Dear So and So …

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Dear Kat,

Thanks for hosting this weekly meme.  Sorry it’s taken me so long to haul my happy ass over here, but better late than never here I be and I’m ready to PARTAY!

Your favourite fellow blogger,

Karen 

Whaddya mean who?  Karen.  It’s me, Ka-ren.  Ye know, from If I Could Escape.  Your favourite blog?   Yeah? *coughs*

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Dear Readers,

This is my first attempt over here at “Dear So and So,” so be nice.  Well, ain’t that a whole lot of so’s in one sentence.  Anyway, be nice.  Oh and have a fab weekend too.

Love,

Me

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Dear Middle-Aged BFF,

Happy birthday!

Your Not So Middle-Aged BFF

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Dear British Gas,

Stop fucking me about and send me my refund otherwise I’ll be forced to fly over there and kick some ass.

Ta,

Starting to become disgruntled ex-customer

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Dear Hot Geek,

Thanks ever so much for all the expert correspondence regarding my wet hard drive issues.  Sadly, it’s still not quite up to scratch and I may need to bring it to you for further analysis.

Sincerely,

Me

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Dear Trombone Playing Tween,

I’m so very proud of you and can’t wait to see you play next week.

Love,

Mummy, yes I know you’re too old to call me that, but I’m the mum and what I say goes

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Dear Chubby, Sweaty, Short Dude,

Please, when I pass your house on my morning walk, I’m not out for conversation, I’m out for fresh air and some exercise.   There’s a reason I have my headphones stuck in my ears.  And, sunglasses on.  I do not wish to be disturbed, so please don’t tell me how blessed you are to still be blessed.  It kinda freaks me out. 

Sincerely,

That Woman With Headphones and Sunglasses

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Dear Mum,

When you asked me what I thought my “type” was and I answered, ”I dunno, maybe a neurotic, funny blonde a bit like me,”  the response, “what, you mean like Big Bird from Sesame Street” was not what I expected.  It did make me laugh, but steady on as there’s only room for one comedian in the family.

Your way funnier than you daughter,

PS If I haven’t told you, thanks for everything.

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Dear Teen,

When will you learn to get yourself up?  I know I like to be up early-ish, but these 5:30 a.m. wake-up calls are killing me.  And interfering with my youthful, goddess like appearance.

Your tired and cranky Mum

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Dear Words with Friends,

You are ever so distracting.  Thanks. I guess.

Wordingly (hmmmm, wonder if that’s a real word I could use), Karen

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Dear Youngest,

Please start eating something other than chicken, fries, spaghetti, crackers, ice cream, Cheerios or cheese.  Good karate chops require a bit more sustenance.

Your worried Mummy

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The Gallery … Home

Home.

What a poignant theme for me this week.

This past year has taught me that I need stability, clutter won’t kill me and that home for me could be anywhere in this beautiful world we live in when you’re with the right person.

And, by the sea …

Falling back in love with Facebook …

So, last week, while my Facebook friends ranted and bitched about the first of the new changes to the social networking site, I bit my tongue and thought to myself, people, put your big girl panties on and get over it. 

It’s not that bad.

But, folk were taking it so seriously.  So, I was all look, this is a stupid first world problem.  How dare you moan when there are real problems in the world like people dying and starving. 

Truth be told, I didn’t really care much as I’ve had this love/hate relationship lately with Facebook.

Some days I love it — it’s great to be able to connect with family and friends.

But, other days I’ve mostly been hating on it and just can’t be bothered with the brain and time drain it can cause.  On those days, I ignore and avoid it.

For a while there, I was ready to delete my account and be done with it, but decided against it … I mean … given my profession I really should be on the up and up with all forms of social media, right?  I’d been hearing thru the grapevine that there were mahoosive changes coming to the social networking website and the geek in me was interested to see exactly what they were.  

Anyway, I’m glad I wasn’t sucked in to the moans and groans of the rest of the world because with Don Draper on their team, I just knew the powers that be would not be outdone by Google+ and would have to have something fab up their sleeve.  

I was not disappointed.

Enter the new Facebook timeline of your life.

 

I was able to get a preview of mine by following the directions here and hey presto … ain’t it purdy?

I was very impressed and couldn’t stop staring at it.

And, playing around with it.

Your wall is suddenly this gorgeous online scrapbook of your life  *whispers* that really appeals to the narcissist in all of us.  You can go back and see old updates, comments, photos and friends all in one shiny, new place.  I spent forever looking over my timeline, and many a time it had me chuckling to myself and exclaiming dayamn, I’m funny.

So, I guess I am falling back in love with Facebook … timewaster that it is.  Lord, help me coz I might not ever get anything done ever again.

Musical Monday …

This week’s Musical Monday is a shout out to my bestie back in the UK who’s having a birthday this week.  The song I’ve picked is one I know she loves and brings back great *insert eyeroll* memories.

She only just kindly reminded me about back when we were aged 12 or so, she’d come over to my house to hang out and we’d sing this song over and over and over and over.  With me trying to keep my little sister out my room and my brothers and their friends from taking the mick.  I guess we were bringing karaoke back before we even knew it needed to be brought back.  And, being the true friend she is, she’d always let me sing Dolly’s bits because…well, I’m a bit of a diva and didn’t want to “be the man.” 

She’d also let me practice putting make-up on her.  I guess this is my chance to apologize to her for that, but I won’t because I think walking through the town looking like a clown was good character building stuff.   I will say thanks ever for letting me use you as a target … I don’t think it really helped me much as I still don’t have a a very good grasp of that skill. 

Good times.

Thanks for being there for me, for helping me laugh and cry through everything and for always “getting me” which I know I don’t make easy, but being that we speak the same language of quirky I know you have no problem. 

I miss you and our ridiculously early morning texts about everything and nothing, our walks, lunches, cups of tea, dancing on tables and late night texts about everything and nothing. 

I miss you.

*sobs*

Happy birfday … enjoy the tune and your day, my friend … it’s Islands in the Stream by Dolly and Kenny. 

Silent Sunday …

A new season …

Yesterday, my youngest son exclaimed, “Mummy, it’s a new season.”

I was playing Connect 4 with him, but kinda tuning him out at the same time … I know, my bad … so I just gave a bog standard reply of “uh huh, that’s great.”

Truth be told, I wasn’t entirely sure what the little man was referring to and as he was kicking my ass at the game, my concentration was on that.

“Did you know that?  Mum?  It’s a nee-you season,” he said again, this time with even more emphasis on the new.

At this point, I figured he was repeating one of the trillion adverts running at the moment informing us all about a new season of this television program or that television program, so I said,”yes, son isn’t it great?”

Because mummy  he loves the music and dancing, I have been known on occasion to let him stay up and watch Glee so I asked him if he was excited about the new season and did he want to watch it with mummy.

He gave me one heck of a puzzled look and said, “no silly mummy. It’s a nee-you season.  Called autumn.”

My eyes widened a little as he continued with, “you know, when all the leaves fall off the trees.”

Penny.

Dropped.

“Oh,” was all I could get out. 

I guess that told me to pay better attention to my smart, beautiful, little boy.  They grow up. 

Way. 

Too. 

 Fast. 

Don’t they?

 So, yeah … happy Fall y’all.

The Gallery … Guilty Pleasures

This week’s theme for the Gallery is guilty pleasures.

Hmmmmmmmmm.

I’m not sure who came up with that idea … *whistles and looks to the sky* … but I really think it’s a good one, don’t you? In fact, it’s better than good, it’s pure genius and whomever thunk it up deserves a great, big round of applause. *cough, cough*

So, back to guilty pleasures.

*ahem*

Where to begin?

I mean, I have so many, self adulation being one. *insert cheesy grin*

Seriously, I think I’m like most folk. Everybody has a guilty pleasure or two hidden in their literal or figurative closet … things that you love, but really shouldn’t and definitely would never ever dream of discussing in public. And, how on earth does one capture them all in a photograph for the Gallery?  The shopping, watching an early morning sunrise, the Crunchies and Jelly Babies, the karaoke, the reality television shows, the chick lit, the pumpkin muffins, Enrique Iglesias and that other thing?

Now, what was it again?

Yes, that’s it … about once a year, the vegetarian in me gets lost … probably at the mall … and I partake in a steak or a beef burger. I can just hear the gasps. Shurrup. Yes, I do. I’m not sure what comes over me. I don’t worry about the calories, nor the damage that all that red meat will do to my system. I let it all go and just nosh.

So this week, I’ve chosen a photo of the last burger I had … it was at the Giraffe restaurant on the lively Southbank overlooking the river Thames in London. Nom, nom, nom …

FYI — I didn’t eat the fries. Just sayin’.

Save the Children #healthworkers

So today, a fellow blogger and pal Chris from Thinly Spread will be attending the United Nations summit in New York along with Save The Children to call upon British PM David Cameron to set an example to the rest of the world.  Sadly, there is a global shortfall of 3.5 million health workers leaving approximately 350 million children that never see a doctor or nurse and one in three women that give birth alone without the assistance of a skilled birth attendant.  So, Save the Children are asking Cameron to do his part to solve this health worker crisis and help save children’s lives in poor countries.

To support the campaign, two other fellow bloggers Helloitsgemma and michelletwinmum have asked bloggers to link up with a 100 word post about their experiences with health care workers.

Here’s mine …

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My entire public relations career has been spent working in the health care industry. It’s not a field I chose per se, I just sort of fell in to it, but I’m thankful I did as it’s allowed me to meet many selfless, health care workers.  For five years I worked for an amazing support program here in Florida that essentially serves pregnant women and their babies regardless of socio-economic status. During my time with the program, I met and worked with nurses who ever day, no matter what, went over and beyond the scope of their position to help and reach out to pregnant women and their children.  These nurses made such a difference in the lives of their patients and I can’t imagine in today’s day and age, that there is a child or pregnant woman on this planet without access to that kind of medical help.

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You can do your part by signing the Save The Children petition and spreading the word about it anywhere you can on the ‘net.  Let’s do this!

Five songs to live your life by … I think

Memes.

Some are good, some are crap and some are just fantabulous.

Am I right?

No offence meant, but some I’m tagged for make me grumble and think “what the what” while others I get and I’m all “hells yeah!”

Well, this “Five Songs to Live Your Life By” made me exclaim the latter.  I was actually tagged for it by Him Up North way back when … and far, far away … over yonder … in another time and place.  What with one thing and another going on in my life and ma heed right now, I’m only just getting round to it now.  And, being ever so slightly indecisive and maybe a tad contrary, I found it very difficult to narrow it down to just five.  I mean, how do you do that?

*sigh*

Anyway, without further ado and in no particular order, here be my five … I think …

1.  Say  by John Mayer

For someone who’s in communications and frankly never really shuts up, I’m not very good at speaking up for myself.  So, this song is a gentle reminder for me to put it all out there and just say what I need to say instead of bottling it up or throwing a paddy.

“You’d better know that in the end
It’s better to say too much
Then never say what you need to say again”

2.  Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

When I hear this song, it makes me feel like I can do … well, just about anything.

“Today is where your book begins”

3.  By Your Side by Sade

This song makes me a bit weepy every time I hear it.  It’s such a beautiful song with simple, heartfelt words that really hit home to me I think because this is how I love.  And, want to be loved.  I have to remember to not expect anything less.

“You think I’d leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I’d leave you down when your down on your knees
I wouldn’t do that”

4.  These Are Days by 10,000 Maniacs

This is a song that I love and definitely live by in that it makes me want to stop and smell the roses, hear my children’s laughter and appreciate all I have.

“And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you
Are touched by something”
That will grow and bloom in you

5.  Material Girl by Madonna

My brothers and their friends used to annoyingly call me the material girl back when I was a scrawny 14-year-old Madonna wannabe.  So, I thought, ye know what … fuck it … I’m putting this song on my list and embracing my inner material girl.  Call me shallow.  I don’t really give a shit.  I like nice things and I’m not ashamed to admit it.  Plus, it’s still a great tune.

“We are living in a material world and I am a material girl!”

There you have it, my five songs to live my life by … I think.

Now, in the spirit of all good memes … because everybody love a good meme and because I’m nosey and would like to see their choices, I’m tagging the following fantabulous bloggers …

Reluctant Housedad

Mum of 4

Cheeky Sweety

And Then All I Thought About Was You

3 Bedroom Bungalow

Rosie Scribble

Luke, I Am Your Father

Goodbye Pert Breasts

… and anyone else who wants to give it a go.

Fall fashion wants …

So, it’s no big secret that I love this time of year.

Fall.  Autumn.  Or whatever you wanna call it.

When the weather gets all … ye know, what’s the word I’m looking for … crispy, yes that’s it … crispy … and it’s cool enough to wear all the great fall fashion trends.

Squeeeeeeeeeee!

The other day I was talking about all this to one of my friends when she excitedly told me that dungarees were making a comeback.

Did I mention she was a bit fashion challenged?

Ahem.

Anyway, I was all “what you talking about Willis? Dungarees? Making a comeback? I don’t think so” to which she insisted that yes, indeedy, dungarees were the must-have fashion trend of the season.

Did I mention she was fashion-challenged? When I first met her she used to wear her dungarees all the time. Bless. Granted they’re very comfy and make fab maternity wear, however, a fall fashion trend I beg to differ.

But, then I saw this on the net …

Okay, I’ll admit they’d look all right on a crispy day, but I don’t think I shall be purchasing a pair.  And, I promise I won’t bust out laughing or even make the slightest sarcastic remark should my pal show up wearing them next time I see her.

I think you’ll find my fall fashion wants for this season are far *cough, cough* classier.

1. Something, no anything sequinned and maybe possibly gold …

2. Leg warmers. I know, I know, my sister has already lectured me on this, but I just can’t help myself.  This is one fashion trend I’m thrilled has made a comeback …

3.  Sweater mini-skirts or dresses a la the Missoni for Target line …

4. Desert boots … perfect for shit kicking, no?

5.  Shorts … in autumn, you ask?  Yes, with tights and a lovely spice coloured top, I say …

6. Like this one … loving all these colours and it goes nicely with jeans too …

7.  Patchwork type clutch …

8.  Puffy jacket …

9.  Shirt dress … except I seem to buy one of these every season …

10.  And, no fall ensemble would be complete without a long flowy skirt to wear with boots …

So, what about you?  What fashion trends are you digging this fall?  Be warned that if you say dungareres, I may just have to reach through the internet and slap you.