What I would tell my younger self

I recently read a blog about what people would tell their younger self. It got me thinking. 17 was an awesome time for me. I was close to graduating high school, I ditched the braces, ache finally got better and I had me own car (yes bought and paid for myself, thank you!).
So, if I could sit down with myself at 17 what would I say?

 Mostly this:

1) Time is precious, so procrastinate effectively. Sounds like a contradiction, I know, but trust me on this.
2) Forgiveness is key in feeling truly free.
3) It's ok to tell people no. They will get over it.
4) Learn how to be a great friend. You don't realize you're making memories, you just know you're having fun!
5) Be respectful. No one one ever looks back and regrets being kind.
6) God only has 3 answers for you, Yes, Not now, or wait, I have something better planned for you. This is especially true for marriage.
7) Along with number 6, don't settle for less than what you deserve on love. Trust me on this, you WILL be happy with your decision!
8) Drink coffee or tea outside if possible.
9) Splurge on large bath towels.
10) Don't stop reading good books. It will be hard to find time, but get lost in them!
11) Being pregnant and giving birth is not as bad as everyone will scare you into believing. They have good drugs for that! Except morning sickness, sorry babe, that one sucks!
12) No matter how much you think you do, you do not need anyone to determine your value. You only need to know what you are worth.
13) Don't be afraid to ask for help. God and most people want to see you succeed, let them in.
14) No matter how bad it hurts, some people have walked out of your life for a reason, they are not worth letting back in.
15) Speak the truth and be proud of it.
16) Lastly, buy a puppy. A golden retriever. She will be the best dog you ever had.

The rationale of a working mom

Being a part of Generation X, I've had my share of jobs.
In high school, my first job was working at a farming supply store, odd babysitting jobs, worked as a CNA at the local hospital, and then my senior year I landed a job at the local bank working in the book keeping department. SCORE!
I kept this job throughout college. Now really the rest is history and I'm not going to bore you with the small intricate details of how I got to where I am now.  I love being a working mom! Even though some days are hard as all get out! There are big perks to being at the office, mainly speaking I can pee anytime I want with out someone banging on the bathroom door. And no, I'm not embarrassed that I just told you that.
With home management comes a WHOLE mess of stuff! (most of it I won't speak, because I shutter at the word ...laundry). Seriously I get that unless you are an OCD freak or really don't want to be around your kids, you as well as I have come to grips that, at any given moment you will look around and see the aftermaths of a child tornado.
Being a stay at home mom is super stressful. (Kristen, I know you are reading this, and yes, I'm ready to drink a bottle of wine and have an adult conversation ASAP!)
It's hard to keep it all together when the 4 yrs old is driving the 8 yr old crazy, the pot on the stove is burning and you notice the chihuahua is peeing on the Walmart grocery bag you left on the dining room floor.
Stay at home moms, this is a judge free zone! Working moms, this is a judge free zone! I applaud  you both! We have build our Mommy Skills and we like it that way!

Crap Happens, Especially At Work

I know what you are thinking, this is not news. But hear me out...

Since my son started preschool this year, it didn't make much sense for me to pick him up from school, and take him back to my mom's for 1.5 hours for me to finish work. However, I'm beginning to think its a good idea.  Only because I'm getting to the point where it would be better if Janice from

FRIENDS were here repeating "OH MY GOD!" for that time span than to have my son in the office! 

2 days ago I found him stripped naked, in the office bathroom, playing with bottles under the sink. He had pooped his pants. The best part is it was the 4th time this week and we are only on the 3 day of the work week. And that's just at the office! Don't get me started on at home!

Today he did it again.... I'll set the scene for you: I'm on the phone with a new buyer, ME: "So just wanted to call and let you know that your lender contacted me. Your pre-approval is ready! How soon do you want to start looking a houses?" BUYER: "I think the end of next week will work, can you do late Friday?"    JAXON in the background: "MOM!!....MOOOOOOOMMMM! I POOPED MY UNDERS!! COME WIPE MEEEE!!!"

(my naked son showing me he pooped his pants at my office)

BUYER: "Hummm looks like you're..humm very busy, I better let you go. How about you send me an email later when you have your hands free. (snicker, snicker)".

Yes, Crap happens, Especially at work.

My son & Roids

For the most part my summer has been pretty relaxed. Work hasn't been completely overwhelming, the kids have been fairly mellow. That is until last week. For some reason, it all decided to come crashing down on me last week.I find myself suddenly working with 5 new buyers (horay for me! Momma needs a paycheck!) I have 2 rentals opening up, one to be soon occupied, then my son decides to have an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite, to which the Dr. proscribed him STEROIDS. That's right you heard me!

His face stuck out over 1/2 inch!

My 4 year old son was on steroids for 3 days and once I thought his face looked fine I cut him off. Let me tell you, if they ever need a reason to torture POW's in America, they could just give my son a dose of these again and stick him in a room with prisoners. I guarantee that they will be begging for mercy in less than 4 hours!
I literally didn't get him to sleep before midnight for 3 nights, and he had no nap! So there is a mathematical equation for this kind of situation: 4 yr old + steroids = Mom's nerves in front of firing squad!
I think its time for a babysitter and a pitcher of margaritas!

It's Shower Time!

I'm hosting a baby shower next weekend for one of my besties! Now, when I say she is one of my besties, I truly mean in it in every sense of the word. She would cut off her left boob for me if she thought I'd need it, because lets face it, I DO. And with her one left she still has too much! (Love you by the way!)

(you can see her cleavage in this picture, but not mine, I rest my above case!)

When she came to me a few months ago and asked me this great honor I was totally floored!! I have done one bridal shower before, and it was really fun. So when this opportunity presented itself I couldn't pass it up. After hearing about a bad experience she had in the past, I wanted to make sure this shower was special!  So like the normal, I headed straight to Pinterest for ideas, and created a secret board. Of course I did that! As my friend, she also follows me, I can't let her in on all my secrets! Geez! But the few I have let her in on I'm planning on sharing with you today! If you are prego or know some one who is, these are some great tips to help you get stated.
1)

http://www.thedatingdivas.com/great-deals/16-gorgeous-done-for-you-baby-shower-printable-packs/

This site is a must if you are planning any sort of shower, boy, girl, gender neutral, and gender reveal  party! I know the prices have changed since I bought my pack, but for $28.00 you really get a LOT!

2) Card box: There are just times when you don't have the time or energy to look for gifts. Make sure you are ready for those guests. You need some sort of card station. 

I found this bird cage as a great solution, and gift to the mom to be as decoration later. Unfortunately I was not able to find one like this, but found something similar. 

3) Menu: When planning the menu think about what time you will have the party. I'm planning on 2pm. With it being in between lunch and dinner, I've decided on snacky stuff. Not gonna give away the whole menu, here, but its a good idea to pick things that are easy to prepare. You're gonna have a lot of other prep work, so don't over extend yourself with complicating the food. 

4) Baby wishes: Baby showers are mostly about adorning the mom to be with gifts and advice. This is not my friends first rodeo. She has 2 boys, and let me tell you they are BOYS! So really what other advice can she get? None.

That's where "Baby Wishes" come in handy. I have, out of the printable pack mentioned above, baby wishes cards. I will give one to each guest and have them filled out. When the shower is done, they will go into a book for Mommy to read and share with her daughter later. 

5) Decor: Depending on how elaborate you want to be, (and by that I mean how much you want to spend) there are some wonderful ideas on Pinterest. I won't share mine here only because, Kristen, I know you're reading this and I'm not about to give you a spoiler alert!

6) Games: In the pack above, there are some really cute games. None of these "Let's get some string and see how fat we think you are!" games. (Come on, you all know you've been to that shower with that game!)

These games get mom to be and guests involved. Sure to be a hit!

I hope you have fun planning your next baby shower as much as I have enjoyed planning this one. Please post a comment or picture below!!

Hashtag Mommyhood

When you become a parent you make an instant transformation. You know like Clark Kent in the phone booth turning in to Superman!

That's right, average Jane becomes a superhero in the blink of an eye!
I know many of my friends out there who have been parents for a while, or who have become parents again recently.

My question to you is this: What is you Hashtag Mommyhood/Daddyhood moment?

We all have them! Like taking our kids to dinner and spending more time in the bathroom than actually eating. Or big boogers? NO problem, you'll pick those nasty things up and wipe them on your pants if you have to! Laundry? You have so much of it you're considering turning you family in to a nudest colony.
You are not against taking a glass of wine and your iPad into the bathroom and locking the door, regardless of whether or not you have to poop! Or my personal favorite, I can't remember to put my grocery  list in my purse, but I know exactly where Daphne's blue head band that matches her blue, green and back summer dress is!
So please enter your hashtag mommyhood/daddyhood moment in the comment section below!

Teacher Appreciation

This is the last week of school!! Hallelujah! Some my think I'm crazy, but I'm so ready to have my daughter home! She, on the other hand LOVES school and is NOT happy its ending. She has cried every night because she is going to miss her Teacher. (who is not coming back next year due to family illness)
I got this great idea from another blogger about what she appreciated about her teachers. So I decided to do the same thing, here it goes:

Kindergarten : Mrs. Newsome~ Thank you for sitting me down and asking me how to make chocolate chip cookies, writing down my recipe. Then at my high school graduation framing the recipe and gifting it to me! :)

1st Grade: Mrs. Skinner~You were always so unbelievably patient and kind. Loved singing in your class and the cutting boards we made with flowers and ribbon for our parents (or just my mom). Also when I think about the months of the year, I see them in my mind on the walls of your classroom ;)

2nd Grade: Mrs. Hugley ~ I searched and searched for something nice to say about you (seriously). You were so mean I had nightmares about you for months. Long enough that my mom had to talk to you and the school board about it. What I learned from you: When you are mean and nasty, it always comes back around.

3rd. Grade: Mrs. Pearson~ I learned that women at 65 years of age really didn't have fire engine red hair naturally.

4th Grade: Mrs. Smith~ You brought your bike for the bike rodeo and rode along with your class cheering us on, and bought snow cones for us on field and track day.

5th Grade: Mrs. Winkelman~ Thank you for introducing me to a love of reading (Where The Red Fern Grows) !
6th Grade: Mrs. Stenson~ I learned that even though we can have major faults, there are always people that truly care about our well being. (Also I learned that kids that age desperately need deodorant!)

9th Grade: Mr. Brown (my math teacher) He taught me that bullying was never ok (I punched a boy in his class for snapping my bra, and he didn't send me to the office!)

10th Grade: Mrs. Huffman~ Thank you for teaching me it was ok to be myself and to be silly all at the same time. Thank you for putting me in the play "A Yankee in King Author's Court".

11th Grade: Mrs. Schmizer ~ Thank you for teaching me that history was defiantly important, but that sometimes getting Maple long johns from Rip Griffins was more important! (my fav!!)

12th Grade: Mrs. Overboe~ Thanks for teaching me I was spelling "Remember" wrong for 12 years, that size is not always that important, and most girls with blonde hair have dark eyebrows.