The 411 On Body Wraps

I got a Groupon for 8,000% off a body wrap. Seemed like a grand idea, and ahem, it's indeed bathing suit season!

I went in pretty blind, as I had no clue what was about to unfold. It wasn't the pool of mud with candles lit around the tub like I thought (and I hoped it would be). It was these large sheets of rubber that wrap around the body and give off inferred heat making you sweat like a June bride on a feather bed. Let's just say that was one of the more unpleasant 60 minutes I've endured since the History of Colonial American Portraiture course I took in college.


1. It was confining

2. It got VERY hot

3. They gave me bottled water to drink, I downed it in 30 seconds. The second bottle they brought, they put it out of my reach by mistake (i hope they're not that cruel). That was pretty frustrating, like having a can of food on a camping trip but no can opener.

4. They played a movie for me, it was so bad, but I was a captive audience and had to sit there staring at it. Ashley is a never-napper.

5. It got HOTTER - so hot that I began to get nervous, it didn't seem normal and I felt like passing out.

6. When it was over and I started to leave, I saw white, then fell down. I don't think I passed out, but it was embarrassing.

7. I learned that I'd rather take a DUI course on a Saturday with a hangover than sit through another body wrap session.

A Note for Bacon Street

I said what I needed to say, this train is moving on. Clearly there are better and more important things that deserve our focus.

Cheers,
Ashley

USPS Brings More Birthday Treats

Yesterday, Salem got a few things in the mail in the form of birthday wishes and gifts.

1. Auntie Stephanie got her a new earring holder to hang on her wall adorned with all kinds of new earrings to wear! This was a BIG hit.

2. Nana Suzanne sent her a box filled to the top with teddy bears. After we counted them all, Salem announced, "There's seven bears here! Just like how old I am!"

3. Sayre, my adorable niece sent her a hand-drawn birthday card with a heart-shaped little girl face on the cover. It's too cute. When Salem opened it, she said, "Mom! Wow, Sayre is a really good artist!"

Yeah, so you can see my hack-job on Salem's bangs in the photo above. I don't know why trimming her hair proves to be such a challenge for me. I've been told when I cut her hair, she ends up looking like Mamie Eisenhower. (Minus the hatchet face)

Birthday Chompers

Salem talks about her birthday and surprises me with something unexpected.

Happy Birthday To My Lovely Lady

Salem's Floridian Odyssey is coming to a close this weekend. I am driving my happy bum down to see her today after work. (tick-tock, come on 12:00!) She has been gone for nearly 2 weeks, and I'm dying to get down there, scoop her up, squeeze and kiss on her little face until she can't stand it any longer.

My father has a last hurrah for her planned in the form of a magician themed birthday party. She turns seven tomorrow. Yep, you read that, seven years old.

Our lives have drastically changed in the past 7 years, we've lived and grown, learning lessons and developing our unbelievable bond. The years seem like they have gone by within two shakes of a lamb's tail. But enough time has passed, so much so, that it's hard to remember not having her in my life.

She starts at a new school next month, entering second grade. She has been practicing her math and reading this summer, I've been impressed with her comprehension and huge amount of progress she's made in her studies. No more threats of hobo camp are needed around here!  Thankfully, as that would be one heck of an elaborate set design.

This year, she has climbed mountains, been on a photo shoot, surfed on cardboard, witnessed the great Atlanta Polar Ice Cap, has started looking more and more like her mommy, became a kitchen beautician, developed a taste for the stage, survived the 1st grade, developed a recipe for creating a unicorn, got her ears pierced, and has quantified for us how her Salem-Brain operates.

Happy birthday to my wonderfully creative and charming lil' lady. The feelings for you in my heart have transcended within these seven years. I have arrived at a loss of words for how important you are to me, as they far surpass and completely dwarf the term love.

Cotton, the company dog and I created a happy birthday video for you too....

Camp Pensacola 2011

Salem is loving her trip to Florida this year! She went deep sea fishing with her dad, and had a blast. He said to her, "Now that's 5 hours of fishing, kid." She responded with, "No dad, that was 5 hours of AWESOME!"

 She's now visiting Poppie and Mamae (my dad and his wife) and having a great time sailing, beaching, going to parties, and visiting Barbara's mom. Salem calls her Grammy, just like what I call my grandmother. I think when she was younger, there was confusion and she thought Barb's mom WAS my Grammy. But - does it matter? Nah, a Grammy is a Grammy to any kid I suppose and we love both our Grammies!

Out to Lunch

Dear Summer Vacation,
Salem has embarked on a 2 week Floridian odyssey while I labor away at my regular employment schedule. What? Me? Jealous of my daughter's lengthy vacation? Naaaah.

She's with her father for the duration of this week, then it's off to her Poppie and Mamae's for another week. My father and his wife are ecstatic for her visit, it's just a little hard for me wrap my brain around such a lengthy time for her to be away.

I spoke to her today at length so she could regale me with stories of deep sea fishing excursions, how she's been enjoying the sandy beaches, dining on fresh bounty from the ocean, and her poolside antics. In comparison, I've been updating websites, working on freelance design projects during the 4th of July holiday celebration, and have been in a general mood of despondency.

Two weeks is a long time.

Loss Toof

When I picked the kiddo up from camp yesterday she came racing toward me with her jaw jutted forward to show me that she had lost her first tooth! She was sooo happy as she has been waiting for this moment for quite some time. She's two weeks out from being a seven year old and she's behind her peers in the tooth loss department and growing a bit of a complex about it.

She informed me about the tooth loss in a matter-of-fact manner:
"Well mom, it didn't hurt that much and I didn't cry. There was quite a bit of blood, actually it was a big ol' mess, but it was OK. Then, the counselor made me rinse my mouth with salt water, that was HORRIBLE. I didn't complain though."

Me: "I'm proud of you for handing this so well!"
Her: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that the tooth fairy will bring me $10.00 for this one. It was a doozie."
Me: "Uh, I think that award is a bit steep for the tooth fairy! When I was a kid, all I got was a silver dollar!"

I posted the photo below on FB and ended up getting feedback that turned into quite a funny conversation:

Salem Lost her first tooth! 6/30/11