Tag Archives: dailyprompt

Creativity, Daily Prompts, Reflections

I Remember Life Before iPhones.

Leave a comment

Do you remember life before the internet?

I was never a popular person with following trends. I was always a step behind. Which I was fine with; I was blessed to have what I had.

Like when the iPod came out I still rocked my Walkman. Then the shuffle came out and I got an iPod. I had that iPod for several years.

Around the same time, I had one of those awesome flip phones. It could flip two ways; I thought I was some cool stuff. (Turns out my husband had one too. Haha!)

I remember life before the internet. I was just so young that I was just outside playing. It’s not like it was an obvious milestone. It was just my childhood. But I remember when the iPhone was new. But I have no idea when I got my first one.

My family took turns using the upgrade with our cellular plan. I know I used an upgrade for the awesome flip phone!!

I can say life was simpler. I miss it; but I use my phone for everything now. My blog, new recipes, digital art, movies, FaceTime, etc. I could use a laptop for all those things but the FaceTime is so lucrative living so far away from family.

If could switch to an iPhone that could only call, text, take photos, and FaceTime, I would. But I don’t think those exists anymore. And if I’m allowed all the options I’m going to use them because they are convenient. So it’s a never ending spiral of being dependent on my phone.

But life before the iPhone is no longer attainable…which is saddening.

Art, Creativity, Daily Prompts, Reflections, Uncategorized

Things…

Leave a comment

What are you good at?

I could list the “easy answers”, but I want to go more in depth. (The quotations is because I like to do the things, but I’m not claiming to be the best.)

I could list art, writing, swimming, dancing, etc. However I want to list other things I’m good at. That are unique to me.

Like I’m good at being a fair referee. No matter if I’m playing or not I want it to be kept fair. This was a skill I needed in coaching. No matter what, I kept it fair. Especially in ultimate frisbee. So much cheating would have gone on if I didn’t keep them honest.

I am also good at befriending the ones left behind. I would say I prefer it. Usually there is that friend that doesn’t fit into the group; and the group alienates them. Unless for severe reasons, I usually gravitate to those types of people. Being different is not a bad thing; it’s just different. My favorite saying is, “Normal is a setting on a washing machine.” I don’t know where it came from but that’s pretty much my motto.

I’m good at not procrastinating. This helped a lot when I was in high school and community college. I was the student to get the homework done weeks before it was due. (I was a definite teacher pet…) but I would turn in the assignments early so that the teacher could give me feedback so that my assignments would receive A+!! Yes, I was that student.

I think I’m also good at admitting when I’m wrong. This one has taken many years; but I believe I’ve gotten somewhat better at. But believe me, there are times where I want to be petty and not say a word, but I’ve come to realization that it’s hurting me not the other person. For me to be happy, I need to admit mistakes, forgive, and move onward.

Thinking outside the box is actually quite difficult. Because you may start off thinking you’re one thing, but putting it into words is impossible.

Have a wonderful Sunday 🥰

Art, Creativity, Daily Prompts, Reflections

Yes! To Me…

1 Comment

Do you have any collections?

I actually have a few things I have collected over the years.

The first: Glass figurines.

I don’t know why I actually started to collect them. I think it was because my grandma really enjoyed buying them and gifting them to me. I can remember the first one well. My grandparents took me to Disneyland for a birthday, and my grandma bought me a sleeping beauty figurine. That was the start. Then for every birthday she gave me a new figurine. I have so many, but with little kiddos they have been living in a box a few years. Once my daughter is bigger I’ll let her see them.

Number two: Physical Movies.

I know the world has become digital over the years but I love owning dvd or blu ray movies. My family has always done this. I’m always wanting to add to my collection; as I walk by the five dollar Walmart bin. I once dug through that bin and organized it. Tells you what a party person I was when I was a teenager. I found it quite fun to do, a late night at Walmart. Haha!

My husband’s and mine’s movies almost filled one of those sleeved cases. Two hundred total.

Third Collection: Awards

This one doesn’t seem like a collection, but I’ve kept all my ribbons, medals, trophies, and plaques, from my many years of swimming. That bin weighs a ton. But in the past I’ve enjoyed pulling them out and thinking back to those days. They were some of my favorite memories. From the age four all the way to nineteen. I don’t know what I’ll do with them later on in life… but I like them, so I will move the heavy bin around from home to home. (Or the husband will move the heavy bin. It really is heavy!)

I have other things I’ve collected. Decks of cards, dice, art supplies, books, stuffed animals, etc.

I have troubles with throwing things away. Or giving things away. Because you never know when you want to play cards, and I’ve slowly collected them over the years from different places.

When you are about to play a board game and it’s missing the dice….? I can help.

Art supplies. I never have to buy any. I just take the supplies that people are giving away.

Books. I’m planning on homeschooling my kids so depending on where we end up living I want to have almost a library of books. Also…then there is no fear of a weird inappropriate book coming into my home. Every book in our home I’ve read and approved.

Stuffed animals. I kept a large percentage of my childhood stuffed animals. Which worked great with our kiddos. They both love the various animals.

So even though I collect various things they all have a purpose. It works out; my husband also likes to collect things. But his collections seem to always need to spend more money. Haha! My collections are cheap, whereas I try to keep him on budget.

Enjoy your Thursday!! Hubby is home!! The house is a happy house once again.

Fluke Spring Snowstorm

Randomly started snowing today. The snow flakes looked almost the size of my sons hands.

Daily Prompts, Life As A Mama, Reflections

This Is A Tough One

Leave a comment

How do you feel about cold weather?

This is tough. I guess it would all depend on what time in the year is it? Because it’s it supposed to be Spring and it still snowing; Nope I’m definitely Not a fan!

But if it Summer and you have been slowly melting. Like you feel like your face has melted down to your shoulders. And the only relief you feel is the cold shower before bed; then yes! I’m excited about the cold coming.

Just where we live I would only wish it would stay in its designated months.

Like one year. (I was dumb, and impatient.) I had planted a massive amount of seeds inside. Because I wanted a huge garden. And since it doesn’t start to warm up until mid May I had to keep everything inside since January.

But seriously enough was enough! It looked like a green house in my enclosed patio. That needed space was no longer accessible.

So. It was around the 2nd week of May and it had been sunny and rainy for most of it. I had been told to wait until after Memorial Day, but I was impatient. So I spent almost 8 hrs transplanting all the plants. Tomatoes, Lettuce, Onions, carrots, cilantro, potatoes, green beans, sweet peas, cucumbers, etc. Everything you could think of I had started from seed. But importantly from heirloom seed.

But so I transplanted everything. And it was all fine. Everything was happy to have more sun and way more space!!

Only to have a night frost happen 2 days before Memorial Day and kill almost everything. I think 2 of the 13 tomato plants survived. All the green beans froze and shriveled. Everything above ground perished. I was so sad. Because we had been planning on having our vegetables covered for at least a few months.

But I was impatient and I suffered the consequences. Our harvest that year was so sad.

All this to say. I like cold, but not when it springs up from no where and ruins all your hard work. Because I had been told by several different local people that the frost was over; that it should be fine to plant outside. But that’s what I get for not listening to the year-round farmers in the area. They are the ones to listen to, because it’s their livelihood is at stake.

So to answer the question it would be yes. I like the cold after the hot hot Summer. But also no; if it has not departed in a timely manner.

I miss Spring. Anywhere else, Spring is my favorite season.

Enjoy your Monday. 🌸

I did not have a relaxing Sunday like I had hoped. Instead my kiddos decided to have meltdowns all day, since their daddy is away on a trip. We miss him dearly. I miss being sane.

So a shout out to all the good husbands out there! Your help is always wanted. You keep us, moms, at bay from insanity! Give your husband a hug today. Just randomly. I’ll give mine a virtual one. 😊

Photo
By: emily2jane
5-19-24

My daughter picked me so many wildflowers!! We are going to plant some today.

Adventures, Daily Prompts, Reflections

Done Many Dumb Things…But No.

Leave a comment

Have you ever broken a bone?

I’ve never actually truly broken a bone. I’ve been hurt. Severely hurt, but it’s never been broken.

I can think back through my childhood and remember sprains and deep bruises, and torn muscles. But no broken bones.

I wore roller blades in the house without a helmet on the second story, and fell down the stairs. But miraculously I was okay.

I tried the “sledding” when on a skateboard with my dog towing me, and she went so fast I fell off the skateboard and scraped almost all my skin off my limbs but no broken bones.

Swimming, I hit someone in the head with my thumb so hard they got a huge bruise, and my thumb throbbed, but no broken bones.

I ran into a teammates shoulder (with my face) and got my lip pressed into my braces. Lots of blood but nothing broke. Not even the braces.

I punched myself in the face with a paint scraper. Gave myself a minor concussion and lost some blood. An Ambulance had to come and take me to the hospital because I passed out while standing. But no broken bones.

I hurt my back enough that it stopped my swimming career, but the doctors couldn’t find the culprit.

There’s several more things. I know I sprained the same elbow more than four times. But it was never enough to break any bones.

Probably why my kids are so resilient. Their bones are strong like their mama.

I guess the only time it might have counted was when I was really little. I don’t know exactly what age…eight…ten…? Something like that. Just imagine two brothers and one sister. Plus two hula hoops over lapped. The brothers were on the outside, the sister (me) in the middle. The brothers begin to play tug-o-war. The sister trips and falls, and the brothers fall on top of her. Which causes the sister to bust up her lip and twist and chip a tooth. So much blood.

I still have it to this day. I could get it capped but it doesn’t bother me. It also has memories. Yes, some bad memories, but also I remember playing with my brothers. That day was almost twenty years ago. Wow. Time does fly.

So I guess I did break something. One tooth. I’m doing pretty good for being a adventurous child. I did so many dumb things in the past.

Enjoy your Sunday!! I will be having a quiet peaceful Sunday with my kiddos. ❤️ Also!

Happy Birthday Mama!!! 💕

Digital Art
By: emily2jane
5-19-24
Art, Creativity, Daily Prompts, Life As A Mama, Poetry

This Would Be Awesome!!

2 Comments

Come up with a crazy business idea.

That the government had to pay stay at home moms a salary. I know, I know. If you magically come up with something for the government to do it just makes taxes go higher…

Instead let’s say this…If you are a stay at home mom, your husband gets a tax break.

Because, us, stay at home moms do so much. And I wish I could help out my husband financially. I know I do in a sense. We don’t have to pay for daycare, cooking, cleaning, laundry, gym, school, etc. It was about 2 years ago, when I looked up to see how much money would a stay at home mom make; and it was about $160,000 a year. I just looked now, and it’s saying closer to $180,000.

Really. Tax break would be awesome!! Like you naturally get, say $20,000 tax refund plus your other additional tax return. I think that sounds amazing!!

Just something extra for all our hard work. An extra incentive for having the greatest and hardest job of all time!! Seriously!! My days seem to be like Tetris…how much can I fit into a day?!?

So I don’t know if this actually counts as a business idea. But it would be truly awesome!!

Just an idea…

.-.-.

We are tough,

We are strong.

We are enough.

Our days are very long.

We feed you.

Bathe you.

Teach you.

Even prepare you!

Payment you might ask?

No money for us.

It is said,

Give us your love instead.

.-.-.

To all the mamas out there!

Digital Art: By emily2jane
“Just Pretty”
01-11-24

I felt inspired to do a pretty picture. Probably because it’s so cold outside. I miss all the colors.

Art, Creativity, Daily Prompts, Reflections

I know!!

Leave a comment

Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?

Mr. Pinky!!

I got a big pink bear for my first Christmas. My mom says I fell into him and gave him snuggles instantly!!

I don’t know why my giant pink bear became a boy bear but that’s what’s his name was and still is.

Yep! I still have him. My kiddos play with him now. I also have pictures of my kiddos giving Mr. Pinky hugs and kisses.

He still looks good for being so old. He has dirt marks that I guess I couldn’t get clean. Lipstick marks because when I was little I would find a lipstick smear it all over my face and give Mr. Pinky extra big kisses. Haha!

But he also is slowly falling apart at some seams so I sacrificed a pair of my shorts and he now has shorts on. It was kind of disturbing to me that the shorts fit him perfectly… I’m the same size as my giant bear…not cool.

But we will have to see how long he is around. Maybe he will get snuggles and kisses from grand babies in the future. I don’t know what is the final plan for Mr. Pinky. But he will stay with me as long as possible. Or unless one of my grandkids in the future desperately needs him. We shall see.

Mr. Pinky!! Many years and counting…
Art, Creativity, Daily Prompts

Gift..?

2 Comments

What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

An indoor swimming pool.

Where we live for some reason they won’t enclose their pool and make it year round. You travel anywhere else and everywhere there is an indoor pool.

The husband and I have talked about building an indoor pool on our property. But that would only happen if we were rolling in the money.

But even if they just enclosed our city pool. I would love to swim laps all year long.

That’s what my body craves. Because when I finally get to swim laps I feel all brand new. I feel ready for the day. I feel…good!

But instead the city wants to spend their money on terrible quality roads. Transit buses that are not needed. Building more homes in a town that doesn’t have enough water.

Maybe I’ll just buy one of those Sun Spas. You know it’s only $10,000. Chump change.

No instead, we drive a distance to a pool that is awesome. The husband says the next time I can swim laps longer. So excited!!!

Have a great Thursday!

Art, Creativity, Daily Prompts, Reflections

Easy.

2 Comments

What is your all time favorite automobile?

A 2010 bright orange mustang. I actually have a picture of me standing next to one; when I was 17! I was determined to have one. Orange was my favorite color!

Instead, my first vehicle wasn’t until I was 27. And… I got an efficient car. At least it was cherry red. That’s somewhat close to orange… right?

Also a mustang would have impossible with kids. Folding over in half to put a baby in…Nope! Not happening.

So I didn’t get my dream car, but I love Jams. (That’s what I’ve named my car) Jams’ is awesome! We got Jams because of the gas mileage. A full tank of gas can go over 400 miles! And when we got Jams is was about $12 to fill up. Now, it more like $30; but that tank of gas will last me 1-2 months.

Look at me…bragging about my Jams. Haha 😂 but definitely Jams is now my dream car. So much so, I wish I could gift one to my mama. 🩷

And if you were curious…

The name Jams comes from the live action Aladdin movie. The scene with all the jams. If you’ve seen it, you know!

Well. My dream car was just that. A dream. But my reality car is perfect for me, my life, and family.

Cherry Orange Red
emily2jane
12-26-23

Art, Creativity, Daily Prompts, Reflections

Positively Impacted My Life??

Leave a comment

Obviously, my husband would be an easy answer. He has great impacted my life for the better. But I think I want to use this time to say my older brother.

My older brother had a great influence in my life. He was always the role model of a strong man in my life. As you all know, my dad was not someone in my life and I had no desire for him to be present either. So to me my older brother filled that role. If I needed help, he was the one I went to.

Now that I am living miles and miles away from my old home; I am realizing how much time I spent with my older brother. During my early teenage years, I would spend time watching him play the piano; Sometimes I would chime in and sing if a song I knew came up. Strangely I felt comfortable enough to sing in front of my brother, but never for anyone else. I would sit and watch him play World of Warcraft; it was incredibly boring, except for the beautiful colors and the imaginative creativity that they had to design the game. We would play board games together. That became a normal thing; my brother had game nights with his buddies over the years, and I was cool enough to tag along.

I have to say it is pretty amazing that I was able to tag along, because when I was a child i tormented my brother. I am amazed that we had such a strong relationship as I grew up; because I know at one point, he probably wanted to strangle me.

But even when I went through the stupid dating experience too young; I remember my brother coming up to me saying, “If you need me to do anything I’m there for you.” I felt so protected in that moment. My older brother was always a shy introvert like me; so, to know he would step up and be my protector made me swell with pride for him.

I even had thought that I wanted my husband to ask my brother for permission to marry me, but it was my mom’s role. But my brother would have been the second person in line.

I also had thought about having my brother give me away at my wedding. Again, I had always seen my mom give me away, but again my brother would have been my next choice.

I can’t really label what in my life has been influenced by him, because to me without him I probably would have seen men different. If life had just been us leaving a verbally abusive dad without a strong male example for me; I’m scared to think who I would have become. I have to thank my brother so much!

I love you big brother!!

Digital Art
By emily2jane
12-18-23