Me, Myself, my Friends, and Family

A Work In Progress

2009-01-23T09:20:00.000-08:00

So I've been trying to find motivation. You know, "will power...the power to will away temptation! Tempation sold separately. Batteries Not Included!" Those are lines from an old DC Talk rap song. In the absense of said motivation, I have been doing what I want and eating what I want. So about four days ago, I decided to just start cutting back and keeping a food journal with a friend. I'm waiting to see how my metabolism responds to the lack of high calorie, high fat foods. If I can't see a result pretty quickly, I may look into some sort of fat burner. I'm not really all that into putting medications into my body, but I am into finding myself under all of this baby fat!

Please Pray!!

2009-01-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

Hank just called me. He told me that they are laying off at the station. We need his job. Please pray. God is in control. I was gonna put a but on that sentence, but I like it better just like that. God is in control.

Mini Honeymoons!

2009-01-15T10:02:00.000-08:00

Hank and I are actually getting to coach volleyball together this season. He is being my assistant and I am loving every minute of it! Everything from bossing him around, knowing more about the sport than he does, and getting to spend more time with him than normal is so so very nice!

Another fun aspect of the volleyball season is that we will be going on out-of-town tournament trips. It's gonna be fun, I'm thinking! You know, little mini honeymoons with volleyball thrown in.

I know there won't be tons of free time, but we will get to ride to and from together, eat out alone, and even have some limited free time together. I love that!

I mean it's not on the same line as maybe taking a couple of Vegas vacations, but I think it's time invested in our marriage and therefore, the best vacation of all!

Not Pink

2009-01-15T09:55:00.000-08:00

My little princess is so much fun to dress and fix up! Who knew that having a girl could be so, so much fun! I love to find her new, interesting, and attention grabbing outfits (in a good way!). There is a website that I never knew existed until now! They carry a brand called catimini that I have discovered is absurdly cute! Just look at that!! I love everything from the color... you know, 'not pink!'... to the cute and style. It's so adorable and I know that Sophie girl would look irresistible in it! Sophie has a lot of cute stuff in her closet, but I'm always on the lookout for new 'looks' for her. She loves shoes... her mom loves clothes. We make a perfectly outfitted pair!

Sidetracked... yeah... just slightly

2009-01-15T09:54:00.000-08:00

The holidays and surgery slowed me down a bit, but I'm just about back to normal! Thank goodness! I have some Christmas pictures to share. I put them in a slideshow format, so I'll post them later!

This is a VERY VERY late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I got some fun stuff this year!

Do It Yourselfers

2008-12-27T20:24:00.000-08:00

Not long ago, Hank and I decided to invest in a new tv stand for our downstairs office/media room/toy room. We wanted to streamline all of the gaming systems, DVD players, and Satellite boxes. I went on a shopping trip with my sister and a friend and found just what we needed at a great price. We had to assemble it ourselves, but it was well worth it in my opinion. I can't tell you how much neater it feels now that everything is off of the ground and wires aren't hanging down the wall and lying on the rug.

This was a simple solution to one of our home improvement projects. This particular room needs a lot of help. It needs updated fans and fixtures. It needs new flooring. And we plan to add a bathroom down there as well to make it a fully functioning part of our home.

I never thought I would be so very excited about home improvement projects, but I love seeing where we started and where we end.

Love, True Love

2008-12-27T20:17:00.001-08:00

My own personal history lacks a lot of the sweeping romantic gestures that make up a lot of our social background. I didn't get the grand declaration of love... instead I got a man who was struggling to trust himself enough to love me. I didn't get a typical down-on-your-knee proposal either. Instead, I gave him a positive pregnancy test. We didn't get to shop for engagement rings or plan elaborate weddings. Once we decided to take the plunge, we set off on a whirlwind of wedding planning that culminated two months later in a small, intimate, and heart felt start to our life and our family.

Sometimes I catch the looks that other women cast my way when they talk about hot air balloon rides that led to proposals... and candle lit dinners on a gazebo that sits in the middle of a lake... or even a proposal made publically in front of a church congregation. I see them, but I just smile. My life and the way it has unfolded is all right with me. I love it. I love my husband and the family that we have created together. A true partnership and trust. Nothing holds a candle to that.

After Christmas, maybe...

2008-12-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I meant to do it, but I didn't. I could say that about a lot of different things in my life. However the particular thing I'm talking about is getting a Bluetooth headset for my husband for Christmas. I never saw a deal that blew me away... and if you know me, you know that it's all about the deal!!

So I'm still on the lookout.

I remember this particular email that a friend of mine sent to me with some really, really graphic pictures of a man who was killed in a car accident because he was texting and talking. I know that being hands free in the car isn't the same as not talking on the phone while driving, but it does give you more control.

Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-21T20:05:00.000-08:00

I'm ready for it. I mean, who wouldn't be if they were in my shoes. I want to be wanted by my husband. I want him to look at me and think about naughty things!! So maybe it's time to take a step that I would never consider if not for my age and circumstance. By that, I mean maybe it's time I considered taking weight loss pills. I don't mean it to be a 'quick fix' kind of thing. I want to do something to get my metabolism jump started. You see, I am the type of person that needs to see some results before I get completely motivated. I don't know why that is, but I am.

I have several different friends who are taking diet pills. They tell me they eat so much less and are loosing weight just because of that. I don't know exactly how it all works, but I wanna try it for myself.

Presents, please!

2008-12-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Hank and I finished up our Christmas shopping... and thanks to my good friend, Crystal Dawn, I got most of it wrapped and ready yesterday.... wanna see?? Here's the presents that can go under the tree. You know, presents to each other and to relatives.
And here is the super secret stash in the storage room that's ready to go, too!

Since Alabama is having a banner season, a lot of them are sports gifts themed, but I don't believe that any of the recipients would object! And, remember, all of Hankie's family is out of state, so were there is an abundance of it here... not so much there!

Did you see the long present wrapped in the the red and white hounds tooth print in the front of the tree?? That one came from a sporting goods store for sure. Any guesses?

Model Figure

2008-11-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, do you do this?? When I feel a guilty wave pass over me as I'm eating a dessert or ordering a soda, I think, "After this birthday or that holiday, I am going on a diet!" Yeah... that's where I am. I know it's completely unrealistic to try to diet right now. I have to make this and that for Thanksgiving, and class parties for Christmas are coming up. Then company parties, special events and Christmas. There is no way I'm gonna loose even a fraction of a pound unless my will power is in check... and it ain't if you were wondering! I want those buckeyes and that turkey and dressing and mashed potatoes with extra butter and sweet potatoes.

I took a look at a few diet pills a while back and now that I'm not nursing, I'm seriously considering giving one a try. Lipodrene claims to be more effective, so maybe that one. But I'm not willing to have really terrible side effects.

I wish I could find a healthy balance and learn the beauty of portion control. I think that this is something I should have worked harder at when I was younger and I just might need a little extra help now that I'm in my thirties!

Gadgets and Toys

2008-11-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

I believe that we are entering the electronics age with Tres and Bryant. They love their DS's and they have several gaming systems.

This Christmas, 'Santa' is bringing them a Wii (courtesy of Pay U 2 blog!) complete with controllers, games, and a few accessories. We are trying to find them ipods or mp3 players at a reasonable price. Lately, they have been jamming around the house with their Dad's mp3 player and just having a good old time! We saw some listed at $12 for Black Friday, so we may be up super early to try and take advantage of that deal!

Did I mention that Tres is already asking for his own cell phone?? Seriously, people. He is six. Help.

Christmas Comes Early!

2008-11-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

Oh, Christmas tree! We put our Christmas tree up really early this year! The boys were out of school on a Tuesday, so we stayed up late on Monday night and decorated the tree. It was a lot of fun! And I'm kind of relieved that I won't have to take it down until the end of December!

My kids were so excited! It took a lot to get them to listen and not break every ornament! They had clumps of ornaments everywhere! Thankfully, Hank was there to spread them out.

I just love this time of year!

Cha-cha-cha-cha changes!

2008-11-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

So, I've been doing diet drinks sporatically since we got back from Disney and can't seem to get into a groove. I complain about my body, but I'm doing very little to make any changes. I have toyed with the idea of ordering some diet pills now that I'm not nursing, but I always end up talking myself out of spending the money. There are ALWAYS more important things to spend our money on... especially when you are stretching every dollar as far as it will go these days!

But the bottom line is that I have got to come up with some sort of game plan to get a grip on my weight. I don't want to end up a fat, middle aged women who only thinks about food.

I'm active as far as my kids are concerned, but not for myself. I need to do this for me. No one else!

Vegas, Baby!

2008-11-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hank and I have been wanting to take a couple trip for a while. We've talked about the moutains, the beaches, and even vegas. I have some friends who live in Vegas, so I guess we could stay with them... but what kind of 'alone time' would that encourage??

One of my friends flew to Vegas and got married about 3 years ago and loved it! They only invited one friend each and a few family members and said that they had the time of their lives!! How fun is that? Of course it was the second marriage for each of them, so they didn't want to hoopla the second time around!

A lady at church said there are a lot of free things you can do in Vegas, too. I would like to do a little research. Maybe we could do an anniversary trip there and renew our vows or something! That would be romantic!

I Had To...

2008-11-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

...look this one up, but when I did, I was a little surprised to realize that I know a lot of people that suffer from Plantar Fasciitis... or heel pain.

My Mom has to take ibuprofen for it and gets regular pedicures to get a little relief. But when I tell her that there is something she can sleep in in help eliviate her pain, she's gonna want to know all about it!!

I hate any kind of pain, but when my feet hurt, that just puts a kink in my whole day. It makes you limp when you really don't want to and it makes you slower than you really want or need to be! Boo for foot pain.

Motorcycle Madness

2008-11-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

Kind of like Spring fever, I've noticed a trend lately. All of the people around me have talked about or purchased a motorcycle or scooter lately. Hank bought a scooter to save us money. He loves that thing though and I have noticed that our gas bill has decreased dramatically.

My sister, Tonnie and her hubby both bought bikes. They had to make a repair not long ago, and it wasn't Harley parts or anything, but it still cost a bit more than I would want to pay for repairs!

Have you guys noticed more bikes and scooters out there lately?

Hank gets nearly 100 miles to the gallon and when he fills up, it costs less than $3... so you can't really beat that, huh?

Seating Arrangements

2008-11-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

So the church we attend was meeting in a movie theater. Complete with theater seating and mood lighting. We even watched a couple of movies during church time. I know it doesn't sound very 'churchy' but that's why we like our church! We watched Facing The Giants and Narnia.

Hank wants to turn our downstairs den into a media center... again complete with theater seating. I wouldn't mind it, but to do that I would have to sacrifice space upstairs to move up toys and the computer... not gonna happen right now, people!

There's No Place Like Home

2008-11-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

The other day while I was dusting off all the pictures and nick nacks in the dining room, I dusted this little votive tea light holder set that spells out home! My friend, Crystal, gave them to me last year when we moved in and I just added some tea light candles and they made it such a warm, homey gift.

We've lived here for nearly a year now and I have to say that I love our house. I love pulling into our driveway and not seeing another house literally feet away. I love coming into our home and the satisfaction of seeing everything just like I wanted it! Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful, warm, comfortable home.

Oh, Computer Guy....

2008-11-06T09:24:00.000-08:00

Can you hear me yelling this?? It seems like everytime something goes wrong with this stupid computer I have to report the problem first to my wonderful husband. He then tries his best to do what he can to fix whatever problem pops up. And when he can't, which isn't very often I must say, we then call on my brother-in-law, Brett... our own personal 'computer guy!'

Lately, Hank and I have developed a relationship with another couple. We've been having a great time doing family things together... and our kids love their kids so it all works out for both of us! Well, turns out he's a computer whiz too, so we are surrounded by our own 'Geek Squad' now! I'm sure they keep spare computer parts and used cisco stuff in their houses just for fun. Gotta love geeks though!

Trick or Treat!

2008-11-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

Well, our little princess was just that for her second Halloween in a row!That's right! This is the same costume she wore last year! It fit her much better a year later, but I was still shocked that it fit! It was labeled a 0-3 month, but was much bigger than that!

Tres went as... Indiana Jones. He was so funny... all night he would do slides in the grass and rolls down hills. He said they were his stunts! Very into his character! Bryant went as Optimus Prime, but wouldn't leave his mask on cause he said it hurt him! In this shot, he was yelling, "Candy!" at the top of his lungs! We always start out our trick or treating with a stop at GiGi and Pawpaw's house (my mom's parents).
Governer Palin was out campaigning!She was shaking hands and kissing babies!She seemed determined to win Shelby County one house at a time! :)Of course, we had a blast and the kids have enough candy to last through till next Halloween! :)

Phew... it's over!

2008-10-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Soccer season has come and gone and not a moment too soon for our little family. Now we just need to get through one holiday at a time, right?? I can't believe it's already stinkin' November!

Tres finished his season strong. He scored twice (he actually threw in a ball and it made a goal... but they let it count!) and he sure knows how to defend the other teams goal! He tells us he wants to be a goalie. Only time will tell if he sticks with it and becomes the next David Beckham!

Autumn Arrives

2008-10-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

So we have enjoyed our back yard this summer. My sister-in-law gave us some new to us patio furniture when she and her family moved and they didn't have room for it... so we've been able to eat outside which I like! But now that the leaves are falling and the wind and rain are upon us, I'm thinking about getting some patio furniture covers to help the furniture weather the weather elements a little better throughout the winter months. We may not have a really cold winter, but it does tend to get a little dreary and rainy at times! Plus I want to keep that patio furniture looking good for all the outdoor projects we want to do next year!

Brown eyed boy

2008-09-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

Bry is in K-4 these days and obsessed with writing letters! He is doing so well at writing his own name, which is kind of a big deal since it's such a big name! He loves telling us about his day... and he loves to talk to his brother about their respective days. I wish you could all be a fly on the wall for these brotherly exchanges!

Stocking Stuffers

2008-09-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

Whether he wants to be admit it or not, my husband is a wannabe. He's a wannabe carpenter, a wannabe electrician, a wannabe plumber... and I have to admit that as far as wannabes go, he's a pretty good at all of them!

So usually at Christmas time, I head down the hardware aisles at local stores and look for things to fill his stocking with. I found some industrial clamps one time, and he loved those! I put in bungy ties last year and those were also a hit! I always count it successful when he uses something I get over and over again.

When I get gifts, I get them for one of two purposes:
#1- To use in practical everyday life
#2- To be sentimental and sappy!

School Days

2008-09-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

School is in full swing for both boys! They each love different things about school and I love seeing them so excited. They are obsessed with reading or being read to. I would say their TV time is down to one hour or less a day now! Who'd a thunk it?

Oh, Grandaddy!

2008-09-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

My grandfather had to go to the emergency room today. He had gotten so darn constipated that he had to go in for assistance. Can you imagine? He was in a lot of pain, actually, and I hate that. But part of me is like, "Come on, Grandaddy... would a little metamusil really hurt you?" I mean scientists and researchers develop a new medicine every day it seems like for just this sort of problem!

At least he isn't needing anything like incontinence supplies. He is over 85 and I know he has health issues, but he is really good shape for his age and hates to sit still! It just kills him to not have a purpose. I love him so much.

Homework Space

2008-09-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hank and I have been wanting to find a coffee table to put in our downstairs room so that the boys will have a designated place to play LEGOS, do homework, eat snacks, etc. Right now, I just have a run down and that doesn't quite do the trick! I want to go to a place like IKEA that has a ton of affordable coffee tables to choose from, but we don't have the time to spare right now to make a trip to Atlanta. So I started checking out a few online options. But, then I ran across this one site that had some pretty darn cool ones! check this one out... it's trendy enough to be in a room now and classic enough to be in there for years!But I really want one with a little bit of storage room in it for remotes, game controllers, etc! So I guess I just keep lookin' huh?

Wire Free Life

2008-09-15T09:44:00.001-07:00

So, if I wanted to make changed with our cable... would I need to use something like an HDMI splitter? My husband and father in law were talking about splitters and cables and what not over the weekend and it all sounded like Greek to me! You know how on Charlie Brown all the adult voices sounded like "wah, wah, wah, wah?" Well, that's how I felt like they were talking when they started in on that! I mean I get confused just looking at the cables behind the TV... and thinking about hooking up a computer or anything technical like that makes me cringe. It makes me so super thankful for the husband I have... I don't have to fool with stuff like that!

Lower That Rate!

2008-09-15T09:40:00.001-07:00

Hank and I got a letter from out mortgage company last week letting us know that we were eligible for refinancing at a lower rate with no closing costs. I'm checking into it tomorrow, because if they give us the rate the letter said, I think it would save us about a hundred bucks a month! How cool would that be?

It got me to thinking about our other insured items... like our cars. I wonder if I could get an online car insurance quote. What I hate is all my time getting eaten up on the phones... I just want the info so I can make a quick decision and move about my business. I'm not sure we could get a better price right now though... Hank has had a couple of tickets and a fender bender over the last 3 years!

Ticket For Two, Please

2008-09-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

Hank and I have a house that is full of potential! I mean, we could do a number of different things to it to make it into just the right home for us. We plan to add a master suite onto our house in the future... but we are talking 5 to 7 years in the future. But when we do that, I would love to transform out toy room/home office/tv room into a media room... complete with home theater seating! Wouldn't that be cool? I say a decorator do it on one of those shows and loved it! Then when the kids ask to go to the movies, you can just tell them to go downstairs! Ha!

Hit Me Disney One More Time

2008-09-15T09:06:00.001-07:00

Our season passes to Disney will expire in December and we are determined to get back down to Orlando before that happens! Now we just need to get some good travel deals. Hank called and found that if we stay during the week, that we could get a room for $54 a night! That's pretty darn cheap. So I am putting money aside for hotel, gas, and food. We plan to drive to my in-laws spend a night, then get up early and head straight to the parks for the day. We will check in around lunch time that day and stay two nights... then we will check out in next morning, go spend the day in the parks, and head to his parent's house when the parks close around 8. Then we will spend the morning with the in laws and head home in time to get everyone settled for school! Sounds like a plan to me!! Oh, yeah, I need to put money aside for a stroller rental too!

We All Fall Down!

2008-09-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure I wanted to make this public knowledge, but I don't really see why not. I mean, I think everyone has problems every now and then with their insides! I went to my OB a couple of weeks ago because I had been experiencing pain for about a month. Nothing life altering just pain that seemed to have increased in duration... just lasting longer and longer every time. My doctor detemined that my uterus has dropped and is only getting lower. He recommended a partial hysterctomy to correct the problem. This would eliminate the pain and eliminate my period. I was concerned that I would need something like progesterone or hormone replacement... but he said that he would leave my ovaries so that that wouldn't be necessary until I started going through menapause... hopefully not for a long time!

The 'Hip'est Mom Around

2008-08-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

My Mom had hip replacement surgery. She's doing well, but the doc said she was literally bone on bone and it was a lot more needed than anyone knew. She's being a trooper, but she wouldn't let me take any pics... she's so vain! Wink! I love you, Momma! Get better fast... my kids want to go to Disney with you!

Pimp My Yard, please

2008-08-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

We have been focusing mainly on our indoor renovations since we moved into our new house about 8 months ago. But I think after income tax season, we will begin focusing on some outdoor items. We want to extend our deck, add a pation/grill area and possibly a play place for the kids. Of course, I want to add a fence to that list. We looked into having someone come and do the fence installation but the cost jumped up more than double, so my husband says he feels like he could do that himself with some help from family. I would love to have a retreat type feel to our backyard! I already so enjoy the privacy that we forfeited by living in a garden home about 25 feet from other houses just like it.

High School Revisited

2008-08-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

I think I'm revisiting my high school days... zits are just poppong up all over my stinkin' face!! Help! Help! Help! It's not full blown acne or anything, but it sure is unattractive and unwelcome.

I can't think of a real reason that this is happening now, of all times. We've been busy with the business of life... carpool, lunches, laundry... and then my Mom had surgery so throw in trips to the hospital somewhere too.

I just hope it stops before it reaches epic... or pizza like... porportions! I'm changing my face wash TONIGHT in hopes of getting this under control.

Computer May I?

2008-08-18T14:36:00.001-07:00

We've been having some computer issues lately. Our internet connection was as slow as Christmas! It made me think about when we first had internet and it took forever to get a connection, and if someone wanted to call you, they were out of luck... or the call would kick you off of the internet. I'm really glad that we don't have to go through that again, but having a slow connection made me realize how spoiled we are to having INSTANT access!

Hank decided that this would be a good time to get some virus detecting software, defrag our hard drive and transfer some pics to disk and clear out some space. He said, short of buying a computer with a bit more ram, that was all we could do. It seems to be doing the trick, though! I'm navigating around the internet at warp speed again... just like I like it!

My brother-in-law, Brett... aka 'The Computer Guy'... said that if we needed him to get us any parts, like new KVM or something that he could. We'll see if Hank's amatuer tinkering did the trick!

Computer Overhaul

2008-08-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

So, if we keep these computer issues going, we might have to give my brother-in-law the go ahead to rebuild our computer. He said that he could get some used cisco parts... but not yucky cheap parts, just parts taken from units that we not used or used for parts only. I'm on board with the idea if we actually need to do it. It would save us a bunch of money in the long run. I guess my hesitation is that I really, desparately want a laptop!! We're talking portable and way cooler than an old, chain-you-to-your-desk computer that's been rebuilt. However, my practical side wins out 9 1/2 times out of 10!

Vacation options

2008-08-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

As most of you may know... my family holds season passes to Disney World in Orlando through the end of this year. I never thought I would say this, but I'm looking for other things for us to do while we are in Orlando! Last time we went, I found an outlet mall that had a Disney outlet store in it! I was so excited to be able to get a few souvenirs without breaking the bank! And we have talked about checking out the water parks next time we got if it's hot enough. Hank has even said that the Orlando golf courses are pretty darn good! Maybe he and his dad will go play a round next time we're there. Although, I think it might be hard to pry my fourth child... also known as, my husband... away from the happiest place on earth!

New Products!

2008-08-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

On my most recent trip to CVS, I bought a new name brand product. Normally, I stick to brands I know, but lately I've been having some break-outs and wanted to branch out a bit and find something new and different and more age-appropriate. I've been using the same facial cleanser for over ten years, and I think it's time that I find something that not only handles occasional break outs, but also combats the signs of aging. It was a 24/7 product... I don't think I need acne cream... but I definitely need something to keep those monthly break-outs in check!

Swatch Watch

2008-08-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

Do you guys remember how popular having a Swatch Watch was? I had a HUGE one that I wore every day. It had like five different faces that I could change out. I believe that after my Swatch Watch infatuation, my parents got me a one of the new Guess watches for Christmas. It was the perfect transition watch for me. It was small and classy and went with everything! I wore that one until the band broke and the battery went dead! It's had to believe that Guess is still around and now catering to the next generation of trend setters! I still remember the ad campaign for Guess jeans that had Drew Barrymore that shocked everyone.

Another State Checked Off The List!

2008-08-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law, Betsy and her family used to live in North Carolina. One of my regrets is that in the two years they lived there that we never made it up to visit. Now, they understand why we didn't. We had Tres, then Bryant a year and a half later and that 8-10 hour trips (depending on how many stops you have to make with kids) would have been unbearable!! But I am a person that LOVES to travel. I like to be able to say, "I've been there! And this is what I loved about it!" I did a little research on North Caroline when she lived there. There's a stretch of vacation destination property called the Outer Banks. It's beach front and from the pictures looks absolutely GORGEOUS!! Now that my SIL doesn't live there, do you think she would get upset if we went to North Carolina now?

A Biker Chick and a Golfing Fool

2008-08-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

Lately, it seems that two of my siblings are taking up new hobbies. My brother, Matt, recently had a pretty scary wreck and totaled his motorcycle. His wife, who just recently had a baby, asked him to please leave the bikes behind and find something new. So Matt is golfing more now. That made my aunt super happy! She is a golf fiend! Just last month, I think, she won a women's tournament and came home with a bunch of new Cobra golf stuff! She's been golfing for quite a while and enjoys teaching and showing someone the ropes!

Then my sister Tonnie and her husband both went and bought a motorcycle. And now all they do is talk about that!

Anyway, I found this random picture that I took when I was coaching a volleyball tournament in Atlanta. It was snowing and I was trying to capture the moment... but I ended up with this huge Cobra truck!

The Friendly Plumber

2008-08-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

My Dad owns a plumbing company. They were some pretty typical uniforms that they have picked up and cleaned once a week. Jeans, khakis, button down service shirts... like I said, typical. I think it would be great if Dad invested in some new company logo shirts for him and the office workers. That way, when he goes and bids jobs, he looks neat and professional and is a walking advertisement for the company. I think it would be a nice change of pace for most people to see someone look well put together for a service industry. My Dad's company is definitely not stereotypical, but they do tend to fall into industry cliches.... example: Plumbers Cleavage!

Momma's Girl

2008-08-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

She's getting so big, huh? Our one and only princess...

He is The Champion, My Friend...

2008-07-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

Bryant is finishing up his tee ball season and we all went to the Baron's game over the weekend so that he could get his trophy from his coach. We had a great time, and Bryant was thrilled about his accomplishment and even more excited to put it in Daddy's trophy case at home! I love you, Bryant! I'm so proud of you!

This Belongs to:

2008-07-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

When my boys were little, I used to use a labeler and made little labels for everything that was theirs! The label would say "This Belongs To: Tres/Bryant." I put it on sippy cups, diaper bags, clothes, toys, dishes, you name it! It was labeled! I just love that little machine. It's fun to me. I even labeled the tupperware in my cabinet to houses flour, sugar, tea bags... It makes it look so nice and neat and makes me seem super efficient even though I'm not. Man, just relating this has made me have an itch to run out and buy some Dymo labels and get to organizing! I think I might have a problem! Ha! If you see my baby crawling around with a label on her hinnie that says 'bottom...' please come and remove the labeler from my hands.

I gotta be honest...

2008-07-15T23:04:00.000-07:00

I remember going to the baby store after Tres was born and being so darn excited about getting a jogging stroller. I had plans to go walking every day... I was gonna get my bikini body back... or did I ever have one? When I went in to pick it up, Tres was about 5 months old and the cashier asked me how far along I was!! Don't ever ask that, by the way... they may not be pregnant!

Now, every time I see it sitting out in the garage I just roll my eyes in disgust. I think I might have used it a hand full of times. Hank used it more than I did. But honestly, I don't think we've gotten enough use out of it to warrant the amount of money we put into it.

It is bulky and not easy to store... but it pushes great. Maybe if we had gotten a Bob stroller I would feel differently about it. They seem more functional than the one we have. But, who knows... even that might be collecting dust right now. I'm starting to believe that it's impossible to live that sort of lifestyle with three small children.

Barnyard Memories!

2008-07-15T22:59:00.001-07:00

I love horses. I think they are one of God's most beautiful creation! They are elegant and classic and stately. They are graceful and purposeful and embody a lot of characteristics I would like to be true about myself!

I remember growing up on the farm and loving it! There were a lot of chores that went with it though. I did not love, for instance, mucking the stalls. I did not love polishing the saddles. I did love bathing the horses, throwing hay down from the hay loft, galloping across the fields, sneaking sugar cubes out to them in the morning.

I wish I had kept riding over the years! But that is one expensive hobby! My niece Ashton has a horse and I hope I can ride it when I go visit next. I was pregnant and then SOphie was so new last time I saw them that I didn't feel comfortable riding!

The Armor of God!

2008-07-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

I've been working on teaching the boys about the Armor of God in the Bible. They get a little side tracked with the concept of suiting up in armor... you know, letting their little imaginations run wild with thoughts of swords and battles and whatnot. But I remembered a song that my Mom used to sing way back when to help them. I had to explain what some words meant, but it helps them. Basically is uses the imigary of asuit of armor to help them remember. Here are the words:

I've got my feet shod
With the preparation of Peace
Got my Sword of the Spirit
My shield of Faith
Got my breastplate of Righteousness
My helmet of Salvation
I put on my armor
And I'm ready for the battle!

I think it's fun to be able to pass on to my kids the songs and lessons I remember being taught as a child!

Phone or Toy?

2008-07-09T06:37:00.001-07:00

Who knew that a cell phone would be Sophie's favorite toy? But it is. If she is fussy in any store, I can hand her my cell phone and she is instantly mesmorized by the lights, buttons, and sounds. My phone, however, is not to fond of Sophie! She can lock it up quicker than you can bat an eyelash and she's slobbered on it so much that it sometimes acts crazy. So much so that Hank and I are talking about updating it and seeing what else is out there.

This would be my dream phone:It's a Nokia N95 8GB, complete with a built-in GPS (perfect for those trips when Hank refuses to admit that we are lost), and an 5 MP camera!! It has tons of other features, but these are the two that I care about.

Coupon Queen

2008-07-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

I love a good sale. What women worth their salt does not?? Lately, I've been the coupon clipping queen. Of course, I did designate myself that title... however I feel it's earned when you are currently staring at your 2 inch think binder that has all of your coupons neatly clipped, filed, and categorized. My folder also contains my scissors (exclusive coupon cutting scissors... not to be used for other things!), a calculator, pencil, and envelopes to divide up my transactions.

So maybe I take saving a buck a little too far, but if it means I can take my kids to get a happy meal occassionally, you better believe I'll keep on doing it.

So coupons, be ware!! I'm just itching to clip you.

To My Wonderful Husband

2008-07-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Top 10 reasons why I need a laptop... NOW!

10- I can monitor breaking coupon news anytime, anywhere, whenever I wanted!
9- I could order lingerie online from our den. (See, it's beneficial to us both.)
8- Our children could play on their favorite websites anytime and anywhere.
7- I could check our bank balance from Disney... no more wondering if we can afford the obscenely priced toy our kids want, now we'll know we can't!
6- I could order lingerie in bed. (See that!! Same as number 9, but in a DIFFERENT place!!)
5- You could look up really cool sports stuff anytime you wanted.
4- You wouldn't have to be chained to the computer desk and could eat meals while you surf the internet.
2- I could order linger from the kitchen.
1- You could check your fantasy baseball in bed!! (Yes, I would let you borrow it occassionally!)

37 to grow on

2008-07-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

I had planned to make Hank his favorite meal for his birthday, complete with cake, but he requested (no reflection on my cooking skills, I'm sure!) that we go out. We went to his favorite eat-out, Wings. Wings is the place we typically go to on date nights... we even had our rehearsal dinner there! Ha!
Anyway, it turned out to be Kid's Night, so they got to eat free!! And since it was kid's night, they had a comedian type guy there who was doing balloon animals and hats and such. The kids loved it!!THey each got a sword (and promptly popped them within minutes!)Bryant was looking up at the balloon as it was being blown up. "Oh Wow!" she says. Sophie got a little doggie. It was a fun birthday dinner. Our waiter came and sang Happy Birthday to Hankie in Italian... which was interesting (notice I didn't say good). Then we came back to Mom & Dad's and had cake and Hankie opened a few presents.

It was simple, fun, and full of laughter!

High Heels & A Smile

2008-06-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hank's birthday is next week. I've been given strict instructions to buy nothing. But I have other plans... I mean what wife worth her salt doesn't have some secret, devious plan?? Does he really know who he's dealing with?? Have I ever NOT bought him a present? But, I know for a fact he won't complain. Because I plan to go shopping for something a bit more intimate than a CD or clothes. I plan to find something to make him sit up and pay attention. I want to find something authentically NOT me. I want to give him a fantasy for his birthday. So while I sit here blushing and thinking about wearing a corset, or fishnet stockings, or saran wrap even... I know it's for a worthy cause.

I want him to have an unexpected spicey birthday!! (Do you hear my devious laughter now??)

Now, please!

2008-06-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

I think it's time... I think it's well past time. And I'm tired of waiting!! I've been chained to this desk long enough. I'm ready for freedom. I want it... and I want it now!! I'm talking about a laptop. I really, really want one!! And I want one in green. Cause that's just how I roll. I want it to have tons and tons of memory to support my picture taking habit. And I want it to have photoshop to support my photo adjusting habit. And I want it to have publisher for my writing habit. And I want it to have a video editing program so I can learn to make my own little videos of my kids and my family. I want it... I want it now.

Do you think making a selfish declaration like that will get it?? That's what I thought... I'm not seeing any money magically falling from the sky either. Sigh.

My family rocks!

2008-06-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

And they're beautiful too!

Future Plans

2008-06-25T07:10:00.001-07:00

When Hank and I were first married, we had the essential insurances, but we did not have life insurance. Once we started our family, our focus and priority quickly shifted to making sure that our kids would be taken care of no matter if we were there to take care of them or not.

So I went to a local insurance agent and educated myself on life insurance. At first, I wanted to get Hank and I both whole life policies... because at the end of a 10, 20, or 30 year term, you receive a pay-out no matter what. So, essentially, it would be a sort of savings account.

But we wanted to increase the amount of coverage after our second child came, and we couldn't afford whole life rates. By this time we had a new agent who was right around our age and in our stage of life as well. He told us that a 30- year term life insurance policy was a smart move.

I have whole life policies on all my children, because it's cheap to start them with one. And I have a term life on me and Hank. Recently I was able to convert my policy to a whole life, and we hope to do the same to Hank's when money allows.

For now, we feel comfortable that our children would be well looked after if we weren't here.

VACA

2008-06-25T07:04:00.000-07:00

We have always been really good about making sure we have proper insurance for all of our property and on ourselves. We have home owners insurance, car insurance, life insurance, and liability insurance. When I was single and lived in an apartment, I was responsible enough to have renter's insurance. When I worked for the local ABC affiliate, we did several stories on pet insurance... and I even have a friend who has their pets insured and says that it saves them money on vet bills. But this is the first time I have heard of travel insurance. You can bet your booty I'll be looking into it too! Some questions I would have would be:
If you have to unexpectedly cancel your vacation plans, are you reimbursed for the expense you already paid... like hotel, plane tickets, etc?
How much does it cost?
Is there a catch about repayment?
Does it cover road trips... or maybe if your car breaks down on the way to your destination?

Scooter Shopping

2008-06-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

You will never guess what Hank and I are very seriously considering purchasing! This would be for Hank going to and from work. We went in and talked to a sales associate and found out that we could get this for LESS THAN $60 a month, and it would cost less than $20 (at current gas prices) a month in gas. So the payment on the scooter and gas would be equivalent to one tank of gas in our mini-van. We could handle that and it would bring us some relief.

The only thing is, we would need to add it to our current car insurance, get the tags for it, helmet, and I'm sure other things we aren't thinking of right now.

But, man... I filled up at $3.99 yesterday. Not cool. So if you see my husband riding around on a scooter and you think he looks uncool... you are wrong. He looks smart!

Us V. Time

2008-06-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

I have never truely worried about aging. I take precautionary measures... and have for a very long time... when it comes to sun exposure. My kids and I are ALWAYS lathered up with the highest degree of sun block when we spend time by the pool. But I've been starting to notice some fine lines around my mouth, smile lines I think they call them. Also lines around my eyes... or the dreaded crows feet!

So now I need to know... what can I do to keep my age at bay for a while longer? Are there some top wrinkle cream prodcuts out there that can help me?

I have collected tons of little samples from department store counters and tossed them after I didn't use them. The most recent one, I started using just until I settle on something!

So now, I guess I'm looking for a way to stop the hands of time... or at least hit the pause button.

Helping Hand!

2008-06-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

I'm doing it! I've been going running every other morning. I've enlisted the help and accountability of my husband for food, and my sister as a work out partner. WE meet at a local park every other morning and run for nearly 2 miles. On our path, we stop and do ab work, thigh work, and arm work with an elevated heart rate for maximum results. I've looked into some metabolism boosters and things like Orovo to help me see some results, but just haven't pulled the trigger on that just yet! While my husband is opposed to any sort of 'magic pill' approach, I don't mind trying to help out my metabolism since it doesn't function as proficiently now at 30 as it did when I was 18!

By The Hour?

2008-06-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

Hank and I have been having to steal moments together lately! In the den, in the toy room, in our kid's rooms. What with kids trying to stay up late every night since it's summer and that is a child's rite of passage.... apparently. And the baby has been teething and up and down at night, which, let's just be honest, is more of a hindrance to Mom than Dad. Lately, I've wished for a babysitter during the day and a little extra cash, so I could rent a hotel room at one of the cheap hotels around and have an afternoon delight with my husband! Are you all shocked?? Well, you can only flirt and tease so much before you need to take action people!!

Work Out Baby!

2008-05-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

Last year for Father's Day, Hank and I searched through the Mule Trader to find a treadmill. Well, we got one at a great price, but we didn't have it at home for a month before the tread on it tore. So it's been gathering dust ever since. Now that Hank and I are both trying to get into better shape, we've been talking about looking into an elliptical machine. Something that isn't quite as hard on your joints as running. I would love to hop on an elliptical machine and just go for the length of a show and see what kind of results I get in a months time.
We're currently working on getting ready for a yard sale and we're talking about selling that defective treadmill and seeing if we can invest in something for the both of us!

Friends

2008-05-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

I just love the show friends. Even now when I think I've seen every show twice, I can still watch and laugh until my sides hurt! My favorite character is definitely Rachel. I love how her character morphed from really, really bad coffee waitress into an executive at Ralph Lauren over the length of the shows television life. I vividly remember the one where she brought home a Pashmina sweater and just went on and on about it. I remember after that episode I went and googled the word Pashmina to see what all the fuss was about. Before I knew it, all the girls at work and church were wearing them. I guess that just goes to show you the powerful nature of pop culture these days! From 'Friends' to real life!

The Best Gift

2008-05-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

For Christmas, my little boy Tres, decided that he wanted to get me some pearls. Hank said that nothing else he suggested would work! No book, no perfume, no shiet was good enough. Tres was bound and determined to get me a pearl necklace and earrings. When I opened them on Christmas morning, you would have thought he had just given me the world! I mean, I definitely think that he learned the beauty of giving. So if you see me wearing pearls with my sweats, don't worry... I haven't lost my last shred of trendiness! I'm just wearing one of my favorite gifts. Maybe they aren't Tahitian pearls, but the shine in my little boy's eyes is the best present!

New York City!

2008-05-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

My best friend, Traci, went to New York on her honeymoon. I love it when she tells me stories about seeing plays, visiting the Statue of Liberty, going to Times Square. She has told me some funny stories too about Subway visits and ticket hawkers on the street! Who wouldn't want to experience all that New York City travel has to offer!! I would definitely be nervous, but I would want to take a trip on the Subway... I would also want to find that deli owned by the little guy that does little regular skits or games on the David Letterman show! And I would want to try to be a part of some sort of live studio audience. I've heard that New York at Christmas is incredible... expensive... but incredible! I really want to save up some and travel there and see it for myself!

Gimme' A Break!

2008-05-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Vacation, vacation, vacation!! I am so glad to be on a vacation with my family. We usually use all of Hank's time off to be with family and to do holidays. But this year, we made it a point to schedule and plan a family vacation with just us and our kids. We have only managed to do this once in our six years of marriage.

I have a friend who has a time share and she is always talking to me about how it doesn't cost a lot, and tries to explain the concept of fractional ownership to me. I really think we might look into it, just so we could plan a few more of these vacations. I mean, who doesn't look forward to no housework, no laundry, and no every-day ordinary?? Now, if I could just get a vacation from the mounds of laundry to follow!

Making Over a New Home!

2008-05-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

You read that right! I'm at my in-laws house right now, on our way out of town for a long overdue family vacation. When we got here, I was so surprised at the amount of work they have been doing to a house, that in my opinion, needed very little updating!! They moved into this house about two years ago, and the house was just a couple of years old! But they got busy making it their own! They have tiled the kitchen and laundry area, re-paved their driveway, fenced in their backyard... which now sports a pool... and added an outdoor shed, that matches their house. That's not all!! Right now, Mr. B is in the process of screening in a back deck for them to enjoy the warm weather. And throughout the house, they are updating their old plastic blinds with wood shutters... how nice is that? They have a way of making a home feel like an oasis!!

Adrenaline Junkie

2008-05-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

I need a recovery program... I'm addicted to the CVS game. I work out different scenarios and try to come out just paying pennies instead of tens and hundreds of dollars at a time.

Last week, I went in and bought toothbrushes, tooth paste, razors, deoderant, and some yummy cookies, and only spent eighty cents... that's right, people... under a dollar!! And I earned those valuable in store dollars that make it all possible!

Now, I hope people realize that I'm only kidding when I say I need therapy. It's nothing like needing something as serious as drug rehab, but saving money for my family gives me the best adrenaline rush around! So, in that sense, I guess you could call me a junkie.

Saving Money Rocks!

2008-05-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

I've been playing the CVS Game lately. A friend of mine is rather fanatical about it, and kept on until I gave it a shot. Now I find myself clipping coupons, printing out coupons, and looking for the best deals available. Last week, they had a deal where you earned $5 in in-store money, called ECB's by purchasing an acne treatment product. Those are the kinds of deals I don't need, but I will go in and purchase the toiletry and cleaning items I need if they earn me some in-store credit. I'm all for saving money... but I won't be purchasing things just to purchase them. I will only participate in the offers that we need as a family!

Last night, I went to Walgreens, and we got (2) 12 packs of bottled water, (3) Lady Speed Sticks, & (3) cans of Pringles for $10. We got all three of the deodorants for less than $2.

Warp Speed, please!

2008-04-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

Love Is In The Air

2008-04-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hank and I have a date tonight! Yeah! He's had poison ivy for a couple of weeks, and I have been unwilling to risk getting it, so our physical contact has been limited to pecks and innuendos. I actually think it's been good for us! I mean, you don't often have to abstain when you're married! But I'm thinking since he's not itching anymore and everything seems to be drying up that we can give it the old college try soon!! Maybe I should get some lingerie for the occasion?!? Maybe a little negligee or a sexy chemise. Whatever it is... it won't be on long anyway! Wink! Who says when you get married that the spark goes out?? You might have to work at it a bit, but our spark is a sparkly as ever!! Six years married, eight years dating, and still going strong! I love my husband!

Pool's Open, People!

2008-04-27T14:51:00.001-07:00

At lunch today, my dad told us that they had officially opened the pool this past weekend! I mean, it's been warm... but not quite warm enough for me! And definitely not warm enough for me to let my kids shiver and lips turn blue trying to enjoy it! Nope... I think this family will wait another 3-4 weeks until that water is good and warm. Then we can get out some of the pool toys that my Mom and Dad bought after last summer and give them a whirl! Bryant and Tres both loved the little motor powered diving toy!

I really think this is the summer that Bryant will start swimming like Tres. No water wings, going under water, jumping off the diving board. But that will just give me more of a reason to worry and watch obsessively! :)

I LOVE my house!

2008-04-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

The more we are here, the more I love our new home! I love pulling into my driveway and not having a house just feet away from me. I love driving up and seeing trees and grass and sky... and I love being able to pull into our garage. I love that our house has character, but is not outdated! I love that we have projects, but can handle them! And I love putting our family stamp on our new house.

And I most love that we are done looking at house after house trying to find 'the one!' I always felt like I was snooping in other's homes when I went looking in their bedrooms and bathrooms, and even tripping over their shower chairs.. which, by the way, should have been in their showers! The worst house we looked at had cat vomit in the kitchen floor, dead roaches in the basement rooms, and rat droppings in the master bedroom! Oh, yes! I love my house.

10 Years Younger

2008-04-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

Has anyone seen that show? They do make-overs on women that have given up on their appearance and you would not believe the difference!!
Every time someone takes a picture of me, I always think "Well there's some motivation to get busy loosing weight." I hate seeing pictures of myself... especially because I am slowly coming to the realization that I am no longer cool. When I was single, I had trendy clothes and accessesories. I also had up-to-date hair styles and highlights. Now that my money heads to different directions like groceries, diapers, and replacing too-small shoes, I know that I need to do something to make myself 'current' again!! I'm not quite to the point of trying diet pills, like the ones that have Orovo in them, but I also haven't ruled that out! I mean, if there's something out there that could help speed up the metobolic process a bit, I'm all for it... just as long as it doesn't mess with my health! There are too many uncertainties in life as it is! I have lost about five pounds thanks to a couple of nasty virus bugs. I know they have an orovo detox product for sale. Maybe I should try that first. Sounds like a place to start anyway.

Hey, I have a question... why is it when people comment that they think you've lost weight always seems to be the times when you feel the heaviest? That always happens to me!

Is it time?

2008-04-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

Our house projects never seem to quite get finished right now. I'm ready for a little house face lift, or at least a bath lift. We have plans to repaint the hall bath, because the paint we used before we moved in was obviously not intended for a high traffic bath that two little boys really spend some time in! After that, we plan to sand and paint the existing cabinets. Then we plan to remove the old, original-to-the-house counter top and replace it with a double vanity top. We purchased some cute faucets on sale before Christmas that should look good in there! Then we plan to replace the laminate floor with a tile floor. Again, we already have the supplies to do this! We bought tile on sale before Christmas and my Dad gave us a box too, as well as subflooring to go under it. Then we will add some crown molding to finish it off. Again, we already have the crown. What in the heck are we waiting on anyway??

A Sure Thing

2008-04-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

I remember my first experience with a savings accounts when I was a teenager. All the money I received from well wishers when I graduated high school, I decided to deposit into an account. Now I don't remember how or for what, but that account quickly dwindled. But the concept of saving money for a rainy day or emergencies has stuck with me. So when Hank and I got married, it was a priority to me to have a savings account. We have one for our family and we have one for our boys. We started one for each of them after their first birthday. We plan to start one for Sophie when she turns one also. And what we try to do is every time we deposit money into one account, we match the others too. Now we don't always have extra to do that, but if we can at least keep it even over the years, by the time they each turn 16 they can buy a decent used car.

A Place In The Sun

2008-04-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

Has anyone seen that movie, "A Place In The Sun?" It has Diane Lane in it and Sandra Oh. It's about a woman who travels to Italy after the break-up of her marriage, buys a run down villa in Tuscany and builds a new life there. Now, I'm not going through the break-up of my marriage, and I'm certainly not in the market for a villa in Italy, but I would L-O-V-E to check out some Tuscany villa rentals. I have ALWAYS wanted to travel abroad! I had an opportunity after college... my parent's offered me either a trip to Europe or a computer for being the first college graduate in our family. I stupidly chose the computer! Dumb, dumb, dumb. Who wouldn't want to float on a gondala at night, being serenaded by hunky Italian men? And who wouldn't want to see such marvels as the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

Cold, Flu.... Ahhhh Choooo!!

2008-04-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

So cold and flu season came and went with a bang this year. We all got flu shots, but man did the colds hit us. We went through so many boxes of tissues and a whole lot of meds!! I ended up taking a lot of a natural immune builder product. I wish I had gotten my Biotivia products then. But I got them in the mail a couple of weeks ago, and I gotta say, they seem to be helping in a number of different ways. First of all, my allergies don't seem to be much of a problem. I started taking the Bioflu Vital Dietary Supplement to see if it would help me out. It really seems to have done the trick!! This is what the bottle says:
"This unique Bioceutical combines a highly concentrated extract of hand picked organic Chinese Star Anize with the finest quality Black Elderberry extract, Organic Eluetrero and Star Anize seed to create a powerful formulation of antioxidants, polyphenold, anthocyanins and natural immune system supporters. It may be useful as apreventive measure during the cold and flue season."

I've also been taking the Bio Quench Super Antioxidant. I've been on it for two weeks, and while I don't notice a visual difference, I am feeling healthier. I feel a bit more energetic and that's saying a lot since I haven't gotten a good night's sleep since our little girl was born 8 months ago! I'm gonna keep at it and see how I feel after a full bottle!

Jelly Belly evaluations

2008-03-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

When I worked at the local ABC affiliate, I always dreaded evaluation time. Not because i thought I had done a poor job, but because it meant a sit down with the boss and a play-by-play of what they believed needed improvement. Again, I don't shy away from hard work or constructive criticism, but man is it tough to sit across from the person you want to impress professionally and listen to all your mistakes! I wish they had had some performance management software when I was there. That way, the boss evaluates you and you can access it online instead of face-to-face! I love that idea. You get your evaluation, then all of a sudden you become to perfect employee overnight and your boss is impressed!

There are a lot of major name-brand companies that utilize this system.

Jelly Belly
"This software helps us to organize and automate our appraisal process and make it more user-friendly and more thorough. Halogen's product completely formalizes and organizes our employee evaluation process. It allows us to standardize competencies across job classifications, add signature and comment sections to make our process more interactive, and increase accessibility for remote managers. More thorough and accurate reviews will also help to clarify expectations and corporate HR objectives, and increase staff satisfaction."
– Jeff Brown, Director of Human Resources

This Old House!

2008-03-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

Our new home is the project that never ends!! I don't mind most of the time. But in rare moments, I feel like just throwing up my hands. We want to build a wall in our basement to create a mud/laundry room instead of the laundry just being a part of the basement. We plan to convert the storage room into a bathroom. We plan to replace the flooring in the kitchen and upstairs bath, and we plan to replace the countertops and vanities throughtout the house!

Recently, with the nice weather, we have begun to make a list of the things we want to do outside, too. Uggghhhh! Is about all I can say right now. Our list gets longer all the time. We want to level out a place in the back for a playground set. We want to pave our turn-about, and we really need some additional outdoor lighting too! The previous owners had some lights up but they are cheap and don't give off enough light. They even put motion sensor lights on the front porch. Tell me what kind of sense that makes! When you are turning on your front porch lights, it's generally to invite people in!

The quest continues

2008-03-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

In my quest to obtain the perfect figure, I have tried many things. Low calorie, low carb, low sugar. I even tried the grapefruit diet and the soup diet. I've done Slimfast and a vegetarian diet. And, in my most naive moments, I've even tried diet pills. They made me feel sort of funny, though.

Now, I'm ready. I mean I feel mentally prepared to get myself going in the right direction! I want portion control. I plan to eliminate almost all sugar from my diet... and that means sodas! I plan to limit, but not eliminate carbs in my diet. And I plan to try to eat 5-6 small meals a day.

Then I plan to incorpate exercise. Walking to start, at the local park while the boys play. Then I plan to start running. I have a friend who swears that yoga helps her. So she is going to lend me her yoga dvd. I'll let you know how that works into my plan! I'm up for trying anything new!!

Put The Peddle To The Metal!!

2008-03-16T21:04:00.001-07:00

I was coming home from volleyball practice last week on the interstate and noticed a great deal of people getting pulled over. I tend to be a 'grandma' type driver and had my cruise set on the speed limit, so I thought nothing about it. Until I look in my review mirror and see the dreaded blue lights flashing. Thinking he was after someone else, I pull into the next lane, and he pulls right behind me... so I pulled over! I was confident I had done no wrong!

The state trooper comes over to my window and asks for my license. I asked him what I had done, and he told me I was doing 70 in a 60. I apologized and he let me off with a warning since I haven't had a ticket in over five years.

Now, I can't say the same for my wonderful husband. He had the pervebial lead foot! He got a ticket a couple of months ago, and I thought for sure our insurance was going to drop us, so I did a bit of car insurance shopping. After comparing prices on a couple of auto insurance quotes, I started praying we wouldn't get dropped! They were so high due to his 3 tickets in 3 years!! He is now restricted to cruise control!!

By the way, I went back down that stretch of interstate the next day, and guess what the speed limit was? 70.

Bathroom Remodel

2008-03-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that my dad is a plumber. Anytime I've had a problem with plumbing or heating and air, my dad has been available to help me out! Now that we own a house that needs some TLC, my dad remains on my speed dial!! Our next big project now that the kitchen is in the final stages of remodel is our hall bath. We recently found some great bathroom faucets for it! They are so cute and flow with the feel we want to go for in this bathroom. It's a stainless faucet with white 4-pronged handles that say 'hot' and 'cold' on it. I think it will look super cute with the white tile, tan walls, and purple decor! And once we sand and paint the cabinets, it will be completely redecorated!

Too Much Information?

2008-03-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

I am so glad I didn't learn about some of the known cause of cerebral palsy until after I had had all of my children. I was nervous enough abour delivery and the many, many elements of it that could and do go wrong on a day-to-day basis... if I had known about this I would have been more of a nervous wreck than normal! I found out that some causes of cerebral palsy are as follow:
*Failure to order a C-Section in a timely manner
*Excessive use of a vacuum extractor
*Failure to detect a prolapsed umbilical cord reducing oxygen supply
*Improper use of delivery forceps
*Hospital staff may not properly read or respond to the babies vital signs
*Failure to declare fetal distress
*Failure to diagnose and treat jaundice or meningitis

Just knowing that, made me want to know cerebral palsy symptoms. At 3 months there may be a lack of facial expressions, the baby may not respond to some sounds, or is unable to follow movement with their eyes.
The child may not be able to bring their hands together at 4 months.
A child with cerebral palsy may not display the coordination to lift their head, or rollover at 6 months.
At 8 months the baby may not be able to sit up by themselves, or without support. There may be a head lag when the child is placed in a sitting position.
By 12 months the child may not be able to crawl.
Drooling is a common problem because of the lack of facial and muscle control.
Muscle tremor or spasticity may be evident, with a tendency of infants to tuck their arms in toward their sides, scissors movements of the legs, or other abnormal movements.
Feeding may be a continuous effort and problematic.
Excessive stiffness when dressing, changing diapers, or bathing.
It is important to realize that the presence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate your child has cerebral palsy. Children develop on different timeframes, and symptoms are often outgrown. Only your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and provide you with the information you need to care for your child.

Sometimes being aware of something can make you more paranoid about it. Do you think there is such a thing as being too informed?

Men Are From Mars

2008-03-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

I am truly amazed at how different men and women are. Case in point... when something goes wrong with the computer... instead of diving into the sea of fiber cable that live under the computer desk, I simply shut it down and go about the everyday business of taking care of a family of five. That usually entails about three loads of laundry and at least one hot meal a day... so I'm never lacking for busy work. But Hank has to get down to the source of the matter! I can't tell you how often I've found the lower half of him sticking out from under the computer desk and when I ask him what's wrong, he will tell me that he just 'has to know' what it wrong. The same thing can be said of the television or any of the equipment that goes with it! I would rather just watch a DVD if I can't get the cable to connect. But Hank just 'has to know' what the problem is! Thank God I married someone who cares. Otherwise I would be living with no TV and no computer. But I imagine my house would be immaculate!

Savings Diva

2008-03-05T15:34:00.000-08:00

I am a shopping fanatic. I have to really curb my shopping habits sometimes! I mean, I try to harness it into shopping smartly most of the time. I shop year round for Christmas and try to do it by bargain shopping and finding unique gifts specific to the person I am shopping for! I do a lot, and I mean A LOT, of my shopping at Kohl's. Usually I have to drive about 40 minutes to the other side of town when I know they are having a super good deal. But, just recently, my city announced that there are plans to build a Kohl's here at our mall!! Can you sense me jumping up and down!! I mean, not only do I get great coupons in the mail, but they have awesome clearance racks!! I've gotten things there for 80-90% off! You can even fo online and get Kohls coupon codes. One of my most recent finds was for my little sweetheart Ava... check it out:I got this cute little boutique dress for $6... and it retailed for $40!!! Love it!

Save The Trees!!!

2008-03-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

I've often wondered when the business world will transition and become paperless. We've been hearing about it for years now... a 'paperless society.' If you're like me, you already pay the majority of your bills online, and even receive multiple bills online instead of in the mail.

I don't understand a lot of the techinical side of it, but organizations like Halogen e360 seem to be leading towards a society that will be paper-cut free! Check out this blurb from their website:

Leading organizations in every industry category are using and recommending this powerful, proven multi rater feedback solution to:

* Simplify the peer review and 360 degree assessment process.
* Dramatically reduce resource demands by eliminating the paperwork and automating key aspects of the entire 360 degree evaluation process.
* Create and launch different 360 evaluations for various groups within their organization.
* Provide individual employees and line managers with insightful, 360 degree performance feedback on a number of different attributes.

Maybe if all of the little companies began running self assessment, they could contribute to a paperless society too!!

'Real' Reality

2008-03-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make... I am addicted to watching 'Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.' I know that is a strange or even ironic choice of wording given the topic... but I am! I watch it every week and find myself cheering on these long-forgotten stars or B-listers. The cast includes former Grease and Taxi star Jeff Conway, American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra, Pro-Wrestler Chyna, Daniel Baldwin, Bridgette Neilson, a musician, and a porn star. They are either their for drug treatment or to begin a battle against alcohol. I was drawn to the show because it is literally one of the 'realist' shows in the reality television genre. Nothing is scripted and its all very raw. You see these semi-celebrities struggling to come to grips with the fact that they are allowing a chemical dependency to rule their actions, lives, words... they are struggling to regain control so they can get custody of their children or they can just live again. I find myself rooting for them and cry when one of them doesn't make it through. Already they've lost Daniel Baldwin and Jeff Conway. I was really rooting for both of them and hate to see them leave the program! You would think I was actually emotionally invested in them personally!

Magic Pill!

2008-03-05T14:52:00.000-08:00

When I worked at the local ABC affiliate in the time long ago before I had children, (~Smile!~) the big news at the station was that Oprah was leaving Fox and moving to ABC. I mean I couldn't turn a corner at the station without seeing a poster of Oprah, a life-sized cut-out of her, or see a television running promos for her show. Even now, 7 years removed from those times, my husband comes home telling me what he saw on Oprah that day. So when I learned about the Orovo products and learned that they were developed as a result of a mom watching the Oprah show, I shouldn't have been surprised. Oprah makes everything happen!

This particular full-time Mom invented the Orovo Internal treatment as a result of watching the Oprah Winfrey show on "How to look 10 Years Younger in 10 Days." She went on a special diet eating 10 "SuperFoods" recommended by renowned Dermatologist Dr. Perricone daily to rid Wrinkles. To her surprise, she didn't see a reduction in wrinkles but she lost 10 pounds in 10 days and her skin dramatically improved! It was difficult for her to eat the 10 foods daily so she enlisted her husband's help. He worked for a Nutritional Research Laboratory and was able to help her come up with a pill that containted 10 highly concentrated extracts and the results were IDENTICAL to the whole foods. OROVO is now not only all the rave in the weight loss world but also by athletes, actresses, and celebrities wanting perfect skin. All ten "SuperFoods" are contained in highly concentrated extracts plus 4 additional Antioxidants recommended by Dr. Perricone and a new Top Secret “SuperAntioxidant” first marketed by the makers of BOTOX®. OROVO Retails for $80.00 per bottle making the Orovo 3-piece kit a huge bargain.

I need some Orovo. I would do just about anything to loose this baby weight!! And I can't seem to find the time to do anything but eat my kid's leftovers now that my kids outnumber me!

Fresh & White or Contemporary?

2008-02-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

Hank and I have been looking at remodeling the upstairs hall bath. First of all, the sink is not very functional. That bathroom is going to eventually service all three of our children and it only has one sink. The counter space is massive, so we consulted our plumber (aka Dad!), and he said the space is more than big enough to install a double vanity top! So now that we have decided on the number of bathroom vanities, we need to decide on the style. I think that we need to go with something white and fresh looking. There are no windows in that bath, so anything that will lighten it up is a bonus to me. We plan to resand and repaint the cabinets and update hardware on that as well. And we have already purchased the tile that we are going to use. It is a white tile. That paint on the wall is currently a tan color, but as we all know, that is easily changed!

My Wish List

2008-02-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

I have a wish list a mile long these days. Everything from new videos, jewelry, an eliptical machine, a new stainless steel fridge, and so much more. But because I like bargains, I won't pay an average price on the things I want... I want the best price!! That's why buy.com rocks!! They have some killer deals everyday on things that we could use in our house right now... like a wireless router for $12.99. I would love to finish updating my kitchen with a stainless fridge... maybe even one with a television in the door if the price is right! That's why buy.com rocks! With buy.com, the price usually is right! Price comparison is huge for me, and buy.com also has a price comparison engine that comes in handy. They have digital thermostats, books, video games, baby strollers, and all kinds of toys. I've added buy.com to my list of favorites, and you should too!

The Sickies

2008-02-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

Starting in December, we leave humidifiers running overnight in the boys room as well as Sophie's room. We'e done this since, as an infant, Tres got his first cold. Not only do we feel like it helps them breath easier, it has also got them slightly addicted to the lulling and slightly hypnotic whirring sound it emits.

Right now, Sophie has a Hello Kitty humidifier and the boys have a blue one we got at Wal-Mart. But I really want to upgrade both of those for something a little higher quality. With as much as we run them, I want to make sure that we have the best in place for our children.

And with cold and flu season so severe this year, I've really wanted to look into air purifiers. We've all been sick this week, and I feel like there is still a feeling of 'sick' in the house, no matter how much I disinfect!

Maybe I'm becoming slightly OCD, but I've also been a little germaphobic about the bathrooms since I saw a special on 60 Minutes about what areas have the most germs. Toothbrushes get so nasty!! I really want this toothbrush sanitizer to help curb that area as least!

The Game of Life

2008-02-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

Since adding Sophie to our family six months ago, we have had to take a look at the amount of life insurance that we have on ourselves. We have small policies on each child... it just seemed like the responsible thing to do. And we have a decent amount on each of us, but we need to raise the amount on Hank. As the primary income for our family, we would be in trouble if we ever, Heaven forbid, found ourselves without him. I hate writing that thought out. I hate expressing these kinds of things, but feel like they should be said. I always get slightly depressed when I deal with this, for obvious reasons! I'm just thankful that we don't need high risk life insurance like my Dad does. He has high blood pressure and sleep apnea and is therefore considered higher risk to insure. I need to send him to the site above to check into their prices on insuring him. As a business owner, I'm sure he is always concerned with making sure Mom and Jennie are cared for.

Kitchen Overhaul!

2008-02-22T22:25:00.000-08:00

Hankie has been hard at work on our never-ending home improvement project otherwise known as our new house! We started out by painting three of the rooms in our new house that were once painted in what the previous owner described as 'designer colors.' We had to disagree and happily slopped on some primer and paint! Then we moved our washer and dryer down to the basement, and converted that space upstairs into a huge pantry. We've updated light fixtures, fixed outside flood lights, and replaced light switch covers. But the biggest change can be seen in our kitchen! We changed out the stove and dishwasher to stainless appliances and have plans to purchase a stainless fridge soon. We received a new kitchen sink and faucet for Christmas from my parents. And Hank has spent a lot of time sanding and painting the kitchen cabinets to give it a brighter look. He did a wonderful job!! Then we updated the hardware and hinges. Just look at the difference!The hardware is similar to this Baldwin handle I found. Now we just need to add some new flooring and finish painting the trim and it will be a brand new kitchen!

Birthdays and Diamonds

2008-02-22T16:17:00.000-08:00

I just had a major milestone birthday. I turned 30 about a week ago... with really very little fanfare. I spent the day being loved and reminded of how very blessed I am. One of my favorite memories of the day would have to be when my little boys gave me my gift. A ring. Now to some it might be a simple, silver ring. But to me, it will always be a reminder of the look of love and adoration in a little boy's blue or brown eyes. They chose it for me. Just for me, and I love it. And, this photo is another birthday present from my wonderful husband, who knows that I would want to capture the moment forever and took the time and effort to have the digital camera ready. Tres told me that he 'just knew' that I 'had to have' diamonds for my birthday. I'm training him up right, ladies! I just wish there was some piece of men's jewelry that might hold this kind of sentimental value for Hankie. I would be making a purchase for his birthday this summer.

Branson, Take Me Away!

2008-02-22T15:46:00.000-08:00

A group of ladies from my church planned a trip to Branson Missouri a couple of years ago. I was a single college student at the time, and a bit broke, but that didn't stop me from wishing I could go! The trip they took was focused on pampering, shopping, and relaxation.
Now that I'm married with kids... well, I just never thought about Branson being a vacation destination. But with attractions like miniture golf, go-karts, Silver Dollar City Theme Park, Ride the Ducks, and even cave exploration I know that my boys would be in hog heaven! The prices are very nice too! If Hank and I wanted to plan a trip for just the two of us, we could go for $423 on the Platinum package. That would include 3 days and 2 nights in the Welk Resort Hotel, 2 tickets to the Grand Country Jubilee, a $30 gift card to Olive Garden or Red Lobster, a $50 Tanger Outlet Gift Certificate, and a coupon book with over $1500 in savings! The other packages are just as good!

GOLD PACKAGE $451 Total Cost Per Couple
3 Days/2 Night Clarion
2 adult tickets to:
Pierce Arrow
Mickey Gilley

SILVER PACKAGE $465 Total Cost Per Couple
4 Days/3 Nights Grand Oaks
2 adult tickets to:
Silver Dollar City
Baldknobbers
Legends in Concert

BRONZE PACKAGE $551 Total Cost Per Couple
5 Days/4 Nights Branson Settle Inn
2 adult tickets to:
Magnificent Seven
Dixie Stampede
Shoji Tabuchi

FAMILY PACKAGE $925
4 Days/3 Nights Presidential Condo
2 adult & 2 kids tickets (ages 4 - 11 yrs) to:
Darren Romeo
Ride the Ducks
Hamner Barber Variety Show

GREAT AMERICAN PACKAGE $454 Total Cost Per Couple
4 Days/3 Nights Welk Resort Hotel
2 adult tickets to:
Magnificent Seven with Dinner
Legends in Concert
Veteran's Museum

TITANIUM PACKAGE $683 Total Cost Per Couple
4 Days/3 Nights Clarion
2 adult tickets to:
Legends in Concert
Hughes Brothers
Incredible Acrobats of China
Shoji Tabuchi
Red Lobster/Olive Garden Gift Card

I also came across one of the events that will take place in Branson that sparked my interest. At the end of March, they are holding the 15th Billboard World Song Contest Awards Presentation Show & Performance in the Mansion America Theatre. That makes me want to look into the contest and see what kind of music they showcase!

The other thing I really like is that if one of the packages above doesn't work for me and my family for one reason or another, we could design a custom package to suit our needs.

Look out Branson! Here we come!

X No Service X

2008-02-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

My family makes anywhere from five to seven trips to Valdosta, Georgia a year. The majority of my husband's immediate family lives there and that makes it a gathering place for the rest of us. We've been making this five to six hour trip for three years now, and have finally managed to find a quicker way to get there. We travel on rural roads and cut-throughs, sometimes traveling a full hour without seeing another car! And although it cuts off about an hour of our travel time, I sometimes wonder if it's worth it. One of the major drawbacks to these rural thoroughfares is the lack of cell phone service. We ride for up to two hours with no service, and when we finally get it back... it's always a challenge to make and maintain phone calls! My family and my husband's family constantly try to call us to make sure everything is all right. I'm sure they have nightmares about us having a wreck and being unable to contact help.

These worries prompted me to look into a universal cell phone booster. This particular one is manufactured by Powerful Signal... just the name alone gave me hope! I mean, imagine traveling on roads where this is one of the only places to stop: Honestly... "Draft Beer To Go?" Who wouldn't want to get a universal cell phone booster just to be sure you didn't have to deal with whoever thought it was a wise business move to sell beer to go? We stopped just to take this picture after Christmas. My husband wants to send it in to Jay Leno! Not only would it be great if we could get service on our trip, but Powerful Signal also claims to extend the life of your cell phone battery! Wouldn't that be great? Especially for this mom of three who constantly forgets to plug in her phone!

If all goes well, I could be letting you know just how great our new universal cell phone booster works on our next trip to Valdosta in a month or so!

Curtains, please

2008-02-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, all of the furniture in our house is in place... the boxes are unpacked or hidden (smile!)... and everything appears orderly. Now it's time to address those naked windows. Hank and I have actually made a few trips to area home good stores to look for the right curtains for the Formal Living Room. This has become our favorite room in the house, and we want to find just the right dressing for them. It's an eclectic room with a fun mix of vintage and new. So I thought I would browse online through some fabrics. I found some Robert Allen fabrics that just might work!
What do you think? My only concern would be that they are little too heavy of a fabric for the windows cause we like the natural light in that room. But if it is, then we are planning on finding one more vintage style chair to go in that room, and we could use it to cover the seat and/or arms!