If Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O had a baby...

It would probably look like this:



I would commit murder for this sweet Jackie Hepburn baby.
Speaking of sweet babies. Guess who I loved on this weekend?
















Unfortunately, I didn't take a single picture this weekend. So hopefully Aunt Chelsea will put some on the family blog this week. My trip was short, but wayyyyyyy too much fun. Obviously Ally, Cole, and Keith are the best part of being able to go home, but there are two things that tied for a close second. In no particular order:

1. Darcee is THIRTY AND FLIRTY!
We were able to celebrate with Darc for her big 3-0 b-day this weekend. Again, no pics, but here are a few recycled ones. I'm hoping they will prove what a hot mom Darc is.









2. Lil' D was Homecoming Queen! I know this may seem silly and trivial to some people, but I really think it shows what a nice girl Darel is. She is always kind and friendly to everyone at school, and I think she deserves to be appreciated. Plus she felt the unnecessary pressure to be like her older sisters for some reason. Here is a picture I stole from the Homecoming King's facebook page. He was also Darel's date and probably the coolest kid at her school.



Overall, the weekend was a blast. I'm hoping someone at the Smart House will elaborate on the weekend with a post full of pictures. One thing is for sure - a weekend a la Darrell and Sheila is never disappointing!

Luck: A Skill Worth Possessing

What luck looked like in my early years!

Have you ever wondered within the secret walls of your own thoughts why "everyone else is so much luckier than me?" Have you ever wished that you could change the outcome of various events in which the odds are stacked against you? You are not alone. (*please note the Michael Jackson reference)

Since joining the Smart family tree I have been constantly bombarded with family mottos of which I am not allowed to question their validity. Further investigation into the meaning of these family motos on my part has only led to defensive reasonings from various family members such as "Our mottos are like us...never wrong." Of course believing isn't always seeing or is it the other way around? Lesson learned: Don't question the mottos!

Recently, I have had the opportunity to create some of my own mottos (of course founded on sound, indisputable logic). For all those who have answered yes to any of the questions presented at the start of this post, the following motto may be something you wish to incorporate into your various lifestyles as it will transform the way you see the world and the way others see you.

"I create my own luck!" Say it again. "I create my own luck!" There you have it...the secret to changing everything and before you go accusing me of stealing this gem from geniuses such as Mandino let me set the record straight, I gave birth to this motto, although maybe I should submit it as an 11th scroll.

I haven't always been skillful at creating my own luck. In fact, for most my life I never won anything. I scored baskets on the wrong hoop, touchdowns in the wrong endzones, and was even stung by a bumble bee in my early years because I thought it was a cute stuffed animal. Yes indeed, I have had my share of hard times without any hint of luck anywhere in sight. But I am here to say that with a little effort and some "luck" (term used in its original meaning, not mine) you can, just like me, become lucky.

You see, luck doesn't judge people by status or ability, but rather on the criteria of desire. Before you all jump in and say, "but I am always desirous to win the contests I enter" let me explain the type of desire that luck is looking to partner up with. It looks upon the heart of the individual, searching for genuine heartfelt desire. Not understanding? Let me explain further.

Recent events, made public knowledge due to many criticizing fans and their access to a plethora of social media outlets, have shown that yes I am indeed lucky. Yes, I won a pair of sunglasses for a contest I entered via my wife's Facebook account. Yes, I was up against stiff competition and there may have been others more deserving, especially considering that I submitted my entry after the deadline, but in my defense it was skill. You see I knew luck was out there searching for the right person to be declared winner of this worldwide, forever-changing event. Luck seized upon my heart like Syd and I on pumpkin bread or 30Rock, sensing that I personified best what it means to be desirous. (Fact: I can't help that genuine desire is prominent within my being.) Once luck and desire met within me, I knew the contest was mine for the taking. I simply entered and waited.

The world is a rough place full of two types of individuals, lucky and not. If you feel yourself to be a member of the latter, then maybe it is time to apply the motto that will change your life. Don't wait for it to come to you, you find it. If you feel that changing to the lucky side just isn't going to happen for you, please don't bring the rest of us and our mojo down with you. We need to focus on keeping our luck going.

In closing, I wish to share three things I have skillfully lucked out with that have been on my mind heavily as of late.

• Marriage to Syd (this one probably took the most skill)
• Family, both mine and Syd's
• Health/physical ability

I CREATE MY OWN LUCK!

A Sick Joke, and Other Frivolous Matters

If you can answer this question correctly on the first try, you will win something much more valuable than a prize...
You will win nothing but the satisfaction of being right. Before you leave our blog for lack of interesting prizes, let me point out that not everyone gets to be right in life. Some people who are married to other people never ever get to be right because their middle name is not Midas.
The question:
Which half of Snick always wins cool prizes like $250 sunglasses for acting recklessly?
A) The male half
B) The female half
C) It doesn't matter who wins because its obviously never going to be the female half
D) The male half's middle name is Midas

If you answered A, C, and/or D you win nothing. But you are correct!

Aside from the fact that my husband is super studly, he also never enters contests. Contrast this with his poor, loser wife who relishes contests and has to enter everything, just in case she might win. (Including ever Pioneer Woman contest since the beginning of time)
A few weeks ago, male snick entered a Kaenon sunglasses contest to see who did the craziest "outdoor" something over the summer. Using MY facebook account (because he refuses to get one of his own as a way to stick it to the man?) male snick wins $250 towards a pair of ridiculously happenin' sunglasses. While I cannot lie, climbing Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier back-to-back is pretty cool/crazy, what is it about male snick that makes him the son of Midas? If you can answer that question that you actually might win a prize - something awesome like my husband's new sunglasses maybe.

To top it all off, Nick is the new poster boy for Kaenon. Every other time you click on Kaenon.com, his picture shows up on top of Mt. Rainier looking nothing short of glorious.

Okay, I might be a little proud... but mostly bitter and jealous that male snick is officially more popular than me.

Other Matters
My parentals are currently frolicking amongst the Loire Valley, using words like "Magnifique," and "Beurre." Again, I'm slightly proud, but mostly bitter and jealous. I kindly and graciously offered my services as a tour guide/translator and was brutally rebuffed! So like a normal human being, I baked 68 mini cupcakes and watched five episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians while I skimmed my old Study Abroad pictures. Here is what I've concluded:

1. Being surprised by a super stud underneath the Eiffel Tower is blissful. Finding out two years later that he will beat you in every contest ever... well that's another story.


2. My German friend Janina, could probably play basketball for UCONN.


3. Pastries can change your life for the better.


4. I can't blame Louis XIV for wanting to live in a place like Versailles.


5. Find a better sunset and a cheesier smile than this. I Dare you.


6. Darcy and Lizzy once went to France and attended a ball. They danced together on this floor.


I can also conclude that my parents are probably showering regularly and eating the most delicious french food in existence on their "study abroad." But bitter, jealous, old me must wonder if they would be enjoying their trip tenfold while experiencing it with a fashionable and discrete translator? Answer this question correctly and receive an all-expenses paid trip to France by Durrell and Shelly!

Okay here is the real reason for this post - A Sick Joke. Now, my husband SWEARS that he would never venture into such a cruel realm to give himself a laugh. If this is true, then who done it?
Several days ago, I happily grabbed the mail wishing for the 3rd Harry Potter to come from Netflix. Did I receive my dear friend Harry? Oh no, my friends... or should I call one of you my enemies? One of you, I don't know who - gave the Humane Society my address,
and this is what I received...




I bet you think this is funny evil address giver.



Don't worry, I have called the Humane Society and DEMANDED to be removed from their Satanic mailing list. I considered contacting the police since it was a violation of my privacy, but then I realized that the animal poop sniffers at Humane Society probably mistook me for a four-legged lovin' fool and sent me the gifts out of love.
But guess what?

I will find you.

And when I do, you will regret telling the Humane Society about me because I am an animal lovers worst nightmare.
And in the slight chance that it turns out to be my husband, we will not be having children after all.

Have a nice day.