Love (work) Week -- Day 2 (Baking Soda Orange)

Sheesh, between laundry, helping Brady with homework and helping Brad plan a mutual activity, I almost didn't get Love (work) week -- day 2 done before it was day 3. (If you missed day one go here.)

So, in case you were wondering I'm a little bit obsessed with the color orange. For some reason I am just  drawn to it. You might even say I LOVE it.

This is my latest "orange acquisition", an orange sweatshirt from American Eagle. What makes this find doubly good is the price. Have you ever bought a sweatshirt from AEO? Ya, they're expensive. The other day I happened up on this little gem. It was already on clearance plus all the clearance items were an additional half off AND on top of it all, I had a coupon for 25% off of my entire purchase. Voila! $9.60. Favorite store, favorite color, AWESOME price!

I love all shades of orange, but this bright orange is my favorite. I call it baking soda orange. I held the box of Arm & Hammer baking soda right up to my sweatshirt. They were an exact match.

Speaking of Baking Soda orange… check out this bad boy sunrise! There are advantages to getting up early some days! Don't you LOVE it? I do.

Here's some of the orange I have in my house. My mantle is one of my favorites when it comes to mime decoration. The picture frame I got at an antique store in Jackson California (shoot, maybe it was Sonora) anyway the ceramic bird (yep, that's what that blob on the right is) came from the DeAnza Flea Market. It was a had-to-have. I paid more than I wanted to but haven't regretted it for a second. My dear friend Annette made me the banner. She made it at my house and right under my nose. I didn't even know she was doing it. I LOVE it! It was just suppose to be for the fall but I love it so much I've left it up. Just off to the left is an old orange gas can. I suppose I should have photographed it too, but you'll just have to use your imagination.

Now before we get off the "orange" subject all together, I just had to post this picture. This ginger didn't realize that his devastating charm and extra special attention to style got him a space in LOVE week. 

I've decided I LOVE taking pictures of interesting people. Here's the latest offering. I wish you could really see his boots. They are knee high cowboy boots with his dark washed jeans tucked into them. Snazzy! His hair was buzzed very short but he still managed a center part that, of course, compliments any face, even those with full-on Grizzly Adams beards. Yikes!  I'm not even going to mention the "lollypop" effect here. It really is his most striking feature. I could tell he thought he was really something special.

(SIDE NOTE: look for a post someday about taking pictures of interesting people and how it can go extremely wrong.)

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Moving on.

These aren't orange but I just had to post my extreme love of these ca-ute aprons that my friend Denise Shattuck made for my girls who helped out at activity days tonight. This is officially Kelsi's calling but Afton went with her tonight to help out with a Daddy Daughter event. They each came home with one of these. Maybe you can tell, but she attached a double string of pearls to each of them. Way too adorable. Denise's talents and skill set never cease to astound me! Maybe I'll be her when I grow up.

So, tomorrow (Day 3). I'm going to be talking about my media LOVE. I have it in spades!

Love (work) Week -- Day 1

Technically for this to be love week I should have started on Saturday. I decided to just go for the 5 day plan so we'll call it "Love (work) Week".

So, I'm gonna start it off right with the 3 people in my life that I love most (we'll talk about the 4th later). These guys make everyday meaningful for me.

I'm already mourning the fact that before the year is out 2 of the 3 will be gone.

I love the energy they bring to the house. They are a crack-ups. Yes, they make messes; yes, they remind me how uncool I am; yes, they require food and attention but I know most of my identity is linked to them. And soon, too soon, my job requirements will change and that will make me sad.

What they don't know, and what I'm just starting to realize is, not only do they give me an identity they also give our family an identity. After they are gone, Brad and I will just be that old couple sitting by ourselves in church. We won't go to park day, we won't be invited to parties or outings or trips with families that have young children (or children at all), we won't know what's going on at the high school or in the youth program. It won't matter if there is girls camp, or scout camp or EFY or a school holiday. It'll just be us oldies, rocking on our porch in our rocking chairs.

However, I'm glad for the people they are becoming. I'm glad to be their mom. I'm glad they are all here with me right now.

I LOVE them!!

Stay tuned for Love (work) Week -- day 2 tomorrow, where I plan on being a lot less sappy and way more superficial.