I know-Thanksgiving just passed and I am just now getting around to putting up the Halloween pics. so, sue me!!
Tay dressed as a soccer player (Liverpool of course) for her Halloween party at school! Her father was so proud!
Tay with Baby Parker and Big Poppa. Thanks for letting us stay and witness a "redneck" halloween.
Our Fairy Princess with her loot!
Sissy and Tay- Partners in Crime! I am not sure who had more fun!!
Thanks for caring,
K
Wow...the time sure does fly when your looking for a j.o.b.!! Well, it has been over a month since I was "let go" and basically nothing has come through for me. I have gone back to work part-time with AE until I can find something more permanent.
Since my last post, we have watched LSU lose to Florida, seen the Saints go 5-0 (WHO-DAT), found out that a cousin is preggers with her first, found out that my Yankee friend is preggers with number 2, found out that my friend Noe is preggers with her second boy, Re gave birth to Jon Dawson 8lbs, 12oz, another cousin had her first boy, gone to Austin for a wedding and drank too much Pinot (OOPS), Tay got her first black eye, bought Halloween costumes, taken Tay to the Aquarium with Pop Pop, Dee Dee and Sissy, and generally tried not to think about the fact that I feel like I am sliding backwards!!
Hubby has been really good about keeping my spirits up. I could ramble on and on about how much it sucks not having my income and how worthless I feel doing a job that basically anyone could do, but I wont. I will simply say that I just want a career. I am not sure what that career is but I will definitely know it when I see it. It definitely does not include working nights and weekends (unless the $ is REALLY worth it!)
I want to say a big "hello" to all of my followers and a promise that I will try and do better in the coming weeks and months!!
The cutest thing ever!! Tay brought her camera and took "pictures" of EVERY fish in the Aquarium!! She held the camera up to the tank and "took" tons of "pictures."
Thanks for caring,
K
Read more...I am on the hunt. I have been sitting at this computer non-stop for the past week trying to find a new job. The hardest part is that I am not quite sure what I want to do, so I am not sure what I am looking for. It is quite a conundrum.
It has been a very trying time for us over at the Carty Casa. I have NEVER been "laid off" from a job before, so not only is this a shock to our wallets it is also a shock to my confidence as well. I am not going to go into much detail but suffice to say that all of this came out of the blue. I had no idea that my job was in jeopardy. I have found out that the following Tuesday (Monday was Labor Day) there was already a new person at my desk. What the heck?! He had apparently interviewed and hired someone else to fill my position and I was non the wiser. That is all I have to say about that.......
We are trying to potty train Tay and it is not going very well. She is just not that interested in it AT ALL!!! I cannot seem to get across the idea to her to tell us before she goes not after. I tried a timer. Every 10 minutes when the bell would go off we would put her on the potty. Several times she would go and a couple of times she would not go, but 3 minutes later she would pee in the middle of the living room and come running legs wide yelling "Pee Pee, Pee Pee" Ugh.... Suggestions and comments are welcome!!!! Oh and why is she sticking her hands in her pants after she goes? Even after poo...!? GROSS!
One more thing, with this unemployment business I have had the unfortunate privilege to have first hand experience with the inter workings of several government programs and departments. If this a precursor as to the way our "NEW AND IMPROVED HEALTH CARE PLAN" (sic) is going to be handled...I hope I never get sick because WE ARE ALL SCREWED!!!!
Thanks for caring,
K
The last couple of days/week and a half have been full of craziness. My dad aka Pop Pop went into the hospital last week. He was having some heart racing issues, which we now believe can be corrected with changing up some medication he was currently taking. I won two contests through my blog thanks to some fellow bloggers I will be getting a great new pair of flip flops and a FREE design consultation in the room of choice!!!
The flip flops are courtesy of Rachel over at Sippy Cup Chardonnay for her 100th post!! Apparently these flips are all the rage with surfers in Hawaii and they just started offering them online to us on the mainland. I cannot wait to try mine out! I got the black. Go check her out!!
REMEMBER THIS?
"Kacey, no not Sissy Kacey, Kacey over here at Chronicles of a Mommy is have a give away to celebrate her 3ooth post! Gosh that's a lot. In honor of her 3ooth post she is giving away not one, not two, but three design consultations for a room of choice in my er your house. You could enter to win if ya want, but I'm secretly hoping you don't so I have a better chance of winning. TeeHee. If you have ever been to my house you know that I need it more than you anyway! While you're there take a lookie loo around her blog. Her kids are cootie patooties!" Can you freaking believe that I actually won this!! How AH-MAZING is that?!
AND THEN......this past Friday I was let go from my job effective immediately with no advance warning. When I asked the reason, all I got was, "we are going in a different direction with your position." Thanks. So now I am on the hunt for another job. I am not sure what I hate most the hunt for a new job or the change of a new job! UGH....I hate this $h!t!!
Anywhoo...we have gotten some stuff done around our house. We added a deck to the front of our house as well as paint the entire exterior!! (We-I really mean, Hubby, Dad, Sissy, MIL and FIL-I played baby sitter with Tay) THANKS GUYS!! I will post the updated pics as soon as I down load them off of the camera. Thank goodness we started all of this before I lost my job or we wouldn't have had the money to do all of this work.
I'm gonna leave you with some great pictures we took of "Princess Taylor"
"Princess Taylor with her Minnie Mouse."
"Princess Tay with Daddy and Magic Wand!"
How stinking cute is she?
"Abracadabra.....Poop".....Taylornese for Abracadabra.....Poof!
FYI-I bought the tu-tu before she was born for her announcment pics, yea...didnt happen but she is almost 3 and she is just now enjoying wearing it!!
Thanks for caring,
K
Anyone know anyone who is hiring on the Northshore help a sister out and let me know.
"We are going in a different direction," yada, yada, yada,.......i'm looking for a new job!
Thanks for caring,
K
P.S. Be back soon!
I've had one hella week and I am so glad that it is the Friday before a three day weekend. This just made my day!
"Who needs a whole shirt anyway?" Please go and check this $h!t out!!!
Longer post this weekend, including some great news!
Thanks for caring,
K
Read more...To catch up go here and read about The Storm aka Katrina Part 1
We woke up Sunday August 28 and prepared for a long day of waiting. If you have never evacuated for a hurricane basically you hurry up to wait! You try and get the heck out of dodge before it hits only to sit around and wait for the storm to hit and pass.
After discovering that Katrina had been upgraded to a Cat5 and was going to hit some time the next morning we began to realize that even this far inland we were going to see significant rain as well as wind and we were going to be with out electricity for at least a couple of days. This is when we realized that we had left behind a very large industrial sized fan that would come in very handy plugged into the generator. So what did we do? Hubby and I drove back to our house to retrieve the fan (Thank GOD we did!!).
Sitting in the car on the way back to “Mayberry” listening to the radio -FYI by this time NONE of the local radio stations were playing music, they were all news all the time now. They were all giving updates as to when the storm was anticipated to hit, where to go to get water, what schools would be open for shelters, as well as taking calls to try and answer questions as best they could. Several of the Parish presidents were coming on the air stating that Katrina was going to be a very BAD storm and they wanted to let the citizens of their particular parish know that they need to take every precaution necessary to protect themselves and their families. I’ll never forget this, one Parish President stated that if you were going to be foolish and try to ride this thing out then you needed to make sure you had an axe or a claw hammer or some sort of tool because you were gonna need it to break out of your attic to get on to your roof. He was not playing around and wanted all of his citizens to know that this storm was not to be taken lightly and that even many of the “ole timers” were getting out of the way of this thing.
We were all awoken by the wind and rain BRIGHT AND EARLY Monday morning, the day Katrina hit. Naturally, we lost cable first, there went our connection with the outside world so we put in a movie to pass the time. The movie had not even started when a HUGE tree branch went through the window in Sissy’s old room. We (my mom, my dad, Hubby and I) all go and clean up the glass, etc. We return to try and watch the movie. We push play and again before the movie even started we hear this great big “THUWUNK” on the roof of the house. WTF?! It seems that one of the large oak trees in the front yard got tired and decided to lay down on top of my parents house. (slight damage-not much) Taking out the electricity in the process. Well, "I'll be a monkey's uncle" here it is barely 9:00AM and we are without power and someone is already doing shots of Tequila in the kitchen. This is going to get really interesting!
We had a generator so we were able to use the fan (you know the one we went back to get) as well as hook up the deep freeze, the refrigerator and a small t.v. With the help of rabbit ears we were able to watch a little t.v. (Thanks to digital t.v. we will not be able to do now) My dad or Pop Pop as Tay likes to call him loves to cook so we knew that we were going to eat like kings during our evacuation to "Mayberry" and he did not disappoint. With the help of a gas stove we ate Trout Almondine twice. He needed to try out two different recipes. We had survived a very windy and rainy day and night.
Tuesday August 30 Hubby and I were dressed and up and at 'em in the car on our way home by 7:30am! After seeing the damage that occurred around us in "Mayberry" I was starting to get very concerned about our little house. I was really starting to question my choice to finally unpack our wedding crystal the week before. Note to self-do not unpack anything during hurricane season. Why unpack when you might have to repack? or clean up the mess.
When we arrived into town we headed straight home. Well this proved much easier said than done. We tried and failed to get into out neighborhood several different ways. As we are driving around trying to get to our house we notice lots and lots of trees are down on the road, on cars, on houses. We also kept hearing "shhshshshhshshhhhhhh". Continuing on our quest we discovered that the "shshhhhhh" noise is from the gas lines that have been pulled away from houses by the downed tree. Good Grief. There was just too many trees, too many power lines and too much debris to make it in the car. So, we walked about a mile to our house. Over power lines, under limbs, over tree trunks-it was a virtual obstacle course just to get to our street. The closer we got the more nervous we got. I lit a cig and after about 5 drags remembered the "shhhhhh" noise. Brilliant-leaking gas and I lite a cig. We finally made it to our neighbor's house and saw that she took 3 trees through her house. (Eventually the house was torn down-Unsalvageable!). By this point we were reminding ourselves that we had insurance-homeowners and flood, thank you very much-and if need be we could start over. This is the EXACT reason we have the insurance in the first place. Right?!
To be continued....
Did I fail to mention that my in laws live one house from the lake?
Thanks for caring,
K
With the up and coming anniversary of The Storm aka Hurricane Katrina I decided to put down my experience. For several months even several years after The Storm one question people asked or were asked a lot in this part of the south, "where were you doing The Storm.” Most of the people I ran into evacuated but there were many who could not and did not evacuate. They have their stories and I have heard many, but this is not about their story this is about mine. Granted it might not be as “good” as others but I did live through it and ate the MRE’s to prove it.
Friday August 26, 2009 a group of us went over to my BIL house to have dinner and play poker. My (then) future SIL had two of her friends in town from Japan and it was their last night in the USA. The night was going really well, except for the fact that my 13 year old nephew was beating everyone. And we weren’t letting him win. B Hubby’s cousin got a text from a friend wanting to know if he knew anything about the hurricane in the Gulf. So we put on the news and for the first time saw that there was a “potentially deadly” hurricane out in the gulf. None of us had even heard of Katrina before that moment. Little did we know that by the time we woke up the next morning she would have turned into a Cat 3 Storm. Which means Sustained winds of 111-130mph and a possible storm surge of 9-12ft
{Category 3}
Tropical cyclones of Category 3 and higher are described as major hurricanes in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins. These storms can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood frame or manufactured materials with minor curtainwall failures. Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed, and gable-end roofs are peeled off. Manufactured homes usually sustain severe and irreparable damage. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures, while larger structures are struck by floating debris. Additionally, terrain may be flooded well inland.[10]
jacked from here.
I got up Saturday morning and went to work not knowing what Katrina was going to do or what we (Tay was not born yet) were going to do. (stay or pack up and evacuate)
*Sidebar*-Hubby grew up one house from Lake Pontchartrain so he was use to packing up, moving stuff to higher ground (including the cars) and evacuation. I however, grew up just 20 minutes inland and had NEVER had to do ANY of this! *
At the time I worked as a manager for national retail clothing store. They knew even less about what we should do. So, we start to notice that people are lining up across the street to get gas and everyone is heading out of town. We are getting calls from kids that are not coming into work because they are evacuating with the families. I get a phone call from my Hubby saying that he has been watching the news and they are calling for voluntary evacuation of our area and a Mandatory evacuation of area south of I-12. That would be us. It is serious. So we formulate a plan at work to close @ 2:00pm and keep the store closed until further notice or until at least Tuesday August 30, after The Storm has passed. Wednesday at the latest. We go on about out business and start preparing the store incase the power goes out or if we get any water in the store. We left around 1pm so we could all get home pack our $h!t and get the hell out of town. By the time I got home Hubby had packed up the car including pictures, paintings off the walls, and had started putting stuff on top of the beds and on high shelves. I was a little freaked out. We decided to evacuate to my parents house 25 miles inland. A trip that usually takes us 1/2 an hour at the longest took over 3.5 hours that day. I really could not complain because I knew people that sat in traffic for upwards of 10 hours trying to get anywhere. We get to "Mayberry" and unpack our stuff and settle in for the next couple of days. Over night Katrina had doubled in size and Sunday morning we woke up to a Cat5. Sustained winds 131-155mph and a possible storm surge 13-18ft.
{Category 5}
Category 5 is the highest category a tropical cyclone can obtain in the Saffir-Simpson scale. These storms cause complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings, and some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Collapse of many wide-span roofs and walls, especially those with no interior supports, is common. Very heavy and irreparable damage to many wood frame structures and total destruction to mobile/manufactured homes is prevalent. Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact, and only if located at least three to five miles (four to eight km) inland. They include office, condominium and apartment buildings and hotels that are of solid concrete or steel frame construction, public multi-story concrete parking garages, and residences that are made of either reinforced brick or concrete/cement block and have hipped roofs with slopes of no less than 35 degrees from horizontal and no overhangs of any kind, and if the windows are either made of hurricane resistant safety glass or covered with shutters.[10]
The storm's flooding causes major damage to the lower floors of all structures near the shoreline, and many coastal structures can be completely flattened or washed away by the storm surge. Storm surge damage can occur up to four city blocks inland, with flooding, depending on terrain, reaching six to seven blocks inland. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required if the hurricane threatens populated areas.[10]
jacked from here.
To be continued.....
Oh did I mention we live a half a block from Lake Ponchartrain?
Thanks for caring,
K
My handwriting SUCKS!! Everyone always says I have the handwriting of a boy. I don't care.
Is is true that they are no longer teaching cursive in schools? I started a journal for my daughter when she was born. I wrote in script. Does that mean she won't be able to read it?!
I am co-hosting a baby shower this weekend. I am hoping to catch up with some "old" friends. I hope my daughter does not act like an ass. She's 2.5 her moods change quicker than mine.
We painted the door to our house Sunday. RED! I like it.
I cannot wait until it is Fall.
We are going to Austin for a wedding in October and I am already sad about leaving Tay. If anyone has been there and can recommend hotels/restaurants/shopping, etc. please pass it on. We have never been there and cannot wait to experience this great city.
I NEED A HUGE FAVOR- Pretty please with brown sugar on top--I need someone who lives near an Ikea to do a little shopping for me. I need some window hardware that is of course not available online and the closest Ikea is a 6 hour car drive from here. Hubby works for a shipping company-(not going to say which one but we do not like the color BROWN in our household) so shipping will not be a problem. Please email me kscarty@gmail.com and we'll talk. Thank you.
I have not had a cigarette in 14 days, and yes I am counting. I use to smoke-ALOT. EVERYONE smoked when I was in college. There were a few of my friends who did not smoke, but they were the exception not the rule. Before I got preggers I had cut back to mainly smoking when I drank. I of course ceased drinking when I got preggers so giving up the cigs was not that difficult. After Tay was born I would only pick up a cig if I was not going to be returning home, which usually involved drinks anyway. But as she got older my "habit" changed. I would smoke one every now and then after she would go to bed. But, I am fully committed to cashing out for good. It is hard for me to "give" myself cancer knowing that there are so many people and especially little children who have cancer and die from cancer before they even know the definition of cancer.
Hubby use to smoke A $H!T TON and he put on the patch one day in 2002 and has not picked up a cig since. Damn him and his will power!
Sometimes I wish I had paid attention more when my grandparents were talking about the "good ole days!"
We just got finished watching the first season of Mad Men on NetFlix and I love it!! Man everyone during that era was completely sloshed all the time huh?!
Do you know how hard it is to not smoke when EVERY character on Mad Men smoke? Even the pregnant women. Because it was okay back then!! Ha.
I miss watching Dawson's Creek. I often wonder what Pacey and Joey are up to! Weird I know.
I think I'll stop here because I really could go on forever.
Thanks for caring,
K
Read more...Two weeks ago we (Tay, me, Lil Mama and Baby Parker) descended upon Re's house with all 10 tons of our baby/toddler crap!! We went to the 'Burg because some (11!) of Re's friends were throwing her a baby shower. The shower was really nice and Dawson will definitely not be naked or forget his initials! (teehee)
In case you forgot here is the baby daddy-
SARGE and you can check out his blog here. He is a funny MoFo!
"If you're happy and you know it, give me a buck!" Read all about it here.
RE- obviously before she was a Baby Mama! Read here to find out a little more about Re, if you're new to the program.
We may or may not have used this to see how fast the SARGE and HUBBY kids were going down the hill!! Baby Parker is in the car-Man, he loved this thing!! The chubby monkey little girl next to baby Paker, the sweetie-big girl up top and the cutie patootie little boy next to Tay are all Dawson's cousins!! (Well, when he is born.) They had so much fun together! Dawson is going to be a very lucky boy to be able to grow up across the street from his cousins. Their mama (Sarge's sister-in-law) also has a blog, you should go check her out here! For someone who has been through so much $h!t this past year in and a half, her continued faith in the Lord is inspiring.
Isn't this picture amazing-we got all 5 kids to look at the camera at the same time. We were all jumping up and down and clapping like a bunch of freaks. I should've gottten a pic of that!
Thanks for caring,
K
Read more...
~Laugh. Laugh often, laugh out loud, laugh at myself, laugh at her, laugh with her.
The number one thing that I have learned from my toddler:
~I may be too painfully aware of my shortcomings as a mother, but to her I am PERFECT just the way I am. So I need to take a deep breath and RELAX!!
Go see what everyone else is talking about. Hit MamaKat's button.
A long, long time ago I wrote about the letter “L”. I had to list ten things that I like that start with the letter L. If you care to re-read about this go here and here.This week in school Tay is learning about the letter “B.” So this post is brought to you by the letter “B.”
BUBBLES-
Bubbles just make you smile. It does not matter what type of day you are having you throw in some bubbles and it is all good. They are good in all types of situations; Birthday Parties-yeah, Weddings-yeah, Music festivals-of course, etc.
BEACH TRIP WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY-
BRAD PITT-
He really is trying to help the citizens from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. (If you want a history lesson on the Ninth Ward go here. Here is a map to show exactly where the Lower Ninth Ward is located, as well as a link to http://www.makeitrightnola.org/) Plus, he is easy on the eyes!
BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS-
If you have not seen this Disney movie then you are definitely missing out! This movie is by far one of my favorites.
"During WWII in England, Charlie, Carrie, and Paul Rawlins are sent to live with Eglantine Price, an apprentice witch. Charlie blackmails Miss Price that if he is to keep her practices a secret, she must give him something, so she takes a bedknob from her late father's bed and places the "famous magic traveling spell" on it, and only Paul can activate it. Their first journey is to a street in London where they meet Emelius Browne, headmaster of Miss Price's witchcraft training correspondence school. Miss Price tells him of a plan to find the magic words for a spell known as Substitutiary Locomotion, which brings inanimate objects to life. This spell will be her work for the war effort." Written by Matthew Anscher mailto:%7Banscher@radonc.duke.edu}
BEVERLY HILLS 90210-
I'm not going to spend my time giving a synopsis of this show. Hopefully y'all remember it! When I was in college, a group of my girlfriends and I would get together on Wednesday night and watch 90210!! We may or may not have had a GREAT TIME laughing about a certain person's "grand canyon titties."
Coming Soon: Part two of my ode to the letter "B."
Thanks for caring,
K
Sick of hurting your brain trying to come up with a post and want to do a letter. Email or leave me a comment and I'll pick a letter for you to do to!
Read more...To my offspring,
Thank you for trying to “toughen” up Baby Parker, but it really is not your job. We can leave that to his dad.
Love your Mama
To my bundle of energy,
Did you really find it necessary to CLOTHES LINE Baby Parker at the baby shower? (That is not how a lady behaves in public) BTW-You will never compete in the WWF.
Love your Number one fan, Mom
To my co-conspirator,
Just because you and JB look so cute together does not excuse the fact that you both tried to push baby Parker into the fireplace. Thank goodness he did not crack his skull on the brick.
Please stop it, Mama
Dear WW (Wild Woman),
Seriously don’t you think Baby Parker has had enough of your shenanigans? Why did you find it necessary to shove Baby Parker in the back as he walked away?
Dangerously close to losing my cool, Mommy
Dear coworker,
Just because you make more money than me, does not automatically mean that I am your cleaning lady. You can change the toilet paper and paper towel rolls in the restroom if you take the last piece.
Thanks for exhibiting common decency, K
Dear radio station DJs,
Why do you pick the exact moment that I get into the shower to cut to commercial for 10 minutes?
About to change the station, K
Dear LPM,
You only raised tuition $5, but that equals out to $260.00 a year! So now tuition cost us $180.00 *a week* a month. Oh, you added the cost because of the web cams-NEWS FLASH-they have not been working for 2 weeks.
Close to living under a bridge, K
Dear DirecTV,
Thanks for giving us a break. You are SO much better than CHARTER.
Loyal and satisfied customer, K
Dear early riser,
You cannot be my child if you think it is Okay to get up at 5:15AM-every morning!! When you were in our bed you slept until at least 7:00.
What gives? Mom
Dear Dora and Diego creators,
Can you interject some subliminal messages to my daughter about using the potty. You are the only ones she'll listen to right now.
Thanks, K
Go check out everyone else's letters! Go here.
Thanks for caring,
K
It is that time of the week again.
The Prompts:
1.) Your trip to the ER...spill it.(inspired by Stephanie from This Blessed Life).
2.) "Why are American's obsessed with weight? Why are we always fighting or complaining about what is natural for our bodies?"(inspired by Jenn from Jenny Says What?)
3.) Describe one of your 'God Moments'.(inspired by Jordan from Wide Open Spaces).
4.) List ten things you would say to ten different people in your life...if you had the hutzpah.(inspired by Cassandra from Cassagram)
5.) Why is your kid in time out?(inspired by Sera from Laughing Through The Chaos)
I picked Number 4. Hopefully this does not get me into trouble.
1. I admire you!
2. I miss you.
3. Please stop.
4. I need you.
5. I wish things would have turned out differently, because you are missing so much more than you realize.
6. I worry that you are okay.
7. I want to hang out with y'all more.
8. Please stop settling for what is comfortable and realize that you are worth more than that.
9. I am not the same as you and that is OK!
10.Please invite us over, because my house is not suitable for more than 3.
Go visist MAMAKAT and see what everyone wants to say without having to say it.
Thanks for caring,
K
A little link loving for a well deserving post. I found this from SITS (I think). I need poster sized copies of these throughout my house!!
Go check her out! Modern Mama's Fabulous Favorites: Memo to Mommy
Thanks for caring,
K
Continued from here. I started my list of my 10 Favorite Characters from Television last week and here is Number 2.
I grew up watching John Hughes movies. We had a VHS tape of Pretty in Pink (that I am sure we taped off of HBO) and we (Sissy and I) watched it over and over and over. I even brought it to college with me. When I was in High School we would stay at Blondie’s house often and during the summers we probably watched The Breakfast Club no less than one million times. I also have this one on VHS tape and proudly added it to my collection when I went to college. Weird Science, Ferris Buller’s Day Off, Mr. Mom, Home Alone, Some Kind of Wonderful, Uncle Buck, The Great Outdoors, and one of my FAVORITES She’s Having a Baby were all either written, produced and or directed by John Hughes himself.
FYI-did you know that Brian’s dad in TBC was John Hughes himself?!
Fact: Our class song when we graduated from High School “Don’t you (forget about me)”
Fact: We sang, or at least attempted to sing, it at graduation.
Fact: We were so bad that they would not let the next year's graduating class sing their class song.
Fact: Our class quote “And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds, are immune to your consultations, they are quite aware of what they are going through.” -David Bowie (flashed during the opening credits of The Breakfast Club)
Fact: My high school (if you remember, Catholic School-run by nuns) would not let us use the quote.
Fact: We chose “Relentless pursuit of perfection” instead.
Fact: Catch phrase for the Lexus!
Fact: I LOVED all of John Hughes’ films and his death is a HUGE loss for the film industry.
Fact: I will go out and purchase ALL of these movies.
Fact: I will force Taylor to watch all of these movies (when she is old enough, of course.) and she will like it damnit!
The Prompts:
1.) What's ailing you? Diagnose yourself with a syndrome.(inspired by Kimberly from Kamp KK)
2.) Share with us something you made by hand.(inspired by Texan Mama via email)
3.) Fess up. Tell us what you found after a spying on someone.(inspired by The Scattered Mind of a Tattooed Mini Van Mom)
4.) "How are y'all doing it? This summer, I mean? I cannot remember ever being as busy as we've been over the past two months. Those of you who are blogging daily, being as witty and entertaining as ever...I beg of you...HOW?"(inspired By Lula from Lulaville)
5.)What are you afraid of?(inspired by Life With Kaishon)
I am afraid that if someone in my life does not start to take care of their self then they will not be around long enough to see my daughter grow up!
Thanks for caring,
K
I don't know all the details....but thank the Lord and Amen!
U.S. Reporters freed from North Korea!!
Check out the breaking news here, here, here, or even here.
Thanks for caring,
K
10 Favorite Characters from Television
(Completely random list)
I started this with full anticipation of "going the distance", but ya know life happens. I only got to the one but I will give you more throughout the next couple of weeks!
SHOWTIME'S "CALIFORNICATION"
"Famed novelist & NYC transplant Hank relocates to LA after his acclaimed book is optioned, but it later becomes a crappy romantic comedy, which sparks a horrible case of writer's block. He's struggling to get his career back on track with the help of his agent/best friend, raise his pre-teen daughter, all while pining for his ex-girlfriend. It may sound desperate, but he enjoys life and owns all his various vices — drink, drugs and women — with a refreshing sense of honesty and unapologetic candor. He's holding it together while falling apart, and he doesn't mind it one bit. "-jacked from Showtime's website here.
Some of the stunts they pull on this show will leave you laughing so hard it hurts, turning your head in disgust, and slack jawed with your mouth hanging wide open. I LOVE it!!
BEWARE: This show is NOT for everyone. With episodes titled “The Whore from Babylon” “Coke D!@K and the First Kick”and “Vaginatown” you know this is definitely NOT the Cosby show!! Sometimes it is good to be bad!
Thanks for caring,
K
Read more...Sometimes I wish….. that I stood out in a crowd a little more. Now, don’t get me wrong sometimes it is good to be able to fade into the background, but if you are ALWAYS having to reintroduce yourself to people you have met before, it can be quite troublesome. You begin to question what type, if any type of impression you are leaving on people.
I have ALWAYS had friends who are extroverted (to say the least) and I am your classic introvert so it was natural that people remembered my friends before they remembered me. I was and still am remembered as “so and so’s friend”.
I am not trying to sound all “my dog died” but, it is something that has been in the back of my mind for quite some time. But now as a mother raising a daughter I have started to naturally OVERANALYZE myself and my role in her life. I feel that raising a little girl is such a HUGE responsibility and if I/we are going to raise a confident, happy, caring, compassionate, giving, self-sufficient young woman then I am going to HAVE to be the role model she needs. So in my search to be the “perfect” role model I am discovering all kinds of stuff about myself that I wish I could change or alter just a little bit.
But on the positive side I am also discovering many wonderful qualities that I LIKE about being me and hope that Tay will posses as well. But why is it that the bad seems to out weigh the good?
Oh, that’s right; I am a glass half-empty kinda girl.
Man another thing I need to alter or tweak. *sigh*
Who knew that all this kid raising stuff was going to be so difficult ;)?
Next Time: The good stuff
Thanks for caring,
K
another baby? (is the question of the hour, week, month, year) Hubby and I are wrestling with the decision of whether it would be good for our family to throw another one into the mix! There are so many pros and cons that we are confused as to which direction to go.
1. We enjoy our family just the way it is.
But, another would provide us with double the fun!
2. Do we possibly have MORE love to give?
Of Course we do.
3. Where would the money come from? (Daycare right now is $175.00 a week)
Your guess is as good as mine!
4. Do we wanna take the chance of a repeat performance by the colic devil?
Hummm...........Not ready to go through THAT hell again.-But no one could ever be prepared for THAT!!
5. Am I ready to turn over my body for the greater good again?
Yes and No.
6. Is our bed big enough for 4 of us?
??? Let's hope so. Tay is finally enjoying being in her big girl bed!
7. Do we want Tay to have to shoulder all the responsibility of taking care of us when we get older?
NO!!
8. Will my mental state and emotional state take a beating by going through theses changes again?
YES. without a doubt I will have to prepare myself mentally for the emotional changes that will take place before, during, and after the pregnancy!
9. Will it be worth it?
ABSOLUTELY!!
10. Is it selfish of me to NOT want to go through all of this again when so many women out there do not even get the opportunity to even contemplate this decision?
Sometimes I think yes. But then I realize that I cannot live my life feeling guilty for what someone else does not have. I need to enjoy what has been given to us and roll with the punches as they come!!
I don't know what we are going to do, but i will definitely keep you posted.
Thanks for caring,
K
This is another post inspired by MamaKat's Writing Workshop. Mash her button to read what decisions everyone else is having a hard time making.
Here are the prompts incase you wanted to see what I had to choose from.
1.) Who made you red hot this week?
2.) A day in your life...recap.(inspired by Jennifer from Toddler Tirade)
3.) What decision are you having a hard time making?(inspired by Evansmom from Just Sayin')4.) How will you enjoy your last days of freedom (aka summer)?(inspired by Heather from A Day In The Life)
5.)List your 7 most favorite summer items!(inspired by Summer from Le Musings of Moi)
I am sure all of you have seen this but I couldn't help myself. I need to blow this puppy up and post it all over my house!
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble on about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside of me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would have never said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”
There would have been more “I love you’s.” More, “I’m sorry’s.”
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute…look at it and really see it…live it…and never give it back.
-Erma Bombeck
Thanks for caring,
K
This morning I got to take a shower with the shower door wide open. My 2.5 year old daughter wanted to read her book with me while I showered. Did she want to go lay in the bed and watch Blues Clues with her dad? NO. Did she want to look at the book by herself so Mommy could shower without freezing to death? NO. The things we do for a little bit of sanity early in the morning.
The past two nights, well 5:30am actually, Hubby has had to come and wake me and get me to come to bed. I am not on the sofa, I am on the floor of my daughter's room. We are trying to get her in her own bed, which as you can tell, is working out really well. As long as Mommy gets in the bed with her and reads 1 million books and Mommy is the only one that soothes her back to sleep when she comes toddeling into our room at 3:30am, then she sleeps in her "big girl bed." Thus, why Hubby has found me curled up in a ball on my daughter's floor using Winnie the Pooh as a pillow and wrapped up in a pink leopard print blanket! I am beginning to think that it is easier to have her in the bed with us! At least I'm in a bed!!
Thanks for caring,
K
If you need something to read and enjoy a good “southern” book, then you MUST check out any of the books written by Dorothea Benton Frank. The first book I read of hers I randomly picked up in Walgreen’s before we moved to Charleston, probably 2002. It was "Plantation" and I was hooked!! Seven years and nine books later I have come to the realization that I will read absolutely anything this woman puts into print. Oh, did I mention that I actually met her while we were living in Charleston and she signed my books!! I felt kinda dorky standing in line with all these middle aged women holding books to say “hello” to a woman who would NEVER remember me or that she signed my books, but I stuck it out and so glad I did!
“Shem Creek”, “Pawley’s Island”, “Isle of Palms”, “Sullivan’s Island”, “Return to Sullivan’s Island” (her latest), “Bulls Island”, “Full of Grace”, “The Land of Mango Sunsets”, “Plantation”, and “The Christmas Pearl” (the only one I have not read) are all set in and around the city of Charleston, SC. Once we moved to Charleston I actually looked up and visited many of the places and restaurants that Mrs. Frank highlighted in her books! It was like the books were coming to life. It was ah-mazing! After reading her books it makes me miss Charleston more and more each day. I cannot wait to take Tay to Charleston and visit all of the places we loved while living there. *sigh* one day.......
Thanks for caring,
K
P.S. When her new book came out "Retun to Sullivan's Island" I practically ran to the bookstore to buy it. Loved it and I am so glad I did!
I completely swiped this from Carrin over at Carrin's Comments who stole this little MeMe from Britt over at Living in the Moment. My computer is still jacked so I fit in blogging when I can.
A-Age: I am 32. Is it weird that I had to physically count before answering?
B-Birth date: November 20. I am a Scorpio-watch out!
C-Chore you hate: Anything that involves a dish. I CANNOT stand the bits of food that end up in the water. Gag....I just threw up a little in my mouth just thinking about it!
D-Dog's name: Bowden- or as Tay says "Bow-len" We did.not.name.him that, he totally came with that name!
E-Enter or Exit: All I can come up with is a sexual connotation and that is TMI!!
F-Favorite color: Blue
G-Gold or silver: Silver or white gold!
H-Hair color: Boring brown.
I-Instrument: I played the flute in Jr. High and I can sorta play the piano.
J-Job Title: Office Manager
K-Kids: 1-Taylor 2.5
L-Living arrangements: I live with Hubby and Tay in a house that we bought and renovated before the storm.
M-Monkey or Moose: I don't know. We had a cat named Moose. He was a wonderful cat but he definitely had a few screws loose!! Monkey is the latest nickname I have given Tay.
N-Nicknames: I only have one that Hubby gave me and I will not divulge.
O-Odd thing about you: I.HATE.LEFTOVERS, and I don't like my food to touch or the juices to mix. Barf!
P-Pet Peeve: Close talkers, rude people, people who act as though they are the best thing in the universe, oh, and people who pop their gum in public!
Q-Quote from a movie: "They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style." Carrie Bradshaw-Sex and the City Any quote from the movie Pretty and Pink and The Breakfast Club!!!!
R-Right/Left Handed: Right-in everything but pool!
S-Siblings: 1 younger sister-SISSY
T-Time you wake up: Whenever Tay decides.
U-Underwear: yep
V-Veggie you dislike: Cooked-peas, carrots, broccoli, & cauliflower, oh and BEETS.
W-What makes you run late: My forgetfulness. I can get the car and have to go back inside 4 times to get random stuff I forgot!
X-X-Rays: Teeth, wrist and Brain scan
Y-Yummy food you make: Umm........Blue Runner Red Beans and Rice, Kraft Mac and Cheese-does it count if it came out of a can or a box?! If not ummmm.........
Z-Zoo Animal: Any of the big cats!!
That was fun.
FYI-We have been hard at work getting Tay into her own bed and I am proud to say that Tay has slept the [entire] last 2 nights in her own bed!! Usually (this past week) she'd get up around 3:30am or so and grab her blanket, her puppy, and her sippy cup full of water and come into our room to get into the bed with us. She was not freaking out or wailing like I imagined, she just came in with all of her stuff a little whiny. So, I got up around 5am yesterday morning and freaked out because I was sure something was wrong because I did not hear one peep out of her the entire night. I'm positive I would have had this freak out years ago if she had not been sleeping in our bed, but whatever. This morning at 6am she simply walks in the room with her book ready to hear a story. Like it was no big deal that she had spent the previous night all alone in her bed! Slow and steady wins the race every time! (I think putting her in her big girl bed has been harder on me than her! Shhh...)
We have a little rountine-We go into her room, I turn on her little night light, turn on her Beatles Lullaby music, I sit down next to her bed and read her a couple of books. After 1 or 2 books she rolls over and I pet her back until she is asleep!! I am so proud of her and almost as proud of us for getting off our lazy butts and doing it. (Even if she did prompt us.) Now on to finish up with potty training. We have purchased the big girl panties; Dora, Tinkerbell, and even a couple of Diego underoos (yes boys-but you can't buy Dora without Diego, duh!), now we just have to spend the entire weekend in the house wearing them!! Soon.
Thanks for caring,
K
Kat across the pond does a weekly feature called "DEAR SO AND SO..." I wanted to participate but I am a wee bit late. Better late than never-right? Go check her out and read everyone else's letters.
Dear mosquitoes, gnats, fire ants, chiggers, and any other insect that bites,
My daughter is not your ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET!! I appreciate the fact that you are now leaving me alone, but come on, she is 2!! Not only does it make her miserable and cranky, it is so much fun for Mama. You must stop or I will not be held responsible for the arsenal of products that I will use to annihilate you!
K
********
Dear Audit Lady,
You made this morning not nearly as painful as it could have been.
Thanks from a fellow Golden Eagle,
K
********
Dear Manufacturers of "Children's Bug Bite Medicine,"
If it says children's don't you think it would be a wise idea for it not to sting the shit out of my child when I put the medicine on the bite?" Now she would rather have the boo-boo itch than put the medicine on.
Thanks for nothing,
K
********
Dear NetFlix,
You have succeeded in finding a niche with all of us parents who would rather cut out our own eyes then to have to chase a 2 year old around a store while trying to pick out a movie!!
Thanks for helping me keep the small sliver of sanity I have left,
K
********
Dear media,
Stop with all of the MJ coverage. I have seen more of him on the television in the past 10 days than I have in the past 10 years!!!
R.I.P. MJ,
K
********
Dear CBS,
Did you really have to bring back Jessie on BB11?
An almost ex-BB watcher,
K
********
Thanks for caring,
K
Taylor has become attached to a certain accessory. She does not put it down ever!! She carries it religiously throughout the entire day while at school. She does hit boys with it just like a little old lady. She literally fills it up with rocks, that is why it is so heavy. Right now she currently has a couple of magnets, a tiny car, a set of keys, a small slinkey, a wallet with several "membership" credit cards, a kaleidescope, lots of rocks, a couple of seashells, a real cell phone-nonworking of course, and lots of pony tail holders!!! Here is her current choice of accessory.
So not only does she carry this she still lugs Puppy along for the ride!
Next week I'll post a picture of my handbag I purchased while we were on Vacay. My very first COACH!!!!
Thanks for caring,
Kelly
Read more...The Prompts:1.) Tell us about a "dirt cheap" you've taken this summer.(inspired by Anti-Supermom)
2.) When I grow up I want to be like...(inspired by Jenny Says What?)
3.) Describe a difficult moment that you survived.(inspired by Sarah M.)
4.) List 5 things you like to do while camping...or 5 places you'd like to go.(inspired by Kisatrtle)
5.) What are you paranoid about?(inspired by Melissa)
I have chosen #4. I am not really the "camping" type, unless anyone knows of an airconditioned, bug free zone, then I am out or least staying in a cabin! But here are 5 places I would like to go instead: (I just named a few in the U.S I would like to see, plus I'm on "borrowed" time because my computer is at the Dr.-hopefully we will get it back soon!)
Not sure why, but lately I have been having the desire to travel to Maine! Not during the winter, this southern girl would F-F-F-F-F-REEZE to death!
ASTORIA, OREGON
Got the pic from here. Thanks
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Picture lifted from here.
I freaking love this place. We went on a school trip in the 6th grade and I could not get enough of it. The next year my mom went to New York for the U.S. Open and my Dad asked Sissy and I where we wanted to go for a trip (he figured Disney World, nope) we chose Washington, D.C. I cannot wait to go back. I just have to remember that when we go, we must find another couple where one person is ready to spend hours upon hours upon hours with me reading EVERYTHING while the other person can speed through everything and hang out with Hubby waiting for us to catch up.
Picture "borrowed" from here
Can you say GEORGOUS!!! I would love to see all of the glaciers and wildlife that Alaska has to offer.
Thanks for this photo.
I figured since this was suppose to be about camping I would throw in a park. It would be cool to go here and see "where the buffalo roam!"
Go check out what everyone else is talking about at MamKat's. Click on her button and join the fun.
Thanks for caring,
K
Read more...
All ready to go!
She ate her weight in "FREEZY POPS!!" Her face was stained orange for a couple of days!
Chillaxin!!
Tay and baby Parker. I think he will always be "Baby Parker" to Taylor!!
Man, she LOVED this turtle!!!
Let the fun begin!
Flashing her gang signs!!
Thanks for caring,
K
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