Thursday, March 29, 2007

Suck it up-really!

I.want.this.vacuum! But, of course, you will too once you read about it. And who wouldn't want a $469.99 vacuum FREE! Me do, Me do! Not that I want anyone else to win it, but I have to be a good neighbor and share the news. Go over to www.5minutesformom.com and sign up on Mr. Linky-they tell you how; it's simple and you don't even have to have a blog. Go over to www.dyson.com to read all about the Dyson Slim Vacuum (that I want to win!)

And don't forget to check back from time to time because I like linking to contests through them!

Stacey

Friday, March 23, 2007

An Open Letter to Big Mama

This originally began as a simple comment on Big Mama's blog entry regarding her trip to watch A&M play last night, but as it grew in length I felt it was better suited for posting! I am sure she won't mind the extra visitors to her site because of it!!

Dear Big Mama,

First, I want to be upfront and let you know that I not an Aggies fan (Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner) and I am not particularly a fan of watching basketball on tv (I was the trainer for our college basketball teams and being on courtside is the only way to go.) and last night it wouldn't have mattered who was playing, I had an errand to run without kids and still get in home in time for Grey's.

In case you were wondering what urgent errand I had to run, well, really the original errand was insignificant unless you factor in that Staples just happens to be the next door neighbor to Payless and a street neighbor to Target. Did I mention I was without my kids? Please know the significant influence you have on women around the world and let me tell you that I have not stopped thinking about the possibility of a new pair of shoes (which I don't really need) since you posted about it. **If I knew how, here is where I would do that cute thing where people can just click on the word "shoes" and go directly to your story about them on your site.** Last night thanks to you (and I really mean that), I am now the proud owner of 2 pairs of really cute shoes for the season- 1 being a funky wedge with cool animal print/$9 and the other 1 being a sweet pair of silver-toned espies (I can't spell the real word!) with fun satin ties!/$9.98! I would have seriously come home with a third for $9 but my feet were not quite big enough-geuss I should have another baby!

Back home, I was running late and really had too much to do and then walked in to find my husband intensely watching a basketball game. Initially, this had no meaning to me and honestly I was rathered frustrated that I was missing McDreamy for some st*p*d bb game. He leaves the room momentarily, quickly returning to request the last remaining minutes since "it is A&M and all". My husband only regrets not going there and has already begun the brainwashing procedures involving my young, impreshionable, almost 3 year old son. "Mom, I want my Aggie shots"-pronounced "shorts" without the "r". I mean really, what respectable Sooner would allow this hypocrisy in her home-there is work to do!


Back to the game. As I am rolling my eyes and mumbling that word again, I seriously had a lightbulb moment. Me (in my head)- "Hey, Big Mama and her sister are at that game. I wonder what she decided to wear and if I could see her on tv?" Then post-loss as I am surfing quickly to catch the last 1/2 of Grey's, I had a brief moment of silence for your sadness and knew that I wouldn't have to wait long to hear of the event personally and first hand.

You didn't disappoint and I thank you for sharing your life with all the people that anxiously await your daily musings. And I have to wonder... do you smile just a little more knowing you are influencing the shoe-buying trends around the world AND at the same time people are thinking about you in reference to seemingly random occurances in their life?!

With my deepest affection (for a person I don't even really know!),
Stacey

Monday, March 19, 2007

Supporting the troops- the SAHM & WAHM troops that is.

I need to do some work to figure out the best way to organize my blog site, but for now I wanted to quickly mention a few things.

I am going to have a place (currently called Really Great Things I Like) on my blog where you can link to websites that have cool things I like and would like to pass along to you. Right now, it is intended to be friends or new people I run across that have a business with products I either have and have used personally or that come highly recommended by many others. Eventually, I would like to add websites that have good information or resources for you. Thus, my first addition is from Wendy at
www.freewebs.com/bellebijou who makes her own fun jewelry and other accessories. You won't be disappointed. I have her listed on the side but wanted to mention what you might actually find there.

Second, be sure to check in at
www.5minutesformom.com occasionally because they are always mentioning products they love and sponsoring contests to win the featured products. This might be a way to not only win something great, but also get your wares advertised on their website. They love to support SAHM by doing this. Right now, there is a contest featuring cute handsewn skirts- find them at www.katchykids.com, but go to the first website to enter the contest.

Good luck!!
Stacey

Friday, March 16, 2007

Coming up for air

It is just shameful that I have been away this long. You know that all those things I thought would be cute to write about and that I just knew I would remember when the time came, well.....the memories are already less vivid. I will do the best I can!

Where have I been all this time? You know....life, responsibilities, interruptions.

Here are a few highlights from the past 2 weeks. Just a warning, somehow I think more clearly in bullet points. It is my "to do" list mentality!

  • We had spring break in our area starting the 9th. At this point in our lives, we don't do a lot of traveling with our kids 5 and almost 3. Spring break really isn't a huge ordeal for us yet. I actually thought it would be pretty calm, but then I got a wild hair-not on my body, in my brain!
  • I have a dear friend who moved to Dumas, TX (think really west Texas-west of Amarillo! And yes, we did see a tumbleweed and Anysa was amazed by it's size.) a couple of years ago so her hubby could be the youth minister and worship leader at a church there. Their kids are about the same ages as mine and my friend and I used to really enjoy hanging out when they lived here. I saw her a few weeks before and realized how very much I missed her so we made plans!
  • The kids and I headed out at 6am last Friday for our 7 hour adventure! It actually went by pretty fast-we stopped for gas early on, kids played and napped for awhile in the car, I talked on the phone (blame me?), we stopped to eat at one of Texas' staple eateries-Dairy Queen, then arrived in Dumas around 2:30pm. Note-the kids loved DQ and I loved the fact that they got ice cream for their treat instead of another annoying toy was wonderful!
  • I won't detail the entire excitement we had in Dumas, but I will hit the highlights! Friday was really just hanging out and letting the kids get reacquainted. We ate some great bbq then headed home to get the kids settled for bed. K and I had some eating and movie watching to do! Saturday started with a great gourmet breakfast cooked for us by K's dad then us getting ready to head to Amarillo for mall shopping and more eating! We visited with K's mom and while there, Luke started acting sluggish which I thought was just his need for a nap but as he was sleeping on me I realized he had a fever. Aaargh!! That always seems to happen to us. We go somewhere and one of the kid's gets sick in some sort of way. So we headed back to Dumas, administered some drugs, and got the kids to bed.
  • Now you have to know my friend K and love this about her. Germs are not her thing-Lysol is her best friend. I know, understand, and love this about her. Of course, my fear was being kicked out all together-just kidding! Instead, we just kept the Lysol, antibacterial lotion, and kleenex handy.
  • With kids in bed, K and I were free to eat some more and watch another movie. Can you tell our mutual interests and running theme of the weekend??!! Isn't it the best to have friends you can eat and laugh around, never worrying what they might be thinking about you. After popcorn, Starbucks frappichinos (no, Dumas does not support a Starbucks, but with a little help from Wal-Mart, we made our own!), and watching a cute Reese Witherspoon movie, we were feeling good.
  • On Sunday, we just hung out, managed Luke's sickness (no more fever, just cough and nose stuff), enjoyed a gourmet lunch with dessert from K's dad, and let the kids play. On Monday, the kids and I headed out around 11am to make our way home. On the way, Luke seemed to look and feel worse so we drove straight into town and to the doctor's to discover a double ear infection! After the doctor, a $47 antibiotic (so mad at the doctor!), and bed for the kids, I was free to do laundry and pack the kids for their trip to Papa and Gigi's house on Tuesday morning. Yes, Luke was sick but after weeks of anticipation, there was NO way anyone was talking the kids out of going. AND I already had my "free" time scheduled, you understand!
  • On Tuesday, I headed to work and the kids headed to grandparents. Luke really was on his way to recovery. As they drove away, I am sure Papa was excited about his 2 hours of listening pleasure with The Boyz in the Sink collection (VeggieTales) that Anysa insisted on. Funny note- Before they left, I insisted (in front of Papa) that Anysa be sure to go to the bathroom so that Papa would not have to stop along the way and have to deal with 2 kids and the always clean/my kids never touch anything bathrooms! Taken care of, right? Found out later that Papa was actually the one who made them stop for his own potty break! What was a man that had never even changed a diaper and had to grandkids, one of each sex going to do?! Luckily for him, the nice lady behind the counter welcomed Anysa to join her while Papa took Luke with him. Of course as a mom, I am envisioning the small town lady behind the counter with a cigarette in her mouth, a smoked-filled room with truckers stopping in for coffee and a chat, and people at the counter picking out their lucky numbers for the winning jackpot along with their favorite smoke and beverage for the road. I am sure it was actually clean and smelled like spring. I do know Papa gave her a nice tip!
  • With the kids away, a mommy will play! And what is more fun than scheduling doctor appts without kids! Especially when you are heading in for your first mammogram! No worries, just a baseline and because my doctor understands it is better to assure a worrisome woman than to try to talk her out of it. So, of course I go in expecting all the horrors that I had heard from others. I am sorry to disappoint with my own horror story...there isn't one. Honestly, it really was quick, not painful, and not that big of a deal. I mean, of course, no one likes another person manipulating their personal body parts to fit between two pieces of plastic long enough to take 4 pictures but it really was a breeze. Now of course, my friend P was quick to remind me at coffee later that evening that of course it is not bad when one has something to put between those two pieces of plastic! I take her at her word.
  • Yes, I got to enjoy 2 1/2 hours of coffee and conversation with P without worry as to which child I needed to go home to put to bed that night. On Wednesday, I was so excited to head over to my friend G's house for a day of painting. Really, I was! See G has these adorable 3 year old twin boys and in December the family grew with the addition of another set of twins-girl and boy! I know your eyes are bulging, but honestly I can't think of a better and more equipped person emotionally to handle these blessings. She is just a natural! Anyway, things have been crazy for them and I am trying to help. (Background, they moved from an hour away from me to 10 minutes away from me back in Oct/Nov, she went on bedrest before then, had the babies a month early. Can you imagine ever trying to catch up with the boxes, organizing, and 4 kids!) Anyway, we working on one room at a time and are determined to get the kids' rooms done.
  • Yesterday was work, a drink and dinner with a few gals from work at Cantina Laredo (Ladies' night margharitas are the best!) then home to see the kids who arrived a few minutes before me. It was fun to see their excitement of finding presents scattered in their rooms. Just a few trinkets and books I picked up very cheaply at the resale shop on Tuesday. After settling down, they headed to bed in anticipation of the Sleep Fairy delivering a surprise if they went right to sleep without whining and popping out of bed as frequently as they like to do. Thanks G for this wonderful idea! It worked great for Anysa who went right to sleep and stayed in her bed until 7:30 the next morning, but it will likely take longer for Luke to catch on. Maybe after sister gets a few surprises and he doesn't it will work.

It was a great week, but the best moments were:

  • Anysa letting me know that I deserved a sticker for the being the best mommy.
  • Anysa letting me know over the phone (after she had already arrived home, but I wasn't there yet) that "oh and one more thing Mommy, I really missed you while I was gone."
  • Luke so excited about his new $.25 books and saying "wook, wook at all my suprises! sit down and read to me"
  • Luke (in bed while I was still reading to him at bedtime) reaching over to hug me and saying "I wuv you Mommy, I missed you."

I bet you have those favorite moments too!

Stacey

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Quick Jesus, can you turn some more water into wine so we will have enough for all the guests!

So Friday I thought I was so smart and doing so good. I was so excited about the blog party but wanted to make sure I didn't totally avoid my family with all my "partying". I decided to "meet" 10 new people every time I sat down at the computer-good plan, right? I started with #1 and was working my way down. By the end of the evening, I had "hung out" with 70 people; didn't linger long-just enough to take a peek, leave a message, and to make a note to come back and visit later.

I had to be away from my computer for 2 days while doing business at a vendor market, coming home each night exhausted and needing to hang out with the kids. So, I checked in on my "party attendees" then scooted over to the party headquarters to casually get started on meeting some more people.

WHAT! Who invited all these people? Just kidding! I am just wondering how I will ever properly greet everyone- all over 600 of you (and the list is climbing by the minute!). Oh well, I better get busy!

I have got some thoughts brewing for tomorrow, so until then....Party On!

Stacey

p.s. Can you tell what lesson I taught the 4-year old Sunday school class last week?!

Friday, March 2, 2007

Tonight I want to party like it's 1999!

Sorry, but I just couldn't resist!! I am so excited about this party! Aren't you? What!!!??? You haven't heard???!!! Well the gals over at www.5minutesformom.com are hosting The Ultimate Blog Party and everyone is invited! Click on the link below, read about it, check out all the fabulous prizes, sign in, post a comment about it on your own blog, visit some new friends, comment on their blogs, and well....just party and have a great time! Don't have blog? Neither did I until recently, but I just couldn't stay away from all the fun everyone else was having. You know like in the movies where the forlorn-looking child peers longingly down from the window of his/her 2-story house as all the other children play chase down below in the yard. Yes, usually the child has on a long white nightgown, but hey! Anyway, there are so many great blogs waiting for you to visit. Good thing the party is all week!

Anyway, more later. I have to go get a "george dandaid" (band-aid) for one of Lukes' many non-existant booboo's. Actually, this time he insists it is for the one on his foot just like "on your foot mommy".

Happy Partying!!!
Stacey

p.s. It's March Madness and everything is 50% off!! If you want some great botanically-based products, check out my website using the link www.staceywillmon.myarbonne.com.