Mommy's Heart

I have an idea...

2011-07-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

I keep seeing all these things for a hospital survival kit for moms and a hospital survival kit for dads but I've yet to see anything for sweet little siblings.

I've been talking a lot lately to a good friend of mine who is also pregnant and due just two days before me. She has a daughter about Ansleigh's age and we both want to do something for the girls so they don't feel left out of this momentous occasion.

Therefore, I've decided to do a "Big Sister Gift Bag" or a "New Arrival Present" or something like that. I don't know what to call it. Do you have any ideas?

I know I'm going to get her some little books about being a big sister and put a big sister shirt in there. Maybe a coloring book and a box of crayons for times of boredom. A special snack and juice box? A Barbie/Little Sister combo? I'm still (OBVIOUSLY) developing this idea but I want it to be great. I want her to feel loved while I'm busy pushing a large object out of a very small place.

What would you put in there for your older child?

My mom said she's going to bring Ansleigh a present for her that she can use for her baby (she's getting a Bitty Baby from Lolli & Pop Pop for Christmas.Shhh...don't tell.) like a bottle and a sleeper or something. My mom is a genius. Really, she is.

Random Journaling

2011-07-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

Random Journaling

I found some templates for daily journaling that I plan on using with my students this year but I thought it would be fun to test them out.

Three animals that I often see around my neighborhood:

1. A mostly black cat with some white on it. Ansleigh says she wants it to be her kitty and has named it Izzy. It is terrified of us but loves our front porch.

2. My neighbor’s scanky dogs. They are disgusting and mean and bark all the time and poop in my yard.

3. Red Birds which remind me of my great-grandmother. I miss her terribly. She was such an awesome old lady and she would adore Ansleigh.

Right now it is summer.

The best things to eat at this time of the year: watermelon, pineapple, fresh steamed veggies, and seafood.

A few of the things I do only at this time of the year: get a tan, catch up on my sleep, and work on projects around the house. I never have time to do any of this during the school year.

To Do:

One stuffy, dull, administrative-type thing: lesson plans

One marginally interesting thing: working on getting together stuff for my classroom (supplies/decorations/etc.)

One exciting thing (that I will think about while doing the other two things): Ansleigh’s birthday party!!!!!

These are the things that matter:

In my life:

· My faith

· My child

· My family (including the husband)

· My team and my students—knowing that I am making a difference

· Auburn—can’t wait to visit in October!!!!

· Pinterest. I have a problem.

Out there in the world:

· Sweet children who need good homes

· People who are going hungry and without homes

· The environment

Lightning Round:

Dishwasher or hand wash? Dishwasher—I HATE WASHING DISHES!!!

Mini-golf or bowling? I love mini-golf but I also like to go bowling

Drive-in movie or DVD at home? I’ve never been to the drive-in. I’m a loser, I know.

Road trip or ocean cruise? I hate long trips in cars (have to take anxiety meds) so definitely ocean cruise

Burger and fries or fish and chips? Burger and fries! What kind of weirdo would eat fish and chips?

T-shirt or tank top? T-shirt, preferably an Auburn one

Hoodie or cardigan? Hoodie

Moonlight or candle light? moon

Jogging around the track or down the street? Down the street

Hair: blow dry or air dry? Looks better when I blow it dry but I always air dry it b/c I’m lazy.

Slippers or thick socks? Thick socks

Nose ring or toe ring? Nose

Rainbow or shooting star? Rainbow b/c that means my yard probably just got watered for free!

Paperwork or housework? Paperwork any day!

To find this and more like it, visit www.graceisoverrated.com.

These are my Confessions...

2011-07-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

The compulsive part of me is really struggling right now because I'm writing these and it isn't a Friday.
The sane part of me thinks, "Who cares? Nobody is going to remember I used to do these every Friday anyway."
Summer has made me extremely productive and also extremely lazy. I've gotten a lot done for Ansleigh's party and a lot done this week for the upcoming school year, but I also have been watching tv all day while I do these things.
I've been Keeping up with the Kardashians. I know. You might as well kill me now but I'm hooked. In about a weeks' time length I watched 30+ episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians AND the whole season of Kourtney and Khole Take Miami.
I'm such a sucker for celebrity-filmed lives. I need an intervention.
Kourtney, Khole, and Kris did an intervention for Kim. But that was for shopping.
I've also become OBSESSED with a website my sister and mom told me about. Pinterest. When I first saw it, I was like, um...what is this thing? Basically it is like an online version of all your favorite magazine clippings, but when you click on them, it takes you to the websites. You create your own "boards" and then "pin" things to them. It is awesome. It has wonderful ideas for birthday parties, awesome clothes, incredible recipes, and tons of pictures of things to go in the house I"ll never be rich enough to own.
Also, I'm such a fame whore because I'm obsessed with having people follow my boards. Every time I get an email saying I have new followers, I feel giddy.
Those people may or may not be following me because I followed them first. You know, tracked them down by searching for things I like and then stalking all their boards.
I found out today that I'm teaching 11th grade Honors English next year and a class of seniors.
I've always dreamed of teaching seniors. Always. I mean, who wouldn't want to help them learn how to write essays for college, create resumes, fill out college applications, all the while witnessing that senior excitement?
Once school starts, I will have officially taught all grades 7-12. That is CRAZY to me. I taught 7th & 8th, then 7th, then 10th, then 9th and 10th, and now 11th and 12th.
We just got back from vacation. It is amazing how having an AWESOME tan makes you feel so much better about yourself. I wonder if I'll still be so happy about my tan when I have skin that looks like beef jerky? Probably. I'll be tan beef jerky. Because that's hot.
If you have been wondering why you are missing your usual zits you find, it is because they've changed zip codes and have made a permanent residence on MY FACE.
I tried to count them all, but I lost count.
One day, I'm going to own a children's clothing store. It's going to be called Friday Afternoon. My first location will be right next door to a Tuesday Morning. I'm going to sell all the stuff my mom makes and brands I want for my child but can't afford so I can get wholesale discounts on all her clothes.
I'm not kidding.

My Newest Project

2011-06-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

Since I'm home for the summer, I have a list of things I want to get accomplished around the house because we all know I don't have any time for stuff like that during the school year. Most of these things are home organization projects (moving the bookshelf from the guest room to our room, painting it to resemble cherry wood so it matches our furniture, reorganizing our closet, reorganizing the linen closet, etc.). The project I'm most excited about is Ansleigh's 4th Birthday.

Did you just re-read that last sentence? If so, you're right to think twice about it. Ansleigh's birthday isn't until December. Aside from her 1st birthday (which was mostly just for me), we have successfully avoided a party. Now that she's in preschool, she's been invited to several parties and now she wants one of her own. She made up her mind and she's not changing it....she wants a party and more importantly, she wants a Rapunzel party.

If you know me at all, you know if I'm going to do something like this, it has to be awesome or I can't be a part of it. Since this means a lot to my girl, I'm putting my all into it.

I've been researching Tangled party ideas, checking Etsy for all kinds of cute handmade stuff. I've come up with a great plan for an AWESOME party for my girl, but I've got my work cut out for me and I won't have time to do it when it comes time for her party so I'm going to do as much of it now as I can so I won't have to when December gets here.

As I make progress, I'll try and update but I've got some great plans.

Of course we'll have the Rapunzel plates and napkins.

We're also going to hang paper lanterns in the sun porch (where the party will be). I'm definitely going to use yellow and purple ones but I might throw some pink ones in too.

The goody bags are going to be so awesome! Rapunzel loves to paint so we're giving out mini easels, mini canvases, and a paint set. :) I'm going to put them in purple tinted clear goody bags and tie them up with a little yellow yarn braid :) They will be finished off with these sweet little tags that say thank you.

We're also going to have a candy bar...more on that later but these sweet kids will get to put their candy stash in these little bags
For the food, Lolli (my mom) is making a tower cake similar to this one but we're making it with donuts instead of pecan rolls and it will be WAY cuter if I know my mom at all.
This will just be mostly for looks, and we will serve cupcakes with these cute little toppers on them.
We'll also serve Jello boats but instead of flags like the ones pictured, I'm ordering the other ones (below) that are pictured.
I will also be serving breads, fruit, and little sandwiches or pub grub.

The invitations will be very similar to this:We're also hanging up a banner like this:
and there will be another one (more to come on that later too) that will go on the candy bar.

This is going to go on the bottom of the mailbox so people know they've arrived (we'll also have some balloons tied up)
And the front door will be covered with a braid similar to this one:

I'm going to use these picks (they will only be Rapunzel clothes and Flynn Ryder clothes) to put into the fruit and sandwiches for decoration

I'm going to *attempt* to make a sign (probably out of cardboard or poster board) to hang above the food table that looks like this Snuggly Duckling one from the movie with something under it that says "Pub Grub."
The kids are going to make their own Pascal Party Blowers that look like this:
And we're going to play "Pin the Frying Pan on Flynn Ryder"
Best of all, we're going to send the kids off with a lit lantern send-off. Anthony is excited about this part because it involves fire. Only grown ups will be able to fly them and bring them back to the ground.

And I may have a few other secrets up my sleeve :) You'll just have to stay tuned.

And I must mention that I got several of these great ideas from the Disney website and from this awesome mom who blogs...check her out http://www.supermommoments.com

I also found lots of things on my trusty Amazon.com and on Etsy.com.

Do you have any good ideas I could use?

Complete Devastation

2011-04-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

Last week I was sure I was having the world's worst week--most of my problems related to coaching. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but there is SOOOO much more that goes into coaching than just actually coaching them. Everyday something else challenging happened. I was so glad to see a new week begin.

Monday morning, on my way to drop off Ansleigh and head to school, my dad called to tell me that my grandfather had passed away. I knew it was coming, I just didn't really think it would be quite this soon. He had cancer and it had spread from his colon, to his liver (13 active tumors), both lungs, his spine, his ribs, his hip, and his blood stream. I rejoiced that he was no longer in pain but deeply saddened that he would no longer be in my life.

As I got to school, I had to share the news with administration and my students so they would know that at some point, I'd have to head up to Alabama to be with my family. Monday, while coaching my kids, my mom sent me a text to let me know about the arrangements. My grandmother had scheduled the visitation for Tuesday night and the funeral for Wednesday.

I left school, called my husband, picked up our daughter, and started throwing things in bags. We drove a little over three hours Monday night and then drove the other six-ish Tuesday. We arrived at my parents' house about an hour before the family needed to be there.

At the visitation, I kept going and looking at him and all I could think is that he just didn't look right. The body that was in that casket was not my grandfather. The world would say that he was my step-grandfather and some might even say he wasn't even my grandfather at all. He was married to my grandmother for 29 years. I'm only 27. He's the only grandfather I've ever known. Both of my parents' fathers died when my parents were in their late teens. Papa Sid is the only grandfather I've ever had. Ever. He was a good man. He slept in his recliner when we were kids so that all my cousins (all girls) could sleep in his room. He cooked us pancakes and eggs. He came to watch me play ball. He was always talking "Auburn" with me because I was the Auburn fan in a family full of Alabama fans.

Wednesday, while sitting in his memorial service, I kept looking at his family, and listening to the things the minister said about him. It was difficult for me and my heart was broken for my grandmother who had just lost her husband of 29 years.

After the service, we all came back to the house and it started getting stormy. We watched the news. Tornadoes were coming across the state. My cousin was in Tuscaloosa in her Sorority House. Then the tornadoes started heading right at us. To watch the radar, it looked like the entire state was covered in tornado after tornado. The two tornadoes that headed towards where we were missed us but a large section of the county I grew up in was destroyed. The same tornado that hit Tuscaloosa (where my cousin was) hit in my aunt and uncle's neighborhood (her parents). Their home was not damaged but everything around it was erased from the world.

The past two days have been days of shock and recovery. My dad has been helping out some since he has the equipment. People are asking for clothes, toiletries, diapers, and really anything. I can't help but think that I have a garage full of stuff to get rid of but it is all in central Florida. As far as I know, there are not any drop-off points in Melbourne, Florida (although there should be with as many Auburn grads as there are down there). I'm frustrated. I want to help but I have to go back to my house and my job. How can I get stuff up here?

Also, Wednesday, my sister got some heart-wrenching news regarding her health. While it is not my place to post her business all over the internet, I can tell you that she has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. My mother has it. My father has it. My grandmother has it, and now my sister does. I'm the last one standing. The only person in my immediate family who does not have Type 2 Diabetes. If I didn't feel almost doomed to have it before, I certainly do now. I know there are things I can do to avoid it, but it is still a little unnerving.

Tomorrow we head back down to Florida and I do it with a heavy heart. I never want to leave Alabama the Beautiful, but certainly not now, where so much help is needed.

Long Time, No See

2011-04-03T20:09:00.001-07:00

I know it has been quite some time since I've posted. In the past year, my world has changed dramatically. In February of last year, I was a stay-at-home mom and community coach. I had all the time in the world to blog, and usually wrote during nap time or late at night once everyone else had gone to bed.

Now I teach 8 hours a day, coach for who knows how many hours a day, and mommy all the rest of the day/night. Most nights I fall asleep on the couch shortly after Ansleigh goes to bed and then crawl into my own bed.

I love my job. Even more, I love the kids I teach. But sometimes, I wish I had a little more time to just be me. A little more time to be Ansleigh's mommy. A little more time to be a good wife to Anthony instead of a partially non-existent wife.

I work...a lot. When I'm not working, I'm playing princesses with Ansleigh or helping her with her homework (!?!?! I can't believe a 3-year-old has homework!?!?!), or walking around Target with her. When I'm not doing that, I'm not really doing anything because I'm tired. My life makes me tired. Do you ever feel that way?

Right now I'm more refreshed than I have been in a while since this past week was Spring Break. Having a week at home reminded me of what life used to be like. Some days I wanted to scream from boredom, other days I had mile-long to-do lists (that didn't get done), but mostly I found myself reflecting.

I miss my old friends that I hardly see anymore. I love my new friends. I miss being able to "grab lunch" with someone. I love eating lunch with the people I eat with now. I hate that my job prevents Ansleigh from doing a lot of things I'd like for her to do. I love that I make a difference in other people's lives.

Before I had Ansleigh, I was busy-teacher-wife-lady. I had tons of friends, wore cute clothes, hung out (not in the house) with other people. I had a pretty fun life. Then, I had Ansleigh and for a long time, I forgot how to be a person other than a mommy. I finally started getting myself back to someone who was fun and then I got a job. Instantly I morphed back into busy-teacher-wife-lady except now I had to add mommy into that.

Do I want to quit my job? NO WAY. But I do want to get back to a few things that make me who I am. I want to start writing again. I used to be funny (or so I was told). I used to use Twitter quite often. I used to spend more time with the girls. I'm working on that. I'm even beginning to cook more than once a week....GASP.

I'm learning that laundry sometimes piles up, spring cleaning doesn't always get done, sometimes God calls us to lead busy lives, but that doesn't mean that we are called to lose ourselves or our friends. Please keep me in your prayers as I try to figure out how God is leading me to merge these two lifestyles into one semi-normal person.

And hopefully, I have some more to write about soon :)

Summer Reading

2010-06-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been a while since I've written.

I've been involved in another world--the world of books. Also, I did spend a weekend at cheer camp but that doesn't have anything to do with this.

I've been reading a lot lately. Random things. Things I think my students might like. Things I might like. Mindless fiction that makes you not have to think.

I thought I'd share what I've been reading with you and if you have any recommendations, please share.

First....my favorite:

Dear John--Absolutely incredible. Very romantic, very easy to read. The best thing is, it isn't super sappy mush. It's about a soldier who has an autistic dad.

Next,

After--totally intense. It's about a 16-year-old girl who has a baby and wakes up and doesn't remember any of it. It is also on this year's teen read list.

Fever 1973--a young adult novel about the Yellow Fever. This is a very quick read but it is a great historical fiction novel for students (or grown ups for that matter)

Spirit Bound--this is newest part in the Vampire Academy series. These books are essentially a cross between Twilight and Harry Potter. EXTREMELY good books! All of them and this newest one did not disappoint.

The Rescue--this book is a page turner! It has a single mom with a speech-delayed son, a good lookin' fireman, and a really sweet love story. I could hardly put it down.

The Choice--for this one, Publisher's Weekly says it best, "In his 13th book, bestselling Sparks (At First Sight, etc.) limns the far-reaching implications of several seemingly ordinary choices made by Beaufort, N.C. veterinarian Travis Parker and his next-door neighbor Gabrielle Holland, a physician's assistant and recent arrival. After an inauspicious first meeting where Gabby accuses Travis's boxer of impregnating her purebred collie, the two fall hard for each other. Already dating someone else seriously, Gabby is faced with a dilemma: whether to stick with longtime boyfriend Kevin, or get involved with Travis. The first part of the tale paints a vivid picture of her decision-making process and its effects on Travis and Gabby's lives. That sets up Part II, which takes place 11 years later when Travis faces a life and death decision following a car accident. A tender and moving love story and a quick read, Sparks's latest does not disappoint."

I REALLY enjoyed this book.

The Last Song--a teenage girl, Ronnie, is spending the summer with her dad in North Carolina. Her parents are divorced and she's angry about leaving NYC to spend the summer with her dad. My opinion--not his best book but it is a fairly good read.

The Lucky One--this one is another favorite! It was a great book and extremely hard to put down. U.S. Marine Logan Thibault carries a picture of a woman he'snever met because it brings him good luck. But when he sets out to find the woman, he is met with unexpected circumstances surrounding his new love and his shrouded past.

The Blind Side--alright, so I still haven't seen the movie (we even have it at our house to watch!) but the basic story was GREAT. There were a few too many deep delves into football world that were not necessary for me, but overall, a great book. And you know, I'm a sucker for anything about the south.

The Time Traveler's Wife--there is a movie that goes with this but I have not seen it. This book is my most recent read and frankly, is the one of the weirdest books I have ever read. It jumps back and forth between time but not in any kind of predictable pattern. It ends up being a great story but it has some filthy language and some very detailed sex scenes. If you can overlook the language and the sex, it really is a good book and a sweet and different romance.

What's next on my list?
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner--the newest Twilight book. "Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion."

Shiver--"Grace, 17, loves the peace and tranquility of the woods behind her home. It is here during the cold winter months that she gets to see her wolf—the one with the yellow eyes. Grace is sure that he saved her from an attack by other wolves when she was nine. Over the ensuing years he has returned each season, watching her with those haunting eyes as if longing for something to happen. When a teen is killed by wolves, a hunting party decides to retaliate. Grace races through the woods and discovers a wounded boy shivering on her back porch. One look at his yellow eyes and she knows that this is her wolf in human form. Fate has finally brought Sam and Grace together, and as their love grows and intensifies, so does the reality of what awaits them. It is only a matter of time before the winter cold changes him back into a wolf, and this time he might stay that way forever. Told from alternating points of view, the narrative takes a classic Romeo & Juliet plot and transforms it into a paranormal romance that is beautiful and moving. Readers will easily identify with the strong, dynamic characters. The mythology surrounding the wolf pack is clever and so well written that it seems perfectly normal for the creatures to exist in today's world. A must-have that will give Bella and Edward a run for their money."—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY END

The Truth Hurts

2010-05-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that my sister's husband is in the Army. In fact, right now he's over in Afghanistan.

A guy I grew up with (my mom's boss's son) is in the Army. He is such a funny guy. We never went to school with each other but always knew each other growing up and would say hi to each other.

My brother-in-law, Jon, went through ROTC at JSU with him (Kyle). They got to be very close. Kyle was in my sister's wedding and I'm fairly certain Jon was in Kyle's.

My sister and her husband moved to Ft. Campbell several months ago and were super excited because Kyle, his wife, and their brand new baby girl were stationed there too.

Yesterday, we found out that Kyle (over in Afghanistan and 30 miles away from Jon) stepped on the plate of an IED (?) and it killed him.

He's maybe a year older than me, with a 6 month old daughter who will never know her daddy. My heart is breaking for his wife and that sweet baby girl.

We were never BFF's but I knew him most of my life, I've met his wife who is a doll, and I just can't imagine the nightmare she is facing right now. Where do you go from here? How do you keep going? Do you start your life over? How do you make sure that your daughter REALLY knows that her daddy gave his life so she could be safe?

I guess the worst part for me is realizing JUST how much danger Jon really is in. Kyle died 30 miles from him! For the first time in a while, I'm really scared for him. So many troops get sent back and forth that it never really sinks in the kind of danger they are in on a daily basis. Jon may be an "in-law" but he's my brother now. He's family and as I was holding his sweet boy Tyler this morning, all I could think about was the fear that Jon might not get to see him again.

My heart is burdened for all these troops who are fighting right now and have babies at home. Please join me in praying for them and for their families who sacrifice having husbands and fathers so that we can be safe and protected.

Father God PLEASE keep them safe and bring them home to their kids and their wives who love and support them and most of all need them.

Robbed

2010-04-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

When I was leaving school this afternoon, I started digging around in my purse to get my phone and turn it on silent when I realized it wasn't there.

I stopped what I was doing and dug some more. I took EVERYthing out of my purse hunting for precious, precious, iphone. I even dug around my classroom and couldn't find it.

So I did the next logical thing and starting thinking, "Ok, when was the last time I had it."

Finally, I walked up to the front office. I started looking for the lost and found knowing it wouldn't be there. My sweet friend Sharon told me to check my wallet so I did and what-do-ya-know? My cash was all gone. All $4.

SOME LITTLE TURD ROBBED ME!!!! I mean like straight up went into my classroom, found my purse, dug through it, and then stole my cash and my phone.

The astounding thing is that they didn't take my debit card, didn't take my check book, and didn't take the giant bottle of prescription drugs (antibiotics) that I had in there.

I had to use the school phone to call Hubs and tell him what had happened. Then I had to call the police and file a report.

Now, I'm phone-less.

I feel crippled. Naked. I keep catching myself trying to call the husband or my parents or whoever and realize I have no phone. No phone at all because you see...we got rid of our house phone. So I currently have no way to get in touch with anyone at all. It is almost enough to make me want to panic.

The crazy thing is, I'm really not even mad. I'm broken-hearted. My whole world was on that phone, including pictures of my sweet baby who is two states away right now. I've had to change all my passwords because the phone is linked to my facebook, email, itunes, etc.

I'm sitting here fighting back tears all over a piece of technology. It kind of amazes me that I've gotten so attached to a phone but it's mine and I want it back.

The worst part is that this kid riffled through my stuff just to see what they could find. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!?!?!?!?

I know the kind of kids I teach and I know the school I teach at and yes, I should have anticipated something like this to happen but I just didn't. I'm naive. I'm trusting. I love my kids.

But I still want my phone back. Can we send out a search party??? Any volunteers?

Mommy of a Toddler?

2010-03-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

You know you are a mommy to a toddler when...

You are cooking dinner and step on something sharp. You realize that it is the point of the letter "N" magnet that should be on the fridge. Instead it is now embedded in the ball of your foot.
You walk into YOUR bathroom (you know, the adult one) and see a princess kickball, a play fork, a play plate, and a plastic meatball all in your floor.
You bring a basket of laundry into the living room to fold and within a matter of seconds, the clothes are spread all over the house because she "heped."
Your spouse asks if you can grab them a drink out of the fridge and you automatically reply with, "What do you say to Mommy when you want something?"
You look under the furniture at any given time and you're likely to find a few cheerios, a crayon or two, and possibly a sippy cup that at one point and time had something that resembled milk in it.
When you dig through your purse to find your keys, you also find a set of midget forks and spoons, a disposable place mat, a plastic princess figurine, wipes, and a pair of tiny tot sunglasses.
In the backseat of your car you have various Disney DVD's, a McDonald's Happy Meal toy, and at least ten pieces of broken goldfish.
Your brain's default is set to ask someone if they need to "tee tee" every ten minutes--which means you often accidentally ask an adult if they need to go "tee tee."
All of your plans are based around nap time.
Everything that's breakable has been placed so high up that even you can't reach it without using a step ladder.
The default channel on your tv is Disney or Nick Jr.
Your main bathroom has been taken over by step stools, bath toys, and little potties or potty seats.

Report Card

2010-03-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

Not that I've needed much affirmation that teaching is where God wants me, but last week, I was reminded in a big, big way.

When I first got my kids, most of them had D's and F's and not a single kid had an A. They didn't care about anything and just wanted to skate by. Last week, 3rd 9 weeks grades were due. I have four classes totaling around 100 kids; only two students had an F and it is because they never come to school. At least ten of my students had A's and at least another twenty had B's. I was so proud of THEM (not me, I didn't do anything) that I bragged to everyone I saw. My kids are working and trying and some of them even like to come to class. What a blessing!!!!

On Thursday, I had my first teacher evaluation. I was a little anxious about it but not terribly nervous. I warned the kids as they were coming in that the Vice Principal would be coming in to watch me teach and they kept saying, "Don't worry, Mrs. Friday. We got yo' back." Haha!

Friday afternoon I went down to go over my evaluation. I got all "effective" marks (the highest you can get) and this is what she wrote about me:

Mrs. Friday teaches English II and satisfies all teacher competencies. She took over another teacher's class during the third nine weeks and quickly earned the respect of her students. Mrs. Friday also serves as the head cheerleading coach.

Mrs. Friday begins class promptly, sets a tone that is conducive to learning, and utilizes classroom time effectively. She posts the objectives as well as the agenda on the board; she also posts the weekly schedule of extra-curricular activities. She presents information associated with the objective in a manner that engages the interests of the students. There is good student-teacher interaction.

Mrs. Friday has established an excellent rapport with her colleagues, students, and parents. She meets all deadlines and responsibilities promptly and professionally; she supports administration and has assisted us whenever asked.

Mrs. Friday maintains a positive and encouraging atmosphere; she uses specific praise. She employs a variety of strategies and assessments to meet her students' needs and measure achievement.

Mrs. Friday is a team player. She is an asset to Heritage High School.

Needless to say, I was thrilled and brought it home and put it on the fridge. I guess I got an A on my report card too :)

Run Like the Winn---Or At Least Like a Princess

2010-03-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I ran (mostly) my first 5K.

Several of my girlfriends and I participated in the Disney Fit for a Princess Royal Family 5K. It was incredibly fun! And...they shot off fireworks at the start. Disney characters lined the race path cheering us on.

Oh, and we turned out to be a smidge famous for our outfits. :)

Speaking of famous, Joey Fatone was in the race (you know...from N'sync) and I finished before him.

I finished in just under 37 minutes which is not incredibly fast, but never-the-less, I was not last and did not, I repeat, did not get picked up by the golf cart.

Week One Report

2010-02-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

So I've officially been back teaching for a week now.

I LOVE IT!!!! Seriously.

Most of my kids are coming to me with D's and F's. Lots of them come from broken families. A handful of them are the "troubled" kids. I don't have any Honors kids, in fact, most of them don't even try to pass. These kids are already drinking, smoking, and doing drugs (not all of them, but some of them are). They've been passed over and ignored.

These kids need to be loved on and I'm so blessed to be the one to do it. They're respecting my rules, trying their best to refrain from potty mouth syndrome, and they are turning in their work--which means they are DOING their work. They even volunteer in class and participate.

I have learned that I have to keep them busy and give them a logical reason for why they are doing something. If I give them any down time, they get crazy. Some of them are still testing me a little but most of them just do what I ask.

The hardest part of all of it is rushing out of school to go pick up Ansleigh, coming home, starting dinner, cleaning up, doing laundry and taking some time to "play cook" and "play color." We eat, she gets a bath, she goes to bed. Then I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to wear the next day and does it need to be ironed? Gotta get in the shower and then dry my hair. There isn't quite as much time for facebook and tv shows anymore. Quite frankly, the time I do have, I don't want to be on facebook or watching tv; mostly I want to just go to bed.

I didn't realize what a mess our closet was until I started using it. If you'll recall, I've been wearing pajamas and jeans and tshirts for 3 years now. The only time I really used the closet was for Sundays or to put away hubs' clothes. I've already determined that during Spring Break, I will battle it out with that closet and get rid of a lot of junk. Mark my words.

My buggy-boo has been doing great with this! She begs to go play with Carrie friend's little girl all the way to their house. Half the time, she doesn't want to leave when I go pick her up. One thing I've noticed is that the little things that used to annoy me (excessive whining, bossing around, repetitive tv shows) don't bother me as much anymore. I cherish the time I have with her.

I do have some pretty good student stories but it is already past my bedtime. I know some of you have been worried and thinking about us and praying for us (and we appreciate it!!!) and I just wanted to let you know how we're doing in this big change.

Confessions: Teacher Edition

2010-02-12T03:50:00.000-08:00

6:45 AM is way early. Way earlier than I'm used to seeing.

I forgot how much I miss being around kids all day.
I have the very best, most up-to-date technology in my classroom, which kind of makes me want to pee my pants.
I've been asked 456 times, "Are you nice?"
I respond with, "I can be, but not usually." which is a complete and total lie....most of the time.
I need new shoes. Comfortable ones.
I also need some brown earrings for the days when I wear brown.
The past two days I've been wearing my pearls because that's what a southern girl does.
Some of these kids think I'm from a foreign county because of the way I talk.
Speaking of foreign countries, I have two kids that don't speak English. Awesome.
My kids (and almost all the kids there) have FILTHY mouths.
For example, I said "nice" and they thought I said a-double-dollar-signs.
I had to make one of my class rules "NO PROFANITY" which is slightly ridiculous.
Despite that fact, I'm completely excited.
The dramatic change in lifestyle has left me exhausted. And my house is a hot mess. And the sink is full of dishes. And we aren't even going to talk about the laundry.
Did I mention that Monday I did a full house super clean?
Also, I need a nap. In a real bad way.
I need to see a chiropractor and have a full-body massage too.
Yesterday, the kids were reading a Black History month newspaper insert when a black girl said out loud, "I didn't know black people even went into space."

Ok. I must go fix my hair and put on my face now so I don't scare the children. Peace out, Yo.

Back in the Saddle Again

2010-02-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

In a previous life...before the child, I was a an English teacher. I taught 7th grade English in rural Alabama.

I loved it and hated it all at the same time. I loved my kids, but I hated how some of them behaved. I loved seeing them learn, but I hated the stress of coming up with all my own stuff.

Teaching was perfect for someone like me...an overachieving, compulsive, people-pleaser. Before the school year even started, I had the entire year outlined and planned out. I made up all my own vocabulary and tests based off of what we were reading or learning. I did all my own handouts, chose all my own books.

I also spent hours working at school and at home. Hours grading tests and projects and writing.

I loved coming home everyday and telling Hubs all the stupid things kids said or did. It was hilarious because they were hilarious. They also never thought before they spoke.

I spent hours upon hours during the summer up at the school getting my classroom ready. It was the bomb, yo. Ok, well...at least it was cutesy. And bright. See?

This morning I got confirmation and got everything started to go back to work.

Teaching.

10th grade.

Guess when I start?

Tomorrow. Yep. I'm slightly baffled too.

I'm excited that I get another go at it and nervous about the kids. You know, I sound funny to all these people down here. :) I cannot tell you how excited I am to get a paycheck again. I'm sad about leaving my Bug, but I think this is the best thing for her. She needs some time with people other than Mommy.

[Just FYI: she's going to be staying with Carrie Friend during the day]

Hopefully, if I get 10 spare seconds to get my classroom fixed up, I'll share some pics.

And I definitely plan on sharing any stupid things the kids say, changing the names, of course.

Say some prayers for me and stay posted.

Some Days Are Better

2010-02-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

Some days are better than other days.

Some days I wake up and and want to go back to sleep and sleep for the rest of eternity.Some days I'm bored out of my mind and totally lazy. And then, there are days like today.

I woke up to quietness, not, "WAH! WAH! Mommy!!! Mommy!!!" I even laid there and enjoyed it for a few minutes before the "WAH! WAH! Mommy!!! Mommy!!!" even started. I was happy to be awake (which, might I add, is rare).

I was so chipper I even let the Bug have chocolate milk [insert GASP here] with her pop tart. I had my usual 100 calorie granola bar and tiny-sized Minute Maid mixed berry juice.

We watched a little Playhouse Disney and then got dressed and went somewhere. Not because we had to, but because I wanted to.

We met Nessa friend, and Ansleigh's friend at the Mall and had lunch. Now usually when we're out some where and I pay for food for Ansleigh, it is almost always a guarantee she won't eat any of it, but today, she did! She ate almost all of it and I got a super delicious smoothie out of the deal.

We had some play time, I returned some shorts, Ansleigh went down the slide by herself and pushed a little boy who was taking too long (atta girl). We strolled around the mall and then came home.

She napped, I accidentally napped. We watched 101 Dalmatians and I giggled as Ansleigh kept referring to Cruela as "keen, keen" (aka: Evil Queen).

Then the most amazing, monumental thing happened:

I cooked.

Now don't get me wrong, I cook most days, but not like this. Usually it is something frozen, pre-prepared, or totally microwaveable, and almost NEVER chicken.

I used some boneless skinless chicken and dipped it in egg then a combo of bread crumbs, crushed up corn flakes, Parmesan, and some mozzarella. I used some EVOO (look at me, going all Rachael Ray on you) and cooked the chicken in the skillet. Then I made some "Easy Rissoto." Except, I wouldn't say it was so easy.

The recipe was a Pampered Chef recipe but I tweaked it. Everything was fat free, and low sodium, whole wheat (bread crumbs and rice), and totally good for you. I made it into a low calorie dinner. I even used fat free soy milk instead of the regular two percent organic I usually cook with. Hubs didn't know that part....and now I've blown my secret.

Now this may not sound like such a big deal to most people, but for me, it is. I have never cooked chicken before. No. Seriously. Never. It totally grosses me out. I even had to 911 Mom a few times but everything turned out good.

Now since I'm known for my honesty, I will say that I did learn a few things along the way.

Don't buy giant hunks of chicken. Go for the smaller pieces. They cook faster.
Don't cook something that needs to have it's temperature checked when you have no means of doing so.
Double check to make sure the rice is actually done before you serve up dinner.
Be sure to thoroughly mix the cream cheese.

In my defense, I didn't really know about meat thermometers and therefore CLEARLY did not have one, but I have ordered one and it shall be here in two days, thank you Amazon Prime. Part of Anthony's chicken was still pink but he just ate around it and only ate the white part. But he had a HUGE piece. Also, Mom said it was probably done, so I blame her. :)

Only a little bit of the rice was still crunchy and we really enjoy cream cheese so neither of us was upset that there was still big hunks in it.

Anyway, today was one of the better days. It was a day where I enjoyed being at home and having a clean house and appreciated that I'm blessed enough to be able to be home and keep my house clean (when I try), and that I can take my Bug to the mall for a lunch date/play date. I was glad to have the time to try to cook something delicious and healthy for my family.

Most of my days aren't like that, but today was, and it was great. :)

Censorship

2010-02-02T07:25:00.001-08:00

As a former (and likely future) English teacher, I have very strong opinions on censorship. Especially when it comes to parents who come in or call saying, "I don't want my child to read this book because I heard..." I understand wanting to protect your child, but at the same time, you should come in armed with information, not hear-say. Also, don't tell say your child can't read something until you've read it yourself and have firm reasons why your child shouldn't be exposed to it. Be wise about why you are choosing to keep your child from reading something. If you don't want them to read a classic book because it has the h-e-double-hockey-sticks word in it, get real. Your kids hear a LOT worse at school. Promise.

On the other hand, as a parent (especially a Christian parent) I completely understand wanting to protect your child from ideas you find ludicrous or language you don't want them exposed to yet. I constantly find myself telling kids at school to watch their mouths because there is a 2-year-old around.

Some censorship is done for good reason, other censorship is done for stupid reasons, and then some censorship is done with good intentions but maybe not so necessary.

That's what I want to write about today. I censor my blog--not because I worry about what other people are going to think about me, because frankly, if you don't like what I'm saying, don't read it. I censor it because certain people (MY HUSBAND) reads it and sometimes...he gets embarrassed by things I post. You know...like when I write about poop.

You see, he knows me. He knows I talk about poop. He knows sometimes I can be a bit too graphic or inappropriate when it comes to things that might make some people (other men) uncomfortable such as child birth stories, female issues, etc.

I could care less if people are uncomfortable about things that are the truth. Poop happens. Childbirth is GROSS. But...I do publish my blog (obviously) and I post it to facebook where people we are friends with see it. You know...guys he's friends with.

So out of love and respect for my hunny, I try to be a little cautious about what I say...sometimes. I had to giggle when he mentioned my poop post. I wish I had a picture of his face. It was priceless. But still, I feel a little guilty seeing him that embarrassed. You see, his job, as my better half, is to keep me from verbal vomit in front of people we don't know well, or people who won't care what I'm rambling about. I LOVE that he does this for me. It makes life easier. I think that's why he gets so "concerned" about what I post on here. He's just trying to protect me and the people who read this.

Do you want to be protected? Or do you want more "inappropriate" things? Just wondering as I aim to please. :)

Also, he's probably going to fuss at me about posting this. :)

It Happens to the Best of Us

2010-01-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

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:

a small box of matches (light one, throw it in the toilet, it immediately removes the smell)
body spray (you know...for the smell--in case you forgot your matches)
something to read to take your mind off it (I have books on my precious, precious iPhone)
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!!!!!!

2010-01-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

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:

I have severe poop issues. Not with other people's poop...with my own. Don't ask.
I use the most AWESOME shampoo ever. Biolage. It's awesome.
I've been known to pull out stray leg hairs with tweezers. And once I start, I can't stop.
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...
I have panic attacks
I kind of, sort of, maybe just a little bit have a case of THE FEVER....maybe just a smidge. Shhhh....don't tell.
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....

All Things Fluffy, Fashionable, and Famous
Malerie
Lady Mundie
Mom in the Pink

A Variety of People

2010-01-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

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...

2010-01-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

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. :)

Honestly Me

2010-01-20T18:50:00.000-08:00

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?

Soup and Sale....

2010-01-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

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:

Brown beef with onion or onion powder/flakes
Drain meat
Put into large pot and add all other ingredients except cheese, chips, and sour cream
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.

Being a SAHM….

2010-01-08T21:59:00.001-08:00

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.

Confessing Some New Things for the New Year

2010-01-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

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.

A Decade of Confessions

2010-01-01T17:37:00.000-08:00

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.

Let's Discuss Santa

2009-12-30T10:06:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-12-16T20:07:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

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:

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

Christmas Presents

2009-12-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

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.

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.
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

2009-12-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

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:

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.
Buy a few healthy foods and the rest of the cheap stuff. Still not spending a ton.
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.
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

2009-11-20T20:21:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-14T22:07:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2009-10-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-08-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

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:

Begin with a Win
Panthers on the Prowl
Eagles taste like chicken
Capture the eagles
beat em black and blue
we will rock you
make em see stars
Ruffle their feathers
Exterminate the Eagles
Pound Poinciana
Hang em' Heritage
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

2009-08-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-08-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

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....

Turns out that coaching is 60% paper work and 40% coaching. Well...at least in the beginning.
20 cheerleaders = a big squad
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.
Anyone want to donate money to the cheerleaders?
Or sponsor one of them?
Or buy an ad in the football program?
ALL TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
See....this is my life now.
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.
Also, I have dreams about Jack, Sawyer, Kate, and Locke.
Stupid LOST!!!! It's like crack really.
I haven't seen my Winn friend in so long, I think she forgot what I look like.
Spaghetti Dinner at HHS tonight for only $5!!!! Wanna come???
Again....with the begging.
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.
I'm not sure I'm ready to reveal any possible super powers to the world for fear of exploitation.
Good thing I'm staying at home and coaching.
.........
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz......
...............
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

2009-08-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

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!!!!!!

2009-07-31T17:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

This week I've been working overtime on the junk removal from our house. I've actually been somewhat successful.
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.
I got rid of some junk this week using Craig's List. That thing is stressful!!! You get pounced on by people.
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.
I've been watching Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney. It's a teeny-bopper show. I love it.
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?
I just realized I haven't posted the winner to the giveaway yet. Maybe I should go do that.
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.
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.
I have to go. I have to go learn how to use Mr. Random Number Generator.

HOLLA. :)

We've Moved....

2009-07-28T12:40:00.001-07:00

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!!!!!!

2009-07-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

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.

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.
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!!!!
Post this giveaway on your blog, and you'll get three extra entries, plus my friendship for life.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

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.

I have been using Ansleigh's Dora toothpaste for about five days now. It's pink and sparkly.
It tastes really good. Berry bubble gum flavored. You know you want some.
I officially have bushman eyebrows now.
Also, I'm pretty sure I'm on my 4th layer of toenail polish. Gross, I know.
I tried to remove the toenail polish and spent 20 minutes trying to get it off of just one toe. I was unsuccessful.
I may need to borrow a sander.
I've been reading The Shack lately.
But I stopped because I was having weird dreams about God.
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.
I wonder if he (Weirdo Dream Monster) is BFF with Satan. IDK. My BFF Jill.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I'm probably going to get yelled at for linking to her facebook page. Wait for it....it's coming.
Right now I have burney-burney eye syndrome which really just means that I am sleepy.
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.
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.
Haha. Hahahahahahahahaha.
Haha hahahahahahahahaha
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.
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.
I know someone who stopped giving her kid antibiotics after 3 days because the child wouldn't take it, even by force.
That person may or may not be me.
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.
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.
I still have burney burney eye syndrome.
I have discovered that when I'm in Alabama I get lazy with my speech and become WAY more southern sounding. Almost country.
I think I do it on purpose. To blend in more.
I decided to declare this week junk removal from our house week.
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."
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!
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.
I think I've come up with a genius idea.
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.
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.
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?
Anthony and I usually go through a gallon of sweet tea in about 24 hours (more or less).
Maybe that's why I'm still a fatty. Probably won't help my starvation gym rat diet.
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.
It didn't. She got up and thought it was time to take a bath and tried to climb into the tub.
I deleted Jon & Kate: Plus 8 from our shows to record today. I'm done with them. Except by them, I mean him. Scumbag.
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?
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.
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.
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.
My name is Carrie. And I have a problem. I like to buy hair bows.
I *might* have bought Ansleigh 4 more while we were in Anniston. Maybe. Possibly.
Ok...I did. Like I said, my name is Carrie and I have a hair bow problem.
Katie Baby looks awesome with her big blue hair bow in though. Trust me.
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.
The business of spending my husband's money.
I can actually be quite excellent at that business. Maybe that's one of my skills.
Skills....hahahahaha. "EAT THE FOOD!"
Some of you are wondering what I'm quoting. Not gonna tell.
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.
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.
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.
I seriously considered pulling the old "one, two, skip-a-few, 99, 100" thing on ya'll. But I've committed now.
I just thought about how torturous it would be to read all this if it were someone else's blog.
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.
Yes, I know it is July. In September we will buy her presents. October/Early November will be everyone else's.
We are not buying her a birthday present as we are taking her to Disney for her big day. :)
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.
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.
I thought I'd be relieved because I wasn't comfortable leaving Ansleigh in the hands of people I didn't know.
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.
It's a LOT harder than I thought it would be to come up with a hundred of these blasted things.
I mean...I've been working on these a little here and a little there since Sunday night. Gosh.
I just turned Dora off because Ansleigh wouldn't get a diaper. I'm a mean momma.
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.
Katie Baby has on a yellow hairbow today. Ansleigh picked it out for her. :) I have created a monster.
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?
I let Ansleigh have chocolate chip cookie cake for lunch today. I figure you gotta live a little every now and then.
I didn't clean the toilets today. I thought about it though. Does that count?
I did some cleaning out in the guest room though and that makes me feel a little better about myself.
Right now, I'm working on this at 2:24 am because I took a nap today and now I cannot sleep.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I finished reading The Shack. Maybe that's why I can't sleep.
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.
At this point in 1984 I wasn't even a year old yet. Does that make you feel old?
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.
But I did fall again right after I got the first set of stitches out. Because I'm cool like that.
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.
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. ;)
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
My mom and my sister both love those shows. I've probably just offended them. Oops.
Guess what? I hate American Idol too. They drag it out too much and make it too dramatic.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I can currently hear the Hallelujah Chorus playing in my head as I am now FINISHED!!!!!!

Confessions from A-la-bam-uh

2009-07-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

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.
I love her but I do not miss those teen days of waiting/fighting for the shower.
What I do miss is the husband. He lets me go first. Always. And he keeps my feet warm in the bed.
Also, I miss the laminating machine.
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.
The PEDIATRICIAN asked. He obviously does not read my blog.
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 :)
The hair stylist asked.
The make-up lady asked.
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.
Don't worry. I restrained myself. Good thing too...she was feisty.
I'm concerned that I may be losing some of my southern-ness. Yesterday someone didn't hesitate to think I'm from Florida.
I still haven't seen the newest Harry Potter movie....it's been two whole days. I'm suffering on the inside.
Throughout the week, usually at night or when I'm in the shower, I come up with lists of these confessions to type.
Which is embarrassing enough. But then when it comes time to write these, I forget the ones I already came up with. Idiot.
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.
Also, lots of those people aren't even on Twitter. So they don't have user names.
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.
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.
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...

2009-07-12T23:19:00.001-07:00

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...

2009-07-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

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

Facebook. Does it make me uber cool or an uber dork that I've been on there since BEFORE we got married. Like...2004.
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?"
Let's talk about that friend suggestion thing....Me's not a fan. I wish I could give it the thumbs down.
"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.
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????
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."
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."
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....
If you read this, you should be my friend on facebook. Then we could claim we are friends.
Let's move on. To Twitter.
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.
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.
I was up before Bow Baby today. There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with that.
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.
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.
I did it the safe way...with SPF 70. So I don't feel guilty.
I just realized there are 17 of these. Sorry. That's kind of a lot.

Have a good weekend!!!! :)

An Apology and An Admisson

2009-07-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T18:50:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-26T18:50:00.001-07:00

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...

2009-06-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-06-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

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.

Friday Confessions

2009-06-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

This week I've been teaching preschool crafts at VBS. It is such a fun job! It has thoroughly pooped me out.
The left shift key keeps sticking on my computer so every time I try to capitalize something, I have to use the force of 1000 warriors to make it actually function correctly.
I can't begin to tell you how irritating that is.
Everyday this week I've taken a nap. All those little kiddos and all the glue really took a toll on me.
Today, I laid Ansleigh down and then laid myself down.
That was about 1:15 ish. We woke up about 4:30. We're losers. Both of us.
Right now we're watching the newest Indiana Jones movie.
So far, it's kind of gay. He just hid inside a refrigerator to save himself from an atomic bomb.
Like I said...gay.
I've started reading the fifth Harry Potter again. I needed some kind of mindless fiction to read.
I chose Harry Potter because I'm trying desperately not to fall into the Coma again.
Next week I go in for my "annual" exam. I'm super pumped. Except that I'm not. At all.
I've got a list of things to give my doctor to tell her all the things that are wrong with me. That should be a good time.
Dude. Harrison Ford is old. And all wrinkly.
I can't think of anything else.

Have an awesome weekend!

I Finally Caved

2009-06-12T17:41:00.001-07:00

You see...I have this favorite pair of shoes.

My rainbow flip flops. I got them shortly after we got married (4 years ago). I've pretty much worn them for at least a short period of time every single day since I've gotten them. They are well lurved.

See? See how nice and worn in they are?

I lurve them.

My mom has been on me for over a year now about how I need to get a new pair. For me, that was not an option. My floppers still fit. They were comfortable. They weren't broken. Why get new ones?

When Chad & Rachel were here, I had them on and we got rained on all day. Big deal. Except that they are so worn and well-loved that the leather started breaking apart. Boooooooo.

Still didn't merit getting a new pair.

Until this week. At VBS. The front of the toe part started peeling off. I kept tripping. And tripping. Poor shoes. And, all of a sudden, they no longer supported my feet the way they used to which equals some serious leg pain after walking around all day.

Grrr.

So I finally broke down. Tonight, I bought a new pair.

See? All new and nice and shiney. Believe it or not, the first pair used to look just like this.

Think it is only a color difference? Look at the bottoms?
Now, I will spend the next few weeks rubbing blisters and molding these new floppers to my weird skinny feet. Farewell old rainbows. It's been a good relationship. We have had good times. Shared good memories. But. It's time you retired. You will be missed.

Are You Going to Have Another?

2009-06-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

I must have a sign stuck to my forehead that reads, "Ask me when I'm going to have another baby." I must. I can't see it when I look in the mirror, but surely, it must be there.

I swear it seems like everywhere I go someone is asking me if I want another one, when I'll have another one, or better yet, why am I not already pregnant again. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?

While I'm sure most of you could care less when I'm going to have another baby, I need somewhere to vent. I need to make SOMEONE understand. So let's talk about it.

NO, I do not plan to have another baby anytime soon.

[Why?] Because I don't want to. (Which should be reason enough, but it seems, it isn't.)

[Why?] For multiple reasons:

My child is only 18 months old. She is still a baby to me. I want to cherish this time with her. Not spend it puking.
I am not ready to be pregnant again. I'm not ready for the puking. I'm not ready for the hunger. I'm not ready for the heartburn. I'm not ready for the fatness or not being able to get comfortable. YES, I know it will *likely* be different the next go-around. Don't care.
My sister is 20 weeks pregnant. I want her to be able to enjoy this time. I want her to have her chance to shine and be in the spotlight. I want her to be able to enjoy all that motherhood offers without me taking away from any of that.
I have a very difficult time imagining how we could feasibly pay for another child right now. And please don't tell me, "if we can do it, anyone can."
I want a minivan. With rear air conditioning. I can't stand the idea of yet another child sweating to death in the back of my hot, black car.
I'm starting a new job! A job that I intend to have for at least a couple of years. A job that will take a vast amount of my attention. My dream job.
I'm also still waiting to find out if I'll be teaching again in the fall. Let's be real, starting a cheer program from scratch and teaching isn't really the best time to have another baby.

Some people dismiss the idea of another baby because they don't want to start all over. The idea of an infant scares them. Not me. That's not my issue. I don't mind the endless feedings and sleepless nights.

It is the fact that I can't imagine taking care of two children all the time. I'm still trying to teach Ansleigh so much. She's at the age where she's doing something new everyday but she's still a baby in my eyes. My baby. I'm not ready to move her out of that position and replace her. I'm not ready to add to our family. Most importantly, I do not have a peace about having another child any time soon. I don't feel like that's what God wants for us. I've prayed about it. I'll continue to pray about it.

I love hearing the positives and negatives of having kids close together and also having them several years apart. Different things work for different families. Maybe later on I will regret not having my children closer together. Right now, I look forward to it. I look forward to my Buggy being able to help me. To be at an age where she really understands what's going on. To be potty trained.

I rushed myself to have Ansleigh. I wanted a baby so badly that I just couldn't fathom waiting any longer. I don't want to rush this next one. I want the next baby to be completely God's timing. Not mine. If God intends for me to have another baby sooner than I plan, it will happen.

I'm not in a rush. Neither is Anthony. If we aren't in a rush, shouldn't everyone just chill out? It's not like I'm approaching the age where I'll be too old to have another one. I have plenty of time!!!!!! Plenty! Like...10 years! Back off.

I know that most people don't mean anything by it, asking me about another baby. Sometimes people are just nosy. Sometimes people are just looking for a topic of conversation. Sometimes people want to force their ideas upon you. Whatever the reason, it doesn't really matter. The fact is that until we're ready to have more kids, we aren't going to. Point. Blank. The end.

Oh, and if I've ever been that person, the one harping on you about having another baby, I APOLOGIZE. Honestly, it was probably just a mixture of curiosity and need to continue a conversation that provoked me.

All Your Problems Solved.

2009-06-07T21:25:00.000-07:00

Often, there are problems we can’t solve, or things we want to communicate that we simply can’t find the words for.

That’s why Yo Gabba Gabba is so wonderful. It takes care of all this for us.

Don’t believe me?

Find out for yourself.

My food is so delicious but I am simply at a loss of words to adequately describe it: “There’s a party in my tummy, so yummy, so yummy!”

My house is a mess! What am I going to do? “Clean it up, clean it up, clean it up, pick up the trash now.”

This food looks disgusting. Should I eat it? “Try it….you’ll like it. Just try it, you’ll like it.”

I cannot believe she said that about me! I want to rip her head off!

“Don’t bite your friends…” (or your enemies)

Oh boy! There’s Winn! What should I do? “Stretch your arms out wide, wrap em around, squeeze tight, hugs are fun, hugs are fun…”

I have the worst taste ever in my mouth right now. “It’s fun to brush your teeth, it’s fun to brush your teeth, it’s fun to brush your teeth, and this is how you do it…”

I keep forgetting why I’m supposed to set the alarm when I leave the house. Why is that again? “Dangerous, it’s so dangerous. You have to watch for things that are dangerous.”

I know he can hear me talking to him. HELLO!!!! Maybe if I bean him in the head with… “Please, don’t, throw things at friends. Please don’t throw things at friends.”

More times than not, when I’m sitting in a “grown up” meeting, my friends and I keep getting glares. What should we do before we go into the meeting?

“Let’s get the sillies out, get the sillies out, get the sillies out, and that’s what it’s about.”

Well how can we get those sillies out? “Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, GO! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, GO! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, GO! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, STOP! Hold still…..”

I just realized I was ugly to my husband/friend/child.

“I’m so, I’m so, sorry. I’m so, I’m so, sorry. We can fix it. We can make it better.”

Anthony’s working. Ansleigh’s napping. I’ve already napped. The house is *mostly* clean. I’m bored!!! “Hey, won’t somebody, come and play with me. I’ve done all my work and I’ve got a little while to spend, if I could find a friend…”

I just got made fun of….AGAIN…due to my lovely southern drawl. I can’t decide if I’m mad or if I don’t really care. “…so I’ll be nice to them. Because they are my friends.”

Extended family can’t seem to stop asking when we’re going to have another baby. I’m really thinking about slapping them but instead…“…so I’ll love, love, love my family…”

Do these people in front of me not care that I have a screaming child with me? Do they really feel the need to take everything out of their cart one at a time at the slowest speed humanly possible? Should I ram them? “You gotta wait in line, it’s only fair, to wait right there.”

I keep begging for readers to comment. I never get more than 4 or 5. Should I give up? “Keep trying, keep trying, don’t give up, never give up.”

Oh, blast. It’s time to go. How to end? “Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.”

TGIF

2009-06-05T08:38:00.001-07:00

Do you remember when TGIF was ABC's Friday night line up? It totally had the best shows. I won't lie. I watched it.
On the rare occasion that I was home on a Friday night.
Not because I was all socially-social and out-and-about.
Because I was usually at a football game cheering. And/or selling programs. Or at a basketball game.
But if I was home, I was watching Boy Meets World. Ahhh...Cory and Topanga.
I desperately want to be a sales rep for Chez Ami and/or Kelly's Kids. DESPERATELY.
I have for a while.
I haven't done it yet because I honestly don't know anyone that would buy it....aside from myself.
I finally buckled this week and read Midnight Sun.
Not that it didn't make sense before, but everything makes so much more sense reading it from Edward's perspective.
I can feel the pull of the coma again. Grrr.
I've already read this stupid thing twice. It's so good!
Summer tv sucks. I hate it. I depend entirely too much on television for my entertainment purposes.
I bought My Fitness Coach for our Wii. I'm going to give it a whirl. We'll let you know how that goes.
Have I ever mentioned how obsessive I am about keeping my nose and ears clean?
My nose. My ears. Ansleigh's nose. Ansleigh's ears. Anthony's ears.
His nose cannot be my problem. I have to draw the line somewhere.
If I threw a major, toddler-sized tantrum, would you people finally comment on what you're reading?
I think everyone hates me. No one comments on my blog. I must be hated.
I need to take a shower. Let me go take care of that.

Have a wonderful weekend! :)

Recently Brought to My Attention

2009-06-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

Let's be real. You know I'm *slightly* obsessed with children's clothing. Specifically anything by Chez Ami or Kelly's Kids.

For those of you that are not in the know...it's getting about that time again. The time when the fall previews start popping up. The time when they show me what I may or may not buy.

Usually, I just lust in my heart. I don't usually buy. I lust. Wait. Find it on ebay and buy like crazy.

Recently (as in 20 minutes ago) I came across these images from Chez Ami's new fall stuff. Bout crapped my pants. I need a job. I need to make money. I also need to sell this stuff so I can get a discount. Would anyone buy this from me????? No seriously. If I sold this, would you buy it?

Anyway, here are the images from my newest lust-fest. Enjoy! :)

Friday Confessions

2009-05-29T05:08:00.001-07:00

It’s that time again! Hopefully these won’t be as lame as last weeks.

1. Today I’m headed to Orlando to have a mommy retreat with some ladies from my mom’s group and our special guest speaker, Kearsie.

2. The above may just sound like a plain ol’ statement unless you know me. If you do, you know I totally freak about traveling and get all nervous. I’ll be taking an extra prozac just for the trip.

3. Don’t mock the insane.

4. Last Friday, we (the fam, minus the two little girls) went to what I lovingly call the “Space Place” which is really just the Kennedy Space Center. That’s where the second disaster happened.

5. The first disaster was the day before. Thursday. When I was cleaning like a mad woman. I apparently squirted toilet cleaner on my FAVORITE pink Auburn shirt. Turns out that stuff is powerful and will ruin a good shirt.

6. Back to my second disaster. We are standing in the play area (Space Place) while T runs around having a good time. Anthony says to me, “You have grey hair.” Ummmm….excuse me??? No. No I don’t. So we bring Chad over to confirm. Still NOT a believer. Hubs takes a pic and shows me. I almost vomited. I AM 25 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was a whole big ol’ blob of grey in my hair!!!!! Rachel said she didn’t tell me because she thought I knew. Please. I would have ripped my hair out.

7. Turns out I did have *some* grey strands of hair. I also had a section of my hair that wasn’t fully grey. Turns out I got toilet cleaner in my hair. Toilet cleaner bleaches hair…just in case you didn’t know that.

8. At least my disaster had a positive outlook. I told Hubs that the grey was the last straw. I was getting my hair fixed. Highlighted. Colored. Whatever it took. He agreed.

9. I KNEW God wanted me to have highlighted hair.

10. Rachel saved the day and did it (the highlighting) for me…for free! I just had to buy the stuff. Now I’m a hot momma once again. Ok…maybe just my head. Oh well. That’ll do donkey…that’ll do.

11. By the way, the Space Place is not worth the price you pay for it. I mean…it’s cool and all but seriously? $40 a person? Let’s be real. I could have gone to Disney for that price and then paraded around all day like a princess. A princess with grey hair.

12. Lately I’ve really been wondering something about motherhood. I know that when man sinned, God said he would greatly increase our pain in childbirth. I can read. I understand that. What I don’t get is why we have to suffer through pregnancy, childbirth, sleepless nights, and then still, even a year and a half later, still be reminded we birthed a child each time we look in the mirror. I didn’t forget I had her!!! I see her everyday. Why do I have to carry around physical reminders such as the “hula hoop” around the waist, stretch marks in place you don’t want to know about, hips that don’t quite look the same, etc.? WHY?????

13. Also, why doesn’t my husband have these reminders? Oh wait. He didn’t carry her, puke because of her, spend 48 hours in labor, and then deliver her. Men get the fun part. Durn it.

14. I made the decision this week to become one of those crazy exercise freaks that runs 7 times a day and watches tv doing sit-ups. I figure if I spend every day like that, I won’t continue to be reminded of pregnancy and child birth.

15. That decision lasted all of about one day. I ran. Around my house. To the tune of The Backyardigans.

16. I’m pretty sure had someone else been in our house, Ansleigh would have been ashamed and embarrassed by her momma for the first time in her life.

Have an awesome weekend ya’ll! Leave me lots of comments while I’m gone. Wait. Let’s be real. Hardly ever does someone comment. You must all secretly hate me. BOOO. Still, have a good weekend.

I lurve you all for putting up with me.

An Opinion...MY Opinion

2009-05-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

When my Buggy was a tiny little tot and was eating 796 times a day (or really 8), I remember sitting in the living room feeding her in the middle of the night. I had the tv on and somehow it ended up on TLC.

Yep, you guessed it. I was watching Jon & Kate: Plus 8. I didn't know anything about it. It was just something that was on in the middle of the night that wasn't an infomercial. Several episodes were on and I kept watching. I was intrigued.

You see...Ansleigh had colic.

Wait. That's an understatement not many people REALLY understand. My child screamed pretty much 24 hours a day and my husband was on second shift building something to go into space. My life was a blur of tiredness. Then all of a sudden, here's this woman who has 8 kids. Little kids. EIGHT OF THEM.

I guess I kind of identified. I mean...no matter how much Ansleigh screamed, at least there weren't six of them doing it at one time! I mean...seriously.

So I started watching it whenever "nothing" was on. Then I started recording it. And Hubs started watching with me. I don't care who you are....6 partially Asian toddlers are dang cute.

I really enjoyed hearing the little ones say things like "aldergator" and "Hannah pooped. In Hannah's underwears."

Yes, Kate is somewhat....abrasive. But let's just be honest here....if you had that many kids and at that point in time were struggling to make ends meet, you'd be abrasive too.

It is true too that she's tough on Jon, not really the model of a Proverbs 31 wife. Let me just say this....SHE IS HUMAN and she makes mistakes. I am by no means her bff. I don't know her. What I do know is that she does her best to do what is right for her family and is openly raising her children to know about who God is. She tries her best (or at least she did) to keep God in the front of her mind so she didn't lose her mind.

So here it is...I've outed myself. I like to watch the show.

Now...unless you have moved off of planet Earth, you know at least something about the drama going on with them . There are rumors that Jon has been cheating on Kate. Rumors that Kate is too affectionate with her bodyguard. Rumors about divorce. But you see...that's the thing. Unless you are Jon or Kate, that's all they are....rumors.

I'm not an idiot. I know there is trouble in paradise. I know that there are people rooting for them to work it out and a whole lot more people waiting to see it all become one big disaster. There are people who absolutely adore the Gosslin family and people who can't stand them. I sort of straddle the fence, leaning over towards the side of loving them.

I think Kate shouldn't scream at and boss her husband. I think Jon should grow up and realize that he is a celebrity regardless of if he wanted to be or not and he can't act like he's 22. I think they should have beaten Mady's little butt often when she was being so sassy and throwing fits. I think a lot of things but it doesn't matter what I think. It matters what God thinks.

Cut these people some slack. If things work out, great! If they don't, it will be heartbreaking for all of them. The fame that has come with their show and changed their lifestyle has made an impact on their family. You don't see Kate's Bible verses plastered all over the house anymore. They both admitted on camera that they are putting on a happy face for the kids. Satan is attacking them from EVERY angle. Why? Because they are popular and because they have admitted they are christians. It is so easy to get caught up in the latest gossip. I'm horrible about being so interested in trashy celebrity gossip. But the more we read about Jon and Kate and the more people obsess over it, the more their lives are going to be plastered all over tabloids.

Love them. Hate them. I don't care.

All I'm saying is that when you know your brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering, shouldn't you be praying for them? They need strength and wisdom. They need honesty and real love. They don't need us tearing them down and talking about how we hate them and Kate is so mean and blah, blah, blah.

I'm not trying to be a TLC advocate by any means. It kind of bugs me that they still get everything free (Gymboree clothing for 8, free trips, etc.) when they are financially doing quite well but you know what? Whatevs. It isn't any of my business what people give them out of the goodness of their hearts (or a business plug).

God tells us that we are supposed to love our neighbors as ourselves. Better yet. Love your neighbors the way you love your family and friends. If your bestie was going through a situation where she had 8 kids and her husband may be messing around on her, and her life seemed to be falling apart, you'd have her on the prayer list EVERY week in Sunday school. You'd be sending her verses of encouragment. You would be genuine in your efforts to help break Satan's hold on her life.

So do it. Not because she's your best friend, but because she is your sister in Christ and God commanded us to.

I mean...that's all I'm sayin.

Early

2009-05-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

Chad, Rachel, T, and AC are on their way here as I type so I'm doing my confessions a day early.

Sunday I went to church with a wicked bad migraine. I figured it was either suffer at home and take care of child, or suffer with God, childless for two hours.
I have earned my domestic goddess crown this week. Today alone I have cleaned both bathrooms (nooks and crannies included), mopped, swept, vacuumed, dusted, washed a sink full of dishes, baked, washed another sink full of dishes, cleaned the kitchen, picked up the house, made the beds, and prepared for our guests. I've also cooked our dinner EVERY night this week.
After all the domestic loveliness....I'm pooped.
That means Hubs is picking up pizza on the way home. :)
My child and I have been in a head-to-head battle all week. She thinks it is acceptable to scream "NO!" to me. I don't believe it is.
I WILL WIN. Mark my words.
Last night, when I was trying to go to sleep, I had a whole long list of these to post. Some of them were even clever. Dang it!
It has rained here. All week. Like...every minute of every day. I was starting to wonder if Hubs needed to go buy some lumber and we needed to start working on our Ark.
Turns out. We don't need to.
Yet.
I FINALLY got pro status on Wii Bowling after months of playing that blasted thing.
I vowed to never play again as to not lose the pro status.
Then I played again anyway...now the pro status is gone. BOO.

Well that's enough boring you for this week. Have an amazing long weekend! :)

MUCH LOVE!

Friday Confessions

2009-05-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

I have a phobia of running out of toilet paper. Seriously.
I got it from her:
Her bathroom had what was basically a toiletry closet without a door and the whole thing was always full of toilet paper.
You must not get it yet. From ceiling to floor and about 4 feet wide. ALL FULL OF TOILET PAPER.
She was the most awesome old lady you'd ever meet. Hattie Lee--my great grandma.
She sewed my great grandfather up in the sheets one time. She also shot him in the stomach. She was a boot-legger out of necessity. She used to watch for the mail man using binoculars. I'm pretty sure she wore a sweatshirt almost every day of my life. She used to "dance a jig" for me. She was a cat racist--she hated the black ones. I could go on forever. She was so cool.
Back to my phobia, I keep at least 12 rolls of toilet paper in each bathroom at all times. Somehow, this week, I noticed that we were running low in our bathroom.
I never made it to the store.
Then, yesterday, I almost had a panic attack because we got down to two rolls--one on the holder and one in the basket.
This morning I bought (with coupons!!!!) a twelve pack at Publix and breathed a sigh of relief.
I think the phobia set in during my childhood when there was always only one roll of toilet paper being passed back and forth from the two bathrooms. I could never remember which bathroom had the toilet paper. Somehow, I always picked the one that didn't have any and would then have to scream for 5 minutes for someone to bring me some.
I blame my parents.
They totally should have moved always having toilet paper up higher on the priority list.
I vowed that would NEVER happen in my house.
I also have a phobia of running out of feminine products. We won't discuss this further.
Not long after we got married, I got attacked by a spider.
This is what resulted from that spider bite:
It's pretty, huh?
In less than a week, the Awesomes will be at our house. Be jealous.
I used to be really skinny. You know...when I was in high school. Here's proof:
I sure do miss those days.
On Facebook, people keep posting those "5 things....blah, blah, blah."
Yes, I know I'm one of them. MOVING ON....there is one that is the top 5 things other people seem to love that you hate. I could totally do this one.
American Idol. Reese's cups. Coffee. Sienfeld.
Hmmm....so many other's to choose from. I can't decide what to choose for my fifth one.
That's why I posted it here and not on Facebook. Haha.

Happy Friday, Y'all!!!!

chirp chirp tweet tweet

2009-05-14T13:44:00.001-07:00

So it's official. I finally joined Twitter.

But probably not why you'd think. Yes, Anthony is on there. But that isn't why I joined it. Yes, it is the newest technology craze. But that isn't why either. Let me tell you the story.

Once upon a time (yesterday), in a far away land (Florida) PrincessMommy (me) got an email invite. It said, Dear PrincessMommy, Random Person wants to invite you to Twitter.

I didn't know who Random Person was. So I clicked the link. It took me straight to sign up. I was about to click away when I decided that it was really bothering me that I didn't know who Random Person was. So I joined. And it showed me who Random Person was. It told me that I was now following Random Person.

Now. I'm not following Random Person. Weirdo. But I am on Twitter so you can send me some tweets or whatever they call it.

By the way, Random Person really does have a name but I didn't think it would be sweet of me to call them out and then call them a weirdo. ;)

My name is....and I have a problem.

2009-05-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

This is Ansleigh's hairbow holder. Minus one or two bows....and minus any that grew legs and ran away.

I just recently cleaned it out and gave a bag full of bows to my sweet friend for her little Lily.

So Bugs has a bow. Or two. Or 57.

And this one is on its way to my house.

So is this one.

And I really would like to get this one, this one, this one in different colors, pretty much all of her big ol' bows. Oh and this one...in fact I'd take several of the ones she makes.

And these for Buggy's Crocs.

Hi. My name is Carrie and I have a problem. I'm addicted to bows.

P.S.

2009-05-13T12:48:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Edward Cullen/Rob Pattinson. :)

I Wish...

2009-05-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

I wish the laundry took care of itself. More specifically, I wish the clothes would wash themselves, dry themselves, fold and iron themselves, and then neatly put themselves away.
I wish dinner would cook itself and the dishes would then follow suit and wash themselves.
Really, I just wish our appliance, the dishwasher worked, and I no longer had to be said dishwasher.
I wish there was no need for sweeping, mopping, dusting, and vacuuming.
I wish our crispy brown grass would water itself.
Or better yet, I wish it would rain.
I wish Ansleigh could change her own diaper. :) Yes...that would be lovely.
I wish 99% of commercials did not exist.
I wish those stupid "Jump Arounds" did not exist. If you are a Noggin Momma, you know what I'm talking about and you know you wish the same thing.
I wish that when they aren't being played with, the toys would come to life and clean themselves up.
Although I usually enjoy it, right now I wish my coupons would clip and organize themselves. All the expired ones would then take a dive into my garbage.
I wish my house would magically cool itself off so we wouldn't have to run the air 24/7 and run up our power bill.
I wish I had an Oscar Myer wiener. No. No, I don't.
I wish more people dressed their kids in smocked clothes
I wish more people REALLY understood the importance of a girl wearing a hair bow :)
I wish the sensor for the "low coolant" in my car would stop being a liar and telling me that the coolant is low when it is quite far from it (it is full for crying out loud!).
I wish babysitters were free. All the time. Wouldn't it be awesome if people just volunteered to come keep your child while you and hubs galavant around the town?
I wish it was naptime. Wait. I think it might be. G'night y'all!

What it is About

2009-05-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm drowning in a sea of congestion.

It is 5:30 and Bugs and I are STILL in our pj's.

She just fed me teddy grahams. Teddy grahams that she found in her leap frog learning table.

When did she put them there?

mmmm...stale teddy grahams.

But she's so happy to be sharing with mommy, who could deny her the pleasure?

Oh and my daddy bought her a softball (a real one) this weekend and she threw it at me. I'm 25% sure she broke my finger as she was about 6 inches from me when she threw it.

That's a lie. It isn't broken, but it still hurts. Real bad.

She's been trying to blow her nose all day because mommy is.

Even when I'm not at the top of my game, she still melts my heart.

That's what being a mommy is about :) That and some big fat slobbery tongue kisses.

It's That Time Again....

2009-05-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

It is Friday. You know what that means :)

I really don't have that much to confess this week. Hmm...
I decided I want to get a tattoo.
No seriously.
I want it to say "Holy to the Lord." I want it in white ink on the inside of my wrist. Just for me as a reminder that no matter what a screw up I can be, I am still holy in the sight of the Lord, thanks be to my sweet Jesus.
I seriously doubt I will actually get the tattoo...but I want it. Real bad.
I watched part of Sweet Home Alabama the other night.
I think just watching part of it I regained some of my southernness.
I understand how she (Reese) feels when she says that "When I'm in New York, that's home. But this feels right too." Or something like that. Alabama is home, but this feels right too. :)
Ansleigh got put in "time out" this week at child care (while I was in Bible study) for being mean to sweet little Gabe. When I found out, I laughed.
My momma and daddy are on their way to come visit and I could not be happier. Seriously. I'm sittin' here peein' in my pants with excitement just thinkin' about it.
You couldn't hear it, but there was a whole lotta "southern" in that last sentence.
Last year was my first Mother's Day and honestly it didn't feel like much of a big deal to me.
This year, I am overwhelmed with love. I'll have my momma here and my BugBug. Three generations here celebrating together.
I'm learning a lot about marriage. I guess God is trying to teach me how to have the best marriage possible.
The end.

Is it Normal?

2009-05-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

is it normal that I never make my child eat in her highchair, usually let her eat off her plate that sits on the floor, and let her eat off our plates?
is it normal that because of this my child thinks all food is community food?
is it normal that I bought a pair of Ugg boots and paid WAY too much money for them, knowing that I live in Central Florida and will only be able to really wear them a month out of the year?
is it normal that it is 3:12 and I'm still in the same shirt I slept in and soffee shorts?
is it normal that I get *almost* as excited as my little Buggy-boo when Yo Gabba Gabba comes on?
is it normal that I bought fresh green beans yesterday so that I could cook the handful of mine that I picked?
is it normal that I paid a babysitter so I could go to the grocery store alone yesterday?
is it normal that the majority of my friends are not even remotely close to my age?
is it normal that my child has so many hairbows that her hairbow holder is completely full and bows are now clipped to other bows?
is it normal that I'm still buying her bows?
is it normal that I somehow always seem to miss my mouth when I'm eating and spill food or drink on myself?
is it normal that my mood went from completely blah to totally excited just because a friend of my SIL (Rach) reads this blog and thinks I'm funny.
is SHE normal for thinking I'm funny? :)
is it normal that I decided to go sit out on the porch because I was freezing, but then came right back inside because I was sweating outside?
is it normal that I'm completely head-over-heals in LURVE with my niece and nephew?
is it normal that I'm already buying my niece/nephew-to-be stuff even though we don't know what shim is yet?

Okay, enough with the randomness. I will leave you with this lovely story:

Sunday evening we were at the church beach picnic and while we were eating, our Pastor was talking to Anthony and me. He was asking me different questions and we were talking about me coaching and then he says, "Can they understand you?"

Seriously. The pastor of our church asked me if people can understand me. Not because I'm fluent in Spanish either. Because I am apparently THAT southern. Wow. :)

**Side note: he was just kidding, but still....wow.

Afternoon Thoughts...

2009-05-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Most people don't live in the same place their whole lives. Most people don't even live in the same county their whole lives. Some do. But most don't.

Where I come from, they do.

I grew up in Smalltown, Alabama. Population: who knows?

My parents lived there. My grandparents (both sets) lived there. My great-grandmother lived next door to me. Great aunts and uncles live there. Cousins. Regular aunts and uncles.

Most of the people I went to school with had the same type of situation.

My parents graduated from the same high school that my sister and I graduated from. In fact, my great aunt was in the first graduating class there.

In Smalltown, Alabama, most people don't even leave for college. They go to the local college, the local community college, or a combination of both. RARE is a person who leaves for college and even rarer is a person who leaves and doesn't return to build their life there.

The majority of my life, I never really gave much thought to what my life would be like and more specifically, where I would live. I mean, I assumed the "normal" husband, babies, house, etc. But there was never really a location involved. I guess in the back of my mind I thought it would be there in my hometown.

As I entered high school and really started being serious about college, it was ALWAYS Auburn. I wanted to go to Auburn. The closer graduation approached, even with a scholarship offer from the local college, it was STILL Auburn. In fact, I was bound and determined I was going to be different than everyone else in my hometown. Out of the 120 people in my graduating class, MAYBE 10 of us left for another college. I was the only one who went to Auburn.

I got adjusted to living away from home. I met Anthony and fell in love. After a year of being "undecided" I declared a major and worked toward a graduation date. Anthony steadily approached a graduation date. We got engaged. We got married. I finished my one class I needed (along with a few that I didn't need). I interned. I graduated. I got a job while he was in grad school.

It really wasn't until then that "location" started popping up in my head. Where will he get a job? Where will we live? I started looking into the possibilities, but NEVER did I picture even really living outside of Alabama. My hometown was not an option and frankly, I didn't really want it to be. As the job offer locations expanded, I began grasping. I wanted whatever was closest.

And then...he interviewed in sunny, Central Florida. My heart stopped. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. Then...he loved it. Apparently he did not hear my NO's. Then, he got some job offers and the others didn't even compare to the one in sunny, Central Florida. I had no choice. We had to go. God wanted us to. It was what was best for us. Ugh.

So I toughed it out and began trying to form some type of a life here. When we moved I was pregnant. We had our Bug and life has taken on normalcy for us. This is our home. I like it here. I love our house. I love our church. I love our friends.

But sometimes...I wonder what our life would be like if we were in Smalltown, Alabama. Where generations of family are.

I look at facebook, at all my "friends" from there. They all still live there. Two of my friends teach at the elementary school we grew up in. Several go to the church I grew up at. Lots of people I know are having babies at the same hospital we were born in.

I never thought about those options because well...I didn't have them.

It is something I can appreciate now though. The people I know that live there take those things for granted. Even if they realize the niceness of it, it probably won't mean as much to them as it could to me. They don't know just how nice it is to have Grandma & Grandpa down the street to babysit at any given moment. They can't appreciate the niceness of passing down school traditions. They can't possibly understand the easiness of being able to make it to all the family holiday functions in one day. They really don't even understand the convienence and comfort in knowing where everything thing is and where the best places for dance class and t-ball are.

I do not regret my life or my location. I praise God for my husband and my child. I have been blessed abundantly.

But sometimes...

it'd be nice to have that stuff.

She is REAL!?!?!?!

2009-04-29T20:59:00.001-07:00

As a little girl, it seems like I spent almost every weekend at my Mimi's house. My sister, all my cousins (all girls, mind you), and I would go over on Friday night. Make a mess of her house. Watch a movie. Play in her "lingerie" (which was really just silk nightgowns and robes), eventually fall asleep, and wake up on Saturday morning to Papa Sid singing some insane song about sunshine and good mornings. Then we'd have pancakes and receive our lecture on manners.

Mimi was always adamant that we be well-mannered little ladies. She always referred to Miss Manners. "Miss Manners says this..." or "Miss Manners says that...."

Tonight, after years of not thinking of that stuff, I was reminded.

Miss Manners really does exist. Wow.

Seriously, we thought she made that stuff up.

Southern Lady Southernness

2009-04-29T20:27:00.001-07:00

I've been really wanting to do a post (or 10) about all that encompasses being southern. Tonight, I ran across this and simply could not put it better myself. :) I LOVE IT!

Southern Belle Etiquette--I have linked it (to give proper credit) but you are welcome to read it here. It kind of makes my heart smile.

Living in the South brings its own set of rules, especially to young girls and women. While these rules are not written, most southern belles learn them from their mothers and grandmothers. The rules involve entertaining, cooking, education and attitude.

A true southern belle has a charm that radiates whenever she enters the room. Her genuine smile and sweet southern drawl will turn anyone's head.

A true southern belle is always ready to help. She volunteers for organizations without a second thought. She is active in her community and also through her children's schools. She takes on projects that no one else will consider. This is her second nature.

A true southern belle does not care about the money. More than likely her family does not have much of it. Antiques and family traditions are more important. She would much rather have her mother's china or her grandmother's wedding band to hand down to her own family.

A true Southern belle knows her manners. She knows to put her napkin in her lap and to say "ma'am" and "sir". She says "excuse me" when she accidentally bumps into someone and "thank you" for gifts and compliments.

A true southern belle knows how to dress appropriately. She knows not to wear too revealing clothing in public.. However, she knows how to dress seductively in private.

A true southern belle knows how to entertain and cook. She always has a pitcher of iced tea prepared for her family as well as unexpected guests. She can cook fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and biscuits. She has her mother's peach cobbler recipe tucked away in a safe place. Even if she can not cook biscuits, she knows how to buy them from the store and disguise them as her own.

A true southern belle knows the importance of education. She will finish high school, even if it is public education, and pursue further education at a public or private college or university. She will finish her college education and use the knowledge she has acquired in a career that brings personal satisfaction as well as honor to her family.

A true southern belle values her friends. She showers them with kindness and affection and expects nothing in return. She will do everything she can to ensure their happiness and well being. She leans on them for support and expects them to do the same with her.

Living in the South does not qualify every girl as a southern belle. A southern belle displays a grace that only few seem to show. It takes time, education, and perseverance to become a true southern belle.

More Friday Confessions....

2009-04-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

bahaha. No pun intended.

I am masochistic. Sunday I ate at McDonald's for lunch on the way to the Art Festival. Sunday night, we had McDonald's on the way home from the dessert fellowship. Monday night Ansleigh and I had McDonald's on the way to Anthony's softball game. I could feel my insides rotting. Ugh. I hate it when convenience wins.
Monday I did a week's worth of one of my Bible studies in a day so I'd be prepared for the meeting Monday night. Then....I skipped the meeting to go to the softball games.
Tuesday evening, I cooked dinner. I mean....really cooked. I made spaghetti (which I haven't made in a while) with whole wheat pasta (spaghetti for us, rotini for Bugs). I defrosted and cooked the organic lean ground beef. I chopped up fresh parsley that I'm growing. I put in diced organic tomatoes. Yummy cheese. The point is, I worked harder than I usually do. When it was over with, I seriously felt like I deserved an award. Not because it was sooooo sinfully good (which it was) but because I actually made an effort. Bad Mommy!
Thursday I went to Bible study without my Bible or my study book.
Idiot.
I did remember all the snacks though :)
My husband loves me sooooo very much that he let me talk him into reading something I wanted him to---you know, so I could talk to him about it. He is now currently experiencing the coma. My, how I love him so.
Husband signed us up for a month free trial of Amazon Prime--you order and you get it two days later. You pay a yearly fee and as a result, don't pay a shipping cost. Because of this month free trial, I feel the need to order every book I've ever wanted for my child. Hmmm.
Because of Prime, we've gotten three Yo Gabba Gabba books and a DVD, just this week.
I've recently suckered several of my friends into my couponing madness. Finally, I'm not alone.
I started working on this post early in the week so I wouldn't forget the good stuff I came up with. What a loser.
Last weekend, Ansleigh got up earlier than usual and to keep my eyelids open, I did a general search on Etsy for hair bows. It turned up 994 pages of results.
I looked at over 500 of them.
I ended up buying three sets of hairbows.
I no longer have a bath tub full of clean clothes. They are all put away, finally.
Now I have both sides of the sink full of dirty dishes.
I want some french toast. In a real bad way.
Still.
I wanted it for dinner last night but was too tired/sick to go get some.
Kearsie--copying is the highest form of a compliment. :) Consider this a weekly compliment.

Realizations

2009-04-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

In the last hour or so I've come to a few different realizations.

I feel like a totally different person--more like myself--when I'm dressed cute and have my hair fixed and make up on.
I was reading about "extravagant love." What does that make you think of? The first thing I thought of was, "Oh! The way Edward loves Bella! His love is so extravagant!" Then the realization came...God's love for me is sooooo much more extravagant than Edward's love could EVER be! God adores me. He wants to bless me abundantly! He wants to clothe me in garments of righteousness!
How silly it is that the first thing I thought of was Twilight but how amazing my God is that he can use silly earthly things to help me understand the magnitude of His love for me!
Going back to realization #1--I've been studying Esther and I was just blown away when I read that when she was first taken into the harem, she was given a year's worth of "beauty treatments." A year's worth of anything that would make her more beautiful! Can't you just imagine that!?!?! A year's worth of days at the salon having someone fix your hair for you, having your make up done professionally, tanning beds, massages, facials, manicures and pedicures---FOR A YEAR. Yes, please. This week in my Frazzled Female study, I was reading about how God has clothed us in royal attire and how the spiritual world sees us in that royal attire. Now you know as well as I do that when we are in our "royal" --best--attire, we carry ourselves differently. Our heads are held a little higher. There is more of a bounce in our step. We are more confident. Just think...God sees us dressed that way every single day! He wants to give us a lifetime of spiritual beauty treatments. How good that is for our souls! Just think about how good physical beauty treatments make us feel, then compare that to how our spiritual selves will feel after God gets a hold of us!

Now I know, some of you, when you read the title to this blog, were thinking this would be some kind of realizations about myself and how lame I am. Maybe you even thought you'd find a smidgey-smidge of humor here. Instead, you found a 1-2-punch. A blog about God. While that ultimately is the most important thing I could EVER blog about, just to keep things interesting, here are a few realizations that are probably more like what you expected to see.

I must be either the lamest or the laziest person alive. I have now painted over my chipped toenail polish, not once, but twice. Lame.
If you are spraying sunscreen, you should be more aware of where the wind is blowing. You see....if you spray yourself with sunscreen and the wind blows it away from your body, you won't actually get sunscreen on yourself. This leads to unsightly sunburn and lovely tan lines. I came to this realization yesterday. Idiot.
I seem to be attracted to things that are addicting. I have found myself saying, "_______ is like crack. I love it." entirely too often these days. Twilight...I love it. It's like crack. Krispy Kreme donuts ....I love them. They are like crack. Couponing...I love it. Saving that much money is like crack. Ebay...I LOVE IT. It is like crack. Why must I be so addicted? And why do I compare it to crack? I have never had any experience with crack. Hmmm....
I never seem to be super tight with people my own age. I'm always either really close to people younger than me, or more recently in life, with people that have seen more years than I have. Why is that? I must be a weirdo.

Okay--I'm done for the day. Peace out yo.

2009-04-24T21:12:00.001-07:00

I know that three blog posts in a little over 24 hours is a bit much, but I have something on my heart right now that I would really like to share.

Tonight Anthony and I watched Fireproof for the first time. Yes, I know we're a tad bit late on this but let's just move on. Let me preface this by saying that I know it is just a movie but it is a God-inspired movie. A tool.

Anthony and I have been together for a little over 7 years now. We've been through all kind of phases in our relationship from the point where we just couldn't get enough of each other, to what I like to think as real love and togetherness, to best friendship, and now...we're at something else. I mentioned in a previous post that Twilight didn't make me fall in love with Edward Cullen but in all actuality, it made me more aware of my love for my husband.

Tonight, I realized that God used Twilight--a book about vampires--as a tool to reach me. He had something he wanted to show me.....

my husband.

I love my husband. I LOVE him. I love him in the 1 Corinthians 13 sense, but I love him in the ewey-gooey love story sense too.

I had forgotten that.

Sometimes everyday life distracts me. I have gotten so used to him being a daddy and a provider and my friend that I somehow lost sight of my husband. It almost saddens me that it took a book to remind me of that.

Lately it seems like people are getting divorced left and right and even married people seem to be at each other's throats. I have a hard time understanding how it can get to that point because I've never been there. Thankfully, God got my attention before we could even get headed in that direction.

I love my husband. My heart still flutters when I look at him. His kisses still get me like they did when we first started dating....maybe even more. I find comfort and joy in holding his hand. I look forward to the time I get to spend with him, even if it is just watching tv. When he's gone to choir practice or a softball game, I miss him. I wish he was here with me.

Yall, I am in love with my husband. And frankly, not enough people are in love with their husbands.

So I guess what I am going to leave you with is this: GO FIND YOUR HUSBAND AND BE IN LOVE WITH HIM!!!!!!!! :)

Keyboard Confessions 2.0

2009-04-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

Because I really loved doing the last one....

And because there are a few things I really should confess.

1. Wednesday morning I did something shameful. I had a glazed Krispy Kreme donut. Then...I had another one--covered in chocolate. I washed that down with a cherry coke. For breakfast. It was so good.

2. Last night while I was lying in bed, I came up with a big long list of these "confessions." Now I can only seem to remember the one.

3. Our bathtub is filled with clean clothes. Clean clothes that hang. Clean clothes that should be hanging in our closet, but I'm too lazy to hang them.

4. At the foot of our bed, we have two laundry baskets full of clean, folded clothes. Clean, folded clothes that should be put away. But I'm too lazy to do that either.

5. Because of this, hubs has to scrounge for clothes to wear each morning. I think he's becoming frustrated. He would never tell me this because he loves me too much...and also because I might suggest he put all those clothes up.

6. Saturday, we got Twilight (the movie) in the mail from Netflix. I watched it Saturday night. And Sunday night. Then all the extras. And then I watched it Tuesday night too. I have a problem.

7. I created a quiz on Facebook that people could take to see how well they know me.

8. I'm completely surprised at how many people have taken this quiz.

9. Also, apparently only my husband and my sister-in-law really know me well. My mom claims that is because the questions were trick questions. I disagree.

10. I must have been misleading people since almost everyone answered that I would rather bungee jump than eat at McDonald's. It is likely that I would bungee jump, given the opportunity. It is also true that I HATE McDonald's, however, I will never, ever, ever sing in front of other people...where they can hear me. .Ever. I do occasionally eat at McDonald's.

11. It seems I have earned the reputation of someone who eats healthy foods and preaches about buying organic....because I do. Then, when no one is looking (0r sometimes when my whole mom's group is looking) I inhale two donuts.

12. One time, a couple of years ago, we were visiting my in-laws and we were playing a game of Take 2 (similar to Scrabble) and I spelled the f-word. I couldn't make ANY other words. And it was a lot of points. A lot. Now....my brother-in-law and sister-in-law won't let me forget that I did it.

13. Yesterday, while at my weekly Beth Moore Bible study, I think God used Beth to encourage me to get my hair highlighted.

14. What really happened is that she made a joke about being blonder than she pays to be. I just interpreted that to be that God approves of me wasting entirely too much money to highlight my hair.

15. My child got up earlier than usual yesterday morning. To fill in some time before leaving the house, I straightened my hair. And left it down.

16. When hubs came home, he was surprised to see that I was all gussied up, and not what he usually finds....someone still in her pj's.

17. I noticed at Bible study that several of the ladies looked at me like I was a new girl. They weren't quite sure of who I was. Can fixing your hair instead of putting it into a ponytail really make that big of a difference?

18. I kept my cute clothes on and my hairs all did throughout the day in hopes that hubs would want to go out to eat for dinner. It worked. Except that me being dressed really had nothing to do with it. I just like to think that it did.

19. Last night I had a party. A Wii bowling pity party. No one else was invited. I'm NEVER going to reach pro status. Grrr.

20. Wednesday while washing dishes, I somehow managed to dump ALL the water from the sink all down the front of my clothes. Instead of changing clothes, I left my wet knit dress on...all day. That's about how long it took for it to dry too. All day. What a loser.

I Don't Shop at Walmart

2009-04-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

Wednesday morning I "taught" (I use that term very loosely) a session on couponing at my mom's group.

Some questions came up about Walmart and I answered them as best I could and then for some reason I mentioned, "I don't shop at Walmart." I was then attacked by a tidal wave of why not's.

Uh....

Er.....

Because I don't.

Seriously. I usually do not shop at Walmart. Even before I started couponing, I didn't shop at Walmart unless I HAD to.

Walmart is crowded. Walmart is stressful. Plus, I have a love affair with Publix and with Target. Because of this love affair, I have no need to go to Walmart unless I need something from the craft department or unless it is the middle of the night.

I know that generally speaking, Walmart is cheaper, but somehow, I find a way around that and still come out saving money. Somehow.

By the way, I should mention that as I write this post, Hubs is gone to Walmart to buy ice cream.
Ah...the irony.

Keyboard Confessions

2009-04-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Periodically, my friend (I call her that although we've never met) Kearsie does Keyboard Confessions on her blog and I absolutely love the randomness. It makes me giggle. Today she posted another one and in celebration of her, I'm doing one too.

1. I somehow got WAAAAY behind on my Beth Moore Bible study and so this Wednesday night (the night prior to the study meeting) I did two weeks of the study in one sitting. I was so proud of myself until I got to study and realized I was still a week behind. Humph.

2. I refuse to let my child watch Lazy Town or The Wiggles. They creep me out.

3. I rather entusiastically let my child watch Yo Gabba Gabba....twice a day. I'm such a contradiction.

4. I tried watching American Idol with my momma last week and it still bores me to tears. I literally cannot stand to watch it. I'm a fool for Dancing With the Stars though. Again...a contradiction.

5. This morning, I took a nap from 9-12 while my little one was napping. She is now napping again and I'm trying my best to hold my eyelids open to resist taking another nap. What a loser I am. Or--I have some kind of deficiency.

6. Tonight we are going to dinner with some friends and as far as I know, the plan is to go to a slightly pricey Italian place. I'm excited about going to dinner with other humans but at the same time, I'd prefer to go somewhere cheaper. I hate to think we'll be spending $40 + on dinner.

7. I don't want to spend money on an amazing dinner, but I do want to spend twice the amount to get my hair highlighted. Makes sense to me. :)

8. My friend had a minor outpatient surgery this morning and I was a nervous wreck all morning. Which is strange for me because usually things like that don't phase me at all. Does that make me generally heartless or just really in lurve with my friend?

9. I had a slightly strange dream this morning (during my nap) about my sister-in-law and her cutting my hair. It was weird but I'm wondering if that dream was God's way of telling me to get a haircut...and maybe some highlights while I am there.

10. Today I learned not to take a 16-month-old to Target and let her down....to walk....on her own. I chased said child all over the store. She had a blast. I almost had a panic attack.

11. I thought I was finished with this...then I looked at my inspiration. Turns out I'm doing 15 instead of 10.

12. I secretly like *some* country music. Please don't tell anyone.

13. All my life I've been the beauty pageant kid....I'm okay with that. I actually kind of like it. Then I saw a picture of someone's child (age 4-ish) with a crown 7 times the size of her head. SHE IS A PAGEANT KID.

14. More times than not, when I take a drink of something, I miss my mouth and soak my shirt. This occasionally happens with my food too. Especially when there is marinara sauce involved. I've often been tempted to lick the marinara sauce off the shirt.

15. I love that my husband lets me put up a front that I'm well-mannered and lady-like and a good housewife. Because frankly, I'm not, but I want people to think I am. Shhh....don't tell.

Happy Friday!!! :)

A Fan?!?! Really???

2009-04-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

Vanessa has shocked me and bestowed upon me this honor. I am kind of amazed. Now at least I know one person is my fan :) And also...I'm avoiding hanging up/putting up clothes.

8 Things I Look Forward To:

The Mommy retreat in May---I'm almost giddy about it
My date with hubs this weekend to watch the movie Twilight
Our visit from Chad, Rachel, T, & AC in May
Finding out if Baby St. John is pink or blue!!!
Starting my new cheerleading program at Heritage High
Having another sweet baby (NOT SOON and for sure not the pregnancy part)
Nap time...so I can have a nap
Heaven (stealing this from Nessa because I can't come up with anything else and this is in fact true)

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

Sew...well
Be a part-time English teacher
See my friends/family that live far away more often
Get my hair highlighted....dude. I know I can. But it cost money.
Remove my "hula hoop" around my waist so lovingly donated to me by Ansleigh. Even if this involved Lipo. Seriously.
Get a pet.
Get a new wardrobe
Sell children's clothing for a living.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

Took a much longer nap than I should have.
Did two weeks of my Beth Moore study in one night.
Washed dishes.
Put away clean dishes.
Cooked dinner.
Unpacked.
Browsed Ebay
Talked to a friend

8 Shows I Watch:

Chuck
Dancing With The Stars
Ugly Betty
Grey's Anatomy
The Office
CSI: NY
Heroes
House

I am a fan of:

Winn

Sounds Like Tomatoes

Malerie

and 7,000 other people. :) But they are the ones who get the love today.

CAN'T. GET. ENOUGH.

2009-04-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in a while. I gave you my excuse. :)

I haven't really posted anything about couponing or my savings because I haven't needed to go to the store. Kind of weird and also awesome all at the same time. We've been stocked up on stuff and traveling so there wasn't a need. I did have to run to Target while we were in Anniston to buy more diapers (and bought a few more things) and saved $7 and some change. Yesterday I made my Publix trip to fill our empty fridge and saved $32 and some change. I probably could have done better on savings but I really rushed myself while planning.

Anyway, on to better things.

I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF TWILIGHT!!!! It is ridiculous. Seriously. In the past two weeks I've read all four books....TWICE. It's like crack. Seriously.

I find myself consumed with it.

Not in that "Oh Edward Cullen, he's so hot, I want to marry him" kind of way, but more that it is just such a good book. It is well written and a quick read. It is intriguing. I find myself relating to the characters. It's like a good movie. Speaking of movies, no, I haven't seen it yet. I will. Give me a chance.

There are several ideas/questions I keep coming up with that I'd like to run past some people, but at the same time, if I put it here, will it spoil it for those who haven't read it yet?

One thing I will say....

I know a lot of people are super obsessed with Edward Cullen and it kind of makes them "hate" on their own fella. Edward Cullen is a gentleman. He's a nice guy. But let me tell you...he is no Anthony Friday. :)

What I mean is that reading the story makes me appreciate my husband for how awesome he is. It reminds me of the days of our new love. Back when I literally could not bear to see him leave. When I got chills from holding his hand or even from a simple kiss. I find myself striving to get some of that new love back. So in my case, reading this FICTIONAL book has had a positive influence on me.

I'm not sorry I read the book. I'm not sorry I've wasted two weeks of my life (and probably more to come) doing not much other than reading. I like these books.

So there.

2009-04-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

Dear (insert name here),

Please excuse Carrie from her recent extended absence. She was severely affected by the coma caused from reading Twlight...and also a smidge of traveling. Carrie will return to blogging as soon as the second round of the coma has passed.

In the meantime....

I don't know.

Mean, Mean, Girl

2009-03-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Today I was at my weekly Beth Moore Bible study watching the video when I got served a heaping amount of conviction.

You see...we were talking about meanness. Specifically about how "It's tough being a woman in a mean world."

I was following right along with her, nodding, and uh huh-ing (in my head of course, I'd be too embarrassed to do it in front of people) when all of a sudden there it was. She was speaking to me. She was standing on that stage yelling "CARRIE FRIDAY ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME???? I AM TALKING TO YOU!!!!" Seriously. It happened (okay maybe just in my head).

She was talking about how meanness perceives a threat and her basis for that claim comes from 2 Corinthians 10:12 which basically says that people who compare themselves to others are not wise. Beth (We are on a first-name basis because in my world, we are BFF--maybe because she's so southern) blatantly told us that you compare yourself to others when there is some kind of threat.

I can honestly say that I have not met many women who have not at some point or another compared themselves to another girl or woman--maybe in middle school or maybe just yesterday--but it happened. I'd like to think that I come off as a secure, happy person who is relatively pleased with herself. And 60% of the time I am. Until I see (or see a picture) of my wonderful sister-in-law who is a size two after not one, but TWO children...or when I see my friends getting smaller and me...not so much. Or EVEN when I see Beth Moore on that screen in all her beauty and awesome clothes. I compare myself with them. I make mental notes of how Rachel's body looks just right and looks like a 25-year-old's who hasn't had kids...whereas mine looks like a young person's body...who has had like 23 kids--except I've only had one. I compare myself to Beth Moore when I see how amazing her clothes are and then think about each morning when I get out clothes to wear how I HATE everything I have.

What is the threat with Rachel? I don't know. Maybe because people see us and see she has two kids and I only have one. Maybe because people know what we "used" to look like and she still looks the same but I don't. Maybe it's because I'm jealous she looks amazing and doesn't have to "tuck" parts of herself into her clothing. ***On a side note: Rachel works hard (running) to maintain that awesomeness and I don't.

What is the threat with Beth Moore? I guess I'm just jealous she has such awesome clothes.

What does all this have to do with mean girls? When I'm jealous of someone else I get a smidge of meanness in my heart. I do. I won't lie.

After I was convicted about that...she hit me with another one. She was talking about how coming in contact with a mean girl raises up your own mean girl--AMEN. When someone is ugly to me, I want to retaliate. Or at least talk about them in a real ugly manner to someone else.

Beth said that mean girls dig at other girls and I started thinking about how often I find myself giggling at some other woman's expense...or judging them, and quite often, I find myself being joined in by friends. Maybe we are all mean girls?

Just when I was contemplating what a sinful person I am and how hurtful and just plain mean I can be, Beth said something that eased my soul a little. She said that mean girls will never admit that they were mean.

So here I am...admitting that sometimes I am a mean girl--even when I don't mean to be--so that hopefully, I won't be that mean girl. I am praying for God to make me aware of these times when I want to giggle at someone, or throw up because of the inappropriate way they are dressed, or talk about them, or judge them and change my heart so that I won't be a mean girl anymore.

And to make all the rest of you that worry about your clothing size and body image feel better....Beth also made sure to remind us that our only measurements are taken at the cross of Christ and NO WHERE ELSE. So take that....

Check Your Kmart

2009-03-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

Seriously.

Several Kmarts are going to be doubling coupons under $2 and you can use up to 25 coupons (non-printables).

Go here for all the details--I love Southern Savers.

I already checked the one in Palm Bay and they aren't....BOOOOOO! But I thought I'd pass along the info just in case your Kmart is.

Also, I made a trip to CVS tonight. Did 3 transactions. All-in-all I bought a toothbrush, two boxes of band-aids, a neo-to-go (neosporin), a refill pack for that, aveeno hydrocortisone cream, and a pack of diapers. Saved $22, got $14.99 in ECB's, and spent around $25. I could have cut down the cost (and cut down the ECB's) by not buying as many bandaids and neosporin but Ansleigh walks so much these days and stumbles so much and always wants to be outside so I thought I'd stock up :)

Just in case you are wondering.

Haven't made it to anywhere else this week. I've been sick all stinkin week and we've had things going on every night this week leaving me no time to get anything done. Somehow between tomorrow and Saturday I've got to make it to Walgreens, Target, and Toys R Us....and maybe JoAnn's. Maybe Bugs will be in a good mood tommorrow.

OH! OH! One more thing....the April issue of All You magazine is out at Walmart and has over $51 worth of coupons in it.

Anyway, happy shopping!

This Week's Deals and Plans....

2009-03-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

I was busy all day Sunday and have been incredibly sick yesterday and today so I am just now finally getting around to sorting coupons and sales ads to come up with my lists of things to buy.

Here is what I've come up with:

Publix

Waiting to make my list until new sales ad comes out tomorrow. Not really anything we can use right now.
I did go to Publix on Saturday b/c I found out that they have their Greenwise canned veggies on sale for $1. While I was there I noticed a lot of different non-organic canned veggies marked way down. Good stock up price.
I will tell you that while I was there I checked the aisles to see if there were any coupon machines and there were several. Some for Pillsbury, some for Cottonelle, and honestly I can't remember what else. But they were there so keep any eye out.

Walgreens

This week they have their big Dove deal. If you buy 8 Dove products, you get $8 RR, 6/$6 RR, etc. While I am overly stocked up on bodywash, I'm not on deodorant and Dove Go Fresh is what I like to use.

My plan for this is to buy 8 Dove Go Fresh Deodorants which will generate $8 RR. I have three coupons from this Sunday's paper for $1.25 off any one Dove Go Fresh deodorant or body spray. I have 2 coupons from this Sunday's paper for $1.5o off any two Dove deodorants. So with my coupons, I will only be paying full price for 1 of the 8 deodorants, and even then, they are 25% off normal price.

Including the RR I will be saving $14.75 and will be saving $6.75 with just my coupons.

My next transaction will be:

3/$1 ministicker books/puzzles (in-ad coupon) to put up either for Easter or Christmas.
Scunci Hair Accessories (headbands/pony holders/clips/etc.) B1G1 free with a price of $3.99
Children's Benadryl on sale for $3.99 and have a coupon from Sunday's paper for $1 off
Immodium AD ($3 off WAG coupon) plus I have a $1 off printable coupon

I will use the $8 RR for this transaction so hopefully I won't be spending very much.

CVS

First Transaction

Colgate Max White toothpaste/toothbrush $2.99 produces 2.99 ECB. I have a .75¢ off coupon for toothpaste but I think I may just buy the toothbrush because we have a ton of toothpaste right now.

Second Transaction

Aveeno shave gel (7 ounce) produces $2 ECB, pay with ECB from before

Third Transaction

Aveeno hydrocortisone cream produces $2 ECB
Spend $7 on Band Aids and/or Neosporin to get $3 ECB (I have multiple coupons for band aids and neosporin so this will work out well for me), pay with ECB from before

Fourth Transaction

Pampers Mega pack $14.99, pay with remaining ECB's plus the $3 ECB leftover from Saturday.

Should save lots of moolah on this.

Target
*No coupons as of right now but maybe I can find some.

Gerber Graduates Finger Foods (yogurt bites, puffs, etc.) 3/$5
Carters First Years 4 pc. sleep set $14
Greatland Queen sized air bed with pump $26 (for our upcoming camping trip)

Toys R Us

Pampers wipes refills 2/$12
Dr. Brown's bottles/accessories 15% off

Also, I may run by JoAnn's to see if I can find Buggy an Easter basket. I have a 40% off coupon which would be great if I can find one. Not positive this trip will happen though.

Calling In Sick....

2009-03-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

This morning, I woke up, felt like death, rolled over, and decided to call in sick.

And then the baby started crying....

and Anthony left for work.

Oh yeah...SAHM's don't get "sick days." So it was with not-so-great joy that I got up and fixed kid some breakfast, changed a diaper, and assumed my regular morning position on the loveseat, curled up under a blanket.

At some point I think I got up and fixed myself some cereal and started eating it until I realized it was painful to swallow. That's when I decided I would call for a sub. Oh wait...teachers get subs, not SAHM's. Dang it.

Eventually, around 10ish Ansleigh went down for her nap. Perfect...mommy can take a nap too. Oh wait. The house literally looked like it was involved in some kind of terrorist toy takeover. Oh and there are coupons all over the place. And dirty dishes in the dishwasher. The laundry basket is overflowing. The bathtub edge has moutainous piles of clean, not put up, clothes. Oh and I needed to transfer over coupons, finish clipping the ones from yesterday, organize them, and put them away. Oh and don't forget about Bible study time! Oh...and just for good measure--throw in a visit to the Ped office at 1:30. Grrr...no nap.

Well, I tried my dangedest to pick up the living room, causing all my muscles to ache and yell cuss words at me that only body parts seem to understand. I gave up. I climbed in bed and set to sorting my coupons. Until I ached too much to do that either. Then I worked on my Bible study. Got one day's worth done and called it....I TOOK A NAP. Not because I was tired (which is usually the case). Because I felt like I was dying.

It worked too....for about an hour. I literally got out of the bed at 12:45. Got dressed. Got stuff ready and fixed Bug's lunch. Got her up at 1. Got her dressed. Gave her her scrumptous cheese sandwich and got into the car to head to the Dr. office for a check-up. Pretended I felt fine until we got back into the car around 3ish. Wanted to die...all the way home.

Put Bug's to bed. Remembered I needed lunch. Then...I remembered it hurt to swallow when I tried to eat that lunch. Gave up. Got into bed. Said some prayers for Ansleigh to nap for a very long time.

She did. Woke up at 5:30. Just in case you were wondering.

What is the point to all this?

In any other job, if I woke up feeling like death, I could have called in. Not gone. Gotten a sub. Found a fill-in. Traded shifts. You get the point. This job, you can't do that. It doesn't matter if you are sick. It doesn't matter if you are tired. You still have a child to raise. You still have a child to feed, and teach, and entertain...and in my case, take to the doctor.

Mommy is a 24-7-365 job. No breaks. No vacations. No sick leave.

Sounds like a crappy job but it is the best one I've ever had. :) Even if I can't call in sick.

How I Do It....

2009-03-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

I am not a pro.

Let me repeat that....

I AM NOT A PRO.

But, I am learning pretty quickly. Everyone keeps asking me how I do it or they are just simply amazed at the amount I am saving. I had help so I am passing that info along to those of you who want it. In an effort to put all the information together right where you can find it, I am going to do a basic tutorial of what I know (which isn't a lot, mind you!).

How to get started:

First of all, the best way to jump on in is just to do it! The second way to get started is to read, read, read, read. Read what? Blogs. Specifically here (Southern Savers) and here (The Saving Momma)

2. Where do you get coupons?
The Sunday paper! Each Sunday there are coupon inserts (Red Plum, Smart Source, Procter & Gamble). Not all three are in every week's paper. I buy multiple papers so I can have multiples of the coupons.
You can also find coupons online at www.coupons.com, coolsavings, a full cup, Mommy Saves Big, and Smart Source. These printable coupons, make sure you hit the back button and print as many as you can! The more you have, the more you can use!
You also get coupons called "peelies" on the actual products.
You can get coupons from little coupon printers near the products in the stores. I've never noticed these before but I started looking for them and found 8 or 10 of them in Publix. You can pull several of them. Use them on that purchase or use them later.
Also, at Publix, right when you walk in, there is a stand where you can pick up the weekly ad and their little coupon books.
Last but not least, go to Walmart and pick up your copy of All You magazine. Seriously. Best $2.49 you'll ever spend.

3. How to Organize Your Coupons:
Several different ways to do this. Expandable mini file system. Binder with dividers and baseball card holders. Ziplock baggies. Index Card Box (recipe box). The best, most informative thing I have found that explains all these systems (with pros and cons) is at Southern Savers' Extreme Couponing 101 section. Click here.
Which one do I use? Well I started out with the little file system thing. Printing as many coupons as I do and clipping coupons from multiple papers...my little file thing has basically exploded. This weekend I've put together the binder method. We'll try it and see how it works out. I haven't gotten all my coupons transferred over yet, but so far I think I'll like it. I don't take ALL of my coupons with me to the stores. I have ziplock bags labeled for each of the stores I go to. When I make my plans for each store, I put the coupons for those stores in those baggies. When I go to a specific store, I only take my coupons for that store and my plan for that store. I leave the rest of it at home.

4. How to "Match Up" Coupons:
First of all, look at the sales ads. See what is on sale. I do this on Sundays. You will immediately notice (if you clip your coupons first, then look at the ads) that you've just clipped coupons for things that are on sale. SCORE! It often works that way. Always, always, always shop from the Sales Ads. Save your coupons for when the item is on sale. Then you can maximize your savings. If you can luck up and have a store coupon (has the name of the store on it) and a manufactorer's coupon (printable or from the paper) you can "stack them" and use both on an item that is on sale and get it for pennies! Also, items that are B1G1 Free...you can use a coupon on the item you are buying and the one you are getting free!!!! Good thing to use to your advantage when you want to stock up.
Sound like a little too much work? Probably so. Each week, go to Fiddledeedee and she will give you the Publix sales ad with links to printable coupons. She also does match ups for Albertsons, Target, Walmart, and Winn Dixie. Another amazing place to go is to Southern Savers. She has tabs for Amazon, Bi-Lo, CVS, Food Lion, Kroger, Publix, Rite Aid, and Walgreen's. Basically, she tells you what to buy and which coupons to use with it.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

5. Supermarket Savings
Southern Savers gives the advice that you should cut all coupons, STOCKPILE when things are on sale, especially when they are on sale and you have coupons, base your weekly menu on the Sales Ads, try not to be such a brand snob (which I am still struggling with), know that the "store brands" are not usually the cheapest, and don't be fooled into thinking that Sam's, BJ's, Costco will save you more money. To get all the dirt on these items, click on the link.
Know your supermarket's coupon policy. You can find this on their website or just get some guts and call the store and ask. Ask questions like "Do you double any coupons?" "Do you accept other stores' coupons?" "Do you have to buy both items to get the sales price on B1G1 free items?" Know these answers ahead of time and you can be prepared. Also, if you are checking out and they won't accept your coupons for that item and that makes you not want it, don't feel obligated to buy it! Seriously. It is not that big of a deal.

6. Shopping at Drugstores
I cannot believe how much money I am saving by buying things at drugstores. Let me begin this by saying that I have NEVER been a "drugstore" kind of girl unless I needed medication. That has all changed. I am learning that by using the store's policies to your advantage, you can get all kinds of the everyday things you need for free or basically free. Again, don't be a brand snob. I'm still working on this, but fortunately for me, the brands that I will use have been on sale.
One of the biggest things that will save you money is using the store's "in-store-money" to your advantage. Walgreens calls their money Register Rewards (RR) and no, you don't need any kind of card for those. CVS calls their money Extra Care Bucks (ECB's). You do need the CVS Extra Care card for those. How do you get the in-store-money? Buy the products that produce them. How do you know which ones do that? The Sales Ad. Too much work? Go to the Southern Savers blog and let her do the work for you! Sweet lady!
The next thing to save you the most money out of pocket (OOP) is to do multiple transactions. Buy one thing that gives you RR or ECB's (usually the one that will give you the most). Use that in-store-money on your next transaction. Try to buy things that will produce in-store-money that you also have coupons for. That lowers your OOP cost. When you do your multiple transactions, make sure you let people go ahead of you between transactions, warn the cashier if you are the only one in line, or try to check out at the beauty counter. I'm still not so amazing at the multiple transactions thing so I take a list with me that tells me exactly what I am going to buy for each transaction and what coupons or in-store-money I will use for that or the next transaction. I follow my list.

Last but not least....

Keep up with your savings! Why do all this work and not figure out how much you've saved yourself? Yall know I'm not a numbers girl and if I can do it, anyone can. In fact, I've set up (with help from the master of all numbers, Hubs) a pretty basic spread sheet that keeps up with what I'm spending each week at each store...what I'm saving each week at each store, and what I would have spent at each store. If you want a copy of my spreadsheet to use for yourself, comment below (which sends me an email) and I'll email you a copy of it.

Also,
I've been told that you can go subscribe (it costs some money) to The Grocery Game and it "does all this work for you." You are MORE than welcome to go do that. I am not. Why? 1-Because I have the time to do this, 2-Why pay someone to do something that isn't that difficult?, 3-I'd miss out on all the fun.

Fun???
Yes! Fun! It is so exciting each week to see what is on sale and what you have coupons for and the rock-bottom price you are going to be spending! In fact, I'm not going to lie...it is addicting. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that you are getting your family everything they need at such a reduced cost! Plus, it will make your hubs smile and be proud of you. Especially if you stay at home (like I do). Anthony often tells me how glad he is that I'm doing this. It makes me feel good to know that I'm stretching his hard earned dollars as far as they can go.

Why did I start couponing?
Well aside from that whole "saving money" thing...I started doing it because I was seeing friends I know from college...REAL LIVE PEOPLE I KNOW who were doing it and it was working. Not only were they saving, but saving big time. A sweet friend, Jessalee (The Saving Mommy), had a post on her blog that I saw one time where she saved a kagillion dollars. Ok, really, these are her facts from that week: before coupons and savings it was $315.83, she paid $43.38 out of pocket for a savings of $272.45 which is 86%. I started wondering why I am paying that extra $300 a week when I don't need to. I knew if she was really doing it, it was possible. So I asked for help. I started reading and ......DUN, DUN, DUN, DUN...

I started saving moolah. Lots of it.

WHY ARE YOU SPENDING ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY???

God Speaks...

2009-03-12T15:44:00.001-07:00

You know that song, "Word of God Speak?" Today I heard the word of God speak...

While listening to Beth Moore speak.

Then, a few hours later, I heard God speak...AGAIN, while working on my The Frazzled Female Bible study.

Then, a few minutes later, I heard God speak...AGAIN, while I was working on my new Beth Moore Bible study.

Let me explain.

For the past few weeks I've been struggling with making a decision about some opportunities that have come my way. I am generally not that great with decisions, especially when they involve the future and unsureness. I've been praying. And talking with a few friends. And praying. Before today...I felt like I had gotten nothing from God. No matter what was said, or what I talked to God about, I just didn't feel like I was being led in one direction or another. I felt like my heart was playing tug-of-war with my brain. This decision will will have an effect on my family, our finances, my child's future, and the amount of time I will have available. BIG DECISION, people. And yall know I get nervous about every little thing anyway.

This morning I was sitting in the first session of the ladies' Bible study at church, watching Beth Moore talk and preach and be funny. All of a sudden she starts talking about a specific section of a bullet point that reads, "Even when we're blind to the evidence, God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." Then she said something along the lines of that God is working it out! He has the whole world in His hands and He has MY whole world in His hands. That's when I heard Him...

He told me, "I am working it out. Take the __________ opportunity." Why the blank? Because it isn't the right time yet to disclose that information.

When I first heard Him, I thought it was just my heart speaking. And it was...it was God speaking to my heart. For the first time in a long time, I heard God. I understood exactly what He was telling me. It wasn't if-fy.

When I left the Bible study, I honestly still couldn't really believe it. I called Anthony and told him what I felt like God was telling me and he said ok. Who was he to argue with God?

As I arrived back home and started thinking about it, Doubting Thomas came to visit me. You can just call him Satan. He was trying his best to fill my mind with all the "What if's?" But my sweet Savior had my back.

After Buggy went down for her nap, I got out my Bible study books and went out to the sunporch to my swing. My place of peace and quiet. I got out the first study because it is shorter...and I had two days of it to do because I *might* have opted for a nap yesterday instead. Idiot. Anyway, as I was reading through the passage I could literally feel God smiling at me and saying, "I am working it out." I'm not so sure if it is what the lesson was about, but God revealed to me that when I am seeking Him and not worried about my daily things, and I actually begin to listen, really listen, I will be able to hear Him. And because that's what I was doing....I heard Him. Loud and clear. Big flashing neon sign. He is working it out.

I was at peace.

After completing both days of that study, I moved on to my new study to spend a little time getting used to it and to really read and re-read the introduction. I was reading, and reflecting, and looking at the things I wrote down during the video and all of a sudden, I hear Him AGAIN. "Carrie, I am working it out." Seriously? Three times in one day? Wow.

Finally, I had to stop what I was doing and just flat out tell God, "I hear you. You're working it out. And now, I believe you. I'll make the arrangements. You are working it out." Even now, as I write this, I am taking a leap of faith by accepting this opportunity because I do not know what the future holds. BUT I KNOW WHO HOLDS MY FUTURE and I'm pretty confident that it will work out because He knows the plans He has for me...plans for me to prosper and not to fail.

I am at peace. And I'm excited. I can slowly see the desires of my heart unfolding before my eyes. What blessings I have had today! Praise the Lord and to Him be the glory. No matter what happens.

My Plan

2009-03-11T18:36:00.001-07:00

Let me tell you a story about...my plan. My CVS plan to be precise.

Out of their entire ad, I saw 4 things I really want to buy. After going back and looking at it, I'm pretty sure I may do one other transaction...but for now, let's just talk about the basic plan.

I am learning that the trick to maximize your savings and minimize your out-of-pocket spending is to do multiple transactions (being courteous to cashiers, letting others go ahead of you, etc.).

So...with that in mind:

Transaction #1:
Palmolive Dish Soap $1.49
Earning $1 ECB

*I am going to try to get this to work with the Palmolive Free & Clear...which is what I prefer, but also because I have a 75¢ off coupon which would put me spending 74¢ and earning $1 in-store money.

**You could do this plus all the rest minus the coupon (which is what I'm going to have to do if it doesn't work) and get all these same bargains because I have no other coupons. Just so you know.

Transaction #2:
Oral B Dental Floss $2.99
Pay with $1 ECB (earned from previous purchase)
Total = $1.99
Earning $2 ECB

Transaction #3:
Physican's Formula Powder $14.99
Pay with $2 ECB (earned from previous purchase)
Total= $12.99
Earn $10 ECB

Transaction #4:
**There are several products that qualify for this....ANY Maybelline product or ANY Garnier product. Buy $10 worth, earn $5 ECB

Maybelline Mascara (2) $6 each
Total= $12
Pay with $10 ECB (earned from previous purchase)
Total= $2
Earn $5 ECB

Total spent (if coupon doesn't work)= $18. 47
Total earned in ECB's = $18
Essentially I will have spent 47¢ on all these products.

If coupon does work, total spent would be $17.72, earning $18 in ECB's. I would essentially spend $0 of our money.

Those of you who don't coupon and/or don't know how to "CVS"...this would be something easy to do. Usually I print out my plan and carry it in with me so you could just print this. Seriously. It's that easy. Get the stuff. Take it to the register. Follow the instructions. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

My 5th Transaction that I will most likely do is this:
4 12pk. cokes for $13
Pay with $5 ECB (earned from 4th transaction)
Total due= $8
Earn $3 ECB's to use on next purchase

***This would make me paying $5 for 4 12pk. of cokes making them $1.25 apiece. That...I can handle.

If you really wanted to, you could add this 5th transaction to your list too :)

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way a pro at this and it is possible/likely that there is a better way to purchase all this mess and spend less out of pocket although, if there is, I don't know of it.

Get This Magazine!

2009-03-11T16:11:00.001-07:00

Several of you have commented asking me to help you, give details, share deals, etc.

Well I've got one for you!!!!

Reading all the blogs about couponing, I came across a mention of All You Magazine. I'd never heard of that before. That would be because it is only sold at Walmart...or you can order a subscription.

Why get another magazine? Because this one cost me $2.49 and I clipped a little over $18 worth of really good coupons out of it. Let me mention that I didn't clip all the coupons...this one issue of the magazine actually has $48.12 of total savings.

I found on someone's blog where you can get a two-year subscription for $17 and some change. I searched for it a second ago and didn't find it. I'll let you know when I come across it again. However, you can go to the website and get two issues for free. Just click the bill me later and then remember to cancel your subscription if you no longer want it.

If you are going to look for it at Walmart (which I did because I didn't want to spend $20 on a magazine and then hate it), I found it right when you walk into the magazine section, on the VERY bottom, kind of near the scrapbooking, crafting, hair magazine type things. I can't promise that is where you'll find your's.

You will more than get your money back out of this magazine. Plus...it has really amazing money saving tips in it.

Like what you say? Like these:

Don't feel compelled to use all your coupons at once
Buy more than you need right now.
Use "in-store" coupons
Pass up "big" bargains
Don't go to warehouse stores to stock up
Don't let one good deal drive you

If you are anything like me and trying to learn to squeeze EVERY penny out of each dollar, just getting those tips above is worth the $2.49. To get the full details on these money-saving tips, you'll have to get the magazine and read it!

Thief...

2009-03-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

At least...that's what I feel like when I walk into these stores and swipe my little green debit card for a few dollars and a handful of change and walk out with bags and bags (and sometimes small shopping carts) of stuff.

Seriously.

But I've yet to be arrested so I guess I'm alright.

Today I went to Walmart (a VERY rare occasion) to buy Scattergories and a magazine (a post coming soon about *that* magazine). I went armed with NO coupons of any kind. I roamed a little while and then grabbed my game, and my magazine, and maybe a princess hooded towel that was on clearance. I got home and started looking...I saved $12.80 which was 29% of my purchase. Apparently my game was on sale, and that towel was WAY on sale. Oh and by the way, I got over $18 worth of coupons out of that magazine.

Tonight I made my last minute trip to Publix before the new sales come out and I've missed the old ones. Since I was going--CHILD FREE--and Walgreens is across the street, I decided to go there too.

At Walgreens I got a CRAP-LOAD of stuff for a grand total spending of $21.79. What kind of stuff?

4 12 packs of Coke products (canned drinks)
Crest Pro-Health toothpaste
Right Guard deodorant
Axe bodywash, deodorant, and body spray
Garnier Fructis Shampoo
Garnier Fructis Conditioner
2 Russell Stover's chocolate covered marshmellow eggs (for Buggy's basket)
Kraft Mac & Cheese
32 ounces of Alcohol (not the kind you drink, mind you)

The total I should have spent was $62.60. Yep...I had a savings of 63%.

Oh...I should add that with their sale, I got the 12 pack drinks for $2.50 each (factoring in their sales and Register Rewards). Oh and the shampoo and conditioner...it is marked down to $2.99 with a $2 instant coupon. I already had $1 off coupon...FOR BOTH. When you do the math...there was an overage of two cents. That's right. I got those hair care products for nare one penny. I also made money on the Right Guard deodorant. When you factor in the sales price (cheaper than the ad says!!!!) and the coupon I had for it, I ended up paying $.64 for it and got $2 Register Rewards--in store money.

Before you jump on me for buying the cokes...they are for our upcoming camping trip. I don't buy cokes for myself except on the RARE occasion.

After I left Walgreens with the sales lady smiling at me, I headed across the street to Publix where I ended up saving $16.30 and only had a bill of $45.88. While my percentage saved from last week went down, my need for staples is going down. I am not needing to stock up on things, which means I don't need to buy as much.

My total spent for the night = $67.67
My total saved for the night = $54.11

If you factor in the Walmart trip, I spent $98.67 and saved $66.91.

I'm still spending a good bit of money, which I am not a fan of, but my savings are really getting up there and I can tell a difference just in our house. Things are filling up (fridge, pantry, freezer, bathroom cabinets) and for A LOT less money.

Couponing can seem a bit...psycotic, but it makes a huge difference. Plus, it is so addicting. Seriously.