Ten on Tuesday

1. Pretend it’s Monday morning–take us through a day in the life of you.
Well Mondays this semester James my husband gets up about 7:30 and gets our son up and going for school.  They eat and head off.  If my daughter is up then I get her up change her diaper get her clothes on for the day and put her in my bed to watch TV while I take a shower and get ready.  We are typically downstairs eating breakfast by 8:30 or 9.  After breakfast we either run out to do errands or maybe hit an event in my MOMS club.  If we stay home we usually play outside if it's nice or inside if not.  We typically have lunch between 12:30 and 1.  Then I try to clean up whatever needs it.  My daughter either plays by herself or watches Scooby while I work.  We head to the bus stop to pick up my son about 2:30.  We typically get home around 3 and if it's nice I make the kids play outside.  Again if it's not we play inside.  Snack time also happens about the time we get home from the bus.  Once everyone is played out we all sit at the kitchen table and work on homework (the 2 year old colors).  And starting this year we are adding a half hour of reading time on the end of homework.  And we all read for the 30 minutes (not sure how that will work with my lovely headstrong 2 year old...).  Once all the homework and reading is over I start dinner and the kids play (if they start killing each other I put something on the TV).  We eat then head up for bath and bed.  On a good day the kids are clean and in bed by 7!  And I get to relax and do dishes, pick up toys, pack lunches for the next day, etc....

2. What’s your favorite reality TV show?
Of all time The Amazing Race.  But I love so many that's it's a bit sad.  I did a blog post about it awhile back.

3. What motto do you live by?
Well lately I find myself saying It Is What It Is .... a lot.  Things are hard and when something else goes wrong I try not to let get to me .... so my motto lately is, It Is What It Is.

4. If you knew could you try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt?
I would put more into my craft business on Etsy.  Really I would start going to as many craft fairs as I could but I just can't right now.  It's expensive and they happen on Saturdays for the most part and since I now have a job on the weekends that cuts that out.

5. What was your first job?
I was babysitting by the time I was 13 and my first official job was as a cashier at an A&P grocery store in high school at 14.

6. What is your current job?
Stay at home mom during the week and a photographer/salesman on the weekends.

7. What would you call yourself if you could choose your own name (and you cannot pick the one you already have)?
If I had not already named my daughter Marley I would choose that name.  I happen to love it!

8. What musical instruments can you play?
Sadly none.

9. Is it easier to forgive or forget?
Well I have hard time doing either.  I tend to hold a grudge.  But if I had to choose it's easier to forgive but I never forget.

10. What is one food you’d never want to taste again?
Okra.  I HATE it.  I just don't get it.  It's nasty.

Ten on Tuesday ... just a bit late

I know I am a day late and a dollar short but I loved this idea for Ten on Tuesday and still wanted to do it.  

For each of the following, take a picture. This is a chance for us to get a literal glimpse into each other’s lives. Feel free to skip a question if it doesn’t apply to you or it’s too personal. You can include explanations if necessary.

1. My house.  The ONE big (maybe 8 inches) snow we had this year.

2. My shower.

3. The inside of my refrigerator.  It's packed because a.) we trying to eat at home all the time and b.) my mom just left town again we got all her perishables.

4. My pets.  Rio the cat and Frodo the dog.  She is loving on him and he is tolerating it... sorta.

5. My favorite pair of shoes.  I LOVE these flip flops!  They are so comfortable and I can wear them most of the year here.

6. The most comfortable seat in my house (at least according to me).  It also doubles as my computer station.

7. My favorite cups.  I don't know why I like these so much but I do.  They also have matching lids!

8. My laundry room which is also the entrance to the garage which I don't like but oh well.  And yes I know my washer and dryer don't match!  My original washer broke a few years ago so we bought a new washer but didn't see the need to replace a perfectly good dryer so we left it.  Then a few months ago the dryer bought the farm too and we replaced it with the fancy one because we got a ridiculous deal.

9. The views from my office chairs.  Well since my "office" is my home and my craft room is sort of my office I thought I would show you it.

 

The view of my craft room from the playroom

 

Origami flowers and various other crap on one table

 

My spray station - this is a frame for a friend for her baby shower

 

The view from the windows back into the room

10. My spouse & Kids

Confessions of the Day 18

You know how there is always the one ghetto house on the block??  Well my house would be it this week ... umm OK last 2 weeks.  For one thing our grass was really, really ridiculously overgrown.  It was a bit long when we got back from Tennessee (that was TWO weeks ago).  But then James and I had to go right back to work and we have been in a heat wave so mowing just can't happen in the heat of the day (from about 10AM to 5PM). Well then there is issue that I have never mowed a lawn before and don't know how to work the lawn mower (I in theory understand how it works and I am sure I can do if I had to ... it's not rocket science) so that leaves James to do it.  Plus we have been having afternoon/evening storms almost everyday.  So that rules out doing it in the evening.  I must admit it was really bad.  I just knew we were going to get a nasty letter from our HOA (it finally got mowed today btw).  But then driving home from work last night I was looking at our jungle of yard and the broken screen door and the toys in driveway, along with the extra cars and I had to admit that we are the ghetto house at least for a few weeks.

I have been to the movies 3 times in 4 days.  I love going to the movies.  It's my escape.  So I went with my movie buddy and friend Ivy Thursday and then again tonight.  But I also went on Friday when James and I had our date night.  So you can skip Dinner for Schmucks (really silly and not as good as the original) but Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is so much better than I would have thought.  And finally The Switch was cute but you won't miss anything by waiting for the DVD.

I hate Sponge Bob Square Pants!  It's a fact and I never (usually .. just wait) let my kids watch it.  Now James will let them watch it but that's different.  I just can't stand it.  Well I was organizing and going through some things in my craft/scrap booking room this afternoon and my 2 1/2 year old daughter came in.  I didn't mind having her in there with me but of course she started playing with paintbrushes and trying to walk off with some of my origami flowers so when she turned on the TV I let her watch it.  I flipped around for some cartoons and the ONLY one on was yep you guessed it Sponge Bob dumb ass Pants.  And yes I let her watch it so she would stay out of my stuff...  mother with outstanding morals right here.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Where did you go to college?
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), I did both undergrad and graduate degrees there.  I moved here to go to college and never left!

2. What did you study?
My undergraduate degree was a teaching degree & certificate in special education (with an emphasis on learning disabilities) and my graduate degree is a masters in education with a cross categorical teaching certificate in special education (that means I could teach children with all disabilities not just learning disabilities).  Wow now that's a mouth full!!!

3. Was college really all that it was cracked up to be?
Yes and no.  It was a fun time when I learned a lot about life and myself.  I just wish that I had gone into college single.  I missed quite a bit the first year being in a long distance relationship.  I also wish I had gotten into that ceramics class I always wanted to take....

4. How far were you from home?
2 1/2 hours.  Not bad I came home a bit more than I should that first year but again that's because of the boyfriend thing.

5. Did you have the same roommate all four years?
Ha no.  I lived on campus the first year and somehow managed to get into the apartments instead of the dorms.  So I had my own room (it was about the size of parking space) but I shared a living room, kitchen and bathroom with 3 other girls.  Anyway I met some nice girls and became really good friends with one of them for awhile.  But I moved off campus my sophomore year (I was supposed to move in with my boyfriend at the time) but things didn't work out and I had to find a roommate fast.  I found one but she bounced checks on me and basically had her surfer boyfriend move in too with out asking. So after the summer she was out and one of my roommates from the campus apartment moved in.  She ended up getting into a bad car accident at home during Christmas break and ended up not being able to come back to school.  So after that I'd had enough of roommates and moved to a single bedroom apartment so I didn't have to have a roommate.

6. Where did you order food from at 2am?
I don't remember but I am sure it was pizza because around here that would be the only place to deliver unless you got in the car and drove to Taco Bell (one of the only places open 24 hours here).... and I never did that ..... ever....  really .... oh OK I did so sue me.

7. Did you date in college or were you tied down?
Well I already covered this a bit above but I came to college with a boyfriend (my high school boyfriend who I dated for 4 years).  But we broke up the summer after freshman year.  I was single for a few years and did a lot of dating around then I met my husband in my junior year.

8. Funniest drunk college moment?
I really don't remember and I did most of my really bad irresponsible drinking in high school.

9. Did you make it to class on time?
Always!  I hate being late and always have.  In fact I try to be places early if I can.

10. What was your favorite class in college?
I actually liked geology but I really liked religion and philosophy.

Manic Monday ... Who am I kidding more like manic life

I know last week I said I was going to get around to posting about my family vacation/reunion in Tennessee but it didn't happen.  Shocking right?  No not really....  but I do have a legit excuse!!  Last week was my mom's 60th birthday, my husbands birthday (they have the SAME birthday) and then Sunday was my son's 7th birthday.  So this week was a rush of getting things in order from being gone for a week and then prepping for 3 birthdays!  Throw in on top of that my new job and my existing Etsy stuff and I don't have nearly the time or energy I used to have.  But I swear this post is not going to be me whining about everything.

So I had briefly mentioned that I worked this summer as a home companion.  I started in May and worked my last few days the week before I left for Tennessee.  I worked about 20 hours a week taking a 30 year old guy around to appointments, meetings, and to do some volunteer work.  I don't have permission to go into detail about why he needed a companion.  But it was an enlightening and very interesting job.  Maybe I can get permission so I can talk about it sometime because it was eye opening to say the least.  But it would have been nice to be able to work with him a little longer but his situation changed.  I knew the end was coming so I started looking for other job options.  I saw that a company called Portrait Innovations was hiring, so I sent in my resume just to see what happened.  I originally thought I wasn't even going to get an interview because over 6 weeks passed with no call.  But then I suddenly got a call to go in and interview.  It went well and I was offered the job within 24 hours.  I have now worked two days.  I was hired for weekends only which is ok for now.  I am hoping I can move to full time eventually.  Anyway I am going to be taking pictures.  I haven't yet but I am training.  I like the people I work with and I think it's going to be good!

So that's the job situation as of now.  My hubby started back to work (after vacation) last week but the classes didn't start back up until today.  His work schedule this semester sucks but we need the money.  He will basicly be working 12 hours a day Monday through Thursday becasue he has taken on an extra class for extra money. 

And on a completely different note my baby boy turned 7 yesterday.  I used to get very sad and choked up about birthdays because my baby was getting older and was moving away from being a baby.  I love babies so it was sometimes hard.  But this time as I was watching him open presents and read birthday cards I realized that he was going to get older no matter what and celebrating his accomplishments was better.  And he frankly amazed me with his reading and just how big he has gotten and just what a good kid he is.  And is about 10 days he starts 1st grade!!

Ten on Tuesday

OK, OK I know I have been MIA for a little over a week.  I was on vacation in Tennessee for my annual family reunion.  It was a fun time and I loved seeing all my extended family.  Hopefully I will get around to blogging about it soon.  But for now my Ten on Tuesday.

1. Do you have an innie or an outie?
Innie.  It's always been an innie even during both of my pregnancies.

2. What kind of milkshake do you order?
Chocolate or if we go somewhere like an ice cream shop I get a chocolate malted!

3. How often do you repeat outfits at work?
Well at my stay at home mom job I don't really repeat outfits.  It's all about what ever is clean and comfortable.  At my new part time weekend job (I just got a job at a company called Portrait Innovations), I have enough outfits to last the month.

4. What are your feelings about thank you notes?
I always try to send them.  I think it's important.  Now I have to admit that since having two children I haven't been as good about it.  Mostly because I intend to do it and then forget.  It's called mommy brain and it sucks!

5. Do you like spicy food?
I have come to LOVE it!! As I've gotten older my taste and tolerance for spicy foods has increased.

6. How many toilet paper squares do you use?
NO clue!  I don't count and really don't care.

7. Were you in Girl Scouts?
Nope.  I did a year as a Blue Bird (the Brownie equivalent in The Camp Fire Girls) when I lived in Colorado.  I still have my little vest with all the patches and beads I earned sewn on!
 
8. Notebooks/Journals: College ruled? Wide Ruled? No lines? Spiral Bound? Plain front? Decorative?
Again what ever I have in front of me is what I use.  I tend to lean toward decorative journals both spiral bound and traditional book bound.

9. Do you snack throughout the day? What do you pack for snacks?
Well since I am at home most of the time I snack with my kids but I eat almonds/nuts or yogurt or fruit.  I also try to keep almonds in purse for a snack on the go.

10. What is your favorite month? Why?
April.  It's my birthday month, Easter (I LOVE Easter Candy), and it's spring here.  And spring is the by far the best time of the year in North Carolina.  It's not too hot yet and all the flowers are blooming.