Without a doubt, the best part of Blissdom–for me, anyway–was the socializing. And not just during the cocktail parties; there were plenty of opportunities to get real with fellow attendees.  Among them?  One of the highlights of my Blissdom experience was having dinner with a small group of great girls (hopefully my ordering from the kids menu–so as to avoid the sushi–didn’t bug them too badly).

Over the course of the weekend, I had the pleasure of hanging out–once again–with the two bloggers who inspired and mentored me as I brought Such The Spot to life.  As if that weren’t enough, though, I also got to meet new friends—some with blogs I’ve stalked read for quite some time, and others whose blogs are like new-found treasures for my Google Reader.  Come with me; I’ll introduce you.

Steph

Stephanie is one of my two blog heroes.  She’s a superstar in the blogging world, and for good reason: she has the sweetest, most genuine of hearts.  I met her for the first time in April of 2008 at a Disney World blogging event and I instantly discovered that she is every bit as shiny and happy in real life as her posts would suggest.  Her blog is chock full of beautiful photography, heartfelt sentiments, and prose that practically pirouettes off the page.  She blogs at Adventures in Babywearing and she’s @babysteph on Twitter.  I {big, puffy heart} love her and I know you will too, if you don’t already.

Jo-Lynne

Jo-Lynne is the other superstar blogger who inspired me.  I met her, too, for the first time at a Disney blogging event and we clicked instantly.  In spite of the popularity of her site, she is one of the most down-to-earth bloggers I know.  She’s the kind of friend who meets you with an excited SQUEE! Because she’s sincerely happy to see you.  Her advice on all things fashion and food have influenced me to improve both my wardrobe and waistline.  She blogs at Musings of A Housewife and she’s @dcrmom on Twitter.  LOVE HER!

Michelle

Michelle is a blogger I’ve admired from afar as starstruck fans often do.  Not anymore though, because after having met her in person this weekend, I realized that she is about as genuinely unassuming as can be; blogging superstardom clearly hasn’t gone to her head.  While both quiet and confident, Michelle was ever-present in her conversations with me, rather than distracted by the opportunity to network with the “big bloggers” who may have been close by.  She is just as eloquent and intriguing in living color as she comes off on the pages of her blog.  See for yourself at Scribbit or @scribbit on Twitter.

Sarah

Sarah is Stepanie’s best friend, but this was the first time I’d had the pleasure to meet her.  I can see why Stephanie loves her so  – she’s awesome, not to mention talented.  Sarah designed all the logos and signs and media for Blissdom.  You might say she’s a web designer extroidinaire.  Not that you’d know it by her demeanor.  She is quiet – very much so.  And thoughtful.  And encouraging.  And gracious.  And so very friendly.  I felt comfortable with Sarah instantly and I am so grateful to have had the chance to meet her.  She’s most active on Twitter @sarahviola but she has a blog too.

Ashleigh

Ashleigh impressed me with her friendly smile and engaging conversation when I bumped into her in between sessions at Blissdom.  Where I have a bad habit of being heinously shy and introverted, Ashleigh was outgoing without being obnoxious.  In striking up a conversation I was flattered that she seemed to want to get to know me for me, rather than from a self-promotion standpoint.  She has the friendliest of smiles, flawless skin, and really great shoes.  I’ve not read Ashleigh’s blog before, but after taking a brief look this weekend, her wholesome topics and sweet voice entice me to dive into her posts and keep going back for more.  I wish I could have spent more time getting to know her over the weekend!  She blogs at Heart and Home and she’s @heartandhome on Twitter.

Jodi

Jodi is a mom like me, literally; she’s on the Disney Moms Panel.  Though I’ve hung out with Jodi several times during various Disney-centered events, this was the first time we had the chance to spend a significant amount of time getting to know each other.  And—as I suspected I might—I really liked what I found.  Jodi is hilarious.  She’s also a great friend, always helping to promote the posts and plights of her friends rather than pushing her own interests.  Oh yeah, and she’s ambitious.  Jodi is training to run a half-marathon next month.  Something tells me she’ll do just fine.  Jodi blogs at Multitasking Mommy and is @jodigrundig on Twitter.

Nicole

Nicole was my Blissdom roomie, and just so happens to be neighbor, sort of; we’re both from Tucson.  I knew Nicole prior to Blissdom, but we hadn’t spent a ton of time together.  Now I’m wondering why.  The more I learned about Nicole, the more I discovered that we are like two peas in a pod.  Every time she told me another little nugget of information about herself I found myself saying, “hey, me too!”.  Whether we were discussing our personality quirks, political views, or homebody habits I found that the two of us have a lot more in common than just where we live.  It was awesome rooming with Nicole and getting to know her a bit better.  And lucky me – our proximity makes hanging out more often a likely possibility!  Nicole blogs at Pixel Boutique and she’s @myaprongstrings on Twitter.

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list of Blissdom’s most fabulous bloggers.  Because if it were, it would also include Amanda, Christine, Esther, and so many more.  I did, though, want to give a special shout out to the gals who went out of their way to make a Blissdom newbie {yours truly} feel right at home.  These are genuinely warm and welcoming friends–the real deal.  I hope you’ll take a minute to get to know them, if you don’t already.

How’d all ya’ll get along without me? (Like that verbiage I picked up in Nashville?)

My Blissdom weekend was jam-packed.  Full of great things—no doubt.  But jam-packed nonetheless.  I thought I’d give you a quick run-down of the good, and the not-so-good.

The Good:

• The opening keynote from Kevin Carrol was amazing.  He is an engaging speaker with an inspirational story that tugged at the heartstrings and opened my eyes to a perspective that these “adult eyes” of mine seemed to have been blind to before.  I’m absolutely going to be ordering his book from Amazon: Rules of the Red Rubber Ball: Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work Perhaps you should see if it’s worth your while as well.
• Blissdom offered the unique opportunity to network with other bloggers from every corner of the US—and everywhere in between.  Pokems were bumped, business cards were passed, and twitter lists grew.
• The Gaylord Opryland is a gorgeous small country resort.  Nicole and I did not step foot outside a single time after checking in on Thursday evening until checking out on Sunday morning.  Yet, we saw waterfalls, basked in the natural daylight, and ate to our bellies’ content.  One could live within its biodome.  Literally.
• Harry Connick Jr.  Did I mention that?
• Swag.  There was plenty of it.  And I’ve got pictures to prove it.

The Bad:

• The sessions weren’t all that informative.  I’d hoped to pick up some little gems of blogging knowledge along the way, but as it turned out I ended up mining for more copper than diamonds.  Not that copper is bad—of course—but I already had a piggybank full of pennies at home.
• It was tough to squeeze into some of the conference rooms, what with the egos taking up so much space.  Just sayin’.

Clearly, the good outweighed the not-so-good.  But if I’m being honest then I have to admit that there was a bit of each.

Oh.  And I have pictures, on the off chance you’re interested.

Photo credit: Pixel Boutique.

I’m packed.

Checked in online.

I’ve got bloggish business cards.

And my camera battery is charged.

My pokem is all set up.  {I think.}

I’ve accessorized.

Made sure to grab my power cords.

And touch bases with my roomie.

I know precisely which sessions I want to attend.

And my outfits are prepped for the cocktail parties.

There are meals in the freezer.  Clean clothes in closets and drawers.

I think I’m ready.

Ready to meet up with my bloggy buddies.

Ready to learn a thing or two about the business side of blogging.

Ready to live it up.

And break it down.

So ready to get my bliss on.

And I will.

At Blissdom.

Where else?

I’ll keep you updated via Twitter and Facebook.

And here on the blog as often as I can.

Make way Music City.

I’m headed back.

I cannot tell you how many drafts I have begun, only to subsequently scratch because I cannot get this post to say exactly what I want it to say.  The teen dating thing is a subject that weighs so heavily on my heart, for many reasons.  The first of which being that I am the mother of a teen daughter who is quickly approaching that stage of her life.  The second of which being that my teen daughter is herself the result of teen dating and I’ve spent her entire life talking honestly and openly with her in hopes that she will make choices that lead her down a less difficult path.

So when I heard the pastor say that dating equates to “practice for divorce” you might think I tended to agree.

But you’d be wrong.

Because I take quite the opposite stance on this one; I’d venture to say that dating is practice for marriage.

I have always believed that dating is a very healthy part of adolescence.  I think it’s quite normal for teenagers to be curious about and interested in relationships with the opposite sex.  The desire to have a companion, after all, was planted into our hearts long ago.  And I believe that–as they approach adulthood–teenagers can and should begin dating, so as to get a feel for what love and commitment is all about.  These are the experiences that shape their ideals for what makes a marriage.  Without those experiences, how would they know what qualities to seek out in a future spouse?

I know what you might be thinking.  You might be thinking that teenagers should have a list (figuratively or literally) of qualities and values that his or her future spouse should posess.  And I agree.  But I also think that without the very practical and principal application of dating, that it would be nearly impossible to get a feel for what those qualities and values look like, in living color.

My own experiences with dating began when I was quite young.  And if those experiences taught me anything at all, they taught me how not to let my daughters date.  But just because I won’t be allowing them the same things my parents allowed me does not mean that they won’t have their own chance to dip their toes in the waters of dating.  I want that for them.  Holding hands at the movies and first kisses and senior proms.  These are rich experiences.  Experiences I wouldn’t want to rob them of.

Dating brings with it more touchy {no pun intended, honest} subjects as well.  And those–I suppose–are what all the fuss is about.  For good reason.  There are bad things–really icky, no-good, just plain awful–byproducts of modern day dating.  But honestly, the only bad things I can think of have premarital sex as the root cause.  Seriously.  STD’s, emotional baggage, pregnancy.  All sex based.  Not dating based.

As a parent, I feel like it is my responsibility to speak crystal clearly with my daughters about sex.  Not just about the nuts {again with the pun thing, sorry} and bolts of it, but about the far more important aspects of it as well.  About the emotional and spiritual parts that carry on long after the deed is done.  You know what though?  It’s also my responsibility to introduce them to the experience of dating.  Cautiously, of course, and with plenty of guidelines.  They’ll know my expectations.  They’ll know the ground rules.  And I pray that–armed with that knowledge–they will make good decisions.

I have long clung to the theory that my job as a parent is to help my children grow both roots and wings.  And while it seems like it would be much easier to seal them safely inside a giant bubble, somehow I don’t think it’d fill the job description.

So yes, my daughters will be allowed to date.  I won’t deny them the butterflies and I can’t spare them the broken hearts.  I’ll equip them as best I can and then I’ll let them spread their wings.  I’ll be praying all the while, mind you.  Because when it comes right down to it, that’s all you can do: love ‘em, guide ‘em, let ‘em go.  And pray.  Pray, pray, pray.

Considering the fact that I have four children, perhaps we should add a small chapel onto the house.  You’ll know where to find me.

We went to church this morning.

While we were there the pastor preached on marriage.  He spoke about young people and dating.  During his “talk” he referred to dating as “pointless” and “practice for divorce.”

I have an opinion.

But I want to hear yours before I taint the conversation with mine.

So tell me.  What say you?

Jayce has a new love.

He found the first one yesterday.

But in between his balloon bouncing and train zooming it got away from him.

So we had to go in search of more.

He looked in all the wrong places.

Until.

Where did you find the first one?

Over there.

Under that tree?

Yeah.

Maybe we should look there.

Yeah.

Look!  There are acorns growing on the tree.  See?  They’re wearing little hats.  When they fall off the tree, they land down here.

Yeah!

Let’s look for more.

Ottay.

And then today.

Where are you going?

Outside.

What are you going to do out there?

Find atorns.

Okay.  Put your shoes on.

Ottay.

He puts on his shoes.  And the tie he found in his sister’s closet that he can’t go without.

He squats.

He looks up at the tree.  He waits.

And then…

Look!  Another one fell off the tree.  Can I bring it inside?

Yes.

And so it goes – the rest of the morning.

The shoes.  The squatting.  The wait.  The hunt.

The discovery.

This boy.  He fills me up.  With his wonder.  His curiosity.  His words.  His stubby fingers.  His Mickey Mouse pajamas and his pink tie.

I think I’ll start hiding the atorns.

So he never stops looking.

I discovered a new lunch superstar this week.  Superstar because not only is it a hit with me, but also with all of the kids – and that, let me assure you, is no small feat.

It’s a wrap, which means it’s as easy to throw together as peanut butter and jelly.  And it has hummus, and avocado, and feta–which means it is seriously delicious.

Here’s what you need:
- tortillas (I prefer the whole wheat ones from Trader Joe’s).
- deli turkey
- Feta
- lettuce
- hummus (I prefer the edamame hummus, also from Trader Joe’s).
- avocado

Here’s what you do:
- Warm the tortilla in the microwave for a few seconds so that it won’t split when you wrap it.
- Spread some hummus all over it.
- Layer with turkey, sliced avocado, Feta, and lettuce.
- Roll it up.  Enjoy.
- Come back and leave me a comment telling me how delicious it was.

*For more great ideas click over to That Family!

I couldn’t get her out the door fast enough this morning.

It was one of those no I don’t wanna you’re stupid I don’t love you mornings.

One of those mornings when an ugly seed plants itself in her belly.  And so abruptly it blooms – sprouting angry, hateful words.  They grow from the pit of her and spill from her mouth–one atop another–each limb packing a firm punch right into the heart of me.

And I have to step away.  To breathe.  That her overgrown vines not strangle me.

I haven’t mastered the pruning yet: to take a pair of garden scissors and patiently clip – gently separating thorn from blossom.  Weed from seedling.

Instead I feel like a clumsy herbicide.  Like I know no better than to spill gallon after gallon, wilting everything in my path.

My thumb isn’t green.  I don’t have the tools.

These are my excuses.

Sorry excuses.

So again I turn my face upward.  Full of questions.  In search of guidance.

Then I cast my eyes down.  With shame.  Sorrow.

Please grant me the tools, the patience.  Fill my shed with plows strong enough to withstand the cutting and the turning.   With shovels so that I may dig deep.  Shine away my rusted spots – spots that threaten to give way.
Allow me to fertilize a soil rich with patience.  Love.  Understanding.  Strengthen the clay walls of my pot that they not crack under the pressure of stubborn thorns.  Let me be rooted in you O Lord – that the fruit of my labor be nourished through your unending love.  By your mercy and grace.

She gets on the bus.

I sigh.

I take a deep breath.

I wait.

Faithful that through Him I may nourish a bed of roses.

In spite of the thorns.

You may remember that I lost my wedding ring.

Which was really a lousy thing.

Cuz’ it was treasured bling.

Made my heart sing.

Now, all it does is sting.

When I think of that ring.

Not quite the emotion it was meant to bring.

A problem no doubt:  A finger with no ring.

A left hand all naked, without any bling.

What kind of loser loses her ring?

The losingest kind: a true ding-aling.

And to replace it?  Oh my.  ChaCha – ching.

I searched high and low, but no success did it bring.

I was still a sad girl with a lost, lonely ring.

But then one day, my husband did bring

an itty bitty pouch, all wrapped in string.

When I looked inside, my heart grew wings.

It was the shiniest, sparkliest, most beautiful thing.

Oh and bling.  Did I mention the bling?

Needless to say, I’m no longer a girl without any ring.

And to this ring, my friends, I’m sure to cling.

Here ends my tale.  Badda boom badda bling.

Just under two years ago we loaded up our motley crew and headed east for spring break (because we like to go against the grain like that).  We spent just over a week touring our nation’s capital and a few select touristy spots in New York City.  Since Jeff went to college in New York, seeing Times Square wasn’t that big a deal to him.  He’d been there, done that.  The rest of us though?  We were in awe.

We stayed smack dab in the middle of Times Square–which was no cheap expenditure, let me assure you.  It was, however, easier than trying to maneuver and find transportation to and fro with our four kids in tow.  Oh.  And we didn’t travel light.

This is a picture of us and our assorted belongings–standing just outside our hotel–waiting for Jeff to pull up with the car.  Inconspicuous tourists, right?

You may notice the advertisements for Legally Blonde (as in the Broadway version) just behind the kids.  They noticed.  Oh yes.  They noticed.  During the trip I took the older two girls to see Wicked and they were instantly hooked.  So when we came and went from our hotel throughout the remainder of the trip, those signs for Legally Blonde left them begging.  Pleading.  Salivating to go see just one more show before we left.

Considering that the Big Apple pretty much left us scraping our pockets for scraps, it wasn’t happening.

You can imagine, then, how THRILLED I was when I heard that the Broadway version of the show was coming to Tucson.  Because nothing says quality mother/daughter time quite like a plethora of pink and a lap dog named Bruiser.

Torri, Kennedy and I saw the show last night.  Them, all decked out in their pink shirts and pink earrings and pink bangles.  Me, dressed in brown from head to toe.  And don’t think they didn’t give me flack for it.  But I just don’t own pink.  Unlike Elle Woods, its not my signature color.

Apparently I’m not the only one because very few audience members donned pink.  Not that the pinklessness cut down on the fun; there was plenty of that!

If you like the movies, you’ll love the show.  And I like the movies, so yes, I loved the show.  Of all the shows I’ve seen, this one had more music and less speaking than any other.  The songs were catchy, if not downright addicting.  Which would normally be a good thing, right?  My problem was that one of the songs repeated the phrase, “Oh my God” countless times and I’m not really big on throwing that phrase around so I really could have done without having the lyrics stuck in my head.  But other than that the songs were great.

There were some mature themes (including mild language), so I’d caution against taking the youngest of kids, but the show is great for mature tweens/teens.  In fact, some of the humor (sexual innuendo wise) was lost on my fifteen-year-old.  For that I was thankful.  She did, though, have her fair share of laughs as did twelve-year-old Kennedy.

If you have the opportunity and the desire, this is one show I highly recommend.  It’s hilarious.  Great for a mother/daughter event or for a girlfriend’s night out.  Leave the guys at home; there was a man literally snoring in front of us.  No snores from our row though – we were, like, totally into it.

*This post is sponsored by Broadway in Tucson.  They were kind enough to offer me tickets to the show.  Their generosity, however, did not influence my opinions! *