I am my father's daughter :)

xoxox

Happy Easter!



Happy Easter 1988

Phil & I were definitely blessed, to have parents that every year, dressed up & hopped down the street with Easter baskets just for us :) Although I don't think this photo captures the real joy :) I love the Pee Wee doll in my basket & the Ghostbusters Stay Puft Marshmellow Man in brotherrrr's!!

xoxox

Brotherrr

Silly. One word that comes to mind when thinking of my brother. Of course he can also be described as motivated, talented, meathead... but for this post, we'll just stick to the silly.

Every so often, my blackberry (yes I am still using a BB so stop laughing now, I have no wants or needs to change) lights up with a text message from my brother... which most of the time is filled only with a photograph... no words. Just silliness.

Like this...

Brother & Beta (his & Hayley's bengal cat)


Or this...

What Hollywood meathead wouldn't love Arnold?!

Or ones that make me jealous....

Front & Center

Or ones that make me not so jealous...

Wounded by an invisible gun, oh brother! :)

But this one, I recieved the other day, is by far one of my favorites... we will call it Elvis Brother :)

It's clear that I miss my brother dearly, everyday... but when I get updates like these it's totally worth having him miles away while he lives his dream :)

xoxox

Puppy Girl

Valentina is having a great time at her gamma & gampa's house :) She is running free on 10 acres for 2 weeks!! I am sure she won't remember who I am when I go to pick her up!! :)

I miss my ma ma ma monster girls!! 

xoxox

Happy Birthday Jesus

Ready. Set. Short & Sweet version of Christmas 2011. Go!

I spent Christmas Eve at my cousin's with a big portion of the Spag family. The evening was filled with good food (hello, Italians, would you think any different), good music (the younger cousins sing a mean Here Comes Santa Claus), good gifts (make-up & money, yes please) and laughing children (my fav part)!

Me & My Dad!!

Cousins!

The younger cousins singing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

It is tradition in the family that all the children gather to sing Christmas carol's so Santa will know where we are and bring us each a gift to open... like I mentioned above, my younger cousins sing their little hearts out :)

Yay! He found us!

The greatest moment of the holiday was my dad opening his gift from Andrea. Her first painting ever, which is beautiful. She is so talented!! I was able to capture the reaction live!! I love my dad's face when he realizes what it is; he cried, Andrea cried, I cried, I am sure if Phil & Hay were there, they would of cried.

My Parents!!

xoxox

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today my grandpa Zack would of been 97 years old! He passed away on the day I graduated 5th grade in 1995.

Thought I would share this awesome newspaper clipping I found last summer from his campaigning days. Phil and I get a kick out of the selling points:

"I'll work against any type of pornography & pollution"

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

xoxox

Happy Halloween!!

The truth. I have never passed out Halloween candy since owning my home! I know, total lameness.

Typically I go up north to visit my parents for my last calm weekend before the Parade, but this year I was too excited to make my costume & show it off around town, so I stayed home.

When Monday rolled around, I realized a) I didn't have anything to pass out and b) I didn't even know how many treats to buy?! Polling a few knowledgeable ladies (my step mom and the mother daughter duo who own the tanning salon I frequent) I determined I needed about 200 pieces of something... off to Meijer I went!

YIKES! I had no idea how expensive candy was! I mean I hate to admit it, but I would much rather go shopping or have a fun night out for myself than spend $50 bucks on some kids who probably wouldn't even say thank you! So while scanning the aisles, I just couldn't bring myself to buy candy... I know that's what the kids want but EVERYONE would be passing out candy... and I'm not everyone!!

So I headed to the juice aisle... kids get thristy right? And thinking back to when I was in school, my favorite surprise was always a CAPRI SUN! We didn't get them often (I don't know why my mother wasn't a fan, probably because poking a straw into flexible plastic isn't the easiest nor fastest way to give a drink to a whining child)... so $24 and 3 cases of Capri Suns later, I felt like my money was well spent!

PS In case you're wondering why I only bought 3 cases (120 juice boxes) and not more to reach my 200 piece goal, I lost my debit card on Saturday night and the only cash I had on me was $30 bucks... and running out of money in the self check out... not a good time! :)

Long story short... I had the best time with a bottle of witches brew, passing out Capri Suns on my porch, listening to children shreik while good old fashion campfire smells filled the neighborhood (my neighbor had the right idea and bought their firepit front & center in the driveway)... and guess what... EVERY kid, big & small, except ONE said THANK YOU!! :)

After a few glasses of the brew, my eyes began to fill with tears... watching the children in front of my neighbors huge Halloween display, running from the kids he hired to dress up & hang out in the yard, screaming with joy... I was reminded of my mom. Halloween was by far her favorite holiday. She spent days making our front yard & porch the envy of every house on the block and for a few minutes I couldn't help but think of her, working on a fish tank with glass inserts separating a moving hand with live crickets from the candy grab, or cutting a hole into a folding table so one of the police officer's son could put his head in and talk to the treaters as they reached past the bodiless teen for a bag of chips.

I'm guessing Halloween 1986, before my mom really got intense with the decorations!

Ready for another truth?

I've haven't really been feeling myself lately, a little too tired, a little less fun... like a robot just going through the motions of life....work, eat, sleep. I think last night, in the cool breeze, my mom was there with me... lending a prespective I've been missing lately :) Today I feel good. Engergized, happy and positive... remembering why I work the long hours, why right now my life is just work, eat, sleep.

It's not because everyone has to work, it's because everyone needs to smile... and last night it became clear to me, that my Thanksgiving was my mom's Halloween. And even though it's just a couple hours and not everyone verbalizes their thank you, the difference a Capri Sun or larger than life Kermit the Frog floating by makes in someone's life... is always worth the money, the time and the sacrifice :)

xoxox

PPS ... ummm doesn't it look like Margie was setting up my Halloween costume for 2011... That looks pretty similar to my Toddler getup :) but with a gypsy stage mom!!

Go DJ!!

My brother wrote a fabulous article for Marriage.com!!

Check it out HERE!!

So PROUD of you Phil!! :)
xoxox

Hollywood in the D - Part II

Wooo!! I think I have finally recovered from my busy busy family week!! :) Which yes, I will admit now left me smiling through tears as I dropped Phil & Hay off at the airport last Friday! I am so blessed to have such an amazing family!! :)

The week was full of family, food and fun!!

On Monday, the family visited The Parade Company for a tour! My parents & Phil had been before, but we've made a lot of changes since their last visit! This of course was Hayley's first time to the colorful Willy Wonka like studio :)

Phil & Hay modeling Raggedy Andy & Ann papier-mache heads!

My parents in front of the Valentine's Day push float!

Motown Philly!

One of these characters is airbrushed...
the other spends his days "flipping cars" :)

The 30 year retired PO :)

No visit would be complete without making me pose behind my desk!

Tuesday we had a great visit with our Uncle Thom & Fam, played quite a few games of "Russian Accent Rummy" (is there really any other way to play rummy than with an accent?!!) and learned that brotherrr (which when said properly in my Valentina voice sounds like brAAAAAAtherrrrrr) owns MAC make-up & blows out his hair everyday... this is a blowout with no product... he may not be happy that I posted a non 'camera ready' shot :)

On Wednesday it was back to work for me! The Parade Company was producing our annual America's Thanksgiving Parade Theme Day at the Tigers game!! Luckily, my family enjoys baseball so they came down to take in the festivities & ballgame!!

The Fam with Parade Co. mascot Clownie

ATP Queen throwing out the ceremonial first pitch!

First 10,000 fans received red Clownie noses!

Wednesday night came & went with my brother's fav ribs from Zuckin's, another great visit with family (Uncle Kenny, Aunt Mary Jo & Frankie) and more Russian Rummy!! :)

Thursday arrived way too quickly :( I have learned in the past few years of my parents & Phil both living hours & thousands of miles from me, that I am quite an emotional person. I couldn't even get through breakfast without crying, knowing soon after we would be split again. Goodbye's are always hard for me, even during event time, I go through post event or vacay depression severely... sometimes I really question what is wrong me?!! I think I just have way too much love in my heart :)

After my parents left, Phil "The Best Brother in the World" helped me clean up my backyard. I am so embarrassed to admit that I let the back basketball court collect some disgust in the past years... like a broken basketball hoop (I totally blame Phil for this!!), a mildewy dog pool (I totally blame Valentina for this because she hated it!!) and a crumpled old pool cover (I can only blame myself, as I didn't want to touch it when it came off the pool last summer bc of the sliminess!!)!!

Thursday night we all headed up to the high school for some varsity football action!! Our alma mater was playing a local high school that is being followed by MTV Two A Days for being one of the worst HS FB teams in the nation... I believe their record was something like 0-48... YIKES!!

Afterward we headed to our fav Mexican restaurant Mi Pueblo and then over to the Old Shillelagh... where Phil took over as DJ and danced like a mad man!! (video here).

Friday we ventured to Royal Oak so the Hollywood kids could pick up some Detroit gear before their flight to LAX. Hayley surprised me with a fabulous glitzy turtle ring she left for me to find after I took them to the airport:) It's totally me!!

I am very blessed to have spent such an amazing week with my family :) and even more so for friends like Tequila (Monica) who after I was left all alone, went to dinner & the bar with me, when I was ready to break down again :)

It's weeks like this that will be embedded in my heart forever :)

xoxox

Hollywood in the D

YAYAYAY!!

Yesterday Phil and Hayley arrived in Detroit for the week!!

After I scooped them up from the airport, we headed to my cousin Julie's house for an end of summer family bash!

My parents & Phil had not seen each other since July 2010!! So it was a much needed family reunion!

So even though my house is jam packed (5 adults, 2 dogs & 1 cat) and I am couch cruising... I am looking forward to some fabulous family time :) YAY!

xoxox

For those of you keeping track at home...

My baby book was found!!!

It seems my father took both mine & my brothers after his last visit to my house "by mistake". I personally think he was secretly missing looking at us cute babies :) or him in his short short 80's shorts!!

xoxox

Happy Father's Day Dad!!

I am truly blessed with the best dad ever!!! :)

Growing up my father worked a lot of hours & different shifts. He was a patrol officer when I was born and moved his way through the detective bureau as a detective and later an inspector ("gadget" as I liked to call him them), then becoming deputy chief and retiring in 2006 as acting police chief.

He dedicated 30 years protecting the city in which we resided, but always made time for family!! He coached our baseball teams, came to every football game, cheerleading competitions and plays. He opened our pool each year, allowing us to have extravagant pool parties, cemented a portion of the backyard so Phil could have a mini basketball court, took us on numerous family vacations and purchased the property up north so we could mini bike, snowmobile and hunt (Phil, not me)!

He's a very special man!! I mean, not every father would dress as the Easter Bunny each year and hop down the street with Easter baskets for his children :) We never caught on... not even when he would receive a "call" every Christmas Eve when we were celebrating at our grandparents, to go into work... "dang work!!"... but would really go home, take all the gifts out of hiding and leave clues that Santa had been there!! :) He is the best!!

After my mom passed away, I developed a very special bond with my father (after my darker times of that year)... but he was there for me, even at my worst times to make sure I was loved and had everything I needed. He sent me off to Western, paid for my education, my sorority living and even got me a job answering phones for the campus police :) I remember I would call him every single day, sometimes more than once or twice... and even though he was running a police department, he always made time to talk to me, even if it was about what parties I was attending that weekend!!

Nowadays, I still talk to him everyday, so he can make fun of my hangovers, ask how his grand-dog baby V is (they have a special bond too) or as most recently I called him about 10 times the day of the bathroom remodel... "How do you put an anchor into the wall" which ended in frustration and attitudes from both of us until I called back to apologize :) (it was like I was a teenager again. lol)

I don't know if I will ever have the words to express how grateful I am for my dad. He is my rock, my heart. Without him, I would not be the women I am today and for that I can't thank him enough. I am truly blessed to have him!!

Kisses for my first day of school & first bus ride alone!

I LOVE YOU DAD!! Happy Father's Day!! :)

xoxox

My dad & I in 1986 :) Loved that gorilla costume!

PS I have a lot more photos that I would like to post of me and my dad... (to go with more stories) but currently my baby book is missing :( I know I am heartbroken but trying not to let it stress me out because it has to be around my house somewhere!! So when I find it, there will be many more posts & photos of me and the original CAB :)

Happy Birthday Mom!!

In early 2001, when I was 17 years old, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She underwent surgery, chemo & radiation until she lost her battle on January 3, 2002.

It was one of the longest, saddest, most grueling years for my family and I. A lot of it is a blur to me but luckily I have family & friends who remind me of the good times of that year when I can't remember; my mother being honored with "Margaret P. Barbb Day" in our City (receiving praise from the School Board on which she served since I was in Kindergarten, the Mayor and State Reps), being the Grand Marshal of the Homecoming Parade and celebrating my choice of attending Western Michigan for college!!

What I do remember are all the memories we made over the short 18 years we had with each other :)

In honor of my mother's 59th Birthday today... I would like to share two of my favorite memories of her (and two because I couldn't pick just one for this first history post about my mother). Those that knew her, will say... "Yep, that was Margie" and for those of you who did not have the pleasure, I will just say she was the most fun, most loving & caring woman... with a bit of a wild side!!

THE SEX PANTS

My mother had a plethora of clothes she saved from her party days... one piece jumpsuits with no stomachs, bedazzled pants & jackets (one jacket in particular I wish I could wear now, except my mother was a size 2, read "Detroit" in sparkles across the back) and a pair of black bell bottoms that slit from the thigh down on both legs.

When I was a freshman in high school, my friends & I decided it would be fun to have a fashion show with all the party monsta outfits!! My friend Ryann was the only one who could wear the black slit pants and deep down I was jealous... because I had seen them for years and thought they were the coolest. :)

In the middle of our fashion show, my mother came home. I will never forget the smile on her face as she walked down the stairs and saw us dancing around in her old clothes. As her eyes scanned us girls, she stopped on Ryann... and in a voice that I will remember always, she said "OMG, I love those pants... I LOST my virginity in those pants!!!"
To any teenager that statement would be horrifying and to most parents inappropriate... but that is what I loved most about my mother. She never sheltered the real world from my brother & I growing up, she never not asked what was going on in our lives every single day, she was involved and taught us things that I think a lot of people & children nowadays are missing. And for that, I know my brother and I are always thankful.

My mother, the original skinny arm & big hair, on her 23rd Birthday; with her friend Cathy
June 10, 1975

SNORTING TEQUILA

I was blessed to have spent 4 weeks in Europe with my mother the summer going into 8th grade. We traveled from England, 13 countries down to Greece. I have so many wonderful memories and photos from that mother daughter trip, but my favorite memory was unfortunately not captured on film.

Because a drinking age is not officially enforced in Europe, I was able to go to most bars & drink with my mother on the trip. I know what you're thinking, a mother letting her 13 yr old daughter drink... be real people, I had a few sips here & there AND never left her side... well until one night.

We had returned from a day of excursions and Margie was ready to party. There were other young parents on the same charter as us and they all headed to the hotel bar. (I actually think this was the night I had my first Tom Collins and was a little buzzed).

There really is no way to say this gracefully and I'm literally laughing out loud thinking how to say it, so here goes... at some point in the night, I found my mother with a group of parents around her... which was NBD because the lady was always center of attention... that is until I realized ... she was snorting shots of tequila!!

Who seriously SNORTS shots, let alone tequila... lady you're crazy!! :)

I was a shy teenager.. and this was beyond embarrassing for me at the time (I am sure to everyone else, who started ordering shots with her, this was a highlight of their day)!! I decided I had had enough, I went to our room with the lone room key, locked & chained the door and went to bed. About 20 minutes later, my mother was knocking on the door to make sure I was okay... stubborn CAB was not having that... keep a knockin lady! Finally the front desk called and demanded I unlock the door... FINE!! :)

Looking back, I wish I would of stayed to witness this, to laugh with my mother and maybe help her walk straightly back to our room :) Clearly she was having a wonderful time... we were in a place where we weren't held to standards because of her school board election, or my dad's 5.0 detective bureau title or just because she was a mother to two children!! She didn't go out and drink when we were home, she worked hard, she cooked dinner every night, helped us with our homework, volunteered for charities, made sure we had everything we could ever need and for just one night, for an hour or two, she was free :) Deep down, I wish I was there (without an attitude) to enjoy it with her.

My mother & I in front of the Anne Frank House... Summer 1997
PS I told you I only believed in Tommy Hilfiger & my blk pleather jacket was Calvin Klein :)

So to the woman who raised two strong, motivated, down to earth children... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I know you are watching down on all of us today and everyday :) I love you MOM!!

xoxox

Mother's Day

This passed weekend was Mother's Day... so Valentina (my almost 2 yr old Golden Retriever & Australian Shepherd puppy) and I packed up the Jeep and hit the road to gamma & gampa's house!! Thankfully gas prices have been on the decline, although $4.29 per gallon is no walk in the park!!

V and I arrived on Friday, after stopping off at some of our favorite shopping spots; Francesca's Collections, Great Lakes Crossing & the Doggy Bakery! We bought some great summer necessities: colorful flip flops, country clutches, maxi dresses & doggy ice cream :) Oh and we sang at the top of our lungs to Jason Aldean & my new obsession The Band Perry "You Lie" with the sunroof open... Yayay summer is almost here... for good!!

Friday night my parents and I went to a little restaurant in Lupton. After a delicious dinner & ice cream (score!) I introduced them to Mario Brothers Wii... and it was definitely a roit!! It took us over an hour and they each went through 45+ lives but we finally made it to & beat the first level!! The laughs, screams and Luigi suicides were hilarious... and a great start to a fabulous weekend!!

Saturday I accompanied Andrea & her fellow Red Hatter Wanda to Gladwin to a scrapbooking store, unfortunately we drove an hour on country roads and found an empty store front... but that didn't stop us from exploring what G had to offer... we found an apple orchard, a farmers market, and a river walk with cute shops (where I fell in love with a super cute nautical Donna Sharpe bag with a red jeweled anchor... unfortunately I thought I could get a better deal online & passed on it's purchase :( and now I can't seem to find it anywhere.... lame but lesson learned)!

Saturday night I stayed up until 3am to make a surprise breakfast for Andrea. My Auntie Florence's Famous French Toast Casserole required overnight refrigeration and Andrea was still up playing Wii (I think I created a monsta!!!) ... finally I think she had enough of Mario & Luigi and went to bed!! I snuck out to the garage fridge and grabbed my ingredients... because I was paranoid I cracked & beat the eggs in my bedroom and crept around the kitchen on my tiptoes :) Hilarious... but it was all worth it... YUM!!

Finally it was Sunday morning!! Hooray!! I had left my gift displayed so Andrea would see it when she woke up!! A one of a kind, custom mini red hat with purple feather made by The Parade Company's costume director & myself!! She LOVED it!! A great addition to Queen Andi's IncREDible wardrobe :)

Then after a fun walk with V (our country anthem) and another amazing meal with my parents, it was time to hit the road and head back to city living!!

I always enjoy my time with my family... there really is nothing like it :) I usually cry when I pull out of their drive way and hit the dirt, but not this time... because all I could do was smile and think of what a great summer in northern Michigan it will be!! 

xoxox