A Good Cause and What I Know For Sure (This Week)

It's been kind of a long week, emotionally.  I went a little dark, but I'm over it.  I took care of myself this week--went to bed early, ate right, cut back on the wine, cried when I needed to cry and chilled when I needed to chill.

The best way to get out of a funk is to get outside of yourself.  The best way to get outside of yourself is to serve others.  I am in charge of spreading the word about Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF at my church.  

I love it for a lot of reasons.  First and foremost , because it's a kick-ass charity that provides clean water, medication and other supplies for children around the world.  But also because it is so retro chic.  Do you remember trick-or-treating for UNICEF?  I do.  

My family was a sporadic church going bunch.  My parents would feel the urge to join a group and we would follow.  One church we went to participated in the Trick-or-treat for UNICEF and I never forgot it.  I also never forgot the Sunday I walked into the sanctuary during the silent prayer, after singing with the children's choir, looking for my parents.  I was wearing black patent leather shoes that clip-clopped all the way down the aisle until I found my parents sitting in the front row.  To this day I ask myself why couldn't I have waited until the silent prayer was over to walk down that clickety/clackety aisle?  

That church was the last church my family attended as a family.  Before my parents split up.  I sang in the choir, got a special introductory Bible, had a role in the Christmas pageant and trick or treated for UNICEF.  I was full of happiness, hope and the idea that I could make a difference in the world.

Fast forward through a lot of years of questioning, doubting, disappointment, anger, more questioning and quiet (and not so quiet) reflection.  Now I am a member of a church where I am mostly full of happiness, hope and the idea that I can make a difference in the world (there's still some questioning and reflection of course).

It's a full circle kind of thing. 

Bottom line, reaching out and helping others, having hope and working to make a difference really is the magic cure to getting out of any kind of funk. This I know for sure.

It's not too late to get involved, click here if you want to trick-or-treat for UNICEF.  

Here's some other things I know for sure (this week):

• This time of year is fun because costumes can show up anytime.  Here's a cute, I mean scary, wolf-man doing homework. Gotta love Halloween.

• It's not a great thing when the neighbors know you as the "house with the escaping streaking baby."  Wade keeps running outside in his underwear.  WTF? I don't get it. Many an evening, I can be seen chasing the underwear clad baby Wade running through the neighbors' yards.  Not a great sign for his future. Time for an Old School clip:

• Amy Poehler is a goddess.  Have you checked out Ask Amy?  If you have a daughter (tween/teen/early adult) you should slyly forward this site to them.  I know if you plug it too hard, they won't want to watch it.  But it's awesome.  She is awesome.  She is the cool aunt I always wanted to have around as a teenager.  Check it:

• Politics=crazy.  All I want to say is....vote.

• I really don't drink beer, but the song in the Heineken commercial is the bomb.  Here's "Love Letter" by Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes.  Love it.

• As much as I love it, I'm glad social media wasn't around when I was a teenager/young adult.  I can't even imagine it. And I can't even begin to  imagine how to parent it. The end.

• My daughter has a mad sense of style. 

• This movie looks good.

• I'm getting closer to my goal--1,000 by Christmas.  That's my Twitter follower campaign, it may not be UNICEF, but it's still pretty important. Okay, it's not important at all, but it's fun.  If you aren't on Twitter get on and follow me (@AngelaYBlood).

• I love it when my kids bond, but the little ones are ganging up and calling me "stupid."  Not cool little ones, not cool.

• Come on over and like my Facebook page. 

What do you know for sure (this week)?  Come on, tell us what you know.  Leave a comment here or on Facebook.

Weekend Update

Thank god it's Monday.  The busy weekends are kicking my butt.  So much can happen in two days.


But I love me a Monday.  Manic Monday? Not here.  Mondays bring routine, schedules, kids in safe/happy learning environments (aka not at home fighting!), my normal daytime tv programming.  I must confess I like having the same cereal in the same bowl, with the same coffee, in the same coffee cup while watching the same "Today" show every Monday through Friday.  Is that weird?  Probably.  But it is comforting.  


And believe me, there is enough chaotic, exciting change and activity going on over the weekend.
Here is a Weekend Update:


There was house news.  We received an offer.  Now it is a waiting game.  Waiting on the banks to approve a short sale, appraisers to once again confirm the sad, sad low value of our home and everyone else that needs to give this little transaction approval to approve.  Fingers crossed.  


There was a plethora of sports: gymnastics for Lucy, hockey for JT and of course football playoffs for Peyton.  And breaking news, they won.  So the big Superbowl of pee-wee football is all set for next Sunday.  

There was a wedding.  But no sitter.  So, the kids accompanied us to the ceremony.  We were running late (Truth be told, because of a long line at Starbucks. I totally caved on the no caffeine thing and got a latte, but with soy because I am trying a no dairy thing now).  Frantically racing in the custom van, (which by the way recently several people have asked if it is a service bus) we didn't think we would make it to the church on time. I just had to type that last part to be obnoxious.  Anyway, my husband Tim suggested we slip in the back.  Yeah, I could really picture all six of us simply slipping in the back of the church.  But we made it with seconds to spare.


It was Tim's cousin's wedding, so of course it was a Catholic ceremony--a very beautiful ceremony, in a beautiful old church.  During communion, I sat with the kids in the pew as everyone went up to the altar for their bread and wine.  Lucy looked at me with a furrowed brow and asked "Why can't we go up?" 


"We aren't Catholic honey," I whispered.


She thought for a moment, looked around and then looked at me and said quite loudly, "So we are the only ones here that aren't Cathletic?"

She and I will discuss this at length I am sure.


Tim went onto the reception without me.  I went home and had an indoor picnic dinner with the kids.  

There was leaf raking.  My kids got really involved and raked their little hearts out.  Only problem was they were loving raking the neighbors' yard.  Why is it so much more fun to my kids to clean someone else's house or rake someone else's leaves?  My wonderful neighbors did come over and help me rake my yard, but sadly the kids had lost interest by then.

There was hours and hours of church.  Tim and I were in charge of passing out the trick-or-treat for UNICEF boxes to the kids and teach the lesson.  I love this program and am so proud that my kids got totally into it. 


Of course there was the carving of pumpkins, watching of "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and eating a nice Sunday family dinner. Breaking news--the baby Wade sat at the table without a booster or a high chair.  
Good stuff.
Happy Halloween!


Here is some more good stuff:


I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE this.  You must watch. Now these two are the ones that should host the Oscars! 

One of the best SNL Weekend Updates ever:

This is how I have felt the past two weeks with my giving up of caffeine and dairy, and my gluten cheats. I am "going all "Girl Interrupted.'"


UNICEF is an amazing organization, watch the video and do something.  Not to sound all like the lady who used to be on Archie Bunker, but it only takes a quarter to provide clean drinking water for a kid.  It is easy to be powerful and create change, really it is.


And finally, if you are still reading and watching...since I mentioned it, I must include the video.  It's just another Manic Monday! (which is really my fun day)