If you're a parent of a young child (under about 10), you know that sleep is a rare and elusive thing. We all cope one way or another: coffee, sleep aids, energy drinks, power naps, whatever works, right? I think once you have a kid, you'll never ever sleep like before. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There are those nights your kid actually ASKS to go to bed, or goes to bed with no fight at all. And then they actually, you know, sleep!
My little one is just past 3 now, and she still has her nights that she wakes up 3-4 times a night, but overall, sleep and I have resumed our affair. Some times, she even lets me sleep in. Oh yes. Sleep - in. Past 8 am. *enter chorus of angels*
I'm no expert. I only have one kid, and she's only three. But here's my 'mommy advice': It DOES get better. At some point, THEY start realizing how awesome sleep is and they want to do it ALL the time. (Maybe around the teens, right? That's when I remember it hitting.)
Now...if you have more than one under 10 - well...you're probably not going to get the full wedded bliss for a bit longer, but one day, it will be there.
Now...where'd I put that cup of coffee??
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
The Not-So-Together Housewife
I'm not the best housewife ever. My house is NOT always immaculate, the kid isn't always dressed to the nines, and dinner isn't always ready when my husband walks in the door. But, I do my best. Yes, I have clutter around, and yes, if you go upstairs, you'll find my dirty little secret (I rarely clean it).
But this week, I've been good. I've kept the house (downstairs) pretty darn clean, even cleaned our bathroom upstairs, and kept dishes done. I've done the floors more than once this week, and keeping things done throughout the week, keeps it clean easier. Yep. You've heard it on blogs galore, pinterest pins about keeping your house clean in 15 minutes, etc. It does work. If you a "little" cleaning every day, it's really not that bad. Not that I scrub baseboards or anything. I still have laundry that needs folding...but hey...overall, it's clean and I feel great.
Just a short note/blog. I am about to go do 'busy housewife stuff' and get tea made for a spouse get together, and then host a Lia Sophia party. Woo!
But this week, I've been good. I've kept the house (downstairs) pretty darn clean, even cleaned our bathroom upstairs, and kept dishes done. I've done the floors more than once this week, and keeping things done throughout the week, keeps it clean easier. Yep. You've heard it on blogs galore, pinterest pins about keeping your house clean in 15 minutes, etc. It does work. If you a "little" cleaning every day, it's really not that bad. Not that I scrub baseboards or anything. I still have laundry that needs folding...but hey...overall, it's clean and I feel great.
Just a short note/blog. I am about to go do 'busy housewife stuff' and get tea made for a spouse get together, and then host a Lia Sophia party. Woo!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
An Obsession Begins
I had decided to take a friend to the local store that carries Filofax to 'kill time and get a fix'. While there, we browsed, checked out their stationary, got a few ideas for dividers, etc. The first time I was in this store, I was (not directly or politely) asked to stop 'handling them so much as it might damage them'. I don't see how my handling them was any worse than the way they were stacked on the shelf, but I digress. I decided to give the shop a second shot to see the Finsbury while I waited. Once I got home, there she was. I've noticed some folks name their Filos...I may have to give this gal a name!
I think the only issue I have with it right now is that it doesn't lay flat. Not that it's a HUGE issue, because I'm sure with time and usage, that will cease to be such an issue as it is.
I love that even though I really do have quite a good bit in there, it's not OVERLY stuffed. It's a really beautiful size, and though I'd like an A5 at some point, I LOVE the personal size.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The Planner Underground
My mother is a very fun lady. Ever since I was a kid, I've found her to be...well...quirky. It's easy to see where I get it from. I adore my mother. Lately, she has lead me down a path of darkness. And by darkness, I mean...well, you'll see.
See, Mom is a date-booking freak. We called it her date book growing up, because all her 'dates' were in it. And I mean everything. Ball game this week? It was in Mom's planner. School play? In Mom's planner. And she wouldn't let you forget things either.
Now I'm a mom, and I have a direct sales business, and I'm a military spouse. There's a lot to keep up with under those three small titles there! I thought I'd attempt the 'planner' thing again. I bought a cute little planner from Target, and thought it'd be cake. Nope. Two-three weeks later, I was forgetting it at home, not using it, not even looking at it. So what did I do? I called SuperMom for help. Why isn't it working? What do I do to MAKE myself use this? And a care package arrived.
To make a good point of the difference that was made...Here are a few pictures...
Before:
The tabs and pages that came with the planner.
And this is the hard plastic flyleaf that came with the planner.
This is a week or so into using it. I already have 3 tabbies (I love these, and think they may be my favorite).
See, Mom is a date-booking freak. We called it her date book growing up, because all her 'dates' were in it. And I mean everything. Ball game this week? It was in Mom's planner. School play? In Mom's planner. And she wouldn't let you forget things either.
Now I'm a mom, and I have a direct sales business, and I'm a military spouse. There's a lot to keep up with under those three small titles there! I thought I'd attempt the 'planner' thing again. I bought a cute little planner from Target, and thought it'd be cake. Nope. Two-three weeks later, I was forgetting it at home, not using it, not even looking at it. So what did I do? I called SuperMom for help. Why isn't it working? What do I do to MAKE myself use this? And a care package arrived.
To make a good point of the difference that was made...Here are a few pictures...
Before:
Skinny, unattractive little thing.
The tabs and pages that came with the planner.
And After:
This is after I got my care package and got everything in it.
This is how I've got my direct sales business cards set up, right in the front behind the hard plastic flyleaf.
I have one more card holder behind it for credit/debit cards.
I have a little obsession with Tinkerbell, so Mom sent plenty of Tink stickers.
This is the zip pouch that came in the care package.
More Tink on my bookmark. The lettering on the page matches the planner quite well.
And this is the hard plastic flyleaf that came with the planner.
This is a week or so into using it. I already have 3 tabbies (I love these, and think they may be my favorite).
Now you have my evolution into the planner underground!!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Pesky Thoughts
Heh. Back sooner than I thought. I went and read a few blogs I follow to get caught up. I'm horrible at remembering things that don't come with a notification of some sort.
One of these blogs was by a dear friend of mine talking about another of her friends moving, and how she herself would be moving soon. Which brought me to tears. If you've read previous blogs, you know my husband is in the US military. I won't EVER say which branch or what he does, to protect who we are/his job. But, part of military life is moving. We're currently on the West Coast. We were previously in Hawaii. When I moved to Hawaii to be with my husband, it was the first time I'd left the South. It's been a little over four years now, and I miss home as always. In a bit over a month, I'll be going home for a few months, while hubby wraps up some training. Then we're on to the East Coast and we'll be the closest to home we've been since we got married. I'm excited about that. I can't wait to be home. I can't wait for our daughter to be around her family. However, being a military family is a double edged sword. I have friends from Hawaii that I may never see again because of life: divorces, changing of careers, etc. I have friends from here that again, I may never see again. There are many branches in this area, and I've made friends with other branches than my husband's. We'll end up spread all over the country, and even overseas in some cases.
The women I've met here - are amazing. I so look forward to leaving and being close to home, but I desperately do not want to leave this band of women I've found here. This life is nothing like what Army Wives makes it look like. No one stays in one place SIX years like they have on that show. It just doesn't work that way. I've missed the births of some of my best friends' babies. I've missed birthdays for kids I was there for their birth. In this life - we (yes we do) choose to leave our families behind, and follow a man (or woman) we love where ever the military may send us. It doesn't make it easy, doesn't make it fun. Packing up and moving every 2-3 years sucks. Missing five holiday seasons with family in a row sucks. But we get the beautiful blessing of surrounding ourselves with a new kind of family. One that chooses to love you and hold you close to their hearts. One that chooses to call themselves 'aunts and uncles' to your children. And then, a year or so later, you're ripped apart. Those friendships NEVER die, because no matter how long it's been since either of you picked up a phone and called each other, you talk on fb, stalk each other's pictures, keep up with those kids, send cards, send presents.
So, it's bittersweet. I'm happy to be going home. I'm happy to be going to a place I'll be near old friends from Hawaii again. But I dread leaving these people. These ladies (and George*) have made this place so much more bearable for me. I love you guys, and you mean more to me than you will ever ever ever know.
*Names changed to protect my people.
Goodnight and God Bless
One of these blogs was by a dear friend of mine talking about another of her friends moving, and how she herself would be moving soon. Which brought me to tears. If you've read previous blogs, you know my husband is in the US military. I won't EVER say which branch or what he does, to protect who we are/his job. But, part of military life is moving. We're currently on the West Coast. We were previously in Hawaii. When I moved to Hawaii to be with my husband, it was the first time I'd left the South. It's been a little over four years now, and I miss home as always. In a bit over a month, I'll be going home for a few months, while hubby wraps up some training. Then we're on to the East Coast and we'll be the closest to home we've been since we got married. I'm excited about that. I can't wait to be home. I can't wait for our daughter to be around her family. However, being a military family is a double edged sword. I have friends from Hawaii that I may never see again because of life: divorces, changing of careers, etc. I have friends from here that again, I may never see again. There are many branches in this area, and I've made friends with other branches than my husband's. We'll end up spread all over the country, and even overseas in some cases.
The women I've met here - are amazing. I so look forward to leaving and being close to home, but I desperately do not want to leave this band of women I've found here. This life is nothing like what Army Wives makes it look like. No one stays in one place SIX years like they have on that show. It just doesn't work that way. I've missed the births of some of my best friends' babies. I've missed birthdays for kids I was there for their birth. In this life - we (yes we do) choose to leave our families behind, and follow a man (or woman) we love where ever the military may send us. It doesn't make it easy, doesn't make it fun. Packing up and moving every 2-3 years sucks. Missing five holiday seasons with family in a row sucks. But we get the beautiful blessing of surrounding ourselves with a new kind of family. One that chooses to love you and hold you close to their hearts. One that chooses to call themselves 'aunts and uncles' to your children. And then, a year or so later, you're ripped apart. Those friendships NEVER die, because no matter how long it's been since either of you picked up a phone and called each other, you talk on fb, stalk each other's pictures, keep up with those kids, send cards, send presents.
So, it's bittersweet. I'm happy to be going home. I'm happy to be going to a place I'll be near old friends from Hawaii again. But I dread leaving these people. These ladies (and George*) have made this place so much more bearable for me. I love you guys, and you mean more to me than you will ever ever ever know.
*Names changed to protect my people.
Goodnight and God Bless
Unhealthy Attachments
There are tons of new movies coming out every day. Most of them have very redundant themes at this point in the game. RomComs, dramas, horror flicks; they're pretty predictable. On occasion one comes along that is fairly original. If I haven't seen this storyline before, forgive me.
I just watched Ted. Now, this isn't really going to be a review of the movie, don't go thinking that. Rather, I'm about to talk about one of my 'seven things you don't know about me'. Some of you do know this, others don't.
I have a teddy bear. At one time in my life, I probably would have given an ovary for him to come to life and be my real life best friend. When I was a baby (literally), my grandmother happened to get me a Snuggle bear. Yeah, the one from the laundry detergent. His copyright date is 1986. Same as me. I've never been to more than a sleep over without this bear. I have had him my WHOLE LIFE. Even if he's not in the same room with me, he's been in the same house as me. I can't explain it, and it's crazy for an almost 27 year old woman, married with a kid, to have such an attachment to her bear, right? But here I am, after watching this movie, and I needed to hold my bear, have him next to me, in my arms.
When I met my husband and got ready to move to Hawaii with him, I packed all my stuff to take with me to go. His dad was shipping my things two weeks ahead of me. I put Snuggle in the box, taped it up, and immediately had one of the very few panic attacks I've ever had. I freaked. What if the box got lost? The postal service (including FedEx/UPS) loses THOUSANDS of parcels every single day! What if it got damaged, and he was harmed? I've taken such care of him my whole life. He had no tears, no rips, never lost an eye or nose. I had to call my mother and get her to talk me down. How did she do that? She convinced me that since I could take a 'pillow' on the plane with me, I should simply get the bear out of the box. I argued that I couldn't do that because he was already packed and the box was taped shut. She pointed out the obvious. I could tape the box back. So, I got him out of the box, and sat on the couch with him until I calmed down.
I don't understand it, and probably never will. But of all my 'worldly' possessions, this is the one that I would be most upset to lose. It's right up there with my pictures of my great grandfather. If I actually had time to save things other than important documents in a fire - the bear and the pictures of my great grandfather would be the first things I grabbed.
So, that's one more thing you may not have known about me. If you did - well, I hope you enjoyed reading anyway.
Goodnight and God Bless.
I just watched Ted. Now, this isn't really going to be a review of the movie, don't go thinking that. Rather, I'm about to talk about one of my 'seven things you don't know about me'. Some of you do know this, others don't.
I have a teddy bear. At one time in my life, I probably would have given an ovary for him to come to life and be my real life best friend. When I was a baby (literally), my grandmother happened to get me a Snuggle bear. Yeah, the one from the laundry detergent. His copyright date is 1986. Same as me. I've never been to more than a sleep over without this bear. I have had him my WHOLE LIFE. Even if he's not in the same room with me, he's been in the same house as me. I can't explain it, and it's crazy for an almost 27 year old woman, married with a kid, to have such an attachment to her bear, right? But here I am, after watching this movie, and I needed to hold my bear, have him next to me, in my arms.
When I met my husband and got ready to move to Hawaii with him, I packed all my stuff to take with me to go. His dad was shipping my things two weeks ahead of me. I put Snuggle in the box, taped it up, and immediately had one of the very few panic attacks I've ever had. I freaked. What if the box got lost? The postal service (including FedEx/UPS) loses THOUSANDS of parcels every single day! What if it got damaged, and he was harmed? I've taken such care of him my whole life. He had no tears, no rips, never lost an eye or nose. I had to call my mother and get her to talk me down. How did she do that? She convinced me that since I could take a 'pillow' on the plane with me, I should simply get the bear out of the box. I argued that I couldn't do that because he was already packed and the box was taped shut. She pointed out the obvious. I could tape the box back. So, I got him out of the box, and sat on the couch with him until I calmed down.
I don't understand it, and probably never will. But of all my 'worldly' possessions, this is the one that I would be most upset to lose. It's right up there with my pictures of my great grandfather. If I actually had time to save things other than important documents in a fire - the bear and the pictures of my great grandfather would be the first things I grabbed.
So, that's one more thing you may not have known about me. If you did - well, I hope you enjoyed reading anyway.
Goodnight and God Bless.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Oh, You Didn't Know?
Following in the Seven Things You Might Not Know About Me trend, tonight I'm going to talk about my insane attachment to my family. I LOVE my family. I HATE being a military spouse only because I can't pack my family and bring them with me on this journey. It breaks my hear that my daughter isn't getting spoiled like I did by my grandparents. She'd already be staying the night with them by now.
I am a Mama's Girl. My mother is one of my best friends, because I can tell her pretty much anything. She gives the best advice ever. When I'm sick, NO ONE makes me feel better other than my Mommy. When I'm sick, she's the only one I want. I hope I'm half the mother to my kids that she's been to us.
I am a Daddy's Girl. My Daddy makes me feel so safe. Daddy takes care of everything. I remember being really little and being afraid of monsters. He made me a monster spray and sprayed anywhere I thought monsters might be to kill them. He gives the BEST hugs.
My sister is my best friend. We are complete dorks when we are together. She is hilarious and fun to hang out with. We also have the worst fights. I don't think I've fought so hard with anyone as I have with her. I don't think I could stay sane most of the time if I didn't have her to talk to.
My brothers are...well...brothers. We love and fight. They're protective and annoying.
Why am I telling you about my family? These are suppose to be about me, right? Well, my family is a part of me. Maybe the most important part. They are where I come from, what made me who I am. Without them, I wouldn't be the woman I am today. I am truly blessed by my family.
I am a Mama's Girl. My mother is one of my best friends, because I can tell her pretty much anything. She gives the best advice ever. When I'm sick, NO ONE makes me feel better other than my Mommy. When I'm sick, she's the only one I want. I hope I'm half the mother to my kids that she's been to us.
I am a Daddy's Girl. My Daddy makes me feel so safe. Daddy takes care of everything. I remember being really little and being afraid of monsters. He made me a monster spray and sprayed anywhere I thought monsters might be to kill them. He gives the BEST hugs.
My sister is my best friend. We are complete dorks when we are together. She is hilarious and fun to hang out with. We also have the worst fights. I don't think I've fought so hard with anyone as I have with her. I don't think I could stay sane most of the time if I didn't have her to talk to.
My brothers are...well...brothers. We love and fight. They're protective and annoying.
Why am I telling you about my family? These are suppose to be about me, right? Well, my family is a part of me. Maybe the most important part. They are where I come from, what made me who I am. Without them, I wouldn't be the woman I am today. I am truly blessed by my family.
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