Good Photo Fun for When You're Feeling Bad

Oh my goodness! It's been forever since I've posted on this here blog. That's a bad thing but not as bad as the shingles which had me down for the count for more than two months with horrible pain, terrible itching, and extreme fatigue. Yikes! Thankfully, it's just about resolved and spring is finally here!

Besides sleeping and watching bad daytime TV, I kept myself busy wasted time during my home confinement by surfing the net on my iPad (love that good thing!) Yep, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and more right at my fingertips!

What kind of entertaining things did I find out there on the World Wide Web? Photos of course! Lots and lots of photos - some good, some bad, and some ugly. Some funny, serious, or stupid. Many photos made me shake my head in disbelief, while others made me smile for a moment when I really didn't feel like it.

Since smiling is supposed to be good for you, I encourage you to check out these three types of photos if you need a little bit of "cheerapy." Yes, I just made that word up. If you disagree with my choices, no worries. There's something for everyone out there.

 2. Animals and pets: While I'm not that fond of cats, I do enjoy cute pictures of pups. I also enjoy photos and captions from Casey's Safe Haven, a rescue shelter where my friend Barb volunteers to help horses, ponies, and dogs. Another fun Facebook page to check out is The Daily Puppy, shared by my friend Ronda.

3. Food glorious food: Need I say more? I'm guilty of posting foodie photos myself like this huge breakfast I enjoyed for my birthday a couple years back. Yum!

1. Babies and kids: I'm not just talking about photos of my cute kids or those of friends and family, but adorable snapshots of children from all over the world. Precious!

* Bonus good thing: If you like to people watch but you're like me and sometimes need to do so from the comfort of your couch, check out
Humans of New York., it's a creative site with awesome photography and interesting people. HONY is on Facebook too!

Good Things Readers: Do you have fun, family-friendly photos you would like to share? Let us know in the comments section and will be in touch with the details. Thanks!

There's No Place Like Home For the Holidays

That's the title of the song covered by many artists and groups, but my favorite version is the Perry Como one.



The lyrics go like this:
Oh! There's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam,
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze,
For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home!

I met a man who lives in Tennessee, he was heading for,
Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie!
From Pennsylvania folks are travellin'
Down the Dixie sunny shore,
From Atlantic to Pacific,
Gee the traffic is terrific!

Oh! There's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam,
If you wanna be happy in a million ways,
For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home!

Take a bus, take a train, go and hop an aeroplane,
Put the wife an' kiddies in the family car!
For the pleasure that you bring when you make that doorbell ring,
No trip could be too far!

For me, the fun part this year is that I'm in the song!

"From Pennsylvania folks are travellin'
Down the Dixie sunny shore,"

I've been alone, with my friends, or with family in a variety of different places, but this year it's off to my parents' home in Gulfport, Mississippi. I love to spend time with them!

Some people find time with family stressful.



So, let's break it out... Wherever you're home for the holidays.

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays - The Good Things Version.

Brian (good things also come in twos)

2) Brothers: I have two brothers. I could count them each as good things, but then I'd have no room for more things. We are as alike as we are different from each other.

We enjoy each other's company and make each other laugh. I'm also putting my sister in-law in there. She's awesome. She's not "one of the boys" but she's awesome.

3) Nephews: I have two of those too! They are also awesome, and quite frankly much cuter than my brothers, and it's not creepy when they sit on my lap.

1) Parents: I have two of those! My mom and dad are precious to me. Yes, I could have just written "Family" instead of the pairs of good things, but then I wouldn't have this fun theme now would I?


Sue (Also sponsored by the number 2, or I'm-too-lazy-to-come-up-with my-own-theme so I'm rolling with Brian's)

2. Two cute kids : We've got 'em. They fill our lives with joy and happiness, and make Christmastime merry, bright, and expensive (especially now that they are tweens!)

3. Two sisters : We enjoy each other's company and make each other laugh. Wait, that's what Brian said about his brothers, but it's true. My sisters are awesome aunties who help me carry on festive holiday traditions with the kids like baking cookies*, and passing around presents from the youngest to the oldest or vice versa, which makes gift opening an epic event, or what my hubby T would call an all-day affair.

1. Two parents : I've got them too! They are "Nonnie and Papa" to my kids, and the inlaws to T. My mom and dad are the ones who started many of our family traditions like passing Oplatki around the Christmas table or the aforementioned gift opening ritual. One of my favorite traditions is when Santa (shh . . . it's really my dad) gives a special gift to each of his girls. This year's Christmas soiree will be at my parents' house, which is good because it takes just 10 minutes or so to get there from here. What's even better is that the day will be filled with eating, drinking, laughing, and love!

* Read my post about one of my favorite family cookie recipes and more in this free holiday ebook. Merry Christmas!

Good Ol' Childhood Games

"With a dirty, dirty dish rag on your toe . . ." Sometimes random thoughts pop into my head. This ending to the IT-identifying chant came to me as I washed the dinner dishes a few weeks back. It's one of those childhood sayings that sticks with you for a gazillion years just like, "I'm rubber and you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me, and sticks to you" or "Not IT!" Of course in my mind, one random thought leads to another, and before ya know it, a Good Things post is born.

Well, it sort of works that way. In this case, I needed a little help from my friends, and Brian's friends too. With the magic of social networking, I recruited contributors to tell me one good outdoor game from their childhood. The graphic above is the product of their responses. Some games are familiar like Dodgeball or Hopscotch, others are not so well known like Dr. Tangle or Hunt for the Ol' Gray Woolie?!?

In this tech age, kids are most likely to be attached to something digital or electronic, rather than gathering up the neighborhood gang for a friendly game of Kick the Can, which by the way was the game mentioned more than any other in my unscientific poll. Wacky!

What was so good about these outdoor games from our childhoods? I'll tell right now:

3. Little or no special (expensive) equipment needed: A ball, a can, a flashlight, a stone and some chalk, a doorbell . . .

2. Mom or dad did not have to drive any kids here or there to take part: Go outside. Find some friends in your neighborhood on foot or by bike. Round them up in a backyard, an empty lot or field, or in the alley if you had one. Play a game or two, or more. There ya have it - no seatbelt required.

1. These games were actually fun despite the potential risk for injury. (I'm not a big fan of Dodgeball for that very reason) Good times were had by all, OK, maybe not by the kid who always was IT, but heck yeah, simple summertime fun!

Unplugged.

Kudos to the following folks who shared their favorite childhood games with me, not in any particular order: Kevin, Deneen, Kristen, Jeff, Kelly, Joe, Beth, Donna, Joan, Narda, Marianne, Donna, Kim, Daphne, Greg, Ruth, Connie, and Dana. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now get out there, grab some friends, and go play!

I am what I am

Often being a mom with limited abilities to do certain things because of chronic illness gets me down.

• Can you you go on the field trip to Starved Rock? Nope, mommy can't climb up all those steep stairs.
• Can you come outside and build a snowman with us? No, you know it's too cold outside for mommy to play in the snow.
• Can you kick the soccer ball around with me in the backyard? Nah, wait for daddy to get home.

Can you do this, can you do that, can you . . . ah, the list goes on and on. It's frustrating, and it makes me sad because I really want to do all those things and more, but I simply can't.

My life as a mom is not quite what I expected. I am not the "be all, do all mom" that I thought I would be. I am imperfect. Despite my imperfections, there are things I can do, and most of the time I can do them quite well.

2. Cheer, motivate, and inspire: Miss O is a gymnast and plays the flute. My son A is a soccer player and a plays percussion. I can attend gymnastics meets, soccer games, and musical concerts. I can drive them to and from practice and wash leotards, warm-ups, and stinky soccer clothes. I can remind them to practice their instruments. I can clap, cheer, and let them know it's OK if they lose a game or make a mistake. I can give them smiles and high 5s, take photos and videos, and brag about them to my friends. I can be proud.

3. Guide, encourage, and assist: Hands down, I am the go-to mom for homework and school projects especially if it involves reading, writing, or social studies. Math and science are not really my strong points, but I do try my best to help them in those areas. Do they need to come up with a creative idea? I'm all over it. Do they need help with research? Can do! Who can test them on their spelling words or edit/proofread writing assignments - me, me! Who can be sure their homework and/or school projects are completed and turned in on time - ta da, I can do that.

1. Pray, hope, and love: Each and every day, I pray for the safety, good health, and well-being of my kids, and I have nothing but high hopes and big dreams for their future. Of course, I believe the greatest of all these things is love. Do I show them and tell them I love them very day - you bet (even if they are driving me cRaZy!) Do I give them hugs, kisses, and snuggles? Yes, I do! (when they let me - if you're a parent of tweens you know what I'm talking about here!) Am I an imperfect mom? Of course! But I am their imperfect mom who loves them with all my heart.

*If you missed the link above, check out my guest post, "A Perfectly Imperfect Life," and other good articles and information about parenting on the site 5 Minutes for Mom.

Out my Window

In my kitchen, I have a window.
It has a nice view.
I spy many good things in my backyard.

Here are my favorites:

2. The playset: T and my dad built the set for the kids about six years ago. The kids still swing, slide, and climb from time to time, but they're growing older, and soon the playset will be nothing but a memory. For now, I like to watch them laugh and play outside while I'm busy in the kitchen.

3. Miss O's Evergreen tree: My parents gave each grandchild a tree for their birthdays during our early years in this home. Miss O's Evergreen tree stands proudly front in center in the back of the yard, each year growing a bit taller just like her.

* A has an Oak tree out front which unfortunately is not the original tree, but a replacement when the first one didn't survive. The dead branches from the first Oak rest on the side of our house because he won't let us get rid of them.

1. My window box: I wanted to look out at a little splash of color, and I wanted to add some detail to what otherwise is a very flat wall on the back of our house, so cue my dad again. He built a flower box for me for under my kitchen window. This summer, it's filled with petunias, geraniums, and thyme. It makes me happy to see the bright colors every day.

Kids playing, an ever green and growing tree, and colorful cheery flowers. Three good things I spy out my window. What good things do you spy out yours?