Showin' the luuuv.

Here's what I woke up to on Valentines day morning:  
 
There were cards...

And homemade paper flowers in a paper wrapped vase....

Oh yes, and homemade wrapping paper around my present....which was a hands free phone cord for my latest celly.  You can picture that part yourself.

That evening, we went to dinner in a neighboring town and had some delicious Mexi food together. (I don't take pics of EVERY meal we eat so imagine 4 hogs(one with a red wig)at a trough for this part, because that's a pretty accurate mental image. 

All together it was quite a delightful day. 

On Sunday it was my turn to show my Valentine a less greedy side of myself (which would be my right, no doubt, because I'm a lefty).  So, with the help of my darling friend Jenna, who offered to keep the chaps-sweet thang that she is- I took my fellow to see his other true love....

SUSHI!!!!  EEEEEEEK!!!  I don't even eat COOKED fish(gagging sounds)!!!!!!!!!!!

But since he made me those pretty flowers, I turned off the flop sweat and tried a vegetable sushi roll with soy paper wrapping and something called "crunch" on the outside.  Let me tell you right now non suchi eaters, this stuff was absolutely delicious!!  I might even be able to crave it from time to time and join the sushi revolution currently in progress. If I could just master those chopsticks a bit more...

After making the waitress take our picture, we finished the evening at the nearby bookstore with coffee and zero children in tow.  Pure relaxation.

So, there's a story that only family and hopeless romantics can appreciate.  Girl feels loved.  Girl attempts sacrifice for love.  Girl avoids seafood disaster.  Girl goes to Barnes and Noble with her love.  Girl realizes she has made no sacrifice at all-typical.  Girl loves boy....still.

I hope your weekend was just as satisfying. 

Last night at Tabbitha's house

This broke out.  Freestyle jammin' with Tabs, David and Jamey.  Take a peek. We had such fun I actually suggested meeting at our house next time.  With the kind of social activity I've had lately, I don't know how I'm going to keep up my hermit act much longer! It's really gonna be touch and go.

When you take the eighties very seriously.....

you end up with extremely tall hair and lots of attitude!  Man I loved those faux leather snakeskin shoes! Can you believe some people at my conservative Christian college were actually afraid of me? It must have been my mauve awesomeness that intimidated them. 

What were you donning or doing in 1988?  

Or we could each just order one of these

I can't wait to get my puzzle pieces!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Hey! You're here! I like that about you!

I found this little film over at Jason's blog and I just had to snatch and patch it over here to share it with my readers. I'm excited about this mini movie because it summarizes one of my major life philosophies so well. I try to remind myself that we would all be so much better off if we were more affirming of each other on a daily basis. It's a Stewart Smalley thing but with the mirror sort of angled out so the compliment is reflected to others instead. "You're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggoneit people like youuuuuuu!"

What I've always just thought of as "encouragement" is really better termed in this film as "validation". Whatever the case, I decided long ago that if I have any sort of talent or special gift at all, it must be the talent of pointing out other peoples talents! YESS!! (Aside from the obvious talent of using the word "talent" multiple times in a sentence, of course.)

Giving encouragement or validation is such an easy thing to do and it certainly can improve a persons mood if done with kindness and sincerity. So, I'm once again challenged to use this... (dare I say talent again so soon? Ah well if you've got it flaunt it right?)TALENT to point out the good in people around me!

I want to be a highlighter pen in this world, not a red one, circling peoples mistakes and making nasty comments in the margins!

And now, as Jason did, I'll ask you to watch this clever film about validation.  It is a little on the long side, but I think if you take the time you'll also be inspired to focus on the good in people and see just how much of an impact a few kind words can have. 

 

Now, let's get out there and make some smiles happen people!  Who's with me?!! Gimme an S!!!...