and that's what i think about that.

i'm glad that jennifer h u d s o n finally starting singing a new song in her weight watchers commercials. but, i still want to stab myself in the ear when they come on.

speaking of weight loss commercials, what the eff mariah c a r e y??

no, i don't want to open your email regarding pills i can take to enlarge my wang. i don't have a wang. i also don't care if i've won the uk lotto or if you're a prince from nigeria offering me money. and, crazy asians with business propositions...buzz off!

in addition, all of the eggheads, scantily clad girls & other twerks {that's what you get when you combine the twit with a jerk} have gots ta go. no, i don't want to "check this out" nor do i want to be your friend. get a life. 

coca cola, thank you for making the winter cans red again. the white cans caused me much anxiety because mama does not like the diet variety of your drinky drink.

baby boy clothes, stop being so damn cute. i'm on a budget. {and, no, i'm not pregnant.}

budget, stop being so damn limiting.

pain in my neck, i hope you go away sooner than the day both of my children move out of my house. wishful thinking, i know.

who in their right mind would wear a forever lazy?! did the commercial really suggest that you wear it while tailgating? and, are you so damn lazy that you need a back flap for easy access to use the bathroom? oh, lawdy.

football...why aren't you over yet?

crazy ass virginia weather...wind chills in the teens & sixty degree temperatures all in the same week? you suck.

people on house hunters. it's just paint and wallpaper. and, are you really complaining about the size of the kitchen?? um, my house could fit in that kitchen. seriously, hgtv, where do you find some of these people?

and, speaking of finding people, have you seen some of the moms on toddlers & tiaras? holy crap.

and that, folks, is what i think about that.

bitch alert: if the shoe fits, wear it.

it's that time of the month again. time for me to bitch, bitch, bitch. i'll try to keep it clean. maybe. if your eyes are sensitive, or you find cussing offensive, then i kindly ask you to go read a different blog.

oh, and the idea isn't to be offensive. i just need to get things off of my chest clear my head.

---

to the people who clip antlers & a red nose on to their vehicle,

stop it. you look like an ass driving down the road. you'll look like an even bigger ass when it's february & the antlers are still clipped to your car. there's only one rudolph & your whip isn't it.

respectfully,
the driver of an antler-free vehicle

---

dear kids in my 'hood,

my crepe myrtle tree is not the neighborhood jungle gym. stay out of my damn tree, please & thank you.

from,
the bitchy lady who lives on the corner

---

to the neighbor who lets his dog shit in my yard,

i don't find it pleasant to walk across my front yard only to have to dodge land mine size piles of hot poo. clearly, you don't believe in cleaning up after your four-legged friend. unfortunately for you, i have a pretty good idea of who you are. be scared.

sincerely,
the lady who will bag your shit up & leave it on your doormat

---

to my dear, sweet daughter,

let me make this very clear: whatever is not an acceptable response to anything that i say to you or ask you to do. got it? good.

love,
your mother {who is over your tween angst}

---

to my inquisitive son,

it is not okay to ask questions about when the world is going to end or how people get pregnant while i'm driving in the rain at night. come to think of it, don't even ask me those kinds of questions. ask your father instead.

love,
your mother who must now go dye her hair...again.

---

dear pottery barn,

i really hope you fix your screw up. i mean, if i wanted stockings with crooked embroidery, then i would have done it myself. it would have been a hell of a lot cheaper, too.

here's to hoping i'll actually receive two new stockings before christmas,
a potential ex-customer

---

to my patience,

i know you ran off with my sanity, but it would be nice if you came back. please.

from,
the lady who snaps faster than a rubber band

---

good gracious. do i need to pop a valium or what??*


*kidding! i've never taken one. ever.

as good as it gets.

i really should be studying for my algebra final, but i'm not. my mind just isn't in school mode any longer. good thing the semester is technically over and, once i take that algebra final on thursday morning, i'll be left to my own devices until the spring semester starts in january. what will i do to fill my time? i plan on reading, knitting {go buy a scarf!}, and pretty much nothing else. kidding! i'm sure i'll be just as busy while on break as i usually am while slaving away in grad school.

i know i'm not the only person out there who is having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that christmas is less than two weeks away. with our budget being what it is...i'm not even close to being done with christmas shopping. even more upsetting? i was in joann's today & they already have valentine's day crap on display. what the what? bah humbug!

speaking of christmas, i ordered stockings from pottery barn. adam flipped out about the price of each stocking {yeah, that's the last time i leave a packing slip laying on the counter}. as for me? i flipped out about this bullhonkery:

{gotta love a cell phone pic on the fly}

seriously, did somebody hit up happy hour before their shift? pottery barn is sending me two new stockings with the embroidery done properly. at least i hope they really are...the feedback on their facebook page is not good. {and, yes, i posted this pic there as well.}

last week, malia went with my parents to say goodbye to nono. she insisted. i let her go. the vet's office called to make sure malia was doing okay. good gracious is that office filled with compassion & love or what? we pick up nono's ashes on wednesday. {this past sunday, my mom said she woke up and said, "i need to let nono out." broke. my. heart.}

if my christmas tree gets peed on one more time, i'm going to do & say things i'll regret. well, no, not really. i'm using a pet deterrent spray, but apparently one of my boys LOVES our $15 martha stewart faux tree. {yes, $15...how's that for an after christmas clearance blue lights special??}

since i seem to be on a christmas kick, let me share a favorite christmas song of mine. it's not traditional in any way whatsoever and that is why i love it.

{i love robert earl keen. yep, whoever posted this vid on you tube spelled his name wrong.}

and, i'll leave you with that. why? because my brain is fried, it's nearly 11pm and i need sleep. don't fret, however. i'll post more meaningful stuff soon. maybe tomorrow. promise. {my fingers may or may not be crossed behind my back.}

yep, still random.

first of all, i still have a few scarves looking for a good home. you can check them out here. but, don't forget about this beauty, too:

another infinity scarf!
{clearly, they're "my thing"}

this one is a rich, deep purple color.

knit using the knit or garter stitch on a really big needle so the stitches are more "open," if you will.

again, 100% acrylic yarn as used.

this is approximately 8" wide & 68" long {before sewing the ends together}.

remember, $20 includes first class shipping {priority is an extra $3.50}. if you buy more than one scarf, the first is $20 & each additional scarf is $17.

i'm sorry i keep pushing the scarves, but i'm curious to see if my knitting will take off as a nice, paying hobby. wishful thinking, i know.

so, i'm on month two of using homemade laundry detergent {recipe found here} and homemade dishwasher detergent {recipe found here}. i will never buy laundry detergent again. i'm hooked on the homemade stuff. it's cheaper and, quite frankly, i think it cleans better. i'm on the fence about the dishwasher detergent, however. didn't i read somewhere that i could run white vinegar in the dishwasher to help with the film? or, maybe i just made that up.

i hate that i'll still be working on completing my practicum next week. the semester ends friday. but, it's all good. and, i'm starting to think that first grade is the grade level for me. of course, i say this now when i still have a rotation in 2nd & 3rd grade as well as student teaching.

tomorrow is the day. i've never had to say goodbye to a pet before. flushing goldfish doesn't count. {well, about that whole "saying goodbye" thing...our family dog passed away back in 2003, but i didn't know right away since it happened the day after i gave birth to aidan. my parents didn't want the news to upset me...or my milk supply. ha!}

but, on a happy note, buxton will turn a year old on friday. yay!

june will be an exciting month.

i'm stressing over money...again. but, who doesn't this time of year?

i enjoy how quiet my home is before my children get home from school. once 2:45pm hits, the fighting, sass & headaches begin. 

i may or may not be ordering personalized stockings for my dogs. and, yes, i realize this does not help my financial-related stress.

i have quite a few product reviews in the works for this month as well as a really, really awesome giveaway. trust me.

one day i'll resume some sort of meaningful blog schedule and actually write about stuff that you're interested in...i promise. for now, just deal with me, please, and buy some scarves. pleaseandthankyou.

croutons & middle school.

it's monday.

it's the last week of the semester.

it's time for a healthy dose of random.

i've been on a crouton kick lately. i add them to everything. you know, because topping your beef stew or cream of mushroom soup with croutons is so damn good.

my husband is sick. he's never sick. this isn't good, y'all. why? because he turns into a big, ole baby when he's sick. homey don't play that.

i've sold seven scarves so far! there are four left. i plan on knitting more this week.

my throat hurts. good thing i'm sampling these lozenges.  a review & giveaway are in the works.

did i mention that this is the last week of the semester? one of my classes finished last friday. i'm trying to finish both of my practicums by the middle of next week. i also have a final exam to work on early next week {it's online} and an algebra final a week from thursday. think happy thoughts about that algebra exam, folks. "c" stands for credit!

i'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of the holiday cards i ordered from erin condren. here's a peek:

i also ordered cards from tiny prints this year, too. they turned out amazing if i do say so myself...

if you're wondering about the pictures on our cards, we had lots of fun on the beach with leah from silly little sparrow photos.

adam & i are on the fence about leaving our current cell phone provider. we've been customers since the early 2000s and we're not a fan of all of the recent fee changes they've made. i mean, why do we need to pay you our cancellation fee for each line in order to change our calling plan?  that. is. whack.

our daughter came home with a big ole packet of information about middle school including her class registration form and information about applying for an international baccalaureate program. i did okay on her first day of kindergarten, but i'm not sure my heart can take middle school. i want my baby back.

{malia, on her first day of day care, 13 months old...yes, she had a big dome piece}

thursday will be a sad day. a very sad day. my parents are saying goodbye to their dog, noel {a.k.a. nono}. she's been in our care because my parents are out of town & it's been difficult taking care of her. she's old, is blind, and has a host of other issues...it's time. we told the kids on saturday. my parents will be back in order to say goodbye. if you follow me on the twit, you know how much of a mess i was last week. i can only imagine what i'll be like come thursday.

harry potter marathons on abc family always distract me. always. but, it's a welcome distraction.

i have a dinner date on friday night, but not with my husband. i cannot wait! {seriously, it's not like that y'all.}

yesterday, adam helped his mom's boyfriend install new kitchen countertops.  last month adam helped friends tile their entire home. the tile? it's beautiful. click here to see glimpses of it. i'm very thankful i have a husband who is so generous with his time.

psst...my new oreck magnesium vacuum will be here tomorrow. i cannot wait! keep your eyes peeled for my review & a giveaway. yes, an oreck giveaway!

whew. now that's a smattering of random!

bah humbug & all of that crap.

i thought about subbing shit for crap in the title, but figured i should keep things klassy. ha ha ha.

anyways.

thanksgiving is over. that's a good thing, too, considering i'm already over the leftover turkey & all of the other side dishes that are still sitting in my refrigerator.  by the end of the week, my refrigerator will be cleaned out & december will be in full effect. so, in honor of november's end {and the fact that it's a crummy monday}, how about a little brain dumpage?

• i still need three people to participate in a children's book swap. please leave me a comment with your email if you want to participate. 
• there will be no thanksgiving recap on my blog because a) i didn't take any pictures, b) it was uneventful, and c) i just don't want to recap it.
• our house has been "ho ho ho'd." we put up our tree on saturday. adam put up the outdoor lights yesterday. i need two green pillar candles {hello, walmart!} and some hooks for our stockings & i think our mantle will be complete. {we have stocking holders, but they are heavy & i don't want to use them this year.}

• i also finished a christmas rag wreath for our front door. i'm not sure if i should add a "merry christmas" bunting. i was thinking it would look great with a big, glittery "c" in the middle. or, it's kind of nice on it's own. what do you think?

• i'm making three more {i've already made one} rag wreaths for teacher gifts except they'll be smaller than the one pictured above and the colors will not be holiday related. i also made one the same size as the christmas rag wreath, but in purple, as a gift for a family member.
• speaking of making things, i have a few scarves for sale. i was able to knit over the weekend. i finished three scarves and started working on two more scarves. it seems that i can't just work on one thing at a time. i'm listing more scarves tomorrow, but here's a sneak peek {the color is not as dark as it seems}:

• the end of the semester is rapidly approaching. in fact, one of my classes ends this week. i'm looking forward to the break. next semester is going to be crazy. crazy, but worth it.
• family visits are weird. no, it's not weird when my mom & dad visit. we love them to bits & pieces. but, it's weird to visit with family that you haven't seen in a while. and, when i say a while i really mean YEARS. and, that is all i will say about that.
• i saw a commercial for ntelos wireless & it mentioned something about buying out your current mobile contract if you switch. i don't know if this is a gimmick, but i'm looking for any reason to leave t-mobile.
• as a result of entering ap's giveaway, i stalked the red envelope site for a little bit this morning. on my wish list? i'll need two of them, but i want need this:

{you can buy me this here}

• speaking of dogs, remember how i told you that our christmas tree is up? yeah, well, one of the dogs peed on it. now i have to wash our red tree skirt. fabulous.
• as much as i want to participate in cyber monday sales, i'm not. our budget said no. that's cool.
• oh, i went shopping on black friday. never again will i go to walmart on black friday. what an experience that was! who knew $2 towels would cause a fight that required a police escort?! and, never mind the comment made in the paper about how a car payment would be late because getting a $199 television was important.

how is your monday going? 

are you ready for hanukkah & christmas? 

thursday randoms.

it's been a week since i blogged about my not-so-pleasant encounter with a rude friend. thank you for your sweet comments. it's unfortunate that someone had to say something about my hair cut, but whatever. as ron white says, "you can't fix stupid."

now, on to more pressing issues...thursday randoms...

• i missed practicum this week. sad. but, considering part of my rotation is in a toddler room and i woke up with a sore throat & congestion on monday morning, well, i think i made the right decision by staying home. i suppose i should mention, too, that i was in bed by 8pm on sunday {midnight is usually my bedtime} and i had the chills, too. fast forward to wednesday morning when i nearly barfed all over myself. yeah, spending the day in a first grade classroom would not have been smart. i'm really hoping that i start feeling better by the weekend.
  
• and, just so we're straight, this {what seems like} week-long illness does not indicate in any way whatsoever that i could be pregnant. no way, jose.
  
• adam has been laying tile at a friend's house in the afternoon after work & on the weekend. her house flooded during hurricane irene and, unfortunately, she & her family are still trying to get the house back in order. i'm glad adam is so generous with his time and is able to help.
  
• it's hard to believe that i have a month left before final exams. the fall semester seems to be zipping by! i'll be receiving my masters degree in no time! {four more education classes, two general ed classes & 14 weeks of student teaching is all that i have left...}
  
• i replaced my daughter's TOMS {they fell apart after three weeks & nordstrom gladly exhanged them for me} and i also exchanged my pair {they were unworn, but the same style that fell apart}. now i'm thinking about taking mine back. i still have not worn them. they seemed like a good idea at the time...
  
• writing my 2 on tuesday post made me sad. and mad. i'm still pissed that some of my jewelry is missing. still no explanation. still haven't heard from the friend i accused. actions speak louder than words, huh?
  
• my erin condren order arrived on wednesday afternoon. that means i'm no longer stalking the fedex website for my package's whereabouts.
  
• our family photo shoot was postponed to this weekend. last weekend the weather was awful. well, it was partly cloudy, but it was windy as hell. i kind of wish we would have taken at least one photo on the beach. you know, getting sand blasted. it would have made for a very funny holiday card, don't ya think??
  
• i learned a new knitting stitch this week. it's pretty & a nice change from the seed stitch that i usually knit. and, because learning one new stitch isn't enough, i'm also trying to master a different, more complicated {to me} stitch as well. you know, while i'm juggling grad school, being sick, my own kids...no wonder i am sick.
  
• i plan on posting pictures {and prices} some of my scarves at some point over the weekend. to see one that i recently knitted, check out this post at life with the haas'.
  
• i went to the eye doctor last week. i'm getting reading glasses. they should help out with the headaches i've been having lately. 
  
• did you enter my tiny prints giveaway yet? if not, you better. i'm choosing a winner on saturday morning!

and, because i feel i should include a picture, i'll leave you with a {crappy cell phone picture} of a pretty magical spot in my city. whenever i meet this girl & that girl for coffee at one of our favorite local coffee shops, i take the back roads which allow me to drive past a marshy area. one morning on the way to coffee, i noticed the birds. on the way home, i stopped {yep, i put the quest in park in the middle of the road} and took this picture from the driver's seat...

seriously, it's magical. the amount of snow white egrets & herons & other feathered friends hidden in this swampy part of the woods is amazing.

happy thursday, y'all!

dear...

dear receptionist at the pediatrician's office,

i find it damn near impossible {and all kinds of annoying} that every time i bring my children in to see the doctor i have to fill out 34089436 forms. again. this morning, we came in for flu shots. my children saw the nurse, got their flu shots & were back in the waiting room where i was still filling out paperwork. i don't understand why you need yet another patient information form filled out for my daughter. she's been a patient there since she was an infant...she'll be eleven in march. clearly, you guys need to figure out a better way to keep your records updated. you're wasting trees & my time.

sincerely,
a pissed off mom with a hand cramp

---

dear michelle dugg@r,

most other women roll over at night and tell their husband to leave them the fuck alone. or, next time you feel "the poke" make up an excuse {seriously, the headache one works well}. try it sometime. i can't believe you're having your 20th baby. i wish you the best, of course, but after this child you should seriously consider giving your vagina a break.

sincerely,
a mother of two who loves her birth control

---

dear son,

you're eight. remember that the next time you whine & i tell you that you sound like a baby.

love,
your mother {who WILL snap the next time she hears you whine}

---

dear former algebra professor,

don't email the class offering your help or tutoring services. correct me if i'm wrong, but you didn't even show up for a study session that you set up when you were our professor. also, don't email the class letting them know you'll be hanging around the library in the same building we have class. it makes you look & sound creepier than you already are.

respectfully,
someone who still doesn't understand algebra but is doing better without you

---

dear time,

slow the fuck down. please and thank you.

sincerely,
a mother, wife & grad student who is on the verge of a breakdown

---

dear daughter,

you're ten. you're not grown. if you want to act grown, then you need to get a job and help out with the bills. speaking of bills, you don't pay the cable bill so stop bogarting the television remote & the dvr. it makes me {ahem, your mother} mad when my shows don't record because you just have to record the entire series of "toddlers & tiaras" or "dance moms."

i love you dearly,
your mom {who deletes all of that crap off the dvr while you're in school}

---

wow. that was fun. seriously. what an awesome form of therapy. and, just so you know, i was inspired by andrea from my chihuahua bites for these snarky snippets to whomever it may concern. got a lot on your chest? do this. you'll feel better. trust me.

oh, and if you made it this far, make sure you keep your eyes open because i {along with every other blogger in the blog-o-sphere} have a GREAT tiny prints giveaway coming. did someone say 50 free cards?! yep!

also, if you have kidlets {like i do} then you'll want to check out tiny prints' facebook page tomorrow {november 9th} to find out how you can send a card from santa to your child! further details will be on tomorrow's blog post as well.

what's better than a brain dump?

a photo dump!

why? because not only do i get to ramble, but i include pictures, too. you know, because sometimes the whole "words with no pictures" thing just isn't appealing...

let me preface the dump with this: the pictures are from my phone and, no, it's not an iphone. {yes, i have cell phone envy.}

{orly's nite owl}

speaking of orly, did you enter my giveaway yet? hurry. i choose a winner on friday!

{cake pops}

i made them for the cake walk at the fall festival at my kidlets' school.
when i dropped them off they were sized up by another mother.

"did you make them?" she asked.

you're damn right i did.

{for what it's worth, there was more than one tray/display of cake pops at the cake walk & mine were the first to go.}

{coconut macaroons}
hubby LOVES them.

malia may or may not have gotten in the cake walk line about ten times trying to win

MY macaroons back for her daddy.

she succeeded.

{pumpkin spice bagels} 

{pumpkin pie pop tarts}

i need another pumpkin obsession like i need another 

hole in my head.

but, seriously, both are delish. stupid delish.

{and i don't even like pop tarts!}

{oh, hello, nutella in a 'to go' pack!}

damn you, wal-mart, for having this ish in the check out line!

i had to have these.

{too bad the kids ate them.}

{frisco's new up country collar}

i bought frisco a new collar while i was visiting my sissy in boston.

this collar couldn't be more perfect for him.

he loves his mom!

 {two-stitch knit necklace}

i spend too much time & money at a.c. moore.
last time i was there i bought some of martha stewart's mambo yarn.

{me likey!}

{rag ribbon wreaths}

i'm late to the game, i know.

the little one is a teacher gift. the big one is a family gift.

i'm also making a holiday themed wreath for my door.

 {your eyes do not deceive you...}

yes, there are "swirls" in my mani.

how?

{this}

sixteen freakin' dollars at sephora, but so neat.
{and i'm pretty sure my mom took it with her...since she paid for it and all...}

psst...these pictures are mine. don't steal them. i'll cut you.

as my uncle alfred says, "it's okay!"

it's thursday. 

you know the deal.
{if not, you better recognize.}

get your booty over to a complete waste of makeup {neely has a new domain so make note of it!} OR brunch with amber and link up for...

it's okay...
...that my algebra professor was fired. the new professor is fabulous {and now i actually understand the material}.
...to feel a bit stressed about school. not only am i trying to juggle my work load, but i'm also helping my husband jump through all of the paperwork hoops so he can start taking classes in the spring.
...to listen to "brass monkey" by the beastie boys while your kids are in the car {seriously, my minivan was thumpin' & bumpin' down the road}.
...that the only reason your kids recognized the beastie boys/song is because a) your daughter watches just desserts and remembers when ad-rock was a guest judge and b) your son says, "oh, that was the name of the beer from the just desserts pantry!" {i guess there goes my chance to win mommy of the year...}
...to think to yourself {while rocking out to "brass monkey"}, "how neat. i was their age when i first heard this song." {the "licensed to ill" album was released in 1986. i was nine years old. and, yes, i had a copy.}*
...to want to say, "yo baby, wassup?!" {i blame brass monkey.}
...that i've been spending a little too much money lately. at least some christmas presents have been purchased. in addition, material to make some christmas presents have been purchased as well.
...to feel defeated after spending hours on what seemed like the worst assessment i've ever taken. seriously, y'all, the midterm for one of my education classes {an assessment class, no less!} was brutal. brutal because it sucked, not because i didn't know the material.
...to be excited for saturday night's girls night. we get together every october to celebrate our friendship. click here to read about our first date. click here to read about our first anniversary. click here to see how our group has grown.
...to feel kind of nervous about wearing a dress to girl's night on saturday. y'all, i'm almost always in jeans. but, my sweet friend & partner in {shopping} crime yanked me out of my comfort zone. how? we shopped at forever 21 where i not only purchased a dress, but leggings, too. {and i don't ever shop at forever 21.}
...that i miss my long hair. not gonna lie about this. i miss wearing a pony tail. 
...if you haven't entered my orly nail polish giveaway yet. you still have time. the winner will be announced on october 28th.
...that i really should be working on homework instead of writing this blog post.

*before you get all cray-cray on me, my parents were pretty relaxed about my musical choices growing up. i was a good kid, made good grades, didn't cause trouble or get into trouble. they really appreciated the fact that my sister & i had very eclectic taste in music and did not censor our choices. i am the same way with my children. there are some groups, songs, etc. that i prefer them not to hear or listen to, but for the most part they listen to what adam & i listen to. music is a form of expression. it's an art. i want my children to appreciate it and all genres of it.

i confess...

...that i have no earthly clue who nicki minaj is. i don't even know if i spelled her name right.
...that i don't watch glee. nor do i watch dexter.* or modern family, parenthood, or any of the other sitcom shows on television.
...that i don't watch college football. acc, sec, um, they have no meaning to me.
...that i sometimes feel like more of a mother than a wife to my husband {despite the fact that, years ago, during a very heated argument he told me he wanted me to be more like a wife and less like a mother to him}.
...that i have control issues. i also have a tendency to micro-manage. just ask my husband.
...that i don't keep a spotlessly clean house. my shelves might not pass the white glove test, but my home is certainly far from filthy & uninhabitable.
...that there is a picture frame in my bedroom with no picture in it. i love the frame, but i hate the frame color. i need to repaint it.
...that i often have great blogging ideas in my head, but i usually fail to write them down or type them out. hence, this cheesy, list-style post.
...that i'm not very trendy when it comes to clothes & accessories. hell, i just recently became obsessed with scarves as an accessory!
...that i don't read as often as i probably should. i blame grad school.
...that i'm nervous as hell about finishing grad school {read: student teaching} & finding a job.
...that i would pack up & move out of this city {and maybe even out of this state} if we could.
...that i do sometimes think about what my life would be like if a) i were single or b) if adam & i didn't have children. i think it's healthy to wonder about these kinds of things.
...that i love, love, LOVE the allstate mayhem commercials. this one is currently my favorite:

{the look on mayhem's face as the car spins...i die!!}

...that blogs that play music drive me bonkers. they may or may not be the reason my computer's volume is always on mute.
...that i have a love-hate relationship with wal-mart. some days, i love going there {read: in the early morning}.  other days, i avoid it at all costs {read: sundays, before a holiday or any time during the summer}.
...that i will watch clueless, 50 first dates, steel magnolias or the notebook any time they are on television.
...that the reason my head hurts is probably because i need to get my eyes checked. i don't even remember the date of my last eye exam. terrible, i know.
...that i have spent entirely way too much time trying to come up with this list. seriously.


* my sister wants me to borrow her dexter dvd collection. why? because she knows that adam & i will like the show and apparently i laugh like one of the characters on the show. don't believe me? just ask rachel.

it's been one week.

a blogging hiatus here & there seems to be the norm lately. ah, well. c'est la vie!

before i start to ramble, let me remind you that erin condren goodies are still available at one kings lane.  the gift cards are sold out, but you can still get labels, holiday cards & her fabu lucite tray. click here if you wanna see the goods.  

and, since i'm doing a little housekeeping...

i stumbled across julep by accident. okay, maybe not. i mean, my partner-in-crime friend {aka everyone's favorite beach bum} emailed me about it. and, i drank the kool-aid. i totally canceled birchbox in favor of receiving nail polish & hand products once a month. i got my first shipment yesterday. i die. i'll post about it soon, but here's a link to julep if you're interested in seeing what it's all about. scour the net for coupon codes, too...they are out there. promise.

oh, and here's a great site for you if you're interested in organic, eco-friendly goodness: abe's market. 

abe's market is described as "a blend of etsy & whole foods...and features bits & pieces from amazon, groupon & home shopping network to connect buyers seeking amazing natural products with the people who make them." i've browsed the website & it's pretty awesome. i plan on doing some of my holiday shopping at abe's market. and, for my sweet readers, abe's market has offered a one-time only discount code for $10 off a $30 purchase: ENB-6543s4 {expires november 11th}

okay, on to the nitty-gritty...

i went to boston over the weekend. my mom called me last wednesday & asked if i wanted to visit my sister. my father had a long weekend & it was fall break for me, so i jumped at the chance to get away for a few days. this is only the second time i've left adam & the kids behind. fortunately, the house was in one piece when i came home. i'll blog & share a few pictures soon. promise.

i love my new {to me} car. well, except for the fact that i catch myself looking for my altima in the parking lot when i leave a store. i did this yesterday leaving wal-mart. seriously.

judge all you want, but i'm pretty stoked that wal-mart is bringing back layaway for the holidays. i'll be able to check off quite a few things on my kids' wish lists!

speaking of wal-mart, let me share with you the best $2.50 i've ever spent there:

i don't know the variety, but these dahlias were part of a pink ribbon collection for breast cancer awareness. they looked like crap when i bought them, but now they are crazy beautiful. {we had to put a tomato cage around the plant to keep it from drooping.}

school is plugging right along...sort of. my algebra class is kicking my behind. a lot of my classmates are frustrated. i am, too. so far, quite a few students {myself included} have contacted the math department in hopes that something will get better.

i bought my first pair of toms. kids-sized toms, to be exact. they are the black sparkle & are so cute. of course, it's still flip-flop weather here. oh, who am i kidding?? we wear flip-flops all year long in the 757.

OH! i'm going to do a nail polish giveaway...soon. i'm not certain if i want to time the post to coincide with my 900th blog post {this is number 893 if you're wondering} or just go for it. i'm thinking i should just go for it. keep your eyes peeled. it's going to be good. i'm giving away my two favorite orly fall colors. want a hint? click here.

well, that's about all for now. just wanted to catch you up a bit. i've been bouncing around on the twit, but it's time i stopped neglecting my little slice of the internet pie.

what's new with you???

so it's like this...

{source}

andrea's post got me thinking.

envy & jealousy have once again reared their ugly heads {i'm totally convinced they are in cahoots with that witch, aunt flo}. i'm honestly not sure why because i am happy. my life is certainly far from perfect at the moment, but content is - indeed - a great word to describe me.

i suppose some of the coveting & yearning comes from the fact that i'm not at the level of certain people. i probably won't ever be. no, scratch that, i know i won't ever be. why? because that's not who i am.

money seems so disposable, doesn't it? well, maybe if you have a crap ton of it. when you're making it work on one income, you come to realize that money is precious. it seems frivolous to spend it on mortgage-priced purses and designer shoes {that will give you designer blisters}. but, do i still want those things? you're damn right i do.

why? 

because i'm human and being envious is part of human nature. but, i know that it's not good to covet. i should be happy with what i have . . . and i am.

if there is something i've learned over the last few years, it's that less really is more. my life may seem like a struggle from time to time {because, let's face it, folks, we're currently living the life we should have been living ten years ago*}, but i've never been happier. my children are getting more of me {and their father, too, for that matter} than they've ever had. we're more of a "family-centered family" instead of a "keeping up with the joneses-centered family." 

*my life is certainly NOT where i pictured it to be. i had a clear vision of how i wanted things to be by the time i hit my mid-thirties. never, ever did i expect to be in grad school, living off a single-income, still paying off debt . . . all the while rooting on my husband who closed a painful chapter in his life & is moving on with honor & integrity {oh, that's so coach wade of me!}.

money doesn't buy happiness. i've seen first hand that money really is the root of all evil. alas, money does make the world go 'round. and, i will always fight off fits of jealousy and urges of "want, want, want."

while my life isn't where it should be, it's certainly getting there. and, here's a refreshing though, i bet there are more people out there who can relate to MY kind of life than there are people who can't.  i also know, too, that somewhere out there somebody might even be jealous of me.

the one where i ramble on & on.

blogging. it's starting to feel like a chore & i don't like that. i know y'all know where i'm coming from with this. sometimes you just hit a dead end. or you just have nothing to write about. when in doubt? be random.

first of all, adam k-i-l-l-e-d the g.e.d. exam. seriously, he did. you need an overall average of 450 to pass. his overall average? 682. boom! he applied to our local community college last night. so, this spring, it looks like there will be two of us enrolled in college. it took my husband fifteen years to get to this point & i'm so proud that he did. and, it's good to know that there are people out there who are also proud of him, too!

speaking of school, i hate algebra. that is all. i'm still trying to get adam to do my homework for me. the man is a math whiz. i suppose that's a good thing considering he plans on pursuing a degree in engineering. they have to take some crazy math, yo.

i've been trying really hard to go to bed at a decent time. it helps that my usual late night ritual {a.k.a. watching reruns of the nanny} hasn't been happening. but, that's only because nickelodeon has been playing reruns of that 70's show. believe it or not, i only started watching a few weeks ago & i'm hooked.

{source}

i still love me some grandma yetta, though.

{source}

malia has an orthodontic consultation this week. her small mouth has no room for her teeth. she literally has teeth growing on top of teeth. she's nervous about the visit. so is my bank account.

something she's not nervous about? school. she's doing quite well & making lots of friends. i promised her a pair of toms if she makes straight a's on her first report card. i'm not sure why i bribed her offered an incentive...the child's been making straight a's since kindergarten. 

both kids have been taking muy thai kickboxing lessons two times a week. they love it. we're not members of the martial arts studio where they've been training, but i think we'll make it official in october. i love that it helps them learn a skill, build self-esteem & release some extra energy. 

we're getting a new {well, new to us} vehicle this weekend. my parents offered us their minivan. i said yes before discussing it with adam. we need a bigger vehicle. the altima i am currently driving used to be my mom's so we're swapping out cars. works for me!

i'm having a hard time styling my hair. really, i am. i'm not sure why. i mean, there's not much hair at all to style. speaking of hair, i should snap some photos of my bed head. it's crazy, y'all.

we've been dog-sitting my parents' shih tzu, no-no, for the last couple of weeks. she is old. old, nearly blind, arthritic {or she has to be}. she sleeps a lot. but, she's so sweet. and, i truly believe how we care for aging animals is a direct reflection of how we'll take care of our elders {but, don't worry, mom & dad, i won't block you in the kitchen with puppy pads on the floor when y'all get old...promise}. by the way? no-no is short for noel.

our pups love having no-no around. we joke that she's frisco's b.f.f. buxton, on the other hand, annoys the crap out of no-no. how could someone so cute be so annoying??

{sorry about the strategically placed hot pink paw print, but i didn't think you wanted to look at a wang & nuggets}

i'm thinking about giving up caffeine...again. or, maybe i'll just give up soda {mama loves coca-cola}. i don't know. 

as tight as we are living on one income {all the while paying down a mountain of bills}, i feel blessed that i can be at home while i tackle graduate school full-time. i also feel like our children have a better quality of life because of it. one day i'll muster up the courage to finally sub. in the late spring, i'm sure i'll be working temporarily for the same testing company that i did last year. but, for now, i'll keep stressing about our budget & count our blessings. 

and, maybe next week i'll try scheduling posts...again. 

it's friday! {a.k.a. let's be random}

best meatballs ever. i make them all the time. this dear friend does, too! i made them last week using ground turkey & almond milk and they were still ridiculously delicious.

oh, i added a "get cooking" tab at the top of my blog. it isn't the greatest list of food ideas, but at least you have everything that i've posted about {thus far} in one central location. go check it out, please.

i woke up in the middle of the night one day last week to let frisco out & got pretty spooked when i saw the biggest moth i've ever seen. it was still on our canopy in the morning. it was a good three inches long {i think}.

speaking of frisco, he jumped into the shower the other morning. i've never bathed with a dog before. it was bizarre. he's a nutty yo-yo, that dog!

speaking of yo-yo's...check out these two...

buxton's big day is october 2nd. not that y'all are keeping tabs on when my pup loses his nuggets or anything.

speaking of dogs, this is the best dog food ever. this sweet friend told me all about it. our boston terriers don't have any skin issues or hot spots now that they've been eating this food. coincidence? maybe. but, it's worth every last dime, in my opinion.

the weather is starting to cool down. at least i think it is. i'm hoping i'll be able to turn off the a.c. this weekend & open the window {even if it is supposed to rain all weekend}. of course, opening the windows means i'll have to clean out the window sills. hmm...maybe i'll just leave the a.c. on.

next weekend, we're packing up to visit these two very important people:

{george...a.k.a. dad}

{mee lee...a.k.a. mom}

i love having old photos of my parents around the house. i wish i had more. i'm going to have to raid my mother's photo stash at some point. malia thinks i look just like my mother in that picture. i'm not 100% convinced. i think i'm a pretty good mix of both of my parents.

{me & my sissy, monica}

school is school. my algebra class is kicking my butt. part of it is because i haven't taken a math course in so long. part of it is because my brain is slow when it comes to math. but, i think the main reason is because my professor just isn't up to par...at least not what i'm used to. of course, anyone who says on the first day of class, "i don't really want to be teaching" {or something to that effect...you get the idea} is setting the class up for disaster, in my opinion.

hopefully, these lil' suckers will help me squeak by with a good grade in algebra:

smarties are my crack. kind of crazy considering i did not like them until about four months ago. i blame it on the temporary job i had earlier this year. i ate a lot of candy {read: smarties} all day long. coloring in scantron bubbles will make you do that.

as for this weekend?

tonight i'm having a girls night with some wonderful friends.

saturday is adam's big day. it's test day. he's going to rock that exam! saturday is a big day for me, too. i'm chopping my hair off. i'm torn between a bob & a pixie. so far, all votes are leaning towards pixie.

sunday is the big day. MY big day. i turn 34. that's six years closer to 40. sigh. but, you know what? i'm okay with this. i think.

are you ready for some...random thoughts on a thursday?

football starts tonight. well, officially, i guess. that preseason stuff is over. and, speaking of over, so is MY control of the television & desktop computer. with the hubs participating in 34290574396 fantasy football leagues, he totally bogarts most of our electronics from now until february. he's lucky i like bud light & his hot wings...that's the only reason i like football season.

his team?

{via}

speaking of football, i don't watch college football. don't hate me, please?

and, considering that grad school is in full swing & the fact that adam will be hogging {redskins pun? um, sure} the computer, i am currently searching for a new laptop to purchase. many folks have told me to buy a mac. but, apple doesn't offer the macbook any longer & i'm skeptical to a) buy a refurbished one and b) drop a huge chunk of change for any other mac. besides, i've always been a pc girl. it's time for me to replace my nearly seven year old compaq & i've got my eye on this:

 {via}

it kind of looks like a macbook, no?

ugh. since we're talking about school, my algebra book showed up today. i'm still waiting on one of my education books to show up. i've been following the tracking. it started off in missouri. it wound up in kentucky. now, it's in maryland. who knows when it will show up on my doorstep. i suppose this is what i get for free shipping.

oh, and about algebra. um, yeah, i'm just hoping i pass with a "c." an "a" would be nice, but this old dog might have trouble learning some new mathematics-related tricks.

the kids are transitioning well to being back in school. today is the third day of school and they're already working on homework, reading charts, journals, etc. malia is a guidance helper and i think she's going to enjoy her new responsibility.

speaking of the kids, they're both taking muy thai kickboxing classes. yep, kickboxing. i just hope they both remember that i can still take them on...regardless. i'm the momma. 

i'm calling peta this week. why? someone needs the snip...

buxton is one day shy of being nine months old. it's time. in fact, it's kind of overdue. and, how does buxton feel about his {eventual} upcoming appointment?

{please, mom, stop talking about my nuggets.}

i've got a gazillion & one craft projects swirling through my head. and, once again, i've made a vow to myself that i will try to make as many holiday gifts as i possibly can. i say that every year. i never really follow through.

i'm praying for my friends in texas & all along the east coast. it's amazing that one part of our country is on fire and the other is water-logged. friends, stay safe, please. 

oh, i killed the biggest black widow spider the other day. it was on my front door. gross. gross. gross. i think we have a "family" of them living somewhere near the front door because i killed one walking across the floor in the same area last year. yuck.

i promised adam i wouldn't put out any fall decorations...yet. but, i'm thinking that's going to change...soon.

how is your thursday going?