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Monday, June 29, 2009

~~Friends Award~~


Karen from Karen's Korner gave me a super cute award today.
This is how the award works:
"This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

How sweet is that? I am so appreciative at such a gesture. The award also ask that I tell 7 "random" Things about me. I am pretty much an open book so some of these may be repeats if you have read my whole blog~~ I just don't have that exciting of a life, but here goes:

1. I have 15 brothers and sisters.
2. I am a cancer survivor. 8 years cancer free now!!
3. I rode a bull in high school during my brother's rodeo practice rides.
4. I have never liked little yappy dogs, always preferring the Mastiff breed, but I like my little chihuahua Zoe a ton, somedays more than my kids & husband.
5. I read approximately 4-5 books a month and prefer true crime or homicide related books. My family says it is because I need to know all the things that got people caught so when I kill someone I wont get caught. (They have a lot of faith in me huh?!?)
6. When I was a kid I got a bloody nose that lasted 16 hours and ended up having to have the vessels in my nose cauterized to stop it. This was from my brother putting his head down like a raging bull and head butting me in the nose.
7. I used to babysit for a country music star's kids years ago, before he got really big. I got paid in records, T-shirts and concert tickets most of the time.

And now for the awards. I look forward to reading each and every one of these deserving ladies blogs and love the comments they leave on my blog. I am extremely happy to know each of them (even the ones I have never 'really' met) and have been encouraged by their comments and blog posts that have gotten me through many days when I felt I would never smile again. I am blessed to call them my friends and I know that you will feel the same way when you meet them. Please stop by and visit their blogs and let them know I sent you. My 8 wonderful choices that get this award, in no particular order, are:

1. Becky @ http://tbshepherd.blogspot.com/
2. Sandi @ http://luckythirteenandcounting.com/
3. Vaylene @ http://vaylenejordan.blogspot.com/
4. Pam @ http://theflockofbirds.blogspot.com/
5. Bre @ http://therobinsonfew.blogspot.com/?zx=c558d4a9c9f2b1fa
6. Lisa @ http://cshermanfarm.blogspot.com/
7. Tammy @ http://queen-sized.blogspot.com/
8. Krystyn @ http://www.reallyareyouserious.com/


Sunday, June 28, 2009

~~Review- chicBuds Breast Cancer Awareness - White~~

So the wonderful people at chicBuds sent me a set of the Breast Cancer Awareness chicBuds. They are a beautiful bright white with genuine Swarovski Crystals and I must say they are absolutely beautiful. See what do you think??
The Breast Cancer Awareness option for chicBuds also comes in black.
As far as functionability-- I usually don't listen to any music when I walk because I am so out of shape that I sweat like crazy- I know TMI- and the ear pieces fall out and or get disgusting and I can't hear very well out of them. However, these fit just right. Even when I started sweating and expected them to fall out of my ears, they hung on and I could hear great. The sound that comes out of these little things is unbelieveable. Clear as a bell with no static what so ever.

They are a little pricier than the headphones you can grab at your local Walmart or electronics store, running $53, but very well worth every penny. I can't begin to count the pairs of headphones I have broken or pulled a wire out of when they fell off- OK and yes when I get irritated and toss them in the garbage- easily enough of them to pay for these twice over!

They are retractable so you don't have wires hanging down and getting in your way and they are compatible with iPod, portable CD player or your personal computer (for cell phones, see chicBabies).

This review is actually only for the Cancer Awareness chicBuds, but I feel like I would be doing a disservice if I don't sow you some of the other awesome styles.


And there are so many more. So go on over to the chicBuds site and check them out. I bet you will find some that you can't live without!!

~~RockBuds Review~~

ChicBuds also has a RockBuds division. They sent me a awesome cool Rock Star set of ear buds that immediately became a favorite with my son in laws. I can't say that having them do everything for me to try and earn my favor so they could be the one to get to try them out was all bad, in fact it ROCKED! Yep, I have lots of class like that huh!?
This is the pair they sent:
They work just as well as the original chicBuds and the lucky slave that got to try them could hear his ear drum bashing, headache making music great out of them!
The RockBuds Men's Designer Series also are available in these designs:
Rock Band, Electric Plaid, Chicks Dig Me, Rock Star, Wings Like Eagles, Green Camo

Also compatible with iPods, iPhones, MP3 Player, Walkmen, Computers, Airplane Connectors... Basically any listening device!
Specifications: 3.5mm Jack
This is what the RockBuds site has to say: "Don’t settle for plain-looking earbuds when you can have RockBuds! Rock out in style with RockBuds Inner Ear Designer Series made by chicBuds. These buds feature a built-in retractable device that’s not only tricked out with stylish designs, but serves a functional purpose too! The retractor allows the cord length to expand and retract to 5 stopping points... shorter for use on an armband and longer to reach an iPod on a belt. (The clip prevents cords from bouncing around). This compact retractable device also prevents cords from tangling when not in use. Rock out with RockBuds!"
Are these some super cool designs or what?!?!?! And running only $29.99 how can you not go grab a pair?


~~Letter to Libby~~

Libby,
I don't know if it is the issue of the other girls being here and you don't feel you are getting enough attention or if you have just turned into a giant turd for no reason, but I thought you might want to know the following things are going to happen:
1. If you screech like a banshee, so loud that I drop whatever I am doing and rush in to stop the bleeding and find that someone had the audacity to touch something of yours, you will be wishing I had found blood.
2. If you don't listen the first six times Daddy tells you to do something and he goes bat shit crazy on your ass, I will no longer interfere, in fact I might go a little nuts myself.
3. If you continue to break the rule about food in your room, I am going to refuse to wash your sheets and you will be sleeping with your crackers, chips, popcorn, candy, grapes and cheese whiz for quite some time.
4. If you continue to go in my room and snoop through my drawers and cupboards, I wouldn't be at all surprised when the next time you feel around to find my hidden gum or money you instead find a mouse trap or something similarly exciting.
5. If Every. Single. Time. you open your mouth and all I am hearing is a whiny, crybaby voice come out, I will no longer be able to hear anything you say. No whining louder will not help me hear you any better.
6. If you tell me one more time that you don't like what we are having for dinner, even though you have eaten it at least 200 times, and refuse to eat, you will be going to bed hungry.
7. If you don't quit bothering the dogs and trying to cart Sissy around like a baby doll, even though you have been told multiple times daily for the last 3 weeks not to, I am not going to stop them from biting you when you piss them off. So you better learn to run a little faster than they can.
8. If I hear your voice saying something and then you say "It was Anaya" one more time you are going to sit on time out for the rest of my life.
9. If you cannot control yourself and quit teasing the other girls until someone is crying, I may be forced to give you a taste of your own medicine and tease you until you cry. And, I might like it!
I am done! I have tried giving you extra one on one time and tried to get you to tell me what is wrong, but I have pretty much decided that you come by being a turd genetically and I am going to have to pull out the big guns! Yep, you got it, the big turd is going to take you on! Get ready!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Pool Fun

My mom had an inground pool at her house. When she got sick and had to sell her house that was one of the things we missed most. So this year we decided to get a pool. It took us 3 tries at 3500 gallons each try to get the damn thing level so it would stay upright and I swear if we decide we like it and want one forever, I am going to be having an inground one put in next spring!!

Here are some cute pictures of my beautiful daughters and granddaughters having a blast, so worth what all that water is going to cost me!! First my 4 year old bathing beauties posing for the camera. Aren't they so cute!!



~~BooJee Beads Pink Ribbon ID necklace/laynyard Review~~

So I have gotten a few things to review this week. Check them out and see what I think (I know you care what I think so don't play that way).
First we have a Pink Ribbon ID necklace/lanyard. Let me tell you it is AWESOME!! I work in a hospital that requires we wear or name badges in sight at all times. For the past 20 years I have done everything possible to get out of doing that just because the dumb lanyards they give us are UGLY!! But now I am going to wear my badge with pride with my Pink Ribbon lanyard. I am a cancer survivor and I can't think of a more appropriate way to show it off at work! I do have tattoos that have a pink ribbon and the word survivor, but the powers that be frown upon me showing off tattoos at work. Here is a little information from the BooJee Beads site.

"This lanyard was designed to honor the fight against breast cancer. Handcrafted with glass seed beads in shades of pink, rose and gray crystal. Simply stunning! With every purchase of this pretty pink ribbon seed beaded necklace, BooJeeBeads donates 10% of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society for research and efforts to find a cure. This beaded lanyard features a magnetic breakaway clasp and comes with a clear pouch to hold your ID horizontally or vertically."

They also have a ton of other designs to choose from and they are all super cute!! I whole heartedly recommend going to visit BooJee Beads and find one you love or one for a gift. They are high quality and you won't be sorry!!


~~Days Ago Digital Counter review~~

Next I have another Breast Cancer awareness item. The How Many Days Ago Counter from DaysAgo Digital Counters. Even as a survivor and knowing how important my self exams are I sometimes forget to do them. But with this handy little gadget I can set it, attach it to my bathroom mirror and it will remind me when it is time. They even have other colors to keep track of food dates, cleaning your fish tank, giving pet medicine or whatever else you need a reminder for.

Here is some information from their site:
"The DaysAgo Digital Day Counter is the first and only digital day counter that attaches to a variety of surfaces with a magnetic or suction backing and counts up to 99 days. It's a simple gadget that is re-usable, versatile and helps save money. You can use it on food containers to let you know how many days ago you opened it, closed it, tried it, sauced it, grew it, etc. As for leftovers, it eliminates the doubt about when to throw it out. The many unique uses of the DaysAgo make it a great gift for any busy household. Families have discovered that it’s the household tool they’ve been missing!"

So if you are as forgetful as I am or if you just have such a busy life that things have a way of slipping your mind this is a great product to have. so go here and check them out, very reasonably priced and different colors for different reminders.


Monday, June 22, 2009

~~All the WINNERS!!!!~~

WINNERS** WINNERS** WINNERS** WINNERS!!!!

So since I spent the last week camping and although I had the good intentions of writing some great individual posts for each winner, mother nature had quite another idea and I spent the last three days wishing I could feel better so I could die and I got nothing done. So here we go, in no particilar order, the winners as chosen by random.org:

Kids Wearhouse Dress: "Not worth writing"

Crazy Dog T-shirt: Karen @Karen's Korner

Wee Sqweak Shoes: Chloe

Little Jewel Necklace: Michelle @ Creative Writings 101

Cover Bee Laptop cover: BrnEyedGal

Kushies Layette Piece: Jennai- Hobarts mom

Kokopax Hat: Charlotte @ Life's a Charm

Boudreaux's Buttpaste samples and gift: Xenia

Bright Starts Activity Center: AmyLynn

Medi Buddy First Aid kit: Katrina @ Wakeboarding Mama

Layers Clothing Gift Certificate: Nancy @ Nancy & Travis

Ouchies Bandages: Lundy7 & Colton

Giggle Guide: Belinda

Painted Polka Dot Necklace: CarolSue

Clothes Hound Gator Polo: Throuthehaze

I See Me personalized book: Krystyn@ Really are you serious?

Piggy Paint Nail Polish: Katie@ Katies Nesting Spot

Gator Gripper: Katrina & Colton

Monday, June 15, 2009

~~My 200th Post~~



I never thought last August 24th when I made my first post on here that I would EVER get to the 200th one, let alone get there in less than a year. I kind of poked around a lot of blogs and saw what people were doing to celebrate their blog milestones and decided I liked the ones that answered questions. I have gotten dozens of questions, but somehow never really felt comfortable answering questions asked by strangers. But I have made some great "bloggy" friends and I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable so I guess I will take a stab at it. So here we go all the answers to the good, the bad and the unimportant things that people wanted to know.

1. You mention having 6 kids, but only talk about 5. Where is the other one.
I have daughters that are 26, 25, 22, 6, and 4. I also have a 28 year old son that is currently incarcerated for a minor charge. He has done a lot of pretty rotten things, but he is getting his life together and will be joining us at home again soon.

2. How do you get so much stuff to give away?
Lots of work, contacting companies, doing write ups and following up for the giveaways. Yes I get some cool stuff, but I earn it.

3. Don't you think you put too many pictures of your kids on here? Are you not worried about pedophiles?
Of course I worry about pedophiles, but they will get what they want regardless and I don't put anything provocative up. People could get pictures of my kids off Flicker, PhotoBucket, Myspace or a dozen other places and I think my kids are beautiful and love sharing them with people.

4. You write a lot about your granddaughter. What happened to her?
She was born with Kapisoform Endothelioma. Basically Pancreatic cancer. She lived a little over two weeks at home and 2 months in the hospital. She was the light of my life and I miss her more than anything, but I am so happy we had at least the short time we had with her.

5. You say some mean things about your family members- do you hate them, your inlaws specifically?
I don't think I have said anything mean about my family. I am not my inlaws favorite person, but I have been in their family for over 22 years and I think they have learned to tolerate me pretty well. I do the same.

6. Do you really have tattoos and piercings?
Yes. Although I now only have my ears pierced, I do have 9 tattoos and I have the next one designed, but not scheduled yet.

7. How many dogs do you have?
I have 4 and my daughter who lives with me has 1. Although it sounds like a lot, they are all tiny and take up about as much room as just 1 regular sized dog. If you want one just let me know because I am always telling everyone I am getting rid of some of them.


8. Don't you think you should stop letting your dog have puppies? Do you believe in spaying and neutering?
Yes and no. I don't want her to have them every heat cycle, but at some point in the future I would like to have some more. Yes I believe in getting them fixed. I have 2 females that I had spayed after a litter each. Out of those litters we kept 1 male puppy from each mom, 1 of those is neutered. I eventually will have the other 2 done, but I am not ready to do it yet.

9. You do Blog Fart Fridays, don't you think that is kind of gross?
Obviously you either have not read the posts or you are way to serious to be here. If you haven't read it, it isn't about farts it is about little bursts of thought that I can't think of enough stuff to really make a post out of.

10. What made you adopt 2 small children when your kids were pretty much grown?
It was more out of necessity than wanting to. I couldn't stand the thought of those sweet babies going into foster care and being adopted outside our family so we took them. We tried having a baby for several IVF cycles about 12 years ago, so it isn't really too much different than if we would have had our own then. To be totally honest I look into adopting more every few months. I would love to give more kids that need a loving home one that wants them, but so far it hasn't worked out. Mostly because I just don't make enough money to pay all the outrageous fees.

11. You talk about your "united nations" grandchildren, what races are they?
I have 3 Caucasian, 2 half Hispanic, 2 half Haitian, and 2 full Haitian. 2 of my grandchildren died as infants. The other 7 live all over and I love it when we can all get together for a united nations reunion.

12. You talked about your daughter being on a lot of medicine, what is wrong with her?
She has MS and recently had to have a cadaver bone put in her foot to rebuild her ankle. This is not taking well and she is having way too many problems and may lose her foot. It is very painful and wearing on her.

13. A while back you had some people really harping on you about stealing their posts or something, what was all of that about?
It was an honest mistake and there were two different ones. When I started blogging I didn't know how to link things to people so I just left a comment on the bottom of the post if I quoted someone and I now realize that is not good enough. I also put some jokes on that I had gotten in my email and I had no clue who wrote them and in all honesty the person bugging me probably didn't either, but since they had seen them before going around the internet they jumped on me. The other one was a post that was suggested to me by a former friend and it turns out she had stolen the information from someone else. I was threatened and called every name in the book over this, but I think I have it all figured out now and I will also never ask anyone else for things to write about so if my posts are boring- it is all my fault!!

Well that is about it, of course I paraphrased so this post wouldn't be 8 pages long. I know, boring as all get out, but that is me and what you see is what you get.

~~Speeding, no one thinks big of you~~

*warning* - violence, blood and death scenes!

This is one of the saddest things I have ever seen, but it really makes you think!! Everyone please slow down and pay attention!



Saturday, June 13, 2009

~~PacNac Winners~~

Here are my PacNac winners. Congratulations!!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:4-- 25-- 10
Timestamp: 2009-06-13 20:48:43 UTC

#4--Pam said...
Manfred and Mike are my favourites.

# 25--Anonymous said...
I love the music on your blog!!! PakNaks seem like a great way to personalize backpacks and lunchboxes. My faves are: PAX, SPRINKLES, SQUISHES, TABBY, $ EARTH! Thank you for a great giveaway!!!!

#10--Belinda M said...
I like the grant (soccer) paknaks. My son is a little soccer player and would love that one"

~~Gator Gripper Giveaway~~

Gator Gripper Giveaway.... say that fast 5 times. Do you know that statistically 63% of you just tried that? And did you know that statistic was 100% made up? Oh well, it sounded good.




So anyway enough of my attempt at being funny. Have you ever heard of Gator Grippers?
Me either until recently when I ran across it on the internet. At first I thought "I don't think I would ever use that", but I asked Amber and she thought it was a cool idea. So I contacted Fern at the Gator Gripper company and kased about their product. She so graciously sent me several of them. I have opened one and you can see the girls think it is pretty cool. It has settings for front teeth and back teeth and if the tooth is not ready to come out, the Gator Gripper just slips off the tooth. It is so much easier than trying to grab onto those tiny teeth or getting a string around it.

From the Gator Gripper Site:
Technique:
Squeeze the handle (gator's head) and place on a loose "baby tooth." Gripping tip should be next to the child's gum tissue. Release pressure on the handle. This will squeeze the "baby tooth" - often popping the tooth into the gator's tail! If not, gently wiggle the GatorGripper® until the tooth is removed.

Safety:
The GatorGripper® will only remove loose "baby-teeth." If the tooth is not ready to be removed, then the GatorGripper® will simply slide off of the tooth. In this situation try GatorGripper® another day.

Pain-free:
One of the advantages of using the GatorGripper® is that it applies a "pressure numbness" when placed on the loose tooth so a child will have an experience that's virtually pain-free."

So what do you think? I think it is pretty cool and I want to share with my wonderful readers. I have 3 Gator Grippers to give away and all you have to do to win one is tell me you want it. Easiest contest ever right?

You can get an extra entry by following me, grabbing my button or blogging about this giveaway. (one for each)



Ends 6/22/09 11:59 PM

~~Small Talk Six Saturday 6/13~~

****Everyone remember to enter all the giveaways during the next week. I am going camping with some friends and will be out of computer service area for a few days, but when I get back I will get winners picked and everything mailed out. Also I will post a lot of new giveaways so keep watching!!! *****

The ladies of Momdot are at it again with a new weekly meme called Small Talk Six. Every Saturday a new topic is announced and you respond to each topic with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 photos, or 6 paragraphs, whatever your heart desires. You can check out the Small Talk Six announcement to see all of the pre-scheduled topics for 2009. Don’t forget to stop by and see this weeks responses at MomDot and link up your own.

This week is 6 things you’ve made during your lifetime that you were proud of.


WOW this is a hard one for me. I try not to be boastful or "toot my own horn" so these may be kind of stupid, but here we go.

1. I have made some very pretty blessing & wedding dresses and blessing tuxs. I used to make patterns for a girls clothing company and I always made a similar one for myself so I have quite a collection. Once my mom even bought me some fabric labels that she had specially made for me that say "Made Especially for You, by Trina Lynn" that I put in some of them.

2. I have made my husband and all my kids a crocheted blanket. I actually did them when I was learning so they are not as perfectly spaced and made as the ones I do now, but they mean the most to me because my family loved them, imperfections and all.

3. I, along with some friends, made a LOT of blankets a few years back and donated them to the burn unit and the NICU at Primary Children's Hospital. Again they were not all perfect, but the feeling it gave us when we took them up there was unexplainable. Then a few years later when Zariah was in the NICU before she passed away I saw how appreciated and needed things like that are and it made me want to do it all again.

4. I made a broken down old house into a home. I had a ton of help from Jeff (OK maybe he did all the hard labor), but by the time we sold it we had fixed it up pretty nice.

5. I made scrapbooks for all my kids and one for friends and family. I have made some pretty awesome scrapbook pages. Hopefully as the years pass by I will learn to make more of them even better than I can now.

6. I made a book of my granddaughter Zariah's short life and had it published and hardback bound. It went through the pregnancy and to her death. Talked about her cancer, surgeries and everything in between. It is something we will always treasure and use to remember her by.

This was really a hard one for me, but I would love to hear what other people have made that they are proud of.


Friday, June 12, 2009

~~I Wanna Be Danica Patrick~~



I drive my SUV (yeah, I'm one of those environment-killing gas guzzling assholes) like it's a Nascar series race car. I like to to blare the radio as loud as it will go with the bass thumping and sing my heart out. I like to talk on my phone and yell at my kids. In other words I am a crazy hot mess when I get behind the wheel. My Dad raced cars and therefore it's in my blood. That is a true story and someday I might tell you all about it.

HOWEVER, I use my signals, check the mirrors and and can actually talk, chew gum and drive at the same time. I don't claim to be the best driver, but I am conscientious and careful. I don't speed in school zones or in residential neighborhoods, I try to keep a watch out several hundred feet in front of me and watch for the other guy or for kids running out in the street. I stop for people in the cross walks and stop for kids crossing the street even if they are nowhere near a cross walk. I don't speed through construction zones on the freeway (which is never ending in Utah)and endanger the lives of the workers out there. In fact I am usually the one being flipped off as people go around me in those situations because I do follow the traffic laws.

So why is it that other people who say they are such careful drivers seem to do such stupid things? I have seen people hit animals and then just drive off, and just let me say if I had a concealed weapons permit and saw you do that I would shoot you in the foot and drive off to let you suffer. I have seen people have to slam on their brakes and skid several yards to avoid hitting a child because they were messing with their radio or just plain not paying attention. Hell, I have even seen a guy on the freeway doing 65 mph with a flat tire and he didn't have a freaking clue. When I tried to motion to him that he needed to pull over I got the finger.

But who gets pulled over??? Yea you guessed it. Do you know what for?? Come on guess. Take into account that someone had just passed me doing at least 70 in a 55mph construction zone. No guesses? It was a huge infraction........I had a freaking rear signal light out. I didn't change lanes in front of anyone, I didn't cause an accident or even a close call, but apparently he saw me when I was getting on the freeway. Followed me for 15 miles in a construction zone with people speeding by and ignored them all because my light wasn't working and it wasn't even dark.

Saddest part about it??? I knew the thing wasn't working because it has a short and keeps blowing the bulbs and I just haven't gotten around to figuring out why, but that's just how I roll, yep I'm lazy like that.

I wish I was Danica Patrick.... she can speed to her hearts content and she has a pit crew to take care of the minor details!! Well that and she is really hot and I would love to look like that again. ;-)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

~~Being a Mom~~

I like being a mother. I know this comes as a surprise to many of you, because I have wished over and over and complained to many of you that I would do anything to make the bitching and moaning, the fighting and whining stop for five seconds so I can think.

But the truth is: I like being a mother.

Here, let me prove it:

I gave up all "good' food, forgoing fried anything and actually ate vegetables (ugh) and drank milk (yuck) during my first pregnancy. I was told I had to eat healthy to have a normal baby since my 15 year old body wasn’t really made to have a baby yet. Josh weighed 9 pounds 15 ounces. I swore to all that is holy that if I ever had another baby I would eat anything I wanted.
I did eat whatever I wanted with Jacki and she weighed 4 pounds 5 ounces. She was also just as healthy as Josh so I guess it really doesn’t matter what you eat as long as you don’t smoke crack and drink vodka for lunch every day.

I used to dream about going to law school or medical school and living the college life with all my friends. Instead I got my high school diploma while working full time and then went to college while working at night so I could get a job that would support my kids when their father chose to drink his paycheck and run around with floozies. I also thought very long and hard about getting married again and how it would affect them instead of just doing what I wanted. Turned out pretty good, but I had to be sure because they came first.

I raised good kids and my kids are smart, damn smart!!!

Josh graduated high school without ever cracking a book. I don’t remember him ever having homework either. But then again he didn’t spend all his teenage years at home- that is a whole other post. Enough said!

Jacki & Jaycee both graduated from high school as juniors and used their senior year to do college courses to get a head start.

Raven is a great mommy and works hard to raise her kids right. She overcame the adversity she lived with before coming into my family and has grown into a beautiful, confident young woman because of it.

Amber & Libby have overcome a lot in the past 2 years we have had them. They can both read and write above their age level and the things that they say can really floor me sometimes just hearing it come out of such a tiny little person.

But that is only the good stuff, right? Of course if I only tell you the good stuff, am I really a good mother?

I am a good mother, and I have done some really bad things. Like the time I bailed Josh out of jail because I couldn’t bear to see my baby locked up, even though I knew it wasn’t the best thing to do for him(and larwdy did he prove that to be truth). Or the time I threw them all out of the car for fighting and drove off, granted we were only a block from home and I could see them the whole time, but I still threw them out like I said I was going to.
And the time I whacked Jacki on the head with a hairbrush because she wouldn’t hold still for me to brush her beautiful long blond hair (that I wouldn't let her cut), and the time I screamed at the top of my lungs that I didn’t give a flying f*$@ if they didn’t want to ride in the car seat because that is just what they had to do in front of everyone in the grocery store parking lot. Or even the time I locked myself in the bathroom and cried because I really could not stand one more minute of being with them without killing one or all of them.

Still, I like being a mom. I am not and never will be cool, sophisticated, or the mom that is everyone’s favorite. I may not be the “best” mom, but I am a “good” mom.
The way I see it, being a good mother takes two things: 1) the desire to be a mother and 2) the will to do those things that you think to be important for the well-being of your children. Even those that require me to sacrifice the things I really think I want(like beach vacations), way too much work or putting my life on hold for a bit.

Sometimes my kids have cereal for dinner or pizza for breakfast and that is OK. I don’t freak out over worms, frogs, snakes or 10 dirty little beings in my house wanting a Popsicle. I never quite seem to get my house completely cleaned before another mess pops up, but I still like being a mom. Those things (and many others) may not make me the best mom in some people eyes, but I am still a mom and I love it.

I have mothered other people's children when they needed it. I have opened my home to kids in need and if it was physically possible I would have a dozen more. I may end up in the loony bin, but I would do it.

That does not mean I don’t want time away from the little beasties at times. But my best times are when my family is around me and the babies are playing. The good times come more often now and the memories of the not so good ones fade, but through it all, I feel like I like being a mom because I am a good mom and I am rocking this gramma thing to the moon!

~~Fighting 5 year olds~~

18

This is the number one reason I could never be a teacher. They would rule me!!!!

~~Winner Lauren Nicole Monogrammed Gifts~~

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:9
Timestamp: 2009-06-11 15:52:49 UTC

M3 said...
Sweet giveaway! I love the 3-letter monogrammed necklace with beads because I would be able to put both R and M's initials on it. Please enter me in the giveaway!!
Tue May 19, 12:39:00 PM MST

Winner is M3 from the blog "Do they have salsa in China?" She has the most adorable twins, "Ree" & "Ro", adopted from China. Go check her out and I am sure you will agree! Congratulations!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

~~Piggy Paint Giveaway~~

Piggy Paint nail polish is a great new invention. You might be saying to yourself, Trina nail polish is not a new invention-get on the train to 2009, but it really is new. Did you know that regular old nail polish is full of toxic materials that can melt a foam plate if dripped on it? Go ahead, give it a try I'll wait..........


See, I told you. Now imagine what those same chemicals and toxins are doing to your little girl when she puts her fingers in her mouth after you do her nails. Imagine what the toxins could be doing to her nails and nail beds. Not a pretty thought is it?!?

However, I do have an alternative. Check out Piggy Paint!!!



Look at all the great colors!


Piggy Paint™ is specially formulated from God’s natural ingredients and dries to a hard, durable finish. There are no toxic chemicals; it’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone. Say good-bye to harsh, smelly chemicals and hello to Piggy Paint™…it’s as Natural as Mud!

Piggy Paint™ Ingredients
Water, water-miscible acrylic and polyurethane film formers and thickeners (well below 100 parts per million), glycol ethers. May contain mica, D&C red lake, ultramarine blue and chromium, iron and titanium oxide pigments.
It also dries in about 60 seconds so you wont get a lot of messed up nails when your little one can't hold still for them to dry.

Laurie from the Piggy Paint company has offered to give my readers a 15% discount on anything you buy from Piggy Paint until July 31, 2009.
Even better, on top of the discount you can get free shipping on any purchase over $25. Just use the discount code "LIFE15L" on the check out page.

Laurie also generously offered to give one of my readers a $20 gift certificate to the Piggy Paint store to buy whatever you would like. This is really an awesome offer so jump on over to Piggy Paint and have a look around. Come back here and tell me what your favorite color is and you are entered to win. Easy as that!!

As always the extra entries are below!
1 entry for following me
1 entry for grabbing my button
2 entries for blogging about this post and linking back to here and the Piggy Paint site
2 entries for telling a friend about this post and having them comment mentioning you

Giveaway ends 6/21 11:59 PM