Thursday, January 28, 2010

It Happens to the Best of Us


You've been there before....

You're out running errands, or at a theme park (cough, cough, Disney), or maybe even at church and you feel the sudden cramps and then you hear the gurgle, gurgle noise of your stomach. You squeeze your butt cheeks together and start praying, "Dear Lord, PUH-LEASE, not here." Before you know it, your only option is to run (as subtly as possible) to the nearest bathroom and hope no other person is in there.

Don't even play! You know it has happened to you before.

It happens to me a lot more than I'd like to admit. Or tell people. Or mention in this blog.

I've been at....
  • Target
  • church
  • dinner (out-to-eat)
  • Lowe's
  • Disney
  • a mall
  • school
  • football games
  • in the car driving
  • the doctor's office
  • Walmart
  • Mom's group
  • A friend's house
  • the Grocery store
when it hit. Every once in a while I make it out before I reach the point of internal explosion. Most of the time, I don't.

Yep, it is likely I was that person that "ruined" the bathroom. I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. My digestive system HATES me. Seriously.

I decided to write this to help you out when you find yourself in that situation. In order to do that, I've compiled a list of things you should always keep in your purse:
  1. a small box of matches (light one, throw it in the toilet, it immediately removes the smell)
  2. body spray (you know...for the smell--in case you forgot your matches)
  3. something to read to take your mind off it (I have books on my precious, precious iPhone)
  4. Immodium AD (at least two should take care of the problem)
Other tips:
  • flush as often as possible to eliminate as much smell as possible
  • go in the largest bathroom if possible
  • if you get in the handicap bathroom, run the water in the sink...it covers the sound.
  • wipe a lot. each time you flush in fact
  • never let on that it was YOU who made the disturbance


The end.

Yes!!!!!!


I won an award....

which means someone reads my blog. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thank you, thank you, to Much More Than Mommy (aka: Nessa Friend) for this award! To claim this award, I'm supposed to tell you seven things about myself that you may not know. I'm relatively positive that that might be impossible but here goes:

  1. I have severe poop issues. Not with other people's poop...with my own. Don't ask.
  2. I use the most AWESOME shampoo ever. Biolage. It's awesome.
  3. I've been known to pull out stray leg hairs with tweezers. And once I start, I can't stop.
  4. I was obsessed with Mickey Mouse when I was in 6th & 7th grade. Like...MM wallpaper, boarder, sheets, comforter, phone, light switch, you get the picture...
  5. I have panic attacks
  6. I kind of, sort of, maybe just a little bit have a case of THE FEVER....maybe just a smidge. Shhhh....don't tell.
  7. I LOVE online shopping. So much so, that I get on Amazon and shop for things and put them in a wish list and pretend I'm buying them, but I'm really not. Our bank account thanks me.
Ok. Now to nominate....

Sunday, January 24, 2010

A Variety of People

So I'm officially a Disney addict. Let's not pretend to be shocked. We've had our passes all of a week now.

We've also been to Magic Kingdom twice in the past 8 days. I've learned a thing or two about people in those two trips.

You see...there are ALL kinds of people that visit Disney World on any given day.





There's this lady who is leading her tour group/school field trip and feels the need to block all areas where one my go past so she can round up her cattle.




Then there's this family, who seems to take procreating to the extreme. They have to stop every ten seconds to do a head check and pick up any and all thrown objects. Periodically they will stop to scream at each other or argue over where they will go next.




Then there's this family. They're sweet. All loving and caring. Taking in the sights. They average about negative 10 mph. They are slower than Christmas and you can't get around them.

And then, there's me:

The picture, I'm sure, says enough. I am a woman on a mission. A woman on a mission with a stroller. If you stop in front of me, I will run over you. I will go around you. You will have to run to keep up with me. If you are my husband and stop to take pictures, you will likely get left. More than once. I have a plan and a schedule. I also (now) know exactly where I'm going while you do not. I turn into crazy woman.

I mean, you do what you have to to get ahead of all the slow people who are going to same ride as you. Right??? I mean...you do that too? Right? Right????

Also, I'm thinking of teaching Ansleigh to yell, "MOVE IT OR LOSE IT."

The end.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winn suggested I add another type of family on here:

"I'm the lady that's by herself with kids. the lady who's yelling at the people who are cutting in front of her. the lady who's rolling her eyes at people when they're asking questions about the fast pass, or any questions at all. I'm the lady who knows buzz lightyear will be back at 4pm for more pictures.

I'm the know-it-all who will cut you if you are in my way. "

A New Look...


In an attempt to go all upscale bloggity blogger and look all totally professional (even though I'm not), I called in some reinforcements and have given the old blog a new look.

The goal was to make it all "Southern Girl moved to Florida." So...um...that explains it.

Also, thanks Winn and Hubbs.

Also, also, please comment and tell me how beautiful it is. :)

Triple also, put my new button on your page.

Quadruple also, if you are reading this via RSS Feed, go look at the real deal you cheater. :)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Honestly Me

As teenage girls, young women, moms, mother-in-laws, etc. we try to be the person we think we should be. Not all of us struggle with it, but I'd be willing to bet that most of us do.

For me, it has always been that I find people around me and try to do what they do to make myself more likable. I join a group, shop at a certain store, cut my hair a certain way, STARVE myself to be as thin as them, etc. For what? Why do we do things that like? Why does it matter if people like us for things that aren't even real?

I certainly don't think it is wrong to try and improve yourself by doing things like updating your wardrobe, eating healthier, reading a new book, but why do we let it get out of hand? It goes from updating to copying to wishing we were as cool as or as cute as or as _________ as someone else.

BE WHO YOU ARE. God made us to be the people we are. He gave us our personalities, our likes and dislikes, our curves, and even our extra skin (ok MAYBE all the pasta helped with that last one).

In an effort to stop trying to be as funny as Winn, as skinny and trendy as my sis-in-law, and as good a writer as Nessa Friend, I'm going to lay it all out on the table. Honesty at its finest.

  • I used to be super skinny and was proud of it. Now I'm not as skinny as I once was and occasionally, that upsets me.
  • I wear my hair in a ponytail all the time because it keeps it out of my face and takes less work, which leads to the next one...
  • I'm lazy.
  • I'm compulsive. I'm compulsive about several things (picking up toys, things being exactly how they should be, schedules, plans, etc.). I physically cannot handle those things not being the way I think they should be. Which causes...
  • Panic. I panic all the time. Over stupid stuff but it happens.
  • I watch the Disney channel and I like it!
  • I like to sit around in my pajamas all day.
  • I currently weigh 130 pounds. When I started counting calories in November, I weighed 140 pounds. You can't tell that I've lost weight but I know it. I'm down a pants size and I'm a little more confident. I still have some work to do (another 5 pounds and some serious toning) but I'm working on it, so stop looking at me like I'm chubby.
  • I like cutesy stuff. I like things that match. I like cutesy matchy things. Bite me.
  • I'm terrible at keeping my eyebrows "maintained" because they are a lighter shade of brown and I can't see them in my mirror.
  • I have dreams about my teeth literally falling out of my mouth and into my hands. Weird, I know.
  • I want a lot of things, but that doesn't mean it is going to happen. I want my house to look like you've walked into a page of Southern Living Magazine. I want a front loader washer and dryer that don't live in my garage. I want a Honda Oddessy minivan. I want another bedroom in my house and to have less useless junk. I want a new couch.
  • I'm slightly obsessive about my child's clothes, not because I want her to be the best dressed kid or because other people expect it but because it matters to me. It matters to me what I dress her in. It matters to me what people think when they look at my daughter. It is a priority. It isn't one to everyone else and shouldn't have to be, but don't hate on me because I know how to dress my kid.
  • I want another baby. No seriously, I do. But, I don't want to have just gotten my body back to how it should be to get all fat and pukish again.
  • Most of our dinners are microwaved or come frozen in a bag with everything in it.
  • I'm not the world's greatest anything, and I'm ok with that.
  • Home baked cookies are my weakness. Keep them AWAY.
  • I think my husband is extremely HOT. Always have.
  • I am a people pleaser. I do whatever it takes to make other people happy. I also have a need to want everyone to like me. I'm beginning to get over that last one.
  • People take advantage of me. I'm not stupid and I know they do it/are doing it. I'm just a nice person so I go along with it.
I'm weird, compulsive, and still a smidge chubby. I still get acne and like to take naps. I'm a homebody. I like to watch stupid tv. I hate American Idol. I'm just me--a good ol southern girl that lives in the middle of Florida.

Who are you really?

Monday, January 11, 2010

Soup and Sale....


I know I haven't mentioned much about couponing and how much I've saved in quite some time....that might be because I haven't done it.

MOOOOOOOOving on.

One of my favorite things to cook when it is winter is Taco Soup. I got the recipe from Anthony's Aunt Debbie and from his mom.

Yesterday, as I was looking through the sales ads, I noticed that several of the ingredients are on sale at Publix. Since people are ALWAYS asking me for the recipe, I thought this would be the perfect time to share!

Ingredients:
  • Ground Beef --coupon in the Publix Ad to save $1 on Publix Ground Beef
  • Chopped Onion or Onion Powder/Flakes
  • Rotel--coupon in the Publix Ad to save $.75 on two cans of Rotel
  • 1 can Pinto Beans--Bush's on Advantage Buy, 4 for $3 (16 oz)
  • 1 can Kidney Beans--Bush's on Advantage Buy, 4 for $3 (16 oz)
  • 1 can Black Beans
  • 1 can Diced Tomatoes--Del Monte on Advantage Buy, 2 for $3 (28 oz)
  • 1 pack Taco Seasoning--McCormick Taco Mix 3 for $2
  • 1 pack Ranch Dressing Mix (dry)
  • Tortilla Chips--Mission chips 2 for $5
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • Sour Cream--coupon (Red Plum or Smart Source, don't remember) for Smart Balance
Instructions:
  1. Brown beef with onion or onion powder/flakes
  2. Drain meat
  3. Put into large pot and add all other ingredients except cheese, chips, and sour cream
  4. Simmer for 45 minutes
Serve with chips, cheese, and sour cream.

***I can't handle spice so I do everything as mild as possible but you can make this as hot as you'd like, even adding hot sauce to it.

***As far as the beans go, you can mix it up all you want, you can do 2 of Pinto, 1 of Kidney or whatever. I just like to make them all different. The main thing is that you need 3 cans.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Being a SAHM….


First of all, let me tell you that I never even considered being a SAHM while I was growing up. In fact, I didn’t know people really did that. My mom worked, cooked, cleaned, came to all our games, got us to dance and gymnastics, and never seemed to bat an eyelash at doing it.

Anthony and I started dating my freshman year of college. When we were getting to know each other, I found out his mom had stayed at home with him and his brother. Then, I found out she STILL stayed at home, even though her kids were grown and in college. To be honest, I didn’t really understand why she still did it.

Then Anthony’s brother and his wife moved to Auburn with their sweet baby. It worked out that I only had classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I kept Turner (my nephew, although he wasn’t at the time) for them while they were in class. I thought it was sort of boring but kind of fun. Then, T started talking and trying to say my name. Then he started trying to take steps and walk across the room to me. When Rachel would come home, I would tell her what he’d done that day and you could see the heartbreak all over her face that I witnessed it and she didn’t.

That was when it hit me that I never wanted to miss any of that stuff. I talked to Anthony about it and he seemed like he just sort of expected I’d be a SAHM because his mom did. We decided we’d worry about it when the time came, but I finally understood the importance of being at home with your babies.

We got married. I taught for a year while he was finishing up grad school. When we moved to Florida I was two months pregnant with Ansleigh. I had planned on subbing but didn’t because I was so sick with her. I grew accustomed to being at home with her but I hated most of it. I felt like my life was nothing but diapers, bottles, laundry, and pajama pants. When I was taking care of her or cleaning up, I didn’t know what to do with myself. As she got older, I got really bored. When she hit the 8 month-ish mark, I was super bored. She didn’t “do” anything, she didn’t require a lot of work, and I can clean my whole house in just a few hours and be done for the week. My friends (also SAHM’s) suggested that I take her to the library for story time, or to a park, or make play dates. I did all that (except for the library, which I thought she was too young for). It still wasn’t quite right. I’d lost myself in mommy-hood and didn’t know who I was anymore.

I got a part-time job coaching a middle school cheer squad. They practiced at night (from 6-8) so Anthony could be home with Ansleigh while I got away. I noticed myself turning back into a real person again.

I still stay at home with Ansleigh. I coach Varsity cheerleaders and get paid the stipend that a teacher would get for coaching, just no teacher salary. We don’t have credit card debt. We don’t have car payments (although hubs is going to need a new one soon). We have student loans and our house. We get by each month on his salary with a little left over. We don’t buy things we can’t pay for right then and there. We only use Christmas/Birthday money to buy ourselves things we want. I do a lot of things to cut corners and save money. We manage for me to be able to stay-at-home, but often I wonder if we can continue like this. Money isn’t the most important thing in the world, but you have to have it to survive.

Staying at home can be amazing. I have NEVER missed a single first of my baby girl. She is momma’s girl. But on the other hand, I get bored sometimes. Being at home makes me lazier than I would normally be. I often stay in my pajamas all day (which sounds nice but really just makes you feel gross). I miss out on adult interaction. I hate not contributing financially. I constantly worry about how we’re going to buy something BIG if we need it. We have cheap-o furniture. And pretty much everything else cheap-o (except Ansleigh’s stuff, of course).I feel like people look down on me because I don’t “work” when I really want to scream that I have a college degree from a major university as I walk down the aisle at Publix. People think I have all the free time in the world and sit on my butt all day (occasionally, I do, but most days, I don’t). I hate feeling like I need to explain what all I’ve done that day when Hubs gets home to justify the fact that I’m at home while he’s working.

Part of me is DYING to go back to work. Back to the world of grown ups and pay checks. Will I have as much time as I do now? No. Will I keep my house clean? Probably not, although that implies that it stays clean now. I worry about how we’ll pay for a new (ish) car when his dies soon. How will we pay for preschool? Ballet? Gymnastics? Tball? If I’m working, none of that will be an issue.

People ask me all the time when I’m going to have another baby. I’d like to wait until Ansleigh’s four, but would that mean working for a year just to go back to staying at home? Or would I put the next one in child care and miss those firsts? If I don’t go back to work, the Father only knows how we could manage it. I can hear you now, some of you saying, “If we can do it, you can.” We are not you. I’m not saying we won’t be able to, I’m just saying that everything in our world is not the same as it is in your world.

Anytime I bring up the idea of going back to work or continuing to stay at home, people want to push their ideas on me. “IT’S A MOTHER’S PLACE TO BE IN THE HOME!” or “Money is not more important than your child.” or “You’d really let someone else raise your kid?” Well, yeah, maybe. My mom did and I’m not screwed up…much.

I know it is a blessing to be able to stay at home and there are women who truly do not have the option, but most people can usually find a way to do it if they REALLY want to, be it work from home, do stuff on the side, etc. I’m convinced God gives us gifts and talents to use. Some of us are truly homemakers and are meant to be at home. Some of us God has blessed with incredible business talents or other abilities that need to be utilized outside of the home.

God made me to be a teacher and more importantly, to work with secondary level kids. I know it. But did He really put all that in me to teach for just one year? Can I really afford (professionally) to sit out teaching several more years and expect someone to want to hire me? If I’m not working, how can we afford for me to maintain my certificate by taking classes or getting my masters (which, for the record, I want).

I don’t know what God wants me to do. I don’t know if I’m supposed to keep coaching and stay at home or go back to teaching. I don’t know when I’ll have another baby (or if we can even afford one) and I don’t know if I’ll stay home with that baby. I will tell you that I will NEVER regret being there for my baby girl these first two years, but I’m unsure of what to do for the future. My blog is called “Mommy’s Heart” because it is about the things that are on my heart. Sometimes it is silly or stupid or just plain me, but this is what is on my heart right now.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Confessing Some New Things for the New Year

Just a few things to start the year out right....

  • I've lost 8 pounds and am down a pants size.
  • But it isn't enough that people notice, so I think I would like someone to make me a shirt that says, "I've lost 8 pounds. Tell me I look skinny."
  • My goal was only 15 so I'm 1/2 way there. But since you can't tell when you look at me, um...er...maybe I should shoot for more.
  • I really hate the taste of diet. Diet ANYthing, but especially things that have Splenda in it. I swear I can still taste that aftertaste for 10 years.
  • Occasionally, I get into this mood where I want to throw everything not nailed down into the trash. I'm not talking about a gentle cleaning-out. I mean THROW EVERYTHING AWAY.
  • I may or may not have done that recently.
  • As in today. I found two kitchen trash bags full of just plain garbage in Ansleigh's closet. Yes, her closet.
  • Monday, I cleaned out our bathroom cabinets and got rid of an entire garbage bag of disgusting old crap.
  • That same night, I did the same thing with the kitchen.
  • Usually this mood only lasts about a day or two at the max. I'm going on day 3 now and contemplating hitting up the other bathroom, our bedroom, and Ansleigh's room.
  • Oh, and the guest room.
  • I FINALLY found the bedding I want for in there. And I'm getting itchy to go buy it. It's at Target. Check it out.
  • I'm thinking either these sheets or these. Thoughts?
  • Also, could someone donate all the money for these? That'd be great.

Friday, January 1, 2010

A Decade of Confessions

2000
  • I was a Junior in high school for the first part of the year and a Senior the second part of the year.
  • I went to my second ever Auburn football game and my first ever Auburn basketball game.
  • I was driving my beloved red eclipse with my Auburn tag
  • Spring 2000 I went to three proms, two in one night.
  • Accomplished life goal number 2 (become editor-in-chief of my school newspaper)
2001
  • cheered during the pregame show of the Citrus Bowl where Auburn played Michigan. War Eagle.
  • I graduated from high school May 24.
  • Accomplished life goal number 3 (graduated top 20 in my class with an "A" average)
  • Accomplished life goal number 4 (attended Auburn University)
  • moved into my first apartment
  • Had root canal #1
  • I met Anthony. :) :) :) :) :)
  • My great grandmother passed away. The one I blog about who was super awesome. My favorite. Totally bummed.
2002
  • started dating my love March 9th, which accomplished life goal number 4 (meet man of my dreams).
  • got a job engraving jewelry
  • took two summer classes (Political Econ and PreCal).
  • almost broke up with my love over being tutored in PreCal. stupid math.
  • got the Jeep :)
  • best college friend moved in with me
2003
  • my sweet, sweet Turner was born
  • I survived my Ethics class, which is a major accomplishment
  • root canal #2
  • root canal #3
  • declared my major
  • got a job working for the City of Auburn Parks & Rec...ran their little league cheerleader program and coached the team.
  • went on my first Friday Family ski trip
2004
  • tried out for cheerleader at Auburn University. didn't make it. crushed life goal number 5.
  • got engaged to love of my life. checked off
  • moved out of my first apartment and into a duplex with two sweet friends.
  • got braces.
  • had two teeth pulled because of braces.
2005
  • had 5 bridal showers. no, you read that correctly....five.
  • sister got married
  • braces removed
  • Hubs and I got married (3 months later)
  • had an AMAZING tan :)
  • went on my first cruise
  • finished last semester of classes as a married woman
  • last year of coaching little league cheerleaders
  • went on my second Friday Family ski trip....where I skied into a tree. Good times.
  • Hubs got pneumonia and skied with it. Yeah, he's intense.
2006
  • interned as a 7th and 8th grade English teacher at Sanford Middle School.
  • had the world's most awful cooperating teacher. she never even came to school. wow.
  • Graduated from Auburn University--life goal #6 :)
  • Was hired for my first teaching job at Wachoochee. :)
  • Coached girls basketball
2007
  • my basketball team won the county championship, with my parents there watching :)
  • got preggers with my buggy-boo
  • the day after I found out, the nausea began.
  • flew to Melbourne, FL for the first time. Found a house and made an offer (all in the same weekend)
  • turned in my resignation for teaching :(
  • Moved 10 hours from home.
  • Spent the remainder of the year vomiting.
  • Had my sweet buggy-boo a month early. Life goal #7 :)
2008
  • spent my year being immersed in mommy-hood. all things bottles. diapers. poo. baby food.
  • began this blog
  • went camping for the first time in my life which would have been a blast had we not taken a 3 month old colicky baby.
  • got a job coaching middle school cheerleaders
  • celebrated my little one's first birthday pink ladybug style
  • went on my third Friday Family ski trip. avoided all trees.
2009
  • got hired as a Varsity Cheerleader coach. Life goal #8.
  • got an iphone--it has ruined my life.
  • got a Wii.
  • went on camping trip #2....much more fun this time around.
  • started a cheerleading program from scratch in a month
  • went "real" trick-or-treating for the first time in my life

What kind of things will 2010 hold for me to confess??? IDK...my bff Jill.