Writer's Workshop

1.) Six Word Memoir: Write about a significant time in your life in just six words.

Peed on a Stick.  Plus Sign.

Well that was an easy writing prompt this week.  Join in for yourself at Mama Kat's.

Writer's Workshop

5.) List ten favorite things about one of your favorite people.


Okay - my favorite people are of course my husband and son, then my mom and grandpa.  But I happen to adore my little brother.  A ton.  So since I don't mention him on here enough, I thought I would answer writer's workshop about him!

1.   His laugh.  It is soo contagious.
2.   He isn't afraid to do something he enjoys, like figure skate, even though it isn't seen as "popular".
3.   He has a perfect smile.
4.   Even though he is my younger brother, by 8 years, he sometimes steps up to the plate and acts like a big brother and I love that.
5.   He dreams big.  For example, he used to dream of making it to the Olympics, he wanted to be an astronaut and work for NASA, and he also wants to open a school in Africa.  Oh and he's a double major and a minor and will be graduating college in 3 years instead of 4 or 5.
6.   He jumps on hotel beds with me and probably always will!
7.  He has perfected silly self pics from me!
8.  He is an artist.
9.  He is a true believer in God and lives his life that way.  He is compassionate and loves all creatures no matter what.  He may complain about people, but he never is hateful. 
10.  His OCD makes me crack up sometimes.  Like that he has about 40 hand sanitizer bottles around him at all times.

{pictures:  Mom took this when she got to Hawaii - 5/18.  self pic.  art that he made for Aiden.  Last time he saw Aiden - Nov. 2010.  Sr. picture taken by Kris}

Writer's Workshop

3.) What is going on in the bedroom? Describe a memorable sleeper.

Our bedroom is full of fun... yes, that's kind too, but there is never a shortage of laughs.  I mumble in my sleep, Aiden talks in his and has even been known to point, but Kris, he is where the real fun is.

{Image below is old - it's Kris and Aiden when Aiden was only 5 days old.}


















We had only been married a little while and he always went to sleep before me.  He was sound asleep and on his side facing me.  I'm just watching TV in the dark curled up cozy.  I look over and he opens his eyes, stares me straight in the face and says in the most sultry voice I think I've ever heard from him...

"Hey handsome!"

Now, how do I reply to that?  I was just a tad confused as to why my husband is addressing me as handsome, not sexy, or pretty etc...

I said "who's handsome?"

Kris:  "You are..." again being super flirty and sultry with me here.

Then he closed his eyes again!  He had no idea in the morning, but to this day I can't stop hearing that voice.  I crack up every time.  He called me handsome... I still can't get over it.  Thanks dear.

One other time he again was sound asleep and I was up late watching TV in bed.  All of a sudden he screamed out "TAYLOR SWIFT".  I very quickly smacked him awake and started grilling him.  "Are you dreaming about an underage blond?"  "Do you think she's hot?"  "What KIND of dream was it..."  lol  Poor guy. 

He talks often in his sleep, but those two he will never live down from me, or my family for that matter.... Very memorable sleep around here for sure!

Join in for yourself over at Mama Kat's

A Phone Call I'll Never Forget....

Describe a phone call you won't forget....

It was my last year in college, June 2006.  It was officially just 3 days before I was set to walk across the stage for my Sociology degree diploma.  I was graduating, after 5 tough years at the University of Washington.  I was excited.  My family was going to drive up to watch the ceremony and help celebrate.  It was a wonderful time in my life.

Until the night I got the call.  I was fast asleep and the phone rang waking me up.  It was almost 1am and my mom was calling.  My mom does NOT call in the middle of the night, I knew instantly something was wrong.  I thought it was my granny, she had/has been dealing with severe Alzheimer's and I thought her time had come.  I was wrong. 

The first thing my mom said through her quivery voice was "hunny, I need you to sit down and listen to me."  I was sitting on the edge of my bed in the complete darkness trying to wake up to listen.  I started crying before I knew what I was crying for.  Then the words came, I will never forget them "Your daddy was in an accident".  Silence.  Sobbing. 

She went on to explain that he was hit by a drunk driver on the way to church.  Him and his mom were in the small Saturn and were hit head on by a very large Explorer.  The Saturn was completely totaled, my dad took all the impact.  He was in the hospital.  Then the worst came...

"Hunny, they told me to call you, they don't think he's going to make it through the night".  I lost it.  I couldn't breathe through my sobs.  He had 16 broken ribs {we have 24 ribs total}, one of his ribs had punctured his spleen.  Both of his lungs were collapsed and he couldn't breathe. 

My mom and I sat on the phone for what seemed like forever.  She said that my dad was soo excited and proud of me for graduating and he would NEVER want me to miss walking across the stage for him.  We decided I would stay in Seattle and wait to come home for 3 days, heading home immediately after I walked the stage in my cap and gown.  I did not sleep the rest of the night.  I was in shock.  I remember shaking and crying.

I called all my professors in the morning and was excused from all of my finals.  Everyone was more than helpful.  The days went by slowly and my dad was in a coma.  He was still alive though.  I walked the stage as planned.  In attendance were my best friend and my boyfriend at the time.  They filmed it for me so I could share it with my family one day.  They took me out to eat afterwards still in my cap and gown.  I took the train home immediately after.

{picture below taken in july after he was already doing better}
I will never forget seeing my dad in the hospital for the first time.  I lost it.  He had tubes coming out of him, he was hardly there.  It was horrific.

{we snuck dad a Krispy Kreme - he got in trouble for it!}

It was a long summer.  My dad didn't get out of the hospital until August.  He did make an almost full recovery.  He had to have a tracheotomy placed for a while and his singing voice is not the same today.  The man who hit them was 3 times over the legal limit but never showed for court.  There is a warrant out for him, but to date he is still free and nothing has been done about it.

It was months later and my mom put my graduation video on - even she refused to watch it until we could do it as a family.  They made me put my cap and gown on and walk down the hall.  We posed for pictures as a family and watched my graduation.  It was a happy ending.


This post was inspired to be written by Writer's Workshop @ Mama Kat's

Writer's Workshop: Contents of my purse!

What does the contents of my purse say about me.... well let's see here....

This is my purse.  I got this particular purse for my Christmas/Birthday present from my parents.  They gave me the $$ and I picked this beauty.

The first thing you can learn from my purse is my extreme love/obsession with all things COACH.  Coach bag, coach glasses, coach wallet.  That is probably the biggest thing the contents of my purse would tell you.

 These are my newest Coach addition.  My sunglasses.  A Florida souvenir for me from the Coach outlet.  :)

 This wallet was the other half of my birthday/christmas gift.  So pretty - blue patent leather!

This picture gives you a glimpse into my likes.  Cotton Babies cloth diaper event calendar.  Can't miss out on a cloth diaper sale!  And a book - I am NEVER without a book.  I even carry my book up and down the stairs all day, just in case I have a spare second to read!  Also sugar free altoids and a chapstick - if I am being honest here, I have 2 of each in my purse!!  Also not one, but 2 packs of Kleenex!  You never know when you will need to wipe some boogies.

Proof I am a mom!  All mom's must have a treat in their purse.  Pringles come in handy for a cranky toddler.

 Last but not least, the proof that I am indeed a women who needs some feminine products.  My personal choice if you care is tampax pearl.  love them!  Oh and that is Aiden's new Epi-pen jr. prescription.  He is officially a peanut allergy baby and will never know the love of peanut butter! 

Ode To Potatoes - Writer's Workshop

Oh Potatoes how I love thee,

let me count the ways...

I love thee baked and soft

with plenty of buttery goodness,

sour cream and cheese to top it off

a meal in itself.

Red or Russet,

big or small,

it matters not to me

wonderful they all are.

I love thee fried

southern style please,

with scrambled eggs

and bacon to boot.

I love thee when you are french fried and salty

with ketchup and mustard,

mixed if you would

or ranch to dunk you in

I love thee in homemade potato soup

such a comfort food,

on a cold fall day,

with melted cheese floating on top

and crusty bread

Oh Potatoes,

how great are you

so filling and versatile

you are my favorite food.

Join Mama Kat and write a poem about your favorite food!

Writer's Workshop

5.) How has social media changed you?


 
It has only changed me for the better.  I could tell you all about my previous obsession with myspace, or how I currently check facebook 5 times a day.  I tried tweeting once, but it just wasn't for me.  My blog though, my blog is the best social media I could have ever asked for.
 
My blog offers me a chance to document all the important things in my life.  Like when Aiden was born, I shared it online for all the world to see.  I was able to type up my birth story while it was still fresh in my mind for him to read one day.  I have been able to share his growth with everyone, and in the same respect watch my online friends' children grow up too!
 
Most importantly though, my blog has given me support and encouragement.  When I first started struggling with PPD and PPA there was a whole community of ladies who loved me and offered me help and prayers.  It worked, I felt that by sharing my story and stress maybe I could be helpful to someone else.  I felt overwhelmed by the out pour of strangers who genuinely cared.
 
Lately I have been feeling extremely blessed again.  There have been some tough things going on in my life/marriage and after months of keeping it all in I shared it with my online friends.  I don't know why I didn't sooner, because instead of people judging me/us/my husband, I have received a ton of emails and comments telling me they are thinking of me, don't give up, prayers are sent my way.  I haven't been to church regularly, but in times of need my blog seems be like a church family, lifting me up and holding my hand.  I couldn't have asked for better. 
 
Inspired by Mama Kat's Prompts.  Join in here...

 
PS - if you are new to my blog you can read the last few posts I've written HERE and HERE to get a short update on things that are troubling me. 

Barbie Goes {Lady} Gaga?

I saw this this morning on People.com.  I was a bit shocked to see the EW.com has turned Barbie umm, into a bad girl.  I'm really not sure how to feel about this.  I mean I think Lady Gaga is a bit on the eccentric side but she does have some catchy songs.  Her fashion just doesn't make any sense to me and I don't see why we should be taking someone like Barbie who is a CHILDHOOD staple for little girls and turning her into Lady Gaga. 

Wouldn't having her dress up as famous women role models like Jackie O., Amelia Erhart and Maya Angelou be better?  Or hell if you are going for entertainment value why not Betty White?  I mean who wouldn't love a Betty White Barbie?  What's next a Lindsay Lohan Barbie complete with a alcohol monitoring anklet?

If you haven't seen the pictures for yourself, allow me to share a few with you, you will see what I mean.  I think it makes Barbie a tad bit overdone for kids, hope there are no little girls out there dreaming of owning crime scene tape {masturbating?} Barbie! 

{All Photos and the article itself can be found HERE}

Post was inspired by Mama Kat's weekly writing prompts - I picked 5.) Bold.

Join in here:

A hair disaster

Oh how I have been waiting for the right prompt to tell this story.  It's a good one folks, sit back and you might want to refrain from drinking anything as you may find yourself laughing out loud.  Wouldn't want you to spew anything onto your computer screen....

My Mullet. 

Yes, you read that correctly, I had a mullet.  I'm not talking about the kind that was cool in the 80's, you know the haircut your parents gave you.  I also don't live in a redneck city where such a haircut may be found acceptable.  I was in high school.  More accurately, I was about to GRADUATE high school.  It all begin just a mere 3 days before graduation...

I had the overwhelming desire to look great.  What girl doesn't want to look perfect for such a special day in their lives.  So I wanted to do the most obvious thing - get my haircut.  I just wanted a nice trim, to just update my look a bit.  My mom was against such an idea.  She told me "why don't you wait until after graduation to cut your hair".  She kept telling me it wasn't a good idea.  Boy was she ever right. 

I didn't listen and had my dad {always the one to go against my mom's word} take me to get a haircut.  We went to Great Clips {more like horrid clips in my experience} and I decided to just get it cut a few inches.  I told my stylist, who by the way was a pale skinned black lady named CARMELLA.  Yes, as in Carmel, the color of her skin.   Anyway, I told her that I would like it trimmed up a few inches and would like some layers starting mid-ear so I could still tuck it back a bit.  She seemed to understand and went to work.

See where this is going?  I watched her cut away, and I just sat there, in a state of shock.  When she finished she handed me the mirror and spun me around to approve of her handy work.  I'm telling you now, it looked more like something Edward Scisscorhands did to me than a trained stylist.  If you can imagine this I had it cut up to shoulder length, I had 3 BLUNT layers {you know, like the old school bowl on the head and cut around it look - no blending in at all, just obvious blunt cuts} and she was soo kind as to leave me a mullet shape, you know, short on the sides but long on the back, and a rat tail.  Yep, a blunt layered, mullet with a rat tail.  This folks was my pre-graduation hair cut. 

{the first picture is more realistically what it looked like.... the second picture is how I FELT I looked}

I didn't know what to do, I don't think I even said anything, my dad just paid and we walked out in a silent horror.  I got in his truck and flipped down the visor mirror and lost it.  I sobbed all the way home.  My dad of course felt bad for me, but being soo supportive he planted himself on the hallway floor while I admired Carmella's handy work and he sang.  He sang and eventually danced down the hall to Billy Ray Cyrus'" Don't Tell My Heart, My Achy Breaky Heart" - you know, because Billy Ray was the king of country mullets. 

I couldn't calm myself down at all.  I was hysterical.  My mom came home and for lack of a better term {pardon the language here} she went BAT SHIT CRAZY.  Yep, she flipped out.  She flipped out at me for not listening to her, she flipped out at my dad for taking me and allowing the lady to do this to my beautiful hair, and then for added measure she called Great Clips and flipped out at them.  I mean to tell you she went to town.  She even called the wrong Great Clips at first and gave them an ear full. 

{the rat tail was my original hair length - so several inches long...}

The manager from the wrong Great Clips told my mom to bring me in and she would try and fix my hair for free the next day.  I had to suffer through this hair cut for a full day.  I went to school with my hair in a ponytail, and refused to take it down for anyone to take a picture of.  There is no photographic proof of this experience.

When we finally made it to a different Great Clips to have it fixed by the nice manager she laughed.  Yes, a professional laughed at me.  She took down my pony tail and said "wow, I'm soo sorry, but she ruined your hair".  She was kind enough to start all over, my hair ended up being chin length with short layers and some bangs in order for her to make it look good.  Of course it wasn't what I wanted, but I happily accepted it looking better.  On Graduation day everyone thought I had the cutest short haircut - if only they knew the truth.

Carmella was sent back to training and was on desk duty for a while until she proved she knew what she was doing.  Her only response to the situation was "well, some people like haircuts like that and ask for it".  We have made jokes at her expense, as in "that's like naming a white person Marshmella".  Hope that doesn't offend anyone, but it made me feel better.  I also received $100 worth of free product and hair care from Great Clips in hopes of keeping me as customer.  I used it all on products and never went back of course.  I have also never gotten more than just a trim to my hair.  I am terrified of hair cuts now. 

That is my story.  Learn from it please.  Speak up WHILE someone is cutting your hair if you need to, don't just watch in a stupid horror.

My Love Affair with TITANIC

3.) What was it about that movie? Describe A movie you once had memorized.

The answer to this week's writing prompt came easily to me.  It was a no-brainer.  Titanic.  I was a teen aged girl, in love with Leo, and I saw this movie in the theater more times than I am willing to admit! 

I remember that my mom would go to bed and I would stay up until the middle of the night just watching this movie in the living room.  Sometimes I would just start with VHS tape #2 so I could get to all the dramatic sinking scenes. 

Even my mom started to memorize some of the lines, her favorite was "oh stop it mother, you'll give yourself a nose-bleed!" because she too had to watch it constantly.  My best friend Tori and I were obsessed.  They did a remake song on the radio with the popular quotes from the movie, we taped that and listened to it all the time.  We watched the movie together every weekend when we spent the night with each other - didn't matter whose house we were at.

I cried almost every time I watched it, mostly because I knew what was going to happen before it did.  I would cry when she let him go and would say "I'll never let go Jack, I'll never let go" and then I would cry again at the end of the movie when Rose dies an old lady warm in her bed {just like Jack said she would} and he is waiting for her along with the rest of the sunk passengers in her "heaven".  Oh it makes me smile just picturing it.

I loved Mr. Andrews, he was soo sweet and just felt awful they didn't have enough life boats.  I loved that it was based on facts.  I learned tidbits of info like that during filming the actors would just pee in the big "ocean" water tank because it was too hard to remove the wet clothes between takes.  I can seriously quote the entire movie {truth be told I'm sitting here running quotes through my head now as I talk about it}, it's almost a sickness.

I think i loved this movie so much because I was at the age of romance.  The time when you dream of dating someone perfect and having them sweep you off your feet.  I wanted to be Rose.  I was in love with Jack Dawson.  To this day I still enjoy when the movie comes on TBS.  I can't help but stop and watch part of it and quote right along with it.

Oh and just a side note - I was soo obsessed with this movie that I wrote a school paper on John Jacob Astor, one of the rich men who sank in the Titanic.  Yep - I did.



Join in at Mama Kat's....

Writer's Workshop: Aiden's letter to Me

1.) Dear Mommy and/or Daddy...(write a letter to yourself from one of your children)


Dear Mommy,

Thank you for taking such good care of me.   I do have a few complaints I would like to talk about with you though. 

First off Broccoli - I don't like it.  You've had me try it over and over and I gag each time.  All those little tiny leafy top pieces falling apart in my mouth feel funny and I'd appreciate it if you'd stop trying to get me to eat them.  I will continue to gag, spit them out in your hand, or throw up until you get the point.  If you could up the servings of salmon and rice and meatballs I would appreciate it though.

Next let's talk about bedtime.  I love when you rock me, and rock me, and rock me all night.  I do not understand why you keep trying to put me down when I'm not ready.  Now you have started leaving me to cry at night, what is that all about?  I get snot in my mouth and get all hot and sweaty, I hope you know it is not fun for me.  You keep saying it's for my own good, that you are teaching me to fall asleep on my own, but I'm not buying it.  I know how to fall asleep and sleep all night long, haven't I proven that already?  Can't I just be rocked all night or get up to play at 430am?  What do you mean "mommy and daddy need sleep too"?

Now, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  I do not like repeats.  I also don't like when you sing "hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog" when MMC is not on tv.  I get all excited and start dancing.  Teasing me is not nice.

To finish up, I understand that my bad rash is all better now, but I have really enjoyed those warm wash cloths on my bottom.  Can we keep that up please?  It feels so soft and I will go back to fighting you at diaper changes if you start using those wipes again.  Take that as a threat Mom.  How would you like cold wipes on your butt all the time? 

Thanks for my new leap frog music table, I love it.  I also really like my pool outside, especially when I get to play in it naked.  Keep up the good work Mom, and tell Daddy I would like a puppy.

Love,
Aiden

Writer's Workshop: My Wedding Song

1.) Write about your wedding song. What was it and why did you choose it?

When Kris and I got married there was no question at all about what "our song" would be.  Let me back up and tell you the story of our song before I tell you what it is.

When we first met I had just gotten out of a bad relationship.  I had been heartbroken to the point of needing to move home to have my mom take care of me, physically and emotionally.  It took me a full year to really recover and to be able to move on.  I went to Seattle {where I lived for this bad relationship of 3 years} and saw friends for my birthday in January 2008.  I saw my ex after nearly a year and I had this moment of peace.  There is no other way to describe it.  Unfortunately for him he had a different moment when I was there and made up his mind to beg for me back.  I left Seattle crying as I drove, and finally felt like there was a reason he broke my heart.  I learned what I really am worth and what I don't need from a relationship.  I learned that I deserved someone who wasn't a liar and who could tell me "I love you".  It was a great eye opening experience.

My first day back to work after my little vacation, I saw Kris.  This wasn't the first time I'd physically seen him.  He'd been waving to me and saying hi almost daily for a month and had been secretly watching me for a couple months.  However, after my vacation and moment of clarity that I had really found ME again, it was the first time I'd SEEN him.  He had the sweetest smile I'd ever seen and all of a sudden I couldn't get it out of my head.

Fast forward a few weeks and we are dating seriously and even starting to talk about how we think we are already in love, but that it wasn't scary it just felt right.  He told me there was this song that he had been playing a lot lately, and that it reminded him of me.  How he had a trouble past with love and now it all seems worth it to have found me.  I laughed and said "oh yeah, is it THIS song - it reminds me of you!".  Sure enough, it WAS the same song!  We quickly tagged it as "our song" and when I would stay the night at Kris' place he would have it playing quietly on repeat ALL.NIGHT.LONG while we slept.  It was cheesy, but very sweet and it made me smile every time I woke up. 

It was a no-brainer for us that "our song", Rascal Flatts "God Blessed The Broken Road", would be our first dance and our wedding song.  It is our song in every way.  We both have checkered pasts, but all of that was worth it when we found each other.  It became clear why we went through everything we had - it was so we would know each other, and see our potential, when we met.  When I hear the song come on the radio randomly it still brings a tear to my eye.  I'm so grateful.

My Bed On The Bathroom Floor! Writer's Workshop!

{I wrote this earlier this week while being sick - but noticed it is PERFECT for Writer's Workshop, so I'm using it again!  Join in at the bottom - I put the link there!  Topic was: 2.) What was your medicine? Write about a time you remember being ill.}

You know those things that make you feel better when you are sick?  Those things that only your mom or dad did for you to take care of you?  Like chicken noodle soup, watching cartoons in bed, orange juice in your favorite mug.  For me those things were warm watermelon jello juice {you know, the hot liquid before it sets?}, laying in my mom's bed and my bed on the bathroom floor.

To this day I need my bed on the bathroom floor.  I was always afraid of not making it to the toilet in time if I had to puke, or heaven forbid poop, or do both at one which is disgusting and you don't want to not make it for that hot mess!  My mommy would take a blanket and lay it on the bathroom floor, then my pillow placed near the toilet bowl base so I could just sit up and puke it the urge hit.  I would curl up with a cold wash cloth on my head and sleep there.  It always made me feel better.

I remember in college a few times I had to have my bed on the bathroom floor thanks to being hangover.  One night we went drunk bowling and I had a bunch of tequila shots in a row {I was playing catch-up because I was working while everyone drank} and then bowling.  I recall the first frame, but I don't remember the second.  My friend Alison said I dropped the bowling ball on the lane and said I had to go the bathroom.  When it was time to go I remember her removing my bowling shoes while I was curled over a gross public toilet.  My 2 guy friends Derek and Chris carried me out of the ladies bathroom and put me in the car.  When we got back to my apartment Alison asked me what I needed - I told her a bed on the bathroom floor.  My roommate and 3 friends looked at me like I was crazy, they tried to convince me I should just go climb in bed.  I refused, so they set me up with a blanket, pillow, water and washrag.  I remember waking up to the sound of someone snoring, a bowl of chicken top ramen next to me and in my bathroom, feet sticking out into the hallway.  Not my best moment for sure, but even being wasted {not proud of and never that bad again} I knew what I wanted to make me feel better.

I've used a towel when I lived alone as a blanket because I couldn't get up when I was really sick with the flu.  Kris had to call my mom when we first were living together because I wanted the bathroom bed and he was trying to convince me otherwise.  My mom told him what to do and that it's what I needed.  Bless his heart when I was pregnant he had to make me a bathroom bed a few times when my morning sickness got bad. 

Fast forward to last night.  My husband has been sick all weekend.  I had been trying my best to take care of him and Aiden and was starting to go crazy.  It was just too much for my still fragile mind to deal with.  I started feeling sick.  I was sick for a few hours before it actually hit - the quivering lip that tells me and all around me I'm gonna blow.  I got out of bed and ran for the bathroom.  Kris came after me and asked what if I wanted a washrag.  I quickly said "yes! cold".  So he brought me that and glass of water.  At that point I was on the toilet {classy I know} and making Kris put a plastic bag in the garbage so I could puke too.  Then all of a sudden my arms and chest when numb and tingly {like when they wake up from being asleep} and everything got white like I was going to pass out.  Then it went from tingly to burning {best way to describe it - I have NEVER felt like this before} and I got panicky.  I told Kris "call my mom".  She came over {remember,same apartment complex} and said "are you going to go back to bed?" I weakly shook my head - she said "do you want me to make a bed for you?"  I said yes.  So here I am 26 years old, married with a child of my own and I made my husband call my mommy to come make me a bed on the bathroom floor!  I even took a picture because I knew this morning I had to share this with you.  It's too amusing not to.  I left out myself out of the pic, I didn't think you could handle how glamorous I am when sick.

Please tell me I am not the only one who needs something like this when I'm sick?  Do you do something weird too?  I feel pathetic, but now I much better and in bed all day.  My mom is here making me lunch.  :)

Writer's Workshop: My Book Blurb

5.) Imagine your life is now a book. In 100 120 words, write the blurb for it. (It’s what people will read on the back cover.  Sue me, I went over on the words, as I mention I never stop talking - or typing! 

I'm a new wife and mother. I have a lot on my mind and never stop talking. I had a very entertaining childhood, and by entertaining I mean leaving skid marks on the floor in Jr. High, stalking *Nsync and "breastfeeding" my baby dolls in public. The stories are aplenty and continue to pile up as time goes by. I'm addicted to coffee, reality TV, and Coach Purses. I’ve struggled with eating disorders most my life and now am learning to cope with Postpartum Depression. Everyday is a learning experience and an opportunity to grow. Come along with me on my hilarious journey, feel free to laugh and cry along with me, or as the case may be, at me.

Join in over at Mama Kat's.

Writer's Workshop: Mother's. Warning Mom - you will cry.

5.) Mother’s Day is coming…what is the secret behind the close bond you have with your mom? OR What do you do to create that close bond with your kids?

My mom and I have always had a one of a kind bond.  She was a single mom and was young and unwed when she had me.  She faced a lot of hardships in her decision to have me and she did it with honor.  She tried really hard to give me everything she could and to build the kind of relationship with me that she herself didn't have with her mom.  My mom and I have always shared something special that a lot of people don't understand.  My mom is my best friend, well okay, best female friend. 

My mom worked hard to build a good relationship with me.  She taught me early on that I didn't need to be ashamed to come to her with any of my problems or be afraid to tell her anything.  My mom bought me alcohol - she would say she'd rather know what and how much I was drinking in college instead of me trusting other's to provide something that may not have been safe.  She said under supervision was better than not.  She helped me get on birth control pills before becoming sexually active so I didn't repeat her mistake of being a young unwed mother.  She let me gossip about kissing boys and cry over cheating boyfriends.  Even today, being married, I can turn to my mommy for love advice or sexual advice.  Heck, she paid for yeast infection medicine for me tonight.  I know that's silly, but even at 26 my mommy comes to my rescue.

I have struggled with eating disorders since junior high.  She threatened to put me in a hospital when I was younger, to protect me.  She let me come home after college in tears because I had reached a new low and was having severe pain due to mistreating myself.  She held my hand, made sure I was eating healthy and regularly (and was keeping it down) and got me on my feet again.  These days my mom is more support than I could ever ask for, even joining weight watchers with me at one point to help me in learning to lose weight the correct way.  She has been my biggest supporter and has always seen me as beautiful, at my skinnest and now at my heaviest. 

My true respect for my mom only came recently, in the form of a little boy named Aiden.  I didn't really learn how much my mom gave to me and loved me until Aiden was born.  She was there at the hospital and held me still as I shook from the pain of contractions.  She waited and cried with my husband as they took me away for an emergency c-section.  She held my newborn son and helped me to breastfeed.  Even when I was becoming a mom, she was still my mom and kissed me as I went in terror to have my son.  No matter how old you are, you really are always someone's baby!  My mom is helping me fight my battle with PPD - she has been encouraging, and loving and helping me to find my way.  Just today she said she believes that through my writing I will help someone else.  That's just the kind of thing a mother says. 

I hope to teach Aiden the things my mom has taught me.  To be strong, confident, loving and funny.  My mom started traditions for the holiday's that I want to continue.  She always buys us new pj's to wear to bed, and a new ornament to hang on the tree Christmas eve.  She has now started doing the same for my hubby too.  We have homemade chili on halloween.  She gives us a card for each holiday.  We have family game nights.  All these things, and many more, I hope to continue with my own family.

I hope to be half the mom that my mom is.  I already feel like I'm falling behind in her tracks, but without a doubt she will help me along my own path.  She is my mom.  She is my hero.  She is my best friend.  She is my therapist.  She is my everything. 

Happy Mother's Day (early!) Mommy.  I know you read this, are probably sobbing, and are about to call me.  Hehe.  :)

Writer's Workshop: A compelling book & My Orca Fear story....

5.) Where does that fear come from? Write about something that frightens you that other people might find ridiculous. Write about it in a poem, a story, or whatever.

I was going to write about a crazy fear of mine, but then I remembered that I already did that for a Mama Kat prompt... CLICK HERE to read about my irrational fear of Orca Whales.  Other than my recent PPD post it has the most views, I guess it's pretty funny.  So go read it for a laugh!

2.) What book captured your heart? Write about why the first book you loved is the first book you loved.

So instead I decided to write about a book that captured my heart.  It's funny because this book wasn't a huge love story, or some big thriller that sucked me in and I just had to know what happened.  It was a odd and witty book that I think about rereading often.  It took me a couple months to get through, I was just finishing it when I met Kris actually.  I asked a lady at the Powell's book store what book she suggested reading and this was her pick.  It was huge, and I mean huge as in small print and 624 pages huge and it was much more expensive than any book I planned to buy.  So I kept it in mind and bought something else.  A week later this book, brand new with a recipt still tucked inside it, showed up as a "left on board" item on an aircraft I met.  I snagged it - people who fly out never come back for books!  I was thrilled, it was like fate telling me to read this book! 

In short it's about a man who loses his cat, his job and his wife.  He goes on a search for his wife and cat and meets a slew of interesting characters along the way.  A chain of events follow that prove that his seemingly mundane boring life is much more complicated than it appears.  The man character meets pyschic sisters and ends up in the bottom of a well for sometime, he also meets a soldier who witnessed the massacres on the Chinese mainland at the beginning of the Second World War.  Interesting I tell ya, interesting!  The book is set in Japan and some of the characters names are hard to guess at, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it.  It's sometimes hard to follow but somehow it really sucks you in.  I was just captivated and couldn't stop reading it.  I would suggest it to anyone who really does enjoy reading. 

I even went on to read 2 other books by the same author.  Both shorter and not nearly as compelling. 

Writer's Workshop - Me and Kris singing Bathroom Karaoke!!

2.) “Oh please make this a topic for Writer’s Workshop. Pick you favorite song and record your own personal bathroom concert series. I’ll totally do a concert series, I bet I could get my hubby or brother to join in. Now I just need a song…(inspired by Kerri from I’m Just Sayin) {<--- That's me folks!  ME!}



I'm already regretting telling Mama Kat to make this a writer's topic, I mean hello now I'm obligated to really do it!  However, I feel honored she listened to little 'ole me, and well, she is pretty cool in the bloggy world.  So here we go.  I was having a down kind of day (this will be another post...) but my hubby felt bad for me and decided he would play along.  We did this while giving Aiden his bath so please forgive us.  Also, please forgive the cleavage and Aiden's cute little bum at the end. 

Without further ado - I give you Benny & the Jets.



And for even more fun I was feeling perky and did one more... Taylor Swift "Our Song". 



Boy I hope those didn't scare you off.  Please love me, and feel free to tell me how dorky we are.  Just remember, it was very brave of us to put ourselves out there like this - love us.  lol

Writer's Workshop: Haiku's

I seem to be in the habit of taking a few weeks off from Mama Kat's and then picking up the slack.  This is that week.  I'll join in.  The topics just seem soo difficult for me lately.  They are all about being creative, which I do NOT have the time for.  Like recently we were supposed to rewrite a fairy tale, great starter, but umm, no time for me to brainstorm and put something down.  Oh well, this week was a simple one, so here we go.  Click HERR (umm, HERE is what I meant, but I will leave it because when I re-read it I thought of Nelly - the rapper you know.... hot in HERR...) ANYWHO, click on that little diddy or the button below my lovely Haiku's.

3.) Write a Haiku that describes what you love about an ordinary day.

Coffee and giggles

Blogging and tickling toes

Kisses and snuggles

 

Crappy TV shows

Wearing my workout clothing

Always bottles to wash

 

Not wearing a bra

Soap opera at two

Sweat pants all day long

Writer's Workshop Wednesday

Do's & Don'ts

Do: wear flip flops all year round
Don't:  wear socks with flip flops.  If you can't handle the cold you can't "do" flip flops all year.
Do:  drink a cup of a coffee every morning
Don't:  spill coffee on the carpet creating a new lake erie
Do:  eat as much chocolate as you want
Don't: stress about your weight 24/7, in the grand scheme of life it's not worth it
Do:  take as many pictures as you can - life moves fast!
Don't:  post all of said pics, not everyone loves them as much as you do
Do:  watch Big Love on HBO - awesome show
Don't:  watch the movie The Animal - dumb
Do:  eat an apple everyday
Don't:  waste food!
Do:  relax about parenthood - trust your instincts
Don't:  call the dr. for every little thing - trust your instincts
Do:  wear comfy slippers, even if they are ugly (I kept a pair in my closet for months and dug this out this week - super comfy!)
Don't:  change a diaper right after a baby wakes up
Do:  give them a 5 minute pee grace period - or you'll just be changing them again (or get peed on!)
Do:  buy a jumperoo
Do:  own at least one designer purse (coach for me please!)
Don't:  set your purse on public bathroom floors - yuck!
Don't:  forget the little things
Don't:  forget to pee before you leave the house!  :)
Do:  keep the lady regions nice even post baby - it will make you feel sexy even when you have a squishy belly covered in fading stretch marks.
Don't:  do a "quick shave" with a new razor on said lady region - ouch!
Do:  wash formula bottles daily or they will stink
Do:  have a bottle of Abor Mist in your fridge at all times
Don't:  forget that you haven't had a drink in a LONG time - you will get tipsy off one glass
Do:  read Mama Kat's writer's workshop prompts weekly
Don't:  write on a topic if it doesn't appeal to you, the post will suck and you won't publish it and you (okay fine, I...) will have a handful of drafts sitting around.  Boo.



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Writer's Workshop - Strange Dream.

2.) The strangest dream ever…

So this is a dream I started having when I was young, like 9yrs old. I think it started because of Outdoor school... I have had it SEVERAL times since then. It's like a bad dream that won't go away.

I am at some sort of camp, to give you a visual there are outdoor cabins all around, people are wearing those silly wood name tags etc. There are adults who are counselors and kids. I was a camper. It was dark outside and we are standing at a swimming pool. I went for a swim and my shoe came off and floated to the bottom of the pool. I was afraid to dive to the bottom and get it so I get out and ask for a counselor to go get my shoe.

A counselor decided to jump in for it. As soon as she hits the water her head snaps off! The head sinks down to the bottom of the pool and sits right next to my tennis shoe. Everyone standing around starts blaming me and telling me I killed her. Her body is just left floating.

That's it. That's how the dream ends. I never get my shoe back. I don't know why her head snaps off as soon as she jumps in. I don't understand any of it. It is really weird, it used to scare the crap out of me as a child, and now I just wonder why I have it every few years.

Want to read about other weird dreams? Or any of Mama Kat's other prompts... go to her site for Writer's Workshop!