Happy Valentine's Day 2010

Valentine's day -

Miss M was still on her Apache Mission trip LOVING on the Apache people.

Katie had planned a special date but Deevs wasn't feeling well so they decided to reschedule. They just went to dinner and to get caramel apples for dessert.

Meanwhile, Mom & Dad went on a date to Fondue... yum yum!

I am will work on seeing if I can get photos of J&S's birthday date and Lando & Emmy's lunch date.

This was a cute video I posted on the kids' facebook pages wishing them a Happy Valentine's Day!

TOMS Shoes - A TOMS Love Story

I sent an email to TOMS shoes telling them about how Jade & Sara met and how TOMS played a contributing role. They were tickled enough by the story that they featured them on their blog and in their blast marketing email. And it looks like it might have generated other interest as well (stay tuned).

The email blast

The TOMS blog website

The blog post

tell us your TOMS love story!

February 3rd, 2010 by admin

A few weeks ago, an amazing story fell in to our inbox about a couple who met because of TOMS. Not only did the two TOMS fans fall passionately in love with one another, they are now engaged to be married and plan for their entire bridal party will wear TOMS! See the Mother of the Groom’s story below…

When we were in Virginia on vacation this past summer (from our home in CA) our delightful, 22 year old bearded, tattooed web designer son and our family were eating burgers at little retro diner in Williamsburg.

We were approached by a (brave!) girl “My friend wanted me to give you her number” is what she told our son. Yes, this cute and stylish 20 year old thought our son was cute… but what clinched it was that he was wearing TOMS! Because he was fashionable AND socially conscious she could NOT let this opportunity pass by!

He called her. They dated cross-country (interrupted briefly by his 6 week trip to help orphans in Kenya). They are now planning their Virginia wedding and they want everyone in the wedding party (bride, groom, attendants, flower girls – parents???) to wear TOMS!

Stacie
(mother of the groom)

The happy couple rowing in Central Park, “Sara came to visit and a TOMS love story had begun..”

Although this is a beautiful and incredible story, we’re convinced there’s more like them… So tell us- did wearing TOMS land you an awesome relationship? Do your friends label you and your honey the “TOMS couple”? Would you dump your boyfriend if he stopped wearing TOMS? Post a comment below and tell us your TOMS love story!

See Jordan & Sara’s engagement photos after the jump!

The post generated a lot of comments. Here is one I didn't think would hurt their feelings - haha! (It says "They are clearly models and this is a publicity stunt, but if it sells you more shoes then go for it " ) SEE BELOW.

Wordle 2

Ok... one more... but only because I am ADDICTED!  (I have created like 47!!!!!... the "randomizer" is the coolest, or instead of that, you can change the font, layout, colors, orientation, etc. yourself.)

An Ode

Even with all our craziness and issues, there are a LOT of reasons why I (S) love & respect D.  Too many to name, in fact, but I would be remiss if I didn't list a few here:

He is generous. His first reaction is always to GIVE... even at discomfort to himself.  Where I am a little more frightened and selfish, he is always ready to share, give, offer, work, extend, stretch, sacrifice.

If he orders the YUMMIEST thing on the menu and is ecstatically enjoying it and I have ordered something that I don't much like at all, he will look up from a delectable bite which he is adoring and OFFER TO TRADE!  He will take my unfavorite meal in exchange for his delicious one.  (In my book, THAT'S love!)

Still on the food note; he will be slurping up a particularly yummilicious meal and will be down to the last bites at which point I will notice how tasty it looks and ask for a bite.  Aside: If he did this to me, I just might have a meltdown, but not D.  He will - without hesitation  - offer me the very last (best!) bite, if I want it.

D is big and strong and will kick a "bad guy's" butt if a bad guy dared to mess with his family.  He can lift up his 6'3" son after scoring a touchdown in varsity football (while still having "proud papa" tears in his eyes).

I simply adore D's large, square, rough, calloused hands (especially when they are on my back).  And I love that a couple of the kids have Daddy's hands.

A wave of love (and I must admit, lust) sweeps over me when I watch him fix stuff.  Sweat trickling down his forehead and back from the heat and effort, I love that I never have to call a to call a “fix-it” guy to install, repair, make or install anything. He can do everything in the house with those calloused hands I love.

  

Although his tidiness is sometimes an annoyance, it is also a blessing.  He will do not only his own laundry, bit also mine and the kids.  He will do the dishes, sweet or mop the floor, clean the windows, vacuum stairs, scrub toilets, change diapers (in the olden days which seem to VERY far past), wash & vacuum cars, and ___________ (fill in the blank).

D will let me hold the remote.

Sometimes.

He will always be willing to say "sorry" and try to make up after a fight... If he must, he will even write love notes ore bring flowers if he thinks that will make things OK again.  

He has integrity.  He REALLY tries to treat others the way he wants to be treated.

He PLAYS with the kids!  He will play board games, throw a football, boogie board, wrestle, tell jokes (sometime bawdy ones), laugh at videos of people falling down (like the one below).   This is NOT my gift!

And I love and respect this man because after 20 years, he still looks at me like this: