We are going to be late.

Last year Mr. Mayer and I had a pool and patio built, as well as landscaping to the front and back yard. It took nine months, and by the end of the process I was d-o-n-e and over it. Oh! We had the outside of the house painted as well. However, everyday we are so happy we had it done and love our backyard and pool more and more. Well, that was easy, why not another project?! Sure! Really, this newest project has been in the works for close to three years. We started talking about it and looking at flooring samples and changing our minds a million times over the years. We wanted to do it, but didn't know what kind of floor we wanted. All we knew is that the carpet was gross and had to go. Throw in three small children and three dogs, one being diabetic and no control over his bladder, and the carpet had definitely seen better days. Flooring was pushed back due to the new pool, and we still didn't know what we wanted. Finally in March of this year we had decided what we wante...

My children have hated sandwiches since birth. I used to really let it bother me that they refused to eat sandwiches of any type, but over the years I adjusted and did not give it a second thought. When school started last August the Dudes got to start eating in the cafeteria. It is regular conversation for me to ask everyone what they ate for lunch that day when I pick them up. Imagine my surprise when #3 starts telling me daily that he ate "brown bag." Brown bag is a SANDWICH, chips, pickle and usually a fruit. A sandwich. Everyday. #3 was eating a sandwich at school every day, but still refusing to eat them at home. Fast forward to Monday of this week. I am waiting in my usual spot after school and watching the Dudes run up the sidewalk towards me. #3 was walking slow and eating something. What? As he got closer I could see he was strolling up the sidewalk eating a sandwich. No joke. #3 climbs in the suburban and I ask him what he is eating. He gives me a big grin and say...

The ladies and I met at 918 Coffee this morning at 2446 E. 11th Street in Tulsa. I have missed the last few weeks because of a yucky stomach bug that has been circling around our house. The other's have had coffee at 918 Coffee for the two previous weeks. I asked if we could go one more time so that I could try it out too. They were very willing to go again. 918 Coffee is not a large coffee shop. It is comfortable with tables and chairs scattered throughout. There are two conversational areas with couches and chairs set up in separate corners. It was busy for a Friday morning, with a variety of people in the shop. Some looked like students, others looked like they were professionals there working, and there were several groups of people who looked like they were having a Friday morning coffee like we were. 918 Coffee has an extensive list of coffees and flavors. They also have non coffee options such as teas and hot chocolate, and they serve alcoholic beverages. The food is a va...

A couple of months ago I started having Friday morning coffee dates with some of my cousins who live in town. I jokingly call it our Tulsa coffee tour because we have been hitting up a new coffee shop each week. After we all drop our kids off at school for the day we meet up for coffee. Life is so busy for everyone and we have a tendency to get stuck in our routines and not stay in touch. We live in the same city and we can go months without seeing each other. Our Friday morning dates give us an opportunity to see each other, catch up, laugh and stay connected--no kids, no pressures, just time to be. Some weeks we can sit all morning, other mornings we are only able to carve out an hour, but it is always time well spent. This morning we met at Foolish Things Coffee Company located at 1001 S. Main Street in Tulsa. I have lived in Tulsa for thirteen years and have never been here. It is near the Tulsa Community College downtown campus and was busy for 9am. It is an open area with lots...

#3 is a free spirit, to the very core. He is the most loving, kind and creative child you will ever meet. He also likes to wear dresses, play with dolls and wear makeup. I let him. I let my children make choices for themselves and be individuals. As with all my children we have a "no makeup if we are going somewhere, and no makeup to school" rule. This is never a problem. As a parent I let my son wear dresses. I also let my daughter ride a skateboard, I let them go days without showers sometimes, they eat junk food, I vaccinate and medicate, we see a chiropractor, my nine year old probably knows as much about sex as some adults, I sometimes let them ride bikes without their helmets, they can play outside without me, I probably let them have too much screen time, and watch too much TV. My list could go on--I am not a perfect parent. But, do you know what the thing I am questioned about most on that list? I let my son wear dresses. We have had neighbors ask my other two childre...

By 8:24 this morning I wanted to start my day over. The past 24 hours have been a roller coaster of extreme emotions. Last night the Dudes came home from karate and I sent them upstairs to shower and get ready for bed. In our upstairs bathroom we have 3 towel hooks for the Dudes to hang their towels on each night. The hooks are a little high for them to reach without a step stool, so I keep a step stool under the hooks for them to use. After #2 got out of his shower we heard him start screaming. Initially Mr. Mayer and I both thought that #2 and #3 were fighting because we could hear #3 yelling. Then we both realized that #2's cry was a little different. Mr. Mayer goes upstairs and before I could blink I hear Mr. Mayer exclaim "OH SHIT!!" Um....that's bad. I run upstairs, with the kitchen towel, because for some reason in my panic I thought a kitchen hand towel was needed. I don't know. Anyway...running upstairs. I get up there and #3 is jumping around in a pani...

Good Tuesday morning everyone! I could use some happy this morning, how about everyone else? Tulsa, the place that I love, is a pretty tense place right now. My social media sites are filled with a lot of unhappy things right now. I figure we could all use a smile and a good laugh. Right? I wanted to share with everyone the culinary experiment that has been happening at my house recently. I am busy. I have a "crap ton" (according to some) of kids, a husband, a job and an endless to do list. Dinner was slagging lately, and we had been existing off of cereal and ramen. I saw something on TV about a website and app called Gathered Table ( www.gatheredtable.com ). *This is not a plug or sponsored post. This is just a I love it post, but if they want to sponsor me I will plug the poo out of them.* I went online and checked it out. They let you sample their site for a day to see if you like it. Of course I did, duh. That's why I'm telling you. This site has dozens of rec...