Just smile.

"Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours. No one needs a smile so much as the one who has no more to give." ~Unknown

I remember when the kids were little and grumpy their daddy would always offer this little fact, "Did you know that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile...so turn that frown upside down!" And it would always get a groan, then a giggle and finally an ear splitting grin.

But, clearly they are words to live by...so, just smile!




All of these unbelievable pictures were taken by my bestest pal this summer from the Greek Isles...enjoy them with a smile on your face.

My Littlest Enigma

I love that she confounds me.
And that I never know quite what to expect from her.
She's goofy and sweet and thoughtful...in her own unique way.
And when she returned from Europe... she was a mystery to me yet again.
Because it was instantly obvious to a mother's ever observant eye.
She had changed, been altered and was impacted...creating another layer.
I love that she is always surprising me.

on beauty

At the age of seventeen I wouldn't dare leave the house without my make-up on...it gave me confidence and a shield from which to hide behind.

Not my girl...her fresh-faced approach to life is something to be admired. She doesn't need that false sense of security...instead she relishes the opportunity to shed the mask and expose herself freely and it makes her exquisite in so many ways.


"Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic." ~Rosalind Russell

One Human Family

The southernmost tip of Florida is a place unlike any other. It's a place where three-piece suits and designer wear are shed for broken-in sandals and baggy tees. And I love it...everything about it.

We haven't taken the girls there since they were little and we limited our visit to the Conch Train Tour...and although the historian in me loved the rehearsed monologue and safety those seats offered my little girls...they're grown wiser, more adventurous and capable of witnessing this wacky little world with intelligent eyes.

But I must say...spending time together while touring around on scooters was a highlight of our weekend... because it's a place where love is love and nature abounds in the form of gorgeous sunsets and runaway roosters. But above all else, the abundant acceptance and tolerance all around help me to remember we are truly one human family.