Hazel

My Grandma has always been the most important person in my life......by a landslide. Growing up she was always my soft place to fall. I may have my Father's hands or my Mom's smile, but thank God I got my Grandma's heart.
While my parents were off traveling the world and being way too cool to be parents, my Grandma always welcomed me with open arms, warm homemade bread, and chocolate milk.

Hazel was a simple woman, a child of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl. Have you have ever read "The Grapes of Wrath" ? If so, then you have read my Grandma's story. She worked hard her whole life, and shared everything she ever had.

I have been in Oklahoma for over a week. My Grandma passed away early last Monday morning. I am glad I was there, and I am glad I got to spend her last few days on this earth with her and that I got to tell her how important she is to me and how much I truly appreciate her and thank her for everything she ever did for me. Even though I no longer live in Oklahoma, I am very happy that I always made it a point to go see her a few times a year and spend lots of time with her. I always tried to spend every moment with her. She was so fun to be around. I will miss her terribly. My whole family will miss her terribly.
Hazel was not a wealthy woman--however she was rich with love. I am a better person because she loved me.

So far 2008 has been full of loss for me, but I will choose to be happy, 'cause that is what Grandma would have wanted.

I love you Grandma.

Photo 1--when I took Grandma to get her hair colored and fixed a couple of years ago.
Photo 2--Grandma and I at her apartment last summer.
Photo 3- Grandma in her shirt I bought her for our 4th of July party 2 years ago.
Photo 4- Grandma and I at her rehab after her surgery last July.

Memoirs of a cousin

It is always a huge treat (and a very busy time) when my cousin Lily comes for a visit. She is here this week for her Spring Break and we are having a blast. Lily is one of my favorite relatives. I feel lucky that she once again chose to spend Spring Break with me.

One of the very fun things about having a little girl come and visit is decorating her room!! I love to decorate my house, and having guests is the perfect excuse to spruce things up. I try to fix her room up the way I would have liked my room at 11 years old. All the essentials.

One important essential for an 11 year old girl is a plastic, fake Birkin from Marshalls for $5.99- SCORE! So deliciously tacky.

Monday we went to the Shedd Aquarium which was fun, but SO crowded. We enjoyed the Shallow Seas 4D show. The glasses were very Devo.

Lily is half Chinese (from Taiwan), so Monday afternoon we went to Chinatown in Chicago. Lily has been teaching herself Mandarin Chinese (the child is brilliant) so she wanted to go hang with her peeps and try out her conversational skills. She was totally able to talk to the store owners and our waiter at Joy Yee Noodle (Joy Yee is awesome by the way) and she was so proud. My husband and I were blown away. I told her if she becomes fluent I will take her to Taiwan. Keep your fingers crossed, because cousin Jenny totally wants to go to Asia.Here we are with the Year of the Monkey(posh) statue in "New Chinatown".

She wanted a traditional Chinese dress, so we found "the perfect" one then I put her hair in buns, complete with chopsticks and she looked beautiful -like a little Geisha.....even though Geishas are Japanese and not Chinese, but still she was SO CUTE!!!!!

Lily makes me laugh and I needed that this week. I am very thankful she is here.

Today our agenda includes pedicures (with my beautiful new gray polish from Dear R-thanks R!) homemade pizza, a trip to T.J. Maxx, and the premiere of Top Chef tonight. Good times!

Have a beautiful day.

(photos property of MonkeyPosh, LLC)

Many Thanks

Thank You to everyone who sent your kind words and well wishes about my dear Forrest.
I appreciate the kindness.

My eleven year old cousin, Lily is visiting this week for her Spring Break, so she is a much needed breath of fresh air. We are staying very busy, and that is good.

I hope to do a post about her visit today or tomorrow.

Thank you again, and beautiful day to all.

(graphic from cards direct)

Farewell my beautiful boy.

FORREST.... 8-14-1995 -to- 2-29-2008


It has been a very hard week here.

My Forrest was 12 and that is very old for a Dalmation. He hung on as long as he could, and I truly appreciate the 12 beautiful years he gave me. It is really hard to write what it feels like to lose your constant companion for 12 years. I love that dog. He was like my child--not to compare a dog to a child, but those of you who love animals know that they are part of your family. Forrest has been much more of a family to me than many of my human family members and I think it is so unjust that animals are taken from us after such a short time.

There is nothing else I can say except, run free Forrest.

I love you and miss you.

Thank you for your love.