disorganized thoughts for the day

Bust a move

2011-01-04T15:39:00.010-05:00

In just a few short weeks {maybe sooner} I will know where my husband will be transferred to. I'm not too picky, I am just hoping for a much warmer climate {NO West coast} but the US Government makes that decision. The next challenge will be selling this house and I am not looking forward to that part. I am ready for this headache to be over with and my family to be together again!

And the winner is...

2010-12-17T20:25:00.005-05:00

Sarah (Turtle Parade)!!!!!!!!!!

1. Jill Marie

2. Sarah

3. Nadja

4. Mickey D.

5. Petit Design Co.

6. Ky twopretzels.com

7. Jill Marie

I couldn't figure out how to get this random number thing a ma jig on my page so I just took a picture of it. Jank, I know.

Sarah, email me or FB me and let me know what you would like and I will get it made! Whatever your heart desires.

Thanks ladies for entering!

It'S a GivEaWay!

2010-12-13T21:08:00.010-05:00

On one of my weekly trips to Hobby Lobby, I saw this fabric and knew Bryn had to have a dress made from it {sorry the dress isn't the giveaway}. Since I can't sew {yet}, I sent it to my awesome, talented mom and here is the dress. I opted for a pillowcase dress that way Bryn can wear a turtleneck under it and leggings. Plus she'll most likely be able to wear it next year too.

I LOVE these colors.

She even made a pocket with these cute little buttons.

And now we get to the whole point to this post. As many of you may know, I make bows and hair clippies. Bryn has a clippie or bow to match just about every outfit. No joke. I love to make them for my friends' little girls too. Here is the flower clippie I made to match this outfit:

I had some leftover fabric to make a covered button center.

Here's the deal. Since I love to make custom bows and clippies, leave a comment on this post and you could win one! If you are randomly selected, you can either send me a picture of an outfit to match, tell me what you want or go to my shop and look through what I have in stock or what has sold. It's all up to you! I will select a winner on Friday the 17th at 8 pm. So tell all your friends and family with little girls and GOOD LUCK!

Shameless Etsy shop plug

2010-12-12T18:06:00.011-05:00

Behold! My new Christmas creations:

Christmas Joy 4" stacked bow

Merry Grinchmas 4" fancy bow with korker ribbon and marabou

Visit my Etsy shop here and become a fan of Fleur de Lulu on Facebook here!

Artsy Fartsy

2010-12-06T09:53:00.005-05:00

I love to do arts and crafts with my kids. Every Christmas we try to do something special. We've done handprint Santas, thumbprint reindeer, paper snowflake wreaths and these snowy balloon ornaments from Martha Stewart. They are super easy to make, although I can't even blow up a balloon, and so pretty! We made a bunch of these for gifts and the rest are adorning our tree. Here's how to make yours:

Tools and Materials
Balloon
Ball of cotton string
Craft glue
Clothespin
Dowel
Glitter
Pin
Tweezers
Metallic thread
Spray mount
Evergreen branch

Snowy Balloon Ornaments How-To
1. Blow up the balloon until it's slightly smaller than your fist. Tie the end of the cotton string to the end of the balloon.

2. Thin the glue slightly with water and brush some on the bottom of the balloon to tack down the string. Begin wrapping the string vertically around the balloon. When 3/4 of the balloon is covered vertically, begin wrapping the string horizontally. To change direction, wrap the string around the tied-off end of the balloon. Continue until 3/4 of the balloon is wrapped horizontally.

3. Cut the string and secure it with a dab of glue. Brush the watered-down craft glue all over the string-covered balloon. Pinch the top of the balloon with a clothespin and thread the clothespin onto a dowel that you've suspended between two points. Allow to dry for several hours.

4. Once dry, pop the balloon with a pin and remove it, using tweezers, if necessary. Add a loop of metallic thread and brush the balloon with glue again. Working over a bowl, spoon on glitter and set aside to dry.

5. Spray the branch with spray mount and spoon on glitter. Allow to dry. Affix the ornament to the branch.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Snowy Balloon Ornaments - Martha Stewart Crafts

What it means to be gluten free

2010-11-30T13:02:00.000-05:00

What is a gluten free diet? First of all, I don't like to call it a diet. That makes it sound like some sort of fad, like the Atkin's diet. It's a lifestyle change. Gluten is a protein composite in foods that are processed from wheat, barley or rye. However, it is not limited to those, it is anything that is processed around wheat, barley or rye. You would be surprised how many things contain gluten and casein {dairy, which we also removed from Logan's diet}.

Why does someone choose to be gluten free? Several reasons, the first two can be very serious. Celiac disease, an auto-immune disease in which the lining of the intestines are damaged from gluten and a gluten allergy {not to be confused with a wheat allergy}. Both of these require an invasive test to determine as simple blood tests are not reliable. There is also such a thing as gluten intolerance where someone may have similar symptoms as those with celiac disease. Removing gluten and casein have been thought to help behavior problems in children with ADHD and autism...which would be my reason, initially.

I had never even heard of a gluten free/casein free diet {GF/CF, also referred to as the autism diet} before this. I researched alternative treatments for behavior issues, I talked to other parents and my son's therapist. All recommended a GF/CF diet. I knew that it would be a difficult transition but if it helped, so what. I was willing to try anything. I looked up everything in my pantry and refrigerator. EVERYTHING! If I was going to do this, I was going to do it right. I learned that it wasn't just food, but shampoo, soap, band aids, stickers, Play-Doh, crayons, vitamins, medicine, etc. {I hate Play-Doh anyway}. I was going to make sure that anything and everything that Logan put into his mouth was GF/CF.

This lifestyle change affected all of us because all of my meals had to be GF/CF however, we are not totally GF like Logan. I like to say that we are gluten reduced. One thing I learned quickly is that it can be expensive. My grocery bill went UP. We had a Trader Joe's close by and my grocery store had a gluten free section but I also looked up regular products that are gluten free. I was really surprised at how many things are GF out there. When in doubt, I look it up. I don't trust the labels 100%. As I said, if it's processed in a plant where wheat, barley and rye are also being processed, it's contaminated and therefore NOT GF. Since moving, we don't have a Trader Joe's close by, but Kroger has an organic section and Meijer also carries GF items. It was trial and error at first for Logan to decide what he did and didn't like but I think we finally have it figured out.

What foods are GF/CF? Rice flour is a great substitute for regular flour. I also have found a GF butter substitute and I use almond milk, both are really good! I have even found GF/CF ice cream sandwiches, which Logan loves. There are GF breads, but in all honesty, they aren't that good. Logan prefers no bread. He can eat rice, fruits, vegetables and meat, lots of meat. He loves meat! {Some meats may not be GF though.}

What about eating out? Nope, pretty much don't do it. Some places say they have a gluten free menu, but they cannot control cross contamination. Not to mention chances are the staff are not educated, I had a bad experience at Chili's. The only place I really go is Chipotle. Everything, aside from the tortilla shells, is GF. Logan can't have the sour cream or cheese either but I buy a soy cheese that he loves and we put that on his burrito bowl. We love Chipotle! NO fast food is safe. French fries are fried in oil, the same oil that is used to fry chicken nuggets (breading) and is therefore contaminated. Sure they can take the bun off the the burger but do you know if the bun was originally on the burger? You see where I'm going with this. We don't eat out.

Logan has been GF/CF for a little over three months now. He is so cute. He knows what he can and can't have and always asks when in doubt "Is that gluten free?" I had to educate him as well and his teacher and anyone that was going to be around him. I can honestly say it has helped. He isn't having the terrible temper tantrums that he was having but it has not only helped him, it has helped me as well. I have suffered from irritable bowel syndrome for years {not something I enjoy sharing}. I had my first colonoscopy at 27ish {ugh}. I've been on several different medications. Since being gluten reduced, my symptoms have almost resolved themselves. I talked to my new family physician about this and he is totally on board. He said this is the best thing for someone with digestive issues and he also believes that if can help behavior problems.

Here are a few websites that I found helpful:

http://www.gfcfdiet.com/

http://www.celiac.org/

http://www.celiac.com/

It's potty time!

2010-11-29T09:26:00.006-05:00

Last night, after reading this book, Bryn sat on her potty. She sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat and sat. After about 45 minutes, it happened. Pee-pee! This was the first time Bryn willingly sat on her potty and did something! Hopefully, she will give a encore performance today!

The thrill is gone

2010-11-28T19:03:00.005-05:00

I've been thinking about deleting my Twitter account. I'm bored and it's a huge time suck (as is Facebook but I gotta hang on to that). I just don't know. I don't care about followers or any of that crap it was just fun. The thrill is gone...

Thoughts?

Brrrrr!

2010-11-27T22:03:00.003-05:00

I almost forgot how cold Ohio is and it's only Novemburrr!

Tis that time again

2010-11-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

GO BUCKS!

I have a slight owlbsession, who knew?

2010-11-26T22:23:00.003-05:00

I'm a sucker for anything that has to do with owls.

I can always find something on Etsy. I found these cute little earrings here...

...and this pendant here. ( I will call him Bubo)

Anthropologie Wise Ol' Cookie Jar

I saw this on the counter of the Dunphy home on Modern Family

and I knew I had to find it.

It's only $98!

Here's a cheaper version for $15 on Ebay. (I still like the other one)

I'm even working on some owl bows (pics to come) and I couldn't pass up some owl fabric I found at Hobby Lobby, even though I can't sew. I also found the cutest blog for those owlbsessed like myself, My Owl Barn.

Thankful

2010-11-25T23:29:00.001-05:00

I'm thankful that my husband didn't have to spend Thanksgiving on his boat, but Thanksgiving wasn't the same without him.

Where do we go from here?

2010-11-24T10:28:00.010-05:00

Upon getting the diagnosis, I instantly became Logan's advocate. I had to fight this battle for him. I set out to learn as much as I could about ASDs, especially about potential causes and alternative treatments.

My disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am not a scientist. I am not an autism expert. These are mostly opinions based on the information I have read. I am simply a mom. Okay, now that we've cleared that up...Have you noticed that the autism is on the rise? One in 110 children are diagnosed with autism and one in 70 boys. What does this say? Do you honestly think it's strictly environmental factors? I personally do not. Look at the rise in vaccines. There is a vaccine for everything these days. 20 years ago there were ten vaccines. Today, there are 36! That's right, 36. Did you know that many vaccines use mercury as a preservative? Yep, because it's cheaper. No flu shots in this house thank you. (I choose to use natural methods of staying healthy. ie: supplements) Auto-immune issues are also prominent in ASDs . A lot of these kids were sickly babies. Logan in particular, had constant ear infections. He ended up getting tubes and had his adenoids removed when he was three. Glutathione is a natural anti-oxidant found in the liver and kidneys, it's a natural detoxifier. Many of these children are born with low levels of glutathione and have a weaker immune system and on top of that get a ton of vaccines at birth. Hmmmm. FYI: Tylenol depletes glutathione levels in the body. Never give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) before a vaccine. Just to clarify, I am not anti-vaccine. I am anti-vaccine for what is unnecessary. Regular doctors won't tell you this.

Gastrointestinal problems are also common in children with ASD. Candida (yeast) overgrowth produces toxic byproducts, which can impair the immune system. Candida can also produce digestive enzymes that actually eat away the intestinal lining, allowing undigested food molecules to pass through into the bloodstream and cause food allergies. Many kids on the spectrum cannot properly digest gluten (wheat products) and casein (dairy products), which form peptides, which act like opiates in their bodies. These peptides can alter their behavior, perceptions, and responses to their environment. It is believed that peptides can trigger an unusual immune system response as well.

I wholeheartedly believe in biomedical and natural treatments. I am looking to take Logan to a DAN (defeat autism now) doctor, who takes a biomedical approach to treating autism. Along with conventional therapy, my son sees a chiropractor. Chiropractic helps boost the immune system. He gets regular adjustments and he likes it! He takes various supplements, melatonin to help with him sleep (this seems to be yet another problem with ASD), calcium, Omega-3, and probiotics (which are essential for eliminating yeast). We have also started him on a gluten free/casein free diet. Logan is still taking his Adderall, but he is on a lower dose. I hope to eliminate it altogether.

Logan been on the diet and supplements for three months now. All hail MELATONIN! That has helped a lot! As far as his behavior is concerned, it may be too soon to tell, but he isn't having the terrible temper tantrums like before. Progress comes in small steps.

I just can't blog today

2010-11-23T19:26:00.003-05:00

I am having a bad day today and I just don't feel like blogging. I'm stressed and I need a break from these kids. School provided a little bit of a break, but now they'll be home for 5 days. I just don't know if my sanity can take it...

NKOTBSB

2010-11-22T08:00:00.004-05:00

Did you see them on the AMAs last night?!?! In case you missed it, click here. Um, AWESOME. I saw NKOTB back when I was 16 and again a couple years ago. I went with my friend Jill. We had so-so floor seats but then, right next to us, a STAGE popped up! There. They. Were. Donnie totally pointed to me (I have the picture to prove it) and Joey Joe and I made eye contact. Yes! Eye contact! ~Swoon~ It was a fabulous concert. It made up for the nosebleed seats I had the first time.

I've never been much of a BSB fan but they were great on the AMAs with NKOTB. I think I must see this. Who's in?

Open for business

2010-11-21T19:42:00.003-05:00

I have finally opened up my Etsy shop, Fleur de Lulu, since moving. I am slowly getting things listed. I bought a ton of Christmas ribbon with the hopes that I would sell a lot at the craft show I did Saturday. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good turn out. C'est la vie. So I will be putting many of those things and more in my shop. Stop by and check it out.

label whores

2010-11-20T18:50:00.009-05:00

I used to be one and probably still would be if it weren't for the fact that I have three killjoys...er kids. Now I spend most of my money on them. I shop at Target, a lot! I love it.

Nowadays, labels are splattered across purses, shoes...ahem, asses. I will splurge on handbags, some shoes and jeans because these things usually don't go out of style but tops, TARGET. I used to be a Coach purse junkie. I got my first "fix" when I graduated high school and since then I have received several more for gifts as well as purchased a few. I don't like the giant C all over them lately (I have one though). I like the old school Coach. There was nothing sweeter than the smell of the leather. To me they are trying to compete with Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Puhhleese. Everybody and their sister has a Coach purse now, that is if they are real. I have a vintage Louis that my mom gave me. It even looks vintage. I like it, it was free. My favorite purse is my Michael Kors Astor Satchel. It's purty!

I own several pairs of designer jeans. My most expensive were my Hudson's, but they're not my favorite pair. I recently bought a pair of Mossimo Skinny Premium Denim at Target for $24.99. Love them! I think I'm going to get another pair. They also come in boyfriend and bootcut. One can never have too many pairs of jeans.

What do you splurge on?

Craft show

2010-11-19T10:08:00.004-05:00

Here are a few of the things I made for the craft show:

I made a bunch of Christmas bows and clippies.

Hot pink/damask/polka dot bow

Little Mickey Mouse bows

This is my fav. Paisley/polka dot bow

Big Mickey Mouse bow

Life imitating art

2010-11-18T10:00:00.004-05:00

Parenthood. I love this show as I loved the movie, if not more. Back when this premiered in March, I was hooked on the character Max. I didn't know why. I was, at that time, having difficulties with my own son so I could relate to the Bravermans. I could see similarities in Max and my son, Logan. Little did I know that Max and Logan had a lot more in common than I realized.

Did I mention I love this show? My only critique of the autism storyline is that everything happened so fast, which is completely unrealistic. You don't just discover your kid is a a little "odd", magically get him into this highly sought after doc and *BOOM* you are handed a diagnosis. Sorry doesn't happen like that. A lot goes into daignosing an ASD (autism spectrum disorder). It has taken us many months to arrive to this diagnosis for Logan. What this show does do is create awareness for ASDs and shows you a tidbit of what a family with a child on the spectrum may deal with. I encourage you to watch not just for that reason but simply because it's a show about a crazy family. I think we can all relate to that.

Welcome to my nightmare

2010-11-17T10:15:00.001-05:00

While dealing with all of Logan's issues we found out that our renter's broke their lease and split without telling us. Nice. When we moved to New Orleans we had kept our house, our first house, with hopes of making money...hindsight. We've had two sets of renters. Neither one worked out. {I'm sensing a trend here.} Our house is older but we took care of it. My renters did not. To make a long story short, they had cats, two of them {NTTAWWT}. We have a NO PET policy. I kid you not, my house smelled like a friggin' litter box! The carpet was only 5 years old and it was completely ruined. I had it professionally cleaned and deodorized. That didn't even work. On top of that there was water damage, the place was filthy, the yard was trashed...the list goes on and on. My neighbor said that he could count on one hand how many times they raked leaves and mowed the grass in two years. Awesome. My eaves had trees growing in them. Hmmm, wonder why my roof leaks? Better question, WHY THE HELL AM I PAYING A RENTAL MANAGER?

We knew that in its current condition, we could not possibly rent it out and we sure as hell can't sell it. We left New Orleans in 2009, we were so lucky our home sold in less than a week. C's tour in Virginia was only 2 years so we were renting a house there. We only had ONE option at this point. I was not working so I had to move back to the house and give up our rental. Paying for two houses was not an option especially since I needed a new car. That meant living apart until next summer, by myself, with three kids, one being a special needs kid, while my husband lives on his boat. Ugh! I miss you career, I'll write soon...

Our landlord was kinda a tool but we gave him 60 days notice and he was able to find someone to move in the week we moved out. Thank goodness! C got here a day before me and I am glad he did. He walked into the house and almost puked from the smell. He knew we couldn't wait a week for the new carpet so he and his dad and step-mom ripped out all of the carpet themselves. The carpet looked okay, it just stunk, really bad. Lurking on the under side of the carpet were tons of yellow-orange pee stains. It was just plain disgusting. The kicker is my rental manager was defending these a-holes and saying she didn't smell anything when she did the walk through with them. I'm thinking she did the walk through with a blind fold and nose plugs. Idiot. Once I arrived and saw the house, I ~~cried~~ sobbed. Pretty much nothing worked. Not the dishwasher, not the plumbing (bathroom and laundry room), not the heating and air, NOTHING and I didn't even have carpet! I just don't know how people can have such a lack of respect for other people's property. I was sick to my stomach. Needless to say, we got a lawyer.

So I'm back in the 'ole house again. It is a work in progress. We have done and are going to be doing some good things to it to modernize it. It's a slow process since C is doing all the work. I hope that it sells because I don't want to have to go through this again. It has literally, and figuratively, been a nightmare. We've definitely had some challenges but this will be the toughest 10 months of our lives. It's nothing we can't overcome. I cannot wait till next summer so my family can be together again.

Hang in there

2010-11-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is a bad week for blogging. I really want to finish my Logan story. It's important to me. I promise I will get around to it, just probably not this week. I'm preparing for a craft show on Saturday and I have nothing made! The kids are off school Thursday and Friday for parent teacher conferences and we have basketball. So there ya go. In the meantime please enjoy this photo of a cute kitteh.

Coming to an airport near you

2010-11-15T07:00:00.007-05:00

This...

and this...

is happening. Outf***ingrageous! This. Is. Not. Okay.

My feelings about this are best summed up here.

UPDATE:

Read this

Caption please?

2010-11-14T20:53:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we went to the zoo. My daughter toted along her cardinal beanie baby. While in the Aviary, this cardinal came up to the window to greet her and her stuffed bird. It was so intrigued by them, it was following us as we walked along. It was cute.

She later dropped her cardinal somewhere in the zoo and we didn't realize it until we got home :(

My Muse

2010-11-13T18:11:00.004-05:00

I've started making bigger bows for hats and headbands. I made this one for Bryn to match her outfit. She's a ham!

Date Night

2010-11-12T23:28:00.002-05:00

It was a dream come true...someone offered to babysit my kids. OFFERED! Better news, they survived and may babysit again no less. Tis a good night indeed!

Happy Veterans Day!

2010-11-11T19:45:00.005-05:00

All gave some. Some gave all.

Thank you to the Veterans (and families) who have served and those who are currently serving.

Relief...kinda

2010-11-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

I had to wait three weeks to see the new therapist. My summer was about to go from bad to worse. An oil spill happened, yeah that one. Chad was deployed to the Gulf for a month. Great timing oil spill!

Logan's behavior was getting worse. The temper tantrums were unbearable and I never knew what was going to set him off. It was like walking on eggshells all the time. I needed help STAT.

Meanwhile, until our appointment, I wrote down ALL of Logan's behaviors. That way I didn't forget to tell the therapist anything. I also compiled notes and report cards from school. I wanted to be prepared. The time had come and our first appointment went well and basically I just gave the therapist all the background on Logan. She wanted us back in a week.

The next week the therapist handed me the book All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome. She asked me to read it. As I flipped through the pages, tears welled up in my eyes. I would glance over at Logan periodically as he was engrossed in the Legos. I kept reading even though at one point I couldn't see through the watery goggles I was wearing. I handed the book back to her and she just nodded and said "Sounds about right, doesn't it?".

We had a few more sessions with her. One thing I wanted to work on with Logan was that he was not the bad kid. But having a problem is no excuse for bad behavior. This was something that was clearly going to take time. The therapist told me we also needed to see a developmental pediatrician and/or a psychiatrist, we needed an occupational therapist, we needed to get an IEP (independent educational program), we needed to apply for the EFMP (exceptional family member program) through the military and get him in the ECHO program to receive additional services...and then my head exploded.

Thankfully my husband's time in the Gulf saving chocolate pelicans had come to an end and just in time to meet with the psychiatrist. The Dr explained Asperger's/PDD (pervasive developmental disorder) in terms that we could understand. That there are many symptoms, you can't treat the disorder, you have to treat the symptoms. Made sense. I had a problem though. The word "autism". I have to admit my own ignorance got the better of me. I mean my son has normal intelligence, aren't kids with autism...slow?

So what are the signs and symptoms associated with high-functioning autism?

Problems with social interaction, difficulties interacting, overreacts when being teased, reacts negatively when interrupted, difficulty asking for help, difficulty making friends - Big Fat Check! Logan doesn't have any friends. He prefers to play alone or with his baby sister. He's 7, she's 2. He sits alone at lunch. In first grade he wanted to sit with the teacher and not his classmates. He has only been invited to ONE birthday party ever. This makes me sad. He also lacks facial expressions at times.
Difficulties with nonverbal interaction (no eye contact, difficulty accepting affection, awkward body postures, difficulty with nonverbal gestures) - Check! He doesn't like eye contact. At. All. I have to ask for a hug, I cannot just give him one. He will stand there like a tree and not hug back. I'm a hugger.
Problems sharing enjoyment, interests or achievements with others - Check.
Unusual, restricted or repetitive types of behaviors, interests and activities - Check! He has some OCD tendencies, like lining things up and categorizing things. He has obsessions with nature. Bugs, spiders and more recently sharks. Over the summer he spent the majority of his time searching for bugs. I took pictures of many of the bugs he found (some were pretty cool) and we are going to make a scrapbook so he can always "keep them". He would wander out of the yard, which was not safe. He had no concern for his safety. Logan gets attached to "things" which he says are special. He has a special box for his special things. I cannot touch these things or he'll have a fit. Literally. Another obsession is cars. We must own every Matchbox car made in the last 3 years. He cannot walk by a Matchbox car display with stopping. I hate Kroger for putting them randomly throughout the store! Reason ONE why I cannot take him shopping.
Lack of social or emotional back and forth interaction (difficulty sitting and participating in groups, inability to negotiate, difficulty engaging in appropriate play, difficulty in greeting others, difficulty in majority rules) - Check!
Mood swings - CHECK!
Difficulty dealing with changes in routine - Check. Being that I have OCD, my life revolves around routine, so I can relate to this. We have a definite routine!
Hyperactivity or passiveness - Check to the former!
Inappropriate laughter or crying - Check.
Oversensitivity or undersensitivity to stimuli - Check. Logan has issues with food. He will only eat certain things and ONLY those things. Dinner time was becoming a challenge.
Poor speech or lack of speech - This is true with many types of autism but not necessarily with high-functioning autism. Logan's speech is normal but he was slower at developing speech.

This may sound strange but I felt a sense of relief knowing what we were dealing with. Now we can move forward. But just as we had gotten the ball rolling on treatment, my husband and I were forced to make an extremely difficult decision....

Loganisms

2010-11-09T14:31:00.003-05:00

Logan: Mom, for my next birthday, you know what I want?

Me: No. What?

Logan: For everybody to leave me alone. Especially Hayden.

Right Wing Conspiracy

2010-11-08T22:21:00.004-05:00

Have you seen Bristol Palin dance? Seriously! How has she made it this far? I really, really *wanted* her to do well, I did. Call me a RINO but this is a dancing competition not a popularity contest. The poor thing has no rhythm. ~Sigh~

One man's trash is another woman's treasure

2010-11-07T17:57:00.006-05:00

This past birthday my husband asked me what I wanted. My reply, an old garden rake to hang my jewelry on. Of course he thought I was crazy but I got it because he is wonderful! It's tres shabby chic! Now I just need more jewelry to hang on it. I'll work on that next.

What things have you turned from trash to treasure?

Blog pimpin'

2010-11-06T12:54:00.006-04:00

I have two blogs that I want you to check out:

My friend Ginny's blog: Mommy Pear

I met Ginny on Twitter, yes Twitter! She also happened to live in the Virginia Beach area and we became friends in real life. She has an adorable little boy, who is only a month older than Bryn. We were sad to leave. Ginny is an amazing mommy and friend!

Ginny's little boy C and Bryn.

Next is a blog from my roommate at OSU, Kate: The Literate Scientist

Kate is an amazing person. Here's why: she's an educator, a PhD student and she is battling breast cancer. Give it a read!

Misto!

2010-11-05T21:21:00.006-04:00

I love kitchen gadgets. My latest purchase was the Misto Olive Oil Sprayer ($10 at Target). Okay, I admit, I saw this on Dr. Oz and thought that it looked pretty cool. Instead of using PAM or Crisco cooking spray, you fill the container with olive oil, pump and spray. It works well. Mind you it's not an aerosol can so the spray isn't going to be as strong. It's meant to be both safe for the environment and healthy. I give it a B+.

Misto® is designed with the health-conscious cook in mind. It offers an easy way to add flavor, use less oil and reduce calories and fat. It is non-aerosol, so it promotes better health not only for you, but also for the environment. Simply add your favorite oil and spray on pasta, pizza, salads, veggies, and more. Just fill, pump and spray without chemicals or propellants. Refill it again and again. Perfect for grilling, roasting, sauteing, non-stick cooking and basting without brushes. Holds 3-ounces of oil. Measures 7 3/4" H x 1 7/8" in diameter.

Waiting is the hardest part

2010-11-04T09:22:00.006-04:00

Logan's pediatrician referred us to a psychologist who my husband and I met with alone at first. An hour didn't seen long enough . At the end of our session, I asked him what he thought we may be dealing with. He said parents are the best indicators as to what is gong on with a child. A child is going to act differently when in his office. Based solely on what we've told him, it's possibly a bi-polar disorder. I felt an anvil drop on my chest at that moment. But I had to tell myself that this isn't a diagnosis yet. Yet.

Two weeks later we took Logan in to meet with him. He wanted to meet with Logan alone. I was a little apprehensive about this. An hour later Logan came out of the office and the Dr pulled me aside and said he will go over everything with us on our next visit. I had to wait another two weeks!

The next two weeks dragged on and on. The time had come. I was nervous as hell sitting in that office. I just wanted to cut to the chase. The Dr went over the history, all the paperwork we had filled out and some tests he ran. He said that he doesn't feel that it is a bi-polar disorder due to the lack of family history, it's primarily a genetic disorder. Phew! So what then? He said he gave him a computer test that tests specifically for ADHD. He showed me how the program ran and personally, it is so boring I thought maybe I had ADHD. Seriously! According to the test, Logan indeed had ADHD. Okay, then why doesn't the medication seem to be working? If it were ADHD wouldn't the meds work?! The Dr said he also evaluated Logan by talking with him and playing with him. Aaaaand? "It looks like he may have an autistic spectrum disorder, such as Asperger's Syndrome." The anvil suddenly came back. "I want to refer you to the social worker here that specializes in autism. She will be be able to determine if this is Asperger's."

Again with the waiting...

The bad kid

2010-11-03T21:13:00.009-04:00

Where do I begin...

I guess you always know when your child is different. Sometimes it's difficult to admit it to yourself. We have been told since Logan was in kindergarten that he had "behavior problems". Sure he wasn't the model student that his older brother was. The teachers all knew and loved Hayden. Logan had a different kind of reputation, he was the bad kid. I was constantly having meetings with the teacher and/or the vice principal. It got old, real fast. I was told in a nutshell that my son had ADHD (although they legally cannot say that). I wasn't buying it. Honestly I think that this is an over diagnosed disorder, an excuse to dope up kids that just need an outlet and some good old fashioned discipline. Logan was the youngest in his class. I chocked it up to maturity level.

We moved to Virginia when Logan was in first grade. Within ONE week, I had received my first phone call from the teacher. Shit! She told us the same thing as the kindergarten teacher, only she made me feel like a bad parent. The next day I called Logan's pediatrician. He agreed to have Logan evaluated. Basically my husband, myself and the teacher all filled out forms. It was determined that Logan had ADHD. The next step I was dreading: meds. I had been tormented with the thought of putting him on medication but it was worth a shot. We owed it to Logan.

The Dr started him on a low dose and he seemed to take it really well but we didn't see any difference and he was still acting up in school. His dosage was increased. Still nothing. Hmmmm. Then we tried a different drug. I was concerned about this particular one because it has been known to cause weight loss. Logan is already terribly thin and his weight is the minimum for the medication. The teacher claimed he was doing better but we were still getting phone calls and notes in his daily agenda from her. We kept him on the meds on the weekends and truthfully, we didn't notice a difference at all. Every time we went to the Dr, I expressed my concern that the meds weren't working. In fact his behavior was becoming so erratic that I actually begged the Dr for help. Nothing else seemed to be working. I knew there was something wrong with my son. I just knew it...

Oops...

2010-11-03T08:21:00.002-04:00

I woke up this morning thinking I had forgotten to do something yesterday. Now what was it? Crap, I forgot to post something yesterday! I failed you NaBlaPoMo...failed. And it was going so well, that...one...day. Can I take a Mulligan?

NaBloPoMo

2010-11-01T21:26:00.003-04:00

I've decided to take on the NaBloPoMo challenge. I haven't been a good blogger lately but in the coming days you will learn why. With that said, lower your expectations about how entertaining my blog will be. Lower. Looower. Okay there.

(This post counts, right?)

Wellies, Galoshes and Rain Boots oh my!

2010-08-19T20:22:00.006-04:00

Who knew rainy days could be so fun? Whether you want a solid color, an animal print or a funky pattern, today's rain boot styles will definitely brighten up your rainy days! Check out these affordable little numbers.

Sea Glass Multicolor rain boots from Target for just $24.99. Target has quite the variety (check em out here), you just have to hope that they have your size in stock. Not to mention Target hasn't been great to me on the shipping front. Good luck.

If it's a solid color you desire well then look no further! Kamik Heidi rain boots come in a variety of cool colors: lime, royal blue, plum, red, black and khaki for $39.95 on Amazon.com.

For you funky gals these Capelli Party Animal rain boots are right up your ally for $38.90 from whatapair.com. I'm personally loving these.

Animal prints are every where these days and I am on that bandwagon!
On the pricier end, Ballard Designs offers leopard, giraffe and zebra prints for $65.

Happy Shopping!

I must have this...

2010-08-15T20:25:00.006-04:00

I love this wax seal pendant/necklace and not just because it was featured on both the recent Bachelorettes (Jillian and Ali). Initial necklaces are super hot right now and I'm hoping to score this one for my birthday. You too can own one. Get it here.

Do you remember...part deux

2010-08-03T10:06:00.086-04:00

Here is the much anticipated sequel to my previous post Do you remember. Sit down, get comfortable and let the reminiscing begin. This is going to take awhile.

Hair bands. There was Poison, Warrant, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Def Leppard,
Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Metallica, Ratt, Slayer, Winger, Slaughter,
White Lion, etc. Still love it!

Mr. Telephone Man...
I love saying Bobby a la crack-head Whitney. "Bob-bay!"

Oh Mickey you're so fine. You're so fine you blow my mind. Hey Mickey!
This song will now be in your head ALL DAY.

Whip it! Whip it good!
Mark Mothersbaugh, the lead singer, is now on Bryn's favorite show.
Yo Gabba Gabba!
And DEVO even performed on it. Cool!

Wham! George Michael and that other guy...

Doesn't seem to be anyone around...
What a coincidence, neither are you.

Oh wait, there was your Emmy winning performance on SyFy's "Mega Piranha". *eye roll*

Rick Springfield

Every girl wanted to be Jessie's girl...er Rick's girl. Song still rocks!

Duran Duran. Simon LeBon *sigh*

I saw them a couple years ago in New Orleans. They were fantastic!

She goes by Deborah now...whatever Debbie.

Culture Club...What the hell does Karma Chameleon mean anyway?

Girls just wanna have fun! She's still got it!

I STILL know all the words to Paul Revere. Licensed to Ill changed my life.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

English Beat, U2, Bon Jovi, Thompson Twins, Spandau Ballet, Flock of Seagulls, Wall of Voodoo, Falco, Oingo Boingo, Blondie, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Queen, Michael Jackson, Prince, Kim Carnes, Nenah Cherry, Wang Chung, The Police, Tears for Fears, Pat Benatar, Yes, Asia, Huey Lewis and the News, Jody Watley, The Escape Club, INXS, Kid 'N Play, Lionel Richie, Men at Work, Eurythmics, Robert Palmer, The Tubes, Samantha Fox, Bow Wow Wow, The Clash, The Bangles, Erasure, etc.

MOVIES

The Legend of Billie Jean. Christian Slater was so cute!

Classic!

Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Directed by Tim Burton. (Did you know that?)
Remember the Alamo!

Bueller? Bueller?
Danka Schoen John Hughes! Danka Schoen...

Parenthood

Love, love, love this movie. And now it's a TV show!

Haven't seen it? Go directly to Netflix and add it to your Queue. GO!

Legend...one of the only movies with Tom Cruise that I like.

It's time for androgyny, it's Labyrinth with David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.
Weird movie, but it has muppets. Muppets = awesome.

Keep them out of light, especially sunlight.

Don't ever get them wet. Keep them away from water.

But the most important thing, the thing you must never forget....

no matter how much they cry, no matter how much they beg,

never, never feed them after midnight!

Raise your hand if:

You wanted to be a Goonie.

You could do the Truffle Shuffle.

Sang She Bop.

Don't cross the streams!

And thus began my love for all things Bill Murray.
(The cartoon was lame.)

E.T.
The first movie my grandma took me to see.

"Frances. That's a real grown up name."
You thought I was going to quote "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." didn't you? Well I'm not.

R.I.P. Patrick Swayze

and Jennifer Grey's nose...and career

ANYTHING with the two Coreys.

Dream a Little Dream

License to Drive

Lost Boys

R.I.P. Corey Haim

and Corey Feldman's career...

John Cusack again? Yes! I'll be honest with you. I love his movies. I do.
I'm a John Cusack fan. I celebrate his entire collection.

Also, One Crazy Summer

16 Candles

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Anything by John Hughes, Back to School, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Fame, Batman, Willow, Weird Science, Uncle Buck, Tootise, The Toy, A Christmas Story, Teen Wolf, Back to the Future, Tron, Risky Business, Lucas, Poltergeist, The Outsiders, Mannequin, Lethal Weapon, The Golden Child, For Keeps, Big, Look Who's Talking, Three Men and a Baby, Beautiful Girls, Clash of the Titans, Beverly Hills Cop, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Flashdance, Footloose, Back to School, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Can't Buy Me Love, Crocodile Dundee, Purple Rain, Weekend at Bernie's, Desperately Seeking Susan, Clue, St. Elmo's Fire, Short Circuit, Summer School, etc.

TV SHOWS

Square Pegs.
Perhaps I stumbled upon this gem of a show too late because it was gone too soon.

Who could forget Thelma, Vinton, Buzz, Naomi and Eunice?
I think this was a spin-of of the Carol Burnett Show.

I remember Valerie Harper leaving the show and being replaced by Sandy Duncan and her creepy eye. I only watched it for Jason Bateman anyway.

Johnny Depp...need I say more?

Dance your cares away (clap clap)
worries for another day
let the music play (clap clap)

down at Fraggle Rock.

You're welcome!

We watched The Cosby Show, religiously, every Thursday night as a family.
I wanted to dress like Denise Huxtable.

I wish sitcoms were like this today.

I heard a rumor that Pee Wee's Playhouse was returning.
Don't know if that's true or not but I would totally watch it!

Punky Power!

A Mickey Mouse Club knockoff. That's Fergie in the middle...she sucked back then too.

Alex P. Keaton for President!

Whoa!

ALF Facts:
Real name is Gordon Shumway
From the planet Melmac
Likes cats...for dinner

Saturday Morning Cartoons were the BEST in the 80's:

Go, go Gadget (insert thing here)!

The Snorks. Kinda like underwater Smurfs.

The Get Along Gang and Shirt Tales...both favs of mine.

"By the power of Grayskull...I have the POWER!"

Snarf. Snarf.

80's Game Shows

I'll be back in 2 and 2. No Whammys, no Whammys. STOP! Physical Challenge!

HONORABLE MENTIONS: 227, Alice, Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life, The A-team, Mr. Belvedere, Perfect Strangers, Bosom Buddies, The Carol Burnett Show, SolidGold, Dance Party USA, Bob Newhart Show, Cheers, The Wonder Years, The Golden Girls, The Dukes of Hazard, Magnum P.I., Three's Company, Who's the Boss, Growing Pains, Charles in Charge, Airwolf, Simon and Simon, Nightcourt, Dallas, Falcon Crest, Remington Steele, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Eight is Enough, Greatest American Hero, Knight Rider, Cagney and Lacey, Moonlighting, Scrabble, Muppet Babies, TMNT, Foofur, Garfield, Heathcliff, Hillstreet Blues, Designing Women, Doogie Howser, M.D., CHiPS, My Two Dads, Life Goes On, Saved By the Bell, Miami Vice, etc.

RANDOM

This was a genius ad from Wendy's.

Tasted. Like. Crap.

Has anyone tried this recipe?

Yes kids, it was a book first.

This is my kinda poetry!
Also, "A Light in the Attic".

TOYS

Scratch 'N Sniff stickers! I had a sticker book and these were by far my favorite.
Fuzzy animal stickers were a close second.

Garbage Pail Kids were awesome!
Find your name here.
Mine is Spewin' Shannon.

I pitty the fool who didn't have Shrinky Dinks!

Sweet Secrets. I didn't have them but my friends did.
I don't even know what the heck they are. I just remember them.

The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine.
Not really a good toy for kids because of the blades.
I bought a new one several years ago.
Go ahead and bust your Snoopy Sno-Cone machine
out at your next party. Great for Margarits!

Please tell me someone remembers this? I had a pencil case with Poochie on it.
I think it was also a cartoon.

I wanted one so bad one year for Christmas and they were sold out so my mom made me one. I will admit I was pretty disappointed with my "generic Pound Puppy" but I came to love it. So much so that I slept with it every night. Still have him!

Monchichi. Monchichi. Oh so soft and cud-d-ly!

My cousins had them. Ugly.

I loved my Little Professor!

Colorforms! I had these two, Holly Hobbie and Raggedy Ann. I believe I also had Miss Piggy.

Glo-worm, really hasn't changed since then!

I really, really wanted one! I could have been a famous fashion designer. I blame my parents.

Dolly Pops. Didn't have these either. I would always go to this one girl's house to play and she had them. She also had the Fashion Plates. But I had a pool!

Charmkins. Cute.

I loved Care Bears. I had the stuffed animals and the little action figures with the Cloud Mobile.
I liked the one with the rainy cloud on him. Whatever his name was.

My grandma fought tooth and nail for two Cabbage Patch kids for me and my cousin. Mine was a ginger named Winola Denna, which I renamed Libby. She was later joined by a preemie sister Mimi, and two brothers Pete and Woody. Oh and a Koosa!

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Pillow people, He-Man, My Buddy, See n Say, Hugga Bunch, Sit n Spin, Slinky, Trivial Pursuit, My Pet Monster, Strawberry Shortcake, Smurfs, Light Brite, Barbie, Atari, Little People, Transformers, Voltron, Micro Machines, etc.

FASHION TRENDS

Skidz. I had a red/orange/yellow/black plaid pair that I rolled up and wore with my Tretorns. Jealous?
Oh I got them at Merry Go Round.

Liz Claiborne perfume. A must have for all middle school girls.

Dressing like Madonna or Pat Benatar...they are interchangeable.

T-shirt clips. Tying it in a knot is so like, lame.

Hypercolor t-shirts = grody sweat marks.

Side pony tails. Making a comeback.

Slap bracelets and...

Jelly bracelets. Some even had glitter in them! The more, the merrier.

These were some of my favorites. I don't remember where we bought these, but I loved collecting all the charms and even trading them with friends.

Hair crimpers. One of the many hair tragedies of the 80's.

I confess, I still have one...In case I ever go to an 80's party.

Acid wash jeans, pleated, pegged with a matching jacket...
an unfortunate denim trend to which I was a part of.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Parachute pants, Buggle Boy, Z. Cavaricci, Eastlands, duck shoes, Jordache, Esprit, stirrup pants, spandex, moon boots, scrunchies, anything neon, shoulder pads, mall bangs, friendship bracelets, high tops, etc.

I hope you enjoyed this little jog down memory lane and I'm sure I forgot a few things. Please add them in your comments!
Maybe I'll do a 90's post...now go make a mixed tape!

Oscars baby!

2010-03-08T20:22:00.021-05:00

Ah, the Oscars. This year I only saw two of the ten movies nominated, Inglourious Basterds and UP. Both great flicks and certainly worthy of a nom. Avatar, Avatar , Avatar, blah, blah, blah! I was particularly excited to see A. Avatar lose and B. Sandra Bullock win. Both achieved!
It was nice to see the John Hughes tribute. Finally getting the recognition he deserved for his films, they were iconic. Too bad they couldn't do that while he was alive. The death montage is always sad, but this year it was because they left out Bea Arthur and Farrah Fawcett, who once again was forgotten. WTH? Don't get me started. But enough about the movies, let's talk fashion.

Hey James Cameron! This is what a winner looks like!
Kathryn Bigelow's dress was just okay but looked amazingly better flanked by two Oscars.
Class act!

A tux is a tux but these guys make it look soooo good!

Ryan Reynolds

Cutie pie Zac Efron

Meryl Streep has never looked better at an awards show!

*sigh* NEXT!

I love SJP and I think I am the only person who liked this dress. It's Chanel Haute Couture. It was different and I liked it so there. Now, the hair and the last minute spray tan, nuh-uh.

Anna Kendrick is adorable. Pretty dress but I'm not digging the fleshy pink tone.
I couldn't tell where she ended and the dress began.

"If fashion was porn, this dress is the money shot."
There are so many things wrong with that statement. Where do I begin?

George, George, George. Not. Feeling. The. Hair.

Who the hell are these two?
"SECURITY! We have a couple of Oscar crashers!
You're who? Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith? Oh, um, sorry. Carry on."

Helen Mirren is HOT! She could wear a paper bag and still look good.

Demi Moore aka Benjamin Button looked gorgeous as usual. The dress is beautiful but I would have loved it so much more if it were a different color, or any color for that matter.

Oh Dear God, will you either smile or please go away...

Oh my gawd Becky, look at her hip...it's like, so big.
Um, Jennifer, when your done with this I could really use this to pack my dishes in when I move. Thanks! Other than that, she is gorgeous.

And from the "Mother of the Bride" collection, Kate Winslet ladies and gentleman!

Yes, Zoe Can-can!
Okay, I have to be honest and say that I don't hate this.
I loved the top half. I like shiny things! I am completely on the fence...

And now for the LOSERS

James Cameron and his pompous Na'vi blue pocket square. Pretentious much?
And for God sakes, FEED YOUR WIFE!

What is Charlize Theron wearin'? Is she wearing Cinnabon?

t.w.i.t. and I can't help but wonder if she's paying tribute to Janet Jackson's 1993 Rolling Stone cover.

And the winners are:

Sandra Bullock. She looked flawless. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of the dress she had the best hair and make up of the night. With poise and grace,
she exemplifies what it means to be a star!

I am generally not a Cameron Diaz fan, but I was a fan of this dress. It was my fav until I saw...

Elizabeth Banks! Best dressed from head to toe. Perfection!

Still here

2010-03-06T19:31:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure if I have any readers left, but I'm still here. I just really haven't had much motivation to blog. Things haven't been going my way since we moved and I'm just taking things day by day. I miss reading my blogs and feeling connected to the world...hopefully, I'll find some inspiration and be back in the swing of things soon. Take care blogosphere friends!

Makin' cookies

2009-12-11T16:29:00.003-05:00

A favorite family tradition of ours is decorating Christmas cookies together. I've been doing it since I was a kid. This is the same cookie and frosting recipe my mom used...even the cookie cutters are mostly the same. I have bought some new ones periodically.
The boys got to make the cut outs first and we baked them and then they got to decorate their cookies.

Hayden getting very detailed in his cookie art.

Logan had a little difficulty frosting, so I helped frost and he put the sprinkles on....on the cookie, on the counter and on the floor!

He go the shiner from his brother. Nice huh?

Hayden's cookies

This was my favorite...Logan's Santa. I think those red things are his eyes...he's possessed!

Even Chad got into the cookie decorating action. He made the Blue man group, the Jackson 5, a yellow snowman (don't eat yellow snow)...you get the idea.

Here is the Blue Man group.

What if any are some of your family traditions?

Life's a beach

2009-12-11T15:06:00.014-05:00

I decided that this year we were going to take Christmas pictures on the beach and I was going to do them. I'm a glutton for punishment!

It was THE perfect day. 70 degrees and sunny. All the kids wanted to do is run. And all Bryn wanted to do it this:

and this...

Chad said, and I quote "she looks like a turd covered in sand".

Chad did this:
That is him, in the background, on his phone...the Colts were playing.

Despite one or all of them not cooperating, after about 200 or so shots, I did manage to get some good pics.

And here are the three that made my Christmas cards:

Merry Christmas!

From...

Open For Business!

2009-12-11T14:56:00.004-05:00

This, on top of everything else, is why I have been so busy. But I finally got it up and running! Check out Fleur de Lulu!!

Promo Code

2009-11-30T10:33:00.002-05:00

Just for Cyber Monday I have a promo code for the Mineral Case. Get it for $19.99!!
santaxx
You're welcome!

I totally want this

2009-11-24T21:04:00.005-05:00

Have you ever been on Facebook and seen those annoying ads on the side and think "Who buys this crap?". I said that until this caught my eye: the Mineral Makeup storage organizer. I love my mineral make up and I have a lot of it. In my last bathroom, I had a large vanity with drawers that allowed me to easily store my make up. Unfortunately in my new bathroom I don't have any drawers and unless I break out my old Caboodles, I have nowhere to put it. Until now.

The Mineral case comes in black or brown and retails for $24.99. You can use it for travel, which is convenient, or you can set it on your vanity. Now if I can just keep the make up from getting ALL OVER the place!

Fancy Feet

2009-11-24T20:45:00.005-05:00

I had a hard time shopping for shoes for Bryn. I didn't want cheap shoes but I didn't want to spend a fortune either and they had to be cute. Super cute. Look at these from Morgan and Milo. I love sparkles...because I'm 14...

They are even cuter in person...and on Bryn.

I love the leg warmers too! I love shopping for little girls.

She has a potential career in shoe modeling.

They are great and they go with so much. I love the rubber soles because she runs EVERYWHERE! Every now and then I will find a little speckle of glitter but all in all the glitter doesn't shed. If you want to check out some really cute baby/kid shoes go here.

I'm now a Virginian

2009-11-11T09:40:00.003-05:00

I moved! It feels so good to be in my own home again, with my entire family. I couldn't ask for anything more...well maybe a job too. Currently I am living in a box forest, slowly weeding my way out. I need to paint just about everything and "make it my own". I'm also working on stock for my Etsy shop and a craft show, which I am totally behind on. I have TV shows backing up on the DVR. We all have to go to the doctor and the dentist. My driver's license is expired. I need to get Christmas pictures of the kids done. I need to start Christmas shopping at some point. I'm more than a little behind on these things. Life. is. busy.
I will post pics of my new digs soon...so stay tuned!

I thought this day would NEVER come...

2009-10-29T13:19:00.002-04:00

I am MOVING...finally! YAY! I can't express into words how excited I am to be moving back in with my husband after five looooong months of living apart. Sunday, November 1st we will be loading up the truck and heading north to our new home in Virginia. This has been really difficult for us and I am just thankful that it is finally coming to an end. I feel bad that I have to take the boys out of school after they just got situated but they will do great in Virginia, I have no doubt.
I will be a very busy girl for a little while! It will probably take me a good year to get totally settled and then we'll be packing up and moving again. {*sigh*} Such is the life of a military family!

The next best thing

2009-10-27T12:29:00.005-04:00

By now y'all may know that I have a "thing" for nail polish. In my quest to find the next best thing, I, along with everyone else, have fallen for Chanel's Jade. It's a gorgeous pistachio green with a hint of shimmer. It is so hot for fall that it is currently NOT AVAILABLE. I really can't see spending $25 on a pot of nail polish anyway so I have been trying to find a suitable stand in. OPI had Damone Roberts 1968 and MAC had Peppermint Patti...both also unavailable. Then I found Ciaté Candy Couture in Apple Custard. It is $15, still a little much and it is shipped from England. Bummer. EUREKA! Essie's new winter collection offers the must have minty green in Mint Candy Apple and it's affordable at $8! Essie's winter collection is slated to hit stores in November but it is available online here.

Apple Custard by Ciaté Candy Couture

Mint Candy Apple by Essie

Reason #74 why I HEART Etsy

2009-10-06T20:54:00.004-04:00

I placed an order in July for a gold braided headband from Target. Still have not received it, so I cancelled my order. I was totally bummed because I really wanted it! I had to find another alternative. All the headbands I found were either fat, the wrong color or double or triple strand. I finally found one on Etsy...my go to place! This shop has some super cute headbands...like this one and this one. Check em out!

I'm venting...humor me

2009-10-05T15:00:00.001-04:00

I never anticipated that my children having friends would be so difficult...

Approximately two weeks ago my two boys were playing at the neighbor's house. My six year old, Logan, came home crying and said that Jack had hit him. Hayden, my 9 year old, had defended his brother and of course he was the one to get into trouble. They were sent home. Although I don't condone Hayden's actions, I was shocked and secretly happy that he took up for his little brother. (Jack is a bully. He is always picking on Logan and another little boy in the neighborhood.) I had a talk with them and I gave them permission to go play with the other little boy, Oscar. The mother of Jack and Oscar are friends and Kate, Jack's mom, happened to walk over to Oscar's house. She saw my boys there and yelled at them to go home. Once again they came home crying. I was sitting on the porch playing with Bryn and they told me what happened. I was so angry that she took it upon herself to tell my boys that they couldn't play with Oscar, at Oscar's house. I herded the kids into the house and shut the door. As I was shutting the door, Kate yelled my name. Honestly, I was so angry I couldn't talk to her at that moment. (It was for her protection!)

I figured that this would just blow over. They're kids. They get mad at each other one day and the next they have forgotten all about it and want to play again. (We could learn a lesson from them.) I started noticing some tension between Oscar's mother, Maria, Kate and myself. Pretty soon the kids weren't allowed to play together anymore.

Jack was at my house yesterday playing with Logan. I stepped out to tell them to play nice and clean all the toys up when they were done. I go out back to cut Hayden's hair and I hear Kate calling Jack. I went around front to make sure they were cleaning the toys up and once again Logan is in tears. "Miss Kate said that Jack cannot play here and he had to go home. I told her that Jack was going to play nice. She said 'What about you Logan?'." It was like someone lit my ass on fire at that point. I have just about had it. Allow me to backtrack for a minute. Earlier in the day the boys were playing with Oscar and they came home just before lunch. Two minutes later Oscar's mother Maria came stomping over to my house and rings my doorbell. Logan answers the door and she starts yelling at Logan. Whoa, whoa...whoa! I go to the door and she is yelling at me that along with her son my boys were in her garage and proceeded to shake, open and spray beer all over. I understand that she was mad, but don't yell at me chica! Shouldn't I be mad that she wasn't watching them? I made the boys apologize and made sure the mess was cleaned up, because that was the right thing to do. I didn't need to act like an ass, she was already doing a good job of that.

I decided that maybe I should call Kate and try and mend fences. She told me that she and Maria have been talking and that they felt that I needed to be outside more with the kids. That kids need to be "instructed on how to play" and "taught how to share and be nice". I'm sorry, what? I was too busy laughing my ass off, I didn't catch that last part. Are you effing serious lady? I am outside any chance I get. I have an 18 month old baby and I have things to do. Why do I need to hover over them? They felt that I only knew what my boys told me and not the truth and I needed to see what goes on. Hmmm, that's funny, when they play over here I don't seem to have problems with them. Only once have I sent Jack home because he grabbed Logan by the head and slammed his head on the deck for not sharing a toy. I get it, that's my fault because I didn't properly teach Logan how to share. I suppose the "beer incident" was my fault too because I wasn't outside supervising my children at the neighbor's house so her ass could "work". Now this was the pot calling the kettle black. Maria is NEVER outside. She lets her two year old little girl, Chloe, wander around outside. Her kids are always running in the street. I am forever telling them to look before crossing and several times I have had Hayden pick up Chloe and take her home. There have been a handful of times that she has been at my house playing and Maria came out 30 minutes later calling her. She could have been hit by a car or worse abducted. But I'm the bad parent.

I decided to take the high road, these are my dad's neighbors and he has to live with them once I move. I told Kate that I just wanted the kids to play. I can't be outside all the time, it's just not possible, but that I am always watching them. Always. I told her that right now it's difficult because I am basically a single parent and the boys don't have their dad around. Her response was that she was too because her husband worked nights...and she has 4 kids to deal with (a 15 year old stepdaughter and a 12 year old stepson along with her two) and her daughter is not much older than Bryn. *I must compose myself* How dare she compare her husband working nights to my husband being in the military and being gone for sometimes weeks at a time. Her husband is there to see the kids leave for school, he's there for dinner and he is there on weekends. We have been apart from Chad for more than 4 months now. He has been somewhere in the Atlantic for two weeks. We count ourselves lucky if we get to talk to him on the phone or get to see him on an occasional weekend visit. Are you kidding me lady? Go sell your crazy somewhere else! I quickly corrected her statement "Your husband working 3rd shift in NO WAY compares to my situation and a three year old and an 18 month old are VERY different developmentally. Bryn doesn't talk for one.". It is a really good thing this wasn't a face to face conversation...I can and will loose control if someone attacks me. Especially my parenting skills. I'm not the best parent in the world, but I am certainly not the worst and my kids aren't angels. I let them be kids. After a few heated words, I just let it go. It wasn't worth it.
The more and more I think about what she said to me, the angrier I get. My dad was out of town and when he returned I told him what had happened. He said that he had thought more highly of Kate...but he didn't think anything of Maria the way she lets her little girl run around. My dad is always the voice of reason. Believe me when I say he doesn't always take my side. That is why I go to him for advice. He's fair.

Moral of the story: Don't attack me as a parent or I will Lay. You. Out!

This is why I love blogging. It's cathartic. Thanks for reading...all 3 of you!

*some names have been changed to protect the annoying

My kid said WHAT?

2009-10-05T11:14:00.002-04:00

I remember the first time I said a bad word in front of my parents. I was in Jr. High and I had called a girl a "prick". We were at dinner, at a restaurant and my parents' forks hit the plate. I think at that point everyone in the restaurant turned their heads. My dad said to me "Do you know what that word means?". I didn't. He said "It means PENIS.". Awkward. I wanted to hide under the table. I was so embarrassed. My dad told me that I shouldn't use words that I didn't understand.

I found out yesterday that Logan had said, (deep breath), the "N" word. I just about died. Hayden tattled on him but I found out that Hayden was the one who told him that word. I know for a fact that they didn't learn it from us! I kept a level head and didn't yell. I sat them both down and asked Hayden where he heard it. He said school of course, last year. He heard some kids say it and it was written in the bathroom. Interesting considering the school they attended last year is more than half black and virtually all of his friends were black. How was the word being used? Is either way acceptable? I don't think so. It's confusing for children when they hear rappers using it. Then I asked them if they knew what it meant, the conversation with my dad popped into my head. Neither did. I was a little relieved. I told them that this word is worse than any word they could ever use and it was used to describe a group of people. It was NOT an acceptable word, for anyone to use! "You shouldn't use words that you do not understand." I didn't go into any more detail than that. Not right now. I can only hope that they listen to me.

We cannot possibly be with our children every second of the day. Unfortunately, they are going to hear things, learn things and do things that we don't want them to. It is our job as parents to teach them that those things are not acceptable and steer them in the right direction. We as parents will come across embarrassing situations such as these, but it's how we handle them that makes a difference. (shooting star "The More You Know")

Tag! You're it!

2009-10-01T10:15:00.008-04:00

1. Who was your first prom date? Some loser

2. Do you still talk to your first love? Yeah, every time I want to induce vomiting.

3. What was your first alcoholic drink? Legally? Beer. Illegally? Beer.

4. What was your first job? I worked at Burger King in high school for 3 days, 2 of that was orientation. It was awful. I quit, I couldn't cut the mustard. I have an aversion to the kitchen to this day :) It was my second job that was the one to talk about. I worked at a dry cleaners cleaning out pockets (no joke) and pinning the little number tags on the clothes. Sounds like a job some celeb had before their big break right?

5. What was your first car? A Chevy Sprint 4 door...it was badass, for a Chevy Sprint. It was either that or drive around in the decked out Ford Aerostar Minivan. Ahhh, I'll take the Sprint.

6. Who was the first person to text you today? Chad

7. Who was the first person you thought of this morning? Logan. Wondering if he peed the bed. (He is sleeping in my bed)

8. Who was your first grade teacher? Miss Snepp. Hiawatha Elementary School.

9. Where did you go on your first flight in a plane? Orlando, Florida.

10. Who was your first best friend and do you still talk? Kristin Bartoo. No, we haven't talked in a loooong time. Don't know anything about her.

11. Where was your first sleepover? Either at Kristin's or my friend Gina Franco's. Gina was my second BFF.

12. Who was the first person you talked to today? Logan

13. Whose wedding were you in for the first time? My Aunt Patty's...I think I was 2 or 3, flower girl.

14. What was the first thing you did this morning? Woke the boys for school.

15. What was the first concert you went to? NKOTB!

16. First tattoo? None

17. First piercing? My ears when I was a baby.

18. First foreign country you went to? Canada

19. First movie you remember seeing? Don't remember...probably something Disney. I do remember seeing JAWS. We had a pool and I was terrified to go in it after that, especially at night. Da dum da dum, da dum da dum....

20. What state (province) did you first live in? THE O-H!

21. Who was your first room mate? Katie, Carin and Julie at Ohio State

22. When was your first detention? In junior high...from talking in music class.

23. When was your first kiss? When I was 16.

24. What is one thing you would learn, given the chance? How to sew. It was either that or brain surgery. I chose the most realistic.

25. Who will be the next person to post this? IDK

Play along!

I got a rock

2009-10-01T08:00:00.004-04:00

It's that time again! I love the month of October. The brisk cool air, leaves falling all around, scary movies, costumes, and CANDY!

Halloween is my second favorite holiday, pagan or not. Love it. Trick or treating is a blast, still enjoy it even though I am just taking my kids around. If you were like me, you always knew which houses had the best candy and which jerks gave out the apples or pennies. Pennies? Really dude, you are cheaper than the asshole that has his porch light off. There was a rumor once that the guy giving out apples was putting needles into them. He was the same guy that yelled at all the kids for walking on his lawn. He switched to pennies. Need I say more? Of course trick or treating in Ohio meant the weather was unpredictable. You never knew if you were going to have to hide your awesome costume with a parka or not. The best part was getting back home, going through your loot and eating yourself into a candy coma...ah good times!
These are some Halloween favorites:

CANDY CORN

I have a love/hate relationship with them. Great for making vampire teeth with though!

SWEET TARTS

They're sweet. They're tart. They're good!

HALLOWEEN PEEPS

Peeps, are they just for Easter? Discuss.

CARAMEL APPLE POPS

I literally hoard these. SOOOO GOOD!

FUN SIZE ANYTHING!

Snickers, Milky Way, M&M's, Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, Kit Kat, and my personal fav Twix. Almond Joy and Mounds were always in my yucky pile. Hate coconut.

BOTTLE CAPS

We would fight over these because they were rare!

SMARTIES!!!

Who doesn't love Smarties? I mean, it's un-American.

RAZZLES

It's candy then it's gum!

RAIN-BLO BUBBLE GUM

The flavor lasts all of 15 seconds but it was good while it lasted.

WHOPPERS

I personally do not like them but my husband does. He always steals them from the kids' stash.

SUGAR BABIES/ SUGAR DADDIES

Getting stuck in my teeth since 1978.

TOOTSIE POPS

We may never know just how many licks it takes to get to the center...
Love the grape and chocolate and now they have pomegranate. Not a fan of the orange ones, gross.

BLOW POPS

Sucker good. Gum bad.

LEMONHEADS/ GRAPEHEADS/ CHERRY CHAN'S

I buy these every year. So yummy.

PIXY STIX

This is crack for kids.

What is your favorite and least favorite Halloween candy?

Change is good right?

2009-09-29T22:57:00.002-04:00

I was getting really bored with the look of my blog. I changed it up a bit and added my picture, the real freckleface. I've got some more work to do but what do you think so far?

Are you smarter than a 4th grader?

2009-09-27T14:57:00.010-04:00

Hayden's favorite subjects in school are math and science. I love that he loves math. I think that math can be intimidating to some kids. I always check his homework before he takes it back to school and I am amazed at some of the word problems he gets. I for one hated word problems as a kid, still do. This one in particular puzzled me:

On a game board, landing on blue means to move ahead 1 space, landing on red means to move ahead 2 spaces, and landing on orange means to move back 1 space. If you took 30 spins, about where would you expect to be on the game board, relative to where you started?

I'll be honest, this took some thought but I finally came up with the answer. Are you smarter than a 4th grader? (answer in comments)

2009 Emmys

2009-09-21T12:17:00.010-04:00

Sadly I missed the hilarity that is Neil Patrick Harris last night at the 2009 Emmy Awards. However, I never miss the fashion lowdown the next day. Here is, in my opinion, the best and worst on the red carpet last night. Celebs never cease to amaze me...

Neil! What can I say...I want him as my gay BFF!
Oh and Neil, YOU WERE ROBBED! You shoulda won.

Ah, my doppelganger Debra Messing. Love this. It is difficult for a red head to pull off red but she did it!

January Jones...wow! Gorge!

Jon Hamm. He looks classic old Hollywood. Tall, dark and Hammsome!

Gouhliana, ahem, Guiliana looks stunning.

Heidi looks like a pregnant mermaid, a gorgeous pregnant mermaid, just not in this dress.

Cicely Tyson got a little confused. She thought this was Michael Jackson's funeral.

Holly Hunter. Shiny. Love it.

Kim Kardashian. WE GET IT! You have a big ass...

Kourtney Kardashian. This is how a pregnancy dress should look. Nice.

How cute is Kristin Chenoweth? You could put her in your pocket!

Wow! Sigourney Weaver looks great. Love the retro look!

And now I give you THE WORST LOOK EVER to grace the red carpet. Even worse than Cher, Celine Dion or yes, even Bjork:

Victoria Rowell in an Obamanation of fashion. WTF?
I mean its cool and all to support your prez but WTF?

Trick or Treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!

2009-09-20T13:42:00.004-04:00

When I was a kid we made our own costumes from old clothes and boxes and our treat bags consisted of an old pillowcases. You could really haul the loot with those! My kids used to let me make their costumes but suddenly that wasn't cool anymore. Now they want to be G.I. Joe and Optimus Prime amongst other super heroes. I have hope with Bryn. When Hayden first went trick or treating, I found him a monogrammed bat treat bag that I bought from Lillian Vernon. I know what you're thinking. Lillian Vernon? Remember that sketch from Mad TV where they made fun of Lillian Vernon? This one:

No? I didn't think so. Did anybody really watch that show?

I've since bought Logan a spider and I just ordered Bryn a black cat. They are $10.98, with the monogramming, and you can get a discount if you order more. If you don't already have a cool treat bag for your little Ghoul or Goblin, check them out! Visit Lillian Vernon's Halloween Headquarters for more cool Halloween decorations.

Cute fruit

2009-09-12T22:35:00.004-04:00

Look at this cute bunch of baby bananas. I found these at Wal*Mart. They are the perfect size for Bryn, she can never finish a regular one.

mommy and baby bananas (not really but its cute)

Bryn sized!

Download this

2009-09-12T22:27:00.003-04:00

If you love Kings of Leon, you will love The Features, or at least like them. They were signed to Kings of Leon's label Imprint. The album: Some Kind of Salvation, the song: Lions. It's catchy, it's cool, I love it!

Do you remember?

2009-09-08T11:36:00.030-04:00

Over the weekend I celebrated yet another birthday. I can't believe that I am as old as I am. I definitely don't feel my age. Chad and I were having a laugh remembering things we had/did when we were younger, a lot younger!

I remember: a time when McDonald's Chicken McNuggets came in a Styrofoam container, we drank TAB, my cousins and I spent the night at my grandparent's house and would sleep on the floor in front of the door (which was unlocked), riding my bike all day long and not getting tired, evening television programs that contained NO bad language, Sunday dinners with my family, and not having a care in the world! I loved being a kid...especially in the 80's!

TV & MOVIES

When I was a toddler I loved Sesame Street, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and The Electric Company. "Heeyy yoouu guys!" I would sit in my little rocking chair and wouldn't move. Life was good.

Who remembers Pinwheel on Nickelodeon?

How about now? Orelia and Ebeneezer?

Admiral bird?

Or these guys? This was when Nickelodeon was first on. It was similar to Sesame Street with puppets, people and little cartoons and I watched it every day!

I always wanted to get slimmed! You Can't Do That On Television was one of my favorite shows.

Alasdair and Christine "Moose"

I loved Alasdair. Remember the lockers and the bad jokes?

I would have taken a ride on Ricky Schroder's train any day!

This may be a stretch but does anybody remember the show Out Of This World? The main character, Evie, was an alien. That is about all I remember. I would watch anything I swear.

Vicki the "robot" girl was annoying as hell with her stupid voice, yet I loved it.

The Muppet Show was a show that my mom and I watched together and we both loved it! It was the best show EVAH!

I have since bought the DVDs for my kids.

Rainbow Brite. I watched the cartoon and had the dolls. (Thanks to Joel McHale for bringing this back!) I remember that at one point Taco Bell had the Sprites (like Twink) for $5 or something. I went there until I collected them all. Which also reminds me of Hugga Bunch. Taco Bell had those too.

Jem is truly, truly, truly outrageous!

I have a couple real memories of going to the movies when I was a kid. One being my dad taking me to see A Christmas Story and the other my mom taking me to the drive in to see The Neverending Story. I was mesmerized.

I loved Atreyu. Loved! I saw an E! show the other day about child stars...Where Are They Now. Atreyu is now a tattoo artist in LA.

Ahh, The Dark Crystal! Jim Henson's Gelflings and Skexies. I knew someone that looked like a Skexie, no lie. I had the Disney Channel when I was a kid, when it first came out. This came on and my grandma thought it was too scary for me. I had to argue with her that it was PG AND on the Disney Channel in order to watch it. Of course I own the DVD now.

Honorable mentions: Goonies, Family Ties, Who's The Boss, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Blossom (Whoa!), Fraggle Rock, The Karate Kid, Thundercats, Star Wars, Labyrinth, Legend, Alf, Charles in Charge, Mr. Belvedere, Inspector Gadget, Perfect Strangers, The Cosby Show, E.T., Punky Brewster, ANYTHING by John Hughes.

BOOKS

Lori (t.w.i.t.) and I were talking about this a week or so ago. We both wanted the Sweet Pickles bus to come to our house and deliver the books. Lori's books, nor mine, were NOT delivered by the Sweet Pickles bus. I repeat NOT delivered by the Sweet Pickles bus. Lori is in therapy now. Seriously, she cannot let go. DAMN YOU SWEET PICKLES!

Judy Blume books!

Ramona and her big sister Beezus. PBS even had a show. I think it came on around Degrassi Jr. High. Remember Wheels? HA!

If you were a prepubescent girl, you read this. This was a GUIDE to becoming a woman. Frankly, it terrified me.

Sweet Valley Twins. I read all of them! I always thought it would be fun to have a twin sister and decided that since I myself didn't have a twin, I would have to have twin girls. Never got into Sweet Valley High.

Honorable mentions: How To Eat Fried Worms, The Chocolate War, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Amelia Bedelia, Blubber, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Where the Sidewalk Ends (or anything Shel Silverstein).

TOYS

Popples were sooo cute!

The Family Tree House. They still make this!

Fisher Price My Friends Doll

"Jenny"

There was also a blonde, "Mandy". I remember getting this doll for one of my birthdays. Me and Jenny was like peas and carrots!

I still have her, only now she is sporting a hair style a la Kate Gosselin.

Tomy Kimberly Doll

I still have her too!

I wish I still had this. It is worth quite a bit. The Familiar Places McDonald's from Playskool. It's hip to be square!

Pretty Cut & Grow

Finally, a doll in which you could cut the hair! I believe I got her from my dad and I cut ALL of her yellow yarn hair. All of it!

Skipper

This was my favorite Skipper. Sun Lovin' Malibu Skipper. She has tan lines!

Sea Wees

I loved these! I had so many and they came with little babies. I played with them in the tub and in the pool.

Strawberry Shortcake

I had (have actually) 'em all! Apple Dumplin, Raspberry Torte, Blueberry Muffin, Angel Cake, Huckleberry Pie, Crepes Suzette...all of 'em! I was known round the hood for my extensive SS collection!

Feelin' Smurfy my friend?

How many cereal boxes did you go through to get a Wacky Wall Walker in every color?

Honorable mentions: Star Wars figures, Colorforms, Cabbage Patch Kids, Garbage Pail Kids cards, Masters of the Universe, Fashion Plates, Hugga Bunch, My Buddy, My Little Pony, GI Joe, Transformers, Snoopy Snow Cone Machine, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gobots, Puffalumps, Pound Puppy, Teddy Ruxpin, Pillow People, Glo Worm, Micro Machines, Care Bears. Rainbow Brite, Rubix's Cube, Fisher Price Little People.

TRENDS

My first watch. I received this watch from my mom on my 6th birthday. I remember it well. This watch perhaps started my love for Peanuts. Oh and yes, I still have it!!

Raise your hand if you wore Camp Beverly Hills? Or maybe Luv's Baby Soft, Designer Impostor Perfume Sprays or Liz Claiborne?

Friendship bracelets. I would stay up late painstainkingly making these for all of my friends. I had to have every different color of embroidery floss and wore at least ten on each arm.

Friendship pins. Mine were the prettiest!

Anybody who was anybody would rock Benetton

and

and anything from The Limited. Like Forenza or Outback Red (with the tag on the back).

I was in the 6th grade when I got my Swatch. I only had one because I loved the one I had. Didn't like the Pop Swatch. I also had several of the rubber guards. (yep still have it)

Oversized shaker knit sweaters. So awesome. NOT!

Be it Jordache, Guess, Bongo, Z Cavaricci or Sergio Valente...you had to have the coolest pair. Bleached, acid washed, stonewashed, button fly, side zipper leg, french rolled etc.

Jellies! I also had the jelly bracelets and rings!

Cool tennis shoes. I had a pair of Roos, I kept my lunch money in the pocket :)
There were also L.A. Gear, K Swiss and Reebok. I had the Reebok white high tops, of course I wore two pair of scrunchy socks with them! Also had Eastland's with the twisty laces.

Honorable mentions: banana clips, big bows, flourescent colors, stirrup pants, spandex, jams, big hair, mullets, side pony tails, moccasins, Polo shirts with the collar up, slap bracelets, Hypercolor t shits, parrachute pants, painter pants, Liz Claiborne purses.

I didn't include any 80's music. That would be a separate blog post! Ok, now it's your turn. Tell me what you remember when you were a kid.

I covet thee

2009-09-04T13:37:00.005-04:00

I am trying to save money, operative word trying. I have a few weaknesses, one being handbags. I avoid temptation by not not shopping, especially online. However, this week an Anthropologie catalog appeared in my mailbox. I should have thrown it away, but I didn't and I saw this green oiled leather Captured Knots Bag and fell in love. I want it but I am afraid I will have to pass, as much as it pains me to say so. DAMMIT!

Target...I am really disappointed in you

2009-08-27T21:35:00.010-04:00

I was an avid Tori & Dean watcher, don't judge me. I love Tori Spelling's clothes. I really watched it to see what she was wearing, or at least that is what I told myself. One accessory she wore many times was this gold, braided headband. I wanted it. I found one on Target's website and it was only available online, so I ordered it...in July. It's nearly September and I have yet to receive it. I checked on it today and it says I should receive it anytime between August 26th and September 7th. Whatever Target! This is the first and last time I will shop at Target.com.

UPDATE 08-31-09:
I emailed Target today in regards to my order and their response was: um, yeah, about your order...it's on backorder now...blah blah blah...we try to ship orders in a prompt fashion...blah blah...cancel your order if you want to, you're just one person and in the grand scheme of things, your $13 doesn't even make a dent...thank you for shopping Target.

I am really, really disappointed.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

2009-08-26T22:00:00.003-04:00

I saw this in my Real Simple magazine and I loved it. Orly's new fall collection Once Upon A Time is available this September and I would love to get my hands on it ( pun intended). One color in particular Mirror, Mirror is the fairest of them all. I love gray. If you looked at my fall clothes you would find a lot of black, brown and gray. You can find Orly Nail Lacquer at Sally Beauty Supply and to see the other colors available and read a review click here.

Update

2009-08-26T21:43:00.004-04:00

Well, I'm still homeless. We had actually found the perfect house. It was awesome. Too good to be true apparently. It was in a great new development right smack dab in the middle of a bad neighborhood. But that wasn't the spoiler...it was the elementary school. I searched it online and was reading parent reviews. It was given one star out of 5. One parent said they wouldn't send a dog there and another stated that there were discipline problems on the playgrounds (bullying?). The staff didn't care and ignored this parent. Also there weren't computers in the classrooms. HUH? How can this be 2009 and no computers? I wanted the house but not at the expense of my children's education.
Back to the drawing board! We found several other homes that seemed great but they got snatched up before we could even look at them. It seems that a lot of people are renting now. We have competition.
Part of the problem is is that I am in North Carolina, staying with my dad. Chad is living on his boat. So he has to work, eat and sleep...at work. He is also the boss so every time someone needs something he is always there. It's a huge pain. Not to mention the bed he sleeps in is for a 6' tall person. Chad is 6'6" and he has to duck...a lot! He has to work and find a house all by himself. I feel bad for him.
In the meantime I have enrolled the boys in school here in NC. I think getting them back into a routine and having something to do will help them and me.
I just hope that our quest for a home ends soon. Prayers welcome!

On blog hiatus

2009-08-26T21:37:00.003-04:00

Wanna know where I've been? Hop on over to my other blog bringing UP barber.

Homeless, but hopefully not for long!

2009-06-14T14:26:00.001-04:00

Ok folks so I'm sure some of you are wondering what is going on. Well I have moved out of my house in LA and into my dad's house in NC. We have been feverishly looking for a house but to no avail. We do have one possiblity that Chad is going to check out when he gets a chance.Fingers crossed!
In the meantime I decided to come up to Toledo for a visit...and I'm actually here now! Boy how things have changed! I'm looking forward to seeing my friends and family and taking my mind off the stress of well, being homeless. While Chad is at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut doing some training, I'm going to take the kids to the movies, the park, a Mud Hens a game and wherever else my little heart desires. I'm going to make sure my boys have a great summer despite our situation. We'll be here for a couple weeks and then we are going to visit VA Beach so they can see it and take a little trip to the Outer Banks.

So that is the reason I will not be blogging very much, plus I don't have my computer. I promise to catch up on all my blogs as soon as I can! I feel so out of the loop!

(ps my Etsy store is also on hold for the time being. However, if any of y'all (in Toledo) would like any barrettes, please let me know while I am here. I am stocking up on them while I'm just hanging around.)

Moving!

2009-05-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

My newest creations

2009-05-19T19:40:00.003-04:00

Minnie Mouse

Strawberry

She's crafty!

2009-05-18T15:45:00.006-04:00

A while ago I bought Bryn some barrettes online. They were cute but I thought I could probably make cuter ones. So I did. I am starting my Etsy store once we get moved and settled. My store will be called Fleur de Lulu. Lulu is what I call Bryn. Please tell me what you think!

Everything is just Buggy!

In the Meadow.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Fruit Salad. Yummy, yummy!

(Currently working on cherries and a strawberry.)

Pretty in Pastel and Animal Crackers

(Have a ton of these in many, many different ribbons with jewels and bows too.)

Well, you know my name is Logan, and I like to do drawings!

2009-05-09T21:43:00.004-04:00

Look at this face.

Now look at his drawing.

My sweet little 5 year old drew this at the restaurant tonight. When asked what it was he replied "a bone". Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T10:03:00.008-04:00

When you care enough to hit send...someecards.com. Here are some of my favorites:

This is my fav by far!

VA Beach

2009-05-08T11:22:00.008-04:00

We went to Virginia Beach this week to hopefully find a house, but we didn't. I was a little disappointed in the choices we had to look at. We are choosing to rent since the market is so bad and it is only a two year duty. It wouldn't pay off for us to buy. I am accustomed to my NEW house with a huge back yard for my three kids and two dogs. I am NOT going to find that, but I was hoping to find something close. Upon arrival we went directly to the real estate office where I got to meet two of my Twitter friends, Alison and Naoma (see what social networking can do). Alison was helping us find a house and Naoma just popped in to meet us and say hi. Great people!

Finding a hotel would seem just as challenging as finding a house to rent. If you have read my blog you know I have OCD. Well I have a paralyzing fear of hotels (thanks Dateline for making it worse). We found a room on the beach with a balcony overlooking the beach. I love to listen to the waves crash on the beach. One of my favorite sounds! The hotel seemed really nice and clean. We got up to our room and it too appeared really nice and clean. Compared to what I stayed in when we evacuated for Gustav, this was the freakin' Waldorf Astoria! I always have to "inspect" the room before I decide to keep it. The bed was really clean with bright white linens, although I didn't have my black light to check for ahem, proteins. It had a clean dresser with a flat screen T.V. and the bathroom looked updated with a granite counter top. It seemed to have passed my test. We were going to take a walk on the beach but I wanted to unpack a few things. Chad decided to watch some T.V. while he waited for me. There on the remote control (one of the filthiest things ever) was a hair...from "down there". Son-of-a-bitch! He surreptitiously whisked the remote into the bathroom and like a surgeon, removed the offending hair and disposed of it. Then being the resourceful person he is, removed the plastic wrapper from a cup and made a "jimmy hat" for the now tainted remote control. Blech! If only I could call CSI out to test this place.

Here are some of my rules for hotels:

Never walk barefoot. EVER!
Never sit on the toilet unless you cover it with toilet paper and that is only if you HAVE to.
Pull the comforter from the bed and look for stains/hair on the sheets.
Make sure the towels are clean.
NEVER use a glass or an ice bucket.
and now I can add...Don't use the remote control unless you have cleaned it. (I will always carry disinfectant wipes with me now)

The beach was really nice but the water was cold, very cold! We had dinner and did a little shopping. The next day we looked for houses with Alison. She was so great to drive us around and give us the scoop on the area and the schools. Thanks Alison!!

We were unsuccessful in our quest to find a house this time but hopefully when Chad returns next week he will find it!

Half the freeway was dry and sunny and the other half poured and hailed. Crazy!

Chad's new station

one of the boats...Chad's boat was out

The Old Coast Guard Station on the Boardwalk. We went on the tour. It was really interesting. I learned about the history of the CG.

The Beach

Poseidon

Chad realizing how COLD the Atlantic was.

Awwww!

I really love my...

2009-05-08T11:17:00.003-04:00

Volatile Chai sandal in bronze. Love em! Get them here.

From my garden

2009-05-08T11:04:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to share this bush from my garden. Its called a sunset lantana. I love the colors...so pretty!

nEw BlOg!

2009-04-21T14:37:00.003-04:00

A couple months ago I started a new blog...http://bringingupbarber.blogspot.com/. It is dedicated to my children. I welcome all of my faithful readers to visit! Let me know what you think!

I love me some Tony's

2009-04-19T10:34:00.002-04:00

Tony Sha-share's? Tony Chackery's? It's Tony Chachere's (Sash-ery's). It's a creole seasoning and as the can says, I use it on everything! Burgers, french fries, gumbo, chicken, potato chips, etc. Down here it is on the table with your ketchup and mustard. It's a New Orleans staple. If you like to add a kick to your food, look for this at your grocery store. I'm stocking up before I move in case they don't sell it in Virginia.

Peep this

2009-04-12T12:16:00.005-04:00

Facts about Marshmallow Peeps

(my favorite Easter candy)

From Real Simple April 2009

It takes six minutes to make one Peep chick.
Original Peeps have a shelf like of two years. (I know this because I still have some from last year. I like them stale.)
More than 5 million Peeps are produced each day.
Peeps have been the most popular non chocolate Easter candy in the United States for more than a decade.

Happy Easter!

It's official

2009-04-12T12:13:00.002-04:00

Our house is for sale...sell baby sell!

Download this:

2009-04-09T10:44:00.002-04:00

Notion by The Kings of Leon. Nuff said.

Mmmmm cupcakes...

2009-04-09T10:33:00.005-04:00

I saw this on the Today show today and I am making them!

Mascarpone mini-cupcakes with strawberry glaze
Giada De Laurentiis
Makes 48 mini muffins

INGREDIENTS
• 8 ounces mascarpone cheese, softened
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 box white cake mix
• 1/3 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and drained
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 4 mini muffin tins (a total of 48 mini muffin molds) with paper liners.
In a large bowl combine the mascarpone cheese, egg whites and vegetable oil.
Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients until combined and creamy. Add the cake mix and 1 cup of water and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Fill the muffin liners to just below the rim and bake until puffed and golden, about
18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly in the tins then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, puree the strawberries in a blender or small food processor. Sift the confectioners sugar and place in a medium bowl. Pour in the strawberry puree and whisk until smooth. Dip the tops of the cooled cupcakes into the strawberry glaze. Let the cupcakes sit for a few minutes for the glaze to firm up, then serve.

ENJOY!

The Big ONE

2009-04-09T10:27:00.002-04:00

Disorganized Thoughts For The Day turns ONE today. Happy Birthday blog!

My latest Etsy purchase

2009-03-31T13:23:00.003-04:00

I got these fantastic little silver earrings and I LOVE THEM!

Description
A design so very admired by the ancient Greeks...A flirtatious bit of decoration, these leaf earrings are entirely hand drawn, hand cut and executed in sterling silver. Since I draw the design on metal by hand, every pair of earrings will be a tiny bit different.Earrings feature a brushed finish and measure 16mm (.6") in diameter. Comfortable silicon backs are included upon request.

This is where to get them or any other of FairLeia's jewelry: http://fairleia.etsy.com/

Is it just me...

2009-03-24T08:41:00.004-04:00

or is Joan Rivers starting to look like the puppet Madame?

Things that make you go HMMMMMM!

My new favorite smell

2009-03-21T12:47:00.002-04:00

...Method lavender lemongrass aroma spray and

aroma sticks. I love the smell of lavender and this is the perfect spring scent. I've reluctantly started my spring cleaning. I love, LOVE a clean house, I just don't want to actually clean it. Plus I use all natural cleaners! That is best way to get clean. Now we will be ready to put pictures of the house up. Sell baby sell!

Would you wear this?

2009-03-12T20:31:00.003-04:00

First of all I want to say that I am not a big fan of hair extensions BUT Katie looks much better with them. I was not a big fan of her short quaff. Second...are those stirrup leggings? The dress is cute and the shoes match perfectly but the leggings? Leggings are cute with say a denim skit and some sneaks, not a beautiful evening dress. Did I mention they were STIRRUP leggings? This is one past fashion trend that needs to stay in the past. I remember being in Jr. High and going to The Limited and getting my Forenza stirrup leggings with my Outback Red shirt, (that had the tag on the back so everyone could see it), and thinking I was HOT S**T! Looking back...it did look like s**t alright. So I ask you...would you wear this?

Download this...

2009-03-12T20:12:00.003-04:00

"Half Asleep" by School of Seven Bells

Melodic, dreamy, psychedelic...it's just a great song! When I want to be somewhere else, I break out the iPod let the haunting harmonies relax me.

My paparazzi pic

2009-03-09T09:57:00.005-04:00

My husband isn't a photographer...I am usually the one to take the pictures. Yesterday we went to the zoo and he took pictures of all of us on the carousel. In 4/8 of the pictures we were not looking at him.

This picture reminded me of the "Stars Just Like Us" section of Us Magazine (which I no longer subscribe to).

They ride the carousel with their kids:

: )

Just Duckie!

2009-03-09T09:36:00.005-04:00

Bryn turned one on Friday and I wanted to give her a special rubber duckie cake (she loves her duckies). I like to make my kids' birthday cakes. My mom always made mine and hers always tasted the best. I have never used fondant before and I thought I would give it a shot. I even made my own fondant and buttercream frosting. The fondant was really messy but easy to make. It was however a bit difficult to work with, especially if there is an ounce of humidity in the air! All in all I think it went pretty well. Here is the finished product:

The little cupcake was Bryn's to eat, errr smash!

I used pearl dust for the bubbles. They looked bubbly!

I did catch flack for not making my own ducks. I had already bought the ducks. This way she has a little keepsake from her cake. Hey this isn't Ace of Cakes ya know!

I think it's 'quacktastic'!

and the taste test...

Yea! Delicioso!

one year ago today...

2009-03-06T06:30:00.002-05:00

...I looked like this:

5:30 am on March 6, 2008 we were on our way to the hospital to meet our daughter...

...Bryn Elise 7lbs. 4oz.

(I always think of Stevie Wonder's Isn't she lovely)

This birthday is shared by Chad and this was by far the best present he could have hoped for. You're welcome!

The BIG brothers

next to her daddy's shoe (she was 20 1/4 in. long)

Happy first birthday to my darling little girl and happy birthday to my baby daddy! Love you!!