Bored

I should NOT be bored, I have a TON to do!!! But I don't wanna!!!!! It is SO late, if I'm not gonna get anything accomplished I should go to bed, but I don't wanna do that either. What the heck is my problem?? I've been working a lot, which is great, although I'm not loving the babysitting tomorrow, I'll deal. My procrastination is way outta control at the moment. I have these wierd flare-ups of it sometimes. I hate it. Its like I'm completely paralyzed, I don't know if its the car situation (which has gone downhill on some respects) or what but something is triggering my acute laziness. I didn't even care that Maddy, the queen of clean came over and saw my filthy kitchen today. Mark might even be a little perturbed when he comes home in the morning and has to wade through piles of laundry.....again. Blah.....blah......blah.


So I'm just blogging to stall and kill my precious time. I think friday nights are my hardest with Marks schedule. I get really antsy, and there is nothing on TV, but I'm wiped out from the week, and still have one more busy day to go so I can't really let loose and relax, or something. I need to start hosting scrapbooking or something on friday nights. Now that could be something fun. It would sure be better than sitting around telling myself to do something. I even chugged a Rockstar energy drink at 10 pm and I'm ready to just cash it in anyway. My caffeine tolerance is WAY too high LOL. Aw, screw it. I'm gonna clear a path for Mark to walk through, run the full dishwasher and call it a night. I'm stuck at home babysitting all morning tomorrow, mabye I'll do it then, right?

Hey

I don't have much to update. Still no wedding pics. I don't want to be a pest to Becky, But I WANNA SEE THEM! So I figure today has been a week so mabye I'll call and see if I can come pick them up.

Which brings me to the other thing....still no car. I found out this morning that they are willing to pay half. NOT ok. It will still be almost a thousand. Don't have it, can't get it, = no car for me. They did the work without my permission, and I am planning on fighting that. I'm so frustrated, I don't know what to do. The thing is......we KNEW that things were gonna be tight for the next couple years, which is why we bought a reliable car with a WARRANTY because we knew we couldn't do these big kind of "surprises". So that has completely backfired in my face. I'm trying to live the LOA and have good PMA but it is hard. What can I find in this situation to be positive about and learn?? Don't be poor....ok not helping. How about.......I'm not driving around and mabye I'm being protected form some horrible accident or something. Thats what I'm going with right now. Mark works nights so I have his car most of the day, so at least I have transportation, thats good. BLAH! They called this morning and I felt like Mark just kinda didn't deal with it how it needed to be dealt with.

I'm gonna go to the pool later and relax (as much as possible) and do a water workout while the kids swim, and swim some laps. Plus I'm babysitting today and I have some hair appts. I keep telling myself "Serenity Now....Serenity Now" it will all be OK.

Update

I wish I had weding pics to put up but I don't have them yet, hopefully today or tomorrow. I'm dying to see them and put them up here. Mabye I'll call her this morning and see if they are ready yet. Right now I am up earlier than the fam having some quiet time. I think I'm finally recouperated from last week, now its time to get back into the swing of life. I have a lot to get done today, I don't really want to do any of it, but I guess I have to. My car has to be taken in, thats gonna cost some $$, which really sucks. I was really hoping that a newer vehicle would eliminate stupid repairs, but nothing is perfect I guess. My mom said she was gong to come help me put my house back together after the mayhem of last week, we'll see, she usually bails out on me completely, so I'm not holding my breath.

So anyway, I am ready to get my fitness thing back on track. I can't take being this size any more, I've really had it. I am going to do the John Berardi 4 week program thats in this month's Oxygen magazine. You really can't go wrong with John Berardi. And I wanted to show my new hero Francisca Dennis who is on the cover this month, but I couldn't find a picture that I could copy onto here. She looks amazing and has 6 kids. Anyway I think that the 4 week program will jump start me back into action. I hate starting over, its the worst. For today, though, I'm going off Diet Coke (as soon as my last of it is gone) and eating clean, I'm gonna incline walk today, then do TBC tomorrow and start my program hardcore monday. I will get to the gym every day this week though to get ready. I need a few days before I will be able to start running again. I want to be back down to 135 by my birthday in September. Thats like 20 pounds I need to lose. Yipes. Doable with some intensity and dedication.

Is it almost over??

Weddings are like moving. It sounds like a great idea, you are all pumped up about everything and its so exciting. The planning, the shopping, things coming together......then you get to that point where you just want it to be OVER already!! But it is not an option to just say screw it, I'm tired and not finish. They got married this morning, and I am exhausted!!!!!!!! LOL And now I have just a few hours to get all of us ready for the reception, I'm nervous about the cake, I'm just hoping it all comes together OK. My mom paid someone to do the reception for us but we still have to get all the good there on time and get the bride re-ready. I must say, her hair and makeup turned out super gorgeous. I've been such a bawl-baby this whole week. They did their photos yesterday afternoon, and seeing my little baby sister looking that amazing out on the green lawn in front of the temple, I just completely lost it. And then the ceremony this morning, fuggetaboutit, I was such a crybaby. But it was happy tears, so I guess its OK. I can't wait to post pics.

Tomorrow I have to go to Cottonwood (about 2 hours away) for the grooms reception, and I have to take all the kids, but my mom and dad got a hotel so we will go swimming and then the thing and then drive home late that night. Then my sister goes to the airport at 6 am. I have to admit, it is not easy being the oldest sister, its just a lot of responsibility, and my mom needs me. I'm just really wanting to have this be the best experience of her life so I'm going overboard with the effort a little. Next week may be a bust, I think I may tank out completely because I feel like a wrung out dishrag physically and emotionally right now with all of it. So if you dont hear from me its becuase I'm laying on the couch drooling in a catatonic state. But its cool, I'm just trying to enjoy the parts of it that I can and work hard, it will be over soon enough.

Bluegrass and Wedding Hustle

I just have time for a super quick check in, I'm sure most of you would appreciate getting the previous post content off the top of this page LOL. Last weekend I took the kids (along with my dad) to the Huck Finn bluegrass festival in Victorville, CA. It was mostly good, a couple small glitches but a fun camping trip and my kids had a blast. It was a LOT of work. Now I know why camping is more of a dad activity, although I think I did prety darn good for a single camping mom with 5. Cade is quite the bluegrass singer. He can harmonize really well and was able to sing with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage (who is apparently a very famous bluegrass superstar) during an impromptu jam session, and really impressed everyone, which was exciting.

Now its full on wedding week. My sisters are all here at my house, we are going with our mom tonight to stay in a hotel suite, hang by the pool, go eat at Olive Garden, then back to the resort to play with wedding day makeup(I am doing it...I 'm a little nervous) but it will be really fun. Then tomorrow sleep in, checkout as late as possible and go get mani-pedi's and lunch. I even got a couple new things to wear so I'm feeling awesome. Chubby, but awesome. :D I trekked out to my friend Casey's house to pick up my new bling-y swarovski crystal Haviana flip-flops. She makes them and I traded her 2 hair weaves for a pair (Yup, they are pricey, but so fab!) so I have some cute shoes to sport my pedi this weekend. I'm so excited. Can you tell I don't get out much??? LOL I will post pics this weekend of all of this fun stuff, I love weddings!! :D

Not quite Ace of Cakes, but.....

Operation wedding cake is going remarkably well. I copied this from a Food Network show where Bobby Flay makes a wedding cake to challenge a real cake maker. I thought it seemed really pretty and elegantly simple. My first attempt the other day at a practice cake was a real cluster, and I was getting discouraged. I just jumped into the project without reviewing all the techniques I know to use, and it was terrible. It was a "remember as you go" type of deal. The things I had not done were pretty much crucial, and I was frustrated so I quit too soon and then the kids got a hold of it and made an even bigger mess. So sorry, Maddy I coudn't bring you any cake, it had finger lines and big chunks out of whole thing by the next morning. I chucked the whole thing this morning. I was thinking I'd take another stab at a practice today. BUUUUUUUT....My practice cake(s) turned out awesome. So now they have become the actual cake. All 4 tiers are frosted and ready to be stacked and decorated with fresh flowers. I have an extra fridge-freezer in my garage where they will chill for 8 days until the wedding. BTW this is not the cake that is being served, it is just there because you are supposed to have one to cut and the groom to stuff in the brides face, and the top for the couple to eat later. We are serving sheet cakes to the guests. I must admit though, I used the white mix with the pudding in it, and is it ever YUMMO. It will still be delicious. I just can't see making it all over again, for one thing it takes about 9 mixes and 2 dozen eggs, plus about 6 pounds of powdered sugar. and a LOT of work. I could do it again, but now I'll have one less thing next week to do. I seriously can't WAIT to put it together, I am so proud!

Here are some pictures I took of it (not stacked yet, of course). The bottom and 2nd layer are covered in thick flake cocount, and there will be Small and large buds ( probably roses) in contrasting colors around the base and all of the base of all the layers except one, and that will have big balls of white frosting piped on top of clear sparkly beads with a silver bead on the tip of each frosting ball all the way around. Then a little nosegay of the roses on the top. So pretty and simple. The coconut is genius because the frosting dosen't have to be smooth. SO I will transport it in 4 parts and assemble it there at the reception and sick a dowel through the whole thing and out the flowers and frosting balls on. It will still take me about 45 minutes to put it all together. Oh yeah, her colors are fuchia and lime, they look GORGEOUS!!

Brain buster.....

Dayton (age 4):

"mommy, why is water invisible??"

How cute is that? Future genius right there. Stumping me already.

Boy I'm on a ramble today, eh??

I hate it that I have to be up early to watch my neice this morning. I love her, she's darling, but she gets up WAY too early. 6:30 this morning just a'int right on a summer monday! If it were my kids I could go back to sleep but I can't take the chance that they will mess up the cake I am practicing making for my sisters wedding next week. There is mischeif in numbers, apparently.

Mark went to scout camp voluntarily on his 2 days off for the week. I wont lie and say it didn't hurt my feelings just a little. So since we've been back from Vegas last tuesday, he worked wed-thru sunday, came home and slept an hour after church yesterday, then left for camp, he'll get back tuesday(tomorrow) then work wed thru sunday again.And work sunday night. Its not me so much, I just feel bad because he dosen't see the kids hardly at all. I don't really love the single mom scemario I've got going on. Its just a long stretch of 2 weeks on my own. Luckily I'm REALLY busy which keeps me distracted but I am SO bored at night. He did not have to go to this campout thing, and really didn't consult me in the least, just "hey, I'm gonna be gone" which I think is the part that hurt my feelings. Oh well I guess if he would have gotten my feedback I would have said "don't go, we hardly see you as it is" and then he would have gone anyway and I would have been pissed then too. BTW we do this whole "scout camp drama" every year, but it usually involves me running some sort of one of his businesses while he is gone for a week at the thing, so its not as bad this year. I'm sure he's having fun sitting around, shootin the breeze with the guys and the boys and making up funny skits and blah blah blah, I'm just saying give it a rest for one stinkin year. And you can bet I'm gonna milk my "girl time" next week with my sisters wedding stuff. We are staying in a hotel suite, going out to dinner and getting our nails done as wedding "prep". Cuz now he owes me BIG TIME.

SO now I'm starting to get geared up for my fall schedule. I signed Cade up for serious football, I pinky promised Sadie dance lessons, and the boys want to play something too. I think I can put them off till later, like a winter soccer league. I'm taking on one extra day of babysitting, I think it will be a full day which will be challenging, but the ONLY other thing I am adding is teaching piano lessons.(I need to call you, Maddy)I can't decide when to start, I'm thinking first week of August, just bedcause that will get everyone a chance to get the school year going and get the routines in order and won't disturb summer fun time. But then I think mabye starting in July would be good, that will get the piano thing going so things don't go too crazy all at once and we'll be all established. I already have 6 students and I think I'm gonna cap it at that in the interest of time and because It will be somthing of a trial. Who knows, mabye I'll suck at it. Well, it would be hard to suck at teaching beginning piano, but certainly possible. My hair business is picking up as well which I am really excited about, I've been pretty busy with it for about 3 weeks straight because my client base is growing which is so awesome. Usually I'm busy for 2 weeks, then kind of dead for a couple weeks and it cycles like that.

SO I have some serious scheduling to do, I've always just kind of taken things as they come as far as hair clients and baby sitting random kids and all that, but its time to put the brakes on it all and get a schedule. I need to pick specific hair days, and specific piano days, and work those around the babysitting days, etc. I know it all seems like a lot I'm taking on, but I'm only babysitting for one more year. I told the mom yesterday, I'm good till the end of the school year,mabye part of the summer, then I'm done. I'll have all my kids in school all day, and my babysitting days will be at a close (besides the casual favors and playdates, of course) So once I stop babysitting, I can do 2 piano days, and 2 hair days, it will be way less overwhelming. I am basically looking at 1 more school year of chaos, its the last big push to the end.

Now to the big question...the Fitness thing. There is no WAY I will be able to pull this off this year without working out and eating right. I'm preachin to the choir here, but we all know that the only way to live a turbo-lifestyle and have the energy to not either A> Crash and burn and quit everything, sinking deep into depression or B>start using illegal drugs or C> check into the loony bin with a nervous breakdown - is to get some energy and endorphins flowing every day and cut out starch, fat and sugar. I gotta do it, or I won't be able to do all the other stuff and still be a good mom/wife. Simple as that.

BTW What happened to my cool template?? Is it gone?

Fricken' Summer

OH sure, they talk about the lazy days of summer, days stretching out on end of nothing to do, YA WHATEVER! This week has been horribly busy. Well, Monday and Tuesday I was in Vegas which rocked and was a nice getaway,(can anybody say Seafood buffet at the RIO??) but it all went to crazy land after that. I haven't made it to the gym and I'm TIRED. At 11 o'clock today I will be hatin it, I have my 4 yo neice (spent the night and got my boys up at 5 AM!!! I could kill her right now)I'll have the girls I babysit, my 5 kids, plus my other friends 2 boys. WHAT THE HELL???? How many is that?? 10?? Yeah, 10. Oh yeah, and Mark is gonna be sleeping because he's working graveyards. Oh wait....I'm doing a hair appt (a weave) at 1, and...whoopsie I told my landlord he could come fix stuff at 1 today....Yeah, this is s sucky day. Luckily I get rid of 3 of the kids at 1, and you know we are just heading out to the park. Its only gonna be about 93 today, so this morning will be nice anyway. And if I start to lose it I will just relax and think about how great Vegas was......



How can you not love the end of that??? Its kinda hard to film because the whole thing is like a quarter mile long. Anyway...welcome to summer. Hopefully I'll have hair left by the time school starts.

Made my week!

OK yeah, I hafta tell about how I got asked out the other day. It was a couple weeks ago. It was so funny. It makes me realize how glad I am that I am not out there looking for someone to hook up with. Geez, it must be brutal!! I was at home depot getting light bulbs and stucco patch (so glamourous, I know) and I was asking one of the employees where something is (of course) and I accidentally made eye contact with this guy, I had been trying not to but it's hard, I could tell he was looking at me.. I hate that. So I start walking back to find some styrofoam and sense someone behind me (not in a creepy way, just someone there) and its the same guy. Cute light skinned black guy in scrubs. He's saying "Excuse me.....excuse me" I'm like Oh crap, so being the nice person I am I turn around....

Guy:"HI, is *so-and-so*(can't remember the name) around? "

Me: "what?"

Guy:"You know, *so-and-so*.....you don't work here with her?"

M:"No, um, I don't work here" (DUH I'm not wearing an orange vest retardo!)

G:"Oh, gee, I'm sorry" stretches out hand "I'm *Sam*(can't remember the name)Its really really nice to meet you" Shakes my hand, but keeps holding it, ya know how they do "So, are you shopping for stuff for the house then? (yes, the a/c filters were the clue)

M:"Oh, yeah, just house stuff" I plop my ring hand up on the cart-my heart is pounding at this point, I'm so not clever

G: "So do you ever get over to Fridays for drinks anytime?"

M: "Ah, no, I don't. I'm just a boring stay at home mom"-giggle

G: "aw, never, huh? Well, you are a very pretty girl, it was sure nice to meet you"

M: "Um, thanks, you too"

G:"See you later"

Boy I wish I could have come up with something so snarky or funny but I was so speechless, I probably looked like a deer in the headlights. I felt like it, anyways. I know its stupid, but it was very flattering. I was looking pretty cute that day, I was all showered and having a good hair day. I coudn't wait to get home and tell Mark, I knew he'd get a kick out of it. His approach was alright, I'd give it about a 5, although the "do you work here?" line is a little corny, he just jazzed it up by mixing in a "Don't you work with so-an-so?" which is just a version of "do I know you?". I give him points for creativity and courage to just approach a potential date wearing scrubs, kind of happenstance. I seem to get hit on by the same "type" of guys (not that it happens ALL the time, but on the rare occasion) I really think its my hair (esp. when it was blonder) and my *ahem* body type. If you get my meaning.


While we are on the subject I have to add the one time last year that the SAME GUY approached me twice in about 3 months time. Once at circleK, and then down the street at Target. Same guy, same lines, he must have thought I was 2 different women. What is up with that?? I REALLLY needed a snarky comment that time but I totally blanked with shock. Talk about hilarious!!!! The only thing that bothered me was the second time I was with Sadie, I'm like, Dude, seriously. He was a cute (very cute) light skinned black guy. He had a pretty nice car too. Too funny though.


Anyway, its a funny story and it made me feel good, and we ladies ALL need a much as we can get of that, huh?? LOL

I so needed to hear this....

I was gonna post about how I got asked out on a date the other day because its an awesome story but instead I must make this post a shrine to the fabulous SKWIGG who has somehow crawled into my brain again and given me hope. I LOVE HER! I am too retarded to imbed her blog link into my post so you'll just have to click on her from my links list if you want to read but I just really needed her wisdom, and there it was. Love it. Its the "Kick me" question.

I'm ready (and I mean physically as well as mentally) for Vegas 2 days early. Ready, Ready, Ready right now. Lets go already. WOOO HOO!