The Lily Pad

Linking up to Lady for this weeks dress-up installation. On Friday, Denise and I got together for a super fun girls night with some new to me friends.  Of course since we were in something other than comfy pants and flip flops we had to do an impromptu photo shoot which may or may not have been interrupted twice by a hubby trying to sneak out for cigars. Ahem. Silk shirt and gray shirt - New York and Co Clearance Jeans - levis Necklace - ? Earrings - gift from my man shoes (not shown but I promise they were cute) - Payless     Boobs - God, Madelyn, and Victoria's Secret

Why do we always feel a need to make excuses for why our children don't act like stuffy adults? I admit that sometimes I get embarrassed by Madelyn's behavior in public and I start telling perfect strangers "It's naptime." or "She's hungry." or "It's been a long day." and a few months ago it was "She misses Daddy."  First of all, its none of their business.  Second, there is no excuse for bad behavior, but most importantly, we all have bad days and my 3 year old is not going to be on perfect behavior all of the time.  Wow.  What an epiphany right? Parents aren't the only ones who do it.  Teachers do it trying to ease our poor exhausted parenting hearts.  Reassuring us that it's nothing we're doing wrong, it's just that Dad is deployed, or that all the kids were acting up, or she seemed really tired.  How about she's 3 and cannot be expected to behave like an adult.  Yes, there is room to teach and corre...

On April 2nd, I will be running a 5K in support of ACT Today for Military Families .  OK, OK, I use the term "running" loosely, it's more of a jog, but those of you who know me in real life know that I'm not so much for the running.  As in, not at all.  I feel that if the families I am running for can live this marathon life of dealing with Autism, I can run a measely 3.1 miles.  My 3.1 miles are nothing compared to what these children are living on a daily basis.  1 in 88 military children has a diagnosis in the autism spectrum.*  This amazes me.  Fortunately autism is treatable, but those treatments can be expensive, extensive, and beyond the realm of our standard Tricare coverage.  That is where ACT Today for Military Families comes into play.  This organization helps military families defray the out of pocket costs for specialized treatments, allowing families to obtain the best care for their children. If you haven't guessed by now,...

Image courtesy Google Images OhMyGosh guys.  When I told you that I really honestly truly love to read, it is because of books like this.  I started this book Monday morning, and finished it Tuesday morning. I couldn't put it down, it was so intriguing and well written.  I cannot wait to read her other books.  Like I am having to keep myself away from the library because I have a house to clean, groceries to purchase, and a family to care for.  So if anyone is keeping track - that's two books in less than a week.

I'm linking up to No Model Lady for:  This week I'm feeling a little luck of the Irish. I LOVE dressing for a theme.  Unfortunately my day to day to life doesn't really call for much of this. Dress: JCrew clearance Shoes: Dillards clearance Sweater: gifted Earrings: Kohls

As I posted on Saturday, I've decided to share some lines from my handwritten journal here on the blog. I realize that I am opening myself up to a lot by doing this, but please bear in mind that all of the lines shared here are random and you don't know the before, the after, or the context.  So they are random lines from a random place that I like the phrasing of or that just touches me. I think they maybe took a wrong turn or two while I was in a completely different state. This is as much a part of my journal as she is of me.  A little splash of mayhem. (written just below one of Madelyn's doodles) Full belly + stinky breath + wine drowsiness = Fabulous Night! Are you inclined to share bits from your journal?  Do so in the comments, or link to your own blog in the comments.

Image courtesy of google images This was a pretty quick read and fairly engaging.   The story is about a couple who are toxic to one another but addicted to each other as well.  It's not your typical love story and just when you think you're figuring out the end, you realize you really had no clue.  It didn't have a profound impact on my life, but I enjoyed the book and was easily lost in it. Book 1 of 24 towards being able to rationalize getting an electronic book reader. Next up: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

I started a blog so that I could express myself but all I really find myself doing is censoring what I put out there.  Thinking "nobody wants to read that" or "who cares?" so I've decided to take the pen to the paper and start journaling again, handwriting style.  It's cathartic and I don't have to censor myself.  What I'll be doing is pulling a few lines from the weeks journaling and sharing here. The lines I choose will probably just be things that I liked the wording of, or recurring thoughts, or epiphanies of the week and there won't be any context to accompany them.  Just take and enjoy them for what they are - random lines from a random place. If anybody wants to join, shout out and link up in the comments section and if there are enough, I'll start a linky party.  I think it'll be fun to see a slightly unedited side of us all. I'll post the first on Monday.

So I went to the library this morning sans child and of course failed to make a list of any of the authors or book names I've seen on other peoples blogs (Candace...ahem).  As is my usual routine I was initially overwhelmed but I kept walking the aisles.  Our library has a "What's Hot" section and it's an "express" checkout so you only keep the book 7 days.   Everything on those shelves that I wanted to read seemed a little long for me to be able to commit to such a short time frame.  Remember, I'm just jumping back on this bicycle. So, I know you're dying to know what I got.  First, here's what I didn't get.  Anything that started with "After ending her relationship of blahdy blah blah blah, Susie whositwhatsit goes on a journey to find herself and finds love where she least expects it".  Yeah.  I really have to be in just the right mood to read the same story written in a different city, voice, etc. What I did get: This loo...

I LOVE to read.  I LOVE novels, fiction, non-fiction, whatever.  I truly enjoy immersing myself in a book but for some reason I have gotten away from it.  I don't know why.  The last book I purchased I read cover to cover in a matter of hours during a layover and flight with a two year old, so I know it's not something I've "outgrown", I just don't know where to start, or what book I want to read.  I get overwhelmed in a bookstore because the covers are so pretty and flashy and I can't make up my mind.  I'm underwhelmed in a library because it's just titles and authors showing, so unless I know what I want, I can't settle on something and be happy.  Something about my personality and always wondering if I'm choosing the BEST book for my time.  Yeah, I know...weirdo. I'm not a rereader of books either, some classics I can, or if it's been YEARS since I read it but I get bored because I know what's going to happen next. I want...

OK, so this isn't really all that way back, but it was October and I never did blog it so I'm linking up with No Model Lady 's I LOVE dressing up for Halloween, and for the second time ever I talked Chris into a couple's costume.  Kind of fitting for an MP huh?  :) As an aside, does anybody else get ridiculously frustrated with Halloween costumes and the fact that they are either way trashy or way frumpy?  Where is the middle ground?  This "shirt" was actually a dress, but because my rear-end hangs low and wobbles to and fro I put on some pants, cause nobody needed to be that kind of scared on Halloween.

Welcome Friends! Do you L-O-V-E somebody in the military?  Then this is totally the place for you. Please, pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and make yourself comfortable.  Hi!  I am Katrina aka Froggy Lady.  I like frogs.   No really.   I do. The Lily Pad is my little space on the internet that I like to call home.  It's a place where I take off my shoes, relax and get a little crazy sometimes. I also like to visit Four Ribbons   and get my craft on. This is my Marine, he fights for freedom. That is HOT.   This is Madelyn.  She is three and keeps me on my toes and sometimes renders me speechless.  So now that you know a little more about me, please link up so we all can get to know you! Oh and since we are all linked to the military somehow, you know there are rules.  Don't worry, they're super easy and fun! Link-up your favorite post from this past week with the little linky...

Yep.  I guess it is.  Wow.

A conversation had every morning this week. "Madelyn, what do you want to wear to school today?  Skirt or pants?" "Nuffing.  I just go nekki." "No, you can't go to school nekki." "I won't be cold, I wear a jacket."

It's All Dressed Up Wednesday with No Model Lady It's just a fun day for us to get dressed up and share it with the internets.  Today I did a little casual outfit that I've been thinking about for a while.  It's not super creative, but I LOVE this shirt and scarf combo.  Feeling pensive in the backyard. Feeling like a picture with heels sinking in the grass! This outfit was really all about the shoes.  Because it's always all about the shoes. This is how silly I felt posing in my backyard with a mirror propped against our glider bench. Shirt and scarf combo: Kohls Jeans: Levis skinny Shoes: Macy's clearance Earrings: Charlotte Russe Bracelet: a gift from my lovely Denise Did you play?  Wanna Play?  Head over to No Model Lady and link up!

I have always been a glass half full kind of gal.  I tend to be happy with what I have or what happens in our life.  I believe that there is a higher power in control of things and that everything happens just the way it's supposed to.  It doesn't always mean that we are going to like the situation, but it means that what is happening is supposed to be happening for whatever reason.  For this reason I'm not very good at consoling because I'm always trying to refill your glass.  I'm always trying to find the good in it and I have to remind myself to just listen sometimes and stop trying to force lemonade on my friends. The reason I am this way is because I understand and accept that there are things beyond my control, things beyond anyone elses control.  I always see how much worse things could be and I am very fortunate that things aren't nearly as bad as they could be.  I believe firmly in being thankful for what you have and you will be blessed dai...

One day last week I had been fighting a nasty migraine that was trying to creep in and take over my life.  As I am wont to do in this situation, I took my little "cocktail" of tylenol and a simply sleep.  It's just the right balance of pain relief and sleep assistance without taking something "harder".  This particular night I passed out soundly and a few (several?) hours later I woke up because I was trying to roll over but my arm wouldn't move!  I didn't know what time it was because I didn't have on my glasses and I couldn't get them because I couldn't move my arm!  I panicked.  I poked at my arm and couldn't feel anything.  I started to get really scared and then I noticed that there was a dark blob where my arm felt like it was supposed to be!  OHMYGOSH!  I've been bitten by a spider and now my arm has swollen to 5 times it's size and already started to rot off!  This is gross!   I'd poke Chris to wake him but what if...

I HATE sidewalk chalk.  There, I said it.  It's gross.  It feels nasty on your fingers and makes my teeth itch just thinking about it.  Madelyn, of course, LOVES sidewalk chalk.  I might invest in gloves to wear so I can draw with her. I want my house to look decorated and put together, but I have no idea where to start or what to do.  My asthetic is completely different from Chris and we end up with a bunch of randomness.  I'm going to work harder at our next home to make this not be the case. I went to the fabric store today and went on project overload.  Luckily I found one project and all fabrics for said project so it wasn't a complete waste.  Of course if you know me, you know that buying all the fabrics at one time is a huge accomplishment. I greatly desire to own Mariokart.  I love fun video games like that.  Luckily my brother and sister in law own it and I make them bring it whenever they visit. I am having a hard ...

Scene: After waiting for 5 minutes to pull out into traffic on base, a car slowed and let me out.  I waved and said out loud "Thank you", you know, cause he could hear me.  The following 20 minutes went something like this: "Mommy!  Why you say thank you?" "I was thanking that Marine for letting us pull out." "Why?" "Because that was nice of him.  Don't you think so?"   "How him do dat?  Let us out?" "He stepped on the brake and slowed the car down so Mommy could pull out." "Why?" "Because he's nice." "You say thank you?" "Yes." "Him stop for us?" "Yes" "Him push the car?" "What?" "Why?" and so on and so forth.  Same questions, different word structure and lots and lots of "Why".  In traffic. Then she seemed happy with my responses and seemed to fully grasp the situation and I had quiet for ...

Today I am participating in   With No Model Lady.  The idea is that a bunch of grown women play dress up once a week and share it with the world. This is so much fun and so much fun to see what everyone else does.  So without further ado, let me introduce you to KaNdY.  KaNdY is a dancer down at the local club and she takes a lot of her inspiration from The Hussy. Hey Ya'll! KaNdY here! I have learned so much from The Hussy, it's like we are kindred spirits. Especially since I had an old boss who used to tell me to hustle but because he didn't have any teeth it sounded like he was saying "hussy" so I asked the internets how you "hussy" and I found Jessica! Boy was I lucky. Thankfully she taught me how to make my eyebrows perfectly arched, and to use the instagrammatic app on the iphone. She also taught me that I don't need to buy a pole for the house to practice my moves, I can just practice out in the yard with a tree! Amazing and cheap. I'm...