The Momisodes

Kaitlyn Hunt: Should She Be Punished?

2013-05-20T17:02:00.000-04:00

If you are on Facebook, you've probably seen the story floating around about Kaitlyn Hunt, a Senior at Sebastian River High School. She is in a same-sex relationship with a girl that was on her basketball team and, because she is 18 and the girl is 15, she is facing criminal charges of two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12-16.

Some reports are saying that the girls entered into their relationship after Kaitlyn turned 18. Some say it was when she was 17, so I'm not 100% sure when the relationship started, but I, personally, think that is irrelevant.

The girl that Kaitlyn was seeing has awful parents, because they are pursuing criminal charges against Kaitlyn because, as they are quoted telling a member of the school, their daughter will not be gay.

So, because these assholes didn't want their kid to "be gay", they are going to ruin this girl, who was a star athlete, she was voted the student withe the "Most School Spirit", she was a cheerleader, she helped coach the team, she was active in Church, she was a camp counselor, she was already a medical assistant that was about to go to college.

This ~~was~~ IS a good kid! She has clearly worked hard to maintain EXCELLENT extracurriculars. She had a very bright future ahead of her. And all of that hard work could be taken from her because she fell in love with someone who's parents are bigots.

This blogger is of the opinion that the other girl's parents wouldn't have pursued any kind of criminal charges had Kaitlyn been male. I think that the other girl's parents have made their homophobia clear and have indicated enough that they are doing this to punish their child and Kaitlyn because of their sexual orientation.

It is heartbreaking that this young lady, so full of hope with a bright future, could lose it every bit because of some vindictive parents. Why? It is a gross misuse of the justice system. They have recorded phone conversations between Kaitlyn and the girl, where Kaitlyn professed her love for her, stating that she had never loved anyone as much in her life.

PERSONALLY, I don't think she should be punished, at all. While YES, there is a law that states that Kaitlyn can't sexually interact with someone under the age of 16, I think it's apparent enough that the other girl's parents are doing this strictly because of sexual orientation.

If you'd like to hear more about Kaitlyn's story, check out the links below.

For Bracelets or to Donate click --------> HERE <-------- font="">
To read more about the story click --------> HERE <-------- font="">

Sound off, either here or on my Facebook page. What are YOUR thoughts on this situation?

A Lifetime Ago

2013-05-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

It is time for Secret Subject Swap, one of my favorite things to participate in. This month, I'm being all crazy and zany and joining Take 2 of the swap. I know, I know...I'm all adventurous and whatnot.

There are 11 of us crazy kids that are posting this time. When you are done here, why not take a peak at what they have to offer....

Baking In A Tornado

The Insomniac's Dream

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

The Pursuit of Normal

The Momisodes

Searching for Sanity

Black Sheep Mom

Moore Organized Mayham

Daily Dose of Damn

Tiny Steps Mommy

Mom Rants and Comfy Pants

My subject is "That was a lifetime ago". It was given to me by a newly discovered (by me) blog, Daily Dose of Damn. Thank you for the prompt....

It seems like a lifetime ago that I was laying on your lap, getting the world's best back rub from you. No one else can even KIND of rub my back as good as you did. You'd rock in your rocking chair while rubbing my back, humming an old country song. You smelled of a perfume I can't quite place now, coffee and whatever you'd jarred for that day.

It seems like a lifetime ago that we were attending that old Southern Baptist church together, having dinner on Sunday afternoons so that we can make the evening sermon. A good ol' Southern dinner that tasted more delicious than it smelled. I always looked forward to your cooking. You were the best cook.

It seems like a lifetime ago that you'd let me help you take the curlers out of your hair, as you'd prepare for work at JC Penney. You always told me that a woman was to look her best in public and you'd take the time to fix my hair. When I'd spend the night, we'd put curlers in our hair together and bake something delicious.

It seems like a lifetime ago that you were so sick, so frail. A shadow of the woman I'd grown to love. You couldn't remember my name and I couldn't really understand why. I was the light of your life, the gleam in your eye and you had no idea who I was. I didn't understand that the cancer was stealing away your memory.

It seems like a lifetime ago that you slipped away one August night, without a goodbye, without a word. It took for ever for me to realize that it was best for you, that you weren't in pain, that you weren't sick anymore. Selfishly, I wish you were still here, to give my kids what you gave me.

It seems like a lifetime ago, that I'd sit on your front porch and listen to you rock in your favorite rocking chair, playing the Cincinnati Reds game at top volume, because your hearing was shot. You'd never trash talk, never yelled at the TV, just calmly sat there, rocking in your chair and enjoying the time you spent with America's favorite past time.

It seems like a lifetime ago that you'd sit at the kitchen table, with a basin of warm water in front of you next to the standup mirror, a cup of shaving cream and the brush sitting to one side, a razor to the other. You'd let me lather the cream on your face with that brush and have me in a fit of giggles with the silly faces you'd make. Sometimes, you'd let me put some on my face and shave with you, using a spoon to handle it.

It seems like a lifetime ago that I'd sneak out of my room late a night and smell the musky scent of your unfiltered Lucky Strike cigarette that you smoked while playing solitaire. You'd sit there, at the end of the table, for hours playing that card game. Did you know that Dad does the same thing, only he doesn't smoke and it's on the computer.

It seems like a lifetime ago that you'd wink at me like it was a conspiracy and you'd show me where you hid your Zero candy bars. You'd sit me up on the counter and warm me up a chocolate Moon Pie in the microwave and we'd eat it, making a gooey mess. When Grandma was sick, you kept vanilla ice cream in the freezer for her and some chocolate syrup for me, always making me a bowl when you made hers, sitting me next to her so we could chat.

It seems like a lifetime ago that I came home from school to find out you'd passed, joining Grandma wherever you guys are. Three days after your 77th birthday and four days before your 57th wedding anniversary. You were with your beloved, finally at peace. I hated not getting to say goodbye to you, but I remember you visiting me while I was there for your funeral. You told me it was okay, you were with Grandma and you both would always watch over me. "Girl," you said "We love you.".

It seems like a lifetime ago that two of the most amazing people left my life. I was nine when my Grandma passed, after fighting renal cancer. I was fifteen when my Grandpa passed after a battle with emphysema. I can still visit their grave where they are next to each other for eternity, headstones joined by a vase in the middle, and see the indention where my Grandpa use to sit on his side and look mournfully at the resting place of his love.

People say I look like my Grandma and I take that as a compliment, because she was one of the most beautiful people I've ever known, both inside and out. If he looks a certain way, I swear I can see my Grandpa in my son. I wish, daily, that they'd gotten to meet my kids. I know they'd adore them and that my kids would experience what I got to in my time with my Grandparents.

Their love was magical, their relationship was one that I always dreamed of having myself. I always said that if I'd found a love even half as amazing and strong as theirs, I'd be lucky. I feel like they put Matthew in my path for that very reason, to let me see what it's like to love someone so fully, so completely.

It seems like a lifetime ago, but every day I miss them. Every day, I send a silent "I love and miss you" to them. Every day, I wish for them. I'd gladly give up a year of my life for an hour with them both. Just to be able to hug them, take in their familiar scent, talk to them. I wish it were that easy. But I know, that one day, I will see them again.

That seems like a lifetime to go......

Picking Myself Up After I Fall

2013-05-16T09:56:00.000-04:00

I've been on a mission to lose weight.

I'd lost about 18 pounds and was really proud of myself. I came so close to getting out of the 290s. So very, very close.

Then I fell off the wagon.

This happens to me. A lot. Because I get in my own way and I am my own worst enemy. I take things to heart, so if I have a bad day, that turns into a bad week, a bad month. I got lazy, I stopped watching what I ate, I just didn't want to do anything, because, in my mind, I'd already failed.

The only thing I've done that was successful is not drink soda. That's it. I've not had soda since January. I don't plan to have it again, even though I've been craving a glass of ice cold Coke. But I know one turns into a 12 pack. Forget that noise.

I know that I can do this and get this weight off me. I just need to get it in my head that it's okay that I have a bad day. It's not going to be perfection. It can't be. I also need to get it out of my head that this is going to be an immediate thing. It's not. It's easier to put the weight on, but it's a lot harder and a lot more work to get it off. I just need to apply myself and make sure I do that work.

I'm trying to go back to school this August. I've put more work, in the past few days, into finding out information about that than I have actually trying to lose weight. I need to channel that passion into my weight loss. So, I'm going to set a mini goal for myself. Classes begin on August 19. My goal is to add 20lbs to that 18 I've lost and be at 38 pounds lost. I need to prove to myself that I CAN accomplish this. I CAN do this. I'm looking at taking on a bigger goal, finishing college. If I can't do something like do what needs to be done to get healthy, then how can I finish college? That's my mind set anyways.

I know one day, I'll be healthy. Right now, though, I am finding myself battling with my demons and that's not a good thing. I just have to get it out of my head that I am going to fail at this and start telling myself that I will succeed. I CAN do this, I HAVE TO.

Now if I can just apply those words to reality, I'll be set.

Mom Vs Dad: Kids' Clothes Showdown

2013-05-15T09:10:00.002-04:00

My kids are almost out of school for summer vacation. Friday is their last day. Being the planner that I am, I want to get a jump on school clothes and supplies for August, because this year, we have three kids that we will have to buy for. AND, because Sebastian and Anastasia will be 9 (WHAT?!) in July and Cailin will be 4 in August, and school starts back in the middle there. I figure, I should be smart about it.

Anastasia at softball practice

Now, I've talked before about how Anastasia is tall and has long legs. This causes quite the conundrum for Matthew and I. Okay, more for MATTHEW than for ME, but whatever.

I am of the mindset that, as long as the shorts meet or extend the finger tips, Anastasia is good to go. I'm not a fan of the shorts that I see a LOT of kids wearing these days, but I don't think she needs to wear pants or long shorts either.

Matthew disagrees. He feels that the only style of shorts she can wear is Bermuda and Capri's. Even her shorts for softball (see the picture?) is long, while other girls are wearing the shorter shorts or regular baseball pants. He says he doesn't want his daughter dressing like a grown up or viewed as older. She's 9, she needs to dress as such.

The problem? They don't sale a lot of Bermuda and Capri's in our area because the short shorts is in. If not for Goodwill finds, the kid would still be in jeans!

Another disagreement we are having is when it comes to shoes. I think that wedges or dress shoes that have the little heals on them are cute and completely acceptable. The most he will compromise on is allowing her a pair of flip flops that have a slight wedge on them.

I foresee issues as she gets older. She's going to want more say in her clothes and they will butt heads....A LOT. They already butt heads over bathing suit styles, which I've blogged about before. And I know that I'M going to be the one to break before HE is. No, I won't let her wear the uber short shorts, but certain things, I'm okay with it.

I asked him if he'd feel the same about Cailin and he said yes, even though she's likely going to take after us and have be short and stumpy (I'm 5'2, Matthew is 5'10). I'm fairly certain that he'd be completely okay with them wearing berkas.

Dads........they can be so silly! lol

What the ??? Wednesday: Rants Edition

2013-05-08T09:54:00.001-04:00

Welcome to this weeks What The ???? Wednesday. This week, it will just be ramble of general annoyance and things that have pissed me off this week.

I'm about 95% sure my daughter is lying to me. She was heading out to school this morning and I noticed that her big toe was sticking out on BOTH shoes. It looks to me like she took scissors to them. She says she didn't......*sigh*

We had dense, patchy fog this morning. So NATURALLY, that means that these jerks around here are going to drive with no headlights on. Because, ya know, we can see them that way. It looks clear to me, then a truck drives by. *rolls eyes*

On that same note, SERIOUSLY with the pulling out in front of me? Okay, I get it, you needed to get to McDonald's STAT, but come the eff on! Miss K (my van) doesn't take too kindly to people just pulling out in front of her.....and on a wet ground....yea, you are lucky you didn't end up with a van in your tailpipe.

Why are people so rude? I was at the library yesterday, just looking to see if there were any movies or anything I could borrow, figured I'd watch it while Matthew was at work or something. This lady, you'd have thought she owned the library...she was taking her sweet time, literally pulling out just about every movie and reading it and completely blocking one of the sections. A life changing movie could have been in there, lady!

Well, I guess that's all I've got. What's eating you?

I Like Girls That Wear Abercrombie and Fitch.....

2013-05-07T08:14:00.001-04:00

We've all seen the ads. We've walked past the store in the mall (and, if you are anything like me, got violently ill). Some of us may have even been INSIDE the store, for whatever reason.

Abercrombie and Fitch.

Clothes for the yuppies. (in my opinion)

A&F CEO Mike Jefferies has recently said, in an interview, that they won't carry plus size clothing for women because "He doesn't want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people", according to Robin Lewis co-author of The New Rules of Retail and CEO of newsletter The Robin Report. Jefferies goes further and says he doesn't want his core customer base to be people that would be considered "uncool". His clothes are meant for the "cool kids"

“It’s almost everything. That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that......In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids. Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

That's what Jefferies told Salon magazine in 2006.

Okay, I get it.....you don't want someone like me to wear your clothes. That's awesome and completely okay. But what about that plus size girl still in high school? She's getting picked on already by her peers, now some CEO of some clothes line is basically doing the same thing? It's sickening...it's pathetic.

Mark Jefferies; CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch

In my opinion, there is FAR too much emphasis placed on being "beautiful" or "skinny" or "cool". Why can't people just.....be? Why are there still cliques? Why are there still stereotypes? Why? Because of people like Mark Jefferies. Because there are parents out there, adults out there, that are influencing the children of this country, telling them that you have to look just so or you are worthless.

I am a plus size woman. I have been for my whole life. It's something that I am forever trying to change. No, I don't want my kids to be like me, to go through what I went through when I was in school, being picked on and tormented. More importantly, I want my kids to be HEALTHY. There isn't anything wrong with that. BUT, at the same time, I teach my kids acceptance. I teach them tolerance. I teach them that not everyone is the same, NO ONE is perfect, and that they should base their friendships and relationships on a person's personality rather than their looks. Thus far, this has worked.

I have 3 kids. I have my son, who is the artistic one. He's very sensitive, he's imaginative, he's creative. My oldest daughter is the jock. She plays softball, wants to play basketball, very competitive, but she's also the overachieving brainiac. My youngest daughter is....well, she's 3, if that tells you anything. She's pretty much both of them rolled in to one.

They have friends from all walks of life and I absolutely LOVE that.

Abercrombie and Fitch can keep their clothes, their bully of a CEO. There are so many other companies out there that realize that we aren't all the same, that KIDS aren't all the same and they cater to the needs of REALITY, not some dream world.

And to me, that's pretty effing cool.

What Helps Me Lose Weight

2013-05-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

Losing weight is hard and, I admit, I've been really naughty lately. I've not GAINED, thank God....but I haven't lost much either. I plan to get back on track today though. I've already gotten my workout in, so I'm happy for that.

One of the things that have helped me get to the point I'm at so far is having a strong support system. Without the support of my husband, my kids, my family, I wouldn't be able to do this.

If you don't use MyFitnessPal, you are missing out. It is a great site to use. You can keep track of your food, your exercising, etc, etc. I TRY to put my food in, daily, but it isn't always easy. I mostly use it to keep track of my weight and inches loss. It's easier for me to remember it that way.

My sister is working toward becoming a personal trainer. Because of that, she is using me as a way to get some practice in. She's come up with a work out plan for me and everything. Admittedly, I've not been a good girl and followed it though. She's patient with me though, so that helps, for sure.

I get lots of ideas from Pinterest. From food to workouts to clothes I want to wear one day, there is a TON of ideas on that site that can help you with your weight loss.

Finally, finding motivation from fellow bloggers have been a HHUUGGEE help to me. It's something I enjoy doing. So...thank you!

TRIUMPH!!!!!!!!

2013-05-03T16:45:00.002-04:00

Who has two thumbs and has been awarded the Triumph Trophy by my friend Karen at Baking In A Tornado and by Kristi over at Black Sheep Mom?

This mama, right here! You ladies must have known I needed something like this! Thanks so much.

Here are the rules:

1. Display the Trophy in your post.
2. Write a short piece that starts with this: I didn’t kill today. It doesn’t have to be a person, it can be an appliance, a business or anything else you choose.
3. Nominate a few people to pass the trophy on to and let them know it’s their turn to vent.

Today, I didn't kill........a bunch of people.

I know, that sounds super vague and I'm sorry for that. But it's the truth. This is more to do with YESTERDAY than today. Yesterday was a bad, bad day and I'm so beyond happy it's over. You have no idea how happy, to be honest.

I decided to have a yard sale, because I have so much crap, I wanted to get rid of it all. I did okay, made, like, $40. But people would just drive by and look or comment on my lack of having tools in the yard sale. I don't have tools to begin with.....pfft. TODAY, I had it again and the stupid people that were mowing the grass (I think it was the city) not only took down my sign, but took my baseball tee that I'd bought for Anastasia! I had to go buy a new poster board to make a sign. I made $10.....that's all.

After doing that all day yesterday, I had to have Cailin to the ball field at 5 for her game at 5:30. Anastasia had a game at 7:30. Did I, for one second, think to pack up something to eat? No...so we ate at the field. Prior to going, however, Anastasia couldn't find her visor. WHY? Because her room was absolutely trashed. T-R-A-S-H-E-D......Naturally, I threw a fit and we stormed out of the house in anger. I later apologized, because I felt bad.

After being at the field for almost 4 hours, we came home. I wanted pizza......had been craving it ALL DAY LONG. It didn't happen. PPPPPFFFFFFFTTTTTTT

So, world...you are welcome and should be happy, because yesterday, I was positively murderous and you all managed to survive my wrath.

I nominate the following people:

1: Dates 2 Diapers
2: Menopausal Mother

3: Comfytown Chronicles

And thanks again to Karen and Kristi for nominating me. You ladies are kick ass! ♥

The SAHM Dress Code

2013-05-02T07:49:00.001-04:00

I am currently a stay at home mom (SAHM). I get up, every morning, at 7 am and take the older two to school, then I come home, get the youngest up at 8 and take her to school. From 9-2:30, my day is free, then I do the picking them up and we go to the various activities they have.

Until recently, I never really thought about the attire or look of a SAHM, but for some reason, I have been paying attention a lot more lately. I don't know if it's because I'm trying to lose weight and I'm looking for clothing ideas or what, but I really feel underdressed for being a SAHM.

I see them, every day in the pick up line, hair done nice, make up on, clothes that fit just so and aren't stained up. I think to myself...hmmm....what's with that?! Yesterday, by the time I got home from taking Anastasia to softball practice, I had syrup and dirt on my pants and blood and dirt on my shirt (Cailin was playing and fell down, scrapping her knees. I got blood on me when I picked her up). My hair was a mess and I was just absolutely EXHAUSTED! Meanwhile, there is a lady that was helping her daughter that was dressed in what looked like work out clothing, but it looked designer and she had perfect hair and makeup.

Ummmm......

What am I doing wrong here?

I could see myself wearing stuff like this........

Or something like this,

Or, if I'm going out with the husband, this....

But honestly, more often than not, I'm at home. And I don't see the point in getting all dolled up to stay at home. I don't see the point to put make up on and do my hair to go pick the kids up from school. By the time my husband gets home, I'm in the process of making dinner, the kids have driven me nuts and I'm ready for a ~~glass~~ bottle of wine.

My hair is an unruly mess of curls and thickness. Because of that, I wear it in a ponytail or messy bun most of the time. When I DO get it cut and styled, it looks great...until I wash it. After that, I can't figure out how to restyle it. Me and my straightener do NOT get along and, because my hair is so thick, it takes forEVER, so I just don't wanna do it.

My hair

And makeup.....I'm fairly certain that I lack the gene that allows me to put make up on and it look decent. I can't figure that out. Usually, I just do my eyes...add some eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara. I RARELY wear lipstick, because it usually comes off and because I'm an avid user of chapstick and it doesn't go well together.

I'm pretty sure that a lot of this somehow ties in to my self esteem and the fact that I need to lose weight, but I'm really starting to feel under dressed when I am standing in the pick up line. Is it just me, or did becoming a SAHM mean that I had to follow a dress code?

What The ???? Wednesday: Sports Mom Edition

2013-05-01T10:32:00.001-04:00

Today, I want to talk about parents of children who play sports.

I am one of those parents. My girls play. My oldest plays softball, my youngest plays wee ball. With Cailin, I get out on the field and I help her....I mean, she's 3....wee ball is basically a way for kids to experience team play without all the rules.

With Anastasia, I'll offer her tips, I'll tell her something she needs to work on, I'll encourage her to improve. I NEVER yell at her when she does something wrong. I'll let her know what she did and tell her good job, knocking her on the helmet afterwards, lovingly of course. The reason for this is because I want her to always love playing softball. I want her to enjoy it, to want to play it. I want to be able to watch her play at high school, for her to possibly go on to college to play.

There is the one mother that is absolutely ruining the sport for her daughter. We'll call the little girl Lee. Her mother, at practice, at games, will sit in the stands and yell at her daughter, point out what she is doing wrong, RARELY encourages her, and is absolutely the most critical person I've ever encountered.

Yesterday, I noticed that, after they practiced batting, that Lee was running. Her mother was bragging about the fact that she was making Lee run laps because she didn't hit every ball during practice. At the end of the practice, as a whole, she made Lee run MORE laps because she didn't catch a ball, or because she didn't throw it hard enough.

My heart breaks for little Lee. Because she's only 7 or 8 and her mother is treating her like she's a pro. I'm fairly certain even in the pros, they don't treat them like this. It's absolutely ridiculous. I would NEVER dream of treating Anastasia that way. I love the smile on her face when she succeeds. My heart breaks with her when she doesn't. I'm PROUD of her, because she puts her heart into the game. She has improved SOOOOOO much in the short time.

Matthew told me yesterday that he's glad I'm the one who is the "sports" parent (it's because he works), because he would have already told that lady off by now. I can't say that I blame her. She's ruining this little girl's esteem and she's going to make this kid not want to play anymore.....

People, remember...THESE ARE KIDS! Stop treating them like this is their money maker. Let them love the game.........

Dates and Baseball Games

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

I have had a very busy week! Needless to say, it has left me absolutely EXHAUSTED, but hey, what can ya do, right?

On April 20, my husband and I went to our first concert together. We saw country singer Justin Moore. We had a BLAST!

Yea baby! Free tickets!!!

It's hard to believer that, in the 5 years we've been together, we had NEVER been to a concert together, especially considering we are both huge music fans. We both like Justin Moore (he sings "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"). It was nice to get out of the house and just have a nice away from the kids for a few hours.


My love and I at the show.

Justin Moore

On Monday, Anastasia had her first game of the season. She plays softball now. As if trying to keep a house clean, run after three kids and try to run a blog, start a business and just have some me time wasn't time consuming enough, I figured I'd throw sports into the mix. She loves it though and they won their first two games.

In addition to Anastasia playing softball, Cailin now plays weeball. I think, the week before, I had one day off where I wasn't running all over the place, to this practice or that. But Cailin says she loves it and, I have to say, it's really adorable to watch them play.

Last week, I got plagued with a nasty little bug that made me sleep most of the day on Tuesday. Thankfully, Matthew was off work and he took care of me and let me rest. I don't get sick very often, but when I do, it pretty much kicks my butt.

So now, I'm just trying to adjust to being a sports mom and all that, plus work on my weight loss (I'm ALMOST to 20 pounds lost) and I'm trying to find a part time job, because, let's face, I'm bored out of my mind! And, to top it all off, school lets out in just a few weeks (3 for the older two, 4 for the youngest), so I'll be even busier then!

Do they make enough wine for this?

Just Keep Swimming

2013-04-29T07:56:00.000-04:00

When I watched "Finding Nemo", I never would have expected that one little phrase would impact me as it has.

"Just keep swimming".

This can apply to so many different scenario's. In weight loss, when it gets too hard or I don't see the numbers I want, I just tell myself....."Just keep swimming". When I'm down and just feeling like the fight in me is gone, I say "Just get up and just keep swimming".

That Dory....she was one smart cookie.

Sometimes, we look around at life and we think "Man, this is hard". I'm looking around at my house right now thinking, "Holy crap....this mess is just WAY too big!" and I'm sure, during the course of my cleaning today, I'm going to want to throw in the towel. Instead, I'm going to tell myself to just keep swimming.

Life, sometimes, can be really hard......sometimes, it can almost seem like it's more than you can handle, more than you can take. If that's the case, then you know what you have to do......

Just keep swimming.......

Winds Of Change: One Mom's Fight For Healthy Alternatives

2013-04-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

I am honored to be collaborating with one of my favorite bloggers, Karen from Baking in a Tornado. She and I don't have a ton in common, but she is a dear friend that is going through her own life changing event, so this is a perfect collaboration.

Change.

It's never an easy thing. Especially when you've grown so accustomed to what you are use to and that the change means you have to give things up.

I've grown accustomed to eating not so healthy food. And, as a result, my waistline has grown. Not just mine, but my husband's as well. When we first met, I said to him that I hoped he liked mac and cheese and hamburger helper, because that's all I knew how to cook. Luckily (or not so much) for him, in the 5 years we've been married, I've learned to cook other things, like meatloaf and homemade chicken noodle soup.

This is great, except it's actually good and we like to eat. A LOT. And because of that, we've both put on more than a healthy amount of weight in the past 5 years.

This is changing....NOW.

My family isn't healthy and that's a scary realization. I want to be around for my kids for a long, long time. I want be with my husband until we are well into old(er) age. That's not going to happen if we keep eating like we do.

So we change it.

We've tried it before, by simply cutting out foods that we love and eating more foods we don't. That got old quick, because there was no varity. THIS time around, I plan to take our favorite foods and make them healthier. That way, we can have our varity, taste, and not give things up.

One of our favorite meals is meatloaf with mashed potatoes and peas. Not very healthy, but SOOOO very tasty. My mission to keep this in the line up is to find out how to make it healthier...at least the meatloaf part of it. Cooking it in all that grease, using meat that isn't very lean isn't so good. So, I need to find a way to make it where it is HEALTHIER and still tastes good.

I've researched this a lot and last night, decided to try something new. I used 1 part 80/20 beef and 1 part low fat ground turkey. That's the only change I made, was adding the ground turkey. I was amazed at how little grease there was! I didn't change anything else, so the taste was the same. It was so good and I was pleasantly surprised. I was even MORE surprised that everyone else liked it, especially my husband, who's not a fan of change.

This is a lower fat option that I will be repeating. And I like that we don't have to give up our favorite meal......

Now if I can just figure out how to make healthier, tasty mashed potatoes dish......

Please check out Karen's recipe for Chocolate Mint Pie. If the picture looks as good as the title, you might want something to blot the mouth watering.....

Turkey Meat Loaf

1lb 80/20 lean beaf
1lb low fat ground turkey
1 large egg
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp dried parsley and basil
.5 yellow onion

I mixed all the above ingredients, then I added the ketchup, which I just kind of eyeballed. After I mixed that, I added Italian bread crumbs, which I also eyeballed. I put it in an 8x8 pan and baked at 400 for 1 hour. About 10 minutes or so before it's done, I add ketchup to the top.

What Do You See, Mr Fly?

2013-04-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite posts to do.....and seeing as how I'm going through a mid-life blog crisis, I have, naturally, decided to switch things up a little bit. So, sit back and take a glimpse of my life.....from a fly's prespective.

I set my alarm for 6:51am so that I can snooze until 7. Clever? I think so!

Gotta brush my teeth first thing in the AM...no stank breath for me!

The kids are up, so why not Facebook it until they are ready?

Oh, goody...a rainy drive to the local Elementary school!

Sweet, sweet nectar of life!

And a rainy drive to drop Cailin at school and Matthew at work.....

Yummy! Food! (turkey bacon, egg white omelet, kiwi and coffee)

Solving some crimes with the BAU of the FBI....

Laundry......ugh!

Dishes...double ugh! And other housework...I won't bore you with that.....

Wow! I got a package!!!!

Time to pick the kids up from school...yay!

Finishing up laundry....can't I just buy new clothes? Oh, wait...I'm poor, never mind....

Getting dinner ready. Meatloaf!

Driving through downtown to pick the hubs up from work

Look! An appearance was made by one of the kids!

Okay, get off my food!

Some Hanson App time......oh yea!

Reading until 10....."14" by J.T. Ellison

PSYCH TIME!!!!

There's my husband, wondering why you are buzzing around his TV.....

Okay, time to brush my teeth for the night......I think you know why....

Yup....it's bed time!

Okay, go find someone else to annoy....and don't you DARE fly into my mouth!

Now that you've seen my life from a fly's point of view, go see what's going on at other people's houses. You may just find someone ~~slightly~~ much more interesting than me! And once again, thanks to Karen at Baking In A Tornado for letting me join in the fun!

http://www.justalittlenutty.com/

http://followmehome.shellybean.com

http://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com/

http://sadderbutwiser.wordpress.com

http://menopausalmother.blogspot.com/

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com/

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/

http://smn0409.blogspot.com/

http://www.tinystepsmommy.com

http://www.outsmartedmommy.com

www.therowdybaker.com

What The ? Wednesday

2013-04-17T11:04:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the first edition of "What The ? Wednesday". I've decided that Wednesday will be my vent/things that piss me off day. So bear with me as I unleash some thoughts in my head.

I live off the main street in my town. If I'm heading north on the street, to turn onto my road you have to make a left turn, so you have to get into the center lane. About maybe 1000 or so feet from my road is a gas station. People will get over all the way back at my road to go to the gas station. I wait until I'm close the turn to get over, because, ya know, it's the RIGHT thing to do. They will GLARE AT ME because I've gotten over and, apparently, either gotten in their way or they were had to wait a second to get over. Excuse me for trying to get home.

On that same note, these are also the same people that will get over without using their turn signal. IT'S REALLY NOT THAT FLIPPING HARD! You just have to move your hand either up or down, just once, to activate it. How am I suppose to know you are wanting to get over if you don't indicate this with your turn signal. That's why it's there......use it, it is your friend.

In our town, we have a "law" (I say it like that because it's not enforced) that says you aren't allowed to smoke within 25 feet of the entrance of a building. Personally, I like this law because it prevents my family from walking out into a cloud of smoke. This law isn't followed and, around here, a lot of the smokers are very inconsiderate. They will just toss their lit butt behind them without looking, blow smoke in your face without a care in the world. It's really annoying.

I have two that are in sports. My youngest daughter plays wee ball and my oldest daughter plays softball. On my oldest daughter's team, there is a little girl who's mom really just annoys me. You'd think it was a pro team, the way she acts. She makes her daughter run laps every time she messes up. SERIOUSLY? I want my kids to love sports and to enjoy it. At this stage in the game, it's about fun. This mother takes it just a little too far, in my opinion. To make your little girl, who is 7 or 8 years old, run laps is just beyond me.....

People, man....What the?!

You Are My Biggest Inspiration

2013-04-15T07:52:00.000-04:00

Losing weight is a struggle for most people.

For me, it's even harder because I am often getting in my own way and I let my issues hold me back. But that's not what this post is about. This post about WHY I'm trying to lose weight. What is my motivation?

My BIGGEST reason for losing weight isn't for me to be healthy. It's for my kids. I want to be around for a long, long, LONG time. I want to see my kids grow up, get married, and have kids of their own. They inspire me daily and are why I do this.

This is another of my inspirations. My husband. I want to be around for a long time to annoy him. No, I kid....I want to be around to enjoy our lives together for a long time.....

I want to be able to out run the zombies.......just sayin'!

Finally, I'm doing this for me. Because I need to learn to love myself, I need to be happy with myself and, more importantly, I need to be healthier.

Little Baby, Don't You Cry

2013-04-13T10:34:00.002-04:00

Being a mother isn't easy. And if you say it is, you are a liar!

As a mother, we have to deal with many near-heart attacks that most people don't even realize causes them. To a person without one, a kid falling down is just that...a kid falling down. To a mother, it's switching out of your street clothes and putting on your Super Mom outfit that turns you into a medical professional, even though on the inside, you are scared out of your mind.

I have 3 kids, so you can imagine the amounts of bumps, bruises, scraps and near misses I've had. Some are minor, some....not so much. Each of my kids have had some sort of accident that has landed us in the ER.

When he was 3, Sebastian fell in the bathroom and hit his face on the side of the tub. It was my fault and, 5 years later, I still deal with that mommy guilt, even though he FINALLY got his front teeth back last year. I was living in an apartment that didn't have a dryer, so I had to hang my laundry on the clothes line. I had him and Anastasia in the tub and it started to rain. I ran down stairs to get the laundry off the line and when I got back in, water was dripping from my kitchen ceiling. I went back up stairs and saw that they'd dumped most of the bath water on the floor. I was already aggravated and was just ready for them to go to bed, so I cleaned up the mess as best as I could. The floor was still a little wet. I got Sebastian out of the tub and wrapped him in a towel and told him not to move. As I turned to get Anastasia, I bumped into Sebastian and he lost his footing and slipped. Because his arms were wrapped in the towel, he had no way to catch himself. He hit his face on the side of the tub.....there was so much blood.....one tooth had been knocked out, the other was twisted and he'd split his lip. I called my Dad, hysterical because of it. He came and got Anastasia while my sister drove Sebastian and I to the ER. He was fine no more than 30 minutes after it happened. ME, on the other hand.....I was a mess.

Fast forward a few months to that fall. They are now 4. We are at my mother-in-law's house, housesetting while she's out of town. She has a chihuahua named Lulu that wasn't really familiar with the twins. We are sitting down to eat dinner and the dog starts chasing Anastasia. She's running from him when she catches her toe on the edge of the rug and trips. SOMEHOW (and to this day, I'm still not sure HOW) she hit her nose on the table. It IMMEDIATELY swelled up and starting bleeding and her eyes started to black. GREAT....my 4 year old has a broken nose (that's what I thought). We rush her to the town's hospital and spent about 3 hours just sitting in the waiting room....by then, the swelling went down and she was up and running around. The following year, she fell out of her bed and cracked the side of her face on the corner of her night stand, so we rushed her to the hospital the next town over to make sure nothing was broken.

When Cailin was 1.5, she was in the kitchen with Matthew and I as we were preparing dinner. Admittedly, neither of us was paying attention to her. What we didn't realize is that she'd learned to climb up in the chairs. She managed to do so and somehow flipped the chair over, hitting her face on the floor. She got a HUGE knot on her head, so we rushed her to the hospital, fearing she may have a concussion. Evidently they didn't think that a toddler with a head injury was important, because 2 hours later, we wasn't even triaged. She was up and running and acting fine, so again, we just.

The whole point of this was because yesterday, the kids were outside playing. I sent Cailin on ahead of me and as she was walking down our porch steps, she decided to jump down the remaining steps. I guess she missed a step or something, because all I heard was thud, thud, then a scream. I ran outside and down the steps as she's getting up. Her little nose was bleeding and she was crying. I helped her back in the house and she swiped at her nose, wiping away blood. This caused even more panic. She cried for about 5 minutes, then got over it as she cuddled up in my lap. I was worried she may have broken her nose, but I don't think she did now. She's all scrapped up and looks a little bad ass. But in that moment, I felt so helpless.....I hated it....

About an hour or so after the tumble

I don't think any of my kids look like me...at all. But when I think to myself that I was nothing more than an incubator, they prove me wrong by giving me a glimpse of myself by running into something or falling down. They may not have gotten their looks for me, but they did get their clumsiness from me.

Not so sure that's a good thing.......

Like Jesus Does

2013-04-09T11:07:00.001-04:00

"The way we treat others is the way we treat Jesus"

That was on the marquee outside of the church that houses my daughter's preschool.

I am not a Christian. This isn't a secret. Nor is it that I believe the bible is 100% true (for the record, I think that it is a historical retelling of things, but, with any historical retelling, I do think that things were changed a bit to fit the views of the writer/writers. I think this with every historical retelling). HOWEVER, there is proof to back up the existence of Jesus and I choose to believe that he was an extraordinary man that did so much good for the people around him. Because of that, I strive to live my life as I imagine Jesus did. I try to be the best person I can be and do things for people to enrich their lives.

This message stuck with me because I think that we forget one simple rule that we were taught as children. The golden rule. Treat others the way you would treat yourself. We don't do that. Truthfully, we never really did. A snicker at a person's clothes. Ignoring someone who has asked for help. Laughing at the expense of another. These are things we are all guilty of doing, whether we realize it or not. Whether we admit it or not.

I have been a big girl all my life and, in high school, I was picked on because of it. You expect things like this from children, but what you may NOT expect is things like this from a grown person. Recently, I was told to do the world a favor and kill myself, because I was contributing to the world hunger problem by shoving my fat face with food. This was said to me by a grown man.

Who says that to a person? At what point in your mind do you think this is okay? I don't get it.

We all need to strive to treat people the way that WE'D want to be treated. Little things matter more than you think they would. Hold a door open for someone. Stop to let someone pull out in front of you. Let someone in front of you in the check out that doesn't have a lot of items. There are so many things that you can do that will just make a person's day and yours too. Because doing good, feels good.

Is It In Your Arms?

2013-04-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

I missed the last couple of posts for Slim By Summer, but I'm getting back on track. It's been a crazy couple of weeks, to say the least.

This is kind of a hard post for me to write, because I really don't HAVE a favorite body part. One boob is bigger than the other, my butt is flabby, my legs are chunky, I've got the wings under arms, I don't think I've got a particularly pretty face.........you get the point.

My lip is no longer pierced

Having said that, I'd have to say my favorite body part is my eyes and lips (hey, they are part of my body! Lol)

I've always been told that I have awesome lips and pretty eyes. I love the color of my eyes. They kind of change color, from blue to blueish green to blueish gray. My lips, I always thought, looked HOT with my lip ring in. I really miss having my lip pierced. But even without them, they look good. I'm a freak about chap stick. I ALWAYS have it with me and as a result, my lips are very soft and not dry, so they look good. And my husband seems to like them, so that's cool too. haha.

I can't really elaborate on my eyes and lips much more than that...but they are my favorite body part.

Perfection...Thy Name Ain't Mom!

2013-04-08T07:18:00.000-04:00

There is so much truth in this picture that it's not even sort of funny.

My children were on spring break last week. The week before, my husband was on vacation. My house, the silence I'd grown accustom to in the short time Cailin as been in school, has not been around in two weeks.

There is simply not enough boxed wine for me to handle this.

In addition to it bring spring break, I've also had softball practice, a library visit, back to back park visits and grocery shopping. I've also somehow managed to completely avoid working out, eat food that I really shouldn't, and attempt to watch "The Hunger Games" with the youngest, only making it roughly 15 minutes into it.

I'm not going for Mother Of The Year award here. No, I'm pretty sure I won that when I bribed my 3 year old with money to get her to pick her toys up from the living room. I'm simply saying that I've some how survived Spring Break with a least a quarter of my sanity left.

I kept my house clean, how I'm not sure. I even managed to do (and put away) laundry, with only the slightest injury (a bruised hand from banging it on the dryer...the husband promptly informed me that this wasn't enough to get out of that job.....I'm currently seeking a Workman's Comp lawyer), burn two pans by turning on the wrong burner while cooking dinner and entertain a 3 year old that was lonely because her brother and sister spent a few days away.

Today, all but one child is back to school. He developed a little stomach bug last night. But I won't let that stop me from getting my house cleaned up, the laundry done and a work out in, all while trying to figure out something for dinner, as we have softball practice tonight. That really makes me happy I had the foresight to go grocery shopping yesterday.

After all, my freezer needed something other than vodka in it, right?

In a few short hours, I get to run around like a mad woman, picking kids up from school, drop two of the 3 kids off at my Dad's, take one of the kids to softball practice, pick the husband up from work, eat whatever I came up with for dinner, and manage to not lose my mind.

This is my life............
And I love it!

Girl, You're Just 17!

2013-04-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Take One of April’s Secret Subject Swaps. This week, 12 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

http://www.BakingInATornado.com

http://chewylicious.wordpress.com/

http://smn0409.blogspot.com/

http://dinoheromommy.com/

http://www.justalittlenutty.com/

http://followmehome.shellybean.com

http://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com/

www.amotherlife.com

confessionsofafailingdomesticgoddess.blogspot.com

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/

http://suburbiainterrupted.com/

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com/

My subject came from Confessions of a Failing Domestic Goddess and it is "Let's go back in time. You're 17 years old. Tell me what your life is like."

Oh, 17 years old. That was a few years ago, so my memory may not be that great, but I'll try to be as detail oriented as possible, as this will be an amazing story, about the discovering of womanhood and overcoming poverty.

Wait...I actually remember it very well, now that I look back. What I'm going to tell you about is actually the summer I turned 18, because it was a very defining time for me. We lived in a run down, one room shack like house somewhere outside of New Orleans. We were very hard pressed, barely making rent and being able to afford food. But then the most amazing thing happened....

My mother somehow came up with the money to buy me a dress that was mostly used for dancing.

We washed, brushed, and curled my hair, put some make up on me and then I stepped into that dress. It was a satin dress with a split in the side up to my hip. It was red, made of velvet and it fit me like a GLOVE. When I looked in the mirror, I was floored, because where a half grown kid had stood before, now...there was a woman.

Mama, love her heart, dabbed the little bit of perfume she had on my neck and then gave me a kiss on the cheek. She started to tear up as she looked around at our pitiful house, then looked at me with troubled eyes and told me that my dad had run off, she was really sick and my poor baby sibling was going to starve to death.

It was then that she put a locket around my neck. It was shaped like a heart and had "To Thine Own Self Be True" engraved on it. I found myself shivering, I'm not sure if it was due to the chills I had or the roach that had just crawled across the toe of my high heeled shoe. In a voice that didn't sound like my own I asked her, "Mama? What do I do?" She said to me that if I was nice to the gentlemen, they'd be nice to me.

When I left our rundown shack that night, I didn't look back. Mama died, child protective services came and took the baby. Fate was starting to deal me a different hand, but I felt stuck. It took very little time for me to realize what my mama was talking about. While not proud of my actions, I did what I had to, all the while promising myself that I would become a lady. I didn't know when and I didn't know how, but it was going to happen.

It wasn't very long after that a man of money took me in. About a week after that I was pouring his tea in his massive suite. I met and charmed many men. A congressman, a king, and occasionally an aristocrat. After such experiences, I was able to afford a Georgia mansion and a really elegant New York townhouse flat. I have to say, I haven't done bad.

People like to talk about about my mother for turning me out at the tender age of 17. This world is full of self righteous hypocrites, let me tell you. And while I haven't had to worry about nothing for about 15 years, sometimes, I can still hear my mama's desperate voice ringing in my ears.

She said to me "Here's your one chance, Fancy! Don't let me down!" And I don't think I did. Because, while I might have been born just plain white trash.....by god, FANCY WAS MY NAME!

So that's my story of when I was 17.......

Now why not go see what the other's have for ya!

The Great Religion Debate

2013-04-04T11:04:00.000-04:00

At the risk of offering a little TMI, am I the only person that gets really mean right before a monthly visit from Aunt Flo, then depressed after she leaves? Silly hormones.....they like to toy with me.

It's not a secret that I'm not a Christian. No, I'm not a basher of religions either. I'm not an Atheist, as I DO believe in a higher power. I just think that this higher power (god, for lack of a better term) has zero human qualities about it. It's just an energy from which we exist. I don't think that Jesus was it's son, as it is unable to have offspring. I don't think that Jesus died for our sins, I think he was murdered because he had radical ideas. I don't think the bible is the truth nor should it be take at face value, however I DO think that it can be a guideline and a way to find answers and peace.

Having said all of this, I strive to live my life the way that the bible says Jesus lived his. I help my fellow man. I try to do good things. I teach my kids tolerance for other people. I instill morals, values, things that I feel are important to be a good person. However, because I don't believe what some people do, I'm evidently bound for hell and just an all around bad person.

It annoys me when people say things like "Oh, well, if they'd put God back in schools, things like this wouldn't happen. For example, there was a story on my local news station's Facebook page about a school that banned together to end segregation. Okay, I was seriously shocked that there was still a segregated school, but someone posted something like "This is why we need to put God back in schools, because these people are lacking values. If God was back in schools, segregation wouldn't be an issue."

Okay, I'm not a history buff, in the least. But if I'm not mistaken, when segregation was prevalent, prayer in school was typical."God" was in schools. It still happened. As a matter of fact, a lot of people used religion as a means to justified their ignorance. God isn't going to cure ignorance. Just like lacking God or religion or whatever doesn't automatically make you a bad person. It really bothers me when people can't see that. I will be the first to admit that there are some nonbelievers out there that give people like me a bad name, just as there are some Christian's out there that give other Christian's a bad name (Hello Westboro Baptist Church!). Especially around MY neck of the woods, people think that if you aren't a Christian, you aren't a good person (not all, but a lot of people do).

Personally speaking, I'm of the mindset that if you want God in schools, you need to have Allah, you need to have Budda, you need to have ever deity from every religion. I guess it's just part of my ever going quest for equality. I actually have no problem with school taking about a minute or so have a moment of silence or reflection or whatever. Use that time to pray, to meditate, to do whatever calms you and brings you peace. I think it's a great idea, personally.

I just wish that people would realize that not having a religion or belief in the Christian god does not make a person a soulless heathen, just as having a belief in the Christian god doesn't make you a zealot. Much like with marriage equality, I just want some tolerance from both spectrum's and a sense of understanding that no one belief or nonbelief is wrong. If it brings you peace, then great....allow someone to find their peace their way and don't tell them they are wrong for it.

Okay, that's my soapbox speech of the day......

The Life Of A Sports Mom

2013-04-02T10:15:00.001-04:00

This is who I'm quickly becoming. Something I didn't think I'd end up being, but something that I'm looking forward to.

Back in February, Anastasia and Sebastian begged me to sign them up for soft/baseball, so I did. They were super excited....or so I thought.

Last week, I get the call from Anastasia's coach about practice, things like that. I tell her and she is just excited as all get out. The next day, I hear from Sebastian's coach, then spend the day getting everything together for him because he had practice sooner than she did.

After spending the day doing all that and stressing, Sebastian drops the bomb on me. He doesn't want to play baseball, he only said he did because he didn't want to disappoint me.

Info I could have used BEFORE I spent the day running around. I called the league and informed them and was delighted to learn that I could just apply the money for Sebastian to Cailin and she could play wee ball, so all is well with that.

Anastasia was still thrilled (after I asked her about 100 times) about softball. She was also RREEAALLYY nervous. She didn't know ANYTHING about playing softball. Luckily, the kid is an overachiever and wants to practice every day and work at it until she gets it. She looks absolutely adorable in her practice clothes and I can't wait to see her in her uniform!

I'm really happy for her, though. She's wanted to play sports for so long. She's a natural born athlete, I think (my husband might disagree with me). She'll get out in the yard with Matthew and want to learn how to play football. If we had a basket ball goal, she'd be out there shooting hoops. She says she wants to be a cheerleader, but I honestly think she wouldn't enjoy it as much as she would softball or basketball.

It's weird...when I was pregnant with them, I had these vision of being a sports mom....but for Sebastian. He has ZERO interest in sports. Sure, he likes watching wrestling, but that's it. He has no desire to play sports. He likes to watch TV and play video games and that's pretty much it. If you'd have told me that Anastasia was going to be the one that was all about sports, I'd have laughed. She's always been girly. Yesterday, after practice, she looked at me and said "Mommy, I'm dirty....AND I LOVE IT!" She's so proud of her bruised chin (she took a ball to the chin during her first practice) and she tells me her arms and legs hurt, but it feels good.

I'm looking forward to filling the back window of my van with various things relating to the sports Anastasia (and Sebastian and Cailin, should they play) plays. I'm looking forward to carpooling, to keeping a tote in the back of the van for various sports equipment.

I'm becoming a sports mom.....and I love it!

Open Letter To A Visitor

2013-04-01T14:16:00.001-04:00

Dear Visitor from Belmont, CA,

I'm sure you know by now that I know who you are. It's cool you visit my blog on a daily basis and that your (or the girlfriend) signed up to get notifications from Faythe Noelle. But, to my knowledge, neither of has liked the blog page, nor have you liked my latest endeavor, 2 Girls, 1 Basket. And you never comment on any of the posts, which is disappointing.

What I don't understand is why you don't contact me. You know how to do it. You avoid any personal contact with me and I'm really not sure why. But it's okay, I forgive you.

Are you doing this to keep tabs on me? Or on the kids? Or are you genuinely interested in the going ons in my life? I mean, this little blog is pretty much an open invitation to my world and you can found out so much about me. Are you trying to catch me in a slip up and possibly bad mouthing you? Good luck with that, I've learned my lesson and, frankly, I'm really not mad at you, as I've moved beyond all of that. It's called growth and closure.

As you can see, all is well with me and mine in my little neck of the woods. I know you come visit this page all the time...if you scroll down a little bit, you'll see the tracker I have. That's how I know. It's totally cool, you and yours are more than welcome here, but at least say hi every know and then. Comment on a post you find to be kinda funny or well written. Talk about how much the kids have grown. Like my page (and my business page).

We can be grown ups here. So feel free to stop in and say hi! I hope you enjoy the blog as much as I enjoy writing it.

Signed,

I know who you are and it's totally cool

Success and Random Thoughts

2013-04-01T12:03:00.001-04:00

Last week, my husband was on vacation, so I wasn't around that much. This week, my kids are on Spring Break and, I SHOULD be around a little bit more, all though my days are getting busier because of a few things that have gone on.

First thing, however, is that I am still working on losing weight. So far, I'm stuck at around 16 pounds lost, but at least the scale isn't going back up. I've also been slacking, this I admit. But I'm getting back to it and hitting it like a boss. This month will also make 3 months that I haven't had soda to drink, so that's pretty awesome, right?

Doesn't she look so cute?!

Anastasia started playing softball this past week. We'd signed both her and Sebastian up, but he decided at the last minute that he didn't want to play baseball so they are transferring the payment I made for him to Cailin so she can play weeball. Anastasia had her first practice on Friday and she LOVES IT. She'd never played before and picked it up pretty quickly. She took a ball to the chin, which bruised and she took it like a champ, no tears or anything. I'm really excited for her, because she seems to love it, which is great.

Spa basket $20+shipping

I've also started my own business. It's slow going right now, which it to be expected, but I may make my first sale this evening. I'm making custom gift baskets. The business is called 2 Girls, 1 Basket. I picked this name because Anastasia is kind of helping me with them. I'm going to put Sebastian to work coming up with a basket for little boys so he can contribute. I'm not wanting to get rich off it, but it would be nice to make a couple hundred a month!

That's pretty much all that's going on around here. Some personal successes that I can say I've accomplished.

How have you been?