Ryan Gosling...

is gorgeous.

He may just be the perfect man for me.  

Especially when he's scruffy.

Rachel, I'm still pulling for you - but, if it's really over this time, send him this way okay???  I'm waiting for Mr. Perfect.

Bag Tag

I was planning on doing the bag tag today, from Tranquility and Turmoil, and then I find out Jeannie is having a contest with a Bag Tag today too, so it's sort of a double whammy!

I love purses and bags. Just love them. I trade them out often, and for the past two years that I have been a mark. rep, have carried nothing but mark. bags. They are the best. Cute, sturdy, and cheap!!! This is my new baby, I've only been carrying her for about a week and a half, so she's still pretty clean on the inside! It is mark.,(of course), the new Sloutchy Stachel, and is $30.


Here is the inside. Isn't the hot pink HOT?? I seriously love this bag.


and.... here are the contents. A copy of Country Home magazine (are you as mad as I am that it is no longer being published????), a mark. magalog, a package of Quaker Mini Delights, a Target giftcard a whopping $3, my billfold for my checkbook, giftcards, debit/credit cards and such, the little pink one is for cash and change. Then there are some Airborne tablets that I keep forgetting to take, Mineral Veil, lip gloss, an empty media card case, 2 ink pens, my business card holder, a bandaid container (I use this a LOT actually), tampons, and a weight watchers points calculator.

Doesn't seem like a lot to me, but it's a new bag, so I'm sure I'll junk it up in no time!!

I'm tagging everyone. I love bags and want to see what you carry!!! Let me know if you play along!

W.O.W. - WordFUL Wednesday

Brody. I can't get enough of this kid. He can spell his name now, and he has been working on his letters a lot. I showed him one time, a few weeks ago how to spell MOM. Last night I was making dinner and he was playing with his letters on the fridge, and says,

Hey mom! You know what you are?? W.O.W. !!!

and then I covered him with kisses.
and then he put on his own pajamas.

For more Wordful Wednesdays, visit Seven Clown Circus!

Not ME Monday...

I have decided to join in this week.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I DID NOT spend all of Sunday of the couch with a slight hangover feeling sorry for myself.

I also DID NOT get into a full blown texting fight with the EX (yup, back to that title) at 5:30 am and it DID NOT last until 10am. Because, you know, we are grown ups and can actually use the phone or fight in person, not resort to texting.

I DID NOT watch 101 Dalmations 4 times with Brody yesterday.

I also did NOT just feed him cereal and brownies all day.

I did NOT spend all Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and this morning searching for Wenda.

I did NOT give yet another one of Adam's friends my phone number. Spiteful, I know.

I did NOT forget to feed the cat until 5:00 last night. Poor baby.

and I most certainly did NOT forget to give the dog a bath.

Happy Thoughts

1. My baby. Nothing in this world can make me smile like he does.

2. Money in my bank account.

3. My awesome friends and family.

4. Weighing in 3 pounds lighter than last week. (Down 12 pounds now, even after vacation!)

5. Good morning kisses.

6. the new shoes I bought for my BFF's wedding in April:

7. Being a bridesmaid. Again. I may have a closet FULL of dresses (going on 7) but at least I have these great friends that also consider me a great enough friend to be a part of their special day. I'll never complain about a closet full of dresses!!

8. www.fmylife.com ~if you are having a bad day, check this out. It'll make you feel better in NO TIME.

9. My new purse.
Seriously. LOVE. I have the pewter one up in the corner. (Soon available through my website, BTW)

10. Diet Coke.

11. My grandma. I needed a babysitter today, and she always comes to the rescue. She and Brody share a birthday, he'll be four this year, and she will be 86.
12. Spingtime.


~I needed a quick reminder today of some of the GOOD things going on. What are your happy thoughts??

Do you shop online?

I shop online all the time.

About a year ago, I was introduced to a site called Mr. Rebates. Basically, you sign into this site every time you want to do some online shopping, and click through to the store site through their site. You get a percentage back off of whatever you purchase, usually between 1-4%. Over the last year, I have cashed out over $180, and right now I have about $200 sitting in there waiting for me to cash it out! Free money!

I mostly use it for office supplies, clothes, ebay, etc., so those little amounts can add up. I have also used it to buy my computer and got $150 back on just that purchase. It's pretty awesome. You have to wait about 3 months after a purchase to be able to use that particular rebate, but then you can just have it transferred to paypal and it's yours for whatever you want.

I'm big on coupons and rebates, and I love this. If anyone is interested, let me know, give me your address and I'll refer you to the site! There are over 1000 stores, everything you want. Ebay, American Eagle, Target, Amazon, even Walmart and Toys R Us. Check it out. It's worth it!

Weekend fun with the (devil) child

You know how everyone tells you "watch out for the terrible twos?" I never experienced that. Brody was the sweetest, funniest, kindest little boy that I could ever have imagined. Everyone said, "Just wait, threes are going to be painful!" and yet, my little man stayed the same. He'd even comment on other little kids that were being naughty, saying "I don't do that mom, I'm a good kid." and he was.

Brody will be 4 in May. I had to take him clothes shopping this weekend. He was down to one pair of jeans without holes in the knees. He has had a major growth spurt this winter, and is inbetween sizes. I needed him to try on clothes.

Trying to get a toddler boy who is only interested in all things gross and superheros to try on clothes is a nightmare. I'd rather go to the dentist.

We only went to 2 stores, Sears (Kidvantage is awesome) and Children's Place (15% off coupon).
Normally, this would have been an easy outing, pick up some cute clothes in the right sizes, pay and leave. These 2 stores took THREE AND A HALF HOURS.

It was torture. He was running away from me, crying, both because he hates clothes and apparently my hands were cold. He would do the whole "my body is limp, I can't move" thing, I swear to god this was not my child!!! I ended up bribing him with games at Chuck E Cheese. I despise that place.

Then we got home and my little sweetie was back. We have been learning our letters lately and for Valentines Day he got some new letter tracing books, markers and sketchbooks. He spent all day yesterday in front of the tv watching 101 Dalmations (over and over and over again) and coloring and learning letters. In his new clothes that aren't so bad now, I guess. Ah, me.


Here's a valentines day present of mine - M&M toe socks. Gotta love them.



and I meant to post this pre-Vday, but here are Brody's treats for his little friends at daycare, isn't he talented?

Still playing catch up

Brody has been using my camera again. This was me last night, working away. I've been trying to get my company's website updated, and my goal is to have it up by the end of the month. So I've been working on it at home on my macbook.

I have also been catching up on SLEEP, emails, phone calls, and HOUSEWORK. and Brody time.

Then last night Adam came over. I have actually been avoiding him, and Jon both. But have been talking more to Jon than Adam. Trying to figure out my head I guess. In the end, Adam still has my heart, and I don't think I can give Jon a fair shot. Whether that is a good or bad thing, I don't know. I just want the one that makes me happy!

What happens in Vegas.

Vegas is a good time.
I don't know how you could possibly go there and NOT have a good time! We did soooo much stuff, and yet, the list of things we didn't do is longer than the one we did! A lot of walking, a lot of eating, a lot of drinking, a little gambling, (I ended up about $70 on top! Woohoo!)
and a lot of FUN!

Here are a bunch of pictures, in no particular order:



Here is inside some shops. I think the ones between the Venitian and Palazzo? I can't remember. I loved it though. Like an indoor city!




The Venitian. I LOVED this hotel. Next time I go, I am staying here. (If I go with a man. :) If I go with the girls again, I think we'll stay at the Palms.)

This group shot was at the Piano Bar at Harrahs. Good time had by all. I don't think we got back to the room until a quarter to 6 that night.


I was told I'd make an excellent politician.



Chinese New Year decorations inside the Bellagio.



I LOVE Dale Chihuly. I met him once in college on an art trip and have wanted a Chihuly piece ever since. They are gorgeous. (and expensive.)


This was the funnest night ever!! We got some VIP passes to all the clubs in the Palms, somehow that got us in for free, with no wait time and a free drink. Above is at Rain, which is a hot club! That night DJ Jazzy Jeff was the DJ and we spent hours on the dance floor showing everyone how midwesterners sweat!


Here is Sarah and I outside in the Ghostbar. This was a cool club too, although we were not allowed to sit down because we didn't pay $400 for a table.


Sightseeing, New York, New York.


Top of the Stratosphere, look at the rain coming in!


This was such a cool welded table and chairs inside the Forum Shops. My friends were sitting in it until I looked at the price tag and saw that it was $10,000 and I made them stand up! If anyone wants to weld me one of these, let me know! It would look GREAT in my backyard!


Inside the Forum Shops. Caesar's Palace is GORGEOUS!!


The flamingos, in our hotel. We were lucky enough to have a view looking down on these guys.


The Eiffel Tower. (We never did make it here, just walked by a few times.)


The Rockhouse. It was our last stop serveral nights, since it's easy to get to and right next to our hotel!


The Mirage fire show.


One of many margaritas that I drank this weekend.


The pirate show at Treasure Island. SO cheesy. I expected a lot more. It was mainly girl pirates who blew up the guy pirate ship so they could be together on one ship. YO, YO, YO!!!

But I will def. make it back to Vegas. A lot of friends I have around here go once a year, and that would be cool. We also made it to the Hoover Dam and down to Fremont Street. I still have not fully caught up on sleep and have had a slight headache since we got back, but hey, what can you expect from averaging 2-4 hours a sleep a day in 4 days, plus heavy alchohol consumption??
You only live once, right!

I'm back!

and I'm exhausted.  

This is a picture of all of us at the Minus 5 Ice Lounge.  It's literally a walk in freezer, -5 degrees.  (We were teasing the bartender that we were from Nebraska and didn't need the parkas and gloves because we were USED to the temp!)  It's really cool, everything is made of ice, the chairs, walls, tables, even the glasses!  I highly recommend going there!

I need to get Brody some dinner, and unpack, so maybe tomorrow I will get some more pics and posts up!  

P.S. ~ Vegas is worth EVERY PENNY.

The time has come!!

Woo! Time to go home and pack (I haven't even STARTED yet!!!) We fly out in the morning, and believe me, I NEED to get away from here for a few days!!!!

See you all next week, hopefully with some good stories!!!

Smart Cookie

Yesterday, when we got home around 5, Brody was driving me CRAZY because he wanted to take a bath.  With all his toys.  NOW.  I told him to wait at least until after dinner, it was too early.  He started throwing a fit of course, but I ignored him and he finally gave up (I thought) and walked away.  About 15 minutes later, here he comes.  

"Mom, guess what??"  he sings.  "I cleaned my room for you!!"  I immediately drop what I am doing to go see.  Here is what I see:

Wow!  I can't believe he did this all by himself!  Then I glance over at the closet -

Before I could say anything, he says, "Aren't you proud of me?  I did it all by myself.  NOW can I take a bath??"

He won.  And his closet still looks like that too.

Favorite Things Swap!

I've heard a lot about this one, and I have personally had good luck with swaps, so I decided to join in on this one! Head on over to Mamarazzi and check it out!

I attract drama (long post about boys)

Okay, here's an update on the boy situation.

I don't think Adam knows about Jon, but I don't really know. He has had his 14 year old brother staying with him all this week while his parents were at a cattle conference in Arizona.  So we haven't talked too much, mostly texts here and there.  I always go to lunch on Wednesdays with a few other girls, and we were in Subway, and he was in there too.  

I don't know if it was awkward because I was uncomfortable or because he was.  But it wasn't normal.  If his friend hadn't come over to our table first, I'm really not sure he would of come over at all, and he stood a good distance from me, and didn't say much, or give me eye contact.  Which made me think he knew.  

So I texted him that night saying I needed to see him, but he responded he can't because of his brother.  Thursday we texted pretty much all night. (I have a love/hate relationship with texting.  I used to refuse to do it, but now I can't live without it, even if it keeps me up all night.)

FRIDAY.  He texts at around 6, wants to know what I am doing.  I have no plans, and  honestly just want to stay home and go to sleep early.  I haven't really slept much this week.  So he calls 10 minutes later, and says he is taking his brother to a movie but wants to stop by on his way back home.  I am good with this, even though I know it will be a quick stop with his brother here, and I'll have to stay up.  So I am thinking it'll be around 11:30 when they get here.  I watched a movie, and  it got over around 12.  No Adam.  No phone call.  So now I am mad.

I text him quick, saying thanks for stopping by, and go to bed.  10 minutes later, I get a text.  I don't even check who it is from, just assume it's Adam.  It says What are you doing?  I write back, sleeping.  (I almost wrote, waiting for you).  Then  I get to thinking, it's weird that he sent a text that says that, and also that it used punctuation, because he never does.  So I check who it's from.  It's not Adams number.  But it's a local number, so it must be Jon.  I have given him mine, but I don't have his.  Great.  He writes back, want company?  So now I am thinking he thinks I'm a booty call, and tell him again I am sleeping.  10 minutes go by and he writes back, is that a hint?

So he thinks I'm giving him the cold shoulder.  I figure he's probably right up the street, at the bar, which means he could be at my house in like, 2 minutes.  I still don't know what happened with Adam and for all I know, he could be here in 2 minutes too.  Panic Mode.  

I try to do some damage control with Jon, and write back that no, I am just tired, and if he wants to talk to call me earlier, but I need to sleep.  He responded, so I hope I fixed that and he doesn't think I'm blowing him off.  But now there is no way I can sleep.  I think I finally fell asleep around 4:30.  

Adam texts the next day, sorry, we ended up going to cabin with his other brother.  Fine, but let me know next time, you know?  He doesn't seem to understand how inconsiderate he is sometimes.  

I half expected the whole thing to play out again last night, but I didn't even get ONE text, phone call, nothing!  Go figure.  

I think Adam is finally coming here tonight, so I can finally have a conversation with him.  (That is unless he has drank too much during the Super Bowl.)  The thing is, even as much as I hate him sometimes, I love him more.  I am not the type of girl who has ever gotten overly attached or emotional about boys, hard breakups, anything.  I have always cut it dry, and moved on.  With him, when we first broke up, I was sad, but something told me we needed to have a break and we weren't done yet.  Then when he all the sudden had a live in pregnant girlfriend, THAT is when I hurt the most.  Because I knew I messed up and should have fought to keep him instead of just letting him go.  

So now that we are here, whatever we are, I just can't cut it dry.  Something keeps me drawn to him.  I am not saying that I am not going to give Jon a chance, I don't know yet.  But I need Adam to know that this might happen, before it does.  And maybe Jon will learn to call me at a decent hour so I can get to know him better, and figure out what I really want.