A Housewife Manifesto

First Response Fertility Test - Review

2011-11-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

I have baby fever! There, I said it, and now it's out there for the whole world to google, find and see. It's scary having baby fever, because as a woman with high anxiety levels I tend to worry. Actually I tend to worry a lot. So naturally I'm worried about fertility, fertility issues and things of that nature. Sure, I'm only newly 26 years old, I'm relatively young, I'm relatively healthy and I have had two wonderful pregnancies which have resulted in two relatively easy 3 hour or less labors which included pushing for a combined time of 45 minutes (20 minutes of pushing with my first, 25 minutes of pushing with my second) and then out came my two healthy, happy, beautiful baby boys. So why should I be worried about fertility? Easy, peasie, one, two, threesie, right?

Well that's not necessarily the case for anyone. You see, I have baby fever in the midst of my close friends battle with pregnancy loss, fertility issues and her fight to have a second child. She lost a son to still birth just over two years ago,and she's had at least one miscarriage and a dozen false positives since then. So I'm naturally concerned, not only about her but about myself. Although, I must admit, I'm mostly worried with her. Watching my friend walk down this road has given me a new pair of eyes. I don't take anything for granted any longer. I don't naturally assume that just because I want to have another baby with every fiber of my being that God will see fit to bless me a third time. So I'm nervous, I'm anxious...I'm worried. What if I never get to be pregnant and bring a baby home from the hospital again? What if I never get to have my baby girl that I'm so desperate to have? What if there's something wrong and my fertility has dwindled.

That's where the First Response Fertility Test comes in. It has the potential to calm the fears and quiet the nagging questions of the mind for so many women. I recently had the opportunity to try out one of the new Fertility Tests, and I'll be honest, I wasn't so convinced before I tried it out. How can I pee on a stick and get the answers that I'm seeking out of it? It's by no means the end all be all of fertility, but it's a nice little at home reassurance. And if it shows up that that your FSH (follicle stimulating hormones) are out of wack, well then, it could lead you to the doctor where you can get more in depth testing, and some help that you may have not even known that you needed.

I had intended to take this test earlier than I did, but apparently my 'special monthly visitor' (yes, fellas, I'm talkin' about my Aunt Flo...ya know, my period!) had other ideas, which actually led me to pee on a more traditional stick before I even got the chance to pee on this newer stick technology. I was late, reaaaaaaly late...but I'm not pregnant, so I finally got the chance to use my First Response Fertility Test! Which I was really excited about trying, by the way. The wait was enough to drive me mad.

I finally got the chance to take my test though, and get my results. You do have to wait a little longer with the Fertility Test than you do for a Pregnancy Test, but the sticks, and the form the results take, are quite similar. All you do is POAS (pee on a stick) and wait, after thirty minutes you can read your results. It's as easy as that.

So if you've got questions, or even if you're just thinking about starting to try to conceive, pick up a test and give it a go. It can ease your mind or it can point you in the direction of your OB/GYN...and either way, it's good to know, or at least have some indication of what you're in store for on your road to having a baby!

Thank you to Clever Girls Collective for allowing me to be a part of #CleverTTC #Spon & for giving me the opportunity to team up with First Response & review their new Fertility Test!

[sponsored content & disclaimer] I was selected for the post by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Ways to give back to your community

2011-09-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote."

It doesn't matter how old you are, how much money or time you have to spare, what your race or background is or what gifts or talents you have to offer. We all have something that we can do to help give back to our community, and even to the world for that matter, but today we're talking about giving back on a bit of a smaller scale.
If you've thought about helping out or giving back why not start in the most logical place? Right in your own back yard! After all you do live there, most likely work there, your children attend schools there, play on teams and take extra classes and activities there. We all have a responsibility to ourselves, our neighbors, our community and most importantly our children to give back to our communities, build up our communities and try to make them the best places they can be. Think about it, why wouldn't you want your children to live in a better place? Why wouldn't you want to better the lives of your own family while also bettering not only your community but the lives of the other people who live in it? Helping out is so much more important now than it ever was before, because of all of the problems we're having now that weren't such huge problems for past generations.

Giving back doesn't have to take up all of your free time (what is that and who has it, anyway?) or your extra money. The only thing you need to give back is the want to give back, because as we've all heard before 'Where there's a will, there's a way!" I honestly believe that's true. Don't have a lot of extra cash? Then volunteer your time! Don't have a lot of extra time? Then volunteer your used clothing, some canned food, some extra money for project supplies.

There are countless ways in which you can give back to your community, and teach your children a valuable lesson and enrich your character and theirs while positively impacting the lives of others all at the same time.

You can donate items to local charity organizations, churches, homeless shelters, womens shelters and countless other places. Don't just donate clothing, donate toys, sample sized lotions, face washes, moisturizers, soaps, shampoos or conditioners that you get for free, or you could even donate full sized items that you've purchased on sale as well as shoes and accessories, food and many other items. The items you can donate and the places to donate them to are endless!

Become a big brother or big sister to a local child whose parents work or are in jail! If you have older children they can be a big brother or big sister too. It's true that getting your children involved in giving back at a young age makes them more likely to give back when they're older and teaches them valuable life lessons and to be grateful for the life they have and the things and people who are in it.

Which brings me to my next option, volunteer with your children. Join in a program that will allow you and your children to help clean up a park, clean up the local schools during summer, clean up the neighborhood, food drives, toy drives or anything that you take a liking to.

Have your children pick out a few toys during Christmas time from the store that they would like to donate to toy drives and take the opportunity to explain to them that not all Children get to have Santa come and Mommy & Daddy buy them things too. Let them pick out some of their own toys to donate to a Church toy drive or to your local clothing center and allow them to go through their closets and take out the clothing they don't wear or fit in anymore to donate there as well.

If you have a talent then donate that as well, if you own a business donate your goods or some money so that some children can go on a field trip they otherwise wouldn't have gotten to go on..

Volunteer your time by serving meals to the homeless, or helping to write resumes for them so that they will be prepared at job interviews.

Volunteer to tutor a child during the school year, or use your bilingual abilities to help a child in some way. The possibilities are endless!

If your children are old enough to shovel snow or rake leaves have them volunteer to do that for an elderly person on your block or in your neighborhood and help them with it!

I think that giving back should be a family affair, if we all show our children how to give back then they will show their children how to give back. This is something that I want to pass down to my kids, something that I want them to learn and to continue to do for years to come. If we all help someone then maybe one day when we need it someone will help us, and we can make the world, starting with our community a better place to live in! Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I truly believe this.

If 200,000 LIKE and Vote at Walgreens’ Facebook page during this promotion, at the conclusion of voting, Walgreens will donate up to 200,000 flu shot vouchers to individuals who do not have insurance for a flu shot and are unable to afford one. Distribution will be based on voter participation. Voting runs from 9/08/11 through 10/8/11.

Don't forget to help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do."

Playing Catch Up...an update

2011-09-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hello there my lovelies, since I've been super busy I've not had a lot of time online lately. So I wanted to take this opportunity to post an update on how things are going!

I'm now working, and have been for about 3 weeks or so and so far I really like it. More than that, I enjoy most of my coworkers and making polite (adult) conversation with customers.

Some Eat Fresh...Thanks, Google!

I'm a sub technician at Eat Fresh Inc. (that's my fancy-schmancy way of telling you all that I make subwiches at Subway...snazzy, yes?) I work over 40 hours a week, so I don't have a lot of extra time on the computer. I miss blogging. Due to my last week having me log 46 hours at the job, I've had to take a break from Mommy Style for a bit, but look for a special edition of Mommy Style that will go live on Wednesday which I'm calling Mommy Style; The Busy Moms Guide to Style. This special edition on Mommy Style will run for 3 days, and will be a basic style guide for Mamas! Which means it's no nonsense and straight to the point, because as Mommies we don't have a lot of time for beating around the bush.

Aiden & Jagger lovin' on each other on the first day of Pre-K!

Aiden has started Pre-K at the local Elementary School here! Which makes me too sad (and too excited) for words because this is his first official year in the school system. He loves it, we pack his lunch and I walk him to school in the mornings since it's just a short walk from our house. He's doing rather well, and has finally adjusted to the change and has gotten into the groove of things. I however am having a harder time with the adjustment, as I'm not home most evenings to make dinner or bath my baby loves.

Aiden's First Day of Pre-K!

Jagger is...well, he's Jagger. Obsessed with cars and trucks, still a little chunky monkey and he's growing up way too fast right before our eyes. He's learning new words all the time, and he's into all things relating to his older brother, which is causing some brotherly issues between them because big brother doesn't want baby brother following him around and toy jacking him all the time. Oh the joys of having two little boys, luckily the (literal) joys of having and getting to see the bond between brothers form and grow makes it all work it...most of the time. Jagger does this cute thing lately which we have named the 'Jagger Smile' because it's this adorable little grin, but there are two versions of it, version 1 - eyes open and version 2 - eyes closed and silly.

The Jagger Smile Version 1

The Jagger Smile Version 2

Other than that I've just been trying to get in some quality time with my Baby Loves and my Husband. I answer blog related emails at night when I get home from work, which is usually anywhere from 10:30 to 11:00 and then I have enough time to get some non sub related food to eat, watch an episode of Big Brother from Season 11 (Go Team Jordan & Big Jeff!!), shower and talk to my Husband for a bit before I pass out in my big comfy bed.

What have ya'll been up to? If your kids are in school this year how are you adjusting to the schedule change and if this is your first year as the Mama of a preschool or school aged child how are you adjusting to that? I'm having some troubles with it myself, as I mentioned before. Help a Mama out, advice...anyone?

Mommy Style - Fall Fashion Bomus Look 1

2011-09-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

This weeks first celebrity bonus look is Ashley Greene, and it's a super cute look for fall that is perfect for Moms! Ashley Greene has a very cute and casual style, but she can also dress up and get it right every time. Her look is very trendy without being overly so, and she knows how to pair on trend items with her favorites and make it work.

In the look I've recreated she's wearing a pair of boots that she wears all the time, I could have chosen 10 other looks with this same pair of boots in them. When you have a favorite piece it's so easy to work it into a ton of outfits and change it up each time.

The Bonus Look: Ashley Greene Fierce Fall Fashion

Mommy Style - Fall Fashion - Celebrity Look 1 by ahousewifemanifesto featuring v neck t shirts

Boyfriend cardigan
$23 - target.com

Knit cardigan
$32 - yesstyle.com

T shirt
$30 - topshop.com

V neck t shirt
$7.99 - tillys.com

Old Navy v neck t shirt
$8.50 - oldnavy.gap.com

Forrest Bob v neck t shirt
$30 - my-wardrobe.com

CALYPSO ST BARTH t shirt
$49 - calypsostbarth.com

American Eagle Outfitters high waisted skinny jeans
$25 - ae.com

American Eagle Outfitters super skinny jeans
$40 - ae.com

Bluemint skinny jeans
$48 - yesstyle.com

Abercrombie & Fitch super skinny jeans
$34 - abercrombie.com

Hollister Co. cuffed jeans
$20 - hollisterco.com

Thigh high boots
$30 - shockboutique.com

Thigh high boots
$40 - delias.com

Not Rated high heels
$45 - buckle.com

Not Rated high heels
$50 - heels.com

High heels
$40 - tillys.com

Vintage handbag
$38 - nordstrom.com

Satchel handbag
$20 - alloy.com

Cross body handbag
$50 - topshop.com

Owl necklace
$20 - threadsence.com

Pearl necklace
$9.99 - romwe.com

Owl necklace
$15 - modcloth.com

ASOS owl pendant
$6.40 - asos.com

Owl necklace
$9.99 - stylesforless.com

Wet Seal owl pendant
$8.50 - wetseal.com

The second pair of jeans is probably the closest to the pair that Ashley is wearing in the original photo, but as always I love to give ya'll a ton of options on prices and how you want to do this look. If you're wearing top 1, 2 or 3 (or one of a similar color) then it would be best to go with cardigan number 2, but if you're wearing top 4 or 5 then it may be best to go with cardigan number 1, or a similar color. This is because in this particular look Ashley's cardigan is darker than her top. Any of the tops will go with any of the cardigans and can be paired with any of the jeans, boots, necklaces or bags! As always everything is $50.00 or under and I've given several options on everything and options for flats instead of heels!

This look is so cute, and it's really similar to a few outfits that I have for Fall! I love this look because it's so casual, but not overly so. Still it's not as dressy as our Kim Kardashian Bonus Looks were. This is a look that looks so put together and fashionable but is effortless and so easy to achieve.

Don't forget to check back on Saturday for our last two bonus looks for the Fall Fashion Mommy Style! I've got two really cute looks ready for my favorite hot mama's and I'm so excited to share them with you all.

Also look out for an awesome revew & giveaway tomorrow and a list of my current favorite makeup & beauty products to go along with this weeks Fall theme to the Mommy Style looks!

Thanks and I hope that ya'll have enjoyed this look & that you all like it!

xoxo - Ashlee, your Personal Mommy Stylist!

Mommy Style - Fall Fashion

2011-08-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

It's Monday, so that means it's time for a brand new Mommy Style!

I was going through my list trying to figure out who to use as my celebrity inspiration for this week and as I was googling, I kept seeing a common theme - cute clothes for Fall. I took this as a sign from the all mighty interweb search engine, Google, and ran with it this week.
So unlike last weeks Kim Kardashian style guide this weeks Mommy Style isn't going to be based around any one celeb, but around a couple of them with a common theme, which is Fierce Fall Fashion!

I took ideas from Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and every ones favorite ~~Twilight~~ little sister, Ashley Greene. So look for an extra bonus looks this week, as I will also be posting them on Thursday instead of just on Saturdays since this weeks theme is based on more than one fashionista.

Also, if you haven't already, check out the two Kim Kardashian saturday style bonus looks that I posted for ya'll on Saturday. They're super cute!

I've decided to do things a little different in another way this Monday as well. I'm going to be posting my take on the looks first, and then on Thursday and Saturday I will be posting bonus looks from the celebrities, I will be recreating specific looks from them. This is how it will work when I don't have one particular celebrity as a style icon or fashionista for that particular week. I may post another bonus look on Wednesday.

So lets get down to it, shall we?

As always everything in my looks is $50.00 or less, because I'm all about looking hot, but I'm not about looking hot in the poor house!

There are three seperate looks in my polyvore look book today. Look 1, Look 2 and Look 3! I also included several shoe options for each outfit as well as including the cutest blazer I've ever seen as a bonus piece because this blazer will look cute with all three outfits and will instantly bring it from casual chic to work / office appropriate! So for those of you that work in an office or somewhere similar I highly recommend purchasing this weeks bonus piece, the blazer, because you can wear it with a skirt suit or you can use it to dress up dark wash skinny or bootcut jeans for work!

My Take on Fierce Fall Fashion:

Mommy Style - Fall Fashion by ahousewifemanifesto featuring high heels

Wet Seal scoop neck tee
$23 - wetseal.com

G by Guess cropped cardigan
$45 - gbyguess.com

Great Plains short sleeve shirt
$27 - coggles.com

Jigsaw drape front cardigan
£25 - jigsaw-online.com

Great Plains oversized cardigan
$39 - coggles.com

H M shawl collar cardigan
£15 - hm.com

H M loose shirt
£13 - hm.com

Daytrip lace blazer
$34 - buckle.com

Old Navy super skinny jeans
$25 - oldnavy.gap.com

American Eagle Outfitters super skinny jeans
$40 - ae.com

!iT Jeans slim bootcut jeans
$50 - buckle.com

Black strappy heels
$27 - gojane.com

Ballet flat
$30 - jcpenney.com

Platform pumps
$50 - bakersshoes.com

ASOS high heels
$40 - asos.com

High heels
$50 - heels.com

Not Rated high heels
$50 - heels.com

ALDO high heels
$50 - aldoshoes.com

Foldable flat
$30 - modcloth.com

ALDO high heels
$35 - aldoshoes.com

Taupe Patent Leather Scalloped Heels - Unique Vintage - Bridesmaid &...
$34 - unique-vintage.com

I will break down the looks for you if you request that I do. I'm not sure what ya'll would like to see me do with Mommy Style, so if you have any ideas please feel free to post them in a comment here, hit me up on Twitter or contact me directly at AHousewifeManifestoBlog [at] gmail [dot] com If any of ya'll would like to see a specific look, style or celebrity featured in Mommy Style or have any style related questions you can contact me in one of those ways as well!

Also, I have set up a Formspring.me account where ya'll can go to ask me questions, and I will be answering all the question in a Vlog in a week or so. So go check out my Formspring account and ask me some questions, I'll answer anything, I'm pretty much an open book as ya'll already know!

I hope that ya'll have enjoyed the looks I've put together for you today and don't forget to check back on Thursday and Saturday for this weeks Celebrity Inspired Bonus Looks!

xoxo - Ashlee, Your Personal Mommy Stylist

Mommy Style - Saturday Bonus Looks

2011-08-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

As part of Mommy Style, I'm going to be posting some bonus looks on Saturday from that Mondays featured celebrity. This weeks Mommy Style Icon was none other than the recently married Kim Kardashian. Or should I say Kim Humphries now? Perhaps since she's a traditional kind of girl in these matters but is also a brand in her own right she's going to be a newly wived chick of the hyphenating persuasion, making her Kim Kardashian-Humphries? Let's hope it's one or the other, they're a mouth full separately but together they dang near reach tongue twister status.

Oops...my ADD/easily distracted & amused gene is showing...

I've got two bonus looks today, both of them are different variations of Kim's trademark casual/dressy style.

These looks are very versatile, Kim loves to do a casual-dressy hybrid sort of style instead of dressing completely down, so you could easily wear these to the office or out to drinks with the girls. As always, I will be including options for flats as well as heels. These looks would be great for weekends for Moms, because you can still be what I call a H.A.M, which is a Hot A** Mama and look fabulous while you're out with your baby loves & your boyfriend or hubby and be comfortable as well.

It is so easy to look good and look fashionable and still be comfortable and casual. I know a lot of people have trouble with that particular issue, and with dressing up jeans, but jeans are the ultimate clothing purchase and staple piece to any H.A.M.'s wardrobe because you can do so much with them. They can be dressed up, dressed down, paired with any shoe you own and they can look professional, sexy, casual, dress, chic and so much more. As with everything fit is the key, but we'll talk a little more about getting the perfect fit to your jeans in another Mommy Style post.

These looks have jackets & blazers, which as I said in the first how to get Kim Kardashians look post, are a staple piece and are so easy to pull off but also have the power to change an outfit & add a little hint of sexy, professional or casual to an outfit. They pull a look together better than jewelry sometimes.

Look 1

Mommy Style - Celeb Style for Moms by ahousewifemanifesto featuring face jewelry

Old Navy v neck top
$11 - oldnavy.gap.com

Fitted tee
$22 - romwe.com

Agent Ninetynine long top
$30 - generalpants.com.au

Old Navy racer back top
$13 - oldnavy.gap.com

Pocket jacket
$40 - tillys.com

YMI embroidered jeans
$38 - tillys.com

Almost Famous studded jeans
$35 - tillys.com

Wet Seal boot cut jeans
£26 - intl.wetseal.com

Charlotte Russe distressed shoes
$43 - charlotterusse.com

Forever21 heeled sandals
$25 - forever21.com

Hive & Honey bootie boots
$40 - piperlime.gap.com

Steve Madden heel pumps
$40 - piperlime.gap.com

Zara peeptoe pumps
$50 - zara.com

ALDO faux leather shoes
$36 - zappos.com

Old navy shoes
$25 - oldnavy.gap.com

Faux shoes
$30 - tillys.com

Zara peeptoe pumps
$16 - zara.com

Black Poppy faux leather handbag
$37 - pacsun.com

R J Graziano chandelier jewelry
$50 - stylebop.com

Yochi jewelry
$63 - maxandchloe.com

Gold vermeil jewelry
$48 - fantasyjewelrybox.com

ASOS disc jewelry
$37 - asos.com

Yochi face jewelry
$39 - maxandchloe.com

Dorothy Perkins gold tone jewelry
£8.50 - dorothyperkins.com

Look 2

Mommy Style - Celeb Style for Moms by ahousewifemanifesto featuring knit tops

J Crew knit top
$20 - jcrew.com

Forever21 v neck tee
$4.50 - forever21.com

American Eagle Outfitters white t shirt
$9.98 - ae.com

Black blazer
$45 - windsorstore.com

Almost Famous skinny fit jeans
$35 - tillys.com

Quiksilver distressed jeans
$35 - quiksilver.com

Almost famous jeans
$35 - tillys.com

Black lace up boots
$20 - dsw.com

ASOS leather boots
$26 - asos.com

Black boots
$50 - journeys.com

Stiletto high heels
$27 - shopnastygal.com

Foldable flat
$30 - modcloth.com

I've had so much fun recreating three of Kim Kardashian's looks for ya'll and I hope that all of you have gotten at least some inspiration from my Mommy Style posts! I can't wait for you to see what I've got in store for Monday's new Mommy Style post, I love it & I think ya'll are going to love it too.

I've wanted to post some other things this last week, but I just started a job and I've been beat and busy, so I'm looking forward to posting more this coming week!

Thanks, Dolls!

xoxo - Ashlee, your Personal Mommy Stylist

Mommy Style - Celeb Style...For Moms

2011-08-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

It was hard for me to pick which celebrities style I wanted to talk about for my first Mommy Style post. I've got a long list of celebrities for this feature, but I wanted the very first Mommy Style post to be extra special.

That's when it hit me - BAM! - like a knee to the face! Why not do a Kardashian? Since I'm their long lost fourth sister who was switched at birth, with a smaller booty and a lighter complexion of course, it makes perfect sense. Seriously ya'll, I'm like a little mini Southern Kardashian over here, ask my Husband or my Daddy, they'll tell ya!

Are ya'll ready to get this party started, dolls?

The Look Kim K Casual

There's one thing we all know Kim loves, besides her family, her ginormous engagement ring, and her ballin' Husband ~~to be~~ that is, and it's jackets, blazers, coats, shrugs and sweaters. Kim is all about them for day and for night. And why not? They instantly pull an outfit out of drab territory into fab territory. They make your look more polished and you get a lot of bang for your buck with them as well.

This is a look that any mom can wear out at anytime. It's just as easy to pull on some cute skinny jeans, an adorable top and throw on a jacket right before walking out the door for the day as it is to throw on your sweats.

If you're not a girl that likes to wear heels don't sweat it, you can easily replace the towering heels that Kim is wearing in the photos with flats.

I'm going to be trying out Polyvore.com to try to make this as simple for everyone, including myself, as possible. You can view the looks I've put together on the A Housewife Manifesto Polyvore.com page I set up there just for my Mommy Style posts here.

This is a basic look for Kim - Black Blazer, Skinny Jeans, a cute top, Black Heels and a big bag. I put the outfit together using more affordable clothes without skimping on style.
The prices of the pieces rang from $50.00 to $10.00 and I've put in a lot of choices for jeans, shoes, bags, tops and jewelry. I also included some flats for those Mamas that may not feel inclined to wear heels.

Mommy Style - Celeb Style for Moms by ahousewifemanifesto featuring high heel pumps

Frenchi ribbed cardigan
$25 - nordstrom.com

Lira oversized tee
$20 - pacsun.com

Soft Joie pima cotton tee
$22 - bergdorfgoodman.com

Skinny fit jeans
$20 - delias.com

Victoria's Secret skinny fit jeans
$30 - victoriassecret.com

Star jeans
$35 - tillys.com

Jane Norman skinny leg jeans
£20 - janenorman.co.uk

High heel pumps
$50 - heels.com

High heel pumps
$21 - makemechic.com

ASOS ballerina shoes
$43 - asos.com

Slip on shoes
$30 - jcpenney.com

Foldable shoes
$30 - modcloth.com

Black hobo handbag
$50 - purseboutique.com

Under One Sky satchel shoulder bag
$38 - nordstrom.com

Under One Sky faux leather handbag
$32 - nordstrom.com

Black studded bag
$42 - glitzandglamourboutique.com

Black handbag
$47 - purseboutique.com

Miss Selfridge coin jewelry
£13 - missselfridge.com

Urban Outfitters locket pendant
$34 - urbanoutfitters.com

ASOS chain jewelry
$14 - asos.com

J Crew link necklace
$45 - jcrew.com

ASOS metal jewelry
$10 - asos.com

So there you have it, a cute, stylish outfit that won't break the bank! Hope ya'll will enjoy my Mommy Style posts!

Shopping for your kids on a budget - Old Navy

2011-05-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you Old Navy for sponsoring my post today about baby and toddler styles. Old Navy is giving you 30% off everything in their baby and toddler summer collection, plus get an additional 15% off in-store.

As the mother of two young sons I know all too well that it can sometimes be hard to find the right style of clothes for little boys. It's even harder to find stylish boy clothes without breaking the bank! Almost everywhere I go when shopping for Aiden and Jagger I have to pass through the massive and stylish little girl section to get to the minuscule blue, pooh, truck and football filled boys section. After I spend 15 minutes walking past the endless array of adorable little girl items I then have to spend another hour or two searching through the very few racks of little boy clothes to find one or two suitable pieces for the wardrobes of my two beautiful little boys.

Over the last four years I've taken a crash course in how to find the much coveted stylish little boy clothes and get them for my boys, without spending the salary of a fortune 500 CEO in the process. Today I'm going to share my secrets of how I dress my kids in all the latest styles on a budget with you all. There's no better reason to break the bank than your kids, but I promise that you don't have to. Stick with me and you won't even have to break the piggy bank to keep your kids in the coolest and newest styles!

Secret One: Know what you like, know what you want and know your kid!

After a certain age it's not going to matter if you paid $1.00 or $100.00 on an outfit or a shirt for your child, because once they start developing their own interests and preferences if they don't like it, they're not going to wear it! When my oldest son was two he started to develop a personal style. He started developing his own preferences for certain colors, styles, characters and so on. So knowing what your child likes, what they want to wear, what you want them to wear and what you need when you go into the store is a must! I'm never rigid about knowing what I'm looking for, I know what style I'm looking for, and I know that Aiden needs more of this than that, and Jagger needs shorts but not shirts for example. This is half of the battle, because if you don't know what you want, what your kid wants and will wear and at least have a loose mental note of what they need then you're going in without a game plan, and you're likely to overspend and buy things that your kids don't need.

Secret Two: Know your sales and discounts, know where to go to get them and know your price range and your stores!

I know what stores carry the styles I want for the price I want to pay for them. I have a pretty regular game plan that I generally go by. I know where to go to get my kids their good clothes, their play clothes and everything in between. I've got an email address with the sole purpose of getting newsletters from the stores we frequent, my favorite online shops and other newsletters. That way I always know when there's going to be a sale. It's a very rare day when I pay full price or top dollar for any clothing item for my kids. Sales, not diamonds, are a girls best friend, especially after she has kids. Diamonds do come in a close second though, especially chocolate diamonds. But I digress, use the sales, use any discounts you can! I sometimes buy play clothes from Family Dollar for the boys, and I even use the coupons for those when possible.

I also know what stores have the styles I want within my price range. I like stores where I can get good clothes and play clothes in one stop. So for that I go to Old Navy, Kohls, TJ Maxx, Gabriel Brothers, JC Penny and of course Wal-Mart. Some of those stores you really have to dig in, take your time and search, especially TJ Maxx, Gabes and Wal-Mart, but it's so worth it!
When I'm just looking for some play clothes that are gonna get ruined in a month or two of playing outside I go to Family Dollar and K-Mart in addition to the stores above. It just depends on where I can get a sale at. I've been really into getting Granimals from Wal-Mart as play clothes for the baby, because I do not care if he ruins a 3 dollar pair of shorts or a $2.50 shirt. Granimals is also great if you need a solid colored shirt to go under a plaid or other print button up shirt, that way you can leave the button up open.

Secret Three: Budget for it!

I have a friend who is an accountant. She gave me one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten! I was asking her how to budget, because I honestly did not know how - budget was not in my vocab! She told me that what she does is take out so much money a month, and put it up for twice a year shopping trips for her girls. If you do that then you're not paying for them all at once, it's the smartest thing I've ever done! She does the same with shoes.

Secret Four: Buy it in advance....if it's a crazy good deal anyway!

I saw a pair of shoes at Old Navy recently, it was their plaid canvas flip flops just so you know, and Jagger's foot is still a bit too small for them, and it's not flip flop weather here consistently yet. So I bought them anyway, because I got them for 5 or 6 bucks! I loved them so much I couldn't pass up the deal! I did the same thing at Shoe Show for Aiden recently. They had this adorable pair of leather converse, our favorite brand of shoe for Aiden, but they only had them one size up from the size Aiden currently wears. So I bought them anyway. Why? Because they were leather converse for 15 dollars. That's at least half off, and I could not pass it up! I've also recently gotten Aiden some school clothes for next year, long sleeve shirts and such, for as little as 2 dollars on clearence at places, I just buy them in a size too big. If it's something you like, and it's on clearance buy it! Keep it put up, and then you've got a head start for school next year, or when your child goes up a shoe size they already have a pair of shoes at the house that you got on a fabulous deal.

Secret Five: Know what you're willing to splurge on and what you won't!

I will splurge on jeans for my kids. I'm a stickler for their good jeans to be good quality jeans. Aiden likes his jeans to be distressed, a darker wash or like his Daddies somehow. There are very few places that I can reliably get good quality, stylish jeans at in Southern West Virginia for an 18 month old and a 4 year old. So I'm willing to pay a little bit extra. So for those we head to Old Navy! I know that they're going to have the jeans my son wants to wear, in a price range I'm comfortable with and that the quality is going to be superb. I'm about to buy some nice jeans for Aiden's school next year from Old Navy for $12.00 a pair, they're on sale from $16.50, not a huge savings, but enough to make this mama happy!

What are your secrets for shopping for your kids on a budget?

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I finally made the switch

2011-05-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

Not the switch from blogger to wordpress, but the switch from .blogspot to .com and I must say, I love it! I'm so excited to finally have my very own AHousewifeManifesto.com that I'm doing a happy dance as I type this, you can't see it, but I'm doing it. Isn't it just so much cuter now that it's housed on it's very own matching domain name? I think so.

I've updated the link to my button, so if you want to be a dear and switch them out that would be just lovely of you! I've also got new email addresses, so I'll be updating all that info here in a bit.

It's Follow Me Back Tuesday and I'll be getting to that in a minute, but first I want to address something else. There are only two days left to enter my CSNStores.com $50.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway, so if you want to win you have today and tomorrow to get those entries in! I've got a couple other things coming up this week, some brilliant giveaways for you, and some other posts. So come back and check those out!

Now, as I said it's Follow Me Back Tuesday, and you can link up too at Boobies Babies and a Blog, Little YaYa's or Survey Junkie. Don't forget to follow this weeks guest hosts The White Whimsies and Staying Me!

I am also linking up with the following meme's today:

We Want to Know Wednesday

2011-04-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Today I am linking up with one of the cutest new blogs I've seen in a long time and one of my new favorites, Confessions from an Impulsive Addict for We Want to Know Wednesday!

We Want to Know Wednesday has three other hosts as well:

Mamarazzi from Dandelion Wishes (another new favorite of mine)

Janette from The Johanson Journey

Shawn from Seriously Shawn

So be sure to check out all four of the hostesses, and while you're there copy the questions, make a post and link up too! Inquiring minds and all that...

Now, on to the questions!

{1} What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Are you an eyes or a smile person? Maybe another body part? The first thing I noticed about Justin was his gorgeous green eyes!

{2} If a movie was being made about you who would you like to see cast to play you? And would your movie be a comedy, drama, romantic-comedy, action film or a horror movie? I'd probably pick Zooey Deschanel or maybe Mila Kunis. It would be a genra bending romantic-comedy, drama, horror movie!

{3} Does your high school yearbook include a senior comment section? If so share what you said about your future goals. Have you met those goals? If you do not have a yearbook just share what your goals where when you were 18 and if you have met them. If you’re brave enough include your Senior Picture! In the 11th/12th grade I wanted to be a television reporter like Ashleigh Banfield of Anderson Cooper, and go all over to these dangerous areas and report and all that. Then I switched and decided to go into Social Work. I've always wanted to be a mother and a wife though, so I would say that I've accomplished all my 'major' family goals!

{4} What latest trend simply baffles you? I absolutely hate thos grandpa/nurse shoes that all the celebrities are wearing. STOP IT!

Case in point, these Grandpa/Nurse shoes that Selma Blair is um..."rocking"?

{5} When you walk into a room how do you present yourself? Do you walk in with confidence and command the attention of others or do you slink in and do your best to go unnoticed? I'm a loud mouth, chances are you'll notice me because I will walk in mid conversation laughing or talking about something a bit too loud. It's just how I roll.

I am also linking up with:

Self-Indulgence and Self-Preoccupation & our kids

2011-04-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

I recently signed up for book sneeze, which is a really awesome website and if you are big on reading I highly suggest that you check them out! My first book is Max on Life by Max Lucado. I've heard a lot about him, and I've heard that he is an amazing Christian author. I didn't know that he was also a pastor though, which I learned today through reading through some of the book. I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far, and I can not wait to finish reading it! I love how h writes, the style, and most of all I love the advice he gives out as he answers the questions in this book.

Max on Life is set up so that it is Max Lucado answering questions. As a pastor and an author I imagine that he gets more letters and emails than any one person could possibly answer. His advice is practical, moving, touching and spot on as he answered these questions.

I am sure this is a book that I will be speaking about a lot more on my blog, so ya'll can get ready to hear more about it in the future. I picked one question to focus on in my post tonight. One that I think has crossed every parents mind at least once.

The Question

The world today - people and certainly the media - encourage our children to be self-indulgent. I don't think all this self-preoccupation will help them grow into mature adults. Am I off here?

The answer from Max Lucado

Taught at an early age, self-indulgence becomes a way of life.

Television does not present the best models:

-Kids who get every gadget and goody they want

-Kids who, in thirty minutes, solve all their problems

-Kids who get laughs with their sassy comebacks to stupid adults

Television dangles the fruit in front of our kids and says, "Doesn't this way of life look good? Indulge yourself!"

But self-indulgence is a problem facing not only our children but humankind. In fact, self-indulgence got us into this mess. "go ahead, Eve. Eat that fruit. It looks so good. Indulge yourself."

Television only promotes what the world already thinks. So how do you teach your children well? Give them new models.

Other kids ---Make sure they hang out with other kids won don't "have it all" or whose parents don't rush out and buy the latest thing.

Parents ---Are they learning self-indulgence from you? Do your schedule and your own priorities take precedence over them? Do you have more toys than they do?

Jesus ---Feed them a consistent message of Jesus Christ, focusing on his humility and his self-sacrifice. "Jesus...was give a position 'a little lower than the angels'" (Heb. 2:9 NLT). Jesus chose servanthood, and he is the King! Can't we do the same?

Kids need to get turned on to new models of self-sacrifice to realize that life is not one big TV show and the plots don't always center on them.

I don't know about ya'll but that really got me to thinking about my own kids, what I'm showing them, what I'm not showing them and what they're seeing on TV. It got me to wondering about ways that I can make sure that they don't end up thinking that the entire world revolves around them and loving themselves above all else. I want to raise my kids to be good, productive, mature God fearing, God loving adults! So this has definately got me thinking about things that I can change and do differently to make sure that I do everything in my power to raise them in that way. The first thing I'm going to do is pray about it tonight, and then I'm going to pray about it every night until I feel that I have reached the solution. I'm going to be thinking about it, and making changed to my own behavior and other things.

To read more of the questions answered by Max Lucado buy his new book, Max on Life! I have been loving it so far, and I think I will be checking out some other titles by him in the near future as well!

What do you think about this question and the way Max Lucado answered it? Do you ever think about this, and do you think there are some things you could change or do differently as well?

By the way, Happy (belated) Easter everyone! We had a pretty fun & full day, and I will be posting about it (complete with photos) tomorrow when I get home! We're still at Justins Moms house!

Jewel Mint Soulmate Bangle Review

2011-04-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

JewelMint is a girls best friend. Well, JewelMint is my new best friend at least! Do you ~~like~~ love jewelry? (That's a rhetorical question, of course you ~~like~~ love jewelry, it's a part of the female DNA, right?) If the answer to that is yes, and I'm sure it is, then you have to check out JewelMint.com!

JewelMint.com is the brain child of Kate Bosworth (the amazingly talented, Oscar award winning, stunningly gorgeous fashionista) and Cher Coulter (amazingly talented celeb stylist & fashion designer who has worked with Ms Bosworth, Scarlett Johansson, Katie Holmes and Sienna Miller)! They design each and every piece themselves, and if you want to check out where they get their inspiration from, or even if you just want to get some amazing style advice then just check out the JewelMint blog, which happens to be one of my favorite blogs!

What is JewelMint.com?

JewelMint.com is a monthly online jewelry club! When you sign up you will take a style quiz, and then each month you will be able to view your new personalized monthly selections from Kate, Cher and JewelMint's team, picked especially for you based on your answers to your style quiz! They don't charge you until your first month of purchase, and you can skip any month! They offer free shipping and hassle free returns! As a member of JewelMint.com you will be able to purchase any piece of Jewel Mint's beautiful jewelry for only 29.99, which is a total deal because it is great quality! You can invite your friends, and each time someone you invite makes their first purchase you will get 1 JewelMint credit, which equals to one free piece of jewelry!


The Soulmate Bangle from JewelMint.com!

I was lucky enough to be approached by one of the lovely Jewel Mint team members, Corinne, to partner up with them and do a review on a piece of jewelry. For my first piece I picked the Soulmate Bangle! It's very simple, very beautiful and I love it because the silver plated bangle is connected to a heart shaped bangle, giving it a bit of a girlishness mixed with a toughness that when combined together is just magic!

Here are a few pieces that are currently in my showroom or on my favorite list at JewelMint.com:

They have a really cool feature at the JewelMint Style Diary, you can email them with any fashion, style, celeb style, how to wear it etc. type question, and they will answer your question on the blog! Isn't that awesome? Who doesn't want style advice from Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter? I know I do!

Buy it:

You can buy these beautiful pieces of jewelry and much, much more at JewelMint.com! It's easy to sign up, and these pieces are total steals at only $29.99 a piece! Plus they offer free shipping, so it can't get any better than that. Don't forget to head on over to the Style Diary with any fashion questions you may have!

***I was not compensated monetarily for this post. I was given a product to test in order to provide an honest and informed review. The opinions above are my own and were not influenced or altered by receiving a free product to test.

CSN Stores $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway

2011-04-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

When Marley from CSNStores.com contacted me asking if I would like to work with them and host a giveaway I had already decided that I wanted to do something special for all of my readers who have been so encouraging, patient and sweet (a lot of whom I am blessed to call my friends) through my redesign absence. I knew I had found the perfect giveaway to start the new blog (well new blog design & new blog title anyway) out real proper like

If you haven't heard about CSN Stores by now then I would love to know where you've been and how I can get a ticket there on my next 'mommies day off' because CSN Stores are amazing and super hot right now. Since CSNStores.com is home to over 200 specialty stores, they have just about anything & everything that your heart could desire. If you've never heard of them then you're missing out big time!

Since it's getting warmer outside now and since it's about that time for us Mamas (you know, Spring Break time, which is followed closely by Summer Vacation time) I'm thinking about ways to keep both my sons entertained this Summer. What better way to keep two little boys entertained while the oldest one is out of school for the Summer then by outdoor activities and play equipment? There isn't a better way that I know of.

Since CSNStores.com does everything they do big, it's no surprise that their Outdoor Games & Play section is HUGE, and is home to some of the most amazing outdoor play equipment I've ever seen. My oldest was sitting at the computer with me when I was looking through it, and I'm pretty sure his head was about the explode from an 'I want that, Mommy, I want that!" overload! What really caught our attention was their extremely large selection of wood swing sets.

At CSNStores.com you can find a wood swing set to tickle the fancy of even the most fickle child, no matter whether they prefer a climbing wall or a picnick bench or monkey bars, I guarantee that they have whatever you and your little one want in a wood swing set. My son is now insisting that we need one, we're looking at the one pictured below, because it has everything Aiden wants in a swing set and Justin & I think it's pretty neat too!

This Wood Swing Set from CSNStores.com will turn any ordinary yard into the neighborhood park where every kid in the neighborhood will be wanting to spend an afternoon playing & all the other Mamas will be calling or texting to schedule play dates at your house this Spring & Summer!

CSNStores.com is giving one of my readers a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate, good to use at any of their 200+ specialty stores on anything you choose. Use it alone, or use it towards something bigger, like one of their amazing wood swing sets, the choice is yours and with CSN Stores the possibilities are endless!

It's as easy as pie to enter and win! When you enter please remember to leave your e-mail address so that I know how to get in touch with you if you win! Leave a separate entry for each thing you complete, and if it says +2 entries, then that means that you need to leave two separate comments for that entry!

Visit http://www.csnstores.com and tell me what you would like to use the $50 Gift Certificate on if you win the giveaway, you have to link me to the item you like from CSN Stores. (This entry is mandatory! It is required and must be completed to obtain any of the bonus entries below!)

(You must leave a separate comment for each additional or bonus entry that you complete. It it says +2 then leave 2 separate comments, if it says +3 then leave 3 separate comments for that additional or bonus entry)

Follow CSN Stores on Twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Grab my lovely NEW button and put it on your sidebar, link me to it! +8
"Like" CSN Stores on Facebook (but do NOT post on their wall!! It's a BIG no-no now!) +2
"Like" me on Facebook! +2
Email Subscribe to CSN Stores Blog +3
Follow my blog via GFC (google friend connect) +3
Add me to your Blogroll +3
Blog about this giveaway and link me to your post +5
Subscribe to my blog or RSS feed via Email +4
Share this giveaway on your facebook wall & link to it, link me to your wall post here +5
Tweet about this Giveaway (may be done 1 time per day) using this sample tweet:

#Win a $50.00 gift certificate from @CSNStores & @MommyManifesto http://tinyurl.com/3cyxqcs Ends on 5/3/11

This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only! Contests ends May 3rd, 2011! The winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to my e-mail informing them that they won, if the winner does not respond within 72 hours then another winner will be chosen via Random.org!

****I was not compensated for this post or giveaway in any way at all. I did not recieve money, a gift certificate or a product for this post. The views above are my own.

Tuesday Ten

2011-04-05T00:43:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna try something new on Tuesdays. So here it is, The Tuesday Ten!

Ten things I'm really excited to buy and wear this Spring and Summer:

1.) Gypsy Coin T-Strap Sandal! They are so cute and I really must own them! I could also totally go for these while we're on the subject of shoes from Charlotte Russe.

2.) White dresses with brown belts worn with boots. I'm not picky, they don't even have to be white, just light neutral colors. I'm so into these worn with boots right now! These three just happen to be some of my favorites.

3.) One shoulder tops! I love them, they're cute and they're totally in for this spring and summer, which means they'll be easy to find. I really like them in either a classic neutral, a cute bold print or with ruffles, draped fabric or some kind of embellishments!

4.) Shorts with boots. I'm Southern, I live in a small country town in West Virginia so of course I'm all about this. I don't know if it's "trendy" but I do know that I think it's totally cute and that I'm totally going to rock it!

5.) Vintage inspired clothing. I love mod cloth, they have the cutest dresses. I love a full skirt, and luckily they look amazing with kitten heels, which are coming back in by the way.

6.) Hair accessories! I really love the lace flowers headbands and the hair jewelry type deal, it's so cute and I really just can't get enough of it!

7.) Sunglasses are probably my number one favorite thing to buy in Spring and Summer. I already own tons of pairs, but I always feel the need to buy more. I just really really love them in a crazy obsessive kind of way.

8.) Super flat sandals. If my sandals don't have a stiletto heel then they can't have any heel at all. I hate chunky sandals, so I only buy super flat ones. I already have quite a few pair, but I could always use more. For some reason I just feel like they look more put together and chic. I do have a couple of pairs of the chunky sandals that I wear when the boys are out playing and I may get dirty.

9.) Swimsuits, and preferably this one. Seriously, how hot is that?

10.) Tanks and Camis! I love them, I wear them under open long sleeve shirts, cardigans and all that during the winter and fall so I'm always excited to see them come back in the warmer months. I'm really loving long, thin and slightly baggy tanks for this summer to wear with cute jeans and heels or shorts and boots!

I'm linking up with the following Meme's today as well:

Tuesday Blog Trail FMBTuesday Blog It Forward

Tuesday Tag Blog Hop

I'm baaaaaack!

2011-03-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to A Housewife Manifesto, presented to you by moi (the zombie housewife)!

I am so very very happy to finally be done. I must say that I'm really happy with the end result, I suppose all that time, indecision and perfectionism paid off. Do you likey?

I've updated all the pages in my nav bar up top under the header, so feel free to check them out if you like. Each and every single tiny little thing about, on and having to do with this blog has been edited, changed or redone. It's taken a while but I am finally completely and totally done with it!

If you don't mind, grab my new button over there too. If you want to that is.

I've got a lot of stuff coming up that I think everyone will like. Starting with a giveaway from CSNStores.com tomorrow. After that I've got a few other surprises up my sleeve as well, but you'll just have to wait and see what they are.

Also, I'd really appreciate it if ya'll would take the time to vote for me in the Top 25 Product Review Parents on Circle of Moms. You can vote for me by going to my page here or by clicking on the linked button below! You can also get to my page to vote for me by clicking on the button in my sidebar!

I am currently battling sickness and allergys, and they've hooked up to try to defeat me, but in spite of them I finished everything I needed to do. Perhaps a little slower than normal, but I'm done just the same. It is currently 1:35 in the a.m. where I'm at, so I need to hit the sack, as they say. Jagger and I have to go to the doctor in the morning. I am so glad to be back to blogging though. I've missed it, I never knew how addictive it was until now!

Goodnight Blog Land! I will see you in the morning with that CSN giveaway and I intend to actually post, real proper like! I've seriously missed my blog so much. How have ya'll been? What'cha been into?

What do you think of the new blog design? Any suggestions?

Out with the old

2011-01-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

Out with the old and in with the new!

That's what the New Year is all about. Whether you made the the traditional resolutions or you're like me and made what you call 'goals' that's the attitude of most people when we're propelled into a new year. Isn't it strange what the changing of a single digit on the end of the year can do? How it can inspire people to change their lives and attitudes, even for a short period of time.

Keeping with that theme, I am going to be working out some of my 'blog and blogging goals' today and tonight. It shouldn't take too long because I've already got most of what I'm doing set up on the test blog. So it's out with the old and in with the new for me and my blog this year.

I hope you like the changes, I've been working on them for over a week! It's all about the word 'simplify' for me this year, so it should come as no surprise that it's one of my goals to simplify my blog this year as well. I want it to be sleek, clean, simply but pretty and at the same time still having that bit of 'me' in it. I want it to be easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye.

I hope y'all enjoy the changes as much as I do.

How is 2011 treating you all thus far?

D.A.R.E. - To Keep Fun in Blogs (and to keep blogs off drugs)

2011-01-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a game of sorts, and as I said in my last post I hope you will all join in and play along. (Would it help if I dared you? What about double dog dared you? If it does, then consider your yourself double triple dog dared to play along with me!)

Think of this great big blogoverse as a slumber party. We all talk to each other about our personal lives, relationships and sometimes even our deepest darkest secrets! You can head on over to Steph's Blog Babes Rockin' Mami on Makeup Mondays to get a (virtual) makeover and advice on how to get a certain look, so that part of the slumber party analogy is covered as well. I don't think I've witnessed any blog pillow fights, but I could totally picture Ange and myself or Ashley and Gucci beating the crap out of each other with pillows so hard that the soft feather stuffing would pop out of the seams and cover the bed in a thick layer of soft, fluffy white feathers -- while wearing our cutest Hello Kitty, Strawberry Shortcake or Rainbow Bright pajamas of course. You could head over to Jana's at Boobies, Babies and a Blog and read about the coolest new thang or some kind of trend. So if you think about it, this society of blogging women we have here is much like a slumber party.

What's the one thing that's missing though? You know what it is I'm sure, because we've all gathered around with our friends and sat down to play that slumber party staple of Truth or Dare. I was telling Ange the other day that we used to play a version of the game in a group I was in on CafeMom, I made the variation up by the way, so I'm not stealing it from anyone there. She encouraged me to turn it into a blog game because it would be fun.

It's truth or dare, except with the boring part cut out, and designed to be played online through blogs. If you want to play, don't forget you've been double triple dog dared to play, then all you have to do is go here and read the rules, and enter the linky. If you don't want to play along, you can still hand out dares, just visit the linky and see who's playing then go to their page and leave them a dare in a comment to their post about the game. I, for one, am excited to get started!

I'm starting the game by making this post. So feel free to leave a dare for me in the comment section of this post! So give me some good dares, and I'll start working on them ASAP!

Oh, and don't forget so sign up and play along!

New Year, New Me!

2011-01-05T08:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome to The Zombie Housewife version Two Thousand Elven point oh. Doesn't seem much different, huh?

That's because it's not much different, at least not yet anyway. That's because I haven't put the changes I have in store for this blog into effect yet. While I've been on my ~~semi-~~extended winter blogcation I've had a lot of time to think, and as much as that fact my scare my Husband, friends and those of you who truly know me, it's actually been a good thing.

I love the way the New Year turns me (and millions of other people) into reflective thinkers. It makes you want to take a step back and think about the past year, life, where you are in your life, family, relationships and goals. I love being able to think of the year as a clean slate, and a time for change and possibility.

Now I will say this, I am not much for resolutions. Mostly because after observing people a resolution has come to mean "An ill thought out wish that people make on New Years Eve or New Years Day, without thinking it through or making a plan to achieve the resolution. Later to be discarded and rejected when the resolution maker realizes that it will actually take some amount of work to achieve this goal or change." It's my opinion that most people really believe that the pounds are just going to melt away with sheer will and the power that it takes to think about losing weight, or that people believe that wanting to make a change or reach a goal will automatically get them there without working for it.

This year I've actually sat down and set some goals though. I prefer to think of them as goals but that's just me. I also separated them into four categories, because I'm an anal, type A, list making OCD crazy person. I know what you're thinking, "I hate people like that" well I hate people like that too. Imagine how awkward that little bit of self loathing is for me, but it's okay, cause I can always make a pro and con list and feel better.

My categories are My Spiritual Life, Personal, Family/Relationships and Blogging. Yes, I set goals for all of those things. I plan to work toward them throughout the year as well, and I'm very excited to see the rewards of all my hard work! There's nothing better than setting a goal and reaching it. I'm going to be adding a section in my Nav Bar up there where my Goals for 2011 will be outlined, so look out for that!

I've got several new things planned for the blog, because I've been thinking for a while that maybe I should focus on the more personal side of the blog. Try to show all aspects of my personality, instead of just letting a few aspects dominate the blog. So I'm going to be reaching toward that on The Zombie Housewife as well. I want to be able to open up more on here, but I'm pretty shy in general, so it's been a bit hard for me, but no more of that!

I was going to announce something that I'm starting here, but now I think that I will make another short post about it after this. There will also be a section on my Nav Bar for it as well. I've just gotta get some things finished up, and it will be up today! I hope you will all play along with me, that would make it so much more fun!

I hope you all had an amazing Holiday and had a great New Years Eve and New Years Day!!

Did you make any New Years Resolutions or Goals for 2011, if you did I wanna know what they are. Perhaps we can hold each other accountable in this New Year!

A Very Zombie Christmas Update

2010-12-23T23:31:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Eve to those of you who celebrate! I'm up later than I should be because I have A LOT to do tomorrow because as you can imagine I'm a last minute shopper. I miss my blog so I decided to make a post and update a little bit.

We moved back to civilization. I couldn't take living in a house so close to my Mother-in-Law, and quite frankly Justin couldn't handle it either. We were trying to help our friend Jon get visitation with his son, who just happens to be our nephew and Justins sisters son as well. His Mother flipped out about that, even though Justins Sister - the mother of the child - was okay with it. She ended up making our lives a living hell so we had to move back. I may go into more detail later on this, but I'm in a good mood and I don't want to talk about it right now. As you can probably all imagine she's quite the mood dampener with her childish antics.

We're not quite settled back in yet, and we have yet to get the Christmas Tree up here yet. That's on top of my very long to do list for tomorrow. We've been back since last Saturday, so it's been almost a week. Things with my Daddy have actually been going amazingly well. Our relationship has improves a hundred fold, actually. So I'm enjoying that quite a bit.

Some of you may remember the rash or bumps that Jagger broke out with a while back. If not then you can scroll down to see the photo. Well it wouldn't go away even after we finished his round of antibiotics and his bronchitis cleared up. I kept using the cream for about 2 or 3 weeks, and it would still come and go. I took him back to the doctor and it turns out that it is eczema. Aiden had infantile eczema, but it was never bumps. His was always just rough patches of itchy abnormally dry skin. So I never suspected eczema, but that's what he's been diagnosed with. We are using a new cream now and if it doesn't improve then we will get a referral to a dermatologist and have him seen there.

After the Holidays Justin has decided to enlist in the National Guard. So he's looking forward to that, but I'm not because I will miss him terribly while he is gone. It's a move in the right direction we believe though. I don't know much about the National Guard, so I'm going to have to start doing some research.

Aiden is excited for Christmas this year for the first time really. He was excited last year, but this year he just seems to get it more I suppose. So it's really made the Holiday season more magical for us. Jagger obviously doesn't know what's going on really, but he loves the tree and all the lights.

I will be back in full force after the Holidays are over and everything gets settled a bit more. I can't wait to get back to blogging because I've really missed it. I never realized how truly addictive it was until I had to take a break because of all the stress, drama and family weirdness here recently!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas & enjoy the time spent with your families!

What have you all been up too during the hectic Holiday season this year?

What if it were your Son or Daughter?

2010-12-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

As I'm dashing about like a mad woman trying to get myself & my family ready to go, like most other days recently, I am taking the time to post something. I actually had another post scheduled for today but this one is much more important if you ask me. It was Written by the lovely, talented and beautifully giving person we all know and love, Stephanie -- You may know her as Babes Rockin' Mami! Read it, help if you can....

It was an email, and I literally have 2 seconds before I have to run out the door, and I still don't have a bra on so forgive me if it needs some fixing!

So here's what Steph had to say!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__gLyfxdj8EU/TQS5UewgtrI/AAAAAAAAAok/nFi0rVMZ-DM/s1600/RileysMemorialbutton_big.png" alt="" width="273" height="308" />
This is of course the busiest time of the year but it's also the giving season, the time where we make sure to think of others before ourselves. A family is grieving the loss of their son in a horrific accident. Read more http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26082549/detail.html" target="_blank">here and http://babesrockinmami.com/?p=2418" target="_blank">here. Most of us can't even imagine the pain this family is experiencing not to mention the financial strain. It's my Christmas wish to be able to help this family, who are also friends of mine, to help take away something on their minds at a time that's focused on famil and love and happiness.
I am still trying hard to get some products donated as incentive to donate. I know that a childs death is sad and isn't like a baby with a disease or curing something but it's still just as important. If you son or daughter was killed in an accident what would you do? Every dollar you donate will be one entry into the drawing for prizes. I will get an email with your info and the amount you've donated and will email you back to confirm and give you your drawing numbers. When the auction ends tentatively on the 15th of January, possibly the 31st I will go through and random.org each item with them numbers to pick a winner (the two of you that have donated will be getting emails soon). I hope to have more details on the auction in the next few days as more sponors get back in touch, between the weekend and weather people are taking longer to get back in touch. Decide to give up your morning coffee to Riley for a day and you give $5 to a deserving family and get five entries to win some cool stuff!
The donations we have to auction off right now are:
$10 Gift Card to Bath & Body Works
$25 Gift Code to http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockmami" target="_blank">Steph's Rockin Bakery
$50 Gift Code to http://www.pinkcherry.com" target="_blank">PinkCherry.com
You can also help by SPREADING THE WORD! I have been surprised that not many people have taken an interest but I'm hoping that it's just because the weekend was busy and you've been busy shopping. I know my readers would do anything they could to help!
Babe and Riley were just a month apart, Sandra and I shared pregnancy stories, ultrasounds, fears and firsts. It always seemed like if one boy was doing something the other was right behind him or had been doing it. Both boys loving, sweet, funny little boys whoe changed both of us for the better. I see so much of me in her as a mother. The rest of her firsts with Riley are gone now and as a mother and a friend of Sandra I want to do everything I can to help and I know that you will too. Our blog family can help this family with this burden so that they have one less thing to worry about in the recovery from the death of Riley. Feel free to email me any questions that you may have!
The Rockin' Bakery will be donating 25% off it's profits to The Riley Memorial! We can't do much but we can organize this raffle, donation drive and donate the profits to it.

Help Grant A Wish for a Little Girl with Cancer w/ the Make A Wish Foundation!

2010-11-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Madison Weise is a five year old little girl who has cancer and lives in Virginia! She lives fairly close to where I grew up there actually. Her make a wish project with the Make A Wish Foundation is to receive the most cards and letters for the Gneiss Book of World Records. It's such a small wish, but I'm sure it would mean so much to this sick little girl. It doesn't cost a lot of money for all of us to help grant her wish and it won't take up very much of your time either.

It's the Holiday Season and a lot of us are starting to send out our Christmas Cards anyway, so why not add Madison to your list and send her a card for the Holidays as well. You would be doing something good, spreading cheer and showing Madison that there are a lot of people who wish her well and care about her all while helping to grant her Make A Wish Foundation wish.

It's as simple as that! I hope that you will add her to your Christmas Card list if you read this.

Send your cards and letters to:

Madison Weise

4391 Railroad Branch

Bastian, VA 2431

Opinions, please!

2010-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever just been at your wits end with one of your kids? You know they keep on and keep on and keep on and so on and so on, and you keep saying "No, don't do that!" over and over. They keep doing it anyway, even after being punished for it 3 times. Well I had a moment like that with Aiden last night. It had been a long day, a very long day, and he just wouldn't let up and had been in trouble 3 times if not more in the past 25 minutes. Well then he decides to get about an inch away from my face and start screaming at me.

Now, have you ever done something that you are not proud of, as a parent? You know maybe your kid is an inch away from your face after being in trouble 3 times if not more in the past 25 minutes, and they're just right there in your face yelling -- screaming, at you. Then maybe you, in your frustration raise your voice back at them and say "You better get out of my face little boy!" and your child backs away and starts crying, because you yelled at them while they were yelling at you, an inch away from your face.

That's what happened at our house last night. I felt immediately horrible for losing my temper and yelling at Aiden, but I was just really at my wits end with him acting up at that point. So I got up and went to the bathroom, and I was praying and asking for guidance. Then all of a sudden I hear my Mother-in-Law telling Justin "If I EVER see that girl screaming in my babies face like that again I WILL call Child Advocate!" First of all, I would just like to say that I did not scream in Aidens face. Did I raise my voice? Yep, I sure did! But he was yelling at me -- his mother, an inch away from my face! Of course I'm going to get angry, that's disrespectful and he knows better. He knows he shouldn't be doing that. But I did not scream at him. I did raise my voice and tell him to get out of my face, which he did after that because kids can always tell your "I mean business" tone of voice.

Well then my Mother-in-Law decides to tell my Husband that he needs to "Step up and act like a man and tell her that you're not going to tolerate her screaming in your little boys face like that." I'm sorry, since when is it not okay to raise your voice at your child who is yelling at you right in your face? I did not bend down and get in his face to yell at him, I simply raised my voice at him while he was already in my face. I didn't threaten him or say I was going to bust his butt, all I said was "You had better get out of my face, little boy." Because, well, he better not ever get up in my face screaming at me. She acts like I got in his face and was screaming at him in some evil tone of voice, which did not happen. He was already in my face when I raised my voice at him, it scared him because he knows when I use that tone of voice I'm serious and he's in trouble and/or doing something very wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I feel bad about it. Then again I feel badly anytime I have to punish Aiden. I do not often lose my cool with him, I don't hit him when I get angry -- in fact most of the time I will take a time out to sit and think about what would be the best way to go about discipline when I'm angry. I don't act out of anger, or at least I try my best as much as is humanly possible to not act out of anger towards anyone especially my babies!

So my question is: Do you consider what I did bad enough for CPS or Child Advocate to come in and remove my children from my care? Or is this, in your opinion, just another case of Justins mother making a mountain out of a mole hill and sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong?

In other news we were so worried that Jagger had Chickenpox! His entire back and neck, head and some of his legs were broke out in these little red bumps. I took a photo of it to show my friend Summer to get her opinion on it, and we just could not be sure. So I took him to the doctor yesterday.

Jaggers Back!

It was not Chickenpox, it's a viral rash that is because of his cold. When the cold goes away the rash will as well. But, and this is a big but to me, he was diagnosed with Asthmatic Bronchitis, and has to take breathing treatments 3 times a day and cough syrup before each treatment. He also got prescribed an antibiotic and a cream to put on his rash. Poor little guy! His rash is already looking a little better, I think though.

I'm Keepin' On Keepin' On, as they say

2010-11-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

I know that I have been MIA (again!) and I'm sorry about that. I've been figuring some things out with my family and we're still getting settled in. We've also started some of our projects for the new house, which is a huge undertaking to say the least. We've got the hallway painted mostly, which is no small feat when you have two children (boys, no less!) under the age of four. After today I think that I should be good to go and be able to get back to some semblance or normalcy and routine. To say the least I am quite excited about that.

Jagger at Church last Sunday Night!

My In-Laws have already had their Thanksgiving. For the past few years they have done Thanksgiving the weekend before the actual day of Thanksgiving. This year was no different, which I actually don't like but it's not my decision. It was my first year preparing a dish for their Thanksgiving meal though, and I was beyond happy when I was asked to contribute. My Mother-in-Law tends to not take Justin and I seriously as married adult parents, and I've never before been invited to cook or included in the Holiday meal preparations for Justins' side of the family. I felt like this was such a big step in us being seen as independent adult parents and a legitimate married couple. This is mostly about my Mother-in-Law who refuses to accept or respect the fact that I am indeed Justins wife and that he is actually old enough to be a married man with children. She has laid claim, if only in her own head, to not only my Husband but my two children as well. I think you all have realized by now how bossy she is, and if you haven't then chances are you are exactly like her. She tries to control all situations and thinks that no one is able to make a sound decision without her ~~advice, opinions,~~ instruction and demands. So I felt like being asked to prepare a dish for their Thanksgiving meal was a good first step in being recognized as not only part of the family but as the capable, adult wife of her Son.

Aiden at Church last Sunday Night! (Do you like this photo effect? I used it on both, but am not sure if I like it or not so if you want to give your 2cents then feel free!)

I spent the day with our little family and waited around on my Daddy to come pick Aiden up. They always spend Saturday and Sunday at his second home in Virginia and playing on his property there and usually run some errands on the weekends together as well. I'm sure that didn't sit well with Serena (the Mother-in-Law) but I am not going to disrupt my Sons patterns and routines and his special one-on-one time with his best friend aka his Grandfather just because Thanksgiving comes early around here. After my Daddy and Aiden left I decided it was time to start cooking. I was making my homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese, which is Justins favorite food in the entire world ever. Then we all got cleaned up, dressed and ready to walk next door and spend the day with our extended family and all the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins that had come in for the pseudo Thanksgiving activities.

Emma & Andrea each wearing one of my boots!

Every year I end up getting two little shadows who follow me around and want to sit and talk to me. This year was no different. I spent most of the evening with Andrea and Emma, taking pictures, watching Andrea do her cheers she learned in Cheerleading and listening to Emma tell jokes and just be a silly little girl. It always makes me realize just how badly I want a little girl of my own some day. Andrea and I did pedicures that night, and she wanted to do matching colors which she thought was just super cool. I had a great time hanging out with my baby cousins and doing girlie things for a change.

Our toes with their sparkly green polish!

Other than that I have been working on my Home Management Diary, as I call it. Some people refer to it as a Homemaking Journal, Household Management Binder and probably about eleventy hundred other names. I've been reading a lot of new blogs and really trying to figure out exactly what I want to do with The Vintage Housewife. Oh, and I was asked by my bestest best friend Kristy to co-author a blog with her based on our old website Sweet-Sale.com and I, of course, thought it was a great idea and said yes. So I'm not working on a third blog, but thankfully I have her help and don't really have to put in as much time as I do here. This will always be my main blogging focus, as I've met some of the most lovely and wonderful people through this blog. Sweet Sale is more like a creative writing project for Kristy and I, and it's more humor driven than this blog or The Vintage Housewife is. Feel free to check it out, read our About Kristy and About Ashlee pages and check out some of the posts we've go up. I'm sure for the people who have been reading this blog for a while that one particular seminar I posted here will be quite familiar, but Kristy has put up a few new posts and I highly recommend her Top 5 Womens Products That Totally Aren't Stupid Or Anything (although I don't agree that Vajazzling should have been in the number one spot, but it's not my list) and the really odd letter that we wrote back to someone who was spamming Kristys' email account in 2008. I've got another post going up on The Vintage Housewife later tonight.

How do you plan to spend your Thanksgiving?

I've lost my balance

2010-11-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

Being a Wife and Mom is a balancing act. A tricky one at that, like walking a tight rope over a pool filled with rabid sharks. Sometimes it's hard, but you eventually get used to it. Recently though my balance has shifted, due to the move, trying to get things around the new house straightened out and everything that comes with that. Which has made it more difficult, and I haven't yet found my center of gravity again. I'm trying, don't get me wrong, but it's just hard.

Obviously I don't work outside the home, and I honestly have no desire to. I'm not lazy, but I just don't have a desire to leave my kids with someone else and go to a job that I don't particularly care for. I don't have an issue with other Women working outside the home, but it's just not right for me, at least not right now anyway. I have a not yet 4 year old and a 12 month old, and I feel like my place is here with them. There are barely enough hours in my day for playing with the boys, reading to them, cooking meals, making snacks, cleaning, laundry, getting this house in order, changing diapers, singing songs while my oldest is going number 2 on the potty (yes, I really do that! He insists that I make up songs about whatever word he says while he is pooping, and who am I to argue with the harmony of his bathroom experience?), kissing boo-boos, putting away clothes, spending individual and family time with the boys, spending quality time with my husband, blogging, facebook'ing, showering, taking time for me and the eleventy point five hundred other things I have to get done in one day. So I really don't see how I could add even one more thing onto my list.

I'm struggling with our decision to move here and the impact it is having on Aiden. Quite frankly I miss the convenience of living in town as well, and I don't like living out here where I don't have anything in walking distance and I can't make a 2 minute run to a store for something or another anytime I need to. It's been a lot of work trying to get my Mother-in-Law's things out of this house and into Granny's house. It's been even more work trying to make her former house feel like our home when it still contains most of her things and barely any of ours because there is no room for our things. On top of it all Jagger is teething, which is no small thing for him. His fifth tooth has come through and he is working on his sixth, which makes for a very cranky Jagger.

I am finally finding some semblance of a groove again, which is nice. But I still can't wait to get my things here. I want my pictures on the walls and my curtains put up. I want my bed and my book shelf. I want the rest of my clothes! I want my things here! It just doesn't feel like home yet, and honestly I'm not sure that it ever will. I'm worried about living next door to my Mother-in-Law and her tendency to be way too bossy and try to tell us how to raise our children. But at least I've found a small piece of normalcy in my routine. I thank God for that! I've had to neglect my blog for the past week or so, because I've just had too much to do and I was unsure where to start. I am finally able to get back to my full routine, which I am so thankful for! It makes the balancing a bit easier.

I will be able to finish Jagger's Event, starting tomorrow! Which means that my giveaways will be going up. I didn't think it would take this long to get the house in some sort of order, but it did. I am glad to be able to get back to doing what I need to do on this blog instead of just having to focus on the house. I'm looking forward to being able to get my reviews up and finally finish the Jagger's Turning One Event.

Also, I have started another blog. You can check it out if you want to, and feel free to follow me, I haven't posted much yet, but I'm planning on posting later tonight or tomorrow. Feel free to follow it if you want to. (= It's called The Vintage Housewife!

The Saturday Six

2010-11-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

You all know the drill now, right? It's Saturday Six with your two flavorite hostesses -- Yours Truly and Boobies!

Anyway...let's get down to business, shall we? Grab our awesome Saturday Six button, slap it on a post, answer the following six questions, and link up! Please DO NOT link to your giveaways or random posts. (Visit me tomorrow for Show Me Yours Sunday...Giveaway Linky.) If you aren't participating-we'd prefer you NOT link up. It's just not polite folks. That'd be like us showing up to your Granny's birthday party without a gift just to eat your free food, aight?

This week's theme is all about movies! So get your typing fingers ready you film phenoms!

1. What's the last movie you watched in a movie theater?
2. Share some movies with us that are guaranteed to make you cry.
3. What's your personal favorite movie genre?
4. What's the last flick you watched?
5. Give us your top 5 favorite movies.
6. Now tell us some of your most hated...

Now, for my answers!

1. What's the last movie you watched in a movie theater? Zombieland or The Hangover, which ever came out last. Either way I was pregnant with Jagger and trying to get as many movies in the theater in as possible before I had him!
2. Share some movies with us that are guaranteed to make you cry. Steel Magnolias! It always makes me cry, it's been like that ever since I was a child. Where the Heart Is makes me cry. I don't cry at many movies, unless I'm pregnant. I actually did cry at The Time Travelers Wife, even though I hated it (see question six) but it was sad when the guy died, but I saw it while pregnant!
3. What's your personal favorite movie genre? I love Horror, I love B Movies..umm..I just really like movies in general!
4. What's the last flick you watched? I think it was James and the Giant Peach with Aiden. I've been catching up on Big Love so I've been watching that. I watched part of The Hulk and Iron Man and some Wonder Pets shows on DVD, but the last full movie I watched was James and the Giant Peach.
5. Give us your top 5 favorite movies. Oh Gosh! I can't pick just 5! Okay, in no particular order they are: Gone With the Wind, American History X, How to Marry a Millionaire, Scarface ( I love anything with Al Pacino in it!), Nightmare Before Christmas and I'm going to add a sixth for good measure The Devils Rejects. I think that's a fair representation of my tastes, which are highly eclectic!
6. Now tell us some of your most hated... I hated The Time Travelers Wife! My bestie read the book, and she was telling me what an amazing book it was and how they talked about punk music in the book and it was just this really great amazing story. Then we get to the theater and it is not amazing at all, it's boring and she keeps saying things like "That didn't happen in the book" or "Why the hell would they change that, they changed it! It went like ...... in the book!" I just was not feeling that movie, at all. I haven't even been able to read the book yet since watching it because it just wasn't as good as it sounded like it should be based on Kristy's review of the book to me. Also Anaconda was horrible! Let's see, what else, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a bad movie, it's actually so bad that I kind of like it for being bad, but it doesn't have anything on the TV Show which followed it. Snakes on a Plane was crap! Teen Wolf sucked! I could go on and on and on, seriously.

Fawk You Friday?

2010-11-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

href="http://www.boobiesbabiesandablog.com/"><img src="http://boobiesbabiesandablog.webs.com/fufriday.JPG" alt="BWS tips button" width="125" height="125" />
I'm linking up with Jana from Boobies, Babies & a Blog and Christy from My Mad Mind today for my usual Fawk You Friday. Although I am finding very few things to say Fawk You to lately, I'm still going to participate.

Fawk You to having to go sit at the Doctors Office today. It always takes forever around here, and I truly do hate the wait.

Fawk You to the floors in my new house for not having any carpeting thanks to the dogs that my Mother-in-Law kept in here after she moved in with Granny. Thanks to those dogs we're going to have to find a way to pay for new carpeting and such. That's money that we just don't have.

Fawk You to having to tell my Daddy that I'm moving. I haven't told him yet, and I don't want to have to tell him. I don't want to hurt him or hurt his feelings at all or anything.

Now, I would like to say Thank You for some things!

Thank you, God, for providing us with a new home for our family. I hope and pray that this will be a good thing for us and that it will help us to all get along better as a family.
Thank you to everyone out there in the Blogoverse that has been praying for my family through this time of change for us and who have extended their well wishes for us all! I've made some really great friends through this blog, and have met some truly great ladies and gentlemen (yep, that's you Ian) and I'm so thankful to know you all.
Thank you to my Daddy for letting us stay with you when we needed a place to stay! You've always been there for me when it really counted and I have no doubt that you always will be. I love you, Daddy, even if we don't always see eye to eye.
I would like to thank God for giving me the family that he has given me. I love them so much, and I wouldn't want anything other than them. They make me who I am and marrying Justin and having Aiden and Jagger changed the very fiber of my being and who I am at the core of myself.

Now, I have something else I want to say, because I'm not quite sure what to do about it or how to deal with it. I really, really need some advice so badly about this. Anyone that could possibly help me, offer some advice or words of wisdom would be a God send right now!

My Daddy is very close to Aiden & Jagger. Aiden and my Dad have always been best friends, ever since he was born. They have a wonderful bond and a great relationship. When we lived with my Dad Aiden spent a lot of time with him, as did Jagger. Each evening when my Daddy would get home from work at 5:00 pm Aiden would go into the living room and watch TV with him, they would play games and have an ice cream together. If it was warm out then my Dad would take him out to ride around in his tractor or play T-Ball or Basketball with him or push him on the swings. Aiden and my Dad would eat a bag of popcorn together at around 8:00 pm or 9:00 pm each night and watch Batman, SpongeBob, Scooby Doo or Two Stupid Dogs together.

Jagger is too young to tell me that he misses his Papaw and wants to see him or spend time with him. Aiden is not. Aiden spoke to my Daddy on the phone last night and started crying and asking him to come and pick him up and bring him home. He begged me to take him to my Dad's house last night. He had an hour long melt down begging and crying and screaming and asking for his Papaw after we talked to him on the phone. He calmed down for a bit and then started all over again. In the middle of the second meltdown I ended up calling my Daddy back so Aiden could talk to him, but it didn't stop it at all. It made it worse. He begged both me and my Dad to come to get him. Saying things like "Mommy, please take me to my Papaw's house" or "Papaw, please Papaw! Papaw come get me! Come get me Papaw, Please Papaw, come get me!" and "I want my Papaw! I want Papaw! Take me to Papaw's please, Mommy, please Mommy! Get my Mamaw to take me to my Papaw! I want my Papaw, Please let me see my Papaw!" as well as "Popcorn! I want my Papaw! I want to go eat popcorn with my Papaw, Mommy, Please! I want popcorn! I want popcorn! My Papaw will eat popcorn with me, I want to go eat popcorn at my Papaw's house Mommy, please take me home, please take me to my Papaw's house so I can see Papaw and eat popcorn with my Papaw!" He said all of this while he was crying this sorrowful wale of a cry that just broke me into a million pieces of pain, hurt and Mommy guilt.

He cried for his Papaw a third time right before bed as well. He woke up this morning asking if he could go home and see his Papaw now. I'm taking the boys to the Doctor today, and I'm going to stop by the Post Office to see my Dad. I promised AidenAiden last night though, he kept telling my Dad no when he would say I'll pick you up on Saturday. He would say "No! No, Papaw! No! Don't do that, Papaw! Come pick me up now! Right now, Papaw, come get me right now Papaw, please Papaw, please!" My heart is breaking for my sons, and for my Daddy because I know this hurts them both. I was so upset and so hurt last night that I couldn't even tell my Daddy that Serena gave us her house and that we are moving out of his place.

What do I do? What can I do to help my little boy? If anyone could give me any advice for Aiden or for telling my Dad I would be so appreciative. I'm at my wits end, I don't know what to do here and it's breaking my heart even more. Any suggestion or advice would be so welcome right now!

The Bad, The Other Bad & The Oh So Good!

2010-11-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

I've got a lot to say today, couple that with the fact that I am naturally verbose and wordy and this could get long! I'm going to try to fit it all into one post, but if I can't then I'll have to half it and write half now and half tonight before I go to bed. I finally got Internet access late last night, but was so tired that I didn't feel like sitting up much less typing a post out. Especially this post.

The Bad Part

I had a horrible argument with my Dad the other evening. This is nothing new, because we mix just about as well as oil and water. Since we've been living with him our relationship has progressively gotten worse. My Daddy and I can not live together. We push each others buttons, and we both have a tendency to speak without thinking when angered. We also both have a bad case of I'm Getting The Last Word Even If It Kills Us Both Syndrome. Everyone knows that I lack a filter, whatever I think I say -- I got that from my Daddy. I also picked up his quick wit and razor sharp tongue in the genetic lottery. I consider the latter both good and bad because it means that I always have a snappy comeback that at the same time worse, meaner, funnier and wittier than whatever anyone says to provoke me. That's not always a bad thing, but when you're arguing with your Father who has that same capability it's not so good because that means it can go from a minor disagreement to World War III in less than 10 seconds.
My Daddy and I love each other very much. I would do anything in the world for him and anything in my power to make him happy and protect him. He will always be there for me no matter what I do, no matter what I say and it doesn't even matter if I'm right or not because he will always be on my side, and he will always pick me up if I fall or even if I stumble. We just can not live together. We can't.
The day before my last post he said some cruel things to me. He said that he has already made sure that his sisters know that if anything were to ever happen to him that I am not allowed to step foot in his hospital room at all, even if he's seconds away from death. He said that is how much he hates me. He hit me where it hurts the most. He knows that my greatest fear since childhood has been something happening to him. I worry about him and I always have, it's a side effect of losing my Mother at a very young age. He knows that I still worry about something happening to him. That was it. The last straw, I just couldn't do it anymore. He apologised later on and told me that was not true and he didn't know why he said it other than he was just really mad. I told him that if this is what our relationship has come to then something has to give, because I'm done having cruel things said to me and I'm equally done saying cruel things and arguing.

The Other Bad Part

My Husbands Maternal Granny is a wonderful person. She is so giving, caring, kind, compassionate, Godly, sweet, loving, nice, pious, considerate and just an all around lovely, amazing person. She's getting older, and with that age comes sickness and illness. She has had 2 or 3 surgeries since Jagger was born. She has recently had a knee surgery and was left unable to walk. She used a wheelchair, then a walker and is now currently walking with the help of a cane when she's out, but she doesn't use any kind of walking aid within her own house. She's not the Granny she used to be because she can't do the things she used to do, but she's still the same amazing person she has always been on the inside. She is one of the only older women that i know who I look up to and view as a sort of role model. She is such a good person, and everyone who knows her loves her and respects her. She is one of the most pious women I know, but she's not narrow minded, stuck up or a hypocrite. She's fun and she's funny. She is everything I hope to be. She is the pillar of this family, and she would and has done anything possible to help anyone she knows.

The Good Part

Since Granny is in such bad shape she has to have someone with her. Since my Mother-in-Law's house is right next door to Granny's the obvious choice would be her. The house on the other side of Grannys' used to be Sissy Kim's, but she passed away a few days before the Baby Shower she was planning for me when I was pregnant with Aiden. I loved her so much! I miss her. Justins' Aunt Audrey has moved into Sissy Kim's old house to help with Granny. My Mother-in-Law had decided to move into Grannys' house with her.
Serena, my Mother-in-Law, was going to rent her house out because she's not living in it anymore and she doesn't plan to ever live in it again. Justin & I asked her if we could have it, and she said yes. We have our own home now. Our very own home -- no more two families under one roof, no more renting, no more not being able to paint Aiden & Jaggers
We've already made plans to get the boys puppies for Christmas. Jagger is getting a basset hound and Aiden will be allowed to pick his own dog out! We're planning what colors to paint the boys bedroom and the playroom. We're planning on what color walls and what color carpet will be put in our bedroom, I'm voting for hard wood all over the house by the way! The kitchen, hallway and entryway already have hardwood which I'm psyched about because I love hardwood, so if I get my way the only rooms that will have carpets in the boys bedroom and maybe our bedroom. I just know I want hardwood in the playroom and the living room.
We've already planned on a Toy Story theme for the boys playroom and have tossed around the idea of their bedroom being Batman themed, since the walls are black already from when it was Justins room in High School. I want to paint my laundry room and hall way red! I don't know what we'll end up doing for sure, but I know I'll be posting photos. Serena still has to get some of her stuff out so that we can move the rest of our things in and get our furniture out of storage and into our new home! I feel so blessed, so very very blessed to be able to live here. I have been praying for God to change my Daddys heart towards me, and this must have been in his plans. This must be how our relationship will be healed, by putting a bit of distance between us which will allow us to have a normal happy Father Daughter relationship again.

Please continue to pray for us! Pray that the move goes smoothly and that this will help my relationship with my Daddy. Pray that everything goes well for us and that this will be a good thing. I would greatly appreciate it, and I greatly appreciate those who offered prayers for our family when I asked in my last post. If you ever need my prayers then feel free to ask in a comment or you can email me at Love.Comma.Ashlee@gmail.com or The.Zombie.Mommy@gmail.com and I will be happy to return the favor!

Family "Emergency:

2010-11-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

I've had a minor family emergency come up last night. I will be leaving today to go stay with my Mother-In-Law for a while. I'm not 100% sure if I will have internet access or not, and I will have to postpone my upcoming reviews and giveaways that I had planned to do this coming week. If I have any internet access then I will be trying to get them posted in a timely fashion or at the very least trying to post at least once or twice this coming week. If not then I may be able to get a hold of Ange and beg her to guest post for me.

I'm going to try to check my email, so for those of you who have it feel free to use it. I feel SO badly about having to postpone my reviews and giveaways for Jagger's Event. I'm seriously beyond bummed out about this. I'm going to do my best to take my review items with me and still get as many as I can done this week if at all possible.

This family "emergency" is a mixture of good and bad things. I will post about it when I get a chance, because God knows I need to get this off my chest because the bad is far outweighing the good right now. But I will say that the good involves Justin taking a job that will be paying at least 400 dollars for 3 to 5 days of work. But the bad is more on an emotional level and can not be summed up right now because I'm running very short on time.

If you pray I humbly ask that you please keep my family in your prayers right now as we are trying to work out a lot of things. Pray that somehow my fathers heart can be changed towards me, because at this post I'm not sure that it is in God's plan for that to be so, but I surely do hope so and either way I have faith that He has a greater plan for me and my family. We are hoping to be able to iron out a plan this week that will, hopefully, allow for us to move out of my Fathers house, which would truly be a blessing, and have our own place very very soon. So please keep us in your prayers, and as always you all will be in my thoughts & prayers as well!

Saturday Six - The Birthday Edition

2010-11-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

Time for the infamous Saturday Six with yours truly & Jana-Banana (it rhymes, don't forget it, she hates when people say it wrong) from Boobies, Babies & a Blog! If you didn't know it's J's birthday month! (Yes MONTH -- we both take the entire Month of our Birthdays in celebration! You should too, tell your husbands, parents & kids that Ash & J are doing it, and you're going to start doing it too. If they are not willing to participate then contact Jana or I and we will write them a strongly worded letter!) Anyway--in recognition of this monumental occassion...let's center this Saturday Six around birthdays, shall we?

Do you still celebrate your birthday?
What's your favorite kind of cake?
Craziest thing you've ever done for your birthday?
What's your sign?
Best present you've ever gotten on your special day?
Worst gift?

Answer them and link up lovers. As mentioned in our rules--please do NOT link up to your giveaways. (You can however return here tomorrow for Show Me Yours Sunday...Giveaway Linky and share them all you want.) Please don't link up if you aren't actually playing along. Manners, kiddies! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend...if you aren't...then I insist you do! (Because---It's J's birthday month!)

My Answers:

Do you still celebrate your birthday? Of course! I not only celebrate my birthday, we've been celebrating my entire birth month for about 7 years now. (=
What's your favorite kind of cake? I like vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting. Carrot cake is good too though.
Craziest thing you've ever done for your birthday? I've never really done anything "crazy" for my birthday, really.
What's your sign? Virgo!
Best present you've ever gotten on your special day? I got a car once as an early birthday gift/ a belated graduation gift. I wanted a used Malibu but my Dad bought me a new Cavilear.
Worst gift? Probably clothes from my Grandma. Ugh!

Lisas Crafty Stitches Review

2010-11-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

If you're on my Facebook, or even if you've read this post, you've seen my littlest baby loves amazing Halloween Costume. He dressed up as a Vampire this year for Halloween. His costume was too stinking cute, and we got a lot of really sweet compliments on it. People commented on how original it was, and several people asked me if I made it for him. Clearly it was a hit.

What you may not know is that I am not the person responsible for creating the top half of his costume. Lisa from Lisa's Crafty Stitches on Etsy did! While I do sew I do not sew nearly as well as Lisa does. Lisa is an amazing seamstress and I was in awe of her creativity, honestly. She took a simple white long sleeved Gerber brand onesie and turned it into a tuxedo fit for even the most stylish little vampire.

I wasn't sure what the quality of the costume would be, but I can tell you that I was so excited to get it in the mail. When it came in I immediately opened it up to inspect Lisa's handy work. It was impeccable! The fabric was good quality and her skills as a seamstress were top notch. She had done an amazing job with this costume. It was way beyond cute and it was very well made.

His costume came as a one piece. As I stated it was once just a plain white long sleeve Gerber onesie, until Lisa sewed a little black vest on it, complete with a button, a red satin bow tie and a black cape lined with red fabric. The fabric was so soft and so smooth and the fit was perfect. On top of all of that Lisa is a doll of a woman, and so talented and creative to boot. She worked with me to figure out the best size and fit for Jagger's costume. She was so sweet through it all. She shipped it out right away, after she had finished it.

Lisa doesn't just make the cutest hand made costumes on Etsy though, she also has the sweetest little hand made dresses as well. Lisa makes the most adorable Christmas Decorations for your home and quite a few other things. One of my favorite things in her store is the Kids Club House card table tent, which allows you to transform any card table into a really cool kids fort or club house for you children.

If you're looking for some unique holiday decorations or a beautiful handmade dress for your daughter or even a Frankenstein or Dracula Costume for a friend who loves classic horror films child or baby then Lisa's Crafty Stitches is deserving of at least a quick look see. She's also got some Thanksgiving Onesies and such for the kiddos, and we all know that Nana's can't resist a baby decked out in cute holiday clothing!

I would like to thank Lisa for being such a doll as to let me review her adorable Vampire Baby Costume for Jagger's first "real" Halloween this year. He looked so cute in his costume, and I owe that to you and your generosity, Lisa, so thank you so very much for that!

I did not receive any money for this review or my opinions. I was given a costume from Lisa's Crafty Stitches to review, so that I could give my honest opinion about the quality of her work and her Etsy shop. My having received a free product to test did not affect or sway my opinions in any way at all. All opinions given are my own.

My Halloween in Pictures

2010-11-01T14:53:00.000-07:00


My Makeup. I did a cat eye liner with liquid and powder combo & a smoky eye.


Jagger & Mommy! He's Count Dracula & I'm a Kitty!

Justin & I. He's a Vampire too.


Aiden as Batman from The Dark Knight trying to cheat 7-Eleven out of a medium-large cup for his free Trick or Treat Slurpee.


Aiden with his Trick or Treat Slurpee! He wouldn't let me get a photo of him with his mask on. )=


"No-No, Jagger! You can't have mommy's kitty ears!"


A little bit better of a photo of Jag's Vampire costume!


Trick or Treating!

Me as a Kitty. How cool are my ears?! The left ear has an ear piercing with a purple bell in the hoop, so cute!

It's a Saturday Six Halloween Spooktacular!

2010-10-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

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I don't know about y'all but around here we are huge fans of Halloween! We love it, it's one of my 3 favorite Holidays and we go all out every year for Halloween. When I say all out, I mean all effing out. So it should come as no surprise to you that Jana and I are also doing it real big for the Saturday Six Halloween Spooktacular! It's just like any other Saturday Six, except bigger, better and a little more focused on the macabre in honor of Halloween!

Rules are the same as always.

Take our Spooktastic new Saturday Six Button and put it at the top of your Saturday Six Halloween Spooktacular post!

Link back to both Jana at Boobies, Babies & a Blog and myself here at The Zombie Housewife.

Copy the questions and answer them in your post!

Then link up your Saturday Six Halloween Spooktacular post to our linky so that we can visit your blog and see your answers! (Please don't link to your giveaways, this isn't a giveaway linky you can visit Jana's blog tomorrow for her Show Me Yours Sunday if you're into the giveaway linky thang!)

The Linky will be open until November 1st!

Now, onto the Saturday Six Halloween Spooktacular Questions for this week. In honor of Halloween we will be doing more questions than we normally do.

1.) Are you going to be dressing up this year? If so tell us what your costume plans are!
2.) What's your favorite costume that you've ever wore for Halloween?
3.) Trick or Treat! Are you into scaring people and kids on or around Halloween with tricks, ghost stories etc?
4.) What is your dream costume idea? Money is no object, you can spend thousands of dollars on this costume if you want to. Feel free to show us pics, we're voyeuristic like that.
5.) Is Halloween really as much fun as an adult as it was for you as a child? Has it lost any of it's mystique or whimsy to you over the years?
6.) Halloween traditions -- tell us all about yours, what are your favorites?
7.) What movies did you watch when you were younger around Halloween time that you still love to watch around Halloween time today?
8.) When carving pumpkins do you use the stencils in the carving kits, or do you go all out with original designs etc?
9.) What's your favorite Halloween Candy? Has it changed since you were little?
10.) What's the scariest movie ever made, in your opinion?
11.) As far as Halloween Costumes go do you buy store bought costumes, or do you prefer to make your own? What is your Halloween Costume style -- are you a sexy costume kinda girl or do you like the classic scary/gory/traditional costumes better?
12.) Finish this sentence: Halloween wouldn't be the same to me without ________________________!
13.) What movies are on your Top Five Classic Halloween/Horror Films Of All Times list?
Bonus Question:
What is your Zombie Apocalypse Contingency Plan? Do you know how you would try to survive the Zombie Apocalypse? (answering the bonus question will get you an extra entry into any of my Halloween Themed Giveaways for my Mommys

My Answers:

1.) Are you going to be dressing up this year? If so tell us what your costume plans are! I haven't committed fully yet. I might be a Chola, but I might be a kitty. I'll be posting photos tomorrow, so you'll see then.

2.) What's your favorite costume that you've ever wore for Halloween? I was a Gypsy for my last Halloween where I went Trick Or Treating, and that costume was pretty freaking pimptastic! I wore a long hippy skirt, a white gypsy shirt from a store bought costume, and TONS of jewelry and big hoop earrings with a cool head scarf and my hair in a side pony tail with it all scrunched so it would be wavy. Loved it!

3.) Trick or Treat! Are you into scaring people and kids on or around Halloween with tricks, ghost stories etc? I'm so totally all about ghost stories and scary stuff!

4.) What is your dream costume idea? Money is no object, you can spend thousands of dollars on this costume if you want to. Feel free to show us pics, we're voyeuristic like that. My dream costume would be Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind! I would love to have the dress that she wore to the barbeque at Twelve Oaks, the white dress with the green flowers. Gorgeous! I love period costumes!

5.) Is Halloween really as much fun as an adult as it was for you as a child? Has it lost any of it's mystique or whimsy to you over the years? It's still so so so much fun for me. I love dressing up and it's one of my favorite Holidays!

6.) Halloween traditions -- tell us all about yours, what are your favorites? We carve pumpkins, decorate the house and all that. Watching scary movies is also something I consider tradition! I love it!

7.) What movies did you watch when you were younger around Halloween time that you still love to watch around Halloween time today? Halloween, Dracula, Frankenstein, Nosferatu, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcist, Childs Play, Candyman, Elvira Mistress of the Dark, Hocus Pocus, Double Double Toil and Trouble, Casper. I love them all, still!

8.) When carving pumpkins do you use the stencils in the carving kits, or do you go all out with original designs etc? We do our own designs and all that. Justin carved me Jack and Sally one year.

9.) What's your favorite Halloween Candy? Has it changed since you were little? I absolutely love those Mary Janes that come in the plain black and orange wrappers. They've always been my favorites!

10.) What's the scariest movie ever made, in your opinion? Oh gosh, I don't know. I can't choose, none of them really scare me. Well, The Exorcist scares me. I slept in my Dad's floor or in his bed for a month or two after I watched it when I was 10. Gah!

11.) As far as Halloween Costumes go do you buy store bought costumes, or do you prefer to make your own? What is your Halloween Costume style -- are you a sexy costume kinda girl or do you like the classic scary/gory/traditional costumes better? I like to make my own. I will use pieces of store bought costumes for my costume, or as a base, but then I add stuff and take stuff out. Aiden usually has store bought costumes cause he always wants to be Batman or Ironman or something like that. I like the scary costumes more myself, but I do like some cutesy stuff.

12.) Finish this sentence: Halloween wouldn't be the same to me without ________________________! Horror movies and pumpkin carving and decorations and ghost stories!!

13.) What movies are on your Top Five Classic Halloween/Horror Films Of All Times list?
Frankenstein (with Boris Karlof)
Nosferatu
Halloween
Childs Play
Dracula (with Bella Lugosi although I like the one with Christopher Lee as well)

Fawk You Friday

2010-10-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

You already know what it is, so I won't bore you with the details. Fawk You Friday, bitches, hosted by J, or you might know her as Boobies -- as in Boobies, Babies & a Blog and Christy from I'm Just Sayin' as always.

Also, why don't you head on over here and vote for my girl, Jana, for Best Health/Beauty Blog in the Who's WHO in 2010! Seriously, help a bitch out and rock the vote! If you don't want to do it, do it anyway, she's seriously the ish...feel free to put me on your Fawk You list for forcing you to vote, I don't care just as long as you vote!

Now, onto my Fawk Yous for the week...

Fawk You Baby Teeth! You are making it impossible for my baby love to sleep. Stop it...just stop it, come in or quit hurting, those are the only two options I'm giving you point blank, period.
Fawk You to caffeine. I'm trying to quit you, Dr. Pepper, but you are just so enticing to me. Why do I love you so? What if my affair with your ruins my marriage, because the fact is you are making me fat and you are not allowing me to drop the last 5 or 10 baby weight pounds. I'm sorry, but I have to end this thing between us, I just feel like it's self-destructive. I've been doing so well, and when I finally think I'm rid of you, you just have this way of pulling me back in with your sweet, sugary, carbonated, Dr. Pepper goodness.
Fawk you to Aiden's Preschool. Why am I not allowed to bring in cookies or cupcakes or something like that for his Halloween Party today? WHY? My Mommy always brought stuff in when I was in Preschool and Kindergarten, so why can I not bring in homemade treats for my little boy and his friends? Yet you allow me to "donate" store bought candy. Newsflash for the school: STORE BOUGHT CANDY IS JUST AS UNHEALTHY AS HOMEMADE CANDY, COOKIES AND CUPCAKES, MAYBE MORE SO AND IT DOESN'T TASTE AS GOOD! I seriously feel like they don't trust the parents, and that is not cool...not cool at all.
Fawk you to water for not tasting nearly as good as Dr. Pepper! Boo on you!
Fawk you to the hole in my hallway floor. While my husband was busy fixing you today he woke my baby up from his nap. I'm blaming it on the hole in the floor and not Justin.
Fawk you, once again, to my Brothers Wife. Why are you so damn crazy? I could have swore that you were normal when he married you, maybe I was wrong. Either way I'm giving you ONE MORE DAY to bring my fucking wedding band back to me before I beat your ass. I'm completely serious too, I hate a thief.
Fawk you to this county's CPS system. You people take kids who do not deserve to be taken, but you leave kids in some of the worst conditions I've ever seen. Why is that? It's disgusting. Just so you people know, it's NOT a good idea to separate an 8 year old boy with severe ADHD and Aspergers Syndrome from his mother, brothers and the only father and family he has ever known just to place him with the sperm donor that doesn't even know him. Have a fucking heart, and get a clue -- that man does not care about that little boy, never has and never will, he doesn't understand his issues and doesn't believe that he should be on medication. Congratulations on taking a family apart, separating the children and putting a little boy with serious medical issues in an even worse environment than he was in before.

Seriously people, Vote or Die...remember there's only 4 days left to vote for Jana and her Blog, Boobies Babies & a Blog for Who's WHO in 2010! Hers is the best blog in her category hands fucking down!

All I can say is...FINALLY!

2010-10-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

I am finally finished with this new design. It took me a lot longer to make the social media buttons over there than I thought it would. I can say that I will not be doing this again for a good long time! After making the design, header, button, social media buttons and all that stuff I am done changing my blog up for a good long while!

Feel free to tell me how you're liking the new design. Let me know if it isn't reader friendly or if there is something I need to change. Anything like that!

Thank you to everyone who said they liked the design and to everyone who commented on my talent, as you called it. I appreciate all the complements and stuff, they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

I am hoping to get back to my regular posting tomorrow now that I'm done with all this stuff. Although I'm not sure that I like the sidebars the way they are. I may go back to my last sidebar layout of double sidebars on the right side of the screen. Who knows.

I've been super busy the last few days. Both the boys are sick, Jagger is getting FOUR teeth in on top, but thankfully the front two teeth have already broke through so that should help some. Aiden hasn't been to preschool in over a week because he keeps getting sick. I'm super tired and want to go to bed, but Aiden is still up due to a late nap today. I've got tons of stuff to do tomorrow, so hopefully he'll lay down to watch a movie with me and get in the bed.

Thank yous..and a preview

2010-10-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Just a little thank you going out to Ange, Jana, Ashley & Steph for putting up with my crazy ass and letting me show them my headers and previews of my new layout. I'm about to install my new layout, and just wanted to let you 4 know that I'm very thankful that you were willing to be my new blog design testers and give me your honest opinions about header images, fonts, color schemes etc. Y'all totally rock my socks off, for really!

Preview the new design?

Things I didn't know

2010-10-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

12 Things I didn't know before Jagger's First Birthday Party that I know now!

See numbers 8 & 9

Frankenstein Cake will turn your babies poop lime green the day after it has been eaten.
My Brothers Wife will steal food from the party by pretending like the stolen food is scraps of half eaten food from the kids plates for her puppy.
My Brothers Wife will collect 5 large take home boxes full of these scraps.
My Brothers Wife possesses some obscure magical power to turn 5 bread sticks and 3 pieces of partially eaten pizza into 4 large take home boxes full of scraps that don't have not even the first bite taken out of them.
My Brothers Wife will also steal all the vanilla cake, leaving me with only 2 pieces of vanilla and 6 pieces of chocolate cake.
My family doesn't like chocolate cake.
Carrot cake is amazingly tasty, but Jagger still prefers the icing no matter how good the Carrot Cake is.
When making Dracula cookies you should not use the black gel icing for his hair or else they will come out looking more like Gene Simmons than Dracula.
That sometimes you just have to accept that your vampire cookies look more like Edward Cullen than Dracula because you can't undo what has been done, especially if what has been done was done on white cookie icing. Just embrace your messy haired Edward Cullen cookies and move on with the day.
That the hardest part of decorating a Frankenstein shaped cake is the bolts in his neck. You should also not put the bolts at his hair line, because not only is this wrong but it is a bitch to remove!
That no one will tell you if you're walking around with eyeliner smudged on your face/cheek even though they know that you just rushed home to take a 4 minute shower so you could wash your face and hair and you haven't put your makeup on yet let alone look in a mirror. So thanks for telling me, assholes!
That some kids think it's acceptable behavior to ask for more than one gift bag over and over even after you've told them that you only have enough for one per person. Especially if these kids have been raised by my Brothers Wife. They also may attempt to take things out of Aiden's gift bag while he isn't looking to put into theirs. (Actually only my niece did this, my nephew is a darling and very mature and well behaved.)

See number 1

Happy Birthday Jagger!

2010-10-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

19/20 week Belly with Jagger

30 week Belly with Jagger (Still wearing normal clothes!)

At 2:00 am on October 23 2009 my water broke. I was freaking out and called my friend Summer. She talked me down from the ledge so to speak, because I was thisclose to a panic attack because I was about to go into labor with my second son at 35 weeks 6 days. I wasn't as worried about him being a month early as I was with Aiden, because I had already done this once and Aiden was fine. I was scared none the less though.

My bestie, Kristy, holding Jag a few minutes after he was born.

At this very minute my baby J had been born for only a few hours. I texted right through my labor! I didn't even have any pain medication or anything!

Jagger in the hospital -- Day 2! Look at all that hair!

Eventually we got to come home, and you were so cute and tiny. Your big brother Aiden just loved you, and he was so excited to have you home. He wanted to hold you as soon as we came through the front door!

Jagger getting ready to come home!

You gave Mommy a scare though when your temperature went down and you couldn't regulate it on your own. I stayed up with you for 2 or 3 days straight with only 2 or 3 short naps, keeping your wrapped in blankets and breast feeding you!

Aiden holding Jagger mere minutes after we got home!

Then you were just fine! We got over that hurdle together. And you started growing and getting fatter and cuter and bigger.


Jagger asleep in his bassinet!

Eventually you were rolling over!


The first time Jagger rolled over!

Then you were big enough to sit in the bumbo while your brother played outside!


First time outside to "play"

You were even able to participate in Silly Hat Day!

Silly Hat Day 2010

And you got bigger and started trying to crawl!

Jagger trying to crawl!

And you started sitting up on your own!

Now here we are, one year after your birth! You're walking. You can say Mama, Dada, Na-Na (which means No No), Ba-Ba for the bottle, Yay when you're happy or when you're clapping and you can say Hey and Hi. You wave bye bye to people, clap your hands, and play patty cake. You snuggle up to your Mommy and can give kisses when you want to. You want to play with your big brother all the time and your favorite thing to do is crawl or walk around the house looking for brothers toys because apparently yours aren't cool enough. When we tell you No No, you give it right back to us by yelling NA-NA and grunting or growling at us. You're cute, funny, sweet and sometimes a hand full. You smile at everyone, and you've never met a stranger. Every where we go people talk to you and you talk back or smile. You're the apple of all of our eyes, and we love you so much Jagger!

Jagger at Pizza Hut with my Girls and our babies a week ago!

Saturday Six

2010-10-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

&lt;br />&lt;br />&lt;a border="0" href="http://lovecommaashlee.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">&lt;img src="http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp246/justin_loves_ashlee/satsixbutton.jpg" />&lt;/a>&lt;br />

It would seem that Jana was inspired this week. She was inspired by Mr. Boobies trying to complement her, but he somehow came up short. Sine I have known Jana and Mr. B for over 4 years, trust me this means he's slipping -- he's usually so good at these kinds of things. Gifting laptops and TV's for push presents and such while she was on bed rest. You can head on over to Boobies, Babies & a Blog to see how Mr. B slipped up and how these Saturday Six questions were inspired.

So for Saturday Six...tell us how you get down in the bedroom. (All about your sleep style sickos! Get your mind out of the gutter!)

How many hours per night/day do you sleep?
Night owl or morning person?
What do you wear to bed?
Sleep crutches? (Sleep with a radio, fan, t.v. on? Have to have something particular in order to doze?)
Do you remember your dreams when you wake up?
Any strange stories about sleepwalking/talking or anything of that nature?

Now for my answers.

1.) How many hours per night/day do you sleep? On a good night 11 to 13, I really like my sleep!
2.) Night owl or morning person? Night owl, for sure. It's how I get my me time!
3.) What do you wear to bed? A tee shirt and shorts or booty shorts...
4.) Sleep crutches? (Sleep with a radio, fan, t.v. on? Have to have something particular in order to doze?) I have to have a fan and the TV on. I have to have at least 2 pillows, one under my head (preferably 2) and one between my knees. I got used to the knee thing when I was pregnant, and now I can't sleep without it.

5.) Do you remember your dreams when you wake up? Sometimes, it just depends I guess.
6.) Any strange stories about sleepwalking/talking or anything of that nature? Not really. Although Justin used to talk to me when I was half asleep and I would say the weirdest things. You'd have to ask him about that though.

Fawk You Friday

2010-10-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

It's Friday again, which means that I will be participating in my usual Friday blog activities, minus one of course. In case you haven't heard Ashley (aka The Crazy Brunette) decided to quit blogging. I know, I'm sad about it too. I'm just glad that I can still keep in touch with her through Facebook and E-mail because if she had just vanished into thin air then I just wouldn't have known what to do, I believe I would have just cried myself to sleep every night. You have to picture me saying that in my best sugary sweet Scarlett O'Hara Southern voice to understand it's full weight and impact. That probably has something to do with why Ashley didn't disappear completely. No one wants to see a pretty girl cry, it's just wrong!

To Ashley, we all miss your blog & your Blog Stalk Friday as well as all you had done for our little community of bloggers here. I prefer Ashley to CB any day though, and am very proud of you for making a hard decision and throwing in the towel. I hope to one day see you back in the blogosphere as Ashley, without any other persona or mask to hide behind, you're far too fabulous to be taking on an online persona and posting as only part of yourself while hiding the other wonderful parts of your personality and who you are away. Everyone loved CB, but all of those who know you love Ashley even more. You're an amazingly loyal wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend. I'm glad to have "met" you and am proud to call you (Ashley) my friend! Long story short -- You're the shit, bitch!

Now, onto Fawk You Friday with two of my favorite bitches Jana from Boobies Babies & a Blog and Christy from I'm Just Sayin'!

You two better not leave me, because I really don't know what I would do without Fawk You Friday to list the things that piss me off each week!

Fawk You to germs at Preschools! It is because of all you dirty little fuckers that my biggest baby love has been sick FOUR times this school year. He has only been going since the middle of September. I know you're just doing your job, as germs, and I see that you can do it very well -- BUT can you please leave my kid alone for a little while, he's had enough for one year, okay!
Fawk You to my not even four year old son losing his voice. Babies shouldn't be able to loose their voices, that's just wrong. I feel SO bad for him!
Fawk You again to germs at Preschools! My littlest baby loves Birthday Party is on Saturday (tomorrow) and his brother is sick, which means he won't be able to enjoy the awesomeness that is a Birthday Party thrown by moi as he normally would. It also means that my littlest baby love could possibly be sick on his Birthday tomorrow. I just want to let you all know that if both of my kids are sick for Jagger's Birthday Party then I'm taking that as a direct sign that you want to start a war with me. So all I can say is watch your ass and don't mess, douche-holes, because I will be coming to your home base (aka the Preschool) armed and ready for action. I'll be coming correct, armed with my latex gloves, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, Lysol Wipes, Lysol Spray and rags soaked in Bleach Water -- Be afraid, be very afraid!
Fawk You to striped wrapping paper. NOT a good idea for someone who has OCD. What kind of sadistic evil person invented this torture device?
Fawk You to people who feel the need to try to control every single tiny little thing. Especially things that are MY choice and MY decision and NOT yours. The apron strings have been cut so deal with it, okay?
Fawk You to my brothers wife! For constantly trying to get shit started. I don't know why you don't like me, I don't really care why you don't like me. But you will hear me when I say this -- I WILL see my Niece and Nephew! I WILL be in their lives! They WILL have at least one strong female influence in their lives who isn't a compulsive liar, who doesn't teach them to lie to the police and fear the police, who doesn't nod out on the couch all day. You need to quit using those babies for sympathy and gain, you're going to turn them into hypochondriacs and frankly I think you're about thisclose to having munchausen by proxy syndrome.
Fawk You to my brothers wife again for not wanting to let the kids come to my babies birthday party tomorrow because it's at our Church. I don't care how many times you tell me that the people down there are talking crap about you, I highly doubt that they are, but IF they are then that probably just means that they have figured out that you're a liar trying to get money and things for your bills so that you can just buy drugs with your income and that you stretch the truth and lie about the kids being sick and make their problems sound 10 times worse than they usually are.
Fawk you to having to take a pregnancy test today. I've been getting sick to my stomach when I smell things, and it seems like things smell so much worse to me. I think this is the only time I've ever hoped that I just have a stomach virus. It is really not a good time for me to be preggo right now. I guess that's what I get for picking on Ashley on Twitter.

As I said though, my Mother-in-Law decided to go all demanding-picky-bossy-crazy-I'm-in-charge-and-you-don't-have-a-say-crazy lady on us and wouldn't let me keep his awesome black/white Speed Kills burnout T-shirt and his distressed Chaps jeans on him. He's wearing his Chaps jeans with the green shirt, because I didn't want his one year photos taken in cloth pants because those seem so young/baby-ish to me (unless they're used to playing in, sleeping in or lounging -- I'm super odd about baby clothes). I should put this on my list! ;)

This is why I don't leave my house...

2010-10-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

I had a horrible day out yesterday. Horrible. I don't normally do all day shopping trips and such, but I had a lot to do yesterday and there was no way I was going to drive an hour to get to the nearest city and then an hour home two days in a row. In case you're wondering, my town offers little in the way of shopping so I have to go an hour away to get to even a Wal-Mart. Yep. I live in southern West Virginia, what did you expect? We don't even have movie theaters, wal-mart, starbucks...none of that here.

So the day started off okay. We were rushing and all that, but it still started off okay. I'm going to recap it.

We get there, drop Justin off at the Doctors office and head to Kohls to see about getting Jagger a shirt to go with his overalls for his pictures. I get a really cute flannel shirt that's on sale. Too cute.
I sign up for a Kohls card simply because a gay guy asked me to nicely. Hey, I love the gays. If I had a dollar for every time I've been called a hag or a fag hag, I'd be giving out Oprah prizes on this bitch.
Then I go to the party store, and get some decorations and such for his birthday. I got a shopping cart full of stuff for 20 dollars, not bad!
I purchase bottle of water. I can not get the lid off. I may be his very first customer who he has to teach to open these damned new lids. Who the hell told the Aquafina people that a little tab you have to pull on the bottle lid to get it off was a good idea? Some jackass that hates me, that's who.
Go back to pick Justin up. He's gone, so I'm like okay he's at the pharmacy. Not so. I then go to the hospital and 3 gas stations, not there either. Turns out the fucker walked to Wal-Mart to look for me. I thought he was dead or something.
Go to the dollar tree to look at their Halloween stuff, and spend 28 more dollars on Jagger's party, but we're done with most of the party stuff. So I'm happy!
We go eat. Yay!
Go to Wal-Mart to get Aiden a Halloween costume. The only Batman they have is from The Dark Knight. Goody. He wanted a blue Batman. He decides to take the Dark Knight Batman costume. Which is too long in the legs, because it 's made for an 8 year old, and Aiden is almost 4. We get that one and agree that I can just hem the legs.
We go to get Jagger's photos taken. I want to have one taken with the giant wooden 1 in his speed kills shirt and his distressed jeans. Nope. Since my mother in law was paying she decided that he needed to have them taken in some baby clothes. She then proceeded to tell me that these were her photos and he would have them taken in whatever she wanted them taken in. That that outfit was ugly or some stupid shit like that, blah blah blah. I sit there looking at her like she's stupid for a minute, then get up to go search for Aiden a smaller Batman costume while she does her thing being all bossy and shit.
Then I come back and she's still being her usual bossy self. Yay! Good times, good times. Then she tells me that I need to stop this crap, because I am stressing Justin out. Which I find amusing since she sent him a facebook message last week scolding him like a child because of our "naughty language" use.
Then we leave, got cute pictures cause my baby is the cutest little boy ever and all.
We go to McDonalds, where Aiden and I go in to get fruit and yogurt parfaits and a tea for me.
I get hit on by one of the smoothest men on the planet. Seriously boys, you could all learn a thing or two from this douche bag, because his game was a step above any other I've ever come across. While I was getting my drink Aiden was putting ketchup on some napkins, because he's a great kid like that. Douche bag McDonalds employee decides this is a good way to strike up a conversation with what he thought was a single mother. So he says to Aiden "Go ahead and make a mess buddy, I don't have to clean it up" and Aiden says "Okay buddy" and then he gets his drink beside where I am getting mine and says to me "He's so cute" and I say "Thanks, I think so" and he then replys with "You're cute too, ya know" and I say "Yeah, I know! My Husband tells me how hot I am on a daily basis" Then he walks away. Nice try Douche bag McDonalds employee, but if I were in fact a single Mother I would be looking for a man who makes more than 7 dollars an hour. Someone needs to tell him that even TI doesn't have swagg when he's wearing a McDonalds uniform, so he certainly doesn't. Gah.

Whatcha Say Wednesday

2010-10-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

Something quick because I'm about to leave to have Jagger's First Birthday Photos done and to finish shopping for the party on Saturday! I'm excited to be leaving the house. Yes, that's sad. Feel free to pity me, if you want to send flowers for my pathetic ass I prefer orchids -- just sayin! Oh, I also have to track down a blue Batman costume. It can not be black, like from the most recent Batman movie...it has to be blue, so say my almost 4 year old, very demanding mini me!

I'm linking up with Stash Mama for Whatcha Say Wednesday.

1. Who was the last person to make you laugh...like really really almost pee your pants laugh?
Justin. He's funny, like really seriously funny! One of the many reasons why I adore him.

2. What website or web page do you frequent the most?
Probably Facebook, because I love it. Youtube, because I use it to get my Dax buzz on a daily basis. We have all of his music on CD and on the computer but I can never seem to find the Dax Riggs folder on here or any of the CD's so I use youtube!

3. If you had to...skydiving, or bungee jumping?
Skydiving. I do not want to bungee jump. Ever! I would be okay with skydiving though!

Bonus!
Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Nope, I sure don't!

Let's see those Spirit Fingers...

2010-10-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that everyone has heard about the slew of gay teens who have been committing suicide lately. If you haven't then email me, because I would seriously like to know what kind of rock you've been living under. It seems like these kinds of tragedies keep increasing, when in reality they should be decreasing. The common thread in these recent events is homosexuality and hate. All of these boys were gay, and they were mercilessly teased, bullied, physically harmed and made fun of on a near daily basis.

When I think of these boys being harassed, bullied and hurt either emotionally or physically on a near daily basis as we creep into the year 2011 I am just completely and totally disgusted. I am disgusted by the actions of the bullies and often by the non action of the school systems. Often times the school officials will see this going on, right under their noses, and ignore this abuse due to their own prejudice and narrow mindedness. We have come so far in the battle for civil rights, and yet we still have so very far to go.

I know that there will always be people who have hate in their heart for those that they don't understand, those that dare to be different and those who aren't like them. I know that, but that doesn't make it any less of a shock when I read about people like Asher Brown, whose parents had called the school and the counselors time and time again, only to be ignored. It doesn't make it any easier for me to understand when I read about another mothers son who has lost his life due to senseless, blind hate based on sexual orientation or color. It still baffles me when parents teach their children the way of hate, instead of the way of compassion and tolerance.

I have seen a lot of this first hand. I've gotten messages from my friend Calvin after he got jumped on his way to the gas station to buy cigarettes and a soda just because he is gay. I've been kicked out of a home I was renting because my landlord said that I had too many of those "faggots" over at my house. I've watched my friend Ryan struggle to accept himself, who he is, and the way he loves. I've seen a lot of intolerance over the years, and I have yet to be able to understand or make sense of it. I've worried about my friends and I've been angered by the cruelty that they have endured at not only the hands of strangers but of people that they know, and sometimes even their family members.

Calvin

I am grateful that they were strong enough to make it through all that has passed, and strong enough to know that more intolerance lies in their future and keep on going towards it anyway with their heads held high. I also understand that some aren't as lucky, aren't as strong and don't have the support system that my boys have. I am bothered by the fact that things like these boys suicides have to happen. I am bothered by the fact that they will keep on happening. I am bothered by the fact that some people just don't seem to care. Most of all though, I am bothered by the hypocrisy. If those boys were girls and were lesbians, then the same boys that were condemning them and bullying them to the point that they felt they had no other options aside from death would have been jacking off at night to the thought of them kissing their girlfriends hello in the morning at school. It has become socially acceptable to be a lesbian or to be a bisexual woman or girl. So please tell me, how the fuck is it not socially acceptable to be a gay boy or a bisexual man? I would honestly love to know, and if you want to be a jackass and answer that by saying "because lesbians are hot *stupid ass laugh* then just know that somewhere there is someone like me who will introduce you to their left hook real proper like for being such an idiot.

Ryan and myself

On October 20th is Spirit Day, they are asking that we all wear purple in memory of Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase, Billy Lucas and all of the other LGBTQ men and women who have lost their lives to intolerance and senseless hate. I don't know about you, but I'm going to be wearing purple tomorrow, not just for them but for every other LGBTQ person who has had to endure any kind of cruelty, any kind of hate or intolerance or bullying just for simply being who they are. I'll be wearing purple tomorrow for Ryan -- my gay boyfriend, Calvin -- my gay husband, Randy -- my uncle, Kristen and Katie -- my niece and her wife, Brandon -- one of my best friends and everyone else. Why? Because this is America, we should all be free to be who we are, as long as being who we are doesn't hurt anyone. And last I checked being LGBTQ is neither contagious or harmful to anyone.

It’s been decided. On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes and at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools. RIP Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase and Billy Lucas. You are loved.

How do you feel about the bullying of LGBTQ kids in schools?

Just a heads up....

2010-10-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try to change my design before I start my Etsy Event for Jagger's Birthday. That gives me roughly 4 days, counting today, to get it done.

I really like my design, and I really like my chick on my header, but I'm really bored with it..

I got that chick from the Good House Keeping online archives. She came from one of the 1953 short stories that were published. So I may keep her, but I may not. Who knows?

I haven't even decided what I want yet, so expect it to look different at some point very soon.

Sunday, Sexy Sunday...

2010-10-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

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It's time for Sexy Sunday again! Oh hush, you know you're excited about it!

We're sorry about not posting last week, but Ange and I were both really busy and we wanted to just give it a break and handle our bidness. But you know what they say, absence only makes the heart grow fonder, so you should love us even more than you did before.

This week we have a special surprise. We're turning Sexy Sunday into a threesome.

No, not like that! Gah, get your minds out of the gutter, you prevs!

Ange has invited her husband Jason to be our first ever *drum roll please* Guest Host for Sexy Sunday this week! I hope he feels honored, because Ange and I are awesome on our own but when you combine us together we are ~~Captain Planet~~ WAY more awesome-ness than the average person can handle at any given time. So it is really an honor that we've ~~allowed him to be acknowledged as being as awesome as we are~~ asked him to guest host with us this week!

So I give you the special guest host, Ange's husband Jason!

Onto the rules:

1. Use the Sexy Sunday button in your post.
2. Follow the hosts and the guest host.
3. Link your post back to the hosts.
4. If you do not know how to do a link, punch yourself in the face. Just sayin'.

Now for your questions:

1. How do you feel about one night stands?
2. Would you judge someone if they had one?
3. What makes it okay or not okay in your opinion?

And finally my answers (because I KNOW you all are dying to know!)

1. How do you feel about one night stands? I guess I'm rather indifferent to them. To each their own. I suppose, like Ange said, sometimes people don't want a relationship but still want to participate in some naughty time. One night stands would serve that purpose, but then again so would friends with benefits. I suppose one night stands would be a good way to get your freak on without risking messing up a friendship like friends with benefits would. So I guess it's to each their own. As long as your a grown woman (or man) and you're being safe about it I honestly don't give a shit what you do, because it's not my business who you have sex with. Note that I did say as long as you're being safe!

2. Would you judge someone if they had one? No, I try not to judge people about things that aren't any of my concern. As long as you're grown, safe and aren't in a committed relationship then I don't have anything to say about what you do, when you do it or who you do it with. I will however judge you if you're in a committed relationship and are out having one night stands with random people, especially if you're not being safe, just sayin'!

3. What makes it okay or not okay in your opinion? Because I am not here to tell anyone how to live their lives, it's not my place to tell an adult who they can or can not sleep with. I don't think it makes anyone a bad person or a whore or anything like that, and as I said it's not my business.

Next week you can join us for a fun filled game of "I never"

How do you feel about one night stands?

Saturday SIx

2010-10-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know that I'm late with this. It's not my fault! (Then again let's ask ourselves, is it ever?)

Seriously though, it really isn't my fault this time! I got distracted last night watching Sons of Anarchy. That show distracted me all the way through Season Two and into the first two episodes of Season Three. I finally drifted off to sleep at around 6:30 this morning, while the second episode of Season Three of the best freaking show ever was still playing on my computer.

Jana, have you ever watched this show? If you have then I'm sure you understand how one can be sucked in, and if you haven't then sit Mr. Boobies down and watch the damn show. Or don't, because I may not hear from you for a few days or weeks while you're busy obsessing and catching up. I think you two would like it, so watch it if you haven't.

I'm aware that I'm addicted. Since admitting you have a problem is the first step, or so I've heard, I guess I'm on my way to recovery. I'll take the next step as soon as the third season finale airs, scouts honor!

Now, onto Saturday Six. Again, my apologies to the Saturday Six participants and my seriously amazing co-hostess, Jana, for my tardy status for this week. Feel free to slap my hands with a ruler or something.

The Rules:

1.) You MUST take our amazing Saturday Six button and place it in your Saturday Six post!
2.) You MUST link back to ALL the hosts blogs in your Saturday Six post! Not just to my blog, or just to Ashlee's & not even just to Ange's Blog -- You have to link to ALL of the hosts blogs in the post, it's just good manners!
3.) You MUST link up an ACTUAL Saturday Six post where you are actually participating in The Saturday Six. So please do NOT link up your giveaways or just link up your blog when you're not going to actually participate! Again, it's just good manners!
4.) You MUST plat the game correctly. That's the whole point, we all wanna see who you would pick to get freaky with, who you would pick to tie the knot with and who you would choose to kick the bucket. It's no fun if you say kill them all, kill two of them, and don't get nasty with or marry anyone.

This weeks questions are:

1. Worst movie ever made..in your opinion?

2. A stranger you encounter has toilet paper hanging from their pants..or spinach in their teeth...insert any embarrassing item here...Do you tell them?

3. Tell us ONE thing that annoys you. Yes, just one.

4. What's your biggest beef about the opposite sex in general? (Don't be skurred, we won't rat you out.)

5. Would you donate your eggs/sperm to an infertile couple?

6. What's the last book you read?

Now, time to answer them...

1. Worst movie ever made..in your opinion? Oh gosh, I could go on and on with this one. It's hard to pick the worst, when there are so very many horribly bad movies out there. I'm trying to think, but I'm drawing a blank right now. I really didn't like The Time Travelers Wife, my friend kept talking it up and talking it up telling me how good the book was. Then we watched the movie, and I kept telling her I was ready to leave. I do want to read the book though, because Kristy said it was nothing like the movie. TTW is probably not the worst movie ever made, but I can't think of anything else right now.

2. A stranger you encounter has toilet paper hanging from their pants..or spinach in their teeth...insert any embarrassing item here...Do you tell them? Of course I would tell them. I would want someone to tell me, so I always try to extend that courtesy onto others as well. If for no other reason than just in hope that someone will do the same for me should the need arise.

3. Tell us ONE thing that annoys you. Yes, just one. It annoys me when people use you're when they should use your, and vice versa. Anything like that when done repetitively is annoying to me for some odd reason, I have no clue why.

4. What's your biggest beef about the opposite sex in general? (Don't be skurred, we won't rat you out.) The know it all attitude!

5. Would you donate your eggs/sperm to an infertile couple? Yes I would. I know I make cute babies and all, so don't get any bright ideas because my eggs and uterus are already promised out to my gay boyfriend and my gay husband, Ryan and Calvin. I think being a parent is a joy that everyone deserves to experience, and I would be very willing to help someone experience that.

6. What's the last book you read? I found the book Chocolate at the Dollar Store a few weeks back, and since it's one of my favorite movies I had to buy it! So I'm currently in the middle of that one -- good book!

Linky Code:

Blog Stalk and Fawk You Friday!

2010-10-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Y'all already know my favorite cousin (you know, the slutty Nascar loving one) CB, right? Of course you do, everyone knows that crazy whore. What you may not know about her is that she is fickle! Oh so fickle!

Ashley has decided to make a bit of a change to Blog Stalk Friday this week, because there are all kinds of people linking up that don't read or understand the rules of Blog Stalk Friday. Since CB is a little fire cracker this makes her angry. Trust me, you won't like he when she's angry. Well, I like her when she's angry, cause it's kind of hot but that's just me.

So she's wanting us to try to get some new people to link up with Blog Stalk Friday this week. So if you've never linked up head on over to One Crazy Brunette Chick and do it! Oh, and tell her that her favorite Ashlee with two E's sent you, you might get some brownie points or maybe even some purple monkey balls or something cool like that!

Now, on to Fawk You Friday which is hosted by every ones favorite pair of Boobies...oh, and their owner Jana and her fabulous co-hostess Christy from I'm Just Sayin'!

Fawk you to anyone who thinks that I can't be a good parent because I say cunt, whore, bitch, shit, damn and/or the many variations of fuck. Last I checked my use of language didn't have fuck all to do with my being a Mommy, and trust me I'm a damn good Mommy to my boys -- I dare anyone to stand in front of me and say that I'm not to my face!
Fawk you to liars who try to scam people or Churches out of money. You might be able to pay your bills and all that if you didn't spend so much money on prescription drugs from your favorite local street pharmacist and liquor. You might even be able to buy your kids the things that they need too! Just sayin'!
Fawk you to anyone who abuses their children or any child or children for that matter.
A special Fuck You going out to Elisa Baker who wrote a fake ransom note when her step-daughter was reported missing. DSS had been to their house many times and their own family reported them in hopes of getting little Zahra out of that house of hell. Elisa had forced Zahra to stay in her room, and Zahra was often seen with a black eye and bruises and cuts on her body. She had lost a leg from childhood bone cancer and had lung cancer as well. That stupid bitch was abusing that beautiful little girl while she had cancer. Zahra had a beautiful smile, and was fighting for her life against cancer only to be abused by an uncaring step-mother and lose her life to the hands of the very people who were supposed to protect her. (the parents haven't been charged, but the dogs hit on both family cars as well as an industrial wood chipper and a pile of mulch.) I am sickened by this story and by this woman and her husband. I hope that they can find Zahra so that she can have a proper burial and rest in peace! She was a beautiful child who deserved to be treated so much better!
Fawk You to Conan O'Brien for ignoring my tweets and my polite request that he follow me back. Fawk Conan for being a twitter snob!
Fawk You to anyone who isn't willing to get on board with my Stick Money Revolution!
Fawk You Sons of Anarchy, for being so addictive that I stayed up half the night watching!