Fly on the Wall: March 2015

Hey-O!  Welcome to the March Fly on the Wall Group Challenge. This month, 14 amazing bloggers and I are describing what it would be like if you were to take a peek inside our homes....

Have a "look" around mine, and then go visit the other blogger's pages. There's always something fun, sentimental, or better yet, embarrassing going on. It's like your house, only we're admitting to the craziness. You have our permission. Buzz on over!

Cast:
Me
The man
Alex, the eldest (daughter, 21) 
C., The middle (son, 16)
J., The youngest (son, 10)

First of all, I'd like to explain where in the world I've been for the last few months. But if I did that, I'd actually have to give an answer. The truth is I've been dealing with issues out in the real world that are a bit too painful to blog about. Yet. I miss writing so much. I hope to continue, but for right now, I'm here. Thanks for sticking around :)

Hockey, anyone?
Red Wings forever, I know. But, we are across the country from Joe Louis Arena. For now, the youngest is attending games here in our city. Our team, the Mustangs, are part of the Western States Hockey League. J. absolutely loves it.

Thank goodness the Mustangs also wear red.

Since J. likes to imitate life in LEGO form, this is sitting in the middle of his bedroom:

Check out that audience. Everyone is a fan :)

Here's the zamboni!

The announcer.

...and the "Stanley Cup". 

Love this month was:

1. Getting coffee each morning from the man. He rocks. There's no other way to put it.
2. The middle child giving up Java and Coke for Lent. Someone has to pick up the extra caffeine. I'm happy to help.
3. Sharing something personal with an in-law and getting the kindest response EVER. Seriously. EVER.
4. Getting a text in the middle of the day from the eldest that says, "I love you, mama."
5. Getting funny memes and words of encouragement from amazing online friends.
6. Receiving a surprise gift from my forever friend. 

Thank you, Nick Nack! 

Yep, I'm Asian.

You might have already known that. But, if you had any doubt, check out my red "Mr. Miyagi" painting job. It was the first coat of my sewing room re-do. 

Old room with the dreaded "I don't know what's been on you" carpet.

First coat. Wax on, wax off. Two brushes at the same time.

3 coats later...

Quote of the month: (and a bit of bragging)

To the man and me: "Oh yeah, if you want to come tonight, I might be getting an award."

-said the boy who won First Place in Engineering in the District Senior STEM fair, The Office of Naval Research Award, a Yale Science and Engineering Association Award, and the 2015 Intel International Science and Engineering Award for Sustainability Solutions. You know those times when life gets you down? When being a teenager is really hard? This night told all that negativity where to go.

While I had nothing to do with these awards, I did give birth to that child. Let a mom hold a certificate or two.

Advice of the month from Grams:

When I asked Grandma what keeps her looking so young:

"Walk around with Jesus in your heart. Let that light shine through. Oh, and always wear a long-line bra. In a size that fits, of course, not one that you WANT to fit."

-Thanks Grams.

Thanks once again for reading. Thanks also to the Fly's AMAZING creator, Karen @ Baking In a Tornado, aka "The Blogging Original", for hosting this challenge! Would you like to join in the next FLY challenge? Click on the FLY button on my side bar. Karen will  take care of you.

Take a look at what the other bloggers have going on inside their homes. Go on! Leave them a comment. You know you want to...

Baking in a Tornado                          

Spatulas on Parade                          

Follow Me Home                           

Menopausal Mother                          

Stacy Sews and Schools                        

Battered Hope                                   

Just A Little Nutty                                  

The Momisodes                                        

Someone Else's Genius                            

The Sadder but Wiser Girl                        

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                            

Disneyland in Kentucky                               

Juicebox Confession                            

Searching for Sanity                      

Go Mama O       

Happy Friday, friends!

-Michele                               

Secret Subject Swap: 4/14 The Caffeine Story.

Happy April, friends!

If you're a regular reader, you know that the Secret Subject Swap is a collaboration between various bloggers. We receive secret topics from a blogger in a secret e-mail and put our own spin on the subjects. The 14 blogs participating this time are listed at the end of this post. Go have a look and leave a comment. It will make my our day! :)

My “Secret Subject” is:

You are Alice in "through the looking glass" (more commonly known as Alice in Wonderland) what type of land would you find? And how would you get out?

It was submitted by: the beautiful Dawn @ Spatulas on Parade 

My looking glass was in the dairy section of a grocery store. I was in a hurry to find my favorite coffee creamer. I searched among the shelves of milk, cottage cheese and sour cream.

I finally spotted the sweet treat. It was of course, the last one of its kind and was waaayyyyy back on a high shelf. I reached into the blowing air as far as I could when suddenly, I started to smell the delicious scent of coffee. I reached further and further in the refrigerator section until I found myself on the other side of the glass. 

I looked behind me wondering if I had broken the shelves. How else would I be on the other side? Was the Walmart manager going to scream at me? When I was able to focus, I noticed that I was NOT in the back storage area of a grocery. Instead, I was at an outdoor coffee party. What in the world??? What a beautiful sight. There was a soft breeze blowing along the yard. This must have been the place where the smell of coffee was coming from. I didn't remember getting invited to any party, but sure enough, there was a place setting for me. How curious!

The table was set for many more people than were seated. I could tell by the brown rings in some of the china cups, that many a creature had come before me to this same coffee gathering. As I sat down, I was handed samples of every kind of coffee imaginable. First, espresso. Then cappuccino. A latte followed a mocha; it went on for hours. Each smell, each taste, was pure heaven. Instead of feeling the familiar wakefulness, I started to feel sleepy. 

I thought I was imagining a ghost in the trees when a large dog came into sight. He had a clear smirk on his face. I wondered what he was up to. I watched as he jumped from the tree and landed softly on the grass. He was mumbling something I couldn't hear. 

When the dog came toward me from under the table, I swear I heard him say, "I've got you!" Had I lost my mind? He said it quietly at first. As he walked away from me, I could hear his voice become louder and louder. "I've got you! I've got you!"

I decided to stand my now-full body up and follow the dog. He looked back every-so-often, wearing that same silly smirk. I followed him for what seemed to be forever. When he finally stopped, I looked around at what was clearly a "wonderland." At least, MY kind of wonderland. Spinning around, I no longer could see the smirking canine. I could however, hear that loud voice..."I've got you!"

The voice eventually began to fade. I noticed a soft rain starting to fall. I'm not pulling your leg. It was raining...coffee! There was a babbling brook made of creamer and the tall trees were made of whipped cream. I didn't know where I was and I didn't care. Everything was marvelous. Had I died? Was this heaven? 

I took it all in, people. As much as I could. The aroma, the majestic view, and of course, the taste. I walked in a daze, drinking as much as possible. I stopped only when I saw the familiar dog appear in front of me. He was wearing that smirk and shaking his belly. I believed he was laughing at me. The voice began to emanate from the animal. "I've got you!" I heard.
"I've got you!"

"What in the world have you 'got'?" I asked.
The dog came closer. "You!, I've got you!" he laughed.
"I don't understand!" I yelled, feeling frustrated.
"Ha ha ha!" he continued, "This coffee. The party. This...place."
"What about it?" I asked
The dog looked into my eyes and spoke the most evil words ever. The words I would never have equated with this "wonderland."
His words rang into my ears until I couldn't hear anything else.

"This place. It's...DECAFFEINATED!"
"Nooooooooooooooo!" I screamed and fell to the floor. The room began to spin and I couldn't see anything. I closed my eyes wishing for everything to stop. At last, it did.

I opened my eyes to the sight of feet and wheels. Customer's feet and shopping carts. I must have passed out.

"I've got you." said a store worker as he stretched out his hand. I looked all around. I was terribly embarrassed, but then I began to focus past the customers and carts. About two aisles down, I saw it. There was a taste-test lady who was trying to sell hot coffee. There was a large sign warning children not to touch it. It was hot and full of caffeine. 

"Yeah, baby!" I shouted as I pulled myself up, grabbed that last bottle of creamer, and headed toward the angel selling hot, styrofoam cups of Joe. Heaven.

 Thanks, Dawn for the "wonderful" topic!

Baking in a Tornado                          

The Momisodes                                       

Stacy Sews and Schools              

Follow Me Home                       

Someone Else's Genius                        

Confessions of a part-time Working Mom                            

Dribbles and Grits                                

Impoverished Vegan                        

Spatulas on Parade                      

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                                   

More that Cheese and Beer               

Evil Joy Speaks                    

Juicebox Confession                          
Climaxed                        

Enjoy the world through your looking glass, friends.
-Michele

Images property of shellybean and created by CJM