Feeling like a movie star for a day

This won't be a long post today. I am too nervous and my mind is a blank. Today is the day I will be a guest on our local talk show. I know, I know, you are so sick of hearing about my card and everything to do with it. This is probably the last interview I'll do-maybe. I had another TV station call me and I need to call them back yet.
So wish me luck and I think I'm going to need a couple of drinks before going on, so hopefully I don't trip and fall during my interview. Then, people won't stop me on the street because of my card but instead, they will yell, "Hey, there's the lady that fell on PSL!"

Oh dear. I can always hope for a blizzard before four o'clock...

An anniversary, tv interview and a surprise in the mail

If there were ever a time that I could say that I had a busy weekend, it would've been this weekend. So much was going on that I think my head is still spinning from it.

My whirl wind of a weekend started with getting a surprise in the mail from Hallmark. They sent four copies of our card! It was so cool and just in time for me to be able to bring an actual card when I go on Paula Sands Live on Tuesday. They wanted to show the finalist how our cards look when sent to a store. It even included the little divider that tells you what kind of card it is. How neat!

Then, I received a phone call from our local channel 4 news, asking if they can come to my house on Sunday to interview my family about the card-wow! I was all like, um, ok! After hanging up the phone, I then thought, "OMG, they are coming to my house!" I spent hours cleaning every inch of the house til it glowed because you never know where they want to go and I know they do that pretend-you-are-doing-the-dishes act and I'm not having the Quad Cities see a dirty sink!

On top of the news people coming on Sunday, it was also my wedding anniversary. We decided with all the commotion, we would celebrate it a different weekend. We did the cards thing and all and that was special to me because my hubby isn't one to give cards. So when he does, it's very special. I did my usual go to the mall during the day, but I stopped at the mall's Hallmark store and asked them if they would be interested in doing a card signing and they were very excited about it. They even gave me an idea about approaching other Hallmark stores and asking if they would put some cards on the counter, stating that the finalist was a local resident.

My stomach was filled with butterflies all day, awaiting the interview. I pictured everything that could go wrong from spit flying from my mouth and hitting the reporter in the face to my daughter telling the viewers that she can spell poop. It turned out to be pretty fun. They first interviewed me and then Emily and asked if anyone else wanted to say anything and of course they said no. I didn't have to do the dishes for a shot, but we did have to pretend to look at a photo album. They took a shot of my computer monitor and I noticed a dust bunny on top of it and wanted to leap in front of the camera and wipe it off. Luckily, it didn't get in the shot otherwise I probably would've got an email from my mom about it.

They ended up cutting alot out and it turned out great except I wished that they would've used the whole family in at least one shot instead of just Emily and me. It was on the 10 o'clock news-I know, who with kids is up at that time? Maybe they will show it again, I don't know. I have it recorded and if I can figure out a way to get it on the computer, I will post it. In the mean time, here are some pictures. Sorry, they aren't the greatest!

Glad we cleaned her nails.

The "evil look"

See the stickers on our door?

The weekend ended with it being the last day for the Fan Favorite Contest and I'm nervous to see who won. If I didn't I will be sad, but I will try that much harder to win the grand prize- this starts on April 6th as I may have mentioned one or two hundred times before. :)

Here is the radio interview I did the other day-I know, I sound like a dork.

http://www.woc1420.com/cc-common/podcast.html

While you listen to the interview, you have to picture me hiding in the bedroom with my back against the door, so my four year old doesn't come running in, yelling at me that she got a poopy stain on her new Mermaid underwear and she's going to die right then and there if I don't get it off.

(Update: I didn't win the Fan Favorite-grrrrr! Maybe I'll still win the grand prize!)

Sneaking a picture of my cards-April 24th

I took this the day of my card signing. I didn't realize until I got home and pulled this up that they don't even have all the finalist's cards (17). I wonder if the other finalist know this and if that is fair. Who knows, maybe my card wasn't ordered in Nashville- I guess I would never know. I did find out that Walmart wasn't ordering everyone's card and enough people complained, so now they have to have all cards.

Oh and did I tell you that I just found out that I'm in second place today (April 24th)- WOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites!

Today I'm going to let you know about this beautiful site called,

http://www.anthropologie.com

If you are a reader of the Pioneer Woman, you've already read about this site today. They have the best taste in products ever! If I won the lottery, I would decorate my whole house with their products. They have beautiful cooking tools too and that's what PW is giving away today! She is giving away these awesome measuring cups!

I am posting the photos from Pioneer's site, so I hope she doesn't mind but they were way better than the site's photos.

If you don't like these, you can choose a set of these instead:

Matryoshka set

Geese set

So go to her site and try to win a set for your home-hurry, it ends tonight!

Afterwards, go back to Anthropologie's site and while you are there, please check out the rest of the "for your home" section. Like I've said before, I'm a sucker for any site that has home decor stuff!

Go get you some new stuff today!

Here comes the fame, now I need the fortune...

It's finally happening! Along with the dream of having a card published through Hallmark, It's been a dream of mine to be on the Paula Sands Live Show (a local news and event show) and I am going to fulfill that dream next week! This morning, I sent out my press release about the Hallmark Mother's Day Card contest to all the TV channels and radio stations. About 30 minutes later, I started gettting emails and phone calls - I couldn't believe it!

I had been hesitant about sending out any PR because I thought that they would think that it wasn't a big deal, but now I wished that I had contacted them sooner. The first call was from PSL's producer and we had a great chat and I'm scheduled to be on their show on the 31st-boy am I nervous but excited!

After talking to him, I received another call from a local radio station and they taped our interview right then and there. Would I be able to tell you what I said during the interview? Heck no, I'm still in shock but it's going to be aired tomorrow morning- woo hoo! They also said that they would put something on their website too, so I will post it when it goes up. THEN, after that phone call, I received an email from Channel 4 news saying they would pitch the idea to their people.

Now, if I can just get the newspaper people to contact me for a story. Are you there, Newspaper People? Maybe they're afraid to face my four year old after seeing that look on her face. Don't worry, she doesn't bite- she's got a mean left hook though.

Words With a Blogger Wednesday

Words With a Blogger Wednesday?

I can't believe it's the middle of the week! Time goes by so fast and then next thing you know, you're lying in a cedar box-are you depressed now? I'm just kidding. Now, let me slow things down a bit by posting another great interview with another awesome blogger.

Her name is:

Darlene Demell

Only thing is, I'm going to change it up a bit and not do a "blog" interview. Yes, she has a blog-two in fact:

http://timelessintegrity.blogspot.com/

http://watkinsrecipesandmore.blogspot.com/

You should still go visit them because they are the coolest, but I wanted to post a Featured Business interview this week. Now, guess what else I'm going to do? I'm going to make you go over to my other site to read it. I'm so bad.....

You can read it here:

http://www.mommysbizathome.com/featuredmom.html

I know what you're thinking, I'll read it later and then you will forget and my interview will be forgotten forever. So, get your rear over there right now and read it-I will be ever so grateful. You can even have my first born-and my husband (no returns, please).

Do you want to be interview by little ole me? Great! Just send me a note letting me know and I will be right over with my pen and notebook. While I'm there, I will take notes on how you decorate your house, get in your fridge for goodies and sneak into your bedroom, hoping to find dirty laundry hidden in there.

Prince Charming?

A couple of weeks ago, I told you about my oldest daughter's struggle with the father of her baby which resulted in a restraining order. As far as I know, he's stayed away and things have been quiet on the home front. In fact, she even met a nice boy and they've been dating ever since. This guy works, is starting college and drives. I am happy to hear that she's moved up from a total I-wouldn't-walk-on-so-much-of-a-dirt-scum-sucking-butthead, to a kind and decent guy that totally loves baby Zach.

I'm crossing my fingers for her (and me-I don't need anymore gray hairs) and I hope that after many bad luck guys, she just might of found a good one. I realize that nobody will be perfect enough in my eyes and will have some faults, but after the douche bags that she's found before, I've narrowed it to wanting someone who will respect her and care about where their future is going. She seems happy too and that's important also, of course.

There was one thing that he has in common with the others that I don't mind but my daughter does. She came up to me one day and said that she was mad at him and I said, "Oh no, what's wrong?" She rolled her eyes and said, "Every boy that I've gone out with brags to their friends that I have a hot mom!"

Like I said, I guess it's ok to have SOME faults.

The Twilight Zone

Ok, I admit, at first I was curious when I first started hearing about the Twilight series. Then, I was so tired of hearing about this Edward and Bella and really, who the hell are they anyway? I blocked it out of my mind and zipped past anyone's blog post about it. I mean, I was NOT going to get sucked into some ridiculous romance novel. I totally have better things to do.

Then, one day it just hit me. I wanted to find out what the heck this was all about. I don't know why or what made me curious to read the book-heck, I originally thought it was a TV series. So, I asked for it for Christmas and started reading it and reading it and reading it. I couldn't put it down. I finally knew what all the buzz was about. IT WAS FREAKIN AWESOME!!

As you know, I got the second book for my birthday and even though that one was huge, I finished it in a week. Then, I wanted to see the movie, so I anxiously awaited the DVD release date. Tick-tock, tick-tock. Finally, March 21st arrived and I got up early and threw on my sweats and drove to Walmart to get my copy. I was sure that there would be hundreds of Twilight fans crowding to get there hands on one of the five that were put out. I was totally willing to knock a few down to get my copy. Luckily, nobody else was around the DVD rack and I was able to walk right up to it. I saw that there was a two disk and a one disk option so I was faced with the dilemma of which one to get. The two disk was 25 dollars-ouch- but, it had extras and deleted scenes and I just love those. Ok, I decided to splurge because technically, it was a belated birthday present.

I grabbed it and held it close just in case the Twilight crowd had over slept and were around the corner ready to charge. I ran to the checkout and smiled at the lady and laid down my dvd. She looked at the dvd and sighed and I wondered if she was still stuck in the IF I HEAR ONE MORE THING ABOUT TWILIGHT mode. I was once that Twilight virgin myself, so I wanted to tell her how wonderful the books were. But then I felt like an after school special when the teen tries to talk his buddy into trying weed for the first time, "It's ok, come into the Twilight Zone. It feels so good."

She proceeded to scan my movie and the funniest thing happened. The Twilight Gods were looking out for me because it rang up 17.95 and I was all like, "What?"The lady smiled at me and said that was the right price. I could've sworn that I saw Edward's reflection in her eyes. Then she winked and I smiled back and grabbed my bag and receipt and quickly got in my car before I started seeing Bella in the puddles on the ground.

Did I like the movie? Yes, I loved it! The only thing was, I had to wait until last night (Sunday) to watch it because my husband had to work on Saturday and wanted to watch it with me. Yes, it was pure torture to wait, but I did it and we ended up making a Twilight party out of it by inviting my mom over and my daughter came too with her new boyfriend (remind me to catch you up on her).

Now, my next mission is to get some Twilight merchandise- I know, I'm such a groupie. Am I too old to wear a Twilight tshirt?

Saturday Shopping

Welcome to my new Saturday Shopping!
Every Saturday, I'll be posting reviews and this weekend's post will be done on KidSafe , a baby proofing and child safety site.

While browsing the site, I've discovered many items to child proof your home from, corner cushions to window guards. Have you ever thought about baby proofing your home? Have you thought about using Corner Cushions, Outlet Covers, TV Guards or Door Locks? You never think of the little things that could potentially harm your child. That's why they've included a Safety Tips section that's full of helpful tips to keep your home safe.

They even carry the best brands of products like Safety 1st, KidCo, Evenflo, Gerber, Mommy's Helper and more. They make Baby Gates, Cabinet Locks, Appliance Locks,Window Guards and anything you can think of to child proof your home or office.

So, go check out your home and then visit this awesome site and get that home baby-proofed!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites!

I hope everyone is liking my Friday favs because I am and since I'm the boss of my blog...

I was browsing the Mom Made It website and came across this store and thought, How neat!

It's called:

see jack draw

(It's an Etsy shop!)

This is a "mommy owned" business that "mommies" will love!

This idea came from this mom wanting to find a way to store her children's art projects. Being a Graphic Designer by trade, she came up with a solution.

She can preserve the beauty of your child's artwork by photographing it and creating an archival quality Kodak photographic collage at 12" x 12"-making it perfect for framing or your scrapbook.

Check these samples out!

These are so cool and you're going to say, "Why didn't I think of that?"

So, get your child's artwork together and head on over to her site and get you one!

(Be sure to come back this weekend because I'm going to start a Saturday Shopping post which will include product reviews that will also be posted on my review site too!)

There won't be a long acceptance speech

Two more awards!
Boy, I'm not sure if I have anymore room on my shelf for more awards. Don't worry, I'll just shove the picture of the hubby out of the way to make room.

Here is my first award (both given by Amy from Random Thoughts)
Thank you, Thank you!

The rules as it were for this are to list 7 things you love and 7 bloggers you love. Don't forget to tag them and let them know they received an award.

7 Things I Love:

1. I love my family-though, the husband has been in the doghouse lately.
2. I love to write.
3. I love working at home.
4. I love seafood.
5. I love to create.
6. I love comments.
7. I love when I have absolutely nothing to do.

Now, the blogs I love:

1. EightHelpingHands
2. ThriftyThoughts
3. ItsMeBetty
4. MillionaireMom
5. DivineMissMommy
6. PrettyPinkMama
7. LIvingandLearning

Now, my next award is the lemonade award, yay.....

The same bloggers are getting this award too!

Here are the rules for the award:

1) Put the logo on your blog or post.

2) Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
3) Link to your nominees within your post.

4) Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5) Share the love and link to the person from who you received your award.

Words With A Blogger Wednesday

I know you've all been waiting for

Words With A Blogger Wednesday

Well, it's here!

Today, I've found a blogger who is very cool and nice and so nice that she's going to spill her guts about her even more cool blog-ok, she's just as cool as her blog...

Take it away, Summer!

Hey! I'm Summer and I'm the author of the blog, Le Musings of Moi,

www.lemusingsofmoi.com

When did you start blogging?
I started my blog almost a year ago. In fact I'll be one year old in April! It's always been my passion to write and after having kids, I kind of lost touch with it. Once I started the blog, it was so on though. And I've been writing every day ever since. Now, I'm just waiting to be discovered for that illustrious book deal. (Aren't we all?)


Do you make money from your blog?
Mmm, not so much. I attempted the AdSense thing and they cancelled my account days before my first check was to arrive. For no reason. Ugh. But, I'm not bitter or anything. Ya, it would be nice to make a living off my writing, but more than anything, I write so that people can relate. I want to make people laugh and not feel so alone in what they are going through.


How frequently do you post?
Since the new year, I've been trying to post every day. I think it's important to me to keep up with it, so I never lose touch with my writing.


Do you have a favorite blogger(s) that you just can't live without reading?
I have a lot of favorites. But, my first blog that I ever read was Finslippy. She is hilarious and totally real, and I really love that about her. She's all big time now, but still seems really humble. And that's super appealing to me. I think we should actually be best friends, but she doesn't know who I am. Yet. Once she does, she'll be all over this. Faux show.


Have your readers influenced you in any way?
More than anything, they keep me encouraged. I always knew I loved to write, but I never knew if anybody else enjoyed reading it. That's why, to me, comments are so important. I appreciate any and all feedback, so that I am able to keep it relatable and fun.


Has blogging changed your life in any way?
Um, well, if you saw my house and lack of it being clean. Then yes. But, seriously, it has helped me to look at things that happen in my life and pay attention to finding the funny in it. Even the hard times, like the endless tantrums (mine and my kids) and the fights with my husband (rarely my fault), suddenly turn into a funny story on my blog. And THAT, my friends, is some good therapy right there.


What do you do when you get writer's block?
I go shopping online. Then I post pictures of all the things I want. That always makes for a good post. I tend to do this once a week. I mean, I can't always be deep. Gotta break up all that brilliancy.


Any other advice you might have for newbie bloggers?
No matter what, stay true to the reason you started your blog in the first place. And have fun. And be humble, even if you strike it big. Oh, and read and FOLLOW my blog. Because it always comes back to me. (Doesn't it always with us bloggers?)

In the head of a four year old

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
To celebrate, I'm posting some funny conversations with my daughter-which have NOTHING to do with St. Patrick's Day.

Conversations with a four year old:

"Mom, I want to get young."
"Why?"
"So I can drive a car."
"Don't you mean old?"
"Oh yeah. I want to be old like you."
"Thanks."
......

A conversation after about a week of her dad teasing her by trying to kiss her with shaving cream on his face:
Dad: "Emily, can I have a kiss good night?"
Emily (hiding under the covers): "Do you have whipped cream on your face?"
Dad: "No, I don't have shaving cream on my face."
Emily "Good. Next time, go kiss my brother."

.....
Emily being mad at her dad:
"Fine-I'm just letting MOM take me to Build-a-Bear!"
(lucky me.)

.....
After hearing her mom and dad refer to her as being the "devil's child" umpteen times:
Emily (being mad at her brother): "Jordon, you are such a child of the devil!"
I guess that's another way to put it.

....
"Mom!"
"What?"
"Looks like it's today out."
"Thanks for letting me know."

And the selfish husband went down the shower drain...

I started out a conversation with my husband on Sunday with, "Don't you get tired of me being mad at you?"

For the past two Sundays, we've had the same argument. Well, I'm doing the yelling while he just sits there. You see, on Sundays, my husband doesn't have to go to either of his jobs, so he stays home and does nothing. This is fine with me because I go with my mom shopping or whatever and am gone the whole day.

The thing is, I have to leave by a certain time in the morning (I have to drop my son off at his dad's and then I just go to my mom's from there) yet he insists on jumping in the shower before me and use up all the hot water. Did I mention that he doesn't have to do anything the whole day? So, by the time I'm able to take one, it a cold shower and my hair does not do well in a cold shower. Last Sunday I looked like I had Medusa hair and moms were shielding their children's eyes from the sight of me as we walked through the mall.

I figured after last week's hour lecture about how he HAS THE WHOLE DAY TO TAKE A SHOWER, he got the message so I didn't worry about guarding the bathroom door this Sunday until I could take a shower. So, I thought I would be nice and make breakfast and then get ready to go. As I was busy frying some bacon, I heard the bathroom door quickly close and the shower turn on. NOOOO! I couldn't believe that he would do this to me yet again. I calmly finished the bacon and knocked on the door and told him that if he takes another thirty minute shower that he would be sleeping in the car.

I heard the shower quickly turn off, so I went back to the kitchen and placed the egg carton on the table. When he came out, I told him that he could make his own eggs and I went in the bathroom and slammed the door.

After taking a luke warm shower (just hot enough to save the hair) I came out and noticed the pancakes that I made myself were gone. I turned around to find the hubby eating them. I asked him if he was proud to know that he was two for two on pissing me off today? He looked down at what was left of my pancakes and walked over and handed me a pancake that was left on his plate. If you want to make an "already mad wife" mad, offer her your leftovers.

So, I left that morning cold and hungry-just wait until next Sunday. If I don't get the shower first, there's going to be alot of wasted water going on in the world when all the toilets will be getting flushed repeatedly.

The photo we're using on our thank-you card to the press

I've had the same daily photo up for so long that it's starting to blend in on the blog. I thought maybe you'd like another photo that throws our being a Hallmark card finalist in your face-like you aren't already sick of it already. Just wait until my book comes out...

Friday Favorite

It's Friday Favorites!

Do you like glass things? I do! I don't get to have too many glass objects because they tend to get broken.

When I saw these Etsy items...

You can hang these on your computer monitor!

I thought, wow! These are cool and they hang up on things so maybe they would survive in my house.

These are glass mobiles (mini and large) and they can be found here:

Leah Pellegrini is a yoga enthusiast and glass artist. She states on her profile page that she loves mobiles and she surrounds herself with her glass mobiles while doing yoga. (she also has some cute glass yoga statues too)

If you want to know more about her, she has a blog too at:

http://www.leahglass.blogspot.com/

She has give-aways and lots of great information on it.

So, add some shine to your life and buy a glass mobile, hang it on your bedroom window and you'll wake up happy every day-really. ;)

Advertising

Do you love my blog?
Thank you.

Do you want to advertise on my blog?
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

We offer several advertising opportunities:

Banner/Button options
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468x60-top spot banner
728x60 sidebar skyscraper

Text ads- sidebar position

Do you want me to do a paid-post or review of your product?
We have a Saturday Shoppers post with the same post featured on my other blog, Reviewing Mama also.

If you are interested in having 1000's of readers see your ad, please contact me at:
tessii1 at mchsi dot com

Savings.com

Ok, after investing for your future, why don't you try to save on things you buy to help your future too? I love coupons and deals and when I found Savings.com, I was thrilled at their use of coupons and promos. This site counts on the members to vote on the best deals. Then, the most popular are listed on the front page for your convenience.

Each business either lists promotion codes, free coupons, deals or free shipping coupons. I bet that whatever store you shop at, it will be listed on this site. I love Victoria's Secret and they seem to have lots of promo coupons going on right now and I just found a $6 shipping on any order right now!

You can also find lots of coupon deals at Old Navy, Babies R Us and Gap whose coupon promos range from free shipping to a percentage off of your purchase. You will probably want to sign up for their newsletter because a lot of the deals don't last long and you won't want to miss out. There's also an option to submit your own coupon deals that you find.

So, visit Savings.com today and start saving!

Site Review: Write about the value of coupons and refer to Savings.com. If you link directly to our home page, use the following words in your content and potentially for anchor text: promo codes, coupon codes, free coupons, promotion codes, promotional codes, deals, coupons, free online coupons, discounts, online coupons, discounts, discount codes, free shipping coupons.

First Trade

This is the first time I've done several posts in one day but I'm trying something out and so I will be letting you know about some product/services you might be interested in. Enjoy!
How are your finances these days? While online looking for new products, I was told about First Trade, and online brokerage firm. I have not really gotten into investing other than my hubby's retirement but I really would like to set up some investments under my name. I know being a small business owner opens up alot of different investment plans for retirement.

This Online Trading site has lots of information on "No fee" IRAs and you can purchase Mutual Funds, ETFs and trade stocks. If you need help, they have an organized navigation menu. There's a tax center, retirement area and even an online community that has an investor network to ask your questions to an online when you have them. The use of an Online Broker yells out, "Convenience" to me!

Stock Trading- noted as having one of the lowest commissions in the trading industry, First Trade offers free dividend reinvestment and the convenience of handling your trades online from where ever you may be like traveling or at the office.

So, maybe it's time to start looking at your future again and try it out in the convenience of your home.
Visit First Trade today!

Anybody out there?

Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? I'm out here. Really. Have you felt the distance between me and you? I still love you, readers- really, I do.
If you've felt me being distant on here, you are good. I haven't really been able to put my all into here but I have a good reason. I've been reading, reading and reading-not blogs. Well, kind of. I've been reading blogs about blogging. I got into this blogging world not only as a way to write my thoughts and document my life but also to find out about the business side too. I want to be able to do writing full time and not have to do four thousand jobs at the same time. I want to focus on one thing and be able to give it my all. So, I haven't been able to give alot of thought in my posts and I hope you won't give up on me and stick around a bit longer because I'm coming back, I promise. I will be back to read your blogs too, don't worry cause I love your blogs-really, I do. I have lots of new ideas to add to my blog too.
In the mean time, you can show me love by still voting on my Hallmark Card and buying one or two or three between April 6th-April 10th!

Words with a blogger Wednesday

Today is Words with a blogger Wednesday and well, my blogger did not get my interview back in time, so I decided to feature a blog that is very cool. I once asked him if he would let me interview him and never received an answer back. Maybe he is too busy, too snobby for my little blog or maybe my letter took a wrong turn and landed in his spam folder and he never got it. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and go with the spam folder idea. Yeah, that will work- I like to think of the good in people.

Anyway, I still wanted to let my readers know about this blog since I love food blogs and I'm pretty sure that nobody can resist awesome photos of food and a great recipe to go with.

Here is his blog:

The Good Mood Food Blog

Donal from Dublin runs this blog and documents his passion of cooking.

His blog started in 2007 from his love of photography and cooking-I love that combination!

He tries to make his recipes as healthy as he can make them and his food photos are beautiful.

Don't these look yummy?

I don't like tomatoes, but I would eat this.

He just recently finished writing a cookbook which is due for release Oct 09'. The book is called "Good Mood Food" and is full of healthy home cooking.

His blog design is clean and well organized with the recipes at hand on the header and there's lots to choose from. I've never seen a food blog as updated as his is-he must cook nonstop!

Well, enough from me- you've got to get over there and check it out. You will be hooked and you'll want to blame me for giving you yet another great blog to add to your blogroll!

Nintendo would be outraged

It happened again. My middle child took advantage of me relying on his so-called independence in the homework department. I was busy doing my daily stuff when the phone rang-Jordon's school called to let me know that he hasn't been turning in his work in a certain class. Argh- not again.


I was informed that he would have to come in and do Saturday school-they still have that? As I was listening to her tell me about how many assignments he was missing, I was thinking about what kind of punishment would have a lasting effect on him. Like, maybe making him wear pink to school for a week? Scrubbing the toilet with his toothbrush? Going to his sister's house and having to clean it-that would have a life changing effect on him.


After hanging up the phone and counting to ten, I decided that it would have to be the electronics that would have to go. I very bravely went into his room and gathered up the Xbox, Super Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Gameboy, PlayStation and took the power cord from his computer. Wondering where in the heck I was going to store them all, I threw them on my bed for the time being.


Luckily, I had four hours before he would be home to cool down and I had my daughter pick him up from school so I wouldn't be tempted to let him stand in the rain for a minute or two. Just kidding about not letting him in the car-well, maybe.


When he got home, I was settled down enough not to yell at him and I calmly explained how he would not be gaming or computing or whatever until his grade was up to par. Of course he thought taking everything away was unnecessary and I explained to him that no, letting him see the light of day was unnecessary, but I was willing to budge a bit.


So, he did all his homework and then made the rest of my night miserable by whining that he was bored. I was tempted to bring out one of his games to get him off my back, but I didn't give in. I tried to have him watch a show with everyone or do some reading, but he didn't want to and tried his hardest to get me to at least let him look up something on the computer. I was proud of myself for not budging and the hubby even congratulated me. Now, I just hope the teacher hurries up and raises his grade so he can have his toys back- I mean, so he can understand the value of doing your work and not falling behind and how it will effect his future-yeah, that's the ticket.

Loosing an hour of sleep and adjusting to being a year older

This morning came all too early for me and surviving my birthday weekend went very fast. My husband thought it would be funny the day before my birthday to make me think that nobody was getting me a birthday cake and he didn't have any money to get me anything and that everyone was too busy to come over to celebrate. So after being upset all night thinking that nobody loved me, he greets me at the bathroom door the next morning with a new watch and says that he was just kidding. He KNOWS that I get extra emotional around my birthday and he uses this to entertain himself. Note to self: Husband's birthday coming up in May-no presents for him.

So, I am now officially in the 40's. I didn't count last year because when you turn 40, you are just hitting the 40's and not in full swing yet-that's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it. My husband also thinks it's funny to call me old but then I tell him that if I'm old then he's got one foot in the grave and that I will miss him while I'm vacationing in Hawaii on his insurance policy.

I'm not sure if everyone does this when they have a birthday, but whenever I turn another year older, I reflect on my life and my accomplishments and make new goals of where I want to be when I get older. My main goal that has never changed has been my desire to write books. I am one step closer for my next book to be published and I'm hoping to reach a wide audience this time. Then, I will hopefully go on to writing my next idea which will be a four book series named, The Coconut Hut Club. These books will be about four women that decide to form a club (named after the bar that they hang out at ) since they seem to "find trouble" all the time. Kind of like a 'Chick Lit' type of novels with humor and suspense thrown together.

So, bare with me and my whining and hopefully here soon I'll be writing a post that says, Ok, you can now buy my book here...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Today is my birthday. Happy birthday to me. Not a great week to have a birthday with the whole restraining order and all, but hey, it could be worse. Back in the day I would've gone out on the town but this one will be a quiet one which is fine with me.

For my birthday, I'm hoping to get the next book in the Twilight series and believe it or not, the Miley book that just came out-am I weird to want to read this? Hey, I watch Disney more than any other station so why not learn about the life of one of the Disney stars before their stardom? I know the hubby is getting me the Twilight movie when it comes out this month as a belated present.

So, a simple birthday with simple presents is all that I need-and chocolate cake. Ok, and maybe lots of comments from all my favorite readers. That's it.

What the hell have I been up to?

You may or may not have noticed a little break in my postings this week. I did not die, hang up my keyboard or fall off the face of the earth (again, if you even cared). I've had a bit of a family crisis at home and just couldn't find the time to put together any posts. I even missed the
I ♥ Faces contest- I know, it was important. Trust me.

If you've been a long time reader, then you are aware of the ongoing problems with the grand baby's father. If you would like to catch up, check out maybe this post or this one or well, you'd probably want to start from the beginning of my blog.

Anyway, this boy has been making my daughter's life hell by stalking her, texting her constantly, finding out from two-faced friends whenever she tries to go out on a date and tells the guy lies and scares them away. She's replaced three tires that "mysteriously" got holes in them and oh, did I tell you about the time that he tried to steal the baby when he had followed her to the mall?


I finally talked her into getting a restraining order and she did which meant a court date to decide how long it would be in effect and decide visitation and custody while they were there. We were all pretty nervous about what would happen because we did NOT want him to have a chance to be able to see the baby unsupervised and if he did get granted the right to see him alone, we would probably never see the baby again.

A couple of days after she got the restraining order, my daughter got a phone call from "someone" from the clerk's office, saying that the father was going to sign over rights to her if she would let him see the baby once a week. The person said that she would need to go down and sign papers. My husband advised that we talk to a lawyer for advice and see if we needed one or not, so they went to talk to one and he (lawyer)said that he never heard of that before and he called down there (courthouse) and they said that the court hearing was still on. So, my daughter went down to the courthouse to find out about the phone call. They said that nobody had called her and also told her that the S.O.B had been calling five times a day to see if she was dropping the charges and that they were getting pretty annoyed with him.

That's when we realized who was behind those calls and I asked her for the phone numbers that were calling her and we looked them up and they were coming from some one's house! Apparently, the father and whoever was helping him, thought they could trick her into not showing up to court or dropping it so he could not get in trouble or whatever. What a prize he is, wouldn't you agree?

After that, Jess was told not to believe anyone trying to call her about anything to do with court. Then, court finally came yesterday and guess what? He didn't even show up! She got whatever she wanted with a restraining order valid for a year, full custody and NO visitation unless he takes her to court. So, now you see why it's been a bit hard to concentrate on anything for the past couple of days.

Now, if only we could figure out how to talk him into taking a one way ticket to a far away land where all deadbeat guys should go.

Words with a Blogger Wednesday

Words with a Blogger Wednesday!

Today's blogger is Alicia from

Yaya Stuff.

Take it away, Yaya!

My name is Alicia but my nickname is "Yaya". My main blog is Yaya Stuff (http://www.yayastuff.blogspot.com). I'm a nanny and I also teach a workshop for children with Tourette Syndrome, plus I clean offices on the weekends.
My husband and I are currently going through the adoption process AND fertility treatments to try and have children.




When did you start blogging?
I started blogging in May 2008.

Do you make money from your blog?
I don't make money from my blog but I do have a Chipin account for donations to our adoption fund. We are currently holding our second raffle ticket giveaway.

How frequently do you post?
I post about 4 times a week on average, or whenever the mood strikes!

Do you have a favorite blogger(s) that you just can't live without reading?
I have blogs that I faithfully visit because they are either personal friends of mine or have been visiting my blog since its beginning. Those are:
The Kirnan Crib (http://www.thekirnancrib.blogspot.com)
Jeanne's Endo Blog (http://www.endendoat.blogspot.com)
K Is.... (http://www.mskelseyb.blogspot.com)
Ranney Days (http://www.RanneyDays.blogspot.com)

And then I have blogs that just make me smile like:

Perpetual Burn (http://cossiethegreat.blogspot.com/)
Pulsipher Predilections (http://adamandkristinapulsipher.blogspot.com/)

Okay, I'm gonna stop listing blogs since I visit about 100 blogs a day, so my list could be endless!


Have your readers influenced you in any way?
My readers have influenced my outlook on my situation in life. We are an infertile couple dealing with multiple pregnancy losses and it's hard to keep the hope up, but my readers have been really inspirational and encouraging to me.

Has blogging changed your life in any way?
Blogging has helped me raise more awareness about Infertility and Pregnancy and Infant Loss. These are topics that are often ignored in our culture and it is unfortunate that so many women feel they need to go through such things alone.


What do you do when you get writer's block?
I usually just post a cute picture!


Any other advice you might have for newbie bloggers?
Newbie bloggers. Visit blogs and comment!
Thanks, Alicia!

Send me a line if you would like to be featured next!