Adventure and Attitude

It seems that a lot of silly things happen to me or maybe it is because of me that they happen! Last year at this time I was teaching.  There are a lot of things you need to do to get ready to greet your students that first day.  One of these things was getting my picture taken for an ID.  I also had to get a key card to open the building and a key to my room.  I proudly displayed that entire mess of stuff, which I needed daily, on a lanyard around my neck.  However, I didn't even make it to the first day of school before I lost all of it! - the lanyard around my neck was supposed to prevent this... It happened to be a rare sunny, hot day in Michigan in September and I had my windows open in the car. I had the music cranked and I was happy to be finally going home as it had been a long day!  As I gained speed on the expressway, the wind picked up so I slowly started to close my windows.  Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough and the lanyard which I had set on the dashboar

I have not forgotten what it feels like to be a teenager. I remember how self conscious I was.  I remember how frustrated I was that my parents didn't understand me.  I remember how trapped I felt at times.  It was not the funnest time in my life. As I now parent a teenager I have to keep reminding myself of these things.  Being a teenager is hard!  Now I have to add on the facts that he: Doesn't speak English, Is in a new school Is just meeting friends Has not found his niche yet Is used to being on his own with no rules Is from a different culture Has different values from his culture  Has been thrown in a new crazy family to get the entire picture of my teenager! Looking at that picture is enough to scare anyone away, but I have to say that things are still going very well!  We did butt heads a bit over the weekend and had to have a little chat with the social worker because of the language barrier, but all was worked out and was nothing different then any o

I have been mowing lawns since I can remember.  I want to say I stared when I was in fourth grade, but maybe not.  We had a big yard growing up and it took forever to mow that thing!  We had a hill on the side of our house that was a challenge to get up and down.  After I was married we bought my childhood home so I mowed that one yard for well over 2 decades! I have mowed the lawn while listening to music, carrying a baby on my back, and even while running to try to get it done quickly!  I don't have one of those awesome fancy riding mowers with the cup holders and I don't do the fancy lines this way one week and another way another week.  I section off the yard and try to get it done as fast and as easy as I can.  Sometimes I miss spots, run into things, and obliterate sprinkler heads (which I did last week), but it does eventually get done! I have been mowing the yard every week since Spring came along this year.  I can't think of other women I know that mow their la

Tired of being on the run and having to grab a greasy snack that slows you down?  Grab an It's Essential Bar instead and lose weight while you snack! The new It's Essential weight loss energy bar pairs delicious flavor with powerful ancient grains to super-charge your weight loss results! Its dark chocolate raspberry taste is truly a flavor to crave, and the addition of a new, cutting-edge ingredient, SolaGrain®, makes It's Essential the best choice. The kids and I love the taste!  It isn't chalky like other bars.  It's great to get my chocolate craving met while being healthy!

Ryan walked through the door after work with an odd look on his face.  It was a kind of half smirk half smile directed toward me.  He shook his head in a kind of disbelieving way and announced that he had some presents for me! I love presents!! He pulled a large envelope out of his bag and handed to me.  It was addressed to him at his office and marked personal and confidential.  I dumped the contents out and found two notes from business associates of Ryan that I had met in Houston at his conference along with gifts.  Both of the notes and gifts were for me!  One associate was sending me an invitation for Ryan and I to visit and the Ghosts of the Bridgewater Triangle by Christopher Balzano which is a book about true stories of unusual occurrences in New England where he lives.  The other associate sent me a People Magazine that features Pippa!  I laughed so hard I nearly cried!  Obviously our unusual conversations that took place over the weekend in Houston had an impact on them

Family Pictures Capturing precious memories.  What could be easier and more precious then that? When the kids were little I took them every three months to the mall to get their picture taken.  I jumped around, acted crazy, and bribed them with anything I could think of to get that perfect pose with that perfect expression! As they got older I thought the process would be easier.  The verdict is still out on that one.   Being older they can understand where I want them to stand and that we are in fact taking pictures.  But, they can now talk back and give their loud opinion.  I can no longer put them in the clothes that I want them to wear without a struggle.  I can't pick up a teenager and place him in a spot.  The bribes have become bigger and the acting silly to get a smile just turns into a wrestle session for the three small kids as they get all riled up! Saturday we took some family photos in our yard.  Our photographer , who happens to be my awesome neighbor and frien

If you know me, you know that certain things and I don't mix well.  Knives, fire, hammers... basically anything I can hurt myself with!  Very early in our marriage Ryan took the knives away from me because of our love hate relationship.  (He hated finding my hands covered in blood while cooking) I have now found something else that does not mix well with my personality - lucky me!  I don't think it is a matter of being clumsy.  I just try to do too many things at one time and get distracted by more important things while I try to carry on a task.  Parts of me are just propelled faster then other parts! Jackson and his pennants! They had Market Place Day at school - he rented his table space to sell his wares The kids sold services and goods.  Lola had her nails done! Tyce painted his own rock! Ryan was a Watch Dog Dad and went to the classrooms to help out! Last night I helped Jackson do yet another project for school.  He made pennants.  I cut triangles

Wowza! I definitely have a new appreciation for the work parents have to do to get what their children with special needs require to to be successful. I am not new to the whole advocating for your child in school thing.  I taught children who are hearing impaired for quite a few years.  I know about laws for special education.  I know parents can get what they want if they have just cause and are loud enough.  I have had a child myself who received services early on.  Knowing these things does not make it any easier!  You still have to make your voice heard! I remember when my child was younger and I knew that services were needed.  It took months to get what I knew was appropriate!  It wasn't that the school system didn't care or was opposed to it, it was that there weren't enough people or time.  I sat back and trusted that things would come into play in the correct time and way, but looking back I should have become "That Mom". We all know "That Mom

Houston skyline on a humid, cloudy day  We even went to a baseball game!  Minute Maid Park  Right now I am a tag along.  And actually, being a tag along is not all bad!  I am tagging along with Ryan to a Conference in Houston, TX.  He has meetings to go to, seminars to attend, hands to shake, and business to explain.  Given the fact that I really can't make my brain wrap around his obsession for his business, the only thing I HAVE to do is smile and chat with men in suits. Grouper - a little appetizer!  Seriously every meal was like this!! I know you may all think that this sounds boring, but it is AWESOME!  First, the food is phenomenal and without my Fat Fighters I would gain 10 pounds in a weekend!  Check out these desserts!!  (Without kids with me I hit the desserts first and then went to the main course!) Next, they have exhibitors which means it is like an expo, but everything is FREE!  Of course all of the free stuff has a company logo on it, but my kid

More than 80% of pregnant women suffer from stretch marks. It starts developing in the second trimester and continues until child birth. After child birth these marks start appearing as reddish purple streaks which start darkening gradually. Some may accept these marks as a kind of "rite of passage "or "battle wound" of child birth, but you don't have to! Revolutionize your skin care regimen with luxurious moisture that multi-tasks called Anti-Aging and Stretch Mark Cream ! This non-greasy body cream packs a powerful combo of anti-aging botanicals to help restore the skin's youthful glow, while balancing skin tone to minimize the appearance of even the most embarrassing stretch marks and other skin scarring. If you already have the Ultimate Applicator Wraps , I would suggest using the wraps to help with your stretch marks as well. Moisturizes Restores firmness and elasticity to skin Helps improve skin's texture and tone, giving it a smoother, more

Tips for Airplane Travel with Children Here are tips for traveling on airplanes with children based on my experience!  I don't suggest getting on the plane first before everyone else.  You may take a little longer to get organized, but do you really want your kids to have to sit still for even longer then they already have to?  I have seen people traveling alone take longer to get situated then I do with my three kids!  Wait until the last minute to get on the plane!  Let them run and take that last potty break! Bring on an empty sippy cup. They will give you a drink in flight so bring an empty cup and just have the flight attendant pour your child's drink directly in his or her cup.  You won't have to worry about spills!  If you need it before take off just ask a flight attendant right away. Bring on suckers!  The air pressure changes in take off and landing can hurt little ears.  It helps to drink, suck on a bottle or pacifier, or suck on a sucker.  If your child's

I LOVE VACATIONS and I LOVE TO TRAVEL! I will travel anywhere possible and I will love it no matter the circumstances!  I have been to some not so sought out areas, but there is always something of interest you can find if you open your eyes and look. When you have children, going on a trip of any kind is a huge undertaking even if you are not bringing them along. Recently, I tagged along with Ryan to a conference.  He took one night to pack and I took two weeks to prepare the house to be run by someone other then me!  I needed a break after all of that! Here is a little list of things to remember to do when leaving your kids in the care of someone else for an extended time: Some of the prepared meals labeled and ready to go! Prepare and freeze meals.  Write instructions of how to prepare right on the items.  Stock cupboards and the refrigerator with food.  You don't want your caregivers to have to scrounge for food for the kids. Wash sheets and clothes and clean the h

Suddenly I find myself in my house completely alone!  I don't know when this has happened before!  All of the kids decided they wanted to go with Daddy to Jackson's soccer practice tonight.  I stayed back and cleaned up dinner and now...  what?? It is completely quiet here.  No one is demanding something from me and I can do whatever I want to do! Only problem is that I have no idea what to do!!!  These moments are so few and far between that I just don't know what to do with myself!  It's like when I was teaching and summer vacation started.  It took a few weeks to be able to relax and start to enjoy vacation.  It really does take practice to learn how to relax and do nothing!!!  I am sooo out of practice!!

Today let's focus on fixing that sun damage and those fine lines and wrinkles!  There are four excellent products that do this! (Today I'll touch on three)   The exclusive 45-minute Facial Applicator uses a cream-infused cloth wrap to deliver intense anti-aging benefits to the face that dramatically minimize signs of aging in just 45 minutes! This exclusive botanical blend: tightens and firms the skin for a lifting effect, helps combat the appearance of aging skin, and deeply hydrates without clogging pores for fresher, more luminous skin. The facial not only gives you great results, but it feels great on!  You leave it on for at least 45 minutes and rub in the excess when you take it off.  You don't have to wash it off either.  Let the cream continue to penetrate your skin.  Your face will glow!  If you have sensitive skin I will tell you that my acne prone skin has never broken out after using a facial!  I love them!  I use them before I go to bed at night.  I

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful Moms out there!   I hope you had a wonderful relaxing day! LOL!  I can barely write that with a straight face!  Not that you don't all deserve a wonderful and relaxing day, but from my own experience that definitely doesn't happen on Mother's Day.  To think of it, it doesn't happen on any other day I am even in the same state as my children!  Yesterday was a typical holiday.  I set the kids' clothes out the night before and packed a bag with a change of clothes for each of them including myself.  I prepared some dishes of food to bring, had everyone sign the cards, put the gifts in gift bags, and set them up high and out of reach of small hands.  In the morning we rushed around and made it out of the door and to church on time actually remembering to take everything with us!  After church we went to my sister's house for brunch and then went to Ryan's parents' house for dinner.  By 7:30 we were home again

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved – as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. When we went through training, a social worker told us that that week she had to place 33 children in a safe home in just our county!  ONE WEEK! - 33 innocent children!!   With the help of dedicated people, many formerly abused or neglected children and teens will either reunite safely with their parents, be cared for by relatives or be adopted by loving families. Many children would not have to enter foster care at all if more states provided support and services to help families cope with crises early on. Thanks to the many advocates, child welfare professionals, elected officials and support g

Today, as summer looms on the horizon there is no better time to talk about havinmg super clean skin and feeling refreshed! The Cleanser does not contain chemicals and will wash off without leaving a residue behind.  I use it to remove my make-up.  It even takes off my eye make-up without leaving itchy, red, or stingy eyes behind!  If you have this product I would highly recommend using it in the area you are planning to wrap as well.  Your pores will be free to accept the ingredients without a film left behind by soap or lotions!  I have had problems with acne my entire life and was even on the drug Accutane at one point to help it.  I have had the best results with this product!  My acne is almost non-existant!  I even use it on my children's sensitive skin. After a day in the sun you will want to hydrate your skin.  You can do that quickly with the Hydrating Toner .  Just spray your face and go on your way!  We love this product in my household.  My husband uses it as an af

You would think that I am sending my first born 6 week old baby away from home for the first time or something! I am a nervous wreck today! I have been bringing A to and from school each day. ALL of the kids(which is now up to four)jump, stagger, roll, get carried, or get coerced into the car at 7:15 every morning and 2:20 every afternoon. I don't mind doing the driving back and forth since it is really close, but there will be times that I won't be able to transport him to and from school. So today marks the first day A will ride the bus to and from school. And yes, this is what is making me a nervous wreck today! First I was nervous because I wasn't sure he would know which stop to get off at, but then I found out he had to switch buses! He has to switch buses on the way to the high school and on the way back! Try explaining all of that to someone who only speaks a little bit of English and has never ridden a school bus! Talk about anxiety! So I did what any other neur

You know you are reaching a certain age when you see clothes, a haircut, shoes, or accessories and have to ask yourself and trusted others if you are too old to pull them off. In my 30s I personally feel I am too old to get my first tattoo or pierce any part of my body. It's too bad because I would look smokin' hot with a tattoo - with a significant meaning of course - and a belly button piercing! (this doesn't mean I don't think other 30 year olds shouldn't get tattoos or piercings - I just think it is too late for me to start!) Friday night I threw caution to the wind and just went for it! Of course this was after consulting a few trusted friends, people around me, and my husband. However, Ry's opinion was immediately thrown out the window because he didn't have a clue what I was talking about! I'm sure you are wondering what exactly I did.  Well... I got a tattoo with of a phoenix flying out of a burst of flames. Just Kidding!! I actually got a

There are so many milestones when you are a child that you can't wait to get to and celebrate! As a parent you can't wait for these milestones either! I wish milestones you reach in adulthood could be more like that! Why can't it be when we find our first grey hair we rush to put it under our pillow to wake up to $100 for a dye job? Wouldn't it make is so much easier if the first time you got a hot flash everyone ran for a video camera to commemorate the occasion? Or when you noticed wrinkles forming on your face how cool would it be to have a graduation party into the age of wisdom for you? The first time I was called mam, wasn't carded, or referenced a television show that was off the air before the person I was talking to was born should be celebrated, adored, ooohed and ahhhed over! That's how it should be! The big tooth is telling the baby tooth to get out of the way! Lola with all of her teeth But, I digress! On Tuesday Lola began complaining h