Generally on Sundays after Mass, our girls usually have Religious Ed and so, rather than go home and come back, I bring my walking clothes and get a good 45 minute or so walk in. Today on my walk around our City Circle I was surprised to see a VW festival gathering of sorts going on. I heard the music LOOOOOOOONG before I saw the VWs EVERY. WHERE. I walked with a smile; not because we own a VW but because my Hubby went through a VW phase in college. First with a pale blue beetle and later with a VW Bus. I hated both of them. I was always afraid I was going to get dirt on me, there was no A/C and they were LOUD. Ick. However, I smile because he loved those cars (the bus more than the car) and they had some funny stories attached to them involving fraternities, road trips, steep roads and a line of traffic, among others. Given a choice, I am willing to bet my Hubs would love another one….given sufficient fundage, I’d say…go for it, sweets. Enjoy the pics, it was a great 45 minute walk!
Author Archives: tracye1
WIWS…Spring has sprung!
Sunday Mass fashion sharing with the masses @ Fine Linen and Purple…here we go!!!!!
Another weekend of a dress you haven’t seen on me here yet….exciting stuff, right?? With jewelry you may or may not have seen and if you look REALLY carefully you can see my budding herbs in the background. My favorite time of year!!!
I’m including my female mininons this week, too….since they are always so helpful with the photo shoot and all. The menfolk around here generally shun the camera or photobomb or make ridiculous faces….so they’re out! This week anyway….

Bracelet gift from my mom a few years ago, ring you’ve seen this one before and funky necklace a thank you gift from a neighbor for cat sitting.

Our oldest girl and her VERY purple shoes (Kohl’s) and matching hair bow (farmer’s market) and Aeropostale dress (thrifted) with my (Kohl’s) sweater.

Youngest diva sporting her Kohl’s blingy flip-flops, and hand me down dress and cardi and a hairbow stolen from Mimi long ago!
#Gosnell. MSM roundup, the day after the #Twitterfest
Let me first say that while I am fully recognizing that I am fortunate to be gainfully employed, it is also to be noted that such JOB absolutely interferes with my social interactions throughout the day (as well as blogging and exploring other hobbies), but hey…we gots to eat, right? Anyway. If you weren’t aware, on Friday, some GENIUS (and someone PLEASE let me know if you are aware of WHO started this train…just brilliant!), launched a full-out Twitter campaign to have Kermit Gosnell’s trial be the #1 trending topic to bring light to the complete mainstream media (MSM) blackout of the trial that has been happening since MARCH 18!!!! Now listen, I am Catholic, follow mostly Catholics on Twitter, am relatively abreast on the news of the nation and world (“relatively”, because in all honesty the news is just plain depressing and I am a terribly sympathetic and empathetic individual and the news has a serious effect on my heart) and I have only been aware for a couple of weeks of the trial. Back to Twitter….it was going OFF, OFF I say on #Gosnell. It did, in fact, get MSM attention in a shame-fest. Now, isn’t the whole job of a report to get a “scoop”..you know, the first to report on a happening? We have a MSM full of chickens. Yellow-bellied chickens. By late afternoon/early evening there was a promise that Anderson Cooper was to lead with the story on AC360 last night. Other reporters started to comment on the lack of MSM coverage and The Washington Post vowed to do better in the coming days. This morning I did a quick round up…”quick” means, scanning the FRONT internets page of the following MSM sites, I did also review “US, Nation and Politics headers” for other quick scans, because let’s be honest…most people get their news like that. Here’s what I found based on my personal news folder at 6:30 a.m…therefore NOT exhaustive. Not at all. Because obviously I need to add the Atlantic in my folder, and life news…..
Breakdown of front pages:
CNN: a blip under “the latest”
NY Times: Nada
LA Times: Nada
BBC News: Nada
NPR: Nada
USA Today: Nope, however Kobe’s injury and the implications of his future are front and center…
Local news: Guffaw….just for kicks and nope
RealClear Politics: An entire section!!!
Let’s hope in the coming days these headers change. It’s hard stuff to read. Disgusting. Mind-searingly evil and incomprehensible and yet we must be informed. Ignorance is not bliss. C’mon MSM, you can do better than that.
Friday….bring the thunder
Fun Friday, Folks. You know what that means…..well since Jen is a leetle busy post-birth and all and spending her days trekking it to and fro to the NICU for baby Joseph, she’s handed this weeks QTs off to Grace.
- Day 7 of clean Eating, people. Day 7. Proud to say I’m toeing the line. The whole planning thing really panned out this week. And I’m feeling good!!!
- Week 1 of my gym’s 6 week Challenge and……..I worked out one day this week. Totally need to re-group on the exercise deal is I plan on winning. The whole life-getting-in-the-way ain’t gonna bring home the 2K, you know?!?
- I’ve been doing lots of praying this week. For gals in labor, babies in the NICU, parents in the ICU, those suffering from cancer, their loved ones, the struggles go on and on and sometimes it’s a little overwhelming all this suffering in the world and then I was reminded of this by Ann Voskamp….because I am a “fixer” and like to make things right and suffering frustrates me because I’m helpless and yet:

- Back on the upswing….we bought our beach pass and have used it. Twice. Two weekends in a row. Don’t hate. Man I love the beach. Love.
- I’m running out of things to say.
- Really I’m running out of time, because I need to get ready for work!
- In reply to Grace’s query of kitchen furniture and the like….we have a super hutch/dresser/furniture, thanks to some super awesome friends! Sadly time is limiting me from finding the picture!!!
go check out the rest of the crew and jump on in so Jen has plenty of reading material in the NICU and keep those prayers coming, people!
And the last shall be first….
THIS week, Jen has flipped the order and the procrastinators (AKA, MOI) are at the TOP of the list…so Friday Saturday QTs it is….b/c I can’t seem to get it together in time for Friday….but y’all pray for her and her health and her upcoming birth of her bambino…..she really needs ’em!! Annnnnd, BTW…congrats to MoxieWife, Hallie on the birth of her tardy chubs, Charlie!!! Now onto the QTs….
This was week 6 of my Groupon for Impact Fitness and it was AWESOME!! So awesome in fact, I conned encouraged a friend to join (which scored me 1/2 off the NEXT 6 weeks). We are both doing the next challenge which promises a $2000 prize to the person with the highest % weight loss. I’M. IN. GAME. ON.
I’m also apparently in the lead for a word-of-mouth contest the gym had for referrals and maybe, just maaaaaaaybe if I win….Mama will be reading these blogs on her new iPad. The anticipation is KILLING ME!!!
And so, with the upcoming challenge and my aspirations on bringing home the multiple Benjamins I am planning my menu…except I’m not. I’m on the computer. Earlier this week I already sorta mapped it out. Now to put it to paper. And head to the grocery store. And cook. HOWEVER…my family is on board. Might have something to do with the dinner out I promised with my winnings…….
Switching gears….Hubs and I are almost done with this season of Downton Abbey. ONE. MORE. EPISODE. I’m preparing for withdrawals. And bracing myself for a shocking last episode. Or so my friend has said, without spoiling it. GAH!!!
Hubs and I have a date night tonight. Gotta love Groupon…..Steak!!!!! And date night! Double W!!!!
On a camera/photography note….I need to send off my beloved Nikon for repair. Sad face. Any suggestions? So far, I’m planning on sending it to Nikon…they diagnose online and price it before you even send it.
For the final QT…I’m sharing this video of a hilarious “prank” by Jeff Gordon at a car dealership…real or no….flippin’ funny. My friend showed me at work and then I watched with the Hubs last night and laughed even harder. Happy Weekend!! I’m off to PLAN for my WIN!!
For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!


















