We’re out in the country this week and are loving every second of just being together in the outdoors.  When I was  a child my favorite childhood memory was going to my Aunt’s house.  She lived in an area where everyone had horses and horse barns.  Coming from a neighborhood on quarter acre lots this was a big deal for me as a child. 

I remember marveling at all the space we had to run around and be (loud) kids.  We rode horses, played hide-and-seek in the orange groves, and stayed outside from morning until it was too dark to see.  Watching my children enjoy the freedom of exploration and nature warms my heart and makes me remember the times I was at my Aunt’s house. 

I hope my kids look back on these days with as much fondness.  You can follow our adventures this week on my Instagram feed.

Links

This week I gave a tour of our home on Design Mom’s Living with Kids series.  Although I was initially nervous, I really thought it was an honor to be on it because I truly love the series.  Gabrielle goes out of her way to ensure that the series is very diverse. Not only can you see homes in other parts of the United States, but also other parts of the world. I love that!  Our house was not without a tad bit of controversy, as you will see in the comments, but the overall vibe was one of support and appreciation for participating. If you’re a reader from Design Mom, I thank-you for stopping by and welcome you!

So much is being said about the Abercrombie and Fitch CEO’s views and his ‘target market’.  I don’t personally shop there, but my thought is that there are a lot of other clothing stores in the world.   I believe entrepreneurs should be free to market their goods or services to whomever they wish, as long as it’s not against the law.  What do you think?

Encouragement for Mothers on Mother’s Day

True story.

I almost forgot this weekend was Mother’s Day.  

My gift to you this Mother’s Day is encouragement.  Especially if you’re battling infertility.

The Call to Motherhood—even for the childless {My Archived Posts}

Why you’re never failing as a mother {Huffington Post}

Mother’s Day: It’s complicated {My archived posts}

 Happy Mother’s Day!

It’s raining in South Florida—a lot.  Pools are overflowing.  I realize this is South Florida Problems, or as my neighbor calls it, ‘Champagne Problems’.  Normally I like the rain, it makes me want to snuggle up and read a book, or organize something.  But, not this week. I have too much to do.  In case I’m the only homeschool Mother you know, May is our CRAZY month. We go crazy and want to turn the school day into a 12 hour affair to fit in the last of what we had planned before the annual homeschool conventions begin.  So to  pass the time (and get in some Home Ec) I’ve been cooking with my kids. 

Online Discoveries:

Closet Visit is an opportunity to look into the closets of some fashionable and diverse women.  What’s not to love about that?

My favorite new Instagram feed is:  UP Close & Stylish.  I don’t care who this anonymous person really is, who she is married to, if she used a professional photographer or whether or not she edits the photos herself on her iPhone 5 (she says she does). I just like looking at the fashion…and pretending I looked like that every day.

Have you liked the Trophy Mom Diaries Facebook page yet?

I post daily finds, questions, and inspiration on there. It’s a great way connect with the other members of the Trophy Mom Diaries community.

This week I posted an interesting article about a man who gave up the internet for a year.  Could you go a year without the internet?

Do you know what the most overused word in the English language is? What word do you most overuse?

Here is the recipe for the Fish Baked in Salt (shown above) only we used Branzino and I doubled the salt mixture.

Have a great weekend!

This week we went to Orlando to be with the Road Warrior on a business trip.  I like coming to Orlando because I grew up here and it’s a fun place for kids.  But I always feel like a tourist because nothing looks the same to me and I use navigation to get everywhere.  The Road Warrior usually kids me about that but I’m choosing to embrace it.  It’s fun to a be a tourist in your own town  (or state) sometimes.

My new friend Ruth joined me with her gorgeous and sweet girls and we had a great time at Universal Studios.  Ruth is that friend you bring when your boys want to go on  rides that make you pray for your life, and allows you  save face and  stay behind to  mind the younger children.  She is also that friend you bring for laughter, conversation and a good time.  I’m grateful I made a new Mommy friend and I’m grateful that she encourages and challenges me.

Weekend Reading

As a Mom of 3 girls I don’t know how I managed to just ‘discover’ Cute Girls Hairstyles but I’m now addicted.  The tutorials are inspiring.

It’s been a trying time for our family lately and Why God loves us was the balm I needed to soothe my wounded soul. It’s quick and simple, just like the love of Christ.

Do you remember when everyone was posting they were number 444,980 on the list for the Mailbox?  Well, I’m happy to report there is no list anymore. For those of us who didn’t know what the heck everyone was talking about, now we can just download the Mailbox App and see for ourselves.

Are you following my Instagram Stream? I posted pics from our latest business trip.  This is my version of Business Casual.

I just returned from a 7-day Mommy Sabbatical.  I missed the kids and they had an opportunity to miss me. Now we’re all heading off with the Road Warrior for a week on a business trip with him. I can’t wait to tell you  more about my Sabbatical and why I think every Mother needs to go on one.  That’s next week on the blog!

My Public Service Announcement

It wasn’t too long ago that I warned a friend that settings on her iPhone may cause her pictures to be embedded with the exact coordinates of where she was taking her pictures—-her home address!  Since then I’ve realize how social media has caused many of us (myself included) to lose our ever loving minds in regards to common sense regarding our safety.  Let’s not forget it was yours truly who live tweeted and Instagrammed the name of the resort I was staying at, ALONE, while out of the country.  My friend Jenn had a disturbing experience that she shares in her post, Social Media in real life, that as the sister of a Sheriff I shouldn’t have been shocked by.  Can we all just make a pact that it’s okay (maybe even best) to share our whereabouts on the internet, AFTER the fact?

Weekend Reading:

This week we heard the tragic news that Kay and Rick Warren’s son had lost his battle with mental illness and had tragically taken his own life.  I think this post says it best: The comfort and Cruelty of Speculating on Suicide {Rage Against the Mini Van}

Do you like house Tours, too? The Living with Kids series {Design Mom} is one of my favorites and recently she featured Laura Tremaine’s home {Hollywood Housewife}.  Somehow, whenever I see where and how someone lives, I feel I understand them more. It’s such a gift to be invited to someone’s home.

 On Trophy Mom Diaries Facebook Page

I shared an awesome video clip showcasing how the Singer Michael Buble’ handled an ‘interruption’ during one of his concerts.  What happens later will both surprise and thrill you.  Tell the truth, could you have done what that Mom did?  I honestly don’t think I would have had it in me. Props to the her for not running back to her seat after Michael called her “Crazy Lady”

Have you seen the new Playtex ads for their feminine wipes?   Many are speaking out about them.  What’s your take?  Are they clever or did they go to far? We’ve been ‘discussing’ it on the Trophy Mom Diary Facebook Page.

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I’m heading off this morning on another Mini Sabbatical.  Each year the sweet Road Warrior sends me away alone for a 7-10 days for a little Rest, Relaxation, Reading and Soul Searching.  I cannot tell you how much I look forward to this each year and one of things I will be pondering this mini sabbatical is how to do it more often and how to incorporate stillness in my everyday life at home.  Do you have any suggestions? I’m all ears.

Weekend Links

If you click on no other links but this one, you MUST read Comparisons will kick you in the teeth and hijack your dreams every time. {Lisa Jo Baker}

In keeping with my struggles with all things meal planning and grocery shopping I offer you: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Grocery Shoppers {Bon Appetit}

When I get back I want to make these Paper Tulips with my girls {Crafty Crow} and I just may put them in these Dollar Store Spring Ombre Vases  {Living Well Spending Less} or as I like to call them, recycled vases from the florist—and you thought I couldn’t be frugal!

For Moms with daughters:

Raising daughters in a world that devalues them: 7 Things we must tell them

Pinterest Boards to Follow

My latest boards are:

Ranch Style

Ranch Entertaining, and Pirate Party

I have a few surprises up my sleeve in May…stay tuned.