Really Important Stuff

I was in Barnes and Noble one day last summer, waiting in the Starbucks line when this cute little book caught my eye.  I picked it up and flipped through a few pages, intrigued.  But I didn't buy it.  But I kept remembering a few of little one-liners in it, and ended up making a trip back to the store not even a week later and picked it up.  I am so glad I did.  

This little book is inspirational, fun, and really helps me to keep my life in perspective. Each page has a quick little one-liner that can really get you thinking. I keep it on my nightstand, and honestly probably flip through it and read a few pages a few times a week.  Whenever I am tired, stressed out, sad, mad, or just can't sleep, this book is what I turn too.  

Here are some of my favorites:

Wait your turn.

Know what you like.

Enjoy the ride.

More is not always better.

You can't stop the sled halfway down the hill.

Don't pop someone else's bubble.

Sign your name BIG.

You will learn a lot about your neighbors when you set up a lemonade stand on the sidewalk.

Make your mother proud of you.

Crawling still gets you there.

Every castle has a dungeon.

Stretch.

Ask if you can play too.

Old shoes are more comfortable.

You don't see the dimples without a smile.

Don't be so afraid of losing your frisbee that you never throw it.

If you see this book - pick it up.  It's way worth it.

24 Books

I want to read more books this year.  At first, I was going to try to read 50 books in 2009.  Then I realized that in my crazy life, that is ridiculous.  Instead, I am going to try for 24, which is 2 a month (average).  There might be a few months where I don't read any, and in the summer, I'm sure I'll read more.  I think I can do 24.  

I just finished my first book, The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks.  It was good, not great, but still the same Nicholas Sparks that I love.  Easy reading, and you love the characters.  It was one of those where you already know how it's going to end, but you keep reading it anyways.

I am not sure what I am going to read next.  I need to get to the library and Barnes and Noble.  I have the second and third Twilight books waiting for me, but I just can't get into the mood to read them.  I really liked the first one, but I didn't love it.  I just don't think I'm ready to read them yet.  

So I need some book suggestions.  Not just chick books either, I like books where I actually learn something too.  What are your faves right now?

Today was kind of a scary day.  It snowed last night, and then around noon the wind started blowing.  We were told to leave work around 12:30, and I live about 15 minutes away.  It was probably the scariest drive home I have ever had.  ZERO visibility, the WHOLE way home.  Already drifting on the highway.  It sucked.

Brody's daycare is about a mile out of town, and their road drifts bad.  I made it out there (I don't really know how, I couldn't see anything).  Rick, (who is also my part time boss) was in there, and told me to call when I got home.  We left and didn't even make it up the first hill before we were in the ditch.  So he comes, and says he'll get the guys to get my car out before someone hits it and he'll drive us into town.  So here we are in his big diesel truck and he can't even make it further than the top of the hill.  So back to the house we go.  

It turned out okay.  The guys got my car out, (good thing too, because another mom wound up in the same spot about 15 minutes later.)  We sat around for awhile until it seemed to clear up a bit, and then we tried again, and this time made it into town.  I left my car out there.  Which means I'll probably be staying home tomorrow too.  Snow Day!!  Wish I had some books to read!

Is this MSG???

Brody always amazes me.  

Two nights ago, I made this completely delicious homemade vegetable soup.  We sit down at (our new!) dining room table to eat, and he takes one look at the soup, and says, "Mom, is this MSG?"

I know there is a commercial out there right now, about soup and MSG so this must be where this is coming from.  But he doesn't really watch much tv, unless it's Spiderman or Mickey Mouse, he just doesn't miss a thing.

I assured him that no, this soup is NOT MSG, and is really yummy.  He opted for cheese and crackers and applesauce instead.  Better safe than sorry.

Here's my new table and chairs.  I am still in the process of refinishing a old chest of drawers that I will probably paint a color similar to my curtains that will go on the opposite wall.  It's so nice to actually have furniture in here, it's been a big empty walk space to the kitchen since April!

I'll take one of these please...

It has been snowing/sleeting for about 3 hours now. I am still at work. Not working, of course, just watching the clock waiting for the boss to say the roads are bad and we should leave. (yeah, we should have left 3 hours ago, thanks.)

I don't have any plans this weekend. I don't have to work, no one is staying at my house (I've had guests for the past 6 weekends straight), Adam is on a cruise ship leaving Miami as we speak (with a bunch of single idiots he calls friends, awsesome.), and I have 2 netflix movies, and a bottle of Peppermint Schnapps waiting for me at home. (To go with the above hot chocolate, of course!)

I think it's a movie night for me and the Brodster. We put our PJ's on right when we get home, usually eat a frozen pizza or something else simple, and have popcorn and fun beverages. Sometimes it's milkshakes (mine with vodka or Baileys) and tonight it's hot chocolate. I can't WAIT to go home!

(P.S. - WW has been awesome this week. I haven't gone over my points at all, and have eaten a ton of veggies. I feel great!! Hopefully I've lost some weight. I won't weigh myself until Monday.)

In a 3 year old's eyes...

This year, Brody got a camera for Christmas. He has been "borrowing mine" and well, I think it's a good idea he has his own "kid-proof" camera. I love to look through the pictures after he's done and see where his little mind takes him. It's always so interesting to me, and some of them are actually pretty great compositions.

These were all taken with my camera, before Santa came to town, so they are better quality than his camera:

I have a new goal.

I have recently acquired two pairs of barely worn Seven for All Mankind jeans. I have always wanted some of these jeans, but would never spend the money on myself. So I was very excited when a friend asked me if I wanted them, since they don't fit her. I gladly accepted.

One problem: they are waist 30. I am more of a 32.

So yesterday I signed up for Weight Watchers Online. I will fit into those jeans. I have a new goal. Awhile back I decided to start excercising every day. It has become more of an every other day thing, but now that the holidays are over, I am going to start pushing to make it happen.


AND!!!!!!!! The new season of the BIGGEST LOSER starts tonight!!!!!! (Is it bad that I told my part-time bookkeeping boss that I would not work on Tuesday nights anymore because I missed too many episodes last season?? I am obsessed.)

Also, I want to share this with you. In December, I won a gift certificate to PhotoFiddle during SITSmas. The gift certificate was for $50, and for signing up on their site, I received another $10 gift certificate. So, I had $60 to play around with! I took this original photo of some lilies that I took last spring,





and played around with it in both Photoshop and PhotoFiddle until I came up with this:




I was originally thinking it would go in my bathroom, or the hallway, but now I think it might be better in my bedroom. I haven't decided for sure, but I really LOVE the way it turned out!!

2008......2009

Wow. A lot has happened in the last year. I have accomplished so many goals, and have made so much progress in my life.

In 2008, I bought a house. A really nice house. This might seem like such a big deal to some people, but it really is. I am a single mom. It's really not an easy thing to do on your own. But I have gotten really good at budgets and rebate shopping and seem to be thriving.

In 2008, I paid off my credit card debt. Well, all but just a little bit. It's an amazing feeling!
Right after I had Brody, I lived on those stupid cards for almost 2 months. I hated getting those statements every month, but little by little they have disappeared.

In 2008, I forgave someone who hurt me. This was a big deal for me, to let Adam back into my life. I have been hurt a lot and sort of developed a One Chance Only rule. But there is just something about this one. No matter what happens with us this year, I am truly thankful that I put on some big girl pants and gave him another shot.

These are the big things that I am so truly thankful for this year. I am a much happier person right now than I was a year ago. I feel like I'm going in the right direction, finally. And I know that me being happier, means Brody being happier, so it is wonderful.

Now for 2009 -

I need to take more me time. I will do anything for anyone, and have been used and pushed around. Time to start saying No, and worrying about me.

There is always that 15 pounds that I would love to melt away. Maybe not so much lose weight, but just tone up.

and I really want to buy a new vehicle. I have had a Escort ZX2 for almost 10 years now. I keep it because it gets great gas mileage, but honestly, it is way too small for a mommy and a three and a half year old. Time to upgrade.