~I looooove me some Mardi Gras season~

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!! For all you northerners that means LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! Down here in the South its Mardi Gras season....which means......(drum roll please)......KING CAKES!!! And oh how we love our KING CAKES!!! Cream cheese filled, apple, blueberry, cherry, cinnamon, lemon, raspberry, chocolate, caramel, Bavarian cream, praline filled,  ....heck we ain't picky.....just give us a round yeasty cake with plenty of sugary icing and green, yellow, and purple sugars and we are H-A-P-P-Y. And let me share something with y'all, I L-O-V-E to cook!! Well let me rephrase that....I L-O-V-E to bake. Mr. L&IC likes to cook....I bake....he has his role and I have mine, and we have a happy kitchen that way. One of my staff was saying we needed a King Cake. Last year around this time I spent ALOT of time down in New Orleans. There is a place in Metarie, Randazzo's, where there is a line a wrapped around the block some days....but let me tell you that it is worth the time and money to get one of those Heaven baked King Cakes! They are like the angels themselves baked those things up.....UNBELIEVABLY GOOD! So we decided to go online and see if we could order us up a couple. OMG....those things were around $60....each!!! And that wasn't with shipping! Soooo......being the baker that I am I sent her on an online mission to find a fairly easy King Cake recipe. And she hit the jackpot! Just a few ingredients and 2 packages of crescent rolls and y'all have got y'all a delicious King Cake too! 

So 1st get you about a 1/4 cup of raisins and put them in some warm water to soak and plump up. (I bet you could throw in some good bourbon for a little extra kick!)

Next chop up about a 1/2 cup of pecans. (Guess I better tell y'all that I don't really like to measure....I'm one of those "well that looks like its enough or who are they kiddin....that needs alot more!' kinda cooks.)

 Next, mix 1- 8oz block of softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup brown sugar (doesn't matter if it's light or dark...I use whatever I grab 1st), and 1/2-1 tbsp or so of cinnamon until its nice and smooth.

Then scrap down your sides and drain your plumped up raisins and add your chopped up pecans and mix a little.

Now notice my old black edged pizza pan I have my cake on....that thing is old as dirt but I'd rather give you my all my pots and skillets before I gave you this....because NOTHING STICKS ON IT! And it's not even nonstick....it's just good and 'seasoned'! So I don't use any kind of spray or oil on my pizza pan.....now if you usually spray yours when you cook crescents or biscuits then go ahead and spray your pan lightly.Next arrange 2 cans of crescent rolls in a circle shape with the wide ends toward the inside of the circle and the tips spaced equally outward.  Then spoon your mixture around the wide ends of your crescent 'wreath'.

 Now grab the tips and fold them over the filling and tuck them a little on the inside.

 Now bake your easy King Cake at 350' for about 20-30 minutes or until it's golden brown and looks 'done'. In order for the icing to look like this....white and thick...you have to let it COOL. Now I make these with all different kinds of fillings before Sunday School alot of mornings...and sometimes I do not have time to let it cool and I'll just add that glaze and let it melt and puddle all over the place and it is just fine and yummy...not quite as pretty but taste just as good! To make the icing I mixed a bunch of powdered sugar...probably around 1- 1 1/2 cups, about 3 tbsp of butter, some milk (maybe 4-5 tbsp) to thin it down, and some real good vanilla, about 1/2 tsp. Now if all of the words on your bottle of vanilla are in English then you need to throw that stuff in the garbage and get you some good MEXICAN vanilla....with not a word in English!....it will change your baking world....but if you can't get your hands on that then you are going to need to probably double the amount of vanilla you use. I decided I was going to use pink and red sugars for my cake this weekend. (Ok actually I was out of purple sugar and was way too lazy to go to the store!) So this was my early Valentine King Cake, minus the baby. But let me tell you it was some kind of GOOD! So try your hand at an easy King Cake...and Lassiez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

Thanks Pinterest...now I'm an addict.....

So thanks to discovering Pinterest, I now have a perfect excuse for not cleaning house, studying, or basically doing anything constructive other than scouring for new crafting ideas....Thanks Pinterest!

This is one of those painted t-shirts that was so popular oh...about 15 years ago! But I looooved this angel and never could throw it away. She lived on a hanger hung on the back of a clothes rack in my washroom!

 I had been wanting to learn to Mod Podge stuff...thanks to tutorials on Pinterest now I know how! And I experimented on a "C", my best friends initial...and gave it to her. I told her I surely wasn't going to mess up on my own initial first! haha...she's the best!

 I am loving the lighted wine bottles! I now have a matching set on either side of my kitchen counters. One of my staff's birthday is this Sunday and he happens to enjoy a good glass (more or less!) of good bourbon. So I told him to bring me an empty bottle and just so happens he just finished one (it is hunting season ya know!!)....so I made him a cute light for his camper. He is gonna so be the envy of the hunting camp!

 Another one of my staff's daughter is having a baby soon and we threw her a baby shower last weekend. She's doing an owl theme. I saw this cute owl fabric at Walmart...on clearance....and knew I could make something out of it....so this is what I came up with....a fabric wrapped wreath with the baby's name on it. She's going to hang it on her hospital door when he's born. We also used it as an impromptu wall decoration behind the gift table at the shower...it worked great!

I learned how to make those cute felt flowers! I am loving these small little fabric wrapped wreathes. They are just cute and sweet hanging on my office door....I think I'm going to make one for every season...they make me smile!

This is the first fabric wrapped wreath I made. Notice the little wrapped flowers....dang near burned my fingers off with the glue gun with those!

And here is what became of that cute painted Christmas angel shirt I just couldn't get rid of! She is sooo pretty now! I'm going to paint the cheap $5 frame I put her in glittery gold later on. She's so going to hang on a wall this Christmas! She makes me smile too!

I had this painted J that I made a couple of years ago (can't remember exactly what my vision was for it!) and saw a framed initial on Pinterest. Well....another $5 frame from Walmart....11x14 I think. I painted the  back of the paper picture that came in the frame (yep you read that right!)with black crafting paint using a sponge brush all going in the same direction. Let it dry then put it back in the frame after cleaning the inside of the glass really well so there was no dirt/lint inside the glass. It looks really cool...the paint is kinda streaky and looks like distressed wood behind the glass! Then I hot glued the J to the glass (which didn't stay!!). Soooo...I wired the J up through the top of the picture, between the glass and the frame, then hot glued it again to the glass to keep it from moving. I should have used fishing line, but I didn't think of that! Then stapled the ribbon to the back of the fram and tied a big ol bow and left the pieces long to cover up the wire! (Wouldn't have had to do that if I would have used fishing line!) It's hanging on a wreath holder in my living room now. I'm thinking about moving it to a wall.....but I really hate committing with nails!

 I made one of these last week to use at the baby shower, out of clear glass dishes from Dollar Tree. The whole thing cost a whopping $5! But the thing fell apart....turns out textured glass doesn't adhere very well. And one of my friends kept laughing at it. I told her it was only because she was envious of my creation and I could sense she had a truely jealous heart....soooo.....I made her this one! It's made out of melamine dishes and glass candle sticks! Cost me a little more....very little more! And she loved it!!! And so did everyone else! I think I'll make some of these for gifts these year. Very cute and comes in handy when you don't want to get all of your big serving dishes out!

This little cutie is made out of wrapped sheets of felt. The little flowers are free handed cut outs. A friend of mine said it looked like a Kindergarten project....but it makes me smile too....a sweet little simple wreath.....pretty sure she's just jealous I didn't make her one too! It's going on my office door for Valentine's Day. HA!

 And all crafting projects always go better with a big ol glass of WINE. I sure hope you are as happy when  you are crafting...and all of your artwork makes you smile! Cheers!

Cell phone blogging?!

Just downloaded a new app and needed to see if it works....let\'s check!

JAN25

It’s January what?!

Posted on January 25, 2012 by happymomma

It’s January what?!

Ok…so I said I was going to start writing again. And I thought the perfect topic would be my “word of the year” and I would begin it on January 1st. I started thinking about “my word” around the middle of December and just waited until a word chose me. I read somewhere that that’s what your really supposed to do (sounds crazy doesn’t it?! but it really happened!). So anyway…I was going through words and words and more words that could possibly be MINE. I like organize…and relish….and enjoy…and limit….and create…..and prioritize…..and organize (I really liked that one!)…and a few more. But for some reason the word JOY kept popping up. I would find my self telling others to have a joyfully attitude, that joy is something we chose to have and should strive to show. Then it finally hit me (yes it was one of those ‘DUH!’ moments) that JOY was the word I have been looking for! Again….well DUH!!! So I have made JOY my mantra. I will joyfully celebrate my family, I will joyfully perform my job duties (may need a little extra wine from time to time to pull that one off), and I will choose JOY over discontent, complacency, and generalized lethargy. I will JOYFULLY tackle my school work (remember I lost my mind a year ago and thought I just wasn’t busy enough and ought to go back to school!) and I will JOYFULLY do things for my family…even if I am tired, stressed, and just plain mentally exhausted! I am making it my mission statement for the year, “To present a joyful attitude in all I do”. We can always find joy, even in the smallest most unexpected areas. Be that work, where we can be joyful we have the opportunity to provide care to our patients in their weakest and most vulnerable conditions. Especially in dealing with our spouses, even when we are tired or annoyed (or both!), a little niceness goes alooooong way.I am making a point to limit the amount of sarcasm and snide remarks I make to my husband this year. I will TRY to think before I speak, and not take for granted the JOY he has brought to me, whether that be from our 2 precious children, who bring JOY to me in all that they do, or Mr. Loud for cooking supper for us, or just taking the trash out because I hate to. There are so many out there whose husbands never returned from war or were never active participants in the family to start with. I will JOYFULLY give thanks for my family!
I’ve actually also been de-cluttering my surroundings lately….you know….to make room for more JOY! LOL!! But as I’m cleaning out closets and throwing away junk I’m doing it JOYFULLY. Have you ever looked around at all of the JUNK you have accumulated?! Whether that be the shirt that looked so cute in the store and it was on sale so of course you bought it but have never ever worn it…..to all the cute “dust collectors” or shelf stuffers you just had to have because they were chickens, or blue, or fleur de lis’s or whatever. Sometimes we have to just clean up and throw out….so that we can JOYFULLY make room for new and better things to come. So this month I am on a mission to clean out and organize and have a JOYFUL spirit about me. I’m going to smile more and talk “things up” and not buy into gloom and doom or those who seek to steal our JOY. So far so good….but somedays it’s a struggle….some days I just want to cuss and fuss and go shopping for more dust collectors! But then again don’t we all. My wish for this year is that we all try to CHOOSE JOY and not only choose it but LIVE JOYFULLY. For we all have choices as to what our attitudes are….and as for me….I’m going to CHOOSE JOY…..and a little more wine in the evenings….that should help when my joy level is low!

Time has flown...yes it's a cliche I know!
12/30/2011


Wow....hard to believe I haven't blogged since the end of May! Time really does fly right on past you sometime. But I have been busy....busy at work....busy at home....busy with grad school....and busy just living life! Living my crazy, awesome life! I know some would say "awesome?! yeah right!...whatever!!" But to me it is awesome! I have been blessed to have had such a great year. I have had a great year at work. I have been a part of and witnessed the implementation and "turning on the switch" of our state's new Electronic Health Record that will be shared by all 10 hospitals. This is no small feat and to say it has been stressful is an understatement....but the satisfaction and pride and appreciation that my team has for this is immeasurable! I am so thankful that I have a job that I go to everyday with a joyous attitude and true love for what I do. My attitude is my choice, and I CHOOSE to be thankful and joyfully perform my duties at work.
     I have watched my baby boys grow. I have watched both of my boys play the same sports and both have made me so proud! Whether it's catching a line drive or hitting the ball of the tee in less than 3 attempts, they always make me proud. I watched both of them play in the waves this past summer at the beach, I watched them help me search for "just the right shell to make a beautiful necklace" every time we walked to and from the boardwalk. I watched their faces aglow as we watched the 4th of July fireworks show while sitting on the SeaBlaster in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. I saw the love that my baby boy has for his big brother when he cried at Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year because he "missed Cade" and I saw the love that big brother had for him as him and his friends eventually made a way for his baby brother to be able to play with the "big kids" at recess everyday. I watched as baby brother put on his little football uniform for the 1st time and I watched big brother put his on for the last game of the season, which just happened to be the playoffs, all while knowing this is the last year he will play a non-contact football game. I watched baby brother take his very 1st test in school and ever so proudly announce to us...with test in hand...that he made a 100 on it, while the very next week he missed 1 question and his little world fell around him. I have watched them quizzing each other on math and spelling, reading to each other, and trying to help the other with homework. I have watched them struggle to come up with a birthday and Christmas wish list......baby brother only wanted things big brother already had....and big brother had problems even coming up with a list of things he wanted! That's because they have too much already....or so some would tell me. But I also watched as they wrote letters to Santa, and sat on his lap at the mall. I watched them find our Christmas elf "Henry" on December 1st, then jump up to search for him every morning through Christmas day and excitedly read his cards he "left for them". I saw pure and sweet BELIEF in something they couldn't see but never questioned. I heard my baby tell me that I didn't have to buy him a Christmas present because what is more important than presents is spending time with our family. That brought tears to a proud Momma's eyes. Of course the next sentence out of his sweet mouth was "and don't worry, Santa brings me presents anyway". Sweet BELIEF! And I have video of baby brother singing and talking to Jesus, "sweet Jesus"....that is the most precious thing I have ever heard.
     I'm so proud that they always at least TRY things....whether it be in baseball, football, school, or play.....at least they TRY. I'm proud that they just TRY, they may not be successful....which I tell them....but the important thing is to try. I'm proud that they have JOYOUS attitudes also and are happy children, who live life with good attitudes. That is a choice. I choose JOY and I hope I influence my children to choose JOY also...in all aspects of their life. Life is not always about the big victories....sometimes its about the practices.....the practices that we JOYOUSLY show up for and try our best.......because we know we need practice to win the game, because life is busy and before we know it, it will be game day! So practice hard and JOYOUSLY.....YOUR team needs you too!

MAY24

Oh please hit it to the outfield!

Posted on May 24, 2011 by happymomma

Oh please hit it to the outfield!

Today my 8 year old’s team played his best friend’s team in baseball. We’ve been looking forward to this game all season because they would finally get to play a ballgame together. They are both good little ball players who practice hard and play even harder. We’ve been really excited….until he got to thinking about winning. You see, my son plays on the pitching mound. He catches most balls that come in the in field and has a great working relationship with his 1st baseman. They make lots of plays every single game. They even got 2 of the 3 game balls that were given out one game. So here lies the dilemma: what to do if his best friend hits a ball towards him. Does he do the right thing and throw him out on 1st or does he let it go and let his friend get to 1st base. And if he does throw him out will his best friend be mad at him? And if he lets it go will his 1st baseman and team be mad at him? None of us want to get our best friend out and none of us want to let our 1st baseman and team down.
Making the right decision is a tough thing to do when you are 8 years old and some decisions are never easier when your 40 years old. Today was a tough day. Today one of my best friends threw a ball my way. At 1st when I caught it I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I wasn’t prepared for the hit. Do I drop it or overthrow it. If I drop it and let it roll so that things go her way then I’ll let my team down. If I overthrow it and let her get to base then I still disappoint my team. If I throw her out then she’ll be mad at me. After some tough talk on the ball field and consideration on both sides, it was decided that we play by the rules. And just let me say that sometimes rules suck. Especially when those rules anger someone and cause hurt feelings. But, without rules we would be more apt to drop the ball on purpose or overthrow to let someone get to base who didn’t get there fairly. As ball players we have to practice and prepare for games. We don’t show up at a game to strike out or cause our team to forfeit. Sometimes letting a player on base brings down your whole team. As a coach I try to instill the sanctity of the rules of the game into my players. I teach them to play by the rules and accept what is fairly called by the umpires. Sometimes we hit a foul ball, sometimes we hit a home run, and sometimes we get out. But…..each time we step up to that plate……we step up honestly and fairly……determined to do what is best for our team. At times, we have to take one for the team….OUR TEAM. As a coach it is my responsibility to take the needs of the whole team into consideration. It is my job to get them to practice, learn the rules, and play hard. Sometimes we have to remind our players that they signed up to play and that you can’t abandon your team. The rules some days suck and the game gets long and goes into overtime. Some days we don’t like the position we are assigned to. But….in the end…..it’s about the team…..not the player. We know that it wouldn’t be a team without the players either…..so as a coach it is my job to build the players up, keep them focused on the game, and the game fair….even though some days I have the hardest job of watching them strike out or worse yet putting them in the dugout. But I also have the greatest job of rejoicing in our victories, watching those 1st home runs, and rewarding them for winning seasons.
Back to my oldest boy’s game tonight. So what he did was hope and pray he wouldn’t be faced with this scenario of whether or not his best friend would hit a ball his way. And guess what……all of the balls flew to the outfield! He dodged that bullet. Who can blame him for wanting to dodge it?! It’s always easier when things go smooth in baseball. Some days its hard to play by the rules, especially when cheating would make it easier on the batter. It’s always harder to do the right thing, but our ability and determination to do the right thing is a true reflection on our character.Tonight my son’s team won….and they won big. And thankfully his friend never put him in the position to have to throw him out. My hope is for no one to ever have to throw their friends out….but if they are put in that position….then I hope they make the right decision and do whats best for their team. In baseball we all know we are always on the brink of a big hitter coming in and cleaning those bases up…..the best we can hope for is that it’s our pitcher who catches and throws him outta there!

MAY19

What’s in your glass?

Posted on May 19, 2011 by happymomma

What’s in your glass?

I am a Champion, a Nurse Champion that is. No….”We are the Champions” doesn’t start playing when I walk into work each morning. But everyday I get the privilege to “Champion” for my hospital while working on a brand spanking new electronic health care record that the state system has spent aloooooot of money on. This project requires a good bit of travel and long hours and loooooots of extra work above and beyond my regular job of running my PACU. I had to go on one of my “bird trips” over the last couple of days. Some trips are really fun and we get waaaay excited about those. This trip had been lacking excited anticipation to say the least. You know how you have this huge project coming due….you haven’t finished collecting all of your data….but are going to try to use what bits and pieces you have so far…..hope nobody questions you on it……oh and have to present an unfinished document to about 350 people……well that’s what my team has been doing. And let me just say we did a pretty good job! At least we looked good and talked the talk and were able to pull it off. Go Team Pelican! But let me add that pulling it off was not without anxiety, fatigue, frustration, and of course technical difficulties! To start off the day the wireless network went down while trying to do the introduction. We felt real good about that….NOT! Then we noticed that they misspelled the word “manager”…..i’m such a “stickular” for misspelled or misused words in public! Looks bad, looks real bad. While starting to get a little down about our less than stellar beginning…one of my friends reminded me to be optimistic about things. But please know that this friend was being facetious while saying this. He said, “reminder…..is the glass half-full or is the glass half-empty?” To which I quickly replied, “WHAT’S IN THE GLASS?!?!” He immediately proclaimed that as the best response he had ever heard, also proclaimed me as brilliant….which of course I brought up…..then we took a picture of ourselves for prosperity. Just because that’s how we roll!
So all day when faced with adversity we asked each other the question…”what’s in your glass?” It was funny at first, then we realized it actually made perfect sense! The “situation” in “your glass” determines how we view things. The more important something is ….the fuller the glass needs to be……the lesser of importance something is then the less we care about it and that glass being less full is okay. I’m liking this new concept…alot! From here on out I am going to really try to think of that glass being half-full…..and not worry when it’s half empty. I hope your glass is mostly half-full too. Maybe if we put into our glass what we really enjoy it will always be half-full! Cheers!

MAY16

Cinnamon rolls, chainsaws, and clothes

Posted on May 16, 2011 by happymomma

Cinnamon rolls, chainsaws, and clothes

So today was a good day. My “3rd son” spent the night with us and today was his birthday. Of course all kids need to wake up to birthday happiness so I did the only cute thing I could think of…..I made him a birthday cake made of cinnamon rolls….complete with sprinkles and candles. He loved it! And guess what….it had those great relighting candles! So all 3 kids blew and spit all over the “cake”, but we ate it anyway, whats a little spit amongst family?!
Then came the really fun stuff….crankin the new chain saw up! Woo hoo! I do love to play in the yard! The 1/2 of a tree that fell during the storm the other night has been callin my name! I had enough and went and bought a chain saw. Of course husband asked, “now what do you need a chain saw for?!”….to which I replied, ” I don’t, but you do”. Soooo…..I bought HIM a new chain saw. And let me tell you he did a great job with it! He only tore up one chain….approximately 45 minutes after cranking it up for the 1st time….but after a shower and a run to Lowe’s for another one….he kicked butt. And just let me tell you….I sure did appreciate my college education today….pickin up wood and stackin it is HARD manual labor….which some people have to do day in and day out…..and not nearly as much fun as ridin my John Deere and drinkin beer! But the tree is gone and stacked all around 5 stumps to be burnt this summer after they dry out….which is killin my soul now cause all I can think about is how much fun its gonna be to set them piles on fire! Can you sense just a little bit that I am a fire bug?! I will burn anything…and then some! No leaf, limb, stumps….or trees for that matter are safe when they are outta their place!
While doin all of this fun stuff today, something else was running in the background…..yep….the washing machine. WHY is it not standard that all women have at least 2 washing machines and dryers?! I mean come on! Why do we have to spend days at a time tryin to catch up on laundry when we could just load up 2 or 3 or 5 washers at one time and be done and on our way outside to mow or burn something up? Wish I had more money….and a bigger washroom….and an extra hot water heater….cause I would soooo be in debt to Lowe’s! OMG….the only thing that could make that better would be somebody to fold and put up all of those clothes for me!! Oh well…..back to reality…..guess that’s all I have time for tonight….I just heard the dryer alarm go off…..time to put in another load.

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MAY15

Creative….or borrowed?

Posted on May 15, 2011 by happymomma

Creative….or borrowed?

I guess I should explain the name of the blog, “loudandincharge”. While at the ballgame the other night one of my best friends came and brought her 2 kids. Her little boy was wearing a t-shirt with LOUD and IN CHARGE written on it…..she said it reminded her of me and if they had it in my size she would have bought me one too! I liked the shirt…..ALOT! The more I thought about it the more I thought “gosh that is soooo ME”!!! But the deal is….I’m not always the LOUD one…..nor am I always IN CHARGE! Sometimes my kids are the loud ones…..my job is loud…….my house is loud……and Lord knows my big hair is very LOUD some days! But my friends would laugh at all of those examples and say of I was full of it…..that i AM loud….every single day…..but I guess some days I just can’t hear myself for everything else going on around me. And as for being in charge…..well……most days I am in charge……whether it be at home, work, in my marriage, family, and friends. But there are those days when I fell like a rented mule 30 minutes before sundown! Those are the days that I feel run down and spread waaaay too thin in waaaay too many places. But…..the one thing I can be IN CHARGE of everyday is my attitude……and a lot of the time I can even change others attitudes with mine. I do believe that the way we live and perceive what is going on around us has a contagious effect on others around us. Now don’t you think for one minute that that means I let people give me crap or walk over me…..oh no indeed….that ain’t happening…..by the way…..I have a zero bulls*** tolerance……which some days I handle a little “sweeter” than others! What I mean is if I walk around with a crappy attitude….then quess what…..that crap is contagious…..and it will bring others down too. Or….I can choose to be happy and encouraging and optimistic…..and hope that it sets an example for others and spreads to them. Remember…..my motto is “IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL IT….LET IT GO!” I say that often….and LOUDLY at times!
Today was a great a day……my oldest played baseball today….his team lost….but he played great…..and he played LOUD and IN CHARGE…..just like I wanted him to! I hope both of my boys live their lives LOUD and IN CHARGE. My hope for them is to be happy and strong…in all that they do. And I see soooo much of myself in them. The oldest is so competitive, strong willed, independent, and outgoing. He makes up his mind and sticks with it…..and rock and rolls right on through whatever he is doing. The little one….well he’s the baby….a very strong willed, opinionated, out going, and LOUD baby….. just like me in so many ways! Neither of them are shy or quiet….they let you know what they are thinking when they are thinking it….and LOUDLY usually! So you see….not all days the LOUD and IN CHARGE is me…..sometimes its me listening to the LOUD and trying to figure out why someone else thinks they need to be IN CHARGE! I sure hope you are living LOUD and IN CHARGE…..and if your not…..I encourage you to try it….after all someone has to be LOUD and IN CHARGE….it just might as well be YOU!

MAY

14    What now huh?!

Posted on May 14, 2011 by happymomma

What now huh?!

Soooo…..I decided to start a blog. I can guarantee you that it isn’t gonna be anything that you will be drawn to due to my life being soooo overly exciting. I think it will be more like passing by an accident just as they are loading some poor soul into the back and you sneak a quick peek! That’s how I kinda feel my life is going lately…..kinda like all I have time for is a quick peek myself. My life is like a tornado lately…..I’m flying around and touching down here and there…..wreaking chaos and havoc from time to time! I’ve got a crazy ridiculous job these days….which now is basically TWO full time jobs…..2 little boys who are shorter, skinnier, but just as mouthy, versions of ME (thanks Momma for the “mother’s curse”-”I hope one day you have kids that act just like you!”)…..a husband who at times is another little boy (but let’s be honest…all men are at times little brats in big boy bodies!)…..and grad school (which by the way shows my need for an immediate psychiatric consult!!). I am perpetually in search of more time to deal with the usual family issues such as needing to spend more time with my 92 year old grandfather…….finding my brother a wife (if you or anyone you may know are available-single, no kids, don’t drink, church choir, good family, educated, and employed-please comment me! and I know I am setting high standards….but I’m gonna have to spend holidays with this person AND buy them gifts….so I’m really gonna need to like them!) ……needing to try to be a better housekeeper (but dangit I just can’t justify dusting and mopping when I could be playing with the boys or sitting on my patio drinking a cold beer with my hubby……after all…..my floors aren’t that sticky!). I so need to fit in spending more time with my friends (why has life gotten so busy that we can’t go for pedi’s and drinks anymore?!?!)…….and going to that gym that I just had to join (by the way I am the 1st person I have ever known that has actually GAINED 15….ok 20 lbs…… since joining that damn gym!!). So see…..nothing spectacular…….just plain ol me tryin to find an outlet to some days share victories, let downs (notice I did not say “defeats”…..because those are not acceptable!), mess ups, and vent when people/situations piss me off……all while trying to keep a positive spin on things. I always say-IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL…LET IT GO! I also truly believe that happiness is a choice…..just as is accepting defeat or allowing apathy to linger. So……if you would like to join me on this little journey called LIFE …..then hop on and hold on…..cause sometimes the road is a little bumpy….but that’s what seat belts and margaritas are for!