Flower Car Lady's Blog

Quote This!

2010-11-01T12:59:00.003-04:00

The challenge in life is not about being perfect, but about being whole.
- Jane Fonda

This really just hit a note with me, how much of our energy do we waste chasing being some version of perfection. If more people spend half of that energy making themselves whole this world would be a much happier and peaceful place.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2010-03-23T15:25:00.004-04:00

I am – immersed in sewing. I had sort of put it on the back burner and for some reason its been calling my name recently. I made a cute little itty-bitty dress for a 3 year old and next I am making Palazzo pants for myself. Cant wait to finish and wear them.

I am thinking – about the budget cuts that our school district is facing and how there are no GOOD solutions to heavy problems like this. Its unfortunate that the economic effects are tricking down and threatening to cut services in our kids schools, teachers, sports clubs all the things that make up an enriching environment have to be trimmed to bare minimum given the lack of funding.

I am feeling - weird because today I had to help my teen pick out courses for HIGH School . I feel like I just blinked and my baby is in high school. Where have the years gone.

I am looking outside my window – and I see grey skies and rain drops. Looking forward to the sun shining later in the week.

I am reading – The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein. Its written from the perspective of a dog and is about his race car driver and is sort of about how to deal with life when it rains.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

2010-03-13T17:11:00.018-05:00

I've been sort of trying to make the shift towards healthier food choices that I would like to eat without feeling like I am on a diet. When I think of diet food I think of food that leaves your taste buds and stomach unsatisfied. With a attempt to reverse that I am focused on experimenting a few dishes that are made with all natural healthy ingredients that taste amazing and just happen to good for you.
My first attempt is at Tomato basil soup, our local grocery store sells this fresh in their soup selection and its heavenly but with every bite you can taste the calories so I was looking to make a home made version of the same.
A quick google search later I settled on a version by Barefoot Contessa Roasted Tomato Basil soup ,click on link for the original recipe that was the inspiration for this dish.
If you happen to have a crock pot then use it like I did to keep the soup brewing without having to watch it all the time. If you don't have slow cooker just simmer the soup for 30 minutes on the stove top.

What you need to pick up from the grocery -
8-10 Plum Tomatoes, 1 bunch of basil, 28oz can of plum tomatoes, 1quart chicken stock (home made is great)

What you need from your pantry -
6 cloves of garlic, red pepper flakes , olive oil, butter, salt & pepper, (optional -Agave syrup,milk)

1) Cut plum tomatoes in half, garlic cloves in half place in roasting pan and drizzle with 2 tsp olive oil. Convection roast at 375 for 40 minutes.

2) Saute onions and chopped garlic in olive oil and butter . Add red pepper flakes.

3) Add 28oz can of whole peeled plum tomatoes and chopped basil into onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper

4) Transfer the onion/tomato mixture , roasted tomatoes and chicken stock into the crock pot. Let the whole thing simmer on low setting, I set it for 4 hours.

5) Use immersion blender and puree the soup until its finer. As a final extra step I passed the whole chunky soup thru a course food mill to give a soup an much smoother consistency.

When the soup was done it was a little too acidic for my taste so I added 1/4 cup of milk and a tsp of Agave syrup ( substitute sugar if you don't have that) and heat on low until ready to eat. Serve with a garnish of basil, 3-4 croutons and optional dash of grated cheese.

Enjoy on a cold rainy day with the ones you love. If you have any other slow cooker or healthy tasty recipes feel free to share .

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Five Word Fridays

2010-02-19T14:53:00.000-05:00

Thank God Its Finally FRIDAY !

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2010-02-09T14:51:00.003-05:00

I am – trying to figure out what is wrong with my back. I seemed to have injured it working out and now everything I do hurts. Sitting here trying to type on the computer hurts the worst. I really must go and lay down to rest it. This back injury is really literally becoming a pain in my a**.

I am thinking – about how to achieve a date night with my hubby . We have both been so busy in our everyday chores ( job/kids) that we have not taken the time out to just connect with each other. This week that’s my goal. Date night with Hubby.

I am looking outside my window – and I see sunny skies and a thinking about the huge snow forecast we have for the northeast tomorrow. All of these clear evergreens will be dressed in 10-18 inches of snow if they are right.

I am reading – two books by comedian Chelsea Handler . One I just started is called Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea . I just finished her other funny book called My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands which is basically a collection of information about ALL her one night stands. Funny easy read. I would rate it 2/5 its an OK read if you are looking for something easy to make you chuckle . Certainly not deep reading but I am just in the mood for silly reading. The next one I have lined up to read is Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings- by Tyler Perry's Madea. Can you see a pattern here, I am taking a break from serious reading here LOL.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

My 7 Cub scouts just crossed over to Boy Scouts

2010-02-08T10:46:00.004-05:00

This past weekend 7 of my (technically only one is really mine) boys graduated from being cub scouts to boy scouts. We had a Blue and Gold celebration dinner and a crossing over ceremony al of which was a wonderful experience. They actually have a bridge that the scouts physically cross over symbolizing the end of one path and the beginning of another (Can you hear me dabbing at my tears). This year is an extra special year as it’s the 100th anniversary of Scouting.
I have been involved in scouting for about 9 years now since my oldest became a tiger cub. I led his dean and transitioned them to boys scouts a few years ago. He continues to remain pretty active in his troop and loving every minute of it. Just last weekend he was out at a wilderness survival camp sleeping OUTSIDE in 20 degrees with nothing but a tent and a campfire Brrrr.

Being a Den leader means putting in a lot of effort in making sure that the boys are getting the most of what they can from this wonderful program. Trying to lead a Den of 7 boys with bundles of energy has its rewards and its challenges. Today I turned over yet another batch of scouts to the BSA and its sort of bitter sweet. It’s been 6 years of spending an hour or two with them twice a month coming up with activities to do, things to explore and fun to have. I have watched most of them transform from the little cubs that they were when they started in 1st grade into these wonderful young men that they have morphed into. I sort of feel like the mama bear that has to let her grown cubs move on into the woods and hope that I have given them enough to survive on their own two feet.

Now here they are poised to move into Middle school and I am so proud of their accomplishments and cherish all the wonderful memories of the journey to getting here. In a few years they will perhaps have moved on and barely remember any of their early scouting days. I however will always look back fondly on all our adventures and always remember them just as they are today. I hope they all continue to stay with the Boy Scouts of America organization and make it to the rank of Eagle. I wish them all the best and hope that in some small way have made a difference in their lives for the better.

2 down 1 to go.

So two of my cubs are grown and made the transition so far. I still have one little cub left who has 2 more years to go before he makes the transition to Boy scouts and I am planning on enjoying every moment of him while he is still a cub. Its neat to see him following the footsteps of his older brother. Startling to see realize how fast he is progressing and leaping towards the finish line.

I already have one teen hanging around with attitude, another poised to be “tween” this year so I know I need to enjoy the “baby cub” while there is still time. I am afraid to blink cause before I know it I’ll have a house with 3 teenage boys walking around. Yikes !

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Five Word Fridays

2010-02-05T16:50:00.002-05:00

Dreaming of vacation with hubby.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Quote This!

2010-02-03T16:28:00.000-05:00

Your opinion of me is none of my business.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Just a quick thought...

2010-02-01T11:34:00.002-05:00

If the restaurant chain "Hooters" were to offer a delivery service would they change their name to "Knockers" ?

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Five Word Fridays

2010-01-29T21:44:00.003-05:00

Boy in Striped Pajamas - Movie

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2010-01-23T10:43:00.002-05:00

I am wearing - pink and green flare gypsy skirt and and a pink top, staying away from back as usual. In fact I just purchased a WHITE coat. Not sure how long it will remain white but for now its cheering me up.

I am looking outside my window – and its cold but I see sunny skies.

I am reading - The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Its a very interesting read from the perspective of the Black help in White homes in Mississippi.

I am listening to – Say Hey by Michael Franti.

I am – headed out for a fun afternoon with by 2 BFF's celebrating one of their birthdays. Going over to a William Sonoma store for a cooking technique class in searing and simmering soups. Hopefully there is good food and we might learn a recipe or two. Looking forward to lauging and spending quality time with my GFs.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

New year New resolution.

2009-12-31T14:21:00.003-05:00

I may not be posting as much as I want to but I just realised that I have made some progress on my 52 goals for the year. So I am taking a moment to celebrate the ones that I have completed. Lots left to do you yet and I need to refocus on these items and get moving. So I guess my New years resolution is to refocus on the things that are important to me.

1) Take a go-see-it vacation : This summer we ended up taking a trip to Costa Rica and we went Zip lining over trees. That's a whole blog post in of itself.
2) Build a new garage - well its a long long process with lots of roadblocks...
3) Loose 5 pounds - really need to kick start this process and give it more serious attention and focus.

4) Take voice lessons : Few months ago I started vocal lessons in Indian classical music. Makes me realise how much I lack in musical ability LOL. Its been great, I am glad I am doing it cause its something I always wanted to do since I was a little kid and I love singing .

5) Go apple picking with the family
6) Go berry picking with the family
7) Teach the kids to ride a bike
8) Learn to swim without fear
9) Surprise my H for lunch
10) Host an afternoon tea with my Girlfriends

11) Paint my sons room : OK so I hired painters to do this but hey its done so it counts.
12) Paint the front door : OK so I hired painters to do this but hey its done so it counts.
13) Paint the bathroom door : OK so I hired painters to do this but hey its done so it counts.
14) Get some yard work done

15) Plant Basil for the summer : It was great to have fresh basil on hand when needed. Definitely on the list for next year.
16) Plant an Hibiscus tree : Done but as we speak it is dying out side in the cold as I forgot to bring it in once the cold set in .
17) Plant a Jasmine tree
18) Set up a plan for DH”s 50th Birthday
19) Spend a day with each child exclusively
20) Get drapes for the bedroom : Done and they are pretty multi color striped.
21) Take sewing lessons
22) Take the kids to a museum
23) Repaint the guest room : done
24) Clean the office
25) List 50 items on EBay
26) Buy a new set of dishes
27) Donate my time/expertise to a Nonprofit
28) Start a new friendship
29) Have lunch with a friend I don’t see often
30) Go see a play with my husband
31) Go see a Broadway show in NYC
32) Teach the kids rollerblading
33) Climb to top of a mountain with spectacular views
34) Hike with the family on local trails
35) Go racing with my DH
36) Learn and master a new recipe
37) Eat breakfast regularly
38) Take vitamins regularly
39) Get a physical
40) Get a mammogram : Done- All clear.
41) Go to an annual OBGYN visit : Done - All Clear
42) Go to the gym 3-4 days a week regularly- been doing good all of 2009 hope to step it up in 2010.
43) Stick with the blog for 365 days

44) Ride my bike

45) File paperwork for my mom

46) Paint the kitchen baseboards

47) Spend an entire day in silence

48) Fast an entire day

49) Have a family movie night in the basement

50) Frame and display family photos

51) Spend a whole day without using any power

52) Read 25 books

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Useless facts

2009-11-12T22:27:00.002-05:00

Here are some interesting and useless facts to make you chuckle.

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise. (Since Venus is normally associated with women,
what does this tell you!)

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

The King of Hearts is the only king WITHOUT a moustache.

Turtles can breathe through their butts. ( if you dont belive me google it, I dare you)

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2009-11-02T15:29:00.002-05:00

I am – trying to put back my house together after having painters and contractors in here for the past 2 weeks. The end result on the walls and floors is pretty but there is just so much stuff that was moved around and it all needs to be put back to where it belongs. So much dust covered every square inch of the house.

I am looking outside my window – and I see leaves all over the driveway. Its clear and warm but the leaves are just everywhere.

I am listening to – Calle Ocho it is a fun upbeat dancing song I love to hear in my Zumba class.

I am thinking - about the NY Yankees and I hoping that they play well and win the WORLD SERIES tonight . Go Yankees !

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Quote This!

2009-09-29T12:08:00.002-04:00

An Eye for an Eye ends up making the whole world blind - Mahatma Gandhi

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I am

2009-09-22T16:40:00.004-04:00

I am – still here , haven't blogged much recently but I am still here .

I am looking outside my window – and I see the leaves beginning to turn into these delicious shades of gold and orange.

I am cooking – Eggplant Parmesan for dinner tonight.

I am trying – to get back into a regular routine of going to the gym at least 4 times a week. Over summer with the kids being home he routine was kinda of sporadic. Now I am trying to get back on track. Today I did a Zumba class ( my fave) and 25 minutes of the treadmill.

I am reading – A Million Little Pieces by James Fry.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Kabhi Kabhi Mere dil mein khayal aata hai

2009-08-12T16:50:00.004-04:00

If you are familiar with Indian music then you know this song. This blog entry is my homage to this incomparable love song. Such beautiful poetry and the melody made unforgettable by Mukesh, Lata and of course the one and only Amitabh Bachan.

This link will take you to the song as sung in the movie “Kabhi Kabhi” : Kabhi Kabhi original Male version .

Here is the Kabhi Kabhi original Female version of the song again from the movie .

A link for a portion of the Kabhi Kabhi poem recited by Amitabh .

For those of you who want to explore the origins of this beautiful song here is the poem in Urdu as written by Sahir Ludhiyanvi .

If you are brave enough to stray from the original masterpiece and want to see a Remix here is one to enjoy. Thankfully it still has Amitabh Bachan's charm to pull it off.

If you have any link to better or different versions please share so we can all enjoy it.

For those of you who don't speak Hindi and hence don't really get the song, I am sorry there is no decent available translation for it on the web, trust me I have looked. Just suffice to say IMHO its one of the best love songs out there telling of a love story that could not be.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Quote This!

2009-08-10T09:33:00.001-04:00

We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness.

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Five Word Fridays

2009-08-07T10:57:00.003-04:00

Summer's flying away too fast !

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I am not who I used to be

2009-08-06T16:13:00.001-04:00

I am not who I used to be
Where am I gone, where should I seek
When I glance in a mirror, I am not sure who I see
Who lives in here if it’s not me?

As I trace the scars of my torn heart
I mourn with sadness the beauty lost
Laughter, life and joy lived within
Now there is a silence inside that had never been

A stranger is rising from what remains
I don’t recognize her shape, doesn’t feel the same
If her and I should ever happen to meet
We would pass each other like unknowns on the street

I wonder if anyone can tell I’ve been long gone
Slowly being replaced with this newborn
Even as I protect this new sapling that’s grown
The end of what I used to be I do mourn

I scour for nutrients to help this child grow
To nurse her strong and let her glow
No matter how long she lives inside of me
Will she really ever be me?

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2009-08-05T08:44:00.004-04:00

I am – enjoying having the kids home for summer. Its sometimes challenging to come up with activities to keep them entertained, and I hope when they are grown they remember their simple, quite and relaxing summers, just the way they are meant to be.

I am thinking – about my brother because today is a special holiday in India that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. I send my brother lots of love across the miles and wish him happiness and success in life.

I am cooking - grilled vegetables- mushrooms, asparagus and peppers to go with red wine and garlic marinated steak .

I am looking outside my window – and I see sunny skies and a storm on the horizon. There is s o much rain this summer that it can officially now be called the Monsoon season.

I am reading – A Song Flung Up to Heaven by Maya Angelou.

Tags by Technorati: Maya Angelou,Rakhee

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My trip to the NEW Yankee stadium.

2009-07-16T20:24:00.007-04:00

Last month was my birthday and my DH got me a really neat present. Six tickets to go see the NEW YORK YANKEES at their new stadium. If you are a Yankee fan of any sort you have heard that they have a new stadium this year. Well for my birthday I got to go see it with my family. In fact DH got an extra ticket so I could take my BFF with me.

Ride in was great, some traffic along the way but with hubby at the wheel and some smooth maneuvering not to bad getting in to the city.
Parking was a breeze and then across the street and up the escalator right to our seats, which were thankfully under cover perfect in case of rain. It was a sort of pretty day with chance of rain (so what’s new) but it held out for the most part. There was a 25 minute rain delay at the start due to sprinkling but the rest was smooth sailing.

The stadium itself is BEAUTIFUL. You can walk along side the entire stadium and pretty much see the game from any section without sitting in a seat. The food court is just amazing, along with the usual hot dogs and burgers and baseball food there was falafel, noodle bowl, Mexican food and my favorite sushi. I mean really where can you see a Yankee game and eat sushi at the same time but in NEW YORK CITY.

During the course of the game we ate ice-cream, did the 7th inning Cotton Eyed Joe, danced to the YMCA with the cleaning crew and even joined in the stadium wide wave. It was a great outing and I am so proud of my hubby for making my day so special. Thanks Honey you really know how me make me happy. Sorry about screaming out into your ear the whole game, but you know the players are so far I have to scream so they can hear me LoL.

Oh yeah about the game, on the mound was CC Sabathia and we played the Seattle Mariners. We lost 8-4, and Mo did not come out in the 9th inning but none of that mattered. I had my Hubby, my kids and my BFF and the Yankees all in one place at the same time. What else could you a girl want for her 41st birthday.

How did you celebrate your last birthday ?

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Summer Reading

2009-07-13T19:59:00.004-04:00

One of my goals for the year is to read 52 books , that's one a week if you are counting. With 3 kids it not so easy and so I am always looking for interesting books to read. So far I am making good progress on my list. Here are a couple that I just finished reading.

Serving Crazy with Curry by Amulaya Malladi

Description from Amazon -
In Malladi's third novel, following A Breath of Fresh Air (2002) and The Mango Season [BKL Ap 15 03], the characters keep referencing "bad Hindi movies." Indeed, the plot of this very readable novel does resemble something out of Bollywood, but the characters are drawn so clearly and strongly that readers will immediately be taken by the triumphs and tribulations of the Veturi family. Devastated after being fired from her job at a Silicon Valley start up and suffering a miscarriage, Devi feels she has strayed far outside the expectations of her traditional Indian family and attempts to commit suicide. However, her intrusive mother, a continual source of aggravation for Devi, saves her life. Devi then moves in with her parents, but she refuses to speak, taking up cooking instead. Channeling all her emotions into the elaborate meals she prepares, Devi prompts her family to engage in a series of completely honest conversations that draw all of them closer to each other. A reading-group guide is bound into this heartfelt novel, which also provides a candid snapshot of fractious mother-daughter relationships.

I’d say this is an easy read, gets you invested in the characters. It has a “Bollywood” type plot and gives you a humorous insight into the Indian culture and the relationships between mothers, daughters and fathers. Warning: reading about the cooking parts makes you hungry for Indian food. I’d give it 2.5 stars out of 5.

I Am Not Sidney Poitier: A Novel by Pervival Everett

Description from Amazon -
Everett's latest tells the story of a young man named Not Sidney Poitier who bears an uncanny resemblance to the famed actor and is adept at deploying a hypnotic technique called Fesmerism. When Not Sidney is young, his mother dies, but not before becoming an early investor in Ted Turner's enterprises. The boy then moves to Atlanta, into the home of Ted Turner. Despite his vast wealth and celebrity looks, when Not Sidney ventures out into the world as a young adult, he faces bizarre, stinging and potentially deadly forms of racism. While Not Sidney comes across as a likable and thoughtful soul, he's the perfect foil for the fictionalized Turner's stream-of-consciousness non sequiturs (I've never been struck by lightning. You?) as well as the logical absurdities that pepper the speech of his university professor who happens to be named Percival Everett. Not only is the novel smart and without a trace of pretentiousness, it shows Everett as a novelist at the height of his narrative and satirical powers.

Again another easy summer read kinda bizarre and kinda funny. I’d give it 3 stars out of 5.

I just started reading The Queen's Bastard: A Novel by Robin Maxwell

I will add a review when I am done. So far so good, if you like the Tudors, or Anne Boylen you might like this book.

Description from Amazon –
Maxwell's second novel (after The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn) breathes extraordinary life into the scandals, political intrigue and gut-wrenching battles that typified Queen Elizabeth's reign as seen through the eyes of Arthur Dudley, the man who may have been the illegitimate progeny of the Virgin Queen and her beloved Master of the Horse, Robin Dudley. Arthur's first-person narration is cleverly juxtaposed with third-person dramatization of significant events in the queen's life, bringing an intricate authenticity to the possibility that Elizabeth gave birth to a bastard son. Maxwell's research examines the biographical gaps in, and documented facts about, the queen's life, making this incredible tale plausible, and the author aptly embellishes her story with rich period details and the epic dramas of the late 16th century. Switched at birth with a baby's corpse by a lady-in-waiting who foresaw the disastrous political consequences of a royal bastard, the infant is raised in the English countryside, where he is abused by his adoptive mother. Only his adoptive father, Robert Southern, knows his true background, and it is only when Southern lies dying that he reveals the secret to Arthur. The circumstances leading to Arthur's reunion with his father and finally his mother range from the young man's military training in Wales and encampment in the Netherlands to his post as a spy in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, all played out against the backdrop of England's defeat of the Spanish Armada. The novel falters only with an abundance of references to Anne Boleyn's diary (coy allusions to the author's first novel), but this minor affectation defuses none of the powerfully lascivious intersections of sexual and international politics that, combined with Maxwell's electrifying prose, here make for enthralling historical fiction.

If you have any book recomendations for me leave me a comment I'd love to try them out.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2009-07-06T09:35:00.002-04:00

I am – working really hard on trying to over come my fear of water and swimming. Its one of my 52 goals for the year and I am starting on it. Yesterday I went in the swim lanes in our lake and swam 4 laps in DEEP water on my back. Hurray for me !

I am thinking – about my oldest son who is away at Boy scout summer camp for the week. I hope is doing alright and is having fun with his merit badge workshops.

I am wearing - gym clothes as I am plotting to find a way to get to the gym today. Have not been there in several days. Its harder to get there now with the kids home for summer.

I am looking outside my window – and I see sunny skies.

I am reading – a book called Waiting: A Novel by Ha Jin. He sets many of his stories and novels in China, in the fictional Muji City. I would say that Waiting is an interesting read if you are looking for something different. The title of the book kindof explains what its about. All 3 of the main characters in the book are waiting for something in their life. Makes you think of what you are waiting for and how life is just passing by while you wait. I am just starting on a second book by the same author called The Bridegroom: Stories . This one is a collection of short stories. I like the writing style not sure I like the abrupt endings.

I am listening to – Fallin' by Alicia Keys.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

The River Dogs win, The River Dogs win!!!

2009-06-30T16:16:00.013-04:00

My youngest son’s Rookie league Baseball team made it to the Kinnelon Recreation league championships. After several games had to be moved due to the rainy season here that we are experiencing, it was finally the day of the championship. The uniforms are all washed, the matching pair for the lucky socks hunted down and the cleats donned. Entire families complete with proud grandparents are all assembled at the field. Thankfully the rain decides to take a break and give us a few good hours of dry weather to squeeze in the rain.
The 2 teams playing in the championship today are the River Dogs and the Mud Cats. My DH joked that it was raining Cats and Dogs.

Usually when the rookie teams play there are no umpires, the coaches just kind of agree on the call. On this final championship game, 5 minutes prior to the game I see “Blue” walking towards the field and it reinforces that this game means serious business. You can feel the excitement in the air.

Both teams are hitting well, fielding well and making plays like never before. All the effort they have put in over the 8 weeks of practices and games is paying off. Cameras are clicking and everyone is cheering. The score goes back and forth until 6 innings are played and the final outcome is the River Dogs are the Kinnelon Rec Baseball Rookie champions for 2009

After the game there was a nice awards presentation ceremony out on the field and the kids were received their trophies and celebrated their great baseball season. The River Dogs coach graciously invited the team for a post game pool party complete with hot dogs and chips.

It was such a pleasure to see these first and second grade kids progress and learn so much more as the weeks went on. Not only were they learning baseball, the kids pick up so many valuable life lessons on how to interact with other players, how to deal with losses and strike outs and how to be gracious winners.
Thanks to the volunteer parent coaches who take timeout from their busy schedules to help teach the kids the skills of baseball and help them gain invaluable life lessons. Our town has really made a great effort this year in making the baseball season a truly well organized and well run baseball program. I am looking forward to bringing the boys back next year for another fun filled season.

Tags by Technorati: Kinnelon Rec,Rookie League Baseball

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Five Word Fridays

2009-06-26T08:12:00.001-04:00

Last Day of School Today !

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I am

2009-06-23T10:22:00.003-04:00

I am – half way thru painting my guest room a soft shade of sky blue.

I am - looking outside my window – and I see partly sunny skies and some sun shinning.

I am thinking – its nice to the Sun finally. Is the monsoon over ?

I am wearing - a pink top and Trina Turk pink and brown flower pants as I going to attend my nephews graduation from High school.

I am hoping – my son has a great time at his baseball championship game tonight.

I am listening to – Don't Stop The Music by Rihanna

Tags by Technorati: Trina Turk,Rihanna

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

How to talk to your kids about sex.

2009-06-20T17:10:00.004-04:00

Here is what can happen if you use too many big words and vague descriptions when talking to your kids about sex. LOL

If you have a tween or a pre-teen you know you need to have “THE TALK”. I wont get into a debate of when is too early or too late to have the talk. Suffice to say at some point you will need to do it. Gone are the days of when your parents either had an awkward or worse no conversation with you that basically explained nothing. In the end you gathered all your ~~mis~~information in whispers from your friends. Since mine are all boys I don’t have to deal with all the complexities of talking to girls. Also much of the burden of the “Birds and the Bees” conversation was thankfully carried by Dad in our case, however I did not want it to be a “Ask your Dad” exclusively relationship between myself and my boys.

So I gathered myself and went into the bookstore ready to research “THE BOOK” for my son I was pretty shocked at the level of information and detail there was in these books. Granted here are some tame versions out there, some of which are no clearer than the stork explanation and one that had a little cartoon on the bottom of the chapter on Masturbation that said the words “Yippee”. Check out Amazon at the link below and search for “puberty books for boys” and you will be able to browse inside some of them and see what works best for you.

I was conflicted on how much information should the book have and which one made the most sense. It is not an easy choice there’s a lot of books out there. The one I eventually settled on was SCARY at first in that it has a lot of information and pictures in there, not to mention the “Yippee” cartoon. It took me 3 months or so before I could bring myself to hand it over to my son. This was partly because I was reading and absorbing it myself and partly because I was not ready to discuss the information with him. There was a whole lot of information that I am embarrassed to admit that was NEW to me.

When I did eventually have to hand the book over to him, I said a little prayer under my breath as I passed it along to my son and hope that he uses the information in it to help him along his path of life. My baby boys are growing up and some day I am going to have to see them as the Men they will become. As a mom that’s a hard transition because the way I see it the information transfer signals an end to the “innocent child” phase that my boy was so far living in. At the same time I am also glad that he has the tools he needs to arm himself with what will be coming his way and hopefully he is more prepared than I was at his age.

I know first hand that its not an easy conversation to start but with the help of PICTURE books it makes it a lot easier to get the information exchange started. I am glad I took the plunge and survived .One down, two to go!!

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Five Word Fridays

2009-06-19T08:09:00.002-04:00

Corduroy pillows are making headlines.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Quote this

2009-06-18T09:34:00.000-04:00

- TO PLANT A GARDEN IS TO BELIEVE IN TOMORROW.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2009-06-17T10:18:00.002-04:00

I am – in love with my Hubby.

I am thinking – about doing some gardening and cleaning up the landscape around me.

I am wearing - work out clothes as I am headed to yoga.

I am looking outside my window – and I see partly sunny skies with a glimmer of sunshine.

I am cooking – a fillet of Salmon and pasta with shrimp and veggies for dinner.

I am listening to – Don’t let the Sun go Down on Me by Elton John & George Michael.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Car control clinic

2009-06-16T10:36:00.006-04:00

My DH loves racing and in fact he’s into cars in general. I on the other hand see them as a means of getting from point A to point B. Several times he has tried to get me enthused about the idea of riding with him when he races. I was a passenger once on the track with him at the Pocono raceway and it was fast and scary. First of all you need a helmet that’s where my brain elevates the danger level.
Anyway one of my girlfriends finally took the plunge and has her Porsche and so I figured it might be a nice way to spend her birthday afternoon at hubby’s Porsche club NNJR car control clinic at the Englishtown Raceway Park. So I signed her up and my DH convinced me to try it out as well.
Well beautiful sunny day day, top down in my mini and everything was great until I got there and then, PANIC.
What am I doing here!!!!!
I am in over my head I drive like a crazy woman anyway and now I am supposed to do that on purpose!!
A complicated setup of cones to maneuver around, a sea of fast driving, gear shifting Porsche’s and little me in my little automatic mini that barely can make it uphill in the U turn by my street.
I wanted to run or more appropriately drive like hell out of there LOL.
Once more another dose of boosting and calming by DH and I decided to stick around and give it go, considering I drove 70 miles from home to be there it was not that tough a choice.

On the menu today was

A) Skid pad
B) Panic braking
C) Slalom

Appetizer was the skid pad :

Picture 50 cones in giant circle and the object is to drive around the outside of the circle as fast as you possibly can until the car almost spins out on control so you can learn how to regain control. Can anyone say Dizzy! Every instructor who hopped into my car (Oh did I mention at each lap a different instructor jumped into the passenger seat to guide you, DH being one of them) kept repeating step on the gas, step on the gas, but brain would not allow it. Lord knows I have a lead foot and yet for some reason my brain did not allow me to go past 30 mph in the spin cycle. So never really skid out of control and never need to regain it so I guess from an instructional point of view it was a bust from a sanity point of view score one for me.

Next the main course the Panic Breaking :

This was a blast. Picture a large U shaped set up with cones where you drove until the last second and the slammed the brakes just inches shy of the wall of cones at the end. Think Bambi and how if she darts into the road you don’t want to be the reason her mom did not make it home that night. If the ABS does not kick in you are not doing it right. It was a great way to learn about how to react when the ABS do kick-in in real life.

Now onto Desert Slalom :

If you are like me this is the first time I had even heard the word. Here is the definition from Wikipedia for Slalom in case you need to know more.
A long straight line of alternating yellow and orange cones designed to give a feel for real life scenario of having to change and maneuver around obstacles in the road.
Here comes the roller coaster, left then right, then left then right all the while with your foot on the gas. It was a success in that I did not knock down any cones. Yeah! Am I winning a prize?

Happy birthday to my girlfriend B and from the smiles on her face she will probably be back for seconds.

As for me, I survived the twists and turns without throwing up (that part came later and is a story for another day. It was fun and educational but not really something I feel the urge to do more than one sunny Sunday in summer. I enjoy that my Hubby is passionate about cars and that brings him happiness. You won’t be seeing me behind the wheel on the track in the Pocono’s any time soon but you will see me in the stands cheering on as my DH does a few fast laps and smiles.

P.S. Best tip of the day from one of my instructors Howard: Hold hands at the wheel at 9 and 3 at all times, so you always know where the wheels are pointing and it keeps your arms out of the way of the airbag.

Tags by Technorati: NNJR-PCA,Car Control Clinic,Englishtown Raceway Park,Pocono Raceway,Porsche

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2009-06-15T09:37:00.003-04:00

I am – Happy.

I am thinking – that I am actually making progress on my 52 goals for the year.

I am wearing - work out clothes as I am headed to the gym.

I am looking outside my window – and I see rain and cloudy skies and puddles of water.

I am listening to – No Air by Jordan Sparks and Bennie and the Jets by Elton John.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Five Word Fridays

2009-06-12T14:31:00.001-04:00

Girls Night Out Tonight , Yipee !!!!!

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Kinnelon deals with the spread of H1N1 swine flu.

2009-06-11T09:08:00.002-04:00

In Kinnelon NJ where I live the H1N1 flu has been spreading for a few weeks now and shows no sign of wearing out. I have kids in 3 schools here and so far it seemed that one school was affected the most. Now it seems that the community as whole is experiencing it rather than isolated to a single school.

I just saw this article at CNN "WHO to declare Swine Flu a PANDEMIC" and as a parent I am quite concerned. The official policy in Morris county where I live is that there is no more testing going to on to confirm any new cases. So even though the virus keeps spreading there are no new numbers added to the count. The reality is that I am surrounded by families who have kids who are experiencing flu like fever and symptoms and it is spreading fast and furious, even though the official reported numbers do not reflect that.

I am conflicted by the word Pandemic and lack of serious attention towards preventing its spread. Perhaps if it is declared a Pandemic more effort will be put towards preventing its spread. Also the big fear in my mind is its potential for a return in a mutated form in Sept. Is it helpful in that case for Kinnelon / Smoke Rise to have dealt with this supposed milder form of the flu virus so that our bodies may be better prepared to deal with its more powerful relative in the future? Nature has a strange way of working itself out that we don’t always understand. In the meanwhile there are about 2 more weeks of school and I still have to get the kids dressed and out the door to deal with what ever comes their way. Too bad there is no cocoon I can wrap them in and keep them from all they have to deal with.

At the rate it is spreading and the distances it has reached since it began in Mexico so many months ago, there does not seem to be an end in sight in the near future. I hope that we have made enough progress in the medical field so as to be able to prevent catastrophic damage that previous pandemics have caused. We just have to keep doing the basics, washing your hands, taking your vitamins etc and hope that the authorities working on this huge task can work out a way of keeping us all safe and healthy.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Conquering all that Clutter.

2009-06-08T17:35:00.003-04:00

Q . Do you feel overwhelmed by clutter in your home?

Q. Does it feel like you can never move from your house because you have collected too much stuff over the years?

Q. Did you watch TLC’s Clean sweep and think “Boy do I need that”!?

I was always amazed at the ability of people who were able to get rid of excess things in their life. I have a difficult time throwing anything away. Everything had some value, sentimental, monetary or otherwise. End result is that I accumulated too much “STUFF”. It got to a point where it was a burden and a strain on day to day life and truly began to take a toll on me. I just felt overwhelmed and bogged down with all that weight and burden all the time.

Q. Are you ready to rid yourself of the clutter?

Eventually after having watched endless Clean sweeps and Peter Walsh on Oprah with his de-cluttering crew I had enough. Peter Walsh was not going to show up on my doorstep magically and de-clutter my stuff. It was hard to see all the people cry at the things they were clinging too and really made me take a good hard look at why I had a hard time letting things go. I could see myself in their shoes and I knew it was going to be a difficult process.
If you search the web there are 10,000 tips on how to de clutter and how to stay de-cluttered. I have read many articles, have all the info I need on how to do it and still it’s a difficult process. Here are some of the reasons my mind used to hang on to the things:

I paid XXX dollars for this
Some one can use it.
Some day I might need it & then I will have to go get a new one
I remember when “INSERT KID NAME” made this.
I can sell this for XX dollars.
Its important we cant just throw it in the trash.
There is way too much trash on this planet and now I am adding to it.
I like it, its nice/pretty/”insert adjective”.

Q. Is it really possible to de-clutter and stay that way?

YES !

Finally at some point it just sunk in that it was not about the stuff. I really had to stop focusing on the stuff and focus on the Why?
I had to stop allowing my mind to make the excuses and focus on what I really wanted in my life.
Once I started working on the why the letting go came easier. I am not all the way there, but I am leaps and bounds from where I started about 6 months ago. By the end of the year I hope to be living a clutter free lifestyle for good.

I am not going to list all the tips and ways to help you de-clutter, god knows there is plenty of info out there. I just want you to know that can be done. Work on the “Why” and then all the info on “How To” will be useful. If you just jump in there and start using the How you may end up right back where you started. Start slow, pick a small area, make some progress and don’t let clutter enter there. Once you have mastered that area keep expanding your clutter free zone and before you know it you are feeling in control.
Don’t let the amount of de-cluttering overwhelm you. If you need any motivation email me and I will be happy to get you kick started on your de-cluttering journey.

Here’s to conquering all that clutter and enjoying a clutter & stress free living.

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

I am

2009-06-07T12:15:00.003-04:00

I am thinking – about painting my guest room a light shade of blue.

I am wearing - a swimsuit and a big floppy hat to keep off the sun.

I am cooking – lamb steaks and vegetable Skewers at the beach on the BBQ.

I am looking outside my window – and I see sunshine and flowers.

I am listening to - Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis .

Flower car lady - Have a happy and colorful day

Five Word Fridays

2009-06-05T07:32:00.001-04:00

Swine-Flu reached our school, Yikes !

Flower Car Lady - Have a happy and colorful day :)

Are you Happy?

2009-06-04T19:17:00.005-04:00

What would be your response to that question if some one asked you that this moment?

I am learning that happiness is not a constant state of being but rather a temporary state of mind that we are constantly trying to achieve.
Makes me think of what my FIL keeps talking to me about vitamin C. Vitamin C is easily and quickly absorbed by the body and so in order for it to remain in your system its better to take several low doses of it rather than one mega dose for the day. My FIL takes 3 forms of vitamin C through out the day one a quick acting and absorbing high dose , the second a slow release quick absorbing low dose and the third a late release slow absorbing form so that it remains in his system for the entire day.
So it seems to me in order to sustain happiness for any length of time inside our body it needs to follow the same model. As opposed to one large dose of happy you need to scatter your day with a constant drip of activities and events that supply “happiness” to your mind body and soul in different forms.

So far my happy dose today consisted of

1) Working out at the Gym – slow release, slow absorbing type
2) Eating wonderful Indian food for lunch – quick release, quick absorbing type

On days that I get the full required dose my answer to the question would be YES. Today however according to my Happy-O-meter as of this moment I am a little low on Vitamin- Happy so I am off to find a new dose.

Have you taken your happy dose today? While you are at it don't forget to take some Vitamin-C too:)

Flower Car Lady - Have a happy and colorful day :)

Quote This!

2009-06-02T07:58:00.003-04:00

Here are a few insiping and thought provoking Quotes from the Dalai Lama. you can check out his official website if you interetsed in reading more of his messages for mankind.

-I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness.

-My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

-There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.

-I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion, and elimination of ignorance, selfishness, and greed.

-Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day

-Don´t try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.

Flower Car Lady - Have a happy and colorful day :)

I am

2009-06-01T09:30:00.004-04:00

I am thinking – of all the chores I have to do today

I am reading – just finished “The Appeal”
by John Grisham and Thumbs down. I am usually a fan but this one is a let down.

I am wearing - work out clothes as I am trying to convince myself to go to the gym.

I am cooking – Mexican beef burritos for dinner

I am looking outside my window – and I see sunshine and lots of green trees.

I am listening to - Big girls don’t cry by Fergie and Love story by Taylor Swift

Flower Car Lady - Have a happy and colorful day :)

Five Word Fridays

2009-05-29T12:17:00.003-04:00

Go away Rain, Come-on Sunshine !

Flower Car Lady - Have a happy and colorful day :)

My Top 10 summer list

2009-05-26T11:15:00.001-04:00

Summer is going to be upon us soon and the kids are going to be out of school for a little over 2 months. A few years ago I stopped doing any summer camps for the kids and decided to have old fashioned summers for the boys. We have a lake in our community and a man made beach with white sand and on most days you will find me and the boys hanging out there playing ,chilling and just taking in the summer heat. The boys spend endless hours swimming and playing with the life guards who are older kids from the community. I am looking forward to the day when they are old enough to be lifeguards themselves.
Summer is my favorite season to enjoy being a mom as there is no homework and no lunchboxes to pack and no schedules. The boys can just be boys and have fun and we have the time to gather as a family and create some happy memories. Every year summer flies by sooner than expected and I want to make sure I soak up as much of the sun while it is shining brightly. Here is my top 10 list of things I am looking forward to doing this summer:

1) Teaching the kids how to ride bikes
2) Making sure the little one can swim independently
3) Taking a day trip to NYC
4) Taking a trip to a water park
5) Having a BBQ with friends on the lake
6) Watching 4th of July fireworks
7) Sleeping in a tent at the family campout at the beach
8) Fishing and catching dinner
9) Going Kayaking out on the lake
10) Sleeping in late

What’s on your to-do list this summer?

Flower Car Lady - Have a happy and colorful day :)

52 Weeks in a year and 52 goals

2009-05-18T14:56:00.002-04:00

Since I am a SAHM and I have all this FREE time to myself while the kids are in school, I need a better plan for my year rather than just wearing fuzzy slippers, eating bon-bon’s and walking around in a pink fuzzy bathrobe all day watching TV.

So here is my list of 52 goals I am going to try and accomplish in the next 52 weeks. I better get moving I have a busy year ahead of me LOL.

1) Take a go-see-it vacation
2) Build a new garage
3) Loose 5 pounds
4) Take voice lessons
5) Go apple picking with the family
6) Go berry picking with the family
7) Teach the kids to ride a bike
8) Learn to swim without fear
9) Surprise my H for lunch
10) Host an afternoon tea with my Girlfriends
11) Paint my sons room
12) Paint the front door
13) Paint the bathroom door
14) Get some yard work done
15) Plant Basil for the summer
16) Plant an Hibiscus tree
17) Plant a Jasmine tree
18) Set up a plan for DH”s 50th Birthday
19) Spend a day with each child exclusively
20) Get drapes for the bedroom
21) Take sewing lessons
22) Take the kids to a museum
23) Repaint the guest room
24) Clean the office
25) List 50 items on EBay
26) Buy a new set of dishes
27) Donate my time and expertise to a Non profit organization
28) Start a new friendship
29) Have lunch with a friend I don’t usually have a chance to see often
30) Go see a play with my husband
31) Go see a Broadway show in NYC
32) Teach the kids rollerblading
33) Climb to the top of a mountain with spectacular views
34) Hike with the family on local trails
35) Go racing with my DH
36) Learn and master a new recipe
37) Eat breakfast regularly
38) Take vitamins regularly
39) Get a physical
40) Get a mammogram
41) Go to an annual OBGYN visit
42) Go to the gym 3-4 days a week regularly
43) Stick with the blog for 365 days
44) Ride my bike
45) File paperwork for my mom
46) Paint the kitchen baseboards
47) Spend an entire day in silence
48) Fast an entire day
49) Have a family movie night in the basement
50) Frame and display family photos
51) Spend a whole without using any power
52) Read 25 books

What’s on your To Do list? Try making your own list, its not as easy as it seems. I’ll try to post updates so I can stay accountable to myself and see how many I actually am able to finish.

Quote This!

2009-05-17T11:53:00.003-04:00

- The Grass is not greener on the other side , its greener where you water.

Five Word Fridays

2009-05-15T08:14:00.004-04:00

How long will Twitter last ?

Five Word Fridays

2009-05-15T08:12:00.002-04:00

Need Date night with Hubby !

Once Upon a Time – Happily Ever After

2009-05-14T09:09:00.003-04:00

Once upon a time I used to be younger
Once upon a time I worked as a high powered executive with a large salary
Once upon a time I was naïve
Once upon a time I saw less unhappiness around
Once upon a time I had crooked teeth
Once upon a time I did not have the courage to believe in myself
Once upon a time I believed in happily ever after

Once you realize that you have been living in “Once Upon a Time” you can’t help but feel badly for the neglected NOW. Today I decide to live in the NOW because I don’t want my story to be about Once upon a time. I want to be here, in the now and see what my life has to offer and where I will end up next.

Here is my Now

Now I am a SAHM of 3
Now I am a blogger
Now I have straight teeth
Now I am more present in my relationship with my husband
Now I am actively doing something to find a purpose and contentment in life
Now I am a better friend
Now I am more alive
Now I am brave enough to believe in my own strength
Now I am not afraid of what life will bring my way
Now I know what truly makes me happy

My Now is so much better than my Once Upon A Time.

One day all of this too will be my once upon a time and I will have to live my new now.

Even though the fairy tale might begin with a Once upon a time, I am re-writing the middle so it ends with- And she lived Happily.

10 Really Random things about me

2009-05-13T12:05:00.004-04:00

I woke up feeling a little terrified of what I have started. I have no built in filter so it is hard for me to sieve through things before I blurt them out. This morning it dawned on me that perhaps blogging is not the safest thing for me. I might be revealing more than I need to about me and my thoughts. Then again I am not 29 anymore so if any one is really interested in my random daily thoughts then here they are.

10 really random things about me in random order:

1) I am not a morning person and like to sleep in late and thankfully I have a DH who is very supportive of my weakness.
2) I love music / singing, cant really a carry a tune but that does not stop me from butchering every song I love. I can hear a song once and I usually sub- consciously memorize the lyrics. Perhaps some day that will be a useful skill.
3) I don’t have a middle name.
4) I am lucky to have had to opportunity to have traveled to 4 continents so far Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. Hopefully in my lifetime I’ll be able to reach the other 3 as well - Africa, Antarctica and South America. Some of the places I have been- India, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, Rome, Paris, Mexico, Canada, Australia, London, Moscow. I think there is no substitute for actually having been there and seen the places. DH and I are making a conscious choice to expose the boys to various countries so far they have been to India, Mexico, Canada, Frankfurt, Munich and Hong Kong. I’d love to take them to Morocco, or Turkey or Greece next year.
5) Two years ago I made a conscious decision to ban black from my closet. Now you will be hard pressed to find anything black in my closet. It full of color and makes me smile and uplifts my day. It changed my life, Try it! I did not discover my girlie side until I had 3 boys and now I am the queen of pink.
6) I can’t diet. Just can’t do it. The more I think about what I should not eat the more junk I eat. I’d rather eat all the stuff I want and then work out. When I am not focused on dieting or loosing weight I eat pretty healthy. The minute I think about loosing weight and consider a “DIET” I gain weight. Go figure!
7) I am terrible at ironing. I just do a horrible job of it. Even my cleaning lady who sometimes irons for me re-irons everything I iron. I don’t burn them, just can’t seem to get the wrinkles out. I hate ironing, everything I buy needs to be able to go from dryer to hanger.
8) I have never been drunk. I don’t drink a lot never really had too much and never had a hangover. Perhaps 3 drinks in one evening have been the most so far. Rule in my house regarding drinking and driving is zero drinks. The minute you’ve had one drink or even ½, no driving. Works well for us , neither my H nor I are big drinkers so we can easily take turns based on who ever is in the mood. My favorite drink is a light and sweet Margarita with extra salt.
9) Each of my boy’s names has origins from different parts of the world. The oldest one has a Russian/Estonian name. The second one’s is Middle Eastern and the third one has an Indian name. If I’d had a 4th he/she would have had to have a Japanese or Chinese name to round it out.
10)In the whole large grocery store aisles filled with drink choices there is nothing I can find that I like to drink. All I drink right now is San Pellegrino fizzy water with lime and sometimes POM 100% pomegranate juice. I am usually thirsty but never seem to find anything I like, its very frustrating to me and it gets boring to have to drink the same stuff all the time.

Top 5 reasons that made me smile today

2009-05-12T20:49:00.002-04:00

Here are the top 5 reasons that made me smile today .

5) I went to the Dentist and got my teeth cleaned –
I know its not everyone’s cup of tea but I really enjoy the process and the result. I don’t mind the drill, the pick, the pain, what ever it takes to achieve the end goal of CLEAN teeth.

4) Hubby remembered to take the lunch that I packed for him.

3) Have not eaten any desert today. I have been trying to give up that bad habit of daily desert . It started in the holidays ( don’t ask which one) and I have been eating some form of desert EVERYDAY. Not today, not so far anyway.

2) I went for a 60 minute walk with my BFF – Great workout for the body and the mind.

And the number one reason drum roll please .......

1) In the middle of my son’s Baseball game tonight , it started to rain. Before we could all complain and groan there was this BEAUTIFUL rainbow and both teams ran out to the field together and cheered. Everyone smiled , the game continued, soon the rain was gone but the smile was still there.

What are the reasons that made you smile today ?

Welcome to The Flower Car Lady's blog.

2009-05-11T09:48:00.003-04:00

Not sure where this blog is going to lead but its gotta start some where so lets start at the name.

Flower Car lady:

These days that's how I see myself. There are people who live in my town that probably know me as just that.
I am not sure how it all started but here is where I have arrived. Perhaps it stems from the fact that I am raising 3 boys and having 4 males in the house ( DH included) made me seek out more of my feminine side. May be its way of marking my territory. If I was going to have to be forced to drive a "Mom van" with 3 boys in tow there was this sudden urge in make it my own. I found these great flowers they are magnetic and I attached them to the outside of the van. They are pink and green Daises. I did not realise at the time how much they would transform my life.
I wondered if the boys would care or worse complain about having to ride in a car that has flowers on it. I must point out that my boys are ALLERGIC yes allergic to the color pink. They would not be caught dead with anything pink in them.
The reaction however was pretty amazing, they love it and now if I ever take them off to have the car washed they ask " Mom what happened to the flowers?"
Not to mention its a pretty visible car , everyone knows it me when I drive by. Ever since the flowers on the car I find that a lot of people wave to me as I drive by, Occasionally I know who they are but many a times its someone just happy to see the flowers. Kids especially wave from school buses and other cars they are riding in and smile and point. Its nice knowing that something I enjoy for myself is putting a smile in someones day .
Once I parked at the kids school and another mom shouted to me from across a fully packed parking lot." Hold up , hold up she said, I've always wanted to see who drives that car!!". So I waited and smiled and said Hello to her her and she now knows who Flower car Lady is.
Thanks to my DH for rubbing off his love for cars and driving onto me. He eventually talked me into the joys of a "non-mom" car to celebrate the fact that I am not 29 anymore ( if you know what I mean) . Its a cute hot orange mini convertible and the it has 4 seats so the kids can still come along with me. Its the best birthday present a DH can get for his wife. When the weather is hot you will see me cruising down our town with by boys and don't you know it the pink and green daises making us all smile. When I first got the new car and people saw me with the van and would say " Hey do you know you've started a trend , some one else now has flowers on their car" . I'd just smile and say Nope, still me I'm still the flower car Lady :) .

I am loving this whole motherhood thing especially loving being a mom to boys.

Happy mothers Day to all the Mom's out there and hope you have a great year ahead enjoying your kids.