Hello, it’s summer.
!!! anyone?
Let’s start today out with a BANG, shall we?!
Whammo:
Need I say more?
!!!
Ice cream makes me thirsty. I’m not it’s biggest fan. So you know it’s intentional happiness when I take the kids out for Ben and Jerry’s at 7:00 on a Friday night. Let’s forget about the fact that I called Jen and was inspired by her own happy ice cream trip with the kids, that my husband was working late again and just about anything sounded better than wrangling the kids to bed by myself, and that it was Fourth of July weekend, dammit, and I should be celebrating LIFE, LIBERTY and all that jazz. I am a good mama, and this was intentional happiness.
!!!
Silly Bandz. Yes, they are all the rage right now. Even I’m wearing them. Hey, I’ve got very little style, I gotta go with the accessories that work, you know? And these babies are functional. After having misplaced every single one of my hairbands, I tested out one of these little jelly doodads with my thick-ass snarles this morning. That’s right, I’ve had a seahorse holding up my hot, messy hair all day.
(Oh, and if you don’t know what these things are and you have small-ish kids, consider yourself warned. If your kids are older and you’re past this phase of jelly phases, well, moving on then…)
!!!
I received a lovely new journal in the mail this week from a friend. Even though I’ve barely been able to publish anything new and worthy here at Momalom, I’ve been writing up a storm in my notebooks (yes, multiple) and with an actual writing utensil. Oh my heavens what happened to my handwriting? Has it really been that long since I’ve written longhand?
!!!
I realize it’s not the most appetizing photo, but CORN. Like the iPhone (but so NOT like the iPhone), need I say more? It’s summer, folks. Hit up your local farm stand and get buttery.
!!!
Summer Buzzcut
Start:
Middle:
Finish:
!!!
Jen and I met at a mini-zoo with the 6 cousins. I’m pretty sure a few of them could have been thrown in a cage with the panther who warranted this sign. And yes, if you are wondering, that would be MY kids I’m referring to. Seriously, do your kids bite? Mine freaking BITE, y’all!
!!!
iChat, how I love thee. AIM, Gchat, whatever you want to call it. I heart my buddy list and my buddies and the fact that whether it’s 5:00 am or 11:00 pm I just might have the opportunity to say hi, how are you? i had a shit day, how about you? That right there is some INtentional happiness, people.
!!!
A boy
laying in a circle of grass
surrounded by circles of grass
an ice cream cone in his hand
flip flops on his feet
I remember it
being me
I miss it
being me
but I’m so happy
that it is him now
and that I
am able
to find the !!!
in summer
this summer
these days
right now
!!!
Are you new to Intentional Happiness? Well where have you been?
Go here…to the !!! Page.
Or, even better, go here…to Bad Mommy Moments.
We started this project because we often find ourselves falling victim to the mundane. We are too busy, too stressed, and we need a break. But we can’t always get one. So we find the moments or make the moments that get us through.
The beauty behind !!! is that it really is intentional. Seeing some one little thing as a giant source of happiness even when we are down in the dumps has the potential to lift us up again. Or, my personal fave, actually creating a moment that will bring on the !!! for you, your kids, your friends, your life.
So…
what makes you
Link up or share some !!! with us in a comment.
Read More in !!!, Sarah Writes
Add a Comment
I keep wanting to do this and I keep forgetting!
Anyway, my kids have somehow not seen the silly bandz. I don’t even know how this is possible. But I’m not making eye contact with them, just in case..
Once they find out you’ll be shelling out $1.99 at 7-11 every other day until they have enough to fill up both forearms. Then they’ll get sick of them and YOU’LL start wearing them, just to know you got your money’s worth.
Or, perhaps you will be strong where I have clearly been quite weak.
!!!
My daughter just started summer camp so I’m sure soon she’ll be searching for her bag of Silly Bandz that she stopped thinking about after school let out!
I like the cruise through your summer day. I think it’s important to capture these moments in time.
Daughter starting summer camp sounds like some !!! for Mama Linda.
Adore you. That is all.
I’m so, so tired today. I think I’m crashing from all of my recent adrenaline. I’m sad to say I have no enthusiasm for my own !!!, but I certainly enjoyed yours. Particularly the iPhone as I drool in envy.
And the journal? I’ve started carrying one around in purse. If I could put down my own (humble 3G) iPhone long enough, I might actually find time to do some that traditional writing I so long to do.
Hugs as always my friend! xo
I hear ya, sister. I’m exhausted. Shot. Spent. Overtired. Done.
But since the !!! started here I keep it going. And it does me a world of good. Especially when I’m on the emotional edge, as now.
xo
iPhone 4! Sqeeee! I get mine in two weeks. 14 days. xxxx hours. Yes, I’m counting down.
You are so brave to have buzzed your son’s hair. I’ve been thing about doing that to my son, but haven’t worked up the nerve yet. Will you come over and do it?
Be over in the mornin’. It’s really quite fun. And since the hair grows back in a matter of weeks it’s super practical for these SUPER HOT DAYS OH MY GOD I’M DYING IN THIS HEAT….
A Mr. Potato head silly bandz (why yes, I DID buy the Toy Story 3 Silly Bandz for my addicted 7 year old) held my hair up. :)
Holy mother of God they have Toy Story ones? You know we are obsessed with “Wooby” and Buzz over here, right?
I love that we are all doing this, inspiring each other with !!! when things kind of suck at times.
Especially when we are overspent, exhausted, drained, void of energy.
Yet, we and our children, need, deserve, demand the !!!.
My list will be up by the end of the week! Love yours, especially the ice cream. There is something so indulgent about ice cream on a Firday night, especially when all common sense points to shooting through the bathing and bedding process, just to get some relief!
Well done!
Circles of grass. Ahhhhh. I feel all wound up in green.
Silly bandz? Even the high school and college kids want them. LOL!!!
I don’t have my own !!! post but will have a Friday Fun one tomorrow. It is all written and set to publish as I am running a HUGE race this weekend. Nerves are getting to me – along with Mother Nature in the form of this heat and monthly fun!!!
Love these posts, Sarah!!!
Try to stay cool for that race, my dear. It’s gonna be hot! Maybe you’ll be lucky and get some rain.
Wow, you had a lot of !!!. Those are all GREAT moments! I love that you buzzed your son’s hair and that he’s holding the !!! sign in his mouth! I haven’t seen these Silly Bandz yet, but I’m sure I will soon!
Ben & Jerry’s!?!? Next time, I’ll take your kids for you!!! YUM!! And the circle picture with the poem? LOVE!
Oh these make me long for the great outdoors as I sit here in this stuffy grey office. I took my girl out for ice cream today and she refused it. And it isn’t her first time turning her head away from it. What an oddball – who doesn’t love ice cream?? That’s OK, my !!! is that I got to eat her share too. Woot!
Happy summer to you and yours :)
Giggles doesn’t like ice cream either, Justine! (I think it’s too cold for him.) And Lollipop doesn’t like pizza. Who are these kids??
I have oodles of journals. It is the only way I can really write my poetry. I long hand it first, then post it via blog if I feel an attachment. As a matter of fact, I enjoy writing long hand much more than through my keyboard.
I !!! it in fact.
I’m learning to love the longhand again. I find it incredibly satisfying to write in my journals…but mostly, I think, because I can be as incoherent as I want and don’t really have to go back and edit. It’s satisfying, like it was when I was in high school, playing with words.
YES! It is the word playing that I love. I don’t erase either. I simply cross out, just in case I find use for that word or thought later.
I’ve fallen in love with this post concept and must join in. Soon.
So glad you joined in!!!
I especially love the summer buzz cut!!! (Boys whine about it, then love it.)
iPhone 4….that’s awesome!
My !!! today: I made Star Wars pancakes (thank you Williams-Sonoma) for my birthday boy. Six years ago today was an even bigger !!! moment.
Star Wars pancakes? You are some kind of !!! mom. LOVE IT!
Wowza! You have 50 link ups so far! Lots of happiness going on out there, I tell ya!
I’m beyond envious of your iPhone4. Tim his getting his next week. Bastard.
Icecream makes ME thirsty too! So funny.
Silly Bandz are here too. Big Time. And they made me happy until a rubber Princess Wand cut off my circulation. That’s non!!!
I remember when that was me too. In the circle of grass. In the sun. With the icecream. And do you know what, it still can be… get out there! Lay down! Let the sun shine on your face. Be that person. And get !!!
Love this. Love Love Love it.
You’re right. I can do it too. I just might have little creatures pouncing on top of me. But that’s okay. It’s all a part of this wacky, crazy life that I love so much.
Love you. Love Love Love you.
Ah! This is wonderful. Ice cream is wonderful. Husbands working late? Not so wonderful. Mine worked all day on the 4th. Boo! We (meaning I) didn’t even celebrate it.
That last photo in the grass is wonderful! And hey, my kids are soo old and we’re into the silly bands too. Hadn’t tried one as a hair tie, but now you’ve got me thinking…
Lovely photos and I just love the words about your son at the end and the wistful note remembering such times when you were young.
I thought I had a !!! moment the other night, when the air conditioning was fixed. Um. 12 hours later. Not so much…
Can someone send a Saint Bernard with some !!!s and strong drink??
Every week I say I am going to link up with !!! and every week it never happens. This coming week it. will. happen. I fancy/adore/love this idea of finding intentional happiness! Or rather!!!
I think it will begin this evening on my “date” with my girls at the Children’s Museum :)
Yay, yay, yay, I just posted my first !!!. It took Daddy taking two of the three kiddos out for the afternoon so Mommy could think for a moment, but I did it … and only a day late no less. !!! indeed. =>
I love the idea of intentional happiness in my life. And I find it in so many places. It’s photgraphy it that has been the problem.
I am obsessed with notebooks. My poor children are going to have a time sorting through the mess of them when I pass. I imagine they will make a great bonfire one summer evening. !!! for you and yours!
I need to know what you think of the iPhone 4. You are on the cusp of technology, my friend! (I’ve heard it’s really really cool, which is evil of them because they make you want the newest, even when the one you have is just fine.)
I am still waiting on my iphone 4. You will have to give a review about it. And ice cream – that is always intentional happiness no matter what time of the day.
My husband just used the buzzer on his hair, which was quite !!! for me. His profile was looking a bit bushy, especially since he has a habit of running his fingers through his hair when he’s thinking hard at work.
Hey, my hair is currently being held up by a cowboy boot silly band. Best use ever.
iPhone! Ben and Jerry’s! Summer buzzcut! This is all awesome. Totally awesome.
I really like your photography! Nice!