Birthday Party

A solution that will ultimately equal fun no matter what circumstances.

Cake

Pizza

Water Balloons

Camp Fire with Smores

Good Friends

And a little boy turning 4.

1460 Days Old

Uncomfortable sticky mess, I was laying there looking at gummy bears wishing that I had a steak. Dad was sitting next to me watching a hockey game, hoping for a win. In more ways that one. Grandma had made some phone calls, been back for a little while. Your Aunt standing there restlessly making sure that they don’t make anymore mistakes. I felt pain,  a kick. Everything got so loud and bright. The room before being a dim relaxing spot became busy. Your heartbeat drop to a dangerous point and all your dad could do was do what he does best. Save us. He screamed for the nurse, all I could see was faces, everywhere. A mask was put on me, I started blacking out. We were rushed into a room, with a lot of needles. I kept talking, I don’t remember what I was talking about. They laid me down, put a cover on me. Your dad kept telling me it was going to be okay. I tried to believe him but it was the scariest moment of my life.

You were born.

The love for one’s child grows each day. It’s not just a switch of a light where you look at this being and all the world makes sense. It’s the complete opposite. Nothing makes sense, no control. This love, never ending love just keeps growing. Pure nature. Thinking that when you were born, you were saved. But truthfully, you have saved me.

As much as you are who you are, I never want you to change. I never want you to know pain or hate or greed. Stay true to who you are, never let anyone down. Care for those who love you and don’t love you. Because the ones who don’t, need it the most. Take the time and remember those who have stood by you all these years, never forget those who we have lost. You have so much strength and courage, don’t ever stop.

Never stop.

Watching you sleep, hearing your heartbeat is the most peaceful moment in the world. Twitching slight, sprawled out however you want to.

You run by the beat of your own drum. Energy and happiness surges through your veins. Never a jealous, angry, hateful thought in your mind. You love everything and anyone unconditionally. Forgiving so much for so little years.

The smile radiates across your face. Oh, that smile. I imagine that one day, a lucky lady will fall in love with that smile just as much as I have. So big, so honest.

Words that have been said over and over again, and they never get old… I love you son.

Happy forth birthday.

Thank you!

On Thursday I received a award by a LeeAnn at The Life of Rylie... and Bryce too!

She's such a sweet lady and her children are adorable. LeeAnn is one, and maybe only woman, I know that has convinced her husband that blogging isn't a cult. And we're not some angry women who hate men and bitch about the dishes.  (oops, that's just me) 

Who else can have their husband hug a cute little stuffed animal like it's Christmas?

Here is how this award works:
•To receive this award, promise to share this with 10 other BLOGS that you think are Trendy too.
•Post about your award in your blog.
•List your Top 10 Trendy Blogs.
•Share with them.
•Leave a link to the Trendy Blog Button.
•Tell them they need to give this award out to 10 as well.

I am passing this award on to these 10 blogs that I think are trendy: 

Lemons to Lemonade

Punk Rock Mamma

Just Hide the Dishes in the Dryer

This Lovely Life

Twenty Little Toes

The litany of Brittiany 

Mom's the Glue

Adventures in Mommywood

Nomies Eco Ware

Skinned Knees

Thirteen Thursday- Blogging Rocks

Ok… it’s 11:43pm here and Thursday isn’t over.

I am so not cheating.

13 reasons why blogging is rocks my socks!

1. We get to speak our mind without look at people in the eye. It so helps.
 

2. It truly gets us away from the kids. Computer coma is great.
 

3. F-ing around with your blog page is more stressing than trying to design the white house dining room but it’s so worth it.
 

4. You can totally put some picture of yourself up on here to make you look hot and wild. But you’re actually a strung out mom drinking coffee out of the pot.
 

5. Reading blog posts where woman are pissed off at someone are better than watching a soap opera. It gets better at each comment.
 

6. Learning about different products and how much some of them suck. I wish I did this three years ago.
 

7. It’s like a 24/7 party and it never ends.
 

8. You don’t have to drag around a huge wad of pictures with you to show off your kids. Just click post!
 

9. Never in my life have I learned so much about html. And it rocks to the point where I’m thinking about doing this for a career.
 

10. You
 

11. Girls
 

12.  Are

13 .AWESOME!

Wordless Wednesday - A Day at the Playground

I'll be the first to say this...

My header sucks.

I've been fooling around with this thing for the past two days.

Does anyone of anyone who can do headers for cheap? 

Like so cheap it doesn't cost money?

I don't make any money off of this blog. Seriously.

I'll be your slave for a day... if you like a lazy one who complains and sits there all day drinking coffee.

I don't need the whole blog re-done. I'm working on that as we speak. Literly.

But I do need help with the header.

Sooo...

Help?

 

***UPDATE***

I found Scrapblog which I think is the best thing known to man... except toliet paper and the internet.

I redid the header. I don't have Lucy on there anymore but I do have a birdie. 

His name is Frank.

Say hi to Frank, I think he's gonna stick around for a while. 

Why did the chicken cross the road?

I’m not really sure if I should post this.

It’s pretty damned disgusting.

Ok… I’m going to link it back, so I don’t wreck havoc on everyone’s readers.

Here

It’s a chicken wing. I live in Buffalo, NY. It’s a daily thing here.

But if you notice on top of it…

Feathers.

Yes… feathers.

I called the pizza place, shaking on the phone. If you recognize the place by the box, this happened in the one in Hamburg not Orchard Park. I've been going to the one in O.P. since I was seven.

Never in my LIFE have I come across this.

If I had bitched harder then it would have been bad.  But I didn’t. I know how it is in food service, sometimes things go unnoticed. It was 90 degrees in Western NY today, we’re not use to the heat.

But FEATHERS?!

Ew.

One Awesome Dude

Being drafted, Being touched by the Goddess, big red monster is in town, Bitchy witchy week, Blowing a fuse, Chocolate time, [The] circus is closed, the monkey has a nosebleed, Code red Cork Cousin Tom Curse, the a woman Cycle[The] dam has burst Devil days Dot, the  Drainage Driving in a red car End of sentence Estrogen poisoning  Feminine biology Floodgates open up Getting my monthly subscription in the mail Go with the flow  Gruesome week  Having mechanical difficulties Her lady business High tide Issue I'm closed for maintenance  Little Red Riding Hood is making her way through the woods Magic of the month Midol season  Monthly visitor No-go zone  On the dot  Raggin'  Rosie Red That time

Whatever you want to call it. It sucks. Balls.

The type of sucks that you just want to curl up into a ball for a week, eat 20 gallons of ice cream and have the bathroom right next to you at all times.

When I got my “insert phrase here” at 11, my grandmother gave me a rag and told me where to put it.

I was horrified.

My dad on the other hand, I think he had a nervous breakdown. A 11 year old should not be getting her “insert phrase here” at that age. He wasn’t ready for this, I think he thought that I would never get it. Maybe blissfully going into adulthood never having to worry about the “talk” or “insert phrase here”.

Being the great and wonderful dad he was… he went and got pads for me.

And from that day on, I forever think that “real men” take care of their women in that sort of way. When there down at the barest, vulnerable to the world.

The other day… I get my “insert phrase here”. About a week early. Aaron was doing the “I’m not a dad yet” dance and twirling around the room while I was trying to fend off my 3 year old from seeing this shit.

The last thing I need to hear is “MOMMMYY YOUR BLEEDIN’!!!???  I’LL GET YOU A BAND-AID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

So after throwing various things… and a hair dryer out the door. Aaron got the drift. I was in need…

So he came back with this…

My eyes bulged out of my head.

WHAT am I going to do with all of these??!! Did he expect me to use them ALL!?

Then I realized it was just a box with the normal baggage inside… with Always Infinity samples.

So Aaron gets this.

Because he’s a Awesome dude.

I'm a complete moron

So I'm totally the type of person to be the last one to notice that there's a party going on.

It could be right across the street, a dozen invitations stuck underneath my door, and I'm obliviously eating chips and dip watching a Ghost Hunters marathon.

And I never have anything cute to wear.

But I'm joining this one.

Here's some of my best worst material. Check it out if you dare. 

I didn't know 1800collect still existed

Things every renter should know

Ode to the Death of a Sex Life

Let our kids go!

Today I fell upon this little doozy. Brings me to the ultimate question, where did the human trait of common sense go? We live about 20 minutes from a little town called Angola, New York. Look it up on a map, it's pretty damn small.

This is the place where I met my son's father, and I know pretty much everyone in the community and he does. Every day in the summertime the neighborhood kids walk the 2 or 3 blocks to the playground at the elementary school. By themselves. Stupid? I don't think so.

When I first had the question asked by Darrell last summer if he could go to the playground with a group of kids around. I was nervous and asked a lot of questions. So did the other parents, my friends, but we let them go.

They came home fine. Dirty and filled with stories.

Going there a few times, I saw the beauty of it in action. The bigger kids, around 10 or 11, make sure that the little kids, 3-5, don't get hurt. No babysitting but a watchful eye. They hang out on the most top of the playground, calling it their "fort". Similar to no boys allowed but the cute boys could hang around. The kids pushed the other on a swing, if they couldn't do it themselves. They took turns and all way right with the world.

So what happened to the 50's suburbia where the kids went out to play and the adults sat on their porches and socialized? No, not with cell phones or twitter, actually talking.

Unfortunately, we now live in an area where there's a lot of traffic and the playground is a few miles away. I often take my son to the playground in this town, but I still see kids who just show up and then leave before the lights come on. 

I know there is a huge risk of sex offenders in every area, I know. But isn't it common sense for a young kid not to trust a strange adult? The first thing we teach kids in elementary school, don't talk to strangers.

And then there's the over dramatization of strangers. My boyfriend was sitting in our car while we were at the local playground one day talking on the phone to his dad about his rounds of chemo. A personal conversation that he chose not to have in public. Darrell and I were playing on the slide and I noticed a bunch of adults talking in a bunch, pointing to our car. We got down, trying to figure out what was going on. Then one of the parents went over to the car, rapidly knocking on the window. I found out later that he was interrogated, why he was there, why he was sitting in the car by himself. They honestly thought that he was a preditor.

It took a while for us to go back there.

So my question is... at what age do we start trusting our own kids? When do we start trusting ourselves to let our children grow to the point where they can ride their bike outside, alone?

It's a hefty question, but I hope that people start waking up and seeing that the world is bad, yes. But we have sheltered our kids to the point where all they want to is sit inside. Not socialize face-to-face and the computer is their only friend.

Thirteen things you wish you didn't know about me

The increasing amount of viewers, followers and readers to this site (THANK YOU!!!!) wants my brain to tell you 13 things you wish you didn't know about me.

I have absolute no control over this thing.

1.)I have 2 Tattoos and counting. My best friend’s husband is a tattoo artist and I’ve been addicted for the past few years on these things. My first one was a Celtic knot on the back of my neck and the second is a sunshine similar to the band Godsmack’s symbol.

  2.)My son is named after his great-uncle, Darrell, who passed away in 2005. Then his middle name is after my father, Alan, who also passed away in 2005. I really wanted to name him Lucius after Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter but his dad wouldn’t let me.

3.) I have a problem with people chewing loudly. It completely interrupts my ability to think when people are chewing like cows. Like, if it’s bad enough, I’ll leave the room. So… I would of never of survived the renaissance age.

4.) Unless you’ve visited my Face book page, there are no real pictures of me on this blog. Why? I think I’m hideous, but mainly because I’m usually behind the camera.

 5.) I consider myself a gigantic dork. I own every Harry Potter book and movie, except for the last (Obviously). Yes, I was one of “those” people standing in line at midnight with a witch hat on. I’m also a Twilight junkie. If I ever see Robert Patterson in real life, I’m going to smack him for making Bella a vampire.

6.) My pregnancy with my son wasn’t a good one. I’m going to flat out admit it. Morning sickness up the ass and never being able to lay down without peeing myself.

7.) You know the stupid friend who sits alone in the middle of the dark watching a million Horror movies by herself, and then calling you because her cat meowed and she thinks it‘s the boogie man??? Yes, that’s me. Zombie movies are the best, but old fashion slashers are awesome.

8.)I drink coffee everyday. At least one cup. Then I substitute that with energy drinks. Mmmm… Monster. I sometimes sleep.

9.) Becoming a mama never made me leave my music of choice. Darrell often rocks out in the back seat to Disturbed and Slipknot. And we have a on going argument who the band is for the Iron Man song. HE thinks it’s Metallica, but I KNOW it’s Ozzy!!!

10.) My best friend is a carnie aka Carnival Worker. She travels, puts up and tears down carnival rides. Also, she’s a bad-ass mama. I love her and her family to death. 

 11.) My family is small, but loving. We’ve lost a lot of family members along the way but it’s all made me realize blood is strong, but love is stronger.

12.) I like cats. A lot. If it wasn’t for Aaron, I’d be the freaky cat lady living with each one named and a birthday. Rayne does have a birthday but if I had my way, it’d come with catnip cake and birthday hats.

13.) Ok, so by now I've probably scared everyone off.. I’m a tattoo, dorky mom who listens to metal music. I don’t wear all black!!!! And Emo kids piss me off. I want to hug them just to make ‘em squirm.

Wordless Wednesday - They get their licence young now.

This picture is from '08. 1. He's bigger now. 2. I need to start taking more pictures.

Lord of the Fish

Never would I have thought that shopping for a fish and getting it home would be like getting the ring back to Mordor.

Chrissy and I landed at Pet-co after leaving the boys behind with our friend Scott.

Mikey's nickname is Ketchup-boy for a reason.

After wandering the place for it seemed like an hour but it was only 15 minutes. I finally decided on which tank to get, which gravel and what I needed for this.

We (I brought her along for a reason people!) decided on the Tetra Water Wonders tank. It’s easy to put together and easy to maintain. A 1.5 gallon to be exact.

The one major thing I got pissed off on regarding this entire process was how much LACK of help there was from the employees. I had to track down someone to get me a fish, I specifically asked some basic questions. And I got LAUGHED at.

How many fish can go in this fish tank?

*evil laughter*

It looks like on the box there can be 6 or 7 little ones.

The picture is bullshit.

Well what about a goldfish?

How many we’re you thinking?

So the chosen one was the twin-tailed gold fish. Simple, big, something that can be easily replaced without the knowing of a little one.

I asked the guy how long can they last in the baggie? He said about 45 minutes.

Chrissy decided to be her carnie self, which I adore and love about her. HAD to mention the little fishie stand at the carnival. Those poor things! Half of them are dead by the end of the day because of being in the bags for so long.

So I reconsidered but decided to keep going.

We ended up going to Walmart for a good 20 minutes.

 (WTF is with customer service nowadays? It took me another 10 minutes to ask someone where the necklace chain extenders were. Ending up finding out that they were all out and had to buy a cheapo necklace for the extender. Didn’t realize it was a Twilight-Werewolf charm necklace until I got to the checkout. SCORE!)

Fish is still alive after trip to Walmart.

Ended up staying until 10pm at Chrissys after getting dinner and calming down the boys.

The best part is Darrell’s face when he saw it. I haven’t seen him that happy in a LONG time.

 Getting this kid to smile without a funny face is like pulling teeth.

We transplanted it into a mini fish bowl for the short time we were there. Meanwhile, Darrell didn’t move at least 5 feet from “Diego”. He SWEARS it’s a he-she. Seeing him kissing the bowl and telling the fish how much he loved him made it to one of those levels. Making sure the fish was still okay, checking on it every 5 minutes. 

Then the 45 min ride home from Lockport and the mini-hotel stay in the bathroom so Rayne doesn’t EAT the thing

“Diego” is alive and well.

Tuesday Tag Along

Here's another addition to Tuesday Tag-Along. I can't wait to meet all the new entries!

Here's how it works:

• Create a new Tuesday Tag-Along blog post. Include the Tuesday Tag-Along button by copying and pasting the code above. (You are also welcome to copy and paste these instructions in their entirety, or any portion of this Tuesday Tag-Along blog post!)
• Add your blog name and the URL of your TTA post to the MckLinky below.
• Follow Twee Poppets, the hostess blog listed in the first slot. Twee Poppets will follow you back! (Note: If you want Twee Poppets to follow you back, you MUST leave her a comment saying that you are a new follower and leave a link to your blog!)
• If you can, please follow the blogs in the three slots before you (e.g., if you're number 20, follow numbers 19, 18, and 17). This is not mandatory, but it will help ensure that everyone who signs up gets a few new followers!
• Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! Be sure to tell them that you're following from Tuesday Tag-Along! You may also want to leave a link to your blog so they can return your follow more easily.
• When you get a new follower through Tuesday Tag-Along, be sure to follow them back! It's just common courtesy. :)

The weekly Tuesday Tag-Along MckLinky opens every Monday night at 8:59pm Pacific Standard Time (that's 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time), and the TTA blog post will be posted well in advance of that time. The MckLinky will be open to add your blog until 11:59pm Tuesday night. You then have all week long to visit blogs and return follows!

There is a new list every week. The link you enter one week will not carry over to the next week's MckLinky. Please link up again each week to join in the fun!

Will it flush the fish??????

Tomorrow my BFF and I are going to get monster a early birthday present.

Not to early, his b-day is the 30th.

Having 3 birthday parties already planned, why not spoil the kid more.

We're getting fish. Not alot of fish but some. A small 1.5 gallon fish tank. Modest and able to replace the fishies.

If they decided to go here

Link

The mechanics are explained easily on this tank. But what happens if I accidently flush the fish?????

A early ending for goldie. 

Or me scooping my hands in the bowl desperately to get the poor things out.

 Hopefully everything was already taken care of and in the sewage system before hand.

Ewwwww.

I didn't know that 1-800-Collect still existed

Apparently after all of the social groups (Facebook, Myspace, the INTERNET) I've joined over the past 6 11 years I have to pay to have someone talk to me.

It's like Harmony.com, but worse. You have to pay to see one of the little turds who made fun of you for being overweight in High School to say sorry. Because now they have gained 21354688564163 pounds and know how hard it is to get that weight off.

Nevermind the fact that I like Ho-Hos. And cookies.

My diet regime is going sooooo well. I'm personally taking care of the vending machine's weekly profit. Such a responsible employee I am.

The dating sites and I have a problem with each other. Back when I needed help meeting people either because I couldn't look a man in the eye, or he was just staring at my chest... I tried it once. It was ridiclous. What happened to the good 'ol fashion going to the bar, getting drunk, having a one night stand and then realizing that this person is your soul mate.

Because they pulled your hair back for you.

I'm not kidding either! That's how my parents met. At the Red Rooster in Penn Yan, NY. Except my mother didn't get hammered off of jello shots and my dad didn't pull back her hair.

They were still soul mates.

So paying for people to talk to you... it's stupid. It's corporate America, and it's stupid.

But I'm still itching to see who left me a message.

Skinny bitches.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Laina from Reflections of a Navy Wife presented me with this award on Thursday and I want to apologize for it being so late to give a big thank you! Laina's blog truly shows the strength, integrity and courage that military spouses and families have. I admire all of her attributes and she's a great woman. Thank you again Laina!!!

Award Rules: 

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 10 things about yourself

3. Pass the award along to 10 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are worthy of the award.

4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

Instead of placing 10 things about myself and passing the award. I'm going to list 10 things about each blogger I admire about them.

1. Mama M @ My Little Life
I absolutely love her weekly Memes and enjoy surfing the blogs that have joined her site. She is an extremely motivating woman.

2. Kasey @ A Little Cup of Comfort
Every day I love learning more about Kasey. Recently she's begun the 1lb at a time regime that sounds great. Pacing yourself through weight loss is the most effective route.

3. Happy Grandma @ The Happiest Family on the Block
She's got alot of kids... and grandkids... and alot on her plate. But she keeps it running and they are the happiest family on the block. It's great to hear about a happy grandmother!

4. A Mom Writing
I honestly wish I knew this woman when I was breastfeeding my son. Her articles and blog give so much to thought and alot of support. I applaud her for being so forthcoming in all of her efforts and the health of her baby.

5. Deana @ Mom's the Glue
Deana is definitely the glue in her family and she shows it in her blog. Awesome site for great giveaways and different ideas for movies, reviews and childrens books!

6. Mommypants
Another eco lover! She's got a lot on cooking and crafting. Awesome choices on different kinds of products to save the earth.

7. Allison @ The Allison Wonderland
Somewhat newliweds, she is an absolute doll. I've been reading her blog for a while now, before I started writing. And it's amazing to watch her grow. Also a huge twilight fan!! Sorry Allison... I run with wolves.

8. Amy @ Strawberry Fields
She makes me want to dance. Amy creates beautiful tutus for your daughter that are picture props and every day fairytale items. What girl doesn't want to become a lil fairy at one point?

9. Buckeroomama @ Mamahood Among other things
Her photography takes my breath away. Living in Hong Kong, her and her family are experiencing a whole different world than what we see. I definitely ask for you to take a walk through her blog and just look at her kids!! Stunning.

10. Metalia

 Metalia is... an idol. She, like Barefoot Foodie, doesn't just write about everyday life of changing diapers and doing the dishes. Everything is a story and an experience. Her humor in life makes me feel like life shouldn't be all serious. Look at the funny things and don't worry if they sound strange... or weird. It's your thoughts, your words... that's what blogging is all about, right?

A week in The Life

The one thing I regret most about my childhood is not knowing my mother. Of course, she was my mom. She was there. But I never knew her as a person, what she did day to day. Snippets and pieces of my seven years of existence with her are here and there. More memories flow in as long as I talk to her friends and my family, but it’s hard to remember that.

Looking at a blog named Pink of Perfection that I’ve been reading for the better part of two years. Yes, that’s how long I’ve been watching. I fell upon A Week in The Life.

You take pictures of yourself, daily. Whatever your doing. Either it be what your wearing, what your doing, who you’re with or your daily routine.

There’s a whole lot more suggestions over at the site , and I really suggest that everyone at least checks it out.

I can speak for myself that I’m not going to take pictures daily. It’s to redundant and keeping the camera out of my son’s hands is like convincing a tiger not to eat me.  And I really don’t have the patience to sit there and sort through pictures daily.

But to document my daily life weekly? In pictures? Sounds like a great idea.

So instead of me bugging all of my readers and new readers with hundreds of pictures of my son’s feet.  Because he likes taking pictures of his feet. A lot.  I’m going to go ahead and do it weekly. Nothing big, but it’s gonna be huge for me.

It could be huge for you also. Imagine showing your grandchildren this?

I remember when gas prices were $3.00

But grandma, gas has been turned into electric for ten years now.

Exactly

You can show them the proof. The proof that you actually did walk up hill… both ways… through the snow.. Past mountain lions and evil trolls… just to get to school. Because they have to go to school too.

Thirteen Thursday - Motherhood

Principles of Motherhood 

1. Motherhood ~~ If it was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!
2. Avenge yourself ~~ Live long enough to be a problem to your children.
3. The right temperature in a home is maintained by warm hearts, not by hot heads.
4. The joy of motherhood: What a woman experiences when all the children are finally in bed.
5. Any child can tell you that the sole purpose of a middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.
6. A child outgrows your lap, but never outgrows your heart.
7. There are three ways to get something done: Do it yourself, hire someone to do it, or forbid your children to do it.
8. You know the only people in this world who are always sure about the proper way to raise children? Those who've never had any.
9. Cleaning your house while your kids are at home is like trying to shovel the driveway during a snowstorm.
10. There are only two things a child will share willingly: communicable diseases and his mother's age.
11. An alarm clock is a device for awakening people who don't have small children.
12. Shouting to make your children obey is like using the horn to steer your car, and you get about the same results.
13. To be in your children's memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.

Thirteen Thursday this week is borrowed from Humor Matters

I'm a cheapo and I'm damned proud of it!!!

The economy sucks, no one has jobs and the cost of basic daily necessities have risen in the past ten years.

I just went shopping at Target… and this confirms my belief.

FIFTEEN DOLLARS  for a freakin’ little dress for a kid!! A BABY! The little tykes that grow all the time and out of their clothes in a matter of weeks. This is just Target too… imagine what the prices are at retail outlets… twenty… thirty…

I’m known for cheap but I’ve  not always been this money savvy. My favorite clothes store was Lane Bryant (high-end plus size store), I loved Starbucks coffee and had it whenever I went someplace with my high school boyfriend. I had even once spent 90 dollars on a purse.

Que after baby…

I’m wearing the same clothes that I’ve accumulated for the past three years. The newest addition is a shirt from Target on clearance, for three bucks.

My shoes I’ve been wearing for 2 years. Same ballet style black shoes, classic and worn.

I buy makeup once a year, if even, and I love the cheapos from the dollar store. Who will know if your eyeliner only cost 50 cents on clearance?

My purse… now this is the kicker. Anyone who knows me from my marriage days knows that I love purses. I bought them on a wim because they look adorable. Where are they now? In a storage bin in storage, I haven’t looked at them since November.  The one that I carry now is a small purple (yes, purple) 15 dollar clearance item from Walmart.

Why am I belting out the fact that I’m cheap? Sometimes crazy cheap? To the point where I look at each and every price at the grocery/retail store cheap.

Because I’m trying to make a point that people can live on less. Less money, less stuff, less everything. As soon as something gets a little worn out, people throw it out. Why not get the needle & thread and fix the torn? Dig in your closet for stuff that you haven’t worn in years and try it on again.

Even with food, our family lives on 70 dollars a week on groceries. This is a static dollar amount that never changes week to week. We cut down on snacks and microwaveable items. (We don’t even own a microwave). This saves our bellies and our wallets huge amounts of money each month. Fresh food isn’t always cheap, but it goes a long way. One head of lettuce can be two meals with three boneless chicken breasts and whatever you can find in the pantry.

With utilities, we have shut off the heat. Unless it’s below 50 degrees outside, we live in an upstairs apartment. The heat from our lower neighbors travels to ours. And if it gets a little nippy, blankets are our friends.

We own only 1 cell phone and that’s our main form of communication, other than the computer. This is nice because we’re not in constant communication with people. I miss the days where when you call someone, and they’re out, they’re out. Leave a voice mail and they’ll call you back when they can.

Lights are off in the daytime. When it’s hits dusk, one in the kitchen with a energy efficient bulb and then whichever room we’re in at the time.

I would love to know how everyone saves.  When it comes to utilities, clothes, basic necessities, etc. Let everyone know that you’re cheap and proud of it!!!

Blast from the Past

Tuesday Tag Along

I found this from Dawn @ The way I see things

Here's how it works:

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The weekly Tuesday Tag-Along MckLinky opens every Monday night at 8:59pm Pacific Standard Time (that's 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time), and the TTA blog post will be posted well in advance of that time. The MckLinky will be open to add your blog until 11:59pm Tuesday night. You then have all week long to visit blogs and return follows!

There is a new list every week. The link you enter one week will not carry over to the next week's MckLinky. 

I'm really looking forward to meeting new bloggers.

From the moment I left work at 9 to getting on here at 11:30pm I've already had three people comment.

You guys are too quick for me!  

Just  a Reminder:

I'm working on my blog roll tomorrow afternoon. It's not a deadline but if you're not following me, or haven't commented in the past, show the comment love!!  It's great to meet new people and new stories!

You're never going to believe this

*Sigh*

So I'm coming out... blatantly stating what is truly truth and all knowing.

My Taco Dip rules.

Honestly, it's gotten so popular at my job I've put a boycott on it until people calm down.

I'm only one woman. 20 requests the first few times.

Aaron and Darrell were really full that week.

And because I love all of you so much, and I really do. I'm sharing it with you today.

Ingredients: 

24 oz Sour Cream

2 pkgs of Cream Cheese

24 oz of Salsa

Three Old El Paso Taco Seasoning packets

2 cups of seasoned cheese (take normal cheddar and pepper jack shredded, mix some seasoning in there)

Half a head of lettuce

2 lbs of lean ground beef

1. Cook the Beef as directed. Season as instructed on the packets. Very simple.
2.  Cool your beef, I usually put mine in the freezer for a little bit to speed up the process.
3. Meanwhile, take a bowl and a mixer (do NOT hand mix this, you'll be feeling like you've been bench pressing all day). Put the 2 packages of cream cheese and all of the sour cream and mix. Put in 1 packet of seasoning. Mix until it comes out creamy. If there's chunks, it's fine. That's that extra "bite".
4. Lay down the Salsa in a pan, and put in the cool beef. Lay in the sour cream mixture, add the cheese and then lettuce.
   
   Do it in this order, or you're lettuce will be soggy, the salsa will have a weird texture and it won't come out good. Trust me, many different varieties before I could get it to this point.

Top with whatever you feel like. I've done jalapeno peppers and black olives. Particularly, the black olives.

Mmmmm... 

Try it out. Tell me how you like it. If you've done this before, kudos to you. I didn't steal your recipe. It was a jedi mind trick.

Prep to the preppay.

I was given this award by Ashley. An amazing writer and mommy. Thank you again!

The rules:

* Click on the above image and paste onto your blog/website
* Answer the below questions
* Pass onto 10 (or 5. Like Ashley) bloggers that you love, go to their blog and let them know they've been given the award.

1. Who is your style icon? Despite my love for heavy metal music. I'm a very conservative dresser. Pair of jeans and a comfy T-Shirt is all I need to get through the day. Though, I do love Julianne Moore's style. Classic and Sexy. 

2. What is your favorite socialite book? Does Twilight count? 
3. Favorite party theme? A party where you can enjoy time with friends, not have to worry about what others think of you, and not paranoid that you're pictures are going to end up on Facebook the next morning. 
4. Go to Halloween costume? For like, 3 years ??? I went as a witch for Halloween. I finally gave up the hat when I left home four years ago.

5. Extravagance you cannot live without? Obviously... coffee.

6. Living person you admire? My grandmother. She's 93 years old and still able to put both myself and my son in line. Still drives, cooks her own meals, gets herself dressed. She lives with my cousin but still in her home of 50+ years. 
7. Greatest fear? To die young. Both of my parents had an untimely departure from this world. I never want that to happen to my son.

8. Trait you deplore in yourself? I worry... a lot. About stupid things too, like Christmas in May, and zombie attacks. It's strange, I've got a weird mind. 
9. Which talent would you most like to have? Something that will never happen unless I have some weird surgery. A great singing voice. 
10. Greatest Achievement? My three year old monster.

Whom I'm giving the award to:

Is there a bathroom on this ship? 

Babblings of a Mommy  

Cuddles and Camo

Josiah's Nest

The way I see things

Getting back to normal

With Aaron's Graduation on Saturday and then Mother's Day on Sunday things have been pretty hectic around here.

Reading other blogs, it seems to be the "norm" this weekend.

We're use to being in the house when were not working, but lately it's just been go-go-go.

Today we're cleaning up the floor from painting, fixing any half-assed mistakes of mine from the painting, painting the shelf case thingie and the mirror. Taking care of the laundry that has accumilated over the past few days.

I've gotta give it to Aaron though, he is quite a man.

Did the dishes, made lunch and is mainly doing the laundry. The staircase to the basement has caused me to fall one to many times. Yes, I'm a clumsy ass.

No, sorry girls, he's not for sale. Even though I have a handy sale sign in the closet.

Just in case.

Enie Menie Minie Mo... Who's the best bloggers of them all.

Saturday I received this award by a lovely lady. My lazy busy ass decided not to post the love until Monday and I really do apologize for this.

Nomie is a sweet eco friendly gal who has a killer talent for making beautiful baby clothes. So beautiful it makes me want to pop out a baby girl just so that I can play dress up.

One trick though. If you receive the award, you must award 12 other bloggers. This took me a while. Hense, having this post so late.

I am in no way playing favorites, but these gals I look forward to each and everyone of their posts.

Ashley @ Adventures in Mommyhood
Ms. Farrell @ My perspective
Hannah @ My Eco Family 
Kasia @ Pookie 
Joshlin @ Saving Mom's Sanity
Allie @ A Table for 3 4
Nomie @ Nomie Eco Ware (Can I re gift???)
Rhaven @ Suburban Rebel Mom 
Ericka @ Alabaster Cow  
Michelle @ Papoe  
Britney @ Barefoot Foodie  
Lindsey @ Suburban Turmoil  

Happy Mother's Day to Supermoms Everywhere!!!

Mother's Day

For 11 years of my life Mother's day was a day of grievance . Getting up for church, trying my best to make it the best Mother's Day for my Grandmother, eventually curling up into a ball and crying into my bedsheets. For everything that I've gone through, the one thing I can truely say...

I miss my mommy.

June 23rd 1995 the woman who gave me life, who put herself into every predicament where I'd get the best of everything, passed away while I was at school. I distinctly remember riding on the school bus to my baby sitters and looking out the window. The school year was over, I could spend more time with my mother and she would go to Rochester to receive chemo treatment and by my birthday she would be better. Please keep in mind, I was only seven years old.

Closing my eyes, the heat of the sun was warming to me. It felt great. Looking out the window again, pulling up to my baby sitters... my brother, Brad, was there. Along with my mother's boyfriend. The traditional mind of a seven year old, was always about me. I thought he had come up north for a few weeks like he normally does, and they were congradulating me on passing the 2nd grade.

Instead they were there to tell me the news. I was angry, why didn't they tell me sooner? Why didn't they get me out of school? Then I thought it was a trick, something planned... my mother isn't dead. She just isn't.

My mind went thinking like this until August... that she would come home, all better.

But she didn't.

The thing that wants me to scream to the heavens is that I didn't know her. I never will. Even today, I can't remember much of when I lived with her. Bits and pieces and lost memories brought on by old friends or relatives.

This Mother's Day, don't just remember the ones that you have brunch with and give a little trinket to. Remember the mother's that are gone from this world, with God. Pray for the daughters and sons that visit cemeteries and look at old pictures every year, and cry into bedsheets.  

Pray for the Grandparents and Fathers that have lost a loved one. Thank them on not only being one parent, but two. And thank them for filling in that void that will forever be there.

I thank my Grandmother, 93 years old she's still there. Still lecturing me, making sure that I eat and still alive. She still makes sure my head is on straight, and thinking the right way. For my son. She still cries with me and still laughs with me. For raising me, childhood through puberty and my adolescence I can not honestly give her enough credit in life.

I thank my Aunt, for teaching me the things that every woman should know. Pantyhose, deodorant, and how to be a woman. She's the real Martha Stewart in my life, I strive even today to be the woman that she is. Confident and intelligent in everything that she does.

I thank my Best Friend, she brought me into motherhood. The threshold of something that I could never think that I was ready for. Told me the right ways to do everything and what not to do. To take advantage of all of what this little life has given us. To show me that everything has a way and a will.

Who will you thank?

Mother's Day Mania- What have you done to make your grandmother blush, or makes you the happiest?

Reading my reader like I do every day, religiously now that I've joined this lovely world, I fell onto this meme that's been floating around.

Really wish that I had started this when it first started, the themes are so honest and true.

But I will stop gawking at this wonderful lady's blog  and finish at least one question.

What do you enjoy most about being a mother...or...have you had an embarrassing mom moment?

First becoming a mother, I was terrified and ridiciously nervous. Nervous about being left alone with the baby, just in case something happened and I had no clue on what to do. Terrified because for this tiny little being, I am the center of their world. And whatever I do, I have to do it for them.

The fear didn't subside until he was about two. Until we were on our own, and I got back to basics with my little boy. I learned more about him in that time, and am still learning so much now.

He's a little ball of emotions, the simplest thing can just make him go into tears. He hates being teased, he hates having his feelings hurt.

When Darrell wants something, it needs to be a yes or a no answer. No maybes in his life. Nothing uncertain, it needs to be the truth. Or it will bite you in your ass.

He laughs at everything and anything. Silliness is his adopted middle name. Tickling is a past-time, not a treat in our household

The kid will ultimately zone out if watching his favorite TV show. A nuke can go off in my living room and his eyes will still be glued to the screen. You say his name, 654684351654654 times and not get a blink. Poke him. "Huh? What Mom?"

At the end of the day... what I enjoy most about being a mother... is having a little mini-me.

This monster of mine, his personality matches mine to a T. I know his quirks, his ups and downs, why he's feeling that certain way and what the tantrums are about.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes he blows me out of the water.

But he'll always be my little mini-me.

This is an old picture, but it shows how much he has a personality.

Who can fall asleep like this watching David Letterman???

The waters are settled, so let's bring on the rain.

The past week the devastation in Nashville has shocked the east coast. Thousands of families are without homes, businesses have been destroyed, people lives have been lost. 

Now it's time for the world to put on it's rain boots and start helping. 

NASHVILLE RED CROSS 

HANDS ON NASHVILLE

Suburban Turmoil is one of our own. Her family, friends and neighbors need our help. She's donating gift cards to the flood victims. So start searching your closets, wallets, old purses, anything you have laying around. Go to Walmart for christ-sake and get a gift card for 20 bucks. That's a pair of jeans and some toothpaste that some one doesn't have right now. Basic necessities that people are missing due to this tragedy.

Table for 3 has listed a few more websites and also has ton more pictures.

So get off of my blog, yes I am encouraging this, and help!

Thirteen Thursday

The epilogue of my paint extravaganza had leaded me to a few pointers for anyone who wishes to paint... anything. Be it a wall, a piece of furniture, or a canvas.

1. Invest in a drop cloth. Nothing beats having to take a spackling knife to your hardwood floor to get those paint drops off.

2. When painting with children, don't expect to get much done fast. And also don't let your eyes waver, even once. Don't blink. DON'T! My floor has a half of a smiley face.

3. Don't rush. You head straight into this project with the thought that it'll only take you a few hours if you don't stop. Midway though your sweating like Ron Jeremy in his newest porn film. (Don't ask me how I know this. Youtube is now forbidden in my house)

4. If it gets dark... wait. At about 8pm last night, there was paint in on every surface of my body that wasn't covered by clothing. Including my hair. My legs hurt like I had run a marathon and my arms felt like I was carrying my son all day. I just wanted to get it DONE. But waking up dismorning and seeing the mess that is my paint job, I need to go over it... again.

5. Sniff the paint fumes, you know you wanna. The worst and best advise I can give you. Giggle a little, laugh alot, this is suppost to be fun, right?

6. Always buy extra paint. To do those touchups, or a wall or two, after you've tried painting in the dark.

7. Buy 2 or three energy drinks. Or drink a whole pot of coffee.

8. Never underestimate what little could do. Don't put to much paint on the brush or the roller. It spatters, it makes a mess and it looks like crap afterwards.

9. Don't stop, EVER! Don't rush but don't stop. If you've started, don't sit down for 20 minutes and think you're going to get back up again. It doesn't happen.

10. It comes off with soap and water. I was covered head to toe in paint yesterday. Droplets that fell from the brush, I wiped off with my finger. It's nasty, it's dirty, but it gets the job done.

11. Wear Crappy clothes. Don't ever expect to wear these clothes again in public, unless your being a painter or Leonardo DiVinci for halloween.

12. Make sure the clothes cover certain parts of yourself. I made the mistake of wearing a tank top and shorts yesterday. It was great for me especially when I was bending down to get the last finish below the window, I would of been hindered of bending like that in jeans. But also apparently it was great for my neighbor's husband.

13. Pick colors you'll be able to stand in 3 years. Because believe me, you'll never want to go through this again.


And stupid me, I'm going to be doing my son's bedroom in a couple of weeks. I was going to do it next week but after yesterday, I need a vacation.

Wordless Wednesday - Not my kids.

Painting is done. 

These are not my kids. 

But this is what it would have looked like if I wasn't paying attention.

Now I'm just high off of paint fumes.

Hense, the wordless Wednesday with words.

I'll give a tree a hug just for this wonderful gal.

An amazing thing happened today.

I was featured.

It's weird, huh? People actually read this thing.

For an Earth-loving good time, check out this lovely lady.

She's amazing.

Seriously, stop reading this and go look at her blog.

THANK YOU! 

Ode to the death of a Sex Life

Almost everyday there’s an on-going battle in our house. He comes to me first, and then I to him, back and forth. We keep mentioning the fact that so-and-so needs to get done first or my son is still awake.

It's even worse if we say anything at work. Have I ever mentioned we work together? Like in the same building, on the same floor. It's torture some days but great others. Especially when you need to bitch about someone and you know he's not going to say anything because our livelihood is on our jobs.

ANYWHOO But it always ends the same, I fall asleep with Darrell in bed relentlessly trying to get him asleep.

Why does our sex life die with children? The hiding in the bathroom or the subtle glances at the dinner table, it always ends the same. The day long adventure of a good tease. Seriously, I think that I could be great at those sex-talk hotlines but never go through with anything. My excuse would be “Sorry, I‘ve got to be up by 9am to watch Team Umnizoomi”. Complete turn off huh?

Kinda strange to try to explain those long distance calls too.

And the fact that I look forward to a children's show in the morning.



Scratch that. Completely.

I’ve been told by many of men that I’m a MILF, I look at them straight in the face and ask are you kidding because you’re making me ROLF. My son killed my body, or whatever was left of one. Never skinny, never toned, never perfect. Carrying 9 lbs of pure baby and adding in the whopper a day I didn’t have a graceful pregnancy.

So, I’m pretty sure now that he’s just keeping me on my toes, not wanting to see the elephant that emerges in bed.

Because, c’mon, who else will do the dishes?

Best Moms!

With all types of celebrity and real life mothers alike being bashed out by the media, I think to myself. Where are all the good ones? The cookie making, boo-boo kissing mamas that we always thought we were. Instead there are mamas out there, new ones mind you, that take their kid into the front seat of a car and drive, have eight siblings on purpose and eat off the welfare system (literally), and exploiting their kids at every turn.

Here are some great mothers that bring some sort of sanity in the publicity, and some who are just well… really cool.

Michele Obama

Not only the coolest first lady since Jacqueline Kennedy, she’s a great mother. I imagine life at the White House is not pushy and fast paced, but more apple pie and doing homework. She’s explained her girl’s wishes, brought them to life, but still kept them at a level where they’re not spoiled.

Jane Seymour

I grew up watching Dr. Quinn Medicine woman, my mother watched it religiously. She was always an idol, something of strength and integrity.

Jennifer Garner

Through all the drama with Ben Affleck, she’s still a great mom. Never exploiting her kids for money or showing off her goods in public. She was awesome as Electra!

Liv Tyler

This is one of the few celebrity mom’s that are down to earth. At any chance, I don’t think she’d think twice about going to Walmart if she really needed to. She was wonderful in Armageddon and I love her work, it’s so great that she’s a great mom.

Julia Roberts

She’s beautiful, she’s gracious, she still makes me cry whenever I watch Step-Mom. Now, she’s a mama.

Metalia

A working mother who is hilarious and straight forward with everything she says. 100% Real

Barefoot Foodie

This was literally the first family/mother blogging site I went to, and  my eyes bulged. I have never known anyone to just write, and never use the backspace button. I love her blog, you should too.


Suburban Turmoil

She’s in the Nashville Scene as a writer, a full time mama and step-mama, and a huge multi-tasker. Learn it from her.

And so SO many other woman!!!

My Best Friend

My Grandmother

Suburban Rebel Mom

Nomie

Is it 5 o’clock somewhere?

My Perspective

Dooce

Who do you admire as a mother in the celebrity, real and blogosphere world?