Fashionist-ahhh Friday!

Another banner week in the Four Bear's Den with little miss Sugar Bear the Fashionista. Let's get right down to it!

Easter Edition. The key to keeping the peace on Easter? Compromise. Mama Bear chose the dress, Sugar Bear chose the shoes. Win-win.

Sort of.

Her first field trip with Brother Bear and the "big cubs." Clearly, she's made some strides in the matching department. I like how she went for cute and comfortable. Genius.

Great outfit, horrible photo. Kind of a pixie/hippie look going on here. I think this look will be the rage this summer. Sparkly shoes give it just the right punch.

Clearly her mood goes with the outfit. Apparently the paparazzi was on Sugar Bear's last nerve this day. I could pretty much say the same thing about that outfit...

She out did herself here, Cyberbears. Yes, that's a bathing suit and sweat pants, why do you ask? Yes, we are at the mall. Problem? Nope. Papa Bear and I held our heads high. Especially when she said she needed to "do her exercises" and began doing jumping jacks in the middle of the mall.

Jane Fonda, eat your heart out.

That's all for Fashionist-ahhh Friday. Happy Dressing until we meet again!

Easter People

So, I've decided to be an Easter Person. Intrigued? Read more about it on Facebook. Just click here.

A Conversation in two parts

One WITH filter. One WITHOUT.

Personal Bear Trainer: Okay. Now we're going to do this exercise. (Imagine an incredibly fit, barely twenty something, cub demonstrating an exercise that involves a significant amount of jumping). If this exercise makes you need to use the bathroom too bad, we'll quit.

Filter Switches to ON.

Mama Bear: Oh. Okay. (Then does said exercises)

-------------------------------

Personal Bear Trainer: Okay. Now we're going to do this exercise. (Imagine an incredibly fit, barely twenty something, cub demonstrating an exercise that involves a significant amount of jumping). If this exercise makes you need to use the bathroom too bad, we'll quit.

Filter Switched in OFF position.

Mama Bear: Huh? Just HOW old do you think I am? Do I look like someone that pees herself? Huh, do I? Look around the room, buddy. I'm younger than most of the people around here by a GOOD decade or two. No tinkle problems here buddy. No-sir-ee. I have FULL bladder control thankyouverymuch. In fact, I'm going to do twenty more of these just to prove to you how continent I am. Ask me if I pee my pants, nuh-uh. What has this world gone to. Do I really look that old? Huh? Seriously, I'm making that appointment with the plastic surgeon sooner versus later. Humph. The nerve. (Then does said exercises)

Lucky for EVERYONE it was one of those very rare moments where the filter was actually ON.

An Inconvenient Truth

Every morning when I'm turning out lights and heading out, I discover this in the cubs' bathroom:

(I know, I know. But you really did need a visual. I promise.)

It seems that Brother Bear's school is teaching them all sorts of ways to "Be Green" and save the environment. Number one being, "If it's yellow - let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down."

He INSITS that he's saving the earth. Which, I'm sure he is. But this isn't about the earth, now, is it? It's about me. And my sense of cleanliness. And my desire NOT to look at a toilet full o' pee every time I walk into a bathroom. Ick.

So, being the good, earthly, mother that I am, I let it mellow.....

And as soon as he's gone, I race back to the bathroom and flush that sucker just as fast as my furry paws will let me.

I'll save the earth another way thankyouverymuch.

Marital Harmony

Some couples fight over this:

Papa Bear and I? We fight over this:

That's right. Runner's World Magazine is a hot commodity in this Den. Wen currently hold one subscription to this magazine. (and by "we" I really mean ME. I DO. IT HAS MY NAME ON IT.) As soon as the new copy hits our mailbox, it's all out war. I try to get through it during the day while Papa Bear is at work, but somehow I get distracted (I don't know how).

When Papa bear spies it? Fahgettaboutit. That thing disappears faster than Pretzel M&Ms. I cannot figure out where he's hiding it, but it drives me crazy. CA-RAY-ZEE.

Most of you probably think he's scouring up on the latest and greatest running tips. Me? I know better. He's looking to see if this miracle happens again:

(Papa Bear - ain't he handsome? - in a November 2009 Runner's World Magazine add for The Natural State)

Don't let him fool you.

He is risen!

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

Matthew 28: 5-6

He is risen indeed!

Fashionist-ahhh Friday!

Back for more fashion fun. Let's see what our diva fashionista has been up to this week:

There's a saying about snakes in this territory:

"Red & Yellow, kill a fellow"

For this outfit, we say

"Red & Yellow & Hello Kitty, Runway City"

Backwards was another big trend this week.

Notice the unique, yet powerful, mix of colors and patterns.

Nothing goes better with capris than an nice, utilitarian boot.

Emphasizing the single color scheme again with pink on pink. Notice choice of backward shirt. I think we'll see this during Fashion Week. Just remember, it all started here.

These two are just to prove to you that, "NO! I DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP!!!"

"REALLY! I DON'T NEED IT!!"

(Also note the perfect cure-all for a tummy ache used by fashionistas 'round the world: band aid)

I'm posting this one simply for the socks. First they lovingly remind me of My Daddy Bear (whose dressing skillz are worthy of their own blog). But most important, the selection of these socks sucked the life out of took 1 whole hour of my day and drained pretty much all of my patience for said day.

Well, that's it for this week's edition of Fashionist-ahhh Friday. See you next week! Until then, Happy Dressing!

Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday and I'm trying to pause and ponder. Click here to take a moment with me.

Please don't tell my trainer...

...I'm in love with a bag of potato chips. Seriously. The other day the store was having a BOGO on Kettle Chips**, plus I had a coupon which made the chips virtually free. And, since I like virtually free almost as much as I like for real free, I decided to buy me some Kettle Chips.

Upon reaching the chip aisle, I was forced to make a serious, life changing selection: which flavor to buy. Perhaps I was feeling wild and crazy or maybe it was one of those days (Girls, you get my drift. Boys, keep moving...), but Jalapeno chips just sounded good.

I'm here to tell you that they did not disappoint. Mmm, mmm! Delicious! Just the right amount of salty, spicy, and fried-y. If they weren't so dang spicy, I probably would have eaten the whole bag in one sitting. I do not jest. The spice is best followed up with a good, healthy serving of these.

Here's hoping my Bear Trainer doesn't get a whiff of these on Monday.

But it might just be worth it...

** THIS IS NOT A PAID ENDORSEMENT. I JUST LOVE FOOD ALMOST AS MUCH AS I LOVE BREATHING.

Precious moments

Sugar Bear and I had a "nail painting" party the other day:

When she looked at her fingers, literally gasped and said, "Oh, Mama Bear! Dey are bootie-full!" I almost died.

Who knew this tom-boy Mama Bear would have so much fun raising a girly-girl bear cub?

What's on your windowsill?

Does your kitchen windowsill look like this?

Mine always ends up being a menagerie of random things. I try to keep it organized, but it seems that this is the place-where-all-things-I-don't-know-where-they-should-go-at-the-moment go. Sigh.

Currently, you see:

• Herbes de Provence (decorative) - this is one of the few things that is actually supposed to be there.
• Ring holder - my Big Brother Bear and Sister-In-Law-Bear got that for me. I take my rings off when I'm in the kitchen. They just about stroked out when they saw me setting them on the windowsill. The elephant also serves as a reminder to pray for the orphans in Kenya.
• Lotion. Where else should I put it?
• Candle. Attempt to mitigate horrific smell permeating through house.
• Nail polish. Just had a nail painting party with Sugar Bear. Apparently, I didn't get around to putting it away.
• Two original "masterpieces" in clay by Brother Bear. They'll stay.
• Glass milk jug. Had flowers in it. Now they don't. Need to put in more flowers or put it away. Will likely stay there (empty) for months.
• Candle. Another attempt at removing smell (see above).
• Handprint of Brother Bear when he was TWO. I really need to find a place for that.
• Cross and prayer beads. One of the other things that is always supposed to be there. A reminder to pray for specific things.

Please tell me I'm not the only one that has a kitchen windowsill (or some other spot) in their den that serves as a collection point for all things random?

So, what about you? What's on your windowsill?

Fashionist-ahhh Friday!

Has it been a week already? Then it's time for more fun with

Fashionist-ahh Friday!

Straight from the runways in Paris, this is what Sugar Bear has been up to (fashion wise) this week:

No white shoes before Easter? That is so last season, Cyberbears! And whoever said a girl cub can't wear short skirts to church is just wrong. Healthcare worker's hosiery with sandals? Genius.

Monochromatic was a real theme this day. It was pink-on-pink-on-pink. But every fashionista knows to add a touch of color and sparkle. Thus, the purple socks and sparkly shoes.

Taking yard work style to a new level with the Hello Kitty house shoes.

"Sigh. Jeggings bore me, Mother Bear. Let's try something different. Like, say, wearing them backwards!" Only toddler behinds can pull this off, folks.

(Can we all take a moment in this picture and mourn the loss of that gorgeous rug? Sniff, sniff)

They may not admit it, but every Fashionista has an inner princess. Sugar Bear isn't afraid to flaunt it.

This may not look like fashion genius at first. But look a little closer....

That's right. FIVE layers in one outfit. Also known as the "hobo" look. So chic!

And finally, the piece de resistance for this week. We call it, "High Fashion meets a Prison Cell." Have you ever seen stripes look so good? Of course, the shirt on backwards and the red shoes? Lady Gaga, watch out!

That just about wraps up this week in Fashion News. Look forward to seeing you all next week. Who knows what is in store!

Family Heirloom

Today on Facebook I'm talking about my dining room table. Click here to read more.

Endangered Species

Does this look like an animal on the Endangered Species list? Does he look repentant at all? Does he look like he feels bad? Maybe a little guilty for having a diarrhea-fest all over our living room - not once, not twice, but on THREE DIFFERENT occasions (months & weeks apart)? Do you think he's remorseful at all over the fact that we are forced to get a new area rug? Do you think he's a little embarrassed that after a $150 vet visit all the vet could diagnose was, "I think he just ate something bad..." Huh? Does he?

I didn't think so either.

This dog doesn't know how good he's got it.