you can find me here today...

K not exactly here seeing that this isn't really my bed. It just looks much nicer than mine being that my 3 year old climbed into bed with me last night and gave me a nice wet & warm surprise to wake up to.The lovely moments of mommyhood. :)

So yesterday's trip to the dentist for a filling turned into a wisdom tooth extraction. That was another fun surprise for my week. What's really funny is that my good friend Bu had just told me his wisdom tooth horror story the day before so of course the whole time that was all that I could think about. (Thanks friend. still love ya though) And get this, one of the workers was playing on his new phone taking photos of me with my mouth wide open and all that loveliness. Is that not the worst? It's not like I could yell at him when I have hands going into my mouth.  I love the dentist. ha!

question for you...

Do you have a really good dentist story? If so I want to hear it. One of my most embarrassing moments happened at the dentist office but we will get to that another time. ;) I want to hear your stories.

(photo from here)

What are you reading?

I have several friends who have summer reading lists so I decided to compile a list of books I will be reading this summer. I love reading everything- fiction, nonfiction, sci-fi, romance, christian inspirational, mystery, the classics. Here are some that are on my list...

A little bit of everything right? Have you read any of these? Thoughts? 

What is on your list?
Any good ideas I can steal? Lots of questions for you.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend.
Good night blog friends.

(photos from here)

kid at heart

Is it sad that the summer movie

 I can’t wait to see is

Toy Story 3?

What? ... I'm a grown up. Who happens to really like some kid movies and still plays dress up in the mall with friends. ha! It's good to still be a kid at heart right?

I'm really excited to take Micah to see it.  And I’m not going to pretend that I’m too cool for twilight because I really want to see eclipse too.

Im sounding pretty awesome about now. :)

What summer movie are you

 anxiously awaiting?

Forsaking All I Trust Him

Today is the national day of prayer.

Today I am praying for Micah & Skylar.

 for my husband and our marriage.
And for my family & friends.

For my country.
For the people around the world who are suffering

And I’m also praying for you.  Praying that wherever you are and whatever you are doing that you will be blessed with overwhelming

peace & joy today.

I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms-I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers. Psalm 13:5-6

If you are praying, what are you praying for today?

(photo from here)

c e l e b r a t e

Happy cinco de mayo!

This is one of my favorite pictures from cinco de mayo. It's of Micah 3 years ago at my brother and now sister in law's wedding shower. This is such a fun week for me. Two of my best friends are getting married on Saturday and Stephen and I are both in the bridal party. So this week is filled with lots of pre-wedding fun. Tonight the whole bridal party is going out for enchilada’s and margaritas.

Time to pull out the sombrero.

How are you celebrating?

it's the holiday season

Forget Christmas. The span of May-July is the holiday season in the Franke house.

12 birthdays that I can remember

4 mothers day celebrations

3 fathers day celebrations

1 anniversary

and a 4th of July which also happens to be Skylar’s 1st birthday.

And don’t forget all the spring/summer weddings & baby showers.

I’m kind of exhausted just thinking about it. Thank God for online shopping.
Let the shopping begin!

When is the real holiday season in your house?
(photo found here)

I'm a kid again

Walking through the grocery store yesterday I saw some old friends from when I was a kid. They look like this...

I'm not even going to lie, my heart jumped for joy. Being a kid in Arizona, the only way to survive sweltering 115+ summers is from swimming 24/7, really good ac, and lots of otter pops. I bought this huge box for $1.89! Does any one else remember racing to Circle K to get the jumbo otter pops for .50 cents? I love finding things that take me back to simple times.

What takes you back?

what your blog says about you

You have to check out wordle.net. It creates a word cloud of all the most used words on your blog. Pretty cool. Here is mine. Looks like I really love happy quiet Jesus.

Lauren I had to copy you again! Too cute to not play. :)

What does your blog say about you?

Big mouth...

Billy Bass. I apologize right now if anyone has one of these and actually likes it. Every year around Christmas time my friends and I get together and do a huge white elephant gift exchange. One year someone decided to bring this fantastic gift and get this...the fish doesn't even sing! Seriously...worst white elephant gift ever. But we decided to start a friendly ritual and have a little fun with mr. billy bass. Sporadically throughout the year we sneak him into each others houses and hide him in a silly spot, like kitchen cuboards or high up plant shelves. It's hilarious and annoying at the same time. I say annoying because I just found him hiding in my car. Ah I love my friends.

Oh and if any of you friends are reading this- just so you know, hiding this sucker with my 3 year old son is not such a good idea. He loves his mama and I know just how to get him to talk. Can you say candy!!! Be prepared to get a visit from mr. bass real soon. ;)

Anyone else have any fun rituals with friends?

Get prepared for awesomeness!

My real life friend Lauren at Cuethesunshine posted the coolest book on her blog yesterday. I’m going to get it asap. So take a visit to her blog, and check out this site 1000 awesome things  because it made me really super happy yesterday. A few of my favorites from there...

#992 being the first table to get called up for the dinner buffet at a wedding.
#958 being the first person in to a really crowded movie theater and getting prime seats
#895 Getting something with actual handwriting on it in the mail
#890 Really, really tall people I better say this one, my husband is 6'8!
#883 Ugly actors 

 

I think I'll probably start posting these now and then.

I believe I'm off to trade in books (yep made the decision), and go to a salsa festival in the park.

What are you up to today?

I can't remember where I found this picture. If you know it's owner please tell me.:)

stop and smell the roses

This morning while I was driving through old town, I did something I haven't done in a long time. I looked around at all the places that I love and  see so often, and I took a moment to really appreciate them. We get so caught up in our own little world that we forget to "stop and smell the roses." So this was me doing that today...

I think it was the fluffy white clouds that really caught my eye and made me stop and just have to take it all in. These are some of the cute spots in my town of Gilbert, Arizona that I loved today. I hope at some point in your day you'll stop, look around and find something that brightens your day too.  

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude,

a quiet joy.” 

Ralph H. Blum

"In every thing give thanks!" 1 Thess 5:18

What are you appreciating today?

Etsy love

I like everyone in the blog world it seems, lovvve etsy. I could spend hours shopping on that site. I mostly shop on there for jewelry & art and have picked up some of my favorite pieces from there. My latest favorites are these prints from vol25.etsy.com. (and they have a cute blog as well) Take a visit to their shop you will love the prints. I think this one would go perfectly in my living room.

And these headbands at JenniferBirge.etsy.com are really cute. I’m trying to accessorize more since I’m such a plain jane. I’m loving these this week and plan on making some purchases real soon.

And here are a few pretty cool blogs that I’ve found real encouraging this week. Take a visit.

lowercase letters

Sarah Ann’s bon mot

& Love Wins

What are some of your esty favorites right now?

Such a sucker

First I want to say thanks everyone for all the really cool ideas and stories on yesterday's road trip post. It looks like Oregon/Washington trip it is. So now to start planning. I'm so excited I can't even begin to tell you. If anyone has suggestions for me, know of any cool places to stop at, etc please let me know. :)

Yesterday I watched Julie & Julia. At first I wasn’t crazy about the idea of watching this “chickflick”. I love almost all girly movies but this one was mostly about cooking which isn't really my thing. But I decided to give the movie a try and I have to say it turned out to be pretty cute. It’s mostly about blogging. Maybe that’s why I liked it. It is a good one to watch when you’re just hanging out with girls. I’m a sucker for love stories. Looovvveee almost all romantic comedies. Here are my top 3 chick flicks & favorite sappy lines from them...

• You’ve got Mail- I really could watch this one over and over. It puts me in a good mood. "Don't cry, Shopgirl, don't cry." "I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly." 
• Gone with the Wind-Scarlett is just so nuts  and there’s just something about Rhett Butler. I think it’s the bad boy thing. "No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how."
• The Notebook-seriously could you make a list like this without it? "So, it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day."

Honorable mentions

Serendipity, When harry met sally, Juno, Love actually

ah there are so many more!
Thanks for reading my really girlie post today.

 What are some of your favorites?

(photo from here)

I'm hitting the road

So my husband and I have been discussing going on a mini vacation this summer. He was thinking we should take our boys to Disneyland or Sea World, make it a family trip. But as I’ve learned from experience, trips with babies are a ton of work. Don’t get me wrong I love my boys and I do want to take them to those places, just maybe when they're a little older so that they can really have fun and appreciate the trip.

What I really want to do is go on a road trip. I’ve never been on a real one. Six hour drives to Vegas don’t count. And I really want to be able to scratch something off my 29 before 30 list. So I’m in the process of talking my hubby into a road trip somewhere sans kiddos and maybe with a few close friends. Now the big question is where to go? I’ve never been to Oregon or Washington and I’ve always thought those states looked absolutely beautiful in all the photos/movies I’ve seen. So maybe a trip there? What do you think?

What’s the best road trip you’ve ever taken?

(photo found here)

Come sad, leave happy

One of my 2010 resolutions was to be a more positive person and in doing that I want to keep this blog a happy one. I want it to be a spot in the blog world where people can come and be encouraged or read something that makes them smile.

One thing that always makes me happy is making a fun list. And what better list to make then a list of things that bring me loads of satisfaction. Here are my...

5 most guilty pleasures
some it's ok to luv, others I probably shouldn't.

 A juicy novel. Sookie Stackhouse novels are some of my favorite scandalous reads

A really great TV show. Friends, lost, the office are my favorites. And I dive into a little reality tv now and then thanks to project runway.

Rainy day music. You know mostly acoustics, heartfelt  lyrics, mellow beats.

Day trips-hiking, just going for a drive up north, going out into nature, just getting away from everything.

Sugar! In the form of a sonic slush, chocolate chip cookie dough blizzard, jamocha shake, homeade cookies, chocolate molten cake, watermelon starburst or skittles will do.  Just to name a few. ha!

What are some of your guiltiest pleasures?

(photo found here)

This week

This week everything broke on me. The speakers on my computer, the headphones to my mp3 player, phone charger, the fan to the tanning bed I was lying in, etc. It made for a fun week. :/
I believe or I’m starting to believe that maybe my repeated dreams can be my subconscious trying to warn me of something or maybe not my subconscious, maybe God. Any thoughts on this?
I'm addicted to watermelon starbursts. The invention of bags of all reds-ingenious!

I wish I could travel more. Go on spontaneous trips with Stephen. Run away together more often.
I'm jealous of all the artists on etsy for there gift, talent, skill to make the most adorable things. I would love to learn a knack of some sort.

Soundtrack/Mantra for the week -
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. -Corrie Ten Boom

Something I learned-
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. -Psalm 23
Example -grapes/wine-something good and valuable is made, but it isn’t made unless it is hard pressed. Sometimes we need to walk through the valley to learn something that we desperately need.


Psalm 23-Green pastures…quiet waters…valley of the shadow of death…don't give up...keep walking next is… the House of God.

Favorite photo this week

What was something you learned or liked or lived this week?

I found this cute idea over at this lovely blog.

(photo found here)

Never stop having fun

While Browsing other people’s lovely blogs I saw a few a to z posts that I thought looked like fun so I think I’ll join in. For a I want to talk about advice.

For my friends bridal shower on Saturday we are having everyone fill out a card with their advice for the bride. We did this at my bridal shower and I loved it so much that I saved all the cards. Here are what some of them said-

• "Don’t go to bed angry." I think more than a few advised this. And I admit, I haven’t always listened to this advice but it IS true. This and always kiss each other goodnight.
• This one is for the groom- "never stop buying her diamonds." L o v e!!! Maybe I should re-show him that one. Ha!
• "Always say yes, please and thank you to your mother in law."  This is an easy one for me because I have the sweetest mother in law in the world.
• "Remember to spend as much time on the bottom as you do on the top." This can be taken many ways but true words!
• "Never stop having fun with each other."

All great advice. I especially like that last one because we get so busy with life that we forget to do the simple things that make each other so happy. “The little things make big things happen.” -J. Wooden

What’s some of the best advice you've ever been given?

(photo found here)

Songs that never get old

Ok since I have music on the brain (see last post) I’ve decided to do another theme week. This week I’m going to post songs that never get old to me. Starting with…

Honey and the Moon by Joseph Arthur
you're the honey and the moon
that lights up my night.

Just a cute song that I've loved for years now.
And just for laughs I'm going to post a what were they thinking song too. And today's (which I feel silly admitting I did like this song back in jr high) seriously what were they thinking song is...

Summer Girls by LFO
Hip Hop Marmalade spic And span,
Met you one summer and it all began
You're the best girl that I ever did see,
The great Larry Bird Jersey 33
When you take a sip you buzz like a hornet
Billy Shakespeare wrote a whole bunch of sonnets
Call me Willy Whistle cause I can't speak baby
When I met you I said my name was Rich
You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch
Cherry Pez,cold crush,rock star boogie
Used to hate school so I had to play hookie,
There was a good man named Paul Revere
I feel much better baby when you're near
You love fun dip and cherry Coke,
I like the way you laugh when I tell a joke
Summertime girls are the kind I like,
I'll steal your honey like I stole your bike
Bugaloo shrimp and pogo sticks
My mind takes me back there oh so quick
Let you off the hook like my man Mr. Limpet
Think about that summer and I bug,cause I miss it
Like the color purple,macaroni and cheese,
Ruby red slippers and a bunch of trees
Call you up but whats the use
I like Kevin Bacon,but I hate Footloose

 I seriously cut out maybe the 3 lines that actually were OK.  They must have thought, let's find all the words that rhyme and throw them into a song! So funny.

What are some that never get old to you?

Or that you wish would just go away and never come back?
You are tagged! Comment me if you decide to play along.

(photo from here)

Where did all the good music go?

Today I turned the radio in the car to the "HIT" station. It's been awhile since I've listened to the radio and I admit I'm way behind on what's cool right now. But after about ten minutes of listening, I felt really dumb down. Seriously is this what music has become?

Now, the dudes are lining up cause they hear we got swagger

But we kick ‘em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger

I’m talking about - everybody getting crunk, crunk

Boys trying to touch my junk, junk

Ok if you happen to like this song I will say that it does have a fun beat. But seriously the lyrics- ???! My favorite decade of music was early 90’s to early 2000’s. Seems like most everything that has come out in the last 5 or so years has been seriously lacking in the lyrically inspired department. I’m talking about “Hit” genre because I think there have been some pretty great indie and other genre songs that have come out recently. Does anyone else feel this way? Where did all the good music go? Dear teenagers, please stop making brainless music so popular and acceptable. And I'm not a pop music hater, I admit I like a britney song or two. I'm off to listen to some good ol 90's classics.

What are you listening to right now? Anything I would like?  I'm always welcome to new music ideas. :)

(photo found here)

Favorites # four

Every day of your life is a page of your story. Pictures help tell it.

This is really much harder than I thought it was going to be. There are so many pictures that I love. I know I've already posted a Hawaii photo but I'm going to post more from my vacations there for today's favorites. Hawaii seriously is the most beautiful place I've ever been to so of course some of my favorite photos are from there.

The one on the left was taken in Maui back in 2005. I was there for my honeymoon. We went down to the end of the island to watch the surfers and found all this black volcanic rock mixed in with white stones. The hat was the first purchase I signed Mrs. Franke for. I still have the receipt.

I love love loovvee this photo so much that I used it as my header at first. This one I believe was taken in Hanalei, Kauai in 2008. My dad jumped off the end of this pier and lost his glasses in the water. When we dove back in to see if we could find them the water was so perfectly clear that we found them right away. To the right is another view of the pier.

and of course I have to post the Na Pali Coast. When I took this, I remember looking up and then back down at the photo feeling so disappointed because you really cannot capture how magnificently stunning this place is. But I think this photo was a good try. If you haven't been to Hawaii you have to go. I will admit my favorite was Kauai.

Anyone else have any cool hawaii pictures?