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.