12.30.2011

everyone has the right to....


New Year's Eve is just around the corner! So I've been thinking about all the things that SPARKLE! Do you plan on adding sparkle to your nye or even 2012? I know I do...although I don't think I'll convince the mr that he needs to wear a metallic gold bow tie! But I could sneak it on the dog! Hope everyone has a happy & safe new year's celebration! Here's to a new year & another chance for us to get it right! After all, everyone has the right to S P A R K L E!

Until next blog....

12.22.2011

{n i n e} years





For this post I have to start out with an apology to my little blog...I'm sorry I do NOT keep up with it like I should...I honestly do not know how people do it for a living or that have more than one busy child and find the time to consistently keep up with it...maybe that should be my new years resolution! Anyways, back to my post....


Nine years ago I was a junior in high school...I can't say I know what path I was on because I think back and think about where I was headed during that time, and I couldn't tell you. I was coming off of a long list of dating the wrong guy (for me) pattern, I just witnessed the death of my beloved Memaw, and to be honest, was getting a little tired of being treated like I was a bad child at home. Not that I was perfect, but my mom insisted on being on top of me like I gave her a reason to think I was a "party or bad" girl type. I barely did anything, besides shopping...I worked, helped with my little sister, and did my chores. I was a good student and never really gave my parents reasons to worry...but for some reason, if I asked to do anything, I got "I don't know their parents", "no you need to watch your sister", "you need to do x,y, & z" yada-yada-yada. ((for the record, I'm not saying this from a whoa is me stand point, just stating the situation during that time..)) I remember thinking that if I was going to be accused of or constantly asked if I was doing certain things, that maybe I should just start. Maybe I should become a party girl...what did I care. Life was too short, and I had just witnessed a woman, who lived a good "clean" life, was full of faith, never drank, smoked, did drugs etc, suffer through a long, painful death. Why on earth should I be good when life can turn on you no matter how you live... So there you have me nine years ago, on a path looking for "bad". Now fast forward a few weeks later and cue my saving grace...


I had met him when I was a sophomore. I went to a baseball game to watch a then boyfriend play. I said hey could you go get "Mr. Wrong" for me and tell him I'm here! He said sure and was gone for a few minutes. He came back and said "umm he's sort of busy right now...". I was a little disappointed but I figured he was warming up or something for the game, but he said "I can't lie to you, he's busy playing video games & just doesn't want to come talk to you....BUT I will." Such a sweet gesture I thought, we chatted a couple of minutes, and then went on our separate ways...I thought that he was nice, but that was all... On to watch the game, after all I was there to watch my boyfriend play. A few weeks went by and Mr. Wrong & I called it quits. Partly because he was a jerk and partly because an old boyfriend, who I thought I would never hear from again that had moved to another state, contacted me again. 


So back to a Mr. Perfectly Wrong for me...a great pattern I hope that my daughter never falls into! School came to an end, summer started with me working full-time, and trying to keep up with a long-distance relationship...every so often when I would be online, the nice guy from the baseball game would "IM" me saying Hello Beautiful! I would tell him I had a boyfriend, we would chat a little, then that would be it. I spent my summer into my junior year, in and out of the hospital with my Memaw. She was becoming seriously ill and having a lot of complications. (short story on her...she contracted in the '80s, Hep C in a blood transfusion, which later turned into Cirrhosis of the Liver,which in the end took her life.) Come November 14th, we were called to go to the hospital to say our goodbye's...they turned off the machines and all day we played the waiting game. I remember thinking with each passing minute that there was a chance that she could have a miracle, wake up and be healed. I was standing there, in what almost felt like a bad dream and like forever all at the same time...starring at this woman whose life was ending too soon, who was too good to deserve this, and who I was going to miss too much. I walked up to her and I said goodbye Memaw, I Love You...and that was it. She died....the line went flat and she physically left us. I was so overcome with emotions from, she waited on me because she knew how upset I was that I didn't come up with my parents that last weekend, to maybe I shouldn't have said goodbye and maybe she would have held on longer. But it was over, she died in front of my own eyes. That was a long, silent drive home. I didn't want to talk about it to anyone and just wanted to be left alone. I got on the computer to email Mr. Perfectly Wrong about what happened...that and snail mail were our only form of communication at the time. As I was typing the email, the nice guy from the baseball field IMed me, Hello Beautiful! popped up on my screen. I typed, you don't even know me and my Memaw just passed away, I'm just trying to email my boyfriend...I don't feel like talking. He told me he was sorry and that if I needed anyone to talk to, he would listen. Pfft, what did this guy know? He didn't even know me and besides I had Mr. Perfectly Wrong to lean on...or so I thought. Mr. PW called me, told me he was sorry, told me how sorry he was that he wasn't going to be able to be there for me, blah-lie-lie-blah...A few days later I found out he had another girlfriend or 2 and that he had been lying to me all along. Whatever, I'm over Mr. Wrong's...in fact I think I'm just going to be single for a little while....In fact, I think I want to just be carefree, figure out how to get into the party crowd, and not care about anything anymore. There was no point... 


Winter-ball was coming up and a girl in class asked me if I was going. I wasn't...didn't have a dress, didn't have a date, and didn't really care. She said "would you go if you had a date? I said I don't know maybe...She said do you know Mr. Perfect For You? Yeah, I met him last year at a baseball game. Would you go with him? I guess, if he didn't have a date." Well you guessed it, he had a date. Just as friends, but he had already promised he would take her and he didn't want to do that to her. I told him it was okay, I understood, but he asked if he could call me later. So he called and we talked a little, then he said he had to go, his dad was making him do the dishes...Sure I thought, the dishes...then later I got an IM: have to finish my english paper, but I'll call you as soon as I'm done. Okay I mean really, he obviously doesn't want to talk to me. But then he sent another message: if I call you back tonight, you'll know I really like you. A couple of hours went by and I thought for sure that he wasn't going to call...but he did. We talked A L L night. Seriously from 10:30pm to 5:30am. We met up between classes and just started to get to know one another. He invited me over to meet his parents (no Mr. Wrong's in the past did that...) I invited him over to meet mine...then Winter-ball came, I went over and helped him get ready. He was going to come over to my friend's house when he was done to hang out. He came over, rang her doorbell, I answered... There he stood with a single rose and asked me to be his girlfriend...


Now I am not saying we have had a perfect relationship...but we have been there for each-other, grown up together, overcome many, many obstacles, supported and loved one another for nine years now. He was there when I wanted to spiral out of control and he let me a few times, but he always helped me back up. He supported me in any decision I have had to make. And most importantly he has loved me for just me. I don't know how he has done it, but I do know that he is my best friend. Some people say you shouldn't be best friends with your spouse, but I'm here to say, you need to be best friend's with your spouse! We wouldn't have it any other way. Who wants to go through life without their best friend by their side? I sure wasn't doing a very good job without him that is for sure!


I know I could have made this world's longest blog...but I didn't want to bore the reader. I feel like I've left so much out...but that's our nine years in a blog-shell! Feel free to leave a comment or a short snip-it about your "best friend"... I appreciate any comments, tips, or suggestions, just leave them in the comment section!





Until next blog...

12.01.2011

it's 11.11, make a WISH!

You're invited....
to take a peek at our daughter's first birthday! She was born on 11.11 & with her turning 1 on 11.11.11, we knew we had to make it extra special! So I decided early on with a Make a Wish theme.

Here are a few of the details... (all photography is courtesy of jenny.lynn photography, message me for her info!)
Step 1: Invitations [photo below]
Have you ever envisioned something & set out to find it, but you come up empty handed? Yup, you guessed it...that happened to me in the invitation department! I thought it would be cute to have star wand invites...out of ALL the invitation places (online, etsy, & around town), I pretty much came up empty handed. And I just wasn't finding anything that I had envisioned. Then I decided, well I will just buy star shaped invitations, embellish them, & turn them into wands! Eeehhnt, WRONG! You can find lobster claws and even tequila bottles (complete with mustaches)- shaped invitations, but NOT stars! ((now that I've made this claim, they will all of a sudden appear e v e r y where like magic!)) So last resort to fulfill your vision? Call in the brother-in-law to draw the stars on a computer for you, you come up with the wording, & take them to Office Depot to print them....and yes, hand cut them allllll out :D Thank goodness for family! {wish for mommy= GRANTED!}


Step 2: Decor [photo below]
decor=glittery, stars, girlie...wishes!
1) made a ribbon garland! Super easy (time consuming, but easy!) just sewed (with thread that was my memaw's!) misc. ribbons/trims to a 6ft piece of pom-pom trim! Then bought an empty frame in the "custom" framing department at Hobby Lobby (a little tip, they sell mess-ups from people who placed an order & weren't happy or decided on something else etc!) then my wonderful mr spray painted it for me! Then I just painted a wood #1 (craft section, yes @HL) & hung it in the center! {wish for a cute backdrop for her cake smash & double as cute party decor in general (plus a keepsake I will add to her big girl room some day..) = GRANTED!}

2a) inside the china cabinet: I removed all of our china off of the middle shelf & replaced it with everything from when she was born...all of her firsts: hat, shirt, bow, blanket, pacifier, bracelets, etc...a collage frame with pics from our maternity shoot, as well as a photo from her newborn shoot & a large picture of one of her announcements & her going home outfit. I ended up liking the way it turned out so much, that I haven't brought myself to take it all out yet! 
2b)make a wish banner...would LOVE to take credit for it, but unfortunately the invitations took a little more out of me then I expected, so I ordered it off of etsy! From Little Pumpkin Papers, SUPER, SUPER cute things & I was able to do a custom order! Which I also got

3) wish tree: tags from too! I customized a star tag she already offered & decided to use them for Alivia's Wish Tree. I had it set up on a table with pens & asked guests to "make a wish" for Alivia! I thought it would be a perfect keepsake & absolutely love the personal touch it adds. In fact, afterwards, we decided this will be one of our traditions. A wish tree every year for birthdays. {traditions started = wish come true!}

4) this pic gives you a little glimpse of it all together! The centerpiece at the front of the pic was handmade by her Nana's best friend, Lana's Lullaby Cakes & Cards, she is one crafty, talented, & amazingly awesome lady!




Step 3: More Decor...[photo below]
1) another find in the HL custom frame department & another awesome spray paint job by my mr! My inspiration started here on Pinterest. I was discussing things with my (soon to be) sister-in-law "SNL", how cute I thought it would be to do 1 picture from every month! So we did it! I'm a little biased but I think it turned out perfect! It seemed to be a big hit too! Everyone enjoyed getting to see how much she had changed & grown from 0-1!

2) birthday girl dress: I kept going over & over what will she wear for her birthday...I knew a tutu outfit was last resort because (yet again!) I envisioned something different. But this time, I didn't exactly know what I had envisioned. And actually I have to be honest, I ordered this dress before I even knew/planned on using it for her birthday! I sent a pic of it to my best & asked for her opinion...it's great to bounce ideas off of people, especially ones who will be honest with you & it always helps me to come up with even more ideas when I say it out loud or even just send it in a text! So I sent it to her & then all of a sudden it needed a belt & a headband & BAM, birthday outfit had been born! SNL & I went off on an excursion to Joann's to find the fabrics for the flowers/ rosettes! SNL did an amazing job on it too I might add! She even added small broach-like buttons from my wedding shoes to her belt & one to her headband! Another personal touch that I adore! {wish for personal touches= SUCCESS!}

3) some of the table decor...bought two little glass jars+glitter+tags 1)first birthday 2)wishes + painted a chipboard #1 = part of the table decor

4) birthday wreath: found a star at the party supply store+painted an A from HL+tied it on with ribbon= TaDa Little A Wreath (already had the tiffany blue door ;D)




Step 4: Cake & Cuppycake Decor [photo below]
1) Cake for ALL! (1 tier white+1 tier chocolate= all cake lovers covered)
2) Cuppycake for ONE!



Step 5: CAKE smash SMEAR!! [photo below]
1) smash cake apron: designed/made by her Aunt (SNL)! We picked the fabrics out at Joann's. Turned out AAAAAA-dorable & she looked so cute in it with her little bloomers & cake headband!

2) cake headband from a local gift shop+custom cake banner+ONE giant cuppycake= One happy Little A. She is such a little texture person...always has been from when she was even teeny-tiny. Always wanting to touch everything...so naturally she LOVED squishing, smearing, sharing, throwing, slinging, & nibbling here-and-there on that giant cuppycake!

3) just SOME of the cake smearing damage! BUT well worth it! {wish for memories to be made= without a doubt!}


Step 6: First Birthday Memories [photo below]
1) I had THE best time envisioning, planning, & throwing this First Birthday Party! I couldn't have asked for a better memory for our daughter. I can't wait for her to look back when she is older & see just how special she has ALWAYS been to us, even from the very beginning. I realize that when they are this young, "they aren't even going to remember", but the pictures will show her, all of the wishes people wrote for her will tell her, & all of the lifelong keepsakes will let her know that she is our little wish come true!


{the wording to the right of the picture is what I personally came up with for her invitation! I thought it was just perfect & seemed to just come to me so I stuck with it! amazing how one very special birthDATE can inspire a whole theme!}

I couldn't have done any of this without my amazing mr...all of her grandparents...all of her aunts & uncle...the best...all of our family & friends...and especially our little wish come true, little a herself! I could never thank everyone enough!!!

Until next blog...

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11.28.2011

deck the [kitchen] window!

As if you couldn't tell, I really love Christmas time... & all of the decorating is just a bonus! I decided to share a short little post about some other Christmas decor I've done around the house lately. This one is in our kitchen window. I promise two things about this...1) it is beyond easy-peasy & 2) you can do it on the C H E A P! Really, I promise!!

The basics...all you need is 1}a tension rod (purchased mine at walmart for like $3 or $4) 2} ribbon in any color you wish! (purchased from Joann's, left over from little a's birthday party) 3}ornaments (pink striped ones are from hobby lobby & the teal sparkly ones are from walmart)

So there you have it, you can do it in a SNAP & on the CHEAP!



Until next blog...

wishbone v. backbone




until next blog...

11.21.2011

...i must confess!

So I must say that I have always been one to enjoy each holiday...and have always tried to not rush through them! I even might say that I have said once or twice "I can't believe they already have the Christmas stuff up!" while shopping in stores. But for some reason...I must confess! I couldn't wait any longer & have started decorating for Christmas! Yes before my rule of waiting for the day after Thanksgiving! I just LOVE decorating...especially for Christmas! It's not that I don't appreciate Thanksgiving & all of its glory of leaves, pumpkins, turkey's, & pilgrims, but let's face it..there are only so many girly decorating options with Thanksgiving. So while I am SO Thankful for Thanksgiving & can't wait to celebrate it with my family. I just couldn't wait to get the ball rolling on Christmas decorating this past weekend!


Now enter Exhibit A...Little A to be exact :D Here is Little A's Christmas tree in her room::




I went in a very girly direction for her room, but also added personal little touches that represent her! I found little music note ornaments for her love of piano music...the only thing that will stop her dead in her tracks & cause her to pay attention for 2.5 seconds in time! Then there is a giant glittery bow shaped ornament...to represent all the countless bows mommy tries, tries, tries to keep on her :) even though she insists on eventually ripping it off! I also included a star ornament, which represented her birthday party theme this year (11.11 wishes). Then one of my favorites is a glass ballerina...and although she is too little for dance at this age (she just turned 1!) she insists on walking only on her tippy-toes, which calls for everyone who witnesses it to say "awe she is going to be a little ballerina!" Then the last ornament that isn't just for decorating the tree, but holds a special representation, is the two keys...because she simply is the key to mommy & daddy's heart!


So there you have it! Proof that I am guilty of decorating before Thanksgiving...but can you honestly tell me you haven't started or even thought about decorating for Christmas yet!!?


Until next blog...

11.14.2011

honey water with lemon..



It's crazy to think that today marks nine years since I said I love you & good bye to my Memaw. Most times when I think about her I'd give anything to just have a phone call with her. To visit her is a given, but going on nine years without her, I would take a phone call if that's all I could get. I know she watches over me and for that I am extremely lucky..grateful...and blessed! A few weeks ago I even got the luxury of getting to visit her home. Some people don't get that chance, but her house was on the market again from the people who bought it nine years ago and with my husband being a realtor, I told him I wanted to go see it. Walking through the front door was like getting a piece of her back for a moment in time.


Even though it wasn't the exact same, she was still everywhere in that home. Most of my memories with her can be found behind those walls. Standing in the kitchen I could imagine her boiling her water, pouring it in her coffee cup...squeezing in the lemon & stirring in the honey. She did it every morning...Being in that house one more time help ease the pain of the last memory I had with her. Although a special memory, also very difficult & painful all at the same time. That house helped me to think of the countless other ones though. Playing the piano...making tacos out of her coffee table decor...riding countlessly up & down her driveway...spending many nights there & going to church with her the next morning. I love those memories...that house...and I love her. 


If heaven wasn't so far away, I'd go every single day! 


Until next blog...

10.30.2011

...pinning


Well if you are like me at all you know all about PINTEREST... and if you don't, take my advice and DON'T check it out! It is so addicting, T R U S T me! Also take my advice and prepare yourself for your significant other to ask you what you are doing all of the time...which brought me to this little saying :D Enjoy!!! 


And, Happy Pinning!


Until next blog...

10.12.2011

OH shoot!!!!

Sometimes you follow a recipe to a T...other times you make changes that you want...and on occasion you have no choice but to make substitutions because you can't find what you need! The latter happened to me today. Earlier this morning I was feeding my Pinterest addiction. (is there a support group for that yet?!) I was making my list for Target (just a quick run for a few things, rarely do I or you, make it out of there with a "few" things but I make a list to help...) ANYWAYS, making my list & pinning all at the same time, when I came across a Smore's cookie recipe...one click led to another click & before I knew it I stumbled upon a Oreo Pudding Cookie Recipe. Sounded pretty good & really quick, plus easy. I thought they'd make a nice addition for after dinner tonight.


So added to my list 

  • Instant Oreo Pudding Mix
  • Hershey's Cookies n Cream Bars
  • Chocolate Chips

Easy enough, Target has a little of everything so I'll just pick those up....WRONG! No big deal, I figure I'll just swing by the Walgreen's not too far from our house, because it's never easy to just run into Walmart...ehhh, F A I L. For the record Walgreen's does NOT carry chocolate chips or the Oreo Pudding Mix, just the standard vanilla or chocolate. So I start to make substitutions...I grab Oreos, Vanilla Pudding Mix, & Hershey Drops (chocolates without a candy shell)..so the ever so friendly cashier asks what I am making, I tell her well, Oreo Pudding Cookies, but I am substituting almost everything because I can't find this or that. She says you should just get one of those Jello Instant Oreo Desserts...I like the way she thinks, I said do you have it? Of course they don't, but she said that Dollar Store right over there will! So we put everything back & off I go again. Last stop I tell myself or we aren't having dessert tonight.


So as you probably can guess they had the No Bake Oreo Dessert & the chocolate chips or I wouldn't be writing this blog right now. I must admit though I was nervous to make these substitutions since I've never made the original recipe, but I must say in the words of my sister "OH shoot these are good!"


Hope you enjoy! Until next blog...

10.04.2011

...mascara magic!

If you are still stuck in the "old" days of reading a magazine (not everything has to be online and for me, there is just something about holding it in your hands, flipping through the pages...)anyways, you know how they do not skimp on the subscription cards. Almost as soon as you pick a magazine up, a couple fall out and almost always hit the ground. Well today's tip will help put some of those cards to good use!


Now I am sure the magazine companies wouldn't appreciate this tip, but those who are "reduce, reuse, recycle" might! These little cards work magic when applying mascara! Not only does it help prevent the occasional lash blot, but it really helps you coat the lashes from base to tip!




So there you have today's Tips-y Tuesday! Go ahead, give it a try, pass it along, & don't forget to bat those lashes when you are out and about:D


Until next blog...

9.30.2011

roses are red, violets are blue...

Rose gold is my new FAVORITE HUE!!!!!! I am normally a silver, white gold, platinum kind of girl...but I received a rose gold watch for my birthday & I am I N L O V E! I've even discovered that it's okay to mix it with my other jewelry (which I always thought was a big no-no?!)...huge bonus! So now I am on a mission to add some bracelets & maybe stackable rings or a right hand ring to the mix. 


top pic: the inspiration
middle pic: stackable rings
last pic: t & co


So short & sweet, today's Fashion Friday is ROSE GOLD!!! Until next blog...

9.26.2011

[social media shenanigans]



It's pretty amazing and somewhat funny, how fast someone can cause a stir on social networking sites. All it takes is for one person to post something about a change coming and it takes off like wild fire...


If you are a Facebook-er, you know recently that someone started saying that they were changing it over to needing payment if you wanted to continue using it. So many people in my news feed were copying and pasting this status in what almost seemed like a panic. I mean if you stop and think about it, would it really be that big of a deal? 


For me personally, and I may be completely alone in this, would not find it detrimental. In fact, I would survive. Would I pay for Facebook? No way. Would I miss it, not really. I use it like a lot of others, to keep in touch with those I don't really see that much. But so many people use it as a lifeline. Remember the days before Facebook? They were great... People still socialized the "old fashioned" way...more face to face. And if you had things to share with those involved in your life, you actually shared them face to face or over the phone or even (gasp!) snail mail. Now it seems as though nothing is private or sacred. People tell you every single detail of their life. They post pictures of every single thing they can, what they have, or what they did. They take the things you post and they use it for their benefit or as a "gossip" tool...


I seriously have not been apart of a conversation that hasn't included the phrase, "well I saw it on Facebook" in years! It almost isn't official anymore, unless it is on Facebook. Maybe I just don't get it...maybe I truly am an old soul. Maybe I don't gain anything from having 100, 200, or 1000 "friends". I hate to break it to some of you, I bet not even half or a handful of those "friends" would even know when your birthday is if fb didn't tell them. And if you really needed one of them for something, they wouldn't be anywhere to be found. Sad, but so true. I just wish people would go back a little more to how things use to be.. There is so much more to this life.



9.24.2011

fall.food.football

Regardless of if you are a working mom, stay at home mom, football fanatic or just in the mood for fall, I have a couple of quick recipes to share! Game day and just fall in general, always puts me in the mood to whip things up in the kitchen, but since I can't even seem to find time to take a shower anymore (thanks to a very busy 10 mo. old!), I am always trying to find short cuts or at least cut my time in the kitchen down tremendously... 


Recipe #1 Game Day Queso in a Pinch!
Faster than it takes to score a touchdown, you can have this queso ready & help keep game day munchies down at the same time! I just did the tried & true recipe from the rotel can (except I add a splash of milk to the cheese!), but I added turkey sausage crumbles this time! SO GOOD! Don't knock it until you try it ;D








Recipe #2 Piece of Pumpkin Cake!
I came across this recipe pumpkin dump cake and it inspired me to put a different twist to it, a la Piece of Pumpkin Cake (it sounds better than "dump" cake too :D bonus!)






Well, there you have it! Two completely random recipes but SO fast, easy, & delicious!!!
Until next blog...

9.20.2011

focal point


When we got married and moved into our first house, I came up with this arrangement for our pictures and it just kind of stuck with me from that house to our current home. I loved the mixture of frames/prints and that it gave it a different look...than say, just hanging them up "normally". Over the years I have received many compliments on it and it has become a sort of focal point in our living room. 


Always remember when you are hanging things on the wall that you can: a) use different frames [shape, color/finishes, size, etc...] b) use a different mixture of photo finishes [b&w, sepia, color...] and/ mix in artwork, quotes, etc...and c) have fun! there are no rules on what you can do because it's YOUR space, be creative and just go with it

9.18.2011

::power in pink::





I believe in pink.
I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner.
I believe in kissing, kissing a lot.
I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.
I believe that tomorrow is another day and
I believe in miracles.
-Audrey Hepburn


I believe Ms. Hepburn knew exactly what she was talking about! Such a powerful quote and so much more than just loving the color pink. What if we all believed in these things or instilled these things in our children for the future...I believe things would change for the better. 


Maybe we should all believe in a little pink...


Until next blog...

9.15.2011

[join the fight]

Brace yourself...it's that time of year where everything starts to turn pink! (obviously I don't mind one bit!!) Before you roll your eyes, know that it is for a VERY good cause! Breast cancer awareness is so important in today's day in age. Did you know that ONE woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every THREE minutes in the US? An even scarier statistic is that ONE woman will die because of it every THIRTEEN minutes in the US. The good news is that the survival rate has increased drastically since 1960, but the bad news is, there still is no cure.

However there is hope! With early detection and heightened awareness (thanks to organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure) lives are being saved every day. Everyone can help make a difference. Whether you run in the race, donate money, buy pink products, or simply spread the word, every single person reached is one more possibility. I hope that you will share this and the pictures with everyone you know. 







Until next blog... 

.all.many.few.one.none.



This quote means more than just words that Ben Franklin wrote or said... If you truly read and take in the meaning, you get the message he was sending. Take it phrase by phrase and apply it to your life.


:Be civil to all: Do not treat people with meanness, do not be rude, just be kind. We are all human beings going through our own battles. Every single person deserves to be treated with respect, both to their face and when they are not around. Be civil through and through and you will go further in life. Mean words and being disrespectful will get you no-where in life and leave you alone in the end...and who wants to be stuck in a life like that? For when you truly need someone, they will always remember how you made them feel and decide not to be there for you. 


:Be sociable to many: Learn from people as much as possible. Explore all different walks of life, that is why we are all individuals. If we were all alike, life would be boring and we would never learn anything. Talk with everyone. You might learn so much more than if you just shut the world out or keep a closed mind.


:Familiar with few: Although being sociable is a must, that doesn't mean every single person you meet is your friend or that you have to tell your life story to everyone who crosses your path. Save your secrets. Tell only those closest to you. While it is a good thing to talk with everyone and give them a chance, you shouldn't let too many people in on all that is you and what makes you who you are. Save it for those willing to listen and those who genuinely care for you. There is a difference in being friendly and a difference in babbling on like your the only person on the planet!  


:Friend to one: Sure at some point in your life you will think "I have so many friends", but the cold truth is you don't. You can try, try, try and if you look back, you really will only have one. That one person who is there for you through everything. The friend who doesn't tell you one thing and tell 10 other people another. A friend loves you for who you are. They do not look for your faults and spread them all over the place. They have time for you. Never excuses. And they try just as hard if not harder to be your friend. The words they speak are the words that deserve to spoken about you and to you. They do not make things up to satisfy themselves or others. They only have your best interest at heart, for you have theirs at yours. So is it saying you can't have more than one friend? No, but be a true friend to that friend. Don't be a friend to their face and trash them to the next. That’s not being a friend to anyone or being true to yourself.. 


:Enemy to none: Enough said. Do not do things in your life that will make people not care for you. Be nice. No matter what, just be you. If people do not like it, they do not belong in your life. If they talk bad about you, let them, and do not talk about them in turn. In fact, do not waste your time on them and they will just go away. Do not hang onto them because then you will just become enemies, which causes all involved to lose. We make life, love, and friendships so much more complicated then it really is. Just be you. No matter what life gives you. Keep your head and spirits up. Even during the most difficult times...it will work itself out. It always does. Remember that the hard times can't last forever...just be patient and remember that we all have our problems...different solutions...and our own ways of looking at things.


Until next blog...

9.09.2011

so behind...

Well I brag about all the newness and get you to my blog..,and here I am behind on posting! I'm so behind and so sorry! I promise, promise I will have my new post up soon! I may even do a make-up post as well! Thanks for your patience! Be back soon! ((hopefully by this evening!))


Until next blog...

8.30.2011

something old into something {tiffany} blue

A few months ago some friends called my husband to see if he could come help load and haul away their china cabinet. They had decided they didn't want it anymore and were going to send it to goodwill. So off he went to help. I remember thinking after he left, "hmm I can't remember what it looks like? I wonder if it's something we could use?" Literally in the next few minutes I got a text from my hubby, "are you interested in this?" (I had been saying on this blank wall across from the dining table, I either wanted to find a china cabinet or have a built-in that kind of looked like one.) So he sent me two pictures of it and I told him, just bring it home, we could paint it and if we still don't like it, we can just continue it on to its destination.



He got it home and we decided we could paint it....yes, tiffany blue. I took my recipe box lid with me to lowes to match the paint. We lightly sanded it (nothing too serious), dusted it off and then just started painting it. Now I don't know for sure, but I think because we didn't heavily sand it, the paint didn't go on very "solid" at all. We took a step back and it looked like it was done on purpose, kind of distressed. So we ran with it...we painted the whole thing, one coat, let it dry and that was it. We loved the finished product. I do still wrestle with do I want to switch the knobs, change out the bottom cabinet doors & line the inside with fabric/paper, but for the most part I am very pleased with it!


You never know what something can look like unless you just go for it! What's the worst that can happen? a) You either have to redo it and keep trying until you get it to look how you want or b) you send it on to someone else who will like it and/or do something else with it. You have nothing to lose!
So always oblige to help move something away, look on craigslist, or stop by that garage sale, you never know what you can end up with and re-create! You just might be able to turn something old into something {tiffany} blue! (or white, black, pink, green...whatever color your little heart desires!)


Until next blog...

8.25.2011

life in .*mommywood*.

So one thing I wanted to do with my blog, was to try and make posts every few days...as you can tell, I am a little behind this week! Happens when you are a mom, especially a mom of a baby, because a baby decides when you will and will not do things. Not in a bad way, but a baby requires more attention then say a 4 year old.

Before I became a mommy, I was a full-time nanny. I always assumed that nanny=mommy, and it pretty much does. Especially if you stay with a family for many years. You really care and develop a love for the children that you put all of your time into. But one difference I noticed when I became a mommy was a whole new level of concern. Example, when I would put the baby to bed as a nanny, I did the night time routine, put her in her bed, closed the door, turned on the monitor, and went on to do things I needed to do. As a mommy, it took me 7 months to let my baby sleep overnight in her crib. I just worried about her being alone in this "big" bed overnight. I never thought about it in that way when it wasn't "my" baby.

I also had a new experience Friday as a mommy vs. a nanny. When you are a nanny and something goes wrong with a child, like a high fever or uncontrollable crying (like something is wrong after you've tried everything..) you call the parents up, explain what is going on and see what else they would like you to do, sometimes resulting in them wanting to just come home. When you are a mommy, you have to try and figure that out yourself. And Friday I found myself going back to my nanny mindset, calling my husband asking what I should do! After the fact, I kind of had the feeling of I should have known.. "I am her mother and I should KNOW what to do," but sometimes you just don't.


This is why I am going to sometimes share my life in mommywood with the "world". Just in case I reach that ONE mom who thinks she is the only one going through something, but comes across my blog and says YES, I went through that too, I felt like that or I thought I was the only one. Because trust me, when you move into mommywood, there will be at least one time you will have a moment when you feel like you are the only one going through it.

Which brings me back to my Friday. It started as a normal day. Get the baby up, do the morning routine, and start the day. I noticed right away she was on the fussy-side and immediately started the routine of the rotation: being in her walker, playing with toys, trying a bottle & a nap. When the nap wasn't working, I decided I would try some Tylenol because it MUST be her teeth driving her nuts and making her fussy. Back to the rotation. After 10minutes of being in her walker, her fussiness suddenly turned into CRYING. Huge tears rolling down her face. So I picked her up and decided to rock her, I was thinking geez the last time she was teething it wasn't to the point of CRYING like this. As I rocked her, she started to clinch up and started to make a grunting or groaning sound. My next thought moved to maybe she is starting to get constipated...she did poo the day before, but it wasn't a "big" one, so it has to be that. I took her to her room to change her and feel of her stomach and maybe try some of those leg exercises I learned to help move things around. When I laid her on the the changing area, I first noticed her legs & feet being a grayish-purple tint. At first I thought, now surely my floors are not that dirty, but I soon noticed that was not the case. It was in fact her skin and they were cold. She was still making the grunting sound and now I noticed she was shaking...This made me start to worry and cry. I didn't know what was wrong or what to do.

I called my husband, told him what was going on and he asked me what I thought. I just kept saying I don't know. He said I should load her up and bring her to the office so we could decide whether we should take her to the er or try to get her in at her doctor's office. Plus his mother works at our office, so maybe she could help as well....maybe she was just constipated and I was over-worrying. So off to the office we went. By the time we got to the office (15-20min drive), she was burning up. She also became almost limp and didn't even want to hold her head up. I was at such a loss as to what was wrong with her and it was one of the worst feelings I have ever felt. I realize you can't know everything as a mom, but you still just feel like you should.

So we got to her doctor's office, barely got out of the car and a nurse had met us outside. She was trying to check her out and then I got her out of her car seat and the nurse shut the car door. With our bag AND keys still inside. So we had to call a locksmith while they were checking her over. My husband dealt with the locksmith while I explained everything she was doing. They decided to do a urine test and wanted to send us over for a blood test. They gave her some Motrin and sent us on to the lab. By the time we got to the lab her fever broke, she got her blood drawn and back to the office to wait for the results. They ordered them STAT but we still waited an hour and a half, which with a 9 month old in a room that seems to be getting smaller by the minute, felt like f o r e v e r. They came in and said the results were in and it was an easy fix, she had a UTI caused from ecoli. It explained all of her symptoms and just needed an antibiotic. I asked if they could just call the prescription in so it was ready by the time I got back to the pharmacy by our house, she obliged and we were on our way.

Getting in the car, I do what I do a million times...set my bag down, start the automatic start, set my keys down by her seat,  put her in her car seat, told myself DO NOT FORGET THE KEYS and then this time I thought, better grab my wallet for the pharmacy, get the phone to call the husband for an update, and don't forget the paci in case she needs it while I am driving. Shut the door and tried to grab the door as soon as I released it. TOO LATE. Keys AND THE BABY INSIDE. First thought was bust a window out, but I did remember that I started the car so we had about 10-15mins before it would shut off without the key in the ignition. Ran inside in near meltdown mode and told them I locked her in the car. They told me it was okay, it happens all the time and they will just call 911 because the firemen can get there and in faster than a locksmith. I'm still just bawling my eyes out and go back outside. They are hugging me telling me it's okay, I had a rough/emotional day and that it does happen all the time. It may happen all of the time, but you still just feel like you are a failure and that it doesn't. The firemen came, sirens blaring, and started trying to get the door unlocked. 3 firemen, 5 minutes of the car NOT running and they got it open. She was crying because she was scared with them being on her window, and we took her in to be looked over. She was fine, other than being sick and on we went (with help to the car) to go get her home.

Now that was my Friday...one of the worst days I have ever had and by far the worst thus far in mommywood. But through it all, we survived. A fussy weekend but slowly improving. Monday night was a night of no sleep. She was up most of the night and all morning-day. She finally crashed at 3:45pm and got a much needed nap! Monday to Tuesdays ordeal was now due to teething. Teething is not a fun phase...although, it truly is different for every baby.  

So to sum it all up, it comes down to this... even though I vent, cry & complain, I still try to take the approach I have since I got pregnant, enjoy every single tiny moment, good or bad, because at least I am blessed enough to go through all of this. This philosophy lies underneath all my stress and bad moments I have, even though I might not always show it, I do always stop and think about it. Some people never get to have a child of their own or some never get to hear their child cry or see what they look like...or one of many other things that happen to people or babies. You just have to step back, remember to say thank you and be grateful and embrace all of the moments...even when they have you awake at 2am.

Until next blog!