Musical Instrument Museum

If you like music, instruments and culture then check out the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.

They have instruments from EVERY country in the world.

The best part...you get to play some of them!


P.S. One week of the 365 project down...51 to go!

We're High Voltage

Bowling leagues are awesome.

Every week we laugh, bowl up a storm and kick some butt!

As we were bowling, all of a sudden all these pins dropped from where they come down and flew all over the lane.  It was so crazy. You can see the pins in the gutters.

How often does that happen!?



Watch out bowlers!

High Voltage is electrifying!

lol...too much?

Bath Time...Math Time!

This little boy loves school.

He loves 2nd grade.

He loves his teacher.

He reads like crazy.

And all of these things...

Make his Auntie Lauren a very happy camper!

While playing in the bath tub using bath crayons, does he draw pictures? Pictures that boys love such as people and monsters?

No.

He does math problems.

The Sun Rises. The Sun Sets.

Each and every day the sun rises and the sun sets.

No matter what happens, it never lets you down.

Life happens all around you.

Be like the sun. 

Rise every morning.

Brighten the day of those around you.

And on days when you just don't feel like shining...

Find the people who make you mad

and give them a pretty wicked sunburn!



Put the Pieces Together

Sometimes you just need to put the pieces together.

Look at what you have and what you've been given and make what you can with all of it.

Some days you need to listen to the Man upstairs and take a hint.

Really listen.  Not everything is loud and clear.

You won't be able to hear it unless you choose to try.

Everything happens for a reason.

2 down...363 to go!

I take pictures all the time and almost every day anyhow, so this isn't too hard.  Yet.

One of the things I do for To Write Love on her Arms is put flyers in places.

Starbucks is the best!

Remember the post about how I am terribly indecisive?

No? Click here to read that one.

Quick recap...

I can make major life decisions with no problem, but I act like I'm ordering my last meal when I go to a restaurant.

Well...I decided I wanted a new shower curtain.
Months went by. Could I decide on one?
No, of course not.

That's just how I am.

But...I finally, yesterday, got one!
Hallelujah!

Yesss!

Ya, half a post about a new shower curtain.
That's just to show you how important the little things in life are.

365...I'm not so sure.

I loved the movie Julie and Julia when I saw it.

Of course, immediately I thought,

"I could do a 365 'something a day' kind of thing!"

I've been reading The Daily Nail. (<---click!)

If you haven't been to this blog, definitely check it out. This girl does a different nail design every day. Whoa.

Not only does she need to have the time to photograph and blog about the design each day, but she also has to DO the design.

Completely 100% awesome.

Also, I found a blog about a girl who did 365 Slow Cooker recipes.

Again...wow.

I know, as does everyone else, you need to be many things to do a 365 project. Some of those include...

-Determined

- Creative

- Disciplined

- Possess good follow through habits

- Supported mentally

Etc.

Now, I have many of those qualities.

But the one I often lack...

.

.

.

follow through.

Dun, dun dunnnnn!

(Please insert your own dramatic sound for climactic effect.)

That's the most important one!

Then I found this article.

Project 365: How to Take a Photo a Day

Read it.  It says you don't need to blog about your pictures everyday. As long as you take a pic everyday, you can blog about them every other day or once a week, depending on you.

Be aware, this blog project is not something you do for other people. 
You do it for you. 

365 Photos:

A Photo a Day to See Your Life in a Whole New Way.

Catchy huh?

I'm not saying I'm going to try this out with failure already in my mind, but I won't cry a river of warm tears if I don't make it.

It'll be great.

Coincidence?

Another amazing time at a concert last night.

Who could not love concerts!?

(Besides my husband who has no desire to go to a concert, ever.)

Anyway...I saw a band called A Rocket to the Moon.

I've seen them a few times before usually when I go see The Maine play.  No big deal.

They play their set.

Kelle and I walk into the lobby and who do I see?

John O.

As in, the lead singer of The Maine, John O.

Last seen looking something like this...

He's friends with the lead singer of A Rocket to the Moon. 

There were these two lead singers, from bands I love, just standing there. No fans around. No screaming crowds.

So, of course, I said "Can I get a picture with both of you?"

And they said yes, because I'm a sweet girl.

So John O was at a concert that his band wasn't even playing at and he just happened to be standing there right in the lobby at the exact place and time I was.

Coincidence?

I think not.

He's probably stalking me.

.

.

.

.

Which is totally cool with me.

(Please insert your own giggles and eye roll here.)

In other news...

Did you know Frankie Muniz (from Malcom in the Middle) lives in Scottsdale and plays the drums in a band called You Hang Up.

He went from this...

To this...

I had no idea until last night when they played too.

Random...I guess that's what I get for letting my Frankie Muniz fan club membership expire! LOL.

In other, other news...

Bowling league starts tomorrow!

Our team is called High Voltage.

We're gonna kick some league booty.

I'll keep you posted.

Precious Cargo

As we are driving together in Josh's truck...

Lauren: *sigh

Josh: What?

Lauren: Why do you drive so slowly?

Josh: I always drive slow when I'm carrying precious cargo.

Cue smile and blushing...

Prevention

I'm not afraid to keep on living.

It's Suicide Prevention Week.

Make yourself aware.

Did you know...

- A person ends their own life every 40 seconds.  That's unbelieveable to me and yet entirely too real.

- Suicide is among the top three causes of death for people ages 15-44 and the second leading cause of death in people ages 10-24.

- In the United States, more people die each year from suicide than from HIV and homicide.

Our loved ones need to know we care about them.

- Males are four times more likely to die from suicide but females are three times more likely to attempt it.

- White Americans are more likely to die from suicide than Americans from other racial backgrounds.

- Prevention is the key to saving lives and helping other know they matter.

- 90% of suicides in the U.S. are linked to mental illnesses, including disorders such as alcohol abuse and other drug related addictions.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center states, "Suicide is a preventable public health problem."

Suicide is not a word or idea that should be taboo.  People should be aware that it is a worldwide issue and we need to work together to promote prevention.

To Write Love on Her Arms promotes prevention. 

Love is the Movement.

This is something that has an effect on many people.

I've lost quite a few people I really loved. 

Many of them too soon.

We might need to check ourselves before we can help others.

How do we treat the people we come across?

Whether you know someone really well or hardly at all, respect them. Befriend them. Love them.

I wish prevention could have saved the people I've lost in my life because of suicide.  I work with and support TWLOHA because I don't want to lose anyone else.

You matter.

All information included in this post was gathered from the World Heath Organization and The suicide Prevention Resource Center.