August 4, 2011

Martha Stewart Fans


Let the countdown begin! The new season of the Emmy-winning series, The Martha Stewart Show, will premiere on September 26t h on Hallmark Channel, and to gear up for the exciting season, Martha is launching an “Ultimate Fan” sweepstakes exclusively on Facebook starting today.

One grand prize winner will receive a one-of-a-kind Martha Stewart fan experience, including a trip for two to see The Martha Stewart Show LIVE in New York City, round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations, courtesy of Delta Vacations, lunch for two at one of Martha’s favorite BBQ restaurants, Hill Country, and two complimentary facials at Mario Badescu Skin Care Salon.

To enter, go to the Martha Stewart Facebook Fan Page located at Facebook.com/marthastewart between now and September 26th, select the Sweepstakes tab, “Like” us at the top of the page if you are not already a Fan, and complete and submit the Official Entry Form.

All entrants must be 18 years or older, and entries are limited to one per person. For additional official rules please visit http://www.marthastewart.com/412911/marthas-ultimate-fan-sweepstakes-official-rules. In the meantime, check out www.marthastewart.com for great end-of-summer recipes, craft projects for the whole family and more.

August 1, 2011

Happy World Breastfeeding Week


Click to learn more: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

July 25, 2011

Summer Rundown

We are having an uneventful, but fun summer. No big vacation plans, but I am enjoying the downtime knowing that this fall I will be busy working again. Lots of thought and prayers going into where we will be and what we will be doing. Big changes, maybe. But change is good, right? I'm just enjoying now!
Baby T had his 2nd birthday. I am such a bad blogging mama... no big post about how I couldn't handle the day or how sad I am that he's getting so big. No post with his newborn picture and a recap of his birth. Yeah, kind of over that. (At least today.) I'm excited that he's growing up. It's fun to watch him do all the different things he's doing every day and learning all the new things he's learning. I'm enjoying 2. Still sort of a "baby" but becoming a "big boy". It won't be like this forever. Best of both worlds. Stand still, time!
We took him to the zoo (just like last year) and I hope we can make it a tradition. (At least until he's too old to enjoy it. Or too old to admit it.) We had his party the next evening at the park. There were close to fifty people there. It was almost too much for him. We opened a few gifts there until he got interested in something else, opened more the next day, more the next day and to be very honest, I think there are still a couple of things in my office that he still hasn't played with yet. The child is not deprived.
His newest interest... Cars. Not the toys. The movie. We watch that about 2-3 times a day. Ka-chow! He calls it "go car go". Wonder if we should try and take him to see "Go Car Go 2"? I'm sure he'd do ok in the theater, but we have the popcorn issue... he is still too little to have it and I HAVE TO have it. You can't go to the movies without getting popcorn. I think that's a law? His father and I have discussed this and we came to the conclusion that we could both take him... one of us could sit with him (without popcorn) while the other was a few rows away (with popcorn). Then, we'd switch half way through the movie. Or, we could sneek in the puffy, no kernel kind and mix it in the tub o'corn and let him think he's having what we're having (that was my idea, cause I'm a tricky mom like that). It's so hard raising kids today! These situations keep me up at night. Obama is so lucky he just has that little "debt ceiling" thing to worry about. His girls are old enough to get popcorn at the movies.
T1 is busy doing his usual thing. Computer, shopping, cars... He's getting more interested in driving. I see drivers ed in his future. BUT, not until he starts wearing his glasses more. How DO you get your teenager to wear their glasses? Duct tape?
T2 has a summer job. He mows my father's church lawn. Hey, it pays good and he loves to mow. I think next year he might try to find more mowing jobs. He's so good at it, too! He's been spending most of his summer at my parents' house and although I miss him, he's having a blast. And isn't that what being 14 is all about?! He has a bunch of friends around his age in their neighborhood and they all ride bikes, play basketball, go swimming and explore the creek.
Me... Well, my goal was to have a decent tan by now. Uh, nope. I had planned to have a set workout routine at the Y. Nope. Oh I know, I was busy getting the house and my new office organized. Wait, another NOPE. I really can't tell you what I've gotten accomplished because it seems like this summer my mind has been foggy and I've just been doing the basic "mom" things. Cleaning, laundry, fixing meals, watching my toddler while making my teens happy, finding time for sleep... ya know just little stuff like that. I did get my hair colored last week. And it actually turned out. It's actually as light as I wanted it. That never happens. Guess I shouldn't ask for any more this week. Or month.
Don't get me wrong, I am truly thankful for all I have. I don't need much. However, I will admit I am a little envious of all my friends who are taking summer vacations. But then I think about how we are planning another trip to Florida soon and then, while my friends are here freezing in the Indiana cold, I'll be nice and warm in sunny Florida. If I want sunshine now, all I have to do is step out on my back porch.
Happy Summer!

May 8, 2011

Mother's Day 2011

May 3, 2011

And It's May

Yesterday Baby T turned 23 months old and I realized this is the last month that I'll say his age in months. And I wanted to cry but I didn't. Although when we went to pick his Easter pictures up at JCP on Saturday, there was a newborn getting his picture taken and when I saw that little ball of naked cuteness laying all curled up, I got teary. And I'm sure Baby T's dad thought I was crazy, but it was so sweet and such a reminder that by BABY T is not really a baby anymore. And he's been proving that daily by letting us know when he "pee pees" and going to the bathroom and touching the potty. He won't sit on it yet, but he'll tell everyone in the house who's in the bathroom and what they're doing. For instance, if I'm in the bathroom, he let's everyone know "Mama, pee pee! Mama, pee pee!" I can't say getting him potty trained would hurt my feelings.
Our weather has been so crazy. Hot, cold, nice, stormy... a little mix of everything. As long as there's no snow or freezing temps, you won't hear me complain.
I have to go to the dentist this month. NOT looking forward to it. I've already told the receptionist that I will be the biggest anxiety filled baby that office has ever seen. She was very nice and told me that I would be fine and if I needed her, she'd even hold my hand. I kind of laughed at her "joke" and then she told me that "No, I mean it... I will go back and hold your hand if you need me to!" Really? Well, that's nice! Do you know that I may take you up on that offer? ha Anyway, I need to go and I need to get my kids in for a cleaning, so I'm glad I got that off my "to do" list.
Next stop... check-up at the doctor's. Much easier.

Totally random... I've been thinking of starting a garden. I'm bored. I think perhaps I should start with the Topsy Turvy this year and see how that goes. I would love to have cumcumbers too, but I can't keep an aloe plant alive so I need to start out slow. Actually, my best bet would probably be to just try and grow some herbs in my kitchen window and see how that turns out. I could use the little packs of seed we keep getting out of Baby T's Dan-o-nino yogurt.
And that's all I got for now.

March 30, 2011

Gimme a "D"

Vitamin D3 to be exact.
I wish I could tell you I've been taking it and how great I feel and how it's doing this and that for my health... but I can't. What I can tell you is that I've been researching it for the last couple of weeks - ever since T2 was put on it at his allergist - and it looks like a mighty fine vitamin to me.
The nurse in the allergist's office said she takes it every day and can really tell a difference when she doesn't. I asked if it had to do with having more energy and if she felt more tired on the days she didn't take it and she said "Oh NO, it has nothing to do with energy, it has everything to do with my mood!" She said it was the difference between night and day and when she takes it, her moods are stable and she's much happier. ( BTW: She didn't need to "sell" the stuff... we already said we wanted it.)
At that moment I think I saw the clouds part and the gates of heaven open up.
Do you know HOW LONG I've been looking for something like this?! Sure.... I could take SamE or St. John's Wort but they even have warnings for their side effects. Prozac, Zoloft - no thanks! So, let's hope this works! I literally would be SO happy to find something that could even out my moods and give me a little lift.
I'll let ya know what happens.

March 23, 2011

Happy 2011 To Me... Happy 2011 To Me...

That's right. 2011. March 23, 2011 to be exact. I swear I'm gonna get better about this whole blogging thing. Swears!

So, what have we been up to, you ask? Well, all but 1 of us is a whole year older. I turned 38 last Thursday and I gotta tell you I don't feel a day older than 37. I think once you past 35, it's just a waiting period until the big 4-0. Par Tay!

My b-day was a good one. I went to a casino for the first time in my life and actually came out $110 richer. I didn't understand the computerized slots worth a crap, but I gotta tell ya that any machine you just sit and hit buttons on has to be a brain stumper. And how I lost $5 in the penny slots in less than 1 minute is beyond me. I figured I'd have 500 plays that would keep me there with the other ladies in their Hoverounds for hours. Didn't happen but that's probably ok, when old ladies start stroking the screen and kissing stuffed animals for luck, that's when I gots to go.

My attire was somewhat disappointing. I forget I can't wear heels, but about a week before my birthday I decided I'd get more "dressed up" and I found these CUTE heels that matched my cute cute sweater (for the unexpected 70 degree day) and I just thought I was so cute and are you sick of that word yet? Anyway, those heels did me wrong! Can you say 3rd degree blister? If they don't have "degrees" they should because mine is more than just a little blister, it is a major BLISTER! But thankfully that's just the one on the side of my big toe. I have 1st and 2nd degree blisters on my middle and fourth toes. I am still wearing flip flops which has been ok for that last week but tomorrow it's suppose to snow and be in the 30's. Guess my luck at the 'Spin N Win' has worn off.

Moving on... Everyone is good. The boys are good. The parents are good. I am good. Most of all God is good! And although He doesn't have to prove that to me, He does. He has. The truth is, I had a very rough start to 2011 and it took a lot of strength to get through. Strength I didn't know I had. Strength that only the good Lord above could give. And even though I thought things were at their worst, He showed me that HE has the authority over everything. He can change situations that seem unchangeable. Praise God!

So... don't give up. You might end up a winner.