Do you still believe in the magic of Christmas? If you’re like me, you’ll want to turn your beach house into a Winter Wonderland with affordable decor from Oriental Trading. Just so you know, I did receive free and festive decor to facilitate this post, but all opinions and photos are completely my own.

Do you remember when Christmas was magical? You woke up on Christmas morning when you were ten (or younger if some jack wad ruined it for you before then) and all in the world was right? There was a Muppet Drum Set (the EXACT ONE you wanted…the ONE you asked Santa for) sitting under your tree, just waiting for you to make beautiful music (and drive your family insane). You’d asked Santa, he listened, and you were happier in that moment than you had ever been in your whole life, and possibly happier than you’d ever be again. THAT is magic; that is the magic of Christmas.

Let me let you in on a little secret: I still believe in the magic of Christmas. The exact minute I realize it’s time to buy the Thanksgiving meal is the exact moment that I start busting out the tree, the lights, the mistletoe, the…well, everything magical. To be honest, I really haven’t had a Christmas as magical as the one that I had when I was ten since then. Not because I didn’t get the exact gift I wanted, not because I wasn’t with the people I loved, but because nothing will ever compare to the magic that I felt that year; at that exact moment. But I still try to capture the magic…do you?

For all of these reasons, I completely, totally, and ridiculously deck the halls for Christmas each year. It looks like a winter wonderland (snowflakes on the ceiling and all) in my southeast Texas home because Christmas is magical and I want my children to always feel the magic of Christmas (long past their 10th birthday so shut your piehole if you want to be the jack wad that ruins it for them before then). But decking the halls, like all of them, can get quite expensive if you don’t know where to turn. It totally doesn’t have to be though. Making the magic come alive for Christmas is as easy as building up your decor over the years, stopping by your local dollar store, or (my favorite option because I don’t have to leave the house or get out of my jammies) shopping online with Oriental Trading Company.

Just little touches around the house, everywhere, can bring the magic alive for you and the kids. How adorable is this paper towel holder, for real?

Walkways through the house are great for lighting. To me, and apparently to my kids, lighting just makes the mood in the house feel more magical throughout the season.

A naughty and nice coffee station is a festive way to perk you up in the morning. (See what I did there? Perk. Coffee. I crack me up.)

Of course, no Texas Christmas would be complete without a cowboy boot candy cane count down.

Turning a beach house into a winter wonderland does have its challenges though. But as long as you get your elf to play along, you can make your beachy decor work during the season of magic. Thankfully, Mikey the Elf is a really good sport!

I love turning countertops into fun and festive spaces the kids can enjoy. Bubby, in particular, thinks this Snowman Candy Dish that I got from Oriental Trading Company is the BEST. THING. EVER! OK, maybe it’s the peppermints that he’s truly fond of, but I’m more partial to the dish.

Our tiki bar even got a makeover for the season. Isn’t it magical?

We all know that the tree is probably the MOST important decoration you can adorn during the Christmas season so decorating it to fit your seasonal theme, as well as your typical decor, is key for bringing this all together. Since I’m partial to snowmen during the holiday season, and beachy and sparkly things adorn my home for the rest of the year, it’s no surprise that we decorate our tree with a combination of both. Flip flops, glitter, and snowman candy cane ornaments for the win!

Do you still believe in the magic of Christmas? If so, how do you transform your home into a winter wonderland? If you find the whole process too time consuming or expensive, you might be looking in the wrong places. This year, and every year, turn to Oriental Trading Company for all of your holiday needs. Fun, festive, and affordable holiday decor you’ll display for years to come. Look, we all have to grow up, but we don’t have to grow old and stop believing in magic. Embrace the season, enjoy, and just believe in the magic of Christmas again! I believe; do you?

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Learn how to transform your beach house into a haunted house for Halloween with affordable decor from Oriental Trading. Just so you know, I did receive free and freaky decor to facilitate this post, but all opinions and photos are completely my own.

Beach House to Haunted House on a Budget

Halloween is my second favorite holiday, coming in as a very close second to Christmas of course. Since Bubby is basically a Halloween baby, we like to “do it up” around here and we tend to start early. Our house is full of beach decor in hues of blue and green so it’s kind of tricky to give it that scary feel that we want for the month of October. But with the help of affordable Halloween Decor from Oriental Trading, we can easily transform our beach house into a Haunted House for Halloween!

Reapers, and skeletons, and spiders…oh my! With just a few simple touches, you don’t have to makeover your house for Halloween, just creep it up a bit!

Solo Man is by far Bubby’s favorite Halloween decoration so he typically goes up first. The frightful banter and glowing eyes from this guy spooks passers by every evening and it’s way funnier than it should be to me!

No haunted house would be complete without a reaper!

This year’s new addition for our outside decor, Greta, is ready to greet all of the trick or treaters as they walk up this year.

Making the inside of our home a little scary is always more of a struggle. I mean, there’s nothing scary about seashells, light blues and greens, and anchors, right? But with a little imagination, it’s pretty simple to change things up. Hang webs from windows and add a few spiders.

Hang motion-activated (scary as hell) slashing bats from walkways.

Cover antique desktops with bloody clothes and skeletons, and things start to take shape quickly!

Placing signs and potion bottles on your tiki bar gives it a festive flair.

And my absolute favorite, the screaming, shaking skeleton in his cage, hangs just outside my kitchen so that every time I drop, chop, or pop something, he starts chattering and cracks me up!

Our backyard graveyard (in the jungle) is a great place for entertaining all of our ghoulish friends. Really, when it all comes down to it, it’s so simple and affordable to turn your beach house into a haunted house with the help of Oriental Trading, a few dollar store items, and after-Halloween sale items from your favorite big box store.

What do you do to boo during the month of October?

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A family beach day is so cleansing to the soul. Sometimes, words aren’t necessary when the photos tell their own story. This is one of those occasions, and I’ll enjoy this photo journal for years to come! Random thoughts from a mom after a day at the beach.

Sometimes, just letting them enjoy each other’s space is enough.

And most of the time, just letting them be them…well, it’s enjoyable for both of you. I dig his style!

Bubbles! What’s a beach day without bubbles? What’s any good day without bubbles, actually?

A day without bubbles is like a day without a beach ninja. I mean, it’s not even really a day, is it?

The only sad part of the day is when you look through the lens and realize they might be growing up too fast. It all goes by too fast. Until…

You realize that one of them is looking back at you, from inside of a sand hole, enjoying life like only a small child can, and you realize that there are still many years of joy, and frustration, to come. Be still my heart!

And then there’s this. THIS is the beginning of a memory in the making, with a man that you adore making memories with.

It ended way worse than this, of course, but I was too busy unburying my baby (face and all) to get a photo. Sometimes, like this time, it’s not OK to just sit back and be the spectator…because…buried alive?!?!

And just when you realize you’re absent from your own online album, all of your family photos, you see that you were there all along. In their reflection. Capturing every moment. While they looked adoringly at you, and you realize you’re doing exactly what you were meant to do all along. Take care of them, love them, enjoy the moment, and capture the memories in their reflection while they reflect on the love that you give them.

In the end, that’s all that matters. The memories, their love, capturing their beauty. When you realize you’re doing what you love…while you’re watching the ones you love the most…enjoy themselves? That’s when you know you’ve made it. That’s when you know your life, your world is complete. That’s the moment you realize you’re living the life you intended, the life you’ve always wanted to live. That’s when you know love.

I know all of these things, and I’m glad my camera reminds me daily. I’ve made it. I’m happy to be in their reflections. I’m just happy. Not everyone achieves that level of success in life. I’m content that I’ve found my success from within my own little world.

Are you?

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Enjoy wholesome family fun while sparking your child’s imagination with a family movie night watching Disney’s Teen Beach 2. We received a complimentary copy of the DVD, now available at retailers everywhere, from Click Communications to facilitate this post, but all opinions are entirely my own.

Family movie night can be a pretty big deal around here. We take the time to select a movie everyone will enjoy, whip up themed food and drinks, or just pop some popcorn, then we sit down on the couch huddled together as a family and watch our new movie of choice. Kind of makes a mom’s heart happy so I try to encourage one every single week. This past weekend we had a lot to celebrate and one of those celebrations included watching the newly released DVD of Disney’s Teen Beach 2. Bug loved the first one and she watches it absolutely every time it comes on TV so she was especially thrilled when she found out this was the movie of choice this weekend. As for the rest of the family, anything with the word “beach” in it is alright in our books. As an added bonus, when you purchase the DVD at your local retailer, your Teen Beach fan will receive a free Lela’s Friendship Necklace inside the movie box to help transport them into the dream world that is Teen Beach (which in my opinion, is a better time and place).

Dive in and rock out with the hottest surf sequel under the sun! Now that summer’s over and school has begun, Brady and Mack’s relationship seems headed for a wipeout – until Lela, Tanner, and the “Wet Side Story” kids show up! Dazzled by the novelty and variety of the modern world, Lela wants to stay, but the real world and the “real” world just don’t mix. Can Mack and Brady find the magic to get the kids home and get their own romance back on track before it’s too late? Packed with electrifying song and dance numbers, and hilarious fish-out-of-water wackiness, Teen Beach 2 is “wow-abunga” fun for everyone!

There’s something for everyone to love. Song, dance, humor, and a whole lot of wholesome fun. There’s not even a need to go all out for this movie for your next family movie night. Just pop some popcorn, cuddle up, and get ready to be transported to a world full of song and dance. If you haven’t already, head out to your favorite local retailer and pick up a copy of this fun DVD. You won’t be disappointed. On the Bug and Christy scale, the sequel of Teen Beach 2 is even better than the original. That doesn’t happen often for us.

So, inquiring minds want to know, have you seen Teen Beach 2 yet? If not, what are you waiting for? It’s a whole lot of family fun that you’ll want to watch over and over again!

The post Dream a Little Dream with Disney’s Teen Beach 2 appeared first on Insanity Is Not An Option.

About a year ago, we sat down to watch Django for the first time and I, in particular, loved the movie. It was a great story with just enough violence to keep me entertained, and enough humor to make us laugh. If you haven’t seen the movie with Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz, you really should. Not great if you have the kids around, but it’s a really good movie which brings me to my point. At some point in the movie, Jamie Foxx sat down to have a highball and I didn’t even know what that was at the time, but apparently a highball is just a term that means a family of mixed drinks that are composed of an alcoholic base spirit and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer. Anyway, the highball he was drinking was called a Polynesian Pearl Diver and it looked really good. I found the original recipe (although there are many versions of this drink if you Google it) and tweaked it here and there to suit my personal tastes. It’s a real favorite around here and everyone that comes to visit always requests at least one (usually more). This melon liqueur, Triple Sec, and rum combo is the perfect cocktail to serve at parties or just to enjoy as a refreshing cocktail to wind down your busy work week.

Gather all of your ingredients. It doesn’t take much to make this drink at all. Some white rum, Triple Sec, Midori, a shaker, shot glass, and your favorite highball glass are all you need.

Add 2 ounces white rum to your shaker.

Then 2 ounces Triple Sec.

Then top your shaker off with 2.5 ounces Midori Melon Liqueur. And Shake!

Pour your drink over ice in your favorite highball glass, garnish with a lime wedge or slice, and enjoy your new favorite highball. Seriously, once you try this, it’s sure to become your new favorite summertime cocktail.

This is a drink that can be served year round, but it’s especially satisfying during the warmer months. My version of the Pearl Diver has even made its way into some of the local venues once the staff tried it themselves. It’s that good! What’s your favorite warm weather cocktail recipe? We’d love to try it!

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Thanks to Schlitterbahn, Moody Gardens, and US Family Guide, we’ll be surfing with Santa at Schlitterbahn and visiting SpongeBob at Moody Gardens ICE LAND this weekend. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. #BahnHoliday #MGIceLand

Do you remember over the summer when we had the Bubby dubbed, “best day ever” at Schlitterbahn Galveston? Well, guess what? Dudes, we’re going back for some holiday fun. That’s right, a water park in the wintertime, because our island is cool like that. Santa is inviting kids to a very different kind of holiday party – Holiday Splash at Schlitterbahn Galveston Island. During the park’s Holiday Splash, which takes place weekends and select dates from November 28, 2014 through January 4, 2015, Santa is giving surf lessons to kids on the Boogie Bahn (I’m pocket sized, I’m going to try to slip in the line too). Kids can also make holiday ornaments, swim in an artificial snow storm, and enjoy a sprinkle of holiday cheer.

Wait. What? That’s not enough to entice you to want to come join us? Don’t worry, there’s more! When you’re done playing in the “snow” and surfing with Santa, you’ll want to grab your parka and head over to Moody Garden’s ICE LAND Ice Sculptures with SpongeBob SquarePants!

Now through January 4, 2015, you can visit this Winter Wonderland (since we really don’t see snow here in southeast Texas) and your kids will be thrilled. I know mine are going to be! A skilled team of 31 internationally-acclaimed professional ice carvers from Harbin, China dove into 900 tons of ice (wow, that’s a lot of ice) and transformed them into majestic marvels featuring holiday scenes with the beloved Bikini Bottom inhabitants from Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants. Chilled and held at a temperature of 9 degrees (oh my frigid bones…but they provide you with parkas, so it’s OK), you can witness these works of art as Galveston makes its holiday transformation into a Winter Wonder Island.

We loved Schlitterbahn Galveston this summer and we can’t wait to go back and visit Moody Gardens this weekend to enjoy some holiday cheer. Plus, Santa and SpongeBob in one place is pretty much pure heaven on earth for my little ones (and me). If you’re visiting Galveston anytime soon, this is one spot you won’t want to pass up. If you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by. We’d love to see you! I’ll be back next week to share our weekend of fun.

In the meantime, you might want to follow along on Facebook and Twitter to find out all of the other cool stuff that Schlitterbahn Galveston and Moody Gardens have to offer all year long. I love living on this island and I hope you’ll come join us this weekend!

The post We’re Going to Surf with Santa and Visit SpongeBob at ICE LAND! appeared first on Insanity Is Not An Option.

For the record, I received a set of 3 Old Factory Natural Soy Wax Candles in exchange for this post, but as always, all opinions, ideas, and photos are entirely my own.

Holiday gift giving. I struggle with it every year. I mean, I know what to buy the littles, but what about the adults in my life? I struggle. It’s cold outside and I’m not a fan of the cold. I love my island and 90% of the year, it’s warm and smells like vacation. So why not vacation 100% of the year and share that smell, that feeling of warmth, with all of the people I love for the holidays? Thankfully, Old Factory Natural Soy Wax Candles makes that easy for me. I can order a set of 3 clean burning candles in the scents of Sea Breeze, Hawaiian Lei, and Awapuhi for just $25 to send to those I love this holiday season. Don’t like the smells of the island (what is wrong with you?), they have a variety of scents available including a Christmas collection and each candle burns cleanly for a total of 20 hours.

The best part? By ordering through Amazon, they’ll do the gift wrapping for you. I don’t know about you, but I’m a busy person. I’m a wife, a mother, and I work way more than full time. I don’t have time to shop outside of the home and I sure as heck don’t have time to gift wrap or mail anything. Ordering on Amazon means I can have my items gift wrapped and add a personal message with the click of a button. Cool, right? The package shows up right at their doorstep just like I did all of the work. But, I didn’t. I paid a nominal fee for someone else to do it for me. I feel like I’m winning at life with this service!

Like I said, I’m opting to give the gift of a vacation aroma this year, but if that’s not your thing, Old Factory offers a variety of scents that your recipients will enjoy including holiday scents. These candles offer a mild, clean burning scent that everyone will enjoy. They’re perfect for gift giving or to enjoy in your own home. Plus the ease of ordering is a win for everyone. Holiday shopping just got a little bit easier and I’m loving the smell of victory!

The post Every Day’s a Vacation with Old Factory Natural Soy Wax Candles appeared first on Insanity Is Not An Option.

Because my office has been a hot mess and storage room since our move, I cleaned up with Zep Commercial® as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars. #TryZep

Our recent move was kind of a mess in general. We moved on August 15th, but by moved I mean, we brought over the big stuff like the beds, kitchen and bathroom supplies, our clothes, my laptop, the TV, living room furniture, and the dining room table. We had until October 6th to get everything out of the condo which sounds amazing right? Well, not so much. That just made us procrastinate and go back over to the condo here and there and grab some “stuff” each time. Somehow most of that “stuff” just landed in my office. It just kept piling up. I kept closing the door and ignoring it while I worked away at the dining room table. Not ideal. I’m incredibly OCD (seriously, I have the papers to prove that my tendencies are incredibly high) so I need order in my life. I need an office atmosphere to work effectively and I sure as heck didn’t even want to think about walking into that “office” that had become utter chaos and downright dirty. I needed something powerful to light a fire under my butt and get this place in order. Thankfully I found Zep Commercial® Quick Clean Disinfectant and All-Around Oxy Cleaner and Degreaser and as soon as I realized that @%!# will clean anything, I knew I was free to dream of a clean and organized office again.

First order of business was to move all of the “stuff” into the middle of my office so I could actually move around in there. Then, I did what all good Disney fans and daydreamers would do in this situation. I carefully placed and affixed this applique on the wall, just inside the door, and I started to dream of my new cleaner, organized, dusted, and disinfected happy place. Then I got to work. I started digging through boxes to see where they belonged and moved the ones that needed to go into the attic out into the hallway (I don’t do attic stairs so B handled that part). Then I started sorting through the other boxes and de-hoarding my belongings. So much trash. So, so much trash! And then I started taking out my most favorite things (and realizing that my taste is somewhat that of a teenager when it comes to my happy place). I immediately cringed when I saw how dusty/dirty most of them were from being stored for far too long, I cleaned them all thoroughly with the Zep Commercial® All-Around Cleaner and Degreaser. Bonus, this stuff not only cleans just about anything and everything (awesome in the bathrooms and kitchen too), it smells amazing! And as a final prep for the big makeover, I disinfected the doors, door knobs, baseboards, furnishing, and every other non-porous surface with the Quick Clean Disinfectant because we’ve already had colds, flu, and stomach bugs in our house this year and this is the room I’ve neglected the most. And then the real fun began.

I was able to turn that hot mess of a cluttered, dusty, dirty, more than likely germy room into something that was beginning to resemble an office. A happy (and clean) place where I could work productively while singing a happy little working song. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out, once again, that my office decor is probably not age appropriate, but it sure makes me smile. Because who doesn’t want a monkey with a crown sitting over them while they work?

And this monstrosity of a corner filled with books, laundry, boxes, an Elsa doll I still haven’t sent (I’m sorry Summer, I’ll send it now that I found it), a bike flag, cords, and so much more? This was probably the biggest challenge. But fueled with Zep power, I tackled this too.

A $30 bookshelf did wonders and now we have a reading room as well. Plus I have additional space to put more of my important stuff. You know, like my Marilyn Barbie and such. Yes, that stuff. But there was more work to be done and I was on a roll!

I know what you’re thinking now that you’ve seen there’s a closet in the room. You think that I shoved all of this stuff in there and jammed the door closed, right? OK, I was tempted but my OCD said “no, no, no”, and besides it wouldn’t have all fit even if I tried.

I organized all of my crafting supplies (yes, I have those) in a tote, and I left all of the “stuff” I use regularly in there as well as some pictures and plaques I still need to hang. Yes, there’s still work to be done in the room, but I’m really happy with how well it’s turning out.

Ready to tackle a HUGE cleaning project like me, or do you just need some new cleaning products that do an amazing job at a reasonable price (and smell pretty awesome too)? We’ve got a Zep for that! Zep Commercial® offers a complete line of cleaning and drain care products that deliver professional results. Whether you’re a cleaning professional or just want to get the job done right while saving time and money, you’ll be able to clean with confidence and have pride in the results like me.

Like my sparkly results? Read more about Zep Commercial® on their website. You’ll also want to like them on Facebook and follow along on Twitter to find out about all of their amazing cleaning products. Seriously, cleaning has never been so simple thanks to Zep! Now if you’ll excuse me, I think there are a few bathrooms in need of cleaning calling my name. Happy cleaning!

The post Dare to Dream of Cleaner, More Organized, Living Spaces! appeared first on Insanity Is Not An Option.

For the record, I received product from Valentia Skin Care to facilitate this review. All opinions are entirely my own based on my personal experience with this product.

Let me just put this out there, I spend a lot of money on my face. A LOT. In an attempt to maintain a youthful appearance, I literally have an arsenal of products that I use daily or weekly. The island climate can be rough on my skin so I have to work extra diligently to defy the signs of aging. Recently, I’ve added Valentia Even Glow Serum to my arsenal which already consists of wrinkle creams, anti-aging concealer, sunblock, teeth whiteners, lengthening mascaras, lip plumpers, and many more products. If I have all of that other stuff, why would I need more, right? Well, honestly, you can never have enough stuff, and I’ve found that no one product works on everything that I need to address.

The Valencia Even Glow Serum is strategically formulated with powerful natural ingredients to support and enhance Vitamin C efficacy. This antioxidant treatment serves to brighten, protect, and even skin tone to reduce the appearance of aging. It helps to increase your skin’s glow and radiance, absorbs quickly, boosts collagen production, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Please take note that I said FINE lines and wrinkles. If you need to take care of deep wrinkles, might I suggest shots in your face? But that’s another topic.

I’ve been using this product daily for about 2 weeks now, and I’ve noticed a difference. My skin is definitely softer and has a softer appearance. Although uneven skin tone has never been a huge issue for me, it has helped with the little bit of an issue that I have there. I’ve also seen a decease in the fine lines around my mouth and cheeks (dang it, I need to stop smiling so much). It’s simple to use. Just wash your face, apply a small amount to face and neck, allow to dry, then apply your favorite moisturizer. You’re done.

The product retails for $35 and it seems like this one bottle will last me FOR-EVER. It’s available on Amazon and totally worth the investment in my opinion. Especially considering all of the other money I dump in my face. This is a great deal!

Do I look 20? Of course not, silly. I’m more than twice that. Does anyone ever guess my real age? Nope, and I’ll take that. I can still hang with my 30-something husband and feel comfortable that people don’t realize we’re ten years apart. That’s a tall order and Valentia Skin Care is helping me with my mission. So what are you waiting for? Want to look younger too? Then click on over to Amazon and place your order today! Plus, you’re welcome.

The post What’s in Your Anti-Aging Arsenal? appeared first on Insanity Is Not An Option.

Today was the first day of school. Yay for them, sad face for mom. Seriously, it was so quiet in here, you’d think I’d be ecstatic, but actually I felt terribly alone. But enough about me. Let’s talk about the first day of school and things that hit me like a ton of bricks today, shall we? Well, since we’re talking about things that hit me like a ton of bricks, I guess we (really just me) are still talking about me, right? It is what it is.

The babies had a great first day, mostly. Bug enjoyed every minute of it and Bubby enjoyed the first half. Apparently the second half was really boring involving sitting on a rug and stuff. Turns out, the “stuff” was music class and it’s apparently not his favorite part of the day. He had fun, he’s making friends, and I’m incredibly proud of him.

Now, on to what “hit” me. My kids are just fine without me. In fact, they flourish. That’s a good thing, really, but it’s somewhat hurtful in a way. I need them, I know they need me, but they do very well without me. Proud, but bitter sweet.

But aside from the emotional issues of the day, I decided I wanted to talk about something political. Uniforms and equality. If you know me at all, you know that I stay FAR away from discussions of politics, race, or religion. These are hot topics and I don’t like confrontation or debate. That’s not to say that I don’t have strong views, it’s just to say that I don’t like to argue or upset others. So I shut up. I mumble to myself, I have my opinions, but I keep them closed within me, because that’s how I was raised. Today, I break that mold.

My kids’ first day of school pictures will look exactly like their last day of school pictures because my children will be wearing the exact same clothes on the first day as they do on the last. Yes, school uniforms. Although I do hate the blandness of it all, I actually totally appreciate it. Not for my kids really, but for some of the others.

We “have”, others in my area do not. It’s not fair, but it’s a fact of life. I was raised with money. A blonde haired, blue eyed, “white” girl with money. Then I raised 2 little girls as a single mom. We didn’t have shit. They were lucky to have Walmart clothes for school. The playing field wasn’t equal for them, but they made do and they did well because they had the charm and charisma to pull it off. That had nothing to do with social stature, race, or anything really, other than themselves. I was proud but I wanted more for them.

Today, as I sent my babies to school, as I dropped them off in their classes, I looked around. All of the kids looked the same. White, black, brown, yellow…the same. Why? Because they were all wearing red or white polo shirts with khaki shorts, skorts, skirts, or pants. No one stood out. No one stood in the shadows. Equal. There was no hatred. There was no racism, no talk of socio-economic differences. And they giggled, laughed, and conversed as equals. Because they should. Because they are. One child’s family might have more money than another. One child’s skin might dictate how society treats them. But in that classroom, in those same uniforms, they are equal and in that, I find hope for this world.

I see a lot of bad things daily on the internet, on social media, but today I saw peace. I felt peace. If everyone saw the world through the eyes of a child, if we all wore uniforms, this world would be a better place. Please don’t think I’m insinuating that racism doesn’t exist. It does and it breaks my heart and every fiber of my being on a daily basis. All I’m saying is that it doesn’t exist in Kindergarten. Hatred is learned and thankfully, these babies haven’t learned to hate yet. I hope they never will.

I watched my son this morning and I was proud. I was proud of the lessons I’ve taught him and I was proud that he doesn’t see color or social stature. He sees people, he sees friends. We’d all be better people, we’d be a better society, if we’d all take a moment to revisit Kindergarten. There are no barriers there. No learned hatred. No discrimination. Just love, uniforms, and equality. It’s a beautiful thing. I witnessed pure beauty and I loved it!

I’m not writing this for a political debate. I’m not writing this to hear how much better I have it than others (I know that I have it better than some, worse than others). I’m writing this to point out that children (and schools with uniforms) are so much better than our society as a whole. Being unique is flippin awesome, but some uniformity, some conformity, is pretty awesome too. Let us all learn from our children. They don’t see the walls that we, as adults, sometimes build. Why should they? They shouldn’t exist. They don’t see socio-economic standing. They don’t care. They see someone that looks just like them. In a uniform. They see friends…all around them. And they are so much more brilliant than we are. Let’s don’t teach them to hate. Ever.

If my kids never get out of uniforms, if they never see the hatred that society has created, I’ll be OK with that. I hope they always continue to see everyone the same way they see themselves when they look in the mirror. That’s the way it should be and I’m glad my babies see it that way. It’s time to stop the hatred. Hopefully these kids, our future, will finally make the change and this world will be a better place. It will be as wonderful as Kindergarten where the only talk of color that matters is in the Crayola box and all of the beautiful drawings they can create with those colors…together.

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