storywriter...

Thank You card, round 2

2012-02-05T22:33:00.001-08:00

Another Thank You card variation using the wonderful set from Fun Stampers Journey!

Check out the subtle detail... I didn't have black ric rac. In fact, I didn't have any black ribbon (gasp! How is that possible?!) So, I improvised. I used a scallop border punch, then punched the other side slightly off center from the first row. Not bad for my first time improvising ric rac!

And don't you just love that feather?! Love!!

Project 365 - February 5

2012-02-05T22:29:00.000-08:00

I posted recently with a photo of the boys' artwork when I came home from work. I thought, maybe I should use this as another photo because it may be redundant? Then, I realized, the beauty of Project 365 / Project Life is capturing what we may miss later. I'm amazed to see how much Elijah can grow artistically in just a month. He's such a creative little guy already. He must take after his Daddy and Mama. I love it!

Here's Elijah and Daddy's collaborative efforts. :)

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 5

Thank You card

2012-02-04T22:05:00.000-08:00

A thank you card I created!

I used my wonderful new stamp sets from Fun Stampers Journey. Don't you just love them!? I'm completely giddy over this frames set.

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Catching up

2012-02-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

I'm finally starting to feel better. I can't believe how much that sinus infection knocked me off my feet. Thank God for antibiotics! I'm still feeling a little tired, and can't hear diddly-squat out of my left year, but at least I'm not feeling miserable anymore.

Despite all this, I'm proud to say I've still managed to keep up my Project 365! I haven't posted in a few days because I was just focused on feeling better.. but I'm determined to keep going with Project 365! That said, here's my catching up for the last few days.

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 1

I took the boys to one of their favorite places: the children's consignment shop. Okay, okay, it is one of my favorite places as well. I love selling back my items we aren't using anymore then putting it to store credit. It gets my house cleared of unnecessary items, helps someone out who will need those items, and the kids are always happy because I let them pick out something, and Mama is happy because it is way cheaper than at other places! WIN all the way around! Here's what they picked out for the trip on this day; they each picked some sort of hot wheels/matchbox ramp set that folds into a carrying case. They love it, and it is adorable to see them play together.

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 2

I was a tad overdue to clean out our hamster's cage. I used to put her in the box she came home in while I cleaned it out. She's wising up to me and started gnawing a hole in the corner. I got her this ball instead. It is way more fun than I thought it would be. She knew what to do almost right away and roams all over the house. The boys love it, and the rest of our pets do too. I'm sure Ophelia (our hamster) loves it the most! Now she really feels like part of our family!

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 3

I've been searching for throw pillows for the sofa for a long time. I've never found anything that I've really liked or thought worth buying. This day, I found some on clearance at Target; a two pack for $14. I like the colors and the price was right! Whoohoo!

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 4

Proud daughter moment. My dad was at a school function today where he got to wear his uniform. I'm always proud to be the daughter of a Retired Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps. I got some cute pictures of the boys with him (even though Elijah was being terribly obstinate about the whole photo shoot. However, I decided I'm proud of this picture and maybe I should take an opportunity to have me in the photo for Project 365 / Project Life as well. :)

I have some more adorable pictures to share. Except, I'm tired, so I will show them off tomorrow! (Yes, I give you permission to start singing Annie's version of Tomorrow now.)

Project 365 - January 30 & 31

2012-01-31T21:31:00.000-08:00

The reason for such short posts the past week?

A cold gone bad. :/ It turned into a sinus infection and an ear infection. Aren't I too old for this?! Sheesh.

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 30

Tonight the car wouldn't turn on after Patrick took the boys to the Burger King playground. Luckily, I was just getting off work, so I was able to come rescue them with the Yukon and a jump start! Nevertheless, the boys still had fun, and that is all that matters.

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 31

Planning

2012-01-29T21:02:00.000-08:00

Mom's work schedule.

Dad's work schedule.

Doctor appointments.

Dance class.

etc.

It gets confusing. For me, I put it all in my phone... but sometimes I just need one place to flip through some pages and see what is coming up in the next few weeks or months. Sometimes my dear husband needs a place to look to see what days I am working or not working (especially since my hours can change from day to day).

Today I broke down and bought a family planner. The wall calendar just doesn't cut it. I've finally mad that bold move to become a parent who *gasp* keeps a planner. It's the smart thing to do, don't get me wrong. I just feel so... mom. Like, look at that big girl being all organized. Personally, I am usually pretty good at remembering dates and times in my head, but I came the realization that not everyone is like that! Plus, I'm always paranoid I'm going to forget something or mix up a schedule.

I'm proud of myself. And you have to admit, it is cute, isn't it?! I already feel relieved having written down our schedule over the next two weeks in it! It gives me such a better idea of what is coming up.

YAY ME for planning!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 29

Project 365 - January 28

2012-01-29T20:57:00.000-08:00

It is the sweetest thing to come home and see Elijah was practicing his writing. It makes a Mama proud!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 28

Thank you Puffs w/ Lotion

2012-01-27T23:01:00.000-08:00

Whoever created the concept of tissues with soothing lotion... I thank you. You are a wonderful blessing to my completely raw nose. Why didn't I pick these up when my cold first came on?! I usually stick with the tissues with lotion, and when I don't, I'm painfully reminded why I should!

You rock, Puffs Plus.

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 27

Project 365 - January 26

2012-01-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

For Myles, celebrating his 2 year angelversary in Heaven.

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 26

Fun Stampers Journey Trunk Show, 1/26/12

2012-01-27T08:47:00.000-08:00

I went to Richard's Fun Stampers Journey Hesperia Trunk Show last night. We had a fun time and got to make a beautiful card with his new products! Let's just say... o-m-g I'm in love with the whole line. Can I just have it all? I mean really, who needs to pay bills, right? I'm going back next week to pick up a few items... I can't wait!

Check out all the amazing goodies here.

My two shadows, I mean children, came along too. Elijah played with Richard's adorable little boys, Andrew and Matthew, and AJ mostly crafted with me. I was so nervous about bringing them along, but with me working full time I know they like to hang out with me more (even though Elijah ditched me for his friends... LOL!). It was great seeing some old friends, crafting with them and my lil' man. What a great way to spend an evening, crafting with my family and friends! Love it!

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rap a tap tap

2012-01-25T21:27:00.000-08:00

I'm so proud of my little man! This was his second time going to dance class and he loves it. Today he got to wear his dance shoes for the first time. I managed to snap this picture in between the ballet portion and the tap portion. He was so thrilled to test out his tap shoes. Instantly, he started dancing, tapping, and jumping around. So precious.

It makes me proud to feel like I've passed something along to my boy. I thought I'd never have the chance to be involved in the dance world again when I had two boys, and here my little Elijah is loving dance as much as I do. I can't wait to see what the future holds for him!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 25

Project 365 - January 24

2012-01-25T07:56:00.000-08:00

I did take my Project 365 picture yesterday, however, I didn't post anything because I've come down with a wonderful cold that the boys had. Blech.

It isn't the greatest quality, but it wasn't an easy shot to get either! This evening (well, yesterday evening) at work one of my coworkers was getting ready to leave and tells us "Hey look at the sunset! The sky is red. It's so pretty!" I look out the window and see that indeed, it is a beautiful sunset. I go back to my station then think, "That'd be an awesome photo." I run to the back room where my purse is, grab my camera, and try to figure out a way to get the photo. The sun is fading fast, so I have to act quickly. If I go out the front of the store, I have to walk all the way around building. However, if I go out the back, I think I may be able to sneak a picture before it is gone. I drag my other coworker to hold the backdoor open for me (it's one of those doors that will lock behind me) so I can snag a picture. He patiently waits while I'm trying to snap a picture, my arm sticking out through a fence to catch this sunset. The first one I got had all the cars go by, then he sees the light is changing and tells me get ready so I can get one without the cars. When I was looking at the photos on the camera, I thought I preferred the one without the cars. After I came home and looked at them on the computer, I found an appeal to the photo with the cars driving. There is some movement to the photo with everyone driving home at the end of the day.

Sidenote: Hooray for Photoshop!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 24

The photo without the cars (cropped in Photoshop)

Rain rain... come back!

2012-01-23T21:36:00.000-08:00

Don't you love when weather people hype things up?

Californians: Expect a HUGE storm coming your way! Massive!

We got wind and about 10 minutes of rain.

Really? That's it?! Come on! Last year we got days of rain. I think this was our first rainfall all winter, and all we get is a measly 10 minutes? Man, I want some real rain! We can forget the nasty wind we get and just get a nice rainfall. Ah well. It was nice while it lasted for all of 10 minutes.

When I was at work, the combination of leftover raindrops on the window and the sun shining through the clouds into the window made a fun design. I snapped a picture for my Project 365 challenge.. just something a little different!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 23

Sick kiddo

2012-01-22T21:53:00.000-08:00

Darn germs and their wild fire ways. You know when you have one sick child, the other is bound to get sick. AJ was sick a couple days ago, and sure enough, today Elijah started coming down with it. It is mostly a cough/cold/chest thing. Not so much a big deal for AJ, but Elijah's lungs are more sensitive to such things. He has had asthma since he was 3 months old, and whooping cough when he was 2 months old. Coughs, nebulizers, and inhalers aren't anything new for me.

Luckily, over the last year or so Elijah's asthma has really been under control. So much that he hasn't even needed his nebulizer. If he did have a little bout of something, he was able to use his inhaler and be done with it. The last time he had an actual albuterol prescription filled for his nebulizer was the end of 09! That one expired end of '10. First thing this morning, once I realized how pitiful he looked and noticed his wheezing, was to call the on-call doctor/pediatrician. Well, first I called Target Pharmacy who said they can't fill it if the drug expired. Fine, I'll call the on call doc. She says have them send over the request to the on call operator. I call them, relay the message. A few hours later, I call back Target Pharmacy for them to say they haven't heard anything. Oy vey. I call the on call operator, again, and talk to the physician assistant, again. After some runaround, I'm told to call target pharmacy (again) and tell them to call the physician assistant so she can fill it. I call them, they say no they won't do that because his prescription is too old. Say what? At this point, I'm fed up with both groups of people, turning into an emotional mess and getting all teary eyed. What I thought would be an easy phone call to fill a medication he obviously needs turned into a frustrating ordeal. I give up, call up the husband and tell him just to give Elijah the inhaler and we'll get the rest straightened out later this week. I'm also ranting and raving about how I'm sick of everyone giving me the run around and yada yada yada.

Around 6, the physician assistant calls me again wondering what happened and why she hadn't heard from Target Pharmacy. I tell her what happened and how I got frustrated playing this middle man between the two parties who couldn't agree on anything. She explains herself, then promptly expresses her extreme frustration with Target Pharmacy pulling this nonsense on a child who has asthma, and calls in a prescription for him at our 24 hour pharmacy Walgreens. Thank you! Sheesh. What frustration. I'm just glad he got what he needed for tonight.

I'm also proud of how well Elijah handled the whole thing. He wore his mask without complaints and handled it like such a big boy! I know he is probably used to it, but it has been a while since we used the noisy nebulizer and I thought he might get upset by the noise. Nope, he was fine! I asked him if he could give a thumbs up if he was doing okay, and he did. Sweet. ;)

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 22

Crafty Inspiration - Project 365

2012-01-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

I was trying to take a nice still picture of our nightly view of city lights. It was unsuccessful.

Note to self: practice better techniques for night time photography.

This left me having to think about what else I could use for Project 365. It was a relatively dull, quiet day today... so I had to think of something (somewhat) different.

I chose a picture of one of my favorite places... my craft table. And look! It's actually decently organized. For once. The shelf on the left side of the picture is another story... it'll be fun to see later this year how the organization progresses -- as all crafters know -- a constant battle!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 21

Weekend photo wrap up

2012-01-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Just a few fun, random photos I got earlier this week but didn't get a chance to share yet.

AJ and our German Shepherd, Bacon. He's such a good dog!! The bond between a little boy and his dog... so sweet!

Precious family time -- the boys reading with Granny.

And totally random... thank you Pinterest! While it didn't come out perfect like the photo on Pinterest, I still love the way it came out.

The Pinterest version:

Source: cupcakesandcashmere.com via Marlana on Pinterest

My version:

Happy Birthday, Pappy

2012-01-20T21:42:00.000-08:00

Happy 61st Birthday, Pappy! Good thing your grandsons were there to help you blow out the candles... your old geezer lungs may not have been able to handle it without their assistance. ;)

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 20

AJ was off doing his own thing when we were singing. So for round one, it was just Elijah and Pappy blowing out his candle.

Then AJ realized he missed out, so we had to sing one more time.

My handy man!

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago our dryer mysteriously stopped working. It would turn on, it would spin, the light would shine when you opened the door, but it wasn't drying the clothes. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Soaking wet. It wouldn't have been so bad if it was during the middle of summer when it is easier to hang dry clothes, but no no, it had to go out right smack in the middle of winter.

A few years ago it stopped working on us, an we paid just over $100 to have somebody come out and fix it within 5 minutes. Uhm... thanks dryer repair dude? This time Patrick and I said, "Forget that! We'll fix it ourselves!" I googled how to repair a dryer. I found this awesome website: RepairClinic.com. For real, any time you need to fix something in your house... check out this site first. They have it all!

Me, however, being the woman I am (don't shoot me feminists!), I opened up the dryer -- which I had a very proud moment I could even figure out how to get the front panel off. I beamed in triumph as I pulled it off. I sat down to peak what was going on underneath the dryer. Staring inside at the layer of dust bunnies, wires, and other crazy contraptions, I laughed and thought, "Who was I kidding?!" and told Patrick, "Forget it! I'm calling the repair man!"

While I was at work, he decides to check out RepairClinic.com for himself, then texts me a little while later saying he thinks he figured out what the problem is. I thought, "Oh boy, here we go... brace myself for the cost." When he told me how the part was, I fell out of my chair... in relief! Only $30!! That's it?! He already ordered it and was ready to place it in. Something about an igniter being broken. That would explain no heat, right? He even cleaned out the layer of dust bunnies. Despite the fact I chickened out at looking underneath the dryer, I was beaming with pride that my man was able to figure it out! What a handy man.

A couple nights ago our piece came in, Patrick placed it in right away, and voila, we have a working dryer again!! I was so proud -- and being me so camera happy -- I had to take a picture of him. It was pretty cool seeing him figure out how to do that by himself... and he saved us $100!!

Trip to the park

2012-01-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

It was a gorgeous day today. Not too hot, not too cold, sunny... just right! After Elijah got his dance shoes last night, AJ began begging me for a pair too. Totally sweet, right? I went to Payless to see if I could find an inexpensive pair. However, (a) they were all girl shoes and (b) they were nearly just as much as buying them at the dance supply store. I suppose I'll just order him a pair online.

After our unsuccessful trip to Payless, the boys began asking me if we could go to the park. How could I say no?! It was a beautiful day and I had it off! They had so much fun. I also remembered how a little over two years ago I took Elijah there on a gorgeous day like today, and I realized how much he has grown in just a matter of two years. Of course, AJ too! Two years ago AJ was snoozing in the stroller, now he's all over. What precious little boys I have.

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 19

He can get about half way across the monkey bars by himself!

I love this photo. I'm not sure what it is about it, but he looks so peaceful and precious.

"I ADORE U" - Scrapbook LO

2012-01-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

I participated in my first ever "Recipe Challenge" from Club CK. The "ingredients" are: paint, a page from a book, hidden journaling, three photos, and patterned paper.

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Chipboard Letters: The chipboard letters are painted on with acrylic paint and then sprinkled with glitter while the paint was wet to help it stick.

Chipboard letters: ADORE raised with foam tape

Book paper flowers: First, the pages are torn from an old book and punched from there. I used the scallop circle punch from Stampin' Up!, then folded it up to create the layered petals. There are 5-6 folded up on each flower, as well as another flower punch from Stampin' Up! layered on top of those. Each punch is sponged around the edge with two different blue inks. To put the brad through the middle, I used my crop-a-dile, then a yellow brad with a glue dot on top of the brad. This helped the glitter stick to the middle, then a glue pen on the flowers for the rest of the glitter. Finally, I pulled the flower up towards the center to give it some depth.

Hidden Journaling: The polka dot rectangle is trimmed to fit the hidden journaling tag and raised with foam tape making an easy fit for the journaling tag to slide in and out. The scalloped portion is a Bigz Scallop Envelop die for the Sizzix Big Shot, trimmed down so just the scalloped side shows over the rectangle.

Hey, mistakes happen. My intention here was to paper pierce the corners. Note to self: do not try properly lining up with your paper piercing tool while your 4 year old is chattering your ear off trying to show you something. What's the outcome? A very crooked line! Woops! I disguised the crookedness with some ric rac ribbon... and I ended up liking it even more. I suppose sometimes mistakes happen for a good reason! Also, notice the rub ons with the photo? Love!

Paper piercing: done right. ;)

Journaling tag, not so hidden anymore.

Hidden Journaling Tag: One of my favorite things about this tag is it matches the paper set I used on this page. Not only do you get a little surprise journaling, you get it matching on a cute tag too!

Journaling says: The day before your first birthday. It's hard to believe just a year ago we were waiting around for you. You are such a cute, wonderful little baby. I love you so much! June 17, 2008.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the way it came out! I had fun participating. I'd love to hear your thoughts or comments! Thanks for looking!!

Dance class!!

2012-01-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Recently Elijah has been talking about going to dance class and has really been getting into dancing. Today he went for the first time to a dance class - a Pre-Ballet/Tap class. I am so proud of him! For real, I was completely giddy over the whole thing.

I think because I danced for so long growing up (until I was 18), it gives me the warm fuzzies knowing this is something that, in a way, I'm passing on to him. I thought when I had boys I was done for in the dance department. Then again, I never fully put it out either. Patrick has always been supportive of the boys being active in anything they enjoy - dance included! I didn't want to get my hopes up on one of the boys turning an interest to dance, because I've never wanted to force them into it, but here Elijah is... wanting to do it! Yesterday he asked me if there were any boys. I honestly told him probably not in his class, but in other classes there are. Today, I reminded him again he'll probably be the only boy -- but I'm sure the girls are still nice and can be friends! A class of girls didn't even faze him.

I will say, he loved dance class. After , he was already asking me to get him some tap shoes. All evening he was talking about going to dance class again. He was disappointed when I said he had to wait until next week. He responds, "But I want to go tomorrow! With my tap shoes!" His kind dance teacher gave him an extra pair of black ballet slippers that actually fit him! He was focusing so well and really had great coordination.

Aside from dance being something I've always been passionate about, it makes it even more precious to see your children's personalities develop. I love seeing what starts to interest them and what their strengths are.

I couldn't get many great photos of him during class. The window had quite the glare on it coupled with a sheer curtain with stars... this made it very difficult to take pictures, but I managed to snag a few if you can just look past the curtain and glare, or when I snapped a couple photos between their shoe change.

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 18

He has such a silly smile sometimes! He really was proud of himself here.

Shoes!

Milestones - Scrapbook LO

2012-01-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

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Journaling: December 30, 2008 *** Baby boy is sitting for the first time!

Supplies:

Cardstock, Stamp, Ink, Punch, Ribbon and Brads: Stampin' Up!

Pattern Paper: DCWV Nana's Nursery (Boy)

Vellum Title: DCWV "Baby Boy"

Stickers: K & Company

"Boy Oh Boy"

2012-01-18T07:46:00.000-08:00

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I kick started my "Friday" making a double page layout. You know how retail works, my Friday's are never on Friday's... mine are usually on Tuesday.

About the layout, I've had these photos of Elijah for ages. They were taken when he was 8 months old. I love these photos of him! I'm not sure what it is about it; I didn't even have much journaling to say because "Boy Oh Boy" just summed it all up, as well as the vellum quotes -- they said it all! I remember seeing him in the dirt and thinking what a boy!

I needed to create something that stood out as BOY to me. Something wild and crazy like little boys are. This is when I came up with the idea to use some paper tearing. I used my tear edge zig zag from Fiskars to help me create a slightly cleaned up version of paper tearing. To add some depth on some of the tears, I also wrinkled the paper. Some of them are in place with foam adhesive to give an added pop. I picked some colors that complimented what he is wearing and the brown and green in the background of the photos. The chipboard was almost left with it's natural color, but then I decided to distress it a little with some inks. I sponged the edge of all the letters with orange and brown (Dusty Durango and Chocolate Chip from SU!), then smudged a little in the center of the litters with brown and Old Olive green. Can I also mention how much I love the Crop-a-dile II Big Bite?! I used that for the eyelets to hold the vellum quotes. Seriously, thank you We R Memory Keepers for creating this awesome tool. The kids were asleep and I didn't want to wake them with the pounding of my little eyelet setter and hammer. Never worry, crop-a-dile big bite is here!

Anywho, I'm pleased with the way it came out. I was hesitant that it would turn into a haphazard mess of tears and strips of paper, but I really like it. I think the chaos of the page really portrays the "unmanageable" aspect of a little boy.

Supplies:

Cardstock, ink, and twine: Stampin' Up!

Pattern Paper: K & Company

Chpiboard Letters, brad & frame for date: Rebekka Erickson

Vellum quotes: Colorbok

Paper Tear Edger: Fiskars "zig zag"

Foam Adhesive: Scotch 3M

Eyelets: JoAnns

It's cold! - Project 365 / Project Life

2012-01-17T23:40:00.000-08:00

Hello winter! You have returned! We enjoyed your guest appearance in November, but you ditched us around Christmas. How could you do such a thing?! I know most of the country complains about you... but come on, this is Southern California... some of us (ME!) like the change of pace with the crisp cool air. I love you winter; thank you for returning!

From Project 365

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 17

Bed Head

2012-01-16T22:10:00.000-08:00

Enough said. ;)

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 16

Dance, Dance!

2012-01-15T22:05:00.000-08:00

Elijah tells me now that he wants to take dance classes. Melt-my-heart. He was showing me some of his dancing tonight on my parents new laminate floor. It reminds me just of a dance studio floor. Of course, I had to show him a few of my skills and bust out some pirouettes and such. I tried for a grand jete and that was a joke. I tried for a jete, and that was pretty pitiful too. I finally settled on a few pirouettes to show him. Elijah and AJ absolutely loved it. They were copying me and really concentrating on what I was showing them. That's when Elijah told me he wants to take dance classes.

Boys can dance too, you know! ;)

I also pulled out Just Dance 3 for the boys tonight. I caught a few photos of them getting into it. Love!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 15

Happy Sunday! While the rest of the world enjoys their three day weekend... I'm working! It's all right, I had a good day at work today! That's all that matters. :)

Card - "Spring Song"

2012-01-15T21:49:00.000-08:00

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Supplies from Stampin' Up!

Old Olive, very vanilla, whisper white card stock

retired pattern paper

Old Olive, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Mellow Mambo ink, Jet Black Staz On

Crystal Effects

Dazzling Diamonds

Spring Song stamp set

ribbon, Michaels

Tortilla Head

2012-01-14T22:11:00.000-08:00

First off, let me say what an incredibly slow Saturday it was! Goodness gracious. Hello people, you should be shopping at Sprint Store 928 instead of watching who-ever-the-hell-is-playing-football. Shopping for phones is way better! ;)

Elijah was adorable this morning while him and AJ were watching Toy Story 3 (for the 1,424 time). He runs up to me and says, "Mama, I'm going to make a tortilla head!! It's going to be so funny!" I respond, "Okay, sure, that sounds hilarious." - really, I had no idea what he was talking about. A few minutes later he and AJ are running up to me with a bag of tortillas. That's when I put it all together; Elijah was going to make a tortilla head like Mr. Potato Head does on Toy Story 3. After his creation, he proudly showed it off to me.

Project 365 / Project Life

Now come on, you can't help but laugh at this! Too cute!

Ahh sweet crafting

2012-01-13T21:47:00.000-08:00

What a nice day! It has been WAY too long since I just sat down and spent most of the day making scrapbook pages. That's not an easy task when you work 40 hours a week and have a 3 & 4 year old! They were pretty good today, though, and I was able to make four pages (one double page layout and 2 single pages). Oh it felt SO good! Of course, then you get the bug to do more and more and more and more! I also made a disaster of my desk, but it was totally worth it. That's what a craft room is all about, right!?

AJ had fun painting today as well. When he was cleaning himself up in the bathroom, he started playing with the bubbles from the sink. When I walked in, I saw him putting bubbles on his face, to which he tells me, "Look Mom! I'm Santa Claus!"

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 13

Scrapbook LO - Yum

2012-01-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

Journaling

You loved trying rice cereal for the first time! However, when you tried peas that was another story! You threw them up everywhere! At least cereal was a success!

Dec. 25, 2008

Supplies

Cardstock, Ribbon, Punch: Stampin' Up!

Pattern Paper: DCWV Nana's Nursery (Boy)

Brads, Marker: JoAnns

Letters: unknown

extras: red sticky tape, foam tape/dimensionals

Scrapbook LO - Elijah @ 7 Months

2012-01-13T10:18:00.000-08:00

Supplies

Pattern Paper: K & Company Brenda Walton Small Wonders

Stamps, Ink, Pen, Punch and Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Riding Hood Red, Bordering Blue, Crushed Curry

Vellum Quote: Colorbok

Die Cut Letters: Cricut Plantin Schoolbook

Chapter one - "The Boy Who Lived"

2012-01-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

I've pictured this night for a long time -- the day I start reading the Harry Potter series to my children. I kept thinking I'd wait till they are older, but honestly, I was growing impatient and wanted to share that with them (especially Elijah). They are really getting into fairy tales and listening to fairy tales, so tonight I read them the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- "The Boy Who Lived."

I'm not going to lie, I was a bit emotional starting to read it to them. I've been waiting for this day for a very long time. I really was not sure if they would get into it or not, but they seemed to enjoy it. After I finished the first chapter, Elijah asked me to keep reading more. I asked if he liked the story, and he said yes. Melt my heart! I figure a chapter a night... and we'll be done in... oh say a few years. ;) I particularly enjoyed the snuggle time!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 12

I love a bargain

2012-01-11T22:37:00.000-08:00

My coworker told me she was getting a new watch today... and when she left work before I did, she picture texted me how they have the watch in purple (my favorite color). *squeal with delight* Plus, they were only $5! I went to this store for the first time and found such awesome deals. I couldn't decide between the two watches, and at $5 each? I'll take both! Super cute, right? On top of that, I found those two fun wallets. 2/$10. The purple one was usually $10, so *of course* I had to get the other. In fact, I liked the smaller one first -- come on, how can you not resist the throw back boom box/cassette player wallet? I'm using it as my new business card holder. Sweeeet! Plus, the purple leopard -- too cute. Then call me a sucker, when the sales associate asked me if I checked out their perfumes, I totally got suckered into one for $10. Smells awesome, yet subtle, and I haven't used perfume in forever. Hey, sometimes a girl just has to pamper herself a little with some sweet bargains!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 11

Wednesday Blog Hops!

2012-01-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

Source: tumblr.com via Marlana on Pinterest

People are crazy :)

2012-01-10T20:33:00.000-08:00

"God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy."

I love that song from Billy Currington. If you haven't heard it, you can check out the YouTube video.

Elijah had an ear appointment today down the hill in San Bernardino. The last time I took him there we were way early, so him and I had a lunch date at IHOP. Even though that was five months ago, of course he remembers! He asked at the appointment if we could go to the restaurant after. I said if he listens to the doctor and behaves then we can go (that went for AJ as well!). They were both good and as their reward, we went to IHOP just around the corner from his ENT doctor's office. I kept asking him if he was sure he wanted to eat there, because lately he has also asked about Red Robin. He was sure he wanted to eat at IHOP. Fine by me!

We pull up to IHOP and it is just after 4:00pm. The parking lot was nearly empty and as I glanced at the clock, I thought we probably even beat the early bird special. When we go inside there are only two other people sitting at a table together, a man sporting a long beard accompanied by a young gal (looked like his daughter). The boys and I are seated at a table a few rows down. We order our meal, the boys are playing and we're minding our own business. About 10 minutes later I see an elderly gentleman come in and sitting alone. It's funny how oddly aware you are of being one of three groups of people in a restaurant. It makes the restaurant seem so much smaller without the usual filled booths. I would have thought that sitting in there with so few people would make the restaurant seem bigger, but instead it made me oddly aware of who was around me and how easily I could see from wall to wall. I suppose when the restaurant is filled with people, you don't pay nearly as much attention to them.

Why are people crazy, you ask?

The first to leave is the man with the beard. I notice him say something quietly to the waiter before they leave but I don't think much of it. About 10-15 minutes after that man leaves, I overhear our waiter telling the elderly gentleman that the man with the beard sitting at the booth by the window paid for his meal. The waiter says, "He didn't want me to tell you until after he left, but he wanted to pay for your meal." I thought that was the sweetest thing I heard and realized how kind that was of the other man.

A moment later, the waiter walks up to me, and says, "I just wanted to let you know, the man that was sitting over here with the beard paid for your meal and the other gentleman's over there. He didn't want me to tell you until after he left, but he wanted to pay for both your meals." I was speechless. When I overheard the waiter saying the elderly man's meal was paid for, I thought that was kind enough, let alone paying for my meal and Elijah's and AJ's. Somehow I managed to spit out to the waiter how shocked and kind that was. For real, I was speechless. That doesn't happy very often, mind you! I've never had a stranger do such a kind thing like that for me. On the way home, Billy Currington's song "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy" played through my mind. Granted we aren't talking about a millionaire inheritance, but I continue to think how amazing and kind that man is.

I was so appreciative, I wanted to leave a huge tip for the waiter, even though he wasn't the one who did this kind act. The generosity left me wanting to give more to someone. Unfortunately for me I only had my debit card on me and was planning on adding my tip on the receipt at the end of the meal. When we were leaving, AJ wanted chocolate milk and not regular milk, so I tried to use that as an excuse to get the waiter to ring up something else for me. When I asked him I said I could pay for the extra, but he told me don't worry about it. I hope he saw what I was trying to do and didn't think I was some jerk who was jipping him a tip! However, the least I could do was leave a "Keep Your Tips!" Ron Paul 2012 card on the table for him... :)

AJ chowing down on his burger. He's such a good eater!

Elijah eating his yogurt from his "Create a Face" pancake meal. The booth right behind Elijah's head is where the awesome-generous man was sitting.

On another note, earlier today when I was making the scrapbook page, Elijah decided he wanted to join me in crafting and art. He says, "I'm going to make a butterfly!" and every few minutes was coming to me for advice or assistance about his butterfly. In the end, he did it all himself and I just helped him by cutting the ribbon/string for his butterfly and we put some glue dots to hold it down. He is so proud of this butterfly. It's so sweet! When I asked if I could take a picture of him with it (Hello, Project Life!), he beamed with pleasure! He was even so proud of his art that he asked to tape it by his bunk bed. So sweet. :) Little man likes to craft and be artsy just like his Mama and Daddy!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 10

AJ's first smile - Scrapbook LO

2012-01-10T11:01:00.000-08:00

Supplies:

Pattern Paper: DCWV, "Nana's Nursery"

Cardstock, Stamps, Ink, Punch: Stampin' Up!

Vellum Quote: Colorbok

Brads: JoAnns

I thought about adding a journaling section... but I really didn't have much to say about it, just that there was his first smile caught on camera! Haha! I know, I'm ridiculously behind by just now scrapbooking AJ's first smile! Yikes! Oh well, I'm glad I finally got this page done! I love this photo of him!

Tuesday Blog Hop

2012-01-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

Source: 27.media.tumblr.com via Marlana on Pinterest

Proud moments

2012-01-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

Ever look at something and think of how proud and privileged you are to have certain people in your life? Without those special loved ones, life wouldn't be the same. Seeing the passion of others makes me realize how much each person touches us every day; how each person and what they do, or the way they express their passion brings a smile to my face. I'm touched by some of those moments this evening.

My wonderful husband sketching little monster designs... I love his art and the excitement he has for design. He inspires me to continue pursuing what I love every night. As he sits and sketches, it reminds me to sit and write. Even if it is just a sentence or two, the point is to just keep writing... just keep doing what we are passionate about.

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 9

Check out this awesome little video from my good friend Max (--MAXIMUS!-- picture me saying that all Gladiator style). This video makes me so proud that he is a friend in our lives, and even more proud that he is Adam's Godfather. What a wonderful inspiration AJ has to look to as his Godfather. This evening, as Patrick and I were talking, we were expressing our disappointment over the current state our country is in. I look at the unemployment rate around us, so many struggling, and see everything says "Made in China," -- it is disheartening. I ordered an NFL jersey all to find out... where is it shipping from? China. (We can't even make an NFL jersey here? Really?!)

We're very passionate about the Ron Paul 2012 campaign. In fact, I should kick myself a bit more to blog about it. Seeing this video with Max in it makes my heart leap and gives me such encouragement that there are people out there who still care about our country. There are people out there willing to fight to better our lives in America. Seeing Max's devotion and love inspires me. Every time I'm feeling a little down about the state of the world, I can turn to something from him and feel that fire burning inside me again to push for what we believe in.

I hope some people can take two minutes to check out this video!

Monday Blog Hops!

2012-01-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

The powerful play goes on

2012-01-08T21:43:00.001-08:00

One of the greatest letters ever received...

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 8

After all the blood, sweat, and tears -- (okay, more like writer's cramp, Starbucks, and tears) -- I see all my hard work paid off. It all went to this moment, seeing that glorious "Congratulations!" Still, I remember feeling like the day of -no more school- would ever come. It feels good to say, "I'm a college graduate." I'm smart and I've worked my ass off the last few years working for this.

Everyone asks, "What are you going to do now?" Sometimes I simply respond, "What do you mean What are you gonna do now??" -- Exactly what I am doing! What is so wrong with working in a retail job? It's a good job, something new every day, good benefits, friendly coworkers, and pretty decent pay as far as I'm concerned. I suppose it is beyond some people that working so hard for my degree wasn't really about "What are you going to do now?" -- it was about personal achievements. It was a goal I set for myself years ago and I didn't want to fail. I loved learning all along the way. Within the English program, I discovered who I am. I found my bliss. Sure, having my degree may (or may not) help advance me in the working world, but that's not what my goal was about.

I don't understand how some people view: career = life. What I do for a living is not who I am. Therefore, getting my degree is not necessarily about where it will take me in the future. While it may help, it was something I needed to do for me. I love the satisfaction of saying that I am a college graduate. I'm smart; I made it; I worked so hard for this and now I have achieved it.

In response to: "What are you going to do now?"

I'm going to revel in my triumph of attaining my BA in English.

I'll also flaunt my knowledge of poetry and leave you with a beautiful poem from Walt Whitman that sums up life:

O Me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;

Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish;

Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)

Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d;

Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;

Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me intertwined;

The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

Answer.

That you are here—that life exists, and identity;

That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.

....

Indeed, Walt. I will contribute my verse.

Dance like no one is watching... or your family.

2012-01-07T23:34:00.000-08:00

I love that saying "Dance like no one is watching, Sing like no one is listening, Love like you've never been hurt, and Live like it's heaven on earth."

Sometimes you just need to let loose and dance without care! Dance like no one is watching... or in the case tonight, my family was watching, and my husband snapped some photos of me dancing to "Just Dance 3" on the Wii. Even though I danced for years growing up, it has been so long now since I've done anything I felt so rusty and there were moments I'm sure I looked like a fool. Nevertheless, it is a blast! I absolutely love this game. Doesn't it feel good to just let go?!

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 7

Tonight I came home from work to find my boys watching "Winter Wipeout." I remember a show on Spike TV a while back (I'm not sure if it is still on?) called MXC, and this show reminds me of it. It's a funny game show where people do some crazy obstacle course to win money. Elijah and AJ found it hilarious and were acting out moments of the show. Adorable!

Past the "scrappers block"

2012-01-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

It has been way too long since I've made a scrapbook page. Way too long. Way way WAY too long!

Did I mention it has been a while?

I started making this page... uhm... ages ago. At least 6 months ago. Probably longer than that. I got stuck in that "scrappers block" on the page. shoved it on the shelf and haven't touched it since. In fact, I got so stuck on it I didn't even touch any other pages or cards or anything. I let this one page get me stuck and I couldn't get past it.

Sometimes those writers block, scrappers block, artist block, whatever, is so bad we just gotta demolition through it. Essentially, I just had to force myself to get through it. I reminded myself, it does not have to be perfect. The only thing that matters is the photo, getting it on a page, and just writing a quick little blurb about the memory of that photo. I suppose sometimes we have to remind ourselves to get past our perfection (--thanks FlyLady--) and just do it! It's the thought and preserving that memory that matters, not how perfect or imperfect the scrapbook page looks.

So here we are. It isn't my favorite page, but I'm just proud I finally go through that block and now can let the rest of those creative juices flow... scrapbooking is about telling our story through paper, not the paper itself! (Although, any scrapbooker will tell you paper is awesome!)

[Supplies from Stampin' Up!]

Journaling: Your smile gets me every time! I think you'll be breaking many hearts in your future with those good looks!

Valentine's Day {09}

Saturday & Weekend Blog Hops!

2012-01-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

Directions? We don't need no stinking directions...

2012-01-06T22:43:00.000-08:00

Is it innate in men to not read directions? I think it must be in their DNA. Yesterday, I was putting together this wire shelf for the boys' room to hold their massive amounts of toys. I snapped the photo of it this morning and reflected on the humor of putting together this wire-shelf.

I was putting it together in the kitchen, looking over the directions and carefully following the steps making sure I put it together the correct way. Elijah looks at me curiously. Finally, he walks up to me and says, "Don't look at the directions, Mom. Just try to figure it out." Yes, I laughed hysterically. I couldn't help but ask him, "Is it innate that you men don't want to read directions?!" He didn't get it, but it was pretty darn funny. As I stood in their room this morning admiring our two day accomplishments and transformation, I chuckled ever time I looked at the wire rack because all I could hear in my mind was Elijah's voice, "Don't look at the directions!"

Not looking at directions... it must be in the male DNA.

Project 365 / Project Life - Jan 6

Finally, the completed room! I can't believe how much it looks like a BOY ROOM now. Not a baby room with a crib, but a LITTLE BOY'S room. I think I'm in love with their room as much as they are!

Friday Hops

2012-01-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

Truth.

Source: Uploaded by user via Faye on Pinterest

AJ, what big eyes you have!

2012-01-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

Adam got his vision checked for the first time today. At times, he has a tendency to be a bit clumsy and sometimes stands really close to the tv. I figured he was probably fine, but I also wanted to make sure nothing was wrong with his vision. What a trooper he was! He acted like a pro putting his head up to the equipment for the tests. He even survived his pupils being dilated (through a few tears after the eye drops, of course). In the end, we found out he is a little farsighted but he doesn't need glasses at this point in time! Hooray! :) I felt so relieved having taken him in just to double check.

I couldn't help but laugh at how huge his pupils got when they were dilated. I kept thinking, "Why Adam, what big eyes you have!" (The better to see you with!)

Project 365 / Project Life - January 5

Typical AJ, always in good spirits. :) Well, except when he is acting like a 3 year old... LOL

Hello Bunk Beds

2012-01-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

Farewell Convertible Crib...

Hello Bunk Beds!

Project 365 / Project Life - January 4

We finally did it. We got brave enough to move the boys to bunk beds. They are thrilled over their new beds. It is like a playground in their room. I can't get over how much extra space they seem to have now. Of course, with the rearranging of a new bed comes the rearranging (and purging) of all the stuff in their room. (Now I'm straight-up exhausted after it all).

What boggles my mind is the question... when did my babies turn into little boys? It's bittersweet seeing the convertible crib come out of the room. I'm excited for their new adventures into bunk beds, but it's a little sad knowing your little ones don't need that little bed anymore. I try to cope by looking at the adventures that are ahead. Elijah got a new Cars 2 blanket for Christmas, so AJ got to pick out a new blanket for their bunk beds. Instead of dwelling on the sadness of seeing the cutesie sheets and blankets with puppies and stars, I decide to count my blessings that I have two little boys growing strong and having the precious chance to grow into boys who are getting Cars blankets -- and for AJ -- Captain America!

I wonder how other parents cope with their little ones turning into big kids? 'Tis part of life, I suppose!

Wednesday Blog Hops!

2012-01-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

A daily dose of humor...

Source: pophangover.com via Marlana on Pinterest

Happy Wednesday!

The Cat Whisperer

2012-01-03T23:01:00.000-08:00

Adam James - The Cat Whisperer

Project 365 / Project Life - January 3

When Adam was a few months old, we came across these two kittens. We named them Mio & Mao -- if any of you ever watch Baby First TV channel with your kids, you'll understand the name of these kittens inspired from claymation kittens.

Adam and Mio developed a special bond together. Mio would snuggle with AJ all the time, and AJ would love Mio's snuggles. Now, I'll add here that AJ had terrible reflux as a baby and was cranky all.the.time. Suddenly, we came across this miracle cat who calmed AJ down. As they grew more comfortable together, Mio even started sleeping (gasp!) in AJ's crib with him. However, he would never get near his face, he'd lay by his legs and purr away while AJ would fall asleep with his hand on Mio.

I wonder if it started with Mio, or if AJ naturally has a special bond with cats, or maybe a little of both?

Poor Mio passed away almost a year ago (February 2010). We've had many pets come and go, but that was a tough loss, especially knowing how close AJ and Mio were. For AJ's 3rd birthday, we adopted two new kittens (one for AJ and one for Elijah). A few weeks ago we found another kitten under the house. AJ adores all the cats. He plays with them, he feeds them, he carries them around the house. The most amazing part, they all put up with him! I'm sure you can create a glorious image in your mind of a little boy carrying around a cat like a rag doll. However, the cats just love him, and he loves them!

Needless to say, AJ has a new name around the house, he's "AJ the Cat Whisperer."

Tuesday Blog Hops

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday!

Project 365 / Project Life - January 2

2012-01-02T22:16:00.000-08:00

Nothing like hanging around work on a slow evening and playing with your new digital camera, right?

Around 7:00 it was as if the High Desert went to sleep and left us all lonesome at our Sprint store. What else do Sprint employees do when we have free time? Play with technology of course... this evening was time to learn more about my new digital camera. Meanwhile, I got a self portrait of my coworker Daisy and I. Cute, right?!

Hello... customers?!

Project 365 - January 1 (aka Project Life)

2012-01-01T23:00:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I was reading on different scrapbook blogs about "Project 365" (or Project Life from Becky Higgins). I always thought, "I should do that. Maybe next year." A few years went by and I still never got around to it. Perhaps I was just overwhelmed with finishing my degree that I never got around to it. This year I was reading in Scrapbooks, Etc magazine about Project 365, once again. I turned around to my husband and said, "I'm going to do it this year! I always put it off, but this year, I'm doing it!" For Christmas I asked him for a new camera (which is absolutely adorable, by the way, it's a pink Canon Powershot ELPH 100HS -- awesome). I know photographers are very familiar with Project 365, and while I love photography, I really need to get my scrapbooking back in order! It has been way too long since I've made a page or even a card. I'm worried that before you know it, I'll forget those little memories I want to keep about our family life. You know, all those little things the kids do, small things you've done in your day to day life that we'll probably forget 10-20 years down the line. I don't want to forget those memories! Therefore, this year I'm jumping on board the Project 365 bandwagon in an effort to (1) take more photos, (2), blog about those photos to preserve the memories, and (3) scrapbook!!!

You know the funny part about my first photo I took? I have my wonderful new Canon, and I pulled this photo from my camera phone. LOL!

I decided in celebration of bringing in the new year, I need a new purse for the new year. Now, how absolutely adorable is this? The funny thing was I went to Kohl's before work thinking I might find one purse I may like -- I'm picky with my purses. It has to be perfect, you know. Well, I found not just one purse, I found three purses I loved. This picture was inspired from my indecisiveness as I was texting my good friend Brandie to help me make a decision. Of course, she wasn't much help and told me how much she loved them all (thanks Brandie... haha!). I had to go back on my lunch break to decide, and this was the one I finally decided on! It's spacious -- perfect for a mama -- and the best part, it comfortably fits my wonderful Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tablet (my other baby). It is gorgeous, right?! Don't be jealous, you know you are going to run out and buy yourself a new purse now. ;)

Happy New Year!

Blind Date

2012-01-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

I spent the last two years working towards my degree in English. I started at National University in January 2010. It felt like forever until my completion date would come. Here I am, two years later, and a college grad. (Whoohoo!)

Besides the support of my family, of course, I would have never made it through without my girlfriend. One day I got a friendly email from a classmate and over time we got to chatting through our emails, then we started texting, then one day we started talking on the phone. Before we realized it, we became incredibly close and started sharing everything together. We went through all our ups and downs of life, our trials and tribulations of school together, encouraged each other when we had those moments of, "I can't do this anymore!", and celebrated our victories of good grades. The funny thing about all this, though? We never met! National University is an online school. We lived two hours away from each other and never had the chance to meet up. Our schedules never worked out so we could see each other face to face. Not even a picture. Meeting up felt like a blind date. Apparently both of us were nervous what to wear, what the other one looks like, and --God forbid-- will it be awkward?!

We fretted over nothing. It was wonderful!! It felt like we were meant to be there the whole time. Destiny, I tell you, destiny!

Now that we are both done, we agreed, it is time to finally meet. We laughed how we consider each other one of our closest friends, yet don't even know what the other looks like! I'm so happy to say that on Friday we finally met each other!

We had a wonderful lunch together as we toasted our accomplishment over a glass of champagne!

Blog Hop

Freedom!

2011-12-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

I am officially DONE with school! Last week I finished my last final and turned in that last paper, and now I am a college graduate! It is surreal to sit here with nothing school related on my mind. It's like, my whole life I feel like everything revolved around school and it was never going to end. In particular, the last 2.5 years working towards my bachelor's degree in English felt like they dragged on and on. Here I am though, all done!

I spent the last days of my studying and writing in Starbucks. What is it about Starbucks that seems to attract us all to do our work and studying there? Coffee? Company, yet solitude? Maybe it is the comfort of a place where you can look around, see other students with their noses buried in books or behind laptops and think, "I'm not alone!" I will admit, my cockiness got the better of me when I looked at everyone else and though, "SUCKERS! I'm done after this and you all probably have another 2-3 years to go! HAH!" (Are you seeing Vizzini from the Princess Bride going, "haha you fools!! HAHAHAHAA!" -- Yes, that's exactly what was playing through my mind).

I love my new freedom! Although it is still tripping me out to not have school in the back of my mind. I feel like I keep forgetting something. What I am excited about though, is finally more time to read books I want to read (albeit, a lot are still classic literature), and write what I want to write on my blog. It's amazing to think I actually have time to write now without feeling guilty that I should be doing something else for school.

And what perfect timing -- just in time to celebrate the holidays stress free!

Insert Mel Gibson voice...

FREEEEEEEDOM!!!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2011-10-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

Due to popular demand... the recipe for homemade laundry detergent.

I love this laundry detergent. The cost breakdown is about .40 per gallon. It makes 2 gallons at a time.... so .80 cents each batch! I've used this for well over a year now and it works great on all my clothes. There is no difference whatsoever in the quality between this and the overpriced stuff at the store.

Ingredients

6 cups of warm water

1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap (grated)

1/2 cup washing soda

1/2 cup Borax

Directions

Heat 6 cups of warm water and the grated Fels Naptha in a large pot until dissolved. I have a designated stock pot from Big Lots I use for my laundry soap. Stir in the washing soda and Borax. Mix and heat until dissolved. Boil 15 minutes. Remove from heat. It may have a honey-like consistency (but it is not required to be a honey-consistency). In a 3 or 5 gallon bucket, mix the soap and enough cold water to make 2 gallons. Gently mix. Pour into old laundry detergent containers or milk jugs. Let sit for 24 hours. The soap will gell*. Use 1/2 cup for each load. Shake before each use. The detergent separates and may have clumps. This is normal! It will not suds up in the washer, but it still gets your clothes nice and clean.

*If the detergent doesnt' gel up or reach honey consistency, it will still work!

Where to find the ingredients

Borax is very easy to find! It is at most stores, including grocery stores and Target.

Fels Naptha is mostly found at grocery stores, sometimes super stores like Target & Wal Mart.

Super Washing Soda is the hardest to find. I find mine at WinCo, but most people say they find it at Ace Hardware or sometimes large Wal Marts.

1/3 bar grated Fels Naptha

Stir 6 cups water and grated Fels Naptha until dissolved

Add 1/2 cup Super Washing Soda & 1/2 cup Borax and boil 15 minutes

Fill soap mixture and enough water to make 2 gallons

Fill in old laundry detergent containers or milk jugs.

2011-10-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

I need to write before my brain turns to mush.

And somebody remind me I need to change my blog banner to working mom, not stay home mom!!!

I passed my English Capstone class, HOORAY! I got a 95% on my paper! I am so incredibly proud of myself that I can't even find the words to express my excitement. Hey, that really says something when the English major can't find the words! It is surreal that there is only one class left. My girlfriend/BFF I've made in this program just finished her last class this month, and now it only makes me more excited for December to scream out: I'm done! We're already planning our celebration in San Diego. I think confetti and champagne is in order for December.

October has been a bit crazy. You'd think it would have settled down because I don't have my class to worry about, right? No! Sprint now carries the iPhone, so we ended up swamped at work in preparation for the iPhone. The good thing is I'll have a bit of overtime on my next pay check. Of course, Apple didn't make enough of the new iPhone 4S, so nobody has it anymore and we're all anxiously awaiting more to come in.

There was a point this month though that I swore I'd never eat an apple again.... (hardy har har!)

You know, the funny thing about working in retail... while I'm reading on Facebook everyone boo-hoo-ing over it being a Monday, today is my Friday so I'm rejoicing! Tuesday & Wednesday are my days off, yippee! I have grand plans you know, it consists of coffee, Dr. Pepper, and book 3 of The Hunger Games. I can't friggen wait!

By the way, where is fall? I mean REALLY, it is still in the 80s here. I shouldn't complain much because I know in a month it'll drop to freezing... but come on! It's almost Halloween and it is still HOT?! Oh well, I'm still excited for Halloween coming up. Look how cute my little knights are!

One to go!

2011-09-30T07:56:00.001-07:00

My apologies for my absence! First, I hurt my finger, and then I was worried about finish my thesis paper for my Literature Capstone class. Nearly 20 pages later, and I'm done! Hooray! That was by far the longest paper I have ever written. I really had to force myself to put everything on hold and focus on the paper. Basically, my life for the last month was paper, work, family, paper, work, family. Haha! I'm proud to say it is DONE! I don't have the final grade yet... but I will be updating as soon as I find out.

Work is going great. I really enjoy the job, the environment, my coworkers, everything! One of my favorite things about retail is there is always something new every day. In particular in the technology field, there almost IS something new every day! Even day to day, you see new faces, get to talk with all sorts of people, and have something different happen each time. It's fun. People have always called me crazy that I actually enjoyed working in retail. What can I say, I like to talk and I'm a people person; I'm perfect for a retail job!

My boys are adjusting much better than I thought they would. I think my going back to work has helped us all. The extra income is great and I don't feel nearly as stressed as I used to, which in turn makes everyone, the boys included, much happier! Going to work makes me feel like I appreciate them more when I come home at the end of the day, or on my days off. I suppose some people can pull of the stay-home-mom thing well, but I have to admit, I think I like being the working mom much more! I'm so grateful for the time I was able to be with them as babies, but I'm also incredibly thankful for the opportunity to go back to work. It reminds me that I do have my own personality! I'm not just Elijah & AJ's mom; I'm Marlana! - a mid twenties wife, mom, student (almost graduate!), slightly hyper, intellectual bad ass (you could say nerd, but I like intellectual bad ass instead).

Upcoming BLOGIVERSARY!

2011-09-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

Yay! I'm having my 3 year blogiversary in a few days!

I have a giveaway planned!!!!

More details to come after work today. :)

Oh, and in case you all are wondering... my gimpy finger has finally recovered. The finger nail still looks nasty, but at least I can finally type again!

Gimpy finger

2011-08-24T09:01:00.001-07:00

I'll be on a posting hold for a few days... and this is why! Never get your finger caught in your security mail box.

At least it isn't my texting thumbs, right?!

Saturday & Weekend Blog Hops!

2011-08-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

Job perks :D

2011-08-17T23:22:00.001-07:00

I got to order my brand-spanking-new phone today. It should be here next week. I cannot WAIT!! The phone has been out for only about 2.5 weeks... I finally get a top of the line phone! I'm so thrilled!!!

Check it out here! :D

http://shop.sprint.com/mysprint/shop/phone_details.jsp?prodId=dvc5750006prd&deviceSKUId=57500024&flow=AAL&planSKUId=null&tabId=dt_phones&ptn=

Thursday Blog Hops!

2011-08-17T22:09:00.000-07:00

First day on the job!

2011-08-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

I made it through my first day! I'm very excited to be back in the working field again. Of course it's work, they wouldn't call it work for nothing, but it is nice to be helping out the family with a new job. I feel like with some time and getting to know how things work, I'll rock in this field.

I have quite a bit of training courses to go through, and then the formal training classes start Sept 6. Meanwhile, I'll just be helping out around the store and getting to know how things work. I was really excited getting to log in to my work website, work email, etc. I even got to order company shirts! :) Before you know it I'll be wearing my shirts with the Sprint logo. Yippee!

You know what the best part I found out today? Here I thought benefits wouldn't start for 3-6 months. Nope, they start after 30 days! How wonderful is that? Our family needs this desperately. It's amazing.

Later this month I believe I'll be transferring my number to a new line, and upgrading my phone. Oh I'm giddy about that!

My coworkers have been really friendly too. That's always a plus!

Wednesday Blog Hops!

2011-08-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Blog Hops

2011-08-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings fellow blog hoppers!

I start my first day of a new job today... I'm so excited! And nervous!

Magical boiling water! - a money saving tip

2011-08-15T00:35:00.000-07:00

I shall now share a magical, money saving tip...

Have you heard about the powers of boiling water? I'll be honest, I've heard about this trick for well over a year now, and have never tried it. Tonight, I unleashed my magical homemaking skills and boiled water.

I then held the tops of those Lysol No Touch Hand Soap System soap dispensers. They are the ones that are basically impossible to screw the lid off. Rigged! Rigged I tell you! The same goes for those Swiffer Wet Jet Refills.

Anyway, you hold the top in boiling water, take it out, unscrew the cap and voila! It comes right off!

Now I can enjoy the excitement of my Lysol No Hand Touch Soap System without having to spend $4 on the refill. (I'm sorry, I can find Up & Up Generic Soap in a massive refill bottle for under $4... let alone ONE dinky size Lysol Refill for $4!)

Needless to say, I'm very thrilled off of this!

Mice and hamsters and turtles, oh my!

2011-08-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

The Mouse

On Friday night, just as I was heading to bed, I walked into the kitchen for a moment.

I spy with my little eye...

Hobbes the cat spying on a baby mouse.

Eek! We get waves of mice problems around here. They'll come and try to set up camp behind the stove, then scurry across our counters, and unfortunately for them, encounter a cat or a trap and meet their maker.

After twenty minutes of watching this literal game of cat and mouse, I got tired of waiting for Hobbes to catch the mouse, and tired of watching this mouse try to scurry out of the sink (which it couldn't), and trapped it in a jar. For a moment, I felt like a cat in that excitement of what it is like to catch something. It's pretty awesome.

I left it in the jar overnight... all to fall like a sucker for cute little Jerry. I told him, "Good night, Jerry. Good work. I'll most likely kill you in the morning." (Name that movie!!!)

That's right, by morning I named the darn thing. (Thanks Brandie for the name idea, when she said "Did Tom catch Jerry yet?"). As I headed to run some errands later that day, I ran into PetSmart, and to my surprise found this amazing cage on clearance! It was usually $36.99, and I got it on clearance for $8.67. SCORE! Pet mouse, here we come! Just so you know how much of a sucker I am for cute little baby critters, I even got it a bag of treats.

I shredded up newspaper, I gave it some treats and left over food, a fun little house, and do you know how that ungrateful rat bastard repaid me? Baby Jerry escaped from the cage during the middle of the night! Jerk.

The Hamster

The boys were very excited to see the mouse in the cage in the morning. Too bad Jerry bailed on us. They weren't heartbroken. I suppose growing up as little "farm boys" they are accustomed to things running off or dying. However, that new cage looked all sad, lonely, and empty without some sort of little critter to keep it warm.

Well, we already have the cage, might as well stick something else in there! Back off to PetSmart we go.

Meet our new hamster. She doesn't officially have a name, but Elijah and I are really liking Ophelia. Let's just hope she doesn't run off and drown herself. Ba-da-ching! That's my Jay-Leno-Style-Punch-Line-Drum-Hit, by the way. (Don't give me that blank stare about the Ophelia joke... Hamlet people, Hamlet!) I had a shlew of other ideas for her name. Everyone gives me weird looks when it comes to my names for pets. They usually come from mythology or literature. This hamster just looks like she deserves a Shakespearean name.

Aww... she's sleeping.

Or maybe I should name her Jillian Michaels, because all she has done the whole time I'm typing is exercised on her wheel.

The Turtle

We were invited to a neighbor's 50th birthday party shin-dig on Saturday. This was our first time going to their house. You know the coolest part?

They have a pet turtle!!

This sucker is HUGE. They say he weighs about 30lbs.

My little boys were fascinated with him. It's the first time they've ever seen one up close and personal. We even got to pet it! It was very exciting.

The Tent

Ahh tent building. A favorite childhood past time. Or, as Mama likes to call it, cheap entertainment! When I was a wee lil' thing, I loved building forts and tents in the living room. It is the sweetest thing that the boys are old enough now to appreciate the joy of building a "tent" in the living room! Can you spot AJ's head popping out of there?

It reminds me of when I was a child! I won't deny, I was a bit jealous that I am too big to crawl in there myself. I suppose that is why Elijah & AJ have each other... they can enjoy their company in their tent. Elijah was so thrilled off of it, he wanted to sleep in there tonight.

Ah, no.

Monday Blog Hops!

2011-08-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

"Looks like someone has a case of the 'Mondays' ..."

Greetings to all the Blog Hoppers! :) Hope you are having a wonderful start to the week and no case of the "Mondays" (quick, name that movie!)

Songs that make you cry

2011-08-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

Do we all have songs that make us cry? You can hear it one hundred times, and every time it gets you choked up into tears.

The song "Life Ain't Always Beautiful" from Gary Allan gets me every.single.time.

I find the song so real. Maybe it is because I know the back story behind the song. Gary Allan's wife suffered from depression and committed suicide. During his grief, he made the album "Tough All Over" which has many songs that helped him with his grief, including this one.

It always makes me think about our own struggles. Not "our" as in my life, or my family, but all of our lives as humans, and all the trials each of us have to face. It's true, like the song lyrics say, "Life ain't always beautiful. Sometimes it's just plain hard." At times it is hard to sit back and question why bad things happen to good people. It's the question passed through the ages, I suppose.

Every time I hear the song, and how he says, "[life] it can just break your heart," I think back to our family's struggles the past few years. I think about my friend who lost her 2.5 year old son in January 2010. I think about that friend of mine from high school who passed in a car accident. I think about the trials I faced as an adolescent. I think about my off and on battle of depression. I think about all these things and ask, "Why why why?"

"Life can knock you down, it can break your heart."

The best conclusion I settle on, is our struggles are what make life real.

I heard one time on Coast to Coast AM, with a psychic medium (don't laugh at me, I love Coast to Coast!), that she communicated with a baby that passed at birth, right after her father held her. The Medium's response was this infant, now in the other life, said she experienced enough love to fill a lifetime in those moments her dad held her. How sweet is that? I don't understand why some people die so young, but the idea of people being ready to move on because they've experienced so much love that they feel complete, it's very comforting.

As for the rest of us, and our daily life encounters...
"But the struggles make me stronger,

And the changes make me wise,

And happiness has it's own way of takin' it's sweet time."

Aside: Don't you just love that when you look at lyrics of a song, how some seem to transform to a beautiful, lyrical poem? Of course, I am a bit of poetry nut, so examining songs out of the element of the music fascinates me.

As Allan says though, those struggles make us stronger, "tears will fall sometimes ... but it's a beautiful ride."

Sunday Blog Hops!

2011-08-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone! Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday! See you around the hops. :)

Hunting black shirts

2011-08-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

I went to Kohl's yesterday and found some black work shoes (you know, comfortable shoes). I feared finding shoes was going to be a pain in the, well, you know. Amazingly, I found some right away, in my size, that are cute, and FIT!

I'm quite excited. Cozy shoes are hard to come by, I tell you! I'm even so kind as to link those pictures up to the Kohl's website, just in case anyone else is searching for black shoes as well!

What I thought would be the hard part, turned to be the easy part. I was looking for black button up shirts or black polo shirts since they will be ordering the official Sprint polo for me on Tuesday, and that will take a couple weeks to get in. Meanwhile, I was told to wear all black. You would think everyone has black button up shirts or polo? Nay, my friends, nay. I have this new favorite button up I found at Kohl's from their Apt 9 brand. I thought for sure they would have them in black. Nope. Furthermore, nowhere in the store could I find black button ups or polos.

I thought it a bit strange, but thought I'd check Fashion Bug instead. Nada. I checked Target. They had some black polos, on clearance!, but not in my size! Then I got the brilliant idea to check KMart. Again, they had some, even on clearance, not in my size. Not even close. I went home to reevaluate what I should do. Thanks to my wonderful Mom, she found an email coupon from JC Penney. Off we went again, this time to the mall. Bare in mind, Kohl's is across the street from the mall (and my new work! haha), and it is on the complete other side of town. About a 20-30 min drive through town. Lovely. I was determined though to find some black shirts.

We arrive at JC Penney, with my two boys who are very eager to get this shopping done and go to the mall playground. At first, I couldn't find ANYTHING! They had Liz Claiborne polos, St John's Bay Polos, Junior's Arizona polos, and nobody but the juniors had black, and the juniors side didn't have my size! I'm meandering through the store when suddenly I spot a black button up on clearance. And another, and another! I ended up finding three in my size, on clearance for $10-$11, and then got an extra 20% off somehow, which brought them down to $8-something. I also found an extra pair of black pants! Seriously though, who knew finding a black button up would be so difficult? At least they are cute so when I do have my Sprint shirt in, I can wear them on days off.

Veni, Vidi, Vici! Take that black shirts!

Saturday & Weekend Blog Hops!

2011-08-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Enjoy your weekend. I have a neighborhood get together this afternoon, followed by getting ahead on my thesis paper. Oh what fun! (Actually, it's not that bad, my thesis is about the Harry Potter novels... Oh I love being an English major!!!)

See you around the hop. :)

And in case you are wondering where I find all these blog hops...

Who's in the Now? I am! I am!

2011-08-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce... I am officially employed! HELLO SPRINT! You noticed earlier this week my ramblings about "I hate waiting!" -- wait no more! This evening my NEW MANAGER called me to inform me the job is mine, "You're hired!" The sweetest, grandest words my ears have heard in a long time. To top it off, the pay is more than I thought. Whoohoo! Plus commission, plus benefits. BENEFITS! BENEFITS, I TELL YOU!!!! No more state insurance after a few months!

Excuse my rambling. I'm just a wee bit excited. We've struggled for so long with such unexpected turns from that huge economy disaster in 2008. Despite all the problems, we learned a lot from it. That collapse we experienced truly changed our family outlook. We were forced into unemployment insurance, food stamps, and later welfare. I sat there with the people I always thought were "working the system," all to find out many aren't. They just fell flat on their ass like we did. Sure, there were the obvious few that learned to live off the dole. It is eye opening to see those who are really trying to get by, but are just going through a difficult time. I'll never forget what it is like sitting in those chairs of misery. The hardness of the chairs is like the hard times we were experiencing. Those sterile, bland rooms only makes one realize how incredibly lonely and sterile life feels at that moment. Worst of all, the cubicle you have to sit in with your Case Worker. They look down on you, proudly showing off their family on the wall and the symbols of all they have earned, or showing off how wonderful their life is, while yours was just dealt the worst hand. O! And the walls of those cubicles! I would sit there and feel the world collapsing on me. Those blue walls were going to crash down on me with the weight of the world at any minute. Tempted as I was, some how I held out on the strength to run out of those hallways screaming. The husband and I constantly reminded ourselves, this is only temporary... this is only temporary...

And here we are. We pushed, we fought, we held strong. While the rest of the world may have collapsed under the pressure, we held on through the rough waves.

I start on Tuesday, in case you are wondering! :)

I suppose that means I should drop the "stay home mom" part of my title to just "mom," right?! Of course I'll miss my little ones, but the prospect of the financial pressure finally lifting off our shoulders, the reliance on state insurance, all gone... it'll be well worth the sacrifice!

By the way, I love Friday and the weekends. There are always tons of Blog Hops going around! Greetings to everyone from the hops! I love "meeting" new people, so don't be shy to comment! Click around and put your blog on some lists too... it's fun!

Homemade Fruit Leather / Fruit Roll Ups

2011-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

PS - don't ask me why the formatting on this got all screwy... I have no idea! I shared this on another blog, copy & pasted and the formatting is all whacky! Oh well, I give up!

I must say… talk about easy! I really thought it was going to be difficult, but it wasn’t!
This specific fruit leather is a berry-blend… I used:

Ingredients:

2 lbs of strawberries
4.4 oz of blueberries (standard small package size)
and apx 1/4-1/2 lb of grapes (enough to make 32 oz of puree)

You can use almost any fruit. Try the fruit first, and if it seems a little tart, or needs some sweetening, add about 1 tbsp of honey or corn syrup. Taste test to see what is good for you!

Directions

Puree all ingredients (blender, food processor, etc)

With Dehydrator:

Grease your fruit leather tray (Pam works for me)
Pour your fruit puree on the fruit leather tray
Set dehydrator between 130-140 degrees
Let dehydrate for 4-8 hours (time depends on the thickness of your fruit leather, which fruits you are using, etc)Without Dehydrator:
Set your oven to the lowest setting possible (probably around 140 degrees, or aim between 130-140 degrees)
Place heavy duty plastic wrap or wax paper on baking sheet
Pour fruit puree on a thin layer (or to desired thickness) on the tray
Dehydrate for 4-8 hours.

Now, I’ve never actually done the oven method… let me know how it turns out! Here is an article with more on dehydrating with an oven

Oh technology...

2011-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love it, I really do! Sometimes I may be a bit behind in times. I get stubborn and stuck in my favorite-sites rut, but then I branch out to others and become giddy in excitement over what I find.

Some of my latest and greatest favorites (besides Facebook, of course)...

I know, I may be a bit behind on some of these... but wow, now that I found them, I love it! If any of you would like to try Pinterest... leave a comment with your email address so I can send you an invitation!

My eyes have been opened... I keep finding SO many fun food ideas, projects, etc!

My next technology adventure shall be in Tumblr, I think!

Blog Hop!

My nose in a good book

2011-08-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

My friends, in particular Brandie (you should go check out her blog at Handie Brandie!) finally has me reading this series called The Hunger Games. Everybody has been telling me about it and I kept forgetting... I finally downloaded it to my nook, and holy cow, this book is GOOD! I highly recommend it!!

I'm only a few chapters in, and already completely absorbed. I love when a book starts, and you are sucked in right away. Harry Potter did that to me... I got into the first page and was hooked (for life, man).

Anyone read this series yet? What do you think? Or have any other good recommendations?

This just makes me thing, I really should find a book club sometime! Come December (when I'm finished with my DEGREE!!) I'm going to hunt one down. Or start one. Whatever floats my boat!

Wednesday Blog Hop!

2011-08-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

You have to check these video shorts out. "Move" is my favorite. Although "Eat" sure made me hungry!

http://vimeo.com/27246366

Thanks to my girl Abbi for sharing this with me... (while you're at it, you should check out her awesome photography blog!)

Homemade White Sandwich Bread

2011-08-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have tweaked this recipe around from multiple different recipes and this variation is my favorite, by far! Just ask anyone. They'll tell you my bread recipe rocks your socks off.

Marlana's White Sandwich Bread

Ingredients

2 envelopes yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp if you use the jar)
2 cups warm water
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon salt
6-7 cups all purpose flour

Directions

Sprinkle yeast over warm water
Add honey, butter, and salt; whisk until yeast is dissolved. Let stand until foamy (5-10 min)

Yeast and ingredients mixed.

Foamy appearance.

Add 3 cups flour, mix until incorporated and mostly smooth (with spatula or on low speed with mixer)
Add 3 more cups of flour, mix until incorporated
**Make sure your dough stays slightly sticky, but not so sticky it keep sticking to your fingers
Lightly flour your surface to knead. Again, you want just enough flour on the dough and your surface to make sure it doesn’t stick to your hands. If it still feels too sticky, slowly add in the remaining cup of flour (just a little at a time).
Begin kneading until smooth and elastic.
Kneading 101, if you need help kneading: begin at the outer edge of the dough, and fold it over closest to you, and then push away from you. Quarter turn and repeat. Knead dough about 6-8 minutes. Your dough is kneaded enough when you push your finger 1/4 inch in and it rises back up.
Push away from you with bothpalms of your hand (I have one here because I was taking the photo!)
Fold in to your body. Quarter turn and repeat.
Spray your bowl with Pam or lightly grease with butter. Place kneaded dough ball into bowl, and let rise until doubled in size. It helps to put in a warm place and cover with a hand towel.
In light greased bowl.At least doubled in size. You know your dough has risen enough when you push your finger in and the imprint stays.
After bread has risen, punch it down, take out of bowl and knead out a couple more times.
If using 2 pans ( 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 ), divide dough in half now, and grease pans (use Pam or Pam w/ flour)
Press or roll out dough roughly to a square or rectangle, and roll up (like a jelly roll)
If you need to, bring in reinforcements.
Rolled out, rectangular, apx the size of the pan.
Begin rolling up dough.
Rolled dough.
To help reduce the “seams” at the bottom, pinch them together. Pull each side of the bread from top to bottom (pinch sides and the bottom) to make the “heel” of each side of the bread.
Seams pinched together.
Heel created.
Let rise in the pan until doubled in size.
Rising this much left me a nice high loaf… lots of bread! You’ll see at the end of this post. If you’d like your bread smaller, don’t let it rise as much.
Put in oven heated to 400 degrees for 20-30 min. The bread is done when you (use oven mitts!) flip your bread out of the pan, tap on the bottom with the heavy end of a butter knife, and it makes a hallow tapping sound.
Let cool on wire rack. (One more tip, it is best to use a serrated bread knife to cut your loaf.)

ENJOY!

FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS RECIPE, CLICK HERE!

Want a video to go with this post? Or are the photos enough? If you’d like a video for any of the steps (such as kneading, or how to tell if your dough has risen enough, etc), please let me know and I’ll make a video to add!

Food I Haven't Burned: Cajun Rub Ribs

2011-08-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

Wait, yes I do! (Sorry PETA, I know you'll find me as a traitor. I used to have this bumper sticker on my car.)

I shared with some friends of mine about participating in a Grocery Challenge. I must say, it really transforms the way you cook and try to save money! I'm already a deal hunter (Yes, BEFORE the "Extreme" show came out on TLC... I ain't no biter!) Some girlfriends of mine expressed interest in my sharing some of my recipes and ways to save money in my recipes. Here goes my first shot!

Let me say, I (gasp) did not get these ribs on sale. Blasphemous, I know. However, they were relatively inexpensive still, approximately $5 for the rack. I'll admit, I was just really craving ribs, so I splurged.

Cajun Rub Ribs:
Cajun Spice, Creole Seasoning (entire container) ~ $1.72 at WinCo
1 part Lawry's Season Salt ~ a couple dollars for an economy size container

2 parts sugar ~ you should have this on hand!

Mix together. Rub into ribs. Cook on slow at 225 for about 4 hours (or, my other favorite, all day in the crock pot!)

Ribs. Mmm.

The spices. I also need to add, I've only found this Cajun Spice Creole Seasoning at WinCo. I imagine somebody else must sell it, but that's where I find mine. McCormick's and other brands make a Cajun spice as well, but there is just something about this brand that has that delicious bite.

Yeah baby. That's enough for my family, my parents, and leftovers for my Carnivore. I mean, husband.

Rub that delicious Creole-Season-Sugar mixture all over the ribs.

I have this fancy rib rack I found on clearance for 75% off at Target, once upon a time. I love it. But you can just throw them in a foil lined pan too.

Set at 225 for about 4 hours.

Go ahead. You can drool. Here's a towel to wipe up your keyboard.

And don't forget the sides!!

How you like that squash?! Straight from our garden baby!

All that, plus squash, and mashed potatoes, about $7.00 for a rack! (That works out to about $1.75 a person!) Sure can't find it that cheap at any fancy-shmancy restaurant, can you?

Tuesday Blog Hops!

"I hate waiting."

2011-08-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

Do you remember this scene from The Princess Bride?

That is how I feel now. I hate waiting!

I am so close I can almost taste it to getting this job. I made it to the second interview; I went in for a drug test; now I just wait for that wonderful phone call that (hopefully) says "YES!" Let's hope so, anyway.

It almost feels too good to be true. We've really struggled the past few years, if I get this job, it is literally life changing! We can be stable, on our feet, have BENEFITS!

Alas, before I start dreaming, I need to get that phone call. My mind constantly thinks the worse. Everyone tells me, "You got this! They won't send you for a drug test unless they want to hire you!" What if they are comparing me to someone else, though, and still deciding on one of us after the drug test?! Who knows! Once you've lived the way we have, at the forefront of the economic crash of 2008, news like this seems so far away. It feels like there are so many other people that would get this. Why would they want to hire me?! The "good fate" cards have not been in our favor the last three years. I just remind myself, it is OUR TURN to have some good luck for once. It is OUR TURN to shine.

However, I know God has his reasons for everything. Had we not gone through what we did the last two years, I don't think we'd ever have learned to live within our means. It is an eye opening experience. Before you fall flat on your ass, you look at all at welfare and the state as just a system who hands out money to lazy people. Then you hit rock bottom yourself. Now the tables are turned and YOU are the one sitting in that Welfare Office, and wondering, "How did my life end up here? And how many other people are thinking the same thing right now?" There were times I'd sit there and feel like a spoiled brat who wants to kick her feet and scream, "I don't belong here!"

Maybe that is the attitude we needed though, right? If I stayed complacent with sitting in that office, letting your case workers look down upon as you read their mind, body language, facial expressions and see them thinking "I'm glad I'm not one of them." Perhaps they treat you like scum on the bottom of their shoe so you get fired up and scream out against them and being in the "system." I must add though, I think they should make it a requirement that all Case Workers should have been people formerly on Welfare, or make them sit in that office in our shoes with everyone looking down upon you. How would they like it?

I am dreaming of how wonderful this job will be for our family. I don't want to get my hopes on it yet, not until I'm there signing new hire paperwork, but one can dream, right?

But I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.

I hate waiting.

The end is near...

2011-07-27T23:53:00.000-07:00

Don't worry, I'm not talking about the Apocalypse or anything like that.

After many, many years of indecisiveness, and two long years working towards my Bachelor's of Arts in English... the end is NEAR. It is so close I can taste it; I can feel it! My next class starts on Monday (mind you, it is a big deal, this class is, and panic IS setting in). Therefore, I only have THREE classes left. THREE! My finish date is scheduled for December 2011. Holy cow, I'm almost there!

Then the question arises...

WHAT NOW?

Props to my girlfriend, Shari Boone, who shared this video with me... and oh how appropriate it is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t48-3-Ew9mY&feature=feedf

I think I would like to continue for the Masters... sometime. My original thought was, "Yeah, sure, I'll just jump right into the masters program!" Hah! Uhm, no. I'm straight up exhausted, yo! I'm ready to be done, and really, I want to go into the "real world" for a while. I'm tired of just being a student. As much as I love children and the education field, I'm a bit sick of it! I've grown up in the world of education, I've worked in education for the last six years... this girl nees to spread her wings a bit and experience life outside the Education Walls again. In 2003-2004 I worked retail at Robinsons-May, and amazingly, I loved it. Truly, I really enjoyed my job.

So, I got brave and bombarded the High Desert with online applications, resumes, and cover letters. I had a few places I was rooting for... and although I know I still have a few classes left, I really wanted to start getting out there now. Lo and behold! I got a bite today! Spring has called me for an interview this Saturday! This was one of the places I was rooting for, and I am crossing all my fingers and toes, saying tons of prayers (aside: you think there is a patron saint of cell phones? maybe he/she can say some extra prayers too!), and rooting all the way this goes through.

If not, I won't stress it. I put in my application to lots of places around town.... but I gotta say... working with cell phones all day is like a dream come true for me. ;) Keep me in your thoughts & prayers this Saturday!!

Blog Hop!

2011-07-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

The Family Table

2011-07-08T12:55:00.001-07:00

I was reading on the "All You Grocery Challenge" blog about ideas to get your family around the dinner table for a good old fashioned family dinner. I wonder how many families don't get the opportunity to gather around the table at dinner, or any other time of the day! I can't blame them, with our busy lifestyles it is hard to find time to gather round and eat as a family. After some pondering, I came up with some of my ideas to get the family around the table.

I've tried really hard to make meal time a priority for our family. With two young boys of four years old and almost three years old, I don't encounter the same problem as a parent of teens, but our hope is that if we instill in them at a young age the importance and FUN of eating together as a family that those values will carry through with them as teenagers.

I must admit, even with my four year old, it already has NOT been an easy task getting him to sit at the table. He is picky picky picky! Something that has helped our family is to bring both boys into the kitchen with me! I hope this continues as they grow older, and I think making it routine has already helped. They are experiencing the fun and excitement of cooking in the kitchen with Mom and Dad, and you can see it gives them a sense of accomplishment that they helped create dinner. With their help, they (even the picky one) are much more excited to sit together. We've also discovered sometimes a little laughter can go a long way! We help encourage "Mr. Picky" by playing silly little games and bringing laughter to the table. (For instance, who can make the best smiley face from the cantaloupe?! Or the classic "Here comes the airplane")... and I must say, it really helps encourage their creativity, their humor, and it lightens the mood for everyone. Instead of dealing with a stressful event of getting him to eat, we make it fun and enjoyable.

We also really engage them in conversation. Dinner time is such a perfect time for us to unwind and talk about our day. We'll ask the boys how their day went (even though I stay home with them), but we want them to understand that we really want to hear how they are doing, what they did today, etc. You can tell they enjoy sharing with us their perspective on today's events (all the good and bad). It's the place to let it all out.

Another idea that I find would help even with teenagers that I do now for ALL of us, is transform those "junk foods" into something healthy. Who says you can't have pizza? Pizza and Friday night seem like they go hand in hand... but instead of ordering pizza filled with grease, preservatives, and high fructose corn syrup, how about make it from scratch?! My young boys love pizza, but I switch it to a healthier version! I make a thin crust WHOLE WHEAT dough, and nobody can tell the difference! I drizzle olive oil on the pan - a good healthy oil, and use fresh/homemade or all natural sauce that I spice up on my own, plus add extra, fresh veggies on the top and shredded chicken instead of unhealthy meats. Now, everyone can enjoy the "junk" food in a healthy way... nobody says you can't enjoy those foods, just transform them. Get creative! And use the power of the internet! You can find all sorts of healthy versions of your fast food favorites... it's a win-win for everyone. You and your kids get to enjoy those meals that have a bad name to them in a HEALTHY way, and again, if you bring them into the kitchen to help you, they get the sense of accomplishment that they helped create this dish, and it brings everyone back together as a family. If a teenager wants pizza with friends, how about have their friends come over to help make the pizza and let them watch movies at home with the healthy foods instead of out on the town with junk!

Finally, if you are parents of kids with busy schedules, how about bring the healthy food to them? If you have baseball practice going until 8 pm, why not pack some healthy sandwiches or chicken (picnic basket on the go!) and bring it to the ball park for practice? You get to spend time with your child at practice and eat a healthy, inexpensive meal instead of settling on fast food. You can eat together before practice or after and watch the sunset together. Or if you have a daughter at a dance studio, same idea, pack a meal that you all can enjoy and eat at the studio, or after her practice, maybe head to a park if it is still light out and enjoy dinner together there.

I know every family is different, but if we really put eating healthy meals together as a family as a PRIORITY, we WILL find ways to make it work! Nobody says you have to sit AT the family dinner table in your home... the point is to eat healthy meals together, and however you make that work is up to you and how far you can stretch your imagination!

I must add, no, we do not do it EVERY SINGLE NIGHT... so don't think I'm coming off preachy here. ;) I try hard to offer some creative ideas to our table, and most nights have us gather round... but this is the real world, and some nights it is easy to let the kids eat at the kid table instead! (You know, those days when 5 pm hits and they are dropping to the floor like flies, crawling to you on hands and knees and pulling at your pant leg until you practically give the world a show from your pants falling down 'cause they are so hungry all of the sudden... it's days like that when I just say "here's grilled cheese and you can eat at your table!" Mama's sanity is worth that sacrifice...) However, most nights we do eat together, and my goal is this continues throughout our lives!

Comedy of Errors

2011-05-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

Wonderful Pappy found the boys this used swing set a while back, and with the lousy weather all winter, we haven't had a chance to get it together. Elijah has been bugging and begging Pappy to get this swing set/playground together. Once we decided on a location, Pappy has promised "By your birthday it will be up."

Elijah is holding him to it. He reminds him every day.

Pappy leveled the land we are going to put the swing set next to the house. Today was the first steps towards putting this thing together. Ever try taking something apart and then saying, "I'll remember how to put it back together" ... then 6+ months pass... nope, nobody is going to remember it as well as when you first take it down. And boy, was this interesting! I wish I had photos of all four of us (Granny, Pappy, the hubby and me trying to work with this massive playground).

We tried putting the ladder up on one side, three of us holding it up while somebody tries to shove it under and line up the screw holes.

Then, they were bolted in... but oops, wrong side!

Okay, everyone lift and hold while now shove the rock climbing wall on this side instead.

Ahhh it ain't lining up right.

What if we flip it on its side? (That worked, by the way. Kind of.)

It was quite interesting, and after I had free arms, I couldn't resist a few photos showing how nothing seemed to be working right to be putting this playground back together.

Elijah and AJ, it's a good thing we all love you guys, or else this might have been turned into firewood instead.

Now that's what I call ingenuity, Pappy.

See that barstool? That was a prop to hold the swing up for a while, too.

That old back gate/gate door we had turned in handy. Thanks gate.

Somethin' ain't right. Again.

Puzzled stares.

The plastic chair held the playground platform for a while too (this was before the milk crates). I have a new respect for plastic chairs.

Whoohoo! You got the ladder up! Good job, Pappy.

One section down. Uhh... God-knows-how-many pieces to go.

I couldn't resist a few photos of two of our dogs.

Gotta love Bacon's ears. One up, one down.

Cookie lounging around. Both these dogs are the sweetest things!!

On another note... isn't it funny how two siblings can be so different? Elijah is such a picky eater. He's getting better, but still very picky. AJ on the other hand... he'll eat most anything you put in front of him. That's pretty unusual for a kid who had severe reflux from birth through 2 years old!

He ate that whole thing himself.

Where's my baby?!

2011-05-28T21:53:00.001-07:00

I have a question I think all parents can relate to... how did my little Elijah Anthony go from:

this

to this

It sounds so... typical. What happened to my baby? When did he turn from that little swaddled up baby burrito to this thoughtful, funny, smart little boy. I'm having a hard time believing that in just three weeks my lil baby boy will be turning four years old. FOUR! FOUR I TELL YOU, FOUR YEARS OLD!! It sounds so OLD. And THEN, after his birthday, AJ's birthday will be just around the corner in August, and he'll be three years old.

I did a little photo shoot with Elijah for his 4th Birthday "E-vite" (sorry kid, I didn't plan well and ran out of time for us do to custom invitations... you'll survive!) When I stepped back and uploaded the photos, I stared and said, "This can't be my kid!" This kid... is well, a kid, not a little baby, not a little toddler.

As for birthday theme. We went back and forth, back and forth. He went from Thomas (which he did last year), to tractors (which AJ had last year), then he toyed with "might machines" (aka, construction trucks, bulldozers, the like) and monster trucks. I finally took him to Target and we walked down the invitations and party aisle and he picked: balloons. Yup. Just simple party balloon theme. We found regular invitations with balloons on them, plates, table cloths, and even Evites with balloons. I can't tell you how thrilled I was off this! Simple balloons means it was a bit cheaper than some of the other mainstream character themes. That's my boy. Already learning how to be frugal just like his parents.

On another note... I was catching up on cutting out my coupons today (I feel behind, EEK! and any avid couponer knows there is nothing lousier than falling behind on cutting your coupons!)... and I stumbled across this:

Take a lookie. Just examine... it's like "What's wrong with this picture?"

I'll give you a hint. Since when are there 31 days in June?

COME ON PEOPLE!!!

Although it still doesn't quite match the worst spelling errors I've ever seen on the following picture:

This was on a crossbow my husband bought. Come now company... do you not have anyone to proof read?

Finally, I can proudly say I have been doing my Wii Fit almost every day this week. Yesterday I didn't, only because we went to a friend's house in the evening for dinner and stayed until close to 10 pm. But every time I've done at least 30 minutes! Tonight when I was going through my routine I noticed I really do feel stronger!

Finally, I have a couple more days left of my May off until I start another class. Yippee. Gag me. Thankfully I have June on, and then July off again. I'm NOT looking forward to this next class though. Something about research and some other nonsense that's a requirement for ALL students of National, not just English majors. Blech. Oh well, it is just takes me one step closer to my degree... I'm somewhere around 4 classes or so left! (giddy squeal!)

Blog Hop!

When life gives you lemons...

2011-05-25T22:40:00.000-07:00

When life gives you lemons, instead of making lemonade, I'd usually like to throw them at the wall. Perhaps I'm passive aggressive. Or just aggressive.

What do you do when "life gives you lemons"? What do you do when they give you lemons for years and years? It wears me down, I tell you. I try to remind myself that God has his reasons for everything, and sometimes, even in our most trying days, he is teaching us lessons.

I won't dive into the boring details of the past few years of my life. We've had a few surprises, or unexpected turns if you will. I've lost my way off the path and struggle to find it again. To sum up, we were at the forefront of this economic collapse of 2008. We were the first to get hit because we moved literally within a month of the "housing bubble burst," which of course lead to a huge economic downfall. In this house, we still haven't fully recovered. Anyone else stuck in the same boat, or sinking boat I should say? I feel like one of those people who were on the Titanic when it sank. I stood there in denial, "Nope. It'll be fine. It's unsinkable. Nothing bad has happened to me, why should it happen to me now?" Unsinkable my arse. Boy was I wrong. I'm sure you can guess that I was one of the dummies who didn't even bother looking for a lifeboat... because, after all... this ship is unsinkable! Now you can just picture me stuck in the ocean trying to swim my way to safety. Three years of swimming. I'm exhausted.

However, three years of swimming makes me think. It made me stronger (after all, wouldn't you be strong if you swam for your life every day?), it gives me lots of time of reflection. It's made me pretty humble. And, to be quite frank, I do sit here and as the waves are going by, and cursing the unsinkable ship... those are on my bad days. But that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? This evening I had to remind myself of that. Going back to the Titanic imagery, I tell you, we weren't prepared for collapse. We were one of those type of people walking with our head in the sand thinking all will work out. Rough times makes you reevaluate life though. If it weren't for falling flat on my (ahem, you know), I would have never learned how to properly manage and budget money. I would have probably never learned how to live life without credit cards. I would have never really learned how to REALLY bargain shop. I'd still be there "keeping up with the Joneses." I thought about my day earlier and what I did. Nothing eventful, I just went to the store and picked up a few items and grocery items. I looked for the sales, I used my coupons, and I got some sweet scores.

I still curse the wind on some days. But then I remember... look how far I have come. Look how far we have come as a family. It sucks being stuck in the middle of the "financial collapse," don't get me wrong, but I recognize sometimes you need to start from scratch. Houses won't stand long on shoddy foundations... but if it is built on a solid foundation, it will stand.

I suppose we've just torn down our house and are rebuilding on a solid foundation.

I'm building up those muscles swimming for life.

I'm shaking my fist at that stupid Titanic.

I "just keep swimming, just keep swimming."

Onward!

Goal Update, day 2:

Goal 1: Fly Lady Baby Steps

"Get Dressed to Lace Up Shoes"

My apologies for looking so serious. It's hard to concentrate on taking a photo from your camera phone!

(By the way, Fly Lady, I don't do lace up shoes unless it matches the outfit. Sorry, just ain't happenin'!)

Oh, and I got new glasses. Me likey likey!

Goal 2: Wii Fit

37 minutes!

I was totally going to take a picture of the screen. I forgot. So sue me! ;)

Goal 1: CHECK

Goal2: CHECK

Setting goals

2011-05-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

I must admit... I'm not a goal keeper. In fact, I'm pretty awful at it. I've tried to remember if I ever was good at keeping goals, or have I always been the type to lose track?

It feels like way back-in-the-day I was good at keeping my goals. I'd follow through with things; my mind was clearly focused; I said I was gonna do this, and I did. I could totally be imagining this. Albeit, I've always been a bit of a procrastinator. Maybe I've never been good at this whole goal keeping thing?

Then, throw kids into the mix, and it all goes down hill. I call it the Mom Brain. It starts in pregnancy when your hormones go out of whack, it interferes with your memory and brain cells, and in my humble opinion, I swear it kills the brain cells!! I thought after I had a baby my brain cells would return. They'd come out from hiding and return to their regularly scheduled programming.

RIGHT? RIGHT??

Uhm, no.

Here I am, nearly four years later, that means four years of not a full night sleep (that's right, my youngest STILL does not sleep through the night), and all this sleep deprivation, the chaos of an almost-four-year-old and an almost-three-year-old little tornadoes that plow through the house every day leaves me completely absent minded.

I start something, a kid cries, they whine, they bicker, they need help with this-that-and-the-other, and I never finish what I started. Example: that nicely folded laundry sits in the basket and ends up NOT put away. It's incredibly frustrating. I don't want to be like an absent minded nutty professor... and yet, here I am!

As in famous "What About Bob" fashion, I'm constantly reminding myself...

BABY STEPS

I must remind myself I don't need to conquer it all at once, it takes time to regain your sanity after two children VERY close in age, and as crazy as this sounds... it has taken me four years to figure out how to roll with the punches that life gives. It's a constant learning process, at least for me!

On my list of things I never follow through on... FlyLady

I've improved by leaps and bounds with help from FlyLady. She too has a "baby step" method of things. In the almost three years I've followed this site, I've never totally made it through the 30 day baby steps. I'd start, stop, start again, stop... and it goes on.

Working out falls into this downfall category too. I have Wii Fit Plus. It's awesome. It's fun. I totally love it. Now WHY do I not stick with it? Who knows.

Now here's my plan... to help hold myself accountable for these other things (the Fly Lady baby steps and working out on the Wii), I'm going to share some of it here on my blog... (PROCRASTINATORS UNITE!)

I also hope I'm not being too ambitious.

Goal 1: Accomplish Fly Lady's Baby Steps

Baby Step 1 is to Shine Your Sink.

Now, my house isn't a wreck. Fly Lady has helped me from it getting totally out of control. However, to be honest, I want a home that looks like Better Homes & Garden! Really, it'll probably never happen with two young kids... but one can dream right? And along the way I need assistance reminding me of those little "hot spots," clutter zones, or forgotten cleaning areas to keep track of. Hellllo Fly Lady!

Before

After!

Look at that shine! (Are you hearing Billy Mayes in one of his Oxi Clean or Orange Glo commercials? I am!)

Goal 2: Work out every day with the Wii Fit

I'm not stressing about my weight. I did set a goal to lose about 5 lbs on the Wii Fit, but I'm not totally worried about it. My goal is I just want to FEEL FIT again. I was always a very active person. I also played softball from 6 years old until 15 years old, and I danced from 7 or 8 years old until I was nearly 18 years old. After that, I've been at a loss and always go in waves of working out. My goal here: tone up, shape up, and try to get rid of that baby kangaroo pouch too!

The Wii Fit told me I worked out for 53 minutes today AND yesterday! Go me!

Therefore:

Goal 1: CHECK!

Goal 2: CHECK!

WIN!

2011-05-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

Nope, I'm not Charlie Sheen.

My parents have a big Kentucky Derby Party every year. This year was the 137th running! Now, if you know anything about the Derby runnings, the horses are scored "Win, Place, Show" (1st, 2nd, and 3rd). Let me tell you, in all the years our family has done the Derby Party (an annual tradition), I've never... NEVER! ... won any money. I'd bet on horses, and they'd NEVER WIN! Or, if I'd place a bet on a horse, I'd choose the wrong scoring (I'd say X Horse will Win, Y Horse will Place, Z Horse will Show)... and then, X horse will PLACE, Z Horse will WIN, and Y horse will SHOW. COME ON!

My family has ALL won money on horses. My dad, my mom, and my sister. Me? NEVER.

NOT THIS YEAR! I placed all "WIN" bets across a few different horses (okay, MANY different horses) and I'm proud to say I won! GO ME!!! I proceeded with my winnings to buy a new pair of pants at Kohls and two books at Barnes and Noble.

More Derby Pics.

Life wouldn't be complete if I didn't show off my handmade DERBY HAT. Derby hats are all the Derby tradition. Last year I made my hat as well, but this year I outdid myself. I had a little extra inspiration from the Royal Wedding. (NOT from Eugenie.)

I must admit, though, winning feels good. Maybe Charlie is on to something.

Victory is MINE!

2011-05-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

Remember what made me MIA this last month? That Literary Theory class I was taking? The boring boring textbook? I finished the class May 1st!

AND GUESS THE BEST PART...

I GOT AN A- IN THE CLASS!! WHOOOHOOOOO!!

How's that for round two?!

Now that I've allowed myself a brain-dead two weeks, I'm rejoining the blogging world. It was a nice break, but I feel my writing brain cells slipping away as every day goes on.

I'm back!

Alleluia!

2011-04-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Happy Easter, everyone!

rap a tap tap

2011-04-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

I just thought I'd share this. :) I'll be back up and blogging by this weekend... was out of town last weekend and now catching up on class stuff.

I know, you all miss me so much, right? ;) Here, enjoy a video during my absence for a few more days.

Blog Hop

2011-04-14T23:41:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend C.A. (you can find her over at Whining and Dining) posted about a Blog Hop last week. This week I decided to try it out myself!

the self righteous eye roll

2011-04-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Do you remember that song from Shania Twain, "Honey I'm Home"? In case you need a refresher, you can find the lyrics here. My day went something like that.

The morning started off okay... until I combed my hair after the shower. As a girl, you know when you are going to have a bad hair day. I take my hair out of the towel. My eyes fall on those falling strands; my eyebrow lifts up, and I ask my hair, "Oh, you are going to be like THAT today are you?" I spritz the detangler on my disheveled mop, run the comb through, and the hairs stand on end in rebellion. Is there even a point in blow drying today? I can already tell it's just not cooperating. Fine, fine, I decide it's a pull-my-hair-back kind of day.

Moving on to make up. I study that face in the mirror and think, "Maybe I'll do a quick waxing too." Oh, the things we do as girls. Now, I just got my eyebrows professionally waxed about two weeks ago. I've done it myself many times. Today, I could have probably held off another week, but I thought since I already have the wax out and heated... might as well roll with it. Well, WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, I'm putting a little wax line across the uni-brow hot spot... and my wax is quickly cooling down. I ponder.... maybe I should reheat this before I go further. Naw. It'll be fine.

[hindsight moment: EH. WRONG.]

No, it wasn't fine. I didn't realize I got some extra wax stuck a little too close to the inner brow. I put the wax strip on, rip it off... and... uh oh. I ripped off a chunk of the inner brow. Ugh. I carry on and must be shook up by this point because I butcher another chunk of my eyebrow. For the record, that was the first time I've ever made a mistake waxing my own brows!

Bad hair day and I butchered my right eye brow. Time to go to the store for an eye brow pencil.

We make a quick stop at Best Buy and on to Target.

Along the way, I spill soda down my white shirt. Lovely. Oh, and when I knelt down to pick something up earlier, my jeans started to rip. It's okay, they were my fat-day jeans anyway, so they don't fit that great either (Helllooo PMS).

Now, if you've read my recent posts... we all know Elijah has been testing EVERYTHING. He's trying to get a rise out of me, and I'm working very, very, VERY hard on keeping my patience, ignoring, calm-cool-collected discipline, etc. At the same time, we're also sick and tired of whining behavior and tantrums. It's a fine line. A fine line, indeed.

I know exactly what I'm getting at Target. We make a beeline to the cosmetics section. I head straight to Physicians Formula... well, where Physicians Formula used to be. It's not there. We walk up and down the two aisles, no luck. I ask someone if where it is, and she slowly... slowly... slowly... walks the aisles and concludes they must not carry Physicians Formula at this Target anymore (are you kidding me?!)

Ugh, fine. I'll get another brand. I'm quickly looking for an eye brow concealer/shadow, or a pencil as my last resort. Elijah and AJ have Hot Wheels and are quite content... until... Elijah's Hot Wheel isn't working anymore. The wheel won't turn right.

Let the whining begin.

"Moooooom... the wheeeeeel isn't tuuuuurning!" and he does the bounce up and down magic dance, in hopes it'll make it work.

Mom says, "I'm sorry sweety. Let's try to fix it in when we get home. And please, no whining."

"Mooooooooooom get me another one! This one isn't woooooorking! I want anoooother!"

Mom is growing a bit impatient, because not only can I not find what I'm looking for, now I got a whining kid in my ear, "Elijah. Stop. Whining. You have another garbage truck hot wheel at home. No more whining, that's one."

"But it's noooooot working. And don't say that to meeeee!"

Well, you get the idea, we get to "that's three" quickly. I hold his hand/arm to prevent him from collapsing to the floor in a fit because I've been cracking the whip on "no more whining." Now he's mad that I've found a way to discipline him in public. (At home, it's time out. My public solution now was to "time out" standing directly next to me. And if you don't stand, I hold your hand to make you stand next to me).

He's mad. He shouts, "LET GO!" and he screams. And he cries. And he carries on. And on. And on.

And on.

I find what I need and we're walking to check out. Bare in mind, this whole time has only been about 5 minutes. Now, he's screaming and shouting and testing me the most he's ever tested. I'm dragging him along like a limp baby doll, he's fighting against holding my hand and screaming bloody murder. It goes down in history as the most embarrassing mom moment.

The worst part... and the main reflective point of this post... was the LOOKS. Yup. I like to think of it as the self-righteous-LOOK.

You know it. If you have a toddler who has had a melt down in the store, you know the LOOK.

All the strangers around you. Usually people who have kids big and grown look you up and down, look your kid up and down, lift an eye brow, throw their nose in the air and look away.

Yeah, give me that look, because... you are better than me? Because your child never had a tantrum? Your child never tested the limits? Stranger #1 looks away.

I get to the check out line. Three lines open, all full, all taking forever. There are three ladies ahead of me. One even has a child Elijah's age. Elijah is still wailing and carrying on. Now he claims he has to pee (which, by the way, is his excuse when he is in trouble having a tantrum... "I have to pee" and he thinks he'll escape the time out). Apparently the first two ladies are a mother and daughter, the daughter has a baby (not with her) and the gal in front of me is an acquaintance of the other two (they went to someone's baby shower together). It's amazing the things you learn about people's lives standing in a long line.

Grandma-lady looks in her 50s-ish. She sports nice fitting, dark blue denim, cute shoes, and prissy cutesy black and white shirt. By the way, in case you couldn't figure out, Elijah is still screaming bloody murder. I stand in line with my one item praying, "Lord. Give me patience to not smack this child upside the head. They may call CPS on me if I do." Grandma-lady stares at me. She looks at Elijah and does the eye brow lift. She looks back at me. Scans me up and down. Yes, that's right, stare at my stained t shirt, my funky eye brow, and my frizzed out hair. She gives me that look, as if I'm some terrible white trash.

She looks away and has some small talk with her daughter.

I'm still trying to ignore Elijah and remain calm, yet assertive. Cesar Millan runs through my mind, "calm assertive energy... calm assertive energy..."

Gal in front of me turns around and looks at Elijah, looks at me, and looks away. The other gal looks at me, then Elijah, looks away. Then grandma lady looks back at me, scans me up and down... looks at Elijah... scans him up and down... rolls her eyes and looks away.

(ignoring... ignoring... ignoring everyone right now...)

She looks at me. Again. And rolls her eyes. Again.

Now I just fold my arms over and stare at the back of her head, ready to burn holes through her head. She must feel my burning eye power because she quits rolling her eyes or looking at me now.

We finally made it through the line (girl in front of me let me go before her so Elijah could "go to the bathroom" I piped up and said thanks, but he's just making excuses to get out of being in trouble.)

All that eye rolling and mad dogging I got today really made me think how cruel some people are. Why are people so judgmental? Have they never seen a child having a melt down in the store? Do they really think that I'm happy standing there with a screaming kid? Or that the eye rolling is making me feel any better? Maybe they think the eye roll will stop the tantrum.

We all know what it is. People like to feel above others. They like to look at someone else and think, "Well, at least I'm better than her." or maybe, "My child never did that. I'm better than you."

It baffles me that people really have the nerve to give such dirty looks. They don't know me and yet find it acceptable to scan me up and down with disdain. Do people think my kids are like that all the time?

I made a blog post a while back... probably almost two years ago about judgmental people. I always think of a line from Romans 14, "Who are you to pass judgment on someone else's servant?" People who claim to be Christian should know better than to give the self righteous eye roll. People who claim to be free spirited... "we all should live how we want" should let me live how I want and stop giving me the self righteous eye roll.

I won't deny... if the lady looked at me one more time, I probably would have made a rude comment. Luckily, she was wise enough to look away.

As frustrated as I was, I held my ground. When we left Target, Elijah calmed himself down. I followed through on discipline at home as well. Despite the judgement, I knew I did well, and I could tell Elijah learned his lesson: no whining, no talking back to Mom, and no screaming fits in the store.

By the end of the day, I just had to laugh it off. A stained shirt, frizzy hair, a funky eye brow, and people who have the audacity to think they are better than me. Who are you, Jesus or something? Nope, your not? Then I don't give a fiddler's fart what you think. Stop judging me.

Maybe next time we see a kid having a melt down at the story... we'll smile to the mom instead of judging. We all know parenting is hard. Nobody is perfect at it and no child is perfect. Children test and parents are put on the spot. No matter what the parents reaction... don't judge! You never know how bad of a day MOM is having (with her fat day jeans, spilled soda t shirt, whacked out hair, and butchered eye brow!)

Paint-tastic

2011-04-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's fun to just get messy!

I put crosses out for the boys to paint crosses. Purple crosses for the season of lent. It went from painting crosses, to painting paper, to hands, and finally to "face" painting. (yes, that was interesting!) Oh, and even window painting. ;)

I know, being a preschool teacher (or, former?) the importance of letting kids just get MESSY! Sometimes they just have to go to town painting. Here we explored our fine motor skills, art, creativity, and maybe you could say gross motor

skills when they did their "face" painting.

By the way, a long time ago I gave up on thinking we'd ever have clean carpet. Whenever I dress the boys, I don't expect the clothes to last. I know kids clothes are meant to get dirty. Therefore, I don't fret over paint on the clothes or even paint on the carpet. Now, if we lived in an apartment that'd be another story! Luckily, we live in a house, and have already discussed that someday we'll rip up the carpet and put down laminate floors. I knew the day we moved in the carpet wouldn't last! Just embrace it. :)

AJ is battling a bit of a cold. He was mellowing out in bed this morning, watching "Mighty Machines," and snuggling with his blankie and "di-daur"

We ran out of purple, so what better opportunity to teach "red and blue make purple!"

Elijah came up with the idea to paint his hands. He still remembers painting turkey hands around Thanksgiving.

Of course, AJ had to join in too.

Handprints!

See? Mess never fails. I can't even blame that on the kids. *I* did that one!

And of course, on my pants too.

Wow, AJ. How do you manage?

Trying to look at his painted forehead. Love that face he made. ;)

The all new way to "face paint." Literally.

TIME FOR A BATH!

The beautiful aftermath. I love it.

View from the top

2011-04-12T23:58:00.001-07:00

Look at all that space. You can see for miles.

I love my front porch. Yes, that's right, it's the view from my front porch. I must admit, quite amazing isn't it? We have a bit of property too. If you look closely to the right of the photo, you'll see Elijah and AJ playing with one of their friends. Sitting here, I truly feel blessed that my boys have so much room to play and I have the perfect place to sit, watch them, and absorb the view.

We have a front porch swing, but there is something about sitting on the step that lets me feel closer to the world. When my best friend lived in town, we used to sit on the step together and chat forever while the kids ran around playing. Alas, times change, life changes, and although the seat next to me on the step is quite lonely, I've been forced to find ways to fill the void.

Spring is here - FINALLY - so our new routine is after naps the boys will go out to play and burn off their energy while I sit on the step or the porch and read. I'll read for my class or read for pleasure. I like to read, so either way, I'm usually enjoying myself. The sun shines down on us; there is a light breeze rustling the pages, and as I look at the vastness of land out in front of me, I realize how small of a person I really am! Nature amazes me.

Today, I was reading Preface to Lyrical Ballads from William Wordsworth (poet) while sitting on the step. This line stood out to me:

"For the human mind is capable of being excited without the application of gross and violent stimulants..."

It strikes me. It sparks a chain reaction of thoughts in my mind... he is so right. I look at the view in front of me and am overwhelmed with the beauty around us. My beautiful little boys (handful that they are, but sweet and beautiful), the beauty in nature, the beauty God creates for us is everywhere. I am excited looking outside, and as Wordsworth says, I don't need "gross and violet stimulants." Think of what is on television and movies, how much is overtly violent? I've lost count how many crime shows are on prime time television. I hope to counteract the gratuitous violence for myself and family!

I certainly am not perfect, but I'll continue to try and surround ourselves with the beauty in the world around us, in nature, beauty in God, in our faith, and beauty in works of literature and poetry.

What more appropriate than to leave this post with a poem from William Wordsworth...

Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

Earth has not anything to show more fair:

Dull would he be of soul who could pass by

A sight so touching in its majesty:

This City now doth, like a garment, wear

The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie

Open unto the fields, and to the sky;

All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

Never did sun more beautifully steep

In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;

Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:

Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;

And all that mighty heart is lying still!

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15877

Tickle Monster!

2011-04-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

After a rough few days of tantrums and overall toddlerhood... we were able to end our Saturday night with the attack of the TICKLE MONSTER!!!

If you have a minute, you can watch video one. If you have 9 minutes, and want a glimpse into some silly chasing, tickling, and two adorable little boys, you can watch video two. :)

By the way... Flip rocks!

(Okay, I started with embedding the videos into the post... but they were HUGE from YouTube... so I'll just give you the link instead!)

http://youtu.be/4jyqFytYG6c

http://youtu.be/PjVf5qKOo8k

"One of these days Alice..."

2011-04-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, one of THOSE days. Except, it's more like, "One of these days Elijah... straight to the moon!"

Most of the day consisted of this...

Exhibit A

Terrible Twos. Terrible Threes. Whatever. I'm over it. I'm ready for the tantrums and whining to be OVER! I think threes are worse than twos. They talk back now... and I stand there a bit dumbfounded thinking, "Did this 3.5 year old kid just talk back to me?" WHAT?!

All the two and three year old whining, fits, tantrums, sibling hitting, and yelling just leads to a Mommy Tantrum as well. Then somewhere you regather your thoughts, try to get your act back together, and move on... mumbling and grumbling the rest of the day.

I thought of a line from Mrs. Doubtfire...

"Ever wish you could freeze frame a moment in your day, and look at it and say 'this is not my life'?"

(only, it is kinda funny when Robin Williams says it)

I feel like that today. Many days. You look around and think... is this really how I pictured my life was going to be? Life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I don't want to make lemonade. You can take your stupid lemons back.

However, I did get a couple laughs in the evening.

Of course, the day ended back at Exhibit A.

I'll just watch the videos and remember, yes, they are sweet... sometimes. ;)

Round 2

2011-04-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

"You may delay, but time will not."

Benjamin Franklin

Now ain't that the truth? Let me tell you, I can be the biggest procrastinator. I can also go the opposite extreme with "I gotta do it NOW" syndrome. When it comes to all-things-boring, though, I procrastinate.

This is the month of April, and I'm retaking Literary Theory, LIT 360. That's right, retaking. Now, this was the only class I probably have a somewhat decent excuse for failing. I took it last May, and every single one of us happened to get sick that month. And could we all get sick in the same week? Nope. We spanned it out week by week... if I was a smart person, I would have taken the "W" to Withdrawal. Did I? No, of course not. Here I am now, trying to replace that F. Procrastination has given me a few other F's... (no excuses those time, just lack of planning) and I'm finally learning: hey, don't procrastinate. Plan ahead!

Wow, what a concept.

Back to Lit Theory. Knowing I had to retake this class is like the bane of my existence.

Would YOU like to read this book?

Yes, it really is that thick. I put it next to the laptop as a reference point.

Now you tell me, does this book look appealing to you? I mean, look at that cover. Look how BORING it is. They didn't even TRY to spruce it up. The cover alone just screams, "I'M BORING. YOU DON'T WANT TO READ ME!" At least all the other Literature books put some nice painting, ancient sculptures, etc. But no no, not The Critical Tradition.

To David H. Richter, you didn't have to take Plato's Republic so seriously when designing the cover of this book.

And it's in tiny size print

Paper thin, bible like pages.

Well, I'm proud to say, I'M AHEAD. Yes, for once in my life, I'm ahead of the game. Class started Monday, so first thing Monday morning (knowing what I was in for this time), I got to reading the class lectures right away. I've pushed, I've cranked, I even dreamed about Aristotle. In two days and a half days I finished all the readings for Unit 1, PLUS all four Discussion Board posts. That's right, I read Plato, Aristotle, Horace, and Longinus, plus four DBs... and the last two readings and DBs weren't due until Friday.

WOW. I must say, it feels so good. Franklin had it right; we may delay, but time will not. This time around, instead of being so compulsive, or not well planned... I'm thinking ahead. I planned out (and shopped) for two weeks worth of groceries, baby wipes, and diapers. I have no reason to make those little runs to the store for my lack of planning. That said, I've been able to put much more effort into the reading assignments and get AHEAD. Now, instead of thinking all I could be doing at this exact moment (i.e., procrastinating), I'm thinking if I get ahead... just imagine all the wonderful things I can do at the end of the class, STRESS FREE! While all the other suckers are sitting there making posts at 11:59:59PM... I'm sitting here enjoying my Wednesday night, blogging away.

What if I try to put it at an artsy-like angle, with candles and a delicious dinner in the background...?

Nope. Still dull.

...because I don't "give a fiddler's fart"

2011-04-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

I can't resist using that line. I believe it is my new favorite phrase.

I just read Angela's Ashes, a memoir by Frank McCourt. Wonderful book, by the way, you should read it if you get a chance.

A recurring line sticks out to me from the book, time and time again. Young Frank McCourt is describing his Uncle Pa Keating, and he says, "he doesn't give a fiddler's fart what the world says and that's the way I'd like to be myself." I agree. Why should I give a fiddler's fart what the world says, right? Frank, that's the way I'd like to be myself, too.

I haven't blogged in a while. Granted, a couple posts here and there, but not nearly as consistently as I used to blog. Why? I don't know exactly. Somewhere I stopped feeling like myself, and therefore, stopped writing. Although writing has always been part of me, when I feel like part of me is lost, why write? What should I write about? And then all the negative thoughts seep their way into my brain. Why bother blogging; why bother writing; why bother doing anything? There are a bajillion and one blogs out there about peoples daily lives, about mommyhood, about Catholicism, about paper crafts, about writing in general... what am I? Just one more pin drop in the world wide web? Why would anyone want to read what I have to say? So, I gave up for a while. In giving up, I strayed further and further away from who I am. I lost my sense of identity.

Who are you? Marlana Weber. What do you do? No clue.

Someone asked me recently what I do for fun? My jaw opened slightly, the words started to come out, but stopped in the throat. My mouth hung open, probably long enough for a bug to creep in, my eyes glazed over in confusion... are you picturing a deer in the headlights? Yep, hit me with the truck, that was my reaction. There's Marlana, roadkill. It got me thinking over the next several weeks... where did I go? I can tell you what I am to everyone else, and what I do for everyone else, but could not say a single word about myself. I think we all get stuck in a rut, and here I am trying to find my way out.

This all leads me back to the same conundrum... do I want to blog about myself, about my life, and let you all in on a little piece of my mind while I'm trying to find my personality again? Well, writing is my outlet. It always has been, and I know it always will be. When I push it away, I push myself away. If I start writing, I discover a little bit of myself. Make my number bajillion-and-two to the list of blogs. I'm doing this for me. One day, I can look back and say, "Oh that's right, that's what I was up to in Winter 2010... or Spring 2011." However, if you have been stuck in a rut before, if you like to peak inside what is going through someone's mind, or curious about some daily musings, you may want to stick around.

You can read, you can follow, or neither. Do I care if I have zero followers, zero readers, or 100, 200, 1,000 readers and followers? My response...

I don't give a fiddler's fart.

Tantrums, oh my.

2011-03-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

Don't you wish you could get inside their little heads?

I'm so tired of tantrums. I could have one myself. Or maybe I did. You'll never know. :P

You'd think a 3.5 year old would have outgrown the tantrum stage by now. Nope. Not Elijah. Two days in a row of terrible threes. Where is his off button?

Commencing tantrum now...

"MOM! AJ ate my bagel! GIVE ME more."

"Elijah, that is now how you ask. Say, 'I'd like more please.'"

"GIMME more bagel."

"Elijah, ask the right way."

(whine center kicks in) "Iiii waaaant moooore baaaagel pleeeeeeeease"

Giving the mom look now... he knows there is a "no whining" rule around here. And yet, he does it anyway.

Tantrum starts in 5... 4... 3.... 2... 1...

And it lasts for an HOUR. AN HOUR!!!

We finally resolved that melt down.

I'm so tired of tantrums from both kids. It just leaves me feeling like "What am I doing wrong?"

You have these grand ideas of how wonderful your children are going to be when you are pregnant, or when they are little babies. Then life happens. Reality sets in... and you realize... I have no idea what the hell I am doing here.

I'd like an instruction manual please.

(What? There isn't one? Who had this brilliant idea of having toddlers anyway?)

I wonder if Jesus had temper tantrums when he was 2 and 3.... :P