Appreciating the Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Hodgepodge friends..it's nice to be back on the blog. I have so much to catch up on here, both reading and writing. Let's get started. Add your link at the end of my post IF you've answered today's questions. Happy Wednesday!

1. What's a phrase your mother often said to you? If you're a parent, is this something you now say to your own children?

'Be careful.'  Worry is something that must be tamed in a mother's DNA. 

When I say this to my own girls (and I do) they like to reply back with, 'Thanks mom..good thing you reminded us of that because we were planning to be completely reckless.' 

They think they're hilarious. 

2. What is a scent you associate with your mother or your childhood home?

Chocolate sugar-y goodness. I think my mother will be absolutely fine with that answer. She is a wonderful baker, her Christmas cookies are legendary and her homemade brownies and cakes world class, so definitely the scent of something wonderful in the oven. 

3. What's an activity you remember always doing with your mother (or someone who was a mother figure in your life)?

Cooking and baking would be the obvious answer, and I so appreciate my mother's skill there and the fact that she passed her love of home and hearth on to me. The thing that popped into my mind though, was something completely different-paperdolls. Can you still buy paperdolls? My sister and I absolutely loved them, and spent hours playing with ours. That was probably one of my favorite things to do growing up.  

Some of the paperdolls came with the kind of clothes you punched out of the page, but the best kind were the ones you cut out yourself.  They had tabs to hold them in place when you folded them over the doll. My mom didn't actually play paperdolls with us, but she helped us cut out the clothes and we loved that so much. I have such a clear picture in my head of the three of us at the kitchen table chatting as we worked. My mom is very creative with a bit of the artist in her, so she was never sloppy, and she never ever ever cut the tabs off the shoulders, which made them unwearable. I quite often snipped off the tab. 

I feel like so many people reading won't have a clue what I'm talking about, but if you loved paperdolls you'll understand. 

4. Flared jeans, maxi dresses, and jumpsuits are 70's fashion trends back this spring. Are you on board? Which trend would you be most inclined to try? For the men...flared corduroys, wide-collared shirts, and floral prints...what say you?

I will not be wearing any sort of jumpsuit, that much is for certain. I think that might have been a cute look for me back in the 70's, but not in the 00's. ahem. 

While I like the idea of a maxi dress and have tried to make it work, it just doesn't. I do love them on my daughter though. I would probably wear a flared jean, not a super wide crazy flare but a small flare would be okay.  

I'm not keen on any of those man styles. I think then and now, 70's fashion suited women more so than men. 

5. May 6th is Teacher Appreciation Day and also Nurse Appreciation Day. Is there a nurse or teacher you have especially appreciated along the way? Tell us why?

I've been fortunate to have so many wonderful teachers all throughout my schooling, but the teacher I most appreciate right now would be my Daughter2. I got to spend a few hours volunteering in her room last week, and I'm so impressed with her skill in the classroom.

She has such a wonderful way with her students, and strikes precisely the right balance between loving and firm. I know I'm her mother, but seriously the girl's got skilz! 

6. If I came by your house, what would I find on your frig door?

Not a thing. We're selling our house and have to pretend nobody lives here. Even if we weren't selling I wouldn't have much there. I like the minimalist thing when it comes to refrigerators. When my house wasn't for sale the only things on my frig were photos of the three children we support through World Vision and Compassion. Their photos are a reminder for me to write them letters and keep them in my prayers.  

7. Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana made her royal entrance on Saturday, May 2nd. On a scale of 1-10, how much attention did you give to all the news coverage? 1=Who's Charlotte? 10=sat glued to the telly, cuppa in hand.

I'm right up there in the 8 or 9 range, and excited to have a girl in the mix. Those cheeks! Completely adorable. I think her name is lovely too.  I had a full day on Saturday, so could not sit around in my pjs watching the telly, but I did check for updates on Twitter. 

Also, let's discuss Kate's hair because it's pretty much perfection. I wish her hair team could do my hair now and then. Remember the old Breck commercials? Kate could totally be a Breck girl.  Am I dating myself here today? Regardless, I think she handles all the attention, scrutiny, and criticism with a lot of grace. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So here's a fun thing. I posted that picture (above) of my Daughter2 on Facebook earlier this week and her long ago fifth grade teacher left this photo in the comments-

She had a picture of my daughter taken in her fifth grade classroom in almost the same pose! I know! And that face! Pure sweetness with just a hint of mischief in the eyes. I remember that adorable little blouse too with it's dainty embroidered flowers. 

Be still my heart. 

Seriously, I might have to go lie down now because it's all too much.

Also, how amazing is it that her fifth grade teacher could put her hands on this very photo taken fifteen years ago?! Miss S. taught both my girls in the fifth grade and we all adored and appreciated her. 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day Ms. S! 
This picture made my day, and I'm sure Daughter2's as well.