Let's Discuss Santa

First of all, let me say, you know it is time to post a new blog when you are getting hate mail via facebook from people for not posting. :) Kind of makes me smile and also feel like a loser all at the same time.

Moving on................



So Santa. My WHOLE life, Santa has always delivered presents wrapped with beautiful bows and gift tags. The big stuff (bikes, power wheels, THE dollhouse, trampoline) were never wrapped. They were always put together with a big bow on them.

All my friends I grew up with, well...Santa did the same thing at their house. Never thought a thing about it.

Until this year, when my world got rocked. My sister-in-law (whom I love dearly) explained to me that Santa does not have time to wrap presents. The presents are always just placed under the tree, ready to be played with or tossed aside.

Apparently, Santa always did that at her house growing up too. And at Hubs' house.

WHAT!?!?!?!?!

Wait.

No, seriously.

WHAT!?!?!?!?!

Santa was visiting Ansleigh at Nana and Papa's house this year. T and AC were being visited by Santa there too. Needless to say, to be consistent, Santa delivered the presents not wrapped, put together, ready to be ignored (in Ansleigh's case).

I chalked it up to just being something weird. A fluke. Whatevs.

Then, I started looking through pictures on facebook from Santa visits and noticed that the other people I am friends with from Prattville (sis-in-law's hometown), well....Santa delivered all their presents unwrapped and put together. What the?????

So I'm wondering, does Santa only deliver unwrapped presents to Prattville and surrounding locations or does he do this world-wide?

I mean, I've never heard or seen of such.

How does the Big Guy deliver the presents to your house? Or were you always too bad to get anything?

If You Love Your Husband...

If you love your hubby, you'll go visit Nessa-friend's blog and enter this giveaway:

http://baptistness.blogspot.com/2009/12/note-to-self-housewarming-edition.html

I mean...who doesn't want a free tshirt to display our lurve for our husbands?

My Playlist

I've been having a little bit of trouble getting into the Christmas spirit. Didn't really feel it when I started buying gifts (in, uh, er....October). I didn't really feel it when I put up the tree (the weekend before Thanksgiving). I didn't even feel it when the presents were wrapped and under the tree and sparkly and color coordinated.

I had the cheerleaders' party at my house. At the last minute I ran out and strung some lights in the bushes to not appear to be a scrooge. I felt it a little baking 140 Christmas cookies, watching the girls decorate gingerbread cookies, and then watching them open gifts playing secret Santa. But then POOF! All remnents were gone the next morning while I was cleaning up the mess.

I've been listening to Christmas music trying to boost my spirits. Christmas music is different than any other kind of music. Everyone (generally) loves it. It makes us happy and lifts our spirits. The awesome thing about Christmas music is that you could find the same song in almost every genre (rock, rap, country, Christian, kid, etc.) of music. A version for everyone's taste.

So what's my playlist? Here it is:

1. Hallelujah (Light is Born) by Barlow Girl
2. Silent Night by Taylor Swift
3. O Come All Ye Faithful by Rush of Fools
4. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Jim Carey (The Grinch Soundtrack)
   
5. 2000 Decembers Ago by Joy Willams
   
6. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by N*Sync (oh those college days!)
   
7. Joy to the World by Whitney Houston
   
8. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree (Home Alone Soundtrack)
9. Christmas Shoes by FM Static
10. Oh Holy Night by Kelly Clarkson
11. Baby it's Cold Outside by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey
12. Angels We Have Heard on High by Christina Aguilara
13. Santa Baby by Taylor Swift
14. Bells Will be Ringing by The Eagles
15. All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
16. Here With Us by Joy Williams
17. Let it Snow by Dean Martin
    
18. Do You Hear What I Hear? by Carrie Underwood
    
19. Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill
20. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Sarah Groves
21. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Shane & Shane
22. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Jessica Simpson
23. White Christmas by Michael Buble
24. Carol of the Bells (Home Alone Soundtrack)
25. Mary Did You Know by Clay Aiken
    

Christmas Presents

Tis the season to spend all your money buying people stuff that they may or may not even like.

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE giving to others. I'm one of those people. I invest a lot of thought into what we give each and every person (and not just for Christmas either). I want them to enjoy what we give them. I want them to be able to use what we give them. I want them to be surprised at how much thought we (ME) put into the gift.

Of course, I start planning late August/ early September for who we need to buy for and what we will give them. Because Ansleigh's birthday is in December, we (I) usually purchase her birthday present in September, her Christmas stuff in October, and everyone else in November....early November. Then I wrap and wrap and tie some bows and try to make everything look special.

Because I spend so much time on most of the gifts, I have really been thinking lately about the best presents I have been given. What were they? Why were they special? Were they the expensive ones? Something I desperately wanted? Maybe.

So here it is....my list of the best Christmas presents I have EVER gotten.

1. Bow Baby (who is much more of a tot now than a baby). She was due January 6th. We weren't going to be able to travel for the holidays. I was depressed and lonely. I went into labor 3 and 1/2 weeks early. I convinced myself it was Braxton Hicks. 48 hours later, I was holding my sweet precious baby in my arms. I got her for Christmas. And got to see our family. And was lonely no more. To be honest, she is the most special thing I have ever seen. She's been a bit pricey too :) and was for sure someone I was desperate to have.
2. The world's most amazing dollhouse....at least to me. I was somewhere around 2nd or 3rd grade. I had seen it in some dress shop in Gadsden that my momma always made us go to. I didn't mind so much because I played with the dollhouse the whole time. I enjoyed it but didn't ask for it. Didn't really think I'd ever get it. Little did I know, my parents scrimped and saved and spent every last penny to buy me that dollhouse. They spent HOURS putting the thing together Christmas Eve while we were sleeping. When I got up that morning, I saw it and fell in love. I can't even remember anything else I got for Christmas. I played with it for years and years and years. I still have it. And I plan on giving it to Ansleigh when she's old enough to enjoy it and not destroy it. The dollhouse was the Playmobil Grand Mansion. It isn't made anymore. And FYI, it currently sells on Amazon for $1,375.75. :) She better love it!

Of course, there have been other gifts over the years that have meant a lot to me (the necklace Anthony gave me our first Christmas together), the Coach purse my sister gave me when I was so desperate to have it, etc. But the two I explained have been my favorite. One, a gift from God, and the other, a gift from Santa (aka: the world's most sacrificing parents).

What have been your favorites and why?

Groceries

I just got home from the grocery store and I'm frustrated. I feel like I only have so many options when it comes to buying food for my family:

1. Buy whatever is on sale with whatever coupons I can find and just eat it. No matter how processed or fattening it is. At least I saved money.
2. Buy a few healthy foods and the rest of the cheap stuff. Still not spending a ton.
   
3. Buy all healthy foods (lower fat, lower calories, lower sodium) to keep myself from getting fatter than I already feel and spending a nice amount of moolah.
   
4. Buy organic and fresh and spend half a pay check to feed the family for two weeks.
   

Why??? Why does it have to be that way?

As a consumer, I want the healthy, organic, low fat, low sodium foods for cheaper than what most people buy. Since fewer people buy those options, shouldn't they lower the prices so they can sell more? Probably not but I want them to.

I don't want to have to scrape by in every other aspect of our budget just so we can have healthy food that doesn't take three gillion hours to prepare. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently, it is.


Also, as a side note, I went to the store (in the rain) in a hoodie with my hair piled on top of my head and was recognized by a student at Heritage. Wow. Embarrassing. Also, I had on zero make up. Gah! What a skank!!!

Friday Confessions

• Technically it is still Friday....11:21 p.m. so I can still call these that.
  
• I'm taking a break from wrapping 5 gillion Christmas presents.
  
• Most of them are pictures of Ansleigh...framed....wrapped in a box....with pretty paper....and sparkly, glittery, bows.
• Which means my floor is covered in red and green glitter. No stress...I've always wanted sparkly carpet so we're good.
  
• I'm also jamming out to Taylor Swift Christmas music while Anthony plays Modern Warfare 2. That's man-speak for "blowing stuff up."
  
• I lowered my calorie intake (as it had me at 1500 a day!!!). I started a week ago Tuesday so I've been doing it about a week and a half.
  
• I've lost three pounds. SWEET, SWEET, VICTORY!!!!
• That also means that I couldn't let myself buy the giant vat of popcorn last night at New Moon just to get the New Moon bucket. :(
• Sweet Carrie friend gave me hers :)
  
• I did get my sweet, sweet Jacob cup though. All is well with the world.
  
• Yesterday I painted my toenails this WICKED awesome shade of metallic brown with a hint of red. Hubs said it was "kind of Emo." HAHAHAHAHAHA.
• Taylor's dreaming of a white Christmas. Did you know that?
  
• I'm just dreaming of a COLD Christmas....as in, not 85 and sunny.
  
• Rarely ever do I care which teeny-bopper celebrity is dating the other teeny-bopper celebrity but I get a little giddy every time I think about the fact that Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift are dating. So sweet for them!!!!
  
• I'm lame. I know.
  
• I'm pretty sure I used my monthly quota of text messages all last night while at the movies.
  
• Oops. Sorry hunny!
• In less than four days I'll be in Alabama, which I am totally stoaked about. I'm trying (and have been all week) to refrain from keeping our suitcase out packed. At least until it is a reasonable time to do so.
  
• Ansleigh's been packed for about 3 weeks. Erm.
  
• My doctor's office was supposed to call in my "special" travel medicine today and didn't. The guy working the pharmacy just gave me the prescription anyway, called it an "emergency script" and didn't even charge me for it. I wonder if it was all my southern charm that had him under the influence? Or maybe he was just bored.
  
• Ok. Two more presents to wrap tonight. Must. Go. Do. That.
  

Have a great weekend!!!! Go see New Moon!!!

My Latest Rant

First of all, let me state that I am a FIRM believer that everyone has a right to their own opinion and it certainly does not need to be the same as mine.

Having said that...

This all started last night when a very dear friend of mine from high school posted the following as his facebook status:

Far be it for me to criticize the latest teenage-vampire-sex drama soon to appear at the local cinema, but even more ridiculous than this craze is the real life actions of the actors that star in the movie. It's bad enough they are all pot-smokers and goofy emo-types( parents, yall ok with that?) but everytime I see the guy that plays the main character, eddie or whatever you call it, I can't help but crack up.

The new "sexiest man in the world" always seems to have a pasty white complection, bed hair and pillow wrinkles, and always looks at a camera like he just cleaned out a bug-zapper.

This guy knows he is just an actor, not a REAL vampire, right? I think he's getting too carried away with his fame.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Now you know I love me some Twilight. But again, he is perfectly entitled to feel this way. What irritates me is that all of this information is based on a stereotype that he's seen somewhere. His status indicates that he has not read the book (doesn't even know the characters names) WHICH IS FINE, but as a trained writer, it bothers me when people make statements without the facts or research to back them up. There is no knowledge of Robert Pattison or Kristen Stewart (including interviews) that seems to be a resource in this statement. Also, there is no sex in Twilight or New Moon, he can't prove the actors are pot heads, and RPat is pasty because he's from Britain.

Oh well. I suggested that he look into it a little more and he might have a different opinion. If he doesn't, that's great...at least he'll be informed. I was fine. Completely fine. Until someone else posted this:

I love it when i talk bad about it in restaurants and 13 year olds turn around and give me dirty looks. And where in the world are the christian Harry Potter Haters of the world. Why arent they raising up mobs in the streets over this series. I guess i missed the part in revelation about vampires being in the new world. or should i say...new moon.

-------------------------------------
Really??? REALLY???

IT IS FICTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fiction. Fiction about mythical creatures. So is Harry Potter. So is The Chronicles of Narnia (that Christians revere). FICTION....you know...as in NOT REAL.

Now I'll be the first to admit that people have gotten carried away with Twilight. But still, why in the world would Christians raise up mobs over Harry Potter or Twilight? It isn't real and 90% of the people that read it know that.

The only biblical problem I can see would come in where someone is replacing Twilight (or Harry Potter) for their Christianity, daily quiet time, etc.

No, Vampires are not in Revelation. Neither are wizards. Or centaurs or any other mythical creatures. Guess what??? Hannah Montana, Facebook, and computers aren't biblical either!!!!! Does that mean we shouldn't use them?

I think no.

As Christians, we are called to be in the world, not of it. If we blatantly attack something when we have no knowledge of it, it is no different than being the soapbox preacher who stands on the corner screaming at people that they are going to burn in hell. That doesn't often lead people to Jesus. Will Twilight? Probably not.

But you know what, Harry Potter actually has some really deep things in it dealing with God, spirituality, and eternity if you know where to look. One of the best books I've read is Looking For God in Harry Potter.

And you know what else? Twilight has NOTHING to do with Jesus. Except for the fact that Jesus has everything to do with me, and I've read Twilight, and all the accompanying books. It leaves a lot of room for open debate about the afterlife. With the position that I'm in, I'm constantly around teenage girls (and some moms) who are obsessed with Twilight. On more than once occasion I've found myself having a conversation with someone about Edward Cullen and it lead to discussing eternity and what I know to be true. Was that me? No. It was God. Did God use Twilight to bring glory to Him? YES.

So, again, I don't see what the problem is.

And then, late last night I saw this. Idiot. Not because of her opinion, but because she says she doesn't believe in "it." Well the it she's referring to are the books and movie serious and she can believe in them or not but that doesn't stop them from existing. I'm sure she actually meant that she doesn't believe in vampires. Neither do I. IT IS FICTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Geez.

In another article , she calls Twilight fans a cult. I guess from a celebrity point-of-view I can totally see that, but the Twilight following of CRAZY fans is no different than the following of her CRAZY Hannah Montana fans. Does she not believe in that either? She doesn't want anything to do with Twilight (even though one of her besties, Taylor Swift, is dating Taylor Lautner), because it isn't bringing her attention? Or maybe she really does have something against it. But then again, she states she hasn't read it or seen the movies so how does she know anything about it??? Especially if she won't even let her friends talk about it. Her fans are just as CRAZY but she doesn't have a problem with that because that "cult" brings her millions of dollars. Grrr....

Go ahead Miley, nod your head like yeah....you know I'm making a valid point.

I guess it all just boils down to the fact that it irritates me when people take a stand against something that they don't know anything about. That's like a lawyer trying to prosecute someone without having ANY of the details of the case. Stupid. At least look into it before forming your opinion.

Y'all may not remember this, but the whole reason I started reading the books was because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. You can find my original opinion here.

Amazing...I looked into it, and THEN formed an opinion. You should do the same. If you aren't willing to, keep your mouth shut.

Making Up for Lost Time

So...to make up for lost time...

• Today I took a nap. I know, you're surprised, but really the reason was because I stayed up past 2 am working on Christmas projects.
• I have this need to get things accomplished ahead of time. Every minute that passes by that I still have presents to buy/make, or things to get done for the holidays, I stress.
  
• Same thing goes for Bug's birthday.
  
• Instead of a party, we're going to take her to Magic Kingdom this year. I'm using her as an excuse to go to Disney and have a blast. Otherwise, we'd never go. Because we're losers.
  
• To make up for the fact that I took a nap today, I put away clean dishes, washed dirty ones, cleaned both bathrooms, did laundry, vacuumed, cleaned out both the toy basket and the toy chest, cleaned the counters, and....yeah.
  
• I brag on myself because usually I don't do anything except play with Ansleigh. Shh....don't tell.
  
• To answer Joy's question, I'm running in a pink tutu because Winn says I am. And she made me one. And who doesn't want to be kind of prissy in a Princess Run at Disney?
  
• Hey remember how I told you I was counting calories on precious, precious iphone? My goal was to lose 1lb a week. I've only done it for a week but I just weighed and I did lose a pound. A pound sounds stupid, but to me, it is VICTORY!!!
• The LED lights on the tree are growing on me....slowly.
  
• Also, my chin is a zit factory, just in case you were wondering.
  
• I'm fighting the urge to go buy a couple of new shirts to wear when we go to Alabama next week.
  
• I'm also peeing in my pants in excitement that we're going to Alabama next week....to fall weather, changing trees, and all things southern.
  
• And....this week is NEW MOON. That's all I have to say about that.
  

Hello Again!

So tonight I was at a friend's house watching the football game and I was chatting with a different friend I haven't seen in a while and she mentioned that I wasn't writing my blog anymore...and she looked disappointed. Which kind of made me feel like a super star and also like the world's biggest loser.

A couple of I don't know how many days ago a sweet friend commented on something on facebook and asked me if I was still writing my blog.

Hmmmm.....

So...I'm writing my blog. For my loves.

Here's some randomness, just for you :)

• I've been having trouble falling asleep. At first it was because I was too busy reading the Twilight series books on precious, precious iphone. Then, because I'd be soooooo tired the next day, when Bug took a nap, so did I. Which meant I'd have trouble going to sleep the next night. Idiot.
  
• That was like....3 weeks ago. And here I am at 1 AM, not sleeping, writing my blog. But don't worry. I'm not reading Twilight. I'm reading Gossip Girl instead. Hahaha.
  
• Don't play, you know you wish you could read cool teeny-booper books like me.
  
• Also, we put up some of the inside Christmas decorations today. Part of me feels like I need to explain that I'm not completely cooky and the other part of me is thinking, "Pssh. At least I waited later than Halloween this year."
  
• So I drug our tree out and turns out...most of the lights on it didn't work. It is a tree that already has the lights on it. Hubs sent me on a mission to buy a new one...with LED lights. UGLIEST LIGHTS EVER. Well...just the strands of the colored ones that I mixed in. The tree doesn't look ugly, it's just....different. And I don't do change well. Ever.
  
• Two of my friends (a married couple) have lost about 80 pounds (combined) by just counting calories. Now I feel fat b/c they are getting smaller and I'm not. Also, I've started counting my calories too.
  
• I'm using my precious, precious to do it. There's an app called Lose It. It's awesome. You put in your weight, height, age, and how much you want to lose and it calculates how many calories you can have a day and tells you when you'll meet your goal if you stick to it.
  
• February 27. That's when I'm going to weigh 125 pounds again. Because that's when iphone says I will.
  
• Also, I entered a 5K. Because I'm stupid. BUT...I'm running at Disney World. So that's kind of fun. Oh, and with a pink tutu on.
  
• You're jealous, I know.
  
• I'm seriously considering changing my name from "Mommy" to something really hard that Ansleigh can't say, like, Kheljekistan. Then she won't say my name 30,000 times in one day.
  
• I got pulled over Friday night on my way home from the football game. Why you ask? Was I speeding? No. Did I run a red light? No. I HAD A TAILLIGHT OUT. Yes. I sat in my car, embarrassed, with flashing lights behind me, while several members of my cheer squad drove past. Lovely. Just lovely.
• I'm REALLY hungry right now. I'd really like to have a bowl of Golden Grahams. Is it too early for breakfast? Hmmm...
• All this time I could have spent writing my blog, I've been playing a game on facebook called Restaurant City. It' so fun. And dorky.
  
• Me thinks I'm going to try and go sleep now.

Missed you all!!!

Leave me comments if you want me back!

I'm still alive!!!

Hello loves. I've missed you.

I've been busy--reading Twilight. And watching New Moon trailers and videos. And being completely ridiculous.

I promise you it is a disease.

In the past two weeks alone I've probably read through all four books at least twice and I'm working on a third.

Like I said, completely ridiculous.

I remember when I first read Twilight...to see what the fuss was all about. I couldn't help but to think about how Bella and Edward go from not knowing each other and hardly speaking to completely devoted to each other for life--STUPID...and not realistic at all. But alas, it is fiction. Then I spent all of New Moon trying to figure out where the crap "Mr. Amazing" Edward was. And then I kind of got so involved in the story that I gave up on analyzing.

Reading through all of them the second time, I was able to focus more on who the characters were and not as much on how things couldn't really happen that way.

Now I'm on only like...reading number 742. I still can't help but to "Writer's Workshop" this stuff to death, but I love it.

Now-a-days, and even back in the olden age (you know...March), it was all about Team Edward or Team Jacob.

Both have redeeming qualities. Edward is brilliant, and loving, and always says the right thing (except for that one time...in the woods...YOU KNOW what I'm talking about). Jacob is what I think of as a "good ol' boy." He's a sweet kid. And he's human. And awesome. And a lot smarter than someone his age should be (much like Bella).

I never have been able to decide. I've always leaned one way, then I teeter back the other.

Then, about a week or so ago, I saw a shirt that said "Team Alice." Yes, please. Dude. Alice is amazing. I want a best friend like that. She is my favorite.

But you see, I'm teetering again. Or at least...I was. Until I kept watching all these freaking amazing previews that kind of make me want to pee my pants with excitement. And then, it happened. I declared.

Team Jacob. He's my wallpaper now.

I think what put me over the edge is really Taylor Lautner. There is just something about him. He is the PERFECT Jacob. The new muscles and the tan *might* help too. I mean...I'm just saying.

So anyway, that's kind of been my world lately.

Cheerleading is amazing. And crazy. It reminds me of how much I miss being in a school every day and hanging out with kids. Some of them just steal your heart. There is a whole lot of red tape and paper work that I never anticipated to go along with coaching but I love it. LOVE IT. This has always been my dream job and I can honestly say, it still is.

Other than that, I've just been watching the Bug develop her little personality. She is freaking hilarious. And bossy. And a smidge too much on the cute side. These days we watch Tinkerbell a million times a day. And we're obsessed with Minnie (who she will be for Halloween) and "Boots" (aka: Dora). She's the craziest kid I know and I'm head-over-heals for her.

She's so easy to deal with these days--so independent--that it has me wondering if I'll ever REALLY be ready for another one and have to start all over. But that, my friends, is another blog post.

Oh, and I have a rocking giveaway that I was *supposed* to have done in September (SORRY BECKY!!!!!!!!)

Hopefully, I'll be back soon, if you'll still have me after abandoning you for so long.

LURVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!

Signs...

Ok so you may or may not be interested in this. You also may not know what I'm talking about.

So brief explanation...At football games (high school) there are signs all around the field that say things such as "Beat _______ Team" or "Touchdown" or whatever. Back in the day....when I was a cheerleader, we always had AWESOME signs.

So now...it is my turn to teach my cheerleaders the art of sign making. Except we haven't had all summer to work on it.

Oh...and I'm still stealing paper from teacher's workroom :)

I've been trying to come up with some somewhat clever ones. But mostly, what I come up with is stupid stuff like "Poinciana smells like POO." A smidge inappropriate and immature? Maybe so.

The thing is...the kids haven't helped too much, mostly because I don't think they understand what I'm talking about.

For our first game we need about 30 (so my AD says). This is what I have come up with:

1. Begin with a Win
2. Panthers on the Prowl
3. Eagles taste like chicken
4. Capture the eagles
5. beat em black and blue
6. we will rock you
7. make em see stars
8. Ruffle their feathers
9. Exterminate the Eagles
10. Pound Poinciana
11. Hang em' Heritage
12. Fight Tonight

Yeah...that's it.

Oh and did I mention we have 10 games I've gotta do this for??? :) Exciting, truly it is, but I feel pressured...haha.

Anybody got any suggestions other than ones that mention poo?

A Day Late...or really just 30 minutes

• I haven't been too motivated to write lately....
• Or really had much time since I've been using my spare time watching all 5 seasons of LOST in two weeks.
  
• That last one...that's a fact. Seriously. We're CRAaaaaaaaZzzzah.
  
• Today I've watched Wizards of Waverly Place and right now we're watching iCarly. Yeah...I'm 25.
  
• 25 going on 16
  
• We went outside (just a few minutes ago) to watch the shuttle launch and in the few minutes I was outside, I was attacked by 749,384,238 ants. Or extremely low-flying mosquitoes.
  
• THE ITCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
• Worst part...it's all on my feet.
  
• Did I mention the itching???? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
• Also, I'm really LOVING coaching my cheerleaders. Except when they didn't look so hot in front of the band the other day. And then I was embarrassed. So I yelled at them. Erm...
• I'm wondering HOW we are going to get all the signs made for the first game. We only have two practices this week, a volleyball game to cheer at, and the football scrimmage game. Oh and some of them have to meet with the band at some point. And that's just THIS week. At least we have two weeks.
  
• Maybe I should have mentioned that we have the paint kit but are missing the big ink pads (don't ask, just know they are essential) AND we currently have no paper.
  
• I'm stealing some from the teacher's workroom each day I'm there.....BAHAHAHAHA.
  
• I wonder how long before they catch on to me?
• Today...I was thinking about what I would have done with the money if I was a Disney Channel star when I was in high school.
  
• I probably would have bought lots of hot pink stuff and zebra printed stuff.
  
• Then I was thinking about what I'd do with the money if I were a Disney Channel star now (don't be fooled...some of those "kids" are my age or older).
  
• I'd probably go ahead and secure a spot at Auburn for the Bug. Buy a minivan. And maybe buy her some more hairbows. :) I'd let Anthony have a cool car too.
  
• Hannah Montana is probably the only show I could be on...you know...because of my "Southern Drawl."

Ok...in the words of Ansleigh, "nigh nigh"

Don't Hate Me....

So...erm...I've been a smidge MIA lately. Because well...school is starting and cheerleading was starting and now I'm working those girls hard. And because we've recently become addicted to LOST. Ugh.

But...it's Friday and I have a few spare moments so....

1. Turns out that coaching is 60% paper work and 40% coaching. Well...at least in the beginning.
   
2. 20 cheerleaders = a big squad
3. I might as well be a profession beggar because it seems like all I'm doing lately is begging people for money for the school or for the kids.
   
4. Anyone want to donate money to the cheerleaders?
   
5. Or sponsor one of them?
6. Or buy an ad in the football program?
7. ALL TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
   
8. See....this is my life now.
   
9. I've been having dreams that these kids didn't pay me for their stuff and it's the first ball game and I'm holding their shoes hostage.
   
10. Also, I have dreams about Jack, Sawyer, Kate, and Locke.
    
11. Stupid LOST!!!! It's like crack really.
    
12. I haven't seen my Winn friend in so long, I think she forgot what I look like.
    
13. Spaghetti Dinner at HHS tonight for only $5!!!! Wanna come???
14. Again....with the begging.
    
15. As badly as I have been wanting a teaching position, I've figured out that to teach and start this cheer program, I'd have to have super powers.
    
16. I'm not sure I'm ready to reveal any possible super powers to the world for fear of exploitation.
    
17. Good thing I'm staying at home and coaching.
    
18. .........
19. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz......
20. ...............
21. Ooops...I fell asleep. That's how tired I am. Better go nap before the spaghetti dinner....that's only $5!!!!!!!!!
    

Another Friday...More Confessions

• I've been spending most of my time at Heritage High this week.
  
• If there had been a live web feed from the cafeteria, you would have seen me acting like an idiot annoying people to death trying to make them buy t-shirts.
• I'm the kind of person who tends to have a difficult time saying no. Which probably explains why I was selling t-shirts when my real purpose there was to have sign-ups for cheerleader tryouts.
  
• There was this one girl...I was listening to her mom talk to the dean. They were discussing how the girl had been arrested for fighting, but not charged. She proceeded to come on over to my table to sign up and all I could think was, "PLEASE KEEP WALKING."
  
• Hubs and I just started watching this cartoon called Avatar:The Last Airbender...or something like that. It is pretty awesome. Seriously.
• We just started watching Lost. Season 1, episode 1. And by "just" I mean literally about 10 minutes ago. This is EXACTLY what we need...you know, to add one more tv show to our already extremely long list of shows we're addicted to.
  
• I've had a headache for over 24 hours now. Not just a "I can tolerate this" kind of headache but the kind that makes you want to puke and the sweet sound of your almost two-year-old screaming isn't quite as sweet as it normally is.
  
• I have a new favorite ice cream. Cotton Candy Explosion from Brewster's. It is slap-yo-momma good. Except I would never slap my momma. She'd get mad.
  
• In the tiny bit of spare time I've had this week, I went to visit Nessa friend at her new house. She's a good time. So are her front-rollin' two girls.
  
• I also have put some more of our useless junk on Craig's List. I must say, I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of wads of cash in my hands while people take away crap we don't need.
  
• Pretty much, the only thing I've figured out about this show is that a plane crashed and ol' dude is a doctor.
• I really wish they'd stop screaming as that doesn't help my headache. Nor does the plane falling down noises or the monster noises. Oh, oh, oh! Dude from Heroes just got snatched. Ok...officially deeming this show weird. Must go watch and figure out why the world is so obsessed.
  

Have a great weekend!

Giveaway Winner!!!!!!

First of all, let me say how awesome all ya'll are!!! I had 98 entries!!!!!!!!!!! (not to be confused with 98 people). Anyway, thanks!!! :) That makes me feel special...but not like...short yellow bus special. ANYWAY....

Drum roll please.....

Mr. Random Number Generator picked entry number 48.

Congratulations Adina!!! :) Reese will be so precious in that big ol' white bow.

The rest of you, sorry. Doesn't it suck when you don't win? Maybe if you "keep trying, keep trying, don't give up, never give up..." you will win eventually.

Confessions

1. This week I've been working overtime on the junk removal from our house. I've actually been somewhat successful.
2. Every night this week I've been searching the internet for bedding for our guest bedroom. I know what I want, I just can't seem to find it.
   
3. I got rid of some junk this week using Craig's List. That thing is stressful!!! You get pounced on by people.
4. Now I feel the desperate pull of Home Depot calling my name. Begging me to come buy some paint for the walls (guest room). I think Anthony wants me to ignore that pull.
5. I've been watching Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney. It's a teeny-bopper show. I love it.
   
6. Everyone keeps mentioning how funny I am and now I feel the pressure. The pressure to be funny. Except I don't know how. To be funny. Can you teach me?
7. I just realized I haven't posted the winner to the giveaway yet. Maybe I should go do that.
   
8. I've been chewing on my lip this week. Now I have a big sore on my lip. And because I have the sore on my lip, I keep chewing on it. This cycle is endless.
9. Last night we went to Brewster's and I got some ice cream that changed my life. Cotton Candy Explosion. OH. MY. GOSH. It's amazing. Real cotton candy pieces in it. And pop rocks. That's the "explosion" part in case you didn't figure it out.
   
10. I have to go. I have to go learn how to use Mr. Random Number Generator.
    

HOLLA. :)

We've Moved....

We've moved...to the land of constant repetitiveness.

Just to give you a glimpse into my world, here are a few real life conversations:

1. Riding in the car yesterday...
Bug: "Momma."
Me: "What?"
Bug: "MOMMA."
Me: "Yes, baby?"
Bug: "Mommmmmmmma."
Me: *tries to ignore*
Bug: "Momma. Momma. Momma."
Me: *completely frustrated* "WHAT ANSLEIGH?"
Bug: *smiles real big* "HEEEEEEEEEEEY."

2. Saturday afternoon...
Me: *looking through some pictures of my neice on facebook*
Bug: "CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEE."
Me: "What?"
Bug: "CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEE."
Me: "Guy???"
Bug: "CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEE."
Me: "Oh. Cate. Yeah...that's Anna Cate."
Bug: *big smile* "CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEE."
Me: "Yep. There's Anna Cate again."
Bug: "CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEE."
Me: *finishes pictures and logs off facebook. Hibernates computer.*
Bug: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. CAAATTTTTTEEEE!!! No Momma."
Me: "Sorry but she had to go bye bye."
Bug: *cries mountains of tears.*

3. Five minutes ago....
Bug: "I need!!!!!!!"
Me: "What do you need?"
Bug: "I need!!!!!!!"
Me: "Ok, but what do you need? Show Mommy."
Bug: "I NEED!!!!!!!!!!!"
Me: *gets up and goes to where she is pointing*
Bug: "I need."
Me: *holds up Foofa doll* "Is this what you need?"
Bug: "No. I need!!!"
Me: *holds up Minnie doll* "Is this what you need?"
Bug: "No. I need!!!"
Me: *holds up Tootie doll* "Is this what you need?"
Bug: "No. I need!!!"
Me: *holds up Wubzie doll* "Is this what you need?"
Bug: "No. I need!!!"
Me: *holds up Katie Baby* "Is this what you need?"
Bug: "No. I need!!!"
Me: *frustrated. sits back down*
Bug: "I neeeeeeeeeeeed."
Me: "Well if you neeeeeeeeed it so badly then get up and get it yourself."
Bug: *giggles a little too loudly*

4. Earlier this morning...
Bug: *hands me her cup* "I need."
Me: "Ok. Do you want some juice?"
Bug: "No. I need....."
Me: "Do you want milk?"
Bug: "JUICE!!!!"
Me: "Ok so you want some juice?"
Bug: "No. JUICE!!!!!!!! Juice."
Me: *fixes her juice anyway and hands her the cup.*
Bug: *claps for Mommy and smiles* "JUICE!!!"


Gotta love life with a toddler.

Giveaway!!!!!!

I lurve hair bows. I lurve my Bug. And I lurve LoveBugBabyBoutique.

We (she and I) shall be giving away this beautiful basic white bow. :) Also, a headband to go with it, plus a few extra goodies.

Don't have a girl? Don't worry...this would make a GREAT gift for a birthday, baby gift, or even Christmas.

How do you enter? Multiple ways.

1. Go to LoveBugBabyBoutique and look through all her items in her shop. Then come back here and leave a comment letting me know what your favorite item is. This will get you one entry.
   
2. Mention this giveaway in your Facebook status or Tweet about it and get two extra entries. If you are tweeting, remember to include @CarrieFriday so I'll know you tweeted it. If you put it on both, you'll get entries for both. YOU MUST LINK TO MY BLOG FOR IT TO COUNT!!!!
   
3. Post this giveaway on your blog, and you'll get three extra entries, plus my friendship for life.
   
4. Buy something from her shop and get FOUR extra entries. If you do this, be sure to include in the note to seller that you came from the giveaway or you know me or whatever so your purchase will be counted.
   

Now I know some of you are thinking you won't enter because you won't win. But you really could win. I'm making it so much easier for you to win this giveaway. So enter! Don't be shy.

Confused by how the entries work? Here's a scenario:

Let's pretend Katie Baby wants to enter this giveaway. So she goes to the shop, picks a bow, comes back and comments letting me know. That gets her 1 entry. Then, Katie Baby gets on facebook and updates her status saying, "I just entered Carrie's hair bow giveaway. Go to www.mommyfridaysheart.blogspot.com to enter too." She just got 2 more entries (for a total of 3). Then, Katie Baby tweets about it. That earns her 2 more entries (for a total of 5). Well, Katie Baby REALLY wants this bow so she mentions this giveaway on her blog to earn her 3 more entries (for a total of 8). If she bought something from the shop, she'd get 4 more entries making her entered into the giveaway a total of 12 times!!!!!!!!!!

Dude. Katie Baby would probably win with all those entries.

ENTER, ENTER, ENTER.

Also, if you have questions b/c I have confused you, just let me know. Also, if you update your facebook status, you should alert me in some way shape form or fashion so your entries will be counted. Also, if you blog about it, be sure to come back and tell me.

This giveaway will end on Friday, July 31st at noon o'clock EST. At that time, I will use Mr. Random Number Generator to choose our lucky winner. I will post who won and then the winner will give me a safe way to contact them so that I can get them their prize. :) And then we will all live happily ever after!

#100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So...the 100 confessions won. By one vote. So.....I'm doing 100 confessions.

But...dun, dun, dun.....I'm also doing a hair bow giveaway. :) More on that later.




Go ahead. Go tinkle. Pop some popcorn. Fix you a big glass of sweet tea. You'll be here a while.

1. I have been using Ansleigh's Dora toothpaste for about five days now. It's pink and sparkly.
   
2. It tastes really good. Berry bubble gum flavored. You know you want some.
3. I officially have bushman eyebrows now.
4. Also, I'm pretty sure I'm on my 4th layer of toenail polish. Gross, I know.
5. I tried to remove the toenail polish and spent 20 minutes trying to get it off of just one toe. I was unsuccessful.
   
6. I may need to borrow a sander.
   
7. I've been reading The Shack lately.
8. But I stopped because I was having weird dreams about God.
9. In fact I am kinda scared to pick the thing up again. You see...I'm not a big fan of the Weirdo Dream Monster.
   
10. I wonder if he (Weirdo Dream Monster) is BFF with Satan. IDK. My BFF Jill.
11. I thought I was all popular and famous due to the bloggity blog until Katie friend asked me who that "Winn person" is. I durnt feel so famous anymore.
12. Precious make up lady was talking about how big I was when I was preggo and I instantly was offended even though she was right.
13. While at Sister's shower, nobody told me that my Capri tights were uneven. As in...one leg was a good 3inches shorter than the other. Thanks for letting me look retarded.
14. Speaking of retarded. I asked Bow Baby if she was retarded NOT meaning anything by it. Oh. Did I mention both parents heard me? Oops. My mom popped me on the leg like I was three again. Geez. It was a mere slip of the tongue mother-lady.
15. I'm probably going to get yelled at for linking to her facebook page. Wait for it....it's coming.
    
16. Right now I have burney-burney eye syndrome which really just means that I am sleepy.
17. I have decided to redo our guest bedroom meaning to paint, rearrange the furniture, find new bedding, and get rid of a whole bunch of junk we don't need or ever use.
    
18. I told Hubs that I had made a decision that he probably wasn't going to like (the redo). He thought I'd caved to the pressure and wanted to have another baby.
19. Haha. Hahahahahahahahaha.
20. Haha hahahahahahahahaha
21. I had to use my Momma's bathroom scales to make sure my suitcase wasn't going to weigh too much. It didn't, but it was close.
22. Speaking of my Momma, I think Winn likes her more than me. She made a bookmark after her. You can buy it here. Nobody loves me that much.
    
23. I know someone who stopped giving her kid antibiotics after 3 days because the child wouldn't take it, even by force.
24. That person may or may not be me.
25. A girlfriend of mine was talking about my "skill set" and all I could think about was, "You know, like nun chuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills... Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills." Hahahahaha.
    
26. Whoever thought it was an excellent idea to be awake at 6AM should be punched in the face. Why? Because it is not an excellent idea to be up that early. It is however an excellent idea to still be asleep at such an hour.
27. I still have burney burney eye syndrome.
28. I have discovered that when I'm in Alabama I get lazy with my speech and become WAY more southern sounding. Almost country.
29. I think I do it on purpose. To blend in more.
    
30. I decided to declare this week junk removal from our house week.
31. That will probably last all of about 35 minutes. And then I'll decide to lay on the couch because, "It would be better to wait until an off-Friday weekend."
    
32. I realized today that I forgot to clean my toilets before I left for Alabama. Do the math....that means they are a week grosser than they were. Guess that's on my "to do" list for tomorrow. Ick!
    
33. STILL haven't seen Harry Potter yet. Waiting to go see it with Carrie Friend. But our lives are so busy we may never get to see it. And then...I shall cry mountainous tears.
34. I think I've come up with a genius idea.
    
35. You know those Biore pore strip thingys. They should make those for your back. And then people wouldn't have gross blackheads on their back.
    
36. By the way, notice I said "people" and not "me" because I would NEVER admit that I have gross blackheads on my back. Or my face. Or my chin. Or my nose. And sometimes my forehead.
37. My friend Jessica is engaged. She asked me to be in her wedding. As a bridesmaid. Which is cool and all. NOW I MUST GO ON A DIET AND STARVE MYSELF. And become a gym rat. Could someone give me lessons on both of those things?
    
38. Anthony and I usually go through a gallon of sweet tea in about 24 hours (more or less).
    
39. Maybe that's why I'm still a fatty. Probably won't help my starvation gym rat diet.
    
40. I thought Ansleigh was starting to poop today so I carried her to the bathroom, stripped her, sat her on her pink potty, and thought magic would happen.
    
41. It didn't. She got up and thought it was time to take a bath and tried to climb into the tub.
    
42. I deleted Jon & Kate: Plus 8 from our shows to record today. I'm done with them. Except by them, I mean him. Scumbag.
    
43. I'm still praying for Kate and the kiddos, but he's just a scumbag and I am having difficulty praying for him. Scumbag. With two girlfriends. 10 years younger than him. Did I mention he's a scumbag?
    
44. As much as I like to say I'm done with them, I can't seem to make myself stop clicking on links about them and what they are doing. I'm so nosy.
    
45. I guess I still have my Alabama voice and not my Melbourne voice because a girl stopped me at Panchero's to tell me she liked my accent.
    
46. Katie friend gave Bow Baby a baby doll at my sister's shower. Ansleigh named the doll "Katie Baby" (well ....in her language it was more like "kay bay"). I put a bow in Katie Baby's hair. I guess she can be Bow Baby Jr.
    
47. My name is Carrie. And I have a problem. I like to buy hair bows.
48. I *might* have bought Ansleigh 4 more while we were in Anniston. Maybe. Possibly.
    
49. Ok...I did. Like I said, my name is Carrie and I have a hair bow problem.
    
50. Katie Baby looks awesome with her big blue hair bow in though. Trust me.
51. Now if I could just find her the baby doll Kelly's Kids clothing to match one of Ansleigh's outfits....then we'd be in business.
    
52. The business of spending my husband's money.
53. I can actually be quite excellent at that business. Maybe that's one of my skills.
    
54. Skills....hahahahaha. "EAT THE FOOD!"
    
55. Some of you are wondering what I'm quoting. Not gonna tell.
    
56. Winn friend and Kearsie friend have Edward Cullen dolls. They talk about them all the time. What they didn't tell you is that I, too have an Edward Cullen doll. He doesn't wear hair bows though. I mean....he's Edward Cullen.
    
57. Edward Cullen doll is still in his package so I suppose he's suffocating. Except not. Vampires don't need to breathe. Admit it, you were worried there for a second.
58. Part of the reason why he's still in the package is because I don't want Bow Baby to tear him up. Or try to make him fit into her Little People bulldozer. He'd break one of her favorite toys with all his vampire man strength. Then she'd cry....again.
    
59. I seriously considered pulling the old "one, two, skip-a-few, 99, 100" thing on ya'll. But I've committed now.
    
60. I just thought about how torturous it would be to read all this if it were someone else's blog.
    
61. I sat down with Anthony and explained to him what Lolli and Pop Claus (my parents) are getting Ansleigh for Christmas. Then I explained to him what we are buying her for Christmas. And what "Santa" is giving her for Christmas. I also told him what we'd suggest for others to buy IF and only if we are asked.
62. Yes, I know it is July. In September we will buy her presents. October/Early November will be everyone else's.
63. We are not buying her a birthday present as we are taking her to Disney for her big day. :)
64. I know I have a problem....OCD. But you see...I'm a planner. I need to have a plan. I cannot function without one.
    
65. Speaking of a plan, I interviewed for a job to be a Varsity cheerleader coach at a new high school. Got the job. I also interviewed for a teaching position. Waited and waited and waited to find out. Started planning for the fall. Where I'd put Ansleigh. How I'd keep the house clean. Thought about some ideas for lesson plans. Found out I didn't get the job as there are still people in the county under contract that have to be placed.
66. I thought I'd be relieved because I wasn't comfortable leaving Ansleigh in the hands of people I didn't know.
    
67. Turns out I'm bummed. No salary this year. No minivan in my near future. No contributing to society in a way other than sitting in my house with my child. Also, I kind of felt rejected, which I'm not really used to and I don't like it.
    
68. It's a LOT harder than I thought it would be to come up with a hundred of these blasted things.
    
69. I mean...I've been working on these a little here and a little there since Sunday night. Gosh.
    
70. I just turned Dora off because Ansleigh wouldn't get a diaper. I'm a mean momma.
    
71. Then I laughed at her because she still wouldn't do it. She had a dance party instead. I told you, I'm a mean momma.
    
72. Katie Baby has on a yellow hairbow today. Ansleigh picked it out for her. :) I have created a monster.
    
73. Whenever I'm trying really hard not to spend money (you know...like now), I always really struggle with it. However, if I'm not really trying and not so concerned with it, I don't spend as much. Why is that?
74. I let Ansleigh have chocolate chip cookie cake for lunch today. I figure you gotta live a little every now and then.
    
75. I didn't clean the toilets today. I thought about it though. Does that count?
76. I did some cleaning out in the guest room though and that makes me feel a little better about myself.
77. Right now, I'm working on this at 2:24 am because I took a nap today and now I cannot sleep.
    
78. Occasionally, when I can't sleep, I'll go out to the living room and play on the computer. Last time I did that I learned my lesson.
    
79. If I let the husband spend time alone in the bed...asleep. I shall not return to my 3/4ths that I usually have. He spreads out. And then I don't even get half. Which is completely unacceptable.
    
80. Tonight, I went and got my laptop and brought it into the bedroom. I am blogging from the bad...my 3/4ths so that he doesn't get too comfy and spread out.
    
81. You think I'm mean. You think I'm a bed hog. I'm not....mostly. He likes it this way. He sleeps better crowded. :) Just ask him.
    
82. I finished reading The Shack. Maybe that's why I can't sleep.
83. By the way, it is not scary at all. It just caused me to have weird dreams (as I have a vivid imagination) so I stopped reading it. But I finished it. About an hour ago.
    
84. At this point in 1984 I wasn't even a year old yet. Does that make you feel old?
    
85. I have a scar in between my eyes from crawling into the corner of my daddy's gun cabinet. Or maybe I fell. Either way, my momma thought I poked my eye out. Turns out, I didn't.
86. But I did fall again right after I got the first set of stitches out. Because I'm cool like that.
    
87. When I was in Kindergarten, I got the chicken pox. At Christmas. And lost my two front teeth. Best Christmas pictures ever. Except not. I look like a dotted little monster with frizzy hair in a red sweat suit with a reindeer painted on it.
    
88. The scars on my forehead are from the chicken pox. That I caught from my sister. I guess I could blame her for not having flawless skin. ;)
89. In 1989 I was in my first beauty pageant. I won. I mean...how can you resist a kid with curly blonde pig tails and an appliqued Kelly's Kids jumper?
90. I did pageants all through high school. But just the school ones because I was entirely too busy to do bigger ones. I cheered, played basketball, softball, was editor of the school paper and 10 million other things.
    
91. I was so busy in high school that when I first started college, I didn't know what to do with my time. So I watched Dirty Dancing over and over again. And then it changed to You've Got Mail.
    
92. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Seriously, why did you people vote for this? You must be exhausted by now.
    
93. I hate The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. What a STUPID idea for a TV show. Most of the people only go on there to become popular. And why would you be OK with dating someone that 20 other people are dating? That goes against my standards. And it should go against theirs too.
94. My mom and my sister both love those shows. I've probably just offended them. Oops.
    
95. Guess what? I hate American Idol too. They drag it out too much and make it too dramatic.
96. I thought about going walking/jogging tonight. But then I realized I'd get hot...and sweat. Then I'd need another shower. So I watched a movie with Hubs instead.
97. I've been coming up with some really good concepts for blog posts lately and haven't been able to do anything about it because I've been working on these blasted 100 confessions to post for my 100th post.
98. I DVR'd Wednesday's So You Think You Can Dance because Ellen was a judge on it. I follow her on Twitter cuz she's funny.
99. I've been known to use the tweezers to pull my leg hairs out. Not all of them. Just the stray ones that I've missed. I'm sure that makes me gross and weird. Whatevs.
100. I can currently hear the Hallelujah Chorus playing in my head as I am now FINISHED!!!!!!
     

Confessions from A-la-bam-uh

1. Last night I waited for two hours to get into the bathroom to take a shower. Sister was in there taking a nice long relaxing bath.
2. I love her but I do not miss those teen days of waiting/fighting for the shower.
3. What I do miss is the husband. He lets me go first. Always. And he keeps my feet warm in the bed.
   
4. Also, I miss the laminating machine.
   
5. I'm convinced the sign on my forehead is still there. I've been asked 4 times this week when I'm going to have another baby.
6. The PEDIATRICIAN asked. He obviously does not read my blog.
7. The Auburn friend asked. She obviously does not read my blog either. But I don't blame her. She just had a baby 3 weeks ago. Although really, that post was way before that so she should have read it. I'm just saying :)
8. The hair stylist asked.
   
9. The make-up lady asked.
   
10. I was tempted to beat a lady up this week. No, not the ones that asked me if I'm going to have another baby. A lady at the zoo. She used her kid to knock my kid down THREE times to see the giraffes. Woman. You're old. You've seen them before.
    
11. Don't worry. I restrained myself. Good thing too...she was feisty.
12. I'm concerned that I may be losing some of my southern-ness. Yesterday someone didn't hesitate to think I'm from Florida.
13. I still haven't seen the newest Harry Potter movie....it's been two whole days. I'm suffering on the inside.
    
14. Throughout the week, usually at night or when I'm in the shower, I come up with lists of these confessions to type.
    
15. Which is embarrassing enough. But then when it comes time to write these, I forget the ones I already came up with. Idiot.
    
16. I've been spending too much time reading Twitter lately because I'm starting to type things out to people with @ and someones user name. Even though I'm not on Twitter at the time.
    
17. Also, lots of those people aren't even on Twitter. So they don't have user names.
18. If you saw my hair right now, you'd be embarrassed for me. It's scandalous. I went to bed with it wet last night. In fact, I do that almost every night. Which is why my hair is almost always in a pony tail.
    
19. I called the husband a name this week. Wanna know what it was? Scankosaurus Rex. Yes. I said that. Out loud. And now I'm admitting it. On the internets. Wow I'm so cool. Except...not.
    
20. We need to leave here in less than 30 minutes and I'm still in my jammies. Haven't brushed my teeth. Or my hair. Shows you where my priorities are. Blogging is more important than looking like a scank. In public. Where people can see me. That's real lurve for your people.
    

Have an amazing weekend!!!! Don't forget to vote for what you want for post #100 as this is #99.

Wee-Hour Ponderings...

For some reason, often, late at night my thoughts consume me. I guess you could say that that particular time of day is when my brain enters writer mode.

Tonight, I can’t seem to sleep for various reasons. But one of them is because my heart has been burdened with the idea of what friendship really is. Not your basic definition of friendship, but more of the way the relationships work and how people view them differently.

You see…I’m a friends kind of person. My friends mean the world to me. They always have. I often will choose my friends over family, if that makes sense. My friends have always been important to me and when I have good friends in my life that is when I seem to thrive. But not everyone is like that. I know people who prefer boyfriends, or immediate family. People who aren’t quite as invested in friendships as I am because it isn’t as important to them. I have a difficult time understanding the way those people work because my friends mean SO much to me.

I have gone through phases of friendship in my life. Two of my friends I’ve been friends with since elementary school. We love each other I dare say more than sisters. It is a comfortable friendship. All secrets are exposed. There isn’t any of the tip-toeing around things. We are blunt and honest with each other. We can go months without talking and then, when we do, everything is as it has always been. In high school we were really close. Inseparable. I was astonished at how these relationships somehow maintained themselves through college, even though we were in different places and going through different things in our lives. We just fit. I chalked it up to “forever friendship.” Even after graduation and getting jobs, we were still close and made sure we saw each other whenever possible. But since Hubs and I moved so far away, things are a little different.

In college I made friends with an AMAZING group of girls. We were all in a freshman Bible study group together. Our freshman year of college was rocky for all of us with adjusting from high school to college, and break-ups, and even major family deaths. We formed a bond that I honestly think will be there forever. Our relationships were based on Christ and just good old fashioned girl fun. We had sleepovers. Dinner nights. Weekend movie-thons. The thing that interested me the most about this relationship is that as we got older, we all changed, yet somehow, stayed together. Some of us met our husbands; we all worked toward graduation with different goals. We were involved in different churches. I guess you could say we were just developing as people. All but three of us are married now (and might I add those three are having the times of their lives). Three of us have kids, one of us is expecting, one trying. We all live in different cities. Birmingham, Decatur, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida. We’re all over the place and we have all really changed from who we were when we first met. Yet somehow…still friends. Still making best efforts to get together whenever possible and to keep up with each other.

When I entered the workplace, Hubs and I were at a weird place in our lives. We were newlyweds. He was still in school (grad school). I was working. We lived in our comfortable little college town. I made some close friends that I worked with. One friend, I’d had most of my college classes with, and another, I don’t know how our paths never crossed while in school. The third was a sweet angel sent to us from Dothan. We bonded. We ate dinner together every Monday night. We kind of turned into a teacher clique. It was fun. It made the long hours bearable. And then…we moved. And they went on without me.

When we got to Florida, I was clinging to my old life. I called my teacher friends and some of my college friends, and even the high school girls. We texted. I longed to be lesson-planning with them. And then I got involved in a Mom’s group with a local church.

Over the past two years, the friends I have made from that Mom’s group have changed my life. But I’ve noticed that I’m back to being in friend-driven mode. And though we don’t try to be, I wonder if from the outside we look like a mommy clique. We support each other. We laugh. We have really stupid inside jokes.

I tell you all this because I’m wondering how these relationships translate in the grand scheme of things. I have no doubt that God placed these people in my life at those times because we needed each other. But I wonder…can you really be “forever friends?” Does distance really change friendships? At what point do you get so exhausted in maintaining these friendships do you just give up? Is that why “those other people” cling to family and spouses only so that they don’t have to hop from friendship phase to friendship phase?

I was thinking about how right now, my friends here have taken over that best friend slot. I LOVE them. More than I can tell you. But then I started wondering about what would happen if we ever move from here. Will we still be friends? Will they come visit? Will we come visit? Will I have to start all over AGAIN with new friends who don’t understand me and know how quirky and weird I am?

I don’t know the answers to any of these questions, and while I know that God will work it out, I guess I’ll just try to enjoy what I’ve got while I’ve got it. I love my friends—ALL my friends and hopefully, they know it.

We Need to Chat...

We do. We need to have a sit down, blogger to blog reader conversation. About how I am steadily approaching my 100th post. [Don't pee your pants, it hasn't happened yet]

In honor of this super awesome event, I want do do something special. I've come up with a few ideas. Giveaways? Lots of things about me you probably don't want to know? A blog PARTAY....like in real life.

Here's the thing. It's up to you to decide what happens. You see...there's a poll. Right above this (well ok, not if you are reading this from facebook or an RSS feed). You need to go to the poll. You need to vote. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

And also, this will reassure me that people actually read this stuff and are still interested. Go vote! Tell your friends to vote. Also, tell them to read and follow my blog. Also, get your granny on the computer and help her vote too. Wait. She might think I'm weird. Ok...scratch granny. Anyway, go to the real live blog (www.mommyfridaysheart.blogspot.com) and vote!!!!!!!!!

That's what Americans do, you know.

Friday with a Friday

Yep. That's right. It's time for Friday Confessions again. Woot woot. Please, try to contain your excitement.

1. Facebook. Does it make me uber cool or an uber dork that I've been on there since BEFORE we got married. Like...2004.
   
2. I'm reminded of that fact every time I log on and it is suggesting a friend that recently joined facebook and I think..."What freakin took you so long?"
   
3. Let's talk about that friend suggestion thing....Me's not a fan. I wish I could give it the thumbs down.
   
4. "You and Joe Smith both went to Auburn." SO DID THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE. Doesn't mean I know him. Or ever heard of him. Or want to be his friend.
   
5. Also, I really love it when it suggests I be friends with someone who went to my high school. Especially when that person graduated in the early 60's....you know...when my parents were barely in elementary school. Oh, oh, even better...when it suggests someone who currently goes there. Someone who thinks they are way cool because they are on facebook and they are in the 7th grade. HOW IN HEAVEN'S NAME AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THEM????
6. Also, the friend suggester really makes it difficult to delete someone. You do it. An hour later you have a friend request from deleted person because Mr. Suggester suggested you to them and they thought, "I thought I was friends with her. Oh well. Better friend her."
   
7. I often have conversations with friends and they mention something someone posted on facebook and my response is, "I didn't see that!!!!" And they say, "It was in my news feed."
8. I finally figured out why they saw it and I didn't. I have over 600 friends and so it takes me HOURS to go through the entire day of the news feed. I'm not sayin' I don't spend hours reading it....because I do, but still....
9. If you read this, you should be my friend on facebook. Then we could claim we are friends.
   
10. Let's move on. To Twitter.
    
11. Turns out...I'm a bad "tweeter" or Twitter user. Why you ask? Because I use it to update my facebook status and keep up with my trashy celebrity gossip.
    
12. Almost everyday Hubs and I have a conversation where he asks if I saw so-in-so's tweet and I say no. Then he says, "What do you even use it for???" Haha. Celebrity gossip. That's what.
    
13. I was up before Bow Baby today. There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with that.
    
14. I've decided my mirror is a LIAR because when I look in it, I don't look as chubby. And then I see a picture of myself.
    
15. Also, I look way more tan in my mirror. I like that. I like my tan. And yes, I know it's bad to be tan b/c I'll get cancer and whatever.
    
16. I did it the safe way...with SPF 70. So I don't feel guilty.
    
17. I just realized there are 17 of these. Sorry. That's kind of a lot.
    

Have a good weekend!!!! :)

An Apology and An Admisson

The Apology:

Last night, I was browsing through recent posts and re-read my swimsuit post. I cannot believe I posted that. I mean...I know I was thinking all those things, but honestly, it's hateful. And mean. EVERY woman has some kind of body issue, be it her weight, or her thighs, or her nose. Something. Women worry about what other people are thinking, either out loud (like me) or quietly to themselves. And no wonder they/we do. Because there are people like me out there judging us and then posting a blog about it.

Even if everything I posted was true and written in an attempt to be funny about what I was seeing, I shouldn't have posted it. I'm human. I think ugly thoughts about people, even though I shouldn't. I apologize to you, my readers, for letting you see the hateful side of me. Please forgive me and PLEASE don't let what I said make you more self-conscious.

One last thing though....please just do me a favor--don't go parading around on the beach mostly naked, no matter how good you look. Oh and one more...cover up your boobies. If not for your self-respect, for your husband's. They are his to look at, not everyone else's, no matter what society says.

Having said that, I have deleted the post in hopes that no one else will see what I wrote. Again, I apologize.

-------------------------------------------------


The Admission:

I am a dork. I am. I do dorky things like buy souvenir shirts on vacation. And wear them.

I overplan. I clean up toys as soon as Bow Baby stops playing with it, causing myself to spend entire days doing nothing but cleaning up toys. Or maybe that's because I'm compulsive.

I was dorky in elementary school. I was dorky in middle school. And while I did a relatively good job of hiding it, I was dorky in high school too.

I don't drink. I don't partay. I don't smoke. I wasn't in a sorority. I don't cuss, except for in my head and usually not on purpose.

I like to sit at home and watch shows aimed at the teenage girl crowd. I get excited about stupid things.

Often, I talk like a gangsta (with a southern accent, of course) to my husband, because it is fun. I do the running-man to New Kids on the Block music...that I STILL listen to.

I'm dorky. I know it. And I'm okay with that. You know why? Because that's who I am. That's who God made me and God doesn't make mistakes. The world may see me as dorky, but I have friends and family that love me just the same...and they know I'm dorky.

I've Been Impressed

If you know me, you know that I'm picky, controlling, anal, and well...cheap.

Recently I had the task of ordering baby shower invitations for my sister's shower. I wanted REALLY cute ones. I also wanted them to kind of match the shower colors/Tyler's room. Also, I didn't want to pay an arm and leg for each one.

So....I searched. And searched. And searched some more.

Maybe two years ago, a great friend of mine sent me a link to this stationary company. I looked. They had cute stuff. I filed it away in my bookmarks and moved on. Well, upon my recent searching, I came across it again.

Inviting You Designs. That's who they are. Or you can just call them the Pimp Masters of the Stationary World.

You see, they have AMAZINGLY cute stuff. And it's cheap. Really cheap. And high quality. And did I mention that it's cheap?

Don't believe me?

While I was searching for invitations, the cheapest price I could find was around $1.50 PER invitation and some of them I would have to print on my own. That's cool and all if you only need to buy 10. I needed 115. My new favorites sold me my invites for $1 per invite, printed, with a peel-n-stick envelope. Oh and printed them and had them to me in just a little over week. And they are in Birmingham. I'm in Florida. Be impressed.

Now if I were myself, reading this on someone else's blog, I'd be thinking, "They probably aren't really that cute." But they are. See?

You know you like it. Don't lie.

And the awesome thing is that they do all kinds of amazing stuff....address labels, note cards, Christmas cards, notepads, labels, etc.

And they can make you all that stuff and make it all matchy-matchy, which you know I kind of love.

Why am I endorsing them? Because they are amazing. And they impressed me....which is hard to do. And also, because they used to be teachers (CONNECTION) who wanted to stay at home with their babies (CONNECTION) and they are all artsy-fartsy like me. Plus, they're southern, and let's just be real...I love me some southern people. So go look. BUY.

LOVE THEM....and tell your friends.

Confessions from the Beach

• Actually, I'm not confessing from the beach. It's more like...confessing from across the street from the beach, in a tower, on the 9th floor, sitting on a cushy couch, watching Yo Gabba Gabba.
  
• "Don't. Don't. Don't bite your friends."
  
• I'm a pretty observant person. This week I've observed a few things I kind of wish I hadn't observed.
  
• For instance...200 lb. girl in a string bikini. Wow.
  
• It took all I had in me to not go ask her, "Did you not have a mirror????" And then I think...wow. I'm mean. Hateful. So I kept my mouth shut and tried to avert my eyes.
  
• Yesterday, while we were at the hot pools, which shouldn't have been hot, I saw a lady walk up with her hubs and two kids and the only thing I could think was, "Those are not mommy boobies."
  
• If you'd seen her, you'd agree. They were not mushy. Or lumpy. Or trying their dangedest to cling to her belly button.
  
• In fact, they were kissing her chin. And looked like inflated balloon boobies. She'd had work done.
  
• Now you're thinking that I must have studied her for an hour. Except I didn't. I noticed all that in about ten seconds.
  
• I've been using SPF 70 sunscreen all week to avoid being sunburned.
• Usually I'm stupid and don't put any sunscreen on....to spend the ENTIRE day at the beach. And then I wonder why I have a mild case of sun poisoning. Idiot.
  
• It's been working as I have nare a burn. But I think my skin is revolting and trying to make me feel like I'm burned.
  
• "There are eyes on my face, eyes on my face. Nose on my face, nose on my face. Mouth on my face, mouth on my face...."
• I stole a baby pool earlier this week.
  
• No seriously. Straight up snatched it off the beach. Someone had left it there. All by it's lonesome. And the Portofino staff people were going to throw it away. I asked. Then....I took it.
  
• Also, I have turned my child into a shoe and bow monster. This could cost us a lot of moolah in the future.
• Yesterday, I paid $10.75 for two smoothies. Two small smoothies. That were just fruit and ice. No yogurt. No combos of fruit.
  
• That's resort life for you.

My computer is burning my legs now. I must leave you. To put on my swimmy. And go sun myself some more.

HOLLA.

Confessions from the road

1. riding in the car is boring yo.
2. This iPhone has made me understand what It is like to be a crack addict.
3. Erm...
4. My eyelids feel like they weigh 10 thousand pounds.
5. Why is it that a grown woman can hardly ride in the car without sleeping yet my child is wide awake.
6. Speaking of the kid, apparently all the cool kids answer mommy by saying "no way."
7. I am not a fan of that .
8. We (I) almost left the rice krispy treats at home.
9. Good thing I remembered while we were still in the neighborhood .
10. Are we there yet?
11. Mrs.GPS says we still have 3 more hours.
12. My thoughts on that: GAY!!!!!
13. Ansleigh must have thrown her cup out the window because it seems to be MIA.
14. Also, she is reading various books in the dark.
15. Dude. Do you know how hard it is to blog on this clicky typer thing?
-- Post From My iPhone

Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time, Miss Peppy McPeppy Pants left home at the ripe young age of 17 to attend a major university [cough, cough, WAR EAGLE]. On Peppy's first day of class, she went to a social gathering at the local Baptist Campus Ministries. While there, Peppy noticed Mr. Extremely Good Looking. They met. They talked. She swooned.

For months, she admired him from a distance. Over analyzing every hug, every ponytail swish. But Peppy was an impatient girl. VERY impatient. So she gave up. Moved on. Adored him from afar.

Then, approximately six months after meeting, Mr. Extremely Good Looking discovered Peppy's existance. He started hanging out with her all the time. Before she knew it, they were dating. Within a few months things were serious. Very serious. Mr. Extremely Good Looking declared his love and his intentions to marry her...much later on. She was only 18, you know.

They dated. And dated. And dated a while longer. He tutored her in math. She did his laundry for him. It was real lurve.

Then, they went with Peppy's family on their family vacation. One night, Peppy and Good Looking went for a walk on the beach. He mumbled some things. Rambled a little bit. Then asked Peppy if he could keep her forever. He got on one knee, asked her to marry him, and watched at her slightly shocked expression.

She said yes.

Then there was wedding planning. And some more wedding planning. And 752 showers (which were greatly appreciated).

Finally, the big day arrived. Peppy worried about all the details not working out perfectly. She stressed. Maybe panicked a smidge. Then she walked down the aisle and saw Good Looking and all was right with the world. There were some slideshows, some vows, some "I do's", and even some cake.

They honeymooned in Mexico. They moved into their cardboard box apartment. They lived their happy young people lives. He went to grad school. She graduated and got a job teaching. They lurved each other.

He got a job....a LONG way from home. She got pregnant. They moved and bought their first house. He worked, she threw up. They lurved each other.

Then Bow Baby arrived. They loved her. They hugged her. Kissed her. Fed her. Even brought her home and decided to keep her.

Bow Baby cried. A lot. Peppy wasn't so peppy anymore. Good Looking helped out where he could. Then, after a few months Bow Baby stopped screaming so much. Ahhh....

Bow Baby grew. They all loved. It was perfect.

It is perfect because they love each other. They love Bow Baby and she loves them. They are a family. And today Peppy and Good Looking are celebrating their 4 year wedding anniversary.

The end.

Also, in case you are incredibly dense, Peppy = Carrie, Extremely Good Looking = Anthony, Bow Baby = Ansleigh. That's math even I can do.

Friday Confessions

• I am now a member of the iphone community via hand-me-down, which I'm totally cool with.
  
• Right now I'm living up life listening to Pandora play me a variety of Taylor Swift songs.
• BAHAHAHAHAHA. Apparently Pandora was still signed in to Anthony's account.
• That means I just added the Taylor Swift station to his account. Hahahahaha.
  
• I'm sure you're probably tired (already) of hearing all about my new iphone experiences so I should probably stop.
• But I won't.
  
• I might go on FOREVA about my new iphone.
  
• Ok.
  
• I'm done now.
• Last night, I went to Walmart. In the middle of the night. SCARY!!! Seriously.
  
• Have I ever mentioned (only 7,000 times) that I hate shopping at Walmart?
• Why? Because they make me spend too much money! I have to divert my eyes constantly. It isn't like going into Publix and you breeze down the aisles and grab what you need. No. The whole freakin store has EVERYthing you could ever think of. So then you are all like, "Oh yeah. We need shampoo. Oh yeah, Ansleigh needs a new coloring book. Oh yeah, I need to spend 10 million dollars." GRRRRRRRRRR.
• I hate walmart. Devil!!!!
• Sam what's-his-face is the devil for making that blasted store.
  
• Next week we're leaving to go on my family's annual beach vacation.
  
• Rest assured, we're going to a different beach than the one we live near. One 7 hours away. Just to be clear. But still in Florida. How weird is that?
  
• Just to give you an idea of how OCD I am, I was put in charge of the food planning for our trip. We now have a menu (all three meals) for everyday of the week. Plus an itemized, categorized grocery list, complete with snacks, drinks, and paper goods.
  
• I really LOVE giving a song the thumb's up or thumb's down on Pandora. It is a sick power trip.
  
• I'm going to see New Moon with Winn. In November.
  
• Did I mention there is this freakin awesome blogger type application for the iphone so I can blog from my iphone? Did I tell you that?
• I'm blogging from my iphone right now. Except that I'm a liyah and I'm really not. Because I really suck at typing things on that touchy-touchy keyboard thing.
  
• I exercised this week. Are you proud?
  
• You shouldn't be. I only did it one day this week. I did two workouts on my Wii Fitness Coach thingy and then Bug and I walked 2.5 miles. But then nothing else. Because I'm a loser.
• I went to the lady doctor this week. Good news. All my parts are still there. Is that TMI? Also, she's testing my iron (b/c I sleep all the time) and my thyroid. Just because. That means they sucked my blood. The whole time I was thinking, I bet it wouldn't hurt this much if it was Edward Cullen doing it.
  
• I have serious issues. I know.
• I'm going to have my teeth cleaned this afternoon. I can almost guarantee you that I"ll come back with the report that I have 762 cavaties and need to have 7 teeth crowned, just in case, and who knows what else. Trust me. This will happen.
  

While I'd love to stay and chat, I have more iphone thingys to get done so HOLLA. :) Have an amazing weekend ya'll.

Be Jealous, I Am

You should be jealous of this awesome-ness. I am.

Rachel's BFF, Becky made this for Ansleigh. Kind of makes me want one. Except I'm a grown-up, so I can't pull it off quite like this little love can.

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GABBA GABBA!!!!!!!

MUST.HAVE.

For all you Twilight crazies like me, look at what I just found:

Giftedly Outspoken is having a giveaway. I don't know her. But I know what she's giving away and I want it. I want it bad.

She's giving away these awesome Edward and Bella dolls. What would I do with them? Dunno. But aren't they awesome?

Oh. And Kearsie. Sorry. *If* I win these, I will not be mailing them to you. But maybe. Just maybe they can vacation at your house for a wee bit.