When is a 'K' Just 'OK'?

Lately, in speaking with my friends who have 'texting' age kids, I've noticed a common frustration about miscommunication and interpretation.  Many times It's hard enough to communicate with your kids, especially teens, then try to interpret what they mean in minimal texts!  My girlfriend got a text from her son with instructions to bring something to him today, as they were going to be traveling a lomg distance to see him... there were a couple of ways to interpret what he said, but he wouldn't answer his phone and wouldn't reply to the second text from her trying to clarify the firrst (are you still with me?)... frustrating as all hell!
Also yesterday I texted my 14 year old, who is at a Jazz Camp this summer for 2 weeks ending this weekend, about his High School schedule that I had just received in the mail... I thought he would be excited to know that one of his good friends had a few classes with him and a few of the same teachers... SOoooo, I get this text back...         k       ....... whoopee, now does that mean, ok I got your text... or does that mean, ok, that's fine... or Mom, I don't really care cause it's still summer and I don't really want to think about school right now (which I can hardly blame him, neither do I)!

When you're face to face with someone in conversation you have facial expressions, body language, voice intonation... there are many cues to read from and interpret, but texting and minimal texting it's much tougher to understand.  Don't get me wrong there are many things I like about texting, but mixing teenagers and texting that's a tough one!... and if they want to keep you, their parents, at a distance, it's much easier to do with a text.... besides, THEY DONT ANSWER THE PHONE WHEN YOU CALL THEM, right parents!?

Please comment below and share your frustrations, ideas, or solutions... we'd love to hear.

Never Say Never

I'm generally not a pink person... I don't have girls so there are no pink rooms... my boys are confident enough to have worn pink on occasion, which I do like... the only pink I've worn is a hot pink tank top, so when I saw this pink bedroom on the terrific style blog Coco + Kelley, I was surprised at how much I loved the pink space and thought I could live in this room, it's fresh,  inspirational, and the pieces are perfectly chosen,  just gorgeous...

A Likeness!

In June, it was one year that my mother-in-law had passed away (a great mother-in-law)... we had what's called (in Judaism) as the unveiling, the time to mark the grave with a stone or monument.  After visiting the cemetery we went back to my sister-in-laws to eat and share memories.  I'm always the documentarian of sorts at family gatherings and happy to be, since I carry my digital SLR almost everywhere (the beach is one exception).
So here's the point of this... unfortunately, I never met my father-in-law, he died two years before I met my husband, but through stories and genetics I feel like I knew him.  By genetics I mean that my husband in many ways is a lot like him, and not like him too...

My kids and their cousins were looking at old photos that day...

 like these...

... in the center photo with his WWII buddies

But here's the kicker, my son held up a photo of his grandfather next to his father... WOW!

pretty strong likeness don't you think?

I love this photo my 12 year old took of his beautiful cousin...

Oh, the sticker on his hat... my 12 year old says it stays on... it's COOL that way!

I'll Be Dancing Today!

I'm not dancing just yet... it's too early... perhaps after my coffee al fresco on this beautiful New York morning... I know it's National Dance Day and I love to dance and I have something to dance about today...
The wonderful blog "Writing Without Periods" has interviewed me today as the "Sensational Woman Saturday"!
OK dancing...
When I was a kid, my dream was to be a dancer on the popular TV show at that time "Hullabaloo"...

I wanted to be that 'Go-Go Girl'...

Today, I'm addicted to watching the Fox TV show "So You Think You Can Dance"...

My 12 and 14 year old boys love to dance too!

Enjoy your weekend and express yourself through dance.

Dance Day!

Tommorrow, Saturday, is a special day... on a national level it's the first ever "National Dance Day" and on a personal level it's my special day to be interviewed as a featured blogger for "Sensational Woman Saturday", on a sensational blog called "Writing Without Periods!".... I hope you'll check out the interview and her blog about life after 40!... of which there is plenty!

Now, about National Dance Day (NDD)... this is an event created by So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lythgoe and made official by Congress, to encourage the nation to get healthy through dance!  I love dance, and I love the show because it's a way to see serious dance (modern is my favorite) for FREE!  On NDD most events are happening on the 'left coast'... with a few exceptions, one being The Mall in Washington D.C. , but I say, 'JUST DANCE'... you can even upload your own dance video with instructions from the link above.  Also check out Dizzy Feet for the official dance of the day.

I thought I would start the weekend with a warm up tonight by attending the Huntington Summer Arts Festival at Hecksher Park in Huntington, NY... where Latin guitarist Raul Midon will play his flamenco and jazz-infused music... and I with my own dizzy feet will be 'swagging out' to the beat !  You can picnic there too...

Sleeping in Luxe

I bought these fabulous sheets awhile ago when my husband commented about how we needed some new ones... if HE said it, they must have been pretty bad, and they were old and frayed... in their day they were good quality, and now super soft, but so dingy looking.
Well my husband opened the door on that one...
One day while browsing the Gilt website I found and purchased these colorful Fazzini, Antigua sheets in Lime Green, big risk right?, but worth it... the colors are spectacular, they're super soft italian cotton, and they have a wonderful fragrance... a bonus!  I paired the sheets with a white comforter I had from Pottery Barn, I bought extra matching green pillow cases at Bed Bath & Beyond and a beautiful accent pillow from them too... surprised I could match it with such distinct saturated colors!

'Gilt' has the sheets and duvet on sale again until midnight tomorrow...

They come in blue and lavender too

Anthology at Bed Bath & Beyond

Trust me this pillow looks amazing with the sheets... so now the bedroom, which is all off white has this beautiful punch of color!

If you're enjoying my blog... please leave a comment, we would love to hear from you.

Some Mens Dream

Some men dream about women, some about cars, and some both... mine is the former, and of course, he only dreams about me...
Anyway, if your hubby is a car lover, and he has the HOT car already... and you want to get him a gift of driving accessories... check out this website, Car Guy Gear... they have great stuff, including these very stylish Piloti driving shoe...

... and some are on sale for about $60, down from $90

Neon sign... stylish, large and impressive...isn't that what they all want!

$469

Happy 'Gifting'!