Mommy needs a TIME OUT!

Have you ever had one of those days where you just get so frustrated and wonder why you became a mother?!

I mean really, it was so much easier when I could do, relatively, what I wanted to do with my time and my money! Although I love my husband and my child...some days I just need to put myself in a Time Out.

Once again, I was trying to do something nice and creative while my husband did his own thing and my child played along side me. However, these good intentions came to a screeching halt when my child decided to step on my project and grab for my scissors! I don't know how many times I told him to LEAVE MY SCISSORS ALONE! I mean how many times to I have to s-p-e-l-l  i-t  o-u-t  to a one year old, jeez!!!!!

So, my anger overcame me and I had to yell for my husband to come and rescue this poor child while I locked myself in another room.

At the time I did not care how it looked or what I said to anyone cuz in my mind I was justified...but thinking back now, I am a bit ashamed at my childish behavior. But, for real, what do you expect when you hang out with a kid all day long!?!?!?!

I just wish there were a better way to put myself in time out more often. I think I would be a better Mom if I had more time outs.

Caramel Apple Kit

So this is my Mom's idea. I get alot of my ideas from her. She is super talented and has great ideas. How cute it this. So if you buy the bag of caramels it comes with the sticks and the recipe. My Mom chose to cutsey it up a bit and type the recipe on a cute card, put the caramels in a bag with a cute bow, and decorate the bucket; but you wouldn't have to. You could even just throw it all in a gift bag. She also added a wooden spoon. So fun! Cute idea for your neighbors or visiting teachers (you do have a few days left till the end of the month :))

the love of a woman

i think i know more amazing women than anyone else in the world. it's true. don't even try to compete, i have you...hands down! i would love to do a personal post for each of them, they are that incredible!

i come from a long line of spectacular ladies...and that's just the ones i have known in my lifetime! the best examples have been right at my fingertips my whole life...

the 2 best grandmothers to ever exist on the planet. ever.

aunts that feel more like big sisters and second moms.

cousins that most definitely expand my sister-circle...so many!

childhood friends that bring happy memories. high school girlfriends that are still in my life (love that!). college friends and roommates that are forever bonded to me--true sisterhood! friends that have come into my life as an adult, yet i feel like we have known each other since the beginning of time.

my sisters. oh, this could be a post of it's own! i love my sisters.

my sisters in-law...how i love these women...

my mother in-law...so good, so kind.

mothers of my friends who have been mothers to me. special.

young women leaders from church...they were adults who loved me as a teenager...hats off, for sure!

and my own mother...she taught me everything i know. well, all the good things anyway. and a bunch of stuff that i can't remember, but hope to someday...

mom's been gone for more than 9 years. she was an exceptional woman, the cream of the crop. really. i miss her, of course. more than i can even put into words. sometimes i feel cheated.

but then i think of each of these other women in my life, and i know i can't complain. the lord has filled my life with grand women to be all the things my mom would be if she were here. although no one can ever take her place, i have been more than compensated with women who love me and encourage and support me.

do me a favor? hug your mom. you are lucky to have her.

and then hug and love all the other amazing women in your life!

I hope you read this!

From Wednesday all the way to Monday I contemplate what I am going to blog about on Tuesday!
Seriously.
I thought that I was the type of person that would be able to go on and on!
I thought that I was the type of person that would not have a problem figuring out what to write!
Ha!
I was wrong!
I have been unable to think of something to write all week!!

I love Oprah!


I know, I know…

There are times when I wonder about her!

However, I love her!

(And Ellen!)

I love her so much (and long to be apart of her studio audience) that I record her shows!

She comes on at 4 and I’m doing housework, schoolwork, and prepping for dinner at that time.

Then when I get some coveted alone time, I spend it with Oprah!

(Sorry honeyman, but that’s what happens when you make me drop my phone in my cereal and it breaks! Yes, true story…that happened to me at dinner…last night!…it was terrible!)

Last night I was catching up!
I watched the interview with Lisa Marie Presley.
My heart hurt for her!
I wanted to hug her.
Honest.
I wanted Michael Jackson to be alive again so that she could make things right with him.
I was sad.

Then sadness turned to anger…
Because…
I watched another!

This time it was about a woman that had four children…
She is not worthy to hold the title of “Mother” so I will not call her that…

She shot 3 of her children in the head.
She killed one.
She paralyzed one.
She caused a stroke for one.
After that she deliberately got pregnant to fill the void of loneliness.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

This was her fourth.
By the time she had her she was sentenced to prison for life.
Her fourth baby was given up for adoption!
She was raised by a loving family.
I was happy for her!

Then I watched another!
Yes, I stayed up until way past midnight!

This was about a beautiful family!
A dad.
A mom.
And 3 beautiful babies.

It was also about the worst day of their lives.

In short, they were a happy family!
They had tons of fun and loved each other!
The mother went out one day with her 3 beautiful babies…
Ages 5, 4, and 2 ½…
(Kyle, Katie, and Emma)

They were stuck in traffic.
They were stuck in a “blind curve”.
I was unaware of what a blind curve was until I watched the show…now, I scared of them!
An 18-wheeler was unaware of the stopped traffic at said curve.
He smashed into the back of their minivan.
Killing all three of those beautiful children.

At this point I’m sobbing listening to how they had a funeral service for 3 children.
Can you imagine?
I can’t imagine losing one, BUT THREE?!
Words cannot explain the sadness.

Then the twist…

Almost a year to the day, the beautiful mama gave birth again!
To triplets!
A boy and two girls!
Can you believe it?!

At this point I’m sobbing again!
What a beautiful blessing from the Lord, no?

After turning off the TV I knew what I wanted to blog about!
I wanted to blog about how similar everyone’s lives are…

We all experience pain and heartache.
We all have a different story to tell.
We all are going through our own sadness.

It doesn’t matter if we are famous rock stars…
It doesn’t matter if we were born to a woman that didn’t know how to mother…
It doesn’t matter if we have the most beautiful children and loving spouse…

We are not guaranteed a perfect earthly experience…

I noticed that in each of these stories the “victims” found a way to be happy.
They walked through the pain and found a way to live.

I don’t know their beliefs or complete background…
However, I do know they each had something different about them…
Something I have seen so many people without…

They had hope in their eyes…
They each said at some point in the interview,

“I hope so”…

That hit me so strongly.

They hope for better days to come.
They hope to be reunited with their children.
They hope for clarity and understanding.
They hope for justice.

No matter what they were going through, they had hope!

President James E Faust has said,
“Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope”.

He goes on to say,
“Our greatest hope comes from the knowledge that the Savior broke the bands of death. His victory came through His excruciating pain, suffering, and agony. He atoned for our sins if we repent”.

Although all of these people that were interviewed on Oprah may not be of the faith that I am…there is still a hope for something greater and bigger than us all.

I hope they are comforted in their trials in this life…
That is also my hope for all of you beautiful s@hm’s!
I hope that each day is filled with love.
Not just during the holiday seasons…but all of time.
I hope we never take our family for granted…or each other!
We need each other more and more each day.
I hope that as we enter into the holidays we do it with forgiveness in our hearts…
I hope that we each see the difference hope can bring…
I hope you are not annoyed with such a long post! LOL
I hope you know I love you!

Here is one of my favorite haikus:

Haikus are easy
But sometimes they don’t make sense
Refrigerator

I hope you laughed!!
Have a great week y’all…
Till next Tuesday…

Something to think about...

"All women have struggles of which we are often not aware. Some struggle with infertility, others with wayward children, and others with depression or a troubled marriage. Yet we typically only see these women at their best"...and may I add, occasionally at their worst, you know having a bad mom moment in public or at church?..."and if we were to judge them by appearances or compare our lot with theirs"...good or bad..."we would truly end up with a distorted picture of reality." - Contentment by Maria Covey Cole

I certainly don't want to be judged by anyone on how I mother my children. I think that they themselves can and will be a testament of that. However, I have fleeting thoughts of other mothers all the time...from "why is she smoking in the car with her children? ugh what a bad mom. i would never do that" (easy for me to say...I don't smoke). I see women in the grocery store and it's really late at night, like past bed time late at night, and they have a crying toddler and they are frustrated and I think "doesn't she see, the child is tired. my goodness pull yourself together woman." ( needless to say i don't know her family circumstance). Shame on me.

I truly believe that most women try to be good moms. We love our children. We want the best for them and would go to any length to give it to them. We ourselves are not perfect and we all learn from our own mistakes. So don't be hard on yourselves, or OTHER MOMS. Try to reach out when you see a mom having a bad mom moment, take her side, give her the benefit that she is trying HER best.

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities and certainly different children." - Elder M. Russell Ballard

Baked Oatmeal, yummy

This is actually a recipe from our new featured follower, Julie!
Thanks for the delicious warm fall dish. :)

Baked Oatmeal Breakfast


adapted from allrecipes.com
serves four people

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats (the quick cooking variety will break down and get soggy)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk (any fat content will do)

1/4 cup melted butter

1 large egg

splash of vanilla extract

handful of dried cranberries (optional)

fresh raspberries, milk and pistachios for topping.

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the oats, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, butter, egg and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir to incorporate. Fold in the dried cranberries.
Pour mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch pie pan. Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly firm to the touch and no wiggle remains.
Remove from the oven, let cool for 5 minutes then spoon into serving bowls. Top with milk, fresh fruit and nuts and serve.

New Featured Follower : Julie!

Our newest Featured Follower is Julie.

She is a S@HM with a 10 month old son, Caleb. Julie and her husband will be celebrating their 4th anniversary on Oct. 28th! (congrats!!) She is also an avid knitter, reader and movie watcher!

Julie said " I love to read the S@HM blog so that I can read about people that can relate to my day to day life."

Thanks for following the blog!

Beware readers...you may be the next Featured Follower... :)

Sending Christmas Cards

With Halloween just around the corner, I can hear the Christmas bells ringing on my favorite radio station that plays Christmas music starting on Nov. 1st! Yippie!!!

Now, I do not endorse skipping over Thanksgiving...but I do endorse preparing for the Christmas season early! :) 

When you think of the Christmas season what is the first thing you think of? Jesus, Tree, Gifts, Hanging Christmas Lights....OH, SENDING CHRISTMAS CARDS!
In this day and age we have so much stuff at our fingertips. Many of us are very creative and want to put our own touch on things. If you are anything like me, I have grrrreat taste but don't hardly have the $$ to match it.

So, I would like to share the wealth. Here are two samples of Christmas cards that are FREE for you to TAKE!

click on the image to enlarge it and then copy and paste to TAKE ONE...

If this design is not your style and you need some inspiration to make your own, check out The Graphics Fairy . She has tons of vintage images that are FREE for you to TAKE and lots of project ideas too.

Do yourself a favor this season and get thinking of your Christmas cards and letters now...have a friend, family member or even your neighbor take a family photo and jot down a short list of the year's highlights. Less stress in Mom's brain = more happiness for the family! (you know it's true) 

FUN PUMPKINS

So I hate Carving pumpkins. HATE IT!!!!! The mess, the rotten pumpkin in a few days, my boys obsessing over the knives they get to use to carve them........... So I decided to try a few new things with paint. So for the first one I took medical tape and just randomly put it all over the pumpkin.

For the next one I took masking tape and made several lines down the pumpkin with it. Then I had some round sesame street stickers so I stuck them all over it.

Then took them out in the grass and pained one white and one silver. Then pulled all the tape and stickers off.

I think they turned out super cute and hopefully they will last until Thanksgiving. Be creative and have fun!!!!

things i wish i'd known sooner...

having all my kids potty-trained doesn't mean i will save $$ on diapers...it means the diaper budget transfers to the toilet paper budget to account for the flushing of half a roll at a time.

white towels. all white towels. only white towels. bleach is rad.

give the baby wrapping paper and an empty box for the first christmas. and the first birthday. it really is all they care about. start saving now for the things they'll ask for in about 6 or 7 years.

stick with pbs shows. no cable, don't even go there.

paying someone who knows what they are doing to cut the kids' hair is always worth it. trying to do it myself is never worth it.

fruit snacks are overrated. worthless snacks, those things.

never let a child in your bed. not even once. one time turns into every night for the next 4 years. it's true.

unless you plan on making the elementary school your second home, be very stingy with the boxes you check at parent orientation...

scissors and sharpies just need to not exist in a home with children under age 6. there is no shelf high enough, no box locked enough, no hiding place good enough...complete destruction surely awaits...

kids eavesdrop. i thought it was only grown-ups, but as it turns out...those little buggers listen (and understand) (and repeat). yes, they do.

be flexible. in every sense of the word!

and also...everything looks better in RED

What Are Your Memories?

I always seem to miss opportunities to make memories because I'm usually too busy trying to create a place or time to make memories.

Like, I'm always saying to myself something like, "Get this over with so that I can take them to the park and play!"  or  "I can sacrifice time with them to make _________ (<---insert some crazy crafty project I said yes to do for someone there!!!), because I can just make up for it tomorrow!"  or, my favorite,  "They can get over my bad attitude!  I'm the one that is always having to make everyone happy!"

I'm referring to both my husband and my children!

First, the husband, aka my honeyman! 
Yesterday was a bit of a fright for me! 
I was volunteering at my son's school when my sister-in-law called me.
This isn't a weird thing.  We talk quite a bit.
So I answered to tell her I couldn't talk right then.
She says, "Did you hear?!  How are you feeling?!"
MY HEART IS RACING!
She continues, "Can you believe it?"
I'm like, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

Apparently an irate patient broke the glass at my husband's office.
This guy wanted drugs!
(My honeyman works at a doctor's office & is the office manager)
My honeyman ran around the corner and grabbed homeboy by the neck and belt buckle.
Pushed the guy outside.
And the guy tried to run BACK IN!
My honeyman had to grab him AGAIN and throw him out for good!

So here it is. 
What would have happened if that crazy drug hungry patient was serious about his drugs?
What if that crazy patient had all intentions of getting them any way possible?
What would the outcome have been if he was out of his mind and he had a gun?

I don't want to think about it...
because, frankly, thinking isn't the best thing I do!
Well, I started thinking...
and, frankly, it wasn't the best thing I did!

I thought about everything I have wasted. 
As in time and energy.
I felt heartbroken.
What if I hadn't had a chance to "redo" things with my honeyman?
I am always thinking (there's that word again) about doing things that I need to do now and I don't spend too much time with him. 
I'm always thinking (*ehem*) about strictly taking care of the needs of the children, aka my sweets, that I often put my honeyman hanging out in the back all alone!
I'm terrible about this.

After yesterday, I've challenged myself to put my honeyman first and focus on being his friend! 
His buddy!
His homegirl!
His ride or die chick!
I don't think he knows what a ride or die chick is!  LOL

NEXT...
I was thinking (seriously though, this word is starting to grow on me!) again!
This time about my sweets!

(It just occurred to me that my nicknames for my husband and kids are also used as references to food! Maybe that's a subconscious thing?!  Hmmm...)

I'm always rushing their tiny little selves all over to fit appropriately in my schedule!
I'm always cleaning to a fault! 
I'm always following the schedule to a fault!

My kids haven't had much time to just "hang out with mommy" at home!
I know there is a bunch of pressure on them to "run here! run there!"...
Bless them!

I'm vowing to change that as well as everything else in my crazy life!
To just hang out!
To just chill out!
To just have fun!
To enjoy this short childhood!
To enjoy this eternal marriage!
To actually make memories...
Instead of trying to make time to make memories...
Because then the memories that we could have made...
Would have just passed us by...

What does your nothing look like?

It's inevitable, every day I'm asked either by my husband or by a girlfriend I'm chatting with on the phone, the BIG question... "what did you do today?" or "what are you going to do today?"


My response.. usually...Always the same- "Um nothing."


Here is what my NOTHING looks like from one morning last week, actually just about 30 min of my a.m...

8:03 am- Wake up... (already behind schedule, due to a late night out with girlfriends) Kenny should be at the bus stop, but since daddy is still home he can take him...

8:03 am- In kitchen whipping up some waffles (Lego my Eggo) love the toaster! no they aren't wheat and yes we use syrup EVERY morning, yogurt, chocolate milk, orange juice

8:15 am- Reading what is on the lunch menu to Kenny and it sounds disgusting even horrifying, but I keep my face neutral so that he may decide on his own...He says "Uh, I'll do a lunch box", I smile and say "Yep that's what I would do!"

8:17 am- packing a lunch just as fast as I possibly can while coaching Kenny on his morning routine..."wash hands, brush teeth, hold on I'll be in to fix your hair"

8:25 am- coaching again...."shoes on, back pack on, jacket on, grab your lunch box", "do not walk on the carpet with your shoes on!" "come over here let me see your backpack" (of course totally contradicting my previous comment)

8:27-  reaching into his backpack and realizing I didn't have him read to me out of his "book buddy" bag and so that means I didn't sign the sheet that I'm supposed to sign so that his teacher knows he read to me, and I don't want to look bad so I whip out a book and say "OK, read this to me", I sign the sheet and then feel better about myself. Awful I know, totally forgot about the concept that him reading isn't about me...

8:33- out the door with daddy as I say "don't drive fast, but DO NOT be late"

8:34- looking around and wondering where my other two children are, as they are usually put on a hold button while I scurry around and get my one child ready for school...somehow they put themselves in the bathtub and.... there is water Everywhere...and think to myself "here we go:)"

I'm sure that your mornings/days may look similar or maybe you've got them totally down and it runs a little smoother. However, are you giving yourself the credit you deserve as a mom? I mean do you find yourself saying "oh, nothing" when you are asked what you did during the day?

Defining our days as "nothing", causes us to believe and think that we in FACT are doing NOTHING. It puts negativity into our minds as our roles as mothers, as our roles as S@HM's, who we are as women and what our worth is.

So the next time you are asked "What did you do today?", conjure up a really fun response each time! Here are some you could try:



Before



 1. I clothed the naked and fed the poor, and cleanded out the pantry:)

2. I tried my hand at housekeeping today.

3. I decided that today you would get a HOTT wife AND a hot meal! (this is huge in my house, normally he doesn't get both in the same day).

4. I played dolls and dinosaurs, listened to baby Mozart, made Picasso look bad and taught the ABC's in sign language.


After

5. I set an example for my daughter of how nice girls speak, I cuddled her when she cried. I listened to my sons excitement when he came home from school and, oh yes, I watched Dr. Phil:)

I promise that this will make you feel like you in FACT did do SOMETHING! because you in fact DID:)

Stromboli

This is a favorite in our house. My kids get super excited when I say that is what we are having for dinner. It is really easy too so you can't mess it up!

2 loaves frozen bread dough, thawed
Sliced ham
Peperoni
Mozarella cheese, shredded
Melted margarine
Siwss cheese, sliced

Preheat over to 375/ Pat each loaf out onto 2 greaded cookie sheets. Lay slices of ham, pepperoni, and cheese on top. Sprinkle with Mozzarella. Roll up, tuck ends under. Brush with margarine. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until brown.

Crafting...totally worth it!

I have recently gotten into crafty things. I am sure that some people who look in on my life may think that I am naturally crafty...but the truth is, I am not! ha.
Anyway, since I have been home with my son, and now that he has just turned 1, the newness of the "baby" has worn off and I am able to have more personal time (aka: 2 hour naps twice a day or go to friends house and let him play with their kid). And so I have the urge to become that "stay at home mom" like the one from Blast From the Past. Well, I dont know if I will ever be as good as her, but I will try!

So, here are a few things I have been working on:

No Sew Scarfs...really easy and fast!
click on the "Crafts" tab to find info on how to make

Trick or Treat bags
I made the smaller one for my little 1 year old.
Got the instructions on line for free at Quilting and More (link below)
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines/quiltsandmore/color-options-fall10_ss3.html
I just changed the dimensions of the bags to get the size I wanted.
(PS they have many other cute bag patterns for FREE)

A Christmas Stocking for my son...
not perfect but it was my first one.

and a onesie for my son's 1st Birthday!
I did not make the onezie but I did design the print. :)
this is the front...(our theme was pumpkins)
it says "Birthday Boy"

and this is the back

with the number 1 on the butt.

I am also making myself simple long skirts and finding more easy bag patterns to play with. Even though these crafting skills have served me well for my family and become very useful, mostly I have enjoyed being able to create something beautiful from practically nothing. And that makes me feel good!

So, as you attempt to become more crafty...cuz lets face it, we all wish we were more crafty and attempt to be that "perfect mom" at least once in our lifetime, just remember that you should work with projects that dont break the bank and dont cause you to rip out all your hair. And dont sweat it. There are plenty of ideas out there that are easy, cheep and fun!

I wish you luck! :)

BOO YOU!

Okay every year the " booing" starts in our neighborhood. I am sure you know what I am talking about. You print the sign and make treats and take it to neighbors and leave them, knock and run. Well this year we started it because I found the cutest "You've been booed" sign. So hop on over to
http://www.whipperberry.com/2010/10/printable-youve-been-booed.html and print it off. We booed people who would not normally get booed. So let the "BOOING" begin. Have fun the kids will love it!!!!!! If you need ideas for some "SPOOKY" treats, head on over to familyfun.com for great ideas!

i like your body, mom

so privacy totally went the way of all the earth when my oldest child became a toddler, right? and since i still have a toddler, that coveted feeling of privacy has yet to show it's face again around my house.

like when i'm getting out of the shower and i suddenly have a playdate happening right in my own bathroom...please tell me you know what i'm talking about?! i think there is secret code inscribed in the woodgrain of the bathroom and bedroom doors...it says something like, "mom's indecent, now would be a good time to come on in!"...sigh.

so anyways...a couple of weeks ago, as i was getting out of the shower, my ellie bean came prancing into the bathroom to inspect the contents of the nail polish basket. she was pretty much focused on the sparkly selection before her. it was so cute. as i was drying off, she stood up and rubbed her little hand down my side..."i like your body, mom" she said.

just like that. just like "i like your shirt, mom" or "pretty haircut, mom"...it was genuine. it was real. she totally and completely meant it.

and it made me think...

about this body of mine. this body that i wrestle to love every day. this body that is showing signs of the years i've lived. this body that is a tell-tale sign of the 5 babies i have grown inside and given birth to.

i have spent years lamenting over the changes that motherhood has brought to my body. a body that i never fully appreciated in my younger, thinner, non-saggy days. i have cursed the process of pregnancy and stretching out like a giant hot-air balloon. i have cried over the pounds that want to hang around. i have missed jumping on the trampoline--you know what i mean. i have even called my stretch marks "battle scars"...have you?

but i think it's high time i started giving props to this body of mine! i mean, wowzers!!!! how cool that my body incubated and grew 5 whole other people?! it just did it, somehow. it just knew what to do, and wa-la...baby!! my body just knew how to stretch and bulge and be everything it needed to be to give life and nourishment to my children. that's amazing, i don't care who you are.

this body of mine did exactly what my maker intended it to do. it did exactly what bodies do...and i'm ready to embrace it. i tell you, i have earned every single stretch mark. i have earned every pound. i have earned every bloodshot eye.

i am proud of the mother body in which i now reside. mind you, i'm working on losing some poundage and being healthier, for sure. but as i live my life--my busy, crazy, beautiful, full-of-children life--my body is living proof that i am a mom. i am going to think of those stretch marks more like souvenirs...sounds more fun, huh? a little treasure from the journey. i am going to love this body that did such an incredible job growing my babies, and give it a break.

so to ellie...thanks! i like my body, too.

sweety sweetness...my body did a good job!

p.s....i received a beautiful comment that so perfectly sums it all up that i would like to share:

"those stretch marks and pooches and scars are the marks of a queen. Any ol' selfish princess can maintain the body she had at 17; a queen bears the marks of walking into the valley of the shadow of death hand in hand with the Savior, and coming out on the other side of the valley having brought forth a little human being.

In this mortal life, we are all subject to the law of opposition: we don't get something without giving something up. We give up our time for a paycheck. We give up our 20s for a mission and education. We women give up our "girlish figures" for the opportunity to partner with God in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of our babies (who grow up too fast). All in all, that's not a bad choice at all!"

thanks, kathy!!

Wouldn't it be AWESOME if:

*money did in fact grow on trees?
*there were candles that smelled like Windex?
*laundry folded itself?
*there were candles that smelled like rubbing alcohol?
*dishes washed themselves?
*there were candles that smelled like gasoline?
*money did in fact grow on trees?
*and we didn't have to pluck/bleach/shave...ever?

Hahahaha...life would be grand!!  I think you all have learned that I enjoy candles!  I love em!!

Today I woke up refreshed.  Even with so much on my mind and so much weighing on my heart!

My son started back and school...and well, was a little TOO excited to go!  He skipped to class...
Not sure if that makes me happy or sad!

And as of 30 seconds ago...I'm down 12 pounds!  Yay...I guess it's better down than up! 
*that's what she said* 

I'm enjoying the Special K Challenge!!  I realized they don't call it a diet...but a challenge!!  Clever.

The food is yummy!

I stay satisfied!

And, hey...it's relatively inexpensive!

The only problem is that they let me eat whatever I want for dinner!  HA!  I don't know why but I eat like it's the last supper!!  Every night!  SMH!  I'm sure I would have lost more...but I JUST LOVE FOOD!!

The whole judging diet...or shall I say Challenge...has been INDEED a challenge!!  I realized I don't usually judge until around dinner time, so maybe it has something to do with what I'm eating?!  LOL

Now, on to something a little more troubling!
My daughter!
She is BOY CRAZY!!! 

AT FOUR?!  Is that even POSSIBLE?!

She just (literally) informed me that she had a GREAT dream! 
It was about boys and they came to our home and played!

When I asked who these boys were she said,
"I don't know their names! They're just friends mom!"

I'm ill prepared for this.

Has anyone experienced this with their daughters?
Did they outgrow it?
I know there are some "seasoned mothers" ;) that read this blog, and I'm calling on you to advise me!!

I was never the "groupie" type...
with the exception of New Kids on the Block & Bon Jovi...

Anyway...this scares me. 
What would YOU do?!

no good horrible very bad day

I need to read this book again, as I am so sure it would make me feel better after the day I had yesterday. We all have days like this right? Like the never ending, everyone is picking on you kind of day.

 I'm trying to decide if I want to stay upset and angry or just move on? And is it as easy as just making a decision? A decision between happiness or sadness. I mean I think we all want to be happy. Happy in our marriages, happy with our children, happy in our homes, happy with who we are. What does it take to find that happiness and peace within us consistently? A decision to do so? I need help with these kinds of decisions, reasons why, physical evidence that shows me why the decision to be happy is so much better than the decision to be sad.

I found that physical evidence as I reflected back on this "no good horrible very bad day", just one bright spot that is ever so bright....the sweetest little four year old sunbeam who included me in his prayer today...."we thank Thee we could come to church and please bless sister martin". My eyes filled with tears and I tried to control my emotion as I bent down to hug him and the rest of them just like I do each Sunday, and send them on their way, knowing that they teach me more than I ever do them.

Look for that one little bright spot in your day. It may just surprise you how it fills your soul with light, joy, happiness and the ability to forgive.

Greek Fish In Foil

This is so yummy and it's healthy too! 382 calories and 39 g protein per serving

4   6oz fish fillets...I used tilapia but you could also use catfish or orange roughy
1   cup chopped tomato
1/4   cup chopped red onion
4   tsp pitted and sliced black olives
4   tsp olive oil
2   tsp dried oregano
1/2   tsp salt
8   sprigs of dill
1   lemon thinly sliced


1. Heat oven to 425. Prepare four pieces of aluminum foil that are 2 times the size of the fish. Fold the foil in half. Place one fish fillet in the center of each piece of foil

2. In a medium bowl, combine the tomato, onion and black olives. Divide the mixture and distribute it evenly on top of the four fish fillets. Drizzle each fillet with 1 tsp. olive oil and then sprinkle with 1/2 tsp oregano and 1/8 tsp salt. Lay two sprigs of dill and several lemon slices on top of each.

3. Tightly seal the foil packets. Bake for 22 minutes. Place each package on a plate. Open carefully and serve immediately.

I served this with rice. It's a nice refreshing meal and something a little different than what I normally make. Try it out this week and let me know what you think!

Remember the cute Halloween Bag?

Our first winner of the bag didn't respond in time, and since we need to send this out so that your little one can enjoy it for the holiday we are forced to pick a NEW WINNER!

AND the winner IS.......................JOELLA SHANKLIN!!!!

Yay Joella! Nothing wrong with being a default winner:)!!! Hope you love the bag!

It's Friday and it's time to announce our FIRST FEATURED FOLLOWER!

This is LISSA...and Bryce....AND of course we LOVE her! We chose Lissa to be our 1st  "Featured Follower" because she was in fact our very FIRST follower! And that my friends is reason enough to show our loyalty and love in return!

Lissa is married and is expecting her very first baby boy in NOVEMBER! She enjoys scrapbooking, working with children, cooking and spending time with family. She and Bryce live in Wichita Kansas (WHOOT WHOOT...sorry I'm a Kansas girl!) and she is a SAH-almost Mommy!

 Lissa had this to say about the blog:

"I love the blog because I feel like it prepares me for Motherhood. It helps me keep my expectations realistic and be able to see the humor in things."

Thank you so much Lissa! So glad you follow and good luck with ALL of your motherhood ADVENTURES!

*Be on the lookout.....You may be our next FEATURED FOLLOWER!


Halloween Lanterns

I was flipping though my Taste of Homes magazine and found these way cute Halloween Lanterns and decided to give them a try. They were super easy.

Choose jars in various sizes. Brush a coat of decoupage glue and sealant, such as Mod Podge, all over the jar. Then cover the entire jar, including the neck and bottom, with a layer of tissue paper. (I got mine at walmart $1 for a whole pack). For the pumpkin, cut the tissue paper into strips and lay them vertically over the jar. Slather the tissue paper with another layer of Mod Podge and wrap a decorative ribbon around the neck. Print out the spooky and happy faces at tasteofhome.com/latern or you can design your own. Cut them out and use more decoupage glue to affix them on the jar. Insert a tea light candle. So cute and easy!!!!!!

tough job market

6 signs you need a new job:
(list from an online article i found this week)

sign #1...you want to make more money
really? they have to even ask? i read a study a few years ago that added up the "salary" of a s@hm...$135,000 a year. yeah, pretty sure i'd know if i was bringing in those numbers.

sign #2...you are bored with your job
now, bored isn't really in the vocabulary of a s@hm, right? just ask my kids...if i hear them say they are bored, i rattle off a list a mile long of things that could keep them perfectly busy. but it's all about choices...choosing to avoid the dishes by playing on facebook, for example, could be translated as boredom. by the innocent bystander...

sign #3...you are getting passed over for promotion
i know my kids think i'm pretty top-notch. but i've never heard them whine and on the verge of tears because they want to stay at home with me. and they've never run circles around the house and let out high-pitched squeals at news of my arrival back to them. these reactions are reserved for friends' moms, cousins, and beloved aunties and uncles. when your 2 year-old skins her knee and asks for ashley, you know you got passed over.

sign #4...you are afraid of getting laid off
this is actually a pretty sentimental sign...i mean, pretty sure my family won't fire me tomorrow morning...no one would know where to find the scotch tape! however, they are growing up. my duties and the degree to which they need me is changing. and one day...i'll only have my own chicken to cut up and laundry will take all of 2 hours. yes, i'm afraid of that.

sign #5...you search job postings while at work
just the occasional daydream, really. i think i'd be a great guinea pig for massage students. i'd like to try my had at being a food critic. and every once in a while i check on the need for a circus performer...but then i realize that is my life every day--thursdays in particular--and i scratch that from the list.

sign #6...you dread waking up in the morning
who wouldn't dread being body-slammed by a 4 year-old?! or kicked in the ribs by a bed invader?! or my personal favorite...a nicely aimed pitch at my face with a sippee cup and a request (demand) for apple juice?! if i could hear the chatter of birds above the little bodies at 6:30am, i might think mornings were quite delightful!




can you relate?

**just feel i should point out... i love love love love love my job! and i hope you do too :)

A Reality

I often feel extremely overwhelmed.  To the point of not being able to breathe.

I do a great job of "keeping it all together" so that others think I'm amazing.

I've been going through quite a bit lately. 

And it's all mental and emotional things.

You see, I smoked for a while.  A lot.  A couple packs a week.

I'm happy to say I quit.  Cold turkey.  Because of my kids.

It was one of the harder things in my life to do.

I've gained a decent amount of weight from quitting.

Especially lately because I find myself thinking of just one more puff so I eat to distract.

I'm trying to eat healthy.  To be a healthy example for my babies.

Especially since my "new diet", I don't know what it is.

Honestly.

It's like this constant thought brewing on the back burner.

What would just one more puff be like?

Would it suffice?  Would I regret it?

Well...

It would be awful, and I know that it would be!

I'm not planning on doing it.  I've gotten over it.

If you've ever been "addicted" to something, my heart goes out to you.

It really really does.

Addiction is a struggle. 

It makes me feel powerless and out of control.

For the past couple of weeks it seems like EVERY:
- commercial
- advertisement
- person I see
is smoking.  It's rough.  No lie.

I was worried about my children finding out.

But I want them to learn from my past.

To learn how doing things that I shouldn't have done made me unhappy.

I've contemplated on letting them know. 

However, it would kill me if they found out about my past from anyone else.

Although they are too young to hear about things now, I know the time will come.

My heart hurts for things I've done.

I've got more than a few regrets.

Why is life so hard?  Why can't it be as easy as a sitcom?

Why can't I solve problems in 30 minutes?

Why can't life be a movie?

Why can't my man read my mind and apologize like the prince on TV?

Sorry for this "heavy load" of a blog.

However, this IS Realities Of A Stay At Home Mom...

Maybe I'll make you laugh next week.

But this week...

This is my reality.

Mommy Guilt Count Down

Ugh guilt is bad, but Mommy guilt is even badder (I know this is not a word I just like the way it sounds;) Here are a few things I feel guilty about as a mom...(and the list isn't all inclusive:)

20. If I get my kids to bed too late

19. Not wanting to read another story to them...

18. When they run out of clean underwear

17. Feeding them Mcdonalds on $2.OO Happy Meal Night (Check your local McD's for your HMN)

16. Doing homework on Sunday evenings....

15. Having a grocery cart full of crap food and running into the healthiest mom EVER at the store...

14. Being too tired to bathe my children before bedtime

13. Forgetting to brush their teeth

12. If I put my kids to bed too early

11. T.V.

10. Buying pre-made cookie dough

9. Their sheets not getting washed weekly OR biweekly unless there is puke/pee or visible snot on them

8. That I'm ANTI organized sports for little kids, for various reasons...one of them being I'm too lazy

7. Sometimes I have a favorite

6. Having freak out moments

5. Not buying ice cream from the ice cream man even when all the "other kids" parents are

4. That their rooms aren't pottery barn decorated or really "decorated" at all

3. Hating fundraisers and so my kid doesn't get the ridiculous toy/glory that comes from participating

2. Them waking me up in the morning

1.____________________________________________________

Fill in number 1 with your worst Mommy GUILT. I'd love to hear it AND it would help me feel so much better about myself!

Dum Dums; my sugary savior!

Don't let their size fool you, these little guys are small yet powerful!

As I attempted to photograph my son for his 12 month pictures it only took me, my mom, and my sister about 1 minute to realize we needed back up!

I don't know if there is another mom out there who feels the way I do about photographing your own family (especially your own kids). But I would rather swim the English channel or carry a load of bricks up Mt. Everest on my back or even run a marathon (and for those of you who know me - that would be the worst cuz I do not run!) AND I AM A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER!

I think it makes my irritation that much worse! I can calm down a strangers child or make a super shy little girl crack a smile...but not my baby!

So, as we began to take his pictures this is what I got...

The crying and whining went on for, what seemed to be, FOREVER! And nothing would work, a book, a level, or even my favorite the Chicken Shake.

I was about to give up and ready to put a crying photo in his album when my mom reached over into the "good kid" candy pot and gave him a Dum Dum. Oh, the look on his face was priceless!

Such a happy boy!
You would never have thought that he was so crazy and mad about getting his picture taken.

So, I share my secret with all you other moms who need a quick fix and a miracle worker! Now that we know it works for photos I am sure we can find many other ways to get what we want in a time when it appears there is no hope.