SlutWalks

SlutWalks.

Have you heard of them? If not, go here and here and here for a differing opinion. They basically are the new feminist movement protesting the idea that what a women wears has a direct effect on sexual assaults or rapes. You know the "she asked for it, did you see what she was wearing?!" concept.

These walks were born after a Toronto Police Officer lectured to a University that if women wanted to avoid rape, they shouldn't dress like "sluts". (Poor word choice buddy, major fail.) This angered some of the students who then organized a walk hoping to gather some people to voice their anger, bring to light of said statement and to keep the blame of such attacks on the ATTACKER not the victim. It seems to have worked, some 3,000 people turned out to rally against such thinking. (The Officer has since apologized, how nice of him.)

The term "SlutWalk" was chosen because it's so controversial. Some show up wearing lingerie, some wear sweatpants. People come ready to march, often with a variety of the message "I'm a slut" on their clothing in one way or another. Painted on bodies or signs. It's in your face that's for sure.

People have been arguing back "you wouldn't walk around the ghetto waving around a wad of cash and expect not to get robbed would you?" Umm what? Do people really think that is the same thing. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This is America.  In my opinion, that is apples to oranges.
When I first heard of these, I thought WTF is wrong with people! Who would openly call themselves a slut? Then I kept reading. I found that I agreed with the idea they were protesting. I personally don't dress "slutty" or do I? Who decides? I don't agree with the thought that what I wear, maybe considered in invitation for sexual violence. I don't care if someone is falling over drunk with their woo ha showing, no is still no. I would be pissed if a friend of mine or loved one was a victim of sexual violence. I would be even more pissed if someone said they deserved it because they were wearing a dress or short skirt.  Every women wants to feel beautiful right?  It just comes down to how short your dress is now apparently - according to some people. Coo-coo. Coo-coo. The fact that victims would even have to defend themselves in such cases is just sad.

Does this accusation happen in every case? I sure hope not. I however, do not know the statistics. I just know even if it happened once, that's one time too many. Could they have come up with a different name for this movement? Probably but then it wouldn't get this much attention.

I'm over here whipping off my bra, throwing it in the burning trash can. How's that for a visual? So come October 1, Minneapolis will be having it's very own SlutWalk. Will I be there? Not sure - I can't find any details on the internet, is this some underground stuff or what??. However, I give props to the people standing up for what they believe in. That's what makes this country so great right? It's our right to stand up for what we believe in - no matter how crazy we make ourselves look.

So have you all heard of this? What do you think? Sorry if I offended anyone, that was not my intention. I just really thought this was a very interesting topic and a lot of people had not heard of it.

"Well behaved women rarely make history" - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Hair - woes me.

Ok. I'm officially in a hair rut. 

Blah freaking blah.

I have my next appointment in 2 weeks. So I have time to decide. I just can't decide what I want to do. Cut it short or not. It's just hair. It will grow. Why is this so hard?

The last time I chopped my hair, I wanted to hide out until it grew 4 inches. Plus, it's a million degrees outside and my hair is thick which equals un-com-fort-able. Then again, I can put it all up now. With short hair - you can't really. Plus does short hair make you look fatter? I feel like it does. That's the LAST thing I need.

Do I just need to do something different with the color? I don't know. I would love to have just all one color. Should I go darker now? I usually do low lights and high lights I don't know. I just want to love it. Whatever "it" is.

Just dreading that first question from my stylist... "so what are we doing today?"

What do you think? Bueller?

{Shorter hair}

{longer hair}

P.S. I have no idea who that old guy is on the longer hair photo. Apparently, I just wanted a photo with him that night. It was my birthday a few years ago if that helps. Ha, ha!

fill in the blank friday.

Linking up with Lauren!

1. My favorite color is: Black. I know, I know. I need to spruce things up a bit. It's clothes we are talking about right? My other favorite color for everything is blue.

2.  My travel destination of choice is:  Key West, FL!!

3.  My favorite food is:  Cheese! Throw in some Chardonnay and it's heaven.

4.  My happy place is:  the Cabin or our House. I'm not picky...

5.  My favorite saying is:  "I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." - Marilyn Monroe

6. My dirty little secret is:  I only wash my hair every 2-3 days. Don't you worry. I still shower daily. I'm not totally disgusting.

7.  Something friends might say about me is that I:  may have a problem with rearranging my furniture at home. I always "have an idea" my Husband starts sweating whenever he hears those words from me. Ha, ha! I like to keep things different.

Ok, I know that was 2 posts today. I'm done, I promise! Have a good weekend!

Another Birthday Weekend.

TGIF dearies!

This weekend is going to be another blur. So. Much. To. Do. After work we are heading up to the lake. Still have to pack and make 3 shirts real fast. Our house will pretty much be crazy town tonight while we are packing, chasing dogs, feeding 1 kid quick like, then I'm sure the headphones for the DVD player will be out of batteries so that will be a slight emergency. My poor husband just gets bag after bag thrown at him. We'll get there, open a bottle of wine and then start unpacking everyone just in time to have a bonfire and put the kids to bed. Whew. Oh yeah, feed the other kids too. Can't forget to do that. Ha, like that would happen.

Saturday's Agenda

Big news is Ella turns 7!!! I can't believe it. She is still my sweet girl so I will cling on to that for now. We can't wait for her to open her gifts from us. We got her an American Girl doll, Kanani. She will be so excited!! We also got her some golf clubs. She will love those too! Grandma has a cake ready to go for her big day, part 1.

Here's the birthday girl!

Here she is one year ago.

Saturday is also Ryan (Bro-In-Law) and Angie's going away party up at the cabin. Angie was accepted into Duke for Graduate school. She'll be working on her PhD in Molecular Cancer Biology (this girl is a smartie, working on saving our ta-ta's) over in North Carolina. So far! She leaves in 2 weeks already. Ryan is following her out there in November so we at least have him for a few more months. They are about to begin their next chapter together and we couldn't be more sad and excited at the same time. The bright side is we have another warm destination to visit in the winters.

Here's Rangie, in a fountain: 

Their couple name is "Rangie" if you remember my previous post, which you probably don't so if you are that bored and want to read it, go here. So to lighten the mood at the party on Saturday (there will be a lot of tears) we picked up some blue t-shirts (Duke blue) and iron on letters to spell out "RANGIE" on the shirts for our 3 lovely kids to wear to the party. I can't wait to see their faces when the kids come running out of the cabin - well 2 of the kids can run. The other will be carried out - details.... I'll get photos to document, don't you worry.

I also plan to get some quality lake time in. If there's a will, there's a way. Plus we just got 2 new tubes, so I'm sure the girls will want to try those out.

Sunday's Agenda

Up and at 'em early. We will have to leave the cabin by 11 am to get back for part 2 of Ella's Birthday celebration. We are going Roller Skating! Well, I'll be playing the roll of paparazzi from the sidelines but she'll be rocking out with her friends. Just picked up her pink sequin shirt/dress last night. So cute and it will sparkle under those disco balls so perfectly!

So sit in the car for 2 hours, driving back from the lake. Drop off dogs, empty car so we can transport cake and gifts.Wait, we'll have to pick up the cake too, on the way to the party. Maybe we should leave the cabin at 10:30am. Hmmm.

Party for a few hours then back home to collapse on the couch hopefully. The nice thing about these parties is we don't have to do a thing. They cook, they set up, they serve, they clean. We just show up, have a good time and leave. Sounds like plan Stan.

End the weekend on the couch in the arms of the man I love. Possibly with a glass of wine watching the last 3 episodes of Big Brother that we have missed. A girl can dream. One more weekend of Birthday parties and we are good until March. Amen.

Nails

In other news, I painted my nails last night. Tried out that whole new nail trend. I need like 10 more coats of the glitter to make it really bling but I always seem to decide to paint my nails after 11pm. No sheet marks this time = success!

I love Dwight by the way. Yes, I took a photo of myself, in my cube at work. Just for you all. I hope you laughed, I did!

Ignore the man hands (my phone was super close) and double chin (no excuse).

Photography Challenge - Week 1

{Week 1:  Self Portrait}

I did this one last night. I had my hair all up in a the messy pony and then I started "getting ready".  My husband gave me a strange look as I threw on my pearl necklace (we were done eating and it was basically wind down time) so I explained "The Challenge" I would be participating in. I waited until he left to go pick up kids then basically stood at our front door and started snapping. My 1 year old was sitting on the floor right by me just staring. I bet he was shocked because usually, I have that camera in his face. What was Mommy doing? Ha, ha! 

I did try and get a few pictures outside because I thought the light would be much better but they were not turning out and the neighbors came outside to water plants so I ran inside. Ha, ha!

I have a Sony DSLR but I do not have a tripod or remote, so it was the extended arm self photography I guess. It took a few tries but I eventually got one that didn't give me 17 chins. 

I think I may have over-edited this one though. Live and learn right?!

Family fun.

On Sunday, we had my Husband's Company Picnic. We were all exhausted from the party the day before but we have things to do, people to see.

The heat and humidity gave way a bit so it was actually (dare I say) comfortable outside for once. We walked up to the shelter area where the food and drink was and saw it. The pig. It was also a pig roast apparently. Now, no big deal right? Well, the girls were so disgusted/shocked/intrigued. Ella felt bad for Little Wilbur and Taylor sent her friends photos, she couldn't wait to send it to her vegetarian friend - whom by the way screamed when she got the picture. Girls can be so dramatic.

We all ate. Turns out the pig didn't do any damage to my girls - whew!

Then it was time for my Hubs to get in the dunk tank. That was pretty funny. It was in the name of charity. Good karma for all!

They also had potato sack races for the kids. Ella did great. She almost won - almost. It was pretty funny to watch, the slight decline in the grass provided for some unexpected spills for some kiddies.  No injuries = complete success. She walked away $10 richer in the form of a Target Gift card too. I never had prizes like that when I did any "races". These kids don't know just how well they have it. I would win a spider ring or jacks or something lame like that. Ha, ha!

Here are some of my favorites from the day, labeled for easy explanation. Which turns out doesn't matter because I can't figure out how to line them up side by side. So just ignore those letters in the lower left. Thanks.

{Justin in the dunk tank, Ella throwing.}

{Taylor, Jack, Justin hanging out taking pretty pictures for yours truly.}

{Jack with Daddy - Jack's in another cute guess how old I am shirt.}

{The potato sack races. Ella's in the middle, blue tank top.}

{All kids were given a medal because - we are all winner's.}

{Jack watching all the madness that was the potato sack races.}

{Precious.}

{I think she thought that if she didn't make eye contact, I wouldn't take the picture...}

Crafty Mother.

 (This is happy crafty Mother. May or may not have been 4 years ago, meh. Details.)

I was blog browsing yesterday and came across a super cute little blog that I fell in love with! Laura Beth over at A Step in the Journey, was kind enough to tell me what machine she has the cuts out those letters oh so perfectly in her recent postings.

What did I do? I immediately Google "Silhouette SD" and fell in love. Check out all the things you can do with this thing here.  Amazing. I will be one crafty mother, pun intended.

First hurdle, convince the Husband that I NEED this. Check.

(Really wasn't too hard considering all the money I spend over at etsy. Now I can make my OWN stuff. I am so freaking excited about this. I even mentioned how I will need a craft room. Ha, that won't happen but a girl can dream.)

Personalized tattoos anyone?  Our birthday parties will never be the same. If only I could have found this gem of a blog weeks ago. Dang.

Guess who will start on Christmas presents early this year. This girl.

Etched wine glasses anyone? Shhhhh. This is my gift idea this year.

While I head home to think of other things I create, I will leave you all with a question I just overheard a co-worker ask another co-worker.

"How do you spell sausage?"  - Old co-worker to older-ish co-worker.

Good day.