Throw Back to...High School

I'm linking up with Andrea today for her Let's Talk series, I totally read it wrong...rather in my blog planner I just wrote, school days, so I just took some pictures of some high school photos, but looking a little closer, it says College Throwback. Well...that will have to wait for another day...I took high school photos, so that's what I'm showing you today, hope you don't mind.

See that picture up there, yep, turned 15, braces and all. Funny enough I owned a gingham type shirt then, but don't have one now...hmmm....That was at one of the hangouts in my town, it was a 50's diner and everyone went there.

Guess what? My friend just posted (like this afternoon), a big group picture of us from our 9th grade class picture...let me show it to you...can you find me?

Yeah I wouldn't be able to either...but let's look a little closer and you'll see I'm pretty much in the center...as a cheerleader! Yep that's right I was a cheerleader for 1 year...I had totally forgotten about that picture and being one...haha! Anyway, when I got to 10th grade (officially at the high school campus) you couldn't do both marching band and cheerleading and I loved marching band so I chose that.

One of my good friends, who we see often, actually we went to her daughters birthday just a few weeks ago. This is 9th grade. Back in the day, 9th grade was junior high and we got to sit out where we are standing for lunch, which only 9th graders got to do...big time I know. We thought we were so cool.

9th grade graduation. For whatever reason I can only find this picture...I have no idea where all of the other pictures are. My friend who I just saw a few weeks ago too. Man I've been friends with these girls for a long time. Actually it goes back to 7th grade if you really wanted to know.

Hey I'm turning 16! First time I ever got my nails done at a salon...now that seems so crazy to wait that long now and days...perhaps I'll do the same with Mini Fox.

 

11th grade Homecoming dance. , the guy in the white jacket, totally had this huge crush on him, went to 3 dances with him and didn't kiss him until I was a Junior in College...talk about waiting FOREVER!

 

 

Now we are entering the part of the post where it is all of my scrapbooking photos...since I scrapbooked all of my pictures...so be warned, these were my first pages that I ever did.

 

A big part of my life was band. I played trombone and did every type of ensemble possible at school. Yep just call me band geek.

 

 

Let's zoom in a bit...so trombones were always in the front line...you know moving parts and all, can you see me? I was the only girl...tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, short, tall, tall, tall...haha. Hey at least we're all in step, that's good.

 

 

This band geek went to Reno for a Jazz Festival, super fun times.

Can you see me? There are only 3 girls...the other two are blonde...haha.

So while in band there were a group of us that always hung out (see Homecoming picture above). Anyway, one of the older sisters started calling us S.S (snob squad, so I guess we could be considered the first plastics? I really hope we weren't that mean, I don't think we were), anyway, everyone pretty much knew us as that, and always wanted to know what it meant...so I guess if you were one of those people and reading this now...now you know.

My first time at Disneyland was for a honors society thing, I know took 17 years for me to get there...

Hey I'm 18 now! Yep I turned 18 as a senior in high school.

A big part of my senior year was marching band, as I was the drum major. See that person in the front there...yep me.

A close up of most of my outfit besides the shako...errr..hat to those that don't know what a shako is.

Our class decided it was a good idea that 98 days (since we were the class of 98), would all just ditch school. Unofficial, the teachers had no idea...and since we were ditching half of the junior class ditched too, and boy did we get in trouble, but it was a super fun day hanging out down in Santa Monica.

In high school the other group I hung out with, were the ASB kids. Mostly the kids from 7th grade, anyway, when Grease released for it's 20th anniversary at the theater, it's totally normal to grab our mom's, dress up and go see the movie together right?

Finally graduation! I told you once that my brother was 9 months younger than me. We ended up graduating together. Yep that means all of the same classes, all the same friends and I wouldn't have had it any other way!

Me and my brother...

 And on that note I think I've shared enough embarrassing photos for one post...Hope you all had a great weekend!

Linking up here

Friday Favorites #79

appy Friday Foxy Friends! Today...I'm not sure if I should be excited or sad...I think a little bit of both. Baby Fox is graduating preschool! He's going to Kindergarten in about a month...waaaahhh!!!! Anyway, off to the airport to pick up my Mother-In-Law, so happy she can join in on the celebrations.

In case you missed it on the blog:

 

Monday: $10 Target Haul

Tuesday: Show and Tell: Home Tour!

Wednesday: My Go To Summer Going Out Outfit

Thursday: 4 Tips to Raise Polite Confident Kids

My favorite day of the year is happening right now as we speak. Since I'm putting this together on Thursday night I'm letting you know what is on my wish list. You better believe that as soon as the sale goes live for the public at midnight I'll be on my computer hitting go, go, go! Buy, Buy, Buy!

 

1 - Barefoot Dreams Front Drape Cardigan ($59, reg. $92)

2 - Split Neck Mix Media Tunic ($39, reg. $59)

3 - Pleat Front V-Neck Top ($24.90, reg. $38)

4 - Caslon Front Pocket Top ($28.90, reg. $39)

5 - Strip Long Sleeve Crewneck Tee (sold out, boo!)

6 - Sweet Escape Floral Print Romper ($32.90, reg. $49.95)

7 -  Lush 'Whitney' Bell Shift Dress ($31.90, reg. $48)

8 - Faux Leather Cross Body Bag ($29.90, reg. $45)

9 - Lorac 'Enchanting Elegance' Eye and Cheek (Online Only $18)

10 - Naturalizer 'Jelina' Riding Boot ($133.90, reg $199)

11 - Nine West 'Vain' Platfrom Bootie ($79.90, reg $128.95)

 

 Last weekend was a pretty good one. Mr. was gone for a few days, and when Mr. is gone Baby Fox likes to sleep with me...he's just too cute.

Friday Mini Fox went to the dentist with me, she mostly just sat on my stomach while they cleaned my teeth, but she was so good for the hour that we were there she got a treat...she's supposed to be posing with her treat 'cheesy chips' aka Cheetos...

 

What happens to your hands when you have cheesy chips.

Then we picked Baby Fox up from school and headed to Costco, our favorite place, they love all of the samples.

Then a friend dropped off the flower arrangements I ordered for my cousins 40th birthday party. So pretty right?

Saturday the kids helped make breakfast, pancakes.

Then we got Baby Fox's hair cut in preparation for his preschool graduation that's happening tonight!

Then swim lessons.

She is such a good sport always waiting for other people to do things.

After we got back and after lunch the kids played a few video games before naptime.

Then we headed off to LA for my cousins party. It was  so nice to be around all of my cousins without the kids...no running after them, just good talk.

Sunday was pretty low key, meal prep...what else?! But we did get in some pool time, that was fun.

Our daycare provider is out for a month so we're having to piece together people to watch the kids...this day my parents watched them. I just love that they live so close to help out and spend time with the kids. This girl, is all sass. that's her ballerina bun.

 

My parents took them to the library for story and craft time. They loved it.

I am so thankful for great friends to take care of my kids.

 As always here are some videos that I've been loving lately. These Pizza Rolls, seriously I need them right now!

Oh my goodness, God was Watching out for this man.

Hope you all have a great weekend! I can't believe my baby is graduating preschool! WAAAHHH!!!! Kindergarten in a month!

 

Linking up here

 

4 Tips to Raising Polite Confident Kids

Back in June, I wrote a post for Abbie from Grumbling Grace about raising polite confident kids
for her Mombies Unit Series.  Just in case you aren't in the know: Definition of Mombie (n.) - A sleep deprived supermom who feeds on caffeine and survives on sticky kisses and messy smiles. Mombies are master multi-taskers and suck it uppers.

I'm so excited to be a part of this Mombie group. I just love that term and what it means, seriously we can all relate! I knew I wanted to contribute but didn't know exactly what to write about, so many ideas floating around my head. . My first thought was how to potty train, since we're knee deep in it right now or how I felt about my youngest birth and how she came in 10 minutes after getting to the hospital, talk about close call! But then I read Kristin's post about how she became a stronger woman after motherhood and that got my juices flowing, so thank you Kristin!

Kristin spoke about being shy and how she got easily embarrassed when she was younger, and not until she was a mother that it made her let go of what people thought of her. For me it was the same thing, I was super shy when I was younger, heck even when we I met my husband and we would go out to restaurants I would never directly speak to the waiter, I was so shy! Meeting me now you never would have guessed that. Mr. worked with me a lot, getting me to speak up. Discovering I have food allergies helped a lot with my shy-ness. I had to speak up for myself at restaurants or I wouldn't get any of the food I actually want.

All this to say, that Mr. and I want our kids to grow up confident but polite. We don't want them to be shy at restaurants when ordering their food, or when they need something else, we want them to be able to politely flag down the waiter/waitress and ask them for what they need with a please and a thank you. We want them to grow up and speak up for themselves and I believe that it all starts with manners.

It's a blurry picture but I just love that he was dancing with her because she wanted him to

1. Begin Early

Just like anything, we are continually on them about their manners. I mean from the moment we started handing them things we would hand it to them and say "Say thank you Mama/Daddy", even though they couldn't talk yet. Even now we continue to do this. If either of our kids want anything they know they need to say please. Here's an example of a conversation with our 5 year old:

Baby Fox: I want water
Me: That's nice
Baby Fox: I WANT WATER
Me: That's nice to know, care to ask it differently?
Baby Fox: May I please have some water, please? (this is typically how he says it, adds a lot of pleases in there, we don't correct him...)

We do the same thing with our 2 year old, we're a little more lenient with her as she is still learning and we are still teaching.

Mini Fox: Wa-wa (water)
Me: That's nice
Mini Fox: Wa-wa
Me: Can you add a please?
Mini Fox: Please..
Me: Now put it in a sentence
Mini Fox: Wa-wa Please..

2. Have the same rules at home as you do in public

This then translates to how they act at restaurants. Even before anyone else can understand them when the waiter comes to get our order we always make them order and then translate it for the waiter. When they are super young 20 months or so, we would prompt them, since they are in that parroting phase, we would tell them what to say to the waiter. Of course always making them add a please and a thank you when ordering and when drinks or food arrive.

3. Be patient and be consistent as you teach specific skills

We always make them look the people directly in their eyes when speaking to them, so if they are looking down, we tell them look them in the eyes when talking to them. When someone gives them something and they off offhandedly say thank you, we make them stop, turn around and say thank you to them while looking directly at them.

People often remark how polite our children are. Heck when Mini Fox started talking she was so polite that even when crying she would be crying and scream No THANK YOU over and over. Our response is always thank you (haha), but in our heads to each other we say, because we shove pleases and thank yous down their throat.

4. Practice and Repetition are Keys to Confidence Later

I think that being able to talk to adults politely helps them with their confidence. Making them look people in the eyes while talking teaches them not to be shy. Letting them order their food teaches them they can do this on their own. Making them flag down a waiter also teaches them confidence, they have just as much power as an adult to get someone's attention. Obviously there is more to it, but this was how we started, simply with teaching them manners.

It's never too early to start to teach them, even if they can't talk, they are continually learning by our example.

Hope you found this helpful!


Linking up here

My Go To Summer Going Out Outfit

Hello Foxy Fashionistas!

Back today showing you my favorite Summer going out outfit. I seriously have worn this 3 or 4 times, each time with different people so I figure it counts right?

You will never guess how I got this dress. You know on Facebook how you see those sponsored posts that say, "Hey which one of these dresses do you like the most? Let us know down in the comments below and you will be entered to win $100 gift card to our store." Well I did it one a whim and I won a $100 giftcard to Lulus.com! So I got the dress , and the shoes! Plus this skirt. Looks like they are all out of stock, but I think if enough people tell them they want it they might order more!

I have to say that I was really surprised at how comfy this dress was. It's made from thick material and very soft. The shoes, oh my goodness the shoes are so comfy! I really hope they come back into stock as they are so comfy!

I highly recommend them and they prices aren't bad either.

For my hair I kept it simple, just a side French braid. Easy. For those of you that can't French Braid and are wanting to figure it out. Check out my easy tutorial on how to French Braid. I know I've had a few people say that they couldn't figure out how to do it until they found my video, which makes me happy. Let me know if it works for you!

Another week with not much to report on the hair front. I have been doing the same two things which I don't think is picture worthy. I really need to start trying again...mid year slump? Maybe it's just too hot to try anything...not sure, I'll get back at it though. I went to my cousins 40th birthday party. Which I wore this dress and then did my hair like this.

So sad I forgot to take a picture when it was light outside, so I tried to take one in the bathroom...didn't really work.

Then I tried again at home...fail. At least I did my hair? That counts right? I did get a lot of compliments on the whole outfit and hair.

How have you been doing your hair lately?

And this is for you Blended Bloggers

Mr...was taking the pictures. Always a butt shot.

Join The Blended Bloggers this Summer for Pick, Pair, Share. Pick one thing from each column and BAM you're dressed! Don't forget to use #theblendedblogstyle on social media! Link up down below with what you've been wearing this summer.

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking up here