Cloudy with a chance of normal

Life...it's not always good and it's most certainly not always bad.
Right now, I'm in a weird place in my life and I'm trying to get through it as best I can. There are a lot of thing I need to work through, things I need to change, things I need to accept.

I've been in this weird foggy place for weeks now and I finally admitted that there was...no, there IS a problem. It's beyond PMS and beyond winter blues. It's turning me in to someone I don't really care to be around.

This blog may take a different turn for awhile or maybe I'll type these posts out and never hit publish. Who knows...all I do know is that writing it all down is therapeutic for me. It helps me see things clearly, it helps to write it down and read it over and over again, picking it apart and trying to make sense of it all. Little by little, I'm figuring it all out.
I'm not big on this whole public meltdown and airing all of my dirty laundry for the world to see...but I don't want to hide and pretend everything is okay either, because it's not. It will be...but right now...it's a little cloudy.

What to do on a snowy day

I'm a little late on this weeks blog hop. It's been kind of a rough few weeks for me, but I feel like I'm coming out of it. I hope.

This week the topic is cabin fever and what we do when we can't go outside to play or hit the park (2 of my personal faves during the warmer months)

In case you've forgotten, I don't really do snow and winter but unfortunately it's a part of life around here. For the most part, we do a decent job of avoiding cabin fever and keeping the boys from going crazy...and making mommy want to drink.

We do things like movie day instead of movie night. Pop popcorn, curl up on the couch and watch movies. This is generally a weekend activity since Thing 1 is in school during the week and the younger one, well, he doesn't actually watch movies. He more glances, laughs and then runs away to find something else to destroy. He and I spend many many hours building block towers so that he can demolish them. It's great fun.


(not my picture, thank you google images)

Another way to make things fun. Backwards dinner days. We eat dessert first and then if there is room, we have real food...like grilled cheese or pizza. It's fun and it breaks things up from the norm.

We play a lot of games (Guess Who with the big one and put the blanket over mommy's head with the little one. LOL)...and legos...and coloring.

We try to get out of the house as much as possible, even if it's just running to Target or going to see a $1 movie. We meet friends at kid friendly spots like Chuck E Cheese or we plan play dates. LOVE play dates!!

The boys do get out in the snow to play, which they love. Okay, T2 just loves to eat the snow.

What do you do when the weather is less then desirable?

At least I got my coffee

We've had a ridiculous amount of snow...and please don't tell me if I don't like it to move someplace warm. All I have to say to that is: Bite me. Now that we've cleared that up...moving on.

We've had snow storm after snow storm and I'm not even sure how many inches (or feet) of snow is out there anymore. It's insane...and since I hate snow, I'm having a really hard time with being stuck in the house lately. No, I'm not a hermit...I leave the house it just seems like it's only to do drop off or pick up at school, the grocery store, or running to the post office and the bank. Not exactly fun stuff. Today, it's not snowing...and the roads are relatively clear.

After dropping Thing 1 off at school, I called my mom to see if she wanted to do shopping and lunch. Nope, she's relaxing today. Okay, fine. Next I figured I'd make some coffee, do a bit of work and then maybe head out with the Thing 2 for lunch.

Except when I went to make my lovely and delicious cup of espresso, no espresso pods. Surely this was a mistake, right? But, no. None to be found, my darling handsome hubby must have used the last one and didn't tell me. *sigh* What's a girl to do...I got ready and off we went to Starbucks.

After swinging through the drive thru and grabbing my perfectly made white mocha, I figured we'd hit the local library. Ian needed to get out and play, plus it's free and mommy can sit and relax for a bit with a good book and coffee. Ahhhh.

Oh wait. What's that? The library is CLOSED. Yep, apparently they have weird hours and they weren't open yet. No worries, I'll just go home and toss some laundry in and then head back out in a bit and maybe call a friend and meet up for lunch.

Thing 2 had other plans, he'd apparently had a very rough morning of eating nutrigrain bars, a banana and watching Jack's Big Music Show that he was worn out. He promptly passed out in the 10 minute drive home....and is now napping, at 11am.

So yea...at least I got coffee.

Statute of Limitations

I was at the mall the other day, have I mentioned that I hate the mall? I bought a bunch of shower gel during Bath and Body's buy 3 get 3 free sale before Christmas. Problem was, they didn't have the one scent that I love...a friendly sales girl told me to just buy any 6 and then come back to exchange them. Yea, 2 months later I got around to it.

Anyway, I did that and I had to pick up a sweeper belt from Sears. Where I managed to leave my wallet on the desk and was paged to please return to the vacuum department. I know, I know...you are so incredibly jealous of my fabulous WAHM life. It's okay, it's hard being me. As I was heading to the food court to stuff my face eat lunch I noticed a couple holding hands. Nothing uncommon for the mall really but he was sporting a letterman's coat so of course that got me to thinking why they weren't in school. It was, after all, the middle of a weekday. Glancing over I realized that his jacket from from '06.

I'm not an expert since I didn't do anything worthy of a letter in HS (unless you count mat stat, which, I don't) but I'm pretty sure there is some kind of statute of limitations on how long it is socially acceptable to wear said jacket. In highschool? Acceptable. Summer after graduation? SURE. 3.5 years later?! Really, I'm fairly certain that once you are old enough to drink, it's time to pack that thing away until your 25 year HS reunion when you want to see if you still fit in to it.


Thoughts?



**I shouldn't even admit this but I will. I totally spelled it Statue of Limitations the first time and almost left it. Hello, dumbass**

Since I know you are on the edge of your seats!

another 365ish update


So excited about this...too bad it's for an auction. If you don't read their blog, you're missing out!


Does it get any sweeter then this?!


This was taken to make sure the camera was working...since he managed to wedge himself under the chair, grab the camera off the middle of the table and proceed to drop it on the floor.

Okay, I forgot to take a real picture this day...so you get a random shot of stuff I'm selling. Whoops!

Yep, rotten

365 update

I didn't forget about my Project 365 326ish, I've just been a lazy lazy blogger.

So, here is an update with some of Jan.(with explanations, b/c some of them need it)

I've been playing Mario on T1's DS. Getting to world 4 is kind of a PITA, but one night I finally made it. I had to take a picture with my phone, HH thought I was ridiculous!


<3


He was eating wedding soup and Mr. Independent wouldn't let me help. Also, he loves to stick his fingers (yes, both) in his nose all.the.time.

He really is my little monkey


And, because I promised not all the pictures would be of my kids. Here is one from the first real snow storm of the season. Of course I was pelted with a snow ball after taking this one, or I would have tried for a better angle. Oh well.


Oh, notice I skipped a few days? Yea...I'm a slacker. I also skipped the 15-23rd while everyone was sick. Whoops! Will post another update in a few days so I can get caught up!

What? 2 posts in one day?

And okay, they are two pointless posts but work with me here. I've had a few margaritas, I'm watching commericials the superbowl and hanging out with my hubby. The kids are sleeping and this is what I have to do in between commercials
plays.

So, the topic of my second pointless post of the day: General Hospital. And, I want to know what you think. Come on, I know some of you have to watch, right? RIGHT?

Team Jax or Team Carly? (btw, if you haven't watched Friday's you may not want to continue reading)

I am totally team Carly on this one. Now don't get me wrong I love Jax with his autralian accent and blue eyes and I certainly wouldn't kick him out of bed
my house BUT Carly is so right. He knew what he was getting in to when he married her and I hate that he lied to her. Dumb Dumb Dumb. It's Carly, come on now!!!

Liz/Lucky or Liz/Nik?

As much as it would be nice to see one couple stand the test of time without her falling in to bed with his family member, I'm on team Liz/Nik. They were HOT and I liked them sneaking around, call me a whore. :) I wish that they'd bring back some of Liz's spunk and sass like when she was a teen. That was fun.
Speaking of spunk and sass...love Sam/Jason. LOVE. If they make her stupid like they do with every female that comes in to contact with Sonny or Jason for too long I am going to be LIVID. I won't stop watching b/c that is just crazy talk, but I will be pissed.

Do you love or hate Luke and Tracey? I used to just roll my eyes and get annoyed but the longer they are together, the more I like them. I think they're a good pair. She's a fantastic match for Luke when it's all said and done.

Love Ethan...LOVE!
Hate Kristina. She's annoying. How did we go from her stripping for Jason to this simpering whining mess? Ugh.
Michael...he can go back in to a coma for all I care.
Favorite couple right now: Dominic/Dante and Lulu!! They make me smile, a lot. Plus, he's hot.

And...last but not least...Olivia: Team Sonny or Team Johnny? I'm undecided. I used to hate Olivia and Johnny but they've grown on me.

Okay...make me feel like less of a loser and reply with your thoughts. Or not.

In case you didn't realize

I have this fancy little button over to the right

---------------------------->

Yep, that one right there.

Isn't it cute?

Yea, I think it would look awesome on your blog.

Just sayin'.

Oh, and if anyone is interested in creating an equally cute button for our Blog Hop, let me know!

Snowed in 2010

We got hit with 12-18" of snow last night. It started around 4pm and didn't stop.

I hate snow. No, really, I do. I don't do cold...I don't enjoy going out and playing in it b/c my feet end up wet and I hate the tingly feeling you get in your hands when you go from cold to warm. And my legs always itch if we're walking in the cold and it's annoying.

Of course, I really didn't mind being snowed in. The boys and I watched Planet 51 last night and then after the little ones were in bed, HH and I watched 2 episodes of The Office. We're on season 4...and I'm in love with that show. I would leave HH for Jim and his messy haired prank playing self.


I didn't even bother getting out of my PJ's today...well except during nap time but we won't go there. :) I showered and put PJ's back on around 4 and when the boys go to bed we're curling up with a movie and cookies. mmmm, cookies.



I'm getting off track of my point. The snow.

It is pretty


but, it buried my car

Hop on over!

Welcome to the weekly Blog Hop! Anyone is free to join in. Simply enter your information in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, repost the MckLinky code in your own post on the topic, and enjoy your fellow bloggers' posts. Remember to leave some Comment Love!

This week's topic: What aspects of your parents' parenting do you want to continue in parenting your own kid(s)?

When I first read the subject for this week, I kind of sighed. Not because I don't love my parents, I do. It's just that our parenting styles are very very different. It's not that I intentionally do things differently, but I'm a different person then they are and HH grew up with an incredibly unusual upbringing so for us, we have to find a happy medium.


A few things that I do 100% hope to carry over in my own parenting:

1. Unconditional Love: I know everyone says they love their kids unconditionally, but my parents do this so incredibly well. No matter what we did or how we screwed up, my mom would meet us with a hug and tell us we'd figure it out. I called home at 17 sobbing because I rear ended someone. My dad didn't go on a tirade about me wrecking my car (although I did have to drive it with a beat up front bumper for awhile), he made sure I was okay and reminded me that it was an accident. There was no yelling, there was no judgment. When your 21 year old daughter shows up with her 24 year old boyfriend and says she's pregnant, it's a lot to take in. I hope that I can be as supportive and non-judgmental as my parents were and still are, even when they don't agree with the choices I make or the things I do. And if you know my brother, you know you pretty much have to be a saint to deal with him every day!

2. Parties: We didn't have a lot of money growing up. We weren't poor but my parents definitely lived pay check to pay check. Even so, birthdays were a big deal. There were parties, presents and cake. Always. Same goes for end of the school year parties, when I went from 5th grade to 6th it was a big deal because we were going to middle school. I had every girl in my class over for a sleepover on the last day of school. There was cake and streamers and we felt like the coolest girls ever. I remember when my brother was in HS he and his friends had just started dating (and if you know my brother, you can stop laughing now), for Valentines day three of them came over with their girlfriends and my dad made heart shaped pizzas. It was the little touches that as an adult I remember and want to do with my children. So when I'm going crazy with the cakes for birthday parties or trying to find matching streamers, that's why. My dad always made our cakes, he even made the top tier of my wedding cupcake tower. It's something you don't forget.

3. Family Reunion: My brother and I hated our family reunions as teens, we have one every Christmas with my dad's extended family. My grandpa had 4 sisters, so it's their families and I don't know them all that well. (both of my grandparents have passed) The only upside was getting an early Christmas gift, but we had to sit on Santa's lap for that to happen. I spent most of the evening hiding out with my cousin. I'm 28 now and I think I can count the number of Christmas reunions I've missed. (2) My parents were always insistant that we go every year. Even when I was in college and working 3 jobs, you'd better believe I took that Friday before Christmas off work so that I could be there. Now, it's a tradition I carry on with my boys. I'm sure they'll go kicking and screaming as teens but I think it's important for them to have a sense of family. I hope that when they are older, if my parents have passed, they'll feel them in that room the way I feel my grandparents when we go.

There is more, my parents truly are amazing and wonderfuly people, but I'll end it here. I do a lot of things very different then what they did with me, but I hope my boys know they can always ALWAYS count on me the way I can count on my parents.

One of those things I shouldn't post

But, I'm going to anyway.

Why?
Because this is some funny shit.
Go here...it is not spam, it is not going to steal you identity but I promise it will make you laugh.
Sweet Sweet Revenge
(be sure to read the comments as well)
If you don't laugh, then you are probably in the wrong place :)

**I tried to post the pictures, but they were too small to read and appreciate**

Just a friendly public service announcement

Do you have Facebook?
Are you "fans" of random businesses on your Facebook?

If you answered no, well, you can go ahead and read but it's really pointless for you. If yes, then please read.

If you are a Fan of, say, Chipotle: When they post something, do not reply in the comments saying how they suck and their food is gross. Really? Why are you a fan then? And really, you have nothing better to do with your time then to tell a computer screen that they suck? You don't really think anyone that cares reads that, do you?

I am a fan of Walgreens, they ran a deal a few months ago where you got a free photobook if you became a fan. I'm a sucker for free.
Today they post something about a big announcement on Oprah. The comments that followed were a lot of Oprah bashing (back off!!) and then a lot of whining about Walgreens selling beer. Who doesn't want to be able to pick up tylenol, bread and beer all in the same place?!

As for Oprah...I happen to like her. Sue me. One of the comments was:
you gotta be kidding LOL some of us work during the day it's for those soccer mom & dads who "work at home" or do "housework". Personally most of those talk shows are for those who live vicariously through others. Pretty useless.

I kind of wanted to reach there my computer and slap her but I didn't because I had "housework" to do and then I had to do some "work" while at home. Whore.

And no, I didn't read all the comments, that was the most recent when it popped up in my news feed.
Didn't your mother teach you "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". Apparently not, whore.

What? That's not nice? It's okay, my mom never taught me that either.

Point being...don't try to start a debate or complain about a business on a FB FAN PAGE. Dumb dumb dumb.

She's a little crazy

For whatever reason, I was in rare form this weekend. I was snippy and "stabby" as HH called me. I'm pretty sure he slept with one eye open for fear that I would injure him in his sleep. And, okay, maybe I gave him the idea that if I were going to stab him I wouldn't do it when he was expecting it. So yea, maybe the fact that he slept next to me but inside of a sleeping bag was my fault.
But really? He thought a sleeping bag would save him!?

I cried yesterday morning over something so ridiculous I'm not even going to share with you what it was. No, really, it was dumb. I know in my head it was dumb. I was having an emotional day, clearly.

HH went to the store to pick up some veggies for dinner, he spent $10 and bought the few things we would need to make not one, but TWO meals. What did I do? Asked him why he bought the expensive garlic and pointed out that we already had onion soup mix. Yes folks, that is the kind of mood I was in.

Oh...and more crying. I asked HH if he needed to soak the clay pot he was using for dinner in hot water, he said no. I asked again, because I swear it said something about hot water. He said no, absolutely not. I got the directions...it does say to soak it water. Not hot water, just water, for 10-15 mins before each use. He says "well yea, but not hot water. You kept saying hot water". Really ass, you couldn't have just told me that?! In reality, I'm the ass...I cried over that. Yes, cried.
and now you are probably wondering what else I could have cried about, that was even worse then that.

Maybe I'm just a little crazy....