30 Questions

30 Questions. Completely appropriate, because I am turning 30 this year!! Also stolen from a dear friend of mine.

1. It’s 2AM and you are not home. You are more than likely:
Having coffee with a good friend, at the really cold Starbucks which happens to be the only 24 hour one nearby.

2. What’s the last thing you spent more than $100 on?
Not counting trips to the grocery store, I’m pretty sure that would be clothes for the kids. I have a slight Gymboree problem. (I copied Marty’s answer on this one, just changed “boys” to “kids.”)

3. What do your bank checks look like?
Pink breast cancer ones- they gave a donation for ordering that style so I couldn’t resist!

4. Where did the shirt you are currently wearing come from?
Motherhood. Yes, it’s Maternity. I like their long t-shirts. When I hike up the front to nurse, my whole back does not show.

5. Name something that will be on your Christmas wish list:
Sleep? Free time? Seriously- I’d like to get some of those words that go on the wall for our bedroom. I forget what they are called right now. Like from the home party type things. A cute new winter coat that is not itchy. New fun coffee flavors for my Keurig.

6. What color is your toothbrush?
Blue and white

7. Name something you collect and tell us about it.
Does children’s clothing count? I’m serious. My kids closets are kind of ridiculous. I know Bailey has over 15 pairs of sunglasses. It’s totally my hobby.

8. Last restaurant you ate at. Who were you with? How was it?
El Nopal, yesterday for lunch with my mom and Grandma and the kids. It was good. Taylor slept the whole time in his carseat!

9. Who was the last person you bought a birthday card for?
Bailey’s friend Piper- we are going to her birthday party this weekend.

10. What is your worst bad habit?
Drinking waaaay too much diet coke. (Also Marty’s answer)

11. Name a magazine to which you subscribe?
None right now. My Us Weekly sub ran out, and Bailey gets Highlights- the preschool version I think it’s called High Five. That’s it.

12. Your favorite pizza toppings?
Canadian bacon/ham, mushrooms, extra cheese

13. Whose number were you looking up the last time you used a phone book?
I think about five years ago I looked up contractors to find someone to build this wall in our basement.

14. Other than family, who is the person that you love most?
I would say my friend Faith but she moved away and we aren’t as close as we used to be. So I’m not sure

15. What is the last thing you cooked?
Last night I made pork chops, corn on the cob, biscuits, and salad.

16. Name something you wouldn’t want to buy used?
underwear

17. Which shoe do you put on first?
Maybe the left? That’s the contact I put in first. (same as Marty’s answer)

18. What is the last thing you remember losing?
Everything. I freaking lose everything.The last thing we had a crazy search for at our house was probably one of Bailey’s hairbows though.

19. What is the ugliest piece of furniture in your house?
Oooh we have lots of contestants for this one. Our bedroom set? It’s black, and I’m SO over black furniture. I got it like 8 years ago and we keep saying we’re going to replace it.

20. Last thing you bought and ended up returning?
Some overalls for Taylor

21. What perfume/cologne do you wear? If none, why?
I have about ten bottles that I switch between. Lots of Avon ones, also Estee Lauder Beautiful Sheer and a few others.

22. Your favorite board game?
Life

23. What was the last board game you played?
Candy Land

24. Where did your vehicle come from?
Suntrup Kia. I don’t recommend them, we love our van but had a horrible experience with the dealership.

25. If a movie was made about your life what would the theme song be?
Right now? I like this one:

26. You’re sad, who can cheer you up easily?
Bailey

27. What was the color of the bridesmaid dresses of the last wedding you went to?
I have no idea. Black maybe?

28. What house cleaning chore do you hate to do the most?
Cleaning the bathtub and showers.

29. What is your favorite way to eat chicken?
Fried, of course. With biscuits. (also Marty’s answer)

30. It is your birthday. You hope the cake is?
A double layer cookie cake with lots of icing

2009 Taxes

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Just have to announce that I have just filed my 2009 tax return. Stupid Turbotax (which has been a pain in my butt this year) just told me that it has been successfully transmitted. Thank God, one less thing on my to-do list! Plus we get a decent refund so I will look forward to that money dropping in my bank account in a week or two.

My husband used to laugh at me about how anal I am about our finances. I am always the one who balances our checkbook, pays bills, etc. I like to know that everything is under control though. I don’t want to be in need of a credit repair service five or ten years down the road! I love having great credit and we don’t “finance” things we can’t afford. We pay cash with the exception of cars and house so that probably makes things easier, too.

Inkblots

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Normally I am not a huge online quiz type person- but this inkblot one completely describes me. Either it’s freakishly accurate or I had really good random luck with it. Take it for yourself and tell me whether it worked or not!

You Are Balanced and Thoughtful

You view people with optimism. You have many meaningful relationships in your life.

You had more conflict with your father than your mother. Your relationship with him was healthy but challenging.

You don’t deal with stress well. Even moderately stressful events tend to send you in a tailspin.

You require a lot of calm in your life. When things get too hectic, you need to step back and reassess things.

The Inkblot Test

Blogthings: We’ll Tell You The Truth… Someone Has To!

And since I am all about relevant things here (clearly, right?) how many commercials need to be on for mesothelioma lawyers/cases during one daytime television show? I am so tired of hearing the same commercial over and over again while trying to watch my HIGH QUALITY court tv.

Random Cute and Funny Faces!

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Took a few pictures around the house/during dinner the other day. Since I’ve been grouchy, and looking at pics of Bailey always cheers me up, I thought I would share a few-

Handbags- Worth Reading!!

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This was sent to me in an email but I think it’s worth sharing. I was absolutely disgusted when I read this, and it makes me think about how I always drop my purse on my kitchen countertop when I get home. Not anymore!

Have you ever noticed girls who set their handbags on public toilet floors,
then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table?
Happens a lot! It’s not always the ‘restaurant food’ that causes stomach
distress. Sometimes ‘what you don’t know will hurt you!’

Read on………….
Mom got so upset when guests came in the door and plopped their handbags
down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up food. She always
said that handbags are really dirty, because of where they have been.
It’s something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know
what’s inside our handbags, do you have any idea what’s on the outside?

Women carry handbags everywhere; from the office to public toilets to the
floor of the car. Most women won’t be caught without their handbags, but did
you ever stop to think about where your handbag goes during the day.
‘I drive a school bus, so my handbag has been on the floor of the bus a
lot,’ says one woman. ‘On the floor of my car, and in toilets.’
‘I put my handbag in grocery shopping carts and on the floor of the toilet,’
says another woman ‘and of course in my home which should be clean.’
We decided to find out if handbags harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how
to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake , and then we set out to
test the average woman’s handbag.
Most women told us they didn’t stop to think about what was on the bottom of
their handbag. Most said at home they usually set their handbags on top of
kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared.
Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn’t be surprised if their
handbags were at least a little bit dirty.
It turns out handbags are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who
tested them was shocked.

Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the handbags
tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of
bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can
cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the
handbags could make people very sick.
In one sampling, four out of five handbags tested positive for salmonella,
and that’s not the worst of it. ‘There is fecal contamination on the
handbags’ says Amy. Leather or vinyl handbags tended to be cleaner than
cloth handbags, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended
to have dirtier handbags than those without, with one exception.
The handbag of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the
worst contaminations of all. ‘Some type of feces, or possibly vomit’ says Amy.

So the moral of this story is that your handbag won’t kill you, but it does
have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you
eat. Use hooks to hang your handbag at home and in toilets, and don’t put it
on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen counter top.
Experts say you should think of your handbag the same way you would a pair
of shoes. ‘If you think about putting a pair of shoes on your counter tops,
that’s the same thing you’re doing when you put your handbag on the counter
tops.’

Your handbag has gone where individuals before you have walked, sat,
sneezed, coughed, spat, urinated, emptied bowels, etc!
Do you really want to bring that home with you?
The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a handbag will help. Wash
cloth handbags and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather
handbags.
THIS IS WORTH SHARING!!! PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR GRANDMOTHERS, MOMS,
DAUGHTERS, GRANDDAUGHTERS AND GIRLFRIENDS !! !!

Bucket List

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Just a fun list passed along from a family member…

Put an X next to the things you have done at some point in your life. Feel free to copy and play along on your own blog!

(x) Shot a gun
(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school.
( ) Watched someone die
(x) been to Canada
( ) Been to Alaska
( ) Been to Europe
( ) Been to Las Vegas
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been on a cruise ship
( ) Served on a jury
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington , DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Played cowboys/girls and Indians
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose.
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain (played)
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe-
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone snow skiing
(x) Camped out under the stars.
(x) Seen something so beautiful that it took your breath away?
(x) Are or have been Married?
(x) Children?
(x) Have/had a Pet?
(x) Been skinny dipping outdoors
(x) Been fishing
(x) Been boating
( ) Been water skiing
(x) Been hiking
(x) Been camping in a trailer/RV
( ) Flown in a small 4 seater airplane
( ) Flown in a glider
( ) Been flying in a hot air balloon –
(x) Been bungee-jumping or sky-diving
(x) Gone to a drive-in movie
(x) Done something that should have killed you
( ) Sold whole life insurance

Have I told you how much I love her?

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This girl… I love her so much.

A few odds and ends at 26 1/2 months

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Bailey is almost 27 months old now. She is making us laugh and also making us proud every day.

-She knows all her colors now including gray, black, white, and salmon LOL
-She can count to 14 and also count items- but she sometimes says “One, two, six” still and we have to help her out!
-She loves to have her toenails painted “just like mommy” and to basically do anything that mommy is doing
-She can tell you that her name is “Beelay Sophia _____”
-If you ask her how old she is, she says “Two olds!” instead of two years old
-She enjoys building with lincoln logs (so boring) and still loves Little People
-She knows the alphabet song and can also identify all 26 letters by sight. When we are out she will see a letter and tell me what it is. She will also name several words that start with that letter. She seems to enjoy letters and sounds. Maybe she’ll be a reader like Mommy??
-She can identify about half the numbers by sight. She always clarifies by saying “Number six” or “Number two” or whatever.
-She knows animals like antelope and rhinoceros and can pronounce them too! Her favorite places are the zoo and Grant’s Farm.
-Her eating continues to get better and she no longer cries at the OT’s office. Praise God!
-She pretends to read her books and has memorized the words to some of them. She can tell you the titles of most her favorites.
-It shocks me how fast she learns the words to songs. She can hear them once or twice and then she sings them!

She sings this song from Barney- “Oh Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. golden sun… hiding behind the tree.” Only she says “Oh Mister Sun, sun, oh goad sun. Hidee be hiner-ree!” Here she is hiding behind a tree at Grammy’s house.

My mother in law sent us a ridiculous amount of coupons in the mail. Bailey sat at the kitchen table today and “sorted” them all out into stacks. She told me she was working. I guess she sees us sitting with a bunch of papers and thinks that’s what we do!

She also keeps saying “How ya doin, HUH?” We are trying to get her to drop the HUH.

Other commonly used Bailey-isms:

Oh thank you, Mommy!
Oh thank you, Daddy!
No, please!
Watch Beelay do it, kay?
Get Beelay out now! (In the carseat, when I am unbuckling her)
Idea! (then I will ask her what her idea is, she usually says “Good idea!”)
I sleeping. I snack. I comin too! I drink. Everything is “I”
Oh, Sure! (in a high pitched voice) or Sure, Daddy!
In the swimming pool: I slim the water!
Fish time! (she wants to go look at the aquarium)

And just some cuteness from dinner at Five Guys Burgers and Fries a few nights ago

Wordless Wednesday- Mad Sticker Girl

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Grocery store stickers + not wanting her picture taken = Mad Sticker Girl

Online Education

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I have met more and more people recently who are doing online degrees. Back when I was in college (okay like it was 100 years ago or something- but I was a freshman in 1998 so it wasn’t exactly yesterday!) it was rare to do a whole lot online for school. About the most our college did was offer a few online classes. Mainly things like health and library skills so that you could get them out of the way over the summer. I took one online class and just had to go in to take a final. I got 100% in the class- it was almost kind of ridiculous.

I know things have come a long way. You can get an entire bachelor’s or master’s degree online now! St. Xavier University offers an Online Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (MS Instruction). In fact, I just signed up a girl to sell Avon who is doing this program. I asked her all kinds of questions about it because I’ve never known anyone who has gotten their entire degree online.

And according to their website, “This innovative Curriculum and Instruction online program provides experienced practitioners with a broad understanding of curriculum development and an in-depth examination of new instructional techniques through the exploration of topics in literacy, diversity, integration of technology, and an interdisciplinary perspective in education.” St. Xavier’s program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

I am thinking that if I ever decide to go back to school for a different degree (which I sometimes daydream about doing) I might start looking more seriously into online options. I would be curious to hear from others who have done something like this.

Randomness in Picture Form

Filed Under Avon, Church, Clothes, Gifts, Grandparents, Random, Toys, Two Years Old | 1 Comment

This was the first warmer-weather outfit I put on Bailey this spring. I can tell the difference in her looks even from just a few weeks ago when this was taken!

Bailey got some cool new stuff for her birthday. One of her favorite gifts was the monkey play-dough set from her friend Mackenzie. She got a little obsessed so we (I) made a rule that she only got to do play-dough with Daddy!

Speaking of her friend Mackenzie- here they are at church. They see each other every week in the hallway outside the nursery and get so excited! They were rolling around on the floor and laughing.

Then I decided I should try to get a picture of her with Grampa, but she wasn’t really into it.

And at home watching Barney after church, wearing her sunglasses, OF COURSE. Because she likes to wear them ALL THE TIME.

This is a Dora nightgown that Grammy gave Bailey for her birthday (or Easter, maybe). She loves to wear it around the house but she WILL NOT sleep in it. She thinks it’s a dress and I haven’t been able to convince her otherwise. But it works well for a comfy play-around-the-house outfit.

I don’t remember if I posted this one before but she was putting puzzle pieces all over Jonathon. He let her do it for a long time… that man has much more patience than I do! It was pretty cute though.

And just one last one of her playing… if you look on the table you can see some Weebles stuff. I found it at a yard sale in our neighborhood and she was with me at the time. She thought it was Little People and started yelling “Peeeeepole!” One of the best $3 purchases I have made lately- she can interchange a lot of it (size-wise) with Little People and she just adores any type of little guys/cars/houses/animals like that right now. This set came with a house, swing, about five guys including Santa and a snowman, a motorcycle, and a car. Hours of fun.

As for me- I am winning a new prize for my Avon recruiting. We are getting two new gold iPod mp3 players in a few weeks! Jonathon was SO excited about this. I will have to figure out how to use it now…
gold-ipod

Can You Guess…

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Why I am wearing this?

And why these were given to me?

So good luck with raising a child who’s not a total brat

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I witnessed this scene in the grocery store last night:

Little girl (about six years old, walks up to cashier): Yeah, I’m here to get a sticker.

Cashier: Can you say please?

Little girl: Rolls eyes and ignores cashier

Little girl’s dad: (speaking to cashier) “Yeah, good luck with that.”

Um, did I just hear him correctly? His daughter was being rude and not using her manners, and instead of correcting her, he told the CASHIER good luck with that? Even at Bailey’s age, I would have told her something like, “This lady is not going to give you a sticker until you say please. We use manners when we ask for something.”

And we wonder why some kids are so bratty.

Merry Christmas, only 75 days early or so

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Yes, 101.1 (used to be The River) is playing Christmas music already. Tonight I got into my car to hear “said the little lamb to the shepherd boy…” WHAT??? If you are in St. Louis please turn to that station and tell me I’m not just hearing things.