Dial Healthier You - ME? GET OUT OF TOWN!

I am flattered and have to say thank to Dial for selecting me to the Dial Healthier You Program. I have to say I'm flattered. I really have been trying to shift focus the last few months for constantly being everything to everyone and giving a little time to myself and I don't just mean in the potty.

This is that time of year where it is so easy to neglect ourselves. We don't eat the way we should, we don't exercise (okay this one might just be me) the way we should. I know I get lost right now. So, I am thrilled by this opportunity by Dial to make ME, yes ME healthier. Amy Hendel will be guiding me on this taking care of myself adventure. Amy is an author, who has a new book btw, 4 Habits of Healthy Families, wellness coach and so much more.

SO, the week one focus is on nutrition - I'm glad to say I didn't read this one before work last night or I would feel guiltier than I already do for the oh-so-delicious hamburger with grilled onions and french fries I ate last night at midnight. So, what I ate last night is a big no,no (which I knew but mmmm, french fries).

Amy reminded me, that I am what I eat. Ugh, feeling even more guilty. I don't want to be a french fry! So, keep whole foods in my diet and keep processed foods to a minimum. Consider it done Amy! Those aren't really changes for us, thank goodness! But once again it is an excellent time of year to be reminded.

Next Amy shares the 3 aspects of skin care.

1. HYDRATE - we can't emphasize this one enough people! You are over 60% water, give yourself a refill. Your skin and many other parts of your body will say thanks! And don't forget the Omega 3's!

2. Fight the zits! It really does amaze me how one can get wrinkles and zits at the same time (that is really not fair!). So incorporate pumpkin seeds (how appropriately seasonal), zinc, veggie baked beans and garbanzo beans (fire up the white chili!).

3. And the final one - fight the anti-aging. How do you do this?! Say no to the sun with no SPF, and Vitamin E (what has Vit E - tuna and cereals)

And when you go to the store - don't forget to grab your Dial products!


Alright - my lesson is in!!!! thanks again Dial!

The Day After

I hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving! We sure did! It was wonderful. Full of food and fun. The kids were great and the baby only slept through like half of Thanksgiving dinner. (We ate right at nap time). It was nice though because both my husband and I got to enjoy myself. IT was lovely!

Yesterday, husband hung up the Christmas lights and I handled the indoor decor. Our house has Christmas everywhere!

Now, I'm a BIG Scentsy fan. I have to tell your though, I did buy some Better Homes and Gardens Christmas smelling bars at Walmart for $2 and if you can find them, they smell amazing!

Back to the grind for this Mama today. I work tonight and Monday, so I'll be a zombie! LOL!

Please enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

Oh and Black Friday - NOPE, I hit a few online sales last night and got a start on a few things, but lots of work to be done!

Gobble Up My Friends

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I'm so thankful for the many blessings in my life - I thought about rambling them all off but decided it would sound a little like an acceptance speech :) With you all playing the music trying to cut me off in the background!

I wish you all a day of nothing - nothing but food, family and fun. BE SAFE IF YOU R TRAVELING!!!

We are having an early dinner today, as my poor brother got the work straw this year (I had it the last 2 years). We all agree we would rather work Thanksgiving or New Years than Christmas.

I grew up in a family where Dad was usually missing at least 1 holiday a year. If we got upset or frustrated he would remind us that at least he got to come home as opposed to the people staying that were ill or injured. He always taught us to be grateful for health. (and that hospitals are 24/7 businesses).

Funny enough 2/3 of his children now work in the hospital, so between the 3 of us, someone is usually working the night/day of the holiday or on the eve or the day after.

So, that being said, I am sure that I will come back with some funny stories of my husband trying to corral the children in my parent's house. LOL! Hence why I was busy yesterday, I wanted to make sure all I had to do when I got to Mom's was heat a few things up.

Wishing you nothing but the best on this holiday season. Let the games begin! It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Twas the Day Before Thanksgiving

when all through the house
all the creatures were stirring for school was out
The turkey was stuffed on the stovetop with care
In hopes that Nana and Grandad soon would be there
The children were hungry and needed to be fed
While visions of kitchen disasters danced in Mama's head
The shopping still needed to be done
and going to the store would not be fun
The store would be so busy
the thought of it made me dizzy
Away to the mini van we flew like a flash
Do not forget the list left on the van's dash
When what to my wandering eyes should appear
but a parking spot that is not at all in the rear
Pushing the cart she shouted each ingredient by name
More rapid than eagles her barks came
Now butter! Now milk! And do not forget the wine!
To the back of the store, to the front of the line
Get into the van, we have got to get home y'all
Now drive away, drive away, avoiding the mall

With a trunk full of groceries and the baby too
They started fighting I heard in the back
Give me my toy, I want it back.
With my head spinning, I turned around
You better shape up or your heads I will pound
Into the driveway I drove like I was crazy
I am probably forgetting the rest it is starting to get hazy

The goods were brought in bag by bag
I do remember, I was starting to nag
The recipes were ripped from the pages
I had not made some of them in ages
With hungry children playing at my feet
I really hoped we could keep the place neat

As the day wore on it became such a drag
for I knew I was becoming such a hag
I swore that I would never do this again
But we all know what happens in the end
I made all stuffing, the pies, and ham
My mother god love her still wanted lamb

The dishes were done, the kids were tucked in
I got it all done I said with a grin
And now I am finished, so let the festivities begin


Happy Thanksgiving to all! And to all a good night!




This is just a silly little thing I wrote while avoiding the grocery store. It made my tired self giggle. ENJOY!!

Talk some sense into me!

My children are wonderful, I love them, really I do please believe me when you read this post....

Items destroyed by my 3 angels in 2010:
1 broken window in the playroom
1 broken window in the garage
1 broken window in our foyer
1 broken bike
2 lamps from their bedrooms each specifically purchased to match their "decor"
1 broken living room lamp
65, yes, I counted, 65 broken DVDs
Broken toys stopped counting, but a lot, enough for all the children in a small nation each to get a toy
1 broken lamp in the yard - think baseball bat smashing glass - AWESOME!

1 broken tv (this happened over the weekend and pushed me over the edge)

Keep in mind these are not "accidents", they are intentional acts of destruction. My angels aka demons have a habit of not respecting their things or ours for that matter and breaking them. The playroom is disgusting. I've cleaned it more times than I care to share and I know that is my job as a Mom.

I've had it though. I know what is coming. It is the time of year when my children get a huge influx of toys - between Christmas and their birthdays this time of year is crazy. I was going toss a bunch of baby toys but the baby is old enough to play with toys (so much for my plan to keep him a baby forever).

Last night, when they broke the TV I lost it. I pulled out my phone and called my husband's cousin who often stands in as Santa. I told him what they had done and told Santa to bring toys to children who won't break them and will respect them. I don't think that my point got across. Today I found them intentionally snapping crayons, what happened, a snapped Mommy. ARGH! Everyone got sent to their rooms while I tried to become myself again.

I talked to my husband on the phone and told him, no Santa gifts this year. Instead, we would take this as a lesson and learn about charity and giving to those in need. My husband was appalled. He can't believe that the thought would cross my mind. How could I be such a monster?

Am a I monster? I think that I am using this time of giving and love, as a means to make a point. Give unto others. I would craft a note from Santa talking about all the children who need more and who don't have anything, let alone extra things to break and not respect. Am I wrong? Is it wrong to try to teach them a lesson? Am I just crazy?

HELP! My husband thinks that I am so crazy he wants me to call my Mom so she can "talk some sense into me".

If you have advice for how to teach my children how to respect their things, please share. Also, regardless of what happens we do give a lot of toys to charity right now, I have a huge box of goodies in the closet to bring to Toys for Tots, this would just be extra.....

To be Princess

Tonight was Cub Scout night. It was going to be fun, a tour of one of local news channels. How super fun is that !?! I think that I was more excited that than the kids. Being in OK, I couldn't wait to meet the man that interrupted all of my favorite programming or assured me that I was just missing commercials. I also wanted to ask if he knew Reid Timmer from Storm Chasers! Of course I didn't ask that question.

The night started off great. We went to station, along with all of the other Cub Scouts and their parents. We were standing in the lobby and the weather guy was talking to the kids. He had made a few snarky remarks about the sports guys. One of the sports announcer's walked in and introduced himself to each person individually including Princess. Princess told him her name and asked what he did, he replied, sports. She looked at him scrunched up her nose and said that guy (points to the weather man) doesn't like you very much. I could have died, sarcasm is often lost on an almost 5 yr old. The sports guy looked at her, bent down and said, well to be honest I don't like it when he runs over his time to tell you that it's windy and cold. You can look outside and see it's windy and cold. Priceless. The adults laughed and she smiled, not having an idea what he meant by what he said.

The tour began and she was front and center for the whole thing. When it came time to play on the green screen, she ballet moved her way right through it, making sure that she watched herself on the screen. One of the other dads noted she isn't shy, my reply, no she isn't.

Come On Man!

I love the segment on Sunday nights! It's my fave. The guys are so funny or the mess ups are that bad. HAHA! Of course I missed it today, boo.

I love football. I love watching the games, I love the sportsmanship, I love cheering for the underdog or my team or against a team. I love that the kids and Daddy love to run outside and play "football". There are no rules really, they just all run around the yard and the football is with them.

I love Bubba. Have I introduced you to Bubba?



This is Bubba- he gets put up before every game and taken down shortly after. It's a bit ceremonial. Hubbie gathers the children and the extension cord. Depending on when the the game is, that determines where in the yard Bubba will be displayed. We looked out to the front yard on day a few weeks ago and a man had pulled over and was snapping a picture of Bubba. - our neighbors probably hate us. There was one night when I had to get Bubba ready because hubbie was going to be late. The children critiqued my Bubba skills.


Recently though, football has become very scary. I don't remember the amount of head injuries or the helmet to helmet hits even 5 years ago. Perhaps, as my hubbie and I were guessing that head injuries weren't as well diagnosed until recent years. It just seems that every week a player (someone's son, brother, cousin, husband, or sniff Daddy) goes down hurt. As I am writing this there is an injured player. I just watched his head collide with another player and you just know, it doesn't look good. He gives a thumbs up when he leaves the field and I am blubbering like a baby.

Big boy has desires to play football, I'm just not certain how the heck I will stomach that! Someday that could my boy playing highschool ball getting creamed and not able to move. No one will be able to stop me from running out onto the field. My work practice and my mommy self will kick in.

I've tried to tell him that golf is a lovely game or perhaps he would like to be a kicker - it hasn't worked. I have 2 years to get him into another sport besides football - he does like basketball, I just need him to LOVE it.