Kingdom of Chaos

In the eyes of a preschooler..

2013-05-14T12:19:00.000-04:00

It's it funny sometimes, how our children see us? This year for Mother's day I got lots of homemade gifts from the little ones! Love them! :) One of my favorites (b/c I laughed so much from it.. lol) was Dimples though.. I thought I'd share it with you today.

This is me. It's a bit hard to tell but he put little earrings in my ears- I guess to make a statement that I was female because you can't quite tell otherwise. I rarely wear earrings. Obviously the day they did this project, I was wearing a green shirt - again I only have 1 green shirt and it's not a color I wear often.. However, I absolutely love that I have not only a nose and mouth but red glasses (yes I do have red glasses)! I am a bit, however, concerned about my basically bald head with only some bangs.. I'm still trying to figure out if perhaps I am completely bald with really bushy eyebrows or just mostly bald with some combed forward bangs??

Either way, the best part was the back.. Where they have sentences for the kids to finish.. lol.

My Mom is Special !

1. My Mom is special because she gave me a blue police car.

2. My Mom is as pretty as a the United States of America.

3. What outfit do you think looks best on your Mom? her green shirt

4. How many pairs of shoes does your Mom have? 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5

5. What is the best thing that she cooks for you? corn dogs

6. What does your Mom like to do for fun ? go to bed in the morning

7. My Mom can do many things! I think she's best at watching T.V.

8. My Mom has a pretty smile! I like to make her smile by playing dress-up

9. My Mom is smart! She even knows how to use the phone.

Bless that child.. He's lucky I love him so much, since he pretty much made me sound like some slacker ass drunk mom who parties all nite, falls in bed in the morning & watches tv all day while feeding my kid corn dogs.. But hey, at least I know how to use a phone :) LOL!

From the youngest to the oldest there was quite a difference. This was the first year that Drama Queen had a job and bought me Mother's Day presents with her own money. It somehow made it just a bit more special that she was willing to spend her money on me. I had more of a Mother's Day week as she kept leaving me little cute notes w/ goodies attached through out the house.

Goodie # 1. - left on my pillow one nite.

I love chewy sweetarts ! Especially the purple & pink ones.. I was nice enough to share the yellow and green though. lol.

Goodie #2. - left on the dash of my car, found it early in the morning when I got in to take Dimples to the Children's hospital for yet another appt.

hmmm.. I Love me some twix!

Goodie # 3. - left on my nightstand .

Mother's Day morning - she had to work, but I woke up to find a box with a lovely Mom necklace in it and another note. Loved it.

Happy Mother's Day !

2013-05-12T16:31:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day !! Whether you are a mother-to-be, a veteran mother with half a dozen kids, a birth mother or adoptive mother, a surrogate mother, a foster mother or a mother to a little one with wings. I hope today is a day that you can count your blessings and bask in the love of your children. I have quite a few friends with angel babies and I can't imagine your loss right now, I hope you know that my heart is always with you and your babies are loved always!

Today, I wanted to share with you this amazing post that I read.. You may have already seen it shared on FB by a friend which is where I originally saw it, but I was so deeply touched by it that I couldn't help but post. How did this woman get into my head and know my thoughts and feelings so well? She put it way better than I ever could.

From Kathy Harris :

Dear Mom of an Adopted Child,

I met you in adoption education class. I met you at the agency. I met you at my son’s school. I met you online. I met you on purpose. I met you by accident.

It doesn’t matter. The thing is, I knew you right away. I recognize the fierce determination. The grit. The fight. Because everything about what you have was a decision, and nothing about what you have was easy. You are the kind of woman who Makes.Things.Happen. After all, you made this happen, this family you have.

Maybe you prayed for it. Maybe you had to convince a partner it was the right thing. Maybe you did it alone. Maybe people told you to just be happy with what you had before. Maybe someone told you it simply wasn’t in God’s plans for you to have a child, this child whose hair you now brush lightly from his face. Maybe someone warned you about what happened to their cousin’s neighbor’s friend. Maybe you ignored them.

Maybe you planned for it for years. Maybe an opportunity dropped into your lap. Maybe you depleted your life-savings for it. Maybe it was not your first choice. But maybe it was.
Regardless, I know you. And I see how you hold on so tight. Sometimes too tight. Because that’s what we do, isn’t it?

I know about all those books you read back then. The ones everyone reads about sleep patterns and cloth versus disposable, yes, but the extra ones, too. About dealing with attachment disorders, breast milk banks, babies born addicted to alcohol, cocaine, meth. About cognitive delays, language deficiencies. About counseling support services, tax and insurance issues, open adoption pros and cons, legal rights.

I know about the fingerprinting, the background checks, the credit reports, the interviews, the references. I know about the classes, so many classes. I know the frustration of the never-ending paperwork. The hours of going over finances, of having garage sales and bake sales and whatever-it-takes sales to raise money to afford it all.

I know how you never lost sight of what you wanted.

I know about the match call, the soaring of everything inside you to cloud-height, even higher.

And then the tucking of that away because, well, these things fall through, you know.

Maybe you told your mother, a few close friends. Maybe you shouted it to the world. Maybe you allowed yourself to decorate a baby’s room, buy a car seat. Maybe you bought a soft blanket, just that one blanket, and held it to your cheek every night.

I know about your home visits. I know about your knuckles, cracked and bleeding, from cleaning every square inch of your home the night before. I know about you burning the coffee cake and trying to fix your mascara before the social worker rang the doorbell.

And I know about the followup visits, when you hadn’t slept in three weeks because the baby had colic. I know how you wanted so badly to show that you had it all together, even though you were back to working more-than-full-time, maybe without maternity leave, without the family and casseroles and welcome-home balloons and plants.

And I’ve seen you in foreign countries, strange lands, staying in dirty hotels, taking weeks away from work, struggling to understand what’s being promised and what’s not. Struggling to offer your love to a little one who is unsettled and afraid. Waiting, wishing, greeting, loving, flying, nesting, coming home.

I’ve seen you down the street at the hospital when a baby was born, trying to figure out where you belong in the scene that’s emerging. I’ve seen your face as you hear a nurse whisper to the birthmother that she doesn’t have to go through with this. I’ve seen you trying so hard to give this birthmother all of your respect and patience and compassion in those moments—while you bite your lip and close your eyes, not knowing if she will change her mind, if this has all been a dream coming to an abrupt end in a sterile environment. Not knowing if this is your time. Not knowing so much.

I’ve seen you look down into a newborn infant’s eyes, wondering if he’s really yours, wondering if you can quiet your mind and good sense long enough to give yourself over completely.

And then, to have the child in your arms, at home, that first night. His little fingers curled around yours. His warm heart beating against yours.

I know that bliss. The perfect, guarded, hopeful bliss.

I also know about you on adoption day. The nerves that morning, the judge, the formality, the relief, the joy. The letting out of a breath maybe you didn’t even know you were holding for months. Months.

I’ve seen you meet your child’s birthparents and grandparents weeks or years down the road.

I’ve seen you share your child with strangers who have his nose, his smile … people who love him because he’s one of them. I’ve seen you hold him in the evenings after those visits, when he’s shaken and confused and really just wants a stuffed animal and to rest his head on your shoulder.

I’ve seen you worry when your child brings home a family tree project from school. Or a request to bring in photos of him and his dad, so that the class can compare traits that are passed down, like blue eyes or square chins. I know you worry, because you can protect your child from a lot of things — but you can’t protect him from being different in a world so intent on celebrating sameness.

I’ve seen you at the doctor’s office, filling out medical histories, leaving blanks, question marks, hoping the little blanks don’t turn into big problems later on.

I’ve seen you answer all of the tough questions, the questions that have to do with why, and love, and how much, and where, and who, and how come, mama? How come?

I’ve seen you wonder how you’ll react the first time you hear the dreaded, “You’re not my real mom.” And I’ve seen you smile softly in the face of that question, remaining calm and loving, until you lock yourself in the bathroom and muffle your soft cries with the sound of the shower.
I’ve seen you cringe just a little when someone says your child is lucky to have you. Because you know with all your being it is the other way around.

But most of all, I want you to know that I’ve seen you look into your child’s eyes. And while you will never see a reflection of your own eyes there, you see something that’s just as powerful: A reflection of your complete and unstoppable love for this person who grew in the midst of your tears and laughter, and who, if torn from you, would be like losing yourself.

Now wipe your tears and go hug your little ones. May you be pampered and loved today!

*Disclosure- the above post by Kathy Lynn Harris was reposted with permission. *

Distraction at it's best.

2013-04-25T21:39:00.002-04:00

So... I came downstairs tonite to get a post scheduled for the review blog..

But then - Oh look, something shiny- and I ended up spending a few hours playing around with this one and redoing everything..

Ooops..

Oh well, it's pretty and new and sparkly! I'm happy!

What do you think??

~~New~~ real post coming soon!!

Finding Dory - Nov. 2015

2013-04-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Just in case you've had your head in the clouds lately, you may have missed what's swimming to the theaters in Nov. 2015.

I don't know about you but Dory was always my favorite character in Nemo. Who can resist Ellen DeGeneres' beloved character- the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish?

“I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” said DeGeneres. “I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating ‘Toy Story 16.’ But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is—it’s got a lot more Dory.”

Director and Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton takes audiences back to the extraordinary underwater world created in the original film. “There is no Dory without Ellen,” said Stanton. “She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world—not to mention our team here at Pixar. One thing we couldn’t stop thinking about was why she was all alone in the ocean on the day she met Marlin. In ‘Finding Dory,’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way.”

According to Stanton, “Finding Dory” takes place about a year after the first film, and features returning favorites Marlin, Nemo and the Tank Gang, among others. Set in part along the California coastline, the story also welcomes a host of new characters, including a few who will prove to be a very important part of Dory’s life.

Although the wait seems long, I will be thrilled when Finding Dory comes to theaters! Until then "Just keep swimming. "

Like Finding Dory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarFindingDory

Follow Disney/Pixar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar

xoxo,

Review & Giveaway : Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament ~ Chicago, IL

2013-04-03T17:43:00.000-04:00

If you ever read the review blog, you know that I absolutely love anything to do with Lords & Ladies.. Knights , Kings, Princesses.. It just makes me happy like no other :-)

So when I was offered the opportunity to go to Medieval Times, I leaped at the chance! I've been there many , many, many years ago and quite honestly have vague memories of eating in the dark w/ some horses running around.. Yeah, it was a long time ago and I do not have an elephant's memory.

We decided to take the two little boys on our trip because neither of them have been there before and it seemed like something they would really enjoy. Off we went, packed & traveling for the weekend to Chicago! Let me just say it was the best weekend in a long time!

If you aren't familiar with Medieval times, let me share just a little bit about them (courtesy of their website ) before I begin my review and giveaway.

BRIEF HISTORY:
Medieval Times' founders first launched their unique idea for an 11th century-style dinner attraction on the Spanish island of Majorca in 1973. This imaginative new entertainment spot was inspired by the true medieval tradition of royal families inviting guests to a festival and feast to watch knights compete on horseback.

During the early years in Spain, the show's authentic display of classic equestrian skills and medieval pageantry took place in outdoor arenas, a far cry from the climate-controlled castles of today. There, the conventions of today's shows were established. Guests were seated in sections named for the regions of Medieval Spain and encouraged to cheer for the Knight representing their region.

As Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament has grow in popularity both in Spain and North America, some things haven't changed-- like the commitment to the accuracy of weapons and costumes. Others have" the characters and storyline of our show evolve every few years, keeping the experience fresh and exciting for generations to come.

THE SHOW:
Just beyond the great doors of our Hall of Arms waits the celebration arena, the heart of each of Medieval Times' nine castles. From high above King Philippe and his daughter-in-law, Princess Leonore preside over a delicious four-course feast. Below, privileged royal guests are transported to witness an authentic medieval tournament for the Battle of Champions-- with the help of Hollywood caliber special effects, of course.

THE HORSES:
Some of the most talented Medieval Times cast members are our horses. Nearly all of the more than 400 horses are raised at Medieval Times' Chapel Creek Ranch in Sanger, Texas. Opened in 1991, the 241-acre ranch is home to Quarter Horses, Friesians and Menorcans, as well as the Pure Spanish Horses we breed. The Purse Spanish Horse was prized by medieval royalty for it's astonishing strength, agility and even temperment. After a few years in the spotlight, the Medieval Times horses move back to Chapel Creek Ranch. In the serene setting, we make sure our horses live our their lives in royal treatment.

THE FOOD:

During the two-hour Tournament a four-course medieval feast is served to all guests including Garlic Bread, Tomato Bisque Soup, Roasted Chicken, Spare Rib, Herb-Basted Potato, Pastry, and Beverages. A vegetarian meal is available upon request.

Locations : Buena Park, CA ; Orlando, FL ; Schaumburg, IL ; Hanover, MD ; Lyndhurst, N.J. ; Myrtle Beach, S.C. ; Dallas, TX ; Atlanta, GA ; and Toronto, Canada

We live about 3hrs from Chicago & were given the opportunity to visit one of Medieval Times' most memorable castles - the gorgeous, expansive Schaumburg Castle ! With it's colossal stone tower and beautiful lawns, it is just what you would expect when planning on going to a Tournament of Knights!

We arrived at the Castle about 1 1/2 hours before showtime so we would have plenty of time to get in and view everything. Now typically depending on the time you arrive, there can be a line to get in. No worries, they have plenty to look at while you make your way inside.

Yes, I was the person walking around and asking you to move so I could get a picture.. I love this stuff!

Our tickets were waiting for us at the entrance -

Woohoo baby, Front Row seats! Let me just say, front row is the way to go! It was beyond amazing being so close up to the action! Now remember, there are 6 knights to cheer for- so lots of front row seating. We got the Black & White Knight. And oh my , our section was amazing in the cheering! If our knight could have won merely by popularity, I'd say we would have had it in the bag!

We wandered around looking at the various items for sale and decorating the walls.

This guy here ? I want him for my front steps - should I ever win the lottery and have a huge castle of my own. The boys were beyond excited about simply everything.

Finally, we got our seats and the real excitement began !

We were given our crowns and flags to wave.. A note of warning- if you happen to take two very rambunctious little boys, whatever you do= Do NOT sit between them. Flag waving and cheering can be a very dangerous sport !

I believe this is Dimple's knight or king stance.. I'm not quite sure.. lmao. I don't think he sat down the entire show. He was cheering and having a blast! It was amazing for me to see him so enthralled with something like that !

As the show begins, you own serving wench will bring you drinks (Pepsi, diet pepsi or water) and then the food slowly begins trickling in.

Our server announced that this was Dragon's Breath soup ~ Fishing Pole was a little hesitant to try it for a few moments. Then he drank ½ his and was proud that he drank Dragon's Breath! lol !

Do you see that huge piece of chicken:? O.M.G. Let's not forget that I still had a spare rib, roasted potatoes & pastry coming.. I may have wobbled my way out after the show. The only downfall is that you are given no silverware -- hello, they ate with their fingers back in the 11th century. While this is normally fine, if you have a sensory kid (hello, Dimples) then you might want to sneak your own silverware in a ziplock baggy in your purse. Just sayin. Dimples loved the food but I had to hand feed him b/c he will not eat it if he has to touch it.

So the food was awesome, but my favorite part was definitely the horses..

Absolutely Beautiful !

kneeling down

As much as I loved the action of the knights jousting and other tournament games, I could have watched the horse above in all his beauty the entire 2 hours and been happy! ;)

The King and all the knights came out together.. Can you tell how close we were? At one point they put down a net to keep the audience safe, Dimples was able to reach out with his flag and touch the netting! lol! He was beyond thrilled to discover that :)

One of Fishing Pole's favorite things was when each individual knight came around and tossed flowers out to their section of audience. Fishing Pole really really wanted a flower but obviously the knights were throwing to girls. So I waved and held my hand out.. Lo and behold, he tossed me the flower above!! Fishing Pole was beyond thrilled but then insisted I keep it b/c the knight threw it to me! lol :)

All the knights standing in a line. Our was the zebra striped one (the black & white knight).

And just because I couldnt' resist sharing this one :

The dude who kept photo bombing me every.single.time I tried to get a picture off to the side. I can't even say how many pictures I have of his head. He would sit back until I leaned forward to take a picture and then BOOM there he is.. ARGH.

All and all we had a wonderful time! It was an experience to remember! Dimples is still talking about the horsies while Fishing Pole is insisting that we simply MUST take the lil girls to the castle!

And now , what you've all been waiting for --

GIVEAWAY TIME :

I am pleased to be able to offer a family 4 pack of tickets to the Schaumburg, IL Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament! The tickets must be used by the end of April, so spend some spring break time at the Castle! Reminder- this giveaway is for tickets only! Transportation is not provided. Enjoy and GOOD LUCK !

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xoxo,

One step at a time

2013-03-27T10:37:00.001-04:00

For the first time in almost 3months, my kid got out of the car (on his own) at school, smiled and said "Bye Mom, love you!"

It may be temporary or maybe it's a turn back to his old self.. Either way, that moment made my entire day!

Have a wonderful day at school today Fishing Pole ! Momma loves you too!

~ side note- we were able to spend the weekend with the little boys in Chicago- visiting friends and going to Medieval Times.. Omg, we had soo much fun! Pics and review coming soon along with an awesome giveaway! Stay tuned!

xoxo,

Sometimes we all need a little help.

2013-03-21T10:34:00.001-04:00

So my friends, I have been holding back.   Hoping it would pass and I could write about it easier once it was over with. Unfortunately it's been 3 months now and still not passing.

Fishing Pole (7) has always had phases.. Since he was at least 3, he has went thru spells - where he is just out of control behavior wise.. Not at all himself.. This kid is an absolute sweetheart with the biggest heart out there. He always thinks of his siblings and if he's at Cowie's he'll bring home something for them ect.. If he has any money to spend, he always tries to buy something for his siblings too. He's very loving..

And then he falls into the "bad" phase.    Normally it doesn't last more than a month but this is the worst we've ever encountered. My sweet, loving boy has switched into an angry, defiant kid. He's struggling at school - with behavior, getting work done, basically everything. We tried to hold out knowing that it shouldn't be long until he would switch back to his normal self but apparently this time we aren't going to be quite as lucky..

Honestly, I have no clue what is actually bugging him- I do know that it's much worse during the school week vs weekends. He says he hates school now and I've had days where I have had to literally drag him out of the car and into the building.

It all started with a 'flare' from his dysautonomia - or at least that's what I am guessing.. Lots of pain, brain fog , ect.. I could understand being grumpy & not wanting to go to school feeling like that. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you view it, the chronic pain went away after about a month but the behaviour got worse instead of better.

The absolute worst day was the day he screamed over and over that he wanted to die. He wanted to kill himself.   I remember thinking- come on, he's 7.. but on the other hand, omg- what is so wrong in my baby's mind that he would rather die than be here with us?

We are starting play therapy and hoping to get into see a psych soon to see what other dx he might have (adhd? anxiety? depression?) and just praying that we can get the help he needs to let him be that sweet little boy that I know is hiding inside.. I miss that little boy.

Most days I think I handle it pretty well, and try to remain calm while he's screaming at me what a horrible mom I am, how much he hates me ect.. Today was not one of those days. I may have yelled back, I know I said things that I regret and apologized for. I am the adult and can't always hold my temper, how can I expect him to?

If you have advice, ideas or heck even want to point me in a direction that might help- I'm always willing to listen. I'm pretty much ready to try anything right now.   I miss my boy.

xoxo,

A @YumEarth Easter Candy #Giveaway !!

2013-03-18T00:01:00.000-04:00

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xoxo,

A Candle Giveaway

2013-03-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Objects With Purpose Giveaway

Hey guys! I'm here today to offer you the chance at a great gift basket! Candles! I love Candles, they are so relaxing. I have several around my bathtub so when I'm soaking I can sit and watch the flame- it's just soothing to me :)

Giveaway :

I Winner Will Receive an Objects With Purpose Candle Gift Basket {RV $2oo}. See form for Entry Details. Open to U.S. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. Ends 3/25.

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This event is hosted by The Review Wire and special thanks to all the blogs, like Kingdom of Chaos, in helping to promote this event.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Kingdom of Chaos is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact Review Wire Media with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

xoxo,

A Mashed up mess

2013-03-05T14:19:00.002-05:00

Life lately has been a big mashed up mess. If one kid doesn't have something going on , the other one does. Why can't they take turns?? It'd be so much easier for me :(

On a good note-

Attitude King turns 15 today. It hit me suddenly, he's growing up. I'm not sure what I thought came after 14 because I was perfectly fine with 14.. 15, not so much.   I dreamt a few weeks ago that he was driving Drama Queen's car (with her in it) and I was yelling at both of them b/c he's no where near old enough to drive and how irresponsible are they.. ect ect..    Then I woke up and was telling Daddy Chaos about it only to realize that my baby is turning FIFTEEN this year , which means he takes driver's ed this summer.. WHICH means he IS almost ready to be driving.. AHHH! I don't understand how we got to this point already.. :sigh:

On a not so good note-

We recently had Kindergarten Round Up... Yep, Dimples will be going to kindergarten next year. He is in a normal preschool w/ a para for extra help this year and has been doing wonderfully. Still, we knew that his developmental delay "sticker" would fall off this year and we'd have to do more testing in order to get him an IEP & help next year for Kindy.   It's been on my mind to call the Special Ed teacher at the school system and chat with her about it, but she beat me to it and called yesterday. Imagine my surprise when she went on to say that she feels that he is very bright (why yes he is! A very smart boy!!) and is doing well in preschool (2.5hrs /day) and feels that he doesn't need tested and can just go to Kindy with no help. ...

......
......
It took a few moments for me to even formulate a response.   No testing? No help? While on the outside that may sound wonderful, inside it is instant fear. I know this boy. I know how very very smart he is. I also know his limits with behaviour, social skills & language. You see, he can hold it in for a few hours if he's not with a trusted loved one. He can do it, but the minute he's back in a safe environment- all hell breaks loose.

I called up my bestie and told her the news- she immediately said WHAT?.. lol. Love her. She has a 4yr old one month older than Dimples and so yes, I compare where they are not educationally but overall .

Dimples-
-does not play with other children, he prefers to play alone. Yes he can occasionally play beside them but it's rare for him to actually interact with others. Even Special Ed teacher admits this.

- is still not potty trained. Urology feels it has to do with his sensory issues and sometimes it takes longer for them to train.. Yeah, I can imagine their faces when he goes to Kindergarten without a plan and wearing a pullup or diaper.

- has tantrums like you would not believe.

-just yesterday skipped preschool b/c he fell asleep at 11am and would NOT wake up for anything until 3pm.

oh there is more and more.. I am just shocked that this teacher who spends only 1 day per week with him feels that he is a typical almost 5yr old.   I did feel much better after talking to Ms Random about it and saw that it wasn't just me living in the past.. So we are heading back down to the BIG hospital to have another big evaluation. We did it when he was 3 and were dx with developmental delays, speech & language delays & lots of autistic tendencies.    So I'm hoping now that he's a bit older they can help pinpoint the issues and make sure he has the help in place that he will need for Kindergarten.

xoxo,

Happy Sappy Day !

2013-02-14T20:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope your day was blessed with love and hugs :) Oh and candy & flowers too!

Here's a little short from Disney that I absolutely love :

If you haven't already been there, I have a list up of 27 books that are on sale for $0.99 each for Vday! Hope over and check it out then grab yourself a few books to snuggle up with : )

xoxo,

Superbowl 2013 - Take 1

2013-02-05T22:07:00.000-05:00

The best part of Superbowl , for me at least, is not the football (although the lights going out was pretty amusing!), it's the commercials.. How many times in our lives to we actually sit and watch commercials? If you're like me, you DVR everything just so you can skip the commercials.

Yet Superbowl Sunday comes and we DVR the game just so we can skip the game and watch the commercials. Yes we are freaks like that. I think there will probably be a few upcoming videos in the next couple of days just b/c I have to talk about commercials.. You are welcome.

The Lone Ranger. I grew up on it. Loved it. Learned to ride a horse sitting backwards because of it. But Disney... they have taken it to a whole new level.

The Lone Ranger-- meet your Tonto aka Johnny Depp.

Let that sink in a moment.

Johnny...

DEPP.

Let me just say, July 3rd cannot come soon enough for me.

Stalk it with me while we wait :

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xoxo,

YumEarth Giveaway !!

2013-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

This Contest is brought to you by Taking Time for Mommy, Midwestern Moms, and YumEarth Organic Sweets This Valentine’s Day say “I love you” and “I care” with YumEarth Organics sweets. YumEarth all-natural and organic candy gives families the opportunity to give the gift of delicious treats made with real fruit juice, no artificial color or flavors, no high-fructose corn syrup and none of the common allergens, like gluten, soy and nuts. Let’s make a commitment this Valentine’s Day to write about and give out better-for-you Valentine’s Day candy, like YumEarth. Healthy lifestyle is not only hip but also mainstream: stores like ToysRUs, HomeGoods, and Target stores carry YumEarth Products. All 1,700 Targets will be carrying the gummy bears and lollipops for Valentine's Day. YumEarth was born out of our commitment to feed our families a diet rich in delicious healthful foods free of high fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes. YumEarth tastes better because we choose real fruit extracts and planet friendly ingredients grown on sustainable family farms to sweeten our lives and yours. YumEarth also has no gluten, peanuts, or tree-nuts, just award winning taste. Treat your children right this Valentine's Day with a healthy alternative. YumEarth is the #1 Organic Candy is America.

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One Lucky winner will get $100 of YumEarth Candy! Open to US residents. Ends 2/14 at 11:59PM EST Fill out the form below to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo,

Date Nite 2013- #1

2013-01-25T22:39:00.001-05:00

Date nite with Daddy Chaos tonite!! He announced Wednesday that we were going out.. Yay! We rarely go out other than to grocery shop.. lol! Yeah, we're fancy like that. Yet a task has been set down- since we moved I lost my favorite Mexican restaurant.. I have been valiantly trying to find a replacement in our new town and so far have instead found every Mexican restaurant that I will never set foot in again.   Daddy & I drove past one that we didn't know existed and thought "What the heck?"! It certainly couldn't be any worse.. lol!

I am happy to report that we have finally found a keeper!! I was not 100% thrilled with the chips (they weren't warm and possibly store bought, not sure) but the salsa, queso and food was wonderful! And Plentiful!   We had leftovers and every time we got into the car after that we would both take a deep breath and say "Mmmm , the car smells good!".. lol.. Nothing like a little leftover Mexican air-freshener :)

After our lovely and filling dinner- Daddy decided we should make a night of it and go to the movies. YAY!! I have been dying to see Les Miserables. I have never seen it before but I know all the songs.. Ironic, huh? Back in middle school/ high school, one of my girlfriends and I would sit around her room singing all the songs to either Les Miserables or Phantom of the Opera.. lol.

Let me first say that Les Mis.... Not a good date night movie. Unless you prefer your date to be sobbing all over you and constantly wiping snot on your sleeve. *ahem*   I spent approx 2hrs of the 2.5hr movie bawling. Pathetic huh? I knew the jist of the movie from knowing the songs but something about putting it together and watching it just tore me up. I am definitely awarding it the first movie to ever make me cry so many times consecutively. I swear the tears would barely dry up before something made me cry again. I thought maybe I was just a softie but Daddy Chaos assures me that others were the same way. Glad it wasn't just me.
- Side note ~ Who knew Hugh Jackman or Russell Crowe could sing??!
- Another side note ~ I only sang along in my head.. Okay maybe I mouthed the words but I did not sing aloud nor did I loudly boo hoo at certain points (although I wanted to).

Alas, a date nite has come and gone. It will not be forgotten soon :) Now I'm off to download some Les Mis songs so I can torture my children with my singing!

xoxo,

Waving the white flag

2013-01-24T20:53:00.002-05:00

Hi All !

Sorry I've been MIA for a bit. If you read the review blog, you know I've been pretty busy over there lately.. It's easier to write reviews & do promos /interviews.. I don't have to *think*. I think I've avoided here for a while because I just don't want to deal with the mountain of crap that's piled up and it's easier to avoid.. No excuse and I'm done with it!

Soo... We've lived in the new house for 2 months now and I have yet to take pictures to share with you! Sorry! I know several have asked.. I will make it my goal to get it done this month! lol!

The good news is I have unpacked *most* our stuff.. The bad news is that all that's left is the misc crap that I don't need on a daily basis so I'm horrible about just leaving it in boxes tossed in the closet. Ugh! I hate that about myself but I have no motivation to find a place to put it..

I absolutely love this house. It is 100% perfect for us. Some days I just come home and sigh and think about how much I love this house. Pathetic isn't it?

We live about 4mins from Daddy Chaos' work so he has been coming home on his 30min lunch break. I love getting the chance to spend a few quiet minutes (with Dimples- ha, when is there really quiet with Dimples around?) with him each day. I about have everything timed perfectly to where I can have his lunch ready and waiting when he walks in the door.. Little 50's wife I'm becoming. ha. I even make my bed every day. Shocked, I know!

The kids are all settling into their new schools. They all seem to like it fairly well. In fact, I'd say that after just a few weeks at school- they(little kids) like this one better than the old school where they've spent 2-4years! Even Dimples - who is horrible at transitions and took a full year of his old preschool before he would talk to them- LOVES his new preschool. He is thriving in this new atmosphere. Before he was in Developemental Preschool which was all inclusive . So while he only had 8 other students (1 teacher & 4 para's) some of them were pretty severe. In this district, being so large, they only keep the most severe inclusive. Dimples was sent to a church preschool but the school still comes in and does his therapies plus he has a private Para just for him. It's amazing. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that they would adjust so well.

Well I just wanted to take a few minutes to check in and make sure everyone knew I was still alive! lol :) I pinky swear to be back soon!

xoxo,

Merry Christmas!!

2012-12-25T21:56:00.001-05:00

I know it's been a while. Between running back and forth for the kids school (at the old school), so many dr appts for Southern Darlin (more later), Attitude King getting his tonsils out and then the holidays-- I've just been crazy.

I don't even have time tonite to write much but the kids are on break so I am going to plan some computer time in between working on organizing the house better and unpacking more..

I just wanted to stop in and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas ! Be safe!

xoxo,

Crazies reside here

2012-11-25T10:42:00.001-05:00

Moving over Thanksgiving weekend is pretty much for crazies. I guess we fit in well in that category.

But finally we are on the tail end of the move with just a few outside things. Unpacking at the new house, well that's another story.. lol.

Ill be back soon with lovely moving stories (stories about moving, not touching stories lol ) but alas I'm without internet until at least Wednesday which is pretty cruel in itself.. I am not proficient enough to type a long post on my phone. Lol.

I will leave you with one picture : my finished dining room (curtain shopping here I come).

Rough Nites

2012-11-16T13:02:00.001-05:00

I got in very late last night ( vampire movie premieres do that to you- more on that later) and when I get in after the kids bedtime I always have to check in them.

So 2am this morning I was sneaking into the little girls' room and this is what I found :

Moving Ahoy

2012-11-06T09:11:00.002-05:00

First things first.. It was announced on the Rafflecopter but I wanted to say again Congrats to the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40 winner : MtnHarmony. I did contact them last week but haven't heard anything yet.. With not knowing where they live (affected by Hurricane Sandy?) I am giving the winner another week to get back with me before I choose a new winner.

Now.. Marthavmuffin so kindly asked about the house selling/buying and where we were at on it. I'm so very glad you asked because I would like nothing better than to happily babble on and on about my dream house :)

We listed our current house for about a week and then one of my besties decided to buy it.. How convenient is that? I can still come visit my old house :) YAY!! Plus the fact that the sellers would not accept a contingency that we sell our house anyway.. ugh.. So it worked out perfectly!

We actually went back and forth on the offer until we finally had an agreement (Counter Offer D was it!) which was almost amusing if it weren't so darn stressful! lol!

So now we are in the countdown- 2wks til closing.. I have been cleaning out the closets and trying to actually declutter and rid myself of stuff we don't really need. This is BIG people.. I'm a huge packrat.. I hoard things that I might need sometime in the future.. Daddy Chaos is more of a "We haven't used it in 3 years, if we really need it in the future I'll buy it again" type so he is more than thrilled with my cleaning. So far all the storage closets have been cleaned & packed. The Big Kids have both packed up non-essentials in their own rooms. I've went thru all the little kids' clothes and packed away summer stuff that will still fit next spring & donated everything else. I've packed ALL their books -- bully mom! and am planning on packing all their toys today. I already went thru toys and got rid of everything broken/missing pieces or that they haven't played with in the last 6 months. We only have 2 wks til moving (possession at closing) so I have got to pack something.. I figure I'll be a bad parent and let them watch TV for 2wks.. lol. It won't kill them.

And yes, if anyone calculated it, we are moving over the Thanksgiving holiday.. Won't that just be buckets of fun? I'm really hoping Daddy Chaos actually gets the holiday off b/c there are rumors that they will have to work.. UGH.

I am so ready to be settled into the new house but I am sooo not into the packing/unpacking. I want a moving fairy to come do it all while I'm sleeping. That would be really nice..

I'll update as we go but just know that things are going to be crazy!!

xoxo,

Diary of a Submissive -- A Review

2012-10-18T18:59:00.002-04:00

The “real” Fifty Shades of Grey…A true life erotic story of female submission to rival The Story of O.
In Diary of a Submissive, Sophie Morgan candidly explains what exactly an independent, 21st century woman gets out of relinquishing her power and personal freedom in a submissive relationship with a dominant man for their mutual sexual pleasure.
In the wake of Fifty Shades of Grey, here is a memoir that offers the real story of what is means to be a submissive and follows Sophie’s story as she progresses from her early erotic experiences through to experimenting with her newfound awakened sexuality. From the endorphin rush of her first spanking right through to being collared, she explains in frank and explicit fashion her sexual explorations. But it isn’t until she meets James, a real life ‘Christian Grey,’ that her boundaries and sexual fetishism are really pushed. As her relationship with James travels into darker and darker places, the question becomes: Where will it end? Can Sophie reconcile her sexuality with the rest of her life, and is it possible for the perfect man to be perfectly cruel?
Daring, controversial, and sensual, Diary of a Submissive is filled with a captivating warmth and astounding honesty such that no one— man or woman—will be able to put Sophie's story down. Once you read the book you will understand why Sophie Morgan is a pseudonym.
sexual explorations. But it isn’t until she meets James, a real life ‘Christian Grey,’ that her boundaries and sexual fetishism are really pushed. As her relationship with James travels into darker and darker places, the question becomes: Where will it end? Can Sophie reconcile her sexuality with the rest of her life, and is it possible for the perfect man to be perfectly cruel?
Daring, controversial, and sensual, Diary of a Submissive is filled with a captivating warmth and astounding honesty such that no one— man or woman—will be able to put Sophie's story down. Once you read the book you will understand why Sophie Morgan is a pseudonym.

sexual explorations. But it isn’t until she meets James, a real life ‘Christian Grey,’ that her boundaries and sexual fetishism are really pushed. As her relationship with James travels into darker and darker places, the question becomes: Where will it end? Can Sophie reconcile her sexuality with the rest of her life, and is it possible for the perfect man to be perfectly cruel?
Daring, controversial, and sensual, Diary of a Submissive is filled with a captivating warmth and astounding honesty such that no one— man or woman—will be able to put Sophie's story down. Once you read the book you will understand why Sophie Morgan is a pseudonym.

My Thoughts:
Fifty Shades of Grey has really brought erotica to the mainstream. In all my years of reading books, I can't recall there ever being a time where people would sit around talking about D/s relationship. My own husband bought me the Fifty Shades trilogy and after I read them a time or two, I loaned them out to my bestie with the words "You have to read these. OMG". I was enthralled with the D/s lifestyle but more so the love story that was etched into the story. While I was equally captured in Diary of a Submissive, it was more in a train-wreck reaction. I couldn't help but keep reading even as I sometimes cringed. Sophie is quite explicit in her details and the way she allows her boundaries to be pushed. I found myself shrinking back in my chair and wishing she would "safe word" at times. Ironically it wasn't the physically bruising things that made me wish she would stop it all, it was the demeaning and humiliating times that I couldn't believe she would go thru with. My stomach would turn and I wanted to reach thru the pages and tell her- Don't go thru with it. Perhaps it was the fact that there was no love story in the beginning relationship. A friends w/ benefits situation turned into a threesome made me unable to imagine allowing such things with someone that I did not completely love and trust beyond all.
What amazed me the most was that while many of the same things happened in both books (50 shades & Diary of a Submissive), the way I felt about them was completely different in each. I am looking forward to reading what others thought after reading this for the BlogHer Book Club and I hope you'll join in on the discussions as well!

Happy Reading !

Come one, Come all !! #Graco #giveaway

2012-10-16T11:35:00.000-04:00

One of the things I love most about being on the Graco® Nation team is the opportunity to tell all my readers about the newest great thing that Graco® has come out with. And giving away things is always a bonus! Don't worry, there will be an awesome giveaway at the end of my babblings!!

Graco® gave me the chance to test out one of their brand new carseats- the Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 and boy did we have fun! The Click Connect™ 40 is an infant car seat (the only one!) that provides rear-facing protection from birth -2 years, as is now recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are so many things I loved about this car seat, it's hard for me to shorten it into decent review. Let's just hit the highlights -

4-40 pound weight limit ~ a full 2 years = I love that someone has finally thought enough to come out with an infant car seat that will go to the full 2years of age. Although the AAP has only recently changed it's recommendation to keeping your children rear-facing to at least 2years, it's been widely know that you should rear-face as long as possible. It's simply safer. Don't make me break out the youtube videos because you don't want to see , just trust me on this one. I know many parents who have good intentions but once their baby outgrows the infant seat and they see how bulky a convertible car seat can be rear-facing, they simply turn them around for convenience. I am hopeful that having seats like the SnugRide® Click Connect™40 will help more kids stay rear-facing longer.
Base adjusts with 8 recline positions for the most leg room of any rear-facing carseat = simply put, the baby is more comfortable for longer. No more of the worries/complaints that you can't leave your child rear-facing because they "don't fit". Yes they do. I have Miss X (1yr later this month) who is an itty bitty thing in the seat right now. We have it set at a 4 recline and there is plenty of room for her. I also tried Dimples (4yrs , 32lbs) in it just for giggles and he actually fits at the 8 recline comfortably and wanted me to let him have it.. HA! Sorry dude, you are a smidge too tall for the harness.
The Simple Safe Adjust™ harness system allows parents to adjust the harness and headrest w/ just one hand. = Gone are the days of taking apart the entire car seat to adjust the straps just because your kiddo finally grew that tiny bit that threw him into the next slot on the car seat. I LOVE this option. Not only are you adjusting the harness but also the headrest (safety surround, people.. love it) with one hand. Honestly, I feel like you get a better fit with this option. The convenience of it all is just the cherry on top.

Now that you have watched the video (you did watch the video, right?) and heard my thoughts on this amazing new car seat, you are dying to get one yourself.. Right?

The Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 is available online and in stores at Babies R Us. They are retailing for $219, which quite frankly seems like a pretty good deal to me. However, since I love you all so much and Graco® is an awesome host- I'm giving one away here on the blog!

Enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win your very own SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!

Dreams...

2012-10-14T21:24:00.001-04:00

Life is always full of twists and turns, isn't it?

If you've read here long, you know I've been "looking" for a new house for eons. Nothing serious, just always browsing the ads and trying to find my *perfect* house. For a while, I was sure we were meant to move to Florida.. Housing was cheap, they had jobs in Daddy Chaos' field and best of all Mickey Mouse! It didn't work out.. It was more of a pipe dream anyway.

Still I browse the ads and look at houses. I love my house, don't get me wrong.. It is a great house. We just need a bit more room. When we moved here we had 3 kids and now that number has doubled. This house was over double our first house and I remember when we bought it 7years ago, we said "Oh my gosh, we will never been able to furnish that house!". Sadly, 7years later we are bursting at the seams.

Daddy Chaos puts up with my house hunting. We drive past houses and have even looked at a few over the past year but never fell in love with anything enough to say Okay, let's move.

Until now.

My list of Dream Home Requirements :

1. Big Front porch

- momma needs a a big ole porch with a porch swing :)

2. Stairs with a landing

- I have always been obsessed with stairs that had the landing halfway down. Yes they take up more room than traditional stairs but I just love them. I like that little resting place halfway up. No one will fall more than halfway down.

3. A Master bathroom w/ big tub

- we have never had a master bath. A bathroom just for us grown ups..A place with a big tub that I can go soak/hide in when I need to get away.

The new house meets every single requirement and then some. We went and looked at this one (super close to Daddy Chaos' work , another plus!) and the minute I walked in I told Daddy Chaos- "This is my house. I can feel it. "

With the pesky little things like selling our current house (ha, to my BFF Sasha aka Ms. Random - how convenient is that?) to getting an accepted offer on my dream house.. Little matters, this house was meant for me. I felt it the minute we walked onto the porch.

Once we get thru all the lovely things like inspections and closing- the Kingdom of Chaos will be moving to our new bigger abode.. I'm so excited yet a bit sad as well.. Excited for the bigger space, more room for everyone to spread out. Sad to be moving 30+mins away from my friends and community that I've come to love. Sad to be leaving the house that three of my kids came home to me for the first time in. It's bittersweet really. But I'm ready for a change.

xoxo,

Matched by Ally Condie

2012-10-04T09:06:00.001-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of reading Matched by Ally Condie. It is the first in an epic YA trilogy that will suck in fans of Hunger Games and Twilight ! It is a quick read that sucks you in the moment you begin and doesn't let you set it down until it's completely finished.. Then you are left hungering for more.. MORE!!

Matched is set in the not so distant future where Society has eradicated all choice. Everything is planned for you- your job, your free time, even your spouse. In this new society, meals are bland and made specifically for each person's nutritional needs while taste is no longer important. You are sorted into the job that you will do for the rest of your life, no more trying to decide what you want to be when you grow up! It's all done for you! Even your death is planned for you. No more wondering when you'll die- society has done away with all diseases and crime. You know have your final death ceremony when you turn 80 , the optimum time to die.

Cassia lives in this new world and lives by the rules. She accepts Society and how things are. Although she is sad that her grandfather is reaching his 80th birthday and his Death Ceremony, she accepts it as what happens in her world. Until everything changes and she begins to question Society and its perfection.

In the year of your 17th birthday, you have your Matching Ceremony. It's a time of great excitement- real food, a colored dress (that you will get a square back to keep because you aren't allowed to actually keep the dress itself) instead of your normal 'uniform' that you wear, and meeting the Match you will spend the rest of your life with. As Cassia's name is called, she stands and waits for the boy from another province to show up on the screen. Instead, something unusual happens. She is matched with a boy from her own province. Xander - her best friend ! What could be better? Although she has one of the few surprises Society allows her (the mystery of a new person), she is happy that she can be with someone that she share so much with. When Cassia finally views the disc containing Xander's background information, she is shocked to discover that another face appears briefly . Another face that she recognizes- Ky. Has Society made a mistake? Which one is her true match? Can she make the choice to rebel against Society to be with Ky when they have determined that Xander should now be her match?

Check in at the BlogHer Book Club for some great discussions on this awesome book !

*Disclosure: This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own*

Happy Reading,

Faulty Scales

2012-09-19T09:07:00.001-04:00

So last nite, Daddy Chaos comes out of the bathroom after a shower and declares the scales are broken.

I try to claim that all the time when I gain a pound or eat nothing for an entire week (okay, slight exaggeration) and lose nothing. No one ever believes me so I was happy to pounce on it and destroy his bubble.

"Did you gain or lose?" I quickly asked.
Lost.

Drama Queen and I raced to the bathroom to see who could get there first and take advantage of this scale that was now mysteriously declaring lower numbers. Naturally I beat her, who cares if it's because she got shoved at the last minute.. That's beside the point.

I stepped onto the scales and it revealed --- okay I'm not really telling you the number but we'll just say it's the same number I've seen for the past 2wks so nothing changed.

I walked back out and declared the scales correct and not falsely advertising mystery weight loss and then promptly asked Daddy Chaos how much he had lost.

14 lbs but I'm not sure where it went, he said as he rubbed his tummy.

I promptly hit him over the head with a skillet like he was Flynn Ryder..

I mean really?? WTH? Who just misplaces 14lbs with no effort? Sometimes I can't stand that man.. lol. It's good for him that I love him so much bc this crap is not to be stood for. Geesh.

xoxo,

This and that

2012-09-16T20:42:00.001-04:00

I love pinterest.

Not only do I find the perfect way that I will never have the money or time to decorate and remodel my house, but I can plan my nieces weddings should they ever decide to get married and learn all kinds of new cleaning/organizing tips that I'll never use b/c I don't do that stuff. And the crafts.. Oh the crafts that I find. I love them but I'm not really a very crafty person, so I pin them and dream about them and then move on to something else. lol.

Today, however, was a different day. Today I pinned something and then actually used the idea !

Breakfast Burritos. You are welcome. I actually made an entire menu with at least one item per day based off of my Food pins.   But back to the breakfast burritos.. The recipe made 22 burritos for me and I had everyone taste a tiny bit- rave reviews all around.. Except for Dimples who politely told me " No, thank you" when offered a bite.. lmao. I have no clue where he heard that bc the rest aren't that polite.. lol!    Regardless, I now have a quick warm breakfast in the freezer- completely homemade- for the kids. This is awesome because let's face it, Momma ain't a morning person!

I feel all Sally Homemaker tonite..   Made ahead breakfast, several reviews scheduled at the review blog, I'm just ON it today!

*side note- if you haven't been over there lately, I suggest you go check out the review blog for some awesome reviews & lots of contests/giveaways for books.. Yay! I also updated the giveaway link at the top of this page.. Cuz I like you.

**side note squared- if you aren't following me on pinterest.. Why not??

***side note tres - No puppy yet- which is why you haven't been bombarded with pictures of my wittle bitty baby. She was supposed to come home this weekend but got sick, so waiting on that to get over with.. Good news- her name is ZOEY & she is now 1lb 11.5oz .. lol. Like I said- itty bitty.

****side note, again- In case you haven't noticed, I decided to just completely ignore the fact that I haven't posted in weeks and rather than give you excuses I'll just go on and pretend it never happened. You are most certainly welcome !

                          xoxo,