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29 May 2009

last day of school

Today was crazy hair day at our house. Last day of 7th grade for this gal, we put super tiny curlers in her wet hair overnight, there were a few looser curls here and there so we swept it up into this fancy up-do. Darling, we need to curl it more often.

We had some good times working on this hair-do. Last year we tried the 'faux hawk' and didn't shave the sides but spiked the middle- this year we went all the way. I wasn't prepared enough to have some great funky bottle of pink hair color (the color he wanted to make it) handy, so we had to settle with what we could find at the local grocery store- blue/black..
I say- a mohawk on the last day of 5th grade?- why wouldn't ya?

This 3rd grade graduate really wanted blue/black hair as well, but I tried to explained the maintainance issue one would face in a few weeks, and subsequent months (a gal her age in our neighborhood has been suffering through these issues for about a year now), and with that visual I think she got the picture. She settled for some curls. Really- and how could a mother cover up that coveted hair color?

This little man got a buzz cut too, a little after this picture was taken. Here he is enjoying some Hawaiian Punch with his goo goo goggles straw I got him in Portland. He keeps reminding me he wanted a toy, and these glasses are not a toy. Oh well, whata ya do?

26 May 2009

photo journal

Went to Portland/Seattle and in between with some lady friends this last weekend and had some darn good times.






19 May 2009

I want an Oompa Loompa now Daddy!

I ran across a Posh Tots catalog from a year or so back right about the time I read the article below. Go ahead and read for yourself- but I'm seeing some correlation. I'm pretty sure the guy pictured below, and people described in the article had this playhouse (only $52,000).

This bed is also from Posh Tots, which I thought might be out of business due to the recession troubles we've dragged the entire planet into- but the website up and running and full of treasures like the bed pictured above (only $4,200). Gather the kids around the computer, take a peek and prepare to be amazed. The Sears catalogue of the Narcissistic generation?


If you haven't read this article yet (and eventually the book)- it is a must.
By Raina Kelley | NEWSWEEK
Published Apr 18, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Apr 27, 2009

Growing up, my literary heroines were those who, like me, struggled to be good: Jo from "Little Women," Harriet the spy, Laura Ingalls and Pippi Longstocking. A strong-willed (and loud) child, I craved examples of unruly knuckleheads tethered to a loving family that encouraged us to be our best selves despite our natural inclinations. Precocious but naive, I thought of myself as an ugly duckling—misunderstood in my youth but destined for a beauty and stature completely impossible for my loved ones to comprehend. I shudder to think what a monster I would have become in the modern child-rearing era. Gorged on a diet of grade inflation, constant praise and materialistic entitlement, I probably would have succumbed to a life of heedless self- indulgence.

Perhaps, one day, we will say that the recession saved us from a parenting ethos that churns out ego-addled spoiled brats. And though it is too soon to tell if our economic free fall will cure America of its sense of economic privilege, it has made it much harder to get the money together to give our kids six-figure sweet-16 parties and plastic surgery for graduation presents, all in the name of "self esteem." And that's a good thing, because as Jean Twenge and W. Keith Campbell point out in their excellent book "The Narcissism Epidemic," released last week, we've built up the confidence of our kids, but in that process, we've created a generation of hot-house flowers puffed with a disproportionate sense of self-worth (the definition of narcissism) and without the resiliency skills they need when Mommy and Daddy can't fix something.

Indeed, when Twenge addressed students at Southern Connecticut State University a couple weeks back, their generation's narcissism was taken as a given by her audience. The fact that nearly 10 percent of 20-somethings have already experienced symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, compared with just over 3 percent of the 65-and-over set? Not surprising. That 30 percent of college students agree with the statement: "If I show up to every class, I deserve at least a B"? Didn't get much of a rise either. When they're faced with the straight-out question—do you agree with this research, that you guys are the most narcissistic generation ever—there are uniform head nods and knowing grins to each other. "At the end of the day I love me and I don't think that's wrong," says Sharise Tucker, a 21-year-old senior at Southern Connecticut State, a self-professed narcissist. "I don't think it's a problem, having most people love themselves. I love me."


But as Twenge goes on to illustrate, all that narcissism is a problem that can range from the discourteous—residential advisers at Southern lament students disregarding curfews, playing dance music until 3 a.m., demanding new room assignments at a moment's notice and failing to understand why professors won't let them make up an exam they were too hung over to take—to the disastrous—failed marriages, abusive working environments and billion-dollar Ponzi schemes. Seems that the flip side of all that confidence isn't prodigious success but antisocial behavior.

Armed with a steady influx of trophies just for showing up, "I Am Special" coloring books and princess parties, it is hard for kids to understand why an abundance of ego might be bad for them. Hot off their own rebellions in the late '60s, my parents struggled to give me the freedom to be me while also teaching me generosity, compassion and humility. I didn't make it easy on them. I was the kind of kid who threatened to drink Drano if asked to load the dishwasher. "Don't get cocky, kid," was the response from my dad when I declared my grades too good for my behavior to be monitored. "Pretty girls are a dime a dozen," my mother would remind me when I came up with the brilliant idea that school was getting in the way of my social life. My mom would also trot out fables to keep me in check. Ever read the original ending to Cinderella? The evil stepsisters get their eyes plucked out by pigeons and end up beggars. But it worked, mostly, and "Don't believe your own bulls––t" became my mantra. Of course, I still hate to be told what to do, dislike following rules and will waste hours trying to get out of the simplest household task; but hey, I'm a work in progress.

But no matter how you were raised, the handiest cure for narcissism used to be life. Whether through fate, circumstances or moral imperative, our culture kept hubris in check. Now, we encourage it. Pastors preach of a Jesus that wants us to be rich. The famously egocentric wide receiver Terrell Owens declares at a press conference that being labeled selfish is fine with him. Donald Trump names everything he owns after himself and calls his detractors "losers." We live in a world where everyone can be a star—if only on YouTube. The general sense among students on that New Haven campus is that with the world being such a competitive, cutthroat place, they have to be narcissists. Well, you may need a supersize ego to win "America's Next Top Model" or to justify your multimillion dollar bonus. But last I checked, most of our lives don't require all that attitude. Treating the whole world as if it works for you doesn't suggest you're special, it means you're an ass. As an antidote to a skyrocketing self-worth, Twenge recommends humility, evaluating yourself more accurately, mindfulness and putting others first. Such values may seem quaint, maybe even self-defeating, to those of us who think we're special, but trust me: it gets easier with practice.

18 May 2009

awkward family photo


Steve O tipped me off to the website Awkward Family Photos a few days ago, ....and I'm still laughing. If you check it out, don't miss the latest Mother's Day post- about as awkward as they get.

14 May 2009

birthday time

The little man turned 5 today. He requested a bike cake and this is how it turned out. Quite simple, but it didn't stress me out or take forever. Thank goodness for Airheads and Twizzlers.
Wow- time flies, I can't believe my youngest child is F-I-V-E years old.

12 May 2009

my baby brother... and his new lady

Nieces and nephews waiting, anticipating the appearance of the bride and groom...

My little brother Spencer got married on Saturday, his lady and my new sister-in-law Ashley are so stinkin' cute together.
I remember those first married moments... I look back on Steve O and my wedding pictures (almost 18 years ago) and wonder why they let babies get married?

Could they be any more darling? Spencer and Ashley are perfect for each other. There has never been a more laid back, mellow, peaceful couple. Oh how I love the wedding day- the wedding dress, beautiful bride, hairdo, flowers, colors, handsome fellas- all visually stunning, sparkly and fantastic.
Unfortunately, my pictures are less than fabulous, and shortly after these pictures were taken my camera battery died and I had to use the camera on my phone. Oh well, the wedding photographer was giving me crusty looks anyway.
Where are they now? South Carolina on their honeymoon, then off to Texas. Spencer and Ashley are both graduates from the University of Utah (Spencer graduated on Friday in Metalurgical Engineering- sp?) and moving to Texas (where Ashley is from) for a job. Congratulations dudes!

04 May 2009

makin' good on a promise

I made chocolate peanut butter balls for the Beehive Bazaar this past weekend- (which was a huge success- thank you everyone who came and supported local handmade arts and crafts!). The kids were so mad when I packaged them all up and shuttled each and every delectable nugget out the door. I promised to make another batch on Sunday- and after my 4 hour nap (trying to catch up on months of too little sleep)- I followed through. Oh, the Peanut Butter Ball- basically a homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (our family's favorite candy). These morsels would probably rank in my top 3 favorite treats of all time- #1 would have to be a cake or cupcake made by Stephanie (which can be purchase at Dear Lizzie in Alpine), #2 of course, homemade chocolate chip cookies and #3 these babies right here. Here is the recipe if you'd like to try them for yourself.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

1 cup crunchy Peanut Butter
1/4 cup butter softened
2 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 pkg. (14oz.) chocolate candy coating or 1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine peanut butter and butter. Add Rice Krispies and sugar, mix until evenly combined. Portion cereal mixture, using a rounded measuring teaspoon. Roll into balls and set aside (hint- if you wet your hands slightly when rolling the balls, your hands won't get coated with the mixture, also the balls will hold a nice round shape). On top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate. Dip each peanut butter ball in coating, roll around and set to dry on waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm. About 90 calories per ball... so don't eat just one!

I went for a walk last night (in the rain with my dog and the podcast of This American Life) after I put the kids into bed. When I got home, this note was waiting for me.

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