Happy 4th!

I am taking off early for the long holiday weekend! If you're celebrating, have a happy 4th! And if you're not, have a lovely weekend anyways :) Be back on Tuesday!

xo, Roberta Jane

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Notes To Self

Notes To Self: A Few Recent Musings...

1. Love the necklaces by Rossmore, especially this "teeth" necklace. Speaking of, kinda excited about this movie release (not gonna lie)... (Rossmore, $100 via Vain and Vapid)


2. Maxi Dress + High Top Chuck Taylors = Kinda Love (Hanneli)


3. Is it too early to be thinking of Fall boots??? Yes! (Jeffrey Campbell, $225)
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The Painted House

It started with the fence.  The beautiful fence. So crisp and white. It showed off how really not-crisp and not-white the house was.

Jeff and I have been married over 8 years now, I consider us experts on communication. We had the following conversation:

Wife: Wow, we should really paint the house.


Husband: Yep. I guess we should.


Wife: When are you thinking would be a good time?


Husband: Definitely when the weather is still nice.


Because our communication skills are so brilliant, I heard, "definitely painting the house this spring." Spring being defined logically from March to May. In my mind.

What my husband meant was, "Hopefully after I get the farming done in the Fall and the weather is still nice."


Nagging a man to do projects is never the way to go. It annoys him. And I've found other ways of being persuasive: be his sexy girlfriend and he'll leap tall buildings for me.... or at least paint my house. I was being his girlfriend, all sweet and nice and smelling good, and the house still wasn't even sort of starting to get painted. So, about May I was jittery with the need to break my non-nagging rule. About the house. It needs painted. What do you think? Could you do it please?

We finally had another conversation about painting and realized we were on completely different pages of the home improvement book. Thankfully I had the colors decided on by my lovely blog audience and I was able to get the paint at Home Desperoto easily. We came up with a rough timeline for finishing the house: June-ish, weather permitting.

This is the photoshop version and the favorite in my blog poll. 

On a side note, the fence/house color post received the most comments of any post I've ever written... by far. I guess I have a lot of house and fence lovers out there. I can't imagine what I'll blog about in the future to keep you interested, since my husband said absolutely no more fence/painting projects for the next 23 and a half years or so. But thanks for stopping by. 

Jeff started painting the house 3 weeks ago. We had a sunny Sunday coming up and it was "paint day." But then it was W-I-N-D-Y. Like really windy. And Jeff was planning on using a paint sprayer. I started painting with a roller and brush and Jeff worked on the back of the house where it was less windy. The house got some paint that day, the rest waited until the next week and the next week. I worked on the trim when I could.

Sigh. My super hero.

Jeff ended up finishing the spraying one evening after getting done with work earlier than normal for this time of year. Our neighbors may think he's crazy, but it's light until 10pm!

The trim color is actually cream and the front door is dark green. I really like it! And am SO thankful Jeff did all the hard work to get the house finished (in a timely manor too). Painting is his least, least favorite house project, so this was an act of love for him. Thanks, my man. I love you!

Because I never grow tired of asking my blog audience's advice, what color should the garage door and man-door be? Currently they are just white. I'm thinking they should also be cream like the trim. Also, about the shutters: Do we like the look without them? If we put them back up, what color should they be? Match the door, match the trim, bring in a different color all together? The possibilities are endless and I am out of ideas.

I'm really thrilled to be able to post this update!

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Losing it.

It sure would be awesome to do a post titled, "Missions Accomplished!"

But this isn't it. Think of it more as a pit-stop on the road to success.

Losing 50 pounds is really, really hard work. I don't enjoy it one bit. I much prefer to gain weight. If only all the mirrors in all the land were smashed, my conscience about living a healthy life didn't exist, and I didn't have a closet full of nice clothes that were 4 sizes smaller. Then I would sit around and eat brownies, Mac n' Cheese, lasagna, tacos without the salad, mashed potatoes and gravy... and that's just for lunch.

(August 2009)

I don't mind diet and exercise actually. It's the diet and exercise with little result or progress that I don't enjoy. Makes me want to lay around feel sorry for myself. And eat brownies.

Since Rem's birth, my body naturally shed about 25 pounds with mild exercise and no diet. That was before Christmas. Losing weight without really trying, that is fun stuff. Then reality set in. With an additional 25 pounds that was sticking like super glue, I realized I was going to have to start working hard.

(end of November 2009)

Here's what I've been doing since January 1st (6 months ago):

• exercise. I've done a few different things, either the 15 minute T-tapp Basic Workout, walking (2 miles), The Shred, or Windsor Pilates. Some with gusto, others without.

• Counting calories. SparkPeople.com is a free online service; I enter in what I ate during the day and their calculator tells me how many calories, carbs, protein, fiber it had. It's an easy way to keep track. Ever consume an entire bag of potato chips? The stomach ache is nothing compared to seeing on the computer screen that I just ate 2,976 calories.

I lost 6 pounds in 6 months. I think the experts say that is healthy, but I would really like to be done with this journey and get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I achieved it twice. Seems like I should be able to again.

I thought about what worked before and realized I would have to bump it up a notch. If T-tapp Total Workout (55 minutes) worked before, then I would do it again, plus the 7 Minute Miracle, plus walking. And add a couple more painful restrictions:

• Avoiding Dairy. Sniff. Sniff. Love the stuff. It doesn't love me.

• Avoiding sugar. Sniff. Sniff. Sniff. Tears coursing down my face. Love the stuff. It makes me chubby.

My T-Tapp Total Workout was scratched and non-workable since the last time I used it with Mandy's baby-weight attempt. I kept thinking about doing the long workout again, but the T-Tapp DVDs are pretty expensive. I finally ordered a new DVD and started getting up an hour earlier. On alternate days, I'm following a Half-Marathon 14 week walking training schedule and walking, using T-Tapp technique. It looks a lot like race-walking. Do not mock. It's an Olympic Sport.

I look just like this during my morning race-walk. But I wear pants.

I walk between 2-4 miles, 4 days a week rain or shine. I'm loving it. I love being outside in the quiet. I walk a fast 15 minute mile, yet have the stillness to myself and God. He's rocking my world People! I sing. I pray. I pump my arms and use "linier allignment." And I walk back into the house a completely different woman than when I left. I'm ready to jump piles of laundry in a single bound. 

And I'm seeing significant changes in my body.

I started 3 weeks ago on this turbo charged workout schedule and have lost 6 more pounds. 

And I feel like this....

I still have a ways to go, yet actually feel comfortable in my own skin for the first time in a year and a half.

I know I sound like an info-mercial for T-Tapp, I only mention it every other post or so. Wish I hadn't spent my energy on the Shred and $8.99, and some major joint pain. But T-Tapp DVDs aren't cheap... and I am. Yet, I believe Teresa Tapp is on to something with her lymph-node talk, lactic acid purging, linear alignment, and pelvis tilting. And I can't argue with the results. Not only do I feel strong and feel good (no back pain with no chiropractor visits), I've also lost inches. Lots of them. Like 35.75 inches from my upper body, hips, thighs, calves, and arms.

The key with any plan like this isn't just diet and exercise, its consistency and making wise choices. Seeing positive changes makes the motivation much easier to come by. Skinny jeans, are you reading this? I'm coming for you.

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Headscarf

Definitely a trend I am testing this Summer (perfect for bad hair days)... This scarf is perfect because it's slight masculine pattern balances the overtly-girly qualities of wearing a scarf tied in your hair.

(via SeeSaw Vintage) Read More.. Read More..

Considering

We are finally enjoying gorgeous (and downright hot!) weather in Portland, which has got me realizing that I have not properly stocked up on summer apparel & accessories... High on my wish list is another pair of everyday sandals. I have been considering a pair of Birkenstocks for many years. Styled correctly I think they can very smart and classic...


What do you think? Brikenstocks: yes or no?

(Gizeh via Piperlime, $80) Read More.. Read More..

Pedaling at full-speed update:

Not too long ago, every day was grouchy. My previous post explained how I kicked Grouchy to the curb and found joy in my life. And really, most days are productive and fun. Bliss! But I'm telling you, my friends, yesterday was not one of those good days.

I didn't returned to my old ways in full force, but I sure felt the tightness of irritation and not much joy. Yelling at my children is just one symptom and snappy remarks, sarcasm, and even detachment are just as harmful. Writing about what I'm going through isn't actually fun for me. Sure is easier to act perfect (especially in the blogging world). Yet, I feel a burden to share this journey. Thank you for your encouraging comments! I tell myself as I write each post that if I get no feedback at all that it is okay -- let God be in charge of where my words fall. My prayer is that other women can find the freedom in God's ever sufficient grace and the joy of truly engaging with their children.

So, back to my terrible day. There are triggers and identifying them can save the "blow up" from occurring. Even my best intentions were pummeled:

• staying in bed late when the rest of the family is up.
• skipping Bible reading.
• skipping exercise.
• skipping Rem's morning nap so we could go for a walk.
• potty training Mandy and the frequent "accidents."
• teaching Emma to ride her bike and start and stop by herself on our road.
• poor time management.
• convincing Emma that the world did not fall off of its axis because she scraped her elbow and knee 3/4th of a mile away from home. And no, I could not carry her bike, her, and push the stroller.
• being overheated (sounds lame, but I'm a tender flower when it comes to the sun)
• a messy house
• dishwasher that needs to be run at least twice to hold all the dirty dishes on the counter
• a toddler who unfolds the laundry I stayed up until midnight folding (and never put away, obviously)
• house projects that I see all day, but can't finish by myself.
• trying to talk on the phone with a friend and being interrupted by fighting children.
• finding Mandy's poop in my bedroom.
• finding Mandy's poop in the lawn.
• never finding Mandy's poop in the toilet.
• a husband whose phone is out of range all day and doesn't come home until after the kids are in bed.
• feeding myself and children Mac n' Cheese for dinner and reading the calories on the side of the box as I shovel another bite into my mouth. 100, 200, 300, 400.... 956.

All these things happened in my day. Some were by choice. Others were out of my control. Yet, all started the same chain reaction that I feel when frustration and irritation turn to anger. Whether I am mad at myself or someone or something else, my chest feels tight, I feel physically hot, my movements are jerky and rough, and my hands clench and want to hit something. Really, I just want to escape to a world where everything is just perfect. A perfect world where I would lounge around in a soft colored sweater set and never, never find poop in my room.

I recognize the physical signs and can usually back away before I do something or say something that I regret. When I started this process in November, each challenge felt like Mt. Everest. The best part of taking the control back from my own angry self and giving it to God is that with my behavior changes, it's getting easier. I talk myself down, come up with a game plan, pray for more wisdom, more strength, a dose of joy.... and a housekeeper.... and a free scholarship for Mandy to attend potty training camp.

When I slip back to my bad habits, I repent and try, try again. I have no fear that the challenges will keep coming my way like the weird game of Outhouse on my family's circa 1986 computer where we used the arrow keys to escape flying rolls of toilet paper. If I've snapped at the children I apologize and ask forgiveness. If I'm mad at myself, I make changes to accommodate my time management and figure out a way to make it right. I also ask myself if my expectations are too high or if I really made a poor choice: having a perfectly clean living room all day = unrealistic; loading the dishwasher after each meal = doable.

PS You should be very thankful that there are no pictures that accompany this post. :) Read More.. Read More..

I Like It A Lot!

Lizzie Fortunato for Madewell Read More.. Read More..

Picnic with Camp Comfort

The Storque (Etsy's house blog) recently asked me to participate in their Guest Curator series - such fun! Hop on over to The Storque to see my Summer Picnic essentials! Read More.. Read More..

Taking off the brakes. Pedaling at full speed.

Have you ever tried to ride a bike with its brake stuck against the tire? I have. I rode my bike with the brake stuck on for my entire childhood and adolescence. I'm sure of that now, but I didn't know it back then. I've never been what you would call "athletic" so I assumed that I was just bad at bike riding. Give me some hotglue, fabric and popsicle sticks and I was a happy camper. Bike riding? No thanks. When anyone would suggest, "Let's go for a bike ride," I would tremble in fear. Memories came back to haunt me of my aching muscles and sweaty armpits and trying in vane to catch up with the rest of the pack. I really hated riding a bike.

Then I got a new bike when I was in highschool and realized something profound: bike riding is fun when I wasn't pedaling so hard.

Since it took me more than a decade to figure out the bike thing, it is no small wonder that it took me so long to figure out other easy fixes. Like why I didn't enjoy mothering. Why being with my children exhausted me. Why others seemed to find joy in parenting and I just found sweaty armpits.

It wasn't just one thing that helped me take the brake off on my journey. And all these things have contributed:

• Reading the Bible in the morning with purpose and commitment instead of when I am too weary with my failures to see past getting to sleep at night.

• Praying for wisdom. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:3-6

• Believing that there is more to life in Christ than just "enduring." "I [Jesus] have come so that you may have life and live it to the full." John 10:10. 

• My own laziness and bad attitude were holding me back. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

• Reading good books pertaining to my life and based in Scripture: She's Gonna Blow! Real Help For Moms Dealing With Anger [Barnhill]. Sheparding A Child's Heart [Tripp]. Oh, and actually applying what I learned.

• Getting daily exercise. (T-Tapp, more on that later). I'm getting up an hour earlier and instead of feeling more fatigue, I actually have more energy and perspective to deal with the never-ending demands on my day. 

• Encouragement from other women who live admirable lives. Grace has written some great words about serving God by serving your family and also explains what homeschooling looks like in a real family. And Season's blog about child rearing and living on a God-made diet is inspiring. There are other blogs I follow too, but I know Season and Grace personally and they both encourage me greatly.

• "For the mother is and must be, whether she knows it or not, the greatest, strongest and most lasting teacher her children have." [Hannah W. Smith]. Realizing my children require discipleship not just discipline.

So the brakes are off and I'm pedaling at full speed. Actually loving the ride. Amazing? Yes. A miracle?Yes. Only by the grace of God? Yes. It's not always easy going though. I encounter challenging hills often and I feel like maybe I can't make it. But I've been relieved of my burden of anger and the frustrations that robbed me of energy. I can now step back from a situation and see, "Wow, this isn't working. What can we do to change it?" Sometimes it is falling to my knees in prayer and others times it involves preparing better for a situation by bringing a healthy snack. I'm not kidding. Life is that variable around here. Between God and peanut butter, we are gaining ground.

Here is an example of how things are changing in my world: my children's room gets cleaned by my children. Weird. I know. I've always struggled with the girl's messy room. I would yell, "This place is a pig sty. Start cleaning." When they didn't pick things up, I would yell more and louder, "Come on girls, work. Pick things up. Put them away." All the while I was madly putting their things away, growing more irritated by the second until I usually doled out angry discipline or stormed out of the room, leaving it a mess.

It was after one of those familiar frustrating experiences that I had a "wow, this isn't working. What can we do to change it?" moment. I called my mom and she suggested I teach my children how to clean their room. Teach them? Weird. I know. So, I started teaching them. Day after day, we spent in their room every morning. We sorted toys and gave a bunch away. Then, everything that was left had a place it belonged and both girls knew how to put everything away. 

The first step was to pick-up right beside them. I would say [calmly] that I would pick things up as long as they picked things up -- if they stopped, I would leave. We even worked on those piles that get pushed under things that even I want to ignore. It wasn't always as happy as a cashmere sweater. My oldest daughter can still throw a fit that would frighten a lion (I'm not in denial about where she gets it). And my youngest daughter gets easily distracted because, well, she's two. But I continued on with their training. Calmly is definitely the key word.

The next baby step was to leave them alone to clean. I usually did this in the morning while I was cleaning up breakfast dishes. I would set the timer for 10 minutes and tell them to go clean their room. I would be up to check on their progress. If nothing had been done, I started taking away privileges for the day -- no questions asked. If they were working after 10 minutes, I would help them for a few minutes and then go back down and set the timer for another 10 minutes. Most days this principle really worked well and I added a few more flights of stairs into my daily exercise routine. :)

We didn't make it up this hill in a day or even a week. It has probably been 5 or more months. Daunting.

Then, it happened. I was going up to check on the girl's progress and heard Emma say, "Quick, mom's coming." Usually that would mean, "Quick, look busy!" I was prepared to stay calm and "motivate" their progress like usual. Emma ran out of her room and said, "Stop, close your eyes mom." I did and she led me in to the room. I opened my eyes and they literally filled with tears as I took in the scene.

Two girls dressed. Two girls with made beds (by Mandy). Two girls with a very clean room. No piles even!

I love that Emma said, "We did it without asking." It was a happy, happy moment for me. I now have high exceptions for my children and they exceeded them. And continue to exceed them as I work with them. Not against them.

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Summer Sneakers

While I prefer sandals in the warmer months, sometimes sneakers are just necessary.



Tom's ($48), Converse ($52), UO ($18), Sperry Topsider* ($75), Bensimon ($55), Converse** ($42)

* Yes, for this purpose I am calling a boat shoe a sneaker.
**I know high-tops don't seem like an obvious answer, but I just LOVE high-top converse with bare legs and flirty dresses! Read More.. Read More..

Jet Set

Long time friend and blogger, Sylvie of Silver Lining, asked me to participate in a little feature about Summer jet-setting. Sylvie and I met in the college days while working at Kate Spade and Ruby Press in San Francisco. She's long been one of my favorite fashion-partners-in-crime!

To see more of my necessary objects for Summer traveling, head over to Silver Lining. Thanks Sylie!

xo, Roberta Jane

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Weekend Inspiration

Two inspiring looks from the week:


Summery Gingham: I am constantly on the lookout for the perfect gingham dress... I love that this one appears light weight and decidedly not stuffy. Plus, total sexy librarian alert! Or as a co-worker deemed it recently the "sexy chemist" look! (via Vanessa Jackman)


Mile-Long Legs: While my legs are not nearly as long or tan, I still find this look to be totally achievable. She's giving denim shorts a great name! (via The Sartorialist)

Portland, Portland, Portland... why must you torture us with your unseasonably cool and rainy weather? I want Summer!

Anyways, hope you all have a delightful weekend! xo Read More.. Read More..

fabulous blogs:

I've been stalking a couple new blogs lately:

Red Door Home | Fabulous home decorating ideas | Plus, a giveaway today for a tote.

Knock-Off Wood | wood working projects with free patterns | Makes me want to built something.

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A tale of two princesses....

Mandy's friend Clara is here today. Two enchanting 2-year-olds. Clara's older sister Heidi and Emma are at Jr. Master Gardener Camp this week. So, the moms got together and worked out a plan and Mandy and Clara are giddy with excitement about getting to play with eachother.

They've played b-eau-ti-fully today. Really perfect.

Everything was going so well that I had these thoughts while I was making lunch:

"Wow, they are really playing nicely."

"I should start a daycare because obviously I have some sk-ee-ls in the child care department."

"Girls are so much quieter than boys." [My nephews that I watch are all very good, but far more boisterous]

And, "Wow, they are really, really quiet."

I heard the girls giggling softly and Mandy saying, "Now you are really a princess Cwara." I went in to the living room to see Mandy just putting the lid back on nail polish.

Nail polish.

First of all, I have no idea how they found the well hidden stash of nail polish. And second, how they opened one. I can't even get the lid off of nail polish.

The mani-pedi's took place on the living room rug and amazingly -- really amazingly -- there were only 4 small dots of nail polish on the rug. Acetone took it right out. Good thing.

The dress-up dresses are also curiously nail polish-free. I feel like I'm living in the twighlight zone.

Amazing.

As a mother and childcare provider extraordinaire I felt compelled to say, "Now girls, you need a mommy's help to paint nails. Next time you need to ask first." They stared at me blankly and went about their business.

Mandy said, "Cwara, your tongue is pink. Did you paint your tongue?"

Clara, "I want to paint my tongue. Let's go."

This story could have had a far more dramatic and heart stopping ending. But it didn't. 

And the two princesses lived happily every after...

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Skinny Cargos?

What are your thoughts on Skinny Cargos? I was leaning towards No, but thought I would try a pair before I judged too harshly. Tried the JBrand version at Anthro and I could kind of see them working as a light weight, summer alternative to denim... But still, cargos? I didn't embrace the cargo the first time around (1995-ish for me), so I am weary to jump on that trend this time around....


But seriously, they could be cute with a pair of these:


JCrew ($89.50), JBrand ($228), No.6 ($245) Read More.. Read More..

Summer Must-Haves: Caroline of Looks Good To Me

We've made it to our final Summer Must-Haves list! To round-out the feature we have the Top 5 of Caroline from the blog Looks Good To Me. LGTM is one of my top 5 favorite blogs - Caroline has amazing taste and mad watercolor skills! (Not to mention she's one of my kindred-style-spirits!)

Here are Caroline's Top 5 Summer Must-Haves:

1. APC Espadrille Wedge: I love wedges in the summer because they give you some extra height without sacrificing comfort. This pair from APC is one of my favorites of the season. The juicy orange straps are so invigorating, they'll definitely put some energy into your step. (Creatures of Comfort, $368)


2. Vintage Straw Bucket Bag: My mother had a bag that looked just like this that I used to borrow during middle school in the 90s. Since other styles from that era have been making a comeback lately, it's only natural these bags are looking stylish to me again too. Hm, I wonder if Mom still has hers lying around... (Ebay)


3. Baptiste Ivry Leather Bow Tie Necklace: This necklace is so cool, it would look good with anything. I'd play up the tuxedo references and pair with a white tee, black pants and a pair of oxfords! (Baptiste Viry)


4. Mina Stone Hand Dyed Silk Tunic: I love the inky hand-dyed detailing on this silk dress by Mina Stone, it reminds me of my watercolors! This dress would make anyone look super feminine and graceful. So light and summery too! (Steven Alan, $355)


5. Madewell Neon Lights Belt: My summer color palette is all about neutrals paired with bold shots of color. This belt would look great with everything from slouchy shorts and a white tee or even that Mina Stone dress! (Madewell, $32)


Thanks to the bloggers who participated!

(P.S. Got a favorite blogger you'd like to see style picks/interviews from in the future? Let me know!) Read More.. Read More..

Monday, Monday

Hi there! I planned to post our last (and maybe best?) Summer Must-Have list this morning, but then the weather turned amazing in Portland and the weekend got away from me!

Anyways, I am laying low today (and trying to catch up)... Be back Tuesday with more Summer Must-Haves!

xo,
Roberta Jane

(photo) Read More.. Read More..

My training blog

It was only a decade ago that blogs did not exist. Al Gore hadn't really put the finishing touches on the good ol' internet. There wasn't anything to do online. A few sites existed, but basically they told you in a very boring way to call if you really wanted to learn anything. Email, now email was something! The cool people were emailing. Once a day, never more because we paid by the minute, we went online to get our mail, a process that took about 5 minutes of listening to screeching as the modem "connected". What was that sound for anyway? Was the computer using bat signals to communicate? My parents had a computer that was slower than snot, I tell you. Once the screeching stopped, the machine roared like a tractor pulling a rake up a hill. All that to get maybe one email. It was SO exciting.

In the midst of this computerized revolution, I was planning a trip to Europe. If it were now, I would get online and look at Travelosity for airline tickets, Trip Advisor for hotel reviews, Lonely Planet for hostel recommendations, and EuroRail.com for train tickets and schedules. I would be done in about 2 hours. As it was, planning the trip consisted of talking with people who had been there and spending hours and hours at the library looking at books about different sites that I didn't want to miss. The books had the latest prices and schedules supposedly, but the majority of the trip was left to, "We'll see once we get there."


"We" was my longtime friend Janelle and myself. This whole trip was Alaythia's doing. If you don't remember that story, click here. It was Alaythia me who got a message from the Lord and she I made a series of phone calls: 1) to my boyfriend to break up with him, 2) to my parents to tell them I broke up with Mr. Perfect and I wasn't going back to college to finish my degree, 3) to my college to tell them I wasn't going back as planned, and 4) to Janelle to convince her she needed to go to Europe with me. She agreed. Whew. So, after months of planning, we had our travel guide books in hand, a tentative schedule and an open-jaw ticket arriving in London and leaving for home from Rome with almost 2 months in between.

London to the English countryside

London to Paris

Paris to Berlin

Berlin to Austria

Austria back to France to Toulouse

Toulouse to Italy Switzerland

Switzerland to Italy

Venice

Florence

Rome

Sorrento

Pompe

Rome to home

Even though we had a Eurorail pass and it didn't matter how/when we used it, Janelle and I still chose to take night trains whenever possible. At the time, it seemed logical because a night train saved us a nights lodging as well. Youth hostels were about $16 and included breakfast. So of course we should risk life, limbs, and any sort of comfort and take night trains. It was from Toulouse, France to Italy that we accidentally got on the wrong end of a train that happened to split in the night while we were both sleeping... soundly. Instead of the warm Mediterranean, we woke up in Geneva, Switzerland and a thief had taken off with both of our cameras (secured around our necks). The rest of the journey was documented with a disposable camera and I also wrote down details in my journal.

It is this journal that got me reminiscing. I hadn't looked at it in years, but Emma found it and wanted to color in it. Are you kidding me, that's my first blog. I had it with me and wrote about the happenings of my life in Europe. Europe, child! I was young and free and had acid washed jeans! (I gave her a color book she forgot she had and she was happy.) How interesting my first blog would have been. No one reads my journal, yet I wrote as though I wished someone would. I've always known the blogging world needed me -- er, or I needed it. If Al invented the internet, then I'll claim inventing blogging. Strange that I haven't received a royalty check from Blogger.

It is as though I had Janelle take this picture with the express purpose of blogging about it. I didn't though. I have no idea what this picture is about.

I wrote about other strange things:

"Monday we left our temporary home at Schlossburg and caught the SKIBUS to Kitzbuhl, Austria where we intended to be on a train to Toulouse by 1pm. A usual, our plans didn't work out and we arrived an hour later to the train and couldn't get another train until the next morning. We were tired of Kitzbunel already so we journeyed on to Innsbrook, an equally enchanting town. We stayed at a mental hospital/youth hostel. Crazy.

Email was a phenomenon that had caught on all over the world.  Internet cafes were here and there, but we had to pay for every minute online. It was our main communication with our parents and friends back home. It was worth the $5 for 3 minutes. There was always the "work off-line option." That really saved my bacon. It was at one of these internet cafes in Austria that I received an email from my happily married parents:

"I read my long list of email and found that mom had written last week. She said that Black Lake camp asked her to be the head of housekeeping. She accepted the position starting June 1st. It's in Olympia. Olympia! I guess dad is going too, either that or they are splitting up -- unlikely since they are both partial to the canoe."

(I always felt like my head was too big in a literal sense when I was standing next to Janelle. She has a beautiful, small head. She also managed to take 5 items of clothing in her backpack and somehow come out every day looking exotic. That's why I don't have many pictures of us together. I was a little irritated that she was so cute... and that I had such a big head).

Venice Italy was one of my favorites spots. Everyone says it stinks, but it doesn't. I wrote about how it was unlike any where I had ever been, "It is quiet, yet bustling; serene yet exciting." I also wrote this:

"There are three big restaurants in the Piazza San Marco. I am sitting on the steps near one  of them and a string quartet is playing. Beautiful. Guess I should have let that guy take me to dinner. It is the perfect night for it. But I think he was a little short [always in tune with the important things] and a little bit of a stranger. Sometimes I wish I was more adventurous. Not every man is out to rape me or take all my money. Who knows, perhaps I could have made a friend."

Now as a mother to girls, I think adventure is over-rated. No strange Italian men. No traveling to Europe without me. No night trains. And again I say, no traveling to Europe without me. I have high hopes of returning to Europe. Jeff is even on board with the idea. We want to go in another decade or so and travel-school around Europe. Who knows what will exist by then, blogs might be a thing of the past. But I know I'll want to share the experience and I'll make my children blog about it too. Stay tuned....

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