Who I Am

(*Me at 4 years old.)


I am.....a good secret keeper and excellent listener.


I want... the world to live in harmony. I know it's a lofty goal, but can't a girl wish?


I have...more than any one person deserves...a beautiful, happy, healthy family and wonderful friends!!


I wish...I didn't have to work and I could devote myself to giving service to those in need. It would also be nice to have a lot of money too so I could give more than just my time!


I hate...when people are close-minded and hypocritical.


I fear...ever having to be apart from the ones I love.


I hear....the sounds of laughter and love that fill my home.


I search...for balance in life. I'm a VERY busy working mother and I don't want to look back someday and regret not having enough time for my family and son in particular.


I wonder...what Jack will be like when he grows up. What will he look like, what will he be and what will he like to do?


I regret...that I have but one life to give for my country....sorry it's the first thing I thought of. It's the history teacher in me. (It was actually Nathan Hale, American Revolutionary that said that! :)


I love...my son more than I thought I could ever love anything.


I ache...for anyone or anything that suffers.


I always....cry at movies. I mean EVERY movie. It can be Bambi or The Hangover....and I'm not kidding.


I usually....find myself critiquing people's grammar. Please don't be afraid to talk to me now that you know this...I'm not judging, it's just something I do. Thanks, mom!


I am not...very good at math. I'm a Liberal Arts major so I have an excuse, but let's just say my only C in college was College Algebra....again not kidding (although I wish I was! )


I dance...like no ones watching (in the kitchen, the bedroom, in front of the t.v., in the car, but my favorite is when I dance with Jack).


I sing...in the car all the time. I drive a lot for my job so that leaves me with many hours to myself. I try not to pay attention to the weird looks I'm sure I get.


I never...want to build another house as long as I live. But I'm married to Bronson Parrish....I've accepted my fate!


I sometimes...wish to speed up time, but I try to remember it's all about the journey, so enjoy the ride.


I cry...watching t.v. and reading books too. I'm a crier. I cry when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when I'm scared, and even when I'm mad. I'm just so glad my husband has learned to accept it.


I am not always...patient. Again, one of my character flaws...but I'm learning.


I lose...my car keys sometimes and it makes me want to invent an alarm device to attach to them. I think that might be the next million dollar idea....


I am grateful...for anyone who has gone against what is popular to stand up for what is right....American Revolutionaries, supporters of women's rights, civil rights activists, and the list goes on and on.....


I need...a housekeeper! Unfortunately I currently fill that position too and my house is a wreck!


I should...learn to forgive more easily. I remember EVERYTHING, which is often times a bad thing. I really work hard at learning to forgive and forget.


Who Are You?
I'm tagging you to tell me who you are:
Melissa
Tonya
Rheannon

Jack Skiing

Here are several videos of Jack skiing if you didn't already catch the one I posted on facebook last week. We weren't hoping for Jack to pull a Bode Miller on the slopes, but rather just get use to having skis on his feet. Next year he'll be old enough for ski school.....and we'll let the professionals take it from there!


This was Jack's first and last trip down the real hill. We actually took him on the lift and down a green slope....but he just wanted to ride the lift again.....oh, and for me to hold him!



This is the rope tow that Bronson and Jack frequented. I think Jack liked going up. It was the coming down he wasn't a fan of!

Family Pics from Colorado

I know it seems as though I've been posting stuff from our CO trip for a month now, but I just have so much that I want to share.....and there will be several more posts to follow!


Here are a few pics Melissa (Fresh in Love Photography) took of our family. We don't get many, so I was pretty jazzed about these....

Tuesday Ten......on Thursday!

I have been sooooo behind in my blogging lately that I thought I'd play catch-up and do a TT on Thursday! I'm goin' rouge (with a little nod to Sarah Palin! :)


Here is a list of essential manners any "gentleman" should possess. I say "gentleman" because it's truly a dying breed. You always hear that men in the South have such good manners and know how to treat a lady, which may be true, but there is NO reason why I can't raise a little gentleman living in the North! My mom being raised in the South ALWAYS stressed manners and etiquette to me, so lucky for Jack, he's going to get it too! So here goes my list of manners necessary for all boys/men. There is no greater compliment a mother can receive than...."What a little gentleman you have!".



1. ALWAYS hold the door for a lady. That also includes the elderly, women with small children, or anyone else in need. It's just the right thing to do for anyone for that matter.


2. When walking next to a woman on the sidewalk, always take the side closest to the road to protect the woman from debris or even danger.


3. Always pay on the first date. I know these days (wow, that really makes me sound like an old-timer) it's common for women to ask men out as well, but nevertheless, men ALWAYS should pay on the first date!


4. A gentleman (and lady for that matter) should always use "sir" and "ma'am" and "please" and "thank-you".


5. Stand when a women enters the room or approaches you while you're seated.


6. And then pull out a chair for her to sit!


7. Help a woman with her jacket or sweater. (This mostly pertains to putting it on.)


8. Always make sure a woman makes it home (or to her car) safely. Don't speed away before you know she's okay.


9. When getting in a car, always open the door for a woman.


10. If a woman is carrying something, offer to help her or even carry it for her....no matter how small. Sometimes it's just the thought that matters.


I know some of these are soooooo 1940s, but I can sure try to teach my son the chivalry only our grandparents knew!

The Wedding Singer

As I stated in an earlier post, Bronson provided the music for the wedding ceremony and I jokingly called him, "The Wedding Singer". He was a hit! He sang several Jack Johnson songs, a Jason Mraz song and a few other personal favs of his. To remember his contribution to the uniqueness of the ceremony and Bhrett and Josh's special day, I wanted to get a different picture of him and his guitar that we could hang up in our house. We came across a vacant path used by the snow groomers at the base of peak 7 in Breckenridge and I knew it was the perfect spot! We quickly jumped out, grabbed the guitar and stool and I shot a few pictures. This was the end result....

Back from Colorado

Here are a few quick pictures to tide you over until I can get back to regular schedule. We just got back from CO today and I'm EXHAUSTED!! I think I need a vacation from my vacation. But it's back to the grindstone tomorrow and I have a lot of work issues to deal with in the upcoming month.

I have lots more pics and videos to post (Jack had a skiing lesson from Brons) and I can't wait to see the official wedding pics. Melissa from Fresh in Love Photography of Denver was a doll and also VERY talented. I can't wait to see and post some of her work from Bhrett and Josh's wedding. She also inspired me to try a new technique (shooting into the sun). Hope you enjoy the few examples below! :)

My 30th Birthday Surprise

My WONDERFUL friends (with Melissa as the ring-leader) decided to throw a little surprise spa party for me to celebrated the dreaded Big 3-0! And as it turns out, it wasn't so dreaded. Melissa concocted a story in order to get me to the spa that Saturday. She told me it was a grand opening of a spa in Mt. Vernon and that they were offering free Botox. Of course, I was all about it! (And later she admitted to me that she didn't know how else to get me there other than to say free Botox was involved and also warned all the other girls.....I may be a little disappointed when I found out that that really wasn't in the plans). I'm not really sure what that says about me, but I think you know I couldn't have been anymore surprise and happy with our little celebration. Not to mention my BF from high school drove all the way from Louisville, Kentucky to be there!

So we had a nice relaxing morning that involved Mimosas, fruit, pastries, pedicures, a facial and a massage! And I can't think of many other times I've been so touched. When I saw them all in the room waiting for me I immediately started balling....I'm so glad no one got that on video!

And the last few pictures are from Saturday evening. Leslie, her boyfriend Tommy, Farley and I decided to go out and celebrate like the old days....

More Cuties

Another busy busy weekend for me, but it was a good one! Here are a few of my recent favs.....

Tuesday Ten

1. The Twilight Turtle. I LOVE this night light I bought for Jack's room! It's a turtle but has three different colors to choose from (blue, green and orange) and shines the stars on the ceiling. I love it and he loves it! Plus it makes a great birthday/shower gift as well. Money well spent! (And they have lady bugs for the girls!)




2. Mini Boden Euro-Style Swim Trunks.. I saw these swim trunks in Mini Boden's new catalog and bought them immediately! How cute are they? And I have big plans for a "Jack on the Beach" photoshoot when we go to Virginia in July! I can't wait!





3. Kid's Aviator Sunglasses. I have looked everywhere for these glasses. I know The Gap has them but we don't have one anymore and I hate to pay shipping on a $12 item that winds up being a $20 item. So I found a pair at Walgreen's! They do have a little Spiderman on them, but I think I can Photoshop it. But I absolutely fell in love with this picture from Fresh in Love Photography in Denver. And lucky me, I actually get to meet the girl behind the lens when she shoots Bhrett's wedding in two weeks.





4. Cable-knit Sweater Leggings. I hate it when I get something very specific in mind and then never find exactly what I'm looking for. It happens. Quite often. Urrrrr... Well here's another example of something that's IMPOSSIBLE to find: Brown cable-knit sweater leggings....that fit a grown woman! I say grown woman, because they make them for toddlers and make them for juniors, and they do make them for women, although the sites I actually located them only had XS in stock! Come on...really!? So I opted for some Hue Brown Ribbed Sweater Leggings. Close....but not the same. (This is to go with my turquoise sweater dress that I'm wearing to the wedding).





5. Katie Parrish Photography Easter Special. This year I'm going all out for my one-day Easter special. I'm planning on having a bunny, fresh flowers, eggs, and this FABULOUS chair that I found at a local antique store. I had planned on adding a chair to my repertoire, but after booking for my special, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity!


Now please use your imagination....I'm having it recovered in a taupe color material. This is a shot I snapped with my phone, but you get the idea! And I'm anxious for things to get greener outside so I can decide on the perfect location. But I have 2 slots left if you're interested. Details are at Katie Parrish Photography Website.





6. Hanging Metal Name Plates. I reorganized our linen closet probably a year ago, but refrained from labeling my baskets because I couldn't find a classy way to do it. Well, last week I got the new Ballard Designs catalog and my problem was answered. Too cute, huh?





7. The Lost Art of a Handwritten Note. In the age of facebook, blogging, twitter, and email, I think the practice of handwriting notes has become somewhat endangered. This saddens me because the power of the handwritten note should not be overlooked. I always try to send handwritten thank yous (unless they are for Jack and I often send photo cards), birthdays, just because, and even in following up after an important job interview! But I can assure you the practice will continue in the Parrish household and Jack too will get this very important lesson in card writing etiquette.





8. I'm Now an Employee of Pfizer! Yesterday it became official. King Pharmaceuticals no longer exists and I now get my paycheck from Pfizer. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the enormity of this company. I've only known King in this industry and going from one of the smallest to the largest is "a hard pill to swallow".....pun intended! :) So needless to say, the chaos will continue with Pfizer drug training, compliance and other various admin stuff, but at least I have a job! No complaints here!!





9. And the Oscar Goes To..... Thanks to The Academy for getting it right!






10. Over the weekend we decided to repaint the upstairs. We were just bored to death with our neutral choice of Haystack. So we opted for a bolder palette to include Africa and Chocolate Truffle! I can't wait to show you the after pictures!!