A Book of Me

Sorry for the bad quality pictures.  My poor camera skills, not blurb

I finally did it after talking about it for 2 freaking long years.  I made my blog into a book!!   You heard me right....I. Made. My. Blog. Into. A. Book!!!  It was so easy and I absolutely loved how it turned out.  I went to Blurb, which can make any story, pictures or blog into a beautiful book, aka my masterpiece.  Thankfully for me, it was extremely easy to use and the price was very reasonable. I would even say the price was really inexpensive.  I ended up ordering the ImageWrap hardcover book with over 180 pages. My total cost for the final product including shipping was less that $75!!  Now that may sound expensive to some, but for the last 2 years I poured my heart out, shared my fears, my anger and my joy.  So, yeah, I would have paid double the price to have these memories saved in such a beautiful manner.  Honestly, for all the time and effort that we put into maintaining our blogs and sharing our lives, I thought the prices was nothing if not fair.

I just received my book about a week ago and I am thrilled with the quality of it. The pages are glossy and pretty thick.  The cover is really solid and the imagewrap looks great.   Really an awesome end product( if I can say so myself!!).  My only warning is to double, no, triple check your work because once you send it to them, consider it done.  Seriously, they DO NOT correct grammerical errors, even if you accidently spell your name wrong. Don't ask me how I know, but trust me, I know!!

So if you are thinking about giving yourself the Christmas gift that keeps on giving why not try turning your blog into a book, compliments of  Blurb.

Christmas is right around the corner folks...

...so don't be shocked when it sneaks up and bites you in the arse. Trust, I'm not here to judge, because for the last 2 yrs I haven't sent out Christmas cards, under the guise of being environmentally sounds. Yeah, right, I just plum let the time slip away from me. BUT, this year things will be different, dare I say, even more organized AND with a planned out budget......( clutching my cheap imitation pearls!!! )

I've been stalking checking out Simple Mom website that is full of great advice and recommendation for preparing for the craziest happiest time of the year!! It just a simple guideline to keep you on top of your Christmas game.  It's for you, your home and your sanitym so check it out.

I'm finally making positive strides to get our Christmas groove in gear. I recently decided to get the big ticket items NOW instead of waiting for the last  2 week in December. I normally do all my Christmas shopping online because I hate people crowds. Now is a great time to finds some amazing deals on the cheap. I'm really digging some of the specials at Leap Frog, Children's Place and Amazon. Great tip: Before you check out go to Google and type in 'discount code or coupons for such and such store' You'd be surprised how many discounts and free shipping I've received doing this method. For example, I went to Children's Place for their 50% off sale, googled discount code for Children's Place and found a code for an additional 20% off. That's right people......I saved 70%!!! You can also check out Deal Fanatic for some great coupons, codes and specials. This girl is on top of all the specials, so check her out often. If this sounds like something you might do, I suggest that you start early because the good stuff goes fast.

I've also gone to Amazon to purchase some of the higher ticket items for the kids like bikes, due to the larger inventory, free shipping and no taxes.

Now for my Achilles heel!! Yes, the dreaded Christmas cards!! I'm often torn as to why I still do this crazy tradition. Does anyone NOT throw their Christmas cards away after the season? Argh!! But until I find a better solution, I guess I'm stuck with the tradition of sending out Christmas cards. This year I'm going to my favorite scrapbook site Two Peas in a Bucket to get either a free or 99 cent digital Christmas card template. Nothing fancy, but it does the trick and I'm only printing out 30! That's right only 30 and most of those are for our family and friends overseas.  Funny thing is that several years ago, I would've gone all out and spent hours, heck days even, writing a family Christmas newsletter. Unfortunately, nobody really cared that Bella said her first word or that Ethan crawled acrossed the room. Those that did care already knew and didn't need to read about in a family letter. Seriously, I loved the ideal,but no one else did!! So that was a family trend that ended as soon as it started.

Okay folks its time to get our booties in gear for the holiday season.  Are you ready? So what are you doing to prepare for the impending Holiday Season and what about this time of year just drives you crazy????

Happy Harvest-ween-UPDATED!!!

Have a safe and fun night!!

I made this...

All by myself, from scratch. That's right people, I made the sauce,the dough and the filling. I'm so freaking happy how it turned it! Oh and did I mention it tasted AMAZING!!!! Even my finicky kids ate their portions and wanted more. My only setback was that I didn't have a rolling pin. (Seriously, who doesn't own a rolling pin?) Shock and awe, I know, but I decided to substitute a rolling pin with a lovely bottle of Chianti. Thankfully, it worked like a charm and tasted really good too!! Once the dough was rolled out paper thin I filled it with MY homemade bolognese sauce with Romano cheese. Honestly, that was the hardest part because I didn't know how much to put into each one. I ended up putting about half a teaspoon per ravioli. Once that was finished I put them into boiling water until they floated to the top of the pot. As for the toppings, I wanted something very simple and fresh. I decided to top the ravioli with cherry tomatoes, black olives, fresh basil, fresh garlic and shallots. Sauteed garlic and shallots in olive oil and once they started singing to me, I added about a cup red wine( more if you like). Then I added the olives, tomatoes, basil and removed the pan from the heat. Turned out pretty freaking YUMMY!! And yes, I am bragging. Trust me, I made some stinkers in my time, so I'm overjoyed that the first time turned out so well.

It Takes all Kinds

My good blog buddy, Francine, has recently revamped her scrap inspiration blog, It Takes All Kinds. She asked me to be a part of it and I graciously accepted. Since I'm all about the crafty goodness how could I possibly resist. The blog has cool concept of daily inspirations for all your scrapping and crafty needs. Today is my very first post and my first turtorial. I'm super nervous and excited because I've never done a tutorial before. Hopefully, I didn't screw it up. Check it out here and tell me what you think of my handmade journal. Nothing fancy, actually, I wouldn't even call it cute. It's rustic and funky....yeah, rustic funk!!! I don't know what to call it but I really loved how it came out. All material was either on hand, recycled or re-purposed. You can check it out here.

Free Music....Yes, free!!

I went to the website looking for these bad boys and walked away without the boots( yeah, I'm cheap) but with 26 free songs( yeah, because I'm cheap). Urban Outfitter, has always been known for pretty cool clothing and such. Now they will be forever known as the store that is gifting great, new music to the masses. I just downloaded 26 free songs from some pretty cool, indie artist. Most of the artist and songs are new to me, but great music.

Check it out and tell me what you think. I just wanted to share the goodness, spread the love. Consider this your early Christmas gift. Smooches!!

What I’ve been digging lately…

• Love my new iPod classic.  Great functions, holds 40,000 songs( um, no, that’s not a typo, people…you read it right…40,000 freaking songs!! I’m going to be 80 before this puppy is filled up! ) and the battery life is  pretty darn good too.  Thanks to my sweet hubby,  I’ll be jamming to tunes on this baby for a long time to come.

 

• I can’t wait for Fall to get here!!.  I’ve been planning my Fall outfits for months.  Seriously, my favorite time of the year.  Love the weather, the food…..I could go on and on.   Can’t wait to break out my hats, burgundy nail polish, sweaters and boots.

 

• Love these little cards.  Very simple, but a sanity saver when I run out of options or ideals when I’m frustrated with the kiddos.  I’m sure you can do a homemade version if you wanted to, but it makes me feel good supporting small businesses.  The cards just have amazing quotes that help calm down when I’m a the verge of a meltdown( Time out’s aren’t just for the fashionable toddlers anymore.  Adults are getting in on the fun too!!)  Seriously, it just helps me put the focus back on the positive and not dwell in the negative.  I need that every now and again( heck, who doesn’t?).  I just randomly grab a card, read and breathe.   Cute  little anecdotes like:  What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?, Treasure your child’s innocence., There is always a good reason for everything a child does.   May seem a little silly, but it does calm me down.  I think there pretty darn cool.

 

• Smashbox photo finish foundation primer.  I don’t wear foundation, so its not completely necessary for this product to work.  I just put this on lightly and apply a powder for shine.  This stuff make my face look flawless.    A tad bit expensive, but this     1 oz. will last me an entire year.  A little goes a LONG way and in the end.

 

• Loving homeschooling.  Seriously, digging every aspect of it.  Who knew?   I’m as shocked as you are, but I’m just taking it one day at a time.  Homeschooling  has allowed my daughter to grow in amazing ways and it’s a beautiful thing to experience. You can see her eyes sparkle and her wheels turning.  Like most children, Bella desire to learn is so cool.   I also dig the fact that I’m always there to help her celebrate her accomplishments and successes.  I’m also there to encourage her to keep trying when she fails or gets frustrated.    I can see her confidence  growing  in the gait of her walk or the intense focus on her daily assignments.   Homeschooling is not all fun and on occasions it sucks!  We are still learning, but we are finding our groove.  She hasn’t had speech therapy in 4 months and yet her speech improves daily.  She still has moment of unintelligibility, but that’s not often.   I  always find myself getting all misty when she speaks with confidence and fluidity. Last week during one of my many in the car singing-like-a-crazy-woman- solo, I stopped and told her I was sorry for my bad singing.  Without missing a beat, Bella says, “Mom, it’s okay, I like your singing!”  That day I decided not to hold back  my tears, to let the mist turn into rain.  It was cleansing, beautiful and sweet. It’s a moment that I will never, ever  forget.  I appreciate our time together and I think she’s enjoying it too. Homeschooling is not a burden, but a blessing.  Thankfully,  we are also creating this amazing mother/daughter bond that I never experienced before.  

 

• Speaking of special bonds, I just started reading these books.  I’m currently reading the Curse of The Good Girl by Rachel Simmons.   It’s pretty good so far. I’ll update and give more information when I’m finished reading it.  I’m excited to find books like these because I think its extremely important that my daughter and I have a lifelong, strong mother/daughter bond.  Unfortunately, I’m ultimately clueless how to accomplish this task  because my mom and I never had a strong nor healthy mother/daughter bond.  I know she loved/loves me, but she’s never learned how to express those loving feelings in a positive manner.  In fact, we haven’t spoken in over 7 years.  Yes, 7 long freaking years!!  She’s still upset by my decision to marry my hubby.  It’s ridiculous, but  its her choice, not mine.  I don’t understand respect my mothers decision, although i thinks it stupid. This. Will. Not. Happen. Us!    I know Bella is still really young, but I’m starting early, setting up a strong foundation.  Hopefully, as we both evolve,  grow and mature our bond will only grow stronger.  I will do whatever it takes to cultivate a loving, healthy, respectful and lasting bond with both my children, especially my daughter.                             

  So what have you been digging lately?

Mission Statement- Family Edition

I've been meaning to do this ever since I saw this post( fantastic website too!!). This ideal totally resonated with me. I know some may say,"Every family wants to be happy and healthy. I don't need a mission statement for that!" I disagree with that logic. We can all set goals, but if you don't have a plan to implement them you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. I just believe its so important, as a cohesive family unit, to create a mission statement. Not just a statement of what you want for your family, but how you plan to accomplish it. Funny, I assumed every goal would be comparable to my husbands. Surprisingly they all weren't. Thankfully, not the important core goals , but the little things like living simply. I thought it would be a good ideal to give up on name brand cleaning products. Hubby thought the ideal was absolutely terrible and wanted no parts of it. (He has an strange affection for Windex that borders on obsession, but that's a whole other story...shhh!!). So we cut that from the list. That's one of the cool results of making a Family mission statement; What's not important to you may cause a rift because it was important to the other person. Our Family mission statement is not etched in stone and will change accordingly. I'm sure as our children get older they will also contribute to our mission statement. It's really is a family affair, so get them involved.

It may astound you how difficult it is to put your beliefs into words, but here's my attempt.

To honor our uniqueness and gifts.
To appreciate and respect our family.
To enrich our family relationships.
To live with purpose.
To find the humor that’s all around us.
To allow ourselves to be creative.
To be spiritually grounded.
To spend quality time with each other.
To maintain relationships with those within our extended family.
To be lifelong learners.
To live simply.


To honor our uniqueness and gifts
-Love being who you, quirks and all.
-We are a combination of many different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Be true to your makeup. You never have to choose one over the other. Embrace all of it!!

To appreciate and respect our family.
-Family is our number 1 priority. All others come second.
-Eat together at least 3 times a week
-Be quick to listen and slow to speak
-Respect each others feelings, no matter how overly sensitive you think they are being.

To enrich our family relationships.
-Each parent have individual date day with each child.
-Date night at least once a month. Even if its just lighting a candle and talking while the kiddos sleep.
-Twice a month have family night with a movie at home or a board game.
-To appreciate each member in this family for their unique attributes.

To live with purpose
-make homemaking a priority, taking care to plan ahead for things like budgeting and meal planning.
-To help others less fortunate than ourselves. Find a charity that speaks to your heart and then help it the best you can.
-Ensure that the people you love know that you love them with words and action.

To the find humor all around us
-A happy family laughs often
-Even in difficult situations, you can always find some humor.
-Laughter is good for the soul and spirit.

To allow ourselves to be creative
-To create, even if its in the dirt
-We all have the ability to create. Don’t doubt yourself, just do it.
-Do something creative weekly as a family, like painting, haircuts, singing, dancing or making henna creations.

To be spiritually grounded
-Although we are not religious we have faith in God and his goodness.
-Pray or mediate daily. Its good for the soul and your sanity
-Always feel blessed to be alive and healthy. Give thanks for those that you love who are still with us. It’s important to be grateful and to show gratitude.

To spend quality time with one another
-Game night weekly
-Making dinner together
-Hanging out in the backyard
-Nightly, reading a good bedtime story
-Cuddle time as often as possible.

To maintain relationships with those within our extended family.
-To have dinner dates with at least one friend or family member at least once a month
-To call or email those we love at least once a week to stay in touch
-To send personal, handwriting letters of gratitude, at least once a year, to each family member and close friend.

To be lifelong learners
-To read at least one classic a year.
-Seek to form your own opinions based on educating yourself on both sides of a subject and making your OWN mind up.
-Find what you love and become an expert at it.

Live Simply
-Spend on what you need before what you want
-Don’t spend more than you can afford.
-Save your money
-Eat at home most of the time.
-Prepare meals in advance
-Buy what is on sale
-Plant your own veggies
-Be thankful for what you have.

So for all you moms and dad's out there, I challenge you to take the time to write your own Family Mission Statement. Are you up for the challenge? Get to writing!!

In honor of Latin history month, I give you...

MUSIC!! Yes, if you don't know by now, I love all types of music and I adore Latin music. Not your normal run of the mill Latin music unless your Afro-Peruvian, Brazilian, Mexican or Cape Verdean. Then yes, its your run of the mill music. But for those, like me, who did not grow up with such beautiful music, I give you my introduction to my Latin music world. Here are some of my faves. Oh, and how lucky are you because they all just dropped new, incredible, beautiful sounding Cd's( subtle hint: check them out and buy them.) Honestly, I love all the artist and just wanted to share with you. I hope you dig it as much as I do.
( if you click on their name it will take you to last.fm where you can hear the music and learn more about each artist )

Sara Tavares~Afro-Portuguese of Cape Verdean descent

Susana Baca~Peruvian singer of Afro-Peruvian descent

Ceu~São Paulo, Brazilian born singer songwriter. ( She reminds me so much of my friend Robin. And I'm sure if Robin could sing, she would sing in Portuguese. Coincidence? I don't think so!!)

Rodrigo Y Gabriela~ Dublin-based Mexicans. Amazing musician!

If you have new and amazing artist to share please do. What's your favorite Latin music?

?RU (What Are You) presentation video

Love this!!

Music that will move you...

His name is Fink and he's amazing!! Acoustic, dub-infused, words that touch and a soulful voice that soothes. Please check him out here .

I {heart} my hair and.....

( 1st pic is after first henna treatment. 2Nd pic my hair started growing like a weed. 3rd pic hair twisted results..not sure why I look so scared...)

.....so can you!!!! I'm actually shocked that folks asked me to give advice and suggestions on how I wear my hair naturally. I've always had a love/hate relationship with my hair and now I'm finally content with the hair that God gave me. Trust that in the search for the 'perfect' curl, I've relaxed, texturized, went back to natural and then started the process all over again. It was a vicious cycle and each time I found myself disappointed with the end results. I finally realized that the disappointment wasn't just about my hair but the ideal of what my hair should look like. I was chasing someone else's curls, someone else's look. I made no attempts to get to know my own hair or my curls. I was striving for something that my hair could never be and once I let go of those false perceptions, my hair started to flourish. Maybe it wasn't my hair, but my acceptance of my hair, curls, kinks, frizz and poof. I started to appreciate the beauty of it all. It was different. It was unique. It was all me. My hair suited me, not because it changed, but because my attitude towards my hair changed. So before you do anything, please get reacquainted with your natural hair and all its glory. Embrace the beauty of your natural texture or at least try to come to terms with it. Find styles that suit your sensibilities. Figure out what products work for you and stick with them until they stop working for you. Become ingredient savvy because it will save you money, time and 'damn-I-can't-believe-I-left-the-house-looking-like-this' days. I also rarely wash my hair( ...don't judge me!! ) No, really, I don't wash it, but I co-wash weekly. Now before you get completely grossed out, I do wash my hair about once a month with Dr. Bonner castille soap(half), distilled h2o(half) and several drops of olive oil, but just my scalp. Honestly, I don't have to wash my hair with harsh shampoo's because the products I use on my hair are all water soluble. Basically, all products,grime and dirt can be washed out with a cheapie conditioner. It's like WEN without the ridiculous price tag.

So for those not completely grossed out by my hippy-dippy ways and want to continue, I'm going to break this up into 5 categories: Exercise, Vitamins, Ayurveda Herbs, Deep conditioning and moisture how-to's and finally, helpful blogs/sites.

1. 
   
   EXERCISE- I hate to say it, but exercising made a huge difference in my hair growth. I think for me, it had a lot to do with me always having it up in a loose bun and massaging my scalp with a light oil after every workout. I just started working out again and now I wear my hair in two braids with a bandanna. Afterwards I massage my scalp for 3-5Min's with a bit of almond/safflower/Castor oil with a hint of tea tree and lavender essential oils. This step feels fantastic, so don't skip!!
2. 
   
   VITAMINS- I know for a fact I'm lacking in certain nutrients. To compensate, I take a boat load of vitamins. Nothing over the top, but what I think I might be lacking. I take the following vitamins; biotin, vit D, Calcium-magnesium 1000mg, vit E, and Maxi-Hair by Country Life. If that sounds like overkill to you just try prenatal vitamins. I buy all my vitamins online at Vitacost at a tremendous savings and $4.99 shipping. The benefits of taking vitamins has not only improved my energy level, but I've also enjoyed the added bonus of thicker and stronger hair.
3. 
   
   Ayurvedic Herbs- I seriously can not speak highly enough about Ayurvedic herbs. The history behind it is so fascinating to me and I'm often shocked by how well it works for me. Henna, amla, shikakai and cassia are my favorites so far. Henna, is by far, my absolute favorite. I henna my hair at least once a month for color and deep conditioning. Be forewarned.....it's messy as hell!!! I've tried to be neat with this -ish on several occasions and I always make a mess. The key is to make a thicker paste so it doesn't splatter everywhere. My henna is made with brewed green tea, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and couple drops of lavender essential oil. I use one cup of henna powder and brew about a half of cup of green tea. I mix to the consistency of lumpy mash potatoes( thanks curly nikki) and I cover for about 2 hours, so the henna can release its dye. When I'm ready to henna, I add olive oil(about 3 tablespoons ), couple drop of ACV and mix until the henna is the consistency of creamy but thick. I then add about 20 drops(not necessary, I just like the smell) of lavender essential oil. Before I apply the henna to my hair, I co-wash my hair with conditioner and towel dry. I then part my hair into 4 sections( anytime I do my hair its always divided into 4 or 2 sections ) Apply the henna as you would a deep conditioner or relaxer, but not so intense( no tiny sections necessary, just make sure all of hair get saturated with henna) Wrap your head up in a plastic shower cap and towel for no less than 4 hours. It's time consuming and that's why I do it only once a month. It's worth it to me because it covers all my greys too. It also forces you to relax, read a book or take care of yourself. The time is what you make of it, so use it wisely. After 4 hours, rinse out henna and co-wash with conditioner until the water runs clear. Using an old towel or t-shirt, wring excess water out and put hair in 4 sections. Now it's time to.........
4. 
   
   DEEP CONDITION AND MOISTURIZE: I'm often impatient or run out of time, but its essential for healthy hair. The good news is that you don't need high end conditioners for results. I use only over the counter conditioner's like Herbal Essence ( I use Hello Hydration), Lustrasilk Cholesterol Mango Shea at Sally's or Trader Joe's Nourish Conditioner. All are extremely fab, with great ingredients and none are over $3. Um, did you hear me? NONE. OVER. THREE. DOLLARS!!! See, I use a ton of conditioner, so a good price is essential. To make your 'normal' conditioner into a deep conditioner all you have to do is just add warmed oil, like olive oil, Castor oil or any veggie oil. Once the oil is incorporated, apply and sit under a hairdryer for 30mins. If you don't have a dryer (or 30mins to sit )just take a moist towel and place in microwave until warm. Place on head and keep moving. After hair has been deep conditioned and thoroughly rinsed out, now its time to apply the moisture. I moisturizes daily with either Shea butter or Castor oil infused with Amla. I honestly love both because of all the benefits and because they are both multi purposed. I use Shea on my body and face too. Castor oil is also used for my Oil Cleansing method. Make sure when applying oils and butter that your hair is damp or wet. Remember that water is moisture and great for natural hair. For some reason products penetrates so much better on wet or damp hair, leaving no icky, greasy residue. And, you only need a little of both. I mainly use them on my edges and ends. When I'm all done I do this method , but with twist. I put Shea butter on my edges and ends once I'm done twisting my hair. Then I put on my 'set it off' bandanna and call it a night( the results are in picture 3, sorry I look so scared...). Yes, it is time consuming , but its only one day out of my entire week.
5. 
   
   Cool Websites and blogs: Curly Nikki, Naturally Curly, Tightly Curly(formally biracial hair) Oyin Handmade(amazing products, nicely priced), Anita Grant( this is for you Francine, she's based in England), From Nature with Love( for all natural products. I buy my organic Shea,Coconut butter and henna)

Quick Review--------------

My products: Henna, Castor Oil, Olive Oil, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration for cowash, safflower oil, Amla, Oyin Handmade, Dr. Bonner Castille soap, Denman brush( found at Sally's), Jilbere shower comb(found at Sally's aka as wide tooth comb), Shea Butter( great for edges and ends) and vitamins. All conditioners I use MUST be multi-purposed because I use it to condition, cleanse, a leave-in and as a styler. This is why I can co-wash and have clean hair. If I need extra hold, I will grab all natural aloe vera gel. If I need hold and moisture, I will take the time to mix half Shea and aloe vera gel (make sure its all natural like Lily of the Valley)with a hand mixer until both are combined to make a creamy texture. Add fragrance if you like and you're set with a moisturizing gel.

Also check out YouTube. Tons of information and tutorial just type in natural haircare!! Good luck and please share your results.

End Note: Please know that this is not just for black folks, but curly haired folks. And for the black folks, please stay away from the 'black hair care aisle'. It is not our friend. Many black hair care products are filled to the rim with icky petroleum and mineral oil which are terrible for your hair. Stay away!! Take the time to become an informed consumer and figure out what ingredients work for you. Check out all the websites above especially tightlycurly which has TONS of valuable info on ingredients and products. And as always, keep me posted!!

I sincerely hope that this post helps someone who is either on the fence or unsure how to go natural. Don't fret because you can do it because now you have the tools. Now all you need is LOTS of patience!!! If you have anymore questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Best of luck on your natural journey!!!!

...And 31 days later

One month into my new venture as stay at home mommy and I finally feel like I'm hitting my stride. The first couple weeks I was so freaking overwhelmed that I didn't know what to do first. Honestly, there was so much that we neglected to do based on time constraints and the daily grind of a two income family. So much was just unkempt, like our walk in closet, cabinets and garage. So after 4 weeks of major work, organizing and cleaning, I finally feel like I can breath again. I can't take all the credit for my 'light at the end of the tunnel' moment. I've seeked advice from everywhere and received some of the best ideals in the most unlikely places. Two of most unlikely places, flylady.com and Fix,Freeze and Feast cookbook. Flylady is a site that sends you a million( okay, I'm exaggerating...) emails to remind you to clean certain areas around your house in a 15min time frame. I can do 15 mins and I definitely need the reminders. The site has seriously helped me maintain a clean house. I know it may sounds silly, but it really works!! Now the cookbook I absolutely adore. I tore thru it like is was a novel because it stuffed with helpful hints and delicious meals that are easy to prepare. What I truly love about this book, is that everything is made in bulk...........4 separate meals for 4 per serving. A time-saver and the food is good....yeah, I'm all over this book!!! Even my noodle loving/mac&cheese obsessed kiddos loved it!!



I'm really digging this stay at home mommy gig. I feel like this is what I'm suppose to be doing. As weird as this may sound to some, but I feel like this is my calling and I'm finally doing what I was always meant to do. As with life I have good days and bad days but overall I LOVE IT!!

I've also been homeschooling and today marks one entire week!! WOOO-HOOO!! That may not seem like a big deal to some, but I've learned to relish in my small victories. Bella and I are still trying to figure everything out, but neither one of us has thrown in the towel yet. We have our good days and bad. Today was a so-so day. I think schooling was the last thing that Bella had planned to do, so it was a struggle to get her motivated. Thankfully, instead of pulling my hair out and getting frustrated, we both decided to have a fun day of library book rousing and bug wrangling(...don't ask...). Tomorrow we go back to the grind, but for today we just enjoyed each others company, books and bugs.

The Tooth Fairy is Tired

Two teeth in one week, geez!! Not that I'm not excited, but I would have loved if it was spread out a little more. See, we weren't expecting my daughters tooth to fall out so soon, but at midnight she comes running into my room bursting with sheer excitement:

Bella: " Mom, my tooth fell out!"

Me: " Wow, that's great sweetie!" (turning to my hubby)" Isn't that great, babe?"

Hubby: " That's so cool Bell!! "

Bella: " So the Tooth Fairy is going to visit me tonight"

Me and Hubby: (Give each other the oh-shit-look and then dead silence.... )

Bella: "Mom, you said....."

Me: (interrupting Bella) "Of course the Tooth Fairy is going to visit. She wouldn't miss it for the world"

OH CRAP!!! I have such a big freaking mouth!!! I made an elaborate story how the tooth fairy would leave a trail of fairy dust and money. The fairy dust was at grandma's along with the fancy velvet tooth bag. As for money, we tore up the house looking for single dollar( as in one's) bills. Unfortunately, no change is sight and hubby only had a $5 and a $20 in his wallet. Damn, are you serious? I remember getting a quarter per tooth. Inflation is crazy, huh?! So with the tooth firmly placed in a generic ziplock bag, $5 dollars in hand and blue sparkles( yes, blue. That's all I had on hand at midnight) I made my way to her room. Tooth? check! Sparkly fairy dust trail? yup! Five smackroos? Yup!!

Next morning I wake up to hear the squeals of a very happy, toothless little girl!! Two days later the other tooth came out and the scenario above was repeated. Fun times

First saw this video here and thought it was so adorable, I had to share.