Five For Friday + More Farmer's Market Photos!

Hi Friends!

It's Friday again--my favorite!!  This week has been the best kind of busy--Maddie and I snuck down to Chicago on Monday to see the Arctic Monkeys in concert at the Riviera.  It was so much fun to make that happen for her.  She just kept saying, "I don't know what I did to deserve this!"  It was the best.  I know for a fact that my parents would have never even considered pulling me out of school to drive 3 1/2 hours to see my favorite band, which is precisely why I did it.  (Just kidding, Mom and Dad--you were awesome parents even though you didn't let me see Grease or go to rollerskating parties).  It helps to have super-smart kids who can afford to miss a school day every now and then.  

Speaking of super-smart kids, this week we found out that Emily was named a National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist.  The school announced it on Wednesday, but we actually found out last weekend when Northwestern sent her a congratulations message.  I try so hard to not live vicariously through my kids, but I'm not going to lie, I keep getting congratulations messages about it, and IT IS SO FUN!!!  : )

How awesome are these photos from last week's farmer's market?!?  The colors were out-of-this-world at each and every stand.  I always wonder what those farmers think when I whip out my camera and take photos of their produce.

 Ready for some fun links from this week?  Here you go!
 1.  At the risk of being that blogger who always shares a link to the same blog, I'm going to go ahead and share another one from Glennon.  This one is on why social media can be a dangerous thing.  It really made me think.  It also reaffirmed my desire to be friends with her.  I love everything that woman writes.  She just seems incredibly cool, you know?

 2.  I love cauliflower.  Isn't it gorgeous?!?  Speaking of gorgeous, I love this cake.  I want to make those cake toppers.

3.  This weekend I am going to pack away my summer mantle and start decorating for fall.  This Pinterest board full of fall goodness is the perfect inspiration.

4.  Last Friday I had a rough time at CrossFit.  It was the first time I was unable to finish a workout, and I ended up crying.  On Tuesday, these arrived in the mail.  I put one on the inside of my left wrist.  I see it every time I workout. It helps.  Maddie is also sporting one on the inside of her left wrist.  She said it makes her happy all day long.  Words are powerful.

 5.  This ridiculously cute balloon garland makes me want to throw a party (what doesn't?!?).  But seriously,  I really need to throw a party...soon!


Have a fabulous, wonderful weekend, friends!

XO,

Vicki

Words to Live By

XO,

Vicki

Five for Friday

Hellloooo!

It's Friday--yahoo!  I'm so glad the weekend is here!  Tonight we're going to watch Emily march at the football game.  Is there anything that screams "Fall is HERE!" more than Friday night high school football games?!?

Here's a few things that caught my eye this week.  Enjoy!

1.  I love a good wreath, and I'm thrilled that it's finally time to switch over to the wreath I made last year.  Looking for a fall wreath idea of your own?  Here's a great post with  10 fantastic ideas.

2. I loved this post Glennon wrote about 9/11

3.  And this post one of my swimmers sent me.

4.  I kinda sorta love this banner.  I may have to throw a party just so I can hang a giant "Hooray" banner.  Maybe Emily's graduation party?!?

5. I really, really want to eat this.

I hope you all have a lovely early fall weekend!

XO,

Vicki

Words to Live By

(source)

XO,

Vicki

PS  True confession:  I love this sentiment, I really do, but I am such a grammar snob that I almost didn't post it because of that darn comma.  I'm not going to lie;  I'm anxious about posting something with a misplaced comma.  It just doesn't make sense to me to put a comma there.  I seriously want to contact KUSHANDWIZDOM and ask why--why did you use a comma there?  I tried reading it out loud to see if I would naturally put a pause between "themselves" and "says".  Nope.  It doesn't sound right with a pause there.  I know that I make typos and grammar mistakes on my posts, but I've never posted something where I knew ahead of time that there was a grammar mistake.  (Can you tell I'm still debating about whether or not to post this?).  If you check back in tomorrow and there's a different quote, you'll know that I couldn't handle to pressure of that misplaced comma.  Okay.  That's all.  Have a great day.

Tuesday Randomness; Breaking Bad Edition

1. I am starting my fourth week of CrossFit.

2.  It is kicking my butt.  And my lower back.  And my traps, lats, quads...

3.  It has been a good, long while since I have worked out this hard.

4.  Every day before I arrive at the "Box," I get nervous.

5.  I know I am going to be asked to work extremely hard.

6.  CrossFit kind of scares me.

7.  I really like CrossFit.

8.  Something else that scares me:  Drugs.

9.  After I read "Beautiful Boy," I became incredibly scared of meth.

10. I started to give my swimmers little lectures about the dangers of meth.

11.  I am kind of famous for my "Don't Do Meth Speech".

12.  I have swimmers ask me to tell them the "Don't Do Meth Speech".

13.  Although I am scared and completely opposed to meth, I have become addicted to Breaking Bad.

14.  Breaking Bad is about a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who discovers he has lung cancer and decides to cook meth to raise money so his family will have money to live on once he dies.

15.  My mild-mannered, kind, sweet-as-pie friend, Amy, turned me on to Breaking Bad over a year ago.

16.  I became immediately hooked.

17.  There are only two episodes left of Breaking Bad.

18.  I am already worried about the withdraw symptoms I am going to experience once Breaking Bad goes off the air.

19.  I know that my Breaking Bad addiction is unhealthy.

20.  I can't stop watching/thinking/obsessing/counting the days down to Sunday.

21.  I find myself reading all the Breaking Bad message boards each Monday morning, hoping to extend Sunday night's Breaking Bad high.

22.  I inadvertently hooked Maddie on Breaking Bad.

23.  I am not proud of it, but I am so glad I have someone to watch it with me each week.

24.  I am also glad she will have to go through Breaking Bad "detox" with me once it ends.

25.  I guess I am going to find something else to obsess about.

26.  I think I'm going to turn my obsession to box jumps, which scare the heck out of me.

27.  But not as much as meth.  

XO,

Vicki

Words to Live By

(Source)

XO,

Vicki

Twelve

(source)

 

Twelve years. 

 

Twelve years ago I was on the way to Dallas-Fort Worth airport with John, Maddie, and newborn Jack.  My funny, full-of-life grandma had died the night before, and Jack and I were going to fly up for the funeral.  Maddie, then 3, watched a video during the hour-and-a-half-long trip, so we had no idea what had happened.  We found out only once we got to the eerily-empty airport.  In those early hours following the attacks, airline officials truly had no idea when airplanes would even be allowed to fly again.  When we got back in the car and turned on the radio, they were just announcing that the Pentagon had been hit.  It felt like the end of the world.

 

Of course, we didn't get to fly out that day.  No one did.  I didn't get to go to the funeral.  My sister read the speech I had lovingly prepared to read at Grandma's funeral.  I spent the week mourning my grandma and all those who had died.  I watched the coverage until I was numb.  It was a horrible, horrible time. 

 

Once the week was over, we planted a tree in our front yard for my grandma.  I asked the nursery workers to find me a tree that would turn brilliant, beautiful colors each fall;  a tree that would be as full of life as my grandma.  We have since moved away from that house, but I'm sure that Grandma's tree brings the new owners of 6185 Laura Lane great joy each fall.

 

As always, September 11th also reminds me of who our nation's brave heroes really are--those who are willing to run into places while others are running out.  Thank you firefighters, police, EMT's, and all of our military who keep us safe.  God bless you all, as you serve and protect us.

 

XO,

Vicki

PS This blog is a re-post from last year.  I think it's important that people share their stories from that day so we do not forget.

 

This Week (and Five for Friday!)

 Hi Friends!

It's been a big week at the Terlaps!  On Sunday we headed down to Greek Lake to say goodbye to summer.  I feel in love with Green Lake--it was a completely lovely day with the whole family.

 We take a shot like this each year:

(And yes, John has a savage tan...on the back of his neck!).  No sooner did we say goodbye to summer then it was time to head on back to school.  Jack started 7th grade this week, and he was the only one of the three who had a full day, so he's flying solo in his picture (the girls were still in bed when this photo was taken):

 Four hours later, it was time to capture the girls.  Emily is now a senior, and Maddie is a sophomore:

One week down, the rest of the school year to go.  I actually hope it goes nice and slow so I can enjoy Emily's last year.

Here's some links for you to check out this weekend:

1. Mr. Jack is a big fan of anything lemon poppy seed.  I am going to see if this really is "The Best Lemon Poppy Seed Bread", as advertised.  Jack will be sure to let me know.  

2.  I have been reading Lisa Leonard's blog for a long time--in fact, it was one of the first blogs I ever read.  Over the years, she has shared so much of her heart.  I loved this post today about her son's first day of school.  I am a huge David fan!

3. For a long time now, I have been involved in a full-blown love affair with Sharpies--especially the extra fine ones (my favorite!).  This post about 10 Creative Ways to Use Sharpies definitely caught my attention.  (But I can't even imagine being brave enough to use one on my furniture!!).

4.  Unlike my husband, I adore sprinkles--the more, the better!  This Sprinkled with Love Party made me swoon.  So pretty.

5.  These mini invitations make me want to throw a party.  So cute.

Have a wonderful, marvelous weekend, my friends!

XO,

Vicki

Words to Live By

(Source)

XO,

Vicki

PS  Sorry about the lack of posts this past week. School started on Tuesday, and I've been playing catch up since then. During swim season, I also blog at our team site.  Feel free to check out all the fun over there if you're missing me.  : )