Are you better?

I have a little rant! This is directed at no one in my family (all though I do have some same issues with this). How can family just turn their back on you? How are the people that should be there for you no matter what act like you don't even exist? Why do people treat facebook like the freakin bible or something? Like if you are friends with them on facebook then we can't be friends. Really? Get an effin life. IT IS JUST FACEBOOK.

Family should always be there, no matter what. Even when you don't agree with them to the fullest....if they need a shoulder to cry on, you should offer. Maybe it has to do with how I was raised, I don't know. Family means the world to me and I also pass those values on to my friends. When my friends need me....I'm there.

Do people really thing they are so much better that they don't need their family? Your family is what shaped you into the person you are today.

Really?

It's really dumb when you think about it. Why do we care if we lose a follower? We don't even know most of the people that follow us anyways. But I lost 2 followers this week. Maybe it is because of my lack of posting or maybe I'm lame. Or maybe...just maybe they are smarter then me and figured out how to unfollow blogs. I've been trying and trying and I can't. So to all those that would like to unfollow me...I wish you well, but tell me your secret to unfollow as well.

Anywho.....I still want to do a post on the Shattered Lives project that my daughter did but I don't want to do it at work because I get very emotional and I just have been a little busy at home. I still love my blog...and love letting things out.

I've recently rediscovered that some friends still need me. I thought that our close friendship was a thing of the past but now I know...they heart me just as much as I heart them. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and be responsible if you are drinking (sorry, I will start preaching that).

BFF material

It's crazy how when you get older your "friendships" are so different then when you were younger. Remember in school? You had one BFF that you told EVERYTHING to! I've noticed as I've gotten older that it is harder to have just one person to everything to. I have several "best" friends but I don't think I talk to any one of them about everything. I do have one that I talk about almost everything.

What I have noticed more than anything....some of my friendships are very one sided. Some friends realize you are a great friend but only want to be "bffs" when it fits their lifestyle at the moment. They are the selfish friend. You rarely call them if anything important happens to you but they ALWAYS call you when something major happens to them. (Damn being a good listener right?) These also happen to be the people that are really just not bff material. Never have been and probably never will be.

I consider myself lucky that I have several ladies that I feel close to. But I also wonder some time.... Do anyone one of these ladies know the real me? And does anyone think of me as a close or "bff"?

But no matter what the case is, my friends do know some important things about me as a friend. I will always listen to you when you need someone to just be there. Also, I will always be honest (not always a good thing). When people ask for my opinion, I give it to them..honestly. I don't tell people what they want to here. Really? Who does that help anyways? I always say what I personally think. Does that mean that they are wrong if they don't agree? No.

There really wasn't much point to this post. But I do think that ladies think about this from time to time.

Yesterday was a sad day

I don't know if any of you remember this post. It was about a fellow coworker becoming pregnant, finally. Well, I'm sad to say yesterday she lost the baby. I can't even imagine what she is going through. When I heard the news, while driving to work, I started crying like crazy and had to pull over.

I've always been a believer of "everything happens for a reason"....but that doesn't keep you from wondering what that reason is.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. It will be a long road to get through this I'm sure.

For the love of Sanity

via

I have been really stressed out lately, for several reasons. I have three kids! That's the biggest reason there. Plus, it is deer season so that means on the weekends.....I'm alone with three kids! I cook, clean, think and worry about three kids....ALL. THE. TIME! There has been a time or two lately at some point one or all of the kids have misbehaved in public or at friends house. This stresses me out and embarrasses me. I don't like that other people have to get on to my kids. I'm not saying I get made at my friends. See, my friends and I have an unspoken agreement...if one of our kids is acting up, call them out and make them act right, then tell their mom. Also, as two of my kids get older they are more independent and don't want to include me as much. I know this is a part of life, but I still miss them and I get upset. I've been keeping all this in for a few weeks. We have been VERY busy to say the least for months now. And then it happened. I had a meltdown Saturday in front of friends and people I didn't know. I. could. not. stop. crying! A friend of mine asked me via email what was up, she noticed my facebook updates were kind of blah. This friend and I don't talk often, but when we do it's deep. I told her all this crap....and she then asked me if I wanted her opinion. I found this strange, to me, not to her though. I am always open to peoples opinions. Sometime they are helpful and sometimes I disregard them but I'm always interested on how others view things. Let me start off by saying family and friends are very important to me. That's why we are always busy. But it seams by family I mean extended...not the ones I live with (but they are important to). I'll explain. My dear friend pointed out that I'm always busy, ALWAYS. And even though I know this, it hit me different having someone else tell me. This friend hasn't gone out with us much since her son was born 3 years ago. It use to bother me but what she said to me made total sense. She reminded me that they are only kids once. Your friends and family and even husband for that matter are secondary. And she is right! Maybe me getting stressed out about having three kids isn't about actually having three kids, it is because we are always on the go and doing that with three kids is what stresses me out. I need to stay home and be lazy with my kids, or play outside or inside with them. Let them know that running around like a crazy lady isn't normal. And like she said, some people (friends and family) might get upset, but I have to learn to say no! As much as I would love to do it all and be everywhere, my children mean the world to me and I don't want to regret not being their for them for one second.

So to my dear friend...thank you for ditching me the past 3 years to be there for your son, I won't make fun of you again. And thanks for "straightening" me out. I feel the stress going away already. Hubby will be gone this weekend and it will be just the kids and I at home, and that sounds wonderful!

Being Strong

Today's topic, being strong. I'm not talking about the physical kind either. And clearly the picture above is NOT me, or I would have no use doing my Fat Tuesday posts anymore. I mean being strong minded and strong willed. Some time life happens, and it's not good. You are forced to deal with something you never thought you would have to. You suddenly become very aware that ALL eyes are on you. Everyone is waiting to see how you will handle it. Will you fall to pieces, or will you be strong? But people have very different meanings of the word strong. I personally feel that just because you are a "strong" person, doesn't mean you have to do things alone. I don't thinking anyone can actually get through anything on their own. Even if you just need to call someone and just have them listen. That means they don't tell you their opinion or agree with you just to make you happy. Some time you just need to get it out (of your own head). And that is ok. Just because, God forbid, you shed a tear, doesn't make you weak....it means you have a heart. I don't really have a point to this post and it is not directly at anyone in my life either. Just something I've been thinking about. I have been graced with some wonderful friends and family around me. I don't have to go through anything alone. And I by no means think of myself as a weak person. I have the "friends" that I can call and no matter what I say (eg. "the sky is purple") they will agree with me. Those are friends I rarely call. I know I'm not right all the time, I'm ok with that. Sometimes I am so caught up with the way I see things I need someone else to point out the other side. I have been known to react to things while I am hot headed and not cool down before responding. I'm trying to work on that. 9 times out of 10, I regret the way I acted when acting on impulse. Photos found here

Now that I got that total randomness out of the way, check out my guest post on Beauty Sale Shoppers Blog. Hope everyone enjoys their week.

Positivity

I need to take a minute to regroup. I have done rather well keeping positive people and what not around me very positive. We are currently having some things happen in our family that are not positive so I want to....shake it off. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason. We may never know what that reason is, but none the less it happens. It's time for me personally to quit stressing over it and make things positive. I always take it upon myself to try and take every ones hurt away. I hate seeing those I love sad (who does really). I try and make it my mission to perk them up. But some situations the person just needs time. I know that this is not something I can fix, I won't try. But I do know that I am always here at a drop of the hat. I'm a great listener. And if you wanna call and us each have a glass of wine while you cry your little eyes out while no one is watching then I'm game. I do what ever when ever that is needed. I guess I personally don't need to be in a positive state of mine to do this for loved ones. I've always been one to put others before myself. Carma....it will only help you out in the end, right?

To anyone that is just having a crappy day, week, month or even year...shake it off. Like really stand up and shake like crazy. If nothing else, you made yourself laugh and that has to count for something. I hope everyone has an awesome Monday, week and November!

I'm not Martha Stewart

Last Friday I took the day off to spend with my dear friend and pastry chef, Sabrena. We had plans to make some AWESOME mummy cookies for a party the following day. Didn't really work out like we had planned.

Here is everything we thought we needed. We used premade cookie dough because we were not trying to be Betty Crocker and make it from scratch, we were going for decoration. Sabrena rolls out the dough so we can cut out our little mummy men. I was working on another project (which I totally forgot to take a picture of, but it was actually awesome).

We punched our little guys out and put them on the cookie sheet. **Tip from the pastry chef--don't grease your cookie sheet.

After you pop those guys in the oven, let cool on a cooling rack.

The original icing we bought in the first picture didn't work so well. It is used more to ice a whole cookie...so we had to go to the store and buy some more. Here are two of Sabrena's mummies.

Here are my (first attempt at decorating a cookie ever) mummies. Not sure what happened with the one on the right. He soon met his maker when i crushed him on the table.

Here is my ONE perfect mummy. Out of all of them I had one. To say the least, we did not end up taking any of these cookies to the party the next night.

Sabrena is showing me her awesome steady hand.

Then we said to hell with the mummies and Sabrena taught me how to pipe. I was so excited. It totally made my day!

Looks good! Made up for my crappy mummies right?

Sabrena is showing her oldest how to do it as well.

We practiced on the table. See the cookie crumbs...that is what is left to that ugly mummy I made.

Here is all of my cookies. You can see part of the other project I was working on. I did an altered paint can for my cousin and Sabrena and I filled it was some awesome stuff.

Then I made this great "B" for Sabrena. She loves cupcakes and I thought this was fitting.

Sabrena on the other hand, might be mistaken for Martha Stewart. She decorated these pumpkins and used it as a center piece on her table. I loved the idea and might have to totally steal it next year.

I had a great day! It was full of many laughs and I feel I did learn alot. Sabrena has great ideas when it comes to decorating and cooking and I'm always up to learn. Until the next class....

A Wonderful Day Off

beautiful photo taken by my daughter Today I had the day off....and loved it. I felt like such a "SAHM" it was crazy. My daughter missed the bus so I took her to school. Then I got my two boys ready for school and daycare. I also got all my craft stuff in the trunk of my car to do a craft/baking day with a friend of mine. I took Devon to school. Then Blake and I stopped off at the donut shot because he turned 9 months today so I thought he should celebrate in some way so he brought donuts for his teachers and all his friends. After dropping him off, I was on my way for a fun filled day. I will post later about our baking and crafting. We had ALOT of fun. Also, we have a birthday/costume party for my 5 year old cousin tomorrow so it should be for a good post. Robert and I have never dressed up for Halloween so I'm excited. We are going to be an 80's rock star couple. I are the bomb!!! Hope everyone has a good weekend!

100.....

OMG! I made it to my 100th post already! I would like to tell you that I had something special saved up for this post....but I don't. I do love having a blog. It's nice to get what is in my head out and with this new 30 Day Challenge I'm also learning more about myself. I hope to continue this blog and one day look back and see how much I've grown as a person, mother, daughter, wife and friend. Thank you all who follow me. I appreciate each one of you and I absolutely love to get comments. Here's to another 100!

Race for the Cure

Last Saturday I did the Race for the Cure. It wasn't so much a race for me....we walked it. I think that still counts. The day didn't start well. I needed to wake up at 4:30 and leave my 5. My alarm never went off and I just happened to wake up around 4:55. I rushed to get dressed and then had to get Blake ready. If you have to wake up an 8 month old to do something...you are doing it way to early. Then we get downtown....and the traffic is awful! None the less, we register and are ready to go.

We all were walking in remembrance of our Grandmas. Here is Sabrena and Mindy sportin' their signs. My cute nephew, Dalton, joined us as well. He's not so much a morning person but that's cool.

Here is the super cute Blakester. I love this picture of him. He's always such a happy baby.

There were ALOT of people there supporting a really great cause.

Sabrena....I heart her.

Sabrena was SO excited we saw the Rockets mascot! She said it made getting up early worth it. I don't know about that.

Here is Sabrena and I. I made us girls matching shirts "Save the Tatas". We are pretty cool.

Then....Sabrena found Waldo! Who knew he supported breast cancer research.

We were walking for what seemed like forever (keep in mind we are not exactly "athletic" girls) and Sabrena said "I can't believe they don't have mile markers" and I responded (thinking I was being funny) "Maybe we haven't even gone a mile". And then we saw this!

Like, Really? Honestly I thought it was some funny shit! I was totally joking when I made the comment earlier.

Here is my sis-in-law, Mindy and I.

We made a little pit stop to change diapers and let Dalton stretch his legs. I like this picture of him and his momma.

Here is Sabrena and Dalton.

Mile 2! Go us!

We found a dancing wizard! Naturally we had to dance with him.

Mile 3! Almost done.

There is our time. Not to bad considering we were walking with strollers, stopped to go potty, and stopped again for diaper changes.

Group photo! Props go out to the little boys! They were very good.

Save the Tatas!

Dalton is sleepy, and so over being in the stroller (I don't blame him).

We got some awesome ideas for shirts and props for next year. We decided, almost immediately, that we will not be bringing the kids again. Not that the kids were bad, just to many people to try and maneuver two strollers in a crowd. Until next year....

Thirty Day Challenge-Day 2

Something you love about yourself

This isn't an easy one. But I guess I would have to say I'm love that I'm a good listener. I'm always here when my friends need someone to vent to. I think that is an important quality in a friend. Sometimes you don't need to even say anything....just got to get things off your chest. I always try to see both sides of any situation (unless it applies to me, then I have to "phone-a-friend").

I think to often people have "friends" that either try to "one up them" or talk about when they were in the situation. Sometimes you just really need someone to shut up and listen and that's what I do. Don't get me wrong, you ask for my opinion and you will get it.

I can think of countless times my sister-in-law calls me and this is how the conversation goes down...

SIL: Hey, I just need to vent got a minute?

ME: always

SIL: proceeds to tell the story or rant and rave...whatever suits her at the moment.

ME: yeah...ok...uh huh

SIL:Thanks for letting me get that out, bye!

And that's how it goes. So if you need a good listener...program me in, I'm always around.

Hump Day

Hope everyone is enjoying their Wednesday. Happy Hump Day! Unfortunately I have to work this Saturday, but whatev.

Tonight....I'm going to see Carrie Underwood! Pretty exciting. My dear friend, Jeanne, invited me. We go to at least one concert a year since we met. We will be in a suite so I'm pretty pumped about the free alcohol!!!! Hope everyone else enjoys their night.... Here's to an awesome girls night!!

I'm not Betty Crocker

On September 24 I made my very first cake....from scratch, icing included! It was kind of a last minute thing. I think Sabrena mentioned it on Thursday and we made it the next night. I'm not going to lie, I was scared (for a few reasons). I've never made a cake (or anything) from scratch before, I'm a box kind of girl, and I'm ok with that. But, Sabrena assured me I could do and promised to hold my hand.....that's the other reason I was scared. See, Sabrena is my pastry chef friend. She makes the most delicious sweets that could ever grace your mouth! It wasn't until I met Sabrena that I had even heard of "cake flour"....I truly was a novas.

So we put on our aprons...I was taking this shit for real. To Sabrena...this was just another cake. To me....I was making history in my house. Clearly Sabrena knew I didn't know what the hell I was doing because she provided most of the ingredients. I started making the batter. I was pretty impressed. Plus, I've never "seen" anything made from scratch.

The batter was ready and I poured it into the cake pan.

And then popped that baby into the oven!

Now to make the icing while the cake was baking. You stand FOREVER with the mixer. Serious arm muscle now. While mixing Sabrena asks me if I have any store bought icing in the pantry. Wait...what? I thought I was making icing. Then she says "I'm not going to lie, butter cream icing is usually hard and it doesn't always turn out". Really? You made me make a "hard" icing. So then I got stressed and started felling like I couldn't do it. But I talked a big game, lol. I said "oh no, this is going to turn out". I was secretly praying to the bakery gods the whole time (I wonder if she noticed). We even added some Malibu Rum to give the icing an extra little kick.

Still mixing!

Let me first say, I'm not totally proud that my first cake was a penis cake. But, the cake was an inside joke for our friend, Stepanski, and I did think it was pretty cool that my first cake was for our first "girls night slumber party". Go me!

That's right...it turned out perfect! And tasted pretty good too (we shaved off the underneath so we could do a taste test).

That's right! My icing turned out and it was the bomb!

Sabrena couldn't get enough of it! Thank you again to my dear friend, Sabrena, for helping me make my first cake from scratch!