Kitty needs a good home . . . anyone?

A few days ago Savannah found a sweet little kitten, by looking at her, and knowing where she was found, I would say she was abandoned. She was quite hungry, and a little thin. We can't have cats for several reasons, one being that Landon (and Savannah too we found out) are highly allergic. I have been calling no-kill shelters but they are busting at the seams. People are leaving their animals tied up outside, abandoning their own pets at these shelters.

It makes my heart so sad. These are God's creatures and they need to be cared for too. Today I am taking fliers and putting them out in the hopes that someone will want to give her a loving home. The next option is the kill-shelters, of which I can barely stand to think about.

This kitty is the mildest-mannered, most gentle kitty around. If you are looking for a kitten, please leave me a comment with your email and I will get back to you. (You will have to live close by Palm Springs, California though.) She would make a very amazing and wonderful pet for someone. All she desires to do is to sit in someones lap and purr. Currently she is outside, which is not a very safe place for her where we live.

Day at the Pumpkin Patch!

Kids at the Pumpkin Patch

Landon found a pumpkin!

Emma found one too!

The bees were everywhere! (We didn't like that part!)

We went to the Pumpkin Patch this past weekend. It has been so hot that I wasn't sure it was going to be cool enough to go, but the weather ended up being perfect. We shopped for little pumpkins, I took many photo's (much to the kids dismay), and I shopped in the gift shop (which was awesome!) I bought some cute Fall decorations. Our friends (Linda and the kids) met us there. It was a very lovely day!

I have lots more pictures I wanted to add but I can't seem to get them to load today for some reason. Weird. Anyway, I added a few. I think Fall pictures at "the Patch" are some of my favorite to take during the year.

How is your Fall going? It is my very favorite time of year!

Have a fabulous week!

Eating Gluten-Free

Tonight Landon said that eating gluten-free is kinda hard, but kind of easy too. Sometimes it is challenging for me not to feel bad for my little boy. At times there are foods such as pizza or cupcakes that are brought into school and he has to turn them down. The teacher has special gluten-free treats in her desk that he can have during those times, but my mommy heart just wants to cry for him sometimes.

Tonight we had homemade tostadas (fried in expeller-pressed canola oil), smashed pinto beans, organic ground beef, shredded romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado (for me), sliced black olives, and yummy chipotle salsa from Fresh & Easy. I thoroughly enjoyed watching my family eat those tostadas in record time - especially Landon, because he enjoyed them SO much, and that is such an important thing.

Tonight before bed, Landon whispered his request for tomorrow night, "Mommy, can we have chili with cornbread?" (I noticed that he didn't ask for the salad that I make him eat along with said meal. :) I am glad he is finding things that he likes. It warms my heart and makes my efforts all worthwhile.

Happy Friday - I am so glad it is here!

My Boy . . .

My boy . . . isn't he cute?

He is as sweet as he is adorable. He is a bright light when life sometimes feels as if it is closing in. He is a love. He feels for others and wants to make them happy. He is a gift that I am so glad God saw fit to give me.

Isn't he great? I think so!

xo,

Monday . . . a new week

Playing on the King's Schools Volleyball Team

King's "Lady Knights"

Savannah pretended she didn't know I was there :)

I was sad to see Monday come this morning. I slept in way too late both days this past weekend but the weekdays kick my rear! We are up early for school and have to be out of the house by 7:10 - no later than 7:15 a.m. Last year Emma and Landon didn't even have to get out of bed until that time.

It rained a little bit this past weekend and I loved it. Not too much rain but enough to feel a little "cozy". I didn't do a whole lot but I did get some things posted on Ebay. We are already starting to save for Savannah's 10 day 8th grade trip to the East Coast. The trip is expensive, although not really for all that is included. I am hoping to go with her, so that means a lot of saving and bringing some extra money in. It will be a trip that will be remembered for a lifetime. Check out my website: http://www.emmieloudesigns.net/ because I have some jewelry on sale and that money goes for the trip too!

Landon had his appointment with Dr. Ortiz this past Friday. His ears are clear and his tonsils are a lot smaller. We are staying on the gluten/dairy/egg-free track. He does well with it most days but there are moments when he gets a little sad and has a hard time. Poor baby. I feel bad for him. It is difficult when children have to make these kinds of changes. Sometimes my heart aches for him.

This year, and after 10 years, Savannah has traded her ballet shoes for some volleyball shoes. She is enjoying it so far and her team is very supportive. She has a game at school this afternoon. Of course I will be there with my camera.

I hope you all have a great week. I just came from the gym so I need to go get myself together. Things to do . . . errands to run, and I could really use a green iced tea from Starbucks - shaken and unsweetened of course!

XO,

Landon for President

What more can I say?

Happy middle of the week,

Emmie-Lou Designs 25% Off Sale!

Hi All,

I have neglected my Emmie-Lou Designs website very badly I'm afraid! I really do need to "get back to it!" I have decided to have a 25% off sale on all of my Halloween and Autumn jewelry.

Savannah is in 8th grade this year and we are earning money for her 8th grade trip to the East Coast. All of the money earned will go towards this trip!

You can shop here: http://www.emmieloudesigns.net/.

If you have any questions, let me know: michelle@emmieloudesigns.net.

Have a great Sunday!

Easy Fashion

I had lunch with my girlfriends yesterday. (One of my FAVORITE things to do!) There seemed to be nothing in my closet . . . again. So, I went to Marshall's and found this cute (and inexpensive) denim dress. I can do so many cute things with this dress. I added a thick black belt and a fuchsia rose at the neckline for a pop of color. Easy, simple, (and cheap) fashion. Plus, I received several nice compliments from people I didn't know. It made me smile for the rest of the day.

I am smiling today too, because it is Friday and I am soooooo ready for the weekend. Are you?

Hugs,

Living Gluten-Free

We are on our 4th week of living gluten-free. Landon is actually gluten, dairy and egg free, and I am gluten and dairy free. I feel much better - my stomach is thanking me! Landon can eat now without coughing and choking. He also no longer snores at night and he says he runs faster! :) I have noticed that his tonsils are a lot smaller, which is fabulous, especially since the doctors were talking about taking them out.

I owe a lot of our new found good health to Dr. Ortiz at the Live Well Clinic. She has been amazing at getting down to the root of our problems. I have come to realize that for our family at least, a more natural approach is best. I do think that "regular" doctors are also needed at certain times; just not for everything. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am because of the difference she has made in Landon's little life. I know there would for certain be a tonsillectomy in his future otherwise.

I am learning a lot about "what not to eat", and every day gets a little easier "living without". I have also found that there are many gluten-free offerings even in restaurants, grocery stores, etcetera, and that is a really good thing!

If any of you have any gluten-free questions, please ask. I would love to be helpful if I can. I have had several friends come along side me and show me the ropes. It is a good thing!

Have a great week,

My Vice . . .

Unsweetened iced green tea . . . it is definitely a vice of mine. I love it. I used to be a black tea drinker but knowing that green tea is better, I decided to make the change awhile ago. I had to get used to it at first but now I prefer it. I love buying my green iced tea from coffee shops, but I must say that Starbucks truly is my favorite. Their iced tea is supposed to be shaken, which is how I like it best, but sometimes it isn't and I swear I can "taste" the difference. So I guess as vices go, it could be worse, right? What is your vice?

Have a great end-of-the-week,

Be still my heart . . . Anthropologie, my new love . . .

Yesterday I was on El Paseo (the posh part of town.) A new store opened up that I had never been in. I didn't go inside but I definitely drooled on the window as I was looking in, before heading off to my destination. Finally . . . a store with all of the styles that I love. Old-fashioned but in a modern and hip way. I have heard of Anthropologie but I have never been in one, nor have I browsed their website to see all of their cool things. I am definitely in love with their style. If I could have it my way, I would gladly discard my whole wardrobe and fill my closet with their gorgeous clothes. I love the unique styling, colors, patterns, and special touches.

Unfortunately it left me sighing after I visited the website. With three kids, private school and everything else it takes to run a family, there is certainly no room for such extravagances - not many of them anyway. But maybe I can buy a few pieces here and there, and I can certainly dream, can't I?

What do you dream of?

School . . .

Moran kids on the first day of school

The kids started a new school several weeks ago. They love it because they get to go to school with their much-treasured cousins. It doesn't get much better than that for them. There have been a few adjustments, including some dietary changes for Landon. We are trying to figure out if he has a gluten, dairy, or egg allergy. (Maybe even all three), but I hope not.

Savannah is in 8th grade this year and is trying her hand at volleyball. This will be her first year in 10 years that she is not in ballet. I don't know if she will decide that she misses it or not. It gave her so much grace; and through the years, many people have asked if she dances ballet just because of the way that she carries herself.

Emma is in 5th grade and Landon is in 3rd grade. They both love school but are adjusting to some of the differences . However, they have not had much complaint. Emma had a small "cell" project to do over the weekend. She had to re-create the inside of a vegetable cell in whatever way she wanted. She took some gelatin and filled it with food items that looked like all of the components that are inside the cell. It was very cool and looked very much like the inside of a plant cell. However, since she did it yesterday, it didn't look quite as nice this morning when she pulled it out of the fridge. I told her that the teacher would surely be able to see what "was" and not what now "is".

I am missing the kids quite a lot some days. It is so quiet here. What do you miss during the day when your kids are at school? Or better yet - if you home school, what do you enjoy about having your kids at home?

Have a fabulous week,

Remembering 9/11 . . .

I still remember 9/11 - where I was, what I was doing. It was unbelievable sitting by the television almost all day, watching the horrors unfold . . . over, and over, and over again. I remember that I was about 3 month pregnant with Landon. Savannah was four years old and Emma was still a baby. I remember asking myself what I was doing bringing children into this horrible world. I remember watching a woman in a bright colored dress, holding hands with a man as they jumped to their death. I wondered if they knew each other before they decided to die together. What were their choices? Die by jumping to their death or die by fire? What would I have done? I shudder to think.

I remember the aftermath . . . sadness, camaraderie, patriotism. We all had flags on our cars, and outside our homes. In fact, it was difficult to find a flag during those times. I remember how much we seemed to all love America. I remember when we went to war and in my naivety, never realizing it would last so long . . . necessary but so very long.

As I look back, I wonder what has happened to us as a country. Where is our patriotism? Where is our love? It seems we have forgotten all that we saw, all that we experienced, all that we learned. I am thankful for the heroes that still remain. I think about all of them when I begin to worry that our great country can't get any lower. I hope you take the time to remember. It is something we should never forget.

Friday . . .

A day at the beach . . . part of our summer fun!

It is Friday . . . again. Savannah is still in Pennsylvania, Emma is at her friend's house just down the street, and Landon is upstairs watching a little television. The house is peaceful except for the quiet sounds of the washer and dryer behind closed doors. Life is good.

The summer is flying by. Only 6-7 weeks and the kids will be back in school. It is hard to believe. I don't think any of us are going to be ready for school to begin again. I like the lazy, do-what-we-want days of summer. I love getting up in the morning and all of the kids are still sleeping peacefully. I enjoy spending summer days with friends. I don't enjoy the heat but it is a small trade-off for everything else.

Summer is fun! Don't you agree?

Love,

Summer Begins?

Landon's Fruit of the Spirit Award (shortly before school was out.)

Our family started summer with a few dings and bangs along the way. School was out on a Friday and by Monday, three out of five of us were sick. I am still battling the bug, allergies, or whatever is hanging on. This past week it was my eye. As soon as I started feeling better, I thought I was getting pink eye. Last Wednesday I went to the doctor for some eye medication but by Friday my eye was not better, but in fact was worse - red, burning, blurry vision, red and swollen eyelids. I went back to the doctor (or Urgent Care rather. I don't get sick so have not gotten around to establishing myself with a General Practitioner.) I could tell that the Physician's Assistant was pretty nervous about my eye. She mentioned Shingles. That was scary. Finally since it was 4:00 in the afternoon, she sent me to the Emergency room. As it just so happened, my friend had given me a card for her Ophthalmologist and I asked the PA to call her. Of course the office was closed because it was Friday afternoon after all. However, in the meantime, while I was waiting in the ER to see the Physician for the second time because he didn't know what was wrong either, the Ophthalmologist called the PA back at Urgent Care and they called me and told me to get back there! So I did. To make an even longer story short, the Ophthalmologist was pretty sure I was allergic to the prescribed drops I had been taking. She was out of town but told me to stop the drop and gave me a new protocol until Monday. It was a very long weekend but I was able to get in to see the Ophthalmologist Monday and sure enough, I was indeed having a major allergic reaction (in both eyes now) but my eyes were still healthy (I was worried since my vision had become blurred), and it would be 7 days for my eyes to heal. Already my eyes are so much improved and I feel much better.

I have decided to find a General Practitioner right away so I will always have a place to "go" if and when I get sick again. There is nothing worse than being bounced around from doctor to doctor without feeling as if anyone truly cares. Scary! So hopefully I am well on my way to feeling back to normal. I can see that summer is going to fly this year because it feels that summer is just beginning for our family. We actually have a beach trip planned for tomorrow. I plan on sitting under a beach umbrella, reading a book, enjoying my family and friends, and enjoying the sun.

What are your plans this summer? Whatever your plans are, have fun and enjoy yourself (in good health of course!)

Love,

My Sweet Nephew Mattison

I had the great pleasure of taking my favorite 14 year old nephew, Mattison out for our annual "belated" birthday outing. We went shopping, saw the movie Iron Man, and ate at El Pollo Loco (his request). I really look forward to taking my nephews and niece out every year. I enjoyed every minute with Mattison because next year he will be 15 and maybe "Aunt Chelle" won't be so fun to hang out with anymore. I sure love this boy, who is fast becoming a man.

Have a great week and hug the special little boys in your life!

Love,