twinkies

Y'all know how we Leighton Ladies L-O-V-E our big, Texas hair! To achieve that "height," we use hot rollers and velcro rollers.

Last week, when Grammy was visiting, my Little Leighton decided she needed some added volume to her locks and wanted to wear rollers (the velcro variety -- for obvious reasons) like her M'am (that's what she's taken to calling ELC and it positively cracks us up) and Mama.

(Why, yes, that IS a wadded up Kleenex behind my ear.

Hot rollers do, in fact, get REALLY hot.)

You're never too small for BIG hair, right?

Happy Friday Eve!

Keep Calm ...

…and Carry On!

Do y’all know where this catchy phrase started? The British government coined it in 1939 to motivate the Brits during the war. Now it’s all the RAGE. Has been for a few years, right? It’s everywhere. T-shirts. Coffee mugs. Posters. Etc. Etc. Etc. (Bet some English peep knows who thought of it and wishes that person’s family could get some royalty payments each time a new company/person/entity “borrows” it.)

TLC and I LOVE IT. Can’t get enough of it. Always look forward to those clever ones who come up with a new sweet/funny/deep/important idea for it.

We’re not saying we’re clever. Trust me. But we decided it would be fun for each of us to come up with nine (Yep. 9.) “Keep Calms and…”

TLC’s:

Keep Calm and…

...listen to Christmas music!

…stroll around Target

…sip a Starbucks Latte

…feed the ducks!

…be KIND

…organize your closet

…stay in your jammies all day

…DONATE—whatever you can

…take more pictures!

ELC’s:

Keep Calm and…

…PRAY FOR RAIN!

…read a book

…eat a cupcake!

…have a Vanilla Coke Zero

…watch Scandal!

…PERSEVERE

…eat more fruits and veggies (Right.Sure.)

…adopt a dog or cat!

…SAY YOUR PRAYERS!

Leightons to the Third

I've been visiting at TLC's since Wednesday. I go back to the country in the morning. It'd been ten days since I'd had a Little Leighton (LL) Fix. Ten LLOOONNNNGGGGG days. I go into serious withdrawal after about 72 hours of no LL. At seven days, it's getting scary. I've known for many moons now that I do best seeing My Girls every five to six days. All of us seem to need that time frame for a happier life.

This trip (TLC and I live two hours apart from each other--assuming we don't encounter accidents causing long traffic tie-ups or we're not forced to face the endless road construction projects all around North Central Texas--they are SOOOOOO annoying!), I've been marveling at how The Three Leightons (not to be confused with The Three Stooges) are tres in sync with each other. We have it down. LL's Daily Schedule--for naps, meals, playtime, etc. Our agreements about what we need to accomplish. What's a priority. What's not. The FUN we MUST have. The laughter we always share.

TLC lives in a neighborhood/community that has sidewalks! And a wonderful "pond"--with ducks, turtles, and other interesting "wildlife."

LL and ELC watching TLC feed the ducks!

 

TLC and I learned a long time ago we are VERY much alike--about 85% of the time. Our differences can be quite HUGE--but usually interesting. Occasionally challenging. It'll be fascinating--to both of us--to experience Little Leighton's character and personality development.

In Numerology (y'all know I'm obsessed with this!), LL and I are "compatible" numbers. I'm a 6. She's a 9. TLC is a 5. She's NOT technically "compatible" with me or LL. LL and I have decided to overlook our differences with TLC. It's the right thing to do. (Now please picture me winking at you...teeheehee...)

Tomorrow morn, around 8:45 CST, when I drive off, TLC will be standing on her front porch--holding LL. They'll be waving. I'll be crying. I always cry. Until I reach the Dallas North Tollway. That's about 10 minutes away. I'll take some deep breaths, think about My Sweet Hubby, Teddy Buddy Boo Bear and Morty the Cat waiting to greet me as I drive up our hill, and I'll be fine. I'll see My Girls soon. Next week, in fact. If the Good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise. (Not worried. We're in such a drought I doubt our creek's rising in the near future.)

Have a WONDERFUL Weekend, Dear Friends--wherever in the World Y'all are...

a case of the mondays...

I'm not sure if it's the rainy weather -- perhaps the end of Daylight Savings. (Could someone please try to explain that to a toddler?) Now that I stay home with Little Leighton, I'm only marginally sure what day it is about 50% of the time. However, today has felt like a Monday.

In the hopes of boosting my energy, I decided I wanted -- no NEEDED -- and deserved -- Starbucks for lunch. (Well, for my "second lunch." My first lunch consisted of an Almond Joy -- my most favourite candy bar EVER -- and a Twix. Leftover Halloween candy is too tempting. I need to get rid of it, like yesterday.) I was certain a Skinny Vanilla Latte and Cranberry Bliss Bar would get me back on track. Guess what? They don't have the Cranberry Bliss Bars yet. Boo hoo. I settled for a chocolate chunk cookie. It just wasn't the same. I should have asked them to warm it for me -- if they even do that?

Little Leighton and I had to run to the paint store for samples after our Starbucks stop. I have an itch to paint my kitchen and living room. I've narrowed it down to two colors: Urban Putty (which happens to be in all of the bedrooms at ELC's country casa) and Windsor Greige. I'm not going to lie -- I might be leaning towards Windsor Greige simply because "Windsor" makes me think of the Royals and "greige" is such a fun word to say! The colors are so incredibly similar.

We couldn't leave Sherwin-Williams without several pink paint sample cards for LL. This gal loves all things paper (and fabric and texture -- maybe she'll be a designer or an artist!). They kept her entertained for the rest of the errands. They were free. What more could I ask for?

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with LL's new Fisher-Price Little People Nativity Set. (I had been on the hunt for this specific one for several weeks and finally found it at my local Toys R Us. I even used a buybuy BABY coupon. I felt so scandalous. They, however, seemed happy to take a competitor's coupon.) Watching my Little Leighton toddle around, holding the little sheep and sweet Baby Jesus, is the most precious thing. She amazes me. Each and every single day. She finds joy in the tiniest things. She is a wonderful reminder to be forever grateful. She is my beautiful blessing.

I sent My Sweet Dad a video tonight of LL feeding herself with a spoon. After his ADORABLY excited reply, which included the "dancing woman" emoticon (this man cracks. me. up.), I told him I didn't know when my Baby had been replaced by a Little Girl. He said: I told you they grow too fast. Don't blink. (This wise advice from a father of five, grandfather of seven.)

I hope y'all are warm and cozy and snuggled up, watching The Voice (like I am!) right now.

Bring on Tuesday!