The Quiet Life of Violet

Listening All Day

I heard this song on the radio a few days ago and then again today on the way home from the grocery store.

I really, REALLY like it.
I hope you do, too.

 

 

 

Poppin' In!

Hi guys! I'm just about to go to bed and since I haven't posted in a few days, I just thought I'd say hello. Total phone post!

I went to lunch with my Family on Thursday... Doesn't Squid look like me Daddy?! Blows my mind. Mom took the second picture of me and my boy. Melt my heart to the core. I had no ideas babies grew so damn fast and I just say that where he is now is my favorite stage so far.

Last night (Friday) Matt & Nat came over and we drank. This Momma was drunk. You may or may not have seen my Instagrams.. That's dangerous, the drunk posting! Goodness. :) I haven't been that drunk in years and totally saved myself by popping three charcoal tabs, a folicacid/B-12 and four glasses of water before bed. We all woke up felling a bit... parched, but after some gluten free pancakes, eggs and turkey bacon, we were good to go.

Natty and I spent the afternoon at Barnes & Noble reading and chatting and snacking and it was heaven! The boys hacked some computer something while we were gone and played some Soul Caliber on xBox. Bromancing kind of stuff, you know.

Bub and I saw the new Underworld at the drive-in tonight and Roman made noose in his car seat the whole time. He's no longer the sleepy baby - he wanted to see what was going on even though it was dark and two hours past his bed time by the time it ended. He went right to sleep, like always, as soon as I laid him down at home.

Tomorrow is grocery day and relaxing. Mom and Dad were going to come out for lunch and the Japanese $1.50 store, but we rescheduled. Time to just relax and stay close to home. Bliss!

Have a superior Sunday!

Xo,
Violet

"About" Page Update!

These boys think that you should click on the the "About" button to the right. ----->

I've been writing that page for a few weeks  (and  in my head for a very long time) and I know that it's almost a novel. In fact, half way through I thought it might be easier to just WRITE a novel. If you have a few minutes, take a peek!

Hope your weekend was as great as ours!
We had a tiny little party with the five of us for Mr. Matt's birthday.

Life is amazing!

xo,
Violet

(If you don't go to my "about" page, I might find out where you live and look at you like this all day. Also, I'll bring Squid and he can drool on your pants like he did on his. Fun stuff!)

Dirty Laundry and Burnt Bits

There was a discussion on a board that Kristen of Project:BABY posted about the other day. Have you guys seen her blog before? She's adorable and kind, and her Miss Tinsley has the fluffiest Big Bird hair ever. I see a lot of similarities between the two of us (mostly in the love/family/marriage department) so it's fun to see what I think my life would be  like if I were a Southern (south-eastern?) Belle with hair of fire.

Anyway, the post. It was about people blaming their PostPardum Depression (among other things) on bloggers who chose to blog mostly the positive in their lives. I get the rift that the people were saying that bloggers who chooses to only show the good make them feel bad about their lives because they feel that they can never measure up to the "extravagant, perfect life" that a blogger puts on display.

While I see how bloggers might want to stay away from the un-pretty in life and keep the boring, more personal details off of their space,  I am all about that. In my experience, exposure = tolerance, even if you're the one learning to tolerate yourself.  I personally love blogging about feeling like crap, having sad days, being scared, fighting with my spouse and  how hard and trying it is to be a mother. Now, I don't love feeling all of those negative things, but I know and hope that in sharing and normalizing my "dirty laundry", it might help others with similar problems (... everyone?) feel that it's okay to not have to be "on" all the time. That counters are messy and dishes are dirty in most homes. How many time have I cropped my disgusting burners out of a food post? A LOT. The only time those puppies are cleaned is when my Mother-In-Law comes over and silently cleans them (and the microwave, too.. don't think I don't notice! I love you!). It's an ugly part of my life, but it's a NORMAL part of my life. It isn't vintage or crafty or perfectly matched to my purse... it's burnt, gross food bits that I loathe cleaning up. EVERY single one of us, Kristen, Elsie, Leigh-Ann, James, you, me, she and he, nig and small bloggers, famous actresses and chefs and hobos with houses,  we ALL have a "blog life" that we display and a real life that we see everyday. Happy faces that we plaster on on days that shake our foundations. Tears that we wipe right before we take a picture. All of us. Please don't let pretty, happy blogs get you down, friends!  Don't feel like less of a Mother/Wife/Girlfriend/Daughter/Friend because your life isn't always sunshine and vintage - no ones life is - I guarantee it. Behind every pretty blog is a toilet that is screaming to be scrubbed or burners that look like mine.

Learning to not judge myself based on other bloggers and the life that I assume a blogger has, well, that was a lesson that I very recently learned myself. It was hard trying to re-wire my jealous heart, but let me tell you, with Dustin by my side and God holding my heart, the pressure that's been lifted off of my shoulders is immense! Everyone is real. Everyone poops (gross, sorry... true, though!). Everyone is just trying to get through each day with a smile on their face and a dream in their heart. Please, please don't let anyone's optimism let you feel like you're lacking. You're amazing, friend. :)

And because I didn't want to leave you without a fresh picture of the little boy who is my world...

(So serious and SERIOUSLY the cutest kid I know.)

 

Have a mighty fine Thursday, my loves.

XO,
Violet

 

Family, Going Topless and Pickle Slices.

Hello loves!

We had a delightful weekend (which included shooting a new banner.. you like?) that was topped off by Dustin's decision to stay home from work today! The joys of spontaneous vacation days and having the "hours" in the vacation bank to make them happen! So much joy!

 
(Uncle Beef and Great Grandpa Gene visit with little Squid)

A few posts back, I shared my resolutions for 2012, and with January in full swing, I've been trying to keep up! My resolution for this month was/is to catch up on all of my blog "to-dos", so I'm taking today to post the picture that I said I would for Lacy's Campaign for Confidence! LEt me be honest with you, folks... I postponed taking and posting the picture because I knew (opps!) that I was getting a nice camera for Christmas and I figured that if I were going to only vegetation, I'd wait to have it captured by a nice camera. Keepin' it real.

With that said, last week, after the baby went down for his big nap of the day, I set out to make good on my word. I closed my blinds, took off my shirt and let my jumblies hang out all for the sake of Confidence. It was fun! My camera got to show off it's 10-second timer skills and got friendly with some kale!  I actually took pictures with oranges and pears, too, but the kale pictures were the best. 

I had to take my photo in to Photoshop and fix the lighting a bit, cropped it to size and patched up a little bit of a nip-slip, but other than that, it was pretty easy. Plus, it's nice to trollop around topless once in a while! I'm more of an "open-front-window" type of gal though, so the girls usually stay in. And no, "open-front-window" isn't code name for anything naughty... I really like to open the blinds and front door and let the sun light in. ;)

My final picture. What do you think?

Q: What do you love about your body or want to love about your body?

A: I love how resilient my body has always been. It's bounced back time and time again from the harshest of treatments and surgeries. I've re-grown hair and have earned the blush on my cheeks. The single most wonderful, amazing thing about my body, though,  is my son, Roman. After everything that my body had been through, I was able to create something so perfect and whole. I might not have both of my legs and lungs, but I was able to create another person who does. It's pure magic.

 

Have you taken a picture for the Campaign for Confidence? Share! Share!

Also, will Rebecca M., Lauren S. and  miss Diane (who all commented on my first Campaign for Confidence post) please email me at thequietlifeofviolet [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com -- you're all getting a copy of  Lacy's 12 Tip & 12 Recipes to Thrive Through the Holidays... and since the Holidays have already passed, let's hope it'll help you through Valentine's Day (candy! cake! cookies!), St. Patrick's Day (corned beef!) and Easter (ham, ham ham!). Forgive me for slacking, but hey, better late than never, right?

And, what kind of Mother would I be if I didn't share an amazingly cute picture of my son? Does this boy talk with his eyebrows or WHAT? Someone wasn't happy that he couldn't have his own burger at Fuddruckers. We did let him suck on a pickle slice though, much to my Husband's disgust. Pickle lovers UNITE!

 

Home

... is wherever I'm with you.

 

Happy Saturday, friends.