!!!

She whined and cried through most of it...on my lap...while I tried to eat and drink.
But doggone it, I had my night out.

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Monday, August 15, 2011

a photo worth keeping: canvas photo giveaway

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At the time I took this picture, life was not pretty.  I was struggling a bit.
As we all do, I know....this just happened to be my turn.
Yet through it all, I was searching and seeking....and doing all I could to find the lesson in it all.

Around that time I discovered the macro setting on my camera and through it I began to see beauty where I'd never noticed it before.

The day I took this picture, mostly because of this picture, my perspective shifted.
It became my desktop photo, because I wanted the reminder.
I didn't want to forget the lessons of the macro setting.
{that post is here}

So when Easy Canvas Prints contacted me to host a giveaway and offered a canvas print of my own, I knew exactly what I wanted to get.

Within five minutes on their site, I set up my photo, got my preview...and just days later I received something even better than a desktop reminder.

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There's just something so beyond about having a photo or print on canvas.  It captures a moment in time so near and dear, and somehow immortalizes it forever into a work of art.

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{i also have our hand prints on canvas AND our family photo.  love.}

While a picture may say a thousand words, I believe a canvas photo says so much more.

Enough about me and my ob.session.
Let's talk about you and what you're about to be OB.sessed with as well.
One of you lucky ducks gets to create your VERY own 8x10  {with your own picture of choice!) print to have and to hold,
and cherish from this day forward.....
{as long as you live in the 48 states...sorry Alaska & Hawaii...next time!}

All you gotta do is:
1. follow this blog {i hook my peeps up...and i check.}
2. like Easy Canvas Prints on facebook
{separate comments for each, letting me know you've done both!}

Extra entries?
~ follow me on twitter
~ like Le Musings on facebook
~ blog about the giveaway
~ tweet about the giveaway
{leave a separate comment for each}

I'll be back on Saturday to pick the winner!

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

the greatest lesson of all: blogher 2011


"I should have KNOWN this would be the WORST DAY EVER OF MY WHOLE LIFE!!!!"
-Taylor, age 6, overheard many times the first day I returned from a weekend away

Ahhh, there is just something about my presence that brings about abounding love and happiness in my children.  And I knew from the tantrums and non stop quotes such as above, that I was a well loved and missed mama.  
My first day back.

So I'm sure you can see why after spending 3 days away that I would come home to consider that MAYBE, just maybe, I might be a prospect for a part time job.

Or.
OR!
A FULL TIME JOB!!!

The thought first came to me when on NIGHT ONE of having the kids by himself, Jimmy spent a good 30 minutes on the phone with me telling me the secrets to handling and keeping your cool with kids.
He was on Day 1.
And he already had all the secrets.

"You just gotta stay calm."
"You can't take it all so personally."

Did I mention he was on Day 1?

So I realized, he's got it TOTALLY under control!!!
And since he's got it, and I'm too social, the obvious solution would be that I shall need a part time job.

A part time job of being social.
With adults.
And where there are NO kids around.

There's a job like that, right?

Yes, at BlogHer there was talk of LinkedIn (it's not spam after all!), and knowing your brand (hope mines not walmart!), and I most definitely began to grasp the importance of social media...
 But my biggest lesson of BlogHer 2011?

Mama needs a job.

And that's the stuff you just don't get in a classroom.  

That is just real life, yo.

I hope you took notes.

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"

Monday, August 8, 2011

blogher: the social side

BlogHer was kind of amazing.  And I can't believe that I even had anxiety...and two 3am wake up panicking sessions before it.  There was just absolutely no need.  Because it was just that fun.

And while I learned more than I expected at BlogHer....today I'm focusing on the social side.
Because that is the part I love the most.

I am ever so thankful that I had the opportunity to volunteer, because before it even officially began, I had the pleasure of meeting two of the sweetest girls at the conference:

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Together we spent an afternoon at the expo (holy swag!) and then gussied up and headed over later to the Clever Girls Party, where many photo sessions (and more swag bags) were in order:

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The next day, I met up with Jennifer from The Stylish Housewife and we were inseparable from first hug.
Well, except for the 2 hours I hid in my car curled up in a little ball from the worst migraine of. my. life.
{thankfully there was an expo booth for that...got me some advil and soon after life improved!}

Once again, the day was FILLED with photo sessions.

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{BM: before migraine}

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{AM: after migraine}

Later, we made our debut at the Cheap Sally party where we met HIM.
And by the droves of women who flocked to him, I'm sure he needs no official introduction.
After the madness around him continued, I decided to create him an official name tag, which read:
"I'm kind of a big deal."

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Later, I ran into some old friends...who are also Kind of a Big Deal now (you may know them at SITS)...and therefore some fawning was in order:

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And then...well the party wouldn't have been complete without some self portrait sessions:

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And even though by the end of that party we felt like a hot mess, we pulled out our inner rock star and headed over to Sparklecorn.
 I'm so thankful we did though, because it was there that I finally got to meet Maegan, which felt more like seeing an old friend than a stranger.
It's kind of funny meeting people who you've read and who have read you for years...
because you know more about each other hearts and lives than even some of your friends!
Love.

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{glam squad}

The next and final day of BlogHer, I actually attended a few sessions where I learned stuff (more on that in another post!), which were made even better with the funny and delightful Danielle of Crazypants by my side.

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My love for her was sealed, when after a couple of self portraits {short attention span problems} during the sessions...

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...she sent me this tweet:
Know how awkward it is to sit next to you while everyone watches you take your own pic?  I'm bored face...me not the speakers

Although....she had not a whole lot of room to talk, because who was a tad bit embarrassing what with her technology problem and all?

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{um, ya...crazypants before rehab}

After the "learning" was done, prep time was in order and then we headed out to Social Fiesta & Cheeseburgher, where I got to meet the real life Macaroni Dad (sweetest new yorker ever)....as well as hang out with my now "old" friends.

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{love what this guy is doing....more on him later!}

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And after dancing on stage and later forming our own Spice Girls group...
I took my flats out of my rather large purse and headed home.
Sad face and all.

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{not sure what was up with the electrocuted bang look i was sporting all night!}

Overall, it was SUCH an incredible experience.
I met some amazing ladies (and men), and had the opportunity to learn a little more about this hobby of mine.

And also?
I may have slightly become obsessed with Twitter.

Thanks BlogHer.

{stay tuned for lessons from BlogHer...later, when my brain isn't such a pile of mush!}

© 2011 "Le Musings of Moi"
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