Oh Scrap!

Wow!  I am honored that my friends Jennifer and Mary at Oh Scrap! are selling my page kits!  So exciting and so fun!!!

I love being a PTA mom!

This is my very first editorial for the elementary school newspaper.  A little nervous to be honest in print, but, here goes!

If you had asked me when I was just a girl in Texas,"Will you join the PTA when you are a mother?" Most likely,  I would NOT have responded enthusiastically.
PTA was pretty much snub-nosed in my home.  My mother, Linda never had a chance to exert her own independence before I was born. She married young, 22 yrs old, and felt the need to exhume her rebellious, independent spirit at the same time as me...when I was in my early teens and she in her late 30's.
Oh, yes, it was so fun growing up in my house!
Today, I am 37.  I am the mother of 2 tiny, amazing beings, Olivia (3rd grade) and Samantha (Kindergarten) I like to wear frilly, embellished aprons when I cook, and I wish I had time to scrapbook every single family memory.
Sometimes I find myself dreaming that we live on a farm with no tv, phone, internet, video games, materialism, etc....so we could just bake, make art, play in nature, giggle and smell like patchouli all day long.
Back to reality ...of course I enjoy material things.  I just feel this longing and need to be part of the bigger picture, the more simpler picture,  for those 2 small girls that my husband and I brought into this world.
I have enjoyed this happy, joyous, protected land of -----Elementary for the past 3 years.  I want it to continue.  I want it to be even better than it has been.  Can you blame me?  You love it here, too, don't you?
This newspaper is the place where your kids can publish their haikus, short stories and paintings. Proud moms, PLEASE send me your photos and article ideas
Come to the ------paper  to find out what is going on and how to get involved.
Come to the next PTA meeting, share your amazing talents and gifts with our community.

You wont regret it, and your kids will love you for it.
Thank you for letting me share this school year with you, and for putting up with my soapbox!

Do you have something to say?
Email me!
I dare you.

Jillian Forrester
Editor

The secret life of bloggers.....

Wow!  i am blown away. 
People blog, people i didn't even know about have been bloggeing for over a year!  Who are we?
Who are you?
Do we really ever know anyone anyways????

Another fun time at the Dunes

Who doesn't love an old fashioned trailer park party with old friends?  Especially in Newport Beach.  FABULOUS!
xoxo Love you Dunlaps

Me time!

Tonight we went out with new family friends to dinner.  They are from Wales and I could just listen to them chat all night long!  I decided to make time for my scrapbooking passion this evening, and so now find myself going to bed now at nearly midnight! Also, I enrolled in an amazing new inspiring course about being the goddess that I am.  I can't wait, Leonie! Also, I just applied to be part of the Label Tulip Deign Team.  I really , really, really hope they pick me! TGIF, and buenos noches!  Hmmm, did I spell that right in espanol?

Getting into the groove....

I am finally figuring out this back to school schedule. it goes like this: 7:00am wake up get kids dressed. Rush through breakfast and get to school on time. Go to school to take photos for the Lincoln Log (school newspaper). I am the reporter, photographer, editor.....Go to gym, squeeze in workout, pick up Samantha, get snack, pick up Olivia, get snack. Go to 2 soccer practices, come home make dinner, bathe kids. Feed bird and dog.
On my way to NMUSD duplication services to have the summer edition of the log printed.
No wonder I hardly have time to scrapbook anymore!

Thinking about back to school....

Rob is taking the girls camping this weekend to El Capitan. I will be here, taking care of the pets, and my PTa mom responsibilities began...I have to put together the entire elementary school newspaper for publication by Friday of next week. Also, I am team mom for Olivia's soccer team and need to get the banner ordered, snack schedule nailed out, patches ordered....also, I promised a friend I would make a wood box example for her blog as part of her design team. Samantha has her kindergarten "meet and greet' in the morning. I wish I could stop over-committing myself, and just breathe, in the moment. Just enjoy the present...am trying to "go gently", as Susannah has taught me.
We had to resue Rob from the ER this morning. He also has overworked himself. So much so that his 5AM workout caused his bloodpressure to plummet and he passed out. He had an IVdrip for 4 hours this am. The girls and I experienced the Long Beach Emergency Room-super interesting. Heart attacks, kidneys stones, drug OD's all around. I guess I am happy in my quiet bubble of NB.
I think we all need to realize that relaxing and meditation are equally as important as goals and financial success. It has certainly become my goal over the last few months, to try to be more awake in the moment and do what pleases my soul.
I think Rob finally sees the light. This made him realize that he should stop saying "yes" so often, as well.
Ahard thing to do, for us both.