My Little Life

It's Halloween!! My kiddos woke up this morning and asked..."Can we go trick-or-treating now?" Um...no. But tonight, I will be spending plenty of time in the company of two superheros, a Hollywood starlet, a fairy...and one handsome man. Photos to follow...perhaps tomorrow? And lemme just tell ya, my friends...I don't know what the weather's like where you are...but it's a bit nippy here. Okay, it's down right cold ...and it really puts a damper on the costume when hats and mittens and parkas and snowsuits are required. I don't know about you, but I don't remember Batman wearing snow boots and a Lightning McQueen hat. --------------------------------------- In other news...I made The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Parmigiana last night...and won over my household. And myself. Yes, you read that right...I won myself over. (That photo is her photo, not mine...mine didn't look nearly as pretty as that...and our dinnerwear not nearly as hip......

Yippee!! It's Friday, it's almost Halloween, it's almost a full a moon! What more could we ask for? (Well, I mean, besides a million bucks?!) Rules: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog, answer them, grab the MckLinky Blog Hop code, and link up! No blog? That's okay! Just leave your answers in my comments! Oh, I'd love it if you'd link back to me, Mama M .!! Okay, here we go!! (Thanks to A. , Mindy , Brianne , Heidi , and Erica for their question suggestions! Wanna suggest a question and get a shout out on a future Five Question Friday? Check out my Blog Frog Community discussion thread "Five Question Friday"!) Five Question Friday, 10/30: 1. What were you doing the last time you really had a good laugh? 2. Who was your f irst CELEBRITY crush? 3. What is one talent that you wish you had? 4. How often do you and your spouse go out w/o the kids? Is it frequent enough? 5. What colour(s) is your bedroom? ---------------...

Hi, I'm Mama M. (This is where you all say, "Hi, Mama M!") I have an addiction. It's a problem. Well, okay...it's totally not...but I did recently discover my weakness, my favorite, my soft spot. My kryptonite. The cupcake . Oh, man are they great! They come all individually wrapped and iced (whipped, definitely whipped!!) and sprinkled...and they are just. plain. heavenly. dangerous. What's not to love about something individually wrapped with sprinkles? I mean, c'mon, I know it's not a diamond...but dang close. Dang close !! Cupcakes are a girl's best friend. Well, that and shoes. And... and?!!! No matter how many cupcakes you eat...your shoes will still fit! Man, sista'...it don't get better than that! It just don't. So, what's your kryptonite?

So, the other day...I kinda bragged a little bit. Just a lil'. Okay, okay...I totally bragged and boasted. I told the world and anyone who'd listen, that I was caught up on my laundry! I tweeted and Facebooked and emailed and texted ( texted --is that really a word?!) and phoned and, heck, I even stopped strangers on the street. And everyone was very happy for me! Well, to my face they were...behind my back, they were all probably, "Why, that little, boastful, full of herself gal..." But then... I think the laundry gods, the laundry powers that be , caught wind of my puffed out chest...and decided to set me in my place. Yup, they deflated me with a big SAH-MACK, SLAPPITY, SLAP, SLAP ...right upside the head. For, it seems, that while I know my laundry had issues of procreating before...it now seems as though they are procreating in earnest. Kinda like that stray cat we had a while ago. Yeah... just like that stray cat. And now? Now I've got laundry comin...

What do you think of when you think of the Holiday's? When I think of the Holiday's I think of food, parties and great company (presents?!!). I also think of all the unhealthy food that comes about during the Holiday's...and I think about how I absolutely do not want to gain any weight from all the food I will be consuming. Wouldn't it be great if we could just eat a little healthier? Maybe get that kick in the butt to get us moving? Well Keely and I are starting a Healthy Thru The Holiday's Campaign...just for you (and, well...us too!)! Starting Tuesday, Nov 3 we will be kicking it off. It will run 'til Jan 2, 2010, which is 60 days. Sixty days of Keely and I encouraging you, motivating you and giving you healthy eating tips and exercise tips...plus, a group of women in the same boat as you, who will also motivate and encourage you along! "The plan?", you ask? The plan is, on every Tuesday of the week will have a MckLinky Blog Hop...so, those of ...

If you are a man, hoping to find pajama-ed ladies having pillow fights, or...or, mud wrestling, or...ESPN sports reports...RED X RIGHT NOW!! This post is not for you! I promise you, man...you'll thank me later for warning you ahead of time to steer clear! We're gonna talk about periods... Okay, that last comment shoulda gotten rid of the last of the men stragglers, dontcha think? Today, my lady friends, we're gonna talk about something (gosh, imagine that! A blog post...talking about something...go figure!). Something that, seemingly, has the childbearing woman keeping a close eye out for. Something...that is kinda yucky, and personal, and well...a little slimy . We are here today, ladies, to discuss... Mucous Plugs . In my line of work we hear a lot about these mucous plugs. And I'm here to be quite frank...and honest with you. Pay no attention to those pesky little things. I know, I know...you're sitting there stammering, and sputtering, and saying, "But....

Last week, I totally did not sleep in and miss out being "close to the top" on MckMama's Not Me! Monday list. And this week? Well, I certainly was not being a responsible adult and tending to our bills. Yuck. So, this week, I did not develop a loathing of all things atomic. Atomic bombs, atomic fire balls...well, okay, what I mean is...I do not hate our atomic alarm clock. It woke me up, just like it was supposed to, at 6 am for my 7 am shift on Sunday. I went about my business and was getting ready to leave, when I glanced at the kitchen clock and saw that it read, 7:15. What the?! I went back into the bedroom, and " sho ' nuff " that clock said 6:15...now, for anyone who "observes" daylight savings time, maybe this happened to you. Turns out that the stupid clock did not reset itself one hour early, because last Saturday was not the "original" turn back the clock night. Only, it's next week. So, needless to say...

Mr. Wonderful missed his calling. He shoulda been a carpenter. A TreeHouse carpenter! Please take note of the above picture...no more funky gap ! Mr. Wonderful's un -perfectionism is now concealed...he can breathe a huge sigh of relief, now that no one can really tell, anymore, that there is that odd, slightly larger than the rest gap in the rafters...'course, when you go up into the loft ( yes!! A loft! I think I'll refer to it as a proper noun from here on out...as in, The Loft! )...you'll be able to see that freaky un -properly spaced gap. But we won't remind Mr. Wonderful of that, will we? The view from the bottom, lookin ' up at The Loft ... * Shiver *...just look at this ladder!!?!! Talk about a mother's irrational fears... great. Now, I have another something to worry 'bout (as if I needed more!). E.W. said, "It's a straight up and down ladder, mama!!!" "Um, yes...I see that my dear...now, careful, careful!!! Oh, just l...

..."I'd like to thank the Academy..." Well, okay, not the Academy, but Amanda, Elizabeth, and Richele , for thinkin ' I'm awesome enough for some awards! " I love you, man!!" First, thank you to Amanda and Elizabeth , who gifted me with this: And, since I worked a hard four hours today, and didn't get much sleep...I'm just gonna take it. I'm just gonna selfishly accept it and forget any rules that it comes with! I was lucky enough to receive this award previously, so if you really wanna read some "Honest Scrap" about me, go ahead, knock yourself out!! Click here or here ! But you'll probably be "like huh, and like wha '...and you'll get a little bored an'..." (and that was my favorite line from Bolt... completely random, I know...). Richele , whom (or is it " who "? This grammar stuff always trips me up a little...and to think I considered an English major...) I think is ultra witty and fun, ...

Dude!! It's Friday?!?! I wanna know...just how the heck did that happen? Wasn't it just Friday, like, yesterday? Well, that means it's time for 5QF!! Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog, answer them, grab the MckLinky Blog Hop Code, and link up! I'd be ever so grateful if you'd link back to moi , also! If you don't have a blog, but wanna participate, I invite you to answer in my comments! October 23rd Questions: (thanks to A ., Tamara , Kimberly and Mindi for question suggestions!! Wanna contribute to future 5QF questions and be linked? Check out my Blog Frog community for the "Five Question Friday" thread!) 1. Whats your favorite horror movie? 2. Bath tub or Hot tub? 3. Do you prefer to view a movie at the theater or at home? 4. If you could chose a maid, cook or chauffeur, which one would you choose? 5. Electric Slide, Boot Scootin' Boogie, or the Macarena? -------------------------------------...

It's a tough balance, being a working mom with career responsibilities, and being a mom, with my passion and heart at home with my kids, you know? With my kiddos sick, I stayed home yesterday and today for the first four hours of my shift, then let Mr. Wonderful take over the task of tending to the children. Tonight, as I was leaving my teary kids, prying their grubby paws off my legs, taking my heavy heart with me...I remembered... One of my most fantastic friends was being induced today! And, boy , did that put a little bounce in my step! I figured, I'd get to work, have a few extra minutes to go visit her and the new babe (I was assuming she'd be done...she's done this a few, well, okay, a half dozen times before). Honestly, this woman is the most kind, patient, warm fuzzy you'll ever meet. She is so easy to talk to and is just an awesome person! So, I got to work, and one of my co-workers looks at me slyly and says, "You have your friend!" I coul...

Let it be known...let me shout it from the rooftops for all to hear: Homeschooling mama's are amazing!!!! Seriously, how do you do it? How many of you had backgrounds in teaching prior to making the decision to homeschool?! This week, I have essentially been a homeschooling mama...with two of my three school aged children home with (what I'm assuming is) H1N1, all week long, we've gotten some homework from school to keep up a little (or try). But, geepers, Lou!! I find myself saying things like, "1+1=2, what do you mean why? Just because, that's what it is! What do you mean you don't understand?" I know. I'm awful...but I don't have the foggiest on how to teach!?!?! When I try to explain something, I'm always questioning if I'm doing it right, am I explaining things over their heads or way beneath them?! I think I need a donut. And we've only been at it for, oh...3 minutes. Sigh ...I just feel like grabbing the darn worksheet and fillin...

Pssst ...hey you! Yes, you!! I've gotta warn you about something...no, no, actually some one ! If this lady...she goes by the name of Aunt Flo w, comes knockin ' at your door... do not !!! let her in! She is an ungrateful, vile little guest. Take my word...while the rest of your household will remain seemingly unaware of her presence , she will bring you down, girl! She will make you one mean, bloated, pimple-faced psycho--she's like that, you know. She'll wreck your clothes, make you buy things you'll just have to throw away, she'll make you stuff your face with everything and anything in sight, and still not leave you satisfied. She greatly overstays her welcome...leaving only after a miserable 5-7 day visit. She'll leave your trashcans overflowing with her nastiness, and she may even have the audacity to wake you from your deep slumber, just to pay her some attention! Worse yet, she'll worry you when she's late, turn you into a fretting, nervo...

Please bear with me while I moan, sniff, grovel...I am beat. It appears as tho' we've been kissed by pigs (or, so I like to think anytime one of the kiddos begins to sniffle, cough, or sneeze)...tending to our gaggle of ill children (and, really , who am I to complain...presently we're only at 2 outta 5, not too horrible) makes for a tired mama. That , and...living my day in 30 minute increments. Again, not complaining...to have a baby girl so intent on potty training is fabulous ...it's just that the setting, resetting, setting, resetting of my handy kitchen timer to remind us, "it's time to go potty!!!"...gets a smidge tiring. And, add to it, the additional 3 times in 30 minutes that Tiny Girl would proclaim, " POTTY!!" and we'd rush to bathroom, and she'd squeeze out a couple of drops of potty and be on her merry little way...that's a lot of rushing. Something I'm not too entirely used to. I ain't no spring chicken anymore...