The Sideline Mom

Organization. (I realize most of you will never read past this title-It's ok, I love you anyway)

I promise this will be very short and tolerable sweet. Had to get things in order man. I was being suffocated by stuff. Not really. But we did have quite a few things I just did not have a storage place for. Nice home, just not enough storage space. Story of my life. It's gut wrenching. Again, not really.

Stuff.

 I had been comtemplating what in the world to do about this stuff for a long time. Far to long. A long, long, super long time. It was stuff that had to be  kept/stored. Plus about 5 boxes of books in the garage. Read much? I couldn't just throw it away. I have thrown a lot away already. Plus homeschooling books and supplies. Eeek! What to do? Here is my final answer Regis. I went to Ikea. It was a quick fix. As opposed to a built-in. And more cost effective too. But we do not have a local Ikea.

Drove to Cincinnati to pick it up. Shipping was ridiculous. Plus my BFF is there. Why not? Can you believe we don't have Ikea here in Nashville. Why? It's a tragedy of epic proportions. Ikea, why ever won't you come to us?

But I got to see these beauties in the process. My BFF's offspring. Worth every mile I drove.

Found a bookcase/wall unit. Actually I spent hours online at they're website, so I knew just what to get. Walked in. Bought the darn thing. Brought it home already.

First I had to put it together. This is one of my least favorite things about Ikea. You must assemble the stuff. I'll get over it I suppose. Maybe not.  Look at the chaos.

 

Then I did what I do most day's when faced with something this heinous and frightening. I made Molten Chocolate cake with real whipped cream. Then I ate it. It was undisputably and totally the right thing to do. *Burp*

 

After the cake, I put my big girl panties on and proceeded onward.  29 hours and 93 minutes later I had this. Is proceeded a word? I didn't think so.

 

Sweet baby Jesus!

I spent the next 24 hours sorting stuff and loading it up. Almost did not make it out breathing. Oh and those beautiful black storage boxes hold a multitude of sins. And no one can see them. It's inspiring, really it is.

 

Lots of room to  spare. As Martha would say "It's a good thing" Now homeschool does not seems so life sucking. Actually I think it is just the stuff that was lifesucking. Organization is a beautiful thing. It is. Do it. Go for it. It's a must. Oh, so is the Molten Chocolate cake. You can find it here. www.tastykitchen.com You will never regret it. I promise.

Over and out.

Until the next goofy story, go get organized! I'll set you free. Promise.

he Sideline Mom.

 

Wanna get away?

My little Mo. He's a different bird. Marches to the beat of a different drum. Always has. Just the way he rolls. Despite the fact that he has a spectacular bedroom with numerous nifty toys, bookshelfs full of books and a comfy cool set of bunk bed he has decided that he does not want to exhist there for now. He has decided that it would be much more fun to destroy his mothers living room and make a fort for shelter from the elements. Or from his brother, I'm not sure which. But he has most certainly devoured this room with his creative appetite . See? (his dad also helped)

   

Quite an elaborate set up I might add.

 

It consists of every couch cushion I own plus the couple from the oversized chair. Two ottoman's for extra support and it sports a tricky sleeping bag roof. With a few throw pillows "thrown" in for good measure.

 

Oh and one very happy boy resides there. Now he is not so very bored while awaiting our homeschool curriculum to arrive for this year.

 

He is camped out. Even has reading material and a lantern. (and a few baseball caps-gotta have those) Smart boy. Yesterday he even recieved (in his fort mailbox) a letter from the chick who is his teacher for this year. She sound like a really cool lady. I think he is going to like her. I may even like her too.

Actually I've been invited in a time or two. You should see the way in which my body must contort to get in the place. Ummm.. actually...on second thought...no you shouldn't. It would ruin your day, or your appetite. Possibly both.

 

Really I'm just glad the child is entertained. I can only be a one-woman Disney Land for so long man.

 

Then I must morph into a teacher. Perhaps that's why I'm up to two glasses of wine in the evenings. I kid. (or not)

Just keepin it real.

Love and giggles,

 The Sideline Mum

"I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn." -Albert Einstein

"I have never let school intervere with my education." -Mark Twain

"School is a building, education is where you are."

"Education is not sitting in a school house. Education is learning and that can be done anytime and anywhere - as long as the mind is willing." - Mentor Graham Abraham Lincon's teacher 

 

 

To much work and no camera to take pics of it makes Sideline Mom a boring girl.

So my camera is in New Jersey. At the Canon factory. Getting cleaned and repaired. (I hope) Yep, it's true.  I hate it. Being in this particular pinch make's me feel a little like a fish without water, a flower without sun, the child without the mother, the goth teenager without they're black eyeliner. I'll stop there before it all goes you know where in a hand basket. But you get my drift. It's plain horrible being without a camera when you... well... take pictures nearly everyday of your life. But, due to the fact that I do take picture's nearly everday of my life I have plenty just hanging around for times just like these. Times when I am completely and utterly camera-less. It that a word? Camera-less?

Onward. While on our spur of the moment day trip to the Highlands of North Carolina a few weekends ago we passed this beauty of a place. The Highlands Country Club.

 

It's just plain gorgeous. It is. While driving past it's not unlikely to involuntairly slam on your breaks in order to gaze upon it's lovelyness in silent awe for a few extra moments. Your foot just hits the pedal. Can't help it much.

 It's also dangerous. And none of this is helped by the fact that you are rapidly climbing to the  top of a 4,118 foot mountain, on a very curvy two lane road. Scared the dickens out of me. And I don't even know what a dickens is. But it was scary and beautiful all at the same time. Kinda like a vampire. But that's another story for another time. Makes you just want to stop and drool. You just do. Maybe not the drool part.

  

But, stop and drool we did. My sister Jen who was so kindly driving us this particular afternoon pulled over on the side of the road so that I could jump out and get these shots. She's a darling like that.

 

I had to stand on the side of the busy, steep, car laden two lane road to get decent photos, but it was worth it. A car or five nearly clipped me while I stood there fearlessy snapping away. But that's just the way I roll. I like to live on the edge from time to time. Not really.

    

This place is beloved. You could just feel it.  It draws people in. And although I did not have time to inquire about it's history I am sure it has a intersting one. The most distinct quality I noticed was the tranquility. It was so very peaceful.

  

Even the swans floating on the serene water seemed oblivious to the mayheim of the deadly busy road I was shooting from.

 

They had no clue a crazy picture taking chick from Nashville was risking life and limb to capture they're essence. No idea whatsoever. But the park ranger did.  He watched me the whole time. He slowly pulled up beside us just after he watched me sprint across the dangerous backtop and hop back in the car. I felt like a kid who had just found her Christmas presents in the closet a week too early. 

 

His disgruntled look conveyed to us that what we had just done was ... um... not necessary. He said "Ladies you are more than welcome to pull in right over there at the club parking lot to get out and take pictures. Where all those other people are taking pictures. It's also much safer. " 

 

Ooops. We did not see the lot or all those people snapping pics like I was. We drove over anyway just to show our thanks for his kind words of advice. I even snapped a few more shots from the car to show my appreciation. But if truth be told, my shots would not have been near as good without the risk involved. Sometimes you just have to throw in a little danger for good measure. It makes for a much better story.

  

Kinda.

 

Over and out.

Be safe.

The SLM

Highlands, North Carolina. (one of the prettiest places on earth - I promise).

This past weekend the boys and I headed up yonder to Georgia to see my sister Jenni and professional chef brother in law Jason for the weekend.  It's always a fun time and the boys love they're Aunt Jenni and Uncle Jason. Really love them. One of the main reason's being that Jenni and Jason are WAY cooler than they're Dad and I. That's just the way it is. But that's another story for another time. Anyway, sometime during Jenni and I's convo about what to do with ourselves for the weekend she suggested the Highlands.  A really cool (literally- it does not get much above 75 to 80 in the summer with elevation at 4,118 feet above sea level), North Carolina www.highlandschamber.org town just across the GA. border. I said "Let's go for it"! She said "ok"!

We hit the road.          

 

She drove.

Mo danced to Justin Timberlake. (Sonja was thankful to God that it wasn't JoeBros or Miley-I'm just plain tired of it people)

 

Austin...well .. I'm not sure what he was doing. He is back there somewhere. Hiding apparently. I myself, well.... I took picture's as usual. It's my thaaang.

 

We drove about an hour and a half to get there. This is what started to appear. Gorgeous waterfall's dotted the mountainside landscape  as we made our way to the top. (this one is a bit difficult to see) 

  

Then we hit town. We started to see amazing things like this.

 

And this.

 

And THIS! I will be staying here next time I visit. I must!

 

Then we decided to get something to eat. We were starved. We ate at a place called Wild Thyme. And it was a wild time. I got my pic taken with my boys. I never do this. I don't know why. Wait... I'm always taking pics of them that's why! Whoo hoo. It was great. I like to try different things. Ya know, living on the edge every once in awhile.

 

Then one cute shot with Mo and his Aunt Jenni. Austin was MIA. Not sure where. Aren't they cute?!!!

 

Then we got ice cream cones and walked the ridiculously gorgeous town. Well I did not get ice cream, cause I did not need ice cream and plus who would take the pictures? Can't take picture's with ice cream in your hand, right? There's a weight loss tip for ya. Buy a camera! Sorry. I am such and enabler. Oh and if I'm being honest, I bought pralines instead. So much for the weight loss tip. ha!

 

 Here's a REAL weight loss tip. HIKE! Just do it people. We did. See?

 

We hiked long and hard. Mo had a blast. He embraces life at every turn. It's the way he roll's.

 

It was steep at times. And "Miss Olympian leader" up there was sprinting I believe. I was also hauling a camera backpack. A heavy camera backpack. Those praline calories didn't stand a chance I tell ya.

 

At when we reached the top, (now at 4,543 feet above sea level) this is the view we found ourselves gazing upon.

 

Mountain's as far as the eye can see. BEE-U-TI-FUL! We had a summer shower pass over so we got rained on a bit. There were several bunches of heavy clouds overhead, but it just added to the beauty of it all if you ask me.

 

Morgan could NOT have been any happier. Not one bit.

 

We all were happy. It was one spectacular trip.

 

Thanks Jen, you really know how to show your peeps a good time. We love ya! SMOOCH!

 

Until next time.(and next time I'll show you another unbelievable Highland attraction-you will be amazed)

The Sideline Mom.

I love my life that's why I celebrate it!