Menopausal Mother

 
    Welcome to another edition of Fly On The Wall group blog postings hosted by Karen of  Baking In A Tornado. This is your opportunity to get a sneak peek at what goes on behind the closed doors of the writers who are participating in today's postings.

   
     Things have been pretty busy here since January, but rather than tell you all about it, I'll SHOW you what the Doyle family has been up to. If you've been reading my Fly On The Wall posts on a regular basis, then you know there's never a dull moment around our home. I am blessed with a loving, crazy, close-knit family that enjoys being together and having fun. These photos tell it all:






Ringing in the New Year with close friends and family. The evening would not have been complete without a champagne toast, some booty dancing, and a surprise appearance by Olaf the snowman. Um, yeah.....don't ask.....



My daughters and I are sticking to our New Year's resolutions to get in shape and stay that way with the help of our awesome Zumba instructor. Nothing like a vigorous dance workshop to sweat off the holiday pounds. And God knows I had a LOT of cookies and egg nog to work off.



I finally completed something on my bucket list: a trip to Disney World to celebrate my granddaughter's fifth birthday. We made some incredible memories that I hope she'll always remember and hold dear.....because I certainly will.



Check number #2 off my bucket list: For years I have wanted to raise a pug puppy, but never had the opportunity, until recently. This beautiful, furry ball of love was adopted by us just a few weeks ago. Say hello to Yoda, the little boy who melts my heart (and destroys my shoes). He's the best cure for depression! Yoda always makes me laugh because he's such a little stinker, but I love him to bits. Our two, adult pugs are still confused about his presence and wondering when his real parents will return  to pick him up. Sorry guys, but Yoda is here to stay. #MyForeverPup



This photo is blurry for a reason. My daughters and I were laughing too hard at our annual Super Bowl party. Did I watch the game? Nope---just the commercials. But I had more fun goofing around with my girls. Super Bowl to me is synonymous with chicken wings, chip & dip, and unlimited desserts. That's okay though, because everyone knows that calories don't count during the Super Bowl weekend.



After all the excitement, it was time to wind down with a visit to our favorite local park----Morikami Japanese Gardens. It's our little slice of heaven on earth that we can't live without. We're lifetime members, because the beauty and serenity of Morikami's zen gardens center us after a hectic week.  It has nothing to do with the fact that their cafe also makes the best tempura I've ever eaten....and I'm totally addicted to the stuff. Maybe calories don't count in Morkiami, either.



Check #3 off my bucket list: Seeing Andrea Bocelli in concert! My daughter and her boyfriend surprised us with the tickets, and we were thrilled! It was a lovely evening with dinner on the water in Miami, and then being treated to hours of superb music. Best Valentine's Day gift ever!

     Up next: we're off to the local Renaissance Festival, so you know there's going to be some unusual photos in my next FOW post.  Didn't I tell you Doyles like to have FUN?



Cluttered Genius                            http://www.clutteredgenius.com      

     I'm always on the lookout for future blog posts ideas because it's hard to come up with subjects that are original, especially when you consider the amount of websites crowding the blogosphere. I recently stopped by one of my favorite blog sites, The Chubby Chatterbox, written by Stephen Hayes, and was delighted to find that he'd written a post, "Peculiarities", that was refreshingly unique. He took photos of odd items in his house and posted them on his blog with a little background info on each one. I thought it was an incredibly clever idea, and told him that I was going to plug into his creative genius to write about the peculiar stuff collecting dust in my own home.


     George Carlin once said, "A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff." This pretty much describes the strange items I have taking up space in my house. Will I ever part with my stuff? Nope, because it has sentimental value to me. In reference to other people's stuff vs my own, George said it best: "Their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff."


I gave this comical stone to my mother many years ago because she always had permission to spoil her eleven grandkids. When Mum passed away last year, it was only fitting that I proudly display the stone on my own coffee table since I have a granddaughter I thoroughly enjoy spoiling. And no one is gonna spank me, either.


 This two-faced man hangs from my keychain as a reminder not to talk out of both sides of my mouth. Unless, of course, I'm plotting to take over the world.....or at least connive my husband into giving me the last spoonful of ice cream left in the container.


 Everyone knows I'm a nut for squirrels (see what I did there?). I have a gazillion squirrel figurines, but this is one of my favorites because he looks eerily similar to me when I'm holding a cupcake in my hands.


 My parents brought home these miniature clay pots from a trip to Mexico when I was little. They were a gift for my sisters and me. I've always loved all things small, but whenever I tell people that, my husband takes offense.....


 This sorority paddle was given to me in college after I passed my initiation into Alpha Omega Epsilon. It hung on my dorm bedroom wall for four years and is now on the wall in my office. Contrary to belief, I was never paddled with one of these, but I did have to crawl blindfolded through a maze with a raw hotdog in my mouth as part of the initiation. Don't ask....


 The infamous cat mask was purchased for one dollar several years ago at a weird garage sale that took place at one of our vacation campsites. Since that time, it has played a part in family photos and videos, and is now a requirement for all new guests to wear at the Doyle abode. Yes, we know how to have fun here on a Saturday night.

     I think my stuff is pretty special....and there's plenty more stuff out there to add to my collection. What stuff do you have?


***WANT MORE MENO MAMA? This week I'm on SheSavvy talking about insomnia. You can read the article here: https://www.shesavvy.com/14-signs-youre-not-getting-enough-sleep/